Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-01-27
Rural Jaunt-Tigerville, etc.

Ayalllng ourselves Oh tlc ui9Ciit vi q
kind friend towards the close of the past week, we
lay aside our editorial toga, to enjoy a drive into
the country. Our point Of destination was Tiger
vile, a new and thriving village situated at the con.
fuence Of bayous Black and Tiger, in the rich and
growing parish of Terrebonne, some twenty-seven
miles from this place. Our first course lay down
the Terrebonne, the meanderings of which bayou
we followed until we had reached "Hedgetord,'
the pleasant residence of Mrs. R. G. Ellis, about SIX
miles distant, then, turning suddenly to the right,
took the causcway, which soon brought us to the
Little Terrebonne, on Bayou Black, along the banks
of which stream we pursued our EDWARDS course,
until we had reached the Chacahoula Road, leading
to Tigerville and Berwick's City, distined at some
future period to be a town OF no inconslderable
note and importance, and principal point OF ship
ment for the Texas trade.
1t would be superduous in us to describe the
many beautiful sugar estates and private abodes
that skirt the banks Of these Bayous, (Terrebonne
and Black, from our corporation to "Ardoyne'
the plantation of J. J. Hanna, eleven miles from
| In1DOuIuX, is tlCy LIZ 0uiuILC4lJly aIAAieA W dA
who have traversed the route; but will merely call
attention to the country lying on the Bayou Chaca-
houla, a bayou having its source near the sugar re-
fnery Of Mr.. Hanna. within four hundred yards of
the Black, which after running a tortuous course OF
about sixteen miles empties itself into that bayou
about a quarter of a mile below Tigerville. As is
most generally the case in this portion Of Louisiana,
all public roads follow the winding Of the bayous.
The whole extent of country traversed by the
Chacahoula, is one of the most lovely, that can be
found within the confines Of our State, and is the
richest of the parish of Terrebonne; being high and
thickly timbered with every species OF wood usually
found in this latitude. We were even astonished
that a section of country so rich in itself, could
have so long remained in an untenanted and I'M
cultivated state; for, certainly, none others surpass
it, either in the quality Of its soil or advantages for
successful tillage. To a lack Of spirit for internal
improvements, which alone can develop the bound
less resources Of our country, can we at all account
for the non occupancy of the rich and fertile lands
on the Chacahoula Ridge.
| w Z llGuo Ouf pOlIlG VI uGSuudtIOI, llScItllc, 1t
about 8 o'clock, P. NJ, and were most Hospitality en-
tertained by M. Knight, Esq, at his private man.
sion during our stay. Mr.. K, is one among the
first pioneers Of the TigerviIle vicinage, having
settled there moro than fourteen years ago, when
that whole extent of country was but a wilderness,
and comparatively unsettled. 1t now begins to
blossom as does the rose, and will, at no far off
period, become densely populated. The site selected
by Mr.. Knight for his mansion, is indeed, a lovely
one being on one Of those Indian mounds, Of which
there arc three in close proximity, and varying in
height, one of which has an elevation of more than
thirty feet above the level of the ground. These
mounds are supposed by many-in fact, the truth
is almost self evident, that they were the Necro-
polises of the Chacahoulas, a tribe of Indians who
inhabited the country even before the discovery Of
the Western Continent by the intrepid Columbus.
They are all that now remain to mark the traces
Of a tribe which has long since become extinct.
That they have been erected for sepulchral pur-
poses, additional evidence is afforded from their
containing large quantities of human bones, besides,
specimens Of Indian pottery, ETC., etc, carved with
various and unique devises unlike anything of
modern times. The only thing that is known of
this tribe Of the primative inhabitants Of America,
is their name, "Chacahoula," or Cow Indians,
which has been handed down from generation to
generation, until this time; and, in all probability,
it is all that will ever be known either of them Or
those mounds, all else will forever remain a pro-
found mystery.
There is a trinity of towns at the junction Of
bayous Black and Tiger, viz: Tigervile, Roberta
and St. Mary. The first named is, until this time,
the most important. It contains a store, post
office, hotel, church, a large warehouse, several
cooper shops, and about half a dozen dwellings. 1t
is nine miles from bayou Chene, the head Of naviga-
ton for sea fa1ing vessels, where they always take
in cargoes for the Atlantic c~oastwise ports and
New Orleans. Steamers also ply regularly between
| Tigeryille and our commercial capital during the
high water season, the depth Of water being be-
tween eight and ten feet. Roberta and St. Mary
are yet Of very small note; the former containing
no other house than a dilapidated saw mill. 1t is
situated on the delta, or point formed by the juno
ton Of the two bayous. The last named St. Mary,
lies on the right banks of the bayous Tiger and
Black, and now contains two houses, one a dwelling
and the other a two story frame, heretofore oc-
cupied as a coffee house, but the inhabitants Of the
ward having recently voted in favor Of the "gallon
law, y the proprietor has Been compelled to close.
The N. O., O. T. g. w. Railroad passes through
this town, where is to be erected a depot. In our
estimation St. Mary is the most eligible point for
q town, and SO soon as the railroad shall have been
completed is destined to o%utriyal either Tgerville
or Roberta, and become. the principal and only
shipping point for the products Of lower Bayou
Black and Terrebonne.
THE MAIL ARRANaEMENTs.-AH will be de-
lighted to learn that Mr.. Price, contractor for
carrying the U. s. mail between Donaldsonville
and Opelousas, is now in Washington City, and
has succeeded in affecting q change in our pres
ent mail route. The mail from and after to-
day, will be transported, over the Opelousas
Railroad, via Thibodaux to TigefYille, and from
thence through Franklin to OpelOusas. Passen-