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diff --git a/26688-h/26688-h.htm b/26688-h/26688-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e813d24 --- /dev/null +++ b/26688-h/26688-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9204 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of History, Manners, And Customs of the North American Indians, by Old Humphrey + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + hr.title {width: 7%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + height: 1px; + border: 0; + background-color: black; + color: black; + } + + hr {width: 15%; + margin-top: 1.5em; + margin-bottom: 1.5em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + height: 1px; + border: 0; + background-color: black; + color: black; + } + + hr.ads {width: 100%; + margin-top: 1.5em; + margin-bottom: 1.5em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + height: 1px; + border: 0; + background-color: black; + color: black; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + } + + table.tribes {font-size: 90%; + padding-top: 1em; + border-collapse: collapse; + border: solid black 1px;} + + table.tribes td {border-right: solid black 1px; + padding-right: 1em;} + + td.table_header {vertical-align: top; + border: solid black 1px;} + + td.tabright {text-align: right;} + + td.tabcenter {text-align: center; + padding-left: 2em;} + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + p.author {text-align: center; + font-size: 120%; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + p.publisher {margin-top: 4em; + text-align: center; + font-size: smaller; + margin-bottom: 3em; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + p.bookads {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: -1em; + margin-left: 1em; + font-weight: bold; + } + + div.advertisements {margin-top: 1em; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: smaller; + padding: 1em 2em 1em 2em; + background-color: #FBF5E6; + color: black; + } + + img {border-style: none; + } + + ul {list-style: none; + line-height: 150%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + right: 1%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: 0ex; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + a:link {text-decoration: none; + color: #104E8B; + background-color: inherit; + } + + a:visited {text-decoration: none; + color: #8B0000; + background-color: inherit; + } + + a:hover {text-decoration: underline;} + + a:active {text-decoration: underline;} + + .center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em;} + + .right {text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; + } + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0em;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + div.footnote p {text-indent: 0em;} + + .footnotes {border: dotted 1px; + padding-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 2em; + } + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: smaller; + } + + .footnote .label {position: absolute; + right: 79%; + text-align: right; + } + + .fnanchor { vertical-align: baseline; + font-size: 80%; + position: relative; + top: -.4em; + } + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History, Manners, and Customs of the North +American Indians, by George Mogridge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History, Manners, and Customs of the North American Indians + +Author: George Mogridge + +Editor: Thomas O. Summers + +Release Date: September 22, 2008 [EBook #26688] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY, NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS *** + + + + +Produced by Irma Spehar and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><span style="font-size: 80%">HISTORY, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS</span><br /><br /> +<span style="font-size: 50%">OF THE</span><br /><br /> +North American Indians.</h1> + +<hr class="title" style="margin-top: 4em" /> +<p class="author">BY OLD HUMPHREY.</p> +<hr class="title" style="margin-bottom: 4em" /> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 90%">REVISED BY THOMAS O. SUMMERS, D.D.</p> + +<p class="publisher">Nashville, Tenn.:<br /> +SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE.<br /> +1859.</p> + + + +<h2 style="padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em"><a name="Prefatory_Note" id="Prefatory_Note"></a>Prefatory Note.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> volume is one of a series of books from +the ready and prolific pen of the late George +Mogridge—better known by his <i>nom de plume</i>, +“Old Humphrey.” Most of his works were +written for the London Religious Tract Society, +and were originally issued under the auspices of +that excellent institution. In revising them for +our catalogue, we have found it necessary to make +scarcely any alterations. A “Memoir of Old +Humphrey, with Gleanings from his Portfolio”—a +charming biography—accompanies our edition +of his most interesting works.</p> + +<p>Every Sunday-school and Family Library +should be supplied with the entertaining and useful +productions of Old Humphrey’s versatile and +sanctified genius.</p> + +<p class="right">T. O. SUMMERS.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Nashville, Tenn.</span>, Sept. 27, 1855.</p> + + + +<h2 style="padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em"><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> present volume is in substance a reprint +from a work published by the <i>London Religious +Tract Society</i>, and is, we believe, chiefly compiled +from the works of our enterprising countryman, +<span class="smcap">Catlin</span>. It is rendered especially attractive by +the spirited and impressive pictorial illustrations +of Indian life and scenery with which it abounds.</p> + +<p>Great changes have occurred in late years, in the +circumstances and prospects of the Indian tribes, +and neither their number nor condition can be +ascertained with much accuracy. We have endeavoured +to make the present edition as correct +as possible, and have omitted some parts of the +original work which seemed irrelevant, or not well +authenticated. We have also made such changes +in the phraseology as its republication in this +country requires.</p> + +<h2 style="padding-top: 2em; line-height: 150%"><small>THE</small><br /> +INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></h2> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/illo007.jpg" width="300" height="337" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was on a wild and gusty day, that Austin +and Brian Edwards were returning home from a +visit to their uncle, who lived at a distance of +four or five miles from their father’s dwelling,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +when the wind, which was already high, rose +suddenly; and the heavens, which had for some +hours been overclouded, grew darker, with every +appearance of an approaching storm. Brian was +for returning back; but to this Austin would by +no means consent. Austin was twelve years of +age, and Brian about two years younger. Their +brother Basil, who was not with them, had hardly +completed his sixth year.</p> + +<p>The three brothers, though unlike in some +things—for Austin was daring, Brian fearful, and +Basil affectionate—very closely resembled each +other in their love of books and wonderful relations. +What one read, the other would read; +and what one had learned, the other wished to +know.</p> + +<p>Louder and louder blew the wind, and darker +grew the sky, and already had a distant flash and +growling thunder announced the coming storm, +when the two brothers arrived at the rocky eminence +where, though the wood was above them, +the river rolled nearly a hundred fathoms below. +Some years before, a slip of ground had taken +place at no great distance from the spot, when a +mass of earth, amounting to well nigh half an +acre, with the oak trees that grew upon it, slid +down, all at once, towards the river. The rugged +rent occasioned by the slip of earth, the great +height of the road above the river, the rude rocks +that here and there presented themselves, and the +giant oaks of the wood frowning on the dangerous +path, gave it a character at once highly picturesque +and fearful. Austin, notwithstanding the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +loud blustering of the wind, and the remonstrance +of his brother to hasten on, made a momentary +pause to enjoy the scene.</p> + +<p>In a short time the two boys had approached +the spot where a low, jutting rock of red sand-stone, +around which the roots of a large tree were +seen clinging, narrowed the path; so that there +was only the space of a few feet between the base +of the rock and an abrupt and fearful precipice.</p> + +<p>Austin was looking down on the river, and +Brian was holding his cap to prevent it being +blown from his head, when, between the fitful +blasts, a loud voice, or rather a cry, was heard. +“Stop, boys, stop! come not a foot farther on +peril of your lives!” Austin and Brian stood +still, neither of them knowing whence came the +cry, nor what was the danger that threatened +them; they were, however, soon sensible of the +latter, for the rushing winds swept through the +wood with a louder roar, and, all at once, part +of the red sand-stone rock gave way with the +giant oak whose roots were wrapped round it, +when the massy ruin, with a fearful crash, fell +headlong across the path, and right over the +precipice. Brian trembled with affright, and +Austin turned pale. In another minute an active +man, somewhat in years, was seen making his +way over such parts of the fallen rock as had +lodged on the precipice. It was he who had +given the two brothers such timely notice of their +danger, and thereby saved their lives.</p> + +<p>Austin was about to thank him, but hardly had +he began to speak, when the stranger stopped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +him. “Thank God, my young friends,” said he +with much emotion, “and not me; for we are all +in his hands. It is his goodness that has preserved +you.” In a little time the stranger had +led Austin and Brian, talking kindly to them +all the way, to his comfortable home, which +was at no great distance from the bottom of the +wood.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had they seated themselves, when the +storm came on in full fury. As flash after flash +seemed to rend the dark clouds, the rain came +down like a deluge, and the two boys were thankful +to find themselves in so comfortable a shelter. +Brian’s attention was all taken up with the storm +while Austin was surprised to see the room all +hung round with lances, bows and arrows, quivers, +tomahawks, and other weapons of Indian warfare +together with pouches, girdles, and garments of +great beauty, such as he had never before seen. +A sight so unexpected both astonished and pleased +him, and made a deep impression on his mind.</p> + +<p>It was some time before the storm had spent +its rage, so that the two brothers had some pleasant +conversation with the stranger, who talked +to them cheerfully. He did not, however, fail to +dwell much on the goodness of God in their preservation; +nor did he omit to urge on them to +read, on their return home, the first two verses of +the forty-sixth Psalm, which he said might dispose +them to look upwards with thankfulness +and confidence. Austin and Brian left the stranger, +truly grateful for the kindness which had +been shown them; and the former felt determined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +it should not be his fault, if he did not, +before long, make another visit to the place.</p> + +<p>When the boys arrived at home, they related, +in glowing colours, and with breathless haste, +the adventure which had befallen them. Brian +dwelt on the black clouds, the vivid lightning, +and the rolling thunder; while Austin described, +with startling effect, the sudden cry which had +arrested their steps near the narrow path, and the +dreadful crash of the red sand-stone rock, when +it broke over the precipice, with the big oak-tree +that grew above it. “Had we not been stopped +by the cry,” said he, “we must in another +minute have been dashed to pieces.” He then, +after recounting how kind the stranger had been +to them, entered on the subject of the Indian +weapons.</p> + +<p>Though the stranger who had rendered the +boys so important a service was dressed like a +common farmer, there was that in his manner so +superior to the station he occupied, that Austin, +being ardent and somewhat romantic in his notions, +and wrought upon by the Indian weapons +and dresses he had seen, thought he must be +some important person in disguise. This belief +he intimated with considerable confidence, and +assigned several good reasons in support of his +opinion.</p> + +<p>Brian reminded Austin of the two verses they +were to read; and, when the Bible was produced, +he read aloud, “God is our refuge and strength, +a very present help in trouble. Therefore will +not we fear, though the earth be removed, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +though the mountains be carried into the midst +of the sea.”</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said Austin, “we had, indeed, a narrow +escape; for if the mountains were not carried +into the sea, the rock fell almost into the river.”</p> + +<p>On the morrow, Mr. Edwards was early on his +way, to offer his best thanks, with those of Mrs. +Edwards, to the stranger who had saved the lives +of his children. He met him at the door, and +in an interview of half an hour Mr. Edwards +learned that the stranger was the son of a fur +trader; and that, after the death of his father, he +had spent several years among the Indian tribes, +resting in their wigwams, hunting with them, and +dealing in furs; but that, having met with an injury +in his dangerous calling, he had at last abandoned +that mode of life. Being fond of solitude, he had +resolved, having the means of following out his +plans, to purchase a small estate, and a few sheep; +he should then be employed in the open air, and +doubted not that opportunities would occur, +wherein he could make himself useful in the +neighbourhood. There was, also, another motive +that much influenced him in his plans. His mind +had for some time been deeply impressed with +divine things, and he yearned for that privacy +and repose, which, while it would not prevent +him from attending on God’s worship, would +allow him freely to meditate on His holy word, +which for some time had been the delight of his +heart.</p> + +<p>He told Mr. Edwards, that he had lived there +for some months, and that, on entering the wood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +the day before, close by the narrow path, he perceived +by the swaying of the oak tree and moving +of the sand-stone rock, that there was every probability +of their falling: this had induced him to +give that timely warning which had been the +means, by the blessing of God, of preserving the +young lads from their danger.</p> + +<p>Mr. Edwards perceived, by his conversation +and manners, that he was of respectable character; +and some letters both from missionaries and +ministers, addressed to the stranger, spoke loudly +in favour of his piety. After offering him his +best thanks, in a warm-hearted manner, and expressing +freely the pleasure it would give him, if +he could in any way act a neighbourly part in +adding to his comfort, Mr. Edwards inquired if +his children might be permitted to call at the +house, to inspect the many curiosities that were +there. This being readily assented to, Mr. Edwards +took his departure with a very favourable +impression of his new neighbour, with whom he +had so unexpectedly been made acquainted.</p> + +<p>Austin and Brian were, with some impatience, +awaiting their father’s return, and when they +knew that the stranger who had saved their lives +had actually passed years among the Indians, on +the prairies and in the woods: that he had slept +in their wigwams; hunted beavers, bears, and +buffaloes with them; shared in their games; +heard their wild war-whoop, and witnessed their +battles, their delight was unbounded. Austin +took large credit for his penetration in discovering +that their new friend was not a common shepherd,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +and signified his intention of becoming thoroughly +informed of all the manners and customs of the +North American Indians.</p> + +<p>Nothing could have been more agreeable to +the young people than this unlooked-for addition +to their enjoyment. They had heard of the +Esquimaux, of Negroes, Malays, New Zealanders, +Chinese, Turks, and Tartars; but very little of +the North American Indians. It was generally +agreed, as leave had been given them to call at +the stranger’s, that the sooner they did it the better. +Little Basil was to be of the party; and it would +be a difficult thing to decide which of the three +brothers looked forward to the proposed interview +with the greatest pleasure.</p> + +<p>Austin, Brian, and Basil, had at different times +found abundant amusement in reading of parrots, +humming birds, and cocoa nuts; lions, tigers, +leopards, elephants, and the horned rhinoceros; +monkeys, raccoons, opossums, and sloths; mosquitoes, +lizards, snakes, and scaly crocodiles; but +these were nothing in their estimation, compared +with an account of Indians, bears, and buffaloes, +from the mouth of one who had actually lived +among them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 2em"> +<img src="images/illo015.jpg" width="400" height="314" alt="Indian Scenery." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Indian Scenery.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Austin Edwards</span> was too ardent in his pursuits +not to make the intended visit to the cottage +near the wood the continued theme of his conversation +with his brothers through the remainder of +the day; and, when he retired to rest, in his +dreams he was either wandering through the +forest defenceless, having lost his tomahawk, or +flying over the prairie on the back of a buffalo, +amid the yelling of a thousand Indians.</p> + +<p>The sun was bright in the skies when the three +brothers set out on their anticipated excursion. +Austin was loud in praise of their kind preserver, +but he could not at all understand how any one, +who had been a hunter of bears and buffaloes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +could quietly settle down to lead the life of a +farmer; for his part, he would have remained a +hunter for ever. Brian thought the hunter had +acted a wise part in coming away from so many +dangers; and little Basil, not being quite able to +decide which of his two brothers was right, remained +silent.</p> + +<p>As the two elder brothers wished to show Basil +the place where they stood when the oak tree and +the red sand-stone rock fell over the precipice +with a crash; and as Basil was equally desirous +to visit the spot, they went up to it. Austin +helped his little brother over the broken fragments +which still lay scattered over the narrow path. +It was a sight that would have impressed the +mind of any one; and Brian looked up with awe +to the remaining part of the rifted rock, above +which the fallen oak tree had stood. Austin +was very eloquent in his description of the sudden +voice of the stranger, of the roaring wind as it +rushed through the wood, and of the crashing tree +and falling rock. Basil showed great astonishment; +and they all descended from the commanding +height, full of the fearful adventure of the +preceding day.</p> + +<p>When they were come within sight of the wood, +Brian cried out that he could see the shepherd’s +cottage; but Austin told him that he ought not to +call the cottager a shepherd, but a hunter. It was +true that he had a flock of sheep, but he kept them +more to employ his time than to get a living by +them. For many years he had lived among the +Indians, and hunted buffaloes with them; he was,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +therefore, to all intents and purposes, a buffalo +hunter, and ought not to be called a shepherd. +This important point being settled—Brian and +Basil having agreed to call him, in future, a hunter, +and not a shepherd—they walked on hastily to the +cottage.</p> + +<p>In five minutes after, the hunter was showing +and explaining to his delighted young visitors the +Indian curiosities which hung around the walls +of his cottage, together with others which he kept +with greater care. These latter were principally +calumets, or peace-pipes; mocassins, or Indian +shoes; war-eagle dresses, mantles, necklaces, +shields, belts, pouches and war-clubs of superior +workmanship. There was also an Indian cradle, +and several rattles and musical instruments: these +altogether afforded the young people wondrous +entertainment. Austin wanted to know how the +Indians used their war-clubs; Brian inquired how +they smoked the peace-pipe; and little Basil was +quite as anxious in his questions about a rattle, +which he had taken up and was shaking to and +fro. To all these inquiries the hunter gave satisfactory +replies, with a promise to enter afterwards +on a more full explanation.</p> + +<p>In addition to these curiosities, the young people +were shown a few specimens of different +kinds of furs: as those of the beaver, ermine, +sable, martin, fiery fox, black fox, silver fox, and +squirrel. Austin wished to know all at once, +where, and in what way these fur animals were +caught; and, with this end in view, he contrived +to get the hunter into conversation on the subject.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +“I suppose,” said he, “that you know all about +beavers, and martins, and foxes, and squirrels.”</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I ought to know something about +them, having been in my time somewhat of a +<i>Voyageur</i>, a <i>Coureur des bois</i>, a <i>Trapper</i>, and a +<i>Freeman</i>; but you will hardly understand these +terms without some little explanation.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What is a Coureur des bois?</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What is a Voyageur?</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I want to know what a Trapper is.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Perhaps it will be better if I give +you a short account of the way in which the furs +of different animals are obtained, and then I can +explain the terms, Voyageur, Coureur des bois, +Trapper, and Freeman, as well as a few other +things which you may like to know.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes, that will be the best way.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Please not to let it be a short account, +but a long one. Begin at the very beginning, +and go on to the very end.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Well, we shall see. It has pleased +God, as we read in the first chapter of the book +of Genesis, to give man “dominion over the fish +of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over +the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every +creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” The +meaning of which is, no doubt, not that he may +cruelly abuse them, but that he may use them for +his wants and comforts, or destroy them when +they annoy and injure him. The skins of animals +have been used as clothing for thousands of years; +and furs have become so general in dresses and +ornaments, that, to obtain them, a regular trade<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +has long been carried on. In this traffic, the uncivilized +inhabitants of cold countries exchange +their furs for useful articles and comforts and +luxuries, which are only to be obtained from +warmer climes and civilized people.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> And where do furs come from?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Furs are usually obtained in cold +countries. The ermine and the sable are procured +in the northern parts of Europe and Asia; but most +of the furs in use come from the northern region +of our own country.</p> + +<p>If you look at the map of North America, you +will find that between the Atlantic and the Pacific +Oceans the space is, in its greatest breath, more +than three thousand miles; and, from north to +south, the country stretches out, to say the least +of it, a thousand miles still further. The principal +rivers of North America are the Mackenzie, +Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, and St. Lawrence. +The Mississippi is between three and four thousand +miles long. Our country abounds with lakes, +too: Ontario and Winipeg are each near two +hundred miles long; Lakes Huron and Erie are +between two and three hundred; Michigan is four +hundred, and Lake Superior nearly five hundred +miles long.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What a length for a lake! nearly five +hundred miles! Why, it is more like a sea than +a lake.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Well, over a great part of the space +that I have mentioned, furry animals abound; and +different fur companies send those in their employ +to boat up the river, to sail through the lakes, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +hunt wild animals, to trap beavers, and to trade +with the various Indian tribes which are scattered +throughout this extensive territory.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh! how I should like to hunt and +to trade with the Indians!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Better think the matter over a little +before you set off on such an expedition. Are +you ready to sail by ship, steam-boat, and canoe, +to ride on horseback, or to trudge on foot, as the +case may require; to swim across brooks and +rivers; to wade through bogs, and swamps, and +quagmires; to live for weeks on flesh, without +bread or salt to it; to lie on the cold ground; to +cook your own food; and to mend your own +jacket and mocassins? Are you ready to endure +hunger and thirst, heat and cold, rain and solitude? +Have you patience to bear the stings of tormenting +mosquitoes; and courage to defend your life +against the grizzly bear, the buffalo, and the tomahawk +of the red man, should he turn out to be +an enemy?</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> No, no, Austin. You must not think +of running into such dangers.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will now give you a short account +of the fur trade. About two hundred years ago, +or more, the French made a settlement in Canada, +and they soon found such advantage in obtaining +the furry skins of the various animals wandering +in the woods and plains around them, that, after +taking all they could themselves, they began to +trade with the Indians, the original inhabitants of +the country, who brought from great distances +skins of various kinds. In a rude camp, formed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +of the bark of trees, these red men assembled, +seated themselves in half circles, smoked their +pipes, made speeches, gave and received presents, +and traded with the French people for their skins. +The articles given in exchange to the Indian hunters, +were knives, axes, arms, kettles, blankets, +and cloth: the brighter the colour of the cloth, +the better the Indians were pleased.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I think I can see them now.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Did they smoke such pipes as we have +been looking at?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes; for almost all the pipes used by +the red men are made of red stone, dug out of +the same quarry, called pipe-stone quarry; about +which I will tell you some other time. One bad +part of this trading system was, that the French +gave the Indians but a small part of the value of +their skins; and besides this they charged their own +articles extravagantly high; and a still worse feature +in the case was, that they supplied the Indians +with spirituous liquors, and thus brought upon +them all the evils and horrors of intemperance.</p> + +<p>This system of obtaining furs was carried on +for many years, when another practice sprang up. +Such white men as had accompanied the Indians +in hunting, and made themselves acquainted with +the country, would paddle up the rivers in canoes, +with a few arms and provisions, and hunt for +themselves. They were absent sometimes for as +much as a year, or a year and a half, and then +returned with their canoes laden with rich furs. +These white men were what I called <i>Coureurs +des bois</i>, rangers of the woods.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ah! I should like to be a coureur +des bois.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Some of these coureurs des bois became +very lawless and depraved in their habits, +so that the French government enacted a law +whereby no one, on pain of death, could trade in +the interior of the country with the Indians, without +a license. Military posts were also established, +to protect the trade. In process of time, too, +fur companies were established; and men, called +<i>Voyageurs</i>, or canoe men, were employed, expressly +to attend to the canoes carrying supplies +up the rivers, or bringing back cargoes of furs.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Now we know what a <i>Voyageur</i> is.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You would hardly know me, were you +to see me dressed as a voyageur. Just think: I +should have on a striped cotton shirt, cloth trousers, +a loose coat made of a blanket, with perhaps +leathern leggins, and deer-skin mocassins; and +then I must not forget my coloured worsted belt, +my knife and tobacco pouch.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What a figure you would cut! And +yet, I dare say, such a dress is best for a +voyageur.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Most of the Canadian voyageurs were +good-humoured, light-hearted men, who always +sang a lively strain as they dipped their oars into +the waters of the lake or rolling river; but steam-boats +are now introduced, so that the voyageurs +are but few.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What a pity! I like those voyageurs.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The voyageurs, who were out for a +long period, and navigated the interior of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +country, were called <i>North-men</i>, or <i>Winterers</i>, +while the others had the name of <i>Goers and +Comers</i>. Any part of a river where they could +not row a laden canoe, on account of the rapid +stream, they called a <i>Décharge</i>; and there the +goods were taken from the boats, and carried on +their shoulders, while others towed the canoes up +the stream: but a fall of water, where they were +obliged not only to carry the goods, but also to +drag the canoes on land up to the higher level, +they called a <i>Portage</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> We shall not forget the North-men, +and Comers and Goers, nor the Décharges and +Portages.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> You have not told us what a Trapper is.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A <i>Trapper</i> is a beaver hunter. Those +who hunt beavers and other animals, for any of +the fur companies, are called Trappers; but such +as hunt for themselves take the name of <i>Freemen</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes, I shall remember. Please to tell +us how they hunt the beavers.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Beavers build themselves houses on +the banks of creeks or small rivers, with mud, +sticks, and stones, and afterwards cover them +over with a coat of mud, which becomes very +hard. These houses are five or six feet thick at +the top; and in one house four old beavers, and +six or eight young ones, often live together. But, +besides their houses, the beavers take care to have +a number of holes in the banks, under water, +called <i>washes</i>, into which they can run for shelter, +should their houses be attacked. It is the business +of the trappers to find out all these washes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +or holes; and this they do in winter, by knocking +against the ice, and judging by the sound whether +it is a hole. Over every hole they cut out a +piece of ice, big enough to get at the beaver. +No sooner is the beaver-house attacked, than the +animals run into their holes, the entrances of +which are directly blocked up with stakes. The +trappers then either take them through the holes +with their hands, or haul them out with hooks +fastened to the end of a pole or stick.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illo024.jpg" width="400" height="279" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But why is a beaver hunter called a +trapper? I cannot understand that.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Because beavers are caught in great +numbers in steel traps, which are set and baited +on purpose for them.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Why do they not catch them in the +summer?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The fur of the beaver is in its prime +in the winter; in the summer, it is of inferior +quality.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Do the trappers catch many beavers? +I should think there could not be very many of +them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In one year, the Hudson’s Bay Company +alone sold as many as sixty thousand beaver-skins; +and it is not a very easy matter to +take them, I can assure you.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Sixty thousand! I did not think there +were so many beavers in the world.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will tell you an anecdote, by which +you will see that hunters and trappers have need +to be men of courage and activity. A trapper, of +the name of Cannon, had just had the good fortune +to kill a buffalo; and, as he was at a considerable +distance from his camp, he cut out the +tongue and some of the choice bits, made them +into a parcel, and slinging them on his shoulders +by a strap passed round his forehead, as the +voyageurs carry packages of goods, set out on +his way to the camp. In passing through a narrow +ravine, he heard a noise behind him, and +looking round, beheld, to his dismay, a grizzly +bear in full pursuit, apparently attracted by the +scent of the meat. Cannon had heard so much +of the strength and ferocity of this fierce animal, +that he never attempted to fire, but slipping the +strap from his forehead, let go the buffalo meat, +and ran for his life. The bear did not stop to regale +himself with the game, but kept on after the +hunter. He had nearly overtaken him, when +Cannon reached a tree, and throwing down his +rifle, climbed up into it. The next instant Bruin +was at the foot of the tree, but as this species of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +bear does not climb, he contented himself with +turning the chase into a blockade. Night came +on. In the darkness, Cannon could not perceive +whether or not the enemy maintained his station; +but his fears pictured him rigorously mounting +guard. He passed the night, therefore, in the +tree, a prey to dismal fancies. In the morning +the bear was gone. Cannon warily descended +the tree, picked up his gun, and made the best +of his way back to the camp, without venturing +to look after his buffalo-meat.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Then the grizzly bear did not hurt +him, after all.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I would not go among those grizzly +bears for all in the world.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Do the hunters take deer as well as +other animals?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Deer, though their skins are not so +valuable as many furs, are very useful to hunters +and trappers; for they not only add to their stock +of peltries, but also supply them with food. +When skins have been tanned on the inside, they +are called <i>furs</i>; but, before they are tanned, +they are called <i>peltries</i>. Deer are trapped much +in the same way as buffaloes are. A large circle +is enclosed with twisted trees and brushwood, +with a very narrow opening, in the neighbourhood +of a well-frequented deer path. The inside of +the circle is crowded with small hedges, in the +openings of which are set snares of twisted +thongs, made fast at one end to a neighbouring +tree. Two lines of small trees are set up, branching +off outwardly from the narrow entrance of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +circle; so that the further the lines of trees extend +from the circle, the wider is the space between +them. As soon as the deer are seen moving in +the direction of the circle, the hunters get behind +them, and urge them on by loud shouts. The +deer, mistaking the lines of trees set up for enemies, +fly straight forward, till they enter the snare +prepared for them. The circle is then surrounded, +to prevent their quitting it, while some of the +hunters go into it, blocking up the entrance, and +kill the deer with their bows and arrows, and +their spears.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I am sorry for the poor deer.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And so am I, Basil.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Hunters are often obliged to leave food +in particular places, in case they should be destitute +on their return that way. They sometimes, +too, leave property behind them, and for this purpose +they form a <i>cache</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What is a <i>cache</i>?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A <i>cache</i> is a hole, or place of concealment; +and when any thing is put in it, great care +is required to conceal it from enemies, and indeed +from wild animals, such as wolves and bears.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well! but if they dig a deep hole, and +put the things in it, how could anybody find it? +A wolf and a bear would never find it out.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Perhaps not; unless they should +smell it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay! I forgot that. I must understand +a little more of my business before I set up for a +hunter, or a trapper; but please to tell us all +about a cache.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A cache is usually dug near a stream, +that the earth taken out of the hole may be thrown +into the running water, otherwise it would tell +tales. Then the hunters spread blankets, or what +clothes they have, over the surrounding ground, +to prevent the marks of their feet being seen. +When they have dug the hole they line it with +dry grass, and sticks, and bark, and sometimes +with a dry skin. After the things to be hidden +are put in, they are covered with another dry +skin, and the hole is filled up with grass, stones, +and sticks, and trodden down hard, to prevent the +top from sinking afterwards: the place is sprinkled +with water to take away the scent; and the turf, +which was first cut away, before the hole was dug, +is laid down with care, just as it was before it +was touched. They then take up their blankets +and clothes, and leave the cache, putting a mark +at some distance, that when they come again they +may know where to find it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Capital! I could make a cache now, +that neither bear, nor wolf, nor Indian could find.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> But if the bear did not find the cache, +he might find you; and then what would become +of you?</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why I would climb a tree, as Cannon +did.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Most of the furs that are taken find their +way to London; but every year the animals which +produce them become fewer. Besides the skins of +larger animals, the furs of a great number of +smaller creatures are valuable; and these, varying +in their habits, require to be taken in a different<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +manner. The bison is found on the prairies, or +plains; the beaver, on creeks and rivers; the +badger, the fox, and the rabbit, burrow in the +ground; and the bear, the deer, the mink, the +martin, the raccoon, the lynx, the hare, the musk-rat, +the squirrel, and ermine, are all to be found +in the woods. In paddling up the rivers in +canoes, and in roaming through the woods and +prairies, in search of these animals, I have mingled +much with Indians of different tribes; and if you +can, now and then, make a call on me, you will +perhaps be entertained in hearing what I can tell +you about them. The Indians should be regarded +by us as brothers. We ought to feel interested in +their welfare here, and in their happiness hereafter. +The fact that we are living on lands once +the residence of these roaming tribes, and that they +have been driven far into the wilderness to make +room for us, should lead us not only to feel sympathy +for the poor Indians, but to make decided +efforts for their improvement. Our missionary +societies are aiming at this great object, but far +greater efforts are necessary. We have the word +of God, and Christian Sabbaths, and Christian +ministers, and religious ordinances, in abundance, +to direct and comfort us; but they are but scantily +supplied with these advantages. Let us not forget +to ask in our prayers, that the Father of +mercies may make known his mercy to them, +opening their eyes, and influencing their hearts, +so that they may become true servants of the +Lord Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>The delight visible in the sparkling eyes of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +young people, as they took their leave, spoke +their thanks. On their way home, they talked +of nothing else but fur companies, lakes, rivers, +prairies, and rocky mountains; buffaloes, wolves, +bears, and beavers; and it was quite as much as +Brian and Basil could do, to persuade their brother +Austin from making up his mind at once to be a +voyageur, a coureur des bois, or a trapper. The +more they were against it, so much the more his +heart seemed set upon the enterprise; and the +wilder they made the buffaloes that would attack +him, and the bears and wolves that would tear +him to pieces, the bolder and more courageous +he became. However, though on this point they +could not agree, they were all unanimous in their +determination to make another visit the first opportunity.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 149px;"> +<img src="images/illo030.jpg" width="149" height="200" alt="Indian Cloak." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Indian Cloak.</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo031.jpg" width="400" height="301" alt="Chiefs of different Tribes." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Chiefs of different Tribes.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> next time the three brothers did not go +to the red sand-stone rock, but the adventure +which took place there formed a part of their conversation. +They found the hunter at home, and, +feeling now on very friendly and familiar terms +with him, they entered at once on the subject +that was nearest their hearts. “Tell us, if you +please,” said Austin, as soon as they were seated, +“about the very beginning of the red men.”</p> + +<p>“You are asking me to do that,” replied the +hunter, “which is much more difficult than you +suppose. To account for the existence of the +original inhabitants, and of the various tribes +of Indians which are now scattered throughout +the whole of North America, has puzzled the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +heads of the wisest men for ages; and, even at the +present day, though travellers have endeavoured +to throw light on this subject, it still remains a +mystery.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But what is it that is so mysterious? +What is it that wise men and travellers cannot +make out?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They cannot make out how it is, that the +whole of America—taking in, as it does, some parts +which are almost always covered with snow, and +other parts that are as hot as the sun can make them—should +be peopled with a class of human beings +distinct from all others in the world—red men, +who have black hair, and no beards. If you remember, +it is said, in the first chapter of Genesis, +“So God created man in his own image, in the +image of God created he him; male and female +created he them.” And, in the second chapter, +“And the Lord God planted a garden eastward +in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had +formed.” Now, it is known, by the names +of the rivers which are mentioned in the chapter, +that the garden of Eden was in Asia; so that you +see our first parents, whence the whole of mankind +have sprung, dwelt in Asia.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes, that is quite plain.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Well, then, you recollect, I dare say, +that when the world was drowned, all mankind +were destroyed, except Noah and his family in +the ark.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes; we recollect that very well.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> And when the ark rested, it rested on +Mount Ararat, which is in Asia also. If you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +look on the map of the world, you will see that +the three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa, +are united together; but America stands by itself, +with an ocean rolling on each side of it, +thousands of miles broad. It is easy to suppose +that mankind would spread over the continents +that are close together, but difficult to account for +their passing over the ocean, at a time when the +arts of ship-building and navigation were so little +understood.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> They must have gone in a ship, that +is certain.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> But suppose they did, how came it +about that they should be so very different from +all other men? America was only discovered +about four hundred years ago, and then it was well +peopled with red men. Besides, there have been +discovered throughout our country, monuments, +ruins, and sites of ancient towns, with thousands +of enclosures and fortifications. Articles, too, of +pottery, sculpture, glass, and copper, have been +found at times, sixty or eighty feet under the +ground, and, in some instances, with forests +growing over them, so that they must have been +very ancient. The people who built these fortifications +and towers, and possessed these articles +in pottery, sculpture, glass, and copper, lived at +a remote period, and must have been, to a considerable +degree, cultivated. Who these people +were, and how they came to America, no one +knows, though many have expressed their opinions. +But, even if we did know who they +were, how could we account for the present race<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +of Indians in North America being barbarous, +when their ancestors were so highly civilized? +These are difficulties which, as I said, have puzzled +the wisest heads for ages.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What do wise men and travellers say +about these things?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Some think, that as the frozen regions +of Asia, in one part, are so near the frozen regions +of North America—it being only about forty miles +across Behring’s Straits—some persons from Asia +might have crossed over there, and peopled the +country; or that North America might have once +been joined to Asia, though it is not so now; or +that, in ancient times, some persons might have +drifted, or been blown there by accident, in boats +or ships, across the wide ocean. Some think +these people might have been Phenicians, Carthagenians, +Hebrews, or Egyptians; while another +class of reasoners suppose them to have been +Hindoos, Chinese, Tartars, Malays, or others. It +seems, however, to be God’s will often to humble +the pride of his creatures, by baffling their conjectures, +and hedging up their opinions with +difficulties. His way is in the sea, and his path +in the great waters, and his footsteps are not +known. He “maketh the earth empty, and +maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and +scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well, if you cannot tell us of the +Indians in former times, you can tell us of the +Indians that there are, for that will be a great +deal better.