They bounded through the woods on a scavenger hunt. It was difficult for the group of three men, two women and four children, spread out through the trees, to walk in an broad line searching for the next flint-rock marker and yet this glorious day made even the most difficult task seem like child&rsquos play. The old man and woman perhaps 40 years old had no trouble keeping up, in fact they often rushed ahead. They were going to their new camp! They had left the creek marker shortly after sunrise and had moved straight toward the rising sun; the next marker would be found shortly.
One of the children carried suspended around her neck, two roughly made bags in which were provisions for the next meal. They would be used only in the event forage was not enough to feed them all. The bags the other children had about their necks contained what appeared to be a rock collection, but each rock had been selected for a particular function and survival of the tribe depended on their being with the tribe at all times. Some for bartering, others for crafting, cutting instruments, spear points and arrows.
In one of the bags were crystals of rock-salt, the size of your hand. An outcropping of salt at a place now know as Grand Saline provided this essential nutrient to man and animals alike. Because of its value it was often used to barter. When they stopped to rest, the crystals were enjoyed much like a pop-sickle or candy cane by children and adults alike. The hard surface slowly dissolved in saliva and provided a recharge of the body&rsquos salt lost through perspiration.
A child too small to walk was carried by one of the women. It was in a bag not unlike that used for the food and made of the same skin of some long departed animal, perhaps a fox or other animal of about the same size.
The other woman carried in her bags, large pieces of flint rock. These stones were not unlike the marker they sought.
Gut bags (or rather bags made from the stomach of a large animal) were filled with water and would be used only in the event that they were unsuccessful in finding water. Cups fashioned from tortoise shells banged against the side of the bags.
The men carried pointed sticks in addition to the bags suspended about their necks. The stone tips had not been attached and would not be until there was a need for the spear for hunting. Instead the long straight sticks made from the branches of the bois de arc, served several purposes; now they were staffs, useful in maintaining balance and pushing away vines and exploring burrows of small animals. Later they might be fitted with leather thongs and so equipped could be used to launch missiles. Or a larger, straight stick might be used with a flint point, useful in spearing fish and other animals. The thought of using them for defense against other natives never occurred to them. The country was just too large, game too plentiful and human inhabitants too distant to cause concern.(1)
Perhaps a description of the bags should be made. When the fox, racoon, possum, deer or other animals were skinned, the hides were carefully dried with the legs and neck tied between bushes so that the skin remained somewhat taunt.. Fresh oak bark was placed on the flesh side and water added to extract the tannins. Over the course of several weeks, as the water evaporated, the acrid chemicals reacted with the proteins of the skin and produced a protected surface. Little attention was paid to the hair side. The tribe left the skins hanging as they went about the business of finding food for the next month or so. On return, the hide was removed, placed on a fallen tree and doubled over itself and then beaten with what ever was at hand. When soft enough to form into a pouch by bringing the legs and neck together, the bag was complete. A grape vine,. briar or other vine was used as a tie. A thong of leather was sometimes made but this seemed more than a little foolish since the vines worked just fine. Since not all animals are the same size, it was possible to select bags to accommodate each of the adults and children.
In the case of the gut bags, the stomach of the animal was removed, inverted to discharge the contents and washed with several changes of water. Then the bag was filled with an extract of tannins and left to Nature for its preserving action. When properly cured, the bag was once again inverted with the tanned side now exposed and tied firmly with twist of the remainder of intestine that dangled from one end.
One of the group yelled indicating the marker had been found. They gathered at the flint stone which was some twelve inches across and must have weighed at least twenty pounds.(2) Now they could look for food in earnest, each going in a self determined direction. A couple returning to the area just crossed as they had noted the presence of some berries.
One of the women remained by the stone marker and carefully removed the embers of yesterday&rsquos fire from the bag she carried. Gathering dry twigs and leaves in a depression which had obviously been used in times past for the same purpose, she carefully brought the fire to life. Now a turtle shell was withdrawn from her pouch and the condiments for the meal were placed on a spread skin. They needed water and it was not far away in a dry creek bed.
In the curve of the creek where the flow of water had washed out a trough, a muddy residue of water remained. The reason for the unclear water was soon revealed as burrowing in the mud were catfish not half the size of your hand. The woman carefully scooped water from the pond with a large turtle shell and placed it aside. Then she just as carefully trapped the fish against one side of the pond and skillfully with a flip of her hand tossed them onto the sandy creek bed. After securing all that she could find, she put them in her pouch and carefully balancing the turtle shell of water in one hand and the pouch in the other, she returned to the camp site.
