Historical and statistical information respecting the history, condition, and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States [2]

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ETHNOLOGICAL RESEARCHES, RESFECTINQ

THE EED MAN OF AMERICA.

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HKSI-Kl TINC, TIIK

HISTORY CONDITION AND PROSPECTS D I

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INFOKMATION BESPEOTINO THE

AND PROSPECTS

HISTORY, CONDITION nF T

II

r.

INDIAN TKIBES OF THE UNITED STATES: COLLECTED AND PREPARED UNDER TUB DIRECTION or TnE

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, PER ACT OP CONGRESS OF MARCH

BY HENRY

R.

ILLDSTRATED By

I^uhlisfieb

bij

3d,

184

SCHOOLCRAFT,

8.

EASTMAN, CAPT.

liit[ioritij of

PART

7,

LL. D.

U. 8. A.

Congress.

II.

PHILADELPHIA:

LIPPINCOTT, GRAM BO

&

COMPANY,

(SUCCESSORS TO GRiaO, ELLIOT & CO.)

1852.

ruQtod \y T.

Ji.

t

1'.

U.

CoUmi.

TO

MILLARD FFLLMORK, PKKSIDKNT

OI-'TIIK ITNITKI) .STATKS,

Tin: (iUKAT FATiiKR Tins VOLCMK

IS

OF

Till] im:i)

UKSl'KCTFl'LLY liY

INS(JKI|{KIJ

THE

COMMISSIOXEIl OK INDIAN AFFAIRS.

NOVEMHKU

12, 1851,

max.

M^.

)

:

INTRODUCTORY DOCUMENT.

Washington, Augnst

14///,

1851.

Hon. Luke Lea, Comminsloner of Indian Affairs. Di'iKvtment of the Interior.

Siu I linvo the

honor to submit

investigations respecting the statistics States,

made

for

your consideration,

tlio

and condition of the Indian

in conformity with the provisions of

my

(Second Part of

United

tribes of the

an Act of Congivss of the 3d of

March, 1847.

The

statistical tables, to

which I

invite

your attention, taken

in

connexion with

those heretofore published, indicate some facts of leading imiiortance to the Indian tribes.

The

principles of the census,

wherever

tlie

thej- liave

welfare of

been

a|)i)liod,

denote, that a huntor-population does not reproduce itself at a ratio, which can be,

even in the most favorable circumstances, accurately appreciated and relied on it

is

;

wliile

subject to sudden fluctuations, such as do not pertain to a fixed conuinniity.

The initil

rate of reproduction

is

so small,

and the causes of depopulation so

keep up their numlwrs,

is

the most favorable view that can be presented.

of two hundred years, so far as facts can be gleaned, tribes

great, that,

the period of their colonization, neither to increase, nor decrease, but barely to

many

In a survey

of the bauds and

siib-

have most rapidly declined, and yet a greater number of them have become

entirely extinct.

The

policy of pursuing the chose

so subversive of every principle of increase

the Indians themselves have not peroeived

is

so destructive to

and prosiwrity, that it.

But when

it

this

coupled with the policy of petty, predatory, tribal warfare, as

it

is

human

life

—

amazing that

fatal

delusion

has been for ( vll

is

all

INTRODUCTORY DOCUMENT.

viii

the period that wi> have been in proximity to them,

who were

trilx'H

North America

in

in

IGOO, theiv

only wonJorfnl, that of the

it is

a descendant

i.s

left to recoJUit

their history.

The

republic of the United States has had charjio of these people three (piarters of

During

a century, (dating from 177G.)

this jx'riod, it

demonstrated, that the

is

estimates of numbers for the old area of the Confederation have Ix-en either greatly

exaggerated, or the decline of the tribes in immediate contact with civilization, has

In most cases which have been examined, both causes have

been extraordinary.

manifestly o|ierated. But as these seventy-five years constitute the era of their greatest

we

disturbance from frontier wars, and as the details from wliieh

very imperfect, the

exactitude of inference which

In 17G4,

when

1x5

nuist judge, are

still

thrown into ivgular periods with

tlie

demanded.

is

the efficient Cohmel Bouquet crossed the Alleghanies with an army,

which brought the of the Indian

cannot

statistical facts

hostile tribes of the

triljcs

of

hundred fighting men.

Ohio Valley

Estimating

to tenns,

he estimated the strength

North America at

British Colonies of

tlie

five souls to

thousand

fifty-six

each warrior, which

five

found to be a

is

reliable ratio, tlie entire Indian population within British jurisdiction, at that day,

was two hundred and eighty-three thousand

New

souls.

No

fiart

of the tribes of Texas,

Mexico, California, Oregon, or Utah, was included in his estimates;

embraced Hither Louisiana and the remote

known

to

and English

the French

The preliminary

schedule.

entire population of the to be

tradcr.s,

as

estimates, including

census, begun in 1847, submitted in trilx's,

my

and west of the

tribes north

first

partial

re[)ort,

— ninety-two

From

this aggregate,

thousand one hundred and thirty IVir

California

— twenty-two

and eleven thousand

thirty-three for Oregon,

returns of the aboriginal

(Part

p. 528,)

I.,

denote the

at this day, in the present enlarged area of the Union,

about four hundred thousand.

two thousand one hundred

it

perceived by the details of the

is

puriHise of comparison, to deduct twenty-four thousand one

of Texas

but

Mississipjii,

five

essential,

is

it

hundred

New

for

for the

for the accpiisitioii

Mexico

—

thirty-

thousand seven hundred and

hundred

Utah

for

;

making an

oggregate, for the newly acquired territories, of one hundred and eighty-two thousand fi\e

hundred and

ninety-four.

1850, before referred

hundred and

to,

thirty-five,

number of deaths

These numlx>rs deducted

for the

same area embraced by Bouquet,

in the trilx's to exceed the births

could

Ix*

taken as absolutely

reliable,

— denoting

:

—a

and continued

ratio of decline, which,

to be equally depopulating,

would extinguish the entire Indian population of the United States

hundred years.

These

in the hunter-life,

The permanent

I

I;

I

the

by seventy-seven thousand three

hundre'd and sixty-five, in a period of eighty-seven years if it

fiiim the gross estimates of

give a population of two hundred and five thousand six

in

about two

figures are but approximations to the actual state of decline

and may be adduced

to

show the importance of

causes of Indian decline cannot, however,

statistical data.

lie

mistaken.

Their

I

INTRODUCTORY DOC UM E N T. '

progiTss of detorioration

ih (soimi

have

to

linked,

liceii

sis

by an

IX

indissoliildi- iliaiii. willi

scanty means of subsistence and non-industrial habits and character, whtivver

tlieir

they have been h)cated, and however they have wandered. Tiie cultivated field, the jdough, tyjies

iis

They

causes are .seen to be fundamental.

as if

have led them

generally, as to

triJK^s

have

him against the

to protect it

lire

not more luunistakeably ninrkid,

exist so stroiifrly in the

these

to llee lx>fore tiie ai)[)roaches of civili/ation,

the contrary, the influences of agriculture and fixity

has been a

ixjlicy

to tliem

—

to foster the Ix'st capacities of the

arts of cupidity

man, and

and the allurements of indulgence.

from the foundation of the government,

tiiroiigii

of thirteen Presidents, beginning witli Washington, to demonstrate to the folly

And

minds of the Indian

a marked manner, suited to promote the growth of those bands wiiich

Ik'cu, in

have iK'taken themselves

all,

On

were a pestilence.

it

and the bow,

of habit and condition, in the Indian than the Euroi)ean races.

Aljove the eras

tril)es

the

of their internal and external wars, as well as the waste of their energies in the

The

chase; and to preserve jieace on the frontiers. Intercourse Act,"

may

their rights

and

of the most

humane

lie

singled

o>it,

in

an

interests again.st the whites

twelve sections of "the

first

manner, as designed

esi)ecial

nations does not furnish a body of treaties, laws, and public acts.

to protect an aboriginal people, which have been pursued,

mutation,

.so

perseveringly and successfully.

length crowned

immediate

the.se efforts

practice of agriculture, letters,

of the colonized

was a

tril)es,

the

i-espects

the mon;

who have been removed to positions favoring the and morals. This is, it may Ije afllrmed, the position

first steps to

the policy of which were taken in 1S*J4.

result not to be compas.sed in a short period,

attention of the nation; and he eflects of civilization

through every adverse

Fixity of haltits and industry have at

with the elements of success, so far as

operated on,

tribes

to protect

on the frontier; and the colonial history

must shut

and

it

is

It

a iH)int deserving the

his eyes to the evidences of the benign

upon aboriginal barbarism, who does not see

in this policy, that

The Cherokees, the Chootaws, the Chickasaws, and the Mu.scogees or Creeks, are the living monuments of rescued nations, who are destined to take their places in the family of man. The statistics which it

has been, to the e.xtent stated, successful.

belong to this subject, have been sought with diligence, and notwithstanding obstacles in the process of successful collection,

yet existing,

ai"e

before you.