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes, that it will.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You must bear in mind, that some +years have passed since I was hunting and trapping +in the woods and prairies, and that many +changes have taken place since then among the +Indians. Some have been tomahawked by the +hands of the stronger tribes; some have given up +their lands to the whites, and retired to the west +of the Mississippi; and thousands have been carried +off by disease, which has made sad havoc +among them. I must, therefore, speak of them +as they were. Some of the tribes, since I left +them, have been utterly destroyed; not one living +creature among them being left to speak of those +who have gone before them.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What a pity! They want some good +doctors among them, and then diseases would not +carry them off in that way.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will not pretend to give you an exact +account of the number of the different tribes, or +the particular places they now occupy; for though +my information may be generally right, yet the +changes which have taken place are many.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Please to tell us what you remember, +and what you know; and that will quite satisfy us.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A traveller<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> among the Indian tribes +has published a book called “Letters and Notes +on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the +North American Indians;” and a most interesting +and entertaining account it is. If ever you can +lay hold of it, it will afford you great amusement. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>Perhaps no man who has written on the Indians +has seen so much of them as he has.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Mr. Catlin</p></div> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Did you ever meet Catlin?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> O yes, many times; and a most agreeable +companion I found him. He has lectured +in most of our cities, and shown the beautiful +collection of Indian dresses and curiosities collected +during his visits to the remotest tribes. +If you can get a sight of his book, you will soon +see that he is a man of much knowledge, and +possessing great courage, energy, and perseverance. +I will now, then, begin my narrative; +and if you can find pleasure in hearing a description +of the Indians, with their villages, wigwams, +war-whoops, and warriors; their manners, customs, +and superstitions; their dress, ornaments, and +arms; their mysteries, games, huntings, dances, +war-councils, speeches, battles, and burials; with +a fair sprinkling of prairie dogs, and wild horses; +wolves, beavers, grizzly bears, and mad buffaloes; +I will do my best to give you gratification.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> These are the very things that we want +to know.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I shall not forget to tell you what the +missionaries have done among the Indians; but +that must be towards the latter end of my account. +Let me first show you a complete table of the +number and names of the tribes. It is in the Report +made to Congress by the Commissioners of +Indian Affairs for 1843-4.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em"><i>Statement showing the number of each tribe of Indians, whether natives of, or emigrants +to, the country west of the Mississippi, with items of emigration and subsistence.</i></p> + +<table summary="Indian tribes" class="tribes" cellpadding="4"> +<tr><td class="table_header">Names of tribes.</td> +<td class="table_header">Number of each tribe indigenous to the country west of the Mississippi.</td> +<td class="table_header">Number removed of each tribe wholly or partially removed.</td> +<td class="table_header">Present western population of each tribe wholly or partially removed.</td> +<td class="table_header">Number remaining east of each tribe.</td> +<td class="table_header">Number removed since date of last annual report.</td> +<td class="table_header">Number of each now under subsistence west.</td> +<td class="table_header">Daily expense of subsisting them.</td></tr> +<tr><td style="padding-right: 2em">Chippewas, Ottowas, and Pottawatomies, and Pottawatomies of Indiana</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">5,779</td><td class="tabright">2,298</td><td class="tabright">92<a name="FNanchor_A_2" id="FNanchor_A_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_2" class="fnanchor">[a]</a></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Creeks</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">24,594</td><td class="tabright">24,594</td><td class="tabright">744</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Choctaws</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">15,177</td><td class="tabright">15,177</td><td class="tabright">3,323</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Minatarees</td><td class="tabright">2,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Florida Indians</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">3,824</td><td class="tabright">3,824</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">212</td><td class="tabright">212</td><td class="tabright">$7 68½</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pagans</td><td class="tabright">30,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Cherokees</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">25,911</td><td class="tabright">25,911</td><td class="tabright">1,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Assinaboins</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">7,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Swan Creek and Black River Chippewas</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">62</td><td class="tabright">62</td><td class="tabright">113</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Appachees</td><td class="tabright">20,280</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Crees</td><td class="tabright">800</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ottowas and Chippewas, together with Chippewas of Michigan</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">7,055</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Arrapahas</td><td class="tabright">2,500</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>New York Indians</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">3,293</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Gros Ventres</td><td class="tabright">3,300</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Chickasaws</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">4,930</td><td class="tabright">4,930</td> +<td class="tabright">80<a name="FNanchor_B_3" id="FNanchor_B_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_3" class="fnanchor">[b]</a></td> +<td class="tabright">288<a name="FNanchor_C_4" id="FNanchor_C_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_4" class="fnanchor">[c]</a></td> +<td class="tabright">198<a name="FNanchor_D_5" id="FNanchor_D_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_5" class="fnanchor">[d]</a></td> +<td class="tabright">9 40½</td></tr> +<tr><td>Eutaws</td><td class="tabright">19,200</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Stockbridges and Munsees, and Delawares and Munsees</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">180</td><td class="tabright">278</td><td class="tabright">320</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Sioux</td><td class="tabright">25,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Quapaws</td><td class="tabright">476</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Iowas</td><td class="tabright">470</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Kickapoos</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">588</td><td class="tabright">505</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Sacs and Foxes of Mississippi</td> +<td class="tabright">2,348<a name="FNanchor_E_6" id="FNanchor_E_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_6" class="fnanchor">[e]</a></td> +<td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Delawares</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">826</td><td class="tabright">1,059</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Shawnees</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">1,272</td><td class="tabright">887</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Sacs of Missouri</td><td class="tabright">414<a href="#Footnote_E_6" class="fnanchor">[e]</a></td> +<td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Weas</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">225</td><td class="tabright">176</td><td class="tabright">30</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Osages</td><td class="tabright">4,102</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Piankeshaws</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">162</td><td class="tabright">98</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Kanzas</td><td class="tabright">1,588</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Peorias and Kaskaskias</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">132</td><td class="tabright">150</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Omahas</td><td class="tabright">1,600</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Senecas from Sandusky</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">251</td><td class="tabright">251</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Otoes and Missourias</td><td class="tabright">931</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Senecas and Shawnees</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">211</td><td class="tabright">211</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Pawnees</td><td class="tabright">12,500</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Winnebagoes</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">4,500</td><td class="tabright">2,183</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Camanches</td><td class="tabright">19,200</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Kiowas</td><td class="tabright">1,800</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Mandans</td><td class="tabright">300</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Crows</td><td class="tabright">4,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Wyandots of Ohio</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">664</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td> +<td class="tabright">50<a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_G_7" class="fnanchor">[g]</a></td> +<td class="tabright">664</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Poncas</td><td class="tabright">800</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Miamies</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">661</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Arickarees</td><td class="tabright">1,200</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Menomonies</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">2,464</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Cheyenes</td><td class="tabright">2,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Chippewas of the Lakes</td> +<td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">2,564</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Blackfeet</td><td class="tabright">1,300</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Caddoes</td><td class="tabright">2,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Snakes</td><td class="tabright">1,000</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Flatheads</td><td class="tabright">800</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Oneidas of Green Bay</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">675</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Stockbridges of Green Bay</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">207</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Wyandots of Michigan</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">75</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Pottawatomies of Huron</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabcenter">—</td><td class="tabright">100</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr style="border: solid black 1px"><td> </td><td class="tabright">168,909</td><td class="tabright">89,288</td><td class="tabright">83,594</td> +<td class="tabright">22,846</td><td class="tabright">1,164</td><td class="tabright">410</td><td class="tabright">17 09</td></tr> +</table> + + +<h3>NOTES.</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_2" id="Footnote_A_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_2"><span class="label">[a]</span></a> These 92 are Ottowas of Maumee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_3" id="Footnote_B_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_3"><span class="label">[b]</span></a> This, as far as appears from any data in the office; but, in point of fact, there are most probably no, or very few, Chickasaws remaining east.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_4" id="Footnote_C_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_4"><span class="label">[c]</span></a> In this number is included a party, assumed to be 100, who clandestinely removed themselves; but they are withheld from the next column, because, it is +not yet known what arrangement has been made for their subsistence, though instructions on that subject have been addressed to the Choctaw agent.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_D_5" id="Footnote_D_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_5"><span class="label">[d]</span></a> Ten of these emigrated as far back as January, 1842; but, as the number was so small, the arrangements for their subsistence were postponed until they +could be included in some larger party, such as that which subsequently arrived.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E_6" id="Footnote_E_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_E_6"><span class="label">[e]</span></a> These Indians do not properly belong to this column, but are so disposed of because the table is without an exactly appropriate place for them. Originally, +their haunts extended east of the river, and some of their possessions on this side are among the cessions by our Indians to the Government, but their +tribes have ever since been gradually moving westward.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_G_7" id="Footnote_G_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_G_7"><span class="label">[g]</span></a> This number is conjectural, but cannot be far from the truth, as Mr. McElvaine, the sub-agent, states that but 8 or 10 families still remain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p></div> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> And now, place before you a map of +North America. See how it stretches out north +and south from Baffin’s Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, +and east and west from the Atlantic to the +Pacific Ocean. What a wonderful work of the +Almighty is the rolling deep! “The sea is His, +and he made it: and his hands formed the dry +land.” Here are the great Lakes Superior, Michigan, +Huron, Erie, and Ontario; and here run the +mighty rivers, the Mississippi, the Missouri, the +Ohio, and the St. Lawrence: the Mississippi +itself is between three and four thousand miles +long.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What a river! Please to tell us what +are all those little hills running along there, one +above another, from top to bottom.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They are the Rocky Mountains. Some +regard them as a continuation of the Andes of +South America; so that, if both are put together, +they will make a chain of mountains little short +of nine thousand miles long. North America, +with its mighty lakes, rivers, and mountains, its +extended valleys and prairies, its bluffs, caverns, +and cataracts, and, more than all, its Indian inhabitants, +beavers, buffaloes, and bisons, will +afford us something to talk of for some time to +come; but the moment you are tired of my account, +we will stop.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> We shall never be tired; no, not if +you go on telling us something every time we +come, for a whole year. But do tell us, how did +these tribes behave to you, when you were among +them?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I have not a word of complaint to +make. The Indians have been represented as +treacherous, dishonest, reserved, and sour in their +disposition; but, instead of this, I have found +them generally, though not in all cases, frank, upright, +hospitable, light-hearted, and friendly. +Those who have seen Indians smarting under +wrongs, and deprived, by deceit and force, of +their lands, hunting-grounds, and the graves of +their fathers, may have found them otherwise: +and no wonder; the worm that is trodden on will +writhe; and man, unrestrained by Divine grace, +when treated with injustice and cruelty, will turn +on his oppressor.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Say what you will, I like the Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> That there is much of evil among +Indians is certain; much of ignorance, unrestrained +passions, cruelty, and revenge: but they have +been misrepresented in many things. I had better +tell you the names of some of the chiefs of the +tribes, or of some of the most remarkable men +among them.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes; you cannot do better. Tell us +the names of all the chiefs, and the warriors, and +the conjurors, and all about them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Blackfeet Indians are a very warlike +people; <i>Stu-mick-o-súcks</i> was the name of +their chief.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Stu-mick-o-súcks! What a name! Is +there any meaning in it?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> O yes. It means, “the back fat of +the buffalo;” and if you had seen him and <i>Peh-tó-pe-kiss</i>, +“the ribs of the eagle,” another chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +dressed up in their splendid mantles, buffaloes’ +horns, ermine tails, and scalp-locks, you would +not soon have turned your eyes from them.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Who would ever be called by such a +name as that? The back fat of the buffalo!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Camanchees are famous on horseback. +There is no tribe among the Indians that +can come up to them, to my mind, in the management +of a horse, and the use of the lance: they +are capital hunters. The name of their chief is +<i>Eé-shah-kó-nee</i>, or “the bow and quiver.” I +hardly ever saw a larger man among the Indians +than <i>Ta-wáh-que-nah</i>, the second chief in power. +Ta-wáh-que-nah means “the mountain of rocks,” +a very fit name for a huge Indian living near the +Rocky Mountains. When I saw <i>Kots-o-kó-ro-kó</i>, +or “the hair of the bull’s neck,” (who is, if I remember +right, the third chief,) he had a gun in +his right hand, and his warlike shield on his left +arm.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> If I go among the Indians, I shall +stay a long time with the Camanchees; and then +I shall, perhaps, become one of the most skilful +horsemen, and one of the best hunters in the +world.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And suppose you get thrown off your +horse, or killed in hunting buffaloes, what shall +you say to it then?</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh, very little, if I get killed; but +no fear of that. I shall mind what I am about. +Tell us who is the head of the Sioux?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When I was at the upper waters of +the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, <i>Ha-wón-je-tah</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +or “the one horn,” was chief; but since then, +being out among the buffaloes, a buffalo bull attacked +and killed him.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> There, Austin! If an Indian chief was +killed by a buffalo, what should <i>you</i> do among +them? Why they would toss you over their +heads like a shuttlecock.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> <i>Wee-tá-ra-sha-ro</i>, the head chief of +the Pawnee Picts, is dead now, I dare say; for +he was a very old, as well as a very venerable +looking man. Many a buffalo hunt with the Camanchees +had he in his day, and many a time did +he go forth with them in their war-parties. He +had a celebrated brave of the name of <i>Ah′-sho-cole</i>, +or “rotten foot,” and another called <i>Ah′-re-kah-na-có-chee</i>, +“the mad elk.” Indians give the +name of <i>brave</i> to a warrior who has distinguished +himself by feats of valour, such as admit him to +their rank.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I wonder that they should choose +such long names. It must be a hard matter to remember +them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There were many famous men among +the Sacs. <i>Kee-o-kuk</i> was the chief. Kee-o-kuk +means “the running fox.” One of his boldest +braves was <i>Má-ka-tai-me-she-kiá-kiák</i>, “the +black hawk.” The history of this renowned +warrior is very curious. It was taken down from +his own lips, and has been published. If you +should like to listen to the adventures of Black +Hawk, I will relate them to you some day, when +you have time to hear them, as well as those of +young Nik-ka-no-chee, a Seminole.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> We will not forget to remind you of +your promise. It will be capital to listen to these +histories.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When I saw <i>Wa-sáw-me-saw</i>, or “the +roaring thunder,” the youngest son of Black +Hawk, he was in captivity. <i>Náh-se-ús-kuk</i>, “the +whirling thunder,” his eldest son, was a fine looking +man, beautifully formed, with a spirit like that +of a lion. There was a war called The Black +Hawk war, and Black Hawk was the leader and +conductor of it; and one of his most famous warriors +was <i>Wah-pe-kée-suck</i>, or “white cloud;” he +was, however, as often called The Prophet as the +White Cloud. <i>Pam-a-hó</i>, “the swimmer;” <i>Wah-pa-ko-lás-kak</i>, +“the track of the bear;” and <i>Pash-ce-pa-hó</i>, +“the little stabbing chief;” were, I think, +all three of them warriors of Black Hawk.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> The Little Stabbing Chief! He must +be a very dangerous fellow to go near, if we may +judge by his name: keep away from him, Austin, +if you go to the Sacs.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh! he would never think of stabbing +me. I should behave well to all the tribes, +and then I dare say they would all of them behave +well to me. You have not said any thing of +the Crow Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I forget who was at the head of the +Crows, though I well remember several of the +warriors among them. They were tall, well-proportioned, +and dressed with a great deal of taste +and care. <i>Pa-ris-ka-roó-pa</i>, called “the two +crows,” had a head of hair that swept the ground +after him as he walked along.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What do you think of that, Basil? +No doubt the Crows are fine fellows. Please to +mention two or three more.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Let me see; there was <i>Eé-heé-a-duck-chée-a</i>, +or “he who binds his hair before;” and +<i>Hó-ra-to-ah</i>, “a warrior;” and <i>Chah-ee-chópes</i>, +“the four wolves;” the hair of these was as long +as that of Pa-ris-ka-roó-pa. Though they were +very tall, Eé-heé-a-duck-chée-a being at least six +feet high, the hair of each of them reached and +rested on the ground.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> When I go among the Indians, the +Crows shall not be forgotten by me. I shall have +plenty to tell you of, Brian, when I come back.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes, if you ever do come back; but +what with the sea, and the rivers, and the swamps, +and the bears, and the buffaloes, you are sure to +get killed. You will never tell us about the +Crows, or about any thing else.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There was one of the Crows called +The Red Bear, or <i>Duhk-pits-o-hó-shee</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Duhk-pitch a—Duck pits—I cannot +pronounce the word—why that is worse to speak +than any.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Hear me pronounce it then: <i>Duhk-pits-o-hoot-shee</i>. +No; that is not quite right, but very +near it.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> You must not go among the Crows yet, +Austin; you cannot talk well enough.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Oh, there are much harder names +among some of the tribes than those I have mentioned; +for instance there is <i>Aú-nah-kwet-to-hau-páy-o</i>, +“the one sitting in the clouds;” and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +<i>Eh-tohk-pay-she-peé-shah</i>, “the black mocassin;” +and <i>Kay-ée-qua-da-kúm-ée-gish-kum</i>, “he who +tries the ground with his foot;” and <i>Mah-to-rah-rish-nee-éeh-ée-rah</i>, “the grizzly bear that runs +without fear.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Why these names are as long as from +here to yonder. Set to work, Austin! set to work! +For, if there are many such names as these +among the Indians, you will have enough to do +without going to a buffalo hunt.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I never dreamed that there were such +names as those in the world.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Ay, you will have enough of them, +Austin, if you go abroad. You will never be +able to learn them, do what you will. Give it +up, Austin; give it up at once.</p> + +<p>Though Brian and Basil were very hard on +Austin on their way home, about the long names +of the Indians, and the impossibility of his ever +being able to learn them by heart, Austin defended +himself stoutly. “Very likely,” said he, “after +all, they call these long names very short, just as +we do; Nat for Nathaniel, Kit for Christopher, +and Elic for Alexander.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 2em"> +<img src="images/illo048.jpg" width="400" height="310" alt="Wigwams." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Wigwams.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was not long before Austin, Brian, and +Basil were again listening to the interesting accounts +given by their friend, the hunter; and it +would have been a difficult point to decide whether +the listeners or the narrator derived most pleasure +from their occupation. Austin began without +delay to speak of the aborigines of North America.</p> + +<p>“We want to know,” said he, “a little more +about what these people were, and when they +were first found out.”</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When America was first discovered, +the inhabitants, though for the most part partaking +of one general character, were not without variety. +The greater part, as I told you, were, both in hot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +and cold latitudes, red men with black hair, and +without beards. They, perhaps, might have been +divided into four parts: the Mexicans and Peruvians, +who were, to a considerable extent, civilized; +the Caribs, who inhabited the fertile soil +and luxuriant clime of the West Indies; the Esquimaux, +who were then just the same people as +they are now, living in the same manner by +fishing; and the Red Men, or North American +Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Then the Esquimaux are not Red +Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No; they are more like the people +who live in Lapland, and in the North of Asia; +and for this reason, and because the distance +across Behring’s Straits is so short, it is thought +they came from Asia, and are a part of the same +people. The red men are, however, different; +and as we agreed that I should tell you about the +present race of them, perhaps I may as well proceed.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes. Please to tell us first of their +wigwams, and their villages, and how they live.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And what they eat, and what clothes +they wear.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And how they talk to one another.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes; and all about their spears and +tomahawks.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The wigwams of the Indians are of +different kinds: some are extremely simple, being +formed of high sticks or poles, covered with turf +or the bark of trees; while others are very handsome. +The Sioux, the Blackfeet, and the Crows,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +form their wigwams nearly in the same manner; +that is, by sewing together the skins of buffaloes, +after properly dressing them, and making them +into the form of a tent. This covering is then +supported by poles. The tent has a hole at the +top, to let out the smoke, and to let in the light.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay, that is a better way of making a +wigwam than covering over sticks with turf.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The wigwams, or lodges, of the Mandans +are round. A circular foundation is dug +about two feet deep; timbers six feet high are set +up all around it, and on these are placed other +long timbers, slanting inwards, and fastened together +in the middle, like a tent, leaving space for +light and for the smoke to pass. This tent-like roof +is supported by beams and upright posts, and it is +covered over outwardly by willow boughs and a +thick coating of earth; then comes the last covering +of hard tough clay. The sun bakes this, and +long use makes it solid. The outside of a Mandan +lodge is almost as useful as the inside; for there +the people sit, stand, walk, and take the air. +These lodges are forty, fifty, or sixty feet wide.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> The Mandan wigwam is the best of all.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Wigwams, like those of the Mandans, +which are always in the same place, and are not +intended to be removed, are more substantial than +such as may be erected and taken down at pleasure. +Some of the wigwams of the Crow Indians, +covered as they are with skins dressed almost +white, and ornamented with paint, porcupine +quills and scalp-locks, are very beautiful.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes; they must look even better than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +the Mandan lodges, and they can be taken down +and carried away.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It would surprise you to witness the +manner in which an encampment of Crows or +Sioux strike their tents or wigwams. I have seen +several hundred lodges all standing; in two or +three minutes after, all were flat upon the prairie.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why, it must be like magic.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The time has been fixed, preparations +made, the signal given, and all at once the poles +and skin coverings have been taken down.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How do they carry the wigwams away +with them?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The poles are dragged along by horses +and by dogs; the smaller ends being fastened +over their shoulders, while on the larger ends, +dragging along the ground, are placed the coverings, +rolled up together. The dogs pull along +two poles, each with a load, while the horses are +taxed according to their strength. Hundreds of +horses and dogs, thus dragging their burdens, +may be seen slowly moving over the prairie with +attendant Indians on horseback, and women and +girls on foot heavily laden.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What a sight! and to what length they +must stretch out; such a number of them!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Some of their villages are large, and +fortified with two rows of high poles round them. +A Pawnee Pict village on the Red River, with its +five or six hundred beehive-like wigwams of +poles, thatched with prairie grass, much pleased +me. Round the village there were fields of maize, +melons and pumpkins growing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Indians hunt, fish, and some of them raise +corn for food; but the flesh of the buffalo is what +they most depend upon.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How do the Indians cook their food?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They broil or roast meat and fish, by +laying it on the fire, or on sticks raised above the +fire. They boil meat, also, making of it a sort +of soup. I have often seated myself, squatting +down on a robe spread for me, to a fine joint of +buffalo ribs, admirably roasted; with, perhaps, a +pudding-like paste of the prairie turnip, flavoured +with buffalo berries.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> That is a great deal like an English +dinner—roast beef and a pudding.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Indians eat a great deal of green +corn, pemican, and marrow fat. The pemican is +buffalo meat, dried hard, and pounded in a +wooden mortar. Marrow fat is what is boiled +out of buffalo bones; it is usually kept in bladders. +They eat, also, the flesh of the deer and +other animals: that of the dog is reserved for +feasts and especial occasions. They have, also, +beans and peas, peaches, melons and strawberries, +pears, pumpkins, chinkapins, walnuts and chestnuts. +These things they can get when settled in +their villages; but when wandering, or on their +war parties, they take up with what they can find. +They never eat salt with their food.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And what kind of clothes do they wear?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Principally skins, unless they trade +with the whites, in which case they buy clothes +of different kinds. Some wear long hair, some +cut their hair off and shave the head. Some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +dress themselves with very few ornaments, but +others have very many. Shall I describe to you +the full dress of <i>Máh-to-tóh-pa</i>, “the four bears.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh, yes; every thing belonging to +him.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You must imagine, then, that he is +standing up before you, while I describe him, and +that he is not a little proud of his costly attire.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I fancy that I can see him now.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> His robe was the soft skin of a young +buffalo bull. On one side was the fur; on the +other, were pictured the victories he had won. +His shirt, or tunic, was made of the skins of mountain +sheep, ornamented with porcupine quills and +paintings of his battles. From the edge of his +shoulder-band hung the long black locks that he +had taken with his own hand from his enemies. +His head-dress was of war-eagle quills, falling +down his back to his very feet; on the top of his +head stood a pair of buffalo horns, shaven thin, +and polished beautifully.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What a figure he must have made!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> His leggings were tight, decorated with +porcupine quills and scalp-locks: they were made +of the finest deer skins, and fastened to a belt round +the waist. His mocassins, or shoes, were buckskin, +embroidered in the richest manner; and his +necklace, the skin of an otter, having on it fifty +huge claws, or rather talons, of the grizzly bear.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What a desperate fellow! Bold as a +lion, I will be bound for it. Had he no weapons +about him?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Oh, yes! He held in his left hand a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +two-edged spear of polished steel, with a shaft of +tough ash, and ornamented with tufts of war-eagle +quills. His bow, beautifully white, was +formed of bone, strengthened with the sinews of +deer, drawn tight over the back of it; the bow-string +was a three-fold twist of sinews. Seldom +had its twang been heard, without an enemy or a +buffalo falling to the earth; and rarely had that +lance been urged home, without finding its way +to some victim’s heart.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes; I thought he was a bold fellow.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He had a costly shield of the hide of +a buffalo, stiffened with glue and fringed round +with eagle quills and antelope hoofs; and a quiver +of panther skin, well filled with deadly shafts. +Some of their points were flint, and some were +steel, and most of them were stained with blood. +He carried a pipe, a tobacco sack, a belt, and a +medicine bag; and in his right hand he held a +war club like a sling, being made of a round +stone wrapped up in a raw hide and fastened to a +tough stick handle.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What sort of a pipe was it?</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What was in his tobacco sack?</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You did not say what his belt was +made of.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> His pipe was made of red pipe-stone, +and it had a stem of young ash, full three feet +long, braided with porcupine quills in the shape +of animals and men. It was also ornamented +with the beaks of woodpeckers, and hairs from +the tail of the white buffalo. One thing I ought +not to omit; on the lower half of the pipe, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +was painted red, were notched the snows, or years +of his life. By this simple record of their lives, +the red men of the forest and the prairie may be +led to something like reflection.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What was in his tobacco sack?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> His flint and steel, for striking a light, +and his tobacco, which was nothing more than +the bark of the red willow. His medicine bag +was beaver skin, adorned with ermine and hawks’ +bills; and his belt, in which he carried his tomahawk +and scalping-knife, was formed of tough +buckskin, firmly fastened round his loins.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Please to tell us about the scalping +knife. It must be a fearful instrument.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> All instruments of cruelty, vengeance +and destruction are fearful, whether in savage or +civilized life. What are we, that wrath and revenge +and covetousness should be fostered in our +hearts! What is man, that he should shed the +blood of his brother! Before the Indians had dealing +with the whites, they made their own weapons: +their bows were strung with the sinews of deer; +their arrows were headed with flint; their knives +were sharpened bone; their war-clubs were formed +of wood, cut into different shapes, and armed +with sharp stones; and their tomahawks, or +hatchets, were of the same materials: but now, +many of their weapons, such as hatchets, spear-heads, +and knives, are made of iron, being procured +from the whites, in exchange for the skins +they obtain in the chase. A scalping-knife is +oftentimes no more than a rudely formed butcher’s<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +knife, with one edge, and the Indians wear them +in beautiful scabbards under their belts.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How does an Indian scalp his enemy?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The hair on the crown of the head +is seized with the left hand; the knife makes a +circle round it through the skin, and then the hair +and skin together, sometimes with the hand, and +sometimes with the teeth, are forcibly torn off! The +scalp may be, perhaps, as broad as my hand.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Terrible! Scalping would be sure to +kill a man, I suppose.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Not always. Scalps are war trophies, +and are generally regarded as proofs of the death +of an enemy; but an Indian, inflamed with hatred +and rage, and excited by victory, will not always +wait till his foe has expired before he scalps him. +The hair, as well as the scalp, of a fallen foe is +carried off by the victorious Indian, and with it +his clothes are afterwards ornamented. It is said, +that, during the old French war, an Indian slew +a Frenchman who wore a wig. The warrior +stooped down, and seized the hair for the purpose +of securing the scalp. To his great astonishment, +the wig came off, leaving the head bare. The +Indian held it up, and examining it with great +wonder, exclaimed, in broken English, “Dat one +big lie.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How the Indian would stare!</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> He had never seen a wig before, I +dare say.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The arms of Indians, offensive and +defensive, are, for the most part, those which I +have mentioned—the club, the tomahawk, the bow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +and arrow, the spear, the shield and the scalping-knife. +But the use of fire-arms is gradually extending +among them. Some of their clubs are +merely massy pieces of hard, heavy wood, nicely +fitted to the hand, with, perhaps, a piece of hard +bone stuck in the head part; others are curiously +carved into fanciful and uncouth shapes; while, +occasionally, may be seen a frightful war-club, +knobbed all over with brass nails, with a steel +blade at the end of it, a span long.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What a terrible weapon, when wielded +by a savage!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 1em"> +<img src="images/illo057.jpg" width="400" height="374" alt="a, scalping-knife. b, ditto, in sheath. c, d, war-clubs. +e, e, tomahawks. g, whip." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>a</i>, scalping-knife. <i>b</i>, ditto, in sheath. <i>c</i>, <i>d</i>, war-clubs. +<i>e</i>, <i>e</i>, tomahawks. <i>g</i>, whip.</span> +</div> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I would not go among the Indians, +with their clubs and tomahawks, for a thousand +dollars.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Nor would I: they would be sure to +kill me.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The tomahawk is often carved in a +strange manner; and some of the bows and arrows<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +are admirable. The bow formed of bone +and strong sinews is a deadly weapon; and some +Indians have boasted of having sent an arrow +from its strings right through the body of a buffalo.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What a strong arm that Indian must +have had! Through a buffalo’s body!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The quiver is made of the skin of +the panther, or the otter; and some of the arrows +it contains are usually poisoned.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Why, then, an arrow is sure to kill a +person, if it hits him.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It is not likely that an enemy, badly +wounded with a poisoned arrow, will survive; for +the head is set on loosely, in order that, when the +arrow is withdrawn, the poisoned barb may remain +in the wound. How opposed are these cruel +stratagems of war to the precepts of the gospel +of peace, which are “Love your enemies, bless +them that curse you, do good to them that hate +you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, +and persecute you!”</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What will you do, Austin, if you go +among the Indians, and they shoot you with a +poisoned arrow?</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh, I shall carry a shield. You +heard that the Indians carry shields.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The shields of the Crows and Blackfeet +are made of the thick skin of the buffalo’s +neck: they are made as hard as possible, by +smoking them, and by putting glue upon them +obtained from the hoofs of animals; so that they +will not only turn aside an arrow, but even a +musket ball, if they are held a little obliquely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> There, Basil! You see that I shall be +safe, after all; for I shall carry a large shield, and +the very hardest I can get anywhere.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Their spears have long, slender handles, +with steel heads: the handles are a dozen feet +long, or more, and very skilful are they in the use +of them; and yet, such is the dread of the Indian +when opposed to a white man, that, in spite of +his war horse and his eagle plumes, his bow and +well-filled quiver, his long lance, tomahawk and +scalping-knife, his self-possession forsakes him. +He has heard, if not seen, what the white man +has done; and he thinks there is no standing before +him. If he can surprise him, he will; but, +generally, the red man fears to grapple with a pale +face in the strife of war, for he considers him +clothed with an unknown power.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I should have thought that an Indian +would be more than a match for a white +man.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> So long as he can crawl in the grass +or brushwood, and steal silently upon him by surprise, +or send a shaft from his bow from behind a +tree, or a bullet from his rifle from the brow of a +bluff, he has an advantage; but, when he comes +face to face with the white man, he is superstitiously +afraid of him. The power of the white +man, in war, is that of bravery and skill; the +power of the red man consists much in stratagem +and surprise. Fifty white men, armed, on an +open plain, would beat off a hundred red men.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Why is it that the red men are always +fighting against one another? They are all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +brothers, and what is the use of their killing one +another?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Most of the battles, among the Indians, +are brought about by the belief that they are bound +to revenge an injury to their tribe. There can be +no peace till revenge is taken; they are almost +always retaliating one on another. Then, again, +the red men have too often been tempted, bribed, +and, in some cases, forced to fight for the white +man.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That is very sad, though.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It is sad; but when you say red men +are brothers, are not white men brothers too? +And have they not been instructed in the truths +of Christianity, and the gospel of peace, which +red men have not, and yet how ready they are to +draw the sword! War springs from sinful passions; +and until sin is subdued in the human heart, war +will ever be congenial to it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What do the Indians call the sun?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The different tribes speak different languages, +and therefore you must tell me which of +them you mean.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh! I forgot that. Tell me what any +two or three of the tribes call it.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A Sioux calls it <i>wee</i>; a Mandan, <i>menahka</i>; +a Tuscarora, <i>hiday</i>; and a Blackfoot, +<i>cristeque ahtose</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> The Blackfoot is the hardest to remember. +I should not like to learn that language.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> But you must learn it, if you go among +them; or else you will not understand a word +they say.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well! I shall manage it somehow or +other. Perhaps some of them may know English; +or we may make motions one to another. What +do they call the moon?