Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-02-21
Ine WHd FaWn of PascagOula
Ors the Chumpa Girl of Mobile.

Love, Laughter, Fashion and the Fair" and issu.
ing from "CuPid's Realm" which was started for
the occasion, to give additional zest to the enter
tanment. 1t is edited by the Ladies of the
Telegraph Office" at Mobile, and streams over.
with choice gems of wit and humor AS sam
pie OF its contents, we extract the following beau
tiful tale:
Shall tell you story of real life, as romantic
and affecting as any in fiction WE'LL listen.-
Every citizen Of Mobile is familiar with the sight
OF the Indian girls who are seen in our streets in
the winter. With their little bundles of light wood
upon their backs, they mark the advent of cold
weather as regularly as the mocklng bird and the
cardinal chronicle the approach of spring. They
Peddle their small parcels of pine from door to
door, and all are familiar with the soft, quick Pc
tl'lonary voice in which they exclaim "chumpa," "
as they offer their cheap burdens for SALE
lhese Indian girls, it is well known, belong to
certain Choctaw families who refused to emigrate
with their tribe beyond the Mississippi, and yet
lInger upon their aboriginal hunting grounds, on
the waters Of the Pearl and the Pascagoula a.
Though they thus exhibit an uRconquerabe attach
nent to their native soil, they have yet refused to
adopt the habits, language, or pursuits Of the
whites by whom they are surrounded and are per-
versely indifferent to all the inducements of civil
zation. They persist in leading species Of saw
age gipsey lfe-the men sustaining themselves by
hunting, and the women by peddling worteberries
and other wild fruit in the summer, and bundles of
pine IN the winter. With these simple produc-
tons they visit Mobile semi annually, and for the
time reside in the vicinity, in small huts camps,
constructed of bark, boards, and the limbs oftrees.
This has been their usage from time mmemoria.,
and it yet continues.
These Indians are generally miserable and ig-
norant race, but with all their degrada,ons, they
possess some of the virtues in a singular degree.
The women are proverbially chas;e and modest,
and of all the young girls that annually visit our
city, none have been known to depart from the
paths Of rectitude. strong interest therefore,
surrounds these simple daughters of the WOODS
who resist all the Establishments Of their station
and pass unharmed through the streets of our city.
Many Of them are quite handsome, and possess,
beneath their rustic garbs-the calico gown and
red blanket--cons:derable grace ofmanner and ap-
pearance. AS they invariably refuse to talk Eng
and that only in reference to the small bargains
,hey wish to make. Chumpa and picayune are al
most the only words 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 hesi
ta,ion. ceremony or announcement. Who has not
b,,. .bo II, ro;o
the chamber door. exclaimine-" Chumpa"
The stoicai demeanor of these Choctaw maid
ems has the natural sensibilies and sentiments Of
the sex. They have bright flashing eyes, we'll
developed, symmetrical and flexible forms, beau
,iu small hands and feet, and show, in their love
of brilliant articles Of Dress rings beads and 9TH
er personal decorations, the taste and vanity of
their civilized sisters. Is possible that they
destitute of those delicate sympathes and tender
affections which have marked women in all other
classes and conditions of lfel This question has
no doubt suggested itself to many, an interest
ing problem of character. In one instance, at
least an attempt-perhaps heartless one--was
made to solve it, and il is to that the story have
to tell refers II came to nv knowledge in all its
details, but will attempt to narrate it in such
manner as not TO detain the reader with particulars
which he maging himself
Among the Choctaw gpsies who visited Mobile
in the winter of 1916. was one of unusual beauty
and attractiveness. Although scarcely developed
into womanhood-not more than seventeen "suns"
having kissed the rich bronze Of her cheeks--she
was vet TALL round -limbed, straigh, and graceful
"a very model of feminine form Her features,
more prominent and regular than is usual with her
tribe, were delcaiely sculp,ured and the erect
attitude of her head. with her large, fawnke eyes,
and abundant coal black hair always neatly plat
ed in massive folds gave TO her appearance an air OF
superiority such as the youthful Pocahontas is
said to have possessed. Her dress was extreme
ly neat. though with large number of silver and
wampum ornaments, and her small feet, which
any of the fair promenaders on Dauphin might
have envied were invariably dressed IN mocca-
sins. ornamented in the most fanclful style, with
many colored beads. AS she walked about the
streets ofMoblle arrayed in this way, with her parcel
of pine swung across her shoulders she attracted the
attention of all spectators for her beauty, though
she would hold converse with none except in the
words by which she endeavored TO dispose of her
burden.
Much interest was naturally felt for this girl.