Thus

With ation

res]iect to the

is

mounted group of

The

tril)es

is

whose home appears, at

—

due time

laid

part of this relates to the predatory and

—a

tribe

which, by the vocaladary printed

perceived to belong to the wide-spi-eading Shoshonee stock least

licw'iB

Pr. II.

first

of the Co.manciikes or Niiiine

in section IX. A.,

will be in

wild hunter-trilK's of the forests and prairies, additional inform-

presented in section V. B. trilx;

and

far of the colonized tribes.

from the sources of the

and CInrkc,

Mi.s8ouri,' to

—a have

INTRODUCTORY DOCUMENT.

X

Rocky Mountains.

been, from an early tiino, the

tk'gradod Bonacks or Root-diggers of

New

s[)reading also through parts of Texas, tliat

It is perceived, that it

embraces the

Utah and the Snakes and Shoshonces of Oregon, Mexico, and California.

It is probable

much

the cognate dialects of this language cover a larger area, though

of

it is

barren and mountainous, than any other stock of tribes in the United States.

The second

now submitted

part of the information

relates to the large

and widely-

spread tribe of the Ojibwas or Chipjxjwas, of the Algonquin group of our history, and

These two

secondly, to the great Prairie group of the Dacotas west of the Mississippi.

important groups of tribes have, from an early epoch, occupied

and

up[)er parts of the Mississippi Valley

a large part of the

territorial area

statement A. in part

The

submitted. treaties

with the United States, ceding an imjxjrtant area in Minnesota, which must

the promises of labor and

States.

i'reedom from restraint,

tribes still cling

— that they view with — that they glory

;

and the

and are fascinated with

fact of their

human

that contemplates

We

discouragement.

broader and roving bands,

;

the i'allacious allurements of the

all

must have given 30U abundant means

attachment to

forest-lifo is

history with enlarged views, nor does

it

ground

ofl'er

and

to

to

mind

not surprising to the

for

make them

Years will be demanded to reach, with practical inlluenccs, the

arc

still

strongly fascinated with the wilderness, and

who now hover

around the broad bases of both sides of the Rocky Mountains, the high table-

lands of perish

and even contempt,

a wild independence and

are but required to persevere in our eflbrta,

fuller.

who

with great tenacity to their distrust,

in

letters

chase, your recent journey to Minnesota

fitfully

cession,

of section XII. of Statistics and Population, B., herewith

III.

native forests and native habits

u

and the former have furnished, by

;

of the Western States, as will fully appear from

That the hunter and non-industrial

observe

of the central

Sioux, or Dacotas proper, have but just (1851) entered into general

become the theatre of several new tf

much

New

Mexico, and the Sierra Nevada.

Many

of these tribes will probably

but the question of time, which must develop results, cannot alter our duties as

a nation entrusted with the highest tjpe of civilization, to collect the data of their vital statistics

and

condition,

and

to spread

them

before the people of the country

and the world. \f

The

subject

expansive

new

is

feelings.

one that requires to be viewed from exalted points, and with Facts before us denote that the Indian ran be reclaimed.

principles arc necessary to be eliminated

alike

amenable

to that law,

there

The sound and

no other on

record,

for saying, " In the

II

be obliterated.

would demonstrate

Hraiiionl.

Works

sweat of thy

face,

experiment of one noble man,

practical

Fiscal and vital statistics denote that '

to

No

lie

is

which governs the races of white and of red men, and of

whoni we have the divine sanction eat bread."

— no old ones

it is

thou shalt

in 1740,

were

this.'

not the curtailment of their territory that

of .Toiintlian EJwnrds, Vol. X.

INTRODUCTORY DOCUMENT. has led to Indian depopulation.

untouched by the

area

It is

the ruinous policy of the

and

plou

74. Dog-dance

7!)

III.

ANTIQUITIES.

1.

Floridian Tcocalli, or Elevated Platform Rcsidcncca of the Native Rulers and PrieAts.

2.

Antiquities of

. . .

Lake Eric

Rr>

85

A. Ancient Eriea B. Antiquities of Cunningham's Island

Rock

C. Sculptured

8()

87

or Eric Inscription

3.

Archivological Articles from South Carolina (Plate)

4.

Archneological Relics from Western

5.

Antique Aboriginal Embankments and

New York

88

00

(Plate)

Excavations at Lake Vicux Desert,

Boundary of Wisconsin and Northern Michigan

91

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

IV.

By

Mississippi River.

Physical

2.

on tho

(Plate)

Notices of the Natural Caves in the Sioux Country, on the Left

1.

83

Bank of

tho

Upper

N.J.Nicollet

95

Data respecting tho Southern Part of California

incluiled

in

tho Lino

of

Boundary between San Diego and the Mouth of the River Gila; with Incidental Notices of

the

Diegunos and

Yuma

Indian

Tribes.

By

Lieutenant Whipple,

A

U. S.

99

TRIBAL ORGANIZATION, HISTORY, AND GOVERNMENT.

V. 1.

The Naiini or Comanches of Texas.

2.

Oral Traditions respecting the History of the Ojibwa Nation.

3.

Contributions

to

the

History,

(One Plate)

Customs, and

Opinions, of the

125

(Two

135

Plates)

Dacota Tribes.

(Six

108

Plates)

VI.

INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY AND CHARACTER.

Numeration

A.

204

1.

Choctow

204

2.

Dacota

206

3.

Cherokee

209

4.

Ojibwa of Chegoimegon

211

5.

Winnebago

214

6.

Chippewa

21(1

7.

Wyandot

218

220

8. Hitchittee 9.

Cumanche

10. Cuchan or

221

Yuma

221

CONTENTS. Art

B.

xiz

222

of Recordino Ideas

222

Pi(i..i;raphy

1.

ludian Census Roll

222

h.

Magic Song

223

c.

Mrilii'ine

d.

Ilaokah

e.

Indian Signatures

/.

Mnemonic Symbols

a.

2. Alphabetical a.

223

Animal of tho Winnebagoes

—a

224

Pacota God

22G for

226

Music

22«

Notation

228

Cherokee Syllabical Alphabet

Oral Imaginative legends

C.

221>

1.

Transformation of a Hunter Lad

220

2.

Origin of the Zea Maize

2:50

3.

The Wolf Brother

232

4.

Sayadio

235

VII. 1.

Mandans

2.

Pontiac Manuscript

3.

Anacoana, Queen of the Caribs

I.

Physical Characteristics

TOPICAL HISTORY. 239

Indians, in

:

Journal of the Events of the Siege of Detroit by the confi'doratoJ

17G3

240 309

PHYSICAL TYPE OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

VIII.

a. Osteological

31C

316

Character

h.

Facial Angle

317

c.

Stature

317

d. Fossil

Remains cf the American Race

e.

Complexion

/.

Hair

g.

Eyes

319

320 .321 ..

A. Artificial Modifications of the Skull

323 323

1.

Tho Natchez

324

2.

The Choctaws

324

3.

The Waxsaws

4.

The Muscogecs,

5.

The Catawbas

6.

Attacapas

325

7.

Nootka- Columbians

,325

8.

Peruvians

326

324 or Creeks

325 325

1

I

CONTENTS.

zx I.

II.

Volume

828

of the Brain

1.

Mexicans

2.

'ihe

329 830

Barbarous Tribes

Admeasurements of the Crania op thb Principal Groups of Indians of the 331 United States. By Mr. J. S. Phillips

Iroquois

335

Algonquin

335

Appalachian

335

Dacota

335

Shoshonee

335

Oregonian

335

IX. I.

II.

LANGUAGE.

Indian Languages op the United States.

By H. R. Schoolcraft

Plan of Thought of the American Languages.

840

ByDr.FRANCis Lieber

III.

Essay on the Grammatical Structure op the Algonquin Language.

IV.

Remarks on the Principles of the Cherokee Language. Worcester

VI.

Vocabularies

By

346 II.

R.

S.

N.

Schoolcraft

I

443 457




application of nio

and water

wedge and the lever were,

The mechanical

to the surface of the rock. it is true, to

some extent employed, and

by means of

cutting masses of native copper

was

effected

hardened by an admixture of

tin,'

or in some

way

tlie

chisels of the

i)owers of the

operation of

same material,

not exactly apparent.

Pieces of

native copjier, in a state of rude manufivcture, were scattered, at very early periods, in

tumuli and graves, not only throughout the basins of the upper lakes and the valley of the Mississippi, from this prolific source, but over more than half of North America.*

These ancient labors were manifestly due to the predecessors of the Vesperic trilies, whose vestiges are scattered in the Valley of the Mississippi. But even here, the element of the zea maize, and perhaps a sjwcies of bean,' must have lx?en relied on to a considerable extent, as an article transported from contiguous southern latitudes.

was

less

than an hundred and

antique copper-beds referred

maize

is

known

fifty

to, to

the

Fox

river valley of

Green Bay, where the zea

have been cultivated by the natives from the

to

It

geographical miles, in aline south from the Michigan

earliest arrival of the

French.

