Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-03-03
WESTERN ROMANCE

beautiful Indian superstition, which makes
the spirit bIrd' ola departed chief sing
continually in tree over his grave. No
eye of mortal has ever seen this songster /;
but the ear oft passenger is often en-
tranced, and his steps are delayed to listen
to the wild melody of the invisible songs.
Ter. The West is full of such poetical
and beautiful fictions. As the dolphin, in
dying, exhibits all the colors of the ram
bow, so the memory ofthe Indians as they
depart before the advance of civilization,
presents itselfto the mind in all the chan
ging and poetical hues of romantic tradi-
ton. While The great body of our poets
are seeking inspiration 10 Eastern skies,
and their themes among the legend of Eu.
rope, 1t is pleasant 10 notice that there are
few who can find subjects for verse in the
traditions of the Aborigines ofthis country
next to the Jews, from whom they are
probably descended, the most remarkable
people who ever lived.
To those few truly American poets, a
new one has recently been added in
"PHAzMA" of the New Orleans Picayune.
The reader cannot have forgotten the
beautiful eulogy from the pen Of this wri.
ter to which we called his attention a
short lime since. He has again written
something we'll worthy to be remembered.
The theme that inspired his muse will be
better understood from the following ex.
tracts from the New Orleans Picayune,
than from any condensation which we
might attempt.-N. Y. Taller.
Are our worthy citizens, who rush ev-
cry summer to the North, aware that
there is such place as Pascagoula Bay
IN this vicinity ? If they are, then it is
evident that distance lends enchantment
to their view," or they would never put
themselves to such trouble, Inconvenience
and expense TO secure health and recrea-
ton if they do not, then we do feel plea
sure in making them acquainted with the
fact
When half a century shall have rolled
away, we venture an humble prediction
that fashionable pilgrims from the North
and East will seek the Lake of Ponchar.
train and the Bay of Pascagoula, as places
rendered classic by natural advantage and
the interest of tradition-When Venus
@-Rose
Out ofthe sea, and with her life did fill
| The Grecian Isles with everlasting verdure,
the shores of bytherea showed not whittier
beach of sand and greener covering o.
| grass, trees and shrubs, fairer flowers, OIL
sweeter odes than belong to the little rura
retiracy Of Pascagoula. Without pilgrim:
staff, sandal shoon,' or a long strange
travel, here at our own door-half days
Journey from New Oheans-exists LITTLE
vulgar, unknown locality, where may b
found all the Boosted entertainments Of the
Grecian Isles. The softest airs ofthe sun
| ny South play here through the orange ant
myrtle groves, and sometimes from the fal
Gulf the fresh breeze comes flashing the
glossy surface Of the bay into vast regi
on of snow-capped waves. Then IS TIT
time to battle, to plunge in the heavin!
tide, to mount the foaming wave, and rid
upon the white-manned war steed of tn
sea or sail about the bay,and among tn
low, green islands, covered with tall gras
and lustering myrtle,while Neptune sport
at our. powers and filings his watery dia
monds in our face.
The story told of wild and singula
melody floating about this bay is well au
thenticated, and though it is sufficient
romantic to be rejected as superstition,
is nevertheless entitled to full credit. A
East Pascagoula, about mile from Field
Hotel, there are some signs left of an oil
fort, which here had existence before tn
foot of white man stepped on the sol
Il was built of mud and shells, and nc
many years ago when curiosity led the e2
. cavations being made, pipes, bones, india
: ornaments and utensils were dug up fror
2 the interior. A skeleton of gigantic d
mansions was discovered, as related b
Besancon, in his Mississippi Register, bI
he does not mention what become of tn
: bones. Such skeleton would be mo
3 extraordinary and valuable curiosity if
: existence OF this day. On and near Il
water at this place, the mysterious mus
e is frequently heard both in night and da
! when the winds are sleeping and stlllne
! is on the wave. This has given rise
the poetical superstition that the mournf
o melody is a poetical echo of the dea'
song of the Indians for It is related tn
a tribe called the Biloxi, were here bes
by numerous enemies, besieged in the TO
and finding death inevitabe,yet heroical
n resolving not to die by their foes, the MI
y folded their arms, the women pressed the
children to their breasts, and the who
It, tribe walked into the bay andwere drow
es ed.
es At West Pascagoula, near M'Rea
Hotel, lust at the confluence of the riv
= and the bay, the sound is often heard
4. Few have resided even short period
D. the neighborhood without hearing Il
mysterious music. 1t resembles lol
- musical buzz of some large insect, and
ceding like the fairy voice ofthe Eolla
" II is heard in the bathing houses, and he
y its most singular peculiarly IS discover
tv bic, for by placing your finger on pos
ito vibration is distinctly letltrembang
ward ftom the water. Many believe
all sound is produced by sone strange III
to- others endeavor to account for II by
:, supposition that subterranfan fires exl
nj under the bay, but perhaps the most Pli
re sible suggestion that can bf made, is, Il
le- the flowing of the Pascagoula river II
rty the bay,ov the bars and slallows amo
Of the shells, may produce tie mystic sol