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diff --git a/40475-8.txt b/40475-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 444d52e..0000000 --- a/40475-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,20304 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Indian in his Wigwam, by Henry R. Schoolcraft - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Indian in his Wigwam - Or Characteristics of the Red Race of America from Original - Notes and Manuscripts - -Author: Henry R. Schoolcraft - -Release Date: August 10, 2012 [EBook #40475] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INDIAN IN HIS WIGWAM *** - - - - -Produced by Julia Miller, KD Weeks and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: - - A number of printer's errors have been corrected. However, most - spelling variants are left as printed, except where the likelihood - of an error seems strong; (e.g. emcamped/encamped, ryhme/rhyme). - Consult the Notes at the end of this text for specific corrections. - - Schoolcraft renders Indian language in English characters using his - own conventions. Therefore, the printed spelling of these words has - been observed as printed, with only several exceptions, where it - seems very clear from adjacent spellings that there have been - printer's errors. The figure 8 is set horizontally to represent a - phonetic sound. In this text these characters are simulated by [oo] - and [OO] for lower- and upper-case. The 'oe' ligature is rendered - as [oe] in transliteration but simply 'oe' elsewhere ('æsofoedita', - 'manoeuvre'). - - The text of pages 286 and 287 are printed in reverse order. - Although pagination is continuous, there is at least one page of - text missing before the text beginning on p. 288. At p. 300, the - text again ends abruptly, with a new section beginning on p. 301. - - - - - THE INDIAN IN HIS WIGWAM, - - OR - - CHARACTERISTICS - - OF THE - - RED RACE OF AMERICA - - FROM ORIGINAL NOTES AND MANUSCRIPTS. - - BY HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT, - - Memb. Royal Geographical Society of London, and of the Royal Society - of Northern Antiquaries, Copenhagen; Hon. Memb. of the Natural - History Society of Montreal, Canada East; Memb. of the American - Philosophical Society, Philadelphia; of the American Antiquarian - Society, Worcester; of the American Geological Society, New Haven; - Vice-President of the American Ethnological Society, New York; Hon. - Memb. of the New York Historical Society; Hon. Memb. of the - Historical Society of Georgia; President of the Michigan Historical - Society; and Hon. Memb. of the Ohio Historical and Philosophical - Society; Cor. Memb. of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, and - of the Lyceums of Natural History of Troy and Hudson, N. Y.; Memb of - the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; of the Albany - Institute at the State Capitol, Albany, and a Res. Memb. of the - National Institute at Washington; President of the Algic Society for - meliorating the condition of the Native Race in the United States, - instituted in 1831; Hon. Memb. of the Goethean and of the Philo L. - Collegiate Societies of Pennsylvania, &c. &c. - - BUFFALO: - DERBY & HEWSON, PUBLISHERS. - AUBURN--DERBY, MILLER & CO. - 1848. - - - - -PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. - - -It is now twenty-six years since I first entered the area of the -Mississippi valley, with the view of exploring its then but imperfectly -known features, geographical and geological. Twenty-two years of this -period have elapsed since I entered on the duties of an Executive Agent -for the United States Government in its higher northern latitudes among -the Indian tribes in the west. Having devoted so large a portion of my -life in an active sphere, in which the intervals of travel left me -favourable opportunities of pursuing the languages and history of this -branch of the race, it appears to be a just expectation, that, in -sitting down to give some account of this people, there should be some -preliminary remarks, to apprise the reader how and why it is, that his -attention is recalled to a topic which he may have supposed to be well -nigh exhausted. This it is proposed to do by some brief personal -reminiscences, beginning at the time above alluded to. - -The year 1814 constituted a crisis, not only in our political history, -but also in our commercial, manufacturing, and industrial interests. The -treaty of Ghent, which put a period to the war with England, was a -blessing to many individuals and classes in America: but, in its -consequences, it had no small share of the effects of a curse upon that -class of citizens who were engaged in certain branches of manufactures. -It was a peculiarity of the crisis, that these persons had been -stimulated by double motives, to invest their capital and skill in the -perfecting and establishment of the manufactories referred to, by the -actual wants of the country and the high prices of the foreign