Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-01

VOL. AAVI...NO. 90.
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states at an early day, stationed in the edge OF the Che
rckee country several different points, AID have pass
Cd In every direction through the country. alter
wards was stationed in the Chicka.aw country for eigh
toen months and assisted in cutting the road leading
from hve to Na'chez, by Colbsrts ferry, through
their nation; and have passed thou different parts
oi their country several times since My knowledge
'f the Chocktaw aud Greek country is more limited
han that Of the Cherokees and Cheks.aw,: a,,bou,h
have been In their countries a different places and
passed through them several times different dlrec-
on', still my opportunity for Information with respect
70 them has not been 90 great that Of the other
nations.
Qus'tion Q. Which do you think the best residence
Ior tn. indi.ns, the county occupied the east
west OF that liver!
dns,oer-i clearly of OPTION that the cous,ry In.
,enued or the lndans west OF the Mississippi IL waste
superior IN every respect reside nee fof them to
that which they occupy east Of tina, river
&uesuon4 Your reasons for that opinion? ~
a., 80 s,,, climate Is mod. rate, mild end pleasant
roi er'e aud very productive Inaiau corn can be
raised In great abundance; from FIFTY to one hundsed
ousneis oil thai article can be raised TO the acre with
moderate labour. Tue Greeks have made a, least iv
Thousand bushels Of surplus corn last wear The rance
oo'h summer aud winter. very fne anil stock of
description easily raised In great abundance The wa.
ter generally bno. good, and plentiful. There are
huinoero OF salt springs Ia this country, the finest
nave on 10 the cour,e Of my lie at some OF then,
y sa made i'r the use Of the country, and may
% m'oe IN great quantities. part Of this country IL
PRAIRIE aud part tmbered. The timbered part, sre
gsaera,ly the most fertile. and aorj great abundsucs
OF the best ans mort nd, OF timber and great
p'oPeI"on Of the parue lies most Beautifully, aod is
verv fertile. ' "
NOV I'd Indian. " '"o '"'
dnstoer-They ara in a psrfec, stale of p,o,os,,,v
ana happiness; they are living ~ good comf,rtsbfx
houses ana have extensive field. In cultivation: and
many OF hsm very large AMI vsu. BILE stock and 10,
he all the necessities OF lie 10 gre a, abundance. and
spiri's '." " 'roon'
IL he L..
those removed, and tho e behindI -
Hnstoer-Ihs removed Indians are generally living
as peouiuy aud as comfortably a. aoy sci Of neo,J,
could be expec. ed to do in new coun,ry Tbay r,,s
more than necessary for their own use-they have
corn, peel and pork, in grea, quantities to sell A. ia
me Indians that have removed [ can only s,ats
from Information, that have be IN told by some NJ tbr
own chiefs, that great number of them are in va.
~ a'suesssn situation, many OF them without the ne.
cessare: OF lie, and nearly in a state of starvation
Question What Is the state of mind among IN,
removed Indians, content dsconen ed Mt the chang,
.,slpe,-ihey are perfectly cont-nted and happy
anu h'shiy pleased with their homes, and appear
to be extremely anxious for the Valance of th-,r ma
"ous 70 'o.ow tnem' JOHN CAMPBELL
Feb ooh, 1881.
0Tsh: rs put to A. P. ChOutssn, by the Senate &
SommWsc on indan Affairs, relative 10 the chase.
er VI rue country destined for the Indians bevonJ
ns Hssi's'Ppi; aud the actual condition of tbe In
daos which have removed there: ~ "
Question /. Hive you residence In 81, I.ouis MI.
rtverl VI VIC arkansas
.dnsDer-My permanent residence Ia al 8, Io,,.
ana Tor nine years pas, have had trading house on
the Verdigri- tributary of the A, kansas ts 49,; ~.
II about 100 miles above it's junction with tho M.;
siPpi. NV 'iHA's'
Question 2. Are you largely engaged in the India.
| trade on the ATkansa.i " ~ -"ua"
J4nstcer-I introduce into that rount,x IT,. ,r .
SZo oOo worth OF goods annually.
Questions 3. Over what ex ,spt of country We, r.
the SississPpi' has your personal observation OK.
tended. ~
| .qnstosr-As far as the South branch NJ m. fso,,.
pa and on the head wa-rs OF the AIksusas and Red
river as lar a, New Mexico, and along the wboIa
| course of the Arkansas. 1879
| Question 4 Will YOU please 10 state tho .t.,. :.
The country West Of the Mississpp In the latitude If
the Rad river and Az kansas destined for The Indan
It's cnmae' SOL. WATER fresh and salt, navigation
woodsnd' PFalrie grass game, ada paiion 10 iiljss
ana raising stock, and proximity the wild or savage
| Indiaps? " "ose
s4nscT-Tbe country 10 some what elevated. and
not liable to inundaions lie climate is mild winfers
opsn, and never cold, unless the wind comes across
the great Western praires, and then fr.ezes IN -
streams only where me water is slack The greatest
atl oil snow have reen, less than fpnr inc
and II did not remain on the ground more than tbirv
six hours the soil IL fertile the country abounds IN
9esn wafer, springs boiling .i her through gravel or
lime stone rock; and IL also abounds in cal, water
much oil 1t very strong spfing At which for ~
gallons viii make bu,heI of ssl many sst
exist, which good for stock TIL, Salt Eo,k n, al.
Arkansas, which falls in from the s. w abon, no
miles shove fort Gibson, is strongly fnpre mated Wi n
salt and when the AtkaDsIsi is low and that fork
4 - q ma
tsrs Tor some hun reds OF miles The Great Salt Main
never was at, but have ard il often de ,crib.J boh
by while hunters and Indians il IL about 22O mile.
s. W. oil Fort Gibson on the South side of the tiv.r
u IS about ten miles long, mile aud upward, wide,
All over this Plao, the salt forms under the heat NJ
the sun, abou, eighth of iucb rhck on a sandy
soil have ssen this salt, and bought il by the bushst
from the Usage Indians; It is white, of n small f;ns
s'aio The Indians, for hundreds OF miles around coms
to gafhsr u. No ostop il md !, is the gens
raj resort OF The various tribes to procure nro.;a;
OF this essential article. About h(ty mIes fnrihsr
and little TO the s OF w. the rock salt ia fonod
place where the salt Is procured in Masses I have
never been there; but have bought OF ,bis ss,,
and am told by the Indian, that il is like larss
rock, which protrudes through the bluG b,nt 81 :.
creek aed they quarry IL with hatche,s They spe "
oil II as being in great quantity. In its native state
u has mixture Of red veins through IT, fsint or dull
red and white The Arkansas is nsvigable for sexsn
husdred miles Tor steam boats, bsrge., and kees for
Tour or bve mosths 10 the year. and passing through
'hs INDIAN country. The timber Of the country Il tho
oSk black walnut, hickory, ash, blackberry, locust,
mulberry pine, cedar, Pacane, cherry, bos dare add
other kinds, common 10 the banks OF the Misssspui
Tho country allotted TO the Chocta~s aod Cherokess
mac larger proportion Of tiubered land, than that
laid ASIDE Tor the Creek IGdans though the latter va
enough for their wants. Throug bout tnts country
indigenous fruits found 10 the greatest
they consist IN variety OF hne grapes plumbs bsek
bsws, straw and black bsrfiss ppAs, pec-imons May
apples, aid species Of P)ns-grspate, which IL pnc,
esteemed for It's flavor. Roots used ss food ere also A.
bUndaut and the rivers furnish an ample suppIyof
good hsh. AS regards the fertility OF the prairie s6ds
Il