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A Blackfoot calls it <i>coque ahtose</i>; a +Sioux, <i>on wee</i>; a Riccaree, <i>wetah</i>; a Mandan, <i>esto +menahka</i>; and a Tuscarora, <i>autsunyehaw</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I wish you joy of the languages you +have to learn, Austin, if you become a wood-ranger, +or a trapper. Remember, you must learn +them all; and you will have quite enough to do, +I warrant you.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh! I shall learn a little at a time. +We cannot do every thing at once. What do the +red men call a buffalo?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In Riccaree, it is <i>watash</i>; in Mandan, +<i>ptemday</i>; in Tuscarora, <i>hohats</i>; in Blackfoot, +<i>eneuh</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What different names they give them!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes. In some instances they are alike, +but generally they differ. If you were to say +“How do you do?” as is the custom with us; +you must say among the Indians, <i>How ke che +wa?</i> <i>Chee na e num?</i> <i>Dati youthay its?</i> or, +<i>Tush hah thah mah kah hush?</i> according to the +language in which you spoke. I hardly think +these languages would suit you so well as your +own.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> They would never suit me; but Austin +must learn every word of them.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Please to tell us how to count ten, and +then we will ask you no more about languages. +Let it be in the language of the Riccarees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Very well. <i>Asco, pitco, tow wit, tchee +tish, tchee hoo, tcha pis, to tcha pis, to tcha pis won, +nah e ne won, nah en.</i> I will just add, that <i>weetah</i>, +is twenty; <i>nahen tchee hoo</i>, is fifty; <i>nah en te tcha +pis won</i>, is eighty; <i>shok tan</i>, is a hundred; and +<i>sho tan tera hoo</i>, is a thousand.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Can the Indians write?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Oh no; they have no use for pen and +ink, excepting some of the tribes near the whites. +In many of the different treaties which have been +made between the white and the red man, the +latter has put, instead of his name, a rough drawing +of the animal or thing after which he had been +called. If the Indian chief was named “War +hatchet,” he made a rough outline of a tomahawk. +If his name was “The great buffalo” then the +outline of a buffalo was his signature.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> How curious!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The <i>Big turtle</i>, the <i>Fish</i>, the <i>Scalp</i>, +the <i>Arrow</i>, and the <i>Big canoe</i>, all draw the form +represented by their names in the same manner. +If you were to see these signatures, you would +not think these Indian chiefs had ever taken lessons +in drawing.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I dare say their fish, and arrows, and +hatchets, and turtles, and buffaloes, are comical +figures enough.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes: but the hands that make these +feeble scrawls are strong, when they wield the +bow or the tomahawk. A white man in the Indian +country, according to a story that is told, +met a Shawnese riding a horse, which he recognised +as his own, and claimed it as his property.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +The Indian calmly answered: “Friend, +after a little while I will call on you at your house, +when we will talk this matter over.” A few +days afterwards, the Indian came to the white +man’s house, who insisted on having his horse +restored to him. The other then told him: +“Friend, the horse which you claim belonged to +my uncle, who lately died; according to the +Indian custom, I have become heir to all his property.” +The white man not being satisfied, and +renewing his demand, the Indian immediately took +a coal from the fire-place, and made two striking +figures on the door of the house; the one representing +the white man taking the horse, and the +other himself in the act of scalping him: then he +coolly asked the trembling claimant whether he +could read this Indian writing. The matter was +thus settled at once, and the Indian rode off.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay; the white man knew that he had +better give up the horse than be scalped.</p> + +<p>After the hunter had told Austin and his +brothers that he should be sure to have something +new to tell them on their next visit, they took their +departure, having quite enough to occupy their +minds till they reached home.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px; padding-top: 2em"> +<img src="images/illo064.jpg" width="300" height="381" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Black Hawk</span>! Black Hawk!” cried out +Austin Edwards, as he came in sight of the +hunter, who was just returning to his cottage as +Austin and his brothers reached it. “You +promised to tell us all about Black Hawk, and we +are come to hear it now.”</p> + +<p>The hunter told the boys that it had been his +intention to talk with them about the prairies and +bluffs, and to have described the wondrous works +of God in the wilderness. It appeared, however, +that Austin’s heart was too much set on hearing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +the history of Black Hawk, to listen patiently to +any thing else; and the hunter, perceiving this, +willingly agreed to gratify him. He told them, +that, in reading or hearing the history of Indian +chiefs, they must not be carried away by false notions +of their valour, for that it was always mingled +with much cruelty. The word of God said truly, +that “the dark places of the earth are full of the +habitations of cruelty.”<a name="FNanchor_2_8" id="FNanchor_2_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_8" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> “With untaught Indians,” +continued he, “revenge is virtue; and to +tomahawk an enemy, and tear away his scalp, is +the noblest act he can perform in his own estimation; +whereas Christians are taught, as I said before, +to forgive and love their enemies. But I +will now begin the history of Black Hawk.”</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_8" id="Footnote_2_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_8"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Ps. lxxiv. 20.</p></div> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Suppose you tell us his history just as he +would tell it himself. Speak to us as if you were +Black Hawk, and we will not say a single word.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Very well. Then, for a while, I will +be Black Hawk, and what I tell you will be true, +only the words will be my own, instead of those +of the Indian chief. And I will speak as if I +spoke to American white men.</p> + +<p>“I am an old man, the changes of many moons +and the toils of war have made me old. I have +been a conqueror, and I have been conquered: +many moons longer I cannot hope to live.</p> + +<p>“I have hated the whites, but have been treated +well by them when a prisoner. I wish, before I +go my long journey, at the command of the Great +Spirit, to the hunting grounds of my fathers in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>another world, to tell my history; it will then be +seen why I hated the whites. Bold and proud +was I once, in my native forests, but the pale faces +deceived me; it was for this that I hated them.</p> + +<p>“Would you know where I was born? I will +tell you. It was at the Sac village on Rock River. +This was, according to white man’s reckoning, +in the year 1767, so that I am fifty years old, and +ten and seven.</p> + +<p>“My father’s name was Py-e-sa; the father of +his father was Na-nà-ma-kee, or Thunder. I was +a brave, and afterwards a chief, a leading war-chief, +carrying the medicine bag. I fought against +the Osages. Did I fear them? No. Did I often +win the victory? I did.</p> + +<p>“The white men of America said to the Sacs +and Foxes, to the Sioux, the Chippewas, and +Winnebagoes, ‘Go you to the other side of the +Mississippi;’ and they said, ‘Yes.’ But I said, +‘No: why should I leave the place where our +wigwams stand, where we have hunted for so +many moons, and where the bones of our fathers +have rested? Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black +Hawk, will not go.’</p> + +<p>“My heart told me that my great white father, +the chief of America, would not do wrong; would +not make me go to the other side of the river. +My prophet also told me the same. I felt my arm +strong, and I fought. Never did the hand of +Black Hawk kill woman or child. They were +warriors that Black Hawk fought with.</p> + +<p>“Though I came down from the chief Na-nà-ma-kee, +yet my people would not let me dress like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +a chief. I did not paint myself; I did not wear +feathers; but I was bold and not afraid to fight, +so I became a brave.</p> + +<p>“The Osages were our enemies, and I went +with my father and many more to fight. I saw +my father kill an enemy, and tear away the scalp +from his head. I felt determined to do the same. +I pleased my father; for, with my tomahawk and +spear, I rushed on an enemy. I brought back +his scalp in my hand.</p> + +<p>“I next led on seven of our people against a +hundred Osages, and killed one. After that, I +led on two hundred, when we killed a hundred, +and took many scalps. In a battle with the Cherokees +my father was killed. I painted my face +black, and prayed to the Great Spirit, and did not +fight any more for five years; all that I did was +to hunt and to fish.</p> + +<p>“The Osages had done us great wrong, so we +were determined to destroy them. I set off, in the +third moon, at the head of five hundred Sacs and +Foxes, and one hundred Ioways. We fell upon +forty lodges. I made two of their squaws prisoners, +but all the rest of the people in the lodges we +killed. Black Hawk killed seven men himself. +In a battle with the Cherokees, I killed thirteen +of their bravest with my own hand.</p> + +<p>“One of our people killed a pale-face American, +and he was put in prison; so we sent to St. +Louis, to pay for the killed man, and to cover the +blood. Did the pale faces do well? No, they +did not; they set our man free, but when he began +to run they shot him down; and they gave strong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +drink to our four people, and told them to give up +the best part of our hunting ground for a thousand +dollars every twelve moons. What right had +they to give our men strong drink, and then cheat +them? None.</p> + +<p>“American white faces came, with a great, big +gun, to build a fort, and said it was to trade with +us. They treated the Indians ill: we went against +the fort. I dug a hole in the ground with my +knife, so that I could hide myself with some grass. +I shot with my rifle and cut the cord of their flag, +so that they could not pull it up to fly in the air; +and we fired the fort, but they put out the fire.</p> + +<p>“One of our people killed a white, and was +taken. He was to die, but asked leave to go and +see his squaw and children. They let him go, +but he ran back through the prairies next day, in +time to be shot down. He did not say he would +come back, and then stay; he was an Indian, and +not a white man. I hunted and fished for his +squaw and children when he was dead.</p> + +<p>“Why was it that the Great Spirit did not keep +the white men where he put them? Why did he +let them come among my people with their fire-drink, +sickness, and guns? It had been better +for red men to be by themselves.</p> + +<p>“We went to a great English brave, Colonel +Dixon, at Green Bay: there were many Pottawatomies, +Kickapoos, Ottowas, and Winnebagoes +there. The great brave gave us pipes, tobacco, +new guns, powder, and clothes. I held a talk +with him in his tent; he took my hand. ‘General +Black Hawk,’ said he, and he put a medal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +round my neck, ‘you must now hold us fast by +the hand; you will have the command of all the +braves to join our own braves at Detroit.’ I was +sorry, because I wanted to go to Mississippi. +But he said, ‘No; you are too brave to kill +women and children: you must kill braves.’</p> + +<p>“We had a feast, and I led away five hundred +braves to join the British. Sometimes we won, +and sometimes we lost. The Indians were killing +the prisoners, but Black Hawk stopped them. +He is a coward who kills a brave that has no arms +and cannot fight. I did not like so often to be +beaten in battle, and to get no plunder. I left the +British, with twenty of my braves, to go home, +and see after my wife and children.</p> + +<p>“I found an old friend of mine sitting on a +mat in sorrow: he had come to be alone, and to +make himself little before the Great Spirit: he +had fasted long, he was hardly alive; his son had +been taken prisoner, and shot and stabbed to death. +I put my pipe to my friend’s mouth; he smoked +a little. I took his hand, and said ‘Black Hawk +would revenge his son’s death.’ A storm came +on; I wrapped my old friend in my blanket. The +storm gave over; I made a fire. It was too late; +my friend was dead. I stopped with him the remainder +of the night; and then my people came, +and we buried him on the peak of the bluff.</p> + +<p>“I explained to my people the way the white +men fight. Instead of stealing on each other, +quietly and by surprise, to kill their enemies and +save their own people, they all fight in the sunlight, +like braves; not caring how many of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +people fall. They then feast and drink as if nothing +had happened, and write on paper that they +have won, whether they have won or been beaten. +And they do not write truth, for they only put +down a part of the people they have lost. They +would do to <i>paddle</i> a canoe, but not to <i>steer</i> it. +They fight like braves, but they are not fit to be +chiefs, and to lead war parties.</p> + +<p>“I found my wife well, and my children, and +would have been quiet in my lodge; for, while I +was away, Kee-o-kuk had been made a chief: but +I had to revenge the death of the son of my old +friend. I told my friend so when he was dying. +Why should Black Hawk speak a lie? I took +with me thirty braves, and went to Fort Madison; +but the American pale faces had gone. I was +glad, but still followed them down the Mississippi. +I went on their trail. I shot the chief of the party +with whom we fought. We returned home, bringing +two scalps. Black Hawk had done what he +said.</p> + +<p>“Many things happened. Old Wàsh-e-own, +one of the Pottawatomies, was shot dead by +a war chief. I gave Wàsh-e-own’s relations two +horses and my rifles to keep the peace. A party +of soldiers built a fort at Prairie du Chien. They +were friendly to us, but the British came and took +the fort. We joined them; we followed the boats +and shot fire-arrows, and the sails of one boat +were burned, and we took it.</p> + +<p>“We found, in the boats we had taken, barrels +of whiskey: this was bad medicine. We knocked +in the heads of the barrels, and emptied out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +the bad medicine. We found bottles and packages, +which we flung into the river as bad medicine +too. We found guns and clothes, which I +divided with my braves. The Americans built a +fort; I went towards it with my braves. I had a +dream, in which the Great Spirit told me to go +down the bluff to a creek, and to look in a hollow +tree cut down, and there I should see a snake; +close by would be the enemy unarmed. I went +to the creek, peeped into the tree, saw the snake, +and found the enemy. One man of them was +killed, after that we returned home: peace was +made between the British and Americans, and we +were to bury the tomahawk too.</p> + +<p>“We went to the great American chief at St. +Louis, and smoked the pipe of peace. The chief +said our great American father was angry with us, +and accused us of crimes. We said this was a +lie; for our great father had deceived us, and +forced us into a war. They were angry at what +we said; but we smoked the pipe of peace again, +and I first touched the goose quill; but I did not +know that, in doing so, I gave away my village. +Had I known it, I would never have touched the +goose quill.</p> + +<p>“The American whites built a fort on Rock +Island; this made us sorry, for it was our garden, +like what the white people have near their big villages. +It supplied us with plums, apples and nuts, +with strawberries and blackberries. Many happy +days had I spent on Rock Island. A good spirit had +the care of it; he lived under the rock, in a cave. +He was white, and his wings were ten times bigger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +than swan’s wings: when the white men came +there, he went away.</p> + +<p>“We had corn and beans and pumpkins and +squashes. We were the possessors of the valley +of the Mississippi, full seven hundred miles from +the Ouisconsin to the Portage des Sioux, near the +mouth of the Missouri. If another prophet had +come to us in those days, and said, ‘The white +man will drive you from these hunting grounds, +and from this village, and Rock Island, and not +let you visit the graves of your fathers,’ we should +have said, ‘Why should you tell us a lie?’</p> + +<p>“It was good to go to the graves of our fathers. +The mother went there to weep over her child: +the brave went there to paint the post where lay +his father. There was no place in sorrow like +that where the bones of our forefathers lay. There +the Great Spirit took pity on us. In our village, +we were as happy as a buffalo on the plains; but +now we are more like the hungry and howling +wolf in the prairie.</p> + +<p>“As the whites came nearer to us, we became +more unhappy. They gave our people strong +liquor, and I could not keep them from drinking +it. My eldest son and my youngest daughter +died. I gave away all I had; blackened my face +for two years, lived alone with my family, to humble +myself before the Great Spirit. I had only a +piece of buffalo robe to cover me.</p> + +<p>“White men came and took part of our lodges; +and Kee-o-kuk told me I had better go West, as +he had done. I said I could not forsake my village; +the prophet told me I was right. I thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +then that Kee-o-kuk was no brave, but a coward, +to give up what the Great Spirit had given us.</p> + +<p>“The white men grew more and more; brought +whiskey among us, cheated us out of our guns, +our horses and our traps, and ploughed up our +grounds. They treated us cruelly; and, while +they robbed us, said that we robbed them. They +made right look like wrong, and wrong like right. +I tried hard to get right, but could not. The +white man wanted my village, and back I must +go. Sixteen thousand dollars every twelve moons +are to be given to the Pottawatomies for a little +strip of land, while one thousand dollars only was +set down for our land signed away, worth twenty +times as much. White man is too great a cheat +for red man.</p> + +<p>“A great chief, with many soldiers, came to +drive us away. I went to the prophet, who told +me not to be afraid. They only wanted to frighten +us, and get our land without paying for it. I had +a talk with the great chief. He said if I would +go, well. If I would not, he would drive me. +‘Who is Black Hawk?’ said he. ‘I am a +Sac,’ said I; ‘my forefather was a Sac; and +all the nation call me a Sac.’ But he said I +should go.</p> + +<p>“I crossed the Mississippi with my people, +during the night, and we held a council. I +touched the goose quill again, and they gave us +some corn, but it was soon gone. Then our women +and children cried out for the roasted ears, +the beans, and squashes they had been used to, +and some of our braves went back in the night,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +to take some corn from our own fields; the whites +saw and fired upon them.</p> + +<p>“I wished our great American father to do us +justice. I wished to go to him with others, but +difficulties were thrown in the way. I consulted +the prophet, and recruited my bands to take my +village again; for I knew that it had been sold +by a few, without the consent of the many. It +was a cheat. I said, ‘I will not leave the place +of my fathers.’</p> + +<p>“With my braves and warriors, on horseback, +I moved up the river, and took with us our women +and children in canoes. Our prophet was among +us. The great war chief, White Beaver, sent +twice to tell us to go back; and that, if we did +not, he would come and drive us. Black Hawk’s +message was this: ‘If you wish to fight us, come +on.’</p> + +<p>“We were soon at war; but I did not wish +it: I tried to be at peace; but when I sent parties +with a white flag, some of my parties were +shot down. The whites behaved ill to me, they +forced me into war, with five hundred warriors, +when they had against us three or four thousand. +I often beat them, driving back hundreds, with a +few braves, not half their number. We moved on +to the Four Lakes.</p> + +<p>“I made a dog feast before I left my camp. +Before my braves feasted, I took my great medicine +bag, and made a speech to my people; this +was my speech:—</p> + +<p>“‘Braves and warriors! these are the medicine +bags of our forefather, Muk-a-tà-quet, who was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +the father of the Sac nation. They were handed +down to the great war chief of our nation, Na-nà-ma-kee, +who has been at war with all the nations +of the lakes, and all the nations of the plains, and +they have never yet been disgraced. I expect +you all to protect them.’</p> + +<p>“We went to Mos-co-ho-co-y-nak, where the +whites had built a fort. We had several battles; +but the whites so much outnumbered us, it was +in vain. We had not enough to eat. We dug +roots, and pulled the bark from trees, to keep us +alive; some of our old people died of hunger. +I determined to remove our women across the +Mississippi, that they might return again to the +Sac nation.</p> + +<p>“We arrived at the Ouisconsin, and had begun +crossing over, when the enemy came in great +force. We had either to fight, or to sacrifice our +women and children. I was mounted on a fine +horse, and addressed my warriors, encouraging +them to be brave. With fifty of them I fought +long enough to let our women cross the river, +losing only six men: this was conduct worthy a +brave.</p> + +<p>“It was sad for us that a party of soldiers from +Prairie du Chien were stationed on the Ouisconsin, +and these fired on our distressed women: was +this brave? No. Some were killed, some taken +prisoners, and the rest escaped into the woods. +After many battles, I found the white men too +strong for us; and thinking there would be no +peace while Black Hawk was at the head of his +braves, I gave myself up and my great medicine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +bag. ‘Take it,’ said I. ‘It is the soul of the +Sac nation: it has never been dishonoured in any +battle. Take it; it is my life, dearer than life; +let it be given to the great American chief.’</p> + +<p>“I understood afterwards, a large party of Sioux +attacked our women, children, and people, who +had crossed the Mississippi, and killed sixty of +them: this was hard, and ought not to have been +allowed by the whites.</p> + +<p>“I was sent to Jefferson Barracks, and afterwards +to my great American father at Washington. +He wanted to know why I went to war with his +people. I said but little, for I thought he ought +to have known why before, and perhaps he did; +perhaps he knew that I was deceived and forced +into war. His wigwam is built very strong. I +think him to be a good little man, and a great +brave.</p> + +<p>“I was treated well at all the places I passed +through; Louisville, Cincinnati, and Wheeling; +and afterwards at Fortress Monroe, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +and the big village of New York; and +I was allowed to return home again to my people, +of whom Kee-o-kuk, the Running Fox, is now +the chief. I sent for my great medicine bag, for +I wished to hand it down unsullied to my nation.</p> + +<p>“It has been said that Black Hawk murdered +women and children among the whites; but it is +not true. When the white man takes my hand, +he takes a hand that has only been raised against +warriors and braves. It has always been our custom +to receive the stranger, and to use him well. +The white man shall ever be welcome among us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +as a brother. What is done is past; we have +buried the tomahawk, and the Sacs and Foxes +and Americans will now be friends.</p> + +<p>“As I said, I am an old man, and younger +men must take my place. A few more snows, +and I shall go where my fathers are. It is the +wish of the heart of Black Hawk, that the Great +Spirit may keep the red men and pale faces in +peace, and that the tomahawk may be buried for +ever.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Poor Black Hawk! He went through +a great deal. And Kee-o-kuk, the Running Fox, +was made chief instead of him.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Kee-o-kuk was a man more inclined +to peace than war; for, while Black Hawk was +fighting, he kept two-thirds of the tribe in peace. +The time may come, when Indians may love +peace as much as they now love war; and when +the “peace of God which passeth all understanding” +may “keep their hearts and minds in the +knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus +Christ our Lord.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Now, just before we go, will you +please to tell us a little about a buffalo hunt; just +a little, and then we shall talk about it, and about +Black Hawk, all the way home.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Well, it must be a short account now; +perhaps I may describe another hunt, more at +length, another time. In hunting the buffalo, the +rifle, the lance, and the bow and arrow are used, +as the case may be. I have hunted with the Camanchees +in the Mexican provinces, who are +famous horsemen; with the Sioux, on the Mississippi;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +the Crows, on the Yellow-stone river; and +the Pawnees, at the Rocky Mountains. One +morning, when among the Crows, a muster took +place for a buffalo hunt: you may be sure that I +joined them, for at that time I was almost an Indian +myself.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How did you prepare for the hunt?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> As soon as we had notice, from the +top of a bluff in the distance, that a herd of +buffaloes was on the prairie, we prepared our +horses; while some Indians were directed to follow +our trail, with one-horse carts, to bring home +the meat.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You were sure, then, that you should +kill some buffaloes.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes; we had but little doubt on that +head. I threw off my cap; stripped off my coat; +tying a handkerchief round my head, and another +round my waist; rolled up my sleeves; hastily +put a few bullets in my mouth, and mounted a +fleet horse, armed with a rifle and a thin, long +spear: but most of the Crows had also bows and +arrows.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Your thin spear would soon be broken.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No; these thin, long spears are sometimes +used, in buffalo hunting, for years without +breaking. When an Indian chases a buffalo, if +he does not use his rifle or bow and arrow, he +rides on fast till he comes up with his game, and +makes his horse gallop just the same pace as the +buffalo. Every bound his horse gives, the Indian +keeps moving his spear backwards and forwards +across the pommel of his saddle, with the point<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +sideways towards the buffalo. He gallops on in +this way, saying “Whish! whish!” every time +he makes a feint, until he finds himself in just the +situation to inflict a deadly wound; then, in a +moment, with all his strength, he plunges in his +lance, quick as lightning, near the shoulders of +the buffalo, and withdraws it at the same instant: +the lance, therefore, is not broken, though the +buffalo may be mortally wounded.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> The poor buffalo has no chance at all.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well! you mounted your horse, and +rode off at full gallop—</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No; we walked our steeds all abreast, +until we were seen by the herd of buffaloes. On +catching sight of us, in an instant they set off, +and we after them as hard as we could drive, a +cloud of dust rising from the prairie, occasioned +by the trampling hoofs of the buffaloes.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What a scamper there must be!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Rifles were flashing, bowstrings were +twanging, spears were dashed into the fattest of +the herd, and buffaloes were falling in all directions. +Here was seen an Indian rolling on the +ground, and there a horse gored to death by a +buffalo bull. I brought down one of the largest +of the herd with my rifle, at the beginning of the +hunt; and, before it was ended, we had as many +buffaloes as we knew what to do with. Some of +the party had loaded their rifles four or five times, +while at full gallop, bringing down a buffalo at +every fire.</p> + +<p>Very willingly would Austin have lingered long +enough to hear of half a dozen buffalo hunts;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +but, bearing in mind what had been said about a +longer account at another time, he cordially +thanked the hunter for all he had told them, and +set off home, with a light heart, in earnest conversation +with his brothers.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/illo080.jpg" width="300" height="158" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo081.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="Buffalo Hunt." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Buffalo Hunt.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> description of the buffalo hunt, given by +the hunter, made a deep impression on the minds +of the young people; and the manner of using +the long, thin lance called forth their wonder, and +excited their emulation. Austin became a Camanchee +from the Mexican provinces, the Camanchees +being among the most expert lancers and +horsemen; Brian called himself a Sioux, from the +Mississippi; and Basil styled himself a Pawnee, +from the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>Many were the plans and expedients to get up +a buffalo hunt upon a large scale, but the difficulty +of procuring buffaloes was insurmountable. Austin, +it is true, did suggest an inroad among the +flock of sheep of a neighbouring farmer maintaining<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +that the scampering of the sheep would +very much resemble the flight of a herd of buffaloes; +but this suggestion was given up, on the +ground that the farmer might not think it so entertaining +an amusement as they did.</p> + +<p>It was doubtful, at one time, whether, in their +extremity, they should not be compelled to convert +the chairs and tables into buffaloes; but +Austin, whose heart was in the thing, had a bright +thought, which received universal approbation. +This was to make buffaloes of their playfellow +Jowler, the Newfoundland dog, and the black +tom-cat. Jowler, with his shining shaggy skin, +was sure to make a capital buffalo; and Black +Tom would do very well, as buffaloes were not +all of one size. To work they went immediately, +to prepare themselves for their adventurous +undertaking, dressing themselves up for the +approaching enterprise; and, if they did not +succeed in making themselves look like Indians, +they certainly did present a most grotesque +appearance.</p> + +<p>In the best projects, however, there is oftentimes +an oversight, which bids fair to ruin the +whole undertaking; and so it was on this occasion; +for it never occurred to them, until they +were habited as hunters, to secure the attendance +of Jowler and Black Tom. Encumbered with +their lances, bows, arrows and hanging dresses, +they had to search the whole house, from top to +bottom, in quest of Black Tom; and when he was +found, a like search was made for Jowler. Both +Jowler and Black Tom were at length found, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +led forth to the lawn, which was considered to be +an excellent prairie.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the signal given for the hunt to +commence, than Black Tom, being set at liberty, +instead of acting his part like a buffalo, as he +ought to have done, scampered across the lawn +to the shrubbery, and ran up a tree; while Jowler +made a rush after him; so that the hunt appeared +to have ended almost as soon as it was begun. +Jowler was brought back again to the middle of +the lawn, but no one could prevail on Black Tom +to descend from his eminence.</p> + +<p>Once more Jowler, the buffalo, was set at +liberty; and Austin, Brian, and Basil, the Camanchee, +Sioux, and Pawnee chieftains, brandished +their long lances, preparing for the chase: but it +seemed as though they were to be disappointed, +for Jowler, instead of running away, according +to the plan of the hunters, provokingly kept leaping +up, first at one, and then at another of them; +until having overturned the Pawnee on the lawn, +and put the Sioux and Camanchee out of all +patience, he lay down panting, with his long red +tongue out of his mouth, looking at them just as +though he had acted his part of the affair capitally.</p> + +<p>At last, not being able to reduce the refractory +Jowler to obedience, no other expedient remained +than that one of them should act the part of a +buffalo himself. Austin was very desirous that +this should be done by Brian or Basil; but they +insisted that he, being the biggest, was most like +a buffalo. The affair was at length compromised, +by each agreeing to play the buffalo in turn. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +desperate hunt then took place, in the course of +which their long lances were most skilfully and +effectually used; three buffaloes were slain, and +the Camanchee, Sioux, and Pawnee returned in +triumph from the chase, carrying a buffalo-hide (a +rug mat from the hall) on the tops of their spears.</p> + +<p>On their next visit to the hunter, they reminded +him that, the last time he saw them, he had intended +to speak about the prairies; but that the +history of Black Hawk, and the account of the +buffalo hunt, had taken up all the time. They +told him that they had come early, on purpose to +hear a long account; and, perhaps, he would be +able to tell them all about Nikkanochee into the +bargain.</p> + +<p>The hunter replied, if that was the case, the +sooner he began his narrative the better; so, +without loss of time, he thus commenced his +account.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Though in our country there are +dull, monotonous rivers, with thick slimy waters, +stagnant swamps, and pine forests almost immeasureable +in extent; yet, still, some of the +most beautiful and delightful scenes in the whole +world are here.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How big are the prairies? I want to +know more about them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They extend for many hundreds of miles, +though not without being divided and diversified +with other scenery. Mountains and valleys, and +forests and rivers, vary the appearance of the +country. The name <i>prairie</i> was given to the +plains of North America by the French settlers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +It is the French word for meadow. I will +describe some prairie scenes which have particularly +struck me. These vast plains are sometimes +flat; sometimes undulated, like the large waves +of the sea; sometimes barren; sometimes covered +with flowers and fruit; and sometimes there is +grass growing on them eight or ten feet high.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I never heard of such high grass as +that.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A prairie on fire is one of the most imposing +spectacles you can imagine. The flame is +urged on by the winds, running and spreading +out with swiftness and fury, roaring like a tempest, +and driving before it deer, wolves, horses, +and buffaloes, in wild confusion.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How I should like to see a prairie on +fire!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana, and +Louisiana, prairies abound; and the whole State +of Illinois is little else than a vast prairie. From +the Falls of the Missouri to St. Louis, a constant +succession of prairie and river scenes, of the most +interesting kind, meet the eye. Here the rich +green velvet turf spreads out immeasurably wide; +breaking towards the river into innumerable hills +and dales, bluffs and ravines, where mountain +goats and wolves and antelopes and elks and +buffaloes and grizzly bears roam in unrestrained +liberty. At one time, the green bluff slopes +easily down to the water’s edge; while, in other +places, the ground at the edge of the river presents +to the eye an endless variety of hill and +bluff and crag, taking the shapes of ramparts and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +ruins, of columns, porticoes, terraces, domes, +towers, citadels and castles; while here and +there seems to rise a solitary spire, which might +well pass for the work of human hands. But the +whole scene, varying in colour, and lit up and +gilded by the mid-day sun, speaks to the heart of +the spectator, convincing him that none but an +Almighty hand could thus clothe the wilderness +with beauty.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 299px;"> +<img src="images/illo086.jpg" width="299" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Brian! Do you not wish now to see +the prairies of North America?</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes; if I could see them without going +among the tomahawks and scalping-knives.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I remember one part where the ragged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +cliffs and cone-like bluffs, partly washed away by +the rains, and partly crumbled down by the frosts, +seemed to be composed of earths of a mineral +kind, of clay of different colours and of red +pumice stone. The clay was white, brown, yellow +and deep blue; while the pumice stone, lit +up by the sunbeam, was red like vermilion. The +loneliness, the wildness and romantic beauty of +the scene I am not likely to forget.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I should like to see those red rocks very +much.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> For six days I once continued my +course, with a party of Indians, across the prairie, +without setting my eyes on a single tree, or a +single hill affording variety to the scene. Grass, +wild flowers, and strawberries, abounded more +or less through the whole extent. The spot +where we found ourselves at sundown, appeared +to be exactly that from which we started +at sunrise. There was little variety, even in the +sky itself; and it would have been a relief, (so +soon are we weary even of beauty itself,) to have +walked a mile over rugged rocks, or to have +forced our way through a gloomy pine wood, or +to have climbed the sides of a steep mountain.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I hardly think that I should ever be tired +of green grass and flowers and strawberries.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Oh yes, you would. Variety in the +works of creation is a gift of our bountiful Creator, +for which we are not sufficiently thankful. Look +at the changing seasons; how beautifully they +vary the same prospect! And the changing +clouds of heaven, too; what an infinite and pleasurable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +variety they afford to us! If the world +were all sunshine, we should long for the shade.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What do you mean by bluffs?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Round hills, or huge clayey mounds, +often covered with grass and flowers to the very +top. Sometimes they have a verdant turf on their +tops, while their sides display a rich variety of +many-coloured earths, and thousands of gypsum +crystals imbedded in the clay. The romantic +mixture of bluffs, and hills, with summits of green +grass as level as the top of a table, with huge +fragments of pumice stone and cinders, the remains +of burning mountains, and granite sand, and layers +of different coloured clay, and cornelian, and +agate, and jasper-like pebbles; these, with the +various animals that graze or prowl among them, +and the rolling river, and a bright blue sky, have +afforded me bewildering delight. Some of the +hunters and trappers believe that the great valley +of the Missouri was once level with the tops of +the table hills, and that the earth has been washed +away by the river, and other causes; but the +subject is involved in much doubt. It has +pleased God to put a boundary to the knowledge +of man in many things. I think I ought to tell +you of Floyd’s grave.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Where was it? Who was Floyd.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You shall hear. In the celebrated expedition +of Clark and Lewis to the Rocky Mountains, +they were accompanied by Serjeant Floyd, +who died on the way. His body was carried to +the top of a high green-carpeted bluff, on the +Missouri river, and there buried, and a cedar post<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +was erected to his memory. As I sat on his +grave, and looked around me, the stillness and +the extreme beauty of the scene much affected me. +I had endured much toil, both in hunting and +rowing; sometimes being in danger from the +grizzly bears, and, at others, with difficulty +escaping the war-parties of the Indians. My +rifle had been busy, and the swan and the pelican, +the antelope and the elk, had supplied me with +food; and as I sat on a grave, in that beautiful +bluff in the wilderness—the enamelled prairie, the +thousand grassy hills that were visible, with their +golden heads and long deep shadows, (for the +sun was setting,) and the Missouri winding in its +serpentine course, the whole scene was of the +most beautiful and tranquil kind. The soft whispering +of the evening breeze, and the distant, subdued +and melancholy howl of the wolf, were the +only sounds that reached my ears. It was a very +solitary, and yet a very delightful hour.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I should not like to be by myself in such +a place as that.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There is another high bluff, not many +miles from the cedar post of poor Floyd, that is +well known as the burial-place of Blackbird, a +famous chief of the O-ma-haw tribe; the manner +of his burial was extremely strange. As I was +pulling up the river, a traveller told me the story; +and, when I had heard it, we pushed our canoe +into a small creek, that I might visit the spot. +Climbing up the velvet sides of the bluff, I sat me +down by the cedar post on the grave of Blackbird.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But what was the story? What was +there strange in the burial of the chief?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Blackbird on his way home from the +city of Washington, where he had been, died +with the small-pox. Before his death, he desired +his warriors to bury him on the bluff, sitting on +the back of his favourite war-horse, that he might +see, as he said, the Frenchmen boating up and +down the river. His beautiful white steed was +led up to the top of the bluff, and there the body +of Blackbird was placed astride upon him.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What a strange thing!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Blackbird had his bow in his hand, +his beautiful head dress of war-eagle plumes on +his head, his shield and quiver at his side, and +his pipe and medicine bag. His tobacco pouch +was filled, to supply him on his journey to the +hunting-grounds of his fathers; and he had flint +and steel wherewith to light his pipe by the way. +Every warrior painted his hand with vermilion, +and then pressed it against the white horse, leaving +a mark behind him. After the necessary +ceremonies had been performed, Blackbird and +his white war-horse were covered over with turf, +till they were no more seen.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But was the white horse buried alive?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He was. The turfs were put about +his feet, then piled up his legs, then placed against +his sides, then over his back, and lastly over +Blackbird himself and his war-eagle plumes.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That was a very cruel deed! They +had no business to smother that beautiful white +horse in that way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And so I say. It was a great shame, +and I do not like that Blackbird.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Indians have strange customs. Now +I am on the subject of prairie scenes, I ought to +speak a word of the prairies on the Red River. +I had been for some time among the Creeks and +Choctaws, crossing, here and there, ridges of +wooded lands, and tracts of rich herbage, with +blue mountains in the distance, when I came to +a prairie scene of a new character. For miles +together the ground was covered with vines, +bearing endless clusters of large delicious grapes; +and then, after crossing a few broad valleys of +green turf, our progress was stopped by hundreds +of acres of plum trees, bending to the very +ground with their fruit. Among these were interspersed +patches of rose trees, wild currants, and +gooseberries, with prickly pears, and the most +beautiful and sweet-scented wild flowers.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I never heard of so delightful a place. +What do you think of the prairies now, Basil? +Should you not like to gather some of those +fruits and flowers, Brian?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> And then just as I was stretching out +my hand to gather some of the delicious produce +of that paradise of fruit and flowers, I heard the +sound of a rattlesnake, that was preparing to make +a spring, and immediately I saw the glistening +eyes of a copper-head, which I had disturbed +beneath the tendrils and leaves.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What do you think of the prairie now, +Austin?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And should you not like to gather some +of those fruits and flowers?</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I never suspected that there would be +such snakes among them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The wild creatures of these delightful +spots may be said to live in a garden; here they +pass their lives, rarely disturbed by the approach +of man. The hunter and the trapper, however +thoughtlessly they pursue their calling, are at +times struck with the amazing beauty of the +scenes that burst upon them. God is felt to be +in the prairie. The very solitude disposes the +mind to acknowledge Him; earth and skies proclaim +his presence; the fruits of the ground declare +his bounty; and, in the flowers, ten thousand +forget-me-nots bring his goodness to remembrance. +“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; +and his greatness is unsearchable.”<a name="FNanchor_3_9" id="FNanchor_3_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_9" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_9" id="Footnote_3_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_9"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Ps. cxlv. 3.</p></div> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I could not have believed that there +had been such beautiful places in the prairies.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Some parts are varied, and others +monotonous. Some are beautiful, and others far +from being agreeable. The Prairie la Crosse, the +Prairie du Chien, and the Couteau des Prairies on +the Mississippi, with the prairies on the Missouri, +all have some points of attraction. I did intend +to say a little about Swan Lake, the wild rice +grounds, Lover’s Leap, the salt meadows on the +Missouri, the Savannah in the Florida pine woods, +and Red Pipe-stone Quarry; but as I intend to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>give you the history of Nikkanochee, perhaps I +had better begin with it at once.