R. E. P. O. R. T.
-
A visiºn to soºn on tº
-
T R D B E S 0 || |
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wºn on tº Mississippi RIVER,
- - -
JOHN D LANG.
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R. E. P. O. R. T
or "
A VISIT TO SOME OF THE
TRIBES OF INDIANS,
LOCATED
WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER,
By
JOHN D. LANG,
AND
SAMUEL TAYLOR, Jun.
N E W - Y O R. K.
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1 & 4 3.


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THE situation of the numerous Tribes of Indians now located
West of the Mississippi River, having long claimed the attention of
the Society of Friends, and increasingly so since their removal from
their former homes, the Yearly Meetings of New England and New-
York, in the year 1837, entered into a correspondence upon the sub-
ject, to ascertain in what way the efforts of Friends might be directed
to their benefit. This correspondence was continued from time to
time, and resulted in a proposition, that means should be taken to
become more fully acquainted with their situation and necessities.
In the year 1842, our valued friends John D. LANG and SAMUEL
TAYLoR, Jun., from a sense of religious duty, and with the full
approbation and unity of their friends, in order to carry into effect
the concern of the Yearly Meetings aforesaid, proceeded to visit
many of the Tribes of Indians in their present locations.
A condensed statement of the result of this visit is contained in
the following pages, which after having been presented to the Yearly
Meetings of Friends of New England and New-York, is now pub-
lished for the information of the community generally, by the Com-
mittees appointed by the said Meetings to have charge of this
COILCCIII.
- -


R. E. P. O. R. T.,
To the Committee of New England and New-York Yearly Meetings of Friends,
on the concern for the Indians located west of the Mississippi River,
DEAR FRIENDs:
Having been permitted through the goodness and merciful
preservation of our great Care Taker, to accomplish our journey
among the Indians, we would now inform that we have visited about
twenty tribes, and remnants of tribes of those located on the western
frontier of the United States, and have taken the following notes and
observations respecting them.
At the close of the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends in
1842, having consulted with several members of the committee on
Indian Affairs, both of New England and New York Yearly Meetings,
and they having expressed their concurrence in our prospect of
visiting Washington at that time, in order to procure some documents
from the Indian department, we proceeded directly there and had an
introduction to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Upon being
made acquainted with our business, he received us kindly, and freely
offered to furnish us with such letters and documents signed by the
Secretary of War and himself, as might be useful in facilitating our
contemplated visit. While at Washington, we procured some public
documents and reports respecting the Indians, and returned pretty
directly to New York. There we made some arrangements with
the committee preparatory to our journey, and then returned to our
homes.
Having made the needſul preparations, and having certificates of
the concurrence and unity of the respective Meetings of which we
are members in this engagement, we took leave of our families and
friends the latter part of the Eighth month, 1842. On our way we
called on some of the Indian Committee of New England Yearly
Meeting, and then proceeded to New York; where, having comple-
ted our arrangements for the journey, we took leave of the committee
and many other Friends, and pursued our way to Ohio Yearly
Meeting. We there met with the committee on the concern for the
Indians, of that Yearly Meeting, heard their report respecting the
Shawnee School, and made such inquiries as seemed proper respec-
ting the best mode of getting to the Mississippi River. Having a
special desire to commence our journey as far north as the Winnne-
bago tribe of Indians—and fearing that the boats would be impeded
on account of the low stage of the water in the Ohio River, it seemed
most advisable to take the northern route. We accordingly travelled
1*

6
by land to Cleaveland, thence by steamboat to Detroit, and by land
across the State of Michigan to the Mouth of St. Joseph's River.
Here we took steamboat over Lake Michigan sixty miles to Chicago.
After waiting one day in this place, we departed by stage for Galena
and Dubuque, crossing the State of Illinois, a distance of one hun-
dred and eighty miles. We reached the latter place in safety, though
much fatigued with our journey, the roads being very dry and dusty,
and the weather exceedingly warm. We arrived at Dubuque early
on First-day morning, the 25th of Ninth Month; and the follow-
ing evening procured a conveyance to the Winnebago Indians. On
Second-day morning, we left in a wagon travelling in a north west-
erly direction about one hundred miles across a beautiful prairie
country to Turkey River. On Third-day afternoon, while stopping
for some refreshment, about twenty-five miles distant from the Indian
village, there came to the house five or six Indians in a state of
intoxication; having procured their whiskey at a shop nearby.
They were very noisy, calling for whiskey &c., and greatly annoying
the peaceable settlers. The next morning, after leaving for the
agency, we fell in with a number of companies, most of whom were
intoxicated; some of them carrying whiskey on their ponies to their
villages.
On Fourth-day of the week and 29th of the month 1842, we
reached the Mission for the Winnebago tribe of Indians, and took
lodgings with the sub-agent David Lowry, where we were kindly
entertained, by him and his family, and every facility in their power
aſſorded us for conferring with the Indians, as well as a readiness
evinced to furnish such information as was desired.
WINNEBAGO TRIBE OF INDIANS.
THIs tribe is located north west from Iowa Territory, and west of
Prairie du Chien, on lands called the Neutral Ground. They are
located in different parts of this land in settlements called villages.
Their principal one called the School Band is near the sub-agency
of David Lowry on Turkey River about one hundred miles north
west from Dubuque, and within four or five miles of Fort Atkinson.
They number altogether about two thousand. These Indians live
in rude lodges or wigwams as they are sometimes called, built in the
usual Indian style, by forcing forked sticks into the ground for posts,
into the forks of which they lay poles for plates and ribs, preparatory
to covering them with oak bark. The sides are either made of bark,
mats made of flags, or skins fastened to the plates and extending
to the ground. These wigwams are from ten to twenty-five feet in
length, and about ten feet wide. The inside of the building is fitted
up with a sort of framework on each side, made of poles about two
feet high and three feet wide, intended as a sort of bedstead, on which
they fasten skins or mats where thy lounge and sleep, leaving a
space through the centre four feet wide. At each end there is an

7
aperture or door. The fire is built in the centre, the smoke escaping
through a hole in the top.
There are not unfrequently as many as three or four families,
amounting to twenty persons or more, occupying one of these miser-
able hovels. When about their homes, they live principally upon
soups, made of wildfowl and venison, turnips and potatoes. They
also eat an abundance of boiled corn. Some corn-bread and a very
little wheat flour are used by them.
There is no regular order as to the time or manner of taking their
meals. Some are seen eating their soups outside of their wigwams,
some are eating while sitting on their beds; while others are engaged
in different pursuits; and should any person of an other family hap-
pen to come into the lodge when he needed food, he would as freely
partake without invitation as he would of his own.
The dress of the men consists mainly of blankets; all of them
wear the waistcloth; some wear moccasins and leggins, and a few
wear a calico frock or shirt. The head is generally uncovered; a
few, however, use a turban. The dress of the women consists of a
broad cloth skirt and blanket. Some of them wear moccasins and
leggins; the head is entirely uncovered, except that the blanket is
sometimes thrown over it for a covering, but they use no other.
The dress of the large children is similar to that of the grown persons
of the same sex. Most of the small children go naked during the
warm season; but those that attend school are clothed similarly to
the white children on the frontier settlements. The greater part of
the men and women wear ornaments, such as wanpum, beads, bells
and jewelry. Most of the men paint their faces on special occasions;
some part of the face is painted red and some black.
The principal employment of the men consists of hunting at cer-
tain seasons of the year; and when not thus engaged, they do but
very little labor of any kind, it being considered disgraceful both by
men and women for the man to be seen at work. Much of their time
is spent in riding, of which they are exceedingly fond. They like-
wise spend a portion of it in ball-playing and other sports, and a con-
siderable time is spent in lounging about in idleness. The women
are generally industrious, performing the greater part of the manual
labor both in the camp and on the land. They look dejected, and
appear more like slaves than otherwise. Many of the women and
children receive very severe treatment from the men in their drunken
revels; from which cause some of them are maimed.
The Winnebagoes have but one school, and that is supported by
the general government, and is under the immediate superintendence
of the sub-agent. There have been, the past year, about ninety
children at the school, some of whom have made pretty good profi-
ciency in learning. The school was vacated while we were there.
We were informed that there was much difficulty in getting a portion
of the children to attend constantly, in consequence of an undue in-
fluence exercised over them by interested men. This school may
be considered as rather an interesting institution; and, from what we

