The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
rHxrnPAsr HISTORY. PEEsBxTcUs
TONS and FUTURE DEsTLST.
Their Constant Struggle to Keep A"vs the
Memory Of Their Brave Chie""ins MI"
FondIy Cherished Legend''


past century or more without suffering
any marked decrease IN popui"'i0n
Their past history, their present GUS
toms and laws, as well as thelr future
destiny. have furnished nteteslihs suo-
jects for the chronological stuoeht, "n"e
their constant struggle TO Keep hiiNe 'iie
memory Of their brave cheitaihS anu
fcndly cherished legends Is wen ""f'ny
the sympathy OF all who ADMIRE pd'riot-
ism and pride OF ancestry -.
III ere is, perhaps. no virginia" plOuu-
or OF his lineage than are the Pamuh-
kew Indians of this state, who comprise
the largest Of thirty branches or the
great Powhatan Tribe which was PROD
ably the most powerful OF three tribes
inhabiting the tidewater region hoth VI
the James when the settlement OF James
town was made. in l6Q. AT thht tinie
the Pamunkey Tribe was esliii'a1eu at
about 1000 in number. They grauuaily
decreased. however, until no" 'he lesi-
dent population OF lnulah ho"'7
which is situated about twenty-ohe nllles
east OF Richmond on the YORK nIsel
division Of the Richmond ana Da il' ii'o
railroad, Is only ninety "indalh NV"
is a sleepy looking hamlet lying on .
queer neck OF land extending Hto sIis
Pamunkey river and adJohlns .
William county on the south. IL ~
built near the original site OF Hanover
Town. which once came within three
votes or being made the capital OF VIZ
glnIa. The territory OF tse tribe COM
prises about eight hundred acres or lahu'
nearly one fourth Of which is arabic.
Few of these indians are genuine
There has been considerable htefiiiihs-
ling with the whites, and even some Ut
tie with negroes. though the Fainuhhey
cherishes a strong antpathy lot the
latter and law Of the tribe prohioi-s
intermarriage with the African 1hey
are remarkably intelligent FOR their Gu
ucauonal advantages. Inc majority
OF the adults are able 70 read ana "Ilte'
6. S. Brady, their present chell' Is man
OF considerable intelligence. lie is talIer
than the average, has pleasing conh-
tenance, is rather dgnitied, yet none
the less modest Industrious and ,eh-
perate, he commands the respect ana
good will Of every Indain on the reser-
walton. A sunny nature and some
what social disposition make MIN pS
no means the least agreeable OF COM
panions.
The Pamunkey's love for the memory
OF his illustrious ancestors Is genuine
and faithful. Opechancanough, VINO De
came chef OF the tribe soon aIter the
settlement of jamestown, is stiil thelr
great heroic spirit. Some OF the most
patriotic Of them gather around the plb
log fires on winter nights, and hoid hish
carnival recounting the courageous ex-
PLOTS Of the old ehieftain so formidable
to the whites in the days or yore.
on the reservation IS a neat chnrch
v hich is by far the pest structure 10 be
"a &c 10 81 IN creed.
regular services are held every Sunday.
With few exceptions every Indian on the
reservation is a member Of this church.
When the Dover Baptist Association was
held last July in Barton Heights, sub
urb OF Richmond, two OF the Pamunkey
Indians were present as delegates. They
were dressed in the regulation citizens
clothes and their manners were not such
as TO attract unusual attention 1heir
faith, too. was strictly orthodox. Yet n
pFARiaGm rs 70 the disposition OF me req
to private houses, as they dld IN cases OF
other delegates, for the nervous little
Baptist women who acted as hostesses
would probably retire at night with a feel
ing Of uneasiness AZ sleeping under the
same roof with a bona fde Indian. After
some conferen e the committee on enter
tainment evaded the difficulty by assign
ing the redskins 90 quarters at the hotel.
Mr. j. Garland Pollard. Of Richmond
In an excellent article on THE Pamunkey
Indians OF Virginia" which he IS prepar-
Ing FOR the Bureau Of Ethnologv Of the
Smithsonian Institute. gives the following
interesting bit OF legend as explanatory
Of the name Of a certain ferry on the
lamunkey river. some ten miles above
the reservation: THE name Of the ferry
Is Plke-in-tree; now spelled. Pikinc
Tree. On one occasion the Pamunkey |
braves met a committee Of white settlers |
at Piking Tree and negotiated n treaty. /
when all the terms had been agreed 10 |
The contamination Of the treaty was sol |
smnized I'm the usual Indian fashion by |
handing around the same pipe I'm turn 10 |
he representatives, Of both nations. each |
taking pun as Indicative |
II friendship and good faith. The pipe |
vas then deposited IN n hollow tree near
)y' and ever afterwards when the colon
SIS disregarded their agreement. the poor |
hdlan would remind them Of pipe-in-
rec"
Manual labor is altogether distasteful
o the Pamunkey Indian. His original |
este Tor hunting and trapping has by
10 means lost its stronghold IN HIS nature |
houSh they cultivate n few small truck |
arms after fashion, their hearts are not |
'N-'iN VI NDfk, ana lley frequently |
mploy negroes 10 look after the truck |
arms while they themselves spend a
irse part Of their time during the sea-
On with the game and fish. on the re- |
erVation they capture numbers OF deer |
iccOon, otter, and other smaller game |
y means Of seines quantities OF fish are |
ken, the sturgeon. bass. club and perch |
eng the most important varieties The
grounding woods and marshes furnish
lppy hunting grounds for the Indian. |
no Is never 90 content as Immediately | :
Iter a successful day with the cora.
icks, wild geese or turkeys. all Of which |
e more or less abundant I'm that section | !
trge numbers of sora are killed i'm a very | I
isportsmaniike way. But the Pamunkev | :
.oes for meat rather than for an ex- | (
bItlon OF his skill with the gun. which
the way. * In no wise deficient. They | ,
'e what they call a "s1ra-horse." macb | i
the disgust OF the sportsmen who HE | Z
enseives to the vicinity Of the reserva- =
N curing sora season. This is a basket | Il
rahsement attached 10 a stick which Is | a
i'eu point down In the marsh. In the | Il
shet nre Is kinded. producing light | d
'lch attracts the birds in great numbers | y
ley are then Knocked down by means OF q
se paddles made for this purpose .
IN the reservation Ia a general MGR q
anuiSe store which is conducted bv | q
Ioiht stock company composed OF MEM =
- OF the tribe. i was unable 10 sscer- 4
IN me amount OF capital invested I'm | "a
10 enterprise. Judging from appear- | q
ces' however, there were few tnodar, | q