Map of Louisiana, from d'Anville's Atlas
Colonial Louisiana, St. Catherine, "shaking marshes," location of several Indian tribes, Choctaw Indians, "Lake Ouachas" just southwest of Lake Pontchartrain, Barataria Bay, Lake Salvador, Bayou Lafourche, "River of the Chitimachas", coastal marshlands to the east of the Mississippi River delta, "Shaking Marshes."
Harrison, John
London
Label from 1996 exhibit: The legend at the top of this map describes Choctaw Indians ('Chatas" and "Tchaktas") as "Flat Heads," a reference to the practice of several lower Mississippi River tribes flattening the heads of newborn infants. The back of the baby's head was placed on a moss-filled pillow and held in place by deerskin bands placed over the forehead. This process of head deformation for cosmetic purposes reflected credit to the Indian mother who carried out the painful process and was continued until the child reached the age of nine or ten. An interesting feature of this map is the depiction of a body of water labeled "Lake Ouachas" just southwest of Lake Pontchartrain. It is probable that this is an early representation of coastal lagoons known today as Barataria Bay and Lake Salvador. Bayou Lafourche is labeled "River of the Chitimachas" and the coastal marshlands to the east of the Mississippi River delta as "Shaking Marshes."
An interesting feature of this map is the depiction of a body of water labeled "Lake Ouachas" just southwest of Lake Pontchartrain. It is probable that this is an early representation of coastal lagoons known today as Barataria Bay and Lake Salvador. Bayou Lafourche is labeled "River of the Chitimachas" and the coastal marshlands to the east of the Mississippi River delta as "Shaking Marshes." The legend at the top of this map describes Choctaw Indians ('Chatas" and "Tchaktas") as "Flat Heads," a reference to the practice of several lower Mississippi River tribes flattening the heads of newborn infants. The back of the baby's head was placed on a moss-filled pillow and held in place by deerskin bands placed over the forehead. This process of head deformation for cosmetic purposes reflected credit to the Indian mother who carried out the painful process and was continued until the child reached the age of nine or ten.