In 1720, a colony of Europeans entered
the Gulf of Mexico, with the view of settling in Louisiana.
Among them was M. de Belisle, a gentleman of distinction. The
wind and current carried the vessel on which he was sailing
into Matagorda Bay. A boat was sent ashore for water, and
Belisle, with four others, went in it. As the boat had to make
several trips to and from the ship during the day, these men
concluded to remain on shore and go out hunting. But,
overstaying their time, the boat made the last trip, and the
captain becoming impatient, weighed anchor and sailed from the
Bay. Being thus left alone in an unknown country, the hunters
traveled westward along the coast for several days, living
upon herbs and insects. Belisle had brought a young dog with
him from the vessel. This he gave up to one of the men to be
killed for food. The man was so weak with hunger that he was
unable to kill him, and the dog escaped and disappeared. The
four companions of Belisle died of starvation and despair,
before his eyes; and for some days after, he continued to live
on worms and insects, until at last the dog returned with an
opossum which he had killed. Shortly after this, the dog was
wounded by a wild beast, and he was compelled to kill him.
Being thus left alone, he turned from the west, and turned his
course to the interior in search of men. He found footsteps,
and followed them to a river, on the opposite side of which he
saw some Indians, engaged in drying meat. They soon discovered
him, caught him, stripped him, and divided his clothes among
them. They then took him to their village, and gave him to an
old squaw, who treated him so kindly, that he soon recovered
his strength. He learned their language, became a warrior, and
rose to distinction among them.
After some time, a party of strange
Indians visited the tribe where he was a captive, and, seeing
him, remarked that they had also in their nation some men of
the same color. This remark excited Belisle's feelings, and he
determined to profit by it. He then made some ink of soot, and
wrote on a piece of paper which he had secretly saved, an
account of his condition. One of the strange Indians secretly
agreed to carry it to the white people at Natchitoches. He
performed his promise, delivered the paper to Capt. St. Denis,
commandant of that post, who wept on learning the fate of his
white brother. As St. Denis was a great friend of the Indians,
and a favorite with them, ten of their number volunteered to
go after Belisle, and return in two moons. They were furnished
with horses, and a horse, arms and clothing for the prisoner.
They reached the village and fired off their guns, which
overawed the Indians. Then delivering a letter from St. Denis
to Belisle, they helped him to mount his horse, and the whole
party galloped away, and reached Natchitoches in safety. From
there Belisle found his way to the infant city of New Orleans,
and became Major General of the Marine of Louisiana.
