Mougoulacha facts for kids
The Mougoulacha were a Native American tribe. They lived near Lake Pontchartrain in what is now the United States.
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Who Were the Mougoulacha?
The Mougoulacha were a group of Native American people. They lived in the area around Lake Pontchartrain. This lake is located in the southern part of the United States.
How Many People Lived in the Tribe?
In 1699, a French explorer named Iberville visited the area. He estimated the Mougoulacha tribe had about 1,250 people. They also had between 180 and 250 warriors. This count included another tribe called the Bayagoula.
What Language Did They Speak?
The Mougoulacha spoke a language similar to Choctaw and Chickasaw. These languages are part of a larger group. This group is known as Muskogean languages.
Mougoulacha History and First Encounters
In 1699, the French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville traveled to the area. He explored east of the Mississippi River Delta. There, he met the Mougoulacha tribe.
The Blue Coat Mystery
D'Iberville was surprised by something he saw. The Mougoulacha chief was wearing a blue serge coat. The chief told him that another explorer, Henri de Tonti, had given him the coat many years before.
The Old French Letter
The chief also showed d'Iberville a letter. It was written in French. D'Iberville realized the letter had been left by Tonti. Tonti had left it with the Quinipissa tribe fourteen years earlier. This made d'Iberville think that the Mougoulacha might be the last members of the Quinipissa tribe.
Mougoulacha Culture and Traditions
The name Mougoulacha is believed to mean "People from the other side." This name comes from their native language.
Sacred Fires and Temples
The Mougoulacha kept special fires burning all the time. These fires were in two temples in their villages. The temples were the same size as their homes. But they were decorated with carvings of animals.
Animal Carvings and Offerings
Explorer d'Iberville saw many carvings of possums. The Mougoulacha called possums choucouacha. Inside the temples, they also left offerings. These offerings included skins from deer, bear, and bison. A priest named Paul du Ru also noted their temples. He said each village had two temples. They were on opposite sides of a large open area called a plaza.
Connections to Other Tribes
Some people believe the Mougoulacha might have been the same tribe as the Quinipissa, Acolapissa, and the Tangipahoa. Also, some records from the Houma suggest that many tribes near Lake Pontchartrain were called Mougoulacha.
