André Pénicaut, born around 1680 in La Rochelle, France, was a “carpenter in the construction of royal ships” and an interpreter. This manuscript is his account of the 22 years he spent in Louisiana between 1699 and 1721. Pénicaut first sailed for Louisiana in September 1698 on Le Marin, captained by the Count of Surgères, as part of the expedition led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (1661‒1706), founder of the French colony of Louisiana. Based on his daily notes, Pénicaut’s account is extremely rich, describing in turn the geography and natural resources of the region, French wars against the Indians, the establishment of a land-holding system and the founding of New Orleans in 1718, as well as the religion and customs of the native population, particularly the Natchez. The narrative of his Mississippi adventures is likewise filled with anecdotes about relations between the French and the native populations. The 324-page manuscript is organized chronologically, with one chapter devoted to each year. Each chapter is introduced with a number of headings that summarize the main topics or incidents covered in the chapter.