A New Guide For Emigrants To The West Part 10

INDIAN TERRITORY.

The Indian territory lies west and immediately adjacent to Missouri and Arkansas. It is about 600 miles long from north to south, extending from the Missouri river to the Red river, and running westwardly as far as the country is habitable, which is estimated to be about 200 miles. The almost dest.i.tution of timber, with extensive deserts, renders most of the country from this territory to the Rocky mountains uninhabitable.

The dreams indulged by many, that the wave of white population is to move onward without any resisting barrier, till it reaches these mountains, and even overleap them to the Pacific ocean, will never be realized. Providence has thrown a desert of several hundred miles in extent, as an opposing barrier.

As very contradictory accounts have gone abroad, prejudicial to the character of the country selected for the Indians, it becomes necessary to describe it with some particularity. The following, from Mr. McCoy (if it needed any additional support to its correctness,) is corroborated by the statements of many disinterested persons.

"There is a striking similarity between all parts of this territory. In its general character, it is high and undulating, rather level than hilly; though small portions partly deserve the latter appellation. The soil is generally very fertile. It is thought that in no part of the world, so extensive a region of rich soil has been discovered as in this, of which the Indian territory is a central position. It is watered by numerous rivers, creeks and rivulets. Its waters pa.s.s through it eastwardly, none of which are favorable to navigation. There is less marshy and stagnant water in it than is usual in the western country.

The atmosphere is salubrious, and the climate precisely such as is desirable, being about the same as that inhabited by the Indians on the east of the Mississippi. It contains much mineral coal and salt water, some lead, and some iron ore. Timber is too scarce, and this is a serious defect, but one which time will remedy, as has been demonstrated by the growth of timber in prairie countries which have been settled, where the grazing of stock, by diminishing the quant.i.ty of gra.s.s, renders the annual fires less destructive to the growth of wood. The prairie (i. e., land dest.i.tute of wood) is covered with gra.s.s, much of which is of suitable length for the scythe."

The Chocktaws, Creeks, Cherokees, Osages, Kanzaus and Delawares, are ent.i.tled to lands westward of this territory for hunting grounds; some to the western boundary of the United States, others to the Rocky mountains.

Mr. McCoy estimates the number of inhabitants of this territory at 47,733.

INDIGENOUS TRIBES.

Osage, about 5,510 Kanzau, " 1,684 Ottoe and Missourias, 1,600 O'Mahaus, 1,400 p.a.w.nees, four tribes, 10,000 Puncahs, about 800 Quapaws, " 450 ------ 21,444

EMIGRANT TRIBES.

Chocktaw, about 15,000 Cherokee, " 4,000 Creek, " 3,600 Seneca, Shawanoe of Neosho, 462 Wea, about 225 Piankeshau, 119 Peoria and Kaskaskias, 135 Ottawa, 81 Shawanoe of Kanzau river, 764 Delaware, 856 Kickapoo, 603 Putawatomie, 444 ------ Emigrants, 26,289 Indigenous, 21,444 ------ Total, 47,733

The estimate of the Chocktaws include about 400 negro slaves,--that of the Cherokees 500, and that of the Creeks about 450 slaves.

_Chocktaws._ Their country adjoins Red river and the Province of Texas on the south, Arkansas on the east, and extends north to the Arkansas and Canadian rivers, being 150 miles from north to south, and 200 miles from east to west. Here are numerous salt springs. For civil purposes, their country is divided into three districts.

_Cherokees._ The boundaries of their country commences on the Arkansas river, opposite the western boundary of Arkansas Territory;--thence northwardly along the line of Missouri, 8 miles to Seneca river;--thence west to the Neosho river;--thence up said river to the Osage lands;--thence west indefinitely, as far as habitable;--thence south to the Creek lands, and along the eastern line of the Creeks to a point 43 miles west of the Territory of Arkansas, and 25 miles north of Arkansas river;--thence to the Verdigris river, and down Arkansas river, to the mouth of the Neosho;--thence southwardly to the junction of the North Fork and Canadian rivers;--and thence down the Canadian and Arkansas rivers to the place of beginning. The treaty of 1828, secures to this tribe 7,000,000 of acres, and adds land westward for hunting grounds as far as the U. S. boundaries extend.

The _Creeks_, or Muscogees, occupy the country west of Arkansas that lies between the lands of the Chocktaws and Cherokees.

The _Senecas_ join the State of Missouri on the east, with the Cherokees south, the Neosho river west, and possess 127,500 acres.

The _Osage_ (a French corruption of _Wos-sosh-ee_, their proper name, which has again been corrupted by Darby and others into _Ozark_) have their country north of the western portion of the Cherokee lands, commencing 25 miles west of the State of Missouri, with a width of 50 miles, and extending indefinitely west. About half the tribe are in the Cherokee country.

