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An
:
SYNOPSIS
OF THE
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
FROM THE FOUNDING OF THE COLONY TO THE
END OF THE YEAR 1791.
BY THE
CHEVALIER GUY SONIAT DU FOSSAT,
Officer in the French Army, who came to New Orleans in 1751 and was
the founder of the American branch of the family of
SONIAT DU FOSSAT.
Translated from the French, at the request, and by resolution of the
Louisiana Historical Society, by one of its members,
CHARLES T. SONIAT, Esq.,
A descendant of the Chevalier and a member of the
Louisiana Bar Association.
WITH COMPLIMENTS OF
CHARLES T. SONIAT,
HENNEN BUILDING,
New Orleans.

CHAS. T. SONIAT,
Attorney at Law and Notary Public,
Offices, Rooms Nos. 213 & 214 Hennen Building,
SECOND FLOOR,
Cor. Carondelet and Common Streets,
Telephone 454,
NEW ORLEANS, LA.
Henry Vignaud Esq
DALINSIT
AUG 17
NEW
Z
7 PM D
1903
American Legation
Paris,
France.
·
SYNOPSIS
OF THE
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
FROM THE FOUNDING OF THE COLONY TO THE
END OF THE YEAR 1791.
BY THE
CHEVALIER GUY SONIAT DU FOSSAT,
Officer in the French Army, who came to New Orleans in 1751 and was
the founder of the American branch of the family of
SONIAT DU FOSSAT.
Translated from the French, at the request, and by resolution of the
Louisiana Historical Society, by one of its members,
CHARLES T. SONIAT, Esq.,
* *
A descendant of the Chevalier and a member of the
Louisiana Bar Association.
܃
1.-
369
5723
PREFACE.
On the 18th of February, 1903, I read before the Louisiana
Historical Society, some excerpts from "A Synopsis of the His-
tory of Louisiana," by my ancestor, the Chevalier Guy Soniat du
Fossat, and at the conclusion of the reading, the Society requested
me, by resolution, to translate, and cause to be published, the manu-
script, in full.
This I have done, prefacing the work with a short biography
of my ancestor, and with a narrative of how, in a voyage to
France I happened to find the manuscript while visiting the home
of the Soniat Dufossats in the southern part of France.
CHARLES T. SONIAT.
5493 24-271
BIOGRAPHY OF THE CHEVALIER.
Whilst visiting the great Paris Exposition in 1900, I had the
pleasure of receiving a charming invitation from my cousin, Mr.
Henri de Pousargues, a General of the French Army, the owner
of the Chateau du Fossat, the cradle of the family of "Soniat du
Fossat."
It is needless to say that I accepted the invitation with pleas-
ure, and speeded my way to the southern part of France. There,
in a charming valley, on the banks of the picturesque stream
called the "Lot" near the junction of the "Garonne," I beheld
with joy the home of my ancestors. The chateau appeared to me
a very citadel of strength. Built of solid stone and masonry, it
had braved countless revolutions and had withstood well the
ravages of time. The grand old oaks, situated at the entrance,
seemed to me hoary with age and to have braved the numerous
tempests that had shaken them. It was in the year 1538 that my
great ancestor, Francois de Saunhac de Belcastel, took possession
of the chateau, which has been continuously owned by the family.
ever since, and he there founded the branch of the Soniat du
Fossat family, from which I have the honor to descend.
The General welcomed me most hospitably; showed to me the
spacious rooms where the heirlooms of my family were stored.
Various documents, gray with the dust of ages, were shown to
me, but I found in them nothing of particular interest, until I
saw papers and letters emanating from the American branch of the
family. These I found very interesting, and begged my kind
host to permit me to take them across the Atlantic, and he con-
sented with pleasure, with the proviso, however, that same should
be returned to him as soon as possible.
Among the most valuable papers found by me in this collection,
was an old and faded manuscript, written in French, entitled "A
Brief History of Louisiana," from the foundation of the Colony
to the end of Miro's administration.
At first it was impossible for me to determine the authorship of
the manuscript, as the place where the name of the author had
been written happened to have been torn. I thought the docu-
ment to be of little value, until one day I asked Professor Alcee
Fortier, the worthy President of the Louisiana Historical Society,
to peruse it, and tell me whether it had any historical importance.
He thought so much of it as to ask me to translate for the benefit
of the members of the Louisiana Historical Society a few extracts
therefrom, especially the Campaigns of Bernardo de Galvez :
which I did with difficulty, on account of the peculiar hand-
writing. Before, however, giving my translation, I think it would
not be amiss for me to say a few words concerning its author.
Le Chevalier Guy de Soniat du Fossat, founder of the Ameri-
can branch of the family, was born in the aforenamed Chateau on
the 17th of September, 1727. He entered the French Army as
4
volunteer, in 1746; in 1747 was made Lieutenant in the Regiment
of Monaco; in 1748 he was wounded at the siege of Maestricht,
in Holland; and he continued his service in the French Army in
France until 1751, when he came to Louisiana as Lieutenant in
the Detached Corps of Marines, during the reign of Louis XV.,
at which time the Marquis de Vaudreuil was Governor of Louisi-
He located at New Orleans and married, in 1753, a daughter
of Mathurin Dreux, a worthy ancestor of Charles Dreux, the firsu
Confederate officer killed in battle during the late war between
the States.
Le Chevalier du Fossat was appointed, in Louisiana, captain of
a Company in 1759; was sent the same year to Illinois, being an
engineer of ability, to construct and repair several forts, among
others, Fort Chartres and the Kaskakias, which protected for
years the Western Colonists.
He was recalled to New Orleans in 1761, where he continued in
the service of the King of France, until the 5th of March, 1766,
when Ulloa, in the name of the King of Spain, came to take pos-
session of the province of Louisiana, which had been donated by
the King of France, to the King of Spain on the 3rd of November,
Seventeen Hundred and Sixty-two (1762).
By virtue of a permission granted to him by the King of France,
he entered in the service of the King of Spain, in Louisiana, in
1767, and was made Captain in the Batallion of Louisiana, in
1769, after O'Reilly had assumed control of the Province.
In 1772, whilst in the service of the colony, he was retired from
active service. In 1775 he was appointed Alcade by Governor Un-
zaga, on account of past services rendered by him; in 1778 he
bought from the Ursulines Nuns a plantation situated 2 I-2
leagues below the City of New Orleans, subsequently known as
the Villere Plantation, made memorable by the battle of New Or-
leans, and in 1786 he was again reappointed Alcade by Governor
Miro, and in 1794 he died, and was buried in New Orleans.
He was therefore one of the first to sit in the Cabildo, that his-
torical building that now has so important a place in American
history.
From his marriage with Miss Francoise Clodine Dreux, he had
three sons, namely: Francois Guy de Soniat du Fossat; Joseph de
Soniat du Fossat, my grandfather; and Jean Baptiste de Soniat du
Fossat, known as the Chevalier du Fossat. The above named
Francois Guy de Soniat du Fossat had the hardihood to follow
Governor Bernardo de Galvez in all his campaigns against the
English. He was present at the taking of Manchac and of Baton
Rouge, and he witnessed the storming of Mobile and Pensacola ;
therefore, the campaigns of Galvez, written by the Chevalier Guy
Soniat du Fossat, perhaps at his dictation, and found among his
papers in his quondam Chateau, must be true in every detail and
must command historical respect.
5
•
For signal bravery on the field of battle in those campaigns,
young Francois was made Lieutenant in the Batallion of Louisi-
ana, in February, 1780, and might have distinguished himself
more and more in the Colony had he not been called to France by
the death of his uncle, Le Baron Jean du Fossat, to take posses-
sion of the Chateau du Fossat, with title of Baron.
Among other valuable papers found by me, was a memorial
presented by said Francois Guy de Soniat, Baron du Fossat, to
Louis XVIII, King of France, petitioning him to decorate him
with the cross of St. Louis. There I found indubitable proofs of
the authorship of the brief History of Louisiana, and it happened
to be none other than the father of petitioner, because among the
claims he set up for obtaining said cross, was the fact that his
father had well merited same, had rendered signal services to his
fatherland and had left a memorial of Louisiana; and he also urged
his own individual claims, and among others, the fact that he had
served the cause of France whilst in the service of Spain. This
latter assertion puzzled me considerably, until I discovered the
opinion of Monsieur de Verzennes, Minister of Foreign Affairs in
France, written to Jean de Saunhac, Baron du Fossat, in answer
to a question propounded to him as to whether he could will and
bequeath to his American nephews all his property and his titles.
of nobility in France, notwithstanding the "droit d'aubaine" and
the prohibition contained in the French law. That opinion, forti-
fied by one given by Maitre Delord, a French attorney, seems to
warrant the assertion that the military services rendered under
one sovereign were not looked upon with disfavor by the other
sovereign, and did not disbar one from inheriting, according to
the laws of his own country.
It might be of historical interest to give a translation of the
opinion of Minister de Verzennes, which reads as follows:
"Fontainebleau, October 8th, 1785.
"I have received, my dear sir, the letter and the memorial
which you have had the honor to address me. You can, with all
surety, make the dispositions in favor of your nephews. In con-
sidering them as Spaniards, they enjoy in France all the advan-
tages of our citizens; nevertheless they could not be considered
as emigrants since they have ceased to be Frenchmen, by the action
of our deceased King.
“I am, my dear sir, sincerely, your most humble and obedient
servant,
(Signed) DE VERZENNES.
MR. BARON DU FOSSAT."
It will therefore appear that the principles for which Lafreniere
and Villere had died, were recognized in France, and that the in-
habitants of Louisiana, though Spaniards in name, were truly
Frenchmen.
6
Bernardo de Galvez himself had served in the French Army
previous to his advent to America, and he was none the less a
Spaniard for all that.
It is with pardonable pride that I tender to your Society, for
perusal, these old papers and documents which have lain dormant
in our family archives for centuries, the more so because of the
fact that it shows that some of our early colonists were not only
familiar with the sword but could also wield a facile pen.
I shall indeed be repaid a hundred fold, if perchance I have
brought out something of historical interest. If I entered some-
what into the history of our family, believe me it was not for the
purpose of ventilating the exploits of my ancestors, but it was
simply to shed some light on events which had happened in the
early days of our colony and which, in my mind, had always been
obscure.
Very respectfully,
CHAS. T. SONIAT.
SYNOPSIS OF THE HISTORY OF LOUISIANA FROM
THE FOUNDING OF THE COLONY TO THE
END OF THE YEAR 1791.
1
DESCRIPTION OF LOUISIANA.
Louisiana, as comprised within its boundaries, begins at East
Florida, and ends at Bay St. Bernard; and this comprises about
two hundred leagues of coast line along the sea. The depth of
territory from North to South is barely known beyond eight hun-
dred leagues in going up the Mississippi River to the St. Louis
River. However, some travelers, attracted by the prospects of
commerce, have penetrated as far as the Santa Fe region in New
Mexico, and they pretend, according to information received, that
the limits of this territory end at California, on the Western Sea.
Its latitude, at the mouth of the Mississippi River, is 29 degrees
and 30 minutes, and finishes at about fifty degrees; and its longi-
tude extends to the mouth of the Mississippi River, which empties
into the Gulf of Mexico.
THE MISSISSIPPI.
The Province of Louisiana is watered by a number of rivers,
flowing into the Mississippi River, one of the greatest rivers in
the world. It takes its source in marshes at about 800 leagues
from its mouth, after having traversed the richest and most fertile
country that can be found. It discharges its waters by means of
three different passes at a point called "Balize." Its banks form a
flat country, well wooded, and seldom above the level of the
water, thereby subjecting the lands to periodical overflows, to such
an extent that the inhabitants, in order to protect themselves, and
make their lands habitable, are compelled to build mud-banks, or
levees, of about three feet elevation with a proportional base which
can easily hold the waters back; unless, as is often the case, they
are bored by innumerable crawfish. Another source of danger is
from the caving of the banks.