articles. -No pains and no cost had been spared, by many of them, to supply this -demand; and it was another result of the times, that no sooner had they -got well established, and were in the high road of prosperity than the -peace came and plunged them headlong from the pinnacle of success. This -blow fell heavier upon some branches than others. It was most fatal to -those manufacturers who had undertaken to produce fabrics of the highest -order, or which belong to an advanced state of the manufacturing -prosperity of a nation. Be this as it may, however, it fell with -crushing force upon that branch in which I was engaged. As soon as the -American ports were opened to these fabrics, the foreign makers who -could undersell us, poured in cargo on cargo; and when the first demands -had been met, these cargoes were ordered to be sold at auction; the -prices immediately fell to the lowest point, and the men who had staked -in one enterprise their zeal, skill and money, were ruined at a blow. - -Every man in such a crisis, must mentally recoil upon himself. Habits -of application, reading, and an early desire to be useful, had sustained -me at a prior period of life, through the dangers and fascinations of -jovial company. There was in this habit or temper of room-seclusion, a -pleasing resource of a conservative character, which had filled up the -intervals of my busiest hours; and when business itself came to a stand, -it had the effect to aid me in balancing and poising my mind, while I -prepared to enter a wider field, and indeed, to change my whole plan of -life. If it did not foster a spirit of right thought and -self-dependence, it, at least, gave a degree of tranquillity to the -intervals of a marked pause, and, perhaps, flattered the ability to act. - -Luckily I was still young, and with good animal spirits, and a sound -constitution I resolved I would not go down so. The result of seven -years of strenuous exertions, applied with persevering diligence and -success, was cast to the winds, but it was seven years of a young man's -life, and I thought it could be repaired by time and industry. What the -east withheld, I hoped might be supplied by another quarter. I turned my -thoughts to the west, and diligently read all I could find on the -subject. The result of the war of 1812, (if this contest had brought no -golden showers on American manufacturers, as I could honestly testify in -my own case,) had opened to emigration and enterprise the great area -west of the Alleghanies. The armies sent out to battle with Indian, and -other foes, on the banks of the Wabash, the Illinois, the Detroit, the -Raisin and the Miami of the Lakes, had opened to observation attractive -scenes for settlement; and the sword was no sooner cast aside, than -emigrants seized hold of the axe and the plough. This result was worth -the cost of the whole contest, honour and glory included. The total -prostration of the moneyed system of the country, the effects of -city-lot and other land speculations, while the system was at its full -flow, and the very backward seasons of 1816 and 1817, attended with late -and early frosts, which extensively destroyed the corn crop in the -Atlantic states, all lent their aid in turning attention towards the -west and south-west, where seven new states have been peopled and -organized, within the brief period to which these reminiscences apply: -namely, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas and -Michigan, besides the flourishing territories of Wisconsin and Iowa, and -the more slowly advancing territory of Florida. It appeared to me, that -information, geographical and other, of such a wide and varied region, -whose boundaries were but ill defined, must be interesting at such a -period; and I was not without the hope that the means of my future -advancement would be found in connexion with the share I might take in -the exploration of it. With such views I resolved to go west. This -feeling I find to be expressed on the back of an old slip of an account -of the period: - - "I will go by western fountain, - I will wander far and wide; - Till some sunny spot invite me, - Till some guardian bid me bide. - - "Snow or tempest--plain the drearest - Shall oppose a feeble bar, - Since I go from friends the dearest, - 'Tis no matter then how far. - - "On!--'tis useless here to dally; - On!