654321789101112181716[A]151413192021222324302928272625313233343536
[A]Appropriated for schools in the township.
I have been thus particular in this account of the surveys of public lands, to exhibit the simplicity of a system, that to strangers, unacquainted with the method of numbering the sections, and the various subdivisions, appears perplexing and confused.
All the lands of Congress owned in Ohio have been surveyed, and with the exceptions of some Indian reservations, have been brought into market. In Indiana, all the lands purchased of the Indians have been surveyed, and with the exception of about ninety townships and fractional townships, have been offered for sale. These, amounting to about two millions of acres, will be offered for sale the present year. In Michigan, nearly all the ceded lands have been surveyed and brought into market. The unsurveyed portion is situated in the neighborhood of Saginaw bay; a part of which may be ready for market within the current year.
In the Wisconsin Territory, west of lake Michigan, all the lands in the Wisconsin district, which lies between the state of Illinois and the Wisconsin river, have been surveyed; and in addition to the lands already offered for sale in the Green Bay district, about 65 townships, and fractional townships, have been surveyed and are ready for market. The surveys of the whole country west of lake Michigan and south of the Wisconsin river, in Illinois and Wisconsin territory, will soon be surveyed and in market. Here are many millions of thefinest lands on earth, lying along the Des Pleines, Fox, and Rock rivers, and their tributaries, well watered, rich soil, a healthy atmosphere, and facilities to market. A temporary scarcity of timber in some parts of this region will retard settlements, for a time; but this difficulty will be obviated, by the rapidity with which prairie land turns to a timbered region, wherever, by contiguous settlements, the wild grass becomes subdued, and by the discovery of coal beds. Much of it is a mineral region. In Illinois, the surveys are now completed in the Danville district, and in the southern part of the Chicago district. They are nearly completed along Rock river and the Mississippi. The unsurveyed portion is along Fox river, Des Pleines and the shore of lake Michigan, in the north-eastern part of the state. Emigrants, however, do not wait for surveys and sales. They are settling over this fine portion of the state, in anticipation of purchases. In Missouri, besides the former surveys, the exterior lines of 138 townships, and the subdivision into sections and quarters, 30 townships in the northern part of the state, and contracts for running the exterior lines of 189 townships on the waters of the Osage and Grand rivers have been made. A large portion of this state is now surveyed and in market. Surveys are progressing in Arkansas, and large bodies of land are proclaimed for sale in that district.
I have no data before me that will enableme definitely to show the amount of public lands now remaining unsold, in each land office district. In another place I have already given an estimate of the amount of public lands, within the organized states and territories, remaining unsold, compared with the amount sold in past years.
The following table exhibits the number of acres sold in the districts embraced more immediately within the range of this Guide, for 1834, and the three first quarters of 1835, with the names of each district in each state. It is constructed from the Report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office to the Treasury Department, December 5th, 1835. The sales of the last quarter of 1835, in Illinois, and probably in the other states, greatly exceeded either the other quarters, and which will be exhibited in the annual report of the Commissioner in December, 1836.