RIVERS FLOWING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI.
The principal rivers which flow into the Mississippi are: "The
St. Louis," known as the "Illinois River"; the "Missouri", whose
source is unknown; the "Maramee," the "Kaskaskia," a muddy
stream; the "Bell Riviere," the "Cherokee," the "St. Francis,"
the "White River," the "Arkansas," whose source is unknown;
the "Red River," the "Avoyelles,” and many others, which, after
having received several others, are merged into the Mississippi.
That river is held within bounds, on the right and on the left, by
hills and mountains, at a distance averaging from two to three
leagues from its banks, and sometimes near the water's edge.
8
These mountains are sometimes 100 to 150 feet high. When one
has passed beyond the mountains, there are seen, extending to the
North, immense plains which reach up to Canada, and which to
the south reach down to Mexico. These plains are strewn with
flowers and aromatic plants, and at intervals are intersected by
hillocks, and small groves of trees; all of which offer tempting
inducements for cultivation. But the Europeans prefer the land's
fronting, or adjacent to, the rivers and lakes, on account of facili-
ties to be had for the transportation of their goods and com-
modities.
t
From the above description of lands, exception should be made
of about 50 or 60 leagues going up the river where the country
is flat and surrounded by lakes and impassable marshes, the moun-
tains beginning only at the distance above mentioned.
QUALITY OF THE WATERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
The water of the Mississippi, taken at its source, is clear and
limpid, but not palatable on account of the swampy taste. The
mixture of its waters with those of the extremely muddy Missouri
makes it the best in the world. Mississippi river water keeps
well in jars, and after depositing, it is agreeable to the taste.
It would seem that the earthy substance contained in these
waters would incommode travelers who neither have the facility
nor time to get rid of the mud. Often the deposit is about one-
third of the volume of water taken. However, there are few in-
stances in which persons become sick by drinking said water in its
natural state. On the borders of all the rivers above named are to
be seen Indian villages. The Indians are often called savages.
These villages and their population have decreased about two-
thirds in number since the advent of the Europeans, who intro-
duced and brought among them diseases, desires, dissensions and
all other abuses of civilization, heretofore unknown to them. A
brief history of their manners and habits will be given later on.
A
PRINCIPAL SETTLEMENTS OF LOUISIANA.
THE BALİZE is a small post situated at the entrance of the Mis-
sissippi river, and is garrisoned by a company of soldiers, sailors
and pilots, the latter for the guidance of navigators, and they are
under the command of a commander. The Balize is built some-
what on the level of the sea, on a moving soil, evidently formed
by the vast amounts of deposits of wood, vegetable and other
earthy substances in dissolution, carried in and by the waters of
the river, all along its banks, for a considerable distance on both
sides.
On ascending the Mississippi River, are to be seen, at various
distances, small farms where cattle are raised and placed on board
of vessels. It is only about twelve leagues from the mouth of the
River, where can be seen large plantations, where the ground is
high and has a certain depth.
9
NEW ORLEANS.
New Orleans is the capital of the Province. Its distance from
the Balize is about thirty leagues. It is where the Governor-
General resides, generally. It is pretty well populated. That
locality was chosen for the seat of government because the
ground appeared to be firm and solid, and because of the com-
modity of the Bayou which establishes communication between
the posts of Mobile and Pensacola; and it comprises a vast area
of land separated by lakes of eight leagues, or perhaps a little
less, in width. Vessels are often seen being towed up the river,
on their way to discharge their cargoes. The short trip from the
Balize to New Orleans is very inconvenient and expensive. It
has often occurred that vessels have taken as long to make that
voyage as it takes to come from France here.
The conflagration which took place on the 23rd of March, 1788.
reduced the city in ashes in about two nours' time, and it is prob-
able that it will never be rebuilt as elegantly as it was prior to
that occurrence.
MOBILE.
On the other side of the lake, to the east of New Orleans, is
Mobile. That post, during the French occupancy, was a small
town defended by a square fort composed of four bastions. It is
situated on the Bay bearing the same name. Its great advantage
was to be the town warehouse for the posts established in the
various Indian nations, after having passed from the English to
the Spanish, by right of conquest, during the last war.
PENSACOLA.
Pensacola originally belonged to the Spaniards. It was ceded
to the English by the treaty of London, and is now of small im-
portance. It has a fort which is kept for the defense of the finest
port of the Gulf of Mexico. This port is no longer frequented. It
was conquered at the same time as was Mobile, by the Spaniards,
who maintain a garrison there.
MANCHAC.
Manchac was established by the English in the year 1767 to.
protect and defend the right bank of the Mississippi River. It
had been ceded by the French to the English by the treaty of
London, with the exception of the island of New Orleans, com-
mencing at Manchac and ending at the Balize on the same side,
which was ceded to the Spaniards when they established a post at
the head of said island to compete with the English post. The
English Manchac was conquered by the Americans under the or-
ders of a certain Oulim. It was recaptured by the English, and
3
10
象
​in turn was conquered by the Spaniards in the last war and now
is held by them.
NATCHEZ.
Natchez is a post of no great consequence. It was established in
the early days of the colony by the French who caused it to
flourish; but the avidity of a Commander, by the name of Chapas,
ied on to the destruction of the very numerous and extraordinary
tribe which inhabited that part of the colony. The Natchez was a
very powerful natics. It worshiped the Sun; and guarded the
sacred fires, like the Romans. It was governed by chiefs named
"Suns," who were despots, governing from father to son, since
time immemorial. They drew their nobility from the feminine
side, thereby assuring their chiefs from one and the same blood.
The custom, prevailing among them, as well as among the nations
of the East Indies, was to bury, with the chiefs, their wives and
servants. The Natchez were obedient and obliging to the French,
who, at their slightest demand, would obtain much help front
them. But the Commander abused of their kindness to such air
extent that they rebelled, and murdered the Commander and all
the European inhabitants. That massacre would have been car-
ried out through the entire colony had not a Natchez woman, im
love with a Frenchman, changed the sticks or marks designating
the day fixed for a general massacre, and agreed upon by all the
other nations. The warning given by the Indian woman upset
and confused the conspiracy. The massacre commenced at
Natchez a few days before the one adopted by the other tribes,
and it gave a chance to the Europeans to be on their guard. The
Frenchmen rallied, and attacked the post and made a fearful
massacre, annihilating that tribe. It existed only in name after-
wards. The French then established a fort to protect the naviga-
tion of the river.
p
The conduct of the French towards the Natchez indisposed all
the other tribes against the white men. The Chicasaws declared
a cruel warfare against them, constantly killing all who wandered
away from the fort; and, under such conditions, all cultivation of
the soil had to be suspended. The treaty of London made the
English masters of that post of the Natchez. They established
plantations and made the post the bulwark of their possessions. In
the last war the Americans took possession of it and sometime
after the English retook it; and finally the Spaniards captured it.
and pretend to keep it, notwithstanding the treaty of Versailles
which fixes the American possessions at the thirty-first degree of
latitude. The post of Natchez is situated on the 33d degree of
latitude, and is distant about 150 leagues from the mouth of the
River. It is established on an elevation of 140 feet above the level
of the River, and as soon as that height is reached, there are to be
found immense plains, which the French, the English and the
Americans cultivate, under the banner of Spain. That govern-
ment maintains there a garrison somewhat sufficient to protect its
11
holdings in that Province. The products of the soil are excellent ;
tobacco, food plants of all kinds, even grapevine, if cultivated,
would yield abundantly. Before concluding the description of this
post, it would be proper to chronicle a particular incident which
occurred at the time of the massacre. The Indian woman who had
advised her lover to flee, also told him to let his Commander
know what was about to take place. The Commander took very
little notice of the warning, and through an inexcusable lack of
foresight, disdained the advice given him. The Indian woman,
perceiving with regret the inevitable loss of her lover, repeated
her entreaties, and he, fully believing her, and desirous of
saving his countrymen, presented himself again before the Com-
mander, who, annoyed by the remonstrances of the soldier, caused
him to be put in irons. Soon after, that unfortunate being and all
the other Europeans were massacred without leaving one to tell
the tale.
POINTE COUPEE.
Pointe Coupee was established long after the Natchez. It is
distant about sixty leagues from New Orleans. The soil is ex-
cellent for the cultivation of tobacco and food products.
ATTAKAPAS AND OPELOUSAS.
At about the same elevation, as is Pointe Coupee, towards the
West, are to be found, in the interior, two settlements situated in
the midst of vast plains. In the early days of the Colony, in each
of the settlements, at a distance of sixty leagues from one another,
were established cattle ranches, which became so important that
they tempted other colonists to establish some more. The pros-
perity which followed those new settlers induced a great many
others to join them, and caused the post to become important.
Besides the cattle ranches, the colonists established the cultivation
of indigo, and food products, and succeeded very well. The only
drawback to the success of those enterprises was the lack of com-
munication with the river. That, however, can be overcome at
smal! expense. Besides the many cattle ranches there are to be
seen, from the Balize to Natchez, a series of plantations near to
one another, as the ground is more or less valuable.
ARKANSAS.
The Arkansas settlement is situated at about two hundred
leagues from New Orleans, and is seven leagues distant from the
Mississippi River, on the left bank of the Arkansas river. That
post is not a very strong one, although it is situated in the midst
of immense plains, very tempting to cultivators of the soils. It is
used only to protect the navigation of the river and to hold in
check the Arkansas Indians. This is a very warlike tribe, very
useful to the Spaniards. It was formerly quite numerous, but is
being destroyed daily, by the use of alcoholic drinks, inhumanely
12
given to them; and besides the drinking habit, they make use of
a very violent poison which they administer to one another on the
slightest provocation.
ILLINOIS.
The Illinois post, distant from New Orleans about six hundred
leagues, was, during the French occupation, a very important one.
It was, in the beginning of the colony, founded by Canadians,
who, attracted by commerce of one nation with another, discov-
ered that beautiful country so similar to some parts of Europe.
There they settled and married Indian women. The population
grew rapidly and attracted the attention of the Canadian govern-
ment, who sent there a few priests and soldiers; but as communi-
cation between Canada and that post was far distant and very ex-
pensive, it was annexed to the government of Louisiana, and there
six hundred soldiers were sent, with a major and staff. That post
grew daily, and formed several villages clustered near a stream
which emptied into the river. By the treaty of London, the right
bank passed under English dominion and the left bank under the
Spanish government. The county seat, during the French period,
was the Fort of Chartres, which was quadrilateral, flanked by
four large stone bastions. It was reputed to be the finest fort in
America. It is no longer in existence. The caving of the banks
of the Missisippi River, at that spot, caused it to disappear en-
tirely. The right bank went over to the Americans, by virtue of
the treaty of Versailles. It embraced the valleys of the Kaskasia,
and those of Rock Prairie, Fort Massacre, the post of St. Ange,
the Little Village, and the Cohoes; the Spanish possessions on
the left bank, St. Genevieve, and St. Louis, the County seat.
That part of the country which can be compared to the finest
Provinces of France, is situated on the 39th degree of latitude.
