History of Louisiana

By Du Pratz, Le Page

Book Id: WPLBN0000632166
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 537.46 KB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	History of Louisiana
Author:	Du Pratz, Le Page
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Literature, Literature & thought, Writing.
Collections:	Blackmask Online Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Blackmask Online


Citation APA MLA Chicago Du Pratz, L. P. (n.d.). History of Louisiana. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.us/

Description
Foreword: Antoine Simon Le Page Du Pratz was a Dutchman, as his birth in Holland about 1695 apparently proves. He died in 1775, just where available records do not tell us, but the probabilities are that he died in France, for it is said he entered the French Army, serving with the Dragoons, and saw service in Germany. While there is some speculation about all the foregoing, there can be no speculation about the statement that on May 25, 1718 he left La Rochelle, France, in one of three ships bound for a place called Louisiana. 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.?

Table of Contents
Table of Contents: History of Louisisana, 1 -- Le Page Du Pratz, 1 -- Foreword, 3 -- Preface, 4 -- BOOK I. The Transactions of the French in LOUISIANA, 17 -- Chapter I. Of the first Discovery and Settlement of LOUISIANA, 17 -- Chapter II. The Return of M. de St. Denis: His settling the Spaniards at the Assinais. His -- Second Journey to Mexico, and Return from thence, 20 -- Chapter III. Embarkation of eight hundred Men by the West India Company to Louisiana. -- Arrival and Stay at Cape Francois. Arrival at Isle Dauphine. Description of that Island, 22 -- Chapter IV. The Author's Departure for his Grant. Description of the Places he passed -- through, as far as New Orleans, 24 -- Chapter V. The Author put in Possession of his Territory. His Resolution to go and settle -- among the Natchez, 25 -- Chapter VI. The Voyage of the Author to Biloxi. Description of that Place. Settlement of -- Grants. The Author discovers two Coppermines. His Return to the Natchez, 29 -- Chapter VII. First War with the Natchez. Cause of the War, 31 -- Chapter 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, 34 -- Chapter IX. French Settlements, or Posts. The Post at Mobile. The Mouths of the Missisippi. -- The Situation and Description of New Orleans, 37 -- Chapter 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, 44 -- Chapter XI. The War with the Chitimachas. The Conspiracy of the Negroes against the -- French. Their Execution, 50 -- Chapter XII. The War of the Natchez. Massacre of the French in 1729. Extirpation of the -- Natchez in 1730, 51 -- Chapter XIII. The War with the Chicasaws. The first Expedition by the river Mobile. The -- second by the Missisippi. The war with the Chactaws terminated by the prudence of M. de -- Vaudreuil, 59 -- Chapter XIV. Reflections on what gives Occasions 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, 63 -- Chapter XV. Pensacola taken by Surprize by the French. Retaken by the Spaniards. Again -- retaken by the French, and demolished, 65 -- BOOK II. Of the Country, and its Products, 68 -- Chapter I. Geographical Description of Louisiana. Its Climate, 68 -- Chapter II. The Author's Journey in Louisiana, from the Natchez to the River St. Francis, and -- the Country of the Chicasaws, 74 -- Chapter III. Of the Nature of the Lands of Louisiana. The Lands on the Coast, 81 -- Chapter 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, 85 -- Chapter V. Quality of the Lands of the Red River. Posts of the Nachitoches. A Silver Mine. -- Lands of the Black River, 88 -- Chapter 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, 90