Statement of the amount of Public Lands, sold at the several Land Offices in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Arkansas, in 1834.Land Offices.Acres and hundredthsOhio.Marietta distsrict11,999.52Zanesville district33,877.23Steubenville district4,349.19Chillicothe district21,309.32Cincinnati district27,369.52Wooster district9,448.77Wapaghkonetta district125,417.13Bucyrus district245,078.56Total for the State478,847.24Indiana.Jeffersonville district67,826.11Vincennes district56,765.80Indianopolis district204,526.63Crawfordsville district161,477.87Fort Wayne district96,350.30La Porte district86,709.73Total for the State673,656.44Illinois.Shawneetown district6,904.24Kaskaskia district15,196.52Edwardsville district124,302.19Vandalia district20,207.61Palestine district22,135.69Springfield district66,804.25Danville district62,331.38Quincy district36,131.59Total for the State,354,013.47Michigan Territory.Detroit district136,410.69Monroe district233,768.30White Pigeon Prairie }Bronson District }128,244.47Total for the Territory498,423.46Wisconsin Territory.Mineral Point district14,336.67Missouri.St. Louis district43,634.68Fayette district71,049.74Palmyra district76,241.35Jackson district18,882.11Lexington district43,983.80Total for the State253,791.70Arkansas Territory.Batesville district8,051.31Little Rock district25,799.74Washington district65,145.88Fayetteville district24,514.94Helena district26,244.59Total for the Territory149,756.46
Statement of the amount of Public Lands, sold at the several Land Offices in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Arkansas, from January 1st, to September 30th, 1835, including nine months.Land Offices.Acres and hundredthsOhio.Marietta District11,012.98Zanesville District42,978.36Steubenville District3,649.29Chillicothe District12,586.87Cincinnati District20,105.76Wooster District5,157.68Wapaghkonetta }and Lima District }103,020.23Bucyrus District154,706.63Total for the State353,217.80Indiana.Jeffersonville District44,634.81Vincennes District70,903.62Indianapolis District158,786.68Crawfordsville District108,055.22Fort Wayne District148,864.28La Porte District227,702.35Total for the State758,946.96Illinois.Shawneetown District5,754.08Kaskaskia District13,814.38Edwardsville District123,638.07Vandalia District16,253.46Palestine District14,088.01Springfield District316,966.70Danville District94,491.35Quincy District[A]40,274.58Galena District[B]262,152.73Chicago District333,405.73Total for the State1,220,838.76Michigan.Detroit District213,763.57Brownson District400,722.48Monroe District446,631.61Total for Michigan proper1,061,127.66Wisconsin.Mineral Point District67,052.55Green Bay District68,365.53Total for Wisconsin135,418.08Missouri.St. Louis District32,914.57Fayette District55,839.58Palmyra District101,018.00Jackson District28,995.19Lexington District42,801.45Springfield District320.00Total for the State261,888.79Arkansas.Bakersville District2,021.22Little Rock District22,291.92Washington District43,360.81Fayetteville District8,723.72Helena District312,169.09Total for the Territory388,566.76[A]Reutrns only to May 31st.[B] Returns only to July 31st.Since those periods, sales at these Offices have been immense.
The reader will perceive that the sales of the three first quarters of 1835, almost doubled those of the whole year of 1834. The inquiry was often made of the writer, while travelling in the Atlantic states in the summer of 1835, whether there was still opportunity for emigrants to purchase public lands in Indiana, Illinois, &c. where land offices had been opened for sale of lands many years. He found almost everywhere, wrong notions prevailing. The people were not aware of the immense extent of the public domain now in market, and ready to be sold atone dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and even in as small tracts as forty acres. Take for example, the Edwardsville district, in which the writer resides. It extends south to the base line, east to the third principal meridian, north to the line that separates townships 13 and 14 north, and west to the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and embraces all the counties of Madison, Clinton, Bond, Montgomery, Macouper, and Greene, a tier of townships on the south side of Morgan and Sangamon, five and a half townships from Fayette, and about half of St. Clair county. The lands for a part of this district have been in market for 18 or 20 years;—it contains some of the oldest American settlements in the state, and has also a number of confined claims never offered for sale. And yet the receiver of this office informed me in November last, that he had just made returns of all the lands sold in this district, and theyamounted to justone thirdof the whole quantity. Every man, therefore, may take it for granted that there will be land enough in market in all the new states, for his use, during the present generation. These are facts that should be known to all classes. The mania of land speculation and of monopolists would soon subside, were those concerned to sit down coolly, and after ascertaining the amount of public lands now in market, with the vast additional quantity that must soon come into market, use a few figures in common arithmetic, with the probable amount of emigration, and ascertain the probable extent of the demand for this article at any future period.
The following information is necessary for those who are not acquainted with our land system.
In each land office there are a Register and Receiver, appointed by the President and Senate for the term of four years, and paid by the government.
After being surveyed, the land, by proclamation of the President, is offered for sale at public auction by half quarter sections, or tracts of 80 acres. If no one bids for it at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, or more, it is subject to private entry at any time after, upon payment of $1.25 cents per acre at the time of entry.No credit in any case is allowed.
In many cases, Congress, by special statute, has granted to actual settlers, pre-emption rights, where settlements and improvementshave been made on public lands previous to public sale.
Pre-emption rightsconfer the privilege only of purchasing the tract containing improvements at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, by the possessor, without the risk of a public sale.
