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+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.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     HISTORY, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS
+                                OF THE
+                        NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
+
+
+                           BY OLD HUMPHREY.
+
+
+                  REVISED BY THOMAS O. SUMMERS, D.D.
+
+
+                           Nashville, Tenn.:
+                 SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE.
+                                 1859.
+
+
+
+
+                            Prefatory Note.
+
+
+This volume is one of a series of books from the ready and prolific
+pen of the late George Mogridge--better known by his _nom de plume_,
+"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.
+
+Every Sunday-school and Family Library should be supplied with the
+entertaining and useful productions of Old Humphrey's versatile and
+sanctified genius.
+
+                                                    T. O. SUMMERS.
+
+    NASHVILLE, TENN., Sept. 27, 1855.
+
+
+
+
+                               PREFACE.
+
+
+The present volume is in substance a reprint from a work published by
+the _London Religious Tract Society_, and is, we believe, chiefly
+compiled from the works of our enterprising countryman, CATLIN. It is
+rendered especially attractive by the spirited and impressive
+pictorial illustrations of Indian life and scenery with which it
+abounds.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+                     THE INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                               CHAPTER I
+
+
+It 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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 loud
+blustering of the wind, and the remonstrance of his brother to hasten
+on, made a momentary pause to enjoy the scene.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Austin was about to thank him, but hardly had he began to speak, when
+the stranger stopped 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 it should not be his fault, if he did not, before
+long, make another visit to the place.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 though the mountains be carried into
+the midst of the sea."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+He told Mr. Edwards, that he had lived there for some months, and
+that, on entering the wood 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.
+
+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.
+
+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, and signified his intention of
+becoming thoroughly informed of all the manners and customs of the
+North American Indians.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+                    [Illustration: Indian Scenery.]
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+
+
+Austin Edwards 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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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. "I suppose," said he, "that
+you know all about beavers, and martins, and foxes, and squirrels."
+
+_Hunter._ I ought to know something about them, having been in my time
+somewhat of a _Voyageur_, a _Coureur des bois_, a _Trapper_, and a
+_Freeman_; but you will hardly understand these terms without some
+little explanation.
+
+_Austin._ What is a Coureur des bois?
+
+_Brian._ What is a Voyageur?
+
+_Basil._ I want to know what a Trapper is.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, that will be the best way.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ And where do furs come from?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Brian._ What a length for a lake! nearly five hundred miles! Why, it
+is more like a sea than a lake.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 hunt wild
+animals, to trap beavers, and to trade with the various Indian tribes
+which are scattered throughout this extensive territory.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! how I should like to hunt and to trade with the Indians!
+
+_Hunter._ 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?
+
+_Brian._ No, no, Austin. You must not think of running into such
+dangers.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ I think I can see them now.
+
+_Basil._ Did they smoke such pipes as we have been looking at?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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 _Coureurs des
+bois_, rangers of the woods.
+
+_Austin._ Ah! I should like to be a coureur des bois.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _Voyageurs_, or canoe men,
+were employed, expressly to attend to the canoes carrying supplies up
+the rivers, or bringing back cargoes of furs.
+
+_Basil._ Now we know what a _Voyageur_ is.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a figure you would cut! And yet, I dare say, such a
+dress is best for a voyageur.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a pity! I like those voyageurs.
+
+_Hunter._ The voyageurs, who were out for a long period, and navigated
+the interior of the country, were called _North-men_, or _Winterers_,
+while the others had the name of _Goers and Comers_. Any part of a
+river where they could not row a laden canoe, on account of the rapid
+stream, they called a _Décharge_; 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 _Portage_.
+
+_Austin._ We shall not forget the North-men, and Comers and Goers, nor
+the Décharges and Portages.
+
+_Basil._ You have not told us what a Trapper is.
+
+_Hunter._ A _Trapper_ 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 _Freemen_.
+
+_Austin._ Yes, I shall remember. Please to tell us how they hunt the
+beavers.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _washes_, 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, 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+_Austin._ But why is a beaver hunter called a trapper? I cannot
+understand that.
+
+_Hunter._ Because beavers are caught in great numbers in steel traps,
+which are set and baited on purpose for them.
+
+_Brian._ Why do they not catch them in the summer?
+
+_Hunter._ The fur of the beaver is in its prime in the winter; in the
+summer, it is of inferior quality.
+
+_Austin._ Do the trappers catch many beavers? I should think there
+could not be very many of them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Sixty thousand! I did not think there were so many beavers
+in the world.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then the grizzly bear did not hurt him, after all.
+
+_Brian._ I would not go among those grizzly bears for all in the
+world.
+
+_Austin._ Do the hunters take deer as well as other animals?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _furs_; but, before
+they are tanned, they are called _peltries_. 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ I am sorry for the poor deer.
+
+_Brian._ And so am I, Basil.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _cache_.
+
+_Austin._ What is a _cache_?
+
+_Hunter._ A _cache_ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ Perhaps not; unless they should smell it.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Capital! I could make a cache now, that neither bear, nor
+wolf, nor Indian could find.
+
+_Brian._ But if the bear did not find the cache, he might find you;
+and then what would become of you?
+
+_Austin._ Why I would climb a tree, as Cannon did.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+The delight visible in the sparkling eyes of the 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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Cloak.]
+
+
+
+
+              [Illustration: Chiefs of different Tribes.]
+
+                             CHAPTER III.
+
+
+The 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."
+
+"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
+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."
+
+_Austin._ But what is it that is so mysterious? What is it that wise
+men and travellers cannot make out?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes, that is quite plain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes; we recollect that very well.
+
+_Hunter._ And when the ark rested, it rested on Mount Ararat, which is
+in Asia also. If you 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.
+
+_Austin._ They must have gone in a ship, that is certain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ What do wise men and travellers say about these things?
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, that it will.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a pity! They want some good doctors among them, and
+then diseases would not carry them off in that way.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Please to tell us what you remember, and what you know; and
+that will quite satisfy us.
+
+_Hunter._ A traveller[1] 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. Perhaps no man who has written on the Indians has
+seen so much of them as he has.
+
+    [Footnote 1: Mr. Catlin]
+
+_Brian._ Did you ever meet Catlin?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ These are the very things that we want to know.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_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._
+
++--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+|Names of  |Number    |Number   |Present  |Number  |Number |Number |Daily  |
+|tribes.   |of each   |removed  |western  |remain- |removed|of each|expense|
+|          |tribe     |of each  |popula-  |ing east|since  |now    |of sub-|
+|          |indigenous|tribe    |tion of  |of each |date of|under  |sisting|
+|          |to the    |wholly or|each     |tribe.  |last   |subsi- |them.  |
+|          |country   |partially|tribe    |        |annual |stence |       |
+|          |west of   |removed. |wholly or|        |report.|west.  |       |
+|          |the Missi-|         |partially|        |       |       |       |
+|          |ssippi.   |         |removed. |        |       |       |       |
+|----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------|
+|Chippewas,|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Ottowas,  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Potta-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|watomies, |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Potta-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|watomies  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of Indiana|    --    |   5,779 |   2,298 |  92[a] |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Creeks    |    --    |  24,594 |  24,594 |  744   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Choctaws  |    --    |  15,177 |  15,177 | 3,323  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Minatarees|   2,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Florida   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Indians   |    --    |   3,824 |   3,824 |   --   |  212  |  212  |$7 68½ |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pagans    |  30,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Cherokees |    --    |  25,911 |  25,911 | 1,000  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Assina-   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|boins     |    --    |   7,000 |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Swan Creek|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Black |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|River     |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Chippewas |    --    |      62 |      62 |   113  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Appachees |  20,280  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Crees     |     800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Ottowas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Chip- |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|pewas, to-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|gether    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|with Chip-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|pewas of  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Michigan  |    --    |   --    |   --    | 7,055  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Arrapahas |  2,500   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|New York  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Indians   |    --    |   --    |   --    | 3,293  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Gros      |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Ventres   |  3,300   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Chickasaws|    --    |  4,930  |  4,930  | 80[b]  |288[c] | 198[d]| 9 40½ |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Eutaws    | 19,200   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Stock-    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|bridges   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Mun-  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|sees, and |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Delawares |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and       |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Munsees   |    --    |   180   |   278   |  320   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sioux     | 25,000   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Quapaws   |    476   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Iowas     |    470   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kickapoos |    --    |   588   |   505   |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sacs and  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Foxes of  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Missis-   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|sippi     |  2,348[e]|         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Delawares |    --    |   826   |  1,059  |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Shawnees  |    --    |  1,272  |    887  |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sacs of   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Missouri  |   414[e] |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Weas      |    --    |     225 |     176 |   30   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Osages    |   4,102  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pianke-   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|shaws     |    --    |     162 |      98 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kanzas    |   1,588  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Peorias   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and       |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kaskaskias|    --    |     132 |     150 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Omahas    |   1,600  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Senecas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|from      |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sandusky  |    --    |     251 |     251 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Otoes and |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Missourias|     931  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Senecas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and       |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Shawnees  |    --    |     211 |     211 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pawnees   |  12,500  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Winneba-  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|goes      |    --    |   4,500 |   2,183 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Camanches |  19,200  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kiowas    |   1,800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Mandans   |     300  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Crows     |   4,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Wyandots  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of Ohio   |    --    |     664 |    --   |   50[g]|   664 |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Poncas    |     800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Miamies   |    --    |    --   |    --   |  661   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Arickarees|   1,200  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Menomonies|    --    |    --   |    --   |2,464   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Cheyenes  |   2,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Chippewas |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of the    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Lakes     |    --    |    --   |    --   |2,564   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Blackfeet |   1,300  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Caddoes   |   2,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Snakes    |   1,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Flatheads |     800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Oneidas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of Green  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Bay       |    --    |    --   |    --   |  675   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Stock-    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|bridges of|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Green Bay |    --    |    --   |    --   |  207   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Wyandots  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of        |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Michigan  |    --    |    --   |    --   |   75   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pottawato-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|mies of   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Huron     |    --    |    --   |    --   |  100   |       |       |       |
++----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
+|          | 168,909  |  89,288 |  83,594 |22,846  | 1,164 |  410  | 17 09 |
++----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
+
+
+                                NOTES.
+
+    [Footnote a: These 92 are Ottowas of Maumee.]
+
+    [Footnote b: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote c: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote d: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote e: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote g: 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.]
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a river! Please to tell us what are all those little
+hills running along there, one above another, from top to bottom.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Say what you will, I like the Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; you cannot do better. Tell us the names of all the
+chiefs, and the warriors, and the conjurors, and all about them.
+
+_Hunter._ The Blackfeet Indians are a very warlike people;
+_Stu-mick-o-súcks_ was the name of their chief.
+
+_Austin._ Stu-mick-o-súcks! What a name! Is there any meaning in it?
+
+_Hunter._ O yes. It means, "the back fat of the buffalo;" and if you
+had seen him and _Peh-tó-pe-kiss_, "the ribs of the eagle," another
+chief dressed up in their splendid mantles, buffaloes' horns, ermine
+tails, and scalp-locks, you would not soon have turned your eyes from
+them.
+
+_Brian._ Who would ever be called by such a name as that? The back fat
+of the buffalo!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _Eé-shah-kó-nee_, or "the bow and
+quiver." I hardly ever saw a larger man among the Indians than
+_Ta-wáh-que-nah_, 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 _Kots-o-kó-ro-kó_, 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ And suppose you get thrown off your horse, or killed in
+hunting buffaloes, what shall you say to it then?
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ When I was at the upper waters of the Mississippi and
+Missouri rivers, _Ha-wón-je-tah_, or "the one horn," was chief; but
+since then, being out among the buffaloes, a buffalo bull attacked and
+killed him.
+
+_Basil._ There, Austin! If an Indian chief was killed by a buffalo,
+what should _you_ do among them? Why they would toss you over their
+heads like a shuttlecock.
+
+_Hunter._ _Wee-tá-ra-sha-ro_, 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 _Ah'-sho-cole_,
+or "rotten foot," and another called _Ah'-re-kah-na-có-chee_, "the mad
+elk." Indians give the name of _brave_ to a warrior who has
+distinguished himself by feats of valour, such as admit him to their
+rank.
+
+_Brian._ I wonder that they should choose such long names. It must be
+a hard matter to remember them.
+
+_Hunter._ There were many famous men among the Sacs. _Kee-o-kuk_ was
+the chief. Kee-o-kuk means "the running fox." One of his boldest
+braves was _Má-ka-tai-me-she-kiá-kiák_, "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.
+
+_Austin._ We will not forget to remind you of your promise. It will be
+capital to listen to these histories.
+
+_Hunter._ When I saw _Wa-sáw-me-saw_, or "the roaring thunder," the
+youngest son of Black Hawk, he was in captivity. _Náh-se-ús-kuk_, "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 _Wah-pe-kée-suck_, or "white
+cloud;" he was, however, as often called The Prophet as the White
+Cloud. _Pam-a-hó_, "the swimmer;" _Wah-pa-ko-lás-kak_, "the track of
+the bear;" and _Pash-ce-pa-hó_, "the little stabbing chief;" were, I
+think, all three of them warriors of Black Hawk.
+
+_Basil._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+_Pa-ris-ka-roó-pa_, called "the two crows," had a head of hair that
+swept the ground after him as he walked along.
+
+_Austin._ What do you think of that, Basil? No doubt the Crows are
+fine fellows. Please to mention two or three more.
+
+_Hunter._ Let me see; there was _Eé-heé-a-duck-chée-a_, or "he who
+binds his hair before;" and _Hó-ra-to-ah_, "a warrior;" and
+_Chah-ee-chópes_, "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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ There was one of the Crows called The Red Bear, or
+_Duhk-pits-o-hó-shee_.
+
+_Brian._ Duhk-pitch a--Duck pits--I cannot pronounce the word--why
+that is worse to speak than any.
+
+_Austin._ Hear me pronounce it then: _Duhk-pits-o-hoot-shee_. No; that
+is not quite right, but very near it.
+
+_Basil._ You must not go among the Crows yet, Austin; you cannot talk
+well enough.
+
+_Hunter._ Oh, there are much harder names among some of the tribes
+than those I have mentioned; for instance there is
+_Aú-nah-kwet-to-hau-páy-o_, "the one sitting in the clouds;" and
+_Eh-tohk-pay-she-peé-shah_, "the black mocassin;" and
+_Kay-ée-qua-da-kúm-ée-gish-kum_, "he who tries the ground with his
+foot;" and _Mah-to-rah-rish-nee-éeh-ée-rah_, "the grizzly bear that
+runs without fear."
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I never dreamed that there were such names as those in the
+world.
+
+_Basil._ 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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+
+                       [Illustration: Wigwams.]
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+It 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.
+
+"We want to know," said he, "a little more about what these people
+were, and when they were first found out."
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then the Esquimaux are not Red Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes. Please to tell us first of their wigwams, and their
+villages, and how they live.
+
+_Brian._ And what they eat, and what clothes they wear.
+
+_Basil._ And how they talk to one another.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; and all about their spears and tomahawks.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, that is a better way of making a wigwam than covering
+over sticks with turf.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ The Mandan wigwam is the best of all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; they must look even better than the Mandan lodges, and
+they can be taken down and carried away.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why, it must be like magic.
+
+_Hunter._ The time has been fixed, preparations made, the signal
+given, and all at once the poles and skin coverings have been taken
+down.