This cereal was

rai.scd

on the ancient Winnebago

fields,

on the inner shores of Green

Bay, and perhaps extended to the banks of the Menomonie carried in that longitude, in its northern distribution, kizzie, or

The

river.

plant was not

beyond the latitude of Wakanuk-

the point called L'arbre croche by the French, on the eastern shores of Lake

Michigan.

In the valley of the upper Mississippi,

its

geographical dissemination was

higher; and in proportion as that river was ascended westward in

its

discovery, at

considerable distances above the Falls of St. Anthony, the climate favored I

found this grain at Cass Lake, on the sources of the river, in 1832, and

current tradition of red and white men, that

it

had been

so as to preserve seed, from a very early period, at

'

It is confosscd,

referred to in Part *

Vide Part

we have no

I., p.

I., p.

locality of tin

iu the

rai.sed,

and came

Red Lake, near

United States, unless

it

its

growth.

it

was the

to perfection,

latitude 49°,

is

given.

in

bo in the valley of the Kansas,

157.

95, where a general view of this question

and

'

Part

I., p.

54.

GENERAL HISTORY.

82

To

the valley of Reil River of the North.

these remote points

had

it

Ix^en carried in

the migrations northwestwardly of the Ojibways, the Kenistenos, and the Assinaboines II




TiiMihi

it

ft

41

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. strap on

the limb of a tree, or in the lodge, and the fixtures are so ingeniously

contrived that, even if

it

and rarely

if

ever cries

;

and

little

in this confine-

learns its first lesson in endurance.

I.

The

47.

Meantime, the

down, the child cannot be hurt.

it falls

abinojee itself seems perfectly contented,

ment

67

DEATH AND

ITS INCIDENTS.

(,

character of the devices which are placed on the grave-post of the Indian

has been described under the head of Pictography, Part appropriate for adults

who have

trod the war-path,

Such devices are

I., p. .354.

and made themselves conspicuous

bravery or heroism.

for

Children and youth generally pass

such memorials

and

;

bitterness.

but their loss

is

away from the scenes of Indian life without any by mothers with inconsolable grief

often bewailed

It is the intensity of this grief

which

the foundation of the

lies at

practice of adopting white children stolen from the settlements

on the

Such

frontiers.

cases are generally, if not in every instance, traceable to a request of the Indian

A

mother to replace the child of Avhich she has been bereaved by death.

grief that

indulged under the hopeless darkness of the aboriginal

mind may be supposed

no more natural or reasonable mode of assuagement.

But

is

a son,

lias

is

often deeply partaken of

develojied forensic talents to succeed

have mentioned the noble

The son of Gel

48.

was bathing

sacrifice

v

is grief,

was

when the

father, especially if the lad be

him

is

have

object

grown, and

in the chieftainship of the band.

We

of Bianswah under these circumstances.

Plat, a noted chief of the Pillagers at

sources of the Mississippi, lie

by the

to

killed

Leech Lake, on the

on the enemy's border, west of that

in a lake with a companion.

The

father,

point, while

who was about

sixty,

and

contemplated leaving this son as his successor in that large and warlike band, laid the Ions

deeply to heart, and dwelt ujwn the hardness of his fate

turned his hojies on a younger son

band

;

and

in order to let

an invitation to hunters

all

them know

means with the traders

to

many

years.

He

then

he desired to instal in his place with this

his wishes

on the subject, he sent out formally

the band to attend a feast.

who brought him

did not fumisli.

whom

the carcasses of

He

many

prepared for

animals

;

this,

by employing

and he staked his utmost

purchase such articles of food as the forests in that quarter

There were

eigliteen kettles of eatables prepared.

He

then brought

out his young son, dressed in the best manner, with fine clothes, and bearing five silver

medals hung with ribbons around his neck, being

all

his regalia.

He

then arose and

uttered his lost son's eulogy, speaking, in glowing terms, of his capacities for the

hunter

life

and the war-path, and ended by presenting

for their future chief.

to their notice the tiny candidate

:

fl

i

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

68 49. Black

is

the universal sign for mourning ;

symbolize night, for Avhich purpose

The Ml ^i

f

w

face of the

readily rub

off.

mourner

On

it is

is

nations.

The

corpse

is

and

its

pipe, are placed beside him, together

where

The crown-

His war-club, gun, and

The

with a small quantity of vermilion.

can gather around

all

it,

when an

It

best clothes.

wrapped in a new blanket, and new moccasins and leggins put on.

laid in public,

or

legs are cut or scarified,

dressed in

band, head-dress or frontlet, and feathers, are also put on.

is

for,

smeared with some simple black mixture that will not

is

many

taken

is

represented to stand

crossed and blackened.

occasions of deep affliction, the arms

an oriental custom with is

the symbol for death, and

it is

In their pictography, the image of the sun

from night.

address

corpse

made, partly to

is

the spectators, describing the character of the deceased, and partly to the deceased li

himself, speaking to

him

If

it is

a female that

is

about to be interred, she

Pawnees, and other prairie be ready to

mount

Th^ mode of burial

The

50.

mere

tribes, kill

is

who

and giving

state.

provided with a paddle, a kettle,

The

and other feminine implements.

the warrior's horse upon his grave, that he

in a future state,

and proceed to the appointed scene of

belief,

not

is

strongly dwelt uix)n.

fi.\ed.

rest.

However mistaken they

it,

not spoken of as a

—

as something

During the whole period of

the judgmtnit of the nation.

did not believe in

It is

an actuality,

It is regarded as

knew and never heard

of an

and in the reappearance of the body in a future

state.

residence and travels in the Indian country, I never

Indian

present,

represented in Plate 16.

is

known and approved by

my

for the head,

idea of immortality

supposition or a

still

supposed to be about to tread in a future

is

an apekun or carrying strap

may

was

as if the Ocliicliag or soul

directions as to the path he

are on the subject of accountabilities for acts done in the

i-

present

man

no small part of their entire mythology, and the belief that sustains the

life,

in his vicissitudes

enjoyment

and wanderings

here, arises

from the anticipation of ease and

nay, the alacrity, with which an Indian frequently is

The

in a future condition, after tlic soul has left the body.

to be ascribed to this prevalent belief

his life long,

He

lies

down and

resignation,

surrenders

life,

does not fear to go to a land which,

all

he has heard abounds in rewards without punishments.

51. I was present with an interpreter in upper Michigan in 1822, when the interment of a warrior and hunter took place, at which the corpse was carefully dressed, as above described, and after it was brought to the grave, and before the lid was nailed

to the coffin,

an address was made by an Indian to the

relating to this belief

thers have gone

waa

— you

this

:

— " You are about

corpse.

The

to go to that land

have finished your journey here, before

us.

substance of

it

where our

forefar

We shall

follow

you, and rejoin the happy groups which you will meet." 52.

When

the speaking and ceremonies were concluded, the coffm was lowered into

the trench prepared to receive

it,

and thus " buried out of sight."

This mode of inter-

"^lHM«iMMMM«ianMMH*MMM»N

}f

^mP^*

-fttt >.;

/'

•

Ir'M,

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

69

to the forest tribes of the north, and appears to have been practised

ment is common by them from the

They

earliest periods.

which are completely out of the reach of

Often these spots

dead are sightly and picturesque points, which command

selected for the burial of the

extensive views.

choose dry and elevated places for burial,

floods or standing water.

They bury east and west. They are without proper tools, and do make the place of interment secure from the depredations

not dig deep, but generally of wild beasts,

by arranging the trunks of small

notched at the angles, around a bark roof

is

which

constructed,

Algonquin and Appalachian

Such

will shed the rains.

form of a parallelogram

is

the

in the west

But whatever was

its

and Lake

Pennsylvania, and Western

New

were marked by heaps of stones.

respecting the custom

rude

mode

literally

is

of .sepulture

is

Rarely the resting-places of Indian heroes

found to be

common and ;

But by

most striking theatre of

mound, as well as the more

maximum

for the altar

was used exclusively and endeavored

And

the small sepulchral

They

also,

by dwelling

to

mound, and the redoubt mound, the

village.

We

show that there

ance of these ruins or remains

;

have called attention to is

no mystery

commu-

latter of

and

civilization, resulted

and that

I.,

p.

and present appear-

mounds and defences were

and populousness of the

tribes

;

that their

pipe sculpture, and other evidences of art, are not typical of a higher degree of zation, or social condition,

which

and picketings,

this point in Part

in the origin

that the various species of

perfectly adapted to the former condition

epoch of the

in large

to defend the entrance or gates, through walls

which enclosed an entire

p. 49.

I.,

satisfied that their great warriors

sight."

lofty village or public tumulus, were, at the

of their power, frequently erected.

had occasion

this

where the population was more dense, and

more abundant, were not

and orators should be so quickly " buried out of

49,

the tradition of the Mnscogees

far the

the Mississippi Valley, whose plains and alluvions have been

tribes of the Mississippi Valley,

the means of subsistence

nities,

into almost

In Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, this species

well preserved.'

is

it fell

There are some traces of it in Virginia,

tribes.