In Illinois and several other western states, all lands purchased of the general government, are exempted from taxation for five years after purchase.
Military Bounty lands.—These lands were surveyed and appropriated as bounties to the soldiers in the war with Great Britain in 1812-'15, to encourage enlistments. The selections were made in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. The Bounty lands of Illinois lie between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, in the counties of Calhoun, Pike, Adams, Schuyler, Macdonough, Warren, Mercer, Knox, Henry, Fulton, Peoria, and Putnam. Out of five millions of acres, 3,500,000 were selected, including about three-fifths of this tract. The remainder is disposed of in the manner of other public lands. The disposition of this fine country for military bounties has much retarded its settlement. It was a short-sighted and mistaken policy of government that dictated this measure. Most of the titles have long since departed from the soldiers for whose benefit the donations were made. Many thousand quarter sections have been sold for taxes by the state, have fallen into the hands ofmonopolists, and are now past redemption. The Bounty lands in Missouri, lie on the waters of Chariton and Grand rivers, north side of the Missouri river and in the counties of Chariton, Randolph, Carroll, and Ray, and include half a million of acres. The tract is generally fertile, undulating, a mixture of timber and prairie, but not as well watered as desirable. With the bounty lands of Arkansas I am not well acquainted. Their general character is good, and some tracts are rich cotton lands.
Taxes.—Lands bought of the U. S. government are exempted from taxation for five years after sale. All other lands owned by non-residents, equally with those of residents, are subject to taxation annually, either for state, or county purposes, or both. The mode and amount varies in each state. If not paid when due, costs are added, the lands sold, subject to redemption within a limited period;—generally two years. Every non-resident landholder should employ an agent within the state where his land lies, to look after it and pay his taxes, if he would not suffer the loss of his land.
Conjecture respecting their former numbers and condition. Present number and state.—Indian Territory appropriated as their permanent residence.—Plan and operations of the U. S. Government.—Missionary efforts and stations. Monuments and Antiquities.
The idea is entertained, that the Valley of the Mississippi, was once densely populated by aborigines;—that here were extensive nations,—that the bones of many millions lie mouldering under our feet. It has become a common theory, that previous to the settlement of the country by people of European descent, there weretwosuccessive races of men, quite distinct from each other;—that the first race, by some singular fatality, became exterminated, leaving no traditionary account of their existence. And the second race, the ancestors of the existing race of Indians, are supposed to have been once, far more numerous than the present white population of the Valley.
Some parts of Mexico and South America,were found to be populous upon the first visits of the Spaniards; but I do not find satisfactory evidence that population was ever dense, in any part of the territory that now constitutes our Republic. Mr. Atwater supposes, from the mounds in Ohio, the Indian population far exceeded 700,000, at one time in that district. Mr. Flint says, "If we can infer nothing else from the mounds, we can clearly infer, that this country once had its millions." Hence, a principal argument assigned for the populousness of this country is, the millions buried in these tumuli, the bones of which, in a tolerable state of preservation, are supposed to be exhibited upon excavation. The writer has witnessed the opening of many of these mounds, and has seen the fragments of an occasional skeleton, foundnear the surface. Without stopping here to enter upon a disquisition on the hypothesis assumed, that these mounds, as they are termed, are as much the results of natural causes, as any other prominences on the surface of the globe: I will only remark, that it is a fact well known to frontier men, that the Indians have been in the habit of burying their dead on these ridges and hillocks, and that in our light, spongy soil, the skeleton decays surprisingly fast. This is not the place to exhibit the necessary data, that have led to the conviction, that not a human skeleton now exists in all the western Valley, (excepting in nitrous caves,) that was deposited in the earthbefore the discovery of the New World, by Columbus.
The opinion that this Valley was once densely populous, is sustained from the supposed military works, distributed through the West. This subject, as well as that of mounds, wants re-examination. Probably, half a dozen enclosures, in a rude form, might have been used for military defence. The capabilities of the country to sustain a dense population, has been used to support the position, that it must have been once densely populated. This argues nothing without vestiges of agriculture and the arts. With the exception of a few small patches, around the Indian villages, for corn and pulse, the whole land was an unbroken wilderness. Strangers to the subject have imagined that our western prairies must once have been subdued by the hand of cultivation, because denuded of timber. Those who have long lived on them, have the evidences of observation, and their senses, to guide them. They know that the earth will not produce timber, while the surface is covered with a firm grassy sward, and that timber will spring up, as soon as this obstruction is removed.
