Red Indian Mortality.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 89, 14 February 1885, Page 5

Red Indian Mortality.

There is something pathetic about the latest statistical account of the Indians in the United States. Three years ago the entire race, who once overran the continent, numbered 376,000. Of these 256,000 were in the Indian reservation, 55,000 of them living in a state of partial civilisation. Wandering tribe 3 were 15,000 in number, the Indians in Alaska 31,000, the remnants of the lroquois 7,000, while of citizens — braves who had abandoned the tomahawk and the prairies for more peaceful conditions of life— there were 67,000. Of Indians then on the reservations 56,000 were supported by the (Government, 47,000 received large appropriations, and 95,000 were supported by fishing, hunting, farming, and other small industries, and the proceeds of the sale of their land. Since then the taming process has been gradually going on. The 60,000 children, instead of being skilled in the warlike ways of their fathers, are gradually being gathered into the schools. The more civilised tribes manage their own schools, with the aid of Government grants. The Cherokees, for instance, have 198 day schools and eleven boarding schools, giving instruction in the Cherokee language, with its alphabet of eighty-five letters invented in 1827. Ifc is said that the Indians show a real zeal for the education of their children. The Omahas of Nebraska sold part of their lands for the purpose of raising money for schools. Many plans are projected to complete this work of civilising the Indians. Some statesmen assert that with an annual expenditure of ten million dollars there could be provided schools for every Indian child, and that in fifteen years the entire lace would be civilised and self-supporting. Others advocate the expenditure of three millions in day and boarding schools. Either sum would be but small in proportion to the value of the land that once belonged to them, But with all this fervour for their civilisation the race do not thrive. Each year they become weaker in body and poorer in spirit, and illustrate, if ever a crushed and broken people did, how hopeless is the strugglo of aboriginal races when the white man invades their land.