St. Tammany farmer., 1911-04-01
INDIAN LEGEND
IS MADE HISTORY
A Relic Found In Roquette
Mission, Chinchuba.
Makes Mystery Of Indian
/, Story Probable Fact.
The Story Told By an Aged
Erenchman.
A Pretty Romance of the
Choctaw Indians.

CnOcCaW Indians.
The following interesting legend,
from the Times-Democrat, was con-
tributed by it's Covington correspond
ent, Mr.. l.. ]. Hennessey:
A party of picnickers from the
Southern Hotel spent the day at the
site of the old Rouquette Mission
house near Chinchuba, Friday, and
while exploring the ruins of the
quaint old structure stumbled upon
an old metallic pot containing two
dozen old coins and an ancient look
ing silver mirror. The cation Of
time had not erased the inscriptions
from the coins, but judging by gen.
eral appearances they seem to be
Spanish. The finder, it Is said, will
send them along with the jar to the
Smithsonian Institute at Washing
ton, D. C.
The most interesting part of the
discovery by far, is the old mirror.
This mirror is undoubtedly solid
silver, and is elaborately chased in
an artistic manner upon it's back.
The designs are barely discenible to
the naked eye, but after an applica-
tion' of some acid hte name Edith
ania" could be very easily made out.
The Choctaw Idians who once in
habited the country in and around
the site of the mission, conducted
by the scholarly old French priest,
Pere Rouquette, were very adept at
modelling clay and other substances
into crude implements of war and
ornamentation, but the material and
workmanship of the mirror made 1t
evident that it was not the result
of their art. This only served to
heighten the mystery of the find. and
no one seemed able to offer a puas-
ible explanation for its presence In
the metal pot.
Pierre Lemare, an old Frenchman,
nearing the century mark, who has
spent his entire life in the neighbor-
hood of the mission, and is well ac-
quainted with the habits and char
acteristics Of the Choctaws, related
an interesting legend connected with
mirror which was told him by his
father when he was boy. The old
Frenchman seems certain that the
one found in the pot along with the
coins, is the one that played such a
prominent part in the history of the
last century.
According to the legend as relat-
ed by Lemrae, there was an old Choc-
taw chief named Inoke who was the
head of quite a large tribe of Choc-
taws that resided in the vicinity Of
the mission. Inoke had handsome
young son named eHnsario, and
when teh father died, the son being
his only child, was invested with the
reins of government. Inc due course
of time the chiefs son attained his
majority and was looked upon favor
ably by all the madens of his own
and the neighboring tribes from
matrimonial stanpoint.
The ynuog chief, however, remain
ed untouched by the charms of the
damsels, and as celibacy was looked
upon with disfavor by the Indians
this created much unfavorable COM
ment. 1t was intimated that he
would make much better ruler If
he took to himself wife, but after
vainly trying he was unable to make
q choice from among the very numer-
GUS available young women. One day
a beautiful young maiden named
Edithiania, came on visit to his
tribe from her home in the Far West
Unlike the dark-skinned maidens Of
his own tribe, this damsei possessed
an extremely fair skin and gorgeous
head of golden hair. The Choctaw
was smitten at once, but the object
of his affection did not seem to take
kindly to his suit at the start. The
young chief persisted. however, and
finally got the object of his affec-
tionS into a more tractable mood.
The two would often go on long
strolls through the pines on NOON
light nights and the young fellows
devotion soon became the talk of the
tribe.
Among the princess's most treas
urer belongings was silver mirror
Of very elaborate design. which had
been given to her by some white
trader at home. She always carried
it baout her person until one day her
lover managed to gain possession OF
it. She pleaded for its return and
told him that it was unreasonable
! for him to deprive her of her look
ing glass. He remained obdurate
and refused to part with it, until one
4 day told that unless he would give
it back their friendship would termi.
nate. In the face of this ultimatum
the mirror was returned. but Hen.
sario swore inworidy that he would
yet gain possession of it and keep it
| One day while they were sittins
upon the banks of the Chinchubs
creek the princess was SO touched b.
her lovers pleadings that she re
luctant1y consented to part with hel
looking glass. Saying at ths tim,
| that hse avs going back to her honl.
and would let him keep 1t as . re
membrance. The gift was gladly re
4 ceiyed. but the departue of the chief
adsred SO affected his mind that fo
mouths aftervard he did nothing bu
pit upon the banks OF the creek an,
Continued on Pare a..