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> We shall like to hear of Nikkanochee, +but it is so pleasant to hear about the prairies, +that you must, if you please, tell us a little more +about them first.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I want to hear about those prairie dogs.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And I want to hear of Lover’s Leap.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What I wish to hear the most, is about +Red Pipe-stone quarry. Please to tell us a little +about them all.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Well! If you will be satisfied with +a little, I will go on. Swan Lake is one of the +most beautiful objects in the prairies of our +country. It extends for many miles; and the +islands with which it abounds are richly covered +with forest trees. Fancy to yourselves unnumbered +islands with fine trees, beautifully grouped +together, and clusters of swans on the water in +every direction. If you want to play at Robinson +Crusoe, one of the islands on Swan Lake will be +just the place for you.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Well may it be called Swan Lake.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The first time that I saw wild rice +gathered, it much surprised and amused me. A +party of Sioux Indian women were paddling +about, near the shores of a large lake, in canoes +made of bark. While one woman paddled the +canoe, the other gathered the wild rice, which +flourished there in great abundance. By bending +it over the canoe with one stick, and then striking +it with another, the grains of rice fell in profusion +into the canoe. In this way they proceeded;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +till they obtained full cargoes of wild +rice for food.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I wish we had wild rice growing in +our pond.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> What I have to say of Lover’s Leap +is a little melancholy. On the east side of Lake +Pepin, on the Mississippi, stands a bold rock, +lifting up its aspiring head some six or seven +hundred feet above the surface of the lake. Some +years since, as the story goes, an Indian chief +wished his daughter to take a husband that she +did not like. The daughter declined, but the +father insisted; and the poor, distracted girl, to +get rid of her difficulty, threw herself, in the presence +of her tribe, from the top of the rock, and +was dashed to pieces.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Poor girl, indeed! Her father was a +very cruel man.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The chief was cruel, and his daughter +rash; but we must not be too severe in judging +those who have no better standard of right and +wrong than the customs of their uncivilized tribe. +It was on the Upper Missouri river, towards the +mouth of the Teton river, that I came all at once +on a salt meadow. You would have thought +that it had been snowing for an hour or two, +for the salt lay an inch or two thick on the +ground.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What could have brought it there?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The same Almighty hand that spread +out the wild prairie, spread the salt upon its surface. +There are salt springs in many places, +where the salt water overflows the prairie. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +hot sun evaporates the water, and the salt is left +behind.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Well, that is very curious.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The buffaloes and other animals come +by thousands to lick the salt, so that what with +the green prairie around, the white salt, and the +black buffaloes, the contrast in colour is very +striking. Though Florida is, to a great extent, a +sterile wilderness, yet, for that very reason, some +of its beautiful spots appear the more beautiful. +There are swamps enough, and alligators enough, +to make the traveller in those weary wilds cheerless +and disconsolate; but when, after plodding, +day after day, through morasses and interminable +pine woods, listening to nothing but the cry of +cranes and the howling of wolves, he comes +suddenly into an open plain covered with a +carpet of grass and myriads of wild flowers, his +eye brightens, and he recovers his cheerfulness +and strength. He again feels that God is in the +prairie.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Remember the alligators, Austin!</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And the howling wolves! What do +you think of them?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Red Pipe-stone Quarry is between +the Upper Mississippi and the Upper Missouri. +It is the place where the Indians of the country +procure the red stone with which they make all +their pipes. The place is considered by them to +be sacred. They say that the Great Spirit used +to stand on the rock, and that the blood of the +buffaloes which he ate there ran into the rocks +below, and turned them red.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> That is the place I want to see.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> If you go there, you must take great +care of yourself; for the Sioux will be at your +heels. As I said, they hold the place sacred, and +consider the approach of a white man a kind of +profanation. The place is visited by all the +neighbouring tribes for stone with which to make +their pipes, whether they are at war or peace; for +the Great Spirit, say they, always watches over +it, and the war-club and scalping-knife are there +harmless. There are hundreds of old inscriptions +on the face of the rocks; and the wildest traditions +are handed down, from father to son, respecting +the place. Some of the Sioux say, that +the Great Spirit once sent his runners abroad, to +call together all the tribes that were at war, to the +Red Pipe-stone Quarry. As he stood on the top +of the rocks, he took out a piece of red stone, and +made a large pipe; he smoked it over them, and +told them, that, though at war, they must always +be at peace at that place, for that it belonged to +one as much as another, and that they must all +make their pipes of the stone. Having thus +spoken, a thick cloud of smoke from his great +red pipe rolled over them, and in it he vanished +away. Just at the moment that he took the last +whiff of his great, long, red pipe, the rocks were +wrapped in a blaze of fire, so that the surface of +them was melted. Two squaws, then, in a flash +of fire, sunk under the two medicine rocks, and +no one can take away red stone from the place +without their leave. Where the gospel is unknown, +there is nothing too improbable to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +received. The day will, no doubt, arrive, when +the wild traditions of Red Pipe-stone Quarry will +be done away, and the folly and wickedness of +all such superstitions be plainly seen.</p> + +<p>Here the hunter, having to attend his sheep, +left the three brothers, to amuse themselves for +half an hour with the curiosities in his cottage; +after which, he returned to redeem his pledge, by +relating the history he had promised them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/illo097.jpg" width="300" height="154" alt="Indian Pipes." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Indian Pipes.</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 375px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo098.jpg" width="375" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>“<span class="smcap">And</span> now,” said the hunter, “for my account +of Nikkanochee.<a name="FNanchor_4_10" id="FNanchor_4_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_10" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> I met with him in +Florida, his own country, when he was quite a +child; indeed he is even now but a boy, being +not more than twelve or thirteen years of age. +The Seminole Indians, a mixed tribe, from whom +prince Nikkanochee is descended, were a warlike +people, settled on the banks of the River Chattahoochee. +In a battle which took place between +the Indians and a party of whites, under Major +Dade, out of a hundred and fourteen white men, +only two escaped the tomahawks of their opponents. +A Seminole was about to despatch one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>of these two, when he suddenly called to mind +that the soldier had once helped him in fitting a +handle to his axe. This arrested his uplifted +weapon, and the life of the soldier was spared.”</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_10" id="Footnote_4_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_10"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> This sketch is supposed to be a narrative of facts, +though the authority for it is not within the publishers’ +reach.</p></div> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Noble! noble! If all the Seminoles +were like him, they were a noble people.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The tribe had good and bad qualities; +but I tell you this anecdote, because it affords +another proof that the hardy Indian warrior, in +the midst of all his relentless animosity against +his enemy, is still sensible of a deed of kindness. +On another occasion, when the Seminoles, to +avenge injuries which their tribe had received, +wasted the neighbourhood with fire and tomahawk, +they respected the dwelling of one who +had shown kindness to some of their tribe. +Even though they visited his house, and cooked +their food at his hearth, they did no injury to his +person or his property. Other dwellings around +it were burned to the ground, but for years his +habitation remained secure from any attack on the +part of the grateful Seminoles.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> When I go abroad, I will always behave +kindly to the poor Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The father of Nikkanochee was king +of the Red Hills, in the country of the Seminoles; +but not being very much distinguished as a warrior, +he gave up the command of his fighting +men to his brother Oseola, a chief famous for +bodily strength and courage. Before the war +broke out between the Seminoles, Oseola was +kind and generous; but when once the war-cry +had rung through the woods, and his tomahawk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +had been raised, he became stern and implacable. +He was the champion of his nation, and the terror +of the pale faces opposed to him.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> He must have made terrible work with +his tomahawk!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No doubt he did, for he was bold, +and had never been taught to control his passions. +The command of the Saviour had never reached +his ears: “Love your enemies, bless them that +curse you, do good to them that hate you, and +pray for them which despitefully use you, and +persecute you.” The red man of the forest and +the prairie has had much to embitter his spirit +against his enemies; but I will proceed. It was +in the year 1835, that between two and three +hundred red warriors assembled at Camp King, to +hold a “talk,” or council. They were met by a +battalion of white soldiers, who had two generals +with them. At this council, it was proposed by +the whites that a contract should be made between +the two parties, wherein the Seminoles should +give up their lands in Florida in exchange for +other lands at a great distance from the place. +Some of the red warriors were induced to make +a cross on the contract as their signature, showing +that they agreed therewith; but Oseola saw that +such a course was bartering away his country, and +sealing the ruin of his nation.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I hope he did not put his sign to it.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> So do I, and I hope he persuaded all +the rest of the red warriors not to sign it.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When they asked him in his turn to +sign the contract, his lip began to curl with contempt,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +and his eye to flash with fiery indignation. +“Yes!” said he, drawing a poniard from his +bosom, with a haughty frown on his brow. +“Yes!” said he, advancing and dashing his dagger +while he spoke, not only through the contract, +but also through the table on which it lay; +“there is my mark!”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well done, brave Oseola!</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That is just the way that he ought to +have acted.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> He was a very bold fellow. But what +did the generals say to him?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> His enemies, the whites, (for they were +enemies,) directly seized him, and bound him to a +tree. This was done in a cruel manner, for the +cords cut deep into his flesh. After this, he was +manacled and kept as a prisoner in solitary confinement. +When it was thought that his spirit +was sufficiently tamed, and that what he had suffered +would operate as a warning to his people, +he was set at liberty.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> The whites acted a cruel part, and they +ought to have been ashamed of themselves.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes, indeed. But what did Oseola do +when he was free?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Revenge is dear to every one whose +heart God has not changed. No wonder that it +should burn in the bosom of an untaught Indian. +He had never heard the words of Holy Scripture, +“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the +Lord,” Rom. xii. 19; but rather looked on revenge +as a virtue. Hasting to his companions,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +he made the forest echo with the wild war-whoop +that he raised in defiance of his enemies.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I thought he would! That is the very +thing that I expected he would do.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Many of the principal whites fell by +the rifles of the Indians; and Oseola sent a proud +message to General Clinch, telling him that the +Seminoles had a hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder, +every grain of which should be consumed +before they would submit to the whites. He told +him, too, that the pale faces should be led a dance +for five years for the indignities they had put upon +him. Oseola and the Seminoles maintained the +war until the whites had lost eighteen hundred +men, and expended vast sums of money. At +last, the brave chieftain was made prisoner by +treachery.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How was it? How did they take him +prisoner?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The whites invited Oseola to meet +them, that a treaty might be made, and the war +brought to an end. Oseola went with his warriors; +but no sooner had he and eight of his warriors +placed their rifles against a tree, protected as +they thought by the flag of truce, than they were +surrounded by a large body of soldiers, and made +prisoners.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That was an unjust and treacherous +act. Oseola ought to have kept away from them.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And what did they do to Oseola? Did +they kill him?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They at first confined him in the fort +at St. Augustine, and afterwards in a dungeon at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +Sullivan’s Island, near Charleston. It was in the +latter place that he died, his head pillowed on the +faithful bosom of his wife, who never forsook +him, and never ceased to regard him with homage +and affection. He was buried at Fort Moultrie, +where he has a monument, inscribed “Oseola.” +His companions, had they been present at his +grave, would not have wept. They would have +been glad that he had escaped from his enemies.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Poor Oseola!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> This is only one instance among thousands, +in which the red man has fallen a victim +to the treachery and injustice of the whites. It +is a solemn thought, that when the grave shall +give up its dead, and the trumpet shall call together, +face to face, the inhabitants of all nations +to judgment; the deceitful, the unjust and the +cruel will have to meet those whom their deceit, +their injustice and cruelty have destroyed. Well +may the oppressor tremble. “The Lord of hosts +hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his +hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it +back?”</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> But you have not yet told us of Nikkanochee. +Please to let us hear all about him.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Ay; we have forgotten Nikkanochee.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will now tell you all that I know of +him; but I thought you would like to hear of his +uncle, he being so famous a warrior. Nikkanochee +is called Oseola Nikkanochee, prince of +Econchatti, in order that he may bear in mind +Oseola, his warlike uncle, and also Econchatti-mico, +king of the Red Hills, his father. It is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +thought that Nikkanochee was born on the banks +of the river Chattahoochee. He can just remember +the death of his mother, when he was left +alone with her in a wigwam; but what I have to +tell you about Nikkanochee took place during the +lifetime of his father, and his uncle Oseola. The +white men being at war with the Seminoles, the +war-men of the latter were obliged to band themselves +together to fight, leaving their squaws and +children to travel as well as they could to a place +of safety. Nikkanochee, child as he was, travelled +with the women through the pine forests night +and day; but a party of horse-soldiers overtook +them, and drove them as captives towards the +settlements of the whites.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Ay! now Nikkanochee is a prisoner! +What is to become of him now?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The mothers were almost frantic. The +wigwams they saw on the road had been destroyed +by fire, and the whole country had been devastated. +At nightfall they came to a village; +and here, when it grew dark, Nikkanochee, a +little girl and two Indian women made their +escape. For some days they fled, living on +water-melons and Indian corn, till they fell in +with a party of their own war-men, and among +them was Nikkanochee’s father.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I hope they were safe then.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Not being numerous, they were obliged +to retreat. Pursued by their enemies, they fled, +sometimes on horseback, and sometimes on foot; +a part of the way through the swamps, thickets +and pine forests. At night, while the party were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +sitting round a fire, in the act of preparing for refreshment +some dried meat, and a wild root of the +woods reduced into flour, an alarm was given. In +a moment they were obliged once more to fly, for +their enemies were upon their track.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Dreadful! dreadful!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The fire was put out by the Indians, +their blankets hastily rolled up, and the squaws +and children sent to hide themselves in the tangled +reeds and brushwood of a swamp, while the war-men +turned against the enemy. The Indians beat +them off, but Econchatti-mico was wounded in +the wrist, a musket ball having passed through it.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Did Econchatti die of his wound?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No; but he and the war-men, expecting +that their enemies would return in greater +numbers, were again forced to fly. The dreary pine +forest, the weedy marsh, and the muddy swamp +were once more passed through. Brooks and +rapid rivers were crossed by Econchatti, wounded +as he was, with his son on his back. He swam +with one hand, for the other was of little use to +him.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Econchatti seems to be as brave a man +as Oseola. Did they escape from their enemies?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> While they were sitting down to partake +of some wild turkey and deer, with which +their bows and arrows had furnished them during +their flight, their enemies again fell upon them. +The Seminoles had, perhaps, altogether two thousand +warriors, with Oseola at their head; but +then the whites had at least ten thousand, to say +nothing of their being much better armed. No<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +wonder that the Seminoles were compelled to fly, +and only to fight when they found a favourable +opportunity. But I must not dwell longer than +necessary on my account; suffice it to say, that, +after all the bravery of the warriors, and all the +exertions of Econchatti, Nikkanochee once more +fell into the hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Oh, that was terrible! I hoped he +would get away safe.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> So did I. I thought the white men +would be tired of following them into those dreary +forests and muddy swamps.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How was it that Nikkanochee was +taken?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He was captured on the 25th of +August, 1836, by some soldiers who were scouring +the country, and brought by them the next day +to Colonel Warren. Poor little fellow, he was +so worn, emaciated and cast down, that he could +not be looked upon without pity. For several +weeks he hardly spoke a word. No tear, no sob, +nor sigh escaped him; but he appeared to be +continually on the watch to make his escape. +The soldiers who had taken him prisoner declared +that they had followed his track full forty miles +before they came up to him. From the rising to +the setting of the sun they hurried on, and still he +was before them. Nikkanochee must then have +been only about five or six years old.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Why, I could not walk so far as forty +miles to save my life. How did he manage it?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You have not been brought up like an +Indian. Fatigue and hardship and danger are endured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +by red men from their earliest infancy. The +back to the burden, Basil. You have heard the saying, +“God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.” +When the soldiers came up to Nikkanochee, he +darted into the bushes and long grass, where +they found him. At first, he uttered a scream; +but, soon after, he offered the soldiers a peach +which he had in his hand, that they might let him +go. Placed on horseback behind one of the +troopers, he was brought to the military station.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> They have him now, then, fast enough. +I wonder what became of Econchatti-mico, his +father.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> That is not known. I should have +told you that, in the Seminole language, “Econ,” +means hill or hills; “Chatti,” is red; and the +signification of “mico,” is king: so that Econchatti-mico +is, all together, King of the Red Hills. +The soldiers who captured Nikkanochee disputed +among themselves whether he ought not to be +killed. Most of them were for destroying every +Indian man, woman, or child they met; but one +of them, named James Shields, was determined +to save the boy’s life, and it was owing to his +humanity that Nikkanochee was not put to death.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That man deserves to be rewarded. I +shall not forget James Shields.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When Nikkanochee had afterwards +become a little more reconciled to his situation, +he gave some account of the way in which he +was taken. He said, that as he was travelling +with his father and the Indians, the white men +came upon them. According to Indian custom,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +when a party is surprised, the women and children +immediately fly in different directions, to hide in +the bushes and long grass, till the war-men return +to them after the fight or alarm is over. Poor +little Nikkanochee, in trying to cross a rivulet, +fell back again into it. Besides this misfortune, +he met with others, so that he could not keep up +with the party. He still kept on, for he saw an +old coffee-pot placed on a log; and Indians, in +their flight, place things in their track, and also +break off twigs from the bushes, that others of +their tribe may know how to follow them. Nikkanochee +came to a settlement of whites, but he +struck out of the road to avoid it. He afterwards +entered a peach orchard, belonging to a deserted +house, and here he satisfied his hunger. It was +then getting dark, but the soldiers saw him, and +set off after him at full gallop. In vain he hid +himself in the grass, and lay as still as a partridge, +for they discovered him and took him away.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I wonder that Econchatti-mico, his +father, or the brave Oseola, his uncle, did not +rescue him.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It is thought that they did return upon +the back trail, for the place they had been in was +shortly after surrounded by Indians, with Oseola +at their head; but just then a reinforcement of +soldiers arrived, and the Indians were obliged to +retire. Had not the soldiers come up just in +time, the whole garrison might have fallen by the +rifles and scalping-knives of enraged Seminoles. +Nikkanochee passed a year with the family of +Colonel Warren, and was beloved by them all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +There was, no doubt, much sympathy felt for +him, as the nephew of a well-known warrior, and +the son of the king of a warlike people. Nikkanochee +was afterwards taken under the protection +of a gentleman, who became much attached +to him. He was educated with other children, +and taught to bend the knee in prayer, and to +offer praise to the King of kings and Lord of +lords. Thus, in the providence of God, was +Nikkanochee brought from being a heathen to +be a worshipper of the true God and Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How much longer did he remain abroad?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A very few years, during which he +became expert in climbing, swimming, loading +the rifle, and using the spear. He was bold +enough to attack the raccoon and otter, and was +not afraid even of the alligator; few of his age +were more hardy, or could bear an equal degree +of fatigue. His kind protector, who adopted him +as his own child, took him over to England in +the year 1840. But I have given you a long +account. May Nikkanochee become as celebrated +for virtue and piety as his ancestors and relations +were for valour and war.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 2em"> +<img src="images/illo110.jpg" width="400" height="301" alt="Resting place for the Dead." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Resting place for the Dead.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the next visit of the three brothers to the +hunter, he pointed out to them the great influence +that religion had on the character of any people or +country. A false religion brings with it a train +of unnumbered evils; while a knowledge of the +true God, and a living faith in the Saviour who +died for sinners, continually promote among mankind +principles of justice and kindness, and communicate +to their hearts the blessings of peace +and joy. “True it is,” said he, “that among +professedly Christian people there is much of evil; +much of envy, hatred, malice, uncharitableness; +of injustice, covetousness and cruelty. But this +proceeds not from Christianity, but from the fallen +state of human nature, which nothing but the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +grace of God can renew, and from the great number +of those who profess to be Christians, while +they are uninfluenced by the gospel of the Redeemer. +Christianity will neither allow us to dishonour +God by bowing down to idols, nor to injure +man by injustice and oppression. The Indians +of our country are not found bowing down +to numberless idols, as the inhabitants of many +countries are: they worship what they call ‘the +Great Spirit,’ with a deep reverence, humbling +themselves before him, and undergoing self-imposed +torments, to gain his good will, which the +generality of Christians, in the manifestation of +their faith, would find it hard to endure. They +believe also in an Evil Spirit, as well as in a future +state; and that they shall be happy or unhappy, +just as they have done good or evil, according +to their estimate of those qualities, but +this belief is mixed up with mysteries and superstitions +without number. I speak of Indians in +the forest and the prairie, who know nothing +of God’s word, and who have never heard the +voice of a missionary.”</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The different tribes believe, that if +they are expert in the chase, bold in battle, and +slay many of their enemies, they shall live for +ever, after death, in beautiful hunting-grounds, +enjoying the pleasures of the chase continually. +You know that we, as Christians, are enjoined to +forgive our enemies; but untutored Indians delight +in revenge: they love to boast, and to shed +blood; but we are taught, by God’s holy word, +to be humble and merciful. There is one thing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +that mingles much with the Indian character; and +that is, medicine, or mystery. I must try to make +you understand it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes; I should like to know all about +it very well.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Go where you may, among the Choctaws, +the Seminoles, the Crows, or the Blackfeet, +every Indian has his medicine or mystery bag, +which he regards with reverence, and will not +part with for any price. He looks upon it as a +kind of charm, or guardian spirit, that is to keep +him from evil. He takes it with him to battle, +and when he dies it is his companion.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But what is it? Is there any thing in +the bag? What is it that makes medicine?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Every thing that is mysterious or +wonderful to an Indian, he regards as medicine. +I do not mean such medicine as we get from an +apothecary; but he regards it as something awful, +and connected with spirits. This is a strong +superstition, which has laid hold of the red man +throughout the whole of his race.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> But is there any thing in the medicine +bag?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The medicine bag is usually the skin +of some animal, such as the beaver, otter, polecat, +or weazel; or of some bird, as the eagle, the +magpie, or hawk; or of some reptile, as the snake +or the toad. This skin is stuffed with any thing +the owner chooses to put into it, such as dry +grass, or leaves; and it is carefully sewed up into +some curious form, and ornamented in a curious +manner. Some medicine bags are very large,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +and form a conspicuous part of an Indian’s appendages; +while others are very small, and +altogether hidden.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Why, it is very foolish in the red men +to carry such things about with them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It certainly is so; but their fathers +and their tribes have done so for many generations, +and it would be a disgrace to them, in their own +estimation, if they neglected to do the same. A +young Indian, before he has his medicine bag, +goes perhaps alone on the prairie, or wanders in +the forest, or beside some solitary lake. Day +after day, and night after night, he fasts, and calls +on the Great Spirit to help him to medicine. When +he sleeps, the first animal, or bird, or reptile that +he dreams of, is his medicine. If it be a weazel, +he catches a weazel, and it becomes his medicine +for ever. If it be a toad or snake, he kills it; +and if it be a bird, he shoots it, and stuffs its +skin.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> This is one of the most wonderful +things you have told us yet.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> What is called a medicine man, or a +mystery man, is one who ranks high in his tribe +for some supposed knowledge. He can either +make buffaloes come, or cure disease, or bring +rain, or do some other wonderful things, or persuade +his tribe that he can do them. Indeed, +among Indians, hardly any thing is done without +the medicine man. A chief, in full dress, would +as soon think of making his appearance without +his head as without his medicine bag. There is +a saying among the Indians, that “a man lying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +down, is medicine to the grizzly bear;” meaning, +that in such a position a bear will not hurt him.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Is it true? Will not the grizzly bear +hurt a man when he is lying down?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> So many people say; but I should be +very sorry to trust the grizzly bear. I am afraid +that he would be paying his respects to me in a +very rough way.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What was it that you said about the +medicine man bringing rain?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Some of them are famous for bringing +rain in a dry season.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But they cannot really bring rain.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The matter is managed in this way.—When +once they undertake to bring rain, they +keep up their superstitious ceremonies, day after +day, till the rain comes. Oftentimes it is very +long before they succeed. It was in a time of +great drought, that I once arrived at the Mandan +village on the Upper Missouri. At the different +Indian villages, peas and beans, wild rice, corn, +melons, squashes, pumpkins, peaches and strawberries +were often found in abundance; but, on +this occasion, the Mandans had a very poor prospect +of gathering any thing that required rain to +bring it to perfection. The young and the old +were crying out that they should have no green +corn.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why did they not tell the medicine +men earlier to make the rain come?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They did so: but it was not quite convenient +to the medicine men; for they saw clearly +enough that there was not the slightest appearance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +of rain. After putting it off, day after day, the +sky grew a little cloudy to the west, when the +medicine men assembled together in great haste +to make it rain.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Ay! they were very cunning.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No sooner was it known that the medicine +men were met together in the mystery lodge, +than the village was all in commotion. They +wanted rain, and they were very sure that their +medicine men could bring it when they pleased. +The tops of the wigwams were soon crowded. In +the mystery lodge a fire was kindled, round which +sat the rain-makers, burning sweet-smelling herbs, +smoking the medicine pipe, and calling on the +Great Spirit to open the door of the skies, and let +out the rain.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> That is the way they make it rain, is it?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> At last, one of the rain-makers came +out of the mystery lodge, and stood on the top of +it with a spear in his hand, which he brandished +about in a commanding and threatening manner, +lifting it up as though he were about to hurl it up +at the heavens. He talked aloud of the power +of his medicine, holding up his medicine bag in +one hand, and his spear in the other; but it was +of no use, neither his medicine nor his spear could +make it rain; and, at the setting of the sun, he +came down from his elevated position in disgrace.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Poor fellow! He had had enough of +rain-making for one day.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> For several days the same ceremony +was carried on, until a rain-maker, with a head-dress<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +of the skins of birds, ascended the top of +the mystery lodge, with a bow in his hand, and a +quiver at his back. He made a long speech, +which had in it much about thunder and lightning, +and black clouds and drenching rain; for the sky +was growing dark, and it required no great knowledge +of the weather to foretell rain. He shot +arrows to the east and west, and others to the +north and the south, in honour of the Great Spirit +who could send the rain from all parts of the skies. +A fifth arrow he retained, until it was almost certain +that rain was at hand. Then, sending up +the shaft from his bow, with all his might, to +make a hole, as he said, in the dark cloud over +his head, he cried aloud for the waters to pour +down at his bidding, and to drench him to the skin. +He was brandishing his bow in one hand, and his +medicine in the other, when the rain came down +in a torrent. The whole village was clamorous +with applause. He was regarded as a great mystery +man, whose medicine was very powerful, and he +rose to great distinction among his tribe. You +see, then, the power of a mystery man in bringing +rain. Does it not astonish you?</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> No, not a bit. I see that it was all a +cheat.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I could make it rain myself as well as +he did, for he never shot his arrow to pierce the +cloud till it was over his head.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> To be a mystery man is regarded as a +great honour; and some Indians are said to have +suspended themselves from a pole, with splints +through their flesh, and their medicine bags in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +their hands, looking towards the sun, for a whole +day, to obtain it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> When I go among the Indians, I will +not be a mystery man.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Now I will tell you something about +Indian marriages. There is very little ceremony +in an Indian marriage. The father may be seen +sitting among his friends, when the young Indian +comes in with presents, to induce him to give him +his daughter for a wife. If the presents are not +liked, they are not accepted; if they are approved, +the father takes the hand of his daughter, and the +hand of the young Indian, and slaps them together; +after which a little feasting takes place.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why, that is like buying a wife.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It is; but the young Indian has already +gained the good will of his intended wife: not by +his fine clothes and his wealth, for he has neither +the one nor the other, but by showing her the +skins of the bears he has killed, and the scalps +and scalp-locks of the foes he has slaughtered; +and by telling her that he will hunt for her, that +she may be kept from want, and fight for her, that +she may be protected from the enemies of her +tribe. Indians have strange customs: some flatten +the heads of their young children, by laying them +in a cradle, with a pillow for the back of the +head, and then pressing the forehead, day after +day, with a board, that comes down upon it, till +the nose and forehead form a straight line.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I should not like my head to be flattened +in that manner.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Children are carried about in their +cradles on the backs of their mothers, wherever +they go; and when children die, they are often +left, in their cradles, floating on the water of a +brook or pool, which their superstition teaches +them to regard as sacred. A cluster of these little +arks or cradles, or coffins as they may be called, +of different forms, in a lone pool, is a very picturesque +and affecting sight.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I shall often think of the pool, and the +little cradles swimming on it. It would remind +me of Moses in the bulrushes.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There are other singular customs +among the Indians. The Kowyas, the Pawnees, +the Sacs and Foxes, the Osages, and the Iowas, +all shave their heads, leaving a tuft on the crown +two or three inches in length, and a small lock in +the middle of it, as long as they can make it grow. +By means of this small lock of hair braided, they +ornament the tuft with a crest of the deer’s tail +dyed scarlet, and sometimes add to it a war-eagle’s +feather.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How different from the Crow Indians! +They do not shave off their hair; but let it grow +till it hangs down to the very ground.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You have not forgotten that, I see. +There is a cruel custom among the Indians, of +exposing their aged people, that is, leaving them +alone to die. If a party are obliged to remove +from one place to another in search of food, and +there is among them an aged man, who can no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +longer fight, nor hunt, nor fish, nor do any thing +to support himself, he is liable, although in his +time he may have been a war-chief, to be left +alone to die. I have seen such a one sitting by a +little fire left him by his tribe, with perhaps a buffalo +skin stretched on poles over his head, and a +little water and a few bones within his reach. I +have put my pipe to his mouth, given him pemican, +and gathered sticks, that he might be able to +recruit his fire; and when, months after, I have +returned to the spot, there has been nothing left +of him but his skeleton, picked clean by the +wolves and bleaching in the winds.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> This is one of the worst things we have +heard of the Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Oh, it is very sad indeed!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You would not forsake your father, in +old age, in that manner, would you?</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> No! As long as we could get a bit of +bread or a drop of water, he should have part of +it, and we would die with him rather than desert +him.</p> + +<p><i>Brian</i> and <i>Basil.</i> Yes; that we would!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I hope so. This is, I say, a cruel custom; +but it forms a part of Indian manners, so +that the old men expect it, and, indeed, would +not alter it. Indians have not been taught, as we +have, to honour their parents, at least not in the +same way; but I can say nothing in favour of so +cruel and unnatural a custom. Among the Sioux +of the Mississippi, it is considered great medicine +to jump on the Leaping Rock, and back again. +This rock is a huge column or block, between<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +thirty and forty feet high, divided from the side +of the Red Pipe-stone Quarry. It is about seven +feet broad, and at a distance from the main rock +of about six or eight feet. Many are bold enough +to take the leap, and to leave their arrows sticking +in one of its crevices; while others, equally +courageous, have fallen from the top in making +the attempt, and been dashed to pieces.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> When you go to Pipe-stone Quarry, +Austin, have nothing to do with the Leaping +Rock. You must get your medicine in some +other way.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I shall leave the Leaping Rock to the +leaping Indians, for it will never suit me.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There is a very small fish caught in +the river Thames, called white bait, which is +considered a very great luxury; but, to my taste, +the white fish, of which the Chippewas take great +abundance in the rapids near the Falls of St. +Mary’s, are preferable. The Chippewas catch +them in the rapids with scoop-nets, in the use of +which they are very expert. The white fish +resemble salmon, but are much less in size.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> The white fish of the Chippewas will +suit me better than the Leaping Rock of the +Sioux.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Among the Indians, feasting, fasting, +and sacrifices of a peculiar kind, form a part of +their religious or superstitious observances. Some +of the Pawnees, in former times, offered human +sacrifices; but this cruel custom is now no more. +The Mandans frequently offered a finger to the +god, or Evil Spirit; and most of the tribes offer a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +horse, a dog, a spear, or an arrow, as the case +may be. Over the Mandan mystery lodge used +to hang the skin of a white buffalo, with blue and +black cloth of great value. These were intended +as a sacrifice or an offering to the good and evil +spirits, to avert their anger and to gain their +favour.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How many things you do remember!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> All the chiefs of the tribes keep runners: +men swift of foot, who carry messages and +commands, and spread among the people news +necessary to be communicated. These runners +sometimes go great distances in a very short space +of time.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You must have your runners, Austin.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh yes, I will have my runners: for +I shall want pipe-stone from Red Pipe-stone +Quarry, and white fish from the Chippewas; and +then I shall send messages to the Cherokees and +Choctaws, the Camanchees, the Blackfeet and +the Crows.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The squaws, or wives of the Indians, +labour very contentedly, seeming to look on servitude +as their proper calling. They get in wood +and water; they prepare the ground for grain, +cook victuals, make the dresses of their husbands, +manufacture pottery, dress skins, attend to the +children, and make themselves useful in a hundred +other ways.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I think the squaws behave themselves +very well.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The smoking of the pipe takes place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +on all great occasions, just as though the Indians +thought it was particularly grateful to the Good +and Evil Spirits. In going to war, or in celebrating +peace, as well as on all solemn occasions, +the pipe is smoked. Oftentimes, before it is +passed round, the stem is pointed upwards, and +then offered to the four points—east, west, north +and south. In the hands of a mystery man, it is +great and powerful medicine. If ever you go +among the red men, you must learn to smoke; +for to refuse to draw a whiff through the friendly +pipe offered to you, would be regarded as a sad +affront.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What will you do now, Austin? You +never smoked a pipe in your life.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh, I should soon learn; besides, I +need only take a very little whiff.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You must learn to eat dog’s flesh, +too; for when the Indians mean to confer a great +honour on a chief or a stranger, they give him a +dog feast, in which they set before him their most +favourite dogs, killed and cooked. The more useful +the dogs were, and the more highly valued, +the greater is the compliment to him in whose +honour the feast is given; and if he were to refuse +to eat of the dog’s flesh, thus prepared out +of particular respect to him, no greater offence +could be offered to his hospitable entertainers.