Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-16
INDIANS OF THE souruwpsr

Il " N'Ohmo"ut oi epfiSbtiy talents anu -
kindly remembered by many. lie has been raub
l'ns Tor many years among the indians OF the Far
West, whose habits he describes.
May 81, isis.
My last respects to you were dated on tho ist
January lsSii amer that time, with some regret, I
took my departure from the countries inhabited by
tho friendly ChoeIaw and Chekasaw Indians, and
| am nov fairly set down nj the Pavncc VILLAGE in
| the far West.
The frs, named Tribes. under the surerintond-
| anee OF Their eAee'lcnt Agents, Capt. Armstrong
ana Col. upshur, are rapidly improving in civilized
haons; Almost every description OF Plantation
| utensils have been introduced amongst them and
Corn and Cotton are cultivated to a considerably,
| ek'ent Many useful Mechanic, are empoyed Ly
Tue United States to erect their Public Buildings;
ana INC Mechanic Ar, 80 useful in every newly
settled country, ~ now nssduously eultiy,,el bv
these people aud at this time instead of tax n. nm
| an uncomfortable abode under tents thew live in
many instances. In trained houses AID neat he,SeJ
Jog CABINS, many OF which you can see rising in al
most every direction throughout their country.
| Schools have also been established by the United
States for the purpose OF insirueling them in the
English language. but | am sorry 10 say that this
branch OF Education is not pursued with much
atdor as the first named; and literature and the
muses. are much neglected. The fine arts, Music
and Painting. are entirely unknown TO them; and
even the music Of ihs Spinning Wheo SO very use.
'u', Is seldom heard amougs, them.
Among the halt. breeds, their msuners aud Gus
| TOMS partako rather more Of the Indian than tic
| White man; and the refined and polished manners
OF the higher classes Of people in the United States
are, as yet, unknown to them. Thcis balls and
parues arc conducted without ceremony or rcsu.
larliy, nnd they NIX together aud carry on much
alter the manner you may have observed among
some oil our country people at q sudden catherine
and appear TO ENJOY themselves very much. MANY
O.. The females are pretty, aud some arc handsome
ihcy dress nesllseniy and plain, in the fashon OF
the Ladies OF the United Sa,e-, and attend very
little TO the Graee,, never having been sent TO Dan
eng schools TO receive a polish. Notwithyauding
ths disadvantage, they possess an easy carriage.
making many blunders, oil of them poss,ssin., by
nature good ear Tor music, aud Keeping correct
Time 10 a.. virginia reels, In variety OF figures
arc all the ssony at their Bills and Paries, the
| Waltz, Co,illOn, nnl Country dance bnvin,, NO,
yet come in fashion.
| The friendly relations existing between the Uni.
ted States aud these Indians insure their ntosperity
5 and continued advancement in civilized habits In.
deed, such Is their intercourse with white men that
there are lew or none OF the halt breeds who o no,
speak the English language intcllgentIy. nod some
can write lair hands, and keep their own accounts
Aiew OF them have go far lost the colour md man
nets of the Indian, and possess much of the cen
teman,y bearing Of tho polished white man es 1,
remind Inc Of some Of the descendants of Pocahon
j tas with whom associated IN my youthful dlyr.-
: 10 one ci these, possessed OF uncommon talentl
and considerable fortune, have been for some tim
indebted Toe support, and feel myself under oLli
able To repay.
had like TO have forgot that am at the Pawne
village, being so much ensfos,ed by the friendly In
dams left behind me. The first visit made 10 III
| lar West was IN the autumn OF 1884 with MIR n
e Coffee, who located a trading establishment abou
If one hundred miles beyond the Cross Tnbers whic
establishment, besides the friendly Indians / hay
mentioned, aud the Chefokecs, Creeks anil Guam
l. pas, wns frequently visited by the Camaneh, Kio
e ma, Lspateh C aldo, Wnka Tywalkana and Paw
!, | nee tribes OF what are called Wild Indians
In the year 1885, Major L l. Chas,cau, the Osae
agent, was sent from the U $ Post al Fort Gibson
10 IN search o. tho klomas who were delinquent i
! signing treaty made by the u. States during III
year previous, with all tho tribes Of Wild Indian
lnhn tiing this section OF country. | nccumpane
the Major from Colee's establishment. and after W
had travelled up the Red River soue seventy mile,
y approached the Village from which am now writ
N ing.
