374 



INDIAN TERRITORY. 



from place to place in pursuit of game. The eastern part of the Territory, forming a strip of 

 about 200 miles in breadth, is in general productive, and well suited to agricultural purposes. 

 It is mostly prairie, skirted here and there, chiefly along the river-valleys, by lines of woodland, 

 and there are extensive fertile bottoms on the lower parts of the rivers. A portion of it is un- 

 fit for cultivation, such as the mountains and flint-hills, that are interspersed throughout the 

 country. These, however, add to the salubrity of the climate, and afibrd game and a good range 

 for stock at certain seasons. The country will produce abundantly all the varieties of grain, vege- 

 tables, and agricultural products, which are raised in the States of tlie same latitude east of the 

 Mississippi. It is also admirably adapted to the raising of stock of every description. South 

 of the Kansas River, there is no necessity to provide lor them iu winter, as they live in the 

 range winter and summer. This section is the portion which is occupied by the emigrant and 

 indigenous tribes, whom the Federal Government are aiming to fix in permanent abodes, and 

 to educate in the arts of peace. 



5. Population. The population of the Indian Territorj^ consists of tribes of eastern origin, 

 who have been removed thither by the United Stales, by their own consent ; of indigenous 

 bands and tribes, who occupy a part of their original hunting-grounds, or have merely been re- 

 moved to an adjoining tract, more suitable for their residence ; and of the wild, roving bands 

 ot the western portion, who have had, until very recently, no communication or political con- 

 nexion with the authorities of the Republic. 



The Choctaws possess the tract lying between Arkansas and New Mexico, bounded on the 

 south by the Red River, and on the north by the Canadian ; and the Chickasaws are settled 

 among them. Most of the inhabitants are now engaged in agriculture ; they have good houses 

 and well-fenced fields ; they raise more Indian corn and cotton than is necessary for their own 

 consumption, and own great numbers of cattle, horses, sheep, and swine. There are several 

 native traders, mechanics, and teachers among thcni, some of whom have been educated at the 

 Choctaw Academy, in Kentucky ; and 5 saw and grist mills, and 2 cotton-gins, with numerous 

 ^ploughs, looms, and spinning-wheels, give indications of their civilization. The European 

 costume is generally adopted, and most of them enjoy the common luxuries of their white 

 neighbors, — tea, coffee, sugar, &c. The Choctaws liave a written constitution, and they have 

 established the trial by jury ; their government is administered by 4 Principal Chiefs, elected 

 for a term of 4 years, and a Legislative Council, of 30 members, chosen annually by the peo- 

 ple. The Board of Foreign Missions have 5 stations here, and there are 2 Baptist and 1 

 Methodist mission in the nation. Fort Towson, a United States military post, on Red River, 

 is within their territory. 



The Creek country lies between the Canadian on the south, and the Cherokee frontier on 

 the north. It is well watered and wooded, though containing extensive prairies. The charac- 

 ter and condition of the Creeks or Muscogees resemble those of the Choctaws, but they are 

 less advanced in the mechanic arts and in civilization generally than that tribe. Most of them 

 have comfortable houses, good gardens and orchards, and raise Indian corn in large quantities, 

 with some rice and wheat ; they have live stock enough to supply their own consumption. 

 The Seminoles are seated within the Creek country ; they retain more of the habits of hunters. 

 The Creek government is administered by a General Council of the nation, in accordance with 

 the provisions of a written constitution ; and the execution of the laws is intrusted, under the 

 direction of the Council and Judges, to executive officers, called Light Horsemen. There are 

 2 stations of the Baptists, I station of the Board of Foreign Missions, and a Methodist mission, 

 among the Creeks ; several of the missionaries are natives. 



The Cherokees own the tract north and east of the Creeks. They have entirely abandoned 

 the chase, and are more advanced in civilization than any of their neighbors. They have seve- 

 ral saw and grist mills, and one or several ploughs to each farm. There are several native 

 traders, one of whom owns a steamboat, which runs between their country and New Orleans ; 

 and some of the natives have executed contracts for subsisting the garrison of Fort Gibson. 

 The government is conducted by 3 Principal Chiefs, and the legislature, consisting of 2 houses, 

 meets annually. Each district is also under the care of 2 Judges and two Light Horsemen, or 

 Sheriffs. The Board of Foreign Missions have missionaries, farmers, and mechanics, with 4 

 schools and a printing-press, in their country ; and the Methodists and Baptists have each a 

 mission. 



The Senecas, Shawnees, and Quapaws, occupy a small tract on the Neosho. The Senecas, 

 among whom are about 50 Moliawks, and the united bands of Senecas and Shawnees, are skil- 



