The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-10-17
Where should this music be,

Where should this music be,
L the air, or the arth?-[ Tempest
The Bay of Pascagoula has been cele-
brated for its mysterious music almost from
time immemorial. In the good old times
when Pascagoula was sort of Indian
Paradise it seems to have been as familiar
to his ear as the winds and waves. The
earliest settlers thereabout vouch for It's
plaintive witcheries. 1t had become, as
it were, twice-told tale long before the
spirit of traffic had invaded the waters of
the bay. The pleasant legends it evoked
had been stored away in many cells-"to
memory dear when the surrounding for
ests were favored hunting grounds, and
"The deer came fearless down to drink,
Where now the mill wheel clicks
These mysterious sounds continued to
be one of the most remarkable wonders of
the land. They have rendered Pascagoula
famous. Multitudes come to its shores to
hear the strange music, as it floats in fairy
like whisperings over the waters, and listen
to the beautiful traditions connected with
the wonderful phenomenon.
Among these traditions, many of which
are weird and fantastical, Phazma, the
gentlest of Southern poets, has embodied
one in pleasant verse which seems to be in
harmony with the genius loci of the place
Clothing the palpable and the familiar"
with remembrances of the lost tribes which
once wandered through these solitudes,
and have passed long since
"Through the dark postern of time"
How that the Pascagoulas, the mere rem
nant of a once numerous and formidable
tribe of Indians, sorely beset by another
warlike tribe, after many encounters and
many losses, hemmed in on every side, and
deeming capture and torture inevitable,
had deliberately marched into the waters
of the bay-men, women, and children,
singing a solemn requiem as they plunged
into their depths-of which this mysterious
music is the sad and plaintive recordare.
Another tradition relates to more recent
date, and is still more in accord with his
tory. When the followers of Iberville
were driven from Pascagoula, by their
remorseless enemies, the Spaniards, the
Indians, in turn, drove away the latter
from their newly acquired territory, per-
hitting, however, several friendly families
to remain behind. Several years elapsed.
Quarrels ensued. Game became scarce.
The hunting grounds were insufficient for
both parties. The pale faces were warned
to leave. This they refused to do. A
second warning was unheeded. Awaken
ing one bright moonlight night, they found
their tents on the bay shore surrounded by
the savages. The men, despairing of life,
and the women, certain of fate more
horrible than death, gathered together their
children, and, firing their tents, entered
the waters of the adjacent bay, chanting
their funeral song as they disappeared
of their infatuated prosecutors. Tradition
adds, that the Indians, listening night after
night to the mysterious music which swept
in mournful cadences over the waters, and
victims, ordained by the Great Spirit Him.
self for the repose Of their souls, fled pre-
cipitately from the spot, and were never
more seen in Pascagoula Bay.
Even the accomplished historian of Louis
lana has waved his magic wand over the
waters of the bay. Not content with
gathering laurels in historic fields, he has
wandered into the domain of tradition, and
brought thence one of its most glttering
gems His legend runneth something after
this fashion:
On the shores of Pascagoula Bay, close
by the spot where the music is now heard,
there dwelt in olden times Tribe differing
in color in stature, and other peculiarities,
from the other Indians, who had, during
many moons, inhabited the country. Their
ancestors had originally emerged from the
sea- where they were born, and were of a
light complexion. They were of a gentler
race. Gay and inoffensive, living chiefly
on oysters and fish, they passed their lives
in festivals and rejoicings. They had built
them a gorgeous temple in which they
worshiped mermaid. Every night when
the moon was visible they gathered around |
the beautifully carved figure of the mer-
maid, and with Instruments of strange
shape worshiped their idol, with such soul
stirring music as had never before blessed |
human ears.
One day, shortly after the destruction of
Mauvila (or Mobile, in the year of our
Lord 1889, by Soto and his companions,
there appeared among them pale face,
with a long gray beard and flowing gar
mepts, bearing a large cross in his right |
hand. He drew from his bosom a book,
which he kissed reverentially, and began |
to explain to them what was contained in |
that sacred little casket. Tradition doth |
not say how he had acquired the language |
of these strange people. That he had
acquired it sufficeth, for he began, then |
and there, to explain to them, in their own ,
language, its Notwithstanding to them
from it's sacred pages the solemn truths of
the Gosple of Peace. In the course of
few months the holy man was proceeding
with much success in his pious undertaking,
and the work of conversion was going on
bravely, when his purposes We're defeated
by an awful prodigy.
One night, when the moon at her zenith !