302 bushnell: the chitimacha Indians 



eastward, in the country adjacent to Bayou La Fourche, then 

 known as the river of the Chitimacha. Many, if not all, of the 

 latter removed from their ancient habitat during the years 1718 

 and 1719, but it is quite evident that other Indians soon oc- 

 cupied the old Chitimacha sites, and among the new arrivals 

 were many Houma, and others from east of the Mississippi. 

 Likewise, it is highly probable that some of the Chitimacha later 

 found their way back to their old homes. 1 



At the present time several families living in Terrebonne and 

 La Fourche parishes, near Bayou La Fourche, claim to be of 

 Chitimacha descent, although they know some of their ances- 

 tors to have been Houma, and many have traces of European 

 blood as well. On the following pages are given some of the 

 mannerisms and customs of these people, as related by Abel 

 Billiot, a man about sixty-five years of age, who is known as a 

 Chitimacha, from the village of Point-au-chien in the south- 

 eastern part of Terrebonne parish, Louisiana. 



HABITATIONS 



The primitive form of habitation was constructed and oc- 

 cupied during the past ten years and, according to my inform- 

 ant, the last example was destroyed at the time of the great 

 storm about eight years ago. The houses were built in the 

 following manner: A slight excavation was made to corre- 

 spond with the floor-space of the future structure. The wall was 

 outlined by a row of posts about three of four inches in diameter 

 and four feet or more in height, placed about two feet apart. 

 Smaller flexible branches and saplings were interwoven be- 

 tween the upright posts. A low conical roof was formed of a 

 frame covered with thick palmetto thatch. A hole was dug 

 in which a quantity of clay and Spanish moss was mixed with 

 water, this serving as plaster for the wall of wattle work. Clam 

 and oyster shells were burned and the lime thus obtained was 

 mixed with water and used to whitewash the inside wall of the 



1 Swanton has discussed this in Indian tribes of the lower Mississippi Valley, 

 Bulletin 43, Bureau of American Ethnology, Washington, 1911. 



