The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-22
Pamnnkey Indiana.

In King William county, Va, not
more than twenty-five miles from Rich
mond. there live the only remains Of a
once large and powerful tribe OF In
dians When POcahontas saved John
Smith from the stub, the Pamunkeys
numbered some 90. 600, and could raise
.pn effective force of g. 900 warriors.
Less than one hundred now are left =,
says the Cincinnati Enquirer, and al
though the birth-rate las in the last
decade slightly exceeded the death rate,
there is little probability that they can
maintain their individuality another
century. Yet they want for nothing,
have more land than they know what
to do with, aud are all in all the richest
Of red alistocrats. They live on little
peninsula bottle. shaped neck Of land d,
comprising some 500 acres, Of which
25O are under cultivation. They are FAR
moro wealthy, considered per capita,
than any nation in the world and far
moro happy Their tracts abounds in
game, which is one Of their chief
sources of subsistence. II Is secured to
them 10y an act Of the colonial legisla-
ture. They hold it IN common. are
prohibited from alternating the title, and
are exempt from taxes. although, uudor
an ancient law. they are required to
supply the Governor Of Virginia colony
with certain amount Of wild game.
| This practice still continues, and dur
ing the shooting season, spring and
fall, they are in the habit. Dow and
then, Of sending the Governor, by the
conductor of the train, bunch Of wild
ducks or haunch Of yension
The Pamunkeys have no relation
with the United States government.
| They receive no annuities, and their
names are not upon the rolls Of the In
dian office. The State Of Virginia an
nually appoints five trustees to look at
ter their interests. bat the offices are
sinecures as the Indians are perfectly
capable of looking after themselves.
| They elect their chief and a council Of
four, who exercise executive, legislative
and judicial functions Every member
Of the tribe is allowed to vote, and on
the day appointed they meet at the
council house, with usually two candi-
dates to choose from Those in favor
of one indicate their choice by dropping
a grain of corn into the ballot box !;
those who prefer the other indicate 1t
by dropping bean in the same place
| These native officials take care Of the
tribe. punish all offenses except felon-
les, over which the State courts have
jurisdiction and conduct a cooperative
merchandise store, which is patronized
by white people in the neighborhood,
as we'll as the members OF the tribe.
The Indians are temperate, moral,
peaceable and industrious. Very few
Of them are full blooded During the
300 years Of contact with the whites
and the negroes around them they have
been unable 10 preserve their racial in
tegrity, although the laws Of the tribe
prohibit cohabitation or marriage with
persons of African descent They are
exceedingly proud Of their lineage, and,
while they would probably acknowledge
the white aristocracy Of Virginia their
equals, they decline to have anything
20 do with the blacks. and some years
ago raised II miniature rebellion be.
cause mulalto woman was placed in
charge Of the public school upon their
reservation.
Realizing that continual intermar-
riage has impaired the physical con
dition of the tribe, they recently APP
pointed committee to treat with the
remnant Of the Cherokee Indian nation
Of North Carolina on this subject
The Pamunkeys are not only
thoroughly civilized, bnt are quite in
clined to be religious The best build
ing on their reservation is Baptist
church, at which nearly every member
Of the tribe attends service twice on
Sunday. under the ministratiOn of a
ratfua praaohar