summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
authorRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 02:32:54 -0700
committerRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 02:32:54 -0700
commit5b945511c60186468526aa3c182f2f888daf96d6 (patch)
treee10e3735fdddae4bf8b1ec9bbc0dc0a4bba0995d
initial commit of ebook 26799HEADmain
-rw-r--r--.gitattributes3
-rw-r--r--26799-h.zipbin0 -> 27767 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-h/26799-h.htm1356
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/f0001.pngbin0 -> 4196 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/f0002.pngbin0 -> 3533 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/f0003.pngbin0 -> 10014 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/f0004.pngbin0 -> 3744 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0007.pngbin0 -> 31555 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0008.pngbin0 -> 46383 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0009.pngbin0 -> 46103 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0010.pngbin0 -> 46847 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0011.pngbin0 -> 46833 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0012.pngbin0 -> 46503 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0013.pngbin0 -> 45647 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0014.pngbin0 -> 47630 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0015.pngbin0 -> 44509 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0016.pngbin0 -> 45732 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0017.pngbin0 -> 41659 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0018.pngbin0 -> 45919 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0019.pngbin0 -> 46065 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0020.pngbin0 -> 47800 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0021.pngbin0 -> 48244 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0022.pngbin0 -> 46475 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0023.pngbin0 -> 45919 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0024.pngbin0 -> 49992 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0025.pngbin0 -> 45968 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0026.pngbin0 -> 47523 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0027.pngbin0 -> 44736 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0028.pngbin0 -> 46784 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0029.pngbin0 -> 45136 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0030.pngbin0 -> 47266 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0031.pngbin0 -> 44337 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0032.pngbin0 -> 47249 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0033.pngbin0 -> 44613 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0034.pngbin0 -> 43771 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0035.pngbin0 -> 44845 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799-page-images/p0036.pngbin0 -> 21817 bytes
-rw-r--r--26799.txt1227
-rw-r--r--26799.zipbin0 -> 26497 bytes
-rw-r--r--LICENSE.txt11
-rw-r--r--README.md2
41 files changed, 2599 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/26799-h.zip b/26799-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55f1724
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-h.zip
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-h/26799-h.htm b/26799-h/26799-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..853e580
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-h/26799-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,1356 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+ <head>
+ <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+ <title>
+ The Project Gutenberg eBook of Indian Captivity of William Biggs, by William Biggs.
+ </title>
+ <style type="text/css">
+/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */
+<!--
+ p { margin-top: .75em;
+ text-align: justify;
+ margin-bottom: .75em;
+ }
+ h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {
+ text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+ clear: both;
+ }
+ hr { width: 33%;
+ margin-top: 2em;
+ margin-bottom: 2em;
+ margin-left: auto;
+ margin-right: auto;
+ clear: both;
+ }
+
+ body{margin-left: 10%;
+ margin-right: 10%;
+ }
+
+ hr.smler { width: 20%; }
+
+ .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+ /* visibility: hidden; */
+ position: absolute;
+ left: 92%;
+ font-size: smaller;
+ text-align: right;
+ text-indent: 0px;
+ } /* page numbers */
+
+ .center {text-align: center;}
+
+ .tbrk {margin-bottom: 3.5em;}
+
+ // -->
+ /* XML end ]]>*/
+ </style>
+ </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of the Captivity of William Biggs
+among the Kickapoo Indians in Illinois in 1788, by William Biggs
+
+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: Narrative of the Captivity of William Biggs among the Kickapoo Indians in Illinois in 1788
+
+Author: William Biggs
+
+Release Date: October 7, 2008 [EBook #26799]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVITY OF WILLIAM BIGGS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<p class="tbrk"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p>
+
+<h1>INDIAN CAPTIVITY</h1>
+
+<h1>OF WILLIAM BIGGS</h1>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p>
+
+<h4><i>Heartman's Historical Series Number 37</i></h4>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h1>NARRATIVE</h1>
+
+<h3>OF THE</h3>
+
+<h1>CAPTIVITY</h1>
+
+<h3>OF</h3>
+
+<h1><i>WILLIAM BIGGS</i></h1>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>AMONG THE</h3>
+
+<h1>KICKAPOO INDIANS</h1>
+
+<h3>IN</h3>
+
+<h3>Illinois in 1788</h3>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>Written By Himself</h3>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr class="smler" />
+
+<p class="center">Eighty-one Copies Re-Printed In<br />Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-two.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h4>Number ... of 81 Copies Reprinted.</h4>
+
+<h4>Also Five Copies Issued on Japan Paper.</h4>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p>
+
+<h1>NARRATIVE</h1>
+
+<h1>OF THE CAPTIVITY OF</h1>
+
+<h1>WILLIAM BIGGS</h1>
+
+<h1>AMONG THE KICKAPOO INDIANS</h1>
+
+<h1>IN ILLINOIS IN 1788</h1>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="tbrk">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p>In the year 1788, March 28th, I was going from Bellfontain to Cahokia,
+in company with a young man named John Vallis, from the State of
+Maryland; he was born and raised near Baltimore. About 7 o'clock in the
+morning I heard two guns fired; by the report I thought they were to the
+right; I thought they were white men hunting; both shot at the same
+time. I looked but could not see any body; in a moment after I looked to
+the left and saw sixteen Indians, all upon their feet with their guns
+presented, about forty yards distant from me, just ready to draw
+trigger. I was riding between Vallis and the Indians in a slow trot, at
+the moment I saw them. I whipped my horse and leaned my breast on the
+horse's withers, and told Vallis to whip his horse, that they were
+Indians. That moment they all fired their guns in one platoon; you could
+scarcely distinguish the report of their guns one from another. They
+shot four bullets into my horse, one high up in his withers, one in the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>bulge of the ribs near my thigh, and two in his rump, and shot four or
+five through my great coat. The moment they fired their guns they ran
+towards us and yelled so frightfully, that the wounds and the yelling of
+the Indians scared my horse so that he jumped so suddenly to one side of
+the road, that my gun fell off my shoulder, and twisted out of my hand;
+I then bore all my weight on one stirrup, in order to catch my gun, but
+could not. I had a large bag of beaver fur, which prevented me from
+recovering my saddle, and having no girth nor crupper to my saddle, it
+turned and fell off my horse, and I fell with it, but caught on my feet
+and held the mane; I made several attempts to mount my horse again; but
+the Indians running up so close, and making such a frightful yelling,
+that my horse jumped and pranced so that it was impossible for me to
+mount him again, but I held fast to my horse's mane for twenty or thirty
+yards; then my hold broke and I fell on my hands and knees, and stumbled
+along about four or five steps before I could recover myself. By the
+time I got fairly on my feet, the Indians were about eight or ten yards
+from me&mdash;I saw then there was no other way for me to make my escape but
+by fast running, and I was determined to try it, and had but little
+hopes at first of my being able to escape. I ran about one hundred yards
+before I looked back&mdash;I thought almost every step I could feel the
+scalping knife cutting my scalp off. I found I was gaining ground on
+them, I felt encouraged and ran about three hundred yards farther, and
+looking back saw that I had gained about one hundred yards, and
+considering myself quite out of danger. A thought then occurred to me,
+that I was as safe and out of danger as I would be if I were in the City
+of Philadelphia: the Indians had quit yelling and slacked their
+running&mdash;but I did not know it then. It being a tolerable cold morning
+and I was heavily clad, I thought perhaps the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> Indians would give me a
+long chase, and probably that they would hold out better than I could;
+although at that time I did not feel the least tired or out of breath. I
+concluded to throw off my two coats and shoes, as I would then be better
+prepared for a long race. I had my great coat tied around me with a silk
+handkerchief pretty much worn&mdash;I recollect tying it with a slip knot,
+but being in a hurry, it was drawn into a double hard knot; I tried some
+little time to get it loose&mdash;the longer I tried the harder the knot
+seemed to get, that stopped my running considerably; at length I broke
+it by some means, I do not know how. In the morning I forgot to put on
+my shot pouch before I put on my great coat, and then put it on over it.
+I pulled off the sleeves of my great coat, not thinking of my shot-pouch
+being over my coat, it having a very short strap, the coat got so tight
+in the strap that I could not get it loose for a considerable time.
+Still trying, it hung down and trailed on the ground, and every two or
+three steps it would wrap around my legs and throw me down, and I would
+catch on my hands and knees, it served me so several times, so that I
+could make no headway at running. After some considerable time, I broke
+the strap and my great coat dropped from me&mdash;I had no knife with me.</p>
+
+<p>The Indians discovered that something was the matter and saw me tumbling
+down several times. I suppose they thought I was wounded and could run
+no farther; they then set up the yell again and mended their gait
+running. By the time I got my great coat loose from me, and was in the
+act of pulling off my under coat, I was pulling off one sleeve I looked
+back over my shoulder, but had not time to pull it off&mdash;the Indians
+being within ten yards of me. I then started again to run, but could not
+gain any ground on them, nor they on me; we ran about one hundred yards
+farther and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> neither appeared to gain ground: there was a small pathway
+that was a little nearer than to keep the big road,&mdash;I kept the big
+road, the Indians took the path, and when we came where the path comes
+into the big road the Indians were within three or four yards from
+me&mdash;we ran forty or fifty steps farther and neither appeared to gain
+ground. I expected every moment they would strike me with their
+tomahawks&mdash;I thought it would not do to be killed running like a coward
+and saw no other way to make my escape than to face about and to catch
+the tomahawk from the first that attempted to strike me, and jerk it
+from him, which I made no doubt but I was able to do; then I would have
+a weapon to fight with as well as them, and by that means I would be
+able to make my escape; they had thrown down their guns before they gave
+me chase, but I had not fairly faced about before an Indian caught me by
+the shoulder and held his tomahawk behind him and made no attempt to
+strike me. I then thought it best for me not to make any resistance till
+I would see whether he would attempt to strike me or not. He held me by
+the shoulder till another came up and took hold of me, which was only
+four or five moments; then a third Indian came up, the first Indian that
+took hold of me took the handle of his tomahawk and rubbed it on my
+shoulder and down my arm, which was a token that he would not kill me
+and that I was his prisoner. Then they all took their hands off me and
+stood around me. The fourth Indian came up and attempted to strike me,
+but the first Indian that caught me pushed him away. He was still
+determined to kill me, and tried to get around to my back; but I still
+faced round as he was trying to get to my back&mdash;when he got up by my
+side, he drew his tomahawk the second time to strike me, but the same
+Indian pushed him off and scolded him very much&mdash;he let<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> his tomahawk
+hang by his side, but still intended to kill me if he could get an
+opportunity. The other Indians watched him very closely. There were but
+four Indians that gave me chase, they were all naked except their
+breachcloth, leggins and moccasins. They then began to talk to me in
+their own language, and said they were Kickapoos, that they were very
+good Indians, and I need not be afraid, they would not hurt me, and I
+was now a Kickapoo and must go with them, they would take me to the
+Matocush, meaning a French trading town on the Wabash river. When the
+Indians caught me I saw Mr. Vallis about one hundred yards before me on
+the road&mdash;he had made a halt. They shot him in the left thigh about
+seven or eight inches above the knee, the ball came out just below his
+hip, his horse was not injured&mdash;he rode an elegant horse which carried
+him out of all farther danger&mdash;his wound mortified, he lived six weeks
+after he was wounded, then died. I understood their language, and could
+speak a little. They then told me to march; an Indian took hold of each
+of my arms, and led me back to where they shot at me, and then went
+about half a mile further off the road, where they had encamped the
+night before and left their blankets and other things. They then took
+off my under coat and tied my hands behind my back, and then tied a rope
+to that, tying about six or seven feet long, we then started in a great
+hurry, and an Indian held one end of the rope while we were marching.
