The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-01
Notes from the Indian Territory
DARLINGTON, INDIAN TERRITORY,
November -, 1885.
LCAezeana and Arauahae Trihe u Indians.l


EDITOR MISUNDERSTANDING, with
the permission of you and the readers
of The CLARION, my description of tn,
habits and customs Of the Indian, vii
give you an account Of their modes oi
living, diet, etc. Until very recently
they would not live in house, but pre-
ferred the "tepee," (tent), but as the
weather grows colder they are importu
ming the Agent to build houses, which
the government have profered to dc
for them at any time they would con
sent to occupy them.
Now, that their favorite lneat, the
buffalo, is a thing of the past, they care
for no other kind Of meat except wo
haw, (Which is the Indian FOR beef,
but for a delicate p dish, they raise
dogs and are very fond of that, as vel
as the skunk-commonly called pole
cat
Last Sabbath, at the invitation Of the
government physician-for the govern
ment provides a regular physician for
each tribe-Dr. J. ". Gray, Of Indiana
i accompanied him on his regular visits
to the sick. In one "tepee," where We
found an Arapahoe ex-chief-for they
retire their chiefs when they reach
about 60-dying of consumption, dis
ease quite common among this tribe.
He was surrounded by the
INDIAN "MEDICINE NAN"
who administers to their physical as
well as spiritual necessities. He had
three assistants, one Of whom was beat
ing a drum over the dying Indian, to
lull-as they claim-him to sleep; an
other was smoking the typical pipe of
peace; hourishing it in the air-above
his head, in order that the "Sun Spirit"
might smoke this pipe with him, which
meant peace to the dying soul. The
third displayed the medicines-snake-
root and other herbs-where the Spirit
could help himself, and administer TO
the sick, and the chief medicine man"
had spread before him several large pans
of chuckaway provisions, }, well cooked,
which was intended that should this
"Sun Spirit" be at peace with the dying,
he would partake of the refreshments.
As each in his turn would invite the
Spirit to join them, all would, while
praying for it, close their eyes, so as not
to see him, when he approached. In
witnessing this prayer scene, we were
impressed with the solemnity and ap-
parent earnesness Of the Indians.
/ must not forget to tell you that the
chief medicine man" takes it upon
himself to eat all the "chuckaway," F."
giving none to his aids, and should the
sick recover, he expects one or more Of
his best ponies-as his fee. If he ate
all in the three large pans we saw before
him, his capacity exceeds that Of friend
of ours-Joe, Deupree,-who made a
gallant soldier in the Virginia army,
but who was known as the champion
eater Of Lees army. 1t was claimed
that when Joe could get them, he would
devour at meal three dozen biscuit,
and still complain the army was but
poorly fed.
AS regards opening up that portion
of the Indian Territory known as
OKLAHOMA"
which contains nine millions Of acres of
well-watered, moderate supply of tim
timber, and fertile soil as any in these
United States, and to-day, if is inhabit-
ed by living soul-nOt even an Indian
it is because the soldiers of Uncle
Sans government are not able to fnG
their whereabouts, as quite an army is
employed to keep out the veritable
boomer"
Yet Congress grants railroad corpora
tiOns charters TO traverse the country
from one end to the other. So soon as
these roads are constructed and put in
running order, it will require, | opine,
an additional army to keep out settlers
bona tide settlers-not "boomers.'
A "BooMER,"
you know, is one who wishes to locate
where he has no legal right, and as soon
as he finds he will not be dispossessed,
he at once strikes camp, and seeks some
hostile land
So, Southern Representatives in Con
gress, look into this matter-and pre-
pare productive homes for your constit-
uency who expend their income in en-
riching impoverished lands in the South.
My sympathies ever go forth to the
fair
LADIES OF THE SOUTH,
who, under the changed condition of
of affairs, have to support themselves,
or be burden on those who are unable
to support them-and more especially
to those who have not only the hard
ships, but dangers, of life among the
''red man" and take a position, under
the government, in the schools on the
Indian reservations. We have with us
here, one of AIississippi's fair daughters,
l.
recently appointed teacher in the Ara
pahoe schools.
Leaving so cordial and warm-hearted
people as the city of Aberdeen is noted
for, one can the more appreciate the
determination and viii of this Southern
born woman to fight life's battles for
herself. MONA.