IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 1.1 .25 l^|Z8 |2.5 1^ 1^ 12.2 t 1^ lilM - 6' 1.8 U IIII1I.6 "/a y /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ;V Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. □ Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D D D D D Couverture endommag6e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pellicul6e I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) r~7\ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ D Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int6rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas Ati filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires; L'Institut a microfiimd le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les ddtails de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtrn uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage sont indiquds ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es I — I Pages restored and/or laminated/ D Pages restauries et/ou pelliculies Pages discoloured, stained or foxec Pages d6coior6es, tachet6es ou piqudes Pages detached/ Pages d^tach^es Showthroughy Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti in6gale de I'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire Only edition available/ Seulie Edition disponible I — I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ j I Pages detached/ I I Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I — I Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6X6 filmdes 6 nouveau de fapon 6 obtenir la meilleure image possible. Tl to Tl P< o< fil O b< th si oi fi( si OI Tl sf Tl w M di er b< "1 re This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de reduction Indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X ^ 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmsd hare hat baan raproducad thanks to tha ganarostty of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia L'axamplaira filmi fut raproduit grAca 6 la ginArositA da: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Original copias in printad papar covers ara fitmad beginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion, or tha back covar whan appropriate. All other original copias are filmed beginning on the first paga with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrcced impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — »■ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avac la plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at da la nattetA de I'exemplaira film*, et en conformity avac las conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim^e sont filmAs en commenpant par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniAre paga qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commenpant par la premiere paga qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la darniire paga qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la darniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ♦- signifie "A SUIVRE", ie symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, ii est filmi d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'imagas n^cessaira. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hi HISTORY (IK IIIK INDIAN TRIBES OP flortj] Itineritn, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND ANECDOTES or riiK PRINCIPAL CHIEFS. KMTlKlI.ISUrn WITH (Eigljtn Portrailo from tijc Jubian *i?rtllcrn IN THK \VAR DKrAKTMKNT AT \VAsmN(iT<)N'. BY THOMAS L. M KENNF.Y, l.ATi; OF THK I S I> I A N r' K P A I: T '-l K N T . UASHINOToN. TWO VOLS. TLATIOS.— TWO VOLS. TEXT. VOL. IL — TEXT. Pfi.ClTlC . • PUBT.lfillEI) BY D. RUE & CO., :m MLN'OU STKKKT. ■ This edition of the " Hisrjpy ok the iNni.w Tkii;ks of North Amkkica" consists of two vohimes, foHo, containinj;- (So Lakgk Ciii.oKKi) PoRiKAns, and two volumes, imperial 8vo., con- taining historical and descriptive text, and is Li.mitki) m 35 Skts, of which this is No. _ / HALrATTEll MICCO, oa BILLY BOWLEGS. Tn the sketches of other Seminole chiefs, and in the general Indian history, some account of this singular tribe of our aborigines has been given. Hai,patteb Micco's history possesses peculiar interest, because he was among the very last few leaders of the fugitive race who were associated with the stirring scenes which transferred the remnant of it to the lands west of the Mississippi. His father, Secoffer, was an ally of the English, and cherished bitter hostility towards the Spaniards, taking the field against them in the troubles that followed the recession of Florida to their sov- ereignty. When dying, at the age of seventy, he called to his side his two sons, Payne and Bowlegs, and solemnly chai'ged them to carry out his unfinished plans ; and, at any cost, complete the sacri- fice of one hundred Spaniards, of which number he had killed eighty-six. This bloody offering, he affirmed, the Great Spirit had required at his hand to open for him the gate of Paradise. We need scarcely add, that such requests were sacredly regarded by the Indians in their uncivilized state. Their fidelity to their vows and treaties was in sad and singular contrast with the faithless dealing of their white invaders. In 1821, Florida came into the possession of the United States, having within its limits four thousand Seminoles, including the women and children, and eight hundred slaves. The log cabins, environed by cultivated clearings, or grouped together in villages, dotted the country from St. Augustine to Apalachicola River, and attracted the covetous eye of emigrants tlocking into the territory. Pacific N.N/^'.i-ii^^- gRQVlNC .lA.- L^-^ARY JIIOGK Al'lIY. Tlic Sciiiiiiolcs' [ilfii of right to thu lands by possoswion had littlo weight ISO long as the Govcriiiiu'iit did not ivcogiiizc tlu- chiiiii. Two years later, the Indians were ])ressod int(j a relinqiiishment ol' lands in' treaty, anil restriction within certain origimil boiuid- aries. Slaves ran away I'roni white masters, and the Sennnoles refused to send them back; property was stolen, .md re[»risals made; and the occasions of (piarrel readily onibraced by the settlers, nn*.;l a sanguinary coiillict seemed ready to open its hor- rors upon the mixed population. Then came the celebrated '•Treaty of Payne's Landing," made on tlie !)tli of May, 1832, which Mr. Gadsden, connnissioned by Secretary Cass, after much diiliculty. induced a part of tiie Seminole chiefs to sign. A dele- gation was to visit the lands west of tin; Mississippi, and if the leport was favorable, the Florida possessions were to be ceded to the whites, and the removal of the Indians was to follow. In this treaty, tlie name of IIali-attku Micco makes its first appearance in public all'airs. A youthful sub-chief of Arp\ncki, or "Sam Jone.s," he seems to have liecn briljed or flattered into giving his sign, while Micanopys, wlio was the real head of the nation, and that of other Avell-known chiefs, were wanting on a document Avliich, in the result, sealed the doom of the Seminoles. Indeed, the delegation rei)uiliated the treaty, and Asseola, a sagacious, crufty, and daring Indian, determined to outgeneral the I'ramers of the instrument. In private life, he nevertheless ruled the councils of the aged Micanopy, and laid a deep plot of resistance to the Government. A negotiation, and a feigned treaty of removal, were used as means of delay, to give time for preparation to make war. It was resolved that if a Seminole sold his property to go west, he should be slain. Months passed by, and as autumn ripened the fields, Charley-e-Mathla, a prominent chief, was waylaid and killed, because he bad connnenced the sale of his cattle, and the money in his possession forbidden by Asseola to be touched, lie declaring that "it was the blood of the red man." December 28th, 1882, TULLV HOWLKOS. occurred tlic nuinlcr ol" Genenil Tlioinpsoii iiiid Lii'iitoimnt Smith, iis tlicy walked on a sunny id'tcnioon out ol' tlie Fort, by Indiiins in anihuHli, witiiin ^iiilit ol" tlie fortresH. A larger lorce was sent to meet Major Dade, wlio vas advaiu'ing Irom Fort Jirookc. Ou the same day that Asseola's hand dis[)Rti'hcd (Jeneral Tiiom2)son, this body of savages, numbering one hundred and eighty, fired from behind forest-trees, without a sound of warning, — the leaden hail bringing down half of the men at the fu'st lire. Only four privates, out of the eight oflicers and one hundred and two troops in the ranks, escaped. This was the opening of the Floiida war, whose havoo and death eost the nation not less than §4(),()()O,U00 and three thousand brave soldiers. Asseola, who had himself broken treaty, was treacherously betrayed, and sent to Fort Moultrie to die of broken heart, (.'oa- cochu, or Wild Cat, surrendered, and successively bands were scatr tered, and the remnant of the tril)e wa^^ driven toward the dark, impassable everglades. In July, ISoi), IIam'Attku Micco made himself conspicuous by a bold and daring exploit to retrieve the falling fortunes of his people. Under an arrangement by Com- mander Macomb with " Sam Jones," a leading chief, assigning certain limits beyond which the Indians should not pass, and within which protection should be excluded, Colonel llarneyAvas sent to estab- lish a trading-post. lie encamped with thirty men on an open, desolate plain, near the Cooloosahatchce Eiver, and held unsuspect- ing intercourse daily with the Seminoles. As the dawn of the 22d of July fell on the white tents, Halpatter Micco, at the head of two hundred warriors, rushed upon the sleeping inmates. The surprise was so complete, no resistance was oflered. Twenty-four were killed; the rest lied, Harney himself barely escaping by swimming from the river-baidc to a fishing-smacl< anchored in the stream. From this successful raid dates the sudden and growing greatness of the leader, who was soon elevated to the position of principal chief, in place of " Sam Jones," deposed because of his 8 BIOGRAPHY. aflviiiici'il )irtanung towards them the kindest svmpatliics, and annually expending miUious for their defence, support. ?uul welfare. HIOGHAPIIY. 1!) The col(!l)r;ito(l individual of wlioin wo arc about to "rive a l)not acconiii, is known to tlie public uiidcr tlie various appclialioiis of Powell, Osoeola, 0( cola, Asscola, Osiuiola, and Assini Yaliola ; liiit his true name is that which wo havo placed at tiic head of tiiis article. Powell is the surname of a white nan wjio married tlie mother of Asscola, after the deatii of his father, and wliose name was very n.-iturally given to the youth wlio had thus become one of his family. Osceohi signifies the " Rising Sun," and has been erroneously adopted by nuuiy, as well on account of its similarity of sound to the true name, as from its suj)poscd adaptation to the character and position of thi.- daring leader. The true name is de- rived from Jsse, "the black drink," and Ola, "a waterfall." We have, in another ])lace, mentioned a ])eculiar custom of the Creeks, who, previous to entering into council, assemble in groups, and drink freely of the decoction of a certain herb of tlieir country, which operates as an emetic, and whose effect, they imagine, is to purify and invigorate both the mind and body, so as to prepare them for the business of thought and debate. This beverage, which is taken warm, and in large quantities, is called the " Black drink," from its color, and among the several names applied to it, to ex- press its quality or effects, arc those of asse, assiniola, and assiiii yahola. The name A.sseola, when freely translated, signifies the plentiful drinker of the black drink, or, one who imbibes tliis fluid in torrents ; and it may, or may not, be descriptive of a peculiarity of this individual, as Indian names are given in childhood, as with us, for the mere purpose of convenience, while they are after- wards often superseded by others, descriptive of a prominent feature in the character of the person, or of some of his exploits, We have not been able to ascertain whether Asseola bore this name in infancy, or acquired it by his devotion to the nauseating draught, by vvhich the Creek statesman makes a clean breast, prejiaratory to the solemn duties of the council. The paternal grandfather of Asseola was a Scotsman, who mar- 20 ASS KOLA. ricd ii Creek woniau ; liis 1; titer tliorefore, was ii liall-l)ree(l, hut Ins iiiotlier \v;is a Creek of llie (mr. nlood. llo was Ixiru oii the TaMa- poosa river, in liie Creek nation, soinewlierc hetween tlic years ISOO and l^(t(i, and mnsl have lu'cn hetween thirty and thirty-five years of ;i<^f' at tin! time of his death. His Enropeau descent is said to liav(! heeu distinctly indicated in his complexion and eyes, which were li^diter than those of his peo|)le. as well as in the featnres and expression oF his countenance. The following spirited descrijjtion of iiini is iVom a work entitled " Notices of Florida and the Cani- paijfns," by M. M. Cohen. " When conv(>rsinir on to|)ics a!,frnouhlc to liim, liis countenance manifests nior(! the disposition of the white than of the red man. There is threat vivacity in the pltiy of his features, and when excited, his face is li;,rhted up as by a thousand fires of pa.ssion, animation, and eiieryy. His nose is Grecian at the base, and would be perfectly Phidean, hut that it becomes slightly arched. There are indomi- table firmness and withering scorn in the expression of his mouth — though the lips are tremulous from inicnse emotions, which .seem ever boiling up within him. About his brow, care, and thought, and toil have traced their channels, anticipating on a j'outhful face the work of time. " To those who have known Oceola long, his fame docs not aj)- pear like a sun-burst, but as the rij)ening fruit of early promised blossoms. For years past he has enjoyed the reputation of being the best ball-player and hunter, and the most expert at running, wrest- ling, and all active exercises. At .such times his figure, whence all the superfluous flesh is worn down, cxhilnts the most beautiful development of muscle and power. He is said to be inexhaustible from the ball play, an exercise so violent, that the struggle for mastery has been known to cause the death of one of the combatants. When this occurs in a fair contest, the survivor is not punished for murder, as in all other cases of taking life. On one occasion Oceola acted as guide to a party of horsemen, and finding, at startin< •, that BIOGRAPHY. 21 they prociicdiMl slowly-, inquired tlie ciiuse. On boiiii,^ told tliut it, was on Ins iu'connt, with ono of tiioso smiles he alone can j^ive, ho hade tlicui proceed inort^ rapidly- 'I'liey put spurs to tlieir steeds, and he, afoot, lve|)t up with tlwin duriiiLj; the enliri; route, nor tlitl ho exhibit the slightest symptoms of fatij,nie at the close of day, hut arr'\od at the point proposed as early as the mounted body." Another writer, the author of the " War in Florida," a lato staff oflioer, speaks of tliis indiviihial in the following terms: "It will be seen tliat th(^ standinnco w.as seemingly i^reat, it was still less tlian that of iMicanopy, Jumper, Ilolala Mieo, Coa Ilajo, Arpincki, Ahra liam, and several others ; but he was with the mass of tlie warriors who were tlio anti-removal l)ar1y, and themselves possessimr as much influence as tlieir eliiefs; so that the marvellous reports ot him, and the influence which, it is supposed, he exerts over the In- dians, arc very exaocrerated, and have their oritfiu oidy in the !x)ld, desperate, and reckless murders which have been perpetrated bv the band of Micosukces, of which he is sub-chief Ilolata Mico is the chief leader of that band, and decidedly superior to Asseola in every point of view. The latter is a Rcchtick, not a Micosukee, by descent, and prior to the breaking out of hostilities, was leader of but .seven warriors. His talents are not aljovc mediocrity, and he was never known, by t.lio.se who were most intimate with him, to possess any of the nobler qualities which adorn the Indian ciiaraeter ; all his dealings have been characterized by a low, sordid, and con- tracted spirit, which often produced dilficulties with those with whom he had intercourse. Perverse and obstinate in his disposition, lie would frequently oppose measures wliicii it was the interest of his people that lie should advocate. The principal chiefs were favorable to the project of emigration, but the mass of warriors were opposed to it; and as Ilolata Mico and his band, with Asseola, were the first to be removed by the provisions of the treaty, and 28 ASS KOLA. tlii'sc, wurriors liaviiijf been avcrNc In tin; Ircatv iVom tlic lirst, llicy 80\vi'd discord among llic otlicrs Ity tlircatciiiiig to miinlcr all w ho should advocate the measure; and it was doulitlcss through fear that Asseola joined the hostile party, alter the ph'dge he had niad(! to IcJive the coiuitry. This des(3rii)tion of Asseohi may, periiaps, serve to disabuse the public mind as to the ' noliU^ chararter,' ' lofty bearing,' 'high soul,' 'amazing powers,' and 'magnanimity' of the ' Micosidvee chief.' " It will be seen that there is some discrepancy in the views of the clmracter of A.sseola g'ven by these writers, both of whom were witnesses of his conduct; we apprehenil that both are correct in the main, dillering cliiedy in the coloring given to their ])iclures. Referring occasionally to these and some other authorities, we shall, in the remainder of this sketcli, depend principally upon a manu- script statement in our posses.sio'', prepared with much can; by an intelligent ollicer of the United Statt;.-, army, .serving in the Indian Department throughout the whole of tlu; Florida war. The death of his father jjrobably threw Asseola, at a very early age, upon his own guidance, antl some of the strong |)oiuts of his character, especially its vices, may be referred to this cause, the fruitful source of evil in the formation of ardent minds. While yet a boy, of not more than from twelve to fd'tecn years of age, he joined the Redsticks, or hostile Creeks, and fought against the Tennessee troops, commanded by Generals Jack.son and Floyd. Wlu.'ii peace was established, he was one of the many unruly s])irits who emi- grated to Florida, where the Redsticks became known as a party hostile to the United States. In 1817, when the repeated depreda- tions of the Florida Indians caused the invasion of that country by General Jackson, he was in arms, and being driven across the Su- ■wanee, retreated witli a small pa-ty of his companions down into the peninsula, and settled upon Feas' creek. Here he remained un- known to fimie, and probably engaged in no other pursuit than hunting, and occasionally participating in those athletic games in BIOfJIlAPirY. 2.T wliicli li(' WHS so cxiuM't, iiMlil !i Icw vcafs iiLfo. wlicii lie rciiiovrd to llip lliif S\v:iiii|), in the nritrliliorlinod of Fort Kiiiir, and nnitod liiiriscif witli tlic Mi(M)siik(M's, with whom In; has since lived. It was at that lime, probably iii)()iit 18!ja, tliat Asscola, who was then somewhat more tliari twenty-five; years of a!,fe, Ix-eamo known to lh(! Ameriean ofl'ieers. lie iiail neitiier rank nor |)ro[)erty, nor niiv followers, exeept two Indians, wlio liad accompanied him from his late residence ; Inil his doporfmciit and appearance wer(> such as to point liim out as a ])erson liUely to become important. Ho was of liixlit frame, a littlo above tho cormnon stature, and finely formed, his complexion li'jfht. and the expression of his coniitenanco cheerful and ajrreeable. His liabits were active and enlerprisinir, evinciniif an entire freedom from that indolence of mind which de- grades tho ffreat mass of this race into merely setisnal liein<,rs, who are only roused into action to induliro the appetites of huni^cr or ro- ven ASSEOLA. oar present ag(Mit, is the friend of the Seniinoles. We thought at first that he would bo like tlie others, but now \vc know Ijetter. He has but one tidk, and what lie tells us is the truth ; we want him to go w illi us. He told us he coidd not go, but he at last agreed to do so, if our great father would permit him; we know our father loves his red children, and will not let them suflTer for want of a good agent." General Clinch, the gallant and able commander of the troo])s then in Florida, in presenting this siil)ject to the government, said, " It is a law of nature for tlie weak to be suspicious of the strong. Thej say the Creeks are much more numerous and power- ful than they are; that there is a fpiestion of property, involving the right to a great many negroes, 1o lie settled between them and the Creeks, and they are afraid that justice will not be done them, unless they have a separate agent to watcli over and jjrotect their interests. The nituily and straightforward course pursued towards them by General Thompson appears to have gained their con- fidence, and tliey have again petitioned the President to nudie him their agent, and have requested me to forward their petition, witii such remarks as my long acquaintance with their views and interests would authorize me to make. The exjieriment they are aljout to make is one of deep interest to th- i. They are leavino- tlie birthplace of their wives and ciiiidren, and many of them the graves of those tl'.ey hold most dear; and is it not n-itural they sliould feel, and feel deeply, on such a trying occasion, and vvisli to have some one that tliey liave previously known, wliom they could lean upon, and look up to for protection ?" To this rational appeal the government re|)lied by a cold neixative; the prefiarations for the removal were mnw^ forward, the friendly chiefs were us'wvj: their inlluenc(.' to urge oi: that desiraijie measure, while tlH> disaffected stood aloof, or gave manifestations of their dissatisfaction in sudden and secret acts nf violence, in pillaiiing by night, or murderiny the solitary traveller in the wiMcrne.^^s. Such was the state of things when Asseola began to take an BIOGRAPHY. 27 active part as a Tustonmigge, or sulj-cliiof, of the Mirosukccs, of whicli tribe Ilolato Micco, or llie IJliio King, wiis cliief. The term siil>cliief, wliich we use, is not descriptive of aii\- actual ollice or formal a])poiiitiiient, but merely designates those individuals, u ho, by tiieir talents or pop\dar (pialities, ol)tain followers, and become leaders or persons of in(ln,'iiee. Those who are expert in war or hunting, are followed by the young braves, who desire to learn under them, at first, perhaps, only by their own relatives who depend on them; but as their reputation increases, the train swells in nund)er; and there are, therefore, leaders of every grade, from those who head a few men, up to him who controls his hundred warriors, vies with the chief in influence and authority, and at last su])plants him, or supersedes hih^ in every particular except in name. Thus we have seen Powell, a young man with two followers, begimiing to mingle in public affairs. He had carefully noted the path to j)opular favor, and pursued it with sagacity and boldness. His first step was to gain the confidence of the American officers, and by making himself useful, to gain empWmcnt, which would render him important in the eyes of his own people. He visited the fort frequently, and his services were always at the command of the officers, to suppress the depredations of those lawless Indians who would clandestinely cross the frontier to plunder, and arrest the offenders, as well as to apprehend deserters from the army. On these occasions, he would call on the neighboring chiefs for men, and having formed a party, placed himself at their head, and recommended himself, as well to his employers as to his own people, by his diligence and efficiency. He soon pushed himself into notice, and was continually engaged in some active service : he became a favorite with the military offi- cers, and in consequence of the estimation in which he was held by them, rose rapidly in the eyes of his adopted tribe. He now gained adherents ; for the Indians are a fickle people, and there are always many among them who are ready to surround the banner of a lising leader; until at length, without apparently holding any positive 28 ASSEOLA. rrink, he became a loading man among the Micosukees. He con- timied for some time to cultivate ^vith assiduity the good will of the whites, was quiet and unassuming in his deportment, submis- sive even to humility towards tlio otlicers, and ])acific in iiis senti- ments, while he insinuated himself into tlie allections of his own people, by his courtesy and his martial qualities. But there was another source of popularity which he failed not to improve to tlie utmost, as it was that on which he chiefly de- pended for ]iromotion. The chiefs and more intelligent of the braves, were, as we have said, in favor of emigration, while the majority of the people, comprising all the ignorant and lawless por- tions, were opposed to the removal. The conjuncture was one which ofl'ered a tempting opjiortunity to an as[)iring demagogue. Asseola took the side of the majority, and while, at first, he did not venture openly to oppose the chiefs, he artfully fomented the dis- contents of the people, and encouraged them in their obstinate re- fusal to leave the country. He was always opposed to the treaty of Payne's Landing ; but at first, his tone with regard to it was quiet and unobtrusive, and it might have been inferred, that while his feeUngs revolted against the proposed arrangements, he was ready to sacrifice his own wishes to preserve peace and secure the welftire of his countrymen. With consummate art. he continued to pay court to the chiefs, and the American oflTiccrs and agents, and to aflfect a sympathy for the people;, until he found himself sufljciently strong in the affections of the latter, to throw aside the mask. He grew into favor with the factious multitude, who needed only an unscrupulous leader, who would play out the game of revolt, re- gardless of consequences; and when he felt that he was the leader and dictator of a party, he began to avow the principles he had long secretly cherished. Ilis conduct now became as conspicuous for boldness and insolence, as it had been for the opposite qualities ; he was loud, querulous, and bitter in his opposition ; his language was coarse and inflammatory ; and his whole course was that of one who BIOGRAPHY. 29 had resolved to bring on !i crisis, wliicli slioiild draw a broad lino of separation between the respective parties, oblige the neutral to take sides, and force on an issue of the contest. In his interviews with General Thompson, the agent for the removal of the Seminoles, h • now openly avowed his opposition, declared that he never would be carried from the country alive, that rather than submit to such injustice, the Indians would fight, that he could kill two or three white men- himself before he could be slain ; and finally, lie de nounced, in the most vehement manner, the friendly chiefs, declar ing they should not go peaceably to another country, that tlie first wlio took a step towards emigration should l)e put to death, and that, if required, he would himself become the executioiier. There can be little doubt as to the decision which history will re- cord as to the conduct of Asseola. The line of distinction is clear and definite between the patriot who calmly and firmly places himself in the breach between his country and lier oppressors, c.\])o.sin^ liim- self to procure safety, or even a temporary advantage for her, and the demagogue, who, seizing for his own aggrandizement an occa- sion of popular excitement, fi^ins into a blaze the embers of discord, and affecting to administer that public will which he has secretly created, becomes the agitator and the soul of a Ijad cause. The one controls and gives a proper direction to the judgment of his people, while the other stimulates their worst passions, and leads them blindfold to their own destruction. The former cour.se gives em- ployment to talents and virtues of the highest grade, the latter may be successfully pursued by an instinct of no greater capacity than that of the fox or the wolf There could scarcely be a difference of opinion as to the true interest of tlie Seminoles. Setting aside the question of the right of occupation, as between civilized and savage man, as having no direct bearing here, we must view tiie Seminoles as themselves intruders in a land previously occupied by the Euro- peans, from whom the American government derived title l)v pur- chase. They seized on this wilderness, while it was protected, as 30 ASSEOLA. they supposed, by :i foreiLfii flMiif, as^ a stroii^r-liold, froin wliicli they could with impunity annoy th(^ American citizen. 'Die I'liitod States having the riirht, as well as the power, to remove tiiein, resistance could only lead to a war, wholly unjiislilialile l)ecause hopeless. Under these circumstances it is scarcely probalile that this a.spiring leader was impelled Ny any liiL^iier motive than that of taking tlic side opj)osed to the chiefs, whom he desired to sup- plant, and favored by the multitude, through whom lie hoped to rule — a course of which history adbrds but too many ex unples, and which tlie experience of every day shows to he tiie natural path of reckless ambition. Throwing aside entirely the mask he had worn, Asseola became more and more insolent, until at last he c»!ased to observe tlie common forms of courtesy. He either absented himself from tlie councils wliich were now frequently held, or disturbed the delii)e- rations by inflammatory speeches. He boldly threatened the chiefs with (he vengeance of the people, and in his interviews with Gene- ral Thompson, the agent, was so rude, and .so undisguised in his threats of personal violence to that ollicer, that the latter was obliged, on one occasion, to order him to leave his presence, and his friends earnestly advised the arrest of the refractory partisan, as a measure due to his own safety. It is only to be regretted that this salutary step was not sooner adopted, and more eliectuail}' carried into exe- cution. As.seola was not a chief, but a self-constituteil leader, mis- directing the ignorant to their ruin, disturbing the peace, and de- feating the benign intentions of the government. He was accord- ingly arrested, by the orders of Colonel Fanning, at the request of the agent, and placed in close confinement. x\s he was dragged to the guard-house, he was heard, by one who understood the Creek tongue, to exclaim, " The sun," pointing to its position, "is so high ; I shall remember the liour! the agent has his day — I will have mine !" The conduct of Powell while in confinement, threw a new light niOGRAPIIY. 81 upon his cliaracter, eviiiciiijr tlio coolness ami deliberation of his (lesiiTiis, and sliowin;,' how completely he was master of the arts of ilissimulation. At first sidlen, and apparently alarmed, he seemed to abandon all liope. A new li-rht seemed gradually to gleam upon him ; and then, as if convinced of his error, he requested to see the friendly chiefs, who were accordingly permitted to visit him. To t'lem he figured a humility and contrition wjiich completely de- ceived them. lie spoke of his past conduct in terms of regret and pointed self-condemnation ; depicted in glowing language tlie hopes he had entertained of imitiiig the several factions of the nation, so that hy organizing a firm opposition, they might be permitted to occupy a little longer their present homes; and admitted the fallacy of these exj)ectations. He spoke of himself as a martyr, whose vain efTorts to unite the people for their common good, had brought upon him tlie vengeance of their oppressors, and bitterly deplored the weak- ness and ingratitude of those who, he .said, had deserted him in his hour of trouble; but avowed a sincere determination to yield to what now appeared an unavoidable destiny, and remove peaceably to a new country. The cliiefs, whom he had violently denounced and o])posed, were so con)pletely deceived by his ostensiljle con- version, that a full reconciliation took place ; and Asseola, ])rofessing a conviction that his former cour.se, though intended for the best, iiad been fatally erroneous, promised to become as active in promf)t- ing the cause of emigration, as he had been zealous in retarding it. Satisfi;';! of the sincerity of the change which they supposed had taken place, the chiefs interceded for him, pledged themselves for his faith, and i'owell was .set at liberty. This act of mistaken humanity was the cause of much evil ; for, had Asseola been kept a prisoner, the removal might have gone on, and the cruel war which succeeded, would never have taken place. Por a while As.seola seemed to act in full accordance with his piomises. He not only signed the articles agreeing to emigrate himselt; l)ut brought over si.vty or seventy Micosukees to do the 32 ASSEOLA Niiiiit', assumed a conspicuous stand in the ranks of the f)arty friendly to removal, was consulted on all measures leading to that ohject, and was always treated with the consideration due to an influential chief Such was his position for some time ; but, as the season for emigration approached, his visits to the agent became less frequent, and various plausible reasons were assigned for his absence, until the friendly chiefs began to suspect, and then to declare openly, that Powell " had one talk for the white man and another for the red," that many of the Indians were bent on war, and that the remov;d must be ellected by force. In the autumn of 1S35, the negotiations with the Seminoles were brought to a crisis. The friendly parly prepared to remove, and the hostilo to resist, and the excitement on the Ijorder was increased. The following incident, recited in the " War in Florida, by a Staff Ollicer," will serve to illustrate the temjjer of the times. " The Long Swamp and Big Swamp Indians, principally the IMicosukeo tribe, were, from the causes heretofore stated, again re- duced to the greatest distress for the want of provisions, and their depredations upon the neighboring settlements became daily more extensive. On one of these occasions three of the Long Swamp Inilians were surprised, and two of them secrred b}' tlu! owner of the land, who tied them by the hands and feet with a rope, and carried them to his barn, where they were confined without suste- nance for three days, unable to extricate themselves, and obliged to remain in one position. Not returning to their homes, their friends became alarmed for their safety, and the chief of the town where they resided, went forward and demanded them. Being refused, he returned to his town, and taking several of his people with him, again demanded the release of the prisoners, and was again refused, with a threat by the white fellows, that if the chief dared to effect their release, complaint should be entered against him. Upon this the whole party rushed to the barn, whence they heard the moaning of their friends, and where they beheld a most pitiable sight. The BIOGRAPHY. 88 rope with which these poor fellnws were tied, had worn through info the flesh — they had temporarily lost the use of tiieir limbs. Ijeing unable to stand or walk— tlipy had bled profusely, and had reiieivcd no food during their confinement — so it may be readily imagined that they presented a horrible picture of suffering. The owner of the barn in which they were confined, then fired upon the Indians, and slightly wounded one of the party, when their exaspe- ration attained to such a height that, in retaliation for this brutal outrage, they set fire to the barn, and would not permit the owner to remove any thing therefrom, nor did they leave the spot until the whole was consumed." " These outrages continued to increase with each succeeding week, and the Indians, discovering the hopelessness of their situation, at once concluded to oppose the efforts of tlie government, and call for a general assemblage of the nation. This course was rendered the more imperative, at this particular period, in consequence of a demand having been made upon the Seminoles for a surrender of their cattle, ponies, hogs, &c., which were to be collected at some convenient depot, appraised and sold by the agent, and the Indians reimbursed therefor, on their arrival in their new country. Six of the principal chiefs, viz : Charley Amathla, Holata Amathla, Foke Luste Hajo, Otulkee Amathla, Conhatkee Micco, and Fushutchee Micco, having returned their cattle, ponies, and hogs, the agent publicly announced that a sale would take place on the first of the ensuing month, December, 1835 ; but, in consequence of the inter- ference of the anti-removal party, the delivery of the others was prevented, and the sale necessarily postponed to an indefinite period. In the mean time, the great meeting of the nation at the Big Swamp resolved on retaining possession of their country, and con- demned all who should oppose their views to instant death. This, therefore, was the signal for an immediate abandonment of the friendly towns, and no time was lost by those who hafl gone too far to retract, in seeking the protection of the forts. Accordingly, 84 ASSEOLA. Holata Amatlilii, Otulkee Amatlila, Foke Liiste Ilajo, Conhatkee Micco, and Fuslmtchco Micco, with about four Imndred and fifty of their people, fled to Fort Brooke on the 9th of November, and encamped on the opposite side of the river." Tlie war was commenced by a tragedy of deep and affecting interest. Charley Amathla, a noble, intelligent, and honest chitif, was preparing to retreat to Fort Brooke, on the 20th of November, when his house was surrounded by four hundred warriors, led by liolata Micco, Abraham, and Asseola, who demanded of him a pro- mise that he and his people would oppose the removal. lie replied, that, having pledged his word to their great father, be would adhere to it even at the risk of his life. He said he had lived to see his people degraded, and on the verge of ruin, and their oidy hope of being saved from utter destruction depended on their removing to the West; he had made arrangements for his people to go, and had now no excuse for not complying with his engagements. He was told that he must join the opposition or suffer death, and that two hours would be allowed him to consult his people, and make his choice. He rcj)lied, that his mind was unalterable, and that his people could not make him break his word ; but if he must die, he desired" time to make some arrangements, which M'ere required for the welfare of his people. At this moment, Asseola raised his rifle, pointed it at the bosom of the unresisting chief, and would have fired, had not Abraham arrested his arm, and called off" the party to a council. They shortly after retired, having probably decided to defer, if not to retract, their murderous purpose ; and the chief pro- ceeded to the agency to complete his preparations. He appeared cheerful, but said to some of his friends, that perhaps they might never see him again, as persons had been appointed to kill him. He left the agency, accompanied by his two daughters, and preceded by a negro, on horseback, and had travelled homewards a few miles, when Asseola, with twelve other Indians, rose from an ambush, gave the war-whoop, and fired upon him. The noble chief, com niOfJUAl'HY. 86 preliendinir instantly his situation, rose in his stirrups, sent back a wlioop of (iofiauce, charged into tlie midst of his assassins, and fell like a hero, perforated by eleven bullets. Thus died the chief of the Witamky baud, a gallant, high-minded leader, and a man of sterling integrity, by the hands of Asseola, whom he had delivered from prison but a few months before, and for whoso good conduct he stood pledged. The ingratitude and bad ftiith of Asseola greatly aggravate the heinousness of his participation in this cold-blooded murder, and stamp his character with a viciousness wholly incom l);itible with a great mind. This atrocious deed was succeeded by open hostilities, and on the 29th of December following, occurred the melancholy massacre of the detachment under Major Dade, which we have described in another place. On the same day, and while that melancholy scene of butchery was going forward in the hammock. General Thompson, the agent, was surprised and ba.sely murdered. He had dined at the Agency Office, about one hundred yards from Fort King, and shortly afterwards was walking unguardedly near the woods, be- yond the office, when a bund of fifty or sixty Micosukees, led by Asseola, rushed upon him, and having slain himself. Lieutenant Smith, and several others, hastily retired. The body of General Thompson was perforated with fourteen bullets and a knife wound ; all the killed were shockingly mangled, and the whole affiiir evinced the worst feelings on the part of the perpetrators. The functions of the agent were not military, but civil, and his relation to the Indians such as should have rendered his person sacred. He had been their friend and advocate ; and, by their own evidence, had been kind and just in his dealings with them. Asseola especially, who had been employed by him, and whose intercourse with him had been intimate, was acquainted with the uprightness of his conduct, and was bound above all others to respect his character, and hold his person sacred from violence. But if such sentiments had ever made any impression on his vicious nature, that impression was eradicated 86 ASS KOI. A. \iy a siiii^It! olTi'iico towards liiiiisclf, wliicb rankled in his hos li uiid iiisti;f:it(ul ii l)rutal rovciigo. Till' writer la»t ([noted, thus eoiitimies llie narrative of tliesf ev(Mi1s. " Maraiidiiiff parties now coninioneed tlieir operations almost sinudtantiously, in various sections of the eountry, pilla^'inj^ and destro3in,t( every thinij; of value. 'I'liose wlio had intlieted in- juries on tlie Indians were forthwith repaid, and many liarely escaped with tlieir lives. Con(la}jfration succeeded conflajfration, until the whole eountry from Fort Brooke to Fort King was laid waste; while those who lived in the interior, were compelled to altandon their crops, their stock, their implements of husl)andry, and indeed every article of value, and secik protection within the forts, or concentrate themselves in the neiyliborinif towns, around wluoh pickets were erected for their better security." The war soon assumed the most appalling character; whole families were butchered, and wherever the war-whoop was heard, the most shock ing cruelties were perpetrated. We cannot pretend to follow the narrative of this war throughout its details ; the events are too numerous for the space to which we are confined, and are too similar to each other to be either interest- ing or instructive. We have already, in this and other articles, given sufficient specimens of the horrors of Indian warfare. It is enough to say, that the war in Florida was one of unmitigated ferocity. The Seminoles were not numerous, but they were scat- tered over a wilderness almost impenetrable, and surrounded by an atmosphere fatal to the white man. In their fastnesses they w(uv. secure from pursuit, while our troops could scarcely move without imminent danger, from ambusca( c>^^ from climate, from the im- practicable nature of the country, .ui»l from the difficulty of trans- porting supplies. The Seminole?; kept up the war with unceasing activity and indomitable courage, acting continually on the offensive and with the determination of men who were resolved to succeed oi perish. Their system of tactics was the only one which the sav>iyc niOORAPIIY. ;t7 ran practise with ofTect, anti tliiit which is most liaru.s.siri|j; to a rcfjsular army opposed to thciii. I)i\ idcii into small parties, widely .s(;attere(l, and eonstaiitly scoiirinjr the eoiiiitry — strikiii^r \)y stealtii, and ehielly at nii,dit — siirprisinj^ small partieH, and c\ittini^oH' supplies — harass- ing the MettkMnents — and f^iving no quarter to prisoners, they ma, and began to consider what act of mischief might i)e perpetrated upon the sleeping inmates by two desperate marauders, bent on distingui.sliing themselves at any hazard. After smoking and peepiujr awhile, they found a horse; and their spirits being raised i)y this success, they groped about actively and soon discovered four more, which ihey led to a grove ill a bend of the river, where they hid them, for they were not satisfied with what they had done. But bofon; they could re- turn to the lodges, day dawned, and a projihet was heard singing, .shaking his gourd, and praying for the relief of a sick ])orson. A Siou.>c Indimi came to the river for water, and our hero stepped for- ward to kill him, but just as lie was about to fire, his companion ex- 52 TAHROIION. claimed, '• Look, there is our iirmy !" Tlie young men stood for a moment, .stupified with surprise and terror; lor the danger now was that the loway band, rushing forward upon the Sioux lodges with loud yells, would not recognize tlieso youths found thus in the enemy'fv camp ; nor was it likely they could make themselves known in the noise and smoke of the onset. They sprang, therefore, down the bank of tlie river, and attracted the attention of the prophet, who called on his people, wlio had not yet discovered the advancing loways, tc fire on them, liut at that instant the loways raised the war-wl)oop, and rushed forward. The two young men, in danger from both sides, attempted to mingle in the fight, but found the missiles of both parties luirled at them. At length onr hero, seeing the two Sioux surrounded by several lo^vays, who were pushing eacli other aside in their eagerness to strike a foe, rushed through the circle and shot one of the Siou.x. He then mingled in the fight, find felt like one relieved from tlie horrors of a disagreeable dream, when lie found himself fairly reinstated among his friends. Tn this fight twelve Siou.v were killed, and four were taken prisoviers LATPAWINSOE. The preceding engmving, and the one wliicli follows it, are taken from tlie original portraits, in t'.ie possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. They were presented to that body by Granville Penii, Esc]., of iStoke Park, England, a worthy descendant of the illustrious founder of the state whicli bears his uainc. These por traits are highly interesting to the antiquarian, because they jjreserve to him the only likenesses wiiich exist of tlie famed Lenni Lennapi tril)e of Indians. All that is known respecting their originals, is contained iu the Ke[)ort made by Mr. J. Francis Fisher and Mr. Job 11. Tyson to the Historical Society, and published in a volume of the Society's Transactions. The jjortraits were painted more than a century ago, (1737,) and even tlie name of the limner would now be a subject of ciu-inus but uncertain speculation. If a native, his work would show tiu; skill employed and attention l)esto\ved at tliat time, in British America, upon this department of the arts. Mr. 'i'y.sou and Mr. Fisher sug- gest that the portraits were probal)ly jiainted either by one Swede, named Cccilius, who executed a likeness of James Logan, or a later artist, named R. Fekc, whose name appears ou a picture of the year 171(1. The fame of Lappa win.-;oe, whatever it wa-, has not been trans- mitted to us. James Logan speaks of him as an honest old Indian ; and his name, " he is gone away gathering corn, nuts, or any thing ( S'' ) 6-i BIOGRAPHY. eatiiblo," acconliiijf to llcckewelder's translation, implies tlic cha racter of an honest old hunter. lie was a chief, and is ranked, b^ the last named writer, among those of the Forks of the Delaware. The act l»y which Lappawinsoe is cliielly known, is signing, at I'hiladclplua, the celebrated Treaty of 1737, commonly called The WalldiKj Purchase. The character and effect of this negotiation are adverted to in another article TOOAN TUH, OR SniliXG FllOG. This individual is a Clierokro of liiirlily rospectaMc character. FIc was born noar tlic nioiitli of Cliiirkanio^rira Civok, in the vicinity (if Lookont Mountain, ahnul tlio year 17")l, williin tlu- limits of tlio State of Tennessee. Tlie place of liis hirtii is no lonncr known as a wilderness tenanted hv savagi; men, liut is now a civilized country, inhabited by another race. The villa;,M's of his people, and the sei)nlchres of liis fathers, have disappeared, the forests have been levelled, and the ])low^fh has elVaced tie .scttttered vesli^icsof their dwelling's and places of assembhiire. In early youth, and throu'jhout liis life, until old aiic had impaired the elasticity ano vigor of Ids rii\is(,'Ies, Sprin'^ Fro;r '>\ '"s remirkablo for his activity in the chase. Ins skill in Irappinii' ;uid killinjr game, and his success in the athletic sports of hi- With little of th(^ ferocity of the Iiuliaii, y(!t excelliii;.r in an 1 1- .if ,syl\ iii lite, brave, but not ad tlioii Ijocoines fearful. A imniber of muscular men, imirctl to toil and (laniicr, sava^fc, irascililc, and rcvcnircful by natnro and liahil, arc soon, with tiicir limbs and bodies naked, and oiled, to eii:iliIo them the more readily to elude the ffrasj) of an adversary — now rushincf after the ball with uplifted sticks, now gathered rouud int. it, striking at it with ra|)i(l blows, darting upon each other, j)nll \\ restliuL', and presenting a medley in which it seerns hardly jios- le tliat heads and liml)s must not be broken. Blows are reccivvd Sll) as il upon bodies oi iron. Men are prostrated and trodden under Coot. I5ut none are killed ; the wounded scum tbrnel tiieir bruises. uid the luaten bear their discomlitiire without mnri ntii 'l"i lOUif h S| irini' !• rt)U' was an a rdent and successful ball-oiaver. and the most patient of anglers, he devoted mucli of his time to the more prol'itai)le, thouu:li |(!ss 'j^en teel b- em|)loynH nt, of raising cattl d pumpkins, i[i^ trading in horses, and cultivating i)eaiis, com, and piimj aLTriculture was not upon an extensive scale; but it was enough to turnish the means of a comfortable subsistence, and a generous hos- pitality ; ins iriends were always welcome to his cheerful (iresidc and tlu; stranger, to use the ligure of one of tlie noblest spirits of our land, never found the string of his latch draw n in. (lifted with a discriminating miiul, he was a strong man in the council. Amiable, kind, placid in his disposition — loving peace and jiursuing it, he always advocated conciliatory measures, and was useful on many occasions in softening ai'.d restraining the fiercer jiassions of liis warlike countrymen. Hut althougli his inclinations were pacific, he lacked neither energy nor courage, when the iiiteri'st or honor of his nation required the oxercLso of those qualities. In 1S18, the Osages murdered several Cherokees in cold blood. Upon the reception of the news of this injury, the Cherokees flew to arms, and instantly adojjted mi'asurcs to revenge tlu^ outrage. Spring Frog, although he was then in his sixty-fourth year, was among the tirst to take u]) the war-club in this (piarrel; and uniting himself with a i)arty of his tribe, marched in pursuit of the murderers. So TOOAN Tt;jl. 59 nijiid and socrot was tlic inovciiu'iit, tliat tlio track of llio ofl'didcrs was found and ])ursuod, and tlicy, ignorant tliat any pursnif was ou foot, wcro s<-ar('c]3' arrived at llicir villairc wlicn the avcnu'^crs of hlood were at tlieir heels. Tlio villa of cultivation, and large droves of cattle and horses. 'I'lieir dwclliugs and oMier iinjaoxemeiits are comfortable and well constructed. They lia\e mills, schools, me- chanics, and many other of the e\ idcnces and arts of civilizeil life. An intelligent traveller, who lately vis:' .-d their country, says — " We pas.sed many line farms on our way, and as evening fell, came to the missionary station of Dwiglit, with which we found ourselves mueli pleased. This institution has fnr its object the advancement, .scientifically and morally, of tiie ( 'lierokees. It was founded some twenty years ago, and has continued faitiil'ul to the Indians through all that long period. It was llr.st comme'iccd in tiie year {^•2\, in what is now called J'ope county, on the waters of Illinois bayou, where suitable buildings were erected, farms open(>d, and schools established, in which were gathered the children of the then wild Cherokees, to the yearly number of one hundred. 'I'he Clierokee,s «0 BIOGRAPHY. wcir, ri portion wlin liad removed from their old coiiiifrv sil iin early period, imd were denominated U^csfcni Ciieroliees, but are nowdis- tiniL,niislied as the old settlers." Tliose missionaries have resided there for many years undisturbed, in the peaceful discharge of their duties, and on the kindest terms willi the Cherokces. They iiave witnessed tlie eonimencement and whole progress of this interesting colony, and have been identilied with its entire history. Tlicy have done great good to the Chero kee.s, and are entitled to their gratitude. TISllCOllAN. Of Tishcohan, Tasucamin, Teshakomen, alias Ti.sliekuuk, little is known, except what is contained in Mr. Fisher and Mr. Tyson's Ileijort. His name occurs in Heckewelder's Catalogue, and means, in the Delaware language, " He who never hkickciis himself." We may note, on referring to the likeness, the correctness of the de- scription, in the absence of those daubs of paint with which the Indian is so fond of deforming himself. Tasucamin and Lappawinsoe were both signers of the celebrated Walking Purchase of 1737. By this treaty was ceded to the pro- prietaries of Pennsylvania, an extensive tract of country, stretching along the Delaware, from the Neshamany to far alx)ve the Forks at Easton, and westward " as far as a man could walk in a day and a half This transaction has been stigmatized by Charles Tliomson as one of the most nefarious schemes recorded in the colonial annals of Pennsylvania. It appears that the white men, employed to walk with the Indians, performed the task with a celerity of which the Indians loudly complained. They protested against its manner of performance as opposed to the spirit of their contract, and an en- croachment on their ancient usages. They alleged that it had been usual, on other occasions, to walk with deliberation, and to rest and smoke by the way, but that the walkers, so called, actually ran, and performed, within the period, a journey of most unreasonable extent. This purchase ha.s been differently viewed by different writers. (5'J ni()(iKAI>IIY. Loifaii cliiiiiis llic Iiiiid fur the iirnpriL'tiirifs, on a two-fold title, iiidn- [Miidciit of the tiraly. lli' I'iaiiiis it iiiulcr a deed made, in Ids*!, til ti ni'rdci'cssoi'.s o f ll iidiaiis, wlio assci rtcd a i'i<>lit to it III II f cla iiiis it under a releasee trom tlic l'"iv \al ions, 111 tlio > car 17;J(i, who, at that tiiiit', excrciKcd over the J)il; I wares that 111- soleiu'o of superiority wliicli tlie code of all nations has accorded to (•oni|uest. Tiiis duple ri^lit, tho same excellent writer seeks further to i-oiilirni and estahlisii, by deiiyiiijf to the Indians, with whom tho W iIUiiil; reatv uas co ncliided, aiiv oriyiiial title to the territorv ceded, on llie i^round tliat tiiey wciv new settlers from Jersey. On the other li:iiid, ( 'harles 'riionison disputes the antecedent riy;lit of tiie jiroprielaries, under tlie i]i'i'(\ of lOsCi, and the release of 1TM(), and |)laces the u hole (lueslioii upon the honesty \\ ith w liicli the stipulations of tiie conlraetiiiir |)arlies were performed in the Walhiiiti Purchase. And does it not at last repose here .' The tei'iiis of the oiii^iiial deed are not known. lis autlieiiticily rests onl\ on tradition, and several authoritative leiral w riti'rs speaU duiiiouslv of its ever haviiiir existed. One ihiiijji; is certain, even if it did exist — // hail inrcr Ixiji iralhid out. le release Irom the Five Nat loiis can seareelv l)c liiouijht to impart \aliili1\ to a tilh', w iiieii is drfeclixc w itiioul it. The |)eciiliar siiiiiiiualiou lo which the vaiKpiished trihe suhmitt ed, eoilld oiilv tii\e to the coiupurors ///r lif/hl (if /irr.foiKif (/iiiii(//(i/i.ship, uo\ the po\\( r of I i/jiifiid/iiiii. JJesides, it is Justly contendetl, that any tenilorial ri'/hts aci| iiired hv the Five Nations were coiilined to the hmd on the tril)Ularies of the Sus(|uelia inii;i aiu 1 never extended to the waters of tiie Delaware. W e iiiav. tlier efore, return to the Treatv of 1737, and e.xami lie into the manner in w hieh it was executed. If tln^ Indians contraeted with had no rights, why was a treaty entertained with them at all? ^\ hen the proprietaries eiiteixd into a compact with tlie Iiidian.s, they jfave to them a ri^lit to incpiire into the fidelity with wiiich it, was jierlbrmed, and j)ledg((l their own honors for it.s faithful TISHCOIIAN. 6;i olisorvancc. Was tlir s|ii'((l nf niimiiiii a lilcnil or lioiiorablo f.\(M'ulii)ii of a Ircatv h> iralLf It was this (K'jiiu'lnrr Croiii llif Irniis auii sjiirit a piece of knaxcry and euiiiiiiiy, and i:oneurred witli other potent causes ore.straii'^eiiieiit in hriii^'iiiL; almnt the most iiniia|)p\- results. 'The Miiiids of the Indians hecaine alienated. eiiil)iltered, iiillained; and a perverse and heartless |ioli('y, on the part of tliuir u lute neigh- hors, made the lireaeh irreeoncilai)le. But tins people, even when goaded to di.'speratioii hy acts of high handed oppression and cruel selfishness, did not forget the days of W illiain I'cnii, and were sonietinies induced hy the recollection, to ahstaiii from visiting upon his successors that degree of retaliation which would have heeii pi.st, according to their ideas of retributive jii.sticc. Tl was this same people, in the days of their valor and mar- tial glory, that lived on terms of cordiality and friendship witii that great man and his followers, in conferring and receiving benefits, for a period of fortv years! It was this people so actively kind, so unafrcctedly grateful towards tlie unarmed strangers who sought refuge from persecution in their silent forests, that .suffered from the descendanls of these strangers, tho?»<; keen griefs arising from a deep sense of unmerited injury, joined to a perception of meditated and the certainty of ultimate annihilation Contemporaneou.sly with the date of the portraits from which the two foregoing engravings are reduced, the amity ami good neiglilK)rhood which had subsisted between the colonists of I'cmisvlvania and tjio Delaware Indian.s, gave way to a state of feeling which ended in the departure ofthe.se sons of tlie soil from their long-enjoyed inheritance, to seek an abode in soiiu! distant wild, some nna[)propriated solitude of the western country. After the indignity th(\y rei^eived from Canassatego, in 1712, tliey retired to Wyoming and Shamokin, and finally pene- trated beyond the Ohio, where the survivors live but to brood over 14 BIOGUAl'IIY. their wrongs, ami transinit tliern to their (Jescoiulants. Piirsiieu from river to river, they at last f^rew tired of retreat; and, tiirniii)? back upon tlieir jiiirsiu^rs, intlictod upon tliern art thoso cruelties •>vhich are prunipted by resentment and despair. WANATA. This is a fiiin picture, and roprcseiits a very tlistiiiLfuislicd per soiiaiifc. Althoiij^li the 8ioux ure divided into scv( r.il tribes, ^nj. verncd liv dilVcrcnt leaders, tliis individual, in considcratidn (if his |)arani(iiint inllnence. is calh-d tlu! >{' the Daiola eliief, a> he siddd (hul afternddn, in his nianlv and (diara( leri>tie dress. eorteiiiplatiiiLr a ilaiiee pcrldrmed li\ the men of hi> iiwn nation. It would reipiirt; iho utmost talent of the arti>t to eunvey a lair idea of this ehief; to display his nianlv ami rei^nlar features, slroii'jly stamped, it is true, uitii the Indian eha- raelcr, l)ut adniiralily Iden.ied w ith an expn >si(]|i of mildness and iiiiidcstv ; and it woulil nipiiic mi less talent to represent '•'.■.! ^laeeful and unstudied fdlds ni his niaiitle." Ani'tlirr inliiv iew with this chief is thus deserihed ; " .\s we ap- ju-ared updii ihc ludw dl' the hill, which commands the cdm|iaii\"s tcirt. a saliile was \\vi't\ from a niimlier ol lul ihiee df tiieir tlous. \\ e icpain^l to a sort dl paMlinn wliitdi ihey VV ANA TV. «7 liiiil iTtu'li'i], l)y till! iiinoii of .s(>V( mI skin lodgijs. Fine biiiralo robes \v(!re spread all around, and llic air was perfumed by the odor of sweet-scented grass wliidi liad l)e(U Ijurned in it. On cntcrin^r the lod-re, we s!>w the chief seated near the farther end of it, and one of his principal men poin1i>d out to us the place which was destined for our accnmmndalion. It was at the upper end of the lodge; tlie Inilians who were in it luking no furlhi'r notice of us. These con- sisteil of the chief, his son, a lad about eight years old, and eight or ten of the principal warriors. The chief's dress prcseiil^d a mi.x- tiire of th.! Eiirojjean and :dK)riginal costume; he wore moccasons and leiftrins of si)iendid scarlet cloth, a hue shirt of printed muslin, over this a frock coat of fine blue cloth, with .scarlet lacings, some- what similar to the undress uniform coat of a Prussian olliccr ; this was buttoned aiio secured round the wai.st by a belt. I'pon his head he wore a blue cloth caj), made like a German fatigue cap. A very hand.some Mackinaw blanket, .slightly ornamented with paint, wiLs thrown over his jierson." The writer describes tlu! (;ountenanco of Wanata as prepos.sessing. The portrait i)efore us indicates a thoughlf\il and resolute, if not a generous, disposition. He is, however, a very magnificent savage, and has an air of command which is sufliciently regal. The Dacotas are the Arabs of western America. Inhabiting the vast prairies which lie between the Mississi])|)i and the Missouri, they wander extensively over those beautiful plains in search of game, or in pursuit o( their enemies, roaming often beyond their proper limits, to the shores of the northern lakes, and to the l)anks of the Arkansas and Rod rivers. The topography of their country makc-i thvm horsemen, the vast extent and even surface of tli. prairies rendering the service of the horse parti<'ularly desirable. Fpon this nol)le animal they perform their long journeys, charge their enemies in battle, or chase liu' buiralo. They are expert and fearless riders, managing their horses with a surprising deirree of dexterity, and using tluiiu with equal success in the chase, and in war. BIOCJUAPHY, Waiiat.i is a cliicf of the Yaiiktonas, a triln' of tlio Sioux, rir Dii ifotti liiili:ms, \vli(is(; proper rfsiiicucc is on tlie waters o r li lU River St. T'eter, u iiieli empties into tlie Mississip|)i. a slmrl distanee lieliiw tlie (alls I if St. Antlioiiy. Tliey are (li\ ideil into six l)aii(ls, aii'l have ah<>u;rtlifr aliont four hundred and fifty lodu^es, whieh eon- t:iin a jiopnli'.tion of luMween five and six thousand, of whom ihir- ti en linndred are warriors. ' CW (' liiets can h'ad so manv followers to battle. 'l"he whole Dacota nation is estimated to comprise sixty tiioiisand soid^ The Vanktoi as it is otherwise written, Vauktoanan, is one ol' the most important ol' tiie trilies. ami ma\ no the llrst, in conxipience ut' tiie inllnenci W w inata. Til ird \'anl\tona si'/nifies /iv// hiij. 'I'liey do not dwell in per- maneut houses, hut in fine skin lodifes, made of lln' hide of tluf hulfalo. n( all\ dressed and (h'eoraled, and whicli the} move with l'acdit\ Irom •e to olace At tl ally au;e ot' ei'^hteen Wanata was distiimiiisiied as a war- ri or, and fouirht a^rainst the Aint>ricans under the eoinmand of his fatlier, who was then chief of llie trihe, and who ciierishecl a mortal iiatred a;(ainst the American people. J)urin;.; the last war iietween Great Brit;iin and the I'niled States, lie joined the lormer, and was one ol" a iinirderons haml of savaifes eoII(>cled hv ( "oloiiel l)ixon. under wiiom he fon^iit at Sandusky, where lie was wdunded. He has since professed frieiidsiiip towards tlie I'nited States, hut he is well known to he a crafty leader, who would lavor or |iluiider any partv, as his interest miv(ht di.uite II is position, however, is ikiw sui'h as to place him in our power, and oilers him little inducement to incur the displeasure of our i^overmiient. On the other hand, he continues to cultivate a iiiif siicccsst'iillv mi tlic I'rars of t wrv IS iiicidfiit ill tlic life of tiiis cliii'l illiistrutivc liliiiii as \m1I as tlic I'ditili rliaiiii'lvT. Oil the eve of a jounicv wliicli lie i w liicii ill! was iilvt'iy to \n\ cxjiostMl to great liaii'^i pcwas, in.' made a vow to llic siiii tiiat, it" iu' slioiii would alistain iVoiii limd and drink for (our day: woiiiii I'.is'riliiitt' allloIl^f liis in'oplc all his [irojicrty tloll. I{.1 iiriiiiii.S wi tllOIlt accidnit, ills lirst can he (lance o ftl ir slin — a n'rellioiiN' so slicn inu', that we eaii searci l> ii iiiK'ini' a siitiii'ieiith' si kiiii;ly ith fur its voliiiitarv perforinance. Deep incisinns v brtiiisl and arms, so as to separate the skin (idin form of loops, lliroilifli wliieli a mpe was passed, ; f-iii'd to ii tall vertical pole, erected (or the |iiirp< 60 • 1 source of re;^iilar ies(! 1 •olonists. w hit h is hi'^dily lule 1 (' the Iiulian liade in IvJ-i, ill er fn III the Chip- d return safe, lie s anil iiiL^hts, and ■ of every descrip- \K as to cclehrato laint'i 1 and revolt- roiiLf iiidiicemeiit M're made in the til.' llesh. in the and t lie ends fast- ise ill front of his lode lie hc'ran the horrid exercise at tiie comiiieiiceineiit ot Ins fast, and continned it lhroii<_rlioiil the four davs, sometimes dancin^r, and freipieiitly llirowin horses; and he and his two uivj-s, ahandonin'f their teut, with its fnrniluro, took up their lodirin;,' in tl IP oiK'ii air. When the Rickani villaues. on the Missouri, w Ih •re liiirned in \'^'2'^, by the tr(M>ps tinder Colonel I,ea\eiiworlh, in retaliation tor somo acts of depredation committed liv them, that tribe retired from tlio place, but returned in l^-.M. W aiiata seized this occasion to streiiLfthen his power; and, eiicoi inmed bv traders who had been ill treated bv tlu' Kickaras. he iiiaile war upon that trilie. which, Weakened and dispirited by the diirni- (ied and ri'servcd, and Ins attitudi s, iIhmiuIi studied, are uraceiid. lie. is now about ibrty-live years o|" a^^e, ami eonunamis more in- llnenee than any oilier Indian eliietOn the continent, liis rule over ids own tribe is absolute. lie lias no rival nr <'oiiipeer. lie resorts neither to presents nor to persuasion to secure obedience, but issues ids peremptory mandates, wliich are never disputed. 'J'lie traders speak of liim as one wlio may be trusted, because rt IS policy to be at peace with the whites ; but they place no confidence in his friendship, and have little faith in his iuteirrify. Bravo, skil- ful, and sairacious, he is ijraspinjf, artful, and overbearinf tlie Missouri, in the \car i'^OI, the enter|irisinLr travellers aliove menlioned, halted at th(> Mandan villages, situate I far licyond the frontier settlements, at a point to whi |)ltxioii. w 11 IS Cdlll- liicli is of a darluT liuc than that of our oilier Iniliaiis, marks his (h^sccnt ; and there is an expression of fierceness in the; eoniitenance indicative of a race iivintr in |)erpotiial liostihty. f^iicli lias heeii the history of the Seniinoles, who are, as their name indi- cates, wanderers, or outcasts, from other tribes. A few restless in- dividuals, who separated themselvt's from the southern nations, either from dislike a>rainst the modilied habits introduced into those communities by their contact with the whites, or from im])atieiice of the restraints even of savaj^e life, strayed olF to the wilds of I'Morida, and connected themselves with some feeble remnants of the • ncient population, who lintiered in that remote retrion. W'iiile that province remained iii jM)ssession of the Spaniards, the ji'alonsy of that ffovernment, as well as the |»eculiar character of the country, and tlu; savaire nature of the people, rendered it comparatively in- accessible to American curiosity or enterprise; and wo knew little of the savaire tribes witiiin its limits, except from their occasional depredations upon our frontier, and from the protection aflbrded by them t(» runaway slaves from the southern statt '11 cse e vils b( came enh:inced diiriiiL' liie late war wilii (Ireat Hritain, and one of the chief induci'inents to tiie purchase of l-'lorida, by our sfovernment. (74) HIOCJUAI'IIY. 75 was tlip hopn of eitlior tiiniinu; or drivinjf iiway such troul)lesome iiciu;lilK)rs. \V« mcri'ly toncli the .siilijcct ii> tliis \t\ucv lor llii' piir- |ios(^ of .slio\viii}j[ vr'.ijit \vi' suppose to Iw tin; riiaiii causi; of llic fero- cious and obstiuatc characlcr of tlic liostilitios that liave recfMitly reudtTL-d that rogiou a scciif of widc-sproad desolation. In tlie his- tory of wars of ajjgravatcd niahivoh-ncf, it will i^tMicrally he found that some ancient grudj^M', fcsterin^f in the, passions of the frontier po])\dation, j^ives a secret rancor to the dispute whirii it couhl scarcely have attained from the jwlitical differences that are alone apparent to the public eye. The first occasion on which Chittec Yoholo was enj^aifed, was when General CJaines was surrounded by the Seininoh's ; lie was one of the hostile |)arty, and declares that In; foni,'ht hard, and tried his best to kill the white men. Sikiu after, he was en^ant-d in another fi<{ht, in which he killed a white man, ami takiiit,' the scidp. he carried it to the council-house of his tril)e, ami tlirew it at the feet of an ai^ed warrior — thus invokini^ the approbation of one ulio was experienced in the wiles and dani^ers of warfare. 'The men of the villarin'j; of inilolent or inelTicieiit men receive less con- sideration, and are ajit to be thrown into dei^'radint; ollices. Hut iu eiliier case tl le iniliviini; on arriviny at matnritv, liecr)mes tlit arliticer of his own lorluiie, liecause, in a state ol existence, sur- rounded liv daiiifer and vicissituile, where lioldness, cunnings and physical ipialities are coiitimially called into action, he must rise or sink, ill the |)roportioii that he displays the |)osscssinii or the want of those qualities. Moiikauslika, or T/ie 'IW))if)/i/ii/ Efirf/i, while a lio\, was employed as a coiii?h himself, until near about the time when he arrived at iiianhiHxl, w lien he juried himself into notice In a siunle :i(l, A small parly of yoiinu nicn of the Yankton tribe fell in with an equal uwwxhvr (A' roi/iu/ciirs, wh:) were liaveliin^ throiii,di the prairies fr. im Si f.iiiis to some tradim,^ cstaMishmeiil in tiic interior of ihe Indian country. One of the Yanklons reipiested permission to ride on the same Imrse with oin-nf the whiles, which the latter declined (Vt-l IlldCIt AI'll V, as Ills li(>rsc \v;is nnicli rali<_riic(I. ami tlir jmiriu \ uas slill (;ir (ruiii liciiiif fmislifd 'I'lic lliiliaii, liriiii,' nllriiilcd, rrM>|v('i|, uilli tlit; iM|M-iiiiiiis rcsciiimciil of a savairc, to take ri'\riii_rc ii|inii the (irst o|i|iin-|iiiiitv, ami slmrtly aftir slmt an armw ihruiiLili tlic uiiU(r- liiiiatc white man. 'I'ln' rcniaimlir nf the party (led in alarm, and rt'Ui lu'd tlic Vaiditon vm\\\> tlic next day Wlicn the iHWs of tliis mitraKr reached the ^'ankt(l(l villa ;?•• Miinkaiishlsa, tlmiiirli a mere v'lith, deelareil hiinsrlt' tl le aveliirer i if the white man. The Indian rnle is, that the nearest relative of tho deceased may pnt tiie murderer to deith, l)nt he must do it at his |ii ril If there he no relative who will take iip llir ipiarrel, a friend may do it ; and in this instance, whatever may have lieen the motive of the yonni; Indian, the act was, accord in'.;; to their notions, lii'_ddv ifenerons, as he took up tlie cause of a decea.sed stranger, w ithoul the prospect of reuanl, and at the risk of his own iill II. was, however, lanirhed at hy his companions, w ho diil not vrive him credit for tlie couraj^e necessary to carry out such a desiLrn, and siipposec I that le was only imliduin'^ in an idle iio.ast. Hut he was in earnest; and, haviny; loaded his {.run, he tielilieratciy walkid up to the oflender, when lie entered the villai{e, ami shot him dead. Tho im|tunity w ith which such an act mi<„dit l)e done, would do |iend much on the maimer of its execution. Had not the most do lermiiied intrc|)idity lieen dis|)layed throuy the succt'ssCr'. t'vont of thi' atlair. He rose inuucdiatcly to dislinclioii, and, liaviny since shown himself i i^immI w.uTJor, was, altliout;h a verv younuf man, I'lie ot" tiie (diii I" prrson.-' in Ids trilic. and was smt to Uashiuu- ton, ii: ls:JT, as one of their (h'!ei;ates. Dnrini; thiir slay in Wash- injjtnn. Monkaiishka hecanie sick, lie was sutlerinu under tlie in- flinnee of fever when lie Mit for his piirtrait — hut rocoviTinj,' a litth-, h<> v'tas supposeil able to proceed with the deleijratiun on their tour to the Kasl. On arrivintj at Haltimore, however, it was foiuid im- jiractiealile , tr him to proceed l"urtln'r. lie \vas left in eharife of a faithful interpreter, and, .-dthouufh surroiinded hy nil tliat was ro- (piired fur his eoud'ort, he j,'ra(hially sunk under his i.isoase, and, nftor a fi'w days of sidl'erin^', dioil. r~ M All ASK All MaIIAskmi. fir While Cloud, tlir rider, was tl e sun of \\\w\ law- hiMH'liei , (II L'iiw. nr tlie \\ iiiiinliiiLt Ariow, wjiii was |iriiiei|i:il rliicf of ilic I'au- |iieriril-iii>si' intKiii ol' Indians. Maiiliaw liau eiiiiiiraled, some liiindred am! lil'lv \i-ir> a'jo, rrum Mieiiillimaeinac to the west liaiik ol till liiM.av river, iiid Miei IimI .a |inMUoii mar lis niuiiili, u liere III* liaii i kindled tlieir liies and .siinikid llieir |ii|ies to tin' ("Jrcat S)Mnt Tlie name iriM-n tn tlii.s river, liv M.mliaviL'iiw, \*as N'folioncv . or the Masli'r of Kivers llaviiiLT Imilt liis villai'e, lie as yreeted uilli a .salnlaiion I'roin the Sioiix. |ii|)e wa.s sent ri iiiin liv that Irihe. u iih an invilutioit to a dot; least, made in honor e|ited the iiiMtatioii, and joined in thi* nisi at the hast, and, no dniil t, re|»osinj^ in tiiti most ol the ( ireat ."siiirit II*' eereinoii\ U |>erl<'et heennty, lie \v;is suddenly attaeked ; liiif, lhoiii(h Mirjiri.sed, he succeeded in killinif one man and three uomeii, liel'ore he vva« Niain I'Imm ontrai;!' iipon the national honor has never heei, lor'.nven. The porirail lielme llie reader is that ol' the xni lA \lauh: i\\ Liaw, v\ iio was thii.s tn aeheroiisly slain. 'The lowiivs, mdiirnaiit at the eondnet ol thi Moiiv, re.so I veil imedialely oil reveMl^t'. lev raiseil a \sar |iariv. Of this jiartv, the sin, Mahaskah. was the letiitimate ehiel ; lint, heiiit; vonni.^ mid having never dislini,Miislird himselt' in hattle, he deelined taking the 'iiininan>l\ali hrodulit I ininr, III Ills n\\ l; liailcl. till' sialli ot llir Siniix i-liiif. in Whose liii lue tlic lili- 'it liis latin r lliid hern sn lli ;ii|ie|nnsl\ takrii. Iluvinu til IIS show n IniiiseH' a liraxe, lie assi lined (lie eon una nd nf Ills waninrs and ot ins Irilie Ills \Nar adveiitiires were niiineioiis and dariiiu'. lie uas in eiLililecniiMtlles auaiiist \ariiiiis lianils, and was never delealed. In mie til his ex|iedili(ins against the Osajfes, llii'ts wi'iT inaiiv, lie arnveil on tlie imrtli liaiik wi th \\\\ lom Ins cull ol llie Missol II, and \ a- there, and enuau'ed in tivino in slop an ctViisioii III ii nod Ironi lii.s nose, he es|iied a caiiiie deseeiidiiiii tint ri\er. III will -h ueie ihree [•'renehmell. \\ isliiiiir to cross over with his {larlN. I{' \\ ini ('|iiti| hiiNJutjf c drath. and thr niaiinrr il • ' ri'|oi(Til, |io\\i'\ rr .l;n A iiiiriiMii ol II. inadr him rrstlcsN, and rciidt'ri'd liini ini|ilai-ahh- a<^niiiist tli |ii'r|>i'trat<>rs of tliat oiitratrc, and their allii Not hmii al'trr his csrapi' Iroin prison, and nMnrn to Ins hoiiir, an, lit* piiinni'i an fxpcditioii against tlw ()sa;irs ||r nsohid lo mar 'h witli a hcIitI |iart\ of ti>n hraM-f. to thr i.ittlr Osaifo plains, u'hii'h iii- sonth of th*- Mis»oiiri river, and ahont two hundred and lil'lv miles aliove St Louis. Arrivinu[ at the plains, a tavorahle op|)orlnnitv sim)|i oll'ered, whirh was sei/.ed !iy .Mnhaskah, and the battle i-oiMineiH-i'd. il wax his nMslortuiie, early in tin i-onllu-t. to rei-eive a rille liall in his le^, just al»ove the ankir lie had siir- eeeiled, however, hefoie he was wounded, in Mikini.' three ol the eiKMiiv's scalpH, wIkmi ho Nouuht a retreat, and loMnd one under a laroe loy that lav aeross a w.ater-eoiirse The ( )s.itres liiHowed elo.se upon him — heinj,' yiiided hy the lilood tiiat llowed Iroin his uoiiiid; hul ilioy lost the trail on arriving' at the water-cMnirse, tor .Mahiiskah had takeii the preeaution to step into tlie water some dis- lanee hdow llie lo^, hv whirh 'tralaiiein he misled his pursuers, lor ihev supposed he had eros.sed over at the plaee where tlie\ IiinI saw hlood He remained under the loif, whii'li lav on the w.iVer, with just so niueh of his iio.se out as to eiia hie I iim to lireathi In the ni^dit, when all wan sileiiee, save the tinklim: o| the lielU lit the Indian horses in the plains helo^^, Mahask di ii It his jiiacr 84 in(»(;i{.\i>iiY. of (•(iticcaliiKMit, iiiid ciiiiiiiii; up witli oiu; (if tlic li(irs(>s, moiuited liiiii :iii(l tiiiidc oil' ill llic ilirccliuii ol' liis Ikuim', wliirli \\;is im tin; livrr Dcs Moiiirs. .\iii\ iiiy: al tlii' Missoiiii, lie nsnrlcd to tin- liiiliaii iikmIc (if crossiiiir, wliicli is, tn lie oiio cml of tlic lialtrr ai'oi IK ! th III ■rk III lli(' linrsr. and, takiii!,; the dllirr end lirtwt'cii liis tft'tli, lif drives till' aiiiiii:;! into till' \\ ater, and iiiiitis liJH uwii <'X( rtimis, as ;\ ssvimnirr. to llmsi' ol' tlir Imrsc, and is liy tliis int-ans carried over in safety. In all tliese dillienlties lie tonk rare not In |rirt v\itli eitlier liis !.Min or his scalps. )n arriving at lioine lie paiacled liis trnpliies, and ludered the scalp dance In lie ilancei I .\..l lielll • I.I. on acciinnt of his wniind. In lead the dance himself, he placed the .scalps ii' the hand of luthehi.ne, i.r the HliT Axe, will.. I.t ini: the first I. rave of his liaml, was eiilitlerl to tho distinction. .Mi diaskah accoin|ianied the presentation of the sea )S to nil Axe with these words: I I lave now revenuid the (h-alh if iiiv father. M \ heart IS at n st. w ill ijn to w ar no more I lui. M nisliitcliee: |{id Head, (ineaniiiL' < General Clark,) when I was last al Si. ,oills, that I would lake his peace lai M IS Olll w ill iiirhl nil iiiorc In the \ 1 ar I "'.' I, Mahaskali left linine, lieinti one of a pa'U on an oiahassv to W ashiiii;toii, lea\ iiit; his w i\i>s heliind him, their niiinher laviim iiicicased to seven W hii aliiiiil mic liiiiidi'ed iiiiii s from linine, and near the inoiitli ol the river Des Moines, haviiiu killtd a deer, he ^!llppe(l to co, k U piece of it. lie was seated, aiui had Jilsl eoini'iem fit his meal, when he felt himself snddeiilv struck on the 1. 'i'nriiiii<^ rmind, he was astonished In see Uanti I lewaiine stiiiidiiii:; hefiire him with an nplifled lomaiiawk in her hand. til. IS accosted him — " .\m 1 \nnr wile .\ri' villi niv liiisliaiid. !i sii, 1 will no with yon tn llie Maw iiehnniieclic. (nr the .\mi man hiti house,) and see and shake the hand of Ineohiuice," which means i^rreat father. .Mahaskah answered — " ^"es, von are inv wife; i am voiir hnshaiid; I have heen a lonj. time Iniin von ' ' ' am au M A 11 A S K A H . 8S to sec you; you iirr inv |ii(ttv wilt to sec ;i pretty wdiiihii." iiiiil ;i Iiriivc iiinti rilwavs \n\rn 'I'lii- i»;irtv iinivrd at \V':isliin iMcdal was made to Maliaskali, and a trcaly was i-Diichiclcd liclwj'.'ii tlic I'uilcd Stales and \\\^^ liiwavs. Il was a treat* of eessioii, of limits, Sec, and of eousidera- tioiis therefor. These eoiisicien.lious iiielude a pavineiit, in that year, of five; hundred dollars, and the sunw sum annually, for ten year> iherealter Provision is made for lilaid\ets, farminiif utensds mil altle; and assistanee is pronuserl liicni in tliea lifrieullural j)ursuits, under such forms as the |'re>idtnl mi^^ht li'cni expedient. 'The ('ollowini,' oeeiM'reiifo hap| visit. M; lened at W a.sliin>_'loii dnriiiLT that I. iliaskaii would oecHsionailv iii(r..ij;o ui a loo tree use ol irdent spirits. On one o| these o/easions he was exereisini^ one ,if III Inilian liusliaii'l s pnvileLi<'s on the !•• \iiiii riLieon. lie aij( ut, iiearinj": the sciiine, hastened to thei r room. .M iiiasKan, lieariniiiir a lii'^li niii', I'lialilirii; liiiii In nvt'ili'iik a roiisidiTuiilf iMi'ht III' ciiiiiilry, iml In sec her. Ilr inili liaik. ami, Had to rclatr, alli'i" icliai'iii^ Ins steps smiie live or six miles, he saw lier liorse iria/iiiLl m-ar llie trail, ami |ireseiitlv the lioi|\ of his wile, near llie eil'je iil' a siiiall |m ciii'iii', willi her eliiM reslmu^ Its head ii|inii her Iiih1\ The iiorror-siriekeii ehiel', alinhlinu near to the sjMil, was sonii assui, 'i ii| ht-r ihatli ! St:iiiiiiMu "Vcr Ik r enrpsc, he exelaiiiied, in his innlhei loimne, " \\ au-<'iiiii!a-iiienia-lii'atiiskuiinee, shiiiii;au-menia-nan'_M-iii'|)|>o ! ' — w hieh hi iii<^ interpreted, means — ( iod AliniLihtv ! I am a itad in (III are aiinrv with mt IK) hors kill. niv sipiavv Al III < iniiiiient, the child lilted its head rnun ihe dead Iti'dy of its mother, and said — " l''alher, my iiiollnr is aslee|i ! " 'I'Ih' inreniiec uav, that tin: horso had stiimhied and thrown her, 'i'he o( iiirrenee took plaee ahout lour da}s' |otiriie\ from his home. Nlahaskah, within that time, was seen relnrnini; to his lod^e, liear- in<; the dead hod\ of Uantehewaime, with his ehild in his arms. lie proi'i'rdeil at oiiee In dispose ol' the I'orpse. Mis lirsl hiisiiiess w.is to aather loijellier ail llie presenis that had lieeii madi to lier at W: ishiniztoii ; also whatevn else iiclomriil i4i Im'T, and In iilaer ||, with the liodv, 111 a nide Ih).\ ; aii>l then, aeeordiiK/ In the <'nslom ot the liiilians nf that re'rjoii, the hox was plaeeil upon a lil){h Hcnilold. This iniNh> ol' disposinir of Ihr di'iid has a twnfnid ohjeet —one is, to elr\ate the hody as In^h as |M)ss|lile iii ihe direilion of the liniin' of ihe tJreal Spirit; thai home heiiiu, aeeordinir to their lielief, III the hUv ; thi otiiei .s to protei:! llu' corpse iVoiii he wolves, whose ravaif<'s would disfiLnire it, and render it uiisitflitlv in the eyes of Ine (ireat Spinl. This mncli ot the eeieinonv over. Ihe ' hief killed a dog, made a fea.r wcir Killi il 'I'lic Aon was (asltiitd, with Ills lirail iipuiti'ils, III till' sralliiM. wliilt' llir tail iif llir liorNt' liaii a iMixitidii asspjiifd to it nn tliat jiait nl' tlic scall'nlil iirarrst tlii> III ail i>r llii' (It'll asnl. (>ii tlii' lirail nj tlir ilo^ was |i|arri| a twist 111' liiliarro. 