+There were but eight Indians marched in company with me that morning
+from the camp. The other eight took some other route, and never fell in
+with us again, until some time after we got to their towns. We had
+marched about three or four miles from that camp when Vallis arrived at
+the fort, about six miles from where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> they caught me, where they fired a
+swivel to alarm the people who were out of the fort&mdash;when the Indians
+heard the swivel they were very much alarmed, and all looked that way
+and hallowed yough, yough. They then commenced running, and run in a
+pretty smart trot of a run for five or six miles before they halted, and
+then walked very fast until about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when they
+separated, I supposed to hunt, having nothing to eat. The old chief and
+one of the other Indians kept on a straight course with me, we traveled
+about three miles, when we got a little way into a small prairie and
+halted about fifteen minutes, there one of the party fell in with us, he
+had killed a bear and brought as much of the meat with him as he could
+carry. We then crossed the prairie and came to a large run about one
+mile and a half from where we had halted to rest. By this time three
+Indians had joined us. We halted there, made a fire and roasted the bear
+meat, the other two Indians staid behind as spies. Whilst the meat was
+cooking, the Indians held a council what they would do with the Indian
+that wanted to kill me. He was a young fellow about 19 years of age and
+of a different nation, being a Pottowatema. They did not want him to go
+to war with them; they said he was a great coward and would not go into
+danger till there was no risk to run, then he would run forward and get
+the best of the plunder, and that he would not be commanded; he would do
+as he pleased; was very selfish and stubborn; and was determined to kill
+me if he could get a chance. They determined in their council to kill
+him. It is a law with the Indians when they go to war, if an Indian will
+not obey the counsels and commands of his captain or chief, to kill
+them. When their meat was cooked, they ate very hearty, and when they
+were done eating, three of the Indians got up, put on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> their budgets and
+started, this young Indian was one of them. I also got up to show a
+willingness to be ready. The old chief told me to sit down, and the
+three Indians started off. In about three or four minutes after we
+started, but varied a little in our course. We had not traveled more
+than one hundred yards when we heard the report of a gun. The old chief
+then told me that they had killed the Indian that wanted to kill me. The
+other two Indians fell in company with us before night. We then traveled
+till about 10 o'clock in the night, when we encamped at a large grove of
+timber in a prairie, about four miles from the edge of the woods; made
+no fire that night. We traveled about forty miles that day. After they
+rested a while they sat down to eat their jirk. They gave me some but I
+could not eat any. After they were done eating, one of the Indians was
+sitting with his back against a tree, with his knife between his legs. I
+was sitting facing him with my feet nearly touching his. He began to
+inquire of me of what nation I belonged to. I was determined to pretend
+that I was ignorant and could not understand him. I did not wish them to
+know that I could speak some Indian language, and understand them better
+than I could speak. He first asked me in Indian if I was a Matocush,
+(that is a Frenchman in English). I told him no. He asked me if I was a
+Sagenash, (an Englishman). I told him no. He again asked if I was a
+Shemolsea, (that is a long knife or a Virginian). I told him no. He then
+asked me if I was a Bostonely, (that is American). I told him no. About
+one minute afterwards, he asked me the same questions over again. I then
+answered him yes; he then spoke English and caught up his knife in his
+hand, and said "you are one dam son of a bitch." I really thought he
+intended stabbing me with his knife. I knew it would not do to show
+cowardice, I being pretty well acquainted with their manner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> and ways. I
+then jumped upon my feet and spoke in Indian and said manetway, kien,
+depaway, in English it is no, I am very good, and clapped my hand on my
+breast when I spoke and looked very bold; the other Indians all set up
+such ha! ha! and laugh that it made the other Indian look very foolish.
+He sat still and looked very sulky. After they had rested a while, they
+began to prepare to lay down. They spread down a deer-skin and blanket
+for me to lay on. They had tied a rope around my arms above my elbows,
+and tied that rope across my back, and a rope around my neck; they then
+tied the end of another rope behind to the neck rope, then down my back
+to the pinion rope; then they drew my hands forward across my stomach
+and crossed my wrists; then tied my wrists very tight; then tied my legs
+together, just below my knees; then tied my feet together with a rope
+round my ankles; then took a small cord and tied in between my wrists,
+and also between my ankles very tight, in order to prevent me from
+drawing out my hands or feet; they then took another cord and tied one
+end to the neck rope; then to the hand rope; then from the hand rope to
+the knee rope; they then took a rope about six feet long and tied one
+end to the wrist rope, and the other end to a stake about six feet from
+me stretched very tight, and an Indian laid on that rope all night; then
+they took another rope about the same length, and tied one end to the
+knee rope and the other end to a stake, and another Indian laid on that
+all night; then they tied a large half-dressed elk rope, one end to the
+back part of the neck rope which made a knot as big as my fist, the
+other end they tied to a stake about six feet from my head. When they
+finished their tying me, they covered me with a blanket. They tied me in
+the aforegoing way nine nights in succession; they had me stretched and
+tied so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> tight, that I could not move one inch to turn or rest myself;
+that large knot was on the back of my neck, so that I was obliged to lay
+on it all night, and it hurt my neck very much. I never suffered as much
+in the same length of time in all my life; I could hardly walk when we
+got out to their town. They never made me carry anything except a
+blanket they gave me to keep myself warm, when they took all my clothes
+from me. The Indians carried a deer-skin and blanket all the way for me
+to lodge upon. When my hands and feet became sore with the tying the
+Indians would always pull off my moccasins at night and put them on in
+the morning, and patch them when they would require it.</p>
+
+<p>The second day we started very early in the morning and traveled about
+thirty-five miles, which was the 29th of March.</p>
+
+<p>The third day we traveled about thirty miles, which was the 30th of
+March. They killed a deer that day&mdash;in the evening they took the
+intestines out of the deer and freed them of their contents, when they
+put them in the kettles with some meat and made soup, I could not eat
+any of it.</p>
+
+<p>The fourth day we traveled about twenty-five miles. We stopped about 3
+o'clock in the afternoon at a pond. They staid there all night. They had
+some dried meat, tallow, and buffalo marrow, rendered up together,
+lashed and hung upon a tree about twenty feet from the ground, which
+they had left there in order to be sure to have something to eat on
+their return. They killed two ducks that evening. The ducks were very
+fat. They picked one of the ducks, and took out all its entrils very
+nice and clean, then stuck it on a stick, and stuck the other end of the
+stick in the ground before the fire, and roasted it very nice. By the
+time the duck was cooked, one of the Indians went and cut a large block
+out of a tree to lay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> the duck upon; they made a little hole in the
+ground to catch the fat of the duck while roasting. When the duck was
+cooked, they laid it on this clean block of wood, then took a spoon and
+tin cup, and lifted the grease of the duck out of the hole and took it
+to the cooked duck on the table, and gave me some salt, then told me to
+go and eat. I sat by and eat the whole of the duck, and could have eat
+more if I would have had anything more to eat, though I had no bread. I
+thought I had never eat anything before that tasted so good. That was
+the first meal I had eaten for four days. The other duck they pulled a
+few of the largest feathers out off, then threw the duck, guts, feathers
+and all into their soup-kettle, and cooked it in that manner.</p>
+
+<p>The fifth day we traveled about thirty miles. That night I felt very
+tired and sore, my hands, arms, legs and feet had swelled and inflamed
+very much, by this time; the tying that night hurt me very much, I
+thought I could not live until morning; it felt just like a rough saw
+cutting my bones. I told the Indians I could not bear it, it would kill
+me before morning, and asked them to unslack or unloose the wrist rope a
+little, that hurt me the most. They did so, and rather more than I
+expected, so much that I could draw my hands out of the tying, which I
+intended to do as soon as I thought the Indians were asleep. When I
+thought the Indians were all asleep I drew my right hand out of tying,
+with an intention to put it back again before I would go to sleep, for
+fear I should make some stir in my sleep and they might discover me.
+But, finding so much more ease, and resting so much better, I fell
+asleep before I knew it, without putting my hand back into the tying.
+The first thing I knew about 3 o'clock in the morning, an Indian was
+sitting astraddle me, drawing his tomahawk and rubbing it across my
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>forehead, every time he would draw a stroke with the pipe of his
+tomahawk, he threatened to kill me, and saying I wanted to run away; I
+told him to kill away. I would as leave die as live. I then told him I
+was not able to run away. He then got off me, and the rest of the
+Indians were all up immediately. They then held a short council and
+agreed to tie me as tight as ever, and they did so. I got no more sleep
+that night. I never asked them to loose my ropes any more.</p>
+
+<p>The sixth day we traveled about thirty miles, and had nothing to eat
+that day.</p>
+
+<p>The seventh day we traveled about twenty-five miles; they killed a doe
+that day. She had two fawns in her, not yet haired. They stopped about
+four o'clock in the evening, and cooked the doe and her two fawns, and
+eat the whole up that night. They gave me part of a fawn to eat, but I
+could not eat it, it looked too tender. I eat part of the doe.</p>
+
+<p>The eighth day we traveled about twenty-five miles, and had nothing to
+eat that day.</p>
+
+<p>The ninth day we traveled about fifteen miles. We then arrived at an
+Indian hunting camp, where they made sugar that spring. About 11 o'clock
+in the forenoon, we had not yet anything to eat that day. The Indians
+that lived there had plenty of meat, hominy grease and sugar to eat.
+They gave us plenty of everything they had to eat. We were very hungry
+and ate like hungry dogs. When we were satisfied eating, the warriors
+went into a large cabin and I went with them, and immediately several of
+their friends came in to see them, both men and squaws, to hear the
+news. It is a custom with that nation for the squaws to demand presents
+of the warriors if they have been successful. After some little inquiry
+the squaws<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> began to demand presents of the warriors; some would ask for
+a blanket, some for a shirt, some for a tomahawk; one squaw asked for a
+gun. The warriors never refused anything that was demanded. The manner
+in which they made their demand was, they would go up to an Indian and
+take hold of what they wanted. When the squaws were done with the
+warriors, there came a squaw and took hold of my blanket; I saw how the
+game was played, I just threw it off and gave it to her; then there came
+up a young squaw about eleven or twelve years old and took hold of my
+shirt, I did not want to let that go, as it was very cold day, and I let
+on I did not understand what she wanted. She appeared to be very much
+ashamed and went away. The older squaws encouraged and persuaded her to
+try it again; she came up the second time and took hold of my shirt
+again, I still pretended to be ignorant, but she held fast. I knew it
+would have to go. One of the warriors then stepped up and told me to let
+her have it. I then pulled it off and gave it to her. The old squaws
+laughed very much at the young squaw. I was then quite naked and it was
+a very cold day; I had nothing on me but moccasins, leggings and
+breachcloth. We remained there about 3 or 4 hours. The warriors then
+went out to the post to dance, they invited me to go with them to dance.
+I did so, they sung and danced around the war-post for half an hour. The
+old Indians would sing and dance sometimes out of the ring and appeared
+very lively. The warriors then marched right off from their dance on
+their journey. We had not got more than about 50 or 60 yards when I
+looked back and saw a squaw running with a blanket; she threw it on my
+shoulders, it fell down. I turned round and picked it up, it was a very
+old, dirty, lousy blanket, though it was better than nothing, as the day
+was very cold. We travelled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> about five or six miles that evening, then
+encamped in the woods. I suffered very much that night from the cold.</p>
+
+<p>The tenth day we traveled five or six miles in the morning. We got
+within a quarter of a mile of a new town, on the west bank of the Wabash
+river, where those warriors resided, about nine o'clock, and made a halt
+at a running branch of water, where the timber was very thick, so that
+they could conceal themselves from the view of the town. Then they
+washed themselves all over and dressed themselves with paint of
+different colors. They made me wash, then they painted me and said I was
+a Kickapoo. Then they cut a pole and pealed it, painted it different
+colors and stuck the big end in the ground, and cleared a ring around
+the pole for to dance in. The fifth night they cut a lock of hair out of
+the crown of my head about as thick as my finger, plaited it elegantly
+and put it in their conjuring bag, and hung that bag on the pole they
+contemplated dancing around, and said that was their prisoner, and I was
+a Kickapoo, and must dance with them. When they all got ready to dance,
+the captain gave three very loud halloes, then walked into the ring and
+the rest all followed him. They placed me the third next to the captain;
+they then began to sing and dance. When we had danced about half an
+hour, I saw several old men, boys and squaws come running to where we
+were dancing. When there were a considerable number of them collected,
+the captain stepped out of the ring and spoke to the squaws. He told
+them to carry his and the other warriors' budgets to the town; the
+captain then joined the other warriors and me in the dancing ring; he
+marched in the front and we danced and sung all the way from there into
+the town. Some of the old Indian warriors marched upon each side of us,
+and at times would sing and dance until we got into their town. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>
+continued dancing until we got through the town to the war-post, which
+stood on the west bank of the Wabash river; danced round that about
+twenty minutes; they then marched into the town, took all the cords off
+me, and showed me a cabin, told me to go in there, they were good
+Indians, they would give me something to eat; I need not fear, as they
+would not hurt me. I accordingly went in, where I received a plenty to
+eat and was treated very kindly. The warriors went into other cabins and
+feasted very greedily. We had not eat anything that morning nor the
+night before. About one hour and a half before the sun set the same
+evening, the warriors went out to the war-post again to dance. They took
+me with them; several other Indians were present. They had danced about
+half an hour when I saw two Indian men and a squaw riding a horseback
+across the Wabash river, from the east side; they came to where we were
+dancing. One of the Indians had a handkerchief tied around his head and
+was carrying a gun; the other had a cocked hat on his head, and had a
+large sword. The warriors never let on that they saw them, but continued
+dancing about fifteen minutes. After the two Indians and squaw came up
+the warriors quit dancing, and went to them and shook hands; they
+appeared very glad to see each other. The captain of the warriors then
+talked with them about half an hour, and appeared to be very serious in
+their conversation. The captain then told me I must go with them two
+Indians and squaw. The sun was just then setting; the two Indians looked
+very much pleased. I did not want to go with them, as I knew not where
+they were going, and would have rather remained with the warriors that
+took me, as I had got acquainted with them, but the captain told me I
+must go with the two Indians and squaw, and that they were very good
+Indians. The Indian that had the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> sword rode up to a stump and told me
+to get up behind him on his horse; I did so with great reluctance, as I
+knew not where they were going; they looked very much like warriors.