--I can but make or mar; - Since my fortune leads to sally, - 'Tis no matter then how far." - -Of the "seven years" to which allusion has been made I had spent four in -New England a land, which is endeared to me at this distance of time, by -recollections of hospitality, virtue, and manly intelligence. - -While engaged in the direction of the business above named, I had -prepared the notes and materials for my first publication, in which I -aimed to demonstrate the importance of an acquaintance with Chemistry -and Mineralogy in the preparation and fusion of numerous substances in -the mineral kingdom, which result in the different conditions of the -various glasses, enamels, &c. I had, from early youth, cultivated a -taste for mineralogy, long indeed it may be said, before I knew that -mineralogy was a science; and, as opportunities increased, had been led -by my inquiries, (which I followed with ardour but with very slight -helps,) to add to this some knowledge of elementary chemistry and -experimental philosophy, and to supply myself, from Boston and New York, -with books, apparatus, and tests. I do not know that there were any -public lectures on mineralogy, &c. at this time, say from 1810 to '16; -certainly, there were none within my reach. I gleaned from the best -sources I could, and believe that the late Professor Frederick Hall was -the only person to whom I was indebted even for occasional instructions -in these departments. He was a man strongly devoted to some of the -natural sciences, particularly mineralogy; and was erudite in the old -authors on the subject, whom he liked to quote; and I may say that I -continued to enjoy his confidence and friendship to the time of his -death, which happened in 1843. From such sources, from the diligent -reading of books, and from experiments, conducted with the advantage of -having under my charge extensive works, at various times, in the states -of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, I drew the principles which -formed the basis of my treatise on Vitreology. With this work in hand, I -left Keene, in New Hampshire, early in the winter of 1817; and, crossing -the Connecticut river at Brattleboro', proceeded over the Green -Mountains, by the route of Bennington, to Albany, and thence returned to -my father's house in western New York. No time was lost in issuing -proposals for the work; and I had the satisfaction to find that the -portions published, and the entire plan and merits of it were warmly -approved by the pen of the late Mr. Maynard of Utica, and by several -liberal minded and intelligent persons. Before quitting New England, I -had determined to go to the Mississippi valley, and had begun to study -its geography; and I now resolved to proceed, without unnecessary delay. - -Means constitute the first object of solicitude in all such -undertakings. The ebbing tide of manufacturing prosperity to which I -have referred, had left me very poor. From the fragments of former -acquisitions, for which, however, I was exclusively indebted to my own -industry, I raised a small sum of money--much smaller I think than most -men would be willing to start with, who had resolved to go so far. I -had, in truth, but sixty dollars in the world; but I possessed a very -good wardrobe, and some other personal means, such as it may be supposed -will adhere to a man who has lived in abundance for many years. I put up -a miniature collection of mineralogical specimens, to serve as a -standard of comparison in the west, a few implements for analysis, some -books which I thought it would be difficult to meet with in that region, -and some drawing materials. I had connected these things in some way -with my future success. In other respects, I had the means, as above -hinted, of making a respectable appearance. Thus prepared, I bade adieu -to my father and mother, and also to three sisters and a brother, all -younger than myself, and set forward. The winter of 1818 had opened -before I reached my brother's house at Geneva, in western New York. From -this point I determined to leave the main track, through the Genessee -county west, and to strike the head waters of the Alleghany river, so as -to descend that stream with the spring flood. - -My brother drove me in his own sleigh, as far as Angelica. By the time -we reached that place, being no traveller and much fatigued with the -intricacies and roughness of the road, he was fain to give over his -undertaking, and I parted from him, sending back the sleigh from Olean, -to take him home. - -The Alleghany river was locked with ice when I reached it. I had an -opportunity to cross it on foot, and to examine in the vicinity those -evidences of the coal formation which are found in masses of bituminous -shale, slaty coal and petroleum. The river began to open about the -middle of March. I left Olean in the first ark for the season, borne -onwards down the sweeping Alleghany at the top of the flood, often -through winding channels, and once in danger of being precipitated over -a mill dam, by taking the wrong channel. - -On another occasion, just as we were coming to the division of the -channel, at the head of a group of islands, a tall Seneca Indian, -standing in the bow of a very long pine canoe, cried out, in a tone of -peculiar emphasis, "Keep to the right--I speak it." This direction we -followed, and were saved from another mishap. We tied the ark to the -shore at night, built a fire on the bank and cooked a supper. On -passing the Conowonga, it was at the height of its flood, and appeared -to bring in as much water as the Alleghany. We stopped at the noted -chief Cornplanter's