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 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 32X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
INI 
 
 I 
 
 50, p 
 
/' 
 
 THE 
 
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 INDIANS OF NOETH AMERICA. 
 
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 ^-^ 
 
 
 LONDON: 
 THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY; 
 
 SR, PATFllNOSTF.U ROW, 05, ST. PAUL's CIIUUCHYAUD, AND 
 164, PICCADILLY ; AND SOLD BY THK U()OKSELLEU». 
 
 I 
 
 PKOI'LIMY Of THE LIBRARY 
 UiNIVtRSITY OF WAffRlOO 
 
The subje 
 
 Some acco 
 Americ 
 — Coni( 
 hunting 
 A cache 
 niinxes, 
 squirrel 
 
 Difficulty ii 
 whence 
 tion on t 
 Indians ' 
 feet, Sio 
 remarka 
 
 ^ViffAvams — 
 ronnne I 
 >r:lh-to~t( 
 hawks, s] 
 Indian ^v^ 
 and mnni 
 Indian mc 
 
■i ; 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHArTER I. 
 
 I 
 
 Tlic subject introduced 
 
 PAOU 
 
 . I 
 
 CIIArTER II. 
 
 Some account of the fur-trade— The lakes, rivers, and mountains of North 
 America — Indian hunters — Coureurs des Bois — Voyaceurs — Nortli-men 
 — Comers and Goers — A ddcliar>xe— A portage — Trappers — Beaver 
 hunting — Adventure witli a bear — Beltries and furs— Deer liunting — 
 A cache — Fur companies — Bisons, bears, deer, wolves, badgers, beavers, 
 minxes, martins, foxes, racoons, lynxes, hares, rabbits, musk-rats, 
 squirrels, and stoats 9 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Difficulty in ascertaining who were the Aborigines of America, and from 
 whence they came — Various opinions on tlie subject — Catlin's publica- 
 tion on the " Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American 
 Indians "—Census of the different tribes— Locality of the Crows, Black- 
 feet, Sioux, and Creeks— The names of some of the Indian chiefs and 
 remarkable characters '21 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Wigwams — Crow Indians quitting an encampment — Villages — Food— 
 I'onnne blanche — remican — Marrow fat— Fruit— Dress— Full Dress of 
 Miih-to-t(5h-pa, "the four bears" — Bows and arrows, quivers, toma- 
 hawks, spears, shields, and scalping knives — Scaljiing — War-clubs — 
 Indian warfare — Warfare of white men— Language — Names of the sun 
 and moon, a buffalo, and the Great Spirit, in different languages- 
 Indian method of signing treaties 43 
 
VT 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PAOB 
 
 The history of Clack Hawk — Na-na-ma-kee's dream— Black Hawk's birtli- 
 place — Boconios a brave — Fifilits against the Osages — His father killed 
 — Destroys forty lodges of tlie Osages — Sac chiefs go to St. Louis — 
 Strong drink given them, and they sign away land of the Sacs' nation 
 — American whites deceive the Sacs, and Black Hawk joins the British 
 — His battles — He returns home — Kec-o-kiik made chief — Black 
 Hawk again goes to war — He gives himself up to the Americans — A 
 buffalo hunt Gl 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Valleys and prairies — A flat prairie — Bluffs and square hills — Floyd's 
 grave — Blackbird's grave — Fruit grounds in prairie — Prairie la Crosse 
 —Prairie du Chien— Couteau des Prairies— Jlissouri prairies— Swan 
 Lake River rice grounds — Lover's Leap — Salt meadows — Savannahs — 
 Red Pipe-stone Quarry 81 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Seminole Indians — King of the Red Hills — Oceola — A council — Agree- 
 ment to an exchange of land — Oceola refuses to sign the contract, 
 and dashes his dagger through it — Oceola made prisoner, and after- 
 wards set at liberty — His message to the whites — Oceola treacherously 
 made prisoner again — His death — Adventures of Nikkanochee, prince 
 ofEconchatti 100 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The religion of the Red Indians— Medicine, or Jlystery^^Rain-making— 
 ilarriage — Flattening the heads of children — Cradles — Practice of 
 shaving the head — Exposure of the aged — The Leaping Rock — Catch- 
 ing white fish — Fasts, feasts, and sacrifices — Runners — Indian squaws, 
 with their customary employments — Pipe smoking — Dog feast— A 
 common life scene among the Indians — Smoking a shield — Pipes- 
 Pipe of peace — Indian burial — Resting-place for the dead , . . . .114 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Anecdotes of the Red Indians — Indian observation and sagacity — Indian 
 conscientiousness— Indian honesty— Indian ignorance— Indian shrewd- 
 ness — Indian cunning and deceit — Indian heroism — Adventures of an 
 American trapper 132 
 
 t 
 
 Buff,iIo£ 
 Bear 
 Wild 
 ~\Yc 
 — Co 
 .Afoim 
 adven 
 
 Ganips — B 
 
 I'rairie 
 
 — Tiio f 
 
 of the { 
 
 ^uli.'ins- 
 
 dance — 
 
 Afiisical ins 
 and deerl 
 dance—' 
 <hscoverl 
 dance— 'i| 
 I'L'ar daiKf 
 
 The mystery 
 I'i'e GreatI 
 man— Th(. 
 
 dangers ^1 
 
 —''"lie lasf 
 speech off 
 Governor 
 warrior- 
 
CONTEXTS. 
 
 Vll 
 
 G\ 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 I'AGK 
 
 Buffaloes — Bisons — A prand surround of butYaloes — A butTjilo wallow — 
 Bears — Adventure with a grizzly bear— Anecdote of a cnnimou bear — 
 Wild horses — Catchinc horses with tiie lasso — Creasing liorses — Couriers 
 —Wolves — White, black, and clouded wolves — Deer — .Moose deer— Klk 
 — Common deer — the V.'apiti deer — lilack-tailed deer — Cariboo — 
 Mountain sheep — Prairie dogs — Musk rats — Taking musk rats — Fcjirful 
 adventure of the prairie on tire l")l 
 
 CHArTER XI. 
 
 81 
 
 Games— Ball play among the Choctaws— Bail play by the women of the 
 Prairie du Chien — Horsemanship — Foot races — Canoe races — Wrestling 
 — Tiie game of tchung-kee among the Mandans — Archery — The game 
 of the arrow — Swimming — Mode of swinnning customary among the 
 Indians — Prank of the Minetarees children on the Knife liiver— Buffalo 
 dance — The poor Indian woman .... Itl'j 
 
 t, 
 r- 
 
 ly 
 
 c 
 
 100 
 
 of 
 kh- 
 Ivs, 
 
 -A 
 
 U4 
 
 lian 
 
 ^vd- 
 
 an 
 
 132 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 Musical instruments — Whistles, flutes, rattles, and drums — War whistle 
 and deer-skin flute — The beggars' dance — The doctors' dance— The pijie 
 dance— The black drink — The green-corn dance — The dog dance — Tiie 
 discovery dance — The slave dance — Tlie scalp dance — The sham scalp 
 dance — The eaule dance — The snow-shoe dance — The straw dance— the 
 bear dance — The war dance — Sham fight with the Mandan boys . . . 
 
 18G 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The mystery lodge of the M..iidans, to appease the Good and Evil Spirits— 
 The Great Canoe — The unknown man from the prairie — The old mystery 
 man — The bull dance — Preparing young warriors for hardsiiips and 
 dangers — The tortures inflicted— The self-possession of ttiu young men 
 — The last run— Fainting and recovery of the tortured Indians— The 
 speech of Logan, an Indian chief— Address of the Seneca Indians to 
 Governor Clinton — Address of the chiefs of the same tribe —S])eech of a 
 warrior— Speech of Red Jacket in reply to a missionary 201 
 
1 
 
 ■'I 
 
 VUl 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 ClIArTER XIV. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I'oisoned arrows — Poison making — Tlie deadly power of tlie poison — 
 Council of war — Enlisting — Preparation for battle — Indian mode of 
 fijjjliting — A war party — A night march — A surprise — A village attacked 
 — The onset — Tlie resistance — The retreat — False alarms — Camancheo 
 war iiarty — Tlieir chief in full dress on his war-horse — The wounded 
 Crow warriors — The mystery man — His useless attemjjts to restore the 
 wounded— Particulars of the death of Oceola, the Seminole chief— The 
 death of a Christian 220 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A treaty of peace — The tomahawk buried — Pipe of peace dance— Assina- 
 boin chief — Tribes who shave their heads — Turning in their toes in 
 walking — Names of women — Different modes of building lodges — lUitfalo 
 hunting in wolves' skins — Begging horses — Medicine rock — Hatching 
 thunder— Captain Smith saved by a chief's daughter— Horned frogs- 
 Mosquitoes— Salt water brooks 23G 
 
 CITAPTER XVI. 
 
 Dreadful ravages of the smallpox — Loss sustained by the Minetarees, 
 Blackfeet, Crows, and Crees — The Mandau people all destroyed — 
 Death of Mdh-to-tdh-pa, "the four bears" — Attempts to introduce 
 vaccination — John Eliot, the first Protestant missionary among the Red 
 Indians — His progress and death — Brainerd ; his Christian course and 
 death — Character given of him — Letter of the Oneida chiefs — Speech 
 of the chief Little Turtle— Missionary trials — Slaughter of the Christian 
 Indians— Kahkewaquonaby and Shaw Wundais, two Chippeways, visit 
 
 m 
 
 England 
 
 . 252 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 American Boardof Missions— The United BrethreTi — The Church Missionary 
 Society — The Wesleyan Jlissionary Society — The American Presbyterian 
 Board of Missions— The American Baptist Missions — The American Me- 
 thodist Missionary Society — Stations, schools, missionaries, communi- 
 cants, scholars, and hearers — Missionary relations — Conclusion . . . 
 
 273 
 
 It was 
 Brian Et 
 

 THE 
 
 INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 23G 
 
 z\\ 
 
 jit 
 
 252 
 
 iry 
 an 
 
 IC" 
 
 ni- 
 
 . 273 
 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 The subject introduced. 
 
 It was on a wild and gusty day, that Austin and 
 Brian Edwards were returning home from a visit to 
 
2 A LAND STORM. 
 
 their uncle, who lived at a distance of four or five 
 miles from their fatlier's dwelling, when the wind, 
 w^hich was before suOlciently high, rose suddenly ; 
 and the heavens, which had for some hours been over- 
 clouded, grew darker, with every appearance of an 
 approaching storm. Brian was for returning back ; 
 but to this, Austin would by no means consent. 
 Austin was twelve years of age, and Brian about two 
 years younger ; their brother Basil, who was not witli 
 them, had hardly completed his sixth year. 
 
 The three brothers, though unlike in some things — 
 for Austin was daring, Brian fearful, and ]3at<il aifec- 
 tionate — very closely resembled each other in their 
 love of books and wonderful relations. AVhat one 
 read, the other would read ; and what one had learned, 
 the other wished to know. '■< 
 
 Louder and louder blew the wind, and darker and 
 darker grew the sky, and already had a distant flash 
 and growling thunder announced the coming storm, 
 when the two brothers arrived at the rocky eminence 
 where, though the wood was above them, the river 
 rolled nearly a hundred fathoms below. Some years 
 before, a slip of ground had taken place at no great 
 distance from the spot, when a mass of earth, amount- 
 ing to well-nigh half an acre, with the oak trees that 
 grew upon it, slid down all at once towards the river. 
 The rugged rent occasioned by the slip of earth, the 
 great height of the road above the river, the rude 
 I'ocks that here and there presented themselves, and 
 the giant oaks of the wood frowning on the dangerous 
 
 path, 
 and i 
 terini 
 hroih 
 CiJ in V 
 
 J a 
 
 spot ■ 
 
 , Chllgi]; 
 
 ' the api 
 a/id an 
 Ami 
 ^vns ho] 
 'j's J)('a( 
 or ratli( 
 not a io 
 and Bvi 
 tlie crv 
 them 
 for the 
 louder 
 rock ga 
 ^^'i^ippcd 
 crash, ii 
 the prec 
 Austin 
 
 "^ai), SOI] 
 
 ^ crook 
 g'vat agi 
 iiot clear 
 
-,. 
 
 A LAX]) STOKM. 
 
 3 
 
 patli, <]^<avo it ta diaraetcr at once lilglily picturesque 
 and fearful. Austin, notwillistandiug the loud blus- 
 teriuL,^ of the Aviud, and the reuioustrance of his 
 brother to hasten on, made a momentary pau«e to 
 ciijoy the seene. 
 
 In a short time the two boys had approached the 
 spot wliere a low, juttin^^ roek of red sand-stone, 
 around whieh the roots of a larw tree Avere seen 
 eliuj^ing, narrowed the ])ath; so that there Avas only 
 the space of a few feet between the base of the rock 
 and an abrupt and fearful precipice. ^:^ 
 
 Austin was looking down on the river, and Brian 
 was holdin<i^ his cap to prevent its being blown from 
 his head, Avhen, between the fitful blasts, a loud voiee, 
 or rather a cry, was heard. " 8top, boys, stop ! Come 
 not a foot further on the peril of your lives!" Austin 
 and Brian stood still, neither knowing whence cam(^ 
 the cry, nor what was the danger that threatened 
 them ; they were, however, soon sensible of the latter, 
 ibr the rushing winds swept through the wood with a 
 louder roar, and, all at once, part of the red sand-stone 
 rock gave way with the giant oak whose rt)ots were 
 wrapped ronnd it, when the massy ruin, with a fearful 
 crash, fell headlong across the path, and right over 
 
 t! 
 
 le precipice. 
 
 Brian trembled with aifrifrht, and 
 
 Austin turned pale. In another minute, an active 
 man, somewhat in years, habited as a shepherd, with 
 a crook in his hand, was seen making his way with 
 great agility over such parts of the fallen rock as had 
 not cleared the preci])ice. It was he who had given 
 
i THE HUNTER S COTTAGE. 
 
 the two brothers such timely notice of their danger, 
 and thereby saved their lives. Austin was about to 
 thank him, but hardly had he began to speak, when 
 the stranger stopped him. " Thank God, my young 
 friends," said he, with much emotion, " and not me ; 
 for we are all in his hands. It is his goodness that 
 has preserved you." In a little time the stranger 
 had led Austin and Brian, talking kindly to them 
 all the way, to his comfortable cottage, which stood 
 at no great distance from the bottom of the wood. V 
 
 Scarcely had they seated themselves in the cottage, 
 when the storm came on full of fury. As flash after 
 Ihish seemed to rend the dark clouds, and clap after 
 clap shook the walls of the cottage, the rain came 
 down like a deluge, and the two boys were thankful 
 to lind themselves in so comfortable a shelter. Brian 
 was too fearful to pay attention to anything except tlie 
 storui ; but it did not escape the eye of Austin, that 
 the cottage walls were hung round with lances, bows 
 and arrows, quivers, tomahawks, and other weapons of 
 Indian warfai-e ; together with pouches, girdles, and 
 garments of great beauty, such as he had never before 
 seen. A sight so unexpected both astonished and 
 pleased him, ami made a deep impression on his mind. 
 It was some time before the storm had spent its rage, 
 80 that the two brothers had some pleasant conversation 
 with the stranger, who talked to them cheerfully. He 
 did not, however, fail to dwell much on the goodness 
 of God in tlieir ])reservation ; nor did he omit to urge 
 on them to read, on their return home, the first two 
 
 versei 
 
 dispoi 
 
 contid 
 
 gratef 
 
 and t\ 
 
 fault i 
 
 the pi, 
 
 AVh 
 
 incr col 
 
 which '. 
 clouds, 
 while A 
 c*ry whii 
 and the 
 when if 
 tree thj 
 by the 
 have b 
 after rec 
 them 
 
 Thou 
 iinportai 
 ^vas tha 
 
 o^'cupied 
 romantic 
 Indian w 
 "uistbe 
 ^itiintinif 
 several <r 
 Brian 
 
 e( 
 
 ei 
 
THE UUNTER. 
 
 verses of the forty-sixth Psalm, wliicli he said mij^lit 
 dispose them to look upwards with thankfulness and 
 confidence. Austin and Brian left the cottai^e, truly 
 grateful f(»r the kindness which had been shown them ; 
 and the former felt determined it sliould not be his 
 fault if he did not, before long, make another visit to 
 the place. 
 
 When the boys reached home, they related in glow- 
 ing colours, and with breathless haste, the adventure 
 which had befallen them. Brian dwelt on the black 
 clouds, the vivid lightning and the rolling thunder; 
 while Austin described, with startling etl'ect, the sudden 
 cry which had arrested their steps near the UMrrow path, 
 and the dreadful crash of the red sand-stone rock, 
 when it broke over the precipice, with the big oak 
 tree that grew about it. " Had we not biH'n stoppcnl 
 by the cry," said he, "we must, in another minute, 
 have been dashed into a thousand pieces." He then, 
 after recounting how kind the stranger had been to 
 them, entered on the subject of the Indian weapons. 
 
 Though the stranger who had rendered the boys so 
 important a service was di'essed like a shepherd, there 
 was that in his manner so superior to the station he 
 occupied, that Austin, being ardent and somewhat 
 romantic in hia notions, and wrought upon by tlie 
 Indian weapons and dresses he had seen, tliought he 
 nuistbe some important person in disguise. Tliis beliet 
 lie intimated with considerable conlldence, and assigned 
 several g(>v.Hl reasons in supi)ort of his opini(m. 
 
 Brian reminded Austin of the two verses they were 
 
6 
 
 TUE HUNTER. 
 
 to read ; and, when the Bible was produced, he read 
 aloud, " God is our refuge and strength, a very present 
 lielp in trouble. Therefore will not w^e fear, though 
 the earth be removed, and though the mountains be 
 carried into the midst of the sea," Psa. xlvi. 1, 2. , 
 
 "Yes," said Austin, "we had indeed a narrow escape; 
 for if the mountains were not carried into the sea, the 
 roclc fell almost into the river." --^ 
 
 On the morrow, Mr. Edwards was early on his way 
 to the cottage, to oft'er liis best thanks, with those of 
 Mrs. Edwards, to the stranger who had saved the 
 lives of his children. He met him at the door, with 
 his crook in his hand. HJn an interview of half an 
 hour, Mr. Edwards learned that the cottager was the 
 son of an English fur trader; and that, after tlie 
 death of liis father in North America, he had spent 
 several years among the Indian tribes, resting in their 
 Avigwams, hunting with them, and dealing in furs; but 
 tliat, having met with an injury in his dangerous 
 calling, he had at last returned to his native country. 
 Being fond of solitude, he had resolved, having the 
 means of following out his plans, to purchase a cottage, 
 a small estate, and a few sheep ; he should tlicn be 
 employed in the open air, and doubted not tliat op- 
 portunities would occur, wherein he could make him- 
 self useful in the neighbourhood.-^ There was al-o 
 another motive tliat nuudi inHiuMiced him in his plans. 
 His mind had for some time been deeply impressed 
 with Divine things, and he yearned for that privacy 
 and repose which, while it would not prevent him 
 
 from 
 
 medi 
 
 been 
 
 He 
 
 cottaf 
 
 wood 
 
 percei 
 
 of the 
 
 of the 
 
 timely 
 
 bless in 
 
 from tl 
 
 Mr. 
 
 mannei 
 
 respect, 
 
 hand I 
 
 ministe 
 ^t range 
 
 oli'ering 
 iier, an( 
 hiiu it' 
 i'l addij] 
 yhiJdren 
 inspect 
 being rt 
 very f{i\' 
 ^vhoni h( 
 Austii 
 awaiting 
 ^^Jiit tlu.1 
 
ead 
 
 jeiit j 
 
 i be 
 
 St.. 1 
 ape; i 
 
 ,tlie ! 
 
 way j 
 ise of 
 L the 
 with 
 Jt' an 
 ,9 the 
 I' the 
 spent 
 their 
 ; bnt 
 erous 
 mtry. 
 the 
 >ttag(^ 
 \v\i be 
 |at op- 
 hini- 
 al-v) 
 ph\nf^. 
 [ressed 
 privacy 
 it him 
 
 THE iiuyxER. 7 
 
 from attending God's house, wonkl alkiw him freely tu 
 meditate on God's holy word, which for some time had 
 been the delight of his heart. ^ 
 
 lie told Mr. Edwards that' he had lived in the 
 cottage for some months ; and that, on entering the 
 wood the day before, hard by the narrow path, he 
 perceived by the swaying of the oak tree and moving 
 of the sand-stone rock, that there was every probability 
 of their falling : this had induced him to give that 
 timely warning which had been a means, by the 
 blessing of God, of preserving tlie young gentlemen 
 from their danger. ^I^ 
 
 Mr. Edwards perceived, by the conversation and 
 manners of the stranger, thai he was evidently a 
 respectable character; and some letters put into his 
 band by him, both from missionaries abroad and 
 ministers of the gospel in England, addressed to the 
 stranger, spoke loudly in favour of his piety. .After 
 oll'ering him his best thanks, in a warm-hearted man- 
 ner, and expressing freely the pleasure it would give 
 him if he could, in any way, act a neighbourly part 
 in adding to his comfort, Mr. Edwards incjuired if his 
 children might be permitted to call at the cottage, to 
 inspect the many curiosities that were there. This 
 being readily assented to, he took his departure with a 
 very favourable impression of his new neighbour, with 
 whom he had so unexpectedly been made accpiainted. 
 
 Austin and Brian were, v.ith some impatience, 
 awaiting their father's return; and when they knew 
 that the stranger who had saved their lives had 
 
INVITATION TO THE COTTAGE. 
 
 actually passed years among the Indians, on the 
 prairies and in the woods — that he had slept in their 
 wigwams ; hunted, with them, beavers, bears, and 
 buffaloes ; shared in their games ; heard their wild 
 war-whoop, and witnessed their battles — their delight 
 was unbounded. Austin took large credit for his 
 penetration in discovering that the cottager was not 
 a common shepherd, and signified his intention of 
 becoming thoroughly informed of all the manners and 
 customs of the North American Indians. V 
 
 Nothing could have been more agreeable to the 
 young people than this unlooked-for addition to their 
 enjoyment. They had heard of the Esquimaux, of 
 Negroes, Malays, New Zealanders, Chinese, Turks, 
 and Tartars ; but very little of the North American 
 Indians. It was generally agreed, as leave had been 
 given them to call at the cottage, that tlie sooner they 
 did it the better. Little Basil was to be one of the 
 party ; and it would be a difficult thing to decide 
 which of the three brothers looked forward to tlie 
 proposed interview with the greatest pleasure. -^^ 
 
 Austin, Brian, and Basil had, at different times, 
 found abundant amusement in reading of parrots, 
 humming birds, and cocoa nuts ; lions, tigers, leopards, 
 elephants, and horned rhiuoceroses; monkeys, racoons, 
 opossums, and sloths ; mosquitoes, lizards, snakes, and 
 scaly crocodiles ; but these were notliing, in their 
 estimation, compared with an account of lied Indians, 
 bears, and buffaloes, from the mouth of one who had 
 actually lived among them. "" 
 
 ■iSfi 
 
 •1?1 
 
 Somo aocnim 
 America - 
 
 Advcritun 
 ^f'liiiKinics 
 foxes, racvi 
 
 ArsTiy ] 
 Wood I lie 
 

 NORTH AMEKICAN SCr.NERT. 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 
 Somo nccniint of tho fnr-trado — The lakos, rivers, and mnnnfMiii') of North 
 Atiicrira— Indian liuntors — Courenrs di'S Hois - A'oyai,^('ur.s Nnrtii-nun— 
 Comers and jjoers — A di^charjrc — A vortau'c—TraiiixTs— Heaver limiting — 
 Adventure with a bear— Peltries and furs l)icr liuntlMi: A eaeiie— Fur 
 eoniiianies— liisons, hears, (h'cr, wolves, l)adL''ers, tieavrs, minxes, irartins, 
 foxes, raeoons, lynxes, hares, rabbits, musk-rats, sciuirrels, and stoats. 
 
 .\rsTiN Edwat^ds was too ardent in his ])iirsiiits not 
 to mako tlie intiMidtMl visit to the cottasj^c near the 
 wood tlie continued theme of liis conversation with 
 
10 
 
 THE IIOAD TO THE COTTAGE. 
 
 his brothers tlirongh the remainder of the day ; and, 
 when lie retired to rest, in his dreams he was eitlier 
 waiiderinf^ through tlie forest defenceless, liaving lost 
 his tomahawk, or flying over the prairie on tlie back 
 of a buQalo, amid the yelling of a thousand Eed 
 Indians. 
 
 The sun was bright in the skies when the three 
 brothers set out on their anticipated excursion. Austin 
 was loud in praise of their kind preserver, but he 
 could not at all understand how any one, who had 
 been a hunter of bears and buifaloes, could quietly 
 settle down to lead tlie life of a shepherd : for hia 
 })art, he would have remained a hunter for ever. 
 Brian thought the hunter had acted a wise part in 
 coming away from so many dangers ; and little Basil, 
 not being quite abh^ to decide which of his two brothers 
 was right, remained silent. ><^ 
 
 As the two elder brothers wished to show Basil the 
 place where they stood when the oak tree and the red 
 sand-stone rock fell over the prtcipicc; w'ith a crash, 
 and as Basil was equally desirous to visit the spot, 
 they went up to it. Austin helped his little brother 
 over the broken fragments which still lay scattered 
 over the narrow path. It was a sight that would have 
 im])ressed the mind of any one ; and Brian looked up 
 with awe to the rt^maining part of the rifted rock, 
 above which th(» fallen oak tree had stood. Austin 
 was vcM'y eloquent in his description of the sudden 
 voice of the stranger, of the roaring wind as it rushed 
 through the wood, and of the crashing tree and falling 
 
 rock. 
 
 descend 
 
 arrestiu 
 
 AVhei 
 
 Brian ci 
 
 tage ; bi 
 
 the cott 
 
 that he 
 
 to empk 
 
 many yt 
 
 hunted 1 
 
 intents a 
 
 to be cal 
 
 settled, ] 
 
 future a 
 
 hastily tc 
 
 In five 
 
 Edwards' 
 
 called, AV; 
 
 voung vis 
 
 the walls 
 
 kept with 
 
 calumets, 
 
 war-eagle 
 
 [xniches. 
 
 There wai 
 
 and musi 
 
 the youn; 
 
 wanted tc 
 
 Brian iuq 
 
INTERIOR or THE IIUNTEU S COTTAGE. 
 
 11 
 
 rock. Basil showed great astonishment ; and tliey all 
 descended from the commanding height, full of the 
 arresting adventure of the preceding day. 
 
 AVhen they were come within sight of the wood, 
 Brian cried out that he could see the sheplierd's cot- 
 tage ; but Austin told him that he ought not to call 
 the cottager a shepherd, but a hunter. It was true 
 that he had a ilock of sheep, but he kept them more 
 to employ his time than to get a living by tliem. I'or 
 many years he had lived among the Indians, and 
 hunted bulfaloes with them ; he was, therefore, to all 
 intents and purposes, a buftalo hunter, and ought not 
 to be called a shepherd. This important point being 
 settled, Brian and Basil havhig agreed to call him iti 
 future a hunter, and not a shepherd, they walked on 
 hastily to the cottage. 
 
 In five minutes after, the hunter, for such by Austin 
 Edwards' express requirements he must, in future, be 
 called, w'as showing and explaining to his delighted 
 youno: visitors the Indian curiosities which hunii* around 
 the walls of his cottage, together with others which he 
 kept with greater care. These latter were {)rincipally 
 cahunets, or peace-pipes; mocassins, or ImliMU shoes; 
 war-eagle dresses, mantles, necklaces, shields, belts, 
 pouches, and war-clubs of su])eri()r workm.'inship. 
 There was also an Indian cradle, ami several rattles 
 and musical instruments : these altogether allbrded 
 the young peo})le wondrous entertaiiunent. Austin 
 wanted to know how the Indians used their war-clubs; 
 Brian inquired how they smoked the peace-pipe ; and 
 
12 
 
 DIFFERENT KINDS OF FUES. 
 
 little Basil was quite as anxious in his questions about 
 a rattle, which he had taken up and was shaking to 
 and fro. To all these inquiries the hunter gave satis- 
 factory replies, with a promise to enter afterwards on 
 a more full explanation. 
 
 In addition to these curiosities, tlie voung people 
 were shown a few specimens of different kinds of 
 furs ; as those of the beaver, ermine, sable, martin, 
 fiery fox, black fox, silver fox, and squirreL Austin 
 wished to know all at once, where, and in what way, 
 these fur animals were caught ; and, with this end in 
 view, he contrived to get the hunter into a conversa- 
 tion on the subject. " I suppose," said he, " that 
 you know all about beavers, and martins, and foxes, 
 and squirrels." 
 
 Hunter. I ought to know something about them, 
 having been in my time somewhat of a Vot/agcur, a 
 Coureur du hois, a Trapper, and a Freeman; but you 
 will hardly understand these terms without some little 
 explanation. 
 
 Austin. What is a Coureur du bois ? 
 
 Brian. What is a Voyageur ? 
 
 Basil. I want to know what a Trapper is. 
 
 Hunter. Perhaps it will be better if I give you a 
 short account of the way in which the furs of different 
 animals are obtained, and then I can explain the 
 terms Yoyageur, Coureur du bois, Trapper, and Free- 
 man, as well as a few other things which you may 
 like to know. 
 
 Brian. Yes, that will be the best way. 
 
 Aitsti 
 
 a long ( 
 
 to the V 
 
 Hunt 
 
 as we re 
 
 to give 
 
 over the 
 
 I all the ej 
 
 I eth upoi 
 
 I doubt, n 
 
 \ he may u 
 
 them wh 
 
 animals '. 
 
 years ; a 
 
 and orna 
 
 has long 
 
 civilized 
 
 furs for 
 
 which ar 
 
 and civili 
 
 \ Austin 
 
 Hunt €7 
 
 The ermi 
 
 northerly 
 
 furs iji us 
 
 Austin. 
 
 of it are v 
 
 Hunter 
 
 America, ^ 
 
 the Pacific 
 
 i 
 
T\'IIEKE rURS COME EROM. 
 
 13 
 
 s 
 
 Austin. Please not to let it be a short account, but 
 a long one. Begin at the very beginning, and go on 
 to the very end. 
 
 Hunter. Well, we shall see. It has pleased God, 
 as we read in the first chapter of the book of Genesis, 
 to give man " dominion over the fish of the sea, and 
 over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over 
 all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creep- 
 eth upon the earth." The meaning of which is, no 
 doubt, not that he may cruelly abuse them, but that 
 he may use them for his wants and comforts, or destroy 
 them when they annoy and injure him. The sliins of 
 animals have been used as clothing for thousands of 
 years ; and furs have become so general in dresses 
 and ornaments, that, to obtain them, a regular trade 
 has long been carried on. In this traffic, the un- 
 civilized inhabitants of cold countries exchange their 
 furs for useful articles, and comforts, and luxuries, 
 wliich are only to be obtr'i.ed from warmer climes 
 and civilized people. 
 
 Austin. And where do furs come from ? 
 
 Hunter. Furs are usually obtained in cold countries. 
 The ermine and the sable are procured in the most 
 northerly parts of Europe and Asia ; but most of the 
 furs in use come from North America. 
 
 Austin. North America is very large, and some parts 
 of it are very cold, aie they not? 
 
 Hunter. Yes. If you look at the map of North 
 America, you will find that between the Atlantic and 
 the Pacific Oceans the space is, in its greatest breadth, 
 
 ="+ 
 
14 
 
 RITETIS, MOUNT AI5^S, AXD LAKES. 
 
 about three thousand miles; aud, from north to south, 
 tlie country stretches out, to say the least of it, five 
 hundred miles more than this. Some of the principal 
 rivers of North America are, the Mackenzie, Missouri, 
 Mississippi, and St. Lawrence. The Missouri is three 
 thousand miles long. The Rocky or Stony Moun- 
 tains stretch themselves the whole length of the land, 
 from north to south; and another range of moun- 
 tains, called the Apalachian, extends through the 
 United States North America abounds with lakes : 
 some of them are very long ; Lakes Huron, Erie, and 
 Michigan are between two and three hundred, and 
 Lake Superior nearly four hundred miles long. 
 
 Brian. What a length ! Nearly four hundred miles ! 
 AVhy, it is more like a sea than a lake. 
 
 Hunter. AVell, over a great part of the space that I 
 have mentioned, furry animals abound; and different 
 fur ' .npanies send those in their employ to boat up 
 the river, to sail through the lakes, to hunt wild 
 animals, to trap beavers, and to trade with the various 
 Indian tribes which are scattered throughout this ex- 
 tensive territory. 
 
 Austi?i. Oh ! how I should like to hunt and to 
 trade with the Indians ! 
 
 Hunter. Better tliink the matter over before you 
 set oif on such an expedition. Are you ready to sail 
 by ship, steam-boat, and canoe ; to ride on horseback, 
 or to trudge on foot, as the case may reijuire ; to swim 
 across brooks and rivers ; to wade through bogs, and 
 swamps, and quagmires; to live for weeks on flesh, 
 
 withou 
 
 to cool^ 
 
 and mc 
 
 thirst, 1 
 
 patienc 
 
 and CO I 
 
 btvar, th 
 
 should ] 
 
 Bria) 
 
 running 
 
 limits 
 
 fur trad 
 
 the Pre] 
 
 soon fou] 
 
 of the v; 
 
 plains ai 
 
 themselv 
 
 the origi 
 
 from gre 
 
 rude cam 
 
 assemble 
 
 their pipe 
 
 and trad 
 
 The artic 
 
 were kni 
 
 the brigh 
 
 Indians \n 
 
 Austin* 
 
 Basil. 
 
 been look 
 
iiisToiir OF THE run trade. 
 
 15 
 
 uth, 
 five 
 iipiil 
 3uri, 
 liree 
 oun- 
 lantl, 
 loun- 
 the 
 ikes : 
 , and 
 , aiid 
 
 nilea 1 
 
 liat I 
 'erent 
 at up 
 yild 
 rious 
 is ex- 
 
 kd to 
 
 you 
 :o sail 
 jback, 
 
 swim 
 |s, and 
 
 flesh, 
 
 i 
 
 without bread or salt to it ; to lie on the cold ground ; 
 to cook your own food ; and to mend your own jacket 
 ;iud mocassins ? Are you ready to bear hunger and 
 thirst, heat and cold, rain and solitude ? Have vou 
 patience to bear the stings of tormeuting mosquitoes ; 
 and courage to defend your life against the grizzly 
 bear, the buffalo, and the tomahawk of the red man, 
 sliould he turn out to be an enemy ? 
 
 Brian. No, no, Austin. You must not think af 
 running into such dangers. 
 
 Ilimter. I will now give you a short account of the 
 fur trade. About two hundred years ago, or more, 
 the French made a settlement in Canada, and they 
 soon found such advantage in obtaining the furry skins 
 of the various animals wandering in the woods and 
 plains around them, that, after taking all tliey could 
 themselves, they began to trade with the Red Indians, 
 the original inhabitants of the country, who brought 
 from great distances skins of various kinds. In a 
 rude camp, formed of the bark of trees, these red men 
 assembled, seated themselves in half circles, smoked 
 their pipes, made speeches, gave and received presents, 
 and traded with the French people for their skins. 
 The articles given in exchange to the Indian hunters, 
 were knives, axes, arms, kettles, blankets, and cloth : 
 the brighter the colour of the cloth, tlic better the 
 Indians were pleased. 
 
 Austm. 1 think I can see them now. 
 
 Basil. Did they smoke pipes like those we have 
 
 been looking: at ? 4. 
 
 I 
 
■"»» 
 
 16 
 
 COUEEUKS DES BOIS. 
 
 Hunter. Yes ; for almost all the pipes used by the 
 red men are made of red stoue, dug out of the same 
 quarry, called pipe-stone quarry: but about this I will 
 tell you some other time. One bad part of this 
 trading system was, that the French gave the Indians 
 but a small part of the value of their skins, besides 
 which they charged their own articles extravagantly 
 high ; and a still worse feature in the case was 
 this, that they supplied the Indians with spirituous 
 liquors, thereby bringing about great irregularities, 
 which the French did not fail to turn to their own 
 account. 
 
 Basil. That was too bad on the part of the 
 French. 
 
 Hunter. This system of obtaining furs was carried 
 on for many years, when another practice sprang up, 
 which was for such white men as had accompanied 
 the Indians in hunting, and made themselves ac- 
 quainted with the country, to paddle up the rivers 
 in canoes, with a few arms and provisions, and hunt 
 for tliemselves. They were absent sometimes for 
 as much as a year, or a year and a half, and then 
 returned with their canoes laden with rich furs. 
 These white men wore what I called Goureurs des hois, 
 or wood-rangers. ^-- 
 
 Austin. Ah! I should like to be a coureur du 
 bois. 
 
 Hunter. Some of these coureurs des bois became 
 very lawless and depraved in their habits, so that the 
 French government enacted a law whereby no one, on 
 
 pain of 
 
 with t] 
 
 were a I 
 
 strain i 
 
 of timi 
 
 nion, CJ1 
 
 express^ 
 
 tiio rive 
 
 Basil 
 
 Hunt 
 
 to see m 
 
 have on 
 
 coat mac 
 
 and deei 
 
 "^"^^Y coIo 
 
 pouch. 
 
 Austi) 
 
 (^are say, 
 
 Hunti 
 
 hujiioure 
 
 strain as 
 
 Jake or r 
 
 (hired, so 
 
 Basil. 
 
 Huntci 
 period, an 
 e;! 11 Of] ]^n 
 tlio name 
 ^vhcre the 
 tJie rapid 
 
du 
 
 jame 
 
 the 
 
 le, on 
 
 I 
 
 TOTAOEURS — yORTlT-MEN. 
 
 17 
 
 pain of dcatii, could trade in the interior of the conntrv 
 with the Indians, without a license. Military posts 
 \vcro also established, to protect the trade, and to re- 
 strnin the lawless rangers of the woods. In ])rocoss 
 of time, too, fur companies were established ; and 
 mm, called Vojjarfcurs, or canoe men, were employed, 
 expressly to attend to the canoes carrying supplies up 
 tlic rivers, or briugiug back cargoes of furs. 
 
 Basil. Now we know what a Voyageur is. 
 
 Hunter. You. would hardl v know me acfain, were you 
 to see me dressed as a voyageur. Let me see, I should 
 have on a striped cotton shirt, cloth trousers, a loose 
 coat made of a blanket, with perhaps leathern leggings 
 nnd deer-skin mocassins ; and then I must iu)t Ibrgct 
 my coloured worsted belt, my knife, and tobacco 
 \)ouch. 
 
 Austin. AVhat a figure yon would cut ! and yet, I 
 dnre say, such a dress is best for a voyageur. 
 
 Hunter. Most of the Canadian voyageurs wore good- 
 humoured, light-hearted men, Avho always sang a lively 
 strain as they dipped their oars into the waters of the 
 lake or rolling river ; but steam-boats are now intro- 
 duced, so that the voj^ageurs are but few. 
 
 Basil. What a pity ! I like those voyageurs. 
 
 Hunter. The voj'ageurs, who were out for a long 
 period, and navigated the interior of the country, were 
 called Knrfli-inen, or Winterers ; while the others hnd 
 the name of Goers and Comers. Any part of a river 
 where they could not row a laden canoe, on account of 
 the lapid stream, they called a Dcclmrgc ; and there 
 
 c 
 
 1 1 
 
 h 
 
 1 1 
 
 mm 
 
18 
 
 PORTAGES — TRAPPERS — FREEME>' 
 
 the goods were taken from tlie boats, and carried on 
 tlieir sliouldera, while others towed the canoes up tlie 
 stream : but a fall of water, where they were obli<i;ed 
 not only to carry the goods, but also to drag the 
 canoes on land up to the higher level, they called a 
 I*ortaqe. 
 
 Au-sfin. A\^e shall not forget the North-men, and 
 Comers and Goers, nor the Decharges and Por- 
 tages. 
 
 Basil. You have not told us what a Trap])er is. 
 
 Hunter. A Trapper is a beaver hunter. Those wlio 
 hunt beavers and other animals for any of the far 
 companies, are called Trappers ; but such as hunt for 
 thiMuselves, take the name of Freemen. 
 
 Austin. Yes, I shall remember. Please to tell us 
 how thev hunt the beavers. 
 
 Hunter. Beavers build themselves houses, on the 
 banks of creeks or small rivers, with mud, sticks, 
 and stones, aiul afterwards cover them over with a 
 coat of mud, which becomes very hard. These houses 
 arc live or six feet thick at tlie top ; and in one 
 house, four old beavers, and six or eight young ones, 
 often live together. J3ut, besides their houses, the 
 beavers take care to have a number of holes in the 
 banks, under water, called icashes, into which lliey 
 can run for shelter, should their houses be attacked. 
 It is the busiiu)ss of the trappers to find out all these 
 washes, or holes; and this they do in winter, by 
 knocking against the ice, and judging by the sound. 
 Over every holo tliey cut Mut a piece of ice, big 
 
 |> <lieirh()I( 
 up with 
 tliroiigh 
 liaul the 
 
 p I'oie or si 
 
 Austin 
 per? 1 
 
 Jfuntci 
 
 mniih(.Ts 
 
 , piu'poso i; 
 J) • 
 J>ri((n. 
 
 iii>t in thii 
 
THE BE.VVER. 
 
 10 
 
 the 
 tU u 
 
 out' 
 Olios, 
 
 tlu' 
 11 the 
 
 thcv 
 
 • 
 
 lokcd. 
 tliesi' 
 
 r, by 
 
 soun<k 
 1)1"' 
 
 onoiin;h to get at the beaver. Xo sooner is the 
 beaver-liuLise attacked, than the animals run into 
 
 
 
 their lioles, tlie entrances of wliicli are directly blocked 
 u[) with stakes. The tra[)[)ers then either take them 
 tliroujijh tlic holes in the ice witli tiieir hands, or 
 haul then ont with hooks fastened to the end of a 
 jiole or stick. 
 
 Austin. Ihit wliy is a beaver hnnter called a trap- 
 per? 1 cannot nnd(Tstand that. 
 
 Ifunter. Becanso l)i'avcrs are caiij^ht in great 
 nuinhers in steel traps, which are set and baited on 
 [)urp()sc for them. 
 
 J)i'i((n. Why (i(» they catch them in the winter, and 
 uot in the summer ? 
 
 i ! 
 
'^ 
 
 i 
 
 20 
 
 ADVENTUltE WITH A BEAR. 
 
 "I 
 
 JFunfer. Because the fur of the beaver is in its prime 
 iu the winter; in tlie summer, it is not nearly so ^ood. 
 
 Austin. Do the trappers catch many beavers ? I 
 should tliiiJc tliere could not be very many of them. 
 
 Jlwifcr. In one year, the Hudson's J5ay Company 
 alone sold as many as sixty thousand beaver sinus. 
 
 Austin. Sixty thousand ! I did not think there 
 were so many beavers in the world. 
 
 Hunter. I will tell you an anecdote, by which you 
 will see that hunters and trappers had need bo men of 
 courage and activity. It is said that a trapper, of the 
 njune of Cannon, had just had the good fortime to 
 kill a buffalo; and as he was at a considerable dis- 
 tance iVom his camp, he cut out the tongue and some 
 of the choice bits, made them into a parcel, and sling- 
 ing them on his should(H's by a strap passed round 
 hi;5 fjrehead, as the voyageurs carry packages of 
 goods, set out on his way to the camp. In passing 
 through a narrow ravine, he heard a noise behind 
 him, and looking round, beheld, to his dismay, a 
 grizzly bear in full pursuit, ap])arently attracted by 
 the sciMit of the meat. Cannon had heard so much of 
 the strength and ferocity of this tremendous animal, 
 that he luiver attempted to fire, but slipping the sti\np 
 Irom his forehead, let go the bulfalo meat, and ran for 
 his lif(\ The bear did not stop to regale lu'mself with 
 the game, but kept on after the hunter, lie had 
 nearly overtidvon him, when Cannon reached a tree, 
 and throwing dowi his rifle, scrambled up into if. 
 The next instant Bruin was at the foot of the tree ; 
 
 but as 
 tented 
 ade. J 
 could n 
 tained 1 
 ously m 
 fore in 
 morning 
 seen dec! 
 best of 
 to look I 
 Ausfi? 
 after all. 
 Jh'ian. 
 for all th 
 nothing \ 
 ^\G are sa 
 lluntcA 
 bo foiuui 
 foxes. 
 
 Austin 
 well as ot 
 
 Hunter 
 'djJe as 111 
 
 fUTS; for 
 
 hut also 
 been tann 
 before tlu^ 
 '"•e trappc 
 'V Jai'ge ( 
 
DEER AND FOXES. 
 
 21 
 
 ly, '^ 
 
 'U of 
 mal, 
 ti'ap 
 
 for 
 iwilb 
 
 bad 
 
 \o W. 
 vcc ; 
 
 but as tbis species of bear docs not clii^b, lie con- 
 tented bimself witb turning tbe cbase into a l»lock- 
 ade. Niglit came on. In the darkness, Camion 
 could not perceive whether or not the enemy main- 
 tained his station; but bis fears pictured him rigor- 
 ously mounting guard, lie passed the night there- 
 fore in the tree, a prey to dismal fiincies. In tlie 
 morning the bear was gone. Cannon warily d(^- 
 scended the tree, picked up his gun, and made tlie 
 best of his way back to the camp, witliout venturing 
 to look after his bulfalo meat. 
 
 Austin. Then the grizzly bear did not hurt him, 
 after all. 
 
 JJrian. I would not go among those grizzly bears 
 for all the Avorld. AN'^e have no bears in England, and 
 nothing larger than a hare or a fox in the woods, so 
 we are safe here. 
 
 Hunter. In souie ])laces, perhaps, a few deer miglit 
 be foiuid, and they are larger than half- a- dozen 
 foxes. 
 
 Austin. Do they take deer in North America, as 
 well as other animals ? 
 
 Hunter. Deer, though their skins arc not so valu- 
 able as many furs, are very usefid to hunters and trap- 
 pers; for they not only add to their stock of peltries, 
 i)ut also su])j)ly them with food. AViien skins have 
 been tanned on the inside they are called furs: but 
 before they are tanned they are cwWviX j)('J fries. Deer 
 are trapped much in tlic same way as bullalocs arc. 
 A larire circle is inclosed with twisted trees and 
 
22 
 
 DEER-TEAPPING. 
 
 brualiwood, with a very narrow opening, in the nei<i[h- 
 bourhood of a well-lre(inented deer path. Tlie inside 
 of the circle ia crowded with small hedges, in tlie 
 openings of which are set snares of twisted thongs, 
 made fast at one end to a neighbonriiig tree. Two 
 lines of small trees are set np, branching oif out- 
 wardly from the narrow entrance of the circle ; so 
 that the further tlic lines of trees extend from the 
 circle, the wider is tlie space between them. As soon 
 as the deer are seen moving in the direction of the 
 circle, the hunters get behind them, and urge them 
 on by loud shouts. The deer mistaking the lines 
 of trees set up for enemies, fly straight forward, till 
 they enter the snare prepared for them. The circle 
 is then surrounded, to prevent their quitting it ; while 
 some of the hunters go into it, blocking up the en- 
 trance, and kill the deer with their bows and arrows, 
 and their spears. 
 
 Basil. I am sorry for the poor deer. 
 
 Brian. And so am I, Basil. 
 
 Hunter. Hunters are often obliwd to leave food in 
 particular ]daces, in case they should be destitute on 
 their return that way. They souK^times, too, leave 
 property behind them, and for this purpose they form 
 a cache. 
 
 Austin. Oh! \\\vAt {?, :i caclie ? 
 
 Hunter. A cache is a hole, or a place of conceal- 
 ment ; and when anvthing is put into it, great care is 
 recjuircd to conceal it from enemies, and uideed from 
 wild animals, such as wolves and bears. 
 
 Austi 
 tlie thin 
 and a bt 
 see thro 
 Hunt I 
 the flesh 
 Austi), 
 little m( 
 Inriter, c 
 a cache. 
 
 Hunte, 
 that the 
 into the 
 Then the 
 have, ove 
 marks of 
 dug the 1 
 and bark, 
 tilings to 
 another d 
 stones, an 
 the top fr 
 kled with 
 which was 
 kiid down 
 touched, 
 cloths, and 
 distance, tl 
 where to fi 
 Austin. 
 
A CACHE. 
 
 23 
 
 Austin. AYcll ! but if they dig a deep liole, and put 
 tlie things in it, how could anybody find it? A wolf 
 and a bear would never lind it out, for they could not 
 see through the ground. 
 
 Hunter. Perliaps not ; but if they could not see 
 the flesh hidden in the cache, they might smell it. 
 
 Austin. Oh, I forgot that. I must understand a 
 little more of my business before I set uj) for a 
 hunter, or a trapper. But please to tell us all about 
 a cache. 
 
 Hunter. A cache is usually dug near a stream, 
 that the earth taken out of tlu^ hole may be thrown 
 into the running water, otherwise it would tell tales. 
 Then the hunters spread blankets, or what cloths they 
 have, over the surrounding ground, to prevent the 
 marks of their feet being seen. AV^hen they have 
 dug the hole, they line it with dry grass, and sticks, 
 and bark, and sometimes with a dry skin. After th(^ 
 things to be liidden are put in, they are covertnl with 
 another dry skin, and the liole is filled up with grass, 
 stones, and sticks, and trodden down liard, to prevent 
 the top from sinking afterwanls : the place is sprin- 
 kled with water to take away the scent ; and the turf 
 which was iirst cut away before the hole was dug is 
 laid down with care, just as it was before it was 
 touched. They then take up their blankets and 
 cloths, and leave the caclie, putting a mark at some 
 distance, that when they come again they may know 
 where to find it. 
 
 Austin. Capital ! capital ! I could make a cache 
 
24 
 
 FUll COMPANIES. 
 
 now, that neither a bear, nor a wolf, nor a Eed Indian 
 could find out. 
 
 Brian. But if the bear did not find the cache, he 
 mioht find you; and then what would become of 
 you ? 
 
 Anslin. I would climb a tree, as Cannon did. I 
 wari'ant you that I should manage him, one way or 
 another. 
 
 Hunter. The fur companies that have been esta- 
 blished at different times, are, as far as I can remem- 
 ber, the Hudson's Bay Company, the North-west 
 Company, the Russian American I'ur Company, 
 the Mackinaw Eur Company, the American l\ir 
 Company, the South-west Company, the Pacific Fur 
 Company, Ashley's Fur Company, and Bonneville's 
 Fur Company. Of these, I think the latter two, 
 with the Russian, tlie American, and the United 
 Hudson's Bay and North-west Companies, are all 
 that now remain. Most of the furs that are taken 
 find their way to London ; but every year the animals 
 which produce them become fewer. Besides the skins 
 of larger animals. North America supplies the furs 
 of a great number of smaller creatures; and these, 
 varying in their habits, require to be taken in a dif- 
 fcreiit manner. The bison is found on the prairies, 
 or plains ; the beaver, on creeks and rivers ; the bad- 
 ger, the fox, and the rabbit, burrow in the ground; 
 and the bear, the deer, the minx, the martin, the ra- 
 coon, the lynx, the hare, the musk-rat, the squirrel, 
 and the stoat, (the North American ermine,) are all to 
 
nUNTEll S INYlTATIOJf. 
 
 25 
 
 be found in the woods. In paddling np tlie rivers 
 in canoes, and in roaming tlie woods and prairies, in 
 search of these animals, I have mingled much with 
 Indians of different tribes ; and if you can now and 
 then make a call at my cottage, you will perhaps 
 be entertained in hearing what I cjui tell you about 
 them. The lied Indians should be regarded by us 
 as brothers ; we ought to feel interested in their wel- 
 lUre here, and in their happiness hereafter. We have 
 tlie word of God, and Christian sabbatlis, a.nd Chris- 
 tian ministers, and religious ordinances, in abun- 
 dance, to direct and comfort us ; but they are but 
 scantily supplied with these advantages. Let us not 
 forget to put them in our prayers, that the Father of 
 mercies may make known his mercy to them, open- 
 ing their eyes, and inlluencing their hearts, so that 
 they may become true servants of the " Lord of lords, 
 and King of kings." 
 
 The delight visible in the sparkling eyes of the 
 young people, as tliey took their leave, spoke their 
 thanks much better than the words that fell from their 
 tongues. On their way home, they talked of nothing 
 else but fur companies, lakes, rivers, prairies, aiul 
 rocky mountains ; bull'aloes, wolves, bears, and bea- 
 vt'rs ; and it was quite as much as ]5rian and Basil 
 could do, to persuade their brother Austin from mak- 
 ing I J his mind at once to be a voyagtnir, a coureur 
 (hi bois, and a trapper. U'he more they were against 
 it, so nnich the more his heart seemed set upon the 
 enterprise; and the wilder they made the bullaloes 
 
2G 
 
 THE RETURN HOME. 
 
 that would attack him, and the bears and wolves that 
 would tear him to jneces, the bolder and more cou- 
 rageous he became. However, though on this point 
 they could not agree, they were all unanimous in their 
 determination to make another visit to the cottage 
 the first possible opportunity^ 
 
 
 
 C 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INDIAN rj.OAK. 
 
CHIEFS OF DIFIERENT TIIIUE.S. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Difficulty in ascertaining wlio were the Aborigines of America, and from wlience 
 tlicy came— Various opinions on the subject— Catlin's pubhcation on the 
 "Manners, Customs, and Condition of the Nortli Americrtn Indians" — 
 Census of tlie different tribes- Locality of the Crows, Blaekfoct, Sioux, and 
 Creeks— Tlie names of some of the Indian chiefs and remarkable characters. 
 
 TnE next time the three brothers paid a visit to the 
 cottage, they did not go to the red sand-stone rock, 
 though the adventure which took place there formed 
 I a part of their conversation. They found the luinter 
 Jit home, and, being now on very friendly and fami- 
 lliar terma with him, they entered at once on the 
 
28 
 
 RED MEN. 
 
 subject that was nearest their hearts, namely, that of 
 the North American Indians. " Tell us, if you please," 
 said Austin, as soon as they were seated, " about the 
 very beginning of the red men." 
 
 " You are asking me to do that," replied the hunter, 
 " which is much more dillicult than you suppose. To 
 account for the existence of the original inhabitants, 
 and of the various tribes of Red Indians which arc 
 now scattered throughout the whole of North America, 
 has puzzled the heads of the wisest men for ages ; 
 and even at the present day, though travellers have 
 endeavoured to throw light on this subject, it still 
 remains a mystery. 
 
 Austin. But what is it that is so mysterious ? What 
 is it that wise men and travellers cannot make out ? 
 
 Hunter. They cannot make out how it is that the 
 whole of America, taking in, as it does, some partis 
 which are almost alwavs covered with snow ; and other 
 parts that are as hot as the sun can make them ; 
 should he peopled with a class of human beings dis- 
 tinct froin all others in the world — red men, who have 
 black hair, and no beards. If you remember, it is 
 said, in the first chapter of Genesis, " So God created 
 man in his own image, in the image of God created 
 he him ; male and female created he them." And, in 
 the second chapter, " And the Lord God planted a 
 garden eastward in Eden ; and there he put the man 
 whom he had formed." Now, it is known, by tlie 
 names of the rivers which are mentioned in the chaptei", 
 that the garden of Eden was in Asia ; so that you see 
 
 i..i 
 
RED Ml v. 
 
 20 
 
 our first parents, whence the whole )f mai) iid have 
 sprung, dwelt in Asia. 
 
 Austin. Yes, that is quite plain. 
 
 Himter. AVell, then, you recollect, I dare say, that 
 when the world was droA\Tied, all mankind were de- 
 stroyed, except Noah and his family in the ark. 
 
 Brian. Yes ; we recollect that very well. 
 
 Hunter. And Avhen the ark rested, it rested on 
 l>rount Ararat, which is in Asia also. If you look on 
 tlie map of the world, you will see that the three con- 
 tinents, Europe, Asia, and Africa, are united too^ether ; 
 but America stands by itself, with an ocean rolling on 
 each side of it, thousands of miles broad. It is easy to 
 suppose that mankind would spread over the conti- 
 nents that are close together, but difficult to account for 
 their passing over the ocean, at a time when the arts of 
 ship building and navigation were so little understood. 
 
 Austin. They must have gone in a ship, that is 
 eci'tain. 
 
 Hunter. But suppose they did, how came it about 
 tliat they shouJd be so very difterent from all other 
 men? America was only discovered about four hun- 
 dred years ago, or little more, and then it was well 
 peopled with red men, and had great cities. Besides, 
 there have been discovered throughout America monu- 
 ments, ruins, and sites of ancient towns, with thou- 
 sands of inclosures and fortifications. Articles, too, 
 of pottery, sculpture, glnss, and copper, have been 
 found at tim.es, sixty or eighty feet under the ground, 
 and in some instances with forests groA^nng over them, 
 
30 
 
 EED INDIANS OF FOEMEE TIMES. 
 
 SO that they must have been very ancient. The people 
 who built these fortifications and towers, and possessed 
 these articles in pottery, sculpture, glass, and copper, 
 lived at a remote period, and must have been, to a 
 considerable degree, cultivated. Who these people 
 were, and how they came to America, no one knows, 
 though many have expressed their opinions. But, 
 even if we did know who they were, how could we 
 account for the present race of Eed Indians in North 
 America being barbarous, when their ancestors were 
 so highly civilized ? These are difficulties which, as I 
 said, have puzzled the wisest heads for ages. 
 
 Austin. AV hat do wise men and travellers say about 
 these things ? 
 
 Hunter. They think, that as the frozen regions of 
 Asia, in one part, are so near the frozen regions of 
 North America— it being only about forty miles across 
 Behring's Straits — some persons from Asia might 
 have crossed over there, acA peopled the country; or 
 that North America might have once been joined to 
 Asia, though it is not so now; or that, in ancient 
 times, some persons might have drifted, or been blown 
 there by accident, in boats or ships, across the wide 
 ocean. Some think these people might have been 
 Phenicians, Carthaginians, Hebrews, or Egyptians ; 
 while another class of reasoners suppose them to have 
 been Hindoos, Chinese, Tartars, Malays, or others. 
 It seems, however, to be Grod's will often to humble 
 the pride of his creatures, by baffling their conjectures, 
 and hedging up their opinions with difficulties. His 
 
 way IS ; 
 
 and his 
 
 " maket] 
 
 turncth 
 
 iiilmbita 
 
 Austi'i 
 
 Indians 
 
 ludians 
 
 be a grei 
 
 Brian, 
 
 liunte 
 
 have pass 
 
 woods an 
 
 place sine 
 
 been torn; 
 
 some hav 
 
 to the w( 
 
 been carr 
 
 havoc am( 
 
 as they w 
 
 liappen to 
 
 of the tr; 
 
 destroyed 
 
 left to*^spe 
 
 Austin. 
 
 tors amon 
 
 carry then 
 
 Hunter. 
 
 account of 
 
 particular 
 
 .1 I 
 
 ii:i:' 
 
1 
 
 EED INDIANS OF PRESENT TIMES. 
 
 81 
 
 way is in the sea, and his path in the great waters, 
 and his footsteps are not known, Psa. Ixxvii. 19. lie 
 " maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and 
 turncth it upside down, and seattereth ahroad the 
 inhabitants thereof," Isa. xxiv. 1. 
 
