As a general rule the coast tribes are inferior in physique and character to the inland tribes, but an exception must be made in favor of the Rogue Rivers. "The men are tall, muscular, and well made, the women are short and some of them quite handsome, even in the Caucasian sense of the word." They are a.s.sociated with some 15 or 20 tribes or bands at the Siletz agency, the whole numbering less than 1,500 souls.
_List of ill.u.s.trations._
978. OL-HA-THE, or _George Harvey_.
Chief of the confederated tribes of Indians of Siletz reservation, Oregon, lineal descendant of a long line of Rogue River chiefs, was captured when a small boy at the Rogue River war between the United States forces and the Rogue River tribes of Southern Oregon, and carried to the Siletz reservation, where he has lived ever since. He is a fine speaker, and has acted many years as an interpreter. This office having brought him into close and constant contact with American civilization, he long ago abandoned his aboriginal habits and religion, and adopted the customs and faith of the whites. He is well known throughout Oregon, and is held in the highest esteem. He has been complimented by the judges everywhere for his integrity and intelligence, and both by his loyalty and education is a living proof of the folly and wickedness of the theory that the Indian can neither be civilized nor be made the friend of the white race.
VIII. PIMAS.
1. PAPAGOS.
The Papapootans, as they style themselves, belong to the Pima family, and have long resided in the country south of the Gila. Have always been at enmity with the Apaches until within the last year, but were friendly to the Spaniards, who, with a few exceptions, have maintained missions among them continuously up to the present time. At the close of the Mexican war were Mexican citizens, and partly civilized, but were not recognized as such by the United States, and were left without an agency or reservation until 1874, when they were settled on the Santa Cruz River, a tributary of the Gila, on a tract of 70,400 acres. They now number between 5,000 and 6,000 souls. Have well-cultivated farms, and live in houses of their own construction.
650. ASCENCION RIOS. (Front.)
651. ASCENCION RIOS. (Profile.)
2. PIMAS.
The Pimas, calling themselves Ohotama, are a portion of a family of Indians of the same name, comprising, besides themselves, the Opates, Eudevis, and Joves, occupying much of Southern Arizona, Sonora, and Sinaloa. Missions were established among them at an early day by the Spaniards, but they revolted many times, killing several of the missionaries. They have long been divided into the Upper and Lower Pimas, the former living on the Gila, in mud-covered huts, and cultivating the soil extensively. Have been long a.s.sociated with the Maricopas, the two tribes now living together as one on a reservation of 64,000 acres. The Pimas now number 4,100; are self-supporting, wear civilized dress, and are ready for the privileges of citizenship.
653. LUIG MORAGUE. (Front.)
654. LUIG MORAGUE. (Profile.)
655. ANTONIO AZUL. (Front.)
656. ANTONIO AZUL. (Profile.)
IX. IROQUOIS.
1. SENECAS.
One of the Five Iroquois Nations in Western New York, comprising, originally, the Sinnekaas, as the Dutch called them, (hence the word Senecas,) Onondagas, Mohawks, Cayugas, and Oneidas. When first known to the French, were living on the south side of Lake Ontario, and engaged in a fierce war with their Algonkin neighbors. By conquest several other tribes became incorporated with them. Missions were established among them by the French as early as 1657. In 1763 the Senecas alone, of the Six Nations, joined in Pontiac"s league to extirpate the English. During the Revolution sided with the English, but made a peace in 1784, and during the second war remained loyal. Early in the century part of the tribe settled in Ohio, afterwards removing to the Indian Territory, where they now are to the number of 240. The New York Senecas still occupy the Alleghany, Cattaraugus, and Tonawanda reserve of 66,000 acres, where they all live in good houses and have large, well-cultivated farms, and are in every way a civilized and well-regulated cla.s.s of people.
1048. DYAR-YO-NAa-DAR-GA-DAH. _One who Carries Hemlock Boughs on his Back._
English name, Caster Redeye. Was born on the Alleghany reservation; belongs to the traditionary Bear clan. Is now President of the New York Senecas. Does not speak English, but is an eloquent speaker in his native tongue. Has been a councillor three terms. Is a farmer and lumberman, and has also been a pilot for several years on the Alleghany River. Caster is a grandson of Governor Blacksnake, the famous chief of the Senecas, who died in 1859 at the age of 120 years. Age, 46; height, 5.9; head, 22-1/2; chest, 43.
1045. DAR-GAR-SWEN-GAR-ANT. _Dropping the Stock of the Gun._
Commonly known as Harrison Halftown; belongs to the Snipe clan. Was born on the Alleghauy reservation. Is the clerk of the nation, which position he has held for the last eight years. Was well educated at a Quaker school adjoining the reservation, and speaks English fluently. Is a fine speaker, and is quite noted as an orator. Age, 47; height, 5.8; head, 23-1/4; chest, 42.
