[1]The Red River near Natchitoches had an unusual cane growth and was later referred to as Rio Cannis by later Spaniards. The Adais lived on Spanish Lake as it was later called. This lake had an unusual heavy growth of cat-tails which resembled the Tules of Spain. Toalli, a slang, Spanish expression referring to houses built of tules. The mud and reed houses so described were typical of the Caddo Indian Federation of which the Adais was a tribe. The Caddo home or Hinta-sak was built so. The Adais were about a day’s march from the Red River-Natchitoches area, fifteen miles which was the usual distance foot soldiers traveled in that length of time.
[2]Nakassa Lake is located in the southern part of Natchitoches Parish.
[3]These were the same two brothers which were captured by DeLeon and Flores, and been put on a Spanish ship to be returned to France. The ship was captured by the French and these two were with Iberville when he landed at Biloxi.
[4]An official of rank next only to the chief.
[5]The amole root is a species of the yucca plant. When boiled in water, that water used for bathing had the same property as soap and left a fragrant odor on the body of the user.
[6]The present day location is in the King Hill area, which now comprises part of the Simp Russ plantation between Lake End and Ajax, La.
[7]This land grant was where what is commonly called the Fish Pond Bottom by present day inhabitants of the Robeline area. It was referred to later by Dr. John Sibley, an Indian Agent in 1807, as Lagoon de Mora in a letter to Major Porter, Post Commander of Fort Claiborne in Natchitoches.
[8]This medicine became popular among the doctors at that time according to the reference of an old book at the office of the late Dr. J. N. Brown of Campti, Louisiana. Quillendive meant seeds of certain plants, not just one particular plant or herb. When administered, the medicine caused nausea.
[9]This Spanish Fort had stood for 48 years amid what was considered a hostile area, yet in all that time it never had to defend itself. This belies the statements or propaganda of the French referring to the cruelties and unjust rule of the Spanish against the Indians of the area. Had such been so, certainly the Indians would have risen in open rebellion.
[10]At this point one must understand the claims of the United States concerning the Louisiana Purchase. The United States claimed the Rio Grande as the boundary of the land previously owned by France because of La Salle’s settlement at Fort Louis on Matagordo Bay in 1685. The Spanish claimed the land as far as the west bank of the Red River, basing their claim on the Domingo Teran del Rios’ expedition of 1690. Both the Spanish and the United States’ officers involved in the meeting in the Adais area were aware of the claims of their respective countries.
[11]John Quincy Adams remarked of the Filibusterers: “The main actors cross and double-cross one another so frequently that suspicion and doubt hang over their hands like a black cloud over their actions.”
[12]Red River at this time was blocked by log jams as far as Fort Towsin in Arkansas. Bayou Pierre was the water route as far as the vicinity of Shreveport.
[13]If the address of Natchitoches, Louisiana, appearing as the address of Fort Jesup seems strange, it must be remembered that at that time Natchitoches was the nearest Post-office.
[14]Pierre Subastion Prudhomme.
[15]Note: the above is that of the Justine DeLuche Family. The Child P. DeLuche being named Pierre after Pierre Fausse who was the Godfather and perhaps also the Grandfather.
