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32X

INI

50, p

THE

INDIANS OF NOETH AMERICA.

\ !

\ c^:,t\VC^ F

!> i

// '

^-^

LONDON:
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY;

SR, PATFllNOSTF.U ROW, 05, ST. PAUL's CIIUUCHYAUD, AND
164, PICCADILLY ; AND SOLD BY THK U()OKSELLEU».

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.

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

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

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

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.

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-

100

of
kh-
Ivs,

-A

lian

^vd-

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

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

■'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

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.

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

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

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

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

cottaf

wood

percei

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

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.

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

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

T\'IIEKE rURS COME EROM.

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,

="+

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.

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,

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.

■"»»

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

jame

the

le, on

TOTAOEURS — yORTlT-MEN.

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

1 1

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.

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 !

ADVENTUltE WITH A BEAR.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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^

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

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.

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,

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:'

EED INDIANS OF PRESENT TIMES.

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

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

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

IJfDIAN TRIBES.

; I

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

-^,

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

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'

lull

CHARACTER OF THE INDIANS.

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,

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.

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

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-

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.

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

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

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.

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 •

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Perh
make
the n

Hi
on tec
and a

Br
such

i..

INDIAN NAMES.

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

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

mam
betwj
put,
animil
the If
a roil
" Thel
his sis

" Frier
uncle, ^

INDIAN WRITING.

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,

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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]

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.

" 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

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

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.

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

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.

was a

cheat.

I said, ' I will uot h'ave the place of my lathers.

((

With mv braves and warriors, on horseback, 1

id took with

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(

K (

h:—
Hi

raves anu warriors

! tl

u^se are

le nuMlicnit

]):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

ATTACK UN THE INDIAN WOMKN.

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

lev now love war

d tl

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

VAr-T.KYS AND PKATRIKS.

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 '

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IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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1.0 lifii^ III

s= r- 156 132

I.I

1.25

2.5

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Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STRUT

WIBSTIR,N.Y 14S80

(716) 872-4S03

L1>^

^.^

T\>

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

the sh
ticoes,
while

nnght
the wli
gilded

BLLFrS AND CHAOS.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

OATHEIlI^S'a OF ^VILD RICE.

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,

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

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

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.

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

THE CHIEF OCEOLA.

103

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

LZrjZTZ

OCEOLA MADE PRISONER.

105

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

MODES OF BURIAL.

121J

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 •

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

¥^

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 !

S
t(
a'
b

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.

137

.5,
I

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.

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

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.

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.

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

.he

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.

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.

ANECDOTE OF A PAWNEE WAERIOR.

M.'l

)le

he
-e,
hd

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.

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 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

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.

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

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

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

,^1

{

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

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

()

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.^;,,,..,.

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

. I

I
\
i
I
11

INDIAN GAMES.

175

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

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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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

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

. :

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-

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

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

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

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:

will

rmio; ;

el up,

or for

ma!i-

mon

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

'0
iii;

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
!

3 your
Kb we
3y the
^ou iu
ds."
[ndian

an im-
ade on
;, there
the re-

i
1

espeet.
at deal

icamp-
, think
1 tlieni,

ig per-
;hey do
ristians

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

—Council
hting— A
e, onset —
ty— Their
ors — The
iculars of

•others
lystery

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

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(

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

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

likely
en from

may lie
mt tlieir

be the
lem, and

nothing

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

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

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

)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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

)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

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

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

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

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

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Corporation

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WIBSTIR.N.Y. 14510

(716) •73-4S03

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

■

might

3d, he

eemed

. more

■

ang

ing to
ut his

ks you

»' ord of

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

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,

INDIANS TArOHT AaEICULTUnE.

!S5

and set them to reap barley. Having never seen tliom

reap,

ittle

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.

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.

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

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

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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