The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-01-31
North Carolina CherOkees.

One of the most interesting people
in this country to visit, and yet one of
the least known, even by the citizens
of North Carolina, is the reservation
of what is known as the Eastern band
of the Cherokee Nation. The history
of this reservation is odd and inter-
esting. When the Indians of this
State were removed to the Indian
Territory by the Government the
greater part of the Cherokees left
their old home reluctantly forever.
| A strong band Of them, however, re-
tanned land in three Of the western
counties Swain, Cherokee and jack
son) That country was then almost
wilderness. A large tract of land
was set apart as reservation for them
by the State, and special laws govern
ing this reservation were enacted by
the Legislature. For over half CEN
tury what was known as the "Chero-
kee land laws were incorporated 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 read
ing in the curious effort to mix the
laws of the white men Of America
with the Indian ideas and customs and
rules as to land tenure.
The tract of land originally held by
the Cherokees was much larger than
it is at present. The reservation now
consists of about Is, 900 acres, in the
counties mentioned, right among the
mountains, and some Of it is the best
land in Western North Carolina. No
| part of the country east of the Missis-
sippi River contains more pictures
quely region than these Indian lands,
and none better suited to Indian tastes
and requirements, with it's cold, clear
streams, abounding in fish; it's high
mountains, we'll wooded and alive with
all kinds of game, and its comparative
remoteness from the haunts of white
men. Bears are plentiful, and the
wolf yet roves there. Deer are abun-
dant, and partridges are very plenti-
full.
The Cherokee is very interesting
Indian. The chief town or capital
Of the reservation is Gn English) Yel-
low Hill. Bryson City, distant ten
miles from the reservation, is the
nearest railroad station. Yellow Hill
is rambling place, through which
rushes mountain stream called the
Ocona Lufty. The Indian houses are
nearly all uniform in appearance, and
are built Of logs, compactly SO as to
stand the cold weather, which is very
severe some times. There is never
any extreme heat, because Of the alti-
tude.
The principal occupation of these
| Indians is farming and fishing and
hunting, and they always have plenty
of food. The band now number nearly
| 1000, and the records show that they
are increasing. The healthfulness Of
the region is the main cause Of this,
and many of them reach great age.
Several of them now claim to be CEN
tenarians, and the "oldest inhabi-
tant, "Big Witch" claims to be over
140 years old.
The Cherokees vote just as other
citizens of this State do. During the
civil war they were intense Confeder-
ates, and large battalion of them
served in the Confederate army and
fought we'll. Many Of them are
educated; all are civilized. Those
who are educated speak English
auently, and are fond of the white
people, who do them many kindnesses.
Some of them have intermarried with
native whites. They do not like
negroes, and there is no social inter
course between the races. Many OF
these Cherokees, however, know no
English, and are as wild looking as
those on the Western prairies. Among
tl.is class the bow and arrow is still
used with masterly craftsmanship
| Nom York Epenin0 Post.