Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-10

7EDNEsDAY, MAY 10, 1854.
by ONE WHO mas REEN THEhE.
FITcHnrRe. Man 8, Isl

BY ONE WHO HAS REEN THEkE.
FITcHBuRe, May 8, 1854.
.Messrs. Editors As am frequently ques-
toned about the inhabitants and settlements
on the Western border Of Missouri, and about
the Indians in the Kansas & Nebraska terri
tory, viii say word in reference to them
As shall write chiefly of such men and things
as came under my own observation, it will
be, for the most part, merely transcript of
myjournal.
April 10, lS54.-Arrived at Kansas, on the
Missouri river, at its junction with the Kan
sas river, where we take up our abode for the
present. We take our meals, (about forty of
u.s. at a log hotel, for two dollars a week per
head, and sleep in a loft in storage building,
finding our own beds. Our fare is chiefly
bacon, or smoked pork-sides and all-bread
and molnsses, and eggs, with occasionally
taste offresh beef. There are better hotels in
the place, but this is near the landing, and the
warehouse where our "plunder,' as the Mis-
sourians call our baggage, is stored, and hence
we patronize it. Kansas is small town, adj
joining the Indian, (Kansas,) territory, built
upon rolling land, and containing about eight
hundred inhabitants. The houses are built,
some of logs, some of brick, and some of
framed timber and boards. 1t contains three
hotels-one tor epresent each class of houses
those of logs, brick, and timber, and several
stores, besides six or eight doctors, and a
school-house, used on Sundays for church.
Soon after landing, rode, with some of the
company, to Independence, thirteen miles, for
letters. The road was through most delight
full country, with a rich, deep, and fertile
soil. The surface is gently rolling, covered
with oak, black walnut, white, and cotton
wood timber. As We rode through the woods
it seemed like an extensive grove as there are
but few underbrush, or low limbs, upon the
trees, and the traveller can see quite dis
lance in all directions. The roads are self
made, and are neFerrepaired. If they become
bad i'll any place, or a tree falls across them,
the remedy is to strike out rev path among
the trees, without expense to town or county.
On the road to Independence are many farms
under cultivation, and the owners appear to
be in easy and prosperous circumstances.
Independence, about six miles from the
Missouri river, and twelve miles from the In
dian territory, in a direct line, is the shire
town of Jackson County, Mo-, and contains
court house. some large and elegant hotels,
numerous stores, and perhaps two thousand
inhabitants. As we pass the court house, the
sheriff comes to the door and calls out, at the
top of his voice, three times, for somebody
8. to come into court" About one thousand
emigrants are encamped at this place, prepar-
ing for their journey "across the plains.s-
Mules and oxen, for teams, may be had here,
Al y I'LL. Il.
and the last at the same for pair.
Apra 12.-Last night we were saluted by
the yells offour Indians, from Wyandottcity,
over the line They were on spree, and
made night hideous with their shouts. There
was one female among them, and all were
drunk. They prostitute their squaws for
whiskey, when they cannot get it without
1t is AGAINST the law for any white man to sell
them liquor, hence what the obtain they get
privately, The agent of the government, re-
siding among the Wyandotls, and others, is a
physician, from Ohio, and came up on the
boat with us, and have had frequent con-
versation with him about the Indians, the
country, sc. &c.
/ l3th.-To-day is rainy, and no work has
been done by the company. Had long talk
with DR., the Indian agent, upon slavery,
| politics, sc. lie said the abolitionists had
| made bad work with the missions among the
Indians, as some of the church members were
| slave holders. He thinks the North ought
| not to agitate the question, and felt very SEN
sitive upon the subject. He said he had sent
away one missionary because he was an aboli-
ZIONIST and the missionary had gone to WASH
ington to try to get him removed from his
agency, but he had no fears Of the result.
Sunday, l5th.--Visited Wyandott city, the
residence of the Wyandott Indians, and at
tended their church. The missionary was not
at home, and we had the pleasure of hayinga
talk from two of the natives, in their own lam
guage. The meeting was very orderly, and
conducted with more propr.ety than they
usually are in n. E. There was not whis-
per or smile during the whole service. The
speakers seemed very much engaged, and the
hearers interested. The meeting house is sit
uated in the forest, with no other building
near, and seems just the place in which the
Child of nature should worship Natures God.
The house is Of brick, and will seat upon
benches three or four hundred persons. The
seats are made of logs, split and hewn in
rough manner, supported by legs of round
sticks. The congregation numbered about
fifty persons, Of all ages. The women wore
dresses like Americans, with kerchiefs about
their heads. The nation numbers about eight
hundred persons, of all colors, from Jet black
to the delicate pale face. They came from
Ohio, andhv by cultivating the soil. Like
the Americans, they have all classes, from the
strictly temperate and virtuous, to the most
occupy is immensely rich, &c.
In my next letter, this subject will be con-
tinued. NEBRASKA.
|