New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-30
A Visit to the Nodoc,.

~3
A Visit to the Modocs.
a correspondent of the Cincinnati E114j-
rer, who has visited the MoGoc Tribe at
their reservation, writes thus:
We had introductions to and shook hands
with Shack nasty jim, Steamboat Frank
Scar-taced Charley, Hooka jim, Fathfu!
David and others. Faithful DAVID is SD
named because, when the M0Goc Council
determined to invite General Candy to
friendly conference aud then murder him
and his attendants, David al once informed
Candy OF the treacheroUs designs Of Cap
tain Jack. David's glory was not credited
by the soldiers, and General CANDY vent to
his death. David is a tine looking Indian,
with a iuildness of manner unusual to the
rest OF the tribe. Bogus Charley I'M
dertook to guide Us through the
camp The Indian. from choice, pitches
his tent on the prairie in the blazing sun,
and sits around his tent bare headed and
generally baret0oteG n summer time. Ole
and Young. male and female seem steeled
against the suns heat, that would melt a.
white man down in death. We saw them
almost nude on the open prairie, IN the bl4z-
ing sun, going at the rate OF SIX miles an
hour. without let or hindranee. The camp
haDitations are mostly government canvas
tents, with a few frame shantIes as general
Indian ware houses. Their furniture. bedding
and cooking utensils are OF the ruGest kind.
We found but slight indications in and
about their tents OF what civilized lite
would call comforts. The Indian is essen
TALLY improvldenr. lazy and unceanly,
loves money and whisky, and deIides
labor and cold weather as q means
OF cleanliness The men, women and
children in this camp were comfortably
dressed. There were cases, however, where
the effort TO cover the body with garments
was manitestly slight. This was especially
the case among some very old squaws and
young children. The government does not
furnish them clothing. Up to this time,
MIR. Jones said, the Friends and other chart
table persons sent them clothing. Some
they buy with the proceeds arising from the
sale of bows and arrows, beadwork and
hats. In the manufacture OF these things
they manifest considerable skill. The.
generality of the Modoc women are not
attractive in person or feature. They are
square built, with broad shoulders and Of
uniform size from top to bottom, and
their wardrobe does not add much 10
the grace of their not handsome per-
sons. Some OF the children were ar
rayed in fancy cuts and coloIs, while
most of them were in the condition Of
Mother Eve when she gave Father Adam
the eye-opener in the Garden OF Eden. The
government furnishes these wards of IFS
love rations of beef flour, meal, beans or
hominy. sugar, coffee soda and soap. The
saop ration does not appear to be III much
demand from the looks OF things and
persons. Although the mass are lazy and
improyidenr tbs head men manifest the
Yankees love Of money and the Jews
tricks in acquiring it. They offer their
wares Tor sale at unconscionable prices,
and if they can not effect sale at one
price they VIII reduce 1t down, down, until
the purchaser is almost ashamed OF Indian
cupidity We invested for our boys, and
are confident we paid ten prices for the ar
ticles we got. But our Anglo pride placed
US on too high level Of human civilization
to chatter with a savage Modoc. We sus-
tanned our pride, but our money is gone
forever. Our reward, however, was at
hand We asked If we could see the royal
family. Bogus Charley told US 1t was a
rare thing TO show the blooded stock to
strangers. But, having notified him by
our purchases, he said he would allow US
to behold savage royalty. We were then
introduced to Lizzie, Captain Jacks widow.
She sat upon her throne of sticks and skins
and received us right loyally, but
troduced and shook hands with Prin-
cess Mary, Captain Jacks sister. She shook
hands with US, looked at us with sad
expression, then covered her face with her
hands. Bogus Charley said she refused to
be cOmtOrted for the loss of her brother.
her country and the graves of her fathers.
Lizzie is homely as sin, but Princess Mary,
tor an Indian woman, was quite pleasant
looking. She was dressed in a rather
cOmely fitting green gown, and her person
was decorated with some ornaments that
lend grace to female loneliness that can
only be attained by refined, lady-like taste.
Captain Jack left no little Jacks to per-
petuate his name, SO that his wife and sister
are all that remain of the royal family.
Since the Modocs came to this Indian Ter
rltory nine of their number have died, four
have been born, and they now number, all
told, l4S.
Quite number of them speak the
English language well. Since they find
that their home in all the future will be
near the white man, they exhibit lauda-
BILE desire to learn his language. But their
greatest delight to us appeared to be i'll
shooting for nickels. The chief does not
engage in this sport He places the nickel
in the split Of stick driven in the ground.
Then the warriors with great glee send
their arrows at it. The nickel belongs to
him who knocks it out of its place. They
are skillful bOwmen About thirty of the
Modoc children are sent to a school pro-
vlded for them, and Mr.. Jones told US
they were studious, tractable and apt in
learning: that they were smart and intelli-
gent learners.
There are less than fifty men Of the No
docs; the exact number could not learn.
As looked upon that handful of men Won
dered how they ever had the hardihood,
courage or temerity, call it what you will,
to wage war with the United States. Per-
haps the answer may be found in the answer
of Bogus Charley and Shack-nasty Jim to
question we put to them. Having said, as
they were well fed and cared for now, they
would rather remain where they are than re-
turn to their own country, we asked them
why they fought They drew ON paper
rude map of their native, country, and point
lake, here is Lost river, here is where we