The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1894-02-03
NORTH CAROLINA cHEB0KEES
They Run'6er Two Thousand Are Tncreus
ine nnd Are on Interesting People.
From the New York Evening PostA

They Number Two Thoysdnd--Are Tncreus
'hs nnd Are on Interesting People.
From the New York Evening Postl
One of the most interesting people
IN this country to visit, and yet one of
the least known, even Ivy the citizens
of North Carolina, is the reservation
Of what is known az the Eastern band
of the Cherokee Nation. The history
of this reservation is odd and interest.
ing. When the Indians of this State
were removed To the Indian Territory
by the Government, the greater part
of the Cherokees LEFT their homes re-
luctantly forever A strong band OF
them, however, retained land in three
of the western counties, Swain, Cher
okee and Jackson.) That country was
then almost wilderness. large
tract of land wns set apart as a reser IA
tion for them by the State, and special
laws governing this reservation were
enacted by the Legislature. For over
half century what was known as the
'Cherokee land laws were incor-
porated in the codes of this State and
other legal works. It has been but
few years since they were omitted
from the new editions They made
interesting reading in the curious ef-
fort to mix the laws Of the white men
of America with the Indian ideas and
customs and rules ne to land tenure.
The tract of land originally held by
the Chcrokecs was much larger than il
X Mt present. The reservation now
consists of about IS, 900 acres, in the
counties mentioned, right among the
mountains, and some of il is the best
land IN Western North Carolina. No
part Of the country east of the Missis-
slppi River contains more pic
turcsqucly beautiful region than these
indian lands, and none better suited
to Indian tastes and requirements,
with its cold, clear streams, abound
ing i'll fish; its high mountains, we'll
wooded and alive with all kinds of
game, and its comparative rcmotencss
from the haunts Of white mem Bears
are plentiful, and the wolf yet roves
there. Dccrs are abundant, and part
ridges are very plentiful.
The Cherokee liz n very interesting
Indian. The chief town or "capitar
of the reservation is lin English) Vel
ioM tilil SltN, Ten
miles from the reservation, is the near
est railroad station. Yellow Hill is a
rambling place, through which rushes
mountain stream called the Ocona
Lufty. The Indian houses are nearly
all uniform in appearance, and arc
built of logs, compactly so as to stand
the cold weather, which is very severe
some times. There is never any ex.
trcme heat, because of the altitude.
The principle occupation of these
lndfans 1s farming md fishing anti
hunting, and they always have plenty
Of food The band now number near
ly 1000, and the records show that
they are increasing. The healthful-
ness % the region is the main cause
Of this, and many of them reach
great age. Several of them now claim
to be centenarians, and the "oldest in
hahitants," big Watch" claims to
he over l4O years old
The Cherokees vote Just as 9TH
er citizens Of this State do. Du-
ring the civil war they we're intense
Confederates, and n large battalion of
them served in the Confederate army
and fought we'll. Many of them are
educnted; all are civilized Those who
are educated speak English fuently,
and are fond of the white people, who
do them many kindnosses Some of
them have intermarried with native
whites. They do not like negroes, and
there liz no social intercourse between
the races. Many of the Chcrokees,
however, know no English, md are as
wild looking ~ those on the Western
prniries Among this class the bow
and arrow is still used with masterly
Workmanship.