+However, they started off very lively, and the Indian that I was riding
+behind began to plague and joke the squaw about me; she was his
+sister-in-law. He was an Indian that was full of life and very funny.
+When I got acquainted with him I was well pleased with him. We traveled
+about ten miles that evening before we reached the place they resided.
+They were then living at a sugar camp, where they had made sugar that
+spring, on the west bank of the Wabash, about ten miles below the old
+Kickapoos' trading town, opposite to the Weawes town. We arrived at
+their sugar camp about two hours in the night. They then gave me to an
+old Kickapoo chief, who was the father of the Indian that carried the
+gun, and the squaw, and the father-in-law of the funny Indian. The old
+chief soon began to inquire of me where I lived, and where the Indians
+caught me. I told him. He then asked me if they did not kill an Indian
+when they took me prisoner. I told him no, there was no body with me but
+one man and he had no gun. He then asked me again, if the Indians did
+not kill one of their own men when they took me. I told him I did not
+know; the captain told me they did, but I did not see them kill him. The
+old chief then told me that it was true, they did kill him, and said he
+was a bad Indian, he wanted to kill me. By this time the young squaw,
+the daughter of the old chief, whom I traveled in company with that
+evening, had prepared a good supper for me; it was hominy beat in a
+mortar, as white and as handsome as I ever saw, and well cooked; she
+fried some dried meat, pounded very fine in a mortar, in oil, then
+sprinkled sugar very plentifully over it. I ate very hearty; indeed, it
+was all very good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> and well cooked. When I was done eating, the old
+chief told me to eat more. I told him I had eat enough. He said no, if I
+did not eat more I could not live. Then the young squaw handed me a
+tincupful of water, sweetened with sugar. It relished very well. Then
+the old chief began to make further inquiries. He asked me if I had a
+wife and family. I told him I had a wife and three children. The old
+chief then appeared to be very sorry for my misfortune, and told me that
+I was among good Indians, I need not fear, they would not hurt me, and
+after awhile I should go home to my family; that I should go down the
+Wabash to Opost, from there down to the Ohio, then down the Ohio, and
+then up the Mississippi to Kaskaskia. We sat up until almost midnight;
+the old chief appeared very friendly indeed. The young squaw had
+prepared a very good bed for me, with bearskins and blankets. I laid
+down and slept very comfortably that night. It appeared as though I had
+got into another world, after being confined and tied down with so many
+ropes and the loss of sleep nine nights. I remained in bed pretty late
+next morning. I felt quite easy in mind, but my wrists and legs pained
+me very much and felt very sore. The young squaw had her breakfast
+prepared and I eat very hearty. When breakfast was over this funny
+Indian came over and took me to his cabin, about forty yards from the
+old chief's. There were none living at that place then but the old
+chief, his wife and daughter. They lived by themselves in one cabin and
+the old chief's son and son-in-law and their wives in another cabin, and
+a widow squaw, the old chief's daughter, lived by herself in a cabin
+adjoining her brother and brother-in-law. None of them had any children
+but the old chief. A few minutes after I went into this funny Indian's
+cabin he asked me if I wanted to shave. I told him yes, my beard was
+very long.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> He then got a razor and gave it to me. It was a very good
+one. I told him it wanted strapping. He went and brought his shot-pouch
+strap. He held one end and I the other end. I gave the razor a few
+passes on the strap, and found the razor to be a very good one. By this
+time the old chief's young squaw had come over; she immediately prepared
+some hot water for me to shave, and brought it in a tincup and gave it
+to me, and a piece of very good shaving soap. By the time I was done
+shaving the young squaw had prepared some clean water in a pewter basin
+for me to wash, and a cloth to wipe my hands and face. She then told me
+to sit down on a bench; I did so. She got two very good combs, a coarse
+and a fine one. It was then the fashion to wear long hair; my hair was
+very long and very thick and very much matted and tangled; I traveled
+without my hat or anything else on my head; that was the tenth day it
+had not been combed. She combed out my hair very tenderly, and then took
+the fine one and combed and looked over my head nearly one hour. She
+then went to a trunk and got a ribbon and queued my hair very nicely.
+The old chief's son then gave me a very good regimental blue cloth coat,
+faced with yellow buff-colored cloth. The son-in-law gave me a very good
+beaver macaroni hat. These they had taken from some officers they had
+killed. Then the widow squaw took me into her cabin and gave me a new
+ruffled shirt and a very good blanket. They told me to put them on; I
+did so. When I had got my fine dress on, the funny Indian told me to
+walk across the floor. I knew they wanted to have a little fun. I put my
+arms akimbo with my hands on my hips, and walked with a very proud air
+three or four times backwards and forwards across the floor. The funny
+Indian said in Indian that I was a very handsome man and a big captain.
+I then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> sat down, and they viewed me very much, and said I had a very
+handsome leg and thigh, and began to tell how fast I ran when the
+Indians caught me, and showed how I ran&mdash;like a bird flying. They
+appeared to be very well pleased with me, and I felt as comfortable as
+the nature of the case would admit of.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning after breakfast, they all left that camp; they put all
+their property into a large perouge and moved by water up the Wabash
+river to the old Kickapoo trading town, about ten miles from their sugar
+camp; they sent me by land and one Indian with me. When we had got about
+half way to the town, we met with a young Frenchman; his name was Ebart;
+I was very well acquainted with him in the Illinois country; he spoke
+tolerably good English. The Indian then left me, and I went on to the
+town with the young Frenchman; I got to the town before the Indians
+arrived with their perouge, and the young Frenchman showed me their
+cabin, and told me to stay there until they would come, that they would
+be there in a few minutes. I there met with an English trader, a very
+friendly man, whose name was John McCauslin; he was from the north of
+England; we made some little acquaintance. He was a Freemason and
+appeared very sorry for my misfortune and told me he would do everything
+in his power to befriend me and told me I was with good Indians, they
+would not hurt me. He inquired of me where I lived and asked if I had a
+family. He then told me of the circumstance of the Indians killing one
+of their own men that day they caught me. He said it was a fact, he was
+a bad Indian and would not obey the commands of his captain and that he
+was still determined to kill me. My Indian family soon arrived and
+cleared up their cabin and got their family ready. They were a smart,
+neat and cleanly family, kept their cabin very nice and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> clean, the same
+as white women, and cooked their victuals very nice. After dinner was
+over, there came four Indians in the old chief's cabin. Two of them were
+the old chief's brother's children. They appeared to be in a very fine
+humor. I did not know but that they belonged to the same family and
+town. They had not been there more than one hour, until the old chief
+and the four Indians sat down on the floor in the cabin and had a long
+discourse about an hour and a half. Then all got up. The old chief then
+told me I must go with those Indians. I told him I did not want to go.
+He then told me I must go; that they were his children and that they
+were very good Indians; they would not hurt me. Then the old chief gave
+me to the oldest brother, in place of his father who was killed about
+one year before by the white people; he was one of their chiefs. Then
+the four Indians started off and I with them; they went down to the
+lower end of the town and stopped at an Indian cabin and got some bread
+and meat to eat. They gave me some. I did not go into the Indian cabin.
+They had not been in the cabin more than ten or twelve minutes before
+the old chief's young squaw came up and stood at the door. She would not
+go in. I discovered the Indians laughing and plaguing her. She looked in
+a very ill humor; she did not want them to take me away. They
+immediately started from the cabin and took a tolerably large path that
+led into the woods in a pretty smart trot. The squaw started immediately
+after them. They would look back once in a while, and when they would
+see the squaw coming they would whoop, hollow and laugh. When they got
+out of sight of the squaw they stopped running and traveled in a
+moderate walk. When we got about three miles from the town, they stopped
+where a large tree had fallen by the side of the path and laid high off
+the ground. They got up high on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> log and looked back to see if the
+squaw was coming. When the squaw came up she stopped and they began to
+plague her and laugh at her. They spoke in English. They talked very
+vulgar to the squaw. She soon began to cry. When they got tired plaguing
+her, they jumped off the log and started on their road in a trot, and I
+ran with them. The squaw stood still till we got most out of sight. They
+would look back and laugh and sometimes hollow and whoop, and appeared
+to be very much diverted. They did not run very far before they
+slackened in their runnings. They then walked moderately until they got
+to their town, which was three miles further from the tree they stopped
+at. We got into their town about one hour and a half before the sun set.
+That same evening the squaw came in about half an hour after we arrived.
+I met with a young man that evening who had been taken prisoner about
+eighteen months before I was taken. His name was Nicholas Coonse (a
+Dutchman), then about 19 years of age. He heard I was coming, and he
+came to meet me a little way out of town. He was very glad to see me and
+I to see him, and we soon made up acquaintance. Coonse and myself were
+to live in one cabin together. The two brothers that I was given up to,
+one of them claimed Coonse and the other claimed me. They both lived in
+the same cabin. When the squaw arrived, she came immediately to our
+cabin and stood outside at the door; she would not come in. I noticed
+the Indians plaguing and laughing at her; she looked very serious. About
+sunset, Coonse asked me if I wanted a wife. (He could not speak very
+good English, but he could speak pretty good Indian.) I told him no. He
+then told me if I wanted one I could have one. I asked him how he knew
+that. He said, "There is a squaw that wants to marry you," pointing at
+her. I told him I reckoned not. He says, "Yes. Indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> she tus; she
+came after you a purpose to marry you." I told Coonse I had a wife, and
+I did not want another one. He says, "O, well, if you want her you can
+haf her." She stood by the door for some time after dark. I did not know
+when she went away; she said two days and three nights before she
+returned home. I never spoke a word to her while she was there. She was
+a very handsome girl, about 18 years of age, a beautiful, full figure
+and handsomely featured, and very white for a squaw. She was almost as
+white as dark complexioned white women generally are. Her father and
+mother were very white skinned Indians.</p>
+
+<p>The next day was the 9th day of April, and thirteenth day that I had
+been their prisoner. The chief Indians and warriors that day held a
+general council, to know in what manner and way to dispose of me. They
+collected in the cabin where I lived. While they were in council their
+dinner was cooking. There were about ten in number, and they all sat
+down on the floor in a circle, and then commenced by their interpreter,
+Nicholas Coonse.</p>
+
+<p>The first question they asked me was, "Would I have my hair cut off like
+they cut theirs?" I answered "No." The second question they asked me
+was, "If I would have holes bored in my ears and nose and have rings and
+lead hung in them like they had?" I answered "No." The third question
+they asked me was, "If I could make hats?" (I had a large bag of beaver
+fur with me when they took me prisoner; from that circumstance I suppose
+they thought I was a hatter.) I answered "No." The fourth question they
+asked me was, "If I was a carpenter?" and said they wanted a door made
+for their cabin. I answered "No." The fifth question they asked me was,
+"If I was a blacksmith; could I mend their guns and makes axes and hoes
+for them?" I answered "No." The sixth question<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> they asked me was, "If I
+could hoe corn?" I answered "No". The seventh question they asked me
+was, "If I could hunt?" I answered. "No. I could shoot at a mark very
+well, but I never hunted any." Then they told Coonse to ask me how I got
+my living; if I could do no work. I thought I had out-generalled them,
+but that question stumped me a little. The first thought that struck my
+mind, I thought I would tell them I was a weaver by trade, but a second
+thought occurred to my mind, I told Coonse to tell them I made my living
+by writing. The Indians answered and said it was very well. The eighth
+question they asked me was, "If I had a family?" I answered "Yes, I had
+a wife and three children." The ninth question they asked me was, "If I
+wanted to go home to see my wife and children?" I answered "Yes," They
+said, "Very well, you shall go home by and by." The tenth question they
+asked was, "If I wanted a wife then?" I answered "No," and told them it
+was not the fashion for the white people to have two wives at the same
+time. They said, very well, I could get one if I wanted one, and they
+said if I staid with them until their corn got in roasting ears, then I
+must take a wife. I answered them yes, if I staid that long with them.
