The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-19
4 MODERN REMNANT.

There are doubtless many who have never heard the narne of Powhatan, and most of those who do hear it are only reminded of great Indian chief, or king of that name, the father of the m-fated Poeahontas, and as mixed up with John Smith and other early set tiers of Eastern Virginia. By this chiefs ability and courage he became the ruler of confederacy of some twenty Indian tribes, said to have num- bered 5000 people. One of these tribes was called Powhatans, for the king. and was one of the original tribes over which he was chief in the first part of his career. The story of John Smith, Powhatan and Pocahontas has been told and retold in history. song and story for more than three centuries, and though there has doubtless been more or less of myth and fable inter- spersed with it, there is no doubt of the existence of the chieftain, or of his con- federacy, or of his daughter whose de- scendants numbered some of the best people of Virginia, the famous John Randolph being one.
 Speaking of the Powhatans it will doubtless be news to most people to know that within twenty miles of Rich mond there Is a small tribe of Indians called Pamunkeys, who are direct de- scendants of the tribe ruled over by Powhatan and bearing his name. Tn the February issue of The Southern Workman, published at Hampton, Va, there is an interesting paper by Mrs. T. B. Bagby, giving many interesting details of this little nation, now num- bering about 200 persons, and occupy ing an island in the PAmunkey River.
 Here, in the very heart of modern civilization, with in full view of rail- road, lives this remnant of a once pow erful nation. who "cling to early tra- ditons, governing themselves and living a primitive life in the mdst of modern artiiiciaIity. a republic, in short. within a republic" as Mrs. Bagby says. This somewhat anamalous republic" Is gov erned by it's own chieftain who is elect ed every four years, and their method of election is in accord with their other primitive habits. There Is only one candidate voted for and on election day each youth who has reached the age of IS puts a pea or a bean in the ballot box. when all have voted the seeds are counted, and If the peas have a majority the candidate goes in, but if beans predominate a new selection is made.
 These people have no Government. as we understand the term The chief is assisted by seven councilmen who assemble with him every three months to decide on all matters demanding their attention. They have no sheriff, no constables or policemen, but if one of their number commits an offence he is arrested by the chief and tried before the council. It is said that no real crime has ever benn committed on the island. AS they pay no taxes they do not vote or have any part in politics or public affairs of their own reserva- tion. Here they live in peace and comparative obscurity, cultlvating their fieids, and adhering almost entirely to the customs and traditions of their peo- pie. They form little nationality of their own, surrounded by a race which has always been different from their own and with which they have little in common. Their own numbers are diminishing and in few more gener- ations some future Cooper may write of '"rhe Last of the Powhatans."