 Austin. Well, if you cannot tell us of the Ued 
 Indians in former times, you can tell us of the lied 
 Indians that are in North America now, and that will 
 he a great deal better. 
 
 Brian. Yes, that it will. 
 
 Hunter. You must bear in mind, that ome years 
 liave passed since 1 was hunting and trapping in tlie 
 woods and prairies, and that many changes have taken 
 place since then among the Red Indians. Some have 
 been tomahawked by the hands of the stronger tribes ; 
 some have sold their lands to the whites, and retired 
 to the west of the Mississippi ; and thousands have 
 been carried off by the smallpox, which has made sad 
 havoc among them. I must, therefore, speak of them 
 as they were, except in such instances wherein I may 
 happen to know what changes have taken place. Some 
 of the tribes, since I left them, have been utterly 
 destroyed ; not one living creature among them being 
 left to speak of those who have gone before them. 
 
 Austin. AYhat a pity ! They want some good doc- 
 tors among them, and then the smallpox w^ould not 
 carry them off in that way. 
 
 Hunter. I will not pretend to give you an exact 
 account of the number of the different tribes, or the 
 particular places they now occupy; for though my 
 
 J 
 
'i 
 
 i 
 
 82 
 
 CATLTN S [NARRATIVE. 
 
 information may bo fronerally ri^lit, vet the cliangcs 
 which have tal^en place are many. 
 
 Austin. Please to tell us what you remember, and 
 what you know ; and that will quite satiHty us. 
 
 Hunter. An American, of the name of Catlin, has 
 publislied a book called " Letters and Notes on the 
 Manners, Customs, and Condition of tlui North Ame- 
 rican Indians ;" and a most interesting and enter- 
 taining account it is. If ever you can lay hold of it. 
 it will afford you great amusement. Perhaps no man 
 who has written on the Indians has seen so much of 
 them as he has. 
 
 Brian. Did you ever meet Catlin ? 
 
 Hunter. Oh yes, many times; and a most np^reeablr 
 companion I found him. The Inst time I took him by 
 the liand was at the Eg^nptian Hall, in London, when 
 he had the best collection of Indian curiosities ihnt 
 ever was amassed together. If you can get a sight ot 
 his book, you will soon see that he is a man of mu«*li 
 knowledge, and possessing great courage, energy, and 
 persevernnce. I will now, then, begin my narrative : 
 and if you can find plensure in hearing a description 
 of the Ked Indians, Avith their villages, wigwams, wni- 
 whoops, and wamors ; their manners, customs, and 
 superstitions; their dress, ornaments, and arms; their 
 mysteries, games, huntings, dances, war- councils, 
 speeches, battles, and burials — with a fair s])rinklin.: 
 of prairie dogs, and wihl horsc^s ; wolves, heaven's, 
 grizzly bears, and mad buflahu's — I will do my best t 
 give you gratification. 
 
 
 nnssicna 
 nuist be 
 th(^ vear 
 
 • 
 
 cornn^t a 
 iniin])crs 
 1 will ju; 
 the most 
 The na 
 
 which ha 
 
 ai'c — 
 
 CIi 
 
 My 
 
 CIu 
 Crc 
 
 Son 
 Sen 
 
 IV< 
 Pic 
 Wc( 
 
 Otf( 
 Kiri 
 S'lii 
 Dell 
 
 The nun 
 '^''11 f west ( 
 
 Sacs. 
 
 Om.i: 
 
l\ns 
 
 \t of 
 mitl 
 
 tiv(>: 
 
 ])tioii 
 wav- 
 
 , ami 
 llioiv 
 
 m(*il>. 
 
 av(M'>. 
 
 est t- 
 
 INDIAN TETBES. 33 
 
 Aufifin. These arc the vcrv t]iin<]:s that wo want {o 
 know. 
 
 Hunter. I shall not forwt to tell von what the 
 missionaries have clone among the Indians : hut that 
 must he towards tiie latter end of my account. In 
 tlie year 188G, there was puhlislied at New York as 
 correct a statement as could tlien l)e draMu up of tlie 
 numl)ers of the dilTerent trihes. As I have it here, 
 I will just read it over, that you may see which are 
 the most numerous of tlie trihes. 
 
 The names of the Indian trihes, with their numhers, 
 which have emigrated to the west of the ]\[ississi])pi, 
 ai'C — 
 
 Clinctaws 15.000 
 
 Aj)ii;ilfi<'liiL'()lc9 y"'i5 
 
 Clicrokfcs r).(ino 
 
 Crecka 2,4.".9 
 
 Sciieoas and Sh.iwaiU'CH 211 
 
 Soiieoas. fnun San(l^l^ky 2,'U 
 
 rotowatoiiiics Ill 
 
 Trorias and Kaskaskics 132 
 
 ricnkesliaws 102 
 
 Woes 222 
 
 OttowaH VOO 
 
 Kii'ka])ons 470 
 
 S'iawai\i'PS l.'J'O 
 
 DflawarcH ><'lh 
 
 The names and numhers of the Indian trihes ?r.v.f- 
 iJput west of the jMississippi, are — 
 
 loways . 1,200 
 
 Sai's. of tlic Missouri ftiio 
 
 Onialias l,tli() 
 
 Ot<^t'^ and MissouriaH I,(>(i0 
 
31 
 
 IJfDIAN TRIBES. 
 
 ; I 
 
 II 
 
 rawnceg 10.000 
 
 Caniachces 7,000 
 
 Maiuians 15.000 
 
 Uliiietarecs 15,000 
 
 Assinaboins BOO 
 
 Ciees 3,000 
 
 Grosventres 3,000 
 
 Crows 45,000 
 
 Sioux '27.000 
 
 Qiuqjaws 4.''0 
 
 Caddocs 800 
 
 Poiicas 800 
 
 Osagus 5,120 
 
 Kansas 1,471 
 
 Sacs 4,800 
 
 Arickaras 3,000 
 
 Charanes 2,000 
 
 r.lackfeet 30,000 
 
 Foxes 1,000 
 
 Arephcas and Keawas 1,400 
 
 And tliere are yet remaining, east of the river in 
 the southern states, a considerable number; the live 
 principal tribes are the 
 
 Sominolos, yet rcmainino; cast 
 ClKK'taws, ditto 
 
 Chicka^aws, ditto . 
 Clierokocs, ditto 
 
 Creeks .... 
 
 2,420 
 
 3,500 
 
 5.429 
 
 10,000 
 
 22,(;(;8 
 
 I » 
 
 Those stated as western tribes extend along the 
 whole western frontier. The average number of an 
 Indian family is four. 
 
 Aiisi'ui. The Crows and the Blaokfeet are the mo>i 
 numerous, and then come the Sioux and the Creeks. 
 
 .Hunler. Though this account mi^ht 1 e cornn-t in 
 1830, it is not correct at the pi'es'iit time; for, m 
 
 iFuron, ] 
 Basil. 
 lo t!ic l(>f 
 Jlitnfc, 
 oilier is 
 rivers, 11 1 
 and the .*" 
 unite, am 
 
 Basil. 
 
 all those 
 
 aiiollKM", f 
 
 ILuufcr 
 
 ''•'gnrd the 
 
 America ; 
 
 'I lake a ch 
 
 s:i!iil n,il(.; 
 
 fakes, rive 
 
 i 
 
-^, 
 
 MAP OF yOIlTn AMERICA. 
 
 r].-) 
 
 of !»11 
 
 [H'i ill 
 'or, HI 
 
 1S38, the Blackfeet lost twelve thoiisaiul by smallpox. 
 Should you meet with an account of Xorth American 
 Indians that differs from this, you must remember 
 that some people include many of the smaller tribes 
 under the general names of the larger; this Avould 
 make an apparent difference. Well, now, I will lay 
 before yon a map of North America. See how it 
 stretches out north and south from Badin's Bay to 
 th( Gulf of IMexico, and east and west from the At- 
 liii.,ic to the Pacilic Ocean. A\^hat a wonderful work 
 of the Almighty is the rolling deeji ! '• The sea is 
 TTis, and he matle it: and his liands formed the drv 
 huid." Here are the great Lakes Superior, Michigan. 
 Huron, Erie, and Ontario. 
 
 Basil. There is one up higher ; and yonder is another 
 to the left hand, bigger still, I thiuk-. 
 
 Jfioifer. That to the left is Shave Lake, and the 
 other is Lake Winnepeg; and here run the mighty 
 rivers, the ]\[ackenzie, the ^Missouri, the IMississippi, 
 and the St. Lawrence: the JMississippi and Missouri 
 iiiiit(% and make a river of four thousand mik's long. 
 
 B((.sil. What a river! Please to tell us what are 
 all those little hills rumiinir alous; there, one above 
 iniolhcr, from to]) to bottom. 
 
 Ilif lifer. They are the llocky jMountains. Some 
 I'cgard them as a continuation of \]\{- Amicus of South 
 America; so that, if both ai'e ])ut log(^ther. they will 
 uinkc^ a chain of mctuitains little short of nine thou- 
 sand uiih's long. Xorth AnnMM(\a, with its miuhty 
 lakes, rivers, and mountains, its extended valleys and 
 
36 
 
 CROWS AXB BLACKFEET. 
 
 prairioa, its bluffs, caverns, and cataracts, and, more 
 than all, its lied Indian inhabitants, beavers, bulia- 
 loes, and bisons, will afford us something to talk of 
 for some time to come ; but the moment you are tired 
 of my account, we will bring the subject to a close. 
 
 Austin. We shall never be tired ; no, not if you go 
 on telling us something every time we come, for a 
 whole year. 
 
 Hunter. You remember the Crow Indians are the 
 most numerous of all the tribes. You will find them 
 at the head waters of the Yellow Stone river. When 
 a Cro\v meets a Blackfoot there is a struggle, for they 
 mortally hate each other. 
 
 Brian. W^herc are the Blackfeet r Are they near 
 the Crows? 
 
 Hunter. They are at the head of the Missouri river. 
 These are not such fine-looking men as the Crows, 
 for they are low in stature ; however, they are stroni;, 
 broad-chested men, and have usually plenty of arms. 
 The 8ioux, or Dah-c6-ta, occupy a large tract of coun- 
 try in the upper part of the Mississippi and IMissouri 
 rivers, stretching out to the rocky mountains on the 
 west ; while the Creeks are divided, part ])eing on the 
 east of the Mississippi, and part on the west. 
 
 Austin. How did these tribes behave to you, wIk ii 
 you were among them ? 
 
 Hunter. I have not a word of complaint to mak(>. 
 The Kcd Indians have been represented as treache- 
 rous, dishonest, reserved, and sour in their disposition; 
 but, instead of this, I have found them generally, 
 
 though 
 ]ight-h( 
 Indians 
 deceit a 
 the gra^ 
 Avise: a 
 
river, 
 rows, 
 roll?;, 
 armn. 
 coun- 
 souri 
 
 1 tw 
 
 n tlu' 
 
 hv 
 
 lull 
 
 CHARACTER OF THE INDIANS. 
 
 87 
 
 tliougli not in all cases, frank, upriglit, hospitable, 
 light-hearted, and friendly. Those wlio havf seen 
 Indians smarting under wrongs, and deprived, by 
 deceit and force, of their lands, hunting grounds, and 
 the grave of their fathers, may have found them other- 
 wise : and no w'onder ; the worm that is trodden on, 
 will writhe ; and man, unrestrained by Divine grace, 
 when treated with injustice and cruelty, will turn on 
 liis oppressor. 
 
 Austin. Say what you w411, I like the Eed Indians. 
 
 ITunter. That there is much of evil among Indians, 
 is certain ; much of ignorance, unrestrained passions, 
 cruelty, and revenge ; but they have been misrepre- 
 sented in many things. I had better tell you tlie 
 names of some of the chiefs of the tribes, or of some 
 of the most remarkable men among them. 
 
 Austin. Yes ; you cannot do better. Tell us the 
 names of all the chiefs, and the warriors, and the con- 
 jurors, and all about them. 
 
 Hunter. Tlie Blackfeet Indians are a very warlike 
 ])eople ; they inhabit, or did inhabit, a tract of land at 
 tlie head waters of the river Missouri, stretching olf 
 to the west as far as the Eocky Mountains. Stu- 
 mick-O'Sucks was tlie name of their chief. 
 
 Austin. Stu-mick-o-sucks! AVhataname! Is tliere 
 any meaning in it ? 
 
 Hunter. Oh yes. It means, "the back fat of tlio 
 butlalo ;" and if you had seen liim and ] h-to'iie-l-iss., 
 " the ribs of the eagle," chief of the Blood Band, 
 dressed up iu their splendid mantles, bullaloes' horns, 
 
38 
 
 INDIAN CHIEFS. 
 
 eriiiiiie tails, aud scalp locks, you would not soon have 
 removed your eyes from tliem. 
 
 Brian. Who would ever be called by such a name 
 as tliat ? The back fat of the buH'alo ! 
 
 Hunter. The Camanchees are famous on horse- 
 back. There is no tribe among the Indians that can 
 come up to them, to my mind, in the management of a 
 horse, and the use of the lance ; they are capital 
 hunters. If you pay them a visit, you will fmd tliem, 
 part in the provinces of Mexico, and part further 
 north, near the Eockv Mountains. The name of their 
 ciilef is Ee-shah-ko-nee, or " the bow and quiver." I 
 hardly ever saw a bigger man among the E,ed Indians 
 than Ta-wdh-q^ue-naii, the second chief in power. 
 Ta-wah-que-nah means " the mountain of rocks ;" a 
 very fit name for a huge Indian living near the Ilocky 
 Mountains. AVhen I saw Kots-o-ko-ro-ho, or " the 
 hair of the buV's neck" — who is, if I remember right, 
 the third chief — he had a gun in hia right hand, and 
 his warlike shield on his left arm. 
 
 Austin. If I go among the Indians, I shall stay a 
 long time with the Camanchees; and then I shall, 
 perhaps, become one of the most skilful horsemen, 
 and oue of the best hunters in the world. 
 
 Brian. And suppose you get thrown off your horse, 
 or killed in hunting buftaloes, what shall you say tu 
 it then ? 
 
 Austin. Oh, very little, if I get killed ; but no fear 
 of tliat. I shall mind what I am about. Tell us who 
 is the head of the Sioux. 
 
 Hum 
 
 Mississi 
 co-ta, Yi 
 chief; h 
 a biiffak 
 Basil. 
 killed b> 
 
 ^v\lJ, ti] 
 
 shuttlecc 
 Hunte 
 Pawnee 
 very old, 
 3Iany a I 
 his (lay, ; 
 ill their • 
 the name 
 called Ah 
 i^ive the i 
 courage. 
 Brian. 
 names, 
 them. 
 
 Hunter 
 '^acs. lie 
 "the rum 
 Jld-ka-tai- 
 history of 
 ^^as taken 
 pubhshed. 
 tiires of B 
 
INDIAN C1I1EF3. 
 
 39 
 
 Hunter. When I was at the upper waters of the 
 Mississippi-Missouri river, where the Sioux, or Dah- 
 c()-ta, reside, Ila-wdn-Je-faJi, or " the one horn," was 
 cliief; but since then, being out among the buli'aloes, 
 a buffalo bull set on him, and killed him. 
 
 Basil. There, Austin ! If an Indian chief was 
 killed by a buff'alo, what should i/ou do among them? 
 AVhy, they would toss you over their heads like a 
 shuttlecock. 
 
 Hunter. Wee-td-ra-slia-ro, the head chief of llie 
 Pawnee Picts, is dead now, I dare say ; for he was a 
 very old, as well as a very venerable-looking man. 
 Many a buffalo hunt with the Camanchees had he in 
 his day, and many a time did he go forth with them 
 in their war parties. He had a celebrated brave of 
 the name oji Ah'-slto-cole, or " rotten foot," and another 
 called Ah'-re-kah-na-cu-chee, "the mad elk." Indians 
 oive the name of brave to a warrior distinguished for 
 courage. 
 
 Brian. I wonder that they should choose such long 
 names. It must be a hard matter to remember 
 them. 
 
 Hunter. There were many famous men among the 
 Sacs. Kee-o-kuh was the chief. Kee-o-kuk means 
 "the running fox." One of his boldest braves ..as 
 Md-ka'tai-me-she-kid-kidk, "the black hawk." The 
 history of this renowned warrior is very curious. It 
 was taken down from his own lips, and has been 
 published. If you should like to listen to the adven- 
 tures of Black Hawk I will relate them to you some 
 
40 
 
 INDIA>" NAMES. 
 
 day, wlien yoil have time to liear them, as well as 
 those of young Nik-ka-iio-chee, a Seminole. 
 
 Austin. A¥e will not forget to remind you of your 
 promise. It will he capital to listen to these his- 
 tories. 
 
 Hunter. When I saw Wa-sdiv-me-saw, or " the roar- 
 ing thunder," the youngest son of Black Hawk, he 
 was in captivity. Ndh-se-us-huk, " the whirling thun- 
 der," his eldest son, was a fine-looking man, beautifully 
 formed, with a spirit like that of a lion. Tliore was a 
 war called The Black Hawk war, and Black Hawlc 
 was tlie leader and conductor of it ; and one of his 
 most famous warriors was Wah-pe-ker-suc7c, or " white 
 cloud;" he was, however, as often called the Prophet 
 as the White Cloud. Pam-a-ho, " the swimmer ;" 
 Wa7i-pa-Jco-lds-7cu7c, " the track of the bear ;" and 
 Pash-ce-pa-ho, "the little stabbing chief," were, I 
 think, all three of them warriors of Black Hawk. 
 
 Basil. The little stabbing chief! He must be a 
 very dangerous fellow to go near, if we judge by his 
 name : keep away from him, Austin, if you go to the 
 Sacs. 
 
 Austin. Oh ! he would never think of stabbing me. 
 I should behave well to all the tribes, and then I dare 
 say they would all of them behave well to me. You 
 have not said anything of the Crow Indians. 
 
 Hunter. I forget who was at the head of the Crows, 
 though I well remember several of the warriors 
 among them. They were tall, well-proportioned, and 
 dressed with a great deal of taste and care. Pa-ris- 
 
 or 
 
 l'a-ro6-pi 
 that swe 
 Austin 
 oubt th 
 tu or tl 
 Ilmite 
 '• he w 
 a warric 
 the hair o 
 Though 
 being at 1 
 reached a 
 Austin. 
 Indians s 
 plenty to 
 Brian. 
 with the s 
 bears, and 
 You will 
 anything e 
 Hunter. 
 Eed Bear, 
 Brian. 
 nounce the 
 
 Austin. 
 
 hoot-she. ] 
 
 Basil. Y 
 
 Austin ; yc 
 
 Hunter. 
 
 some of tin 
 
INDIAN NAMES. 
 
 41 
 
 irc 
 lou 
 
 
 Jca-roo-jm, called " the two crows," luul a head of liair 
 that swept the ground after liim as lie walked alonj;. 
 
 Austin. What do you think of that, Basil? IS'o 
 ouht the Crows are fine fellows. Please to mention 
 t\^o or three more. 
 
 Hunter. Let me see; there was Ee-hee-a-duclc-clue-a, 
 or "he who binds his hair before;" and II6-ra-t6-ah, 
 "a warrior;" and Chah-ee-chopes, "the four wolves;" 
 the hair of these was as long as that of Pa-ris-ka-ro6-pa. 
 Though they were very tall, Ee-hee-a-duck-chee-a 
 being at least six feet high, the hair of each of theui 
 reached and rested on the ground. 
 
 Austin. When I go to JN^orth America, the Crow 
 Indians shall not be forgotten by me. I shall have 
 plenty to tell you of, Brian, when I come back. 
 
 Brian. Yes, if you ever do come back ; but what 
 with the sea, and the rivers, and the swamps, and the 
 hears, and the buft'aloes, you are sure to get killed. 
 You will never tell us about the Crows, or about 
 anything else. 
 
 JDinter. There Avas. one of the Crows called The 
 Eed Bear, or DahJi-pits.-o-hu-shee. 
 
 Brian. Duhk-pitch, a — Duck-pits — I cannot pro- 
 nounce the word : why, that is worse to speak than any. 
 
 Austin. Hear me pronounce it tlien, Duhk-pits-o- 
 hoot-she. No ; that is not quite right, but very near it. 
 
 Basil. You must not go auK^ng the Crows yet, 
 Austin ; you cannot talk well i iiough. 
 
 Hunter. Oh, there are much liarder names among 
 some of the tribes than those I have mentioned ; for 
 
42 
 
 IXDIAN XAMES. 
 
 iustance, there is Au-nah-hwet-to-liaii-pdy-o, "the one 
 sitting in the clouds ;" and l^h-tolih-'paij-slie-pet-shali^ 
 " the black mocassin ;" and Lajj-Iou-ah-jjee-di-shee-Jiaw, 
 or "grass, bush, and blossom;" and Kaij-tc-qiui-ihi- 
 hiim-de-gish-hum, " he who tries the ground with his 
 foot ;" and Shon-ga-tun-f/a-cht'sh-en-daij, " the horse 
 dung;" and JSIali'to-rali-risli-ncc-eeli-te-rali^ "the grizzly 
 bear that runs without regard." 
 
 Brian. Wliy, these names are as long as from here 
 to yonder. Set to Avork, Austin ! set to work ! — ibi-, 
 if there are many sucli names as these among the 
 Indians, you will have enough to do witliout going 
 builalo hunting. 
 
 Austin, I never dreamed that there were such 
 names as those in the world. 
 
 Basil. You will have enough of them then, Austin, 
 if you go abroad. You will never be able to learn 
 them, do what you will. Give it up, Austin ; give it 
 up at once. 
 
 Though Brian and Basil were very hard on Austin, 
 on their way home, about tlie long names of tlie 
 Indians, and the impossibility of his ever behig able 
 to learn them by heart, Austin defended himself 
 stoutly. " Very likely," said he, " after aU, they call 
 these long names in sliort, just as we do ; Nat for 
 jS'athaniel, Kit for Christopher, and Elic for Alex- 
 ander." 
 
 'C:'<^\ 
 
 \^'ifr^vams— Cro' 
 blanche — Pi 
 tdli-pji, " the 
 sliields, ami 
 \\'arfare of 
 buffalo, and 
 signing treati 
 
 It was not 
 1^ again lister 
 i their frienc 
 
] 
 
 
 WIGWAMS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 WifTAvams— Crow Indians quitting an encampment — Villages — Food — Pomme 
 blanche — Pemican — Marrow liit— Fruit— Dress— Full Dress of .Mali-to- 
 tdli-pa, "the four bears " — Bows and arrows, quivers, tomaliawks, spears, 
 shields, and scalping knives — Scalping— War -clubs-Indian warfare— 
 Warfivre of white men — Language — Names of the sun and moon, a 
 butfalo, and the Great Spirit, in different languages— Indian method of 
 signing treaties. 
 
 It was not long before Austin, Brian, and Basil were 
 again listening to the interesting accounts given by 
 their friend, the hunter, and it would have been a 
 
i{ 
 
 ABORIGINES OF NOETII AMERICA. 
 
 difficult point to decide if the listeners derived most 
 })leasure from their occupation, or the narrator. 
 Austin began ^vithout delay to speak of tlie lied 
 Indians, the Aborigines of North America. " We 
 want to know," said he, " a little more about what these 
 people were when they were first found out." 
 
 Hunter. When America was first discovered, the 
 inhabitants, though for the most part partaking of 
 one general character, were not without variety. The 
 greater part, as I told you, were, both in hot and cold 
 latitudes, red men witli black hair, and without beards. 
 
 Tliey, perhaps, might have been divided into four 
 parts : the Mexicans and Peruvians, who were, to a 
 considerable extent, civilized ; the Caribs, who in- 
 habited the fertile soil and luxuriant clime of the 
 West Indies ; the Esquimaux, who were then just the 
 same people as they are now, living in the same 
 manner by fisliing; and the lied Men, or North 
 American Indians. 
 
 Austin. Tlien the Esquimaux are not Red Indians. 
 
 Hunter. No ; tliey are more like the people who 
 live in Lapland, and in the north of Asia; and for 
 this reason, and because the distance aci'oss Behring's 
 Straits is so short, it is thought they came from Asia, 
 and are a part of the same people. The red men are, 
 liowever, difterent ; and as we agreed tliat I should 
 tell you about the present race of them, perhaps I may 
 as well proceed. 
 
 Austin. Yes. Please to tell us first of their wigwams, 
 and their villages, and how they live. 
 
 -: 
 
wigwa:ms. 
 
 45 
 
 Lid 
 lav 
 
 lis, 
 
 Brian. And what they eat, and what clothes they 
 wear. 
 
 Basil. And how they talk to one another. 
 
 Attstin. Yes ; and all about their spears and toma- 
 hawks. 
 
 Ilimter. The wigwams of the Eed Indians are of 
 difterent kinds : some are extrenif^ly simple, being 
 formed of high sticks or poles, covered with turf or 
 tlie bark of trees ; while others are verv handsome. 
 The Sioux, the Assinaboins, the Blackfeet, and the 
 Crows, form their wigwams nearly in the same manner ; 
 that is, by sewing together the skins of buffaloes, 
 after properly dressing them, and making them into 
 the form of a tent. This covering is then supported 
 by poles. The tent has a hole at the top, to let out 
 the smoke, and to let in the light. 
 
 Austin. That is a better way of making a wigwam 
 than covering over sticks with turf. 
 
 Hunter. The wigwams, or lodges, of the Mandans 
 are round. A circular foundation is dug about two 
 feet deep ; timbers six feet high are set up all round 
 it, and on these are placed other long timbers, slanting 
 inwards, and fastened together in the middle, tent 
 fashion, leaving space for light, and for the smoke to 
 pass. This tent-like roof is supported by beams and 
 upright posts, and it is covered over outwardly by 
 willow boughs and a thick coating of earth ; then 
 comes the last covering of hard tough clay. The sun 
 bakes this, and long use makes it solid. The outside 
 of a Mandan lodge is almost as useful as the inside • 
 
4G 
 
 INDIAN ENCAMP^EENT. 
 
 for there the people sit, stand, walk, and take the air. 
 These lod<i;es are forty, fifty, or sixty feet wide. 
 
 Brian. Tlie Maudan wii^wam is the best of all. 
 
 Hunter. AVigwams, like those of the Mandnn-, 
 which are always in the same place, and are not in- 
 tended to be removed, are more sul)stantial than sncli 
 as may be erected and talcen down at pleasure. Some 
 of tlie wigwams of the Crow Indians, covered as tlu^v 
 are with skins dressed almost white, and ornamented 
 with paint, porcupine quills, and scalp-locks, are very 
 beautiful. 
 
 Austin. Tes ; they must look even better than tlu* 
 ^landau lodges, and tluy can be taken down antl 
 carried away. 
 
 Hunter. It would snr])rise you to witness an en- 
 campment of Crows or Sioux strike tlieir tei;ts or 
 wigwams. Before now, I have seen an encampuient 
 of several liundred lodges all standing; wliicb, in two 
 or tliree minutes after, were Hat upon the prairie. 
 
 Auiitin. Wliv, it must b(^ like mamc. 
 
 Hunter. The tinu? lias been ilxed, preparations made, 
 the signal given, and all at once the poles and skin 
 coveriugs have been takcMi down. 
 
 Brian. ILow do they carrv the wigwauis away with 
 them ? 
 
 Hunter. The ])ol(^s are dragged along by horses and 
 by dogs; the smaUer enus being fastened over their 
 shouldei's, while on the larger ends, dragging along 
 tht» ground, are ])lace(l the hxlge coverings, I'oih'd up 
 together. The dogs pull along two poles, eacli with 
 
TNDIAN YILL.VOES. 
 
 47 
 
 i 
 
 I 1 lad, wliilo tlie horses 
 >in>nirth. iiuinireas 
 
 arc 
 
 taxed 
 
 accordiiiir 
 
 toll 
 
 R'lr 
 
 horses and doirs, tl 
 
 1. iiuiKireasoi norses aiui do^^s, tiiuH (iraL!:gin!j; 
 their burdens, niav be sch'U slowly movinir over the 
 ])rairie, with attendant Indians on horsebaek, and 
 woimn and j^nrls on foot heavily laden. 
 
 Brian. Wliat a si;^]it ! and what a length they nnist 
 stn^teh ont ; sueh a nnndjer of them ! 
 
 Jf/ni/rr. Some of their villages arc large, and forti- 
 ii(Ml Avith two rows of high poles round them. A 
 Pawnee Vwt village on the lied liiver, with its Jive or 
 six hundred beehive-like wigwanis of poles, thatehed 
 with prairie grass, much ]>leased me. ]^)und ihe 
 xilla'jje there were fields of mai/e, melons, and ])um|)kins 
 growing. The villages of the Camanehees,the Keawas, 
 and the AV^icos, were interesting ohjcn-ts ; and the 
 ilome-like wigwams of the jMandan villagi^s, and tho 
 tent-like lodges of the* Crows, liad a most pietui'(>s(jue 
 rll'eet. The Jved Indians hunt, lish,and some of them 
 gi'ow corn for food; l)ut the llesh of the ])uiralo i^ 
 what they most de])(Mid upon, uidi'ss it be the Irihes 
 wlTu-h are neart^st the whitt* \,icn; these, such as the 
 I'rei'ks, Osages, Otways, Otawas, Wiiniehagoes, and 
 especially the Clierokei's, are losing the charaetc'iM)!' 
 Indians overv dav more and mor(\ and adoi)ting the 
 maimers and customs oi'the whites. 
 
 Aii.^lin. How do the Indians cook their food? 
 
 Jfinilcr. Thev broil or roast nicat and fish, by lav- 
 mg them on the fu'i*, or on sticks raised above the lire. 
 Tliey boil meat also, making of it a sort of soup. 1 
 ha\i' often seatcnl myself, S(]uatting down on a robe 
 
48 
 
 FOOD AND CLOTHES. 
 
 spread for me, to a fine joint of buffalo ribs, admirably 
 roasted; with, perhaps, a pudding-like paste of the 
 "pomme blanche," or prairie turnip, flavoured with 
 buffalo berries. 
 
 Austin. That is a great deal like an English dinner 
 — roast beef and a pudding. 
 
 Hunter. The Indians eat a great deal of green corn, 
 peinican, and marrow fat. The pemican is buflalo 
 meat, dried hard, and poimded in a wooden mortar. 
 Marrow fat is wliat is boiled out of buffalo bones ; it 
 is usually kept in bladders. They eat, also, the flesli 
 of the deer and other animals ; that of the dog is 
 reserved for feasts and especial occasions. They have, 
 also, beans and peas, peaches, melons and strawberries, 
 pears, pumpkins, chincapins, walnuts, and chestnuts. 
 Tliesc things they can get when settled *'\ their 
 villages ; but wlien wandering, or on their w;. < ties, 
 they talvc up with what they can get. Th •; i^ever 
 eat salt with their food. 
 
 Basil. And wliat kind of clothes do they wear ? 
 
 Hunter. Principally skins, uidess they trade with 
 the whites, in which case they buy cloths of diffcM'cnt 
 kinds. Some wear long hair, some cut their hair off and 
 sliave tlie liead. Some dress themselves witli very few 
 ornaments, but otliers liave very man v. Sliall I describe 
 to you the full dress o^Mdh-to-toh-pa^ " the four bears?" 
 
 Austin. Oh, yes ; everything belongiug to him. 
 
 Hunter. You nuist imagine, then, tluit he is stand- 
 ing up before you, while 1 describe him, not a little 
 proud of his costly attire. 
 
 Au 
 IIu 
 
 falo b 
 
 victor 
 
 tunic, 
 
 ornan 
 
 his ba 
 
 thelo 
 
 hand f 
 
 eagle (j 
 
 the top 
 
 and ])o 
 
 Jiria 
 
 Hun 
 
 por(*u])i 
 
 the tine 
 
 waist. 
 
 lM'()id(T( 
 
 tlie skii 
 
 rather t 
 
 Ausfi 
 
 will be 1 
 
 Hunt 
 
 edged s 
 
 ash, an( 
 
 J lis bo^ 
 
 (strcugth 
 
 over th( 
 
 twist ot 
 
duess of a warrior. 
 
 49 
 
 Austin. I fancy that I can sec liim now. 
 
 Iltinter. His robe was the soft skin of ayonng buf- 
 falo biilL On one side was the fur; on the otlier, the 
 victories he Imd won were set forth. His shirt, or 
 tunic, was made of the skins of mountain sheep, 
 ornamented with porcupine quills and paintings of 
 his battles. From the edge of liis shoulder-band hung 
 llie long black locks that he had taken with his own 
 hand from his enemies. His head-dress was of wai*- 
 cagle quills, falling down his back to his very feet ; on 
 the top of it stood a pair of bull'alo horns, shaven thin, 
 and polished beautifully. 
 
 Jh'ian. AVhat a figure he must have been ! 
 
 ILuntcr. His leggings were tight, decorated with 
 porcupine quills and scalp locks ; they were made of 
 the llnest deer skins, and fastened to a l)elt round the 
 waist. His mocassins, or shoes, were buckskin, em- 
 hroidiTcd in the richest manner; and his necklace, 
 the skin of an otter, had on it iit'ty huge claws, or 
 rather talons, of tlu^ griz/dy bear. 
 
 Aufitin. What a des])erate fellow ! Bold as a lion, I 
 will be bound for it. Had he no arms about him ? 
 
 Hunter. Oh yes! ]Ie held in his lel't hand a two- 
 edged spear of polished steel, with a shaft of tough 
 ash, and ornamented with tufts of war-eagle cpiills. 
 His bow, Ix^autit'ullv white, was formed of bone, 
 strengthened with th* sinews of deer, drawn tight 
 over tiie back of it; the bow-string was a thrcc^fold 
 twist of sinews. Seldom had its twang been hea.'d 
 without an enemy or a bull'alo falling to the earth ; and 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 DRESS OF A WARRIOR. 
 
 rarely had that lance been in'gcd home without finding 
 its way to some victim's heart. 
 
 Austin. I thought he was a bold fellow. 
 
 Hunter. Jle had a costly shield of the hide of a 
 buffalo, stiffened with glue and fringed round with 
 eagle ({uills and antelope hoofs ; and a quiver of panther 
 skin, well filled with deadlv shafts. Home of their 
 points were flint, and some were steel, and most of them 
 were stained with blood. lie carried a pipr, a tobacco 
 sack, a belt, and a medicine bag ; and m his right hand 
 ho lield a war-club like a sling, being made of a round 
 stone wrapped up in raw hide and fastened to a tough 
 stick handle. 
 
 Austin. What sort of a pipe was it ? 
 
 Basil. AVhat was in his tobacco sack ? 
 
 Jh'ian. You did not sav what his belt was made of 
 
 JLunlir. His pipe was made of red pi])e-stone, and 
 it hail a stem of young asli, full three feet long, braided 
 ^\ith porcupine quills intlu^ shaj^e of animals and nu'n. 
 It was also ornamented with the beaks of wood[)eckers, 
 and hairs from the tail of the white buflalo. One thing 
 I ought not to omit ; on the lower half of the l)ipe, 
 which was painted red, were notched the snows, or 
 years of his life. By this simple record of their lives, 
 the I'cd men Ox he for>'st and the j)rairie may be led to 
 something like reflection. "We are but of yesterday, 
 and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a 
 shadow," Job viii. 9. 
 
 Ihisih What was in Ids tobacco sack ? 
 
 Hunter. His flint and steel, for striking a light ; 
 
 as we 
 
 bark 
 
 skin, 
 
 belt, 
 
 knife, 
 
 rouiK 
 
 A ui- 
 
 \t nui 
 
 Ilu 
 
 destru 
 
 life. ' 
 
 ousnc!^ 
 
 man, t 
 
 Before 
 
 made t 
 
 the si I 
 
 flint; 1 
 
 clubs A^ 
 
 and an 
 
 hatchet 
 
 of thei 
 
 knives, 
 
 whites, 
 
 chase. 
 
 a rudely 
 
 in this 
 
 made i 
 
 l)(>autifi 
 
 Aifsti 
 
 J fun I 
 
INDIAN WEAPONS. 
 
 Ol 
 
 as well as liis tobacco, which was nothing more than 
 bark of the red willow. His medicine bag was beaver 
 skin, adorned with ermine and hawks' bills ; and his 
 belt, in which he carried his tomahawk and scalping 
 knife, were formed of tough buckskin, firmly fastened 
 round his loins. 
 
 Austin. Please to tell ns about the scalping knife. 
 It nuist be a fearful instrument. 
 
 Hunter. All instruments of cruelty, vengeance, and 
 destruction are fearful, Avhether in savage or civilized 
 lite. What are we, that wrath, and revenge, andcovet- 
 ousness should be fostered in our h(\arts ! AVIiat is 
 man, that he should shed the blood of his brother! 
 ]^efore the Indians had dealings with the whites, they 
 made their own weapons; their bows were strung with 
 the sinews of deer ; their arrows were headed with 
 flint; their knives were of sharpened bone ; their war- 
 clubs were formed of wood, cut into diflcM'cmt sha])i's, 
 and armed Avith sharp stones ; and their tomahawks, or 
 liatchets, were of the same nuiterials: but now, manv 
 of their Aveapons, such as hatchets, spcar-heads, and 
 knives, are made of inm, being procured from the 
 whites, in exchange for the ^«kin they obtain in the 
 chase. A scalping knife is oftentimes no other than 
 a rudely formed butcher's knife, with one edge, made 
 in this country, and sold to tlie Indians; others are 
 made in America; and the Indians w(\ar tluMii in 
 beautiful scabbards nnder their bells. 
 
 Austin. How does a Ked Indian scalp In's enemy ? 
 
 ILuntcv. The hair on the crown of the head is seized 
 
 # 
 
52 
 
 SCALP I NO. 
 
 with tlie Icffc hand ; the knife makes a circle round it 
 thror.gii the skin, and then the hair and skin together, 
 sometimes with the hand and sometimes with the 
 teeth, are forcibly torn off. The scalp may be, per- 
 haps, as broad as my hand. 
 
 J3ri<in. Terrible ! Scalping would be sure to kill 
 a man, I suppose. 
 
 Hunter. JScalps are war trophies, and are generally 
 regarded as proofs of the death of tliose who wore 
 them ; but an Indian inflamed with hatred and rage, 
 and excited by victory, will not always wait till his foe 
 has expired before he scalps him. The hair, as well as 
 tlie scalp, of a fallen foe is carried off by the victorious 
 Indian, and with it his clothes are afterwards orna- 
 mented. It is said tliat, during the old Frencli war, 
 an Indian slew a Frenchman who wore a wig. The 
 warrior stooped down, and seized the hair for tlie 
 purpose of securing the scalp. To his great astonish- 
 ment the wig came off, leaving the head bare. The 
 Indian held it up, and examining it with great wonder, 
 exclaimed, in broken English, " Dat one big lie !" 
 
 Brian. How the Indian would stare ! 
 
 Hasil. He had ne\'er seen a wig before, I dare say. 
 
 Hunter. Tlie arms of Indians, offensive and defen- 
 sive, are, for the most part, tliose which I have men- 
 tioned — the club, the tomahawk, the bow and arrow, 
 the spear, the shield, and the scalping knife ; but the 
 use of fire-arms is gradually extending among some 
 of their tribes. Some of their clubs are merely massy 
 pieces of hard, heavy wood, nicely fitted to the hand, 
 
CLLBS AND TOMAHAWKS. 
 
 53 
 
 with, perhaps, a piece of hard boue stuck in the liead 
 ])art ; others are curiously carved into all kiiids of 
 fauciful and uncouth shapes ; while, occasionally, may 
 be seen a frightful war-club, knobbed all over with 
 brass nails, with a steel blade at the end of it a span 
 
 long. 
 
 a, scalping knife, b, ditto, in shoatli. c, J, \sar-cliibs. 
 e, e, tomahawks. <j, w\\\\). 
 
 Brian. I woidd not go among the Indians, with 
 their clubs and tomahawks, if any one were to give 
 me a thousand pounds. 
 
 Basil. Nor 1 : they would be sure to kill me. 
 
 Hunter, The tomahawk is often carved in a strange 
 manner; and some of the bows and arrows are admi- 
 rable. The bow, formed of bone and strong sinews, is 
 
5i 
 
 TOMAHAWKS, ARIIOWS, AND SHIELDS. 
 
 a deadly weapon ; and some Indians have boasted of 
 having sent an arrow from its strings right tlirough 
 the body of a buffalo. 
 
 Austin. Through a bulTalo's body ! How strong 
 tliat Indian must have been ! 
 
 Hunter. The quiver is made of the skin of the 
 panther, or the otter; and some of the arrows it eon- 
 tains are usually poisoned. 
 
 Austin. AVhy, then, an arrow is sure to kill a person, 
 if it hits him. 
 
 Hunter. It is not likely tliat an enemy, badly 
 wovnided with a poisoned arrow, will survive ; for the 
 licad is set on loosely, in order that, when tlie arrow 
 is withdrawn, the poisoned barb may remain in the 
 wound. How opposed are these cruel stratagems of 
 war to the precepts of the gospel of peace, whicli 
 says, " Love your enemies, bless them that curse 
 you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for 
 tliem which despitefully use you, and persecute you !" 
 Matt. V. 44. 
 
 Basil. AVliat will you do, Austin, if you go among 
 the Indians, and they shoot you with a poisoned 
 arrow ? 
 
 Austin. Oh, I shall carry a shield. You heard that 
 the Indians carry shields. 
 
 Hunter. The shields of the Crows and Blackfeet 
 are made of the thick skin of the buftalo's neck : they 
 are made as hard as possible, by smoking them, and 
 by putting glue upon them obtained from the hoofs of 
 auimals; so that they will not only turn aside an 
 
 I i 
 
MODE OF WARFAEE. 
 
 55 
 
 arrow, but a musket ball, if tliey are lielJ a little 
 obliquely. 
 
 Austin. There, Basil ! You see that I shall be sate, 
 after all ; for I shall earry a large shield, and the very 
 hardest I can get, too. 
 
 Hunter. Their spears have long, sleiuler handles, 
 with steel heads : the handles are as much as a dozen 
 feet long, or more, and very skilful are they in the use 
 of them ; and yet, such is the dread of the Indian 
 when opposed to a white man, that, in spite of his war 
 horse and his eagle plumes, his bow and well-hlled 
 (juiver, his long lance, tomahawk, and scalping knife, 
 his self-possession forsakes him. He has heard, if not 
 seen, what the Avhite man has done ; and he thinks 
 there is no standing against him. If he can surprise 
 liim, he will; but, generally, the red man fears to 
 grapple with a pale face in the strife of war, for he 
 considers him clothed with an iniknown power. 
 
 Austin. I should have thought that a lied Indian 
 would be sure to kill a white man. 
 
 Jlimter. So long as he can crawl in the gi'ass or 
 brushwood, and steal silently upon him by surprise, or 
 send a shaft from his bow from behind a ti-e(\ or a 
 bullet from his rifle from the brow of a bluff, he has 
 an advantage; but, when he comes face to face with 
 the white man, he is superstitiously afraid of him. The 
 })ower of the white man, in war, is that of bravery and 
 skill; the power of the red man consists much in 
 stratagem and surprise. Fifty white men, nrnied, on 
 an open plain, would beat olf a hundred red men. 
 
56 
 
 LOVE OF REVENGE — THE SUN. 
 
 Brian. Why is it tliat the red men are always 
 fighting one another ? They are all brothers, and 
 what is the nse of their killing one another ? 
 
 Hunter. Most of the battles, among the Red In- 
 dians, are bi'ought about by the belief that tliey are 
 bound to revenge an injury to their tribe. There can 
 be no peace till revenge is satisfied ; they are almost 
 always returning evil for evil. Then, again, the red 
 men have too often been tempted, bribed, and, in some 
 cases, forced to fight for the white man. 
 
 Brian. That is very sad, though. 
 
 Hunter. It is sad ; but when you say red men are 
 brothers, are not white men brothers too ? And yet, 
 though they have been instructed in the truths of 
 Christianity and the gospel of peace, which red men 
 have not, how ready they are to draw the sword ! 
 A\^ar springs from sin; and until sin is subdued in 
 the human heart, war will ever be dear to it. 
 
 Austin. AVhat do tlie Indians call the sun ? 
 
 Hunter. The different tribes speak different lan- 
 guages, and therefore you must tell me which of them 
 you mean. 
 
 Austin. Oh ! I forgot that. Tell me what two or 
 three of the tribes call it. 
 
 Hunter. A Sioux calls it wee ; a Mandan, menahha ; 
 a Tuskarora, hiday; and a Blackfoot, cristeque ahtose. 
 
 Austin. The Blackfoot is the hardest to remember. 
 I should not like to learn that language. 
 
 Brian. But you must learn it, if you go among them ; 
 or else you will not understand a word they say. 
 
 Ai 
 
 Perh 
 make 
 the n 
 
 Hi 
 on tec 
 and a 
 
 Br 
 such 
 
 i.. 
 
INDIAN NAMES. 
 
 57 
 
 Austin. Well ! I shall manage it soineliow or other. 
 Perhaps some of them may know English ; or we may 
 make motions one to another. AV'liat do they call 
 the moon ? 
 
 Hunter. ABlackfoot calls it coque aldose ; a Sionx, 
 on wee ; a Eiccaree, icetah ; a Mandan, esto menahJca : 
 and a Tuskarora, autsunyehaw. 
 
 Brian. I do not think you will be able to speak 
 such hard words, Austin, if you become a wood- 
 ranger, or a trapper. It will be quite a task to learn 
 them all. 
 
 Austin. Oh ! I shall learn a little at a time. AVe 
 cannot do everything at once. — What do the red men 
 call a butfalo ? 
 
 Hunter. In Eiccaree, it is tvatash ; in Mandan, 
 ftemday; in Tuskarora, liohats ; in Blackfoot, eneuh. 
 
 Basil. What different names they give them ! 
 
 Hunter. Yes. In some instances they are alike, but 
 generally they diifer. If you were to say, "How do 
 you do ?" as is the custom in England ; you must say 
 omong the Indians, Hoiv ke che wa ? Chee 7ia e num ? 
 Dati yoothay its ? or. Tush hah thah mah hah hush ? 
 accordii g to the language in which you spoke. I 
 hardly think these languages would suit you §o well 
 as your own. 
 
 Brian. No, I am sure they would not ; but if Austin 
 goes, he must learn them. I never heard such curious 
 A\ords before. 
 
 Hunter. The names given to the Great Spirit by 
 the Sioux, the Tuskaroras, the Mandans, and the 
 
58 
 
 INDIAN NAMES. 
 
 Hiccarecs, are Wolcon sliecha; Ye ivunni yoh ; 2fah 7io 
 peneta; and lia ke iva rooh teh. 
 
 Austin. What stran";e names! And what do thev 
 call a bear and a beaver, bows and lances, pipes and 
 tobacco, and sucli things ? 
 
 Hunter. In Tuskarora, a bear is jotakrij j/uhuh; a 
 bow, awrow; and a quiver, yonats ronar hoost 'pali. 
 In Hionx, a beaver is chapa; a pipe, tchon de oopa ; 
 and tobacco, tcliondee. In Mandan, a wigwam is ote; 
 a brave, numohklmrica ; and a lance, monna etorook 
 slioha. In lliccarec, a wbite bnftalo is tolin hah tah 
 ka; a wolf, steerich; and a war eagle, nix war roo. 
 And now I tliink that I have told you quite as much 
 of the Indian lariguages as you will remember. 
 
 Brian. AVe shall never remember half nor a quarter 
 of it! 
 
 Basil. I can remember that chapa is a beaver. 
 
 Austin. AYell done, Basil ; I had forgotten that. 
 But please to tell us how to count ten, and then we 
 will ask you no more about languages. Let it be in 
 the language of the E-iccarees. 
 
 Hunter. Vary well. Asco, pitco, tow ivit, tehee tish, 
 tehee hoo, teha pis, to tcha pis, to toha pis won, nah e ne 
 won, nah en. I will just add, that weetah is twenty; 
 nahen tehee hoo is fifty; nah en te teha jyis won is 
 eiglity; shok tan is a hundred; and sho tan tera hoo 
 is a thousand. 
 
 Austin. Can the Hed Indians write ? 
 
 Hunter. Oh no; they have no use for pen and ink, 
 excepting some of the tribes near the whites. In 
 
 1 1 
 
 il 
 
 1 1 
 
 mam 
 betwj 
 put, 
 animil 
 the If 
 a roil 
 " Thel 
 his sis 
 
 " Frier 
 uncle, ^ 
 
INDIAN WRITING. 
 
 50 
 
 many of tlie different treaties wliicli have been made 
 between the wliite and the red man, the hitter lias 
 put, instead of his name, a rough drawing of tlie 
 animal or thing after wliieh he had been called. If 
 the Indian chief was named " W^ar hatchet," he made 
 a rough outline of a tomahawk ; if his name was 
 " The great buffalo," then the outline of a bulfalo was 
 his signature. 
 
 Basil. Well, how curious ! 
 
 Hunter. The Big turtle, the Fish, the Scalj), the 
 Arrow, and he Big canoe, all drew the form re[)re- 
 ^lented by their names in the same mannc If you 
 were to see these signatures, you would not run into 
 the error of thinking that 1 i^ese Indian chiefs had ever 
 taken lessons in the art of »LraAving. 
 
 Brian. I dare say their iish, and arrows, and hatchets, 
 and turtles, and biiiirJoes, are oUa-looking things. 
 
 Hunter. Yes : bat the hands that m'dcr these feeble 
 scrawls are strong, when they wield the bow or the 
 tomahawk. A white man in the Indian country, 
 according to a story that is told, met a Shawanus 
 riding a horse, which he recognised as his own, and 
 claimed it from him as his property. The Indian 
 calmly answered: " Friend, after a little while I will 
 call on you at your house, when we will talk this 
 matter over." A few days afterwards, the Indian 
 came to th- white man's house, who insisted on having 
 his horse restored to him. The other then told him : 
 " Friend, the horse which you claim belonged to my 
 uncle, vv ho lately died; according to the Indian custom, 
 
GO 
 
 THE INDIAN AND IIIS HORSE. 
 
 I have become lioir to all his property." Tlie white 
 mail not beiDp; satisfied, and renewinji^ his demand, tlie 
 Indian in)mediately took a coal from the fireplace, and 
 made two strikin*; fignres on the door of the house ; 
 the one representinf^ the white man taking tlie horse, 
 and the other himself in the act of scalping him : then 
 he coolly asked the trembling claimant Avhclher he 
 could read this Indian writing. The matter was thus 
 settled at once, and the Indian rode olf. 
 
 Austin. Ay; the white man knew that he had bettei' 
 give up the horse tlian be scalped. 
 
 After the hunter had told Austin and his brothers 
 Ihat he should be sure to have something to tell them 
 on their next visit, they took their departure, having 
 tjuite enough to occupy their minds till thev reached 
 home. 
 
 
 ^ -• 
 
CllAlTHR V. 
 
 Tho history of Hlaoli Iliiwk- Nii-nA-mii-Uoc's drciun - r.la>k Il.'iwk's liiith- 
 lilac(— noi'onu's a bravo— Tiulifs auMinst tlm O-iairfs-IIis fatlur Killc(l — 
 Destroys forty lod^tcs of tlio Osau'rs -Sac cliirfs no to St. T.ouis— Strom,' 
 •Iriiik i^ivcii tlu'in. and tlioy sitrn awiiy land of tlic Sacs' nation - American 
 M'liitcs deceive tlie S.kn, and Illack 11, iwk joins the British — His battles - 
 He returns liome— Kei'-o-kiik made chief— I'dack Hawk au'ai\) yocs to u.ir 
 — Uo gives liiniself np to tlie Americans— A bufTalo hnnt. 
 
 " TiT-AC'iv IIawic! Bliick Ifawk!" cried out Austin 
 T^dwanls, as \\v ciuwc in si<_jlit of \]\c hwuivv, who avum 
 
62 
 
 HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK. 
 
 just returning to liis cottage as Austin and liis bro- 
 thers reached it. " You promised to tell us all about 
 Black Hawk, and we are come to hear it now." 
 
 The hiuiter told the boys that it had been his 
 intention to talk with them about the prairies and 
 blufts, and to have described the wondrous works of 
 (jrod in the wilderness, of which it might literally be 
 said, strown as they were with fruits and flowers, 
 *' The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad 
 for them ; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as 
 the rose," Isa. xxxv. 1, It appeared, however, that 
 Austin's lieart was too much set on hearing the 
 liistory of Black Hawk, to listen jiatiently to anything 
 else ; and the hunter perceiving this, willingly agreed 
 to gratify him. He told them that, in reading or 
 hearing the history of Indian chiefs, they must not be 
 carried away by false notions of their valour, for that 
 it was always mingled with much cruelty. 'J'he word 
 of God said truly, that " the dark places of the eai-tli 
 are full of the habitations of cruelty." Psa. Ixxiv. 20. 
 " With untaught Indians," continued ]u\ "revenge is 
 virtue ; and to tomahawk an enemy, and tear away 
 his scalp, the nol)lest act he can perform in his own 
 estimation; whereas Christians are taught, as I said 
 befoj'c, to tbrgive and love their (Micmies. But I will 
 now begin the histor;/ ot* Black Hawk." 
 
 Ai/sfin. Please to tell us liis liistory just as 
 he would tell it lumself. Speak to us as if you 
 were Jilack Hawk, and we will not say a singlo 
 word. 
 
HIS PARENTAGE. 
 
 G3 
 
 Hunter. \evy well. Then, for a while, I will be 
 Black Hawk, and what I tell voii will l)e true, onlv 
 the words will he niv own, instead of those of the 
 Indian chief. Now, then, I will be Black Hawk, and 
 speak as if I spoke to American white men. — "I am 
 an old man: the chanires of man\^ moons and the toiL-» 
 of war have made me old. I have been a concjueror, 
 and I have been conquered: many moons longer 1 
 cannot hope to live. 
 
 " I have hated the whites, but have been treated 
 well bv them when a prisoner. I wish, belbre I i^o 
 my long journey, at the connuand of the (Jreat Spirit, 
 to the huntinij: n:ronnds of mv fathers in another 
 worhl, to tell my history; it will then be seen why I 
 hated the whites. Bold and proud was 1 once, in my 
 nati\ e forests, but the pale i'aces deceived mc ; it was 
 for tliis that I liated them. 
 
 Would you know where I was l)()rn ? I will tell 
 
 a 
 
 rv\ 
 
 his 
 
 von. It was at the Sac viliaire on Bock Jiiver 
 
 was, accordiuij^ to white man's rcH-koiiini^;, in the yi'ar 
 
 1707, so that I am fiftv years old, and ten and seven. 
 
 " JNIy father's name was Py-e-sa ; the fathe" of his 
 father was Na-na-ma-kee, or '^^riunukM*. 1 was a brave, 
 and at'tei-wards a chief, a leadin<r war- hief, cai'i'vinir 
 
 th 
 
 m 
 
 edicine batr. I fou<rlit airainst llie Osaixe 
 
 Did I fear them ? No. Did I oi'len win the victory? 
 I (hd. 
 
 " The white men of America said to the Sacs and 
 
 (i('S, 
 
 Foxes, to the Sioux, the Cluppewas, and WinnebaL;- 
 ' (lo you to the otiier side of the Mississippi ;' and 
 
()1. 
 
 ULACK HAWK AND HIS WHITE FATIIEK. 
 
 tliey said, * Yes.' But I said, ' Xo : why should I 
 leave the place where our wif>wams stand, where we 
 have hunted for so many moons, and where the hones 
 of our fathers have rested ? ]\la-ka-tai-mc-she-lvia- 
 kiah (Black ITawk) will not pjo.' 
 
 " My heart told me that my ojreat white father, the 
 chief of America, would not do wronj^; Avould not 
 make me go to the other side of the river. ]\ly pro- 
 ])het also told me the same. I felt my arm strouiJ^, 
 and I fought. Never did the hand of Black llaAvk 
 kill woman or child. They were warriors that ]51;u*k 
 Hawk fought with. 
 
 " J\lany moons before I or my father Inuitcd in the 
 forest, or on the prairie, Na-na-ma-kee, my great 
 grandtather, had a dream many times, that he should 
 some day meet with a white father. He helicved the 
 dream, and Avent with his brothers Pau-ka-hum-ma-wa 
 (Sun-lish) and Na-mah (Sturgeon) to meet with his 
 white father. 
 
 " They went on for five davs to the left of sunrise, 
 and then Na-na-ma-kee told them to go on nnd listen, 
 and if they heard anything to set up a ])ole with grass 
 on it. They went on, lieard a noise, set up the pole, 
 and came back for Na-na-ma-kee, who went with 
 them, 
 white father 
 
 " IFe was much astonisluMl. for his white fathiM' told 
 him that he was son of the king of l^'rance, and gavi^ 
 him ]>rcscnts; and said that, on their return to their 
 tribe, he must be their chief, and liis brothci-s under 
 
 He thvu went on alone, and mi't his great 
 
BLACK HAAVK BECOMES A BUATE. 
 
 Go 
 
 clncfs. lie p^ave Na-n{\-nia-kce p^ims, and powder and 
 lead, and spears; and told liini how the gnns Avere to 
 be used aj^ainst enemies and in hunting:; and he p;ave 
 Ids brothers cookin^^ vessels and other things. ' It is 
 the will of the Great Spirit,' said his great >vhite 
 lather, 'that Na-na-nia-kc^e shall be ehief of his people, 
 and a great general.' 
 
 " When Xa-nri-nia-kee went haek with Ins brothers, 
 his tribe made lum their ehief, and gave liim the 
 medicine bag; and for many moons they had dealings 
 with their great white French father, giving him Iheii* 
 peltries and furs, and taking for them arms, and 
 vessels, and other things. 
 
 "At last, the British white men beat awav ihe 
 French, and our people had a J^ritish white father, 
 who gave then> goods. But the other tribes went to 
 war with our people, and the tomahawk, and the 
 spefir, and the gun had plenty to do. Oiu' ])(M)ple 
 joined with the Foxes, and at last, afh^r being b(\at(Mi 
 to the river Wisconsin, they went down the Hock 
 Kiver, drove awav the Kas-kas-kias, and bnilt a 
 village; in that village I^lack Hawk was born. 
 
 "Though I came down from the chief Xa-na-ma- 
 kee, yet my people would not let me dress like a 
 chief. 1 did not paint mysc^lf ; I did not wear feathers ; 
 but I was bob' and not afraid to fight, so I became a 
 bi'ave. 
 
 " The Osages wen^ our enemies, and T went with 
 mv father and many more to tight, i saw niv fathei* 
 kill an enemy, and tear away the scalp from his head. 
 
 ! 
 
00 
 
 BATTLKS AMONG THE TRIBES. 
 
 I folt (letenniiied to do the same. I pleased my father ; 
 for, with my tomsihawk and spear, I rushed on an 
 enen'.y. I brought hack his sealp in my hand. 
 
 " 1 next led on seven of our people against a hun- 
 dred Osages, and killed one. After that, I led on 
 two hundred, when we killed a hundred, and took 
 many scalps. In a battle with the Cherokees my 
 father was killed. I painted my face black, and 
 prayed to the Great Spirit, and did not light any more 
 for five vears ; all that I did was to hunt and to fish. 
 