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You have something a little harder to +do now, I think, Austin; to learn to eat dog’s +flesh.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> You may depend upon it, that I shall +keep out of the way of a dog feast. I might take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +a little whiff at their pipe, but I could not touch +their dainty dogs.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In some of the large lodges, I have +seen very impressive common life-scenes. Fancy +to yourselves a large round lodge, holding ten or +a dozen beds of buffalo skins, with a high post +between every bed. On these posts hang the +shields, the war-clubs, the spears, the bows and +quivers, the eagle-plumed head-dresses, and the +medicine bags of the different Indians who sleep +there; and on the top of each post the buffalo +mask, with its horns and tail, used in the buffalo +dance. Fancy to yourselves a group of Indians in +the middle of the lodge, with their wives and their +little ones around them, smoking their pipes and +relating their adventures, as happy as ease and the +supply of all their animal wants can make them. +While you gaze on the scene, so strange, so wild, +so picturesque and so happy, an emotion of friendly +feeling for the red man thrills your bosom, a tear +of pleasure starts into your eye; and, before you +are aware, an ejaculation of thankfulness has +escaped your lips, to the Father of mercies, that, +in his goodness and bounty to mankind, he has +not forgotten the inhabitants of the forest and the +prairie.</p> + +<p>The Indians have a method of hardening their +shields, by smoking them over a fire, in a hole in +the ground; and, usually, when a warrior thus +smokes his shield, he gives a feast to his friends. +Some of the pipes of the Indians are beautiful. +The bowls are all of the red stone from Pipe-stone +Quarry, cut into all manner of fantastic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +forms; while the stems, three or four feet long, are +ornamented with braids of porcupine’s quills, +beaks of birds, feathers and red hair. The calumet, +or, as it is called, “the peace-pipe,” is indeed, +as I have before said, great medicine. It +is highly adorned with quills of the war-eagle, +and never used on any other occasion than that of +making and solemnizing peace, when it is passed +round to the chiefs. It is regarded as altogether +a sacred utensil. An Indian’s pipe is his friend +through the pains and pleasures of life; and when +his tomahawk and his medicine bag are placed +beside his poor, pallid remains, his pipe is not +forgotten.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> When an Indian dies, how do they +bury him?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> According to the custom of his tribe. +Some Indians are buried under the sod; some are +left in cots, or cradles, on the water; and others +are placed on frames raised to support them. +You remember that I told you of Blackbird’s +grave.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay! he was buried on horseback, on +the top of a high bluff, sitting on his horse. He +was covered all over with sods.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> And I told you of the Chinock children +floating on the solitary pool.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Yes, I remember them very well.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Grown-up Chinocks are left floating +in cradles, just in the same manner; though oftener +they are tied up in skins, and laid in canoes, with +paddles, pipes and provisions, and then hoisted +up into a tree, and left there to decay. In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +Mandan burial place, the dead were ranged in +rows, on high slender frames, out of the way of +the wolf, dressed in their best robes, and wrapped +in a fresh buffalo skin, with all their arms, pipes, +and every necessary provision and comfort to supply +their wants in their journey to the hunting-grounds +of their fathers. In our burial grounds, +there are generally some monuments grander than +the rest, to set forth the wealth, the station, or the +talents of those who slumber below; and, as human +nature is the same everywhere, so in the resting +place of the Indians. Here and there are +spread out a few yards of red or blue cloth, to signify +that beneath it a chief, or a superior brave, is +sleeping. The Mandan dead occupied a spot on +the prairie. Here they mouldered, warrior lying +by the side of warrior, till they fell to the ground +from their frames, when the bones were buried, +and the skulls ranged with great care, in round +rings, on the prairie, with two buffalo skulls and +a medicine pole in the centre.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay! it would be of no use for the +wolf to come then, for there would be nothing for +him. I should very much like to see an Indian +burying-place.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Were you to visit one, you would see +that the heart and affections are at work under a +red skin, as well as under a white one; for parents +and children, husbands and wives, go there to lament +for those who are dear to them, and to humble +themselves before the Great Spirit, under +whose care they believe their departed relatives +to be. The skulls, too, are visited, and every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +one is placed carefully, from time to time, on a +tuft of sweet-smelling herb or plant. Life is but +a short season with both the white and the red +man, and ought to be well spent. It is as a flower +that flourishes: “For the wind passeth over it, +and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know +it no more.” But I have now told you enough +for the present. Come again, as soon as you will; +I shall have some anecdotes of Indians ready for +you.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 107px;"> +<img src="images/illo126.jpg" width="107" height="200" alt="Indian Cradle." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Indian Cradle.</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 374px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo127.jpg" width="374" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">With</span> willing feet, sparkling eyes and happy +hearts, Austin and his two brothers again set off +for the cottage near the wood. On an ordinary +occasion, they might have found time for a little +pleasant loitering; but the Indian anecdotes they +expected to hear excited their curiosity too much +to allow a single minute to be lost. A pin might +have been heard falling on the ground, when, +seated in the cottage, they listened to the following +anecdotes of the hunter.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It has pleased God to endue Indians +with quick perceptions. They are amazingly +quick in tracing an enemy, both in the woods and +the prairie. A broken twig or leaf, or the faintest +impression on the grass, is sufficient to attract their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +attention. The anecdotes I am about to relate are +believed to be true, but I cannot myself vouch +for their correctness, having only read them, or +heard them related by others.</p> + +<p>An Indian, upon his return home to his hut +one day, discovered that his venison, which had +been hung up to dry, had been stolen. After going +some distance, he met some persons, of whom +he inquired if they had seen a <i>little, old, white +man</i>, with a short gun, and accompanied by a small +dog with a bob-tail. They replied in the affirmative; +and, upon the Indian’s assuring them that +the man thus described had stolen his venison, +they desired to be informed how he was able +to give such a minute description of a person +whom he had not seen. The Indian answered +thus:—</p> + +<p>“The thief I know is a <i>little</i> man, by his having +made a pile of stones in order to reach the +venison, from the height I hung it standing on the +ground; that he is an <i>old</i> man, I know by his +short steps, which I have traced over the dead +leaves in the woods; that he is a <i>white</i> man, I +know by his turning out his toes when he walks, +which an Indian never does; his gun I know to +be short, by the mark which the muzzle made by +rubbing the bark of the tree on which it leaned; +that the dog is small, I know by his tracks; and +that he has a bob-tail, I discovered by the mark +of it in the dust where he was sitting at the time +his master was taking down the meat.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Well done, Indian! Why, nothing +could escape a man like that.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> An Englishman would hardly have +been able to describe the thief without seeing +him.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You shall have another instance of the +quick perceptions of the red men. A most atrocious +and shocking murder was once committed, +by a party of Indians, on fourteen white settlers, +within five miles of Shamokin. The surviving +whites, in their rage, determined to take their revenge +by murdering a Delaware Indian, who happened +to be in those parts, and who was far from +thinking himself in any danger. He was a great +friend to the whites, was loved and esteemed by +them, and, in testimony of their regard, had received +from them the name of Duke Holland, by +which he was generally known.</p> + +<p>This Indian, satisfied that his nation were incapable +of committing such a foul murder in a +time of profound peace, told the enraged settlers +that he was sure the Delawares were not in any +manner concerned in it, and that it was the act +of some wicked Mingoes or Iroquois, whose custom +it was to involve other nations in wars with +each other, by secretly committing murders, so +that they might appear to be the work of others. +But all his representations were vain; he could +not convince exasperated men, whose minds were +fully bent on revenge.</p> + +<p>At last, he offered that, if they would give him +a party to accompany him, he would go with +them in quest of the murderers, and was sure that +he could discover them by the prints of their feet, +and other marks well known to him, by which he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +would convince them that the real perpetrators of +the crime belonged to the Six Nations.</p> + +<p>His proposal was accepted. He marched at +the head of a party of whites and led them into the +tracks. They soon found themselves in the most +rocky part of a mountain, where not one of those +who accompanied him could discover a single +track, nor would they believe that men had ever +trodden on this ground, as they had to jump from +rock to rock, or to crawl over them. They began +to believe that the Indian had led them across +these rugged mountains in order to give the enemy +time to escape. They threatened him with instant +death the moment they should be convinced of +the fraud.</p> + +<p>The Indian, true to his promise, took pains to +make them perceive that an enemy had passed +along the places through which he was leading +them. Here, he showed them that the moss on +the road had been trodden down by the weight +of a human foot; there, that it had been torn and +dragged forward from its place. Again, he would +point out to them, that pebbles, or small stones +on the rocks, had been removed from their beds +by the foot hitting against them; that dry sticks, +by being trodden upon, were broken; and, in +one particular place, that an Indian’s blanket had +been dragged over the rocks, and had removed +or loosened the leaves lying there, so that they +did not lie flat, as in other places. All these +marks the Indian could perceive as he walked +along, without even stopping.</p> + +<p>At last, arriving at the foot of the mountain, on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +soft ground, where the tracks were deep, he found +that the enemy were eight in number; and, from +the freshness of the foot-prints, he concluded that +they must be encamped at no great distance.</p> + +<p>This proved to be the exact truth; for, after +gaining the eminence on the other side of the valley, +the Indians were seen encamped: some +having already laid down to sleep, while others +were drawing off their leggings, or Indian stockings, +for the same purpose, and the scalps they +had taken were hanging up to dry.</p> + +<p>“See,” said Duke Holland to his astonished +companions, “there is the enemy; not people of +my nation, but Mingoes, as I truly told you. They +are in our power. In less than half an hour they +will be all fast asleep. We need not fire a gun, +but go up and tomahawk them. We are nearly +two to one, and need apprehend no danger. +Come on, and you will now have your full revenge.”</p> + +<p>But the whites, overcome with fear, did not +choose to follow the Indian’s advice, but desired +him to take them back by the nearest and best +way. This he did; and when they arrived at +home, they reported the enemy to have been so +great that they durst not venture to attack them.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> This instance is quite as wonderful as +the other.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I would not have an Indian after me if +I had done wrong; for he would be sure to find +me out.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Red men often act very conscientiously. +One day, an Indian solicited a little tobacco<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +of a white man, to fill his pipe. Having +some loose in his pocket, the white man gave him +a handful. The next day the Indian returned in +search of the man who had given him the tobacco.</p> + +<p>“I wish to see him,” said the Indian.</p> + +<p>“Why so?” inquired some one.</p> + +<p>“Why, I find money with the tobacco.”</p> + +<p>“Well! what of that? Keep it; it was given +to you.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said the Indian, shaking his head, “I +got good man and bad man here,” pointing to his +breast. “Good man say, ‘Money not yours; you +must return it:’ bad man say, ‘<i>’Tis</i> yours; it was +given to you.’ Good man say, ‘That not right: +<i>tobacco</i> yours, <i>money</i> not yours.’ Bad man say, +‘Never mind, nobody know it; go buy rum.’ +Good man say, ‘Oh no; no such thing.’ So +poor Indian know not what to do. Me lie down +to sleep, but no sleep; good man and bad man +talk all night, and trouble me. So now, me +bring money back: now, me feel good.”</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I like that Indian very much.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> No one could have acted more honestly.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Whatever the Indians may be, when +oppressed, wronged and deceived by the whites; +and however they may act towards their enemies; +they are usually honest towards their own tribe. +While I was residing on the Big Beaver, says +one who lived much among them, I passed by +the door of an Indian who was a trader, and had, +consequently, a quantity of goods in his house. +He was going with his wife to Pittsburg, and +they were shutting up the house; as no person<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +remained in it during their absence. This shutting +up was nothing else than putting a large +block, with a few sticks of wood, outside against +the door, so as to keep it closed. As I was looking +at this man with attention, while he was so +employed, he addressed me in these words:—</p> + +<p>“See, my friend, this is an Indian lock that I +am putting to my door.”</p> + +<p>I answered, “Well enough; but I see you +leave much property in the house: are you not +afraid that those articles will be stolen while you +are gone?”</p> + +<p>“Stolen! by whom?”</p> + +<p>“Why, by Indians, to be sure.”</p> + +<p>“No, no,” replied he, “no Indian would do +such a thing. Unless a white man, or white people, +should happen to come this way, I shall find +all safe on my return.”</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> If we were to leave our doors in that +way, our houses would be sure to be robbed.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No doubt they would; but Indians +have good and bad qualities. The notion entertained +by the Iroquois Indians, respecting the +creation of mankind, will show how ignorant they +are with respect to the Creator of all things; but, +indeed, if the blessed book of truth were not in +our hands, we should be equally ignorant ourselves. +Before man existed, say they, there were +three great and good spirits; of whom one was +superior to the other two, and is emphatically +called the Great Spirit and the Good Spirit. At +a certain time, this exalted being said to one of +the others, “Make a man.” He obeyed; and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +taking chalk, formed a paste of it, and moulding +it into the human form, infused into it the animating +principle, and brought it to the Great +Spirit. He, after surveying it, said, “This is too +white.”</p> + +<p>He then directed the other to make a trial of +his skill. Accordingly, taking charcoal, he pursued +the same process, and brought the result to +the Great Spirit; who, after surveying it, said, +“It is too black.”</p> + +<p>Then said the Great Spirit, “I will now try +myself;” and taking red earth, he formed an Indian. +On surveying it, he said, “This is a proper +or perfect man.”</p> + +<p>After relating the strange opinion of the Iroquois +Indians, the hunter advised the young people, on +their return home, to look over the account of the +creation of the world and mankind, in the first +chapter of Genesis; telling them that they could +not be too thankful for the opportunity of reading +God’s word, which was not only sufficient to +keep them from error in such things, but was able +also to make them “wise unto salvation through +faith which is in Christ Jesus.” He told them, +that though the Indians were ignorant of holy +things, they did not want shrewdness and sagacity. +“When General Lincoln,” said he, “went to +make peace with the Creek Indians, one of the +chiefs asked him to sit down on a log; he was +then desired to move, and, in a few minutes, to +move still farther. The request was repeated, +until the general got to the end of the log. The +Indian still said, ‘Move farther;’ to which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +general replied, ‘I can move no farther.’ ‘Just +so it is with us,’ said the chief. ‘You have +moved us back to the water, and then ask us to +move farther!’”</p> + +<p>In the account of his expedition to the foot of +the Rocky Mountains, in 1821, Major Long relates +the following anecdote of a Pawnee brave, +son of Red Knife, who, in the succeeding winter, +visited the city of Washington, during the session +of Congress.</p> + +<p>This brave, of fine size, figure and countenance, +is now about twenty-five years old. At +the age of twenty-one, his heroic deeds had acquired +for him in his nation the rank of the bravest +of the braves. The savage practice of torturing +and burning to death their prisoners existed in +this nation. An unfortunate female, of the Paduca +nation, taken in war, was destined to this horrid +death.</p> + +<p>The fatal hour had arrived. The trembling +victim, far from her home and her friends, was +fastened to the stake. The whole tribe were assembled +on the surrounding plains to witness the +awful scene.</p> + +<p>Just as the funeral pile was to be kindled, and +the whole multitude of spectators were on the +tiptoe of expectation, this young warrior, having, +unnoticed, prepared two fleet horses, with the necessary +provisions, sprang from his seat, rushed +through the crowd, liberated the victim, seized +her in his arms, placed her on one of the horses, +mounted the other himself, and made the utmost +speed towards the nation and friends of the captive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>The multitude, dumb and nerveless with amazement +at the daring deed, made no effort to rescue +their victim from her deliverer. They viewed +it as the immediate act of the Great Spirit, submitted +to it without a murmur, and quietly retired +to their village.</p> + +<p>The released captive was accompanied three +days through the wilderness, towards her home. +Her deliverer then gave her the horse on which +she rode, and the necessary provisions for the +remainder of the journey, and they parted.</p> + +<p>On his return to the village, such was his popularity, +that no inquiry was made into his conduct, +and no censure was passed upon it. Since +this transaction no human sacrifice has been +offered in this or any other of the Pawnee tribes; +the practice is abandoned. How influential is one +bold act in a good cause! This deed illustrates +a grand principle, boys. It is by such men that +great reformations are made in the world, and +yet there is no mastery in it. Every one is capable +of doing that which he knows to be right, regardless +of the opinions of wicked men, or the +habits of the weak and foolish, who follow customs +which have no apology but that others have done +so before.</p> + +<p>The publication of this anecdote at Washington +led some young ladies, in a manner highly +creditable to their good sense and good feeling, to +present this brave and humane Indian with a +handsome silver medal, with appropriate inscriptions, +as a token of their sincere commendation +of the noble act of rescuing one of their sex,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +an innocent victim, from a cruel death. Their +address, delivered on this occasion, is sensible +and appropriate, closing as follows:</p> + +<p>“Brother—Accept this token of our esteem; +always wear it for our sakes; and when again you +have the power to save a poor woman from death +and torture, think of this, and of us, and fly to her +relief and rescue.”</p> + +<p>To this the Pawnee made the following reply:—</p> + +<p>“Brothers and sisters—This medal will give me +ease more than I ever had; and I will listen more +than I ever did to white men.</p> + +<p>“I am glad that my brothers and sisters have +heard of the good deed that I have done. My +brothers and sisters think that I have done it in +ignorance, but I now know what I have done.</p> + +<p>“I did do it in ignorance, and I did not know +that I did good; but by your giving me this medal +I know it.”</p> + +<p>The cruelty of torturing and burning a captive, +the great danger of the female Indian, and the +noble daring of the Pawnee brave, formed the +subject of conversation for some time among the +young people; and Austin was unbounded in his +approbation of the Pawnee. Willingly would he +have contributed towards another silver medal for +him, and Brian and Basil would not have been +backward in doing their part; but the affair appeared +hardly practicable, inasmuch as a reasonable +doubt existed whether the Pawnee brave +was still alive; and, even if he were, there seemed +to be no direct way of communicating with him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 2em"> +<img src="images/illo138.jpg" width="400" height="308" alt="Indian Horsemanship.—Page 160." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Indian Horsemanship.—<a href="#Page_160">Page 160</a>.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Remember</span>,” said Austin, as he urged his +brothers to quicken their pace on their way to the +cottage, “we have hardly heard any thing yet +about buffaloes and grizzly bears, and other animals +which are found in the woods and the +prairie. Let us make haste, that we may have a +long visit.”</p> + +<p>Brian and Basil, being almost as anxious as +their brother to hear all about bears and buffaloes, +quickened their pace as he desired them, so that +no long period had passed, before the hunter, at +the request of his youthful visitors, was engaged +in giving them the desired account.</p> + +<p>“The different animals and birds,” said he, +“that inhabit different countries, for the most part,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +roam backwards and forwards, according to the +season. Creatures that love the cold move northerly +in summer, and such as delight in a warmer +clime move southerly in winter. It is, however, +principally to obtain food that they remove from +one place to another. I must here explain to you, +that though I have, in common with most others +who use these terms, spoken of buffaloes, the +animal which abounds in the prairie is not properly +the buffalo, but the bison.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But if they are bisons, why are they +called buffaloes?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> That is a question that I hardly know +how to answer. From whatever cause it may +have arisen, certain it is, that the name of buffalo +has become common; and, that being the case, +it is used in conversation, and oftentimes in books, +as being more easily understood.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What is the difference between a buffalo +and a bison?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A buffalo is an animal that abounds +in Africa, resembling an ugly cow, with a body +long, but rather low; and very long horns. But +the bison stands very high in front, has a hump +on the back part of the neck covered with long +hair, short horns, and a profusion of long shaggy +hair hanging from its head, neck and fore-legs.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Then a bison must look much fiercer +than a buffalo.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He does; and from the circumstance +of his fore-parts standing high, while he carries +his head low, he always appears as if he were +about to run at you. Bisons abound throughout<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +the whole of our country, west of the Mississippi; +but the reckless way in which they are +slaughtered, and the spread of civilization, are +likely, in a few years, greatly to decrease their +numbers. Indians suffer much from hunger, but +they are very reckless when buffaloes are plentiful. +On one occasion, when among the Minatarees, +I witnessed a grand capture of buffaloes. It +was effected by different parties taking different +directions, and then gradually approaching each +other. The herd was thus hemmed in on all sides, +and the slaughter was terrible. The unerring +rifle, the sharp spear and the winged arrow, had +full employ; and so many buffaloes were slain, +that, after taking their tongues and other choice +parts of them for food, hundreds of carcasses were +left for the prairie-wolves to devour. Thus it is +that man, whether savage or civilized, too often +becomes prodigal of the abundance he enjoys, and +knows not the value of what he possesses, till +taught by that want into which his thoughtless +waste has plunged him.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay, they will soon kill all the buffaloes, +if they go on in that manner.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> At present, they are to be seen on the +prairie in droves of many thousands; the woods, +also, abound with them; and often, in the heat of +summer, an incalculable number of heads and +horns are visible in the rivers, the bodies of the +bisons being under the water.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What, because they are so hot?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes: the bison suffers very much from +heat. It is no uncommon thing to see a bison bull<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +lay himself down in a puddle of water, and turn +himself round and round in it, till he has half +covered his body with mud. The puddle hole +which he thus makes is called a bison or buffalo +wallow. The puddle cools him while he is in +it, and when he quits it, the mud plastered on his +sides defends him from the burning heat of +the sun.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What a figure a bison bull must cut, +with his shaggy hair and his sides plastered all +over with mud!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Bears are often most formidable foes +to the hunter; but there is this striking difference +between the common bear and the grizzly bear, +that while the former eats mostly vegetables, and +will do his best to get out of your way, the latter +eats nothing but flesh, and is almost sure to attack +you. Hunters and Indians make it a rule never +to fire at a grizzly bear, unless in self-defence: +except in cases when they have a strong party, +or can fire from a tree; for, when he is wounded, +his fury knows no bounds.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How can you escape from a grizzly +bear, if he is so very terrible?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The common bear can climb a tree, +as I have already told you; but the grizzly bear +is no climber. If you have time to get up into a +tree, you are safe: if not, you must reserve your +shot till the animal is near you, that you may take +a steady aim. You must then fight it out in the +best way you can. Grizzly bears are sometimes +of a very large size, measuring from nine to ten +feet in length. It was on the Upper Missouri that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +I was once chased by one of these terrible fellows, +and a narrow escape I had.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How was it? Tell us all about it.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I had just fired off my rifle at a bird +which I took for an eagle, little thinking how +soon my wasted bullet (for I did not strike the +bird) would be wanted in defence of my life. The +crack of my piece reverberated from the green-topped +bluffs that rose from the prairie; and I +suppose it was this that brought Sir Bruin upon +me. He came on with huge strides, and I had +nothing but a hunting-knife to use in my defence, +my discharged rifle being of no use. There was +no tree near, so throwing down my piece, I drew +my knife as a forlorn hope in my extremity.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> A hunting-knife against a grizzly bear!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When the huge monster was within +a few yards of me, to my amazement, I heard the +report of two rifles, and in the same instant my +tremendous foe fell, with two bullets in his head. +This timely assistance was rendered me by two of +our party, who, having followed my track, were +near me when I thought myself alone.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Never was any one in greater danger.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will tell you an anecdote that I have +read of a common bear. A boy, about eight +years old, was sent by his mother into the woods, +to bring home the old cow. At the distance of +somewhat more than half a mile, he found her, +attended by some young cattle. He began to drive +them home; but had not proceeded far, when a +bear came out of the bushes, and seemed disposed +to make his acquaintance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boy did not like his company; so he jumped +upon the old cow’s back, and held on by her +horns. She set out at full speed, and the bear +after her. The young cattle, lifting their tails in +the air, brought up the rear. Thus they proceeded, +the young ones behind frequently coming up +to the bear, and giving him a thrust with their +horns.</p> + +<p>This compelled him to turn round, and thus the +old cow, with her brave rider, got somewhat in +advance. The bear then galloped on, and, approaching +the boy, attempted to seize him; but +the old cow cantered along, and finally brought +the boy to his mother’s house in safety. The +bear, thinking he should not be welcome there, +after approaching the house, turned about and +scampered back to the forest. Sir Bruin knew +when he was well off; a whole skin is the best +covering a bear can have; but, if he ventures +among mankind, he is likely enough to have it +stripped over his ears.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> That was a capital old cow, for she +saved the boy’s life.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> But the young cattle helped her, for +they pushed the bear with their horns.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Please to tell us about wild horses.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The hordes or bands of wild horses +that abound in some of the prairies, are supposed +to be the offspring of Spanish horses, brought to +Mexico by Europeans. They are extremely shy, +keen in their sight and swift of foot, so that to +come up with them, except by surprise, is no easy +thing. I have seen them in great numbers from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +the brow of a bluff, or have peeped at them cautiously +from a ravine.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What kind of horses are they; and +of what colour?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Some of them are fine animals, but +in general they are otherwise. Stunted and coarse +in appearance, they are of various colours—bay, +chestnut, cream, gray, piebald, white and black, +with long tails, fetlocks, top-knots and manes.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How do they catch them?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In different ways. Sometimes a well-mounted +Indian, armed with his rifle, follows a +horde of horses, until he can get a fair shot at the +best among them. He aims at the top of the neck, +and if he succeeds in striking the high gristle +there, it stuns the animal for the moment, when +he falls to the ground without being injured. This +is called <i>creasing</i> a horse: but a bad marksman +would kill, and not crease, the noble animal he +seeks to subdue.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What other way is there of catching +wild horses? for that seems to be a very bad one.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> It is a very bad way. They ought not +to shoot them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They are much more commonly taken +with the <i>lasso</i>; which is a thong at least a dozen +yards long, ending in a noose. This the Indians +throw, at full gallop, over the head of the flying +steed they wish to secure. Rarely do they miss +their aim. When a horse is thus caught, the +hunter leaps from his steed, and lets out the lasso +gradually, choking his captive till he is obliged +to stop: he then contrives to hopple or tie his fore-legs;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +to fasten the lasso round his lower jaw; to +breathe in his nostrils, and to lead him home.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Breathe in his nostrils! Why, what +does he do that for?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Because experience has taught him, +that it does much towards rendering his captive +more manageable. It is said, that if an Indian +breathes freely into the nostrils of a wild young +buffalo on the prairie, the creature will follow him +with all the gentleness and docility of a lamb.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Well! that does appear strange!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There is one animal, which the Indians, +the hunters and trappers sometimes meet +with, that I have not mentioned. It is the cougar, +or panther, or American lion; for it goes by all +these names. Now and then it is to be seen in +the thick forests of the west; but, being a sad +coward, it is not so much dreaded as it otherwise +would be.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I should not much like to meet a cougar.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The common wolf of America is as big +as a Newfoundland dog, and a sulky, savage-looking +animal he is. So long as he can feed in +solitary places he prefers to do so, but, when +hunger-pressed, he attacks the fold; after which, +Mr. Grizzly-skin loses no time in getting to a +place of shelter, for he knows that should he +outrun the stanch hounds that will soon be on +his track, yet will a rifle ball outrun him.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes, yes; Mr. Grizzly-back is very +cunning.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The prairie-wolf is smaller than the +common wolf. Prairie-wolves hunt after deer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +which they generally overtake; or keep close to +a buffalo herd, feeding on such as die, or on those +that are badly wounded in fighting with one +another. The white, black, and clouded wolves +are in the northern parts. There are many kinds +of deer. I told you, that sometimes a deer-hunt +took place on a large scale, by enclosing a circle, +and driving the deer into it. In shooting antelopes, +the hunter has only to stick up his ramrod +in the ground in their neighbourhood, and throw +over it his handkerchief; while he, with his rifle +ready loaded, lies on the grass near at hand. The +antelopes will soon approach the handkerchief to +see what it is, when the hunter may make them +an easy prey. The largest deer is the moose deer, +which is often seven feet high. He is an awkward, +overgrown-looking creature, with broad +horns; but, awkward as he is, I question if any +of you could outrun him. Mountain and valley, +lake and river, seem alike to him, for he crosses +them all. In the snow, to be sure, the unwearied +and persevering hound will overtake him; but +let him beware of his horns, or he will be flying +head over heels in the air in a twinkling. The +moose deer, however, cannot successfully strive +with the hunter’s rifle.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Nothing can stand against man.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> And yet what is man opposed to his +Maker? His strength is perfect weakness! In a +moment, in a twinkling of an eye, he “changes +his countenance, and sends him away.”</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What other kinds of deer do Indians +catch?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/illo147.jpg" width="300" height="380" alt="The Wapiti Deer." title="" /> +<span class="caption">The Wapiti Deer.</span> +</div> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The elk, with his large branching +horns, who would despise a palace as a dwelling-place. +Nothing less than the broad sky above +his head, and the ground of the boundless forest +beneath his feet, will satisfy him. After the elk, +come the Virginia, or common deer, the wapiti +deer, the black-tailed deer, and the cariboo. All +these are the prey of the hunter. Their savoury +flesh supplies him with food, and their soft skins +are articles of merchandise. The mountain sheep +may often be seen skipping from one ledge to +another of the rugged rocks, and precipitous clayey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +cliffs of the western wilds, giving life to the solitary +place, and interest to the picturesque beauty of +lonely spots.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> You have mentioned all the animals +now, I think, that the hunter chases; for you +spoke before about beavers, badgers, foxes, raccoons, +squirrels and some others.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> You have never told us, though, how +they catch the musk-rat. I should like to know +that.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Well, then, I will tell you how they take +the musk-rat, but must first speak about the prairie +dog. Prairie dogs are a sort of marmot, but their +bark is somewhat like that of a small dog. Rising +from the level prairie, you may sometimes see, for +miles together, small hillocks of a conical form, +thrown up by the prairie dogs, which burrow +some eight or ten feet in the ground. On a fine +day, myriads of these dogs, not much unlike so +many rats, run about, or sit barking on the tops +of their hillocks. The moment any one approaches +them, they disappear, taking shelter in their burrows.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Oh, the cunning little rogues.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The musk-rat builds his burrow (which +looks like a hay-stack) of wild rice stalks; so +that, while he has a dry lodging, a hole at the +bottom enables him, when he pleases, to pass into +the shallow water beneath his burrow or lodge. +In taking a musk-rat, a person strikes the top of +the burrow, and out scampers the tenant within; +but no sooner does he run through his hole into +the shallow water, than he is instantly caught<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +with a spear. Myriads of these little animals are +taken in this manner for their fur.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> They must be a good deal like prairie +dogs, though one has his house on the land, and +the other in the water.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> These wide prairies, on which roam +bisons and horses and deer innumerable; and +these shallow waters, where musk-rats abound, +will probably, in succeeding years, assume another +character. White men will possess them; civilized +manners and customs will prevail, and +Christianity spread from the Mississippi to the +Rocky Mountains; for the kingdoms of the world, +you know, are to become the kingdoms of our +Lord and of his Christ.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> You have told us a great deal indeed, +to-day, about the prairies.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I have already spoken of the prairie +fires; I mean the burning grass set on fire by +accident, or purposely, for the double advantage +of obtaining a clearer path and an abundant crop of +fresh grass; but I must relate an adventure of my +own, of a kind not likely to be forgotten. So long +as a prairie fire is confined to the high grounds, +there is very little danger from it; for, in such +situations, the grass being short, the fire never +becomes large, though the line of flame is a long +one. Birds and beasts retire before it in a very +leisurely manner; but in plains where the grass +is long, it is very different.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I should like to see one of those great, +high, round bluffs on fire. There must be a fine +bonfire then.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There you are mistaken, for as I have +already told you, the grass is short on the bluffs. +To be sure, the sight of a bluff on fire, on a dark +night, is very singular; for as you can only see +the curved line of flame, the bluff being hidden +by the darkness, so it seems as though the curved +lines of flame were up in the air, or in the sky.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> They must look very beautifully.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They do: but when a fire takes place +in a low bottom of long grass, sedge and tangled +dry plants, more than six feet high; and when a +rushing wind urges on the fiery ruin, flashing +like the lightning and roaring like the thunder; +the appearance is not beautiful, but terrible. I +have heard the shrill war-whoop, and the clash +of contending tomahawks in the fight, when no +quarter has been given. I have witnessed the +wild burst where Niagara, a river of waters, flings +itself headlong down the Horseshoe Fall; and I +have been exposed to the fury of the hurricane. +But none of these are half so terrible as the flaming +ocean of a long-grass prairie-fire.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Oh! it must be terrible.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The trapper is bold, or he is not fit for +his calling; the hunter is brave, or he could never +wage war as he does with danger; and the Indian +from his childhood is familiar with peril: yet +the Indian, the hunter and the trapper tremble, +as well they may, at a prairie-meadow fire. But +I must relate my adventure.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I am almost afraid to hear it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Poh! nonsense! It will never hurt +you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A party of five of us, well mounted, +and having with us our rifles and lances, were +making the best of our way across one of the low +prairie bottoms, where the thick coarse grass and +shrubs, even as we sat on our horses, were often +as high as our heads; when we noticed, every +now and then, a flight of prairie hens, or grouse, +rapidly winging their way by us. Two of our +party were of the Blackfoot tribe; their names +were Ponokah (elk) and Moeese (wigwam.) +These Indians had struck into a buffalo trail, and +we had proceeded for a couple of hours as fast as +the matted grass and wild pea-vines would allow, +when suddenly the wind that was blowing furiously +from the east became northerly, and in a moment, +Moeese, snuffing the air, uttered the words, “Pah +kapa,” (bad;) and Ponokah, glancing his eyes +northward, added, “Eehcooa pah kaps,” (very +bad.)</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I guess what was the matter.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And so do I.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In another instant a rush was heard, +and Ponokah, who was a little ahead, cried out, +“Eneuh!” (buffalo!) when three bisons came +dashing furiously along another trail towards us. +No sooner did they set eyes on us, than they +abruptly turned southward. By this time, we all +understood that, to the north, the prairie was on +fire; for the air smelt strong. Deer, and bisons, +and other animals, sprang forward in different +directions from the prairie, and a smoke, not very +distant, like a cloud, was visible.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I hope you set off at full gallop.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> We were quite disposed to urge our +horses onward; but the trail took a turn towards +the burning prairie, and we were obliged to force +our way into another, in doing which my horse +got his feet entangled, and he fell, pitching me +over his head some yards before him. I was not +hurt by the fall, for the thick herbage protected +me; but the worst of it was, that my rifle, which +had been carelessly slung, fell from my shoulder +among the long grass, and being somewhat confused +by my fall, I could not find it.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You ought not to have stopped a +moment.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Perhaps not; but, to a hunter, a rifle +is no trifling loss, and I could not make up my +mind to lose mine. Time was precious, for the +smoke rapidly increased; and both Ponokah and +Moeese, who knew more about burning prairies +than I did, and were therefore more alive to our +danger, became very impatient. By the time my +rifle was found, and we were ready to proceed, +the fire had gained upon us in a crescent form, so +that before and behind we were hemmed in. +The only point clear of the smoke was to the +south; but no trail ran that way, and we feared +that, in forcing a road, another accident might +occur like that which had befallen us.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I cannot think what you could do in +such a situation.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Our disaster had come upon us so +unexpectedly, and the high wind had so hurried +on the flaming storm, that there seemed to be no +time for a moment’s thought. Driven by necessity,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +we plunged into the thick grass to the south; +but our progress was not equal to that of the fire, +which was now fast approaching, blackening the +air with smoke, and roaring every moment louder +and louder. Our destruction seemed almost certain; +when Ponokah, judging, I suppose, by the +comparative thinness of the smoke eastward, that +we were not far from the boundary of the prairie +bottom, dashed boldly along a trail in that direction, +in the face of the fire, crying out to us to +follow. With the daring of men in extremity, +we put our horses to their speed, broke through +the smoke, fire, grass, and flame, and found ourselves +almost instantly on a patch of ground over +which the fire had passed; but, as the grass had +evidently been scanty, we were free from danger. +From a neighbouring bluff, which the smoke had +before hidden from our view, we saw the progress +of the flame—a spectacle that filled me with +amazement. The danger we had escaped seemed +increased by the sight of the fearful conflagration, +and I know not whether terror, amazement, or +thankfulness most occupied my mind.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> That was, indeed, a narrow escape.