The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-19

been laid on our tab entitled "RepOrt OF the Com.
miss oners Relating to the Condition of the Indians
IN Massachusetts" This report has been made IN
pursuance OF resolve OF the Legislature, OF May
last, by which three commissioners were appoint
ed to vlsit the several tribes IN he commonwealth,
and make inquiries into their condition The
commissioners were Messrs. F. W. Bird, Whit
ting Griswold and Cyrus Weekes. These gentle
men appear to have performed their duty with
commendabe zeal and diligence, and their report
affords very clrcumstantial account Of the pre-
sent condition and wants OF the scanty remnant Of
the aboriglnalpopuaton which now fingers among
u.s.
There are about 900 Indians now living In Mas
sachusetts. The statistics of all the tribes
given, with the exception of the Naticks, who are
scattered over the commonwealth. Those num-
bered am cunt to S97. Our readers will perhaps be
surprised TO learn that only Six or eight of these
are of pure blood; all the rest are what IN South
America are called Mestizoe and Zamboes, mix
ture OF white and Indian, or of black and Indians
All 1--we ID tribes or separate communities, except
the Naticks.
The Chappequiddic tribe dwell on small island
OF that name near Eogartown, Martha's Vineyard.
They are eIghty.five in number, all healthy, and
living mostly by agriculture. They are industrious
and thriving, Tome OF them making improvements
on their land from year to year. A few go to sea,
and some turn good penny by selling blackber-
nes at Nantucket. The commissioners say, "they
are far IN advance OF any other tribe the State
IN improvements IN agriculture, and indeed, in
the arts and even elegancles of social and domes-
tic life" "Nearly all live in good framed houses,
most OF them comfortably furnished, and many of
them with their spare room handsomely carpeted
and adorned with pictures and curiOsltes collect
ed IN the eastern aud southe n seas" They have
school, attend church, and seldom or never 60 TO
law. There is, however, to tell the whse truth
a speck of law on the horizon; great ''cranberry
dian big wigs, bat it Is confidently hoped that this
portentOus thunder.cloud OF litigation will be dis
siPated by an amicable adjustment before it has
time TO discharge bolt OF dIscord into the bosom
OF the peaceful community of Chappequiddlc.
The Chrlstiantown tribe dwell on the northwest.
ern shore OF Martha's Vineyard They are 40 IN
number, not SO healthy as the Chappequddics, nor
quite equal to them in thrift, intelligence, and
the sea they are peaceable and contented in their
ignorance.
The Gay Head tribe 1--we on the promontory Of
that name. which forms the western extremity Of
not differ much In condition from their nelghbors
of Chrlstiantown They hold their lands by pre-
scrpton, and d, not by any title connect with
berrv ne selling 500 bushels ,as cfs
They go to the picking In regiments, each one get
ting all he can. Their territory furnishes pecu.
liar sort Of clay, valuable for making alum, and
other purposes the digging OF this 10 another source
Of profit to them. Their houses are generally Of
wood, but some are of stone. They have school,
but no ocular preaching. They are quiet and con-
tented.
The Marshpee tribe occupy spot on the south.
ern ehore of Cape Cod, adjoining Sandwich and
Barnstable. They are S05 in number. Most of
them are farmers some 60 to sea. They are be-
hind all the preceding tribes In social condition,
some living IN wretched huts, and some going
rather improved within the last twenty years.
They have two schools, maintained by the State.
The religious concerns of this tribe, are stated by
the Commissioners to be in a bad way, owing to
the creeping IN Of philosophy and vain concert, or
what they call "sectarlanism," and "denomlna-
tionalism." THIS we are sorry for; q Marshpee
Indian ought to be above the quibtllng scrupes of
denomlnationas ism y he should regard the vain
japgllng of sectares and schlsmatics the crack
ling of thorns under pot, and leave the poemlcal
grinding Of such " fzenless bran'' to the foolish
palefaces But the Commissioners assure US that
considerable number OF the Marshpee preclslans
refuse to listen to the spiritual OutpOurings of the
Rev. Mr.. Fish, not esteemlng him to be up to the
mark of {" denomInational' orthodoxy. We hope
better things OF Marshpee In future.
The Herring Pond tribe live on the borders OF
Plymouth and Sandwich. Their numbers are IS.
All live In comfortable houses, and their whole
condition 10 superior to that of the Marshpee In
dams. They practice agriculture and 60 a. fishing;
are quiet, industrious, temperate, and withal pro-
foundly ignorant.
The Fall River tribe reside within the limits of
the town Of that name. This is q small tribe,
and lmprovident, living from hand to mouth.
The Dudley tribe live IN the town Of Webster
they number 49, These are the most degraded OF
all the Indians In the State. Not more than halt
worse. They have no schools, and no preaching
but receive money yearly from the State.
The Hassanamlsco or Grafton tribe are found In
Grafton, and smount to only rs. They are fast
Punkapog tribe, in Canton and Stouehton, are only
10 In number; they have no land nor property OF
any kind, yet are industrious and temperate, and
support themselves. The Yarmouth Indians, SO
bee eme so blended with the whites by lntermar.
rage IS to have lost in great degree their Indian
character, and they may be now considered prac-
tlcaly as a part OF the general population. They
are extinct as a tribe, and can only be found here
and there.
The State pays for the support of the Indians
about twelve hundred dollars year. As the In
at State elections; but none of them, we believe,
make any complaint of this. They dislike all
connect on with the town governments IN their
neIghbUrhood, and the towns people equally dis
like political connection with the Indians. The
commissioners propose scheme for absorbing
them into the community, which, we think, will
find formidable obstacle in the mutual jealousy
existing between the Indians and those with whom
t1ey are expected to associate. Something, how
ever, may. be done to improve the con-
dli0n Of these people, and we hope the state
meDts and views OF the commissioners will re-
ceive proper notice from the Legislature
Courier, March 10.
SINGULAR DISCOVERY PRoviprNrnL.-The dis
covery OF the letters duplicating the owners OF the
chip Frank the design OF destroying that ship,
10 certainly very remaIkabe-yea, provldentlal-
and mos, forcbIy illustrates the doctrine of spe-
cial overriding providence in the affairs of this
world. Why should the captain have preserved
those letters, to be swift witnesses against him
and his employers? Why should that valise, con-
timing them, have been washed 30 safely ashore!
Why should a man have been on the beach just as
the vallse reached the shore, and without seeing
tie article, have drawn II out on castlpg his hook
into the wate ? What kept those letu RI, placed
in q valise, so exposed TO the water, from bring
entirely destroyed! And what induced the finder
OF them to take so much paDe to save, dry, and
read Them ? The only rational answer 10 the
whole ls--that wise and superintendlng Provi-
dence presided ever all, and brought these pur-
poses Of ira,d and vlany to light, as a warnlag
0thf and illnsff If that truth nflen