Wheat, as well as other products, are abundantly cultivated. The
nutmeg, grapevine, and all the fruits of Europe grow perfectly
well, and they are all natural to the soil. Stone, marble and slate.
are found in abundance, and can be easily quarried, with proper
labor. Lead mines are there in a state of virginity, and so rich
that veins are found at from three to four feet below the surface
of the ground, and they contain almost pure lead. These veins.
are about one foot wide and six or seven feet deep and one hun-
dred to one hundred and fifty feet long, and then disappear in
rocky ground where the miners abandon them to seek easier
places to work. There is no doubt that in following those veins
in the rocks, silver would be found, and one is tempted to that
belief, judging from the small particles of that metal mixed with
the lead ore, and the great quantity of zinc it contains. Going at
least one-twelfth into a lake called Peoria, often almost pure cop-
per is found. To discover those mines requires the enterprise of
intelligent and wealthy persons willing to risk the expense. Iron,
coal and other minerals are abundant, and yet almost neglected.
13
When the population will become more numerous, then it is to be
hoped that use will be made of those valuable mines.
ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTRY.
When the Europeans settled in that country, it was inhabited
by a large number of Indians called the Tamaroux, forming sev-
eral villages, the principal of which were: The Illinois, the
Peorias, the Menguetas, and the Cohoes tribes, which have almost
disappeared. The cause of their destruction has already been
stated above.
PECULIARITIES FOUND IN THE ILLINOIS REGION.
In the village of the Cohoes are to be seen tombs ranging from
seven to eight feet long, and they seem to have contained bodies
of that size, judging by the skeletons found therein. Wells are
also seen, that are lined with stones, showing that they were made
by intelligent people. In certain localities are found indications
that the country has been in a state of cultivation.
THE MAN PLANT. .
In going up the Missouri river, about three hundred leagues,
some travelers discovered on its banks the trunk of a plant re-
sembling a human figure. Having approached near enough they
saw that it looked like the body of a woman, with arms, legs and
hands, and breasts. At the extremities of the hands, fingers and
breasts there were filaments, serving as roots, leading into the
ground, and the head was crowned with a small tree with some
foliage. The travelers searched in the vicinity, and found others
of the same kind, and after having dug to the roots of the plants,
they found bodies of the same nature as the first, designating males
and females. The travelers, with their sense of curiosity and
wonder, brought with them to the Illinois post a few of the curi-
osities, which brought about several theories. Some contended
that it was a root which nature had given the form of a human
figure. Others argued that they were real bodies that had been
buried, standing, according to the custom of certain nations, and
they had vegetated in a soil proper thereto. The first theory pre-
vailed over the other. Awaiting further investigation which may
settle the question, we had in our possession an arm from said
plant, which resembled, in every respect, the arm of a man. The
inhabitants of Illinois use the plant and find in them qualities like
the mummies of Egypt for curative purposes.
DISCOVERY OF LOUISIANA.
Louisiana was discovered by Fernando de Soto, a Spaniard, who
fitted out his expedition, and came to the port of Havana, a re-
nowned port of the Island of Cuba. He crossed the Bahama
3
14
Canal, and reached the main land at a point named Saint Augus-
tine, where he built a fort separated from the Island of Cuba by
an arm of the sea, about sixty leagues wide. It was on Palm
Sunday that he landed, and he named that country "Florida." He
then marched through that region to the Mississippi River, which
he named West Florida. Satisfied with having traversed such au
extent of territory, he retraced his steps without having established
any post. A short time afterwards the English attempted a
voyage of discovery, and reaching the mouth of the River, went
up the stream till they reached the Point now known as English
Turn, distant about twenty-five leagues from the Balize. It was
at that spot they met a party of Canadians, who made them be-
lieve that the branch of the river they were ascending was only a
watercourse uniting a lake with another, and that they were mis-
taken in the idea that they were on the Mississippi River. The
English believed what the Canadians told them, and they turned
back to the sea. The Canadians, who had embarked at the post
of the Illinois, and who, out of sheer curiosity, had followed the
course of the river, went back to Canada, where they informed
their government of their discovery, and what had occurred with
that party of Englishmen. From that time, the attention of the
Canadian government was fixed on that part of the country, which
they attempted to secure and control. Mr. de La Salle, a Cana-
dian gentleman, then offered his services, and at the head of a
small number of explorers, embarked at the Illinois post, and went
down the Mississippi River as far as the Red River, where his
men, tired at such a long and painful voyage of about one hundred
leagues, rebelled against him, and he, in that extremity, was
obliged to change his plans, and renounce the expedition of dis-
covery of the mouth of the Mississippi River, although he was not
more than sixty leagues from it. His men, nervous and impa-
tient, forced him to follow the Red River in the hope of finding
a shorter route to the sea, and after a great deal of hard work, he
reached St. Bernard Bay, where he erected a fort and left sixty
men to guard it. He then left for Europe in order to give an
account of his discovery and mission.
MASSACRE OF THE GARRISON.
Mr. de La Salle came back the following year, and found that
the post had been destroyed by the Spaniards, who had slaughtered
the entire garrison. It was unfortunate for him that he had
limited his expedition only to the discovery of the mouth of the
Mississippi River, which he could not find, after having con-
sumed quite a length of time in fruitless researches. He landed at
the same spot where he had, the year before, established a post.
He went back to Canada by following the Red River in order to
enter the Mississippi River, and then follow the same route pre-
viously taken by him.
15
MURDER OF MR. DE LA SALLE.
Mr. de La Salle had hardly reached the junction of the two
rivers, when he was murdered by his men. The French Court
thought no more of that establishment until the Banking system.
of "Law," commonly called the "Law," came into prominence.
Law, finding that the government was in need of a Bank to give
financial solidity to the French nation, induced the Duke of Or-
leans, the Regent, to establish a Bank founded on the Province of
Louisiana, thereby making his plan more conspicuous, and creat-
ing an establishment on an immense scale. Shareholders, grantees
and colonists were looked for, and soon, six thousand Germans
came forward, together with all those gathered from all parts of
France, and were embarked with great eclat for Louisiana, car-
rying with them everything necessary and useful for the new-
born colony.
ARRIVAL OF THE VESSELS AT DAUPHINE ISLAND.
The vessels approached the coast between Pensacola and Mo-
bile, and landed everything they had on board, on Dauphine
Island. Storehouses were built, awaiting the discovery of the
Mississippi River or its mouth, where it was contemplated to es-
tablish important settlements. The vessels, on their return to
France, circulated, at the instigation of the Regent and of Law,
rumors that the country was blessed, and that it was susceptible
of yielding a hundred per cent profit to the stockholders. Ac-
cordingly, the notes of the Bank were looked for with avidity, and
shares of stock were increased. People hurriedly converted their
good money into those shares, and soon after, a complete change
took place in the fortunes of the people. Servants became
wealthier than their masters during the apparent prosperity of
the Bank. The colony, thrown upon arid sands of the Islands,
rapidly consumed all the provisions contained in the storehouses,
which were not replenished. Soon famine stared the colonists
into the face, forcing them to disperse and to live on shell fish
that they gathered on the sea shore. That kind of unwholesome
food brought about diseases and many deaths ensued. So many
died that out of the six thousand Germans that had left Europe,
only about one hundred survived, and they had the hardihood to
find an issue to the River through Bayou St. John at about the
place where New Orleans was afterwards founded. They ascended
the Mississippi River and settled about ten leagues further up the
River, on the lands afterwards called Des Allemands. Their
number was increased by a few other French refugees who had
also escaped famine at the desolated Dauphine Island; and also a
few Canadians from the Illinois post joined them. The Court, in
order to keep up the credulity of the shareholders, sent, from time
to time, vessels laden with men and women picked up from all
parts of the country. They prospered so little that few of them,
16
or of their descendants, are left. The languishing colony increased
a little, until the attention of Mr. Maurepas, then Minister, was
called to the sad condition of the colony, and he sent two thou-
sand men of garrison to the Province. He encouraged the officers.
and soldiers to get married. They followed his advice, and it is
from those marriages that springs the best part of the present
population. The protection afforded to the colonists by the Min-
ister attracted many other Europeans, who, in the census of 1760,
numbered over ten thousand white inhabitants. The vessels which
the West India Company had sent to the Colony two years after
those which had first landed, proved a losing investment to the
stockholders. The people of France saw, too late, that they had
been duped. Law fled, the bank notes passed into oblivion; part
of the grantees abandoned their possessions, which they had es-
tablished at great expense, and with a rigid economy. About, that
time, the mouth of the River was discovered.
GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY.
In the beginning, the new colony was governed by Directors,
who reported their stewardship to the Company, whose domicile
was in Paris. The Company nominated and appointed the mili-
tary governor and civil officers, under authority of the King. A
Superior Council was created, composed of the Governor, Direc-
tors, and of several notable citizens, who administered justice
gratuitously.
THE FIRST GOVERNOR.
The first Governor was Mr. de Bienville, who tried, in the be-
ginning, to be friendly with the natives. He traveled through
their country, learned their language and succceded in maintain-
ing a perfect understanding with them. Through such concilia-
tory measures he quietly made all necessary establishments, and
during his administration the colony extended itself and pros-
pered in a wonderful manner.
SECOND GOVERNOR.
After a certain time, Mr. de Bienville was succeeded by Mr. de
Perrier, a naval officer, who inaugurated measures that were ad-
vantageous to the colony. He encouraged agriculture and com-
merce, and disfavored the introduction of luxuries which gener-
ally retard the prosperity of new establishments. During that
time, those who composed the colony lived in perfect accord with
one another, so much so that they seemed to form part of onę
large family, visiting one another, and holding reunions and
meetings, at which harmony and gayety invariably prevailed.
The food products, and hunting and fishing, were in abundance.
Living was cheap. The women were neatly dressed, without
ostentation. Those happy moments were interrupted by an in-
+
17
trigue made against Mr. de Perrier. Mr. De Noyan, Lieutenant
of the King, and nephew of Mr. de Bienville, obtained in secret the
signatures of part of the inhabitants to a petition asking for the
return of Mr. de Bienville and the recall of Mr. de Perrier. The
colonists, without any other motive than their weakness to comply,
did as requested, and the Court, in order to please them, acquiesced
in their plea, and Mr. de Bienville came back. Soon after, oc-
curred the massacre of the Natchez, and the war with the Chicka-
saws.
WAR WITH THE CHICKASAWS.
Mr.
Mr. de Bienville took the field against the Chickasaws with the
colonial troops and those of the Illinois. The day of meeting was
fixed for a certain date before the village of that tribe.
D'Artaguette, an excellent officer, commanded the Illinois troops.
He arrived at the Chickasaw village on the day designated. He
waited in vain for Mr. de Bienville. At last, unable to stand the
delay any longer, for want of food, he sent back a part of the
volunteers and determined to die rather than return without having
accomplished his mission. He invited the most resolute men of
his army to join him in an attack, after having sent back those who
had wives and children. He vigorously attacked the village, which
he found strongly fortified by the skill of the English traders, who
had taken refuge there. The attack was vigorous, but Mr.
D'Artaguette, and his small number of men, overwhelmed by num-
bers, were killed. Some were taken prisoners by the Indians and
were imprisoned in a cabin and burned alive. Even a Jesuit
Chaplain of the small army, unwilling to abandon his comrades,
was among the victims. During this time, Mr. de Bienville and
his men were advancing slowly and with difficulty. On reaching
the post they attacked it, and were met with such stout resistance
that they retired after having lost many men.
THE TAKING OF PENSACOLA BY THE SPANIARDS.
In those days, the French and Spanish Courts were at odds, on
account of certain pretensions of the Regent. The troops of the
Colony took Pensacola, which was promptly retaken by the Span-
iards with reinforcements from Havana.
WAR WITH THE CHEROKEES.
The repulses which the French had sustained in the attack on
the Chickasaws inspired the government with renewed caution.