To all these theories, of the former density of the aboriginal population of the Valley, I oppose, first, the fact that but a scattered and erratic population was found here, on the arrival of the Europeans,—that the people wererude savages, subsisting chiefly by hunting, and that no savage people ever became populous,—that from time immemorial, the different tribes had been continually at war with each other,—that but a few years before the French explored it, the Iroquois, or Five nations, conquered all the country to the Mississippi, which they could not have done had it been populous, and that Kentucky, one of the finest portions of the Valley, was not inhabited by any people, but the common hunting and fighting grounds of both the northern and southern Indians, and hence called by them,Kentuckee, or the "Bloody ground."[7]
That the Indian character has deteriorated, and the numbers of each tribe greatly lessened by contact with Europeans and their descendants, is not questioned; but many of the descriptions of the comforts and happiness of savage life and manners, before their country was possessed by the latter, are the exaggerated and glowing descriptions of poetic fancy. Evidence enough can be had to show that they were degraded and wretched, engaged in petty exterminating wars with eachother, often times in a state of starvation, and leading a roving, indolent and miserable existence. Their government was anarchy.—Properly speaking, civil government had never existed amongst them. They had no executive, or judiciary power, and their legislation was the result of their councils held by aged and experienced men. It had no stronger claim upon the obedience of the people than advice.
In Mexico, civilization had made progress, and there were populous towns and cities, and edifices for religious and other purposes. With the exception of some very rude structures, the ruins of which yet remain, and which upon too slight grounds, have been mistaken for military works, nothing is left as marks of the enterprise of the feeble bands of Indians of this Valley. Their implements, utensils, weapons of war, and water-craft, were of the most rude and simple construction, and yet prepared with great labor. Those who have written upon Indian manners, without personal and long acquaintance with their circumstances, have made extravagant blunders. The historian of America, Dr. Robertson, seems to suppose that the Indians cut down large trees, and dug out canoes with stone hatchets,—and that they cleared the timber from their small fields, by the same tedious process. Their stone axes or hatchets, were never used forcutting, but only for splitting and pounding. They burned down and hollowed out trees by fire, for canoes, andnever chopped off the timber, but only deadened it, in clearing land. The condition of depraved man, unimproved by habits of civilization, and unblest with the influences and consolations of the gospel, is pitiable in the extreme. Such was the character and condition of the "Red skin," before his land was visited by the "Pale faces." I have often seen the aboriginal man in all his primeval wildness, when he first came in contact with the evils and benefits of civilization,—have admired his noble form and lofty bearing,—listened to his untutored and yet powerful eloquence, and yet have found in him the same humbling and melancholy proofs of his wretchedness and want, as is found in the remnants on our borders.
The introduction of ardent spirits, and of several diseases, are the evils furnished the Indian race, by contact with the whites, while in other respects their condition has been improved.
From the second number of the "Annual Register of Indian Affairs, within the Indian (or western) Territory," just published by the Rev. Isaac McCoy, the following particulars have been chiefly gleaned:
Mr. McCoy has been devoted to the work of Indian reform for almost twenty years, first in Indiana, then in Michigan, and latterly in the Indian territory, west of Missouri and Arkansas. He is not only intimately acquainted with the peculiar circumstances of thisunfortunate race, and with the country selected as their future residence by the government, but is ardently and laboriously engaged for their welfare.
INDIAN TERRITORY.
The Indian territory lies west and immediately adjacent to Missouri and Arkansas. It is about 600 miles long from north to south, extending from the Missouri river to the Red river, and running westwardly as far as the country is habitable, which is estimated to be about 200 miles. The almost destitution of timber, with extensive deserts, renders most of the country from this territory to the Rocky mountains uninhabitable. The dreams indulged by many, that the wave of white population is to move onward without any resisting barrier, till it reaches these mountains, and even overleap them to the Pacific ocean, will never be realized. Providence has thrown a desert of several hundred miles in extent, as an opposing barrier.
As very contradictory accounts have gone abroad, prejudicial to the character of the country selected for the Indians, it becomes necessary to describe it with some particularity. The following, from Mr. McCoy (if it needed any additional support to its correctness,) is corroborated by the statements of many disinterested persons.