+They then told me that I might go anywhere about in the town, but not go
+out of sight of the town, for if I did, there were bad Indians round
+about the town and they would catch me and kill me, and they said they
+could run like horses; and another thing they said, don't you recollect
+the Indians that took you prisoner and cut a lock of hair out of the
+crown of your head. I told them yes. Then they told me in consequence of
+that, if you attempted to run away, you could not live eight days. If
+you will stay with us and not run away, you shall not even bring water
+to drink. I told them I wanted to go home to my family, but I would not
+go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> without letting them know before I went. They said, very well. They
+appeared well pleased with me and told me again I might go anywhere
+about in the town, but not go out of sight of the town. I was sitting on
+a bench, when the old chief got up and put both his hands on my head and
+said something, I did not know what. Then he gave me a name and called
+me "Mohcossea," after the old chief that was killed, who was the father
+of the Indian that I was given up to. Then I was considered one of that
+family, a Kickapoo in place of their father, the old chief. Then the
+principal chief took the peace pipe and smoked two or three draws. It
+had a long stem about three feet in length. He then passed it round to
+the other Indians before they raised from their council. He held the
+pipe by the end and each of them took two or three draws. Then he handed
+it to me and I smoked. The chief then said I was a Kickapoo and that
+they were good Indians and that I need not be afraid; they would not
+hurt me, but I must not run away.</p>
+
+<p>By this time their dinner was prepared and they were ready to eat. They
+all sat down and told me to sit by. I did, and we all eat a hearty
+dinner and they all appeared to be well pleased with their new adopted
+Kickapoo brother.</p>
+
+<p>These Indians lived about six miles west of the old Kickapoo trading
+town, on the west side of the Wabash river. They had no traders in their
+town. After dinner was over, they told the interpreter Coons that I must
+write to their trading town for some bread. I told Coons to tell them I
+had nothing to write with&mdash;no paper, nor pen and ink. They said I must
+write. I told Coons to tell them again I had no paper nor nothing to
+write with. Coons told them. Then the Indian that claimed me went to his
+trunk and brought me a letter that had one-half sheet of it clean paper.
+I told Coons<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> to tell them I wanted a pen. The same Indian went and
+pulled a quill out of a turkey wing and gave it to me. I told Coons I
+wanted a knife to make the pen. The same Indian got his scalping knife;
+he gave it two or three little whets and gave it to me. I then told
+Coons I wanted some ink. Coons says, "Ink&mdash;ink; what is tat? I ton't
+know what ink is." He had no name for ink in Indian or English. I told
+him to tell the Indian to get me some gunpowder and water and a spoon
+and I would make the ink myself. The Indian did so. I knew very well
+what their drift was; they wanted a proof to know whether I told them
+any lies when they examined me in their council. When I had made the ink
+and was ready to write I asked Coons how many loaves of bread I should
+write for. He says, "Ho! a couple of lofes; tay only want to know if you
+can write or if you told them any lies or not." I wrote to the English
+trader, that I mentioned before that I had made some acquaintance with
+the day I passed the old trading town, for to get me two loaves of
+bread. He very well knew my situation and circumstances. There was a
+Frenchman, a baker, that lived in the trading town.</p>
+
+<p>When I had finished writing, the Indian took it up and looked at it and
+said, "Depaway, vely good." Coons' master, a brother to the one that
+claimed me, told Coons to go catch his horse and take the letter for the
+bread, not stay, but return as soon as possible. Coons hurried off
+immediately and soon returned. As soon as he came back he brought the
+two loaves of bread and gave them to me. I then asked Coons what I
+should do with this bread, as he was somewhat better acquainted with the
+ways of the Indians than I was. He says, "Kife one loaf to tay old squaw
+and her two little chiltren, and tofide the otter loaf petween you and
+your master, put keep a pigest half." I did so. This old squaw was the
+mother of the two Indians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> that claimed Coons and myself. The old squaw
+and her two children soon eat their loaf. I then divided my half between
+the two little children again. That pleased the old squaw very much; she
+tried to make me sensible of her thanks for my kindness to her two
+little children.</p>
+
+<p>While Coons was gone for the bread, the Indian that claimed me asked me
+to write his name. I asked him to speak his name distinctly. He did. I
+had heard it spoken several times before. His name was "Mahtomack." When
+I was done writing he took it up and looked at it and said it was
+"Depaway." He then went to his trunk and brought his powder horn, which
+had his name wrote on it by an officer at Post Vincennes in large print
+letters, and compared them together. They both were the same kind of
+letters and his name spelt exactly the same. He seemed mightily pleased
+and said it was "bon vely good." It was a big captain he said wrote his
+name on the powder-horn at Opost. The wife of the Indian that claimed
+me, next morning combed and queued my hair and gave me a very large
+ostrich feather and tied it to my hat. The Sunday following after I was
+taken to that town, there was a number of Indians went from that town to
+the old Kickapoo trading town. They took me with them to dance what is
+called the "Beggar's Dance." It is a practice for the Indians every
+spring, when they come in from their hunting ground, to go to the
+trading towns and dance for presents; they will go through the streets
+and dance before all the traders' doors. The traders then will give them
+presents, such as tobacco, bread, knives, spirits, blankets, tomahawks,
+&amp;c.</p>
+
+<p>While we were in town that day I talked with my friend McCauslin to
+speak to the Indians and try to get them to sell me, but they would not
+agree to sell me then. They said they would come down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> the Sunday
+following and bring me with them, perhaps they would then agree to sell
+me. They complied with their promise and brought me down with them. My
+friend McCauslin then inquired of them if they had agreed to sell me;
+they told him they would. McCauslin then sent for the interpreter, and
+the Indians asked one hundred buckskins for me in merchandize. The
+interpreter asked me if I would give it? I told him I would. The Indians
+then went to the traders' houses to receive their pay. They took but
+seventy bucks' worth of merchandize at that time. One of the articles
+they took was bread, three loaves, one for the Indian that claimed me,
+one for his wife, the other one for me. I saw directly they wanted me to
+go back home with them. After a little while they started and motioned
+and told me I must go with them. I refused to go. The Indian fellow took
+hold of my arm and tried to pull me forward. I still refused going with
+them. He still continued pulling and his wife pushing me at the back. We
+went scuffling along a few yards till we got before my friend
+McCauslin's cabin door. He discovered the bustle and asked me what the
+Indians wanted. I told him they wanted me to go home with them. He asked
+me if I wanted to go. I told him no. He then told me to walk into his
+cabin and sit down and he would go and bring the interpreter. I went in
+and the two Indians followed me into the cabin and sat down. The
+interpreter came in immediately and asked the Indians what they wanted.
+They told him they wanted me to go home with them. The interpreter then
+asked if I wanted to go with them. I told him no. He then told the
+Indians they had sold me and that they had nothing more to do with me,
+that I was a freeman, that I might stay where I pleased. They then said
+they had not received all their pay. The interpreter then asked them why
+they did not take it all? They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> said they expected I would go home with
+them and remain with them until I got an opportunity to go home. The
+interpreter then told them they could get the balance of their pay. They
+said if I did not go home with them they must have thirty bucks more.
+The interpreter asked me if I was willing to give it. I told him yes. I
+did not want to go back again. The Indians then went and took their
+thirty dollars of balance and thirty more and went off home. I then owed
+the traders that advanced the goods for me one hundred and thirty
+buckskins for my ransom, which they considered equal to $260 in silver.
+There were five traders that were concerned in the payment of the goods
+to the Indians. One of them was a Mr. Bazedone a Spaniard, who sometimes
+traded in the Illinois country, with whom I had some acquaintance. I
+told him if he would satisfy the other four traders, I would give him my
+note, payable in the Illinois country. He did so, and I gave him my note
+for the $260, to be paid twelve months after date in the Illinois
+country, and $37 more for my boarding and necessaries I could not do
+without, such as a bear skin and blanket to sleep on, a shirt, hat,
+tobacco and handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>My friend McCauslin took me to a Frenchman's house&mdash;he was a baker by
+trade, the only baker in town&mdash;to board with him until I got an
+opportunity to go home. Two days after I went to stay at the baker's,
+the Indian that claimed me, his squaw and the young squaw that followed
+us to the new town, came to see me and stayed three or four hours with
+me. He asked me to give him some tobacco. I told him I had no money. He
+thought I could get anything I wanted. I bought him a carrot of tobacco;
+it weighed about three pounds; he seemed very well pleased. He and his
+wife wanted me very much to go back home with them again. I told them I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>
+could not, that I was very anxious to go home to my wife and family.
+Three or four days after that they revisited me, and still insisted on
+me to go home with them. I told them that I expected every day to get an
+opportunity to go home. I had some doubts about going back with them; I
+thought perhaps they might play some trick on me, and take me to some
+other town; and their water was so bad I could not drink it&mdash;nothing but
+a small pond to make use of for their drinking and cooking, about forty
+or fifty yards long and about thirty yards wide. Their horses would not
+only drink from, but wallow in it; the little Indian boys every day
+would swim in it, and the Indians soak their deerskins in it. I could
+not bear to drink it. When they would bring in a kettle of water to
+drink, they would set it down on the floor. The dogs would generally
+took the first drink out of the kettle. I have often seen when the dogs
+would be drinking out of a kettle, an Indian would go up and kick him
+off, and take up the kettle and drink after the dog. They had nothing to
+eat the last week I was with them but Indian potatoes&mdash;some people call
+them hoppines&mdash;that grew in the woods, and they were very scarce.
+Sometimes the Indian boys would catch land terrapins. They would draw
+their heads out and tie a string around their neck and hang them up a
+few minutes, and then put them in a kettle of water with some corn&mdash;when
+they had it&mdash;without taking the entrails out or shell off the terrapin,
+and eat the soup as well as the meat. We had all liked to have starved
+that week; we had no meat; I was glad to get away.</p>
+
+<p>I staid three weeks with the French baker before I got an opportunity to
+start home. I had a plenty to eat while I remained with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> the baker&mdash;good
+light bread, bacon and sandy hill cranes, boiled in leyed corn, which
+made a very good soup. I paid him three dollars per week for my board.</p>
+
+<p>There was a Mr. Pyatt a Frenchman, and his wife, whose residence was at
+St. Vincennes, with whom I had some acquaintance. They had moved up to
+that Kickapoo town in the fall of the year in order to trade with the
+Indians that winter. They were then ready to return home to Vincennes.
+Mr. Pyatt had purchased a drove of horses from the Indians. He had to go
+by land with his horses. Mrs. Pyatt hired a large perogue and four
+Frenchmen to take her property home to Vincennes. I got a passage in her
+perogue. She was very friendly to me; she did not charge me anything for
+my passage.</p>
+
+<p>We arrived in Vincennes in forty-eight hours after we left the Kickapoo
+trading town, which is said to be two hundred and ten miles. The river
+was very high, and the four hands rowed day and night. We never put to
+land but twice to get a little wood to cook something to eat.</p>
+
+<p>I staid five days at Vincennes before I got an opportunity of company to
+go on my way home. It was too dangerous for one man to travel alone by
+land without a gun. There was a Mr. Duff, who lived in the Illinois
+country, came to Vincennes to move a Mrs. Moredock and family to the
+Illinois. I got a passage with him by water. The morning I started from
+Vincennes he was just ready to start before I knew I could get a passage
+with him, and I had not time to write. I got a Mr. John Rice Jones, a
+friend of mine, to write to Col. Edgar, living in Kaskaskia, in the
+Illinois, who was a particular friend of mine, and sent it by the
+express, a Frenchman, that was going to start that day from Vincennes to
+Kaskaskia, which he could ride in four days, and request Col. Edgar to
+write to my wife,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> who lived at Bellfontain, about forty miles from
+Kaskaskia, and inform her that I was at Post Vincennes, on my return
+home with a Mr. Duff by water, and inform her that I would be at
+Kaskaskia on a certain day; I think it was two weeks from the time I
+left Vincennes, and for her to send me a horse on that day to Kaskaskia.
