The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-03-31
] AN ALM0ST RYTINl.r ".I : ..l g 3. .
THH HE16MAMT or rHH ALABAMA
INDIANS III TEXAS.
Always the stanch Frionds of the
whites-Tbcir Wild, Irregular
COdc of Duoltng.

/ are aware OF tno tsce tnae tnefe
still exists within ~. .c-,-.- 80. =. .
j svpu.u. % once powerful tribe OF In-
dians, even In tho darkest days Of the
infant Republic the stsnch friends OF the
white race. While tho Comanches,
Kiowa rs, Lipaps and other wild tribes,
who in years past left trail Of blood on
the unprotected frontiers, have long
since been gathered on Government res.
ervations and compelled to pretermit
their deprcdations, tho remnant OF Ala
bama and Cosbhtta tribes, numbering
now about 250 souls, still pursue peace
ful existence on the banks OF tho Trinity
River in Polk, San Jscinto aud Liberty
| Counties.
These Indians are branch OF the
Creek Nation, who carly In tho present
century withdrew from the contest with
the white race as hopeless, aud sought a
home on tho Trinity River. IN Texas,
then under Spanish rue. When immi-
grafton again brought Americans around
them they persisted in their peaceful
policy, receiving their former foes with
kindness aud hospitality, sharing provi-
sions with them, aud doing all in their
power to alleviate tho sufferings Of set
tiers in n now country. In tho war with
Mex CO .hey adhered to the cause OF
Texas, remaining quietly in their villages,
ready to take up arms with the rest OF
the population in case the Mexican Army
should succeed in reach the Trinity.
Several years ago the State bought
truct Of land for the Alaoamas and set.
tied them upon 1t. They have made
| ,.tpnyinuc in h.. (.rcsfc nnI efr,, al
comfortable log cabins, having good
stocks Of horses, hogs and cattle, aud
raising sufficient crops for their support.
| The crops arc cultivated rather for their
own use than for salc. Indian corn is
tho principal one, though many OF them
plart sweet potatoes, and all OF them
vegetables, aud they usually fill their
Villages with fruit trees. During the
| season of cultivation they remain closely
at home, working industriously aud
hunting only Mt such leisure times rs
| their crops allow them. The interval
between the working and the gathering
OF the crops is usually spent in rest and
| =, cinl intercourse aud occasional hunting
parties.
But when everything is gathered and
granarics closed To exclude light and air,
nsa guard aga'rst the dcprcdations OF
that South-Tt kan corn pest known ~ tho
wccvil, then comes the return to Indian
life and Indian employment. They
break up into hunting parties, after tho
| Arab fashion, taking with them their
wives nnl children, their horses and
tents and household utensils. They seek
| the forests which settlements have not
| yet reached, and work their way to tho
dense cauc brakes on the rivers which
the white man has not yet penetrated.
They soon fill their camps with game,
and alone with themselves and nature,
and safe from the intrusion Of II superior
| and conqncring race, enjoy tho rsaliz,-
| tion Of Indian lifo as it was before the
white man discovered their country.
Devoted TO the wild and exciting sports
Of the chase, and rcvcling in that ab.
Solutc freedom which is their ruling
passion, they find in these hunting cx-
cursions their times of greatest enjoy
mcnt. When weary OF the chase or
satisfied with its result, they return to
their villages, their horses loa lei with
dried meat aud deer skins, to be dressed
for market, and bears oil aud hides for
their own use aul for sale.
Like all otncr Indians, they have that
fatal passion for drink which seem, dcs-
tined to result in their determination.
But it is generally kept within reason
able bounds, and they do not drink
habtually. a constitutional depression
of spirits to which they are peculiarly
sub jcct, or an overflow Of social feeling
OH the reunion OF friends returning from
their hunting expeditions, usually leads
| to beginning. One after another is
| drawn in, and tho rcvcl sometimes ex.
tends over three days aud nights. When
1t is over they carefully clIacc all traces
OF dcbauchcry, dress themselves hand.
somcly, return to their usual occupations,
and for long time drink nothing in
toXicatlng. They listen with patience
and good humJr to rcmons,ranccs on
the SUBJECT, and a friend can often dis.
them to close rcvel sooner than they
otherwise would have done.
They arc fond OF dress aud show con.
siderable taste in the selection and aiap-
,ation Of the cJlors which best become
them. They are fond OF ornaments,
especially those made of pure silver, but
viii not wear jcwclry of the baser metals.
They have wild, irregular code Of duel
ing Of their ,Nn, and are always ready
to throw life away on n point Of honor.
| They do it with GOODNESS and indiffcr-
| enCc which would excite the envy OF
white follower Of the code. In fact they
| do not seem to feel that instructive dread
Of death which character zcs the white
nan. They speak of it with as much
indifference rs any other future event,
and meet it apparently without fear or
reluctance.
The Indians all speak English, and in
addition converse in three different
languages, all evidently dialects Of the
Creek, and most OF them understand the
| scrvIc Choctaw, which was once the
general language among the different
tribes and their usual means of com.
munication with the whites. Thcy are
fond of festivals, ball play, dances and
Il