Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-06
alwart in frame. and his features are

Ia stalwart In frame, and his features are
OF true Indian type.
But, smallpox" continued Mr.. Fol-
lard, lis an old enemy Of the tribe. His
tory records frequent depletion OF their
ranks from this cause. In Colonial times.
between the hostile whites without and
the dread disease within, the tribe was
reduced from 1000 to 100. at which figure
its population has remained with re-
markable uniformity for over n century.
fear that the present epluemic VIII
spread rapidly. and IN many cases prove
fatal. for the average Pamunkey is weak
In constitution. This fact Is largely due,
/ Judge. from the frequent intermarriage
OF near relatives. There are few MEM
bers Of the tribe who are not closely
related to every other person on the
reservation, and their laws now forbid
them from marrying among the negroes"
EARLY HISTORY.
Their present sad condition having at
tracted the attention OF the public,
something Of their early history might
Be of interest,"" suggested the reporter.
well, there is very little data from
which to gather much OF their early his
tory. 1t is n established fact.
however. that the Pamunkeys were the
strongest OF the thirty warlike tribes
composing the great Powhatan confede-
racy which waged such pluchy warfare
against our forefatbers. John Smith
gives an interesting account of his con-
tact with their noted chief. Opechaa-
canough, who WAS in reality successor
TO Powhatan In his leadership OF the
great confederacy. The early Virginia
settlers had no fiercer and more treach-
erous enemy than this same Pamunkey
tribe. To one who now visits their peace
ful habitation this fact Is hard TO rea-
lize."
why is 1t that the Pamunkeys should
have survived to the present day, when
every other Virginia tribe vanished more
than n century ago." was asked.
THAT is largely due 10 their location"
said Mr.. Pollard. "rhelr reservation Is
almost entirely surrounded by water.
This afforded them peculiar protection
in time of war. BESIDES this, the
aVaricious eye OF the white man never
looked with much favor on this spot.
The land Is low. and the surrounding
marshes breed malaria and mosquitoes.
The Pamunkeys make their living prin-
cpally In the time honored way of their
forefathers-fshing and hunting They
prefer to hire "nggers" to work their
little farms. And, by the way, this re-
minds me Of n remark made to me by
one OF the tribe. who. with n serious
and patriotic air, said: Il don't know
what will become OF this country unless
we get rid Of these niGgers"
THEIR GOVERNMENT.
What about their government" asked
the Dispatch man.
Nothing else about the people has 80
much interest" replied Mr.. Pollard.
They are governed by a chief and FIVE
ccuncilmen. elected by the people every
four years. Their method OF ballotlng is
unique. Those favoring the election Of
one candidate deposit grain OF corn
in the ballot-bOx: those favoring the
election of the other throw In n beam
The ballots are then counted, and the
corn candidate or he bean candidate
is declared elected. according as the num-
Der of grains Of corn or beans predomi-
nate. A few weeks ago l had a delesa-
lion from the tribe TO come to my Office.
and call me to task for saying in my
monograph that In government the tribe
was n true democracy. They said they
wanted me to understand that they
didn't take no part In politics, and that
thy want no more Democrats than
Republicans ] apologized for my mis-
take. Their code OF laws is very amusing.
Though the Kings English Is often
murdered in this document. there Is never
shadow Of a doubt as to its meaning
n virtue seldom seen in the laws OF the
more intelligent BE It known says one
OF the laws. that we shall have fence
law, and 1t shall be four feet high on a
ditch and five feet high on a level"
RELATIONS TO THE STATE.
What is their relation TO the Slater"
was the next question.
Il have never seen that clearly de-
fired" said Mr.. Pollard, land | do rot
know. The Legislature. however, APP
points from time to time five trustees 10
look after them. What these trustees
are for / could never learn. The Pa
munkeys are not taxed. and are furnished
a free school by the state"
Il saw in your pamphlet curious ira
dition. giving an explanation OF the origin
of the name of the place called Piping
tree Ferry, on the Mattaponi rlver-ho%
was it?"
1T runs thus: The Pamunkey braves
once met a party of white men at this
place TO make n treaty OF peace. When
all the terms were agreed 10 the con-
summation of the treaty was solemniZed
in the usual Indian fashion by handing