Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-01-07
0ssSo iAss~ Of Il lpS;aS.-NO, q.

'''"'N' aid uhtai uapir tliH any OF tnuSc De-
fore noticed. They are natives of Kansas
thInk-that is indigenous to the territory.
They were formerly located on the same
land now occur pied by the tribe last named
the Pettewatomies Marked indications of
their long residence there are plainly to be
seen
There was formerly Methodist Mission
among them. Its location is now perfectly
obvious The ruins OF the buildings, and
fences are still To be sven 1t is on Mission
trcek. - called because OF that Mission
SUPPOSE. But the Indians spurned it from
them That is, they were 30 obstinately
a'cr~e e any improvement--so unwilling to
he instructed and s. hostile to the missiona-
rie'. tina, the mission was given up many
years az.
Since til. ; time the trh, has removed far
Their west. and south, where now they have
their home, If indeed, it can be said with
truth, that they have any home for they
are accordingly migratory in their habits.
moving often and wandering far from their
common center
They have the habit Of shaving the head,
except small TUT Of hair which is lei. d.
reciy on the top Of the head They are
great for painting their faces, and loading
their hands. ears. and even their nosss with
jewels and bracelets.
Their costume is perfectly savage. No
improve ment with them rhcy .corrs to i'm
itate the pale faces" Neither IN dress, or
in relation to the cultivation Of the soil will
they be induced to copy after the whites, or
their somewhat civilized red brethren Of 9th
er tribes. They are kind of free boot
er', ani Of course rather terror to the
whites, and to the more friendly Indians.
+ e Sacs and Fox Indians are located
come forty miles south Of the Kansas river.
and about FIFTY miles west from the Missouri
line. Their character. and habits are much.
think. like these Of the kaws. They can
not be induced to practice agriculture. or
adopt any Of the habits Of civilized life.-
Nor will they admit "s Christian mission
among them
Some years since, government reserved n
part of their annuity. and expend some
thirty thousand dollars in wagons, plouchs
&c, and sent the articles 70 them, but they
would not accept of them. or consent to use
them. They would sooner loss the whole
value of them. than u use them for the pur-
pose for which they were designed 1t is
quite strange that they will not use the was-
on. They keep any quantity of horses and
are exceedingly fond of riding; and then.
the face of the country rs such. that it ad.
mits OF driving wagon almost anywhere
you choose to 60. But STILL they choose TO
jump astride the pony, and saHop off at full
speed. and carry their baggage upon pack
horses.
Poor children Of nature Cnschooled in
art or in science. We pity-%h-m- for their
folly in obstinatelv rejecting cur improve
ments, and inultiElied conveniences aud
they in turn pity us for our many, many
seli-created necessities, and our hard labor,
and constant drudgery to supply them.
The Attawa Indians, a.e small tribe.
Their reserve is but twelve miles square. 1t
lies some twenty-five miles south Of the Kan
sas river, and some thirty miles west from
the Missouri line. II is of the very best
quality, and has an ample supply of good
timber.
The A,tawas are more CIVILIZED, and more
christianized than any other tribe OF Indians
which know in Kansas. \ Baptist mission
was established among them many years
since. 1t is still continued. and has been
successful in very good degree.
Rev. lothian Meeker was their missionary
for many years. lie was printer by trade,
but was called in early life to the work Of
the missions, and went from the city of Phil
adelphia, to his station among the Indians,
while yet young man, and there he lived,
and labo,ed, and died ; and there the remain.
Of both himself and his faithful companion
are deposited in the mission burying ground.
was with Mr.. Meeker the Sabbath before
he died ; and as he was too sick 10 preach,
preached to his Indian church through an
Interpreter. He died about the 10th OF Jan
uary le55
He acquired the Attawa language very ac-
curately and was in the habit Of preaching
to the Indians in their native tongue. lie
reduced their lang age To writing and print
ed for them several small books among
which. were a hymn book. and small code
Of laws which the tribe with his aid, made
and adopted.
An interesting Baptist church was gather.
ed among them. and still continues. One OF
the chiefs of the tribe is member Of it,
Another Of the members of the church-John
T. Jones, is an educated man ; an amiable
gentleman, and decided Christian. lie was
burned out by the '.border rufhans" during
the 'reign Of terror in Kansas.
JJnes isa somewhat large farmer has,
! say, 100 head of cattle-ten or dozen hor-
ses, and lives in good ttyle-keeps a public
house. He was frec-siate in sentiment, az
almost all the Indians are That was enough
10 dr.w down on HIM the vengeance of the
ins4'e'r They tr)ke int he hVase IN tie