They flattened the head.--There is evidence to this in the account of Du Pratz; and there is evidence to it in the fact of the disinterred skulls from the Natchez area, examined by Morton, bearing marks of compression. This, however, is what we have already seen, to the east of them, _i.e._ amongst the Choctahs. They practised human sacrifices on the death of their chief. They not only worshipped the sun, but (like the ancient Romans) kept burning an eternal fire. Their religion so far acted upon their social or political constitution, as to develop a sort of _caste_-system, the principal chief being the _Great Sun_, and his children, _suns_; whilst the portion of the tribe not supposed to be so descended, were destitute of civil power. Their nobility was transmitted through the _female_. Such is a brief notice of the customs of the Natchez, which more or less differentiate them from the neighbouring tribes, with which (the Chetimachas excepted) they are said to have had but little intercourse. Competent investigators consider that more than one of these peculiarities point to a Mexican origin, a view which is considered to be confirmed by the Natchez traditions doing the same; these being to the effect that their nation migrated from Mexico at two different periods. TAENSAS (TENSAWS?). _Locality._--Originally conterminous with the Natchez. If the same as the _Tensaws_, they are, at present, on the _west_ of the Mississippi. Special evidence to their temples being of the same kind with those of the Natchez in A. D. 1682.--Gallatin's Synopsis, p. 115. PASCAGOULAS. _Locality._--Red River of Louisiana; originally on the River Pascagoula. If the same as the Bayagoulas, there is special evidence to their worship of the sun and fire.--Gallatin's Synopsis, p. 114. COLAPISSAS. _Locality._--In 1721 near the present site of New Orleans. Extinct or incorporated. BILUXI. _Present locality._--Below Natchitoches. Originally east of the Mississippi. Probably in the same class with the two preceding. The notion that the Taensas, Pascagoulas, Colapissas, and Biluxi, belong to the Natchez family, is favoured by certain facts and traversed by none. This is not the case with-- THE CHETIMACHAS. _Conterminous._--with the Natchez, from whom they differed in language, and (probably) in customs as well, but with whom they were united in the way of political confederation. Extinct or incorporated. _Language._--Known through a single vocabulary. Not closely connected with any other, but with miscellaneous affinities. Of two skulls exhumed from a cemetery within the Chetimacha area, and examined by Morton, neither gives evidence of artificial compression. HUMAS. _Original locality._--East of the Mississippi, above New Orleans, "of whom a few are said to remain below Manchac, and others to be found in the vicinity of the Attacapas."--Gallatin, p. 115.