The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-06-03
1N DC PRATT HISTORY OF LOUISIANA
Louisiana 130 Years -.Eo.
Cf tie ZlmpIes, AID 7on,bs Of tie Ndtiges.

Among the NatcLez the death Of any Of
their Suns, as have before observed, is IA
most fatal event; for i is sure to be attended
with the destruction OF great number Of
people OF both sexes. Earl = III lhe spring
1925, the Stung Serpent, who was tie broth
er OF the Great Sun, and my intimate friend.
was siezed with a Mortal distemper, which
filled the whole nation Of the Natchez with
the greatest CONSERVATION and terror; for the
two brothers had mutually engaged to follow
each other to the land OF spirits and if the
Great Sun shonld kill himself for the sake
of his brother, very many people would Ike
wise he put to-death,~ w hen. the Stung
Serpent was despa;rea of, the chief of the
guardians of the temple came to ne in the
greatest confusion, and acquainting me with
the mutual engagements OF the two brothers,
begged of me to interest myselfin preserving
the Great Sun, and consequently great
part of the nation. lie made the same re-
quest to the commander of the to,t. Accor-
dinghy we Were no sooner informed of the
death OF tie s;tung Serpent, than the com
mander, some Of the principal frenchmen,
and !, went in body to the hut Of the Great
Sun. We found him in despair; but, after
some t!.ne, he seemed to be influenced by.
| the arguments used to y rl~suade him from
putting himself to death. Ihe death OF the
Stung Serpent was published BY the firing
OF two musllcts, which were answered by the
other villages, aud immediately y cries and
lamentations were heard on all sides The
Great Sun, in the mean time, remained in
consolabIe, and sat bent forwards, with his
eyes towards the grQlnd. In the evening,
while we We're still III his hut, he made a
/ sign to his fovolite wife: who in consequence
Of that threw pail full of water on the tire,
and eXting,lshed it. This was signal for
/ extiugu!shing all the fires of the nation, and
! filed every one with terrible alarms as it
denoted tl-at tie Grea: Sun was still resolved
to put himself to DEATH | gently chided
him for altering his former resolution, but he
assured me he had not, and desired us to 60
and sleep securely. We accordingly left
! him pretending to rely on the assurance he
had given us; bat We took up our lodging
IN the hut of bis chief servants, and stationed
a soldier at the door cf his hut, whom we
(
pencL. There was no need 70 fear our beng
BETRAYED bv the wife ot2ihe Great Sun, or any
Others about him for none Of them had the
leas Einclination to die, if they could help it
On the contrary. they all expressed the great
est tha}tulness and gratitude 10 US for our
endcay ours to advert The Threatened e.ls,lnity
Iisom their nation.
Before We went to our lodgings we enter
cd the hut OF the deceased, and found him
on his bed OF state, dressed in his finest
cloatAs. his face painted with yermilion, shol
IS II for a Journey, with his feathcr-crown on
his head 70 his bed were fastened his arms,
which consisted of Il double barraled gun, q
pistol. bow. a culver full of arrows, aud a
itomahavk. Round his bed were placed ali
The ca!umets Of peace he had received du-
rins lis lie, and on q pole, planted in the
ground near it, hung a chain OF torty-slX
rings OF cane painted red, to express the mum
Der Of enemies he had slain. All Iii, domos-
ticks were round him, and they presented
victuals to him at the usual hours, as II he
were alive The company in his hut were
composed Of his tayoulite wife, OF second
wife, which be kept in another village and
visited when his favourte was with child Of
his chancellor. his Ihvsician, his chief do
,n,stic, lis ,ipe-bearer, and some oIl wo1.cn,
.wLo were all 10 he st,angled at his integmont.
To these victims a noble woman voluntarily
ioined herself. resolving, from her iIi.',d=h;p
10 the >turg E.,peut, TO 70 and i've with
him in the country OF slirits. | re f~tted
her on many accounts, bat particularly as
She was intirsteIy acquainted with the viz
tues Of simpIyS la ~ ner skill save. many
of our peoples ives. and giveH ne many
ius,tgI Instructions after we had satisfied
our curiosity il, the iu, Of the dec=ased, we
: retired to our hul, where we spent ,he night.
4 bat a. lav-breal, We were suddenly awaNcd,
and told tIat it WAS with difficulty the Great