364 BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [edll. 43 



Though it was so insignificant as to receive scant attention, the dis- 

 trict, and later the post to which it gave its name, soon became sub- 

 jects of frequent mention. This district was very extensive, em- 

 bracing what are now the parishes of St. Landry, Calcasieu, and 

 Cameron. The next particular reference to the people appears to be 

 by Baudry de Lozieres (1794-1798), who says: 



The Loupelonsas. — They are allied with the Tchiontimachas and number 130 

 men. It has been impossible to make them settle down. They dwell behind 

 the Tchiontimachas, abont 30 leagues inland toward the west.*^ 



In 1805 Sibley reported regarding them as follows : 



Appalousas. It is said the word appalousa, in the Indian language, means 

 ' black head,' or ' black skull.' They are the aborigines of the district called 

 by their name. The village is about 15 miles west from the Appelousa church, 

 have about 40 men. Their native language differs from all other; understand 

 Attakapa and speak French ; plant corn ; have cattle and hogs.^ 



In testimony embodied in the American State Papers, one of the 

 white inhabitants of the Opelousa and Atakapa country testifies 

 in 1814 to having heard that there were " several other villages of 

 Attakapas and Opelousas Indians on the Bayou Plaquemine Brule, 

 and the other parts north and west of that bayou." ^ In another 

 place the Oj^elousa tribe is referred to as having dwindled to 20 

 persons.*^ This statement is made in the course of an argument re- 

 garding the validity of Indian claims, but appears to be founded on 

 actual information. The ultimate fate of the survivors is shrouded 

 in mystery, but w^e may surmi.se that they joined other Indians and 

 became incorporated with them. 



" Voy. a La Louisiane, 247-248, 1802. 



* Sibley's Report of 180.5, Ann. 9th Cong., 2d sess., 1086, 1852. 



<■ Amer. State Paper.s, Public Lands, in. 111. 



" Ibid., 95. 



