The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-08-30
CHAU9AUQUA.
THE CHOCTAW NATION.
BY MEMBER OF CLASS G..

The small strip of land lying in the southeast
ern corner of the Indian Territory is known as
the Choctaw Nation, and is owned and held in
common by the Choctaw tribe of Indians. The
population is, however. toerably well mixed as
to color and nationality. The most striking
feature of the country is the variety of its scenery
The surface is mostly rolling-vast prairies be-
decked with beautiful flowers the greater part of
the year; numerous hills, heavily timbered, with
here and there small ranges of mountains, which,
though not so imposing, strongly resemble the
Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. Well
might it be said:
Its the country OF tradition,
OF picturesque loVllneSS
Ger which the red man rOams at will
With natures bounty bleSt."
At this season of the year. when mother earths
green mat is gently turning to yellOwish hue,
when every woodland dell is filed with songs of
birds, when the prairie grass stretches out like
beautiful undulatng waves of the sea, it not only
presents to the eye picture of unsurpassed low
| illness, but there is a peculiar charm about 1t
which captivateS the senses, thrills the whole
being with pleasant emotions and causes one to
uncOnsciOusly dream of that beautiful land that
Bob Ingersoll says is not in existence.
The soil is "spOtted,'' or in other words, good
in some parts and poor in others. River and
creek bottom lands, the black upland-prairie
soil, sandy hills and waXy clay lands. OF these
the first two named are perhaps the richest, and
are extensively cultivated. The country is well
supplied with such valuable timber walnut,
cedar, cyprus. oak, ASH pine, hickory and few
other species which have neither time nor
space to mention. Coal and other valuable min
eral deposits have been discovered in various
parts of the country.
Numerous streams wind their way through
the nation giving fertility to the soil and supply
ing plenty of good water to man and beast; cool
refreshing springs gush forth from neatly every
hillside and wellwater can be had all the wa!
from eight to one hundred feet i'll any part of the
country. Game is not so plentiful as it was tel
years ago, but still. enough remains to satlsf!
: the curiosity and appetite of the most san
guine hunter. beers, bears, turkeys, prairie
chicken, and numerous smaller varieties o
game still roam over the country; we also hav
a gOody supply of wolves, catamounts, foxes
, etc. 1t is natural to believe that where Sucl
sOcalled vicious animals exist the countr
would be unsafe to live in, but on the cOntrar
the inhabitants experience little or no difficult
from this cause the wolf of that section, in pal
: ticuar, is easily frightened off by putting fire
: fly on the end of stick and waving it, by whic
to flight | have been compelled many times
rest nv weary bones at night, without roof bu
;, the spangled canopy of heaven, my boots for m
- :, pillow and the grass my mattress, yet neve
u have been attacked by any of the nOXiOus an
mails. To go to bed in that country withol
" hearing the bowling of wolves would be an Ill
o. usual occurrence.
S Farming and stock raising are the popular o
g equations. Even those who follow profession
" life, farm and raise stock to a greater or le
extent Nearly every family has a home and far
which they can call their own. Fruit and veg
II ables are very plentiful there is also wild plum
II grapes and berries, which yield so plentiful
ia that man, beast reptile and bird combined fl
TX to consume the whole of years crop.
It Such is brief sketch of the country wh
will be called the land of cotton: and if old Jud
N Bryant was dead would gladly take my Stal
lie in that land. would live and die there.