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> As we stood on the bluff, dismounted, +to gaze on the flying flames—which appeared in +the distance like a huge fiery snake of some miles +in length, writhing in torture—my wonder increased. +The spectacle was fearful and sublime, +and the conflagration nearest to us resembled the +breakers of the deep that dash on a rocky shore, +only formed of fire, roaring and destroying, preceded +by thick clouds of smoke. Before then, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +had been accustomed to sights and scenes of peril, +and had witnessed the burning of short grass to +some extent; but this was the first time I had +been in such fearful danger—the first time I felt +the awfulness of such a situation—the first time +that I had really seen the prairie on fire!</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> There can be nothing in the world like +a burning prairie, unless it be a burning mountain.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A burning prairie, when we are near +it, is a vast and overwhelming spectacle; but +every rising and setting sun exhibits Almighty +wisdom, power and goodness, on a scale infinitely +beyond that of a hundred burning prairies. It +is a good thing to accustom ourselves to regard +the works of creation around us with that attention +and wonder they are calculated to inspire, +and especially to ponder on the manifestation of +God’s grace set forth in his holy word. When +burning prairies and burning mountains shall be +all extinguished; when rising and setting suns +and all earthly glory shall be unknown; then shall +the followers of the Redeemer gaze on the brighter +glories of heaven, and dwell for ever with their +Leader and their Lord.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 108px;"> +<img src="images/illo154.jpg" width="108" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo155.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="Buffalo Dance." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Buffalo Dance.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Buffaloes</span>, bears, wild horses, wolves, deer, +prairie-dogs and musk-rats, were a fruitful source +of conversation to the young people in their leisure +hours, until such time as they could again visit +their interesting friend at the cottage. Various +plans were formed to attack grizzly bears, to catch +wild horses, and to scare away half-famished +wolves; in all of which, Jowler, notwithstanding +his bad behaviour at the buffalo hunt, was expected +to act a distinguished part. Black Tom +was scarcely considered worth thinking about, he +being too wild by half for a wild horse, and too +faint-hearted for a grizzly bear. At one time, it +was so far determined for him to play the part of +a prairie-dog, that Austin set about digging a hole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +for him: before it was finished, however, the plan +was abandoned; Brian and Basil both feeling positive +that, let Austin dig a hole as deep as he +would, Black Tom would never be persuaded to +run into it.</p> + +<p>After much deliberation, catching wild horses +being given up—on the score that Black Tom +would run away too fast, and Jowler would not +run a way at all—a bear hunt was resolved on, +having, as Brian observed, two especial advantages: +the first, that all of them could enjoy the +sport at once; and the second, that Jowler would +be sure to attack them all, just like a grizzly bear.</p> + +<p>No time was lost in preparing their long spears, +and in dressing themselves as much like renowned +chiefs as their knowledge and resources would allow. +And, in order that Jowler might the more +closely resemble a grizzly bear, a white apron was +spread over his broad back, and tied round his +neck. The lawn was, as before, the scene of their +exploits, the prairie on which the fearful monster +was to be overcome; and, to the credit of their +courage be it spoken, neither Austin, Brian nor +Basil, manifested the slightest token of fear.</p> + +<p>Jowler was led by them among the bushes of the +shrubbery, that he might burst out upon them all +at once; and this part of the arrangement answered +excellently well, only that Jowler arrived on +the prairie first instead of last; add to which, the +bushes having so far despoiled him of his grizzly +hide, the white apron, as to have pulled it off his +back, he set to work mouthing and tearing at it, +to get it from his neck. At last, in spite of a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +untoward and unbearlike actions on the part of +Jowler, the attack took place. With undaunted +resolution, Austin sustained Jowler’s most furious +charges; Brian scarcely manifested less bravery; +and little Basil, though he had broken his lance, +and twice fallen to the earth, made a desperate and +successful attack on his fearful antagonist, and +caught him fast by the tail. It was on the whole +a capital adventure; for though they could not +with truth say that they had killed the bear, neither +could the bear say that he had killed them.</p> + +<p>The bear hunt being at an end, they set off for +the cottage; for the hunter had promised to describe +to them some of the games of the Indian +tribes, and he was soon engaged in giving them an +account of the ball-play of the Choctaws. “At +the Choctaw ball-play thousands of spectators attend, +and sometimes a thousand young men are +engaged in the game.”</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It is played in the open prairie, and +the players have no clothes on but their trowsers, +a beautiful belt formed of beads, a mane of dyed +horse-hair of different colours, and a tail sticking +out from behind like the tail of a horse; this last +is either formed of white horse-hair or of quills.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And how do they play?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Every man has two sticks, with a +kind of hoop at the end, webbed across, and +with these they catch and strike the ball. The +goal on each side, consisting of two upright posts +and a pole across the top, is set up twenty-five +feet high; these goals are from forty to fifty rods +apart. Every time either party can strike the ball<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +through their goal, one is reckoned, and a hundred +is the game.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What a scuffle there must be among so +many of them!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When every thing is ready for the +game to begin, a gun is fired; and some old men, +who are to be the judges, fling up the ball in the +middle, half-way between the two goals.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Now for the struggle.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> One party being painted white, every +man knows his opponent. No sooner is the ball +in the air, than a rush takes place. Every one +with his webbed stick raised above his head; no +one is allowed to strike or to touch the ball with his +hands. They cry out aloud at the very top of +their voices, rush on, leap up to strike the ball, +and do all they can to help their own side and +hinder their opponents. They leap over each +other, dart between their rivals’ legs, trip them up, +throw them down, grapple with two or three at a +time, and often fall to fisticuffs in right earnest. +There they are, in the midst of clouds of dust, +running, striking and struggling with all their +might; so that, what with the rattle of the sticks, +the cries, the wrestling, the bloody noses, the +bruised shins, the dust, uproar and confusion, such +a scene of excitement is hardly to be equalled by +any other game in the world.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How long does the game last?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It begins about eight or nine o’clock +in the morning, and sometimes is scarcely finished +by sunset. A minute’s rest is allowed every time +the ball is urged beyond the goal, and then the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +game goes on again till it is finished. There is +another ball-play somewhat resembling this, which +is played by the women of the Prairie du Chien, +while the men watch the progress of the game, or +lounge on the ground, laughing at them.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Do they ever run races?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes, and very expert they are. Many +of the tribes are extravagantly fond of horses. +You see an Indian, with his shield and quiver, his +ornamented shirt, leggins, and mocassins; his long +hair flowing behind him, or his head-dress of the +war-eagle tailing gracefully nearly to his heels; his +lance in his hand; and his dress ornamented with +ermine, shells, porcupine quills and a profusion +of scalp-locks; but you see him out of character. +He should spring on a horse wild as the winds; +and then, as he brandished his lance, with his +pendent plumes, and hair and scalp-locks waving +in the breeze, you see him in his proper element. +Horse-racing among the Indians is an exciting +scene. The cruel custom, of urging useful and +noble animals beyond their strength, is much the +same in savage as in civilized life; but the scene +is oftentimes more wild, strange, and picturesque +than you can imagine.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay, I remember that the Camanchees +are capital riders. I was a Camanchee in our +buffalo hunt. Brian, you have not forgotten that?</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> But you had no horse to ride. I was +a Sioux; and the Sioux are capital riders too.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And so are the Pawnees, I was a +Pawnee in the buffalo hunt.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It was told me that the Camanchees—and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +indeed, some of the Pawnees also—were +able, while riding a horse at full gallop, to lie +along on one side of him, with an arm in a sling +from the horse’s neck, and one heel over the +horse’s back; and that, while the body was thus +screened from an enemy, they could use their +lances with effect, and throw their arrows with +deadly aim. The Camanchees are so much on +their horses, that they never seem at their ease +except when they are flying across the prairie on +horseback.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> It would be worth going to the prairies, +if it were only to see the Camanchees ride.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Besides horse-races, the Indians have +foot-races and canoe-races and wrestling. The Indians +are also very fond of archery, in which, using +their bows and also arrows so much as they do, it +is no wonder they are very skilful. The game +of the arrow is a very favourite amusement with +them. It is played on the open prairie. There +is no target set up to shoot at, as there is generally; +but every archer sends his first arrow as +high as he can into the air.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay, I see! He who shoots the highest +in the air is the winner.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Not exactly so. It is not he who +shoots highest that is the victor; but he who can +get the greatest number of arrows into the air at +the same time. Picture to yourselves a hundred +well-made, active young men, on the open prairie, +each carrying a bow, with eight or ten arrows, in +his left hand. He sends an arrow into the air +with all his strength, and then, instantly, with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +rapidity that is truly surprising, shoots arrow +after arrow upwards, so that, before the first arrow +has reached the ground, half a dozen others have +mounted into the air. Often have I seen seven or +eight shafts from the same bow in the air at once.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Brian, we will try what we can do to-morrow; +but we shall never have so many as +seven or eight up at once.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Indians are famous swimmers, +and, indeed, if they were not, it would often go +hard with them. They are taught when very +young to make their way through the water, and +though they do it usually in a manner different +from that of white men, I hardly think many white +men would equal them, either as to their speed, +or the length of time they will continue in the +water.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But how do they swim, if their way is +different from ours? I can swim a little, and I +should like to learn their way, if it is the best.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I am not quite prepared to say that; +for, though red men are more expert swimmers +than white men, that may be owing to their being +more frequently in the water. They fish a great +deal in the lakes; and they have often to cross +brooks and rivers in too much haste to allow them +to get into a canoe. A squaw thinks but very +little of plunging into a rolling river with a child +on her back; for the women swim nearly or +quite as well as the men.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But you did not tell us wherein their +way of swimming is different from ours.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Whites swim by striking out their legs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +and both arms at the same time, keeping their +breasts straight against the water; but the Indian +strikes out with one arm only, turning himself on +his side every stroke, first on one side and then +on the other, so that, instead of his broad chest +breasting the water in front, he cuts through it +sideways, finding less resistance in that way than +the other. Much may be said in favour of both +these modes. The Indian mode requires more +activity and skill, while the other depends more +on the strength of the arms, a point in which +they far surpass the Indian, who has had little +exercise of the arms, and consequently but comparatively +little strength in those limbs. I always +considered myself to be a good swimmer, but I +was no match for the Indians. I shall not soon +forget a prank that was once played me on the +Knife River, by some of the Minatarees; it convinced +me of their adroitness in the water.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What was it? Did they dip your head +under the water?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No; you shall hear. I was crossing +the river in a bull-boat, which is nothing more +than a tub, made of buffalo’s skin, stretched on a +framework of willow boughs. The tub was just +large enough to hold me and the few things which +I had with me; when suddenly a group of young +swimmers, most of them mere children, surrounded +me, and began playfully to turn my tub +round and round in the stream. Not being prepared +to swim, on account of my dress, I began +to manifest some fear lest my poor tub should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +overturned; but the more fearful I was, the better +pleased were my mirthful tormentors.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ah! I can see it spinning round like +a peg-top, in the middle of the river.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And did they upset the tub?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No. After amusing themselves for +some time at my expense, now and then diving +under the tub, and then pulling down the edge +of it level with the water, on receiving a few +beads, or other trifles which I happened to have +with me, they drew me and my bull-boat to the +shore in safety. They were beautiful swimmers, +and, as I told you, I shall not soon forget +them.</p> + +<p>The dances among the Indians are very numerous; +some of them are lively enough, while +others are very grave; and, then, most of the +tribes are fond of relating adventures.</p> + +<p>There are the buffalo dance, the bear dance, +the dog dance and the eagle dance. And then +there are the ball-play dance, the green corn dance, +the beggars’ dance, the slave dance, the snow-shoe +dance, and the straw dance; and, besides +these, there are the discovery dance, the brave +dance, the war dance, the scalp dance, the pipe-of-peace +dance, and many others that I do not at +this moment remember.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You must please to tell us about +them all.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But not all at once, or else we shall +have too short an account. Suppose you tell us +of two or three of them now.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> To describe every dance at length<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +would be tiresome, as many of them have the +same character. It will be better to confine ourselves +to a few of the principal dances. I have +known a buffalo dance continue for a fortnight or +longer, day and night, without intermission. +When I was among the Mandans, every Indian +had a buffalo mask ready to put on whenever he +required it. It was composed of the skin of a +buffalo’s head, with the horns on it; a long, thin +strip of the buffalo’s hide, with the tail at the +end of it, hanging down from the back of the +mask.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What figures they would look with +their masks on! Did you say that they kept up +the dance day and night?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes. The Mandans were strong in +their village, but comparatively weak whenever +they left it, for then they were soon in the neighbourhood +of their powerful enemies. This being +the case, when the buffaloes of the prairie wandered +far away from them, they were at times +half starved. The buffalo dance was to make +buffaloes come back again to the prairies near +them.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> But how could they bring them back +again?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The buffalo dance was a kind of +homage paid to the Great Spirit, that he might +take pity on them, and send them supplies. +The dancers assembled in the middle of the village, +each wearing his mask, with its horns and +long tail, and carrying in his hand a lance, or a +bow and arrows. The dance began, by about a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +dozen of them thus attired, starting, hopping, +jumping and creeping in all manner of strange, +uncouth forms; singing, yelping, and making odd +sounds of every description, while others were +shaking rattles and beating drums with all their +might; the drums, the rattles, the yelling, the +frightful din, with the uncouth antics of the dancers, +altogether presented such a scene, that, were +you once to be present at a buffalo dance, +you would talk of it long after, and would not +forget it all the days of your lives.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And do they keep that up for a fortnight?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Sometimes much longer, for they +never give over dancing till the buffaloes come. +Every dancer, when he is tired, (and this he +makes known by crouching down quite low,) is +shot with blunt arrows, and dragged away, when +his place is supplied by another. While the +dance is going on, scouts are sent out to look for +buffaloes, and as soon as they are found, a shout +of thanksgiving is raised to the Great Spirit, to +the medicine man, and to the dancers, and preparation +is made for a buffalo hunt. After this, a +great feast takes place; all their sufferings from +scarcity are forgotten, and they are as prodigal, +and indeed wasteful, of their buffalo meat, as if +they had never known the want of it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well, I should like to see the buffalo +dance. Could not we manage one on the lawn, +Brian?</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> But where are we to get the buffalo +masks from? The buffalo hunt did very well,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +but I hardly think we could manage the dance +Please to tell us of the bear dance.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I think it will be better to tell you +about that, and other dances, the next time you +visit me; for I want to read to you a short +account, which I have here, of a poor Indian +woman of the Dog-ribbed tribe. I have not said +much of Indian women, and I want you to feel +kindly towards them. It was Hearne, who went +with a party from Hudson’s Bay to the Northern +Ocean, many years ago, who fell in with the poor +woman.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Oh, yes; let us hear all about her; and +you can tell us of the dances when we come again.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Now, then, I will begin. One day +in January, when they were hunting, they saw the +track of a strange snow-shoe, which they followed, +and at a considerable distance came to a little hut, +where they discovered a young woman sitting +alone. On examination, she proved to be one +of the Dog-ribbed Indians, who had been taken +prisoner by another tribe, in the summer of 1770; +and, in the following summer, when the Indians +that took her prisoner were near this place, she +had escaped from them, intending to return to her +own country. But the distance being so great, +and having, after she was taken prisoner, been +carried in a canoe the whole way, the turnings +and windings of the rivers and lakes were so +numerous that she forgot the track; so she built +the hut in which she was found, to protect her +from the weather during the winter, and here she +had resided from the first setting-in of the fall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What, all by herself! How lonely +she must have been!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> From her account of the moons +passed since her escape, it appeared that she had +been nearly seven months without seeing a human +face; during all which time she had supplied +herself very well, by snaring partridges, rabbits +and squirrels: she had also killed two or three +beavers, and some porcupines. She did not seem +to have been in want, and had a small stock of +provisions by her when she was discovered. +She was in good health and condition, and one +of the finest of Indian women.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I should have been afraid that other +Indians would have come and killed her.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The methods practised by this poor +creature to procure a livelihood were truly admirable, +and furnish proof that necessity is indeed +the mother of invention. When the few deer +sinews, that she had an opportunity of taking with +her, were expended, in making snares and sewing +her clothing, she had nothing to supply their place +but the sinews of the rabbits’ legs and feet. +These she twisted together for that purpose with +great dexterity and success. The animals which +she caught in those snares, not only furnished her +with a comfortable subsistence, but of the skins +she made a suit of neat and warm clothing for +the winter. It is scarcely possible to conceive +that a person in her forlorn situation could be so +composed as to be capable of contriving and +executing any thing that was not absolutely necessary +to her existence; but there was sufficient<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +proof that she had extended her care much farther, +as all her clothing, besides being calculated +for real service, showed great taste, and exhibited +no little variety of ornament. The materials, +though rude, were very curiously wrought, and +so judiciously placed, as to make the whole of +her garb have a very pleasant, though rather romantic +appearance.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Poor woman! I should like to have +seen her in the hut of her own building, and the +clothes of her own making.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Her leisure hours from hunting had +been employed in twisting the inner rind or bark +of willows into small lines, like net-twine, of +which she had some hundred fathoms by her. +With these she intended to make a fishing-net, as +soon as the spring advanced. It is of the inner +bark of the willows, twisted in this manner, that +the Dog-ribbed Indians make their fishing-nets; +and they are much preferable to those made by +the Northern Indians.</p> + +<p>Five or six inches of an iron hoop, made into +a knife, and the shank of an arrow-head of iron, +which served her as an awl, were all the metals +this poor woman had with her when she escaped; +and with these implements she had made herself +complete snow-shoes, and several other useful +articles.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Capital! Why, she seems able to do +every thing.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Her method of making a fire was +equally singular and curious, having no other +materials for that purpose than two hard stones.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +These, by long friction and hard knocking, produced +a few sparks, which at length communicated +to some touch-wood. But as this method was +attended with great trouble, and not always successful, +she did not suffer her fire to go out all the +winter.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/illo169.jpg" width="300" height="200" alt="Indian Canoes." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Indian Canoes.</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo170.jpg" width="400" height="364" alt="c, drum. d, d, rattles. e, drum. f, mystery +whistle. g, deer-skin flute." title="" /> +<span class="caption">c, drum. d, d, rattles. e, drum. f, mystery +whistle. g, deer-skin flute.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Never</span>, sure, did young people make a more +grotesque appearance, than did Austin, Brian, and +Basil Edwards, in their attempt to get up a buffalo +dance. Each had a mat over his shoulders, and +a brown paper mask over his face; two wooden +pegs on a string made a very respectable pair of +horns; bows and arrows were in abundance; a +toy rattle and drum, with the addition of an iron +spoon and a wooden trencher, supplied them with +music; and neither Mandan, Pawnee, Crow, +Sioux, Blackfoot, nor Camanchee, could have +reasonably complained of the want of either noise +or confusion.</p> + +<p>Then, again, they were very successful in bringing +buffaloes, without which the dance, excellent +as it was, would have been but an unsatisfactory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +affair. Black Tom had been prudently shut up +in the tool-house, and Jowler tied up to a tree +hard by, so that, when it became expedient for +buffaloes to appear, the house of Black Tom was +opened, and Jowler was set at liberty. All things +considered, the affair went off remarkably well.</p> + +<p>“We are come to hear of the bear dance, and +the dog dance, and the beggars’ dance, and the +green corn dance,” said Austin to the hunter, on +the following day, when a visit was paid to the +cottage. The hunter, with his accustomed kindness +to the young people, lost no time in entering +on his narrative. “You must not forget,” said +he, “that many of the dances of the Indians partake +of a religious character, for in them reverence +and adoration are freely offered. The Indians’ +worship of the Great Spirit, as I have already told +you, is mingled with much of ignorance and superstition, +whether in dances or in other observances; +yet do they, at times, leave upon the mind +of a spectator a deep impression of their sincerity, +though this does not excuse their error. I have +not as yet described their music, and therefore will +do it now.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes. Now for the music of the Indians, +if you please, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> If you ever go among them, and mingle +in their dances, you must not expect to have a +band of music such as you have in our cities. +Whistles, flutes, rattles and drums are almost all +their musical instruments. You would be surprised +at the music that some of the young Indians +produce with the mystery whistle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why is it called the mystery whistle?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I have already told you that the red +man calls every thing mystery, or medicine, that +is surprising; and as the notes of this whistle are +particularly sweet, it may be called a mystery +whistle on this account. There is another whistle +that is very much in request among the Indians, +and that is the war whistle. The onset and the +retreat in battle are sounded on this instrument by +the leading chief, who never goes on an expedition +without it. It is made of bone, and sometimes +it is formed of the leg bone of a large bird. +The shrill, scream-like note, which is the signal +for rushing on an enemy, would make you start.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What sort of a drum do they use? Is +it a kettle-drum?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No. It is merely a piece of raw hide, +stretched as tight as it can be pulled over a hoop. +Some of their drums have but one end, or surface, +to beat upon, while others have two. What they +would do in their dances without their drums I +do not know, for you hear them continually. +Their rattles are of different kinds, some much +larger than others; but the principle on which +they are formed is the same, that is, of enclosing +stones of different sizes in hard, dry, raw hide.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Have they no trumpets and cymbals, +and clarionets and violins?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No, nothing of the kind. They have +a deer-skin flute, on which very tolerable music +is sometimes made; but, after all, it must be admitted +that Indians are much better buffalo hunters +than musicians.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay; they are quite at home in hunting +buffaloes.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes; and they are at home, too, in +dancing, being extremely nimble of foot. Some +of their dances are so hideous that you would be +disgusted with them, while others would keep you +laughing in spite of yourselves.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You must please to tell us about these +dances.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Dancing is a very favourite amusement +of the Indians; though it is, for the most +part, of a character so different from that of dancing +in civilized life, that few people, ignorant of its +meaning and allusions, would like it. The body +is so continually in a stooping attitude, and the +gestures and grimaces appear to be so unmeaning, +that at first it leaves an impression that they are +ridiculing the art of dancing, rather than entering +into it in right earnest. There is such creeping +and jumping and starting, that a spectator can +make but little of it.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I can fancy that I see a party joining +in the buffalo dance now, with their masks over +their faces. Please to tell us of the bear dance.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> By and by. I will describe a few +other dances first. The beggars’ dance is undertaken +to prevail on such of the spectators as +abound in comforts to give alms to those who are +more scantily provided with them. It is danced +by the young men who stand high in the tribe. +These shake their rattles, hold up their pipes and +brandish their lances, while they dance; chanting +in an odd strain, at the top of their voices, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +praise of the Great Spirit, and imploring him to +dispose the lookers on to give freely. The dancers +are all naked, with the exception of a sort of kilt +formed of quills and feathers; and a medicine +man keeps on all the time beating furiously on +a drum with a rattle, and hallooing out as loud +as he can raise his voice.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> That ought to be called the begging +dance, and not the beggars’ dance; for the dancers +do not beg for themselves, but for others.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You see that the object of the dance is +a good one; for many a skin, or pouch, or pipe, +or other necessary article, is given by the spectators +to those of their tribe who need them. It is +not common among the Indians for their aged +men and mystery men to mingle in the dance, and +yet I have seen, on especial occasions, a score of +them jumping and capering in a way very creditable +to their agility. The Sioux have a dance +that ought to be called the doctors’ dance, or the +dance of the chiefs.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Why, do the doctors dance in it?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes; while a medicine man beats his +drum, and a party of young women sing, the +chiefs of the tribe and the doctors make their +appearance, splendidly attired in their costliest +head-dresses, carrying a spear in one hand and a +rattle in the other. Every movement is strictly +regulated by the beat of the drum, and the dance +by degrees becomes more and more spirited, until +you would suppose the party must be exhausted: +but men so much in the open air, and whose limbs +are so little restrained by bandages and tight clothing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +can bear a great deal of fatigue. The pipe +dance is one of the most animated amusements.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Oh! do tell us about the pipe dance.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In the ground in the centre of the village +a fire is lighted, and a party assemble round +it; every one smoking his pipe, as he sits on his +buffalo skin, as though nothing was farther from +his thoughts than dancing. While these are +whiffing away at a distance from the fire, a mystery +man, who sits nearer to the flame, smokes a +longer pipe, grunting at the same time a kind of +tune. Suddenly is heard the rub-a-dub of a drum, +or the beat of some other instrument of the same +kind; when instantly starts to his feet one of the +smokers, hopping like a parched pea, spinning +round like a top, and starting and jumping, at +every beat of the drum, in a very violent manner. +In this way he goes round the smokers, seemingly +threatening them all, and at last pounces upon +one of them, whom he compels to dance in the +same manner as himself. The new dancer acts +his part like the former one, capering and jumping +round the smokers, and compelling another +to join them. Thus the dance continues, till all of +them are occupied, when the hopping, the jumping, +the frightful postures into which they throw themselves, +together with the grunting, growling, +singing, hooting and hallooing, are beyond all +belief. There are few dances of the Indians +more full of wild gestures and unrestrained turbulence +than the pipe dance.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I hope you have a good many more +dances to tell us of.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The green corn dance of the Minatarees +must be described to you. Among Indian tribes, +green corn is a great luxury, and the time when +it ripens is a time of rejoicing. Dances and songs +of thanksgiving are abundant; and the people +give way not only to feasting, but also to gluttony; +so that often, by abusing the abundance in their +possession, they bring upon themselves the miseries +of want. The Indians have very little fore-thought. +To enjoy the present, and to trust the +future to the Great Spirit, is their constant practice.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How long does the green corn dance +last?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> For eight or ten days, during which +time there is the most unbounded prodigality. +Among many of the tribes, the black drink, a +very powerful medicine, is taken two or three +days before the feast, that the green corn may be +eaten with a sharp appetite and an empty stomach.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> In what way does the green corn dance +begin?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> As soon as the corn is in a proper +state—and this is decided by the mystery men—runners +are despatched through the village, that +all may assemble on the following day to the dance +and the feast. Sufficient corn for the required +purpose is gathered by the women, who have the +fields under their care, and a fire is made, over +which a kettle, with green corn in it, is kept +boiling; while medicine men, whose bodies are +strangely painted, or bedaubed with clay of a +white colour, dance round it in very uncouth +attitudes, with corn-stalks in their hands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I dare say, while the pot is boiling, +they are all longing to begin the feast.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The first kettle-full is not for themselves, +it is an offering to the Great Spirit. There +are many customs among the Indians which cannot +but bring the Jews to our remembrance; and +this offering of the first green corn does so very +forcibly. The medicine men round the fire shake +their rattles, hold up their corn-stalks, and sing +loudly a song of thanksgiving, till the corn is sufficiently +boiled; it is then put upon the fire and +consumed to a cinder. Before this offering is +made, none of the Indians would dare to taste of +the luxurious fare; but, afterwards, their appetite +is unrestrained.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Then they begin to boil more corn, I +suppose.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> A fresh fire is made, a fresh kettle of +corn is prepared, and the dance goes on; the +medicine men keeping close to the fire, and the +others capering and shouting in a larger circle, +their energy increasing as the feast approaches +nearer and nearer. The chiefs and medicine men +then sit down to the feast, followed by the whole +tribe, keeping up their festivity day after day, till +the corn-field has little more grain remaining in it +than what is necessary for seed. You have heard +the saying, “Wilful waste brings woful want.” +The truth of this saying is often set forth, as well +in civilized life as among the Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I wonder what dance will come next.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I need not describe many others. If +I run rapidly through two or three, and dwell a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +little on the bear dance and the war dance, you +will then have heard quite enough about dances. +The scalp dance is in use among the Sioux or +Dahcotas. It is rather a fearful exhibition; for +women, in the centre of a circle, hold up and +wave about the scalps which have been torn from +the slaughtered foes of the tribe, while the warriors +draw around them in the most furious attitudes, +brandishing their war-clubs, uttering the +most hideous howls and screams. The Indians +have many good qualities, but cruelty seems to +mingle with their very nature. Every thing is +done among them that can be done, to keep alive +the desire to shed blood. The noblest act a red +man can perform, and that which he thinks the +most useful to his tribe and the most acceptable +to the Great Spirit, is to destroy an enemy, and to +bear away his scalp as a trophy of his valour. If +it were only for this one trait in the Indian character, +even this would be sufficient to convince +every humane person, and especially every Christian, +of the duty and great advantage of spreading +among them the merciful principles of Christianity. +A holy influence is necessary to teach the +untutored red man to forgive his enemies, to subdue +his anger, to abate his pride, and to stay his +hand in shedding human blood. The new commandment +must be put in his heart: “That ye +love one another.” The Mandan boys used to +join in a sham scalp dance, in which they conducted +themselves just like warriors returning from +a victorious enterprise against their enemies.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> They are all sadly fond of fighting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In the brave dance, of the Ojibbeways, +there is plenty of swaggering: the dancers seem +as if they knew not how to be proud enough of +their warlike exploits. The eagle dance, among +the Choctaws, is an elegant amusement; and the +snow-shoe dance, of the Ojibbeways, is a very +amusing one.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Please to tell us about them both.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I must not stay to describe them particularly: +it will be enough to say, that, in the +one, the dancers are painted white, and that they +move about waving in their hands the tail of the +eagle; in the other—which is performed on the +first fall of snow, in honour of the Great Spirit—the +dancers wear snow-shoes, which, projecting +far before and behind their feet, give them in the +dance a most strange and laughable appearance.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I should very much like to see that +dance; there is nothing cruel in it at all.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And I should like to see the eagle dance, +for there is no cruelty in that either.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The straw dance is a Sioux dance of +a very curious description. Loose straws are tied +to the bodies of naked children; these straws are +then set on fire, and the children are required to +dance, without uttering any expression of pain. +This practice is intended to make them hardy, +that they may become the better warriors.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> That is one of the strangest dances of all.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will now say a little about the bear +dance, and the war dance. The bear dance is +performed by the Sioux before they set off on a +bear-hunt. If the bear dance were left unperformed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +they would hardly hope for success. The +Bear spirit, if this honour were not paid to him, +would be offended, and would give them no success +in the chase.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What! do the Sioux think there is a +Bear spirit?</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illo180.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="Bear Dance." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Bear Dance.</span> +</div> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes. The number of spirits of one +kind or another, believed in by the Indians, is very +great. In the bear dance, the principal performer +has a bear-skin over him, the head of it hanging +over his head, and the paws over his hands. +Others have masks of bears’ faces; and all of +them, throughout the dance, imitate the actions of +a bear. They stoop down, they dangle their +hands, and make frightful noises, beside singing +to the Bear spirit. If you can imagine twenty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +bears dancing to the music of the rattle, whistle, +and drum, making odd gambols, and yelling out +the most frightful noises, you will have some notion +of the bear dance.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Now for the war dance: that is come +at last.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It is hardly possible to conceive a +more exciting spectacle than that of the war dance +among the Sioux. It exhibits Indian manners +on the approach of war. As, among civilized +people, soldiers are raised either by recruiting or +other means; so, among the Indians, something +like recruiting prevails. The red pipe is sent +through the tribe, and every one who draws a +whiff up the stem thereby declares he is willing +to join the war party. The warriors then assemble +together, painted with vermilion and other colours, +and dressed in their war clothes, with their +weapons and their war-eagle head-dresses.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What a sight that must be!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When the mystery man has stuck up +a red post in the ground, and begun to beat his +drum, the warriors advance, one after another, +brandishing their war-clubs, and striking the red +post a violent blow, while the mystery man sings +their death-song. When the warriors have struck +the post, they blacken their faces, and all set to dancing +around it. The shrill war-whoop is screamed +aloud, and frantic gestures and frightful yells show, +but too plainly, that there will be very little mercy +extended to the enemy that falls into their hands.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That war dance would make me +tremble.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Mandan boys used to assemble at +the back of their village, every morning, as soon +as the sun was in the skies, to practise sham +fighting. Under the guidance and direction of +their ablest and most courageous braves and warriors, +they were instructed in all the mysteries of +war. The preparations, the ambush, the surprise, +the combat and the retreat, were made familiar +to them. Thus were they bred up from their +youth to delight in warfare, and to long for opportunities +of using their tomahawks and scalping-knives +against their foes.</p> + +<p>When you next come to see me, I will give +you an account of the cruel customs of the mystery +lodge of the Mandans; with the hope that it will +increase your abhorrence of cruelty and bloodshed, +render you more than ever thankful for the +blessings of peace, and more anxious to extend +them all over the earth. The hardest of all lessons +now, to a red man, is, as I have before intimated, +to forgive his enemies; but when, through +Divine mercy, his knowledge is extended, and +his heart opened to receive the truths of the gospel, +he will be enabled to understand, to love, and to +practise the injunction of the Saviour, “Love +your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good +to them that hate you, and pray for them which +despitefully use you, and persecute you.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 2em"> +<img src="images/illo183.jpg" width="400" height="303" alt="Interior of a Mystery Lodge." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Interior of a Mystery Lodge.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was well for Austin Edwards and his brothers, +that their acquaintance with their friend the +hunter commenced during one of their holidays, +so that they were enabled to pay him a visit more +frequently than they otherwise could have done. +The life led by the hunter would have been far +too solitary for most people; but his long wanderings +in the extended prairies, and his long +sojournings in places remote from society, had +rendered the quiet tranquillity of country scenes +pleasant to him: yet, still, as variety has its +charms, it afforded him a pleasant change, whenever +the three brothers visited him.</p> + +<p>In his younger days, he had entered on the life +of a hunter and trapper with much ardour. To<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +pursue the buffalo (or, more properly speaking, +the bison) of the prairie, the deer, and other +animals, and to mingle with the different tribes of +Indians, was his delight. With wild animals and +wild men he became familiar, and even the very +dangers that beset his path gave an interest to his +pursuits: but his youth was gone, his manhood +was declining, and the world that he once looked +upon as an abiding dwelling-place, he now regarded +as the pathway to a better home.</p> + +<p>Time was, when to urge the arrow or the spear +into the heart of the flying prey for mere diversion, +and to join in the wild war-whoop of contending +tribes, was congenial to his spirit; but his mind +had been sobered, so that now to practise forbearance +and kindness was far more pleasant than +to indulge in cruelty and revenge. He looked on +mankind as one great family, which ought to +dwell in brotherly love; and he regarded the +animal creation as given by a heavenly Hand, +for the use, and not the abuse, of man.</p> + +<p>In relating the scenes in which he had mingled +in earlier years, he was aware that he could not +avoid calling up, in some measure, in the youthful +hearts of his auditors, the natural desire to see +what was new and strange and wonderful, without +reflecting a moment on the good or the evil +of the thing set before them: but he endeavoured +to blend with his descriptions such remarks as +would lead them to love what was right and to +hate what was wrong. Regarding the Indian +tribes as an injured people, he sought to set before +his young friends the wrongs and oppressions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +practised on the red man; that they might sympathize +with his trials, and feel interested for his +welfare.