'I'licsc rcrriiioiiii's Imvi' tlicir nriiriii in it snptTslilion nf tlio iialimi, wliii'li altriliiitcs t-vtrv liratli In tlic anu'tr of tlif (iri'at S|iiiil. will! is sii|i|iiistil to l)c ajwavs in inotioii, scarrliiii'j lor tlic s|»iiits 111 tliiisi' w 111) liavc iri-i'iitiv iliiil, w Itli tlir raliiiiu t. nr |ii|K' ut' pcai'i' III Ills iiiiiiilh. As tlir sivill'iilil is a|i|ii'ii'irliril l)\ llif iii\str- riii lis lii'iiii^, tli«' walrlirni linii is i'\|icrtr(l to sir ami aililn s> In 111- 111101111 liiiii of till- locality of tlif IiinIv. ami iiiMtc liiin to take tlin toiiai'i'ii. ami sinokr. 'I'liis olli'i' tlic Imlian liclicvcs is always aicc|itci! 'i'lif (Ileal S|iirit linn |iriiiirils to rcaiiiiiialc and ri'iii'Mlcl tlir dead IiihIn ; to rotorc tlic trinkets ami |iro|)crl\' of tin- deceased; iiii|iai'l \italil\' to the doy; am! the horse, and eniiiniis- simi llieiii. rni'thuilh, the mie to hear the deceased to the land ol' ijanic and of iilent\ — the other, to Inint the deer in the reijions of till' hlcssed. In l"«MM, the son of a!i low a\ chiel' of iliMiintion, i.iiMied ( Vane, was killed li\ the Oinalias. \ partv of Io\v!i\>' a[ipliid to Maliaskall to head tlicin in the |iiirsllit of the ellelnv. lie replied, " I have Iniricd the tomahawk ; 1 am now a man ol peace." lie added; •'the treatv iiiide with oiir ureal father provides for the piinishment of sncli outrages." 'I'lie partv, however, resolved that the\ wniild punish the airtjressors. 'I'liev made an iiiciir»i'in mtn the eiieinv's coniitrv, and rctiirned, liniejini,' with tin in si\ M';dps The ciistoinar\' feast was prepared, and all was ncide readv 'or the scalp dance ; liiil Maliaskah refused to pijt:ike of the one, or par- ticipate in the other. The iniirders, on liotli sides, haviii'j liecli repoi'teil to the ^foVcrn- liii lit, (ieiierii ( 'l:ill> was directed |o cause the liiwavs to lie arrested. Thisdiilv wasassijjned to their ai^eiit, (iciiera! IIui.;lies 88 niOCU AI'IIY. wlin I'filli'il nil t1i(> cliit r, M;tli;islv;ili, In whom lie iiiiulc kiinuii tlio (inlcr. MiiliiisUali iiiiswcnd. "It is ritj;lil ; I uill p) willi skp." Tlic (iirciiilcis wtrc arn'sl('(l .ind (•onvcvt'd to I'dit Lcavfiiwurtli. \\ liilc I'diiriiii'd lliii'i', iiiif ol tlic |ii'is()M(M°s callnl M;ili;iskiili to the w iiidow of Ills diin<^ri>ii, and looking; liim full in tlic face, said ; " Iiii-a, (fatluT,) if I'vcr I ji[('l out of this place! alive, 1 will kill von. A liravc man should never he ileprivid of his lilierty, and coMtiiied as I am. ^ nil slionlil liavc s hot me at the \illa<;e Infoi'tMnaleU for .Maha.skah. that Indian siieeeeded in nialvini.r iiis eseajM' iVoiii |ii'ls [owavs, and the iicit!hlioriii<4 Irih lor the wives and children ol the deceased In mivi a\^aveverv lluii''' th w'liicji hail 1. d h I liiiii ami his I'lmilv. Ins iiislnm was riiiidU' adhered loon llii occasion ol Mahaskah's death. His siir- \ivinition, kind, ifenerons, and de\ol(d to her Jiiishand. A harsh won! wa.«- never kimwn to proceed from lier month; nor was she ever known to he in a passion. Maliaskah used to sav of her, alter her death, that her hand was shut when timse who ('id not want cime into her presence; hut, when the p{)or came, it was like a strainer, full of holes, lettiii'^f all she held m it pass throii;,di. In the (elter. Tlio oontinual <'Vireise of this ijenerous feelint,' l. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) t ^ // ^/ /J% % 1.0 I.I 1^128 |2.5 ^ 1^ » .,. 1^ 2.0 1.8 11.25 ■ 1.4 i 1.6 vl ^ /2 v: o>^ \> 7 /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST |ii^»^N STREET WtiMTER MY UiSO (7itO 372-4503 <> 6^ f>2 BIOGRAPHY. was in the lodge, tlio lust bladder of l)ears' oil, ' :iiid the last piece of dried meat. Ilaiitchewuiiue was scrupulously exact iu the observance of all ihc religious rites which her faith imi)osed ujion her. Her couscienco is represented to have lieen e.vtreniely lender. She often feared that her acts were disj)leasing to the (ireat Spirit, when slie would blacken her face, and retire to some lone ])lace, and fist and |)ray. The lowavs, like all other Indians, Ix'lieve in a CI real Spirit, and iu future rewards and punishments ; and their priests make freipient sacrifices of dogs and horses, to apj)easi' the anger of tlu'ir God. For their virtue, which, with these Indians, ine;nis courage, kind- ness, honesty, chastity, and generosity, tliey helieve most sincerely they will be rewarded; and, for bad actions, tliey as fully I)elieve they will be puni.shed. Among these they enumerate dislionesty, laziness, the sacrifice of chastity, &c. But they do not view the stealing of a horse in the light of a dishonest act — they class this among their virtues. Ilantchewaime has been known, after her return from Washing- ton, to assen'ble hundreds of tlie females of her trii)e, and iliscoursp to them on the suljjec of those vicious courses which .she witnessed during that journey, among the whites, and to warn them against like practices. The good effect of such a nice sense of propriety has been singularly illustrated among the loways. It is reported, on untpiestionable authority, that an illegitimate child has never been known to be born among them. It is true, uncles (parents do not interfere, the right being in the vincle, or the nearest relative) sometimes sell their nieces for money or merchandise, to traders and engagees. Marriages thus contracted frequently produce a state of great connul)ial happiness ; but, if the purchaser abandon his pur- chase, she is discarded, and never taken for a wife by a brave, b t * Bears' oil is kept in bladdors, and used by the Indians in cookirijr, for the same )iiirpogus for which we \ise lard or butter. RANTCHEWAIME. 93 is left to jjorfona all tho drudgery of the lodge and the fie'd, and is treatetl as au outcast. An affecting incident occurred in 1828, on the Missouri. A con- nection, by purchase, had been formed between a trader and an loway maid. They lived together for some time, and had issue, one child. The trader, as is often tlie case, abandoned his wife and child. The wife, agitated with contending emotions of love and bereavement, and knowing how hard would be her fate, strapped her child to the cradle, and throwing it on her back, pursued her faithless husband. She came within sight of him, but he eluded her. Arriving at the top of a high bluff that overlooked the country, and after straining her eyes by looking in every direction to catch a glimpse of him, or to see the way he was travelling, in vain, she stepped hastily to a jjart of the bluff that overhung tlie Missouri, and exclaiming, " O God ! all that I loved in this world has passed from my sight ; my hopes are all at an end ; I give myself and child to thee !" sprang into the river, and with her child was drowned. We have spoken of the firm belief of the loways in a future state. What that state is, in their view of it, we will now briely state. They believe that, after death, and after they are found by the Great Spirit — who, as we have said in a preceding sketch, is con- stantly going about with a pipe of peace in his mouth, seeking the bodies of the dead — they are guided by him to a rapid stream, over which always lies a log that is exceedingly slippery. Those who are destined to be happy are sustained by the Good Sjiirit in cross- ing upon this slippery log. The moment they reach the opposite shore, they are transported to a land filled with buffalo and elk, the antelope and beaver; with otters, and raccoons, and muskrats. Over this beautiful land the sun always shines ; the streams that irrigate it never dry up, whilst the air is filled with fragrance, and is of the most delightful temperature. The kettles are always slung, and the choicest cuts from the buffalo, the elk, &c., are always in a 94 BIOGRAPHY. slate of readiness to be eaten, whilst the smoke of these viands ascends for ever and ever. In this beautiful and happy country, the departed good meet, and mingle with their ancestors of all ])r('vious time, and all the friends that preceded them, all recog- nizing and saluting each other. But when tlie wicked die, they are guided to this slippery log, and then abandoned, when they fall into the stream, and, after being whirled about in many directions, they awake and find themselves upon firm ground, but in the midst of sterility, of poverty, and of desolation. All around them are snakes, lizards, frogs, and grass- hoppers ; and there is no fuel to kindle a fire. This barren land is in full view of the beautiful country, and of all its deliglits, whilst over it constantly i)ass tlie odors of the viands ; but from a j)artici- pation in any thing there, they are for ever debarred. In this belief Ruutchewaime grew up. It was to gain admission into this heaven, and to avoid this place of punishment, she .so often went into retirement to pray; and all her virtues and good worlds, s!k! l)cliev(';liiiiiii'i liiilit. It is impossible to contemplate a child of II itnii' >o uil'ti'd ill all that is excellent, without feeling a regret tliat till' principles of a more rational religion had not reached Rant- chewaii ic, and that she had not participated in its enjoyments. But He to wlic.n she lias none will know how to judge her. Certain It is, of those to whom a little has been given, but little will be required ; and although Rantchewaime may not have found the heaven she aspired to reach, she has found one far more delightful, and as eternal. YOUNG MAIIASKAH. This is the son of Mabaskah the elder and Rantchewaime. On the death of his father, young Maliaskah took charge of his family/ Inheriting by birth the title and prerogatives of chief, it was sup- posed he would assume the authority of one ; but this he refused to do, saying, he would not occupy the place of his Hither unless called to that station by a majority of his people. This decision being made known to the nation, a general council was called, by which he was elected chief without a dissenting voice. He was then in the twenty-fourth year of his age. The decision of the council being announced to him, he thus addressed it : — " One of my sisters, and other yoang squaws, have been taught to spin and weave. My father approved this and encouraged it. He also taught the lessons of peace, and counselled me not to go to war, except in my own defence. I have made up my mind to listen always to that talk. I have never shed blood ; have never taken a scalp, and never will, unless compelled by bad men, in my own defence, and for the protection of my people. I believe the Great Spirit is always angry with men who shed innocent blood. I will live in peace." This talk clearly indicated the policy he had resolved to pursue , and, that the force of example might be added to his precept, he immediately engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has now undei cultivation about sixteen acres of land, on which he raises corn pumpkins, beans, squashes, potatoes, &c., all which are well (95) 90 BIOGRAPHY. attended, and cultivated with great neatness — the plough b(;iug the principal instrument; and this he holds in his own hand. Tlie surplus [)roduce he distributes with groat liberality among his people. This, and his father's example, have had a most beneficial effect uf)on his tribe. Mahaskah not only follows, thus practically, tlie rxainplo set by his father, but he also counsels his people, on all suitable occasions, to abandon war and the chase, and look to the f;vound for their support. He is, literally, the monarch of his tribe Xarcheninga, or No Heart, his father's brother, acts in concert with, and sustains lurn nobly, in these lessons of industry and peace. Youuii; Mahaskah considered that great injustice had been done by the United States government lo his people, in faihng, by a total disregard of the stipulations of the treaty of 1S25, to keep off intruders from his lands, and in overlooking the obligations of that treaty in regard to the conduct of the Sauks and Foxes of the Mis- sissippi, who had not only made large sales of the mineral regions about what are called Do Buque's mines, witliout consultinu" the loways, who, by the treaty, are entitled to an equal portion of that country, but who also threatened, in their talks, to advance within the limits of the Grand and Des Moines rVers, and take possession of the country. In view of these things, young Maliaskah called on th(! T'uited States agent, and made known his grievances. The aircnt replici], that his will was good to .see justice done lo the loways, l)ut that he had no ])o\vcr to enforce it. Mahaskah n.'solved to j)mceed immediately to Washington, and a])peal, in person, to his great father, and ask for redress. -This intention of the chief was made known to the government. The answer was, in sul)- stance, "There is no a])proprialion to pay his expenses." He then determined to make the visit at his own cost, which he did in the winter of 1830-7, selecting for his companion a notable brave, called the Sioux Killer, whose portrait is given in this work, and of whose life aiui actions we have something to say. Tlie lowavs en- f.'age(l the services of Major Joseph V. Hamilton and Major Morgan, YOUNG MAHASKAH. 9T !iad invested them with full power to adjust their difTiciilties witli the government. Major Morgan declined, Major IlamiUou con- sented ; when, in company with their long-tried and faitliful agent, General Andrew II. Hughes, the party started for Washington. Mahaskah had indulged tlie hope that tliese diniculties might be adjusted at St. Louis, and thereby save the trouble and expense of pursuing his journey to Washington. With this view, he visited the old and constant friend of his people. General William Clark, wiio received the chief and his party with all the kindness whicli has so long characterized his intercourse witli the Indians of the far West. But he was unable to redress the grievances (-omplained of, and, tluTelbre, declined to interfere in the adjustment of their claims. He, however, gave Mahaskah a letter, which was addressed to Major Hamilton, to be laid before the President, together with a very able petition which had been prepared. The petition was ad- dressed to Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, or his succes.sor; and also to the Congress of the United States; the object being that, if the President had no authority to interfere, Congress might confer it. The young chief and his party were received with great kindness by the authorities at Washington. He told, in his own simple but eloquent style, the story of his wrongs, and claimed the interposition of the government. He was promised, in reply, that his business should be attended to, and his grievances redressed. Reposing entire confidence in these promises, he was satisfied. A medal was presented to him, and other testimonials of respect shown him. After remaining about ten days, he returned, in February, 1837, to his own country. The portrait before the reader was taken during that visit, by that celebrated artist. King, the san.s who had taken, previously, a large portion of those which embellish this work. In person, young Mahaskah is about five feet ten inches high, and so finely proportioned as to be a model, in all respects, of a per- fect man. The reader will see, on turning to his portrait, hovir 13 98 BIOfiRAlMiY. striking is its resemblance to his fatlicr's, and liow clearly it indi- cates tlic character of tlie man. Around his neck are seen the sarn« bear's claws wliich his lather had long worn before liini. It luqjpened, when Maliaskah was at Wasliington, that the agent for this work was there also. He waited on the pari}-, and exhibited the specimen number. As he turned over the leaves bearing the likenesses of many of those Indians of the far ^^ est, who were known to the party, Maliaskah would pronounce their names with the same promptness as if the originals had been alive and heiure liini. Amon<>- these was the likeness of his father. He looked at it with a compos(n-e bordering on indifference. On being asked if he did not know his father, he answered, pointing to the jiortrait, "Tliat is my father." He was asked if he was not glad to see him. He replied; " It is enough for me to know that my father was a brave man, and had a big heart, and died an honorable death in doing the wdl of my great flither" — referring to the duty he was engaged in, as stated in his father's life, which resulted in his death. Another leaf being turned over, he said, " That is Shaumone- kus8e, the Ottoe chief," and added, "he is a brave and sen.sible man, and I am glad to f-'rc him." They had long been friends; in fact, ever since Mahaskah was a boy, they had smoked the cajumet together. The portrait of the Eagle of Delight, wife of Shaurnone- kusse, whj then shown to him. "That," said he, "is my mother." The agent assured him he was mistaken. He became indignant, and seemed mortified that his mother, as he believed her to be, should be arranged in the work as the wife of another, and especially of a chief over whom his father had held and exercised authority. The collocpiy became interesting, until at last some ex- citement, on the part of Maliaskah, grew out of it. On hearing it repeated by the agent, tliat he must be mistaken, Mahaskah turned and looked him in the face, saying, " Did you ever know the child that loved its mother, and had seen licr, that forgot the board on which he was strapped, and the back on which he had been carried, YOUNO MAH \S!C A II. 90 or the knee on wlacli ho hud Ihh'u iinrsiid, or the liivast that hud given hiiu IMe?" So firmly convinced was he that this was tlie picture of liis mother, and so resolved that she should not remain l)y tiie side of Shanmonckusse, that he said, " I will no! leave this room until my mother's name, Rantchewaime, is marked o-. er the name of Eagle of Delight." Tiie agent for the work complied with his demand, when liis agitation, which had become great, subsided, and he appeared contented. Looking once mo <.■ at the painting, he tiiriiefl from it, saying, " If it had not been for ^^ aucondamony" — the name he gave the agent for the work, which means Walking God, so called, because he a'triljuted the taking of the.se likenesses to him — " I would have kissed her; but Wancondamonv made me ashamed." Soon after this interview, the party went to King's gallery, where are copies of many of these likenesses, and among them are both the Eagle of Delight and the Female Flying Pigeon. The moment Mahaskah's eye caught the portrait of the Female FlyiuL'' Pigeon, he e.vclaimed, ^^ That is my inotlicr! that is her fan! I know her now. I am ashamed again." Ho immediateh' a.sked to have a copy of it, as also of the Eagle of Delight, wife of Shaumonekusse, saying, of this last, " The Ottoe chief will be so glad to see his squaw, and he will give me one hundred horses for it."' It was njost natural that Mahaskah should have mistaken the Eagle of Delight for liis mother, and no less so, when tluy were seen together, that he should become convinced of his error. His mother, it will bo recollected, was killed when he was only four years old. She and the Eagle of Delight were neighbors and friends, and much together; and were particular in braiding their hair alike, and dressing always after the same fashion, and, geinMally, in the same kind of material. lie knew, moreover, that the 1",.il;Io of Delight was of roval birth, and, though a child, lie recolU'cted she had a blue spot on her forehead, which is the ensign of royalty. In the portrait before him, the colorer had omitted the sj)ot; mt seeing too BIOGRAPHY. this, and seeing the braided hair and the dress, and the strong ro semblance to the features of his mother as they remained impressed nju-n Ills memory, lie was easily deceived. The moment, however, he came inio the presence of his mother's likeness, and had both before him, he knew her on whose back he had been carried, the knee on which lie had been nursed, and the breast that had given him life; and even the fan in her hand served to recall the mother he had loved, and painfully to remind him of her melancholy deatli —for he said that she had that same fan in her hand when the horse fell with her. In the other jiainting before him, he saw the blue spot. He was no longer mistaken, and rejoiced in once more beholding so good a mother. It is scarcely necessary to add, thai copies of" both were sent to him, and that both he and Shaumone- kusse, the husband of the Eagle of Delight, were made happy; the one ill receiving back, as from the dead, a mother so beloved— tho other, a wife whose loss he deeply deplores. METAKOOSEGA. iMETAKoosicnA, or Pure tobacco, is one of the Lac du Flambeau I'.iiid, of tlie Chippeway, or, more properly, Objibway nation, and resides on liie borders of Trout Lake. This man was one of a war ]):irty, raised in 1S2I, to go against the Sioux. They descended I he Chippeway river to the Mississippi, and unfortunately fell in with a trader named Finley, from Prairie du Chicn, whom, together with the crew of his boat, they murdered. It is provitled, by our treaties with the Indian tribes, that, upon the commission of such outrages, the offenders shall be given up by their tribes, to be tried and punished under our laws; and the prac- tice of our government has lieen, to insist upon a rigid observance of this regulation. When the usual demand was made for the murderers of Finley, twenty-nine of the party voluntarily sur- rendered themselves to the agent at the Sault de St. Marie. They were examined, seven of them committed for trial, and confined at Mackinaw, and the remainder discharged. At the ensuing term of the court, the judge of the district declined trying the prisoners, in consequence of some oljjection which had been raised against his jurisdiction : and, during the following winter, they cut tlieir way out of the log jail, and escaped. In the mission of Governor Ca,ss and Colonel McKenney to tlie Upper Lakes, in 182n, it was made part of their duty to ascertain and demand the real perpetrators of the aggression on the party of Mr. Finley. This has always been a difficult and delicate subject, (101) 102 niOiillAlMIY. ill llie rclalions oCtuir yoscnniiciit uitli tho Iiidiuiis, in coiiswiuencc of tlic very wulo dilleri'iici' IjctweL-ii llit'ir moral codi' iiml (nir own. Tlioy udiiiit tlic ubligatidii Dl'llit) lex ta/iunia {u its I'lilk'st oxlciit, l)ut tiiry caiiiiot uiulcistaiul lliut any other than tho injured party has a riylit to claim the jienally. Had any of the near rehitives of Mr. l'"inley, for instance, jfonc to tlio Lac du Flaniheau, to revenge themselves ujion liis murderers, thoy would have been considered as in the praiseworthy performance of an act of duty, and would have iteen permitted to put tlie guilty parties to death, iftlnij could — and none would have interfered, either to aid or prevent them. But they view the interlereiice of tlu! yovermnent with jealjusy; and while, on the one hand, thoy often refuse obstinately to betray the oll'ender, or shield him by evasion and delay, tliey as often, on the other, wiien their fears of tho resentment of our <,rovernmeiit l)ecome awakened, deliver up somt; innocent Jiarty, who voluntei'rs his life as a peace-oU'ering, to satisfy what tiiey deem a kind of national thirst for the blood of one of the tribe which has insulted us. The following extract from Colonel McKcnney's account of this transaction will be interesting: — "The council met; when, ac- cording to arrangement, I made the demand for the surrender of the miinh'rers. This being done, and there [)eing one Indian present belonging to the Lac du Flambeau band, and who was of the l)arty who commilted tho murder, lie was called up, and formally examined, lie is clearly innocent. Indeed his j)re.sence here demonstrates that fact. It was in proof, that he dissuaded the murderers from committing the act. We told him, if hn had been guilty, we would have taker, him with us, and tried him by our laws ; and if, on proof, he had turned out to have hail a hand in the bk)ody act, he should have been hanged. During the examination, his brother came \\\) to the table, greiitly agitated. He showed great anxiety, and said he knew the murderers had upbraided his brother because he would not join them. Another Indian declared he knew he was innocent. The governor said, ' Will you put your .MKT.\i\()()si:(;.\. 108 '' I "" .your lirc'isl, aiul s.iv that in the pru.sciici' of the (Ireut Spirit .'' 'I'lic iiioincut tin; iiitcrprftcr put this (piostion, tlic Indi.ni lookrd him full in the face, iiiid aiiswcml, '.Iw ladoy, thut I slioiilil lirf This reply is somcnvliat ri'iiiiirkal)l(>, not only on account of lis n'siMnl)iancc to th(j scriptural o.vpn'ssiou— ' Is tliy servant a dojr?' \c.— l)nt hccause there is liardiy any lhi:iprisal for property of equal value lost by them. Tiiey could not, tlierefore, yield to the justice of restitution solely on their part; and |)n)l)ably there was no better mode of terminating the dilRculty than by that provided for in the treaty now concluded. The final ratification of tlie treaty will depend upon the opinion of the seven chiel's selected to e.vplore the country west of the Mississijipi river. If that corresponds with the description given, or is ecjjial to the e.\pectations formed of it, there will be no difficulty on the part of the Seminoles." The mistake made by the agents of our government, in accepting the ratification of an important treaty, by a few chiefs, instead of requiring the action of the whole Seminole nation, properly con- vened in council, was a fatal one for the country. We have stated, in anotlier place, the conduct of this chief at the council held on the 2:}(1 of April, 18.S5, where he boldly and eloquently advocated the treaty of Payne's Landing. We find him also assisting at a council on the 19th of August, in the same year FOKE LUSTE II A JO. 110 nnd still adhcriiiy firmly to the pacific polif^y which he had, from die first, embracod. At, the close of tlie year istsri, n general council of the S'eminoles was iiold, at which they resolved lo retain possession of their country at all hazards, and condemned all who opposed their views to death. This was in effect a declaration of war; and all who had taken sides with the United States were admonished by it to seek safety in (li;,rlit. Accordingly, Ilolata Amathla, Otulke Amathla, Foke Lnsle ilajo, Conliatkee ]\Iii-.o, Foshutchee Mice, nnd about four hundred and fifty of tiieir followers, fled to Fort Brook, and encamped under the protection of its guns. Since that time this chief has remained with our troops, using his best eflbrts to put aa end to this unhappy war, which is rapidly wasting away the strength of the Seminoles, while to the American army it has been a field of gallant and untiring effort, filled with daring and brilliant events, but equally fraught with disaster and fruitless, of good results. WABISIlKEErENAS. This portrait is not (>iiibraccd in tho gallery at Wasliington, Init, boiiijjf aulliciitic, is addcfl to onr collection, in consideration of tlio interesting illustration uiiicli it all'ords of a ren)arkal)le, though not unusual, feature in tiie Indian character. During the visit of Clovernor Cass and Colonel McKenney, at Fond dn Lac Superior, in 1h*2(!, they met with this individual, who was pining in wrclcliediicss and despondency under the intluence of a superstition, which had rendered him an object of contein|)t in the eyes of his tril)e. " An Indian opened lh(> door of my room to- day," says Colonel McKenney, in his jcmrnal, "and came in, under circumstances so peculiar, with a countenance so pensive, and a manner so lliu'ried, as to lead me to call the interpreter. Before the interpreter came in, he w-ent out with a (piick but feeble step, looking as if he h:id l)een deserted by every friend he ever had. I directed the interpreter to follow him, and ascertain what he wanted, and the cause of his distressed appearance. I could not get the countenance of this Indian out of my mind, nor his impoverished and forlorn looks." It seems that, in 1820, when Governor Cass and Mr. Schoolcraft made a tour of the upper lakes, they were desirous of visiting the celebrated copper rock, a mass of [)ure copper of several tons weight, which was said to e.\ist in that region, but found some difficulty in procuring a guide, in consequence of tht unwillingness of the (110) niofiit APiiv. 117 rndiiins to fondiict s(niii>ial activity and courajie. de.sti- tute of confidence and self-respect, he seemed to liavc scarcely retained the desire or ability to jirovide himself with food from day to day. The American Commissioners, on liearing the story of tlie White 118 WABISIIKKEPEAAS. Pigeon's fault and misfortunes, became interested in his fate. Tli< y determined to restore liim to the aianding from which he had fallen, and, having loaded him with presents, convinced both himself and his tribe that his offence was forgiven him, and his luck changed Governor Cass afterwards procured a better guide, and succeeded in finding the copper rock, which is really a curiosity, as will be seen on reference to our life of Shingaba W'Ossin. Another incident, which occurred at Fond du Lac, may be men- tioned, as exemplifying the superstitions of this race. An Indian, having killed a moose deer, brought it to the trading post for sale. It was remarkably large, and Mr. Morrison, one of the agents, was desirous to preserve the skin as a specimen. For this purpose, a frame was prepared, and the skin, properly stuffed, was stretched and supported .so as to represent the living deer in a standing pos- ture. About this time, the Indians were unsuccessful in taking moose, but were wholly ignorant of the cause of their ill fortune, until one of thorn, happening to visit the post, espied the stuffed deer, and reported what he had seen to his companions. The band agreed at once tliat their want of success was attributable to the indignity which had been offered to the deceased deer, whose spirit had evinced its displeasure by prevailing on its living kindred not to be taken by men who would impiously stuff their hides. Their first business was to appease the anger of this sensitive spirit. They assembled at the post, and with respectful gravity marched into the presence of the stuffed moo.se. They seated themselves around it, lighted their pipes, and began to smoke. The spirit of the deer was addressed by an orator, who assured it that the tribe was innocent of the liberty which had been taken with its carcass, and begged forgiveness. In token of their sincerity, the pipes were plar(>d in the deer's mouth, that it might smoke too; and they separated at last, satisfied that they had done all that a rr.asr nable spirit of a moose deer coula ask, and fully assur' that > •■ ingoi BIOGRAPHY. 11!) was appeased. But they were not willing that the exhibition should be continued. Mr. Morrison, to pacify them, took down the effigy, and when they saw the horns unshipped, the straw with- drawn, the frame broken, and the hide hung on a peg, as hides are wont to be hung, they were satisfied that all was right. THAYEXDANEGEA. There are few names in Indian history so conspicuous as tliat of Tliayeiidancgea, or, as lie was more commonly callccl, Joseph Brant. lie was for many years the scourge of the frontier settle- ments of New York and Pcnnsylvaniii, whose inhabitants asso- ciated with him, in their excited imaginations, all that was fierce and relentless in the savage character. That they had ample reasons for the dread and hatred connected with his name, is hut too well attested by the many deeds of rapine and slaughter which stand inseparably united with it upon the pages of history ; and not- v.ithstanding the able .and benevolent attemjjt which has recently been made to erase those stains from his memory, it will be diffi- cult for any American ever to look jack xipon the sanguinary cata logue of his military achievements without a shudder. In the hasty sketch that we shall give, we shall avail ourselves freely of the valuable labors of Mr. Stone, whose voluminous life of that chief, recently published, contains all the facts which are necessary for o\ir purpose, and to whose kindne.ss we are indebted for the use of the admirable portrait from which our engraving was taken. But while we compile the facts from that authentic source, and make the due acknowledgment, candor requires us to say that, differing materially from that ingenious writer, in our estimate of the character of his hero, we must be held solely responsible for so much of this sketch as is merely matter of opinion. '^he parents of Brant were Mohawks, residing at the Canajoharie castle, ni New York ; but he is said to have been born on the banks < 120) BIOGRAPHY. 121 of the Oliio, in 1712, during an excursion of iiis j)!irent!S to tliiit region. He was not a chief by birth, although lii.s family dcerns to liave been one of some con.sicleration ; and it Is aflirmed that he \va.s the grandson of one of tlie five cliiels who visited England, in 1710, diu-ing the reign of Queen Anne. In his yonlh. Brant became a favorite and protege of Sir William Johnson, the most celebrated of all the agents employed by the J3ritish government in the management of their Indian alfairs; and who, by his talents, his conciliatory manners, and his liberalitv, enjoyed an unbounded popularity among the native tribes. A well- known circumstance, in the history of this gentleman, i.s thus related by Mrs. Grant, of Laggan, in her very a.Teeable " .Memoirs of an American Lady." "Becoming a widower in the prime of life, he connected himself with an Indian maiden, daughter to a .sachem, who possessed an uncommonly agreeable person, and good under- standing; and whetiier ever formally married to him accordin'r to our usage or not, coiitinued to live with him in great union and affection all his life." Mary Brant, or, as she was called, Wm Mollij, was the j)erson here alluded to. She was the sister of the subject of this notice, and to that union he owed the patronage of Sir William Johnson, and the favor of the British government, which placed him in the road to promotion. The successful man- ner in which he availed himself of these advantages is attributable to his own abilities. At the age of thirteen, he is said to have been present with Sir William Johnson at the battle of Lake George, in which the French were defeated, and their commander, the Baron Dieskau, mortally wounded. lie served under Sir William John,son in I75G, and again in 1759, when that commander gained a liigh reputation by a brilliant campaign. Among the facts most lionorable to the memory of Sir William Johnson, was the attention which, at that early day, he paid to the moral improvement of the Mohawks. The political agents of Euro- 1(1 122 TH AYENDANEGEA. pean governments have seldom concerned themselves further ii\ the affairs of the Indians tiian to use them in war, or make them a source of profit. Sir William selected a number of Moiiawk youths, and sent them to an Indian missionary school, which was esta blished at Lebanon, in Connecticut, under the direction of the Rev. Doctor E. Wheelock, afterwards President of Dartmouth College, whicii grew out of this small foundation. Tliayendanegea, the promising brother of Miss Molhj, was (jue of the lads thus selected, . and the only one who is known to have derived any benefit from the discipline of the school-room, except Samson Occum, who be- came a preacher and an author. The date of this transaction is not known, but it is supposed, witii reason, to have immediately ensued the campaign of 1759. One of lliese lads, being directed by Dr. Wheelock's son to saddle his horse, refused, on the ground that he was a gentleman's son, and not obliged to do a menial oflice. "Do you know what a gentleman is?" inquired young Wheelock. "I do," replied the aboriginal youngster; "a gentleman is a person Avho keeps race-horses, and drinks Madeira wine, wiiicli neither you nor your fatlier do — therefore saddle the iiorse yourself" The education of Brant nnist have been quite limited, for, in 17(>2, we find hiui employed as an interpreter, in the service of Mr. Smith, a ujissioiiary, who visited the Moiiawks in that year; and a war breaking out shortly after, he engiig(Ml eagerly in a pur- suit more consonant to bis taste and early habits. Ho probably served one cuinpaign, and returned in 17(i4. In the following year, lie was living at Canajohiwie, liavint"- previously married the daughter of an Oneida chief, and here he remained ])eaceably ibr three years. "He now lives in a decent manner," said a writer of that dav, "and endeavors to teach his poor l)retliren the things of God, in which his own heart seems nuich engaged. His house is an asylum for the missionaries in tliat wilderness." Being frequently engaged as an niterpreter l)y the missionaries, his opportuniries for acquiring religious instruction were considerable, and he is supposed to have BIOGRAPHY. 128 assisted Dr. Barclay, in 1769, in revising tlie Mohawk Prayer Book. About the year 1771, he was frequently employed by Sir William Johnson both at home and upon various distant missions. He also assisted Dr. Stewart in translating tlie Acts of the A])ostles into the Moliawk tongue. In 1772 or 3, Thaycndanegca became the subject of serious reli- gious impressions. He attaclied liimseif to the church, and was a regular communicant; and from his serious deportment, and tlie great anxiety he manifested for the introduction of Christianity among his people, hopes were entertained that he would become a powerful auxiliary in tliat cause. In a brief space, tliose impres- sions were erased, and Brant resumed the trade of war, with all its savage horrors, with the .same avidity with which the half-tamed wolf returns to his banquet of blood. Sir William Johnson died in 1774, when the storm of the Ame- rican Revolution was lowering in the political horizon, and on the eve of bursting. He was succeeded in his title and estates by his son, Sir John Johnson, and in his official authority, as superintend- ent of the Indian department, by his son-in-law. Colonel Guy John- son neither of whom inherited his talents, his virtues, or his popu- larity. They continued, however, with the aid of Brant and " Miss Molly," who was a woman of decided abilities, to sway a considera- ble influence over the Six Nations, and in connection with Colonel John Butler, and his son Colonel Walter N. Butler, became leaders in some of the darkest scenes of that memorable epoch. We are not permitted to enter minutely upon the complicated intrigues of these individuals, nor to detail the atrocities committed under their auspices. Through their active agency, the Indians, within the sphere of their influence, were not only alienated from the American people, but brought forward as active parties in the war. The American Congress, and the authorities of New York, endeavored in vain to dissuade the Johnsons from enlisting the Indians in this unhappy contest; but they persisted, with a full m- ♦u ^ 1 i d •J y knew that a civil war, under the liest auspices, is usually fruitful of scenes of private revenge and vindictive outrage; and from the first tliey enik-avored, by their counsels and e\';un|)le, to e.vclude from this conflict all unnecessary violence, and to give it a tone of magnanimity and forbearance Especially did they depre- cate the employment of the savage tribes, whose known rule of warfu'eis extermination, without regard to age or sex — .who acknow- ledge none of those humane regulations which, in modern times, have disarmed war of many of its liorrors; and who, having no inte- rest in tlie event of this contest, would only increase the effusion of blood without strengthening the hands or gaining the friendship of either party While, therefore, they declined tlie assistance of the Indians, they earnestly besought the Briti.sh authorities to jiursiie a similar policy. It was greatly to be deplored that other counsels prevailed The British officers, in the /eal of tlieir loyalty, ;iih1 from contempt for those whom they considered as traitors, were by no means choice in the measures they adopted to suppress tiie BIOGRAPHY. 125 rebellion; and not being inhabitants of the colonies, having- neither pro[)er1j nor families exposed to violence, ihoy did not feel the same personal interest wliich the colonists felt in the prevention of lawless ontrage. About the year 1776, Thayenda)iegea became the princijjal war chief of the confederacy of the Six Nations — it being an ancient nsagc to confer that station upon a Mohawk. lie had not, at that time, greatly distinguished himself as a warrior, and we are at a loss to account for his sudden elevation, unless we suppose that he owed it, in sotTio degree at least, to the patronage of the Johnsons, and to the peculiar circumstances in which he was placed. It was deemed important by the British to secure the alliance of the Six Nations. Little Abraham, the chief of tiie Mohawks, was friendly to tlie colonists; other of the older warriors may have felt the same predi- lection, while Brant, wliose ambition was equal to his ability and address, may have been less scrupulous in regard to the service that would bo expected from the j)artisan v,ho should lead the Indian forces. With the olHce of leader, he actjuired the title of "Captain Brant," by which he was afterwards known. Mr. Stone, in his "Life of I3rant," remarks, in reference to this appointment : " For the prosecution of a border warfare, the ofTicers of the crown could scarcely have engaged a more valuable auxiliary. Distinguished alike for his addrt;ss, his activity, and his courage; pos.sessing, in point of statun> and symmetry of person, tin; advan- tage of most men even among his own well-formed race — tall, erect, and majestic, with the air and mien of one born to command — havinii-, as it were, been a man of war from his boyhood — his name was a tower of strength among the warriors of the wilderness. Still more extensive was his influence rendered, by the circumstance that he had been much employed in the civil service of the Indian department, under Sir William Johnson, by whom he was often deputed upon embassies among the tribes of the confc.Ieracy, and to those yet more distant, upon the great lakes and rivers of the 123 TIIAYENDANEGEA. north-west, by reason of whicli liis know ledge of tlie uliole eouutry and people was aecuratc and extensive." Immediately after receiving tiiis appointment, Draiit made his first voyage to England ; and liis biographer suggests that lliis visit may have resuUed from a h(!sitation, on the part of the cliiet", in regard to committing iiimself in the war with tin; colonies. A [or- tion of the confederacy inclined to the colonial side of tlie contro- versy ; others were disposed to be neutral. Brant and some ( f I. a friends favored the British, wiiile some brilliant, snciesses, recently gained by the Americans, "presented anotluir view of tin; case, which was certaini}' entitled to grave consideration." By making the voyage, he gained time, and wusenaliled to observe for himself the evidences of the power and resources of the king, and to jutlge how far it would be wise to embark his own fortunes on the side of his ancient ally. He was well received in England, and atlmitted to the best society. Having associated with educated men all his hfe, and having natnrally an easy and graceful carriage, it is pro- bable tliat his manners and conversation entitled him to be thus received ; and as he was an " Indian King," he was too valuable an ally to be neglected. Among those who took a fancy to him was Boswcll, "and an intimacy seems to have existed between him and the Mohawk ehief, since the latter sat for his picture at the request of this most amiable of egotists." We can imagine that a shrewd Indian chief would have been a rare lion for Boswcll. He also sat to Ilomney for a portrait for the Earl of Warwick. After a short visit, during which he I'eceived the hospitality of many of the nobility and gentry, and was much caressed at court, he returned to America, confirmed in his predilection for the royal cause, and determined to take up the hatchet against the Americans, agreeably to tlie stipulations of a treaty wliich he had made with Sir Guy Carleton. He landed privately somewlnjre in the neigh- borhood of New York, and pursued his journey alone and secretly through the woods to Canada, crossing the whole breadth of the BIOGRAPHY, 12< State of New York, by a route whicli could not have embraced a sliorter distance lliaii three hundred uiiU's. Tlio dctorniination of the; Mohawk chief to take up arms caused great roirret in the noiirhborinir colonies, where everv exertion had Ijcen mtuJe to induce the Six Nations to remain neutral; and many induential individuals continued to the last to use their personal edorts to (.'Ifect liiat desirable object. Amonof others, President Wheelock interfered, and wrote a long epistle to hi.s former pupil, in which he urired npon him, as a man and a Christian, the various considerations that should induce him to stand alodf from this con- test between the king and his suljjects. " Brant" — we quote aiiain from Mr. Stone — " replied very ingeniously. Among other things, he referred to his former residence with the doctor — recalled the happy hours he had spent under his roof.— and referred especially to his prayers, and the family devotions to whicii he had listened, lie .said he could never forget those prayers; and one pa,ssa way or the other, . ■ mas.sacre at Wyoming dif- fers in no es.senti;il particular from a ;,iml)er of .sanguinary deeds in which tliat chief was the acknowledged leader; and it was part of a svsleiii which unavoidably led to such cruelties. It is not improl)al)U' tiiat Brant Iiimself took tliis vi(>\v of the question, for, altliough lie lived thirty vein's after that affair, during the whole of wliich tim(> lie was mentioned by British and American writers as one of its leaders, and the chief instigator of the cruelties com- mitted, lie does not ajipear to have ever publicly disclaimed the coiinei'tion with it imputed to liim. " Gertrude of Wyoming," one of the noblest monuiiieiils of British genius, was familiarly known wherever the English language was spoken, and the American people were soothed by the circmnstanc(> that the " Monster Brant" and his deeds were denoiuiced by an Kuglish bard of tiie highest standing. Cam})l)eli undertook to spurn from the national character the foul stain of those dastardly and wicked munhrs, and to place tli(> o|)jirol)riuiii on the heads of certain individuals — and none denied the justice of the decree. Braut was an educated man, who miuiiled in the best provincial .society, and corresponded with many gentltMuen in Europe and America lie certainly knew the posi- tion in regard to p\i!)lic opinion which be occupied, and had the means to rectify the wrong, if any existed. It would be a singular fact, too, W " enri/ historical authority, British and American," concurred in a statement which the "uniform icstimony of the BIOORAPHY. 187 British f.mc. rs engaged in the battle" contradicted, and " that sncli was always the word of Thajendanegea himself," and yet thai no formal refutation should have been attempted in the lifetime of the chief, nor until forty-five years after the event. I'lie testimony of the British oflicers would have been satisfactory; but we apprehend that the mere hearsay evidence of two of the sons of the actors in these events, will hardly be received now in oppo- sition to the unanimous and uncontradicted statements of contem- porary writers. The destruction of tlie delightful settlement of the German Flats, in 177S, was the admitted e.vpluit of Brant. The inhabitants, pro- videntially advised of his secret march u])on them, were hastily gathered together— men, women, and children—into two little forts, Herkimer an(,l Dayton. The chief crept upon them with his usnally stialtliy pace, "unconscious that his approach had been notified to tlie people in season to enable them to escape the blow of his uplifted arm. Before the dawn he was on foot, and his war- riors sweeping through the settlement, so that the torch might be almost simultaneously applied to every building it contained. Just as the day was breaking in tlie east, the tires were kindled, and the whole section of the valU'y was s[)eedily illuminated by the flames of houses and barns, and all things else comliustible." Such is the account of the writer wdio contends "that there is no "-ood evidence that Brant was himself a participator" in su.-h transac- tions. There were burnt, on this occasion, sixty-three dwelling- liGuscs, fifty-seven barns, three grist-mills, and two saw-mills What the fate of the inhabitpduts would have been, had they remained in their houses, as Brant supposed them to be when he ordered the firebrands to Ijc applied, our readers may readily imagine. It does not appear that the forts were molested, nor does Brant seem, on this occasion, to have sought coUision with armed men. The marauders retired, chagrineil "that neither scalps nor prisoners were to grace their triumj)iis;" and the .settlement, which but the 18 i:58 THAYf:NDANEGEA. day before, for len niilos, had smiled in plenty and li<';nity, was now houseless and destitute." In the same year Cherry Valley was again ravaged, and those enormities repeated, of whicii we have perhaps already related toe manv. Among the numerous murders ])erpetrated on this occasion were those of the whole family of Mr. Wells, except a Ijoy whr was at school, at Albany, and who ai'teru ards became a distinguislied member of the bar. " The destruction of the family of Mr. Wells was marked by circumstances of peculiar barbarity. It was boasted by one of the Tories tliat he had lulle but the Indians, "being received l)y a brisk tire of grape and nnisketry from the garrison, nvoided the fort, and directed their attention chiefly to plundering and laying waste the viil.'igc, having sated tiiemselves in the out>et with blood." .Such is the warfare olllie Indian — ciml, patient, an(i brave, when compelled to face danger; imt always wlien acting' BIOGRAPHY. 139 from clioice, shumiinjr tlio contest, with armed men, and seeking out the weak and iin[)re])ared. In tlie biography of Brant, from whicli we select these lads, we find aa attempt to vindicate his conduct on this occasion. It is said he was " not the coinniauder of tiiis ex|)edilioii, and if he had been it is not certain he coidd have compelled a diilerent result. But it is certain that his conduct on that fatal day was ncitlu>r bar- barous nor ungenerous. On the contrary, lie did all in his power to prevent the shedding of innocent blood." We are at a loss to know what blood was shed on that occasion that was not innocent blood. The expedition was not directed against any military post, nor any body of armed men, but against the homes of ])e-.u'.cful farmers, whose houses and barns were burnt, and wlK)se wives and children were slaughtered. 1'he torch was applied indiscrimi- natclij to every dwcUlng-housc, and, in fact, to every buikling in the village. The country was desolated for miles around; and human life was extinguislied without regard to the form in which it existed, however reverend, or beautifid, or innocent. Tho.se of the inha- bitants who were not slain, were driven away like a herd of beasts. At night they were huddled together, under the charge of sentinels, and forced to lie half naked on the ground, with no cover but the heavens. Of two of the.se unfortunate beings, the follow- ing heart-rending anecdote is told. " Mrs. Cannon, an aged lady, and the mother of Mrs. Campbell, being unlitted for travelling by reason of her years, the Indian having both in charge desj)atched the mother with his hatchet, by the side of her daughter. Mrs. Campbell was driven along by tiie uplifted hatchet, having a child in her arms eighteen months old, with barbarous rapidity, until the next day, when she was favored with a more humane master." These are but a few of a long list of similar atrocities which, in our apprehension, were both barijarous and ungenerous. Butlei and Brant each endeavored, subsecjuently, to cast the stigma of these cruelties on each other ; the one alleging that he was not the com- 140 TIIAYENDANEGEA. maucler in llit' eiitorprisc, nnd tlie otlior tli:it the crafty Muliawk bad secretly instigated liis people to these excesses to advance Iiih own ends; l)ut ieipartial history will not attempt to trace tlie ima- ginary line of distinction between the leader in sucii an inroad and the second in comn.and — in a case, too, where both were volunteers, and neither had any legal or Jictnal control over the other. Neither of them were natives of Great Britain — bolli were mercenaries, serving 0(;casionally for tlie emolument, or tiie gratification to Ijo earned in that service. The murder of women, and the devastation of (ields, formed thi'r cluwen path to honor — tlie smoking ruins of cottages, and tlie charred l)ones of infants, were the monuments of their warlike deeds. iS'or can we admit the validity of the often repeated apology for Brant — that he could not contr(il his warriors. There are no troops in tlie world that are more completely under the command of their leaders than the Indians. Their disci])line is e.vact and uncomproinisiiig. From infancy, the Indian is taught selt-control, and obedience to his superiors; and death on the spot, b\- tiie hand of the leader, is the usual punishment of contumacy. But Brant and Butler knew when they set out on these enter])rises, that the solo object was to l)urn dwellings, to lire barns, to slaughter unarmed iiieii, women, and children; anil if it was trut', that, having turned loose their savages to the work of blood, they could no longer Control them, we do not see what they gain by this excuse. Tiie savages ilid the work which had been planned for them ; and Ave fancy there is little room for casuistry to scan nicely the degrees of barbarity which ni;irked the conduct of the dilferent actors. In an action near Minnisink, in 1779, in which his opponents were armed men. Brant deserved the credit of having adroitly j)lanned and boldly executed an attack. The usual cruelties, how- ever, were perpetrated, and seventeen woinided men, who were under charge of a surgeon, perished by the tomahawk. Brant fought again at the battle of the Chemung, in the same year, where fifteen hundred Tories and Indians, commanded by him- BIOGRAPHY. 141 self, the Butlers, and tlic Johnsons, were beaten by the Americans iMidiT General Sullivan. It was during the campaign of Sullivan that Red Jacket first made his apijcarance as a conspicuous man among the Indians, and a feud commenced Jjetwecn him and Dmnt, which continued tlu-oughout tlioir lives. Brant accused Red Jacket, not merely of cowardice, but also of treachery, and a.;serted that he lia- secret councils witli a numbi'r of young warrior.'*, and with .-^Mne timid and disaffected headers, and at length sent a runner witii a llaf to General Sullivan, to advise iiim tliat a spirit of "discontent prevailed among tlie Indians. Hraut, who was confidentially informed of these j)rocoodings, privately dcspiitched two warriors to waylay and assassinate the runner, which, l)eing ellected, put an end to the intrigue. In 1780, Brant led a party of forty-three Indians and .seven Tories against the settlement of IIar[)ers(icld, which was surprised and destroyed; and he then IxMit liis stcjis towards Scoharie, which he supposed to be undefended. On his \\[iy he encountered Captain Harper and fourteen men, who were making stigar in the woods, of whom three were killed, and the remainder taken. Harper, a bravo man, famed for more than one hardy exploit, determined to .save the settlement of Scoharie from the dreadful calamity of a vi.sit from Brant, and, on being (juestioned as to its defences, coolly stated that three hundred continental troops had just been stationed there, and persisted in tliis story until the Indian^; were induced to retrace their steps to Niagara. On tlieir way they fell in with an old man and his two youthful grandsons, who were also captured; but finding the old man unable to keep pace witli the partv, he was ])ut to death, and his scalp added to the trophies of the expe- dition. It was intended tliat, on the arrival of the partv at Xiagara, the prisoners should be subjecttid to tiie barbarous torture of run- 112 TIIAYKNDANEGEA, niiiLi llic yimiitlct, but liriiiit iViistratcd lliis pliin by sciKliii;^ a mcs. SUIT scltl'IIn' to tbc I'oiiiiiia'Klcr of tlic lint at that nlacf, in coiisp- quciuHi of uiiicb tlioy were rci'civfd, on tlicir arrival at the ouljiosts, by a partv ol ri'yulars, wlio took [losscssion of thcni. \\ C cbccr- fnllv accord tlic |iraisc«(liic to ibis act ol' iiuinanity. We shall nol pursue the Mohawk chief throunh all the w indiums of Ills crafty and sanguinary career. He continued until tiie close of the war in 17^'2 to harass the settlements by such incursions as we have tiescrilied hose who delinlit in recitals of tragic interest, mav find a serii's of such events well told in Mr. Sloues work. Tln^V i'l'e too numerous to be related at length in such a sketch as this, anil too much alike in their general outlines to be abridged with advantage. In perusing this history, the heart sickens at the oft-repeated tale of domestic agony — the tearing of husbands, wives, and children, from each other's cnd)race — the caj)tivity of ilelicate females — the driving of iialf-dad and bare-footed women and chil- dren through the wilderness, exjio.sed to all the vicissitudes of cli- mate — the torture of prisoners — the thousand varieties of savage crut'lty. All these deeds, whicli we contemplate with comparative composure, when told of luitaught savages stung to rage I)}- the invasion of tlieir hunting-grounds, awaken a lively sensation of horror when we lieliokl them delii)eratcly planned and executed under the flag of a great nation, by persons of Euroj)ean descent, and by a sagacious cliief who had felt and acknowledged the advan- tages of civilization, wlio had reaped honor and advantage through an intercourse with the whites, whicli, previous to this unhappy war, had i)een cliaracterized b}- mutual confidence and kindness. IJraiit liad no wrongs to avenge iij)on tlie American people — lie had nothing to gain by tlic part lie acted but tlie pay of a mercenary and the plunder of a marauder, while tlie eU'ect of these hostilities ipoii his tribe was demoralizing and destructive of that reforn which he profcs.ser.l to be endeavoring to introduce among them. It is not to be denied that this dark picture is occasionally re <^ iiio(;i{.\ piiY. 148 licvcil by acts of incrry on ihc part of the Moliawk cliiof. But we arc not indincil toaccnnl niiicli praise to isolated :fcts of fronorositv, OIIL I Ion"- career of brntal thai uliinnier, at distant intervals, tlir violeni'c. 'I'lie miser uiio devotes all liis life to tlie linardinjr of irold, trains no applansf for an occasional freak of -ht of amid the lustre of a fvw l)righ1 actions. In l"*^.'), tju^ war being over. Mrant made another vi.sit to England, where he was we received On I leiiig presented to tl u' King, lie declined kissing his majesty's hand, but observed that he wt)uld gladlv kiss the hand of tl le (pieeii. 'I'he i]isliop of London, Fo.y, Boswell. Karl Percy, Earl Moira, and other distinguished persons, admitted him to their .society; and it is no small j)roof of his talent .and address that he sustained liiinself w(>ll in the best circles ol liie TalM'ii Brit ish nielrii|in|is. The r rinc(> oi \\ lies IS said tol liive ■lilihl in his cdinpany, and sometimes took him, as the chief altirwards rem.irkeil. '-to places very ([iieer for a prince to go to." Ii is al.Mi asserted that the scenes nf cearst' di.ssipation which he witnessed at the prince"s table, and the freedom with which the Icadiiio- Whius spoke of the kinu'. had the ellect of gre.atlv weak- enih:;- his respect fur royalty, as well as liis regard for the king's |)er>(iii. Tiie ostensible object of Brant's vi.sit was to obtain for his tribo II TIIAYKNDANKGKA. soiiif rt'iiiiiiiciMtidii Inr llirir scrvici's iliiriiiij tlic u;ir; Iml us tlic ('iiti;uli;ui ;Mitliippi ri\('rs, and h\' possi'ssino- hcrsell of that re|,non, and iilli- malelv of the w hole .Mississip|)i plain, acquire an ascendency d)l on till! contineiil winch would I'liahle lii'r to recover her lo5t cnloiiii'S. '!"! le crallN am 1 iiitriht have been doubtful how far the atronts who tampered with them were authorized, it was dosir- al)le that souk.' more direct communication should bo had with ll 10 ministry ; and the chief |turj)ose of JJrant's visit was to ascer- tain whellier. ill case of a ireneral war between the Indians and the I'liilcd Slates, tlie former nfit>'ht rely u|)oii the support of Great Bri- tain. Sucli is the clear import of numerous letters collected in Mr. Stone's work, some of which are published for the lirst time, and which throw li^ht U|)on points of this history which hi-ive been ob- scure. The British i^overnment, liowtncr, wouM not commit itselt on so delicate a mailer, and J3rant was referred to the Governor ot Canaila. with general assurances of his majesty's friendship. While in T,oiidon, Captain Urant attended a masquerade, at iU()(;ii Ai'iiv. 14.5 wliicli iiiiiiiy iiltlic iidliilily ;iii(l yciitcy were |in'.scii1 — ;i|i|i(';iriiit4' in the ('ostlinic nl' liis tlilic, w itii one side of his liicc |);iilit('(|. A Tlirlv, will) wiis ol' llic (•(iiii|i:iii\ , wiis so strui'k \\itli llir Linitisijur tiniii'<' (if ihi' f'liicf, ami csiicriiilly with his visaoc, wliii-h he siipixiscii tn lir liiniicil hy ii iiiasli, that he vciitiii'cil to iiidiiJifc Ins ciirinsitN' liv l(iiii'hiiii( llin Mohawk's nose; hut no sooner did ho make this att('in)it, than the (diicf ninch anniscd, hut allcrtinf; re(l them justly odious, while some of the other tribes were decidedly frien of ( 'liristiaiiit\-, wliieh lie liad thrown -iMde duriii"' tlii^ war. was airaiii assiii lied ; and tli teach thoii. the (iospol ; hiil there is too iniicli reason \v liejiexc tlial his re;d sentiments aci'orded with those )|" his friend tl I) IIK(^ I .NO •thuinherlaiid, who ad sei\('(l in Anierii-a as Tiord l'erc\', and liavinif lieen adiiiii ited lis a uarrKir into the Mohawk tr die. wrote to IJrant. in I'^fXi, as foil. li T\ lera are a niinilier ol well-ineaiiiiiL,'' persons \\vyv, wIio are very desirous of I'oriiiiiiLf a .society to h.iier (as tiieycall it} the condition of our lui- tion. ii\' convertiiK.r ns froii. warriors and hunters into ImshaiidirR'n. liCt MIC slronirlv leconinieiid it toyoii.aad the rest of oiir chiefs, not to listen to sncii a | imposition. Let oiir \ounn men never exelianrol);il)l(! tlint a loader of siicli distiiictioii (•oiild tako part in a general eiiga^r('ineiit, so imixirtant and so decisive, and tlie faet remain eoneealed for nearly lialt" a eentnry — espeeially under lliu ciriinnsliinet's eimneeted witii that disastrous event. The defeat of St. (lair caused great excitement, and leil to keen in(|uirv, and its circumstances were investigated by a miiit.ary court. Suhse- i|Uenll\, tiie scene ol" the hattle, and the lands iniiahited by most of tiic tribes en'jaiied in it, have beconi'e settled bv Americans. 'I'reaties have beiMi made with those tribe; 'J' lie\' liave bt.'come ■|' •ndeni on the .\mrrican government, whose agents iiave Ijceii j)lantcd aniouu thtui constantly, from a period immediatelv succeed- inir the battle of Wayne, in ITItl. There lias been a constant interconr>e brtwci u our people and all the tribes of that region, during the eniiri' period that has elapsed since that war ; and many Americans, who were prisoMers amoni:' tho.se Indians, at the time batti e, ;is well as bel(ire and since, have, on thiMr return hrune, communic:iti'd a varuts ol nuniile inlormatiou touching an a lin ater excitement ainonu; the Indians allau" whiiii caused e\i n (iian among us. It was a Lirrat and an unexpected triumpli, the honor and spoils of uhicii were ilivided amonu manv tribes, who vvoidil each discuss the circuni- .aces. ;uid claim their portion ot' tlic'_dor\. it is iiarilly possi name cnuld liave been conceali'd, o ,ie \'<:i\ if iirant as j»resent his r that all the individi lals o f all the tribes eiiuaued ■ih'oiild have cdiicurred in sielding to J.itlle 'I'urtle tlie laurels that belonm'il to Thayeiidauegea. >io one but imself could have been inter'^sted in keepini^ such a secret, while h the fact, il it existed, must h.i\f in en known to many — toCana- ' various tribes, il" wl lo were lu (iians, IJrilish ollicers. and the i hiefs and warriors besides the oiii' hundred and liltv ol liis own peo| the eliijaLIcnieiit. \\ e deem it an act of justice to the menior\ ot" Ilraiit to siiui;e>t tiioe objections ; for althoiisjh we. as Americans, have little reason to adiiiiie his mililarv career, we .are aware that much mii>ht be .said, and indeed nuicit has beiii .said, in defence ot RIOGUAPHY. 149 liis conduct wliilc at open war with us. which could not iivail m rct^iird to hostilities committed by him while prolessing to be at |)cace. 1I(! continued, aftei tlio events just related, to correspond witli the ollicers of the American {fovenirnent, in the character of a mediator, kecpinjr up without iiiterruplion the intercourse conuuenced before 8t. Clair's campaid with such confidence, that he was several limes invited, in ursrent and cdnipliMientarv Icrnis, 1o visit the govermnent at IMidadt-lphia ; and after decliniuir more than )nce, he at last, in J une 17U2, commenced a jniu'iiey to the metro- polis of the United .States. It is credjtalilc to the i noral character of (in r people that, alt liou|rh he ])assed ihrouuh the .Mohawk \'all I'V, who.se inhabitants had been so sc\crel\ scourged by his iiand, and although threats of vengeance were ihrouii out li viduals, h(! was unmolested. II ceived at riiiladelphia. The tru V indiscreet indi- e uas kinillv and resoei tfull V re- nises of the war with the W'stern Ind lans were explained to him; and un'at p.iii IS weri' iiipress uooii h, taken by the President and Secretary of W ar to i mind the sincere desire of the United States to cultivate ti le most unicalile relations with all the Ind ian tribes, and to spare no cxer- lioiis to promote their welfare. In the (*ome of the tribes, and was fur- iiislied with iiill powers for that purpose, were his intentions tliev were cbaii'red on 1 But sincere IIS return iiome and tiic auspicious reswlts anticipated from his mediation were never realized. '["In" United Slates, wearied out bv iiieirectiial attempts to make pcac(>, were at last compelled to prosecute the war with viiTor, and found in (Icneral Wayne a negotiator who .soon broii'dit the enem\' to terms. We turn with pleasure to a morti agreoi.ble part of the life of 150 THAYKNDANEGKA. ihis reiii!irkiil)K' person. Afti'r tlic fanipninii ol IT'.M lie was not again engaged in war, and devoted his attention to tiie interests and moral improvement of his trilie. lie was not in the slightest de- gree tinctnred with the hal)itiiiil indolence of his race, and did not sink into more apathy when satod with hloodshed. lie labored lor years to get a conlirniation of the title of his trilie to the land granted them on Grand Uiver, which proved a source of vexation to him during the remainder of his life, lie elaimed for his trilie a complete right to the land, wilii power to sell ami L:r:iiit Wtlcs in fee sim|)le; while the i^oxernmcnt alleged ihe title to lie imperfect, giving to the Indians only the right of occupancy, and reserving the pre-emption. "Council after council was imlden upon the sub- ject, and conference after coid'erenee An\ e (piires of manuscript speeches and arguments, in Brant's own hand, yet remain to attest the sleepless vigilance with which lie wat<'hnl over the interests of his people, and the zeal and ability with which he as.serted and vindicated tlieir rights." Twodeeils were successively frameil and ofl'ered to the Mohawks, and rejected, and the land continued to be held by the same tenure by which the Indians in the United ISlates occupy their territory. Before their removal from the Mohawk Valley, some of the tribe ]}rant himself cultivated had turned their attention to a^rricnlturt a larire farm near the residence of (Jeneral Herkimer. \o man ever estimated more truly the advantages of eivili/atimi ; and had he been sincere in his professions u|)on tiiat subjei-t, and avuided coniiectKin w 1 th t le wars of I'liiijland and An ICI'IC his t ni)c would probably have all'orded the earliest ami most i mnplete e.\- nmple of Indian civilization, liis own attainments were consider- alile ; he spoke and wrote the Kuiflish lanunia'/e correclK. and his compositions are hiuidy rcspectalile in point of thought and style. II. e was a close oliserver, and made him.seif wel .crpiainted with the arts and customs of the whiti III his own house, jiraiil was a hospitalile and convivial man, RfoCltAI'll Y. 1-)! Mild tliosc wlio visilcd liini were kindly nM-civcd. He crcrted a .siiiicidus duclliiiu- ill l'|)|icr rimad.i, wlicrc lie lived in li.iiidsome style. ;iiiil his cliildrcii were nil well cdiicMttMl, two of llicm under the cliarirc of Presiileiit \\ heeloek, son of the preceptor of IJivint. One son, Isnae, \'v\\ a victim 1o the hesettinir vice ol' his race; in a lit of infoxication lie assimlted his father, and llie stern chief, draw- iiiLi' a dirk, iiitli.'ted a wound upon his own son which ])roved mortal. .\ miitiial dislike existed between this chief and Red Ja(d leadiiiLr man amonir his own peo|)le ; and as the Seiiceas and .Mohawks wore the principal tribes of the confederacy, each .soiiirht the first place in the nati-on. 'J'lieir claims were nearly balanced, and they appear to have grained the superiority in turn. In the year l^^O:!, Red Jacket succeeded in proenrintr the deposition of Brant from the chieftainship of the confederacy, in consequence of some alleged speculations in land, by which it was llioiiLdit the chief had advanced his own personal interest at the expense of his nation; I)ut at a sub.secpient council, Brant procured the reversal of this sentence. Both were artful and elorpicnt men; l)ut Hraiit bad the advantatres of education and travi'l, wliilc Red Jacket was superior in genius and in devotion to his people. Neither of tbcm was scnij)uloiis as to the means employed to compass his ends; but the one was sellish, while the other was ambitious. Brant sought to advance himself by means of his people, and was ever regardful of his private interests, while Red Jacket, tiiougli lie claimed the first [ilace among the Seiiecas, neglected his jirivate interests and labored incessantly for bis tribe, iirant was an alile warrior; be was cool, .sagacious, ami bold; but he was also cruel, vindictive, and rapacious; Red Jacket, thoiii,di not a coward, dislikcul war, and abiiorred b ■ and snunned and dis<-ounteiiancetl anv familiar iiit<'rcour.se with the 152 THAYENDANEGEA. whiles. 'I'lic latter coiiisidorcd that the Indians coiiUl only he free so long as thoy remained savages — that every art and enstdui of civilization which they adojUed weakened the line of separation, while it introduced a new want to he supplied by the lahor or tlie charity of white men, and increased the deiiendency of the Indians, llrant maintained through life a friendly intercourse with the English, and favored the introduction of agriculture and the useful arts. Ho professed, in early life, to he converted to the Christian faith, and tliough he afterwards departed widely in practice from the meek and merciful deportment of a true iieliever, lie alwjjys favored the teac!iing of the Word, and an outward support to reli- gion, in his puhlic capacity. Red Jacket opposed the missionaries, the Christian religion, and every tiling that emanated from the op- j)res.sors of his race. On the whole Brant was one of the most remarkable men of his time; a per.son of brilliant parts, of great vigor and strength of intellect, full of energy and perseverance, and exceedingly subtle in compassing any object he had in view. He died in November, lh()7, at the age of nearly si.xty-five years, at his own hous(>, near Burlington, on Lake Ontario, and was buried at the Mohawk village, on (Irand River, by the side of the church he had built there. His last words to his adopted nephew were, " Have pity on the poor Indians : if you can get any influence with the great, endeavor to do them all the good you can." AIIYOUWAiailS. TiiAYKXDANKOEA, chief of tho Mohawks, and head of tlie Iro- quois coMfcdcnicy, wiis iiiiirriiMl tliroc times. By his first wife he h;ul two children, l)y his second none, and by tht; third seven. His wi(K)w, Catharine Brant, was tlie eldest daiijrliter of the head of tlie Turtle family— the first in raidt in the Mohawk nation; and accord- \w^ to their customs, tlie honors of iier house descended to either of her sons whom she mirca, returned to the Mohawk villa<»-e, and re- sumed the customs of her fathers. Lieutenant Francis Hall, of the British service, wlio travelled in the Fiiited States and Canada, in ISlfi, visited "Brant House." and descrihcd John JSrant as a "fine younii man, of ^r,.,iil,.|nanlike ap|)earance. wli-, ii.scd the Ln- ghsh lan alVects no snperioril\, hot seems pK'ased to preserve all the ties and tluties of relationshiit.'' lis familv is also fa\oi-;ii)l\ mentionei hv .1 ories H II- iianan, ]')s(|., liritish consul fur the jxirt of New \'ork, who .uade a tour throuijfh Canada in l"^ll». He descrihes the same yi iiii'4 lady as "a charmini:, nohle-lookinir Indian trirl, dressed partly in the Enfflish, and jiartly in the Indian co>tiime and adds, "the irrace and dijrnity of lier nio\eiiients, the style of her dress anti'iiclioiis, linor.ilile to the demands of the Mohawks, were 1r;iusiiiilte(| \n tlie coloiii;il uoveriiMient ; hii t dill lenities were thrown in the way hy the pro\iiicial authorities, and no redress has yet lieeii Lrrinled. Durinu' this \isit. tlie yoiin'j: liraiit addressed ;i letter to the poet Campliell, in u hicli he remonstnted against the injustice alleifed to ha\(' lieeii done to his fallier's charaetcr, in "(iertnule of \\ yo AIIYOUWAKillS. 165 rniiig." Tlie stanzas coinplaiiiod of purport to form a part of a speech uttered by ati Oneida chief, who came to warn a family that tho forces of Brant and Butler were at hand. • "But this is not the lime"— lie startid up, And smote his hciirt with \var-(h'tiouncini; haml "This is no lime to fill tin- jovoiis cup ; The raarnmoth comus — the foe — the monster Brant With all his howling, desolating hand. These eyes have seen tiieir blade and burning pine ; .\wake at once, and silence half your land — Red is the cup they drink, but not with wine: Awake and watch to-night, or see no morning shine. •' Scorning to wield the hatchet for his tribe, 'Gainst Brant himself I went to battle forth. Accursed Brant! he left of all my tribe Nor man nor child, nor thing of living birth — No! not the dog that watched ray household hearth Escaped that night of blood upon our plains! All perished — I alone am left on earth, To whom nor relative, nor blood remains, No ! not a kindred drop that runs in human veins!" The appeal made to Campbell by a son who was probably sin- cere in the belief that his father had been misrepresented, touched his feelings, and induced him to write an apologetic reply, which is more honorable to his heart than his judgment. The only objec- tion to the stanzas, in our opinion, is the bad taste of the plagiarism upon the speech of Logan, contained in the last three lines. No one who has read the melancholy fate of the Wells family, can hesitate to acquit Campbell of injustice ; nor is there the slightest doubt that the same language would be true of numerous scenes in the life of that bold desolator of the fireside, Thayendanegea. Chief Justice Marshall, who is above all reproach as a historian, 150 BlOCJRAl'IIV. and MS a *t(iii, S. C, in 1700. Willie lure, lie heard of a iiiereaiitilo liouse in Aii^qtstn, Georgia, uliieh attracted him thither, and lie entered it an elerk. Ili.s suc- ce-s in husiiiess iiis|iiie(l eonlisiirre di' the whole |iarl\ and the coiilisca- tinll id' the Liond.- McDi , ho li\ed lil'tceii Miiles distant, was sent liii'. he haxiii'j; a coiniiiiindini: inllMcnce ovei' the natives. ii( came, and iiijied them nut to harm the strainers; .s«iyiiiii. ainoiii.' other ar.iriiinenls. that lloss was. lii a jiersonal injury. McDonald's iiddress <'alined the wrath ol' the ClieroUees, aix'. they chanired llu'ir tone In that of |iei>na>ion. ollefinjr inducements to lemaiii there ai' i '••^lalilish a tradinj;-|io>l. 'i'lie jtroposition was accepted. Daniel lioss soiin alter inanied •• Mollie McDonald. ' lie was a freiiileman of irre|ii'oachalile and transparent honesty, and carried with him the entire conlldence of all who knew him. lie also .•li'jraled to dilVerent portions ol' the wild lands, diiriiitr the ne.\t t\\eiity \ears or more, and hecame the father of niiu- !,'I;'rcn. .hniN \\a< the third, and was horn al 'I'nrkeytown. •':. the Coosa Itiver. ill .Maliaiiia. Octoherild. IT'.Ht. Hctiirninjr to Ilillstown, Lewis was iHtni there, who is a.ssociated with him in lahors and tri;.ls at the presnt time. Snh.sequenlly ChickamaiiL^a. and .■'til' later ('liattaiioo;:a. iiecanie hi> place of residence. ecompanied lis paront.'^ to Wh ihoilt .M'vell \ears of iiL'e III' a Ilillstown. I'c!\es lip to Ho( ial and piiMic entertainments. The trib«! was •loll N JiOS: 161 (ii\ i.icd into clans, and i-m-li niniilM-r «il' tlicni roiraidiMl un iissociatt' ii> a kinsman, and lidt iMUMid to > \l«'nd liospitalitv to him ; ami tliiis pruvision wau always madi; lui- the gathering to tin; anniver- siiiv. On this oeeasion. John's mother iiad divs.sed him in his lirst suit alter the stvle ol' civilized life — maile of nankeen. No sooner was he at play with \Hf\:* of his clan, than the lund shunt of ridi- cule was nimel at the "white hoy."' The next morning, while his gnu dmother was dressing him, i;e wept hitterly. Inquiring the eaiice, she learned it was the fear of a ivpetition of llio previonn day's experieni;e. The tears prevailed, and arrayed in calico frock and leggings, and mu*-easins, with a bound and shout of joy, he lelt his tent, in his own language. '• at home again." As tiie large family were old enou;;li to attend scIkmiI, John's father Ixiught land in (ieorgia, to ivmuve there that he might educate them; hut gave up the plan and went to Maryville, in TennesMe. six hinidred miles from iiia residence, and fd"te«'n miles from Knox- ville. and employed a Mr. (leorge HarU'e Davis to come and instruct his children To I lavc this ji ri\ ill cir<', however lu' must obtain permission of the (jeneral Council of tin* nation. The application was op|M)8ed In some, on the grouml of an unwilling- ness to introduce any of the enstoins or habits of the whites. Others urged tlu' necessity ol" having interpreters and |»ersons among them actpiainled with the improvements of their civili/ed iwighljors. This rea.soning prevailed, and .Mr. Hoss had the honor of giving to the ('heroki-e nation the lir>t scIkkiI. — the iH'ginning of a new era in the history of the American aborigines. After a fewyear.s' culture at home. John and Lewis were sent to Kingston. Tennessee, to enjoy the adviuitages of a popular school there. John iMtarded with a merchant naH)eoii him, and at his death lel'l him two ((doled servants he iiad owned lor several years. Alter a clerkship of two years lor a titni in Kingston, \onng Hoss retuined home, and was sent by his lather in search ol' an aniit in liageii4- town, Md., nine hundred miles distant, of whuni, till then, I'ur ii lung time, all traces had U'en lust. On hursebaek and without a eom|ianion, he eommiMirod his long and solitary journey, lie encamped at night wl'.eri.'ver he could tind a shelter, and reached salely the home ol i\n' recently dis- covered aunt. Kurni>liing her a hoise, they recrossid Tenneswo, and returneii. alter scM'ial weeks of j)iigrimage. to the de.suhito home in ('hiitlantmiH<. JOHN luj.ss. itw At IJattK' Cic'i'k, alU'iwaiil liuurk-.s Ft'iry, lie met Iwaiic IJiowii- luw, unclu ui' I'arMun iSruwiilow, a raiiioim waterman. Wiifii lie ,saw Uoss ill his ri in such a plight, lie went with him eighty miles, and to within tell miles of Kiioxville, exehanging a keel-hoat lor his crazy craft, and taking an order on the tMJveriimeiit lor the dillereiice, declar- ing, even it' he lost it, Joii.N shouhl not venture farther as he came. .\t Fort Pickering, near Mem|ihi.s, he learned that the (Jherokees he was seeking had removed fmi'i St. Fninns Kiver to the Daide- iiell, on the Arkansas, which then contained no mure than '.kid whites, and he directed his coursi- thither. The narrative of the entire e.xpeditioii. — the si.\ty-si.\ davs on the rivers; the pursuit by settlers along the bankf, who suppo.sed the party to Ik; Indians on some wild ad\eiiture ; the wrecking of the Ixmt; the land travel of two hniidivd miles in eight day.s. often lip lo the knees in water, with only meat li)r food; and the arrival home the m-xl April, liringing tidings that the Creeks were having their war-daiic" on the eve of an ouliireak; — these details alone would make a volume of romantic interest. The ('n-ek war coiiimenccd among the triln- on account of hostile views, hut SIM)!! was turned upon (lie loyal whites and Chei'okees. (If the lattei', a i-egimi'iit was foiined to coo|M'rate with the Ten- iietsee troops, and .Mr. Hctss was made adjutant, (ienei'iil White commanded in Kast. and (iciieral ■lacksoii in West 'I'iMinessee. The ('hci-okces concentrated at Ti:rkey(own, Is'tweeii th<' two forts Armstrong and .*^(rauiliers. The Creeks wei-e widiiii tweiity- (ive miU's. .\ Cifek prisoner had escaped, and iiil(>riiiing his people of the ChiM'okei' encam|niient. they coulil Ik- restrai'ieil no longer, hut dashed forward to meet the enemy. I'pon reaching the place of eiiiampiiieiit. they loiiiid only the relics of a di'adi} light, in which tieiieral Collie, under .lackson, had routed (he 1(54 J{10UliAl'll\. Creeks. Tlio Clierokrcs ii'tmiifil Id Turkcytown the snnu' nij^lit by 10 o'clock, liaviiif: iiiarclii'il (illy or sixty niilt's (luaiiy on loot) since the early n orning. The terrible battle at Horseshoe, February 27th, 1814, which left the ljodieriiuiiient annui(y of the same amount. This negotiation wiis conditional upon (he cnn- firmution of it at a meeting of the Cherokees to U' held at Turkey- town. The Indians came togetiier. ami ix-fuMed to reeogni/.e the treaty; but finally (be old Chief I'atbkilb'r signed it. At every step of dealing with the aborigines, wr can discern (he proud and selfish policy which declaivd (hat "(be red man iiad no rigliis which (he wlii(e man was iHHind (o i'espec(." In 18i(), General Jackson was again commissioneu (u negotiatti JOHN ROSS. 166 with tliu Choroktrs, aiul John Hoss was t;(jne into busi- ness with Timothy Meigs, son oi" Colonel Meigs, went with him on horseback to Washington and lialtimore, to purchase goods and have them conveyetl to Uossville, on the Georgia line, at the loot of Missionary Uidge. In a lew months Mr. Meigs died, and licwis Hoss JK-came partner in his place,'. After a long and interrupted passagi* — having deer-skins and I'lirs for trallic — from Savannah to New York, and then to Haiti- more, he returned to lind that lieneral Jackson had prepared the celebrated treaty of lbl7. A council being called to explain the treaty, H(»ss determined to go as a liMiker-on. The national all'airs of the Cherokees had been administered i)y a council, consisting of delegates from the several towns, appointeil by the chiels, in connection with the latter. A National Com- mittee of si.\teen, to transact business under the general super- vision of the chiefs, was also a part of the administrative power of the nation. On the way to the council referred to, which was called at their capital by (jiovernor Mc.Minn, who huu charge of the treaty oi I SI 7, Judge Hrown, of the Committee, meeting Hoss at Van's, Spring Place, (jeorgia, said t*) him, " When wf get to Oosteanulee, I intend t » put you in lull !" When Hoss objected to such a fate, not guessing the import of the apparently profane expression, Jutlge Hrown adtled, that he " intendeti to run him for President of the National Committe>'." — giving his views of t!ie iinn/ort of ollice-holding, in the langUi\ge employeil. The council met in the public stpiare. S)on after, John Kos.s, then twenty-seven years of age was calli'd in, when Majt)r Hidge, the speaker of the council, announced, to the nuKlest young man's surprise and conl'usion, that he was elected I'rt\sident of the Nitional Committee. When the tivaty came up tor discussion, (iovernor McMinn 166 BIOGRAl'II V (•.\[)liiiiu'fl it as iiioaniiig, that tliosu who omigiated west ol" the Mi.xsi«.sipi)i wt-w to have hiiidM tliero; and tho8c who remained riiiiir under the laws <>/ the iSUitt; anie« should do the work. Colonel Meigs, the Indian Agent, feared the effect of employing Indians to remove the white intruders, but applied to the chiefs lli(;ks and Pathkiller, who consented to let them take the field. The command was given to Mr. llos.s, beeau.xe it was urged by Colonel Meigs that a pnemini-ntly prudent man was needed. Colonel Meigs ordered the horsi'inen to sim[il3- warn the settlers to leave, lloss protested against a powerless attem|it of the kind; and they were reluctantly granted authority to remove those who refused to go, burning cai)ins and corn. The first settlement to be i)urged of intrudttrs was near the Agency, and tiiese, at the approach of Koss with iiis troopers, Hid. Finding a iiou.se closed, and Indieving tlu! owner within prei)ared to resist, his men surrounded it, and the commander made an entrance down the cbimnev, but the object of pursuit was gone. The Light-IIorso tr(K>ps. though the chieflain had Ix'cn unused to military life, did their work well, necessarily marking their way with fire anil ruin. At Crow Island they found a hundred armed men, who. upon being approached l)y messengers with ])eaceful propositions, yielded to the claims of Cioverninent and disl>anded. In Brown's Valley. Hoss might have Ihhmi seen at dead of night, Deput}' Agent Williams keeping sentry ot the tent-door, writing by torchlight his despatches to Ceneral Jackson. The General sent Captain Call with a company of regulars to the fleorgia frcmtier; the latter passing round Lookout Mountain, a solitary range eighty or ninety miles long, while Ross went directly over it. Upon joining Call. Mr. Uoss surrendered lo him tlu' military command, and returned to IJossville. In ISIS he was elected by Colonel Meigs to go in search of a captive Osage boy, alx)ut 1!)0 JOHN ROSS. 1111 the lw() |triiifi|ial oIluM'r.s of llic CluTokt'C nation. Tlic now i-mi- ^titutiiin, siiniliir to tliat uf the IU-|iul)lic, wa.s a
