A CHOCTAW ASSEMBLY. 
9 
the States. On Sundays church services are performed there by the Rev. Cyrus Byington, who 
is listened to by a large and attentive congregation. Neither blood-thirstiness, nor cruelty of 
any kind, is characteristic of this tribe. There is no new country upon the frontier where theft 
and robbery are less frequent—where human life is more sacred. Persons ride alone and un¬ 
armed without fear of molestation, from one end of the Choctaw nation to the other. 
On our return to camp, we learned from Captain Cooper that the great chief would deliver a 
speech to his tribe that evening, and that we were invited to he present. At an early hour we 
joined a party; and, crossing the brook, ascended to the store in front of which the crowd was 
gathering. It was amusing to see the fantastic dresses which seemed to designate the various 
grades in the process of civilization. There were some with naked limbs, who might have been 
taken for wild savages of the prairie. A portion wore loose shirts, with ornaments of heads, feath¬ 
ers, and rings. Others were gaity attired in calico wrappers, confined by rich wampum belts of 
their own manufacture. There were wrought hunting-shirts, beaded moccasins, and high-crowned 
hats with silver hands. A few had adopted the American costume, and seemed perfectly at 
ease in black coat, pants, vest, polished hoots, and heaver hat. They might have walked unno¬ 
ticed through any of our streets. Good feeling was exhibited between these various classes; 
there was no envy displayed on one side, no apparent consciousness of superiority on the other. 
All mingled freely, conversing generally in their native language, though some are actually 
forgetting it. In the schools, English is taught to the exclusion of Choctaw, and public opin¬ 
ion seems in favor of acquiring our language with our habits. 
It became dark, and a lantern was suspended from the piazza in front of the store where the 
people were slowly and quietly collecting. An animated conversation was started, regarding 
the route most advantageous for the survey to follow. They seemed deeply interested in our 
operations, and eagerly desirous to have the railroad built through their territory. 
At length the assembly was called to attention, and the chief, with great dignity, took his 
place upon the porch. He commenced his address in a musical voice, and well-modulated tones. 
Persuasive in manner, without apparent effort, he held the crowd in silent attention. But we, 
unfortunately, not understanding Choctaw, soon grew weary, and returned to camp. 