Others had returned. One had discovered of an abundance of fox grapes (so named because they were small but edible, as compared to the larger purple grapes that grew in the area of the summer camp site.) Another had discovered poke weed growing in a fertile spot. He had gathered a cluster of the purple berries and some roots, both to be used for medicinal purposes if need be. ("Phytolacca - Poke-root, indigenous to the United States. Therapeutic Uses. - A valuable drug, kills the microbes of cancer, syphilis, tubercle. Alone or, better still, combined with iodide potassium. Next to saxifranga the best vegetable alterative in the materia medica. Preparation and Doses.&ndash The oxonized fluid extract of phytolacca, teaspoonful doses; the tincture 15 to 20 drops. Phytolacca berry juice oxonized, the North Carolina poke berry just touched by frost, gathered, compressed oxonized, is the safest, most effective agent for stripping the human body of that non-vital element, fat, the dose necessary to eliminate two pounds of adipose tissue weekly being from 2 to 15 drops. It must be alternated every other week by some other remedy, such as the fucus vesiculosus." (3)
In one of the adjacent trees hung two skins of nuts, probably pecans. Their presence was noted but there was no interest in having them for their meal. They had been left by a previous visitor to the site and left for who ever might chance upon them and if in need of food they were generously offered.
The half dozen small fish were quickly dispatched with a blow of one of the rocks, and being careful to avoid being stuck by the dorsal fin, they were placed in the turtle shell of water which was now hung over the coals of the small fire. Squash seeds were added, along with a few berries, and greens found growing along the creek bank. Would this be enough to feed five adults and four children? Certainly, as they all had grazed through the woods as they walked, eating whatever caught their eye. This meal was more of a ceremony than one for subsistence. They had returned to the summer camp area.
After the meal they relax under a large pin oak. The chatter of a squirrel provided a balance to their conversation. One of the men extracted a small pouch from the larger pouch he had been carrying. Soon a flat piece of sandstone, the most prevalent rock of the area, was located. Onto the flat side a small collection of leaves was extracted from the pouch. Another stone was selected and used to grind the leaves until only a fine powder remained. Then a final item was extracted from the pouch. It was the breast bone (wish-bone) of perhaps a turkey, goose or some other large bird. The ends had been carefully removed and what remained was a large "Y" shaped bone that like all bones of fowl, was hollow. Now carefully placing the arms of the "Y" in his nose, and placing the extend leg into the small pile of "snuff" , he deeply inhaled. An enthusiastic sneeze followed. (4) Others about, laughed in glee and awaited their turn. Whether the ground leaves were tobacco or something else, is left to your imagination.
It was hot, mid-summer and the pecans, hickory and walnut trees were some three moons away from producing edible nuts. While there was an abundance of oaks, with last years mast of acorns still on the ground. No one ate acorns unless near starvation. Grapes were another manner as they were just now ripening and with the grapes was the promise of small animals that fed on them as well. Perhaps a possum or coon would be in their dinner plans.
In the glade not far from the stone marker, the women were already busy pulling the weeds and grass from the area. By nightfall, they would have planted their citron melon, squash and perhaps some beans. They did not plant corn. Corn required that they stay with the plants and defend them against other animals. Also, it just didn&rsquot taste all that good and once mature, the seeds had to be soaked in water to render them edible. No, grass seeds which were plentiful and amaranth, polk weed and other volunteers were more a part of their diet.
Now it was time for the men to prepare protection against a storm. It took little time to construct a lean-to of broken bows from nearby cedar trees. The smaller branches, when spread on the ground and covered with the larger skins which were extracted from yet another of the pouches would make sleeping pleasant.
The only concern was water. Tomorrow, they would dig deeper into the pool in the nearby creek and hopefully, water would fill the depression. Otherwise, they would have to move on before they were really ready to do so.
They remained at the camp-site until the newly planted seeds had emerged, gave one last careful weeding of the area and left the "garden" to survive on its own. (5) The final trek to the summer grounds was made the following sunrise.
All the belongings that they cared to save, were placed in the skins. Embers if the evening fire were placed in moss and then into the waiting pouch. When all was ready, the band again formed in a broad line which stretched out across the forested area. The Indians moved toward the rising sun. Now the area changed, at first not perceptible but it was obvious that they were entering an area of low hills. When finding a tree that could easily be climbed, one of the men gained a view of the surrounding area. He could see what appeared to be a large valley, not a depression, but instead an area surrounded by hills.(6) They were on track to their goal.