York.

of distinction for

sown with the dead. Vide tumuli proper, or sepulchral mounds. Part

The

54.

mark

prevalence at other epochs, while they were

and south-west, and before they crossed the Alleghanies,

entire disuse in the Atlantic

of tumuli, fonned of earth,

various

form of small mounds or

barrows, appears to have been a practice in ancient periods as a

eminent persons.

In other instances

mode of the

tribes.

raising of " heaps" of earth over the grave, in the

The

53.

trees in the

or by stakes driven in the ground.

it,

civili-

their manifestations of incipient skill, power,

from the flush of barbaric success and ample compensative

means, which marked the ancient Indian confederacies of this valley, before later and fiercer

'

hunter hordes drove them from their

seats,

and scattered them.

History of Aliibama, Georgia, and Mississippi, by Albert James Pickett, 1851.

Vol.

We I., p.

have 164.

also

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

70

this consideration those apparently intrusive evidences of " old

withdrawn from art,"

Indian

who

We

civilization.

dwelt on the

should not consider

by the

it

extraordinary that the ancient

mounds and

tumuli, which are

maize, and hunted the deer, elk, and buffalo, to

fill

the wig^vams with signs of gladness,

could live and flourish at a single village or location or three hundred hands could It

was not

Ix;

55. Burial

among

descried afar

rude cofhn, which to the eye

(Plate 59.) 56.

more

No

by

is

and when

the northern bands,

raix>ly sustain

their chief died,

themselves

who if

of!'.

The

They

scaffold their

corpse, after

it

it

dead on eminences where they

has received

its

wrappings,

placed in a

is

generally garnished with red pigments, and rendered picturesque

offerings to the dead,

hung on

poles; and, if

it

can be

body in caves, were often resorted

got,

a

flag.

to.

has commended the forest tribes of the old area of the United States

to the respt

t

and adminition of beholders than the scrupulous regard with which

piety they exhibit in visiting, at

all jwriods,

at graves so long as it

is

;

the veneration and

these sjwts; and the anguish of their minds

any marks of disrespect and disturbance of the bones of

made

shivered in cold and

numbering more than

they are found to remonilx?r the burial-grounds of their ancestors

at

two

the wild hordes of the prairies assumes a feature that marks

Burials, or deposits of the

trait

;

to carry sacks of earth for a sepulchral

at a place.

as a peculiar habit of the tribes.

may be

employed

among

so

storms half the year, and could

twenty heads of families

now found to be overgrown tribes, who raised the zea

Tliousands of persons of these

forest in various places.

" heap" or mound.

trilx's

bottom-lands of the Mississippi and the Ohio, should have

fertile

erected the rude defences,

m

world

which are anomalous, and can by no means be deemed as elements of ancient

supposed there

remaining; aiid oblations are poured out to the

is

their ancestors.

Gifts are

any part of the perishable matter

spirits

of the departed after other

rites

are discontinued 57.

These sepulchral and the defensive ruins of more populous and advanced

tribes

The prairie tribes, west of the Mississippi river, erected no tun uli or works of defence. They never remained in one location long enough to surround themselves with the feelings and cireumstances of a home and when the Spaniards introduced the horse, an element was prepared which operated as are found alone in the forest country.

;

if

i

fuel to their erratic habits,

and confinned tliem

The

animal was

forays

by which

this

prairie tribes, constitute a

new

from the plains of Texas and till

first

in their Indo-Arabic traits of roving.

obtained of the Mexican Indians by the

feature in their history.

New

A coterminous country extends

Mexico, east of the foot of the Rocky mountains,

the prairie country embraces both banks of the Missouri, and reaches to the plains

of Red river, and the Saskatchawine, west of the sources of the Mississippi river.

tumuli occur in this region metation.

.

\

The

;

no remains of ancient

latter are, in all the region of

No

ditches, or attempts at rude casira-

North America, north of the Gulf of

h'

-i!. ..'.'

t"

.--.^

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M.'IIK.

'

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m •;|

i-

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. Mexico, the disclosures of forests and valleys that forests

58.

The

and valleys are most conducive prairie,

by

its

and

;

71

hence that

it is

to arts, agriculture,

it

and

becomes manifest

civilization.

extent and desolateness, appears to exert a deleterious

ence on the savage mind.

Some of

influ-

the grosser and more revolting customs of the

prairie Indians respecting interments, are

no doubt traceable

to their wild

and lawless

Nothing that I have observed respecting burials among them reaches so abso-

habits.

lutely a revolting point, as a

Oregon

tribes,

and Avhich

is

custom which has been noticed among certain of the

An

perhaps not general.

mouth of the Columbia, describes Chinook Indian countiy, where

it

as follows

:

—"

I

eye-witness, writing from the

have just returned from a visit to the

most revolting ceremony, that of burying

I witnessed a

One of the chiefs lost a daughter, a fine-looking woman, about twenty years of age. She was wrapped up in a rush mat, together with all her The father had an Indian slave bound hand and trinkets, and placed in a canoe. the living with the dead.

foot,

and fastened

to the

body of the deceased, and enclosed the two in another mat,

leaving out the head of the living one.

employed custom

in lieu of

is

a

coffin,)

The Indians then took

and carried

to a high rock

it

the canoe, (which was

and

left it there.

to let the slave live for three days; then another slave

strangle the victim

They

by a cord drawn around the neck.

may have been

a favorite of the deceased, and bury

was desirous of

interfering

and saving the

the gentleman Avith me, and the

life

it

at the

is

Their

compelled to

also kill the horse that

head of the canoe.

of the poor victim

;

I

but Mr. Hirris,

two Indians, our companions, assured me that I

should only get myself into serious trouble

;

and as we were at a great distance from

the settlements, and our party so small, self-preservation dictated a different course

from the inclinations of our hearts."

K. 59.

One

GAMES OF CHANCE.

of the principal amusements of a sedentary character, which our tribes

practise, is that

of various games, success in which depends on the luck of numbers.

Those games, to which both the prairie and forest tribes are addicted, assume the fascination

and intensity of interest of gambling

often staked

For

on tha luck of a throw.

use the stone of the wild plum, or

;

and the most valued

this purpose, the prairie tribes

some analogous

fruit,

by a term which In order to

is

translated " the

show the scope of

17, luider the letters

game

this

and

colored, so as at a

the Dacota tribes, this

is

known

of the plum-stones." [KuN-TAit-soo.]

game,

A, B, C, D, E, F.

Among

commonly

upon which various devices

indicating their arithmetical value, are burned in, or engraved

glance to reveal the character of the pieces.

articles are

five sets of stones are represented, in Plate

Each

set consists exactly of eight pieces.

\

;;

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

72

In set A, numbers 1 and 2 represent sparrow-hawks with forked tail

eagle

turtle

—

which

;

This

falco furcatus.

game

different characters

If the

and 4 are the

upwards, the game

is

won.

and

are

8,

blanks.

all

blanks.

all

with a single chief

figure, (5,)

which represents the

This throw indicates half a game, and entitles the thrower to repeat

falco furcatus. it.

5, 6, 7,

the reversed sides of A, which are

C shows

Set

fall

3

upwards, and, at the same time, 3 and 4 are up, the

falls

The other numbers,

won.

also

is

B denotes

and 2

If 1

or the forked-

tails,

Numbers

the so-called war-eagle.

the earth.

typifies, generally,

If but one of these figures

is

same

game

figure (5) turns up, the

won.

is

If

no success attends

it

by

turning up the chief figure, the throw passes to other hands.

D

the reverse of set C, and

is

is

a blank throw.

The

In set E, No. 5 represents a muskrat. throw, and the thrower can throw again

but

;

three dots (7) indicate two-thirds of a

he gets blanks the second time, the

if

dish passes on to the next thrower.

F

Set

is

No. 1 represents a

invested with different powers.

denote chicken-hawks, fluttering horizontally in the

buffalo,

The

air.

and 2 and 3

chief pieces (5, 6, 7)

have the same powers and modifications of value as A.

To it

is,

play this game, a also played

little orifice is

made

in the ground

The women and young men play

this

game. The bowl

three or four inches, and pushed suddenly

'l

over several times. play at once,

60.

if it

A more

The

stake

is first

down

put up by

who wish

all

called Puggesaing.

The

concave dark, or first piece,

(fig. 1,)

;

the reverse

is

called

Number

3 represents the war-club.

won by the

which

in all

Any number

throw. is

influence,)

is

is left

white.

The convex

fly

can

found in the

The

surface

called inbieea, or ogima, represents a ruler.

small discs of brass, and number 6 a duck

and the count, aa

A dozen

(Plate 18,

brass pieces

is

bright, the

dull.

an amphibious monster, and

is

The plum-stones to play.

of circular shape.

all

have the right side convex and the reverse concave.

The game

with one hand abou'u

right side of the eight pieces of bone arc stained red, with

edges and dots burned black with a hot iron

Number

Often

played with thirteen pieces

It is

nine of which are formed of bone, and four of brass,

Ella

is lifted

to its place.

complicated mode of reliance on the luck of numbers

compartment G.)

The

it.

Plate 18 exhibits a view of this fascinating game.

be desirable.