+Col. Edgar wrote to her immediately, as soon as he received Mr. Jones'
+letter. That was the first time she heard from me after I was taken
+prisoner. I had written to her while I was at the Kickapoo town. That
+letter never reached her. I had two brothers living at the Bellfontain;
+they met me on the day I proposed being at Kaskaskia and brought me a
+horse. The next day I got home to the Bellfontain.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of the Captivity of William
+Biggs among the Kickapoo Indians in Illinois in 1788, by William Biggs
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVITY OF WILLIAM BIGGS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 26799-h.htm or 26799-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+ http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/9/26799/
+
+Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+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
+
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+ the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+ you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is
+ owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+ has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+ Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments
+ must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+ prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+ returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+ sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+ address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+ the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+ you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+ does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+ License. You must require such a user to return or
+ destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+ and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+ Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+ money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+ electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+ of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+ distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+ Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+ Chief Executive and Director
+ gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+ http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/26799-page-images/f0001.png b/26799-page-images/f0001.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aca0e37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/f0001.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/f0002.png b/26799-page-images/f0002.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3704fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/f0002.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/f0003.png b/26799-page-images/f0003.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85b3590
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/f0003.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/f0004.png b/26799-page-images/f0004.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..257f4e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/f0004.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0007.png b/26799-page-images/p0007.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72a6f55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0007.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0008.png b/26799-page-images/p0008.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e86be8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0008.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0009.png b/26799-page-images/p0009.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ce26a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0009.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0010.png b/26799-page-images/p0010.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a019769
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0010.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0011.png b/26799-page-images/p0011.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e72634
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0011.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0012.png b/26799-page-images/p0012.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd80138
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0012.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0013.png b/26799-page-images/p0013.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34f962e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0013.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0014.png b/26799-page-images/p0014.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..192a959
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0014.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0015.png b/26799-page-images/p0015.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c7fdd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0015.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0016.png b/26799-page-images/p0016.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c96f49d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0016.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0017.png b/26799-page-images/p0017.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dbc49fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0017.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0018.png b/26799-page-images/p0018.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4e24e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0018.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0019.png b/26799-page-images/p0019.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..afb2df4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0019.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0020.png b/26799-page-images/p0020.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7332111
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0020.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0021.png b/26799-page-images/p0021.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d846a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0021.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0022.png b/26799-page-images/p0022.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be0c9e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0022.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0023.png b/26799-page-images/p0023.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46e4bc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0023.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0024.png b/26799-page-images/p0024.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..857cea3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0024.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0025.png b/26799-page-images/p0025.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f78cfc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0025.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0026.png b/26799-page-images/p0026.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7636aeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0026.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0027.png b/26799-page-images/p0027.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ceaea30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0027.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0028.png b/26799-page-images/p0028.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96ce5f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0028.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0029.png b/26799-page-images/p0029.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffbb4ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0029.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0030.png b/26799-page-images/p0030.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d54df2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0030.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0031.png b/26799-page-images/p0031.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..286cfdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0031.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0032.png b/26799-page-images/p0032.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0d5a96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0032.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0033.png b/26799-page-images/p0033.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2400f20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0033.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0034.png b/26799-page-images/p0034.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4bf2b54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0034.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0035.png b/26799-page-images/p0035.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5a4629
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0035.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799-page-images/p0036.png b/26799-page-images/p0036.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e47c81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799-page-images/p0036.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/26799.txt b/26799.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5f1d00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,1227 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of the Captivity of William Biggs
+among the Kickapoo Indians in Illinois in 1788, by William Biggs
+
+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: Narrative of the Captivity of William Biggs among the Kickapoo Indians in Illinois in 1788
+
+Author: William Biggs
+
+Release Date: October 7, 2008 [EBook #26799]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVITY OF WILLIAM BIGGS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+INDIAN CAPTIVITY
+
+OF WILLIAM BIGGS
+
+
+_Heartman's Historical Series Number 37_
+
+
+
+
+NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY OF _WILLIAM BIGGS_
+
+AMONG THE KICKAPOO INDIANS IN Illinois in 1788
+
+Written By Himself
+
+Eighty-one Copies Re-Printed In Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-two.
+
+
+Number ... of 81 Copies Reprinted.
+
+Also Five Copies Issued on Japan Paper.
+
+
+
+
+NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY OF WILLIAM BIGGS
+AMONG THE KICKAPOO INDIANS IN ILLINOIS IN 1788
+
+
+In the year 1788, March 28th, I was going from Bellfontain to Cahokia,
+in company with a young man named John Vallis, from the State of
+Maryland; he was born and raised near Baltimore. About 7 o'clock in the
+morning I heard two guns fired; by the report I thought they were to the
+right; I thought they were white men hunting; both shot at the same
+time. I looked but could not see any body; in a moment after I looked to
+the left and saw sixteen Indians, all upon their feet with their guns
+presented, about forty yards distant from me, just ready to draw
+trigger. I was riding between Vallis and the Indians in a slow trot, at
+the moment I saw them. I whipped my horse and leaned my breast on the
+horse's withers, and told Vallis to whip his horse, that they were
+Indians. That moment they all fired their guns in one platoon; you could
+scarcely distinguish the report of their guns one from another. They
+shot four bullets into my horse, one high up in his withers, one in the
+bulge of the ribs near my thigh, and two in his rump, and shot four or
+five through my great coat. The moment they fired their guns they ran
+towards us and yelled so frightfully, that the wounds and the yelling of
+the Indians scared my horse so that he jumped so suddenly to one side of
+the road, that my gun fell off my shoulder, and twisted out of my hand;
+I then bore all my weight on one stirrup, in order to catch my gun, but
+could not. I had a large bag of beaver fur, which prevented me from
+recovering my saddle, and having no girth nor crupper to my saddle, it
+turned and fell off my horse, and I fell with it, but caught on my feet
+and held the mane; I made several attempts to mount my horse again; but
+the Indians running up so close, and making such a frightful yelling,
+that my horse jumped and pranced so that it was impossible for me to
+mount him again, but I held fast to my horse's mane for twenty or thirty
+yards; then my hold broke and I fell on my hands and knees, and stumbled
+along about four or five steps before I could recover myself. By the
+time I got fairly on my feet, the Indians were about eight or ten yards
+from me--I saw then there was no other way for me to make my escape but
+by fast running, and I was determined to try it, and had but little
+hopes at first of my being able to escape. I ran about one hundred yards
+before I looked back--I thought almost every step I could feel the
+scalping knife cutting my scalp off. I found I was gaining ground on
+them, I felt encouraged and ran about three hundred yards farther, and
+looking back saw that I had gained about one hundred yards, and
+considering myself quite out of danger. A thought then occurred to me,
+that I was as safe and out of danger as I would be if I were in the City
+of Philadelphia: the Indians had quit yelling and slacked their
+running--but I did not know it then. It being a tolerable cold morning
+and I was heavily clad, I thought perhaps the Indians would give me a
+long chase, and probably that they would hold out better than I could;
+although at that time I did not feel the least tired or out of breath. I
+concluded to throw off my two coats and shoes, as I would then be better
+prepared for a long race. I had my great coat tied around me with a silk
+handkerchief pretty much worn--I recollect tying it with a slip knot,
+but being in a hurry, it was drawn into a double hard knot; I tried some
+little time to get it loose--the longer I tried the harder the knot
+seemed to get, that stopped my running considerably; at length I broke
+it by some means, I do not know how. In the morning I forgot to put on
+my shot pouch before I put on my great coat, and then put it on over it.
+I pulled off the sleeves of my great coat, not thinking of my shot-pouch
+being over my coat, it having a very short strap, the coat got so tight
+in the strap that I could not get it loose for a considerable time.
+Still trying, it hung down and trailed on the ground, and every two or
+three steps it would wrap around my legs and throw me down, and I would
+catch on my hands and knees, it served me so several times, so that I
+could make no headway at running. After some considerable time, I broke
+the strap and my great coat dropped from me--I had no knife with me.
+
+The Indians discovered that something was the matter and saw me tumbling
+down several times. I suppose they thought I was wounded and could run
+no farther; they then set up the yell again and mended their gait
+running. By the time I got my great coat loose from me, and was in the
+act of pulling off my under coat, I was pulling off one sleeve I looked
+back over my shoulder, but had not time to pull it off--the Indians
+being within ten yards of me. I then started again to run, but could not
+gain any ground on them, nor they on me; we ran about one hundred yards
+farther and neither appeared to gain ground: there was a small pathway
+that was a little nearer than to keep the big road,--I kept the big
+road, the Indians took the path, and when we came where the path comes
+into the big road the Indians were within three or four yards from
+me--we ran forty or fifty steps farther and neither appeared to gain
+ground. I expected every moment they would strike me with their
+tomahawks--I thought it would not do to be killed running like a coward
+and saw no other way to make my escape than to face about and to catch
+the tomahawk from the first that attempted to strike me, and jerk it
+from him, which I made no doubt but I was able to do; then I would have
+a weapon to fight with as well as them, and by that means I would be
+able to make my escape; they had thrown down their guns before they gave
+me chase, but I had not fairly faced about before an Indian caught me by
+the shoulder and held his tomahawk behind him and made no attempt to
+strike me. I then thought it best for me not to make any resistance till
+I would see whether he would attempt to strike me or not. He held me by
+the shoulder till another came up and took hold of me, which was only
+four or five moments; then a third Indian came up, the first Indian that
+took hold of me took the handle of his tomahawk and rubbed it on my
+shoulder and down my arm, which was a token that he would not kill me
+and that I was his prisoner. Then they all took their hands off me and
+stood around me. The fourth Indian came up and attempted to strike me,
+but the first Indian that caught me pushed him away. He was still
+determined to kill me, and tried to get around to my back; but I still
+faced round as he was trying to get to my back--when he got up by my
+side, he drew his tomahawk the second time to strike me, but the same
+Indian pushed him off and scolded him very much--he let his tomahawk
+hang by his side, but still intended to kill me if he could get an
+opportunity. The other Indians watched him very closely. There were but
+four Indians that gave me chase, they were all naked except their
+breachcloth, leggins and moccasins. They then began to talk to me in
+their own language, and said they were Kickapoos, that they were very
+good Indians, and I need not be afraid, they would not hurt me, and I
+was now a Kickapoo and must go with them, they would take me to the
+Matocush, meaning a French trading town on the Wabash river. When the
+Indians caught me I saw Mr. Vallis about one hundred yards before me on
+the road--he had made a halt. They shot him in the left thigh about
+seven or eight inches above the knee, the ball came out just below his
+hip, his horse was not injured--he rode an elegant horse which carried
+him out of all farther danger--his wound mortified, he lived six weeks
+after he was wounded, then died. I understood their language, and could
+speak a little. They then told me to march; an Indian took hold of each
+of my arms, and led me back to where they shot at me, and then went
+about half a mile further off the road, where they had encamped the
+night before and left their blankets and other things. They then took
+off my under coat and tied my hands behind my back, and then tied a rope
+to that, tying about six or seven feet long, we then started in a great
+hurry, and an Indian held one end of the rope while we were marching.
