NO. 5 DRAWINGS BY A. De15ATZ IN LOUISIANA BUSHNELL 



TREE NEAR SITE OF THE NATCHEZ TEMPLE. 1732 



This tree, considered a great rarity by the French and evidently 

 regarded with awe by the Natchez who " held it in great veneration," 

 is believed to have been an Osage orange, Tpxylon pomifcrum. 



The tree probably stood near the temple and not far from the 

 Village of Valleur, therefore in the immediate vicinity of the severe 

 fighting between the French and Natchez during the latter part of 

 February, 1730. The French were intrenched near or surrounding 

 the temple while the Natchez held the village, having constructed 

 what the French termed Fort de la Valeur. The great Natchez temple 

 was destroyed at that time, on or about February 23, 1730. 



