He was one of the captains of light horse companies appointed in 1808 and 1810 to enforce the laws of the nation. He was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of the nation in 1827; and also that of 1839. One of Keys' classmates was Joel Bryan Mayes Principal Chief of the Cherokee from 1887 until his death.
Powell, then director of the Bureau of Ethnology (the word "American" was not in the title in those days), ^^^:announced in November. NO. 77] THE WAHNENAUHI - KILPATRICK MANUSCRIPT 185 Marriage of persons belonging to the same clan, and.
NO 77] THE WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 185 The marriage of persons belonging to the same Clan, and of the
If a person suddenly fell ill with a new or unusual disease, the friends of the affected person immediately called the Magician. Birch bark was considered a specific remedy for cancer and malignant ulcers.[^"] A lead-colored stone of an oval shape, thought to be solidified lightning, as it was dug up near the roots of a tree struck by lightning, was a cure for Rheumatism. P']. Glad of an opportunity to escape, he went with them, but no sooner had he got it than the canoe began to capsize and rock very incomprehensibly, the boys became very.
Then they made a man and a woman and took them around the edge of the island. He picked it up, closed the opening to the cave, and returned, never seeming to suspect once what his two sons had done. They moved the stone away - even though it was very heavy, and they had to use all their combined strength.
In early times the clothing of the Cherokee was made entirely of the skins of the animals they killed in hunting.["] Cherokee women became quite skilled at making clothing for their families when very young girls were taught the art of preparing material for , . This hut was called a "greenhouse" and was sometimes used for steaming the sick in this way, — a warm house. This practice was strictly observed by the ballplayers as they prepared for the "big game"—they thought it made them brave and strong, and before the annual festival of the Green Corn Dance, which lasted for seven days, everything must be scratched, no one was allowed to partake of the feast, unless he had performed this operation; after this festival, green corn and all other vegetables were freely eaten.
Although the greater part of the tribe were very unwilling to have them go, yet, finding their efforts to persuade them to stay unsuccessful, they helped them prepare for the journey: some furnished "pack ponies " while others loaded them with "Cuh-whe-si, tah Cuh-nuh-tsi dried venison and other things. After the Wanderers left, the rest of the tribe continued on friendly terms with the whites, trading with them and learning much that was useful to them; but alas. It is an established principle with the Cherokees, in common with all Indians, that air, water, and land are the free gift of the Creator to all men, and when Landis acts it is always understood that only the right to to use it meant.
WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — ^KILPATRICK 195 Each Tribe was accused of encroaching on the hunting grounds of
At this time many of the people were disgusted and dissatisfied with so much "Treatment for the Land," and their thoughts, instinctively, turning to the vv^est, they soon resolved in that direction to look for a future home. "Lar West," they had found plenty of water, good timber, rich land for farming, and abundant game: endless herds of buffalo, deer, and antelope, flocks of wild turkeys, geese, and ducks, and waters teeming with fish. of all kinds. George was the eldest of several children and was born about 1770 in the Tah-skeegeea country on the banks of the Tennessee River, p^].
He grew up like most other Indian boys of his time, but was very observant and self-reliant; when he was about twelve years old he had the misfortune to lose his father; he was killed and robbed while crossing the mountains in Tennessee, with pack mules. George Guess, or "Se-quoh-yah," as he was usually called, and John Leach, his cousins, and about the same age as himself, were his constant companions, and the Triogew grew together intimate friends. WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 197 Lowrey was the only one of his party who spoke the Enghsh Lan-.
WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 197 Lowrey was the only one of his party who spoke the Enghsh Lan-
During this time Sequoyah had been industrious and prudent, had gathered about him quite a property, and neglected nothing that would bring comfort to his family, endearing himself to them with kind attention to their simple needs; and by his proverbial hospitality and conciliatory manners he enlarged the circle of his friends. Many years Sequoyah dreamed, studied, and labored, until success crowned his efforts: and he presented to his people a methodically arranged alphabetic language, containing eighty-six syllables. Almost every member of the tribe became interested in the new movement and learned [to learn] the letters and to read and write.