 "The Osages had done us great wrong, so we wore 
 determined to destrov them. 1 set off', in the third 
 moon, at the head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, 
 and one hundred lowas. AVe fell upon forty lodges. 
 J made two of their squaws prisoners, but all the rest 
 of the p(M)])le in the lodges we killed. Black Hawk 
 killed seven men himself. In a battle with the 
 ClieroktH^s, 1 killed thirteen of their bravest with my 
 own hand. 
 
 " Ojie of our people killed a pale-face American, 
 and he was put in ])rison ; so we sent Quash-qua-me, 
 ra-she-])a-ho, Ou-('h(»-(]ua-ka. and Ila-she-quar-hi-qua 
 to 81. Louis, to pay for the killerl man, and to cover 
 llie blood. Did the ])ale faces do well? No, they 
 did not ; they set our man free, but when he began to 
 run they shot him down ; and tliey gave strong drink 
 to our four j)eople, and told them to give np the best 
 ])art of our huutiug ground for a thousand dollars 
 every tw(*lve moons. AVIiat right had they to give our 
 men strong drink, ami then cheat them ? None 
 
3JLACK IIAWIC AND THE AMKRU'ANS. 
 
 (57 
 
 " Aineriean white facos oanie, with a pjrcat, ]Ag <2;un, 
 to buikl a fort, and said it was to trade witli iia. Tlun 
 treated the Indians ill : we went against the I'ort. 
 I dng a liole in the ^ronnd with my knife, so that I 
 could liide myself with some <j^rass. 1 shot with my 
 rifle and cut the eord of their ila«^, so that they could 
 not pull it up to fly in the air; and we fired the fort, 
 but they put out the fire. 
 
 "The American ])ale faces and the British pale 
 faces went to war. I knew not what to do when the 
 British held talks with us. AVe did not like the 
 Americana; they never did the same as they said; 
 but the British did better. 
 
 " One of our people killed a white, and was taken. 
 He was to die, but asked leave to go and see his 
 S(piaw and children. They let him go, but he ran 
 back through the prairies next day, in time to he shot 
 down. lie did not sav he would come back, and 
 then stay; he was an Iiulian, and not an American. 
 I hunted and fished for his sipiaw and children when 
 he was dead. 
 
 "AVhy was it that the Great Spirit did not keep 
 the white men where he put them ? AV^hy did he let 
 them come among my ])eo])le with their flre-driidc, 
 sickness^ and guns ? It had been better for red men 
 to be by themselves. 
 
 " Now hearken to Black IFawk, foi* he sj^eaks the 
 truth. Our great American father told sonu; of our 
 peo])le, who went to liim in Washington, thid. he 
 wished us neither to fight for him, nor for the British. 
 
=1 
 
 68 
 
 33LACK IIAAVK A>'D THE EltlTISlI. 
 
 They told liim tliat the British let them liave goods 
 at the I'all, that we inif^lit be able to hunt and pay for 
 tliem after. ' You shall have ^oods,' said he, ' at 
 Port Madison, in tlie "vvay the J^ritish let you have 
 them. J3ut, wlien we went to the fort, they would 
 not let us have any. What could we do ? AV^as not 
 tliis deceiving us ? Was not this making us go over 
 to the British ? It was. 
 
 " A British trader landod at Eock Island, and sent 
 us word that he had p sents and good news for us, 
 and he sent us pipes and tobacco. Often has Black 
 Hawk seen the prairie on lire : this news was just like 
 it ; it ran fast. We went to tlie trader : he was not 
 like the Americans ; he did wliat he said; he gave us 
 a keg of rum, and let us have all his goods, to be paid 
 for with furs and peltries wlien tlie spring came, 
 (runs were iired, the British liag was then run up 
 high, flying in the wind. 
 
 " We went to a great English brave. Colonel Dixon, 
 at Grreen Bay : there were many Potowatemies, 
 Kickapoos, Ottowas, and AV^innebagoes tliere. The 
 great brave gave us pipes, tobacco, new guns, powder, 
 and clothes. I lield a talk with him in his tent ; he 
 took my hand. * Greneral Black JIawk,' said he, and 
 he put a medal round my neck, ' you must now hold 
 us fast by the hand ; you will have tlie command of 
 nil the braves to join our own braves at Detroit.' 
 I was sorry, because I wanted to go to Mississippi. 
 But he said, ' No ; you are too brave to kill women 
 and children: you must kill braves.' 
 
 brai 
 
 t I 
 
 I i 8om( 
 
 I I prise 
 cowa 
 fight 
 and 
 of m 
 child] 
 
 "I 
 
 sorro^ 
 
 self li 
 
 he wa 
 
 and a] 
 
 Irieud 
 
 and sa 
 
 A stoi 
 
 blanke 
 
 too lal 
 
 the bal 
 
 and W€ 
 
 "le 
 
 figlit. 
 
 by sur[ 
 
 people, 
 
 caring 
 
 feast an 
 
 on pape 
 
 or been 
 
 tliey ou 
 
BLACK UAWK AND HIS DYING TKIEND. 
 
 09 
 
 " AVe had a feast, and I led away five luindi-ca 
 braves to join the British. Sometimes wc wod, and 
 sometimes we lost. Tlie Indians were killing the 
 prisoners, bnt Black Hawk stopped them. He is a 
 coward who kills a brave that has no arms and cannot 
 fight. I did not like so ol'ten to be beaten in battle, 
 and to get no plunder. I left the British, with twenty 
 of my braves, to go home, and see after my wife and 
 children. 
 
 " I found an old friend of mine sittinc: on a mat in 
 sorrow ; he had come to be alone, and to make him- 
 self little before the Great Spirit : he had fasted long, 
 he was hardly alive ; his son had been taken prisoner, 
 and shot and stabbed to death. I put my pipe to my 
 friend's mouth ; he smoked a little. I took his hand, 
 and said, 'Black Hawk would revenge his son's death.' 
 A storm came on; I wra})ped my old friend in my 
 blanket. The storm gave over; I made a fire. It wa^ 
 too late; my friend was dead. I stopped with him 
 the balance of the night ; and then my people came, 
 and we buried him on tlie peak of the bhiff. 
 
 " I explained to my people the way the white men 
 fight. Instead of stealing on each other, quietly and 
 by surprise, to kill their enemies and save their own 
 people, they all fight in the sun-light, like braves; not 
 caring how many of their ])eople fall. They then 
 feast and drink as if" nothing had happened, and write 
 on paper that they have won, whether they have won 
 or been beaten. AjuI thev do nut write truth, for 
 they only put down a part of the people tliey have 
 
70 
 
 WAR EXCURSIONS. 
 
 lost. They would do to paddle a canoe, but not to 
 steer it. They fii^lit like brav{?s, but they are not lit to 
 be cliiefH, and to lead war parties. 
 
 " T found my wife well, and my children, and would 
 have b(MMi quiet in my lodge ; for, while I was away, 
 Kcc-o-kuk had been made a chief: but I had to 
 reveuf^c the death of the son of my old friend. I told 
 my IViend so when he was dying. AVhy should BLack 
 Hawk speak a lie ? I took with me thirty braves, 
 and went to Fort Madison ; but the American pale 
 faces had gone. I was glad, but still followed them 
 down the Mississippi. 1 went on their trail. I shot 
 tlie chief of the party witii whom Ave fought. AVe 
 returned home, bringing two scalps. Black Hawk 
 had done what he said. 
 
 " Many things happened. Old Wash-e-own, one 
 of tlie PotoAvatemies, was shot dead by a war chief 
 I gave AVash-e-own's relations two horses and my 
 rifles, to keep the peace. A party of soldiers built a 
 fort at Prairie du Chien. They were friendly to us, 
 but the British came and took the fort. AVe joined 
 them ; Ave folloAved the boats and shot fire-arroAvs, and 
 the sails of one boat Avas burned, and Ave took it. 
 
 "AVe found, in the boats Ave had taken, barrels of 
 Avhiskey ; this Avas bad medicine. AV^e knocked in 
 the heads of the barrels, and emptied them of the bad 
 medicine. AV^e found bottles and packages, Avhich Ave 
 flung into the river, as ])ad medicine too. AVe found 
 guns and clothes, Avhicli I divided Avith iny braves. 
 The Americans built a ibrt ; 1 went towards it with 
 
 I my 
 
 ' to Ic 
 see I 
 I Ave 
 snak 
 kille( 
 betAv 
 bury 
 
 "A 
 
 and ? 
 
 great 
 
 us of 
 
 father 
 
 They 
 
 the pij 
 
 quill ; 
 
 away 
 
 liave t( 
 
 " Th 
 
 this m 
 
 the wl 
 
 supplie 
 
 berries 
 
 spent f 
 
 of if , ] 
 
 Avhite, a 
 
 wings : 
 
 "W^e 
 
 squashei 
 
PEACE MADE WITH THE AME1?TC.VNS. 
 
 1 
 
 my braves. I had a dream, in uliicli tlie Great 
 Spirit told mo to go down the bluft' to a creek, and 
 to look in a hollow tree cut down, and llicre I should 
 see a snake ; close by would be the enemy unarmed. 
 I went to the creek, peeped into the tree, saw tlie 
 snake, and found tlie enemy. One man of tliem was 
 killed, after that we returned home: peace was made 
 between ^he British and Americans, and we were to 
 bury the tomahawk too. 
 
 " We went to tlie great American chief at St. Louis, 
 and smoked the pipe of peace. The chief said our 
 great American father was angry with us, and accused 
 us of crimes. We said this was a lie ; for our great 
 father had deceived us, and forced us into a war. 
 They were angry at what we said; but we smoked 
 the pipe of peace again, and I first touched the goose 
 quill ; but I did .lot know that, in doing so, I gave 
 away my village. Had I known it, I would never 
 liave touched the goose quill. 
 
 " The American whites built a fort on Hock Island ; 
 tliis made us sorry, for it was oiu' garden, like what 
 the wdiite people have near tlieir big villages, it 
 supplied us with plums, apples, and nuts; with stravv- 
 })erries and blackberri(?s. Many happy days had I 
 spent on Rock Island. A good spirit had the care 
 of it , he lived under the rock, in a cave. lie was 
 white, and his wings were ten times bigger than swan's 
 wines : w hen the u fiile men came there, he went awav. 
 
 " We had corn, and beans, and pumpkins, and 
 squashes. We were the possessors of the valley of 
 
72 AMllTK MEN SEli.:, TliE HUNTING GROUNDS. 
 
 tlie Mississippi, full seven hundred miles from the 
 "Wisconsin to the Portnj^e des Sioux, near the mouth 
 of the Missouri. If another pro])het had come to us 
 in those days, and said, ' The white man will drive 
 you from these hunting grounds, and from this vil- 
 lage, and liock Island, and not let you visit the graves 
 of your fathers ;' we should have said, ' AVhy should 
 you tell us a lie ?' 
 
 " It was good to go to the graves of our fathers. 
 The mother went there to weep over her child : the 
 brave went there to paint the post where lay his 
 father. There was no place in sorrow like that where 
 the bones of our forefathers lay. There the Great 
 S|)irit took pity on us. In our village, we were as 
 happy as a butlalo on the plains ; but now we are 
 more like the hungry and howling wolf in the prairie. 
 
 " As the whites came nearer to us, we became 
 more unhappy. They gave our people strong liquor, and 
 I could not keep them from drinking it. My eldest 
 son and my youngest daughter died. I gave away 
 all I had, blackened my face for two years, lived alone 
 witli my fainily, to humble myself before the Great 
 Spirit. I had only a piece of buft'alo robe to cover me. 
 
 " White men came and took part of our lodges ; 
 and Kee-o-kuk told me I had better go west, as he 
 had done. I said I could not forsake my village ; the 
 prophet told me I was right. I thought then that 
 Kee-o-kuk was no brave, but a coward, to give up 
 what the Great Spirit had given us. 
 
 Tlie white men grew more and more ; brought 
 
 a Tl 
 
FRAUDS BY THE WHITE MEX 
 
 
 whiskey among us; clioated us out of our guns, our 
 horses, and our traps, and ploughed up our grounds. 
 They treated us cruelly ; and, while they robbed us, 
 said that we robbed them. Tliey made right look 
 like wrong, and wrong like right. I tried hard to 
 get right, but could not. The white men wanted my 
 village, and back I must go. Sixteen thousand dol- 
 lars every twelve moons are to be given to the Poto- 
 watemies for a little strip of land, while one thousand 
 dollars only were set down for our land signed away, 
 worth twenty times as much. AVliite man is too 
 great a cheat for red man. 
 
 " A great chief, with many soldiers, came to drive 
 us away. I went to the prophet, who told me not 
 to be afraid. They only wanted to frighten us, aiid 
 get our land without paying for it. I had a talk with 
 the great chief. He said if I would go, Avell. If I 
 would not, he would drive me. ' Who is Black 
 Hawk ?' said he. ' I am a Sac,' said I ; ' my fore- 
 father was a Sac ; and all the nation call me a Sac' 
 But he said I should go. 
 
 " I crossed the Mississippi with my people during 
 the night, and we held a council. I touched the 
 goose quill again, and they gave us some corn, but it 
 was soon gone. Then our women and children cried 
 out for the roasting ears, the beans, and s([uashes they 
 had been used to. And some of our braves went back 
 in the night to steal some corn from our own fields : 
 the whites saw them, and fired upon them. 
 
 " I wished our great American father to do us 
 
A 
 
 WAR RENEWED — A 1)0(1 FEAST. 
 
 juatice. I Aviyliod to go to him with others, but dlfli- 
 cultica wore thrown in the way. I eousultcd the 
 prophet, and recruited my bands to take my vilkige 
 again: ior 1 knew that it had been sold by a few 
 
 without tbe eonsent of the m; 
 
 my. 
 
 It 
 
 was a 
 
 cheat. 
 
 I said, ' I will uot h'ave the place of my lathers. 
 
 (( 
 
 With mv braves and warriors, on horseback, 1 
 
 th 
 
 id took with 
 
 1 
 
 s our women s 
 children in canoes. Our prophet was among us. The 
 great war chief White J5eaver ((jeneral Atkinson) sent 
 twice to tell us to go back ; ami that, if we did not, 
 he woukl come and drive us. Jihick ITawli's message 
 was this, ' If you wish to liglit us, come on.' 
 
 " W^e were soon at war; but 1 did not wish it: I 
 tried to be at peace; but when 1 sent parties wilh a 
 whit(* Hag, some of my parties were shot down. The 
 whites behaved ill to me, tliey forced me into war, 
 with live liundred warriors, when they had against us 
 ihriH' Mr four tliousand. 1 oi'ten beat them, driving 
 hack InuKh'cds, with a few braves, not half their 
 jnnid)er. We nu)ved on to the J^'our Lakes. 
 
 " J made a dog feast Ix'lbre I left n»y camp. Be- 
 fore mv braves feasti'd, I took my 'iw^wi medicine 
 l)ag, and made a speei-h to my people; this was my 
 
 s|)ee( 
 
 4 
 
 K ( 
 
 h:— 
 Hi 
 
 d 
 
 raves anu warriors 
 
 ! tl 
 
 u^se are 
 
 tl 
 
 le nuMlicnit 
 
 li 
 
 ]):igs of onr forefather, .Mnk-a-ta-(juet, wlu) was the 
 lalher of the Nae niition. They were lianded down 
 to the great war chief of our nation, Xa-na-ma-kee, 
 who lias been at war with all the nations of the lakes, 
 
 I 
 i 
 
 and 
 
 yet 
 
 them 
 
 whei] 
 battl 
 
 P' 
 
ATTACK UN THE INDIAN WOMKN. 
 
 to 
 
 and all the nations of tlio i)laina, and tlu^y have never 
 yet been disgraced. I expect you all to protect 
 them.' 
 
 " We went to IMos-co-ho-co-y-nak, (Ap|)l(^ T^iver,) 
 where the whites had built a I'ort. We liad several 
 battles; but the whites so much ontiuniihei'cd us, it 
 was in vain. We had not enou<.^h to eat. We dn^ 
 roots, and pulled the bark from trees, to keep us alive ; 
 some of our old people died of hun<;(M'. 1 delermiucMl 
 to remove our women across the Mississippi, that they 
 might return again to the !Sac nation. 
 
 "We arrived at the Wisconsin, and had begun 
 crossing over, when the enemy came in great fori*e. 
 We had either to tight, or to sacrifice om* women and 
 ehildren. 1 was mounted on a tine horse, and ad- 
 dressed my warriors, encouraging them to be brave. 
 With iifty of them I fought long enough to let our 
 women cross the riviT, losing only six nu n : this was 
 condu(;t worthy a brave. 
 
 " It was sad i'or us that a party of soldiers froni 
 Pi'airie du Chien were stationed on the Wisconsin, 
 and these iired on our distn^ssed women: was this 
 brave? No. Some were killed, some taken prisonei's, 
 and the balance escajx'd into the woods. After many 
 battles, I found the white men too strong for us; 
 and, thinking there would be no p{>ace while Bhu-k 
 Hawk was at the head of his bravt's, 1 gave mvself 
 up, and my great medicine bag. ' Take it,' said 1. 
 ' it is the soul of the Sac niition; it has never been 
 <lishonoured in any bntthv Take it ; it is my lif-, 
 

 m-.VCK HAWK AT WASHINGTON. 
 
 (li?arcr than life ; let it be given to tlie great American 
 chief.' 
 
 " I understood afterwards, a large party of Sioux- 
 set upon our women, children, and people, who had 
 crossed the Mississippi, and killed sixty of them: this 
 was hard, and ought not to hiive been allowed by the 
 whites. 
 
 " I was sent to Jeflerson Barracks, and afterwards 
 to my great American father at Washington, lie 
 wanted to know why I went to war with his people. 
 I said but little, for I thought he ought to have known 
 why before, and perhaps he did ; perhaps he knew that 
 I was deceived and forced into war. Jlis wigwam is 
 built very strong. I think him to be a good little 
 man, and a great brave. 
 
 " I was treated wvW at all the places I passed 
 through ; Louisville, Cincinnati, and Wheeling ; and 
 afterwards at Fortress Monroe, Baltimore, Philadel- 
 phia, and the big village New York ; and I was allowed 
 to return home again to my people, of whom Kee-o- 
 kuk, the lluiniing Fox, is now the chief. I sent for 
 my great medicine bag, for 1 wislied to hand it down 
 unsullied to \\y nation. 
 
 "It has b* en said that Black Tlawk nun'dered 
 women and children among the whites; hut it is not 
 true. AVhen the white man takes my hand, he takes 
 a hand that has onlv been raised aijainst warriors and 
 braves. It has alwavs been our custom tt) receive 
 the stranger, and to use him well. The white man 
 shall ever be welcome among us as a brother. What 
 
A NEW ( HIKF. 
 
 / / 
 
 is (lone is past ; we liavo huriod tlie toiiialiawk, and tlu' 
 ISacs, and Foxes, and Americans v,'\\\ now bo friends. 
 
 "As I said, I am an old man, and yonn<;er men 
 must take my place. xV few more snows, a few more 
 snn-downs, and I sliall go after my fathers to ^\llen» 
 they arc. It is the wish of the h(>art (>f JMaek Hawk 
 tliat the Great Spirit may keep tlie red men and ])ale 
 faces in peace, and tliat the tomaliawk mav be buried 
 
 for ever 
 
 
 Austin. 'J'hank you, iliank von, hnnter. I piiv poor 
 Bkick Hawk. 
 
 Hunter. lV)or]^lack Hawk! If e went tlironglj a i;re;it 
 deal. And Kee-o-knk,the JimniingFox, was ma(U' chief 
 instead of liim. Kee-o-kuk was a man mon* inclined to 
 peace than war ; for, while ]5lack Hawk was tight in«T^, 
 he kept two-thirds of the tribe in ])eace. 'J'h'' time 
 may come when Indians may love peace as mnch as 
 
 tl 
 
 lev now love war 
 
 an 
 
 d tl 
 
 le 
 
 a 
 
 P< 
 
 aee of (iod, which 
 
 passeth all nnderstanding," may "keep their hearts 
 and minds in the knowledge and love of (iod, and of 
 his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 Austin. JJefore we go, will you ])lease to tell us 
 about a butVaio iuuit ; just a liitle, and then we shall 
 talk about it, ; r,d {d)out Black Hawk, all the way 
 liome. 
 
 JFunter, "Well, it must be a sliort accoinit now; 
 |)erhaps I n'"y deserib. another hunt, more at length, 
 another tiii.e. lii lianting the Imlfalo. the rille, the 
 lanee, and the bow and arrow ar<' used, as the case 
 may bo. I have hunted with the Camanchees in the 
 
78 
 
 niKPARING rOR A BUFFALO UUNT. 
 
 Mexican provinces, who are famous horsemen ; with 
 the Sioux on tlie Mississippi, the Crows on the 
 Yellow-stone Jiiver, and the Pawnees at the Koeky 
 Mountains. One morning, when among the Crows, 
 a muster took })lace for a buffalo hunt: you may be 
 sure that 1 joined them, for at that time I was almost 
 an Indian mys(df. 
 
 Austin. Jlow did you prepare for the hunt ? 
 
 Hunter. As soon as we had notice, from the to]) of 
 a bluff in the distance, that a herd of buffaloes were 
 seen on the prairie, we prepared our horses ; while 
 some Indians wei'e directed to follow our trail, with 
 one-h.orse carts, to bring home the meat. 
 
 Austin. You felt sure, then, that you should kill 
 some buffaloes. 
 
 Hunter. Yes ; we had but little doubt on that 
 head. I threw off my cap; stripped off my coat, 
 tying a handkerchief round my liead, and another 
 round my waist; rolled up my sleeves; hastily put a 
 few bullets in my mouth, and mounted a ileet horse, 
 armed vvitli a rifle, and a thin long spear: but most of 
 the Crows luul also bows and arrows. 
 
 Basil. Your tliin spe.'ir would soon be broken. 
 
 Hunter. No ; these thin long spears are sometimes 
 used in bnffalo luinting for years without breaking, 
 When an Indian chases a buffalo, if he does not usi^ 
 his rifl(> or bow and arrow, he rides on fast till he 
 comes up with his game, and makes his horse galloj) 
 jnst the same pace as the bnffalo. Every bound his 
 horse gives, the Indian keeps moving his spear back- 
 
 1 1 
 
THE C II ASK. 
 
 70 
 
 I: 
 
 wards and forwards across tho pommel of his sad(ll<\ 
 witli tlie point sideways towards t\u) buffalo. Hi- 
 gallops on in tliis way, saying, " Whisli ! whisli!" 
 every time lie makes a feint, until he finds himself in 
 just the situation to intliet a deadly wound; then, in 
 a moment, with all his strength, he plunges in his 
 lance, quie) as lightning, near the shoulders of tlu^ 
 huffalo, and witiidraws it at the same instnut : the 
 huure, therefore, is not broken, though tlie buffalo may 
 be mortally wounded. 
 
 Brian. The poor buffalo has no chance at nil. 
 
 Austin. And then I suppose you rode off at full 
 gallop ? 
 
 Hunter. No ; we walked our steeds all abreast, 
 until we were seen by the herd of buffaloes. On 
 catching sight of us, in an instant they set off, and \\\\ 
 after them as hard as we could drive, a cloud of dust 
 rising froin the ])rairie, occasioned by the trampling 
 hoo»fs of the buffah)ea. 
 
 Austin. T should like to have seen them scampcM'- 
 \ns oflf. 
 
 Hunter. Ttifles were flashing, bowstrings were 
 twanging, s[/ears were dasluMl into the fattest of tlu; 
 h(M-d, and buffaloes were falling in all directions. Hen* 
 was seen an Indian rolling on the ground, and there* 
 a horse gored to death by a buffalo bull. I l)rought 
 down one of the biggest of the iu^rd with my rifle at 
 the beginning of the hunt; and before it was endcMl, 
 we had as mtuiy buffaloes as we knew what to do 
 with. Some of the party had loaded tlieir rifles four 
 
80 
 
 fiUFlALO IIUXTTNO. 
 
 or five times, while at full gallop, bringing down a 
 bullalo at every lire. 
 
 Very willingly would Austin have lingered long 
 enough to h(^ar of half a dozen buil'alo hunts ; but, 
 bearing in mind what had been said about a longer 
 aeeount at another time, he eordially thanked the 
 hunter ior all he had told them, and eet off home, 
 with a light heart, in earnest eonversation with his 
 brothers. 
 
-■.k>.-J&.*ii 
 
 i^. 
 
 
 IllTKAI.O III N 1 . 
 
 CIIAPTKK VI. 
 
 Valloys and prairies -A flat prairie— Hluffs and scinarc liiils-liovd's -r.^^x^ 
 — i!lackbird's irrave— I ruit jp-ounds in prairie— I'mirie U Crosse - rmiric 
 dii Chicn— Conti'au dcs I'rairies- Missouri prairies— Swan Lakt Kivcr 
 rice ^?rounds— Lover's Leap- Salt meadows - Savannahs L'ccl rii.o stone 
 C^iarry. 
 
 Tin: doscription of the bullalo hunt, <,nven hv i\\v 
 hunter, ma(l(> ji deep impression on the minds of the 
 Vouusj: people; and the manner ot' usin*; the ]onL,^ thin 
 hince called forth their wonder, and exeited their eniu- 
 l.'ition. ^Vustin bcM-ame a Camaneh^e, from the Mexi- 
 ean provinces, the (jniianchees being amoiig the most 
 
 o 
 
82 
 
 BUFFALO IIUXTING. 
 
 expert lancers and horsemen ; Brian called himself a 
 Hioiix, from tlie Mississip])i ; and Basil styled himself 
 a Pawnee, from the Eocky jNIountains. 
 
 Many were the plans and expedients to p;et np a 
 huifalo hnnt npon a large scale, bnt the diflicnlty of 
 procnring hiitlaloes was insnrmonntahle. Austin, it 
 is true, did suggest an inroad among the flock of 
 sheep of a neighbonring farmer, maintaining that the 
 scampering of the sheep would very mnch resemble 
 the flight of a herd of buflaloes ; but this suggestion 
 was given np, on the ground that the I'armer miglit 
 not lliink it so entertaining an amusement as they did. 
 
 It was donbtful at one time, whether, in their ex- 
 tremity, they should not be compelled to convert the 
 cliairs and tables into buffaloes; but Austin, whose 
 heart avms in the thing, had a bright thought, which 
 ret'cived universal approbation. This was to make 
 bullaloi^s of their playfellow Jowler, the NcAvfound- 
 land dog, and the black torn cat. Jowler, with his 
 shilling shaggy skin, was sure to make a capital buf- 
 falo ; and Black Tom would do very well, as buflaloes 
 w(M'e not all of one size. To work they went innne- 
 diately, to prepare themselves for their adventurous 
 inidertaking, dressing themselves up for the approach- 
 ing enterprise ; and, if they did not succeed in mak- 
 ing themselves look like Bed Indians, they certainly 
 did present a most grotesque appearance. 
 
 In the best projects, howi'ver, there is oftentimes an 
 oversight, which bids fair to ruin the whole under- 
 taking ; and so it was on this occasion ; for it never 
 
BUFFALO HUNTING. 
 
 sn 
 
 occurred to tlicm, until tlicy wore liabitcd as IuhiUm's, 
 to secure the attendance of Jowler and Black Tu.u. 
 Encumbered with tlicir lances, bows, arrows, and 
 hanging dresses, they had to search the whole house, 
 from top to bottom, in quest of Black Tom, and when 
 he was found, it was equally necessary to sally f()rth 
 in search of Jowler ; but as young people very seldom 
 laclv perseverance in their sports, and as perseverance 
 usuallv attains its end, both Jowler and Black Tom 
 were at length found, and they were led forth to the 
 lawn, which was considered to be an excellent prairie. 
 
 No sooner was the signal given for the hunt to 
 connnence, than Black Tom, being set at liberty, 
 instead of acting his part like a buifalo, as he ought 
 to have done, scampered across the lawn to the shrub- 
 bery, and ran up an acacia tree ; Avhile Jowler made 
 a rush after him ; so that the hunt appeared to have 
 ended almost as soon as it was begun. Jowler was 
 brought hack again to the middle of the lawn, but no 
 device could j)revail on Black Tom to descend from 
 the eminence he had attained. 
 
 Once more Jowler, the buifalo, was set at liberty ; 
 and Austin, Brian, and Basil, the Camanchcc, Sioux, 
 and Pawnee chiel'tains, brandished their long lances, 
 preparing for the chase ; but it seemed as though they 
 were to be disappointed, for Jowler, instead of running 
 away, as he was bound to do, according to the plan of 
 the luniters, provokingly kept leaping up, llrst at one, 
 and then at another of them ; uutil, having overturned 
 tlic Pawnee on the lawn, and put the 8ioux and 
 
 1 1 
 
81 
 
 INDIAN IlIVERS. 
 
 Cainanehoc out of all patience, lie lay down pantinp^, 
 uilh his long red tonu;ue out of his mouth, looking at 
 them just as though he had acted his part of the 
 aliair capitally. 
 
 At last, not being able to rcdii 'c the refractory 
 Jowler to obedii-'uce, n-* otlier expedient remained 
 than tliat of one of them taking the part of a bull'alo 
 on himself. Austin was very desirous that this should 
 bo done by J^rian or liasil ; but they insisted that he, 
 beijig the biggest, was most like a bullalo. The affair 
 was at length compromised, by each agreeing to play 
 the bntl'alo in turn. A desperate hunt then took 
 place, in the course of which their long lances were 
 most skilfullv and elfectuallv used; three bulfaloes 
 were slain, and the Camanchee, Sioux, and Pawnee re- 
 turned in triumph from the chase, carrying a buifalo- 
 liide (a rug mat from the hall) on the tops of their spears. 
 
 On their jiext visit to tlie hunter, they reminded 
 him that, the last tune he saw them, he had intended 
 to sj)eak about the prairies ; but that the history of 
 Black Hawk, and the account of the buffalo hunt, 
 had taken up all the time. They told him that they 
 had come early, on purpose to hear a long account ; 
 and, perhaps, he would be able to tell them all about 
 Nikkanochee into the bargain. 
 
 The hunter replied, if that were the case, the sooner 
 he began his narrative the better; so, without loss of 
 time, he thus commenced his account. 
 
 Hunter. Thoutjh in JS^orth America there are dull 
 monotonous rivers, with thick slimy waters, stagnant 
 
 h 
 
 I i 
 
 I I swa 
 1 1 exJ, 
 \\ deli I 
 \\ A 
 \\ nion 
 1 1 II 
 
 not 
 
 sceiH 
 
 riv(M' 
 
 of C . 
 
 often 
 
 thei'e, 
 
 water 
 
 the vf 
 
 Bin 
 
 llu 
 
 Ilousa 
 
 others. 
 
 Missis 
 
 iu Sot 
 
 reaches 
 
 from ( 
 
 nnjst r 
 
 called, 
 
 Anieric 
 
 and in 
 
 prairies 
 
 Austi 
 
 member 
 
 call Tur 
 
h 
 
 VAr-T.KYS AND PKATRIKS. 
 
 So 
 
 Rwanips, Mild ])ine forests almost iiiiiiioasiiral)U> in 
 oxiciit; \vt still, some of the most bcautit'i;! and 
 deli,i;htful scciu's in the "whole world arc tluMV. 
 
 Austin. How big are the prairies ? I "want to know 
 more about them. 
 
 Hunter. They extend for thonsands of 'vnles, thoiif]^h 
 not without beinpr divided and diversil'' "i vith other 
 scenery. IMountains, and valleys, asid fois^sts, and 
 rivers, vary the appearance of the country. The \ alley 
 of Co I 'Y'ticut is very fertile and beautiful ; Ihoiiiiii 
 oftenl .es, in March or April, there is a freshet 
 there, occasioned by the meltinti^ of the snow. The 
 waters tlins formed, swell suddenly, break lose from 
 the valley, and sweep away everything before them. 
 
 Basil. I shall remember the valley of Connecticut. 
 
 Hunter. The valleys of Missouri, Bed liiver, 
 Ilousatonic, Mohawk, Hudson, Susquehannah, and 
 others, are full of interesting scenes ; but the valley of 
 Mississippi, with the exception of that of the Amazon, 
 in South America, is the largest in the world. I^ 
 reaches from cold Canada to the sunny trojiics, and 
 from Ohio eastward to Missouri westward. You 
 must remember that a prairie is a plain. AVhat are 
 called, in the southern states, savannahs ; in South 
 America, pampas ; in YAiro])e, heaths; m Asm, steppes; 
 and in Africa, deserts; in North America are called 
 p7'airics. 
 
 Austin. Yes ; we shall not forget that now. He- 
 member, 33rian and l^asil, that now we shall always 
 call Furze Common, Furze Prairie. 
 
 I ' 
 
t> 
 
 <<..\^> '^^' «o. 
 
 .o.>. %t>^S. 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
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 1.25 
 
 2.5 
 
 - Ii4 i^ 
 
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 1.8 
 
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 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STRUT 
 
 WIBSTIR,N.Y 14S80 
 
 (716) 872-4S03 
 
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 :\ 
 
 \ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
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 6^ 
 
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86 
 
 niAllUE ON riRE. 
 
 Hunter. Tlie name i^rairie was given to the plains 
 of North America by the French settlers. Prairie is 
 the Frencli word for meadow. I will describe some 
 prairie scenes which have particularly struck me. 
 These vast plains are sometimes flat ; sometimes un- 
 dulated, like the large waves of the sea; sometimes 
 barren ; sometimes covered with llowers and fruit ; 
 and sometimes there is grass growing on them eight 
 or ten feet high. 
 
 liriaii. I never heard of such grass as that. 
 
 Hunter. A prairie on fire is one of the most im- 
 posing spectacles you can imagine. The ilame is 
 urged on by the winds, running and spreading out 
 Avith swiftness and fury, roaring like a tempest, and 
 driving before it deer, wolves, horses, and bu Haloes, 
 in wild confusion. 
 
 Austin. How I should like to see a prairie on fire! 
 
 JLunter. In jMissouri, Arkansas, Indiana, and Loui- 
 siana, prairies abound; and the whole state of Illinois 
 is little else than a prairie altogclher. From tlie Falls 
 of tiie jNLissouri to St. Louis, a distance of between 
 two and three thousand miles, a constant succession of 
 ])rairie and river scenes, of the most arresting kind, 
 meet the eye. Here the rich green velvet turf spreads 
 out innneasurably wide ; breaking towards the river 
 nito iinuunerable hills antl dales, bluiVs and ravines, 
 where mountain goats, and wolves, and antelopes, and 
 elks, and buH'aloes, and grizzly bears roam in unre- 
 strained liberty. At one time, the green bluff slopes 
 easily down to the water's edge ; while, in otiier places, 
 
 the 
 an 
 
 ri 
 
 the sh 
 ticoes, 
 while 
 
 nnght 
 the wli 
 gilded 
 
BLLFrS AND CHAOS. 
 
 s: 
 
 the ground at the edu:o of tlie river presents to the eye 
 an endlet:^s variety of hill, and blutf, and crag, takinir 
 
 the sliapes of ramparts and rums, of eoluinus, yov- 
 tieoes, terraces, domes, towers, eiJadels, and castlcN; 
 Avliile hero and there rises a solitary spire, which 
 might well i)ass for the work of human hands. Hut 
 the whole scene, varying in colour, and lit up and 
 gikled by the mid-day sun, s[)eaks lo the heart of the 
 
88 
 
 JOL'RXEY OYER A PRAIRIE. 
 
 spectator, convincing liim that none but an Alniig-lity 
 hand could thus clothe the wilderness witli beauty. 
 
 Austin. There, Brian ! Do you not wish now to 
 see tlie prairies of North America ? 
 
 Bi'ian. Yes ; if I could see them without going 
 among the tomahawks and scalping knives. 
 
 Hunter. I remeuiber one ])art, where the ragged 
 clifts and cone-like bluffs, partly washed away by the 
 rains, and partly crumbled down by the frosts, seemed 
 to be composed of earths of a mineral kind, of clay 
 of different colours, and of red pumice stone. The 
 chiy was white, brown, yellow, and deep blue ; while 
 the pumice stone, lit up by the bunbeam, was red as 
 veimilion. The loneliness, tlie wildness, and roman- 
 tic beauty of tlie scene I am not likely to forget. 
 
 Basil. I should like to see those red rocks very 
 nuich. 
 
 Hunter. For six days I once continued my course, 
 Avith a party of Indians, across the prairie, without 
 setting my eyes on a single tree, or a single hill 
 aiibrding variety to the scene. Grass, wild llowers, 
 and strawberries, abounded more or less through the 
 whole extent. The spot where we found ourselves at 
 sun-down, appeared to be exactly that from which we 
 started at sun-rise. There was little vari(^tv, even in 
 the sky itself; and it would have been a relief, so soon 
 ai'c we weary even of beauty itself, to liave walked a 
 mile over rugged rocks, or to have forced our way 
 tlirough a gloomy pine wood, or to have climbed the 
 sides of a steep mountain. 
 
 tej 
 
 
IMATFFS. 
 
 SO 
 
 Brian. I liardly tliiuk that I should ever bo tired 
 of green grass, and llowers, and strawberries. 
 
 Hunter. Oh yes, yon would. Variety in the works 
 of creation is a gift of our bountiful Creator, for 
 which we are not sufficiently thankful. Look at the 
 changing seasons ; how beautifully they vary the same 
 prospect ! and regard the changing clouds of heaven ; 
 what an infinite and pleasurable variety they afford to 
 us ! If the world were all sunshine, we should loug 
 for the shade ; and were we to feed on nothing but 
 honey, we should soon dislike it as much as the bit- 
 terest gall. 
 
 Austin. AV^liat are blufl's ? 
 
 Hunter. Hound hills, or huge clayey monnds, often 
 covered with grass and flowers to the very t<jp. 
 Sometimes they have a verdant turf on their tops, 
 while their sides display a rich variety of many- 
 coloured earths, and tliousands of gypsum crystals 
 imbedded in the clay. The romantic mixture of blutfs, 
 and square hills, with summits of green grass as level 
 as the top of a table, with huge fragments of pumice 
 stone and cinders, the remains of burning mountains, 
 and gi'anite sand, and layers of different coloui'ed clay, 
 and cornelian, and agate, and jasper-like pebbles ; 
 these, with the various animals that graze or prowl 
 auiong them, and the rolling river, and a bright blue 
 sky, altogether are almost enough to make a spectator 
 of (piick feelings scream with joy. . Few sights have 
 ailV)rded me more bewildering delight. 
 
 Austin. I should scream out, I am sure. 
 
90 
 
 FLOYD S GEATE. 
 
 Basil. And then, perhaps, you would have a grizzly 
 bear after you. 
 
 Hunter. Some of the hunters and trappers believe 
 that the great valley of the Missouri was once level 
 with the tops of the table hills, and that the earth 
 has been washed away by the river, and other causes ; 
 but the subject is involved in much doubt. It has 
 pleased God to put a boundary to the knowledge of 
 man in many things. " AVe are but of yesterday, and 
 hnow nothing, because our days upon eartli arc a 
 shadow," Job viii. 9. I think I ought to tell you of 
 Floyd's grave. 
 
 Austin. Oh, yes ! Who was Floyd ? 
 
 Hunter. You shall hear. In the celebrated expedi- 
 tion of Clark and Lewis to the Eockv Mountains, 
 they were accompanied by Serjeant Floyd, who died 
 on the way. His body was carried to the top of a 
 high, green-carpeted bluff, on the Missouri river, and 
 there buried, and a cedar post was erected to his 
 memory. As I sat on his grave, and looked around 
 me, the stillness and the extreme beauty of the scene 
 nuich affected me. I had endured much toil, both in 
 hunting and rowing ; sometimes being in danger 
 from the grizzly bears, and, at others, with difficulty 
 escaping the war parties of the Indians. My rifle had 
 been busy, and the swan and the pelican, the antelope 
 and the elk, had supplied me with food ; and as I 
 sat on the grassy and wild-flower grave, in that 
 beautiful blufi* in tlie wilderiu>ss — the enamelled 
 prairie, the thousand grassy hills that were visible, 
 
BLACKBIRD S GRATE. 
 
 01 
 
 II 
 
 with their gokleu heaJs, and lon^^ deep shadows — for 
 the sun was setting, the Misso'iri winding its serpen- 
 tine course, and the whole scene together was of the 
 most beautiful and tranquil kind. The soft whispering 
 of the evening breeze, and the distant, subdued, and 
 melancholy howl of the wolf, were the only sounds 
 that reached my ears. It was a very solitary, and yet 
 a very delightful scene. 
 
 Basil. I should not like to be by myself in such a 
 place as that. 
 
 Hunter. There is another high bluft', not many 
 miles from the cedar post of ])oor Ployd, that is well 
 known as the burial-place of Blackbird, a famous ciiief 
 of the 0-ma-haw tribe ; the maimer of his burial was 
 extremely strange. 
 
 Brian. Now for the burial of Blackbird, the chief 
 of the 0-ma-haws. 
 
 Hunter. As I was pulling up the river, a voyageur 
 told me the story ; and, when I had heard it, we 
 pushed our canoe into a small creek, that I mi^iit 
 visit the spot ; climbing up the velvet sides of the 
 bluff, I sat me down by the cedar post on tlie grave of 
 Blackbird. 
 
 Austin. But what was the story ? Wliat was there 
 strange in the burial of the chief ? 
 
 Hunter. Blackbird, on his Avay home from the city 
 of Washington, wliere he had been, died with the 
 smallpox. Before his death, he desired his warriors 
 to bury him on the blutf, sitting on the back of his 
 favoin'ite war-horse, that he might see, as he said, tlio 
 
92 
 
 BLACKBIRD S GRAVE. 
 
 rrencliinen boating up and down the river. His 
 beautiful white steed was led up to tlie top of the 
 bluff, and there the body of Blackbird was placed 
 astride upon him. 
 
 JBincin. What a strange thing ! 
 
 Hunter. Blackbird had his bow in his hand, his 
 beautiful head-dress of Avar-eagle plumes on his head, 
 his shield and quiver at his side, and his pipe and 
 medicine bag. His tobacco pouch was tilled, to 
 supply him on his journey to the hunting grounds of 
 liis fathers ; and he had flint and steel wherewith to 
 light his pipe by the way. Every warrior painted his 
 hand with vermilion, and then ])ressed it against the 
 white horse, leaving a mark behind him. Afler the 
 necessary ceremonies had been performed, Blackbird 
 and his white war-horse were covered over with turf, 
 till they were no more seen. 
 
 Austin. But was the white horse bui^ied alive ? 
 
 Hunter. He was. The turfs were put about his 
 feet, then piled up his legs, then placed against his 
 sides, then over his back, and lastly over Blackbird 
 himself and his war-eagle plumes. 
 
 Austin. That was a very cruel deed ! They had no 
 business to smother that beautiful white horse in 
 that way. 
 
 Brian. And so I say. It was a great shame, and I 
 do not like that Blackbird. 
 
 Hunter. Eed Indians have strange customs. Now 
 I am on the subject of prairie scenes, I ought to 
 speak a word of the prairies on the lied liiver. I 
 
liED RIYER PKAIEIES. 
 
 93 
 
 had been for some time among the Creeks and Choc- 
 taws, crossmg, here and there, ridges of wooded lands, 
 and tracts of rich herbage, with blue mountains in 
 the distance, when I came to a prairie scene of a new 
 character. For miles together the ground was covered 
 with vines, bearing endless clusters of large delicious 
 grapes ; and then, after crossing a few broad valleys of 
 green turf, our progress was stopped by hundreds of 
 acres of plum trees, bending to the very ground with 
 their fruit. Among tliese were interspersed patches 
 of rose trees, wild currants, and gooseberries, with 
 prickly pears, and the most beautiful and sweet-scented 
 wild flowers. 
 
 Austin. I never heard of so delightful a place. 
 What do you think of the prairies now, Basil ? 
 Should you not like to gather some of those fruits and 
 flowers, Brian ? 
 
 Hunter. And then, just as I was stretching out my 
 hand to gather some of the delicious produce of that 
 paradise of fruit and flowers, I heard the shake of a 
 rattlesnake, that was preparing to make a spring, and 
 I saw the glistening eyes of a copper-head, which I had 
 disturbed beneath the tendrils aii 1 leaves. 
 
 Basil. What do you think O'.' the prairie now, 
 Austin ? 
 
 Brian. And should you not like to gather some of 
 those fruits and flowers ? 
 
 Austin. I never expected that there would be snal\es 
 among them. 
 
 Hunter. The wild creatures of these delightful spots 
 
9i 
 
 BEAUTIFUL PllAIllIES. 
 
 may be said to live in a garden ; liere they pass tlieir 
 lives, rarely disturbed by the approach of man. The 
 hunter and the trapper, however thoughtlessly they 
 pursue their calling, are at times struck with the 
 amazing beauty of the scenes that burst upon them. 
 Grod is felt to be in the prairie. The very solitude 
 disposes the mind to acknowledge him ; earth and 
 skies proclaim his presence ; the fruits of the ground 
 declare his bounty ; and, in the flowers, ten thousand 
 forget-me-nots bring his goodness to remembrance. 
 " G-reat is the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; and 
 his greatness is unsearchable," Psa. cxlv. 3. 
 
 Austin. I could not have believed that there had 
 been such beautiful places in the prairies. 
 
 Hunter. Some parts are varied, and others mono- 
 tonous. Some are beautiful, and others far from being 
 agreeable. The Prairie la Crosse, the Prairie du 
 Chien, and the Couteau des Prairies on the Mississippi, 
 with the prairies on the Missouri, all have some points 
 of attraction. I did intend to say a little about Swan 
 Lake, the wild rice grounds. Lover's Leap, the salt 
 meadows on the Missouri, the Savannah in the Florida 
 pine woods, and lied Pipe-stone Quarry; but as I 
 intend to give you the history of Nikkanochee, perhaps 
 I had better begin with it at once. 
 
 Austin. "We shall like to hear of Nikkanochee, but 
 it is so pleasant to hear about tlie prairies, that you 
 must, if you please, tell us a little more about them 
 first. 
 
 Basil. I want to hear about those prairie dogs. 
 
 I 
 
OATHEIlI^S'a OF ^VILD RICE. 
 
 05 
 
 Brian. And I want to hear of Lover's Leap. 
 
 Austin. "What Iwisli to hear tlie most is about Eetl 
 Pipe-stone Quarry. Please just to tell us a little 
 about them all. 
 
 Hunter. Well ! so that you will be satisfied witli a 
 little, I will go on. Swan Lake is one of the most 
 beautiful objects in the prairies of North America: it 
 extends for many miles ; and the islands with which it 
 abounds are richly covered with forest trees. Fancy 
 to yourselves unnumbered islands with fine trees, 
 beautifully grouped together, and clusters of swans on 
 the water in every direction. If you want to play at 
 Bobinson Crusoe, one of the islands on Swan Lake 
 will be just the place for you. 
 
 Basil. Well it may be called Swan Lake. 
 
 Hunter. The first time that I saw wild rice gather- 
 ed, it much surprised and amused me. A party of 
 Sioux Lidian women were paddling about, near the 
 sb.ores of a large lake, in canoes made of bark ; while 
 one w^oman paddled the canoe, the other gathered the 
 wild rice, which flourished there in great abundance, 
 by bending it over the canoe with one stick, and then 
 striking it with another ; the grains of rice fell in pro- 
 fusion into the canoe. In this way they proceeded, 
 till they obtained full cargoes of wild rice to consume 
 as food. 
 
 Brian. I wish we had wild rice growing in oiu* 
 pond. 
 
 Hunter. What I have to say of Lover's Leap is a 
 little melancholy. On the east side of Lake Pepin, 
 
90 
 
 LOVEIJ S LEAr. 
 
 Oil the Mississippi, siuiuls a bold rook, lifting up its 
 aspiriiif; head some six or seven hundred feet above 
 the surface of the lake. Sonic years since, as the story 
 goes, an Indian chief wished his daughter to marry a 
 husband that she did not like. The daughter declined, 
 but the father insisted ; and the poor distracted girl, 
 to get rid of her difficulty, threw herself, in the presence 
 of her tribe, from the top of the rock, and was dashed 
 to pieces. 
 
 Basil. Poor girl ! Her father was a very cruel 
 man. 
 
 Hunter. The chief was cruel, and his daughter rash ; 
 but we must not b.e severe in judging those w'ho 
 have no better standard of right and wTong than the 
 customs of their uncivilized tribe. Had that Indian 
 chief and his daughter known the gospel of peace, and 
 been influenced by the ^ principles of Christianity, he 
 would have been kind-hearted and merciful : " Blessed 
 are the merciful ; for they shall obtain mercy," 
 Matt. V. 7 : and she would have been patient and obe- 
 dient. " If, when ye do well, and suff'er for it, ye take 
 it patiently, this is acceptable with God," 1 Pet. ii. 20. 
 The best use to wdiich Ave can put this account, is to 
 look up for strength and grace, to enable us to avoid 
 their errors. It was on the Upper Missouri river, 
 towards the mouth of the Teton river, thi- 1 I came all 
 at once on a salt meadow. Ton w^ould hnve thought 
 that it had been snowing for an hour or t-Avo, for the 
 salt lay an inch or two thick on the ground. 
 
 Austin. AVhat could have brought it there ? 
 
SALT SPRINGS AND PRAIRIES. 
 
 The 
 
 o: 
 
 Hunter. I'he same 
 the wild prairie, spread the salt upon its surface. 
 There are salt springs in many places, where the salt 
 water overflows the prairie. The hot sun evaporates 
 the water, and the salt is left behind. 
 
 Brian. AVell, that is very curious. 
 
 Hunter. The buffaloes and other animals come by 
 thousands to lick the salt, so that what with the green 
 prairie round, the white salt, and the black buft'aloos, 
 the contrast in colour is very striking. Thougli 
 Florida is, to a great extent, a sterile wilderncsa, yet, 
 for that very reason, some of its beautiful spots appear 
 the more beautiful. There are swamps enough, and 
 alligators enough, to make the traverser of those weary 
 wilds cheerless and disconsolate ; but when, after 
 plodding, day after day, through dreary morasses and 
 interminable pine woods, listening to nothing but the 
 cry of cranes and the howling of wolves, he comes 
 suddenly into an open savannah of grouped palmettos, 
 and a carpet of grass and myriads of wild flowers, his 
 eye brightens, and he recovers his cheerfulness. 
 
 Brian. What do you think of being where there 
 are alligators and howling wolves, Austin P You 
 would soon wish yourself at home again, I think. 
 
 Austin. Oh, I need not be among them, for I should 
 go where there is plenty of grass, and flowers, and tall 
 palmettos. 
 
 Hunter. The Eed Pipe-stone Quarry is in the 
 Couteau du Prairie ; it may be a hundred miles or 
 more from the St. Peter's river, between the Upper 
 
 n 
 
98 
 
 llED PIPE-STONE QUAHRT. 
 
 Mississippi and the Upper Missouri. It is the place 
 wliere the Bed Indians of North America procure the 
 red stone with which they make all their pipes. The 
 place is considered by them to be sacred. They say 
 that the Great Spirit used to stand on the rock, and 
 that the blood of the buffaloes which he ate there 
 ran into the rocks below, and turned them red. 
 
 Austin. That is the place I want to see. 
 
 Hunter. If you go there, you must take great care 
 of yourself; for the Sioux will be at your heels. As 
 I said, they hold the place sacred, and consider the 
 approach of a white man a kind of profanation. The 
 Quarry is visited by all the neighbouring tribes for stone 
 with w uich to make their pipes, whether they are at 
 Mar or peace; for tlie Great Spirit, say they, always 
 watches over it, and tlie war-club and scalpmg knife 
 are there harmless. There are hundreds of old inscrip- 
 tions on the face of the rocks ; and the wildest tradi- 
 tions are handed down, from father to son, respecting 
 the place. Some of the Sioux say, that the Great 
 Spirit once sent his runners abroad, to call together all 
 the tribes that were at war, to the lied Pipe-stone 
 Quarry. As he stood on the top of the rocks, he took 
 out a piece of red-stone, and made a large pipe ; he 
 smoked it over them, and told them that, though at 
 war, they must always be at peace at that place, for 
 Ihat it ])elonged to one as much as to another, and 
 that tliey must all make their pipes of the stone. 
 Having thus spoken, a great cloud of smoke from his 
 great red pipe rolled over them, and in it he vanished 
 
KEI) PIPE-STONE QUARRY. 
 
 99 
 
 away. Just at the moment that he took the last 
 whiff of his great, long, red pipe, tlie roeks were 
 wrapped in a blaze of fire, so that the siirfoce of them 
 was melted. Two squaws then, in a flash of fire, 
 sunk under the two medicine roeks, and no one can 
 take away red stone from the place without their 
 leave. Where the gospel is unknown, there is nothing 
 too improbable to be received. The day will no doubt 
 arrive, when the wild traditions of Eed Pipe-stone 
 Quarry will be done away by the spread of the gospel 
 of the Eedeemer. 
 
 Here the hunter, having to attend his sheep, left the 
 three brothers to amuse themselves for half an hour 
 with the curiosities in his cottage ; after which, he 
 returned to redeem his pledge, by relating the history 
 he had promised them. 
 
 ^f^j 
 
 
 INlilAN ril'l.d. 
 
' <:">-' 
 
 '•*^'/i~ 
 
 CHAPTER yiT. 
 
 Tlio Soniinolo Indians— Kinc of the Red Tlills— Oooola— A counril — Acrpcmont 
 to nn cxcliaii^c of land— Occnla refuses to aij^ tlie contract, and dashes liis 
 dapKor throngli it— Oceola made prisoner, and afterwards set at liberty — 
 His nicssaRO to tlie wliitcs— Occnla treacherously made prisoner apain — 
 His death— Adventures of Nikkanochee, prince of Ecojichatti. 
 
 "And now," Paid tlie lumtcr, " for my oeooiint of 
 Nikk.'inoclicc, prince of Eeonchatti. I met with him 
 in Florida, his own country, when he was quite a 
 cliild; indiHMl, lie is even now but a boy, not being 
 more than twelve or thirteen years of nfre. I saw him 
 
SEMINOLE INDIANS. 
 
 lOL 
 
 latterly in Loudon. His history will, I think, interest 
 and amuse you. The Seminole Indians, a mixed tribe, 
 from whom prince Nikkanocliee is descended, were a 
 warlike people, settled on the banks of the Chattahoo- 
 chee and Coaeta, in Florida. In a battle which took 
 place between the Indians and a party of whites, under 
 Major Dade, out of a hundred and fourteen white men 
 only two escaped the tomahawks of their opponents. 
 A Seminole was about to despatch one of these two, 
 when he suddenly called to mind that the soldier had 
 once helped him in fitting a handle to his axe : this 
 arrested his uplifted weapon, and the life of the soldier 
 was spared." 
 
 Austin. That was very thoughtful of him. It shows 
 that if you are kind to them they will be kind to you, 
 Brian. 
 
 Hunter. Ay, and that is why I tell you this anec- 
 dote, because it affords another proof that the hardy 
 Indian warrior, in the midst of all his relentless 
 animosity against his enemy, is still alive to a deed 
 .of kindness. On another occasion, when the Semi- 
 noles, to avenge injuries which their tribe had received, 
 wasted the neighbourhood with lire and tomahawk, 
 they respected the dwelling of one who had shown 
 kindness to some of their tribe. Even thoiigh they 
 visited is house, and cooked their food at his hearth, 
 they did no injury to his jierson or his property. Other 
 dwellings around it were burned to the ground, but 
 for years his habitation remained secure from any 
 attack on the part of the grateful Semiiioles. 
 
102 
 
 THE CHIEF OCEOLA. 
 
 Austin. When I go abroad, I will always behave 
 kindly to the poor Indians. 
 
 Hunter. That is right ; " do unto others as you 
 would they should do unto you." But I will go on 
 with my relation. The father of Nikkanochee was 
 king of the lied Hills, in the country of the Semi- 
 noles ; but not being very much distinguished as a 
 warrior, he gave up the command of his fighting men 
 to his brother Oceola, a chief famous for bodily strength 
 and courage. Before the war broke out between the 
 Seminoles, Oceola was kind and generous ; but when 
 once the war-cry had rung through the woods, and the 
 tomahawk had been raised, he became stern and un- 
 yielding. He was the champion of his nation, and 
 the terror of the pale faces opposed to him. 
 
 Brian. He must have done a great deal of mischief 
 with his tomahawk ! 
 
 Hunter. No doubt he did, for he was bold, and 
 had never been taught to control his passions; the 
 command of the Saviour had never reached his ears, 
 " Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do 
 good to them that hate you, and pray for them which 
 despitefully use you, and persecute you," Matt. v. A4. 
 The red man of the forest and the prairie has had 
 much to embitter his spirit against his enemies : but I 
 "will proceed. It was in the year 1835 that between 
 two and three hundred red warriors assembled at Camp 
 King, to hold a " talk," or council. They were met 
 by a battalion of white soldiers, who had two generals 
 with them. At this council, it was proposed by tlie 
 
 i 
 
n 
 
 THE CHIEF OCEOLA. 
 
 103 
 
 i 
 
 whites that a contract should be made botwcni the 
 two parties, wherein the Scmiiioles should give up 
 their lauds in Florida in exchange for other lauds at 
 a great distance from the place. Some of the red 
 warriors were induced to make a cross on the contract 
 as their signature, showing that they agreed there- 
 with ; but Oceola saw that such a course was bartering 
 away his country, and sealing the ruin of his uation. 
 
 Austin. I hope he did not put his cross to it. 
 
 Brian. And so do I. I hope he persuaded all the 
 rest of the red warriors not to sign it. 
 
 Hunter. When they asked him in his turn to sign 
 the contract, his lip began to curl with contcmj)t, and 
 his eye to flash with fiery indignation. " Yes !" said 
 he, drawing a poniard from his bosom, with a haughty 
 irown on his brow; "Yes!" said he, advancing and 
 dashing his dagger while he spoke, not only through 
 the contract, but also through the table on which it 
 lay ; " there is my mark !" 
 
 Austin. AVell done, brave Oceola! 
 
 Brian. That is just the way that he ought to have 
 acted. 
 
 Hunter. Hush, boys : do not use such language ; 
 for that is just the spirit which led this poor Indian, 
 whose heart God had not changed, to seek revenge. 
 Eemember these words, "Vengeance is mine; I will 
 repay, saith the Lord," Kom. xii. 19. 
 
 Austin. But what did the generals say to lu'm ? 
 
 Hunter. His enemies the whites, for they wore 
 enemies, directly seized him, and bouiul him to a tree. 
 
104 
 
 OCEOLA S BEVENGE. 
 
 This was done in a cruel manner, for the cords cut 
 deep into liis flesh. After this his hands were chained, 
 and he was kept as a prisoner in soKtary confinement. 
 When it was thought that his spirit was sufficiently 
 tamed, and that what he had suffered would operate as 
 a warning to his people, he was set at liberty. 
 
 Austin. The whites acted a cruel part, and they 
 ought to have been ashamed of themselves. 
 
 Brian. Yes, indeed. But what did Oceola do when 
 he was free ? 
 
 Hunter. Hasting to his companions, he made the 
 forest echo with the wild war-whoop that he raised in 
 defiance of his enemies. 
 