village, and also to gratify a reminiscent -curiosity, at the mouth of French Creek, connected with Washington's -perilous adventure in visiting Fort de Boef, now Erie. At Kittaning, a -great scow ferry boat was rowed and managed by two women or girls with a -degree of muscular exertion, or rather ease, which would put to the -blush many a man east or west of the Alleghanies. The tone, air, and -masculine strength of these girl-boatmen, reminded me of nothing this -side of Rollin's description of the Amazons--save that the same -provision was not apparent for drawing the bow. Bold hills line both -banks of the river along its upper parts, and continue, indeed, at -farther intervals apart, to very near the junction of the Monongahela; -but long before this point, the stream is one of noble dimensions, -clear, broad, and strong. After a voyage of exciting and vivid interest, -I reached and landed at Pittsburgh. - - -NO. II. - -It is Dr. Johnson, I think, who says, that we take slight occasions to -be pleased. At least, I found it so, on the present occasion; the day of -my arrival was my birth day, and it required but little stretch of -imagination to convert the scene upon which I had now entered, into a -new world. It was new to me.--I was now fairly in the great geological -valley of the west, the object of so many anticipations. - -The ark, in which I had descended the Allegany, put ashore near the -point of land, which is formed by the junction of the Monongahela with -this fine clear stream. The dark and slowly moving waters of the one, -contrasted strongly with the sparkling velocity of the other. I felt a -buoyancy of spirits as I leapt ashore, and picked up some of its clean -pebbles to see what kind of geological testimony they bore to the actual -character of their parent beds in the Apalachian range. - -"What shall I pay you, for my passage, from Olean," said I, to the -gentleman with whom I had descended, and at whose ark-table I had found -a ready seat with his family. "Nothing, my dear sir," he replied with a -prompt and friendly air,--"Your cheerful aid in the way, taking the oars -whenever the case required it, has more than compensated for any claims -on that score, and I only regret that you are not going further with -us." - -Committing my baggage to a carman, I ascended the bank of diluvial earth -and pebbles with all eagerness, and walked to the point of land where -Fort Pitt (old Fort Du Quesne) had stood. It is near this point that the -Alleghany and Monongahela unite, and give birth to the noble Ohio. It is -something to stand at the head of such a stream. The charm of novelty is -beyond all others. I could realize, in thought, as I stood here, gazing -on the magnificent prospect of mingling waters, and their prominent and -varied shores, the idea, which is said to be embodied in the old Mingo -substantive-exclamation of O-he-o! a term, be it remembered, which the -early French interpreters at once rendered, and truly, it is believed, -by the name of _La Belle Rivière_. - -So far, I said to myself, all is well,--I am now west of the great -spinal chain. All that I know of America is now fairly _east_ of -me--bright streams, warm hearts and all. I have fairly cast myself -loose on the wide waters of the west. I have already come as many -hundred miles, as there are days in the week, but I begin my travels -here. I have, as it were, taken my life in my hand. Father and mother, I -may never see more. God wot the result. I go to seek and fulfil an -unknown destiny. Come weal or woe, I shall abide the result. All the -streams run south, and I have laid in, with "time and chance" for a -journey with them. I am but as a chip on their surface--nothing more! -Whether my bones are to rest in this great valley, or west of the -Cordilleras, or the Rocky Mountains, I know not. I shall often think of -the silver Iosco, the farther I go from it. To use a native metaphor, My -foot is on the path, and the word, is onward! "The spider taketh hold -with her hands," Solomon says, "and is in king's palaces." Truly, a man -should accomplish, by diligence, as much as a spider. - -Pittsburgh was, even then, a busy manufacturing town, filled with -working machinery, steam engines, hammers, furnaces, and coal smoke. I -visited Mr. O'Hara, and several other leading manufacturers. They made -glass, bar iron, nails, coarse pottery, castings, and many other -articles, which filled its shops and warehouses, and gave it a city-like -appearance. Every chimney and pipe, perpendicular or lateral, puffed out -sooty coal smoke, and it required some dexterity to keep a clean collar -half a day. I met ladies who bore this _impress_ of the city, on their -morning toilet. I took lodgings at Mrs. McCullough's, a respectable -hotel on Wood street, and visited the various manufactories, for which -the place was then, and is now celebrated. In these visits, I collected -accurate data of the cost of raw material, the place where obtained, the -expense of manufacture, and