BANISHMENT OF THE JESUITS, JULY 9, 1763    87
les Francais, il fut enveloppe' dans le massacre ge'ne'ral. On peut bien comparer cette conspiration aux Vepres siciliennes; les Francais etablis dans ce poste traitaient avec la demiere insolence cette nation des Natchez, la plus utile a la colonie et la plus devouee. Elle voulut se venger: le P. du Poisson avait ete prie de rester un jour pour quelque fonction du ministere qui se presentait, en l'absence du cure; il y consentit et fut la victime de son devouement et de sa charite.
Un mois apres, les Yasous, autre nation sauvage, etant entres dans la meme conspiration, tuerent aussi les Francais habitues aupres d'eux; le P. Souel, leur missionnaire, ne fut pas epargne; il 6tait si aime du negre qui le servait, que ce fidele esclave se fit tuer en vou-lant defendre ou venger son maitre. Vers le m&ne temps, le P. d'Ou-treleau descendait avec plusieurs voyageurs du pays des Illinois, pour les affaires de la mission; il s'arrfita sur les bords du Missis-sipi pour y dire la messe; une troupe de ces mSmes Yasous, qui avaient tn€ le P. Souel, arriva au meme lieu avec d'autres sauvages leurs allies, Us observerent le temps ou les Francais et le Pere surtout, etaient occupes du saint sacrifice; ils firent une decharge de leurs fusils
[Translation]
massacre. This conspiracy may well be compared to the Sicilian Vespers. The French established at that post treated with the utmost insolence this nation of the Natchez, the most useful and the most devoted to the colony; and they undertook to avenge themselves. Father du Poisson had been requested to remain one day for some ministerial function which presented itself in the absence of the pastor; he consented to do it, and was the victim of his devotion and his charity.
One month afterward, the Yazoo, another savage nation, having entered into the same conspiracy, also slew the French who lived near them. Father Souel, their missionary, was not spared. He was so beloved by the Negro who served him that this faithful slave was killed in trying to defend or avenge his master. About the same time, Father d'Outreleau was descending with several voyageurs from the Illinois country in the interest of the mission, and halted upon the banks of the Mississippi to say mass. A band of the same Yazoo who iad killed Father Souel arrived at the same place with other savages, their allies.   They watched the time when the French, and