The Philadelphia Inquirer
January
14, 1894
A
QUEER TENNESSEE PEOPLE
There is a race of people in Hawkins County, Tenn., whose origin is a
mystery," said G. L. Babbit. "They are called the Melungeons, and are
found no place else. They have been traced back to North Carolina, but
further than that nothing is known. They are not Indians, they are not
negroes, they are certainly not of any known race of white people. But
few of them can speak the English language, although they have lived
here for over a century, and the language they do speak is an unknown
one tot he most accomplished linguist. they are dirty and degraded, but
with a race pride about them that prevent their intermingling with the
lower order of Americans or with negroes. A Melungeon will work when he
is hunger, but only under press of necessity. they avoid the towns, and
cultivate small patches of corn on the most barren mountain sides, the
rest hunting and fishing. Every attempt made as yet to better their
condition has been a failure, and yet the race continues to exist
independently of the white people, growing no smaller and changing none
of its attributes.
Also Appeared In:
Vineyard Gazette
(Edgarton, Ma)
March 1, 1894
A Strange Race
There is a race of people in
Hawkins County, Tennessee whose origin is a mystery," said G. L.
Babbitt to the corridor man at the Laclede. "They are called
the Melungeons, and are
found no place else. They have been traced back to North Carolina, but
further than that nothing is known. They are not Indians, they are not
negroes, they are certainly not of any known race of white people. But
few of them can speak the English language, although they have lived
here for over a century, and the language they do speak is an unknown
one tot he most accomplished linguist. they are dirty and degraded, but
with a race pride about them that prevent their intermingling with the
lower order of Americans or with negroes. A Melungeon will work when he
is hunger, but only under press of necessity. they avoid the towns, and
cultivate small patches of corn on the most barren mountain sides, the
rest hunting and fishing. Every attempt made as yet to better their
condition has been a failure, and yet the race continues to exist
independently of the white people, growing no smaller and changing none
of its attributes.