SWANTON] INDIAN TRIBES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 307

present Helena, Ark., which would indicate that they had formerly
lived ill that neighborhood.a When first encountered by Europeans,
however, they occupied several small villages on the south side of
Yazoo river, about 4 leagues from its mouth. The name appears on
Marquette's map, based on his expedition of 1676, under the form
" TanikSa," but he places them inland west of the Metchigamea and
Arkansas along with the Akoroa and several other tribes.
 Since they were enemies of the Arkansas and Taensa, La Salle
did not visit. the Tunica villages in his famous voyage of 1(82,
although on the 19th of March he was aware that he was in their
neighborhoods. In a short account of the route from the Illinois
country to the Gulf of Mexico Tonti mentions the Ionica along
with the Yazou, Coroa, and Chonque," '1 but he does not appear to
have visited them in person either at this time or in his subsequent
expeditions of 1686 and 1690. Possibly they are the Tanico")
referred to by Joutel in his list of tribes allied with the Cenis, but
this is rendered somewhat doubtful by the fact that later, when
his party came into the neighborhood of these people, he spells their
name Tonicas." f If, as he was given to understand by some Cad-
doan Indians of the Cahinnio tribe who were with him, they passed
near two Tunica towns we must suppose that at least, hunting camps
of these Indians were scattered through northeastern Louisiana at
certain seasons. One day two Indians joined him loaded with salt
which they said they had obtained at one of these Tunica towns,f
and it may very well have been that Tunica were encamped there at
the time, since Du Pratz mentions a place near the Ouachita whither
tribes from all parts assembled at certain seasons to make salt.9 A
large part of the salt obtained by the Mississippi tribes, however,
appears to have been purchased from Caddoan bands, for French
travelers several times encountered Natchitoches bringing salt to the
great river for sale. The first white men to visit the Yazoo river
villages of this tribe of whom we have any record were missionary
priests from Canada, who came in 1698, and one of whom, Father
Davion, soon afterward established himself among them as mis-
sionary. Two of his companions, Fathers De Montigny and La
Source, have the following to say regarding their experiences:
 The first among whom we thought of establishing [a mission] are the Ton-
icas, who are 60 leagues lower down than the Akanseas. Mr. Davion has sta-
tioned himself there. The spot where lie is is quite fine. As we do
not know the language, we have not yet made any great conversions, neverthle-
 Corr. on the Emigration of Indians, Iv, 437-441, 1S:5.
 Shea, Disc. and Expl. of the Miss. Valley, 1852; map.
 Margry, D6couvcrtes, II, 180.
 d French, Hist. Coll. La., 82, 1840.
 SMargry, Decouvertes, Ill, 409.
 f Ibid., 424.
 a Du Pratz, Iist. de La Louisiane, i, 307-308.