The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-05-27
FROM 1T PHATzs HISTORY OF iuisIANA1
Louisiana 1870 Iears Ago.
Of the Tsmples, and 7ass Of the Nctixs

, nearly the same usagesand customs, vet a.
, any nation Is more orless populous, it ha:
iIproportonally more brewer ceremonies
Thus when the Frendtirst arrived in the
colony, several nation kept up the eternal
fire, and observed ottr religious ceremo-
MES, which they hav now dsused, since
Their numbers have ben greatly diminished
Many Of them still cotinue to have temples
but the common peple never enter these,
'nof strangers, unia peculiarly favored by
the nation. As Iyas an intimate friend
Of the sovereign of ihe Naschez, he showed
me their temple, vich is about thirty feet
square, and standsipon an artificial mount
about eight feet LilI, by the side of a small
river. The mounalopes insensibly from the
main front, whichis Eorthwards, but on the
other sides it is somewhat sleeper. The
four corners of he temple consist of four
posts, about a fod and an halt diameter, and
ten feet high, eah made Of the heart OF the
cypress tree, which is incoriuptible. The
side posts areof the same wood, but only
about foot suare ; and the walls are OF
mud, about nip, Inches ttrck so that in the
inside there is hollow between every post.
The inner spae is divided from east to west
into two apartments, one of which is twice
as large as tlp other. In the largest apart
ment the eternal fire is kept, and there is
Likewise q tale or altar in it, about four feet
high, six long and two broad. Upon this
table lie ths bones Of the Great Sun in
coffin of csnes very neatly made. In the
inner APARTMENT, which is very dark, as it
receives 10 light but from the door of COM
munica.ior, could meet with nothing but
two boares, on Which were placed some
ike small toys, which had no light to pc
ruse. TIE roof is in the form of pavilion,
and very neat both within and without, and
on the ,op of it are placed three wooden
birds, twice as large IS IL goose, with their
heads turned towards the east. The corner
and sile-posts as has been mentioned, rise
above the earth ten feet high, and it is said
they are as much sunk under ground; it
cannot therefore but appear surprising how
the natives could transport such large beams,
fashion them, and raise them upright. when
we know of no machine they had for that
Besides the eight guardians OF the
temple, two of whom are always on watch,
and the chief of those guardians, there also
belongs to the service OF the temple a master
ct the ceremonies, who is also master OF the
since according to them, he con
verses very famiiarly with the Splrit.-
4 bove all these persons is the Great Sun,
who is at the same time chief priest and
sovereign Of the nation. The temples OF
some of the nations of Louisiana are. very
mean, and one would often be apt to mistake
hem for the .huts Of private persons but to
those who are acquainted with Their man
,ers, they are easily distinguishable, as they
have always before the door two posts
ormed like tie ancient Termini, that is,
having the upper part cut into the shape Of
mans head. The door Of the temple,
which is pretty weighty, is placed between
he wall and those two posts, so that chill
lren NAV rot be able to remove it, to 90 and
LAY in the temple. The private hu:s have
lso posts before their doors, but taese are
lecer formed like Ternini.
None of the nations of Louisiana are ac-
iuainted with the custom of burning their
lead, which was practised by the Greeks
nd Romans nor with that Of the EgpytiansHS =
ho studied to preserve them 70 perpetuity''
The different American nations have mod
eligious attention for their dead. and ead ~ q.
lave some peculiar customs IN respect y:
hem; but all Of them either inter them, .
,lace them in tonbs, and carefully ci 81, i
ictuals 10 ther,w .4ars some time. gses -
ombs are eithenESithin ,Leir, tempt, d
lose adjoining .oahem, OF in the ndt tbo1 l:
lood. They are raised abou: three f'droH sn N
he earth, and rest upon foufpillap, Fhlt u al
ire forksd stakes Fixed fast in tke apana
or rather bier, is about e'st 'eet %
org. aud foot and half broad; n after Pu ,
he body is placed rpon. il, kind opasSe, q .
work ct twigs is~wosc reuhdl;t, anaoserea
With mud, an opening being left atie head Il, i,
or placing the victuals that are lesented =. -.
o the dead person. When the ply is all -, ,a
otted Jut the bones, these are tain ont OF 70
he tomb. and placed in a box of cts, which 1;
5 deposited in the temple. N usually :, -
xeep and lament for their deafihee days; "
,ut for those who are kilie'pn Farr, uss :
make a much longer and mot ssae Gus IA. !, !
pentatIon. - y;
r,nx,se N New Yong TheWahing-
on Tniop, of the Cd. Informs rs that Mr: Il
albert c. Van Alstyne, Of Onogiaga sepT W. 81:
N. Y, in 4 letter to the poIaSIp .IIa. l.
Patents, states tlIat farming e. III
Of New York has not hese FNNI The
oriics tgsssa susi AZ. ssaaiIy at iIoA 1oI 1I pm
sures reliance irfa-.a. a.anilch esY!s13s' =
r Incidental, to which HStzY
while in cases ef nersis zyD vi : !,
a, dyspepsia, t,ertopsxz?NsM M 4 80 20
feebEoness, nervCxLl, II in- Ssates
araIysis, sleeplesss 4TN.% ,1l n-
fainting fis,y S z,1xtless Of A. /,
!, general proS1rft6ll, palpitAian Of 4;opI + d
t, lassitude, lneastl incidence. ,4kc,I u fac
,=are as certain and uniform al, the es Of {
ia mathematical calculation. -