archies.

The principal chief rode forward, bearing conspicuously the plumed
calumet of peace. La Salle had been slowly advancing, and the two
parties met about nine miles from the village. After cordial greetings,
the united band continued its march. When but a short distance from the
cluster of native dwellings, an immense concourse of people was seen
flocking out to meet the strangers. The young men were quite imposingly
marshalled in military array. But the reception was so cordial, and the
indications of sincerity so unquestionable, that no one entertained the
slightest apprehension of treachery.

La Salle and his party remained three days, enjoying the good cheer of
this truly hospitable people. This very prudent commander encamped
three or four miles outside of the village. He had no fear of the
natives, but he had not full confidence in his own men. Any impropriety
of the members of his party toward the females of the village, might
suddenly turn their friendly relations into bitter hostility. There
were apparently many pleasant families. The young maidens were
generally of pleasing features, and graceful as sylphs in form. La
Salle purchased several horses, which proved to be of inestimable value
to him.

The region which the explorers had reached was probably not far from
Austin County, in the present State of Texas. It was a more highly
civilized and more densely inhabited country than any they had hitherto
passed through, in any portion of the continent. For a distance of
sixty miles they found a continuous series of villages, but a few miles
apart, all prosperous, harmonious, and happy.

Their cabins were large and commodious, frequently forty or fifty feet
high, with dome-like roofs, in the shape of the old-fashioned
bee-hives. They were made by planting very tall saplings in the ground,
in the form of a circle. Their tops were bent down and bound together.
This whole framework was very neatly and effectually thatched with the
long grass of the prairie. The beds, consisting of soft mats, were
ranged around the cabin, raised about three feet from the ground. The
fire, seldom needed except for cooking, in that warm latitude, was in
the middle. Each cabin usually accommodated two families.

These Indians were called the Coenis nation. It was very evident that
they had held some intercourse with the Spaniards. La Salle found among
them silver coins, silver spoons, and various kinds of European
clothes. H