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HISTORY OF LOUISISANA
HISTORY OF LOUISISANA LE PAGE DU PRATZ For M. Le Page tells us about this in a three-volume work he wrote
called Histoire de la Louisiane recognized as the authority to be
consulted by all who have written on the early history of New Orleans
and the Louisiana province.
Le Page who arrived in Louisiana August 25 1718 three months after
leaving La Rochelle spent four months at Dauphin Island before he and
his men made their way to Bayou St. John where he set up a plantation.
He had at last reached New Orleans which he correctly states
"existed only in name" and had to occupy an old lodge once used by an
Acolapissa Indian. The young settler he was only about 23 at the
time after arranging his shelter tells us: "A few days afterwards I
purchased from a neighbour a native female slave so as to have a
woman to cook for us. My slave and I could not speak each other's
language; but I made myself understood by means of signs." This slave
a girl of the Chitimacha tribe remained with Le Page for years and
one draws the inference that she was possessed of a vigorous
personality and was not devoid of charm or bravery. Le Page writes
that when frightened by an alligator approaching his camp fire he ran
to the lodge for his gun. However the Indian girl calmly picked up a
stick and hammered the 'gator so lustily on its nose that it
retreated. As Le Page arrived with his gun ready to shoot "the
monster" he tells us: "She began to smile and said many things which
I did not comprehend but she made me understand by signs that there
was no occasion for a gun to kill such a beast."
It is unfortunate for the purpose of sociological study that this
Indian girl appears so infrequently in the many accounts Le Page has
left us in his highly interesting studies of early Louisiana and its
original inhabitants. He does not even tell us the Indian girl's name.
We are told that after living on the banks of Bayou St. John for about
two years he left for the bluff lands of the Natchez country. His
Indian girl decided she would go with him as she had relatives there.
Hearing of her plan her old father offered to buy her back from Le
Page. The Chitimacha girl however refused to leave her master
whereupon the Indian father performed a rite of his tribe which made
her the ward of the white man--a simple ceremony of joining hands.
Le Page spent eight years among the Natchez and what he wrote about
them--their lives their customs their ceremonials--has been
acknowledged to be the best and most accurate accounts we have of
these original inhabitants of Louisiana. He has left us in his
splendid history much information on the other Indian tribes of the
lower Mississippi River country.
Antoine Simon Le Page Du Pratz tells us he spent sixteen years in
Louisiana before returning to France in 1734. They were years well
spent--to judge by what he wrote.
As it was written and published in the French language Le Page's
history proved in many instances to be a tantalizing casket of
historical treasure that could not be opened by those who had not
mastered French. The original edition published in Paris in 1758 a
score of years after the author landed in New Orleans was followed in
1763 by a two-volume edition in English and eleven years later in
1774 by a one-volume edition in English entitled: "The History of
Louisiana or of the Western Parts of Virginia and Carolina." The
texts in the English editions are identical.
Fortunately early historians who could not read the French edition
were now able to read M. Le Page's accounts of his adventures in the
New World. Unfortunately especially for present day historians the
English editions have become increasingly rare--many libraries do not
have them on their shelves. Therefore the present re-publication
fills a long-felt want.
The English translation with its added matter is reproduced exactly
as it was printed for T. Becket to be sold in his shop at the corner
of the Adelphi in the Strand London 1774. Errors of grammar and
spelling are not corrected. The only change is the modernizing of the
old _s_'s which look like _f_'s.
The present edition is really two works in one for the English
translation did not include any of the original edition's many
illustrations. The London books did have two folding maps one of the
Louisiana province the other of the country about the mouths of the
Mississippi River. Not only are these maps reproduced in the present
work but in addition all the other illustrations including the rare
map of New Orleans appearing in the original French edition are
included. These quaint engravings of the birds the beasts the
flowers the shrubs the trees fish the deer and buffalo hunts and
the habits and customs of the Natchez Indians add much to the value
of the present re-publication. I have captioned them with present-day
names of the flora and fauna.
STANLEY CLISBY ARTHUR.
(_Mr. Arthur is a naturalist historian and writer and
executive-director of the Louisiana State Museum.--J. S. W.
Harmanson Publisher_.)
CONTENTS
Preface
BOOK I.
The Transactions of the French in Louisiana.
CHAP. I.
Of the first Discovery and Settlement of Louisiana
CHAP. II.