the price of the finished fabric. I had thus -a body of facts, which enabled me, at least to converse understandingly -on these topics, to give my friends in the east, suitable data, and to -compare the advantages of manufacturing here with those possessed by the -eastern and middle states. Every thing was, in the business prospects of -the west, however, at a comparatively low ebb. The prostrating effects -of the war, and of the _peace_, were alike felt. We had conquered -England, in a second contest, but were well exhausted with the effort. -The country had not recovered from the sacrifices and losses of a series -of military operations, which fell most heavily on its western -population. Its agricultural industry had been crippled. Its financial -affairs were deranged. Its local banks were broken; its manufactories -were absolutely ruined. There was little confidence in business, and -never was credit, public and private, at a lower ebb. There was however, -one thing, in which the west held out a shining prospect. It had -abundance of the finest lands in the world, and in fact, it promised a -happy home to the agricultural industry of half the world. It was -literally the land of promise, to the rest of the union, if not to -Europe. - -Having seen whatever I wished in Pittsburgh, I hired a horse and -crossing the Monongahela, went up its southern banks, as high as -Williamsport. I found the country people were in the habit of calling -the city "Pitt" or "Fort Pitt," a term dating back doubtless to the time -of the surrender, or rather taking possession of Fort Du Quesne, by Gen. -Forbes. Mineral coal (bituminous) characterizes the entire region, as -far as my excursion reached. By a happy coincidence in its geological -structure, iron ores are contained in the series of the coal deposits. -On returning from this trip, night set in, very dark: on the evening I -approached the summit of the valley of the Monongahela, called Coal -Hill. The long and winding road down this steep was one mass of moving -mud, only varied in its consistence, by sloughs, sufficient to mire both -man and horse. I was compelled to let the animal choose his own path, -and could only give him aid, when the flashes of lightning lit up the -scene with a momentary brilliance, which, however, had often no other -effect but to remind me of my danger. He brought me, at length, safely -to the brink of the river, and across the ferry. - -To be at the head of the Ohio river, and in the great manufacturing city -of the West, was an exciting thought, in itself. I had regarded -Pittsburgh as the alpha, in my route, and after I had made myself -familiar with its characteristics, and finding nothing to invite my -further attention, I prepared to go onward. For this purpose, I went -down to the banks of the Monongahela, one day, where the arks of that -stream usually touch, to look for a passage. I met on the beach, a young -man from Massachusetts, a Mr. Brigham,--who had come on the same errand, -and being pleased with each other, we engaged a passage together, and -getting our baggage aboard immediately, set off the same evening. To -float in an ark, down one of the loveliest rivers in the world, was, at -least, a novelty, and as all novelty gives pleasure, we went on -charmingly. There were some ten or a dozen passengers, including two -married couples. We promenaded the decks, and scanned the ever changing -scenery, at every bend, with unalloyed delight. At night we lay down -across the boat, with our feet towards the fire-place, in a line, with -very little diminution of the wardrobe we carried by day,--the married -folks, like light infantry in an army, occupying the flanks of our -nocturnal array. The only objection I found to the night's rest, arose -from the obligation, each one was tacitly under, to repair on deck, at -the hollow night-cry of "oars!" from the steersman. This was a cry which -was seldom uttered, however, except when we were in danger of being -shoved, by the current, on the head of some island, or against some -frowning "snag," so that we had a mutual interest in being punctual at -this cry. By it, sleep was to be enjoyed only in sections, sometimes -provokingly short, and our dreams of golden vallies, studded with pearls -and gems, were oddly jumbled with the actual presence of plain matter of -fact things, such as running across a tier of "old monongahela" or -getting one's fingers trod on, in scrambling on deck. We took our meals -on our laps, sitting around on boxes and barrels, and made amends for -the want of style or elegance, by cordial good feeling and a practical -exhibition of the best principles of "association." There was another -pleasing peculiarity in this mode of floating. Two or more arks were -frequently lashed together, by order of their commanders, whereby our -conversational circle was increased, and it was not a rare circumstance -to find both singers and musicians, in the moving communities for "the -west," so that those who