Daily gazette and comet., 1860-10-25

(eorrmvsp rso. r.srsnpAr.)

within the present limits Of this parish,
has long since been absented.
.S@foce. THE entire surface Of the coup-
,r. Ia level, tbs soil OF the r.cbest slluvial
deposit, and whom properly leveed snd
drained can all be rendered iit for the oul-
uvation Of the sugar cane, which Ia at
present the chef article Of production.
Climate and Dissaso climate IL
mild, and healthy, especially on the banks
Of tho Mississippi. Intermittent fsvers
are the most common diseases, and agues
occur on some Of the bsyous. Occasionally
the yellow fever has made its appearance
at Donaldsonville.
Rsiigton.--The Catholic In the prevail
Ing religion, they have three Churches.
The Presbyterians have q Church and an
excellent female Academy st New River.
On several Of the large plantations there
are cbapels for tho slave population, and
nearly all are regularly supplied with reli-
gious instruction. On tho plantations Of
--- Burnsides, formerly Gen. W ade IIamp-
tons, aud since Preston & Manninps, are
two large and commodious chapels, suili-
ciently commojious 10 scat from 500 to
1000 persons each. Indian sri5es, mounds
and ,dtiy ssttiemsnt.
When the Europeans fret came TO the
Missiseippi Valley, the nation Of the Cief.
fmochos, claimed the country contiguous
to tho Lafourchc, on tho Western aide.
The Eastern aide appeared to be occupied
ass common hunting ground by the Bay
ougoulas and Mongslouohss. This latter
tribe probably had occupied the Eastern
bank OF the river, but becoming reduced
by war with the Chetimacbas, united
with the Bayagoulas, by whom they were
subsequently almost snnihilated, whilst
dwelling together In the same village, In
apparent peace and harmony. In lT04,
the TSnicds, tribo inhsbiting tho viou-
age Of the Yszous river, becoming invol-
we'd In war with their nerghbors, wore
persuaded by the French Missionary, Fa-
ther Davion TO remove to the country be-
tween the Dumas and Natchcz. The Gu
mas received them kindly and divided
with them their hunting grounds; but In q
few years, qusrrels arose among them, and
tho Dumas, being the weaker, and loss
wsrlike party, were compelled TO leave
their native hills, and took up their abode
upon that portion Of this parish, 80 we'll
known at the present day, by tho title Of
the Housaa grant. This occurred about tho
year l7os. The DUMAS, signifying red msn,
were once powerful tribe, inhabiting tho
0umas or Red River, and Tunica hills, but
In their contact with the white man be-
came indolent and weak. At the cession
In 1908 tho remnant Of the tribo consisted
Of about sixty persons, who migrated to
the Southwestern portion Of tho State.
There are several Indian mounds on
New River which are worthy Of scientific
investi CATION.
The Acadians, as tho early name Of the
coast indicates, were among the first set
tiers OF this parish. The Peninsulas of
Acadia, now called Nora Scotia, was tho
Oldest French Colony In North America.
IL was bleak country, but possessed q
productive soil, and was rich In its Ocean
fisheries, and the product Of its rivers.
There the Bretons had built their dwell
ings, sixteen years before tho Pilgrims
reached the shores Of New England. All
writers agreo in representing them rs
an industrious religious aud happy people.
During the wars between France and Eng
land, they had been transferred from ono
government to the other, hardly conscious
Of the change. They loved the language
and usagcs Of their forefathers, and their
religion was craven upon their souls. They
formed as It were one great family. Their
morals were Of unaffected purity. Love
was purely sanctifed and oalmed by the
universal custom Of carly marriages. The
neighbors Of the community would assist
tho new couple to raiso their cottage, while
the wilderness offered land. Their num-
bers increased and the colony which had
begun only rs 4 trading station Of COM
psny, with monopoly of tho fur trade,
counted some sixteen or seventeen thou
sand inhabitants.
When the war Of l754-5, broke out, be-
ing subject to British control, under pro-
text that they might attempt to assist the
French, they were ordered to surrender
their boats and firearms which was done.
Further orders were given to punish them
at discretion, If anything occurred amiss,
to iniict vengeance upon the nearest one,
whether guilty or not. 1t was re-enac-
tion Of the fable of the wolf and the lamb.
| The Rritish-esnac;allv, ,ho.. ~ IL ..:.