The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-05-18
HONEST mum 9
How the Chickasaws We're Taught
the Meaning Of the Expression.

Among the earliest corners to the
Haschee contry, in western Tennes-
see, was a Mr.. Barnes, blacksmith,
who. became friend Of the Chickasaw
Indians and often mended their guns
without charge. Barnes was a poor
man, but obtaining on credit donkey
named Moses, which vas valued at
considerable sum, he imported the
animal and stabbed it at the smlshy,
gays the Youths Companion. 1t was
the irst in that region. One morning
he found the door open and Noses
gone. He followed trail to the bank
OF the river and lost it,S The ssreenl,
was in food, and he believed bis val
nable animal was drowned. Unless
he found some way to raise the money
to pay for.it he was a ruined man.
Two months later trading scow
came down the Hatchee from Bolivar.
and on the roof, spraed out IN the
sun, was the hide Of Moses. unmls-
taxable in It's soft and handsome grays.
Barnes related his story to the trader
and received the skin, which had
been bought at Bolivar from trader
there. AS no white man would have
shot a donkey Barnes concluded that
the Indians, who had never seen one,
but who we're, then hunting on the
Hatchee, we're the offenders.
To trap them he tried little STRAIT
agem. He organized q shooting con-
test and offered as a prize "the hand
soonest skin ever taken on the Hatchee,
the pelt of beautiful animal" !"
A Chiekasaw brave was the winner
Of the contest and claimed the prize.
Barnes brought forward the skin OF
Moses and spread it on the ground.
s. There is your PRICE he said.
'sMe shoot am! Me shoot um."'
cried the winner, running to the skin
and pointing to a bullet hole. Then
he told how he had been wandering
down the river bank and had seen this
strange wild animal, like nothing be
had ever seen before breaking through
the cane. He had shot 1t and sold the
hide at Bolivar. He was delighted to
get it. back.
This was what Barnes had hoped
for. Standing, he addressed the
Chickasaws.
.sMy brothers," he said, "you know
me. I am poor man, but [ am q
friend to the Chickasaws. I mend bis
gun for him and deal fairly by him.
This animal was my white mans
pony. I bought it far away and
brought it here. It cost me much
wampum, the price of many Indian
ponies. To lose it will lose me all.
It escaped me and went to the woods,
and there Chickasaw killed it.
Z "When I am in Chickasaw country,
I obey Chickasaw law. When Chick
asaw is in white mans country, he
should obey white mans law. White
mans law is that whoever kills my
pony must pay me for 1T. What will
Chickasaw do?''
The Indians had listened attentive
ly. When he had. finished, they went
to their ponies tethered nearby. The
whites watched them meanwhile with
intense interest. The Indians IN
tethered thei- ponies and brought them
"Take um," they said. Indian
have only ponies. Give um ALL
.. :. How many?1 asked Barns. ~"ee
SsY You say how many.
Barns appointed an appraiser, who
selected number of ponies eQ2al IN
2yyalae to the donkey. These the
blacksmith sold TO bis neighbors.
The Indians gave up their hunt and
went back to their villages, poorer,
hut satisfied. They had maintained,
for their tribe at least, some claim
to the title, Honest Injun.''