8
could gather from the teachers, the children are as susceptible of in-
struction as the whites. They are taught in the English language
altogether.
This tribe is governed by chiefs, who sometimes receive the office
by hereditary descent; and at others by a choice of the people; and
sometimes they are appointed by the agents of the general govern-
ment. They have some vague notions of the Deity, or Great Spirit
as he is more generally called by them. They also believe in a state
of future rewards and punishments, and talk about a bad spirit. Very
few if any have embraced Christianity.
The Winnebagoes this year raised about 2500 bushels of Indian
corn, besides a pretty large supply of potatoes and other vegetables,
on grounds prepared by the agent of the government near his location,
by the band called the School Band. The annuity paid to this tribe
amounts to nearly ninety-thousand dollars in money, goods and ap-
propriations for different purposes. Previously to their receiving it,
the sub-agent collects the whole tribe and pays over to the head of
each family the amount due them. Notwithstanding the large sum
which they receive, they are still in a deplorable and suffering con-
dition, and fast wasting away. Much of their misery may be traced
to the treatment of some of the white people towards them. But
leaving the past, and looking only to the present conduct of the white
man, it is evident that unless something more effectual is done to
break up the corrupt and iniquitous traffic in whiskey, as well as the
fraudulent trade carried on among the Indians by some of those per-
sons licensed by the government, the Winnebagoes will in a few
years be numbered with the tribes that are not.” We were credibly
informed, that in defiance of the presentrigid laws, immediately after
the payment of 1841, there was sold to this tribe two hundred barrels
of whiskey; and at the time of our being there in 1842, the whiskey
sellers had increased in number one third. These whiskey dealers
and licensed traders find a strong inducement to follow up the poor
Indian, from the fact that he receives so large a payment at one time.
The Indian as a general thing, is improvident to the last degree,
and but poorly calculated to keep any amount of surplus property;
so that within four or five days the whiskey seller residing on thé
frontier, and the licensed trader who is permitted to vend his goods
among them, get nearly all the money. The licensed traders are
numerous, and generally plant themselves at the time the money is
paid over, in the immediate vicinity of the place where the payment
is made. They sell the Indians the most trifling and worthless
articles for an enormous profit; the Indian is tempted oftentimes to
buy these articles from their gaudy appearance. After he has parted
with his last dollar in money to the whiskey seller or licensed trader,
in payment of old debts for whiskey or for some of the above men.
we were informed by the agent that he had registered the names of thirty-nine Indians, who
had been butchered in their drunken revels among themselves, within the space of fºurteen
months; and he did not doubt but that there were others who had been killed in this way, whose
names had not come to his knowledge.

9
tioned articles, (and the Indian is always largely indebted to these
dealers) he then takes the articles he has purchased of the licensed
trader to the whiskey shop, and sells them for a much less price than
he gave, and takes his pay in whiskey, at ten or even twenty times
the actual cost to the settler. It is no uncommon thing for an Indian
after he has parted with all his money and many other necessary
articles, to barter away his gun, horse, and even his blanket for a
few bottles of whiskey. We were credibly informed that these
whiskey shops not unfrequently have large piles of blankets and large
stacks of guns that have been taken from the poor natives for a little
whiskey.
Thus we see that the policy of the government, and the benevolent
efforts of those who are honestly laboring among them for their good,
are almost wholly defeated by the avarice of those lawless men.
On Sixth day of the week and the first of Tenth month, agreeably
to previous arrangement, we met about thirty of their chiefs and
principal men in council at the agent's house. Our object in calling
them together, was explained by David Lowry, the sub-agent; and
then our certificates from our friends, and the letters and talk from
the Secretary of War addressed to the Indians, were severally read
and explained to them. We then felt constrained to make a few
remarks, and to extend such advice as seemed proper; after which,
Little Hill, one of the chiefs replied; that what he had heard was
very good, and that they had heard a number of talks from their
great father, the President; and he had promised to help them, and
keep of the whiskey sellers, but he had not done it, and now it was
too late. He supposed he had tried but could not, that he had such
great matters to attend to that he could not see to their small con-
cerns; and now it was too late to help them.
We then told them we did not believe it was too late for them to re-
frain from drinking whiskey. We told them that much that they
complained of we believed to be true, and that the white man had
wronged them, but that we wished them to understand that they yet
had good friends among the whites, who were grieved with the con-
duct of bad white men towards them; we hoped they would not be
discouraged, but try to do better themselves, and that we and our
brothers at home were disposed to do all in our power to help them.
And after making on our part some other remarks relative to their
condition, they expressed their satisfaction. Little Hill spoke to
some of the elder chiefs, and, as we understood, requested them to
reply to us as he was young, and wanted some of his elder friends
to make a speech. They severally said, they where well pleased
with our talk but had nothing further to say. Little Hill then rose
and shook hands with us, and then commenced speaking with us
through the interpreter, young Lowry. Referring to their former con-
dition previous to their intercourse with the whites, he said, “The
Great Spirit had made us all, but he had madeus different. Some
men he made white, some he made red, and placed them at a distance
one from the other. They, the red men, lived happy, and he sup-

10
posed the white man lived happy too. They then had no sickness
nor deaths amongst them, except from old age; all their people lived
to be old and white-headed. But when the white man came among
them, they then became sick, and died young. The white man
brought fire-water amongst them; they supposed the white man got
the whiskey from the bad Spirit, for surely they never got it from
the good Spirit. They began to sell it to the Indians, and then their
miseries commenced ; and they had become reduced and could not
refrain from drinking, so long as the white man sold it to them, and
now they despaired of ever being any better, and the only way for
them to be made better was to keep the whiskey away. The white
man did not know what it was to go hungry and cold; but the poor
Indian did; he belived that we pitied them and talked to them for
their good, and he thanked us for it, and said he would tell it to his
people, and hoped they would mind our talk, to which they all
assented. He then said, brothers I have nothing more to say, and
shaking hands with us again, sat down.
After gathering the foregoing facts and observations respecting the
Wennebagoes, we took leave of our friend Lowry and family, as well
as the other white inhabitants connected with them at the establish-
ment, and returned to Dubuque, on the Mississippi. We then took
steam-boat down the river about two hundred miles to Burlington:
thence we took stage and private conveyance by way of Mount Plea-
sant and Salem, Iowa, to the SACs and Fox agency, distant about
eighty miles. We reached this place the eighth of Tenth-month, about
one o'clock, P. M. The tribes were, at the time, assembled for the pur-
pose of negotiating a treaty with the general government, through
Governor John Chambers, the negotiator. The whole Sac and Fox
nation were in the neighborhood, but the men only attended the
council. Just as we reached the council, the chiefs commenced
speaking, and spoke with much animation. One of the Fox chiefs
spoke first, and then a Sac, and so alternately till four had spoken,
the last being Keepkuk, their principal chief, a celebrated orator.
The purport of their talk was about the same, and resulted in an
agreement to sell all their lands to the United States for the sum of
one million and fifty-five thousand dollars. Eight hundredthousand
of this sum was to be put at interest at five percent, and the remain-
der to be appropriated to the payment of their debts. They were
also to be provided with lands to settle on, south west of the
Missouri River, where they were to remove within three years.
After the adjournment of the council at that time, we went to the
agent's house, where the Governor put up during his stay at this
place. He received us kindly and entered into conversation very
freely, respecting the condition of these tribes of Indians. He remarked
that unless something was done to better their condition, and that
soon, they must in a very few years all be wasted away, in conse-
quence of the wickedness and treachery of the whiskey sellers and
other traders, who are taking advantage of these poor ignorant na-
tives, by obtaining their money and other valuable articlesin exchange

11
for whiskey and trifling commodities of no real value to the Indians.
These articles he remarked are frequently sold to them for ten or
twenty, and in some instances for a huudred times their real cost;
and in a very short time these unprincipled traders manage to obtain
the last dollar the Indian has. And he further said, that some of the
accounts brought in against the Indians stagger credulity; in one
instance one of these accounts was exhibited for settlement amounting
to sixteen thousand dollars, which he had ascertained to have grown
out of the remnants of an old stock of goods not worth five hundred
dollars. He remarked that whiskey was no doubt in many instances
sold to the Indians, and charged as corn, blankets, or other articles
which the licensed traders have a right to sell to the Indians, while
it is unlawful to sell them whiskey. He said also, that the advice of
the whiskey sellers and other traders was unbounded in its influence
upon the Indian, and that he had found much difficulty in treating
with them on that account, as these traders were constantly hanging
about them and advising them against adopting such a course as
would be for their good, and cautioning them not to leave the chase,
nor lay down the gun or the blanket, not to have schools established
among them, and in fine, against civilization in any way. What we
saw and heard during our stay at the Council Ground, fully confirmed
the statements of the governor. While we were there, we met with
men of influential character, some of whom it is known have been
long engaged in a trade with the Indians, by which they have amass-
edgreat wealth. These men used their utmost skill to make us be-
lieve that the Indians were a happy people; that there was none-
cessity for any benevolent exertions on their behalf, and that they
were now living very comfortably. An Indian, say they, was made
to hunt, not to work; and they are so very happy in keeping to their
old habits of living, that any attempts to induce a change only serve
to make them unhappy. They argued against educating the Indians,
altogether, either within or without their borders; saying, they have
as much knowledge as it is necessary for an Indian to possess.
There were also other men associated with these traders, either by
friendship or otherwise, men of high standing in the community, who
were forward in sustaining them in their selfish and erroneous state-
ments. And what is most to be deplored is, that the Indians will
more readily listen to the counsel of these men, than to those who are
disinterestedly engaged for their good. We can but hope, however,
that when they shall be removed to their new homes, all intercourse
with their old advisers may be broken off, and they be left to receive
better counsel from men who are not so intently bent on their own
aggrandizement at the expense of the life and happiness of the Indian.
These tribes number in all about two thousand two hundred.
They are a large stately race, particularly the men. None of these
Indians to our knowledge cultivate the soil; but they are in general,
hunters. They have, however, a large pattern farm carried on for
their benefit, by a government farmer. Their annuity at this time
is about half the amount of that of the Winnebagoes. They live in

