The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-07
NORTH CAROLINA CHEROhEfs.
A Reservation of $4,000 Acres 10 occupied
by that Interesting People.

A Raleigh On. O. correspondent OF Inc
New York Evening Post writes: "One
~ the most interesting places IN inns
country 10 visit and yet one OF the leasl
known even by the citizens OF Norm
Carolina, is the reservation OF what Il
known as the Eastern band OF the Chero-
zoe nation. The history Of this reserVa-
ton IS odd and interesting. Nhen tno
Indians of this state were removed TO the
Indian Territory by the government the
e~reater part of the Cherokees left their
old homes. reluctantly, forever. strong
hand of them, however, retained lahd III
three of the western counties (Swaln'
C,borol,ee and Jackson). That country
vas then almost a wilderness. "A large
tract of land was set apart as reserVa
ton for them by the state, ana specia'
laws governing this reservation "eie o"-
actcd nv the Legislature. For over
bslf century what was known as the
,,sbcrol,oe Land Laws were Incorporated
IN tho codes of this State and other legal
works 1t has been but Few years siucc
thev were omitted from the new eulloIs'
Tbev made interesting reading III tno
.,,rious efforts 10 mix the laws OF the
white mon of America with lndian luoa7
and customs and rules as 10 lahu 'en",v
"l'he tract OF land originally helu pE
tho Cherokccs was much larger IMAM IT ~
~ * OnO acres in the counties lnehllohc"
right among the mountains. and some or
II Is the best land i'm Western Norm
carolina. No part of the country cast Oh
the Mississippi river contains more DC
turesqucly beautiful region than these
Indian lands, and none better suited 10
Indian tastes and requirements, WIN us
cold. clear streams, aboundnS III llsh' Us
high mountains, wcll-Woodcd ana awe
u.ti, nearly all kinds Of game, and It's
comparative remoteness from the haunis
90 white men. Bear arc plentiful, and inc
u,olr vet roams there Deer are aDundahl'
and cartridges very plentiful
"'rhc Cherokee IS very interesting III
tim rho chief town or capital OF the
reservation is, in English. yellow mn
Rryson city, distant about ten HileS
from the reservation. IS the nearest Iall-
road station. yellow Hill is rampiihs
Mace. through which PUSHES mountain
s,rea m called the Ocona Lufty. The IN
alan houses are nearly all uniform in APP
nearance and are built OF logs compactiy
go as 10 stand the cold weather which
h very severe there sometimes. There Is
mover any extreme heat because OF the
altitude. -
.Drhe principal occupation OF these IN
dians Is farming and fishing ana huhllns'
and they always have plenty OF food. Inc
hand now numbers nearly two thousand,
and the records show that they are IN
creasing. The healthfulness OF the region
is the main cause of this. and many OF
them reach a great age; several OF tnem
now claim to be centenarians, ana 'he
oldest inhabitant. Big Witch claims 10
be over 40 years old.
The Chcrokees vote just as otner
citizens OF this state do. During the ciVii
war they were intense Confederates, and
a large battalion OF them served In the
Confederate army, and fought web. Many
OF them are educated-all are Civilized.
Those who are educated speak English
nuontiy 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. qua
races" -.,..---.4.---..-