Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1851-01-25
From the Mathis CJutie,.
EXTRACTS AND GLEANINGs
rHoM THE
"HISTOnY YOF LOUISIANA, "
From the French Of M. lie Page du l'rats'

"IIIsTOnY LOUISIANA
From the French Of M. LIE Page du trats''
ByvARno.
All tho etfly French historians Of "foti
isiana' expfdss their wonter aud pieastlr,
til ljeholline the riehtiess df tile soil, un,
the varieiy hhd prot,tpion Of its productions
They speak III TRANSPORTS of the fruit aiit
ornamental trees, Dir flowers and shrubs
and Of eselilont aud medicinal roots ant
they feveled in visions Of future orchards
| groailiig under the weight Of their oxubef
ant abundance, Of Pattetres Of ever verdan
leaves with never teasibg blossoms, Of heal
| ing herbs Bnd nutficidtis vegetables, and d
every thing netessary to sntisty Frenel
| Imagination. Not content with the reHllt,
before them, or even With very exagger
ated expectation, they attributed the mdsI
wonderful and absurd properties to plants
and, if we may trust their accounts, there
Is no disease to which "Hesh is heir" bu
what eau find certain, and radical cure
from plants sprlnging spontaneously from
this favored land. The medical practice
Of the day was strictly "botnnical, " and we
will present some recorded "cufee,' which
are important. If true.
The fret travellers were especially struck
with the parasitcal MOSS that IL found
hanging in festoona and garlailds from the
branches of trees, growing in the swamps
| and damp places. In the first instance
the sight Of this moufhft appebdage to
the kings Of forest growth struck them with
melancholy, and gave OCCASION To mutll
solemn poetieal reflection, but they seol
lost the recollection Of these sad thoughts
in their eagerness :" to put tho moss te
some good and practical use,' particularly
~ the article was the cause Of Joke be.
tween tho Spnniarda aid the French III
speaking OF it, Dumont suyE---" must
not forget to describe u kind of MOSS tim,
grows upon almost oil the trees III the
country. The French, by way Of derision
call ii the Spanish beara, and the Span.
iards, in similar spirit, give it the name
Of French ze,7tteig. It Is found stispen.
ded from the branches of the trees, and
although it has the color Of ashes, 1t never,
theless contains sap TINT nourisfes and
gives it vigor. When freshly gathered, il
serves us fine fodder for cattle and In
this state also it is used by Alexis or Indian
doctor with great success in the treatment
of diseases. II IL no less serviceable when
it is dry. Mixed with clay, it can be EN-
ployed in the construction of ovens and
chinneys, or IN strengthening the walls
of houses. There are two species---one
that becomes grey upon being dried, and
the other, biack The last il considered
the best. II IL first well beaten to extract
the dust, and then packed in cask, and
placed over hot ashes for FIVE hours by
this process, it is thoroughly dried. and has
all the properties of hair, with the adyant
age OF being incorruptibe, as it never
rots.
A truly wonderful plant, in the opinion
| of the French settlers, was that which they
called +" Esquine. y Du Pratz describes
it an its qualities in these terms "The
| Esqune partakes Of the character Of the
vine and the briar. It is furnished with
sharp thorns, which grow upon it's long
polished and cane.like stems. 1t has al
oblong, spongy root, that sometimes grows
as large as mans head. The shape o
the root resembles TINT of the Jerusalem
artichoke. Besides the sudorific effects
which the Esquine has in common will
the Sarsaparilla, it has the property o
causing the hair to grow luxuriantly.--
The Iidians, particularly the females, use
it for this purpose with the greatest sue
cess. The mode of using it is extremely
simple. The root is cut into small piece.
and boiled in water, and the head is wash
ed with the water have seen many
whose hair, by using this extract, ha(
grown until it reached their knees, ant
one, with whom it extended to the ancles.
Du Pratz presents his readers with an en-
craving Of the Esquille, but it is Difficult
now to say what kind of plant it is, eithe
from the description or the engraving.
| But the hair-restorative and hair-incres
cent properties Of the Esquine were no
all its boast. Dumont says Of it" The
Esquine is very common in Louisiana.
The leaves Of this plant are sovereign
remedy for a burn. They are held to tht
fire, and as soon as softened by the heat
they are applied to the burnt part, cover
ing it completely, and changed every hal
hour. In a short time, a complete cure il
effected. | knew lady who had thu
misfortune to burn her right arm very
severely with boiling Oil, SO that the Skin
was broken, and absolutely torn into rags
She used nothing but the leaves Of the
Esquine, and in four days she was com
pletely restored, and not the least scar o.
sign of the burn could be discerned. The
leaves are also certain and quick remedy
for thesbites Of gnats and mosquitoes. =
Several persons have told us that plan
resembling the descriptionof the Esquint
| is found growing wild and plentifully ii
the neighborhood. If any one will be g
good as to send it to US, root and all, we
willtry it upon some unhappy bald friene
and announce the result. Should the ex
pertinent come even near the promise
Macassar and all hair oils and fluids mus
|thenceforth ahide their diminished heads.
The French settlers had also most as
tonishing cure for cuts and bruises, called
st. Johns wort Of aoslkepertuis. Thii
also grew everywhere in the woods ant
open fields. It Aowered in June, ant
bore yellow flowers. Dunont says tha
an ointment was made by the settlers il
1 this way. They collected the flowers ant
| placed them III vessel filed with bears
III aYsinxnnsf.fl Il Il, the heat Of the sun