1046. HOH-HO-I-YO. _Splendid Doer._
Samuel Jimson, as he is ordinarily known, is one of a family of thirty-one children, and was born on the Alleghany reservation in 1837. Is a descendant of Mary Jimson, a white captive among the Senecas, whose descendants now number 111. Is a farmer, but also a fine orator, and of more than ordinary ability. Has been a councillor for eleven terms in succession. Height, 6.1; head, 23; chest, 43.
1047. JOHN IRVING.
President of the peacemakers" court. Is a grandson of Governor Blacksnake. Age, 50; height, 5.9-1/2; head, 22; chest, 44.
979. MYRON SILVERHEELS.
980. GROUPS COMPRISING 1045-46-47.
715. A DAUGHTER OF GENERAL PARKER.
Copy from an old daguerreotype.
2. WYANDOTS.
The Wyandots, or Hurons, a western Iroquois tribe, lived originally on the sh.o.r.es of Lake Huron, where they raised tobacco to such an extent that they were called Petem, or Tobacco Indians. Were driven west to Wisconsin and to the sh.o.r.es of Lake Superior, and by the Sioux back again to the neighborhood of Detroit, where they remained up to the close of the wars between the United States and England. In 1832 ceded all their lands in Ohio to the Government, and 687 were removed to Kansas, where they have since resided, at the junction of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. In 1855 many became citizens, and had their lands divided among them, the others being removed to the Indian Territory, where they now are, numbering 258 souls. Some of the Wyandots remained near Detroit, and by treaty with the English government were a.s.signed a reservation on the Detroit River of 23,600 acres, where they yet remain, but have declined within the present century from 200 to 72. Their hereditary king remained with the Canadian band.
_List of ill.u.s.trations._
981. MATHEW MUDEATER.
Head chief of the Wyandots, and a delegate in 1875 to Washington, with power to settle all complications between his tribe and the Government growing out of sundry treaties. Was born in 1813, in Canada.
982. NICHOLAS COTTER.
A councillor in his tribe, and delegate to Washington with Mudeater, 1875. Was born in Canada in 1822.
X. MUSKOGEES.
1. CREEKS.
The Creeks are known in their own language as the Muskokee or Muskogee and occupied originally the greater part of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Their traditions say that they emigrated from the Northwest until they reached Florida, when they fell back to the country between the headwaters of the Alabama and Savannah rivers. As this was full of small rivers and creeks it was called by the early settlers the creek country, hence the name of the Creek Indians, who, when first known to the whites, were living there. Those remaining in Florida were called the Seminoles or Isti-semole (wild men). The nation became a confederacy of tribes speaking other languages, modifying somewhat the original Muskogee, but who, nevertheless, numbered seven-eighths of their whole number. Before a dominant power was established in the South they were courted by the Spanish, French, and English, and were about equally divided in their allegiance to these nations, but the final success of the English brought them entirely under their influence. "They took an active part in the war of the Revolution against the Americans, and continued their hostilities till the treaty concluded at Philadelphia in 1795. They then remained at peace eighteen years; but at the beginning of the last war with Great Britain a considerable portion of the nation, excited, it is said, by Tec.u.mseh, and probably receiving encouragement from other sources, took arms without the slightest provocation, and at first committed great ravages in the vicinity of their western frontier.
They received a severe chastis.e.m.e.nt, and the decisive victories of General Jackson at that time, and some years later over the Seminoles, who had renewed the war, have not only secured a permanent peace with the southern Indians, but, together with the progress of the settlements, have placed them all under the absolute control of the United States. The Creeks and Seminoles, after some struggles among themselves, have ceded the whole of their territory and accepted in exchange other lands beyond the Mississippi."--_Gallatin._
Twenty-four thousand five hundred and ninety-four were removed west of the Mississippi, only 744 remaining on their old hunting-grounds. At the breaking out of the civil war the western Creeks numbered less that 15,000. The tribe divided and engaged in pitched battles against each other, the Unionists suffering badly, many fleeing to Kansas. They were brought together again after the war, and in 1872 numbered 13,000, on a reservation of over 3,000,000 acres in the Indian Territory.
By the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1876, they were numbered at 14,000, including 3,000 mixed-bloods, and all wearing citizens" dress and living in good houses. They have 36 school buildings, with an attendance of about 750 pupils; over $24,000 was expended upon their education. There are 20 churches on the reserve, with a membership among the Creeks of over 3,000. They rank among the first of civilized tribes.
_List of ill.u.s.trations._