+There were but eight Indians marched in company with me that morning
+from the camp. The other eight took some other route, and never fell in
+with us again, until some time after we got to their towns. We had
+marched about three or four miles from that camp when Vallis arrived at
+the fort, about six miles from where they caught me, where they fired a
+swivel to alarm the people who were out of the fort--when the Indians
+heard the swivel they were very much alarmed, and all looked that way
+and hallowed yough, yough. They then commenced running, and run in a
+pretty smart trot of a run for five or six miles before they halted, and
+then walked very fast until about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when they
+separated, I supposed to hunt, having nothing to eat. The old chief and
+one of the other Indians kept on a straight course with me, we traveled
+about three miles, when we got a little way into a small prairie and
+halted about fifteen minutes, there one of the party fell in with us, he
+had killed a bear and brought as much of the meat with him as he could
+carry. We then crossed the prairie and came to a large run about one
+mile and a half from where we had halted to rest. By this time three
+Indians had joined us. We halted there, made a fire and roasted the bear
+meat, the other two Indians staid behind as spies. Whilst the meat was
+cooking, the Indians held a council what they would do with the Indian
+that wanted to kill me. He was a young fellow about 19 years of age and
+of a different nation, being a Pottowatema. They did not want him to go
+to war with them; they said he was a great coward and would not go into
+danger till there was no risk to run, then he would run forward and get
+the best of the plunder, and that he would not be commanded; he would do
+as he pleased; was very selfish and stubborn; and was determined to kill
+me if he could get a chance. They determined in their council to kill
+him. It is a law with the Indians when they go to war, if an Indian will
+not obey the counsels and commands of his captain or chief, to kill
+them. When their meat was cooked, they ate very hearty, and when they
+were done eating, three of the Indians got up, put on their budgets and
+started, this young Indian was one of them. I also got up to show a
+willingness to be ready. The old chief told me to sit down, and the
+three Indians started off. In about three or four minutes after we
+started, but varied a little in our course. We had not traveled more
+than one hundred yards when we heard the report of a gun. The old chief
+then told me that they had killed the Indian that wanted to kill me. The
+other two Indians fell in company with us before night. We then traveled
+till about 10 o'clock in the night, when we encamped at a large grove of
+timber in a prairie, about four miles from the edge of the woods; made
+no fire that night. We traveled about forty miles that day. After they
+rested a while they sat down to eat their jirk. They gave me some but I
+could not eat any. After they were done eating, one of the Indians was
+sitting with his back against a tree, with his knife between his legs. I
+was sitting facing him with my feet nearly touching his. He began to
+inquire of me of what nation I belonged to. I was determined to pretend
+that I was ignorant and could not understand him. I did not wish them to
+know that I could speak some Indian language, and understand them better
+than I could speak. He first asked me in Indian if I was a Matocush,
+(that is a Frenchman in English). I told him no. He asked me if I was a
+Sagenash, (an Englishman). I told him no. He again asked if I was a
+Shemolsea, (that is a long knife or a Virginian). I told him no. He then
+asked me if I was a Bostonely, (that is American). I told him no. About
+one minute afterwards, he asked me the same questions over again. I then
+answered him yes; he then spoke English and caught up his knife in his
+hand, and said "you are one dam son of a bitch." I really thought he
+intended stabbing me with his knife. I knew it would not do to show
+cowardice, I being pretty well acquainted with their manner and ways. I
+then jumped upon my feet and spoke in Indian and said manetway, kien,
+depaway, in English it is no, I am very good, and clapped my hand on my
+breast when I spoke and looked very bold; the other Indians all set up
+such ha! ha! and laugh that it made the other Indian look very foolish.
+He sat still and looked very sulky. After they had rested a while, they
+began to prepare to lay down. They spread down a deer-skin and blanket
+for me to lay on. They had tied a rope around my arms above my elbows,
+and tied that rope across my back, and a rope around my neck; they then
+tied the end of another rope behind to the neck rope, then down my back
+to the pinion rope; then they drew my hands forward across my stomach
+and crossed my wrists; then tied my wrists very tight; then tied my legs
+together, just below my knees; then tied my feet together with a rope
+round my ankles; then took a small cord and tied in between my wrists,
+and also between my ankles very tight, in order to prevent me from
+drawing out my hands or feet; they then took another cord and tied one
+end to the neck rope; then to the hand rope; then from the hand rope to
+the knee rope; they then took a rope about six feet long and tied one
+end to the wrist rope, and the other end to a stake about six feet from
+me stretched very tight, and an Indian laid on that rope all night; then
+they took another rope about the same length, and tied one end to the
+knee rope and the other end to a stake, and another Indian laid on that
+all night; then they tied a large half-dressed elk rope, one end to the
+back part of the neck rope which made a knot as big as my fist, the
+other end they tied to a stake about six feet from my head. When they
+finished their tying me, they covered me with a blanket. They tied me in
+the aforegoing way nine nights in succession; they had me stretched and
+tied so tight, that I could not move one inch to turn or rest myself;
+that large knot was on the back of my neck, so that I was obliged to lay
+on it all night, and it hurt my neck very much. I never suffered as much
+in the same length of time in all my life; I could hardly walk when we
+got out to their town. They never made me carry anything except a
+blanket they gave me to keep myself warm, when they took all my clothes
+from me. The Indians carried a deer-skin and blanket all the way for me
+to lodge upon. When my hands and feet became sore with the tying the
+Indians would always pull off my moccasins at night and put them on in
+the morning, and patch them when they would require it.
+
+The second day we started very early in the morning and traveled about
+thirty-five miles, which was the 29th of March.
+
+The third day we traveled about thirty miles, which was the 30th of
+March. They killed a deer that day--in the evening they took the
+intestines out of the deer and freed them of their contents, when they
+put them in the kettles with some meat and made soup, I could not eat
+any of it.
+
+The fourth day we traveled about twenty-five miles. We stopped about 3
+o'clock in the afternoon at a pond. They staid there all night. They had
+some dried meat, tallow, and buffalo marrow, rendered up together,
+lashed and hung upon a tree about twenty feet from the ground, which
+they had left there in order to be sure to have something to eat on
+their return. They killed two ducks that evening. The ducks were very
+fat. They picked one of the ducks, and took out all its entrils very
+nice and clean, then stuck it on a stick, and stuck the other end of the
+stick in the ground before the fire, and roasted it very nice. By the
+time the duck was cooked, one of the Indians went and cut a large block
+out of a tree to lay the duck upon; they made a little hole in the
+ground to catch the fat of the duck while roasting. When the duck was
+cooked, they laid it on this clean block of wood, then took a spoon and
+tin cup, and lifted the grease of the duck out of the hole and took it
+to the cooked duck on the table, and gave me some salt, then told me to
+go and eat. I sat by and eat the whole of the duck, and could have eat
+more if I would have had anything more to eat, though I had no bread. I
+thought I had never eat anything before that tasted so good. That was
+the first meal I had eaten for four days. The other duck they pulled a
+few of the largest feathers out off, then threw the duck, guts, feathers
+and all into their soup-kettle, and cooked it in that manner.
+
+The fifth day we traveled about thirty miles. That night I felt very
+tired and sore, my hands, arms, legs and feet had swelled and inflamed
+very much, by this time; the tying that night hurt me very much, I
+thought I could not live until morning; it felt just like a rough saw
+cutting my bones. I told the Indians I could not bear it, it would kill
+me before morning, and asked them to unslack or unloose the wrist rope a
+little, that hurt me the most. They did so, and rather more than I
+expected, so much that I could draw my hands out of the tying, which I
+intended to do as soon as I thought the Indians were asleep. When I
+thought the Indians were all asleep I drew my right hand out of tying,
+with an intention to put it back again before I would go to sleep, for
+fear I should make some stir in my sleep and they might discover me.
+But, finding so much more ease, and resting so much better, I fell
+asleep before I knew it, without putting my hand back into the tying.
+The first thing I knew about 3 o'clock in the morning, an Indian was
+sitting astraddle me, drawing his tomahawk and rubbing it across my
+forehead, every time he would draw a stroke with the pipe of his
+tomahawk, he threatened to kill me, and saying I wanted to run away; I
+told him to kill away. I would as leave die as live. I then told him I
+was not able to run away. He then got off me, and the rest of the
+Indians were all up immediately. They then held a short council and
+agreed to tie me as tight as ever, and they did so. I got no more sleep
+that night. I never asked them to loose my ropes any more.
+
+The sixth day we traveled about thirty miles, and had nothing to eat
+that day.
+
+The seventh day we traveled about twenty-five miles; they killed a doe
+that day. She had two fawns in her, not yet haired. They stopped about
+four o'clock in the evening, and cooked the doe and her two fawns, and
+eat the whole up that night. They gave me part of a fawn to eat, but I
+could not eat it, it looked too tender. I eat part of the doe.
+
+The eighth day we traveled about twenty-five miles, and had nothing to
+eat that day.
+
+The ninth day we traveled about fifteen miles. We then arrived at an
+Indian hunting camp, where they made sugar that spring. About 11 o'clock
+in the forenoon, we had not yet anything to eat that day. The Indians
+that lived there had plenty of meat, hominy grease and sugar to eat.
+They gave us plenty of everything they had to eat. We were very hungry
+and ate like hungry dogs. When we were satisfied eating, the warriors
+went into a large cabin and I went with them, and immediately several of
+their friends came in to see them, both men and squaws, to hear the
+news. It is a custom with that nation for the squaws to demand presents
+of the warriors if they have been successful. After some little inquiry
+the squaws began to demand presents of the warriors; some would ask for
+a blanket, some for a shirt, some for a tomahawk; one squaw asked for a
+gun. The warriors never refused anything that was demanded. The manner
+in which they made their demand was, they would go up to an Indian and
+take hold of what they wanted. When the squaws were done with the
+warriors, there came a squaw and took hold of my blanket; I saw how the
+game was played, I just threw it off and gave it to her; then there came
+up a young squaw about eleven or twelve years old and took hold of my
+shirt, I did not want to let that go, as it was very cold day, and I let
+on I did not understand what she wanted. She appeared to be very much
+ashamed and went away. The older squaws encouraged and persuaded her to
+try it again; she came up the second time and took hold of my shirt
+again, I still pretended to be ignorant, but she held fast. I knew it
+would have to go. One of the warriors then stepped up and told me to let
+her have it. I then pulled it off and gave it to her. The old squaws
+laughed very much at the young squaw. I was then quite naked and it was
+a very cold day; I had nothing on me but moccasins, leggings and
+breachcloth. We remained there about 3 or 4 hours. The warriors then
+went out to the post to dance, they invited me to go with them to dance.
+I did so, they sung and danced around the war-post for half an hour. The
+old Indians would sing and dance sometimes out of the ring and appeared
+very lively. The warriors then marched right off from their dance on
+their journey. We had not got more than about 50 or 60 yards when I
+looked back and saw a squaw running with a blanket; she threw it on my
+shoulders, it fell down. I turned round and picked it up, it was a very
+old, dirty, lousy blanket, though it was better than nothing, as the day
+was very cold. We travelled about five or six miles that evening, then
+encamped in the woods. I suffered very much that night from the cold.
+
+The tenth day we traveled five or six miles in the morning. We got
+within a quarter of a mile of a new town, on the west bank of the Wabash
+river, where those warriors resided, about nine o'clock, and made a halt
+at a running branch of water, where the timber was very thick, so that
+they could conceal themselves from the view of the town. Then they
+washed themselves all over and dressed themselves with paint of
+different colors. They made me wash, then they painted me and said I was
+a Kickapoo. Then they cut a pole and pealed it, painted it different
+colors and stuck the big end in the ground, and cleared a ring around
+the pole for to dance in. The fifth night they cut a lock of hair out of
+the crown of my head about as thick as my finger, plaited it elegantly
+and put it in their conjuring bag, and hung that bag on the pole they
+contemplated dancing around, and said that was their prisoner, and I was
+a Kickapoo, and must dance with them. When they all got ready to dance,
+the captain gave three very loud halloes, then walked into the ring and
+the rest all followed him. They placed me the third next to the captain;
+they then began to sing and dance. When we had danced about half an
+hour, I saw several old men, boys and squaws come running to where we
+were dancing. When there were a considerable number of them collected,
+the captain stepped out of the ring and spoke to the squaws. He told
+them to carry his and the other warriors' budgets to the town; the
+captain then joined the other warriors and me in the dancing ring; he
+marched in the front and we danced and sung all the way from there into
+the town. Some of the old Indian warriors marched upon each side of us,
+and at times would sing and dance until we got into their town. We
+continued dancing until we got through the town to the war-post, which
+stood on the west bank of the Wabash river; danced round that about
+twenty minutes; they then marched into the town, took all the cords off
+me, and showed me a cabin, told me to go in there, they were good
+Indians, they would give me something to eat; I need not fear, as they
+would not hurt me. I accordingly went in, where I received a plenty to
+eat and was treated very kindly. The warriors went into other cabins and
+feasted very greedily. We had not eat anything that morning nor the
+night before. About one hour and a half before the sun set the same
+evening, the warriors went out to the war-post again to dance. They took
+me with them; several other Indians were present. They had danced about
+half an hour when I saw two Indian men and a squaw riding a horseback
+across the Wabash river, from the east side; they came to where we were
+dancing. One of the Indians had a handkerchief tied around his head and
+was carrying a gun; the other had a cocked hat on his head, and had a
+large sword. The warriors never let on that they saw them, but continued
+dancing about fifteen minutes. After the two Indians and squaw came up
+the warriors quit dancing, and went to them and shook hands; they
+appeared very glad to see each other. The captain of the warriors then
+talked with them about half an hour, and appeared to be very serious in
+their conversation. The captain then told me I must go with them two
+Indians and squaw. The sun was just then setting; the two Indians looked
+very much pleased. I did not want to go with them, as I knew not where
+they were going, and would have rather remained with the warriors that
+took me, as I had got acquainted with them, but the captain told me I
+must go with the two Indians and squaw, and that they were very good
+Indians. The Indian that had the sword rode up to a stump and told me
+to get up behind him on his horse; I did so with great reluctance, as I
+knew not where they were going; they looked very much like warriors.
