THE PAMUNKEY INDIANS OF VIRGINIA. 11 



of public instruction to conduct the free school which the State 

 furnishes them. They are exceedingly anxious to keep their blood free 

 from further intermixture with that of other races, and hoAv to accom- 

 plish this purpose is a serious problem with them, as there are few mem- 

 bers of the tribe who are not closely related to every other person on 

 the reservation. To obviate this difficulty the chief and councilmen 

 have been attempting to devise a plan by which they can induce immi- 

 gration from the Cherokee Indians of Xorth Carolina. The Indian blood 

 in the Pamunkey tribe is estimated at from one-fifth to three-fourths. 



The Pamunkey, as a tribe, are neither handsome nor homely, long 

 nor short, stout nor slim; in fact, they differ among themselves in these 

 respects to the same degree found among the members of a white com- 

 uumity of the same size. They are not particularly strong and robust, 

 and their average longevity is lower than that of their neighbors. 

 These facts are perhaps in a measure attributable to the frequent mar- 

 riages between near relatives. 



The average intelligence of these Indians is higher than that of the 

 Virginia negro. With a few exceptions the adults among them can read 

 and write. In view of their limited advantages they are strikingly 

 well informed, A copy of one of their State papers will serve to give 

 an idea of the maximum intelligence of the tribe. It reads as follows : 



Pamunkey Indian Reservation, 

 Khuj William County, Va., June 26, 1893. 

 We, the last descendants of the Powhatan tribe of Indians, now sitiiate<l on a 

 small reservation on the Pamunkey river, 24 miles from Richmond, Va., and one 

 mile east of the historic White House, where Gen. George Wasliington was married 

 to his lovely bride in the St. Peter's Church. We are now known as the Pamunkey 

 tribe of Indians, following the customs of our forefatliers, hunting and iishing, 

 partly with our dugout canoes. 



We hereby authorize Terrill Bradby to visit the Indian Bureau in Washington and 

 in all other Departments and Indian tribes, and also to visit the Columbian Exposi- 

 tion in Chicago. 



We, the undersigned, request that whenever this petition is presented, the holder 

 may meet with the favorable approbation of the public generally. 



C. S. Bradby. ciurf. 

 J. T. Dennis, 

 W. G. Sweat, 

 E. L. Sampson, 

 T. Bradby, 



Council. 

 R. W. Miles, 



Town Clerk, 

 Jas. H. Johnson-, 

 W. T. Neal, 

 B. Richards, M. D., 



TntxteeS' 

 E. R. Allmond, 

 A. .1. Page, 

 G. M. Cook, 

 W. A. Brai>by, 

 T. T. Dennis, 



Members of the Tribe. 



