Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-09

of matched boards, the cleanliness OF
which is not hidden by the skins OF wild
beasts or Turkish rugs. The walls are de:
void of plaster, except the visitor choose
to call plaster the mud which fills the
creviccs between the logs. 1t is matter
of wonder, perhaps, that no scalp-locks
decorate the walls of the dwelling, but
such is the case. Neither are there to be
seen any hard faced shields of raw buff
falo hide, hunting and scalping knives
sheathed in beaded bucSskin, bows and
poisoned arrows, war clubs, firearms or
other implements or trinkets which might
carry recollections back to the days when
such things were common among his kind.
In fact there is nothing in or around the
ouiiding-exceptt the coppery faces of its
inmates-which tend to show the print
tivencss of their former occupations and
pursuits. Like the buffalo they once de-
lighted to chase-all gone. A rake and
hoe leaning against the wall where
"Bull" often quietly sits to smoke his
pipe are evidences of the pursuits which
now occupy his attention. A careful look
at the old chief does not disclose to view
profusion of fringed buckskin, and no
eagle feathers adorn his head, as of yore.
A pair of jeans incases his lower liml'a
and his heart throbs under the clinging
embrace of Il hickory shirt. The moe
casins which protect his feet, and the
narrow strips Of otter skin which are en-
twined with the two plaits of straight
black hair falling down in front Of either
shoulder, are the only remnant Of the
costume which was once his pride. His
rations, amount in money value to less
than $50 per year for each individual.
But the fact must not be lost sight of
that means arc provided all the Indians to
raise articles of subsistence for their own
consumption or for sale, and that they are
clothed by the department. Beside all
this, "Bull" receives $40 monthly salary
for nine months of each year in payment
of his services as an Indian dis
trict farmer, twenty-five Indians being
employed i'll that capacity at this place.
''Bull" is the latest addition to this class
of toilers, he having been appointed last
month. lie has been extremely anxious
for several years past to secure such an
appointment but he was doomed to wait
long while-until he developed a fitness
for the position. Since taking charge of
his distict it is reported that on one or
two occasions he became enthusiastic over
his agricultural labors, but the story
comes without the authority of notarial
seal, and it Is given in the same way.
"Bull' cannot be termed n progressive
Indian, like many who are at this agency.
OF husbandry he has little thought, and
his innate passion for admiration and
homage, which have been administered
to him in extremely large doses by many
fool worshipping whites, has caused a
still further development of his vanity
and cgotism, until he now believes him
self to be the head leader of the entire
Sioux nation. His more modest nature
if he ever had any-is completely
spoiled. Hc is very reticent, aud no lit
tic difficulty is experienced in drawing
him out, which can be done only by one
who can speak his language. He pro-
tests not to understand or speak English,
Notwithstanding he has been known on
several occasions to inform his white
brothers in q voice and manner that
would reflect credit ON Chicago street
mendicant that he was entirely out of to-
bacco.