Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-01-04
ELFrom the,southorn Homo Journal. ]
Life Among the e Cherokees.
SpY JAMEs M. BUCHANAN, JR.

~ ! \, g ~ 1.
One Of The most pleasant recollections of my
life is that of tho days spent among the Cher
5.okee indians, during the latter part Of tho
year, eighteen hundred and sixty three, and
the months Of January aud February, oigh-
teen hundred and sixty 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 rcmom-
bored as. tho sssunny timo." The manner in
which I enjoyed myself with those original
beings, and the many anecdotes Of their truly
original life, (not so poetical as somo writer's
have made it,) but truly original in ssmplici-
ty 81 have made lasting impression on my
mind.
asa 5sa Before proceeding further with my nara
I've, isHill describe the country inhabited by
these indians, and tell something of the man
amer of their life.
8 They are settled in the Districts near Quail
Ia Town, lin Jackson County, (and also in
Haywood and Cherokee Counties, No. Ca.,)
1 on small farms consisting Of about thirty or
forty acres each, and these farms are princi-
pally worked by tho women.
The Indian men hunt The mountains near
\ SBySssor the deer and BEAR that abound SO plen-
SStifully in tkat,wild country.
The women are the real workers of the
;;s9ssoil 4. The male portion of the community
would consider itswrong, or in othor words
\ elaasgesoss, to infringe on this time honored
) right f!their women. It has been long cs-
tablished custom Of this rude people. The
/ men sometimes work, but seldom; and when
they do, it is not characterized by earncstness
and good will On the contrary, their prov
s5s:a:ce seems to be hunting, and they will 80 off
to the mountains aud remain six or seven days
at time, living on parchcd meal, which, by.
the-by, is food that kills both thirst and
hunger. will here relate an old tradition
among the Indians, that clings to their recol-
plcctions evon at this late period. 1t runs
thus: h |" In oldcn times, when wedding was
about to take place, all the Indians we're gath
.ered together around the happy pair, and af-
ter much singing, Cor in other words howling,)
the fair bride handed her lord aud master
,san ear Of corn, and in return he handed her
Sthe leg Of "a deer, aud the ceremony was con
aummated amid the widest excitement. =
s Now to them thero is reason for this strange
proceeding,! and when | asked the old chief
4 what it meant, lie explained it to me: "The
handing tho ear Of corn by the squaw meant
that the woman would stay at home and cul-
tiyato the ground, and attend to the house,
= 30. Aud Che handing the leg Of the deer
s meant that, the man would procure the meat
y BY shunting;" and BY this means Of equal la
bor, food was proy;aodtfor Tho family.
Thoir farms are well taken care Of Some
of the Indians (women) lay up much corn
and sffod dor for: the winter, and equal, if they
do not ssurpass, many Of the poorswhite far
$lners Of that desolate region, in economy anc
sfragality in their household affairs.
The Indians ere very proud Of their homes
andi il " their settlements" as they term ihci
lands, they, have their own laws and regula
.tions, and I can in truth say that they arr
very Just in their ideas Of right and wrong.
If;they have not Blackstone or a Kent i,
refer to, and show to them the rights of per
/, Sons, and private wrongs, &c." they certain
s,2ilg have "a good friend in their adopted chief
Golonel William H, Thomas, (of Stckor
Fields, the name of his farm in jackson ooun
ay,1to whom they refer all their trials ant
difficulties, and they arc sure to gct redress
This gentleman hassdone much towards tn
samelioration Of the Indian character. Hi
4 unSiring efortsi in. their behalf have been tn
causeof their advanced civilization, and hi
good works'among them will certainly bo re
membered by their children's children, witt
pride and heartfelt gratitude.
One Of the most remarkable of thoir pas
times witnessed by me, was their ".dance; J;
aud when I saw them gathered around a larg
log fire, joining hands and singing in thei
aondest manner, I could not help thinking 9
their CARELESS happiness, / fclt as if mus
take share In their innocent frolic, and whc
\ ISdid o,ithyy seemed delighted. Sometime
they spend whole days in enjoyments Of thi
kind, /, and now, that they have religion anon
them, they often Ineetat the Emission House,
and after their religious exercises are ove
they have, ss b dance"
81 Although they know, as yot, very litt
@ about the Bible, they love to have its toacl
ls ings planned to them, and listen attentisel
ts, grcaaipe. q Tho Bible has bcen tronal