  • pttMi in tin* rctl ten randidatA's, tliri'c ot'wliicli MC'iv U) Im' t'lntcil fniiM fiidi ilistiict to nu't't in conxention. .Mr. Uos.s \va.-4on(.> of tiiciii ; ami tiic in.stiiiiin-nt, ai'(H>|>tetl tlii'U. witii iii.>« warniufil. intfit'st iirging it, was tlic following} ear appVoved l»y tlie (.'oinicil. It lic'caniu necessary to fill, till the constitution went into eik'ct, tliu vacancies made hy dealli. and Joii.v Uo.ss and William Hicks were elected chiels lor a year At tlie e.\|»iration of (lie term, Mr. Iloss was elected I'rincipill <'liiel" ol' tlu! nation, and (leorj^i' lionre\ S'cond ( liief. — each to hold the oIluH" lour years. Tin; extraordinary honor has Ix'on liestowed inisou^dit upon .Mr. Uoss, of reelection to the high [)u»i- tiun without an iuteryal iu the long period, to the pre.sent. We haye reached, through the career ul' .lou.v Uos.s, the lawless develo|)ment or<"o\etousne.ss and .secessiou in the treatment ol" tiie Cherokees Ity (leorijia. .\ndrew .Fa<'Usi)n favored the doctrine of Slalt' lights, which .settled the claim of leuali/.ed roliUry iu the face of the constitution of the (Jonunonwealth. This yyas understood Ix'liiiv his I'lecliou to the Presidency liy |)iiliticiaiis who waited upon him. lie further slated, it is reported autlmritatiyidy, that he aHirmed the three great measures he de>ireil should mark his administration now. — legislating the ("herokees out nf the State; the death of the National liank ; and the e.vtiuguishment of the puhlic deht. We are not criticising politically, or condemning this or any other executive ollicer. hut stating matt«'rs of accrediteil historv. We need not repeat the events that foHowed. hrielly nar- rated in the preceding sketch of the Cherokee nation, till it rises from sulfering and banishment to [)ower again west of the Mississippi. When the dark and wrathful tide of «ecessi«in set westward, tJio disloyal odicials at once took meaHures to conciliat*- or Irighten the 170 ItlUd IJAI'II V. IndiaiiH into an iilliaiicc witli tliciii. Iii iv^.tnl to the- ('Ih'I'oUooh, tlicy partially siiecft'ilfd, making an alliance prinripally with wtnil- thy hall-biTi'ds. The Creek chief Opotohlevohola, whose memory of past wrongs was hitter, Haid he nuist '•fight the (leorgiaux;" and he did, with the aid of loyal Cherokees, In a sncccssrid and daring attacli. .loiiN Knss was eoiisidted by (lovenior Jtiiter, of Arkansas, hut evaded the ((nestion of Cherokee aetion in the con- flict ; and when Colonel Solomon marched into the Indian (*oun- try, the Cherokees, who before the battle of Hird Creek Ibrnied a secret loyal league, hehl a meeting at night, took HeUd annnuni- tion ston'd near, and fought the enemy the next day; relieved from the terror of Hebel rule, they hailed the Federal army ^' ith joy, and Hocked to the stamlanl of the Union. tScarcely had .his loyalty been declared, bell )re Solomon inarched — with recruits an*i all. 'Jj'JOO men — again out of the territory, without any apparent reason, leaving the Cherokees and the country he wus to deleiid iu a more exposed conditi(»n than before. Park Hill, the residence of Mr. Koss, was forty miles from the road Solomon took in his nfiKit, — for this was practically the character of the movement. Colonel Cooper, the liu-mer United States Agent, having under his comiminil Texans, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Creeks, was ready to sweep down on Park Hill, where aroimd the ('hi'#f were betwccu two and three hundred women and children. Colonel Cloud, of the Second Kansas Itegi- ment, while the enemy were within twenty miles, marciied forty miles with five hundred men, half of whom were Cherokees, reach- ing Park Hill ut night. He said to Mv. Koss, '• I have come to escort you out of the country, if you will go." The Chief inquired, " How soon must I leave?" The ivply was, '■ Tt>-morii)w morning at six o'clock." With a couple of (Munjvwagons, containing a few household efTccts, family |)ictures cut from their frames, and other valuable artich^s at hand, Mr. Uo.ss, with about fifty of the whole number there, JOHN ROSS 171 •ta, t'H 10, liii.stoiied toward our liiii.>, liuinlri Is of iiiilos away. AugtiHt Itk, 181)1, he rcaolu'd his l)rotlit'r Lewirt' i»lan', and lound \m ruriiituro dt'Mtruyod and tin* lioiiso injurt'd. At midnight tlioy renunied the llight oi' terror, crossing (Jrand Hivor, when! they woidd Inive heen eiit ofl', had the enemy known their eondition. The next day a courier came from I'ark Hill, liriiiiring tiie sad tidings that the mansion of tiie Cidef had fallen int^j (.'ooper's hands. The work of pluiider and ruin soon laid it in ruins, and tlie country desolate. Tiie Cherokees were roblM'd of horses and everything that could Imj used by the Uehels. They were scattered over the plains, shelter- less, fanusiiing, and skinnishing with tlu' enemy. .Mr. lioss and his company, afti-r weeks of perilous travel and exposure, sullering from constant fear and the i Icments, reaclu'd Kort licavenworth ; hut, as he icelingly remark«'d, "the graves of the Clierokees weix; scattered over tlie soil of .Missouri, Arkansa.s, and Kansas." Mr. l{()S.s spends nnich ol his time in Washington, watching fiir the favorable moment, if it shall ever come, to get the ear of the (iovernment, and secure the attention to the wants and claimH of his people, demanded alike by justic(! and humanity. A puldic meeting was held in (Joucert Hall, I'hlladelphia, in Mandi, l.SlU, which dri^w together an immens*' crowd, and was addressed by .Mr. Ross; ex-Governor Pollock ; Colonel Downing, a full-bl(H)d (!herokee, a Itaptist minister, and a lirave oflicer ; Captain .McDaniel ; Dr. Hrainard ; and others. The inti-rest was deep and abiding, but the dillicnlts' in the way of ii|>]»cal for redress by the aliorigines has ever been, the corruption, or. at i)est, inditlcrence of (lovernment ollicials. For. whatever the natural cliaracter of the Indian, his prompt and terrible revenge, it is an nndenialde fact, a« stated by IJishop Whipple in his late plea for the Sioii.x, n-ferring to the mas.xaci-es of 1862, that not an instance of uprising and slaugh- ter has occurred without the provocation of brok«'n treaties, fraudu- lent trallic, (\r wanton destruction of property. It is also true, that when kindly treated as «/ iitin/, instead of an outlaw lit only .lOlI N liO.SS. I7;i nacriluM", mo fur iin tlic riiiiiiiicrciiil eHtiiniite Im (•(inccniKl, in sIuvoh wliich limi coiiu' t«) liiiii li-oiii l\um> loft liiiii liv a jjiamHiitlicr, of w li(»iii lu' waj* a >,'ivat Hivin-ilf, wan ^"(O.dOO. Ut-.siilcM tliis, tlio prtHliict (>r tlin'c liimtlicd nvri'x ot'ciillivaU-il laiitl, jiint >,'atli»'r< tin- loss of pos- Bt'HsionH niort' than i^HlO.OdO. diii'f John Ukss. who, in tho h<»|t<' and i>\|MMrtati(in of Hocin;; liis iKMipIt! i'k'vatrsoiial appearance venerahle and attractive, and hin name will he im|)erishal>le in the annalM of our country. Mr. Uo.s.s has lalK)red untirinirly. .Mince his return to Philadel- phia, to secure iusti<'e and relief for his suHi'rinL' people. As the last hitter cup of ailliition pres.^id to his lips amid domestic hereavement which removed from lii.s side his excellent companion. enemicH have Hou).dit to deprive him of his otlice. and ftain his fair fame with the charjre of deception and disloyalty. The Chief still liolds hin jMJsition of authority, and his gocwl name will reiiuiin under no permanent eclipse; whih' all tnio heart.s will lonjr for delivc-rancc to \m iiatio i, and that ho may live to see the day. f ■ ! WATCH KM OANE, \\ A n in.MnNM:, or, The Oniior, llir tliinl ■I of llif low ays, Wll s hum III the old loway villiiyr, on Duk Moiiu's Hi\rr, at tli IH tiiiH ii((ii|iii(| liy Ii .Ilk, !!iiil, ill \'^'.\'-<, \\a> aliniil lil'tv-lwo ycr.r.o <>l atff. In i«'C'illiiiyf Iiik cailicst rcfoln'ctions, lir ti-lis, iin tlio Iii(.:::iiN inoHtly , tliat lie li^'^aii in lHi\lt(i(Hl to kill small ^aint* with llu' Im)w- ami arrow . \\ lini li lufani" larjj;«' nioiiKli t«) list! linaTiiis, lie in'ocnird a low In if-pii-cr, or, a^: tlir iilira.sr is i)|io:.- llic lioiilcr, a sliot-Kiin — a wt;.|ion roiisitltni) oC far iiifcrinr (lijjiiily to till' iiioii' ilraiiU rillr. W \\ mh'Ii was tin awr iiis|iMr(l in his iiiiihI i>\ thf rllicts of unnpowilcr, that lu- was at lirsl alrHiil to din- cliar^r liis i^iiii, and thnw a hlankit oM-r his Itrrast and shor.ldrr lulori- lit- Miitiiri'd to l( \ 1 I thr |iiiir. His lirst rx|>rriincnt was ii|ion a wild tnrkrv, wh. h In- killrd, and al'ti'i' 'hat hi> hiintnl without liar. Ins ociiirri'd 'loir Ik- was thirticii, lor at that iigf he killri! di"'i "•iin his ^iiii. .\ I :.ixttrn, In- wtnl to war, killed an Osaur, and t sliiiii liy tilt' OsiiL'is, mill « Ik sr lU'iilli it Imimiiic his ihity, :is ;i wai'i'ini', ;tiiil !i iiiiiii iil' spirit, tn avciiLit'. (Mi siirli ocrasiiiris, till' liiii tlir |ii'iiiri|ili' lit' till' ri\ili/.!'il iliii-lliHt, \vli rliii'l' aim sniiis li> lir In ximlicatr his nun foiiraifr, liv inakiiii; a show nt ri'sciitiiiriil. Ill s nhjcrt is In a|i|ir;isc ;i.. spirit of his il ascil iVithil liy the ilcilli nl" tlio slayer, ami. it siiat Im- lint prai'tii'alilr, liv slii'ililiiitr the IiIinnI ut some other eiieun' >i\' Ium faiiiiK nr Irilie; ami he prepares iiinisell' Inr the explmt will ev<>rv care ami suleniinU « hiel I Is euiiei Mill liiii'ssarv I" insure siieeess l'l\rr\ anl sii),n_r|.»trtl liv siiperslitiini is iiivukeil. while a slmlieil iitleiitiiiii IH sr|\en In e\i'rv eireiiiiislaiii'e iiiiliealeil In the mure nitioiial sa'jaiit\ ami evperieiiee 111' the warrior, as iemliie_r to remhr the iiieililateil lilow sv\ ill ami fatal lie aeeoriiiii<_'l v lasteil ami priiveil a loiii; timr ■ lien he went out ami killeil a rieer iiml a in- ami maile a least in honor >>| the (ireal Spirit, to \\ hieh all the warriors III hi- vilLi-je ui-re iii\itei|. lie now lieiaim \er\ aii^rv, ami prolesseil to tiioiirn greatly lor lii.s lirother, «\ hose spirit was \<>r\ iiiihappN, ami lonlil Iiml no rest so Imii,' as the iiiiiiilerer lived to InhinI III Irniiiiph over him lie ealleil ii|miii Ins Irnnils >s ho were wiliiii!.' to liillow liiiii, ami all warriors who |n\ei| the war- jiath. anil all muiiii; men who thiisteil Inr ilistimtion. to ^atlur aronnii Iiih war-pole ; ami. when the volmiteers were enlleeleil, lie san^ tor them, ami the\ ilaiieeil — he recoiiiitiiiir the Mrtnesol the ileeeaKeil, ami iiiipreeatiiej: veiiueiiiiee. ami they respomline |i\ L'niiits of approltalioii, ami \ells of passion. Then lie s.'inu; In the wnmeii, who al>n ilaneiil — .lie! all iiiiiteil in hnpiiii; tin Cle.it Spirit woiilil prn.sper his praiM'wortliy ntulertakinn; I'ivially, lie tojil liiH juirty that, ut the emi nt' thirteen iliiyN, lie woiiht leail Iheni out to seek the I'ih* — that in a ilreani lie hail seen an nlil man, ami \saM toll! that, if he siieee'-ileil ill killing hilii, lie woo'lii also s!av inanv-others lie helieveil the vision, ami iirconliiiuh ihe\ hail not none I'ar w Ik II th ■\ met an .•leeij M Issniiri, wlin \\;is \erv iiali ami 170 \V \ rcUKMn \NK UN hi* was n■l'(l^lli/«■ll :i> mii' wlin liaii sliiiii nciiiv Ici\\;i\s. tlirv ai- triliiiti'il Ins lialiliios tn iln- iiiiiurriiiiM iiiunlirs In- liml i-iiiiiiiiilliil. II DM tlir\ ^li'W •lit llii' riNl (if tlir ilniiin uas not riillillcd. lliniii/h llir 0| llnl- (•ninrdltfil luilisrir Willi tllr Ixlnl' tiinl it Would lilciM' till' ill till' t'liil III. tlifrrforc, lalji'd liis mhiiii; iiirii ti><.'rllirr iilfjiiii; liiit llirv will' ilis|iirit<'il l>v liis luriinT ill kih hm, nml oiilv iiiii' .'itrrnil til liijiiiw liiiii. \\ itli this riiiii|iiiiiiHii, he wmt tn tin* wt'st liM'K III (iniiii UiMT, iiiiii, iiaviiiir nillnti'il smnr nl liis ti'ilM> wIkhii ill lint In tlir wa\ , ruiiinl liiiiistir, at lriii;tli. at tlir lirail III" t\M'iil\-t\Mi null Ml rliiiu w itii a |i;irly of < Ka'_'r>, llirv altiirkiil tliriii, atiil Kiliiil mil' man, \v|iirli M't liaxi- Imiii rniisiili rnl MitiNtiii'tnrv lis till' li\iii'j il lint li\ till' ill ail, till' till' |iarl\ irtiirnril ill l>innI N|iiritM. Mr stall's lliat. |ii'r\iiiiis tn liis ^niiiir mil I'll ll'is «'\|M'ilitiiiii, it was iiiHlrrstiMHl llial, il an inrinv was killt'il, lie was tn In* I'liiisiili'i'iil as a umrral nr Icailrr; ami lir ai'riirilincU rn'rui'il Ins |iri-Mriil naiiH . \\ ali'iirinKiinc. wliirli sii;nifii s inn Inulvi, nr, as \\v s liiinid wn , u" Miiiti 'I'lii' lilli' III ( )iatiir, li\ wlnrli iir i* kimwii iniirc I'oiiininnlv , was uim ii liini li\ tlir \*liilrs, lirraiisr lie spi'iiks \\r ill III ronin il, and is iiHimlh a|i|Hiiiilril In rrti nc msiIiii> an di'|iiitjitii)iiN. On nil** ni-rasinii, w In II tliirt warrmr was i nuiiLii d in an )'X|i(di- timi tiuaiiiftt tlir Simix, lii' riuiri-ivni thai lir slniiiid iml liavr liitlt to l,ill. and. i|iiitlinir liis i'niii|i.iniiiiis, lir w andriid n|V liy IiiiiiniII in (U'liri II i>r ailvrllllirr. His nlijiTl m rins In liMM I't'i'll In Call III \v itll ■Diiir iiidi\ idiial nf till' ini-iin , \s limn lie rnuld hIii) i-illi)>r Ity Ntrallli or rnuraifv. sn that, li\ shiddiiii.' IiIikhI, his i'\il drstinv liiiirht Ik- M' nntmilM nl ihr Indians nn tllcsr slllijt'i'ts cj'r sn run I'liaiiLrri I 'V liiMcd that llii'\ dii nut u'ivr aiiv viTV distini-t nri'nnnt nf their t«n|M'rHlillnlis liiit \M' a|i|in'hrlid that, mi niraNlnns like this, tlii'V \>\ IiIihhInIh'iI, iiiiat{ini tin re air liad sjiints, Willi mas Im' |iri>|tiliali mid liial It inatlcrs imt Imw llir Milini iH hIiiiii 'I'Iic mily Sinnx that III nut Hitli vsas u littir u'irl Had il Im i ii a Ihi\, ht> wniild mod u Ai'iiv liiiM' killi'il liiiii; liiit he ciiiitun-il tlir irirl, ;inil iii:i to the loway idiii'f, and then L:a\e the Sanks a ke^j n| winsk\ to re\i\e their spirits, and enalile them In < :iter the viilai^e without tear 'I'lir !o\va\ s iieiiiu at war with the ( )sai,'es, on. ol the wai -parlies n| the Inriiier nation, retiirniiii.' home Ironi an unsneeesslid e\pe- ditiiin, pUMHi-d an Am; rn-an Hettleineni on ilie liontier ot Min-ohh, and, with that desperate propoiiMtv tor iiiisehiet whieli tlie Indian alwavH evinees under tliose (iriiiinstani'es, the\ stole liiiir horses The danger ol sih-h an aet arosi', not out ol tlie \alne of the pro- |H>rtv luken, lint Irom the alarm the ontraue would ereale, and the retriiiiitioii thai the men ot the frontier wonid he Mire to msii ii|ion what thev wonlil eiinsider the preltminar\ acl ol in Indian war. The eliiel, ihen'Tore, desired the yoiintf men to n I'lrn the horses, hut tluM tlie\ dci'lined, and \\ atcheiiioniie iiniiiediatelv Uiiii.rht thrill, and Kent tlieiii iiaek to the owners. This net u;ained hiiii Kfl'lll I ri'tlil amoni; the people of the Ixirder, who have ever sllli'e treated him with i oiiliiii nee, and spoKeii in hi> prais \ll. lliitl. a nniiilN'r ot the Sanks eaine on a \isit ol eeri'iiiom tn the lowa\s — pi'oliaiilv on one ol' the ocrasions alliuled to in the lite ot Keokuk — whi'ii the t)rator. to the eredit ol his Irilte, presented lliciii Willi two horses. \t another lime, an i Mto paxintr him a Msil, he K ive liJH ^iii-st, at ins deparlure, a horse and a line ehnl ~] 178 \N A re IIKMONNi: cent, fluch as tlit* ^ovrriiiiifiit distrilxitrs tiiiiiiiiillv .iiikuii: iIic IciuI- jiii,' men of llic IrilM's; ami lie lias always, wlicii il has licrii in his |)ov,<'r, ilisplaycil tiiis kinii of liiirrality to tlmst' who visit him. 'I'liis chief sa\s he has no kno\vie
  • e lather, w ho derived it t!iiout:h "iijlil |iie •eiiiiiy anci's- Inrs It w:l^ llie Will ol the (ireat spirit that the\ sliinild not he stationarv, Ind travel Iroin place to |ilace, (iiltivatmu ililfen lit K roll III im I they lieliev tliat tliev will oidv continue to ha Ve tr(HM cr< i|is and healthy children so loii^ is lhe\ ohey this law ol their natiiie Thev had hetter corn, m\<, were more prospermis, iM-f ore the division ot their natinii than since T lev lia\ c a >ecret ainuiiLr tiiein about the (ireat Spirit, w liicli it woi lid l>. inilllckv to te 'I'hev have a niimiier of ncdicinc iia^s, containing; the hcrlis and otlii r articles nsed in jii;jL(lin<;, and in propitiatin:^ the (ireat Spirit, and other spirit.s, \\liich they keep in a lod^t , i .1 is iiHiially siiiit lip, am •I that no woman is permitt«'d to enter. itei; ire they uo 'o war, they eii'iay". lor lour dav>, in rehuioiis crremonii" •nlire abstinence A d dnrinK wheli time tiie\ pracii hear liavintf lieeii provided liel'orehaml, a feiusl is m: fastini; is over, and a ircneral invitation L;iyen to all who eh ecr or a Die w lien to attend 'IM le oil! men are iiiv ited t. t pray out to war eii'^^ajje ti'eipientlv in secret piavc iio.se who are ^oiiig ; and the\ lu-litn'c! liiat those w ho pr ,i\ insincerely v\ill have iiad luck. \\ hen aii\ disagreement ore urs in the trihe, a .similar feast is made liir the |nirjH>se of ellectin^ ;i reconciliation, and the chief oilers to the |iarti.'S, hetwfeii whom the cpiarrel exists, a jiipe liiled with a mix- ture of drie«l herlis. which thuy call the (Iriitl Spirit's tobtuco. It » BIOCJRAPIIY. 17!» is l>i>li< vnl t liiit ileal) \V(.uIil s|iiT(!ily rollow a re 'iisal II SI ink • th.. P' [IV tl HIS I)'iiiUt(m1. A siii;.Milar »'.\aiii|)li' ol Sll| rrslit !■ • Ml' III-.'.! III lliis irilit iTcoiitly. A mail, haviiiif lost lir-t <'liil< n '11 l.v sii-k- III ss. II Kllllil it it IiIk i wty to ^(t to war iiml '^llCll 1 Ml M M 1, ill (in IT to cliaii^t 1 lliM 1* 1 lick. Tlin cliicf, Wiiitc CUuW 1111 1 . Imtt ' 1 MM'. JINS . 1 '11 III.' 1 tlic ' |ifiiplf oC his liaiitl, iiikI ciiili'avort'ii to |ir(nail on llii- iinloiliiiiat jiiTsiiii to smoke tlic |)i|)c of |)<'aiT, Itv wliirli lie uinilii he |ilrili.'t'il til lort'tio liis sjiiiifiiiiiarv | ur] l''i|iiliiil his \\\U-. in I'oiiscipii'iicc, as the trilii- liclicM'il, ot his miii-i'oinpliaiiri' \> nii an aiicii'iit iisau;c ; hut in piinisliim-iit, as li<> tlioiit^ht, of his haviiiir ili'liiM'tl to shnl ihr lilooil iil an cnriiiv. ilr will onl, ihri'ctorr, ami killi'il a;i Omaha, anil was salislirii. 'riii'\ I'oiiMdrr ilniMsrlM's aiitliori/.cil, ami .somt'timt's (-'.instraiiiiil, to aMiii^r Ihc iliath ol' Irtrmls who ilic a natural ilralli. Tills I'hirl" is a roiisin of \\ hill' (loiiii, whiiM' limuraphv was Hivcn 111 a liiniirr volnint'. lie wa- a nnml man, ami yrratlv hc- |n\nl o\ Ins Irilir; ami \\ ati'liiiiionnr \vas miirli slnuk vsilli mir pii'Miri' ol him, whirh he ilcilanil lo ln' an i\i rlli ni liKiiuss. \\ iifii a i'op\ of that portrait was scut lo the liilir, lli.'\ were p;rie\i'il .so iinii'h that llicy coiilil not hear to look al il. Ii\i n the ehililreii reinemher him well, allhoiiL''li se\eial \ears ha\e elapMil HiiH'c his ileath, .'iiul ln" is slill iiiouriieil. Thix lia\e ne\ir hei n ai'i'n''f an interpreter, and adds another to the rnaiiv e\ ideiiei's allorded in these volnnies of the saincnossnf the tenor ot" an Indian warrior's life W iate\er ilV tiaxe l)een his \ieissitnrles, his joys or his snrrnws. he tells onlv <>f his warlilu' explnils. 'The tonehinij episudes ot donieslie life, whieh, in the antol)iiiMr|-a|iliy nf a eivili/ed man, alVnrd sneh varied and aifreeahle pietin'es of Innnan thoutrht and experienee, hixe sennclv !i plaee in the narrative of the savage 11 e iMiiV have a rellsli I or home d !i slronir love for those w h II snrmund Ins eump tn'e-- triendship, and paternal lo\e, and eonjn idows of doMiesiic life, or seorns to narrale llieiii. hut delights in ile|iirliii!^ the storms that lie has hraved in the ehase or on the war-path. Notehimine, or, Xo Hunt, rememhers that, w h'-n a 1k>\, he killed sipiirrels and other small tiame with the Imw and arrow, and that. when he t.rre\v to he a vonim' man. he used a i_nni. and puisned the deer and the elk. W hlle \e1 a \outh, hi' |oMied a war-part^, aiu' ( IM 1 Il!i llloCKA I'llY \\< III ii((iiiiiHt till' (>I)H-M, lull till' i\|ic|i|iN tMiiii-ii wiiH tlir Nriil|i 1)1° an njil liiiliaii Aifinii lie \M-iit iiUaiiiNt till' Omiui'h, Mitli ii liiru'r war-|>artv, of Mliirli liin Catln'r, M aiiliaw'uaw, wax Itaiirr, ami \\ aiiatliiir^n wum nimiiiiI hi coiii liiaml : llirv killrtl trii ( >Mi|ri-H, iij' >>l|ii|ii Nolfliiiiinu', tllr>ll^'ll htiil a Mi\ , Ni-al|M')l iiiir 'I'lif IK XI liiiir, Im' \\riit niiiltr IiIn lii'ollur, tl Id \\ lilt)' I lixiil, iiu'iuiiHl (li)' Stoiiv. Ila^ill^ iliMii^criii an iin !iiii|i- iiii'iil III till' riHiiit, wliii wvw »l.>i'|iiii|{ ariiiiiiil lour lin>, llir\ n-i'|it MiM (III III, ^|M ml*: K llm wlmlr iii|{lit in vuililniii; ami a|i|triiarliliiu tlir Iinv At ilaylirrak, llir> niitlirij with hiiililrii oiiMt ami Imiil yilU ii|niii llir rm aiii|iiiiriit, \i>l* iiiiiiiiir Im iii^ iiiniiiitctl nil thr Haiiir hiitxr uilh W liitr (/IoihI A tail aiNiiil liiAiiwii a(;o nli'iii K ilowii with a I'liili (III lirtit ut thr i'iiriii\ ulm Irll 'I'liti Simiv Hriillrml thriiiM'h in iimt tlii' prairir, ami llir liulit iN'i-aiiiu Ijriifi'al. 'I hi' \\ hill' I ImihI, ahamlii|ilii|{ liix linrw, ilaHlii-il iiitii tliii hulth' nil tiNil, ami liMik a nmuiiiiii |iriMiiirr. 'I'Iiih r\|M'i|itiiiii wuh iiiiilri'laKiii til rrvi'iit{i' tin- ih-atli cif (Im I'athrr ol' \\ iiiir (liiiul, who hail Imtii kilh'il liy thi' Siiiiix. ii'iiiiii' miw tiMik I'niiiiiiaiiii iif a part) ol tuiiil\-liM' ^^ar- Nnl.i riiiri*, ami uiiil ii|,'aim«t the OKa^rh, Imt iliil m>t Niirn-i'il in imciing \uih aiiv III llir latttT. An iiliHiirrrhMfiil \\ar-|iarl\ in :iI\ui\n iIiiii- ^rriitiH III rrii'iiil urttti'; ilis'i|i|Kiiiiirii m ihrir |nir|MiKi'N ni i*'M'iii{ii ' iN'riHiir imM'r than i>i'iliiiai'i\\ Iri'iNiiniN, ami \t rciik llii'ii' hirv ii|Htii aii\ hi'l|ilrNN wamh'ii-rK ulm iiia\ Tail in llirir way It itiM xi u nil ihiM pai'ly M.'i't iiii{ I 'All Kaiihax, a man a ml I UN IK- vuli'. thi'\ itiiii'ilrn-il thrill ; thr Irailrr lakin({ n|Miii Iiiiiim ll ilir il tinuiiiNlii'd lioiior ni' Killinii, with hi» ikmi liami, ihr Miuiian, who MUM M'ly hamlMiinc. 'I'hi' m|hiiI ^ainiil In iIiin rxplnil \.a» nix linrm'N, III' u lioiii thrs killril Imir, ami ntaimil thr nihil'! mr I h.l tin- ({itilaiit iiiIm iitiii'i'N III ihiN rnnra^riMiN huml nil Inri'. I'lvc yi'iirH |iri tall iiitn tlifir iiniiils. Tlii'Nr I'aitM tlirow a stroiiir liirlit ii|miii the priiiri|tl('. nr, ratlur, iiii|iiilsi', n|' I'l'Vtniri'. wliirh niiistituti-s so proiiiiiit'tit it fualiin* ill tlio IiKJiaii clitirarlrr. iiikI hi tin- liistnrv aiiailie olijeil throll^ll tli> iitervcntion of (ieneial (lark, when it v<-"- -irrani-Mi that he slioiild \ isit \\ iishiii^Mon lie says lliat the praetiee of his people Iiiim lH>eii, previously to l^nii (T to war, to send nul hunters to kill a de( iM'liof nf liin fiitliors. |iiit full tiiitli ill llicm. I'lfviuiis to ^;iiiiitr out us leader of a partv. lie (Ireaiiieil of laKiiiLj two prisoners; in tlie event, one of tiie enemy was taken, ami one Killed, wliicli he deemed a snnieieiit Inllilmenl In sotiio instniiees, possil)ly, tlie wanton i-nu It y of tlie Indians, dis- iibived in tlie slaii. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) y A :a f/. 2i 1.0 If"^! I I.I 11.25 12^ S.^i 1^ i^ uui. m U IIIIII.6 — 6" V] <^ /i ^%J^*> y %. y^ ^^ 1^' V /: 7 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST M^IN STREET WEBSTER, NY. MS80 (716)072-4503 ^ 186 BIOGRAPHY. 3'(niii<^ man proposes to join tliis society, he applies to a member to propose and voncli for him. The apphcation is communicated to the head man of the order, who, in a few days, returns an answer, which is simply affirmative or negative, without any reason or ex- planation. If accepted, the candidate is directed to prepare him- self Of this preparation we have no knowledge; but we are informed that a probation of one )'ear is imposed previous to initia- tion. Tlie society is sometimes called the Great Medicine of the Sauks and Fo.ves ; it is said to embrace four roads or degrees — something is to be done or learned to gain the first degree ; a further I)rogress or proficiency leads to the second ; and so on. Admission is said to cost from forty to ffUj dollars, and every subsequent step in the four roads is attended with some expense. There are few who liave attained to the honors of the fourth road. These particu- lars have been gathered in conversation with intelligent Indians, and embrace all that is popularly known, or, rather, believed, on this curious subject. The traders have offered large bribes for the purpose of obtaining information in regard to the mysteries of the society ; but these temptations, and the promises of secrecy failed alike to lead to any disclosures. Many of the tribes have similar institutions. Taiomah was one of the delegation led to Washington, in 1824, by General William Clark, and signed the treaty of that year. He was then in very infirm health, as his portrait indicates, and died, soon after his return to his people, as is believed, of consumption. WABAUNSEE. In the portrait which accompanies this sketch, we are happy to have it in our power to exhihit an excellent likeness of a verj dis- tinguished man. It is to be regretted tliat so few anecdotes of him have been preserved; but his general character, which is well known, is that of a warrior of uncommon daring and enterprise, and a chief of great intelligence and influence. His tribe take pride ill recounting his numerous feats in war; and the agents of our government, who have met him in council, speak in higli terms of liis capacity for business. Though cool and sagacious, he was a bold orator, who maintained the interests of his people with untiring zeal and firmness. He was the principal war-chief of the Pottawati- inies of the Prairie, residing on the Kankakee River, in Illinois. The following anecdote, while it marlvs the daring spirit of this cliief, is more especially characteristic of his race, and is one of the numerous instances of individual exploit with which the tradition- ary lore of the frontier abounds. Some years ago, a small hunting- party of Pottawatimies, having wandered far to the west, were dis- I'overed by a band of Osages, who surprised them, and slew t\\o or three of their number. It seems almost marvellous that such transactions should so frequently occur in the story of Indian life — tliat, in a country of such immense breadtli, w ith a savage popula- tion so comparatively small, and with the melancholy proofs before their eyes of a decrease in numbers so rapid as to threaten a speedy extermination of the race, the individuals of different tribes seldom meet without bloodshed. The propensity for carnage seems to be (187) 1S3 BIOGRAPHY. an innate and overmastering passion, which no reflection can chasten, nor the saddest experience eradicate. Even their dread and liatred of the white man, and the conviction of the common fate which impends over the whole race, in consequence of the supe- rior numbers of tho.se who are daily usurping their jjlaces, have no restraining effect upon their wanton prodigality of blood. Although it is obvious, even to themselves, that the most fruitful source of tlicir rapid decay is to be found in their own uidiappy dissensions, tlieir destructive habits continue unrestrained and .so many are their feuds, so iceen their ap])etite for blood, so sliglit the preten(;e npon winch the tomahawk may be lifted, that two hunting-parties from opposite directions can scarcely meet in the wilderness with- out suggesting a stratagem, and leading to the s])illing of blood. But, common a.s such deeds are, they do not pass off without important consecpiences. Although murder is an ever3day occur- rence in savage life, the Indian resents it as a crime, and claims the right to avenge the death of his friend. On the occasion alluded to, one of tlie slain was the friend of Wabaini.sec, and he deter- mined to revenge the violence. It was long, liowever, be'.bre an opportunity oflered, the distance between tlie lands of the Potta- watimies and Osages being so great tliat the individuals of the respective tribes seldom came in collision. But no interval of time or distance cools the passion of revenge in the Indian bosom. At length, while on one of his hunting e.xpeditions, Wabaini.see heard that some Osages were expected to visit one of the American military posts not far distant, and thither he bent his steps, intent upon the completion of his purpose. On his arrival, he found the Os-igcs there, and they met coldly, as strangers, without friendship, and without feud. But ; mothered fires burned under that exterior apathy. Wabaunsee was determined to imbrue his hand in the blood of the tribe in whose lodges the scalp of his friend was hung ; and the Osages no sooner learned the name of the newly-arrived visitor than they guessed his purpose, anil took counsel with each WABAUNSEE. 189 !)tiier how they might avert or anticipate the blow. "Wabaunsee pitched his camp without the fort, while the Osagos thougiit to secure their safety by sleeping within the fortress. But neither breastworks nor sentinels iifford security from the hand of the savage, who is trained to stratagem, who finds no impediment in the obscurity of the thickest darkness, and can tread the forest with a step so stealthy as not to alarm the most vigilant listener. In the night, Wabaunsee crept towards the fort, and, evading the sentries, scaled the ramparts, and found admission through an embrasure. Alone, within a military post, surrounded by men sleeping on their arms, he glided swiftly and noiselessly about, until he found his victim. In an instant, he despatched one of the sleeping Osages, tore the scalp from his head, and made good his escape before the alarm was given. As he leaped from the wall, a trusty companion led up his horse, and the triumphant chief mounted and dashed off, followed by his little band ; and, before the sun rose, they had ridden many miles over the prairie, and shouted often in exultation and derision over this bold, but impudent exploit. In the war of 1812, this chief and his tribe were among the allies of Great Britain, and were engaged in active hostilities against the United States. But, at the treaty held at Greenville, in 1814, he was one of those who, in the Indian phrase, took the Seventeen Fires by the hand, and buried the tomahawk. He has ever since been an undeviating friend of the American government and people. He was one of the chiefs who negotiated the treaty of the Wabash, in 1826. At the close of the treaty, while encamped en the bank of the river, near the spot where the toAvn of Huntingdon now stands, he engaged in a frolic, and indulged too freely in ardent spirits. A mad scene ensued, such as usually attends a suvjige revel, in the course of which a warrior, A\ho 'cld the station of friend, or aid, to Wabaunsee, accidentally plunged his knife deeji ill the side of the chief The wound was dangerous, and confinei! 190 BIOGRAPHY. him all winter; but General Tipton, the agent of our government in that quarter, having kindly attended to him, he was carefully nursed, and survived. His sometime friend, fearing that he might be considered as having forfeited that character, had fled as so(m as he was sober enough to be conscious of his own unlucky agency in the 'iragic scene. Early in the spring, General Tipton was sur- ])rised by a visit from Wabaunsee, who came to announce his ow n recovery, and to thank the agent for his kindness. The latter seized the occasion to effect a reconciliation between the chief and his fugitive friend, urging upon the former the accidental nature of the injury, and the sorrow and alarm of the offender. Wabaunsee replied' instantly, " You may send to him, and tell him to come back. A man that will run off" like a dog with his tail down, for fear of death, is not worth killing. I will not hurt him." We are pleased to be able to say that he kept his word. At the treaty held in 1828, at which he assisted, one of the chiefs of his tribe, who was thought to be under the influence of a trader, after the treaty had been agreed upon by the chiefs and braves, refused to sign it unless the commissioners would give him a large sum of money. Wabaunsee was very indignant when he heard of this circumstance. "An Indian," said he, "who will lie, is not worthy to be called a brave. He is not fit to live. If he refuses to sanction what we agreed to in council, I'll cut his heart out." It was with some difficulty that he was prevented from putting his threat in execution. In ' 832, when the faction of Black Hawk disturbed the repose of the frontier, it was feared that the Winnebagoes and Pottawatimies would also be induced to take up the hatchet ; and it is supposed that they were tampered with for that purpose. They were too sagacious to listen to such rash counsels ; and Wabaunsee relieved his own conduct from doubt by joining the American army with Ins warriors. In 1833, the Pottawatimies sold their lands in Illinois and Indiana, WABAUNSEE. 191 to the United States, and accepted other territory west of the Mis- sissippi, to which they agreed to remove; and, in 1835, he visited the city of Washington, for the purpose, as he said, of taking his Great Father by the hand. The next year, he led his people to their new home, near the Council Bluff, on the Missouri, where, in 1838, he was still living. PESKELECHACO. We regret that so few particulars have been preserved of the Hfti of this individual, who was one of the most prominent men of his nation, and whose character afforded a favorable specimen of his race. He was a person of excellent disposition, who, to the qualities proper to the savage mode of life, added some of the Wrtues which belong to a more refined state of society. But such is the evanes- cent nature of traditionary history, that, while we find this chief invariably spoken of with high commendation, we have been scarcely a^jle to trace out any of the circumstances of his life. Peske echaco was a noted war-chief of the PaA\-nees, wIkj visited Washin'.fton City as a delegate from his nation in IS — . Wc have b ad frequent occasions of remarking the salutary effect pro- ducer", upon the minds of the more intelligent of the Indian chiefs and head men, by giving them the opportunity of A^-itnessing our numLf^rs and civilization ; our arts, our wealth, and the vast extent of our country. The evidences of our power, which they witness, together with the conciliatory effect of the kindness shown them, have seldom failed to maks a favorable impression. Such was certainly the case with this chief, who, after his return from Wash- ington, acquired great influence with his tribe, in consequence of the admiration with which they regarded the knowledge he had gained in his travels. He had spent his time profitably in observ- ing closely whatever passed under his notice, and, in proportion to his shrewdness and intelligence, his opinions became respected. He spoke frequently of the words he had heard from liis great (192) BIOGRAPHY. 193 iiiUiiM-, the President of the United States, who had, in pursuance of the benevolent policy which has governed the intercourse of the ailministration at Washington with the Indians, admonished his savage visitors to abandon their predatory habits, and cultivate the arts of peace. Peskelechaco often declared his determination to pursue this salutary advice. He continued to be uniformly friendly to the people of the United States, and faithful to his engagements with them, and was much resp >< ('id by them. lie was a man of undoubted courage, and esteemed a skilful leader. The only incident in the active life of this chief, which has been preserved, was its closing scene. About the year 1826, a wai'-party of the Osages marched against his village with the design of steal- ing horses, and killing some of his people. The assailants were discovered, and a severe battle ensued. The chief, at the head of a band of warriors, sallied out to meet the invaders, and the conflict assumed an animated and desperate character. Having slain one of the enemy with his own hand, he rushed forv\'ard to strike the hodij, which, is considered the highest honor a warrior can gain in battle. To kill an enemy is honorable ; but the proudest achieve- ment of the Indian brave is to strike, to lay his hand upon, the slain or mortally wounded body of his foeman, whether slain by himself or another. To strike the dead is, therefore, an object of the highest ambition; and, when a warrior falls, the nearest warrior of each party rushes forward, the one to gain the triumph, and the other to frustrate the attempt. Peskelechaco was killed in a gallant endeavor to signalize himself in this manner. 25 AN OJIBWA MOTHER AND HER CHILD. In a preceding volume, we have cxliibitocl a sketch of an Indian mother on a journey, with her child on her back. We present, now, a mother in the act of suckling her infant. The reader will sup- pose the cradle before him to have been, only a moment before, leaning against a tree, or a part of the wigwam. The mother, havinii seated herself on the (jround, and dii^ennjajjed her breast from its covering, has taken the cradle at the top, and is drawing it towards her; while the child, anxious for its nourislmient, sends its eyes and lips in the direction of its breast. This is one mode of suckling infants among the Indians. When the child has attained sufficient strength to sit alone, or to walk about, the cradle is dis- pensed with. Then it is taken by the mother and placed on her lap, she being in a sitting po.sture; or, if she have occasion to make a journey on foot, a blanket, or part of a blanket, is provided — two corners of which she passes round her middle. Holding these with one hand, she takes the child by the arm and shoulder with the other, and slings it upon her back. The child clasps with its arms its mother's neck, presses its feet and toes inward, against, and, as far as the length of its legs will permit, around her waist. The blanket is then drawn over the child by the remaining two corners, which are now brought over the motlier's shoiilder ; who, grasping all four of these in her hand, before her, pursues her way. If the child require nourishment, and the mother have time, the blanket is thrown off, and the child is taken by the arm and Bhoulder, most adroitly replaced upon the ground, received u]ion (194) niOGRAl'HY. 19S tlu! lii[) of the mothor, and noiirislicd. Otlicrwixo, tlic brtiiisl is pressed upward, in the direction of the child's moutli, till it is able to reach the source of its nourishment, while the mother pursues licr journey. This is the cause of the elongation of the breasts of Indian mothers. They lose almost entirely their natural form. The cradle, in which the reader will see the little prisoner, is a simple contrivance. A board, shaven thin, is its basis. On this the infant is placed, with its back to the board. At a proper dis- tance, near the lower end, is a projecting piece of wood. This is covered with the softest moss, and, when the cradle is perpendicu- lar, the heels of the infant rest upon it. Before the head of the child there is a hoop, projecting four or five inches from its face. Two holes are bored on either side of the upper end of the board, for the passage of a deer skin, or other cord. This is intended to extend round the forehead of the mother, as is seen in a previous volume, to support the criuUc when on her back. Around the board, and the child, bandages are wrapped, beginning at the feet, and winding around till they reach the breast and shoulders, bind- ing the arms and hands to the child's sides. There is great security in this contrivance. The Indian woman, a slave to the duties of the lodge, with all the fondness of a mother, cannot devote that constant attention to her child which her heart constantly prompts her to bestow. She must often leave it to chop wood, build fires, cook, erect the wigwam, or take it down, make a canoe, or bring home the game which her lord has killed, but which he disdains to shoulder. While thus employed, her infant charge is safe in its rude cradle. If she place it against a tree, or a corner of her lodge, it may be knocked down in her absence. If it fall backwards, then all is safe. If it fall sideways, the arms and hands being confined, no injury is sustained. If on the front, the projecting hoop guards the face and head. The Indian mother would find it difficult to contrive any thing better calculated for her purpose. To this early discipline in the cradle, the Indian owes his erect form ; and to the I9rt AN OJIHWA MOTHER AM) HER CIIIEI). praclii'c. when old riioiiffli to lie rclciiscd from llic l»;iii(liij;cs, of l)niciii I'Vi'U do that, if lel't to our own forces ' Wv are [)oor an 1 desti tnte, wliile lliey possess the means of su|)plying themseh s with all \hvY ref|uire ; we ougl t not, tlunelbre, to do such things.' Waaptishaw added, ' ^\'e thouglit that \-oii, who live near to white men, were wi.ser than we who live at a distance ; but it must, WAAPASHAW. 203 iiuloi'f', 1)c otherwise, if you do such deeds.' Tliey llien rose niid depiirlcd." It appears that, on this occasion, human flesh was not resorted to for want of provisions, as the camp was plentifully supi)lied ; nor did fondness for this species of food lead to the dreadful re])ast, which seems to have been regarded with a natural aversion. The l^acotahs speak of that case in terms of the most decided reproba- liou. But one instance of cannibalism is known to have occurred among them; when, during a famine, three women, urged by a necessity which few could have controlled, partook of the fle.sh of a man who had died of hunger ; but, two of them d}ing shortly after, the Indians attributed their decease to this fatal meal. The third lived in degradation, induced l)y this single act ; the nation regard her with horror, and suppose that a state of corpulence into which she has grown, has been induced by that food, which, they predict, will eventvially prove fatal to her. During the war between the United States and Great Britain, which commenced in 1812, the British took possession of the out- •lost which had been established at Prairie du Cliicn, for the con- venience of our intercourse with the Indians, but afterwards aban- doned it. The little village, consisting of a few houses, occupied by French Canadians, was left defenceless, and the Winnebago Indians, a fierce and restless tribe, who occupied the surrounding country, seemed disposed to create a quarrel, which might afford them an opportunity for plunder. Although the whites had long been established there, and had lived in amity with them, they came to the village, took some articles of private property by force, and threatened to massacre the inhabitants, and plunder the town. The aLu...rid villagers, intimately acquainted with the reckless and desperate character of their neighbors, and aware of their own dan- ger, immediately despatched a messenger to Waapashaw, at his residence on the opposite shore of the Mississippi, not far above Prairie du Chien. His interposition was claimed on account of his 204 BIOGRAPHY. great influence, as well in his own tribe as among liis nci)fli1)ors; he was at peace with the surrounding Indians, and witii the whites; and there was, between his own band and the Winnebagocs, a long standing friendship. These tribes had intermarried, and there were then at Prairie du Chien many individuals, the offspring of these marriages, who stood in an equal degree of relationship to both, and some of whom were nearly allied to Waapashaw. Obeying the request, he went down to the village immediately, attended by but one person. The inhabitants, seeing him thus, Avithout the imposing train of warriors by which they had expected to see him followed, gave themselves up a.s lost; justly appre- hending that the Winnebagocs, ascertaining that no force would be opposed to them, would now put their sanguinary threats into execution. To an intimation of their fears, and an earnest appeal which they had made to him, the chief, with the characteristic taci- turnity of his race, gave no reply ; but sent his attendant to the Winnebagocs, with a message, requiring them to meet him in council, during that day, at an hour and place which he appoinled. In llie mean while, he remained silent and reserved, apparently wrapped in deep thought. The Indian chief is careful of his reputation, and never appears in public Avithout the preparation which is ncnx'ssary to the dignity of his per.sonal appearance, and the success of any intellectual efl'ort he may be called upon to nialce. His face is skilfully painted, and his person studiously decorated ; his passions are subdued, his plans matured, and his thoughts carefully arranged, so that, when he speaks, he neither hazards his own fame nor jeopards the interest of the tribe. At the appointed hour, the Winnebago chiefs assembled, and Waapashaw seated himself among them ; the warriors formed a circle aro'und their leaders, and the individuals of less consequence occupied the still more distant places. A few minutes were pnssi'd in silence; then Waapashaw arose, and, placing himself in an atti- tude of studied, though apparently careless, dignity, looked round WAAPASIIAW. 205 ii[)()n the chiefs witli a menacing look. His countenance was fierce and terrible ; and cold and stern were the faces upon which his piercing eye was bent. He plucked a single hair from his head — held it up before them — and then spoke in a grave and resolute tone: " Winncbagoes ! do you see tills hair? Look at it. You threaten to massacre the Avhitc peoi)le at the Prairie. They are your friends, and mine. You wish to drink their blood. Is that your purpn^3? Dare to lay a finger upon one of them, and I will blow you from the face of the earth, as I now" — suiting the action to the word — " blow this hair with my breath, where none can find it." Not a head was turned at the close of this startling and unex- pected annunciation; not a muscle was seen to move — the keen, black, and snake-like eyes of that circle of dusky warriors remained fixed upon the speaker, who, after casting around a look of cool defiance, turned upon his heel and left the council, without waiting for a reply. The insolent savages, who had been vaporing about the village in the most arrogant and insulting manner, hastily brolce up the council, and retired quietly to their camp. Not a single Winnebago was to be seen next morning in the vicinity of the village. They knew that the Sioux chief had the pow(>r to exter- minate them, and that his threats of vengeance were no idle words, uttered 1)}' a forked tongue ; and, taking counsel from Avisdom, they prudi'iitly avoided the conduct which would have provoked his resentment. The Keoxa tribe have two villages on the Mississippi, one near Lake Pepin, and the other at the Iowa River ; and they hunt on both banks of the Great River. POCAHONTAS. The annals of profane history, civilized and savage, may l)e challenged to produce a parallel to the story of Pocahontas. It lias all the stirring elements of romance genially blended with the grave simplicity of truth and nature. Like an unexpected oasis iu the midst of the interminahle desert — like a solitary star of the first magnitude, beaming suddenly out from a cloudy sky — the person and history of the daughter of Powhatan stand out in bold and sur- prising beauty on the severe page of aboriginal life. Ilcr story, as an eloquenl writer has said, is "that exquisite episode in the history of the New World, which, appealing equally to the affections and the imagination, has never lost the charm of its original loveliness and freshness, even though a thousand iterations have made it the most familiar of all our forest stories. It is one of those talcs, which, combininsj several elements of the tender and the tragic — like that of the Grecian daughter — like that of the Roman "\'irginius — more certainly true than either of these legends, and not less touching and beautiful, — the mind treasures up, naturall}' and v.ithout an effort, as a chronicle equally dear to its virgin fancies and its sweetest sensibilities." History has not furnished a full-length delineation of the life of Pocahontas. She appears, in the scanty chronicles of "N'irginia's first settlement, not in a continuous drama, of which every act and scene is made to develop some new grace of penson, or trait of cha- racter, till, at the fall of the curtain, the whole stands out in com- plete and life-like symmetry ; but in a series of bold and striking (20U) BIOGRAPHY. 207 tithkaux vioants, in each one of which she is revealed in full-length life and completeness. We are first introduced to her, in the heroic act of saving the life of Captain Jolui Smith. She was then a child about twelve years old. Smith, having been taken captive by some of the sul)- jects of Powhatan, carried from place to ])lace, and feasted and fatted for sacrifice, is bnmght into the presence of the forest mo- narch, to be tried as an enemy. The hall of judgment is an open area in the forest. Its columns are the tall majestic oaks and pines, which centuries of thrifty growth have been rearing and shaping to be fitting supporters of its "o'erarching dome of blue." Reclin- ing upon his couch, in the midst, and surrounded by his Avarriors and his household, the aged monarch maintains a most dignified and royal bearing. Threescore suns have passed over his head. But his figure is nobly erect and athletic, and his eye keen, search- ing, and severe. His prisoner is before him. Ilis story is familiar to all the counsellors of the king. lie is known as the mastcr- s|)irit of that band of intruders, which has recently landed on their shores, and taken forcible possession of a portion of their territory. The consultation is brief and decisive. The prisoner is doomed to death, and the execution is ordered to take place on the spot. Two great stones are brought in, and placed in the midst. Ujion lliese he is laid and bound as upon an altar. The monarch alone is deemed worthy to strike down so distinguished a foe. Ilis war- riors and counsellors await his action. The victim composes him- self to die like a Christian hero. Why does the royal executioner (leliiy ? lie attempts to rise from his couch, but is held back by a liuy arm embracing him, and a gentle voice whispering in earnest entreaty in his ear. It is Pocahontas, his eldest daughter, liut she pleads in vain. Shaking her gently off, h.c takes his huge war- rliil), and, advancing to the block, raises his arm for the fatal blow. \\ illi a shriek of agony, and an impulse of energy and devotion known only to woman's heart, Pocahontas rushes forward, throws 208 POCAHONTAS. herscll' IxHwocn tlic victim and llic iipliflcd arm of llic inipassionod avenger, beseeeliiiig liim to spare, for her sake, that doomed life. In uhat page of lier vohnninous annals does history record a spectacle of such exquisite beauty? \Miat grace, what femi- nine tenderness and devotion, what heroic pur])0S6 of soul — wlihi, self-sacrificing resolution and firmness ! And that in a child of twelve years old — and that child an untaught bavagc of the wil- derness, v'ho had never heard the name of Jesus, or of that gos- pel which teaches to love our enemies, and do good to them that hate us ! Forgiveness was never an clement in the red man's creed. Every nrtii'le breathed the spirit of revenge. The attitude "of the royal princess is an inexplicable anomaly. It has no precedent in Indian law or legend. It comes upon the assembly like a revela- tion — a voice from the Great Spirit, which they dare not resist. Awe subdues rage. Admiration takes the place of savage ferocity. The deadly weapon drops from the hand of the monarch, his arm falls powerless to his side, and he turns to his couch, " Like a sick eagle fainting in his nest." The victim is unbound, and given to his deliverer. His sentence of death is commuted, by royal prerogative, to that of perpetual bondage ; and that agiiin, a short time after, is fully remitted. The doomed enemy is pardoned and loaded with favor. The captive is set free. After an absence of nearly seven weeks, the brave Smith was permitted to return to Jamestown, witli many promises of favor from the hitherto hostile chieftain of Werowocomo. For a time, these promises were faithfully observed — an amicable intercourse between the parties being attended, as usual, with a profitable interchange of coiiiinodities. In this tvaflic, the women of the natives took part as well as the men, and the preserver of Captain Smith Avas often seen at Jamestown, in company with her female attendants. r' inoCRAPIIY. 200 VVliotlior nny spcfial notice was liilccii of licr, or iiiiy favor shown In her, in consefincnco of licr licroic act, docs not, appear. 'V\w first (lays of an infant colony, on a wild shore, arc not likciv to he niiicli more distinguislied l)y tlie reiincnients of cticpictte tliaii hy tlic comforts and Inxiu'ios of civilized life. But ^ratilnde for sutdi adcliverance would rc(piiro neitlicr courtly phrase nor ])uljlic pa- tj:cant. It is often expressed, in the course of his various letters and jouru'ds, in terms that snllicieiitly testify, at tlie same time a i^rate- I'ul aflTection, and a deep paternal rcrson of I'owhatuii, and holding hiiu as a hostage — a means of exacting the supi)lies which, with all his ])ersnasions, he could not induce them to sell. 'The fire-arms of the English captain gave him such an immea- surable advantage over the dusky monarch of the forest, that the latter could never be induced, though often persuaded, to visit the fort, or, in any way, expose his [)erson to the power of th(! enemy. Conscious of his superiority in this respect, and naturally fearless of personal danger. Smith sought an interview with Powhatan, in his own forest home. The wily king was preiiared for his coming, and resolved that he should never go back alive. Gathering many hundreds of his warriors about him, and concealing them in the neighltoring forest, he endeavored, by fair sjjeeches and llattering promises, to disarm the vigilance of his visitor, and thus to over- whelm him with a sudden blow. Coming up, one by one, with .stealthy tread, they surrounded tlu; place of conference, where Smith, with only one attendant, had been exchanging courteous speeches with the king. Powhatan withdrew, for a moment, and Smith, looking ;djout him, perceived his danger, and the snare that had been drawn imperceptibly around him. Nothing daunted by the fearful odd.s that stood against him, he faced that tawny multitude, aneminglv secure by natural ties, possesses upon the hearts of human 1 icings. Here we find the old monarch, who had just declared him- self the survivor of three generations of subjects, betrayed by liis own child, and by one of his chiefs, while in the pursuit of his most cherished objects. We have no reproaches for Pocahontas, and her c-onduct is to be justified. She obeyed the laws of nature and liu- manit)-, of tenderness and love, which were far superior, in their 212 POCAIION'IAS. lorcf and ofFicjvcy, in a licai't like hers, to any whirl i spring simply Irurn the tics of blood. But, even though his designs be ill, we can- not but regard the savage prince, in his age and inlirmities, thus l)etra3'cd by child and subj^nt, somewhat as another Lear. He, too, was fond of his Cordelia. 81ie was ' the Jewell,' ' the nonpareil,' we are toLl, of Ids afTcctions. Well might he exclaim, with the an- cient Briton, in his hour of destruction, ' Mow sliarper llinn a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless diild !' " But, of her humane treason, for its motive wa.s beyond reproach, Powhatan knew nothing. Smith kept her secret. lie profited by her intelligence, and escaped. Newport had returned to England, and Smith was Prc.ddcnt of the Colony. \\'iule absent from Jamestown, on a foraging, or rather a trading expedition, an accident occurred, in which eleven of the colonists were drowned, including Captain Waldo, Vice President in tlie absence of Smilli. A calanuly so serious must l)e innne- diately conununicated to the President, and Richard Wyllin volun- teered to go alono on the diflicult and dangerous mission. Going directly to the dwelling of Powhatan, he found them making the greatest preparation for war. Ilis own life was in immini^it danger, lie was not to be perniitled 1o return, to l)ear tidings of wliat ho ]i;id seen and heard. His doom was sealed, and he would have fallen a victim to his generous zeal in the public service, if Smith's good angel had not been near to protect him. Silently, and unno- ticed, he w!is drawn aside b}'' Pocahontas, concealed in a place of safety, guarded and fed with tender care. The aL.rm was given, the most diligent search was made for their victim by men trained and ])raclised in the arts of concealment, detection, and escape, and urgcfl to tlieir utmost diligence by the strenuous command of the king. But all in vain. Tliey were ballled and outwitted by the sagacity and coolness of a mere child. She put them upon the BIOGRAPHY. 213 wrong scent. She sent liis pursuers ofT in one direction, wliile. under cover of tlie night, she directed him, in tlie other, how to find liis friends. 8ick, wejirj-, and ahiiost disheartened, Smith has returned to Enghmd. Dale is Governor of Virginia. The relation hctwecn tlie colony and Powhatan is that of open hostilit}-. Fire and sword have ravaged the native villages. The Indians, hecoine fierce, revengeful, implacahle, have resolved to witlihold entirely their ^vonted supplies, and starve out the remorseless intruders. Poca- hontas, having, l)y her unchanging sympathy for the white men, and her constant interference in their hehalf, lost the confidence, and estranged tlie affections of her father, has left her home, and is living in comparative retirement with her cousin, the chief of Poto- mac. Just emerging from 30uth to womanhood, slic can no longer, as when a child, mingle personally in the stril'e or sports of me-i, or expose herself, unprotected, to their rude and admiring ga/.e. 1 h'r mission as messenger and active intercessor is at an end. The lireach hetwccn the conleiiding parties nupiircs moi\' than tempo- rary and fitful acts of mediation to heal it. No arm, not even that of "his dearest Jewell and daughter,"' can arrest the summar\' ven- geance which the savage Powhatan has resolved to visit upon the IhvkI of any white man found in his domains. He has decreed the utter extermination of the intruding race — a decree which Provi- d(>nce defeats, hy the interposition of Poctahontas, in a new ch!ira(;lir, and without her own consent. Her retreat at Potomac becoming known to Governor Dale, Cap- lain Argal is despatched, with a vessel, to seize her, and bring her to Jamestown. Bribed by the present of a copper kettle, her trusty guardians, the king and queen of Potomac, betray her into the hands of lier captors. Pretending a deep curiosity to see the great canoe, the queen prevails on Pocahontas to accompany her on board the Mnglisii sliip. When there, she is coolly informed that she is a prisoner, and must go as such to Jamestown. 214 POCAHONTAS. What ;i return for all her acts of kindness, her licroic sulf-saeri- lices in Ijehalf of the strangers — her frequent exjiosures of her hfe in their behalf, and her voluntary forfeiture of all that was dear in the confidence and affection of a doting father, or the cherished as- sociations of home ! If Pocahontas could not, with confidence, and a sense of personal security, go on board an English ship, or tni- versc the streets of the English colony, as if it were her own domain, what reliance could be placed in human gratitude, or human honor ? Her tears r.nd her entreaties are equally vain. The ship is imme- diately got uiidiT way. The liing and queen of Potomac are set on Ijoard their canoe, and paddle off, yelling piteously, with mo .k lamentations, over the loss of their Ijeautiful protege, and at the same time grinning at each other with real delight, as they gaze at the shining utensil for which they iiad sold her. The purpose of Governor Dale, in taking possession of the young princess, was, by her means, to secure a more favorable relation be- tween the colony and the natives. lie immediately sent to Pow- hatan, by an Indian messenger, to inform him tliat Pocahontas was his ciiptivc, and that her treatment there would dep'^nd upon the future conduct of her father. If he continued to see,>. the destruc- tion of the colonists, her life would be the forfeit. But, if he would make a treaty of amity, and faithfully keep it, at the end of a yeir she should be set at liberty. The heart of the monarch fainted when he received these tidings. He liad laid out and matured, together with the chiefs of the neigh- boring tribes, most of whom acknowledged his supremacy, a plan of operations \vhich was to overwhelm, and annihilate the colony. Upon the accomplishment of this plan, all his thoughts were cen- tred. It was this only which reconciled him to the tcmjiorary estrangement and absence of his " darling daughter and dearest Jewell." Vul presence, her gentle soothing influence, her profound reverence and tender regard for the white man, and her never-fail- ing interposition, by council, or by stratagem, to rescue them from BIOGRAPHY. 215 liis power, interforcd, on all sides, with his determined plan, and purfd3'zed his darling purpose. He was, therefore, willing to part witli her, for a season, and rejoiced that, in luu* secluded retreat, she would be sheltered from the storm of war which was gathering over lier lionie, and ignorant of all its horrors, till they were consum- mated in the destruction of his enemies. To that issue his plans were fast rii)ening. He biu'ned with intense eagerness for their e.veculion. The day of doom was at hand. The instruments of vengeance were prepared. The arm of the executioner was about to fall, when lo! interposed between him antl his victim, "the Jewell of his crown, the angel of his heart, the dearc^st daughter of his house" — not as when, six years before, in the simple eagerness and passionate resolve of childhood, she Hung herself upon the body of a solitary captive in her fatlier's tent, and \varded off the deadly blow — but, passively, herself a prisoner — involuntarily, like a shield forced to stand between the assailant and the assailed, she is there, in the budding beauty of early womanhood, in her modest, timid, retiring gentleness, a foil to the vengeance of her father and her race, and the guardian angel of the doomed colony. Paralyzed with disappointment and rage, Powhatan received in sullen silence the tidings of his daughter's captivity. Foi- many \veel\S, he sent no full rei)ly to the message of the Governor, inform- ing him that he held her as a hostage, and demanding concessions, as the price of her viltimate enlargement. So dear was she to his lieart, to his people, and to all the tribes of his wide domain, that they could not find a vote in the council to proceed with the ^v•ork of ruin, in which .she w-as to be involved. At the same time, the l)rnud and fretted monarch could not submit to the terms demand I'd for her ransom. He sent back seven English prisoners, whom he had doomed to sacrifice, each with an unserviceable musket, which had been stolen by the Indians. He promised them, upon the x-c- Jease of his daughter, to make full satisfaction for all past injuries ; lo enter into a treaty of peace with them, and to give them five 2l() POCAHONTAS. liiuulrcd bushels if corn. This was not enough. The Governor demanded a surrender of all the swords and fire-arms, which had l)eeii obtained by tlie Indians, either by purchase or theft. They were becoming expert in the use of them, and, in proportion as they (H<1 so, were losing their sense of the white man's superiority. This demand was too much for the aml)ition of the king, lie indignantly refused to answer it, and broke oil' the negotiation. Determined still to carry his point. Governor Dale, at the head of oiu; luuidrcd and fifty armed men, went up the bay to Werouocomo, witli Pocahontas in his train, and proposed to the king to restore her to his arms on the same terms as before. This proposal he an- swered with scorn and fight. He refused to see the Governor, or his daughter. At his command, the Indians attacked the intrudcr.s, but were driven back witli loss, and some of their houses were fired. Two of tlie brothers of the fair captive went on board the English ship, and had an allecting interview with their sister whom they tenderly loved. But nothing was accomplished. The only issue of the adventure was an increase of hatred and hostility on the part of the savage monarch, and a firmer resolve to hold no intercourse or traffic with the enemy. Returning to Jamestown, slill a [)ri.soner and a hastage, the daughter of Powhatan was treat(>d w ilh all the consideration and kindness (hie to her ranli and character, and to the services she had rendered the colony. She was tauglit to read, and carefully in- structed in the truths of religion. Apt to learn, and tenderly sus- ce])lil)le to every good impression, she received, with eagerness and avidity, the glad tidings of the gos])el. They met at once, and fully supplied, the longings of a heart that yearned for something purer and higher than the cold and dreamy superstitions of her native mvlhology. Tlu-y gave full scope to the aspirations of a soul pant- ing for an innnortality till then unrevealed. With wonder and awe slie contemplated the character of the one only living and true God — to her, till then, the unknown God. With inexpressible gratitude, n BIOGllAPIIY. 217 and rapturous deliglil, she listened to the story of a Saviour's death, and the way of salvation thus opened to the transgressor. With simple faith, and unhesitating confidence, she received the crucified One as her Redeemer and portion, rejoicing in the hope of forgive- ness through his blood. A new world was opened to her view. A now life was revealed to her ravished thought. A whole immor- tality, bright, ineffably bright, with visions of glory and blessedness which eye had not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man con- ceived, burst upon her willing faith, like the splendors of noonday upon one born blind, yet always yearning for light. Pocahontas became a new creature, as truly so in a spiritual and religious sense, as in the outward and entire transformation from an uncultivated child of the forest, to a refined, intelligent woman — the trophy and the ornament of Christian civilization. The extreme loveliness of her person, the amiablencss of her heart, the almost faultless purity of her life, together with the nol)le tr lils of her history, had won the admiration of her teachers. Baptized with the name of Rebecca, and received into the Christian cliurch, she was an object of just pride, as well as the tenderest regard, to all the colony — the first fruits of the western wilderness — a precious exotic, transplanted from the wilds of America to the garden of the Lord. Rejoicing, " with joy unspeakable," in the new-found lil)ertv of the gospel, and perceiving that she was performing, in her captivity, a mission of peace between her race and the white man, wliich, in her freedom, she was powerless to accomplish, Rebecca Ijccame not only reconciled to her position, but grateful and happy to be made, in any way, the means of averting from those she loved, the horrors of war, and weaving for them a bond of amity v\'hich should never be sundered. Among the youthful adventurers, who sought a new home in the infant colony, there were some gentlemen of good family, polished education, and high Christian worth. Of these, John Rolfe, of 28 21-! POCAHONTAS. London, was one of the most distinguished, for the excellence of his I'liiirai'tcr, and the firmness of his principles. Brought iulo c]rs. sought to surprise me, having but eighteen with me, the darko ni'^ht could not alfrii^ht her from commini,' throutfh the irkesome woods, and with watered eyes, gave me intelligcnee, with her l)est advice, to escape his furie; which, had he knowne, he had surely slaine her. Janiestowne, with her wilde traine, she as freely frcrpiented as her f ithor's habi- tation ; and, during the time of two or three yeares, she, next under God, was still the instrument to j)reserve liiis colonic from death, funine, and utter confusion; which, if in those times, had once h.'come dissolved, Virginia might have laine as it was at our first arrival! to this day. Since then, this business having been turned and varied by many accidents from that I left it at; it is most ccr- taine, after a long and most troublesome warre after my departure, betwi.xt her father and our colonic, all which time she was not heard of. about two years after she herself was taken prisoner^ being so detained nearc two yeares longer, the colonic by that meanes was relieved, ])eaco concluded, and at last, rejecting her barbarous condition, was married to an English gentleman with whom at this present she is in England ; the first Christian ever of that nation, the first Virginian ever spake English, or had a child in marriage by an Englishman; a matter, surely, if my mean- ing be truly considered and well understood, worthy a Prince's un- derstanding. " Thus, most gracious ladie, I have related to your majestic, what at your best leasure our approved histories will account to you at large, and done in the time of youre majestieV life, and how- ever this might bee presented you from a more worthic pen, it can- not from a more honest heart. As yet I never begged any thing of the state, or of any, and it is my want of abilitie, and her exceed BIOGRAPHY. 298 iiig desert, your birlli, mouiios, and aulhoritio, lier birlli, vcrtuc, want, and sirnplicitio, dotli riiulu; nice tlins liold, linmldy to be- socclie yniir niiijestie to take tliis Ivoowledire of lier, tlioii attentions lavished upon her at court, and in all tiie hiifli places of the hind, we are not informed. She was rc- ciiivcd with signal Oivor by tiie Queen and the pedantic Jamt's, her royal husband. For her sake, and in consideration of her rare vir- tues, and her signal services to the sulfering subjects of the crown, her husijand, though a commoner of moderate ])retcnsions as to birlh, was forgiven the almost treasonable presmnption of a.spirin" to the hand of a royal princess — a trospa.ss upon the "divine right," which few would be more ready to notice and resent, than tlie .sapient son of Mary Stuart. To the unsophisticated mind of the " Lady Rebecca," these princely favors and courtly attentions made no amends for the .sceu)- ing neglect and coldness of Captain Smith, whom she regarded with all the reverence and affection of an oidy child. Ilis singular prowess, his wonderful exploits, his almost supernatural courao-e and power, had filled her young imagination, and inspired her witii sentiments of admiration, awe, and love, due to a superior race of beings. With a love as free from passion as it was from .selfishness, she had many times jeoparded her life for his. From his lips she had first heard the name of God, anil the voice of prayer ; and him, above all other men, she regarded as the lean ) HISTORY OF THE 227 oircnmstances of their migration can never be ascertained, yet there is httle doubt, at this day, that they are branches of the great Tar- tar stock. In arriving at tliis conclusion, we do not give much weiglit to any casual coincidences that may be discerned between tlie Asiatic and American u.,.lects. Of all the sources of informa- lion 1)y which the descent of nations can be traced, we consider the (hxluctions of comparative etymology^, when applied to a written language, the most uncertain. It is dithcult in such cases to fix, uith accuracy, the true sound of words ; and it is well known that coincidences exist in many languages, raxlically different from one another, and snr'ken by communities whose separaliou from any common stock precedes all historic monuments. Such coincidences are either accidental, or the analogous v.ords are Ine connnon relics of that universal tongue which was lost in the miraculous interpo- sition upon the plains of Shinar. There is a fact illustrative of this position, within our own know- ledge, whirli demonstrates the futility of any conclusion drawn from such premises. It is well known ihat tl\e practice of dividing fields in England, by ditches, was introduced in tlic last century. When it was first adopted, the common people were .suddenly^ arrested in tlieir walks upon tlie l)rink of th( se ditches, without being aware of their existence until they approached them. Their surprise was manifested by the exclamation, "//«, /<«," and eventually the ditches themselves were deuoininatcd ha, ha. Among the Sioux, the Falls of St. Anthony arc called ha, ha. These falls, approached from below, are not visible, until a projecting point is ])a.ssed, when they burst xipon the traveller in all their grandeur. The Indians, no doubt, struck with the sudden and glorious prospect, marked their surjjrisc, as did the English peasants, with the same exclamation — fia, ha ; and tliis exclamation has become the name of the cataract. But he who would deduce from this coincidence the common orifrin of the English and Sioux, would reason as logically as many of those who arrange the branches of the human family into chusses 228 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. bectmse a few doubtful resemblances in their vocabularies arc discovered. Some curious observations on this topic were made by the cele- l)rated American traveller, John Ledyard. The wide extent of his travels among savage nations in almost every region of the globe, together Avith his remarliable sagacity in discriminating, and facilit\' in recording, the peculiarities of savage manners and character, gives a value to his opinions and remarks on this subject which those of few other persons can claim. The following extract is from liis Journal, written in Siberia : " I have not as 3'ct taken any vocabularies of the Tartar language. If I take any, tlioy will be very short ones. Nothing is more apt to deceive than vocal)ularics, when taken by an entire stranger. Men of scientific curiosity make use of them in investigating ques- tions of philosophy as well as history, and I think often with too much confidence, since nothing is more difficult than to take a voca- bulary that shall answer any good ends for such a purpose. Tlie (lillerent sounds of the same letters, and of the same combinations of letters, in the languagv-s of Europe, present an iiisurniountal)lc ob.stacle lo making a vocabulary which shall bo of general u.so. Tlie dilTerent manner, also, in which persons of the same language would write the words of a new language, would b(! such, that a .■sli-aiin,'r might suppose them to be two languages. " .\Iost uncultivated languages are very difficult to be orthogra- l>/ii:id in another language. They are generally guttural; i)ut ulieu not so, the ear of a foreigner cannot accommodate itself to the iudoction of the speaker's voice .soon enough to catch the true -jiiuud. This must be done instantaneously; and even in a laii- ijiiage with which we are acquainted, we are not able to do it for several years. I seize, for instance, the accidentiil mon^.ent, when a siv;i|j^e is incliui-d to give me the namw of Ihings. The medium of this conversation is only signs. The savage may wish to give me the word for head, and lays his hand on the top uf his head. I HISTORY OF THE 229 am not certain wliether he means the head, or the top of the head, oi perhaps the hair of the head. He may wish to say kg, and puts his hand to the calf. I cannot ^-ll whether he means the leg, or the calf, or flesh, or the flesh. There are other difficulties. The island of Onalaska is on the coast of America, opposite to Asia. There are few traders on it. Being there with Captain Cook, I was wallcinir one day on the shore in company with a native, who spoke the Jliissian language. I did iiot undcisland it. I was writing the names of several things, and pointed to the ship, supposing he would understand that I wanted the name of it. He answered me in a phrase which, in Russ, meant / know. I wrote down a ship. I gave him some snuff, which he took, -.nd held out his hand for more, making use of a word which signified in Russ, a little. I wrote more.'" — Seo Sparks's Life of John Ledijard, p. 148, first edition. The claims of our primitive people to an Asiatic descent are founded upon other and stronger testimony; — upon the general ro.soinbliince which they hear, in many points of character, manners, customs, and institutions — circumstances not easily changed, or easily mistaken — to the various tribes occupying the great table lands of Tartary. We feel no disposition to examine the details of tliis question. It has been long before the literary world, and all llic facts and considerations connected Avith it have been carefully irM--; rated, discussed, and considered. To revive it were idle, f'>r -V jjitcrest can never be revived, nor is there reason to suppose iij:;* ;mv lew or more accurate views of the subject will ever be |)resc, f -1. After stating many curious particulars and striking fiicts on this sulijcct, Ledyard adds, by way of conclusion fro.n the whole — "I know of MO people among whom there is such a uniformity of features (except the Chinese,, the Jews, and tlic negroes) as among the Asiatic Tartars. They are .hstingui.slu'd, indeed, by different tribes, but this is only nominal. Nature has not acknow- 230 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. lodged llio distinclion, but, on the contrary, marlccd tliom, v.lscnv. r found, with the indisputable stamp of Tartars. \\'hether in JSdva Zonibla, Mongolia, Greenland, or on the banks of the Mississippi, they arc the same people, forming the most numerous, and, if we must except the Cliinese, the most ancient nation on the globe. But I, for myself, do not except the Chinese, because I have no doubt ot their being of the same family." Again, he says: 'T am certain that all the people you call red pc'ople on the contiii i " nerica, and on the continents of Europe and Asia, as far south . .! southern parts of China, are all one people, by whatever names distinguished, and that the best general name would be Tartar. I suspect tliat all red people are of the same fimily. I am satisfied that America was peopled from Asia, and luul some, if not all, its animals from thence." — Life of Ledyurd, l)p. 216, 255. Equally idle would it be to indulge in speculations concerning the causes, or motives, or circumstances, Avhich led to this exodus from the eastern to the western continent. How long it had occurred previously to the discovery is, and must remain, a matter of conjec- ture — the facts iu our possession are not sufficient to enable us to form even a plausible conjecture upon the subject. It is evident, however, that many ages must have passed away between the first settlement of America and its discovery by Europeans. With the exception of the half-civilized empires of Mexico an&sible to ascertain. They far exceed any actual divisions dmong the Indians, either social oi political, which could have existed ; and it would be vain to inquire Mo u son is, Oaktashippas, Nachee, Cawittas, Wyogtami, Yamasee, Tallpoosas, Shogleys, Coosah, Coosas, Musquakey, Callapipas, Apalachias, Assinais, Oumas, Coushaes, or Coosades, Adaies, or Adayes, Tomkas, Oakmulgis, Pararaahas, Natehes, Oconis, Epesenglcs, Anhawas, Ockhoys, Avoyelles, Pehenguichias, Alibam, Chatots, Pr, Weeturakees, Thomez, Casco, Palennas, Chacci Oumas, Pigwachet, Tacusas, Oufe Agoulas, Piscalaquas, Chacsihoomis, Tapoussas, Newickawanacks, Alickas, Bayouc Agoulas, Wiscasset, Odsinachies, Oque Loussas, Passaraaquoddy, Aunies, Avoyels, St. Francois, Tuscaroras, Otheues, Quinaquous, Nehkereages, Wampano, Ipati, Tahsagroudie, Wamanus, Hannetons, Conestogoe, Chihokokis, Oua, Canoyeas, or Nantihokes, Wapingeisj Tentouha, Conoyucksuchroona, Connecedegas, Nadouesteaus, supj^o.