340 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 43

 Secondly, that they should abandon their place of abode on their river, in
order to come and establish themselves on the banks of the Mississippi, in a
place which should be designated to them, 1 league below the concession of
M. Pilris, conditions which they accepted completely and which they have since
faithfully observed, since fifteen days later they descended with their families
and their canoesa loaded with their effects in order to establish themselves
there. Before sending them back M. de Pailloux made them the presents which
M. de Bienville indicated should be made to them, with which they were very
well satisfied.b

 Some discrepancies exist between this account and what Du Pratz
gives us. The latter arrived in Louisiana the same year and was
present at the peacemaking ceremonies (pl. 4, c), which he represents
as having taken place in the presence of Bienville himself, instead of
his lieutenant, M. de Pailloux.
 Before my arrival in Louisiana they had been at war with the nation of
Tchitimachas, because a man of this nation, having withdrawn into a place apart
on the banks of the river St. Louis, had assassinated M. de St. COme, missionary
of this colony. He was descending the river and had thought to be in security
in retiring into the cabin of this man during the night. M. de Bienville had
held the entire nation responsible for this murder, and in order to spare his
own people had had them attacked by many people allied to the French. Valor
is not the highest quality of the natives, and the Tchitimachas pride them-
selves on it less than the others. They had then the worst of it, and the loss
of their best warriors forced them to ask for peace. The governor having
granted it to them on condition that they would bring him the head of the
murderer, they satisfied this condition and came to present the peace calumet
to M. de Bienville, he having promised to receive it for the French.
 I learned of their arrival and the moment of the ceremony, which the com-
mandant-general had announced. I repaired thither, because in such circum-
stances it is proper that he be accompanied by a little court. It is the usage
and does honor to the governor. My [Chitimacha] slave went with me in
order to see her parents. I was so much the more pleased at that, because
afterward I hoped she would explain to me the speech and the ceremonies of
this solemn embassy. All that being new to me, I desired to inform myself of
what I believed to merit the trouble.
 I was with M. de Bienville when they arrived by the river in many pirogues.
They advanced singing the song of the calumet, which they waved in the wind
and in cadence to announce their embassage, which was one in fact, composed
of the word-bearer, as these peoples call him, or chancellor, and a dozen other
men. On these occasions they are dressed in all that is finest according to their
taste and never fail to have in hand a rattle (chichicois) in order to move that
also in cadence.
 There was not more than a hundred paces from the place where they disem-
barked to the cabin of M. de Bienville, yet this small piece of ground sufficed
to keep them on the way almost half an hour, always marching as the measure
and cadence governed them. They ceased this music only when they were in
front of the commandant. Then the chief of this troop, who was the word-
bearer, said to him: "Is it you, then, and I with you?" The governor simply

 .M\argry has brstianx, beasts," which, considering the nature of the country, would
be ridiculous. The original must have been bateaux.
 Pdnicaut in Margry, Ddcouvcrtes, v, 554-557.