By midmorning (some six hours by our time standards) they were at the foot of a hill that rose some one-hundred feet above the plain. The walking was easier as there was much open space and grass grew abundantly. There were animal signs everywhere. Now their pace hastened as they knew that the spring was no more than a short distance away and its produce was obvious from the trees that grew to a greater height along its water-way. There was no creek bed to reveal the springs presence as the water constantly flowing encouraged plants to grow and hold the soil. Instead the spring water trickled back into the sandy soil leaving not a trace of its passage after some 50 or so yards.
The spring was revealed, not a gushing outpouring but a steady seeping of water from an area no more than ten feet across. The sand slowly bubbled. Each Indian in his turn, kneeled by the side and drank his fill. The water was cool, clear and with a most pleasant taste, unlike the water of the past few days.(7)
Now camp was to be prepared. The group backtracked some quarter of a mile to a group of trees, open to the south. (8)
There the tribe would spend the next months or maybe if all was favorable perhaps establish what would be a permanent camp for their members. True to the methods of the past, the load of flint and other rocks were first deposited next to the directional stones that were close by the spring. Why put stones here when the spring was self evident? The Indians knew that sometimes the spring might be less obvious or even fail, by marking its location and with the directional information of the stones placements, others could go on to another already known site. And why not locate next to the spring and negate the problem of carrying water or visiting the spring each day? They recognized that animals sought out the spring for water much as they did, so that by permitting free access to the spring, they would have access to the water but to a supply of animals for meat as well. If the tribe had located next to the spring, the animals would soon find another source of water. And, in recognition that man spoils his environment, they choose to be away from the pristine spring and its environs.
Also with the onslaught of mosquitoes in the wet areas, it is no wonder that the tribe wisely located a distant from standing water that would serve as the breeding grounds for this pest. They lacked bear grease or other oils, they were unable to coat themselves with these substances to discourage the biting insects as did tribes to the north.
Here the group established a semipermanent home. Until the winter storms arrived, they would have all that they needed for a comfortable life, hunting, exploring, enjoying their family and with food enough so that they would not know hunger. Their plantings of squash, gourds, melons and beans would thrive this year and would be harvested as needed and the surplus stored in the skins hanging from the convenient oak trees. Persimmons would soon be ripe and with them would come possums, racoons, deer and other animals. The native pecan trees seldom fail to yield a bountiful crop, and if one works hard enough, the hickory and walnut trees yield up their nutmeats. Life was good.
On occasion, they would revisit the old camp some five miles to the west and note the condition of the plantings. No effort would be made to either cultivate the crops or harvest them, instead they would be allowed to mature naturally and reseed themselves for the next year. (This way, nature selected the best, that most able to survive.)
With time, a new-borne would appear, and the young would reach adulthood. Life was not always kind to those who depended on God's harvest. Especially harsh was the effect of childbirth on women. No more than half lived to bear a second child. Men, as there was no war to reduce their numbers typically lived to ages sometimes in their 50s and 60s. Regardless of age, all were expected to contribute.
When death came, their bones were laid in a place of honor, protected from carnivorous animals. But with the climate of intermittent rain, freezing temperatures, snow, drought, high temperatures and drying winds, as well as high humidity during parts of the year, the bones soon disappeared, perhaps spread by marauding animals, but even if left in place, they slowly disintegrated, leaving not a trace. In other areas, perhaps a peat bog or a deep spring might preserve the bones from oxidation, and mineralization might occur, filling the calcium-phosphate matrix with silica, yielding a protected fossilized specimen. This is why it is speculated that there is no record of this tribe of 20,000 years ago, except their flint markers that survive in some fields (If unmolested by land clearing, farming, and other current day agriculture.)
Occasionally a farmer or his children or grandchildren will discover relics of the past. They cannot be dated as there is no organic substance permitting timing of the carbon 14-13 clock. Only one's imagination permits a reestablishment of the culture of the area and the time at which it occurred.
There is an abundance of fossilized wood in the area. But these are of a much earlier time when this region was a first a sea shore, then well exposed and a forest, with the sea eventually returning, perhaps numerous times. Some two hundred feet below the surface are extensive coal deposits and then much deeper, some five to eighteen thousand feet below are oil and gas deposits.
(1) No arrow heads or spear points have been found in this area to my knowledge. The Shelton/Wortham/Prehler ownership extends back seven generations. However, to the East; Poyner, Texas, arrow heads are found frequently, indicative of a different tribal hunting style.
(2) I have often found flint stones sometimes with chips removed and others only weathered, in fields far away from any signs of civilization. These rocks are not native to the area.
