Indians on Indian Creek
Indian Creek, in its whole length, flows through a magnificent forest. There dwells on its shore a tribe of Indians, a remnant of the Chickasaws or Chickopees, if I remember rightly. (The name Chickasaw derives thus). They live in simple huts, ten or twelve feet square, constructed of pine poles and covered with bark. They subside principally on the flesh of the deer, the coon, and the opossom, all of which are plentiful in these woods. Sometimes they exchange venison for a little corn and whiskey with the planters on the bayous. Their usual dress is buckskin breeches and calico hunting shirts of fantastic colors, buttoned from belt to chin. They wear brass rings on their wrists, and in their ears and noses. The dress of the squaw is very similar. They are fond of dogs and horses - owning many of the latter, of a small, tough breed - and are skillful riders. Their bridles, girths and saddles were made of raw skins of animals, their stirrups of a certain kind of wood. Mounted astride their ponies, men and women, I have seen then dash out into the woods at the utmost of their speed, following narrow winding paths, and dodging trees in a manner that eclipsed the most miraculous feats of civilized equestrianism. Circling away in various directions, the forest echoing and re-echoing with their whoops, they would presently return at the same dashing, headlong speed with which they started. Their village was on Indian Creek, known as Indian Castle, but their range extended to the Sabine River. Occasionally a tribe from Texas would come over on a visit, and then there was a carnival in the "Great Pine Woods." Chief of the tribe was John Cascalla; second in rank was John Baltese, his "son-in-law..."
No comments:
Post a Comment