Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1837-04-11
I1DIAI EI3GMAI.IsT.
From Me Ne,c York Mirror.
PUSHMATAI1A.

This individual was distinguished warrior Of
the Choctaw nation, and fair specimen Of the tai
ents and propenslties Of the modern Indian. II
will have been noticed, by those who have paid at
cn'on to Indian history, that the savage character
Is always seen a modified aspect among those of
the tribes who reside in juxtsposiiion with the
whites. We are not prepared to say that it is ei.
ther elevated or sotlened, by this relation ; but il
is certainly changed. The strong hereditary bias
of the wild and un'amed of the forest
in prominent development, ~hile some of the ar,s,
aud many of the vices Of The civilized man. are en-
grated opo" ,ham. The Chociaws have had their
principal residence in that part Of the country east
Of the Mississippi river, which now forms the state
of Mississippi, and have had intercourse with the
European race, from the time Of the discovery OF
that region by the French, nearly Two nturies A.
go. 10 1870, that tribe was supposed to consist
OF population of twenty-five Thousand souls 49,
They have always maintained friendly reatiu
with the American people, and hase permitted our
missionaries TO remain among them some of them
lave addicted themselves 10 agriculture, and few
of their females have ntermnrtIed with the white
traders.
Pushmatala was born about the year 1894 and
at the age Of 20 was captain. or war chief and
great hunter. In the latter occ upaiiun he cflen
passed TO the western aide Of The mississippi to
hnnt the buffalo, upon ibe vide plains King to-
wards our southern frontier. On one occasion.
while hunting on the Red river, with party of
Chociaws, be was attacked by a number Of Indians
ola tribe called The Caageheahs, near the the
Spanish liue aud totally defeated. lie made hs
own escape alone TO Spanish settlement, where he
arrived nearly starved having. while on the way
given horse, That be found grazing on tie plains
for singls fsh. lie remained with the Splniards
five years, employing himself as hunter, brood
ing over The plans Of vengeance which he after
wards executed, aud probably collecting the infor
nation necessary TO the success of his scheme
Wandering back to the Chuclaw country alone. he
came by slgaih. 81 the nlgai, 10 lir'e village Of
the enem.es by whom he lie had been debated. -
denly rushed % upon tLen killed seven 81 Tie H.
habItalts AMI set FIRE TO tine lodges which we've
ip;irely CONSUMED bclo.e the occupaais recovered
from llrIr s.afm.
Amer this feat be remained 10 his oan nation a
bout Xix years. increasing his repulg'ian hun
ter. aud engaging Uccasiuuiy 10 The affairs Of
The lubc Tie then raised a parry of bic Own
friends, aud led then. 10 seek further revenge
Cor the d,iest which still ranked 10 h.s bDsoni.-
Again he surprised one Of their towns upon Red
river and killed two three Of their warriors with
out any ios- ca be own s1e. Bal eugsging ~ az
exclusive hunt, bis absence from h,ne wae pro
irscieJ la the term ofelshi months. Resting from
this expedition bot ten day., ,e prevailed upon D.
mother party Of Nboctaw 2arfiDrs u FOLLOW his ID
seBtutous stsps 10 new enterprise ogalnst the
sane enemy. ulL vas ssulh victorious. bringing
boiae ELK vi the zeal ps ct us loes, YitUui losing
msn. On this occasion lac was absent sr,ea Or
eight months. lu one year ailef~sfs he raised
Lew party led them Ugaasl the foe sh5m he bad
20 ofen stricken. aud was mere successful.
Some tnIs before The gsr IS 1912. party Of
Creek lndins. who had been gagged "a bunting
expedition, came 10 The ChOctsw eOpniry, aud
burned the house Of Push'nslabs. ~lo was IN tue
neigkborboo4 iHlcn,ly occupied IA playing ball
game a, wlsch bs ~ss scfy expert. lie 90 too
giesl g.4H % ssgmll q sagh 40 ipi9ry ane ss %