XI. INDEPENDENT AND UNCLa.s.sIFIED TRIBES.
1. ARAPAHOS.
"Very little is known of the early history of the Arapahos, but are supposed by some to be the Querechos of the early Spanish explorers.
They called themselves Atsinas, of whom, however, they are but a branch.
The early English knew them as the Fall Indians, and the French as the Gros Ventres of the south. They were then roaming over the plain country about the heads of the Platte and Arkansas. Gallatin speaks of them as a detached tribe of the Rapid Indians, which has wandered as far south as the Platte and Arkansas and formed a temporary union with the Kaskasias and some other erratic tribes. At the present time (1862) the Arapahos are divided into two portions or bands. The first portion call themselves Na-ka-si-nin, "People of the Sage," and number one hundred and eighty lodges. They wander about the sources of the South Platte and the region of Pike"s Peak; also northward to the Red b.u.t.tes on the North Platte. Sometimes they extend their journeyings in search of buffalo along the foot of the Big Horn Mountains in the Crow country. The second band call themselves Na-wuth-i-ni-hau, the meaning of which is obscure.
It implies a mixture of different kinds of people of different bands.
They number 200 lodges, and range along the Arkansas River and its tributaries."--_Hayden._
In 1820 Morse estimated them at 10,000, and speaks of them as a warlike people and often making predatory and murderous excursions on their eastern and northern neighbors.
The Arapahos affiliate with the Cheyennes, with whom they have been on friendly terms for many years. Lately, however, an antipathy seems to be growing up between the two tribes in the Indian Territory, and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs advises a separation. They are divided into two princ.i.p.al divisions, known respectively as the Northern and Southern Arapahos. Those of the north, numbering 1,562, affiliate with the Cheyennes and Ogalallas at the Red Cloud agency. They have been ordered to join their southern brethren, and at the present time the necessary preparations are under way. The Southern Apaches, who number 1,664, with the Southern Cheyennes and a small band of Apaches, are temporarily occupying a large reservation in the western portion of the Territory. The new reservation a.s.signed them lies along the northern border of the Territory west of the Creek and Cherokee countries, and was purchased from them. It comprises nearly 5,000,000 acres.
But little has been done by them looking toward civilization, beyond signifying their willingness to have farms apportioned to them and in sending their children to school.
21. YELLOW BEAR. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
LITTLE WOLF. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
22. POWDER FACE AND SQUAW. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
23. MEDICINE PIPE. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
FOOL DOG. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
24. CRAZY BULL. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
FRIDAY. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
25. PLENTY BEARS. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
OLD EAGLE. NORTHERN ARAPAHOS.
32-35. BI-NAN-SET. _Big Mouth._ SOUTHERN ARAPAHOS.
36-37. WHITE CROW. SOUTHERN ARAPAHOS.
38-39. BLACK CROW. SOUTHERN ARAPAHOS.
40-41. LEFT HAND. SOUTHERN ARAPAHOS.
42-43. YELLOW HORSE. SOUTHERN ARAPAHOS.
44-45. HEAP O" BEARS. SOUTHERN ARAPAHOS.
62-65. OHASTE. _Little Raven._ SOUTHERN ARAPAHOS.
In 1865, Richardson described him as follows: "The savage, like Falstaff, is a coward on instinct; also treacherous, filthy, and cruel. But our chief, The Little Raven, was the nearest approximation I ever met to the ideal Indian. He had a fine manly form, and a human, trustworthy face."
909, 911. BIRD CHIEF. (Bust, front and profile.)
910, 912. BIRD CHIEF. (Standing, front and profile.)
984, 5. FRIDAY.
The well-known chief of the Northern Arapahos and one who has had a prominent position for the last twenty-five years. Speaks English fluently and always acts as his own interpreter.
755. A YOUNG MAN.
Living with and brought up with the Southern Arapahos, but claimed by Ouray, chief of the Utes, to be his son, captured in battle several years since. Ouray has made an appeal to the Government for his rest.i.tution, but the young man prefers his present home.
