Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-13
INDIAN REMAINS IN LOUISIANA.
A Tradition Relating to Catahouia
Parish.


The following article was written by
DR.. A. r. Fitzpatrick, of Concordia parish;
The. following tradition is here given
with the hope that it may aid IN the in
vestgation of Indian history. DR.. John
Mcbride Thompson came to this parish
in 1919, and was fond of investigating
these subjects; so, in 1881, while on a
Visit TO Georgia, he had 0ppOrtunitie OF
cOnversing with Creek Indians and half
breeds, aud in speaking about these very
mounds at the mouth OF Littleeriver, he
received the following statement from a
very intelligent half-breed Greek Indian:
The large mound at the mouth of Little
river was called the Great Fire and was
the central place of worship, AS it was at
the remarkable point where two rivers
crossed, or where one river ran across
another. The Creek Indians formerly
occupied this country in great numbers,
but having become involved in a war, or
rather being invaded by very powerful
tribe from the seacoast, they were over
powered and forced TO leave their homes
and favorite place OF worship and retreat
toward the east. MANY Of them betoOk
themselves to boats and retreated down
the river into the Mississippi, through
INTO Lake PontChartrain and scattered
abroad over the country now known IA
AidDdiud ana NCOIS ld, anu NDcfe blCJ
were found by the first white settlers.
Those who are better acquainted with
the Greeks, or rather, Musc0gees. may be
able to give a more detailed account OF
this tradition. But the remarkable
natural phenomenon, here mentioned, OF
two rivers crossing. is enough to entitle
the tradition TO attention; as it is fact
that, for many months in the year, The
waters Of the Tensas river run across
-~sWr IT, Il
named river runs up stream. But is the
reader satisfied, from this, that this tribe
of Indians built these mounds?
In the early settlement OF the country
there were many Indians of the COshat-
tees. PascagOulas and ChoctaWs, which
latter were the most numerous. whose
language was the most in use. and who
gave names to the streams. There were
a few VILLAGES on Hemphill's creek, the
Bushby aud FunnR Looah. While speak
ing OF these things, IL may be as we'll to
mention what has been ascertained OF the
Indian names:
Ok-katta-hOoia, beautiful white water.
The whites have abbreviated this word to
its present manner OF spelling.
Oua-chJta. Tho is the French spelling
of an Indian word, and the QUA is thus
put because the French language has no
letter W. In old books and maps Wis.
style has been changed, why not change
the Ouachitai
The meaning Of this word is somewhat
uncertain, as different persons translate
IL differently. One says 1t signifies Big
Cat River; another, Big Cow River; an
other, Aoh, or Atch-itta, Big River, from
the fact that it Is the largest Of the three
which here unite. The word ouah, or
osuch, by some is translated Cow or Buff
falo, while all unite upon the meaning OF
chittas or chittO as being large or big.
Inquiries were prOpounded to the Indians
by some of the early settlers, but they
could not fully satisfy them on the sub
ject. The above is all that could be gath
cred on this name.
Bushby, cutoff; Bogue Bushby, Cutoff
Bayou. Busn-po means knife. The Bushby
is cutoff from the Ouachita to Little
river.
Funna Looah means burnt squirrel. /
know this is mostly spelled Funny Louis,
but as 1t is calculated to mislead, / pro-
pose the other spelling, as 1t Is more con-
sstent with the cultural information of
their language.
Lake Looah, mostly spelled Louis,
means Squirrel Lake; so also Bayou
L0oah, owing to the great number of
those animals found on this lake and
bayou. This stream add lake are on
Sicily Island.