The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-10-19
cHEKoKEEs OF NORTH CAROLINA

CHEROKEEs OF NORTH CAROLINA.
About 900 Redskins " no stili U.s..
BsOwRuns and Bow aad Arrow
One of the most interesting places
in North Can Dina and yet one OF ne
least known, even by the people of
the old North Stat tie, is the reserva-
ton of what is t-rnled the eastern
band" of the Cherokee nation. The
history of the reservation is d strange
one. When the Indians in North
Carolina were removed by the gov
eminent to the Indian Territory by
far the greater part OF the Chrrokets
left their old homes tore err But a.
strong band retained lands in three
of the western counties, in what was
then almost, wilderness. A great
tract of land Was Set apart as a
reservation by the State, and volum-
nous laws governing these Cherokee
lands were enacted. For three score
years or more these Cherokee land
laws formed a large part of the
various codes, etc., and only recent
ly have been dropped from the pages
of such publications. They form
curious reading, in their effort to mix
American law with Indian ideas,
customs and rules as to land tenure.
, Originally the tract of land held by
the Cherokees was far larger than OF
present. 1t now comprises $4,000
| acres. and some of it is the very best
| land in western North Carolina 1t
is mainly in Swain and jackson
counties, right among the noun
tains. and the entire country east of
the Mississippi does not contain a
more picturesquely beautiful region
or one better suited to Indian tastes
and requirements, with it's cold, clear
| streams, full of fish, it's mountains,
we'll wooded and Astounding in game,
and it's comparative remoteness from
| the beaten track of white people.
| The wolf is yet rover in this sec
ton and there is a county bounty for
his scalp, not only in the counties
above named, but in several others
The bear is more abundant than
anywhere else save in the great
swamps near the coast of the State
Deer are also abundant and the
though long since gone from other
| parts of the State.
The eastern band of Cherokees are
an interesting race of people. The
Western North Carolina Railway
passes within ten miles of their reser
walton. Bryson City being the near
est railway station The chief Cher
okee town is known in English "a.
Yellow Hill. 1t is a rambling place
through which rushes bold noun
tain stream, the Ocona Lufty. Thu
Indian houses are nearly all alike il
design. They are built of logs, wei
fitted, with a porch on one side
They are built to stand the cold
which is great there sometimes. 81
high is the altitude and so encirclet
by mountains is the reservation tina
there is no hot weather. The Indians
are mainly engaged in farming, bu
do not do IN extensive business il
this direction, though they rails
plenty of food. The present numbe
of the eastern band is about sixteel
hundred, and it is certain that the,
are increasing. The healthfulness 0
that region is remarkable and man,
of the Cherokees reach a great age
The oldest inha bitant is Big Witch,
who asserts that his ageis 115 years
A recent visitor who talked with thi
venerable Indian on a Sunday foun'
him making. moccasins out of tn
skin of a grounding.
The Cherokees vote and are on tn
same footing as other citizens of tn
State. During the late war thei
chief was a great believer in the Cor
Tolerate States and fine batalio
or legion was raised. his was CON
manded by Colonel Thomas VIII
years later died in an insane asylum
/ and it did effective service, bein
; known as the Thomas Legion.
Earnest efforts are Icing made t
educate these Indians. Those edit
Gated are very intelligent, spea
English well, and are fond OF Whit
people and do them favors. Man
of the Cherokees, however, do nc
, speak English at all, and are as viii
in appearance as any Indians in til
far West. There is some interma
riage with the whites. Hunting il
as of old, the favorite pursuit. TIL
smaller kinds ofgame are not ignored
The rife is the usual weapon, bu
the bow and arrow and the blowgu
/ are used. Some are very expert wit
these primitive weapons The blow
guns are nine or ten feet long an
are made OF a kind of reed, with
bore or diameter OF about half a
inch.