+However, they started off very lively, and the Indian that I was riding
+behind began to plague and joke the squaw about me; she was his
+sister-in-law. He was an Indian that was full of life and very funny.
+When I got acquainted with him I was well pleased with him. We traveled
+about ten miles that evening before we reached the place they resided.
+They were then living at a sugar camp, where they had made sugar that
+spring, on the west bank of the Wabash, about ten miles below the old
+Kickapoos' trading town, opposite to the Weawes town. We arrived at
+their sugar camp about two hours in the night. They then gave me to an
+old Kickapoo chief, who was the father of the Indian that carried the
+gun, and the squaw, and the father-in-law of the funny Indian. The old
+chief soon began to inquire of me where I lived, and where the Indians
+caught me. I told him. He then asked me if they did not kill an Indian
+when they took me prisoner. I told him no, there was no body with me but
+one man and he had no gun. He then asked me again, if the Indians did
+not kill one of their own men when they took me. I told him I did not
+know; the captain told me they did, but I did not see them kill him. The
+old chief then told me that it was true, they did kill him, and said he
+was a bad Indian, he wanted to kill me. By this time the young squaw,
+the daughter of the old chief, whom I traveled in company with that
+evening, had prepared a good supper for me; it was hominy beat in a
+mortar, as white and as handsome as I ever saw, and well cooked; she
+fried some dried meat, pounded very fine in a mortar, in oil, then
+sprinkled sugar very plentifully over it. I ate very hearty; indeed, it
+was all very good and well cooked. When I was done eating, the old
+chief told me to eat more. I told him I had eat enough. He said no, if I
+did not eat more I could not live. Then the young squaw handed me a
+tincupful of water, sweetened with sugar. It relished very well. Then
+the old chief began to make further inquiries. He asked me if I had a
+wife and family. I told him I had a wife and three children. The old
+chief then appeared to be very sorry for my misfortune, and told me that
+I was among good Indians, I need not fear, they would not hurt me, and
+after awhile I should go home to my family; that I should go down the
+Wabash to Opost, from there down to the Ohio, then down the Ohio, and
+then up the Mississippi to Kaskaskia. We sat up until almost midnight;
+the old chief appeared very friendly indeed. The young squaw had
+prepared a very good bed for me, with bearskins and blankets. I laid
+down and slept very comfortably that night. It appeared as though I had
+got into another world, after being confined and tied down with so many
+ropes and the loss of sleep nine nights. I remained in bed pretty late
+next morning. I felt quite easy in mind, but my wrists and legs pained
+me very much and felt very sore. The young squaw had her breakfast
+prepared and I eat very hearty. When breakfast was over this funny
+Indian came over and took me to his cabin, about forty yards from the
+old chief's. There were none living at that place then but the old
+chief, his wife and daughter. They lived by themselves in one cabin and
+the old chief's son and son-in-law and their wives in another cabin, and
+a widow squaw, the old chief's daughter, lived by herself in a cabin
+adjoining her brother and brother-in-law. None of them had any children
+but the old chief. A few minutes after I went into this funny Indian's
+cabin he asked me if I wanted to shave. I told him yes, my beard was
+very long. He then got a razor and gave it to me. It was a very good
+one. I told him it wanted strapping. He went and brought his shot-pouch
+strap. He held one end and I the other end. I gave the razor a few
+passes on the strap, and found the razor to be a very good one. By this
+time the old chief's young squaw had come over; she immediately prepared
+some hot water for me to shave, and brought it in a tincup and gave it
+to me, and a piece of very good shaving soap. By the time I was done
+shaving the young squaw had prepared some clean water in a pewter basin
+for me to wash, and a cloth to wipe my hands and face. She then told me
+to sit down on a bench; I did so. She got two very good combs, a coarse
+and a fine one. It was then the fashion to wear long hair; my hair was
+very long and very thick and very much matted and tangled; I traveled
+without my hat or anything else on my head; that was the tenth day it
+had not been combed. She combed out my hair very tenderly, and then took
+the fine one and combed and looked over my head nearly one hour. She
+then went to a trunk and got a ribbon and queued my hair very nicely.
+The old chief's son then gave me a very good regimental blue cloth coat,
+faced with yellow buff-colored cloth. The son-in-law gave me a very good
+beaver macaroni hat. These they had taken from some officers they had
+killed. Then the widow squaw took me into her cabin and gave me a new
+ruffled shirt and a very good blanket. They told me to put them on; I
+did so. When I had got my fine dress on, the funny Indian told me to
+walk across the floor. I knew they wanted to have a little fun. I put my
+arms akimbo with my hands on my hips, and walked with a very proud air
+three or four times backwards and forwards across the floor. The funny
+Indian said in Indian that I was a very handsome man and a big captain.
+I then sat down, and they viewed me very much, and said I had a very
+handsome leg and thigh, and began to tell how fast I ran when the
+Indians caught me, and showed how I ran--like a bird flying. They
+appeared to be very well pleased with me, and I felt as comfortable as
+the nature of the case would admit of.
+
+The next morning after breakfast, they all left that camp; they put all
+their property into a large perouge and moved by water up the Wabash
+river to the old Kickapoo trading town, about ten miles from their sugar
+camp; they sent me by land and one Indian with me. When we had got about
+half way to the town, we met with a young Frenchman; his name was Ebart;
+I was very well acquainted with him in the Illinois country; he spoke
+tolerably good English. The Indian then left me, and I went on to the
+town with the young Frenchman; I got to the town before the Indians
+arrived with their perouge, and the young Frenchman showed me their
+cabin, and told me to stay there until they would come, that they would
+be there in a few minutes. I there met with an English trader, a very
+friendly man, whose name was John McCauslin; he was from the north of
+England; we made some little acquaintance. He was a Freemason and
+appeared very sorry for my misfortune and told me he would do everything
+in his power to befriend me and told me I was with good Indians, they
+would not hurt me. He inquired of me where I lived and asked if I had a
+family. He then told me of the circumstance of the Indians killing one
+of their own men that day they caught me. He said it was a fact, he was
+a bad Indian and would not obey the commands of his captain and that he
+was still determined to kill me. My Indian family soon arrived and
+cleared up their cabin and got their family ready. They were a smart,
+neat and cleanly family, kept their cabin very nice and clean, the same
+as white women, and cooked their victuals very nice. After dinner was
+over, there came four Indians in the old chief's cabin. Two of them were
+the old chief's brother's children. They appeared to be in a very fine
+humor. I did not know but that they belonged to the same family and
+town. They had not been there more than one hour, until the old chief
+and the four Indians sat down on the floor in the cabin and had a long
+discourse about an hour and a half. Then all got up. The old chief then
+told me I must go with those Indians. I told him I did not want to go.
+He then told me I must go; that they were his children and that they
+were very good Indians; they would not hurt me. Then the old chief gave
+me to the oldest brother, in place of his father who was killed about
+one year before by the white people; he was one of their chiefs. Then
+the four Indians started off and I with them; they went down to the
+lower end of the town and stopped at an Indian cabin and got some bread
+and meat to eat. They gave me some. I did not go into the Indian cabin.
+They had not been in the cabin more than ten or twelve minutes before
+the old chief's young squaw came up and stood at the door. She would not
+go in. I discovered the Indians laughing and plaguing her. She looked in
+a very ill humor; she did not want them to take me away. They
+immediately started from the cabin and took a tolerably large path that
+led into the woods in a pretty smart trot. The squaw started immediately
+after them. They would look back once in a while, and when they would
+see the squaw coming they would whoop, hollow and laugh. When they got
+out of sight of the squaw they stopped running and traveled in a
+moderate walk. When we got about three miles from the town, they stopped
+where a large tree had fallen by the side of the path and laid high off
+the ground. They got up high on the log and looked back to see if the
+squaw was coming. When the squaw came up she stopped and they began to
+plague her and laugh at her. They spoke in English. They talked very
+vulgar to the squaw. She soon began to cry. When they got tired plaguing
+her, they jumped off the log and started on their road in a trot, and I
+ran with them. The squaw stood still till we got most out of sight. They
+would look back and laugh and sometimes hollow and whoop, and appeared
+to be very much diverted. They did not run very far before they
+slackened in their runnings. They then walked moderately until they got
+to their town, which was three miles further from the tree they stopped
+at. We got into their town about one hour and a half before the sun set.
+That same evening the squaw came in about half an hour after we arrived.
+I met with a young man that evening who had been taken prisoner about
+eighteen months before I was taken. His name was Nicholas Coonse (a
+Dutchman), then about 19 years of age. He heard I was coming, and he
+came to meet me a little way out of town. He was very glad to see me and
+I to see him, and we soon made up acquaintance. Coonse and myself were
+to live in one cabin together. The two brothers that I was given up to,
+one of them claimed Coonse and the other claimed me. They both lived in
+the same cabin. When the squaw arrived, she came immediately to our
+cabin and stood outside at the door; she would not come in. I noticed
+the Indians plaguing and laughing at her; she looked very serious. About
+sunset, Coonse asked me if I wanted a wife. (He could not speak very
+good English, but he could speak pretty good Indian.) I told him no. He
+then told me if I wanted one I could have one. I asked him how he knew
+that. He said, "There is a squaw that wants to marry you," pointing at
+her. I told him I reckoned not. He says, "Yes. Indeed, she tus; she
+came after you a purpose to marry you." I told Coonse I had a wife, and
+I did not want another one. He says, "O, well, if you want her you can
+haf her." She stood by the door for some time after dark. I did not know
+when she went away; she said two days and three nights before she
+returned home. I never spoke a word to her while she was there. She was
+a very handsome girl, about 18 years of age, a beautiful, full figure
+and handsomely featured, and very white for a squaw. She was almost as
+white as dark complexioned white women generally are. Her father and
+mother were very white skinned Indians.
+
+The next day was the 9th day of April, and thirteenth day that I had
+been their prisoner. The chief Indians and warriors that day held a
+general council, to know in what manner and way to dispose of me. They
+collected in the cabin where I lived. While they were in council their
+dinner was cooking. There were about ten in number, and they all sat
+down on the floor in a circle, and then commenced by their interpreter,
+Nicholas Coonse.
+
+The first question they asked me was, "Would I have my hair cut off like
+they cut theirs?" I answered "No." The second question they asked me
+was, "If I would have holes bored in my ears and nose and have rings and
+lead hung in them like they had?" I answered "No." The third question
+they asked me was, "If I could make hats?" (I had a large bag of beaver
+fur with me when they took me prisoner; from that circumstance I suppose
+they thought I was a hatter.) I answered "No." The fourth question they
+asked me was, "If I was a carpenter?" and said they wanted a door made
+for their cabin. I answered "No." The fifth question they asked me was,
+"If I was a blacksmith; could I mend their guns and makes axes and hoes
+for them?" I answered "No." The sixth question they asked me was, "If I
+could hoe corn?" I answered "No". The seventh question they asked me
+was, "If I could hunt?" I answered. "No. I could shoot at a mark very
+well, but I never hunted any." Then they told Coonse to ask me how I got
+my living; if I could do no work. I thought I had out-generalled them,
+but that question stumped me a little. The first thought that struck my
+mind, I thought I would tell them I was a weaver by trade, but a second
+thought occurred to my mind, I told Coonse to tell them I made my living
+by writing. The Indians answered and said it was very well. The eighth
+question they asked me was, "If I had a family?" I answered "Yes, I had
+a wife and three children." The ninth question they asked me was, "If I
+wanted to go home to see my wife and children?" I answered "Yes," They
+said, "Very well, you shall go home by and by." The tenth question they
+asked was, "If I wanted a wife then?" I answered "No," and told them it
+was not the fashion for the white people to have two wives at the same
+time. They said, very well, I could get one if I wanted one, and they
+said if I staid with them until their corn got in roasting ears, then I
+must take a wife. I answered them yes, if I staid that long with them.