12
wigwams or lodges similar to those of all the uncivilized Indians,
They have no schools, nor any civil or religious institutions among
them; but in other respects their manners and customs are about the
same as those of the Winnebagoes. A few of their children have re-
ceived some instruction at the Choctaw Academy in Kentucky; but
for the want of a suitable opportunity to apply what little learning
they may have obtained, and in consequence of the jealousy and
prejudice of their own nation against civilization, soon after their re-
turn, they fall into the habits of their uncivilized brethren. There
was little opportunity while there of conversing with them, owing to
their engagements in making their treaty. We visited most of their
tents and took a view of them as they were encamped on the open
prairie.
After collecting what facts we could in relation to these tribes, we
returned to Salem, a distance of about fifty miles, where we staid
two or three days with Friends, and then returned to the Mississippi,
where we took stage at Fort Madison for Keepkuk, and from thence
by steamboat went to St. Louis. While there, we called on D. D.
Mitchell, superintendent of Indian affairs. He received us kindly.
We presented him with our documents from the government as well
as our certificates from our friends at home. He gave us a passport
to travel through all the tribes within his superintendence.
Here again the same lamentable tale was told respecting the de-
vastation that whiskey was making amongst all the different tribes
within his jurisdiction. He informed us that they were annually
diminishing in numbers; and that unless something more effectual
could be devised for their benefit by way of putting a stop to the in-
iquitous traffic in whiskey, they would soon be all wasted away.
He gave us copies of reports received from the several schools within
his superintendence, for our perusal.
We left St. Louis by stage for St. Charles, a distance of twenty
miles; thence took steamboat for Westport, nearly five hundred miles
up the Missouri River; the navigation of which at this time was
cºnsidered very precarious on account of the low stage of the water,
and the numerous snags and shoals in the river, which caused much
anxiety to us as well as to the officers of the boat, both by night and
by day; yet through all, we were mercifully favored to reach our des-
timed port unharmed, and then proceeded by land about nine miles to
Friend's School in the Shawnee Nation. We reached the school
early in the evening, where we were cordially received by all the
Friends of the Establishment, and hospitably entertained.
The day following we made arrangements for a council with the
Indians, viewed the premises &c., and in the evening visited the
school, heard the scholars answer scripture questions, spell, &c. The
school consists of twenty-three boys and fourteen girls. We were
pleased with its appearance at this, and subsequent visits that we
made the scholars manifested a good degree of activity and appeared
cheerful and happy. They had made considerable proficiency in
their studies, as much as could reasonably be expected under the cir-

13
cumstances in which they were placed. They are taught in the
English language, and converse in English with the whites; but
when conversing among themselves, they speak the Shawnee.
Attached to this school is a large farm, the income of which goes to
the support of the Institution. The boys work on the farm and are
instructed in agriculture, the school being conducted somewhat on
the manual labor plan. We were well satisfied with the appearance
of the farm. The school is wholly supported by the Yearly Meetings
of Friends of Baltimore, Ohio, and Indiana; and was instituted at its
present location by them at the request of the Indians. We made a
visit to the Methodist Mission School, distant about three miles from
that of Friends'. Their buildings are of brick and large, and an ex-
tensive farm is attached to the Establishment. This school also, is
conducted on the manual labor plan. We were informed that they
instruct upwards of eighty children aunually at this Institution.
Our government has done much towards its establishment and sup-
port, and the deficiency is made up by the Methodist Board. The
children were making tolerable progress in the various studies in
which they were engaged, as well as in agriculture and the mechanic
arts. The Baptists have also a small school in the Shawnee nation,
but at the time of our visit it was vacated.
After visiting the schools, we called on several families of the
Indians, many of whom appeared to be living tolerably well in com-
fortable log houses; some of them have pretty good furniture, utensils
for cooking &c., and some have barns and other out-buildings. They
raise a supply of indian corn for themselves and cattle, and keep oxen,
cows, horses, hogs and a few sheep. All of them raise a large num-
ber of fowls. Some of them have peach orchards, and have sent
some peaches to market the past season. Many of the men of this
tribe are industrious as well as the women; a few of the men are
mechanics and work by the day for the white settlers, and give satis-
faction to their employers. They appear to be adopting the dress and
manners of the whites, and to be advancing slowly in civilization.
It is reported that some of them have embraced Christianity, but most
of them adhere to their ancient views of religion. A considerable
number are yet given to dissipation; they all appear to have a con-
tinued regard for Friends, and received us kindly, manifesting much
interest in our visit. We held a number of councils with them du-
ring our stay in the nation to pretty good satisfaction, and rendered
them such advice as seemed proper, to which they listened with in-
terest and attention. They were apt at making us acquainted with
their greivences. At one of the councils with the chiefs and head
men of the nation, the following speech was made, our certificates
and documents having been previously read, and we having rendered
such counsel and advice as way opened for

14
S. P. E. E. C. H. -
BR.oriters:–Perhaps it is the will of God that we should meet
to-day to talk over things together; and if there was notrouble in the
way, we could get along much better in making you a reply. You
know that when there is only a little trouble in the way, we cannot
get along so well. Brothers, we are glad to hear your talk, and when
we meet in this way, we think about God and talk about Him; for
we believe it is his will that we should think about him and talk
about him. We greet you as brothers and send our love aud best
wishes to our friends, the Quakers, who sent you to see us, their
Indian brothers. Brothers, this is not the first time our friends, the
Quakers have come to see us to instruct us in the things you have
been talking about to day. A longtime ago our friends, the Quakers,
gave us the same instruction, and our young men who are seated
around you at this time, have heard their talk, and now live agreeable
to their advice; for we think that your way of living is good. Broth-
ers, all our young men who are here to-day understand what you say
and like your talk, they do not drink whiskey, but work; raise corn,
wheat, oats, have horses, cows, sheep and hogs, and live comfortably,
and are saving something for their children. As to my improve-
ment, it is growing less as I grow older. Brothers, we that are seated
around you, believe that what you say is true. I have given up
drinking whiskey along time ago, and think about other things. I
think about God and feel that I have religion in me. We believe
that your religion is a good one, and your talk and your feelings
towards the Indians is good and right. A long time ago, your old
men talked to us about your religion, and we told them about our
religion; and they told us that though your religion was different
from our religion, yet if the heart was right we could travel together
through this world and be saved at last.
Brothers, you say that you have come a long way to see your
Indian Brothers, and now you see we are in a bad condition, (alluding
to their head chief who was present in a state of intoxication) like
some of our Indian brothers whom you have been to see. We can-
not help it so long as the white men will sell whiskey to the Indians.
Our Great Father can prevent it, but no one else can. We want he
should stop up the barrel and not suffer any to run out to the
Indian.
Brothers, as to the school, we cannot do much; we can talk to
our people about sending their children, but if parents will not send
their children, we cannot help it. If you get along well with the
children you now have, parents will see it, and become willing to
send their children, as they wish them to learn to work and read and
write like white people. Brothers, we believe that all you have said
to us is true, and we wish you to carry this talk of ours home with
you, and tell our friends, the Quakers, all about what you have seen

15
among your Shawnee friends; that many of them have good farms,
raise stock, viz.: horses, cows, sheep and hogs, and many of them do
not drink whiskey, but have good houses, good furniture and live
comfortably. Brothers, that is all I have to say.
The Shawnee nation number about twelve hundred. They are
situated on the east side of the Kansas River, and west of the state of
Missouri. They have a beautiful tract of country, one hundred
miles long and twenty-five broad.
THE KICKAPOO TRIBE OF INDIANS.
After spending some time with the Shawnees, we hired horses and
an Indian guide, and rode up the Missouri River about fifty miles to
the Kickapoos, a small tribe of about four hundred, situated above
Fort Leavenworth on the Missouri. They are nearly all agricultu-
rists, raising a sufficiency of corn for themselves and some to sell.
They also raise some wheat, potatoes and other vegetables, and keep
horses, cattle and hogs; some of them live pretty comfortably. Their
cabins generally are filthy and some of them exceedingly so. There
is no school in this tribe. A number of them belong to the society of
Methodists; others are the followers of an Indian man whom they call
the Prophet, a man of some talent, but said to be an arch deceiver.
The greatest number still adhere to their old traditions. The general
appearance of these Indians was filthy; many are much given to dissi-
pation and other vices, especially those of them residing near the
Fort. The Methodists have a missionary in this tribe.
We held a council with them, and endeavored to lay before them
what appeared proper, persuading them to leave their bad practices,
and become sober and virtuous. There were present at this council
about thirty of their chiefs and principal men. They heard what we
said to them very attentively, but not being ready to reply, requested
anotherinterview. Accordingly a number of them met us in the eve-
ning, and after consulting a time among themselves, made the follow-
ning reply through one of their number who understood English.
* Brothers, we understood what you had to say to-day to us, and
this is what our chiefs say to you. We are glad you are come to
see us; we believe what you have said to us to-day is true. We
were once bad, but now try to do better, and hope you will help us.
We remember what you said about the Great Spirit, and we know
what you said about the Great Spirit to be true. We are very glad
you have come to talk with us about these things. We believe the
Christian way is the best, and what you have told us about it is true.
We are glad to hear what you have said to us about building
houses, and schooling our children we cannot do much ! We Want
* * * * father at Washington to help us wºn.
º * to us * whiskey and other matters. We don't make
Whiskey º ves, and we tell ºr young men not to drink it, but
** **P* sº long as while men sell it tº them w.