Mr. de Bienville demanded and obtained from the Court a rein-
forcement of troops, in order to terminate that war, by the destruc-
tion of that nation, which was constantly harassing and destroying
the Posts, and impeding the navigation of the River. He sent a
battalion of marine troops, just arrived from France, up the River
to the Chickasaw village, and they camped at a place called "Ecore
}
18
a Marquos," where the meeting of the troops of the Illinois and of
Canada took place. The dissensions between Mr. de Bienville and
Mr. de Noyan, captain of vessel, commander of the troops, were
the cause of the ill success of the expeditions. Six months elapsed
and the men returned without having accomplished anything. The
victorious Chickasaws continued their warfare against our estab-
lishments, which were saved from total destruction only by op-
posing other nations to the Chickasaws.
RETROCESSION OF THE COLONY TO THE KING.
The West India Company, on account of its enormous losses,
retroceded the colony to the King, who then sent M. le Comte de
Vaudreuil to take charge of its affairs.
THIRD GOVERNOR.
As Governor, Mr. de Vaudreuil was kind and peaceful and did
much for the public welfare; and it was at that time that the King
sent two thousand men to defend the country. The King organ-
ized, at the same time, a Superior Council, composed of the Gov-
ernor, an Intendant, a King's Counsel, four Councilmen and four
Assessors, who dispensed justice gratuitously.
1756-FOURTH GOVERNOR.
In the year 1756, Mr. de Vaudreuil was appointed Governor-
General of Canada. He was succeeded by Mr. de Kerlerec, Cap-
tain of the Navy. Mr. de Kerlerec was a man full of vanity, and
of an intriguing, selfish disposition. He had obtained the position
of Governor by yielding up his emoluments to certain clerks of
various bureaus. This was the beginning of petty intrigues. He
considered Louisiana as his prey and did all he could to reap all
the fruits possible. The Intendant, who was watching him, ofter,
opposed his many schemes and designs. Then a deplorable spirit
of enmity sprang up between them, each trying to accomplish the
downfall of the other. Cabals and combinations were made, and
factions on each side were organized. Petitions were circulated,
and signatures were obtained, on each side. Good will and cor-
diality which had existed between the inhabitants during the pre-
ceding administrations, vanished entirely. The King, annoyed by
the repeated complaints made by the contending factions, sent the
Regiment of Angoumois to quell the spirit of dissatisfaction, and
to prevent the breaking out of civil war. The Court sustained the
Governor, who dismissed several officers, and they, on returning
to France, exposed the injustice done them. No sooner was the
Governor vindicated, than other accusations were made against
him; and after a long and tedious trial he was found guilty and
punished. The animosity which existed between the two chiefs.
also drew a dividing line between the inhabitants. Dissensions
·
Gen
19
sprang up among them on all occasions. The Governor had the
power to grant pardons, posts, and concessions and enterprises for
the King, and received lucrative commissions. The Intendant,
Chief of Finance, favored his own followers. The Governor or-
dered the construction of costly and useless fortifications, which
he adjudicated to his partisans. The Intendant kept the stores
open, so that his men might profit by them. Such a state of affairs,
carried on by the Governor and the Intendant, increased to a
considerable amount the paper currency of the country, which
soon went down with a loss of 800 per cent. Goods were then
sold on the basis of that discount, and wines, at that time, were
sold at the rate of one hundred francs per bottle, and other foreign
commodities were sold in the same proportion.
SIXTH GOVERNOR.
About the same time, Mr. Labadie, Commissary-General of the
Navy, was sent to this country as Director, with all the powers of
a Governor and an Intendant. He had orders to reduce the paper
money to three-fifths of its value, and to give receipts, which
were subsequently replaced by coupons which were given by the
Court and made payable to bearer.
DEPRECIATION OF THE CURRENCY OF THE
COLONY.
These coupons constituted a State debt. They were never paid,
except a few, which had been discounted at rates as high as 60
per cent. That immense loss caused the financial ruin of the
colony. The originators of that scheme remained unpunished.
CESSION OF PART OF LOUISIANA TO THE
ENGLISH.
The Treaty of London, which was signed after the unfortunate
war between France and England, caused France to lose the
colony, and it was then ceded to the English, who limited their
possessions from a point beginning at St. Lawrence Bay, Canada,
Acadia, and the two Floridas, and terminating on the right bank
of the Mississippi River, and at the head of the island of New
Orleans. There remained, consequently, belonging to France, only
the Isle of New Orleans, and the left bank of the Mississippi
River. The French colonists, who were on English possessions,
then emigrated to that Island. No sooner had the French col-
onists, after sacrificing everything, they had, so as to remain
under the French flag, become settled, an order was received
by Mr. d'Abadie, from the King, to cede all the French posses-
sions to Spain.
F
<
20
:
MONS. AUBRY, COMMANDANT.
Shortly after that, Governor d'Abadie died, and he was suc-
ceeded by M. Aubry, the commander ad interim of the troops,
until the arrival of Mr. Ulloa, Captain of Vessel of His Catholic
Majesty. That event took place in the year 1766.
SPANISH GOVERNOR.
Governor Aubry was the author of "Voyages in Peru," and he
had been the traveling companion of M. de la Condamine, who
had made such great discoveries in that country. M. Aubry did
not create the impression in anyone, by his appearance or by his
conversation, that he had taken any great part in those discov-
eries. He was a man of talent, very self-opinionated; and, conse-
quently, was incapable of carrying, in his official acts, such care
and attention as were necessary to gain the confidence and good
will of a people that was just experiencing a change of govern-
ment. His conduct, during two years, was always uncertain. At
times, he wanted to take possession of the colony, and, at other
times, on some pretext or other, would change his mind. In the
meantime, he would propose new measures in commerce and in
legislation, and in the discipline and conduct of the inhabitants,
and of their slaves; and also in agriculture. So many innovations
were introduced in the Colony, based on the flattering promises of
the Court of France that no changes would be made in the estab-
lished order of things, that it caused general unrest, and the col-
onists resolved to emigrate in a body. But, on second thought, re-
membering the large expenses incurred in the establishment of
enterprises, and in clearing up the lands, it was determined to
drive out of the country the Governor and the Spanish people. The
day agreed on came, and the banner of rebellion was flung to the
breeze. The populace, in arms, captured the principal posts of
the city. The Superior Council was summoned to deliberate, and
it decreed against Mr. Ulloa, and ordered him to quit the Colony
within three days. All the Spaniards were included in the decree
and were compelled to leave. The Governor, fearing serious con-
sequences from the revolt, took refuge on his frigate, after leav-
ing an officer on land to take charge of his house, and there to
receive and answer all communications coming from the rebels.
They notified the officer of the decree rendered, and he in turn
informed his superior, who sent no reply. He was only too glad
to escape without hurt. That popular uprising was so well con-
ducted that not one drop of blood was shed. Mr. Aubry, who,
since the arrival of the Spaniards, had not ceased, apparently, to
govern ad interim, showed such equivocal conduct that it could
not be approved by the Courts of France or of Spain. The inac-
tion of his soldiers, and the feeble resistance on his part in such
emergency, brought reproaches upon him.
K
21
DEPARTURE OF THE DEPUTIES OF THE COUNCIL.
After the decision rendered by the Council, Mr. Aubry wished
to justify the action, and he therefore sent deputies to the Court
of France to explain the motives that actuated him in the premises
and to beg of the King to again take possession of the colony, and
accord it his protection. The deputies, having tarried, did not
reach the King until after Mr. Ulloa's emissaries had had time
to go to Madrid, and to cause the Court of Spain to complain to
the Court of Versailles of the actions of the French officials. Mr.
Ulloa knew that first impressions received are generally the best.
Mr. De Choiseul was then Prime Minister of France, and he had
special reasons when he prevailed upon the King to cede the colony
to Spain. So he abandoned the colonists to the reprisals of the
Spaniards, and they, in order to enforce their rights, sent Count
O'Reilly, Lieutenant-General, at the head of three thousand men,
to Louisiana.
ARRIVAL OF COUNT O'REILLY.
O'Reilly reached the Balize on the 12th day of July, 1768. The
arrival of the troops, far from intimidating the rebels, roused
them to such an extent, that they determined to go forward and
meet them. The time which had elapsed since the revolt had
opened the eyes of some of the partisans of the rebellion, and they,
fearing serious consequences from their conduct, withdrew from
their party; and the rebels were reduced to a small number. Their
weakness in numbers by no means abated their courage. While
they were preparing to resist, with all the advantages due to their
position on land, there came a Spanish officer who announced that
justice and clemency would be the rule of Count O'Reilly, who, a
few days previously, had written to Mr. Aubry that his aim was
to avoid bloodshed. Mr. Aubry hastened to make that letter public,
and at the same time to state that the sponge would be passed on
what had occurred in the matter of rebellion. The revolutionists,
deceived by these flattering promises, and being ill-advised, re-
mained inactive, and even sent a delegation to meet Count
O'Reilly, who simulated good will towards them. On their re-
turn, the delegates praised the Spaniards and their chief. The
latter continued on his route without meeting any obstacles and
arrived quietly in New Orleans, and made all preparations for
disembarking as if he had an army before him ready to oppose
his landing. After disembarking, O'Reilly established several
posts in the City. He took possession of the Colony-a formality
which his predecessor had neglected, and the next day, having
convoked the Assembly, he exacted from its members the taking
of the oath of allegiance to Spain. He dismissed the Council and
established a Cabildo with alcades to settle the differences exist-
ing between the inhabitants. O'Reilly caused the arrest of twelve
of the leaders of the rebellion. They were tried. Six were con-
22
demned to death, and six to the galleys. He promulgated the laws
of Spain and appointed officers to enforce them, and to render
justice to the people. At great expense he formed a battalion of
soldiers and a battalion of militia for the defense of the Colony;
and he gave to the army a number of banners whose devices were
reminiscent of the events through which the colony had passed.
EIGHTH GOVERNOR.
O'Reilly appointed a civil and military governor in the person of
Don Luis de Unzaga, Colonel of the Havana Regiment. He was
reputed to have been unjust on other governmental positions and
affairs that had been entrusted to him, but in Louisiana he gave
only proofs of equity, moderation, and even disinterestedness. He
applied himself to efface the evils which had previously crushed
the Colony, and he attacked the ruinous system prevailing in com-
merce which made difficult the payment of debts contracted, and
he was strict in regard to that obligation. He, in a short time,
attained the ends in view, and by rigid discipline abolished the
spirit of luxury, and constrained the inhabitants to keep them-
selves within the limits of their means. On the other hand, he
was studying the ruinous schemes of commerce and agriculture
which had been established by his predecessors. He shut his
eyes to the practice of smuggling carried on between the English
and the citizens. By such means he satisfied the wants of the
people and the sales of the products of the country. Finally, that
Governor, who, in the beginning, had, by his coarse, repellant
manners, given poor hopes, became popular, and was well liked
and applauded. It is believed he will figure in the annals of his-
tory as one of the best Governors the colony has ever had.
NINTH GOVERNOR.
Don Bernardo de Galvez succeeded Don Luis de Unzaga; he
was the nephew of a Minister of that name, who ruled Spain, and
who, having no male children of his own, took occasion to favor
his nephew, who was not slow in taking advantage of the good
will of his superior. He started his nephew's fortune by sending
him to Louisiana, in the capacity of Colonel, and Governor ad in-
terim. That Minister, well posted concerning the secrets of the
Cabinet, saw that Louisiana was destined to be the siege of war,
and the place where his nephew could make his mark. He fur-
nished him the means to that end, in his capacity of Minister of
"Indies," and he planned everything so advantageously that an
officer with any ordinary capacity should have succeeded within a
year.
