The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-27
WITH The INDIANS
Judge MuSSeIIer Talks About
the WiChitaS.
HAVE NOT PROGRESSED
White Women Have Influence
Over Them.
HAVE NOT PROGRESSED

Judge A. R. Museller OF Perry, Oklaho-
ma, who has been in the city since Mon
day visiting his mother and old friends
returned home last night. While waiting
for his train he told many interesting
things to an Eagle reporter concerning
the anticedent race whose name is born
by Wichita.
Judge AIuseller for the past several
months has been with the Wichita In
dians in southwest Oklahoma allotting
their lands previous 10 the opening Of that
country TO white settlement.
Il confess" said Judge Aiuseller, 'that
before went among these people I was
prejudiced against Indians, but my feel
ings toward them are entirely changed.
The Wichits's are unlike great many
other tribes in this. that they are a sort
Of domestic people never having been. as
] understand il, given TO warlike habits.
While they wear the dress Of civilization
they have progressed but very little in
their natural customs and manners Of
living during the past 100 years or. for all
I know. since the discovery Of America.
Did you have any difficulty in alotting
their lands?"
Il made so aIlotments IN three months
and that is said TO be the fastest record
made. was very fortunate IN seeking
advice as to their characteristics before
commencing the work, for had not be
iieve my task would have been very diff
fcult. I would have gone 10 their tents,
called them out and told them my bust
ness had 7 not been advised to simply
unhltch, sit under a tree near by and
wait for them to come around to me.
This I did and it worked very satisfac-
torily. Considerable patience and some
diplomacy are essentials in treating with
the Indians. They are in no hurry about
anything, and would much prefer doing
something tomorrow than today. The
indians. in being allotted lands, desired
that relations should be located together
and when sisters. brothers. aunts, uncles
and cousins had their minds made up, as
70 where they would locate. allotting be-
came an easy matter They took the best
lands in the creek and river bottoms. Our
Instructions from the government We're
10 help them, to get the best and we did
It so far as our knowledge of the coun-
try would allow us.
In making the allotments T made con-
siderable muscle. for I found / had to
use my arms freely after the manner Of
the Indians themselves. They had no
idea what a quarter section of land
amounted TO IN area and as I would
sweep my arm around from point to point
in the horizon telling them that "al that
land" should belong TO them. they would
express astonishment at Uncle Sans
liberality
II had to do the thing over again I
would take my wife along with me- She
was with me two weeks and I found that
white women have a remarkable influence
upon the Indians in the way Of inspiring
confidence. In seeking to make pictures
Of faGeilies and their houses. 7 found in
almost every instance. that the sQuaws
would not stand before the camera unless
my wife stood with them"
In physical development. how do the
Wlchitss size up Ia comparison with the
CCmanches?"
Much smaller in stature. This I sup
posed is a result Of the fact that the
Comanches have been a warlike people.
giving them greater physical develop
ment."
Did YOU inquire into their religious
ideas?"
Il attended one Of their religious dane
es- the ghost dance. They step about
clothed il white sheets chanting some
thing in their nature tongue ] had il
translated for me. but I am now unable
70 repeat it. In substance it EXPRESSED
Ito idea that God created them, and would
take care Of them. Usually they dances
from early in the nisht TN morning.
In what manner do they live2"
The Wichitas live in grass houses
which have The appearance of hay stacks.
They arc from -z5 TO 70 feet in circumfer-
snoe and about af5een feet hieh. with
m crerang al the ton 10 allow the smoke
20 eScape. Fstrsnce is gained by a small
opening and Tho tLtorior ofthe building is
as dark as EEypt The dirt floor is
tramped hard and smooth. As is the