+
+_Brian._ How do they carry the wigwams away with them?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What a sight! and to what length they must stretch out; such
+a number of them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+The Indians hunt, fish, and some of them raise corn for food; but the
+flesh of the buffalo is what they most depend upon.
+
+_Austin._ How do the Indians cook their food?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ That is a great deal like an English dinner--roast beef and
+a pudding.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ And what kind of clothes do they wear?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 dress themselves
+with very few ornaments, but others have very many. Shall I describe
+to you the full dress of _Máh-to-tóh-pa_, "the four bears."
+
+_Austin._ Oh, yes; every thing belonging to him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I fancy that I can see him now.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What a figure he must have made!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a desperate fellow! Bold as a lion, I will be bound for
+it. Had he no weapons about him?
+
+_Hunter._ Oh, yes! He held in his left hand a 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; I thought he was a bold fellow.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What sort of a pipe was it?
+
+_Basil._ What was in his tobacco sack?
+
+_Brian._ You did not say what his belt was made of.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ What was in his tobacco sack?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Please to tell us about the scalping knife. It must be a
+fearful instrument.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 knife, with one edge, and the Indians
+wear them in beautiful scabbards under their belts.
+
+_Austin._ How does an Indian scalp his enemy?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Terrible! Scalping would be sure to kill a man, I suppose.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Brian._ How the Indian would stare!
+
+_Basil._ He had never seen a wig before, I dare say.
+
+_Hunter._ The arms of Indians, offensive and defensive, are, for the
+most part, those which I have mentioned--the club, the tomahawk, the
+bow 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a terrible weapon, when wielded by a savage!
+
+    [Illustration: _a_, scalping-knife. _b_, ditto, in sheath.
+    _c_, _d_, war-clubs. _e_, _e_, tomahawks. _g_, whip.]
+
+_Brian._ I would not go among the Indians, with their clubs and
+tomahawks, for a thousand dollars.
+
+_Basil._ Nor would I: they would be sure to kill me.
+
+_Hunter._ The tomahawk is often carved in a strange manner; and some
+of the bows and arrows 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a strong arm that Indian must have had! Through a
+buffalo's body!
+
+_Hunter._ The quiver is made of the skin of the panther, or the otter;
+and some of the arrows it contains are usually poisoned.
+
+_Brian._ Why, then, an arrow is sure to kill a person, if it hits him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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!"
+
+_Basil._ What will you do, Austin, if you go among the Indians, and
+they shoot you with a poisoned arrow?
+
+_Austin._ Oh, I shall carry a shield. You heard that the Indians carry
+shields.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should have thought that an Indian would be more than a
+match for a white man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Why is it that the red men are always fighting against one
+another? They are all brothers, and what is the use of their killing
+one another?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That is very sad, though.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What do the Indians call the sun?
+
+_Hunter._ The different tribes speak different languages, and
+therefore you must tell me which of them you mean.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! I forgot that. Tell me what any two or three of the
+tribes call it.
+
+_Hunter._ A Sioux calls it _wee_; a Mandan, _menahka_; a Tuscarora,
+_hiday_; and a Blackfoot, _cristeque ahtose_.
+
+_Austin._ The Blackfoot is the hardest to remember. I should not like
+to learn that language.
+
+_Brian._ But you must learn it, if you go among them; or else you will
+not understand a word they say.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ A Blackfoot calls it _coque ahtose_; a Sioux, _on wee_; a
+Riccaree, _wetah_; a Mandan, _esto menahka_; and a Tuscarora,
+_autsunyehaw_.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! I shall learn a little at a time. We cannot do every
+thing at once. What do the red men call a buffalo?
+
+_Hunter._ In Riccaree, it is _watash_; in Mandan, _ptemday_; in
+Tuscarora, _hohats_; in Blackfoot, _eneuh_.
+
+_Basil._ What different names they give them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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, _How ke che wa?_ _Chee na e num?_
+_Dati youthay its?_ or, _Tush hah thah mah kah hush?_ according to the
+language in which you spoke. I hardly think these languages would suit
+you so well as your own.
+
+_Brian._ They would never suit me; but Austin must learn every word of
+them.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ Very well. _Asco, pitco, tow wit, tchee tish, tchee hoo,
+tcha pis, to tcha pis, to tcha pis won, nah e ne won, nah en._ I will
+just add, that _weetah_, is twenty; _nahen tchee hoo_, is fifty; _nah
+en te tcha pis won_, is eighty; _shok tan_, is a hundred; and _sho tan
+tera hoo_, is a thousand.
+
+_Austin._ Can the Indians write?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ How curious!
+
+_Hunter._ The _Big turtle_, the _Fish_, the _Scalp_, the _Arrow_, and
+the _Big canoe_, 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.
+
+_Brian._ I dare say their fish, and arrows, and hatchets, and turtles,
+and buffaloes, are comical figures enough.
+
+_Hunter._ 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. 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay; the white man knew that he had better give up the horse
+than be scalped.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                              CHAPTER V.
+
+
+"Black Hawk! 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."
+
+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 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."[2] "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."
+
+    [Footnote 2: Ps. lxxiv. 20.]
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"Though I came down from the chief Na-nà-ma-kee, yet my people would
+not let me dress like 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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 _paddle_ a canoe, but not to _steer_ it. They fight
+like braves, but they are not fit to be chiefs, and to lead war
+parties.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 than swan's
+wings: when the white men came there, he went away.
+
+"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?'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 then that
+Kee-o-kuk was no brave, but a coward, to give up what the Great Spirit
+had given us.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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, to take some corn from our
+own fields; the whites saw and fired upon them.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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:--
+
+"'Braves and warriors! these are the medicine bags of our forefather,
+Muk-a-tà-quet, who was 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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 as a brother. What
+is done is past; we have buried the tomahawk, and the Sacs and Foxes
+and Americans will now be friends.
+
+"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."
+
+_Austin._ Poor Black Hawk! He went through a great deal. And
+Kee-o-kuk, the Running Fox, was made chief instead of him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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; 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.
+
+_Austin._ How did you prepare for the hunt?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You were sure, then, that you should kill some buffaloes.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Your thin spear would soon be broken.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ The poor buffalo has no chance at all.
+
+_Austin._ Well! you mounted your horse, and rode off at full gallop--
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a scamper there must be!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+Very willingly would Austin have lingered long enough to hear of half
+a dozen buffalo hunts; 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+                     [Illustration: Buffalo Hunt.]
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+The 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 led forth to the lawn, which was
+considered to be an excellent prairie.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How big are the prairies? I want to know more about them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _prairie_ was given to the plains of North America by the
+French settlers. 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.
+
+_Brian._ I never heard of such high grass as that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How I should like to see a prairie on fire!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+_Austin._ Brian! Do you not wish now to see the prairies of North
+America?
+
+_Brian._ Yes; if I could see them without going among the tomahawks
+and scalping-knives.
+
+_Hunter._ I remember one part where the ragged 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.
+
+_Basil._ I should like to see those red rocks very much.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I hardly think that I should ever be tired of green grass and
+flowers and strawberries.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 variety they afford to us! If the world were
+all sunshine, we should long for the shade.
+
+_Austin._ What do you mean by bluffs?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Where was it? Who was Floyd.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ I should not like to be by myself in such a place as that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But what was the story? What was there strange in the burial
+of the chief?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What a strange thing!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But was the white horse buried alive?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That was a very cruel deed! They had no business to smother
+that beautiful white horse in that way.
+
+_Basil._ And so I say. It was a great shame, and I do not like that
+Blackbird.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What do you think of the prairie now, Austin?
+
+_Brian._ And should you not like to gather some of those fruits and
+flowers?
+
+_Austin._ I never suspected that there would be such snakes among
+them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."[3]
+
+    [Footnote 3: Ps. cxlv. 3.]
+
+_Austin._ I could not have believed that there had been such beautiful
+places in the prairies.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+give you the history of Nikkanochee, perhaps I had better begin with
+it at once.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I want to hear about those prairie dogs.
+
+_Brian._ And I want to hear of Lover's Leap.
+
+_Austin._ What I wish to hear the most, is about Red Pipe-stone
+quarry. Please to tell us a little about them all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Well may it be called Swan Lake.
+
+_Hunter._ 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; till they
+obtained full cargoes of wild rice for food.
+
+_Brian._ I wish we had wild rice growing in our pond.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Poor girl, indeed! Her father was a very cruel man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What could have brought it there?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 hot sun
+evaporates the water, and the salt is left behind.
+
+_Brian._ Well, that is very curious.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Remember the alligators, Austin!
+
+_Brian._ And the howling wolves! What do you think of them?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ That is the place I want to see.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Pipes.]
+
+
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                             CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+"And now," said the hunter, "for my account of Nikkanochee.[4] 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 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."
+
+    [Footnote 4: This sketch is supposed to be a narrative of
+    facts, though the authority for it is not within the
+    publishers' reach.]
+
+_Austin._ Noble! noble! If all the Seminoles were like him, they were
+a noble people.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ When I go abroad, I will always behave kindly to the poor
+Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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.
+
+_Brian._ He must have made terrible work with his tomahawk!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I hope he did not put his sign to it.
+
+_Brian._ So do I, and I hope he persuaded all the rest of the red
+warriors not to sign it.
+
+_Hunter._ When they asked him in his turn to sign the contract, his
+lip began to curl with contempt, 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!"
+
+_Austin._ Well done, brave Oseola!
+
+_Brian._ That is just the way that he ought to have acted.
+
+_Basil._ He was a very bold fellow. But what did the generals say to
+him?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ The whites acted a cruel part, and they ought to have been
+ashamed of themselves.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, indeed. But what did Oseola do when he was free?
+
+_Hunter._ 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, he made the forest
+echo with the wild war-whoop that he raised in defiance of his
+enemies.
+
+_Brian._ I thought he would! That is the very thing that I expected he
+would do.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How was it? How did they take him prisoner?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That was an unjust and treacherous act. Oseola ought to have
+kept away from them.
+
+_Basil._ And what did they do to Oseola? Did they kill him?
+
+_Hunter._ They at first confined him in the fort at St. Augustine, and
+afterwards in a dungeon at 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.
+
+_Austin._ Poor Oseola!
+
+_Hunter._ 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?"
+
+_Basil._ But you have not yet told us of Nikkanochee. Please to let us
+hear all about him.
+
+_Brian._ Ay; we have forgotten Nikkanochee.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Ay! now Nikkanochee is a prisoner! What is to become of him
+now?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I hope they were safe then.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Dreadful! dreadful!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Did Econchatti die of his wound?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Econchatti seems to be as brave a man as Oseola. Did they
+escape from their enemies?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, that was terrible! I hoped he would get away safe.
+
+_Brian._ So did I. I thought the white men would be tired of following
+them into those dreary forests and muddy swamps.
+
+_Austin._ How was it that Nikkanochee was taken?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Why, I could not walk so far as forty miles to save my life.
+How did he manage it?
+
+_Hunter._ You have not been brought up like an Indian. Fatigue and
+hardship and danger are endured 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.
+
+_Brian._ They have him now, then, fast enough. I wonder what became of
+Econchatti-mico, his father.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That man deserves to be rewarded. I shall not forget James
+Shields.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ I wonder that Econchatti-mico, his father, or the brave
+Oseola, his uncle, did not rescue him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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.
+
+_Brian._ How much longer did he remain abroad?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+
+
+
+              [Illustration: Resting place for the Dead.]
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+In 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 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."
+
+_Hunter._ 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 that
+mingles much with the Indian character; and that is, medicine, or
+mystery. I must try to make you understand it.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; I should like to know all about it very well.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But what is it? Is there any thing in the bag? What is it
+that makes medicine?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ But is there any thing in the medicine bag?
+
+_Hunter._ 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, and form a conspicuous part of an Indian's
+appendages; while others are very small, and altogether hidden.
+
+_Basil._ Why, it is very foolish in the red men to carry such things
+about with them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ This is one of the most wonderful things you have told us
+yet.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 down, is medicine to the grizzly
+bear;" meaning, that in such a position a bear will not hurt him.
+
+_Basil._ Is it true? Will not the grizzly bear hurt a man when he is
+lying down?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What was it that you said about the medicine man bringing
+rain?
+
+_Hunter._ Some of them are famous for bringing rain in a dry season.
+
+_Austin._ But they cannot really bring rain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why did they not tell the medicine men earlier to make the
+rain come?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Ay! they were very cunning.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ That is the way they make it rain, is it?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Poor fellow! He had had enough of rain-making for one day.
+
+_Hunter._ For several days the same ceremony was carried on, until a
+rain-maker, with a head-dress 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?
+
+_Austin._ No, not a bit. I see that it was all a cheat.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 their hands,
+looking towards the sun, for a whole day, to obtain it.
+
+_Austin._ When I go among the Indians, I will not be a mystery man.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why, that is like buying a wife.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I should not like my head to be flattened in that manner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I shall often think of the pool, and the little cradles
+swimming on it. It would remind me of Moses in the bulrushes.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ This is one of the worst things we have heard of the
+Indians.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, it is very sad indeed!
+
+_Hunter._ You would not forsake your father, in old age, in that
+manner, would you?
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian_ and _Basil._ Yes; that we would!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I shall leave the Leaping Rock to the leaping Indians, for
+it will never suit me.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ The white fish of the Chippewas will suit me better than the
+Leaping Rock of the Sioux.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ How many things you do remember!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You must have your runners, Austin.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I think the squaws behave themselves very well.
+
+_Hunter._ The smoking of the pipe takes place 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.
+
+_Basil._ What will you do now, Austin? You never smoked a pipe in your
+life.
+
+_Austin._ Oh, I should soon learn; besides, I need only take a very
+little whiff.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You have something a little harder to do now, I think,
+Austin; to learn to eat dog's flesh.
+
+_Austin._ You may depend upon it, that I shall keep out of the way of
+a dog feast. I might take a little whiff at their pipe, but I could
+not touch their dainty dogs.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+_Austin._ When an Indian dies, how do they bury him?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay! he was buried on horseback, on the top of a high bluff,
+sitting on his horse. He was covered all over with sods.
+
+_Hunter._ And I told you of the Chinock children floating on the
+solitary pool.
+
+_Basil._ Yes, I remember them very well.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Cradle.]
+
+
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                              CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+With 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+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 _little, old, white man_, 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:--
+
+"The thief I know is a _little_ 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 _old_ man, I know by his short
+steps, which I have traced over the dead leaves in the woods; that he
+is a _white_ 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."
+
+_Brian._ Well done, Indian! Why, nothing could escape a man like
+that.
+
+_Austin._ An Englishman would hardly have been able to describe the
+thief without seeing him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 would convince them that the
+real perpetrators of the crime belonged to the Six Nations.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At last, arriving at the foot of the mountain, on 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ This instance is quite as wonderful as the other.
+
+_Brian._ I would not have an Indian after me if I had done wrong; for
+he would be sure to find me out.
+
+_Hunter._ Red men often act very conscientiously. One day, an Indian
+solicited a little tobacco 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.
+
+"I wish to see him," said the Indian.
+
+"Why so?" inquired some one.
+
+"Why, I find money with the tobacco."
+
+"Well! what of that? Keep it; it was given to you."
+
+"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, '_'Tis_ yours; it was given to you.'
+Good man say, 'That not right: _tobacco_ yours, _money_ 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."
+
+_Basil._ I like that Indian very much.
+
+_Brian._ No one could have acted more honestly.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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:--
+
+"See, my friend, this is an Indian lock that I am putting to my door."
+
+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?"
+
+"Stolen! by whom?"