Don Bernardo de Galvez was subsequently appointed Governor
with full title. He had properly made use of his time in endear-
ing himself to the inhabitants; by means of flattery, caresses and
even by procuring to them new pleasures. He appeared sym-
23
?
pathetic, just and disinterested, even assisting the natives. His
conduct, supported by his uncle, conciliated everybody. He was
not slow in making use of all the advantages that were thrown in
his path by the Minister, who, ever mindful of all that could turn
to his advantage, and seeing that war was inevitable with England,
apprised his nephew beforehand that war would be declared, by
which means Bernardo de Galvez knew of the declaration of war,
in Louisiana, before it was known in Madrid; and he acted in
consequence.
Galvez, having made the necessary arrangements, issued a
proclamation summoning the colony to arms, marched with his
forces towards post Manchac. There he published the news of
war and by that means surprised the English, who were in pos-
session of that post. The latter, finding it impossible to defend
that post, which was of little importance, abandoned it and re-
treated to Baton Rouge, which they fortified in haste the day after
their retreat. During the night, Don Bernardo de Galvez, apprised
of the evacuation, disposed his troops to advantage, ordered the
assault and entered the fort, which had only 20 men, who made
no resistance.
FIRST VICTORY.
The General spent a few days enjoying the fruits of his new
conquest and then marched on to Baton Rouge, where he caused
to be brought, for the purpose of attack and to batter in breach,
several pieces of artillery of 24 pounders. The post had been for-
tified in haste and was defended by 600 men. He caused trenches
to be dug, constructed a battery, and battered in breach a para-
pet which was from 6 to 8 feet thick, composed of branches of
trees and dirt. A single bullet of that heavy artillery would have
gone through thirty feet of such defenses. The English having
defended themselves for half a day, asked to capitulate.
The news of this conquest, conveyed to the Court under the
most glowing colors, brought to Galvez the title of Brigadier.
Galvez employed part of the winter in making preparations for
the siege of Mobile. He demanded of the authorities of Havana
men and vessels for the purpose of attacking it with advantage and
with all possible security.
Jealousy caused the authorities to partially refuse his demands.
He embarked with a small number of soldiers and inhabitants
of the Colony, and arrived in the month of March, 1780, in Mobile
Bay, where a severe tempèst destroyed several of his ships which
foundered in the pass of the Bay. These ships carried many men,
who spent more than 30 hours on the debris of the vessels. The
calm, which came in due time, permitted the launches or ship's
boats, which had resisted the tempest, to pick up the unfortunates,
who, with eyes and hands raised towards the heavens, were im-
ploring aid and succor. Their prayers were answered and they
were all saved.
24
They were landed on the coast of the Bay. At that moment
the army was in such a bad condition that if the English had had
a single detachment on the parapets, as they should have had, they
would have taken all these unfortunates that had been saved from
the storm, and thereby not only would they have preserved their
post, but would have easily conquered Louisiana, which had been
left without a defender.
SECOND VICTORY.
Galvez took advantage of their negligence and re-established as
much as he could, order in his army. He ordered them to cross
the Bay and presented himself before Mobile, and battered a
breach. The artillery having produced its effect, the besieged de-
manded to capitulate and this was granted. That fort, which had
been built of brick, covered with four casements or bastions, had
been constructed by the India Company. The English had only
100 men to defend it, composed of sailors and soldiers.
That victory did not remain without recompense. Galvez reaped
all the fruits thereof. The king made him Field Marshal.
ATTACK ON PENSACOLA.
After that, there remained to the English in the Gulf of Mexico
only a single possession, which was Pensacola. They had made it
the County seat. On account of its port, and on account of its
easy intercourse with Jamaica, it was the center of the forces
which the English kept to preserve East and West Florida. The
Governor-General resided there. They had made of this quite an
agreeable town, which was defended by several forts constructed
of wood and earth. The sandy nature of the soil presenting no ad-
vantage to the cultivator, the inhabitants were contented to carry
on a profitable commerce with the Spaniards. Galvez was anxious
of effecting this conquest, which was quite different from the
others. He finally undertook it, and with that end in view sent
M. Miro to Havana to ask for all that was necessary for that
enterprise. Fearing obstacles or a prejudicial delay, he went him-
self to Havana, and after many conferences with the chiefs who
commanded that city, he obtained soldiers, vessels and artillery.
All left with him in the year 1781.
Having arrived at the port, which was defended by a fort and
artillery, it became necessary, in order to blockade and take it, to
force passage by vessels placed in line. The chiefs were ordered
so to do, but they refused to go further, under pretext that there
was not enough water to pass, and that vessels would go aground.
Galvez, perceiving that jealousy was the prime cause of the re-
fusal, determined to go through with a privateer manned by him-
self. He succeeded, and passing the fort and its artillery without
receiving any damage, was followed by other vessels. In short,
all those that were available entered, and the others remained out-
side for observation.
25
í
TAKING OF PENSACOLA.
The General landed without obstacle, the English offered feeble
opposition. The land troops, which had been assembled at Mobile,
came at the same time and made junction with the naval forces
without having been molested in their march.
If on that occasion the English had followed the tactics of
war, that division never would have joined the army; 100 men
placed on their passage either in the paths in the woods or in
the rivers which they were compelled to cross would have anni-
hilated them.
A little more, by some false alarm given during the night they
came near destroying themselves. The soldiers took up arms and
fired at one another, for more than half an hour, with the result
that a few were killed during the confusion.
At last the army camped without obstacle before Pensacola.
Trenches were opened and the army was led towards the redoubt
which covered Fort Saint George; it was the principal piece which
dominated all the others. The English had placed there the elite.
of their troops. Their artillery and mortars directed a terrible
fire on the assailants. These were pursuing their work rather
slowly and despaired of accomplishing their aim, when M. de
Monteuil, Chief of Squadron, came with a division of ships Le-
longing to his Most Christian Majesty in sight of Pensacola. It
was then that an alarm spread in the Spanish Camp, that they be-
lieved themselves surrounded by an English squadron. The
English, on the contrary, were rejoicing; but what was the sur-
prise on both sides when it was ascertained they were French-
I
men!
The General who knew beforehand that this reinforcement was
coming to him, pretended not to believe it, and appeared surprised.
The ships had 600 men, whom Mr. de Monteuil caused to disem-
bark, and they made service before the siege. The activity which
the reinforcements brought about, contributed a great deal to the
advancement of the works.
The English defended themselves so vigorously that the Span-
iards had not yet established their battery, which was to batter in
breach. As the Spaniards were on the eve of finishing it, an event,
reserved to the good luck of Galvez, hastened the destruction of
the enemy's redoubt. A bomb fired from the Spanish Camp en-
tered the magazine powder house constructed in that place; the
fire spreading from all sides caused the explosion of the artifices
or ammunition of war, which the English had placed without
precaution in every place for convenience; and the bursting of the
bombs caused fearful ravages. Half of the garrison perished, and
the fortification, which was of wood, was burnt.
The Spaniards, seeing the destruction of that post, hastened to
take possession of the place. The English seemed to make some
opposition and came out in battle array from Fort St. George.
They appeared satisfied of their maneuvres. The Spaniards lodged
·
26
themselves in the Fort without coming to blows, and Fort St.
George, constructed of wood, as was the redoubt, did not wait
to be attacked in order to surrender, but its men offered to capitu-
late. The garrison amounted to 800 men, comprising soldiers and
sailors, who obtained by capitulation permission to return to their
country with the condition that they would never bear arms against
the Spaniards during the course of the war.
It was time for that event to occur because the ships, were on,
the point of returning under pretext of want of supplies. The ad-
vice that the chiefs had given to the General caused him to de-
spair, to such an extent, that he was thinking of giving up the
enterprise when those unforeseen events took place, which ren-
dered him victorious.
RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS.
He took possession of his conquest and came back triumphant to
New Orleans.
The service rendered to the State did not remain without recom-
pense, as he was made Lieutenant General and Commandant of
the Army which was assembled at St. Domingo, to make the siege
of Jamaica, where the French were to be auxiliaries.
The English as attacked before Pensacola did not do what they
could have done for the defense of that place, and one cannot un-
derstand that a nation so warlike neglected to take advantage of
the opportunities that so often presented themselves to them in
many instances, whilst they could, with a little more activity and
attention, have destroyed the plans of their enemies.
DEATH OF GALVEZ.
Don Bernardo de Galvez gathered all the fruits of that war.
He obtained promotion from Captain of Infantry to Lieutenant-
General and Vice Roy of Mexico, where he died. All these honors
came to him after only five years of service.
Don Estevan Miro succeeded Don Bernardo de Galvez. Miro
governed Louisiana by and under the orders of Galvez, then Vice
Roy of the vast Kingdom of Mexico, and commander of the two
Floridas. When Galvez died Miro became the sole and absolute
Governor of the Province of Louisiana. His solicitude for the
welfare of his people, his honesty of purpose and his sense of jus-
tice made him an admirable Governor. He was always attentive
to duty and ever ready to obtain from the Court of France new
favors for his people. He used his best endeavors to check the
growth of evils brought about by habits of luxury, which had been
allowed to spread in the colony by the actions of his predecessors.
The bad effects of such a state of affairs had caused the fortunes
of a few and the downfall of many, and destroyed the good har-
mony and feeling which should have existed in the colony.
Mr. Miro corrected, as much as he could, the many disorders
that had crept into the community. He had already succeeded in
1
27
giving splendor and eclat to all the affairs of the colony, when, by
a fatal accident, he died, just at the moment when he was begin-
ning to reap the fruits of his labors.
CONFLAGRATION OF NEW ORLEANS.
On Good Friday of the year 1788, a fire was caused by the
negligence of a woman who thought of crowning her devotion
by making a small altar in her house. She left several candles
burning around it and went off to take her dinner. During her
absence a candle fell on some ornaments which took fire, and the
house in an instant was in flames, which communicated to the ad-
joining house, and the wind, which was strong at that time, spread
the fire to the balance of the city, which, in two hours, was con-
sumed.
The powders which the merchants had in their stores for daily
use, contributed largely to accelerate the conflagration, and ren-
dered it more dangerous to those who wanted to save the remain-
ing buildings. It would be difficult to depict the despair of the
poor unfortunate persons whose propertties had suffered from the
fire; these unhappy creatures, who, two hours before, enjoyed vast
and commodious lodgings with enough affluence to make one's
life agreeable and easy, saw themselves and their children in a
moment without resource. Some of them were obliged to take
refuge in the woods, without necessary provisions and clothes.
Some slept without cover under the broad canopy of the heavens.
It was in that moment of necessity that the tender solicitude of
M. Miro, Governor of the Province, showed itself. He opened
his house to all who were seeking shelter, and he dispensed succor
to the distressed families, caused the royal stores, which had escaped
the flames, to be opened, and he distributed the provisions therein.
contained. Recourse was had to the surrounding country for
help; permits were given to vessels to bring goods from abroad; in
short, the Governor administered as a good pater familias and
distributed that which he had gathered in the Colony in order to
support his numerous people, and he succeeded in making their
provisions last up to the arrival of the relief from Havana and St.
Domingo. All these cares and attentions gave the necessary com-
fort to those who had lost their belongings, but could not place.
them in the same condition they were before. Poverty stared them
in the face, and these conditions brought all the inhabitants to a
state of consternation, which was followed by the death of 1-6 ọf
the citizens.
Governor Miro, grieved by so many disasters, tried to divert
their attention and to alleviate their sorrows by his care and his
attention and his purse. He gave balls and amusements to the
unfortunate inhabitants in order to lessen their sorrows and to
divert their minds; if these sad and memorable events were of a
nature to be forgotten. Eight hundred fine and commodious
28
houses valued on an average at three thousand dollars ($3,000)
each, were destroyed in that conflagration, without any prospect
on the part of the owners of ever recovering anything, except per-
haps the bare hope of receiving some day some relief from the
King.
CURRENCY OF THE COLONY.