^uf. Coohnewwasroonaw, Rondaxes, to be Nadowessies, Tehoanoughroonaw, Wasses, mentioned by Arsenipoits, Sachdagughroonaw, Long, Chougaskabees, Catawbas, Hawoyazask,or Musquash, Aisnous, Chfinkus, Minisuk, Tangibao, 30 234 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. to what tribes or bands many of them were given. Then, as now, the Indians were doubtless separated into many communities, occu- pying different regions, and with interests which were, or were supposed to be, various and sometimes adverse. Whether they all descended from a common stock is a question not easily answered. Even at this day, our information concerning the Indian languages Conoy, living among the Tusciiroras, \quelon _ issas, or Colla pissas, Tiaoux, Quanoatinos, Tarahas, Palaquessous, Nabari, Montagnes, supposed to be Montagnard, or Montagues, Ochasteguins, Ontaouonones, Andastonez, Bussenmeus, Altihamaguez, Gaspesiuns, Iroquets, Nation neuht, Sokoki, Abenaquis, Ozembogus, Tangeboas, Ostonoos, Mausalea, Mousa, Ossotoues, Chachachv 'ima, Shawendadies, Wateree, Eano, Cliarah, Chowan, Chitimachas, Hoomas, Mobilians, Pasca Oocolos, Hattahappas, supposed to be Atakapas, Uchees, Biloxis, Ybitoopas, Mistapnis, Pascagoulas, Bayagoulas, Quinnepas, Mongontrtchas, Tonicas, Otchagras, Sahohes, Amikones, or Castor, Malecites, Poualakes, Onyapes, Apineus, Mattaugwessawacks, Nihanticks. Ouabaches, Biscatonges, Chininoas, Chouinaus, Nassonis, Androscoggins, or Ana- saguntacooks, Corrois, OfFogoulas, Teoux, Castachas, Atakapas, Ounontcharonnous, Plats cotez de chiens, Savanois, Gaspesiens, Bersiamitts, Papenachois, Montagnez, Naausi, Naicboas, Ouadiches, Cabinoios, Mentous, Ozotheoa, Dogenga, Panivacha, Pera, Panaloga, HISTORY OF THE 285 is very imperfect. The principles which regultitc thcin are but partially known, and much more severe investigations into their construction will be necessary before we are enabled to ascertain all the points of resemblance which they bear one to another, and all the anomalies they exhibit when compared with the more me- thodized and finished tongues of the Old World. Many of the In- dian languages are evideritly cognate dialects; Init, in attempting to ascend to their common origin, we soon become involved in uncertainty. The great division of the French writers was into the Huron, or Wyandot, the Algonquin, and the Sioux stocks. These compre- hended almost all the tribes known to them, and they yet compre- hend much the larger portion of the tribes known to us. But besides these, the present statd of our information upon the subject leads to the conclusion that there are three primitive languages spoken by the southern tribes. Of these, the Choctaws and Chickasaws form the Creek, or Muskogee, another ; and the Cherokee a third. one; West of the Mississippi, the primitive dialects appear to be the Mina- taree, the Pawnee, the Chayenne, the Blackfeet, and the Padoucee, making eleven original stocks between the Gulf of St. Lawrence Yatache.s, Onodo, Napgitache, Quonantino, Epicerinis, or Sorciers, Kiscakous, Mosookees, Ouachas, Caouachas, Omaus, Montagnais, Nepnet, Dassa Monpeake, Chickahominies, Yamassecs, Nipmuck, Nianticks, Norredgewock, Wewenocks, Tomez, Toriraas, Topingas, Malatautes, Tichenos, Nepissings, Tamescamengs, Tctt'S de bovde, Nation du Castor, Tetes plates, Octotates, Aiouez, Sothoues, Kappas. It is highly probable that duplicates occur in this list. Montagnez, for eX' dinple, may mean the same as Montagnais, &c. 236 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA, and the Rocky Mountains. But it is by no means certain that all these gri'ut families are radically different one from another. Further investigations may exhibit resemblances not yet discovered, and reduce to cognate dialects, languages now supposed to be radically dissimilar. This great diversity of speech among a race of men presenting, in other respects, features almost identical, is a subject of curious and inlercsting speculation. Every one who has surveyed the In- dians must have been struck with the general resemblance they bear to one another. In all those physical charact(!ristics which divide them from the other great branches of the human family, they form one peojile. The facial angle is the same, and so are the color, general stature, form of the face, appearance, and color of the eyes, and the common impression which is matle, by the whole, upon the spectator. These facts indicate a common origin. But we find, among a people occupying the same general region, and with similar habits and modes of life, and unbroken communication, eleven languages, among which no verbal resemblance ha.s been dis- covered. And yet, as far as we are acquainted with them, one com- mon principle of construction pervades the whole. Whence this unity of form and diversity of expression ? Are they to be traced to the facility with which the words of unwritten languages are changed, and to the tenacity with which we adhere to the process by whi(5h our ideas are formed and disclosed ? If so, these lan- guages liave descended from a common origin, and the tribes must have separated one from another at periods more or less remote, as their dialects approach, or recede from, one another. But this con- jecture does not accord with tiie local relations and established intercourse between many of the tribes. Some of those speaking languages radically different, live, and have lived for ages, in jux- taposition, and the most confidential relations have been established among them. This is particularly the case with the Winnebagoes, speaking a dialect of the Sioux stock, and the Menomines, speaking HISTORY OF THE 287 :i dialect of tlio Algonquin stock; and such is ulso tlic case witli lliu llurons, or Wyundots, and the Ottawus. And it is well known that the Shawauesc, whose language is similar to that spoken by tlio Kickapoo, and other northern tribes, emigrated from the South, and were, when they became first known to the Europeans, pliintcd among the Creeks upon tlu; streams llowing through Florida. Tin- patronymic appellations used by the various tribes indicate a con- nection very different from that which wc should bo led to deduce from a comparison of their dialects. Wc cannot trace these claims of affuiity to any known source ; but, like many usages which have survived the causes that gave birth to them, they were doubtless founded upon established relations existing at the time. The AN y- andots claim to be the uncle of all the other tribes ; and the Dela- wares to be the grandfather. But the Delawarcs acknowledge tiicmsclves to be the nephew of the Wyandots, and tliese two tribes speak languages which have not the most remote resemblance. Whether we shall ever be able to settle these (piestions is doubtful. At any rate, we can only hope to do it by observation, and by a rigid abstinence from idle speculations until our collection of facts shall be greatly enlarged. In looking back upon the condition of the Indians previously to the arrival of the Europeans, and to this introduction of their manu- factures aniong them, we shall find that lie who " tempers the A\-ind to the shorn lamb" had provided them with means of subsistence, and sources of enjoyment suited to their situation and wants. They Were divided, as we have seen, into many different tribes, subdivided into various bands or families. This subdivision was an important branch of Indian polity. It would be idle to recount the traditions respecting the origin and objects of this institution. We must be satisfied with surveying them, as they are, or rather as they were, leaving the causes which induced them, whether accidental or de- signed, among the mysteries of the fabulous period of their history. The number of these bands among the various tribes was differ- 238 IN'r)IAN TRIHKS OF NORTH AMKRIC'A. onl, and pciiiaps iiulcliiiitp. 'I'lioy usually oxUtkIciI, liowever, from five or .six, to Uvclvo or fil'tciMi. Eadi liad a di.stiiict uppella- live, derived frotn some familiar animal, as the Bear tribe, &e. ; and the figure of the animal giving name to the tribe became the lolem, or armorial bearing of every individual belonging tlierelo. When it beciime necessary to identify a person in any of their rude drawings, or to allix his mark to any instrument prepared by the white man, his totem was lirst made, and then any particular cha- racteristic added which might apply individually to him. The animal itself, thus selected for a manitou, or guardian spirit, or at h'ast certain parts of it, were not used for food by any of tlu; tribe, althougli frc(^ for any other person. All those belonging to the same tribe were considcrt'd as near relations, and intermarriage among tliem was strictly prohibited. Among some of these Indian com- munities, th(^ village or peace chiefs of one tribe were chosen by the otlicr trilu's; anil these subdivisions hail an important operation ujion tlicir government and institutions. In the autumn, when the llesh and furs of the animals used by the Indians, became in season, the various bands or families se])arated, and re|)aired to their proper districts for hunting. Huts were erected of l)ark, or logs, in favorable and sheltered situations, and here the families resided, the ditferent individuals following their respective employnu'iits. The men devoted themselves to the chase, with zeal and assiduity. And while the game was abundant, they pro- vided a .surplus, which in cold weather was preserved by freezing, and in modenite weather by drying or jerking it. No man was excused from this first and great duty. Boys were anxious to be- come hunters, and old men to remain hunters. The pride of both was enlisted, for both were despised, if unequal to the task. \N ith the necessary supply of food, however, the labor of the men ceased. All other duties devolved on the women. These, as may well b(> su])posed, were arduous enough. Such has always been the fate of the weaker sex among barbarous tribes, and it was in STORY or THE 280 probably novcr more st-vcro tliaii aiuoiiff tht; North Ainciicaii Indians. Thoy procured the fuel, which was cut. witii stone toma- hawks, and transported it to the eanips upon their biicks. Tiiey cooked tlie provisions, ih-essed tlio skins, iMad them to do little more than plant and cover the seed. This was the principal sca.son for amusements, for bu uness, and for warlike expeditions. Their whole population was brougiii io- gether. Days and nights were frerpicntly devoted to fea.sts, to dances, and athletic games. The young men were engaged in these pas- times, and the others in the discussion and consideration of aR'airs involving the general interest or security. DitHculties and feuds in llie tribe were terminated. If war existed, it was prosecuted with vigor, oi" proposals for peace were made or received. These few months formed, indeed, the social life of the Indian. At all other periods, he was a solitary animal, engaged, like most other animals, m the great duty of self-preservation. 240 INDIAN TRIBKS OF NORTH AMERICA. It is easy to conceive that this amuial round of employment might be occasionally interrupted — it, no doubt, was so. A suc- cessful or a disastrous war changed es^entially the condition of a tribe, stiin\dating or depressing them. An unfavorable season for h intinii increased the labor of the men, and ailded to the privations descrilied liy Homer, were single combats, ni which physical force and courage prevailed. It is not easv to i" »rt:ii'i their mytlioloifical opinions, or their religious doctrines. Abii.ist all the? trilics have been more or less the objects of instruction by the missionaries sent amout; them by various reliirions societies, established among the (,'liristi;m imtioiis who have planted colonies on tlu; continent, 'i'lie elVert ol'tlic doc- trines tauglit by llit.'se missionaries upon the traditions and opinions of the Indians is visilile; and it is dillicult tn separate what they hav(^ thus I'ei'eiveci frnm what tiiey l.:i\e imieritcd fmrn their fore- fathers. Notlnu'j; can be more crude than tliese Cildes and imtions. which are certaiidv their own, and wliieh ((institute tlieir sxslein of thcdloov. 'I'liev pmltably had an indistinct idea (if a i'lilnie e.xistence ; lait it was deulitful, shaddwy, unpreducliM'. \\\r tnere wreck of a revelation made in the early ages of the world, adiiered HISTORY OF THE 243 to without knowledge, and witliout hope. Every object in nature had a faniiHar spirit, some for good and some for evil. And tlie Creator, in their view, seems to have been a gigantic, undefined Ijeing, contending with the Cicments, sometimes subtluing, and sometimes subcbied by tliem. It is impossil)h' to reconcile the inconsistent opinions of his power and other attributes, to be deduced from the traditionary f;ibles which they repeat and believe. Under the name Nanibiijo, or some similar appellative, he is known to the tribes of the Algonrpiin stock ; and the idlest and wildest tales arc told of his prowess and contests, sometimes with the deluge, whi(-h seems to form an era in all tra- ditions, and sometimes with the imaginary animals with which the water and the land were filled.* We feel no disposition to repeat these stories here. They would scarcely serve the purpose of junusing the reiuler, and only add to the many existing proofs of the folly to which man is prone in an unenlightened state. The intellectual accpiirements of the Luhans were as low as they are recorded to have been among any people on the face of the eartli. They had no letters and no learning. Not the slightest ruiliments of a single science were known among them The sun, and moon, and stars, were balls of light set in the L ns The earth wa.s an island. Their pathology referred every ai.^urdir lo a spirit which was to be driven out by the noise and incantatioii,> ol the jugglers, which constituted their whole medical science. Their arithmetic enabled them to count to a hundred, and here, gem rally, their power over nund)ers ceased. Their arts consisted in making a bow and arrow and canoe, and in taking their game upon the laud and in the water. We presume there was scarcely an Indian on the continent who could comprehend an abstract id(^a, and at this dav the process is neither common nor ciusy. The great business of tlieir Uves was to procure food, and devour it; and to subdue >heir enemies, and scalp them. • See MiKenncy's Tour to the Lakes, pp. 302, 3, 4, 5, &,c. 241 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. Such, in goncnil, ^vi^s tlic condition of llie Indians when llio EiiiM'icaiis arrived amon^ tlicni. Tlicir sources of enjoyment wore few and simple, and it is possible, notwithstanding' tlu; state of their society was such as we have dijpicted it, tli;vt tliey enjoyetl some |)ro|)ortion of ha})[)iness. Why they had advanced so littler in all tliat coustitutes tlie protrrcss of socictv, it is not easy to conjecliu'e. 'The (piestion presents one of the most diflicult problems to be found in tiit^ whole history of mankind. Here was a people in the rudest condition, knowinij notliinix, and attentive to nothing; but their ]»hysical wants; without metallic instruments, agriculture, manu- factures, or education ; and with tlie means only of supplying their most indispensable animal necessities. Such, doubtless, had been their condition for aues. It certainly could not have been worse at any period of their jirevious history ; if it had been, they must have been more hi'li)less than the animals iround them, and from entire improvidence, and the al)sence of power to protect and ])erp(^tuate existence, have becouK extinct. What then prevented their advancement? Why was experience lost upon them? Knowing that tlie alternations of tiie seasons would briny with them abundance and scarcity, why did thev not provide liir the one when thev |)ossessed the other? The accumulation of knowledge forms the distiniiuishiiiir characteristic between men and brutes. The boMiidarv which divides reason and instinct is not always uell defined, nor easily asccrt-iiiied. Indeed, who cm determine where instinct terminates and reason beLniis ' In soiiiti import lilt respects, instinct is a less fallibh guide! than reason. Hut as instinct was at the creation, so it is imw . It exerts the same iiilliieiice over the same varieties of living beiiiirs. and under the s line modifications now as heretofore : whereas rea.soii is now, and has always been, susceptible of indefinite, perliaps infmile. iniprove- meiit. The treasures of kiiowledy inhabitcnl the; mild and genial climates, were burned by the vertical snn of the tropics, or by a still harder fiite were condemned to the bleak and sterile regions of the north, all were e(|nally station- ary and improvident. Ages passed by, and made no impression upon them. The experience of the past, and tlie aspiration of the lutnre, were alike unheeded. Their existence was conlined to the present. We confess onr inability to explain this enigma, and we leave it without further olwervation. Their previous history and |)rogre.ss arc utterly lost— lost in that long interval of darkness which precedes authentic history amongst all n;iti.)ns— it rest.s, and prol)ably will ever rest, upon the Indians. In w hat direction the current of emigration traversed the conti- I'.cnt, and when and where it sent out its lateral l)ranches to form (listin(;t communities, and eventually to speak dillerent languages, we have no means of ascertaining. Some of the Indian traditions refer to an eastern, and some to a western origin ; but most of tho trilu's trace their descent to the soil they iidiabit, and believe their ancestors emerged from the earth. Nothing can be more uncertain, and more unworthy, we will not say of credit, but of consideration, than tl)eir earlier traditions ; and probably there is not a single fact in all their history, supported by satisfactory evidence, which oc- currt!d half a century i)revio\is to the establishment of the Euro- peans. It is well known that important incidents are communicated, and their remendirance preserved, by belts of wampum formed of strings of beads originally made of white clay, in a rude maimer, 2K} INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA, by lliiMTisolvos, l)ut now niniiufiicltirod for tliom from shells. Thoso beads were variously colored, and so arranj^cd as to bear a distant resemblance to the objects intended to be delineated. The belts were particularly devoted to the preservation of speeches, the jiro- cecdinirs of councils, and the formation of treaties. One of the principal counsellors was the custos rotidontm ; and it was his duty to repeat, from time to time, the spe(>ches and narratives connected with these Ix'lts, to impress them fully upon his memory, and to transmit them to liis successor. At a certain season every year, they were taken from their places of deposit, and ex'iKised to the whol ! tril)e, while the history of each was publicly recited. It is ol)vio\is that, by the 2irinci])les of association, these belts wf)uld enable those whose duty it was to [jreserve, with more c(H"tainty and facility, the traditionary narratives; and they were memorials of the events themselves, like the sacred relics which the Jews were directed to deposit in the ark of the covenant. IIow far the inter- course between the various tri1)es extended, cannot be known. There is reason to believe that the victorious Iroquois carried their arms to Mexico. It has been stated by Mr. Stickney, an intelli- gent ob.server, well acquaint;!d with the Indians (having been formerly Indian agent at Fort Wayne), that he once saw a very ancient belt among the Wyandots, which they told him had come from 1 u"gc Indian nation in the south-west. At the time of its reception, as ever since, the Wyandots were the leading tribe in this quarter of the continent. Placed at the head of the great Indian conmionwealth by circumstances which even their tradition docs not record, they held the great council fire, and possessed the right of convcming the various tribes around it, whenever any important occurrence required general delil)eration. This belt had been specially transmitted to them, and from the attendant circum- stances and acconipanyinfr narrative, Mr. Sticknev had no doubt that it \\as sent l)y the Mexican enq)eror, at the period of the inva- sion of that country by Cortez. The speech stated, in substance, HISTORY OF THE 247 that a now aiul straiisro animal liad ajipcarcd upon the coast, dn- st'rWnnir hiin, W.a'. the; lal)li'il fciitaiirs of aiiti(|iiity, as part niuu and part ((uadnipcd ; and ad(lin<,r tliat ho ooniniandi'd llio thnndor and liifhtninalous of tlieir success. Previous to this event, the Iroipiois had been rebidied by the siipi-rior genius and fortnnt^ of their rivals, and lived peacealtly in their vi(Mnity, without competition, if not without euvv, and devoting themselves to the chase. Tiiis unprovoked outrage roused tlieir resentment, and, finding that no satisfaction could be obtained, tliat their representations were slighted, and tlicmsclves treated with scorn, they took up arms. No contest at its I'ommencemeiit could have appeared more hopeless. Experience, character, iiilluence, numbers, all were in favor of their enemies. And yet this war, (•(iiu'iienced under such inauspicious circumstanci-s, ended in the litter j)rostration, and almost in the extinction, of the Wyandots, 248 INDIAN Tin BIOS 01' NORTH A.MKIUCA, ent lilcd upon them a series of cahiinities unexampled in any history, and elevated the Irof|ii(iis to the suniiiiit of al)oriirinal power and finne. It proihieed, also, tlie most important eonse(pieiiees upon the wliole course of Indian events durin<| more than a eentury of despe- rate valor and enterprise. Little did they think, who commenced this war with arrows puinted with flints, and with war-clubs rudely made from the hard knots of trees, that before its termination a new rae(! of men would arrive amonj^ them, destined to exert a final and decisive inllueiiee upon llieir fate, and briie^inu; with them new wetipoiis, terrific in their ;ippearance and sound, and more terrible still by iheir invisible oj) lation and bloody elVeets. In tlie sunlight of tli ■ IncHan condition, tiieri- were redeeming circumstiuices which did nuich to balance the evil resulting from their peculiar condition and institutions. Their solenui assemblies and gravi! deliijerations anmnd their council fires presented imposing spectacles. From some of the facts incidentally stated by the early French historians, it is i)bvious that the chiefs were then treated witli nnich more respect than is now paid liiem. It was the duty of the young hunters to provide them witli the lood and furs neces- sary for the sup[)ort and <■[., Iiing of their families. It was, in fact, a tax levied under the conciliatoiy name of present. The sieur I'ernit. wiio was sent in Hi? I with messages from the Govcrnor- general of Canada to many of the wc.-itern Irilies, states that tlic great chief of the Miamies then lived at Chicauo, upon Lake Michi- gan. That he was coiistanlly attended bv a tniard of fi>rtv young warriors, as well for si ite as for security, and the c(>remonies of intro- duction to him were un-ave and im[)osing. All this evinces the consideration then attaclied to the chiels, which gave to them mucli personal influence, and to their opinions much weight and authority This deference served to counteract the democratic tendency of tiieir institutions, :ind operated in the same manner as the more artificial checks in civilized governments. -Age, and wi.sdom, and experience, were thus protected from rude interruption, and the HISTORY OF THE 210 rasliiioss of youth, as wdl as from tliosc sudden ttMiippsts of passion, to which thny aro as cjisily exposed as tlieir own lalies to tlie tem- pests that sweep over tliein. In comparintj the present situation of the Indians witli tlicir con- dition heforo the discovery, great allowances must he miikIc for 1 lie changes which have been prod\u"ed, and fm" their ir(>Meral deteriora- tion ill manners, in morals, and in extrinsic circuiiistauces. 'I'liere are, and no doulit always have been, radical defects in their inslilir tioiis — defects peculiar to themselves, and which have made tlicm a phenomenon among the human family. That there are varieties in the human race, is .:i j)hysiological truth wiiich will not Ik; cpies- tioiied. The controversy begins only when the caiist>s of this diversity an; investigated, and their extent and efl'ects are estimated. This wide field of discussion we shall not enter. And it must be l(!ft to future inipiiri'rs to iuscertaiu whether the physical diiTerences so obviou.sly disccu'iiible in compiri.sons bi^tween the Caucasian, Mongolian, Ethiopian, Malay, and other varieties, are the cause or the conse(|uence of the peculiar moral characteristics by which tlie varioiis races of men are distinguished. The aboriginal iniiabitants of America are marked bv external fe;itures peculiar to themselves, and which di.stingnish them from iill the otiier desceiidaiils of Adam. 'I'hev are marked, too, bv peculiar oj)iiiioiis, iial)ils, manners, and institutions. The elVect of the coming of the Kiiropeiuis among them cannot be doiilUed. Then' have diminished in numbers, deti'riorated in morals, and lost all the most promiiunt and striking traits of their ciiaracter. It were vain to speculate now upon the position they would have occupied, had they abandoned their own institutions, and coalesced with the strangers who came among them. But these more general observations can give but an indefinite id(!a of the circumstances and .situtilion of the Indians. We must not only survey them as one people, possessing similar characler istics, hut we must view them also in detached groups, as they a-i 250 INDIAN TIUHKS OF NUUTH A.MKIIICA. actually lived, ami oLciipicd (liirt-rcut portiouH of tlir omiitry, oach piirsiiiiiif tlicir ('(lui'sc iii(li'|i('ii(lfiit (if and tod often at uar witli. their nei^iiliors. Hiit in tiiis ticiiend sketeli we shall not alteiiipt to trace the iiistory of all the trilx's whoso names have come down to us. Siii'h a task would he alike liopeless and unprofitaijle. Wo shall confnie ourselves 1o the more promiiiont divisions, whose pro- gress, condition, and fate, are host known to us. 'I'lie trihes occu|)yin!^ that jiart of the United Slates oast of tlio Hudson Uiver, were known to tiie other Indians under the i,fcnoral name of \V(thi)iiiiihi, or men of tlie east. 'I'lu-ir lanmiatfos wore coifuati! ditdoets, hranchos of the Al<^on(|uin stock, and heariniii|iiiiis, and ( 'liaiii|ilain accoinpanicd a w.w party in one of llicir {'\|)rdilions, and upon tlie sliorr of tlic lake w liicli hears liis name. foiiLflit a liattle witli tlie Iroipiois, and defeated tliein hy tlic use of fire-arms, wliieli llien lu'eaine lirst known In tliese al)ori',niU'S. Unt the latter were soon fiiriiislied with the destriietive weapon of iliiropean warfare hy the I'.iiiilisli ami Dnicli, and their e;ireer of coiKpiest extended to the Mississippi. The \\'yaiidots anil Al^oiKpiiiis were almost exterminated, and the feehle remnant were compelled to .seek refuse in the .Manitoiiliii Islands, which line the northern coast of LaUc Huron. Their iiiexoralile enemies followed them into these secluded retjions, and linallv compelled them to llee anion;; the Sioux, then living west of Ijake Superior. Dnriny' almost a century, they harassed the l''reiich settlenient.s, impeded their |iroLrress, and even bearded them under the walls of (inelu'c. It has hecii tlioiiixht that Chiimplain and his successors in authority, who controlled the destiny of New France, committed a yreat political error in ideiitifs iiitj their cause with that of cither of the hostile parties. But a neutral cour.so was impracticahlc. Aho- rmiiial politics necesstirily .associated with the LH'eiit contest for supremacy, then pendini: between the Iroquois and their enemies. It was the absorbinir topic of discussion, and those who were friendly to one party were of course hostile to the other. Had the r'rench declined the overtures of both, they would have acipiired the ccnili- dtuice of neither, and probably have furnished another proof of tlie inellicacv of teinpori/iiiij^ measures in ureat cpiestions of jiulihc |)olicv. They naturally attached themselves to those of their own inunediate vicinity, and the others were as naturally thrown into IIISrOKY or TIIK 1'.-,,; Mm arms of llu! I'liiiflisli. DiiriiiLr tin; Iniiir coiilcst lictwccii llicsr two l')iiro|»(;;m powers lor .supremacy upon tlio roii' iiciil, tlie Im- ipmis were tioiionilly foiiiid in tlio Hiiglisli interest, and tlie other Irilii's in the Freneli. History fnrnislies few examples of more (les|ierale valor, moro (larinir enterprise, or more patriotic devotion, than are found in tiiesr wars, llrst wa'j;ed l)y tlie [roipiois for tiiat revenife wliicii tliev re- ij irded as justiet;, l)ut afterwards for coiKpiest. Those Indians present tlie only example of intimato union recorded Ml alMiriirinal history. Tliey consisted orit,niially of five trihes, namely, the Mohawls, the ()ii(»ith(/f)S, the Siiiccr/s, \]n' Onrit/ns, and the (J(ii/i/t/fis. Al)out the year 1717, the 'Viisidroros joined the mnfederacy, and formed the sixth trilie. From this period, the Iro ipiois were sometimes known as tho Five Nations, and sometimes ;is the Six Nations. 'I. lie, orijfiu of this coiifeilcracy is unknown to us. It existed viiu II diey hecaiiK! first known to the whites. So imperfect were the investit^ations made into these sulijects, that the [irinciples of their union are but litth; \inderstood. Each tribe prob:iblv iiianatred Ms internal concerns independent of all the others. But the whole seemed to have formetl an Ami»hictyonip leajfuc, in which subjects of tfeneral interest were discussed and determined. The 'I'lisca- rora triite had occupied a portion of North Carolina; but thev b.c ime involved in (MlliiMdties with the ])eople of that province, and, after a series of disasters, were compelled to ai)andou it. Their lan^uaife resiMnl)les that spoken by the other tribes of the confederac}-, and th(MH! is little d()id)t that at some former period thev' had been united by an intimate connection, and probabi}' by the ties of consanguinity. They must have separated from the kindred stock, and been led b\- circ\nnstances, now unknown, to migrate to North f'arnlina ; and liicnce perhaps, after a lapse of aixos, they were driven back to their ancient possessions. Dr. Williamson ha.s ob.served that "this eiigntion of the Tnscarora Indians, and other migrations of Indian 2.M INDIAN TUIHKS (»!•' NOKill AMKUKA, fril ICS, \vc ittfstcfl, do not iii'cord w itii T,or(l Kiinics's ol)s('rv!i1ioii tli;it 'siiviiircs sire rciiiarktililv attadicd to tlicir ii;ili\c soil. Tl icrir !irt' iriJiiiv iiistimcfs in the history of tlic Indians wlicrc tlicir |iviini- tivf foniilrv lias hccn ahaiin.iiicd, and a iii'\\' one oli'aiiici i.v i; ivor or 1)\' pouir. Tlicsc iiiiifralions, liowcvcr. liavc seldom, perhaps ne\cr, lieeii \olr'itar\ , 1 'i the result n|' untoward eirennistances, snl'iiiilted to with ^n'eat relnctance. They are certainly far iVom drauinix in tpiestion the accuracy of the observation referred to. ( )f this once powerful <-onfederacy. ahoiit six thon.san ! individuals now reiiiain. Ue ar"cr iiortion .f Ih ii;".ii a reser\alioii near llntfalo, in the St 1e of New V few foun( I in I elin- svlvania, and some in Ohio, at (ireen Ba\, and in Canada. The Di'la wares were situated princijially upon tide-water in \e lersev, ,r)ini cnns\ Ivaiii ami Dell iware leir own appi llatioii of f,i)iii/ii. or ori'jinal people, has liein almost foriJioiten liv thenisihcs, ami is hcmt used bv llie other tribes. Tl us IS the faniilv alioiit wliidi so many tallies ha c been related, and credited. Occupyiiiif the country between the Hudson and I'otoniac rivers, .'ud ImIwccu the eastern .slope of the AllcLdiany Mountains and the ocean, thev U'caine earlv known to the Moravians, and on^fa^ed tlie care and alteiition of the zealous missionaries employed by tluwti e\empl;irv Christians. The whole siilijed of Indian relations was fresh and new In the Thev seem ne\cr to have known, or t( ia\(' hceilcd. that eiiti rprisiiiLT, sairacioiis, an< iiivii ineii nail lonir jireceded them in these investiiralions, an.! nad traversed the conti- nent, siirveyinir the cnndilion of its inhabitants, and in'lawarcs told of tbeliisclMs' .>;eeliis to have iiccn received witliolll suspicion. ;uid rec<>rdi'(| and repeated without scriitins It is easy for those w ho have lurmeil much acipiainlance with le Indians, to trace the circiimslaiices which irave to the Ictfcnds of the Dclitwares sncli BiUhoritv, and to llie teiichers oi' the Dela wiires Hucii en dulitv. The .Moravians wire fust planted among these Indians. 'I'lieir HISTOKV OF Tin-: 255 iiiolU'iisivo lives, ;iii(] disiiiti'n sled cir.irts to iiii|)n)v<" tlicin, soon nvaltnl mntn:il coiirKli'Mcc a.id atljicliiiitiit. 'I'lic Moravians fol- loucd tlicm ill 111. if vaiiniis iiiiM;ratioiis, iVoiii tlic Siis(|iifliaiiiia to (III' Oliio, IV-mi tilt' Oliid t.) till' Miiskiiiiriiiii, iVoiii tlir .Miiskiiioiiiii lo Lake St. Clair, and tliciuH' in many of tlnir wandfrin^s, that have at last tcrniiiialcd in tlicir passage arross tlic Mississippi, ulii.li. like till' I'alili'd liviT, dividing tlic livinuf iVmn tlir dead, can iic'.r l»c vicriisscd l)\ an Indian coiiiniiinilN'. I)uriii<4 this |nn>f, iVcipnntly pcnimis, and alwavs pious iiitcr- I'oiir.M', the attention of tlu' niissioiiaries was directed excliisivclv to their neo|»hytes. 'I'lic manners, customs, and condition of the other trihes were a sealed Imok to them. And when thi' old Delaware iliief recounted their transactions, ilweliiiicr with fonl res^Mrt upon the liillcii lortiiiies of their nation, iind e\|)laiiiinelt of wampum serve to cliastise you. Vou ouirht to he taken l»y the hair of the head and strctclu'd severely till you recover your senses and liecome sohcr. Hut how came you to take upon you to sell land at all .' We con(piered you; we made women of you ; you know you are women ; and is it tit that you shotdd hav(> the power of scllinir lands. suice vou won Id a! )ns(! It Tl le land you claun is ex[ienUe( d vou have iieen furiushed witii clothes, meat, and driidv, hy the ifse viitorious enemies. From their local position, they entraged the can; and attention of the Koman Catholic missionaries at a very early p(>ri(Ml, and their history, lor upwards of two cen- turies, is better known than that of any other trilw'. After tlie Iro- (piois began to gain the ascendency, the calamities cnduri'd by the Wvandots are unparallelecl in the history of nations. Their ene- mies pursued them with the most unrelenliri'j; riizor; and, without attempting to trace the incidents of this war, we shall merely oli- serve that the Wyandots were driven to seek protection tVom tiie MOUV, at tl le western extremity of Lake Superio Tl ie\ Here remained until the Iroipiois wen; crippled by tluir wars with tiie French, when thev returutMl to Lake Huron, and established them- I) is- sclves for a .short time in tin? vicinit}' of Miehilimackinai satisfied with that sterile region, they tlescended the l)elrt>il Ui\er alK)ut tlie perior murder The corpse of tlie murdered mill was placed upon a scalVold, and the murderer cvteiided iipiin his liaek. and tie(| helow. lie was here lel'l. with iiarelv leod enou'j;li to support lil'c, until the remains of the miirdere I suiijecl alio\c hiin liecame a m;iss ot putridit\ . taliiii.; upon ii:'.a. and tlnai all I'ond w as w itiilieid. wlicii he perished similar punishiiiiiit rvaiidots, diiriiiLr all •ir various pereifrina 'j; posilinns upon the ipoii tiie eastern 1 ' llUS llllSl •rahlv. Th. r.' were no t ■ac.'s .il a in onii ai \ otiiir trill. I'he ( )1t iwas wen he faithl III dl es of the W th. •ir inisl "ortim.^s, and a.'i oiupaiii.' 1 hem in the tio ie». T hev are now mil cil sr itl. r.' 1. dceupviii \I iiiiii 'C, upon tli.^ ( ir mil i{i\e nil 1 ak.' MicliiL' .'III 1 w . •St. I'll coasts dt' tha t lalx. . and U||o|l till 1 Hi \er. "li.ir niiiiili.' r is alioii 1 li iir ih.iiisanil. an, I avails dt tl III Iiidi.' HISroUY (iV THR 269 To this trilu' 'iH!loii'_n»(l llic rcl/liniii-d I'diilinc. lf(> \v,is lh)rn iihoiit the yt':ir 171 t, ami while a yoiiiiLT 'H'm 'lisliiiLJiiisluMl liinisrir ill flic various wars in which the Oltawas were eiiiiancd. lli> L-radtiaily ac(iuirc(l ait asceiidoiicy over liis c(Miiitr\ men, ami ins 11 line iiiiil aelioiis heeame known In ;.!! the trilies in tiic north-west. lie was a faithful adherent to the Freueli interest, and a deterinincd ciicniy of the Kniflish. Dnrinif inanv yctirs of tiie lonu contest hi'twceii those powers, uliich teriiiiiititcd in tiie utter siihversioii of the l''reneli empire in America, he was present in all the iin[)ortani actions, stimnlatiiiL'' liis eoniitr\ men 1)\ his autlmrilv and example. Major Hoirrrs states, ill his narrative, that when he marched into the Ottawa country with his first detachment, which took po.sse.s- sion of th<> posts in the north-west, I'ontiac met him with a partv of his warriors, and told him he stood in his path, and would not sutler him to advance. By iunicahle professions, however. Major Uoijfcrs concilialcf] him, and for a short lime ho appeared to he friendly. Hut his attaehnient to the French, and hostility to the Hritisli, wt>ro too deeply rooted to he er.nl ated, and ho concerted a scheme for the overthrow of the lalti r. and for their e\|)ulsi( n from the country. No plan formed hy the Indians for defence or n>veiige, since the discovery of the continent, can he compared with this, in the ahility displayed in its formation, or in the \i!.ror with whicli it was prosecuted. 'l"he British iiad then eleven niili- I'ry jM)sts covering that frontier: at Xijigara. at l'res(|ue Isle, , it l,e Boeul, at Pittsburg, at Sandusky, at the Mauniee, at Detroit, at Miidiiliniackiunc, at (Jrceii Day. anse posts ; and, after their reduction, a perma'ient contcdcr'cy among tli(> Inilians, and a per- petual exclusion of the l^ritisji from the country. Ijike 'reeumthe, he culled the siiperst lion of the Indians to the aid of his projects, and disclosed to them the will of the Great Sjiirit. w iiicli he pre- vailed on ihem to helii've had been revealed to him by the various prophets over whom he hud acijuired an influence. One great 2()0 INDIAN TKIUKS 1" NOUTII A.MLIUCV. ')j('Ct was 1o rciKU'i" liis j)C()|>lc iiidcjJi'iiiliMil of llic uliilc men, liy pcrsiiiuliiiu; tlicin lo ri'smiic tlicir aiiciciil iikmIc (iriilc. 'I'o rolliiw tlic liistorv of I'liiiliiic in his cxcniriil carciT, wtniM iirid lis 1(1(1 far tVoiii iIm" course,' we have prcscrilird lor oiirsflvcs. Sdinc dlllic principal facts arc recorded in dii' jouiiials of tliat day ; l)iit lliese an> tlie mere ouliines. Ail tliat Lrjves interest to the ■tnre, lives only in tlie Indian and Canadian tradit .ft til ion, and in thi leu niaiiiiscript notices of these transactions, which have lieen acci- (leiitallv |)rcs( rved. I",i'_dit of tliese posts were captured. lint \ia(^iira, i'ittshnrii, anil Detroit, were successriilU det'eiided. The sieyc of the latter IS i\ far tiie most extraordinarv cllint ever made l)\ the Indians in :iii\ of their wars. It e(imiiience(i in Mav, ITfWJ, and eontinned willi more or less \ i'^or, until the plac e was relievci li\ < ieiieral HiMiJstiM (t. in ITCil, Dnrinir this period, niaiiv ol" the events seem more like lii(> incidents of romance, than the occurrences of an IikIi'iii campanjfn. sion ol the town A iiioiin these were tlie attcmut to ifaiii posses I' liy treacherx . and its providential disclosure ; the !itta( 1; u[)on one of the IJritish armed vessels hv a licet of caiidcs, and the precipitate retreat of tlie assailants, after izaiiiiicj possession ot the Vessel, in coiise(pience of ordcis lieilii; L;i\i'n liv the captain lo fire the maiia/.iiie. which w ere o\erlieard. and communieated to llie Indians liy a whil( man. who liad liecii taken captive lt\ tli( in earlv in life; the battle ol" the lU(iod\ iJridife. well named licin this sanguinary action, in wlii(di an aid-de-caiiip of Sir .lelVrey Am- herst commauded am I fell. nd the desiierate elforts twice made h\ !ili/.iii'.i raits to set lire to the armed vosels ;incliored in front of the lown— these, aiiioiiL; min\' exeiits of suliordiiiate interest, ui\c a character ot" perseverance and of systematic elfort to this sii'tre. loi which we shall in vain look elsewhere in Indian history. If eon leinporarv accounts aiiij traditioiiar\' recollections can lie credited, .ill these were the result of the superior u'cnius of l\)utiac, and ol th( a.scendencv lie hail gained over Ins eouiitrymoii II IS TORY OF TIIK 261 Tlic .siil)S('(|uciit riilcortliis wiirri.ircliicrdid not (■(irri's|)()ii(l w ith 111.- linoic s|iirii he displiiycd in Ids cllorts .•lif.diisl tin- JJritisli. Al'ici- tlnir power M|ioii tlu' iVoiiticr wiis ro-i'stal»lislicd, lu; Irll the i-oniitiv and took i\-\'w^i' aninn^- tlic Indians upon tliu Illinois. I'roni some trivial oans(^ a (niarrcl rirosi; hctwccn him an;an,and have a joint interest with the Ottawas and Pottawatimics in tiie country of the Fox and Des IMeines Rivers in Illinois. 'I'lieir numbers are I ()m|mted at fd'leeii thousand. 'riie.se Indians live yeiieraily upon tiie •j;rv:i{ 1 ikes, and upon tlie, streams (lowiu'j; into them. Fish forms an im[Ktrtant article of their food, and they are expert in the niauufacture of bark canoes, the only kind used by liu'in, and in their manaircment. In eleanline.ss, ill docility, and in provident arran'j:ement, ihev are inferior to man\- of the other trilx-s; and those in tlu' immeiliate vicimlv of our Iroiitier posts and .settlemenl.s. furnish melancholv examples of the elfect of the inlriKluetion of spirituous liipiors amon^' them. All tho bands extiMidinir to the arctic circle, and occupvinif the territories of tho Hudson's Bay Company, appear to be brandies of this yreat laniily. The principal seat o|' tiicir power and liovernmeiit was formerly at Point ('heijoimendii, upon Lake Superior, and from the accounts of the ( 'alholic missionaries .stationed ainon<,r them, tlioy •vcre then a prosperous and inlluential tribe. The Pollawatimies are situated principally in the northern parl.s Mf Indiana and Illinois, in the soiith-westoru section of Lakt; .Michi- 2(52 INDIAN TUini:.S 01' NORTH AMKKICA ;ili. iiiid ill llir cniiiitry bclwccn tliiit lake iiiid tlif Mississippi. Tl lev ■.liiiiatcil iif iiluml six tlnnisaml live liiiinircd. ■^I'liis was roriiicrly the most popular trilx- iiorlii of tiic Ohio. Tln'v arc rcinarlialile for their stature, s\ iimietrv , ant! Iiin' personal appearance. 'I'lieir orii^inal conntry was along the sonthern shon; of liake Micliiuan, hnt they extended thenisehcs to the \\ hite ]{i ver, in Imliana, on tlie soiitli, to the I )etroil Kiver on the east, and to the lUock lliver on tl lU w est. And thev lir.st intcriuwed an olfectual harrier to the victorious career of the Inxpiois. lietwecn these tiiree last named trihes. the Oltawas, ("hippewas, nnd Pottawatimies, a more intimate union evisted than hetwccn aiiv of the other trihes, not actually forniin<' a strict confederac }■• Tl leir laiiiruaifcs ajiproach .so near, that they umlerstand one another with- out dillii-ulty. 'i'hcy have hut one council fire; in other words. l)ilt ono iLsscmhlaire of chiefs, in whicii tiieir important husiness is manatrcd. ,\nd until recently they were unwilling to concludes any imixirtant affair, unless around this common council lire. Jliit this institution, like many of thi'ir other peculiar customs, i.s fast moulderiiitf away. Many of the circumstances whicli tjavi! influence and authority to these '^rave convocations, have long since di.s- iip[)eared. The ashes of their coiiiK'il lires are scattered over the land, and the plough Ims turned up tin; Ixmcs of their fore- fathers. The Shawanose, for more tlian a century, have heen much sepa- nited, and their hands have resided in dillerent parts of the coiintrv A considerahle portion of them lixc upon a rt'sc-rvation at Waupauko- netla, in Ohio, hut a majoritv have crossed the Mi.ssissipjii, and have rccomnienced tiie life of warriors and hunters, in hostile attacks upon the Osatrcs, and in tlie pursuit of the ImlValo. 'I'his trunsmi- gration commenced durintr our revolutionarv war. TIh^v made their fust settlement, on tiieir removid, near ( "ape (urardeau. This {x)sition tlu'.y luive since relimpiislu-d, and the.y aro now much dis- insroKY OF TIIK ptrscd ill liOiiisiiiiiii, in Arksiiisiis, iiiid iii Mi^s.smll•i. 'I'lic trilje uiiiiilH'rs iiliDiil Iwo tlioiisiiiul ncrsoiis. Miicli (iltsciirily rests ii|ii)ii tlic iiislory ofllir Sli.nviiiifSf. '{"iicir iiiiiMiifrs, customs, iiiiil lim any account of the iiicidcuts of tiicir history in tliat country, or of the causes of their Icavinif it. One, if not more, of their hands removed from ihiiice to I'enus\ hania ; i)ut the larLjer portion took possession of the countr\' uixiu the Miami and Scioti llivers, iii Oiiio, u fertile rej^'iou, where their hahils, more industrious than those of their race ireiicrallv, enahled Ihem to li\(< comliirtalily. This is the oidy trihe, amoii-j: all our Indians, wiio claim for thcui- sehcs a toreipli> 1o:^-et!ier, and mirched to the sea shore. Here v.arious persons were sch-ctc I to lead (h(>m. hut they declined the dutv. until it was nil Icrlikcii l)V one of the Turtle triite. lie placed himself at the head of the procession, and walked into the sea. 'I'lie waters imiiie- .'tU INDIAN riMiti'.s or Noirrn (H;itrly dividcil, anil lliry |)iisst'(l alon^r the nil lev rraclicd tills " /,s- land.' til tl 'I'lic SliawaiHsc liavc oiii' institution po 'riit'ir iialioii was (iriirinaily )li\ idcil into \\\ lu'irinir diirtrciit names, llaili oftlicsc triltcs usual iiianiii'r. into tainilirs nj' ihc l')a td one ot' tin h lie \\ aii|ili!intliu- winiaiikcc. now survive. 'I'lic rcinains nt'tiic dllii i live liavc Iiccouk^ ini'iir|iiiratcd w illi the iimr siilisistiii ribes or bands, was >i llNlivideil , ill the I'lirth- , tS..-.,th. .se ani- • trill. •s have 1 lerome laiiics of the ot ler ten kept 1 lislinct. 'i'liese 11 1 .ion V ni' riii; 305 the iiiinds of tlicir lountrvii i«;rH ujiniur, Mil' tl oik: iiy his pruw.' s ju.d rcjiiitiitioii \t' ( itlicr Ity his slircwdiifss. ;iii 1 hy tlu' pri't (11- Mniis to 11 direct iiittM-coursc with tlic (irciit S|.iiit, and to the chiiraitcr and (|iiahlicatioiis ..f a prophet. The ele\ali(iii and anlliorit\- or'r( ■riinitlie reMiltid Ironi tl ic operation ot eaiises uhieh les — resunree and enerii\ in are ielt aiiion<; ;||| nations, ami at 'ill tin war, and siieccss in lultle. 'This is the 'rci'iimthe who fell in the late war liet ween tilt! riiiled State ■ reat Mrit lin, in the ineinorahle hatth Innies, in I' (' naila, and as we helieve hv the liand ol' Colonel Uieharil M. .lohn.son. of Kentmdvv. 'I'lie iiilliieiicc ac ipiired hy thf Prophet aro.se In peculiar to the Tndi ins, charactc ristic of the .sttilc of t and ol the sii|)erstilioiis notions prevalent anioiiLr tliciii. ot prophet, as conferred liv us upon tlii nil circiinistanccs leir societ\', The til!,! s sagacious iinposlor iiid erv lanatic, conveys a very inadeipiate idea of hi,-, pretensions. I';\ iphets. wild perforin distinguished parts in all piii)lic tril)e hiis Its jin transictions. Their cclehrilvand iiillneiice .ire .soinetini es colilined to their own trihe, and .soinetiini-s exteiiilei] to lh ■ liicl 1 are cir (•III iijaccMit, dcpendiiit;- upon the success of their power of vaticina tioji. Biitof all thcs;' inaiiicians or prophets, no one ever C'pial fiinc, or exercised eipial aiithoritv with the SI Pro|thcl, at first iil-te-was-e-ka\ lilt alterw; attain 1 iwaiieso elis- kwaw-la-wiiw, or, tiie npai i/nnr. His name, and tiie accoiiiils of his miracles, spread from Lake Superior to I'Morida ; and tlicrc was not a trihc of Indians, in all this va.st cxlent.that did not steadilv direct or some siL,nial interposition to [| their attention to this iinii, lookinu f check lh(> asceiideiicv of the wiiit iti's, and to restore the Indians t tlicir former and hetler condition. I) iiriiii>- a few of the (irst vears of this century, lin'r was manifested i;i the al; frontiers, and, united with otl inn upon tim 84 ler ciuisos, tho most prominunl of 2M INDIAN lUliUiS ()!•• Ndillll A.MKUICA, HOC, I cMiitiiiillv til till' co-oiirnitiiiii r llu- triltis uitli tin- ivliicli was (iirtitrii inlliiiMirc, led to tlic iiuttlc (if 'l'i|i|ic'c;i ami llntisli 'I'lif liistiirv III this itardWMii nf laiiatiristii wduld «\liiliit iiiiiiiy ciiriiiiis itiul iMtri'i'stiii'j traits ot' liiiiiiait cliaractiT, ami iiii;^lit he ('t)iii|iar('il with siinilar ilcliisiniis whirh liavc imNaiicd in innrf ri\ili/.i'il I'oiniiiiiiiitii's. 'I'hc l'i'i>|ih('t est ililishcil hiiiist'lt at (irccii- villf, ii|ioii till' Miami nt' thr Ohio, w hrrc lir was attriiiird liy di'lr'jali's tVoiii \ariiiiis trihrs. Hi- rri'iiiiiiiiriidrd tn tiif Imiiaiis t(i rdiMiii rriMM thr use nf uhisk\,airl In iVcc tlii'iiis('|\rs (Voiii all •|icii(lciiir ii|iiiii the uliito, li\ n'suMiiiiu. as tar as possi hlr. t1 nir aiirifiit hihits (illilr I iidrrtlit' prt'tciiru ufrxtiiit itiii<^ witrlicralt. he inllanii'd thr minds nl' tin' Indians air:iinst rviTV t'ni'iny i Her \>\ Ih u hole historv of minlvind, and the eonlines ot I'anatiriMn and mi- postiire are sep irated li\ iinpereeptihle honiidaries. In the relations \\ hirh hr iia\r nl ills iiitrlillons, npliiloiis, and lll>tnl'\ . he appears tn lia\e iireii eaildld, and \\ liilllLi to iIimIom' e\er\ thlll'^ klinwii to ilim lllll \M' >iiall lint tallLlile tlie reader \^llh this narrative Till I'loplirl, Iprlnre iiis death, removed vv e>t oj' the Mississippi, and jnimd tiie Siiawanesr of tlial nijiinii. talents nave liim iiilliinire over tlie Indians. The Kirkapons wri'r dniililless niiited vvilh the Shavvaiirsi at a perind lint viTv distant. Thi' traditions nl earli irihe eontaiii similar Wli errvrr lie went Ills HisToii V or liii': 207 arcomits of Mirir iiniiiii iiiid M'|iiirii1iiiii ; ami llic iilciitilv i^f (heir hiii'iiiaiff rii.'iii^lics iiTclVaoalilf f\ idciicf nl" tlicir rdiisimLTiiiiiitv. \\i' arc iiii'liiiril 1<> iM-licvc tliiit wlifii the Sliawaiifsc wi it nxcr- liDWcrrd In llic li(M|iuiis, and ahaiidoni'd lln'ir cuiimIin ii|)iiii Lalvc llric, flicy scparalt'd into Iwo j^rcat *ioiis ; one of uliicli, |iii- s('r\ iiiir llifir (Pii"_fiital a|)|)i'llii1i(in, lied into I'Mnrida, and the tttlicr, nnu known to iis as lln' KifKa|pnos. icliirncil 1o tlir west, and t-sla- ins, upon ihc ivtcnsiv*; •h )l|slM>d thcnisrlvfs anionir the Iniois Indi prairies on tlial river, and liil VM'rn It :ind the M ississippi. rt'i^'ion tliry have, liowrvc M linipiislicil to the iinli air: ins ind liivc iMui^'rati'd to Missouri, near tnc rentre ol unieji State u reservation has been seeiired to tlieni. 'I'liis trilie numbers about two thousand two hundred. 'I'lic Miamics, when lir.sl known to the I'reneh. were living around ('hicatro, upon F/ake Michiiian. It w.is the chief of this tribe, whoso stiilo and attendam-e were depicted by the Sieiu' I'errot in sueli stronu colors. Charlevoix, without voiichini,' for the entire accuracy of the relation, observes, that in his time there was moro i!eferenc(? paid by llu; Miamius to their ehiels, than by any othor Indians. This tribo removed iVom Lake Midiiiran to the Wabash, whoro they yet retain an e.xtensive tract of country upon which they resid(^ A kindred trilx;, the Weas, n lore p ro[) •rlv called the Xewcalenou.'^ lonif lived with the Miumies: but they have recently separated iVom \]\vn\, and crossed the Mississippi. 'Their whole niimiier does not exooed three hundred and fifty. Of the Miaiiiies, about ono thou.sand yet remain. 'Phis tribe wa.s formerly known to the Engli.sh ns the Twisjhwoea. They ap|)ear to have been the only Indians in the west, with the exception of one other trilie, the Foxes, who, at an early period, were attacln'(l to the Mntflish interest. The causes which led to this union are unknown, but for many years they prml need a decisive elTect upon the fortunes of the Miamies. •^'i~i I \ hi \N TIJI lli;"< (ir N(i|{ I il AM i:i!l( \. 'I'll ■ .st MiJi'^l of all iirliliitiniiN in llic liiNlur\ nl liiiiii m \\>\ irt\, rxisti'il iiiiiniiti this ii'ilii'. Il 'viinliiiNs. Ilif iiiim-<:ilinu sni (•\lillii il ;iImi 111 lllc l\|i'k!l|n> In ll'iVi lit'i'll llii'illltV III llli' IIII'IiiIm'I'.s III tills Mirii"'^ III I'll .lin iMjlllM'S wliii wiTr t:ikrll, mill i|rll\rlri| In lliiln I'lir ill I ;ilir|ii>>r 'I'llr Mltilcrl, ilscH', i^i M) li\ii|t|||i_r III l|||s(|:i\, r\rii In llic l.iiliiiiis. Iliiil II is (lilliriill li li: 1 1 <-i>ll)-rl III!' Irailitiiiiiai'v i!i'l'ii!> rum rniiiii: tins iii-lili:lii inrlnln l> IhIiiIivtiI 111 iilir t'liiiliv. air till- wlmlr tlilif. DlirihU iIm" rxistiiicc of llic |ii(sriil „"lnrallitll, tills siirji'U Ins •liMiiis'.H"!, iiinl iH'iliirmc I its slmrkiii'j; iliilii's ; hut l!ir\ arr lliiw wll "Ih ilisi'iilitlliiit'il. and \^lll lir i n- |ii||i_' rnrmiltrii. Till' \aniills Inlirs mi the lllllinis l{l\rr WrIT Kliii.vii 111 llir I'l'i'iii II as till' lllllinis liiilians; Inil llir ;i|i|M-||alinii was lalliii' ilrsrii|ili\r nt" tluii" 'ji'ii'i'al risiiliiui', lliaii tit" aiiv iiiliiiiati' niiinii. |iii!iiii'al III' -xirial. siiKsi.stin^ aiiiiiii<.r llirin. Ainl il is imt vus\ In asi rlliili |ii' i^rl\ till' IiiIm's wliirli Wilr ilirlllilril limlrr lliis liTlll. 'I'lir Kaski >s, llir ( .ilmkias. till' I'liil'ias, liir MnlilLi IIIIM'S, llir 'I'.iiiinii'is, 'llic I'iaiiki'sliaws, iiilialiiti (I llial i r'jimi. i.ail a ili'ii. 's lirarilli,' a closr I'i'si'liililaiirr In nlir ailiitluT, ami lirarlv alliril III llir laiii|lia'_rr nj' llir \liai|i'i-s ami \\ i';is Snliir i>\' tlirsr li'ilii's arc (>vtiiirt, aiiM hIIhts arc rcilnrcil In a lew imliviiliials riic I'iaiikcsliaws arc llic iiinsl iiuinciniis, ami tlic\ iiidiilicr Imt tlii'cc liiiiiili'cil ami lil'u imli\ iiliials 'riicwlmlc lia\c passcil ii\i'r the \lississi|i|ii. When the I'i'cmh first c\|i|nrcil the cuimtrv on the Illiimis, the iillIalK were so liiiiiici'niis that tlie\ were (leiiniiiiiiateil the lllim n\ Ml the ai'iniiiiis ul' that ear!\ |ierin'l iniiciir in rc;»resciiliii'i llie almriLliii'il |iii|iiilaliiiii as iiliiimliiit I >iic il llic li'ilii v' I'allcil llic Mascniitnrs. I r |icii|i|i n| the |iraii'ie, has i|iHa|)|iearei| 'I'liey n IS I ((uv i»r I' II i; 2iia Mi:iLc :i f(.iiMilii:ililc liL.'iiir ill llic «;irlii T journals, and ucic [irnLalilv a liraiii'li i>| ||ir l*(ilta\\atiiiiirs. 'I'll. Ill ^ |{iMi- liiriiislicM, t'lir iiiaiiv \tar-, the |ii°iiii'i|ial ((um- iiiiinii°atiuii lilt Ai'i'ii llir l.akrs and llir MiFisissiiiiii, ami was tin- I'liiiiirrliiio liiianirnt w liii'li lirlil tn>in Indians a[i|M;ii° In lia\r linn iiniin'j llir inildt'sl nl' tlir al)iirii;iiiiii rurr. 'I'lii'V uatiu'i'i'd mnnd llir !■ I'l'Urli |iiisls, aiiMiins In sfciiri' |irntrrliiih- -lillt a sciii'S (if ahiinilirs |iiirsnrd llniii. iinr\aMi|ilcd r\i\\ in tlir aUiriLriiial liisliiry. nil III |i 111 llir |i(i\Mr and v\liii'li linalh li'd In llu ir rnlirr dcslrnrt n| I lie I I'm I III II > u av lilnktli. llirsr lii'l'rr |ii''i|ilr rari'M'd 1 1 nil' \ ii'Inriniis arms In Kir |lr!lll■ll•^ nl llii lllinnis. as well as III |lii' sands nl' rimida. till' IlltJU'ril lulls nl' \i'\v r.nuland. and llir di rji Ini-'sts nf ( 'aiiaila ill \ lllai'r mil 'I' .1' tl K'sc ronijiara lllVrh nil Id |ii'ii|ilr wi'i'i ri°t'i|!ii'ntl\ atUirki'd, iinii llu- inliiiliilai'ts (IrNlrnvrd; and Inr inan\ vrars it was rniihidciTd diiiii>i'rniis In pans alniii_' tlir lllninlK MlVrr. Ir-t llir Miin/lli slinllld slllll linni .snni'' sri'lit I'liM i|, nr |irn|ri-||||r III wliii li si\ liiindrrd W iniirliann waninrs iiriislin \l ii 'I rxlcnniiiiiti'd. 'I'lir t'l-i lili r<'iiiii:iiit lli;it siir- viviil iiiili'iiMn'i'il to iiitrrc>t the I'mn'li in llirir \':\\i\ their |m)>I.v. Mit live I'niirli dill Mill ciiHsiilir it |i(i|ilii' til iiiti rlri'f ln'twcni tin- ciii.lcinliiiH parlii's, III, jii'i'liaps, t'clt iiiialilc tn st:i\ tlir tiilr i>t' \ ir1tir\ : iiiid llirsc iiid'nr'tiiiiiilr Indians wi-rr aliandnnrd tn tin ir im irdr» ■ mrnKs III' ,^anUs an I I' lives, kniiwn tu the lh 'anl\ii'.-< am Otta'j^aniies, were Mi°\ (lav ui^iiiL! \\a\ 111 time and tu mutual intt renurse. and in a leu \rars all diircieiiee will he linkmnvii. 'I'lieir eniinlry is ii|n the Mis>issi|i|ii, exteiid- inir trmn tlie Jhn Mnims In the Inw; l{iv er, and strelelnni' west- anllv ImmhiiI the ('cniinil llliitrs. iiimhi the Mi.» n. aim into the illinicnse piiiiries* |HTiiMlieally visited h\ the hiiHalu The Sanks and l'o\es. like all the IndiaiiH oeeiipx iii|ier seasnii. This is (heir harM'>t, vieldini; lln'iii ahiindanee dl" me it. whieh thcv dr\ and lraiis|)cirt In their villai;es I'nr the suhsisteine nC their laiiiiiii's. At those |ieii(H|>» thn-e iinrii' use level plains are iilerallv Mli\e with I' nN (III ic rfiiiiiT kiiiiw>, lire '■vli-lisi\i', iiiii'>illi\,ili'il trails <•! \v(iii(li-i!, liM'l i-iiiiiiir\. Tlifj !ili(iiiiiil ill (jriiss, aiiij in (lovvcrfi nl' v\ a Inii^iii- iif VMiinlhniil, Imikii i; like a nijM', ■(//■(i'.|ii'> ill iipiiii il II' iiiilirnki-ii Mirlat't', 111. ••i-rvr ill.' Iravrllir fir lainliiit,'- p^#«. Id- rc-joifi'N at ^i|r|,t nf tlifin, as ilnrs ilic iiiarincr at .slight of laint. 'V\ury «Im'I'> r liiiii Ooi'ii lilt' Kun anil tic .vn, and Hii|i|ily l>i^ fuel, Kcw ni^iK .ire -Ki Ix'^ithfiil it* ihi'M' savannas, vvlicn tlicii liiMiiiant ('rii|) i.i |iul III Hi'iliiili l>\ flic wiml, Fkic iinilulHliotiK sire lilciall> llnucr} liilliivvK. Till' irri'Witi il' lilt' |>rairi>> wc Iimvc rtoourA, avcrai;cil In licifflit aliuiit live led. Sii'iirliliir^ liiiM'cvcr, il trAr\\ntiit\ and IICV I'll ll'Cl. r IIISToHY or TlIK !?! I'iMMilltws liliillMillils lit llinsi' iiliiinuls, wlirli llit' wliuli' lllilillll piipll- I iliipii iii'j;;iL;<"i in llu- ;iiiiiii;tliii!,f l:i>K n\' liniiiiuLf tin m TIhii' tlrsli is ilii' liiiliiiiis' I'ihnI ; ;iiiii llii'ir .-^kiiis riinii>ii ('|titliiii|r iiiul ti-itls. \\ III) (III* iiiti niii|i:i'|-:ililr :iM'i>iiiii of tlic ImliaiiN to htlMti', it is ditli- riilt til ciiiurivf liiiw tiifv riMihl siiltsist, wcrr it imt liir tlirsi- Ii\ in;,' ;inil itliiiii isalmiit I )lllMI(|llr's \'llir.s, nil llir Mlss{>M|i|ii ; (it lllr Sar>., m;ir tlu' llMUltli ul Ui" k |{|\ir, 'I'lir iiiiiirral I'l'iiimi ilrsiijiiatril \i\ till alHivi' title, r\t('iiil)i \M ^twai'il III llir Missi>si|i|i| 'I'lir ll|iliaii> lilM Irariinl tllf \iillli' ii| li;ul uii' ; tlii'ir wiiiiii'ii (li<.r It III riiiiMilri-aliii- i|imiititirN, ami mII it tn tin- tiMili'is 'I'licsr liidiaiis air iTiiiuikaltlr rmtlii' s\ iiiiiiilrv 1)1' tliiir liii'iii. ami .iiii' |ii I'Miiial a|)|M'ai'aiii'r. I''t'U' .>l llir tiiliis irMinlili ! !"-in III tlicM' |iaitiiiilais ; Mill Irwir « i|iial llnii- iiitrf|tiilitv Tiny aiv, )iliyNi<-iillv and nioiallv, anioii^ \\u- most Mrikiiii; nt' tlu-ir lurii. 'riii'it' liisturv alitinnds w itii dariiii.' and drs|ii'ratc iiiIm nliircs and I'oiii mill' iiirid('itt^<, lar licvimd llir iimiiiI ((iiiisi' nl Indiiiii t'M.rtiiiti. 'i'lirir |i(i|iiilati(in is alioiil six lliniisiitid six liiindrcd. \\\ llic rarlicsl arriiiiiits iif tiiiiM' lilliis thai !ia\i i'iikii- dnw li tl Mli'lil- if III SauMiaii Hay is iiainrd iVdiii tlic Sanks, Stiiil,ii-iiu)i\ ur S.kiK Town — lliat Irivinv,' Ihtii tlir |iiinri|ial scat ot tlnir |iiK,ir 'riit- I'lixiw, or < Hl-iu;aiiiiis, Will' always rrstlcss and di luiitrnti-d Isli- 111 1 iiti's lit llir Laki's, tlii'ir liand a'jaiiis' ru r\ in in, and i'\ir\ III III N hand aL;aiiist iIhiii I'lniii some caiisr iitiivtniw n In iin. |iri>lii'iU tViiin tlirir ovvn tui'liiiliiit and jraloiis dis|Misitiiin. iImv urrr caiiv dissalislird \Mlli llu' I'iiihIi, and a\o\\ri! tlirir attarli- iiu'iM to tlir Kiiylish. 'I'Iun iiitri'^iiid with tlir othrr trilH- in \|ir| thr I'irinli lioin tlic roiintrv ; and, hv tlnir rH'orts, a iirilisli ili'tailiini'iil, iiiidrr Major ( irrtjor\, towards tin' rjosr ot the srvin 'rciilli rriiliirv , riiliiii! I.akr II II mil wi III a \ irw to i slalilisli Iradiiit; "•"ijiilatioiis svitli till! Indians. Thi'V \mii', liovvuvt-r, attarkr I, tlmiiifh "n INDIAN TKIIiKS OT NUUTll A.MLKIfA, ill ;i tiiiii' of pi'iirc, l>y llicir vigiliiiit rivals, ami comiHUcd In altiiii(ion lilt' loniilrv. 'I'lir I'Vciirli niiiiiMriicnl a |ii'riiianrat t'.stahli^llrll('llt n|)(iii tlic l)i tiiijt Kivcr, ill ITitj, anil thr allriihjtt was early rrj^aiiU'd witlj jialniisy liy tlir I'ums. In ITlvJ, llicy i-.tlarKnl the plarr, tlini \\i1i ill its (lilciucs ami its garrison. 'I'licy ucie, linwrMr. repulsed ill an ellorl tv llir \ijfilanee ol' the I'n liiil not diseoiirauiM 'I'Ihn toii|\ a |io>ition adjoiniii'^ tile to\ui ileterniiiiets, the Ol'auas, the I'ottawaliiiiies, and the ( 'hi I'l" stating their periloMs enhdilion. and reipiiniiL; their assista"ee. Tlie^e tril.. • soon eolleeted their warriors, and ponied tlu'in in to the assistanee of the I'Veiieh. The I'oxes were driven into their eiitreiH'hed positions, and redined to e\treinit\. At the moment ol tlieir Lireatesl hazard, a \ ioleiit siorin arose, durinu which ;iiey alieidoned tin ir furl anil lied \« w /tn S'lia ish , whieii advances inii, LaK. St CJa.:- Ileiv. I lowever, they weie pursued, am! alter a V itroroiis resistance iheir enemies (nercanie them, pii* ,a llionstuid ol° their u.irriors to death, and leil the women and children into cap tiMlv. l''roiii the narrative of these occnrreii-a's it appears that al diis (inu' an intiniate union di ! not exist iietwecn these triiies, for a pari of the Saiilis liad joined tlie l■"o\e^, :ind i pa 1 of theiii IihiIv iin arms with the allied trihes tor the defeiico and relief of the I'reiieh. After this severe cal;iiiiitv, the remainder of the F, ;ini| liiiv NrrioiivK IlirlilH I'll till- s:ilrl\. ll llnl liir r\ l>li'ni'r. nl tlii' i'mirii |in\\rr A rontiiiliilili' i'\|inliliiiii u.'is |irr|i:in'il I'l ' tin ir nilnrliun, ;inii tlir iii'i'jIilM'i'inL' liiiliii'is wi'rr inxilnl In arrniii|iiiii\ il. 'I'k tliis liirv rllrrl'llllh iinsi lit .'li, iijiii llic riiliri'iltl'iilrii liM'i'i's iliM^li'il 1|m' |irin- r||i:il t'nri III' liir Sailks ami r'ii\rs, at llir Ihilh ilri Mints, or liii' lull III llir ilraii. Ml rallril iVnin llir >i'^iial cliasliMiinnl tlir\ rrri'i\ ril. ml llir iiuiiirriiiis liiiilirs III till' slain lli.i! \\\'\<- iniriid in a n imiml llirir. 'rill- siir\i\i>rs wi-rr litrr riiliiiTil In uinniiililinnal siiliiiii>- Mnii. aiiil llirir pnwi'r anil '<|iirils wlmlis' limKrii. \\\ llirir valnr ami riilrrpriM' tins lia\r Mriinil a ili siralili' ri'ijimi Inr iIu'iiimIm's. HiiI |Iic\ arr iii\n|\(il in aliiin>i |irr|ti liial lin.xtilitirs \\illi llir SimiN MiU'r lliaii nlii I' lias I irrll inli- rlililr'l lii'lui Til tlirs«' Irilirs iiiiilir liir aiisjiicis nl' I lie I nitre I Stairs ; hill tli(\ liavi' really licrii lint lt'iii|iiir ir\ Iniiis, IhhIm ii li\ llir rvrr rrstlrss ilis|Mihilinii nj' tin- SaiiKs anil I'nvrs 'I'licir niinilMis arr iiUK'li iiitcrinr to tlin.sr III" llir Simiv; hilt llir\ arr hclirr arnn il. ami llirir liirrr is nmrr rniirrnlratril Till SlniiV arr i||\|(|ril mill lar,f|' haiiils, williniil a \rl'\ inliinalr |iii||li(:il rmi tlnll.aiiil liirir {ii'Wrr is sprrail n\rr a M rv r\trl|si\r riiilnn 'I'llr SanlvS ami I'nNrS liavr llir riirlluT ail\ aiita:ji' nf "rralrr rmiraur ami rnnriilriirr. a liitilnr ir|inlatiiin, anil tirralrr r\|M'rirnrr in w.w. It is |irnhahlr, llirrrt'nrr, tint linslililirs will Iniiir rnliliniir hilurrli lliriii, w illiniil aii\' \i "v ilrriilril aiUan'a'jr nil rillirr siilr Tlir Mrlinlllinirs, nr I'lillis .trnnns, (irrii|i\ tjir rnimlrv ll|iiin l"n\ l{i\rr, ami i.''in'rally main n\i r llir ilivlrirl liilwriii (irnii Uav ami llir Mississippi, ami liv prrinissinn nl ihr ( 'liippi'w as aiiil Sinu\. r\lrml llirir pri'iiNliral iiiiiiraliiins inln tlir prairirs in pursuit n| llir hiillaln |''r\v nt" our triU's lia\" lallni liniii till ir liiijii rstaln innn' lanii'Mtahly than liicsr Imli iiis 'I'lioy arr, Inr ihr irmvi |i;iii, 271 INDIAN I'lUliKS or NOUIII AMKKKA. a r:i>'i' n| liiir liinkinir iiM'ii, iiml hsiNc sustainril a lii'jr'i •liuraclir .1 amnii'j llic IiiIpcs ariiuiiu tliciii. Dul II ic nir.M' 111 aniciil spii'ils lias |iassi'!| (iVi T ihrtll, ami w'illirrcd tliriii. 'I'Ihn' liavi vitlilril to ll (li'struitixf iijcasiircs of tliis \\ illi{'riii<' cliaiin, uilli an ciiiffriicss am I rci'lvirssmss iic\<)ml the (inliiiar\ rarci r oj' even savaurs 'I'licri' i>, |i('rlia|>s, no trilic ii|miii all our Imrdi'is sd iiUi il\ aliaii- ilniicil 111 tluMiT of II 'dxicalioii as llic MciKHiiiiiirs ; nor au\ so ilrLTaili'il ill llii'ir lialiils. ami so iiii|ii'o\ jiirnl in all iIicH' cone >riis. 'riit'ii' laii'j:iiaL;'f lias loiiu; riiriiislicd a Miliji'it of doiilit iiml dis- riission. aiiioiiij lliosii ciitratfcd in iiiM'sliLfatioiis into the pliiloloifv ol llii' Indians. Uv inain it lias Ih'cii sii|i|ios('d tliat tlicir lanu'iiaLir is an oi'iLiin ll one. |it'i'nliai' lo ihcinsi'Ixcs, and liavin-i no alliiiits Willi diosc s|io!\('ii li\ llic Indians ol that <|iiartrr; and that in tlicir 'oniinnniration \\\ th ll II' nri ulii Millllir trill tlirv iisr a dialciM o llir ( 'lii|i|ir\va lantriiaL;!', u Iiumi, aiiioni'' the nortli-wi'stcin diaii is what llir i''rriiili lanuMiairc is ii|ion tin- contincnl ol' Knro|ii'— » ijcnrral inriinini ol I'oniinnmi'alion W llov\i'\r 'atisticd llial dir |ii'o|irr .Mmoininir is itsi'M hut a hiaiich ol' IIiIn urral stork It s nioi Ir ol' |)niiinnriatioii anions ihcinsrivi's ^ncs it a |i('(iiliar chaiMili' and almost r onccals ll s resell ihl Hire to th (■o._rn lie ill ilecl. ll IS ai'eoiii|iaiiit'd by smunlar irnttiiral soiiiids. not harsh, like lliat of the W yandols or the Sioux, hut rather jilei saiit : and ihe aeeeni is plaied dill'ereiith I'loni Ihal of all llie oilier t'ainil les o r this stork d Ti lose \\ ho are not aw; ol the cliaii'ji wlihh I- III oe inane in a laiiLrnaLfe, l)\' iliaii'jiii'j the ai-ieni iijinn e\irv word, may easily satish iheinselves hv makiiiL' tin' I'Vpeii- nieiit in l')ii iViMii iln- iDciuis iif siilisisli'iicc riiriiishcil lo tlicni li\ tlif wild inr oats, Ih'ir I'Diiiiti'N alxiiiiiil-s witli it *rii\ l(lr|||-( as i^ivni till > M'fr- liltli' to till' Mnrllu'rii ri-iis. It is sown williont liamis, raisnl witlioiit rai'i', anil i(allii-ri*il with liltir troiiMi*. It is an annual |il:iiil, wliii'li ili'lii^lits Ml till! still, sliallow lalvis, loriiii'il \>\ iiiiniiroiis slnvinis tliat wiiui tlnir way llii°oii<.;li tlir IimI idiint'.'ics ot tin* iKntlt-wrst. Wlirn ri|»r, llif i;imiii (alls iiiln tln' water, ami. yrulnally siiikinti to tlir hottoin, ninam.s tluir ilnnn^ tin- winti r, wlntii it '^rriniiiatcs. It rist's alKivc tlu! wati-r to ii|)i'n, hut (Khjs not |iossi>ss tli«> qiialitv wliirii liflon^s Id many aijualii' |itaiit.s, of arconi- nioilatintr itsi-lf t<> tlic lisr ami tall of the watri's, anil tliiis roniiiiLi top •rfurliiMi fi|nally III ijrv iiul in vM't srasoiis It soin*>ttni(-s ia|i|>i>ns tliat tiir watrrs rise alio\i' tlic mam, wlirii It prnslii i liicli I iiroiiiuTs 'I'l'at i||>ti'rss aiiloii'' til liKlians. Tl IIS rraiii ripi'iis in llir last ol' Aii'^iist ami iM't^inniiii,' of SiptcinlH-r. It is i,Mllii'r(!d liy till" fcnialfs, who inovr aniiiist this haivrst in Itaik fanot's, am! hi-niliiiif liu' stalks dvit tlii-ir siilcs, siiaku tin' j:raiii is very palatal)le, ami makes I'Meiit imiiit'i lintel V aroiini h ami wa villi' harvest f!ry lit'.le, ytst .such is the inilolenee of those to whom it has oeeii 27(! INDIAN Til I HI'S (»!' Ndinil WIKHKA, 'III, t' t till' 1) \N Iki'js lull xvliii'li cui'li tiiMiiK iiiiis sri-iM't'. I li'riiliic Minii r\li;iii>l(il. It iarcl\ li;i|i|i(iis. ImWfVi I', lliil :iii\ tliiliL.' is UMiiii'il li\ tlic ('\|i('ni'iif(' '>! llii'sf |ir(i|ili', I'or llii' w.iiiis ul' n.u' >r;is(iii iii'MT (i|U'ralt' lo pnMliicc !ji";i(r!' cMilioits in natln ruin tlif iK'i', di' iiilililiniial ('I'lHiiiiiiy ill tlir use nt' it, in a siicci'cilinir on,.. 'I'lir |pri"lui'r iif iiiillinii> ii| ai'i'fs III this |ni 1 imis |ii'iHliirtiiiii aii- tllialK |liriNlirs. It is allnwril In \\a>ti' iIm'II U|iiin tlir W alris, li'.'rallM' thr Imlian'^ ai'r too inilnlrlit :iliil tun iliijil'iix lilriit tii rcrcivc it jViini thr lianii ul' nature. 'I'licv lia\t' |l■s^ iniliistiv ami |ii-ii\ idiiit ai'raiiL;i'm» 111 than thr licaxcr or the ant. lie who is »naiiiiiiTii ul sa\a'_rc liii'. nr w Im iprlir\rs that all tlu' iiiiscrv nt' tiiir almriuiiial |irii|ih' IS iiw iii'j 111 till' rniniiiu ul thr w liitvs ainiinL,' tin in, iiiav risll\ i'hall'_'i' thrsr u|illili>lis li\ sUIM'\ I IIU tllrir I'lMlilltlull, stai'N i Ilii ami ih iiiir iluniiL: tlir wintrr, linaiisi' lliry arr ti«i la/\ to stirli li uiit iht'ii' lian Is in autuinn. ami i^athrr tin- liai'M'st w hirli a liriii lii'riit j'l'iiN lili'llic Ins jilai'iil lirlui't' thrill. '\'\>r Mrlinlllinirs uiiUJiy thr sailir sjtliatluli IliiW that thr\ illil whin thr\ lil'^t III r inii' Knuvvii Id thr wllllis. 'I'hrv SI Tin tu hr laMiiiIrs \'. itli all llic aiijiiiiuii'^ Imhaiis, anil liiiiil U|iiin linir nw n liinl, anil ii{M>n that ul utliriv-.. wilhuiit lii'sitatiun anil withunt runi- |ilainl. 'i'lirx air I'i'ilurril til aliuiit luiir thuiisanil tun hiinili'iil |irl"siiiis. \ll till tllhrs whiisr liistii|'\ \\i- ha\r slli.'.iltlv skrli Inil. lirluliij In IvMi ililliiriit stiiiKs— thr \\ \ iiH li it. ur 1 1 'iii ill : ami tin ( 'li;|i|irw .i. iir \l'_'i'ni|iiiii Hut till' Siiiii\ a|i|iiar In lia\r nut thr sli'_!litr>t all'iiiits ^^ltll titlii r ul llirsi I'aiiiilii-, am' iiii'luili' a .sinaratc diss if trihi's aii>l aii'iiiaiji's. Tlnir iiriniinl. -im'. cvrii tn this (la\, till ir |ii' iii'i|)il rrsiilnirc, is west iif thr Mississi|i|ii ; Imi th • |i.i ti"ii||\ inir IiiIh' llsrll iri'liims runslilrialilf Irrritiirirs I'isI iifthil river; ainl u ic ul the rii!ili;.1i' lir iiii'lu's, tin' \\ liim liiiTiii's, IS riiliri'U east u| it. 'I'liesi' t\M> Inlies. llieri'rnre, are liiuiiL;!it within the U^euijfraiiliieal limits we lia\e [iresi lilieil tu uiiisil\r» 'Jlie r*«U)ii.v SLriii tu iicciij)} a .similar ixtsitimi with relalioii to llif iii.NiuKV or III!; trilics west nf t)it> Mi.s.MsM|t|ii w liii li tin- (.'lii|i|)i'\\ as dCi ii|i\ lo ilu.sii fast ofllial rutr. IJnili cvlriid u\( r an iiiiiiifiiM' n uk'h of iuimlr\ , ami \\w laii^iia^r >|i(J\rM l)v cacli a|)|il llic ( 'lii|i|ii'\\ a, a ti'a\ I'llrr iiiit^lil Imlil rdiiiiiiniiii'.ilinn willi iiiii>t <>r lllc II'iIm'S Wllliill till OI'lL^|li:il tl'I'I'lliil'V iil'llir i llltnl States; ami witli a know Ifiluc of thr Sioux, lie iiiitilit alsn riiiiniiuiiii atr witli a iiirat iiiajnrity nl' the Irild's in tlic ti'aiis-Mi>.M>M|i|ii i mintrv . 'I'liiii' laiiLTuaircs, li\.,\c. lit iiiir l\ii(i\\ IimI U"' < lit M- Sll ilil'fl, iiiav Iti' I'liiiMilciril |)riiiiitivc 'I'lu' Si(Mi\. so railed hyllie I'reiieli, iVnin tlie lust s\llaiile (it' .\(iinl(iiirSKft , tlie ( 'lii|i|ii'\\a tiiiii li>r emiii\, ami em|ilialiiMii\ a|i|ilie(l li\ tlic ( 'lii|i|ic\\a.s lu their lieretliiaiv ('iieinies, are Knnvsii to tlieiliselvcs, J'Imi, limler tlie tle>luiialio|l of l)niliiollis, or, a.s the\ call the iii>ii\es, llnliiii/. 'i'lie separation looiv plaee at no distant period, and, no doiilit, ori'jinuted in one of tliiwe doinestie lends lowliieli all liarliaions people, having no re'^iilar code ol' lau, iiioials, or n hi; ion, are pecnliar'\' liable. 'I'lic slory is \ery iVeshlv icinemliercd, and each parts repeals Its own .eisinn ol it. The Assinilinms detailn d theinscives iVoiii their kindred hands, and einiunted to the coiiiitiN iijMin the A ssinil)oiii Ui\. II ere thev reside, stretcliiiiii into Ihi llmlson I)a\ territories on the one side, and to the Missouri on tin' other. 'I'heir nninhers are estimated at eitdil thousand. In their Iriiiits thev are erialie Tl ie\ raise no a: ricnltuiai ariK ie. hul snhsist en lirel V on the hnll'alo, whose countless herd s roam o\ir those trackhss regions, olic\ im. •1 tl le insana hie 1; iws of nature w Inch impel them Irom south to north, and Iroin m nil t o south, as th {real 1 d'ocesses o f sllhsistel ce and repritdm tion reipiire T imxlc. described hy travellers it'dri\ini>' tlustt liuinials into a kind 278 iNDiw iiiiitr.s or Noll III .\Mi:i{i('A. 1)1 t'liildMirc, iiiailr li\ |i lies isllli'k ililii till' L.'1'nllllil 1:11 h iioii' siir- (illliili'il li\ :i |ilr('(' III' lull, :iliil ill\rrL!lli'4 l>)'*' 1^^" lllirs ll'uili ;t |ii>iiit, sirliis ti> I lli\r 1)1' i'Miiiiti'il uitli till' A>>iiiilM>iiiM, if it is nut |)i'r(iii;ir til tlii'tii. 'I'licsd |Hi|i'.s air jiliiri d in tin- ui'iiUliil iil tlu' ill>liilii r III iilMiiit six Icct iVnili Ciirh iillirr. it is ii|ii)ii tlirsc tiii' IHAMrliil iiiiil rnrimis aiiitiiiil ntslirs, ;iiiil Im ri.,iir.>s iiii|ii-iMiiiri|, witliniit :iii\ rHiii't tii jiass tlir ti'ililr lianiiT. 'I'lii' liuliaiis jiilliiw nil Ihh'm liiii'k, anil .slaiiirjitt'i' llinn in iiiiiiirii>r niiiniiri's, 'I'iii' Siiiiix. nr Dalii-iitali |)iii|irr, ()i'ru|iy tlit! coiiiitn lirtwcni tli,- MisMiiiri anil .Mis^is>.i|i|ii, cxtriiiiinLr iVinn llic iiiissrssimis nl' ihi' Saiiks ail' ''i)\rs, ti) tlinsr III llir .\ssiiiil)iiin.s am Cli iliiiirwas, ti)iirliiiii^ west upDii till' Oinaliaws, liir Arii-liarcs, ami Mamlaii> lirv arr ili\ hliil iiitn si'Nr L'liat liaiiils — the Mciiilrwalikaiilnan, or l,(i\M r S iiiix, iir llins dii l.iir ; tlir W iiuk|iakiiiiti', nr |prii|ili' will) slioot III ill'' Iravrs; the (liiis tiiiiliiiiis, li:i> tiiiiLilil tliciii llif vuliif i>r iinliislry, mid tin (•(unliut nl' |irii(lciit lurt'.siulil, liarliariiiis irilii-s, liavmtf lew (ilijrcts In cnuam' tin ir attciiiiuii, ami ami iM'iiiu; cliirll) ciiL'^aifrd in the sii|i|)l\ ol' tlinr [ilivsica! waiil.s, sdiiii ac(|iiiic a iMii'ict kiinwlt'diff of the aiiitiials tliat runin wiiii tliriii iivci' till' I'diiiitrs', ;iiid ol' the \\rs\ iiM'tliiMis III' takiiiL! '>>id Kill- iii'^ tliriii. 'riii'ii' irwii I'li.stiiins air Nti'niiM|\ marked li\ tlnir d('|H'iidiMii'r ii|iiiii tlirsc >iiiiri'<'s, iiiid tlirir doiiicslii' iiiNtiliitii)iis jiirtakc III' till' I'li'irarti r tliiis iniprissi'il upon llinn. It is dillli iilt In cniicciM' linw tin- and deserts (if Asia and Atiiea euuld Ik tia- \ersed \\itliniit the aid of the |iatieMl and dneile eaiiiel ; hnw the i.a|ilandei' enuM sulisist. il' natui'e had imt u;iven liiiii the reindeer; nr the niiseralile l']si|iiiiiM an, u Im warms Ins snnw hiil with train (III, and sidtsists n|Min the carcasses nl I lie a'piatic mniisters stranded npnii his coast, conid live amidst his iiiliiis|iilalile wilds, were not these sn|i|ilies |ir(i\ identiallv sent lor his sn|i|Mirt. Ill '.ike manner, the linll'ido has lieen |iro\i(lid I'nr the alinri'jiiial tenants nl' niir Lffcat western prairies. These aiiiinais suii|il\ lionses, elntliini;. Innd, and t'lie numernns are tlie\, as In det'v th ipiickest e\c, j'nllnw- tliein as it may over these vast plains. In eniint Mieiii. N'nr are they less rc'jnlar in their hahits and movements, than tlie shoals of miifratnrv lislies, which, cominu; Ironi lli<< recesses (>r the de"p, visit dill'ereiil coasts, t'nrnishin;^ a cheap and ahniidai t sll ppl\ nl 1(1(1(1. Tiie Imli ins nlall those retfions depend entirelv upon the InitVale I'nr sniisislence, and are very expert in the d( stniclinn ol tin in. Mniintcil nn licet Imrses, the\' iinrsiie these animals, and selilnin liil to Iraiisliv them witn liieir armws. Ilms e(piippeil, tliev pursue a herd until as min\ are killed as are wanted, \\ hen tliev return, and. cnliectm, ,'" 'nii'.'nes, and Ininches upon the hack, w!il.-h are esteemcil ll <■ '.<'.■•■-' Ut the he isis and iiir Is .1 pi-, ,-. Ill slat lire, the Siniix '. .vcced mir other niirth-wc.-«tern Inlios precinns parts, tlie\ leave tiie carca.ss IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) '^/' ^ // {/ :a 4. i/.. ^ & 1.0 !!:KS 1^ 1.8 I.I Hi 140 <^ m m v^ A '<>X^ '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 W=ST MAIN ilREET WEBSTtR.N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 '<» Zi 1^ <> \ I 280 INDIAN TIIIRES OF NORTH AMERICA. They arc, in f^cneral, woU formed, witli ratlicr slender limbs, and exhibit, as is usual among tlio Indians, few examples of deformity, either natuval or accidental. Until lately they were clad entirely in biiifalo skins, as are yet many of their remote tribes. But those in tlie vicinity of our posts and settlements have learned the supe- riority of woollen clothing, and the means of acquiring it by the trallic in furs. The habit whicli prevails among many of them, of wearing the hair long, and dividing it into separate braids, gives them a singular and repulsive appearance. Their domestic animals are the horse and dog; of these they h;ne gre.it uuml)crs. When the}' remove their encampments, their tents of skins, j)oles, and other articles are packed up by the women, and drawn by the hor.ses and dogs. All are ein])]oyed in this labor, except t!ie men. As sucli business would be dishonorable to them tlicy [)receJo the caravan, witliout labor and without trouble. Most of their political institutions resemble those of the othei tribes. Tliey have little of either law or govermnent. The chiefs can advise, but not conunand — recommend, but not enforce. I'here is a .sort of public opinion which marks the course a p.rson should pursue iirder certain circumstances. If he conform, it is well; and if he do not, except when an act is committed exciting revenge, or re(piiring expiation, it is e(pially well. In such an emergency, tlie law of tlie strongest too often decides the controversy. Much, however, d'.'pends upon the personal character of the chief who happens to be at the head of the band. If he is a man of prudenc(^ and firnuiess, his representations will generally have weight, and his interference will go far towards checking, or satisfying tiie injury. The chieftainship is hereditary, rather in families than in direct descent. If a son is well (pialified, he succeeds his iather; if he is not, some other member of the family takes tlie post without any formal election, but with tacit acquiescence, induced by respect for talents and experience. The same uncertainty which rests upon the religious opinions HISTORY OF THE 281 of the great AlgoiKiniii family, rests also upon tl osc of the Sioux, and their cognate triijes. Indeed, it is a suljjecl upon which they seem not to rellect, and which they cannot rationally explain. Some nudefuied notion appears to be entertained that there are other heings, corporeal, but unseen, who exert an inlluence u])on tlie atfairs of this life; and these they eh)the with all the attriljutes that li()[)e and fear can suj)ply. They are propitiated with oiferings, and contemplated as objects of terror, not of love — they are feared, l)iit never adored. The storm, the lightning, the earth{[uake, is e.ich a Wah-kon, or spirit, and so is every unusual occurrence (jf nature around them. They have not the slightest conception oi' an overruling Providence, controlling and directing the great oj)erations of matter and of mind : nor do their notions upon these subjects, such as they are, produce the slightest favorable elfect upon their sentiments or conduct. If the hunter sees a large stone of unusual ap|)(}arance, he recognizes a Wah-kon, makes an olTering of a piece of tobacco, and passes on. If a canoe is in danger, he who has charge of it, throws out, as a sacrifice, some article, to appease the olFended spirit; and often the frail vessel glides down, leaving no memorial of the ilanger, or the rescue. A rattlesnake is a Wah- kon, and must not l)e killed : even after he has inllieted his terrible wound he is suffered to live, lest his kindred siiould revenge his death! It is doubtful whether any Indian, whose original impres- sions liad not been clianged l)y intercourse with white men, ever voluntarily killed a snake. To call this religion, is to i)rostituto the term. It produces no salutary eifect upon tiie head or heart. The.se puerile observances, or super.stitions, are insulated facts. They form no part of any system, but are aberrations of the human understanding, conscious of its coimection with another state of being, and mistaking the delusions of imagination for the instinctive dictates of reason. The Sioux iiave, occupied, since tliey lir.st became known to tiie Europeans, much of the country where they now resiile. For a 30 2»2 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. lonur period lliey have been ciigajri'd in lioslilitics with llic Cliip jicwas, and ahhou^li truces have hi-eii (ifteu iiiadi-, no [)eriiKiiieiit recducilialion has been elVected. In this loan et. the advaii- l;iU-e seems to have l)een on the side of the Ciii.