The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-11-17
THE ALABAMA INDIANS.
Remnants OF the Tribe Located In
the State OF Texas.
Engaged In Agriculture and Industrious
Workers - Some Of the Queer
Customs Still In Vogue
Among Them.

The remnant of the Alabama tribe,
which migrated 10 the Trinity river re-
gion early in the present century, is a
branch of the Creek nation, and is in
termixed with a few Coshattas and
Muscogees. They speak three differ
ent languages, all evidently dialects of
the Creek, and most of them under
stand the Mobile tongue, or servite
Choctaw, which, like the French of Eu-
rope, was the universal language
among the tribes and their usual means
of communication with the whites.
The remnant of this race, says the
Chicago Tribune, now numbers about
hundred. Their crops are principally
cultivated for their own use, rather
than for sale. Indian corn is the
principal, although many Of them
plant potatoes, and all of them vege-
tables, and they usually I'LL their
villages with fruit trees. During the
season of cultivation they remain
closely at home, working Industrious
ly, and hunting only at such times as
they have leisure from their crops.
but when everything has been
gathered and housed, the last crevice
OF their granaries Is closed to exclude
llght and ar as guard against weevll,
then comes the return to Indian life
and Indian enjoyment. They break up
into hunting parties after the Arab
fashion, taking with them their wives
and children, their horses and tents,
and household utensils. They seek the
wild pine forests, away from the settle
| nepfs and work their 1var in the deusa
canebrakes along the rivers which
white men rarely II ever penetrate
they soon I'LL their camps with game,
and alone with themselves and nature,
ever safe from the intrusion OF supe-
Flor ana conquering race, they ENJOY
me reallzation OF lndlan NE as IL was
before the Wh1te man discovered thelr
'ountry. When weary OF the chase,
salisnei Win i,s results, 'iiey relurn
~ lneir 'i,iases eneii no. ,, iaueu " ..n
ie'' ni1a.' ueei Sniiio " Dc VI ~
tne iAai nc Hiiu oeai oii Al 10, n,,ine ior
CAei. own use Vi t0i
eufsions occupy .neii 'iine uitti .iie
season comes ior repairing .heir iences
anu ihahihs reauy ioi 'nen ciops,
"heh ehey al iesu.h ionie III
|
alo.i4et
nAe otnei Aihns .ney na'e .na'
ta'ai passion .ol a,oen, spirles which
seems Ies lileu 70 oe ,ieir eA 'eriltna-
s.on. Dus =, = ay nepe ..i ~tn
90 ...et uo nos " nm i-a Di 10 .dal
y. rJia,, ] $3.50 Iae,,1;on, sIh
:ss, " "i-.en .ney als 80 pesui.aiiy slai: SUI
- % - -
- sa.S -n 80 - .esu- -ii,,s
- i',
80 w a., 80 ano'u
- ~ a. s' - 80 49,. ~ - 80 80 80
-, - -. ~
iins MS ncn ~ 10 o'Si .iie 10y
80 o. 'i,es ~ ~ u'as. pa ..on'
GO i.'.ii'tsoiies L "
-.ieii Usual atoea lions' n.lo' .oi ione
'iiiie ''fiiiA iiothins ih'oAiea 'iiis
ihey nave "iia, irregular eooe Oh
, oueHhE Oh ther own ana are Always
, eauy W 'nioN a"as iiio On q POM y,
iono.' anu uo ~ WIN ao
iii'iiiietehce wh1c, Nouiu eASiee .ne
, envy Vi Whi's ao'oeaSe VI 'ue Iooe
III iact lheY oo noe seem " ieei an
: ins.ne.ive eireao Oh oea.n' ihey speak
: OF III with as much iholherehce as OF
. any future event ana meet II apparent
" without rear OF reluctance