Page:Early History St Louis and Missouri.djvu/19

Rh number of one hundred and fifty warriors, with all their families, outnumbering the Europeans five to one, and in the most confiding, friendly and familiar manner located their huts as near as possible to their new acquaintances, manifesting the utmost pleasure and contentment in their new homes, and exhibiting their willingness to participate in all the labors and enjoyments the place afforded.

It is a remarkable incident, worthy of memory, that the first cellar ever excavated in St. Louis was done by the squaws of this band, and the earth removed to a low place at considerable distance, and payment made for it in beads and other ornaments.

The inconvenience of their presence was soon felt, and their departure requested and refused. They said "they were like the ducks and buzzards, who sought open water to rest and refresh themselves on, and they desired no better place than they now enjoyed."

The prudent Liguest, however, proceeded to no violence against them, but, having supplied them with provisions, he threatened them with the vengeance of the French troops stationed at Fort Chartres, which soon frightened them to a departure in peace. Nor did they ever return or manifest any resentment against him or his people on that account. Being relieved from their presence and confirmed in their friendship, he prosecuted the building of his house and store, enlarged the circuit of the village, and gave encouragement to emigrants, without fear or opposition.

Thus the new colony soon gave evidence of thrift and stability, and stimulated the inhabitants of Illinois, who felt aversion to British rule, to transfer their establishments to the new settlement, which soon changed the current of trade and concentrated it rapidly at St. Louis.

It was in April of this year that M. d'Abbadie, the Commandant General of Louisiana, received orders from his sovereign to proclaim to the people the surrender of all the French possessions west of the Mississippi to Spain.

The people of New Orleans were highly exasperated by the promulgation, and declared they would not be separated from their mother country.

A few months later the intelligence reached St. Louis and