"There is a striking similarity between all parts of this territory. In its generalcharacter, it is high and undulating, rather level than hilly; though small portions partly deserve the latter appellation. The soil is generally very fertile. It is thought that in no part of the world, so extensive a region of rich soil has been discovered as in this, of which the Indian territory is a central position. It is watered by numerous rivers, creeks and rivulets. Its waters pass through it eastwardly, none of which are favorable to navigation. There is less marshy and stagnant water in it than is usual in the western country. The atmosphere is salubrious, and the climate precisely such as is desirable, being about the same as that inhabited by the Indians on the east of the Mississippi. It contains much mineral coal and salt water, some lead, and some iron ore. Timber is too scarce, and this is a serious defect, but one which time will remedy, as has been demonstrated by the growth of timber in prairie countries which have been settled, where the grazing of stock, by diminishing the quantity of grass, renders the annual fires less destructive to the growth of wood. The prairie (i. e., land destitute of wood) is covered with grass, much of which is of suitable length for the scythe."
The Chocktaws, Creeks, Cherokees, Osages, Kanzaus and Delawares, are entitled to lands westward of this territory for hunting grounds; some to the western boundary of the United States, others to the Rocky mountains.
Mr. McCoy estimates the number of inhabitants of this territory at 47,733.
INDIGENOUS TRIBESOsage, about5,510Kanzau, about1,684Ottoe and Missourias,1,600O'Mahaus,1,400Pawnees, four tribes,10,000Puncahs, about800Quapaws, about45021,444
EMIGRANT TRIBESChocktaw, about15,500Cherokee, about4,000Creek, about3,600Seneca, Shawanoe of Neosho,462Wea, about225Piankesahu,119Peoria and Kaskaskias,135Ottawa,81Shawanoe of Kanzau river,764Delaware,856Kickapoo603Putawatomie,444Emigrants,26,289Indigenous,21,444Total,47,733
The estimate of the Chocktaws include about 400 negro slaves,—that of the Cherokees 500, and that of the Creeks about 450 slaves.
Chocktaws.Their country adjoins Red river and the Province of Texas on the south, Arkansas on the east, and extends north to the Arkansas and Canadian rivers, being 150 miles from north to south, and 200 miles from east to west. Here are numerous salt springs. For civil purposes, their country is divided into three districts.
Cherokees.The boundaries of their country commences on the Arkansas river, opposite the western boundary of Arkansas Territory;—thence northwardly along the line of Missouri, 8 miles to Seneca river;—thence west to the Neosho river;—thence up said river to the Osage lands;—thence west indefinitely, as far as habitable;—thence south to the Creek lands, and along the eastern line of the Creeks to a point 43 miles west of the Territory of Arkansas, and 25 miles north of Arkansas river;—thence to the Verdigris river, and down Arkansas river, to the mouth of the Neosho;—thence southwardly to the junction of the North Fork and Canadian rivers;—and thence down the Canadian and Arkansas rivers to the place of beginning. The treaty of 1828, secures to this tribe 7,000,000 of acres, and adds land westward for hunting grounds as far as the U. S. boundaries extend.
TheCreeks, or Muscogees, occupy the country west of Arkansas that lies between the lands of the Chocktaws and Cherokees.
TheSenecasjoin the State of Missouri onthe east, with the Cherokees south, the Neosho river west, and possess 127,500 acres.
TheOsage(a French corruption ofWos-sosh-ee, their proper name, which has again been corrupted by Darby and others intoOzark) have their country north of the western portion of the Cherokee lands, commencing 25 miles west of the State of Missouri, with a width of 50 miles, and extending indefinitely west. About half the tribe are in the Cherokee country.
TheQuapawswere originally connected with the Osages. They have migrated from the lower Arkansas, and have their lands adjoining the State of Missouri, immediately north of the Senecas.
ThePutawatomiesare on the north-eastern side of the Missouri river, but they are not satisfied, and the question of their locality is not fully settled. 444 Putawatomies are mingled with the Kickapoos, on the south-west side of the Missouri river.
