New-York tribune., 1880-06-13
cTnIzED INDIANS IN YEw.roRK

Visit 10 THE TUsCARoRA REsERvATIoN-THE
vENERABLE CHrrF AND HIS DIsCIrLiNE--A RE-
tINEp. PRosPgEoCs AND HAPPY PEOPLE.
ftEuM ~ OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
TUsCARoRA RESERVATION, June 2.-Whcn it
was rumo.cd among friends and lulnnnccs that the
writer was about TO spcud several weeks among tue
Indians Of NcwYor state In the hope of penetrating
into illo folk ltrc" of interesting race many were
the Calculations. expo,uations aud semiseriou3 sur
nisnes about an aubura scalp which possibly might
dccurnt. the w,gWam ~ some dusky chef
Jrs:ugiy IA these Nuris undoubtedly spoken II
Is nevertheless that many nic gent r'iZ'ns o the
Empiro state. aud partcn arly of its mrtio"ols Rn1"
very little rrgadlIg the lives OF these Go00 rrope IN
our very midst bu this letter con enter few me'ropo.
ian homes more refined and Eosplab!c than this Indian
home IL leaves. where mine is the only pale face "
am ng it4 dusky occupants.
NV host II the CGri SRchrm John MiPlcnsant, whose
seventeen birthday has Lst been celebrated with great
festivities For nny years he has been head c!icI OF
the Tuscaroras and his prosperity and that of his
nation testify to his judgment and wisdom as ruler.
In appearance he is m his prime, and would not be
Judged TO be over llfty years Of age.
Ny hostess, his wic, formerly Caroline Parker, OF
the royal blood II tho r0quOs Her father, unceS and
brothers have all been famous chiefs ana h0asig Oi
Red Jacket ns great uncle. wen may she feel herse the
princess Pure aud devoted Christians in the iull-
cat sense OF the word this worthy couple have been so
Jealous that hardly trace OF the socalci paganism
II now 10 be found this reservation 30 very STREET Is
this chief aud so great his Influence, that no dancing.
even. Of any kind IS allowed. as that was awayo the
accompaniment OF the old religion.
On Sunday attended church. where the sermon was
by native preacher In the Tuscar"ra dialect hut the
singing which WIS excellent was In Engsh aud con-
sisted Of our familiar HYMNS After service entered
the Oll burial ground. where the ancient custom IL s;l
preserved Of burying the individuals OF each c.an In
rows by themselves. Among the Tuscnroras are eight
cinns-the Bear Beaver Wolf. Turtle, Snipe, Eel, etc
and as no two IN the same clan nternarry II fol-
lows that the husband and wife must be separated IN
burial and as the clan follows the wife IN descent she
is buried with her children, wulo the husband and
father must be separated from them and buried with his
own elan so In TINS old burial ground one row Is com
usrd Of Me graves OF the deceased members OF tc
he Vcr elan gcHs, another Of those or the Bear sun
nuothrr Of those ~ the Wolf etc. At the OnOhunRa
Reservation the saInc custom exists.
AprOpOs Of clans mine host Is OF the l'ear' whlch
IN this reservation takes the lead aud precedence or all
Others and ~ he has Kindly offered 20 adOpf me INTO MS
family am TO be formally adopted into the trbe OF the
Bear while my hostess kindly says she hhd lhouSut Ol
iuyliiug me become Wolf, OF which gems she Is
member. go ..-- =, =,
The reservation consisting OF 5000 acres is d-
yidpd into beautiful tnrms, all well tllled WIN me
hosCs orchards aud fences, and the houses ARE pat
terms OF nCutnesH. In almost AL OF thein nhd tho
women occupying their leisure with beadw0rk
or basket-maklng. The TWO brass cauds, Wblcn are
famous have serenaded us twice since my arrival ana
many are the kind attentions daily receive.
Asgrdtfyug as are all these signs or civilization ana
advancement they convince The visitor that whatever we
would OF tho ethuic life OF the ancient Indians we
must learn quickly. Their nguages und Institutions
nIe pcrisliuH daily under the Influence OF American
civilization, and III few years VIII have Disappeared