16
know how to make the white men take the whiskey away, but the
great men at Washington do. We hope they will help us.”
They then informed us how glad they were we were come to see
them, and wished us to tell the men at Washington of their wants.
They said they were poor and had no wagons to gather their corn in
and carry it to market; they had no ploughs; their mills were out of
repair, and their young men had to go to mill near the whiskey shops,
and they would get drunk. They said these things were due to them
by treaty stipulation; and their great father had promised to attend to
those things, but had not. They wished us to go and see him, and
let him know what they said. After this talk, they took us by the
hand and parted with us in a very friendly manner.
The next morning, the third of Eleventh month 1842, we return-
ed back as far as the Stockbridge tribe; a small remnant of a once
numerous tribe of Indians, but at this time numbering only seventy-
seven. They were originally from New England. We reached the
house of the principal chief Thomas T. Kendrick, about eleven
o'clock A. M.; having previously made an arrangement for meeting
with them. The chief had a long trumpet which he made use of
to collect the tribe, which being sounded, they soon came together,
men women and children. They all sat down in an orderly manner,
and we had a religious opportunity with them, #". to our peace
and comfort; and as they nearly all understood some English, we
spoke to them without an interpreter, it being the first instance of
our addressing a company of Indians in this manner. The greater
part of the adults of this tribe are professors of Christianity. The
principal chief is a sober, sensible man. After we had relieved our
minds to them, he spake sometime to his people in the Indian tongue,
referring, as we understood, to what had been said. One of their
number, a young man that had received an education at some of the
schools in Connecticut, was requested by the chief to say to us that
they understood all we had said to them, and that it was all true;
and he hoped they might often think of it and improve from it.
They said they considered it a great favor from God that he had
sent us to see them, and give them such good advice. The Quakers
had always been friends to the Indians, and had never wronged them.
They had heard much about the Quakers, and considered them their
friends. They said they noticed our advice to them to endeavour to
forget the injuries done them by the whites, and he hoped they might
practice it. They said they were a very little company, but they
had long resolved to improve and live like good white men; they
had given up hunting and drinking whiskey and were trying to live
by farming. They wished us to tell our friends at the east that they
were going to build a school house, and have a school for their child-
ren. They appeared to be very sincere in their remarks, and we
were encouraged to hope that they would continue in their improve-
ments. They were farther advanced in civilization than any of the
tribes we had previously visited. The chief, Thomas T. Kendrick,
had quite a library of books, and could write tolerably well.

17
They complained that they had not received their portion of the
money due them for the lands sold to the government at Green Bay;
that they were promised this money at the time of their removal, but
have not yet had it, and that they needed it in carrying on their
farming operations, and were now suffering for want of it; that they
were poor and not able to go to Washington, but desired that Friends
would lend them some assistance in getting their just dues. We
accidentally met with an aged female Indian, residing not far from
this settlement of Stockbridges, who appeared perfectly bright,
although she had lived to the advanced age of seventy-four years.
She was living in a small log cabin, her name is Catharine Everett.
She told us, when a child she lived at Eavesham New Jersey, and
that she was well acquainted with Friends; and said she knew that
dear old Friend Joshua Evans, the man who wore a long beard.
She said she thought him the best man in the world, he was so very
good to the poor Indians; and she always loved the Quakers from
her childhood, and thought a good deal about her good friends in the
east, and she believed they prayed both for her and the Indians in
the west, and that their prayers were heard and answered, and that
she rejoiced that the Lord had remembered them, and sent the Qua-
kers to see them and encourage them, for they needed it. She knew
she was a poor ignorant old creature, but sometimes she hoped to be
permitted to meet her Saviour in that mansion which Christ had
gone to prepare for his followers; where there is no difference be-
tween the white man and the red man; for she thought there would
be but one place for the good white man and the good red man; and
one place for the bad white man and the bad Indian. She desired
that we and our friends would remember the poor Indian in the
west. Sometimes when she awoke in the morning, her soul was
filled with love to God and all mankind; to a great many she never
saw in this world. She said she knew she was a poor old woman,
and had been very wicked, but hoped the Lord would forgive her;
and she was sometimes comforted in remembering that Christ said,
he that cometh to Him, he will in no wise cast off. She said she
wanted we should give her love to our brethren in the east, and de-
sired us and them to pray for her, for she was a poor creature. “The
ſervent prayer of a righteous man,” said she, “prevails much.”
Sometimes she was very sick and thought she should die; and at
those times she thought she should be happy, for her soul was filled
with love to God and every body; she wanted to think of God all
the time, it made her so well in the heart (putting her hand to her
breast). When we were about parting with her, she appeared much
affected, so that the tears rolled down her ſurrowed cheek. She ob.
served we might never meet again in this world, for it was but a
little time that we had to stay here, but we should meet again in an
other world where there would be no more trouble. “I am” said
she, “a poor old creature, and don't know much, but I feel to love
God who has done so much for me through Christ.”
We next visited the Delawares. They are situated on the west
2*

18
side of the Kansas River, opposite the Shawnees, and number about
one thousand souls. They have an excellent country calculated
to support a large population, About one half of this Tribe are in
an improving condition, cultivating corn and vegetables. They
keep horses, cattle and hogs, and an abundance of fowls; most of
them live in comfortable log or timber houses, and are advancing
slowly in civilization. Some of them have cast off the blanket and
are adopting the dress and manners of the Whites. These have
given up drinking whiskey and send their children to school. A
large portion of them however, yet remain in an uncivilized state,
wear the blanket, hunt some, and manifest no disposition to improve
in any thing good. They drink whiskey, fight, and are addicted to
all the vices common to the Indian in the savage state. Some of
these are celebrated hunters, and warriors, and often fight their way
through the wild Tribes quite to the Rocky Mountains. They kill
the Buffalo, and bring home the skins and barter them away with
the traders for whiskey and other articles, such as beads, wanpum,
&c. Their near location to the line of Missouri and the whiskey-sel-
lers and other traders who settle on and near the line, operates as a
great hindrance to their improvement, and will continue to be a
bar in the way of their advancement, while these unprincipled tra-
ders are suffered to carry on a traffic with them. Every advantage
appears to be taken of their ignorance as well as their natural thirst
for strong drink.
We met with two of their principal Chiefs and some of their head
men at the Baptist missionary's house, and rendered them such ad-
vice as appeared to us proper, upon subjects relating to their welfare;
all of which they appeared to receive kindly, according to their re-
ply. They referred to the friendship that had long existed between
the Quakers and the Delawares, and said that this friendship had
never been broken; and after speaking of the wrongs that had been
practised upon them by some of the whites, they said that the
Quakers had never injured them, that they had never opened their
veins, nor so much as scratched them. They were pleased that we
had thought so much about them, as to come so great a distance to
see them; they hoped they should mind what we had said to them,
and try to improve. The chief said that he was sorry that there were
no more of his people present on this occasion, but hoped we should
not be discouraged, for it was a pity for any one to begin to do good
and then give it up.
There are quite a number of war chiefs belonging to this tribe,
who refused to meet with their brethren on this occasion, having at
a previous time met and heard some remarks intended for their im-
provement and preservation, with which they were not well pleased,
and were decidedly opposed to meeting again on such an occasion.
We did not however feel satisfied to leave without seeking an oppor-
tunity with them, and accordingly appointed a time when we would
like to meet them at one of their own houses; and when the time
came we met some ten or fifteen of them and addressed them on sub-

