Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-04-17
M is E L l. A N Y.
THE caUMpA GIRL OF MOBILE.

Shall tell you story Of real life, as romantic
and affecting as any you will find in fiction? Well
listen! Every citizen of Mobile is familiar with
The sigh, of the Indian girls who are seen in our
streets in the winter. v it'll their little bundles OF
light wood upon their backs, they mark the advent
of cold weather as regularly as the mockng bird
and the cardinal chronicle the approach Of spring.
They pedde their small parcels of pine from door 10
door, and all are familiar with the soft, quick, petit
tionary voice in which they eXclaim "chumps," as
they offer their cheap burdens for sale.
These Indian girls, il is well known, belong 10
certain Chociaw families who refused 10 emigraie
with their tribe beyond the Mississippi, and yet
linger upon their aboriginal hunting grounds, on the
waters of the Pearl and the Pascagoula. Though
they thus exhibit an unconquerabe attachment TO
their native soil, they have yet refused TO adopt the
habits, language or pursuits Of the whites hy whom
they are surrounded, and perversely Indifferent
TO all the inducements Of civilization. They per-
sst in leading species Of savage, gypsy le--lhe
men sustaining themselves by hunting, and the wo-
men by vending woreberries and other wild fruit
in the summer, and bundles of pine in the winter.
With these simple productions they visit Mobile
semi annually, and for the time reside in the vicn
ity, in small hnis camps, constructed of bark,
boards and the limbs of trees This has been their
usage from time iInmemoTia, aDd IL YET continues
These Indians are generally miserable and ig
norant race, but with all their degradation, they
possess some Of the virtues in singular degree
The women are proverbially chaste and modest,
and Of all the young girls that annually visit our
city, have been known tn depart from the paths
of recliiude A strong interest," therefore, surrounds
these simple daughters of the woods, who resist all
the Establishments Of their station, and pass unharm-
III ,ba - nil nf hon
are quite handsome, and possess, beneath their rus
tic garbs-the calico gown and the red blanket
considerable graces of manner and appearance. As
they invariably refuse to talk English very little
conversation can be had with them, and that only
in reference TO the small bargains which they de-
sire 10 make. Chumpa and picayune are almost
the only words which they employ in their inter-
course with our inhabitants. Still they are not re
served in their movements, where they wish to
make bargain, and enter The different houses of
the city, stores, dwellings, and offices, without hes
itation, ceremony or announcement Who has not
been startled many morning, by the low voice al
the chamber door, exclamng, " Chumpa"?
The stoical demeanor Of these Chuclaw madens
has often led 10 the impression that they are dest
tuIe of the natural sensbilies and sentiments Of
their sex. They have bright flashing eyes, well
developed, symmetrical and flexible forms, beautiful
small hands and feet and show, in their love for
brilliant articles Of dress, rings beads and other per-
sOna decorations, the taste and vanity of their CIV
ilized ssiers-Is It possible that they are destitute
of those delicate sympathies and tender affections
which have marked woman in all other classes and
conditions Of life This question has no doubt sug-
gested itself 10 many, as an interesting problem of
character. In one instance, at least, an attempt
perhaps heartless One-was made TO solve II, and
il is to that, the story which have TO tell refers. Ii
came to my knowledge, in all its details, but will
attempt to narrate it in such manner as not TO de-
tain The reader with particulars, which he can i'm
agine for himself
Among the Choctaw gipsies, who visited Mobile,
in the winter of 1876, was one of unusual beauty
and atlractiveness. Although scarcely developed
into womanhood--not more than seventeen ''suns"
having kissed the rich bronze of her cheek-she
was vet full, round limbed straight and graceful
verv model of feminine form. Her features, more
prominent and regular than is usual with her tribe,
were deicately sculptured and the erect attitude of
her head. with her large, fawn.l like eyes. and abun
dant cold black hair always neatly plated in mas
sive folds, gave to her appearance all air of superb
orty such as the Youthful Pocahontas is said TO
have possessed Her dress was extremely neat,
though with a large number Of silver and wampum
fair promenaders on Dauphn might have envied,
were invariably dressed in moccasins ornamented
in the most fanciful style, with many coored beads.
As she walked about the Streets Of Mobile, arrayed
in this way, with her parcels of pine swung across
her shoulders she attracted The attention OF all spec
talors for her beauty, though she would hold con-
verse with none except in the words by which she
endeavored to dispose Of her burden.
Much interest was naturally felt in this young
girl. and many efforts were made TO learn some
thing of her character and history. Nothing FUR
thcr could he CLEANED (and this was told by "CaPt.
Billy" drunken Choctaw. frequently seen in gar
rulous moods in our Streets than that she was the
daughter of an Indian chief of much nole, who died
many years before, leaving her, an only child, with
her mother, in their cabin on the Pascagoula. Her
sigular beauty had made her quite bee with the
young Choctaw warriors. but she was very shy,
and was called in the Indian tongue, The Wild
Fawn Of Pascagoula She supported her mother,
who was very DID, and herself by her rafficl in ber-
ries and "lghtwood." Her personal charms made
her one of the most successful dealers in these ar-