+
+"Why, by Indians, to be sure."
+
+"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."
+
+_Basil._ If we were to leave our doors in that way, our houses would
+be sure to be robbed.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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."
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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 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!'"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, an
+innocent victim, from a cruel death. Their address, delivered on this
+occasion, is sensible and appropriate, closing as follows:
+
+"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."
+
+To this the Pawnee made the following reply:--
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+            [Illustration: Indian Horsemanship.--Page 160.]
+
+                              CHAPTER X.
+
+
+"Remember," 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."
+
+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.
+
+"The different animals and birds," said he, "that inhabit different
+countries, for the most part, 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."
+
+_Austin._ But if they are bisons, why are they called buffaloes?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What is the difference between a buffalo and a bison?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then a bison must look much fiercer than a buffalo.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, they will soon kill all the buffaloes, if they go on in
+that manner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What, because they are so hot?
+
+_Hunter._ Yes: the bison suffers very much from heat. It is no
+uncommon thing to see a bison bull 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a figure a bison bull must cut, with his shaggy hair and
+his sides plastered all over with mud!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How can you escape from a grizzly bear, if he is so very
+terrible?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 I was once chased by one of these terrible
+fellows, and a narrow escape I had.
+
+_Austin._ How was it? Tell us all about it.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ A hunting-knife against a grizzly bear!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Never was any one in greater danger.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ That was a capital old cow, for she saved the boy's life.
+
+_Basil._ But the young cattle helped her, for they pushed the bear
+with their horns.
+
+_Brian._ Please to tell us about wild horses.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+the brow of a bluff, or have peeped at them cautiously from a ravine.
+
+_Austin._ What kind of horses are they; and of what colour?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How do they catch them?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _creasing_ a horse: but a bad marksman would kill, and not
+crease, the noble animal he seeks to subdue.
+
+_Austin._ What other way is there of catching wild horses? for that
+seems to be a very bad one.
+
+_Basil._ It is a very bad way. They ought not to shoot them.
+
+_Hunter._ They are much more commonly taken with the _lasso_; 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; to fasten the lasso round
+his lower jaw; to breathe in his nostrils, and to lead him home.
+
+_Austin._ Breathe in his nostrils! Why, what does he do that for?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Well! that does appear strange!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I should not much like to meet a cougar.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, yes; Mr. Grizzly-back is very cunning.
+
+_Hunter._ The prairie-wolf is smaller than the common wolf.
+Prairie-wolves hunt after deer 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.
+
+_Austin._ Nothing can stand against man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Basil._ What other kinds of deer do Indians catch?
+
+    [Illustration: The Wapiti Deer.]
+
+_Hunter._ 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 cliffs of the western wilds, giving life to
+the solitary place, and interest to the picturesque beauty of lonely
+spots.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ You have never told us, though, how they catch the musk-rat.
+I should like to know that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, the cunning little rogues.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 with a spear. Myriads of these
+little animals are taken in this manner for their fur.
+
+_Brian._ They must be a good deal like prairie dogs, though one has
+his house on the land, and the other in the water.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ You have told us a great deal indeed, to-day, about the
+prairies.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should like to see one of those great, high, round bluffs
+on fire. There must be a fine bonfire then.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ They must look very beautifully.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! it must be terrible.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I am almost afraid to hear it.
+
+_Austin._ Poh! nonsense! It will never hurt you.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.)
+
+_Austin._ I guess what was the matter.
+
+_Brian._ And so do I.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I hope you set off at full gallop.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You ought not to have stopped a moment.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I cannot think what you could do in such a situation.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ That was, indeed, a narrow escape.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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!
+
+_Brian._ There can be nothing in the world like a burning prairie,
+unless it be a burning mountain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+                    [Illustration: Buffalo Dance.]
+
+                              CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+Buffaloes, 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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."
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ And how do they play?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 through
+their goal, one is reckoned, and a hundred is the game.
+
+_Basil._ What a scuffle there must be among so many of them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Now for the struggle.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How long does the game last?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Do they ever run races?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, I remember that the Camanchees are capital riders. I was
+a Camanchee in our buffalo hunt. Brian, you have not forgotten that?
+
+_Brian._ But you had no horse to ride. I was a Sioux; and the Sioux
+are capital riders too.
+
+_Basil._ And so are the Pawnees, I was a Pawnee in the buffalo hunt.
+
+_Hunter._ It was told me that the Camanchees--and, 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.
+
+_Austin._ It would be worth going to the prairies, if it were only to
+see the Camanchees ride.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, I see! He who shoots the highest in the air is the
+winner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Brian, we will try what we can do to-morrow; but we shall
+never have so many as seven or eight up at once.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But you did not tell us wherein their way of swimming is
+different from ours.
+
+_Hunter._ Whites swim by striking out their legs 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.
+
+_Basil._ What was it? Did they dip your head under the water?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 overturned; but the more fearful I
+was, the better pleased were my mirthful tormentors.
+
+_Austin._ Ah! I can see it spinning round like a peg-top, in the
+middle of the river.
+
+_Brian._ And did they upset the tub?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Brian._ You must please to tell us about them all.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ To describe every dance at length 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.
+
+_Austin._ What figures they would look with their masks on! Did you
+say that they kept up the dance day and night?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ But how could they bring them back again?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ And do they keep that up for a fortnight?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Well, I should like to see the buffalo dance. Could not we
+manage one on the lawn, Brian?
+
+_Brian._ But where are we to get the buffalo masks from? The buffalo
+hunt did very well, but I hardly think we could manage the dance
+Please to tell us of the bear dance.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, yes; let us hear all about her; and you can tell us of
+the dances when we come again.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What, all by herself! How lonely she must have been!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should have been afraid that other Indians would have come
+and killed her.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Poor woman! I should like to have seen her in the hut of her
+own building, and the clothes of her own making.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ Capital! Why, she seems able to do every thing.
+
+_Hunter._ Her method of making a fire was equally singular and
+curious, having no other materials for that purpose than two hard
+stones. 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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Canoes.]
+
+
+
+
+  [Illustration: _c_, drum. _d, d_, rattles. _e_, drum. _f_, mystery
+                    whistle. _g_, deer-skin flute.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Never, 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.
+
+Then, again, they were very successful in bringing buffaloes, without
+which the dance, excellent as it was, would have been but an
+unsatisfactory 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.
+
+"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."
+
+_Austin._ Yes. Now for the music of the Indians, if you please, sir.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why is it called the mystery whistle?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What sort of a drum do they use? Is it a kettle-drum?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Have they no trumpets and cymbals, and clarionets and
+violins?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay; they are quite at home in hunting buffaloes.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You must please to tell us about these dances.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ That ought to be called the begging dance, and not the
+beggars' dance; for the dancers do not beg for themselves, but for
+others.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Why, do the doctors dance in it?
+
+_Hunter._ 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, can
+bear a great deal of fatigue. The pipe dance is one of the most
+animated amusements.
+
+_Basil._ Oh! do tell us about the pipe dance.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I hope you have a good many more dances to tell us of.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How long does the green corn dance last?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ In what way does the green corn dance begin?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I dare say, while the pot is boiling, they are all longing
+to begin the feast.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then they begin to boil more corn, I suppose.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I wonder what dance will come next.
+
+_Hunter._ I need not describe many others. If I run rapidly through
+two or three, and dwell a 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.
+
+_Basil._ They are all sadly fond of fighting.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Please to tell us about them both.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I should very much like to see that dance; there is nothing
+cruel in it at all.
+
+_Basil._ And I should like to see the eagle dance, for there is no
+cruelty in that either.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ That is one of the strangest dances of all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ What! do the Sioux think there is a Bear spirit?
+
+    [Illustration: Bear Dance.]
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Now for the war dance: that is come at last.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a sight that must be!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That war dance would make me tremble.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+
+             [Illustration: Interior of a Mystery Lodge.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+It 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.
+
+In his younger days, he had entered on the life of a hunter and
+trapper with much ardour. To 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 practised on the red man; that they might sympathize
+with his trials, and feel interested for his welfare.
+
+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."
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Now we shall hear.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Why did they get together? What did they do?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ How came the Mandans to know any thing about the flood, if
+they have no Bibles?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why, it is just as if they had read the Bible.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What an odd thing!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ It was enough to kill them all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I want to hear about the young Indians in the lodge, and
+that old fellow, the mystery man.
+
+_Hunter._ The superstitious and cruel practices 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.
+
+_Basil._ Shocking! shocking!
+
+_Brian._ That must be horrible!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 were
+left to themselves, to live or die, as the Great Spirit might
+determine.
+
+_Austin._ I should think that hardly any of them would ever come to
+life again.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+    [Illustration: A War-Party.]
+
+"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 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.
+
+_Austin._ How do the Indians poison their arrows?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Where do they get their poison? What is it made of?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+Before war is determined on among the Indians, a council is held with
+great solemnity. The 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.
+
+_Brian._ It is very sad to fight with such weapons as poisoned arrows.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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 grass, lurk in the ravine, and skulk at
+nightfall around the place to be attacked.
+
+_Austin._ Did you ever go out with the Indians to fight?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Do tell us all about it.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Ay; that is just like the Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+It was some time after sundown, that we left 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then there was terrible work, I dare say.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Dreadful! dreadful!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I wonder that every one in the Blackfoot village was not
+killed!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How did you get away?
+
+_Hunter._ Stunned as I was, I recovered my senses before a retreat
+took place, and was just 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.
+
+_Austin._ Are the Crow tribe or the Blackfoot tribe the strongest?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What battling there must be among them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ I think I can see him. But what colour was his war-horse?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ And the Sacs and Foxes were great fighters, for Black Hawk
+was a famous fellow.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Not a word of it. Please to tell us every particular.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Now we shall hear of the mystery man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay; I want to know how the mystery man cures his patients.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ The mystery man was coming, I suppose.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ He could never cure the dying man with his tambourine.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ He had need of all his medicine.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes. You said that he dashed his dagger not only through the
+contract, but also through the table on which it lay.
+
+_Brian._ And you told us that he was taken prisoner by treachery and
+died in captivity.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Please to let us know every thing about him. It was at Fort
+Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What could he want of his war-dress when he was going to die?
+
+_Austin._ Wait a little, Basil, and you will hear all about it, I dare
+say.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How very strange for a dying man to dress himself in that
+way!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ And did he paint his face himself?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What did he paint his hands and his knife-handle for?
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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.
+
+_Austin._ How weak he must have been!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Poor Oseola! He died like a chief, at last.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+                    [Illustration: Mounted Chief.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+The 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+To this inquiry, Brian replied that what they had heard had only
+increased their curiosity to hear more.
+
+"Well; let me consider," said the hunter. "I have told you about the
+different tribes of Indians, 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."
+
+_Austin._ I shall be very sorry when you have told us all.
+
+_Brian._ And so shall I: for it is so pleasing to come here, and
+listen to what you tell us.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That pipe-of-peace dance is a capital dance, for then
+bloodshed is at an end.
+
+_Hunter._ Unfortunately, war is apt soon to break out again, and then
+the buried tomahawk becomes as busy as ever.
+
+_Austin._ Well, I do like the Indians, in spite of all their faults,
+and I think they have been used cruelly by the whites.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ If I ever go among the red men, the Yellow Stone River, or
+the Upper Missouri, will be the place for me.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 tribe before he went
+among the whites, had very little respect paid to him afterwards.
+
+_Brian._ I hope it is a long account.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Austin._ Two or three thousand miles! What a distance for him to go!
+
+_Hunter._ "After the troops had been made to manoeuvre 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."
+
+_Brian._ He would hardly know how to walk in a colonel's uniform.
+
+_Hunter._ "In a pair of white kid gloves; tight blue coat, with gilt
+buttons, gold epaulettes, and 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."
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ "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."
+
+_Austin._ I thought they would laugh at him.
+
+_Hunter._ "He told them about wigwams, in which a thousand people
+could at one time pray to the Great Spirit; of other wigwams, five
+stories 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."
+
+_Austin._ They would be sure never to believe him.
+
+_Hunter._ "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!"
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I could never have thought that an Indian chief would have
+dressed himself in a blue coat and gilt buttons.
+
+_Basil._ And, then, the fan and green umbrella!
+
+_Austin._ Ay, and the whiskey bottles sticking out of his
+tail-pockets. He would look a little different from Mah-to-toh-pa.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes; we remember the Crows, with their hair sweeping the
+ground.
+
+_Hunter._ 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?
+
+_Basil._ I do not remember that you told us that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 lives by the
+tight clothing and lacings with which they compress their bodies; but
+the Indians do not commit such folly.
+
+_Brian._ There is something to be learned from the Indians, after all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a curious custom! I should not much like to be flogged
+in that manner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should have thought they would have wanted their best
+arrows to fight with.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I do hope that we shall forget none of these curious things.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+            [Illustration: Eliot Preaching to the Indians.]
+
+                              CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+For 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 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."
+
+_Hunter._ Let me speak a word or two about the Indians, before I begin
+my account. You remember that I told you of the Mandans.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Dreadful! But how was it? What brought it all about?
+
+_Brian._ You should have told us this before.
+
+_Hunter._ 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;
+but of the poor Mandans, the whole tribe was destroyed.
+
+_Brian._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ And did Mah-to-toh-pa, "the four bears," die too?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ It was indeed a terrible affair. Have they no good doctors
+among the Indians now? Why do they not send for doctors who know how
+to cure the small-pox, instead of those juggling mystery men?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Who was the first missionary who went among the Indians?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ I wonder he was not afraid of going among them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I remember your telling us of them; and I suppose they are
+the longest words in the world.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _noorromantammoonkanunonnash_, which
+means, "our loves;" and the second, or "our questions," is
+_kummogokdonattoottammoctiteaongannunnonash_.
+
+_Austin._ Why that last word would reach all across one of our
+copy-books.
+
+_Basil._ You had better learn those two words, Austin, to begin with.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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."
+
+_Brian._ I should think that he was one of the best of men.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 of his age. No wonder he should even now be
+remembered by us as "the apostle of the Indians."
+
+_Basil._ I am very glad that you told us about him. What a good old
+man he must have been when he died!
+
+_Hunter._ You will find an interesting history of Eliot in your
+Sunday-school Library, and the Life of Brainerd[5] 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.
+
+    [Footnote 5: Both these works are published by the American
+    Sunday-school Union.]
+
+_Austin._ We will remember this.
+
+_Hunter._ 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:
+
+_June 26._ "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 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 _impossible with
+man_, yet _with God_ I saw _all things were possible_. 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."
+
+_Brian._ Why, he was much such a man as Eliot.
+
+_Hunter._ Both Eliot and Brainerd did a great deal of good among the
+Indians. The language 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."
+
+_Brian._ I hardly know whether Eliot was the best man, or Brainerd.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Brian._ Then, he was as good a man as Eliot.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"The holy word of Jesus has got place amongst us, and advances. Many
+have lately forsaken their sins, to appearance, and turned to God.
+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.
+
+    TAGAWAROW, _chief of the Bear tribe_.
+    SUGHNAGEAROT, _chief of the Wolf tribe_.
+    OJEKHETA, _chief of the Turtle tribe_."
+
+_Austin._ Why, they were all three of them chiefs!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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. 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?"
+
+_Austin._ There is a great deal of good sense in what Little Turtle
+said.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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. 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Having arrived at Detroit, they appeared before the governor, in
+order to answer the accusations brought against them, of holding a
+correspondence 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.
+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.