The Weas, Piankeshaws, Peorias and Kaskaskias are remnants of the great western confederacy, of which the Miamies were the most prominent branch. These and other tribes constituted the Illini, Oillinois, or Illinois nation, that once possessed the country now included in the great States of Indiana, Illinois, &c. Their lands lie west of the State of Missouri, and south-west of the Missouri river.
TheDelawaresoccupy a portion of the country in the forks of the Kanzau river, (or, aswritten by the French, Kansas.) They are the remnants of another great confederacy, theLenni-Lenopi, as denominated by themselves.
The lands of theKickapooslie north of the Delawares, and along the Missouri, including 768,000 acres.
TheOttoesoccupy a tract of country between the Missouri and Platte rivers, but their land is said to extend south and below the Platte.
The country of theO'Mahaushas the Platte river on the south, and the Missouri north-east.
The country of thePawneeslies to the westward of the Ottoes and O'Mahaus. The boundaries are not defined.
ThePuncahsare a small tribe that originated from the Pawnees, and live in the northern extremity of the country spoken of as the Indian territory.
Present Condition.—The Chocktaws, Cherokees and Creeks are more advanced in civilized habits then any other tribes. They have organized local governments of their own, have enacted some wholesome laws, live in comfortable houses, raise horses, cattle, sheep and swine, cultivate the ground, have good fences, dress like Americans, and manufacture much of their own clothing. They have schools and religious privileges, by missionary efforts, to a limited extent. The Cherokees have a written language, perfect in its form, the invention of Mr. Guess, a full-blooded Indian. The Senecas, Delawares, and Shawanoes, also, are partially civilized,and live with considerable comfort from the produce of their fields and stock. The Putawatomies, Weas, Piankeshaws, Peorias, Kaskaskias, Ottawas, and Kickapoos, have partially adopted civilized customs. Some live in comfortable log cabins, fence and cultivate the ground, and have a supply of stock; others live in bark huts, and are wretched. The Osages or Wos-sosh-ees, Quapaws, Kanzaus, Ottoes, O'Mahaus, Pawnees and Puncahs have made much less improvement in their mode of living. A few have adopted civilized habits, and are rising in the scale of social and individual comforts, but the larger portion are yetIndians.
Mr. McCoy estimates the whole number of aborigines in North America, including those of Mexico, at 1,800,000, of which 10,000 are so far improved as to be classed with civilized men, and amongst whom, there are as many pious Christians, as amongst the same amount of population in the United States. In addition to these, he estimates that there may be about 60,000 more, "which may have made advances toward civilization, some more and some less."
For some years past, the policy of the government of the United States has been directed to the project of removing all the Indians from the country organized into States and Territories, and placing them sufficiently contiguous to be easily governed, and yet removed from direct contact and future interruption from whitepopulation. This project was recommended in the period of Mr. Monroe's administration, was further considered and some progress made under that of Mr. Adams, but has been carried into more successful execution within the last five years. It is much to be regretted that this project was not commenced earlier. The residence of small bands of Indians, with their own feeble and imperfect government, carried on within any organized state or territory, is ruinous. Those who argue thatbecauseof the removal of the Indians from within the jurisdiction of the states, or an organized territory,thereforethey will be driven back from the country in which it is now proposed to place them, evince but a very partial and imperfect view of the subject. The present operation of government is an experiment, and it is one that ought to receive a fair and full trial. If it does not succeed, I know not of any governmental regulation that can result, with success, to the prosperity of the Indians. The project is to secure to each tribe, by patent, the lands allotted them,—to form them into a territorial government, with some features of the representative principle,—to have their whole country under the supervision of our government, as their guardian, for their benefit,—to allow no white men to pass the lines and intermix with the Indians, except those who are licensed by due authority,—to aid them in adopting civilized habits, provide for them schools and other means of improving theircondition, and, through the agency of missionary societies, to instruct them in the principles of the gospel of Christ.
Missionary Efforts and Stations.—These are conducted by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,—the Baptist Board of F. Missions,—the Methodist Epis. Missionary Society,—the Western Foreign Missionary Society,—and the Cumberland Presbyterians. Stations have been formed, and schools established, with most of these tribes. About 2,500 are members of Christian churches of different denominations. The particulars of these operations are to be found in the Reports of the respective societies, and the various religious periodicals.