Chippewa game of the Bowl,

typifies

and a skin put in

on a robe.

red pieces

;

may

4

is

plain,

a

fish {kenozlia.)

Number 5

play.

smooth

are

is

fixed

advanced or retarded by the luck of the

Nothing

curiously carved and ornamented, (the

and having a

is

(shceaJiecb.)

the arithmetical value of each of which

games of chance,

of players

Number 2

gikhy kindbik, or the great serpent.

surface.

is

required but a wooden bowl,

owner relying somewhat on magic

;

he forkcdi

4 are the

lie is

won. :;-.¥

up, the

ire

resents the

repeat

r to

Bnds

by

it

'? thirds of a

d time, the

id 2

and 3

es (5, 6, 7)

1 it.

Often

hand

abou'„

n-stonea fly .

dozen can

g game.

'f^^

'--i*

)und in the

een pieces; (Plate 18,

d

red,

'%.

'-%

with

brass pieces s

bright, the

Number 2 eat serpent,

mber 6 are '%'^:^

ich

is

fixed

luck of the rooden bowl, at

|l

on magic

I;

i!

w

^9m&rts,

which were

probably constructed of wood, occupy the east side and the extreme north-western angle.

The embankment

is

twelve hundred and forty-six feet around the crescent-

shaped part, and about four hundred

feet

Plate 36, represents a second enclosure,

on the rock-brink of the island. marked by a circumvallation, situated

short distance west of the former, fronting like

This front line

of the lake.

gate or sally-port,

is

1243

is

G14

feet.

and

.S,

Plate 38

bone fish-hooks. Fig.

;

4,

pipes. Figs. 5

Plate 38

;

The embankment, which

bones.

and

;

;

3,

Plate 37, and

8, ;

Plate 38

;

38

arrow-

and fragments of

in a fissure of the rock in large quantity,

and were apparently new, and had been concealed

With

in this kind of rude armory.

largest species of axe, figured,

which has

also apparently

These vestiges of art correspond entirely with the general

unused.

wholly without

perforators, Fig. 1, Plate

netrsinkers. Fig. 2, Plate 39

The arrow-heads were found

them was found the

is

and

Figs. 1, 2,

Plate 38

6,

fragments of iwttery, Figs. 7 and

heads, vide group. Fig. 1, Plate 39

human

a

feet around.

Within these enclosures have been found stone axes, Figs. 2

at

on the rocky and precipitous margin

it,

state of

been

knowledge

and wants of the surrounding aborigines. Five small mounds on the southern and western part of the island, (Plate 34,) are of the kind denominated barrows, (vide definition. Part shore of the island there

is

I.,

p. 49.)

On a bay on

the north

a brief pictographic inscription, on a limestone boulder,

which has been reversed by the action of tempests on that

shore.

This

is

depicted in

Plate 40.

C.

The

Sculptured Rock

interest arising

period, is inferior

This rock

Inscription.

from these evidences of former occupancy in tne aboriginal

however

shore of the island, about (Plate 35.)

— Erie

is

to that excited

two hundred

by a sculptured rock lying on the south

feet

thirty-two feet in

from the west angle of the enclosure. its

greatest length,

by twenty-one

feet in

ANTIQUITIES.

88 its

greatest breadth.

It is

a part of the same stratification as the island from which

it

The top presents a smooth and polished surface, like all the limestone of this quarter when the soil is removed, suggesting the idea that this polish is due to glazial attrition. Upon this the inscription (Plate 41) is cut. This The figures and devices are deeply sunk in the rock, and yet cutting is peculiar. has been separated by lake action.

present

all its

smoothness of surface, as

Yet

wearing influence of water.

rapid, as the surface of the rock

is

if

they had been exposed to the polishing or

this influence, if

from water, could not have been

elevated eleven feet above the water-level.

has but a few inches of water around

Its

base

it.

Plate 42, exhibits a perspective view of the relative position of this natural monu-

ment; shores

and of the quiet picturesque beauty of the adjacent

also of the lake itself, ;

and the entire scene

characteristic of

is

Lake Erie in its summer phase. The same aboriginal pictographist

sculpture itself has been referred, for interpretation, to the

who

interpreted the inscription of the Dighton Bock, Part

premature, therefore, to attempt

its

one thing, however, a definite opinion sive

may

be expressed.

and well sculptured and well preserved

found in America. Being on an

has remained undiscovered

till

Its leading

of the natives.

islet

page 112.

I.,

It

would be

Of

reading in the present state of the question.

by

It is

far the

most exten-

inscription of the antiquarian period ever

separated from the shore, with precipitous sides,

within late years.

it

It is in the pictographic character

The human

symbols are readily interpreted.

figures

—

the pipes; smoking groups; the presents; and other figures, denote tribes, negotiations, crimes, turmoils,

which

tell

European, plays a part.

There are some

in

a story of thrilling interest, in which the white

There are many subordinate

which the

effects of

The whole

one connected with the occupation of the basin of

coming of the Wyandots people

? 3.

who have

— of the

left their

final

name on

The

vestiges of aboriginal

—

or,

or

is

manifestly

by the Eries

triumph of the Iroquois, and the

— of the

flight of

the

the lake.

IN

SOUTH CAROLINA.

occupancy in South Carolina have not been examined in

but cursorily and incidentally.

Alabama be correct in the opinions he march of the expedition of De Soto, the site of the

If the investigations of a recent observer in

expresses of the eccentric line of

ancient " Cofitchiqui " V

inscription

this lake

ARCH^OLOGICAL INDIAN REMAINS

the field

man

which require study.

atmospheric and lake action have destroyed the

connexion, and others of an anomalous character.

i

figures

'

was on the South Carolina banks of the Savannah

!

Mr. Pickett.

Hiit. Al*., lit vol.

River.

It

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nr;

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i 1 i 1

1

i i

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1

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1

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li I

f

11

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a a-

*-,

l!

if

•(i'v

I'n

""m

.^iiilf

Siiill'l

iiri'il

uiMiTi|il inn

nn

a

?2

.:

rmk-

.

feet

to

Sniilli

I.ippiucou, Granilio

i

met

niilr

&

C'?

nf

('iniiiiiK^liaiii'.-;

Fhila.

Is.l,.iki'

{•',vu-.

-^

i^4

1r

1 1

-:

ki. 1i

^

?

)

n 4 ,'(

"»

1

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:

ANTIQUITIES. was here that a dagger and

89

several coats of mail were found, in 1540,

by that adventu-

rous discoverer, which were believed to have been brought from the sea-coasts of Carolina,

where the Signor Ayllon had

lost his life in

a prior period of Spanish

adventure.

Nor with

unworthy of our

is it

its

by France, town of

archaeological records in this state, to notice, in connexion

aboriginal remains, the ruins

which we apprehend exist of the

fort first erected

in her attempts to found a Protestant colony in Carolina, near the ancient

The head-waters

Beaufort.

of the Broad river and

its

tributaries appear to

have been the residence of a heavy Indian population, who found a subsistence at all seasons in shells,

which

line the

to be mistaken.

has not been

The

its

fish

and Crustacea.

banks of the principal streams, raising of cotton

The

reliable means of mounds of oysterstory in a manner not

antique

tell this

on these rich alluvial lands

sufficient to obliterate this species of aboriginal

for so

monument

many

years

of occupation.

Upon the waters of the Pocotaligo there are known to be seated a number of mounds of earth of a form and dimensions which appear to commend them to a minute archaeological survey.

principal rivers,

Indeed, the entire seaboard of the State, with the valleys of

demand examination, and appear

important to a correct understanding of

make

in season to

have the

its

to promise the

Indian history.

results incorporated in

development of

This

it

is

its

facts

intended to

a subsequent part of

In the mean time, the following notices of objects of antiquarian value from

this

work.

this State

are given, from an examination of the cabinet of the late Samuel George Morton, of

Philadelphia Plate 43, Figs. 1 and 2, are drawings, of the full

size,

of a species of clay pipes found at

Kershaw with the remains of Indian sculpture. Figs. 1 and 2, Plate 44, exhibit pipes Fig. 3, Plate 44, represents the stone crescentsculptured from stone, from Camden. shaped blade of an antique battle-axe, from the same district. It has an eye for fastening a

wooden handle.

Fig. 4, Plate 45,

is,

apparently, the partially mutilated

part of an idol-pipe, curiously sculptured Ccom green serpentine rock. 46,

is

Fig. 5, Plate

a stone mortar and pestle ; not unlike a similar instrument used by the Toltecs

and Aztecs

for

making

tortillas.

Vases of pottery were made by the tribes of this State with a degree of

skill

to the best specimens obtained from the countries of the ancient Appalachians.

are exhibited in

some entire

compact terracotta

figure

;

vessels,

Fig. 3 of the

and shows conclusively a parity in

Pt. II.

1

and

2,

Plate 46, from Camden.

It is

a

one having a handle formed of the head of an animal which

represents, apparently, a cat.

Fig. 4 represents e stone

marked

equal

These

this art

same plate depicts a vase from Alabama,

among the southern

tribes extensively.

amulet found at Camden, South Carolina.