+
+"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
+various other acts of kindness from him they returned to Sandusky, and
+were received with inexpressible joy by their families and the whole
+congregation."
+
+_Austin._ Well, I am glad it has all ended so happily. Captain Pipe
+and Colonel de Peyster acted an unworthy part, to suspect the
+missionaries.
+
+_Brian._ They did; but the colonel declared before the whole camp that
+they were innocent. That was making some amends for his suspicions.
+
+_Basil._ Captain Pipe ought to have been ashamed of himself.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+
+
+
+                [Illustration: Missionary and Indians.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+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 hunter's
+relation, though it hung a little heavy on their spirits, disposed
+them to seriousness and attention.
+
+"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."
+
+_Austin._ Yes; we shall like to hear that very well.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 laborious society, 1844, I have copied a passage which
+I will read you:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+The United Brethren or Moravians, and the Board of Missions of the
+Protestant Episcopal church, also maintain missions among the
+Indians.
+
+_Austin._ How do the missionaries preach to the Indians? Do they
+understand their strange language?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _eighty-two_. 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 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 _four_ other syllables; making all the
+known syllables of the Cherokee language _eighty-six_. 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 done by preaching,
+either with an interpreter, or without one."
+
+Another account is a little more full:
+
+"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 _s_, 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 _fluently_: 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."
+
+_Austin._ Did they find the language could be easily written and
+printed?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ But let us hear what became of the Guyst's Cherokee
+alphabet. As that was an invention of his own, it seems very
+wonderful.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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 _Cherokee Phoenix_, 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. 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.
+
+"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."
+
+_Brian._ I suppose, by this time, they have a great many books
+printed, and more than one newspaper.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ And have all efforts for their improvement been given up?
+
+_Hunter._ 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. 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.
+
+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.[6]
+
+    [Footnote 6: The reader is referred to a memoir of CATHARINE
+    BROWN, a converted Cherokee girl, (written by the Rev. Dr.
+    ANDERSON, and published by the _American Sunday-school
+    Union_,) 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.]
+
+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.
+
+                               THE END.
+
+
+               PUBLICATIONS OF THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
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+THE ART OF PRINTING. Edited by Thomas O. Summers, D.D. 18mo., pp. 185.
+Price 30 cts.
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+beginnings to its present approximation to perfection. It has
+engravings representing presses, etc.
+
+
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+215. Price 35 cts.
+
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+
+
+METHODISM; or, Christianity in Earnest.
+
+SABBATH-SCHOOL OFFERING; or, True Stories and Poems.
+
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+
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+
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+
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+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History, Manners, and Customs of the
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+
+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
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+</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&mdash;better known by his <i>nom de plume</i>,
+&#8220;Old Humphrey.&#8221; 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 &#8220;Memoir of Old
+Humphrey, with Gleanings from his Portfolio&#8221;&mdash;a
+charming biography&mdash;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&#8217;s versatile and
+sanctified genius.</p>
+
+<p class="right">T.&nbsp;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&#8217;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&mdash;for Austin was daring, Brian fearful, and
+Basil affectionate&mdash;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.
+&#8220;Stop, boys, stop! come not a foot farther on
+peril of your lives!&#8221; 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. &#8220;Thank God, my young friends,&#8221; said he
+with much emotion, &#8220;and not me; for we are all
+in his hands. It is his goodness that has preserved
+you.&#8221; 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&#8217;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. &#8220;Had we not been stopped
+by the cry,&#8221; said he, &#8220;we must in another
+minute have been dashed to pieces.&#8221; 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, &#8220;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.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; said Austin, &#8220;we had, indeed, a narrow
+escape; for if the mountains were not carried
+into the sea, the rock fell almost into the river.&#8221;</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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;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&mdash;Brian and
+Basil having agreed to call him, in future, a hunter,
+and not a shepherd&mdash;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>
+&#8220;I suppose,&#8221; said he, &#8220;that you know all about
+beavers, and martins, and foxes, and squirrels.&#8221;</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 &#8220;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.&#8221; 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>D&eacute;charge</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 D&eacute;charges 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&#8217;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. &#8220;Tell us, if you
+please,&#8221; said Austin, as soon as they were seated,
+&#8220;about the very beginning of the red men.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are asking me to do that,&#8221; replied the
+hunter, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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&mdash;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&mdash;should
+be peopled with a class of human beings
+distinct from all others in the world&mdash;red men,
+who have black hair, and no beards. If you remember,
+it is said, in the first chapter of Genesis,
+&#8220;So God created man in his own image, in the
+image of God created he him; male and female
+created he them.&#8221; And, in the second chapter,
+&#8220;And the Lord God planted a garden eastward
+in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had
+formed.&#8221; 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&mdash;it being only about forty miles
+across Behring&#8217;s Straits&mdash;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&#8217;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 &#8220;maketh the earth empty, and
+maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and
+scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.&#8221;</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 &#8220;Letters and Notes
+on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the
+North American Indians;&#8221; 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">&mdash;</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>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Creeks</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">24,594</td><td class="tabright">24,594</td><td class="tabright">744</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Choctaws</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">15,177</td><td class="tabright">15,177</td><td class="tabright">3,323</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Minatarees</td><td class="tabright">2,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Florida Indians</td>
+<td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">3,824</td><td class="tabright">3,824</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">212</td><td class="tabright">212</td><td class="tabright">$7&nbsp;68&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Pagans</td><td class="tabright">30,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Cherokees</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">25,911</td><td class="tabright">25,911</td><td class="tabright">1,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Assinaboins</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">7,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Swan Creek and Black River Chippewas</td>
+<td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">62</td><td class="tabright">62</td><td class="tabright">113</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Appachees</td><td class="tabright">20,280</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Crees</td><td class="tabright">800</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;<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">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">7,055</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Arrapahas</td><td class="tabright">2,500</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>New York Indians</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">3,293</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Gros Ventres</td><td class="tabright">3,300</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Chickasaws</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</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&nbsp;40&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Eutaws</td><td class="tabright">19,200</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Stockbridges and Munsees, and Delawares and Munsees</td>
+<td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">180</td><td class="tabright">278</td><td class="tabright">320</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Sioux</td><td class="tabright">25,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Quapaws</td><td class="tabright">476</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Iowas</td><td class="tabright">470</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Kickapoos</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">588</td><td class="tabright">505</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Delawares</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">826</td><td class="tabright">1,059</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Shawnees</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">1,272</td><td class="tabright">887</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Sacs of Missouri</td><td class="tabright">414<a href="#Footnote_E_6" class="fnanchor">[e]</a></td>
+<td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Weas</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">225</td><td class="tabright">176</td><td class="tabright">30</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Osages</td><td class="tabright">4,102</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Piankeshaws</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">162</td><td class="tabright">98</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Kanzas</td><td class="tabright">1,588</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Peorias and Kaskaskias</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">132</td><td class="tabright">150</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Omahas</td><td class="tabright">1,600</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Senecas from Sandusky</td>
+<td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">251</td><td class="tabright">251</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Otoes and Missourias</td><td class="tabright">931</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Senecas and Shawnees</td>
+<td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">211</td><td class="tabright">211</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Pawnees</td><td class="tabright">12,500</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Winnebagoes</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">4,500</td><td class="tabright">2,183</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Camanches</td><td class="tabright">19,200</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Kiowas</td><td class="tabright">1,800</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Mandans</td><td class="tabright">300</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Crows</td><td class="tabright">4,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Wyandots of Ohio</td>
+<td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">664</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</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>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Poncas</td><td class="tabright">800</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Miamies</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">661</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Arickarees</td><td class="tabright">1,200</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Menomonies</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">2,464</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Cheyenes</td><td class="tabright">2,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Chippewas of the Lakes</td>
+<td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">2,564</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Blackfeet</td><td class="tabright">1,300</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Caddoes</td><td class="tabright">2,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Snakes</td><td class="tabright">1,000</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;<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>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Oneidas of Green Bay</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">675</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Stockbridges of Green Bay</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">207</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Wyandots of Michigan</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">75</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Pottawatomies of Huron</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabcenter">&mdash;</td><td class="tabright">100</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr style="border: solid black 1px"><td>&nbsp;</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&nbsp;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&#8217;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! &#8220;The sea is His,
+and he made it: and his hands formed the dry
+land.&#8221; 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-s&uacute;cks</i> was the name of
+their chief.</p>
+
+<p><i>Austin.</i> Stu-mick-o-s&uacute;cks! What a name! Is
+there any meaning in it?</p>
+
+<p><i>Hunter.</i> O yes. It means, &#8220;the back fat of
+the buffalo;&#8221; and if you had seen him and <i>Peh-t&oacute;-pe-kiss</i>,
+&#8220;the ribs of the eagle,&#8221; another chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>
+dressed up in their splendid mantles, buffaloes&#8217;
+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>E&eacute;-shah-k&oacute;-nee</i>, or &#8220;the bow and quiver.&#8221; I
+hardly ever saw a larger man among the Indians
+than <i>Ta-w&aacute;h-que-nah</i>, the second chief in power.
+Ta-w&aacute;h-que-nah means &#8220;the mountain of rocks,&#8221;
+a very fit name for a huge Indian living near the
+Rocky Mountains. When I saw <i>Kots-o-k&oacute;-ro-k&oacute;</i>,
+or &#8220;the hair of the bull&#8217;s neck,&#8221; (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-w&oacute;n-je-tah</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>
+or &#8220;the one horn,&#8221; 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-t&aacute;-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&#8242;-sho-cole</i>,
+or &#8220;rotten foot,&#8221; and another called <i>Ah&#8242;-re-kah-na-c&oacute;-chee</i>,
+&#8220;the mad elk.&#8221; 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 &#8220;the running fox.&#8221; One of his boldest
+braves was <i>M&aacute;-ka-tai-me-she-ki&aacute;-ki&aacute;k</i>, &#8220;the
+black hawk.&#8221; 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-s&aacute;w-me-saw</i>, or &#8220;the
+roaring thunder,&#8221; the youngest son of Black
+Hawk, he was in captivity. <i>N&aacute;h-se-&uacute;s-kuk</i>, &#8220;the
+whirling thunder,&#8221; 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-k&eacute;e-suck</i>, or &#8220;white cloud;&#8221; he
+was, however, as often called The Prophet as the
+White Cloud. <i>Pam-a-h&oacute;</i>, &#8220;the swimmer;&#8221; <i>Wah-pa-ko-l&aacute;s-kak</i>,
+&#8220;the track of the bear;&#8221; and <i>Pash-ce-pa-h&oacute;</i>,
+&#8220;the little stabbing chief;&#8221; 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-ro&oacute;-pa</i>, called &#8220;the two
+crows,&#8221; 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>E&eacute;-he&eacute;-a-duck-ch&eacute;e-a</i>,
+or &#8220;he who binds his hair before;&#8221; and
+<i>H&oacute;-ra-to-ah</i>, &#8220;a warrior;&#8221; and <i>Chah-ee-ch&oacute;pes</i>,
+&#8220;the four wolves;&#8221; the hair of these was as long
+as that of Pa-ris-ka-ro&oacute;-pa. Though they were
+very tall, E&eacute;-he&eacute;-a-duck-ch&eacute;e-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-h&oacute;-shee</i>.</p>
+
+<p><i>Brian.</i> Duhk-pitch a&mdash;Duck pits&mdash;I cannot
+pronounce the word&mdash;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>A&uacute;-nah-kwet-to-hau-p&aacute;y-o</i>,
+&#8220;the one sitting in the clouds;&#8221; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>
+<i>Eh-tohk-pay-she-pe&eacute;-shah</i>, &#8220;the black mocassin;&#8221;
+and <i>Kay-&eacute;e-qua-da-k&uacute;m-&eacute;e-gish-kum</i>, &#8220;he who
+tries the ground with his foot;&#8221; and <i>Mah-to-rah-rish-nee-&eacute;eh-&eacute;e-rah</i>, &#8220;the grizzly bear that runs
+without fear.&#8221;</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. &#8220;Very likely,&#8221; said he, &#8220;after
+all, they call these long names very short, just as
+we do; Nat for Nathaniel, Kit for Christopher,
+and Elic for Alexander.&#8221;</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>&#8220;We want to know,&#8221; said he, &#8220;a little more
+about what these people were, and when they
+were first found out.&#8221;</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&#8217;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&mdash;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>M&aacute;h-to-t&oacute;h-pa</i>, &#8220;the four bears.&#8221;</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&#8217;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&#8217;
+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&#8217;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, &#8220;Dat one
+big lie.&#8221;</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&mdash;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&#8217;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 &#8220;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!&#8221;</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&#8217;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
+&#8220;How do you do?&#8221; 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 &#8220;War
+hatchet,&#8221; he made a rough outline of a tomahawk.
+If his name was &#8220;The great buffalo&#8221; 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: &#8220;Friend,
+after a little while I will call on you at your house,
+when we will talk this matter over.&#8221; A few
+days afterwards, the Indian came to the white
+man&#8217;s house, who insisted on having his horse
+restored to him. The other then told him:
+&#8220;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.&#8221;
+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>&#8220;<span class="smcap">Black Hawk</span>! Black Hawk!&#8221; 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. &#8220;You
+promised to tell us all about Black Hawk, and we
+are come to hear it now.&#8221;</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&#8217;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 &#8220;the dark places of the earth are full of the
+habitations of cruelty.&#8221;<a name="FNanchor_2_8" id="FNanchor_2_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_8" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> &#8220;With untaught Indians,&#8221;
+continued he, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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&#8217;s reckoning,
+in the year 1767, so that I am fifty years old, and
+ten and seven.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My father&#8217;s name was Py-e-sa; the father of
+his father was Na-n&agrave;-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>&#8220;The white men of America said to the Sacs
+and Foxes, to the Sioux, the Chippewas, and
+Winnebagoes, &#8216;Go you to the other side of the
+Mississippi;&#8217; and they said, &#8216;Yes.&#8217; But I said,
+&#8216;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.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8220;Though I came down from the chief Na-n&agrave;-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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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. &#8216;General
+Black Hawk,&#8217; said he, and he put a medal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+round my neck, &#8216;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.&#8217; I was
+sorry, because I wanted to go to Mississippi.
+But he said, &#8216;No; you are too brave to kill
+women and children: you must kill braves.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8220;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&#8217;s mouth; he smoked
+a little. I took his hand, and said &#8216;Black Hawk
+would revenge his son&#8217;s death.&#8217; 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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;Many things happened. Old W&agrave;sh-e-own,
+one of the Pottawatomies, was shot dead by
+a war chief. I gave W&agrave;sh-e-own&#8217;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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&#8217;s wings: when the white men came
+there, he went away.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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, &#8216;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,&#8217; we should
+have said, &#8216;Why should you tell us a lie?&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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.
+&#8216;Who is Black Hawk?&#8217; said he. &#8216;I am a
+Sac,&#8217; said I; &#8216;my forefather was a Sac; and
+all the nation call me a Sac.&#8217; But he said I
+should go.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8220;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, &#8216;I will not leave the place
+of my fathers.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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&#8217;s
+message was this: &#8216;If you wish to fight us, come
+on.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8220;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:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Braves and warriors! these are the medicine
+bags of our forefather, Muk-a-t&agrave;-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-n&agrave;-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.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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. &#8216;Take it,&#8217; said I. &#8216;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.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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.&#8221;</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 &#8220;peace of God which passeth all understanding&#8221;
+may &#8220;keep their hearts and minds in the
+knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus
+Christ our Lord.&#8221;</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 &#8220;Whish! whish!&#8221; 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&mdash;</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&#8217;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&#8217;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&mdash;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.
