Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-12

'@' WSSSs A]
RESERVATION INDIAN.
In course Of the Pontiac war, and men
and horses were forced over the edge OF
the terrible gorge into the depths be-
low. Under the falls It was that the
Iroquois imagination located the home
OF the mighty Spirit OF Thunder In the
cavern beneath the roaring waters he
d welt. and when he issued forth the In
dams trembled to hear him shouting in
the sky.
From Lewistown, below the falls on
the Niagara river, drive OF three miles
leads to the reservation, tract inhab-
tied by about 45O Indians Of the Tusca-
rora tribe. The cultivation OF the land
ia careful and systematic. There are fine
looking farms and well built houses,
and prosperity and comfort abound.
When youth reaches the age OF 81
or when be marTies land there Is no law
fixing legal marrlageable age,) he has
attained his majority. He then applies
NO the council and is given from two to
Ox acres of land. not cleared, but gen.
Sally where Indians have been chop
- 70 obtain wood for fences or other
=. all the woodland being held
common until assigned to In
He clears and cultivates
may afterward apply
then exercising its
or not to allow
\gever, is thus
iu \per obtains
givV and then
as md nlrchase
gradu& tie as
from otReI -
many as IS a
No land car
on the reservatN
cupy Is considerev
provements belony
making them, this e.
lag OF security and on
tive to endeavor. WhfN
adjoining the reservation
$50 to SIS per acre. the IN
dian can obtain for the pei
OF his but from IS to Sl5 an d
Education has made rapidv
among the Tuscarora. The COVER
Il vested In q council OF lG chiefs,
ing for life or during good bebavlor'
most peculiar thing is that, according 70
an ancient custom, 1t is by the matrons
OF the tribe that the chiefs are elected
whenever vacancies occur, Before the
chief can take his seat, however, the
election must be ratified by the council.
The deposing OF q chief, too, Is
strange reminder OF ancient days and
carries the fancy back 10 the time when
wlpwams dotted the forest and deer and
hear ranged wild. The council assem-
bles. a warrior steps slowly forward,
and presenting string OF black wan
pun 10 the pr"siding chief states In SOL
emn tones Il the accused chief IS
thereby "cut own" Then, II there Is
DO opposing voice, the chief is consld-
cred dsposed, but If. as is more often
the case, there is a defender he steps
out. and with string OF white wampum
declares that the chief is mot cut
down" Then the accuser must reiter-
ate his charge, and thereupon q formal
trial proceeds.
However picturesque such govern
ment and such forms once were they
are strangely out OF place at present.
There is, too, something incongruons In
meeting a chief dressed In trousers, coat
and vest like a white man, well edu-
Gated, a reader Of books and newspapers,
and living In a 2-story house, with
stoves and pictures, chairs and tables,
and seeing him open bureau drawer,
and take out box containing wampum
strings, and hearing him explain the
Significance of the old time ceremony.
Wampum IS still used in the ordain-
ing of chiefs, and when chief dies
wampum strings are laid upon his cof-
fin, and Just before the moment OF burial
formally lifted of, thus indicating that
the chief has actully died and is buried.
Then q runner" takes the symbolic
strings and (on arailroad trainD runs"
to the Opoudagas, the recognized head
tribe of the Iroquois league, with the
dismal tidings.
The observance OF law and order on
the reservation Is actually better than
among most communities Of white peC-
ple. Their diseases as both their friends
and enemies agree. are mainly acquired
through association with depraved
whites. Pagan ideas are quite generally
eradicated, although there lie still pre-
yalent belief In witchcraft. Numb ers
think that witches actually exist and
may appear as owls or bears or flashing
lights. One shriveled old Indian woman
with whom I became acquainted fun
bled over her collection OF simples and
dried herbs until she found some pep
per root'-the best Of all her treasures
some Of which the good old soul gave
me. with the earnest declaration that II
! should chew little from time TO time
the witches could never come near me.
Being so near businessa civilization
the Indians Of course make many things
for sale 70 the whites, bnt while those
who purchase bead work and similar
articles know exactly what they are get
ting those who look for sncientapd typ
zeal relics need 10 be on their guard.
Wooden war clubs, for example. are
easily manufactured, while the much
| priced stone pipes are not beyond the
skill OF the Indian Of the present day
One. when was thert. vas busy cary.
| ing q pipe Of specially elaborate desigs
| and he nsiveIy said that as bnyerliksd