Choktaws

Choktaws, or Choctaws (Chaktas), a North American nation akin to the Chikasaws, who formerly occupied both banks of the Yazoo affluent of the Mississippi. In 1830 they surrendered to the United States Government their hunting-grounds in this region (about 10,000,000 acres) for a sum which appears never to have been paid. At present they are settled on a reserve in Indian Territory at the angle formed by the state of Arkansas with Texas limited N. by the Arkansas, S. by the Red River, about 6,690,000 acres, mostly under maize. The Choktaws, whose ancient culture is somewhat highly coloured by Chateaubriand in Atala, are still one of the most polished of all North American nations; they increased from 12,500 in 1866 to 16,000 in 1872, and over 20,000 in 1890. The surplus of the tribal revenue is applied to the support of a large number of schools.