Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1889-01-26

Ios Social. Moral aud Intellectual
Progress Exceedingly Slow
Life in the Tepee-practiCes
to Which He Clings.

10 nftn
Our Indian population. writes Moses
br-s about go. GOO, and all west of the
Mississippi except -. COO. None are
hostile except few in the Southwest
along the Mexican frontier The total
number belonging 10 agencies under
superv ision Of religious bodies is Of
iiciallv reported IN round figures at $780,
"oe. There are not less than $40 schools
on the var ous reservations The Indian
child. a. rue is an apt scholar.
Since the disappearance of large game
and the 4 generacy Of the Indian into a
supp..ant for governm ent aid, he is o
as III .cl1 Of "A III n as he was. When sur
rounded by large white population, IS
in the East, something may be expected
Of him but the average reservation In
dian NOW has little to do except to gam
government rations The Indian woman
/ does all IF the work, pitches the tepce
! Gather, wood cooks. cares for the horses.
] etc. Size is considered property as much
+ II, a horse. and the husband can sell his
wife as the fatherEaeis his daughter. 1t
is considered ciTcminate in an Indian to
show affection for his wife.
The home lodge or tepee Of the plain
Indian is couical in shape and made of
hide, or canvas stretched on framework k
/ Of poles II depends on the size Of the
+ tafniy for its size, but is seldom more
ila9 % feet in 4 ameter and II feet high
t The fire is built in the center, and the
! smoke escapes from a hoe in the top,
which, l,in- Guarded hy a winged cap,
] usually petruts the wind from blowing
IL. The draught, however. Is not per
feet hy any means, and the tepce IN cold
Wta her is too tull OF smoke for anv one
/ not Us ed to it. 1t is not easily overturned
bv storm aud little fuel Keeps it warm.
/ The beds are made of robes and ban kets
spread on tn. round c,o>c to the outer
J part, and serve during the day for seats.
j They are never "madc up. as the white
house wife understands the term. The
/ Indian is not selfish. and so fond OF
company that most tcpees contain more
tlian one family All live, sleep, cook
and cat in the Little space, and when
pots, kettles aud supplies are brought
INSIDE during the cold weather, the in-
side Of the tcpce becomes frlghtfniiy
unc.ean. The wives of an lnd an able
/ 70 have several all sleep in the same bed.
Like a white gambler with his am
onds, the Indian can make his wives q
source Of revenue hy selling them when
misfortune comes upon him. Living as
they do there is a total alb b-ence OF privacy
in tie domestic life of an Indian. The
mother has carly charge Of her little
ones. and soon teaches them not to cry
hy holding her hand over their mouths
\ and pinching their noses until they are
almost sltTocatej, and they soon learn
that silence IS the best nollcE. II,
habit was adopted TO prevent outcrie'
IN times Of peril The Indians Ii, e much
in tie open air, and children brought to
the cencv schools are usually SO far
sighted that they cannot see letters OF
small pictures on the printed page.
Adults are usual J impatient IN illness,
AMI seldom ,nrvivc protracted or severe
spells of sickness Thy eat most every
thing. meat heretofore being their malr
subsistence, but where the Government
= twin, 70 make farmers OF them they
take readily to vegetables.
in the terec l,fe they have no regular
hor. for meals, bu, eat when hungry
usually boiling their dried meat. Birds,
r,pt T.. and small game thev eat entraiis
a.d AT. and generally raw and VIII le
llooi warm All Of them wear more Q
le-, of the clothing % white rnen
rant. giving them more trouble 10 ge
used to than aGy other 2arment. Al
Indians idea Of full dress is TO heal
everything he has on himself and the:
Ii j not in full to-verg unless his fac
! beeInea,ei with pant, sonnet me
.u;e art -,lcaily -treaked, or norkct
.r,o f-are,,
No-, oi the agents prefer Indian polio
- pre-,ryc orioSf. aad when 81 etnploye'
.fer ar dressed in army uniforms