The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-15
stsllsrsoa gatelltgsueer.
AN ALMOST EXTINCT TRIBE.
The Remnant Of the Alabama Indiana In
Texas.
Ni,c York Times.

Of blood on the unprotected frontiers,
have long since been gathered on Gov
ernment reservations and compelled to
pretermit their depredations, the rem.
napt of Alabama and Cosbatta tribes,
now about 250 souls, still pur-
sue peaceful existence on the banks of
the Trinity River in Polk, San Jacinto,
and Liberty counties.
These Indians are branch of the
Greek Nation, who early in the present
century withdrew from the contest with
the white race as hopeless, and sought o
home on the Trinity River, 10 Texas,
then under Spanish rule. When immi-
grafton again brought Americans around
them they persisted in their peaceful
policy, receiving their former foes with
kindness and hospitality, sharing provis.
ions with them, and doing all in their
power to alleviate the sufferiugs of set
tiers in q new country. In the war with
Mexico they adhered to the cause Of
Texas, remaining quietly in their viii
lagos, ready to take up arms with the
rest CT the population in case the Mexi.
can army should succeed in reaching the
Trinity. During the war Of the rebellion
they pursued the same steadfast policy of
peace, abstaining from all offence, doing
everything to conciliste the whites, ap-
pealing trustfully when oppressed to the
friends they lad made by their own good
conduct, thankful for justice when they
could obtain it, and submitting patiently
to wrong when told there was no redress.
Several years ago the State bought q
tract of land for the Alabamas and set
tied them upon il. They have made
cleariugs in the forests, aud constructed
comfortable log cabins, having good
stocks of horses, hogs aud cattle, and
raising sufficient crops for their support.
Tie crops are cultivated rather for their
own use than for sale. Indian corn is the
principal one, though many of them
plant sweet potatoes, and all Of them veg
etables, and they usually fll their vii
lagos with fruit trees. During the season
Of cultivation they remain closely at
home, working industriously, and hunt
ing only at such leisure times as their
crops allow them. The interval between
tho working and the gathering of the
crops is usually spent in rest and social
and occasional hunting par
ties.
But when everything is gathered and
housed, and the last crevice in their gran
aries closed to exclude light and air, as
guard against the depredations Of that
South Texas corn pest known as the wee
vii, then comes the return to Indian life
and Indian enjoyment. They break up
into hunting parties, after the Arab fash.
ion, taking with them their wives and
children, their horses and tents and
household utensils. They seek the for
ests which settlements have not yet
reached, and work their way to the dense
cane 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 a superior and
race, enjoy the realization of
Indian life as it was before the white man
discovered their country. Devoted to the
Wild and exciting sports of the chase, and
revelliug in. that absolute freedom which
is their ruling passion, they find in these
hunting excursions their time of greatest
When weary of the chase or
satisfied with its result they return to
their villages, their horses loaded with
dried meat and deer skins, to be 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-
lined to result in their determination.
But it is generally kept within reasonable
bounds, and they do not drink habitu.
lilly. A constitutional depression of
spirits to which they are peculiarly sub
ect, or an overflow Of social feeling on
he reunion of friends returning from
heir hunting expeditions, usually leads
g a beginning. One after another is
lrawn in, and the revel sometimes ex.
ends. over three days and nights. When
t is OYER they carefully efface all traces
If debauchery, dress themselves hand.
omely, return to thei7 usual occupations,
md for long time drink nothing intox.
eating. They listen with patience and
,ood huwor to remonstrances on the
ubject, and a friend can often dissuade
hem from drinking, or induce them to
lose revel sooner than they otherwise
you'd have done.
They are fond of dress and show con-
iderable taste in the selection and adap.
ation of the colcrs which best become
hem. They are fond of ornaments, es.
,ecially those made of pure silver, but
will wear jewelry of the baser metals.
They have Wild, irregular code of duel
ing of their own, and are always ready
o throw life away on a point of honor.
They do it with a coolness and indi6er
,nce which would excite the envy of
White follower of the Code. In fact, they
10 not seem to feel that instructive dread
,f death which characterizes the white
nan. They speak of it with as mucn in
Inference as any other future event and
meet it apparently without fear or re
uctance.
These Indians all spesk English, and
q addition converse in three different
all evidently dialects of the
Creek, and most of them understand the
ergile Choctaw, which was once the gem
+, H. l;H,.ook t,;b,,