The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-07
The Remnant Of the Oncs Powerful
Tribe of Alabama Indians
in Texas.
They Were Always Found to Be
tho Friends OF the White
Man.
Settlements ON tho Banks OF tho Trinity
R~lvcr-Their Wild, Irregular Code
OF DuoltnE.

FAINT republic the stsnch friends of the
white race. While the Comanches, kio-
Was, Lipans aud other wild Tribes. who in
years past left u trail of blood on the IN
protected frontiers. have long since been
gathered on government reservations and
compelled to pretermit their depredations,
the emnan Of Alabama and Coahntta
tribes. numbering now about $50 souls.
still pursue a peaceful existence on the
banks of the Trinity river, in Polk. San
Jacinto and Liberty counties.
These Indians are a branch of the Creek
nation, who early in the present century
withdrew from the contest with the white
race as hopeless, and sought q homo on the
Trinity river. in Texas. then under Spanish
rule. When immigration again brought
Americans around them they PERSISTED in
their peaceful policy, receiving aeir former
foes with kindness and hospitality. sharing
their provisions with them, and doing all
in their power to alleviate the suferings of
settlers in a new country. In the war with
Mexico they adhered to the cause OF Texas,
remaining quietly in their villages, ready
to take up arms with the rest of the popu-
lation in case the Mexican army should
succeed in reaching the Trinity. During
the war of the rebellion they pursued the
same steadfast policy of peace, abstaining
from all %offense. doing everything to con-
ciliate the whites, appealing trustfully
when oppressed to the friends they had
made by their own good conduct, thankful
for Justice when they could obtain 1t. and
submitting patiently to wrong when told
there was no redress.
Several years ago the state bought a tract
q I--l e>- H. - n-2 - hAr
upon it. They have made clearings in the
forests, and constructed comfortable log
cabins, having good stocks OF horses, hogs
and cattle, and raising sufficient crops for
their support. The crops are cultivated
rather for their own use than for sale.
Indian corn is the principal one though
many of them plant swest potatoes, and all
of the vegetables, and they usually fill
their villages with fruit trees. During the
season of cultivation they remain closely
at home, working industriously, and hunt
ing only at such leisure times rs their croi 8
allow them; The interval between the
working and the gathering OF the crops is
usually spent in est and social intercourse
and occasional hunting parties.
But when everything is gathered and
housed, and the last cteyice IN their gan
aries closed to exclude light and air, rs n
guard against the dep citations of that
South-Ie1as corn pest known as the weevll.
then comes the return to Indian life and
Indian enjoyment. They break up into
hunting parties, after the Arab fashion, tax
ing with them their wives and children.
their horses and tents and household uteu-
sils. They seek the fo; ests which settle
ments have not yet reached, and work their
way to the dense cane brakes on the rive rs
which the white man has not yet pene-
trared. They soon I'LL their camps with
game, and alone with themselves and ma
ture, and safe from the intrusion OF Il su-
perior and conQuerlng Gace, enjoy the reail-
cation of Indian life as it WAS before the
white man discovered their county. De-
voted to the wild and exciting sports of tho
chase, and reveling in that absolute free
Ion which is their ruling passion, they find
in these hunting excursions their times of
greatest enjoyment. When weary of the
chase or satisfied with its result, they r.
turn to their villages. their horses loaded
with dried meat and deer skins, to 30
dressed for market. and bears' oil and hides
for their own use and for sale.
Like all other Indians. they have that
fatal passion for drink WHICH seems des-
tined to result IN their determination. But
it is generally kept within reasonable
bounds. and they do not drink hnbituaily.
A constitutional depression of spirits to
which they are peculiarlr subject, or an
overflow of social feeling on the reunion OF
friends returning from their hunting expe-
ditiops. usually leads to q beginning. One
after another is d,aw in. and tue revel
sometimes extends over three days and
nights. When it is over they carefully
eface all traces of debauchery. dress them
seiyes handsomely, return to their usual
occupations. and tor a long time drink
nothing intoxicating. They listen with pa
thence and good humor to circumstances
on the subject, and a friend can ottsn dis
shade them from drinking or indnce them
to close a leyel sooner than they otherwise
would have done.
They are fond of dress and show con.
siderable taste in the selection and ndapta-
ton of the colors which best become them.
They are fond of ornaments. especially
those made of pure silver, but will not wea,
ieueiry of the taser metals. They have q
wild, Irregular code of dusling of their own,
and are always ready to throw life away OH
II point of honor. They do il with a cool.
noss and indifference which would excite
the envy of Il white follower of the code.
In fact they do not seem to feel that in
st.nctive dread of death which characterizgs
the white man. They speak of it with &c
much indifference as any other future
event. and meet in app arently without fea,
or reluctance.
these Indians all speak English. and in
addition converse in three different Ian.
guages, all evidently dialects of the Creel,
and Tho most of them understand tbs ger
vile CEoctaw, which was once the genera
Language among the different Jibes anc
$3.50 fA'N A-'iA Nt W ~ YAH AVA nm
tho whites. They are fond of festivals, bal
play, dances and social G~ssembiages o
every KIND, all of which are conducted witt
the best OF good feeling and seem to b.
sou ces OF unalloyed enjoyment.
When their own crops are worked to
point of safety they are alwa,s willing /.
help their white neighbours. at plantation
whore they are well treated, and whei the
IND 1t agreeable TO stay, they work for ios
wages. During tho contemplating ssasol
they really render important AID. Til
Is their fayor!te work. Their small hand
and slender tinRe Il arc we'll adapte
for it, and their 1.-the und agile form.
glide Though the cotton without Lecking o
othetwise inj1rin9 1t. AS they pick b
weight. and are allowed their own time o
work. this leaves them the freedom of &C
ton they prize 30 highly. They pick yer
neatly ana carefully. attend strictly to til
lhstructioLs or their employers, ana in thu
ns III all Their relations with the whites VII
treat them kindly, they are unifot MY &c
slrous to please.
Many OF them have protested Christian
lty and religious services are held anon
them by the l.ev. Thomas Ward White.
minister of the Baptist church, who ha
taken great interest in them. 1t il. hoy
ever. onlya question Of IL few Yeas whe
TINS last remnant of the once powerful Al.
bsInas, VINO gave the name to n state, wi
nave disappeared from the earth, Fac
year their number liz iecoInIng smaller. mn
the time Is not far distant when they viii b
extinct.