Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-04-17
AN ALMOST EXTINCT TRIBE
THE REMNANT OF THE ALABAMA
INDIANS IN TEXAS.

| INFANT hepuDIc the stancn lrlenuS oil the
| white race. While the Comanches,
Kiowas, Lipans 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 dcpredations, the remnant of Ala
bama and Coshatta tribes, numbering
now about 250 souls, still pursue peace
full existence on the banks of tho Trinity
River in Polk, San Jacinto and Liberty
Counties.
These Indians are branch OF the
Creek Nation, who early in the present
century withdrew from the contest with
the white race as hopeless, aud sought a
home on the Trinity River, in 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 provi-
sions with them, and doing all in their
power to alleviate the sufferiugs of set
tiers 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 population in case the Mexican Army
should succeed in reach the Trinity.
Several years ago the State bought a
tract of land for the Alaoamas and set
tied them upon 1t. 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.
own use than for sale. Indian corn is
the principal one, though many Of them
plant 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 and
hunting only at such leisure times as
their crops allow them. The interval
between the working and the gathering
of the crops is usually splnt in rest and
social intercourse aud occasional hunting
parties.
But when everything is gathered and
housed, and the last cregic, in their
as a guard agairst the depredations OF
that South-Texan corn pest known as the
weevil, then comes the return to Indian
life and Indian employment. They
break up into hunting parties, after the
Arab fashion, taking with them their
wives and children, their horses and
tents and household utensils. They seek
the forests 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 superior
and conquering race, enjoy the rsalizi-
tion of Indian life as it was before the
white man discovered their country.
Devoted to the wild and exciting sports
Of the chase, and reveling in that alb.
solute freedom which is their ruling
passion, they find iu these hunting ex-
cursions their times of greatest enjoy
ment. 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 aud 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 reason
able bounds, and they do not drink
habitually. A constitutional depression
of spirits to which they are peculiarly |
subject, or an overflow of social feeling
on the reunion of friends returning from
their hunting expeditions, usually leads |
to beginning. Ole after another is
drawn in, and the revel sometimes ex-
tends over three days and nights. When
it is over they carefully efface all traces
Of debauchery, dress themselves hand.
somely, return to their usual occupations,
and for long time drink nothing iu-
toxicating. They listen with patience
and good humor to remonstrances on
The SUBJECT, and friend can often dis
,uade them from drinking, or induce