Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-08
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
LETTERS FROM THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS.
IcoanssrosDEScE OF raE NATIONAL IsrEILIsrscrn.l
arArIA Rows, al. c.l MAr Is. ls4s.


pied by about eight hundred Cherokee Indians and one hum
ed Catawbas Their district is mountainous fom one ex-
tremy the other and watered by number of beautiful
streams which abound in fish the valleys and slopes are
quite FERTILE and the lower mountains well adapted to
grazing and the time heavily mbered and sup
pEed with every variety Of game. This portion Of much
larger multitude of aborgnes in consideration Of their rank
and age and Of valuable services rendered TO the United
aes permitted by the General Government TO remain
upon their native SOIL while the great body Of the Cherokee
naion driven into exile They (he exles) amounted
IN all to than sixteen thousand souls, eighteen hunre
and fy having died their way the "promised land 2
Seyond the Mississippi And here may with propety be
added that since the removal those in the West have gradually
decreased in numbers while the remaining portion have
@ increased by births the of four per per
num In addition to the Indians above mentioned it ought
be stated that there of hundred still re-
uaning in the county Of Cherokee of those, however
know but little, and therefore purpose confne my remarks
70 those of Qnala Town alone.
The Indians of this DISTRICT having formed themselves into
regular company whappropae regulations they elected
old friend Of theirs, named WILIIAa H. THoaAs (men-
toned n my last letter. become their business chief
that the connexon existing between the parties is
that of father and children What the result of this arrange
neu has been viii be fully understood when come speak
Of The advance which the Indians have made in the march of
civilization. As they organized the present time the
Quala Town people divided seven clans, and each
clan assigned what is called town, each Of which
pesidss regular chief The Cherokee nation originally
divided into Clans which probably descended from
certain noted families and the old party feeling still pre-
served with jealous among their descendants in this
nifty. The Of the clans In-e-chees quah Bird
Clan In-egllohee, Pretty faced Clan; ne-wotah,
Paint Clan In-e-wahheyah, or Wolf Clan; In-e-se-ho-
BIue Clan or Deer
tea-ih, the meaning of which is known. And among
the which prevail among these clans is which
prevents their marrying among themselves that they have
select their wives from neghbong fraternity Formerly
such marriages prohibited by penalty of death.
With regard to the extent OF their civilization and their
istng of life the following may be looked upon as
comprehensive summary About three ourhs of entire
population read in their language and, though the
majority of them understand English very few speak
che language They PRACTISE considerable extent, the
Of agriculture and have acquired such knowledge Of
The mechanic them for all ordinary purposes
f they manufacture their clothing, their ploughs
and other farming utensils their and even their
guns. Their longer treated as slaves, but
equals, the labor in the fields, and their wives
Devoted entirely to household employmsnts. They keep tie
same domestic animals that kept by their white neghbo.s
and cultivate all the common gin OF the country They
face Of the earh honest their intercourse moral
their thoughts words and deeds and distinguished for their
faiulnes in performing the duties of religion. They are
chiefly Methodis,s and Bsps and have regularly ordained
minister's who preach them every Sabbath, and they
kave abandoned many Of their srseess superons
They have their courts and try their criminals by re-
uar jury Their judges ard lawyers chosen from among
themselves They keep in order the public roads leading
through their settlement BY law Of the State they have the
night VOTE but seldom exercise that right they do not
like the idea Of being identified with any Of the political par
ties. Excepting festive DAYS. they dress after the
Of the white man. but far picturesquey They live IN
small log houses Of their construction and have every
thing thew need or desire in the way Of food. They are
fact the happes, community that have yet met with in this
Southern country, and candid man visit them without
being convinced Of the wcksness and oOshne Of that
hey of the Government which has always acted upon the OPT
noa that the red man could be educated reasonable
being
By way Of giving my readers correct idea Of the present
condition OF the Carolina Cherokees viii describe visit that
paid one Of their churches the Sabbath was anx-
ious how far they advanced in the Of Chris
tan instruction. and though noticed many little eccenric-
ties was upon the whole, very much pleased with wha,
saw and heard accompanied by Mr.. THosAs and we
reached the rude but spacious log meeting about eleven
o'clock The first hour devoted lnsructing the chill
en from Cherokee Caechsm and the chiefs Of the several
clans were the officiating teachers. At twelve O'Clock
xeraton Of some hundred and fifty souls collected
large proportion Of whom women, who neatly
dressed as could be desired with tidy calico gowns and fancy
b.pdkerchefs tied over their heads. The department Of all
present was as circumspec and solemn have witness
ed IN any New England religious assembly When prayer
was offered they all fell upon their knees, and in singing oil but
the concluding hymn they retained their seats Their form
OF worship was according the Methodist custom, but m
their singing there wild aud panve sweetness which
was very impressive The ard children well Al
the men participated in this portion Of the ceremony, anC
some Of the female voices reminded Of the carong
birds They sung four hymns three prayers offered By
several individuals and exhortaons de
Ivered The prayers short and pointed, and, as III
shortest might be considered fair specimen Of the others
siII ranscribe il for the ed6cation Of my readers
aAImishty Lord, who the father Of the world, look
and supply them with all the food and clothing they
sf,ey may need Aid all, Lord, in all good works
the world shall be burnt up We pray thee to take
Protect him in all his travels ard 90 with him TO his distan
home for know by bis kind words that he is friend
the poor, ignorant, and prosecuted Indian Amen !"
The FIRST preacher who addressed the meeting
.ble man. Big Charley. and be took for bis the entire frs
chapter Of Genesis but, before proceeding with his remarks
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