Southern telegraph., 1838-04-03
ANCIENT RELIC.

Ii Is Il tact OF winch but n, lew are aware
that at Satariia, on the YaZoo River, mouider
the ruins If diapidated Fort. which, during
French nscendency in this country, was the
abode and asylum of civilized man. Though
the fact that The French, in times long an
terror to the Revolution, occupied Fort ON
the Y,zoo River, is incidentally mentioned
in connection with the early history Of Gen.
Washington. Yet little even at that period
seems TO have been known OF lis locality,
its object, or its destiny; and now it's
mention has faded from the page of Ameri-
can history, and its recollection from the
memory of man. Ba. it is on that ac-
count eneiro led with unusual interest, and
clothed in imaginary grandeur; as fancy,
unrestraincd by fact, must weave its his
tory-rear again it's splendid but fallen
walls-peop!e its silent arcades-s,ring
anew the lutte by which the lover softened
and civilized the dusky forest maiden,-
and mount the deep -mou.hed ,nnon whese
thunders were heard far alone the sluggish
waters IF the Yazoo. The ditch which sur
rounded this once secure and majestic Fort,
is one mile in circumference, aud notwith-
Standing Fl ,od of years have poured their
celebrating waters upon it, the depth is vet
three and a half feet. The dirt which was
thrown from it rises about the same distance
above the surface Of the surrounding coun-
,ry-making the distance at present from
| the bottom Of the ditch to the top of the en-
ba.tllmcnr, from six to seven feet. This
ditch is perfectly circular, and must have
| been of great depth at the time of lis COM
| p!eion-otherwis its every vestige would
| have long since disappeared; for such is its
| age that the trees which have grown up
both in the ditch and upon the embankmenf,
| equal in size and have in every particular
the resemblance, of those in the neighborine
forest. The slirface of the earth on the in
| side is perfectly level, with the exception OF
here and there mound, seemingly design
| ed 10 Civ c the inmates view and command
of tho river, which meanders at distance
Of two hundred yards from the north-wes-
! tern Boundary The ruin indicates nothing
Of the character and construction of the
! Fort further than tho embankment and cir
cuIar ditch before described. This Fort
must have been constructed as early, or
nearly SO, az the settlement Of New Or
leans, anil have as'onished the wild Indian
before he learned the name Of the far-famed
.sNatcaez." Ofthe history of this desolate
home Of the soldier, the Indians themselves
know but little, having left its tradition be-
hind them in their chase after the wild deer
Of the wilderness. The only information in
relation to it was derived from an Indian
who bore some visible traces of his French
ancestry, and claimed to be decendent oil
a Princess of Yazoos and the French com
mandant at the Fort. He lived upon the
spot at the time the country was settled by
the whites, and the tradition. as it had reach
ed him, represented the French as once
having an extensive and lordly possession
there, of which the Fort was the centre.
They traded with the Indians, and attempt
ed to possess themselves of theYazo valley.
After years of labor and suffering, when
they believed themselves nearest the ac-
! comp!lshinent of their object, and the sur
! rounding Indians most peaceful and friendly
the Yazoos suddenly made descent upon
them, and surprised and massacred the in
!. habitants Of the Fort. This, he saws. orr
: ginated in the maltreatment Of the Princess
!, his maternal ancestor, by the French: bu
: probably from desire Of plunder ia tht
. indians.
Ifsome lover of fiction would visit thi.
! spot, he might find foundation for some o
! fancy's brightest and loyeliest creations
= 4 theme which would render romantic tn.
: mention Of the Wills Of Mississippi.-Can
e ton Herald.