— 12 ^J

I

ANTIQUITIES.

wy

4.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RELICS FROM WESTERN NEW YORK.

Toe ensuing

descriptions

to articles deposited

relate

the

in

State Collection at

Albany Fig. 1, Plate 45, from knife.

It

Washington County,

apparently, a

Camden,

in every respect, to the idol-pii)e from

The

is,

carved from a compact piece of green serpentine

is

same ready

distinctive heads of animals

and the

extensively in that area

;

or a flaying

and

Plate.

from Ellisburgh,

4,

moulding images of the human face

tact in

on the

same

So. Ca., Fig. 3,

several articles grouped in Plate 47, Figs. 1, 2, 3,

Jefferson County, exhibit the

sacrificial,

— a material analogous,

plastic basis of clay pipes,

and in the Iragments of

and

vases. Figs. 5

6,

which

'q entire vase-pottery of

are of the same description Avhich characterizes

is

found

the ornaments this state

of the Indian period. Plate 48, Figs. 1 and

with great exactitude.

Plate 49, Fig. 1,

is labelled,

it

its

of the material of the ancient lapis oUaris Tlie moccasin needle, Fig. 3, Plate 49,

The

seems

to be

.scmpstresscal,

slate, Avliich

To

"a

we behold very

unless

as

difficult to

here depicted, of the

is

chief interest

is

however excited by

account for the nse of the 2,

without supposing

we may for

Equally

conjecture that their uses were

smoothing down seams of buckskin.

clearly the mutilated blade of a battle-axe of silicious

was perforated through

its

head

to

admit a handle.

It

is,

Avith imprecision,

pipe."

these notices

i^wsse.ssion

4,

and that they were designed

In Figs. 5 and G

"

of a tube (Fig. 5)

some implement or contrivance used in the sacerdotal function.

anomalous are Figs. 3 and

labelled

Fig. 4 represents

Plate 50.

octagonal stone implement with an orifice and cover, Figs. 1 and it

This

taken from an antique tumulus in Ohio.

is

quadrupeds or other species of bone. It

1,

The fragment

was commonly made,

'

the articles figured on Plate 50.

Albany, "war-club."

impresses the obser\'er strongly, as being

it

use to the anomal">us instrument Fig.

an im])lement found in Lc Roy, Gi^iesee County.

tibia of

surface of territory.

has the general character of the stone net^sinker.

regarded as a pipe amulet;

is

analogous in

the antique stone crescent-

all

in the State Collection at

believed to be correct, although

Fig. 2

r

exhibits stone axes, Avrought, apparently, from silicious slate,

This has Ijeen also employed for

tomahawks which have been examined over a wide

shai)ed

is

2,

we

subjoin the articles of antiquarian interest of Plate 51, in the

of Mr. Keeler of Jamesville, Onondaga,

all

being of the periofl of the French

attempt at colonization in that section of the coimtry, about 1GG6. 1G53, visited the Onondaga country, and

were permitted

to

establish

it

De Moyen

had, in

appears in ten years afterwards the .Jesuits

themselves in the country.

After the close of the

Revolution, which threw open this r-j^iou as a military grant, Mr. Keeler came into

,«.! h

r

I:

m Si

i!

i

4

I

}

4 ki^i

:

Airj'jgux

CLAY

hj;JK

.'J

if

L

»I1 *-'

1

1

\^,\\v,Vi\\

\

\ N"'-

\

\

^.

'^

\ .

-

v'^ .."

ir

;

ANTIQUITIES. possession of the subdivision

91

which contained the ruins of the old

covered this premature attempt at colonization.

Figs. 1, 2, 3,

fort,

and

that had once

4, depict

a brass

pocketeen lost sight of; and

when

which they have heard so much spoken

they arc carried to the small cave, which does not in the least degree meet

tlie

marvellous accounts which they have previously received.

Featherstonhaugh, in his Geological RejKjrt of 18.3G, says, in 8i)eaking of his visit to this small it

cave

:

led to the cave

" I followed this ravine alx)ut two hundred paces, and found that

which Carver had so

then could

lu

so accurately give a description of it?

l/clongs to this closed cave. li'ithor'*}'

a juugment ui ev^^r)

up

cleared

There

Featherstonhaugh, in his

The

is

description

rejiort,

but a small

this

cave

i',\t

'-i

in

;

how

which he gave

frequently refers to the

of Carver, and nearly always as happily as in the pre'sent instance.

was jnuch negligence furnished

acvitnikli/ descriUd."

Carver never saw or had any knowledge of

difliculty to explain here.

There

Featherstoidiaugh, in not having taken more pains to establish

facts

which more recent works and pei^wms on the spot could have

u. -sired

explanation of

matter

n*"

All the old re'sidents of St. Peters could have

Carver's cave.

PHYSICAL DATA RESPECTING THAT PART OF SOUTHERN C ALT FORN I A LYING ON THE LINE OF BOUNDARY BETWEEN ST. DIEGO AND THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER GILA, WITH INCIDENTAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DIEGUNOS AND YUMAS INDIAN TRIBES. The

following

of Lieuteiuint Wliipple's

diary

between San Diego and the jwint River,

which was executed under the orders of Major Emory,

for this Its

survey of the line of lx)undary

opjMJsite the junction of the

work by Colonel

notices of

distances,

J. J. Ai>»

rt,

Gila with the Colorado lias l)eeu

cominuiiicated

chief of the Toix)graphical Bureau, U. S.

the topograpliical

features,

latitudes.

temi)erature,

V

heights,

and

and the general physical g"ography of that hitherto unexplored section of

the country, are of high value.

The

incidental

notiix.>s

given of the Diegunos and

other Indian tribes of that part of California, their manners and customs, and some

specimens of their languages, arc the most recent and authentic v.nich

The languages being

we

posso^

the true key to their history, the printed formula of words aud

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY,

100

numerals has been distributed extensively among gentlemen having military duties to execute on those distant frontiers

;

and promises have been made, both by the head of

the Bureau, and several of the subordinate officers

pursue these inquiries, which lead

acknowledge future favors from

me

who

are favorably situated to

to hope that I shall be placed in a position to

this source.

H. B.

S.

PHYSICAL DATA. Br LT. WHIPPLE,

D. 9. A.

Having engaged Tomaso as guide and Indian interpreter, on the 11th day of we started from the mission of San Diego for the junction of the Rio Gila with the Colorado. Tomaso is chief of the tribe of Indians called Lligunos, or Diegunos whether this was their original appellation, or they were so named by the Franciscans from San Diego, the principal mission among them, I could not learn. September, 1849,

;

According to Tomaso,

hi;;

language, and occupying possess

numbers

tribe tiie

alxjut 8,800 persons

;

all

sjicaking the

from San Luis Rey to Aqua Caliente.

territory

no arms, and are very peaceable.

Crimes, he says, are punished

They

bigamy by whipping, and mu.'der by death.

—

same

They

theft

and

profess the greatest reverenci) for

the Church of Rome, and, glorying in a Christian name, look with disdain upon their

Indian neighbors of the desert and the Rio Colorado, calling them miserable Gentiles.

The Mission of San Diego,

of San Diego, about five miles from the town, and two from the Plaza

is

a large pile of adolie buildings,

There remains an old Latin

some of which possess considerable

paintings,

i

where plains

merit.

only delicious grapes, but olives,

i^ot

abundantly.

figs,

In the days of their prosperity, for

were covered with

cattle

now

deserted,

and partly

in ruins.

and the chapel walls are yet covered with

library,

and horses

In

there

I'ront

and

many

otlier

is

fruits,

are

produced

miles around the valleys and

be"u);iging to this

mission

;

and the padres

boasted that their yearly increase was greater than the Indians could possibly

But

in California the sun of their glory

huts of the Indians

They

grounds.

— formerly

are indolent

serfs,

and

set for ever.

is

or peons;

filthy,

now

;

and one old woman, said

to

like a shrivelled piece of parchment,

Many

steal.

Near by stand the thatched

the sole occupants of the mission

with more of the vices acquired from the

whites, than of the virtues supposed to belong to their race.

great age

oil

a large vineyard,

Some of them

live to

a

be far advanced in her second century, looks

and

is

visited as a curiosit}'.

of their Indians, men, women, and children, assembled on the bank of the

stream, apparently to witness the novelty of a military procession Avas produced, and, seating themselves

80 absorbed in the

Our route

amusement

as to

upon the ground

to a

;

but a pack of cards

game of nionte, they were

seem unconscious of our departure.

leads o\or steep hills, uncultivated

and barren, excepting a few

fields

of

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHYwild oats

— no

no water

trees,

101

in sight from the time of leaving the mission, imtil

again strike the valley of the river of San Diego, half a league from Santa Monica,

we

the rancharia of prefect of

Don Miguel de

coarse quartzose granite

but as

;

now

Pedoriva,

San Diego, Don Jose Antonio

occupied by his father-in-law the

The

Estedillo.

white with a

hill-tops are

approach the rancho of Don Miguel, the foliage

we

of the trees that fringe the banks of Rio San Diego formed an agreeable relief to the

Here the

landscape.

mission

river contains a little running water, but before reaching the

disappears from the surface, and at San Diego

it

fruits are

is

two

below the bed of

feet

Maize, wheat, barley, vegetables, melons, grapes, and other

shining micaceous sand.

now produced upon

this

ranch in abundance

:

with

and

irrigation, the soil

climate are suitable for the cultivation of most of the productions of the

But

glolje.

the mansion-houses of such great estates in California are wretched dwellings, with

mud

From

known. the

The

walls and thatched roofs.

many

wealth abounds with

fifty to

well-trodden earth fonns the

floor,

and although

luxuries, few of the conveniences

and comforts of life seem

one hundred Indians are employed on

this ranch, in cultivating

doing the menial household service, and attending to the flocks and herds.

soil,

Their pay

is

a mere

trifle,

and Sundays are allowed

to

them

for holiday amu.sements,

attending mass, riding, gaming, drinking. Sejif.

