Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-23
3 Mysterious Tribe Who Dwell In the
Tennessee Mountains In An
Almost Primeval Way.
Degraded Beings Whose Homes Are
in Country of Natural Wealth
and Beauty.
The MalungeOns Are Influenced But
Little By Outside Civiliza-
ton.

During a recent tour among the NAHUM
geons, the mysterious mountain tribe
whose origin has baffied research, cor
respondent of the New York World
stayed at the cabin of one Gowens. The
polite prefix Mr. or Mrs. is unknown in
that region. A majority of the NAHUM
geons live within five miles of Smedvllle,
the county seat of Hancock county, and
their habitations are windowless log huts.
The march Of progress since the war has
reached the Maungeons in the ability to
raise tobacco. Otherwise they are as
nearly savage as they were a quarter of a
century ago. Their orchards are the Won
der of the country round, and always have
been. But the fruit, as fruit, goes no fur
| ther than the still house.
The Gowens' family live on Blackwater;
the people of the Ridge own neither cat
! tie, dogs, pigs nor cats-nothing indeed
that requires food and drink
One old squaw was the mother of seven
teen living children. The number ten is
very popular in children, but the rule is
not imperative, some mothers having as
many as twenty-five.
The Blackwater country abounds in
excellent mineral springs, and of late
years the people from the valley go there
to drink the water. There is only one
clearinghouse, low one and and half
story building, with one room front and
one back, and loft reached by ladder
There is no window in the house, and
lamps or candles have never been lighted
in the place. The family sit in darkness
after shutdown and go to bed in darkness,
and rise IN darkness. The proprietor is the
father of twelve children, none of whom
can read or write. The father. however,
is very progressive. and continually on the
watch for the railroad that is coming ter
the Ridge"
The Malungeons are very like the
negroes in the matter of worship. They
believe very strongly in the efficacy of
water in religion, 1t being their custom to
immense converts by three dips, face for
ward. They shout, sing and in short are
extremists in noise and enthusiasm on
meet n day." On other days they steal,
lie, drink and are as idle and filthy as
humanity can be.
The Malungeons do not use the you
uns" and 1--WE uns' of the Tennessee
mOuntaineer.
On the ridge, the real stronghold of this
peculiar people, life is great deal harder
than in the swamp or on Black water creek.
They live more like Indians than the
jewellers of the valley and are entirely con-
tent with their life. visited several huts,
spending a month among them, living on
corn bread, honey and black, sugarless COT
fee.
They were as utter strangers the day |
left as on the day arrived among them.
Galloway Collins is an Indian if ever
one set foot on Tennessee soil. He is very
fond of his red skin, high cheek-bones and
lndin-like appearance.
His cabin has two rooms, connected by
kind of shed. There are dirt floors in
one room and the shed, but the other room
has floor of logs with the bark still on
them, and laid side by size. just dis they
came from the forest A bed of dry last
years leaves was the only furnishing the
room could boast.
The cooking and eating were done in the
connecting shed, ard large coffee-pot al
ways occupied a low shelf just above the
table. for Galloway, like most of the NAL
ungeons, is a slave OF coffee. and drinks it
instead Of water throughout the day and
night.
Galloway himself is king, royal good
fellow, who, seated upon great stump
that marks the fate of giant beech that
grew precisely in the center of the site
selected by the Indian for his shed, or hall
way. would entertain me by the hour with
his songs and banjo picking, and stories of
his grandfather.
The mans very instincts are Indian. He
sleeps In leaves, indoors or out, as he feels
inclined. He smokes almost unceasinglv;
so often, in fact, that his wife, Ann Gallo
way, finds it necessary to cultivate a
"terbacy spot for her ''old man to smoke
up
They have fourteen children and grand
children, but Galloway is especially fond
of Dorcas, who, he declares, ''shows the
Injun in her.
And truly she does. with her dark sui
len face, black hair and small eyes. Dor
Cas-, however, is true type of the NAHUM
geon BELLE
The district school was most interest
ing place. The teacher, a full-blooded
Nalungeon, was curiosity. His learn
ing was limited to meager knowledge of
Webster's old blue-back spelling book.
the only volume used in the district. He
was very nervous at my call, and was,
moreover, determined not to begin lessons
until we left. We were equally determin-
ed not to leave until he did begin. He
sat upon the extreme end of long bench |
and issued his orders In a voice calculated
to wake the dead.
The Malungeons are very loyal to their
dead, denying themselves food and cloth
ing If necessary in order to provide fine
tombs. They mourn departed friends and
kInsmen for years