(3) The Germicide Twentieth Century Practice of Medicine and Dictionary of Diseases, Their treatment with newer remedies. R. R. Russell, M. D., New York, 1901. Avil Printing Co. Medical Printers and Publishers 3941 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa.. The book is actually an encyclopedia of Medicine. Russell gives no references and much of what he writes would certainly be scoffed at by today's practitioners of the healing arts. This particular reference to poke weed (from which poke salat greens are eaten with relish by rural folks from Virginia to the Mississippi and points south) is unusual. I have found no other reference to use of roots or berries which have been said to be poisonous by our elders. The berries do make a lovely purple stain on cotton and it is reported that during the War Between the States, the Confederacy used polk berry stain as an ink.
(4) Snuff and Snuff Boxes by Mattoon M. Curtis. 1931. Bramhall House, New York. A classic on the use of tobacco in the Western World and its passage across the seas to the Orient and Europe. A historic perspective. "Uses of tobacco among the aborigines - a) curative of certain diseases, sores, wounds and a defense against insects and pest. b) preventative of hunger, thirst and fatigue, c) restorative of physical and mental energies, d) a factor in religious, civil and social ceremonies, e) source of pleasure to taste and smell, f) a narcotic or stimulant when used in various ways, g) a medium of exchange for barter."
(5) I found tomato vines growing on the edge of a clearing in this area, where oilfield workers had had lunch the previous spring (1973). The vines were loaded with tomatoes, some over-ripe, others at the peak of perfection and others green as gourd guts. From two vines almost a bushel of tomatoes were harvested.
(6) This is the area of the original Shelton Land Grant. Looking toward the East, the McCulloch farms are to your left, the Prehler house to your right.
(7) This spring, on the side of the Farm-to-Market road between Athens and Cross Roads provided running water to the Harry and Audrey McCulloch home through an ingenious maze of pipes. They had the only running water in the area before electricity was introduced.
(8) This would be the land purchased by W. A. Wortham in the mid 70s. A real-estate agent from Chicago came to the farm and ask the "Judge" if he would like to buy the land. Typically, he said yes, but.... Several days later the agent returned and said he would sell the land to my father. At that time, no price had even been discussed. As I recall the price was $20.00/acre, not a lot of money, unless you don't have any. Dad went to Athens, to the First National Bank, and borrowed the money on his signature. Only after the deal was done, did he and mom come to terms as how they would pay for the land. But, (remember; yes, but ..., ) his word had been given and they bought and paid for the land.
***
Questions:
Why did they bring stones with them and then abandon them along the way?
Answer: The stones marked the path to follow, indicated a good spot for spending time, planting seeds and hunting. And, as they could be used to construct points, scrapers and crude knives, they should be where you might need them to be, you couldn't return some days or weeks of travel in search of these tools. You needed them, now. Sandstones were plentiful but of little use to the Indian except perhaps as a grinding stone. Sandstones weather quickly and even if one had been transported for the purpose of a mortar it would likely have deteriorated with time.
Where did the catfish come from?
Answer: Good question, but they are found even today far from flowing streams in holes in the creek beds.
The provisions hanging in the tree: Who put them there?
Answer: Perhaps this group, but more than likely another nomadic tribe. The food was there for the taking.
How did they read the stones?
Answer: By placing three stones in position, one could judge the distance to the next way-point and the stone placed to one side provided a direction and distance to some desired location, perhaps a bee tree, water source, cache of food, &c. One pace (about 40 inches) represented a days journey, so that any less was within easy access. The primary stone marked the present site. The next larger stone marked the direction and approximate distance to the next site, and the smaller stones marked places where water, nuts, berries, honey, &c. could be found.
How do you go back to the previous place using the stones?
Answer: Always looking to the future and with no regard for the past, why bother? However if one set was located, it would be possible to trace steps either forward or back.
Why did they not use clay pots, pipes, implements like Indians from other areas?
Answer: Had they used clay pots, some pieces would have survived. As none did, it is assumed they improvised using the objects at hand, i.e., turtle shells. Besides, the clay vessels would have been much heavier and more likely to break during their frequent moves.
NB.
I am grateful to Jay Prehler for suggesting archeomythology as a means of bringing together seemingly unrelated observations to provide an interpretation of events that preceded intervention by the White Man. The East Texas area is rich in history, if one only knew how to read it. Unfortunately, much is disappearing and there is no written record to aid in future generations coming to understand the original characteristics of the area.
As an example, my father spoke of trees larger than two men could reach around that grew in the Trinity River bottoms. Careful examination of the area permitted one to detect traces of furrows where the land had been ridged so that crops could be grown. Who planted these crops and what were they. The time certainly was much prior to the granting of land grants by the Governor of Texas.
The trees are gone, the ridges are gone.
You can speculate if you like.
****
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