The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-19

land in three Of the western counties,
in what was then almost wilderness.
A great tract of land was set apart as
reservation by the state, and vol
luminous laws governing these Chero-
kee lands were enacted.
For three score years or more these
Cherokee land laws formed large
part of the various codes, etc, and only
recently have been dropped from the
pages Of such publications. They form
curious reading in their effort to mix
American law with Indian ideas. Gus
toms, and rules as to land tenure. Orig
inally the tract of land held by the
Cherokees was far larger than at pres
ent. 1t now comprises seventy-three
thousand acres and some of it is the
very best land in western North Caro-
lima. 1t is mainly in Swain and Jack
son counties. right among the noun
tains, and the entire country east of
the Mississippi does not contain a more
picturesquely beautiful region or one
better suited to Indian taste and re-
quirements, with its cold, clear streams
full of fish, its mountains. well wooded
and abounding in game, and its COM
parative remOteness from the beaten
track Of white people.
The wolf is yet rover in this sec
tion, and there is county bounty for
his scalp, not only in the counties
above named, but in several others.
The bear is more abundant than any
where else save in the great swamps
near the coast Of the state Deer are
also abundant. and the pheasant or
partridge is found, though long since
gone from other parts of the state.
The eastern band of Cherokees are
an interesting race of people. The
Western North Carolina railway passes
within ten miles of their reservation,
Bryson City being the nearest railway
station. The chief Cherokee town is
known in English as Yellow Hill. 1t
is a rambling place, through which
pushes a bold mountain stream, the
Ocona Lufty. The Indian houses
They are built of logs, well fitted,
with porch on one side. They are
built to stand the cold, which is great
there sometimes. So high is the alti
tude and SO encircled by mountains is
the reservation that there is no hot
weather.
The Indians are mainly engaged in
farming, but do not do an extensive
business in this direction, though thev
raise plenty of food The present num-
Der of the eastern band is about one
thousand and six hundred, and it is
certain that they are increasing. The
healthfulness of that region is remark
able, and many of the Cherokees reach
a great age. The oldest inha bitant is
Big Witch" who asserts that his age
is one hundred and fifteen years. A
recent visitor who talked with this VEN
cradle Indian on Sunday found him
making moccasins out of the skin of a
ground hog.
The Cherokees vote and are on tho
same footing as other citizens of the
state. During the late war their chief
was strong believer in the confeder-
ate states and a fine battalion or legion
was raised. This was commanded by
Col. Thomas, who years later died in
an insane asylum, and it did effective
service, being known as the Thomas
Legion" Earnest efforts are being
made to educate these Indians. Those
educated are very intelligent. speak
English well, and are fond of white
people and do them favors. Many of
the Cherokees. however. do not speak
English at all and are as wild in APP
t. = e..
Chicago Tribune.