New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-07-13
CALCAsIEU AND ITS INHABITANTS,

CALCAsIEU AND ITS INHABITANTS. .
" NJ 3 "
CHAPTER
Cacasieu-once forming part of the parish Of
st. Landry, but lately re-assuming, as n sepa-
rate parish, the name by which it was original
ly distinguished-lics in the South western part
Of Louisiana, and by its difficulty OF access and
the peculiar character If its inhabitants, has
remained, until lately, terra incognita,
even to the natives Of the State in which it lies
II Tas formerly inhabited by numerous and
powerful tribe Of the Attakapas Indians, who,
contiiing in numbers 2nd strength, made ire
qucnt nroads upon the territories of the neigh
boring tribes Of Texas. They were generally
successful, md multitude of prisoners were
yearly sacrinced 70 aprels" the manes Of their
fallen warriors. aEt ,.,:sly their own cannital
tastes 1t the enjoyment VI these bloody feats
was ~ lat somewhat diHnishci by the intelli-
geuCe o.; . combination among some hitherto
hostile tribes T. rid themselves Of a common
enemy.
The AttabGpas, however had been too long
victorious to entertain amy serious dread of the
union OF foes, whose separate impotence had al
ready been displayed by frequent and numer-
GUS defeats In happy nnconcern they sacri-
feed the last remaining prisoner, pledged each
other in his blood TO safe and triumphant re.
turn, and departed to mee- the enemy who were
already established on the opposite side Of the
Sabine
The conflict was long and terrible: but on the
side Of the Attakaras, accompanied by such loss
that very few OF tie numerous warriors who left
Calcasicu with n conceited certainty OF victory
returned to tell the CALLING tale Of their total
| and bloody rou.. BY strenuous exertionS, how
ever, on the part Of the chief of the tribe-a
man Of energy and sagaGity-another war par.
| ty was organized, which, by its superior skill
was expected to ayenge the losses of the previous
| engagement; but their day Of success was over
The smallpox in its most virulent form broke
out among them, and by its ravages left neither
power nor inclination to prosecute the intended
enterprise.
Even their wonted apathy deserted them anl
| gave place to general panic, when they saw
the flower of their tribe sink daily beneath thC
scourge which seemed to gain fresh strength al
every access Of victims, and with n simultancou,
effort they prepared 10 leave d spot tenanted
according to their superstitious ideas, by the
malignant spirits Of their slain enemies, who
by this fearful nlalady, avenged themselves
upon once unconquerable foe
Slowly and painfully they Travelled toward.
| the Gulf, which lay scarcely Fifty miles from
their usual place Of sojourn, but the evil in
tiuence from which they fed pursued and cas-
its darkest shadow upon their path Every
step was marked by the bodies of the dead anC
dying, who had soon succumbed to fatigue anC
disease. In utter despair they at last reached
Lake Calcasieu, and on a high shell bank, OF
its western border, determined to await, witt
quiet endurance, the death which further
progress would only accelerate
Their fate is too truly told by the piles o
bleached bones which are still to he seen on til,
shell bank, and the few survivors who ESCAPED
the pestilence, in the loss Of friends, and almos
utter determination of their tribe, soon learne,
to envy the fate which at first they had though
themselves only too fortunate to have escaped
Not more than thirty Of this once powerful
tribe are now to be found in Calcasieu, an,
heg have become 50 completely nssimilated il
manners and habits TO the Creole :. habitaHS,
as to make it 'lifficult, at cursory glance, t
detect any difference, save that of cOiOF, be
tween them, sand in many cases even that dis
tinetion docs not exist.
With strange tenacity, however they cling I
the marvellous traditions OF their nation an
some few OF its customs They aCknowledg
the authority OF the hereditary chief OF nom
nal tribe; to his Judgment submit every diff
cult and perplexing point, and whatever nfa
be his decision, from il there is no appeal "
is an old Patriarch liz whom still fingers som
OF the wild spirit which seems to have totall
deserted his degenerate race. His glance bright
ems and his language warns when lie enume
rates the victories Of his once inyincble tribe
and although too much under the influence
civilization 10 approve openly OF their man-eat
ing propeusities, there is still u covert CLEAN {
satisfaction in his dim eye when he tells OF tn
numerous victims yearly SACRIFICED at III
Feast OF Blood
Different, oelleVe' from most lnulah tflpe
they erected funeral pyres On which were con
sumed the dead bodies ct ther friends, who's
ashes were gathered III an Old urn OF red ella!
3 and rcllGiousiy preserved anu hQhored as Il
Penates OF t2eir wisWams' whose pow