They remained good friends, however, and Lowrey was one of the first to recognize the great advantages that would accrue to his people through the use of the native alphabet, and used his influence to have them learn it, expressing enthusiasm about it on all occasions spoke. Being a very fluent speaker, he often spoke to his people about these things; urging them to give up their careless, disorderly lives. In his early manhood, George Lowrey distinguished himself by important services he rendered, both to his own people and to the United States.
As the greatest caution and skill were required; to ensure the success of the enterprise, he undertook the journey on foot, accompanied only by Billy, a brown slave; one other Indian started the journey with him, but owing to the hardships encountered, his resolution failed, and he returned. In 1791 George Lowrey was selected as one of a delegation sent to Washington City to request payment of the annuity promised in the Treaty of 1785 and not paid. It was customary, in those times, for a young Indian, contemplating marriage, to first prepare a place of residence, make it as comfortable as he knew how; then the consent of the girl must be obtained, as also that of her mother, after which the girl accompanied him to his house at a time previously agreed upon and became his wife.
Lowrey achieved great skill in the use of medicinal roots and herbs, especially in cases of bites or stings from reptiles or poisonous insects.
THE WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 201 One instance only of Billy failing the confidence reposed in him is
A school was soon put into operation, [^^] and Hicks, Ross, Lowrey P°] and many other influential men at once availed themselves of the privilege of sending their children to a Christian School. In 1804 Presbyterian missionaries [^^] were sent to the Cherokee nation, and in a short time several Mission Stations were located in different parts of the nation, schools were established and churches were organized. However, the most influential persons, who were followed by the greater part of the People, eager to secure educational advantages for their children, took great pains to assist the Missionaries in building houses and providing things that were needed. for their comfort while they worked among them.
As a nation they were now ready to receive the Gospel, which was brought to them by the Missionaries. No.™7r WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 203 Some years before all this the chiefs, chiefs and warriors met in Council and agreed to make, for the general good of the nation, a more united form of government; instead of each tribe working for its own, they chose one Principal Chief, an Assistant, and a Council, which at first consisted of thirteen members, on whom. This Legislative Body made laws, as they thought necessary, for the protection and improvement of the Nation.
The first public use made of Sequoyah's alphabet was to print the Gospel of Mathew and a collection of hymns in the Cherokee language. ["] - In 1828, public schools were established by the Council, with support from the national government. This document, called 'The Cherokee Phenix', printed in both languages, was published until the West tribe was removed. If the Cherokees had united and could have acted under one leader, they might have escaped many of the problems and losses that overtook them.
Sequoyah, whose English name was George Guess, went with that division of his men who emigrated before the "Treaty of PI," and continued to be one of their leading men.
WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 205 The declarations of the Government, and of the Indian Agents, had
The Cherokees appealed to the President of the United States for protection, who informed them that he had no constitutional authority to protect them.[^']. No. THE WAHNENAUHI - KILPATRICK MANUSCRIPT 207 The graves of their kindred, whom they have left, Shall be desecrated by the hand of the White Man. Many old men, already weakened by old age, could not bear the fatigue and hardships of the journey and sank without resistance.
George Lowi*ey was elected President of the Eastern Cherokees and Sequoyah, George Guess President of the Western Cherokees. A Constitution for the Government of the Cherokee Nation was drafted and established subject to amendment by the National Council. In 1828, the proceeds of the Land Sale were given to a permanent School Fund; and the interest divided between the two Branches of the Cherokee Family.
He had thought much about the Legend of the Rocky Mountain Cherokees, and hoped to satisfy his curiosity about it. Almost suddenly, the features of the country changed, the water became less and what there was, very bad. During the whole of his journey he was occupied in writing descriptions of the country through which they passed; this he continued to do, at intervals, according to his strength.
Apart from his close relatives and friends, all the members of the National Council marched in the long procession, headed by the leaders and the remaining two members of the Executive Committee.
LITERATURE CITED
Copy of a lithograph from McKenney and Hall's 'Indian Tribes of North America'. It is suspected that the original source is a painting by C.
