The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-30


C.nroouEs.-Live about thirty five miles west |
of lie man branchsof Red River. on bayou or |
creek called by them Sodo, which is navigabe for |
progues only, within nbout six miles of their vii |
lage, and that only in the rainy season. They are
distant from Natchiioches about 40 miles, the |
nearest route by land, and in nearly . north west
direction. They have lived where they now do |
only five years The first year they moved there |
the small pox got among them, and destroyed |
nearly one half of them it in the winter |
season, and they practced punging into the creek
the first appearance of the irruption and died
in a few hours. Two years ago they had the |
measles, of which several more of them died
They formerly lived on the south bank Of the
rver-hy the course OF the river, 375 miles higher
up-at q beautiful prairie, which has clear
lake of good water in the middle OF il, surrounded
by pleasant and fertile country, which had been
the residence Of their ancestors from time imme-
mortal. They have Evolutionary tale, which not
only the Caddoes, but halfa-dozen other smaller
nations believs in, who claim the honor of being
descendants of the same family; they say, when
all the world was drowning by flood, that mum
daed the whole country, the Great Spirit placed
on eminence, near this lake, one family of Cad
duques, who alone were saved from that family
all The Indians originated.
Ths French, for many years before Louisiana
was transferred to Spain, bad al this place fort
and some soldiers several French families were
likewise settled in the vicinity, where they had
erected good flour mill, with burr stones brought
from France. These French families continued
There I'LL ADOuI twenty-five years dRO, NHcI 6icy
moved down and settled at Compli, on the Red
River, about twenty miles above Natchitoches,
where they now 1--we ; and the Indians left 1t about
fourteen yean ago, on account OF a dreadful SICK
that visited them. They settled on the river,
nearly opposits where they live, on a low
place, but were drove from there on account OF lis
overflowing occasoned by jam Of timber choking
the river AT a point below them.
The whole number of what they call warriors of
the ancient Caddo nation is now reduced to about
uutreI xNh "a lDDke1 A hat like
knights Of Malta or some distinguished military
order. They brave, desplse danger or death,
and boast that they have never sted white mems
blood. Besdas these, there of old men, and
strangers who live among them, nearly the same
number; but there 40 or SO more women than
men. This nation has great influence over tile
Yat,s,sees, Nandakoes, Nabadaches, lnies or
Tackles, Nacugdoches, keychies, Adalze, and
Natchloches, who all speak the Caddo language,
look up 10 them as their fathers, visit and inter
marry among them, and Join them In all their wars.
The Catalogues complain of the Choctaws en-.
croach'ng upon their country; call them lazy,
thlevish, ste. There has been Misunderstanding
between them for several years, and small hunting
parties kill one another, when they meet.
The Caddoca raise corn, beans, pumpkins, etc,
but the land on which they now live is prairie, of
to nre euler by TOO Vel y, ,cn erotf drw season
They nav. ho-.o-, out lew any o...1! .
sn,mais except dUgs; most of them have guns,
and SOM, of tbem have rifles. They, and all other
Indians lha. We have any knowledge of, are at war
with the Osages. The country, generally, round
the Caddo.s, is hilly, not very rich; growth,
mixture Of oak, hickory and pine, inteTsperssd
with prarIes, which are very rich, generally, and
fiji for cultivation. There are creeks and springs
of good water frequent.
