The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-05-23

Post Office was kept in Houma which
was the only one in the Parish.
There had yet been no Jail built
require one. If there were any Mr..
Philip Dorce the sheriff had the
pleasure Of escorting all such gentle
men to the Thibodaux Jail.
AS Mr.. GriIlagc las the founder of
this town he was requested by his
friends to name it after himself, this
he objected to. He called upon an
aged Indian by the name OF Cnute.taN
who happened TO be passing through
the place TO give 4 ame 10 the town.
He requested them to nanle it after
his tribe Houma.
The fist and only time ! saw this
! CT part of Little Gallon. Although
nearly i century old he was tall and
erect, and still retained that proud de-
fiance that 50 often belong to that class
Of people. He never quit his indian
dress Of buckskiu and m~occasins.
He was tile last chief Of j race already
much reduced il number. Like
many other North American tribes
tlley are doomed to pass away and be
remembered no more except III the
history and the names Of many Of onr
towns, rivers and states.
The MINORITY Of the population of
this Parish We're cleoles who We're the
descendants Of the Acadians who left
their country and settled along the
Mississippi River and the principal
bayous Of tile State. They preferred
establishing. their homes i'll the sWamps
OF Louisiana rather than submit to
British oppression in their own com
try. Their history is related by the
poet Lon2fellow in the most beautiful
sly lie. Many Of our most prominent
men have sprung from this class OF
citizens. They were an orderly and
industrious people. They lived en-
tlrely within their own resources.
They raised their W corn, rice aud
potatoes and 4 small patch Of cotton,
which was spun and woven by the
ome into clothing for the family. |
Their barn yards were we'll stocked
with poultry. They followed no fash
ions and rejected all inovations. They
built their " houses and boats and
made al their furniture and farm
ing utensils. Their cart wheels were
made III the usual manner but without
a particle of iron ;wllen,t they hltciled i
par OF oxen to the cart tie yoke in
stead Of being put oven the neck and
fastened with bows was made of
lighter form and dashed to the horns.
The oxen We're driven with d goad
instead Of d viii, this is IA pole from
SIX to eight feet long with II sharp
nail or i piece Of iron inserted in the
end of it.
With this the driver punches the
to make them 60 faster. This
seemed to me Il cruel mode Of driving
oxen. but as far back as the history Of
man can be traced the goad has been
used to drive oxen.
There was one thing | noticed they
never creased their axels. Why this
was so ! never understood tor | never
like to ask too many questions. Con
s%equently when they travelled the
wheels for the van of greasing made
a loud creaking noise which was heard
almost As ar as a steamboat whistle.
When then approach was announced
i'll this way and YOU wished to take i
ride you had anpte time todress your
self and prepare your baggage before
1t arrived il front Of your door; fer
do not travel ut railroad speed.
We're il few indians settled along
the lower part Of the parish. Accord
ing to their tradition they were origin
ally from the Attakapas. They were
driven from their lomes by high wa
ter. They embarked IN their canoes
and pushed for the east. They ira
Versed lakes, swamps and prairieS, as
zone but indians can do till they ar