Cherokees of 200 Years Ago
A Brili.sli Army officer, who visited them
almost 200 years ago. left a description of
their gcMieral appearance, habits and
customs.
LAST fall I drove through the
Cherokee Reservation in the
western part of North Caro¬
lina and was greatly impressed
with what I saw there.
Evidently the Cherokees are a
fine people. Although not effusive
by any means, they are always
pleasant to visitors in a quiet sort
of manner, and I never heard of
them being rude to anyone. They
are proud of their history. Al¬
though not wealthy, the big ma¬
jority of them live comfortably
in modest homes. They are inter¬
ested in both churches and schools,
and they want their children to
have the best possible advantages.
How do the Cherokees of today
compare with their early ancestors
who roamed through the moun¬
tains of western North Carolina
when the first white men invaded
that area?
That is an interesting question.
An answer will be found in the
description of the tribe which was
written by Lieut. Henry Timber-
lake of the British Army, who
visited western North Carolina and
points in eastern Tennessee in
1762, seeking to promote friendly
relations.
Douglas L. Rights, in his most
interesting book, The American
Indian in North Carolina, says that
Timberlake persuaded three of
their chiefs to accompany him to
England, where, with becoming
dignity, they were presented to
King George.
Here is what Timberlake has to
say about the Indians and their
customs:
Personal Appearance
“The Cherokees are of a middle
stature, of an olive color, though
generally painted; and their skin
stained with gunpowder, pricked
into it in very pretty figures. The
hair of their head is shaved,
though many of the old people
have it plucked out by the roots,
except a patch on the hinder part
of the head, about twice the big¬
ness of a crown-piece, which is
ornamented with beads, feathers,
By AUSTIN WILLIAMS
wampum, stained deer's hair, and
such like baubles. The ears are
slit and stretched to an enormous
size, putting the person who under¬
goes the operation to considerable
pain, being unable to lie on either
side for 40 days. So soon as the
patient can bear it, the ears arc
wound with wire to expand them,
and are adorned with silver pend¬
ants and rings, which they like¬
wise wear at the nose.
“They that can afford it wear a
collar of wampum, which are beads
cut out of clam shells, a silver
breast-plate, and bracelets on their
arms and wrists of the same metal,
cloth over their loins, a shirt of
the English make, a sort of cloth
boots, and mockasons. which are
shoes of a make peculiar to the
Americans. A matchcoat thrown
over all completes their dress at
home; but when they go to war
they leave their trinkets behind
and the mere necessities serve
them.
“The old people still remember
and praise the ancient days before
they were acquainted with the
whites, when they had but little
dress, except a bit of skin about
their middles, mockasons. a mantle
of buffalo skin for the winter, and
a light one of feathers for the
summer. The women are remark¬
ably well featured, and both men
and women are straight and well
built, with small hands and feet.
"They are a very gentle and
amicable disposition to those they
think are their friends, but as im¬
placable in their enmity, their re¬
venge being only completed in the
entire destruction of their enemies.
"They are very hardy, bearing
heat, cold, hunger and thirst in a
surprising manner and yet no peo¬
ple are given to more excess in
eating and drinking, when it is
conveniently in their power; the
follies, nay mischief they commit
when inebriated, are entirely laid
to liquor, and no one will revenge
an injury, murder excepted, re¬
ceived from one who is no more
himself.
"They are particularly careful of
the superannuated, but are not
so until of great age. Ostenaco’s
mother is an instance. Ostenaco
is about 60 years of age, and the
younger of four; yet his mother
still continues her laborious tasks,
and has yet strength enough to
carry two hundred weight of wood
on her back near a couple of miles.
"They seldom have their eyes
on the person they speak of. or
address themselves to. and are al¬
ways suspicious when people’s eyes
are fixed upon them. They speak
so low. except in council, that they
are often obliged to repeat what
they are saying; yet should a per¬
son talk to any of them above
their common pitch, they will im¬
mediately ask him if he thought
they were deaf.
Belief in God
“They generally concur in the
belief of one superior Being, who
made them and governs all things.
( Continued on page 22 )
THE STATE. February 4. 1950
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