The Return of M. de St. Denis: His settling the Spaniards
at the Assinais. His second Journey to Mexico and Return
from thence
CHAP. III.
Embarkation of eight hundred Men by the West-India Company
to Louisiana. Arrival and Stay at Cape Francois. Arrival
at the Isle Dauphine. Description of that Island
CHAP. IV.
The Author's Departure for his Grant. Description of the
Places he passed through as far as New Orleans
CHAP. V.
The Author put in Possession of his Territory. His
Resolution to go and settle among the Natchez
CHAP. VI.
The Voyage of the Author to Biloxi. Description of that
Place. Settlement of Grants. The Author discovers two
Copper Mines. His Return to the Natchez
CHAP. VII.
First War with the Natchez. Cause of the War
CHAP. VIII.
The Governor surprized the Natchez with seven hundred
Men. Astonishing Cures performed by the Natives. The
Author sends upwards of three hundred Simples to the
Company
CHAP. IX.
French Settlements or Posts. Post at Mobile. The Mouths
of the Missisippi. The Situation and Description of New
Orleans
CHAP. X.
The Voyages of the French to the Missouris Canzas and
Padoucas. The Settlements they in vain attempted to make
in those Countries; with a Description of an extraordinary
Phaenomenon
CHAP. XI.
The War with the Chitimachas. The Conspiracy of the Negroes
against the French. Their Execution
CHAP. XII.
The War of the Natchez. Massacre of the French in 1729.
Extirpation of the Natchez in 1730
CHAP. XIII.
The War with the Chicasaws. The first Expedition by the
River Mobile. The second by the River Missisippi. The War
with the Chactaws terminated by the Prudence of M. de
Vaudreuil
CHAP. XIV.
Reflections on what gives Occasion to Wars in Louisiana.
The Means of avoiding Wars in that Province as also the
Manner of coming off with Advantage and little Expence in
them
CHAP. XV.
Pensacola taken by Surprize by the French. Retaken by the
Spaniards. Again retaken by the French and demolished
BOOK II.
Of the Country and its Products.
CHAP. I.
Geographical Description of Louisiana. Its climate
Description of the Lower Louisiana and the Mouths of the
Missisippi.
CHAP. II.
The Author's journey in Louisiana from the Natchez to the
River St. Francis and the Country of the Chicasaws
CHAP. III.
The Nature of the Lands of Louisiana. The Lands on the
Coast.
CHAP. IV.
Quality of the Lands above the Fork. A Quarry of Stone
for building. High Lands to the East: Their vast Fertility.
West Coast: West Lands: Saltpetre
CHAP. V.
Quality of the Lands of the Red River. Posts of
Nachitoches. A Silver Mine. Lands of the Black River
CHAP. VI.
A Brook of salt Water: Salt Lakes. Lands of the River
of the Arkansas. Red-veined Marble: Slate: Plaster.
Hunting the Buffalo. The dry Sand-banks in the Missisippi
CHAP. VII.
The Lands of the River St. Francis. Mine of Marameg and
other Mines. A Lead Mine. A soft Stone resembling
Porphyry. Lands of the Missouri. The Lands North of the
Wabache. The Lands of the Illinois. De La Mothe's Mine
and other Mines
CHAP. VIII.
Of the Agriculture or Manner of cultivating ordering
and manufacturing the Commodities that are proper
Articles of Commerce. Of the Culture of Maiz Rice and
other Fruits of the Country. Of the Silk Worm
CHAP. IX.
Of Indigo Tobacco Cotton Wax Hops and Saffron
CHAP. X.
Of the Commerce that is and may be carried on in
Louisiana. Of the Commodities which that Province
may furnish in Return for those of Europe. Of the
Commerce of Louisiana with the Isles
CHAP. XI.
Of the Commerce with the Spaniards. The Commodities
they bring to the Colony if there is a Demand for
them. Of such as may be given in Return and may suit
them. Reflections on the Commerce of this Province
and the great Advantages which the State and
particular Persons may derive therefrom
Some Abstracts from the Historical Memoirs of Louisiana
by M. Dumont.
I. Of Tobacco with the Way of cultivating and curing it
II. Of the Way of making Indigo
III. Of Tar; the Way of making it; and of making it into
pitch
IV. Of the Mines of Louisiana
Extract from a late French Writer concerning the Importance
of Louisiana to France
BOOK III.
The Natural History of Louisiana.