</p> + +<p>The few words that had dropped from his lips, +about the ordeal through which the Indians pass +before they are allowed to join war-parties, had +awakened Austin’s curiosity. Nor was it long +before, seated with his brothers in the cottage, he +was listening to the whole account. “Please to +begin at the very beginning,” said he, “and I +shall not lose a single word.”</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Sioux, the Crows, the Sacs, the +Ojibbeways, the Camanchees, and the Chippewas, +all exhibit astonishing proofs of patience and +endurance under pain; but in none of the tribes +has ever such torture been inflicted, or such +courage witnessed, in enduring torment, as among +the Mandans.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Now we shall hear.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Mandans, who, as I have already +told you, lived, when I was a hunter, on the +Upper Missouri, held a mystery lodge every year; +and this was indeed a very solemn gathering of +the tribe. I was never present in the lodge on +this occasion, but will give you the description +of an eye-witness.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Why did they get together? What did +they do?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You shall hear. The mystery lodge, +or it may be called the religious meeting, was +held, first, to appease the wrath and secure the +protection of the good and the evil spirits; secondly, +to celebrate the great flood, which they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +believed took place a long time ago; thirdly, to +perform the buffalo dance, to bring buffaloes; and, +fourthly, to try the strength, courage and endurance +of their young men, that they might know +who were the most worthy among them, and the +most to be relied on in war-parties.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How came the Mandans to know any +thing about the flood, if they have no Bibles?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> That I cannot tell. Certain it is, that +they had a large, high tub, called the Great Canoe, +in the centre of their village, set up in commemoration +of the flood; and that they held the +mystery lodge when the willow leaves were in +their prime under the river bank, because, they +said, a bird had brought a willow bough in full +leaf to the Great Canoe in the flood.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why, it is just as if they had read the +Bible.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The fact of the deluge (however they +came by it) had undoubtedly been handed down +among them by tradition for many generations: +but I must go on with my account of the Mandan +gathering. The mystery lodge was opened by a +strange-looking man, whom no one seemed to +know, and who came from the prairie. This odd +man called for some edge-tool at every wigwam +in the village; and all these tools, at the end of +the ceremonies, were cast into the river from a +high bank; as an offering, I suppose, to the Water +spirit. After opening the mystery lodge, and appointing +a medicine man to preside, he once more +disappeared on the prairie.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> What an odd thing!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Twenty or thirty young men were +in the lodge, candidates for reputation among the +tribe, who had presented themselves to undergo +the prescribed tortures. As they reclined in the +lodge, every one had hung up over his head, his +shield, his bow and quiver, and his medicine bag. +The young men were painted different colours. +The old mystery man appointed to superintend +the ceremonies sat by a fire in the middle of the +lodge, smoking leisurely with his medicine pipe, +in honour of the Great Spirit; and there he sat +for four days, and as many nights, during which +the young men neither tasted food nor drink, nor +were they allowed to close their eyes.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> It was enough to kill them all.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> On the floor of the lodge were buffalo +and human skulls, and sacks filled with water, +shaped like tortoises, with sticks by them. During +each of the four days, the buffalo dance was +performed over and over again, by Indians, painted, +and wearing over them whole buffalo skins, with +tails and hoofs and horns; while in their hands +they carried rattles, and long, thin, white wands, +and bore on their backs bundles of green boughs +of the willow. Some of the dancers were painted +red, to represent the day; and others black, with +stars, to resemble the night. During these dances, +which took place round the Great Canoe, the tops +of the wigwams were crowded with people.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I want to hear about the young Indians +in the lodge, and that old fellow, the +mystery man.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The superstitious and cruel practices<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +of the mystery lodge are too fearful to dwell upon. +I shall only just glance at them, that you +may know, in some degree, the kind of trials the +young Indians have to endure. While the dances +were going on, mystery men, inside the lodge, +were beating on the water sacks with sticks, and +animating the young men to act courageously, +telling them that the Great Spirit was sure to support +them. Splints, or wooden skewers, were +then run through the flesh on the back and breasts +of the young warriors, and they were hoisted up, +with cords fastened to the splints, towards the top +of the lodge. Not a muscle of their features expressed +fear or pain.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Shocking! shocking!</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That must be horrible!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> After this, other splints were run +through their arms, thighs and legs; and on +these were hung their shields, arms and medicine +bags. In this situation they were taunted, and +turned round with poles till they fainted; and +when, on being let down again, they recovered, +those who had superior hardihood would crawl +to the buffalo skull in the centre of the lodge, and +lay upon it the little finger of their left hand to +be chopped off; and even the loss of a second or +third finger is counted evidence of superior boldness +and devotion. After this, they were hurried +along between strong and fleet runners: this was +called “the last race,” round and round the Great +Canoe, till the weight of their arms having pulled +the splints from their bodies, they once more +fainted, and in this state, apparently dead, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +were left to themselves, to live or die, as the +Great Spirit might determine.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I should think that hardly any of them +would ever come to life again.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Nor would they, under common circumstances; +but, when we consider that these +young men had fasted for four days, and lost much +blood in their tortures, there was not much danger +of inflammation from their wounds, and their +naturally strong constitutions enabled them to recover. +All these tortures were willingly undertaken; +nor would any one of those who endured +them, on any account whatever, have evaded +them. To propitiate the Great Spirit, and to +stand well in the estimation of his own tribe, are +the two highest objects in the mind of an Indian.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The day after that on which Austin and his +brothers heard from the hunter the account of the +mystery lodge, and the sufferings of the young +Mandans before they were thought equal to engage +in a war-party, two or three little accidents occurred. +In the first place, Austin, in making a +new bow, cut a deep gash in his finger: and, in +the next, Brian and Basil, in scrambling among +the hedges in quest of straight twigs for arrows, +met with their mishaps; for Brian got a thorn in +his thumb, while Basil had a roll down the bank +into a dry ditch.</p> + +<p>It is always a good sign in young people, when +they put into practice any real or supposed good +quality of which they hear or read. The patience<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +and endurance of the young Mandans had called +forth high commendations from Austin, and it was +evident, in the affair of the cut finger, that he +made a struggle, and a successful one too, in controlling +his feelings. With an air of resolution, +he wrapped the end of his pocket handkerchief +tightly round the wound, and passed off the occurrence +as a matter of no moment. Not a word +escaped little Basil when he rolled into the ditch; +nor did Brian utter a single “oh!” when the +thorn was extracted from his thumb.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illo190.jpg" width="400" height="297" alt="A War-Party." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A War-Party.</span> +</div> + +<p>“You may depend upon it,” said Austin, after +some conversation with Brian and Basil, on the +subject of the young Mandans, “that the next +time we see the hunter, we shall hear something +about the way in which red men go to war. The +sham fight, and the preparation of the young warriors, +will be followed by some account of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +battles.” In this supposition he was quite correct; +for, when they next visited the cottage, the +hunter proposed to speak a little about councils +and encampments and alarms and surprises and +attacks. The conversation was carried on in the +following manner.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How do the Indians poison their arrows?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> By dipping the point of the arrow-head +into the poison prepared. The head of the +arrow, as I told you, is put on very slightly, so +that it remains in the wound when the arrow is +withdrawn.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Where do they get their poison? What +is it made of?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No doubt there is some difference in +the manner of preparing poison among the different +tribes. But, usually, it is, I believe, composed +of deadly vegetable substances, slowly +boiled together, sometimes mingled with the mortal +poison of snakes and ants. This is prepared +with great care. Its strength is usually tried on +a lizard, or some other cold-blooded, slow-dying +animal. It is rapid in its effects; for, if a fowl +be wounded with a poisoned weapon, it dies in a +few minutes; a cat dies in five minutes; a bison, +in five or six; and a horse, in ten. Jaguars and +deer live but a short time after they are thus +wounded. If, then, horses and bisons are so soon +destroyed by the poison, no wonder that men +should be unable to endure its fatal effects.</p> + +<p>Before war is determined on among the Indians, +a council is held with great solemnity. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +chiefs, and braves, and medicine men are assembled. +Then the enlisting takes place, which I +have already described; the war dance is engaged +in, and weapons are examined and repaired. The +chief, arrayed in full dress, leads on his band. +They march with silence and rapidity, and encamp +with great caution, appointing sentinels in every +necessary direction. Thus, lurking, skulking +and marching, they reach the place of their destination. +Another war council is held, to decide +on the mode of attack; and then, with rifles, war-clubs, +scalping-knives and bows and poisoned +arrows, they fall upon their unsuspecting foes.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> It is very sad to fight with such weapons +as poisoned arrows.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It is sad to fight with any kind of +weapons; but, when once anger enters the heart, +and the desire to shed blood is called forth, no +mode is thought too cruel that will assist in obtaining +a victory. The continual warfare that is +carried on between Indian tribes must be afflictive +to every humane and Christian spirit. None +but the God of peace can destroy the love of war +in the hearts of either red or white men.</p> + +<p>Indians fight in a way very different from civilized +people; for they depend more on cunning, +stratagem and surprise, than on skill and courage. +Almost all their attacks are made under cover of +night, or when least expected. A war-party will +frequently go a great distance, to fall upon a village +or an encampment on a quarter most accessible. +To effect their object, they will hide for +any length of time in the forest, sleep in the long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +grass, lurk in the ravine, and skulk at nightfall +around the place to be attacked.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Did you ever go out with the Indians +to fight?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes. For some time I was treated +very hospitably among the Crows, near the Rocky +Mountains; and as they had determined to go on +one of their war-parties, which I could not prevent, +I resolved to go along with them, to watch +their way of proceeding.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Do tell us all about it.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It was a thoughtless and foolish affair, +when I was young and rash; but I wished to be +a spectator of all their customs. It was, as I said, +one of those foolish undertakings into which the +ardour of my disposition led me, and for which I +was very near paying the price of my life. A +council was held, wherein it was decided to send +a strong war-party on foot to surprise a Blackfoot +village. Every stratagem had been used to lull +the enemy into security.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Ay; that is just like the Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The red pipe was sent through the +tribe, for the warriors to smoke with it, much after +the manner of the Sioux; the red post was struck, +and the braves and attendants painted their faces. +When the plan of attack was agreed on, every +warrior looked to his weapons; neither bow nor +arrow, war-club nor scalping-knife, was left unexamined. +There was an earnestness in their preparation, +as though they were all animated with +one spirit.</p> + +<p>It was some time after sundown, that we left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +the village at a quick pace. Runners were sent +out in all directions, to give notice of an enemy. +We hastened along a deep valley, rounded the +base of a bluff, and entered the skirt of a forest, +following each other in files beneath the shadowy +branches. We then passed through some deep +grass, and stole silently along several defiles and +ravines. The nearer we drew to the Blackfoot +village, the more silently and stealthily we proceeded. +Like the panther, creeping with noiseless +feet on his prey, we stole along the intricate +pathways of the prairie bottoms, the forest, the +skirt of the river and the hills and bluffs. At last +we made a halt, just as the moon emerged from +behind a cloud.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Then there was terrible work, I dare say.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It was past midnight, and the Blackfoot +village was wrapped in slumber. The Crow +warriors dispersed themselves to attack the village +at the same instant from different quarters. The +leader had on his full dress, his medicine bag, and +his head-dress of war-eagle plumes. All was +hushed in silence, nearly equal to that of the +grave; when suddenly the shrill war-whistle of +the Crow chief rung through the Blackfoot lodges, +and the wild war-whoop burst at once from a +hundred throats. The chief was in the thickest +of the fight. There was no pity for youth or age; +the war-club spared not, and the tomahawk was +merciless. Yelling like fiends, the Crow warriors +fled from hut to hut, from victim to victim. +Neither women nor children were spared.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Dreadful! dreadful!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Though taken thus by surprise, the +Blackfoot braves, in a little time, began to collect +together, clutching their weapons firmly, and rushing +on their enemies, determined to avenge their +slaughtered friends. The panic into which they +had been thrown subsided, and, like men accustomed +to danger, they stood not only in self-defence, +but attacked their foes with fury.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I wonder that every one in the Blackfoot +village was not killed!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In civilized life, this would very likely +have been the case; but in a savage state, men +from their childhood are trained up to peril. They +may lie down to slumber on their couches of skins, +but their weapons are near at hand; and though +it be the midnight hour when an attack is made +on them, and though, awakened by the confusion, +they hear nothing but the war-cry of their enemy, +they spring to their feet, seize their arms, and rush +on to meet their foes. It was thus with the Blackfoot +braves. Hand to hand, and foot to foot, they +met their assailants; brave was opposed to brave; +and the horrid clash of the war-club and the murderous +death-grapple succeeded each other. Even +if I could describe the horrors of such a scene, it +would not be right to do so. As I was gazing on +the conflict, I suddenly received a blow that struck +me bleeding to the ground. You may see the scar +on my temple still. The confusion was at its +height, or else my scalp would have been taken.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How did you get away?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Stunned as I was, I recovered my +senses before a retreat took place, and was just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +able to effect my escape. The Crows slaughtered +many of their enemies; but the Blackfoot warriors +and braves were at last too strong for them. +Then was heard the shrill whistle that sounded a +retreat. With a dozen scalps in their possession, +the Crows sought the shelter of the forest, and +afterwards regained their own village.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Are the Crow tribe or the Blackfoot +tribe the strongest?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Crow Indians, as I told you, are +taller and more elegant men than the Blackfeet; +but the latter have broader chests and shoulders. +The Blackfeet, some think, take their name from +the circumstance of their wearing black, or very +dark brown leggings and mocassins. Whether, +as a people, the Crows or the Blackfeet are the +strongest, there is a diversity of opinion. The +Blackfeet are almost always at war with the +Crows.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What battling there must be among +them!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Their war-parties are very numerous, +and their encampments are very large: and, whether +seen in the day, in the midst of their lodges; +or at night, wrapped in their robes, with their +arms in their hands, ready to leap up if attacked +by an enemy; they form a striking spectacle. +Sometimes, in a night encampment, a false alarm +takes place. A prowling bear, or a stray horse, +is taken for a foe; and sometimes a real alarm is +occasioned by spies crawling on their hands and +knees up to their very encampment to ascertain +their strength. On these occasions the shrill<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +whistle is heard, every man springs up armed and +rushes forth, ready to resist his assailing enemy. +I have seen war-parties among the Crows and +Blackfeet, the Mandans and Sioux, the Shawanees, +Poncas, Pawnees and Seminoles. But a +Camanchee war-party, mounted on wild horses, +with their shields, bows and lances, which I once +witnessed, was the most imposing spectacle of +the kind I ever saw. The chief was mounted on +a beautiful war-horse, wild as the winds, and yet +he appeared to manage him with ease. He was +in full dress, and seemed to have as much fire in +his disposition as the chafed animal on which he +rode. In his bridle-hand, he clutched his bow +and several arrows; with his other hand, he +wielded his long lance; while his quiver and +shield were slung at his back, and his rifle across +his thigh.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I think I can see him. But what +colour was his war-horse?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Black as a raven; but the white foam +lay in thick flakes on his neck and breast, for his +rider at every few paces stuck the sharp rowels +of his Spanish spurs into his sides. He had a +long flowing mane and tail, and his full and fiery +eyes seemed ready to start out of his head. The +whole Camanchee band was ready to rush into +any danger. At one time, they were flying over +the prairie in single file; and at another, drawn +up all abreast of each other. The Camanchees +and the Osages used to have cruel battles one with +another. The Mandans and the Riccarees, too, +were relentless enemies.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And the Sacs and Foxes were great +fighters, for Black Hawk was a famous fellow.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes, he was. But I have never told +you, I believe, how the medicine man, or mystery +man, conducts himself when called unto a wounded +warrior.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Not a word of it. Please to tell us +every particular.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In some cases cures are certainly performed; +in others, the wounded get well of themselves: +but, in most instances, the mystery man +is a mere juggler.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Now we shall hear of the mystery +man.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The Crow war-party that I had joined +brought away two of their wounded warriors when +they retreated from the Blackfoot village, but +there seemed to be no hope of saving their lives. +However, a mystery man was called on to use +his skill.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay; I want to know how the mystery +man cures his patients.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> If ever you should require a doctor, I +hope you will have one more skilful than the +mystery man that I am going to describe. The +wounded warriors were in extremity, and I thought +that one of them was dying before the mystery +man made his appearance; but you shall hear. +The wounded men lay groaning on the ground, +with Indians around them, who kept moaning even +louder than they did; when, all at once, a scuffle +of feet and a noise like that of a low rattle were +heard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> The mystery man was coming, I suppose.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He was; and a death-like silence was +instantly preserved by all the attendant Indians. +In came the mystery man, covered over with the +shaggy hide of a yellow bear, so that, had it not +been that his mocassins, leggings and hands +were visible, you might have supposed a real +bear was walking upright, with a spear in one +paw, and a rattle, formed like a tambourine, in the +other.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> He could never cure the dying man with +his tambourine.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> From the yellow bear-skin hung a profusion +of smaller skins, such as those of different +kinds of snakes, toads, frogs and bats; with hoofs +of animals, beaks and tails of birds, and scraps and +fragments of other things; a complete bundle of +odds and ends. The medicine man came into the +circle, bending his knees, crouching, sliding one +foot after the other along the ground, and now and +then leaping and grunting. You could not see +his face, for the yellow bear-head skin covered it, +and the paws dangled before him. He shuffled +round and round the wounded men, shaking his +rattle and making all kinds of odd noises; he +then stopped to turn them over.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> He had need of all his medicine.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Hardly had he been present a minute, +before one of the men died; and, in ten minutes +more, his companion breathed his last. The medicine +man turned them over, shook his rattle over +them, howled, groaned and grunted; but it would +not do; the men were dead, and all his mummery<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +would not bring them back to life again; so, after +a few antics of various kinds, he shuffled off with +himself, shaking his rattle, and howling and groaning +louder than ever. You may remember, that I +told you of the death of Oseola, the Seminole +chief: he who struck his dagger through the +treaty that was to sign away the hunting-grounds +of his tribe, in exchange for distant lands.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes. You said that he dashed his dagger +not only through the contract, but also through +the table on which it lay.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And you told us that he was taken +prisoner by treachery and died in captivity.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Now I will tell you the particulars of +his death; for I only said before, that he died +pillowed on the faithful bosom of his wife. He +had his two wives with him when he died, but +one was his favourite.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Please to let us know every thing about +him. It was at Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South +Carolina.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Finding himself at the point of death, +he made signs that the chiefs and officers might +be assembled, and his wishes were immediately +complied with. The next thing he desired was, +that his war-dress, that dress in which he had so +often led his tribe to victory, might be brought to +him. His wife waited obediently upon him, and +his war-dress was placed before him.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What could he want of his war-dress +when he was going to die?</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Wait a little, Basil, and you will hear +all about it, I dare say.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> It was an affecting sight, to see him +get up from his bed on the floor, once more to +dress himself as a chief of his tribe, just as if he +was about to head an expedition against the +whites. Well, he put on his rich mocassins, his +leggings adorned with scalp-locks, his shirt and +his ornamental belt of war. Nor did he forget +the pouch that carried his bullets, the horn that +held his powder; nor the knife with which he had +taken so many scalps.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> How very strange for a dying man to +dress himself in that way!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In all this, he was as calm and as +steady as though about to hunt in the woods with +his tribe. He then made signs, while sitting up +in his bed, that his red paint should be given him, +and his looking-glass held up, that he might paint +his face.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> And did he paint his face himself?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Only one half of it; after which his +throat, neck, wrists and the backs of his hands +were made as red as vermilion would make them. +The very handle of his knife was coloured over in +the same way.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> What did he paint his hands and his +knife-handle for?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Because it was the custom of his tribe, +and of his fathers before him, to paint themselves +and their weapons red, whenever they took an +oath of destruction to their enemies. Oseola did +it, no doubt, that he might die like a chief of his +tribe; that he might show those around him, that, +even in death, he did not forget that he was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +Seminole warrior. In that awful hour, he put on +his splendid turban with its three ostrich feathers, +and then, being wearied with the effort he had +made, he lay down to recover his strength.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How weak he must have been!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In a short time he rose again, sitting +in his full dress like the leader of a warlike tribe, +and calmly and smilingly extended his hand to +the chiefs and officers, to his wives and his children. +But this, his last effort, exhausted his remaining +strength. He was lowered down on the +bed, calmly drew his scalping-knife from its +sheath under his war-belt, where it had been +placed, and grasped it with firmness and dignity. +With his hands crossed on his manly breast, and +with a smile on his face, he breathed his last. +Thus passed away the spirit of Oseola.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Poor Oseola! He died like a chief, +at last.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He did, but not like a Christian, and, +very likely, when he grasped his scalping-knife, +before his last breath forsook him, some glowing +vision of successful combat was before him. In +the pride of his heart, perhaps, he was leading on +his braves to mingle in the clash of battle and +the death-grapple with his enemies. But is this +a fit state of mind for a man to die in? Much as +we may admire the steady firmness and unsubdued +courage of an Indian warrior in death, emotions +of pride and high-mindedness, and thoughts +of bloodshed and victory, are as far removed as +possible from the principles of Christianity, and most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +unsuitable to a dying hour. Humility, forgiveness, +repentance, hope, faith, peace and joy, are needed +at such a season; and the time will come, we +trust, when Indians, taught better by the gospel, +will think and feel so.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/illo203.jpg" width="200" height="113" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo204.jpg" width="310" height="400" alt="Mounted Chief." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Mounted Chief.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> holidays of the three brothers were drawing +to a close; and this circumstance rendered +them the more anxious to secure one or two more +visits to the cottage, before they settled down in +right earnest to their books. Brian and Basil +talked much about the poisoned arrows, and the +mystery man; but Austin’s mind was too much +occupied with the Camanchee chief on his black +war-horse, and the death of the Seminole chief +Oseola, to think much of any thing else. He +thought there was something very noble in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +valour of a chief leading on his tribe to conquest; +and something almost sublime in a warrior +dressing himself up in his war-robes to die. Like +many other young people of ardent dispositions, +he seemed to forget, that when a victory is enjoyed, +a defeat must be endured; and that before +any one can rejoice in taking a scalp, some +one must be rendered miserable or lifeless by +losing it. The remarks of the hunter, respecting +the inconsistency of such customs with the peaceful +principles of religion, especially the solemnities +of a dying hour, had not been made altogether in +vain; yet still he dwelt on the image of Oseola +grasping his scalping-knife, crossing his hands +over his breast, and dying with a smile on his +countenance.</p> + +<p>On their next walk to the cottage, the way was beguiled +by endeavouring to call to mind all that had +been told them on their last visit; and, to do him +justice, he acquitted himself uncommonly well. +It is true, that now and then his brothers refreshed +his memory on some points which had escaped +him; but, on the whole, his account was full, +connected, and clear.</p> + +<p>“And what must I tell you now?” said the +hunter, as soon as he and the young people had +exchanged salutations. “Do you not know +enough about the Indians?”</p> + +<p>To this inquiry, Brian replied that what they +had heard had only increased their curiosity to +hear more.</p> + +<p>“Well; let me consider,” said the hunter. “I +have told you about the different tribes of Indians,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +their religion, languages, manners and customs; +their villages, wigwams, food, dress, arms and +musical instruments. I have described to you the +fur trade; and dwelt on the scenery of the +country, the mountains, rivers, lakes, prairies +and many remarkable places. I have related the +adventures of Black Hawk and Nikkanochee. +And, besides these things, you have had a tolerably +full account of buffaloes, bears, wild horses, +wolves, deer and other animals, with the manner +of hunting them; as well as a relation of Indian +amusements, dances, sham fights, war-parties, encampments, +alarms, attacks, scalping and retreats. +Let me now, then, dwell a little on the Indian +way of concluding a treaty of peace, and on a +few other matters; after which, I will conclude +with the best account I can give you of what the +missionaries have done among the different tribes.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I shall be very sorry when you have +told us all.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> And so shall I: for it is so pleasing to +come here, and listen to what you tell us.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> When it is agreed between hostile +tribes that a treaty of peace shall be made, the +chiefs and medicine men of the adverse tribes +meet together, and the calumet, or peace-pipe, +ornamented with eagle quills, being produced, +every one smokes a few whiffs through it. It is +then understood by them that the tomahawk is to +be buried. The pipe-of-peace dance is then performed +by the warriors, to the beat of the Indian +drum and rattle, every warrior holding his pipe in +his hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> That pipe-of-peace dance is a capital +dance, for then bloodshed is at an end.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Unfortunately, war is apt soon to +break out again, and then the buried tomahawk +becomes as busy as ever.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well, I do like the Indians, in spite +of all their faults, and I think they have been used +cruelly by the whites.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> As a general remark, those Indians +who have had least to do with civilized life are +the most worthy of regard. Such as live near +white men, or such as are frequently visited by +them, seem to learn quickly the vices of others, +without giving up their own. To observe the +real character of red men, it is necessary to trace +the turnings and windings of the Yellow Stone +River, or the yet more remote sinuosities of the +Upper Missouri. The nearer the United States, +the more servile is the Indian character; and the +nearer the Rocky Mountains, the more independent +and open-hearted.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> If I ever go among the red men, the +Yellow Stone River, or the Upper Missouri, will +be the place for me.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Many of the chiefs of the tribes near +the Rocky Mountains may be said to live in a +state of splendour. They have the pure air of +heaven around them and rivers abounding in fish. +The prairie yields them buffaloes in plenty; and, +as for their lodges and dress, some of them may +be called sumptuous. Sometimes, twenty or +thirty buffalo skins, beautifully dressed, are joined +together to form a covering for a lodge; and their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +robes and different articles of apparel are so rich +with ermine, the nails and claws of birds and animals, +war-eagle plumes, and embroidery of highly +coloured porcupine quills, that a monarch in his +coronation robes is scarcely a spectacle more imposing.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay, I remember the dress of Mah-to-toh-pa, +“the four bears,” his buffalo robe, his porcupine-quilled +leggings, his embroidered buckskin +mocassins, his otter necklace, his buffalo +horns, and his splendid head-dress of war-eagle +plumes.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In a state of war, it is the delight of a +chief to leap on the back of his fiery steed, decorated +as the leader of his tribe, and armed with +his glittering lance and unerring bow, to lead on +his band to victory. In the chase, he is as ardent +as in the battle; smiling at danger, he plunges, +on his flying steed, among a thousand buffaloes, +launching his fatal shafts with deadly effect. Thus +has the Indian of the far-west lived, and thus is +he living still. But the trader and the rum-bottle, +and the rifle and the white man are on his track; +and, like his red brethren who once dwelt east +of the Mississippi, he must fall back yet farther, +and gradually decline before the approach of +civilization.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> It is a very strange thing that white +men will not let red men alone. What right +have they to cheat them of their hunting-grounds?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will relate to you an account, that +appeared some time ago in most of the newspapers +(though I cannot vouch for the truth of it,) of +a chief who, though he was respected by his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +tribe before he went among the whites, had very +little respect paid to him afterwards.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I hope it is a long account.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Not very long: but you shall hear. +“In order to assist the officers of the Indian department, +in their arduous duty of persuading +remote tribes to quit their lands, it has been found +advisable to incur the expense of inviting one or +two of their chiefs some two or three thousand +miles to Washington, in order that they should +see with their own eyes, and report to their tribes, +the irresistible power of the nation with which +they are arguing. This speculation has, it is said, +in all instances, more or less effected its object. +For the reasons and for the objects we have stated, +it was deemed advisable that a certain chief should +be invited from his remote country to Washington; +and accordingly, in due time, he appeared there.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Two or three thousand miles! What +a distance for him to go!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> “After the troops had been made to +manœuvre before him; after thundering volleys +of artillery had almost deafened him; and after +every department had displayed to him all that +was likely to add to the terror and astonishment +he had already experienced, the President, in lieu +of the Indian’s clothes, presented him with a +colonel’s uniform; in which, and with many other +presents, the bewildered chief took his departure.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> He would hardly know how to walk in +a colonel’s uniform.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> “In a pair of white kid gloves; tight +blue coat, with gilt buttons, gold epaulettes, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +red sash; cloth trowsers with straps; high-heeled +boots; cocked hat, and scarlet feather; with a +cigar in his mouth, a green umbrella in one hand, +and a yellow fan in the other; and with the neck +of a whiskey bottle protruding out of each of +the two tail-pockets of his regimental coat; this +‘monkey that had seen the world’ suddenly appeared +before the chiefs and warriors of his tribe; +and as he stood before them, straight as a ramrod, +in a high state of perspiration, caused by the +tightness of his finery, while the cool fresh air of +heaven blew over the naked, unrestrained limbs +of the spectators, it might, perhaps not unjustly, +be said of the costumes, ‘Which is the savage?’ +In return for the presents he had received, and +with a desire to impart as much real information +as possible to his tribe, the poor jaded traveller +undertook to deliver to them a course of lectures, +in which he graphically described all that he had +witnessed.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> An Indian in white kid gloves, blue +coat, high-heeled boots, and cocked hat and feather! +Why his tribe would all laugh at him, in +spite of his lectures.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> “For a while he was listened to with +attention; but as soon as the minds of his audience +had received as much as they could hold, +they began to disbelieve him. Nothing daunted, +however, the traveller still proceeded.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I thought they would laugh at him.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> “He told them about wigwams, in +which a thousand people could at one time pray +to the Great Spirit; of other wigwams, five stories<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +high, built in lines, facing each other, and extending +over an enormous space: he told them of +war canoes that would hold twelve hundred warriors.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> They would be sure never to believe +him.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> “Such tales, to the Indian mind, +seemed an insult to common sense. For some +time he was treated merely with ridicule and contempt; +but, when, resolutely continuing to recount +his adventures, he told them about a balloon, and +that he had seen white people, who, by attaching +a great ball to a canoe, as he described it, could +rise in it up to the clouds, and travel through the +heavens, the medicine, or mystery men of his tribe +pronounced him to be an impostor; and the +multitude vociferously declaring that he was too +great a liar to live, a young warrior, in a paroxysm +of anger, levelled a rifle and shot him dead!”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well, I am very sorry! It was very +silly to be dressed up in that way; but they ought +not to have killed him, for he told them the truth, +after all.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I could never have thought that an Indian +chief would have dressed himself in a blue +coat and gilt buttons.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> And, then, the fan and green umbrella!</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Ay, and the whiskey bottles sticking +out of his tail-pockets. He would look a little +different from Mah-to-toh-pa.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I have frequently spoken of the splendid +head-dress of the chiefs of some tribes. Among +the Mandans, (and you know Mah-to-toh-pa was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +a Mandan,) they would not part with one of their +head-dresses of war-eagle plumes at a less price +than two horses. The Konzas, Osages, Pawnees, +Sacs, Foxes and Iowas shave their heads; but +all the rest, or at least as far as I know of the +Indian tribes, wear long hair.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Yes; we remember the Crows, with +their hair sweeping the ground.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Did I tell you, that some of the tribes +glue other hair to their own to make it long, as it +is considered so ornamental?</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I do not remember that you told us that.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There are a few other things respecting +the Indians that I wish to mention, before I +tell you what the missionaries have done among +them. In civilized countries, people turn out +their toes in walking; but this is not the case +among the Indians. When the toes are turned +out, either in walking or running, the whole +weight of the body falls too much on the great +toe of the foot that is behind, and it is mainly +owing to this circumstance, that so many have a +deformity at the joint of the great toe. When the +foot is turned in, the weight of the body is thrown +equally on all the toes, and the deformity of the +great toe joint is avoided.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What! do the Indians know better +how to walk than we do? If theirs is the best +way to walk, why do not we all walk so?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I suppose, because it is not so elegant +in appearance to walk so. But many things are +done by civilized people on account of fashion. +Hundreds and hundreds of females shorten their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +lives by the tight clothing and lacings with which +they compress their bodies; but the Indians do +not commit such folly.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> There is something to be learned from +the Indians, after all.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There is a custom among the Sacs +and Foxes that I do not think I spoke of. The +Sacs are better provided with horses than the +Foxes: and so, when the latter go to war and +want horses, they go to the Sacs and beg them. +After a time, they sit round in a circle, and take +up their pipes to smoke, seemingly quite at their +ease; and, while they are whiffing away, the +young men of the Sacs ride round and round the +circle, every now and then cutting at the shoulders +of the Foxes with their whips, making the +blood start forth. After keeping up this strange +custom for some time, the young Sacs dismount, +and present their horses to those they have been +flogging.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> What a curious custom! I should not +much like to be flogged in that manner.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There is a certain rock which the +Camanchees always visit when they go to war. +Putting their horses at full speed, they shoot their +best arrows at this rock, which they consider +great medicine. If they did not go through this +long-established custom, there would be no confidence +among them; but, when they have thus +sacrificed their best arrows to the rock, their hope +and confidence are strong.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I should have thought they would +have wanted their best arrows to fight with.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There is no accounting for the superstitions +of people. There is nothing too absurd +to gain belief even among civilized nations, when +they give up the truth of God’s word, and follow +the traditions or commandments of men. The +Sioux have a strange notion about thunder; they +say that the thunder is hatched by a small bird, +not much bigger than the humming-bird. There +is, in the Couteau des Prairies, a place called +“the nest of the thunder;” and, in the small +bushes there, they will have it that this little bird +sits upon its eggs till the long claps of thunder +come forth. Strange as this tradition is, there +would be no use in denying it; for the superstition +of the Indian is too strong to be easily done +away with. The same people, before they go on +a buffalo hunt, usually pay a visit to a spot where +the form of a buffalo is cut out on a prairie. +This figure is great medicine; and the hunt is +sure to be more prosperous, in their opinion, after +it has been visited.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I do hope that we shall forget none of +these curious things.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/illo214.jpg" width="200" height="156" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 4em"> +<img src="images/illo215.jpg" width="400" height="290" alt="Eliot Preaching to the Indians." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Eliot Preaching to the Indians.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">For</span> the last time but one, during their holidays, +Austin and his brothers set off, with a long +afternoon before them, to listen to the hunter’s +account of the proceedings of the missionaries +among the Indians. On this occasion, they paid +another visit to the Red Sand-stone Rock by the +river, the place where they first met with their +friend, the hunter. Here they recalled to mind +all the circumstances which had taken place at that +spot, and agreed that the hunter, in saving their +lives by his timely warning, and afterwards adding +so much as he had done to their information +and pleasure, had been to them one of the best +friends they had ever known. With very friendly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +and grateful feelings towards him, they hastened +to the cottage, when the Indians, as usual, became +the subject of their conversation. “And now,” +said Austin, “we are quite ready to hear about +the missionaries.”