Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-18
THE CaEROKEES.
Their Holy Land In North Caro-
Iina-A Remnant Lett.

The CAerokees, before the tribe re-
moved west Of the Mississippi, occu>
pied portions of Alabama, Georgia
and North Carolina. When the tribe
went West. many of those living in
North Carolina did not 60 with their
brethren. According to a North
Carolina letter, published in the
Sparta Expositor, there are 1000 of
these Indians still remaining in that
State. Though surrounded by and in
close contact with civilization, they
appear to retain the prominent char
acteristics of their race.
They have never emigrated from
their native land. Their territory was
once ceded to the State of North Carr
DINA. They now hold their land in
common, the government being trus>
tee. They live in comparative simplic-
ity. Each one has a lot of land and
makes suchimprovements as he wishes;
usually small log hut with no win
dows, the door narrow and so low they
have to stoop to enter. They cultivate
from one to eight acres of corn to
the hand; many hands depending on
earning little bread by laboring for
his more energetic neighbor-Indian
or white. They almost invariably
pillow an OK. Many of them own
ponies.
The Southern Methodists have kept
up school among them, and paid
missionaries to preach to them for
many years. Some good results
may be seen; but you would feel
sad to see the miserable condition Of
many.
Almost to man, they are in filth,
rags, and a wretched state of civiliza.
ton, eating frogs, locusts, tadpoles,
and yermin Of many kinds. Their
bread consists Of "cannwhanih"-
corn boiled until it is cooked and forms
soup almost as thick as butter milk.
This they drink when cold usually
with a wooden ladle. Also beam
bread, made with corn dough and
beans worked together and boiled, in
the shape of biscuit called fodder
bread" Bol
They often parch meal and eat it. |
have tried most Of their dishes Except
frogs and locusts.)
They believe in witches, wizards
and supernatural agencies in most all
their little ills and misfortunes.
In the main they are honest, seldom
stealing, and always acknowledging it
if guilty and closely accused.
Without exception they all love
strong drink. The State of North
Carolina has wisely prohibited the sale
Of ardent spirits within their terri.
tory. They are all peaceable unless
drunk.
Some of their medicine men have a
peculiar power over certain diseases;
burns, snake bites and other accidents
seem to readily yield to their strange
treatment; which is a ceremony, with
some banks or roots steaped in water,
and blown ont of the mouth OF the
doctor upon the wound.
They never lose a case of snake bite
I'm told
Upon the whole they are lazy, thrift
less, inoffeasive, Ignorant, superstitious
people. The women usually bear the
burdens. When you meet on the
highway man and his wife, he usually
is before, she following with a huge
bundle tied on her back; perhaps a
turn of corn, going to mill or to mar
ket
If you wish to buy corn they ask
you what you will give for half a
bushel.
There is not good English scholar
in the Nation. There are four who
interpret sermons, speeches, etc., into
the Indian language; not one can in
terpret sermon into the English.