19
jects relating to their moral and religious welfare; to all of which
they expressed their satisfaction, saying, they were glad to hear us
talk and hoped they should mind what had been said to them. Al-
though these fierce looking warriors had previously made some severe
threats against the first man that should name these subjects to them,
they offered no violence or unkind treatment to us, but appeared very
attentive and willing to hear us speak with freedom on all the sub-
jects relating to their welfare; and then they addressed us in a kind
manner; the head chief saying, he was glad to see his dear brothers
and hear them talk and hoped they should mind what was said to
them. We then parted with them feeling much relieved, and they
manifesting much affectionate feeling towards us.
The Moravians, Methodists and Baptists have each separate mis-
sions amongst the Delawares. The Baptists have a small school,
where some ten or fifteen children are annually receiving some in-
struction. The Moravians are educating a large number in that
portion of the tribe called Munsees. The Baptist school was not in
operation when we were there. The Methodists have a missionary
among them, but no school. A few of the Delaware children are
receiving some education at the several schools in the Shawnee na-
tion. The Munsee Indians consisting of about two hundred, are a
branch of the Delaware nation, and formerly resided on the Lehigh
River in Pennsylvania; and as we understood, these Indians are the
descendants of the tribe that made the treaty with William Penn
under the great elm tree.
This memorable event has been handed down by tradition from
generation to generation; and there are now a number who can give
a pretty correct account of the transactions of that remote period.
The Moravian Brethren have extended a care towards a portion of
this tribe for more than half a century. Teachers and missionaries
have, during that time been employed amongst them; and at the
time of our visit, there were two men and their wives engaged in
giving them some literary, moral and religious instruction. They
appeared to be pious persons and honestly engaged in the discharge
of their arduous duties. They receiyed us cordially, and manifested
a willingness to assist us in promoting the object of our visit.
Owing to the unsettled state of these Indians, their wandering habits
and unwillingness to work on the land, and the small annuity paid
them by the government, there has not been that improvement that
might be reasonably looked for, when we take into account the great
amount of labor bestowed upon them. Most of them have log or
timber houses, and cultivate more or less land, and raise corn for
their own supply during the year. Some few cultivate wheat and
potatoes. They keep horses, cattle, hogs and fowls, and have some
furniture in their houses, such as poor beds, tables, chairs, some cook-
ing utensils &c. They all wear the blanket and in many respects
dress in a style about half way between the whites and Indians.
They are great smokers, and some of them drink whiskey to excess.
It is said they are a kind hearted people, and a number of them have

20
embraced christianity, and joined with the Moravians, Methodists or
Episcopalians. The Moravians have a small meeting house and
school house on their land.
We met sixty or seventy of these Indians of both sexes at their
meeting house on First-day evening. They behaved with sobriety
and christian gravity, and after we had freed our minds, and our cer-
tificates had been read, one of the chiefs of the Delawares after hav-
ing spoken a few words to his associate chief (both of whom were at
a previous meeting of ours,) rose and delivered the following remarks.
“Brothers, we are glad you have come to see us and have given
us such good advice, and to talk with us and tell us about living
better and becoming better men and women. Brothers, I hope I
shall do better myself, and that my people will do better also. Broth-
ers, our fathers and your fathers lived together as friends and broth-
ers; they never shed each others blood, no, they never scratched each
other, I am glad that this friendship continues even to the present
time, and that the blood now runs freely in our veins.” Afterwards,
one of the principal men belonging to the Munsees made a few feeling
remarks, expressive of his satisfaction with the meeting, and the in-
terview closed.
Second-day morning, being informed by the Moravian missionary
that they usually met every morning at 9 o'clock for worship, and
that there was liberty for us to go in and sit with them if we chose.
After we had reflected upon it, we thought it might be best for us to
attend the meeting; and accordingly we went in and sat with them
until their services were over; after which we had some labor amongst
them. One of their principal men then rose, and in a feeling and
broken manner, even unto tears, made the following very affectionate
and pertinent remarks.
“Brothers, I want to talk a little with you. I am glad to see you
this morning and glad to hear you talk about Jesus, and was glad to
see you and hear you yesterday, Brothers, the Munsees are spread
all about, and have now no chiefs. Some few are settled round here;
some are mixed with the Stockbridges; some with the Shawnees and
some are yet living at Green Bay. But the Munsees have all forsaken
their heathen customs, and the practices of their forefathers, and now
live in the customs and practices of the Christians. Some of these
that live round here are Moravians, and some that live in other places
are Methodists and some Episcopalians; But they are Munsees, let
them live where they will, and all live as the Christian people do,
and do not follow the heathen practices of their fathers.”
“Brothers, I do not live in heathen practices, but believe in the one
true God and in Jesus Christ Me a poor Indian, me feel very DOOT,
but me feel religion in me though very poor. Poor Indian believe
that God sent his son into this world and that he died for all poor In-
dians as well as white people; and I believe He is now with God in
Heaven, and that he comes into our hearts by his Spirit even DOOT
Indians, and will be there forever. Now we think what Christ Say
to his followers, I am going away to leave you, but I will come again
21
in Spirit into your hearts, that I may be with you forever, be where
you will. And now me feel him renewedly in my heart at this time.
Brothers, 1 speak these things not from the tongue but I feel what I
say in my heart, though Indian a very poor creature and like little
child in these things; yet me feel the Spirit of Christ with me this
morning and feel glad to see you and to hear the good advice you
have given us, and I feel my spiritual strength renewed.
“Brothers your fathers, William Penn and others of your old men
and our old men the Munsees lived in peace like brothers, and made
the Treaty under the Elm tree, and the Quakers and the Munsees
have always been friends; and my heart is glad you still think about
your poor Indian brethren, and come and see them; for it makes poor
Indian's heart glad when they see their Quaker brothers. Brothers,
that is all I have to say now.”
--
AN ACCOUNT OF THE KANSAS,
This tribe numbers about 1600 souls. The country they claim as
their own is situated on both sides of the Kansas River, commencing
sixty miles west of its mouth in lat. 38 degrees north, being thirty
miles wide. The soil is fruitful and well watered, but sparingly
timbered. It is well adapted to agriculture, and the climate is healthy.
The Kansas spend a part of their time in hunting, a part in idle-
mess, and a part in planting and cultivating small crops at home.
They are irregularin their manner of living, and although not inclin-
ed to eat unwholsome food, yet from necessity they eat such as caus-
essickness among them. They use ardent spirits less than many
other tribes, yet they are degraded and improvident to some extent
by this poison: some few of them have reformed; they are more ready
receive instruction than they were formely; but most of them are strong
ly inclined to hold on to their savage habits and superstitious wor-
ship. The main difficulties in teaching these Indians, are their wan-
dering habits and their fondness for war with other tribes. They are
at home only about four months in the year. They have a smith and
a teacher of agriculture furnished them by treaty, who are to contin-
ued with them five years, and then all their stipulations with the Gov-
ernment will end.
At the time of our visit the greater part of the tribe were gone on
their fall hunt, and therefore we had an opportunity of seeing but
few of them.
After we had completed our visit to the Delawares, Munsees, Stock-
bridges and Kickapoos, and had seen some of the Kansas tribe, and
collected such information as we deemed useful, we returned again to
Friends' School in the Shawnee nation, to prepare for our visit to
the more southern tribes. The Indians understanding that we were
about leaving this part of the country, numbers of them came to make
known their grievances, and others to take leave of us. They rep-


22
resented to us that there was a prospect of the Wyandots, now living
in Ohio, coming to settle on a part of their land, and that a very few
of the Shawnees were favorable to such a move, but that the most of
them were decidedly opposed to it, and much troubled on account of
it. We were not without serious apprehensions that great difficulty
might yet arise from this circumstance. We rendered them such
counsel as we believed might be proper for them to follow; advising
them against discords, jealousies and divisions, all of which appeared
to be kindly received. An aged Shawnee chief came to us and said,
he wished to have a talk with us. He said when he lived in Ohio
he had a good farm and lived well, but by being removed to this
country he had become poor; that he was now gaining a little, and
he wanted to live where he now did, and so did all his tribe want to
remain where they now are. They did not want to be moved again.
but he feared they should be soon. He said he was now old and
lame, and he could not go further; he wanted to die and be buried
here, and not go away off and die on the prairie. It made him feel
very bad to think of being moved again, for it seemed like being
thrown over a bank away off west of the prairie where they would all
die. He appeared much distressed on this account, and wished to
know if we had heard the men at Washington talk about removing
them again, remarking that he had heard that they had been talking
about it. He wanted we and our friends should help them in getting
the title to their lands fixed, so that his people might always live
where they now are. He thought the white man ought to be satis-
fied, that the Indian had been removed far enough, and not move him
any farther. He said he was an old man and could live but a little
while, and wanted to know before he died that his people and child-
ren could never be removed again. All this was spoken in a feeling
and candid manner.
After this, a chief of the Chilocathe band remarked that the Indians
showed mercy to the white men when they first came across the great
water and were weak and could but just get up the bank. The In-
dian was then like the trees, erect and strong; the white man like the
grass, easily bent and waving with the wind. The white man came
to the Indian four times with his hat under his arm, and asked the
Indian to have mercy on him, for he was poor and needy. White
man say, when Indian is poor and needy he would have mercy on
him as long as grass grows and water runs. Indian then let him
come on the land and live; he now wanted white man to remember
his promise and have mercy on the Indian, for he was poor and needy;
and not remove him any further. -
Having completed our visit to the Indians in this section of the
country, we took leave of our kind friends at the Shawnee school on
the tenth of Eleventh Month, and proceeded on our way about forty
miles in a south-west direction to the sub-agency of A. L. Davis in
order to visit the several tribes in that vicinity. We arrived there
in the evening of the same day, and made known our business to the
sub-agent. He kindly entertained us and offered to lend all thene-