</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Let me speak a word or two about +the Indians, before I begin my account. You remember +that I told you of the Mandans.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes. Mah-to-toh-pa was a Mandan, +with his fine robes and war-eagle head-dress. The +rain-makers were Mandans; also the young warriors, +who went through so many tortures in the +mystery lodge.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Well, I must now tell you a sad truth. +After I left the Mandans, great changes came upon +them; and, at the present time, hardly a single +Mandan is alive.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Dreadful! But how was it? What +brought it all about?</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> You should have told us this before.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> No. I preferred to tell you first of +the people as they were when I was with them. +You may remember my observation, in one of +your early visits, that great changes had taken +place among them; that the tomahawks of the +stronger tribes had thinned the others; that many +had sold their lands to the whites, and retired to +the west of the Mississippi; and that thousands +had fallen a prey to the small-pox. It was in the +year 1838 that this dreadful disease was introduced +among the Mandans, and other tribes of the fur-traders. +Of the Blackfeet, Crows and two or +three other tribes, twenty-five thousand perished;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +but of the poor Mandans, the whole tribe was +destroyed.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Why did they not get a doctor; or go +out of their village to the wide prairie, that one +might not catch the disease from another?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Doctors were too far off; and the +ravages of the disease were so swift that it swept +them all away in a few months. Their mystery +men could not help them; and their enemies, the +Sioux, had war-parties round their village, so that +they could not go out to the wide prairie. There +they were, dying fast in their village; and little +else was heard, during day or night, but wailing, +howling and crying to the Great Spirit to relieve +them.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> And did Mah-to-toh-pa, “the four +bears,” die too?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Yes. For, though he recovered from +the disease, he could not bear up against the loss +of his wives and his children. They all died before +his eyes, and he piled them together in his lodge, +and covered them with robes. His braves and +his warriors died, and life had no charms for him; +for who was to share with him his joy or his grief? +He retired from his wigwam, and fasted six days, +lamenting the destruction of his tribe. He then +crawled back to his own lodge, laid himself by +his dead family, covered himself with a robe, and +died like an Indian chief. This is a melancholy +picture; and when I first heard of the terrible +event, I could have wept.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> It was indeed a terrible affair. Have +they no good doctors among the Indians now?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +Why do they not send for doctors who know how +to cure the small-pox, instead of those juggling +mystery men?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Many attempts have been made to +introduce vaccination among the tribes; but their +jealousy and want of confidence in white men, +who have so much wronged them, and their attachment +to their own customs and superstitions, +have prevented those attempts from being very successful.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Who was the first missionary who +went among the Indians?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I believe the first Indian missionary +was John Eliot. More than two hundred years +ago, a body of pious Englishmen left their native +land, because they were not allowed peaceably to +serve God according to their consciences. They +landed in America, having obtained a grant of +land there. They are sometimes called “Puritans,” +and sometimes “the Pilgrim Fathers.” It +is certain, that, whatever were their peculiarities, +and by whatever names they were known, the fear +of God and the love of mankind animated their +hearts.</p> + +<p>These men did not seize the possessions of the +Indians, because they had arms and skill to use +them. But they entered into a treaty with them +for the purchase of their lands, and paid them +what they were satisfied to receive. It is true, +that what the white man gave in exchange was +of little value to him. But the Indians prized +trinkets more than they would gold and silver,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +and they only wanted hunting and fishing grounds +for their own use. These early colonists, seeing +that the Indians were living in idleness, cruelty +and superstition, were desirous to instruct them in +useful arts, and still more in the fear of the Lord; +and John Eliot, who had left England to join his +religious friends in America, was the first Protestant +missionary among the Indians.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I wonder he was not afraid of going +among them.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He that truly fears God has no need +to fear danger in the path of duty. John Eliot +had three good motives that girded his loins and +strengthened his heart: the first, was the glory +of God, in the conversion of the poor Indians; +the second, was his love of mankind, and pity for +such as were ignorant of true religion; and the +third, was his desire that the promise of his friends +to spread the gospel among the Indians should be +fulfilled. It was no light task that he had undertaken, +as I will prove to you. I dare say, that +you have not quite forgotten all the long names +that I gave you.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> I remember your telling us of them; +and I suppose they are the longest words in the +world.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will now give you two words in one +of the languages that John Eliot had to learn, and +then, perhaps, you will alter your opinion. The +first of them is <i>noorromantammoonkanunonnash</i>, +which means, “our loves;” and the second, or +“our questions,” is <i>kummogokdonattoottammoctiteaongannunnonash</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why that last word would reach all +across one of our copy-books.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> You had better learn those two words, +Austin, to begin with.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Ay, do, Austin; if you have many such +when you go among the red men, you must sit +up at night to learn what you have to speak in +the day-time.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> No, no; I have settled all that. I +mean to have an interpreter with me; one who +knows every thing. Please to tell us a little more +about Eliot.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will. An author says, speaking of +missionaries, “As I hold the highest title on earth +to be that of a servant of God, and the most important +employment that of making known to +sinners the salvation that God has wrought for +them, through his Son Jesus Christ; so I cannot +but estimate very highly the character of an +humble, zealous, conscientious missionary. Men +undertake, endure and achieve much when +riches and honours and reputation are to be attained; +but where is the worldly reputation of +him who goes, with his life in his hand, to make +known to barbarous lands the glad tidings of salvation? +Where are the honours and the money +bags of the missionary? In many cases, toil and +anxiety, hunger and thirst, reviling and violence, +danger and death await him; but where is his +earthly reward?” Eliot’s labours were incessant; +translating not only the commandments, the Lord’s +prayer and many parts of Scripture into the Indian +languages, but also the whole Bible. For days<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +together he travelled from place to place, wet to +the skin, wringing the wet from his stockings at +night. Sometimes he was treated cruelly by the +sachems, (principal chiefs,) sagamores, (lesser +chiefs,) and powaws, (conjurers, or mystery men;) +but though they thrust him out, and threatened his +life, he held on his course, telling them that he +was in the service of the Great God, and feared +them not. So highly did they think of his services +in England, that a book was printed, called +“The Day-breaking, if not the Sun-rising of the +Gospel with the Indians in New-England;” and +another, entitled “The Clear Sunshine of the +Gospel breaking forth upon the Indians;” and +dedicated to the parliament; in order that assistance +and encouragement might be given him. At +the close of a grammar, published by him, he +wrote the words, “Prayers and pains, through +faith in Christ Jesus, will do any thing.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I should think that he was one of the +best of men.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> He instituted schools, and devoted +himself to the Christian course he had undertaken +with an humble and ardent spirit, until old age +and increasing infirmities rendered him too feeble +to do as he had done before. Even then, he +catechised the negro slaves in the neighbourhood +around him; and took a poor blind boy home to +his own house, that he might teach him to commit +to memory some of the chapters in the Bible. +Among the last expressions that dropped from his +lips were the words, “Welcome joy! Pray! +pray! pray!” This was in the eighty-sixth year<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +of his age. No wonder he should even now be remembered +by us as “the apostle of the Indians.”</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> I am very glad that you told us about +him. What a good old man he must have been +when he died!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You will find an interesting history of +Eliot in your Sunday-school Library, and the Life +of Brainerd<a name="FNanchor_5_11" id="FNanchor_5_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_11" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> also, of whom I will tell you a few +things. But I advise you to read both books, for +such short remarks as I make cannot be distinctly +remembered; and the characters of these eminent +men you will only understand by reading the +history of their lives.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_11" id="Footnote_5_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_11"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Both these works are published by the American Sunday-school +Union.</p></div> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> We will remember this.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> There were many good men, after his +death, who trod as closely as they could in his +steps: but I must not stop to dwell upon them. +David Brainerd, however, must not be passed by: +he was a truly humble and zealous servant of the +Most High. You may judge, in some degree, of +his interest in the Indians by the following extract +from his diary:</p> + +<p><i>June 26.</i> “In the morning, my desire seemed +to rise, and ascend up freely to God. Was busy +most of the day in translating prayers into the +language of the Delaware Indians; met with great +difficulty, because my interpreter was altogether +unacquainted with the business. But though I +was much discouraged with the extreme difficulty +of that work, yet God supported me; and, especially +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>in the evening, gave me sweet refreshment. +In prayer my soul was enlarged, and my faith +drawn into sensible exercise; was enabled to cry +to God for my poor Indians; and though the +work of their conversion appeared <i>impossible with +man</i>, yet <i>with God</i> I saw <i>all things were possible</i>. +My faith was much strengthened, by observing +the wonderful assistance God afforded his servants +Nehemiah and Ezra, in reforming his people and +re-establishing his ancient church. I was much +assisted in prayer for my dear Christian friends, +and for others whom I apprehended to be Christ-less; +but was more especially concerned for the +poor heathen, and those of my own charge; was +enabled to be instant in prayer for them; and +hoped that God would bow the heavens and +come down for their salvation. It seemed to me, +that there could be no impediment sufficient to +obstruct that glorious work, seeing the living +God, as I strongly hoped, was engaged for it. I +continued in a solemn frame, lifting up my heart +to God for assistance and grace, that I might be +more mortified to this present world, that my +whole soul might be taken up continually in concern +for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom. +Earnestly desired that God would purge me +more, that I might be a chosen vessel to bear his +name among the heathens. Continued in this +frame till I fell asleep.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Why, he was much such a man as +Eliot.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Both Eliot and Brainerd did a great +deal of good among the Indians. The language<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +of Brainerd was, “Here am I, Lord, send me; +send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the +rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send +me from all that is called comfort on earth; send +me even to death itself, if it be but in thy service, +and to extend thy kingdom.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I hardly know whether Eliot was the +best man, or Brainerd.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> They were very unlike in one thing; +for Eliot lived till he was eighty-six years old; +whereas Brainerd died in the thirtieth year of his +age. But though so young, it is said of him, by +a learned and good man, “The Life and Diary +of David Brainerd exhibits a perfect pattern of +the qualities which should distinguish the instructor +of rude and barbarous tribes; the most +invincible patience and self-denial, the profoundest +humility, exquisite prudence, indefatigable +industry, and such a devotedness to God, or +rather such an absorption of the whole soul in +zeal for the Divine glory and the salvation of +men, as is scarcely to be paralleled since the age +of the apostles.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> Then, he was as good a man as Eliot.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> You will read his life surely, after all +you have heard about the Indians, and will be surprised +at his great success among them. I will read +you an extract from a letter written in those days by +some Oneida chiefs, by which you will see that +the labours of these good men were not in vain.</p> + +<p>“The holy word of Jesus has got place amongst +us, and advances. Many have lately forsaken +their sins, to appearance, and turned to God.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +There are some among us who are very stubborn +and strong; but Jesus is almighty, and has all +strength, and his holy word is very strong, too: +therefore we hope it will conquer and succeed +more and more. We say no more; only we ask +our fathers to pray for us, though they are at a +great distance. Perhaps, by-and-by, through the +strength and mercy of Jesus, we shall meet in his +kingdom above. Farewell.</p> + +<ul> +<li><span class="smcap">Tagawarow</span>, <i>chief of the Bear tribe</i>.</li> +<li><span class="smcap">Sughnagearot</span>, <i>chief of the Wolf tribe</i>.</li> +<li><span class="smcap">Ojekheta</span>, <i>chief of the Turtle tribe</i>.”</li> +</ul> + + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Why, they were all three of them +chiefs!</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The speech made by the chief, Little +Turtle, at Baltimore, on his way to see the President +of the United States, will interest you. Some +Quakers, who saw him, told him that the habit +among his tribe of drinking rum prevented them +from doing them good.</p> + +<p>“Brothers and friends—When your forefathers +first met on this island, your red brethren were +very numerous; but, since the introduction amongst +us of what you call spirituous liquors, and what +we think may justly be called poison, our numbers +are greatly diminished. It has destroyed a +great part of your red brethren.</p> + +<p>“My friends and brothers—We plainly perceive +that you see the very evil which destroys your red +brethren. It is not an evil of our own making. +We have not placed it amongst ourselves; it is an +evil placed amongst us by the white people; we +look to them to remove it out of the country. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +tell them, ‘Brethren, fetch us useful things: bring +us goods that will clothe us, our women, and our +children; and not this evil liquor, that destroys +our health, that destroys our reason, that destroys +our lives.’ But all that we can say on this subject +is of no service, nor gives relief to your red +brethren.</p> + +<p>“My friends and brothers—I rejoice to find that +you agree in opinion with us, and express an +anxiety to be, if possible, of service to us, in removing +this great evil out of our country; an +evil which has had so much room in it, and has +destroyed so many of our lives, that it causes our +young men to say, ‘We had better be at war with +the white people. This liquor, which they introduced +into our country, is more to be feared than +the gun or tomahawk.’ There are more of us +dead since the treaty of Greeneville, than we lost +by the six years’ war before. It is all owing to +the introduction of this liquor among us.</p> + +<p>“Brothers—When our young men have been +out hunting, and are returning home loaded with +skins and furs, on their way, if it happens that +they come where this whiskey is deposited, the +white man who sells it tells them to take a little +drink. Some of them will say, ‘No; I do not +want it.’ They go on till they come to another +house, where they find more of the same kind of +drink. It is there offered again; they refuse; and +again the third time: but, finally, the fourth or +fifth time, one accepts of it, and takes a drink, +and getting one he wants another, and then a +third, and fourth, till his senses have left him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +After his reason comes back to him, when he gets +up and finds where he is, he asks for his peltry. +The answer is, ‘You have drunk them.’ ‘Where +is my gun?’ ‘It is gone.’ ‘Where is my blanket?’ +‘It is gone.’ ‘Where is my shirt?’ ‘You have +sold it for whiskey!’ Now, brothers, figure to +yourselves what condition this man must be in. +He has a family at home; a wife and children +who stand in need of the profits of his hunting. +What must be their wants, when even he himself +is without a shirt?”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> There is a great deal of good sense +in what Little Turtle said.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The war between England and +America made sad confusion among the Indians, +and the missionaries too; for it was reported that +the missionaries were joining the French against +the English, so that they and the Indian converts +were dreadfully persecuted.</p> + +<p>Colonel de Peyster, who was then the English +governor at Fort Detroit, suspected the Christian +Indians of being partisans of the Americans, and +the missionaries of being spies; and he wished +the Indians favourable to him to carry them all off. +Captain Pipe, a Delaware chief, persuaded the +half king of the Hurons to force them away. Persecution +went on, till the missionaries, seeing that +no other course remained, they being plundered +without mercy, and their lives threatened, consented +to emigrate. They were thus compelled +to quit their pleasant settlement, escorted by a +troop of savages headed by an English officer. +The half king of the Hurons went with them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +But I will read you an account of what took place +after they reached Sandusky Creek. “Having +arrived at Sandusky Creek, after a journey of upwards +of four weeks, the half king of the Hurons +and his warriors left them, and marched into their +own country, without giving them any particular +orders how to proceed. Thus they were abandoned +in a wilderness where there was neither +game nor provisions of any kind; such was the +place to which the barbarians had led them, notwithstanding +they had represented it as a perfect +paradise. After wandering to and fro for some +time, they resolved to spend the winter in Upper +Sandusky; and, having pitched on the most convenient +spot they could find in this dreary region, +they erected small huts of logs and bark, to +shelter themselves from the rain and cold. They +were now, however, so poor, that they had neither +beds nor blankets; for, on the journey, the savages +had stolen every thing from them, except only +their utensils for manufacturing maple sugar. But +nothing distressed them so much as the want of +provisions. Some had long spent their all, and +now depended on the charity of their neighbours +for a morsel to eat. Even the missionaries, who +hitherto had uniformly gained a livelihood by the +labour of their hands, were now reduced to the +necessity of receiving support from the congregation. +As their wants were so urgent, Shebosh +the missionary, and several of the Christian Indians, +returned, as soon as possible, to their settlements +on the Muskingum, to fetch the Indian corn +which they had left growing in the fields.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Scarcely had the congregation begun to settle +in Sandusky, when the missionaries were ordered +to go and appear before the governor of Fort Detroit. +Four of them, accompanied by several of +the Indian assistants, accordingly set off without +delay, while the other two remained with their +little flock. On taking their departure, they experienced +the most agonizing sensations: partly, +as they knew not what might be the issue of the +journey; and partly, as they were obliged to leave +their families in want of the common necessaries +of life. As they travelled chiefly by land, along +the banks of Lake Erie, they had to pass through +numerous swamps, over large inundated plains, +and through thick forests. But the most painful +circumstance was, their hearing that some of the +Indians, who had gone to Muskingum to fetch +corn, had been murdered by the white people; +and that a large body of these miscreants were +marching to Sandusky, to surprise the new settlement. +This report, indeed, was not correct. Shebosh, +the missionary, and five of the Christian +Indians were, it is true, taken prisoners at Shoenbrunn +and carried to Pittsburg. The others +returned safe to Sandusky, with about four hundred +bushels of Indian corn, which they had gathered +in the fields. But as the travellers did not hear +a correct statement of these circumstances until +afterwards, they suffered meanwhile the greatest +anxiety and distress.</p> + +<p>“Having arrived at Detroit, they appeared before +the governor, in order to answer the accusations +brought against them, of holding a correspondence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +with the Americans, to the prejudice of +the English interest. The investigation, however, +was deferred till Captain Pipe, their principal accuser, +should arrive. A circumstance which could +not but give them much uneasiness, as he had +hitherto shown himself their bitter and determined +enemy. They had no friend on earth to interpose +in their behalf; but they had a Friend in heaven, +in whom they put their trust: nor was their confidence +in Him in vain. On the day of trial, +Captain Pipe, after some ceremonies had passed +between him and Colonel de Peyster, respecting +the scalps and prisoners which he had brought +from the United States, rose and addressed the +governor as follows:—‘Father—You commanded +us to bring the believing Indians and their teachers +from the Muskingum. This has been done. When +we had brought them to Sandusky, you ordered +us to bring their teachers and some of their chiefs +unto you. Here you see them before you. Now +you may speak with them yourself, as you have +desired. But I hope you will speak good words +unto them: yea, I tell you, speak good words +unto them; for they are my friends, and I should +be sorry to see them ill used.’ These last words +he repeated two or three times. In reply to this +speech, the governor enumerated the various complaints +he had made against the brethren, and +called upon him to prove that they had actually +corresponded with the Americans, to the prejudice +of the English. To this the chief replied, +that such a thing might have happened; but they +would do it no more, for they were now at Detroit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +The governor, justly dissatisfied with this answer, +peremptorily demanded that he should give a direct +reply to his question. Pipe was now greatly embarrassed; +and, bending to his counsellors, asked +them what he should say. But they all hung +their heads in silence. On a sudden, however, he +rose, and thus addressed the governor:—‘I said +before that such a thing might have happened; +now I will tell you the truth. The missionaries +are innocent. They have done nothing of themselves; +what they did, they were compelled to +do.’ Then, smiting his breast, he added: ‘I am +to blame, and the chiefs who were with me. We +forced them to do it when they refused;’ alluding +to the correspondence between the Delaware chiefs +and the Americans, of which the missionaries were +the innocent medium. Thus the brethren found +an advocate and a friend in their accuser and +enemy.</p> + +<p>“After making some further inquiries, the governor +declared, before the whole camp, that the +brethren were innocent of all the charges alleged +against them; that he felt great satisfaction in their +endeavours to civilize and Christianize the Indians; +and that he would permit them to return +to their congregation without delay. He even +offered them the use of his own house, in the most +friendly manner; and as they had been plundered, +contrary to his express command, he ordered them +to be supplied with clothes, and various other +articles of which they stood in need. He even +bought the four watches which the savages had +taken from them and sold to a trader. After experiencing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +various other acts of kindness from him +they returned to Sandusky, and were received +with inexpressible joy by their families and the +whole congregation.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Well, I am glad it has all ended so happily. +Captain Pipe and Colonel de Peyster acted +an unworthy part, to suspect the missionaries.</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> They did; but the colonel declared before +the whole camp that they were innocent. +That was making some amends for his suspicions.</p> + +<p><i>Basil.</i> Captain Pipe ought to have been ashamed +of himself.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The missionaries went through various +trials, and nearly a hundred Christian Indians—men, +women and children—were cruelly slaughtered; +but afterwards the missions began to wear a +more prosperous appearance. I have now kept +you longer than usual. The next time you come +here, I will finish my missionary account. Though +among the tribes near the whites great changes +have taken place, yet, among the Indians of the +far-west, their customs are but little altered. They +join in the buffalo hunt, assemble in the war-party, +engage in their accustomed games, and +smoke the pipe of peace, the same as ever.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; padding-top: 2em"> +<img src="images/illo233.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="Missionary and Indians." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Missionary and Indians.</span> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>In the former part of the hunter’s relation, +Austin Edwards and his brothers thought of little +else than of bluffs and prairies, buffaloes, bears +and beavers, warlike Indian chiefs and the spirit-stirring +adventures of savage life; but the last +visit paid to the cottage had considerably sobered +their views. The hunter had gradually won his +way into their affections, by contributing largely +to their amusement; and he had, also, secured +their respect and high opinion, by his serious remarks. +They had no doubt of his being a true +friend to Indians, and they had, on that account, +listened the more attentively to what he had advanced +on the subject of missionaries. The knowledge +that they were about to hear the end of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +hunter’s relation, though it hung a little heavy on +their spirits, disposed them to seriousness and attention.</p> + +<p>“And now,” said the hunter, as soon as +Austin, Brian, and Basil had seated themselves +in his cottage, and requested him to continue his +missionary account, “I will give you the best +statement I can, in a few words, of the number +of people who are employed among the Indians +in the missionary cause.”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Yes; we shall like to hear that very +well.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> The American Board of Commissioners +for Foreign Missions sustain missionary +stations among the Cherokees, Choctaws, Pawnees, +Oregon tribes, Sioux, Ojibbewas, Stockbridge tribe, +New York tribes and the Abenaquis. There are +twenty-five stations and twenty-three missionaries, +three medical missionaries, three native preachers, +two physicians, ten male and forty-five female +assistants.</p> + +<p>The Board of Missions connected with the Presbyterian +church sustain missions among the +Creeks, the Iowas and Sacs, and the Chippeways +and Ottawas; three missionaries and their wives +and several teachers are employed.</p> + +<p>The missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal +church have established missions among the +Shawnees, Delawares, Wyandotts, Kickapoos, +Pottawatomies, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, +Senecas, Creeks, Oneidas, Winnebagoes and +some smaller tribes. From an old report of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +laborious society, 1844, I have copied a passage +which I will read you:</p> + +<p>“It is now generally conceded, by those best acquainted +with the peculiarities of the Indian character, +that however powerful the gospel may be, +in itself, to melt and subdue the savage heart, it +is indispensable, if we would secure the fruits of +our missionary labours, to connect the blessings +of civilization with all our Christian efforts. And +we rejoice to learn, that among many of the Indian +tribes the civilizing process is going on, and +keeping pace with their spiritual advancement. +They are turning their attention more and more +to agriculture, and the various arts of civilized +life. They have also established a number of +schools and academies, some of which they have +liberally endowed from the annuities they receive +from the United States government. Some of these +schools are already in successful operation, and +many of the Indian youth are making rapid advancement +in literary pursuits.”</p> + +<p>The Baptist Board of Missions have seven missions, +embracing nineteen stations and out-stations, +thirty-two missionaries and assistants, ten +native preachers and assistants, fifteen organized +churches and sixteen hundred professing Christians. +These missionary labours are among the +Ojibbewas, Ottowas, Tonewandas, Tuscaroras, +Shawnees, Cherokees, Creeks and Choctaws.</p> + +<p>The United Brethren or Moravians, and the +Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal +church, also maintain missions among the Indians.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> How do the missionaries preach to the +Indians? Do they understand their strange language?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Your question calls to my mind one +of the most interesting and remarkable events of +Indian history. I will endeavour to give you a +brief account of it. I refer to the invention of an +alphabet by a native Cherokee named George +Guess or Guyst, who knew not how to speak English +and was never taught to read English books. +It was in 1824-5 that this invention began to +attract considerable attention. Having become +acquainted with the principle of the alphabet; viz. +that marks can be made the symbols of sound; +this uninstructed man conceived the notion that +he could express all the syllables in the Cherokee +language by separate marks, or characters. On +collecting all the syllables which, after long study +and trial, he could recall to his memory, he found +the number to be <i>eighty-two</i>. In order to express +these, he took the letters of our alphabet for a part +of them, and various modifications of our letters, +with some characters of his own invention, for the +rest. With these symbols he set about writing +letters; and very soon a correspondence was +actually maintained between the Cherokees in +Wills Valley, and their countrymen beyond the +Mississippi, 500 miles apart. This was done by +individuals who could not speak English, and +who had never learned any alphabet, except this +syllabic one, which Guess had invented, taught +to others, and introduced into practice. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +interest in this matter increased till, at length, +young Cherokees travelled a great distance to be +instructed in this easy method of writing and +reading. In three days they were able to commence +letter-writing, and return home to their +native villages prepared to teach others. Either +Guess himself, or some other person afterwards, +discovered <i>four</i> other syllables; making all the +known syllables of the Cherokee language <i>eighty-six</i>. +This is a very curious fact; especially when +it is considered that the language is very copious +on some subjects, a single verb undergoing some +thousands of inflections. All syllables in the +Cherokee language end with vowels. The same +is true of the language of the islanders of the Pacific +ocean. But in the Choctaw language, syllables +often end with consonants.</p> + +<p>“Some months since,” says a report of the Cherokee +mission in 1825, “Mr. David Brown commenced +the translation of the New Testament into +Cherokee, with the occasional assistance of two +or three of his countrymen, who are more thoroughly +acquainted, than he is, with that language. +Already the four Gospels are translated, and fairly +copied; and if types and a press were ready, they +could be immediately revised and printed and +read. Extracts are now transcribed and perused +by a few.</p> + +<p>“It is manifest that such a translation must be +very imperfect; but it is equally manifest that +much divine truth maybe communicated by it, +and probably with more accuracy than is commonly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +done by preaching, either with an interpreter, +or without one.”</p> + +<p>Another account is a little more full:</p> + +<p>“It is well worthy of notice, that Mr. Guyst, +the inventor, is a man past the middle age. He +had seen books, and, I have been told, had an +English spelling-book in his house; but he could +not read a word in any language, nor speak the +English language at all. His alphabet consists of +eighty-six characters, each of which represents a +syllable, with the exception of one, which has the +sound of the English <i>s</i>, and is prefixed to other +characters when required. These eighty-six characters +are sufficient to write the language, at least +intelligibly. The alphabet is thought by some +of the Cherokees to need improvement; but, as +it is, it is read by a very large portion of the +people, though I suppose there has been no such +thing as a school in which it has been taught, and +it is not more than two or three years since it was +invented. A few hours of instruction are sufficient +for a Cherokee to learn to read his own language +intelligibly. He will not, indeed, so soon +be able to read <i>fluently</i>: but when he has learned +to read and understand, fluency will be acquired +by practice. The extent of my information will +not enable me to form a probable estimate of the +number in the nation who can thus read, but I +am assured, by those who had the best opportunity +of knowing, that there is no part of the nation +where the new alphabet is not understood. +That it will prevail over every other method of +writing the language, there is no doubt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>”</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> Did they find the language could be +easily written and printed?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> In 1828 one of the missionaries of +the American Board devoted himself to the acquisition +of the language, with a view to translating +the Scriptures, and preparing school-books and +tracts for the general instruction of the people. +As he proceeded in the study of the language, he +found it more and more wonderful in its structure, +and the difficulties which must have attended the +labour of reducing it to a system became more +and more apparent.</p> + +<p>Before this, however, the enthusiasm of the +people was kindled: great numbers had learned +to read; they were circulating hymns and portions +of Scripture, and writing letters every day, and +even procured a medal to present to the inventor, +as a token of their gratitude for this wonderful +method of writing their own language. They +began to talk much of printing in the new and +famous characters; appropriated money to procure +a press and types, and anticipated with joy the +printing of the Scriptures in a language they +could read and understand.</p> + +<p>At the same time the missionaries to the Choctaws +were reducing their language to a system. +One of them collected more than 3000 words, +arranged according to the subjects to which +they refer, which he translated into English. +Ten hymns were also translated into Choctaw, +and a spelling-book prepared in the same +language.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> But let us hear what became of the +Guyst’s Cherokee alphabet. As that was an +invention of his own, it seems very wonderful.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> I will tell you. In the summer or +fall of 1827, there was an examination of one of +the Cherokee mission schools, on which occasion +one of the chiefs made an address in the Cherokee +language, of which the following is a translation.</p> + +<p>“Dear children:—I often speak to you, and +encourage you to continue in the pursuit of useful +knowledge; such knowledge as will be for your +own good, and that of your own country. You +are engaged in a good thing. I am always pleased +to see the progress you are making in learning. +I feel that much depends on you. On you depends +the future welfare of your country.</p> + +<p>“When I was young there were no schools +among us. No one to teach us such learning as +you are now obtaining. My lot was quite different +from yours. You have here many advantages. +Improve them. Pursue the paths of virtue and +knowledge. Some of your fathers, who first +agreed for the teachers to come among us, are +now no more. They are gone.</p> + +<p>“It is now some years since a school was +established in Creekpath, your native place. I +myself aided to build the first school-house. At +first the children did not learn very fast. But now, +since the establishment of a school at this place, +they are doing much better. I have reason to +believe you are learning as fast as might be expected. +Some of you have been in school five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +years, and some not so long. You have now +acquired considerable knowledge. By-and-by +you will have more. This gives me great satisfaction. +Remember that the whites are near us. +With them we have constant intercourse; and +you must be sensible that, unless you can speak +their language, read and write as they do, they +will be able to cheat you and trample upon your +rights. Be diligent, therefore, in your studies, +and let nothing hinder you from them. Do not +quarrel with each other. Aid one another in your +useful employ; obey your teachers, and walk in +the way they tell you.”</p> + +<p>In November, after this speech was delivered, +a fount of types in the new Cherokee alphabet +was shipped from Boston to the Cherokee nation: +and from an account published at the time, I take +a few sentences.</p> + +<p>“The press will be employed in printing the +New Testament and other portions of the Bible, +and school-books in the Cherokee language, and +such other books in Cherokee or English as will +tend to diffuse knowledge through the nation. +A prospectus has also been issued for a newspaper, +entitled the <i>Cherokee Phœnix</i>, to be printed +partly in Cherokee, and partly in English; the +first number of which is expected to appear early +in January. All this has been done by order of +the Cherokee government, and at their expense. +They have also hired a printer to superintend the +printing office, to whom they give $400 a year, +and another printer to whom they give $300.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +Mr. Elias Boudinot, who was educated, in part, +at the Foreign Mission School, then established +in Cornwall, (Conn.,) was appointed editor, with +a yearly salary of $300.</p> + +<p>“Among the Cherokees, then, we are to see the +first printing-press ever owned and employed by any +nation of the aborigines of this continent; the first +effort at writing and printing in characters of their +own; the first newspaper, and the first book +printed among themselves; the first editor; and +the first well organized system for securing a +general diffusion of knowledge among the people. +Among the Cherokees, also, we see established +the first regularly elective government, with the +legislative, judicial, and executive branches distinct; +with the safeguards of a written constitution +and trial by jury. Here, also, we see first +the Christian religion recognised and protected by +the government; regular and exemplary Christian +churches; and flourishing schools extensively +established, and, in many instances, taught by +native Cherokees.”</p> + +<p><i>Brian.</i> I suppose, by this time, they have a +great many books printed, and more than one +newspaper.</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> Alas, poor fellows! they have had +something very different to think about since the +times I have been speaking of. I cannot make +you understand all the particulars. But the +government of the state within whose bounds the +Indian country lay, wished to have the Indians +under their control; while the Indians considered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +themselves, and had always been treated by the +United States government as independent nations +or communities. Treaties were made with them +just as with foreign nations. There were difficulties +on every side. A proposition was made +to them, to sell their lands to the United States, +and remove to a country beyond the Mississippi. +Some of the tribes were in favour of this, and +some were opposed to it. The state government +became more and more urgent for their removal, +and at last effectual measures were adopted for +this purpose, and the Cherokees and other tribes +were driven from their homes, which were now +becoming the abodes of civilization and comfort +and Christian love, and were compelled to find a +new residence in the far, far distant West. It is a +melancholy and reproachful chapter in our history +as a nation; and we have reason to fear that a +day of retribution is at hand, if, indeed, it is not +now upon us. There is a just God, who plucks +up and destroys even the mighty nations of the +earth; and, in every period of the world, his +power to visit their iniquities has been exhibited.</p> + +<p><i>Austin.</i> And have all efforts for their improvement +been given up?</p> + +<p><i>Hunter.</i> O, no. As I told you just now, +several interesting and prosperous missions are +established among them in their new abode; and +so lately as the years 1843-4, the sum of $300 +was appropriated by the American Bible Society, +towards printing portions of the New Testament +in the Dakota tongue, for the use of the Sioux.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +And the same blessed volume is now in the +course of publication at the Bible Society’s house +in New York, in the language of the Ojibbewas. +This is a large tribe, and their tongue is understood +by several of the neighbouring tribes. It +is hoped that the possession of the gospel of +peace by the Sioux and Ojibbewas, in their respective +tongues, will produce a more pacific +spirit between these two hostile tribes. To this +end Christians should pray that the Scriptures of +truth may be accompanied by the Spirit of truth; +that they may bring forth the fruits of holiness; +and that the remnant of the tribes may all be +brought to the knowledge of the Saviour.</p> + +<p>There are many obstacles to this most desirable +event. The wars that break out unexpectedly +among the tribes, the reverence entertained for +superstitious customs, their removals from one +place to another, the natural indolence of Indians, +and their love of spirituous liquors, given by white +men in order to deceive them; these and other +causes are always at work, operating against the +efforts of the missionary. I might, it is true, give +you more instances than I have done of an encouraging +kind, respecting the Indians generally.<a name="FNanchor_6_12" id="FNanchor_6_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_12" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_12" id="Footnote_6_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_12"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> The reader is referred to a memoir of <span class="smcap">Catharine +Brown</span>, a converted Cherokee girl, (written by the Rev. +Dr. <span class="smcap">Anderson</span>, and published by the <i>American Sunday-school +Union</i>,) for one of the most interesting exhibitions +of the influence of the Gospel upon the human heart, as +well as for a very correct and gratifying account of missionary +labour and success among untutored Indians.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p></div> + +<p>But, perhaps, it will be better now to sum up the +account by saying, the missionary is at work +among them with some degree of success; and +though, from the remoteness of many of the +tribes, their strong attachment to the superstitions +of their forefathers, and other causes already +alluded to, the progress of Christianity is necessarily +slow, there is no doubt that it will ultimately +prevail; the promise has gone forth, and will be +fulfilled; the heathen will be the inheritance of +the Redeemer, and the uttermost parts of the earth +will be his possession. He who has clothed the +arm of the red man with strength, shod his feet +with swiftness, and filled his heart with courage, +will, in due time, subdue his cruelty and revenge; +open his eyes to discern the wondrous things of +God’s holy law; dispose his mind to acknowledge +the Lord of life and glory, and make him willing +to receive the gospel of the Redeemer.</p> + +<p class="center" style="padding-top: 2em">THE END.</p> + + +<div class="advertisements"> +<h3>PUBLICATIONS OF THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.</h3> + +<hr class="ads" /> +<p class="bookads">THE ART OF PRINTING. Edited by Thomas O. Summers, +D.D. 18mo., pp. 185. Price 30 cts.</p> + +<p>This volume traces the art preservative of all arts from its rude +beginnings to its present approximation to perfection. It has engravings +representing presses, etc.</p> + +<hr class="ads" /> + +<p class="bookads">A TREATISE ON SECRET AND SOCIAL PRAYER. By +Richard Treffry. 18mo., pp. 215. 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