[)[)e\\as, for we are told bv the French travellers, that the Sioux at one time occupied the coasts of Lake Superior. From this reiiion they have been driven for generations, and the Ciiippewas have obtained permanent possession of the np|)(>r Mississippi, and will, probably, push their rivals still further west. In that direction, also, the inidalo is recedins, bv whom thev iu-e almost surrounded, and with whom they are in haliits of d;iil\' intercourse, are all tribes of the AlLi:ou(|uin stock, speaking dialects more or less removed from that parent tongue. While the HISTORY OF THE 283 Wiiinebiigoos arc cvkleutly a branch of the Sioux fiiiniiv, tlieir language is allied to that spoken by the numerous ti'il)es oi" this descent who roam over tlie inunense plains of the .Missouri and Mississippi. It is harsh and guttural, and the arlicidatioii is indis- tiiict to a stranger. It is not easily acquired l)y jiersons of mature .. and there are few of the Canadians who live among them, by \'. ) An it is well spoken. As a peoj)le, their physical conformation is good. They are liu'ge, athletic, and w'ell made — not handsome, but with symmetrical forms, rather fleshy than slender. They will bear a favorable comparison, in these respects, with any of thd aboriginal family. Their country is intersected with numerous streams, lakes, a marshes, in which the wild rice abounds. The same subsistence is olfered to them as to the Menominics, and the same use is made of il. Equally indolent and improvident, they arc the subjects of the same wants and sufferings. The Winnebagoes are fierce and desperate warriors, possessino- high notions of their own prowess, and, when once engaged in warlike enter])ri.ses, reckless of all consequences. During the difliculties upon the Mississippi, a few years ago, there were instances of daring and devotion among them, which may bear a comparison with the loftiest descriptions of Indian magnanimity that have been recorded.* In former times they were engaged in * Certain miirdL-r" were committed a\. Prairie dii Cliien, on the upper Mis- sissi])pi, in 1827, by a party of Indians, headed liy the famous Winnebago ehief. Red Bird. Measures were taken to capture the offenders, and secure the peace of the frontier. Military movements were made from Green Bay, and from Jctfcrson Barracks, on tlie Mississippi — the oljject being to form a junction at the portaga of tlie Fox and Ouisconsin Rivers, and decide upon uherio.' measures. Information of these movements was given to the Indians, at a coi. ."il tiien holding at the Butte des Moris, on Fox River, ..nd of the deteri'iination of the United States Government to punish those who had .shed the blood of our people at Prairie du Chien. The Indians were faithfully 28i INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. lioslilities witli the Illinois tribes, and, associated with tlie 8anks antl Foxes, they carried dismay even to the gates of Kaskaskias. Ill tliis long and active warfare, the Illinois Indians were almost exterminated. Many of their bands have entirely disappeared, and those that remain are reduced to a few individuals. The A\ inne- wnrncd of the impending danger, and told, if the murderers were not sur- rendcri'd, war woidd be carried in among them, and a way eiit throiigli their eiiiintry, not with axes, but guns. They were advised to procure a surrender of the guilty persons, and, by so doing, save the innocent from suffering. Runners were despatched, bearing the intelligence of this infornuition among their bands. Our troops were put in motion. The Indians saw, in the inove- iiicni of ihc troojis, the storm that was hanging over them. On arriving at the portage, dist:uit about one huiulred and forty miles from the Butte des Morts, V.C found ourselves within nine miles of a village, at whicli, we were informed, nere two of the murderers. Red Bird, tiie ])rincipal, and We-kaw, together with a large party of warriors. The Indians, apprehending an attack, sent a messenger to our encampment. He arrived, and seated himself at our tent door. On inquiring what he wanted, he answered, " Do not strike. W/int the sttii ^els up there, (pointing to a certain i)art of the heavens,) they will come in.''^ To the question, Wlio will come in? — he answered, " i?f(/ liird anil )re-/iv;iy." Having thus delivered his message, he rose, wrapped liis blaida't around him, and returned. This was about noon. At three o'clock, another Indian came, seated himself in the same place, and being questioned, gave the same answer. At sundown another came, and repeated what the others had said. The amount of the information intended to be conveyed, in this novel man- ner, was, (hat the Red Bird and We-kaw had determined to devote themselves, by surrendering their persons and their lives, rather than, by a resistance, involve the peace of their people, or subject them to the consequence of an allack. The heroic character of this act will be more clearly perceived, when we assert, on our own knowledge, that the murders committed at Prairie du Chien, were in retaliation for wrongs which had been long inflicted on the tribes to which those Indians and their warriors belonged. It is true, those killed by them at Prairie du Chien were innocent of any wrong done to the HISTORY OF THE 285 l).iLoes came out of this war a conqucrinsr and powerful people ; liiit wliat their enemies could not accomplish, the elements did. Tradition says that six hundred of their warriors perished in canoes u])on Lake Michigan, daring a violent storm. The Winnebagoes are computed at five thousand eight hundred Indians. But Iiulian retaliation does not require that he, who commits a \vrouir, shall, alone, sulfer for it. The tbllGwing extract of a letter, written on the occasion of this voluntary surrender, is introduced in this place for the purpose of making the reader acquainted with the details of that interesting occurrence, and the ceremonies iUleuding it. It was addressed to the Honorable James Barbour, then Secre- tary of War, though not as forming any part of the official correspondence. We have omitted parls of the extract, as published at the time, and supplied additional incidents, which, in the hurry of the preparation, were omitted. Portage ok the Fox and Ouisconsik Rivehs. Monday, Alh September, 1827. My dear Sir :— It would aflbrd me sincere pleasure, did the circumstances, by which I find myself surrounded, allow me better ojjportunities and more leisure, because I could then, and would, most cheerfully, enter into those minute details which are, in some sort, necessary, to exhibit things and occur- rences to you as they are seen by me. I will, notwithstanding, in this letter, from the spot on which Ihe Red Bird and We-kmo surrendered themselves, give you some account of that interesting occasion, and of every tfihig just as it occurred. It all interested me, and will, doubtless, you. You are already informed of our arrival at this place, on the .31st ultimo, and that no movement was made to capture the two murderers, who were reported to us to be at the village nine miles above, on account of an order received by Major Whistler from General Atkinson, direcling him to wait his arrival, and mean time to make no movement of any kind. We were, there- fore, after the necessary arrangements for defence and security, &c., idly, but anxiously, waiting his arrival, when, at about one o'clock to-day we decried, coming in the direction of the encampment, and across the portage, a body of Indians, some raountrd. and some on foot. They were, when first discerned, 2b0 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. {)crson ;• It has boon snjiposcd by some, lliiit liittorly llioy have been inoroasiiig. There is, liowever, no good reason to boHeve this. The opinion has probably grown out ol' a comparison of (lilleront estimates of their population, made by various persons, antl ihidor various circumstances. Such estimates are too loose and uncertain on a mouiu!, and descending it; and, by the aid of a glass, we could discern tlirce (liifTs — two appeared to be American, and one while. We bad received iiitbrmation, the day before, of tlie intention of tbe band at tbe village to couw. in with the murderers to-day ; and therefore expected tiiein, and concluded this party to be on its way to fidtil tiiat intention. In liiilf an lioiir tliey were near the river, and at the crossing-place, when \\h: iieard singing ; it was an- nounced by those who knew the notes, to be a death-song — wlien, presently, the river beii.g only about a hundred yards across, and tiie Indians approai^h- ing it, those who knew hiui said, " it is the Red Bfd singing his deulh-song.'''' On th(! moment of their arrival at the landing, two seal/) yells were given ; and these were also by the Red Bird. The Menominies who had accompanied us, were lying, after the Indian fa.shion, in diflTerent directions, all over the hill, eyeing, with a careless indid'erence, Ihis scene ; but the moment the yells were given, they bounded from the ground as if they had been shot out of it, and, running in every direction, each to his gun, seized it, and throwing back the pan, picked the touchhole, and rallied. They knew well that the yells were scnlj) yells ; but they did not know whether they were intended to indicate two scalps to be taken, or two to be given — but inferred the first. Barges were sent across, wiien they came over; the Red Bird carrying the wiiite flag, and VVe-kaw by his side. While they were embarking, I passed a few yards from my tent, when a rattlesnake ran across the patii ; he was struck by Captain Dickeson witli his sword, whicii, in pari, ilisabled him, when I ran mine, it being of the sabre form, several times through his body, and finally through his head, and holding it up, it was cut off by a Menominie Indian with his knife. The body of the snake falling, was caught up by an Indian, whilst I went towards one of the fires to hum the head, that its fangs might be innov- ious, when another Indian came, running, and begged me for it. I gave it to him. The object of both being to make medicine of the reptile !* This was ' The noise of tlie rattloti of a nitllesnalic, when excited, is precisely that of a repeating watch in the intervals between the strokes. HISTORY OF THE 287 to furaisli datu for any calc'iilatbiis oftliis nature, more partictilurl_y wlicii they contradict our unilbrni uxpuricjucu ujton the subject of the aboriyiual population. All the tribes with which we are ac- quainted, are in a state of progressive and rapid diminution; and althonjrh those which are most remote are not within the sphere intci-iin-tetl to be ii good omen— as had a i.ievious killing of one a il-w morn- ings Ijufore, on Fox liiviT; and of a bi-ai s -ne account of the ceremonies iiilendiiig which, and of other incidents aUending our ascent up that river, I may give you at another time. I?y this time the niur(h.'rers were landed, accompanied by one hundred and fourteen of their principal men. They were preceded and represented by ('iinimime, a chief, who earnestly begged that the prisoners might receive good treatment, and, under no circumstances, be put in irons. He appeared to dread the military, and wished to surrender them to the .Sub-Agent, Mr. Marsh. His address being made to me, I told him it was jjroper that he should go to the great chief, (.Major Wlieeler) ; and, that so far as Mr. Marsh's pre- scMice might be agreeable to them, they should liave it there. He appeared content, and moved on, followed by the men of his band.,, the Red Bird being in the centre, with his white flag, whilst two other Hags, American, were borne iiy two chiefs, in the front and rear of the line. The military had been i)re- viously drawn out in line. The Menominie and Wabanocky Indians spiat- ling about in groups, (looking curious enough,) on the left Hank— the band of mssic on the riglit, a little in advance of the line. The murderers were marched up in front of the centre of the line— some ten or fifteen paces from wliicli, seats were arranged, which were occupied by tlie principal officers .ittached to the command, &c. : in front of which, at about ten paces, the Red IJiiil was halted, with his miserable looking companion, We-kaw, by his side, whilst his band formed a kind of .semi-circle to their right and left. All eyes were fixed upon the Red Bird ; and well they might be ; for, of all the Indians I ever saw, he is decidedly the most perfect in form, and face, and motion. In height he is about six feet, straight, but without restraint ; in proportion, exact and perfect from his feet to his head, and thence to the very ends of his fingers ; whil.st his fiice is full of expression, and of every sort to interest the feelings, and without a single, even accidental glance, that would justify the suspicion 2S8 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA, of I'lr opcnitinn of tlic causes wliicli ri'sult from llii'ir coniact willi a civilized people, yet a scanty and precarious subsistence, conlniued and active warfare, exposure to the elements, and to the accidents of a hazardous life, are pressing, with restless severity, upon their spare population. that a i)iiipos(> of murder couKV by any possible means, conceal itself there. There is in it a liapjiy bleniling of dignity and (jracc ; great firmness and (h'cisioM, mixed with mildness and mercy. I could not but ask myself, Can this bf the murderer — the chief who could slmot, seal]), ami cut the throat of Gngiiier? His head, too — nothing was ever so well formed. There was no orna[iientin;j; of die hair after the Indian fashion ; no clubbing it up in blocks and rollers of lead or silver; no loose or straggling parts; but it was cut after the best fiishidii of the most refined civilizinl taste. His fiice was ])ainted, one side red, the other a little intermixed with green and white. Around his neck he wore a collar of blue wampum, beautifully mixed with white, sewn on a piece of cloth, and covering it, of about two inches width, whilst the claws of the panther, or large wild cat, were fastened to the upper rim, and about a quarter of an inch from each other, their points downward and inward, and resting ujion the lower rim of the collar; and around his neck, in strands of various hiiglhs, enlarging as they descended, he wears a profusion of the same kind of wampum as had been worked so tastefully into his collar. He is clothed in a Yanldon dress, new, rich, and beautiful. It is of beautifidly dressed elk, or deer skin; jiure in its color, almost to a clear white, and con- sists of a jacki't, (with nothing beneath it,) the sleeves of which are sewn so as to neatly fit his finely turned arm.s, lea', ing two or three implies of the skin out- side of the sewing, and then again three or fi)ur inches more, which is cut into strips, as we cut jinper to wrap round, and ornament a candle. All this made a deep and rich fringe, whilst the same kind of ornament, or trimming, con- tinued down the scams of his leggings. These were of the same material, and were additionally set off with blue beads. On his feet he wore moccasins. A piece of scarlet cloth, about a quarter of a yard wide, and half a yard long, by means of a slit cut through its middle, so as to admit the passing through of the head, rested, one half upon his breast, and the other on his back. On one Bhoidder, and near his breast, was a large and beautifully ornamented feather. iiisroRY OF nil-: 280 III luiiiiMcrs iiiul t'ustoiiis, tliu \'v iiiiiclmudcs rcsrinlilc llic otliei iiiciiihri-s of tliu alioi-igiiial family. J, ike \\\c Al-diKjuiii tribes, tliry are divideil iiilo biiiuls, eiieii desi«,rii!ite(i by ihe name of sdine aiii mill, or of a .supposed .spirit, such as tlie bear, the de\ d, or bad spirit, tho thunder, &c. Theso divi.sious were, originally, an im- iiearly wliite ; and on the other, and opposite, was one nearly lijack, with two pieces of wood in the form ot" compasses when i\ little open, each about .six inches long, richly wrajjped roinul with iiorciipines' qiiill.s, dyed yellow, red, and blue; and on the tip ot one shoulder was a tult of red dyed horse-hair, curled in part, and mixed up with other orn: inents. Acro.ss his brea.st, in a dia^ronal ])osilion, and bound tight to it, was his war-pipe, at le.ist three feet long, richly ornamented with feathers and horsc-lmir, dyed red, and the bills of birds, &,c. ; whilst in one hand he held the white Ihig, and in the ether Ihe pipe of peace. There he stood. He moved not a muscle, nor once changed the expression of his face. They were told to sit down. He sat down, with a ijrace not less captivating than he walked and stood. At tiiis moment, the band on our right struck up and played Pleyel's Hymn. Every thing was still. The Red Bird looked towards the band, and eyeing it with an expression of interest, and as if those pensive notes were falling softly and agreeably on his heart. Wiien the hymn was played, he took up his pouch, and taking from it some kbinakanic and tobacco, cut the latter after the Indian fashion tiien rubbed the two together, filled the bowl of his beautiful peace-pipe, struck fire with his steel and Hint into a bit of spunk, and lighted it, and smoked. All this was done with a grace no less captivating than that which had characterized tis other movements. He .sat with his legs crossed. If you think there was any thing of afTectation in all this, you are mistaken. There was just the manner and appearance you would expect to see in a nolily iiuilt man of the finest intelligence, who had been escorted by his armies to a throii", wliere the diadem was to be placed upon his head. Theie is but one opinion of the man, and that is just such as I have formed myself, and attempted to impart to you. I could n,-t but speculate a little on his dre.ss. His white jacket, with one piece of red upon it, appeared to indi- cate the purity of his ])ast life, staineil with but a single crime ; for, all agree, that the Red Bird had never before soiled his fingers with the blood of the white 37 2'.li) INDIAN TIUHKS OF NUHTII A.MKIUCA. port lilt Iruliirc ill llii'ir pnlity, I'Ut llicy iiri' imu little iiKirc tliiiii ii(>iiiiii;il. li;i\iiiL;' yit'ldi'd, like iii;iiiy (itlicrs oj' tlic [n'riiliir tniits, t(i tin; imtowiird cifcuiustniices wliiidi have, lor ages, surruiUKk'd tht'iii. Their villagu cliiefs uro horeditai'y in the lineal doscont, and, man, nor coiniiiiltt-d a biid action. His war-pipe, bmiiid fUisi' to liis heart, appeaii'il to indiciito liis love of war, wiiicli was now no loiii,'i'r to hf j,'ra!i- llcd. I'ciliap-. the red, or searii't elolli, may have been iiidiealive ol' his naiiie —the Red ninl. All sat, (■x<'ept the speakiMS, whose addres-es I took t'own, but have not time to insert iheiii here. They were, In snbslanee, that they had been re- (piircd to brin^ in the murderers. Tliey h.id no power over any, except two, ami lbe^e hail vobinlarily agreed to eoine in and give themselves ii" As their friends, they had come with them. They hoped their white broihers would afjree to reeeive the horses, (they had with them twenty, perhaps,) meaiiin;^, thai if accepted, it should be in commiilatioii for the lives of their two friemls. 'I'hey asked kind treatment for them, earne.stly begged that thev inijj;ht not be put in irons, and that they all mifrlit have some tobacco, and something to eat. They were answered, and told, in substance, thai they had ilonu well thus to come in. iJy having done so, they had turned away our guns, and saved their ])eople. They were admonished against placing themselves in a similar situation in future, and told, that when they shoulil be ag^;rieved, to go to their Agent, who would inform their Great Father of their complaints, and he would redress them ; that their friends should be treated kindly, and tried by the same laws that their Great Father's children were tried ; that, for the j)resent, tliey should not be put in irons; that they all should have something to eat, and tobacco to smoke. We advised them to warn their people against killing ours ; and endeavored also to impress them with a proper conception of the extent of our power, and of their weakness, &c. Having heard this, the Red Bird stood up ; the commanding officer. Major Whistler, a few paces in advance of the centre of his line, facing him. After a pause of a minute, and a rapid survey of the troops, and a firm, composed observation of his people, the Red Bird said — looking at Major Whistler — " I am ready." Then advancing a step or two, he paused, and added — " I HISTORY or TlIK 21) I wlu'ic tlie diroct liiiu lail.s, in tlio colliitcral clcscciit. Fciuiilc cliicl's are not at present known unionjf tlicni, alUioii^h Carver states, that when he visited this tribe, in 17G7, a queen wa.s al tlicir head, and exereised her authority witli nuich stati', and without opposition. It is certainly a sinj^ular inconsistency in human nature, that rn(h! do not wish to be put in irons. Let me In' free. I have fjiveu my lili' — it is gone, (.stoojiing dowti and taking some diisi between IjIs linger and thnnd), and blowing it away,) Hke ibis — (eyeing ibe dnst as ii fell and vanisbed out -jj' liis sight.) I would nut have it back. It is gone." lie then tliiew bis liands behind him, to indie ite that he was leaving all things behind him, and niarehed uj) to Major VVhistl jr, breast to breast. A jjlaloon was wijeeied baekwaids from the centre of tl e line, when, .Major Whistler stepiiing aside, ihe Ited lliiil and We-kaw march. -d tlirmn^h the line, in ch.uge of a file oi' men, lo a tent that had been provided in ll. ' ar, over wbich a guard was set. 'I'be ennirades ol the two cai)tives then left the ground by the way they Inul come, taking with them our advice, and a supply of meat and dour. I will now describe, as well as I can, Wc-/caw, Ihe miserable, butcher-looking being who continued by lied Bird. lie is, in idl respects, ihe opposite of the lied Bird ; and you will make out the ])oiiils of comparison by this rule : Never was there before, two luwnan beings, brought together for the same crime, who looked so totally unlike each other, lied Bird seemed a |)riiu'e, anil lit lo command, and worthy to be obeyed ; but We-kaw looked as if he was born to be lianged. Meagre, cold, diily in his dress and jierson, and crooked in form — like the starved wolf, gaunt, and hungry, and blood-thirsty — his wliole appearance indicates the exisiL'ice of a sjiirit, wary, cruel, and treacherous ; and there is no room left, after looking at him, for piiy. This is the man who could scalp a child no more than eleven months old, and cut it across the back of its neck to the bone, and leave it, bearing off its fine lock's, to suffer and die upon ihe floor, near its murdered father! But his hands, and crooked and miserable looking fingers, had been wet, often, with blood before. The Red Bird does not appear to be over thirty — yet he is said to be over forty. We-kaw looks to be over forty-fire, and is. perhaps, that old. I shall see, on ray arrival at the Prairie, the scene of these butcheries; and 292 INDIAN TRIBES OF NOllTH AMERICA. and uncivili/cd people, who hold women in contempt, and assign to tla'Hi the performance of all those duties which arc least honoral)lo and most laborious, should yet admit them to the exercise of civil authority in supreme or subordinate situations.* The custom iiia\- have originated in another and more advanced state of society, and may have survived the wreck in which tlieir early history has perished. The Southern Indians are consolidated into four great families, t!ie Creeks, the Cherokees, the Chactaws, and Chicka.saws. The Catawbas, and many other tribes, once scattered over the country from North Carolina to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, a-i I iiiav write you upon all the points of my tour that may have any interest, I will introduce you to that. The child, I forgot to say, by tlie latest account.s, yet lives, and promises to survive tlie wounds on its head and neck. The widow of Gagnier is also there, and I shall get the whole story from lier own m 'Uth, and then shall, doubtless, get it truly. You shall have it all, and a thousand things besides, thai, when I left home, I never expected to realize — but once entered upon the scenes I have passed, there was no giving back. I see no danger, I confess, especially now ; but my way is onward, and I shall go. I write in haste, and have only time to add the assurance of my friendship. THO.MAS L. McKENNEY. The Red Bird and We-kaw were delivered over to General Atkinson, who commanded the expedition from Jefferson Barracks. lie arrived with hisci,m- niand at the portage, by way of the Ouisconsin, two days after the surrender. Tiie prisoners were conveyed to Prairie du Chicn. The Red Bird died in prison. We-kaw and others, who were taken as accomplices in the murder, were tried and convicted, but became the subjects of executive clemency — the President, Mr. Adams, extending a pardon to them. We remember, in 18:20, to have seen admitted into a council, at Fnnd-du- lac Superior, an aged woman, but she sat there as the repn-sentativc of her husband, whose age and blindness prevented his attendance. HISTORY OF THE 293 are now either extinct, or so ncrirly extinct, that any investigation into their condition would be inconsistent with the object we have in view— which is, an exhibition of the actual state of tlie Indian tribes at the present day. Nor is it easy to trace the history and progress of the declension and extinction of these Indians, or their incorporation into the other communities which yet survive so much of what has perished in our aboriginal memorials. The materials that have reached us are not satisfactory. The early French travellers and historians furnish us with the most valuable information on these subjects. If they did not examine them with more severity, they were more careful to record their observations, and by the facility of intercourse with the Indians, better enabled to collect them. With the southern tribes, however, their inter- course was not extensive^ and the accounts which they have left us of tlieir history and condition are meagre and unsatisfactory. Adair, an English trader, published a book purporting to be a history of the four southern tribes, or, rather, it was published for him ; and if human ingenuity had been taxed to compile a work, which, in a large compass, should contain tlie least possible informa- tion respecting the subject aljout which it treats, we might be well satisfied with Adair's quarto. He sees in the Indians the descend- ants of the Jews ; and, blind to the thousand physical and moral proofs adverse to this wild theory, he seizes upon one or two casual coincidences, and, with an imagination which supplies every thing else, he furnishes his reader with his speculations. Over this region, and among the predecessors, or ancestors of some of these tribes, De Soto rambled, with his followers, in pursuit of gold, if the narrative of his expedition be not as fabulous the El Dorado he was seeking. How precious would be a judicious and faithful account of the Indians, written almost during the life- time of Columbus, by a n-,an of observation and candor, travelling, as is computed in the hist«iry of this expedition, more thau riv(! thou- sand miles in the country ; and occupied in this journey nearly live 29i INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. years! And proceeding in a direction, eighteen hundred miles north of the point of debarkation — six hunch'cd miles north of Lake Su])erior. For this is the grave calculation made from a reduction of the courses and distances given by De la Vega, the historian of the expedition. It were a waste of time to indulge in speculations, as some sensible men have done, respecting the causes which have depopulated these regions, '■'■ filled with great towns, always within viefv of each other .'" Of all the exaggerations to which the aim sacra fames of the Spa- niards has given birth in the New World, this narrative is the gross- est. It is utterly unworthy of a moment's serious consideiation. All that it records is wholly inconsistent with the institutions and re- sources, and not less so with every authentic account which has come down to us. The Creeks now occupy a tract of country in the eastern part of Alabama. Many of them, however, have already removed west of the Mississippi, and others are preparing to follow. From present aj)pearances, it is probable they will, ere long, follow the same route. Their whole niunbers are estimated at twenty thousand. The Seminoles, and the remains of otiier broken tribes, allies or confederates of the Creeks, and identified with them in manners and feelings, occupy a reservation in Florida, and number among their population about four thouisand individuals. The Creeks were so called by the English, because their country was watered and intersected by numerous small .streams, along which these Indians were situated. They have long been known as a powerful and restless confederacy, and their sway formerly extended over much of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. The prin- cipal and original band, the Muskogee, which in their own language now gives name to the whole nation, claim to have always inhabited the country now occupied by them. As other tribes became re- duced in numbers and power, either by the preponderance of the Muskogee, or by other causes, they joined that band, and have, in HISTORY OF THE 295 proL'i'ss of time, hecoinc, in some measure, though not altogether, a lioinogeneous i)eo|)le. The most extraordinary among these, both as to their history, their institutions, and their fate, were the Natchez. Originally planted upon the Mississippi, near the present town of that name, if the accounts which have been given of their condition and manners can l)e relied on, almost all the features they present mark a, striking diilerence between them and all the other Indians who are known to us. Some of these we shall lay before our readers; and without giving full credit to the whole account, there yet can be no doubt that some peculiar characteristics prevailed amoiig them. It is a curious and interesting topic. The Natchez are said to have been luunerous and powerful. Their principal chief was called the Great Sim, and the subordinate chiefs, suus. Their government, unlike the pure democracies, or rather the no- government of the other tribes, was strong, and even despotic. The Great Sun was an object of reverence, and almost veneration, and exercised unlimited power during his life; and in death, he was attended by a numerous band, who had been devoted to him from birth, and who were immolated on his shrine. Tlie government was hereditary; but, as with the Wyandots, and some of the other tribes, the succession was in the female line, from uncle to nephew The members of the reigning family were not allowed to intermarry with one another ; but divorces were permitted at will, and liber- tinism fully indulged. The sun was the great object of religious adoration, and in their temples a perpetual fire was burning. Guardians were appointed foi the preservation of this fire, and heavy penalties were prescribed for neglect. All this, and much more that is related of this people, by respectable authors, some of them eye-witnesses, is so dilFercnt from all around ihem, that, if the leading facts are true, the Natchez must have been an insu- lated tribe upon the continent, deriving their origin from a different stock. The final catastrophe, which closed their history and their inde- 29 C INDIAN TRIHES OF NORTH AMERICA. pendcncc, is indicative of their fierce and indomitable spirit. Tlie tyrannical conduct of a Frcncli commandant of the port of Natchez led to a conspiracy for the destruction of their oppressors. The French were surprised, and almost the whole settlement, amount- ing to seven hundred persons, massacred. When the hitelligence reached New Orleans, a formidable expedition was organized against tlicse Indians, and all the warriors of the neighboring tril)es invited to accompany it. The Natchez defended themselves with desperate valor; but, in the end, were utterly overthrown. Their Great Sun, with many of their principal men, were trans- ported to St. Domingo, and sold into slavery, and the tribe itself disappeared from histor}-. There are, among the Creeks, the remains of a tribe known as the Ucliees, the remnant of one of these dispersed, or conquered bands— tradition says they were conquered. Although forming part of the Creelt tribe, and enjoying, in common with it, its honors ^nd profits, such as they are, they speak a language entirely dis- similar, and wholly their own. The Cherokees own a district of country, which extends into North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. That portion of the tribe that remains east of the Mississippi, contains about nine thousand persons. Those who have emigrated to the west of that river, and are now situated west of Arkansas and Missouri, amount to about six thousand. The principal emigration has taken place since 1817. Tiiis tribe, when first known to the French, resided in the country between Lalce Erie and the Ohio. The causes which led to their emigration from that region can only be conjectured ; but there is little doubt it was owing to the victorious career of the Iroquois : and that it occurred about the period when the Shawanese were driven to the same quarter. After the settlement of the Southern States, the Cherokees, insti- gated by the French, displayed, for many years, the most deter- HISTORY OF THE 297 iiiiuod hostility, aud kept the frontiers in a state of constant alarm and danger. Formidable exertions were required, from time to time, to check this spirit; nor was it fully accomplished until the near approach of the revolutionary troubles. The language of the Clicrokees, so far as we are actjuainted with it, is radically different in its words from that of any other tribes. In its general structure, however, it closely resembles the dialects spoken by our Aviiole aboriginal family. The Chactaws reside in the State of Mississippi, and are com- puted at twenty thousand persons. They have recently ceded their entire country east of the Mississippi to the United States, and are removing to the west of that river. The Chicka.saws, numbering about three thousand si.v hundred, inhabit the northern part of Mississippi, and the north-western corner of Alabama. These two tribes speak dialects of the same language, and aro evidently branches of the same family. There is nothing in their condition or history which requires a more particular notice, except tlint they, together with the Cherokees, Creeks, and Seminolcs, having outlived the game, have ceased, from necessity, to be hunters. They derive such subsistence as their manner of life, and general abandonment of portions of these tribes to ardent spirits will permit, from the soil. There is a good deal of indi- vidual comfort enjoyed, and an exception, in such cases, from the common plague of drunkenness, particularly among the Cherokees and Chickasaws, which is found, also, though not to the same extent, among the Chactaws. There is nothing in the condition of individual families that could lead us to hope for any improve- ment am . the Creeks and Seminoles. The annuities derived from the Government, under treaties with them for cessions of their lands, are the main dependence of these latter tribes ; and these, it is found necessary, sometimes, to pledge a year in advance, for corn to subsist upon. We merely observe, in regard to the Chactaws, 38 298 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. that the custom of flattening the heads of infants formerly prevailed among them. The Chcrokees appear to be a homogeneous tribe, originating in a different region from the one now occupied by them. The other three southern tribes have been more or less formed by the admix- ture of dispersed, or conquered bands; and we have no evidence of their migration from any other quarter. Tliey all, however, in general characteristics, resemble the othsr great branches of their race. Circumstances may occasionally impress some peculiar fea- ture upon different tribes, but in the whole extent of their manners, customs, institutions, and opinions, there is nothing which can pre- clude the idea of their comn\on origin. Lntterly the southern tribes have excited more than common observation ; and the critical state of tlieir affairs has directed much of the public attention to them. Their reputed improvements in the elements of social life, and the attempt made by some of thciu to establish independent governments, have led to the belief with many, that the crisis of their fate is passed, and tliat a new era is before them. If they can be induced to pursue the course recom- mended by their best friends, and flee from the vicinity of the white settlements, and establish themselves permanently beyond the Mis- sissippi, and the Government will accompany them with the means of protection and improvement, this hope may be realized — if not, they will but follow the fate of too many of the tribes that have gone before them. Such is a general view of the past condition, and present situation, of the various tribes of Indians who occupy any portion of the terri- tory of the United States, east of the Mississippi, or who have passed that great barrier, and sought, in the immense plains of the west, a land of refuge and of safety. The great outlines of their character are easily delineated. In all their essential features, tlicy are now what they were at the discovery. Indolent and improvi- dent, they neither survey the wants of the future, nor provide foj HISTORY OF THE 299 I'i • ii. The men are free, and the women are slaves. They are r>'str.iincd by no moral or religious obligations, but willingly yield llieinsclvcs to the fiercest passions. Lost in the most degrading- suporstition, they look upon nature with a vacant eye, never in- (luiring into the causes, or the consequences of the great revolutions of nature, or into the structure or operations of their own minds. Their existence is essentially a physical one, limited to the grati- fication of tL?ir appetites, and the indulgence of their passions. Mental or moral improvement is not embraced by a single desire for the one or the other. As the only occupations of the men are war and hunting, their early discipline, and their habitual exertions, are directed to these pursuits; and as their faculties are confined within narrow limits, they acquire an ardor, intensity, and power, unknown in a different state of society. Marvellous tales are related of the sagacity with which the Indians penetrate the forest, [)urNuing their course with unerring skill and precision, and taking all their measures with a precaution which leaves little to accident. Ill this application of their powers, they resemble many of the inferior animals, which, by some mysterious process, are enabled to return to places whence they have been taken, although every effort may have been made to deceive them. The Indians observe, accurately, the face of the country, the courses of the streams, the weather-beaten sides of the trees, and every other permanent land- mark which can guide them through the world of the forest. And after all due allowance for exaggeration, enougli of sober truth will remain to e.xcite our surprise at the almost intuitive sagacity dis- pl lyed by these rude hunters in the toils of tli^ chase. The splen- dor of victory is in due proportion to the slaughter of their enemy, and in an inverse proportion to their own loss ; and it is a point of honor with all the leatlers of the war parties, to bring back as many braves, or warriors, as possible. How terrible they are to a van- (|uished and prostrate foe, the whole history of our warfare with them but too mournfully tells. They neither expect m^rcy nor 300 INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA. yield it. Their solicitude for the preservation of life too often degcner.ates into rank cowardice. But when escape is impossible, and the hour of trial comes, they meet their fate with a heroic forti- tude, which would not di^ihonor the siernest martyr of civil or religious freedom that ever went from the stake to l)is reward. Tiieir conduct in this appalling extremity has been the theme of wonder and description since they themselves have been known to us. All that is contemptuous in expression is poured upon theii enemies ; all that is elevated in feeling is given to their country ; all that concerns life, its joys, or terrors, is cast behind them like a worthless thing. From infancy they have looked forward to this hour of suffering and triumph us a possible event. They have licard of it in the stories of the old, and in the songs of the young. They have seen it in the triumphant death of many a fierce captive enemy, whose song of defiance has been stimulated by the impulse of his own heart. So far as natural affections depend upon natural instinct, they participate with us, as well as with the brute creation, in their enjoy- ment. We do not, of course, sjieak now of those half, or entirely civdized families, upon whose minds and hearts education and social advantages have shed their influence, but of the Indian, as such ; to him who owes nothing to culture, and but little to habit. It is idle to suppose that he feels and cherishes those kindly emotions of the heart, which transport us beyond the magic circle of self, and give us the foretaste of another existence. Their hospi- tality is more the hospitality of improvidence than of feeling. The kettle of the Indian, while he has any thing to put in it, is always on the fire, filled with victuals for his family, and for all who entei his wigwam. AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. BY JAMES HALL. PART FIRST. The North American Indians, when discovered by the Europeans, were a race of saA'ages, who had made no advances whatever towards civilization. They dwelt in the wilderness, subsisted by hunting, and had no permanent dwellings. They were lodged either in portable tents, or in huts made of bark, or earth; and had no houses, or other edifices, constructed of durable materials ; nor any towns, or stationary places of residence ; their villages being mere encampments, at spots of occasional or habitual resort. They had no governments, or national organization ; being divided into fami- lies, or tribes, who were independent of each other, and portions of whom occasionally united together fo a season, to resist a common danger, or to join in the rites of a common superstition. They had no industry : produced nothing by labor, except a few vegetables for present use ; possessed no trade, nor commerce ; and, of course, no (301) 302 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF nioncv, nor otlier medium of exchange. Tlicy kc[)t no donieslio animals, nor had they any property, except in their arms and nide canoes. We have no evidence that tliey entertained any defuiito ideas of a future state, or of a Supreme Being; and althoiigli ihcy had many vague notions of supernatural beings, and of anotlif'r state of existence, yet we are certain that they [jrofesscd no com- mon faith, nor exercised any general form of religion. Each tribe had some shadowy superstitious, scarcely credited by themselves, and which, we are inclined to believe, seldom outlived the genera tions in which they were conceived. They made nothing, the^ erected nothing, they established nothing, which might vindicate, to succeeding generations, their character as rational beings ; and thoy seein to have been distinguished from the brute creation hy little else than the faculty of speech, and the possession of reason- ing powers, which appear scarcely to have been exercised. Still, they were human beings, as much entitled to the sympathy of man- kind, as if their claims to respect had been greater; and their condition and history present curious subjects of inquiry to the philosopher and philanthropist. Much curiosity has been excited in regard to the origin of this people, and many ingenious attempts have been made to trace theii des(;eut from some of the existing nations of Europe and Asia. All these theories have proved fallacious, and we speak the common sentiment of all rational inquirers on this subject, when we asseri that no fact has been discovered, which would lead to a just inference, that the Aborigines of North America have, at any time, been more civilized than '.hey are at present; or whicli would render it even probable, that they are a branch of any existing people more civilized tlian themselves. The more reasona])le opinion is, that they are a primitive people, a distinct branch of the human family, separated from the common stock at some remote period, in pursuance of the same inscrutal)le decree of Providence which set apart the ni>gro from tlie white man. !Io\v THE NORTH A.MKRICAN INDIANS. 303 llicy r,;urio to this continent cannot now be told ; time luis eirarcd tlio footsteps of the progenitors of tlie nice; and it woidd he as iuipossil)le now to trace out their j)ath, as it wonhl Ije to unfold the slid moH! mysterious act of the hand of God, which peopled the islands of the ocean. In the course of these inquiries, much stress has been laid upon the <1iscovery of certain works of art, which some have supposed to 1)0 the remains of a people more civili/i'd than the present race of Indians, while others believe them to have been constructed by this race, in a higher state of cultivation, from which they have since receded. We think these theories equally defuclive, IVoni the obvious consideration, that there is not evinced, in the construction of any of these works, a degree of skill beyond that of which the present Indian is capable. There is no mechanical skill whatever, no mathematical knowledge, nor any great display of ingenuity, evinced in any of them. They are, for the most part, comj)osed of loo.se earth, heaped up in huge piles, more remarkable for their volume than their form or structure. No wood nor metal has been found in them ; and in the few instances where stone has been discovered, it has not borne the impress of any tool, while the remains of masonry have been so problematical, as not to afford the evidence upon vvhich any hypothesis could be safely founded. The mounds scattered profusely over the great central plain of the Mississippi, have attracted attention chiefly on account of their number and size ; and, it has been plausibly argued, that the present race of Indians, with their known indolence and aversion to labor, and their ignorance of all tools and machinery, would never have submitted to the toil requisite for so great a work. But this argument is insufficient. In order to appreciate the laborious- ness of this work, it would be necessary to ascertain the numbers engaged in it, and the time employed in its completion. If we suppose that these mounds were burying-places ; that the bones of the dead were de|)osited on the ground, and earth brought in small 804 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTOHY OF jiiirccis fniin llio surroiiiidiiitr sui'lai'c and licniicd over tlicni, nnd tliat siiiHTssivo liiyors wore d(•l)(l^dtl•(l IVoiii time to liiiu', oiio aliove llie other, it will ho seen that the acciiriuilatioii inijfht oventiially be ^'reat, though the lal)or would be gradually hoatowcd, and tiio toil almost imperceptible. Wlien we consider the teiuleney of all communities to adhere tenaciously to burial-places, consecrated liy long use, it will not be tho\iglit strange that savages, however erratic in their lialnts, should contiiuic to bury their people, at the same spots, through many successive generations. Supposing this to have been the process, these mounds may have been growing through many successive ages, and neither their niunber nor their bulk would be matter of surprise. We have an example in our own times to justify the belief that such was their practice. Blaciv Uird, a celebrated chief of the Mahas, was buried, by his own directions, on an euiinencc overlooking the Missouri River. lie was seated on his favorite horse, dressed, painted, and armed, as if prepared for war, and the horse and man being i»laced on the surface of the ground, in the erect posture of lite, the earth was heaped up around them until hoth were covered. A consideraljle mound would be made l)y this single interment; and is it impro- bal)le, that a spot thus signalized, would, in after generations, be sought by those who would desire to place the remains of their relatives under the guardianship of the spirit of !i great warrior? It is worthy of remark, that these moimds are usually- found in places suitable for the sites of towns ; and we think that the largest mounds, and the most numerous groups, always exist in tli(\ most fertile tracts of country, and on the borders of rivers. These are the points at which the productions of nature, suitalile for food, would l)e most abundant, and where savage hordes would natm-allv congregate, during the inclemency of tlie winter .season. At some of these ])laces, the evidences of former habitation still remain ; but many of them are on the open prairie, covered with long grass, and exhibiting no sign of recent population, while others are THE NOinil A.NrHRICAN INDIANS. 805 coiicciilcil ill llic tiiiij^lcil loi'csl, in all ils prisliiic liixnriimi'o, :iim1 ovcrifrowii willi (rrciit trcos, whoso iv^rs m;iy he ('(iiiiiHilcd bv con- lufics. 'i'licy arc, tlicn'forc, of i^iviit niitiiiiiity , jukI wliilc wn hclii'Vi' tliiit, !imonLrree of skill evinced in their construction. Tliat they were niihiary defences, well adapted to the purpose for which lliey were intendcMl, and exhibitinsx much intjenuity, are points which may lie conceded ; but some, whose opinions are entided to irreat respect, have main- tained further, that these works exhibit a knowledsre of the science of eniTiiicerinff, as applied in modern warfare, far l)eyond the pov/ers of combination and extent of knowledrro, of any savase people, and which prove tliem to he the production of a more civilized people. We think these inferences are more plausil)le than just. The discoverers of North America found tlie villaojes of tlie Indians surrounded by stockades, and there is scarcely a delinea- tion of an Indian town to be found in any old book, in which there is not a representation of some form of exterior defence. This fact show , that, like their descendants, they lived on such terms with their neiffhbors, as made it necessary for them to be continually on their Gruard against surprise ; and, although their habits may have been those of a wanderinurse with the whites, cannot be ascertained with certainty, but we have data from which to draw conclusions. The earliest accounts of the Indians represent them as being, intellectuallv, what they now arc. They had no art then which they have not now ; nor has any trace been found of any art which they once possessed, and 4iave since lost. The pressure "of the whites has driven them from the sea-coasts to the great plains of the West, and some change must have residted from the difference in the character of the country, and modes of procuring food. The use of the horse, of fire-arms, and of other weapons of metal, has not been without effect. Mounted on this noble animal, they now overtake the buffalo, and procure abundant supplies of food. The gun has added wonderfully to the facility of hunting, and their military tactics must have been entirely changed. They are proud and fearless riders, delighting in the chase, in horse-racing, and in all exercises in which that animal is the instrument or companion of man. The introduction of ardent spirits has done much to deprave and enfeeble the Indian ; and the prevalency of the small-pox and other diseases communicated by the whites, has thinned their luun- bers with fearful havoc. With these few exceptions, there seems to l)e little change in their character, or condition, since the dis- covery. The moral effects of their intercourse with the whites, we shall consider more fully in another place. Of the two parties that were brought into contact by the discovery of North America, it may be remarked, that they stood on the opposite extremes of refinement and barbarism ; the North Ameri- can savage not having advanced a single step in civilization, while tlie European possessed all the learning, the cultivation, and the mechanical ingenuity of the age ; the one was a heathen, the other enjoyed the Christian faith in the purest form in which it then THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 81.1 existed. It may not be unintcrestinrcoursc with every other people is humane, enlightened, just — having its foundations fastened upon the broad basis of reciprocity, we shrink with horror from the Indian, spurn him .'!12 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF from our firesides and altars, and will not suffer the ermine of our ju(lg(>s to be tarnished by his presence? Why is it, that wliile nearly all the world is united, as it were, in one great and concen- trated effort to spread the light of knowledge, to burst the shackles of superstition, to encourage industry, and to cultivate the gentle and domestic virtues, one little remnant of the human family stands unaffected Iiy the general amelioration, a dark and lonely monu- ment of irretrievable ignorance and incorrigible ferocity ? It is in the hope of answering some of these (piestions that this discussion is attempted ; and, in order to arrive at a successful result, it is necessary to go back beyond our own times, and to examine events in which we are not immediately concerned as a people. If we refer to the earliest intercourse between the existing Christian nations and the barbarous tribes, in difTercnt quarters of the world, we find the disposition and conduct of the latter to have been, at first, timid and pacific, and that the first breaches of harmony arose out of the aggressions committed by the former. When, therefore, we speak of our present relations with them, as growing out of necessity, and as resulting from the faithlessness and ferocity of the savage character, we assume a j)osition whicli is not supported 1)}'^ the facts. That a great allowance is to be niiule for tlie disparity between civilized and savage nations, is true ; and it is ecpially true, that the same degree of confidence and cordiality cannot exist between them as between nations who aclviiowledge xi common religious, moral, and international code, which operates equally upon both parties. But this does not preclude all confidence, nor prove the Indian destitute of moral virtue and mental capacity. On the contrary, it must be admitted, that the Indians in» their primitive state possessed a higher moral character than now belongs to them, and that they have been degraded, in some degree, by their intercourse with civilized men ; and we ought, in all our dealings with them, to endeavor to atone THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. ■61} for tlie injury done to them, and to human nature, ]ty our drjiarturc from Christian principles, and to hring them l)ack to a state of happiness and respectability, at least equal to that in which we found them. In establishing these positions, we do not design to cast any imputation upon our own Government, nor will it 1k' necessary. The great mistakes in policy, and the monstrous crimes committed against the savage races, to wliich we jjropose to allude, were perpetrated by almost all civilized niitions before our own had any existence; and no criminality can atltich to us for a state of things in the creation of which we had no agency. We know of no deliberate act of cruelty or injuslicc towards the tribes, with which we are chargeable as a people. On tlie con- trary, our policy has been moderate and just, and distinguished, as we shall .show, by a spirit of benevolence. It is true, however, that this spirit has been misdirected, and that, \vith the very Ix'st intentions, we have done great wrong to the Aborigines, to our- selves, and to humanity. We shall first show how other nations have acted towards the savage tribes, what have been the examples set to us, and how far those examples have influenced our conduct. The first discoverers were the Portuguese. Under Don Ilenrv, a prince, in point of knowledge and liberal feeling, a century in advance of tlie age in which he lived, this people pushed their discoveries into the Canary Islands, the continent of Africa, and tlie East Indies. They were received with uniform kindness by the natives, who regarded them as a superior race of beings, iuid were willing to submit implicitly to their authority. Had the Europeans of that day, and their descendants, cultivated an amicable understanding with these simple heathens, and rigidly adhered to a system of good faith and Christian forbearance, there is no calculating the advantages that might have ensued ; nor is it to be doubted that those ignorant and confiding tribes would have yielded themselves, with hardly a struggle, to the 40 ;u AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF tfncliing of their more intelligent and powerful neighbors. Bwi so far from making the slightest effort to estal)lish friendly relations with the savages, the very earliest discoverers exhibited a pro- pensity for wanton mischief towards them, more characteristic of (lemons than of men, and which rendered thorn, and the religion they professed, so odious, that the benevolent exertions of statesmen and Christians since that time have wholly failed to eradicate the deeply rooted prejudices so injudiciously and wickedly excited. Among a simple race, who viewed their visitors with superstitious reverence as creatures more than human, there must have been a mortifying revulsion of feeling, when they discovered in those atlmired strangers all the vices and wantonness which disgraced the rudest barbarians, joined to powers which, they imagined, were possessed only by the gods. " Their dread and amazement was raised to the highest pitch," says Lafiteau, " when the Europeans fired their cannons and guns among them, and they saw their companions fall dead at their feet without any enemy at hand, or any visible cause of their destruction." Alluding to these transactions. Dr. Johnson remarks — " On what occasion, or lor what purpose, muskets were discharged among a people harmless and secure, hy strangers, who, without au)'^ right, visit(^d their coast, it is not thought necessary to inform us. The Portuguese could fear nothing from tliem, and had, tlierefore, no adciiuate provocation; nor is there any reason to believe but that th y murdered the Negroes in wanton merriment, perhaps only to try bow many a volley would destroy, or what would be the con- sternation of those that should escape. We are openly told, that lliey had the less scruple concerning their treatment of the savage people, because thei/ scarcely considered them as distinct from tjriitcs ; and indeed the practice of all European nations, and among others of the English barbarians that cultivate the southern islands of America, proves that this opinion, however absurd and foolish, however wicked and injurious, still continues to prevail." THE NORTH AMERICAN INDI \NS. 815 "By these practices the first discoverers aUenatcd tlio natives from them ; and whenever a ship appeared, every one that could fly betook himself to the mountains and the woods, so that nothinj? was to be got more than they could steal; they sometimes sur- prised a few fishers and made them slaves, and did what they could to offend the natives and enrich themselves." — [Introduction to the World Displayed.) These events commenced about the year 1392, which is the date of the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by the Portuguese. Chivalry was at its zenith about the same time. It was an age of moral darkness and military violence. Tamerlane, the Tartar, was reigning in Persia, and Margaret, the Semiramis of the North, in Denmark. It was the age of Gower and Chaucer, the fathers of English poetry, and of Harry Percy, the celebrated Hotspur. About the same time, Wickliffe, the morning star of the Reforma- tion, had made the first English translation of the Bible, and IIuss and Jerome of Prague began to publish their doctrines. By keeping these facts in mind, we shall be at no loss to account for a course of conduct on the part of the Portuguese towards the Africans, differing but little from the intolerance, the deception, and the wanton barbarity, which distinguished the intercourse of European nations with each other. In 1492 Columbus gave a new world to European curiosity, avarice, and despotism. It would be vain to attempt to follow the Spanish conquerors in their desolating progress through the islands and continent of America. Like the Portuguese, they were kindly received ; like them, they repaid kindness with cruelt}'. Their footsteps were dyed with blood — violence and lust marked all their actions. Men seemed to be transformed into ministers of darkness, and acted such deeds in real life as the boldest and darkest imagi- nation has never ventured to suggest in fiction, or even in poetic phrenz3\ Bearing the cross in one hand, and the sword in the other, combining liigotry with military rapine, and the thirst for 816 AN ESSAY ON TIIK HISTORY OF gol.l witli the lust for power, they united in one vast scliomc all the most terrible engines and worst incentives of crime. We do not know that there is to he found in history n recital more touch- ing lluin the account of the conquest of Mexico by Cortes, or than that of Peru by Pizarro. In each of these instances the conquerors were at first received with hospitality by their confiding victims. They each found an amiable people, possessing many of the .social arts, living happily under a government of their own choice, and practising fewer of the unnatural rites of superstition than com- monly prevailed among the heathen. 'I'hc discovery and invasion of Mexico by the Spaniards, under Hcrnan Cortes, occurred in the sixteenth century, and liie Euro- peans were not a little surprised at the greatness of the population and the splendor of the cities. The city of Mexico, exclusive of its suburbs, is said to have measured ten miles in circumference and c mtained, according to the Spanish writers, 00,000 houses. Dr. liobertson thinks it did not contain more than that number of inhubitanis ; but that point cannot now be settled, nor is it important. Enough is known to satisfy ns that the people had passed from the savage state, in which the subsistence of man is chiofl}' derived from fishing and hunting, and had congregated in large towns. They had a regular government, and a system of laws. The king lived in great state. " He had," says Cortes, " in this city of Mexico, such houses for his habitation, so deserving of admiration, that I cannot sufHciently express their grandeur and (!xcellence ; I shall therefore only say, there are none equal to them in Spain'' One of the Spanish leaders, who is styled tlio "Anonymous Conqueror," writes thus: — "There were beauti- ful houses belonging to the nobles, so grand and numerous in their apartments, with such admirable gardens to them, that the siglit of them filled us with astonishment and delight. I entered, from curiosity, four times into a palace belonging to Montezu na, and, having pervaded it until I was weary, I came away at last without THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 317 liaving seen it all. Aroimd a large court \hvy used to build sumptuous halls and chambers, but there was one above all so largo that it was capable of conlaining upwards of three thousand pcr.sons without the least inconvenience; it was such that in the gallery of it alone a little square was formed where thirty men on horseback might exercise." It is certain, from the aflirmatioa of all the historians of Mexico, that the army under Cortes, consisting of 6,400 men and upwards, including the allies, were all lodged in the palace formerly possessed by King Axajacath ; and there remained still sufficient lodging for Montezuma and his attendants. " There were," says Gomara, " many tcmiiles in the city of Mexico, scattered through the different districts, that had their towers, in which were the chapels and altars for the repositories of tbe idols." "All these temples had hou.ses belonging to them, their priests and gods, together with every thing necessary for their worship and service." Cortes says that he counted more than four hundred temples in the city of Cholula alone. They differed, however, in size ; some were mere terraces, of little height, upon which there was a small chapel for the tutelary idol — others were of stupendous dimensions. In speaking of one of these, Cortes declares that " it is difficult to describe its parts, its grandeur, and the things contained in it." It is certain that the Mexicans defended their cities by fortifica- tions, which indicated some advance in the military art ; they had walls, bastions, palisades, ditches, and entrenchments. They were very inferior, indeed, to those of Europe, because their knowledge of military architecture was imperfect; nor had they occasion to cover themselves from artillery, but they afforded sufficient proof of the industry and ingenuity of the people. Taking them altogether, the Mexicans had many high and estimable traits in their national character, and they probably enjoyed in social life as much happiness as is usually allotted to i^ !il8 AN ESSAY ON THK HISTORY OF man. Speaking of Lasciiltcca, a city of Mexico, Cortes says, "I was surprised at its size and inairnificenee. It is larger and stronger than Grenada, contains as many and as liandsome build- ings, and is much more populous than that city was at tlio time of its conrpicst. It is also much better supplied with corn, poultry, game, fresh water, fish, pulse, and excellent vegetables. There are in the market, each day, thirty thousand persons, including buyers and sellers, without mentioning the merchants and petty dealers dis])ersed over the city. In this market may be bought every necessary of life, clothes, shoes, feathers of all kinds, ornaments of gold and silver, as well wrought as in any part of the world ; various kinds of earthenware, of a superior quality to that of Spain; wood, coal, herbs, and medicinal plants. Here are houses for l)atlis, and places for washing and shearing goats; in short, this city exhibits great regularity, and has a good police; the inhabitants arc peculiarly neat, and far superior to the most industrious of the Africans." The city of Cholula is described by Bernal Diaz as "resembling Valladolid," and containing twenty thousand inhabitants. Both of these cities were of course vastly inferior to the city of Mexico; but it is not necessary to swell our pages by a labored attempt to ])rove the civilization of the Mexi- cans. If we except tlie single article of the Christian faith and the l^ible, in which the Spaniards had the advantage of them, we question whether they were not, immediately previous to their subjugation, in a higher state of civilization than their oppressors; ■whether they had not better practical views r f civil liberty, more iu.st notions of private right, and more of th.p. amiable propensities and softer virtues of life. Their laws were superior to those of the Greeks and Romans, and their magistrates more just. They punished with death their judges who passed a sentence that svas unjust or contrary to law, or who made an incorrect statement of any cause to the king, or to a superior magistrate, or who accepted a bribe. Any person who TiiK Noirni A>rF:RicAN Indians. ;ii!» altorod the measures cstiiljlislicd in tlicir iiiiirkcts nict uitli tlio samo punishment. Guardians wlio wasted th(! estates of their wards were punished capitally, Drunkenness in their youth was punished with death; in persons more advaneed in Hie, it was punished witK severity, thou<,di not eapitally. A nobleman who was guilty of this vice, was stripped of liis dignity, and rendered infamous; a plebeian was shaved and had his house dumolished. Their maxim was, that he who could voluntarily deprive himself of his senses, was unworthy of a habitation among men; but tiiis law did not extend to the aged, who were allowed to drink as much as they pleascul on their own responsibility. They had a good police, and excellent internal regulations. Couriers were maintained, by whom intelligence was regularly and rapidly transmitted. Their highways were repaired annually; in tlie mountains and uninhabited places there were houses erected for the accommodation of tnivellers ; and they had bridges and l)oats Ibr crossing rivers. The land was divided by appropriate boundaries, and owned by individuals, and the right of property in re'd, as well as personal estate, was thoroughly understood and ri'spected. Such is the character given to the Mexicans by those who assumed the right to plunder and oppress them, under the plea tlKit they were savages and heathens. After making due allow- ance for the exaggerations incident to such questionable testimony, enoxigh remains to show that this singular people were advanced far beyond mere barbarism ; and the recent discoveries by Mr. Stevens and others, place that question beyond all cavil. The subject is curious and highly interesting. Few are aware of the degree of civilization which existed among the Mexicans and South American nations previous to their confjuest by the Spa- niards — the intelligence, the kindness, the hospitality and respect able virtues of the natives, and the atrocious character of the marauders by whom they were despoiled and enslaved. ^ 320 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF Olio instance, m proof of these assertions, may be fonnd in tlie fascinating work of a distingnislied American writer, so affecting;, and strongly in point, that I cannot forbear alluding to it. Vasco \iinez, one of the most celebrated of the conquerors of New Spain, had been hospitably received by one of the native princes. "With the usual perfidy of his time and countrj', he made captives of the Cacique, his wives and children, and many of his people. He also discovered their store of provisions, and returned, with his captives and his booty, to Darien. When the unfortunate Cacique beheld his family in chains, and in the hands of strangers, his heart wa-^ wruns with despair: "What have I done to thee," said he to Vasco \unez, "that thou shouldest treat me thus cruelly? None of thv people ever came to my land, that were not fed and sheltered, and treated with kindness. When thou camest to my dwelling, did I meet thee with a javelin in my hand ? Did I not set meat and drink before thee, and welcome thee as a brother? Set ine fr; f therefore, with my people and family, and \:e will remain thy friends. We will supply thee with provisions, and reveal to thee the riches of the land. Dost thou doubt my faith? Beliold my daughter, I give her to thee as a pledge of m}' friendship. Take her for thy wife, and be assured of the fidelity of her family and people ! "^'asco \unez felt the power of these words, and knew the importance of forming a strong alliau'^e among tlie natives. The captive maid also, as she stood trembling and dejected before him, found ;5Teat favor in his eyes, for she was young and beautiful. Tie granted, therefore, the prayer of the Cacique, and accepted his daughter; engaging, moreover, to aid the father against his enemies, on condition of his furnishing provisions to the colony. "Careta (the Indian prince) remauied three days at Darien, during w. Ai time he was treated with the utmost kindness. \'a.sco \unez took him on board his ships and showed him every (ii'-t o! them. He displayed befo-c him, also, the war-hors,;<, with THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. .•!2l their armor and rich cni);u-isoiis, and astonished liim wifli the thunder of artillerj'. Lest he should be too much daunted hy these warlike spectacles, he caused the musicians to perform an harmonious concert on their instruments, at which the Cacique was lost in admiration. In us having impressed him with a wonderful idea of the power and endowments of his new allies, he loaded him with presents and permitted him to depart. "Careta returned joyfully to his territories, and his daughter remained with Vasco Nunez, n-ilUiujlij, for IIIS SAKE, giving up her family and her native home. They were never married, hut she considered hcfso'f as his wife, as she really was, according to the usages of her own country; and he treated her with fondness, allowing her gradually to acquire a great influence over him." — Irving. I envy not the man who can read this affecting passage without mingled emotions of admiration and pity. Who, in this case, di.splayed the vices of barbarians? Was it the daring marauder, who violated the rules of hospitality? Was it the generous chief, who opuiicd his heart and his house with confiding hospitality lo the military stranger — who, when betrayed, appealed to hi.s treacherous guest with all the manly simi-'licity of an honest lieart, mingled with the deep emotion of a bereaved parent and an insulted sovereign — and who, willi magnanimous patriotism, gave up his child, a young and beautiful maiden, to purchase the li crty of his people? Or was it the Indi ui maid, adorned with graces that could win the heart of that ruthless soldier, " willingly, lor his sake, giving up her family and native home," dis(diarging with devoted fidelity the duty of the most sucred relation in life, anil achieving, by her talents and feminine attractions, a comj)leto coiuiucst over her country's conqueror ? Shame on the abuse of l.iiguage that would call such a people savage, or their oppressors Christians ! At a much later period, and when the Christian world was far 41 wm^ 322 AN ESSAY ON THL IIISTOUY OF more culiylitoiuKl than in the days of Cortes, the Rritisli coiti- moucod their coiiqncsts in India ; yot \vc do not find the superior lij^lit tliey jKissessed, both religious and politieal, had any other ofFeet than to make tlicm more refilled in tlieir cruehies. 'I'hev aeted over again, in the East Indies, all the atroeities \vhi(;h had been perpetrated in New Spain, with this only dilTerenee, t at tliey did not preterul to plead the apology of religious fanaticism. The Spaniards attempted to impose on otiiers, and m:iy, possi!)l\-. ill souie instances, have imposed on themselves the belief, that they starved God in oppressing the lieathen; for their eoncpiests were made in an ago when such opinions were prevalent. But the "English barltarians," as Dr. Johnson call.s them, had no such notions; for some of their best patriots and soundest divines had lived previous to the concpiest of India, and the intellectual charac- ter of the nation was deeply imbued with the princi[)les of civil and religious liberty before that period. The hne of money and of dominion were their only incentives ; and they pillaged, tortured, murdered, and enslaved a people as civilized and as treutle as the Mexicans, witliout the shadow of an e.Kcuse. Millions of wealth have been poured into England, to enrich and adorn the land, to support the magnificence of the court, and to minister to the pleasures of a jjroud aristocracy, which were wrung from an unolFending people, by acts of violence and extortion no belter than jiirncy. The disclosures made before the IJritish Parliament at the trial of Warren Hastings justify these; assertions; and sul)se- quent events in India, China, and other j)arts of the East, exhil)it the same grasping and ruthless hijustice on the part of that uation. Need we pursue the navigato"s of these and other nations to tin^ diflerent (piarters of the globe, into which scientific curiosity, mercantile enterprise, and naval skill, have penetrated .' Such au investigation would but adtl \\^i\^ facts in support of the positions we have taken. Wo pause here, then, to incjuirc how it has hap;'ened, that THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 323 wherever the civilized Eiiropenn has j)lnccd his foot upon heatlien soil, he seems at once to have been transformed into a barbarian. All the refinements of civil'-'od life have been forgotten. His benevolence^ his sensibility, his high sense of honor, his nice l)erception of justice, his guarded deportment, his long habits of punctuality and integrity, are all thrown aside; and not only has he been less honest than the savage in his private dealings, but has far outstripped him in the worst propensities of human nature — in avarice, revenge, rapine, blood-thirstiness, and wanton cruelty. To the caprice of the savage, and that prodigality of life whicli dis- tinguishes men unaccustomed to the restraints of law, and the ties ;;f society, he has added the ingenuity of urt, and the insolence of ppv.-or. The lust of empire, and the lust of money, have given him incentives to crime which do not stimulate the savage ; anil his intellectual cultivation has furnished him with weapons of war and engines of oppression, which have been wielded with a fearful energy of purpose and a monstrous depravity of motive. Nor were the desperate adventurers, who led the van of dis- covery and conquest in heathen lands, alone implicated in the guilt of these transactions. They were sanctioned by llie throne and the church. The Pope formally delivered over tlic licallien into the hands of the secular power ; kings abandoned them to the niilitarv leaders ; and the nobles, tlie merchants, the wealthy and repui li 'i of all ranks, became partners in those nefarious enter - pi.;.-: , - "h'.irers in the pillage, and accessories in the murder of jii i. •:■■•' <.V/) .1 itions. We are struck with astonishment, when Ave see the ^ f 'pu: of countries professing the Christian faith, having social reguiatiop.s, and respecting a code of international law among thcmselver-, thus turned into ruthless depredators, and trampling under foot every niixim of ju.stice, human and divine. In searcliing out the moving causes of this apparently anomalous o|)eration of the human mind, we remark, in the first place, that the age of discovery was an age of ignorance. Few of the "real ■i^^KP^^T^ 324 .\N ESSAY ON THE HIS'lORY OF fountuins of liglit had been opened to pour out the flood of know- ledge which has since penetrated into every qnrirler of the globci and to disseminate the principles of conduct which now regulate the intercourse of men and of nations. In Europe, the great mass of the people — all of those whose united opinions make up what is called public sentiment — were alike destitute of moral culture; tlie ruler and the subject, the noble and the plebeian, the martial leader and tbe wretched peasant, were equally deficient in literature and science. All knowh i t was in tlio hands of the priests, and was by them perverted to tiif rding of their own selfish purposes. Tlie great secret of their ii>, once consisted in an ingenious con- cealment of all the sources of knowledge. The Bible, the only elevated, pure, and consistent code of ethics the world has ever known, Avas a sealed book to tlie jieople. The ancient classics were carefully \\ ithheld from the pidjlic e\'e ; and the few sciences which were at all cultivated, were enveloped in the darkness of the dead languages. No S3'st{!m coidd have been more ingenious or more successful, than thus to clothe the treasures of knowledge in languages diflicult of attainment, and accessible oidy to the high- born and wealthy — for, as the latter seldom undergo the labor of unlocking the stores of learning, and still less fre([uently teach to others what they htive acquired, such a sjstem amounted in practice to a monopoly of learning in the hands of the pri(;stliood. Not only were the people of that day destitu1(3 of education, but the intercourse of nations with each other, previous to the discovery of the mariner's compass, was extremel}' limited; and the wonder- l"ul facilities for <>ainin"' and diirusinyr intellitrence, afforded b\' the art of navigation, had just begun to operate in the days of Columbus and Cortes. 'I'lie little knowledge that existed was perverted and misapplied. AVliere there was little freedom of thought, and no general spirit of nuiuiry, [)recedenls were indiscriminately adojjled, however incon- sistent, and examples ijlindly followed, however wicked or absurd THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 32.