The Pascagoula (also Pascoboula, Pacha-Ogoula, Pascagola, Pascaboula, Paskaguna) were an indigenous group living in coastal Mississippi on the Pascagoula River.

The name Pascagoula is a Choctaw term meaning "bread eater". Choctaw native Americans using the name Pascagoula are named after the words for "bread eaters".[1]

History

The Singing River

Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville encountered the tribe in 1699 and was impressed by the beauty of Pascagoula women. According to local Euro-American legend, the peace-loving tribe walked single file into the river because the local Biloxi tribe were planning to attack.[2] Anola, a Biloxi "princess", eloped with the Pascagoula chief Altama, although she was engaged to a Biloxi chieftain. Anola's angry would-be husband led his soldiers into battle with the Pascagoula. Outnumbered and fearing enslavement by the Biloxi, the tribe joined hands and walked into the river singing a death song. The river became known as the "Singing River" because of this death song, which reportedly can still be heard at night.[3][4]

Language

Pascagoula
RegionMississippi
Extinct(date missing)
unclassified
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
07q
GlottologNone

John Sibley reported that they spoke their own language which was different from neighboring languages in addition to Mobilian Jargon. Their language is undocumented.

References

  1. ^ Albert Gallatin A synopsis of the Indian tribes within the United States east of the Rocky Mountains: and in the British and Russian possessions in North America AMS Press, 1973 University of Wisconsin - Madison ISBN 0-404-07127-9, ISBN 978-0-404-07127-1. 423 pages. page 117
  2. ^ Wallace, Mark I (March 2005). Finding God in the singing river: Christianity, spirit, nature. ISBN 978-0-8006-3726-2.
  3. ^ "The Legend of the Singing River". Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  4. ^ "Pascagoula River Watershed - The Nature Conservancy". Retrieved June 2, 2021.

External links

Bibliography

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