Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-03-12
The Poor Indian.

Mr.. Afleck, the editor of the "Wcstorn Far
mer and Gardener" Of Cincinnati, is now prose.
cutting an Agricultural Tour to the South
Some Of his "penclllng by the way" are given
in tho January number Of the Farmer, and are
very interesting. The following sketch is ex
tracted:
As tho winter approaches, the few members of
the Choc,aw tribe, scattered over Mississippi, be
gin to draw near the towns, bringing IN game for
salc-and baskets, blow guns. &c. | saw mum
bers of them in Vicksburg, Natchez, Baton Rouge,
and their neighborhoods. and felt an extreme de
gree Of interest IN them. had been amongst
the Shiwnecs, Poiawatamies, Sioux and other
tribes, and was attracted by none so much as by
these Choctaws.
Their game brough, to mlrket, consist primer.
paliy OF squirrels, ducks, &c, with an occasional
vcnison, which all bring Them pretty good pri-
ces. So far as | could observe, they always first
secured a supply of powder aud lead, after which
they Law IN a stock of"firo water" that Destroy
err of their race. THIS they pass generously a
round, every one Of their company partaking-
though | observed that where SIX or eight were
IN company, aud where each man had his rifle
and hts scalping knife by him, there was always
one who remained perfectly sober. The women
TOO. drank but sparingly, though ovldentl, rs
fond Of The poison as The men. They pass the
bottle round leisurely. each taking a sup from Its
mouth. and oil standing or sitt,ng III positions
full Of grace. have never heard a quarrelsotne
word passed; though they frequently, no doubt,
have violent disputes. which would end in blood
shed but for the women, or the one man remain
ing sober. BY noon they are generally scatter.
ed round IN a beastlv state of intoxIcatIon. Poor
wretches. how | pltied them! Though they seem
happy. drunk or sober.
At B Rogue | observed n party Of four-an
old man, two young ones, and a squaw, apparent
~ about eighteen. and The wife of one of The
Young men. a fine looking athletic fellow. They
seemed to have finished their trading. and had
commenced upon the bottle. | noticed, before
they had begun 10 feel the effects OF the spirit.
that the husband Of the women rummaged in his
pouch for wha, money he had and handed il over
10 her for safe keeping. She sat meekIy and 81
len,ly behind him-though | repeatedly spoke 10
her, and bought one of her neatly worked cane
eplit baskets, ] could not elicit a word except the
1.-TWO bit," IN answer 10 my inquiry OF the price.
Her dress was a loose calico gown, with a white
Mackinaw blanket drawn over her shoulders,
white metal ear rings, several strings of beads
round her neck, FIVE or SIX Plain rings on one
fucer, and a brass ring round her arm or wrist,
with a dotted tattooed line running back from
each corner Of the mouth, towards tho ear. con-
stituted the ornaments. in spite of the unwash
ed hands. arms and face. she was rather comeiy,
and with quite n pleasing expression.--The hand
and foot, though dirty and %chapPed, were beautt-
fully formed, rs were also The arm and neck
When her lord moved on, without casting even a
look on her; she follow ed, and when he stopped,
she seated herself on the ground behind him.
Some two hours afterwards | observed them a.
gain--ihe men hruiallv, miserably drunk, and
s,rewed along the street IN the most helpless
condition. The wife! the ,cordn, even 10 this
state OF ature-patIen', enduring. suffering
but still affectionate--in short. rromant Though
evidently no new thing TO her, she yet seemed
anxious, and sat near her helpless husband, with
her eye fixed upon him. In his asony-for he
was dreadful sick--he cast his blanket aside, his
only covering. with the exception of his leather
~leggings and his moccasins. She immediately
arossed the stree, and drew itover him. head and
oil--hasing already rendered a like service to the
others. Wa. it a wonder that | felt my love and
respect for hsr sex strengthened: Alas! poor
Indiar,