The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-06

ves for the different districts, similar to our general
government, have = territory equal in beaa'y and
fertility TO any OF the States, and have ALREADY
commenced agitatng the question Of admission
into the Union. They publish two or more papers.
in their own beautiful tongue; but strange ~ say
the children Of the present day are, many Of them
urable TO speak their original language. This IS
owing TO their schools, and the tact of many 81
them being sent to distant States before their In
dian habits become firmly established The pecu-
liar traits Characteristic TO the Indian are fast dis
appearing rom this tribe. The country set aside
disposal, and D0ne can pass through except by
their consent. This, however, is privilege never
refused; whites cannot acquire property within
,ne, sn mss except Dy MARRIAGE IN which case sns
IN any part or the nation not already assigned,
with the prOviso that be will improve the same.
26th.-Mild and bright; the roads excruciatingly
rough and ny saw dozen demi1 In Indians ms
saw the whole squad in pursuit Of them; marched
fourteen miles.
27th.-This morning we passed through Table
qush, the capital Of the Indian Territory the 10
cation 10 beautiful; but the place does not contain
more than thirty houses. or these ten or twelve
are brick, two stories high, and some of them
double. About q mile and q half from the village
are the seminaries which are very fine buildings.
The students appeared on the lawn as we passed,
and their air Of refinement and intelligence would
reflect credit upon any institution. John Ross, the
chief Of the nation, resides short distance from the
seminaries. he calls his country seat Park Hill,
the grounds Of which are laid out with very great
taste He has been married twice. and has several
children. His present wife Is an Eastern lady, q
Quakeress, highly accomplished, and very much
beloved ameDg the nation: The chief Is man OF
pearance very progressing; the daughters accom-
plished, pretty and iDterstiDgs but extremely re-
served. ! am told that, with Ill their cultivation
and progress in refinement, the Cherokees have
40 vnk - ~ natl 70
citurDity. There Is NO such thing as frankness
among them, and they have great difficulty in sus-
tanning the most commonplace conversation. have
seen two of the Cherokee newspapers-one, the
nary, and contains as much pleasant reading mat
ter, both poetry and prose, as the majority OF our
own journals. Many of the teachers In those semi.
nares are from the Eastern States, and are well
Rage and funeral ceremonies are similar to ours. In
fact tits almost incredible how few traces OF their
barbarc origin remain. The country In this vcini-
ty is very beautiful. Some spots appear like the
miles to-day, and encsmped in an immense and sp-
parenty b0undless prairie; the weather delightful.
On the 2sth we marched twelve miles, and en-
camped within view Of Fort Gibson. The roads
were extremely rough and billy. At distance the
fort appears like o small village, and presents a
very fine arpearance-but on o nearer approach, it
does not show to such advantage. Government at
one time intended building quite handsome post
here; for this purpose an Appropriation was made,
and quite fine building commenced on site
commanding magnificent view Of the surrounding
country. For want of sufficient funds this building
has never been completed, and the quarters now
occupied by the troops are chiefly log and frame.
The fort has been established o long time; 1t was
formerly q dragon station, but is now occupied by
the infantry. The houses without being pretty, or
having al Of the modern cOnvenienoes, are pro
nounced very comfortable frontier quarters. We
were fortunate in finding here a very fine suffers
store, from which we replenished our mess chests.
the variety was very great and everything excellent
but the exorbtant charges were almost incredible.
29th-Still in camp. This morning several Of US
visited the fort. We called on Col. H., the COM
handing officer, by whom we were very cordially re-
ceived. ] congratulated Mrs. Mon having such q
pleasant station. She gave me, in very amusing
manner, some serious objections to residing there
during the summer months. II seems the quarters
extent that it is impossible to Danish them, or with
the greatest care to keep the beds free from bugs.
She told me when che first came to the post she
felt some delicacy in abiding TO bel bugs TO ears
polite and suffered in secret. Her scruples vanished
however, when she found that the very walls and
ceilings were lined with these hoirid things, and that
it was a common subject OF complaint among her
neighbors. had the pleasure OF meeting Capt. l..
here. He gave ne q very entertaining account OF
the Cherokees He has made himself very familiar
with their manners and customs and spoke in terms
OF high praise of the Chief OF the nation, John
Ross. He spent two or three days with him at Park
the agreeable and courteous nsnncrs OF s,s host
and hostess He told re srs s ~ sn ,naesed cr
p Der and ingenuity Of one 81 tbs; r
own race, John Guest. This man, thinking
the superiority OF the whites was merely
owing TO their literary advantages applied himself
closely to study. For an entire year he remained in
the strictest eclusion. During that time be invented
an alphabet composed Of eightytwo letters, and the
result was the art OF printing their own langua e
AS nation, the Chcrokees possess all the vices and
Tut few OF the virtues OF the whites, but their rapid
progress in literature and in refinement is really
surprising.
On Sunday, the I'd Of December, we struck orr
tents and bade adieu TO Fort Gibson; we marched
through csnebrake, OF which the officers took al.
vantage 10 provide themselves with pipestems Two
mile and halt from the Srt is the Arkansas
Owing TO the quicksands, ii was consideyei rrudent
for the ladies TO cross hv YIy-.Le Regiment fored
it, Ore Of the privates who rode quite On unman.
aEeable horse, crossed with great difficulty.
Al one time both horse and rider appe red in quite
precarions situation. camp woman, who seemed
to take great interest in his struggles, cried out.
Faith an you're get ~ a dnp too much" During
the confusion Of TIC moment, one OF the desertors,
whom Lieutenant u found ct Springfield, managed
to escape second TIME and II now deseiter NJ
large.
On the 5th we reached the Canadian. After cross
ing. VIC marched SIX miles and encamped in beau
tnl forest: cav innrnmerahle clusters OF bright
scarlet and puIe white berries, ard some beautiful
born "to blush and die unseen" in these frontier
forests.
ON the 9th We marched twenty miles over very
rough ard billy roads-ihe ccuUtry beautiful. We
passed by large laghouse, surrounded by an I'M.
mensc porch, which were assembled az least thirty
Indians. women and children, in every degree Of
fifth and nakcdness. II was a singular picture:
there was rot a pleasant face among the group;
two old squGws were smoking and knitting. the
Others vere longing In utter idleness, In the most
laughable attitudes Imaginable one Of the gin,
horrid looking creature, brought little eifsh look
ing boy TO me. attempted 10 Caicss the child bot,
my intentions, he dartei from ne
with a yell, which seemed u me more like =
war whoop than any human sound ! have set
heard.
ON the 18th we marched twenty miles without
seeing sny travellers, or passing any hotses-the
day bright and warm.
ON the sih we marched seventeen miles, and en-.
camIed in q wcod-the roads awful.
sunday, 9TH Once moe we are amongst settle
ments. / was delighted with the first glimpse had
this morning OF a comfortable looking iarm house.
The day was intenscly cold and tho large log fre
was so inviting that could not resist entering. II
proved 10 lie a tavern. The hostess was not Gfi-
Ida and was waginQ war OF words with her sire.