Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-12-19
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Il From the Southern Home Journal.
/ LIFE AMONG THE cHEROKEEs.
BY JAMES NJ BUCHANAN, JR.
One of the most pleasant recolections Of my life
is that of the days spent among the Cherokee In
dians during the latter part Of the year eighteer
hundred and sixty-three, and the months Of Jan
uary and February, eighteen hundred and sixty
1 four. Indeed those days will be cherished by me
during my whole life, and the happy moments
spent in the wilds of the Smoky Mountains will be
remembered as the "sunny time" The manner
in which enjoyed myself with those original be-
ings, and the many anecdotes of their truly origi
nal life, (not so poetical as some writers have made
it,) but truly original in simplicity, have made
lasting impression on my mind.
Before proceeding further with my narrative,
will describe the country inhabited by these lndi
ans, and tell something of the manner Of theirhfe
They are settled in the Districts near Qualla
Town, in Jackson County, land also in Haywood
and Cherokee Countless Georgia, on small farms
consisting of about thirty or forty acres each and
these farms are principally worked by the women.
The Indian men hunt the mountains near by fol
the deer and bear, that abound so plentifuly in
that wild country.
The women are the real workers of the SOIL
The male portion of the community would cOnsid,
er it wrong, or in other words dangerous, to in.
fringe on this time-honored right of their women.
1t has been long established custom of this rude
people. The men sometimes work, but seldom;
and when they do, it is not characterized by earn.
estness and good will On the contrary, their pro-
vince seems to be hunting, and they will 60 off to
the mountains and remain six or seven days ut a
time, living on parched meal, which, by-the-by, is
food that kills both thirst and hunger. I will
here relate an old tradition among the Indians,
that cings to their recoections even at this late
period. 1t runs thus: SIN olden times, when o
wedding was about to take place, all the Indians
were gathered together around the happy pair, and
after much singing, Tor in other words howling,)
the fair bride handed her lord and master an eal
of corn, and in return he handed her the leg OF q
deer, and the ceremony was consummated amidst
the widest excitement Now to them there Is q
reason for this strange proceeding, and when
asked the old chief what it meant, he explained ii
to me: 'The handing the ear of corn by the squaw
meant that the woman would stay at home and
cultivate the ground and attend to the house, &c.
And the handing the leg of the deer meantthat
the man would procure the meat by hunting" and
by this means of equal labor, food was provided
for the family.
The farms are well taken care Of Some Of the
Indians (women) lay up much corn and fodder fol
the winter, and equal if they do not surpass, many
of the poor white farmers Of that desolate region
in economy and frugality in their household affairs.
The Indians are very proud of their homes, and
in "their settlements, as they term their lands,
they have their own laws and regulations and
can in truth say that they are very just in their
ideas of right and wrong. If they have not a
Blackstone or Kent to refer to, and show to them
1.-The rights of persons, and private wrongs, &c,
they certainly have a good friend in their adopted
chief, Colonel William H. Thomas, (of Stekore
Fields, the name of his farm in jackson county,
to whom they refer all their trials and difficulties
and they are sure to get redress. This gentleman
has done much towards the amelioration Of the
Indian character. His untiring efforts in their be-
half have been the cause of their advanced ciVii
zation, and his good works among them will GER
tainly be remembered by their children's children
with pride and heartfelt gratitude.
One of the most remarkable Of their pastimes
witnessed by me, was their dance and when
saw them gathered around large log fire, joining
hands and singing in their loudest manner, coulc
not help thinking of their careless happiness
felt as if must take share in their innocent frol
ic, and when I did so, they seemed delighted
Sometimes they spend whole days in enjoyment
of this kind, and now, that they have religion a
mong them, they often meet at the 'Missior
House." and after theirrelgious exercises are ove
they have "a dance"
Although they know, as yet, very little abou
the Bible, they love to have its teachings explain
ed to them, and listen attentivey to the reading
The Bible has been translated into their Language
of late years.
The women come well supplied for these reli
gious feasts, and think nothing of wearing thre'
dresses at time, so that they can appear in nev
dress eachday of the feast. They take great pleas
ure in appearing in red-in any other color that
s bright and gay; piece of looking glass for
breastpin; brass earrings, and a red head-dress
generally complete their toilet. 'These are thei
E charms"
I had the curiosity to attend the funeral Of
3 very old Indian farmer, who in truth did die Of
e good old age, he being over ninety years, and
must soy, it was conducted in quitea Christianlik
t manner. They first procured few boards, from
which they made coffin or box, in which the.
placed their dead brother, with much care andsor
E row. After some gestures over the body by on
of the older members of the tribe, probably
chief they lowered the coffin in the grave, allowing
the top to be even with the ground. They thel
placed some dirt and stones loosely on the coffin
and around the grave, they built fence, owe
which they placed q covering of brushwood The
then departed in silence wondered why the
: were so careful in arranging the grave, &C., AM
d on asking an old Indian, he informed me the rea
son. He said, 1T was their custom never to bur
e one of their tribe deep in the ground, for fear
might not be quite dead, and as to the fence it wa
y built to keep the wild animals away"
l. The Indian character is peculiar one, and m
sojourn among them gave Inc good insight int
|, their real dispositions and habits. found tina
l. they generally were united in their likes and dis
likes, and observed that when you offended on.
the dissatisfaction spread through the whole tribe
/ and his quarrel was made thequarrel Of all. The
were very dangerous when aroused, and though
d treacherous, Il had always read that they were,
and I feared them whenever I saw any signs of ar
It ger on their countenances. They never sought
however, to do me any injury, although was oi