The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-06-16
THE PEOPLE OF ACCOMAC.

In letter published in the National In.
telligencer, is given an interesting account
Of the inhabitants of that long peninsula OF
the State of Virginia, which lies between
Chesapeake Bay. and the Atlantic, and is d.
vided into two countes--Northampton,
comprising tie northern extremity, and Ac
comac, the souiherly portion. The people
aud some Of their customs are thus describ
ed:
OF the twenty-five thousand souls who in
habit the peninsula, suppose that not more
than one thousand could distinguish the diff
ersnce between the English and the Chero-
kee alphabet. In the two counties of Ac-
comac and Northampton, the idea Of even a
weekly newspaper was never dreamed Of.
The people are fond OF amusements, which
consists principally of dancing and card
playing parties, and the Saturday Of each
week is usually appropriated as a holiday
Any event which can bring together crowd
is gladly welcomed, so that court days,
day, New Years day, and Thanksgiving day
are among the white days Of the unwriiten
calender Of the Accomacians. The roads Of
the country are all by nature very good.
and the people exceedingly fond of going
through the world as pleasantly as possible;
so that each man who can own a horse is
sure OF owning gig, and many of them are
partc ularly unique and tottlish like scow-
boat in gale Of wind.
But the browning peculiarly Of this nook
of The great world has reference 10 the Gus
tom of raising and tanning wild horses. Like
Everything poeiical, connected with the nab.
lis of our people, this custom is rapidly be-
coming obsolete, and will soon be remem-
bered merely as an idle and romantic tale.
The very idea of having to do with wild hor-
ses excited my fancy the very moment
heard The custom alluded TO; and | made
every effort TO collect reliable information
upon as it existed half century sgo.-
AS good fortune would have it, found out
an intelligent and venerable gentleman, who
supplied me with many interesting partIcu.
lars. The "oldest inhabiiant" to whom
allude is, the Rev. David Waits, OF Horn
town, who is now in the Send year ofhs age
and the substance of his information is as
follows:
In the Atlantic ocean, of the northwes-
tern shore Of Accomac, lies long and san
dy island, known by the name or Assatea-
que. The. distance from one extremity TO
the other is perhaps ten miles, and in reach
ing il you have to cross bay that is perhaps
eight miles wide. At the present time
there are only four families residing upon
the island, one Of them having charge of the
lighthouse, the remaining three being devo-
ted TO the fishing business. From time i'm.
mortal il has been famous for its uxurianl
grass and from the period of the Revolution
down to the year 1906, supplied an immense
numLer of horses with food. When these
animals were first introduced upon the is
land has not been ascertained, but il is said
that they were the most abundant about
half century ago. At that period there
was kind Of stock company in existence,
composed principally off The wealthest plan
tiers residing on the main shore. The AMI
mails were Of the pony breed, but generally
beautifully formed and very fleet Of deep
black color, and with remarkable long tails
and names. They lived and multiplied up
on the iland without the leas, care from the
hand of man, and, though feeding entirely
on the grass OF The salt meadows, they were
in good condition throughout the year.
They were employed by their owners, to q
considerable extent, for the purpose of agri
culture, but the finer specimens were kept
or disposed Of as pets for the use OF ladies'
and children. The prides which they com
handed varied from ten TO twenty dollars,
but by the time a handsome animal cou Id
reach New York or New Orleans, he was
likely to command one hundred and fifty, or
two hundred dollars.
But by far the most interesting Giro umstan-
ces connected with the wild horses of ASA
league had reference to the annual festival
ofpeuning the animals, for the purpose. not
only ofbrnging them under subsection, but
selling them to any who desire TO purchase
The day in question was the 10Th of June,
on which oc casiou there was always an i'm
mense concourse Of people assembled on the
island from oil parts OF the surrounding
country; not only men, but women and chill
dren; planters VINO came 10 make money,
strangers who wished to purchase a beauii-
ful animal for present, together with the
grooms or horse. tanners, who were noted at
the time for their wonderful feaie Of horse
manship. Blu, large proportion of the
multitude came together for the purpose of
having regular frolic; and feastng aud dan
cling was carried to great extent, and thai
too upon the open sandy shore Of the ocean,
the people being exposed, during the day to
the scorching sunshine, and the scene being
enlivened at night by immense bonfres,
made Of wrecked vessels or DRIFT wood, and
The light of the moon and stars. The sta.
pie business of these anniversaries, however
was 10 tame and brand the horses; but to give
\ m accom-. of all the particulars a,,o,d;,c