The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-25
LIFE AMONG THE INDIANS.
The Story of a South Carolinian Who
Becama a ChnctaW

IL o@fc1Audus passed through the CITY yes
terday en- route to his old home across the
Savannah river. He left here thirteen
years ago and went to Texas on cattle
raDch. From there he drifted north into
Indian Territory. where he married an In
dlan girl and became citizen Of the Choc-
| law nation. He has amassed snug for
tune and for the first time since he went west
has he been able to get back TO this part of
Jhe country to visit his parents and friends.
MIR. johnson Is known, since his marriage
TO the Indian heiress, in the Choctaw nation,
as a "Galvanized Indian" He is now a cit
izen Of the nation and is subject to Indian
laws: He brings all his grievances before
the Indian council, where justice is dealt
out He cannot appeal to the United States
Tor aid except when he becomes involved
with citizen Of the United States. His
story OF the red men, their customs, habits
and modes Of living is very interesting.
There are five great nations that govern
the territory-the Choctaws, Chickasaws,
Greeks, Seminoles and Cherokees. They
comprise the wealth of the territory
Although Choctaw and Chickasaw were
brothers, for whom the two nations are
named, the nations have distinct dialects,
and their habits and manners are unlike
no two of the nations speak the
same dialect, nor have the same customs.
They are the sole controllers of the nations,
and white man is not permitted to remain
in any locality longer than thirty DAYS
without being employed. In consequence
OF the lazy disposition of the natives, they
Will not till the soil, and white labor is inn
ported, and the lands are hired to them
The Indian lives off the income. To lease
| land is a crime punishable with not less
| than 80 lashes nor more than 100, and a file
of $500. By the treaty of 1866 person can
| only become a citizen of any of the
nations bU blood MARRIAGE odO,D
| ton. Until he becomes a citizen he
| cannot live in any of tho nations
In any capacity except as a hireling. In
the nations are mixed breeds, and this class
predominates in the Greek nation. They
are highly cultured and complete their
educations at the best colleges in the coun-
try. Schools are established, asylums.
| orphanages and other institutions are
founded, and the race of red men is rapidly
becoming highly civilized and intelligent.
The 'rubbies" are the full bloods. With
the instincts of their forefathers they are
loth to give up the old traditions or depart
from the old customs, and they may be
seen strolling, through the prairies hunting
| almost any time. Too INDECENT to dig
| wells, the "Tubbies" construct small huts
with floors over big spring. and they live
| there until the spring dries up or the people
die out Around nearly every watering
place in the territory where the Indians
have nations, may be seen the "Tubbies"
| living in their little huts. They have given
up the bow and arrow, and they use now
Winchester rifles. This class of Indians
hunts and fishes for livelihood. Game of
| nearly all kinds - bear, deer, turkey
abounds in large quantities.
In the Choctaw nation the principal
streams where game is plentiful are the
| Ky'mish river, Blue river, Wichita river,
Canadian river, Wild Horse Creek, and
Bogg river. The natives are peculiar about
their food. They do not care for variety
| On hunting expedition if half dozen car
cases are killed the "Tubbies" prepare them
and barbecue them on single day, and
make meal of them. They do not save
anything for the next day. When they
have meats, they want no bread or homi-
ny. When they have bread or hominy,
or "bonnahah," they want no meats. Bon
nahah" is a very fine dish with the club
bies." 1t is green corn, boiled until the
husk is off, then pounded into meal, then
tied up in a corn shuck and boiled
They take lunch of this
kind with them when they go to attend the
sick, and dance the "Pechafy" at the bedside
of sick "Tubby" until he either dies or re-
covers. They believe, many of them, in
witches, and there are plenty of fortune
tellers among them.
Once year the Tubbies dance the "green
/
| tivities. The women wear fancy costumes.
with short dresses, and the men wear plumes
| in their hair and paint their cheeks. The
women tie terrapin shells filed with dry
peas around their knees to make them rattle
while they are dancing. Therel are
some musicians among them, but they can
| dance without music.
"Their complexion is about the same as
| this fourteen pounds of sugar to the dollar.
that is, pretty brown" said Mr.. johnson.
The TubbieS cannot speak English at all.
! Their language is a very roundabout one
| A person can say good deal more in Eng
! lsh than he can in Indian. For instance
| in the "Tubby" language 'sabi occibush
felio" means simply "a mule" The more
| civilized Indians-the half breeds-live in
| better houses and are more thrifty. They
are better educated and are better bust
ness mon. Among this class are
| physicians, lawyers, preachers and school
| teachers
The capital of Choctaw nation is Tusca-
homa. There all the differe lces between
Indians are adjusted. At Muscogee t he
differences between Indians and white men
| are adjusted. The United States commits
sioner resides there, and he is the Judge of
all the disputes and lawsuits between In
| dams and citizens of the United States.
| Every citizen Of the nation is entitled to
| GAO acres of land as a cattle pasture in each
| county, and he is entitled to as much land
in the nation to till as he wishes. He
may go to any part of the nation where the
lands are not titled and put them in cult
walton. He is required to pay no tax:
every citizen Of the nation is relieved of ali
such membranes. Farms are usually not
closer than one-quarter of a mile apart.
| The chief industry is cattle raising, but
| farming is carried on extensively, the chief
product being grain. Some cotton is raised
and sold at Fort Smith. At Fort Smith ali
offenses Of grave character are tried. Nc
whisky is allowed to be taken into the In.
dian reservation, and heavy penalty is
imposed upon him who violates this law.
The penalty for stealing administered by
the Indians is not less than fifteen lashes
nor more than thirty; for the second offense,
not less than fifty nor more than 100, and
the third offense is punishable by death.
For the crime Of bgamy fine of not less
than S. nor more than $40 is imposed. This
is paid in county script, which is bought up
at 25 cents on the 81. For rape 100 lashes
are imposed, aud the crime of murder is
punishable by death.
When a man is condemned to death. the
4 Indian justice pronounces the sentence and
allows the criminal to go scot free, with the
injunction TO appear at an appointed place
and be shot. IAN Indian never goes back
on his word" said Mr.. johnson. HE goes
free and works or hunts, and when the
time comes for him to suffer the penalty of