- There is a chain OF Rocky, barren Mountain
which run from Northeast TO Southwest throue
tbs country, which arc called Spurs of the Rock
= Mountains. In places their height is consider
able, and they remind one very much Of the Blu
Ridge and Allegheny Mountains in Virginia a
:. this Village they run along the edge Of the lowe
"a grounds Of the Red River which arc at that plac
- about mile wide, and gradually descend ms vo
"a leave the River and approach the Mountain, willie
IN forms crescent, in which the Village is placed
q which bend ct the Mountain it is protected irol
70 every wind eIcepi the South wind.
Ne The situation of the Village was no, only iud
q i
truly picturesque, combining both the sublime an
J., beauIiiul-ihe rugged, barren Mountains hansii
5, over, has grand and sublime appearance whic
conirasied with the fiat lands covered with verdur
8 and The River winding its course TO the Northeas
Nv render the scenery beautiful in the highest degree
- When VIC arrived in the vicinity of the Wiling
m we met one OF its inhabitants hunting, who W,
IN very much alarmed on our frs, appearance but n
., ter an interview with the Usage, who accompaniC
re US, and understood from him who we were, and III
= we were friends, he was very much delighted WI
y, we had oaen seen a long time Bef5re our a1,;v
at ~ PeIsohs on INC ellis OF the Mounlains ~ hir
" from which they can look over the cfcunn; cs
s. country Tor long distance in every direction a.
Of nI Shynns, tribe of similar habits with ,bcn
Or seves' having. short time previous, under the CO.
nnd ''auo an iheursion into their Cavynrd,
nu s'oie the most OF their horses and mules 60"
5. mem TO be moro vigiant than usual ~'u's
Of hGn VIC entered the village net a soul conId Il
seem all having retired 10 their hiding places in n
10 Sarlcs Of Ihe mountains, until our guide gave in
10 formation who We were, when old men Ion,"r
n young girls, boys and children, crowded oronnd .,
i VI great numbers. There were very few voun
e men they having gone in pursuit Of the Shvan
c who had robbed item. '~
We met with that friendly and cordial wolcor,
u which never received from any Indians b.Co,o
woman who had once been captiyo 10 lie o.
ana resided long time at Major Chnteau,s a.
= VINO had been returned 10 her tribe bv Col Dooia
on his visit TO this village, had learned The o.
iu"su'se, was delighted 10 see US, and becamo M
; interpreter. ou
Winiersouov, their Chief is man abo,, en,
years OF age, very fat, OF short stature, and NJ,
!, more tno appearance OF mulntto than nm Indian
qu'e dherenI IN every respect from almost alI obe,
~ MS Uoe mat We saw-they being about IN,
common height, well proportonod and rnn.c,,iar
.,u, however, possesses much intC'leencc--trcot.,
"l'Jor y; nnd oil our party with great kinJnc,,
expressed hs great friendship for our country AMI
I people, ana invited US 10 stay n long time M m,
a village. MAJOR g. informed him that We c,,'ii
stay Two days. During this time they en,erta;rsi
US IN inc Iesi manner they possibly could Trio
htst dny INC men treated US 10 the best wanda ,bs
village could afford. which was corn and nnmnk;ns
boiled together with Buffalo meat The ner, J,,,
the women ieasted with tho same. 'Th;s 49,,
Considered sumptuous fare, M VIC had ato no,Lirs
but Buffalo meat, alone, ior n long time nrevions
Every thing was done TO nmuso us --J'6c ...I.''
dnace was got up, both days. in Which Lo,I No.,
and women tolsd around in circle viii c,,ns ~,
iheIr shoulders, on which were hung alI lilo to-
pines OF "af-tcalps, hnis md o'her artielea of
dress, The most OF them taken from the hioxic,ns-
keeping Time sll tho while with their feet 10 n sort
OF drum benlen upon by ono Of tho men. This
amusement - entered into with great spirt by Inc
ol1 ana young Of both soxcs, who appesr 10
onloy II exceedingly. Even tho oldest women.
tolteung on tho blink Of tho grnyo from Inc
'htc'9 OF Old nge and debility. nnl their lcoa
apparently ono bufch Of ntgOsities ftOoJ law
kopt time to tho music by their uotioun and ~
fancy, no doubt, brought back in Imagination Tho
pleasures ond happiness Of their youthful dow,
These children OF tho forest, without having