Of other tribes within the Valley of the Mississippi, and not yet within the Indian territory, the following estimate is sufficiently near the truth for practical purposes.
Indians from New York, about Green Bay725Wyandots in Ohio and Michigan623Miamies1,200Winnebagoes4,591Chippeways, or O'Jibbeways6,793Ottawas and Cnhippeways of lake Michigan5,300Chippeways, Ottawas and Putawatomies8,000Putawatomies1,400Menominees4,200
They are all east of the Mississippi, and chiefly found on the reservations in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, and in the country between the Wisconsin river and lake Superior.Those tribes west of the Mississippi river, and along the region of the upper Missouri river, are as follows:
Sioux27,500Ioways1,200Sauks of Missouri500Sauks and Foxes6,400Assinaboines8,000Crees3,000Gros Ventres3,000Aurekaras3,000Cheyennes2,000Mandans1,500Black Feet30,000Camanches7,000Minatarees1,500Crows4,500Arrepahas and Kiawas1,400Caddoes800Snake and other tribes within the Rocky mountains20,000West of the Rocky mountains80,000
The Camanches, Arrepahas, Kiawas and Caddoes roam over the great plains towards the sources of the Arkansas and Red rivers, and through the northern parts of Texas. The Black Feet are towards the heads of the Missouri.
Monuments and Antiquities.—Before dismissing the subject of the aborigines, I shall touch very briefly on the monuments and antiquities of the west,—with strong convictions that there has been much exaggeration on this subject.I have already intimated that the mounds of the west are natural formations, but I have not room for the circumstances and facts that go to sustain this theory. The number of objects considered as antiquities is greatly exaggerated. The imaginations of men have done much. The number of mounds on the American bottom in Illinois, adjacent to Cahokia creek, is stated by Mr. Flint at 200. The writer has counted all the elevations of surface for the extent of nine miles, and they amount to 72. One of these, Monk hill, is much too large, and three fourths of the rest are quite too small for human labor. The pigmy graves on the Merrimeek, Mo., in Tennessee, and other places, upon closer inspection, have been found to contain decayed skeletons of the ordinary size, but buried with the leg and thigh bones in contact. Thegiantskeletons sometimes found, are the bones of buffalo.
It is much easier for waggish laborers to deposit old horse shoes and other iron articles where they are at work, for the special pleasure of digging them up for credulous antiquarians, than to find proofs of the existence of the horses that wore them!
There may, or may not, be monuments and antiquities that belong to a race of men of prior existence to the present race of Indians. All that the writer urges is, that this subject may not be considered as settled; that due allowance may be made for the extreme credulity of some, and the want of personalobservation and examination of other writers on this subject. Gross errors have been committed, and exaggerations of very trivial circumstances have been made.
The antiquities belonging to the Indian race are neither numerous or interesting, unless we except the remains of rude edifices and enclosures, the walls of which are almost invariably embankments of earth. They are rude axes and knives of stone, bottles and vessels of potter's ware, arrow and spear heads, rude ornaments, &c.
Roman, French, Italian, German and English coins and medals, with inscriptions, have been found,—most unquestionably brought by Europeans,—probably by the Jesuits and other orders, who were amongst the first explorers of the west, and who had their religious houses here more than a century past.
Copper and silver ornaments have been discovered in the mounds that have been opened. The calumet, or large stone pipe, is often found in Indian graves. Two facts deserve to be regarded by those who examine mounds and Indian cemeteries. First, that the Indians have been accustomed to bury their dead in these mounds. Secondly, that they were accustomed to place various ornaments, utensils, weapons, and other articles of value, the property of the deceased, in these graves, especially if a chieftain, or man of note. A third fact known to our frontier people, is the custom of several Indian tribes wrapping theirdead in strips of bark, or encasing them with the halves of a hollow log, and placing them in the forks of trees. This was the case specially, when their deaths occurred while on hunting or war parties. At stated seasons these relics were collected, with much solemnity, brought to the common sepulchre of the tribe, and deposited with their ancestors. This accounts for the confused manner in which the bones are often found in mounds and Indian graveyards. Human skeletons, or rather mummies, have been discovered in the nitrous caves of Kentucky. The huge bones of the mammoth and other enormous animals, have been exhumed, at the Bigbone licks in Kentucky and in other places.