Arkansas intelligencer., 1845-03-08


3. Amnsenienis. The CherOkees are people
fond Of sports and social amusements Many ol
them keep up the ancient custom of.annual "bal
lpiuys,"swhich usually take place after the corps
are laid by. This is an amusement which, as Il
friend Of their people. would be farf from discour
aging of. f.yishipg discontinued; whenpos carried to
an excess. II is above all others tfying to theii
powers ofienduranee, and probably contributes
largely 10 The, development of their Wany and ath
letic forms. II promo,es social intercourse, by
drawing together, frHn all parts of the nation, the
young men, when, with friendly rivnlry,a contest
Of skill, strength, and endurance is often ma mt in
ed for hours. =
-. -
Besides this sport, they pursue that of training
and rearing the bIood.horscs are fond of dancing.
and have an uncommon relish for music.
4. Literature and ihe fine aris.-- Thu Cherokees
are exceedingly fond ofre, dinG.rn ha ca very in.
qulsI,Ive mud They seem 10 take great delight.
too. al present, in tho manual process Of writing.
and take every occasion to employ it in preference
TO oral cOmmunlcalon-nOt 80 much among them
selves, however, as with the whites and agents of
the government. Many Of them possess n taste
for, and some requirements in general literature.
Much benefit may he expected from their printing.
PRESS lately IN operation. The moro general diff.
fusion of informa,Ion will lead to further improve.
menl. Although imaginative, they have nothing
that We can call poetry; but. as orators. they are
conspicuous in some OF the essential excelIencies
of the art. Bold. brief, and earnest they adapt
their ideas and expressions with uniform tact to
the nature of their subject and the character Of
their hearers, and stop Then they hare done. Their
candidates for council follow our example Of ",ak-
ing the stump" upon all questions Of public inter-
est. They speak both in Cherokee and English;
the latter being necessary, from the urge number
Of white men who have been adopted by the na-
ton. Although they are in some instances losing
the native tongue. yet, as written language. ii
has become in Il measure fixed; and the enacity
with which they generally cling TO it. as to mary
other Of their national cha raceristcs. renders it
improbable that it will ever be entirely abandoned.
Although not entirely ignorant Of pan,Ing. they
have had heretofore no scope for the development
Of any e,Irnt in that art or in scuI pturr. In mu
sic they have decided taste. and many Of them
perform well on different instruments.
5. Characier.-Ihe better class of the Chero.
KEGS ara grave. cautious, and reserved pnope,-I
slow in bcstowng their confidence, but stable and
conStnn IN their frrnds hin '"h"" '.~". - 70 -
as quick to resent, as they are tnrdy 10 forgive an
injury or an insult; hence. public and private tueds
characteristics is curiosity. While they are ex-
,remIy guarded in imparling any iniormalon con-
corning themselves. they are exceedingly inqu's
live abou, The affrs of strangers
6. Health and ciimnte.-The health OF the ma.
ton, during the p'st year, may be said to have
been MS good us that enjoyed by any population of
the same amount west Of the Mississippi river
Their climate is similar 10 that of easlern rennes.
= al, md
damp. This is the period mos, fatal TO the inn ID
tants Congeslive ievers and rheumatism are We.
ry prevalent. The principal diseases Of the conn.
try chills and fever; occasionally bilious lever.
not of dangerous character, and easily controlled
by medicine.
7. Agriculiure.-Thc cultivation of the soiii
now the only means of support possessed by the
Chernkees. there being no gamo within the limits
Of their territory. Their soil is fertile, and yields
an abundant supper; with but little abor lhey
raise an abundance for consumption. but nothing
for expor,aton-at Icas, no. in sufii .ient qunn,
ties to derive mn income from it. Their country
is admirably adapted for grazing cattle. Of which
all OF them have stocks more or less large. In
consequence Of the climate. ouy portion Of the
country, resembling The northern part OF Aabam1,
is suited for tho cultivation Of cotton. Tobacco"
want of good merchant mill. 1t would act ns
n slimulnnl 10 the raising Of wheat, for which the
soil and cmate are peculiarly fitted. Though
! the soil. (which is OF limestone foundation.) like
all limestone regions. yields an abundant supply
Of springs, yet except whore these springs are
found. ttrre is, during the summer and fall months
n great sea rcity Of WINTER.
8. Mechanics and Mannf nfacurers.-A th'
! Chrrok"s there are many native mechanics
such as backsm!lhs. carpenters, and gunsmiths
looms are manuinclured, and. in one instance, q
wooen clock was made. Many Of them oIsrs
a great Ia ent Tor the mechanic arts. may here
mention, as gratifying evidence Of the improve
ment of the Cherokees the universal industry anc
the great ingenuity manifested by the females IN
manufacturing cloth and many other articles o
domestic economy considering the very few ad
vantnges possessed BY them, they evince highly
creditabIe degree Of skill
As noticed in previous report, there are som'
Of the most valuable salt springs in the Unliec
States situ,ted within the Cherokee county,
These have been leased ten years 10 the ma
tive Che rokees and the rents accrulng TO the M
,ion are upwards of $4,000 per nnnnm. Tner'