 Brian. I thought he would ! That is the very thing 
 that I expected he would do. 
 
 Hunter. Many of the principal whites fell by the 
 rifles of the Indians ; and Oceola sent a proud mes- 
 sage to General Clinch, telling him that the Seminoles 
 had a hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder, every 
 grain of which should be consumed before they would 
 submit to the whites. He told him, too, that the 
 pale laces should be led a dance for five years for the 
 indignities they had put upon him. Oceola and the 
 Seminoles maintained the war until the whites had 
 lost eigliteen hundred men, and expended vast sums 
 of money. At last, the brave chieftain was made 
 prisoner by treachery. 
 
 Austin. How was it? How did they take him 
 prisoner ? 
 
 Hunter. The whites, under the American General 
 
 .: 
 
 tl 
 
 ai 
 
 LZrjZTZ 
 
OCEOLA MADE PRISONER. 
 
 105 
 
 i 
 
 Hernandez, invited Oceola to meet thein, that a treaty 
 might be made, and the war brought to an end. 
 Oceola went with his warriors ; but no sooner had he 
 and eight of his warriors placed their rifles against a 
 tree, protected as they thought by the flag of truce, 
 than they were surrounded by a large body of soldiers, 
 and made prisoners. This act of the general was 
 unjust and treacherous : he ought not to have touched 
 one of them while the flag of truce was there. 
 
 Basil. And what did they do to Oceola ? Did they 
 kill him ? 
 
 Hunter. They at first confined him in the fort at 
 St. Augustine, and afterwar<^^j m a dungeon at Sulli- 
 van's Island, near Charleston. It was in the latter 
 place that he died, his head pillowed on the faithful 
 bosom of his wife, who never forsook him, and never 
 ceased to regard him with homage and aflection. He 
 was buried at Fort Moultrie, where he has a monu- 
 ment, inscribed " Oceola." His companions, had they 
 been present at his grave, would not have wept. They 
 would have loen glad that he had escaped from his 
 enemies. They would have said — " The red man hath 
 no tear to shed." 
 
 " We do not weep— 
 The red man hath no tear to slied for thee — 
 Smilinj;, we gaze upon tho dreamless sleep. 
 The fortress broken, and the captive free." 
 
 Austin. Poor Oceola! 
 
 Hunter. This is only one instance among thou- 
 sands in which the red man has fallen a victim to the 
 
106 
 
 NIKKANOCIIEE. 
 
 treachery and injustice of the whites. It is a solemn 
 thought, that, when the grave shall give up its dead, 
 and the trumpet shall call together, face to face, the 
 inhabitants of all nations to judgment, the deceitful, 
 the unjust, and the cruel will have to meet those 
 whom their deceit, their injustice, and cruelty have 
 destroyed. "Well may the oppressor tremble. ' " The 
 Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul 
 it ? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn 
 it back ?" Isa. xiv. 27. 
 
 Basil. But you have not yet told us of Nikkano- 
 chee. Please to let us hear all about him. 
 
 Brian. I had forgotten Nikkanochee. 
 
 Hunter. I will now tell you all that I know of him ; 
 but I thought you would like to hear of his uncle, he 
 being so famous a warrior. Nikkanochee is called 
 Oceola Nikkanochee, prince of Econchatti ; in order 
 that he may bear in mind Oceola, his warlike uncle, 
 and Econchatti-mico, king of the Eed Hills, in Florida, 
 his father. It is thought that Nikkanochee was born 
 on the banks of the river Chattahoochee. He can 
 just remember the death of his mother, when he was 
 left alone with her in a wigwam ; but whether his 
 father died in battle or captivity he cannot tell. What 
 I have to tell you about Nikkanochee took place during 
 the lifetime of hi^ father and his uncle Oceola. The 
 white men, the Americans, being at war with the 
 Seminoles, the war-men of the latter were obliged to 
 band themselves together to fight, leaving their squaws 
 (wives) and children to travel as well as they could 
 
 \ 
 
 ^ 
 
TLIGIIT OF TflKKANOCIIEE. 
 
 107 
 
 I 
 
 to a place of safety. Nikkanochee, child as he was, 
 travelled with the women tlirough the pine forests 
 night and day ; but a party of horse soldiers overtook 
 them, and drove them as captives towards the settle- 
 ments of the whites. The mothers were almost frantic. 
 The wigwams they saw on the road had been destroyed 
 by fire, and the whole country had been laid waste. 
 At nightfall they came to a village ; and here, when 
 it grew dark, Nikkanochee, a little girl, and two Indian 
 women, made their escape. For some days they fled, 
 living on water melons and Indian corn, till they fell 
 in with a party of their own war-men. 
 
 Austin. I hope they were safe then, and that their 
 friends took care of them. 
 
 Hunter. The party not being numerous, they were 
 all obliged to retreat. Pursued by their enemies, they 
 fled, sometimes on horseback, and sometimes on foot. 
 A part of the way, through the swamps, thickets, and 
 pine forests, Nikkanochee rode on the back of his 
 father. At night, while the party were fitting round 
 a fire, in the act of preparing for refreshment some 
 dried meat, and a wild root of the woods reduced into 
 flour, an alarm was given. In a moment they wore 
 obliged once more to fly, for their enemies were upon 
 their track, accompanied with bloodhounds. 
 
 Basil. Bloodhounds! 
 
 Hunter. Yes, bloodhounds ! fierce and strong dogs, 
 bred up on purpose to hunt the Ked Indians. 
 
 Brian. Oh ! how cruel, to be sure. 
 
 Hunter. The fire was put out by the Indians, their 
 
108 
 
 WANDERINGS OF NIKKANOCIIEE. 
 
 blankets hastily rolled up, and the squaws and chil- 
 dren sent to hide themselves in the tangled reeds and 
 brushwood of a swamp, while the war-men turned 
 against the dogs and soldiers. The Indians beat off 
 their enemies, but Econchatti-mico was wounded in 
 the wrist, a musket ball having passed through it. 
 Nikkanochee found his father, faint from loss of blood, 
 lying on the ground. 
 
 Austin. How shocking it seems that there should 
 have been so much fighting between white men and 
 red men! Why cannot they live at peace, and not 
 act so cruelly ? 
 
 Brian. Did Econchatti die of his wound ? 
 
 Hunter. No ; but he and the war-men, expecting 
 that their enemies would return in greater numbers, 
 were again forced to fly : the dreary pine forest, the 
 weedy marsh, and the muddy swamp, were once more 
 passed through. Brooks " 1 rapid rivers were crossed 
 by Econchatti, wounded as he was, with his son on 
 his back. He swam with one hand, for the other was 
 of little use to him. 
 
 Austin. Econchatti seems to be as brave a man as 
 Oceola. Did they escape from their enemies ? 
 
 Hunter. While they were sitting down to partake 
 of some wild turkey and deer, with which their bows 
 and arrows had furnished them during their flight, 
 their enemies again burst upon them. The Seminoles 
 had, perhaps, altogether two thousand warriors, with 
 Oceola at their head; but then the whites had at 
 least ten thousand, to say nothing of their being much 
 
NTKKANOCHEE CAPTLTRED. 
 
 109 
 
 better armed. Besides, there were also their ferocious 
 bloodhounds. No wonder that the Seminoles were 
 compelled to fly, and only to fight when they found a 
 favourable opportunity. But I must not dwell longer 
 than necessary on my account ; suffice it to say, that, 
 after all the bravery of the warriors, and all tlie exer- 
 tions of Econchatti, Nikkanochee once more fell into 
 the hand of the enemy. 
 
 Basil. Oh, I am so sorry. I hoped he would get 
 away from them. 
 
 Brian. So did I. I thought the white men would 
 be tired of following them into those dreary forests 
 and muddy swamps. 
 
 Hunter. The human heart is bitter and implacable, 
 until it is changed by Divine grace. Then, and not 
 before, the lion becomes a lamb, and cruelty gives 
 way to kindness. If all men trully feared Grod, and 
 humbly obeyed the commands of the Redeemer, there 
 would be no more heart-burnings, and strife, and 
 bloodshed ; but human beings would, in thought, word, 
 and deed, " love one another." 
 
 Austin. How was it that Nikkanochee was taken ? 
 
 Hunter. He w^as captured on the 25th of August, 
 1836, by some soldiers who were scouring the country, 
 and brought by them the next day to Colonel Warren, 
 at Newnansville. Poor little fellow, he was so worn, 
 emaciated, and cast down, that he could not be looked 
 upon without pity. For several weeks he hardly spoke 
 a word. No tear, no sob, no sigh escaped him ; but 
 he appeared to be continually on the watch to make 
 
110 
 
 NIKKANOCHEE CAPTURED. 
 
 his escape. The soldiers who had taken him prisoner, 
 declared that they had followed his traclt full forty 
 miles before they came up to him. From the rising 
 to the setting of the sun they hurried on, and still he 
 Avas before them. Nikkanochee must then have been 
 only about five or six years old. 
 
 Brian. Why, I could not walk so far as forty miles 
 to save my life How did he manage it ? 
 
 Hunter. Tou have not been brought up like an In- 
 dian. Fatigue, and hardship, and danger are endured 
 by red men from their earliest youth. The back to 
 the burden, Brian. You have heard the saying, " God 
 tempers the wind to the shorn lamb." When the 
 soldiers came up to Nikkanochee, he darted into the 
 bushes and long grass, where they found him. At 
 first, he uttered a scream ; but, soon after, he offered 
 the soldiers a peach which he had in his hand, that 
 they might let him go. Placed on horseback behind 
 one of the troopers, he was brought to the military 
 station at Newnansville. 
 
 Brian. They had him now, then, fast enough. I 
 w^onder what became of his father. 
 
 Hunter. That is not known. I should have told 
 you that, in the Seminole language, "Econ" means 
 hill or hills ; " chatti " is red ; and the signification 
 of "mice" is king; so that Econchatti-mico is, all 
 together. King of the Eed Hills. The soldiers who 
 captured Nikkanochee disputed among themselves 
 whether he ought not to be killed. Most of them 
 were for destroying every Indian man, woman, or 
 
 cl 
 
 I . 
 
ACCOUNT OF HIS FLIGHT. 
 
 that 
 lind 
 bary 
 
 . I 
 
 told 
 leans 
 tion 
 all 
 who 
 Ives 
 ein 
 or 
 
 
 111 
 
 child they met ; but one of them, named James Shields, 
 was d(>termined to save the boy's life, and it was owing 
 to his humanity that Nikkanochee was not put to 
 death. 
 
 Brian. That man deserves to be rewarded. I shall 
 not forget James Shields. 
 
 Hunter. When Nikkanochee had afterwards become 
 a little more reconciled to his situation, he gave some 
 account of the way in which he was taken. He said, 
 that as he was travelling with his father and the In- 
 dians, the while men came upon them. According to 
 Indian custom, when a party is surprised, the women 
 and children immediately fly in difterent directions, to 
 hide in the bushes and long grass, till the war-men 
 return to them after the fight or alarm is over. Poor 
 little Nikkanochee, in trying to cross a rivulet, fell 
 back again into it. Besides this misfortune, he met 
 with others, so that he could not keep up wdth the 
 party. He still kept on, for he saw an old coffee pot 
 placed on a log ; and Indians, in their flight, drop or 
 place things in their track, as well as break ofl" twigs 
 from the bushes, that others of their tribe may know 
 how to follow them. Nikkanochee came to a settle- 
 ment of whites, but he struck out of the road to avoid 
 it. He afterwards entered a peach orchard, belonging 
 to a deserted house, and here he satisfied his hunger. 
 It was then getting dark, but the soldiers saw him, 
 and set off" after him at full gallop. In vain he hid 
 himself in the grass, and lay as still as a partridge, for 
 they discovered him and took him away. 
 
112 
 
 NIKKANOCIIEE IN HIS CAPTIVITY. 
 
 Austin. I wonder that his father or his uncle did 
 not rescue him. 
 
 Hunter, It is thoup;ht that they did return upon 
 the back trail, for Newnansville was shortly after sur- 
 rounded by Indians, with Oceola at their head ; but 
 just then a reinforcement of soldiers arrived, and the 
 Indians were obliged to retire. Had not the soldiers 
 come up just in time, the whole garrison might have 
 fallen by the rifles and scalping knives of enraged 
 Seminoles. Nikkanochee passed a year with the family 
 of Colonel Warren, and was beloved by them all. 
 There was, no doubt, much sympathy felt for him, as 
 the nephew of a well-known warrior, and the son of 
 the king of a warlike people. Nikkanochee was after- 
 wards taken under the protection of a gentleman, who 
 became much attached to him. He was educated with 
 other children, and taught to bend his knee in prayer, 
 and to offor praise to the King of kings and Lord of 
 lords. Thus, in the providence of God, was Nikkano- 
 chee brought from being a heathen to be a worshipper 
 of the true God and Jesus Christ. 
 
 Brian. How much longer did he remain abroad ? 
 
 Hunter. A very few years, during which he became 
 expert in climbing, swimming, loading the rifle, and 
 using the spear. He was bold enough to attack the 
 racoon and otter, and was not afraid even of the alliga- 
 tor ; few of his years wore more hardy, or could boar 
 an equal degree of fatigue. His kind protector, wlu) 
 adopted him as his own child, brought him over to 
 England in the year 1840, since which time he has 
 
 1 1 
 
 e 
 a 
 
id 
 
 ar 
 lu) 
 to 
 las 
 
 NIKKANOCHEE. 
 
 113 
 
 written an interesting history of his young charge. 
 In the first page, is an animated figure of Nikkano- 
 chee, dressed up as a Seminole warrior, with his cap, 
 feathers, shield, bow, arrows, quiver, pendent orna- 
 ments, and mocassins. Tou cannot look at it without 
 feeling an interest in the welfare of the young Seminole. 
 But I have given you a long account. May Nikl\a- 
 nochee grow up to know Him whom to know is life 
 eternal, and become as celebrated for virtue and piety 
 as his ancestors and relations were for valour and war. 
 
 INDIAN CANOES. 
 
RESTINU-PLACi; FOK TUK DLAD. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Tlic robgion of the Red Indians — Medicine, or Mystery— Rain-makinff — 
 Marriage — Kiattonini; tlic heads of children — Cradles — Practice of shaving 
 the hea<!— Exposure of tiie aged — The Leaping Rock — Catching wliite 
 llsh— Fasts, feasts, and sacrifices — Runners— Indian squaws, with their 
 customary employments— Tipe smoking— Dog feast— A common life scene 
 mnong the Indians— Smoking a shield— Pipes— Pipe of peace— huliiin 
 liurial— Resting-place for the dead. 
 
 In the ntwt visit of the tluu^e brothers to the hunter, 
 lie pointed out to tluMiitlie great influence that religion 
 had on the character of a people aiul a country. A 
 
EELIGION UF THE BED INDIANS. 
 
 115 
 
 I 
 
 false religion brought with it a train of imnuinbered 
 evils ; while a knowledge of the true God, and a living 
 faith in the Saviour who died for sinners, continu- 
 ally promoted among mankind principles of justice 
 and kindness, and communicated to their hearts the 
 blessings of peace and joy. "True it is," snid he, 
 "that among professedly Christian people there is 
 much of evil ; much of envy, hatred, malice, and un- 
 charitableness ; of injustice, covetousness, and cruelty : 
 but this proceeds not from Christianity, but from tlie 
 fallen state of human nature, which nothing but tlu* 
 grace of God can renew, and from the great number 
 of those who profess to be Cliristians, while they are 
 uninfluenced by the gospel of the Eedeemer. Chris- 
 tianity will neither allow us to dishonour God b}' 
 bowing down to idols, nor to injure man by in- 
 justice and oppression. The Red Indians of Is'^orth 
 America are not found bowing do^\^l to number- 
 less idols, as the inhabitants of many countries are : 
 they worship what they call ' the Great Spirit ' with 
 a deep reverence, humbling themselves before him, 
 and undergoing self-iiuposed torments, to gain his 
 goodwill, which the generality of Christians, in the 
 manifestation of their faith, would find it liard to 
 endure. They believe also in an Evil Sj)irit, as 
 well as in a future state ; and tliat they shall be 
 happy or unhappy, just as they have done good or 
 evil, according to their estimate of those (jualities; 
 but this belief is mixed up with mysteries and super- 
 stitions without number. I speak of lied Indians 
 
116 
 
 THE MEDICINE BAG. 
 
 ill the forest and the prairie, who know nothing of 
 God's word and who have never heard the voice of a 
 
 missionary. 
 
 Austin. You told us what some of the Indians 
 called the Great Spirit. Please to tell us again. 
 
 Hunter. The Mandans call him 3Iah-}iO'peneta ; 
 the Iliccarees, Ka-Tce-wa-rooh-teh ; the Sioux, Wo-kon- 
 slie-cha ; and the Tuskaroras, Ye-wunni-yoh. The 
 different tribes believe, that if they are expert in the 
 chase, bold in battle, and slay many of their enemies, 
 they shall live for ever, after death, in beautiful hunt- 
 ing grounds, enjoying the pleasures of the chase con- 
 tinually. You know that we, as Christians, are en- 
 joined to forgive our enemies ; but untutored Indians 
 delight in revenge : they love to boast, and to shed 
 blood ; but we are taught, by God's holy word, to be 
 humble and merciful. There is one thing that min- 
 gles much with the Indian character; and that is, 
 medicine, or mystery. I must try if I can make you 
 understand it. 
 
 Austin. Yes ; I should like to know all about that 
 very well. 
 
 Hunter. Go where you may, among the Ojibbe- 
 ways and Assinaboins of the north, the Choctaw^s 
 and the Seminoles of the south, or the Crows, tlie 
 Black feet, and the Shiennes of the west, every In- 
 dian has his medicine or mystery bag, which he re- 
 gards with reverence, and will not part with for 
 any price. He looks upon it as a kind of charm, or 
 guardian spirit, that is to keep him from evil. Ho 
 
TUE MEDICINE BAG. 
 
 117 
 
 
 I 
 
 takes it with him to battle, and when he dies it is 
 his companion. 
 
 Austin. But what is it ? Is tliere anything in tlie 
 bag ? AVhat is it that makes medicine ? 
 ■ Hunter. Everything that is mysterious or wonder- 
 ful to an Indian, he regards as medicine. I do not 
 mean such medicine as you get from a doctor; but 
 he regards it as something awful, and connected 
 with spirits. This is a strong superstition, which 
 has laid hold of the red man throughout the wliole 
 of North America. 
 
 Brian. But is there anything in the medicine 
 bag? 
 
 Hunter. The medicine bag is usually the skin of 
 some animal, such as the beaver, otter, polecat, and 
 weasel; or of some bird, as the eagle, the magpie, 
 and hawk ; or of some reptile, as the snake and tlie 
 toad. The skin is stuffed with anything the owner 
 chooses to put into it, such as dry grass or leaves ; 
 and it is carefully sewn up into some curious form, 
 and ornamented in a curious manner. Some medi- 
 cine bags are very large, and form a cons])icuous 
 part of an Indian's appendages ; while others are 
 very small, and altogether hidden. 
 
 Basil. Why, it is very foolish of tiie red men to 
 carry such things about with them. 
 
 Hunter. It certainly is so ; but their fathers and 
 their tribes have done so for many generations, and 
 it would be a disgrace to them, in their own estima- 
 tion, if they neglected to do the same. A young 
 
118 
 
 MEDICINE MAN. 
 
 .■( V 
 
 fl/ ii:i 
 
 Indian, before he has his medicine bag, goes perhaps 
 alone on tho prairie, or wanders in the forest, or 
 beside some solitary lake. Day after day, and night 
 after night, he fasts, and calls on the Grreat Spirit to 
 help him to medicine. When he sleeps, the first 
 animal, or bird, or reptile, that he dreams of, is his 
 medicine. If it be a weasel, he catches a weasel, 
 and it becomes his medicine for ever. If it be a toad 
 or snake, he kills whichever it may be ; and if it be a 
 bird, he shoots it, and stuffs its skin. 
 
 Austin. This is one of the most wonderful things 
 you have told us yet. 
 
 Hunter. What is called a medicine man, or a mys- 
 tery man, is one who ranks high in his tribe for some 
 supposed knowledge: he can either make buffaloes 
 come, or cure diseases, or bring rain, or do some other 
 wonderful things, or persuade his tribe that he can do 
 them. Indeed, among Red Indians, hardly anything 
 is done without the medicine man. A chief in full 
 dress would as soon think of making his appearance 
 without his head as witliout his medicine bag. There 
 is a saying among the Indians, that " a man lying 
 down, is medicine to the grizzly bear;" meaning, 
 that in such a position, a bear will not hurt him. 
 
 Basil. Is that true ? Will not the grizzly bear hurt 
 a man when he is lying down ? 
 
 Hunter. So many people say ; but I should bo 
 very sorry to trust the grizzly bear. I am afraid 
 that he would be paying his respects to me in a very 
 rough way. 
 
MEDICINE lAA'S. 
 
 Ill) 
 
 Austin. What was it that you said about tlie 
 medicine man bringing rain ? 
 
 Hunter. Some of the mystery men are famous fur 
 bringing rain in a dry season. 
 
 Austin. But they cannot really bring rain, can they ? 
 
 Hunter. The matter is managed in this way: — 
 when once they undertake to bring rain, they keep 
 up their superstitious ceremonies, day after day, till 
 the rain comes. Oftentimes it is very long belbrc 
 they succeed. It was in a time of great drouglit 
 that I once arrived at the Mandan village on the 
 Upper Missouri. At the different Indian villages, 
 peas and beans, wild rice, corn, melons, squashes, 
 pumpkins, peaches, and strawberries were often found 
 in abundance; but, on this occasion, the Mandans 
 had a very poor prospect of gathering anything that 
 required rain to bring it to perfection. The young 
 and the old were crying out that they should have no 
 green corn. 
 
 Austin. Why did they not tell the medicine men 
 to make the rain come ? 
 
 Hunter. They did so : but it was not quite conve- 
 nient to the medicine men ; for they saw clearly enougli 
 that there was not the slightest appearance of rain ; 
 and thus they put it off, day after day. One afternoon 
 the sky grew a little cloudy to the west, when the 
 medicine men assembled together in great haste to 
 make it rain. 
 
 Hunter. No sooner was it known that the metli- 
 cine men were met together in the mystery lodge, 
 
120 
 
 THE RAIN MAKER. 
 
 than the village was all in commotion. They wanted 
 rain, and they were very sure that their medicine 
 men could bring it when they pleased. The tops of 
 the wigwams were soon crowded. In the mystery 
 lodge a fire was kindled, round which sat the rain 
 makers, burning sweet-smelling herbs, smoking the 
 medicine pipe, and calling on the Great Spirit to 
 open the door of the skies, and to let out the rain. 
 
 Austin. That is the way they make it rain, is it ? 
 
 Hunter. At last one of the rain makers came out 
 of the mystery lodge, and stood on the top of it with 
 a spear in his hand, which he brandished about in a 
 commanding and threatening manner, lifting it up 
 as though he were about to hurl it up at the heavens. 
 He talked aloud of the power of his medicine, hold- 
 ing up his medicine bag in one hand, and his spear 
 in the other ; but it was of no use, neither his medi- 
 cine nor his spear could make it rain; and, at the 
 setting of the sun, he came down from his elevated 
 position in disgrace. 
 
 Brian. Poor fellow ! He had had enough of rain- 
 making for one day. 
 
 Hunter. Fcr several days the same ceremony was 
 carried on, until a rain maker, with a head-dress of 
 tlie skins of birds, ascended the top of the mystery 
 lodge, with a bow in his hand, and a quiver at his 
 back. He made a long speech, which had in it 
 much about thunder and lightning, and black clouds, 
 and drenching rain; for the sky was growing dark, 
 and it required no great knowledge of the weather to 
 
 4 
 
THE EAIN M^T^'ER. 
 
 121 
 
 foretell rain. He shot arrows to the sun-rise and the 
 sun-down points of the heavens, and others to the 
 north and the south, in honour of the Great Spirit 
 who could send the rain from all parts of the skies. 
 A fifth arrow he retained, until it was almost certain 
 that rain was at hand. Then, sending up the shaft 
 from his bow, with aU his might, to make a hole, as 
 he said, in the dark cloud over his head, he cried 
 aloud for the waters to pour down at his bidding, and 
 to drench him to the skin. He was brandishing his 
 bow in one hand, and his medicine in the other, when 
 the rain came down in a torrent. The whole viUage 
 was clamorous with applause, he was regarded as a 
 great mystery man, whose medicine was very power- 
 ful, and he rose to great distinction among his tribe. 
 You see, then, the power of a mystery man in bring- 
 ing rain. Does it not astonish you ? 
 
 Austin. I could make it rain myself as well as he 
 did, for he never shot his arrow to pierce the cloud 
 till it was over his head. It was aU a cheat. 
 
 Hunter. To be a mystery man is regarded as a 
 great honour ; and some Indians are said to have 
 suspended themselves from a pole, with splints 
 through their flesh, and their medicine bags in their 
 hands, looking towards the sun, for a whole day, to 
 obtain it. 
 
 Austin. "When I go among the Ecd Indians, I will 
 not be a mystery man. 
 
 Hunter. There is very little ceremony in an Indian 
 marriage. The father may be seen sitting among his 
 
122 
 
 A STEANGE 'CUSTOM. 
 
 i 
 
 I. 
 
 I 
 
 ill 
 
 friends, when the young Indian comes in with pre- 
 sents, to induce him to give him his daughter for a 
 wife. If the presents are not liked, they are not 
 accepted ; if they are approved, the father takes the 
 hand of his daughter, and the hand of the young 
 Indian, and slaps them together ; after which a little 
 feasting takes place. 
 
 Austin. AVhy, that is like buying a wife. 
 
 Sunter. It is; but the young Indian has already 
 gained the good- will of his intended wife ; not by his 
 tine clothes, and his wealth, for he has neither the one 
 nor the other, but by showing her tli3 skins of the 
 bears he has killed, and the scalps and scalp-locks of 
 the foes he has slaughtered ; and by telling her that he 
 wiU hunt for her, that she may be kept from want, 
 and fight for her, that she may be protected from the 
 enemies of her tribe. Indians have strange customs : 
 the Chinock Indians flatten the heads of their young 
 children, by laying them in .i cradle, with a pillow for 
 the back of the head, and then pressing the forehead, 
 day after day, with a board, that lets down upon it, 
 till the nose and forehead form a straight line. 
 
 Brian. I should not like my head to be flattened 
 in that manner. 
 
 Hunter. Children are carried about in these cradles 
 on the backs of their mothers, wherever they go ; and 
 when children die, they are often left, in their cradles, 
 floating on the water of a brook or pool, which their 
 superstition teaches them to regard as sacred. A 
 cluster of these little arks or cradles, or cofiins as they 
 
 
SIIATOG TUE HEAD. 
 
 12. 
 
 may be called, of different forma, in a lone pool, is a 
 very picturesque and affecting sight. 
 
 Basil. I shall often think of the pool, and the little 
 cradles swimming on it. Why, it is just like the 
 picture of Moses in the bulrushes. 
 
 Hunter. The Kowyas, the Pawnees, the Sacs and 
 Eoxes, the Osages, and the lowas, all shave their 
 heads, leaving a tuft on the crown two or three 
 inches in length, and a small lock in the middle of it, 
 as long as they can get it to grow. By means of this 
 small lock of hair braided, they ornament the tuft 
 with a crest of the deer's tail dyed scarlet, and some- 
 times add to it a war-eagle's feather. 
 
 Austin. How different to the Crow Indians ! You 
 told us that they do not shave off their hair, but let it 
 grow till it hangs down to the very ground. 
 
 Hunter. You have not forgotten that, I see. There 
 is a cruel custom among the Red Indians, of exposing 
 their aged people, that is, leaving them alone to die. 
 If a party are obliged to remove from one place to 
 another in search of food, and there is among them 
 an aged man, who can no longer fight, nor lumt, nor 
 fish, nor do anything to support himself, he is liable, 
 although in his time he may have been a war chief, 
 to be left alone to die. I have seen such a one sitting 
 by a little fire left him by his t^'be, with perha[)s 
 a buffalo skin stretched on poles over his liead, and a 
 little water and a few bones within his reach. I have 
 put my pipe to his mouth, given him pemican, and 
 gathered sticks, that he might be able to recruit his 
 
124 
 
 EXPOSURE OF THE AGED. 
 
 
 
 fire ; and when, months after, I have returned to the 
 spot, there has been nothing left of him but his 
 skeleton, picked clean by the wolves, bleaching in the 
 winds that blew around. 
 
 Austin. This is one of the worst things we have 
 heard of the Bed Indians. 
 
 Basil. Oh, it is very sad indeed ! 
 
 Hunter. You would not forsake your father, in old 
 age, in that manner, would you ? 
 
 Austin. No ! As long as we could get a bit or a 
 drop he should have part of it, and we would die with 
 him rather than desert him. 
 
 Brian and Basil. Yes, that we would ! 
 
 Hunter. I hope so. This is, I say, a cruel custom ; 
 but it forms a part of Indian manners, so that the 
 old men expect it, and, indeed, would not alter it. 
 Indians have not been taught, as we have, to honour 
 their parents, at least not in the same way ; but I can 
 say nothing in favour of so cruel and unnatural a 
 custom. Among the Sioux of the Mississippi, it is 
 considered great medicine to jump on the Leaping 
 Eock, and back again. This rock is a huge column or 
 block, between thirty and forty feet high, divided 
 from the side of the Eed Pipe-stone Quarry. It is 
 about seven feet broad, and at a distance from the 
 main rock of about six or eight feet. Many are bold 
 enough to take the leap, and to leave their arrows 
 sticking in one of its crevices ; while others, equally 
 courageous, have fallen from the top in making the 
 attempt, and been dashed to pieces at its base. 
 
SACRIFICES. 
 
 125 
 
 Brian. AYlicn you go to Pipe-stone Quarry, Austin, 
 have nothing to do with the Leaping Eoek. Tou 
 must get your medicine in some other way. 
 
 Austin. I shall leave the Leaping Rock to the 
 Leaping Indians, for it will never suit me. 
 
 Hunter. There is a very small fish caught in the 
 river Thames, called white bait, which is considered 
 a very great luxury ; but to my taste, the white fi^ K, 
 of which the Chippeways take great abundance in the 
 rapids near the Sault de St. Mary's, are preferable. 
 The Chippeways catch them in the rapids with scoop- 
 nets, in the use of which they are very expert. 
 The white fish resemble salmon, but are much less 
 in size. 
 
 Austin. The white fish of the Chippeways will suit 
 me better than the Leaping Eock of the Sioux. 
 
 Hunter. Among the Red Indians, feasting, fasting, 
 and sacrifices of a peculiar kind, form a part of their 
 religious or superstitious observances. Some of the 
 Pawnees, in former times, offered human sacrifices ; 
 but this cruel custom is now no more. The Mandans 
 frequently offered a finger to the Good, or Evil Spirit ; 
 and most of the tribes offer a horse, a dog, a spear, 
 or an arrow, as the case may be. Over the Mandan 
 mystery lodge used to hang the skin of a white 
 buflfalo, with blue and black cloth of great value. 
 These were intended as a sacrifice or an offering to 
 the Grood and Evil Spirits, to avert their anger and to 
 gain their favour. 
 
 Brian. How many things you do remember ! 
 
126 
 
 INDIAN SQUAWS. 
 
 Jliinter. All the chiefs of the tribes keep runners — 
 men swift oi foot, who carry messages and commands, 
 and spread among the people news necessary to be 
 coirmunicated. These runners sometimes go great 
 distances in a very short space of time. 
 
 Brian. You must have your runners, Austin. 
 
 Aiisthi. Oh yes, I will have my runners : for I shall 
 want pipe-stone from Red Pipe-stone Quarry, and 
 white fish from the Chippeways ; and then I shall 
 send messages to the Cherokees and Choctaws, the 
 Camanchees, the Blackfeet, and the Crows. 
 
 Hunter, The squaws, or wives of the Indians, labour 
 very contentedly, seeming to look on servitude a3 
 tlieir proper calling. They g(it in wood and water ; 
 they ])rcpare the ground for grain, cook victuals, make 
 the dresses of their husband^^, manufacture pottery, 
 dress skins, attend to the children, and make them- 
 selves useful in a hundred other ways. 
 
 Brian. I think the squaws behave themselves very 
 well. 
 
 Hunter. The smoking of tlie pipe takes place on all 
 great occasions, just as though the Indians thought it 
 was particularly grateful to the Good and Evil Spirits. 
 In going to war, or in celebrating peace, as well as 
 on all solemn occasions, the pipe is smoked. Often- 
 times, before it is passed round, the stem is pointed 
 upwards, and then offered to tlie four points — east, 
 west, north, and south. In the hands of a mystery 
 man, it is great and powerful medicine. If ever you 
 go among tlie red men, they will expect you to 
 
A DOa FEAST. 
 
 127 
 
 I 
 
 draw a whiff through tlie friendly pipe oftered to you ; 
 and if you did not, you would be regarded as a sad 
 attront. 
 
 Basil. What will you do now, Austin? You never 
 smoked a pipe in your life. 
 
 Austin. And I do not mean to learn ; for I need only 
 take a very little wliiff, and I could easily do that. 
 
 Hunter. You must learn to eat dog's flesh, too ; 
 for when the Indians mean to confer a great honour 
 on a chief or a stranger, they give liim a dog feast, in 
 which they set before iiim their most favourite dogs, 
 killed and cooked. The more useful the dojxs were, 
 and the more highly valued, the greater is the com- 
 pliment to him in whose honour the fea«t is given ; 
 and if he were to refuse to eat of the dog's flesh, 
 thus prepared out of particular respect to him, no 
 greater oflence could l)e offered to his hospitable 
 entertainers. 
 
 Brian. You have sometlu'ng to do now, however, 
 Austin, to learn to eat dog's flesh. 
 
 Austin. You ?nay depend upon it, that I shall kcu^p 
 out of the way of a dog feast. I might take a little 
 whiff at their big pipe ; but I could not touch their 
 dainty dogs. 
 
 Hunter. In some of the large hxlges, I have seiMi 
 very impressive common lite scenes. Fancy to your- 
 selves a large round lodge, holditig ten or a dozen 
 beds of buffalo skins, witli a high post bel\v(»en (^eiy 
 bed. On these posts hang the shields, the war-clubs, 
 the spears, the bows and quivers, the eagk'-plumed 
 
128 
 
 SMOKIXG OF SHIELDS. 
 
 lu>ad-dresses, and the medicine bags, of tlie different 
 Indians who sleep there ; and on the top of each post 
 tlie buffalo mask, with its horns and tail, used in 
 the buffalo dance. Fancy to yourselves a group of 
 Indians in the middle of the lodge, with their wives 
 and their little ones around them, smoking their 
 pipes, and relating their adventures, as happy as ease 
 and the supply of all their wants can make them. 
 While you gaze on the scene, so strange, so wild, so 
 picturesque, and so happy, a rush of friendly feeling 
 for the red man thrills through your bosom, a tear of 
 pleasure starts into your eye; and before you are 
 aware, an ejaculation of thankfulness has escaped your 
 lips, to the Father of mercies, that, in his goodness 
 and bounty to mankind, he has not forgotten the 
 inhabitants of the forest and the prairie. 
 
 Austin. It is worth going to North America to see 
 such a scene ! 
 
 Hunter. The Indians have a method of hardening 
 their shields, by smoking them over a fire, in a hole 
 in the ground ; and usually, when a Avarrior thus 
 smokes his shield, he gives a feast to his friends. 
 Some of the pipes of the Red Indians are beautiful. 
 The bowls are all of the red stone, from Pipe-stone 
 Quarry, cut into all manner of fantastic forms ; while 
 the stems, three or four feet long, are ornamented with 
 braids of ])orcupine'8 quills, beaks of birds, featliers, 
 and red hair. The calumet, or, as it is called, " the 
 peace pip(^" is indeed, as I have before said, great 
 medicine. It is highly adorned with quills of the 
 
 ! 
 
1 
 
 MODES OF BURIAL. 
 
 121J 
 
 I 
 
 war-eagle, and never used on any other occasion than 
 that of making and solemnizing peace, when it is 
 passed round to the chiefs. It is regarded as alto- 
 gether a sacred utensil. An Indian's pipe is his 
 friend through the pains and pleasures of life ; and 
 when his tomahawk and medicine bag are placed 
 beside his poor, pallid remains, his pipe is not for- 
 gotten. 
 
 Austin, v'hen a Red Indian dies, how do tliey 
 bury him ? 
 
 Hunter. According to the custom of his tribe. 
 Some Indiana are buried under the sod ; some are 
 left in cots, or cradles, on the water ; and others are 
 placed on frames raised to support them. You re- 
 member what I told you of Blackbird's grave. 
 
 Austin. Yes, he was buried on horseback, on the 
 top of a high bluil', sitting oq his horse. He was 
 covered all over with sods. 
 
 Hunter. And I told you of the Cliinock cliildrcn 
 floating on tlie solitary pool. 
 
 Brian. Yes; but you did not tell us what they do 
 with the grown-up Chinocks when they die. 
 
 Hunter. Grown-up Chinocks are left floating in 
 cradles, just in tlie same manner ; thougli oOeuer they 
 are tied up in skins, and laid in canoes, with paddles, 
 pipes, and provisions, aiul then lioisted up into a tree, 
 and left there to decay. In the INIandan burial-place, 
 the dead were ranged in rows, on high sltMider tVaiues, 
 out of the way of the wolf, dressed in their best robes, 
 and wrapped in a fresh buffalo skin, with all their 
 
130 
 
 INDIA.N BURYING-PLACE. 
 
 arms, pipes, and every necessary provision and comfort 
 to supply their wants in their journey to the hunting 
 grounds of their fathers. In English burial grounds, 
 there are always some monuments grander than the 
 rest, to set forth the wealth, the station, or the 
 talents of those who slumber below; and, as human 
 nature is the same everywhere, so in the resting-place 
 of the Eed Indians, here and there are spread out 
 a few yards of red or blue cloth, to signify that 
 beneath it a chief, or a superior brave, is sleeping. 
 The Mandan dead occupied a spot on the prairie. 
 Here they mouldered, warrior lying by the side of 
 warrior, till they fell to the ground from their 
 frames, when the bones were buried, and the skulls 
 rnuged with great care, in round rings, on the prairie, 
 with two buttulo skulls and a medicine pole in the 
 centre. 
 
 Austin. Ifc would be of no use for the wolf to 
 come then, for there would be notliing for him. I 
 should very much like to see an Indian burying- 
 place. 
 
 Hunter. Wore you to visit one, you would see that 
 the heart and alfections are at work under a red skin, 
 as well as under a white one ; for parents and children, 
 luisbaiuLs and wives, go there to lament for those who 
 are dear to them, and to humble themselves before 
 the (Jreat Spirit, under whose care tliey believe their 
 departed relatives to be. The skulls, too, are visited, 
 and every one is placed carefully, from time to time, 
 on a tuft of sweet-smelling herb or plant. Life is but 
 
INDIAN CRADLE. 
 
 131 
 
 a short season with both the white and the red man, 
 and ought to be well spent. It is as a flower that 
 flourishes : " For the wind passeth over it, and it is 
 gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more," 
 Psa. ciii. 16. But I have now told you enough for 
 the present. Come again as soon as you will ; I 
 shall have some anecdotes of Red Indians ready for 
 you. 
 
 INLilAH CIIADI.E. 
 

 '\>\.': 
 
 ...Y'": 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Anecdotes of the Hed Iiulians— Indian observation and sagacity— Indian con- 
 scientiousness — Indian lionesty— Indian i^niorance — Indian slircwdness — 
 Indian cunning and deceit— Indian licroism— Adventures of an American 
 trapper. 
 
 With willing foct, sparkling eyes, and happy hearts, 
 Austin and his two brothers again set off for the cot- 
 tage near the wood. On an ordinary occasion, the^y 
 might have found time for a little pleasant loitering; 
 but the Indian anecdotes they expected to hear excited 
 their curiosity too much to allow a single minute to 
 be lost. A pin might have been heard falling on the 
 
OBSEIlYATIO>f AND SAG^ClITY. 
 
 133 
 
 on- 
 
 ^^ 
 r • 
 
 Hi 
 
 Ito 
 lie 
 
 1 1 
 
 ground, when, seated in the cottage, they listened to 
 the following anecdotes of the liunter. 
 
 Hunter. It has pleased God to endue Indians with 
 quick perceptions. They are amazingly quiclc in 
 tracing an enemy, both in the woods and the prairie ; 
 a broken twig or leaf, or the faintest impression on 
 the grass, is sufficient to attract their attention. Tlie 
 anecdotes I am about to i elate are believed to be 
 true, but I cannot myself vouch for their correctness, 
 having only read them, or heard them related by 
 others. 
 
 An Indian, upon his return home to his hut one 
 day, discovered that his venison, which had been hung 
 up to dry, had been stolen. After going some dis- 
 tance, he met some persons, of whom he inquired if 
 they had seen a little, old, white man, with a short 
 gun, and accompanied by a small dog with a bob tail. 
 They replied in the affirmative ; and, upon the Indian's 
 assuring them that the man tluis described had stolen 
 his venison, they desired to be informed how he was 
 able to give such a minute description of a person 
 whom he had no^ seen. The Indian answered thus : — 
 
 " The thief I know is a little man, by his having 
 made a pile of stones in order to reach the venison, 
 from the height I hung it standing on the ground ; 
 that he is an old man, I know by his short steps, which 
 I have traced over the dead leaves in the woods ; that 
 he is a white man, I know by his turning out his toes 
 when he walks, which an Indian never does ; his gun 
 I know to be short, by the mark wliich the muzzle 
 
¥^ 
 
 f 
 
 134 
 
 OBSERYATION AND SAGACITY. 
 
 made by rubbing the bark of the tree on which it 
 leaned ; that the dog is small, I know by his tracks ; 
 and that he has a bob tail, I discovered by the mark 
 of it in the dust where he was sitting at the time his 
 master was taking down the meat." 
 
 Brian, Well done, Indian ! Why, no one could 
 get away from a man like that. 
 
 Austin. An Englishman would never have been 
 able to describe the thief without seeing him. 
 
 Hunter. You shall have another instance of the 
 quick perceptions of the red men. A most atrocious 
 and shocking murder was once committed, by a party 
 of Indians, on fourteen white settlers, within five miles 
 of Shamokin. The surviving whites, in their rage, 
 determined to take their revenge by murdering a 
 Delaware Indian, who happened to be in those parts, 
 and who was far from thinking himself in any danger. 
 He was a great friend to the whites, was loved and 
 esteemed by them, and, in testimony of their regard, 
 had received from them the name of Duke Holland, 
 by which he was generally known. 
 
 This Indian, satisfied that his nation were incapable 
 of committing such a foul murder in a time of profound 
 peace, told the enraged settlers that he was sure the 
 Delawares were not in any manner concerned in it, 
 and that it was the act of some wicked Mingoes or 
 Iroquois, whose custom it v/as to involve other nations 
 in wars with each other, by secretly committing murders, 
 so that they might appear to be the Avork of others. 
 But all his representations were vain ; he could not 
 
--—-^ 
 
 OUSERVATION AND SAGACITY. 
 
 135 
 
 convince exasperated men, whose minds were fully 
 bent o- revenge. 
 
 At last, he offered that, if they would give him a 
 party to accompany him, he would go with them in 
 quest of the murderers, and was sure that he could 
 discover them by the prints of their feet, and other 
 marks well known to him, by which he would convince 
 them that the real perpetrators of the crime belonged 
 to the Six Nations. 
 
 His proposal was accepted. He marched at the 
 head of a party of whites, and led them into the 
 tracks. They soon found themselves in the most 
 rocky part of a mountain, where not one of those who 
 accompanied him could discover a single track, nor 
 would they believe that men had ever trodden on this 
 ground, as they had to jump from rock to rock, or to 
 crawl over them. They began to believe that the 
 Indian had led them across these rugged mountains 
 in order to give the enemy time to escape. They 
 threatened him with instant death the moment they 
 should be convinced of the fraud. 
 
 The Indian, true to his promise, took pains to make 
 them perceive that an enemy had passed along the 
 places through which he was leading them. Here, he 
 showed them that the moss on the road had been 
 trodden down by the weight of a human foot ; there, 
 that it had been torn and dragged forward from its 
 place. Again, he would point out to them that peb- 
 bles, or small stones on the rocks, had been removod 
 from their beds by the foot hitting against them; 
 
136 
 
 OBSERVATION AND SAGACITY. 
 
 
 $ 
 
 that dry sticks, by being trodden upon, were broken ; 
 and, in one particular place, that an Indian's blanket 
 had been dragged over the rocks, and had removed or 
 loosened the leaves lying there, so that they did not 
 lie flat as in other places. All these marks the Indian 
 could perceive as he walked along, without even stop- 
 jjing. 
 
 At last, arriving at the foot of the mountain, on 
 soft ground, where the tracks were deep, he found 
 that the enemy were eight in number ; and from the 
 freshness of the footprints, he concluded that they 
 must be encamped at no great distance. 
 
 This proved to be the exact truth ; for, after gain- 
 ing the eminence on the other side of the valley, the 
 Indians were seen encamped; some hr^ing already 
 lain down to sleep, while others were drawing off their 
 leggings, or Indian stockings, for the same purpose, 
 and the scalps they had taken were hanging up to dry. 
 
 " See," said Duke Holland to his astonished com- 
 panions, " there is the enemy ; not of my nation, but 
 Mingoes, as I truly told you. They are in our power. 
 In less than half an hour they will be all fast asleep, 
 We need not fire a gun, but go up and tomahawk 
 them. We are nearly two to one, and need appre- 
 hend no danger. Come on, and you will now have 
 your full revenge. 
 
 But the whites, overcome with fear, did not choose 
 to follow the Indian's advice, but desired him to take 
 them back by the nearest and best way. This lie did ; 
 and when they arrived at home, they reported the 
 
 I ! 
 
 8 
 
 il 
 
 n 
 
 S 
 t( 
 a' 
 b 
 
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 
 
 137 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 .5, 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
 II 
 
 li 
 
 enemy to have been so great tliat tlicy durst not 
 venture to attack him. 
 
 Atistin. Well, I cannot think how he managed to 
 find them out so easily. 
 
 Brian. I would not have an Indian after me for 
 the world ; he would he sure to find me out. 
 
 Hunter. Eed men often act very conscientiously. 
 One day, an Indian solicited a little tobacco of a 
 white man, to fill his pipe. Having some loose in 
 his pocket, the white man gave him a handful. The 
 next day, the Indian returned in search of the man 
 who had given him the tobacco. 
 
 Me wish to see him," said the Indian. 
 
 Why so ?" inquired some one. 
 
 Why, me find money with the tobacco." 
 
 " Well ! what of that ? Keep it ; it was given to 
 you. 
 
 " Ah!" said the Indian, shaking his head, " me got 
 good man and bad man here," pointing to his breast. 
 " Grood man say, ' Money not yours ; you must return 
 it:" bad man say, ' ^Tis yours; it was given to you.' 
 Good man say, ' That not right ; tobacco yours, money 
 not yours.' Bad man say, ' Never mind, nobody know it; 
 go buy rum.' Good man say, ' Oh no ; no sucli thing.' 
 So poor Indian know not wliat to do. Me lie down 
 to sleep, but no sleep ; good man and bad man talk 
 all night, and trouble me. So now me bring money 
 back ; now me feel good." 
 
 Basil. That was very good of the Indian. 
 
 Austin. It was doing as he would be done by. 
 
I 
 
 138 
 
 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 
 
 Hunter. Whatever the Bed Indians may be, wlicn 
 oppressed, wronged, and deceived by the whites ; and 
 however they may act towards their enemies, they are 
 usually honest towards their own tribe. While I was 
 residing on the Big Beaver, says one who lived much 
 among them, I passed by the door of an Indian, who 
 was a trader, and had, consequently, a quantity of 
 goods in his house. He was going with his wife to 
 Pittsburg, and they were shutting up the house, as no 
 person remained in it during their absence. This 
 sliutting up was nothing else than putting a large 
 hominy pounding-block, with a few sticks of wood, 
 outside against the door, so as to keep it closed. As 
 I was looking at this man with attention, while he was 
 so employed, he addressed me in these words : — 
 
 " See, my friend, this is an Indian lock tliat I am 
 putting to my door." 
 
 I answered, " Well enough ; but I see you leave 
 much property in the house : are you not afraid that 
 those articles will be stolen while you arc gone ?" 
 
 " Stolen ! by whom ?" 
 
 " Why, by Indians, to be sure." 
 
 " No, no," replied he ; " no Indian would do such 
 a thing. Unless a white man, or white people, should 
 happen to come this way, I sliall find all safe on my 
 return." 
 
 Basil. If we were to leave our doors in that way, 
 our houses would be sure to be robbed. 
 
 Hunter. No doubt they would ; but Indians have 
 good and bad qualities. The Holy Scriptures say, 
 
 1 1 
 
IGNORANCE AND SUPEESTITION. 
 
 139 
 
 y 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
 re 
 
 that " the heart ia deceitful above all things, and des- 
 perately wricked," Jer. xvii. 9; and therefore we must 
 not expect too much from the poor red men, espe- 
 cially aa they have been brought up in ignorance of 
 God'a word and w^ill : but such instances as those I 
 have related are by no means uncommon. The notion 
 entertained by the Iroquois Indians respecting the 
 creation of mankind, will show how ignorant they are 
 with respect to the Creator of all things : but, indeed, 
 if the blessed book of truth were not in our hands, we 
 should be equally ignorant ourselves. Before man 
 existed, say they, thers were three great and good 
 spirits ; of whom one was superior to tlie other two, 
 and is emphatically called the Great Spirit, and the 
 Grood Spirit. At a certain time tliis exalted being 
 said to one of the others, " Make a man." He obeyed ; 
 and, taking chalk, formed a paste of it, and moulding 
 it into the human form, infused into it the animating 
 principle, and brought it to the Great Spirit. He, 
 after surveying it, said, " This is too white." 
 
 He then directed the other to make a trial of his 
 skill. Accordingly, taking charcoal, he pursued the 
 same process, and brought the result to the Great 
 Spirit; who, after surveying it, said, " It is too black." 
 
 Then said the Great Spirit, " I will now try myself;" 
 and taking red earth, he formed an Indian. On sur- 
 veying it, he said, " This is a proper or perfect man." 
 
 After relating the strange opinion of the Iroquois 
 Indiana, the hunter advised the young people, on their 
 return home, to look over the account of the creation 
 
140 
 
 SHREWDNESS. 
 
 P 
 
 of the world and mankind, in the first chapter of 
 Grenesis ; telling them that they could not be too 
 thankful for the opportunity of reading God's word, 
 which was not only sufficient to keep them from error 
 in such things, but was able also to make them " wise 
 unto salvation through faith which is in Clu'ist Jesus," 
 2 Tim. iii. 15. He told them that though tlie Eed 
 Indians were ignorant in holy things, they did not 
 want slirewdness and sagacity. " AVhen General 
 Lincoln," said he, " went to make peace with the 
 Creek Indians, one of tlie chiefs asked him to sit down 
 on a log ; he was then desired to move, and, in a few 
 minutes, to move still further. The request was re- 
 peated, until tlie general got to the end of the log. 
 The Indian still said, ' Move further ;' to which the 
 general replied, ' I car move no further.' * Just so it 
 is with us,' said the chief. ' You have moved us back 
 to the water, and then ask us to move further.' " 
 
 Austin and his brothers were so pleased with the 
 Indian's shrewdness, that the hunter weut on thus : — 
 
 Hunter. " Why do you not go to work, and get 
 something to purcliase some clothes wiili ?" said 
 Colonel Dudley, one day, to an idle, ragged Indian, 
 who, like himself was standing observing some men 
 employed u[)(>n a house which he was erecting. 
 
 " And wliy you do no work, if you please, Mr. 
 Governor ?" asked the Indian, by way ot reply. 
 
 " I no work ! I do woi'k," answeretl the governor. 
 
 " I'm sure you no work," said the Indian ; '* you see 
 others work." 
 
 : 
 
CUNNTTs'a AND DECEIT. 
 
 141 
 
 " But I work with my head," said the governor ; at 
 the same time haying his finger upon his foreliead. 
 
 " Well," said the Indian, " me work too, if any one 
 employ me." 
 
 Go, th(>n," said the governor, " and kill me a ealf, 
 and you shall have a shilling." 
 
 The Indian seemed well pleased, and having killed 
 the animal, came and wanted his pay. 
 
 " But you have not skinned and dressed it." 
 
 " Calf killed, governor," said the Indian. " Me kill 
 calf for a shilling; give another shilling, and me skin 
 and dress it." 
 
 The governor did so ; and after skinning and dress- 
 ing the animal, the Indian rejiaired to a neighbouring 
 tavern, aiul laid out a part of liis money in rum. He 
 tlien came hack, and told the governor that one of the 
 shillings which he had given him was bad, and the 
 man no take it. 
 
 The governor, though satisfied of the cheat, gave 
 the Indian another shilling, and he de[)arted. 
 
 In a f(nv (lavs the Indian came aer'in to see the 
 workmen. The governor, in the nu^an time, had 
 written a letter to the kee])er ^f the Bri(U'\vell in 
 Boston, recjuesting him to give the hearer of it a 
 sound whipping. 
 
 While the Indian was idly looking at the workmen, 
 as in the former instance the governor drew the letter 
 from his ]nicket, and oU'ered the Indian half a crown 
 to caiMT aiul (h^liver it. 
 
 " W^ill you carry it ?" inquirc^d the governor. 
 
11 
 
 f 
 
 142 
 
 CUNNING AND DECEIT. 
 
 " Me will," said the Indian, quite pleased ; and at 
 the same time holding out his hand for the letter and 
 the money. 
 
 Pretty soon after starting he met another Indian, 
 who lived with the governor as a servant. 
 
 " Here," said he to the servant, " here a letter." 
 
 " Well, what of that ?" asked the servant. 
 
 " Why," said the Indian, " governor say me meet 
 you — give you the letter — you carry it to Boston." 
 Taking the letter as directed, the servant turned back, 
 and, on delivering it, took the flogging himself, much 
 to his surprise and indignation. 
 
 On his return, he complained most bitterly. The 
 governor bit his lips, told him how the matter was, 
 and determined some day to have the lazy fellow 
 punished. 
 
 But the Indian took good care to keep out of the 
 way. At length, however, happening to see him, the 
 governor inquired why he served him such a trick. 
 
 "Oh!" said the Indian, looking him full in the 
 face, " governor say me no wdl*k, but he work — he 
 work with the head; me tliink me work with the 
 head too." 
 
 " Famous ! famous !" cried out Austin. 
 
 " Famous ! famous!" ccliocd Brian and Basil. But 
 the hunter told them that the conduct of the Indian 
 (lid not appear to him at all commendable. " We 
 should always distingiiinh," said ho, " between the 
 sagacity of an upright intuition, and the low cunning 
 of deceit and dishonesty. * Bread of deceit is sweet to 
 
le 
 le 
 
 le 
 
 le 
 
 .he 
 
 to 
 
 f 
 
 A TAWNEE WAREIOB. 
 
 143 
 
 a man ; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled witli 
 gravel,' " Prov. xx. 17. The following instance of 
 heroism in a Pawnee brave, related by the hunter, 
 highly delighted Austin. 
 
 Hunter. In the account of his expedition to the 
 foot of the E-ocky Mountains, in 1821, Major Long 
 relates the following anecdote of a Pawnee brave, son 
 of Red Knife, who, the succeeding winter, visited the 
 city of Washington, during the session of Congress. 
 
 This brave, of fine size, figure, and countenance, 
 is now about twenty-five years old. At the age of 
 twenty-one, his heroic deeds had acquired for him 
 in his nation the rank of the bravest of the braves. 
 The savage practice of torturing and burning to deatli 
 their prisoners existed in this nation. An uufortunate 
 female, of the Paduca nation, taken in war, was destined 
 to this horrid death. 
 
 The fatal hour had arrived. The trembling victim, 
 far from her home and her friends, was fastened to 
 tlie stake. The whole tribe w^as assembled on the 
 surrounding plains to witness the awful scene. 
 
 Just when the funeral pile was to be kindled, and 
 the whole multitude of spectators were on the tiptoe 
 of expectation, this young warrior, having, unnoticed, 
 prepared two lleot horses, witli tlie necessary provi- 
 sious, sprang from his seat, rushed through tlie crowd, 
 liberated the victim, seized liei in his arms, placed her 
 on one of the horses, mounted the other liimself, and 
 made the utmost speed towards the nation and friends 
 of the captive. 
 
I 
 
 144 
 
 HEROIC CONDUCT. 
 
 The multitude, dumb and nerveless with amaze- 
 ment at the daring deed, made no effort to rescue 
 their victim from her deliverer. They viewed it as the 
 immediate act of the Great Spirit, submitted to it with- 
 out a murmur, and quietly retired to their village. 
 
 The released captive was accompanied three days 
 through the wilderness towards her home. Her de- 
 liverer then gave her the horse on which she rode, 
 and the necessary provisions for the remainder of the 
 journey, and they parted. 
 
 On his return to the village, such was his popu- 
 larity, that no inquiry was made into his conduct, and 
 no censure was passed upon it. Since this transac- 
 tion, no human sacrifice has been oifered in this or. 
 any other of the Pawnee tribes ; the practice is aban- 
 doned. How influential is one bold act in a good cause ! 
 
 The publication of tliis anecdote at Washington, 
 Jed some young ladies, in a manner highly creditable 
 to their good sense and good feeling, to present this 
 brave and humane Indian with a handsome silver 
 medal, with appropriate inscriptions, as a token of their 
 sincere commendation of the noble act of rescuing one 
 of their sex, an innocent victim, :^rom a cruel death. 
 Their address, delivered or ^his occasion, is sensible 
 and appropriate, closing as follows : — 
 
 " Brother — Accept this token of our esteem ; always 
 wear it for our sakcs; and when again you have the 
 power to save a poor ^^oman i'rom death and torture, 
 think of this, and of us, and fly to her relief and 
 
 rescue. 
 
 5 
 
 
ANECDOTE OF A PAWNEE WAERIOR. 
 
 M.'l 
 
 )le 
 
 he 
 -e, 
 hd 
 
 ! 
 
 i| 
 
 To this the Pawnee made the following re])ly : — 
 
 " Brothers and sisters — This, the medal, will give 
 me ease more than I ever had; and I will listen more 
 than I ever did to white men. 
 
 " I am glad that my brothers and sisters have heard 
 of the good deed that I have done. My brothers and 
 sisters think that I have done it in ignoranv^e, but I 
 know what I have done. 
 
 " I did it in ignorance, and I did not know that I 
 did good ; but by giving me this medal I know it." 
 
