The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-07-20
Indians In South Carolina.

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Indians In South Carolina.
just below Nation Ford and the emo
bridge of tho O., O. & A. Railway. the
Catawba River makes broad sweep to
the Southwark, thus partly enclosing n
body OF land familiarly known IS the
Bend. In it are fine plantations of the
olden time; open fields surrounded by
dense woodlands that are the growth oi
centuries, with here and there a large
country house.
the most remote section OF the Bend, and
upon the banks of the grand old river
that takes its name from them, Is the last
remnant of the tribe of Oatawba Indians
in South Carolina. -
The tribe now numbers about eighty.
five persons, and shows o slight increase
within the past decade. Their reserva.
ton is something less than o thousand
acres. The question-come up, how have
they maintained themselves against the
onward march of the white racer The
answer is not hard to find-they have
been friendly with the white settlers from
time immemorial.
Some years ago the tribe D- oYed West,
and sold to the State their .:,seryation.
then much larger than at esent; but
becoming dissatisfied there, they were
permitted to return; reservation was
given them which they are not allowed
10 sell, and yearly pension granted
them, amounting probably 10 $500.
These sons of the forest speak imper-
feet English, but among themselves con-
verse in the Indian tongue. They are
peaceable and quiet, and live by hunting
and fishing, while they also work small
crops or labor for wages in the fields of
their white neighbors. They are proud
and reticent, seldom speaking unless
spoken 10, but always appreciating q
kindness. Thoy still Keep up the art of
making Indian pottery, and bring to
town clay pipes, flower pots, and perhaps
other little articles, for sale.
At different times, members cf the
tribe have united with Baptist and Meth
odist churches, but it seems difficult to
keep upfa permanent religious interest.
A Union Sunday School was recently
organized for their benefit. which was
subsequently, removed to Richardson's
Chapel, q Methodist church near by, and
about thirty of the Indians now regular.
ly attend it. @
The Indians live in log huts very much
alter the manner of frontier settlers, and
these are for the most part scattered along
through the forest; they dress in the
same manner as their white neighLors.
They still retain some Indian psouliari-
ties, ouch as walking one behind the
other whilst they are on journey.
A fondness for the fiery fluid is On In
dian weakness, aud has been probably
the chief obstacle to their complete
evangelization. Now that the towns of
Rock Hill and Fort MiIl are "dry,n far
less temptation exists for them to indulge
this ruinous appetite. i
It makes one sad to view the gradual
decadence of the Red Men; here and
there we find remnant left unmolested,
because they have always been friendly
to the whites; at most it is only rem
nant. Tho rest are far out in tho West
ern wilds, pressed steadily towards that
vast ocean that rolls 80 peacefully yet
nightly upon our Western shores.
Should we not feel deep sympathy
for the Indian and help him TO the higher
and better life? His soul is as precious
in Heavens sight as our own.
There are In the Catawba River nu.
merous islands, and on some of tSem are
to be found indian relics going back to
the time when the CasawbaB, as q mighty
tribe, roamed these hills, fished In the
clear streams, and fortified themselves on
the islands. Not far from Lands Ford,
where the dashing river spreads out foI
nearly mile oyer the smooth, shoaly
rocks, ia Indian Mound Island. As the
writer sat fishing one day, and looked al
the high, conical mound with great trees
of century's growth upon it, ne heard
the story of its probable construction
Not far away on the island is alake, eyi.
IDENTIFY artificial, and now overgroWn with
trees, whence the earth must have been
carried aud heaped up little by little tc
make the monument. When done Il
served perhaps o t%o-fold ,sqrpose-a
burial place and an outlook d, ,ainst the
approach of enemies. It is new seventy.
Eve feet high, aud must have been much
higher, and Is perhaps fifty feet broad el
the top, while It's base IL laid on broad
foundations. Near its Southern bass thu
canvas tent Of solitary trapper glistenet
in the evening light, making the picture
complete in Its Dniqueneas, and suggest
Ing tb0se early tipes that FenhiaioT;
Cooper loved to depict.
Thst mound is the silent monument O.
a power and prestige long since gone by
So the Indian race. its prestige and ID
tglory is everywhere passing away. lie
us eeize the opportunity and send 60 tll:es.
q Christian civilization, which shall CIV,
them peace, prosperity ara salvation, be
fore they are gone from us fGrever.--J
HAETwRLL EDwARns, IN Baptist COii
yfer.
-Ths heirs os Ndicaiah l4astin dceea.