2. CADDOS.
The Caddos, or Cadodaquious, at present a small remnant of a tribe that once ranged over the Red River country, where they were first met with in 1687 by Jontel and other survivors of the La Salle expedition. They are now consolidated with Wacos, Wichitas, Keechies, Tawacanies, Ionies, and Delawares, and number 552, occupying the Wichita reservation of about 1,200 square miles in extent between the branches of the--
They have now well-managed farms, and are noted for industry and general intelligence.
159-160. SHO-E-TAT. _Little Boy._
English name, Geo. Washington. Born in Louisiana in 1816. Is probably the most progressive Indian on the reservation; has long since adopted the dress and customs of the whites; owns a trading-store, and has a well-cultivated farm of 113 acres, with good houses and improvements. Was captain during the rebellion of a company of Indian scouts and rangers in the service of the Confederate States army, and engaged in three battles, one on Cache Creek, Indian Territory, with Kiowas and Apaches; one with Cheyennes, in the Wichita Mountains; and one on the Little Was.h.i.ta, with renegade Caddos.
161-162. NAH-AH-SA-NAH. _Indian._ ANADARKO.
Commonly known as War-loupe; probably a corruption of Guadeloupe.
Was born near Nacitoches about 1825. Is now chief of the Caddos, and considered in advance of most of his people. Is doing his utmost to elevate his tribe to the standard of the white man. Height, 5.6-1/2; chest, inspiration, 37; expiration, 34-1/2; circ.u.mference of head over ears, 21-1/2; diameter of head from ear to ear, 14-1/2.
163-4. ANTELOPE.
With the preceding was a delegate to Washington in 1872, but died shortly after his return.
3. CHEROKEES.
When first discovered, the Cherokees were occupying the mountainous country about the headwaters of the Tennessee River and portions of Georgia and South Carolina, up to 1830. They form a family by themselves, supposed, however, to be somewhat remotely connected with the Great Iroquois family. They call themselves in their language Tsaraghee. According to their traditions, they came to this country before the Creeks, dispossessing a people of whom there is now no record. Before and during the Revolution they were friendly to and aided the English. A treaty of peace was made with them, by which they acknowledged the sovereignty of the United States November 28, 1785, and were confirmed in the possession of their lands, occupying a considerable portion of Tennessee and parts of North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Commenced migrating to the trans-Mississippi country as early as 1790, consequent upon the encroachments of civilization, and in 1818 3,000 more emigrated. As frequent cessions of their lands had reduced their territory to less than 8,000 square miles in extent, and also in consequence of the hostility of the Georgians, they were all removed in 1838 to their present reservation in the Indian Territory, excepting about 1,000, who remained in North Carolina. At the opening of the civil war they had progressed to a high degree of prosperity, but suffered great injury from both parties ravaging their country, and also in the emanc.i.p.ation of their slaves. Nearly all the Cherokees at first joined the Confederacy, but after the fight at Pea Ridge, seeing the result doubtful, 9,000, under Colonel Downing, with a majority of the nation, abandoned the southern cause and joined the Union forces; 6,500 adhered to the Confederacy to the end. At the time of their removal west the Cherokees numbered about 27,000. In 1867 they were reduced to 13,566, but since then have increased, so that they now number about 18,000. There are about 1,700 yet in North Carolina, in a prosperous condition, owning about 70,000 acres of land.
The reservation in the Indian Territory comprises about 5,000,000 acres, only one-third of it capable of cultivation, and of which they are now working some 90,000 acres. Their crops for 1875 aggregated 630,000 bushels corn, 70,000 bushels wheat, 35,000 bushels oats, 50,000 tons hay, 500,000 feet of lumber, &c. They have 63 schools, attended by nearly 2,000 children, that are supported by a fund of $1,580,000, held by the United States. Under their present const.i.tution they are governed by a national committee and council elected for two years. The executive, or chief, is elected for four years.
The following portraits show the effects of the civilizing influences they have been living under, and also the extensive admixture of white blood among them by intermarriage:
_List of ill.u.s.trations._
66. COLONEL DOWNING.
67. RICHARDS.
68. COLONEL ADAIR.
69. SAMUEL SMITH.
70. BORUM DAVIS.