12th.

— From Santa Monica

to

hill-sides .showed scarcely the vestige

the

first

league

we

Santa Maria,

follow a cafiada, through

here and there a pool of water.

with magnificent oaks, a

We

little grass,

five

and a half leagues, the steep

of a road, and night overtook us mid-way.

cro.ss

which extends a row of

a range of barren

hills,

and indications of water.

and pass a ravine

Another ridge brings

us into a valley, rendered beautiful by a liberal growth of wide-spreading oaks long, winding,

and gradual descent leads

intertwining branches throws

to a

wooded

and a

a shade over a spring of limpid water, and seems

we cut the

trees to

Another league, with here and therc a

mend

the way,

tree, brings

it

seemed

It lies in

miles in extent, and contains an excellent mineral spring.

But here

like sacrilege.

us to Santa Maria.

rancho of the hospitable Don Jose Maria Martin Ortega.

many

;

glen, »vhere the thick foliage of

inclined to shield from mortal eyes a treasure sacred to the sylvan deity.

the road was bad, and as

For with

live-oaks,

a

This

is

the

fertile basin,

The mountains

surrounding are covered Avith bleached masses of coarse granite, and the principal ranges have a general direction from N.

Rancho de Santa Maria, Green's Syphon Barometer

to S.

W.

1849.

Sejit. 15//*,

O" A.

W.

M.

28.715

in

12"

M.

2H.719

in

3" P.

M.

28.G81

in

C

Attached Tliernionietcr

80°

8(i°.00r)

83°.005

07°.05

Fahrenheit's Detached Thorinometer

82°

8(5°.005

84°

C7°.05

Fttlironheit's

Magnetic inclination ns determined by observations with Fox's Magiictio DipK;ircle.

Magnetic intensity, 58°

42'.

M.

P.

28.033

in.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

102 l&th.

Si'2)t-

— The

preceding night has been very cool, and the thermometer at

Finding the spring water warm, the thermometer

sunrise stands at 50°.05, Falirenheit.

was immersed, and immediately

rose TC.S,

clear

and

and

and

surprised to find pools of water standing in the

had been no rain probably

road, although there basin,

moving sand below.

we were

Pursuing our journey,

trees.

This day brought to view the cotton-wood or alamo.

Lombardy

mistaken

at first to be

poplar, as

crosses the

for

much

so

It

Found much

it.

As we approach Santa

and tourmaline.

feldspar, containing crystals of garnet

i

Isabel,

seven and a half leagues from Santa Maria, a change comes on the face of

is

the country.

Nature apfiears more smiling, the valleys teem with

though small, are creeping from the canadas to the Santa

Isaljel is

a charming

sjMjt,

of Catholic missions in California.

It

There

A

walls of other dilapidated houses. for

was a still

and the oaks,

grass,

hill-sides.

surrounded by gentle

and never-failing mountain stream.

home

The road

months.

for

for several leagues scoops along pretty little valleys, with patches of grass

resembles the

which

highly impregnated with sulphur, but

is

Large bubbles of gas are constantly rolling to the

delicious to the taste.

surface of the spring from the

twenty degrees higher than the temperature

The water

of the surrounding atmosphere.

hills,

and watered by a rapid

flourishing place during the prosperity

remain the ruins of a church, and

mud

collection of miserable straw huts serves as

about three hundred Indians, who, from having Ijcen the slaves of the

a

priests,

appear to have succeeded to the inheritance.

They is

irrigate their fields,

very flourishing.

and

and cultivate maize, wheat, and barUn'.

The most

Their vineyard

delicious grains are in great abundance.

apples, are beginning to riiwn, while

we

feast

uiwn melons and

Peaches,

the Indians are shrewd, and evidently not wanting in natural capacity in that stage of civilization in

a knowledge

of,

and a

which

man seems most

degraded.

;

Now

They have acquired

them all

know

it

remains

United States to render that freedom a true blessing, by establishing among

schools

where they may be taught

ideas ujion religion are few and simple.

)"

but

that they are freed

from bondage to the Franciscans, and from the equally exacting Spaniards, for the

of

but they are

taste for, the vices of the oppressors of their race,

nothing of the virtues which might serve as an antidote.

figs,

Many

pears.

who have been marked with

die they will go to the

happy

their duties as Christians

There

is

a

God

in

the sign of the cross, are

regions.

and as men.

heaven. (.'hristians,

Their

Their

tribe,

and

and when they

All others are Gentiles and outcasts from

heaven.

The schist,

geological formation here consists of quartzose granite, mica, schist,

with tourmaline and hornblende.

e.xist in this vicinity

;

Some

indications of metal.

and

Silver

but where, the Indians do not pretend to know.

Dr. Parry thinks he felt the shock of an earthquake this evening.

is

talcose

said to

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. Santa

Isabel, Sept. 11th,

1849

103

— 9' A. M.

M.

12'

S" P.

C

M.

P.

Orecn's Syphon Barometer, No. 222

27.232

Attached Thermometer, 4

70''.5

84°.5

80°

71°.5

Dctaclicd thermometer, 4

74°

81°

8C°

71°

On

the morning of Septemljcr 18th

sixteen miles to San Felipe

is

27.250

took an early

The

27.253

in

start,

not passable for Avagons,

direction toward Warner's ranch. really

we

in

in.

.

is

in.

and as the short cut of

we proceeded

in a northerly

valleys throngh which onr route leads are

charming

morning

M.

.27.189

for California. The groves of oaks are filled with birds of made joyous with the music of the lark and blackbird.

song,

Having traversed the long valley of Warner's ranch, eight miles from Santa

and

Isabel,

we

struck the much-travelled emigrant road leading from the Colorado to El Puebla de los Angelos. In a ravine of superb oaks we stopped to gather grapes ; for here is an

Indian village, a mountain stream, and a vineyard.

Upon

entering San Felipe, twenty miles from Santa Isabel,

of emigrants, some of them destitute of provisions.

we found several parties They tell us that, \\\>on the

desert, we shall find many in a condition bordering upon starvation. They also confirm the rejwrts of the emigrants at San Diego concerning the hostilities committed by the Indians at the mouth of the Rio Gila. One party pretended to have had a pitched battle with them, and showed an arrow with which one man had

been

wounded.

The number of the Yumas

thousand, and

it

mouth of the Gila was estimated

at the

was feared that they would

at five

utterly destroy the emigrant parties in

their rear.

The

village at this place contains probably fifty Indians, part of

whom

are Diegunos,

and acknowledge the authority of Toraaso the rest belong to the tribe of the desert called Como-yei or Quemeya, speaking a different language, and totally ignorant of ;

Spanish. To my surprise, the women Avere neatly dressed in calico frocks, and, notwithstanding the streaks of tar with which they paint their fiices, some were quite good-looking. Their Zandias were all " verde," and they had nothing else to sell. As at this place

we

their language as

take leave of the Lligunos,

it

may

be well to record such words of

have been gathered from Tomaso, their

chief,

and others of their

tribe.

"IfS'""*'

GnglUh.

Dlfgunoi.

Ingllih.

mo-quuc, or hut

horse

hainato

body

ah-hut, or moolt

mule

cstur

head

ay-cootcht

xavn

wa

face

s""

woman

lioo

nose

nile

father

n-ycn

eyes

mother

a wuo

eyes

'"e

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

104

KnglUh.

I>ieguno«.

CnglUh.

