Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-07-14

Captlyes at the stake, the tear em't0'
pieces trick, and other diversions. or
late years they have apparently recovered
from their weakness for the pale face
and have made trouble for the govern
mcnt on various occasions but whatever
diaboli.m they may commit within their
reservation, they are securely Gagged
within its boundaries and there IS no
fear OF their escaping, for to do so would
be Drawing The lions jaws, They are
surrounded by their enemies Of yore,
Onthu south are the Bannocks and Sho-
shoncs; on the east and north, Bannocks,
Flatbcads, and BIackieet; while on the
wooded praircs to the west, in Washing
ton territory, roam the Pigchous and
Walla Wallas. The reservation con
tains about from three thousand to three
thousand five hundred fine specimens of
the American Indian. Their phy5i.
ognomy is marked by the Roman nose
the inialible indicator Of courage, resolu.
tion, and tribular intelligence, 49, large
eyes and oval face (fat, stolid, faces, with
pug noses, are rare among them, and
high toraheads, In siature they are large
and symmetrical, and are athletic and
proficient in acrObatic sports. They are
excellent cquestrians, and are good war
riors. Their dress is incongruous, con.
sioting Of the Caucasian hat, shirt and
coat, and the Indian b]rcechclout, leg
gings, and moccs.ins. Their mode OF
living is hunting, fishing, and raising
vegetables, all the drudgery and mental
labor being performed by the sQuaws, in
conformity with the recognized ancient
Indians custom. The Nez Perccs tribe
is divided and subdivided into many
ramifcations, of one family each. Every
family-cousins, brothers, parents, grand
parents, etc.--bas a separate camp GOV
erned by a small chief, designated Cooch-
cochempowhat, which signifies the local
or family chief. The Csochcochemeo-
what in turn is subseryient to the chief
regnaut Of the Nez Perces tribe, a crafty
old fellow very appositely named
lawyer. This shrewd old yarlet is con-
sidercd A wonderful man by his tribe, as
he can speak toIeraDIe English, and ac-
tualIy mas been 10 NaShlngton and had
heap tax with the great father. The
Nez Perce6 belonged to the SahaPtin
family ana called themselves Numepo.
me Two words, neg HercrS, means
plercede nose But TINS tribe has never
commlttedt hatmutlIatlon' hePaIoo'es
ana "aIla WaIIaS are cognate tribes.
lhey made a treaty oil peace which they
adhefeo TO Tor years bonneYllle's favor
ape impressions OF them IN I652 lea to
lhe estapIlshInent OF a mission under the
American board IN 1886, when the tribe
numbered tour thousand, A school was
rounded, laws made, and agriculture
attempted, but the mission was suspended
IN iol|, after the murder of Rev. Mr..
whitman by the Cayuses. In 1881 only
hity acres were under cultivation. The
prevailing portion ct the tribe remained
friendly IN the Oregon Indian war OF
1893, and performed good service in
saving the lives OF Gov. Stevens and
others, and covering Col. Steptoe's re-
treat, The sentiment Of the tribe at
That time IS shown by the answer of the
chief to Cot Wrlghts question as to
what they wanted. Peace, plows, and
schools In 1901 a treaty was made,
dlSpoalng OF p9rt OF their land, but a por-
t!on OF the tribe never agreed to the par
tillon ana the Treaty Nez Perces'
alone went On to the reservation. In
lS'9 goa was discovered, and the influx
OF whlte ana Chinese miners led them
INTO drunkenness II disorder. The best
Land IN the section IS said to be contained
in the LaPwai reservation. This and
the kamlah reservation contain in the
gr'ggte ,922 square miles, in 1874 the
MethoulSlS had revived the mission, and
tnere were l,22o Indians and $50 on
small farms OUTSIDE the boundaries. A
stone church had been erected, $4,000
rr,nort WIN IN %oron. o ouT ana the
!ln aoPsJI' ~ sig l;V 5 , M" NJ IattLe was esll-
nf tbe n mr. Of Of tho Non 'f poe eyIuEhGe