Local Legend "The Singing River"

The Pascagoula River, located in George and Jackson counties, is known as one of the last "wild rivers". It is home to many rare breeds of birds and miles upon miles of undisturbed habitat. It is also home to a very interesting and unique story, the story of the Singing River.

In Southern Mississippi the Pascagoula River is locally known as the Singing River. Many area schools, churches, hospitals, banks, and countless other businesses have the name Singing River somehow attached to it. The legend has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, it was here when the first settlers came to this region in the late 1600's. When they first explored the area they noticed long abandoned Indian settlements on the banks of the great river. There was no sign of the inhabitants. The Pascagoula Indians were extinct. This old legend explains the disappearance of the Indian tribe.

In coastal Mississippi in times long ago there were two tribes of Indians. There were the peaceful Pascagoula "bread eaters" and the warring Biloxi "first people". The two tribes lived peacefully in the same area. Anola the princess of the Biloxi (thought to be betrothed to the chieftain of her people) fell in love with Altama, prince of the Pascagoula. This love was taboo with the Biloxi and to further outrage the Biloxi she ran away with Altama and joined the Pascagoula. The Biloxi, not to be disgraced by the Pascagoula let it be known that war with the Pascagoula was immanent. The Pascagoula, being a peaceful tribe, knew that they had no chance against the skilled Biloxi, and would face death and slavery if they went to war. The chief of the Pascagoula offered himself as a sacrifice to the Biloxi, to no avail; the damage had already been done. So instead of succumbing to the Biloxi's the Pascagoula's decided that their fate was theirs and theirs alone. With their women and children leading the way into the River, the braves followed with joined hands, each chanting his song of death, until the last voice was hushed by the dark engulfing waters. When the Biloxi's came to annihilate their foes the only sign of them were footprints leading into the river. No Pascagoula Indian was ever seen again. If you happen to be on the river in late summer/early autumn at dusk you can hear the Indians death song. The music, according to the hundreds of people who have heard it, sounds like a swarm of bees in flight. Barely caught at first, the music seems to grow nearer and louder until it sounds as though it comes from directly under foot. Many scientists have traveled to the river with hopes of explaining the singing, some have offered hypothetical scientific explanation, but none have been proven.

If you have never been to the Pascagoula River it is one of the most unique rivers in North America. Its wild, mostly undisturbed beauty is something that is rarely seen in an area that is as populated as the Mississippi Coast. Click on the link in the title of this article to see some examples of this unique river.