The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-11
INDIAN TERRITORY.
CooKsoN, Indian Territory,


Editor of MISUNDERSTANDING letter
from Yankee girl now teaching school in
the Indian country might be OF interest to
some of your readers, make the venture,
although writing is not my forte.
This portion of the territory is inhabited
mostly by the full-blooded Cherokees, and
here they have preserved many of the Gus
toms and manners OF their ancestors OF the
long ago. However, a change is being man.
ifest even here. The Indian recognizes the
fact that the day Of tribal organization is
fast passing away, and that he must learn
to accommodate himself to the ways of
civilization, dished up pale face style. He
Is learning that instead OF garbing himself
in war-paint and feathers he must don the
habiliments of his white brother, and in
place of welding the tomahawk and scalp
ing-knife, learn to WELD the more useful
hoe. Instead OF guiding the feathered shaft
on its flight to some unsuspecting quarry,
be must now learn to guide two steers or
pair of mules attached to q number nine
plow-and the crooked burrows he makes
in his first attempts, remind one of black
snake in its coil.
The Indian is generally Hospitality and
| kindly disposed towards his white brother,
but also regards him with lurking dis
trust distrust engendered and fostered by
| the treatment OF him and his ancestors in
time past. In truth, the Golden Rule has
been persistently ignored in our dealings
with the red man, and in its stead we seem
to have adopted Highland Rob's simple
plan,
That they should take who have the power.
| And they should keep who can"
In many things the Indian is simple and
confding as a child, but in his own way,
and after his own manner, he is very wise.
| He lives very near to nature, and many of
her pages are as an open book to him. He
| is versed in wood.craft and rs a weather
prophet can give points 20 the United States
| hAr To nd rafQ md hQ
dicinal virtues OF each plant, herb and tree
that grows in this country, and when to
| gather them 80 as to secure their virtues in
perfection. He can follow deer trail for
days with unering skill and he can speak
| the truth as was said of the ancient Per-
slams, when the Great Cyrus was kid.
l have been in attendance at many Of
their dances and festivals, and have been
impressed by the strange similarity which
| exists between many of their rites and cere-
monies and those Of the children OF Jacob.
| Their green corn festival and their purihca-
| ton ceremonials are nearly like those form
| ulated by the great law-giver, Moses for his
people. AS among the Jews, their medi-
cine men are also their priests, and a
strange fact is, that in the treatment Of
many of the diseases which battle the skill
OF the whit doctors they are almost infal-
! lible. L have sat in their wigwams and
watched them perform their lamentations,
and administer their potions, and the re-
| suit frequently seemed to be almost miracu-
| lous. In their treatment of white patients,
candor compels me to state that they dis
| card lamentations and rely entirely npon
roots, barks, etc. and the treatment seems
equally eticacious when shorn of its trim
mngs. l once asked Oochalatah, the fore
most medicine man among the Cherokees,
why this discrimination against the pale
| face in the matter OF incantations. He gaz-
ed solemly into my face for full half min
ute, and then ie winked at me. He is a
Carlisle graduate and feel sure he is skep-
| tical as regards incan tations, and performs
them solely in Difference to the inherited
superstition of his people.
This country is blessed with glorious
climate. Today the prairie is carpeted in
| living green and dotted thickly with my
riads OF wild flowers in full bloom, which
freight the balmy air with their perfume.
At night the hooking bird in the odorous
apple tree beneath my window, lulls me to
sleep with his wild, sweet music. The soil
| is wonderfully productive and grows the
grains of the North and the cotton and
| other products of the semi-tropics, yet it is
no place for the emigrant who is seeking to
| purchase home, as the land is yet held in
| common by the tribe, and cannot be sold.
1t is, however, Paradse-with big P
for the renter, as poor Lo is the easiest of
| landlords. When the treaty now before
| Congress is ratified, there will be openings
here for many teachers. The rate of wages
is good and the length of term generally
| nine months.
This country will some day be a garden
| spot, but at present it is but little improv-
ed. Should any one desire further informa-
| ton in regard to this country 1 will gladly
| furnish any within my power if stamps are
| inclosed for postage. ELLA LILLARD.