 The cruelty of torturing and burning a captive, tlio 
 great danger of the female Indian, and the nobh^ 
 daring of the Pawnee brave, formed the subject of 
 conversation for some time among the young people ; 
 and Austin was unbounded in his approbation of the 
 Pawnee. Willingly would he have contributed towards 
 another silver medal for him, and Brian and Basil 
 would not have been backward in doing their ])art ; 
 but the alfair appeared hardly practicable, inasmucli 
 as a reasonable doubt existed whether the Pawnee 
 brave was still alive ; and, even if he were, there 
 seemed to be no direct way of comnuuiicating wilh 
 him. The hunter proposed to conclude his anecdotes 
 for the present, by relating some adventures of an Ame- 
 rican trapper. This ])roposal being warmly secontUd 
 by the young people, the hunter thus ])roceed(Hl : — 
 
 JTunfrr. On the arrival of the exploring party of 
 Lewis and Clarke at the head waters of the INlissouri, 
 one of their number, of the name of Colter, was de- 
 sirous of joiiu'ng a trapper, of the name of Potts, who 
 
14G 
 
 ADVENTURES OF TWO TRAPPERS. 
 
 was in that neighbourhood for the purpose of hunting 
 beavers, an abundance of which were to be found in 
 that part of the country. The ofter was a very advan- 
 tageous one ; and, as Colter had always performed his 
 duty, it was agreed that he might go. Accordingly, 
 lie was supplied with ammunition, and took leave of 
 the party for the solitude of the woods. 
 
 Aware of the hostility of the Blackfoot Indians, 
 Colter and his companion set their traps at night, and 
 took tliem up early in the morning, remaining con- 
 cealed during the day. They were examining their 
 traps early in the morning, in a creek, about six miles 
 from that branch of the Missouri called Jefferson's 
 Pork, and were ascending in a canoe, when they sud- 
 denly hoard a great noise, resembling the trampling 
 of animals ; but they could not ascertain the fact, as 
 the higli perpendicular banks on each side of the river 
 impeded their view. 
 
 Colter immediately pronounced it to be occasioned 
 by Indians, and advised an instant retreat, but was 
 accused of cowardice by Potts, who insisted that tlie 
 noise was occasioned by bullaloes, and tliey proceeded 
 on. In a few minutes afterwards their doubts were 
 removed by a party of Indians making their ai)pearance 
 on botli sides of the creek, to tlie amount of five or six. 
 hundred, who beckoned them to come on shore. 
 
 As retreat was now impossible. Colter turned the 
 liead of tlie canoe to the sliore, and, at the moment 
 of its touching, an Indian seized the rifle belonging 
 to Polts; but Colter, who was a remarkably strong 
 
 1 1 
 
 
ADYENTURES OF TWO TEAPPEES. 
 
 117 
 
 he 
 lit 
 
 man, immediately retook it, and handed it to Potts, 
 who remained in the canoe, and, on recovering it, 
 pushed off into the river. He had scarcely quitted 
 the shore, when an arrow was shot at him, and he 
 cried out, " Colter, I am wounded ! " 
 
 Colter remonstrated with him on the folly of at- 
 tempting to escape, and urged him to come on shore. 
 
 " istead of complving. he instantly levelled his rifle 
 at Indian, and \.»; him dead on the spot. This 
 conduct, situated as he w^as, may appear to have been 
 an act of madness ; hut it was doubtless the effect of 
 sudden but correct reasoning; for, if taken alive, he 
 must have expected to have been tortured to death, 
 according to the Indian custom. 
 
 They now seized Colter, stripped him entirely, and 
 began to consult on the manner in which he should 
 be put to death. They were first inclined to set him 
 up as a mark to shoot at ; but the chief interfered, 
 and, seizing him by the shoulder, asked him if he 
 could run fast. Colter, who had been some time 
 among the Kee Catsa, or Crow Indians, had, in a con- 
 siderable degree, acquired the Blackfoot language, and 
 was also acquainted with Indian customs ; lie knew 
 that he had now to run for his life, with the di'cadful 
 odds of five or six hundred against him, and those 
 armed Indians. He cunningly replied, tliat lie was 
 a very bad runner, although lie \\ as considered by the 
 hunters as remarkably swift. 
 
 The chief now commanded the party to remain 
 stationary, led Colter out on the prairie three or four 
 
lis 
 
 A. NAREOW ESCAPE. 
 
 hundred yards, and released him, bidding him save 
 himself if he could. At that instant the war-whoop 
 sounded in the ears of poor Colter, who, urged with 
 the hope of preserving life, ran with a speed at which 
 he was himself surprised. 
 
 He proceeded towards Jeflersou's 'Fork, having to 
 travel a plain six miles in breadth, abounding with 
 the prickly pear, on which he was every instant tread- 
 ing with his naked feet. He ran nearly half way 
 across the plain before he ventured to look over his 
 shoulder, when ha perceived that the Indians were 
 very much scattered, and that he had gained ground 
 to a considerable distance from the main body; but 
 one Indian, who carried a spear, was much before 
 all the rest, and not more than a hundred yards 
 from him, 
 
 A faint gleam of hope now cheered the heart of 
 Colter ; he derived confidence from the belief that 
 escape Avas within the bounds of possibility ; but that 
 confidence was nearly fatal to him, for he exerted him- 
 self to such a degree, that the blood gushed from his 
 nostrils, and soon almost covered the fore part of his 
 body. He had now arrived within a mile of the river, 
 when he distinctly heard the appalling sound of foot- 
 steps behind him, and every instant expected to feel 
 the spear of his pursuer. 
 
 Again he turned his head, and saw the savage not 
 twenty yards from him. Determined, if possible, to 
 avoid the expected blow, he suddenly stopped, turned 
 round, and spread out his arms. The Indian, sur- 
 
 ! I 
 
 
A NARROW ESCAPE. 
 
 119 
 
 prised by the suddenness of the action, and, pc^rhaps, 
 at the bloody appearance of Colter, who attompti^d to 
 stop ; but, exhausted with running, he fell wliile en- 
 deavouring to throw his spear, which stuck in the 
 ground, and broke in his hand. Colter instantly 
 snatched up the pointed part, with which he pinned 
 him to the earth, and then continued his flight. 
 
 The foremost of the Indians, on arriving at the 
 place, stopped till others came up to join him, when 
 they set up a hideous yell. Every moment of this 
 time was improved by Colter, who, although fainting 
 and exhausted, succeeded in gaining the skirting of 
 the cotton-wood trees on the border of the Fork, to 
 which he ran, and plunged into the river. Fortunately 
 for him, a little below this place there was an island, 
 against the upper part of which a raft of drift timber 
 had lodged. He dived under the raft, and after several 
 efforts got his head above water, amongst the trunks 
 of trees, covered over witli smaller wood to tlie depth 
 of several feet. 
 
 Scarcely liad he secured himself, when the Indians 
 arrived on the river, screeching and yelling in a most 
 frightful manner. They were frequently on the raf^ 
 during the day, and were seen through the chinks by 
 Colter, who was congratulating himself on his escape, 
 till the idea arose that they might set the raft on fire. 
 In horrible suspense, he remained until niglit ; when, 
 hearing no more of the Indians, he dived from under 
 the raft, and swam down the river to a considerable 
 distance, when he landed, and travelled all night. 
 
150 
 
 ESCAPE FROM TUE INDIANS. 
 
 il 
 
 Although happy in having escaped from tlie In- 
 dians, his situation was still dreadful. He was com- 
 pletely nakod, under a burning sun ; the soles of his 
 feet Avere lilled with the thorns of the prickly pear ; 
 he was hungry, and he had no means of killing game, 
 althougli he saw abundance around him ; and he was 
 at a great distance from the nearest settlement. 
 
 Almost any man but an American hunter would 
 have despaired under such cii'cumstances. The forti- 
 tude of Colter, however, remained unshaken. After 
 seven days' sore travel, during which he had nothing 
 but roots for his sustenance, he at length arrived in 
 safety at Lisa's Fort, on the Bigthorn branch of the 
 Boche Jaune river. 
 
 During the walk home of the young people, an 
 animated discussion arose among them respecting the 
 Indians. Brian and Basil urged many things against 
 them, especially their cruelty; but Austin, who seemed 
 to see everything with an Indian eye, upheld them 
 through thick and thin. They had, to be sure, he 
 said, some bad qualities, which he doubted not might 
 soon be corrected; but as for honesty, quickness of 
 perception, and bravery, he would match them against 
 all the world. 
 
 I ' 
 
 :7{» 
 
IMilAN iHUtSlM XNSIM)* 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ! I 
 
 Buffalnes— Bisons- A ,'^rand surrciund of buffaloes — A butTalo wallow — ni>ars 
 — Adventure with a (grizzly b>?,ar — Anecdote of a coniiuon bear— A\ ild 
 horses — Catching horses witli tb.c lasso — Creasing horses— CotiKcrs— Wo! vcs 
 — White, black, and clouded wolves — Deer — Moose deer — Klk— Coiiunon 
 deer — the Wapiti deer — Black-tailed deer — Cariboo — Mountain sheoj^. — 
 Prairie doffs — Jlusk rats—Taking musk rats — Fearful adventure of the 
 jirairie on fire. 
 
 " Rememueu," said Austin, as he urged bis brothers 
 to quickcD their pace on their way to the cotta<;(', 
 "we have hardly heard anything yet about bulltiloes 
 
152 
 
 THE BUFFALO AND BISON. 
 
 I.; 
 
 
 and grizzly bears, and other animals which are found 
 in ilie woods and the prairie. Let us make haste, that 
 we may hear all about them." 
 
 Brian and Basil, being almost as anxious as their 
 brother to hear all about bears and buffaloes, quickened 
 their pace as he desired them, so that no long period 
 had passed, before the hunter, at the request of his 
 youthful visitors, was engaged in giving them the 
 desired account. 
 
 " The different animals and birds," said he, " that 
 inhabit different countries, for the most part roam 
 backwards and forwards, according to the season. 
 Creatures that love the cold move northerly in sum- 
 mer, and such as delight in a warmer clime move 
 southerly in winter. It is, however, principally to 
 obtain food that they remove from one place to another. 
 I must here explain to you, that though I have, in 
 common with most others who talk of North America, 
 spoken of buffaloes, the animal which abounds in the 
 prairie is not the buffalo, but the bison. 
 
 Austin. But if they are bisons, why are they called 
 buffaloes ? 
 
 Hunter. That is a question that I hardly know how 
 to answer. From whatever cause it may have arisen, 
 certain it is, that the name of buffalo has become 
 common ; and that being the case, it is used in con- 
 versation, and oftentimes in books, as being more 
 easily understood. 
 
 Brian. What is the difference between a buffalo and 
 a bison ? 
 
 1'.= 
 

 
 BUFFALO HUNT. 
 
 153 
 
 Hunter. A buffalo is an animal that abounds in 
 Africa, resembling an ugly cow, with a body long, but 
 rather low ; it has very long horns : but the bison 
 stands very high in front, has a hump on the back part 
 of the neck covered with long hair, short horns, and a 
 profusion of long shaggy hair hanging from its head, 
 neck, and fore legs. 
 
 Austin. A bison must look much fiercer than a 
 buffalo. 
 
 Hunter. He does ; and from tlie circumstance of his 
 fore parts standing high, while he carries his h;'nd 
 low, he always appears ua if lie were about to run at 
 you. Bisons abound throughout uie whole of North 
 America, west of the Mississippi j but the reckless 
 way in which they are slaughtered, and the spread of 
 civilization, are likely, in t low years, greatly to de- 
 crease their numbers. Indians suffer much from 
 hunger, but they are very reckless when buffaloes are 
 plentiful. On one occasion, when among the Minata- 
 rees, I witnessed a grand surround of buffaloes. This 
 was effected by different parties taking dillerent di- 
 rections, and then gradually approaching each other ; 
 the buffalo herd was thus hemmed in on all sides, and 
 the slaughter was terrible. The unerring rifle, the 
 sharp spear, and the winged arrow, had full employ ; 
 and so many but^ii' es were slain, that, after taking 
 their tongues and other choice parts of them for food, 
 hundreds of carcases were left for the prairie wolves 
 to devour. Thus it is that man, whether savage or 
 civilized, tuo often becomes prodigal of the abundance 
 
154 
 
 THE GRIZZLY BEAU. 
 
 
 be eiijoya, and knows not tlie value of what he pos- 
 sesses, till taught it by that want into which bin 
 thoughtless waste has plunged him. 
 
 Austin. They will soon kill all the buifaloes if they 
 go on in th:it manner. 
 
 Hunter. At pivsent, they are to be seen on the 
 prairie in drov(3S of many thousands ; the woods, also, 
 abound with them ; mucI often, in the lieat of sunnner, 
 an inealeulable number of heads and horns are visible 
 in the rivers, the bodies of the bisons being under the 
 water. 
 
 Brian. What, because they are so hot ? 
 
 Hunter. Yes ; the bison suffers very nuich from 
 heat. It is no uncommon thing to see a bison bull 
 lay liimself down in a puddle of water, and turn him- 
 self round and round in it, till he has liall'-covcred his 
 body with mud. The puddle hole which he thus makes 
 is called a bison wallow, or more commonly a bulfalo 
 wallow. The puddle cools him while he is in it, and 
 when he (piits it, the nuid plastered on his sides defends 
 him from the burning heat of the sun. 
 
 Basil. What a figure a bison bull nnist look, with his 
 shaggy hair, and his sides phustered all over with mud ! 
 
 Hunter. Bears are often most formidable foes to the 
 hiniti'r ; but there is this striking difference between 
 the connnon bear and the grizzly bear, that while the 
 former eavs mostly vegetables, and will do his best to 
 get out of your way, the latter eats nothing but flesh, 
 ami is almost sure to attack vou. Iluuters and 
 Indians make it a rule never to lire at a grizzly bear, 
 
) 
 
 .1 
 
 I 
 
 1 1 
 
 ADVENTUKE WITH A GlllZZlA' BEAU. 
 
 \ij>) 
 
 unless? in self-defonco; except in eases wlien tliey have 
 a strong party, or can fire iroin a tree ; for, wlien lie 
 is wounded, his fury knows no bounds. 
 
 Austin, llow can you escape from a grizzly bear, 
 if hv is so very fierce ? 
 
 JEunfer. The connnon bear can eliud) a tree, as .1 
 liave already told you: but the grizzly bear is no 
 climber. If you have time to get up into a ti-ee, you 
 are safe; if not, you must reserve your shot till the 
 animal is near you, that you may take a steady aim. 
 You nnist then fight it out in the best way you can. 
 Grizzly bears are sometimes of a very large size, 
 measuring from nine to ten feet in length. It was on 
 the U^pper INlissoui'i that I was once chased by one 
 of these terrible fellows, and a narrow escape 1 had. 
 
 Austin. How was it ? Tell us all about it. 
 
 lluntrr. I had just fired olf my rifle at a bird which 
 I took for an eagle, little thinking how soon my 
 wasted bullet, for I did not strike the bird, wouhl 
 be wanted in defiance of my life. The crack of my 
 
 f)ieee reverberated among tlie rocky fragments, and 
 )locks of pumice stone, that lay scattered on the 
 ])roken ground, betw(HMi the green-topped blufis that 
 rose from the prairie ; and I suppose it was this that 
 brought Sir l^ruin u|)()n me. \\v came on with huge 
 strides, and T had nothing but a hunting knife to use 
 in my defence, my dis(!harged rifh^ being of no use. 
 There was no tree near, so throwing down my piece, 
 1 drew my knifi^ as a forlorn hope in my extremity. 
 Austin. A hunting knife against a grizzly bear! 
 
15G 
 
 THE BEAR AND THE COW. 
 
 Hunter. When the huge monster was within a few 
 yards of nie, to my amazement, I lieard the report of 
 two rifles, and in the same instant my tremendous foe 
 fell, with two bullets in his head. This timely assist- 
 ance was rendered me by two of our party, who, 
 having followed my track, were near me when I thought 
 myself alone. 
 
 Austin. Never was any one in greater danger. 
 
 Hunter. I will tell you an anecdote thot I have 
 read of a common bear. A boy, about eight years 
 old, was sent by his motlier into the Vv^oods to briug 
 home the old cow. At the distance of somewhat 
 more than a half a mile, he found her, attended by 
 some young cattle. He began to drive them home ; 
 but had not proceeded far, when a bear came out of 
 the bushes, and seemed disposed to make his ac- 
 quaintance. 
 
 The boy did not like his company ; so he jumped 
 upon the old cow's back, and held on by her horns. 
 She set out at full speed, and the bear after her. 
 The young cattle, lifting their tails in the air, broup^ht 
 up the rear. Thus they proceeded, the young ones 
 behind iVtHpiently coming up to the bear, and giving 
 him a tlirust with their horns. 
 
 This compelled him to turn roimd, and thus the 
 old cow, with her brave rider, got somewhat in advance. 
 The bear then galloped on, and approaching the boy, 
 attempted to seize him ; but the old cow cantered 
 along, »id finally brought the boy to his mother's 
 house iu safety. The bear, thinking he should not be 
 
 — 
 
WILD HORSES. 
 
 157 
 
 welcome there, after approaching the house, lurned 
 about, and scampered back to the forest. Sir 15ruin 
 knew wlien he was well oi^': a whole skin is the best 
 covering a bear can have ; but, if he ventures among 
 mankind, he is likely enough to have it stripped over 
 his ears. 
 
 Austin. Famous! famous! That was a capital old 
 cow, for she saved the boy's life. 
 
 Basil. But the young cattle helped her, for Ihey 
 pushed the bear with their horns. 
 
 Bi'inn. Please to tell us about wild horses. 
 
 Hunter. The hordes or bands of wild horses that 
 abound in some of the prairies, are not considered to 
 be natives of America, but the offspring of Spanish 
 horses brought to jVIcxico by Euro])eMns. They are 
 extremely shy, keen in tluMr sight, and swift of foot, 
 so that to come up with thein, except by surprise, is 
 no easy thing. 1 have seen them in gr(>Mt numbers 
 from the brow of a bhilf, or when ])eeping at them 
 cautiously from a ravine. 
 
 Austin. AV^hat kind of horses are they; and of what 
 colour ? 
 
 Hunter. Some of them are fine aniinnls, but in 
 general they are otherwise. Stunted and co' .sc; in 
 aj)pearance, they are of various colours — l)ay, chestnut, 
 cream, grey, ])i(>bald, white, and black, with long tails, 
 fetlocks, to])-knots, and m:mcs. 
 
 Brian. How do thev catch them ? 
 
 JIuntrr. In dilfiM'ent ways. SometinicR a well- 
 mounted Indian, armed with his rille, follows a horde 
 
158 
 
 CATCHING WILD HORSES. 
 
 of horses, until he can get a fair shot at the best 
 among them. He aims at the top of the neck, and if 
 he succeeds in striking the high gristle there, it stuns 
 the animal for the moment, when he falls to the ground 
 without being injured. This is called creasing a horse ; 
 but a bad marksman would kill, and not crease, the 
 noble animal he seeks to subdue. 
 
 Austin. AVhat other way is there of catching wild 
 horses ? for that seems a very bad one. 
 
 Basil. It is a very bad way. They ought not to 
 slioot them. 
 
 Hunter. They are much more commonly taken with 
 tlie lasso ; which is a tliong at least a dozen yards long, 
 ending in a noose. This the Indians throw, at full 
 gallop, over the head of the flying steed they wish to 
 secure. Rarely do they miss their aim. When a 
 horse is thus caught, the hunter leaps from his steed, 
 and lets out the lasso gradually, choking his captive 
 till he is obliged to stop: he then contrives to hopple 
 or tie his fore legs ; to fasten the lasso round his lower 
 jaw ; to breathe in his nostrils, and to lead him home. 
 
 Austin. J^reathe in his nostrils ! Why, what does 
 he do that for ? 
 
 Hunter, liecause experience has taught him, that 
 it do(*s much towards rendering his captive more 
 manageable. It is said, that if an Indian breathes 
 I'reely into the nostrils of a wild young buffalo on the 
 prairif^ llio creature will r()lh)w him with all the gentle- 
 ness niid dc^cility of a lamb. 
 
 Brian, AV^ell, that does appear strange ! 
 
COUQERS, WOLVES, ETC. 
 
 159 
 
 le 
 
 !l 
 
 ut 
 
 Ics 
 lie 
 
 Hunter. There is one animal, which the Indians, 
 the hunters, and trappers sometimes meet with, that 
 I liave not mentioned. It is the conger, or panther, 
 or painter, or American lion ; for it goes by all these 
 names. Now and then, it is to be seen in the thick 
 forests of the west ; but, being a sad coward, it is not 
 so much dreaded as it otherwise would be. 
 
 Brian. I should not much like to meet a conger. 
 
 Hunter. The common wolf of America is as big 
 as a Newfoundland dog, and a sulky, savage-louking 
 animal he is. So long as lie can feed in solitary places 
 lie prefers to do so, but, when hunger-pressed, he at- 
 tacks the fold ; after which, Mr. Grizzly-skin loses no 
 time in getting to a place of shelter, for he knows 
 that should he outrun the stanch hounds that will 
 soon be on his track, yet will a rifle ball outrun him. 
 
 Brian. Yes, yes ; Mr. Grizzly-back is very cunning. 
 
 Hunter. Tlie prairie wolf is smaller than the com- 
 mon wolf. Prairie w^olves hunt after deer, which 
 they generally overtake ; or keep close to a builalo 
 herd, feeding on such as die, or on those who are 
 badly wounded in fighting with one another. The 
 white, black, and clouded wolves are in the northern 
 i;arts. 
 
 Austin. I cannot bear those wolves. 
 
 Jlunfcr. There are many kinds of deer. I told 
 you that sometimes a deer hunt took place on a largo 
 scale, by inclosing a circle, and driving the deer h\\o 
 it. In shooting antelopes, the hunter lias only to stick 
 up his ramrod in the ground in their neighbourhood, 
 
IGO 
 
 yahious kinds of deer. 
 
 and throw over it his handkerchief; wliile he, witli 
 his rifle ready loaded, lies on tlie grass near at hand. 
 The antelopes will soon approach the handkerchief 
 to see what it is, when tlib hunter may send a bullet 
 through two or three of them. The largest deer is 
 tlie moose deer, which is often seen seven feet high. 
 lie is an awkward, overgrown-looking creature, with 
 broad horns ; but, awkward as he is, I question if any 
 of you could outrun him. Mountain and valley, lake 
 and river, seem alike to him, for he crosses them all. 
 In the snow, to be sure, the unwearied and persever- 
 ing hound will overtake him; but let him beware of 
 his horns, or he vrill be ikying head over heels in the 
 air in a twinkling. The moose deer, however, cannot 
 successfully strive with the huuter, for a bullet from 
 liis rifle overtakes him, and brings him to the ground. 
 
 Austin. Nothing can stand against man. 
 
 Hunter. And yet what is man opposed to his 
 Maker ? Ilis strength is perfect weakness ! In a 
 moment, in the twinkling of an eye, he " clianges his 
 countenance, and sends him away,*' Job xiv. 20. 
 
 Basil. What other kinds of deer do Indians catcli ? 
 
 Ilnnfer. The elk, Avith his large branching horns, 
 who would despise a palace as a dwelling place. No- 
 thinsj: less than the broad sky above liis head, and the 
 ground of the boundless forest beneath his feet, will 
 satisfy him. After the elk, come the Virginia, or 
 common deer, tlic* wapiti deer, the black-tailed deer, 
 and the cariboo. All these are the y)rey of the luinter. 
 Their savoury flesh supplies him with food, and their 
 
THE WAPITI DEEK. 
 
 161 
 
 soft skins are articles of merchandise. On the rugt^od 
 edge of pumice stone rocks, and the wild front of pre- 
 
 \ 
 
 ^^:.M^mm 
 
 'A^I.V.J~ J^-'^.,^ - >t 
 
 THE WAPITI bKER. 
 
 cipitmia rlnj'cy cliffs, may oftcMi be seiMi mountain 
 sheep skippinc; from one le(l<;(» to another, <j;iving life 
 to the solitary ])hu'e, and \\\\ added interest to tlie 
 picturesque beauty of lonely spots. 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 THE MUSK KAT. 
 
 Austin. Toil have told us all the animals now, 
 I think, that the hunter chases ; for you spoke before 
 about beavers, badgers, foxes, racoons, squirrels, and 
 some others. 
 
 Basil. You have never told us, though, how they 
 catch the musk rat. I should like to know that. 
 
 Hunter. Well, then, I will tell you how they take 
 the musk rat, and speak a word about the prairie dog. 
 Prairie dogs are a sort of marmot, ^ t their bark is 
 somewliat like that of a small dog. E.ising from the 
 level prairie, you may sometimes see, for miles to- 
 gether, small hillocks of a conelike form, thrown up 
 by tlic prairie dogs, which burrow some eight or ten 
 feet in the ground. On a fine day, myriads of these 
 dogs, not much unlike so many rats, run about, or 
 sit barking on the tops of their hillocks. The mo- 
 ment any one approaches them, they disappear, taking 
 shelter in their burrows. 
 
 Austin. Oh, the cunning little rogues. 
 
 Hunter. The musk rat builds his burrow, which 
 looks like a hay-stack, of wild rice stalks ; so that, 
 while he has a dry lodging, a hole at the bottom enables 
 him, when he pleases, to pass into the shallow water 
 beneath his burrow or lodge. In taking a musk rat, 
 a person strikes the top of the burrow, and out scam- 
 pers the tenant within; but no sooner does he run 
 through his hole into the shallow water, than he is 
 instantly caught with a spear. Myriads of these 
 little animals are taken in this manner ibr their fur. 
 
 Brian. They must be a good deal like prairie dogs, 
 
 I ' 
 
PRAIIIIE FIRES. 
 
 103 
 
 i; 
 
 though one has his house on the land, and the other 
 in the water. 
 
 Hunter. These wide prairies, on which roam bisons, 
 and horses, and deer innumerable, and these shallow 
 waters, where musk rats abound, will most likely, 
 in succeeding years, assume another character. White 
 men will possess them ; civilized manners and customs 
 will prevail, and Christianity spread from the Missis- 
 sippi to the Eocky Mountains ; for the kingdoms of 
 the world are to become the kingdoms of the Lord, 
 and of his Christ. 
 
 Brian. AVhat are prairie fires ? 
 
 Hunter. I mean the burning grass, set on fire by ac- 
 cident, or purposely, for the double advantage of obtain- 
 ing a clearing path and an abundant crop of fresh grass : 
 but I must relate an adventure of my own, of a kind not 
 likely to be forgotten. So long as a prairie fire is con- 
 fined to the high grounds, there is very little danger 
 from it ; for, in such situations, the grass being short, 
 the fire never becomes large, though the line of flame 
 is a long one. Birds and beasts retire before it in a 
 very leisurely manner ; but in places where the grass 
 is long, it is very ditlci'ent. 
 
 Austin. I should like to see a prairie on lire. It 
 must make a fine blaze. 
 
 Hunter. That would depend upon circumstances. 
 If the fire were on a blulf there would not be much of 
 a blaze, for, as I have already told you, the grass is 
 short on the blufi's. To be sure, the sight of a bluif on 
 fire, on a dark night, is very singular ; for as you can 
 
164 
 
 A PRATRIE ON riRE. 
 
 only aoe the curved line of flame, the bluff being 
 hidden by the darkness, so it seems as though the 
 curved lines of flame were up in the air, or in the sky. 
 
 Jjasil. They must look very beautiful. 
 
 Hunter. They do: but when a fire takes place in 
 a low bottom of long grass, sedge, and tangled dry 
 plants, more than six feet high ; and when a rushing 
 wind urges on the fiery ruin, flashing like the lightning 
 and roai'ing like the thunder; the appearance is not 
 beautiful, but terrible. I have heard the shrill war- 
 whoop, and the clash of contending tomahawks in 
 the fight, when no quaiter has been given. I have 
 witnessed the wild burst where Niagai'jv, a river of 
 waters, ilings itself headlong down tlie Horseshoe 
 Fall; and I have been exposed to the fury of the 
 hurricane. But none ol" these are half so terrible 
 as the flaming oceau of a long grass prairie fire. 
 
 Austin. Oh! it nuist be terrible. 
 
 Hunter. The trapper is bold, or he is not fit for his 
 calling; the hunter is brave, or he could never wage 
 war as he does Avith danger ; and the Indian from his 
 childhood is familiar with peril : yet the Indian, the 
 hunter, and the trapper tremble, as well they may, at a 
 prairie meadow fire. But I must relate my adventure. 
 
 Brian. Do ; I like to hear about what you have 
 seen. "And so do I," cried Basil, "and I will be quite 
 still while you tell us." 
 
 Hunter. A party of five of us, well mounted, and 
 having with us our rifles and lances, were making the 
 best of our way across one of the low prairie bottoms, 
 
A PBAIETE ON FIRE. 
 
 105 
 
 
 
 where the thick coarse grass and slirubs, even as we 
 sat on our horses, were often as higli as our heads ; 
 when we noticed, every now and then, a flight of 
 prairie hens, or grouse, rapidly winging tlieir way hy 
 us. Two of our party were of tlie Blackfoot tribe; 
 their names were Ponokah (elk) and Moeese (wig- 
 wam.) These Indians had struck into a btiilalo ti-ail, 
 and we liad proc L'ded for a cou])lc of hours as last as 
 the matted grass and wild pea-vines would aHow, 
 when sudden! V the wind that was blowing]: furiouslv 
 from the east became northerly, and in a moment, 
 Moeese, snuffing the air, uttered the words, " Pah 
 kapa," (bad ;) and Ponokah, glancing his eye« north- 
 ward, added, " Eehcooa pah kaps," (very bad.) 
 
 Austin. I know what is coming. 
 
 Brian. And so do I. 
 
 Hunter. In another ii.stant a crash was heard, and 
 Ponokah, who was a little a-head, cried out, " Eneuli !" 
 (buffalo!) when three bisons came dashing furiously 
 along another trail towards us. No sooner did they 
 set eyes on us, than they abruptly turned southward. 
 By this time, we all understood that, to the north, the 
 prairie was on fire ; for the air smelt strong. Deer, 
 and bisons, and other animals, sprang forward in dif- 
 ferent dirc<'tions from the prairies, and a smoke, not 
 very distani, like a cloud, was visible. 
 
 Austin. I hope you set off at full gallop. 
 
 Hunter. A¥e were quite disposed to urge our horses 
 onward ; but tlie trail took a turn towards the burn- 
 ing prairie, and we were obliged to force our way 
 
IGG 
 
 A PIIAIIIIE ON FT 
 
 into another, in doing which my horse got his feet 
 entangled, and he fell, pitching me over his head some 
 yards before him. I was not hurt by the fall, for the 
 thick herbage protected me ; but the worst of it was, 
 that my rifle, which had been carelessly slung, fell 
 from my shoulder among the long grass, and being 
 somewhat confused by my fall, I could not find it. 
 
 Brian. You ought not to have stopped a moment. 
 
 Hunter. Perhaps not ; but to a hunter, a rifle is no 
 trifling loss, and I could not make up my mind to 
 lose mine. Time was precious, for the smoke rapidly 
 increased ; and both Ponokah and Moeese, who knew 
 more about burning prairies than I did, and were 
 therefore more alive to our danger, became very im- 
 patient. By the time my rifle was found, and we 
 were ready to proceed, the fire had gained upon us 
 in a crescent form, so that before and behind we were 
 hemmed in. The only point clear of the smoke was 
 to the south ; but no trail ran that way, and we feared 
 that, in forcing a road, another accident might occur 
 like that whicli had befallen us. 
 
 Austin. What did you do then ? 
 
 Basil. Oh, I should have been so frightened. 
 
 Hunter. Our disaster had come upon us so unex- 
 ])cctedly, and the high wind had so hurried on the 
 flaming ruin, that there seemed to be no time for a 
 moment's thought. Driven by necessity, we plunged 
 into the thick grass to the south ; but our progress 
 was not equal to that of the fire, which was now fast 
 approaching, blackening the air with smoke, and roar- 
 
A TRAIRIE ON FIRE. 
 
 1G7 
 
 
 ing every moment louder and louder. Our deairuc- 
 tion seemed almost certain; when Ponokab, judi^inpf, 
 I suppose, by the comparative thinness of the siuoke 
 eastward, that we were not far from the boundary of 
 the prairie bottom, dashed boldly along a trail in that 
 direction, in the face of the fire, crying out to us to 
 follow. With the daring of men in extremity, we put 
 our horses to their speed, broke through the smoke, 
 fire, grass, and flame, and found ourselves almost 
 instantly on a patch of ground over which the fire 
 had passed ; but, as tlie grass had evidently been 
 scanty, we were free from danger. From a neigh- 
 bouring bluff*, which the smoke had before hidden 
 from our view, we saw the progress of the thiiue — a 
 spectacle that filled me with amazement. The danger 
 we had escaped seemed increased by the sight of the 
 fearful conflagration, and I know not whether terror, 
 amazement, or thankfulness most occupied my mind. 
 
 Austin. That was indeed a narrow escape. 
 
 Hunter. As we stood on the bluft', dismounted, to 
 gaze on the flying flames — which appeared in tlie 
 distance like a huge fiery snake of some miles in 
 length, writhing in torture — my wonder increased. 
 The spectacle was fearful and sublime, and the con- 
 flagration nearest to us resembled the breakers of the 
 deep that dash on a rocky shore, only formed of fire, 
 roaring and destroying, preceded by thick clouds of 
 smoke. Before tJien, I had been accustomed to sights 
 and scenes of peril, and had witnessed the burning 
 of short grass to some extent; but this was the fir^t 
 
lOS 
 
 A. PUAIllIE ON FIIIK. 
 
 ti'Mo T hiid boon in siioli t'oarl'iil (l;in«j;or — tlio first 
 tinu' I tblt the jiwt'ulnosa of such a Hitiiution — the 
 lirst linio tliat I had roally soon tho prairio on firo. 
 
 lirinii. Thoro is nothin<j; in tlio world that is like a 
 buniini; prairio, nnlt^ss it bo a burning luountain. 
 
 lluntrr. \ burning [)rairio, wluMi wo are noar it, is 
 a vast and ovorwboiining spootaclo; but ovory rising 
 and sotting t^un oxhibiis Abnighty wisdom, powor, 
 aiul goo(bu'ss, on a scalo inlinitoly boyond that ot* a 
 Innidrod burning prairios. It is a good thing to 
 acoustoui oursolvos to rogard llu* works of oroalion 
 around us with tliat attention and woucKt thov aro 
 oalcuhitod to inspiro, and ospooially to [joihKm' on 
 tho nianit'ostation of (Jod's graoo sot forth in Ids 
 lioly word. Whon burinng imdrios and burning 
 mountains sliail bo all t\\tinguishod ; whon rising 
 and sotting suns and all oarthly glory shall bo un- 
 known; thon shall tho followors of tho llodt^omor 
 gazo on tho bi'ightor glorios of hoavcMi, and dwoll for 
 evor with thoir lioador and their Loi-d. 
 
 L... 
 
^ 
 
 
 ni'riAI.O I>AN<K. 
 
 ('ii\pti:k xr. 
 
 Giimos— Rftll pliiv anion ix tli('('li(Hta\vs--r'.(ill play l.y the wonion r.f tlio IVhirio 
 (III Cliicn— Ildrscnianshiii Foot races- Caiwn- races- Wrcstlinir—Tlic >ja!n(! 
 of t(limiL,'-k(c uiiii.iii; the .Matidans - An hcry- llic iraiiir of tlie arrow — 
 Swimniinf,' Mode of swiniiiiiiii; ciistdinary anion;,' tlic Iniliaiis I'ranli of 
 tlic.Minctari'f.scliildrcn nn tlic Knifo Kiver -Hnilalo dunce The poor Indian 
 woina!i. 
 
 Bi^FFALOKS, boar.^, wild horses, wolvos, dorr, ])rnirl(' 
 (l()«^s, and imislv rats, were a f'niiirul source of conver- 
 sation to the vonnfj; people in their leisure hours, until 
 
 S>1( 
 
 h t 
 
 th 
 
 iini^ as tliev could ai^nun visit their interestini,' 
 
 it th 
 
 trieud at the cottage. Various plans were formed 
 
 „i 
 
 L::izr 
 
170 
 
 BEAR HUNT. 
 
 to attack grizzly bears, to catch wild horses, and to 
 scare away lialt-famished wolves ; in all of which, 
 Jowler, notwithstanding his bad behaviour at the 
 buHalo hunt, was expected to act a distinguished part. 
 Black Tom was scarcely considered worth thinking 
 about, he being too wild by half for a wild horse, and 
 too faint-hearted for a grizzly bear. At one time, it 
 was so far determined for him to ])lay the part of a 
 prairie dog, that Austin set about digging a hole for 
 him : before it was finished, however, the plan was 
 abandoned; Brian and Basil both feeling positive 
 that, let Austin dig a hole as deep as he would, Black 
 Tom would never be persuaded to run into it. 
 
 After much deliberation, catching wild liorses being 
 given up — on the score that Black Tom would run 
 away too fast, and Jowler would not run away at all 
 — a bear hunt was resolved on, having, as Brian 
 observed, two especial advantages : the first, tliat all 
 of them could enjoy the sport at once ; and the 
 second, that Jowler would be sure to attack them all, 
 just like a grizzly bear. 
 
 No time was lost i.\ preparing tlieir long spears, 
 and in dressing thenis Ives as mucli like renowned 
 chiei's as tlieir knowl('(l<:,o and resources wouhl allow. 
 And, in order that Jowler miglit the more closely 
 resemble a grizzly bear, a white pinafore was spr(\'id 
 over his broad back, and tied round his neck. The 
 lawn was, as before, the scene of their high exploits, 
 the prairie on which the fearful monster was to be 
 overcome; and, to the credit of their courage be it 
 
 
HALL PLAY OP THE CIIOCTAWS. 
 
 171 
 
 Id 
 
 ,^1 
 
 )0 
 
 it 
 
 { 
 
 ppoken, neither Austin, Brian, nor Basil manifested 
 tFie slightest token of fear. 
 
 Jowler was led by them among the buslies of tlie 
 shrubbery, that he might burst out upon them all at 
 once ; and this part of the arrangement answered 
 excellently well, only that Jowler arrived on the 
 prairie first instead of last ; add to which, the bushes 
 having so far despoiled him of his grizzly hide, the 
 white pinafore, as to have pulled it oil" his back, he 
 set to work mouthing and tearing at it, to get it from 
 his neck. At last, in spite of a few untoward and 
 unbearlike actions on the part of Jowler, the attack 
 took place. With undaunted resolution, Austiu sus- 
 tained Jowler's most furious chnrges; Brian scarcely 
 manifested less bravery; and li tie Basil, though he 
 had broken his lance, and twice fallen to the earth 
 made a despei'atc and successful attack on his fearful 
 antagonist, and caught liim fast by the tail. It was 
 on the whole a capital adventure ; for though they 
 could not with truth say that they had killed the bear, 
 neither could the bear say that he had killed them. 
 
 The bear hunt boi.ig at an end, th^y set olf for the 
 cottage; for the hui't'T had ])romised to describe tc 
 them some of the gu nes of the liulian tribes, lie 
 was soon engaged iu giving theiu an account of the 
 ball play of the Chu^taws. "The Choctaws," said he, 
 "are perhaps ah/ t liftcen tuousand in nund)er ; they 
 wen* removed from tlie nortlierii })arts of Alabama, 
 aud from the Mississipj)i, and are now south of the 
 Arkansas. At tlic Clioctaw ball play thousands of 
 
172 
 
 BALL PLAT OF THE ClIOCTAWS. 
 
 spectators attend, and sometimes a thonsand young 
 men are engaged in tlie game." 
 
 Austin. A thousand men playing at ball! AVhat a 
 sight ! 
 
 Ihinter. The game is ])layed in tlie open prairie, and 
 the ])layers liave no clothes on but their breech- 
 clothes, a beautiful belt I'ormed of beads, a mane of 
 dyed horsehair of dilfercnt colours, and a tnil sticking 
 out behind like the tail of a horse; this last is either 
 formed of white horsehair or of quills. 
 
 Brian. And how do they play ? 
 
 Hunter. Every man has two sticks, with a kind of 
 lioop at the end, webbed across, and ^vith these they 
 catch and strike the ball. The goal on each side, 
 consisting of two upright posts aud a pole across the 
 top, is set up twenty-live feet high ; these goals are 
 from forty to fifty rods a])art. Every time either 
 party can strike the ball through their goal, one is 
 reckoned, and a hundred is game. 
 
 sculile there must be 
 
 among 
 
 so 
 
 Basil. What a 
 many of them ! 
 
 Hunter. When everything is ready for the game to 
 begin, a gun is iired ; and some old uhmi, who are to 
 be the judges, fling up the ball in the middle, halfway 
 between the two goals. 
 
 Brian. Now for the struggle. 
 
 Hunter. One party being painted white, every man 
 knows his opponent. No sooner is the ball in the air, 
 than a riisli takes place. Every one with his webbed 
 stick raised above his head; no one is allowed to 
 
'C 
 T 
 
 is 
 
 .0 
 
 () 
 
 Ml 
 
 to 
 
 I I 
 
 INDIAN HORSEMANSIIIP. 
 
 173 
 
 strike or touch the ball with his hands. Tlu>v erv 
 out aloud at the very top of llieir voices, rush ou, leaj) 
 up to strike tlie ball, and do all they can to help their 
 own side and hinder their opponents. They h^ip over 
 each other, dart between their rivals' le«j;s, trip them 
 up, throw them down, pjrapple with two or three at a 
 time, and often fall to fisty-cuiVs in right earm^st. 
 There the}'^ are, in the midst of olouds of dust, riinninp^, 
 strikinc^, and stru<2:L!;lini}[ with all their mi<j;ht; so that, 
 what witli the rattle of the sticks, the cries, the 
 wrestlinjj^, the bloody noses, the bruised shins, the 
 dust, uj)roar, and confusion, such a scene of excite- 
 ment is hardly to be eipialled by any otlier game in 
 the world. 
 
 Brian. How long does the game last? 
 
 lluutn'. It begins about eight or nine o'clock in 
 tlie moniinii, and sonu^times is scarcely linishcd by 
 Huns{>t. A miiuite's rest is allowed every tune the 
 ball is urired beyond the goal, and then the game goes 
 on a2:ain till it is iiiiisluMl. There is another ball play 
 somewhat resembling this, which is played by the 
 women of ihe Pi-airie du Chien, while Ihe uhmi watch 
 tlu^ progress of the game, or lounge on the ground, 
 laugliing at tlu-m. 
 
 Affstin. Do they ever nm races? 
 
 Ifinifrr. Yes, and very ex))ert they are; many of 
 the tribes are extravagantly fond of horses. AVhen 
 you see a Eed Indian, with Ins shield and quiviM', his 
 oriinmenlcd shirt, leggings, and mocassins ; his long 
 liair llowing behind him, or his bead-dress of the war- 
 
- «"■!»■!■ ii:*-1*^><^,;^;3]ft.^;,,,..,. 
 
 Is 
 
 i 
 
 174 
 
 SKILL IN HORSEMANSHIP. 
 
 eagle falling gracefully nearly to his heels ; his lance 
 in his hand ; and his dress ornamented with ermine, 
 shells, porcupine quills, and a profusion of scalp-locks 
 — when you see him thus standing on the ground, 
 you see him out of character. He should spring on a 
 horse wild as the winds ; and then, as he brandishes 
 his lance, with his pendent plumes, and hair and scalp- 
 locks waving in the breeze, you see him in his proper 
 element. Horse racing among the Indians is an 
 exciting scene. The cruel custom, of urging useful 
 and noble animals beyond their strength, is much the 
 same in savage as in civilized life ; but the scene is 
 oftentimes more wild, strange, and picturesque than 
 you can imagine. 
 
 Austin. Yes, I remember you told us that the 
 Camanchees are capital riders. I was a Camanehee in 
 our buftalo hunt. Brian, you have not forgotten that ? 
 
 Brian, But you had no horse to ride. I was a 
 Sioux ; and the Sioux are capital riders too. 
 
 Basil. And so are the Pawnees. 1 was a Pawnee 
 in the buftalo hunt. 
 
 Hunter. I was informed that the Camanchees — and, 
 indeed, some of the Pawnees also — were able, while 
 nding a horse at full gallop, to lie along on one side 
 of him, with an arm in a sling from the horse's neek, 
 iind one heel over the horse's back ; and that, while 
 the body was thus screened from an enemy, they 
 could u tl ^r lances with effect, and throw their 
 arrows vith deadly r^'ww. The Camanchees are so 
 much or cheir horses, that they never seem so much 
 
 M 
 
 . I 
 
 I 
 \ 
 i 
 I 
 11 
 
INDIAN GAMES. 
 
 175 
 
 I 
 
 ;e 
 
 I ! 
 
 
 
 at their ease as when they are flying across the 
 prairie on horseback. 
 
 AiLstin. It would be "worth going to the prairies, if 
 it were only to see the Camauchees ride. 
 
 Hunter. Besides horse races, the Indians have foot 
 races, and canoe races, and wrestling. Among the Man- 
 dans, the game of tchung-Tcee w^as very popular, quite 
 as much as cricket is on fine summer days in England. 
 
 Austin. Tchung-kee ! What a strange name that is 
 for a game. 
 
 Bi'ian. But that is nothing to what you will have 
 to learn, Austin, if you go to live among the Indians. 
 Do you remember Duhk-pits-o-ho-shee, "the red bear;" 
 and Mah-to-rah-rish-nee-eeh-ee-rah, or something like 
 it, '"the grizzly bear that runs without regard?" 
 
 Austin. Yes ; those names are much harder. IIow 
 do the Indians play at tchung-tee, or thung-kee, or 
 whatever it is ? 
 
 Hunter. Tlie game is played by one rolling a stone 
 ring along, and then running after it, and sliding his 
 tchung-kee for it to fall upon. 
 
 JJasil. I cannot think what a tchung-kee is. 
 
 Hunter. A tchung-kee is a stick — it may be, per- 
 haps, six or seven feet loug — on which are fastened 
 bits of leather ; and he who slides his tchung-kee 
 along tlie ground, tries so to place it, that the ring, 
 when it stops, may fall with one of the bits of leather 
 through it. Perhaps you might not fnul much auuisc- 
 Dient in the game, but tlie Mandans used to practise 
 it continually. 
 
176 
 
 ARCHERY. 
 
 Brian. I tliink we might soon make some tcliung- 
 keea, and bowl the ring across the lawn, Austin. 
 
 Hunter. That would never do ; the game is played 
 on a hard clayey ground ; for neither the ring nor the 
 tchung-kee would run far enough along the grass. 
 
 Brian. Then it must be on the broad gravel walk ; 
 that will do capitally. 
 
 Hunter. The Indians are very fond of archery, in 
 wliich, using their bows and arrows so much as tliey 
 do, it is no wonder they are very clever. The game 
 of the arrow is a very favourite amusement with them. 
 
 Austin. That is a much easier name than tchung- 
 kee. IIow do they play at it ? 
 
 Hunter. It is played on the open prairie, where 
 the best bowmen assemble, to strive one with another. 
 Tliore is no target set up to shoot at, as there is in 
 Englisli archery ; but every arclier sends his first 
 arrow as liigh as he can into the air. 
 
 Austin. I see ! He who shoots the highest in the 
 air wins the game. 
 
 Hunter. jN^ot exactly so. It is not he who shoots 
 highest tliat is tlie victor; but he who can get the 
 greatest number of arrows into the air at the same 
 time. Picture to yourselves a hundred well-made, 
 active yo\ing men, on tlie open prairie, each carrying 
 a bow, willi eight or ton arrows, in his left hand. He 
 sends an arrow into the air with all his strength, and 
 then, instantly, with a rapidity that is truly surprising, 
 shoots arrow after arrow upwards, so that, before the 
 first arrow '\as reached the around, half a dozen others 
 
EXPERTNESS IX SWTMMIXO. 
 
 177 
 
 To 
 
 
 have moimted into the air. Often have I seen seven 
 or eight sliafta from the same bow in the air at once. 
 
 Austin. Brian, we will try wliat we can do to- 
 morrow ; but we shall never have so many as seven or 
 eight up at once. 
 
 Hunter. The Indians are famous swimmers, and 
 indeed, if they were not, it would often go hanl with 
 them. They are taught when very young to niake 
 their way through the water, and though they do it 
 usually in a manner difterent from that adopted by 
 white men, I hardly think many white men would 
 equal them, either as to their speed, or the length of 
 time they will continue in the wiuer. 
 
 Austin. But how do thev swim, if their wav is dif- 
 ferent to ours? I can swim a little, and 1 should 
 like to learn their way, if it is the best. 
 
 Hunter. I am not (piite prepared to say that ; for, 
 red men are more expert swimmers than 
 white men, that uiay be owing to their being more 
 frequently in the water. They lish a great deal in 
 the lakes : and they have often to cross brooks and 
 rivers in too much haste to allow them to get into a 
 canoe. A squaw thinks but very little of plunging 
 into a rolling river with a child on her back ; for 
 the women swim nearly, if not quite, as well as the 
 men. 
 
 Austin. But how do thev swim r 
 
 Hunter. Whites swim by striking out their legs 
 and both arms at the same time, keeping their breasts 
 straight against the water; but the Indian strikes 
 
 though 
 
178 
 
 CHILDISH PRAI^K. 
 
 out with one arm only, turning himself on his side 
 every stroke, first on one side and then on the other, 
 so that, instead of his hroad chef?t breasting the water 
 in front, he cuts through it sidiways, finding less 
 resistance in that way than the other. Much i.iay be 
 said in favour of both these modes. I always con- 
 sidered myself to bo a good swimmer, but I was no 
 matcii for the Ked Indians. I siiall not soon forget a 
 prank that was once played me on the Knife river, 
 by some of the Minetarees ; it convinced me of their 
 adroitness in the water. 
 
 Basil. What was it ? Did they dip your head 
 under the water ? 
 
 Hunter. No ; but you shall hear. I was crossing 
 the river in a bull boat, whicli is nothing more than a 
 tub, made of buffalo's skin, stretched on a framework 
 of willow boughs. The tub was just big enough to 
 hold me, and the few things which I had with me ; 
 when suddenly a group of young swimmers, most of 
 t)tein mere children, surrounded me, and began play- 
 fully to turn my titb round and round in the stream. 
 Not being prepared to swim, on account of my dress, 
 I began to manifest some fear lest my poor tub should 
 be overturned ; but tlie more fearful I was, the better 
 pleased were my mirtliful tormentors. 
 
 Austin. Ha ! ha ! ha ! I fancy I can see it spinning 
 round like a peg top, in the middle of the river. 
 
 Brian. And did they upset the tub ? 
 
 Hunter. No. After amusing themselves for some 
 time at my expense, now and then diving under the 
 
some 
 the 
 
 INDIAN DANCES. 
 
 179 
 
 tub, and then pullin^; down the edeje of it level witli 
 the Avater, on reeeiving a few beads, or other trilh s 
 wliich I happened to have witli me, they drew me 
 and my bull boat to tlie shore in safety. Tliey were; 
 beautiful swimmers, and, as I told you, not soon shall 
 I forget them. — The dances among tlie Indians are 
 very numerous; some of them are lively e' ;'iu,h, 
 while others are very grave; and, then, most of ;he 
 tribes are f(iiul of relating adventures. 
 
 Basil. PK.'^e to tell us the names of all the dances. 
 
 Hunter. T t would not be a verv easv undertaking;:. 
 Let me see ; there are the buftalo dance, the bear 
 dance, the dog dance, and the eagle dance. And then 
 there are the ball-play dance, the green-corn dance, 
 the beggars' dance, the slave dance, the snow-shoe 
 dance, and the straw dance ; and, besides these, tliere 
 are the discovery dance, the brave dance, tlie war 
 dance, the scalp dance, the pipe of peace dance, and 
 many others that I do not at this moment remember. 
 
 Brian. You must please to tell us about them all. 
 
 Austin. But not all at once, or else we shall have 
 too short an account. Suppose you tell us of two or 
 three of them now. 
 
 Hunter. To describe every dance at length would 
 be tiresome, as many of them have the same character. 
 It will be better to confine ourselves to a few of the 
 principal dances. I have known a buffalo dance con- 
 tinue for a fortnight or longer, day and night, Avithout 
 intermission. When I was amouii: the jNEaudans, everv 
 Indian had a buffalo mask ready to put on whenever 
 
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''"■^ttsmt^ti m i mmitmM t iiim ^MimmmiMir 
 
 ISO 
 
 TUE BUFFALO DAXCE. 
 
 lio required it. It was composed of the skiji of a 
 buffalo's liead, with tlie horns to it ; a long thin strip 
 of the buil'alo's hide, with the tail at the end of it, 
 hung down from the hack of the mask. 
 
 Austin. AYliat figures they would look with their 
 masks on ! Did you say that they kept up the dance 
 day and night ? 
 
 Hunter. Yes. The Mandans were strong in their 
 village, hut comparatively weak whenever they left it, 
 for then they were soon in the neighbourhood* of their 
 powerful enemies. This being the case, when the 
 buffaloes of the prairie wandered far away from them, 
 they were at times half starved. The buffalo dance 
 was to make buffaloes come back again to the prairies 
 near them. 
 
 Brian. But how could that bring them back again ? 
 
 Hunter. Tlie bulfalo dance was a kind of homage 
 paid to the Great Spirit, tluit he uiight take pity on 
 them, and send them suj)plies. The dancers assembled 
 in the middle of tlie village, each wearing his mask, 
 with its horns and long tail, and carrying in his hand 
 a lance, or a bow and arrows. The dance began, 
 by al)out a dozen of them, thus attired, starting, 
 hopping, j mil ping, and creeping in all manner of 
 strange uncouth forms; singing, yelping, and making 
 odd sounds of every description, \\hile others were 
 shaking rattles and beating (h'ums with all their 
 nn'ght ; tlie drums, the rattk^s, the yelling, the fright- 
 ful diu, with the uncouth antics of the dancers, 
 altogether presented such a scene, that, were you once 
 
THE BUFFALO DANCE. 
 
 ISl 
 
 •0 
 
 IP 
 
 to be present, at a buiValo dance, you would talk of it 
 all the days of your lives after. 
 
 Basil. And do they keep that up for a fortnight ? 
 
 Hunter. Sometimes mueli lonij^er, for they never 
 give over dancing till the builaloes come. Eveiy 
 dancer, when he is tired, and this he makes known In- 
 crouching down quite low, is shot witii blunt arrows, 
 and dragged away, when his place is supplied by 
 another. AVhile tlie dance is going on, scouts are 
 sent out to look for buffaloes, and as soon as they ai-e 
 found, a shout of thanksgiving is raised to the (Ireat 
 Spirit, to the medicine man, and to the dancers, and 
 preparation is made for a butValo hunt. After this, a 
 great feast takes place ; all their sulferings I'rom 
 scarcity are forgotten, and they are as ])rodig;il, and 
 indeed wasteful, of their bulfalo meat, as if they had 
 never known the want of it. 
 
 Austin, AV^ell, I should like to see tjie buflalo dance. 
 Could not we manage one on the lawn, Jirian? 
 
 Brian. But where are we to get the bulfalo masks 
 from? The bulfalo hunt did very well, but 1 hardly 
 think we could manage the dance. Please to tell us 
 of the bear dance. 
 
 J/untcr. I think it will be better to tell vou about 
 that, and other (huices, tlie next time that you visit 
 me; for I want to read to you a short account, which 
 I have here, of a poor Indian womon of the Dog- 
 ribbed tribe. I have not said much of Indian women, 
 and 1 want you to feel kindly towards them. Jt was 
 liearne, who went with a party from Hudson's Bay 
 
'*»=«i«*«««a»»»wr«s»a«3S 
 
 182 
 
 STOltY OF AN I:J^DIAN WOMAN. 
 
 to the Nortliern Ocean, many years ago, who fell in 
 with the poor woman. 
 
 Basil. Oh yes ; let us hear all about her ; and you 
 can tell us of the dances when we come again. 
 
 Hunter. Now, then, I will begin. One day in 
 January, when they were hunting, they saw the track 
 of a strange snow shoe, which they followed, and at a 
 considerable distiiuee came to a little hut, where they 
 discovered a young woman sitting alone. On exami- 
 nation, she proved to be one of the Dog-ribbed 
 Indinns, ^^'ho had been taken prisoner by the Atha- 
 puscow Indians, in the summer of 1770 ; and in the 
 following summer, when tlie Indians that took her 
 prisoner were near this place, she had escaped from 
 them, intending to return to her own country. But 
 the distance being so great, and having, after she was 
 taken prisoner, been carried in a canoe the whole way, 
 the turnings and windings of the rivers and lakes were 
 so numerous that she forgot the track ; so she built 
 the hut in which she was found, to protect her from 
 tlie weather during the winter, and here she liad 
 resided from the iirst setting-in of the fall. 
 
 Brian. AVhat, all by herself ? How lonely she must 
 have been ! 
 
 Hunter. From her account of the moons passed 
 since her escape, it appeared that she had been nearly 
 seven months without seeing a human face ; during 
 all which time she had supplied herself very well, by 
 snaring partridges, rabbits, and squirrels : she had 
 also killed two or three beavers, and some porcupines. 
 
STORY OF AX INDIAN WOMAN. 
 
 183 
 
 : 
 
 She did not seem to have been in want, and had a 
 small stock of provisions by her when she was dis- 
 covered. She was in good health and condition, and 
 one of the finest Indian women in North America. 
 
 Austin. I should have been afraid that other Indians 
 would have come and killed her. 
 
 Hunter. The methods practised by this poor crea- 
 ture to procure a livelihood were truly admirable, and 
 furnish proof that necessity is indeed tlie mother of 
 invention. "When a few deer sinews that she had 
 an opportunity of taking with her were expended, in 
 making snares and sewing her clothing, she had 
 nothing to supply their place but the sinews of the 
 rabbits' legs and feet. These she twisted together for 
 that purpose with great dexterity and success. The 
 animals which she caught in those snares, not only 
 furnished her with a comfortable subsistence, but of 
 the skins she made a suit of neat and warm clothing 
 for the winter. It is scarcely possible to conceive 
 that a person in her forlorn situation could be so 
 composed as to be capable of contriving and executing 
 anything that was not absolutely necessary to her 
 existence ; but there was sufficient proof that she had 
 extended her care much further, as all her clothing, 
 besides being calculated for real service, showed great 
 taste, and exhibited no little variety of ornament. 
 The materials, though rude, were very curiously 
 wrought, and so judiciously placed, as to make the 
 whole of her garb have a very pleasant, though rather 
 romantic appearance. 
 
18i 
 
 STORY OE AN INDIAN WOMAN. 
 
 Brian. Poor woman ! I should have liked to have 
 seen her in the liut of her own building, and the 
 clothes of her own making. 
 
 Hunter. Her leisure hours from hunting had been 
 employed in twisting the inner rind or bark of willows 
 into small lines, like net-twine, of which she had some 
 hundred fathoms by her. With tliese she intended 
 to make a fisliiug net, as soon as the spring advanced. 
 It is of the inner bark of the willows, twisted in this 
 manner, that tlie Dog-ribbed Indians make their 
 fishing nets ; and they are much preferable to those 
 made by the Northern Indians. 
 
 Basil. I like that poor woman very much indeed. 
 
 Hunter. Five or six inches of an iron hoop, made 
 into a knife, and the shank of an arrows-head of iron, 
 wdiich served her as an awl, were all the metals this 
 poor woman had with her when she eloped ; and with 
 these implements she had made herself complete snow 
 shoes, and several other useful articles. 
 
 Austin. Capital! Why,she seems able to do every thing. 
 