- The scholar foiimi authority for every crime in the classics of heathen Greeks and Romans, wlio have left nothing behind tliem worthy of admiration, except a few splendid specimens of useful luxury and worthless refinement, and some rare fragments of magnanimity and virtue ; while their literature abounds in incen- tives to aml)ition, rapine, and oppression. The few who read the Scriptures wrested the precepts of revelation and the history of the primitive nations into authority for their own high-handed aggres- sions; and because distinctions were made between the Jews and till' Heathen by whom they were surrounded, ignorantly believed, or perversely maintained, that the same relation continued to exist between the true believer and the heretic, and that the latter " were given to them for an inheritance." The era now under contemplation was a martial age. Ambition expended all its energies in the pursuit of military glory; the fervors of genius were all conducted into this channel; and, con- liiicd in every other direction, burst forth, like a volcano, in the llame and violence of military achievement. Tlie only road to fame or to preferment led across the battle-field ; the hero waded to power through seas of blood, or strode to allluence over the carcasses of the slain; and they who sat in high places, were accustomed to look upon carnage as a necessary agent, or an unavoidable incident to greatness. The people every where were a-customed to scenes of violence. The riglit of conqi^est was universally acknowledged, and success was the criterion of merit. Private rights, whether of person or property, were little under- stood, and generally disregarded; and national justice, in any enlarged sense, was neither practised nor professed. Certain chiv- alrous courtesies there were, practised among the military and the high-l)orn, and gleams of magnanimity occasionally flashed out amid the gloom of anarchy, but they afforded no steady light. They were the grim civilities of warriors, or tlie formal politeness of the great, which did not pervade the mass of the people, and wm9m 32« AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF toiiil«il not to refine the age, nor to soften iho asperities ol oppression. It was an age of intolerance, bigotry, superstition, and eccle siastical despotism ; when those who reguUited the minds and consciences of men, were persons of perverted taste, intellect, and morals; men who lived estranged from societ}-, aliens from its business, strangers to its domestic relations, its noblest virtues, and its kindest affections. It was, in short, the age of the inquisi- tion and the rack, when opinioiis were regulated by hiw, and enforced by the stake and the sword, and when departures from established dogmas were punished by torture, disfranchisement, and death. Under such auspices commenced the intercourse between civil- ized and savage men ; and, unfortunatel}', the pioneers who led the waj" in the discovery and cojjnization of new countries, were, witli a few bright exceptions, the worst men of their time — the soldier, the mariner, the desperate seeker after gokl — men inured to cruehy and rapine, and from whose codes of religion, morality, and law, imperfect as they were, the poor heatlen was entirely excluded. We shall not dwell in detail on the facts to wliicli we have briefly alluded. It would req^jiro volumes tu record the unjjro- voked cruelties perpetrated b}^ civilized upon savage men. The lawless invasion of Mexico by Cortes; the horrid atrocities of the ruilian Pizarro, acted in Peru ; the long series of robberies and bloodshed perpetrated by the British in India ; the dreadful scenes of the slave trade; the track of carnage, and the maledictions of t lie heathen, which have marked the discoveries of the European in every quarter of the globe, are but loo familiar to every reader of history. It is obvious that the first aggression was almost in- variably committed l)y the wliites, who have continued to be, for tlie most i)art, the offending party; yet history does not afford the slightest evidence that any ])ublic disajiprobatioii was manifested, either by the governments or the people of those countries, whose THE NORTH AMERICAN IND'IANS. 827 ndvcntiircrs were overrunning tlie uncivilized piirts of tlic world, in search of plunder, and in the perpetration of every species of cnorniifv. A classic hatred of ijarharians, a hoiv zeal auainst unhehevers, animated all classes of society, and sanctioned every ontrnsre which was inllicted, in the name of relii-ion or civilization, by coniinissioneil frcel)ooters, upon the unoffending inhabitants of newly discovered regions. In the discovery and settlement of North America, the conduct of the whites was fn- less hlameable th;in in tiie instances to wliich W{! have alluded; still, it was aggressive, and productive of the most un]i;i])py consequences. We propose to touch on some of the pronu'nent jjoints of this history, and to present a few instances iilustravc of its spirit, and in support of our general views. Captain John Smith informs us, that "tlie most famous, re- nowned, and ever worthy of all memorie, for her courage, learniu"-, judgment, and virtue. Queen Elizabeth, granted her letters jjatent to Sir Walter llaleigli, for the discovering and planting new lands and coumries not actually po.ssessed by any Christians. This patentee got to be his assistants. Sir Kicliard Grenville the valiant, Mr. William Sanderson, a great friend to all such noble and worthy actions, and divers oth(>r gentlemen and niarchants, who with all speede ])ro\ ided two small barkes, well furnished with necessaries, under the command of Captaine Pliilip Aniidas, and Captain ]hiv- low. The 27th of Aprill they set sayle from the Thames, the 10th of May pissed the Canaries, and the 10th of June, the West Indies,'' &LC. "Tile 2d of July they fell in with the coast of I'lorida, in in shoulc water, where they felt a most delicate sweete smell, though they saw no land, which ere long they espied," &c. Here we find, that the ])ower delegated by the crown to those lovers of worthy and noble actions, was simply for tlie discoveriii"- and planting of new lands, not actwMy possessed hj other Christians , imt although the rights of o^/<«- Christians, who had no rights, were thus c:irefully reserved, no regard seems to have lieeii jiaid to those v^^nn ;j-js AN I5SSAY ON THE HISTORY OF of tlin iil)oriyiiiiil possessors of the countries to be discovered. A\'itli respect to them, the adventurers were at full liberty to act as their own judgment or caprice might dictate. The inhabitants received them with confidence. In the History of Smith we read, """['ill the third day we saw not any of the ])eo[)]e, then in a little boat three of them appeared ; one of tliem went on shore, to whom we rowed, and he attended us without anv sign of feare ; after he had spoken much, though we understood not a word, of ins own accorde he came boldly aboord us ; we gave him a shirt, -^ hat, wine, and meate, which he liked well, and after lie had well viewed the barkes and v.s, he went away in his own boat, and within a quarter of a mile of vs, in half an hour, he loaded his boat with lish, with which he came againe to the point of land, and there divided it in two parts, pointing one part to the ship, and the other to tlie pinace, and so departed. " The next daj' came diners boats, and in one of them the King's 1)r()llier, with forty or fifty men, proper people, and in their be- hiviour very ciuil." "Though we came to him well armed, he inade signs to vs to sit downc without any sign of feare, stroking his head and brest, and also ours, to expre.sse his loue. After he had made a long speech to vs, we presented him with diners toycs, which he kindly accepted. " A day or two after, showing them what we had, Grangraufomeo taking most liking to a pewter dish, made a hole in it, ami hung it about his neck for a brestplate, for which ho gauc vs twenty deero skins, worth twenty crownes; and for a cop})er kettle, fiftic skins, worth fiftie crownes. Much other truckc we had, and after two dityes he came aboord, and did eat and drinke with vs very merrily. Not long after ho brought his wife and children," &c. "After that these women had been here with vs, there came doune from all parts great store of people, with leather, corrall, and and diners kinde of dyes, but when Grangrantemeo was present, none durst trade but himself, and them that wore red copper on MiiPHm THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS, 829 tlipir heads as he did. Whcuovor he ciiinc he woidd sij,rnific by so many fires he came with so many boats, that we migiit knowo his force. Their l)oats hut one great tree, which is burnt in the form of a trough with gins and fire, till it be as they would haue it. For an armour he would haue engaged vs a baggc of pearle, but we refused, as not regarding it, tliat wee miglit tlie better learnc? wliere It grew. lie was very iust of his promise, for oft we trusted liim, and woukl come within his day to keepo his word. He sent vs commonly every day a brace of bucks, conies, hares, and fish, sometimes mellons, walnuts, cucumbers, peas, and diners roots, 'i'liis author sayetli their corne growetli tlu-ee times in fine months; in May they sow, in luly reape ; in Line they sov.-, in August reape." It is difficult to se])arate the truth from the ficlion in these earlv histories. There seems lo be an inherent propensity for exa'rrrera- tion in English travellers, which has pervaded their works, and ciist a shade upon their character from the earliest time to the present. We know tliat our own corn does not grow " three times in five months, and tliat it cannot be planted in May and reaped in July in any part of our country ; tlie story of tlie " bagge of pearle" is very questionable ; nor do we ])ut iiiucli faitii in the " corrall" or the "red copper," which the natives are said to have possessed. These were fiourishes of the imagination, thrown in by the writers, for purposes best known to themselves. But we may believe the evidence of the voyagers, as to the hosjiitality with which they were received by the natives, because in these statements they all agree, and we have ample reason to believe that such was usually the deportment of the Aborigines towards the Europeans who first visited our shores. The historian of this voyage sums up the whole in the expression, " a more kind loving people cannot be," and adds, "this discovery was so welcome into England, that it pleased her majestic to call this country of Wingandacoa, Vhginia, ^^PIF— ^iW5 3.'!0 AN ESSAY ON TIIK HISTORY OF bv which name you arc now to understand how it was planted, dissohiod, rcuned, and onlarijod." In 1695 Sir Richard Grcnvillo departed from Plymouth, with seven sail for Virginia. On his arrival, wc are told, "tlie Indians stole a silver cup, wherefore wo burned their town and spoiled tluiir corn, and so returned to our fleet." Here wo see how hostilities between the whites and Indians commenced. All the hospitality of those wIjo were lauded as "a kind loving people," was effaced by a single depredation, committed, most probably, by a hiwless individual, whose act would have been disavowed l)y the 1ril)e; and. in revenge for the slciiliiig of a cu|), a town was burned, and the corn-fields of uu nnofiending conuniuiity destroyed. Dr. Williamson, tlie historian of North Carolina, remarks, "the pas- sionate and rash conduct of Sir Richard Grenville cost the nation many a life. The fair beginning of a hopefid colony was obscured, it was nearly defeated, by resenting the lo.s.s of a silver cup." Another voyager, Jolui Urierton, who accompanied Captain Ges- nall, in 1000, to Virginia, speaks of the "many signs of loue and friendship," displayed by the Indians, "that did helpe us to dig and carry saxafras, and doe any thing they could." " Some of the baser sort would stealo ; 1)ut the better sort," he continues, " wc found very civill and i>ist." lie considers tlie women as fat and well favored ; and concludes, " the wholesomeness and temjjcraturc of this climate doth not onely argue the jieojjle to be answerable to this description, but also of a perfect constitution of body, active, strong, healthful, and very witty, as fhe sundry toyes by them so cunningly wrought, may well testifie." Captain Smitli, in a snl)ser|uent visit to Virginia, found the people "most civill to gine entertainment." Wc declares that "such great and well proportioned men arc seldome scene, for iney seemed like giants to the Englisii, yea, and to the neighbours, yet seemed of an honest and simple di.sposit ion ; with much adoe we restrained them from adoring ns as gods." In another place THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 881 ho says, "Tlicy are vory stroller, of an able bmly, and full of a^riiilie, al)le to endure to lie in the woods, vnder a tree, by a fire, in the worst of winter, or in the weeds and grasse, in atnbuscadc, in the sonirner. They arc inconstant in every thing but what feare con- strainelh them to keepe. Craftic, tiinourous, (|uicke of apprehension, and very ingenious. Some are of a disposition fearoful, some bold, most cautelous and savage. Although the country people be very l)arbarous, yet have they among them such government, as that their magistrates for good commanding, and tluiir people for due subjection and obeying, excell many ])laces that would be accounted very chill"— Smith's Hist., vol. i. p. 112. Another early writer on the .settlement of Virginia, William Tinions, "doctour of divinitie," remarks, "it might well be thought, a countrie so faire (as Virginia is) and a people .so tractable, would long ere this have been quietly po.ssessed, to tlie satisfaction of the adventurers, and the eternising of the memory of tho.se that effected it." We need not multiply these proofs. History abounds in facts to prove the positions we have taken, and to convict the white man of being almost hivariably the aggressor in that unnatural war which has now been raging for centuries between the civilized and savage races. Several fruitless attempts were made to plant a colony m Virginia before that enterprise succeeded. " The emigrants, notwithstanding tlie orders they had received, had never been solicitous to cultivate the good-will of the natives, and had neither asked permission when theij occupied their country, nor given a price for their valuable property, wliich was violently taken away. The miseries of famine were soon superadded to the horrors of massacre." (See Chalmer's Political Annals, under the head Virginia.) Under all the disasters suffered by that colony, and with repeated examples and admonitions to warn them, they could never bring themselves to entertain sufficient respect for the Indians to treat them with civility, or negotiate with them in good faith. Tlieir great error mmmm ;i;!2 AN i:s.sA,Y ON riMO insrouY or wiis, Unit tlu'v land; they liad to estaltlisli a character. 'J'heir very coming was siisjiicions. 'I'lierc was no reason why tlie natives should think them hclter tliaii they .seemed, hut many why they mi'^ht sus])e(;t them to he worse. 'J'he Indians, having' fvw virtues in tiieir simple code, |)ractise those wliicli tliey do profess with <,n'eat imnctnality ; and they could not hut liL,ditly esteem those who made j^n'eat professions of superior virtue, wliiK; tliey openly indnl^'ed in every vice, and set all moral obligutions ut defiance. The romuntie story of Pocahontas forms a beautiful episode in the history of this period. Thougii liorn and reared in savage life, she was a creatuiH! of excpiisite loveliness and refinement. The irracefuluess of her person, the >reiitleiiess of her nature — her heiievolence, her courage, her nojjlo self devotion in the discharge of duty, elevate this lovely woman to an ccpiality with the most illustrious and most attractive of her sex; and yet those winning graces and noble (pialities were not the most remarkable features of her character, wliicli was even more di.stiiiguished by the won- derful tiict, and the delicate sense of jiropriiMy, which marked all the scenes of her brief, but eventful, history. The mingled tender- ness and heroism of her successful intercession for the advent urous Smith, presents a scene which for dramatic effect nnd moral beauty, is not excelled either in the records of history or the most splendid creations of inventive genius. Hail she been a Chri.stian, li III the generous sjiark of love, which is inbred in the heart ol woman, l>een cherished by the refinements of education, or fanned TlIK NOHTII A.MlilUCAN INDIANS. I)y tlio slroii!? impulse of (Icvoicd piety, it could not Imvo hiinitd u itii ii purer or ;i I)ri^dl1er Ihunc. Tliu motive of that iiolde nctien was heiievoleuec!— the purest auil most lofty priuciplo of liumaii aetion. It was not tlie (•a|)riee of a tlioughtlcss girl, it was not a momentary j)assion for tlic eondenuied stranger, ploiuling at a suseeptil)lo heart, i()r her all'ect ions were reserved for another; and tlie purity as well as tlie dii^nity of her after life, showed that they were truly and cautiously bestowed. By her intervention, her courage, and her talent, the colony of Virginia was several times savinl from famine and exlermination ; and when ])erfidiously taken prisoner by those who owed every tiling to her nol)le devotion to their cause, siu; displayed, in lier ciplivity, a patience, u sweetness of disposition, and a propriety of conduct that won universal ad- niiration. As the wife of Rolfe, she was equally exemplar}' ; mid wlwMi, at till! Uritish CoiH't, she stood in tiie ])resence of nniiltv, sniTOinided b}' the iieauty and refinement of the proudest aris- tocracy in the world, she was still a lovely and adnured woman, unsurpassed in the appro[)riate graces of her sex. Yet this woman was a .savage ! A daughter of a race doomed to eternal barbarism by the decree of a philosophy which pronounces the soil of their minds too sterile to germinate the seeds of civilization ! An authentic portrait of this lovely and excellent woman, co[iied from a picture in the possession of her descendants in /irginia, will be found in tliis volume, llcr original name was Mu;;;;'!-::i. which signifies, literall}', the Snoir-feather, or the snow-llake, which was also the name of her mother ; and both were represented as being remarkably graceful and swift of loot. She was afterwards called Pocahontas, a rivulet between tivu liHU, a name su])poscd by some to be proj)hetic, as she was a bond of peace and union between two nations. II(;r intercession for Smith is thus described by the ancient his- torians : "The captive, lx)und hand and foot, was laid upon the stones, and Powhatan, to whom the honor was respectfully *^i^^ .3.i^ AN ESSAY ON THE lliSTOllY OF as.sii,nictl, was about to j)Ut liiiii to doiilli. Soiriotliiiitf like pity beaiiifd from the vyvs of the siiva^fe erowd, l)ut none dared to s|ieak. The fatal eluh uas u^jlifted ; the eaptive wa.s witlioiit a friend to succor him, alone among hostile savages. The breasts of the nuillitude already anticipated the dreadfid crash lliat would de] rive him of life, when the young and beautiful I'oeahontas, the Ki iu"s darling daughter, with a shilck of terror and agony, threw herself on the l.'od} of the victim ! Her dark hair unbound, her eves stroammg with tears, and her whole manner besjioke the agony of her bosom. She ca.st the most beseeching looks at her angry and astonished father, imploring liis pity, and the life of the captive, with all the eloquence of mute but impassioned sorrow." — Smith. "The remaaider of this scene," says Burk, "is highly honorable to Powhatan, and remains a la.sting monument that, thougii dif- ferent principles of action, and the inlluence of custom, had given to the ma luers of this people an appearance neitliei amiable nor virtuous in general, yet they still retained the ncMest pro])erty of the human character — the touch of sympathy, and the feelings of huinanity. The club of the Emperor was still uplift<'d ; but gentle feelings had overcome him, and liis eye was every moment losing its fierceness, lie looked round to find an excuse for his weakness, and saw pity in every face. The generoijs savage no longer hesi- tated. Tlie compassion of the rude state is neither ostentiitious nor dilatory, nor does . ^mlt its object by the exaction of impcssibili- ties. Powhatan lifted his grateful and delighted daughter from the earth, but lately ready to receive the blood of the victim, and conunanded the stranger captive to rise." Pocahontas was born about the year 1591, and was tiierefore alwut twelve or th'rteen years old when she saved the life of Smith, in 1007. She attcrwards, on .several occasions, rendered essential services to the I'lnglish colonists. From the year Hitl'.l to Kill, about two years, it is said that she was never seen at Jamestown, THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 335 and it is snppasfd tluit her I'atlior, jciilous of hor kindness towards tlie wliites, had taken moans to interrupt the intercourse. " A1)out tliis time," says Stitii, "or jjcrliaps earlier, tlie Princess was not seen for some time. Rumor said she was banished to her father's remote possessirrns." It wa-s probably durinil(l long remain in amicable intercoiu'se witli a precise sectarian peo|ile, who held them in utter aversion, was not to be expected ; anil, accordingl\', we find that the hollow frien(islii[t of these parties was soon interru])tiMl. Wars ensued, and no lasting peace was ever restored vnitil the Indian tribes w(>re extinguished or driven from tlie country. AVe consider this the fairest instance that could be quoted in proof of the universal |)revalenc.' of tiiat public sentiment in nlalKMi to savages, to wiiicii we have alluded. "The setthMuent of ^>ew England," says one of the most respectable of their his- iorians, "purely for the purpose of religion, ami the propagation of THE NO II in AMKRICAN" INDIANS. 337 (Mvil and K'li^•i()lls lilimMy, is mi event wliieli lins no parallel in the history of iiiodeni aujes. The j)iety, sell-iieiiial, patience, perse- verance, and magnanimity of the first settlers, are without a rival, i'iie happy and extensive eonscHpieiices of the settlements which Ihey made, and the sentiments whicli they were careful to propa- tr ite to their posterity, to the church, and to the world, admit of no descrii)tiou." If there is any truth in this description — and we dd not dispute it, extravagant as it sccmus — a strange discrepancy is I'vinced in the practice and professions of a people of such preten- sions. The perversion of pul)lic opinion, wliicli could induce such men, themselves the sul)jects of op[iression and tlie propagators of civil and religious liberty, to treat the savages as Ijrutes, must liave l)e(Mi wide spread and deeply seated ; but such was certaiidy their conduct. When we remark the weakness of the first settlements in New I'-ngland, and observe that their infant villages were, on several oi'casions, almost depopidated by famine and sickness, it is olnious that the Indians must have bec-i peaceably disposed towards them, as there were several periods at which they could, with ease, have cxti^rminated all the coloni.sts. We hiive on this sui)j(' isitive evid(Mice. In Baylie's Memoir of IMymouth, we are to|. d the Mohawks, the most j)owerfid nation of Xew England, " wjh iu\t r known to molest the lOnglish." '-'riiey wen; never known to injure an I']nglishman either in person or property. The English fre(inently met them in the woods when they wi're defenceles.s, and the Indians armed, but never received from them the slightest insult." " Unbounded hospitality to strangers" is one of the rpiali- ties ascri'.)ed by this historian to the Indians generally, of that region, and liis work abounds in anecdotes of their kindness to the first settlers. Trumbull, the historian of Connecticut, ulio has collected all ilie oldest autiiorilies witli great care, remarks that, "the English lived in tolerable peace with all the Fudians in ('omu'iiiciit and Xew ^^p^^" 1533 AN ESSAY ON TIIF: HISTORY OF Eiif^liiiid, cxoi'pt till" Pc(iiiots, for about forty years." " Tiic Inrliaiis, at their first settlement, performed mtiny acts of kindness towards tliein. Tlii'V instructed them in tlic manner of planting and dressing Indian eorn. They carrieil tliem upon their backs through tlio rivers and waters; and, as occasion required, served tliem instead of boats and bridges. They gave them much useful information respecting the country; and when the English, or their chil(h-en, were lost in the woods, and were in danger ol p(;rishing with cold or hunger, they conducted them to their wig- wams, led them, and restored them to their families rmd parents. By sellinu them corn when |)inclied with famine, they relieved their distresses, and ])revented them from perishing in a strange land and uncultivated w ilderness." — X'ol. i. p. 57. How did the I'uritans repay this kindness, or what had they done to deserves it ? They settled in the country without the per- mission of the iidiabitants, and eviii' eo, bv all their movements, a determination to extend their dominion oven* it. One of tlicir earliest acts was of a character to create disgust and awaken jea- jdusv. ^^'illianl Holmes, of IMymouth, carried a colony into Connecticut. anre the original owners of the soil, had been driven from this j)art of the comitry Iw tlie I'eipiots, and were now carritnl home on board Holmes" \rssel. Of tlioii the ]'l\ mouth peo|)le purrhaml ilic lng the tioops. Some were carrie(| to ( 'onnecticut, others to Mas.sachuselts. The people of Mas.sachu.setts sent a nundjcr of tin; THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 3il womea anil l)()ys to th>". Wi'st Iiulit-s, and sold them as shires. It was supposed that ahont seven liniidrcd PcMjuots were destroyed." "Tliis happy event," eonchides tlic historian, allii(hnt>- to the conehision of the war, by the extermination and captivity of so many liuman beings, "gave great joy to the colonics. A day of pnhlic thank.sgiving was appointed ; and in all the churches of New England devout and animated praises were addressed to Ilim who giveth his people the victory, and causcth them to dwell in safety !" In an old and curious work, Gookin's History of the Praying Indians, the autlior consoles himself on account of the atrocities practised against the Indians, by the comfortaljlc reflection, that, " doubtless one great end God aimed at, was the punishment and destruction of many of the wicked heathen, who.se iniquities were now full." In the instructions given to Major Gibbons, who was sent from Massacluisetts in 1045, against the Narragansets, are these words: "You are to have dm; regard to the distance which is to bo ol)serve(l, betwi.xt Christians and barbarians, as well in wars as in otlu;r negotiations." On tliis jiassage Governor Hutchinson remarks, " It seems strange that men, who professed to believe that God hath made of one Ijlood all nations of men, for to dwell on the face of the earth, should so earl}', and upon every occasion, take care to j)reserve this distinction. Perhaps nothing has more ellectually defeated tho endeavors for christianizing the Indians." This is e.vactly the pro- ])osition we are endeavorint,'- to establish. We liave not forgotten the KUiots, tiie Jirainerds, and other good men who devoted themselves with zeal and fidelity to the work of ciiristianizing the savages. Tiieir memories will live in history, and Ik' cherished by every friend of humanity. In every nation, and in all ages, there have existed noble spirits, iniliued with a love for their species, and acting upon the highest impulses oi a ^^ 3i2 AN KSSAY ON TIIIO HISTORY OF ircni- oils niituro, or Imnihlo Cliristiiiiw, wlio wcrt' (•(nilial in \w\.\ in the path of duty. Wo would not cvon pass lluiu liy wilhont tlic tribute of our approbation; but their deeds form no |)art of the history on wliich we are connnentiug, and are but sHgiilly con- nected with it. Our piirpo.se is not to treat of tlie j^ood or evil con(hu't of individuals, whose inlluencc was but temporary and local ; — it is to show the <,rciieral current of the inipression.s made upon the minds of the Aboriguics, by the actions of comniunities and pulilic functionaries. We have not selected these instances invidiously, l)ut only be- cause they an; prominent and clearly attested. The same feeliii can*, with the KinL"' of the said Indian, that all reasonalilc .satisfaction be made to the injured planter. .Ml dill'erences between tlie |tlanters and the n I iti\t's shall also be ended bv tirr/i ■r llirii. that IS, si.c pliiult ra and six iitilircft ; so that we may live friendly toiicther, as much as in us lieth, preventiu"4 all onn.sions of heart buriiinijs and mischief" In these simple articles we find the verv essence of all . same iiioih e and measure of justice was orcscribed to both ; and while his strict adherence to the iu|j;hest place as a lawtiivcr and benefactor of mankind, it justly earned for him from the Indians the aflTectionate title liv which they always s])oku of him. "their j^reat and good Onas." 'I'lie result was, that so long as Pennsvlvania remained under the immediate [rovernment of its THE NORTH AMKlilC.W INDIANS. 845 foiiiidcr, tlic most iiiiiiciililc iclatioiis ucrc iii liiitiiiiu'd wit : ihn iiMtivcs. His sclicinc i>f {jovcriuiicnt ciiiliniicd no iiiilitarv iiriii ; iM'itlicr 1ro.)|)s, forts, nor nii iirnicil pcMsaiilry. 'I'hc dortrinr of kccpinLr |),';icc by licin«r |)rc();in'(l lor wiir, entered not. into Ids system; liis maxim was to iivoid '' fi// omisioii.s (//'heart l)urnini;s anil ndseldel',"' and to retain the rriendsiiip of his neinldxirs liv never doulitinu' nor almsinL!- it. He jiiit on riLditeonsness. and it "'lothed him. The ureat ('liristi;in law of love was the vital prin- ciple of his administration, and w;is all jioteat as an armor of deleiice, and as a stroiiif hidwark against everv foe. 'I'h(! Indians, sava^re as tiiey are, were awed and won hv a ))olicv so jnst and p-ieifie; and the Qnakers had no Indian wars. 'I'ho horrors of the lirehrand anil the tomahawk, of wideli other colonists had sncli dreadfid experience, were unknown to them ; and they cidtivated their farms in peace, for nearly sixty years, with no other armor than the powerfnl name of Penn, and the inotrensivenes,s of their own lives. Ill Watson's " Account of ntickinu:ham and So|el)nry," in Penn sylvania, jjuhlislied in the Memoirs of the Historical Societv of Pennsylvania, we fnid the followiuL;' strikiiiu' remarks: "In 1(590, tiiere were many settlements of Indians in thei^' town.ships. Tra- dition re|)orts that they were kind neit,dd)ors, supplvinir the white j)eople with meat, and sometimes with beans and other vegetables, which they did i/i prrfirt r/iarifi/, l)rinuinL;- presents to their hon.ses, and refusing paij. A harmony arose out of tiieir tiial intercnurso and dependence. The ditleronce between th,^ fannlies of tin; white man and tin; Indian was not threat — when t > live was the "Teatest hope, and to enjoy a bare sidliciency the irreatest luxury." This ])a,ssai4e reipures no comment; .so strontfly does it contrast with the accounts of other new settlements, and so fullv does it dis[)la\ tlie fruits of a prudent and eipiit-able system of civil administration. There are many facts connected with the settlements upon the Delaware, which are extremely interestiuif. The Swedes, who 14 3 ill AN ESSAY ON TIIFO HISTOKV OK wore tilt' lirst occiipiiiits, diiti; liack iis I'ai' lis llic Vfar UiUl. and rciiiiiiiinl soallcrcd at several places tor sdriietlniiif like forty years. |iri'\ ioiis to the a ■rival (if I'riiii. 'i'liev were liw in ininihei lere iieitlier a military nor a tradiiiL;' |ieo|ile; neitlii-r tiie love of 'fold, nor tlie Inst of carnaifc, te lliein into ads of insnit and oiiiiressi Indians. on, and lliev lived in iminterrniited liarnionv witli tlu P Had tlieir intercourse witli tlie savages lieen interrupted ii\' lioslilities, Penn wduld not iiavi ,1 neeii ■ived with the cor- dialitv and eoniidence uliieli marked his lirst interviews u ith th trnies, and characterized II 1 us n i'lti oils W 1 th tl lein. nm lio tomiM the Indians IVicndly, iiotw ithstainlin^- their loiifi' intercourse with the SwcmU's. It is a sinirnlar cireunistanee, that tlit^ Quakers had so much eoniidence in their ouii .system of |ieaeo and forhearauee, that they did not erect a fort, nor oriMirtunili»'s of iM^lViuntling tlina and llu'ir tiiniiiics in rrtnrn. " An old lady, wlinsc rcfollt'ctioiiM Imvc Im-cu rcrordod by one nl' licr dcsccndanis, was |)rcscn1 at one, of Pcnn's first intcrviows witli tlic " Indians anar the present riiiladel[)liia. 'I'lie Indians, as well as tlu^ ' wliitis, had sevctrally prepared the l)est eutertivininent the place and eircntnslances conid admit. William I'enn made liiniselt' endeared to the Indians by his marked condescension and accpii- escence in their wishes. He walked with them, sat with them on tho ground, and ate with them of their roastcrl acorns and honiinv. At this thoy e.vpn'ssed the climax, spran<4 "P "'"1 '"'"'^ them all!" 'The date of I'enn's patent was in l()Sl, anil he rroverned Pcun- syh.xiii I intil 17l'2. It is the iioast of his |)eo|)le, a hoast of which thoy may well bo proud, that no Quaker l)lood was shed l)v the natives. They employed neither fraud nor force in gaining a foothold upon the soil of Pennsylvania; and there is neither record nor tra .1. li.' very reverse of llie (IwA ers ie. cliar icter. and wlio liai 1 not tlu' sli tf'iilest eornniiMiieation or eon nee •tion with tliem. 'I'he Freneii setth^d at Kaskaskia previous to tlie year 17(Hl. \\ V cannot I'lx tlie i)reiMse date; liut there are (h'e<]s now on record. in tlie public ollices at that place, which bcMrdatc! in k71'-2, and it is prol)alile that several years iiMist iiave elapsed from the tir>t settlintr of the cojonv. beiore ••euiilar transfers of real estate c(nd(l take place, and bejore tiicic could have been othcers authori/i'd to authenticate such proceed in'j:s It is the ireneral nnderstantlinn' .f tlie ol( 1 !• rench si ttl ers. that niladeloliia, Detroit, an kaskia were settled about the same time. The French, in llbii< li ved upon the most aniicalile trrnis \\i it', the Indians. Like ll (Jinkcrs. lliev kept up an iuliT( iiaiejc oj" iVicndU ollices. trealih'j tiu'in with kindness and e(pnt\-, and dcalin'/ witii them upon terms ol" perfs-ct eipiality. 'I'liev even intermarried with them — whii'li the (Quakers could not do. williou. beini,r nu"ned out of meetinu — iMitertained them at tiirir houses, and showed them, in \arioiis w i\ ^. tliat the\ consiilercd die in fellow crcatiiri's, h.ivniLr piril\ ol interests, priin'iiilcs. and feelinu;s with tl Th nv arest nelirlibors weri' the distant a intermina thou ble I ■'in fr ulisl 1. on the si ,irc> ol the Atl IlltIC, stind miles, Iroin whom tliev were separated orests, aiK irner of mountains then deemed insui'iionn table, ami with whom tlie\- had no more intercourse tl cm with tlu' CI unese A mere handful, in the heart of a v,i..l wilderness, and cut olV from all the civili/ei' ^orM, tliev could not li.T.e existed a day, but bv permission of the immerous savages bv whom tliev were siirroiimled. Jl le i'reneli were allurei to III mois 111 scan ■h of d. •{■ If THE NORTH A.MKFUCAN r\T)rAN5?. 3H> loaders of the cdlony ucn' iidvciiturcrs iif mhiic iiitt'!li'j;('ii("(\ hut tin: mass oi' tlit> [icoplr were pciisaiils iVotii an interior part of France, wlio hroii«4lit witli them tho careless ifaietv, the rustle svrnpli<-ity, the unsophisticated iirnorance, whicli (Hstinu^nislied lh(! peasantry of that country l)efor(; tin; Revohition. Contented and unambitious, the disappointment of not liudin^ mines of thi; prccions metid (Md not ad'eel them dee|)ly, and tiiev sat down (piietly in tli(3 satisfied enjoyment of snch ])leasuros and cond'orts as tlio cotintry alfonh'd. llavinur no land specidations in view, nor any eommercial monopolies in prospect, they were under no temptation to del)aso the Indian mind, and all their dealiufrs with the savafences. ^'et uc^ do not hear of hurninirs and scalpiiiirs amniiL; tlie early settlers of that region. Now and then an al'lVay occurred hetwiMMi a I'rench- man and an Indian, and occasionally a lili' was lost; hut theso wero precisely the kind of exceptions which prove the truth of a iriMieral rule; for such accidents must have been the result of departures hy individuals from those principles of amity which wore ohservetl hv their respceliv;', communities. The French were expert in the use of lire-arms; they roamed far and wide into the Indian eountrv, and it woiilil Vwv. been a strantre anomaly in till" history of warriors and hunters, had no personal conllicts onsued. But these alirays did not disturb the general harmony, ;).'50 AN ESSAY ON THE HIS 10 II Y OF wliicli is !i conclusive cvidoiico lliat no latent jealousy, no sup- pressed resentment for past injuries, rankled in the bosom of either party. The Indians even sufl'i red themscilves to be baptized ; and at one time a larjfc porticm of ihe Kaskaskia tribe professed the Jiomtm Catholic faith. Such was the conlidence inspired liy the pacific conduct of the French settlers here and in Canada, that their traders ascended the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi, traversed the northern lakes, ami penetrated to every part of the western wilderness without Miolestatioii. Tln-y enyro.ssed the; fur trade;, and became so fascinated witli tiiis nuMh' of hfe, tiiat niunl)ers of them devoted tliemselves to the Inisiness of condnctin|^ tiit canoe, and fornieil tliat class of voijtnjiiirs, who continue, to this day, to be the chief carriers of tlral trade. Tiiey |)a.ss between the white men and In tiilx's. Here, then, we perceive the contrast, whii-h allbrds an e.vplana- lion to some of the apparent dilliculties of this suiiject. Those who cauH" amon;f the Aboriiiines wilii sincerely pacific intentions, who conducted ihemselves witii f'.ankness, practisinif the law ol" love, and ol)servinu ''"' oijliijatii.ns of l'o- of the irliilr iiin/i, were freely nsed in tlie cilonw and sold to the natives. The planters hetran to arm in self-defence. Occnsioiix of o(J'nire were fre(pient. and no ell'ort was made t- pri'vent them. "The fXreat and u(">d Onas" was no Ioniser there to ponr ont his kinil spirit, like oil, npon the waves of human passion. Hostilities ensued ; the frontiers of Peimsylvania snllered all the horrors of horder warfare, and the sentiment expres.sed li\' I'enii, in His;;, proved proplietic : "If my luirs do not kee|) to (iod, in justice, mercy, eipiiiy, and fear of the Lord, they will lose all, and desola- tion will follow." The same residt occurred in Illinois. Tiie amiahle French lived in peace with the Indians tor a whole centurv ; lint when th(^ " Lonjr KiMves" lie. l)v triiditions, uliicli iiro hainlrd down with siiijjular tenacity lioiii m'licratiiin tn irciicratimi. The otdy nietital culture which the children receive, consists in repeating to thein the adventures of their fathers, and the infant mind is tluis indelil)ly impressed with all the predihu-tions and a'ltipathies of the parent. To these early impressions there is no counter inllucnee; no philosophy to enlarge the houndaries of thought, to examine evidence, and to detect error; no religion to suggest the exorcise of charity, or impose the duty of forgiveness. The traditions of each trihe arc widely spread by the ])raeticc of repeating them !it the great councils, at which the warriors of various trilx's are assembled ; and thus the wrou'jfs which they sullertMl from the wliilc men liecame mnerally known, and perhap.s greatly exag- grialcd. Amonu' liiem, t' .,, revenge is a nohle priuei|)le, imhihed witli their mother's milk, justitied liy their code of honor, and rec(>!jfni/ed li\' their c\istoms. It is as much a dutv with them to revenge a wrong as it is with us to discliarge- a debt, or fidfd a cnnlract ; and the injury inllicled u|)on the father rankles in tiie l)osom (if the ciiild, until ri'C(impcns(> is made, or retaliation inllicled. We infer, then, that v.e owe miicli of the unhappy .state of feeliu'jf. which exists between the Indians and ourselves, to the injuries inllicted un their race, and the prijudices excited iiv the discoverers and colonists, and to tlu^ want of sincere, judicious, auv»'s. Tlirv wcri! only rcstriiiiuMl from iiilnul iijj; iipoii "otluM* Clirisliaiis," who wore similarly cii^ram'd, in ortlci that each community niijrht carry on its own laneiiifs and homicides, accordin<,' to its own standard of taste and morals, without instlintr its next nei'dibor. Their intereonrse with the natives was the result of accident or ca|irice, or was dictated hy the master mind of some distinguished philanthropist, or coiKpieror. Iiy a persecutecj sectarian refugee, an exiled cavalier, a "liere the wretched savage shivers half the vcar m |)enury and laniiuv-, to the sunny plains of the South, where the jjiiinli'd warrior, decke 1 in gaudy plumage, and moiuited on the wild steed of the prairie, exhiliits all the magnificence of barbarian |iom[i. Tlic)- form his -reed, and are inter\.()ven with his nature; and though few can ex|iress ihem so well, the\ all feel, what was said by the eimpient Ueil .lacket. to a missionary, who explained to 45 3ot HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 1 im llin pure and beautiful code of the Rodoeiner, and asked permission to teach it to his people : " Go," said he, " and teach those doctrines to the white men — make them sober and honest — tcarli them to love one another — persuade them to do to others as they would have others do to them, and then bring your religion to the red men — but not until then !" PAIIT SECOND. Tn our pr(!(roflin* oeeunUM (I 1 J n ra paeioi IS jH'opIe, and an insolent soldiery: until, driven from lioundary to Itounilaiy, tliey realized, while in life, the beautiful deseri|)tit>n of death, l)y tlu' sacred jioet, " the places that knew them once, knew II leni no more lor ev( r fo The intercourse! with the natives was conducted throu|jfh forls and tradinjr posts, by ollicers and aurents, whose aim was to secure tiie fur trade, and to oiitain irrants of land; and for tluMaluablc property thus obtained, tlie\ u:ave them fu'e-arms, ammunition, trinkets, [raudy I'lotliiii;^, and spirituous licpiors. •Ilort made to in trod uce amoii'f them useful iticles, \\lu<-li \\i)U Id was ha\e promo'icd their comfort, and tended to their nts were made at all, they were of little value, and ijiven only in token of sincerity. \\ C intend this oliservation to applv, of course, to eases where the parties treated upon terms of perfect eipiality, tor anionic all nations, civilized as wi'll as savaye, a sul)- dued j)arty is compelled to purchase peace. It is also true, that treaties have always hcen lea.st faithfully ol)serv(!d anionic those nations whose customs recpiin^ the weaker |)arty to purchase the friendship of the stronger hy hrihes; onc! (larty is governed h}' fear, the other hy rapacity, and while the ont; is always seeking pretences to make new exactions, the other is ever watching to ohUiin revenge or inilcMnnity. It has lucn somv- what thus with our predecessors, and their Indian allies. 'The presents, which at first were voluntarily given, and were received with gratitude, s«M)n hecamt! periodical, and hi'gan at last to Ik; demanded !is of right. The Indians acted precisely as tlie pirates of the Barhiiry States have always done under sinular circum- staiu;es. The}- saw that their situation enabled them to harass the whites, and that the latter were always willing to avert their hostility hy the |)ayment of a valuable consideration. \\ ar led to negotiations and treaties — and tn-aties always lirought pri'.sents. 'mplements of war, and articles of dress and luxury, had been introduced among them, to which they had previously been strangers; m-w wants were crea.cd, without the .simultaneou.s creation of any means to supply them ; every treaty with tlieir 1 858 AN KSSAY ON THK I.ISTOHV OF \vc;iilliv iiciiflilKirs liroii^lit in fresh stonx >>{' tlmsc fori'i'j;!! invv iliii'ls, uliicli till ir own ('uiintrs ilid imt :illiii'>l. inul wliich tlicv I iilllil lint {il'iiciirr III slllllrlclit lllilliniaili'i', I'ltll >\ tiiillic or Itv |>liiiiilt'r ; iiimI it lici-aiiM' clciirly tlirir iiilncNt to iiiiilliply tlic occasions of such |irolitahli' (h|ilniiiac\' 'I'hcy made war, tlicrc- forc. w liciii'vcr they nccilcd sii|i|ih(s; u lnucvcr cii|iiility or lainiiu^ tro'iilcd the nation, or aiiiliilion stiiiiiilatrd a rnliiiu i liicl'; ; nadc peace \\heiie\er a siillicieiit iiidiieeiiniit was tendered it ee|itaiice nil I II III ll lev leir I lite on w H'waresisted lictweeii the whites, they I'onnht on thi! hich they were eiiijiloyed ; it not. they assailed either side for the salu! of a profitahle treaty. Thev no loniicr I'oiiyht for fame, or comjUest, to retrieve; honor, or rt'dress w roller; "nd the military virtues that isually iUtend lhe.se nolile imiiulses entirely forsook them : we li.id made lliein liunditti; and they made war to iret money, rum, f^uns, and irmiiiowdi )1 'The |)eriiicioiis system of Lfiviu'jj them reufidar siip- h plies III arms, ainiiiiinitinn. elotlii'i:;, and provisions, hecame hriiily cstahlished, and drew after it a tr.ain of evil conseipieiices ; injury to the wliiti's, and misery to the wretched oiijects of tlieir misplaced hountv. Thev hecame llle re<;iilar l"llowels oj" the caiiij) ; the pericMlical visitants and heL;t;ars at the ^,ites of forts and Iradiiii;- luiuses. The alms, or the stipends, tiiat were driven them, w retched tl ev Were, were ullicieiit to destrov their •If-d. eiieiKlence. Furnished witli arms and elolliinir, they hecame less provident; supplied witii munitions of war, their propensity for mischief was (piirkened hy the increased means of its jrratilication ; the pa.ssioii (if avarice was awakened, and h.ahits of extortion wen? cherished, hv tlie continual e.vperieiice of their power to enforce the |Kiyment of triiiute. 'I'iie s\stem of inakin<4 presents to the trihes, and eiili.stini^ lliein ill our ipiarrcls. liad as it was, was imiocenl in eompari.son w itii tiie ahu.ses that uiiavoiilaMy unw out of it. 'i'lie employ nieiit of agents aei.'cssarily atteudo.l these iieL?otiations, and the persons so enLfa'^ed n TIIK NORTH AMKUICAN INDIANS. ;{:.!» wore rx|)i)snl to iiMliiiii;il tciinttritini. - to act corniiitly, uliilc they wore exempt iVoiii tlir iiiiliiiiirv restraints, ami llic usual motives, wliii'li insmv tlic fnlelity nf |inl>lir t'lmetioiiaries. 'I'liev acted at distant points, heymid tlie reacli nf ihr oliservatioii of tlieir supe- riors, where neither instriiclioii nor reprooi' coidd otten reach llietu, and where much was necessarily left to their discretion. 'I'liey Avere sent to an illiteriite people, who had no cliannel Ihrouiih wiiich to report their miscondnct, for Ihev were themselves the oniv iMt>diuni of communication U'tweeii tlie principals, and could easily deceive Iwth parties; and the oye of detection could not ])enetrate into the distant wiMmn -^s that formed the scene of their operations. If t'aithful, tiiey had little hope of heinii' n-wanlcd lor that which their own y woulil reap the advan- t4if our liinu'tiMo-c, inslitiilioiis. uinl iirts ; tlu-v li;ivt' Imhmi ci)in|i('llr(| to ili-al with liccnscil tr.nli'rs, ;it olisi-iiri' |i(iiiits in tin- wil Irriicss. ruder tlic Hritisli ^'ovcriiriK'iit. tlu- triiilr lor I'lirs :iiii| pi'ltrirs is ill tiic IimikIs of two LM'cat (-oiii|i:iiii('s ; iiiKluitliiii our limits il is coiKJiirtcd liv lirciisni coiiiiiiiiiit's iiiiil iiuln idirtls, vvjio li:i\(' MioMopnlii's of this v:dn;iliir liraiirli of roiiiiiiiM't'i', w liirli tlicv rarrv o illioiit ('niM|)i'titinii. ami witlioiit aii\' nstraiiit 'I'll iiit('r(MMirsc is licld in tlic alinriuniial laiiunai^cs, liv iiu'aiis oj' intcr- pri'lcrs, and t\crv art is used to j<('r|i tiir Indians in tlicir nriniiial state of iiriioraiici to I iirciiia'jc tliciii to jicrscvcrr in llnii' linproxidi'iil and ciralir lialiil.> '11 ic almscs |Mr|iclriit('d nndfrtliis llrv, tlic iirodiiil (pf a whole vrar's hiiiitinir. and of iiniiicnsc systiMii arc almost iiicrcdihlv enormous. 'I'hc Indians ass*Mnl>lc at tli(> tradinu: post, in the antnmn, to cxchanirc the skins talu'ii in the past si>ason, for the arms and ammnnition reipiired for the eiisnintf year, and for the hiankets and otiicr artii'les necessary tor their snitjtort diirinir the winter. K<>r several iiiindrcd dollars' wortii ot' I" dantrer. exposure, and fati'_'ni'. the hunter ijets a umi. a few pounds of powder, a knife, a lilankel. and soiiii' trinkets, and then, as a gracious present, some tin ornaments tor the arms and nose, and a little sc;ii'let cloth and cheap calico, to make a dress for his uifi — the whole not wortli a leiilii. pcrliaps not a twentieth part, of the articles exloili'(l from tiie wretclied savairi'. .Vnd there are niiine- rons well authenticated instances, in which the iinnter lias heeii rolilied. while in a state ot intoxication, ot" the wjiole prcMliice of his lal » C.ll .■^ I.IIMM 111! riu^ors of till \\ iiit( •r, tin ex trem in the Wild( rness. To these national inj iirii s ha and p ■rsona 1, hilt not II SS ! I'^f'jn our ci ti/.eiis perpi tratei . ill the from w liich . had they lice 1 Sll 'iviiig in civili/,('( 1 society, snrr 1 out liaic and destitute, to sutl'er, dnriiiii tiic e of t'amine, or to perish miseralily ve lieeii added wroMijs of a private ivatinu' character. Too often have deep recesses of the tiirest, crimes. ;r<^ested to the same persons when (lumled iiv the stroii'f ivstraiiits of n Tin; NO urn vmkiu'vn isdiws. atii law, iiml liy llic lull l)l;i/.r nf a iiiirc piiMii' npinidii, tlicv uoitlii liiivc slinmk willi linrrur. 'I'lm ut'icu ins tlir trader liccii seen, led oil liy till' n\iriiiastcriii'_f IhnI li-r iiinncN , \ iolatiiiK «'vir\' |iriiiri|ilt! of liojinr. Iraiii|iliiii.r dii llir rilrs uf liiis|iitality, rriiiliiiu; asiiinlt'r tlii' inoHt Hurrtil tiis, and lirt'iikiiiif down cvi'ry itarricT of liood failli, to !ir('i)iii|)lisli tlic sordid |iiir|ios(' of a lu farioiis trallii'. 'I'lic alli'iMint^ story ol' liiklr and N'arico is no liition. It has in'cii artrd over and t)vt'r Mi;aiii ill oiir forests, with cvcrv viiriati hi of inifiMiioiis (•riiclty. It is no nnlri'ijuiiil oci'iirrfiii'i' jcir the iidst licaiitifiil, ll llliilli'st irn maid o| a iinwcrlnl trilir. to unc iter liaiid in inarria^c to si attrai'tivf straii'-c yii'ldinir ii|i I her atlci'tioiis with tliut iniii line ilii'it conlidciirc. that all alisorliinir sclt'-drvotion. vshicli is every whero the atlriltiite of woman liii|)elled liy the |iiirest and most disiii- ti'rested oj" hiinian |iassioiis, she sacrifiees. for tiiat nameless and lionseless stranger, e\er\' tliiii!.r tliat natiin III! eiisloiM had reii- dereil most dear. o |ileas<' liis taste, she th rows asHlc; tl 10 rraeefiil ornaments o|" her trilie, and assumes tiit^ apparel of a toreiLMi anil detested neopi ler raven loeks are no Ioniser liraided niion lier shoulders; she no longer eliases the deer, or I'liii les I icr Imlit eanoe over the wave; ;iiid her i larl' V eve il: islies no more v.\ ih th prill le of eoiiseioiis heaiitv as the warriors ol her nation pass liefore her; for in their eyes slio is, if not a dcLTaded, an alienated i)eiii!f. U'lt still siie is supremely liappv, in the possession of that one oliji'et, around uhoni all her atVeelioiis are eiitwmeil in tl ic seeliision o| otta'ii'. in tlie elierrfld P' rformanee of evi'rv domestic d!it\', in advaminif llie interests of lior Imsiiand In eoneiiiatin-f in liis favor all tlie inlliienee of iier kindred, and the lin'_rerinu: alleetion .f il ler people, and III proteetliiy iiiiii from daiiLrer at every liazard, her days exiiiliit a eon'.iniial Kerne of self-devotion, ller dream of iiappiness is soon and fatally dissohid. ller iiiislnnd lias aeeomplisiied h lis eominereiai piir- po.ses, and she is abandoned to dis^iraee and poverty. Altl llie wliolo slorv of her alleetion liiis exiiiliiled tliat ioveline -tl] lollL'll •M2 AN i:ssAY ii.\ riii: iiisinuv (ir I'liaiMitiT, tliat |iiiril\ siihI intlilfiicss (if riiiiul. wliicli in i-ivili^od s«cii't\' niiM's ;i sii|iirinr wnmiiii iilmvc licr ^|l(•l■|(•>. ;iiii! i^ixes Iut ail nliiiiist iiiiliitiili'd iiillnciKi wiilun the Nplun nl liir attr.'ictidiis — \i't, sill is a sa\;ii,'( — a |iim)|-, imlaiiiilil. ileliidcd liuliaii — and >li»' is iilKindnni'd. In lii'i' '(/•/// :if/ liii>liand, uilhtlir sanir apatlri willi wllirli ;i WDi'ii niit ilniiit'sMi' animal i^ luilicd Iimisc to |i.'i'i?>li dii llii^ cnlMliion. As an cxanililr nl' the class nl WI'iMIUS In X^lilcll \\i- now iTlfi', \\i' sliall rrlalc a will antlii'Mliialid iih idrnt. llir {liii'licidais nt vvliiili nia\ lio liiniid in IIh nili'iistint.' ari'Miiit n| Lmii^'s lirsl ( \|ifdiii(iii til tlic K(»rk\ Mnniitaiiis. \n t iitri|iris|i|.j vnim'j Iradrr. w Im li:id istalili:-.|ird liiinsi'ir. !it a rriiH'lr Indian \illaifr, mi tlir Missmiri, iiiari'ird a liraiilitiil uiil, tlic daiislitci' iil° a |ii)\M'i°t'iil clii-'t'. Ilf rdlisldrnd tlir ina>Tia<^i' ;: inattrl' n|' liiijiiiirss, liis sdir iilijcrt lH'il|i„f til Sri ni'r tlir |i|n iil inn nl tlii> cllirj, :uid to ad\llli( Ills (i\Mi intiiTsts li\ LMiniiiu ihr riiiilidiiicT (il tlir tnlic Sill I uti-nd iiiln tlir t'liL'aui'iiii'lit ill uiMid lailli. and |ii'ini>tinu llir lia|i|iii;rss nl Inr liiislcind, and in »'nntril>iilinj In liis |irns|iiril\ — raillilnl and Mir-saciilirinu as wiuiiali I'Ml' 1^ wliil'r licr all'ii-liniis ;ilr llitiTislid. Tlirv li\rd ti'ijrlllrr ill li iinnilN tnr srMial \i'ais. wlicn tlir tiadiT. al'iint Id |il'ii<'riii nil Ills aillllial \ Isit tn St I .nllls, ;iniinuni'i'd. nn till' ('\(' III' liis d.'p'i.iiii'r, Ills iiiii'iitinii III r:ii'n willi liiiii tlinr nnU i luld. a Imi\ i'I' twn Vrars nid Siir liliinnstrii'i'd :i;_'inist lliis |il'ii<-r<'i|||lU — lint lii>, |ii'niiiisiim In irliirn ami liriii'.' Iiaik tin iliild, iltritrd Ins r. iarinlis |iiir|MisiV Sli-' li:id rnisiin In In |li\c lli;it tin sr|i:il';it|nn would l)r lilial : lull willi llli ini|il|i'l1 nhrdli n< r nl all llillllli Will', silt' snliiniltrd. iiiili! tin niniinnl '>l |rM'tiii'.'. \^li<'n Ini |' the Corest, and loduinti without any shelter but the anopv ol' Heaven, ami she stiHHJ bejure her husband, worn out and ainiost fatninlied, a wretched wnik ol her former sell'. She :iskcd, Mot to be resliiied to favor, not In sliari the weallli >he had assist( d tn tuirnini;, nor even fur a mnrscl o| bnail to revive her lamtiny iranin — btit oiilv for her I'luld ; and was sterulv nluseil. She beijijed to Im- admitted into the house as a servant, or to lie allowed In live in the neinhlxirliood — to be .s\iUered on anv terms lu remain near ihe sole remaininif objei t of b\ that >lieltireil her niilv eliild. She was the oUsiirimj: of a hiyb-spiriti d people — she was a wtmidii, all whose ri'jhts had been ootrayed, whose holii'sl aiVeetions had been vio- late'll nil lirr mhIi (i| t lie iiJl'IiI I<> :> [>!> tlif wii'tclifd jicrscM'iiiliri siiiiK iiiiili'i' 1 orniir iinii\ , r;iriii>lu'il \V( 1 tliiT, ciiilftl i AN Kss \ V ON riii: HIS I (I u v or 111(1 III! lllc luiiriiuc nl her lurc, slic rL'sliliicd lui Iciurlv ;in Is iIk liniiliiiii-'jrnmiils of lit iialliiii. I iiii'j, mill |u'iil imr- slioiiMrrs, siilisi>iiiiu (III nidls. (Ill v\ilil hint, iiikI dii siii.illcr :iiiiiii;il.s as she cdiilil riiti':i|i. iiiiil (-i'('('{iiii^ :it illi'l ol' IcaM's. ill aii\ liiicki't that cli dici' iiii::lil ollir, I iiidllicr |iiirsiicij licr wcarv ]iil!4riiiia'^c w illi iiiKlaiiiilol and li:i(l IK :iil\' rcailicd licr dotiiialKni. ulicii nIic the ctli lis d| liiiiiLici" ai.i I (aim III' Sdiiic d| llic dlliccrs |iassiiii;' tlin vilhiifc, wiicre sill jii'dlialih still resides, a li\iii2 uiliiess ol the iiielioratiiiii ctVects dl ( 'liris'.niiil \ and ci\ lii/atidii ii|i(iii the hiiiiiaii liea't, and (•sneciallv npoii the ddMiestic \irtnes. Mnriiid the re\(ilulidiiarv \^ar. (ii' liulit in the i|uaircl ol' aiidtlier alwa\s excite nidn aversion than the princiiial |kuI\ who makes liattle in iiis own ciiiiM'. K.missaries were now jilaulcd aloipj the whole rninlier, the I'lticfK <>(rutled in scarlet coats, and Itritish u;old and niilitar\ titles Vtl'fv li« lulled aiiidii.j- the trihes. 'Che lew restiMliits tli.il |irildencii :uiil deeelicv had le f lolore slljfifested. were lld\\ Idrjiitti li ; lUlli Mits dealt dill withoul i>(iMt llie (jesolatiiiui work ol lli< Idiiialiawk uti'I the firelirani! went Icvanl with renewed \ iuor iindei' the riii; Noinii a.mkhican indiws. ih\r, Ititroiiiiir,. ,,r tlir I )rr< 11(1. r nf llic I'aitli, ami new laurels uiri! aililcil ti) liic IJniisli wrcatii li\ llic iiiiiliiiL:lit iiirciiiliaiv , l)\ llicf |)liimicr III' an iiiianiicil pr i>anti\ , ;iiiil llir iiiiinlfr nf uoiiitii and I'liililrrn. It was no lonucr tlionirlit U'.'c('ssar\ to imulcato tin- ohscrvariic of Imniaiiilx , or anv ("hrislian \irtiic, and tlir laus ot" war wire sns|)(iidcd lor tlii' orcasion. 'I'lic saxairr aiiinlilc liir Mood was sliiirpi'Mcd l)\ arll'iil drviccs; and thrrc an instam-cs on ncord, in w liirli lln'jiivli nnissarii's prrsiil.d at llir torturin^i of [irisoncrs, and ri\allic| their red allies in tiie donmnia.' arts oi Miiiieancc. 'I'lie Indians wen- now literally Inrned loose, and s\sleinatic exertions were nsed to awaken tlieir jialoiisv and liatred at IiKhmI iu the historx ol our struuijle tiir inileiiendencp. '•!i all'cclino; and conclnsixe diustration ol' the truth of these remarks may lie found in the life of .losepli llrant. the celelirated Mohawk (ddcf recentiv puhlished. possessed ol slrouLT natural iltdilK s. and sent in early life to a schoul in \eu Kniiland, In; |uofiii(| l)\ iiiese advantaiji's so tar as to nhtain a tolei'alile lluiilisii education, and to endiracc. with nnich outu:u'd /eal, the Christiiui relioion. 'I'lie Mohawks, who then resided in the western part ol .New York, had always lived in anutv with the settlers, and on llie l)reakinMi'^r our frontier settlcmeiils — m hurninij thi' dwclliuas, and K -nlutint; S6rt AN KSSAY (IN llIK IIISTOUV (IK the i: inns, II r liis rtirmcr luiLililiors — in pillji'fin'f nnd iiinidcriiiv' ti (li'l't'iK'clcss people, witli wlioin liis own lul lowers liad been livinif on frienillN Innis, :inil witli uliuni lliey li.nl nou' no (piarrel. In sranch :iii msliun c do we liiul hitn leiidinLf Ins wiirriors ii^iiinsl tlie Aniei'ieaii armies, or eni:aLreiI in tliat letritiinute vvarfaro wliieli is alone i-onvidered iii>lilialtle In'tween civilized nations, or lionor- alile 1o those eiitia'^ed in it. He seems not to have eoveted tiie jj[Iorv wliieli is won on tlie l)attle-('ield. lie ravamil the lieh's and hlirned liie dxNcllinifs ol our people; he stole lljion them in the defeneeless honr of the ni<.dit, anhtereil men, women, and ehildren, o; earried them into a eapti" ;i\ -xorse than death. Those helpless lieinirs, who in eivili/.ecl warfare are never considered the jtroper snhjects of hostility, were marched, in mid-winter, throni,di the snide aiul the altar, Itnrned ehnr Ins and i^ranario, and [iractised all the cruelties of savatfe warfari'. \\'e are aware that (he hiotirapher of Mrant, while he dctads these atroeiln W III) Ih jiainful miniiteni'SN. endeavors to e.xonerate that Iciidt r from the eliariic ol per.soii:d cni(lt\. We ha\e n pecially for such as are transacted nndei' Ids immedi.'ite notice, and within the sphere of his per>onal com- inaiid iliii'ianii;. >hiidileis at the recital tif the enorlMitie.^ jirac- 1i:-i'(l. thro'.iiflioni a .serio o| \ears, iiiion the Ironiicrs o f New ^(.rk liy till' liidi:nis and lories, leil li\ Sir ( J n\ .lohn>|on. the Miiilers, and Hranl : and the odium nf lho.se deeds of IiIihiiI will roi. nut upon th( w retihed incendiaries :ind ninrderers, who.se hands were iinhr 1 in the lilood of a peaceahle and nnoHendinur peasaiitrs, Init ii|Min those who planned and I'ondiicled these nefarions expe- ditions 'I'hi' apolo<_rv attempti'd to he set up for the marindim; rhiels — that thev not »lraiii I heir liillowers — proves too much; for it points out, in the stroni:es' liiihl, the wickedness of r 1 (ir. N(»!! Ill A \i i:i! IC \N INDIANS. (•iii|ili>yiii'j: •ill ■'< inslrmiiriils, i.ikI Iciidiii:; tlicm u|iiiii siicli ciitcr- |iriscs. 'riicisf uhoari' Jiciniiiiiitt'd willi llir niilitiirv lialiils ol tlm liiili iiiN, llic laiitiini willi \\liiili tlicir cxiirililii.iis arc |ilaiiiin!, tlic cvacl ilis(i|iliiif uliiih is nhscrvi'd l>\ a \ ar |iar1\', ami tlic iinjilicit olM'diciifc of llic wan io.'s. \\ ill klinvi w \i> oliiiiatf tins cxi'iisc 'riic tnitli is, lliat wiiilc tlir nuiiiliy SI ill' red iiidisrrilial)l\ riniii tlicsc inliiiiiiaii and iiii|Mi|itii' iiii'iii'siuns, tlir Indian nnnd was cxritfd, i'\as|»('ratri!, and drlias.il i)\ tlicin, and tin) unliajniy liii'iih lilt u tell the t\Mi iMi'cs \\asnt('s liclwccn them and the savaiff tniiis, w lijrli liavc iriMii rise tn tVr(|ii('iit and dcstrin'li\(> wars. All the liuril'r scttlnmnts 111 1)111' niiinlrv lia\c lirm cNiiuM-d to |>rcdat(ii\ iiiriirsKins, and au nns|tarinii uailarr, ami a [Mridiar class nl' our |iii|iiilati(in liavf licrn raised np, wlin liavc iii'i'U|>ii'd a |ir(iniinrnt |ii>s'.tiiin in riiian! til tlir inti-mmrsc witli tiic Indians, ami dune iiiin'li In inndilN its eharaeier. We allii le to tlie Ixd kinxiilsmcn. wlm liave ne(n|iird the iViinti'rs III' innst uf ilie States, al'liiiiitili iIun lia\e lie.n mosl iniiiiei'iiiis ami riins|iii'ii(>iis in tlie W.-l 1) welliiiL; iVcni L'-niia- tinii III ijtnrraliiin nn llie iViintiei'. lar linin tin' marts nl I'uininiri'e, and rrmn llie nmrr enliulilemd |iiirtiiins nl siuietv , tlie\ ai'i|nii°eil a (listinet and struntily marked eliaraeter. 'I'liey were nnininallv rariners, lint were ratlnr a pastural than an aurienlt'iral [ien|ile, (lepeiidinii lnr liind imiie n|iiin tlieir cattle and Iiul's, lliat ran at larye in the wnnds, than n|iiin the |iii»iii ■■(• nl ihc snii 'I' ii\ vM ri' hunt crs and warrinis, r»l\iiiy mi the chase lnr a l.iii^e |iiirlinn nl their sul .istence, and hearinu arms cnntiiiiiall\ , tn |iriitect their mamiiiir herds rmm the marandinu fndian, their i!\\ellinL.'s and Itariis rrmn cmilla^ratinn, and their ui\es ami children linin the tniiiih lU k 11; IV lie. mi cmnnierce. and scnceU' an\ iiiti rcmirse with stranijers, destitiile n|' all the Inviirns, aiii| of mans nl' u hat >\o esteem the necessaries nl" llie, their wants were lew, and tin ii lis AN KSSAY ON Tlir. IIISTOltV OK liiiliiis smijilf, 'I'll .v dwelt ill ln!4-t':il)iiis iinistnictril 1)\ tlictii- scIm's, \\ i'.li si';iiitI\ iiii\ utiici' tnuls tli;iii ihc ii\c iiiiil liic iiiijirr ; :iiiil tlicir fiiriiiliiic vmis, t'or lli'/ most |i;iil, of tlirir i>\mi raliricatioii. 'i'lirir I'inilc III' lil'i' iiiilui'cil iii(lr|ii'nilriici' of llioiiL'lit, iiiid liuliits dl' si'll'-rrliMiirc ; liir, as llirrcwas Itiit imr class, ami (me (icni|iatiiiii. •ill were cinial, ami carli was tlirnwii n|)oii Iiis dwii ri'Sdiircts. 'I'lnv liail mmr nf tlir lirl|is lli;,t \w riijnv in rt'linrd societies, from till' \aiirty III' iimrcssioiis ami trailis, wliicli adiiiiiiistti" tn all .mr waiit>. '11111 nlicM' \is Irniii tip' luccssitN' nl cMTtiiiLr our own inifcnnitw and |)livsical sliTniitii, i \ri|it in tlic sintdr diriition in wliicli we cliooM' to ini|iloy tlirni. 'I'lirv were a smiiil and lios|iitaiili' |iiii|ilc ; linixc, licncrons. and ]i:i1iiiilic ; |iiior, lint nut sordid; lalmrioiis, Iml not iVniral. i^'roin caiK inliinix tlir\ were accnstonied to tlie lia\ int' of the wolf, uml llie \ill I'l the Indian: and associatini.'' IIum' sonnds as franudit ahke willi treacliery and danijf, tliey learned to distinunisli in eai'li till- Muee of a tiie 'I'lie tales that tirst awakened tlie aliention of cliildliiiiid were ol' tlie |iainted savage, cieeiiinii with tlie stealtliv (lead 111 the pailtller, niioll the slee|)ili'_' iiiiiiates of tin ciihili — of the niidiii'jht eoiillaifraliiiii, liijliliiiii' ii|i. with its horrid ylare, the LdiMiiii 111 the surionmliiiij forest — of hleidiim scalps, lorn Ironi tlie heads ol' i;ra\ haired old men, o!" infants, and of wmiien — of niotlurN and children carried awav into ca|iti\il\ — and of the di'eadlnl scenes 111 torture at the stake The tales of the Veteran warrior — the ad\iiitiires that aliimst e\ir\ \enei;il)|e iiiatrnii cimiM relate from her own e\|ieiience — the esc;i|ies oj Ihe lninter fioiii the saxaye amhnscade — the stirrintj: incidents of the liattli the strateirv of iMirder warfare — the sudden return of lonijdosl frii'ieU — and the recital of the prisnner delivered fnuii eapti\it\ — these fmiiii d the leijendary topics of lie liorder, and iiiniilded the minds and till- pii jiidiics of till' peiipl ■|'l ie\ L!i'ew' np 111 (Ueail anil loathini! ol the wnlf. the p;inllier. the rattlesnake, and the Indian: reijanl iiiL' tliein as foes alike nilhiess and iiisidiniis. who wa\ laid Til i: No HI' II AM i:i{|( AN IN hi \ NS. ;!<;:) tlii'ir |iulli. ;iiii| >ln|i' M|iiiii tlinii in tin- Imui' ol' >lrr|p So i\t(iisi\i' unci sncri'>st'nl li:iil litrn tlw ini'niMims nj' tiir Imliiins, ilmt tlicrc was scare riy a mi^'lilxn-lionil llial liad mil its liattli liclil, m- its nidf scpiilrlirc of (li'piirlcd valor, nor a t'aniiU w liirli liail mil it^ talc of sorrow, ri'latinij; to some iicciiliar and nirlaiicliiiU licriaMMitnt liv tin" iiand ol ihc savaLic \i\ s( cuainorcd ucri' liior iicniilc of tlicir N\ l\ an iili'. rn\ irnncd as it uas\\illi inijUKtiuli' and daiiurr, tliat, as the natnrs n'l'idtd I'artlii'r ami lartlur tu the wi^t, tlir\ |iiirsrnd llicir rniit.-,'n.'|).-., i-aticr In possess tin- mw land>. and tlu' Ircsli pastiiiTs tlicy liad lorsakcn. and rcirardlrss of daniirrs In wliirli llit'V were ai'ciisloinnl. Urrd iVoin generation to ucneratiou in the forest. |lie\ uere as e\pert a^ the Indian, in all the arts ol' tlie iiiinter. and all the deviies ol'savaLli' hliv Like hini lhe\ eould sleer their \\a\ with iinerriii;^ skill tJiroiiMh the traekless t'orest, eould lind and prepare tin ir ovni IikkI. and dejeiid theliiseUes aijailisl tile \ ieissltlldes of ihi" Weather. (oiiipellcd at first iiv their necessities to derive i snhsistence jroni llie spontaneous wcaltli of naliire. tiie\- leariieil to seek with sivill and asviddilN all the products of the wilderness, ihe llesh of the liuilalo ;iii(! llic deer, the skin of the lieaxir. and the iiiltrilloiis hoard ol' tlie iiee, ami liecailie so ;iddli'ted to these pursuits as to preler t In iii toliie IjiImii's of hiisliaiidiv . AcipiiriiiLi hardihoiKl and coiiraL;c In tliise lliaillv evercises. the\ hecaiile a niaitial peojile, eiiterprisiiiL; and fearless, careless ol exposure. e\|iert in Imrs. niaiishi|). and trained to the Use of arms In their loici hiinliiiL; i \peditions tlie\' peiic- trated into the Indian coiiiitry. and made reprisals for the depreda- tions of the sa\aites; and in retaliation for tin; hostilities of the red men. tlii'v oriiaui/ed parties, and pursued them liv lahnnous niarchi's to their liislant viliaun's It will lie readily seen that the lialred lietwecii these jiarlies, handed down Irom Lather to son. and iillamed 1p\ coiitinual .iif'jrressioiis, would he mutual. deadU, and irrocohcilahle. Uotwecii parties tlius mutually lio.stile, there wmild ari.s<', iiii 47 870 AN I;SS \V (IN I'lIK IIISIOU V (IT nvdidililv. iiiaiiv nrcuNidiis (if olVcnrc, vsliii-li no |inir till' < invrriiiiii'iil rmilil |ii'i'\i'iit Iviiul ami llirliriinii'^ a> iiiir ( idvcnimriil u:i> in nxcildnlsiiii.' jiast air'_rrrssiiiiis, ami lilii'i'.'il a> tlii'\ witc hi all tin- ilcaliiius svitli tlu' till It wa^ iiii|i(i>>liili to sMiillir till' >|iii'it III I'l'M'iiL'r i(ii|ilaiil('i| in tlir Navaj^t) in 'as t 1 i\ a IdllL'' M' llrs 111' war and fiiili'arliiiU'llts. Il.sll rss ami arlikr in llirir lialnts. the imiiiii iiiciils In jiracr riiiili! iirvcr li «triiiii;l\ ll \ ini|iri'Nsri| nil Ilirir iiiimls. am! wIhii 111 |iii»|ii'('t (i| ililiid cr was ailijrcl 1(1 tile liisl jiii' riM'iiU"'. till' trni|itali(iii u"iis so strniiL; as In (iMrcnnn' all |iriiilriilial innlnis IIm'Ii wIuii the tiilics as JMMlii's wirr liirmlK . ami llnir IimiIcis (lis|i(isiMl tci inaiit- tain licai'C, tlnrr wrrr Inosc ami Mrinlls imllMillials, wlin, strnllillir .iV iimlrr Ih 'tniir (if liiititiiiir. vviiiiM fni-in small Itaiids, anil aiiii(i\ ihi' .-Ncttli'iiitnls liv sicalinu: Imiso. ni' killinu^ tlic cattlr and lintfs llial niaiiicd in the un "^ninttiinrs tliisr [iiivatc wars, if We ina\ iiialvr llic disliiictinn, wcit ranicd liirllicr; a Ikhisc vmhiM hr I Mininl. a t'ainil V innnli'n d, iml a wliojr iii'|ijlilini°liiini| alariiii'i Till' liordiTcrs wciT ni>t slow In rclalialc. I piiii tlir |i(r|M'lratii>n of sii'li an onlraiff, a pailv wniil lie I'uiii'i' \vitli wiiiidri-rnl I'i'Icrilv. and tlic d('|in'datnrs liciiiix |inrsiii'd, wcir dltcn nvfrlakrn, and a |i:irt il nnt all i>\ liii'in shin. I'assinn .s luNrr |iisl, ami rrvcii'^o is lint sirn|iiiliiiis as In the inca--inr nt' tin- ntiiltntinn it t'xat'ls. I'ai'lics rii'.aircd in piiisiiinti inarandtis wcif nnl iilways salislicd witli |iniiisliiiiu; tlic unilty, lint, in tlir liial nf ]iassinn. attacked nilicr Imlians wliniii llii'\ an ulnitidU im t. m (li^siin\('d till' \illar nnolli'iidiny tri! I'nrni'lnnati'lv, it v.as dilHi-iill In disi'riiniintc in casts .ij tins kind. Inr lli< Indians were so licklc, ami tlnir \in|:iliniis ol ilini- rii^^a'^i'incnls so lic- i|iii'nt and siiddcn, tliat llic w liilcs. Ii\ im_' in cnntinnal a|i|ii'('lirn- sion iml III III.' Ind cniistant r\|M'rii'iici' of tlir irntalili' and Imslili- lan mind. \m i'c. in most cases, niialilc to dcciilc Mate n| ll \\ Ik tlii'f an auiii'i'ssinn cnmmillcd u as die icii.l a lau'liss li'w , nr tlio assault nl' a uar |iai I \ , and llic Inrcinniici' nl a !i|nod\ uar. TlIK Noinil Wir.ltHVN INDIANS. Ml Till' Imlians, on llic *A\ttr liaml, vvi'H' siiIiJimM In a vorv snions ^'ri(;v!iii('i>. Sn)).si>iiii^ riitii'i'lv In liimtinLr, tlir '^atiii' in tliiir fon^HtN is as valiialilr In lliriii as iitir laltlc arc tn iis, and tliry I'otisidtT llii'iiisflvt's as |)iiss(>ssiiiir a |)ri>|)frtv in tlicir liiinlin^- y^ri»uin!s, wliicli llicv riKanl \miIi i;ii:it jraloiisv. Scmtc 1:i\ns wen- passed hv ( 'nntfcrss In |irnli'(l llic n in tlirsc ri'_dits, and forliiddinii onr |ifn|i|(' iVuni ti'rs|ias>ini; n|ii>n tin- Imlian Ininlint;- uroinnU; yet nnr liunttTs unidd nt'ii-n |)ass inlc tlic Indian niniilry, and drslioy vasi ipiantilics cif iranic. I'lic inaclicc nf iiiinliiii; upon tlit'ir lanils uriw intn a nion^lions alinsc ; llmusands (if wild animals, I'lnni whii'h tlii-y diiiMd tlicir solf snlisistrniT, wcri' annnally dcslrciyt-d liy lli«' wliilcs. Maii\- purls oj' tlic couiilry vvliirli al)onuiird in Kanic, at llii' fonilnsion nl" \\)r if', mral pmwc ill 170.'), soon Iwranit' InlalU dcslilntr 'I'lir sittlcrs mi tlic iicitflihnrini,' tVniiticr were in llic lialut nt' passinif into tlic Indian tcrriliiry every antnnin, In kill hear, sessinn nj" niir natiniial llcntaLTe I'nr wliicli We had tnii!„'hl, we tniind it eiiciiiiip;issed with enemies. The snnlhcrn and western trihes were m-ncrallv Imstilc. On the Iwrders of rcnnsylvania, \ ir^inia, and \nrth (arnlina, the tniiia- h:i\vk was hiisy, and the Imests nt" Kcnliicky and Tennessee pri-- senled a vast scene nt caniaiic. Had niir rulers heeii animated hv the same "jraspinu and nnscriipiilniis pnlic\. which seems tn hav(! Iifcn pursued hv all other nalinns in their dealiiiij[s w itii tiic lieatlicii, ii fair nppnrlunity was nllcrcd I'nr its exercise. The pinneers were alreah siistainiiiLj thcinsehes wilh credit mi nnr woteni Itnrdcrs, and, witli a little eiicmna^cineut t'mm the (in\ern- ineiil. wniiid lia\c extirpated ;ill the tlli)es w im nppiiMcj their prniJ[ress. I')liip|n\ inenl llli^ht iia\e hecn yivell In the trnnps. a72 AN KSS \V (»\ rilK Ills jOUV «»|" \\liirli ('iiiiiinj.s liiiiiiil it iictcsNiirv l<> (liNltaiiil ; iiiid the \ctt'raiiH U'llii ll.nl ftMI'^Ilt lnl- iMi|r|li'l|i|i'lli'i' Mliullt llMM' llt'l'll lew ill'ilcd W it!) lllf ImIIiIs III' iilir t'lHIIlil'S Hill llic Ul'rllt lllrll wlltl tili'M SWIIVi'd mil' I'liiiin lis iliMlaiiinl tin- |ialti'y Mpii'it ol irviii'jr. ami uirr tno ii|ii'iulil III I'liiiiniil ail ai't wliirii wiiiilil |ia\i lircn iiii>i"ill\ wi'diiu. 'I'lirv kiirw til it till' iiiiiiaiis hail liri'h aliiisiil aiiil iniNlril. In till saiiir |iii\M-i' v\ liH'li liail ti°aiii|il('il lUi iiiirnwii ri<:lits, iiiiil liail atliiltrrati il mir Iti-st iiistitiitiniis liv an ailiiiivtiirr nl rurri<_rii ami |M'i'iiii'i |ii'iiii'i|ilr<< ; aiiil tlir\' lirti'i'iiiiiii'il In liii-ijrt all tlic ai^' iri'CMMitills I'l tlial lilil|:i|i|i\ rail', tn will tliilii tii ll'lili' l's, anil til r\li'llil III tlirlii llii' liiMi'al aiiij rl\ll lilrssjuMs wlili'li liail Imi'II |iiii'r|iast'i| |i\ iiiil'i>v\li rliiaiiri|iatiiili. I'l'r>ii|rllt W asliiiii^tiiii I't-riiiiiiiiriiili'il llic liiiliaiis In tlir |iati'iiial rarr ol' ( iiiiLiri'ss, jiihI all Ills Mim'SMtr.s have hi'fu ijuvi riitil li\ tlir saiim riiltii':;i'il aiiil liuiiiaiii- \ irw s Till' \\ar> ulllill .slli'iTi ilril tliat nl till' l!i \'i|lltli'll Wnr 111 ilill'l' MillL'llt li\ lis, linr well' llii'N |i|'iisi I'llti il jiU' iilir liiiHililit |ii|li;i'r lliaii was ii('ia's.sar\ Inr tin- tlclciici' <>l llir li'niitiii'.s Sn rdi'iiL'ii Iriilii till* vifws (if iiiir < invi riiinriit \m rr all iilras nl' i >(, that till' trnn|is Milt nut iimlrr llaiiin l' anil Si (lair wci'r lint Mlf- lii'ii'iilU iiiiiiirriiii> tn inaiiilain a stain! in tlir w ililrnirss. iinr |iin\ii|i'i| Willi >u|.jilii s tni' I'Viii mil' I aiii|iai'jii ; ainl llir arinv nl Was III' was Niitni'imis niiU llimiiuli till' <'\i rlmn nl' MH'jn'ai' hkill ami L'alhiiitrv . hr ti('al\ nl (iri'i'iixi in nil.-., Iiv (inn ral W IS III', al. till' lirail n| a \ nlnnniis arniv, w ith thr rllii Is nl' thr tnlirs w lid had |iist III I'll \ani|iiislii i| in liattlr. ali'nrils tiir slmnni si i \ii|( nrr nlllir jiaiiiii' ^il'V^^ nl' mir (in\rriinirnl Nnlliiii'^ IS (laiinrd in lliai tri'at\ In riulil nl rnii(|in'st. 'j'lii' |i:irta's ay;ri r In tstalilish a |irr|i('liial |H'arr, tlir Indians ai'kiinw Inl.i.rr t!irii,.M'i\t's tn lir iimlcr tlic |irilrrllnn nl tin I nitril Stairs, and lint nl' ail\ liil'i'iij'li linwrr; tli('\ |iriiiniM' tn -.ill tliiir lam! In thr I nitn! Stairs niilv, till' InttiT itlfrn's In jiintirl lliiiii, aiid a leu i'1'i.'iilaliniis ail' adn|it(d In gnveni I'lii: son I II \ mi; mew imm ws. :i7.i llm iiilnciMirsr ImIwcih the |i,irlii's; ii hniindiirs liin' i.< isluMislinl, llV wliii'll lllr lliil|:il IS I'linl'inti t.i IIS liiryr trarts of liiiiil, iicarlv III wliii'li liail Imtii cnli'il In us li\ liifiii r li'i'iitirs ; and llic I'liili'il Slates aifiTcs 1i> |ia\ llnin h.mkU tn thr miIiichI Iwintv tlinii>aiiil iliillars, and Id inalvr llniii a rurllirr |iasiii('iil nf imih' tlmiisaiid IImi liiiiidnd dollars aiiiiiiallv. 'I'liiis, iii ntmilialintr a |u'arr, al llir licail-(|iiaiti'|-s (if mil' anii\, aid r a siiriial xiiMurv, wlicii v. c 'ni'jlit li.ivr dirlaliil, and |irnliidil\ dnl dutalr, tlir tiiiiis, \\c ic(|iiirn lllllllllM. w hiIm r jiarlics, lull ll ic |iiiluriiiaii(c III their |ii"'\ iiiiiH vojiiiitarv iMiifayemeiits. and ur |iiiriliase tlieir rneii(|.s|ii|) In an aiiiiiial Iriliiite I advert to tins treaty as mie >>{ the nidst jni- portaiit, ami as rnniimii the iiindei and liasis i.l' aliimst all tlie Indian treaties w liieli have si leeeei led it. I'Viiiii this time liirvvanl mir ( iuverimn nt cdi imiied |,. |iiM'siie :i eiiiic'ilial'>i'\ ami Iniiiiaiie eniidiii'l Inwards the Indians. In a li llei." Irniii llie •I'ltarv n| \\ ir In ( ieneral llarrisnii, (iuvi >r th Indiana 'rerrilnry. dated l'eliriiar\ -J."!!!, I"«n',», the rnllnwinif Ian- "It is the ardent wish nl the President of tint llsei Unaye I'nited Stales, as v.ell fruni a |iriiiei|ile ul' hninaiiitv, as iVniii dntv and siMiml |in|ii-\, that all [irndeiit iik aiis in mir jinvver shall he nnreiniltinirlv piirsm tnr irr\ MIL' into elleet Ihi' hemvnlelit views nl' ( 'onifress, relative tn the Indian nalinns within the hniimls :m -."i^ ^^> y ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 13 W*' T MAIN STREFT WerSTER.N.V. 14580 (>16) 872-4503 ^ <^.^ '^A' '^M^' '((j % \\ V^O y 374 A\ ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF and lil)('ral we can do for them, within the bounds of reason, and by giving tliem eflectual protection against wrongs from our pco- pUi." Again ; " In this way our settlements will circumscribe and approach the Indians, and they will cither incorporate with us, as citizens of the United States, or remove beyond the Mississippi. The former is certainly the termination of their history most happy for themselves; but in the whole course of this, it is most essen- tial to cidtivate their love ; as to their fear, we presume that our strength and their weakness are now so visible, that they must see we have only to shut our hand to crush them, and all our liberalitj" to them proceeds from motives of humanity alone. Under date of December 22, 1808, President Jefferson wrote thus: — "I.i a letter to you of February 27, 1S02, I mentioned that I had heard there was still one Peoria man living, and that a com- pensation making him easy for life should be given him, and his conveyance of the country by regular deed obtained. If there be such, a man living, I think this should still be done." Here was an instance in which, a tribe being supposed to be extinct, tlie Government had taken possession of the country which had been owned T)y tLem ; but the President of the United States afterwards hearing that one individual of that tribe was in existence, proposed to pay him for the soil and get a conveyance from him. We doubt whether, in the annals of any other nation than our own, so scru- pulous an act of justice can be shown; and we suppose that Mr. Jefferson had regard not merely to the rights of the survivor of tlie almost extinct tribe, but to the salutary and important principle to wdiich he wished to give publicity, and which has always been recognized by our government, namely, that we claim no right to take the lands of the Indians from them except by purchase. From the close of the Revolution the agents of the British Go- vernment continiied to exercise all the incendiary arts of their despicable diplomacy, in perpetuating the animosity of the Indians against our country and people. It is probable that until the con- THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. elusion of the war of 1812, the mother country never eiitii-elj abandoned the hopi; of reihu^ntr her lost Colonies to tlieir former state of sul)jection. Alarmed at the rapidity with which our set- tlements were spreading to tlie west, they attempted to oppose barriers to our advance in that direction, by inciting the savages to war ; and erpially alarmed at our efforts to civilize the tril)es, and fearful that they niiglit l)e induced to sit down under the pro- tection of our republican institutions, and thus bring an immense accession to our strength, they insidiously endeavored to counter- vail all our benevolent exertions of that description. If I had not the proof at hand,. I would not venture to expose to the Christian world the extent, the wickedness, the unhap])y tendency of these intrigues. The United States were engaged in an experiment which w^as approved by every virtuous man, and ought to have been supported by every enlightened nation. Tliey were earnestly endeavoring to reclaim the sa\'age — to induce the tribes to abandon their cruelties, their superstitions, their comfortless and perilous wanderings, and to sit down in tlie enjoyment of law, relitrion, peace, industry, and the arts. They wished to send the cross of the Redeemer, the blcssmgs of civil liberty, and the lirdit of science, abroad throughout this vast continent; and to establish ])eace and good-Mill in those boiuidless forests which had hereto- fore been the gloomy aboiles of terocious ignorance, vindictive pa^ssion, and sanguinary conllict. Had they been successful in this beneficent design, they would have achieved a revolution as gloriovts as that which gave us independence. The English cabi- net, nursing their resentment, and brooding over their gih- l)oring fort assisted in the council of chiefs who arranged the plan of lliat engjigenient ; and thai the vanquished savages took shelter in the Britisli fort. The conduct of Great Britain, in tampering with the American Indians, was so ine.vcusable, was fraught with such cruel mockery to tlie Indians who were llie ignorant dupes of that policy, and exercised so powerful an inlluence upon the fate and character of that unfortunate people, that it will not, we trust, be considered inappropriate to exhibit some of the jjroofs of this interference. Tiiese proofs are numerous, but wo shall only select a few at random. Colonel Gordon, a British oiTicer in Canada, in a letter to Cap- tain Brant, dated June 11, 1791, in allusion to the attempts of the American Government to make peace with the Indians, remarks : '■ It must strike you, v(M-y forcibly, that in all the proceedings of the diflercnt Commissioners from the American States they have cautiously avoided apjilying for our interference, as a measure they affect to think perfectly unnecessary ; wishing to im])iess the Indians with ideas of their own consequence, and of the little influence, they would willingly believe, we are possessed of. This, my good friend, is not the way to proceed. Had they, before mat- ters were pushed to extremity, requested the assistance of the British to bring about a peace upon ccpiitable terms, I am con- vinced the measure would have been fully accom])liished before lliis time." The cool arrogance with whicii the Americans are TIIR NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 381 sneered at for not iiiviliiiir the intin-fereiifo of a foreign yovi.n'ii- moiit, in a (|uarrel willi savages, living witliiu our limits, is onlv exceeded by the art evinred in tlie assertion that such a nicdiation would have been successful. The writer knew tliat tlie existiii<-- dissatisfaction was caused chielly by the intrigues of liis own Government, and ho hazardcid little in saying that, witli the assistance of the British, peace might have been established.— Stone's Life of Brant, vol. ii. p. 301. On the 1st of May, 17<.i-2, Brunt was addressed by Mr. Joseph (.'hew, an ollicer under Sir John Johnson, expressing much satis- faction at the refusal of Captain Brant to accept an invitation, from the Secretary of War, to visit Philadelphia, on a mission of peace, and advising the chief of the preparations the Americans were making for an Indian campaign. The following passage occurs in this letter : — " I see they expect to have an army of about five thou- sand men, besides three troops of horse. By the advertisements for supplies of provisions, &c., it seems that this army will not be able to move before the last of July. What attempts Wilkinson and Ilamtramck may make with the militia is uncertani. Oi/r fn'auh ought to be on their guard. I long to know what they think iu England of the victory gained over St. Clair's army.