+&#8220;Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
+and his greatness is unsearchable.&#8221;<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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;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>&#8220;<span class="smcap">And</span> now,&#8221; said the hunter, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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&#8217;
+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: &#8220;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.&#8221; 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 &#8220;talk,&#8221; 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.
+&#8220;Yes!&#8221; said he, drawing a poniard from his
+bosom, with a haughty frown on his brow.
+&#8220;Yes!&#8221; said he, advancing and dashing his dagger
+while he spoke, not only through the contract,
+but also through the table on which it lay;
+&#8220;there is my mark!&#8221;</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,
+&#8220;Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
+Lord,&#8221; 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&#8217;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 &#8220;Oseola.&#8221;
+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. &#8220;The Lord of hosts
+hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his
+hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it
+back?&#8221;</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&#8217;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,
+&#8220;God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.&#8221;
+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, &#8220;Econ,&#8221;
+means hill or hills; &#8220;Chatti,&#8221; is red; and the
+signification of &#8220;mico,&#8221; 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&#8217;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. &#8220;True it is,&#8221; said he, &#8220;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 &#8216;the
+Great Spirit,&#8217; 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&#8217;s word, and who have never heard the
+voice of a missionary.&#8221;</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&#8217;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&#8217;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 &#8220;a man lying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+down, is medicine to the grizzly bear;&#8221; 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.&mdash;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&#8217;s tail
+dyed scarlet, and sometimes add to it a war-eagle&#8217;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&#8217;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&mdash;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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;s quills,
+beaks of birds, feathers and red hair. The calumet,
+or, as it is called, &#8220;the peace-pipe,&#8221; 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&#8217;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&#8217;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: &#8220;For the wind passeth over it,
+and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know
+it no more.&#8221; 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&#8217;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:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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.&#8221;</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&#8217;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>&#8220;See,&#8221; said Duke Holland to his astonished
+companions, &#8220;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.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But the whites, overcome with fear, did not
+choose to follow the Indian&#8217;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>&#8220;I wish to see him,&#8221; said the Indian.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why so?&#8221; inquired some one.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, I find money with the tobacco.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well! what of that? Keep it; it was given
+to you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ah!&#8221; said the Indian, shaking his head, &#8220;I
+got good man and bad man here,&#8221; pointing to his
+breast. &#8220;Good man say, &#8216;Money not yours; you
+must return it:&#8217; bad man say, &#8216;<i>&#8217;Tis</i> yours; it was
+given to you.&#8217; Good man say, &#8216;That not right:
+<i>tobacco</i> yours, <i>money</i> not yours.&#8217; Bad man say,
+&#8216;Never mind, nobody know it; go buy rum.&#8217;
+Good man say, &#8216;Oh no; no such thing.&#8217; 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.&#8221;</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:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;See, my friend, this is an Indian lock that I
+am putting to my door.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I answered, &#8220;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?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stolen! by whom?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, by Indians, to be sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, no,&#8221; replied he, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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, &#8220;Make a man.&#8221; 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, &#8220;This is too
+white.&#8221;</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,
+&#8220;It is too black.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Then said the Great Spirit, &#8220;I will now try
+myself;&#8221; and taking red earth, he formed an Indian.
+On surveying it, he said, &#8220;This is a proper
+or perfect man.&#8221;</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&#8217;s word, which was not only sufficient to
+keep them from error in such things, but was able
+also to make them &#8220;wise unto salvation through
+faith which is in Christ Jesus.&#8221; He told them,
+that though the Indians were ignorant of holy
+things, they did not want shrewdness and sagacity.
+&#8220;When General Lincoln,&#8221; said he, &#8220;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, &#8216;Move farther;&#8217; to which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>
+general replied, &#8216;I can move no farther.&#8217; &#8216;Just
+so it is with us,&#8217; said the chief. &#8216;You have
+moved us back to the water, and then ask us to
+move farther!&#8217;&#8221;</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>&#8220;Brother&mdash;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.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>To this the Pawnee made the following reply:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Brothers and sisters&mdash;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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.&#8221;</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.&mdash;Page 160." title="" />
+<span class="caption">Indian Horsemanship.&mdash;<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>&#8220;<span class="smcap">Remember</span>,&#8221; said Austin, as he urged his
+brothers to quicken their pace on their way to the
+cottage, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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>&#8220;The different animals and birds,&#8221; said he,
+&#8220;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.&#8221;</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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;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&mdash;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&#8217;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 &#8220;changes
+his countenance, and sends him away.&#8221;</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, &#8220;Pah
+kapa,&#8221; (bad;) and Ponokah, glancing his eyes
+northward, added, &#8220;Eehcooa pah kaps,&#8221; (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,
+&#8220;Eneuh!&#8221; (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&#8217;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&mdash;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&mdash;which appeared in
+the distance like a huge fiery snake of some miles
+in length, writhing in torture&mdash;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&mdash;the first time I felt
+the awfulness of such a situation&mdash;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&#8217;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&mdash;on the score that Black Tom
+would run away too fast, and Jowler would not
+run a way at all&mdash;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&#8217;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. &#8220;At
+the Choctaw ball-play thousands of spectators attend,
+and sometimes a thousand young men are
+engaged in the game.&#8221;</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&#8217; 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&#8217;clock
+in the morning, and sometimes is scarcely finished
+by sunset. A minute&#8217;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&mdash;and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+indeed, some of the Pawnees also&mdash;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&#8217;s neck, and one heel over the
+horse&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217; 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&#8217;s head, with the horns on it; a long, thin
+strip of the buffalo&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217; 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>&#8220;We are come to hear of the bear dance, and
+the dog dance, and the beggars&#8217; dance, and the
+green corn dance,&#8221; 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. &#8220;You must not forget,&#8221; said
+he, &#8220;that many of the dances of the Indians partake
+of a religious character, for in them reverence
+and adoration are freely offered. The Indians&#8217;
+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.&#8221;</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&#8217; 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&#8217; 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&#8217; 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&mdash;and this is decided by the mystery men&mdash;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, &#8220;Wilful waste brings woful want.&#8221;
+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: &#8220;That ye
+love one another.&#8221; 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&mdash;which is performed on the
+first fall of snow, in honour of the Great Spirit&mdash;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&#8217; 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, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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&#8217;s curiosity. Nor was it long
+before, seated with his brothers in the cottage, he
+was listening to the whole account. &#8220;Please to
+begin at the very beginning,&#8221; said he, &#8220;and I
+shall not lose a single word.&#8221;</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 &#8220;the last race,&#8221; 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 &#8220;oh!&#8221; 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>&#8220;You may depend upon it,&#8221; said Austin, after
+some conversation with Brian and Basil, on the
+subject of the young Mandans, &#8220;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.&#8221; 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&#8217;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>&#8220;And what must I tell you now?&#8221; said the
+hunter, as soon as he and the young people had
+exchanged salutations. &#8220;Do you not know
+enough about the Indians?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>To this inquiry, Brian replied that what they
+had heard had only increased their curiosity to
+hear more.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well; let me consider,&#8221; said the hunter. &#8220;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.&#8221;</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,
+&#8220;the four bears,&#8221; 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.
+&#8220;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.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><i>Austin.</i> Two or three thousand miles! What
+a distance for him to go!</p>
+
+<p><i>Hunter.</i> &#8220;After the troops had been made to
+man&#339;uvre 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&#8217;s clothes, presented him with a
+colonel&#8217;s uniform; in which, and with many other
+presents, the bewildered chief took his departure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><i>Brian.</i> He would hardly know how to walk in
+a colonel&#8217;s uniform.</p>
+
+<p><i>Hunter.</i> &#8220;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
+&#8216;monkey that had seen the world&#8217; 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, &#8216;Which is the savage?&#8217;
+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.&#8221;</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> &#8220;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.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><i>Austin.</i> I thought they would laugh at him.</p>
+
+<p><i>Hunter.</i> &#8220;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.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><i>Austin.</i> They would be sure never to believe
+him.</p>
+
+<p><i>Hunter.</i> &#8220;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!&#8221;</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&#8217;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
+&#8220;the nest of the thunder;&#8221; 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&#8217;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. &#8220;And now,&#8221;
+said Austin, &#8220;we are quite ready to hear about
+the missionaries.&#8221;</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, &#8220;the four
+bears,&#8221; 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 &#8220;Puritans,&#8221;
+and sometimes &#8220;the Pilgrim Fathers.&#8221; 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, &#8220;our loves;&#8221; and the second, or
+&#8220;our questions,&#8221; 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, &#8220;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?&#8221; Eliot&#8217;s labours were incessant;
+translating not only the commandments, the Lord&#8217;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
+&#8220;The Day-breaking, if not the Sun-rising of the
+Gospel with the Indians in New-England;&#8221; and
+another, entitled &#8220;The Clear Sunshine of the
+Gospel breaking forth upon the Indians;&#8221; 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, &#8220;Prayers and pains, through
+faith in Christ Jesus, will do any thing.&#8221;</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, &#8220;Welcome joy! Pray!
+pray! pray!&#8221; 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 &#8220;the apostle of the Indians.&#8221;</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> &#8220;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&#8217;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.&#8221;</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, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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>&#8220;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>.&#8221;</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>&#8220;Brothers and friends&mdash;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>&#8220;My friends and brothers&mdash;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, &#8216;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.&#8217; But all that we can say on this subject
+is of no service, nor gives relief to your red
+brethren.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My friends and brothers&mdash;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, &#8216;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.&#8217; There are more of us
+dead since the treaty of Greeneville, than we lost
+by the six years&#8217; war before. It is all owing to
+the introduction of this liquor among us.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Brothers&mdash;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, &#8216;No; I do not
+want it.&#8217; 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, &#8216;You have drunk them.&#8217; &#8216;Where
+is my gun?&#8217; &#8216;It is gone.&#8217; &#8216;Where is my blanket?&#8217;
+&#8216;It is gone.&#8217; &#8216;Where is my shirt?&#8217; &#8216;You have
+sold it for whiskey!&#8217; 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?&#8221;</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. &#8220;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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:&mdash;&#8216;Father&mdash;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.&#8217; 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:&mdash;&#8216;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.&#8217; Then, smiting his breast, he added: &#8216;I am
+to blame, and the chiefs who were with me. We
+forced them to do it when they refused;&#8217; 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>&#8220;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.&#8221;</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&mdash;men,
+women and children&mdash;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&#8217;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&#8217;s relation, though it hung a little heavy on
+their spirits, disposed them to seriousness and attention.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now,&#8221; said the hunter, as soon as
+Austin, Brian, and Basil had seated themselves
+in his cottage, and requested him to continue his
+missionary account, &#8220;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.&#8221;</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>&#8220;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.&#8221;</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>&#8220;Some months since,&#8221; says a report of the Cherokee
+mission in 1825, &#8220;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>&#8220;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.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Another account is a little more full:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;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>&#8221;</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&#8217;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>&#8220;Dear children:&mdash;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>&#8220;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>&#8220;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.&#8221;</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>&#8220;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 Ph&#339;nix</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>&#8220;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.&#8221;</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&#8217;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&#8217;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>
+
+
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+<p>There is no mincing the matter in this sturdy volume. Even-handed
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+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
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+</body>
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@@ -0,0 +1,7034 @@
+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: ASCII
+
+*** 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.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     HISTORY, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS
+                                OF THE
+                        NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
+
+
+                           BY OLD HUMPHREY.
+
+
+                  REVISED BY THOMAS O. SUMMERS, D.D.
+
+
+                           Nashville, Tenn.:
+                 SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE.
+                                 1859.
+
+
+
+
+                            Prefatory Note.
+
+
+This volume is one of a series of books from the ready and prolific
+pen of the late George Mogridge--better known by his _nom de plume_,
+"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.
+
+Every Sunday-school and Family Library should be supplied with the
+entertaining and useful productions of Old Humphrey's versatile and
+sanctified genius.
+
+                                                    T. O. SUMMERS.
+
+    NASHVILLE, TENN., Sept. 27, 1855.
+
+
+
+
+                               PREFACE.
+
+
+The present volume is in substance a reprint from a work published by
+the _London Religious Tract Society_, and is, we believe, chiefly
+compiled from the works of our enterprising countryman, CATLIN. It is
+rendered especially attractive by the spirited and impressive
+pictorial illustrations of Indian life and scenery with which it
+abounds.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+                     THE INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                               CHAPTER I
+
+
+It 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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 loud
+blustering of the wind, and the remonstrance of his brother to hasten
+on, made a momentary pause to enjoy the scene.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Austin was about to thank him, but hardly had he began to speak, when
+the stranger stopped 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 it should not be his fault, if he did not, before
+long, make another visit to the place.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 though the mountains be carried into
+the midst of the sea."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+He told Mr. Edwards, that he had lived there for some months, and
+that, on entering the wood 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.
+
+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.
+
+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, and signified his intention of
+becoming thoroughly informed of all the manners and customs of the
+North American Indians.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+                    [Illustration: Indian Scenery.]
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+
+
+Austin Edwards 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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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. "I suppose," said he, "that
+you know all about beavers, and martins, and foxes, and squirrels."
+
+_Hunter._ I ought to know something about them, having been in my time
+somewhat of a _Voyageur_, a _Coureur des bois_, a _Trapper_, and a
+_Freeman_; but you will hardly understand these terms without some
+little explanation.
+
+_Austin._ What is a Coureur des bois?
+
+_Brian._ What is a Voyageur?
+
+_Basil._ I want to know what a Trapper is.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, that will be the best way.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ And where do furs come from?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Brian._ What a length for a lake! nearly five hundred miles! Why, it
+is more like a sea than a lake.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 hunt wild
+animals, to trap beavers, and to trade with the various Indian tribes
+which are scattered throughout this extensive territory.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! how I should like to hunt and to trade with the Indians!
+
+_Hunter._ 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?
+
+_Brian._ No, no, Austin. You must not think of running into such
+dangers.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ I think I can see them now.
+
+_Basil._ Did they smoke such pipes as we have been looking at?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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 _Coureurs des
+bois_, rangers of the woods.
+
+_Austin._ Ah! I should like to be a coureur des bois.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _Voyageurs_, or canoe men,
+were employed, expressly to attend to the canoes carrying supplies up
+the rivers, or bringing back cargoes of furs.
+
+_Basil._ Now we know what a _Voyageur_ is.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a figure you would cut! And yet, I dare say, such a
+dress is best for a voyageur.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a pity! I like those voyageurs.
+
+_Hunter._ The voyageurs, who were out for a long period, and navigated
+the interior of the country, were called _North-men_, or _Winterers_,
+while the others had the name of _Goers and Comers_. Any part of a
+river where they could not row a laden canoe, on account of the rapid
+stream, they called a _Decharge_; 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 _Portage_.
+
+_Austin._ We shall not forget the North-men, and Comers and Goers, nor
+the Decharges and Portages.
+
+_Basil._ You have not told us what a Trapper is.
+
+_Hunter._ A _Trapper_ 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 _Freemen_.
+
+_Austin._ Yes, I shall remember. Please to tell us how they hunt the
+beavers.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _washes_, 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, 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+_Austin._ But why is a beaver hunter called a trapper? I cannot
+understand that.
+
+_Hunter._ Because beavers are caught in great numbers in steel traps,
+which are set and baited on purpose for them.
+
+_Brian._ Why do they not catch them in the summer?
