Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-03-03
MIS9ALLANW0
I Ii L POOR INDIAN.

MIR. Aiileck, the editor of the 'sWesten Far
mer and Gardener" off Cincinnati, is now pros
ecuiing an Agricultural Tour 10 the South.
Some of his '"pencilings by the way'' are given
Ill The january number OF the Farmer, and are
very Interesting. The following sketch is ex-
tracted:
As the winter approaches, the few members
OF the Chocaw tribe, scattered over Mississippi,
begin to draw near the towns, bringing III game
for sale-and baskets, bIow-guns, &c. saw
numbers of them in V,cksbug, Naichez, Ba-
ton Rouge, and their neighbollloods, and felt
an extreme degree of interest in diem. had
been amongst the Shawnees, Poiawatamies,
Sioux and other tribes, and was attracted by
none so much as by these Chociaws.
Their game brought TO market, consists
principally of squirrels, ducks, Sc, with an
occasional venson, which all bring them pref
ty good prices. So far as | could observe,
they always first secured supply of powder
and lead, after which they lay in stock of
sire WATER" that destroyer of therracc. This
they pass generously around, every one ofthei.
company partaking-lhough observed that
where SIX or eight were in company, and
where each man had his rifle and his scalpng
knife by him, there was always one who re-
manned perfectly sober The women too,
drank but sparingly, though evidently as fond
of the poison as the men. They pass the bot
tie round lcisurely, each taking sup from its
mouth, and all standing Or sitting in positions
full ofgrace. j have never heard quarrel
some word passed; though they frequently,
no doubt, have violent disputes, which would
end ill bloodshed but Tor the women, or the
one man remaining sober By noon they are
generally scattered round iii beastly state of
iDtoNication. Poor wreiches, how | ptied
them! Though they seem happy, drunk or
sober.
At Baton Rouge observed party of four,
an old man, two young ones, and squaw, ap-
paren!ly about cighteen, and the wife of one OF
the young men, fine looking athletic fellow
They seemed TO have finished thei, trading
and had commenced upon the bote | no.
iced, before they had began to feel the effects
OF t'e spirit, that The husband of ihe woman
rummaged inhis pouch fot what money he hat
! and handed il over to her for safe-keepng
She sat meekly and silently behind him
though repeatedly spoke 10 her, and bough
one OF her neatly worked cane-split baske,s,
could not elicit word except Inc "two-bii,n il
answer 10 my inquiry of the pfce. Hex drcs:
was loose calico gown, with a while Mack
nav blanket drawn ovct her shoulders, white
! metal earrings, several strings OF beads rount
her neck, five or six plain rings OH one finger
and brass ring round her ann OF wrist, will
adoted taltoocd line running back from eacl
corner OF the mouth, towatds Inc car, constitu
TED the ornaments. IN spite OF the unwashet
hands, arms and face, she was rather comely
and with quite pleasing expression.-Tht
hand and foot, though dirty and chapped, wer
beautifully formed, as were also the arm ant
neck.-When her lo1d moved on, wilhou
casting even look on her, she followed, anc
when he stopped, she seated herself on tn
| ground behind him. Some two hours after
wards observed them agar-the men brutal
| ly, miserably drunk, and strewed along tn
street in the most helpless condition. Tn
wife the Womo1,, even in Ibis state Of natur
patient, enduring, suAeriug-but still aHec
tionate--in short, 1Comdn Though evidentl
no new thing to her, she yet seemed anxiou:
and sat near her helpless husband, with her ey
fixed upon him. In his agony-for he wa
dreadful sick--he cast his blanket aside, hi
only covering, with thc exception his lcat