722        ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
pour eux, prient en vain qu'on les loge quelque part, et qu'on leur donne des vivres. le mals etoit rare, et c'auroit ete une depense ces malheureux Se voyant meprises prennent le pars de traverser la petite Riviere, et de S'en aller dans les Prairies, on craint qu'ils n'aillent aux miamis, ou les arrete, mais quelque instance que Ton fasse ou refuse de leur donner des vivres; on les verroit, dit on, mourir tous sans en etre touche. les habitans en prennent quelques uns chez eux, on loge le reste dans la grande Eglise qui n'est pas encore echevee. je pris la liberte de dire que J'allois leur faire donner du mais. on me dit, vous ferez bien. je fais done appeller les femmes, et leur fait distribuer devant l'interprete trente quatre minots de mais. on reconnut bientot l'imposture du nouveliste, et tous ces pauvres gens retournerent chez eux
a l'arrivee de M. la Cautrais M. le commandant fit faire un feu de joye pour la naissance du Due de Bourgogne la veille de cette rejoiiissance nos gens qui avoient vu debarquer beaucoup de boissons, ramassent dans le village, Selon l'usage introduit depuis
[Translation]
urged in vain that they be lodged somewhere and given food. Corn was scarce, and it would have been an expense. These wretched people seeing themselves despised resolved to cross the little river and go off in the prairies. It was feared that they might go to the Miami, and they were stopped, but despite all pleading, food was refused to them. We would, it was said, see them all die and remain unmoved. The inhabitants took some into their houses, and the rest were lodged in the great church which is not yet finished. I took the liberty of saying that I would go and get corn given them; and I was told I should do well. I called the women and had distributed to them in the presence of the interpreter thirty-four minots of corn. The imposition of the romancer was soon perceived, and all these poor people went back to their homes.
On the arrival of M. la Gautrais, M. the commandant ordered a feu de joie for the birth of the Duke of Burgundy. On the eve of this rejoicing our people who had seen much liquor unloaded, got together in the village, according to the custom in-