+
+_Hunter._ The fur of the beaver is in its prime in the winter; in the
+summer, it is of inferior quality.
+
+_Austin._ Do the trappers catch many beavers? I should think there
+could not be very many of them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Sixty thousand! I did not think there were so many beavers
+in the world.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then the grizzly bear did not hurt him, after all.
+
+_Brian._ I would not go among those grizzly bears for all in the
+world.
+
+_Austin._ Do the hunters take deer as well as other animals?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _furs_; but, before
+they are tanned, they are called _peltries_. 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ I am sorry for the poor deer.
+
+_Brian._ And so am I, Basil.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _cache_.
+
+_Austin._ What is a _cache_?
+
+_Hunter._ A _cache_ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ Perhaps not; unless they should smell it.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Capital! I could make a cache now, that neither bear, nor
+wolf, nor Indian could find.
+
+_Brian._ But if the bear did not find the cache, he might find you;
+and then what would become of you?
+
+_Austin._ Why I would climb a tree, as Cannon did.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+The delight visible in the sparkling eyes of the 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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Cloak.]
+
+
+
+
+              [Illustration: Chiefs of different Tribes.]
+
+                             CHAPTER III.
+
+
+The 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."
+
+"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
+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."
+
+_Austin._ But what is it that is so mysterious? What is it that wise
+men and travellers cannot make out?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes, that is quite plain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes; we recollect that very well.
+
+_Hunter._ And when the ark rested, it rested on Mount Ararat, which is
+in Asia also. If you 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.
+
+_Austin._ They must have gone in a ship, that is certain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ What do wise men and travellers say about these things?
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, that it will.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a pity! They want some good doctors among them, and
+then diseases would not carry them off in that way.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Please to tell us what you remember, and what you know; and
+that will quite satisfy us.
+
+_Hunter._ A traveller[1] 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. Perhaps no man who has written on the Indians has
+seen so much of them as he has.
+
+    [Footnote 1: Mr. Catlin]
+
+_Brian._ Did you ever meet Catlin?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ These are the very things that we want to know.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_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._
+
++--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+|Names of  |Number    |Number   |Present  |Number  |Number |Number |Daily  |
+|tribes.   |of each   |removed  |western  |remain- |removed|of each|expense|
+|          |tribe     |of each  |popula-  |ing east|since  |now    |of sub-|
+|          |indigenous|tribe    |tion of  |of each |date of|under  |sisting|
+|          |to the    |wholly or|each     |tribe.  |last   |subsi- |them.  |
+|          |country   |partially|tribe    |        |annual |stence |       |
+|          |west of   |removed. |wholly or|        |report.|west.  |       |
+|          |the Missi-|         |partially|        |       |       |       |
+|          |ssippi.   |         |removed. |        |       |       |       |
+|----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------|
+|Chippewas,|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Ottowas,  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Potta-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|watomies, |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Potta-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|watomies  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of Indiana|    --    |   5,779 |   2,298 |  92[a] |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Creeks    |    --    |  24,594 |  24,594 |  744   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Choctaws  |    --    |  15,177 |  15,177 | 3,323  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Minatarees|   2,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Florida   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Indians   |    --    |   3,824 |   3,824 |   --   |  212  |  212  |$7 681/2 |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pagans    |  30,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Cherokees |    --    |  25,911 |  25,911 | 1,000  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Assina-   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|boins     |    --    |   7,000 |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Swan Creek|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Black |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|River     |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Chippewas |    --    |      62 |      62 |   113  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Appachees |  20,280  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Crees     |     800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Ottowas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Chip- |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|pewas, to-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|gether    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|with Chip-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|pewas of  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Michigan  |    --    |   --    |   --    | 7,055  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Arrapahas |  2,500   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|New York  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Indians   |    --    |   --    |   --    | 3,293  |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Gros      |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Ventres   |  3,300   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Chickasaws|    --    |  4,930  |  4,930  | 80[b]  |288[c] | 198[d]| 9 401/2 |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Eutaws    | 19,200   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Stock-    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|bridges   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and Mun-  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|sees, and |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Delawares |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and       |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Munsees   |    --    |   180   |   278   |  320   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sioux     | 25,000   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Quapaws   |    476   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Iowas     |    470   |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kickapoos |    --    |   588   |   505   |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sacs and  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Foxes of  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Missis-   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|sippi     |  2,348[e]|         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Delawares |    --    |   826   |  1,059  |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Shawnees  |    --    |  1,272  |    887  |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sacs of   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Missouri  |   414[e] |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Weas      |    --    |     225 |     176 |   30   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Osages    |   4,102  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pianke-   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|shaws     |    --    |     162 |      98 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kanzas    |   1,588  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Peorias   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and       |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kaskaskias|    --    |     132 |     150 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Omahas    |   1,600  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Senecas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|from      |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Sandusky  |    --    |     251 |     251 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Otoes and |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Missourias|     931  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Senecas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|and       |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Shawnees  |    --    |     211 |     211 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pawnees   |  12,500  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Winneba-  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|goes      |    --    |   4,500 |   2,183 |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Camanches |  19,200  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Kiowas    |   1,800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Mandans   |     300  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Crows     |   4,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Wyandots  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of Ohio   |    --    |     664 |    --   |   50[g]|   664 |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Poncas    |     800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Miamies   |    --    |    --   |    --   |  661   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Arickarees|   1,200  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Menomonies|    --    |    --   |    --   |2,464   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Cheyenes  |   2,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Chippewas |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of the    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Lakes     |    --    |    --   |    --   |2,564   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Blackfeet |   1,300  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Caddoes   |   2,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Snakes    |   1,000  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Flatheads |     800  |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Oneidas   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of Green  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Bay       |    --    |    --   |    --   |  675   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Stock-    |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|bridges of|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Green Bay |    --    |    --   |    --   |  207   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Wyandots  |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|of        |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Michigan  |    --    |    --   |    --   |   75   |       |       |       |
+|          |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Pottawato-|          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|mies of   |          |         |         |        |       |       |       |
+|Huron     |    --    |    --   |    --   |  100   |       |       |       |
++----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
+|          | 168,909  |  89,288 |  83,594 |22,846  | 1,164 |  410  | 17 09 |
++----------+----------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
+
+
+                                NOTES.
+
+    [Footnote a: These 92 are Ottowas of Maumee.]
+
+    [Footnote b: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote c: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote d: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote e: 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.]
+
+    [Footnote g: 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.]
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a river! Please to tell us what are all those little
+hills running along there, one above another, from top to bottom.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Say what you will, I like the Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; you cannot do better. Tell us the names of all the
+chiefs, and the warriors, and the conjurors, and all about them.
+
+_Hunter._ The Blackfeet Indians are a very warlike people;
+_Stu-mick-o-sucks_ was the name of their chief.
+
+_Austin._ Stu-mick-o-sucks! What a name! Is there any meaning in it?
+
+_Hunter._ O yes. It means, "the back fat of the buffalo;" and if you
+had seen him and _Peh-to-pe-kiss_, "the ribs of the eagle," another
+chief dressed up in their splendid mantles, buffaloes' horns, ermine
+tails, and scalp-locks, you would not soon have turned your eyes from
+them.
+
+_Brian._ Who would ever be called by such a name as that? The back fat
+of the buffalo!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _Ee-shah-ko-nee_, or "the bow and
+quiver." I hardly ever saw a larger man among the Indians than
+_Ta-wah-que-nah_, the second chief in power. Ta-wah-que-nah means "the
+mountain of rocks," a very fit name for a huge Indian living near the
+Rocky Mountains. When I saw _Kots-o-ko-ro-ko_, 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ And suppose you get thrown off your horse, or killed in
+hunting buffaloes, what shall you say to it then?
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ When I was at the upper waters of the Mississippi and
+Missouri rivers, _Ha-won-je-tah_, or "the one horn," was chief; but
+since then, being out among the buffaloes, a buffalo bull attacked and
+killed him.
+
+_Basil._ There, Austin! If an Indian chief was killed by a buffalo,
+what should _you_ do among them? Why they would toss you over their
+heads like a shuttlecock.
+
+_Hunter._ _Wee-ta-ra-sha-ro_, 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 _Ah'-sho-cole_,
+or "rotten foot," and another called _Ah'-re-kah-na-co-chee_, "the mad
+elk." Indians give the name of _brave_ to a warrior who has
+distinguished himself by feats of valour, such as admit him to their
+rank.
+
+_Brian._ I wonder that they should choose such long names. It must be
+a hard matter to remember them.
+
+_Hunter._ There were many famous men among the Sacs. _Kee-o-kuk_ was
+the chief. Kee-o-kuk means "the running fox." One of his boldest
+braves was _Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak_, "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.
+
+_Austin._ We will not forget to remind you of your promise. It will be
+capital to listen to these histories.
+
+_Hunter._ When I saw _Wa-saw-me-saw_, or "the roaring thunder," the
+youngest son of Black Hawk, he was in captivity. _Nah-se-us-kuk_, "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 _Wah-pe-kee-suck_, or "white
+cloud;" he was, however, as often called The Prophet as the White
+Cloud. _Pam-a-ho_, "the swimmer;" _Wah-pa-ko-las-kak_, "the track of
+the bear;" and _Pash-ce-pa-ho_, "the little stabbing chief;" were, I
+think, all three of them warriors of Black Hawk.
+
+_Basil._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+_Pa-ris-ka-roo-pa_, called "the two crows," had a head of hair that
+swept the ground after him as he walked along.
+
+_Austin._ What do you think of that, Basil? No doubt the Crows are
+fine fellows. Please to mention two or three more.
+
+_Hunter._ Let me see; there was _Ee-hee-a-duck-chee-a_, or "he who
+binds his hair before;" and _Ho-ra-to-ah_, "a warrior;" and
+_Chah-ee-chopes_, "the four wolves;" the hair of these was as long as
+that of Pa-ris-ka-roo-pa. Though they were very tall,
+Ee-hee-a-duck-chee-a being at least six feet high, the hair of each of
+them reached and rested on the ground.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ There was one of the Crows called The Red Bear, or
+_Duhk-pits-o-ho-shee_.
+
+_Brian._ Duhk-pitch a--Duck pits--I cannot pronounce the word--why
+that is worse to speak than any.
+
+_Austin._ Hear me pronounce it then: _Duhk-pits-o-hoot-shee_. No; that
+is not quite right, but very near it.
+
+_Basil._ You must not go among the Crows yet, Austin; you cannot talk
+well enough.
+
+_Hunter._ Oh, there are much harder names among some of the tribes
+than those I have mentioned; for instance there is
+_Au-nah-kwet-to-hau-pay-o_, "the one sitting in the clouds;" and
+_Eh-tohk-pay-she-pee-shah_, "the black mocassin;" and
+_Kay-ee-qua-da-kum-ee-gish-kum_, "he who tries the ground with his
+foot;" and _Mah-to-rah-rish-nee-eeh-ee-rah_, "the grizzly bear that
+runs without fear."
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I never dreamed that there were such names as those in the
+world.
+
+_Basil._ 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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+
+                       [Illustration: Wigwams.]
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+It 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.
+
+"We want to know," said he, "a little more about what these people
+were, and when they were first found out."
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then the Esquimaux are not Red Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes. Please to tell us first of their wigwams, and their
+villages, and how they live.
+
+_Brian._ And what they eat, and what clothes they wear.
+
+_Basil._ And how they talk to one another.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; and all about their spears and tomahawks.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, that is a better way of making a wigwam than covering
+over sticks with turf.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ The Mandan wigwam is the best of all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; they must look even better than the Mandan lodges, and
+they can be taken down and carried away.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why, it must be like magic.
+
+_Hunter._ The time has been fixed, preparations made, the signal
+given, and all at once the poles and skin coverings have been taken
+down.
+
+_Brian._ How do they carry the wigwams away with them?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What a sight! and to what length they must stretch out; such
+a number of them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+The Indians hunt, fish, and some of them raise corn for food; but the
+flesh of the buffalo is what they most depend upon.
+
+_Austin._ How do the Indians cook their food?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ That is a great deal like an English dinner--roast beef and
+a pudding.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ And what kind of clothes do they wear?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 dress themselves
+with very few ornaments, but others have very many. Shall I describe
+to you the full dress of _Mah-to-toh-pa_, "the four bears."
+
+_Austin._ Oh, yes; every thing belonging to him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I fancy that I can see him now.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What a figure he must have made!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a desperate fellow! Bold as a lion, I will be bound for
+it. Had he no weapons about him?
+
+_Hunter._ Oh, yes! He held in his left hand a 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; I thought he was a bold fellow.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What sort of a pipe was it?
+
+_Basil._ What was in his tobacco sack?
+
+_Brian._ You did not say what his belt was made of.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ What was in his tobacco sack?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Please to tell us about the scalping knife. It must be a
+fearful instrument.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 knife, with one edge, and the Indians
+wear them in beautiful scabbards under their belts.
+
+_Austin._ How does an Indian scalp his enemy?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Terrible! Scalping would be sure to kill a man, I suppose.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Brian._ How the Indian would stare!
+
+_Basil._ He had never seen a wig before, I dare say.
+
+_Hunter._ The arms of Indians, offensive and defensive, are, for the
+most part, those which I have mentioned--the club, the tomahawk, the
+bow 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a terrible weapon, when wielded by a savage!
+
+    [Illustration: _a_, scalping-knife. _b_, ditto, in sheath.
+    _c_, _d_, war-clubs. _e_, _e_, tomahawks. _g_, whip.]
+
+_Brian._ I would not go among the Indians, with their clubs and
+tomahawks, for a thousand dollars.
+
+_Basil._ Nor would I: they would be sure to kill me.
+
+_Hunter._ The tomahawk is often carved in a strange manner; and some
+of the bows and arrows 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a strong arm that Indian must have had! Through a
+buffalo's body!
+
+_Hunter._ The quiver is made of the skin of the panther, or the otter;
+and some of the arrows it contains are usually poisoned.
+
+_Brian._ Why, then, an arrow is sure to kill a person, if it hits him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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!"
+
+_Basil._ What will you do, Austin, if you go among the Indians, and
+they shoot you with a poisoned arrow?
+
+_Austin._ Oh, I shall carry a shield. You heard that the Indians carry
+shields.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should have thought that an Indian would be more than a
+match for a white man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Why is it that the red men are always fighting against one
+another? They are all brothers, and what is the use of their killing
+one another?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That is very sad, though.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What do the Indians call the sun?
+
+_Hunter._ The different tribes speak different languages, and
+therefore you must tell me which of them you mean.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! I forgot that. Tell me what any two or three of the
+tribes call it.
+
+_Hunter._ A Sioux calls it _wee_; a Mandan, _menahka_; a Tuscarora,
+_hiday_; and a Blackfoot, _cristeque ahtose_.
+
+_Austin._ The Blackfoot is the hardest to remember. I should not like
+to learn that language.
+
+_Brian._ But you must learn it, if you go among them; or else you will
+not understand a word they say.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ A Blackfoot calls it _coque ahtose_; a Sioux, _on wee_; a
+Riccaree, _wetah_; a Mandan, _esto menahka_; and a Tuscarora,
+_autsunyehaw_.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! I shall learn a little at a time. We cannot do every
+thing at once. What do the red men call a buffalo?
+
+_Hunter._ In Riccaree, it is _watash_; in Mandan, _ptemday_; in
+Tuscarora, _hohats_; in Blackfoot, _eneuh_.