 Hunter. Her method of making a fire was equally 
 singukir and curious, having no other materials for 
 that purpose tlian two hard sulphureous stones. 
 These, by long friction and hard knocking, produced 
 a few sparks, which at length communicated to some 
 touch-w^ood. But as this method w\is attended with 
 great trouble, and not always successful, she did not 
 sufier her fire to go out all the winter. 
 
 Brian. That must have been a trouble to her. 
 I hardly know how she could have managed that. 
 
 , 
 
STOJIY 01 AN INDIAN WOMAN. 
 
 185 
 
 Hunter. When tlie Atliapuseow Indians took tliia 
 woman prisoner, tliey, according to the nniversal 
 custom of those savages, surprised her and lier party 
 m the night, and lulled every person in the tent, 
 except herself and three other young women. Among 
 those whom thev killed w^ere her father, mother, aud 
 husband. Her young child, four or five montlis old, 
 she concealed in a bundle of clothing, and took it with 
 her undiscovered in the night. But wh(^n she arrived 
 at the place where her captors had left their waves, 
 which was not far distant, the} began to examine the 
 bundle, and finding the child, one of the women took 
 it from her, and killed it on the spot. 
 
 Basil. Oh, how shocking! 
 
 Hunter. This last piece of barbarity gave her such 
 a disgust to those Indians, that, notwithstandiug the 
 man w^ho took care of her treated her in every respect 
 as his wife, and was, she said, remarkably kind to her, 
 and very fond of her, she was so far from being able 
 to reconcile herself to anv of the tribe, that she rather 
 chose to expose herself to want and misery, than to 
 live in ease and affluence among persons who had so 
 cruelly murdered her infant. 
 
 
w'^"'^,;.;;-^,.;r:'^t,„Vrf}.v. 
 
 c, drum, d, d, rattles. ^ , drum. /, mystery whistle. 
 g, deer-skin flute. 
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 Musical instruments — Whistles, flutes, rattles, and drums — War whistle and 
 deer-skin ftute- ^he beggars' dunce — The doctors' dance — The pipe dance 
 — The black drink — The green-corn dance — The dog dance — The discovery 
 dance — Tiie slave dance — The scalp dance — Tlie sham scalp dance — The 
 eagle dance — The snow-shoe dance — The straw dance — the bear dance — 
 The war dance — Sham fight with the Mandan boys. 
 
 Never sure, did young people cut a more grotesque 
 appearance, than did Austm, Brian, and Basil Edwards, 
 in their attempt to get up a buffalo dance. Each had 
 a mat over his shoulders, and a brown paper mask over 
 his face ; two wooden pegs on a string made a very 
 
INDIAN DANCES. 
 
 187 
 
 respectable pair of horns ; "bows and arrows were in 
 abundance ; a child's rattle and a drum, with the 
 addition of an iron spoon and a wooden trencher, 
 supplied them with music ; and neither Mandan, 
 PawTiee, Crow, Sioux, Blackfoot, nor Camancliee, could 
 have reasonably complained of the want of either noise 
 or confusion. 
 
 Then again, they were very successful in bringing 
 buffaloes, witliout which the dance, excelled., as it 
 was, woidd have been but an unsatisfactory afl'air. 
 Black Tom had been prudently shut up in the tool 
 house, and Jowler tied up to a tree hard by, so that, 
 when it became expedient for buffaloes to appear, the 
 prison house of Black Tom was opened, and Jowler 
 was set at liberty. All things considered, the affair 
 w^ent off remarkably well. 
 
 " We are come to hear of the bear dance, and the 
 dog dance, and the beggars' dance, and the green- 
 corn dance," said Austin to the hunter, on the follow- 
 ing day, when a visit was paid to the cottage. The 
 hunter, with his accustomed kindness to the young 
 people, lost no time in entering on his narrative, 
 " You must not forget," said he, " that many of the 
 fiances of the Indians partake of a religious character, 
 v^v in them reverence and adoration are freely offered, 
 i'he Indians' worship of the Great Spirit, as I have 
 already told you, is mingled with much of ignorance 
 and superstition, whether in dances or in other ob- 
 servances ; yet do they at times so heartily huml)le 
 themselves before him, as to leave a deep impression of 
 
188 
 
 MUSICAL I>'STRUMEJfTS. 
 
 their siiicerifcy. I have not as yet described their 
 music, and therefore will do it now." 
 
 Austin. Yes. Now for the music of the Red Indians. 
 
 Hunter. If you ever go among them, and mingle in 
 their dances, you must not expect to have a band of 
 music such as you have in England. AVhistles, flutes, 
 rattles, and drums are almost all their musical instru- 
 ments. Ton would be surprised at the music that 
 some of the young Indians produce with the mystery 
 whistle. 
 
 Austin. Why is it called the mystery whistle ? 
 
 Hunter. I have already told you that the red man 
 calls everything mystery, or medicine, that is surprising ; 
 and as the notes of this whistle are particularly sweet, 
 it may be called mystery whistle on this account. 
 There is another whistle that is very much in request 
 among the Indians, and that is the war whistle. The 
 onset and the retreat in battle are sounded on this 
 instrument by the leading chief, who never goes on an 
 expedition Avithout it. It is made of bone, and some- 
 times it is formed of the leg bone of a large bird. The 
 shrill scream-like note, which is the signal for rushing 
 on an enemy, would make you start. 
 
 Brian. What sort of a di'um do they use ? Is it a 
 kettle drum ? 
 
 Hunter. No. It is merely a piece of raw hide, 
 stretched as tight as it can be pulled over a hoop. 
 Some of their drums have but one end, or surfjice, to 
 beat upon, while others have two. What they would 
 do in their dances without their drums I do not know. 
 
MODES OF BAXCINO. 
 
 189 
 
 for in them you liear the rub, dub, dub, dub, con- 
 tinually. The rattles are of dilferent kinds, some 
 much larger than others; but the principle on wliich 
 they are formed is the same, that is, of inclosing stones 
 of different sizes in hard, dry, raw hide. 
 
 Atistin. Have they no trumpets, and cymbals, and 
 clarionets, and violins ? 
 
 Hunter. Xo, nothing of the kind. They have a 
 deer-skin flute, on which very tolerable music is made ; 
 but, after all, it must be admitted that Red Indians are 
 much better buftalo hunters than they are musicians. 
 
 Austin. I dare say they are quite at home in hunt- 
 ing buffaloes. 
 
 Hunter. Yes ; and they are at home, too, in danc- 
 ing, being extremely agde. Some of their dances are 
 so hideous that you would be disgusted with them, 
 while others would keep you laughing till you knew 
 not what to do with yourselves. 
 
 Brian. You must please to tell us about these dances. 
 
 Hunter. Dancing is a very favourite amusement of 
 the Indians ; though it is, for the most part, of a 
 character so different from that of dancing in civilized 
 life, that few people, ignorant of its meaning and 
 allusions, would like it. The body is so contiiuuiUy 
 in a stooping attitude, and the gestures and grimaces 
 appear to be so unmeaning, that at first it leaves an 
 impression that they are making game of dancing, 
 rather than entering into it in right earnest. There 
 is such creeping, and jumping, and starting, that a 
 spectator can make but little of it. 
 
MAMtUK-nx ...-«■ 
 
 190 
 
 THE BEOOAUS DANCE. 
 
 Austin. I can fancy that I see a partyjoming in the 
 buft'alo dance now, Avith their masks over their faces. 
 Please to tell us of the bear dance. 
 
 Hunter. By and by. I will describe a few other 
 dances first. The beggars' dance is undertaken to 
 prevail on such of the spectators as abound in comforts 
 to offer gifts to those who are more scantily provided 
 with them. It is danced by the young men who stand 
 high in the tribe. These shake their rattles, hold up 
 their pipes, and brandish their lances, while they 
 dance ; chanting in an odd strain, at the top Of their 
 voices, in praise of the Great Spirit, and imploring 
 him to dispose the lookers-on to give freely. The 
 dancers are all naked, with the exception of a sort of 
 kilt formed of quills and feathers ; and a medicine man 
 keeps on all the time beating furiously on a drum with a 
 rattle, and hallooing out as loud as he can raise his voice. 
 
 Austin. That ought to be called the begging dance, 
 and not the beggars' dance ; for the dancers do not beg 
 for themselves, but for others. 
 
 Hunter. Tou see that the object of the dance is a 
 good one ; for many a skin, or pouch, or pipe, or other 
 necessary article, is given by the spectators to those of 
 their tribe who need them. It is not common among 
 the Indians for their aged men and mystery men to 
 mingle in the dance ; and yet 1 hdve seen, on special 
 occasions, a score of them jumping and capering in a 
 way very creditable to their agility. The Sioux have 
 a dance that ought to be called the doctor's dance, or 
 the dance of the chiefs. 
 
THE PIPE DANCE. 
 
 101 
 
 . : 
 
 or 
 
 Brian. AVHrnt, do the doctors daneo in it ? 
 
 Hunter. Tes ; while a medicine man beats liis drnm, 
 and a party of young women sing, the chiefs ot* the 
 tribe and the doctors make their appearance, splendidly 
 attired in their costliest head dresses, can ing a spear 
 in one hand and a rattle in the other. ±]very move- 
 ment is strictly regulated by the beat of tlie drum, and 
 the dance by degrees becomes more and more spirited, 
 until you woidd suppose the party must be exhausted ; 
 but men so much in the open air, and whose limbs are 
 so little restrained by bandages and tight clothing, can 
 bear a great deal of fatigue. The pipe dance of the 
 Assinaboins is one of their most animated amuse- 
 ments. 
 
 Basil. Oh ! do tell us about the pipe dance. 
 
 Hunter. In the ground in the centre of the village 
 a fire is lighted, and a party assemble round it ; every 
 one smoking his pipe, as he sits on his buftalo skin, 
 as though nothing was further from his thoughts than 
 dancing. "While these are whiffing away at a distance 
 from the fire, a mystery man, who sits nearer to the 
 flame, smokes a longer pipe, grunting at the same 
 time a kind of tune. Suddenly is heard the rub-a-dub 
 of a drum, or the beat of some other instrument of the 
 same kind ; when instantly starts to his feet one of the 
 smokers, hopping like a parched pea, spinning round 
 like a top, and starting and jumping, at every beat of 
 the drum, in a very violent manner. In this way he 
 goes round the smokers, seemingly threatening them 
 all, and at last pounces upon one of them, whom he 
 
■"-was 
 
 »Mwa « wim ammmimSS^Si 
 
 192 
 
 THE GHEEX-CORN DANCE. 
 
 compels to dance in the same manner as himself. 
 The new dancer acts his part like the former one, caper- 
 ing and jumping round the smokers, and compelling 
 another to join them. Thus the dance continues, till all 
 of them are occupied, when the hopping, the jumping, 
 the frightful postures into which they throw themselves, 
 together with the grunting, growling, singing, hooting, 
 and hallooing, are beyond all belief. There are few 
 dances of the lied Indians more full of wild gestures 
 and unrestrained turbulence than the pipe dance. 
 
 Basil. I hope you have a good many more dances 
 to tell us of. 
 
 Hunter. The green-corn dance of the Minetarces 
 must be described to you. Among Indian tribes, 
 green corn is a great luxury, and the time when it 
 arrives is a time of rejoicing. Dances, and songs of 
 thanksgiving, are abundant ; and the people give way 
 not only to feastin.g, but also to gluttony ; so that 
 often, by abusing the abundance in their possession, 
 they bring upon themselves the miseries of want. The 
 lied Indians have very little forethought ; to enjoy 
 t:!e present, and to trust the future to the Great 
 Spirit, is their constant practice. 
 
 Austin. How long does the green corn dance last ? 
 
 Hunter. For eight or ten days, during which time 
 there is the most unbounded prodigality. Among many 
 of the tribes, the black drink, a very ])owerful medicine, 
 is taken two or three days before the feast, that the 
 green corn may be eaten with a sharp appetite and an 
 empty stomach. 
 
iself. 
 iper- 
 lling 
 11 all 
 
 ping, 
 :?lves, 
 
 )tiiig, 
 3 few 
 itures 
 
 ances 
 
 tarees 
 tribes, 
 lien it 
 igs of 
 e way 
 that 
 »ssi()ii, 
 . The 
 enjoy 
 Great 
 
 last ? 
 \\ time 
 
 many 
 tlieine, 
 
 it the 
 
 ind an 
 
 THE GIIEE>'-C0IIN DANCE. 
 
 193 
 
 "Bnan. How does the green-corn dance begin ? 
 
 Hunter. As soon as the corn is in a proper state — 
 and this is decided by the mystery men — runners are 
 despatched througli the village, that all may assemble 
 on the following day to the dance and the feasi. 
 Sufficient corn for the required purpose is gathered by 
 the w^omen, who have the fields under their care, and 
 a fire is made, over which a kettle, with green corn in 
 it, is kept boiling ; while medicine men, whose bodies 
 are strangely painted, or bedaubed with clay of a white 
 colour, dance round it in very uncouth attitudes, with 
 corn-stalks in their hands. 
 
 Austin. I dare say, while the pot is boiling, they are 
 all longing to begin tne feast. 
 
 Hunter. The first kettle-full is not for themselves, 
 it is an offering to the Great Spirit. Tliere are many 
 customs among the Ked Indians which cannot but 
 bring the Jews to our remembrance ; and this offer- 
 ing of the first kettle-full of green corn does so very 
 forcibly. The medicine men round the fire shake their 
 rattles, hold up their corn-stalks, and sing loudly a 
 song of thanksgiving, till the corn is sufficiently boiled ; 
 it is then put over the fire, and consumed to a cinder. 
 Before this offering is made, none of the Indiana would 
 dare to taste of the luxurious fare; but, afterwards, 
 their appetite is unrestrained. 
 
 Austin. Then they begin to boil more corn, I 
 suppose. 
 
 Hunter. A fresh fire is made, a fresh kettle of corn 
 is prepared, and the dance goes on ; the medicine men 
 
UKSJSsJWi-jSi^j, 
 
 194 
 
 THE DOG DANCE. 
 
 keeping close round the fire, and the others capering 
 and shouting in a larger circle, their energy increasing 
 as the feast approaches nearer and nearer. The chiefs 
 and medicine men then sit down to the feast, followed 
 by the whole of the tr?be, keeping up their festivity 
 day after day, till the corn-field has little more grain 
 remaining in it than what is necessary for seed. You 
 have heard the saying, " Wilful waste brings woful 
 want." The truth of this saying is often set forth, 
 not only in civilized life, but also among the Eed 
 Indians of North America. 
 
 Basil. I wonder what dance will come next. 
 
 Hunter. I need not describe many others. If I run 
 rapidly through half a dozen more, and dwell a little 
 on the bear dance and the war dance, you will then 
 have heard quite enough about dances. One of the 
 most favourite dances of the Sioux is the dog dance, 
 though I shall say but a few words on the subject, for 
 it is a disgusting scene. The hearts and livers of 
 dogs, cut into shreds, are hung up, bleeding, about as 
 high as a man*8 mouth ; and the dancers, after boast- 
 ing loudly of their courage and valorous exploits, 
 approach the livers and hearts, biting off a piece and 
 eating it, every action agreeing to tlie time beat by 
 the nuisic. None but such as have taken scalps 
 from their enemy are allowed to join in tli"^ dance. 
 They boast that they have eaten of the hearts of 
 their foes, as they then do of the heart and liver of 
 the dogs. 
 
 Brian, I do not like that dance at all. 
 
ising 
 jhiets 
 owed 
 tivity 
 grain 
 You 
 woful 
 forth, 
 5 Eed 
 
 ' I run 
 1 little 
 1 then 
 of the 
 dance, 
 jct, for 
 rers of 
 )out as 
 boast- 
 ploits, 
 ce and 
 3eat by 
 scalps 
 dance, 
 arts of 
 iver of 
 
 THE SLAVE DANCE. 
 
 195 
 
 Basil. They have no business to kill their poor dogs 
 in that way. 
 
 Hunter. The discovery dance of tlie Sacs and Poxes 
 is of a difterent kind, for that is agreeable. AVhilo the 
 dance is going on, the dancers pretend to discover an 
 enemy, or some kind of game, sucli as a buffalo, a bear, 
 or a deer ; and their attitudes, in such cases, are very 
 striking and appropriate. It is also among the Sues 
 and Foxes that the slave dance prevails. 
 
 Austin. What, have the lied Indians slaves among 
 them ? 
 
 Hunter. Not exactly in the way in which you 
 imagine ; but there are slavish duties to be performed 
 for the tribe, and such young men as wish to be free 
 from the performance of them, agree to become slaves 
 for the space of two years, after which time they are 
 exempt from such servitude, and are allowed to join in 
 war-parties. The slave dance is performed by young 
 men of this description. The scalp dance is in use 
 among the Sioux or Dahcdtas. 
 
 Brian. I am afraid the scalp dance is a very horrid 
 one. 
 
 Hunter. It is rather a fearfnl exhibition ; for women, 
 in the centre of a circle, hold up aiul wave about tlie 
 scalps which have been torn from the slaughtered foes 
 of the tribe, while the warriors draw around them in 
 the most furious attitudes, brandishing their war- 
 clubs, uttering the most hideous howls and screams. 
 The Red Indians liave many good <]ualities, bnt 
 cruelty seems to mhiglc with their very nature; every* 
 
g«wa«>iaiiigr>Bf,to>,MM.,flJ^ 
 
 190 
 
 THE SCALP DANCE. 
 
 thing is (lone among them that can be done to keep 
 alive the desire to shed blood. The highest act a red 
 man can perform, and that which he thinks the most 
 useful to his tribe, and the most acceptable to the 
 Grreat Spirit, is to destroy an enemy, and to tear away 
 his scalp as a trophy of his valour. If it were only 
 for this one trait in the Indian character, even this 
 would be sufficient to convince every humane person, 
 and especially every Christian, of the duty and great 
 advantage of spreading among them the mercy-loving 
 principles of Christianity. A holy influence is ne- 
 cessary to teach the untutored red man to forgive his 
 enemies, to subdue his anger, to abate his pride, and 
 to stay his hand in shedding human blood. The 
 new commandment must be put in his heart : " A 
 new commandment I give unto you. That ye love 
 one another," John xiii. 34. The Mandan boys used 
 to jnin in a sliam scalp dance, in which they conducted 
 themselves just like warriors returning from a vic- 
 torious enterprise against their enemies. 
 
 Brian. They are all sadly fond of fighting. 
 
 Iliuiter. Ill tlie brave dance, of the Ojibbeways, 
 there is plenty of swaggering ; the dancers seem as if 
 tliey knew not how to be proud enough of their war- 
 like expoits. The eagle dance, among the Choctaws, 
 is an elegant amusement ; and the snow-shoe dance, 
 of tlie Ojibbeways, is a very annising one. 
 
 Jiasil, Please to toll us about them both. 
 
 Hunter. I must not stay to descvibe them parti- 
 cuhirly : it will be enough to say, that, in the one, 
 
-n 
 
 ieep 
 , red 
 nost 
 the 
 iway 
 only 
 this 
 rson, 
 great 
 oving 
 s ne- 
 ^e his 
 5, and 
 The 
 "A 
 love 
 used 
 acted 
 a vic- 
 
 n 
 
 ways,^ 
 as if 
 \N'ar- 
 ctaws, 
 dance, 
 
 parti- 
 e one, 
 
 I i 
 
 THE STRAW DANCE. 
 
 197 
 
 the dancers are painted wliite, and tliat they move 
 about waving in their hands the tail of tlie eagle ; in 
 the other — wliich is performed on the first fall of snow, 
 in honour of the Great Spirit — the dancers wear snow 
 shoes, which, projecting far before and behind their 
 feet, give them in the dance a most strange and 
 laughable appearance. 
 
 Brian, I should very much like to see that dance ; 
 for there is nothing cruel in it at all. 
 
 Basil. And I should like to see tlie eagle dance. 
 
 Hunter. The straw dance is a Sioux dance of a very 
 curious description. Loose straws are tied to tlie 
 bodies of naked children ; these straws are tlien set on 
 fire, and the children are required to dance, Avithout 
 uttering any expression of pain. Tliis practice is 
 intended to make them hardy, that they may become 
 the better warriors. 
 
 Brian. That is one of the strangest dances of all. 
 AVIiy, the poor children must be sadly burned. 
 
 Hunter. I will now say a little about the bear dance, 
 and the war dance. The bear dance is performed by 
 the Sioux before they set off on a bear hunt. If tlie 
 bear dance were left unperformed, tliey would hardly 
 liope for success. The Bear spirit, if this honour were 
 not paid to him, would be offended, and prevent their 
 success in the chase. 
 
 Austin. What ! do the Sioux tliink there is a Bear 
 spirit ? 
 
 Hunter. Yes. The nimiber of spirits of one kind or 
 other, believed in by the Indians, is very great. Jii 
 
198 
 
 THE BEAR DANCE. 
 
 the bear dance, the principal performer has a bear- 
 skin over him, the head of it hanging over hi^ head, 
 and the paws o^'er his hands. Others have masks of 
 bears' faces ; and all of them, throughout the dance, 
 
 
 BEAR DANCE, 
 
 imitate the actions of a bear. They stoop down, they 
 dangle tlieir hands, and make frightful noises, beside 
 singing to the Bear spirit. If you can imagine twenty 
 bears dancing to the music of the rattle, whistle, anS 
 drum, making odd gambols, and yelling out the most 
 frightful noises, you will have some notion of the bear 
 dance among the Dahcotas. 
 
)ear- 
 lead,^ 
 ks of 
 ance, 
 
 1, they 
 beside 
 twenty 
 le, and 
 e most 
 le bear 
 
 
 THE WAR DANCE, 
 
 199 
 
 Brian. Now for the war dance: that is come at last. 
 
 Hunter. It is hardly possible to conceive a more 
 arresting spectacle than that of the war dance among 
 the Sioux : it exhibits Indian manners on the approach 
 of war. As among civilized people, soldiers are raised 
 either by recruiting or other means ; so, among the 
 Red Indians, something like recruiting prevails. The 
 red pipe is sent through the tribe, and every one who 
 draws a whiff up the stem, thereby declares he is 
 willing to join the war party. The warriors then as- 
 semble together, painted vermilion and other colours, 
 and dressed in their \.u: clothes, with their weapons 
 and their war-eagle head-dresses. 
 
 Austin. What a sight that must be ! 
 
 Hunter. When the mystery man has stuck up a red 
 post in the ground, and begun to beat his drum, the 
 warriors advance, one after another, brandishing their 
 war-clubs, and striking the red post a violent blow, 
 Avhile the mystery man sings their death song. When 
 the w^arriors have struck the post, they blacken their 
 faces, and all set to dancing around it. The shrill war- 
 w4ioop is screamed aloud, and frantic gestures and 
 frightful yells show, but too plainly, that there will be 
 very little mercy extended to the enemy that falls into 
 their hands. 
 
 Brian. That war dance would make me tremble. 
 
 Hunter. The Mandan boys used to assemble at the 
 back of their village, every morning, as soon as the sun 
 was in the skies, to practise sham fighting. Under 
 the guidance and directions of their ablest and most 
 
200 
 
 DirnCULT LESSONS. 
 
 courageous braves and warriors, they were instructed 
 in all the mysteries of war. The preparation, the 
 ambush, the surprise, the combat, and the retreat were 
 made familiar to them : thus were they bred up from 
 their youth to delight in warfare, and to long for 
 opportunities of using their tomahawks and scalping 
 knives against their foes. 
 
 When you next come to the cottvige, I will give you 
 an account of the cruel customs of tl.u mystery lodge 
 of the Mandans ; with the hope that it will increase 
 your abhorrence of cruelty and bloodshed, render you 
 more than ever thankful for the blessings of peace, and 
 more anxious for that peace of God that passeth all 
 understanding. The hardest of all lessons now, to a 
 red man, is, as I have before intimated, to forgive his 
 enemies ; but when, through Divine mercy, his know- 
 ledge is extended, and his heart opened to receive the 
 truths of the gospel, he will be enabled to understand, 
 to love, and to practise the injimction of the Saviour, 
 " Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do 
 good to them that hate you, and pray for them which 
 despitefully use you, and persecute you," Matt. v. 44. 
 
you 
 
 
 INTERIOR OF A MYSTERf LODGE. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 Tlie mystery lodge of the Mandans, to appea?e tlie Good and Evil Spirits — The 
 Great Canoe — The unknown man from the prairie — Tiie old mystery man — 
 The bull dance — Preparing young warriors for hardships and dangers — 
 The tortures inflicted — The self-possession of the young men — The last run 
 — Fainting and recovery of the tortured Indians — The speech of Logan, an 
 Indian chief— Address of the Seneca Indians to Governor Clinton — Address 
 of tlie chiefs of the same tribe — Speech of a warrior — Speech of Red Jacket, 
 in reply to a missionary. 
 
 It was well for Austin Edwards and his brothers 
 that their acquaintance with their friend, the hunter, 
 
202 
 
 CHARACTER OF TJIE HUNTER. 
 
 commenced during one of their holidays, so that they 
 were enabled to pay him a visit more frequently than 
 they otlierwise could have done. The life led by the 
 hunter would have been far too solitary for most 
 people ; but his long wanderings in the extended 
 prairies, and his long sojournings in places remote 
 from society, had rendered the quiet tranquillity of 
 country scenes pleasant to him : yet still, as variety 
 has its charms, it afforded him a pleasant change 
 whenever the three brothers visited the cottage. 
 
 In his younger days he had entered on the life of a 
 hunter and trapper with much ardour. To pursue 
 the buffalo, or, more properly speaking, the bison, of 
 the prairie, the deer, and other animals, and to mingle 
 with the different tribes of Red Indians, was his de- 
 light. "With wild animals and wild men he became 
 familiar, and even the very dangers that beset his 
 path gave an added interest to his pursuits ; but his 
 youth was gone, his manhood was declining into 
 years, and the world that he once looked upon as an 
 abiding dwelling-place, he now regarded as the path- 
 way to a better home. 
 
 Time was when to urge the arrow or the spear into 
 the heart of the flying prey for mere diversion, and to 
 join in the wild war-whoop of contending tribes, was 
 congenial to his spirit ; but his mind had been sobered, 
 so that now to practise forbearance and kindness was 
 far more pleasant than to indulge in cruelty and re- 
 venge. He looked on m.ankind as one great family, 
 which ought to dwell in brotherly love ; and he regarded 
 
-My 
 than 
 the 
 most 
 tided 
 mote 
 by of 
 riety 
 lange 
 
 ) of a 
 
 ursue 
 
 on, of 
 
 aingle 
 
 is de- 
 
 ecame 
 
 et his 
 
 lit his 
 
 into 
 
 as an 
 
 path- 
 
 ir into 
 and to 
 38, was 
 bered, 
 ss was 
 md re- 
 family, 
 garded 
 
 i 
 
 TNDirFEEENCE TO PAIN'. 
 
 203 
 
 the animal creation as given by a Heavenly Hand lor 
 the use, and not the abuse, of man. 
 
 In relating the scenes in which he had mingled in 
 earlier years, he was aware that he could not avoid 
 calling up, in some measure, in the youtliful hearts of 
 his auditors, the natural desire to see what was new, 
 and strange, and wonderful, without reflecting a 
 moment on the good or the evil of the thing set before 
 them : but he endeavoured to blend with his descrip- 
 tions such remarks as would lead them to love what 
 was right, and to hate what was wrong. Regarding 
 the Indian tribes as an injured people, he sought to 
 set before his young friends the Avrongs and oppres- 
 sions practised on the red man ; that they might sym- 
 pathize with his trials, and feel interested for his 
 welfare. 
 
 The few words that had dropped from his lips, 
 about the ordeal through which the Eed Indians pass 
 before they are allowed to join war parties, had 
 awakened Austin's curiosity. Nor was it long before, 
 seated with his brothers in the cottage, he was listen- 
 ing to the whole account. " Please to begin at the 
 very beginning," said he, *' and I shall not lose a 
 single word." 
 
 Hunter. The Sioux, the Crows, the Sacs, the Ojib- 
 beways, the Camanchees, and the Chippeways, all 
 exhibit astonishing proofs of patience and endurance 
 under pain ; but in none of the tribes has ever such 
 torture been inflicted, or such courage witnessed, in 
 enduring torment, as among the Mandans. 
 
204 
 
 THE GREAT CANOE. 
 
 Brian. Now wc shall hoar. 
 
 Hunter. The Mandans, who, as I have already told 
 you, lived, when I was a hunter, on the Upper Mis- 
 souri, held a mystery Iodide every year ; and this was 
 indeed a very solemn gathering of the tribe. I was 
 never present in the lodge on this occasion, but will 
 give you the description of an eye-witness. 
 
 Basil. Why did they get together ? What did 
 they do ? 
 
 Ilunter. Tou shall hear. The mystery lodge, or 
 it may be called the religious meeting, was held, first, 
 to appease the wrath, and secure the protection, of 
 the Good and the E\il Spirits ; secondly, to celebrate 
 the great flood, which they believed took place a long 
 time ago ; thirdly, to perform the bull dance, to bring 
 buffaloes ; and, fourthly, to try the strength, courage, 
 and endurance of their young men, that they might 
 know who were the most worthy among them, and 
 the most to be relied on in war parties. 
 
 Austin. How came the Mandans to know anything 
 about the flood, if they have no Bibles ? 
 
 Hunter. That I cannot tell. Certain it is that they 
 had a large high tub, called the Great Canoe, in the 
 centre of their village, set up in commemoration of 
 the flood ; and that they held the mystery lodge when 
 the willow leaves were in their prime under the river 
 bank, because, they said, a bird had brought a willow 
 bough in full leaf to the Great Canoe in the flood. 
 
 Austin. Why, it is just as if they had read the 
 Bible. 
 
THE MANDAN MYSTERY LODGE. 
 
 205 
 
 did 
 
 of 
 
 Hunter. The fact of the deluge, liowever they came 
 by it, had undoubtedly been handed down among 
 them by tradition for many generations: but I nuist 
 go on with my account of the Mandan gathering. 
 The mystery lodge was opened by a strange-looking 
 man, whom no one seemed to know, and wlio came 
 from the prairie. This odd man called fur some edge 
 tool at every wigwam in the village; and all these 
 tools, at the end of the ceremonies, were cast intu the 
 river from a high bank ; as an olfering, I suppose, to 
 the Water spirit. After opening the mystery lo(lge, 
 and appointing a medicine man to preside, he once 
 more disappeared on the prairie. 
 
 Brian. A\ hat an odd thing ! 
 
 Ilxmter. There were fifty or sixty young m(^n 
 in the lodge, candidates for reputation among the 
 tribe, having presented themselves to undergo the 
 prescribed tortures. As they reclined in the lodge, 
 every one had hung up over his head his shield, his 
 bow and quiver, and his medicine bag. The young 
 men were painted different colours. The old mystery 
 man appointed to superintend the ceremonies sat by 
 a fire in the middle of the lodge, smoking leisurely 
 with his medicine pipe in honour of the Great Spirit ; 
 and there he sat for four days, and as many nights, 
 during which the young men neither tasted bit nor 
 drop, nor were they allowed to close their eyes. 
 
 Basil. It was enough to kill them all. 
 
 Hunter. On the floor of the lodge were buffalo and 
 human skulls, and sacks filled with water, shaped like 
 
20G 
 
 CRUEL PRACTICES. 
 
 turtles, or rather tortoises, with sticks by them. 
 During each of the four days the bull dance was per- 
 formed over and over again by Indians, painted, and 
 wearing over them whole buffalo skins, with tails, and 
 hoofs, and horns, while in their hands they carried 
 rattles and long thin white wands, and bore on their 
 backs bundles of green boughs of the willow. Some 
 of the dancers were painted red, to represent the 
 day ; and others black, with stars, to resemble tlie 
 night. During these bull dances, which took place 
 round the G-reat Canoe, the tops of the wigwams were 
 crowded with people. 
 
 Brian. I want t;o hear about the young Indians in 
 the lodge, and that old fellow the mystery man. 
 
 Hunter. The superstitious and cruel practices of 
 the mystery lodge are too fearful to dwell upon. I 
 shall only just glance at them, that you may know, in 
 some degree, the kind of trials the young Indians 
 liave to endure. While the bull dances were going 
 on, mystery men inside the lodge were beating on the 
 water sacks with sticks, and animating the young men 
 to act courageously, telling them that the Q-reat Spirit 
 was sure to support them. Splints, or wooden skewers, 
 were then run through the flesh on the back and 
 breasts of the young warriors, and they w^ere hoisted 
 up, with cords faHteucd to the splints, towards the top 
 of tlie lodge. Not a muscle of their features expressed 
 fear or pain. 
 
 Austin. Shocking! shocking! 
 
 Basil. It makes me shudder. 
 
hem. 
 1 per- 
 [, and 
 5, and 
 irried 
 their 
 Some 
 it the 
 le the 
 place 
 3 were 
 
 ana in 
 
 ices of 
 on. I 
 low, in 
 ndians 
 going 
 on the 
 ig men 
 Spirit 
 ewers, 
 k and 
 loisted 
 he top 
 ) rested 
 
 DKEA DF UL TORTURES. 
 
 207 
 
 Hunter. After this, otlier splints were run throii^li 
 their arms, thighs, and k>gs ; and on these were hung 
 their shields, arms, and medicine hags. In tliis situa- 
 tion tliey were taunted, and turned round with poles 
 till they fainted ; and when, on heing let down again, 
 they recovered, each of them had the little finger of 
 his left hand chopped ott' on the skull of a butlalo. 
 After this, they were hurried along between strong 
 and fleet runners: this was called "the last race," 
 round and round the Great Canoe, till the weight of 
 their arms having pulled the splints from their bodies, 
 they once more fainted, and in this state, apparently 
 dead, they were left to themselves, to live or die, as 
 the Great Spirit might determine. 
 
 Austin. I should think that hardly any of them 
 would ever come to life again. 
 
 Hunter. Nor would they, under ccmnuon circum- 
 stances ; but when we consider that these young men 
 had ftisted for four days, and lost much blood in theii' 
 tortures, there was not much danger of inflannnation 
 from their wounds, and their naturally strong consti- 
 tutions enabled them to recover. All these tortures 
 were willingly undertaken ; nor would any one of those 
 who endured them on any account whatever have 
 evaded them. To proj)itiate the Great Spirit, and to 
 stand well in the estimation of his own trib(% are the 
 two highest objects in the mind of a Red Indiai], 
 
 Brian. I do not think that white nuni could bear 
 so much. 
 
 Hunter. AVe may at least learn, fnjm these super- 
 
208 
 
 INDIAN SPEECHES. 
 
 stitious cruelties, to feel shame when we manifest loss 
 of temper and want of patience under our lighter 
 trials. Surely, we should blush, with all our advan- 
 tages, to be outdone by an unlettered Indian. The 
 pale faces ought not to be severe in condemnation of 
 red men, in the midst of all their superstition ; for 
 tliey have been brouglit up in ignorance of better 
 things. With them, revenge is virtue; and the white 
 man, instead of teaching tliem better, has taken advan- 
 tage of tlieir failings, setting them one against an- 
 other, and robbing them and oppressing them witliout 
 mercy. 
 
 Austin. When I go I will be a friend to the red men. 
 
 Hunter. We may all be friends to them, by encou- 
 raging in our hearts a desire to serve them, and by 
 putting that desire into practice whenever we have 
 the opportunity. I believe that you had rather pray 
 for a red man than cheat him of his hinds, and would 
 give him a Bible rather than a tomahawk. The time 
 may come when he will be better instructed, forsaking 
 liis wild superstitions, and embracing the truths of 
 Christianity. Should you like to hear two or three 
 speeches of the Ked Indians? j\Iany of them, in 
 their wild way, are very eloquent. 
 
 Austin. The very thing. That will just please me. 
 
 Jirian. Yes; I shall like that very well. 
 
 Basil. And I too. I shall fancy them dressed up 
 in all their line things. 
 
 Hunter. I will, then, first read to you a specimen 
 of Indian eloquence. I/ogan, the celebrated Indian 
 
pray 
 ouUl 
 time 
 
 liH of 
 tlnve 
 in, ill 
 
 ;«hI up 
 
 SPECIMEN OF INDIAN ELOQUENCE. 
 
 200 
 
 chief who had loiig^ been a zealous partisan of the 
 English, and had often distinguished himself in their 
 service, was taken prisoner, and brouglit before tie 
 Grcneral Assembly of A^irginia, who hesitated whether 
 he should be tried before a court martial, or at tlie 
 criminal bar for high treason. Logan interrupted 
 their deliberations, and stated to the assembly that 
 they had no jurisdiction to try him ; chat he owed no 
 allegiance to the king of England, being an Indian 
 chief, independent of every nation. In answer to 
 their inquiries as to his motives for takinu; up arms 
 against the English, he is said thus to have addressed 
 the assembly : — 
 
 " I appeal to any white man, to say if ever he en- 
 tered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not 
 meat ; if ever he came cold and naked, and lie clothed 
 him not. During the course of the last long and 
 bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an 
 advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, 
 that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, 
 * Lo<2:an is the friend of white men.' I had even 
 thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of 
 one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold 
 blood, and unprovoked, murdered all tlie relations of 
 Logan, not even sparing my women and children. 
 There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of 
 any living creatnre. This called on me for reveui^^e. 
 I have sought it: I have killed many: 1 have fully 
 glutted my vengeance. ]'\)r my e(tuntry, 1 rejoice at 
 the beams of peace: but do not harbour a thought 
 
M 
 
 210 
 
 ADDRESS OF THE SENECA IJ^DIAJTS. 
 
 that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear : 
 he will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is 
 there to mourn for Logan ? Not one.'* 
 
 This pathetic and affecting speech touched the sen- 
 sibility of all who heard him. The G-eneral Assembly 
 applauded his noble sentiments, and immediately set 
 him at liberty. Every family in Virginia vied with 
 each other which should entertain him the best, or 
 show him the most respect ; and he returned to his 
 native country, loaded with presents and honours. 
 
 Austm. That is a famous speech, however. 
 
 Brian. Poor Logan! I am glad he was set at 
 liberty. 
 
 Basil. And so am I. 
 
 Hunter. Here is an address of the Seneca Indians, 
 to G-overnor Clinton, that I have in print. I will 
 read it to you : — 
 
 " Father — AVe feel that the hand of our God has 
 long been heavy on his red children. For our sins, 
 he has brought us low, and caused us to melt away 
 before our white brothers as snow before the fire. 
 His ways are perfect; he regardeth not the com- 
 plexion of men. God is terrible in judgment. All 
 men ought to fear before him. lie putteth down and 
 buildeth up, and none can resist him. 
 
 " Father — The Lord of the whole earth is strong ; 
 tliis is our confidence. He hath power to build up, 
 as well as to put down. AVill he keep his auger for 
 ever? AV^ill he pursue to destruction the workman- 
 ship of his own hands, and strike off a race of men 
 
ADDRESS OF THE SE>'ECA IN'DTAyS. 
 
 211 
 
 from tlie earth, whom his care had so long pre 
 
 servee: 
 
 I 
 
 will 
 
 rmio; ; 
 
 el up, 
 
 or for 
 
 ma!i- 
 
 mon 
 
 
 fr 
 
 perils ? 
 
 1 so many 
 
 " Father — AVe thauk you that you feel anxious to 
 do all you can for the perishing ruins of your red 
 children. AVe hope, father, you will make a iVuce, 
 strong and high, around us, that the Avicked wliite 
 men may not devour us at once, but let us live as 
 long as we can. We are persuaded you will do tliis 
 for us, because our field is laid waste and trodden 
 do\ATi by every beast ; we are feeble, and cannot resi.-^t 
 them. 
 
 " Father — AVe are persuaded you will do tliis, for 
 the salve of our white brothers, lest God, who has 
 appeared so strong in building up white men and 
 putting down Indians, should turn liis hand and visit 
 our white brothers for their sins, and call them to an 
 account for all the wrongs they have done tliem, and 
 all the wrongs they have not prevented that it was in 
 their power to prevent, to their poor red brothers, 
 who have no helper.'* 
 
 Brian, I like those speeches very much indeed. 
 
 Hunter. The following is an address of the cliiefs 
 of the same people, the Seneca tribes. I have it, you 
 see, in the same printed book : — 
 
 ' The sachems, chiefs, and warriors of the vSeneca 
 nation, to tlie sachems and chiefs assembknl about 
 the great council fire of the state of New York. 
 
 "Bi'others — As you are once more assembled in 
 couni'il, for the purpose of doing honour to yourselves 
 and justice to your country, we, your brothers, the 
 
212 
 
 ADDRESS OF THE SENECA INDIANS. 
 
 
 sachems, chiefs, and warriors of the Seneca nation, 
 request you to open your ears, and give attention to 
 our voice and wishes. 
 
 " Brotliers — You will recollect the late contest be- 
 tween you and your father, the great king of England. 
 This contest threw the inhabitants of this whole island 
 into a great tumult and commotion, like a raging 
 whirlwind, which tears up the trees, and tosses to and 
 fro the leaves, so that no one knows from whence they 
 come, or where they w^ill fiiU. 
 
 " Brothers — This w^hirlwind was so directed, by the 
 Great S})irit above, as to throw into our arms two of 
 your infant cliildren, Jasper Parrish and Horatio 
 Jones. AVe adopted them into our families, and made 
 them our children. We loved them, and nourished 
 them. They lived with us many years. At length, 
 the Grreat Spirit spoke to the whirlwind ; and it was 
 still. A clear and uninterrupted sky appeared. The 
 path of peace was opened, and the chain of friendship 
 was once more made bright. Then those our adopted 
 children left us to seek their relations. We wished 
 them to remain among us, and promised, if they w^ould 
 return and live in our country, to give each of them a 
 seat of land for them and their childrento sit down upon 
 
 " Brotliers — They have returned, and have for seve- 
 ral years past been serviceable to us as interpreters. 
 We still feel om* hearts beat with aflection for them, 
 and now wisli to fulfil the promise we made them, 
 and to reward them for their services. A\^e have, 
 tl)erefor\ made up our minds to give them a seat of 
 
The 
 
 \ 
 
 SPEECH OF A WARRIOR. 
 
 213 
 
 two square miles of land, lyinp^ on the outlet of Lake 
 Erie, about three miles below Black Hock. 
 
 " Brothers — We have now made known to you our 
 minds. AVe expect, and earnestly request, tliat you 
 will permit our friends to receive this oiu' gift, and 
 will make the same good to them, according to tlie 
 laws and customs of your nation. 
 
 " Brothers — Why should you hesitate to make our 
 minds easy, with regard to this our request ? To you 
 it is but a little thing; and have you not coni])lied 
 with the request, and confirmed tlie gift, of our bro- 
 thers the Oneidas, the Onondagas, and the Cayngas, 
 to their interpreters ? and shall we ask, and not be 
 heard ? 
 
 " Brothers — We send you this our speech, to whicli 
 we expect your answer before the breaking up of 3 our 
 great council fire." 
 
 Austin. They seem to me to speak as well as white 
 men do. How I should like to hear one of those 
 speeches from a noble-looking chief, with his robes 
 and war-eagle plumes, holding in his hand his spear, 
 or his bow and arrow ! 
 
 Hunter. I will now read you the speech of a warrior 
 to a party of his tribe, who were with liim among the 
 whites when his chief died. It has long been known 
 to the public : — 
 
 "Do not grieve. Misfortunes will happen to the 
 wisest and best men. Death will come, and always 
 comes out of season. It is the conmiand of the Great 
 Spirit, and all nations and people muat obey. What 
 
1^ 
 
 '0 
 iii; 
 
 S 
 
 t 
 
 
 21i 
 
 SPEECH OF A WARRIOR. 
 
 has passed, and cannot be prevented, should not be 
 grieved for. Be not discouraged or displeased, then, 
 that, in visiting your father here, you have lost your 
 chief. A misfortune of this kind may never again 
 befall you ; but this would have attended you, perhaps, 
 at your own village. Five times have I visited tliis 
 land, and never returned with sorrow or pain. Mis- 
 fortunes do not flourish particularly in our path. 
 They grow everywhere. What a misfortune for me, 
 that I could not have died this day, instead of the 
 chief that lies before us ! The trifling loss my nation 
 would have sustained in my death, would have been 
 doubly paid for by the honours of my burial. They 
 would have wiped off' everything like regret. Instead 
 of being covered with a cloud of sorrow, my warriors 
 would have felt tlie sunshine of joy in their hearts. 
 To me it would have been a most glorious occurrence. 
 Hereafter, when I die at home — instead of a noble 
 grave and a grand procession, the rolling music and 
 tlie tliundering cannon, with a flag waving at my head 
 — I shall be wrapped in a robe, an old robe perhaps, 
 and hoisted on a slender scaffold to the whistling 
 winds, soon to be blown to the earth, my flesh to be 
 devoured by the wolves, and my bones rattled on the 
 plain by the wild beasts. 
 
 " Chief of the soldiers — Your labours have not been 
 in vain. Your attention shall not be forgotten. My 
 nation shall know the respect that is paid over the 
 dead. When I return, I will echo the sound of your 
 guns." 
 
SPEECH OF RED JACKET. 
 
 215 
 
 been 
 My 
 ^r the 
 your 
 
 Austin. Capital! capital! 
 
 Hunter. The speech about to be given you must 
 be the last. It is said to have been spoken by tlie 
 chief called Bed Jacket, in reply to a missionary, and 
 has been printed in many books : — 
 
 " Friend and brother — It was the will of the Great 
 Spirit that we should meet together this day. lie 
 orders aU things, and has given us a fine day for our 
 council. He has taken his garment from before tlie 
 sun, and caused it to shine with brightness upon us. 
 Our eyes are opened, that we see clearly; our ears 
 are unstopped, that we have been able to hear dis- 
 tinctly the words you have spoken. For all these 
 favours we thank the Great Spirit, and him only. 
 
 "Brother — Listen to what we say. There was a 
 time when our forefathers owned this great island. 
 Their seats extended from the rising to the setting 
 sun. The G-reat Spirit had made it for the use of 
 Indians. He had created the buffalo, deer, and other 
 animals, for food. He had made the bear and the 
 beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had 
 scattered them on the earth, and taught us how to 
 take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn 
 for bread. All this he had done for his red children, 
 because he loved them. But an evil day came upon 
 us. Your forefathers crossed the great water, and 
 landed on this island. Their numbers were small. 
 They found friends, and not enemies. They told us 
 they fled from their own country for fear of wicked 
 men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. 
 
 I I 
 
Bwrfi • I VriBWBOlirtft O 
 
 216 
 
 SPEECH OF llED JACKET. 
 
 They asked for a small seat. "We took pity on them, 
 and granted their request ; and they sat down among 
 us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us 
 poison in return. 
 
 " The white people had now found our country. 
 Tidings were carried back, and more came among us. 
 Yet we did not fear them. We took them to be 
 friends. They called us brothers. We believed them, 
 and gave them a larger seat. At length, their numbers 
 had greatly increased. They wanted more land. They 
 wanted owv country. Our eyes were opened, and our 
 minds became uneasy. Wars took place. Indians 
 were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our 
 people were destroyed. They also brought strong 
 liquor among us. It was strong and powerful, and 
 has slain thousands. 
 
 " Brother — Our seats were once large, and yours 
 were small. You have now become a greafc people, 
 and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. 
 You have got our country, but are not satisfied ; you 
 want to force your religion among us. 
 
 " Brother — Continue to listen. You say, that you 
 are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great 
 Spirit agreeably to his mind ; and, if we do not take 
 hold of the religion which you white people teach, we 
 shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are 
 right, and we are lost. How do we know this to be 
 true ? We understand that your religion is written 
 in a book. If it was intended for us as well as you, 
 why has not the Great Spirit given to us, and not 
 
t.'KJiCU k- RED JACKET. 
 
 217 
 
 hem, 
 iiong 
 e us 
 
 ntry. 
 
 Lg US. 
 
 bo be 
 bhem, 
 nbers 
 They 
 A our 
 idians 
 )f our 
 iitroug 
 1, and 
 
 yours 
 >eople, 
 nkets. 
 you 
 
 at you 
 Great 
 b take 
 ch, we 
 ou are 
 
 to be 
 i^ritten 
 IS you, 
 
 d not 
 
 
 only to us, but why ditt he not give to our forefatliers, 
 the knowledge of that book, with tlie moans of un- 
 derstanding it rightly? We only knov/ what you tell 
 us about it. How shall we know when to believe, 
 being so often deceived by the white people ? 
 
 " Brother — You say, there is but one way to wor- 
 ship and serve the Grreat Spirit. If there is but one 
 religion, why do you white people differ so nuich 
 about it ? AVhy not all agreed, as you can all read 
 the book ? 
 
 " Brother — We do not understand tliese things. 
 AVe are told that your religion was given to your fore- 
 fathers, and has been handed down from father to 
 son. We also have a religion, which was given to 
 our foreftithers, and Avas handed down to their chil- 
 dren. We worship in that way. It teaches us to 
 be thankful for all the favours we receive, to love 
 each other, and to be united. We never quarrel 
 about religion. ^ 
 
 " Brother — The Great Spirit has made us all ; but 
 he has made a great difference between his white and 
 red children. He has given us different complexions 
 and different customs. To you he has given the arts. 
 To these he has not opened our eyes. We know these 
 things to be true. Since he has made so great a dif- 
 ferp'T^e between us in other things, why may we not 
 conclude that he has given us a diiferent religion, 
 according to our understanding ? The Great Spirit 
 does right : he knows what is best for his children. 
 We are satisfied. 
 
to; 5 
 
 218 
 
 DESIRABLE LESSON. 
 
 "Brother — We do not wish to destroy your re- 
 ligion, or take it from you. We only wish to enjoy 
 our own. 
 
 " Brother — We are told that you have been preach- 
 ing to the white people in this place. These people 
 are our neighbours. "We are acquainted with them. 
 AV^e will wait a little while, and see what effect your 
 preaching has upon them. If we find it does them 
 good, and makes them honest, and less disposed to 
 cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what 
 you have said. 
 
 " Brother — You have now heard our answer to your 
 talk. This is all we have to say at present. As we 
 are going to part, we will come and take you by the 
 hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you in 
 your journey, and return you safe to your friends." 
 
 Austin. I could not have believed that a Bed Indian 
 could have made such a speech. 
 • Hunter. You see, by this speech, how deep an im- 
 pression the bad conduct of the whites had made on 
 the minds of the Indians ; and yet, with all this, there 
 is a spirit of forbearance and uprightness in the re- 
 marks of lied Jacket that we cannot but respect. 
 The next time you visit me, I shall have a great deal 
 to tell you about braves, and war parties, and encamp- 
 ments, and other things. In the mean time, think 
 kindly of red men, and learn what you can from them, 
 showing as much patience, courage, and untiring per- 
 severance in the discharge of your duties, as they do 
 in the observance of their superstitions. Christians 
 

 ■ 
 
 
 ? TV- 
 
 ! 
 
 
 jujoy 
 
 
 
 each- 
 eople 
 chem. 
 
 
 
 your 
 
 them 
 
 ed to 
 
 wliat 
 
 i 
 ! 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 your 
 Kb we 
 3y the 
 ^ou iu 
 ds." 
 [ndian 
 
 1 
 
 ! 
 
 t 
 
 an im- 
 ade on 
 ;, there 
 the re- 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 espeet. 
 at deal 
 
 
 
 icamp- 
 , think 
 1 tlieni, 
 
 
 
 ig per- 
 ;hey do 
 ristians 
 
 r_ 
 
 : 
 
 
 
 rROPEll MOTIVES. 
 
 2V.) 
 
 ought not to come behind heatlicns in any good quality, 
 but to go before them, setting them an example ; fur, 
 where much is given, much will be required. Tlio 
 higher the motive, the better should be the act. Let 
 our motive be the good of our kind, and the glory of 
 the liedeemer. Had this been the end and object of 
 all who have visited North America, the red man 
 would not have had the reasons he now has to look 
 on white men with sus^^jicion and hatred, and to regard 
 them with desire of revenge. 
 
 -C:-^ 
 
1 i 
 
 A WAB PARTY. 
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 roisoncd arrows— Poison making — The doadly power of tlie pttison — Council 
 of war — Enlisting— Preparation for battle — Indian mode of lighting— A 
 war party — A night march — A surprise— A village attacked — The onset — 
 The resistance— Tl»e retreat — False alarms — Camanchee war party — Their 
 chief in full dress on his war-horse — The wounded Crow warriors — The 
 mystery man — His useless attempts to restore the wounded — Particulars of 
 *he death of Ocuola, the Seminole chief— The death of a Christian. 
 
 The (lav after that on wliich Austiu and his brothers 
 heard from the hunter the account of the mystery 
 
I 
 
 —Council 
 hting— A 
 e, onset — 
 ty— Their 
 ors — The 
 iculars of 
 
 •others 
 lystery 
 
 
 i 
 
 IMITATION OF INDIAN CHARACTER. 
 
 Ii2l 
 
 lodf^e, and the sufferings of tlie youu"; ^laiidans 
 hefore they were thouf^ht equal to engajjje in a wnr 
 party, two or three little accidents occurred. In the 
 first place, Austin, in makint^ a new bow, cut a deep 
 pjash in his finger; and, in the next, Brian and Basil, 
 in scrambling among the liedges in quest of straight 
 twigs for arrows, met with their misliaps; for Brian 
 got a thorn in his thumb, while Basil had a roll down 
 the bank into a dry ditch. 
 
 It is always a good sign in young people, when they 
 put into practice any real or supposed good quality of 
 which they hear or read. The ])atience and endur- 
 ance of the young Mandans had called forth high 
 commendations from Austin, and it was evident, in 
 the aftair of the cut finger, that he made a struggle, 
 and a successful one too, in controlling his feelings. 
 AVith an air of resolution, he wrapped the end of his 
 pocket handkerchief tiglitly round the wound, and 
 passed off the occurrence as a matter of no monu'iit. 
 Not a word esca])ed little Basil when he rolled into 
 the ditch; nor did Brian utter a single "oh!" when 
 the thorn was extracted from his thumb. 
 
 Then again, beside tliese acts of heroism, some 
 very creditable speeches were made by the three 
 brothers, especially by Austin, who, in the character 
 of a lied Indian, feelingly himented Ids wrongs in 
 being driven from the hunting grounds of Ids fathers, 
 and very freely and inih'gnantly condemned the wliite 
 man's oppression and cruelty. 
 
 "You may de])end upon it," said Austin, after 
 
 I 
 
222 
 
 POISONED AREOWS. 
 
 some conversation with Brian and Basil, on the sub- 
 ject of the young Mandans, "that tlie next time we 
 see the hunter, we shall hear something about the 
 way in which red men go to war. The sham fight, 
 and the preparation of the young warriors, wull be 
 followed by some accoimt of their battles." In 0ns 
 shrewd supposition he was quite correct ; for, when 
 they next visited the cottage, the hunter proposed 
 to speak a little about councils, and encampments, 
 and alarms, and surprises, and attacks. The conver- 
 sation was carried on in the following manner. 
 
 Austin. How do the Indians poison their ar- 
 rows ? 
 
 Hunter. By dipping the point of the arrow-head 
 into the poison prepared. The head of the arrow, as 
 I told you, is put on very slightly, so that it remains 
 in the wound when the arrow is withdrawn. 
 
 Brian. Where do they get their poison ? "What is 
 it made of? 
 
 Hunter. No doubt there is some difference in the 
 manner of preparing poison among the different tribes. 
 But usually it is, I believe, composed of deadly vege- 
 table substances, slowly boiled together, sometimes 
 mingled with the mortal poison of snakes and ants. 
 This is prepared with grt\at care. Its strength is 
 usually tried on a lizard, or some other cold-blooded, 
 slow-dying animal. It is rapid in its effects ; for, if a 
 fowl bo wounded with a poisoned weapon, it dies in a 
 few minutes ; a cat dies in five minutes ; a bison, in 
 five or six ; and a horse, in ten. Jaguars and deer 
 
sub- 
 le we 
 ,t the 
 fight, 
 ill be 
 n l^iis 
 
 when 
 3posed 
 tnents, 
 ;onver- 
 
 3ir ar- 
 
 w-head 
 row, aa 
 •emains 
 
 yhat is 
 
 in the 
 tribes. 
 y vege- 
 uetimes 
 id ants, 
 ngth is 
 blooded, 
 for, it* a 
 lies in a 
 jison, in 
 uid deer 
 
 INDIAN MODE OF WARPAKE. 
 
 223 
 
 .^4 
 
 live but a short time after they are thus wouiidcl. It', 
 then, hoi*ses and bisons are so soon destroyed by the 
 poison, no wonder that men should be unal)le to 
 endure its fatal etfects. Before war is determined on 
 among the Indians, a couneil is lieUl with great so- 
 lemnity. The chiefs, and brayes, and mecheine mvn 
 are assembled. Then the enlisting takes place, Ayliicli 
 I haye ah-eady described ; the war dance is engaged 
 in ; and weapons are examined and repaii^d. The 
 chief, arrayed in full dress, leads on his band. Tliey 
 march with silence and rapidity, and encamp with 
 great caution, appointing sentinels in every necessary 
 direction. Thus, ku'king, skulking, and marching, 
 tliey reach the place of their destination. Another 
 war council is held, to decide on the mode of attack ; 
 and then, with rifles, war-clubs, scalping kniyes, and 
 bows and poisoned arrows, they fall upon their un- 
 suspecting foes. 
 
 Brian. It is very sad to fight with such weapons as 
 poisoned arrows. 
 
 Hunter. It is sad to fight with any kind of \yea- 
 pons ; but, when once anger enters the heart, and 
 the desire to shed blood is called forth, no mode is 
 thought too cruel that \yiU assist in obtaining a vic- 
 tory. The continual warfare that is being carried on 
 between Indian tribes, must be afllictive to every hu- 
 mane and Cliristian spirit. None but the God of peace 
 can destroy the love of war in the hearts of either red 
 or w^hite men. Iiulians light in a way very different 
 to civilized people; tor they depend more on cunning, 
 
221 
 
 A WAB PARTY. 
 
 3tratajnj( 
 
 (1 
 
 th 
 
 surprise, 
 attacks are m; 
 
 skill and 
 
 courage, 
 under cover of night, 
 or when least expected. A war party will frequently 
 go great distances, to fall upon a village or an encamp- 
 ment on a quarter most accessible. To effect their 
 object, they will bide for any length of time in the 
 forest, sleep in the long grass, lurk in the ravine, and 
 skulk at niglitfall around tlie place to be attacked. 
 
 Austin. Did you ever go out with the Indians to 
 fight ? 
 
 Ilunfer. Yes. For some time I was treated very 
 hospitably among the Crows, near tlie Kocky Moun- 
 tains ; and as they had determined to go on one of 
 their war parties, which I could not prevent, I re- 
 solved to go along with them, to watch their way of 
 proceeding. 
 
 Austin. Do tell us all about it. 
 
 Hunter. It was a thoughtless and foolish affair, 
 when I was young and rash ; but I wished to be a 
 s])ectator of all their customs. It was, as I said, one 
 of those foolish undertakings into which the ardour 
 of my disposition led me, and for which I was very 
 near paying the price of my life. A council was 
 held, wherein it was decided to send a stroug war 
 party on foot to surprise a Black foot village. E very- 
 stratagem had been used to lull the enemy into 
 security. 
 