The _Quapaws_ were originally connected with the Osages. They have migrated from the lower Arkansas, and have their lands adjoining the State of Missouri, immediately north of the Senecas.

The _Putawatomies_ are on the north-eastern side of the Missouri river, but they are not satisfied, and the question of their locality is not fully settled. 444 Putawatomies are mingled with the Kickapoos, on the south-west side of the Missouri river.

The Weas, Piankeshaws, Peorias and Kaskaskias are remnants of the great western confederacy, of which the Miamies were the most prominent branch. These and other tribes const.i.tuted the Illini, Oillinois, or Illinois nation, that once possessed the country now included in the great States of Indiana, Illinois, &c. Their lands lie west of the State of Missouri, and south-west of the Missouri river.

The _Delawares_ occupy a portion of the country in the forks of the Kanzau river, (or, as written by the French, Kansas.) They are the remnants of another great confederacy, the _Lenni-Lenopi_, as denominated by themselves.

The lands of the _Kickapoos_ lie north of the Delawares, and along the Missouri, including 768,000 acres.

The _Ottoes_ occupy a tract of country between the Missouri and Platte rivers, but their land is said to extend south and below the Platte.

The country of the _O'Mahaus_ has the Platte river on the south, and the Missouri north-east.

The country of the _p.a.w.nees_ lies to the westward of the Ottoes and O'Mahaus. The boundaries are not defined.

The _Puncahs_ are a small tribe that originated from the p.a.w.nees, and live in the northern extremity of the country spoken of as the Indian territory.

_Present Condition._--The Chocktaws, Cherokees and Creeks are more advanced in civilized habits then any other tribes. They have organized local governments of their own, have enacted some wholesome laws, live in comfortable houses, raise horses, cattle, sheep and swine, cultivate the ground, have good fences, dress like Americans, and manufacture much of their own clothing. They have schools and religious privileges, by missionary efforts, to a limited extent. The Cherokees have a written language, perfect in its form, the invention of Mr. Guess, a full-blooded Indian. The Senecas, Delawares, and Shawanoes, also, are partially civilized, and live with considerable comfort from the produce of their fields and stock. The Putawatomies, Weas, Piankeshaws, Peorias, Kaskaskias, Ottawas, and Kickapoos, have partially adopted civilized customs. Some live in comfortable log cabins, fence and cultivate the ground, and have a supply of stock; others live in bark huts, and are wretched. The Osages or Wos-sosh-ees, Quapaws, Kanzaus, Ottoes, O'Mahaus, p.a.w.nees and Puncahs have made much less improvement in their mode of living. A few have adopted civilized habits, and are rising in the scale of social and individual comforts, but the larger portion are yet _Indians_.

Mr. McCoy estimates the whole number of aborigines in North America, including those of Mexico, at 1,800,000, of which 10,000 are so far improved as to be cla.s.sed with civilized men, and amongst whom, there are as many pious Christians, as amongst the same amount of population in the United States. In addition to these, he estimates that there may be about 60,000 more, "which may have made advances toward civilization, some more and some less."

For some years past, the policy of the government of the United States has been directed to the project of removing all the Indians from the country organized into States and Territories, and placing them sufficiently contiguous to be easily governed, and yet removed from direct contact and future interruption from white population. This project was recommended in the period of Mr. Monroe's administration, was further considered and some progress made under that of Mr. Adams, but has been carried into more successful execution within the last five years. It is much to be regretted that this project was not commenced earlier. The residence of small bands of Indians, with their own feeble and imperfect government, carried on within any organized state or territory, is ruinous. Those who argue that _because_ of the removal of the Indians from within the jurisdiction of the states, or an organized territory, _therefore_ they will be driven back from the country in which it is now proposed to place them, evince but a very partial and imperfect view of the subject. The present operation of government is an experiment, and it is one that ought to receive a fair and full trial.

If it does not succeed, I know not of any governmental regulation that can result, with success, to the prosperity of the Indians. The project is to secure to each tribe, by patent, the lands allotted them,--to form them into a territorial government, with some features of the representative principle,--to have their whole country under the supervision of our government, as their guardian, for their benefit,--to allow no white men to pa.s.s the lines and intermix with the Indians, except those who are licensed by due authority,--to aid them in adopting civilized habits, provide for them schools and other means of improving their condition, and, through the agency of missionary societies, to instruct them in the principles of the gospel of Christ.

_Missionary Efforts and Stations._--These are conducted by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,--the Baptist Board of F.

Missions,--the Methodist Epis. Missionary Society,--the Western Foreign Missionary Society,--and the c.u.mberland Presbyterians. Stations have been formed, and schools established, with most of these tribes. About 2,500 are members of Christian churches of different denominations. The particulars of these operations are to be found in the Reports of the respective societies, and the various religious periodicals.

Of other tribes within the Valley of the Mississippi, and not yet within the Indian territory, the following estimate is sufficiently near the truth for practical purposes.