The King, desirous of giving new proofs of his good will
issued an edict retiring the paper money which then constituted
the currency of the Colony. Had the truth been told the King
in regard to the currency, in the beginning, it would have been
advantageous and would have prevented all the evils that hap-
pened. In order to prove this assertion, it may not be unwise to
indulge in some comment about certain incidents which occurred.
in the beginning of the last war. The Spanish government was
paying its expenses in silver. Those expenses had accumulated.
through stress of circumstances, the actual specie being insuffi-
cient to meet the expenses; and the Intendant introduced the use
of paper money which remained in the country with the piastre-
gourde. The merchants gradually discounted it as they made
returns for their commerce. Under the circumstances in the
beginning the small discount was imperceptibly felt. The creditors
were unwilling to receive the paper money at its real value be-
cause their contracts were made payable in piastres. They were
obliged to yield, by order of the government, and to content them-
selves with imaginary money. That paper money slowly in-
creased until it reached eighty per cent discount. It was then that
the people became obliged to recognize two sorts of currency, and,
accordingly, contracts were made and maintained by law and jus-
tice. The bad opinion which the people entertained about the
paper money led many inhabitants to make their contracts based
on the paper money, thereby causing them to pay one hundred
per cent dearer. Many were unable to satisfy their obligations,
and remained, owing large sums, which, by order of the King,
had to be paid in piastre-gourdes. Indigo, the main product of
the country was worth, prior to the edict, two piastre-gourdes;
and, since the publication of the edict, it was worth only one
piastre. Thus, at the rate of two to one, the farmers and planters
lost, adding also the greater evil of the premiums on the paper
money which was profited of by those who had control of the
piastres, and which, in their hands, became objects of speculation,
destructive of the good of the Colony, and made these men abso-
lute masters of the fortunes of the citizens and of the commerce.
They forced, by their control, discount at eighty per cent, and, a
few days later, thirty or forty per cent, as their interests dictated.
Rapid fortunes made by some, caused the ruin of a great number of
citizens, involving losses into the millions. The King himself lost
considerably in the purchase of goods for the maintenance of his
troops. He was paying at the rate of sixty and eighty per cent
29
dearer than he would have had to pay in good money. In con-
clusion, as a result of all the monopolies, the colony was paying to
those vampires four hundred thousand dollars every year, and the
duties indirectly imposed upon the inhabitants and the commerce,
set back the Colony, and put it in debt to such an extent, that ten
years of crops would have been insufficient to extinguish its in-
debtedness.
PORTRAIT OF THE CREOLE.
After having spoken of Louisiana and of its soil, we ought to
say something of the Creoles who inhabit it; and next, of the
savages, and products of the country.
Creoles are defined to be "the children of Europeans born in
the colony." They, in general, measure about five feet six inches
in height; they are all well shaped, and of agreeable figure; they
are lively, alert and agile, and, notwithstanding the great heat of
this climate, are laborious. They are born with ambition, and an
honest self-esteem. They are endowed with a natural dispositiou
for all sciences, arts and exercises that amuse society. They excel
in dancing, fencing, hunting and in horsemanship. Nature has
favored them with a penetrating and active mind, and they are
capable of being easily instructed. The lack of teachers renders
their education somewhat incomplete, and it must be said, in ali
justice, that among the many qualities which they possess are
politeness, bravery and benevolence. They are good fathers, good
friends and good kinsmen.
The women, besides having the qualities above enumerated are
agreeable in figure, and seldom deformed. They make good
mothers, and are devoted to their husbands and their children;
and in their marital relations seldom are they unfaithful. I must
also add, that the stranger arriving in this wild and savage country
will be surprised to see in this capital, as exist in all countries of
Europe, brilliant assemblies where politeness, amiability and
gayety reign supreme.
PORTRAIT OF THE ABORIGINES OF LOUISIANA.
The natives of the country, improperly called savages, form a
nation divided into several tribes, differing in their customs, man-
ners, and language. They dwell almost all in cabins made of
wood, rushes, or skins. Their huts form villages situated at con-
siderable distances from one another, and it is to be supposed that
they have placed their establishments at such distances according
to the necessities of each tribe. They are neither agriculturalists
nor shepherds. They live solely by hunting and fishing and by
gathering fruits in the woods. It therefore necessitates great
space from one village to another, so that the hunters of one set-
tlement shall not be in the way of the others. The savage is born
30
almost white, and he acquires his swarthiness and red color when
he becomes older. As soon as he is able to walk, he is exposed to
all the inclemencies of the weather. Always naked, he travels
without hat or clothing, in the burning sun. All his attire con-
sists of a piece of cloth or skin that hides his nakedness. The
women wear a small skirt which falls to the knees. I speak of
those savages who live from the thirtieth to the thirty-fifth degree
of latitude. As to those living beyond, towards the North, neces-
sity compels them to find the means of dressing better as the
climate varies there, and there is found a difference in the customs.
The savages who lived on the borders of the River were, on the
arrival of the Europeans, very numerous. Now, they are in small
numbers, the principal nations being as follows: The Ouachas,
the Chetimaches, and the Houmas who live on the banks of the
River from the 30th to the 32d degree of latitude. The other
nations, living about the same degree of latitude towards the East,
are as follows: The Choctaws, who are still numerous, having the
same usages as the nations first named above. As regards those
living in the West, under a burning sun, their wants are few,
and their language composed perhaps of from two to three hun-
dred words, is poor. They go about naked, and live by hunting
and fishing. They recognize marriage, and polygamy exists.
among them. They can take as many wives as they can feed.
The girls are mistresses of themselves, and enjoy their liberty as
long as they want; but, as soon as they contract marriage, they
must behave well. Adultery is severely punished, as for example,
when a woman is found guilty of that crime, all the young men
of the village bring her in a prairie where she becomes the prey
of all. Crime is punished by crime. As soon as she has under-
gone that punishment, which is called "courir la prairie,” or “run-
ning the prairie," her nose and her hair are cut. After that, she
re-enters the state of liberty and can make other matrimonial en-
gagements.
S
The Choctaws and the Tallapoosas cut the nose and ears of
the young men who are caught in flagrante delictu with a mar-
ried woman.
That is called "giving the contract. Marriages
are made among them without formality. To render a marriage
valid, it is sufficient to obtain the consent of the contracting
parties and members of the family, to whom the husband is bound
to make presents. Neither contracts nor writings, such as are
established among civilized nations to guarantee against bad faith,
are known among them. The nations living beyond the thirty-
second degree are, the Arkansas and the Tallapoosas. The Il-
linois live on the fortieth degree. Those nations who dwell in a
cold climate, where hunting and fishing abound are more civilized
and better dressed than those first mentioned. Necessity obliges
them to build with more solidity, to protect themselves against
the rigors of winter, and they wear shoes and clothing made with
the skins of deer; and they wear leggins similar to stockings worn
to the ankle. They have waistcoats, or jackets made of skin or
>>
Gra
31
wool, according to their means. These clothes are often orna-
miented with porcupine quills.
The women are covered like the men, with the addition of a
sort of skirt named "Alconante," which comes to the knees. At
the extremity of the skirt is a series of copper bells, which, by the
noise they make announce them from afar. Their hair is plaited,
and tied with a red ribbon. The ears of the men and women are
cut in the shape of a semi-circle four inches in diameter, and they
ornament them all around with lead and with a polished bone serv-
ing as an ear pendant. The men pierce their noses and attach a
ring thereto like an ear-ring. The men and women paint their
faces with vermillion, from the chin up to the top of the head.
The men absolutely pull all the hair off their heads, leaving only
a small bunch on the top. Perfumery is much in use among
them, the musk odor having the preference. The language of
those people is more extended than that of the South. The savages
lving beyond the fortieth degree of latitude are more numerous,
depending upon their associations with Europeans. The nearer
they are North, better are they dressed and cleaner, and better
civilized than those dwelling in the middle zone. As their wants
and desires increase their language becomes more expanded. It
must be observed that all the nations, more or less, living in the
same degree of latitude, are similar in their usages and customs.
CHARACTER OF THE SAVAGE.
The Indian is mild, humane and considerate to strangers, and
is generous; never refusing food to those presenting themselves in
his cabin; even were they enemies. He is irregular about his
meals and eats only when hungry, enduring thirst and hunger
for a long time, according to circumstances. It often happens
that an Indian remains fifteen days without eating. He wears a
belt around his waist, which he pulls on tight when fasting, and
as soon as he finds abundance of food he unfastens the belt and
eats as much as he pleases, without experiencing the least ill
results.
RELIGION OF THE SAVAGE.
The Indians are superstitious, and believe in amulets. They
always carry on their persons some skeletons of birds which they
deify, and to which they render particular worship. They believe
in a Supreme Being, who has created everything, and who is
composed of a good and a bad spirit. The essence of the first is
benevolence, and no prayers are offered to the good Spirit. On
the contrary, 'the evil Spirit is the one to be appealed to, because
of its wickedness.
LAWS OF THE SAVAGES.
The laws of the savage are few in number, the enlightened code
of laws of civilized nations being useless to them, as the distinc-
32
tion between mine and thine is not great. Their wigwams, their
wives, their guns and their beongings, their bows and arrows con-
stitute all their property, which no one can dispute. Homicide is
severely punished, and often, in this way: As soon as an Indian
kills another, the nation takes no part whatever in the matter, but
leaves to the family of the deceased the right to avenge or punish.
A few relatives of the deceased assemble to pass sentence and to
take measures to apprehend and slay the murderer. They have
the right to kill him wherever they meet him. The punishmen*
accomplished, the matter rests there. The nation does not prose-
cute the last murderers.
WARS OF THE SAVAGES.
The Indians are, generally, of a warlike nature. Those living
in Northern latitudes show more courage. They possess, in a
wonderful degree the power of enduring hunger and thirst in
campaigns of war. It is common to see warriors travel four hun-
dred leagues with the purpose simply to slay an enemy. Often
hidden in bushes, they wait seven or eight days without budging,
until a favorable opportunty presents itself, to accomplish their
deed. Their wars are simply assassinations, as they seldom openly
attack their enemies. It is always by treachery and surprise that
they execute their plans. As soon as the desired end has been
attained, they scalp, or take off the hair of the vanquished, and
then they run as fast as they can, night and day, until they reach
their village, where they enter with their trophies, and yelling
with all their might, they proclaim their victory. The number of
scalps brought is evidence of victory; for, without those gory
trophies, there would be doubts of the prowess of the warriors.
Every time an Indian kills an enemy, he has a right to cause to
be tattooed on his body certain signs or symbols designating his
valorous deeds. These marks are indellible, and are pricked on
some part of the body of the warrior by means of sharp instru-
ments which penetrate deep through the skin. Over the designs
or figures, a red powder is sprinkled, or some powder of any
other color, conformably to the tint most acceptable to the war-
rior, who had distinguished himself, and who had thus acquired
great consideration in his village. If an Indian is glib of tongue
he becomes the chief, and by that means all nations are governed.
Not by the right of birth, but by virtue of merit is the chief
selected. The chiefs have great power and influence in the coun-
cils of the nation, and they are always sustained by the old men
who have distinguished themselves. The councils and delibera-
tions of these assemblies, and even those of the chiefs, are never
despotic, but serve to hold the nation together by good advice.
They submit their deliberations to the nation, if they so desire,
but they are not obliged to do so.
33
5
THE CHIEFS.