 Urian. That is just like the Indians. 
 
 Hunter. The red pipe was sent througli the tribe, 
 for the warriors to smoke with it, much after the 
 
•age. 
 ight, 
 iiitly 
 
 amp- 
 tbeir 
 1 the 
 S and 
 d. 
 ms to 
 
 I very 
 Vloun- 
 one of 
 1 re- 
 svay of 
 
 affair, 
 o be a 
 id, one 
 ardour 
 as very 
 cil was 
 uof war 
 Every 
 y into 
 
 tribe, 
 "ter the 
 
 h 
 
 A TILLAGE ATTACKED. 
 
 225 
 
 manner of the Sioux ; the red post was struclv, and 
 the braves and attendants painted their faces. AVhen 
 the plan of attack was agreed on, every warrior saw 
 to his weapons ; neither bow nor arrow, war-chib nor 
 scalping knife was left unexamined. There was an 
 earnestness in their preparation, w^hicli showed that 
 they were all animated with one spirit ; a high- 
 wrought energy was visible through the whole tribe. 
 
 Austin. I will be bound for it they would figlit 
 like lions. 
 
 Hunter. It was some time after sundown, that we 
 left the village at a quick pace. Runners were sent 
 out in all directions, to give notice of an enemy. AV^e 
 hastened along a deep valley, rounded the base of a 
 bluif, and entered the skirt of a forest, following eacli 
 other in files beneath the shadowy branches. AV"e 
 then passed through some deep grass, and stole si- 
 lently along several defiles and ravines. The nearer 
 we drew to the Blackfoot village, the more silently 
 and stealthily we proceeded. Like the panther, 
 creeping w4th noiseless feet on his prey, we stele 
 along the intricate pathways of the prairie bottoms, 
 the forest, the skirt of the river, and the hills and 
 bluffs. At last we made a halt, just as the moou 
 emerged from behin ' a cloud. 
 
 Austin. Then theie was terrible work, I dare i<ay. 
 
 ILunter. It was past midnight, and the Jih.ck'- 
 foot village was wrapped in slumber. The Crow 
 warriors dispersed themselves to attack the vilhiijje 
 at the same instant from different quarters. The 
 
 I ! 
 
22G 
 
 DESPERATE EESISTANCE. 
 
 i 
 } i 
 
 leader had on his full dress, his medicine bag, and his 
 head-dress of war-eagle plumes. All was hushed in 
 silence, nearly equal to that of the grave ; when sud- 
 denly the shrill war-whistle of the Crow chief rung 
 through the Blackfoot lodges, and the wild war- 
 Avhoop burst at once from a hundred throats. The 
 chief Avas in the thickest of the fight. There was no 
 pity for youth or age ; the war-club spared not, and 
 the tomahawk was merciless. Telling like fiends, the 
 Crow warriors fled from hut to hut, from victim to 
 victim. .Neither women nor children were spared. 
 
 Brian. Oh, how cruel to kill the women and 
 children ! 
 
 Hunter. Though taken thus by surprise, the Black- 
 foot braves, in a little time, began to collect together, 
 clutching their weapons firmly, and rushing on their 
 enemies, determined to avenge their slaughtered 
 friends. The panic into which they had been thrown 
 subsided, and, like men accustomed to danger, they 
 stood not only in self-defence, but attacked their foes 
 with fury. 
 
 Austin. I wonder thot every one in the Blackfoot 
 village was not killed ! 
 
 Hunter. In civilized life, this would very likely 
 have been the case ; but in a savage state, men from 
 their childhood are trained up to peril. They may lie 
 down to slumber on their couches of skins, but their 
 weapons are near at hand ; and though it be the 
 midnight hour when an attack is made on them, and 
 roke by the confusion, they hear nothing 
 
 •o"> 
 
?d in 
 . sud- 
 rung 
 war- 
 Tbe 
 ras no 
 t, and 
 Is, the 
 Lim to 
 red. 
 n and 
 
 Blaclv- 
 igetlier, 
 n their 
 frlitered 
 
 thrown 
 tliey 
 
 eir foes 
 
 lackfoot 
 
 y 
 
 likely 
 en from 
 
 may lie 
 mt tlieir 
 
 be the 
 lem, and 
 
 nothing 
 
 I 
 
 ' 
 
 THE CROW AND BLACKFOOT lyDTAXS. 
 
 227 
 
 but the war-cry of their enemy, they spring to t1uM"r 
 feet, snatch up their arms, and rusli on to meet their 
 foes. It was thus witli the Blackfoot braves. Hand 
 to hand, and foot to foot, they mot their assailnnts : 
 brave was opposed to brave ; and the horrid clash of 
 the war-club and the murderous death-grapple suc- 
 ceeded each other. Even if I could describe the 
 horrors of such a scene, it woidd not be right to do 
 so. As I was gazing on the conflict, I suddenly re- 
 ceived a blow that struck me bleeding to the ground. 
 You may see the scar on my temple still. The con- 
 fusion was at its height, or my scalp would have been 
 taken. 
 
 Brian. How did you manage to get away? 
 
 Hunter. Stunned as I was, I recovered my senses 
 before a retreat took place, and was just able to elfect 
 my escape. The Crows slaughtered many of their 
 criemies ; but the Blackfoot warriors and braves were 
 at last too strong for them. Then was heard the 
 shrill whistle that sounded a retreat. With a dozen 
 scalps in their possession, the Crows sought llie 
 shelter of the forest, and ' \erwards regained their 
 own village. 
 
 Austin. Is the Crow tribe or the Blacl\foot tribe 
 the stronger ? 
 
 Hunter. The Crow Indians, as I told you, aie 
 taller and more elegant men than the Blacldeet; but 
 the latter liave broader chests and shoulders. The 
 Blackfeet, some think, take their name from the 
 circumstance of their wearing black, or very dark 
 
2'''S 
 
 A CAMANCHEE CHIEF. 
 
 i ! 
 
 brown lep:gings and mocassins. AYliet^"^r, as a peopie, 
 tlie Crows or the Blackfoet are the stronger, there is 
 a diversity of opinion. Tlie Blackfeet consist of four 
 kinds, or families, of Indians — the Blood, the Black- 
 foot, tlie Peagan, and the Small Eobes. They are 
 almost always at war with the Crows. 
 
 Brian. I am sure I sliould not like to live among 
 them, if they are always fighting. 
 
 Hunter. Their war parties are very numerous, and 
 their encampments are very large : and, whether seen 
 in the day, in the midst of their lodges, or at night, 
 wrapped in their robes, with their arms in their 
 hands, ready to leap up if attacked by an enemy, they 
 form a striking spectacle. Sometimes, in a night 
 encampment, a false alarm takes place. A prowling 
 bear, or a strayed horse, is taken for a foe ; and some- 
 times a real alarm, occasioned by spies crawling on 
 their hands and knees up to their very encampment, 
 to ascertain their strength. On these occasions, the 
 shrill whistle is heard, every man springs up armed, 
 and rushes forth, ready to resist his assailing enemy. 
 I have seen war parties among the Crows and Black- 
 feet, the Mandans and Sioux, the Shawnees, Poncas, 
 Pawnees, and Seminoles. But a Camanchee war 
 ])arty, moimted on wild horses, with their shields, 
 bows, and lances, which I once witnessed, was the 
 most imposing spectacle of the kind I ever saw. 
 The chief was mounted on a beautiful war horse, wild 
 as the winds, and yet he appeared to manage him 
 with ease, lie was in full di'ess, and seemed to have 
 
•e is 
 
 four 
 [ack- 
 - are 
 
 Liiong 
 
 3, and 
 • seen 
 
 their 
 r, they 
 
 night 
 owling 
 
 sonie- 
 mg on 
 pment, 
 ns, the 
 
 armed, 
 enemy. 
 
 Bhick- 
 Poncas, 
 
 ee war 
 
 shields, 
 Ivas the 
 
 er saw. 
 
 se, wihl 
 lige him 
 
 to have 
 
 THE MYSTEllY MAX. 
 
 229 
 
 as much fire in liis disposition as the chafed animtil 
 on which he rode. In his hridle liand, he chitdicd 
 his how and several arrows ; with his other liand lie 
 wielded his long lance ; while his quiver and shield 
 were slung at his back, and his ritle across his thiu^h. 
 
 Austin. I fancy I can see him now. But what 
 colour was his war horse ? 
 
 Hunter. Black as a raven ; but tlie white foam lay 
 in thick flakes on his neck and breast, for liis rider at 
 every few paces stuck the sharp wheels of his Spanish 
 spurs into his sides. He had a long flowing mane 
 and tail, and his full and fiery eyes seemed ready to 
 start out of his head. The whole Camanchee band 
 seemed ready to rush into any dpnn;er. At one time, 
 they were flying over the prairie in single file ; and 
 at another, drawn up all abreast of each other. The 
 Camanchees and the Osages used to have cruel batlles 
 one with another. The Mandans and the liiccarees, 
 too, were relentless enemies. 
 
 Austin. And the Sacs and Foxes were great fighters, 
 for Black Hawk was a famous fellow. 
 
 Hunter. Yes, he was. I have never told you, I 
 believe, how the medicine man, or mystery man, con- 
 ducts himself when called in to a wounded warrior. 
 
 Brian. No, hunter. AViil you please to tell us all 
 about him now ? 
 
 Hunter. In some cases, cures are certainly per- 
 formed ; in others, the wounded get well of them- 
 selves ; but, in most instances, the mystery man is a 
 mere juggler. 
 
230 
 
 TUE MYSTERY MAN. 
 
 ! I 
 
 11 
 
 Basil. JSTow we shall hear about the mystery man. 
 
 Hunter. The Crow war party that I joined brought 
 away two of their wounded warriors when they re- 
 treated from the Blackfoot village, but there seemed 
 to me to be no hope of saving their lives. However, 
 a mystery man was called on to use his skill. 
 
 Austin. How does the mystery man cure his patients ? 
 
 Hunter. If ever you should require a doctor, I hope 
 you will have one more skilful than the mystery 
 man that I am going to describe. The wounded 
 warriors were in extremity, and I thought that one 
 of them was dying before the mystery man made his 
 appearance ; but you shall hear. The woimded men 
 lay groaning on the ground, with Indians round tliem, 
 who kept moaning even louder t lan they did; when, 
 all at once, a scuffle of feet, and a noise like that of a 
 low rattle, were heard. 
 
 Austin. The mystery man was coming, I sup- 
 pose. 
 
 Hunter. He was ; and a death-like silence was in- 
 stantly preserved by all the attendant Indians. On 
 came the mystery man, covered over with the shaggy 
 hide of a yellow bear, so that, had it not been that 
 his mocassins, leggings, and hands were visible, you 
 might have supposed a real bear was walking upright, 
 with a spear in one paw, and a rattle formed like a 
 tambourine in the other. 
 
 Basil. He could not cure the dying man with his 
 tambourine. 
 
 Hunter. From the yeUow bear skin hung a profu- 
 
 I i 
 
an- 
 il gilt 
 f re- 
 3med 
 ever, 
 
 ents? 
 hope 
 
 /^stery 
 
 Linded 
 
 Lt one 
 
 ie his 
 
 i men 
 tliem, 
 when, 
 
 it of a 
 
 sup- 
 
 vas in- 
 s. On 
 shaggy 
 n that 
 lie, you 
 ipright, 
 like a 
 
 vith his 
 a profu- 
 
 TlIE CHIEF OCEOLA. 
 
 231 
 
 sion of smaller skins, such as those of dilTerout kiiid^i 
 of snakes, toads, frojrs, and bats : with hoofs of ani- 
 
 'C?"J 
 
 
 mals, beaks and tails of birds, and scraps and fi- 
 ments of other things ; a complete bundle of 
 and ends. The medicine man came into the circle, 
 bending his knees, crouching, sliding one foot after 
 the other along the ground, and now and then leaping 
 and grunting. You could not see his face, for the 
 yellow bear-head skin covered it, and the paws dangled 
 before him. He shuffled round and round the wounded 
 men, shaking his rattle, and making all kinds of odd 
 noises ; he then stopped to turn them over. 
 
 Austin. He had need of all his medicine. 
 
 Hunter. Hardly had he been present more than a 
 minute before one of the men died; and, in ten 
 minutes more, his companion breathed his last. The 
 medicine man turned them over, shook his rattle owv 
 them, howled, groaned, and grunted; but it would 
 not do, the men were dead, and all his mummery 
 would not bring them back to life again ; so, after 
 a few antics of various kinds, he shuffled off with 
 himself, shaking his rattle, and howling and groan- 
 ing louder than ever. You may remember that I 
 told you of the death of Oceola, the Seminole chief : 
 he who struck his dagger through the treaty that was 
 to sign away the hunting grounds of his tribe, in 
 exchange for distant lands. 
 
 Austin. Yes. You said that he dashed his dagp;^ ^ 
 not only through the contract, but also through thv:; 
 table on which it lay. 
 

 DEATH OF OCEOLA. 
 
 \\ 
 
 
 Brian. And you told us that he was taken prisoner 
 by treachery, and died in captivity. 
 
 Hunter. Now I will tell you the particulars of 
 his death; for I only said before, that he died pil- 
 lowed on the faithful bosom of his wife. He had his 
 two wives with him when he died, but one was his 
 favourite 
 
 Austin. Please to let us know everything about 
 him. 
 
 Hunter. Finding himself at the point of death, he 
 made signs that the chiefs and officers might be as- 
 sembled, and his wishes were immediately complied 
 with. The next thing he desired was, that his war 
 dress, that dress in which he had so often led his 
 tribe to victory, might be brought to him. His wife 
 waited obediently upon him, and his war dress was 
 placed before him. 
 
 Basil. "What could he want with his war dress 
 when he was going to die ? 
 
 Austin. Wait a little, Basil, and you will hear all 
 about it, I dare say. 
 
 Hunter. It was an affecting sight, to see him get 
 up from his bed on the floor, once more to dress 
 himself as a chief of his tribe, just as if he were about 
 to head an expedition against the whites. "Well, he 
 put on his rich mocassins, his leggings adorned with 
 scalp-locks, his shirt, and his ornamental belt of war. 
 Nor did he forget the pouch that carried his bullets, 
 the horn that held his powder, nor the knife wuth 
 which he had taken so many scalps. 
 
get 
 
 ress 
 
 3 out 
 
 1, lie 
 with 
 war. 
 lUets, 
 with 
 
 M 
 
 
 DEATH OF OCEOL.V. 
 
 233 
 
 livinn. IIow very strange for a dying man to dress 
 himself in that way ! 
 
 Hunter. In all this he was as calm and as steady 
 as thoiigli ahout to hunt in tlie woods with Ids tril)(\ 
 He then made signs, while sitting up in his hed, that 
 his red paint should he given him, and his looking- 
 glass held up, that he might paint his face. 
 
 Austin. And did he paint his face himself? 
 
 Hunter. Only one half of it ; after wliich his tlu-oat, 
 neck, wrists, and the backs of his hands wen^ made 
 as red as vermilion would make them, 'i'lie very 
 handle of his knife was coloured over in the same 
 way. 
 
 Basil. AYliat did he paint his hands and his knife- 
 handle for? 
 
 Hunter. Because it was the custom of his tribe, 
 and of his fathers before him, to paint themselves 
 and their weapons red, whenever they took an oath 
 of destruction to their enemies. Oceola did it, no 
 doubt, that he miglit die like a chief of his tribe ; 
 that he might show those around him that, even in 
 death, he did not forget that he was a Seminole war- 
 rior. In that awful hour, he put on his spk^ndid 
 turban with its three ostrich feathers, and then, being 
 wearied with the effort he had made, he lav down for 
 a little space to recover his breath and his strength. 
 
 Austin. How weak he must have been ! 
 
 Hunter. In a short time he rose up ai^^ain. sitting 
 in his full dress like the leader of a warlike tribe, and 
 calmly and smilingly extended his hand to the chiefs 
 
23i 
 
 DEATH OF A CHIUSTIAy. 
 
 and officers, to his wives and his children. But this, 
 his last eftbrt, exhausted his remaining strength. He 
 beckoned his wives to lower him down on the bed, 
 calmly drew his scalping knife from its sheath under 
 his war-belt, where it had been placed, and grasped 
 it with lirmness and dignity. AVith his hands crossed 
 on his manly breast, and with a smile on his face, he 
 breathed his last. Thus passed away the spirit of 
 Oceola. 
 
 Austin. Poor Oceola! He died like a chief, at 
 last. 
 
 Hunter. He did : and, very likely, when he grasped 
 his scalping knife before his last breath forsook him, 
 some glowing vision of successful combat was before 
 him. In the pride of his heart, perhaps, lie was lead- 
 ing on his braves to mingle in the clasli of battle, 
 and the death-grapjdc Avith his enemies. But is 
 this a fit state of mind for a man to die in ? Much 
 as we may admire tlie steady lirmness and unsub- 
 dued courage of an Indian warrior in death, emotions 
 of pride and liigh-mindednoss, and thoughts of blood- 
 shed and victory, are most unsuitable to a dying hour. 
 Humility, Torgiveness, repentance, hope, faitli, peace, 
 and joy, are right in such a season ; and the time 
 will no doubt come when Indians, taught better by 
 tlie gospel, will thiidc so as well as oiu'selves. With 
 C^hristian hopes before us, let us pre])are to di(^ like 
 Christians. " Let me dw the death of the rigliteous, 
 and let my last end be like his!" Numb, xxiii. 10. 
 "Mark the perfect man, aiul bcliold the upright: for 
 
this, 
 He 
 
 bed, 
 under 
 asped 
 cossed 
 ce, he 
 irit of 
 
 ief, at 
 
 ;rasped 
 k him, 
 
 before 
 \s h^ad- 
 
 battle, 
 
 But is 
 
 IMuch 
 
 uiisub- 
 motions 
 bh)od- 
 
 vr hour. 
 
 , peace, 
 
 w tin\o 
 
 tter by 
 AVith 
 
 die like 
 
 «rhteous, 
 Icxiii. 10. 
 
 ght: for 
 
 DEATH OF A ClIRISTIAX. 
 
 2:^0 
 
 tlie end of that man is peace," Psa. xxxvii. 37. " Yea, 
 though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
 death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy 
 rod and thy staff they comfort me," Psa. xxiii. 4. 
 " Our (Saviour Jesus Christ hath abolished death, and 
 has brought life and immortality to light througli tlie 
 gospel," 2 Tim. i. 10. " Blessed are the dead which 
 die in the Lord," Rev. xiv. 13. 
 
MOl'NTED CHIEF, 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A treaty of pracc — The tomint.iwk biiri<'<l — pipo of prnco (la;icp— A<!siiinl)Oin 
 chief — Tribes who shnve their heads — Turninc in tlicir toes in walking' — 
 Names of women— DitTorent modes of huildinK lodtces— Hutfalo Imntinir in 
 wolves' skins— Bending horses — Medicine rock — Ilatehins; tlmnder — Cap- 
 tain Sniitli saved by a chief's daughter— Horned frogs— Mosquitoes — Suit 
 water brooks. 
 
 The holidays of tlic three brothers were drawin": to a 
 close ; and this circumstance rendered them the more 
 
.— 1 
 
 \vi\lkiny;— 
 hunting: in 
 ukUt— Cap- 
 uitoes— Salt 
 
 rinp; to a 
 he luore 
 
 ADMIRATION OF INDIAN CllAItACTEU. 
 
 237 
 
 to 
 
 )ttj 
 
 anxious to secure one or two more visits to tlit 
 before they settled down in riglit earnest to their books. 
 Brian and Basil talked much about the poisoned arrows, 
 and the mystery man ; but Austin's mind was too much 
 occupied with the Camanchee chief on his black war- 
 horse, and the death of the Seminole chief Oceola, to 
 think much of anything else. lie thought there was 
 something very noble in the valour of a chief leading 
 on his tribe to conquest ; and something almost sub- 
 lime in a warrior dressing himself up in his war-dress 
 to die. Like many other young people of ardent dis- 
 positions, he seemed to forget, that when a victory is 
 enjoyed, a defeat must be endured; and that before 
 any one can rejoice in taking a scalp, some one must 
 be rendered miserable by losing it. The remarks of 
 the hunter, respecting the death of a true Christian, 
 had not been made altogether in vain ; yet still he 
 dwelt on the image of Oceola grasping his scalping 
 knife, crossing his hands over his breast, and dying 
 with a smile on his countenance. 
 
 On their next walk to the cottage^ the way was 
 beguiled by Austin endeavouring to call to mind all 
 that had been told them on their last visit; and, to 
 do him justice, he accpiitted himself uncommonly well. 
 li is true, that now and then his brothers refreshed 
 his memory on some points which hat! escaped him ; 
 but, on the whole, his account was full, connected, 
 and clear. 
 
 " And what must T tell you now ?" said the hunter, 
 as soon as he and the young people had exchanged 
 
r 
 
 238 
 
 A HECAPITULATION". 
 
 salutations. " Do you not know enough about tlie 
 lied Indians ?" 
 
 To this inquiry, Brian replied that what they had 
 heard had only increased their curiosity to hear more. 
 
 " Well ; let me consider,'' said the hunter. " I 
 have told you about the different tribes of tlie Red 
 Indians, and where many of them reside. You have 
 heard about their religion, languages, manners, and 
 customs ; their villages, wigwams, food, dress, arms, 
 and musical instruments. I have described to you 
 the fur trade ; and dwelt on the scenery of North 
 America, the mountains, rivers, lakes, prairies, and 
 many remarkable places. I have related the adven- 
 tures of Black Hawk and Nikkanochee, and read to 
 you the speeches of several chiefs. And, besides these 
 things, you have had a tolerably full account of buffii- 
 loes, bears, wild horses, wolves, deer, and other animals, 
 witli the manner of hunting them ; as well as a rela- 
 tion of Indian amusements, dances, sham fights, war 
 partietL, encampments, alarms, attacks, scalping, and 
 retreats. Let me now, then, dwell a little on the 
 Red Indian way of concluding a treaty of peace, and 
 on a few other matters ; after which, I will conclude 
 with the best account I can give you of what the 
 missionaries liave done among the different tribes." 
 
 Austin. I sliall be very sorry when you have told 
 U3 all. 
 
 Brian. And so shall I : for it is so pleasant to como 
 here, and listen to wliat you tell us. 
 
 Hunter. Oh, we shall always find something to talk 
 
, the 
 
 r had 1 
 lore. i 
 
 "I 
 Bed 
 L liave 
 \, and 
 arms, 
 o you 
 North 
 s, and 
 adven- 
 ead to 
 3 these 
 bufta- 
 nimals, 
 a, rela- 
 ts, war 
 
 , and 
 on the 
 lco, and 
 oncUide 
 lat the 
 bes." 
 iv(^ told 
 
 to como 
 to talk 
 
 P[PE OF PEACE DANCE. 
 
 ^•^9 
 
 of when you come, no doubt. After a battle has been 
 fought, the scalp dance, which has already been ck'- 
 scribed, is usually performed, the women holding up 
 the scalps which have been taken. 
 
 Basil. I do not like that scalp dance at all. 
 
 Hunter. When it is agreed between hostile tribes 
 that a treaty of peace shall be made, the chiefs and 
 medicine men of the adverse tribes meet together, 
 and the calumet, or peace pipe, ornamented witli 
 eagle quills, being produced, every one smokes a few 
 whiffs through it. It is then understood by them 
 that the tomahawk is to be buried; which means the 
 same thing as when we say, the sword of war shall 
 be put in its scabbard. The pipe of peace dance is 
 then performed by the warriors, to the beat of the 
 Indian drum and rattle, every warrior holdiag liis pipe 
 in his hand. 
 
 Brian. That pipe of peace dance is a capitid dance, 
 for then fighting is at an end. 
 
 Hunter. Unhappily, war is apt soon to break 
 out again, and then the buried tomahawk becomes as 
 busy as ever. 
 
 Austin. Well, I do like the Red Indians, in spite 
 of all their iaults ; they have been used cruelly by 
 the whites. 
 
 Hunter. As a general remark, those Indians who 
 have had least to do with civilized lite are the most 
 worthy of regard. Such as live near white men, or 
 such as are frecpiently visited by them, seem to learn 
 quickly the vices of others, without giving up their 
 
240 
 
 SPLENDOTJE OF THE CHIEFS. 
 
 own. To observe the real cliaracter of red men, it is 
 necessary to trace the turnings and windings of the 
 Yellow Stone Eiver, or the yet more remote sinuosi- 
 ties of the Upper Missouri. The nearer the United 
 States, the more servile is the Indian charrctf and 
 tlie nearer the Rocky Mountains, thp i_-3re le- 
 pendent and open-hearted. 
 
 Atistin. If I ever go among the red men, the Tel- 
 low Stone liiver, or the Upper Missouri, will be the 
 place for me. 
 
 Ihmter. Many of the chief's of the tribes near the 
 Eocky Mountains may be said to live in a state of 
 splendour. They have the pure air of heaven around 
 them, and rivers abounding in fish. The prairie yields 
 them bulValocs in plenty; and, as for their ledges and 
 dress, some of them may be called sumptuous. Some- 
 times, twenty or thirty bulfalo skins, beautifully 
 dressed, are joined together to form a covering for a 
 lodge ; and their robes and different articles of apparel 
 are so rich with ermine, the nails and claAvs of birds 
 and animals, war-eagle plumes, and embroidery of 
 highly-coloured porcupine quills, that a monarch in 
 his coronation robes is scarcely a spectacle more im- 
 posing. 
 
 Austin. I remember the dress of Mah-to-toh-pa, 
 " the four bears," his buffalo robe, his porcupine quilled 
 leggings, his embroidered buckskin mocassins, his otter 
 necklace, his butlalo horns, and his splendid head- 
 dress of war-eagle plumes. 
 
 Hunter. In a state of war, it is the delight of a 
 
 
it 19 
 
 the 
 iiosi- 
 litecl 
 
 and 
 le- 
 
 Tel- 
 e the 
 
 ir the 
 
 ite of 
 
 round 
 
 yields 
 
 ?s and 
 
 Some- 
 
 tit'ully 
 
 for a 
 pparel 
 
 birds 
 ery of 
 rcli in 
 re ini- 
 
 toh-pa, 
 quilled 
 s otter 
 head- 
 it of a 
 
 AN ASSTXABOTiS^ CHTEr. 
 
 2tl 
 
 chief to leap on the back of his fiery steed, decorated 
 as the leader of his tribe, and armed with his gHtter- 
 ing lance and unerring bow, to lead on Ids band to 
 victory. In the chase, he is as ardent as in the battle ; 
 smiling at danger, he plunges, on his flying steed, 
 among a thousand buffaloes, launching his fatal shafts 
 with deadly effect. Thus has the Indian of the far 
 WTst lived, and thus he is living still. But the trader, 
 and the gin bottle, and the carbine, and the white 
 man, are on his track ; and, like his red brethren who 
 once dwelt east of the Mississippi, he must i'all back 
 yet further, and gradually decline before the approach 
 of civilization. 
 
 Austin. It is a very strange thing that white men 
 will not let red men alone. What right have they to 
 cheat them of their hunting grounds? 
 
 Hunter. I will relate to you an account, that ap- 
 peared some time ago in most of the newspapers, of 
 an Assinaboin chief, w^ho, though he was respected 
 by his tribe before he went among the whites, had 
 very little respect paid to him afterwards. 
 
 Brian. I hope it is a lonc^ account. 
 
 Hunter. Not very long : but you shall hear. " In 
 order to assist the officers of the Indian department 
 in their arduous duty of persuading remote tribes to 
 quit their lands, it has been found advisable to incur 
 the expense of inviting one or two of their chiefs three 
 thousand or four thousand miles to Washington, in 
 order that they should see with their own eyes, and 
 report to their tribes, the irresialible power of the 
 
 powi 
 
 B 
 
1 1 
 
 242 
 
 AN ASSINABOIN CHIEE. 
 
 nation with which they are arguing. This speculation 
 has, it is said, in all instances, more or less effected 
 its object. For the reasons and for the objects we 
 have stated, it was deemed advisable that a certain 
 chief should be invited from his remote country to 
 Washington ; and accordingly, in due time he ap- 
 peared there.'* 
 
 Austin. Three or four thousand miles! "What a 
 distance for him to go ! 
 
 Blunter. " After the troops had been made to 
 manoeuvre before him ; after thundering volleys of 
 artillery had almost deafened him; and after every 
 department had displayed to him all that was likely 
 to add to the terror and astonishment he had already 
 experienced, the president, in lieu of the Indian's 
 clothes, presented him with a colonel's uniform; in 
 which, and with many other presents, the bewildered 
 chief took his departure." 
 
 Brian. He would hardly know how to walk in a 
 colonel's uniform. 
 
 Hunter. " In a pair of white kid gloves ; tight blue 
 coat, with gilt buttons, gold epaulettes, and red sash ; 
 cloth trowsers with straps ; high-heeled boots ; cockcvi 
 hat, and scarlet feather ; with a cigar in his mouth, a 
 green umbrella in one hand, and a yellow fan in the 
 other; and with the neck of a whiskey bottle pro- 
 truding out of each of the two tail-pockets of his regi- 
 mental coat ; this ' monkey that had seen the world' 
 suddenly appeared before the chiefs and warriors of 
 his tribe ; and as he stood before them, straiglit as a 
 
tion 
 cted 
 ^ we 
 :tain 
 y to 
 I ap- 
 
 lat a 
 
 le to^ 
 ys of 
 every 
 likely 
 ready 
 dian's 
 m; in 
 Ldered 
 
 L in a 
 
 ,t blue 
 . sasli ; 
 cockt i 
 3uth, a 
 in the 
 e pro- 
 8 regi- 
 world' 
 iors of 
 ht as a 
 
 i 
 
 AN ASSINABOIN CHIEF. 
 
 243 
 
 ramrod, in a high state of perspiration, caused by t]ie 
 tightness of his finery, while the cool fresh air of heaven 
 blew over the naked, unrestrained limbs of the spec- 
 tators, it might, perhaps not unjustly, be said of the 
 costumes, * Which is the savage ?' In return for tlie 
 presents he had received, and with a desire to impart 
 as much real information as possible to his tribe, tlie 
 poor jaded traveller undertook to deliver to tliem a 
 course of lectures, in which he graphically described 
 all that he had witnessed." 
 
 Austin. An Indian in white kid gloves, blue coat, 
 high-heeled boots, and cocked hat and feather ! Why, 
 his tribe would all laugh at him, in spite of liis 
 lectures. 
 
 Hunter. " For a while he was listened to with at- 
 tention ; but as soon as the minds of his audience had 
 received as much as they could hold, they began to 
 disbelieve him. Nothing daunted, however, the tra- 
 veller still proceeded." 
 
 Austin. I thought they would laugh at him. 
 
 Hunter. " He told them about wigwams in whicli 
 a thousand people could at one time pray to tlie Great 
 Spirit ; of other wigwams live stories high, built in 
 lines, facing each other, and extending over an enor- 
 mous space : he told them of war canoes that would 
 hold twelve hundred warriors." 
 
 Austin. They would be sure never to believe him. 
 
 Hunter. " Such tales, to the Indian mind, seemed 
 an insidt to common sense. For some time he was 
 treated merely with ridicule and contempt; but 
 
211 
 
 UEAD-DIIESS OF THE CHIEFS. 
 
 w hen, resolutely continuing to recount his adventures, 
 he told them that he had seen white people who, by 
 attaching a great ball to a canoe, could rise in it into 
 the clouds, and travel through the heavens, the 
 medicine, mystery, or learned men of his tribe pro- 
 nounced him to be an impostor ; and the multitude 
 vociferously declaring that he was too great a liar to 
 live, a young warrior, in a paroxysm of anger, levelled 
 a rifle at his head, and blew his brains out." 
 
 Austin. Well, I am very sorry ! It was very silly 
 to be dressed up in. that way ; but they ought not 
 to have killed him, for he told them the truth, after 
 all. 
 
 Brian. I could never have thought that an Indian 
 chief would have dressed himself in a blue coat and 
 gilt buttons. 
 
 Basil. And, then, the fan and green umbrella ! 
 
 Austin. Yes, and the whiskey bottles sticking out 
 of his tail-pockets. He would look a little difterent 
 to Mah-to-tdh-pa. 
 
 Hunter. I have frequently spoken of the splendid 
 head-dress of the chiefs of some tribes. Among the 
 Mandans, and you know Mah-to-toh-pa was a Man dan, 
 they would not part with one of their head-dresses of 
 war-eagle plumes at a less price than two horses. The 
 Kansas, Osages, Pawnees, Sacs, Foxes, and lowaa 
 shave their heads ; but all the rest, or at least as far 
 as I know of the Indian tribes, wear long hair. 
 
 Brian. Yes ; we remember the Crows, with their 
 hair sweeping the ground. 
 
MANNER OF WALKING. 
 
 215 
 
 
 their 
 
 Hunter. Did I tell you that some of the tribes glue 
 other hair to their own to make it lone^ as it is con- 
 sidered so ornamental ? 
 
 Brian. I do not remember that you told us that. 
 
 Hunter. There are a few other tilings rospeetingthe 
 Indians tliat I wish to mention, before I tell you what 
 the missionaries have done among them. In civilized 
 countries, people turn out their toes in walking ; but 
 this is not the case among thj Red Indians. "When the 
 toes are turned out, either in walking or running, the 
 whole weight of the body Mis sadly too nuich on the 
 great toe of the foot that is behind, and it is mainly 
 owing to this circumstance that so many have a 
 deformity in the joint of the great toe ; when the foot 
 is turned in, the weight of the body is thrown equally 
 on all the toes, and the deformity of the great toe 
 joint is avoided. 
 
 Austin. AVhat, do the Eed Indians know better how 
 to walk than we do? If theirs is the best way to walk, 
 why do not we all walk so ? 
 
 Hunter. I suppose, because it is not so el'gant in 
 appearance to walk so. But many things rre done 
 by civilized people on account of fashion. Hundreds 
 and hundreds of females shorten their lives by tight 
 lacing; but the Bed Indians do not commit such 
 
 folly. 
 
 Brian. There is something to be learned from Eed 
 Indians, after all. 
 
 Hunter. I told you the Crow Indians were some 
 of the finest men of all the Indians ; but I rather 
 
246 
 
 NAMES OF WOMEN. 
 
 i' 
 
 think that the Osages are the tallest. Most of them 
 are six feet high, aud some of them nearly seven. 
 
 Austin. They must be fine men indeed ! Do they 
 live near the Crows ? 
 
 Hunter. Oh no ; at least a thousand miles from 
 them. They are much nearer the Kansas and the 
 Pawnee Picts. They inhabit a part that is six or seven 
 hundred miles nearer the Eocky Mountains than the 
 river Mississippi. I forget, when I gave you the 
 names of several remarkable men among the tribes, 
 whether I gave the names of any of the women. 
 The wife of the chief of the Ponca tribe was called 
 Ilee-lah-dee, " the pure fountain ;" and one of the 
 wives of his son went by the name Mong-shong-sha, 
 " the bending willow." 
 
 Basil. Those are very good names indeed: the 
 Pure Pountain, and the Bending Willow. 
 
 Hunter. There was a modest-looking girl among 
 the Crows, named Seet-se-be-a, " the mid-day sun ;" 
 and another among the Shawnees, called Ka-te-quaw, 
 "the female eagle." You must remember that the 
 Eed Indians build their lodges in difterent ways : the 
 Mandan and Biccaree mode is to cover their lodges 
 with earth; the Chippeways roof theirs with birch 
 bark ; the Pawnees thatch theirs with prairie grass ; 
 and the Camanchees, Crows, and Blackfeet, cover their 
 lodges with buffalo skins. 
 
 Austin. Tes ; we will remember that. 
 
 Hunter. Did I tell you that sometimes the Indians 
 dressed themselves in wolves' skins, and crept along 
 
BORROWINO HORSES. 
 
 217 
 
 hein 
 they 
 
 from 
 L the 
 seven 
 Q the 
 1 the 
 rihes, 
 Dm en. 
 called 
 >f the 
 g-sha, 
 
 : the 
 
 imong 
 sun -," 
 -quaw, 
 lat the 
 s: the 
 lofiges 
 birch 
 grass ; 
 ;r their 
 
 [ndians 
 t along 
 
 i 
 
 on their hands and knees, witli their rillea, till tliev 
 could get sufficiently near the buffaloes to lire at them? 
 
 Brian. I do not remember that. How cunniiio:! 
 
 Hunter. There is a custom among the Sacs and 
 Foxes that I do not think I spoke of. The Sacs are 
 better provided with horses than the Foxes ; and so, 
 whcTi the latter go to war and want horses, they go 
 to the Sacs and beg them. After a time, they sit 
 round in a circle, and take up their pipes to smoke, 
 seemingly quite at their ease ; and while tliey are 
 whiffi.'g away, the young men of the Sacs ride round 
 and r mnd the circle, every now and then cutting at 
 tlie should rs of the Foxes with their whips, making 
 the blood start forth. After keeping up this strange 
 custom for some tiviie, the young Sacs dismount, and 
 present their horses to those they have been flogging. 
 
 Austin. "What a curious custom! I should not 
 much like to be flogged in that manner. 
 
 Brian. Nor I. What backs they must have, after 
 being flogged in that way ! 
 
 Hunter. There is a certain rock which the Caman- 
 chees always visit when they go to war. Putting 
 their horses at full speed, they shoot their best arrows 
 at this rock, which they consider great medicine. If 
 they did not go through this long-established custom, 
 there would be no confidence among them ; but when 
 they have thus sacrificed their best arrows to the rock, 
 their hope and confidence are strong. 
 
 Austin, I should have thought they would have 
 wanted their best arrows to fight with. 
 
248 
 
 ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN SMITH. 
 
 f 
 
 Hunter. The Sioux have a strange notion about 
 thunder ; they say tliat the thunder is hatched by a 
 small bird, not mucli bigger than the humming bird. 
 There is, in the Couteau des Prairies, a place called 
 " the nest of the thunder ;" and in the small bushes 
 there, they will have it that this little bird sits upon 
 its eggs till the long claps of thunder come forth. 
 Strange as this tradition is, there would be no use in 
 denying it; for the superstition of the Red Indian 
 is too strong to be easily done away with. The same 
 people, before they go on a buffalo hunt, usually pay 
 a visit to a spot where the form of a buffalo is cut out 
 on the prairie. This figure is great medicine ; and the 
 hunt is sure to be more prosperous, in their opinion 
 after it has been visited. 
 
 uiustin. I do hope that we shall forget none of these 
 curious things. 
 
 Hunter. Did I tell you how Captain Smith, an 
 English officer, was saved from a cruel death by a 
 chief's daughter ? 
 
 Austin. No, hunter ; but please do tell us. 
 
 Basil. Oil yes ; we sliould so like to hear about it. 
 
 Hunter. Captain Smith, aa the narrative is told, was 
 taken prisoner by an Indian chief, named Pow-luittan ; 
 and a council was held, in which, after many speeches 
 being made by the chiefs, it was finally determined 
 that he sliould be put to death. 
 
 Basil. How did they mean to kill him ? 
 
 Hunter. By striking his h(»ad with their war-clubs, 
 aftei* they liad made him hiy it down on a big Htone. 
 
ATs'ECDOTE OF CAPTAIN SMITH. 
 
 2i9 
 
 about 
 d by a 
 g bird. 
 
 called 
 bushes 
 s upon 
 
 forth. 
 
 use in 
 Indian 
 le same 
 lly pay 
 cut out 
 and the 
 opinion 
 
 )f these 
 
 ith, an 
 h by a 
 
 )out it. 
 Id, was 
 Kit tan ; 
 seeches 
 rniiued 
 
 clubs, 
 : stone. 
 
 There seemed to be no hope of escni)e for him. ITe 
 was brought to the place of execution, and com- 
 manded to lay his head on the stone ; then two exe- 
 cutioners, with their huge, heavy, ])aintcd war-cUibs, 
 stood over him, waiting for the signal to be given by 
 Pow-hattan to strike the fatal blow. Already had 
 their brawny arms lifted up their massy clubs, and in 
 a few moments Captain Smith would have been no 
 more ; when Pocahontas, the favourite daughter of the 
 chief, a girl of about twelve or thirteen years of age, 
 rushed forward, and threw her arms round the captain's 
 head, to protect him from the coming bh)W. ^J'his so 
 affected the chief, Pow-liattan, that he directly com- 
 manded the executioners to retire, and granted to his 
 daughter the captain's lite. 
 
 Basil. Capital ! capital ! I like that chief's daughter 
 very much. 
 
 Aiistin. What a narrow escape it was! Only to 
 think of the war-clubs being lifted u]) to kill him ! 
 
 Hunter. AVhen I was iii the Tixas, at no great 
 distance from the Camanchees, the ijround was so 
 parched, and water so scarce, that often and often I 
 drardv of the thick ])uddle of a bullalo wallow. We(l(» 
 not value as we ought to do the common blessings of 
 which we partake. Water is oneof tliem; and if ever 
 you are so tried by tliirst as to be oblii^ed to drink the 
 puddle, half water and half mud and tilth, in which 
 bullaloes have been turning round, and perhaps lying, 
 day after day, you will ever after set a hiiiher value on 
 clear fresh water, and be more thankful to the (iiver 
 
250 
 
 SCAECITT OF WATER. 
 
 of all good for a bouefit of which you have hitherto 
 thoiiG^lit so little. 
 
 JJasil. I could never drink such puddle as the 
 b:iil aloes' wallow. 
 
 Austin. Perhaps you would be glad to drink it, 
 Basil, it* you were in a burning hot country, and had 
 nothing else to wet your lips with. 
 
 Hunter. On several occasions, in the hot regions of 
 which I spoke, I have seen horned frogs hopping 
 about. Their horns are about half an inch long, and 
 some of them nearer an inch, and quite sliarp at the 
 points. I dare say that you would consider a horned 
 frog quite a curiosity. 
 
 Austin. Indeed we should. "When I go among the 
 Camanchees I shall look out for them. 
 
 JhisiL And remember that you drink heartily at one 
 of the butiHlo puddle wallows. 
 
 Hunter. iN[o\v and then a cool clear stream is seen, 
 glidinu; or rii)])liiig along the bottom of a deep ravhie ; 
 l)iit, when you rial with delight to quench your 
 burning tliirst with its delicious water, you find it so 
 salt that you are obligeil to spurt it out of your mouth 
 again. At times, you would find the mosquitoes 
 try you as much as the heat and the want of water. 
 \n the north, beware of the grizzly bear; and in the 
 south, prepare for heat, drought, and mosquitoes. 
 You cannot see the lied Indians, in their native 
 huimts, without painful endurance as well as a keen 
 enjoyment. The prairie teeming with fruits and 
 flowers, the deep forests, the green bluffs, the noblo 
 
litherto 
 
 as the 
 
 rink it, 
 md had 
 
 of 
 
 510ns 
 
 lopping 
 
 ng, and 
 
 p at tlie 
 
 horned 
 
 .ong the 
 
 y at one 
 
 is seen, 
 ravine ; 
 •h your 
 nd it so 
 r mouth 
 
 quitocs 
 t' water, 
 d in the 
 K^uitoes. 
 ' native 
 
 a keen 
 lita and 
 le noble 
 
 
 PKEPARATION FOR DEATH. 
 
 251 
 
 rivers, the hospitality of the different tribes of Indians, 
 the novelty of their appearance, manners, and customs, 
 together with the delightful views that frequently 
 burst on the sight, are sources of indescribable 
 pleasure ; but, to partake of them, heat and cold, 
 hunger and thirst, toil and danger, must be endured : 
 of both tlie one and the other I have had my share. 
 And now, though I still love to recall to mind tlie 
 adventures of my earlier years, and the goodness of 
 God in preserving me amid so many perils, I wish to 
 spend the remainder of my days in retirement and 
 peace: doing what I can for my fellow-beings around 
 me, reading and meditating on God's holy word, 
 preparing for my latter end, and hopefully looking 
 forward to a glorious resurrection to eternal life, 
 through Him who died for sinners on the cross ; 
 believhig, as I do, that " He is able also to save them 
 to tlie uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing 
 he ever liveth to make intercession for them," Heb. 
 vii. 25. 
 
KLIOT PKEACIIINU TU THE INDIANS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Dreadful ravapcs of the sniullpox — Loss sustained by tlic Miiictarces, 
 iJlackfcet. Crows, and Crces — 'I'lie Mandaii people all destnived— Deatli of 
 M:ih- to-t61i-]ia, " the four hears " — Atteinjits to introduce vik( inatiou—John 
 Eliot, thelirst Protestant niinsionary amon^ the Red Indians — His proj,Tess 
 and deuih— IJrainerd ; his Cliristiati course and death— Character jriven of 
 him — Letter of tlie Oneida cliiefs -Siieeeh of the chief Little Turtle — 
 Mis iiary trials— Slaughter of the Christian Indians — Kahkewaquonahy 
 and Shaw Wundais, two Chippeways, visit Kngland. 
 
 Foil the last time but one, during tlieir liolitlays, 
 Austin and his brothers sot off, with a long al'tcrnouu 
 
Miiietarcos, 
 ftl— Death of 
 nation—John 
 -His projrress 
 utcr driven of 
 ttlc Turtle— 
 
 •waquoiiuby 
 
 holidayp, 
 it'teruoou 
 
 DESTllUCTION Of THE MANI)A>S. 
 
 
 before them, to listen to the hunter's account of tlie 
 proceedings of the missionaries among the lied Indians. 
 On this occasion, they paid another visit to the lied 
 Sand-stone Rock by the river, the place where they 
 first met with their friend the hunter. Here they 
 recalled to mind all the circumstances which had 
 taken place at the spot, and agreed that the hunter, 
 in saving their lives by his timely warning, and 
 afterwards adding so much as he liad done to their 
 information and pleasure, had been to them one of 
 the best friends they had ever known. With very 
 friendly and grateful feelings towards him, they 
 hastened to the cottage, when the lied Indians, as 
 usual, became the subjeci of their ccmversatiori. 
 " And now," said Austin, " we are quite ready to 
 hear about the missionaries." 
 
 Hunter. Let me speak a word or two abont the 
 Indians, before I begin my account. You remember 
 that 1 told you of the Mandans. 
 
 Austin. Yes. Mah-to-toh-pa was a Mandan, with 
 his fine robes, and war-eagle head-dress ; tlie rain 
 makers were Mandans ; also the young warriors, who 
 went through so many tortures in the mystery lodge. 
 
 Hunter. Well, I must now tell you the truth. 
 After 1 left the Mandans, great changes came upon 
 them ; and, at the present time, hardly a single 
 ^landan is alive. 
 
 Austin. Dreadful ! But how was it ? What brought 
 it all about ? 
 
 Brian. You should have told us this before. 
 
 ii 
 
 I! 
 
254 
 
 DEATH OF MAH-TO-TOII-PA. 
 
 Hunter. No. I preferred to tell you first of the 
 people as they were when I was with them. You 
 may remember my observation, in one of your early 
 visits, that great changes had taken place among them ; 
 that the tomahawks of the stronger tribes had thinned 
 the others ; that many had sold their lands to the 
 whites, and retired to the west of the Mississippi ; 
 and that thousands had fallen a prey to the smallpox. 
 It was in the year 1838 that this dreadful disease was 
 introduced a^iong the Mandans, and other tribes of 
 the fur traders. Of the Minetareos, Blackfeet, 
 Chaycnnes, Crows, and Crees, twenty-five thousand 
 perished ; but of the poor Mandans, the whole tribe 
 was destroyed. 
 
 Brian. Why did they not get a doctor ; or go out 
 of their village on to the wide prairie, that one might 
 not catch the disease from another ? 
 
 Hunter. Doctors were too far off; for the ravage 
 of the disease was so swift, that it swept them all 
 away in a few months. Their mystery men could not 
 help them ; and their enemies, the Sioux, had war 
 parties round their village, so that they could not go 
 out to the wide prairie. There they were, dying fast 
 in their village ; and little else was heard, during day 
 or night, but wailing, howling, and crying to the 
 Great Spirit to relieve them. 
 
 Austin. And did Mah-to-toh-pa die too ? 
 
 Hunter. Yes. For, though he recovered from tlio 
 disease, he could not bear up against the loss of his 
 wives and his children. They all died before his eyes, 
 
of the 
 . You 
 Lr early 
 [T them ; 
 thinned 
 . to the 
 dssippi ; 
 nallpox. 
 iase was 
 Drihes of 
 iackfeet, 
 housand 
 )le tribe 
 
 go out 
 ie might 
 
 e ravage 
 them all 
 ould not 
 had "svar 
 d not go 
 ying fast 
 liring day 
 to the 
 
 from the 
 
 )ss of his 
 
 his eyes, 
 
 POSITION OF TRIBES. 
 
 200 
 
 'rj'- 5 
 
 and he piled them together in his 
 them with robes. His braves and liis warriors died, 
 and life had no charms for him ; for who was to shiire 
 with him his joy or his grief? He retired from liis 
 wigwam, and fasted and prayed six days, lamenting 
 tlie destruction of his tribe. He tlien crawled back 
 to his own lodge, laid himself by his dead family, 
 covered himself wdtli a robe, and died like an Indian 
 chief. This is a melancholy picture ; and wlieii 1 iirst 
 heard of the terrible event, I could have wept. 
 
 Austin. Have they no good doctors among the Eed 
 Indians now ? Why do they not send I'or doctors 
 who know how to cure the smallpox, instead of those 
 jugi^ding mystery men? 
 
 Hunter. Many attempts have been made to intro- 
 duce vaccination among the tribes ; but their je.dousy 
 and want of confidence in white men, who have so 
 much wronged them, and their attachment to their 
 o\\'n customs and superstitions, have prevented those 
 attempts from being very successful. There are now 
 not many Indians east of the ]Mississij)])i ; most of 
 them have moved to the west of that river. As you 
 move up the Mississippi, the Chickasaws, the Semi- 
 noles, the Choctaws, the Creeks, and others, are 
 westerly, on the lied River and the Arkansas Kiver. 
 Then come the Cherokees, Shawnees, Senecas, Qua- 
 paws, Oneidas, and Tuskaroras ; the Canianchees, 
 Pawnee Picts, Kiawees, Wicos, aiul Hhoshonees being 
 far west, nearer tlie liocky Mountains. 
 
 Austin. AVhere are the Sacs and Foxes ? 
 
25G 
 
 JOUN ELIO'^. 
 
 Hunter. Their hunting grounds lie between the 
 rivers Mississippi and Missouri ; while eastward are 
 those of the Winnebagoes ; and northward and north- 
 west, ^^e Chippeways and Sioux. On the Missouri, 
 and otiier rivers, are the Osages, Kansas, Delawares, 
 Kickapoos, Otoes, Poncas, Pawneeloups, Grand Paw- 
 nees, and Pawnee republics. On the Upper Missouri, 
 northward, are the lliccarees, who now have, also, the 
 Mandan grounds. Nearer the Rocky Mountains, on 
 the same river, are tlie Crows; next to them, the 
 Shiennes ; while further to the north mav be found 
 the Blackfeet, Blood Indians, Crees, Ojibbeways, and 
 Assinaboins. The missionaries are mostly among 
 tlie tribes on the Red Eiver and the lower part of the 
 Mississippi, such as the Chickasaws, Seminoles, Choc- 
 taws, Cherokees, Senecas, and others ; tliough there are 
 missionaries to more northerly and westerly tribes. 
 
 Austin. Who was the first missionary who went 
 among them ? 
 
 Hunter. I believe the first was John Eliot. More 
 than two hundred years ago, a body of pious English- 
 men left their native land, because they were not 
 allowed in England peaceably to serve God according 
 to their consciences. They landed in America, having 
 obtained a grant of land there. They were called 
 " Puritans," and " Pilgrim Fathers." It is certain 
 that, whatever were their peculiarities, and by w^hat- 
 ever names they were known, the fear of God and the 
 love of mankind animated their hearts. These Pilgrim 
 Fathers, seeing that the Indians were living in idleness, 
 
m the 
 ird are 
 north- 
 ssouri, 
 iwares, 
 d Paw- 
 issouri, 
 Iso, the 
 tins, on 
 !m, the 
 5 found 
 lys, and 
 
 among 
 t of the 
 3, Choc- 
 bere are 
 
 ibes. 
 10 went 
 
 More 
 ngli sh- 
 ore not 
 cording 
 , having 
 called 
 certain 
 )j what- 
 and the 
 Pilgrim 
 idleness, 
 
 LOyO WORDS. 
 
 257 
 
 1 1 
 
 I 
 
 cruelty, and superstition, were desirous to instruct 
 them in useful arts, and still more in the fear of the 
 Lord; and John Eliot, who had left England to join 
 his religious friends in America, was tlie first Pro- 
 testant missionary among the Indians. 
 
 Austin. I wonder he was not afraid of going among 
 them. 
 
 Hunter. He that truly fears God, has no need to 
 fear danger in the path of duty. John Eliot had 
 three good motives, that girded his loins and strengtli- 
 ened his heart : the first was the glory of God, in 
 the conversion of the poor Indians ; the second was 
 his love of mankind, and pity for such as were 
 ignorant of true religion ; and tlie tliird was his 
 desire that the promise of his friends to spread the 
 gospel among the Eed Indians should be fulfilled. 
 It was no light task that he had undertaken, as I will 
 prove to you. I dare say that you have not quite 
 forgotten all the long names that I gave you. Shou- 
 ga-ton-f/a'chesh-en-day, " the horse dung," was one ; 
 and Mah-to-rah-rish-nee-eeh-ee-rah, " the grizzly bear 
 that runs without regard," was another. 
 
 Austin. I remember your telling us of them ; and 
 I suppose they are the longest words in the world. 
 
 Hunter. I will now give you two words in one of 
 the languages that John Eliot had to learn, and then, 
 perhaps, you will alter your opinion. Tlie first of 
 them is noorromantammoonkanunonnash, which means, 
 "our loves;" and the second, or "our questions," is 
 kiimmogolcdonattoottammoctitcaongannunnonash. 
 
258 
 
 ELIOT S LABOURS. 
 
 Austin. Why that last word would reach all across 
 one of our copy hooks. 
 
 Basil. You had better learn those two words, 
 Austin, to begin with. 
 
 Brian. Yes, do, Austin : if you have many such 
 when you go among the red men, you must sit 
 up at night to learn wliat you have to speak in the 
 day. 
 
 Austin. No, no ; I have settled all that. I mean 
 to have an interpreter with me ; one who knows 
 everything. Please to tell us a little more about 
 Mr. Eliot. 
 
 Hunter. I will. Anauthorsays, speaking of mission- 
 aries, " As I hold the highest title on earth to be that 
 of a servant of Grod, and the most important employ- 
 ment that of making known to sinners the salvation 
 that God has wrought for them, through his Son 
 Jesus Christ ; so I cannot but estimate very highly 
 the character of an humble, zealous, conscientious 
 missionary. Men undertake, endure, and achieve much 
 when riches, and honours, and reputation are to be 
 attained ; but where is the worldly reputation of him 
 who goes, with his life in his hand, to make known to 
 barbarous lands the glad tidings of salvation ? Where 
 are the honours and the money bags of the missionary? 
 In many cases, toil and anxiety, hunger and thirst, 
 reviling and violence, danger and death await him ; 
 but where is his earthly reward ?" Eliot's labours 
 were incessant ; translating not only the command- 
 ments, the Lord's prayer, and many parts of Scripture 
 
 >_- 
 
ELTOT S LJLliOURS. 
 
 250 
 
 across 
 
 words, 
 
 y such 
 ist sit j 
 in the I 
 
 [ mean 
 
 knows 
 
 I about 
 
 nission- 
 be that 
 Bmploy- 
 alvation 
 lis Son 
 
 highly 
 ientious 
 ve much 
 e to be 
 
 of him 
 nown to 
 
 Where 
 
 ionary? 
 
 L thirst, 
 lit him ; 
 
 labours 
 )mmand- 
 )cripture 
 
 into the Indian languages, but also tlie wliolc BiM( 
 This was the first Bible ever printed in America. 
 
 Basil. Keraembcr that, Brian ! 
 
 Hunter. For days together he travelled from plac 
 
 to place, wet to the skin, wringing tlie wet from liis 
 stockings at night. Sometimes he was treated cruelly 
 by the sachems, (principal chiefs,) sagamores, (lesser 
 chiefs,) and powaws, (conjurers, or mystery men ;) but 
 though they thrust him out, and threatened his life, 
 he held on his co'j^se, telling them that he was in the 
 service of the Great God, and feared them not. So 
 highly did they think of his services in England, thnt 
 a book was printed, called " The Day-breaking, if not 
 the Sun-vising of the Gospel with the Indians in New 
 England ;" and another, entitled '* The Clear Sunshine 
 of the Gospel breaking forth upon the Indians ;" and 
 dedicated to the parliament, in order that assistance 
 and encouragement might be given him. At the 
 close of a grammar, published by him, he wrote the 
 words, " Prayers and pains, through faith in Christ 
 Jesus, will do anything." 
 
 Brian. I should think that he was one of the best 
 men that ever lived. 
 
 Hunter. He instituted schools, and devoted himself 
 to the Christian course he had undertaken witli an 
 juimble and ardent spirit, until old age and increasing 
 infirmities rendered him too feeble to do as he had 
 done before. Even then, he catechised the negro 
 slaves in the neighbourhood around him ; and took a 
 poor blind buy home to his own house, tliat he might 
 
!00 
 
 DAVID BRAINERD. 
 
 teach him to commit to memory some of the chapters 
 in the Bible. Among the last expressions that dropped 
 from his lips were the words, " Welcome joy ! Pray ! 
 pray! pray!'* This was in the eighty-sixth year of 
 his age. No wonder he should even now be remem- 
 bered by us as " the apostle of the Indians." 
 
 Basil. I am very glad that you told us about him. 
 What a good old man he was when he died ! 
 
 Hunter. Tliere were many good men, after his 
 death, who trod as closely as they could in his steps : 
 but I must not stop to dwell upon them. David 
 Brainerd, however, must not be passed by : he was a 
 truly humble and zealous servant of the Most High. 
 Zou may, indeed, judge of his humility by the follow- 
 ing extract from his writings : — " My soul has, for a 
 long time past, been in a truly pitiable condition. 
 Sometimes, I have been so overwhelmed with a sense 
 of my insignificance and unworthiness, that I have 
 been ashamed that any, not excepting the meanest 
 of my fellow-creatures, should so much as spend a 
 thought about me. Sometimes, when travelling among 
 the thick brakes, I have wished that, like them, 
 I might drop into everlasting oblivion. Sometimes, I 
 have almost resolved never again to see any of my 
 acquaintance, thinking I could not hold up my face 
 before them ; and have longed for the remotest corner 
 on earth, as a retreat from all my friends, that I might 
 never be seen or heard of more. Sometimes the con- 
 sideration of my ignorance has occasioned me great 
 anxiety and distress : but my soul has, in a particular 
 
pters 
 )pped 
 Pray ! 
 )ar of 
 mem- 
 
 ; him. 
 
 T his 
 steps : 
 David 
 was a 
 High, 
 'ollow- 
 , for a 
 dition. 
 . sense 
 ■ have 
 eanest 
 )end a 
 among 
 them, 
 imes, I 
 of mv 
 ly face 
 corner 
 might 
 le con- 
 ! great 
 ticular 
 
 AX IXniAX EEFOKMEU. 
 
