The Devil' Punchbowl is a place that was written about in my book. It is located just north of Natchez past Natchez Cemetery. It was created by nature and is a deep semi-circular hole that cut's deeply inward into the bluff. It was hollowed out by the Mississippi River over time. It's been used as a hideout by pirates in the past or other outlaws that wanted to elude those chasing them. It has it's place in Natchez folklore as a mysterious place. When I was growing up, I heard all kind of tales about the bowl. I was told a goat like creature roamed about in the bowl, half human and half goat. I heard about rituals performed at night and people disappearing, never to be seen again. When you matched that with the turning angel and the other legends and folklore of the Natchez area, your young imagination could really run wild.
The 70's and 80's were really a fun time to grow up in that area. Lot's of memories in that historic town. My friends and I did a lot of exploring, many of the areas are no longer there. Places have been torn down and new buildings now stand in their place. There are many books about the Natchez area to read.
The Mississippi Steamboat Era in Historic Photographs: Natchez to New Orleans, 1870-1920 by Joan W. Gandy and Thomas H. Gandy
Antebellum Natchez by D. Clayton James
The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles
And don't forget about my book, Lafitte's Black Box!
The Devil's Punchbowl is privately owned and that information needs to be shared with the readers.
I still live in Natchez. I take friends from out of town to see the "Devil's punchbowl" and the new Turning Angel. It is a shame that people broke the old one being rebellious! The old house of Maggie Burkley still stands and haunts. I remember when Real People, the show, came to Natchez and interviewed Maggie. (RIP) The house sits on the bluff, over-looking the river and her granddaughter lives in the house today. You can go to: http://talesfromtheroad.southernliving.com/tales_from_the_road/2009/03/natchez-ms-in-1.html and watch and listen to her talk.
ReplyDeleteTammy Kelly Lawrence
Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the cemetery of freed slaves from the civil war? That would have been a more interesting informative topic
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