+They then told me that I might go anywhere about in the town, but not go
+out of sight of the town, for if I did, there were bad Indians round
+about the town and they would catch me and kill me, and they said they
+could run like horses; and another thing they said, don't you recollect
+the Indians that took you prisoner and cut a lock of hair out of the
+crown of your head. I told them yes. Then they told me in consequence of
+that, if you attempted to run away, you could not live eight days. If
+you will stay with us and not run away, you shall not even bring water
+to drink. I told them I wanted to go home to my family, but I would not
+go without letting them know before I went. They said, very well. They
+appeared well pleased with me and told me again I might go anywhere
+about in the town, but not go out of sight of the town. I was sitting on
+a bench, when the old chief got up and put both his hands on my head and
+said something, I did not know what. Then he gave me a name and called
+me "Mohcossea," after the old chief that was killed, who was the father
+of the Indian that I was given up to. Then I was considered one of that
+family, a Kickapoo in place of their father, the old chief. Then the
+principal chief took the peace pipe and smoked two or three draws. It
+had a long stem about three feet in length. He then passed it round to
+the other Indians before they raised from their council. He held the
+pipe by the end and each of them took two or three draws. Then he handed
+it to me and I smoked. The chief then said I was a Kickapoo and that
+they were good Indians and that I need not be afraid; they would not
+hurt me, but I must not run away.
+
+By this time their dinner was prepared and they were ready to eat. They
+all sat down and told me to sit by. I did, and we all eat a hearty
+dinner and they all appeared to be well pleased with their new adopted
+Kickapoo brother.
+
+These Indians lived about six miles west of the old Kickapoo trading
+town, on the west side of the Wabash river. They had no traders in their
+town. After dinner was over, they told the interpreter Coons that I must
+write to their trading town for some bread. I told Coons to tell them I
+had nothing to write with--no paper, nor pen and ink. They said I must
+write. I told Coons to tell them again I had no paper nor nothing to
+write with. Coons told them. Then the Indian that claimed me went to his
+trunk and brought me a letter that had one-half sheet of it clean paper.
+I told Coons to tell them I wanted a pen. The same Indian went and
+pulled a quill out of a turkey wing and gave it to me. I told Coons I
+wanted a knife to make the pen. The same Indian got his scalping knife;
+he gave it two or three little whets and gave it to me. I then told
+Coons I wanted some ink. Coons says, "Ink--ink; what is tat? I ton't
+know what ink is." He had no name for ink in Indian or English. I told
+him to tell the Indian to get me some gunpowder and water and a spoon
+and I would make the ink myself. The Indian did so. I knew very well
+what their drift was; they wanted a proof to know whether I told them
+any lies when they examined me in their council. When I had made the ink
+and was ready to write I asked Coons how many loaves of bread I should
+write for. He says, "Ho! a couple of lofes; tay only want to know if you
+can write or if you told them any lies or not." I wrote to the English
+trader, that I mentioned before that I had made some acquaintance with
+the day I passed the old trading town, for to get me two loaves of
+bread. He very well knew my situation and circumstances. There was a
+Frenchman, a baker, that lived in the trading town.
+
+When I had finished writing, the Indian took it up and looked at it and
+said, "Depaway, vely good." Coons' master, a brother to the one that
+claimed me, told Coons to go catch his horse and take the letter for the
+bread, not stay, but return as soon as possible. Coons hurried off
+immediately and soon returned. As soon as he came back he brought the
+two loaves of bread and gave them to me. I then asked Coons what I
+should do with this bread, as he was somewhat better acquainted with the
+ways of the Indians than I was. He says, "Kife one loaf to tay old squaw
+and her two little chiltren, and tofide the otter loaf petween you and
+your master, put keep a pigest half." I did so. This old squaw was the
+mother of the two Indians that claimed Coons and myself. The old squaw
+and her two children soon eat their loaf. I then divided my half between
+the two little children again. That pleased the old squaw very much; she
+tried to make me sensible of her thanks for my kindness to her two
+little children.
+
+While Coons was gone for the bread, the Indian that claimed me asked me
+to write his name. I asked him to speak his name distinctly. He did. I
+had heard it spoken several times before. His name was "Mahtomack." When
+I was done writing he took it up and looked at it and said it was
+"Depaway." He then went to his trunk and brought his powder horn, which
+had his name wrote on it by an officer at Post Vincennes in large print
+letters, and compared them together. They both were the same kind of
+letters and his name spelt exactly the same. He seemed mightily pleased
+and said it was "bon vely good." It was a big captain he said wrote his
+name on the powder-horn at Opost. The wife of the Indian that claimed
+me, next morning combed and queued my hair and gave me a very large
+ostrich feather and tied it to my hat. The Sunday following after I was
+taken to that town, there was a number of Indians went from that town to
+the old Kickapoo trading town. They took me with them to dance what is
+called the "Beggar's Dance." It is a practice for the Indians every
+spring, when they come in from their hunting ground, to go to the
+trading towns and dance for presents; they will go through the streets
+and dance before all the traders' doors. The traders then will give them
+presents, such as tobacco, bread, knives, spirits, blankets, tomahawks,
+&c.
+
+While we were in town that day I talked with my friend McCauslin to
+speak to the Indians and try to get them to sell me, but they would not
+agree to sell me then. They said they would come down the Sunday
+following and bring me with them, perhaps they would then agree to sell
+me. They complied with their promise and brought me down with them. My
+friend McCauslin then inquired of them if they had agreed to sell me;
+they told him they would. McCauslin then sent for the interpreter, and
+the Indians asked one hundred buckskins for me in merchandize. The
+interpreter asked me if I would give it? I told him I would. The Indians
+then went to the traders' houses to receive their pay. They took but
+seventy bucks' worth of merchandize at that time. One of the articles
+they took was bread, three loaves, one for the Indian that claimed me,
+one for his wife, the other one for me. I saw directly they wanted me to
+go back home with them. After a little while they started and motioned
+and told me I must go with them. I refused to go. The Indian fellow took
+hold of my arm and tried to pull me forward. I still refused going with
+them. He still continued pulling and his wife pushing me at the back. We
+went scuffling along a few yards till we got before my friend
+McCauslin's cabin door. He discovered the bustle and asked me what the
+Indians wanted. I told him they wanted me to go home with them. He asked
+me if I wanted to go. I told him no. He then told me to walk into his
+cabin and sit down and he would go and bring the interpreter. I went in
+and the two Indians followed me into the cabin and sat down. The
+interpreter came in immediately and asked the Indians what they wanted.
+They told him they wanted me to go home with them. The interpreter then
+asked if I wanted to go with them. I told him no. He then told the
+Indians they had sold me and that they had nothing more to do with me,
+that I was a freeman, that I might stay where I pleased. They then said
+they had not received all their pay. The interpreter then asked them why
+they did not take it all? They said they expected I would go home with
+them and remain with them until I got an opportunity to go home. The
+interpreter then told them they could get the balance of their pay. They
+said if I did not go home with them they must have thirty bucks more.
+The interpreter asked me if I was willing to give it. I told him yes. I
+did not want to go back again. The Indians then went and took their
+thirty dollars of balance and thirty more and went off home. I then owed
+the traders that advanced the goods for me one hundred and thirty
+buckskins for my ransom, which they considered equal to $260 in silver.
+There were five traders that were concerned in the payment of the goods
+to the Indians. One of them was a Mr. Bazedone a Spaniard, who sometimes
+traded in the Illinois country, with whom I had some acquaintance. I
+told him if he would satisfy the other four traders, I would give him my
+note, payable in the Illinois country. He did so, and I gave him my note
+for the $260, to be paid twelve months after date in the Illinois
+country, and $37 more for my boarding and necessaries I could not do
+without, such as a bear skin and blanket to sleep on, a shirt, hat,
+tobacco and handkerchief.
+
+My friend McCauslin took me to a Frenchman's house--he was a baker by
+trade, the only baker in town--to board with him until I got an
+opportunity to go home. Two days after I went to stay at the baker's,
+the Indian that claimed me, his squaw and the young squaw that followed
+us to the new town, came to see me and stayed three or four hours with
+me. He asked me to give him some tobacco. I told him I had no money. He
+thought I could get anything I wanted. I bought him a carrot of tobacco;
+it weighed about three pounds; he seemed very well pleased. He and his
+wife wanted me very much to go back home with them again. I told them I
+could not, that I was very anxious to go home to my wife and family.
+Three or four days after that they revisited me, and still insisted on
+me to go home with them. I told them that I expected every day to get an
+opportunity to go home. I had some doubts about going back with them; I
+thought perhaps they might play some trick on me, and take me to some
+other town; and their water was so bad I could not drink it--nothing but
+a small pond to make use of for their drinking and cooking, about forty
+or fifty yards long and about thirty yards wide. Their horses would not
+only drink from, but wallow in it; the little Indian boys every day
+would swim in it, and the Indians soak their deerskins in it. I could
+not bear to drink it. When they would bring in a kettle of water to
+drink, they would set it down on the floor. The dogs would generally
+took the first drink out of the kettle. I have often seen when the dogs
+would be drinking out of a kettle, an Indian would go up and kick him
+off, and take up the kettle and drink after the dog. They had nothing to
+eat the last week I was with them but Indian potatoes--some people call
+them hoppines--that grew in the woods, and they were very scarce.
+Sometimes the Indian boys would catch land terrapins. They would draw
+their heads out and tie a string around their neck and hang them up a
+few minutes, and then put them in a kettle of water with some corn--when
+they had it--without taking the entrails out or shell off the terrapin,
+and eat the soup as well as the meat. We had all liked to have starved
+that week; we had no meat; I was glad to get away.
+
+I staid three weeks with the French baker before I got an opportunity to
+start home. I had a plenty to eat while I remained with the baker--good
+light bread, bacon and sandy hill cranes, boiled in leyed corn, which
+made a very good soup. I paid him three dollars per week for my board.
+
+There was a Mr. Pyatt a Frenchman, and his wife, whose residence was at
+St. Vincennes, with whom I had some acquaintance. They had moved up to
+that Kickapoo town in the fall of the year in order to trade with the
+Indians that winter. They were then ready to return home to Vincennes.
+Mr. Pyatt had purchased a drove of horses from the Indians. He had to go
+by land with his horses. Mrs. Pyatt hired a large perogue and four
+Frenchmen to take her property home to Vincennes. I got a passage in her
+perogue. She was very friendly to me; she did not charge me anything for
+my passage.
+
+We arrived in Vincennes in forty-eight hours after we left the Kickapoo
+trading town, which is said to be two hundred and ten miles. The river
+was very high, and the four hands rowed day and night. We never put to
+land but twice to get a little wood to cook something to eat.
+
+I staid five days at Vincennes before I got an opportunity of company to
+go on my way home. It was too dangerous for one man to travel alone by
+land without a gun. There was a Mr. Duff, who lived in the Illinois
+country, came to Vincennes to move a Mrs. Moredock and family to the
+Illinois. I got a passage with him by water. The morning I started from
+Vincennes he was just ready to start before I knew I could get a passage
+with him, and I had not time to write. I got a Mr. John Rice Jones, a
+friend of mine, to write to Col. Edgar, living in Kaskaskia, in the
+Illinois, who was a particular friend of mine, and sent it by the
+express, a Frenchman, that was going to start that day from Vincennes to
+Kaskaskia, which he could ride in four days, and request Col. Edgar to
+write to my wife, who lived at Bellfontain, about forty miles from
+Kaskaskia, and inform her that I was at Post Vincennes, on my return
+home with a Mr. Duff by water, and inform her that I would be at
+Kaskaskia on a certain day; I think it was two weeks from the time I
+left Vincennes, and for her to send me a horse on that day to Kaskaskia.
+Col. Edgar wrote to her immediately, as soon as he received Mr. Jones'
+letter. That was the first time she heard from me after I was taken
+prisoner. I had written to her while I was at the Kickapoo town. That
+letter never reached her. I had two brothers living at the Bellfontain;
+they met me on the day I proposed being at Kaskaskia and brought me a
+horse. The next day I got home to the Bellfontain.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of the Captivity of William
+Biggs among the Kickapoo Indians in Illinois in 1788, by William Biggs
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVITY OF WILLIAM BIGGS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 26799.txt or 26799.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+ http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/9/26799/
+
+Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+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
+
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+ the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+ you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is
+ owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+ has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+ Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments
+ must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+ prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+ returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+ sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+ address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+ the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+ you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+ does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+ License. You must require such a user to return or
+ destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+ and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+ Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+ money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+ electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+ of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+ distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+ Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+ Chief Executive and Director
+ gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+ http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/26799.zip b/26799.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5eb697
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26799.zip
Binary files differ
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd4998b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #26799 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26799)