Indians from New York, about Green Bay 725 Wyandots in Ohio and Michigan 623 Miamies 1,200 Winnebagoes 4,591 Chippeways, or O'Jibbeways 6,793 Ottawas and Chippeways of lake Michigan 5,300 Chippeways, Ottawas and Putawatomies 8,000 Putawatomies 1,400 Menominees 4,200

They are all east of the Mississippi, and chiefly found on the reservations in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, and in the country between the Wisconsin river and lake Superior. Those tribes west of the Mississippi river, and along the region of the upper Missouri river, are as follows:

Sioux 27,500 Ioways 1,200 Sauks of Missouri 500 Sauks and Foxes 6,400 a.s.sinaboines 8,000 Crees 3,000 Gros Ventres 3,000 Aurekaras 3,000 Cheyennes 2,000 Mandans 1,500 Black Feet 30,000 Camanches 7,000 Minatarees 1,500 Crows 4,500 Arrepahas and Kiawas 1,400 Caddoes 800 Snake and other tribes within the Rocky mountains 20,000 West of the Rocky mountains 80,000

The Camanches, Arrepahas, Kiawas and Caddoes roam over the great plains towards the sources of the Arkansas and Red rivers, and through the northern parts of Texas. The Black Feet are towards the heads of the Missouri.

_Monuments and Antiquities._--Before dismissing the subject of the aborigines, I shall touch very briefly on the monuments and antiquities of the west,--with strong convictions that there has been much exaggeration on this subject. I have already intimated that the mounds of the west are natural formations, but I have not room for the circ.u.mstances and facts that go to sustain this theory. The number of objects considered as antiquities is greatly exaggerated. The imaginations of men have done much. The number of mounds on the American bottom in Illinois, adjacent to Cahokia creek, is stated by Mr. Flint at 200. The writer has counted all the elevations of surface for the extent of nine miles, and they amount to 72. One of these, Monk hill, is much too large, and three fourths of the rest are quite too small for human labor. The pigmy graves on the Merrimeek, Mo., in Tennessee, and other places, upon closer inspection, have been found to contain decayed skeletons of the ordinary size, but buried with the leg and thigh bones in contact. The _giant_ skeletons sometimes found, are the bones of buffalo.

It is much easier for waggish laborers to deposit old horse shoes and other iron articles where they are at work, for the special pleasure of digging them up for credulous antiquarians, than to find proofs of the existence of the horses that wore them!

There may, or may not, be monuments and antiquities that belong to a race of men of prior existence to the present race of Indians. All that the writer urges is, that this subject may not be considered as settled; that due allowance may be made for the extreme credulity of some, and the want of personal observation and examination of other writers on this subject. Gross errors have been committed, and exaggerations of very trivial circ.u.mstances have been made.

The antiquities belonging to the Indian race are neither numerous or interesting, unless we except the remains of rude edifices and enclosures, the walls of which are almost invariably embankments of earth. They are rude axes and knives of stone, bottles and vessels of potter's ware, arrow and spear heads, rude ornaments, &c.

Roman, French, Italian, German and English coins and medals, with inscriptions, have been found,--most unquestionably brought by Europeans,--probably by the Jesuits and other orders, who were amongst the first explorers of the west, and who had their religious houses here more than a century past.

Copper and silver ornaments have been discovered in the mounds that have been opened. The calumet, or large stone pipe, is often found in Indian graves. Two facts deserve to be regarded by those who examine mounds and Indian cemeteries. First, that the Indians have been accustomed to bury their dead in these mounds. Secondly, that they were accustomed to place various ornaments, utensils, weapons, and other articles of value, the property of the deceased, in these graves, especially if a chieftain, or man of note. A third fact known to our frontier people, is the custom of several Indian tribes wrapping their dead in strips of bark, or encasing them with the halves of a hollow log, and placing them in the forks of trees. This was the case specially, when their deaths occurred while on hunting or war parties. At stated seasons these relics were collected, with much solemnity, brought to the common sepulchre of the tribe, and deposited with their ancestors. This accounts for the confused manner in which the bones are often found in mounds and Indian graveyards. Human skeletons, or rather mummies, have been discovered in the nitrous caves of Kentucky. The huge bones of the mammoth and other enormous animals, have been exhumed, at the Bigbone licks in Kentucky and in other places.

FOOTNOTES:

[7] See Pownal's Administration of the British Colonies,--Colden's History of the Five Nations,--New York Historical Collections, vol.

II.,--Charlevoix Histoire de la Nouvelle France,--Hon. De Witt Clinton's Discourse before the N. Y. Historical Society, 1811,--Discovery of the Mississippi river, by Father Lewis Hennepin,--M. Tonti's Account of M.

De La Salle's Expedition,--La Harpe's Journal, &c.

CHAPTER VII.

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.