Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-06-30

Extracts ETA Letter. from Mr.. John l.. Al
len, Sub-Agent for Chiekasa,rs, dated
nh February, 1880.

I
January, to give the Department of war
the information of which i may be i'll
possession, touching the condition of the
Indians within the Chickasaw agency.
They (the Chickasaws) have a plenty
of horses Of superior quality, or at least
well adapted to the use of Indians; they
use them on their farms with much less
food than is generally given those ami
mails that are raised and used by the
whites and, when travelling through
their country, they travel from thirty to
fifty miles per day; never feed them, but
let them subsist entirely upon what grass
or cane they can procure for themselves
when hobblcd out at night.
They have large herds of cattle, swine,
sheep, and goats, and poultry of every
description that are in use generally, in
that section Of country. The country
is well watcrcd, and is well adapted to
the culture of cotton, corn, wheat, oats,
peas, potatoes, beans, sc.
Cotton, beef, and pork, arc the princi-
pal articles for expectation. There will
be cotton exported from the nation this
year, probably to the amount of 200
bales; beef and pork to no inconsidera-
bic amount.
The proceeds from the sales of cotton,
horses, beef cattle, hogs, sc. after re-
tanning a sufliciency for their home con-
sumption, is generally applied to the pur-
chase of necessarics and luXuries of life /;
to wit: slaves, sugar and coffee, rs well
as dry goods of various descriptions,
which are calculated to render them
comfortable, and ornament their persons
The time has come when they no long
or depend on the rifle for support, but it
is used more for their recreation and
amusement, than for the means Of sus-
tenance.
Every family cultivates the earth more
or less, as his thirst for gain, or his imag-
mary or real wants increase.
Much to the honor of the Chickasaws,
for the last eight years the practice of
the men, requiring the woman to perform
all the labor in the fields, is much chang
ed; the men now with few exceptions)
cultivate the earth themselves, while the
female part of the family is engaged in
their household affairs. They spin,
weave, make their own clothing, milk
cows, make butter, cheese, SC. They
keep themselves decent and clean, and,
in many instances, particular attention is
paid to fashions that are in use by the
whites.
1t is their constant practice to appear
in their best apparel at their public meet
ings; also, when they visit the country
villages in the white settlements.
Many ofthe Chickasaws profess Chris
tianity. l attended a camp meeting in
November last, at the missionaries di-
vine worship was performed alternately
by white and red men, in the English
and Indian languages; and, for the first
time, saw the sacrament taken by the
Indians. Every thing was conducted
with the utmost good order and deco
rum.
As nation, the men arc brave and
honest. The women, (the half breeds
in particular, are beautiful and virtuous;
and, am of the opinion that there has
been greater Announcements in civiliza-
ton, in the last eight years, than there
was in i,centy previous.
think the present state Of education
does not meet the wishes or expectations
Of the chiefs and head men of the nation
Education is confined generally to the
half breeds and youths generally of the
first promise. There arc, at this time,
several white men that have identified
themselves with the Indians, by marri-
age, and several half breeds that have
sufficient education to enable them to
transact considerable portion of the
business for the nation.
The municipal laws of the Chickasaws
consists in written laws or resolutions,
commanding that which is right, and
prohibiting that which they conceive to
be wrong. Their laws arc few, easily
understood, and rigidly enforced, and
are highly calculated to promote peace
and good order among themselves.
As | have alrcay mentioned the state
of agriculture, | have only now to say
something on the subject of the mcchan-
ic arts, the knowledge of which Is gen
orally confined TO white men that nave
identified themselves with the Indians,
particularly of the highest grade propos-
ed among them : to wit house carpcn-
tcrs, whcclwrights, mllwrights, black
smiths, sc. All the arts necessary ior
farming use, stocking ploughs, hclving
axes, hoes, making slides, truck wheels,
draw bars, gates, &c. arc generally con-
fined TO the common Indians and slaves.
The Chickasaws being surrounded by
the white inhabitants, | have found IT a
difficult matter to restrain the whites from
violating the intercourse law, by driving
their stock over the line upon the Indian
land, making settlements trading with