The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-11

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The Indian nations who inhabited Georgia and
Florida AZ the period when those States were colo
Natchez, Yamasees, Katahbas. Mu-coghces and
Seminoles- But many other tribes were before
them, who were either entirely exiermlnAted or
merged with the Musooghees. According 10 Mr..
Gallatin, the latter was their fate. " The Nnseo
ghees," he observes, (Archoegis Americans. vol. I'D
care confederacy OF various tribes. remnants Of
the ancient nations which from the invasion OF the
Europeans, their wars with the Iroquois. OF con-
tentions among themselves, were all broken up"
Of these nations the Apalachians were dis
tnguished above all Others for their improve
ment, which exceeded that of any other nation In
North America, and who may even be considered -
. demi-ciyilized people. And - they are. hence.
highly interesting and little notice has been taken OF
them by any American writer, We propose to give .
view of them.
They were first mentioned in the history of the
sxpedition of De Soto to Florida in 1882 written by
Garcilasso de La Vega. He landed at the bayof 81.
Marks, and marching northwardly, came TO their
country through which be passed; but his notices OF
them are very scanty A more full account Of them
is given by De Bry, in his great work on American
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of the company of Rebault and IAdonniere, who,
about the year 1854, made IN establishment in be-
half of the French on the eastern coast Of Florida.
They having curiosity to visit the Apalachians,
travelled to their country, and resided some time
among them. But al this work is written in Latin
and in folio it is found only in large libraries and
not accessible to readers in general.
Subsequent to De Bry a very particular account of
Al has onu o;v hu off ~ho
was French Catholic missionary in the West Indies
in his Historic des Antilles" published in 1867
which be says he obtained from an English traveller
who had been in Georgia and Florida, and bears
every mark of authenticity and of being a correct
account, as will be hereafter shown. In his history
he has given q description of the Caribes, who at
an early period inhabited some of the West India
Islands and was led to add an account Of the Apala
chians from belief he entertained that they were
derived from Florida and fed from it il consequence
of war which they had with this nation, in which
is but little known in this country take from it
the most important particulars of the Apalachians.
SITUATION OF THE APPALACHIAN COUNTRY.
The empire of the Apaachians says Rochefort,
extends n0rthwardly along chain OF mountains,
the same which still bear their name, about
two hundred and forty miles, and is divided
into six provinces, three of wbich-Benarim, Ma
tiQue and AmApa-are in valley surrounded by
mountains, the last extending 10 tne lake IneOml,
which is the source of the river May. Two others,
Schama and Meroea, are in the mountains. The
sixth Is the province OF the Achalaques, partly 10
the mountains and partly in the plains around the
in Arkansas and other works, sees the Cherokees.
The situation OF their country agrees with that of
the Achalaques. On the west the Apalac hans
separated from other nations by chain of high
mountains. On the east they border on number of
small tribes who are in alliance with them.
The inhabitants of the provinces In the noun
tains lead a wild and savage life, subsisting on
the game they obtain by hunting. Those in
the valley are the improved portion of the
nation. They cultivate the soil, have towns and
villages, and are under very regular government:
The valley is throughout plain, with some slight
eminences, on which the towns are built. De Soto,
who passed through that portion Of their country,
observes after entering the territory OF the Apala
chians he marched twelve miles through cultivated
fields and encsmped in a plain six miles from the
capital of the province, the cacique OF which was
Capaf He proceeded TO it, but on his arrival there
found the cacique had led. Inc capital consisted
OF two hundred and fifty houses. There were be-
sides a great number OF habitations scattered over
the country, and many villages OF ffty or sixty
houses, some q league and others two or three
leagues from each other. The situation OF the coun
try was agreeable and the soil so fertile that his
army for i've months In their winter quarters had
provisions in abundance, and to obtain them 1t was
not necessary to go more than two or three miles
from the camp.
Personal ArPEARAscE OF THE INDIANS.
The Apalachians are, in general, OF q large size,
olive complexion, and with long black hair. Those
in the mountains for the most part wear nothing on
the head and go with bare feet the rest Of the body
il covered with a fur skin cut and prepared in the
form OF a cassock, reaching TO the knees, and the
sleeves as far as the elbows. In the provinces OF
the valley they wear a similar cassock, made OF
furs or skins tanned and painted with various
figures. Under the cassock Is a deer skin shirt,
which descends 10 the knees The cassock reaches
somewhat below il, and is fastened round the body
by leather band, the edges OF which have border
ornamented with figures as neatly done as II made
with the needle. They wear sandals and
mocasens Of leather. The heads oil families have,
in addition, above the cassock, mantle, which
hangs down I'm front to the waist and behind to
near the ground In summer these garments are
made Of cotton or wool, spun and wove by the wo-
men and diversified with various colored figures.
The dress Of the females is similar, except that
the cassock descends to the ankles and the mantle
is closed in front and has opening on each side,
through which the arms are passed. They wear at
their ears for ornament crystal or green polished
stone. resembling the emerald.
The married men wear a cap, somewhat high, OF
offers skin, black and shining, with rim Of
about three inches, which brought to a
point in front and the cap, on each side, is
adorned with a bunch Of feathers OF some bird
highly valued by them. The married women
wear also cap which 10 bordered with strip o.
rich fur either gray or black. The unmarried Of
either sex have no covering on the head. The
young women collect their hair to the top OF the
head. where IL Is tied into graceful knot. The
youths draw their locks behind the and fasten
them there together; bat festival days suffer them
70 hang down loose on The shoulders
The king. the governors OF provinces, and gen
orally all the public officers, more richly dressed
than the rest. They wear large robes OF cotton or
linen which have a border about the neck and at
the ends Of the sleeves OF silk OF different coors.
The robes are also decorated in summer with seye-
raj siiken bands across at different distances and
IN winter with strips Of and precious furs placed
An the same manner: around the robes 10 bind them
90 the body IL a curveture Of silk or other rich
teriai. ON public occasions they wear over the
robe long mantle, or If II appears TO insommode
open In front, so as 10 exhibit their fine dress
beneath. Further, they wear Ia front. behind the
breast silver or copper plate three or four inches
wide, as mark o. their rank and dignity. The dres.