 201 
 
 manner, been full of aiigin'sh from fear, and p;iiilt, and 
 shame, because I had never ])reached the gospel, or 
 had any thought of that important work. iSomt'times, 
 I have been in deep distress, on feeling some particular 
 corruption rise in my breast, and swell like a mighty 
 torrent; while, at the same time, ten thousand sins 
 and follies presented themselves to my view, in all 
 their native blackness and deforinitv. Such thinjis 
 as these have weighed down my soul, comhined as 
 they are with those unfavourable external circum- 
 stances in which I am at present placed; destitute of 
 most of the conveniences of life, at least of all its 
 pleasures ; without a friend to whom 1 may un- 
 bosom my sorrows, and sometimes without a place of 
 retirement where I may unburden my soul before 
 God." 
 
 Basil. Poor Mr. Brainerd ! 
 
 Brian. Why, he was just such another as ^Ir. Eliot. 
 
 Hunter. I must tell you of a strange Indian that 
 Mr. Brainerd met with ; the following is the account, 
 and I think it will much interest vou : — 
 
 " In this part of the country, Brainerd met with a 
 zealous reformer of the Indian religion, or rather a 
 restorer of what he considered their ancient mode of 
 worship. But of all the spectacles he e\er saw, none 
 appeared so horrible, none excited such images of 
 terror in his mind, none corresponded so nearly with 
 the common idea of the infernal powers. He presented 
 himself to him in his priestly garb, consisting of a coat 
 of bear-skins hanixinir down to his toes, a bear-skin 
 
202 
 
 AN INDIAN REFORMEK. 
 
 Clip on liiri head, and a pair of bear-skin stockinf^s on 
 his feet ; a large wooden face, the one half painted 
 black, the other of a tawny colonr, like the Indians', 
 with an extravagant month, cut extremely awry. In 
 his hand was the instrument he employed for music 
 in his idolatrous worship: it was a tortoise-shell with 
 some corn in it, fixed on a piece of wood for a handle. 
 As he came forward, he beat time with his rattle, and 
 danced with all his might; but allowed no part of his 
 body, not even his lingers, to be seen. His appear- 
 ance and gestures were so unlike all that was human, 
 that when he came near, Brainerd could not help 
 shrinking back with horror, though it Avas then noon- 
 day, and he knew perfectly well who 't was. It appears 
 he had a house, in which were "cveral images, and 
 the grountl was beaten almost as hard as a rock by his 
 fre([uent and violent dancing. Brainerd conversed 
 with him about the principles of Christianity : some 
 of them he liked; others he disliked. God, he said, 
 had taught him his religion ; and ho never woiild 
 rclimpiish it: he was anxious, however, to find some 
 v.'ho would cordially join with him in it, for the 
 Indians had grown very careless and degenerate: he 
 had thoughts, therefore, of leaving all his friends, 
 travellijig abroad, and searching for some who would 
 luiite with him ; for he believed (lod had some good 
 pe()i)le in the world, who viewed things in the same 
 light as himself. Jle had not always felt as he now 
 did: formerly he was like the other Indians; but, 
 about four or live years ago, he became grc»itly dis- 
 
ipja on 
 liiited 
 lians', 
 r. In 
 music 
 1 with 
 andle. 
 le, and 
 of his 
 ppoar- 
 iinnan, 
 t help 
 
 noon- 
 ippoars 
 .'s, and 
 
 by his 
 iversed 
 : some 
 le said, 
 
 would 
 d some 
 
 or the 
 
 ito: ho 
 tVicutls, 
 
 3 would 
 10 good 
 10 same 
 he now 
 us; but, 
 itly diri- 
 
 ELIOT AND BR.VINEIID. 
 
 2G3 
 
 tressed in liis iniud; ho could no loni^cT dwi^ll amonu^ 
 his countrymen, but retired into the wood, and iivecl 
 there alone for several months. At leui^tli, (Jod 
 comforted his heart, and showed liim what \w shoiiUl 
 do. Since that period, he had known God, and 
 endeavoured to serve him ; lie also loved all men, 
 whoever they were, in a manner he never did before. 
 It further appeared, fruni the accounts of the Indians 
 themselves, tliat lie was a (]^reat enemy to their (h*ink- 
 ing spirituous liqours, and when he could not dissuade 
 them from that ruinous practice, he used to leave 
 them, and go crying into the woods. Some of his senti- 
 ments, indeed, were rational and just; and l}r:iinerd 
 even informs us, there was something in his temper 
 and disposition more like true religion than anything 
 he ever beheld in a pagan. He aj)peanNl to be sincere, 
 honest, and conscientious, i!i his own way; and on 
 this account, was derided by his coinitryiiien as a 
 precise zealot, who nuide a needless noise ahont 
 religion." 
 
 Austin. I never heard of a strang(T man; and vet 
 he does not seem to have l)oen a bad man, after jill. 
 
 Basil. No ; he seems to have been much better 
 than his countrymen. 
 
 Jlunter. Botli Eliot and Brainerd did a great <leal 
 of good among the Jied rndians; the langnage of 
 Brainerd was, " ifere am I, \j »rd — send !ne ; send mo 
 to the ends of the earth; si^/mI me to the rough, tlic 
 savage pagans of the wilderness ; send mt; from all 
 that is called comfort on earth; scud me even to 
 
I 
 
 26i 
 
 LETTER OF ONEIDA CHIEFS. 
 
 death itself, if it be but in thy semce, and to extend 
 thy kingdom." 
 
 Brian. I hardly know whether Eliot was the best 
 man, or Brainerd. 
 
 Hunter, Thoy were very unlike in one thing; for 
 Eliot lived till he was ei^dity-six years old; whereas 
 Brainerd died in the thirtieth year of his age. But 
 though so young, it is said of him, by a learned anil 
 good man, " The Life and Diary of David Brainerd 
 exhibits a perfect pattern of the qualities which should 
 distinguish the instructor of rude and barbarous tribes; 
 the most invincible patience and self-denial, the j)ro- 
 foundest humility, exquisite prudence, indefatigable 
 industry, and such a devotedness to God, or rather 
 such an absorption of the whole soul in zeal for the 
 Divine glory and the salvation of men, as is scarcely 
 to be paralleled since the age of the a])ostles." 
 
 Brian. Then he was as good a man as Eliot. 
 
 Jlitnter. I will read you au extract from a letter 
 written by some Oneida chiefs, by which you will see 
 that the labours of these good men were not in vain: — 
 
 " The holy word of Jesus has got ])lace amongst 
 us, and advances. IMany have lately forsaken their 
 sins, to ajipearance, and turned to God. There are 
 some among us who are very stubborn and strong ; 
 but Jesus is almighty, and has all strength, and his 
 holy word is very strong too: therefore we hope it 
 will concpier and succeed more and more. '\\g say 
 no more ; only we ask our fatliers to pray for us, 
 though they are at a great distance. Perhaps, by- 
 
SPEECH OF LITTLE TUKTLE. 
 
 205 
 
 xtend 
 3 best 
 
 s; for 
 hereas 
 But 
 ;cl and 
 ainerd 
 should 
 tribes; 
 \e pro- 
 tigable 
 rather 
 I'or the 
 L'arcely 
 
 n 
 
 letter 
 
 ill see 
 
 ain: — 
 
 noil list 
 
 tlu'ir 
 
 re arc 
 4 nm^ ; 
 lud his 
 lope it 
 V^o say 
 for us, 
 by- 
 
 ! 
 
 
 and-by, tlirough the stnMigth and nu-rcy of Jesus, we 
 shall neet in his kingdom above. Fai-i-well. 
 
 Tagawauow, chief of f he Jirar tribe. 
 SuuiiNAGEAKOT, cliuf if the Wotf tviue. 
 Ojekheta, chief of the Turtle iriher 
 
 Austin. Why, they were all three of them cliici's ! 
 
 Hunter. The speech made by tiie chief, Little Tur- 
 tle, at Baltimore, on his way to see the president oi the 
 United States, will interest you. Some Quakers, who 
 saw him, told him that the habit among liis tribe of 
 drinking rum, prevented them from doing them g,)od. 
 
 "Brothers and friends — AVhen your forel'athers 
 first met on this island, your red brethren were very 
 numerous; but, since the introduction amon^^st us 
 of what you call spiriiuous licjuors, and wliat wo 
 think may justly be called ])oison, our nund)ers an^ 
 greatly diminished. It has destroyed a great part of 
 your red brethren. 
 
 "My friends and brothers — AVe [ilainly perceive that 
 you see the very evil whicli destroys your red bre- 
 thren, lb is not an evil of our own making. We havo 
 not placed it amongst ourselves ; it is an evil placed 
 amongst us hy the white people: wo look to tlu'm to 
 remove it out of the country. AVe tell them, ' lire- 
 ^hren, fetch us useful things : bring us goods that will 
 clot lie us, our women, and our children ; and not this 
 evil iHjuor, that destroys our health, that destroys our 
 reason, that destrovs our lives.' But all that we can 
 say on this subject is ot uo service, nor gises nliet to 
 your red brethren. 
 
2GG 
 
 SPEECH or LITTLE TURTLE. 
 
 " My fi'leiids and brothers — I rejoice to find that 
 you agree in opinion witli us, and express an anxiety 
 to be, if possible, of service to us, in removing this 
 great evil out of our country ; an evil which lias had 
 so much room in it, and has destroyed so many of 
 our lives, that it causes our young men to say, ' We 
 had better be at wai* with the white people. This 
 li(j[Uor which they introduce into our country, is more 
 to be I'eared than the gun or tomahawk.' There are 
 more of us dead since the treaty of Grn^eneville, than 
 we lost by the six years' war before. It is all ow4ng 
 to the introduction of this liquor among us. 
 
 "Brothers — AVhen our young men have been out 
 hunting, and are returning home loaded with skins 
 and furs on their way, if it happens that they come 
 where this whiskey is deposited, the white man who 
 sells it tells them to take a little drink. iSome of 
 thtMii will say, ' JVo ; 1 do not nant it.' They go on 
 till they come to a?u)ther house, ^. here they tind more 
 of the same kind of drink. It is t'lere oti'ered agaiu; 
 they refuse; and again the third time; but, Hnally, 
 the fourth or lifth tiuie, one accepts of it, and takes a 
 drink, and getting one he wn'ls another, and then a 
 tliird, and fourth, till his senses have left him. After 
 his reason comes back to him, when he gets up and 
 finds where he is, he asks for his ])eltry. The answer 
 is, * You have druidc them.' * Where is my gun r' 
 'It is gone.' 'Where is my blanket?' 'It is 
 gone.* ' Wh' re is my 
 
 whiskey !' Now, b 
 
 shirt ?' ' Yoa have sold it 
 rothers, figure to yourselvi 
 
y 
 
 id that 
 uixiety 
 ni<^ this 
 ma had 
 laiiv of 
 
 This 
 is inoro 
 lere are 
 Ic, tliau 
 I owing 
 
 een out 
 h skins 
 dj come 
 I'ln who 
 Some of 
 V LTO on 
 id more 
 I aj^ain ; 
 linallv, 
 takes a 
 I tluMi a 
 After 
 up and 
 ' answer 
 
 *It is 
 
 Id it 
 
 HO 
 
 )urseivea 
 
 =! 
 
 PERSECUTION OF MISSIONARIES. liG7 
 
 wliat condition tliis man must he in. Ife Ii;is a 
 family at home; a wife and cliihh-en wlio stand in 
 need of the profits of his liuntiiiii^. AVhat iiuisf liu 
 
 tl 
 
 leir wants, when even lie hnnselt is without a shirt ?" 
 
 Austin. There is a great deal of good sense in wluit 
 Little Turtle said. 
 
 Hunter. The war hetween EuG^land and Aim^riea 
 made sad eonfusion among the Ked Indians, and the 
 missionaries too; for it was reported that the mis- 
 Bionaries were ioinin<^the French against the Entrlish, 
 SO that they and the Indian conv( rts were dreadfully 
 persecuted. A great ninnher of the latter were shel- 
 tered in a workliouse at Lancaster, hut a i'lirious mob 
 broke open the workhouse, and miu'dered them all. 
 
 lirlan. Oh, how very cruel ! 
 
 Hunter. Colonel de Peyster, who was then the 
 English governor at Fort Detroit, suspected the 
 Christian Indians of being partisans of the iVmeri- 
 cans, and the ndssionaries of being sj)ies, and he 
 wished the Indians favourable to him to carry them 
 all off. Captain Pipe, a Delaware chief, persuach'd 
 the half king of the llurons to force them away. 
 Persecution went on, till the missionaries, seein^j that 
 no other course remained, they being plunderevi wilii- 
 out mercy, and their lives threatened, consented to 
 emigrate. They were thus compelled t(j ipiit their 
 pleasant settlement, escorted by a troop of savages 
 headed by an English olUcer. The half king of the 
 llurons went with them. JJiit 1 will read v»»n an ac- 
 count of what took place after they reached Sandusky 
 

 .■% 
 
 .•*\ 
 
 2G8 
 
 PERSECUTIOiSr OF MISSIONARIES. 
 
 Creek. " Having arrived at Sandusky Creek, after a 
 journey of upwards of four weeks, the half kinp; ot 
 the Ilurona and his warriors left them, and marclu d 
 into their own eountry, without ^i^-^'^^t^ them any par- 
 ticular orders how to proceed. Thus they were aban- 
 doned in a wilderness where there was JM'ither game 
 nor provisions of any kind; such was the place to 
 which the barbarians had led tliem, notwithstanding 
 they had represented it as a perfect paradise. After 
 wandering to and fro for some time, they :'esolved to 
 spend tlie winter in Upper Sandusky ; and, liaving 
 pitched on the most convenient spot tliey could find in 
 tliis areary region, they erected small huic of loii;s 
 and bark, to shelter themselves from the rain and cold. 
 They were now, however, so poor, that they hod 
 neither beds nor blankets ; for on their journey, the 
 savages had stolen everythiiig from them, except only 
 their utensils for manufactiu'ing maple sugar. But 
 nothing distressed them so nuich as the want of pro- 
 visions. Some had long spent their all, and now de- 
 pended on the charity of their neighbours for a morsel 
 to eat. Even the missicniavies, who hitherto had 
 unifonnly gained a livelihood by the labour of their 
 hands, were now reduced to the necessity of receiving 
 support from the congregation. As their wants were 
 so urgent, Shebosh the missionary, and several of the 
 Christian Indians, returned, as soon as possible, to 
 their settlements on the IMuskingum, to letch the In- 
 dian corn which they had left growing in the fields. 
 " Scarcely had the congregation begun to settle in 
 
 J 
 
after n 
 kiii^ ot 
 1 arc 1 led 
 iiy par- 
 e abaii- 
 ir game 
 )lace to 
 tandiiif^ 
 After 
 Dived to 
 lia villi; 
 1 find ill 
 of loii;s 
 lid cold, 
 ley 1^'^d 
 iiey, the 
 pt only 
 r. 13 1 it 
 >f pro- 
 now de- 
 morsel 
 to had 
 of their 
 (H^civinj; 
 its were 
 of the 
 ^ihlo, to 
 the In- 
 iekls. 
 ettle ill 
 
 J 
 
 a 
 
 PEltSrXTTION or MISSIO>'AIlTES. 
 
 2G0 
 
 Sandusky, when the 
 
 ordered t( 
 
 missionaries wc 
 and appear before the governor of Fort Detroit. 
 Four of them, accompanied by several of tiie Indian 
 assistants, accordingly set otf wiiliout dehay, whik^ 
 the other two remained with their little ilock. On 
 taking their departure, they experienced the most 
 agonizing sensations: ])artly, as they knew not what 
 might be the issue of the journey; and partly as they 
 were obliged to leave their families in want of the 
 common necessaries of life. As they travelled ehieily 
 by land, along the banks of Lake Erie, they had to 
 pass through numerous swamps, over large inundated 
 plains, and through thick forests. But the most 
 jiainful circumstance was, tiieir lu^aring tliat some of 
 the Indians, who had gone to Muskingum to fetch 
 corn, had been murdered by the white peoph* ; and 
 that a larcfe bodv of these miscreants was marching 
 to Sandusky, to surprise the new settlement. This 
 report, indeed, Avas not correct. Shebosh the mis^ 
 sionary, and live of the Christi.-ui Indians, w<'re, it is 
 true, taken ]UMsoners at Shi^nbrunn. and carried to 
 Pittsburg. The others returned siite to Sandusky, 
 with about four humh'ed bu:duds of Indian corn, 
 which thev had c:athered in the fields. But as tlie 
 travellers did not hear a correi-t statement of these 
 circumstances until afterwards, thev sulfered mean- 
 while the greatest anxiety and distress. 
 
 "Having arrived at Detroit, they appeared before 
 the governor, in order to answer the accusations 
 brought against them, of holding a correspon chance 
 
270 
 
 PERSECUTION OF MISSION AEIES. 
 
 with the Americans, to the prejudice of the English 
 interest. The investij^ation, however, was deferred 
 till Captain Pipe, their principal accuser, should 
 arrive ; a circumstance which could not but give them 
 luuch uneasiness, as he had hitherto shown himself 
 their bitter and determined enemy. Tliey had no 
 friend on earth to interpose in their behalf; but they 
 had a Friend in heaven, in Avhom they put their 
 trust : nor was tlieir confidence in Him in vain. On 
 the day of trial, Captain Pipe, after some ceremonies 
 had passed between him and Colonel de Peyster, 
 respecting the scalps and prisoners which he had 
 brought from the United Sates, rose and addressed 
 the governor as follows : ' Father — You commanded 
 US to bring the believing Indians and their teaclicrs 
 from the Muskingum. This has been done. When 
 we had brought them to Sandusky, you ordered ua 
 to bring their teachers and some of their chiefs unto 
 you. Here you see them before you. jSTow you may 
 speak witli them yourself, as you have desired. But 
 1 hope you will speak good words unto them ; yea, I 
 tell you, speak good w^ords unto them, for they are 
 my friends, and I should be sorry to see them ill-used.' 
 These last words he repeated two or three times. 
 
 In reply to this speech, the governor enumerated the 
 various complaints he had made against the brethren, 
 and called upon him to prove that they had actually 
 corresponded with the Americans, to the prejudice of 
 the English. To this the chief replied that such a 
 thing miglit have hii2)poned ; but they would do it no 
 
LIlU:iLiTlUX OF MISSIONAIilES. 
 
 271 
 
 governor, 
 
 more, for tluy were now at Detroit. Tlie 
 justly clist<:itlrftiecl with this answer, peremptorily de- 
 manded that he should give a direct reply to his 
 question. Pipe was now greatly embarrassed ; and, 
 bending to his eounsellors, asked them what lie should 
 say. But they all hung their heads in silenci . On 
 a sudden, however, he rose, and thus addressed the 
 governor: — 'I said before that such a thing might 
 have happened; now I will tell you the truth. Th(3 
 missionaries are innocent. Thev have done nothinti: 
 of themselves ; what they did, they were compelled 
 to do.' Then, smiting his breast, he added : ' 1 am to 
 blame, and the chiefs who were with me. We forced 
 them to do it when they retused;' alluding to the 
 correspondence between the Delaware chiefs and the 
 Americans, of which the missionaries were the inno- 
 cent medium. Thus the brethren found an advocate 
 and a friend in their accuser and enemy. 
 
 " After making some further inquiries, the governor 
 declared, before the whole camp, that the bretl.ivn 
 were innocent of all the charges alh^ged against 
 them; that he felt great satisfaction in their endea- 
 vours to civilize and Christianize the Indians; and 
 that he would permit them to return to their congre- 
 gation without delay. He even olfered them the 
 use of his own house, in the most friendly manner ; 
 and as they had been plundered, contrary to his ex- 
 press command, he ordered them to be sn})])lied with 
 clothes, and various other articles of which they stood 
 in need, lie even bought the four watches which 
 
 ii 
 
272 
 
 INDIANS OF THE TAR WEST. 
 
 the s;oT igos had taken from tliem and sold to a trader. 
 After experiencing various other acts of kindness from 
 liim, tlu y returned to Sandusky, and were received 
 with inexpressible joy by their families and the whole 
 congr( ligation." 
 
 Austin. Come, I am glad it has all ended so well. 
 Captain Pipe {ind Colonel de Peyster had no good 
 reason to snsjxx't the missionaries. 
 
 Brian. No ; but the colonel declared before the 
 whole camp that they were innocent. That was 
 making some amends for his suspicions. 
 
 Basil. Captain Pipe ought to have been ashamed 
 of liimself. 
 
 Hunter. Tlie missionaries went through varied 
 trials, and nearly a hundred Christian Indians — men, 
 women, and children — were cruelly put to death ; but 
 afterwards missions began to wear a more prosperous 
 appearance. Some time ago, Kahkewaquonaby, a 
 Chippeway, visited England, and spoke very eloquently 
 at ufany public Christian assemblies. Shaw Wundais, 
 otiierv.ise John Sunday, a Chippeway cliief, came also, 
 and se(Mned to be a humble-minded and zealous 
 Christian. But I have now kept you longCx' than 
 usual ; the next time you come here, I will finish my 
 missionary account. Though among the tribes near 
 the whites great changes have taken place, yet, 
 among the Indians of the far west, their customs are 
 but little altered. They join in the bufl'alo hunt, 
 assemble in the war party, engage in their accustomed 
 games^ and smoke the pipe of peace the same as ever. 
 
 .j_^cr-.T-"Mj/---: 
 
rader. 
 i from 
 jeived 
 whole 
 
 ) well, 
 good 
 
 •e the 
 t w^as 
 
 hamed 
 
 Yaried 
 —men, 
 1 ; but 
 perous 
 iby, a 
 uently 
 mdais, 
 le also, 
 sealous 
 than 
 ish my 
 :s near 
 e, yet, 
 ms are 
 I hunt, 
 stomed 
 IS ever. 
 
 ^.€c:!. 
 
 - ■■-- M^mi^m^Mn;:M^'^^. 
 
 
 MtSSIUNAKT AND INDIANS. 
 
 CII2IPTEII XYII. 
 
 American Board of Missions— The United Urothrcn— The Church Missionary 
 Society — Tlie Wesleyan Mission^xry Society — Tlie American Presbytcriaii 
 Board of Missions — Tl>e American Baptist Missions— The American Me- 
 thodist Missionary Society— Stations, s -hools, missionaries, cuinninnicunts. 
 scholars, and hearers— Missionary rei .tions— Conchision. 
 
 In the former part of the hunter's relation, Austin 
 Edwards and his brothers thought of little else tiian 
 of bluffs and prairies, buffaloes, bears, and beavers, 
 warlike Eed Indian chiefs, and the spirit-stirring ad- 
 ventures of savage life ; but the last visit paid to the 
 
 T 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
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 93 WIST MAIN STRUT 
 
 WIBSTIR.N.Y. 14510 
 
 (716) •73-4S03 
 
 4^ 
 
274! 
 
 MISSIOXART SOCIETIES. 
 
 cottage had considerably sobered their views. Tlie 
 hunter had gradually won his way into their affec- 
 tions, by contributing largely to their amusement ; 
 and he had, also, secured their respect and high opinion 
 by his serious remarks. They had no doubt of his 
 being a true friend to Red Indians, and they had, on 
 tliat account, listened the more attentively to what he 
 had advanced on the subject of missionaries. Tlie 
 knowledge that they were about to hear the end of 
 the hunter's relation, though it hung a little heavy 
 on their spirits, disposed them to seriousness and 
 attention. 
 
 " And now," said the hunter, as soon as Austin, 
 Brian, and Basil had seated themselves in his cottage, 
 and requested him to continue his missionary ac- 
 count, " I will give you the best statement I can, in 
 a few words, of the missionary cause among the lied 
 Indians." 
 
 Austin. Yes; we sliall like to hear that very well. 
 
 Hunter. The American Board of Missions has among 
 the Indians numerous stations, a considerable body 
 of missionaries, besides medical missionaries, native 
 preachers, and assistants. The United Brethren have 
 congregations in Upper Canada, on the Missouri, and 
 among tlie Clierokees. TJie Church Missionan/ Societi/ 
 has several stations connected with the lied River 
 settlement, in whi(ih are engaged missionaries, cate- 
 cbists, and schoolmasters. Tfio Wesleijan Missionary 
 Society has a considerable number of missionaries, 
 catcchists, readei's, aiul gratuitous teachers ; but these 
 
STATISTICS OF MISSIONS. 
 
 275 
 
 are chiefly employed among the Eiir()|K\in8, thouL;li 
 at least a thousand Indians arc connected witli ilie 
 mission in Upper Canada. Missions are also esta- 
 blished in tlie Hudson's Bay Company's territories. 
 The American, Preshytcriaii Board of Missions is en- 
 gaged among the Chippeway and Ottowa Indians . also 
 among the Iowa and Sac Indians. The American 
 Baptist Missions liave many stations and out-statioiis, 
 missionaries and teachers, and native assistants. The 
 American Methodist Missimiar// Socirfi/ is engaged in 
 making known the gospel to tlie Oregon Indians, 
 several of whom are aboriginal missionaries : iiiaiiy 
 hundreds ot* natives here have renounced heatlienism. 
 The missionaries of the x\merican J5oard of Missions, 
 of whom I first spoke, are engaged among the 
 Cherokees, Choctaws, Pawnees, Orcgons, Sioux, Ojib- 
 beways, Stockbridge Indians, New York Indians, 
 and Abenaquis. Perhaps, in all the North American 
 Missions, there maybe more than a hundred stations; 
 more than a hundred missionaries ; more than yjvt'U 
 hundred scliools ; more than a thousand teachers ; more 
 tlian live thousand comnumicants ; more than forty 
 tliousand scholars; and more than seventy thousand 
 att'^iidants on ])ul)lic worship. Having given you 
 this general summary, suppose I oiler you a few 
 particulars from the statements of some of the mis- 
 sionaries. 
 
 Austin. Yes; do, if you please. 
 
 Hunter. God is pleased to us<^ various means in 
 the conversion of the heathen to Christianity ; a.s the 
 
276 
 
 AI^^ECDOTE OF A?f INDIAN CONVERT. 
 
 circulation of tlie Holy Scriptures, the preaching of 
 the gospel, and the distrihution of books and tracts. 
 One most important way also appears to be by means 
 of schools, for in them the word of God is made known 
 to the young. Wherever there is a missionary station, 
 there also stands the Christian school-house. 
 
 Brian. Yes, you said there are seven hundred 
 schools among them. 
 
 Hunter. The following is an affecting instance of 
 sincerity and earnestness in religion, on the part of a 
 Red Indian. One of the missionaries of the Church 
 Missionary Society writes thus from the Red River : — 
 " Returned home in company with a native, Avhose 
 son had gone a long journey, near to tlie Rocky 
 Mountains. I was delighted to find that he had sent 
 his son off with the most pressing injunction that he 
 would pray to God at least twice e\ery day, and read 
 the Bible as often as he had an opportunity. He 
 said, * My son, as long as you have been in my house 
 you have seen me pray : let this put you in mind that 
 there is a Being whom we cannot see, who gives us 
 all things. You go to church : there you hear that 
 this Great Being, whom wicked men hate and are 
 afraid of, is love. AVhen you go through the plains, 
 you will not see me praying; you will not hear that 
 God is love. There you will meet with men whose 
 hearts are cruel ; who will stand up against you ; who 
 have no j^ity; they would drive an arrow through 
 your Jieart ; they would take your scalp from your 
 head, and drink your blood. My son, when night 
 
[ling of 
 tracts. 
 
 ' means 
 known 
 
 station, 
 
 lundred 
 
 ance of 
 art of a 
 Church 
 Liver : — 
 I, whoso 
 
 Eocky 
 bad sent 
 
 that he 
 md read 
 ty. He 
 ly house 
 ind that 
 gives us 
 ear that 
 and are 
 e phiins, 
 lear that 
 n whose 
 on; who 
 through 
 )m your 
 iu night 
 
 CO>.UUCT or CIIRISTIAX I>DIA>S. 
 
 277 
 
 comes on, before you close your eyes, ask Him who 
 draws tlie darkness round you to look and pity you, 
 and spread his liand over you ; for you are alone, far 
 from home, and have no other friend l)ut him. AVhen 
 morniuf^ comes, and your eyes first see the light, tliank 
 the Best of all beings for his protection ; and ask liim 
 to go with you on your journey, to turn men who 
 liave bad hearts on one side, that they mav not meet 
 you. Should you be in danger, never forget that tlie 
 hloocl of Jesus Clirist cleanseth from all sin. Trust in 
 it: God has accepted of it as the sacrifice for your 
 soul ; and, through this, you and I may meet in 
 heaven.' The father said to me : ' My heart was light 
 and happy, when I saw my son take his Bible :nul some 
 tracts ; and v*hen he squeezed my hand, with the tears 
 in his eyes, and said, I will remember Him who is 
 over us all, till I meet you again.' " 
 
 Austin. That is a very striking anecdote. I like 
 the native Indian, and his son too. 
 
 Hunter. " AV'hen the Christian Indians are out on 
 a hunting excursion, they usually spend the Lord's 
 day together, and abstain entirely from the ch.'ise. One 
 reads the church service to the others who assemble; 
 and, after singing, they all talk over what they remem- 
 ber of the word of God, taught them either in church 
 or in school. The hunters are never absent on a 
 Lord's day, when it can be avoided : they, for the 
 most part, contrive to come in on a Saturday evening, 
 and go away on the Monday morning." 
 
 Austin. They act just as if they knew the com- 
 
278 
 
 INTEIIVIEV: WITH SAULTEAUX INDIANS. 
 
 mandment, " Eemember the sabbath day, to keep il 
 holy." 
 
 Hunter. The missionary goes on to say : — *' I have 
 to-day attended a general assembly of the Saidteaux 
 Indians, convened by their chief, Pigwys, for the pur- 
 pose of urging upon them the importance of becoming 
 Christians. After I had complied with their custom, 
 by presenting each of the men with a small piece of 
 tobacco, they seated themselves in a circle, and I, 
 with the chief and my interpreter, took our station in 
 the centre. I addressed them at some length, setting 
 before them, in as plain terms as I was able, the lead- 
 ing doctrines of the gospel, commencing with the fall, 
 and the consequent corruption of human nature. I 
 then proceeded to tell them of the plan of redemption 
 devised by Infinite Mercy for the recovery of fallen 
 man, through the merits and death of the Sa^'iour; 
 and urged upon them the importance of forsaking 
 their heathen practices, and receiving the gospel of 
 Christ ; assuring them that there was ' none other 
 name under heaven given among men, whereby we 
 must be saved,' Acts iv. 12. I was followed by the 
 chief, Pigwys, in a speech which occupied nearly an 
 hour, delivered with great energy, emphasis, and elo- 
 quence. He begged them to attend to the advice I 
 had been giving, to give up their children to the school, 
 and to come to church themselves. He also told them 
 that, in addition to the prospect of happiness in the 
 next life, he lived iar more comfortably now than he 
 did when a heathen : his mind was at peace, and his 
 
VISIT TO A SICK I^'I)1A^^ 
 
 279 
 
 eep it 
 
 [ have 
 Iteaux 
 e pur- 
 loining 
 astom, 
 iece of 
 and I, 
 tion in 
 getting 
 e lead- 
 be fall, 
 ire. I 
 nption 
 
 fallen 
 
 J,^^iour ; 
 
 saking 
 
 spel of 
 
 other 
 by we 
 by the 
 irly an 
 id elo- 
 dvice I 
 school, 
 d them 
 
 in the 
 han he 
 and his 
 
 worldly circumstances were much better. Such, alas ! 
 is the indifterence, I may say prejudice, of the Saul- 
 teaux Indians towards- Christianity, that though the 
 assembly consisted of nearly the whole tribe, not one 
 expressed a desire for instruction, nor did we get tlie 
 promise of more than three children for the school, 
 and I doubt if these will be sent. As, however, Grod 
 has disposed the hearts of the Muscaigoes to receive 
 the gospel, we trust he will, in due time, work for 
 his own glory among the Saulteaux. Till then, let 
 us labour with patience and perseverance, in humble 
 dependence upon Him." 
 
 Basil. I think the missionaries are good men, and 
 do all the good they can among the Red Indians. 
 
 Hunter. No doubt they do; but there are many of 
 the tribes on which very little impression has been 
 made. Indians, Avho have seen everything evil among 
 white men traders, are apt to look on all white men 
 with suspicion ; and then, the superstitions in which 
 they have been brought up have a strong hold on them. 
 
 Basil. Please to tell us more about the missionaries. 
 
 Hunter. Listen, then, to an account of a missionary 
 visiting the sick : — " I went to see a sick Indian, whom 
 I baptized last January. I reminded him of the pro- 
 mises which he made when he was baptized, and asked 
 if he were still determined to put his full trust in 
 God through our Lord Jesus Christ, depending upon 
 his merits alone. He answered with some emphasis, 
 * Yes.' I then exhorted him to keep his feet firm 
 upon that Rock of all our hopes ; assuring him, that 
 
280 
 
 VISIT TO A SICK INDIA^f. 
 
 if he were depending upon Christ, though he might 
 have but little knowledge of the word of God, he 
 would find himself safe." 
 
 Brian. Poor sick Indian ! 
 
 Hunter. " Having said as much to him as T deemed 
 advisable in his present exhausted state — for I more 
 than once thought him expiring while I was talking — 
 I asked if he particularly wished to say anything to 
 me. His voice was now scarcely audible ; but his 
 wife, putting her ear to his mouth, said, ' He asks you 
 to baptize his child, and let him be taught the word of 
 God, that he may come to him in the next world.* " 
 
 Basil. Then he really did hope to go to heaven. 
 
 Hunter. " I said, ' If the child be given up to us, 
 of course we shall instruct him in the school, and, in 
 due course, he will be baptized. Ask him if that is 
 satisfactory.' He said, * Tes ; but it is now too young 
 to leave its mother : may it stay with her till it is old 
 enough to go to school ?' " 
 
 Basil. That was very thoughtful of him. 
 
 Hunter. " Feeling deeply affected at the considerate 
 tenderness of this request, I could scarcely repress the 
 tear as I said, * Yes ; it may.' I then exhorted him to 
 cast himself upon the mercy of God through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ ; and told him I would call upon God in 
 pray , that he might be supported in the last trying 
 see; , and be conducted in safety to that heavenly in- 
 heriiance which I trusted was reserved for him in the 
 world above. While I was kneeling by the dying 
 man, commending his soul to God in prayer, the 
 

 ■ 
 
 1 
 
 might 
 
 1 
 
 
 3d, he 
 
 
 
 eemed 
 
 1 
 
 . more 
 
 ■ 
 
 1 
 
 ang 
 
 V 
 
 ing to 
 ut his 
 
 
 
 ks you 
 
 
 
 »' ord of 
 
 i 
 
 
 a: " 
 
 
 
 en. 
 
 
 
 to us, 
 
 
 
 and, in 
 
 
 
 that is 
 
 
 
 young 
 
 b is old 
 
 
 
 iderate 
 
 
 
 ess the 
 
 
 
 him to 
 
 
 
 r Lord 
 
 
 
 Grod in 
 
 
 
 trying 
 
 nly in- 
 
 in the 
 
 
 
 dying 
 ?r, the 
 
 
 
 
 
 *1 
 
 VISIT TO A SICK INDIAX. 
 
 281 
 
 pealing thunder, together with the rain falling upon 
 the bark "which covered the tent, rendered my voice 
 inaudible. It was indeed a solemn scene." 
 
 Austin. That must have been solemn indeed ! 
 
 Hunter. " I again visited the sick Indian, and found 
 him sinking rapidly. I asked him if he still felt 
 comfort in resting upon the merits of Christ, lie 
 feebly articulated, ' Yes ;' and appeared desirous of 
 saying more ; but his voice failed, and he fell back, 
 evidently in the agonies of death." 
 
 Basil. I dare say he died then. 
 
 Hunter. " I was deeply grieved to hear his father 
 giving utterance to expressions which must have both 
 distressed and disturbed the dying man. Among 
 other things, he said to me, ' You talk about your God 
 being so good and powerful ; yet there is my son 
 lying, and you are not able to obtain any help for hnn 
 from your God.' I told him that I trusted our God, 
 to whom his son had given himself, was about to take 
 him to a place of happiness, where he would dwell 
 for ever, be no more sick, nor suffer hunger, thirst, 
 or pain; and that the afflicl :/^is which had been laid 
 upon him were intended to ni'ike him repent of his 
 past sins, and trust in the Saviour, in order that he 
 might be made fit for heaven. I then endeavoured to 
 show the old man how awful it was for him to be so 
 completely given up to the devil, and so bent u])on 
 doing his drudgery, as even to disturb the dying mo- 
 ments of his son. I told him, that unless he under- 
 went great change, he would very soon be separated 
 
282 
 
 DEATTl OF A CltRISTIAy INDIAX. 
 
 from his son for ever ; and I could only pray that liis 
 eyes might be opened, before he found himself in heli 
 Having commended the dying man to Q-od, I left the 
 tent ; and had not been long at home, when a person 
 came to tell me that he had expired." 
 
 Basil. I thought he would die. I wish his father 
 had known better. 
 
 Hunter, " I sent Mr. Cook to make arrangements 
 for burying the body ; but he returned, saying, that 
 they wished it to be taken away at once. I was, there- 
 fore, compelled to send my servant to carry the corpse 
 to the church till a coffin could be made. The Indian 
 custom is to bury the dead as quickly as possible : 
 and so strong is their aversion to see the change which 
 the last enemy produces on the countenance, that it is 
 the practice, as soon as the person has expired, for the 
 relatives to paint his face red, that the change may 
 not be seen, even during the few hours occupied in 
 making the grave. They then put upon the deceased 
 all his ornaments, and wrap the body in a blanket, 
 together with his hunting and fishing implements. 
 Having placed it in the grave, in a sitting posture, 
 and covered it with earth, they sit in a circle round 
 the grave for about an hour, smoking their pipes ; 
 after which some one makes a speech, and then they 
 retire. All the Christian Indians are, of course, 
 buried in the churchyard, after the European custom ; 
 and when any die who have not Christian relatives 
 to bury them, the task falls upon us, as in this case. 
 I do not know how I am to get this poor man buried ; 
 
OBJECT OF THE MISSIO>ARY. 
 
 2813 
 
 bat his 
 n hell 
 ?ft the 
 person 
 
 father 
 
 ements 
 g, that 
 , there- 
 corpse 
 Indian 
 )ssible : 
 3 which 
 lat it is 
 for the 
 re may 
 pied in 
 eceased 
 >lanket, 
 jments. 
 >osture, 
 round 
 pipes ; 
 n they 
 course, 
 ustom ; 
 elatives 
 is case, 
 buried : 
 
 for all the men able to give any assistance are now 
 away, and I have only one Indian boy with me in the 
 house ; as my principal servant, who alone coidd have 
 been of any service to me, is sick at Grand Eapids." 
 
 Brian. How could the missionary bury him ? 
 
 Hunter. " I was compelled to set to work this 
 morning, with two Indian boys, to make a coffin for 
 the man who died yesterday. We finished it by noon, 
 and the boys having put the body into it, they placed 
 it in the grave. After I had read the service, they 
 filled in the earth ; and thus we fiiushed our disagree- 
 able duty without any assistance." 
 
 Aicstin. What an odd thing, for the missionary to 
 be obliged to make a coffin ! 
 
 Hunter. There are few things that conscientious 
 missionaries are not ready to do, for the souls and 
 bodies of those under their care. It is natural enough 
 that young people should like better to hear an ex- 
 citing account of Indian manners and customs, of 
 famous warriors, of wild horses, of bear and bufialo 
 hunts, and of Indian games and dances, than to listen 
 to a quiei; recital of missionary eftbrts : but remember, 
 that Eed Indian robes, war-clubs, and tomahawks, 
 bravery in war, and skill in the chase, will not prepare 
 an Indian for death, and still less for eternity. We 
 are to live after this life has passed away ; and red 
 men and white men require a hope on which they can 
 r^ly. Both have sinned, and both stand in need of a 
 Saviour. To make that Saviour kno\vn, is the first, 
 the chief object of the missionary. 
 
284 
 
 MUSCAIGO SCHOOLBOYS. 
 
 Austin, Every one ought to love the missionary. 
 
 Hunter. The Eed Indians, just in proportion as 
 they love hunting and fighting, dislike agricultural 
 labour ; but you will see, from a few extracts from Mr. 
 Smithurst's register, that, by degrees, young Indians 
 brought up in schools may be taught to work as well 
 as the whites. Mr. Smithurst, who is among the 
 Indians on the Bed River, under the direction of the 
 Church Missionary Society, says, "I to-day visited 
 the Saulteaux settlement. When I was down a fort- 
 night ago, I told the school children, with a view of 
 encouraging them, that I wanted forty loads of hay ; 
 and, if they would make it for me, I would pay them 
 as Mr. Cockran had paid the Muscaigoes. From the 
 prejudice of this tribe to everything like farming, I 
 never expected that they would get the whole; but 
 they have been assisted by their heathen relatives, 
 and to-day I found them making the last stack : they 
 have got at least sixty loads. This is very gratifying, 
 as it shows that a great change is taking place. The 
 experience of this settlement has hitherto proved 
 that Indian prejudice first gives way with respect to 
 our mode of living, and then with respect to our reli- 
 gion. A willingness to settle in a house, and cultivate 
 the ground, opens the way for religious instruction, as 
 it keeps the Indian where this is to be obtained." 
 
 Austin. Bed Indians making hay ! Who would ever 
 have thought to see Red Indian haymakers ! 
 
 Hunter. Mr. Smithurst goes on thus : — " On my 
 return home, I got a number of Muscaigo schoolboys, 
 
ary. 
 ion as 
 iultural 
 om Mr. 
 [udians 
 as well 
 ng the 
 L of the 
 visited 
 1 a fort- 
 view of 
 of hay; 
 ay them 
 rom the 
 ?ming, I 
 )le; but 
 elatives, 
 
 : they 
 atifying, 
 e. The 
 
 proved 
 spect to 
 our reli- 
 3ultivate 
 ction, as 
 d." 
 )uld ever 
 
 On my 
 loolboys, 
 
 1 
 
 INDIANS TArOHT AaEICULTUnE. 
 
 !S5 
 
 and set them to reap barley. Having never seen tliom 
 
 reap, 
 
 ittle 
 
 to 
 
 h 
 
 th 
 
 lid iret 
 
 curious 
 
 surprise, I found them to proceed 
 with ail the regularity of Europeans. Indeed, I am 
 quite sure that I could not have taken an e([ual 
 number of children of the same age out of a school, 
 even in the most agricultural district of Eugland, who 
 would have done so well. None of them are more 
 than twelve, and two are only nine years old." 
 
 Brian. Those Muscaigo boys were fine lads. 
 
 Hunter. " I have now," says Mr. Smitburst, " a 
 number of the Indians cleariug ground. It is neces- 
 sary for us thus to employ them, that they may be 
 able to get clothing for the winter. There is nothing, 
 so far as temporal tilings are concerned, which they 
 need to learn so much as industry. My rule is, never 
 to give the Christian Indians anything, unless they 
 work for it ; exce])t in cases of old age or sickness. 
 They are now very willing to work ; but it is necessary 
 that I should be almost always vidth them, which is 
 rather a heavy task upon me. 
 
 " I, tliis morning, set an Indian to plough ; but 
 when I went to see liow he got on, I found that he 
 had missed just as much as he had ploughed. I was, 
 therefore, obliged to do it myself. There are now a 
 number of Indians who can plough well ; but they 
 are engaged on their own farms, and I do not wish to 
 ask them to come to me. I must always have a suc- 
 cession of learners, and bear with the inconvenience. 
 
 " I have been to the Saulteaux settlement to-dav, 
 
28G 
 
 WITllAWEECAPO AND HIS SON. 
 
 superintending the sowing of the little patches belong- 
 ing to the Indiana of that tribe. I was pleased to see 
 them taking a much greater interest in the matter this 
 year than last. I should be doubly gratified, if I could 
 but see thein a little more anxious after religious in- 
 struction. We must, however, wait God's time." 
 
 Austin. I can hardly fancy Indian boys ploughing 
 and sowing like farmers. 
 
 Ilmiter. Mr. West, from the same station on the 
 Red Biver, writes thus : — " Well do I remember 
 Withaweecapo bringing his son to me in his arms, as 
 I sat in the boat waiting for him, to start many hun- 
 dred miles from Tork Factory to the Red River ; and 
 as he parted with his boy, with tears of aifection, 
 saying, ' There, I give you my son, to teach as you 
 say, because I think you v;ill take care of him, auc^ 
 will treat him as a father. But I shall come and sej 
 my boy.' Fourteen years after, it seems, he under- 
 took the journey, many hundred miles, to visit liis 
 boy. This brought him under Christian instruction ; 
 and, God be praised ! there is good hope to believe 
 tliat lie was led to embrace Christ Jesus as his Lord, 
 and to live in obedience to his gospel, so that he died 
 a true Cliristiau. How cheering is this statement ! 
 His widow is one of my Indian congregation, and 
 a communicant ; and all their children, seven in 
 nmnber, are Cliristians! 
 
 "AVhat encouragement is there, amidst all dis- 
 couragements, to prosecute Christian missions! J^et 
 us therefore persevere, and faint not ; for in due season 
 
ANECDOTE OF AN INDIAN BOY. 
 
 287 
 
 belong- ' 
 :1 to SCO 
 btei- this 
 ' I could 
 ious iii- 
 ne." ^ 
 ougliing 
 
 I on the 
 imembcr 
 arms, as 
 luy him- 
 yrer; and 
 riftectiou, 
 1 as you 
 him, am' 
 ; and sej 
 le under- 
 
 visit his 
 tructiou ; 
 believe 
 his liord, 
 it he died 
 
 atement ! 
 tion, and 
 
 seven in 
 
 b all dis- 
 ons! J^et 
 lue season 
 
 ( 
 
 a rich harvest shall be reaped, to the great glory of 
 the Lord." 
 
 Brian. AVithaweecapo did not forget his boy, thougli 
 he was awav so lonji:. 
 
 Hunter. Mr. West continues in this manncM' : — 
 "This morning, one of the Muscaiu^o schoolboys, 
 about twelve years old, brought two bii-ds, and desired 
 my servant to ask if I woukl liave thcin. I found 
 tliey had been stuffed, thougli certainly not in a first- 
 rate style. I asked what he wished to have for them ; 
 and the answer was, ' Anything you please to give.' 
 I was sulHciently accpiainted with the Indian character 
 to know that he had not brought the birds without 
 having some distinct object in view ; and I tliere- 
 fore said, 'Tell him I don't know what to give him: 
 he must say liimself what he would like to liiive. 
 lie could not, he said, expect to have what he wanted 
 in return for the birds, as he wanted a Common 
 Prayer Book: but if I would let him have the book, 
 when I wanted any one to work he would come. 
 The English of the whole was simply tins: — His 
 mind was so set upon obtaining the Praver Hook, 
 that he brought the birds to get into favour with me, 
 thinking that I should not refuse him the book on 
 credit, till he could work for it." 
 
 Austin. That boy really wanted the Prayer Book. 
 
 Hunter. The last extract that I shall give vou from 
 Mr. West is as follows : — " I was much pleased this 
 evening, in a conversation with one of the Muscaigo 
 schoolboys, lie had been working on the mission 
 
288 
 
 SPEECH OF AN OLD INDIAN. 
 
 farm a month, during the seed-time, for which I paid 
 him twelve shilHngs. Wishing to know how he had 
 spent it, I said, ' What did you do with tlie money I 
 gave you ?' ' I took it to the store.' ' AV^ell, what 
 did you huy ?' * The shirt I have on.' * Well, that 
 cost four sliillings ; what more did you purchase ?' 
 ' White cotton.' * What are you going to do with 
 tliat ?' ' Have a Sunday shirt.' ' AVell, tliat is very 
 good ; but what else did you buy ? ' 'A pair of 
 shoes.' * Yes, those three things cost nine sliillings ; 
 what did you do with the rest?' 'Gave it to my 
 father.' * Well, that is just what you ought to do. 
 You know the word of God says. Honour thy father 
 and thy mother. I trust that you will always remem- 
 ber that it is your duty to help them. I hope the 
 other boys will do the same, and then God will bless 
 them.' This little incident atfords one of tlie many 
 proofs that we do not labour in vain. It was the first 
 money the boy ever liad, and not a fraction of it was 
 misapplied." 
 
 Brian. An English boy could not do better. 
 
 Hunter. These anecdotes of Indian life, by describ- 
 ing the very acts and words of those among whom the 
 missionaries are, seem to bring the people before you. 
 In one of INFr. Cockran's journals, he says the lan- 
 guage of an old Indian was, " I must go and take the 
 opinion of the Black Coat about our Indian ways and 
 worship ; he says that the Master of life is displeased 
 with us, bocause we will not listen to the message of 
 his Son, who came from heaven and died to save us. I 
 
JOUENEY TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 
 
 280 
 
 I paid 
 lie bad 
 oney I 
 i, what 
 11, that 
 L^hase ?' 
 lo with 
 is very 
 pair of 
 lillings ; 
 
 to my 
 ; to do. 
 Y father 
 remem- 
 ope the 
 
 II bless 
 le many 
 the first 
 f it was 
 
 describ- 
 lom the 
 )re you. 
 lie hui- 
 Lake the 
 ays aud 
 pleased 
 ssapje of 
 vc us. 
 
 I 
 
 should not like to meet the Master of life angry. His 
 winter storms and his summer storms terrify me. If 
 he grow properly ^^Q^Ji I cannot stand before him." 
 
 Austin. Poor old Indian! Properly angry — that 
 is a very expressive term. 
 
 Hunter. The Indians have many expressive terms, 
 and they are an interesting people. I will now give 
 you a few extracts from the journal of Mr. Rundell, a 
 missionary belonging tq the AVesleyan Missions in the 
 Hudson's Bay territories, being some of tlie last in- 
 telligence received respecting the Ked Indians. Mr. 
 Rundell travelled three thousand five hundred miles 
 from New Tork to get to his station. He is the lirst 
 Protestant missionary stationed in the far west, in the 
 neighbourhood of the TJocky Mountains. He says, 
 " About seven o'clock, 1 started, in a dog-cariole, for 
 the Port Hunter's Camp, situated near Beaver Lake. 
 The cariole was drawn by four dogs. It was a brilliant 
 starlight night, with some faint glimmerings of the 
 aurora borealis. The Beaver Hills extend for a long 
 distance, and are in general covered witli trees and 
 shrubs, interspersed with small lakes. The scenery, 
 during ^he summer months, must be very splendid : 
 but I saw only the rude ravages of winter in the woods ; 
 ice bound the lakes, and snow mantled the ground. In 
 the forenoon, we surprised a herd of bullaloes on a 
 small lake, and one of them slipped on the ice, and 
 was soon stabbed to the heart. The cold was so severe 
 at this time, that the blood froze about the instrument 
 employed in cutting up the animal. I reached the camp 
 
290 
 
 BLACKFEET AND PEAGAN INDIANS. 
 
 in the afternoon ; but the night was so intensely cold, 
 that I could get but little sleep." 
 
 Austin. He would look droll in his dog-cariole ! 
 
 Hunter. " I reached Eocky Mountain House, and 
 was very kindly received by J. H. Harriott, Esq., the 
 gentleman in charge. I found several Indians at the 
 fort, and shortly after my arrival, another party arrived 
 from the plains. G-reat warmth of feeling was expressed 
 by them on seeing me. Their dresses were profusely 
 adorned with beads and gay embroidery, with porcu- 
 pine quills and other ornaments. Whilst I was saluting 
 ihem, some kissed me ; others, after shaking me by the 
 hand, passed both hands over part of my dress, uttering 
 at the same time a kind of prayer ; and others gave 
 me their left hand, because nearest the heart." 
 
 Brian. That is a very odd custom, to kiss the mis- 
 sionary. I should not much like it. 
 
 Hunter. " A large party of Blackfeet and Peagans 
 arrived ; and their entrance into the fort presented a 
 very novel appearance. The first that came were the 
 Peagans ; and the ceremony commenced with singing 
 some rude and barbarous sounds. They then marched 
 in order to the fort, the chief leading the van, bring- 
 ing with him a horse, the head of which was striped 
 with red ochre, as an intended present for Mr. Har- 
 riott ; the chief entered the fort, followed by his party. 
 The Blackfeet approached much in the same way, ex- 
 cepting that singing formed no part of the ceremony. 
 Some of the chiefs' dresses looked very fine ; and the 
 needlework on them would reflect no discredit on 
 
iy cold, 
 
 )le! 
 
 ae, and 
 sq., the 
 J at the 
 arrived 
 pressed 
 [•ofusely 
 . porcu- 
 saluting 
 e by the 
 Littering 
 3rs gave 
 
 the mis- 
 
 Peagans 
 jented a 
 v^ere the 
 singing 
 marched 
 1, hring- 
 striped 
 Ir. Har- 
 is party, 
 way, ex- 
 re mony. 
 and the 
 redit on 
 
 A. ULOOD INDIAN CHIEF. 
 
 291 
 
 members of civilized communities. To-day a rumour 
 spread amongst the Indians, that I came down from 
 heaven in a piece of paper, and that the paper was 
 opened by a gentleman belonging to the fort, and so I 
 made my first appearance upon earth." 
 
 Basil. Came down from heaven in a piece of paper ! 
 
 JIu7iter. " The ' Big Wolf,' a Blood Indian chief, 
 requested last night that nothing might be said to 
 him by me against taking revenge on their enemies ; 
 neither against the practice of sacrificing to the sun 
 the tops of their fingers, previous to going to battle — 
 a custom common amongst them. He was determined, 
 he said, to have revenge on the man that stabbed him 
 some time before; and affirmed, that the sacrifices 
 offered to the sun would certainly insure success when 
 warring with their enemies. He, however, expressed 
 a wish to hear me. This Indian is one of the greatest 
 warriors in all the tribes. He attended the service in 
 the evening, and afterwards expressed his satisfaction 
 with what he had heard." 
 
 Austin. I am afraid the Indian's love of revenge 
 will never be conquered. 
 
 Hunter. What is hard with man is easy with God ; 
 but I will go on with my extracts : — " I gave advice to 
 ' Big Wolf,' in order to effect a reconciliation between 
 iiim and the man towards whom he entertains sucli 
 deadly hatred ; and tried to persuade him to drink no 
 more liquor, as that was the cause of the affray. He 
 listened attentively; and I learned afterwards that 
 this advice was not given in vain. 
 
Im 
 
 292 
 
 INTERVIEW WITH ASSINABOIXS. 
 
 "The long-expected band of Rocky Mountain Crees, 
 those whom I came especially to see, arrived this 
 day, accompanied by a party of Assinaboins. Soon 
 after their arrival, I addressed them on the being 
 of God, and on the creation and fall of man. A re- 
 mark made by one of the Crees, after the service, is 
 deserving of notice. He said, they resembled hungry 
 young birds in a nest, when visited by the parent ; 
 like the young birds, he said, they stood hungry with 
 their mouths open, to be fed." 
 
 Austin. Indians certainly have a very odd way of 
 speaking. 
 
 Hunter. " I met many Indians in a large tent fitted 
 up for the occasion of my visit. I rode in the after- 
 noon to an Assinaboin camp, situated at the distance 
 of a few miles, and met with a very warm reception. 
 Nearly all in the camp, I believe — men, women, and 
 children — met me on my approach, to welcome my 
 arrival. They all walked in procession, witli their 
 chief at their head; and it was, indeed, a very in- 
 teresting sight. Many of the children, I observed, 
 were carried on the backs of their mothers. Tlie 
 ceremony of shaking hands now took place, wliich 
 I performed on horseback, and afterwards proceeded 
 to the tent arranged for the service; and, imder the 
 rays of a bright and unclouded sun, discoursed to them 
 on the glories and beauties of the eternal Sun of 
 righteousness." 
 
 Brian. That custom of shaking hands must take up 
 a long time among so many of them. 
 
DISArPOINTME>'T OF MISSIONARIES. 
 
 293 
 
 Crees, 
 )d this 
 Soon 
 I being 
 A re- 
 'vice, is 
 hungry 
 parent ; 
 ry with 
 
 way 
 
 of 
 
 Lit fitted 
 le after- 
 iistance 
 peption. 
 len, and 
 m^e my 
 :h their 
 ^^ery in- 
 jserved, 
 The 
 which 
 oeeeded 
 ider the 
 to them 
 Sun of 
 
 take up 
 
 Hunter. "It was from tliis hill tliat I obtained my 
 best view of the liocky Mountains. They presented 
 the sublimest spectacle that I ever expect to behold, 
 until I become an inlmbitant of ' the new heavens and 
 the new earth.' Their pointed and snowy summits 
 rose high into the heavens, rf^sembling the lofty spires 
 of some vast and magnificent marble temple, and the 
 scene was truly grand and imposing. In conipai-ison 
 with these Divine productions, all the woi-ks of art 
 dwindle into insignificance. From their vast recesses, 
 those great rivers fiow wdiich send forth their streams 
 to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans." 
 
 Austin. Oh, that must be glorious scenery! 
 
 Hunter. " I reached Edmonton with no other inju- 
 ries, thanks to a kind Providence, than two or three 
 slight frost-bites, and some indications of snow blind- 
 ness, from the efiects of which I recovered in about a 
 week ; and thus ended my winter campaigns." 
 
 Brian. I could listen an hour to such extracts as 
 these. 
 
 Hunter. AVcll, I have now told you pretty well 
 about Eed Indians, and must come to the end of my 
 narrative. Great have been the difiiculties of the 
 missionaries, and many have been their disappoint- 
 ments. The Cherokees, Choctaws, Pawnees, Oregons, 
 Sioux, and others, have none of them altogether 
 realized the hopes wdiich at different times, on their 
 account, have been entertained. The opposition of 
 Papists, the wars that break out unexpectedly among 
 the tribes, the reverence entertained by them for 
 
r 
 
 294 
 
 EVENTUAL SPEEAD OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 superstitious customs, their removals from one place 
 to another, the natural indolence of Indians, and their 
 love of spirituous liquors, called forth by white men 
 in order to deceive them, these and other causes are 
 always at work, operating against the efforts of the 
 missionary. I might, it is true, give you more in- 
 stances than I have done of an encouraging kind 
 respecting the Red Indians generally ; but, perhaps, 
 it will be better now to sum up the account by saying, 
 the missionary is at work among them with some 
 degree of success ; and though, from the remoteness 
 of manv of the tribes, their strong attachment to the 
 superstitions of their forefathers, and other causes 
 already alluded to, the progress of Christianity is 
 necessarily slow, there is no doubt that it will ulti- 
 mately prevail : the promise has gone forth, and will 
 be fulfilled, the heathen will be the inheritance of the 
 Redeemer, and the uttermost parts of the earth his 
 possession. He who has clothed the arm of the red 
 man with strength, shod his feet with swiftness, and 
 filled his heart with courage, will, in due time, subdue 
 his cruelty and revenge, open his eyes to discern the 
 wondrous things of Grod's holy law, dispose his mind 
 to acknowledge the Lord of life and glory, and make 
 him willing to receive the gospel of the Redeemer. 
 
 LONDON: KNIGUT, tUlNTEB, nARTHOLOllEW CLOSE. 
 
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