all before. There are
mulberry-trees, and black walnuts, and Chicasaw plums, and pawpaws, and
Osage orange, and shell-bark hickories, and pecans, and honey-locusts.
I see no others except vines, and those great magnolias. I have seen
all these trees before."

"Yes," returned Lucien, "but have you ever observed them all growing
together in this way?"

"Ah! that is a different affair: I believe not."

"Because it is from that fact," continued Lucien, "that I am led to
believe this spot was once the seat of an Indian settlement. These
trees, or others that produced them, have been planted here, and by the
Indians."

"But, brother Luce," interposed Francois, "I never heard that the
Indians of these parts made such settlements as this must have been.
These low woods extend down the river for miles. They must have had a
large tract under cultivation."

"I think," replied Lucien, "the Indians who at present inhabit this
region never planted these trees. It is more likely a settlement of the
ancient nation of the Natchez."

"The Natchez! Why, that is the name of a town on the Mississippi, but I
did not know there were Indians of that name."

"Neither are there now; but there once was a very extensive tribe so
called who occupied the whole territory of Louisiana. It is said that,
like the Mexicans and Peruvians, they had made some progress in
civilisation, and knew how to weave cloth and cultivate the soil. They
are now an extinct race."

"How came that about?"

"No one can tell. Some of the old Spanish authors say that they were
destroyed by Indians from South America. This story, however, is very
absurd--as is, indeed, most of what has been written by these same old
Spanish authors, whose books read more like the productions of children
than of reasoning men. It is far more likely that the Natchez were
conquered by the Creeks and Chicasaws, who came from the south-west of
their country; and that the remnant of their tribe became blended with
and lost among the conquerors. In my opinion, this is how they have
come to be extinct. Why, then, should not this be one of their ancient
settlements, and these trees the remains of their orchards, cultivated
by them for their fruits and other uses?"

"But _we_ make but little use of such trees," remarked Francois.

"What's that you say?" exclaimed Basil. "You, Francois, who every year
eat such quantities of shell-bark nuts, and pecans, and red mulberries,
to