The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-08-21

TRADITION OF THE CHoCTAws.--The following
tradition of the origin of the Choetaws was mar
rated by Pitchlin, their educated half-breed chief
who is well known to many of the citizens of Mo
bile As this tribe were the original tenants Of the
soil-the Mobiles and Tensaws being but subdi-
visions-the legend viii have particular interest
for our readers. The magnificent sea . alluded
to is probably the Pacific Ocean, and the ''mighty
river" or 6 great highway of waters, " the Mis-
sssippi:
According to the tradition of the Choctaws, the
first Of their race came from the bosom of mag
nifcent sea. Even when they first made their APP
peaTance upon the earth, they were so numerous
as to cover the slOping and sandy shore OF the
ocean, far as the eye could reach, and for long
time did they follow the margin of the sea before
they could find place suited 10 their wants. The
name OF their principal chief has long since been
forgotten, but il is well remembered that he was a
| prophet OF great age and wisdom. For many
moons did they travel without fatigue, and all the
Time were their bodies strengthened by pleasant
breeZes and their hearts, the other hand, glad
dened by the luxufianoe Of perpetual summer, In
process Of time, however, the multitude was visited
byslckness, and one after another were left upon
the shore the dead bodies of old women and little
children. The heart of ,tha Prophet. became
troubled, and, planting long staff that he carried
/ IN his hand, and which was endowed with the mi
Tacuious power of an oracle, he told his people
that from the spot thus designated thew must turn,
their faces towards the unknown wilderness. But
before entering upon this portion of their journey,
he designated certain day for starting, and told
them that they We're at liberty, in the meantime to
ENJOY themselves by ieastng and dancing, and per-
| forming their national rites.
| IL was now early morning and the hour APP
| pointed for starting. Heavy cloudsand flying mists
rested upon the sea, but the beautiful waves melted
upon the shore as joyfully as ever before. The
staff which the Prophet had planted was found
| leaning towards the North-in that direction did
the multitude take up their line of march, Their
journey lay across streams, over hills and noun
tains, through tangled forests and over immense
praiTies They were now in an entirely strange
country, and as they trusted in their magic staff,
they planted it every night with the utmost care,
and arose in the morning with great eagerness TO
ascertain the direction towards which it leaned.
And thus had they travelled for many days, when
they found themselves upon the margin. Of an
Okk-Rd- ohitt0, or great highway of water. Here
did they pitch thertents, and having planted their
staff, retired to repose. When morning came, the
oracle told them that they must cross the river be-
fore them. They built themselves afhOusand RATS,
and reached the opposite shore in safety. They
now found themselves in a country OF surprising
loneliness, where the trees were so high as almost
to touch the clouds, and where game Of every va
ety, and the sweetest Of fruits were found in the
greatest abundance. The flowers Of this land were
more brilliant than any they had ever before seen,
ana SO large as often to shield them from the sun
nght OF noon. With the climate of the andthey
were dehghted, and the air they breatbed seemed
uOul6s WIN a new FlgOf.e 90 pledseu
were they with all that thew saw tLat tbsv built
mounds IN all the most beautiful valleys they passed
through, so that the Master Of Life might know
llaI they were not an ungFateful people. In this
did they establish their national goyernme1t viii
. its benign laws. ~
+ lime passed on, and the Choctaw nation be
came SO powerful that It's hunting grounds extende,
even 70 the sky. Troubles now arose among TN
younger warriors and hunters of the nation
i came to pass that they abandoned The cabins o
their iorelathers, and settled in distant rsgion
the earth Thus from theVery body of t6e Choo
+ taw nation have sprung those other nations which
s are known as the Chiokasaws, the CheroEees N,
h Greeks or Mnskogees, the Shawnees and ne Del
9 awares. And in the process of tine the ChoetaEv
e founded great city, wherein their most aged mel
might spend their days in peace; and because the
loved those Of their people who had long befor
departed into distant regions they called this cit
q YazOo, the meaning Of which Is, Home Of III
People who ore Gone, ''-,1iObils Register.