were inclined to, might literally dance as they -went. This was certainly a social mode of conquering the wilderness, and -gives some idea of the bouyancy of American character. How different -from the sensations felt, in floating down the same stream, by the same -means, in the era of Boon,--the gloomy era of 1777, when instead of -violin, or flageolet, the crack of the Indian rifle was the only sound -to be anticipated at every new bend of the channel. - -Off Wheeling the commander of our ark made fast to a larger one from the -Monongahela, which, among other acquaintances it brought, introduced me -to the late Dr. Sellman of Cincinnatti, who had been a surgeon in -Wayne's army. This opened a vista of reminiscences, which were wholly -new to me, and served to impart historical interest to the scene. Some -dozen miles below this town, we landed at the Grave Creek Flats, for the -purpose of looking at the large mound, at that place. I did not then -know that it was the largest artificial structure of this kind in the -western country. It was covered with forest trees of the native growth, -some of which were several feet in diameter, and it had indeed, -essentially the same look and character, which I found it to present, -twenty-five years afterwards, when I made a special visit to this -remarkable mausoleum to verify the character of some of its antiquarian -contents. On ascending the flat summit of the mound, I found a charming -prospect around. The summit was just 50 feet across. There was a -cup-shaped concavity, in its centre, exciting the idea that there had -been some internal sub-structure which had given way, and caused the -earth to cave in. This idea, after having been entertained for more than -half a century, was finally verified in 1838, when Mr. Abelard -Tomlinson, a grandson of the first proprietor, caused it to be opened. -They discovered two remarkable vaults, built partly of stone, and partly -of logs, as was judged from the impressions in the earth. They were -situated about seventeen feet apart, one above the other. Both contained -bones, the remains of human skeletons, along with copper bracelets, -plates of mica, sea shells, heads of wrought conch, called "ivory" by -the multitude, and some other relics, most of which were analogous to -articles of the same kind occurring, in other ancient mounds in the -west. The occasion would not indeed have justified the high expectations -which had been formed, had it not been for the discovery, in one of the -vaults, of a small flat stone of an oval form, containing an -inscription in ancient characters. This inscription, which promises to -throw new light on the early history of America, has not been -decyphered. Copies of it have been sent abroad. It is thought, by the -learned at Copenhagen, to be Celtiberic. It is not, in their view, -Runic. It has, apparently, but one hieroglyphic, or symbolic figure. - -A good deal of historical interest clusters about this discovery of the -inscribed stone. Tomlinson, the grandfather, settled on these flats in -1772, two years before the murder of Logan's family. Large trees, as -large as any in the forest, then covered the flats and the mound. There -stood in the depression I have mentioned, in the top of the mound, a -large beech tree, which had been visited earlier, as was shewn by -several names and dates cut on the bark. Among these, there was one of -the date of A. D. 1734. This I have seen stated under Mr. Tomlinson's -own hand. The place continued to be much visited from 1770 to 1790, as -was shewn by newer names and dates, and indeed, continues to be so -still. There was standing at the time of my first visit in 1818, on the -very summit of the mound, a large dead or decayed white oak, which was -cut down, it appears, about ten years afterwards. On counting its -cortical layers, it was ascertained to be about 500 years old. This -would denote the desertion of the mound to have happened about the -commencement of the 13th century. Granting to this, what appears quite -clear, that the inscription is of European origin, have we not evidence, -in this fact, of the continent's having been visited prior to the era of -Columbus? Visited by whom? By a people, or individuals, it may be said, -who had the use of an antique alphabet, which was much employed, -(although corrupted, varied and complicated by its spread) among the -native priesthood of the western shores and islands of the European -continent, prior to the introduction of the Roman alphabet. - -The next object of antiquarian interest, in my descent, was at -Gallipolis--the site of an original French settlement on the west bank, -which is connected with a story of much interest, in the history of -western migrations. It is an elevated and eligible plain, which had -before been the site of an Indian, or aboriginal settlement. Some of the -articles found in a mound, such as plates of mica and sea shells, and -beads of the wrought conch, indicated the same remote period for this -ancient