+
+_Basil._ What different names they give them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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, _How ke che wa?_ _Chee na e num?_
+_Dati youthay its?_ or, _Tush hah thah mah kah hush?_ according to the
+language in which you spoke. I hardly think these languages would suit
+you so well as your own.
+
+_Brian._ They would never suit me; but Austin must learn every word of
+them.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ Very well. _Asco, pitco, tow wit, tchee tish, tchee hoo,
+tcha pis, to tcha pis, to tcha pis won, nah e ne won, nah en._ I will
+just add, that _weetah_, is twenty; _nahen tchee hoo_, is fifty; _nah
+en te tcha pis won_, is eighty; _shok tan_, is a hundred; and _sho tan
+tera hoo_, is a thousand.
+
+_Austin._ Can the Indians write?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ How curious!
+
+_Hunter._ The _Big turtle_, the _Fish_, the _Scalp_, the _Arrow_, and
+the _Big canoe_, 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.
+
+_Brian._ I dare say their fish, and arrows, and hatchets, and turtles,
+and buffaloes, are comical figures enough.
+
+_Hunter._ 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. 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay; the white man knew that he had better give up the horse
+than be scalped.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                              CHAPTER V.
+
+
+"Black Hawk! 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."
+
+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 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."[2] "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."
+
+    [Footnote 2: Ps. lxxiv. 20.]
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"My father's name was Py-e-sa; the father of his father was
+Na-na-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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"Though I came down from the chief Na-na-ma-kee, yet my people would
+not let me dress like 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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 _paddle_ a canoe, but not to _steer_ it. They fight
+like braves, but they are not fit to be chiefs, and to lead war
+parties.
+
+"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.
+
+"Many things happened. Old Wash-e-own, one of the Pottawatomies, was
+shot dead by a war chief. I gave Wash-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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 than swan's
+wings: when the white men came there, he went away.
+
+"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?'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 then that
+Kee-o-kuk was no brave, but a coward, to give up what the Great Spirit
+had given us.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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, to take some corn from our
+own fields; the whites saw and fired upon them.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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:--
+
+"'Braves and warriors! these are the medicine bags of our forefather,
+Muk-a-ta-quet, who was the father of the Sac nation. They were handed
+down to the great war chief of our nation, Na-na-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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 as a brother. What
+is done is past; we have buried the tomahawk, and the Sacs and Foxes
+and Americans will now be friends.
+
+"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."
+
+_Austin._ Poor Black Hawk! He went through a great deal. And
+Kee-o-kuk, the Running Fox, was made chief instead of him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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; 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.
+
+_Austin._ How did you prepare for the hunt?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You were sure, then, that you should kill some buffaloes.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Your thin spear would soon be broken.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ The poor buffalo has no chance at all.
+
+_Austin._ Well! you mounted your horse, and rode off at full gallop--
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a scamper there must be!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+Very willingly would Austin have lingered long enough to hear of half
+a dozen buffalo hunts; 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+                     [Illustration: Buffalo Hunt.]
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+The 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 led forth to the lawn, which was
+considered to be an excellent prairie.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How big are the prairies? I want to know more about them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _prairie_ was given to the plains of North America by the
+French settlers. 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.
+
+_Brian._ I never heard of such high grass as that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How I should like to see a prairie on fire!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+_Austin._ Brian! Do you not wish now to see the prairies of North
+America?
+
+_Brian._ Yes; if I could see them without going among the tomahawks
+and scalping-knives.
+
+_Hunter._ I remember one part where the ragged 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.
+
+_Basil._ I should like to see those red rocks very much.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I hardly think that I should ever be tired of green grass and
+flowers and strawberries.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 variety they afford to us! If the world were
+all sunshine, we should long for the shade.
+
+_Austin._ What do you mean by bluffs?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Where was it? Who was Floyd.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ I should not like to be by myself in such a place as that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But what was the story? What was there strange in the burial
+of the chief?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What a strange thing!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But was the white horse buried alive?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That was a very cruel deed! They had no business to smother
+that beautiful white horse in that way.
+
+_Basil._ And so I say. It was a great shame, and I do not like that
+Blackbird.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What do you think of the prairie now, Austin?
+
+_Brian._ And should you not like to gather some of those fruits and
+flowers?
+
+_Austin._ I never suspected that there would be such snakes among
+them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."[3]
+
+    [Footnote 3: Ps. cxlv. 3.]
+
+_Austin._ I could not have believed that there had been such beautiful
+places in the prairies.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+give you the history of Nikkanochee, perhaps I had better begin with
+it at once.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I want to hear about those prairie dogs.
+
+_Brian._ And I want to hear of Lover's Leap.
+
+_Austin._ What I wish to hear the most, is about Red Pipe-stone
+quarry. Please to tell us a little about them all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Well may it be called Swan Lake.
+
+_Hunter._ 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; till they
+obtained full cargoes of wild rice for food.
+
+_Brian._ I wish we had wild rice growing in our pond.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Poor girl, indeed! Her father was a very cruel man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What could have brought it there?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 hot sun
+evaporates the water, and the salt is left behind.
+
+_Brian._ Well, that is very curious.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Remember the alligators, Austin!
+
+_Brian._ And the howling wolves! What do you think of them?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ That is the place I want to see.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Pipes.]
+
+
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                             CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+"And now," said the hunter, "for my account of Nikkanochee.[4] 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 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."
+
+    [Footnote 4: This sketch is supposed to be a narrative of
+    facts, though the authority for it is not within the
+    publishers' reach.]
+
+_Austin._ Noble! noble! If all the Seminoles were like him, they were
+a noble people.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ When I go abroad, I will always behave kindly to the poor
+Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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.
+
+_Brian._ He must have made terrible work with his tomahawk!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I hope he did not put his sign to it.
+
+_Brian._ So do I, and I hope he persuaded all the rest of the red
+warriors not to sign it.
+
+_Hunter._ When they asked him in his turn to sign the contract, his
+lip began to curl with contempt, 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!"
+
+_Austin._ Well done, brave Oseola!
+
+_Brian._ That is just the way that he ought to have acted.
+
+_Basil._ He was a very bold fellow. But what did the generals say to
+him?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ The whites acted a cruel part, and they ought to have been
+ashamed of themselves.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, indeed. But what did Oseola do when he was free?
+
+_Hunter._ 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, he made the forest
+echo with the wild war-whoop that he raised in defiance of his
+enemies.
+
+_Brian._ I thought he would! That is the very thing that I expected he
+would do.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How was it? How did they take him prisoner?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That was an unjust and treacherous act. Oseola ought to have
+kept away from them.
+
+_Basil._ And what did they do to Oseola? Did they kill him?
+
+_Hunter._ They at first confined him in the fort at St. Augustine, and
+afterwards in a dungeon at 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.
+
+_Austin._ Poor Oseola!
+
+_Hunter._ 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?"
+
+_Basil._ But you have not yet told us of Nikkanochee. Please to let us
+hear all about him.
+
+_Brian._ Ay; we have forgotten Nikkanochee.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Ay! now Nikkanochee is a prisoner! What is to become of him
+now?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I hope they were safe then.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Dreadful! dreadful!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Did Econchatti die of his wound?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Econchatti seems to be as brave a man as Oseola. Did they
+escape from their enemies?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, that was terrible! I hoped he would get away safe.
+
+_Brian._ So did I. I thought the white men would be tired of following
+them into those dreary forests and muddy swamps.
+
+_Austin._ How was it that Nikkanochee was taken?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Why, I could not walk so far as forty miles to save my life.
+How did he manage it?
+
+_Hunter._ You have not been brought up like an Indian. Fatigue and
+hardship and danger are endured 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.
+
+_Brian._ They have him now, then, fast enough. I wonder what became of
+Econchatti-mico, his father.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That man deserves to be rewarded. I shall not forget James
+Shields.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ I wonder that Econchatti-mico, his father, or the brave
+Oseola, his uncle, did not rescue him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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.
+
+_Brian._ How much longer did he remain abroad?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+
+
+
+              [Illustration: Resting place for the Dead.]
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+In 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 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."
+
+_Hunter._ 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 that
+mingles much with the Indian character; and that is, medicine, or
+mystery. I must try to make you understand it.
+
+_Austin._ Yes; I should like to know all about it very well.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But what is it? Is there any thing in the bag? What is it
+that makes medicine?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ But is there any thing in the medicine bag?
+
+_Hunter._ 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, and form a conspicuous part of an Indian's
+appendages; while others are very small, and altogether hidden.
+
+_Basil._ Why, it is very foolish in the red men to carry such things
+about with them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ This is one of the most wonderful things you have told us
+yet.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 down, is medicine to the grizzly
+bear;" meaning, that in such a position a bear will not hurt him.
+
+_Basil._ Is it true? Will not the grizzly bear hurt a man when he is
+lying down?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What was it that you said about the medicine man bringing
+rain?
+
+_Hunter._ Some of them are famous for bringing rain in a dry season.
+
+_Austin._ But they cannot really bring rain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why did they not tell the medicine men earlier to make the
+rain come?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Ay! they were very cunning.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ That is the way they make it rain, is it?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Poor fellow! He had had enough of rain-making for one day.
+
+_Hunter._ For several days the same ceremony was carried on, until a
+rain-maker, with a head-dress 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?
+
+_Austin._ No, not a bit. I see that it was all a cheat.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 their hands,
+looking towards the sun, for a whole day, to obtain it.
+
+_Austin._ When I go among the Indians, I will not be a mystery man.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why, that is like buying a wife.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I should not like my head to be flattened in that manner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I shall often think of the pool, and the little cradles
+swimming on it. It would remind me of Moses in the bulrushes.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ This is one of the worst things we have heard of the
+Indians.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, it is very sad indeed!
+
+_Hunter._ You would not forsake your father, in old age, in that
+manner, would you?
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian_ and _Basil._ Yes; that we would!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I shall leave the Leaping Rock to the leaping Indians, for
+it will never suit me.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ The white fish of the Chippewas will suit me better than the
+Leaping Rock of the Sioux.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ How many things you do remember!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You must have your runners, Austin.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I think the squaws behave themselves very well.
+
+_Hunter._ The smoking of the pipe takes place 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.
+
+_Basil._ What will you do now, Austin? You never smoked a pipe in your
+life.
+
+_Austin._ Oh, I should soon learn; besides, I need only take a very
+little whiff.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You have something a little harder to do now, I think,
+Austin; to learn to eat dog's flesh.
+
+_Austin._ You may depend upon it, that I shall keep out of the way of
+a dog feast. I might take a little whiff at their pipe, but I could
+not touch their dainty dogs.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+_Austin._ When an Indian dies, how do they bury him?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay! he was buried on horseback, on the top of a high bluff,
+sitting on his horse. He was covered all over with sods.
+
+_Hunter._ And I told you of the Chinock children floating on the
+solitary pool.
+
+_Basil._ Yes, I remember them very well.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Cradle.]
+
+
+
+
+                            [Illustration]
+
+                              CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+With 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+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 _little, old, white man_, 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:--
+
+"The thief I know is a _little_ 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 _old_ man, I know by his short
+steps, which I have traced over the dead leaves in the woods; that he
+is a _white_ 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."
+
+_Brian._ Well done, Indian! Why, nothing could escape a man like
+that.
+
+_Austin._ An Englishman would hardly have been able to describe the
+thief without seeing him.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 would convince them that the
+real perpetrators of the crime belonged to the Six Nations.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At last, arriving at the foot of the mountain, on 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ This instance is quite as wonderful as the other.
+
+_Brian._ I would not have an Indian after me if I had done wrong; for
+he would be sure to find me out.
+
+_Hunter._ Red men often act very conscientiously. One day, an Indian
+solicited a little tobacco 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.
+
+"I wish to see him," said the Indian.
+
+"Why so?" inquired some one.
+
+"Why, I find money with the tobacco."
+
+"Well! what of that? Keep it; it was given to you."
+
+"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, '_'Tis_ yours; it was given to you.'
+Good man say, 'That not right: _tobacco_ yours, _money_ 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."
+
+_Basil._ I like that Indian very much.
+
+_Brian._ No one could have acted more honestly.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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:--
+
+"See, my friend, this is an Indian lock that I am putting to my door."
+
+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?"
+
+"Stolen! by whom?"
+
+"Why, by Indians, to be sure."
+
+"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."
+
+_Basil._ If we were to leave our doors in that way, our houses would
+be sure to be robbed.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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."
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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 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!'"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, an
+innocent victim, from a cruel death. Their address, delivered on this
+occasion, is sensible and appropriate, closing as follows:
+
+"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."
+
+To this the Pawnee made the following reply:--
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+            [Illustration: Indian Horsemanship.--Page 160.]
+
+                              CHAPTER X.
+
+
+"Remember," 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."
+
+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.
+
+"The different animals and birds," said he, "that inhabit different
+countries, for the most part, 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."
+
+_Austin._ But if they are bisons, why are they called buffaloes?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What is the difference between a buffalo and a bison?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then a bison must look much fiercer than a buffalo.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, they will soon kill all the buffaloes, if they go on in
+that manner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What, because they are so hot?
+
+_Hunter._ Yes: the bison suffers very much from heat. It is no
+uncommon thing to see a bison bull 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.
+
+_Basil._ What a figure a bison bull must cut, with his shaggy hair and
+his sides plastered all over with mud!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How can you escape from a grizzly bear, if he is so very
+terrible?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 I was once chased by one of these terrible
+fellows, and a narrow escape I had.
+
+_Austin._ How was it? Tell us all about it.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ A hunting-knife against a grizzly bear!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Never was any one in greater danger.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ That was a capital old cow, for she saved the boy's life.
+
+_Basil._ But the young cattle helped her, for they pushed the bear
+with their horns.
+
+_Brian._ Please to tell us about wild horses.
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+the brow of a bluff, or have peeped at them cautiously from a ravine.
+
+_Austin._ What kind of horses are they; and of what colour?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How do they catch them?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _creasing_ a horse: but a bad marksman would kill, and not
+crease, the noble animal he seeks to subdue.
+
+_Austin._ What other way is there of catching wild horses? for that
+seems to be a very bad one.
+
+_Basil._ It is a very bad way. They ought not to shoot them.
+
+_Hunter._ They are much more commonly taken with the _lasso_; 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; to fasten the lasso round
+his lower jaw; to breathe in his nostrils, and to lead him home.
+
+_Austin._ Breathe in his nostrils! Why, what does he do that for?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Well! that does appear strange!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I should not much like to meet a cougar.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes, yes; Mr. Grizzly-back is very cunning.
+
+_Hunter._ The prairie-wolf is smaller than the common wolf.
+Prairie-wolves hunt after deer 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.
+
+_Austin._ Nothing can stand against man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Basil._ What other kinds of deer do Indians catch?
+
+    [Illustration: The Wapiti Deer.]
+
+_Hunter._ 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 cliffs of the western wilds, giving life to
+the solitary place, and interest to the picturesque beauty of lonely
+spots.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ You have never told us, though, how they catch the musk-rat.
+I should like to know that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, the cunning little rogues.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 with a spear. Myriads of these
+little animals are taken in this manner for their fur.
+
+_Brian._ They must be a good deal like prairie dogs, though one has
+his house on the land, and the other in the water.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ You have told us a great deal indeed, to-day, about the
+prairies.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should like to see one of those great, high, round bluffs
+on fire. There must be a fine bonfire then.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ They must look very beautifully.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Oh! it must be terrible.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I am almost afraid to hear it.
+
+_Austin._ Poh! nonsense! It will never hurt you.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.)
