CHAPTER CCXXXI.

THE INDIAN TERRITORY.-General View of the Indians of North America, the West Indies and South America.

1. In the preceding history of the occupation and settlement of is country by the White Races, we have seen the gradual disappearance of the various Indian tribes which constituted its first inhabitants. The greater part of them, the tribes which inhabited the regions bordering on the Atlantic, are utterly extinct. The Penobscots, Pautuckets, Pequods, Pokanokets, Narragansets, Mohicans, Nipmucks, so troublesome to the New England settlers, are gone, and the places which once knew them, shall know them no more forever. 2. Of the Six Nations of New York and Canada, once so powerfulonly a few vestiges remain. The tribes of Virginia have perished, and those great bands, which had the title of nations-the Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws and Cherokees, have left their original haunts, and are gradually losing their native characteristics, under the influence of civilization, in the plains and prairies of the Far West.

3. This region, called the Indian Territory, lying between Kansas on the north, and Texas on the south, is about four hundred miles long from north to south, and three hundred miles from east to west, and contains sixty-eight thousand square miles. It was set apart by our government as the permanent residence of the Indian tribes transported from the more eastern settled states. The whole number of inhabitants is about one hundred and twenty thousand, the most numerous tribes being the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Osages, and Seminoles.

4. These, occupying various designated portions of the territory, are not allowed to interfere with each other's grounds or grants. They have each their own laws, and are regarded as distinct nations. The Choctaws, with whom the Chickasaws have become mixed, have a written constitution and laws, with executive and judicial officers, schools, churches, and printing-offices. Agriculture is their chief employment.

5. The Creeks and Cherokees have also made considerable advances

CHAP. CCXXXI.-1. What have we seen in the preceding history? What are some of the Indian tribes that have become extinct? 2. What of the Six Nations? Of other tribes? 3. Situation of the Indian Territory? Its extent? For what purpose has it been set apart? Names of the principal Indian tribes in the Indian Territory? What regula tions are imposed on the Indians in the Indian Territory? What of the Choctaws?

THE INDIAN TERRITORY.

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m civilization, especially the latter. The other transported tribes, as the Seminoles, Senecas, Shawanese, Oneidas, Quapaws, Tuscaroras, Delawares and Kickapoos, are also improving, under the efforts of missionaries and schoolmasters. The native tribes, as the Omahas, Otoes, Missouris, Pancas, Pawnees, and others, are in a more savage state. Many of them still live chiefly by robbery and hunting. The pursuit of the buffalo is one of their leading occupations.

6. Beside these tribes confined to the Indian Territory, there are considerable bands of Blackfeet, Assiniboins, Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, in our north-western wilds, which still in a great degree preserve their native habits, living by hunting, fishing and war upon each other. The Indians of Oregon and California, as well as of the territories of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and New Mexico,` are also in a savage state, though the tribes are small and scattered.

7. The Comanches are a large tribe, occupying northern Texas and the vicinity. They have abundance of horses, and bear a considerable resemblance in their habits and manners to the roving Bedouins of the Eastern Continent. They are swift and skilful riders, hurl the spear with dexterity, and often make destructive attacks upon travellers in the regions over which they roam. The Apaches are a powerful tribe, resembling the Comanches, and occupying the central portion of Arizona.

8. Such has been the course of events as to the Indians within the boundaries of the United States. Probably their number is not one quarter what it was at the time of the discovery of this country.

9. In Mexico the Indians were conquered, but not driven out by their conquerors; though somewhat reduced in numbers, they have remained, and have mingled, to a considerable extent, with the blood of their conquerors. For the most part they are ignorant, superstitious, and degraded, submitting slavishly to the domination of the white race.

10. In the West Indies, originally peopled with perhaps a million of inhabitants, they have become extinct. In most parts of South America, their condition is nearly the same as in Mexico, though in the unsettled portions there are still numerous bands in a savage state. Probably the Indians of South America are one-half as numerous as at the time the country was discovered.

5. Of the Creeks and Cherokees? Other transported tribes? What of the native tribe! 6. What of tribes in the north-western wilds? What of tribes in Oregon, California etc. I

7. What of the Comanches? The Apaches? 8. What is the probable number of the Indian” of the United States, compared with their original number? 9. What of the Indians Mexico? 10. What of the Indians of the West Indies? Of South America?

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1. We have now closed our brief view of the leading political incidents in the history of the United States. We began with the first settlement at Jamestown in 1607. We close with a tabular view, which exhibits the country now (1866) as embracing thirty-six states, a territory of over three millions of square miles, and more than thirty millions of inhabitants.

2. We have given a detail of the principal events which have at. tended this astonishing progress. We have sketched the early days, in which we have seen the feeble colonies striking root in a strange country, and after contending with hostile tribes of savage men, iumphing at last over the still more fatal obstacles of poverty, disease and climate.

3. We have seen the Thirteen United Colonies, with about three millions of inhabitants, throwing off their allegiance to Great Britain,

CHAP. CCXXXII.-1. What of the settlement at Jamestown? How long from that time to this? 2. What have we seen in the preceding history? The teacher will here put such questions on the table at page 475 as he may deem necessary.