St. Landry democrat., 1880-02-14

Communication i'll Lafayette Advertiser.
Mr.. Editor-Tic application soon to
he made by the City Council OF
VermiIlionvile, to the Legislature, for
a new charter, extending their limits
and charging their power for securing
a better police, is Il timely measure; its
necessity is 50 apparent, that it meets
with no objection from any quarter.
The changing the name of the town
appears also to meet general approba-
ton; but there is Il diversity of opinion
as regards the choice of the new name.
Among others, Acadia has been
suggested, as IL reminder that the first
settlers OF Atac-apas, were with few
exceptions, all refugees from that
unfortunate French colony, whose
Inhabitants were so cruelty and
inhumanly treated by the English
government.
prairie City has also been spoken of
as a suitable name-it has merits; for
your torn is destined to be in the neaf'
future, the great central point of the
extensive prairie country by which it is
siirrouuded-alsO, on account Of its
situation on the most reliable route,
which ut no distant period, will be
completed to the Pacific branching out
at the Rio Grande to Cali sornia.
The name of 'Atac-apas' is also urged
by many, Notwithstanding the good
reasons given in favor of the two first
mHnlts, NY preference lncllneS towards
THIS last.
The large territory occupied by the
Artc-apaS Indians, with is abundance
ii Yanis aud fish, its delightful climate,
must have been avery paradise to them ;
nA yet they all PASSED away, with Il
single exception 10. my kno"ledge-;'
woman, Qlltr atlvaUrrd in age, Wno has
nrcn living tor many years on the Car
y'!tcro, prihclpiily IN the family Of Mr..
4 IeX litirr i4a'inlais, is the last Of that
!l,.r-Iltr name. is Cephlse, she is exper
at spinning and weaving and all house
mona wnrk, Is retlceut, and never forglves
an injury. Her complexion and features
present ii strong type OF the Red man.
The 4itac-upas indians having passed
away, leaving no monuments, let III
preserve their name which is fast
falling in disuSe. Another reason for
adopting this name is, that we would
be following the example OF our friends
of st. Landry, who gave to their town
aud seat OF Justice the name of their old
county, 'Ope!ousas'. Disclaimiug any
intention to disturb the ''etat civil'' Of
our good, and soon nearer neighhors, |
cannot forego the temptation Of
aiil,!lng to Il chronicle concerning that
name. Those who had looked into the
matter, all agreed, that It was Il perver-
sion of the true Indian name. Their
principal reason for entertaining that
opinion was, that the name had no
meaning in the dialect of the tribe
occupying that locality, hence some
contended that it should be 'OquG-
sfh,,,nf
Black water Another version as to
the true name, given by Major Dupr6,
may be considered more authentic.
We have often heard him relate it in
the following way: chs stepfather,
Mr.. Grand Louis Fontenot, carried on a
considerable trade with the Indians of
that locality he would advance them
powder, shot, lead to make bullets,
blankets, sc. and also large quantity
Of coarse blue cloth, which they used to
make their 3trois QUARTS not to often d
ears pollte-a name given to an
Indispensable portion of the scanty
garment of the Indian OF that day.
Those Indians would resort to their
hunting grounds on the Mermentau and
the Calcasieu rivers in the fall Of the
year. when game was most abundant,
and on their return, would sell their
peltry to Mr.. Grand Louis, in payment
Of the advances made them. Maj. Dupr6
then quite youth, would accompany
them in those excursions, he was placed
under the care of one OF their chiefs, by
the name of Cascari, who adopted him
us son he became tlas very familiar
with their customs and dialect. The
Major said, they told him, that the true
name of their locality was 'Luupe-
| l., - III al
'ns the o name Of GaS Tribe Once once
Inhabitants of that place. They said
they were "bad Indians" and had all
been killed or driven away.
Those who knew Maj. Dupre could
not doubt the truth of this version; for
he was higll-toned, :chiyalric spirit, to
use the french expression, he was 'carre
par la base" o
But enough of these digressions.