History of the Indians, of North and South AmericaGoodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
History
History of the Indians, of North and South America
Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
Indians of North America -- History; Indians of South America -- History
The Creeks are not so well organized, in respect to their government,
as the Choctaws or Cherokees. There are two bands or parties, one under
McIntosh, the other under Little Doctor. The first of these brought
from their former home their old laws; the latter have framed theirs
since their removal. Both of them have their general councils, who
combine the legislative, executive, and judicial departments in one.
They own salt-springs, cultivate the ground, and follow other pursuits
of civilization. Many of them, also, are said to have large stocks of
cattle. Before the crops of 1837 had been gathered, it is stated that
they had sold corn to the amount of upwards of $39,000, and that vast
quantities then remained unsold; and even the emigrants, who arrived
in the country during the winter and spring previous to the harvest
of that year, broke the turf, fenced their fields, raised their crops
for the first time, and sold their surplus of corn for $10,000. By the
treaty of the 6th of March, 1832, it is stipulated that an annuity of
$3,000 shall be expended by the United States, under the direction of
the president, for twenty years, in the education of their children.
Besides this, $1,000, by the treaty of the 14th of February, 1833, is
to be annually expended, during the pleasure of Congress, for the same
object. A great number of the Creeks, and of the Seminoles who are now
merged in that tribe, died on the way, or shortly after their removal
to the Indian Territory.
The Cherokees have probably made the greatest advances in civilization
of any of the Indian nations on our western border. They own numerous
salt-springs, which are worked by themselves, and in which they
manufacture, it is said, one hundred bushels of salt, daily. They
also own two lead-mines. The eastern portion of their country, which
embraces the settlements, contains about 2,500,000 acres. They have a
large stock of cattle, wagons, ploughs, looms, and spinning-wheels;
their lands are well inclosed with rail-fences; and they have
comfortable log-houses, with stone chimneys and plank floors, which are
well furnished. They have, likewise, seven native merchants, and one
regular physician.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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