The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-29

people. MOsJ every one VINO Das Teau any
thing at all knows that there are lot o
Cherokees in Swain county, N. c., but tbe
manners and customs, how they live, thei
exact numbers. &C., have seldom beer
written up, and their land is almost terrt
incognitd. A few evenings since we hat
the pleasure Of an informal chat with th,
two Richmond archaologists recently al
luded to as having spent some two months
with the Cherokees, and from their con
yersation we are enabled to give the fol
lowing sketch OF their experiences, whicl
we think will prove interesting. Tbes,
gentlemen spent most OF their time neal
Birdown, one OF the Cherokee communi
ties
THE CHEROKEE COUNCIL.
For many reasons the visit to the tribe
ould not have been more propitiously
timed. The month has been an impor
tant one for the Cherokees, and the occasion
OF very notable Council, at which w,
mad the good fortune to be present. Th'
business was the reading, revision, anC
approval OF the Hester roll, upon which tn,
Eastern Cherokees expect to realize
S1,0S3, .21-their proportion Of th,
SS,070.571 due them from the United State,
Government. Mr.. Hester's roll places The
number entitled to share in the money al
5000. 1t is made up from four different
rolls-the Malay Of 1S4s, the Silcr OF 1851
the Chapman OF 1852, and the Swaziland
Of 1869. According to an act OF the Council
none who have not Indian blood in them car
share in the division. When, therefore, it /.
stated that this rule did not apply in the dis.
tribution under the roll OF 1S4S the difficulty
attendant upon Mr.. Hester's work can be
readily understood. He has not only had
to trace families who have Indian blood in
them through their various intermarriages
from 1S4S down, but has had to eliminate
from that roll the non-Indians and prove
that they were such. The Council was
presided over by Chief N. j. Smith
Some Of the members were magnificent
specimens Of manhood, and proved them.
selves earnest and eloquent speakers. II
is understood that Mr. Hester's.. roll is now
entirely satisfactory, and by far the most
complete ever made. and that the Council
which meets to elect chiefs will deter
mine whether the whole amount OF the
claim will be distributed or portion only,
and the rest reserved for the building OF
school-houses, the purchase OF agrcul.
trral implements, &c.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
But we went out, SAID our informants, ia
study the Cherokees rs Indians. While
they are civilized, live in cabins, have their
Sunday schools and churches they are fol
the most part Baptists, and are thoroughly
devout-they still cling to many OF theil
traditional customs, several OF which we
saw illustrated. Their" ball-play" (Which
we photographed) they trace back for GEN.
turies, and certain it is none but Indians
would ever have originated such game.
The players are naked all to clout, and
there are generally twelve on side the
sides being distinguished by the solors OF
the clouts, which represent different town
ships. The ball is thrown up equi-dis-
tant from the two goals and the player
who can get possession Of it and run to his
goal wins for his side.
ROUGH PLAY.
This much is very simple, but the man
ner Of preventing player from reaching
the goal is another thing. There is no
short Of the actual use Of wea-
pons that is prohibited. In the game wit
messed all the players were remarkably
and why some OF them were not
injured is mystery. At one time the
whole two dozen players would be one
writhing mass OF humanity,
the blacks aiming to protect their man
who had the ball and the reds
aiming to get it away from him.
Again one player would be seen to lit
another clear up over his head and hurl
him to the ground with all the force he
could command, while another. who had
gathered an opponent from behind, would,
by deXterous bend OF the body, be sent
flving over his head like he had been shot
out OF catapult. The most remarkable
part OF the whole proceeding was
that everything was taken rs matter
OF course and in the most perfect good
humor. When, however. a good runner
did get a start with the ball he was the PIC
ture OF grace as he bounded over the
with rhododendron leaves or a
feather 1uttering from his scalp-lock, and
every muscle strained to its utmost ten
sion.
DANCE.
We had hoped to witness Green-Corn
Dance" but in this we were disappointed,
as both the authorities and the leading men
of the tribe discourage it. In fact, it must
be INDUCED in surreptitiously, il at all.
Learning, however, that another kind OF
dance was to take place, we made prepara-
tions to attend it, and were more than re-
warded for our trouble. The place Of the
dance was a rude cabin, situated at the
head OF 4 cove in the very heart OF the
mountains. We reached 1t about O'Clock
on one OF the most beautiful moonlight
nights we had ever witnessed. The whole
scene presented a picture not easily forgot
ten. On either side and to the rear the
rising almost perpendicu-
larlv, threw the cabin in the sha-
dow, while the moonlight lit up the
valley with soft, silvery ehulgence, and
seemed to quiver with every ripple Of the
little brook that threaded its way along its
bosom. As we approached we could dis
Germ the forms Of number Of Indians
stretched out on the ground along the
brookside. asleep or resting from their
tramp. From the cabin-door the faint red
glow from fire streamed out, ever and
anon throwing ghostly shadows us the in
mates passed and repassed in front OF it.
THE INVITATION.
We had nearly reached the cabin
when the host appeared at the door and
uttered shrill call that could have been
heard for miles, and was echoed and re-
echoed through the mountains. This was
an invitation to all to attend the dance and
remain until day. and woke the valley as
II from sleep Of enchantment. The re-
clining Indians sprang to their feet and
hurried to the cabin, aud under the spell
OF the surroundings it was not hard to
fancy that even the foliage shook of a
lethargy. The interior arrangement Of the
cabin consisted Of one big room. with a
loft. The ground floor had been cleared OF
everything except a few logs around the
wall, which served as seats for the squaws,
and a block very much like butchers
block, which occupied the centre OF the
floor.
THE DANCE COMMENCES.
A l.. .;,xool .,, oo+;ya lifha Indian etappad