23
cessary aid in collecting the Indians, and also to furnish us with such
information as he possessed respecting their state and condition.
The day following there was an unusual fall of snow for the season,
in consequence of which but few of the Indians came to the council;
yet some of the principal men of nearly all these remnants of tribes
were present. The names of the several tribes are Weas, Peank-
shaws, Kaskaskias, Peorias, Ottewas and Chippewas, numbering in
all about five hundred and fifty. These Indians are making little
improvement in agriculture or otherwise; yet most of them raise some
corn and vegetables, and keep some horses, cattle, hogs and fowls.
They are but poorly prepared for carrying on farming, having no
ploughs waggons or tools of any kind, which is cause of much dis-
couragement to them. With the exception of a few instances, they
have made but little advancement in civilization. Some of them live
in poor log houses and some in wigwams. They generally wear the
blanket, and in most respects dress like the wild Indians. They are
much given to idleness, vice and dissipation; there is no school in
any of these tribes. There is one missionary among the Peorias, but
none in any of the others. Like many other tribes, they are fast
wasting away. Some of them are professors of Christianity, but much
the larger part of them still adhere to their old traditions.
They complain of having made a bad treaty with the General Gov-
ernment, and are solicitous of further assistance from that source, and
say, that if their great father, would send out some good white men
to instruct and advise them, they would endeavor to improve from it.
We encouraged them to break off from their old habits of dissipation
and indolence, and to become a sober and agricultural people; hold-
ing out to them the advantages that would result from such a change.
They manifested much interest in what was said to them, saying they
believed it all to be true, and hoped they might follow our advice.
They promised that they would tell their absent brothers what had
been said to them, and advise them to mind it. They were pleased
that we came so far to see them, and parted with usin a friendly man-
Iler.
After collecting the foregoing account respecting these small tribes,
we left for the Potowatomie nation, situated on Potowatomie Creek,
about sixty miles from the Shawnee school, and eighteen miles from
A. L. Davis' agency. We arrived at the house of a man named
Simmerwell, a smith employed by the General Government in repair-
ing the Indian guns, &c. The day being too far spent for a council
with them that evening, we thought it most advisable to have notice
given for a meeting with them in the morning. The smith has been
for many years engaged among the Indians in repairing their guns
and otherwise assisting them ; we believed him sincerely devoted to
their welfare. He lamented their deplorable condition; and, from
his own personal knowledge of the facts, attributed most of their mis-
ery to the avarice and wickedness of the traders and other corrupt
white men, who, ever since his acquaintance, have been prowling a-
bout them, like the beast for his prey. Agreeably to our previous ap-

24.
pointment, we met a number of the chiefs and head men of the nation,
at the house of the blacksmith. We endeavoured to impress upon
their minds the importance of a change in all their habits and modes
of living, and to adopt the manners and habits of good white men.
They listened attentively to what was communicated to them, and
expressed their gratitude towards the society of Friends that they
had thought so much of them as to send persons so far to look into
their condition. One of their chiefs remarked that their great father,
the President, had promised to send them many things, but, said he,
they have not yet got along. -
The person that interpreted forus, is a full blood Indian, educated
at Hamilton school in the state of New York, and speaks and writes
the English language well. He also converses freely in the Potow-
atomie tongue, and may be reckoned among the most intelligent In-
dians of the west. He is married to a half breed woman and possess-
es very considerable property. The Potowatomies are divided into
three bands, viz; Potowatomies of St. Josephs, Potowatomies of the
Wabash, and Potowatomies of the Prairie. The St. Joseph's band
formerly received some assistance from the Baptist missionaries while
they were located on the St. Josephs River. This band live princi-
pally by cultivating the soil, and what they receive from the govern-
ment by way of annuities. They are poor and making very little
advancement in civilization. They have no school nor missionary,
and some of them live in poor log cabins, others in wigwams. Most
of them keep cattle, horses and hogs; nearly all of them drink
whiskey, and pass much of their time in idleness and dissipation.
They spend their annuities soon after receiving them for whiskey and
articles of no real value to them. The manners, dress and general
appearance of these Indians, do not materially differ from those small
tribes located near them. They wear the blanket as the principal
article of dress and hunt some on their own lands and in the adjacent
state of Missouri, but do not go on the long hunt to the west.
Our next visit was to the Wabash band, located about twelve miles
from the gunsmith's. There are about six hundred of this tribe,
comprising about one third of the nation, and are principally settled
in one neighborhood. They are under the direction and control of
the Roman Catholics, and have three Jesuit priests amongst them,
who are educating forty or fifty Indian children. Their school is
divided into two departments; one for boys, and the other for girls.
The one for girls is said to be doing some good, the other is in a
languishing state. This band are building comfortable log houses,
and cultivating the land, keeping some cattle, horses, hogs &c.; but
their location is said to be unhealthy and they are addicted to all the
vices and immoralities common to the Indians, and are fast wasting
away. Their numbers have greatly diminished within the last few
years.
The Prairie band is interspersed among the other two bands, and
live much after the same manner. The whiskey sellers and other
traders practice the same impositions upon these Indians that they
do upon all the other tribes within their reach.

25
OSAGE NATION OF INDIANS,
Understanding that these Indians were out on their fall hunt and
that we should not have an opportunity of seeing many of them, and
their principal village being distant about forty miles from the Poto-
watomies, we did not visit them, but had an opportunity of seeing a
few of the tribe, and from good authority gathered the following ac-
count respecting them. This tribe is located about one hundred
miles south of the Shawnee nation, bordering on the state of Missouri.
They once were very numerous, but at this time number only about
five thousand, and are fast diminishing in consequence of their ro-
ving and intemperate habits. They are more like the wild Indians
of the Rocky Mountains than any other tribe on the frontiers; they
are great hunters of buffaloes and furs, and the fur traders depend
more upon them for buffalo robes and furs than upon any other tribe
of the south-western frontier. This circumstance operates as one
of the principal causes of their small advancement in civilization.
Much labor has been bestowed within twenty years by the Pres-
byterian missionaries from New York and Boston to improve their
condition, but it was attended with little success, owing, as it is said,
to the prejudices against the missionaries in the minds of the Indians,
arising from the influence of the fur traders. This influence re-
mains to the present day; and there appears to be no prospect of im-
provement among them while this state of things exists. The tra-
ders discourage them from following agricultural pursuits, telling
them they do not want to buy corn or cattle, but buffalo skins and
furs; thus prompting them to keep up the chase. They also advise
them not to have schools or any religious instruction among them;
hence there are no schools or missionaries among them at this time.
We were informed by apparently good authority, that the Indian
agents combine with the agents of the Fur company and control the
manner of paying out the annuities to the Indians, by which the
agents of the company are enabled to monopolize the whole trade
with them. It is said, they first take all their annuity money and
deduct their charges against the Indians, and for the balance give to
each man as many cents with a particular mark upon them as there
were dollars due them, promising to pay him as many dollars in goods
as he had cents; thus compelling the Indian to purchase all his º
of them at an exorbitant price. There was recently a large º
of appropriation paid this tribe in cattle, swine and agriculturalim-
plements. The Indians not being acquainted with the use of them
and having no one furnished to teach them, soon sold and gºve
away all their ploughs, killed the catti d swi
º frustrated. ' attle and swine and the whole
The Osages are a stately race
tall, but the women are sh
bago tribe, appear dejecte
Indians.
; the men are exceedingly large and
ort, and like the females º * º
* They dress altogether like thººd
3.

26
After leaving the Osage nation, we travelled south towards the
Cherokees and visited on our way the united tribe of the Seneca
and Shawnee Indians. We lodged with one Jackson, a half breed.
In the morning after our arrival, he sent for some of the principal
men to meet us at his house; with whom we held a council. We
gave them such advice as in our opinion was needful. They ap-
peared friendly and listened attentively to what we had to say to
them. We spoke to them through Jackson, who interpreted for us.
They made no reply to us as he was not sufficiently acquainted
with our language to render theirs into it. We learned that the
greater part of these Indians were raising some corn and domestic
animals, and have pretty comfortable log cabins; and some few of
them are adopting the habits of the whites in various respects, such
as laying aside the blanket as an article of dress, putting on pan-
taloons instead of leggins &c. They have no schools among them,
and none of their children are receiving an education out of the
nation excepting two of Jackson's.
After visiting the Senecas and Shawnees, we rode sixteen miles to
the house of Daniel Adams, a Mohawk Indian residing in the Seneca
nation. The tribe located at this place is styled the Sandusky Sene-
cas. Daniel Adams is a man of tolerable education, and speaks and
writes both the English and the Indian language. He is married to a
Stockbridge woman formerly from the state of New York. She in-
formed us that when a girl she spent four years on Long Island,
where she was educated at a Friends' school. She retains a grateful
remembrance of the many kindnesses that were shown her by Friends
in those parts, the names of some of whom she mentioned. Her ap-
pearance was greatly superior to any Indian woman we saw while
on our journey; her whole conduct and conversation were dignified.
She was easy in her manners and conversed understandingly upon
a variety of subjects, but more especially upon what related to her
friends, the Indians in New York state. She manifested a deep
interest in the treaty lately made with the Seneca Indians there.
This woman and her husband are both professors of the Christian
religion, and from appearances were honestly engaged in the dis-
charge of their social, moral and religious duties. They had a
family of three small children who were clothed in the style of the
whites and taught in the English language altogether. They re-
side in a good frame house newly built and well furnished. Their
manner of living was superior to that of the generality of whites in
the west. They spoke freely of the low state and condition of their
people, and the strong prejudices existing in their minds against the
whites and of the difficulty of overcoming these prejudices in conse-
quence of the ill treatment they had in too many instances received
from them,
There is at this time no school nor religious institution in this
tribe. A few of them profess the christian religion and have joined
themselves to some of the different religious sects; but the greater
part of them still adhere to their former views and superstitious