+
+_Austin._ I guess what was the matter.
+
+_Brian._ And so do I.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I hope you set off at full gallop.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You ought not to have stopped a moment.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I cannot think what you could do in such a situation.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ That was, indeed, a narrow escape.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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!
+
+_Brian._ There can be nothing in the world like a burning prairie,
+unless it be a burning mountain.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+                    [Illustration: Buffalo Dance.]
+
+                              CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+Buffaloes, 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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."
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ And how do they play?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 through
+their goal, one is reckoned, and a hundred is the game.
+
+_Basil._ What a scuffle there must be among so many of them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Now for the struggle.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How long does the game last?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Do they ever run races?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, I remember that the Camanchees are capital riders. I was
+a Camanchee in our buffalo hunt. Brian, you have not forgotten that?
+
+_Brian._ But you had no horse to ride. I was a Sioux; and the Sioux
+are capital riders too.
+
+_Basil._ And so are the Pawnees, I was a Pawnee in the buffalo hunt.
+
+_Hunter._ It was told me that the Camanchees--and, 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.
+
+_Austin._ It would be worth going to the prairies, if it were only to
+see the Camanchees ride.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay, I see! He who shoots the highest in the air is the
+winner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Brian, we will try what we can do to-morrow; but we shall
+never have so many as seven or eight up at once.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ But you did not tell us wherein their way of swimming is
+different from ours.
+
+_Hunter._ Whites swim by striking out their legs 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.
+
+_Basil._ What was it? Did they dip your head under the water?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 overturned; but the more fearful I
+was, the better pleased were my mirthful tormentors.
+
+_Austin._ Ah! I can see it spinning round like a peg-top, in the
+middle of the river.
+
+_Brian._ And did they upset the tub?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Brian._ You must please to tell us about them all.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ To describe every dance at length 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.
+
+_Austin._ What figures they would look with their masks on! Did you
+say that they kept up the dance day and night?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ But how could they bring them back again?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Basil._ And do they keep that up for a fortnight?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Well, I should like to see the buffalo dance. Could not we
+manage one on the lawn, Brian?
+
+_Brian._ But where are we to get the buffalo masks from? The buffalo
+hunt did very well, but I hardly think we could manage the dance
+Please to tell us of the bear dance.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Oh, yes; let us hear all about her; and you can tell us of
+the dances when we come again.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What, all by herself! How lonely she must have been!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should have been afraid that other Indians would have come
+and killed her.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Poor woman! I should like to have seen her in the hut of her
+own building, and the clothes of her own making.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ Capital! Why, she seems able to do every thing.
+
+_Hunter._ Her method of making a fire was equally singular and
+curious, having no other materials for that purpose than two hard
+stones. 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.
+
+    [Illustration: Indian Canoes.]
+
+
+
+
+  [Illustration: _c_, drum. _d, d_, rattles. _e_, drum. _f_, mystery
+                    whistle. _g_, deer-skin flute.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Never, 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.
+
+Then, again, they were very successful in bringing buffaloes, without
+which the dance, excellent as it was, would have been but an
+unsatisfactory 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.
+
+"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."
+
+_Austin._ Yes. Now for the music of the Indians, if you please, sir.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why is it called the mystery whistle?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What sort of a drum do they use? Is it a kettle-drum?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Have they no trumpets and cymbals, and clarionets and
+violins?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay; they are quite at home in hunting buffaloes.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ You must please to tell us about these dances.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ That ought to be called the begging dance, and not the
+beggars' dance; for the dancers do not beg for themselves, but for
+others.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Why, do the doctors dance in it?
+
+_Hunter._ 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, can
+bear a great deal of fatigue. The pipe dance is one of the most
+animated amusements.
+
+_Basil._ Oh! do tell us about the pipe dance.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I hope you have a good many more dances to tell us of.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ How long does the green corn dance last?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ In what way does the green corn dance begin?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I dare say, while the pot is boiling, they are all longing
+to begin the feast.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then they begin to boil more corn, I suppose.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ I wonder what dance will come next.
+
+_Hunter._ I need not describe many others. If I run rapidly through
+two or three, and dwell a 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.
+
+_Basil._ They are all sadly fond of fighting.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Please to tell us about them both.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I should very much like to see that dance; there is nothing
+cruel in it at all.
+
+_Basil._ And I should like to see the eagle dance, for there is no
+cruelty in that either.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ That is one of the strangest dances of all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ What! do the Sioux think there is a Bear spirit?
+
+    [Illustration: Bear Dance.]
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Now for the war dance: that is come at last.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a sight that must be!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That war dance would make me tremble.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+
+             [Illustration: Interior of a Mystery Lodge.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+It 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.
+
+In his younger days, he had entered on the life of a hunter and
+trapper with much ardour. To 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 practised on the red man; that they might sympathize
+with his trials, and feel interested for his welfare.
+
+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."
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Now we shall hear.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Why did they get together? What did they do?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ How came the Mandans to know any thing about the flood, if
+they have no Bibles?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Why, it is just as if they had read the Bible.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ What an odd thing!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ It was enough to kill them all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I want to hear about the young Indians in the lodge, and
+that old fellow, the mystery man.
+
+_Hunter._ The superstitious and cruel practices 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.
+
+_Basil._ Shocking! shocking!
+
+_Brian._ That must be horrible!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 were
+left to themselves, to live or die, as the Great Spirit might
+determine.
+
+_Austin._ I should think that hardly any of them would ever come to
+life again.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+    [Illustration: A War-Party.]
+
+"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 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.
+
+_Austin._ How do the Indians poison their arrows?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Where do they get their poison? What is it made of?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+Before war is determined on among the Indians, a council is held with
+great solemnity. The 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.
+
+_Brian._ It is very sad to fight with such weapons as poisoned arrows.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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 grass, lurk in the ravine, and skulk at
+nightfall around the place to be attacked.
+
+_Austin._ Did you ever go out with the Indians to fight?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Do tell us all about it.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Ay; that is just like the Indians.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+It was some time after sundown, that we left 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.
+
+_Austin._ Then there was terrible work, I dare say.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ Dreadful! dreadful!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I wonder that every one in the Blackfoot village was not
+killed!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How did you get away?
+
+_Hunter._ Stunned as I was, I recovered my senses before a retreat
+took place, and was just 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.
+
+_Austin._ Are the Crow tribe or the Blackfoot tribe the strongest?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What battling there must be among them!
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ I think I can see him. But what colour was his war-horse?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ And the Sacs and Foxes were great fighters, for Black Hawk
+was a famous fellow.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Not a word of it. Please to tell us every particular.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ Now we shall hear of the mystery man.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Ay; I want to know how the mystery man cures his patients.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ The mystery man was coming, I suppose.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ He could never cure the dying man with his tambourine.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ He had need of all his medicine.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ Yes. You said that he dashed his dagger not only through the
+contract, but also through the table on which it lay.
+
+_Brian._ And you told us that he was taken prisoner by treachery and
+died in captivity.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Please to let us know every thing about him. It was at Fort
+Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What could he want of his war-dress when he was going to die?
+
+_Austin._ Wait a little, Basil, and you will hear all about it, I dare
+say.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ How very strange for a dying man to dress himself in that
+way!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ And did he paint his face himself?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Basil._ What did he paint his hands and his knife-handle for?
+
+_Hunter._ 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
+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.
+
+_Austin._ How weak he must have been!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Poor Oseola! He died like a chief, at last.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+                    [Illustration: Mounted Chief.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+The 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+To this inquiry, Brian replied that what they had heard had only
+increased their curiosity to hear more.
+
+"Well; let me consider," said the hunter. "I have told you about the
+different tribes of Indians, 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."
+
+_Austin._ I shall be very sorry when you have told us all.
+
+_Brian._ And so shall I: for it is so pleasing to come here, and
+listen to what you tell us.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ That pipe-of-peace dance is a capital dance, for then
+bloodshed is at an end.
+
+_Hunter._ Unfortunately, war is apt soon to break out again, and then
+the buried tomahawk becomes as busy as ever.
+
+_Austin._ Well, I do like the Indians, in spite of all their faults,
+and I think they have been used cruelly by the whites.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ If I ever go among the red men, the Yellow Stone River, or
+the Upper Missouri, will be the place for me.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 tribe before he went
+among the whites, had very little respect paid to him afterwards.
+
+_Brian._ I hope it is a long account.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Austin._ Two or three thousand miles! What a distance for him to go!
+
+_Hunter._ "After the troops had been made to manoeuvre 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."
+
+_Brian._ He would hardly know how to walk in a colonel's uniform.
+
+_Hunter._ "In a pair of white kid gloves; tight blue coat, with gilt
+buttons, gold epaulettes, and 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."
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ "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."
+
+_Austin._ I thought they would laugh at him.
+
+_Hunter._ "He told them about wigwams, in which a thousand people
+could at one time pray to the Great Spirit; of other wigwams, five
+stories 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."
+
+_Austin._ They would be sure never to believe him.
+
+_Hunter._ "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!"
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Brian._ I could never have thought that an Indian chief would have
+dressed himself in a blue coat and gilt buttons.
+
+_Basil._ And, then, the fan and green umbrella!
+
+_Austin._ Ay, and the whiskey bottles sticking out of his
+tail-pockets. He would look a little different from Mah-to-toh-pa.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Brian._ Yes; we remember the Crows, with their hair sweeping the
+ground.
+
+_Hunter._ 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?
+
+_Basil._ I do not remember that you told us that.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 lives by the
+tight clothing and lacings with which they compress their bodies; but
+the Indians do not commit such folly.
+
+_Brian._ There is something to be learned from the Indians, after all.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ What a curious custom! I should not much like to be flogged
+in that manner.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I should have thought they would have wanted their best
+arrows to fight with.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I do hope that we shall forget none of these curious things.
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+            [Illustration: Eliot Preaching to the Indians.]
+
+                              CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+For 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 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."
+
+_Hunter._ Let me speak a word or two about the Indians, before I begin
+my account. You remember that I told you of the Mandans.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Dreadful! But how was it? What brought it all about?
+
+_Brian._ You should have told us this before.
+
+_Hunter._ 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;
+but of the poor Mandans, the whole tribe was destroyed.
+
+_Brian._ 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?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ And did Mah-to-toh-pa, "the four bears," die too?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ It was indeed a terrible affair. Have they no good doctors
+among the Indians now? Why do they not send for doctors who know how
+to cure the small-pox, instead of those juggling mystery men?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ Who was the first missionary who went among the Indians?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+_Austin._ I wonder he was not afraid of going among them.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ I remember your telling us of them; and I suppose they are
+the longest words in the world.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _noorromantammoonkanunonnash_, which
+means, "our loves;" and the second, or "our questions," is
+_kummogokdonattoottammoctiteaongannunnonash_.
+
+_Austin._ Why that last word would reach all across one of our
+copy-books.
+
+_Basil._ You had better learn those two words, Austin, to begin with.
+
+_Brian._ 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.
+
+_Austin._ 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.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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."
+
+_Brian._ I should think that he was one of the best of men.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 of his age. No wonder he should even now be
+remembered by us as "the apostle of the Indians."
+
+_Basil._ I am very glad that you told us about him. What a good old
+man he must have been when he died!
+
+_Hunter._ You will find an interesting history of Eliot in your
+Sunday-school Library, and the Life of Brainerd[5] 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.
+
+    [Footnote 5: Both these works are published by the American
+    Sunday-school Union.]
+
+_Austin._ We will remember this.
+
+_Hunter._ 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:
+
+_June 26._ "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 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 _impossible with
+man_, yet _with God_ I saw _all things were possible_. 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."
+
+_Brian._ Why, he was much such a man as Eliot.
+
+_Hunter._ Both Eliot and Brainerd did a great deal of good among the
+Indians. The language 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."
+
+_Brian._ I hardly know whether Eliot was the best man, or Brainerd.
+
+_Hunter._ 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."
+
+_Brian._ Then, he was as good a man as Eliot.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"The holy word of Jesus has got place amongst us, and advances. Many
+have lately forsaken their sins, to appearance, and turned to God.
+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.
+
+    TAGAWAROW, _chief of the Bear tribe_.
+    SUGHNAGEAROT, _chief of the Wolf tribe_.
+    OJEKHETA, _chief of the Turtle tribe_."
+
+_Austin._ Why, they were all three of them chiefs!
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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. 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?"
+
+_Austin._ There is a great deal of good sense in what Little Turtle
+said.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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. 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Having arrived at Detroit, they appeared before the governor, in
+order to answer the accusations brought against them, of holding a
+correspondence 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.
+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.
+
+"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
+various other acts of kindness from him they returned to Sandusky, and
+were received with inexpressible joy by their families and the whole
+congregation."
+
+_Austin._ Well, I am glad it has all ended so happily. Captain Pipe
+and Colonel de Peyster acted an unworthy part, to suspect the
+missionaries.
+
+_Brian._ They did; but the colonel declared before the whole camp that
+they were innocent. That was making some amends for his suspicions.
+
+_Basil._ Captain Pipe ought to have been ashamed of himself.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+
+
+
+                [Illustration: Missionary and Indians.]
+
+                             CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+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 hunter's
+relation, though it hung a little heavy on their spirits, disposed
+them to seriousness and attention.
+
+"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."
+
+_Austin._ Yes; we shall like to hear that very well.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 laborious society, 1844, I have copied a passage which
+I will read you:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+The United Brethren or Moravians, and the Board of Missions of the
+Protestant Episcopal church, also maintain missions among the
+Indians.
+
+_Austin._ How do the missionaries preach to the Indians? Do they
+understand their strange language?
+
+_Hunter._ 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 _eighty-two_. 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 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 _four_ other syllables; making all the
+known syllables of the Cherokee language _eighty-six_. 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 done by preaching,
+either with an interpreter, or without one."
+
+Another account is a little more full:
+
+"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 _s_, 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 _fluently_: 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."
+
+_Austin._ Did they find the language could be easily written and
+printed?
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+_Austin._ But let us hear what became of the Guyst's Cherokee
+alphabet. As that was an invention of his own, it seems very
+wonderful.
+
+_Hunter._ 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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 _Cherokee Phoenix_, 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. 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.
+
+"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."
+
+_Brian._ I suppose, by this time, they have a great many books
+printed, and more than one newspaper.
+
+_Hunter._ 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 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.
+
+_Austin._ And have all efforts for their improvement been given up?
+
+_Hunter._ 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. 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.
+
+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.[6]
+
+    [Footnote 6: The reader is referred to a memoir of CATHARINE
+    BROWN, a converted Cherokee girl, (written by the Rev. Dr.
+    ANDERSON, and published by the _American Sunday-school
+    Union_,) 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.]
+
+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.
+
+                               THE END.
+
+
+               PUBLICATIONS OF THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
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+THE ART OF PRINTING. Edited by Thomas O. Summers, D.D. 18mo., pp. 185.
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+
+
+METHODISM; or, Christianity in Earnest.
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+
+These volumes belong to a series of nearly uniform size, written by
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+authentic Documents, many of which were never before published. By
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+Price 30 cts.
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+them in the United States, though one seldom meets with such capital
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+
+
+ST. PETER'S CHAIN OF CHRISTIAN VIRTUES. By the Rev. C. D. Oliver, of
+the Alabama Conference. Price 40 cents.
+
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+CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: By Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.A.S.
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+
+There is no mincing the matter in this sturdy volume. Even-handed
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+
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+
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+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History, Manners, and Customs of the
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