The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-08-12
"How do the Choctaws dress %"

"HoW do the Choctaws dress :''
"They are adopting the dress of the
whites. During their feasts, however
they dress in a peculiar costume made
up of calico Of the most snowy colors
such rs red, blue and yellow, these
three being the favorite tints. The
women dress in these calico robes as
well as the men. 1 had Il very fine
robe of the sort I mentioned which ]
forwarded to the Smithsonian Institute
at Washington"
"Cou1d you tell me something about
your mission among the Choctaws,
Father Rouqette:'
"I have been ministcring to them
since 1859. When first undertook to
carry Christianity among them the
task was considered so difficult as to
be impossible. After studying their
language for two years 1 despaired of
ever acquiring it. 1 studied Oriental
and other primitive languages to obtain
a key to the Choctaw tongue. After
four years of hard work I mastered it.
but would perhaps never have been
able to do so were it not for some I
Choctaw newspapers and phonetic
alphabet received from the Indian
Territory. Now almost all Of the
Choctaws whom visit are Catholics.
have baptized Mt least $50 children,
but many of them die. Not many
Indians have more thah three children.
as there is great mortality among in
fants. A few old people Of the tribe
are the only ones who refuse to accept
the teachings of the Church,
"What was their original belief?'
'They believe in a great. Being who
is above all others, great spirit who
can do what he pleases and can trans
port himself from place to place without
boat or vehicle of any sort. They be-
lieve in good and bad spirits, but are
saved more by their belief in bad spir-
its. They will do anything to appease
the bad spirits while they almost for
the good spirits. They believe in
and sorcery and attribute mi
powers to such beings"
81 heard you mention the chief. How
are the chiefs chosen and who is their
present leader?'
"The craftsmanship of the tribe is
The Choctaws have a
chief and obey him in all things and at
all times. His name is James Mehat-
ably. James was be slowed upon him
when he was baptised while Mehataby
signifies Il go and KILL He is about
30 years Of age, and severity can be
traced in every line of his face. lie
hasan a1uiline nose, piercing eyes, and
4 cold smile sits upon his lips which
awcs and chilIs. He has a black nous.
tachc, the only one in the tribe. lie
lately lost 4 son who was known rs
Leo, so named in honor of the Pope.
When this lavoritc child was laid in
tho grave, tho father took his wife and
his remaining son and left his house.
lie would not SEQ any object his sons
eyes had rested upon SO as to endeavor
to forget the hoy whom he loved so
we'll. lie travelled to MandeviIlc and
then to the Bogue Chitto where he
undergo great suffering without betray-
ing the fact by any outward sign"
"IIow do they treat tho women
among the Choctaws ?''
'sI suppose you ask this question be-
cause you read, rs l did, Of the man
ncr in which Indians naltrcat their
s1uaws. | was agrccably surprised to
find that among the Choctaws the
women are very well treated and the
men do more work than the women.
The Choctaw women are very intelIi-
gent, being brighter than the men.
They appear more robust and have
better figures than the men, although
they too arc of delicate build. They
have beautiful hands, with long, slen-
der fingers and pretty nails. Their
hands always look as neat and clean as
if they had been protected by gloves,
while, on the contrary, they have cease
lcssiy been employed doing hard work.
They have small feet and black hair
and eyes. ] have only seen one Choc-
taw woman with blue eyes in nv