27
worship. Nearly all of them are engaged in agricultural pursuits
in a small way, and keep various kinds of domestic animals. We
did not learn that any of this small tribe keep sheep or manufacture
cloth of any kind. Their principal food is pork and deer, wildfowl,
corn bread, potatoes and other vegetables. Some of them have laid
aside the blanket as an article of dress, but the greater part attire
themselves in the Indian style, and in no important particular differ
from the other tribes that have been removed from the east. They
are said to be very immoral in their conduct among the neighboring
whites. They are unwilling to receive white men among them as
teachers, but would not object to having their children instructed in
English by persons of their own cast, if those suitably qualified could
be procured. They are located upon a small tract of land west of
the state of Missouri, on the Niosho River, bordering on the Chero.
kee nation, and numbered at the time of their removal two hundred
and fifty-one, but have since diminished.
THE CHEROKEE INDIANS.
This large tribe is settled on lands lying west of the state of Ar-
kansas and bordering on the Arkansas River and numbered about
twenty thousand souls. It is thought they have diminished in num-
ber since their removal west. The history of this nation is generally
known to the public; therefore it may not be expected that we should
be so particular in our account of them. We entered upon the north-
east corner of their lands and travelled south to their council ground
near Park Hill. Some of their lands bordering on the west line of
Arkansas are hilly and well watered and timbered, but not well
adapted to agriculture; in other parts it is level and fertile. The
Cherokees live principally by farming. They raise neat cattle,
horses and other domestic animals, and keep an abundance of
poultry. Some of the nation are extensive farmers and planters.
Cotton is grown in the southern part of the nation, where most if not
all who are able keep slaves to cultivate the land, do the work in
the houses &c. The manners and customs of this portion of their
community do not differ materially from those of the white planters
in the south and west. Their style of dress and mode of living are
also very similar. A few of the Cherokees are large slave-holders.
Their laws for the government of their slaves are similar to those
in the slave states. The slaves frequently desert their masters and
run away. Some cotton and wººllen goods are manufactured by
the Cherºkees for domestic use. We saw a number of good dwell-
ing houses as we passed through their country, but most of them
reside in small log cabins. They have more generally adopted the
manners of the whites than any other tribe we met with while
passing along, we frequently saw white men who were married to
Indian women, and in some instances an Indian man was connected

28
by marriage to a white woman. There is less similarity in the
general appearance of the Cherokees than in that of any other tribe.
They are divided into three distinct classes. First; those that are
pretty well civilized and appear intelligent. Second; those who
may be reckoned among the half civilized or apprentices in civiliza-
tion. Third; those that have made but little improvement in their
dress and manners; the last class is most numerous. They are
cultivators of the soil, and have generally given up hunting, but are
dissipated.
The Cherokees have a number of missionaries and native preach-
ers among them, and about two hundred profess the christian reli-
gion, and have joined themselves either to the Presbyterian, Baptist
or Methodist societies. They have thirteen schools in the nation,
where all the children attending them are taught in the English
language. These schools are represented to be in a flourishing con-
dition, and in their general features are similar to our district schools
in New England. Many of this tribe manifest an interest for the
welfare of their children and the rising generation, and have recently
made very considerable appropriations in order to extend more gen-
erally the benefits of education and civilization among them. They
have a printing press in the nation where they have their laws and
public documents printed both in English and in the Cherokee
language.
We arrived at the council ground at a time when their National
Council was in session. Their government is divided into three
departments, viz. the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. They
style the head of the executive department, principal chief. Their
legislative department is divided into a committee and council.
The Judiciary is composed of a Superior Court and Inferior or Cir-
cuit Court. John Ross is now and has been for many years the
head chief of the nation. Their committee and council consist of
fifteen members each elected by the people. All laws are enacted
by the legislature and signed by the principal chief. Their Supreme
Court is composed of five judges. At the head of this courtis Jesse
Busheyhead, an interesting and intelligent man, a half blood Indian
and a Baptist preacher.
We were introduced to all the members of the several departments
of government, from whom we received many kind attentions; and
had an opportunity of witnessing their manner of transacting
business, which, although simple and plain, was nevertheless very
much to the point. The whole nation, or at least as many as wish-
ed to assemble, were one day while we were there, collected togeth-
er, to hear the annual message of the principal chief and the report
of the delegation that were sent to Washington the last winter to
transact some business with the general government. The report
embraced all their correspondence with the President and Secretary
of War; and that and the message were drawn up with ability.
We witnessed nothing like a spirit of hostility on the part of these
Indians towards the government of the United States; and yet they

29
have not forgotten the wrongs that have been practiced upon them
by the whites. It affords them some relief when they can meet with
persons who are willing to sympathize with them in the sad tale of
their sufferings and miseries. By accounts from persons of unim-
peachable veracity who were eye-witnesses of some of the horrid
scenes which occurred before and at the time of their removal, we
were led to think the half had never met the public eye. They
treated us with kindness and much attention while we were in the
nation; and although they have not had much acquaintance with
members of our own religious society until recently, yet they look-
ed upon them as their friends and spake with grateful hearts of the
benevolent and christian interposition of Friends in a great many
instances on behalf of the red man. Much might be said respecting
the advancement of this tribe in civilization &c., but we will con-
clude by saying that our hearts were made to feel deeply for them,
and to put up our feeble petitions to the Father of all our sure
mercies that he might yet smile upon this stripped and pealed people,
and awaken them under a sense of the mercies extended to them to
a feeling of their own obligation to deal justly and show mercy and
kindness to those poor descendants of the African race who are held
in bondage among them.
A band of the Seminole Indians, lately from Florida were tempo-
rarily settled upon the Cherokees' land, near the council ground, at
the head of which were two chiefs by the names of Wildcat and Alli-
gator, who were noted men in the late Florida war. We held two
councils with these chiefs, at one of which came about twenty of
their principal men. Wildcat and Alligator made many bitter com-
plaints of the ill-treatment of the white men, both before and since
their removal. We feared there might be an outbreak by Wildcat
and his party in their present excited state. It was expected that the
agents would soon remove them from the Cherokee country to lands
provided for them by the general government, in the Creek nation;
at which Wildcat and Alligator appeared much offended. We con-
versed with several of the agents and officers of the general govern-
ment and desired them to consider their peculiar dispositions, and
use all conciliatory means in their power in the removal of these un-
happy beings. We also endeavored to persuade these Indians to
live peaceably with their neighbors, and to break off from their old
habits and become farmers, like the Cherokees and other Indians
around them. They are much given to drunkenness, stealing, and
other vices, and live like wild Indians. They formerly belonged to
the Creek nation, and now speak the Creek language. Some of
them hold slaves, who serve for interpreters and servants to them.
We next visited the Creek nation. They are situated south of the
Cherokees, on lands bordering on the Verdigris River, and number
about fifteen thousand Indians, and three or four thousand slaves.
We had an interview with Benjamin Marshall, a very intelligent
man, and one of the most wealthy and influential men in the nation.
He informed us that every family in the Creek nation would raise
3*

30
produce enough the present season to supply their wants throughout
the year. They are fast improving in agriculture and domestic
manufactures, and in their manner of living. They expect soon to
manufacture all the material for their own clothing. Many of them
live in comfortable houses and dress like the white people; but
others still wear the blanket and are much given to dissipation.
They have of late become anxious that their children should be
educated, provided it could be done in their own nation; but are
generally averse to sending them abroad for this purpose. They
have made application to our government for their school fund to be
appropriated to education in their nation, instead of being spent at
the Choctaw academy, as heretofore. They have at this time but
one school and that is continued throughout the year.
They have lately passed severe laws to prohibit the vending of
ardent spirits among them, which took effect about six months ago,
and those who had been opposed to the law have seen the good
effects of it and become satisfied. Many of the slaves and Indians
appear sober and religious. Some of the slaves are approved preach-
ers and hold meetings regularly on first-days. We attended one of
these meetings which was conducted in a moderate and becoming
manner. It was composed of Indians, slaves and their masters;
their minister was an uneducated slave. All seemed interested in
the meeting, and several much affected even to tears. A slave hold-
er told us that he was willing his slaves should go to these metings,
for it made them better men and women. The Creeks have long
been slave holders, and appear insensible on the subject of this great
evil. Their laws respecting their slaves and the government of their
tribe, are similar to those of the Cherokees and Choctaws. Their
country is good for agriculture, well watered and timbered, and we
believe this nation would soon become a prosperous and flourishing
people, were it not for the injustice and destructive influence of
slavery within and around their borders. A few days previous to
our arriving there, about two hundred slaves ran away from their
masters. They belonged in the Creek and Cherokee nations. This
caused much excitement, and a posse was sent after them from both
nations. Both Church and State seemed aroused on account of
these desertions, and ready to make every possible effort to recover
them at all hazards, and in future to enact more rigid laws for the
government of their slaves, and for binding their chains more
strongly upon them.
THE CHOCTAW INDIANS.
Fifth day of the week, and first of Twelfth month, 1842. After
having finished our visit to the Cherokees, Creeks and Seminoles,
we hired a private conveyance to Fort Smith, on the border of the
Choctaw nation. We then took horses and rode fifteen miles to the
Choctaw º the greater part of the way through a dense cane
swamp, and put up at a tavern kept by an Indian woman. In the

