galed with the greatest profusion of barbarian hospitality. These
Indians had attained a very considerable degree of civilization. They
had quite a large number of slaves, whom they had captured from tribes
with whom they were at war. The fertile fields around were quite well
cultivated with corn, beans, melons, and a variety of fruits. Peaches
were abundant. Large flocks of turkeys and other domestic fowls crowded
their doors. They were a very handsome race; and it was observed that,
while the northern Indians were generally moody and taciturn, these
savages, beneath more sunny skies, were frank, generous, and gay in the
extreme.

CHAPTER XI.

_The Great Enterprise Accomplished._

Scenes in the Arkansas Villages. Indian Hospitality. Barbarian
Splendor. Attractive Scenery. The Alarm. Its Joyful Issue. Genial
Character of La Salle. Erecting the Cross. Pleasant Visit to the
Koroas. The Two Channels. Perilous Attack. Humanity of La Salle. The
Sea Reached. Ceremonies of Annexation.

For several days La Salle and his party remained with their hospitable
friends the Arkansas Indians. On the 14th of March, 1682, La Salle took
possession of the country in the name of the king of France. He
invested the ceremony with all the pomp he could command. An immense
cross was raised in the centre of the village; and the Christian's God
was recognized with anthems, prayers and imposing religious rites.
Thousands of savages gathered around, gazing with delight upon the
scene so novel to them. They had no conception of its significance.
They supposed it a festival got up for their entertainment, as they
would got up a war-dance to please their guests. As the cross was
raised, Father Membre made some attempt to teach them the significance
of this emblem of the way of salvation through faith in an atoning
Saviour. He writes:

"During this time they showed that they relished what I said by
raising their eyes to heaven, and kneeling as if to adore. We also
saw them rubbing their hands over their bodies, after rubbing them
over the cross. In fine, on our return from the sea, we found that
they had surrounded the cross with a palisade."

On the 17th of the month, the explorers reembarked, and continued
their voyage down the river about eighteen miles, when they came to two
other villages of the Arkansas tribe. Here they were again received
with the utmost hospitality. Continuing their sunny voyage beneath
clou