The Chiefs are listened to by the Indians in proportion to their
reputation and persuasive powers. Those who are the hardiest
take charge of leading their partisans to war; and when war is
decided on, the war-party plant their hatchets or small axes into
a post standing in the middle of the village. Those who want to
follow the leaders, likewise plant their hatchets, and then they
must submit to the orders of the chief, who leads them to war
with all the prudence and care possible. The main object of the
leader is to spare his men, and upon his skill in that direction his
reputation depends. He will never attack the enemy if he thinks
he will lose one man in battle. He tries solely to surprise the
enemy, to strike blows without receiving any. Often, to be cer-
tain of the result, he consults his Manitou, a god made of bone
of a weasel or of feathers of the crow. According to impressions
received, he attacks or retreats, sometimes after a long and tedious
travel of from two to three hundred leagues. A single bad dream
from one of the men will produce the same effect. When one
side has the advantag over the other they treat their enemies most
cruelly. The dead are mutilated, and the tuft of hair with scalp
adhering is removed and carried off as a trophy.
TORTURE OF PRISONERS.
The
Prisoners are led to the village and burned to death.
usual custom is to tie the prisoner to a post. His hands are
bound, but his legs are free, and he can move about and turn
around the post.
`The men and women of the village torture the unfortunate with
redhot irons and glowing firebrands. These proceedings some-
times last two solid hours and during that time the sufferer glori-
fies himself, sings war songs and utters invectives against his
tormentors. At last his strength fails after so much suffering and
he drops. Then one of the warriors advances towards him and
finishes him up with a lance or hatchet. During that scene,
which is a sort of a show or spectacle for the nation, the patient
continues his insults against his conquerors, defies them in his
pain and accuses them of being bunglers in torture.
The writer of this was an eye witness to one of those cruel
scenes of firmness on the part of the prisoner, and of barbarity on
the part of the men and women who took part in these perform-
ances; and the writer also saw one who had removed the heart
of one of those unfortunates to devour it, all raw and bloody.
Fortunately, all the prisoners do not undergo the same operation.
There are some who escaped such torture, either by marrying
women of the nation who had lost their husbands, or by being
ransomed by the Europeans. In the latter case, the rescued men
are not happy, because they are made slaves. When the province
was under French dominion, slavery existed, but the King of
34
་
Spain, apprised of the hardships which his subjects inflicted on
the poor Indians, wisely abolished the practice of slavery. The
consequences might prove detrimental to some of those unfortu-
nates, but surely the colony will be protected from all sorts of in-
trigues and abuses which are concocted against the good of
humanity. I have said before, that the Indians were improperly
called savage, and this assertion is borne out by the fact that
they reason, and conduct themselves with policy in their affairs.
and those of the nation, in a manner to surprise those who have
not had occasion to study and frequent them, and who, by the
term "savage" had pictured to themselves a being that was brutal
and barbarous. That name is appropriate when the Indian is
drunk. Unfortunately, the eagerness of the Europeans for gain
causes them to furnish the Indians with strong drink, which de-
prives them of their reason, and will eventually prove their de-
struction.
LOVE OF THE INDIANS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
!
The Indians are much attached to their children and they love
them passionately. They seldom reprimand them for faults, and
it is a fact worthy of notice that the attachment of fathers and
mothers for their children varies in different localities. The na-
tions living in warm regions appear to be affectionate towards
their children in a larger degree than those dwelling in colder
regions. These remarks hold good also in regard to Europeans.
born in the same degrees of latitude.
NOBLE CONDUCT OF A HOUMA SAVAGE.
In 1760 a Houma Indian killed a Choctaw Indian. The Choc-
taw Nation was preparing to obtain vengeance. A detachment
of fifty men advanced towards the Houma Nation, and demanded
satisfaction. The two Nations were then living in harmony and
peace with each other. One of the Choctaws, speaking for his
people, said that this was a personal affair, and was conducted
without the sanction of the Nation; that, in order to keep good
feeling between the two Nations, the only thing they demanded
was for the Houmas to give up the head of the murderer. This
was assented to, and as preparations were being made for the
execution of the murderer, and he was about to be seized, his
father, an octogenarian, addressing his people, said that his son.
was young, and had many small children dependent upon him for
support, and was young and vigorous and fit to render valuable
service to his Nation; and it would be wise to spare the young
man's life, and to offer to the Choctaws another head in his
stead. The old man offered his own head for that of his son,
adding that as an old man he was now worthless to his Nation.
The proposition was accepted, and thus, the sacrifice of the
father for his son brought peace between the two Nations.
•
35
The Indians love their parents and their fellow-countrymen.
They care for the old. It happens, however, among some of the
Nations living in the North that when their fathers and mothers
become burdens to them, by reason of old age, they kill them or
abandon them to die in a deserted place. That barbarity exists
only among the Laytannies, the Pawnies, the Mohas, and the
Chieries, and other wandering tribes, who follow the droves of
wild animals which they hunt for their food.
INDIAN WOMAN MOTHER OF TWINS.
The Indian is not prolific. Seldom is there seen a woman who
is mother of five or six children. It often happens that an Indian
woman, who gives birth to twins, exposes one of them to perish.
The current belief is, that such barbarity took its origin from the
fact that the mother would find it difficult to feed both children
at the same time.
FUNERAL OF THE SAVAGE.
Several Nations bury their dead under the cabins in which they
have dwelt. They put in the grave all the weapons, knives, and
pipes and other movable effects the deceased possessed during life.
At the end of a certain time the dead are disinterred, and the
bones are gathered, and then kept in the cabins of relatives. The
Choctaws and all the Northern Nations expose the dead bodies on
scaffoldings in the plains, and, as soon as the flesh is in a suffi-
cient state of decomposition, to permit the bones to be easily de-
tached, then the bones are brought to the relatives of the deceased,
by men who specially do the business of detaching bones; and, as
the task is finished they are compensated for their labor.
The Indians consecrate one day in each year in memory of
their dead. They spend the day in decorating the graves and in
chanting mournful songs. They often have their faces and
almost all parts of their bodies painted black. We have forgotten
to say that, sometimes it is seen that relatives of the deceased
bring, each day, during fifteen days, consecutively, something for
their dead to eat, just as if they were living.
INDIAN GAMES.
The Indians are exceedingly fond of sports. It is common to
see them lose all their possessions on the hazards of a game.
Their favorite game is called "Raquette," and it is a ball game in
which they display skill and bodily strength and speed in foot-
racing. The contestants form sides. The winners tear off the
clothes of their adversaries.
AMUSEMENTS OF THE SAVAGES.
In all Indian villages there are festivals, feasts and dances con-
secrated to religion. For example, the day fixed for harvesting of
36
the Indian corn, which is a sort of Turkish wheat. Indian nations
in general cultivate the corn a little, though they do not pile it up
in stores for food. Their principal food products are derived from
hunting and fishing. Independently of some religious observances
they have other amusements or business which they have to trans-
act for the interest of the Nation; and in all those cases the affair
winds up in eating well and dancing. Every man invited at a
feast, cannot, without insult, refuse to eat the portions served to
him, and if he cannot eat all, he has to pay some one to finish
it up.
MUSIC OF THE SAVAGES.
The musical instruments of the Indians consist of a small fife,
a drum made out of a calabash covered with skin and little bells
all around. An instrument called Chiciqua, being a small
calabash containing some pebbles and large grains of lead, is
held in the hands and shaken, keeping time for the dancers. The
sound is painful and fatiguing to unaccustomed ears. The beat-
ing of the time is very well observed. Those dances ordinarily
represent love and war. Seldom the savages let night pass away
without procuring themselves that amusement. It would be indeed
extraordinary to approach their village without hearing the sounds
of these instruments, and the cries of joy the Indians make.
DANCE OF THE CHAVANNOS.
There are Nations who add dancing to the other amusements.
The men and women of the Chavannos assemble every night in a
place where a fire is built, and they, hand in hand, dance around
the fire during one or two hours. At the end of that time, one of
the women charged to keep up the fire, suddenly extinguishes it;
and then each man catches the first woman he can lay hands on,
without any objection on the part of the husband.
RELIGION OF THE SAVAGES.
The Indians inhabiting the West, believe almost all in metam-
psychosis; and they pay hommage to bones of animals, and of-
fering propitiation in the shape of tobacco, pipes and often some-
thing to eat. There are some who are fire-worshippers, and who
adore the Sun, in this way: The small and great Oracles paint
their faces and all their body in black at the time of the setting
of the sun, and in anticipation of daylight, they keep vigil, and
from time to time utter frightful cries. As soon as the sun ap-
pears at the horizon, they go in bathing and meanwhile cry out
loud invocations and prayers. After that, for the rest of the day
they devote themselves to their customary amusements and occu-
pations.
REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF THE SAVAGE.
The life of the savage is mild and quiet, and if anything dis-
turbs his rest it is war, when it unexpectedly confronts him; other-
37
wise, he is free from uneasiness. The cares of the future never
worry him. He lives from day to day, without thinking of the
morrow. Fishing and hunting in the woods furnish the Indian
with the means of supporting himself. Roughly nurtured he can
do without many things that we would consider indispensable.
His domicile is never contested by another. His home is every-
where. Ambition can never trouble his soul. He is satisfied with
what he possesses. His wants are ordinary, and he knows how to
satisfy them. With his bow and arrow or his firearms, if he has
any of the latter, he supplies his wants. Of law and its multiple
branches among civilized nations, he knows nothing. The few
laws which he is obliged to observe are founded on natural laws,
very seldom trouble his mind, and when they have to be followed
it is without murmur. Future life does not bother the Indian
much, and if he adopts any creed it is for the purpose of enjoy-
ing perfect life, free from all vexations which occupy a man to
whom the code of morals is an actuality.
We must not wonder, then, if the Indian lives to an old age, as
he is exempt from the bodily ills that afflict the European race, so
burdened with sorrow and with the cares of civilized life, so full
of requirements and of many things which constitute his wearing
apparel, and which are in the way of the free circulation of
healthy blood, compelling nature to make efforts to surmount the
obstacles thrown in her path. From what we have related above,
we will leave you to draw your conclusions, now, whether, leav-
ing aside the question of religion, the physical man is happier
than the moral man.
-
MEDICINE OF THE INDIANS.
The Indians have doctors who treat their sick by means of
simples, or herbs, which in many cases are very efficacious, and in
the administering of which they have considerable mummery, and
superstitious gestures, songs and words. The doctor among the
Indians is held to cure the sick person. If he has the good for-
tune to succeed, he is liberally compensated; but if he fails, then
the relatives of the deceased have the right to despoil the poor
doctor of all he possesses. Such a custom would never do for
our present faculty. Nevertheless, whatever might be said on the
subject, the usages of the Indians in such cases are founded on
natural right. Their doctors excel in surgery. There are few
sores resulting from fractures, and from wounds that do not
readily yield to the "herb" treatment. I saw a savage wounded
by a bullet that went through his body, piercing the intestines. As
soon as he fell the doctors stuffed the wound with herbs to arrest
the flow of blood, and they carried him to a place of safety. As
soon as they reached the place they reopened the wound, put
water in their mouths and then forced through the wound a
quantity of that water. After that they took him by the arms and
legs and shook him for a long time. They kept on the process of
..
38
forcing water into the wound and balancing the body until the
water oozed out without being stained with blood. The doctors
continued dressing the wound the next day, and sucked the
wound, which healed in six days. I also saw an Indian who had
been entirely cured from an injury, a blow that had shattered to
pieces the bones of his arm. The doctor or surgeon extracted all
the broken pieces of bone and when the wound had healed, there
remained but the flesh and nerves. Internal ailments are treated
by scarifications, by sucking, by sweats or profuse perspiration,
which are induced by placing the patient into a small cabinet in
which red-hot stones are enclosed. The savage knows about
several uncompounded substances, simples, which would be the
fortune of our apothecaries if the Indians would reveal the reme-
dies and the mode of using them. But they are averse to divulg-
ing their secrets, for they have the superstitious belief that, by
disclosing those secrets to others than relatives, the remedies
would become of no value in the use which might be made of
them in the future. The Indians, male and female, make a great
use of water. They bathe at all seasons of the year. One shivers
at seeing them, in the depth of winter, break the ice on the water-
courses in order to get the water for bathing.
