St. Landry democrat., 1889-07-20
than did the French surgeons and physi-

| than did the French surgeons ana physl-
clans. z
DR.. Jones is preparing a book on this
subject and the works of art of the
Natchez, which will prove not only OF the
greatest interest to the medical fraternity
and other scientists, put to the public at
| large. He will illustrate this work, and
solicits information regarding those points
from residents of Mississippi who may be
! in possession of relics, etc, of the abort
gines. The Natchez tribe, when the Span
iards reached this country, numbered oOO
| kings or suns and eleven thousand war
| riors, and their villages and towns, each
| one of which had one or more lofty mounds,
| extending from bayou Lafourche to the
| head waters of the Wabash. The Natchez
| were the last of the race of mound builders
who were in many respects similar in
habits, customs, religion, etc., to the bar
| barrie and semi civilized races of Mexico
and Peru, who also offered up human
sacrifices.
The Aztecs of Mexico were undoubtedly
cannibals, and supplied their markets
regularly with the flesh of their human
victims, which they ate with avidity and
esteemed great delicacy. The Mexicans
skinned the Spanish soldiers of Cortez
stuffed their skins and hanged them up in
the temple.
In 1920 the Mexicans and North Amer
lean aboriginal nations were visited by
that terrible scourge, smallpox, and
thousands of them died, it was the custom
of the Natchez to
SACRIFICE ALL HIS RELATIONS,
wife, family and children, and what with
smallpox, syphilis, and human sacrifice
and 'fire water" the Natchez were but
few in number when the French conquered
their country 200 years later and waged
the war of determination against them.
TROYVILLE MOUNDS.
Tradition pointed to Troyville, at the
junction of the Ouachita, Tensas and
Little rivers, which form Black river, just
opposite to the town of Trinity, La. as the
site of the last stand made by the Natchez
against their emf suies, the French. On
visiting this place Dr.. Jones found vestiges
of fertilization inctosing several hundred
acres of land on which were six or eight
mounds, the central one being the largest
one and at the present time 300 feet square
and 70 feet high, though doubtless orlgi
nally much higher.
THIS ANCIENT FORTIFICATION
was occupied during the late war by the
confederate forces under Count Polignac
and was a commanding position.
The Z Stifcations extend from the Black
to the L. lie river, and in this ancient de-
fensive work DR.. Jones found an arrow or
spear head of flint as broad as a mans
hand and about IL inches in length. This
relic is superb piece of work, the stone
being almost transparent and ground or
Clipped with stone chisels into most sym
metrical shape, the edges being quite
sharp. This position was a strong one
naturally and had no doubt been occupied
by Indians for centuries before the discov-
cry of the new world.
DR.. Jones interviewed number of the
Oldest residents of the vicinity and was
informed that in 1S43, when the works
wei e covered with a growth of cane, the
line of the Notifications could be distinctly
seen. He found pipe and a handsome
teapot here, but these were of early
European manufacture.
DR.. Jones states that he was greatly in
debted to Prof. Raymond president, and
Prof. James Mcclure of the Washington
University, for their hospitable and kind
reception also to Doctors Chase, McPher- |
son, Metcalf, Maj or Grafton, and Miss Liz
ze J. Foster of Natchez, for information
regarding localities, etc.-N. 0. Picayu11e. !