INDIAN TERRITORY, a central district of the United States of North America, lying between N. Lat. 33. 35. and 37. 0., and W. Long. 94. 20. and 100.; bounded N. by Kansas, E. by the states of Missouri and Arkansas, S. by Red River, which separates it from Texas, and W. by the state of Texas. It is 320 miles in length from E. to W., and 225 miles broad, and contains an area of about 72,000 square miles. The surface of the country is level, except in the south-eastern corner, where it is crossed by the Ozark Hills, and has a gradual declination eastwards to the Mississippi. The principal streams are the Arkansas, which flows through the country from N. to S., and Red River. Both are tributaries of the Mississippi, and are navigable for small steamboats. In the eastern half of the territory, where alone agriculture is prosecuted, the soil is fertile. In its western division, on the other hand, the country is flat, with a dry soil, and the water in the pools brackish. The inhabitants are wholly Indian, and comprise both the tribes native to the district, and those that have immigrated from E. of the Mississippi. The Indian Territory was allotted to the Red Men of the United States in 1854, for the purpose of giving those that had been dispossessed of their lands a safe and permanent abode. The measure has been already attended with beneficial results. The tribes from the E., who had long had intercourse with the whites, on arriving in their new country, at once commenced agricultural pursuits and rude manufactures, and now raise crops of grain and cotton sufficient for home consumption. The latter is for the most part spun by the women, but a few mills are gradually beginning to spring up. Hunting is pursued by the less civilized tribes of the western division, where the grizzly bear, wild goat, and deer are found, and the buffalo and wild horse roam in formidable herds. The chief of these tribes are the Osages, Kansas, Otoes, Omahas, Pawnees, and Puncas. Of the eastern tribes which have immigrated into the Territory, and there enjoy each a district and constitution of its own, may be named the Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Seminole, Senecas, and Quapaws. The first of these came from Georgia and Alabama, and now occupy the country N. of Canadian River. They have written laws and a liberal form of government, and are rapidly progressing towards civilization. The Cherokees, who claim consanguinity with the Creeks, are the most civilized of all the tribes in the Territory. They immigrated from the highlands of Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Upper Tennessee, in 1836, having sold their ancient possessions to the govern-
ment, and took up their abode in the Indian Territory to the N. of Arkansas River. Their tract of land is divided into 8 districts, each returning, every four years, 5 members to the general council, which is made up of a committee and minor council; the former consisting of 16 representatives, and the minor council of 24, are held in the town of Tahlequah, N. of the Arkansas. The executive is vested in a chief, assisted by 3 assessors, chosen for four years by the general council. A printing press is established at Tahlequah, the capital, where newspapers are regularly published. The next two tribes, the Choctaws and Chickasaws, are kindred nations that formerly peopled the Mississippi valley, and now occupy the country S. of Canadian River. They amalgamated in their new home, and are now governed by the same laws. Their national council consists of 40 members, elected by qualified citizens. The four districts, however, into which their settlement is divided, are each governed by a chief, who has the right of a qualified veto on all laws passed by the national council. This tribe has a military organization, every male adult being subject to service, and each district supplying 53 captains, who are under the command of the general-in-chief. Their principal town, called Council House, is situated on Kiamishi River, a tributary of Red River. The only other tribes that inhabit the Territory are the Senecas and Quapaws, once powerful nations, but now rapidly becoming extinct. All these tribes dwell in villages, and follow the plough. Their progress in civilization is almost wholly attributable to the labours of the missionaries, who, in spreading the Christian faith, have not forgotten to sow the seeds of social comfort and advancement. There is no census of the population, which is roughly estimated at about 100,000 persons.