Pascagoula

The Biloxi and Pascagoulas

In 1712, French explorer Iberville anchored near what is now Ship Island and discovered a peculiar island animal, naming it Cat Island. They then encountered the Biloxi tribe, a Choctaw clan, which led to the establishment of Biloxi, the oldest town in Mississippi. Eastward, they found the Pascagoulas, also a Choctaw clan. The name Pascagoula means “Bread People.” Local traditions among the Pascagoulas recount a legendary encounter with a mysterious white man who, alongside the tribe, was entranced by a siren, leading to their demise.

The French In Alabama And Mississippi

History of Alabama and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period

Following nearly a century and a half of European absence after De Soto’s invasion, French explorers, including Father Marquette and La Salle, began to navigate and document the Mississippi River. Their efforts established ties to France’s colonial ambitions, leading to the founding of Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV. As Iberville and his brothers pursued further colonization in the early 18th century, they faced challenges such as famine, conflicts with Indigenous tribes, and political strife among settlers. Ultimately, these factors severely impacted the colony’s stability and growth in Alabama and Mississippi.

Biloxi and Pascagoula Burial Customs

The Biloxi and Pascagoula tribes, part of the Siouan family, had unique burial customs documented by a French officer around 1730. Instead of traditional interment, they dried the body of a deceased chief to create a skeleton, which was displayed in a temple alongside other chiefs. The body, placed upright on a table, was offered food daily, and the chief’s family frequently visited, speaking to him as if he could hear. These practices reflect the tribes’ rich cultural heritage and connection to their leaders even after death.

Pascagoula Indians

The Pascagoula Tribe, known as “Bread people,” is likely of Muskhogean origin and closely linked to the Siouan Biloxi. Their earliest known location was near their namesake river in Louisiana. The tribe first drew European interest in 1699, with significant interactions recorded by French explorers. Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, they moved between various locations, eventually settling between the Choctaw and Biloxi tribes. The tribe’s name endures through geographic features like Pascagoula River and Bay. Estimates of their population varied, with a notable decline by the 19th century.

Pascagoula Tribe

The Pascagoula Indians, once a small tribe along the Pascagoula River in southern Mississippi, are now extinct as a distinct group. They were closely linked to the Biloxi tribe from their first mention by Iberville in 1699. Their language remains unrecorded, making their ethnic origins uncertain, though they are thought to have ties to the Siouan peoples. Over time, they migrated, settling at various locations before eventually merging with the Biloxi and Choctaw tribes, leading to their disappearance as a separate entity.

The Paskagula, Moctobi, and Chozetta Indians

The Paskagula and Moctobi tribes were documented by Iberville in 1699 as residing along the Pascagoula River in Mississippi, closely associated with the Biloxi tribe. Despite their small populations, they maintained distinct villages. The Paskagula, known as “bread people,” remain somewhat recognized among the Choctaw and Caddo, while the Moctobi’s existence is largely forgotten, possibly due to misrecording. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Paskagula were still noted alongside the Biloxi and Caddo, suggesting they endured despite their diminished numbers. The Chozetta tribe was also mentioned but is less documented.