This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
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Through the influence of Alibamon Mingo, a Choctaw ally of the French, the Natchez handed over the prisoners to the Choctaw and escaped by night. The Choctaw then were in favor of demanding a ransom for the captives to cover the costs of their participation, but Cahura-Joligo convinced them to hand them over instead, pending remuneration.
A letter written by a lieutenant Juzan, sent on detachment in about 1730 from Fort Rosalie to the Tunicas post-presumably the small fort that had been built in 1715—gives a much more immediate idea of the kinds of activities in which the Tunica were involved on behalf of the French during this period. Juzan was apparently sent to gather intelligence about the possible refuge location of the Natchez who had escaped their village. He conferred with the leading men of the Tunica, whom he names: Dominique, Atanache, Carodet, Le Vieux Laboucanie, Bride-les-Boeufs, Le Serpent Pique, Le Coup Pique. The most significant of these is Dominique, and the French name may permit us to guess that this is the baptismal name of Cahura-Joligo. The other names are of interest as well. Bride-les-Boeufs ("Bridle-the-buffalo") and Carodet will be seen acting as chiefs somewhat later; Atanache, Juzan says, had had trouble with his neighbors when he took a Natchez slave woman as his concubine until he sent her away and returned to his wife; Serpent Pique ("Tattooed Serpent") and Coup Pique ("Tattooed? War-club") may be war leaders, since the former name is used by war leaders among the Natchez and Avoyelles; and Le Vieux Laboucanie ("Old Smokehouse") remains an enigma. Dominique, who had been at the Natchitoches post with a party of Tunica warriors who had fought the Natchez and recaptured four Tunica women, reported what was known of the movements of the Natchez among the other tribes. This report was given in detail, even to the identities of the French owners of several black slaves whom the Natchez had taken to the Chickasaws to sell to English traders; the total number of Natchez still surviving and their locations; the makeup and identity of the band of Natchez then camped near Fort Rosalie and seeking peace- This latter band had apparently already made some overture to the Tunicas to settle with them, using their children as go-betweens.
Tunica participation in the punishment of the Natchez earned them the approbation of Governor Perier, who favored the extermination of most of the other small tribes living near the French, but it was to prove fatal for the tribe as then constituted.
At some time not long after the Natchez revolt, probably in 1730, a group of Natchez approached Baron de Crenay, then commander at Fort Rosalie, with an offer of peace. They also apparently came to offer the calumet to the Tunica, claiming that they repented of their actions, wished to settle across the river from the Tunica, and asked that the Tunica act as peacemakers between them and the French. Cahura-Joligo, understandably doubting their sincerity, traveled to New Orleans accompanying some Natchez deputies to notify Perier of this request and to ask for his opinion. Accounts differ as to the advice Perier gave. Diron d’Artaguette reported that Perier advised him to invite the Natchez to amalgamate with his tribe, taking their name and settling among them, while according to Charlevoix he recommended that they be allowed to settle no nearer than two leagues from the Tunica and that under no circumstances should they come armed. Whatever was advised, the Natchez did come to the Tunica settlements, perhaps in one initial small group but eventually some 150-200 strong. They may also have had Chickasaw and Koroa accomplices hidden in the surrounding woods. Apparently the Tunica neglected to insist on disarmament
All accounts agree that the two groups then entered into a calumet dance and other celebration of peace and alliance that lasted far into the night When all had retired and the Tunicas were asleep, the Natchez ambushed them before dawn of June 14, killing Cahura-Joligo and a second chief first then killing all the other Tunicas who could not escape. Charlevoix paints the scene vividly:
...The Natchez, and apparently the Chickasaws and the Corrois....fell upon all the cabins, and slaughtered all whom they surprised asleep.
The Head Chief ran up at the noise, and at first killed four Natchez; but, overborne by numbers, he was slain with some twelve of his warriors. His war-chief undismayed by this loss or the flight of most of his braves, rallied a dozen, with whom he regained the Head Chiefs cabin; he even succeeded in recalling the rest, and after fighting for five days and nights almost without intermission, remained master of his village. The Tonicas on this occasion had twenty men killed and as many wounded. They killed of the Natchez thirty-three men, and took three prisoners, whom they burned (Charlevoix 1872:116-117)
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