— Stone's Life of Brant, vol. ii. p. 327. The Government of the United States, in its anxiety to make peace with the north-western tribes, in Fel)ruary, 1793, ap|)ointed General Benjamin Lincoln, Mr. Beverly Randolph, and Colonel Timothy Pickering. Commissioners to hold a treaty at the Miamis, with such of the tribes as might choose to be represented. The arrangement for this meeting had been made with the Indians the preceding autumn, and it is a curious fact, that they requested tliat some individuals of the Society of Friends should be attached to the mission — so widely had the fame of Penn and his people extenden, and such was the confidence of the tribes in the integrity of that pacific sect. At the same time some Quaker gentlemen, 3S2 AN KSSAY ON Till: HISTOHV OF willuml cuiiccrt witli the Iiidiiiiis, hikI iiistiifatcd only l)y \]iv piircsit iiii|)iils(,' of bcncvoloncc, had voluiitiu-ily oIl'iTcd their aid and me- diatioii, wliich was accepted. Tlie Cotnniissioners, tlicn^fon', were accoiiij)aiiiod hy John Parrisli, William Savcry, and JdIiu Fillidt, of Pliiladclpliia ; Jacob Liiidlay, of Chester county; and Joseph Moore and William llartshorne, of New Jersey, meiid)ers of the Society of Friends. On the arrival of the Commissioners at Queenston, on tlie Nia- ^rara. on the 17lh of May, they found that Rraiit and some of his Indians, with Colonel Biillcr, the British superintendent of [ndian Affairs, had proceeded to the jjlace of meelinif — l)ut llie Conuni.s- sioiu'rs were detained here, under various pretences, by Governor Sinieoe, until the Ufith of June. On their arrival at llii' month of Detroit River, they were obliired to land, by the British authorities at Detroit, who forbade their further approach, for the present, towards the place of meeting. Here they were met by a deputa- tion from the Indian nation already assembled in council, who, among other things, asked them if they were fully authorized by the United States to fix firmly on the Ohio River as the boundary line between the white and red men. From the 1st to the IJth of August the Commissioners were detained at this place, by the intrigues of the British ofiiccrs; in the mean while the Indians decided, in the great council, that they would nf)t treat upon any other terms than the settlement of the Ohio River as tlu; boundary. To this the Commissioners could not consent, the more especially as large purchases of land had been made from the Indians north of that river, upon \. hich .settlements had been made; and they returned without having been permitted even to meet the tribes in council. If any doubt existed as to the duplicity of the Canadian authori- ties, in regard to this transaction, it would be removed by the testimony of Captain Brant, who played a conspicuous part in those councils. His biographer, Mr. Stone, among the many r TIIH NOllTII AMKllIC.W IN1J[ANS. 38;j valuable (IncntiKMits ll|•oll^dlt lo lii-lit hy his rcsciirdi, has [)iil)lished tlic followiiin- cxtracl IVdiii a s|)c(ch, whirli hv Ibimd amoiiH- iho |):i|i(M-s (if MiMiil, ill the ii l-uritiiin- (if the chief: — " For several years" (after tlie peace of 17*?-2,) "we were eii<^astern brethren in trying llie fortuiu; of war. But to our surprise, when on tlie point of entering upon a treatv with the Comiriissionors, wc found that it nris opposed hij t/iosc acting under the British Gonernment, and hopes of further assistance were (jiren to our western brethren, to encourage them to insii*t on the Ohio as a boundary between them and the United States."— 5'/o//e\<; Life of Brant, vol. ii. p. 358. In all the intrigues of Canadi+tn authorities with the Indians, Brant was the agent most frequently employed ; and it was after a thorough investigation of the papers of that chief, and of a mass of documentary evidence furnished by his family, that Mr. Stone came to the conclusion, "that during the wliole controversy be- tween the Indians and the United States, from 1786 to the defeat of St. Clair, the former had been countenanced and encoiu-aged bv English agents, and repeatedly excited to actual hostilities, there was no doubt." In the year 1794 Lord Dorchester, who is better known m American history by his former litle of Sir Guy Carleton, delivered as I AN IvSSAY ON TIIK 'IISTOUY OF ii spcccli to ;i miinlKir of Iiiiliiiii (li'iiiilics, (Voin tlic Irilics witliiii tli(.' rnitcd Slates, Jiinonif whom was tlio colubratcd Little 'rurtlc, in wiiicli lie held llic I'lillowing laiigiKi^fc ; "Cliildicii : — 1 was in cxpcrlalioii of hoaring from the people (if tlio T'nitcd States what was refpiired by them; I hoped that I sliould have been al)le to brinssiiig character — wars, the miseries of whicli fell solely upon iiidividual.s, wlio were robbed, and tortured, and murdered, by those who jirofessed to be allies, and who were, in fact, the dependants and beneficiaries of our own Government. Towards the year 1R12, the Indians became more and more auda- THE NORTH AMERICAN INPJIANS. 3S7 cious. The expectation of a war between tliis conntry and Great Britain, the increased Ijribes and redoubled intrigues of that nation, and the prospect of gaining in her a powerful ally, gave new fuel to their hatred, and new vigor to their courage. At this period, the celebrated Tecumthe appeared upon the scene. He was called the Napoleon of the West; and so far as that title could be earned by genius, courage, perseverance, boldness of conception, and prompti- tude of action, it was fairly bestowed upon that distinguished Tecumthe was a remarkable man. lie rose from obscurity to the command of a tribe, of which some of his family were distin- guished members, but in which he had no hereditary claims to power or authority. He was by turns the orator, the warrior, and the politician; and in each of these capacities gave evidence of a high order of intellect, and an elevated tone of thought. As is often the case with superior minds, one master-passiou filled his heart, and gave to his whole life its character. This was hatred to the whites; and, like Hannil)al, he had sworn that it should be perpetual. He entertained the vast project of inducing the Indian tribes to unite in one great confederacy, to bury their feuds with each other, and to make common cause against the white men. He wished to extinguish all distinctions of tribe and language, and to combine the power f.nd prejudices of all, in defence of the rights and possessions of the whole, as the Aboriginal occupants of the country. He maintained that the Great Spirit, in establishing between the white and red races the distinction of color, intended to ordain a perpetual separation between them. He insisted that this country had been given to the Indian race; and while • e- cognized the right of each nation or tribe to the exclusive use of their hunting-grounds, so long as they chose to pos.sess them, he indignantly denied the power of any to sell them. When the occupants of any tract of country removed from it, he considered it as reverting to the common stock, and free to any other Indians 388 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF who inight choose to settle upon it. The idea of selling land, he s oiited as an absurdity. "Sell land !" he c.vclaimod on one occa- sion ; " as well might you ])retend to sell the air and the water The Great Spirit gave them all alike to us, the air for us to breathe, the water to drink, and the earth to live and to hunt upon — you may as well sell the one as the other!" He contended, therefore, that as the Indians had no right to cede any portion of their terri- tory, all the cessions that had been made were void. In these views he was strengthened by the British officers, who found in him ;ni able and apt coadjutor; and by tlieir joint machinations tiie whole frontier was tlirown into commotion. By their advice he insisted upon the Ohio IJiver as the line of separation between the United States and tlie Indians, and refused to make peace upon any other terms than the solemn recognition of this as a yerpetnal hoiiiuhry. •It was a part of the policy of this chief, to destroy entirely the influence of the whites, hy discouraging tlieir intercourse with the Indians. He deprecated the civilization of the latter, as a means of betraying them into the power of the white people, and he con- sidered every kind of trade ;ind intercourse between these parties as fraught with danger to the independence of tlie red men. He wished the latter to discard every thing, even the weapons, wliicli had been introduced among them by the whites, and to subsist, as their ancestors had done, upon the products of their plains and forests, so that the inducement to traffic with the whites should be destroyed. He set the example, by abstaining entirely from the use of ardent spirits, and many other articles sold by the traders; he refused to speak the Englisii language, and adhered as strictly as yjossible to the customs of his people. It was with Tecumthe him.self, that General Proctor, the com- mander of the British forces, made the disgraceful compact, at the commencement of the campaign of mui, by which it was stipu- lated, that General Harrison, and all who had fought with him at TIIK NORTH AMEHTCAN I\i)lA\S. 389 Tippecanoe, should, if taken, be delivered up to the Indiuns, to be dealt with accordining highly interesting anecdote. "The next action in which Tecumthe partici[)ated, and in which he manifested signal prowess, was an attack made by the Indians, upon some flat boats descending the Ohio, above Limestone, now Maysville. The year in which it occurred is not stated, but Tecumthe was probably not more than sixteen or seven- teen years of age. The boats were captured, and all the persons belonging to them killed, except one, who was taken prisoner, and afterwards burnt. Tecumthe was a silent spectator of the scene, having never witnessed the burning of a prisoner before. After it was over he exprcLSsed, in strong terms, his abhorrence of the act, 3!1() AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF and it was 'finally concluded by tlie party that tliey would nevtr Uuru any more prisoners; and to this resolution, he himself, and the jnrty also, it is believed, ever after scrupulously adhered. It is not less creditable to the humanity than to the genius of Tecum- the, that he should have taken this noble stand, and by the force and eloquence of his appeal, have brought his companions to the same resolution. He was then but a boy, yet he had the inde- pendence to attack a cherished custom of liis tribe, and the power of argument to convince them, against all their preconceived no- tions of right, and the rules of their warfare, that the custom should be abolished. That his eilbrt to put a stop to this cruel and revolting rite, was not promptenl by a temporary exjjediency, but was the result of a humane disposition, and a right sense of justice, is abundantly shown by his conduct towards prisoners in after life." We may add, that not only did the friends of Tecum- the, and his nation abandon the practice of burning prisoners, but th'j Indians generally ceased from alwut this period to perpetrate this outrage, and it is reasonable to infer that he was the principal cause of the revolution. The noble and magnanimous conduct of this chief, towards some Americans who were aken prisoners at the sortie from Fort Meigs, in 1813, is worthy of record. These prisoners were taken to the head-quarters of General Proctor, the British commander, and con- fined in Fort Miami, " where the Indians were permitted to annisc themselves by tiring at the crowd, or at any particular individual. Those whose tastes led them to inflict a more cruel and savage death, led their victims to the gatewaj', where, under the eye of General Proctor and his ofiicers, they were coolly tomahawked and scalped. Upwards of twenty prisoners were thus, in the course of two hours, massacred in cold blood, by those to whom they had voluntarily surrendered. " Whilst this blood-lhirstv carriage was rajrinir, a thnnderinT voice was heard in their rear, in the Indian tongue, and Tecnmthe THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 391 was seen coniino- willi all llu> rapidity with wliich his horse could carry him, until ho drew near to where two Indians had an Amori- nan, and were in tlie act of killiujr lijm. lie sprang from his horse, ranght one l)y the throat, and the other by the breast, and threw them to the ground ; drawing his tomahawk and scalping knife, he ran in between the Ainerieans and Indians, brandishing his arms, and daring any one of the hundreds that surrounded him, to attempt, to murder another American. They all appeared confounded, and innnediately desisted. His mind appeared rent with passion, and he exclaimed almost witli tears in his eyes, ' Oh ! what will be- come of my Indians?' He then demanded, in an authoritative tone, where Proctor was ; but casting his eye ujjon him at a short dis- tance, sternly intpiired why he had not put a stop to the inhuman massacn\ 'Sir,' said Proctor, 'your Indians cannot be commanded.' 'Begone,' returned Tecumtli(<, with the greatest disdain, 'you are unfit to command; go and put on petticoats !"'—D/-fl/.-e's L//e of Tccumthe, p. IS'2. "When Burns, tlie poet, was suddenly transferred from his plough in. Ayrshire, to the poli.shed circles of Edinlnu-gh, his case of manner, and nice observance of the rules of good breeding, ex- cited much surprise, and became the theme of frequent conversa- tion. The same thing has been remarked of Tecumtlie ; whether seated at the tables of Generals McArthur and Worthington, as he was during the council at Chillicoihe, in 1S()7, or brought in contact with British officers of the highest grade, his manners were entirely free from vulgarity and coarseness: he was uniformly self-pos- sessed, a.id with the tact and ease of deportment which marked the poet of the heart, and which are falsely supjwsed to be tlie result of ci'-'-ntion and refinement only, he readily accommodated himself to the novelties of his new po.sition, and seemed more amused than annoyed by them." " llLsing above the prejudices and customs of his people, even when tho.se prejudices and customs were tacitly sanctioned liy the 892 AN ESSAY ON TIIK HISTORY OF officers and agents of Great Britain, Tecumthe was never kiiowii offer violence to prisoners, nor to permit it in others. So strong was his sense of honor, and so sensitive his feelings of humanity, on this point, that even frontier women and children, throughout the Avide space in which his character was known, felt secure from the tomahawk of the hostile Indians, if Tecumthe was in the camp. A striking instance of this confidence is presented in the following anecdote. The British and Indians were encamped near the River Raisin ; and while holding a talk within eighty or a hundred yards of Mrs. lluland's house, some Sauks and Winnebagocs entered her dwelling and lu^gan to plunder it. She immediately sent her little daughter, eight or nine years old, requesting Tecumthe to come to her assist'uu'e. The child ran to the council-honsc, and pulling Tecumthe, who was then sjieaking, by the skirt of his hunting- shirt, said to liim, 'Come to our house — there are bad Indians there.' Without waiting to close his speech, the chief started for the house. On entering, he was met liy two or three Indians, dragging a trunk towards the door. He seized his tomahawk, and levelled one of them at a blow : they prepared for resistance, but no sooner did they hear the cry, 'Dogs! I am Tecumthe I' than, under the Hash of his indignant eye, they fled from the house. 'And you,' said Tecumthe, turning to some British officers, 'are froise than dogs, to break your faith with prisoners.' " — DraMs Life of Tecumthe. We have noticed these events for the purpose of showing the obstacles which have embarrassed our Government in all their schemes for extending the mild and moralizing influence of our Christian and republican principles throughout the western forests. With the conclusion of the war in 1S15 our wars with the Indians ceased. The brilliant exploits of our navy, and the signal victories gamed by our armies at New Orleans, at the River Thames, on the Niagara, and at Plattsburgh, convinced the British of the futility of their hopes of conquest on this continent, and spread a nniver- THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 3dS Sill |)anic among tlio 1ril)es. The eyes of the latter were opened to our power, as ihej had been to our forbearance. They saw that they had nothing to hope from our weakness, or our fears, and much to gain from our friendship. Their foreign confederates had made peace for themselves, leaving them no alternative but to fol- low the example. Tliey had either to submit, or, by contending single-handed auainst the victorious troops who hud defeated their martial allies, draw down inevitable destruction on their own heads. At this juncture, the American Government again held out the olive branch. The enlightened Madison, ever pacific in his public character as he was amiable and philanthro])ic in private life, spared no pains to heal the unhappy wounds which had been inflicted upon the mutual peace; and his successors, by pursuing the same policy, have given permanence to a system of amicable relations between us and our mi.sguided neighbors. Although we believe our system of relations with the Indian tribes to be radically wrong, and to be productive of great wrong to them, we have been careful to state distinctly that the intentions of our Government, and the feeling of the American people towards that unfortunate race, have been always benevolent, for- bearing, and magnanimous. We deem this position sufficiently important to be deserving of proof, and in evidence of the pro- fessions and intentions of our Government, from its commence- ment, we quote the following extracts from the conmiunications of the respective Presidents to Congress. We come now to consider brieily the pri "ise charactei of the relations of the American Government and people with the Indian tribes. We have sliown that those relations were sha])ed by the mother country, and modified, first by colonial policy, and after- wards by the intrigues of foreign nations. It became necessary, therefore, for our Governmeni to soothe past irritations, and remove long settled prejudices, before a system of amicable intercourse could be established ; and to this beneficent work has her avtentiou 60 894 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF been filoiulily directed. But wc shall show that, with the very l)est iiileiitioiis towards the Aborigines, our Government ha« not only failed to accomplish its benevolent purj)0scs towards them, but has, in fact, done much poshive wrong to tliem, and to ourselves; and reflecting men cannot but perceive the ruinous tenden1i:iti( II of ii treaty; anil in treaties for llie purchase of terri- tory. «c pay an e((uivalenl for the hinds, in money or uiorehandise, or both, which payment is generally made in the form of annuities, limited or j)erpetuul. 2. \\'lien a tril)e cedes the territory on which they reside, other territory is specified Ibr tlieir future occujiancy, and the United States guarantee to them the title and peaceable possession thereof. 3. The Indians acknowledge themselves to be under the ])ro- tection of the American Government, and of no other power what- soever. '1. They engage not to make war with each otlier, or with any foreign power, without the consent of the United States. 5. They agree to sell their lands only to the United States. Our citizens are prohibited by law from taking grants of land from the Indians; and an}' transfer or cession made by them, cxccnt to our Government, would be considered void. 6. White men found hunting on the Indian lands may be appre- hended by them, and delivered up to the nearest agent of the United States. 7. White men arc not to trade with the Indians, nor reside in their country without license from our authorities. 8. An Indian who commits a murder upon a white man is to be delivered up to be tried and punished under our laws; stolen property is to be returned, or the tribe to be accountable for its value. 9. The United States claims the right of navigation, on all navi- gable rivers which pass through an Indian territory. 10. The tribes agree that they will, at all times, allow to traders and other persons travelling through their country, utidcr the au- thority of the United States, a free and safe passage for themselves and their property; and that lor such passage tluiy shall at no time, and on no account whatever, be subject to any toll or exaction. THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 31)7 11. Slioiild any 1ril)c of Iiulians, or otlicr power, lut'ditate a war as with tlRMn must be carried on by men who are not amenable to our laws, nor surrotmded by the salutary restraints of [)ub!ic sentiment. If, on the contrary, tlie Indians were obliged to resort to our towns to supply their wants, and to trade with regular dealers; and if all their negotiations with our oflicers were to he conducted within the boundaries of our organized governments, where the controlling influence of our laws and power should be distinctly recognized, they would not only be better treated, but would be brought into contact with the most intelligent and bene- volent of our citizens, and imbibe more correct notions of us and our institutions. There are other evils in our existing system of Indian relations which are inseparal)le from it, and which imperiously indicate the necessity of an entire change. One fruitful cause of injustice to the Indians lies deep in the habits and interests of our people, and may be difficult to eradi- cate ; but it is one of grave importance, and is so involved with the public peace and the national honor as to demand the most serious attention. The thirst for new lands is an all-absorbing passion among the inhabitants of the frontier States, and its operation upon the Indians has been most calamitous. Although living in a THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 405 country wliich is still comparatively new, eml)racing every vvlicre large tracts of wild lauci, their wandering and enterprising habits lead them continually abroucl, in searcii of newer and fresher lands. Whenever a boundary is seltUxi between our territory and the Indian lands, the enterprise of our peoj)le carries the jropulation up to the line, while the red men, shy of such neighbors, retire from tiie boundary, leaving a wide space of wilderness between themselves and the settlements. A class of pioneers who subsist by luintiiig and rearing cattle, intrude upon tlie lands thus left unoccupied, and establisii upon them their temporary dwellings. Careless in regard to the ownership of the soil they occupy, seek- ing new and fresh pastures where theii lierds may roam at large, and forests stocked with <^'ime, tliey pay little regai'd to boundary lines or titles. Otiiers, prompted l)y more sordid and deliberate purposes of wrong, and looking forward to the ultimate purchase of such territory by the United States, traverse it with the view of .selecting the choice parcels, under the expectation that Congress will grant the right of pre-emption to actual settlers, and under the belief that, at all events, their jirior claims by occupancy will be respected by common consent, when the country shall be brought into market. Although these intrusions are in contravention of treaties with the Indians, and against the laws of the United States, they are ol frequent occurrence, and are made the basis of urgent claims upon the Government. Collisions occur between the intruders and the natives, most usually provoked by the artful designs of the oflend- ing parties, to accelerate the expulsion of the rightful pos.sessors of the country. The Indians are in^iulted and provoked, and when such injuries are resented, however tardily, and with whatever stinted measure of retaliation, a loud outcry is rai.sed against the savages; clamorous petitions are sent to the Government, settiu" forth the hostile disposition of the Indians, the terrors of border warfare, and the danger of the unprotected settlers; and insistino 406 AN ESSAY ON THE IIISIOUY OF npon the iimnediate puixliasL' of tlie torritory, and the removal of the Indians to otiier liiiiitiiiif-grounds. But one party is heard ai Washington ; and its bold as^•crtion^, being uncontradicted, are believed. A treaty is ordered to be held, which is equivalent to saying to the red men, that it is the will of the American people that they should remove the lodges further to the west. Tlic Indians, thus urged, and soured by antecedent provocation, demand an exorbitant price; but the emergency admits of no delay, and the territory is piuxhased on their own terms. The scene which ensues fully discloses the moving springs of the operation. No .sooner is the land brought into market, tiian Congress is called uj)on to grant pre-emption rights to actual settlers. True, these actual settlers are obviously intruders, violators of law, having cer- tainly no title to a preference over other citizens; but their case is so stated as to make them appear a meritorious class, and their claims are urged with zealous pertinacity. The nation is made to ring with the merits and sufferings of the iiardy men, who have marched in the van of civilization, braving the Indian and the beast of prey ; and much is said of the injustice of permitting others to purchase the farms of this meritorious class. Pre-emption rights are granted, and the violators of the law are secured in the fruits of their aggression. And who are the gainers by a transaction com- mencing in bad faith to the Indian, compromiting tlie justice and the honor of the nation, and ending in rewarding our own citizens for breaking our laws ? When the pre-emptions come to be entered at the land offices, the larger portion of them are found to be in the hands of a few sagacious speculators, whose hands may be traced throughout the whole of this iniquitous proceeding, and who amass fortunes. And it not unfrequently happens that, before the whole of this sclieme can ha compassed, a war must be fought — a war fraught with indescribable horrors, witli domestic mi.sery, personal sacrifice, vast loss of life, and immense expense to the public. It is an unfortunate consequence also, inseparable from this kind THE NORTH AMEUICAN INDIANS. 407 of intercourse, tliat it gives eiiiployiiient to a numerous body of (inofTieiul and irresponsible agents. At all the treaties with the Indians, especially those held for the i)iircliase of land, a number of white men are found present, w ho by some means or other have acquired influence with the tribes, or with particular chiefs. They ure usually traders or interpreters, who have lived long enough among the Indians to have become familiar with their lanver since continued to enjoy, except as they have been circumscribed by her own voluntary transfer of a portion of her territory to the United States, in the articles of ce.ssion of 1802. Alabama was admitted into the Union on the same footing with the original States, with boundaries which were prescribed by Congress. There is no con- stitutional, conventional, or legal provision, which allows them les» 420 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF power over the Indians within their borders, tlian is possessed Ijy Maine or New York. Would the people of Maine permit the Penobscot tribe to erect an independent government within their State? and unless they did, would it not be the duty of the fieneral Government to supj)ort them in resisting such a measure ? Would the people of New York permit each renuiant of the Six Nations within her borders, to declare it^tlf an independent people under the protection of the United States? Could the Indians establish a separate re])ublic on each of their reservations in Ohio? and if they were so disposed, would it be the duty of this Government to pro- tect them in the allenipt ' If the princi[)le involved in the obvious answer to these questions be abandoned, it will follow that the ob- jects of this Government are reversed ; and that it has become a part of its duty to aid in destroying the States which it was esta- blished to protect. " Actuated by this view of the subject, I informed the Indians inhabiting parts of Alabama and Georgia, that their attempt to es- tablish an ind(;i)endent government would not be countenanced by the Executive of the United States, anl advised them to emigrate beyond the Mississi])pi, or snuuiit to the laws of those States. " Our conduct toward these people is deei)ly interesting to cur national character. Their present condition, contrasted with what they once were, makes a most powerful appeal to our sympathies. Our ancestors fomid them the uncontrolled po.sscssors of these vast regions. By persuasion and force they have been made to retire from river to river, and from mountain to mountain, mitil some of the tribes have become extinct, and others have left but remnants, to preserve for a while their once terrible names. Surrounded by the whites, witli their arts of civilization, which, by destroying the resources of the savage, doom him to weakness and decay ; the fate of the Mohegan, the Narragansett, and the Delaware, is fast over- t;iking the Choctaw, the Clierokee, and the Creek. That this fate surelv awaits them, if tiiey remain within the limits of the States, THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 421 does not admit of a doubt, lltiiiiaiiity and national honor demand that every elFort shonld he made to avert so great a calamity. It is too late to incjuire whether it was just in tlie United States to include them and tlicir territory within tlio bounds of the new- States whose limits they could control. That step cannot be retracted. A State cannot be dismembered by Congress, or restricted in the exercise of her constitutional power. But tlie people of those States, and of every Suite, actuated by feelings of justice and regard for our national honor, submit to you the interesting question, whether something cannot be done, con- sistently with the rights of the States, to preserve this much injured race. " As a means of efTecting this end, I suggest for your considera- tion the propriety of setting apart an ample district west of the Mississippi, and without the limits of any State or Territory now formed, to be guarantied to the Indian tribes as long as they shall occupy it, each tribe having a distinct control over the portion designated for its use. There they may be secured in the enjoy- ment of governments of their own choice, subject to no otlier control from the United States than such as may be necessary to preserve peace on the frontier, and between the several tribes. There the benevolent may endeavor to teach them the arts of civilization ; and, by promoting union and harmony among them, to raise up an interesting commonwealth, destined to perpetuate the race, and to attest the humanity and justice of this Government. " This emigration should be voluntary, for it would be as cruel as unjust to compel the Aborigines to abandon the graves of their fathers and seek a home in a distant land. But they should be distinctly informed that, if they remain within the limits of the States they must be subject to their laws. In return for their obedience as individuals they will, witliout doubt, be protected in the enjoyment of tliose jiossessions which they have improved by their industry But it seems to me visionary to suppose that, 422 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF ill tliis state of things, claims can bo allowed on tracts of country on which they have neither dwelt nor made improvements, merely because they have seen them from the mountain or passed them in the chase. Submitting to the laws of the States, and receiving, like other citizens, protection in their persons and property, they will ere long become merged in the mass of our population." Extract from President JaclvSoiCs Message of December 7, 1830. "Humanity has often wept over the fate of the Aborigines of this countr; , and philanthropy has been long busily em])loyed in devising means to avert it. But its progress has never for a moment been arrested; and, one by one, have many powerful tribes disappeared from the earth. To Ibllow to the tomb the last of his race, and to tread on the graves of e.vtinct nations, excites melancholy reflections. But true j)hilanthropy reconciles the mind to these vicissitudes, as it does to the extinction of one generation to make room for another. In the monuments and fortresses of an unknown j)eople, spread over the extensive regions of the West, we behold the memorials of a once powerful race, which was exterminated, or has disappeared, to make room for the existing savage tribes. Nor is there any thing in this, which, upon a comprehensive view of the general interests of the hmnan race, is to be regretted. Philanthropy could not wish to see this continent restored to the condition in which it was found by our forefathers. What good man wouIJ prefer a country covered with forests and. ranged by a few thousand savages to our extensive Republic, studded with cities, towns, and prosperous farms; embellished with all the improvements which ai't can devise, or industry execute ; occupied by more than twelve millions of happy people, and filled with all the blessings of liberty, civiliza- tion, and religion. ■* I'he present policy of the Government is but a continuation of the same progressive change, by a milder process. The tribes THE NORTH AMKRICAN INDIANS. 423 which occupii'd tin; countries now constituting the Eastern States were annihihitcd, or have melted away, to make room for the whites. The waves of po])ulatic)n and civiUzation are rolling to the westward ; and we now propose to acquire the couiilries occupied by the red men of the South and West by a fair exchange, and, at the expense of the United States, to send them to a land where their evistencc may be prolonged, and perhaps made perpetual. Doubtless it will ba puinful to leave the graves of their fathers : but what do they more than our ancestors did, or tlian our children are now doing? To better their condition in an unknown land, our forefathers left all that was dear in earthly oi)jccts. Our children. In' thousands yearly leave the land of their birth, to seek new homes in distant regions. Does humanity weep at these painful separations from (!very thing, animate and inani- mate, with which the young he;irt has become entwined? Far from it. It is rather a .source of joy that our country affords scope where our young population may range unconstrained in body or mind, developing the power and faculties of man in their highest perfection. These remove hundreds, and almost thousands of miles, at their own expense, purchase the lands they occupy, and su|)port themselves at their new homes from the moment of their arrivid. Can it be cruel in this Government when, by events wliich it cannot control, the Indian is made discontented in his ancient home, to purchase his lands, to gi,e him a new and extensive territory, to pay the expense of his removal, and support him a year in his new abode? llow many thousands of our own people would gladly embrace the o])portunity of removing to the West on such conditions ? If the oilers made to the Indians were extended to them they would be hailed with gratitude." PART THIRD. When any rcflcctintr man is asked wliat it is that constitutes the difference between the American people and the snl)jccts of an European despotism, and what is the cause of tliat prosperity which has carried Ibrward our country with such rapid strides in her march to greatness ? he refers at once to the character of the people as rcsultinrr fi-om the institutions of a republican govern- ment. Their enterprise, industry, intelligence, temperance, and republican syniplirity, and the equality of rights secured to them in their social compact, are the elements of tlieir respectability as individuals, and their greatness as a people. Our systems of public instruction, our varied means for the diffusion of knowledge, our religions toleration, and freedom from civil bm-dens, all tend to ameliorate and refine the character, to stimulate the enterprise, and awakvMi the latent energies of the ])en])le. Do we extend these rights and advantages to the Indian, or impart to him the virtues and the comforts of the civilized man? In the pageantry of the councils which are held with their chiefs do we display that symplicitv which marks our intercourse with each other? Do we inculcate frugality b}' presenting them with loads of gaudy finery ? Do we teach self-dependence, industry, and thrift, by supplying their necessities, and encouraging tlieir idle habits ? Do we, by any systematic exertion, present to thorn the example of our virtues, and offer them inducements to cultivate peace, industry, and the arts? The replies which must necessarily be given to these fjuestions lead inevitably to the conclusion that we have r AN ESSAY ON TlIK HISTORY OF 42.-, groshly oppressed tliis [)eoj)Ie, or iiiijjiinlotmltly iiej^rlected oiir duty towards tliem. If it 1)0 inquired, what remedy can bo ajjplicd to this onorinoijs and growing evil ? — we reply, that the question is one, to our minds, of easy solution. We do not believe that tlie all-wise Creator has doomed a raee of men to a merely sensual existence. We cannot be persiKided tliat human l)cings, gifted with intellectual facullics, are destined to live; and to perish lilic brutes, without any know- ledge of the hand that created them, without any perception of a responsibility for their actions as rational beings, without anv cid- tivation of the mind or conscience. It is altogether po.ssiblc that to the (lifTerent races parts have been assigned, upon the great theatre of human action, of greater or less dignity ; but we cannot believe that any have l)een excluded from the practice and the bonelits of that wide scheme of benevolence which seeks the happiness of the whole human family. We liave seen no authentic version of the golden rule, to which any exception is attached. The command to love one another, would scarcely have been given in such ijroad lan- guage, if those to whom it was given were to bi^ brought into con- tact and familiar intercourse with another race, who could neither excite that love, nor bear its infu.sion into their own bosorn.s. In other word.s, wo think the Indians have souls; and that our duty towards them is plainly pointed out by the relations in wliicli we stand placed towards them. If they are our dependents, we should govern them as dependents ; if they are our equals we should admit them to an equality of rights; if they are properly subject to the operation of our laws, we should break down the barrier which separates them from us, bring them at once into the bosom of the Republic, and extend to them the benefits, immunities, and privi- leges that we enjoy ourselves. If it bo objected that they are-inde- pendent nations, and that we cannot in good faith destroy their national character, as we should do by imposing our laws and civili. zation upon them against their will; it will be necessary, before we 64 42« Tlir: NORTH AMt:UICAN INDIANS. adviiiK'o any fiirtlifr in onr iirj»utnt"nt, to exaniini' wlictlicr llii" (iicl ill' so, tluit IIk'su tribes aro indrpcndent, anil to ascortain tlic sort o|" national existence wliieli tliey liave lield. With rejiard to as many of tiie Indian tribes as have, Ity solemn treaty, placed themselves under our protection, given us the riyht to reu:nlat(! their trade, naviifate their rivers, traverse their country, and |)nnish lluir people in our courts, and aj,'reed to admit no white man of any nation into their territory without our license, there seems to be little mom for discussion. Soverei the same power for the benefit of the Indian? The question is not now to l)o de- cided whether we shall extiut,niisli the independence of the Indians, because that point has Ioult since b(>en settled, and we have, by ])urc]ias(> or conquest, acquired full soveriMirntv. I'assintr over the treaties to which we have rcrcrred, and wliirli speak lor themselves, we shall proceed to show that we iiave, in various ways, asserted AN ESSAY ON I' UK IIISTOKY OF 427 fill al)solii1« and iiiilimilcfl pdwor ovlt tlii'sc tribes. 'I'o iivoid rcpo- titioii, we sliiill pass over tlic statutes above referred to, and sball proceed to notice some oilier assiiniplions of sovereignty on oiir part. It will 1k! re(;olleeted that {\w. European pjovernments have, from the first, exerted tiie rijj;ht to parcel out amoiiir tbeniselves the nowly-disi'overed territories of savajri^ nations, assuniiiiir the j)rin- eiph', that a liorde of sava<,'es roaniinjj; over a wilderness, for iho purpose of hunliiifr, did not ac(piire that sort of property in tiio lands wiiidi sliould exclude their occupancy by a permanent popu- lation. Our Government has been more tender towards the savaue ill its construction of his riglits, and has always acknowledged a ipialified property in him, of which he could not be dispossessed without an equivalent. But the policy of the Government has always looked to the settlement and cultivation of all the lands within our boundaries, and the removal or civilization of the Li- lians, and we have steadily made our arrangements with a view to tliese endS: without consulting the Aborigines, or doubting the jus iiess of our course. In the year 17^3, Virginia cc'ded to the United States all liei right, title, and claim, as well of soil as of jurisdiction, to that re- gion which was afterwards called the Xorth-westeru Territory, the whole of which was occupied by the Indians, except a few spots inhabited by the French. The condition of this grant wis, that the territory so ceded should " be laid out and formed into States," "and that the States so formed shall be distinct republican States, and admitted members of the Federal Union," &c. To this treaty tlii^ Indian tribes were not parties, and of course seem not to have been recognized as having any political or civil rights. They were in full possession, and had manifested no intention either to sell the lauds or abandon the country; yet the territory was ceded, and conditions made in regard to its future occupancy, without any reference to the actual condition or supposed wishes of the Indians. 428 THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. Virgnia by ceding, iiiul tlie Uiiitc(] Stat(!.s by accepliiig, both "soil iiiicl jurisdiction," and both parlies l)y providing for the erection of repuljlican States in this country, (ieiiv all right of sovereignty in the Aborigines as eflectually as if they had ilone so by express words. Aficrwards, aiul btifore any of this country was purchased from the Indians, an ordinance was ])asse(l by Congress for its govern- ment; and althougli 't provided in this act that the Indians shall be protected in their ' property, rights, and liberty," this provi.Kwi is not l)r()ader than tliiit mapnted poss"ssi)rs of tin- soil, from linn- immemorial, with the single e.vception of that in^jo.scd by irresistible power, whicii ex- cluded tbein from intertourse with any other Kuro|)ean ])'iientate than \\w first discu. " of tlie coast of tin; particular regioa clai'ued ; and this w.-.s a rcstriciion which those lOuropean potentates imposed on llicuiselves, as well as on the rndians." In aiMither part of the same opinion, he di'lines tln^ relation existintr iietucen the Inited States and an Indian tribe, as "that of a nation claiming and re- ceiving the protection of cue more powerful; not ttiat of individnalf, abandoning their national cliara>,ler, and submitting as snl)jects to tiie laus of a master." From this high authority >ve are not di.spo.sed to dis.sent, nor is it AN KSSAY ON THE HISTORY OF 42 i» necessary to do so. In nseortainiiiir llie l^ifal position of the; Iiidi.in nations, tlie Supreme Conrt were <,nii(lecl by tlic treaties, eliarters, and other public documents, by winch the character of tliosn nations was forn>ally recognized. Tiiat they are independent and sovereign in name, and outward seeminu, and tliat tliey are lieated with l)y our Government as di.stinct nations, we admit. Our argu mcnt is, tiiat while they arc so legally and nominally independent and sovereign, tliey have in fact been si.ipped of every national attribute, and that it is a mere mockery to continue ;o them the shadow when we have taken from tliem the substance. The country beyond the Mississippi is of vast importance to the American people. It forms the western boundary of our pujtula- tion, and is inhabited by hordes of savages, who, from having been our equals, our enemies, om- allies, ihe scourge and terror of our borders, are sinking fa.st into a stati; of imi;:'cile depeiidence, which must soon render tliem the mere ol)jects of our compassion. Al- ready their rights have i)ecome so fpiestional)le, as to divide the opinions of oir best and wisest men. Not that any are so l)old as to deny that they have anij rights. Far be it from us, at least, to hint that sucli a thought is seriously entertained. Tiicir claims u[)()n us are high and sacred ; but, unfortunately for us and for them, they have become so cumplicatetl as to be uiidclined, iind almost undefinablc. How shall we ascertain the political rigiits of those who have nevcsr ticknowletlged any international law, whose station is not fixed I)}- tlie code of empires, who have no )>lace in the family of nations .' How estimate the civil condition of tiiose whose government is, if we may so express it, a sy.stematic anarciiv, in whicii no ma.\im eitiier of religion, rnoralitv, or law, is admitttd to be fundamental, no right is .sacn'd from the hand of vioicucr no personal protection insured, Init to strength and valor? Whit are the obligations of religion, justice, or benevolence, towards those who acknowledge neither tiie one nor the other, in the sense in which we under.stiuid these terms .' How shall we deal witli a 430 THE :;OUTII AM Kill c a;. INiHANS. people, l)ct\veen whom !ind ourselves tlicic is no (•oiiinmiiitv of language, thought, or custom; uo reciprocity of ol)ligations ; no conunon standard by whii.Oi to estimate oiu" relative interests, claims, and duties? These are questions of such difhcult solution, that they will at, hut lic decided not by reason but by power, as the Gordian knot was severed by the sword of the conqueror. We aj)prehen(l, however, that the agitation of some of these questions would be /ather curious tiian iiseful. It can be of little benefit to the Indian, at this day, to inquire what have been the rights that he has forfeited by his own misconduct and the sellisji interference of pretended friends, — lost by misconception, or sur- rendered to the hand of violence. We caiuiot now place him in the situation in which our ancestors found him, but must deal with him according to the circumstances i)y which he is surrounded. And the question now is, what, in the j)resent condition of the Indian, is our duty to him, and to ourselves? what policy, con- sistent with the interest and dignity of the American people, would be best calculated to save from utter d(>struction the remnant of the aboriginal tribes, and elevate them to the condition of a civilized race ? W(! say, what policy coitsistenl irith our own interests, because, in the exertion of on- own benevolence, towards a compara- tively small number of stu iges, wo are not to overlook the welfare of a numerous civilized population, and the great interests of humanity and religion, which are now inseparably connected with the consideration of this subject. In the first place, we cannot believe that the mere fact that a wandering horde of savages are in the habit of traversing a parti- cular tract of country in pursuit of game giv«"^ to them the owner ship and jurisdiction of the soil as sovereign nations. In order to sustain sucli a claim it should be .shown tiiat they have, at least, detinile boundaries, permanent inslitutions, and the power to pro- tect themselves, and enforce their laws. These are some of the attributes of nations. To make a nation there must be a govern- AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF 431 mnit — a bond of union l)y which \\\v iiulividiiiil chariicter shall, for civil and soi'ial purposes, be merited in lii:it of the body politic; and there mnst be a power some where, either in the rulers or the people, to make and enforce laws. 3ther nations must be satisfied that there is a permanent authority, which has the right to rej)re- sent, and the power to l)ind such a connnnnity, by treaty. Tiiey must be satisfied, that there is a legal or a moral power siillicieutly strong to enforce the obligations of justice^ and lh;it there is some judicial mode of investigating facts, determining questions of right, and settling principles. There must be some known principles of political and moral action, observed alike by the people and their rulers, which shall govern their intercourse with foreigners, and render it safe and certain. A body of men, merely associated together for present security and convenience, is by no tneuns a nation. Between such a body, and a great empire in tiio full exercise of all the attributes of sovereign power, there may be se\eral grades of the social (umpact. States may be dependent or independent, free or tributary ; tlie people may govern tliem- selves, or they may acknowledge a master; the state may be well governed and prosperous, or it may be corrupt and iusiLMiificant But between a government and no (jorcrninciit there is bi Im- . There is a dear distinction between a state and a nicrt; ciIUcImju of in.dividuals: the latter, whatever may be their se[iarate per.son.il rights, cannot have collectively any jjolitical existence ; and any nttion, within whose limits or upon whose borders they may happen to bo, has a clear right to extend its iuilhority over them, having regard always to the riglits of other nations. It is nece.s- sarv, for the common ;idvantage and security of mankind, that all men slio-dd belonif to some government ; and those who neglect to organize themselves into regular civil communities must exjiect that existing governments will impose tiieir laws upoi> them. It is very char that tiie North Amerii'iui Indians iiave, at llli^ tune, no reg\darly organized governments. I'lven the sub-division 432 TlIK NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. -""f tril)os is (louhtfiil tiiul fluctuating. They are separated into smaller, or gathered into larger bodies, as their own convenience or the caprice of a chief may dictate. An intelligent and warlike leader ma}' amalgainato many of these clans together, or a war may force them to unite ; but when the cause which binds them together ceases, or when rival warriors contend for the ascendency, they separate, or form other coml)inations. In the Narrative of Long's Second Ivxpedition we find that the Dacotahs are divided into fifteen tril)es, and the writer (il)serves, "almost every traveller, will) has visited the Dacotahs, has given a ditVerent enumeration of tlieir divisions, some; reckoning hwi scccii, while others admit as many as tiV()ttij-(»ie tribes." Again, lie remarks, "These form two great divisions, which have been distinguished by traders into the names Cniis (hi T.ac and Gens dii Lurye — those who live by the lake, and those who roam over the prairies." In this instance, it would be dillicult to ascertain what individuals or tribes could be ••lassed togetlier as a nation, and the claim of any portion to be ela.ssed togetlier, as :i body politic, \\()uld, in the technical phrase of lawvers, he had for uucerluinty. John 'ramier, to whose interesting Xarialive we have had occa- sion more than once to refer, was the son ol" an American citizen residing in Kentuek}', and was taken prisoner when a child by the Ojiiiwav or ('hippeway Indians. He was adopli.'d into an ludiau familv, was rearetl in iheir hal)its, and had Used among them for thirtv ye H's, when he was found by the gentlemen engaged in the expedition under Long, and prevailed upon to furnish a narrative of his adventures for publication. The work is compiled with great care, and may be relied u|)on as authentit Tanner not only lived with the Indians, but hunteii and travelled extensively among the tril)es who irthabit the shores of the upper lakes; yet he does not. ill liis whole iiarrati\r. refer to anything like a government. He does not mention the name of a ruling chief, nor does he detail a siii'j;li> instance of the exertion of sovereign authority. In all his AN ESSAY ON THK HISTORY OF 433 troubles — and lie had nian\- — when robbed, alxised, and exposed ' violence in various forms, he sonirht no i)roteelion from a chief, there was no law, no ruler, no power, that could stay the hand of the oppressor, or give relief to the injured party. It is very clear that there is no assend)led from a vast extent of country, of dissimilar feelings and dialects, and of the \\\\o\i\foiirti'ni Ji it iidrril no\ one who would acknowledge any authority sujierior to his own will. It is true that ordinarily they yield a <'ertain deference, and a degree of obedience, to the chief each may have undertaken to follow ; but this obedience, in 60 434 THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. most instances, coiilimus no longer than tlie uill of tin cliicf corresponds entirely witli tlie inrliimtions of those hi" heals." This niav he said to he an extreme ease. Thi; northern hordes, inliahitinir a sterih' eodiitry and inhospitahle elimate, snll'er (greatly for want of fooil, and are necessarily scattered in small parlies over a wide reuion. The; are redneed hy the eirennistanees snrronnd- inc them to the lowot iirade of wri'tehedncss, and of eonrse exhihit the savaixe life in its most nnfavoraltle as|ieet. But it is not mate- rially ditlerent in Florida, so far as respects the (piestion of govern- ment. In onr late negotiations and wars with the Seminoles, we font;d a oeople answering to a common name, and eidisted in a common cause; Imt there was no central authority, nor any ruling chief, but a collection of inde[>endent hands, who acted separately or in union, as circumstiuiccs dictated. The largest of oiu- savage nations, the O.sages and Pawnees, are those in whom the savage state is seen to the greatest advantage. The fcrtilitv of the cnnntrv over which tliey roam, the mildness of the elimate, and especially the ahnnopl(>, have more of the comforts of life, and are under infinitely licttcr discipline, but it is only ilisripliiie, mero martial law, and \vA civil governineMl. These nations, like the Dacotahs, are diviilcd into bands, some of which seem to be \\holIy indcpt ndmt of the original stock — sui'h as the J'awnee I,ou[)s, the Re|iublican I'awnee.s, i*tc., which an; bands that sej)arated from tlu; (irand I'awni'es; and tiie little O.sages, who art' a branch of the CI real O.sages. During the last war between the I nitcd States anil Oreat Britain, a portion of the Saukies, then residinir at Hock I.«.land on the Mississippi. IniuLf nn willing to unite with the majority of the nation in making waru|ion the United States, removed to a point on the Missouri River. Here AN ESSAV ON THE HISTORY OF 435 they have nMiiniiicd ever since; tlic ^se|)i^ratioIl beUvocii tlic two parts of tlio ualioii lias hccoiuu final, 3i't both rotaiii tlit- orispe<'t the riirhts of others. lie should learn to associate his n:ime and his destiuv with tliat of the soil on which he dwells, and thus acipiiri' the virtue of which he has now no conception — the love of eonntrv. The Indian loves his trihe. he loves his wild. iVee hahits of life, he loves the wilderno-.s ; hut all these feelihLts are personal; tliev travel with him in his wandcrinLfs, and ai)ide with his people wherever tlicy may chance to dwell. They are not attached to the soil, imr interwoven with recollections of place and scenery. They am not connected with the sacred and deli^'htfnl associations of home and country. The wild man has no hoiue nor eonntrv. Assumiiii? the proposition that the United States have a clear ri to make toe attem|)t unless it be comiuitted to men of sterling inte- gritv and genuine benevrilence, who wnuld enter heartily into the spirit of the enterprise. .\ coiUK'il to !)(■ selected li\' themselves, cumposed of a few of their chief men, might assist the governor in in ilviu'_' laws, MJijeii should be le", brief, and simple. The code should iit lirst i*!ni)racc AN KSSAY ON TIIK HISTORY OF 448 little more than the Clirisiian decalocrue ; ami iiosv laws might, from time to time, Iw, added, to meet tlie growiiiir exigetu-ies of inrreasing civilization. The council might at first be vested with judicial powers, the trial by jury afterwards ingrafted, and a coiMplete or- ganization of courts, with all the forms of legal investiuatioii, gra- dually introduced. No violent change shoidfl be attempted, no sudden reformation forced upon llic unprepared mind of the savage, no abrupt assault upon ancient customs or s\iperstitions he per- mitted U) alarm his pride or his fears; but improvements should be gradually, unceasingly, and almost imp«'rceptil>ly intrcKluced, until the rank productions of ignorai)('e and heathenism shonhl he cleare fnrce, from a poor Indian liunter, tlie prodnce of a whole year's Iiiint, without making liini any rt'turn; sonieliint-s pilferintf a por- 'ion while huying the remainder; and still more frequently driving I hard bargain with the intoxicated savage, and wresting from him a valuable property for a very inadequate compensation, consisting chielly of the poison by which his faculties were obscured. In one :!ase, Mr. Tanner tells of an Indian woman, his adopted mot)ier, who, "in the course of a single day, sohl one hundred and twenty heaver skins, with a large quantity of ijullalo rob(;s, dr(!ssed and smoked skins, and other articles, fur rum'' This property, worth several hundred dollars, was the product of a whole season of hunt- ing of two active men, the son and adopted son of this woman, attended l)y dangers, difliculties, and privations, which seem to us almost incredible, and constituted the wh"U> wealth of a family, and their only means of support during the inclemency of u long northern winter; and the author pathetically concludes, "of all our large load of jieltries, the pnuhice of so many days of toil, of so many long and difficult journeys, otie blanlct and three kegs of mm only remained, besides the poor and almost worn-out clothing of ;)ur botlies." Repeated instances of the same kind are related by this author, exhibiting a most unfavoral)lc view of the intercourse between the traders and the Indians, and we have ample reason, from other sources of information, to believe that the picture is faitlifully drawn. These, it is true, were Ikitish traders, on the inhospitable sliores of Lake Superior, far beyond the influence of law or Gospel: we hope and believe that such atrocities are not permitted within the regular agencies of our Government. From a personal knowledge of soi.U' of the gentlemen engaged in the fur trade, and of many of the agents of the United States, we can say with confidence that such abuses are not practised with their sane- tion. But human nature is the same every where; the debasing love of gain has always been found to conduce to frau- titfation, iliscovered that nearlv the whole of those claims had been secretly purclia«ief pciicj' and pounds will take care of themselves," would h.ive no a|iplicatiou among them. Such was the slate of thinirs, iind such the elVect, a frw veal's ago, in soiik of our \\ fstern States, when small bank notes were not in cinulatioii, nnd scaricU au\ coin less than half dollars, ami when it was .xo customarv to throw oil th ■ frarlioiis less than a dollar, that it was thought mean to insist oi. the collection of a balance which coidd 448 THK NORTH AMKRKAX INDIANS. only be counted in cents. So strikinjr was tiic result of this state of tilings to one not uccustomed to it, tlia* a sagacious Englishman remarked lo the writer, as an "alarmiiig circumstance, the want of small coin, and the consequent pride or carelessness of the people in regard to tlieir minor pecuniary transactions." To estimate the lorce of this remark, it is only necessary to contrast the disposition alluded to with the llirift of a New England farmer, who would in a year accumidate a considerable sum by hoarding the pittances whiih a frontier settler would scorn to put into his pocket. If tiiis reasoning be just, its application to our subject is easy. The change from the rude and loose transaction of bartering comnuKli- lies, to the more accurate method of selling and buying for money, would be the fust step in the improvement we pro|)ose ; the next would be a correct api»reciatioi'. of the values of money and mer- chandi.se; and we think that sagacity in deiili:!g, frugality in ex- penditure, and correct notions in regard to property, woidd follow. The Indian at present knows nothing of money, except from seeing boxes of diillars expo.sed when the annuities are paid to the chiefs; but if the individuals of that race were in the iiabit of carrying the products of tiie chase to a market, where they would learn to fi-el the excitement induced by competition, and where, as they wan- dered from shop to sho|), a variety of articles, (liffering in ipiulity and price, would 1«! otlercd in exchange, we cannot doid)t that the result would l)e beneficial. The Indians are prevented from keeping live stock, «)r making any i)eriiianent |)rovisioii for the future by tlie insecurity of the lives they lead. The corn raised by their women, their only grain, and often their sole provision for tlie winter, is kept in pits dug in the ground, which is carefully levelled over the concealed treasure, so as to bailie the search of a stranger who might s<;ek f«)r it. Hut though hidden from an enemy, a large portion of the corn is inevitably destroyeil l»y the moisture of tlie place of deposit, and in some seasons i)ut little would Iw saved by this rude plan ol AN ESSAY ON TIIK HISTORY OF 449 presorvatioii. An Indian wlio wiw usked, liy an iniiuisitivo travel- ler, wliv tliey liitl not store tlieir corn in liouses as we do, instead of l)nryin atlempls to explain In the uncultivated mind of the savajre the sciuMiie of salvation by a Sa- viour; that complex, wonderful, and stii|iendous plan, in the eon- templation of which the liiL'hest mental powers of the philosopher liiid full employment; aii- striK't idea. Thus, in their s|)eeelu's, tiie fi},Mirative laii^iiuife, wiiicli hoiih; have attriiiiited to a poetical teinperainent, is really used from necessity to siijiply the want of th(>iit,dit, of descriptive powers, and even of words; for tlu'y ean only make themselves iinderslcKxl hv referrinij to sensihle ohjeets around them. Now I hiimlily conceive, that, if ever the (christian system is to he successfully communi- eated to siieh a peo|tU', we must follow what I su|)pose to he the (lospel plan — first, teach them the simple duties and virtues of a pastoral peoph-, then surrouml them with the ii oiraints and olili^a- tions of a moral and ci\il law; and, lastly, when their minds are trained to thoni;ht, to oliedience, and trs with fearfid rapidity. In the inhospitable r^'ifions whicli Inirder on the northern lakes and extend Ihenco to the Mis.souri, includiii'4 the country of the (Jhippc- ways, Oltawavs, Menoniiiies, \\ inneliajfoes, and a portion of the Sioux, the horrors of starvation bnxMl over the land duriiii,' the con- tinuance of dieir long and dreary winters, and recur with each revolving year. To be fully satisfied on tliis point, it is only necessary to read "Tanner's Narrative," which was carefully prepared by one who was capable of understanding the exa<'t nicaning of the relator, and stating it with clearness. His whole thirty years among the Indians were spent in active exertions to get somelliing to eat. 'I'lie Nar- rative presents an an'ecting picture of an active and energetic life, checkered with dangers, toils, and struggles, yet with no higher object than that of obtaining a bare subsistence. The incidents are stirring in their nature; the adventures exhibit a iMtldiiess, a pa- tience of toil and fatigue, and a hardihood of endurance, whicti, exerted on a more dignified .scene of a<"tion, woidd have elevatesl the actor into a hero; but the vicissitudes are cliietly those induced by the diangcs of the; sea.sons and tin; abundance or scarcity of game; and the joys and sorrows of 'I'anner resulted from the alter- nations of poverty and plenty, of repletion and starvation ! Few solemnities, and fewer amusements, are spoken of throughout the volume; of rest, domestic quiet, or social enjoyment, there is none; and whenever a number of Indians collected together they 'vere AN HSSAY ON TIIK IIISTOUY OF 455 |irtHfiitly ilis|itr.s('(l by hiiii^;,.!-. '|'(, live time, four, or five diiya witliiitit I'litMl WW not iiiu'OMiiiioii. .SiMiiiliiin's tlicy HulwiHtod for \vi'»'k« iipoii a lilllc lM'!ir« K'"*-'"*"' i xoiiit'UrncH tlii-y rliuwrd llnir poUrioH and mioitiihouh. Ofti'ii tiny wrrc ri'diu-ed to cut their doj(s, or to snllsi^t wliolf days iipnn tlio inner l)ark of trees. 'I'll le moral inllnence of tliis iMiule i >( lil e, as disi'ldsed in tliu volnnie alluded to, is most dejilorable. 'I'iu^ fre(|iient and snilden rocnrrenee of famine cMervatfs tiie mind, and destroys its (Mier^^y find e!:iMlieity. 'I'lh' want of employment, and tlie aUseneo of a !-nidalile olijiul of pursnit, leaves the thinking laenlly dormant, and u;i\es plaee to ehiidish desires ami pnerile sn|terstitiin(! otiirr aiMina), is at anotlar cnlircly (li'scrlcil l)y tlu; Nanin (Ifscri|itiali|y llic nmn! uhiuiI causes nf tlicsc iih)' cnicuts ; liut there are instances in wliicli they cannot l»c traced to any apparent ( :iiis<'. lie iidi:!liit:iiits III tlie Sand\Mcli i.-iands, when lirst \ isi tr<| l> 'die Miirii|>c:ins, \\ere savay;cs, as imcivilizeil anri liarlianuis a> tlie. \nrlli Aiiiciic 1 Indiiuis, and were liesiiles addicted to soiii" vices whicli are cnmp ir.iti\ely imknown to the )• Iter, 'I'lieir insular |iiisition, their cliinalc, their indoienl and liiMirioiis hahits aixl several other peculiarities .A' condition and chaiactt'r, rendered tliein niucli less liKcl to liecoine the suhjects of ci\ ili/.ation than the iimrc hardv inliahitaiits of the North American continent. \°(-t here the cvperiiiient has U-eu triumphantly snccessful. '{'he civili- zation of the Sandwich Islanders has heeii hc completii us to leave no riHiin for a doiiht or u cavil. They have forinally aiirouated tiieir sava'jc custnnis, renounced their pii^nui superstitions, and ahandoiied their urmer iihmIc of life. 'i'l;e chanifc has not hccn Uicrelv loriiial and theoretical, hut actual, practii ai, and thoroiiL'h ; and the.M- i'liimlers, so iiilely pluiii;ed m the most iirulal practices of lieathenism, rank amoii^ the civilized and ( 'hristian nations of the earth, 'i'hev have received the Hihle, and iiecoine convcrtcil to th.; CI irisliaii taiti The American missionaries e>.lalilished arnoM^ them liave liceii eminently successful in teachiie^' the doe- |)cl, and in liuild:n;r up the church nf the Ue- triiies of the ( ios di'emcr. Tlie comcrls are numerous, emhraciii<{ the majority of the po|iiiialioii, and they L'ive aliundant evidence of sinceritv, zeal, and dcotion. The .m-IiooI.x are vve!l attended, and include iih pupils the ^reat mass of the popiiiaiion. So » iimplctc has lieeii t!'.c revolution, and hu rapid the progress of this umiahli' peojile in liie AN KSSAV (IN TllK IHSIOKV OF 4S7 attiiiriiiicnt of ri'liLrioiis iiistriii'tiun, and iti (lie aiiuliiinttiiiii nf thoir ^(■llrl'lil rollitilinti, tliat tlli'\ Will |il'iil)al)l V siN)i| licculiic, ll° tlll'V am not now, an nnroinniDnlv nmral and wilt disrijilinid naliim, and alford an fxani|il<' nf |iii'tv and '^mxl uuMinniriit wliiili ini<^lil Im> fiilliiwt'd uitli advanla^o li\ sunii- nl tin- oldi-st cuniniiinitii'M of ( 'liristindoin. In marking; llit> rliaiactcri>tii- tratiii'is ut' lliih nN.>lntiiin we dis- ciivcr sitinc (if tilt' ('IcnicntH wlncli \m' have insistrd ii|«iii as iiidis- ptMiMalilr in itrinuiiiif alMint a sinular ri'siilt anii)ii<;: niir own Indians. Till- insular |")>iiiiin ut tlir islandits irstraint'd I iriii iVuiii tint waiidcrintr liaiuts, wlmii wr <°<>n.>idrr jMi'iiliarly litmlili' to tlio inlriHlni'tioii ol i-iv ih/alinii, wiiilt- it greatly iiirlailtd linn it|i|ii>rtii- nilir.s joi' war, and tlir indiilu- lur nj' tliiisc |ii'ii|)('iisil^rs Uiirli aru iiisr|»araltlt' iVoin I lit' Niali- nf war, i'M|M'(iallv aiiiniitT savain's — llm lust I'lir i-ariii'u'f. and lln' ln>t Inr |tliindir 'I'lny \M'rr Iiit Irniii tllU Hllliiitrr il.tluiinrt! Ill a jiHisr |iii|llllal|i>i| ll|li)n tlirir linrdtrs, |iri'viiiu; ii(Min tlicir snlMiaiu'i*, and drniut'ali/.iii}: tlnir rliarartrr; and, Irnni lln prcHsiirc nl a Mnpi-rior iii)|iiilatii>n, ixrilinif rontin- uallv llu-ir jruiiMisy and iiatr<-d Tlirrr uas, it is tnii', a niaiii*!! SlltKliHl) inilufiirf, wliii'li wmild IiIim' kr|it iIum' |M'ii|ilt' sava'^rs jnr i»v«r, lor till' wtii>l 111' piir|i)Hu-M ; Init tins was i>appil\ uni rimiir li\ till- porwtviTainT ni' titc AiiiiTii'ati iiiisHiunarirs, »itri'ni.'tl(rin >l li\ till' aid of iiiir iiH^al nilirrrs, and nf a lar^r pMilioii <<\ nnr ri'in- Mirri'ial niarini' Iradiii!.! in limsi' seas Till' rapid and rmnplrlr nviiluliDii I'lVcMi d in tin . harai tir nf tlit'si' iNlaiidcrs all'tu'ds mi apt an illiiMralinn of inn miIijii I, tiiat w.n tliink It iiiav nut Im' nniiiton-stinir In ipmlr i trw parii^raplis, rrniii an aiiilM-nlii' Ntau.-f, in ii"j;ard to that nni iikaln'i prnplr, Onr aiilliiMitv is .larsf- ■^ " llist.ny nl' llir lli\v iiaii or Sandwirli Islands," ri'iiMitly pnlilislii'd. "Tlu' if«'ncral cast nl' Ifaliiri'i* prt-vailiiiK aiiinnu llic wlmli' yruiip wiiM hiiiiiiar to tlialnrall Pnlynt'si'i, and iiiiuIhuimin !<> tli Malay, In wliirli I'aniilv I 1 I'll" tiniiiiii ran- tin \ iIimi(i!|inh Ulmiu U'li \ foil i:i8 TriK SOUTH AMKKK AN INDIANS. sidcrililf variily in color fvislt-d, from a liylit xWw to nii almost MVicaii Itlack ; tlic liair \\,\s coarse, anlack, or dark brown, to {\w crispy curl peculiar to ilic negro. This latter was comparativi'ly rnro. Wliite liair among the children was common. A hroad, open, vulgarly giMHl-humored countenance |irev'ailed among the males, and a more pleasinir and enga'/ing lof)k with the females. Roth Itespokc tile predonunance i.>l gross animal passions. Many of the latter, wlien young, were pretty and attractive. 'Ihoiigh furtiier from the efpiator, lintli sexes were some shades darker than the 'I'ahitians, Manpiesaiis, or Vseeiision i»land»'rs ; all of whom excel them ill personal heaiily. As \ di tiiem, ii fulness of the iiovtril, without the peculiar tlatiitss of the negro, and a general thickness of lips, prominent and hroad (heck Iniucs, and narrow, high, and retreating foreheads, resembling the Asiatics, predoininateil. In- stances of deformity were not more common than m ci\ ili/ed life. Their teeth were while, linn ami regular; 'iiit their eyes were generallv hhuHlsliot, w liicli was lousidered a personal attraction 'Iho hands of the women wfre soft, well made, \\ dh tapering fingers. When the sex arrived at uiaturily, whicli tfwik place from Icii to twelve years of age, they presented slight niid graceful figures ; « liich a f» w ye.irs settled into rf/i/tonpoini, and a d \\ more iniMle as un.tllractive as they W(>re Im lore the reverse." " No reifiilir marriisu'e ceremonies existed ; though, on sucli oc- caHions, it was customary tor the Itridc^riMiin to cast a piece of cloth on the briile in the ju-esence o| her family. A feast was then fur- liisiied li\ llie friends of Uitli parties. '1 he number of wives de- |H'iided ii|x>ii the inclinat'on of tlie man, and his ability to .Mijiport them 'f lioiigh the common men usually lived » itii one woiiian, who j>«'r("r(ried IioumIioIiI lalMirs, no binding tie existed; each party c/>nsultiiig their v« isbes for a ehange, joining or se|mriiting, hh they a^r< ed or dt^igreed." "Home doubt lormerly ixi»rf^le custom remained. This humaiii/in>r improvement, so little in accordance with their other customs, was a pleasing trait in their national character. It may have resulted iVom instruction and exaiiijile, derived from their earlieM European visitors, or a self- conviction of its own alK)miiiatinn. Jk- that as it may, a i)ulilii' se!>;iment of di.sgust in regard to it prevailerl at that period, highly creditable to them as a nati(ut ii softciicd por- Irailurt! Dftlii' dis>,MiHtiii>,' di'imivily ration huM witneNsed their transit Ihmm liic lni,i| darkn(*ss of pa>4iiiiiMni to the elfiilm-nie "l (lospel li^dit. They have esta- AN ESSAY ON IlIK IIISI'dKV OK 4M HlidiiMirs (lovftntiit'iit has o|)»'ii('il wiilc ilic (Iikjp (if moral and jiolitirnl ailviiiii'ciiK'iil ; and no nmrc I'lliiicnt aids to tlic cauMO rxisl lliaii Ills Majtsty, (i. Later still, >ti Is 1 1, the Knulish consul was fini'd hy a inunii'i|ial court for riot< ii condiii't, snIijIc tin- jiidiio addrcssid a witlit'rin^ rihiiki- to hini, as the rcprt snitativo of an t'lili^htfiicd nation, for wtlinir axido all respect for his ofli. .r ohii> meter, and appeuled to the otliir olVnial >,'entl«!inen present for their countenance in the support of l'oo<| ordt-r." •The annual a.>M'iiil'iajie« of llu- kip^,' ami council ha\e heen held at l.aliaina, the capital ot tin kiiiu'iloni. Mvery siicci (>dinir one hiw luanilested an iinprovenient on the last Legislative forms are he^ eominir iH'tter iindersttKxl, and niosited in a regu- lar treasurv, at llic head of which is Dr (i I' .Iiidd, a man tiiii- nently ipialitled to ({ive satisfaction to all chisMes Assist(>il hy intellis;eiit natives, accounts of receipts for taxes, port char);'es, and the iiistoms, for which, within the past year, a sliulit dutv on im- ports has h*-eii laid, ;ire kept, and I'rom the proceeds the expenses and delits of the ^overMnlellt are reijularly paid. Instead of livin;^ upon their teiiaiils, tlw ollicers receive staled salaries ; hut these and other chan^jes are loo recent to Ik* chronicled as history ; Ihev are hut lamlmarks in the rajiid improvement of the nation " " l''roin the ureal (pianlily of litpiors iiitnxluced, and their clieap- IH'^H, it Aas (eared, and with reason, that the old thirst for anient spirits WDidd he awakened Many did drink to excess, and men un THR NORTH A an.l UOIIll'll rrt Iiiiisi's ilii> I'litliiisi MEUK \N INDIANS. s HtrmAii wuro cominoii Hij^lits. As it riii|itatioii, tlio rliiols, tlioii^li piirtial iiu'd to ii'slricl tin- sain liy prfvcnt- wciti |)ro]iiliitc(l iVoiii inuiKit'actiiriii^ iftifs wiM'c rorini'il ; ami liy coiiiliiiia- iaHiii of tliii nation onkindli'il ; tlioii- Kanils, {tarticnlarly of tlio yoiin»i'(i liinist'lflo total alisliiiciii'*'." " In rl■ll^ious lvllo\\l^(i^l■ tlio pro^rcNS of the nation lias lici-n rt'spcctablo. In I'^ll, there wore sixltM-n llioiisaiul oiijilit liniKlrcd and niiifty-tlircc iiiciiilH.-rs of tlit> Protestant rliiirclies, and this niiiiilH'r was inrreasin^. rpwards of ri)r|itt>oii tlioiiHiind cliildrcu art' rftfiviiii; instniclion in tin- ncliools, most of wliirli, liowtivcr, ciiiliracc siiii|ily tin; t'lcnifiitary liranclits ; Itiise art; so generally diiriisi'd, tliat it is nncoininoii to find a nativi! wlio cannot read or write, and wlio dneM not posseMM sonie knowledge of aritlinietic and ^eo^rra|iliy. In tlio Ili^li Si-IkkiI, and some of the hoarding NehcMilM, a iiineli more exleiiiled vdiieation prevails, siiiricient to qualify the pupils for liecoiiiiii^ teachers, or eventually filling more responsilile professions. It is a strikiie^r laC, that of all tlu' hiisiness dociiineiits in |)os.44'H>tioii i>f the Hawaiian (ioveriimeiit, acciimiiiated in their intereonrs4' with foreigners, itm-hiilf lu'ar the nmrh of the latter ere unable to writ«-; while there is hut tnn inslance s, living' in |u1o(h1 was freely spilt ; hut, under his universal rule, the horde of j)riestly and feudal tyrant« were iiierj(»;d into oui — himself — whose justice and Itenevolenee, imperfeit as tlniy were \s licii xiewed in the liLjht of imreased wisdom, are allowed, by the eoinuireiil lestLiiony r'i llawaiians and foreiuners, to have formed a new era in their his- tory. Durini; his rei< proirress could onlv be i;ained b. the acti\( Divine command, ' tiu ye and leach all nations by that people who have U'en most iilive to it U»;res. The strii|,%des and lalMUs of twenty -out 6'J ■lite lust. h carried f poised. a inoileni land couli b{' seen. though •rude, lor • risiii" of the spirit wH'iuleni'y. Kiirthrr • reco^'iiitioii of the .' 'This w as obi'\ ed ts idinmeri •iiil advan- ! years of missionary 466 Tin: Noirni amkiucan Indians. cMrtioiiH, mill tlit'ir ^'tMioriil rfsiilts ii|i(iii the |Militii-;i| iiml rrli^ioiis (.■hanu'tcr oi tint iiiitioii, liavi- Immii ili'iiiritd. Diiriii^^ lliiit tiiix; ii|i\Min1s of \\\r liiinilii'il tliiMisiiiiil (Inlhii'N lia\t' Ihtii ilrvotoil Ity till' ' Aiiitriiati Hnanl nl l''iurii{ii Missions' lor lliis |iiir|iiis(' ; iiniic lliaii r Hililr, iiikI traiislatiniiM ami riiiii|iilatiiiiis of vahialili' srlinol ami srii'iitilir InmiKs. TIh' iiiiilli|ili(itv III' nliuioiis wurks liavi! Imtu vaiird liy utlurs uf liis- titrii'al ami L;i'iu'i°al iiitfi'rsl ; iii'Nvs|ia|M'rs |ii'iiitril; in liiii', tlir niiliiiirnts III' a native liti ratiiir t'-rnir ioslriiet the iialnes for fear thev would soon ' ':iiow too niinh,' a imiiilter of the iiierhaniis of the present day assoi laled thenisclves to prevent aiiv of their trade from workini,' witli, or i!:i\iiii,' iiistrin'lioii to natives. hill their merliaiiieal skill was mil thus to he ri'prr>sed ; with ihe assistame of the missionaries, nniiiherK liaxe heiuine rndilahle workmen ; aimu'i,' them are lo he found ).roioii. Milt iIm-v can:" I'lu- iinnniaiy ^aiii. and tlic u<>'xl n'snltin^ iVoni tlicir inlncourso was incidental. 'I'lic wlmlc nndi- lUMiorain'c ni wiin vidcil connscis and cxntions o| the nnssion \\:\\v In'cii applinl to till* Nprcail of ( 'liri>li;niitv ami civdi/.itiun. ilmv far tlhv liavt< JMcn .succcsNlnl, Itl the result answer " 'The (|iiestiiin, so iinportant to liiinianity, and so lon^^ (Mnisidered donlittid. as to the |iraeiie:d)ilitv of civili/.itii; the variouH triln'H of Havai^cH scattered over the laee of the earth, nia\ mi\s lie considered UN Nfttled The ex|ierinienl at tlit^ Sandvnch IslandH wuh cum- iiicneed under the most uid°a\oralile auspices. Human nuturo litul reaclied there its lowest pomt of detrradatinn. 'I'hc darkness of h they were pluniied was complete — not a ray ';e, in self-command, in discipline, and in deceni'v of deportment, and far interior in Ixxlily activity. \'et from the first regular and sustiiined elVort to intriKlnce civili/.ation, that nolile eiiterpri.scr has y;one forward vsilh scarcely any iiiler- ruplioii; ami thev are muv a civilized people, having a written coiislitution, a lobular government, a settleil commerce, laws, maLristrates, schools, churches, a written |;uiL(uay;e, and t'le (iospel of salvation. 'i'o pHMluce an ell'ect eipially liafipy upon our own Indians only reipiires the same i;iu.'r);y of eUnrt direclid hy the .same sini^leiiess »os»'. Whenever the ci\ili/.ation of our Indians shall Ih' of pur| undertrikeii hy the (loverninent, with an eye siiij^le to that oliject, li a facility which will astonish even those wlio are neither nnfrieii-ly to such ti result, nor incredulous us to its actual I'onsum 'i^'cii \N e ilesiro to bo fully understooii it will iH! accomplish(-d ^> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A 1.0 I.I 111 ■so It 110 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 III 1.6 ^ 6" ► ^^ * ^,. .%'' '^> ^ /j^ /A \' o 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation S: S^ A 4 \ .V \ q\ 23 WfST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14510 (716) 87J-4S03 o \ 468 THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. in this proposition. We have in another place spoken of our Government and people as decidedly friendly to this humane object ; they have expended millions of treasure with this avowed purpose. But this has been done without system, and much of the munificence of the Government has been wasted by careless appli- cation, intercepted by fraud, or misdirected by knavish hypocrisy. The civilization of the Indians has been a secondary object, lost sight of in the multiplicity of other concerns, and has never engaged the share of attention demanded by its importance and solemnity. Whenever it shall be attempted with earnestness, in good faith, under the immediate sanction of the Government, and under the influence of a public sentiznent fully awakened to the subject, it must succeed. mr ine ed ;he )li- 3St rer nd in nd he PART FOURTH. Can the North American Indians be civilized ? Are their minds open to the same moral influences which affect the human family in common, or are they the subjects of any constitutional pecu liarity, which opposes a permanent barrier to an improvement of their condition? Perhaps the shortest reply to these questions would be found by asking another — Is the Bible true? Are all men descended from Adam and Eve ? If we believe that there is but one human family, the conclusion is inevitable, that however, by a long process of degeneration the race may have become divided into varieties, that operation may be reversed through the agency of the same natural causes which produced it. We cannot enter- tain the doctrine of multiform creations, or with any show of reason admit the existence of separate races, miraculously established after the flood, by the same power which brought about the confusion of tongues, and the dispersion of the inhabitants of the earth. But if we did, it would bring us back to the same point ; we should still acknowledge a common ancestry, and claim for every branch of the human family a common destiny. The promises were given to all ; no exception is made in the ofiicrs of salvation. If it be admitted that men were divided into races, and certain distinctions of color and physical structure established, to separate them permanently, still they are all the intelligent creatures of God ; the subjects of his moral government, and the objects of a great system of rewards and punishments, which he has vouchsafed to reveal, without de- barring any from its benefits, or absolving any from its obligations (469) 470 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF We cannot, consistently with these views, give iij) any portion of the human nice to hopeless and everlastinif harbarism. In a former part of this work we alluded to the rapid progress in civilization, made by the natives of the Sandwich Islands, as aftbrding ample testimony on this subject; and we shall now at- tempt .J corroborate those views, by reference to what has been done towards reclaiming the Indians of our own continent. In summing up this evidence, we beg the reader to bear in mind, the proofs we adduced in the former parts of this essay, of the ori- ginally favorable disposition of the savages towards the whites, as evinced by their kind reception of the first colonists. In the settle- ment of Pennsylvania, for instance, the most amicable intercourse was maintained between the stranger races, for a scries of years, and a mutual kindness, respect, and confidence towards each other was established. This experiment must be satisfactory, as far as it goes, to the most incredulous ; to our own mind it is conclusive : for we consider the question to be, not whether the Indian intellect is en- dowed with the capacity to receive civilization, but whether his savao-c nature can be so far concihated, as to make him a fair sub- ject of the benevolent effort. The question is not as to the possi- bility of eradicating his ferocity, or giving steadiness to his erratic habits, but as to the practicability of bringing to bear upon him, the influences by which his evil propensities and his waywardness must be subdued. The wild ass may be tamed into the most docile of the servants of man ; the difficulty is in catching him — in placing him under the i ifluence of the process of training. Whenever the bridle is placed upon his head, the work is done; all the rest fol- lows with the certainty of cause and effect — in the contest between the man and the brute, between intellect and instinct, the latter must submit. So it is between the civilized and savage man. The difficulties to be overcome, arc the distance by which the races are separated, and the repidsion which impedes their approach. There is no sympathy between the refinement of the civilized man and THE NORTH AiMERICAN INDIANS. 