31
evening we had some conversation with a young Indian who had
been educated at the Choctaw Academy in Kentucky. He was at
this time engaged as a clerk in a store, and appeared intelligent and
bright. The account he gave of the Academy was not very flatter-
ing. We learned while in the nation, that at the council lately held
on Red River, the Choctaws resolved not to have any thing more
to do with that school. Their annual council was in session near
Red River, where the greater part of the Choctaws reside. Many
of the Indians near Red River are said to live well; they keep slaves
and raise cotton for their own consumption and for market. They
also raise corn, wheat, potatoes and other vegetables, and keep large
stocks of neat cattle, horses and swine; and a few of them have
sheep, and make some cotton and woollen goods for their slaves and
for themselves. They have in general comfortable log houses, and
live like the new settlers in the west.
They have six or eight schools in the nation, in which the primary
branches of an English education are taught; but a small portion
of the children however are receiving any education at schools either
in or out of the nation. We were informed that the council now in
session have resolved to establish two manual labor schools on an
extensive plan. One of them is to be located on the Red River,
and the other at Fort Coffee, on the Arkansas River. One important
feature in the plan about to be adopted by them is, that the female
children of the nation are to be educated at a place several miles dis-
tant from where the males are educated. They have appropriated
eighteen thousand dollars towards the support of these schools. It
was reported that the Methodists were expecting to have the control
of the one at Fort Coffee. We visited one of their primary schools
taught by a man from South Carolina, which consisted of about
twenty scholars. We were pleased with the appearance of it and
thought the teacher was doing well for the scholars. He informed
us that he had been engaged in this school since 1838, and had a
salary of eight hundred and fifty dollars per annum, paid by the
general government, according to treaty stipulation.
The country owned by the Choctaws extends from the Arkansas
to Red River, and is generally fertile and well adapted to the growth
of cotton, corn, wheat and potatoes. Some of these Indians have
embraced Christianity, but the greater part still adhere to their old
traditions. Some have become temperate, but dissipation, idleness,
and their kindred vices, are very prevalent amongst most of them.
The government and civil policy of this nation, are similar to those
of the Cherokees, heretofore described. We saw a few of the Chick-
asaws, but ascertaining that there was no material difference between
these Indians and the Choctaws, we did not consider it important for
us to make a special visit to them. They are settled on the Choc-
taws’ land, and speak the same language, and Intermarry with them.

32
G. E. N. E. R. A. L. R. E. M. A. R. L. S. .
After having spent several months in traveling among the Indians
located on our western frontier, and having used our utmost endea-
ors to gather such facts and information as we apprehended might
be useful or interesting to our Society and the community at large,
we deemed it right for us to submit a few general remarks touching
the most prominent points, for the future consideration and action of
the Society of Friends, on behalf of the aborigines of our land.
During our visit among the Indians, many circumstances were
apparent, which, in our opinion tended to prevent their advancement
in civilization, and to retard their moral and religious improvement.
We are aware that much labor and property are expended yearly on
their account, and yet it is sad to relate, that these poor benighted and
almost friendless beings, are daily diminishing in numbers, and in
many instances, sinking deeper and deeper in misery and woe.
There are but few to look into their wants, or to raise a voice against
the mal-practices of the numerous unprincipled white men who in-
fest their country, in order to obtain the money annually paid to them,
and at the same time are practising the most degrading and immoral
conduct.
If the hand of the destroyer is not speedily arrested, in all human
probability, it will be but a few years before this once numerous race
will be numbered with the nations that are not. Nearly all the tribes
are decreasing yearly, and some of them at the rapid rate of from
twelve to twenty per cent. The present condition of the elder part
of the uncivilized tribes is such, having long been a prey to unprin-
cipled white men, that we cannot look for much change for the better
in many of them; yet in beholding the younger men and women
and the little children who appear to be endowed with talents for
improvement equal to the whites, we were encouraged to look for-
ward with a hope of better days for this poor degraded and almost
friendless people, if the Christian community should without delay
use their influence to remove the prominent obstacles now in the
way of their civilization.
We would remark in the first place, that the Indians who have
been removed from the east to the west side of the Mississippi
River, appear to be in an unsettled state, and to entertain fears of
being again removed. They say they have as yet received no gua.
rantee from government that they shall remain on these lands any
longer than it may suit the convenience of the whites; and some of
them are desirous that Friends and others interested in their welfare,
should use their influence to have their lands secured to them in ſee
simple forever, that their fears on this account may be quieted, and
they encouraged to lay up something for themselves and their
children.
In the next place, nearly all the tribes have annuities paid them in
goods or money, quite sufficient in most cases to make them com-

33
fortable during the year, if rightly applied. Each tribe receives all
their money at one payment, and this money passes from them in a
few days, and in most instances the poor ignorant Indian has nothing
of value to show for it, but is in fact made more miserable on account
of it from its misapplication.
We would suggest the propriety of endeavoring to bring about a
change in the manner in which these payments are made, so as to
place their money, if possible, out of the reach of avaricious and
unprincipled men. We are aware that to effect such a change might
be attended with difficulties, but the good that would arise to the
Indians would warrant some sacrifice to effect so desirable an object.
The Indians in their present state are very improvident, and in most
cases incapable of managing their affairs and expending their money
to advantage. We would not hold out to the public that they are
receiving more than their due, but inasmuch as the government con-
sider them as their wards, they should extend their guardianship still
further, and not leave them as much exposed as they now are.
The Indians appear not in general to be governed by moral or
religious principles, and every means is used to place before them
such things as will entice their appetites and passions, and having
little to restrain them, they fall an easy prey to temptation, and the
work of destruction goes on while they are possessed of anything
that is valuable or have any credit left. We consider their annuities
justly due them, and would be far from proposing anything that
would divert them from being used for their benefit, but we believe it
to be very desirable that more effectual measures be adopted to have
them disbursed in a manner that will tend as far as is practicable,
to the real advantage of the poor Indians. Another great source of
immorality and misery is their near location to the military posts.
While the ostensible object of these fortifications is to guard the
Indians on the frontier from being harmed by the wild tribes, and to
prevent hostilities between them and the frontier settlers, the licen:
tiouness hence resulting in many of the tribes is too gross to be
mentioned; the effect of which is, to destroy the morals of many of
the whites, and to entail wretchedness, misery and death on the
Indians.
In regard to their farming operations, we would remark, that the
manner in which government in some instances expends the Indian
appropriations for agriculture, is to prepare and carry on a farm at a
suitable place on the land owned by the tribe as a pattern or sample
farm. This manner of farming is attended with considerable ex-
pense, and with but little apparent advantage to the Indians, they
being more like children that cannot set themselves to work, but
might be directed therein, if they had for a few years suitable in-
structors, not only to show them how, but also to help them to do
the work. Therefore we believe that to ensure success, it would be
important to employ persons to give general and constant assistance
to each Indian in the management of his particular lot. One man
could assist twenty or more persons, and it would be desirable that

34
some of these should be married men whose wives might be employ-
ed to instruct the women in the various branches of housewifery;
for we think much more may be expected from the improvement of
the women, than from that of the men; the women being more im-
mediately associated with the children, and much better acquainted
with habits of industry. This mode of instruction would not be at-
tend with much more expense than the pattern farm system.
Those Indians who live in wigwams, are much inclined to rove;
and it is not uncommon for them to remove several times during the
summer. On this account, it seemed very important that they should
be encouraged to abandon the wigwam altogether, and to live in
houses and have lots attached to them—well enclosed, so that an in-
dividual interest might be excited, instead of having things in com-
mon as they now do; for unless such an interest can be raised
among them, it will be difficult to make much improvement in many
of the tribes.
We would also give a few hints upon education. The Indians
being so generally prejudiced against the white people, are very
much averse to their children being educated by them, either in or
out of their own nation; and boys who have been educated abroad,
are treated with much neglect when they return home; and having
no opportunity to apply their education either among their own
people or the whites, they soon become discouraged, and in order to
initiate themselves again into favor with their tribe, return to the
habits and practices of uncivilized life. We regretted that there
were no educated Indians employed as teachers or assistants in any
of the tribes, white people supplying such places entirely. Much
advantage, we believe, might arise in many respects both to parents
and children, by encouraging native teachers and assistants; and
we would suggest, that special care be taken to bring about so desira-
ble an object.
Having compiled the foregoing statement of facts from extended
notes taken during the course of our journey, which occupiedus
from the latter part of the Eighth-month, to the last of the year 1842,
during which we were partakers of many mercies and preservations,
we submit it to the consideration and disposal of our dear friends of
the committees of New England and New-York Yearly Meetings.
Signed
JOHN D. LANG,
SAMUEL TAYLOR, Jux.
Fourth Month 19, 1843.