The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-16
NORTH CAROLINA cEERcEEEs
4 Mountain Eand ct Indians Who
Still Use Bows and Arr-ows.

in North Carolina. and vet one Of the
least known. even by the people Of the
Old Y orth State, is the reservation Of
what is termed the eastern band Of
the Cherokee Nation The history of
the reseryat alton IS a strange one When
the Indians in North Carolina were re-
moved by the Government to the In
dian Territory by far the greater part
Of the Cherokees left their old home
forever. But strong band retained
land in three Of the western counties
in what was then almost a Wilderness
A great tract of land was set apart as
a reservation by the State. and volum-
inous laws governing these Cherokee
lands were enacted
For three score years or more these
"Cherokee land laws" formed large
part Of the various codes. etc. and only
recently 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 at the
present. 1t now comprises 10000
acres, and some of it is the very best
land in Western North Carolina 1t
is mainly in Swain and jackson coun-
ties, right among the mountains, east
of the Mississippi does not contain a
more picturesquely beautiful region
or one better suited to Indian taste
and requirements, with its cold, clear
streams. full Of fish, its mountains
we'll wooded and abounding in game,
and its comparative remOteness from
the beaten track of white people
The wolf is yet rover in the section
and there is a county bounty for his
scalp not only in the counties named
but in several others. The bear is
more abundant than anywhere else
save IN the swamps near the coast Of
the State. Deer are also abundant,
and the pheasant Or partridge is found,
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 pass
ess within ten miles of their reserva-
ton, Bryson City being the nearest
railway station. The chief Cherokee
town is known in English as yellow
Hill. 1t is rambling place, through
which rushes bold mountain stream,
the OcOna Luftv The Indian houses
arc nearly all alike in design. They
are built of logs, we'll fitted, with a
porch on one side. They are built to
stand the cold. which is there great
sometimes SO high is the altitude
and so encircled by mountains Is the
reservation that there is no hot wealth
er.
The Indians are mainly engaged in
farming. but do not do an extensive
business in that direction. although
they raise plenty Of food. The present
number OF the eastern band is about
!, 500, and it is certain that they are
increasing. The healthfuness of that
region is remarkable. and many of the
Chcrolees reach a great age. The
Oldest inhabitant is Big Witch" who
asserts that his age is 113 years. A
recent visitor who talked with this
venerable Indian on Sunday found
him making mOccasins out of the skin
Of a ground hog.
The Cherokees vote ana are on the
same footing other as citizens of the
State. During the late war their chief
was strong believer in the
Confederate States. and a fine battal-
ion or legion was raised. This was
commanded by Col. Thomas who
wears later died in an insane asylum,
and it did effective service, being
known as the "Thomas LEGION" Ear
nest efforts are being made to educate
these Indians. Those educated are
very intelligent, speak English well,
and are fond of white people and do
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