471 the habits of the savage; nor any neutral ground upon which they can meet and compromise away their points of difference. They are so widely separated in the scale of being, as to have no common tastes, habits, or opinions; they meet in jealousy and distrust; dis- gu.st and contempt attend all their intercourse ; and the result of their contact is mission and war. And why? The repulsive principle is never overcome, the attraction of sympathy is never established. The parties do not gaze upon each other patiently, long enough to become reconciled to their mutual peculiarities, nor sit together in peace until they become acquainted. The habit of enduring each other's manners is not established, nor the good fel- lowship which results from pacific intercour.se, even between those who are widely separated by character and station. We have said that the first European visitors were kindly re- ceived. They were so : but ii ^as not from any thing attractive in their appearance, or from any love or sympathy impelling the poor savage to the practice of hospitality. Fear and wonder quelled the ferocity of the Indian, and curiosity impelled him to seek the pre- sence of these singular beings, who came mysteriously to his shores, in human shape, but wielding apparently the powers of tlie invisible world. It was the white man who dispelled an illusion so advantageous to himself, by the exhibition of meanne.ss, weakness, and vice, which demonstrated his human nature so clearly, that even the ignorant savage could not mistake. From the general misconduct of the whites, there were some no- ble exceptions, and from these we select the settlement of Pennsyl- vania, as the most prominent. The Quakers were sincere in their religious professions. They did not make religion the cloak of a rapacious spirit of aggrandizement, nor murder the savage in the name of a Creator wht commands love, and peace, and forgiveness. They met the savage o.i terms of equality, overlooking the vast disparity of intellect and education, and breaking down all the bar- riers of separation. The first step was decisive ; there was no 472 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF room for tlistrust; no time for prejudice to rankle, and ripen into hatred. The Indian tlirew aside his fears and his wonder, and met the Quaker as a brother. They dwelt together in unity ; for more than half a century they lived in peace, in the daily interchange of kindness and benefits. The e.xperiment was successful ; because, whenever the civilized and savage man can be brought into amica- ble and protracted intercourse, the latter must unavoidably and im- perceptibly acquire the arts and habits of the former. The history of the Praying Indians of New England is fraught with instruction on the subject of this essay, and forms a pathetic episode in the history of this peo])lc. Although the conversion of the heathen is alleged in nearly all the royal charters and patents, as one of the pretences for taking possession of newly discovered countries, and for granting them to individuals and companies, it does not seem to have occupied much of the attention of the first colonists. The name of John Eliot is justly entitled to honor, as that of the pioneer of this noble enterprise; for, previous to his day, we do not find that any sy.stematic effort was made to com- municate the Gospel to the Indians of New England. Resolving to devote himself to their service, he first proceeded to qualify him- self for the office of teacher, by learning the language of the Nip- mucks, and he was probably the first Avhitc man who studied the language of the Indians for their advantage. He is said to have effected this in a few months, by liiring an Indian to reside in his family. His first meeting with the natives for the purpose of con- versing with them, in their own language, on the subject of reli- gion, was on the 28th of October, 1646, which was twenty-six years after the landing at Plymouth. In this and subsequent con- ferences he endeavored to explain to them the leading points in the history and doctrines of the Bible, and was met with all those popular and obvious objections which are used by the ignoi-ant, or those who are but superficially acquainted with the sacred volume. The chiefs and conjurers, also, opposed the introduction of the new THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 47.3 religion ; for wherever government and religion are controlled by the same persons, or b}^ persons who act in concert, all reform is objected to, as subversive of ancient usages, and dangerous to the ruling powers. The mo.st enlightened aristocrat, and the most ignorant savage chief, are equally alive to an instinctive dread of change, and especially of changes which appeal to the reflective faculties of tlie people, and lead them to independent thought and action, instead of the more convenient plan for the ruler, of being wielded in masses like machines. Notwithstanding this opposition, a number of the Indians became attached to Mr. Eliot, and placed themselves luider his teaching, while a still larger number were willing to intrust their children to be instructed by him. Eliot became sensible of the necessity of separating his converts from the rest of their people, as well to shield them from the bad influence of the unconverted, as to train them in the arts and habits of civilization. It was an axiom with liim, that cioilization was an indispensable auxiliary to the conversion of the savage. Proceed- ing upon this principle, he collected his proselytes in towns, in- structed them in rural and mechanical labors, and gave them a brief code of laws for their government. Some of these laws afford curious evidence of the simplicity of the times; for instance : " If any man be idle a week, or at most a fortnight, he shall pay five shillings." " If any man shall beat his wife, his hands shall be tied behind him, and he shall be carried to the place of justice to be severely punished." " Every young man, if not another's servant, and if unmarried, shall be compelled to set up a wigwam, and plant for himself, and not shift up and down in otiier wig- wams." " If any woman shall not have her hair tied up, but hung loose, or be cut as men's hair, she shall pay five shillings." " All men that wear long locks shall pay five shillings." The whole of the Bible was translated into the Indian tongue, by Eliot, and also Baxter's " Call," Shepherd's " Sincere Convert," and 60 474 AN i:S.SAY ON THE HISTORY OF "Sound Believer," besides a vuriety of other books, such as gram- mnr, ps;ilters, catechisms, &,c. Cotton Mather remarks of Eliot's Indian Bible: "This Bible was printed here at our Caml)ridgc ; and it is the only Bible that was ever jirintod in all America, from the very foundation of the world." The same autlior tells us, " 1'iie whole translation was writ with but one pen, which pen, had if not been lost, would have certainly deserved a richer case th:ui was bestowed upon that pen with which Holland writ his translation of Plutarch." That worthy and quaint compiler, Drake, from whose Book of the Indians we have taken this and some other valuable items, appends in a note the following lines, which Philemon Holland, "the translator general of his age," made upon his pen : " With one sole pen I write this book, Made of a t,'ray goose quill ; A pen it was, when I it took, And a pen I leave it still." The towns established under the auspices of the Missionary Elijt, are said to have been fourteen in number, and the aggregate popu- lation is stated to have been eleven hundred and fifty ; but as this enumeration includes whole families, the number of converts must have been much less. At the close of Philip's war, 1677, the num- ber of towns, according to Gookin's account, was reduced to seven, but when an attempt was made during the war, to collect the Pray- ing Indians in one place for safety, but about five hundred could bo found, and this number was reduced to three hundred at the close of the war. Six years after that war, there were but four towns, and the number of inhabitants are not stated. It is difficult to ascertain with precision the results of the early efforts, on the part of the English colonists generally, to convert the Indians, because the accounts of these transactions are not only incomplete, but greatly perverted by prejudice and exaggeration. THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 475 There were among the early Puritans many excelUmt men who fervently desired the conversioii of this branch of the human family, and labored zealously in the cause, and we have good reason to believe, in regard to some of them at least, that their zeal was according to knowledge. But we have their own testi- mony, that the sympathies of the public were not with them in this good work, and that the dislike of the whites towards their red neighbors interposed a barrier which thwarted the l^^l exertions for the civilization of the latter. We have before us the " Histori- cal Account of the Doings and Sufferings of the Christian Indians in New England, in the years 1G75, 1676, and 1677, impartially drawn by one well acquainted with that affair, and presented unto the Right Honorable the Corporation, residing in London, and appointed by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, for Promoting the Gospel among the Indians in America." The author was " Master Daniel Gookin," of whom Cotton Mather wrote : " A constellation of great converts there Shone round him, and his heavenly glory were. Gookins 'vas one of these." He was superintendent of the Indians, under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, during many years ; was a man of high standing, distinguished for his humanity, his courage, and his fidelity to the cause of the Indian. The publishing committee of the American Antiquarian Society, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in a prelimi- nary notice of this work, say : " The policy adopted by Gookin towards the Indians did not at all times escape the censure of the public ; for during the troubles that arose from the aggressions of the hostile tribes, the people could with difficulty be restrained from involving in one common destruction the whole race ; and while it required the most deter- mined spirit, on the part of the superintendent, to stem the torrent of popular violence, he did not fail to draw on himself undeserved 476 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF ojliiim and rcpronch Gookin was Pininontly the friend of the Indians, and never hesitated to interpose his own safety between the infuriated white man and the nnolTunding object of his Tcn- geance." Tlie iniincdiate [jiirpose of Master Daniel Gookin is to describe the sulTerings of the Praying Indians, in the war between the wiiites and Indians, (hiring the period covered by his narrative. The Christian Indians, liaving notliing to expect from the savage tribes of their own race, wiio despised and hated tliem, for their adhesion to the faith of the white men, were soHcitovis to be received as alHes of the colonists; and as tlieir towns lay along the frontier, contiguous to the white settlements, their friendship would have been valuable had it been cultivated in good faith, as the towns of the friendly Indians wobld have covered the most exposed settle- ments from the inroads of the savages. The protection would have been mutual, and the comnnuiity of danger, and military service, Avould have strengthened the bunds of friendshiji, while the con- verted Indians would have been confirmed in their new fiiith, and the prejudices oi" both parties softened by an intercourse so bene- ficial to each. The public manifestation on the part of the colo- nists, of a disposition to adopt and protect the converted heathen, connected with the evidence of power to render that protection effectual, must have produced a salutary effect upon the savage mind. The policy pursued was unfortunately the very reverse of that dictated by sound prudence and Christian charity. No sooner were hostilities commenced than the friendly Indians became objects of suspicion and persecution from both .sides. Although they volunteered their services to the colonists, and were often employed both as warriors and guides, they were continually subjected to all the insult and injury which the petty tyranny of military officers and the malignity of a bigoted popular sentiment could inflict on them. Their fidehty to the whites is attested by Mr. Gookin, and other men of high character, yet they were sus- TIIR NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 477 ppcted to 1)0 traitors, and almost every disaster and lovorso of fortune was attributed to their agency, and drew down upon their devoted heads tlie vengeance of an infuriated ])ojMilace. The work of Mr. Gookin is filled with incidents of this kind, of the most pathetic interest, in which these unfortunate ])coplc arc seen on the one hand warning the colonists of approaching danger; guiding them through the mazes of the wildernes.s, or sharing with them the dangerous vicissitudes of the battle ; while on the other, we see them falsely accused, arrested, beaten, imprisoned, their property jilundercd, and their families turned out to starve. That the red man should shrink with utter aversion from a civilization offered him upon such hard terms, and turn with scepticism and disgust from a Gospel offering such bitter fruit, cannot be surprising. We learn from this work that the " Praying Indians" were numerous, which is a sulFicient proof of their willingness to receive the Gospel, if it had been otTered to them in an acceptable manner. " The situation of those towns was such," says this writer, " that the Indians in them might well have been improved, as a Avail of defence about the greatest part of the colony of Massachusetts ; for the first named of those villages bordered upon the Merrimack River, and the rest in order, about twelve or fourteen miles asun- der, including most of the frontiers. And had the suggestions and importunate solicitations of some persons, who had knowledge and experience of the fidelity and integrity of the Praying Indians, been attended and practised in tho beginning of the war, many and great mischiefs might have been (according to reason) pre- vented; for most of the praying towns, in the beginning of the war, had put themselves in a posture of defence against the com- mon enemy." " But such was the unhappy state of their affairs, or rather the displeasure of God in the case, that their counsels were rejected, and on the contrary, a spirit of enmity and hatred conceived by many against those poor Christian Indians, as I appre- hend without cause, so far as I could ever understand, which was, 478 AN ESSAY ON TIIK HISTORY OF according 1o tlio nprrntion of sccorul causes, n very groat occasion of many distrossiiig calamities that befell Initli one and the other." The worthy author conceiving it hoth practical)le and desirable to conciliate the Indians, and willing to apologize for his conntry- inen for tlieir failure to discharge so obvious a diity, proceeds to argue tlie matter thus: "I have often considered this matter and come to this result, in my own thoughts, that the most holy and righteous God hath overruled all coinisels and affairs, in this and other things relating to this war, for sucli wise, just, and holy ends as these : "First. — To make a rod of the harliirous heathen to chastise and punish the English for tlieir sins. The Lord had, a.s our faithful minister often declared, applied more gentle chfistisem.ents, gra- dually, to his New England people ; but these proving in a great measure ineffectual, to produce effectual humiliation, hence the righteous and holy Lord is necessitated to draw forth this smarting rod of the vile and brutish heathen, who indeed have been a very scoiirge unto New England, and especially unto the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. " Secondly. — To teach war to the young generation of New England, who had never been acquainted with it: and especially to teach old and young how little confidence is to be put in the arm of flesh. * * * " Thirdly. — The purging and trying the faith of the godly Eng- lish and Christian Indians certainly was another end God aimed at in this chastisement. And the discovery of hypocrisy and wicked- ness in some that were ready to cry 'Aha!' at the .sore calamity upon the English people in this war, and, as much as in them lay, to overthrow God's work in gospelizing the poor Indians. "Fourthly. — Doubtless one great enn lutionary War was about to break out, and the agents of the Britii Government were busily employer' in the incendiary work of inciting the savages to war. The adventurous baclcwoods- men of Pennsylvania and Virginia had cro.ssed the Alleghany Mountains, and were exploring the luxuriant forests of the West, in search of fertile lands. They had surmounted the barrier which the Indians had supposed would protect their hunting-grounds, and which the officious foreigner had pointed out to them as a natural boundary between the white and red races. The excitement was 484: AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF great throughout the whole frontief, aud at no time in our history have the hostilities between these parties assumed a more fierce and unrelenting character, than that which characterized the wars of this period. Two of the British emissaries, McKee and Girty, were men who, to great industry and perseverance in their despica- ble office, added a cold-hlootlod and sanguinary cruelty, for which a parallel can scnrcelv be found in the annals of crime. The savao-e mind, already irritated by the encroachments of the Avhite settlets, became infuriated by the inflammatory harangues of these agents, accompanied by presents, by promised rewards, by the hope of I)lunder, by the lust of revenge, and, by that most fearful engine of destruction, the intoxicating draught. The Moravian villages were situated about midway between some of the Indian towns and the advanced settlements of the whites, and as they practised a pacific demeanor towards both par- ties, receiving both alike with Christian kindness and hospitality, they soon became suspected by each of secretly favoring the other. The riglits of una'-med neutrals are seldom respected by warriors with arms in their hands, and with appetites whetted for plunder. The rough militia from the frontier, and the painted savage, equally despised the humble convert of the cross, jud branded as hypocrisy and cowardice that spirit of non-resistance which they could not understand. Under all these disadvantages the commiuiity continued to flou- rish until the actual breaking out of the Revolulionary War in 1775. Up to that period there had been encroachments, jealousy, quarrels, marauding excursions, and occasionally a petty border warfare ; but now there was a general war of a bitter and unsparing character. The American Colonies, barely able to maintain the contest on the sea-board, against the fleets and armies of Great Britain, had no troops to send to the frontier, where the pioneers wero obliged to defend themselves against the combined British and Indian force. It vvas a warfare such as we trust will never again disgrace the flag THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 485 of any Christian people, or pollute the soil of our country — a war against individuals, which brought distress and ruin to the fireside, without any perceptible effect upon the national quarrel, or any advantage to either of the principal parties. The burning of the settler's cabin — the murder of women and children — the plunder of an indigent peasantry, whose whole wealth yielded to the ruffian invader nothing but the fruits of the earth and the spoils of the chase, — all this was poor game for the diplomatic skill and military energies of a first-rate European power. The backwoodsmen, left to contend unaided against this formidable allied power, imbibed the bitter feeling, and adopted the savage warfare of their enemies, so that the contest became not only fierce and bfoody, but was marked by cruelties of the most atrocious character. The war parties of either side, in passing the villages of the Christian Indians, often found it convenient to stop, and were always kindly entertained by this pacific community, who would not have dared, even if so disposed, to refuse the rites of liospitality to armed men. It was not easy, under such circumstances, to avoid the sus- picion of partiality. Even their benevolence, and their aversion to the shedding of blood, led them into acts which, however humane, were incautious. They sometimes became apprised of the plans of the Indians, to surprise and massacre the whites, and by sending secret messages to the latter, saved them from the impending destruction ; and when the famished and way-worn fugitives, who had escaped from captivity, sought a refuge at their doors, they se- creted and fed them, and assisted them in eluding their pursuers. The red warriors, on the other hand, were always received with hospitality, and experienced, no doubt, all the kindness which was extended to our own peoj , The charities of this kind people were probably numerous, for it was a rude season, and many were the sufferers driven by the blasts of war to seek shelter within their doors. It followed naturally, that whenever a secret plan failed of success, in consequence of its being discovered and frustrated uv m AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF the opposite party, tlie Moravians were charged with the disclosure. Their habitual kindness was forgotten, the benevolence of their mo- tive was not taken into account, and they were cursed as spies and traitors, for actions of which they were wholly innocent, or which were honorable to them as men and as Christians. The Moravian villages were called " the half-way houses of the warriors," and this phrase was used in fierce derision by the law- less men, who despised the meek professors of a pacific creed, who were content to till the soil, taking no side in the portentous war, whose thunders were rolling on every side. The neutrality im- plied in the term half-way house, was any thing but pleasing to warriors embitfered by an implacable hatred ; and the helplessness that should have protected the brethren only invited insult. As early as 1754, they are said to have been oppressed by a tri- bute exacted from them by the Hurons; and about the same time a plot to remove their residence to Wajonick, on the Susquehanna, was set on foot by the " Wild Indians," in alliance with the French, for the purpose of getting the Moravians out of the way, that they might with more secrecy assail the English settlements. Many of the brethren fell into this snare, and some of the chiefs among them were tempted to advocate the measure, from a latent desire to re- turn to the war path. The missionaries discovered the moving springs of the intrigue, and refused to sanction the removal ; but about seventy of their followers emigrated to that and other places. In the spring of 1778, the English emissaries McKee, Elliot, Girty, and others, having been arrested at Pittsburg as tories, made their escape, and passing rapidly through the tribes, proclaimed that the Americans were preparing to destroy the Indians, and called upon the latter to strike at the settlements in self-defence. The whole frontier was thrown into a ferment by this incendiary movement. About the year 1780 a large Indian force was collected for the iirpose of striking a decisive blow at the settlements of Western THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 487 Virginia, but on reaching the points intended to be assailed, full of expectation, and flushed in advance with the hope of plunder, they were disappointed by finding that preparations were made for their reception. Mortified with this result, they retreated to a safe dis- tance, and having taken a number of prisoners, they deliberately tortured and murdered them, with every refinement of savage cruelty. The suflerers were so numerous, and the barbarities prac- tised upon them so aggravated, as to cause an extraordinary excite- ment in the American settlements. In 1781 Colonel Broadhead, of Pennsylvania, led an expedition against the hostile Indians; and halting near Salem, directed the inhabitants to collect their peoj)le and remain within doors, that they might not be mistaken for ene- mies by his exasperated troops. While this officer was assuring the Rev. Mr. Heckewelder that the Moravian Indians should be protected, the incensed militia were preparing to destroy the towns, and it was only by the most strenuous exertions of the officers that the poor Indians were saved from destruction. Not long after this event, a chief called Pach-gaut-schi-hi-las appeared suddenly at Gnadenhutten, at the head of eighty war- riors, and surrounded the village, so as to allow no one to escape. The panic-stricken brethren, expecting that the hour for their extermination had arrived, pivp-u'od to meet their fate. The chief, however, relieved their fears by demanding the delivery of certain leading men, who were fiaund to be absent. After consulting with the brethren, the chief greeted them kindly, spoke with respect of their pacific habits, and deplored their exposed position on ih^ very road over which the hostile parties must pass to reach each oilier. They had just escaped destruction from one of these parties, and he advised them to remove to a distance from the war-path. The Christi:m Indians, relying upon the innocence of their lives, de- clined to remove. In the autumn of 178T, "a troop of savages, commanded by English officers," surrounded and pillaged the unprotected villages 488 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF of the Moravian Indians. Tiic corn-fields, just ready for tlie liar vest, were ravaged by tlie nithk>ss invaders, "two luindred cattle, four hundred hogs, and much corn in store" were taken from them, '['heir houses were broken open, their altars desecrated, and them- selves treated with merciless contempt. A young Indian woman, who accompanied the warriors, was so touched by the distresses of tlie brethren, some of whom were her own tribe and kindred, that she left the camp secretly, and taking a horse of Captain Pipe, the leader of the marauding Indians, rode to Pittsburg, where she gave intelligence of the misfortunes which had bolallen the bretlu'cn. Tliis spirited woman was a near relative of Glikhikan, a distin- guislied chief of the Delawares, described by Ileckewelder as "an eminent captain and warrior, counsellor and speaker," who was now a member of the Christian community, and on him the savages determined to wreak their vengeance, on the discovery of thp mission of his kinswoman. He was seized at Salem, and carried to Gnadenhutten, singing his death-song. It was proposed to cut him in pieces at once ; and the Delawares, who were exas- perated against him for having quitted the usages of his people, were clamorous for his instant execution ; but he was saved by the interposition of a chief, who insisted that he should be fairly tried. Upon examination he was found to be innocent, in regard to the matter which had caused his arrest, and he was set at liberty, but not until his persecutors had given vent to their malignity by loading him with the vilest epithets. Their rage was now directed to the missionaries, and the chiefs were nearly unanimous in the conclusion to put them to death. On so important a matter it was considered requisite to consult one of their sorcerers, whose reply was that " he could not understand what end it would answer to kill them." The chiefs then held a counsel, at which it was resolved to put to death not only the missionaries and their families, but those of the Indian converts who were prominently engaged in religious duties. But the sorcerer again interposed the powerful THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 489 shield of his protection ; he said that some of the chief men among the hrctlircn were his friends, and that he would serve them at every hazard. "If you hurt any of them," said he, "I know what I shall do." The threat was effectual ; and the Christian ministers were rescued from a cruel death, hy the priest of superstition. But the sufferings of this devoted conununity did not end here. The missionaries were carried to Detroit, and arraigned before tiie British commandant as traitors and enemies of the king. The modern Feli.\, after a full examination of the charges, was com- pelled to admit the innocence of the prisoners, and they were discharged. But the object of the instigators of this flagitious transaction was accomplished. The Indians were driven for the time from their villages. Heretofore, though often pillaged and threatened, their lives and persons had been spared, and some respect was attached to their character: but this bold outrage, sanctioned by the British authority, destroyed all feeling of re- straint on the part of the savages, and they were now continually harassed by the war parties. Compelled to quit their once quiet habitations, they wandered through the wilderness to the plains of Sandusky, distant about one hundred and twenty-five miles, where many of them perished miserably of famine during the succeeding winter. In the ensuing month of February, a wretched remnant, n\imber- ing about a hundred and fifty of these persecuted converts, returned to their former habitations, to seek among their ruined huts and desolated hearths some relics of the former abundance, to save themselves from starvation. Here they met with a party of militia from the settlements, who in the brutal indulgence of that hatred for the red men, which embraced every branch of that unhappy race, slew ninety of these starving fugitives. The remainder crawled back to their companions at Sandusky. However broken and disheartened by these various calamities, the Moravian Indians still clung to their bond of union, for in 1782 62 490 AN ESSAY ON THK HISTORY OF they wiTu -.v^-Am colli ctctl at tlioir villages. Their previous mis fortunes seem to have hoeii attributable to the intrigues of Elliot, Girty, and McKec, the British agents, who were always their implacable persecutors. But they were singularly unfortunate in liaving no fricuils on either side, for the American borderers were not loss their enemies. E.xasperated by the continual incursions of the Indians, and the atrocious cruelties perpetrated by them, they imbibed a spirit of revenge which was too bitter and too blind to leave any power of discrimination between the guilty and the inno- cent. They assumed, strangely enough, that the Praying Indians of the Muskingum were the tools of these foreign agents, of whom in fact tliey Avcrc the victims equally with themselves. Nourish- ing a deadly rancor against the whole race, they took no pains to inquire into the justice of their suspicions, for revenge is always blind and incapable of any just measure of retribution. In 1782, an expedition was planned by the settlers in Western Virginia, under Colonel William Crawford, against the hostile Indians, and the destruction of the Moravian towns Avas deliberately contem- plated as a part of the plan. Unhappily the hand of desolation had al.eady performed its work so effectually as to leave little to be done ; but that little was now completed. The followers of Craw- ford found desolated fields and ruined habitations, tenanted by a few broken-spirited wretches, who were again driven forth into the wilderness, never to be re-assembled. While the unresisting Chris- tian fell tlms a prey to every fierce marauder, the sword of retribu- tive justice was not sleeping in its scabbard ; it Avas now ready to fall on the head of the offender. The ill-fated troops of Crawford proceeded to the plains of Sandusky, where they encountered a large Indian force, and a battle ensued which lasted from noon until sunset. The next day the savages increased in number, the camp was surrounded, and the most gloomy ajyprehensions began to be entertained. The troops were brave and hardy volunteers, but thev were raw and insubordinate, and there seems to have THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. •iOl been but little, skill or firmness among the officers. A retreat was resolved upon; Imt heminecl in by a numerous and active foe, tliis measure was scarcely practicable. Discordant counsels were added to the difficulties ; a diffi;rence of opinion arose as to the mode of retreat, some proposing tliat the army should retire in a compact body, while others advised a division into a number of parties, who should cut their way through the enemy in different directions. Both plans were attempted, but neither of them with energ}'. The troops became panic-struck, discipline was thrown aside, and every movement was the result of mere impulse. The routed troops retreating in disorder were cut to [)ieces or captured in detail, and but few escaped to tell the dismal story. Crawford himself was taken prisoner, and carried to an Indian town, where he was beaten, tortured with lingering torments, and burnt at the stake with every indignity and aggravation of suffering which the malignity of the savage could suggest. Girty, the British agent, witnessed these shocking rites, laughed at the agonies of the suf- ferer, and was an active part)' in the bloody and atrocious scene. We have already seen that the bad faith which marked the con- duct of the English towards the Aborigines, was not confined to any locality, or to any sect of the Colonists. To show the universality of that misconduct, it is only necessary to open at random the his- tory of the early settlements, which are fraught with instances of the reckless imprudence, or desperate perfidy of the English ad- venturers. General Oglethorpe, who landed in Georgia in 1732, was kincily received by the Indians, who professed a high degree of veneration for the character of the English, in consequence of the amicable intercourse which had prevailed between themselves and a com- mander who had visited them a century before, supposed to have been Sir Walter Raleigh. Oglethorpe carried several of their chiefs to England in 1734, where they were entertained with great hospitality, and whence they reiurned with the most favorable im- 492 AN ESSAY ON THE IIISTOHV OF pres-iii ,: t()u:inls llic wliitc people. It is laiiu'ii1;i1)lo to riMiiark tlmt ail intercourse couinieneed under such promising anspicos, sliould liiive been almost immediately Iirokeii up by the iniscoiuluet of individuals. As early as 17 WJ, when Georgia was invaded hy the Spaniards, the natives were enlisted as auxiliaries on Initli sides, and thus placed in a po.sition which must inevital)ly he ruinous to tliem, hv drawing upon them the resentment of the whites.. In the expedition against Fort Du Quesno the Cherokees were prevailed ii|)on to join the I'lnglish ; hut they hecanie soured hy the military restraints under which they were placed, by sus[)icions of their fidelitv, which they alleged to be unfounded, and by various other injuries, either real or imaginary. Having lost their horses, and being worn with the fatigue of a long journey, they unfortunately, on reaching the frontiers of Virginia, supplied themselves by taking some horses which were found running at large. The inhabitants, as usual, proceeded to iiilliot summary justice, and about forty of the Cherokee warriors were shot down, in cold blood, in ditfereiit I)laces, as they passed through the settlements. After Braddock's defeat, the English olftired a reward for Indian scalps, a cruel and inexcusable expedient, which, doubtless, led to the murder of many of their own allies, as their agents, in paying for the bloody trophy, could not distinguish between those taken in battle from their ene- mies, and those torn, for a wretched bribe, by the mercenarv hand of murder, from the heads of their own friends. Another instance occurred about the same period, in which a party of Cherokees, who had been regaled at the house of a white man, under the im- plied safeguard of hospitality, were surrounded, and shot down i)v rudiaiis lying in ambuscade, as they passed from the place of onter- tainment! No provocation could excuse such deeds. The c;ipture in the woods of a few wild horses of little value, by savages un skilled in the laws relating to property, alTorded no just ])lea lor the shedding of blood; and no offence could justify a deliberate viola- tion of good faith, by the murder of confiding guests. In this re- TIIK NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 408 sped the Iiidiims tlu'iiisolvos ilispluvcd a iiioro gcru'roiis coiiduct. When tlio iiit(;llij,'('iict; of tliosc, iimssiicrcs rciicliod tlio Cliorokoos, tlioy riislitid to arms, and would liavt; slain several Eii|j[lislimt'ii, wilt) were llicii in tlicii' coiiiilry on some business connected with the neirotiution of a treaty; but their chief Attakulhdmlla inter- fered, and secreted tiie whites, until he calmed the excited feelinLj of his people. He tlien assembled his warriors in council, and pro- posed an iminediatc war a}»ainsl the English. "The hatchet shall never be buried," said he, " until the blood of our people be avenged. But let us not violate our faith, by shedding the blood of those who are now in our power. They came to us in confide'ice, bringing l)elts of wampum to cement a j)erpetual alliance. Let us carry them back to their own settlements, and then take up the hatchet and endeavor to exterminate the whole race of them.'' The Indians not only adopted this advice, but proceeded regularly to demand the murderers from the English authorities, who refused to comply with the recpiest; and the result was a war attended with the usual atrocities of border warfare, and followed by the common, and still more lamentable result of such hostilities, a lasting haired between the jiartics — a hatred, the more calamitous to the Indian, as it placed an insuperable barrier between him and all the blessings of Christianity and civilization. \\'ithout multiplying any further our instances from American history, it may be perceived that the Colonists never acted towards the Indians with any system ; no rule either of justice or humanity regulated their conduct, no limit restrained the dictate of caprice, or the hand of violence. Every man behaved himself towards the savage as seemed good in his own eyes : to cheat the savage was not dishonest, to rob him not criminal, to slay him not murder: while the attempt to protect him from injury, or to teach him the way of salvation, was scarcely deemed meritorious. For all these atrocities, the European governments are responsible, who inter- posed no restraint between their own subjects who came to this 494 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF continent for mercenary purposes, and the natives who were de- livered over to their tender mercies. In the charters and patents granting territory to the North American colonists, extensive loiiii- daries were set forth, but no reservation was made in favor of the ancient inhabitants, no recognition of their present occupancy, nor any mode prescribed for the purchase or extinguishment of tiRir title. We do not as.sert that they were not attended to, nor ihmy that they were sometimes mentioned in terms of affected benevo- lence ; but we do say that they were not recognized in those solemn public documents, as nations or individuals having rights to be respected. The intercourse with them was left to be directed by circumstances; and tliis momentous interest, fraught with conse- quences so portentous to them and to us, was modified and moulded, not only by the characters of the various leaders, but the caprice, the interest, and the passions of all those who came in contact with the natives. Hence the multifarious incidents, and diverse causes and influences which have operated in producing the present con- dition of that people, and in forming our opinions concerning them. Previous to the Revolution we find a better feeling growing up in most of the Colonies. The aspirations of our forefathers for liberty, enlarged their minds, and implanted noble and generous sentiments, in regard to the whole scheme of government, and the entire system of human rights and happiness. Among the first acts of the new confederation were measures of a considerate, and just, and conciliatory character towards the Indians; the right of the Indians to the occupancy of their lands was distinctly avowed, and a system adopted for the gradual extinction of their title by purchase, which, in most cases, has been observed. Tiie boundaries of the Colonies extended from the sea-coast, into the interior, so far, in most cases, as to embrace large districts of wild land, occupied by the Indians. Some of them extended in- definitely to the west, and we believe that none of them acknow- ledged any other Ijoundary than that of a sister Colony, or some THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 495 European possession, except wliere the ocean set bounds to the sway of man. The country was divided without regard to the Indians, who wore included in the new sovereignties, and who.se removal or extinction was assumed as inevitable in the natural course of events. The newly formed American States adopted the same boundaries, and were obliged to take the country subject to the existiiiK stale of thin,sts with sorrows yet to come. W^e are, indeed, an adhctcd people! Our s|)irits arc s\ibdued ! Despair has well nigh .seized upon our energies! But we speak to the representa- tives of a Christian country ; the friends of justice ; the patrons of the oppressed. And our hc-es revive, and our prospects brighten, as we indulge the thought. On your sentence our fate is sus- j)ended. Prosperity or desolation depends on your word. To you, tlierefore, we look! Before your august assembly we jiresent our- selvc"*, in the attitude of deprecation and of entreat}-. On your kind- ness, on your humanity, on your compassion, on your benevolence, we rest our hopes. To you we ail(h"ess our reiterated prayers. " SPARE OUR PEOPLE ! Spare the wreck of our pros- perity! Let not our deserted homes become the monuments of nesohifions! But we forbear! We suppress the agonies which wring our hearts, when we look at our wives, our children, and cur venerable sires! We restrain our forebodings of anguish and THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 509 distress, of misorv and devastation and death which must bo the attendants on the execution of this ruinous compact." The foregoing sentiments were afterwards, viz : 30th of Sejjtem- ber, reiterated, in a hotter to General Wool, then commanding United States troops in the Cherokee nation, to "hich the General thus replied : "Head Quarters Army E. T. & C. N. Fort Cass, Novcmher 3, 1836. "I am instructed by the President of the United States, through the War Department, to make known to John Ross, and all others whom it may concern, that it is his determination to have the lato treaty, entered into between the United States and the Cherokee people, and ratified by the Senate the 25th of May, 1836, religiously fulfilled in all its parts, terms, and conditions, within the period pro:;oribed ; and that no delegation which may be sent to Wash- ington, .vitii a view to obtain new terms, or a modification of those of the exi.iting treaty, will be received or recognized, nor will any intercourse be had with them, directly or indirectly, orally, or in writing; and \\'M the President regards the proceedings of Mr. Ross and his associates in the late council held at Red Clay, as in direct contravention of the ])lighted faith of their jieople, and a repetition of them will be considered as indicative of a design to prevent the execution of the treaty, even at the hazard of actual hostilities, and they will be promptly repressed," &c. Thus circumstanced, it was thought by the Ross party that their brethren on the west of the Mississippi, who had emigrated under the treaties of 1817 and 1819, might take an interest in this ques- tion; and that probably if they should view the question in the light they did, and so express themselves, the Government at Washington might oe induced to listen to them. Whereupon a deputation was sjnt to lay the subject of the existing embarrass- ments before tlie councils of the western Cherokees. A council 510 AN ESSAY ON TIIi: HISTORY OF was coiivcnefl, and tlieir l)rctlir('n from tlie cast showed the authority under wliich tliey had conio, and made known the ohjecl of their visit. Among the resolutions adopted on the occasion was the following: — "The course adopted by the general council of the Cherokee nation, east, in regard to the instrument aforesaid, (the treaty of New Echota,) is hereby approved ; and inasmuch as the said instrument is equally objectionable to us, and will, in its enforcement, also affect our best interests and happiness — Resolved, &.C., that a delegation be. and hereby are appointed tf) represent the Cherokee nation, west, before tlie Government of the United States, and to co-operate with the delegation east of the Mississippi, in their e.vertions to procure the rescinding of the aforesaid instru- ment; and also with full powers to unite with the delegation aforesaid, in any treaty arrangement which they may enter into with the Government of the United States for the final adjustment of the Cherokee difficulties, and to promote the atlvancement of the best interests and happiness of the whole Cherokee people, and to (1 all things touching the affairs of the Cherokees west, for their welfare." We will let Mr. Ross speak in his own language in regard 1o this joint mission. We copy from a letter addressed by him to Job R. Tyson, Esq., of Philadelphia. "We departed with the members apjrointed to serve upon this delegation, but the severity of the winter, and the o!)struction of our route by the ice in the rivers, prevented our arrival at Wash- ington until the 9th February, 1837, within a month of the close of Genr til Jackson's presidency. We attempted to obtain access to the President, but were denied an official interview with the President or his secretary. We then memorialized the Senate, which memorial was presented, but owing to the press of business no opportimity occurred for presenting that which we addressed to the ITonsc. In this memorial was exhibited an account of the treatment we had experienced, and urged our claims in the most earnest and respectful manner. We selected what we considered THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 511 tlie stronr>L.. aririiiiuMits ill svipiiort of our ai)plication. We ad- verted to the extraordinary and inexplicable change which had taken place in the nnode of receiving us and our appeals. Among other things, we said, — ' We have asked, and we will reiterate the question — how have we offended ? Show us in what manner we have, however unwittingly, inflicted upon you a wrong, you shall yourselves be the judges of the extent and manner of compensation ; show us the offence which has awakened your feelings of justice again.t us, and we will submit to tliat measure of punishment which you shall tell us we have merited. We cannot bring to our recollection anr thing we have done, or any thing we have omitted, calculo'.' ! to . ikfiu your resentment against us.' " All, ..jw< \ cr, was vain. It may be ob.-orved that our r.ppeal to the Senate was i-ecessarily presented so l:ite in the session that we could not have been fairly heard, whatever disposition may have existed in that honorable body to give their full attention to our case. "On the 4th March, (continues Mr. Ross,) .Mr. Van Burcn assumed the presidential cliair. On the 10th of March we ad- dressed the new President, stating to him fully our position and wi.shes, revieAving the circumstances which had occurred, and the hopes we entertained of receiving redress at his hands. We entreated the President to examine for himself into the ground upon which we rested our charge ; that the document called a treaty was fraudulent, ; .."l equally an irnposition upon the United States and upon ou.'-. ' .■':. We a.sked — 'Will the Government of the United States ^-ww il,e nght to enforce a contract, thus as- sailed, I)v the other noi lul party to it? Will tiiey refuse to examine into charges of si;. i. grave imj)ort? Will they act in matters so momentous, involving conse(|uences so awful, without inquiry?' Such an in([uiry we ciniestly courted, saying to tin; Presid' .a,- -'We do not arrogate to t)urselves so high a standing in your «..,. lion as to authorize us to ask that yoti will rely 'lU- plicitly upon our statements; hut we have deceived ourselves most 512 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF fiQ^rcgiously, if we have not presented to the consideration of the Government sufficient grounds to induce hesitation and inquir}'. You have at )our command hundreds of individuals, to whom you may confide the duty of making the investigation which we soUcit. Select such as you can implicitly believe, associate with them but a single individual to be approved by uS; to direct to the sources of information, and if we fail to establish the truth of our allegations, we shall no longer ask you to delay exercising your power in the enforcement of your rights. Should it, how '.'• itpnear from such investigation that this instrument (the New i treaty) has been made without authority, that it meets with U: almost unani- mous reprobation of our nation, that you have been deceived by false information, we cannot, and we will not believe, that under its color, and under the sanction of those principles of justice which impose an obligation faithfully to perform our contracts and oui promises, we shall be forced to submit to its iniquitous provisions.' " Mr. Ross then states, under three several heads, the propositions made by the delegation to the Gover.iment. The first was that the Presideiit would enter into a negotiation with them, as the duly authorized and regularly accredited representatives of the Cherokees. Second, That a full and thorough examination be instituted into the New Echota treaty, — to see if anj^ of the forms long recognized by the United States had been regarded in making it, — or, Third, That the instrument itself be submitted to tlic whole Cherokee nation, for its admission or rejection. " To this proposi- tion," proceeds Mr. Ross, "we received for answer from Mr. Poinsett, dated March 24th,-— That the President regarded him- self as bound to carry into effect all the stipulations of the docu- ment in question, because it had been ratified according to the forms prescribed b}' the Constitution, under a full knowledge of the conditions now urged against it, and must, therefore, be con- sidered as the supreme law of the land. The two other j)ro])ositions THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 513 could not, therefore, be entertained. We were promised a candid examination of any mefisure we should suggest, if not inconsistent with, or in contravention of, the determination to enforce the treaty against which we had protested. "It is due to Mr. Secretary Poinsett to say, that in accordance with his professions, every courtesy was extended to us in our intercourse with him." Mr. Ross then proceeds to examine the objections raised by the authorities at Washington. In justice to him, we continue to quote his words. "It may not be amiss, however, at this time, to make one or two okservations upon the grounds taken by the Government, and upon which it appears to have finally resolved to act. "In the first place it appears to us an extraordinary ground, that because a treaty has actually been made, which the one party deems to be of perfect obligation upon both, that, therefore, no further official intercourse shall take place between the parties. It is obvious that the instrument in question is ambiguous, and of doubtful construction, and it is well known that objections have been made to it on behalf of the Western Cherokees, who think, and we think justly, that it most seriously impairs their rights, although we believe it has not yet been assumed that they are bound by its provisions, having not, thus far, at least, been con- sidered as parlies to it. These are questions still open between the parties, which, under any view of the case, it appears to us, can only be settled by negotiation and further treaty. "Secondly, It strikes us as ecpially extraordinary, that because our avowed object was to make a treaty which should annul the provisions of this spurious compact, no negotiations would be opened with us. Had such a ground ever been presumed to present an obstacle to negotiations, why was it not discovered when the treaty of Holstein, and every succeeding treaty ever fovicd with us, was under consideration .' The stij)ulations of each and 65 614 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTOJIY OF every of them abrogate to a greater or less extent those which preceded it. How insuperably might it have been urged against the pretended treaty itself, which professes to annul and abrogate pre-existing treaties, to anniliilate public rights held under its sanction. " Thirdly, The idea that the ratification of the Senate, under the circumstances, had at all impaired the rights of either party, is e([ually incomprehensible. It was the act of one party alone. It was an act re(|uired by the Constitution of the United States, to give legal effect to a compact, which, until that was consummated, was inchoate and imperfect. But if no treaty had in fact ever been signed, if the instrument was in truth fraudulent or unauthorized, wo are not aware that the action of the Senate could make that vulid w liich before was void, could impose any obligation upon us who were not previously bound. Indeed, if this doctrine be true, to the extent it lias been pressed, the Cherokee nation, or even iheir self-constituted re[)rescntatives, need never have teen con- sulted, or their signatures obtained. The President himself might, of his own mere motion, dictate the terms of a treaty to the Senate, and by the ratification of that body it becomes binding Uj)on all who never saw or assented to it. "^■.''/■fh, But this doctrine, which we candidly confess to be beyonci our comprehension, does not seem, to our feeble intellects, to liave any betiring uj)on the (pieslion. For sure!}', if the Presi- dent and Senate are empowi.'red to negotiate! and make our treaties for us, without "our assent or knowledge, it does not seem very clear, how this power, in this |)articul;ir so unlimited, can be pre- vented from at least listening to our objections, and at their good pleasure substituting one less offensive, if they please." Fifth, Under this head Mr Ross refers to the act of the United States in annulling tlu; Creek treaty made in l-'ebriiary, 1825, at the Indian Springs, in which lie takes occaisioii to say, that if a like course hiid been taken in another, meaning the treaty of Payne's THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 515 Landing, with the Seminoles, and against which the body of the tribe protested, the blood and treasure expended in Florida would have been saved. Mr. Ross proceeds : — " This last treaty, which may be found in the seventh volume of the laws of the United States, page 782, con- tains this remarkable preamble : " Whereas a treaty was concluded at the Indian Springs, on the 12th day of February last (1825,) between commissioners on the part of the United States and a portion of the Creek nation, by which an extensive district of country was ceded to the United States : — And whereas, a great majority of the chiefs and warriors of the said nation have protested against the execution of the said treaty, and have represented that the same was signed, on their part, by persons having no sufficient authority to form treaties, or to make cessions, and that the stipulations in said treaty are there- fore wholly void : — "And whereas the United States are unwilling that difficulties sliould exist in the said nation, which may eventually lead to an intestine war, and are still more unwilling that any cessions of land should be made to them unless with the fair uiiderstandintr and full assent of the tribe making such cession, and for a just and adequate consideration, it being the policy of the United States in all their intercourse with the Indians to treat them justly and liberally, as becomes the relative situation of the parties." Such was the preamble of the treaty of January 24th, 1826 : the first article of which declared the previous treaty to be " null and void to every intent and purpose whatever, and any right and claim arising from the same isjiereby cancelled and surrendered " " These were historical facts with which we were familiar, and we had not been informed vrhat had occured since that period to prevent a similar action under circumstances not similar, only because the case more imperatively demanded such action. We could not understand why thart for tlie Creeks and Seminoles is about the same in extent witli that of the Choctaws, but not so mountainous. The soil is considered to be equal in fertility to any in the .south-western section of the country. It is well watered, and has plenty of timber; there are some prairies, wliich, however, are of great iu'vantagc to the .settler, the soil being rich and eas^ to cultivate, and they are very profital)le for raising stock." " The Creeks are a corn-growing people. Those that have been in the country some years, raise corn in large quantities; some ot the principjd farmers cril) from five to tei\ thousand bu.shcls in a season. They do not raise min-h stock, ufir ari; they, as a people, so far iulvanced in civilization as the Cherokees and Choctaws, though, as agriculturists, so far as raising corn, they e.vcel eitlier of the above named tribes. Tin raise stock sullk-ienl for their own con .umplion, but none of any coi'.sequence for sale." Of the Senecas and Shawanoes the .same ofiicer reports, " These tribes inhabit a high, healthy, well watered, and timbered country ; the soil rich and productive. They emigrated in 1832, arc agricul- turists, and arc mainly engaged in that pursuit ; they raise wheat and corn, and their country is well adapted to raising stock, of which they have considerable herds, lieing remote, however, from a market, their cropping is confined to tlieir own wants, and for these they provide liberally of all the substantials of life. The u.se of coffee, tea, and sugar, is common among them. 'J'heir cabins are well constructed, combining lx)th comfort and con- venience ; and their arrangements in farming have the appearance of tieatncss and order; they have mills, shops, and some good mechanics. Their resources are abundant, and their condition apparently happy." 624 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF The Qiiapaws "emigratod in the fiill of 1831. Their country, in point of soil, water, timber, and liealth, is similar to, and equally as good as that of their neighbors, the Cherokees, Sene- cas, and Senecas and Shawanoese. The/ are not so far advanced in civilization as tlie several tribes of Indians above named ; bnt a more honest, qniet, peaceable people, are not to be found in any section of the Indian country. They are industrious, and exceed- ing! v desirous of making for themselves a comfortable home." The Osnges have " made but little progress towards civilization ; their subsistence mainly depends upon the game of the country. They raise some corn and bciius, but the culture is rude. They raise no stock ; they obtain their horses from those Indians residing far 1o the south and west of them. Their country pos.sesses excel- lent soil, is well watered jnid timbered." The Sid)-Agent on the Osage River reported within the same year: — "The Potlawiitamies are now in the act of emigrating to tlieir land on the O.sage River. Such of them as have arrived are ]>reparing to erect log-honses, to fence and plo\igh tlieir fields, and show a disposition to adopt (vvclusively agricultural ha))its." " The Weas and Piankeshaws have generally comfortable log- calnns, fields fenced and i)loun:1ied, cultivated bv animal power; own oxen, cows, hogs, horses, fowls, &c. ; alsc ■ ijrici.ilural imple- Mients and domestic utensils. Tlu^y are rapidly improving in comfort and ajrricultural pursuits, and show a disposition to wholiv abiuidon the chiusi! as a nuvins of subsistence." " The Pcorias and Kaskaskias have better houses than those al)ove nnmerl ; own more domestic animal.s, have a greater jiropor- lion of ploiighed land, &^c., but are, jierhaps, in regard to general improvement, more .stationary." "The Ottawas, recently arrived in their country, have neat hewed louf-cabins, fields fenced and ploughed, own domestic ani- mals, agricidtural implements, domestic utensils, A:c., and are rapidly improving." "Of all these triijes it may be remarked, THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 525 that they raise a surplus of produce, increase in the acciuisition ot useful properly, and evince a desire to adopt the manners and customs of the whites." The.se data, selected from the earliest evidences of the prosperity of the emigrated Indians, show with what facility they adopted the uew life appointed them in their new homes. Subsequent accounts show that their improvement has been progressive. The Choctaws have a printing-press, from which they have issued, up to Septem- ber, 1842, thirty-three thousand impressions, or more than three millions of pages, consisting of translations of books, pamphlets, &c. They have also contributed ten thousand dollars to the building of a Central College, where the}' intend to complete the education of the Choctaw youth, and prepare teachers for their primary schools. Their country is divided into four judicial dis- tricts, in each of which there are judges inferior and superior, with ail the necessary officers of justice. Religio\is and temperance societies abound, and trade is carried on witli spirit. The popula- tion of the four districts wliich comprise their territory is seventeen thousand. There are many missionaries among them, who are well supported. In one district there are eighteen, of whom four- teen are of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The western territory is now peopled by a number of tribes : — the Choctaws, Creeks, Seininoles, Cherokees, Chickiisaws, Senecas, Shawanoe.sc, Quapaws, Wcsus, Piankeshaws, Peorias, Kaskaskias, Ottawas, Delawares, Kickapoos, Iowa.s, Saukies and Foxes, Kansas, Ottoes, Missouris, Omahas, Pawnees, and Osages. The la^t si.\ named tribes were occupants of parts of the country I), lore it was se- lected as a permanent residence for the Indians, ami nil the otliers are emigrants removed thither by the ( iovernment. Kach tribe has a separate district, guaranteed to it for ever, and over which it exercises a local jurisdiction, through its own chiefs and council , and there is a confederated government over the whole, adiiiinis- t«red by a general council, to which each trilw sends representatives. 626 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF and whose laws ;irc I''ulineca\ise we are indifferent as to the measures that may be employctl, provided the principles be observed ; and also because tlic extreme simplicity of our scheme is such as to require but little legislation. The difliculty lies, not in planting, but in clearing the groiuid. The field is occupied by a l)old and well organized corps who will resist all change. The numerous l)ody of stipendiaries and speciilators, who find a profit- able, and some of them an honest, employment, under the present state of things, would throw every ol)stacle in the way of reform. Thousands of individuals would be ejected from the Indian coun- try, whose interest it is to keep tlie savage in his present condition ; and hundreds of thousands of dollars would be retained in the treasury of the United States, which are now used to debauch the Indian, or to enrich those who thrive upon his ignorance and his ruin. We should not be particular as to tlie form of the remedy, provided it l)e siich as would wholly withdraw the patronages of the Government from this cla.ss of persons, and oblige them to abandon the Indian coimtry. We have supposed that the pastoral state would be that which would at first he adopted. Hut we do not propose to keep the tribes in that condition. From feeding herds to cultivating the soil, the transition is easy and ol)viou.s, and we have seen, in the example of the Indians in the western territory, that it is rapid. The Indian women already raise corn, l)eans, and pumpkins. If restrained from wandering, provided with permanent habitations, THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 527 and secured from being plundered, their industry would be quick- ened, Jind their economy improved. The products of their hus- bandry would become more various ; they would rise in usefulness, importance, and influence; and as the inducements to train the Ixiys from infancy to tlir use of arms shall be decreased, the mothers would lead them into the fields, and they would learn the use of the a,Kc, the hoc, and the plough. Among the men there would be some who would immediately turn their attention to rural employments. Wo have seen that this has lieen the case whenever a trilK5 has become .stationary, and enjoyed a season of repose from war. However repugnant the toils of husbandry may bo to the majority, there are always some men, of pacific disposition, who would slide easily into the habits of civilization. There are also, in all our triljes, men of superior capacity, persons of sagacity and prudence, who would adapt them- selves to any circumstances in which they might l)e placed. The annals of these tril)es exhiljit, in a wide expanse of moral darkness, many gleams of the most exhilarating intellectual light. There have been, among the Indians, examples of genius, of vigorous tliought, of patriotism, and of sound moral feeling, which commend this race to our sympatiiies, as men of like pa.ssions with ourselves, and iis possessed of capacities snsceptil)le of the higiiest degree of refinement. Such men as Brant, lied Jacket, Tecumtlie, and Corn Plant ; Ongpatinger, chief of the Omahaws, and the gallant young Pawnee, Petalesharo; Major Kidge, John Ridge, Elias Boudinot, the llickes, and John Ross; Sequoya and Opothee Yaliolo, would never sink into idle drones. We have an exjimph; of that InMievoleiice which assimilates so iKjautifuUy with true courage, and which occurs in the history of Tecumtlie, who, when a young man, on one of his earliest warliko expeditions, interfered with his comi)aiiioiis to sav(> a prisoner from torture, and through whose influence, it is probalde. that the prac- 528 AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF ticc of torturing captives was discontinued among the north- western tribes. The affecting story of Totapia, a Choctaw mother, known to the whites by the name of Jenny, related by the Rev. Dr. Morse m his report, exhibits a touching example of the strength and sensi- bility of maternal affection, and shows a depth and tenderness of feeling in the Indian woman, which, in a Roman, or a Grecian matron, would have been rendered immortal by the poet and hi.s- torian. She was the widow of a Choctaw, who, having slain one of his own tribe, was ])ursued by the relatives of the deceased, and put to death according to the Indian law. After the death of her husband she settled near St. Fiancisville, in Louisiana, where she lived reputably with four or five children, of whom Hoctanlubbee, or Tom, her son, was the eldest. At the age of twenty-five, her son " murdered an old Indian ; fpr which act, according to the unalterable law of the nation, his life was demanded, and he was sentenced to die. The day of his execution was fixed, and had arrived, and the relatives and friends both of the murdered and of the murderer, with others, a mingled throng, were assembled after their usual manner, and all things were ready for inflicting the criminal sentence of the law. At this moment of strong and mingled feeling, Jenny, the mother, pressed through the crowd, to the spot where her son stotnl, by the instruments prepared to take from him his life. She then addressed the chiefs and the company, demanding the life of her son, offering in its stead her own. Her plea was this: 'lie is young. lie has a wife, children, brothers, sisters, all looking to him for counsel and support. I am old. I have only a few days to live at most, and can do but little more for my family Nor is it strictly just — it is rather a shame — to take n new shirt fm an old one.' " The magnanimous otferof the devoted mother was accepted, and a few hours were allowed her to prej)are for death. She repaired THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 529 immediately to tlio lionse of a lady, Mrs. T., who liad boon licr kind and liberal Iriend, and witlioiit divulging wliat had occurred, said she came to beg a winding-shoot and coffin for her son. Not suspecting the arrangotncnt of Tolupia to preserve hor son, the huly acceded to hor request. When asked in relation to the length of the coffin and grave-clotho.s, the Choctaw mother rojiliod, 'Make them to suit my size, and thoy will answer for my son.' "Soon after Jenny had left Mrs. T. for the camp, wheie all things were ready for her execution, a messenger arrived in haste, and informed Mrs. T. of what was pa,s.sing in camp, and that Jenny was immediately to die. She ha.stoned to the scene with the intention of rescuing her friend; but Jenny, the moment she saw her carriage coming, at a distance, imagining, doubtless, what was her object, standing in her grave, caught the muzzle of the gun, the prepared instrument of her death, and pointing it to her heart, entreated the executioner to do his duty. lie obeyed, and she foil dead." We are not told how it happened that the son suffered his mother to die for him, or whether he could have prevented it. It seems, however, that he was dcs])ised for permitting it, and that his own conscience goaded him. The friends of the old man whom he had murdered taunted him : " You coward ; you let yoiu" mother die for you ; you are afraid to die." Unable to endure all this, he stabbed a son of his former victim ; but not until five years had elapsed since the death of his mother. "He returned homo with indications of triumph, brandishing his blomly knife, and, without waiting for i-iquiry, confessed what he had done. He told his Indian friends that he would not live to bo called a coward. 'I have been told,' he said, 'that I fear to die. Now you shall see that I can die like a man.' A wealthy jilanter, whose house he passed, ho invited to see how he could die. This was on Sunday. Monr, continued. She persevered in entreaties, and used all the arts of persuasion w'licli her woman's nature suggested ; and she finally succeeded m saving his life, on ciiiidition that the young while man should adopt the Indian dress, and become one of the trii)e. " It apjiears from the information communicated by Colonel Hitchcock, that .some time after this event, the white man sought his benefactress in marriage, but slie declined, and subserpiently married one of her own ])(M>j)le. Her husl)aud is now dead. Her fallicr was put to death in the war of 1">17-1'^, and her mother and sister have since died. She is now friendless and poor, residing THE NORTH AMKRICAN INDIANS. 633 amoni^st lier people in iVioir now conntry, near the month of Vcrdij^ris River. She has threts children, (a hoy and two girls,) all too young to provide for themselves, and consequently de- pendent upon their mother for support. "The committee thought that the occasion presented hy this case was a suitahlc one, not only to reward a meritorious act, hut also to show the Indian trihcs how mercy and humanity arc appre- ciated hy the Government. The grant of a pension, with a clear exposition of the grounds of its allowance, would have a salutary influence, it was believed, upon savage customs in future. A ImU was accordingly reported, to allow to Milly a pension of ninety-six dollars per annum, or eight dollars per month, for life." We shall not multiply these instances, hut refer the reader to the l)iographical dejjarttncnt of our work, where abundant evidence will be found of the capacity of the alx)riginal American. By carefully comparing these, it will he seen, that not only in boldnc^ss and cunning, but in all the nobler attributes of wisdom and gene- rosity, the Indian mind has given evidence of a congenial soil. These instances show that there arc intellects among the In- dians, not only capable of civilization, but eminently qualified for the civil state. One or more such men would be found in every tribe, who, perceiving that the war-path was no longer the road to dis- tinction, would aim at acquiring superiority through some other avenue. The season for political competition not having yet arrived, the only moans of distinction would be wealth ; and the glory of accumulating the bloody trophies of the battle-field, would be ex- changed for the boast of broad fields and numerous herds. The few, possessed of prudence and foresight, or desiring eminence, would see at once the advantages of agriculture, and would become farmers. The example would be salutary, and one after another would desire to possess the comforts and the independence which crown the labors of the husl)andman. The best and most in- fluential men would be the first to lead the way in thi.s reformation ; 5U AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF niul every man who becainc a raniicr would he a jxiwerfu! ailvf- ciite of the cause, becaiiHo it wonld Im' his interest to diminish the niHiiher of the idle anriginal race. The statemer'ts of the interested, or the apprehensions of honest prejudice, may for a while embarrass the decision ; but a magnanimous people will hear the evidence on both sides ; and we have no fears as to the wistlom or the justice of the nation, in any case where its verdict shall be deliberately made up, and solemnly recorded. TUB GENUINENESS OF '11113 PORTRAIT OF POCAHONTAS. The portraits in this work nrc not merely pictorial, but oxaoi likenesscB of tlic individuals tlicy represent, and of tlio costumes in wliicli they aro uttired. Man}- have douhted whether » ).'enuinc likeness of Pocahontas ex- isted, — intleed, we had Ion;; abandoned all hope of procuring one, but by dint of constant effort, ha'in;.' pit upon a trail, some years af.'o, one has been found, 'fhat it may he eontomphited with the interest that we nil take in viewing portraits of distinguished persons — an interest always greatly in- ereaseil in proportion as our eonliileui'e in the fidelity of the artist, and in the close reseuiblanee whieh his produelion bears to the individual, is established — wo state, that this is an exact copy of an original portrait tf I'ocuhontas, paint(Ml between the years ItJli! and 1(!17, tluring her visit to Kngland, in euiiipany with her husband, .Mr. Itolfe. The reuuiins of the original are at this time, November '20, 1H4!.I, in possession of Doctor Thomas Itobinson, in I'elers- burg, Virginia. Mr. K. .M. Sully, the artist who tnadc the copy from the original, fiom whieh copy the portrait in this work was taken, employed great labor in attaching the decaying parts together, so as to bring the whole within his power, and he succeeded. We proceed to state the ])roofs on which the genuineness of this beautiful picture tests. The original documents are in our possession, from which we co|iy tin? following: l.st, .V letter froiu Kii'hard Handi>lph, Ksip, of Virginia, written and dated in Washington, 1st -Vjiril, 1S12. "Pocahtmtas and Mr. Holfe, her husband, arrived at i'lyiuouth on the 1-th June, l(il(!. Their portraits were taken wliil>t they were in Kngland, where their son Thomas was born. I'oeahontas died at (iravesenil in the early part of the year It! 17; her husband returned to Virginia, leaving his son to the care of .Mr. Henry Uolfe, his brother. PORIRAIT or POCAHONTAS. 689 "Thomas Kolfi.' rctiii'iiiHl Id Vir^'iiiiii, tiiiil tluTo iiiari'icil, iiml died, leaving an only cliilil, Jane, who nianii'd Coloiicl IJoIutI Bolliii;:, and ilicil, h'avinj; an only child, John ltullin<;, whose daiifihtcr Jane, iiiarricd Hicliiird Itandolph, of Cnrlcs, in the oounty of lluniico, iSliiti- of Vir^iinia. Their son Jtyhind, who owned and resided uii the |iatrinionial estate, after receiving his education in England, was infornieil that the jiortraits of Pocahontas and Holfe. were in tlio possession of a gentleman in Knghind, whose name is now forgotten. " lie wrote to his friend in Knghind, to endeavor to pnrchase them for him : when the gentleman was applied to, and informed that Mr. Hanaviil .Meade Ramlolph, who was the executor of Ryiand Randolph, and sold the pictures. ''The inventory and account of ."ales may In." seen in the odice of the county court of Henrico. "RTCHARD RANDOLPH. " Wathington, Ut April, 1842." 2d, Copy of a letter to Mr. U. M. Sully, from Mr. W. F. Simpson, of Vir- ginia. " fV/.An/. l:{//, . I »,/«*/, 1h;U). " Dear Sum.Y: — Yoti requested me a few days ago lo call ami see the por- trait of Pocahontas you have lately heen Imsy ujion, fmni the one which you borrowed from her descendants at (Johhs. 1 did .--o last evening while yoti were from home, and feel much j)Ieasure in hearing testimony to the style in which you have executed your trust, a task so dillicult front the nnitilated si:ite of the original picture, that I really thought it almost impossihle for ymi lo Hiicceed as completely as you liave ilone. It is failhful lo a letter, jierhaps more so than is jmlilii; since had you maile some little alteration in her lady- ship's position, and dresseil her ratlu'r more in acciirdance «iiii thi' ta>le if this after age, I have no doiiht the piclun- would tell heller nilh the majoriiy of those who nuiy hereafter sec it. I of course think ynu (piilc right in ^tiik* ilig lis rigidly to tlie ' letter of iLo lutt us you have done. " 540 PORTRAIT OF POCAHONTAS. 8d, Copy of ft Htatcnu-nt from Doctor T. RubinHon, of Petersburg, Virginia, August UO,' 1H4;J. " Tlic Iiiilian piclMri' rnpicil liy Mr. Sully, tbc original of wliicli is now in my ])0!»!'(i'.-iion, \as .«iliown to nic at CoMis, some Mcvcniccn or cigliteon years ago, by Mr. Itolling, as llie portrait of I'ocaliontas ; Mrs. H., tben proprietor of tlie portrait, was lifrsclf !i descenilant of Pocahontas, anil wiilow of tlie representa- tive of i'owliattan. A >iiglit inspeelion of llie eostiiuie satisiieil me tliat this was the only portrait of a female painleil in the reign uf Juincs I. among the family |)ietiires. " With very great pleasure I hear testimony to the rigid fiilelily with wliieh Mr. Sully litis e.ipieil this very interesting ]iortrait, notwithstanding the teiiipta- tion to rertain alteratioiis in eonformity with the romantie spirit of the history of the niilividual wIkum it represents, by which the elTect might have been in- creased, wiiliout impairing the likeness. From every thing of this kind Mr. Sully has ttilh great propriety abstained, while the likeii'e.ss, costiune, and at- lituile have been pri'served with great e.vactne.ss. " The i>ri;:inal is eninibling so rapidly, that it iniiy be considered as luiving already passed out of existence. "T. ROIIINSOX. " I'rlrmr.lini, Aw/ll^l l'<>, 1h:5(1." 4th, t'opy of a statement from Mrs. .\nne Robinson, of Virginia. mm mv ei rliest rei'ollccllon 1 hi liive been accuslome d t( llh pictiirt eo|(ieil by Mr. Sidly, in the house of my grandfather, Mr. T. Ibilling, of t'oblis; it was always shown as the ])iirtriiil of i'oeahontas. Mr. T. Ibdling was the representative of Powhallan; my grandmother, Mrs. I>itty Ibdliiii:, eipially distant from Pocahontas; neither entertained a doubt that the pieluie in ipiestioii was a portrait of Pocahontas. My father, also a descendant of Pora- lioiitas, was well acipiainled with the hislcu'V of the picture. "ANNK ROIUNSOX." ."ith, Kvtraet of a letter from |). M.' Kandolph to R. M. Sully. Yurkloifn. l(l//( X /•I,„iIh'i; ls:!t). " Aliout the year 17>^>'-!'. I resiiled at Presipie Isle, one mile from Itermiida Hundred. < (ecasioimlly interchanging vi>its of hospitality with the masters of vessels while in that port, it was my good fortune to bei'ome intimate with a captain .loseph Watson, of the brig .laiu', of Washington. "This Captain Watson brought Mr. I{and>il|di a parcel of books. " Thes<> I ks were acciuupiinicd by a long letter from .lonah Wheeler of the respeetable eoinmereial house of tierard, Preston, Winder ilt Wheeler, tben "xisting in Liverpool. The books were presented by Mr. Wheeler, from his PORTRAIT OF POCAHONTAS. 641 hnunff unilcrstoofl my character n.s a funiicr, nnd my iinnic as « aesccndant of PoiMiliontiis. "Mr. Wlioolcr stilted that he had heard ' liiH motlicr relate the circumstnnco of a Mr. Raiu>)lph or llolliiif;, havin;; in their (hiy been over to Enghuid and goiiif^ down into Warwiekshire, one hniidred and fifty milcti from London, in piirsiiit of the portraits of Mr. Rolfe and Poeahontas ;' tlie jientleman, ho Haid, offered a hirge jiriec for the pietures, hut the family who had them, themselve.s not deseendants from Poeahontas, hut from Kolfc, di»duininj,' a l>n'iHium, frenerously gave the same to Hyland Kandolph, who satisfied them of his better pretensions to so valuable a possession. 1 retain a perfect reeid- le