CHAP. I.
Of Corn and Pulse
CHAP. II.
Of the Fruit Trees of Louisiana
CHAP. III.
Of Forest Trees
CHAP. IV.
Of Shrubs and Excrescences
CHAP. V.
Of Creeping Plants
CHAP. VI.
Of the Quadrupedes
CHAP. VII.
Of Birds and flying Insects
CHAP. VIII.
Of Fishes and Shell-Fish
BOOK IV.
Of the Natives of Louisiana.
CHAP. I.
The Origin of the Americans
CHAP. II.
An Account of the several Nations of Louisiana
SECT. I.
Of the Nations inhabiting on the East of the Missisippi
SECT. II.
Of the Nations inhabiting on the West of the Missisippi
CHAP. III.
A Description of the Natives of Louisiana; of their
Manners and Customs particularly those of the Natchez:
Of their Language their Religion Ceremonies Rulers
or Suns Feasts Marriages &c
SECT. I.
A Description of the Natives; the different Employments
of the two Sexes; and their Manner of bringing up their
Children
SECT. II.
Of the Language Government Religion Ceremonies and
Feasts of the Natives
SECT. III.
Of their Marriages and Distinction of Ranks
SECT. IV.
Of the Temples Tombs Burials and other religious
Ceremonies of the People of Louisiana
SECT. V.
Of the Arts and Manufactures of the Natives
SECT. VI.
Of the Attire and Diversions of the Natives: Of their
Meals and Fastings
SECT. VII.
Of the Indian Art of War
CHAP. IV.
Of the Negroes of Louisiana
SECT. I.
Of the Choice of Negroes; of their Distempers and the
Manner of curing them
SECT. II.
Of the Manner of governing the Negroes
INDEX
List of Illustrations
Indian in Summer Time
Indian in Winter Time
Indian Woman and Daughter
Plan of New Orleans 1720
Beaver Beaver lodge Beaver dam
Indians of the North Leaving in the Winter with their
Families for a Hunt
Indigo
Cotton and Rice on the Stalk
Appalachean Beans. Sweet Potatoes
Watermelon
Pawpaw. Blue Whortle-berry
Sweet Gum or Liquid-Amber
Cypress
Magnolia
Sassafras
Myrtle Wax Tree. Vinegar Tree
Poplar ("Cotton Tree")
Black Oak
Linden or Bass Tree
Box Elder or Stink-wood Tree
Cassine or Yapon. Tooth-ache Tree or Prickly Ash
Passion Thorn or Honey Locust. Bearded Creeper
Palmetto
Bramble Sarsaparilla
Rattlesnake Herb
Red Dye Plant. Flat Root
Panther or Catamount. Bison or Buffalo
Indian Deer Hunt
Wild Cat. Opossum. Skunk
Alligator. Rattle Snake. Green Snake
Pelican. Wood Stock
Flying Squirrel. Roseate Spoonbill. Snowy Heron
White Ibis. Tobacco Worm. Cock Roach
Cat Fish. Gar Fish. Spoonbill Catfish
Indian Buffalo Hunt on Foot
Dance of the Natchez Indians
Burial of the Stung Serpent
Bringing the Pipe of Peace
Torture of Prisoners. Plan of Fort
{i}
PREFACE
The History of Louisiana which we here present to the public was
wrote by a planter of sixteen years experience in that country who
had likewise the advantage of being overseer or director of the public
plantations both when they belonged to the company and afterwards
when they fell to the crown; by which means he had the best
opportunities of knowing the nature of the soil and climate and what
they produce or what improvements they are likely to admit of; a
thing in which this nation is without doubt highly concerned and
interested. And when our author published this history in 1758 he had
likewise the advantage not only of the accounts of F. Charlevoix and
others but of the Historical Memoirs of Louisiana published at Paris
in 1753 by Mr. Dumont an officer who resided two-and-twenty years in
the country and was personally concerned and acquainted with many of
the transactions in it; from whom we have extracted some passages to
render this account more complete.
But whatever opportunities our author had of gaining a knowledge of
his subject it must be owned that he made his accounts of it very
perplexed. By endeavoring to take in every thing he descends to many
trifles; and by dwelling too long on a subject he comes to render it
obscure by being prolix in things which hardly relate to what he
treats of. He interrupts the thread of his discourse with private
anecdotes long harangues and tedious narrations which have little
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