The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammay Parish, Louisiana, by By David I. Bushnell, Jr.

The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammay Parish, Louisiana, by By David I. Bushnell, Jr.: "The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammay Parish, Louisiana

The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammay Parish, Louisiana

As the Choctaw dealt with in this paper have been under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church for many years, it is not surprising that they have modified some of their primitive beliefs regarding the future state. But even in spite of Christian teaching many of their ancient ideas have persisted.

From 1845 until his death in 1887 Père Adrian Rouquette lived among the Choctaw, the greater part of his time being spent at either Bayou Lacomb or Chinchuba, although the first of his three chapels was near Bonfouca, some eight miles east of Bayou Lacomb. By the Choctaw Père Rouquette was known as Chataima, literally “Choctaw-like,” from his fancied resemblance to a Choctaw. His hair, which was dark and straight, was worn long, his eyes were dark and piercing, and the natural swarthiness of his complexion was increased by constant exposure to sun and wind. The two women, Emma and Louisa, now living at Bayou Lacomb, when children were baptized by Père Rouquette, and the former was one of the Choctaw who followed his body through the streets of New Orleans and carried wreaths made by the Sisters at Chinchuba.
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