There are two ways to write the history of an area. First, the
actual-fact-data way, which gives dates, important events and the names
of the leaders. But this does not fully explain the reasons for their
occurrence, nor show the effect of mass participation. It omits many of
the names of others involved in the incident or incidents, so that a
clear picture of all the people involved is lacking. Even while one is
reading, he is conscious of a mass effect and realizes that a sort of
team is present. He then stops and asks himself, “Who were the others?”
The second way is to combine the legends and folklore with the actual
fact-data of an area and to use reason and imagination—to seek out the
names of others connected with the adventure. Those who went their way,
but most important, those who remained to establish, fortify and settle,
and by their so doing, give permanence and purpose to the area.
By using the second method, the writer believes he has given a true
history of the locality of which he writes, because he has used the
actual-fact-data of the area, and added to it the economic and social
life of the people involved, especially of those who remained to become
inhabitants.
To write a history of such an area as that which includes Natchitoches,
El Camino Real, Los Adais and the Neutral Strip, one must be blessed
with the knowledge of several languages, and feel that he can comprehend
the nature of the people, who for nearly three and one half centuries
have passed before him, from the time of Cabeza De Vaca in the year 1530
to the establishment of Fort Jesup by General Zachary Taylor in 1823.
One must specially be familiar with the Adais Indians, who were a branch
of the great Caddo Federation of Indians and their Nation when Cabeza De
Vaca visited the Adais.
At Los Adais an incident occurred which changed the social life of the
wilderness frontier. Two sets of Latin eyes met; in them reflected
desire, passion, and love. Out of the distance, on a pine-scented wind,
came the singing voice of a Spanish serenader, accompanied by the soft
music of a string instrument, a bright sun to cause light on shade and
in the shade Spanish and French lips met and arms entwined.
A half-naked savage lurks in the shadows nearby. Entranced by the magic
of this moment, he speaks and the spell is broken. To the Senorita in
Spanish and to the Frenchman in French; “Come, it is time to go.” What
kind of Indian is this, who speaks both French and Spanish fluently?
Only Dachiacoin of the Adais could do this and because of it he ranged
far and wide in both the French and Spanish Territories. Dachiacoin had
this to say to Padre Certa, “A man needs only one wife, the right one
for him, and the woman needs only one husband, the right one for her.”
For over fifty years Los Adais was the Capital of the Texas Country and
the end of El Camino Real. Here anything was expected to happen and
usually did.
El Camino Real, The Royal Road, The King’s Highway, The Contraband
Trail, The Old San Antonio Trace, The Old Texas Trail, and, lastly,
Louisiana Highways 6 and 21 through Texas. This Southland’s busiest
highway served the outlaw, the murderer, the slave trader, and the
priest, as well as the sinner. Regardless of which direction one
traveled he had to pass the Adais and the Neutral Strip—this area so
filled with love, hate, jealousy, generosity, selfishness, prosperity,
and despair. If at all this be possible, then this was El Camino Real,
Los Adais and the Neutral Strip.
_Because_:
The Buffalo migrated southward through Texas and then to Louisiana,
following the same trail in the winter of each year. Then the powerful
Caddo Nation split and each group followed a leader. The Adais came to
settle along this Buffalo Trail near Spanish Lake. El Campti originated
the meeting place on the great Sand-bar near Campti, Louisiana, so that
each fall of the year all tribes of the Caddo Confederacy could come and
trade. Francois Hidalgo desired to establish Missions and settlements to
bring more freedom and prosperity to his people and to bring the
teaching of the Catholic Faith to all savages of the Tejas country. He
wrote a letter to the French Governor of Louisiana, using the pretext of
trade as bait.
_Results_:
The Trading Post at Natchitoches established; the Missions established.
The French Post St. Jean Baptiste, the Spanish Presidio, Del Neustra
Senora del Pilar de Los Adais. Both Nations now had to maintain these
outposts to prevent encroachment from the other.
_Effected_:
The desire of both Nations to populate this Frontier. When Mexico won
her independence from Spain the Neutral Strip was formed. This lawless
unpoliced strip of land became the back door of the United States.
Because of this ruthless lawlessness Fort Jesup was established.
The independent spirit of the settlers along the El Camino Real and
their desire for freedom resulted in the establishment of the State of
Texas.
As I lolled one summer’s day beneath an oak near the ruins of Post St.
Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches and closed my eyes to give my fancy free
play, I thought I heard sounds of all kinds, sounds that had undoubtedly
resounded down the years. Could that squealing be the swine of the De
Soto adventurers or the shriek of automobile tires coming to a braked
stop? Is that rumble I hear that of thundering herds of buffalo or the
approach of a diesel locomotive with its long train of cars? Those
drums, are they the drums of the Caddo Indians or the drums of a
marching high-school band? The whistling roar that reaches my ears, is
it a jet plane or the swishing, whistling wings of diving ducks?
Awakened to reality I began the research and study that enabled me to
write this book.