Many difficulties may be encountered as well in regard to the nature of the Savages who are little accustomed to obedience and the prosecution of a design during several months, which are required to reach the rear of the Senecas from their country. Chevalier Tonty, who came to see me at Montreal in the month of July last, has I send

repairing of our Savage allies to Niagara with Sieurs du

taken charge of all these matters.

I gave him twenty good Canadians, with eight canoes loaded with

one hundred and fifty muskets, which was all I could collect in the country.

He carries powder and

Had the guns you sent me arrived I should have given him a He left at the end of August and calculates to arrive at Fort St. Louis before the departure of the hunters. He could not assure me of the number of Savages he could bring with lead and other things for the trade.

good number.

him, but I'm certain he will make great exertions to succeed in this affair in which he will participate largely if the Indians will allow themselves to be

governed and led by him.

cannot sufficiently

He is a lad of great enterprize and boldness, who He left Fort des Illinois last February to seek after M. de la Salle at the lower end of the Mississippi. He has been as far as the sea, where he learned nothing of M. de la He returned on the Salle except that some Savages had seen him set sail and go towards the South.