YArrAssErs-Live on Bayou River, (or Stony
Creek) which falls into Red River, western divis.
ion, about fifty miles above Natchltoches, Their
village is in large prairie about halfway between
the Catalogues and Naichiioches, surrounded by a
settlement of French families, The Spanish Gov
eminent at present exercise jurisdiction over tins
settlement, where they keep guard OF a non
commissoned officer and eight soldiers. lew
months ago, the Caddo chief, with few of his
Young men we're coming 10 this place 10 trade,
and came that way, which il the usual road the
Spanish officer OF the guard threatened to stop
them from trading with the Americans, and told
the chief, if lie returned that way with goods, he
should take them from him. The chief and his
party were very angry, and threatened 10 kill the
whole guard and told them that the road had
been always theirs; and that, II the Spanards
attempted to prevent their using IT, as their ances-
tors had always done, he would soon make 1t a
bloody road. He came here, purchased the goods
he wanted, and might have returned another way,
and avoided the Spanish guard, and was advised
to do so, but he said he would pass by them, and
let them attempt TO stop hun, if they dare. The
guard said nothing to him, AS he returned. This
settlement, till some few years ago. used to belong
TO the district of Natchl,oches, and the rights to
their lands siven by the Government OF Louisiana,
before it was ceded to Spain lis now being under
the Government of Texas WAS only by an agree.
ment between the commandant of Natcbltoches
and the comnandant of Nacogdoches. The French
formerly held a station and factory there, and an.
other on the Sabine River, nearly 100 miles north
west from the Bayou Pierre settlement The lat
tassees say the French used to be thsir people
and now the American; but of the ancient Iat
tassees there are but eight men remaining, anc
twenty five women, besides children but mum
ber of men of other nations have intermarried viii
them and live together. | paid visit at lhe
village lhe last summer there were about forty
men of them altogether. Their original Language
differs from any other but now, all speak Caddo
They live on rich land raise plenty OF corn, beans
pumpkins, tobacco, ETC.; have horses, cattle, hogs
and poultry.
NANpAKoEs.-Live on the Sabine River, sixty
orseventy miles TO the westward of the Iattassees
near where the French formerly had station an,
factory. Their language is Caddo; about iof'!
men Of them only remaining. A few years ag'
they suffered very much by the small pox. The!
consider themselves the same as Caddoes, viii
whom they intermarry, and are occasionally visit
ing one another in the greatest harmony; have III
same manners, customs and attachments.
ApAIzE-Live about forty miles from NAtchi
toohes, below the 9al'assees, on lake called La
Macdon, which communicates with that division
OF Red River that passes by Bayou Pierre /; the
live at near where their ancestors have live
from lime immemorial. They being the neares
nation 10 the old Spanish fort, or mission of Adazt
that place named after them, being abou
twenty miles from then, TO the south. There ar
now but twenty men of them remaining, but MOI
women. Their aue euage differs from all other, an
is 50 difficult speak or understand that no o,he
nation speak ten words of it but they a
speak Caddo, and most of them French, to who
they were always attached, and joined them gain
the NatcheZ Ind ans. After the massacre of Mattel
eZ, IN 1885, while the Spanards occupied the Do
of Adalze, their priests took much pains to pros
lyle these Indians to the Roman Catholic Religion
but, am informed, were totally unsuccessful.
ALIcnE, commonly pronounced Eyeish )-Liy
near Nacvgdoches, but are almost extinct as
nation, not being more than twenty-five souls
them remaining; four years ago the small pt
destroyed the most of them. They were SON
wears ago, a considerable nation and lived on
BAYOU which bears their name, which the ros
from Natchioches to Nacogdoches crosses abo
twelve miles west of Sabine River, on which
few French and American families are settle
Their native language is spoken by no other nj
ton but they speak aud understand Csddo, Wi
whom they in amity, often visiting one anothe
kEYEs or KEYcHIEs.- on the east bank
Trinity River, small distance above where Il
road from Natchitoches to ST. Antoine crosses
There are Oi them sixty men have their pecu
native language, but mostly now speak Caddo il
termarry with them, and live together in mut
harmony, formerly having lived near them Il
head waters OF the Sabine. They plant corn, ar
some other vegetables.
INIEs, or TAcHIEs, (caed indifferently by bo
names From the latter name, the name of Il
province of Tachus or Texas is derived The Ini
live about twenty five miles west of Natchitoche
on a small river, branch of the Sabine called Il