The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1877-09-05
CHFROKEES.


George Guoss and HE alphabet.
We spoke in our last of the return o.
Guess from the western Cherokees
bringing letters written with the Chero'
kee characters, and that the alphabet
began to spread among the eastern
Cherokees. At that time, there was no
thought of having type cast to print the
language. The alphabet was learned as
it came from the hand of Guess, without
any system, The writings of those who
learned it was very rude, because unac-
customed to the use of a pen. The pens
then used were made of goose quilts.
But few learned the alphabet at the first,
indeed, there was little inducement to
learn it, because ouly a little writing was
done mt that day by any one. Along the
road occasionally might be seen II side
of n tree hewn down tor several feet, and
writing on it, done with charcoal the
letters being badly made, some lying
lengthwise, and scattered rather promis-
~cuousIy. On beach trees, some would cut
their names, or cut a few words in the
bark.
How long Guess remained in the east.
ern nation, we cannot tell, as he was
living among the western Cherokees, in
which the land they then occupied in
Arkansas were exchanged for those upon
which they now live, a provision was in
serted, giving to George Guess u salt
spring on Lees creek. This gift was of
no real benefit to Guess. He lived on
Lees creek, but we never heard Of his
making any salt at his spring.
Although Guess was a h%alf-blood, he
had no love for civilization, but was an
Indian Of the old kind, in allof hishabits
and tastes. He knew no other language
than the Cherokee. He disliked the
Christian religion, and though his inven.
ton proved to have been the
best mea of disseminating the
doctrines of Christ, yet he did not like to
see it used for that purpose. He was an
unwilling tool in the hands of the Al
mighty God for spreading the truths Of
the gospel among the. full bloods.
The alphabet, about The year 1926, af-
ter the nation had resolved to print a
newspaper, was taken by the Rev. Sam'l
A Worcester, a missionary, and systema.
tised. 1t has been used in this form
ever since, and it is easier learned, than
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Guess set
them down. Guess had no idea Of VOW
els whichTgovern the sounds of the Ian
guage. That part..1ot the work was lett
for Mr., Worcester to arrange.
So far as the character of Guess, or ST.
qu0-ya, is concerned, there was nothing
in it, different from any other old time
Indian, save that of inventing the Chero.
kee alphabet. He was no leader in any
thing among his people I'VE cannot
recollect if he was ever an office-holder.
He was a good, peacabIe man, but moth
ing more. On thesarrival of Ross with
the main body Of the eastern ChetGkees,
and when the old settler government was
subverted, Guess, being the old settler,
gave in his adhesion to the Ross faction,
which was the strongest.
Between the years 1910 and 1843, the
exact year we do not recollect, Guess
left the Cherokee Nation and went out
on the plains. It is said by some, he
went in search Of Cherokees be believed
lived in or about Arizona. But, we be-
lieve he became tired of the new state
OF things in the Cherokee Nation. He
was an old time Indian, with all the
prejudices Of that class of Indians against
civilization. He found on the emigra.
tion Of the eastern Cherokees, that all,
or nearly all, the old manners and GUS
toms of the Cherokees had been aban-
doned, the laws Of the clans had been dis
and thrown aside, and the mar
Of persons in the same clan was
common. There is no doubt that he be-
came Disguised and dissatisfied, there's
fore he went to the plains, from whence
he never returned. or the time we have
no knowledge.-Fort Smith Independent.