Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/151

This page needs to be proofread.

SECT. III.] SOUTHERN INDIANS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 115 the boundaries of the United States, on and south of Red River. Du Pratz mentions in the vicinity of the seashore, and east of the Mississippi, the Mobilians, living near the mouth of that river, and speaking the Choctaw language; the Pasca- goulas or Pasca Ogoulas (" Bread nation ") on the river of that name, now living on Red River ; and the Colapissas or Aqueloupissas (" who hear and see "), living then not far from the site of New Orleans, but either extinct or no longer known by that name. He says, that they consisted only of twenty families, whilst Charlevoix at the same time (1721) estimates them at two hundred warriors. To these must be added the Boluxas of Biloxi, now living below Natchitoches. Those whom he mentions on the eastern bank of the Missis- sippi, above New Orleans, are the Oumas or Humas (" Red nation"), of whom a few are said to remain below Manchacand others to be found in the vicinity of the Attacapas ; the Tuni- cas, originally living opposite the mouth of Red River, in alliance with the French, nearly destroyed by the Chicasas in the course of the Natches war, and the remnant of whom are settled at Avoyelle on Red River ; and the Yazoos, who, together with some small kindred tribes also living on Yazoo River, amounted to two hundred families. They spoke Chica- sa, and were in alliance with that nation and the Natches. During the Natches war, they were nearly destroyed by the Arkansas ; the residue of them are now incorporated with the Chicasas. The tribes mentioned by the same author on the west side of the Mississippi, and whose names at least have disappeared, are the B ay a goulas, the Oque Loussas, ("Black Water,") the Avoyelles and the TVashittas, driven away by the Chicasas, and according to him incorporated with the Natchitoches. The most complete account of the numerous small tribes still existing west of the Mississippi, on Red River and south of it, is that of Dr. John Sibley, of Natchitoches.* They consist partly of such as had within the memory of man migrated from the east side of the river ; partly of those who were considered as natives. The first class embraces the Appalachcs, the Alibamas, and

  • President's Message of February 19th, 1806, with the accompanying

documents from Dr. Sibley and others.