Dlei!uno«.

mouth

poo

gclh'l

hand

twa

.am

a

fingers

peo

.here

cuwis

arms

n'ya-pcc-tawa

I

cwith'l

leg

poo-cc-pa-a

he was there

toon

kneo

ach-a-ma-cba

fruit

ha-uiul-yay

foot

aha

water

hil-c-tar

hair

me-yut'l

bread

el-mam

boy

as-a-o

to eat

en

to-day

ay-sail

to drink

mat-in-yat'l

to-morrow

ha-niat'l

car

hoon

night

n'ya-aha a say

I drink water

han, or hanna

good

n'ya-coquago asaho

I cat meat

a-wah

house

quarquue

brandy

tay hutb, or cuchao

blanket

asu-muaye

to be

a pl-eu

hat

n'ya quar-quao asu

I drink

hind

ono

omuc'l, or

ha-wuc

two

ho

yes

ha-mook

three

n'ya hub n'yay pilyay

I have a

cha-pop

four

ah

sac'l

yat'l

suap'

.ho

omaho

am

iris eoquit'l

rum

home

{I had

a horse yesterday

n'ya-hut pour yayo

y'ayo

money

hue

drunk

nothing

five

coo-quit

here

C I shall have a

hue

n'y'a hut mcton

poot wurris eoquit'l hue

he wants money

n'yah

I

yri,'l

ninia

i horse

to-mor-

(_row

—

Sept. 19. Left Sail Felipe at 8 A. M. Trees and grass gave place to rocks and sand. About two and a half leagues from San Felipe we entered the dry bed of an anoyo

which traversed

for nearly

a league a winding ravine produced by a fault in the

mountains.

The wid*h

some places was barely

in

sufficient to

admit the passage of our wagons,

while the perpendicular height of the rock on either side was at least fifteen

talcose or

mica

Encamped

slate.

at

Veins of quartz were

El Puerto.

springs of water, a

still

One

of the

The shale,

numerous.

Three and a half leagues from San Felipe, we found

little grass,

but no wood.

Here were many emigrants, who gave

the same dreary account of the desert as was told us last night grass.

feet.

an indurated

rock, at first coarse granite, with tumuli of Pedrigal, passed into

men showed me

;

much sand and no

a piece of lead-ore, apparently containing

silver,

found at this place.

According

'

ten

:

to

viz., huic,

Tomaso, the Dicgunos have but

five

numerals, although others of the tribe gave me, hesitatingly,

hawoe, bamook, chaypop, shucklcakayo, sumhook, suap sahook, (hiphook, and yainat, apparently

arroneously taken from the Yumas.)

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPIIV. Left El Puerto at 8 A. M., Sept. 20tli, crossed a steep Vallieito.

Here abounded

Wading the sand

blade of grass. valley where

maguey, fonguiera

cacti,

we

find grass

Here we encamp

;

and entered the basin of

hill,

and wild

spinosa,

but not a

sage,

for a league, the hills close in, to

form a narrow

and excellent springs of water impregnated with sulphur.

near us are the ruins of adobe huts, indicating the decline of the

There remain a few naked and miserable

Indians.

105

wrct«lie.s

who have

a garden of

green melons, but nothing to eat except the roots of wild maguey.

we

This day horses

met with the mizquite bean, upon which the

first

and mules, and the success of our expedition, are expected

prosperity of our

like pods

grow

in clusters of eight or ten

the pod of the mizquite contain

much

upon the same stem.

The

to dejwnd.

accompanying sketch represents a branch of the mizquite screw-bean.'

These screw-

Both the screw and

saccharine matter, and are very nutritious.

ripen at difl'erent seasons of the year, and are very abundant, each tree producing

They

many

bushels.

Vallicito, Sept. 20th. 1

3" P.

M.

M.

6" P.

M.

Green's Syphon Barometer,

28.511

Detached Thermometer,

99°.50

96°.05

96°.05

Detached Thermometer,

99"

99°

98"

28.492

in

28.439

in.

in.

Vallicito, Sept. 2lsf. 6- A.

9" A.

M.

Green's Syphon Barometer, 28.400 in

Detached Thermometer,

.

.

61°.05

Detached Thermometer,

.

.

62°

Sejit. 21s/.

— The

12"

M.

28.461

96°

99°.

day was so warm that we were compelled

when we pursued our route down The road followed a bed of sand,

sunk below the fetlock

at

every

in.

^".05

99°

101°

M.

28.443

in

100°.05

until about 5i P. M.,

out into a plain.

3" P.

M.

28.484

in

to lie

by at Vallicito

the valley which soon stretched in

which the

feet of

our horses

Six miles from the springs of Vallicito, a semi-

step.

spherical hill in the midst of the valley separated

two

roads, the right-hand one

leading directly to Cariw Creek, the left by a circuit of half a mile, taking you by the

way

of a mineral spring of drinkable water.

beautiful.

The

hills in

were singular in the extreme.

By

not ruins of ancient works of

art.

The

fine

regularly bastioned

furnished the

fort.

T!

'

.-jcener}'

here by moonlight was

the back ground, with angles sharp and sides perpendicular,

name by which

dim light it was hard to believe that they were One hod been a temple to the gods another a large trees which mark the course of the run have the

it is

;

known, " Palmetto Spring."

Vegetation in the valley remains unchanged.

Cacti,

maguey, kreosote lurrea

Mexicana, dwarf cedar, and the fonguiera spinosa, are abinidant. '

This sketch, and those alluded to in pages 107 and 108, did not accompany the manuscript.

Pt. II.

— 14

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

106

Many

meteors are seen shooting from the zenith to the

A

W.

S.

cloud arose in the

East, with frequent flaslies of lightning, hut the night passed without rain.

Arrived at Cariso Creek,

from Vallecito, eight from Palmetto Spring, at

fifteen miles

Found the water of the creek

midnight.

scarcely taste

thirsty as they were;

it,

Mules and horses would

quite brackish.

of food for them, there was none.

The

emigrants had consumed every blade of grass, and every stick of cane, so that our sorrowful animals are tied in groups to the wagons to ponder their fate upon the desert.

Saturday,

Si'pt. 22(1.

— The

nearly a foot in depth

;

when our hungry

sun was perhaps half an hour high,

animals were again put in harness.

At camp,

but a mile or two below,

the creek appears

fifty feet

wide and

entirely lost in the thirsty sand.

it is

Our route was through the valley of the Carazul.

banks are of clay, worn by

Its

rain into fantastic shapes, and occasionally mountains appear beyond. Tlie road

were

Two

leagues from

formed of g3'psuni clear as

— We

now

are

is

fairly

upon the desert; sandy

Creek; stopped to dig

There appeared

for water,

An

hills

S"" P. M. Twelve miles from Cariso Thermometer 100° in the shade.

but in vain.

in the east a cloud,

which soon assumed that

A

and we were enveloped in a cloud of sand. For

of being upset. ;

fifteen

jjcculiar

dark mass approached

;

appearance

a hurricane was

The mules were

their path, the canva.ss covers were torn to shreds, and the

the dust

behind, a dreary, desolate

undulating surface of sand, with pebbles

in the shade.

which often precedes a violent storm. us,

steep ridge, seemingly

sprinkled with small green clumps of Laurea Mexicana.

Thermometer 108°, Fahrenheit,

upon

camp we passed a

rocks

and containing large

glass.

plain before us, far as the eye can reach.

of j.osper,

No

to the " placers."

cave masses of iwdrigal, stately in structure,

ferruginous nodules.

Noon.

way

strewn with emigrants winding their

is

visible

driven from

wagons themselves in danger

minutes we were blinded, when a torrent of rain quieted

a shower of hail succeeded, and the men, throwing themselves upon the

ground, hid their faces in the sand for jjrotection.

of lightning for an hour. to the scene.

P ;

>\}

J-

U

HISTORY, AND OOVEIINMENT. They have dnncos of aiv

Fi'inulo.x

fnun

tliose of

the men.

&c.,

which

hy a song

jranie

to

The Their common

it is

Tlu'y sometimes stake

in.

of the young wild-horse

dress

and several

>.'aiues

to the other,

they

all

hut wmie have

;

which are bartered

the most esteemed of the bird.

but

I

am

op|N)site party,

on a single game.

jxis.se.ss

young horses

sold

them by the

particular cK'casions.

They

minds aiv susceptible of

aix!

of nuiiud'acture.

They

I

am

induced to

a considerable tlegree of cultivation.

anumg them.

This

tril)e is

eagle feathers

Vermilion, indigo, and

also paint with white

Fiimi observation

the whites, but also fittm the neighl)oring

derived fiiim birds

The hawk and

traders.

civili/.ed

of which are of pure silver,

are of a light character, with a gay

rather fervid temiK>rament.

lK>en introduced

numy

several native dyes, ])nMlnced from roots,

i)nK-e,ss

tradei-s.

more

la-gun to imitate the

Their decorations

They use

ignorant of the names or the ari'

now

them by the

to

ttiv

venligris,

" hutton."

accompanied

consideivd a delicacy.

is

a gtx'at variety of ornaments,

principally fa.shioned into large hnnH-hes. shells

of chance.

l)nllet,"

the l)R'ech-cloth and moccasins, with a hufl'alo roln' flinig

is

Icxwely over the shoiddei"s

and

racinjr,

northern hantis, called "

tlie

changing a hnllet rapidly from one hand

lle.sh

They have

swl>joft.

tlio

pressed hy hunger from scarcity of game, they subsist on their

and mides.

trilK's.

.same as all

which they keep time with the motion of their arms, and the

guessing which hand

When

Tliey liave contests in tlie

is

consists in

of

cliiiriicti'iistii'

iidinitU'd to the dance, hut tliewe daiicoH aiv entirely dintinet

fit'

\ '

f I

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i

l(;

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