8 



visited the P^'reiich Settlements on it in the year 1700. After 

 mentioning his course up the river from the mouth, describ- 

 ing the vast cypress swamps, freshets, etc., and alluding to 

 the huge canoes, carrying 50 or GO barrels, built from cypress 

 by the French, which were split in the middle and spliced 

 and keel put in, he goes on to speak of the inhabitants thus : 

 "There are about 70 families settled on this river, who live 

 as decently and happily as any planters in these Southward 

 l)arts of America. The French being a temjperate, indus- 

 trious i>eople, sonu^ of them bringing very little effects, ^-et 

 by their endeavors and mutual assistance amongst them- 

 selves, have outstripped our English, who brought with them 

 larger fortunes." Further he says: "In the Jifternoon we 

 met some French cou\ing from church, they were all of them 

 clean and decent in apparel, their houses an<l plantations 

 suitable in neatness ad contrivance. 



They are all of the same opinion with the Church of Ge- 

 neva, there being no difference amongst them concerning the 

 punctilios of their Christian faith; which union hath pro- 

 pagated a happy and delightful concord in all other matters 

 throughout the whole neighborhood; living amongst them- 

 selves as one tribe or kindred, everyone making it his busi- 

 ness to be of assistance to the wants of his countryman, 

 ]>reserving his estate and reputation with the same exact- 

 ness and concern as he does his own ; all seeniiing to share in 

 the misfortunes and rejoice at the advance and rise of their 

 brethren." 



Mr. Lawson and Mr. Porcher both state that agriculture 

 and Indian trade were the main occui)ation of the early set- 

 tlers, and no doubt they used stock-raising to add to their 

 revenue and comfort. Of course, all that I have said aj)plied 

 to settlers also on coast part of I'arish, for they were a 

 homogenous j)eople intermixed with some Scotch, English 

 and Dutch emigi'ants. These Frenchmen had some curious 

 notions, and one of them was that no good baking could be 

 done outside of a brick oven, and always had them, even in 

 my early days I can remember that in nearly every yard 

 could be seen one under a shed. The pillau was one of their 

 favorite dishes, and the GanlTre, or waffle, the jerked and 

 I)otted beef and venison are still used amongst us as a direct 



