The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-11-20

SarY facts ana HguFeS, 1oE tAe AofHidlioti VI
a correct opinion, particularly when the
characters of respectable citizens are in
volved. Our object has been to supply
their omission, and to lay all the facts
before the public.
~~~.-N~.~-~~~
OpelOaas as and AttaE1apss.
To persons uniformed by actual obser-
walton. less seems to be known of the
geography of Opelousas and A!ttakapas,
than of any other portion of Louisiana,
although this beautiful region was settled
during the last century. Notwithstanding
the subdivision of these old counties, they
are still recognised by their original names.
Opelousas was the Indian term for dark
water, and was probably given to this coun-
try by its primitive discoveries, owing to
the striking contrast which they p"rceiv-
ed, in their migration southwark, between
the dark earth and water of Opelousas, and
the Red River country through which they
Elau UISSEu. 1lC u 1AltbNdP"o 10"
Indian expression for man eater; but we
have no reason to believe that the prede-
cessors of the white settlers in that beautl-
full country were practical canibals, although
several old French travellers record such a
tradition. These two old counties, al
though they are now sometimes contonnd-
ed have always been designated and rec
ognized as separate and distinct, each hav
ing features and peculiarities of its OWN.
The original French settlers, fresh from
European scenes owing their attractions to
the blended Influences of nature and art,
found something peculiarly fascinating in
the ba'my ar and genial soil of Attakapas,
in its green islands rising high above the
marshes, and above Ill, in those venerable
groves of evergreen oaks, covering the
gentle slopes f the Teche, and spreading
their moss-hung bonghs far over the
stream. They found at Opclousas some of the
same features, but varied by other peculi-
a%rities. The country here spread out into
vast natural meadows and forests. interscc,
ted by occasional running streams, dotted
with round ponds of fresh water, and
famed by breezes borne over vast savannas,
fresh from the Gulf: Attakapas was more
confined to the DO ders of the Teche it
was q narrower region, watercd through its
entire length, by this beautiful stream
flowing gently in the shadow Of its venerable
evergreens. Opelousas extended over a
wider area, with its great forests in the
east, and its immense prairics in the west,
extending from the Atchafalaya on one
side, to the Sabine on the other. 1t was
more undulating in its surface, and higher
above the level of the sea. The general re-
semblance Of the two regions in some res.
poets, and their Distinguishing character
istics in others, have universally attracted
the admiration of the traveller but which to
prefer depended upon the taste, the cap
rice, or the wants of the observer.
But We are betraying ourselves into a
description more lengthy than we intended
to give, our leading object being to furnish
a brief historical notice of the establishment
and subsequent subdivisions Of these two
counties.
The counties Of Attakapas and Opelou-
sas were established by the Spanish gov
eminent, and the old Spanish grants Of
land, of the last century, refer TO them by
their distinctive appellations. In the year
1907 the Legislature OF the then Territory
of Orleans divided the State into nineteen
parishes. The county of Attakapas was
called by this act, the parish Of st. Martin;
and the county of Opelousas was called the
parish of St. Landry. In 1911 the former
was devided into two parishes, St. Martin,
and St Mary. By subsequent Legislation
these two were again subdividcd, and now
form the five parishes Of St. Mary, St. Mar
tin, Lafayette, Vermillion and Iberia, which
are properly speaking the Attakapas par
ishes. The parish of St. Landry remained
undivided until 1910, when Calcasieu was
formed out of it, extending from the Nez
Pique to the Sabine. St. Landry and Cal
casieu are now the representatives Of the
old county of Opelousas.
We have before US a small volume contain.
ing some interesting sketches Of our coun-
try many years ago, entitled "Views of
Louisiana by H. Nj. Breckenridge. In the
spring Of 1911, the author travelled through
Attakapas and Opelousas, and speaks from
personal observation. What was said of
the country many years ago, when its print
tive scenery was almost undisturbed by the
necessities or the arts of civilization, cannot
fail to be of interest to our readers. We
therefore append the following beautiful
description of St. Landry and Calcasieu,
from Brackenridge's "Views of Louisiana:' :"
The immense tract of open plains or
meadows, which composes the Opelousas,
boasts of advantages superior to all the
riches of the Teche or the Mississippi, in
the salubrity Of its air and the beauty of
its surface. Free from stagnant waters,
with the exception of a few ponds in The
prairies, the atmosphere is not poisoned by
~noxious vapours, and open to the breczes
from the guIph, it enjoys a cool and refresh.
ing temperature, Will" the rest of the state
is suffering from the effects of a close and
sullry air. Without fear of contradiction, |
may pronounce the Opelousas to be by far
the most healthy part of the state. Moth.
ing can be more beautiful and cheering to
the traveller, than the prospects AID views
which this ountry affords. There is moth
ing wild or savage, yet the scenery is not
tame or monotonous; there is a sufficient
variety and succession Of those scenes,
which sooth the mind, or inspire with live
ly and pleasing emotions. passed through
them last May, when they appeared to
great advantage. The distance of my jour
~.c, Gov r,ttop v,h;Ia I ra1od with 10.