As soon as a child is born, its mother plunges it into water,
whatever be the temperature and then bathes herself. European
doctors would consider that act as fatal to the child and to the
mother, but it is a fact that they suffer no inconvenience there-
from.
I believe that it prevents diseases which attack the children of
Europeans. For instance, the negro women, who act differently,
by keeping their new-born babies in a moderate degree of heat,
cause their babies to contract a disease called lockjaw, which kills
one out of fifteen on an average. That disease is a sort of spasm
which stiffens the limbs of the unfortunates, who, after seven or
eight days, die in horrible pain.
EDUCATION OF THE INDIAN.
When an Indian child is born it is placed in a wicker basket
with a hole in the middle, so as to permit the infant to perform
his natural functions without soiling itself; and the child is cov-
ered with some cloth or skin. The mother carries the basket on
her back, and on arriving at her destination she takes off her
burden, and hooks it on to a tree. The child, having its limbs free,
can move them as he pleases; this is done so as to permit the child
to develop its limbs, and thus nature is assisted and the child be-
comes what he should be in the usual course of nature. The only
bond is a ligature above the knee so as to mould the leg. The
result of this practice is that an Indian always has good sound
legs. Seldom is one seen deformed, crooked or misshapen. As
soon as the child is able to move about, he is put on the ground,
where he does what he pleases. When he has attained the age of
five or six, he is exercised in wrestling, running, and in the use
39
of the bow and arrow, and as he develops in age and in strength
he is taken out to the hunt or to war by the older Indians.
PRODUCTS OF LOUISIANA.
Louisiana, on account of its extent of territory, and its diversity
of climate, produces not only the fruits indigenous to it, but many
that are grown in Europe, such as wheat, which grows profusely
from the 34th to the 50th degree of latitude; and probably further,
if it was cultivated, it would thrive. The wild grapevine is to be
found everywhere, and the variety changes as one goes towards.
the pole. Grapes are growing, which, in certain localities, ap-
proach in quality those of Europe. The other fruits follow the
same progression. About the fortieth degree of latitude are found
apples, pears, cherries, chestnuts and other kind of nuts; and they
are as abundant as in Europe. Many species are indigenous to the
country, and they form forests of full-grown trees. Walnut trees
of different varieties abound. There is also a large tree called
pecan tree, bearing a sort of small nut, which is excellent. Mul-
berry trees are very common and are to be found on the banks
of rivers and in all localities near water courses. The oak, the
elm, the cypress, the willow, the cedar, live oak, and the maple are
found. It is from the sap of the maple tree that the inhabitants
of the Illinois make a very good and fragrant sugar. In the month
of March they make incisions into the bark of the maples, and
collect, in receptacles, the juice flowing from the cuts into the
vases, and the sweet liquor is then put into large kettles and
boiled, until it has attained the consistency of syrup or of sugar.
The hop, the asparagus, the chervie, grow in the plains without
cultivation. Such is not the case, however, in the southern por-
tion, where New Orleans is situated, because the great heat of the
climate, from the month of March to the month of November, is
an obstacle to the production of many of the fruits and products
above mentioned. The peach only is passable; as regards the
other fruits, they are sour, with the exception of the orange, which
is very good and very abundant, provided the cold of winter, as
often happens, retards the maturity of the fruit.
The only products of the last-named region are: rice, indigo,
maize or Indian corn, potatoes, peanuts, muskmelons, watermelons,
and generally, all sorts of vegetables, provided the seeds, brought
from abroad or from Northern countries, are constantly renewed,
COMMERCE OF LOUISIANA.
Indigo, the trade in skins of wild beasts, timber, lumber, planks,
shingles, rice, tobacco, and corn, form the export business of the
Colony. The exportation could be increased by the cultivation of
cotton, hemp, and flax, which succeed very well. There are a
thousand other articles of commerce which are neglected and
which would not prove remunerative in the raising because of the
40
high price of labor and the great cost of buying negro slaves, who
are the only laborers able to stand the heat of the climate. It is
supposed that, as the population increases, these various articles
of commerce will be taken care of. About one hundred leagues
from the capital are found the zinsin, ginger, the pepper of Vir-
ginia, aromatics of all sorts; sudorifics like chinaroot, sassafras,
sarsaparilla, black snake-root, rhubarb, jalap-root; copal gum of
very superior quality. All of these commodities are a source of
very profitable commerce to the community. The lumber from
the cypress trees is of excellent quality and much in demand in the
islands and even in all America. France never will realize the ad-
vantages above enumerated, and they are known only through the
impetus given by the Spaniards to these different articles.
QUADRUPEDS IN LOUISIANA.
The quadrupeds, such as cows, horses, sheep, hogs, goats, im-
ported from Europe, have considerably multiplied in all parts of
Louisiana. In the woods are found wild cattle resembling drome-
daries, and having humps on their backs. Their heads, to the
shoulders, are covered with wool, which would be a valuable
material for manufacture in Europe. The flesh of these animals is
excellent. There are seen prodigious quantities of roe, deer, and
bears. The fat or oil of the bear is used for cooking.
The ferocious beasts, such as tigers, wild-cats (the latter a sort
of leopard and very common), which were hitherto very numerous,
are diminishing in proportion to the increase in population and of
establishments. A large number of these animals are hunted and
killed merely for the sake of their hide and tallow, while the
carcasses are left to the wolves and foxes, which are very com-
mon.
WINGED ANIMALS.
Chickens, pigeons, turkeys, the common ducks and those from
the Indies have considerably increased. Besides these, there is the
wild turkey, perfectly similar to those of Europe. Wild ducks.
teal ducks, arrive in autumn in great clouds, and are very good
Wild birds and robins are plentiful. Woodcocks, snipes,
and quantities of other aquatic birds give the hunters plenty of
sport. Partridges are small. Pheasants are found in several
places; some partridges are not larger than the quail of Europe.
to eat.
BIRDS.
The crow, the turtle-dove, the ring pigeon, abound in the Ar-
kansas and in the Illinois. Sometimes, the ring pigeons descend
to New Orleans; but the others do not. The hazel hen is common.
It is really in this part of the country that are to be found the
most beautiful birds, such as the Pope, a small bird like the spar-
row in size. It has a plumage of various colors-red, green and
41
violet, and it is a pretty singer. The mockingbird is larger than
the Pope. It has been given its name because it can imitate the
songs of other birds and the cries of animals. It sings admirably.
The Cardnai is a little larger than the Pope. Its plumage is red,
and its song is sweet and agreeable. The Bishop is about the size
of the others, and has a violet plumage, and its melody is charm-
ing. Besides those mentioned above are to be seen the birds found
in Europe.
There is a bird on this continent about the size of a turkey, and
of such light flight that it hovers in the air almost motionless. It
flies through space rapidly and apparently without moving its
wings. Their habitations are hardly known. They are seen only
when carcasses are buried on the high road. Then they come from
all directions and they disappear as soon as they have devoured
the carcass. Those who have studied the habits of these birds are
surprised at the promptness with which they came, as soon as some
dead animal cumbers the ground. Those birds, called Carencros
(Turkey-Buzzards), are immediately seen hovering in the air
over the exact spot where lies the carrion, which it has discovered
by the sense of smell, with which they must be endowed to an ex-
traordinary degree to enable them to smell at great distances.
p
I saw on a trip I made to Arkansas and to the Illinois, an extra-
ordinary bird. I was going through a vast prairie, and as I was
about to reach a stream, I saw a gray bird about the size of a
chicken walking ahead of me. As I was on the point of reaching
the bird, it stopped, hid its head under its wing, and presented to
the appearance of a round ball, with feathers erect and sharp-
ponted, like small spears, which could not be touched without pain.
That extraordinary transformation arrested my attention for a
moment, but being fatigued from my long journey, I refrained
from pursuing my investigations any further.
me
STINKING ANIMAL.
There is found, on the banks of the Mississippi, a curious quad-
ruped resembling the weasel. When it sees anything which
frightens or which may injure it, it remains motionless, always
turning its rear part to the object it fears, and when near enough,
it ejects into the face or the body of the adversary a deluge of
some stinking fluid, the odor of which is unbearable. Any man
receiving that dose, has to seek, without delay, some water or
anything to get rid of that awful smell. The animal then takes
advantage of the discomfiture of its enemy, and gets away, and
thus finds safety in flight.
Apropos of that animal I will narrate a little incident which
happened while I was making my first trip, by river, to the Il-
linois. The boat I was commanding was compelled to hug the
shore on account of the swift current in midstream. As we were
passing very near the banks of the river we saw a small cavity, in
that hole we saw one of those animals, seemingly awaiting our
42
转
​approach. When near enough, it flung against us that nauseating
stuff, and we became so sick that we immediately sought the land,
to disinfect our clothes and the boat. Water, vinegar, strong
liquors were used, in vain, but the odor remained with us for
more than fifteen days, with great tenacity.
REPTILES.
Louisiana has, in all its vast extent, snakes, vipers of several
kinds, the bite of which is mortal. The rattlesnake, so named
because of the number of knotted rattles at the end of its tail, upon
which one rattle grows every year and serves a guide to the age
of the snake, which, as soon as it sees something that disturbs it,
shakes its tail, and the rattling clearly announces the presence of
the dangerous animal. It is well to heed the warning, and not
to be too preoccupied, for the rattlesnake is most frightful, venom-
ous and dangerous.
There is also the black snake, which has a flat head. Spiders
are also found in the woods. Their sting is poisonous and fatal.
causing the same mortal symptoms as the bite of the tarantula.
!
AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS.
There are many amphibious snakes. Besides many other am-
phibious animals, as in Europe, there are turtles of several species.
The Crocodiles, said to be diminutives to those of the Nile, are
very numerous. Seldom
Seldom is there a pool of water without some of
them being seen in it. They inhabit the rivers, the watercourses,
and the sea. On account of the abundance of fish they find for
food, they are less dangerous here, than elsewhere. I have seen.
hungry crocodiles run after certain animals which they easily de-
vour. Even men have been attacked by them. They have in-
credible strength in the water. But the harm they occasion is not
great considering their large numbers.
The crocodile has the shape of a large fish, without any fins.
Some of the creatures are more than twelve feet long, and seven
to eight inches in diameter. Their head is long-like that of the
pike and they have large, cavernous jaws, very deep and set with
double rows of large and very pointed teeth. They live most of
the time in the water where they get their food, but can eat only
on land. Their ordinary prey is fish or some land animal which
is surprised and killed as it goes to the water-edge to drink or to
bathe.
I will here narrate an incident which happened within my ex-
perience, showing the cunning and voracity of the crocodile.
negro woman who was washing clothes on a bridge near the
water's edge was perceived by a crocodile, which came swiftly
swimming just under the surface of the water, and he tried to
snap her by the hand; but she saw the creature and ran away.
The crocodile, after several unsuccessful attempts, finding he
43
could not accomplish his end, passed under the bridge and caught
the negro woman's clothes from behind. Luckily, I was within reach
with my gun, and as she yelled I flew to her rescue and released
her from the clutches of that beast which would, beyond a doubt,
have dragged her into the water but for my opportune presence
and assistance.
I was about to omit the statement that there is in this country a
large number of squirrels, of different species, among which the
flying squirrel, which is smaller than the others, and has a skin
which, starting under the pit of the forelegs, ends at the abdomen.
That skin is like a big flap so that when the animal darts forward
to jump from tree to tree, it expands, and the squirrel seems to be
flying like a bird.
END.
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