settlement, as the one at Grave Creek Flats; but I never heard -of any inscribed articles, or monuments bearing alphabetic characters. - -All other interest, then known, on this subject, yielded to that which -was felt in witnessing the antique works at Marietta. Like many others -who had preceded me and many who have followed me, in my visit, I felt -while walking over these semi-military ruins, a strong wish to know, who -had erected works so different from those of the present race of -Indians, and during what phasis of the early history of the continent? A -covered way had, evidently, been constructed, from the margin of the -Muskingum to the elevated square, evincing more than the ordinary degree -of military skill exercised by the Western Indians. Yet these works -revealed one trait, which assimilates them, in character, with others, -of kindred stamp, in the west. I allude to the defence of the open -gate-way, by a minor mound; clearly denoting that the passage was to be -disputed by men, fighting hand to hand, who merely sought an advantage -in exercising manual strength, by elevation of position. The Marietta -tumuli also, agree in style with others in the Ohio valley. - -A leaden plate was found near this place, a few years after this visit, -of which an account was given by Gov. Clinton, in a letter to the -American Antiquarian Society, in 1827, but the inscription upon it, -which was in Latin, but mutilated, proved that it related to the period -of the French supremacy in the Canadas. It appeared to have been -originally deposited at the mouth of the river Venango, A. D. 1749, -during the reign of Louis XV. - -While at Marietta, our flotilla was increased by another ark from the -Muskingum, which brought to my acquaintance the Hon. Jesse B. Thomas, of -Illinois, to whose civilities I was afterwards indebted, on several -occasions. Thus reinforced, we proceeded on, delighted with the scenery -of every new turn in the river, and augmenting our circle of fellow -travellers, and table acquaintance, if that can be called a table -acquaintance which assembles around a rustic board. One night an -accident befel us, which threatened the entire loss of one of our -flotilla. It so happened, at the spot of our landing, that the smaller -ark, being outside, was pressed by the larger ones, so far ashore, as to -tilt the opposite side into the stream below the caulked seam. It would -have sunk, in a few minutes, but was held up, partly by its fastening to -the other boats. To add to the interest felt, it was filled with -valuable machinery. A congress of the whole travelling community -assembled on shore, some pitching pebble-stones, and some taking a -deeper interest in the fate of the boat. One or two unsuccessful efforts -had been made to bail it out, but the water flowed in faster than it -could be removed. To cut loose the rope and abandon it, seemed all that -remained. "I feel satisfied," said I, to my Massachusetts friend, "that -two men, bailing with might and main, _can_ throw out more water, in a -given time, than is let in by those seams; and if you will step in with -me, we will test it, by trying again." With a full assent and ready good -will he met this proposition. We pulled off our coats, and each taking a -pail, stepped in the water, then half-leg deep in the ark, and began to -bail away, with all force. By dint of determination we soon had the -satisfaction to see the water line lower, and catching new spirit at -this, we finally succeeded in sinking its level below the caulked seam. -The point was won. Others now stepped in to our relief. The ark and its -machinery were saved. This little incident was one of those which served -to produce pleasurable sensations, all round, and led perhaps, to some -civilities at a subsequent date, which were valuable to me. At any rate, -Mr. Thomas, who owned the ark, was so well pleased, that he ordered a -warm breakfast of toast, chickens, and coffee on shore for the whole -party. This was a welcome substitute for our ordinary breakfast of bacon -and tea on board. Such little incidents serve as new points of -encouragement to travellers: the very shores of the river looked more -delightful, after we put out, and went on our way that morning. So much -has a satisfied appetite to do with the aspect of things, both without, -as well as within doors. - -The month of April had now fairly opened. The season was delightful. -Every rural sound was joyful--every sight novel, and a thousand -circumstances united to make the voyage one of deep and unmixed -interest. At this early season nothing in the vegetable kingdom gives a -more striking and pleasing character to the forest, than the frequent -occurrence of the celtis ohioensis, or Red Bud. It presents a perfect -bouquet of red, or rose-coloured petals, while there is not a leaf -exfoliated upon its branches, or in the entire forest. - -No incident, further threatening the well being of our party, occurred -on the descent to Cincinnatti, where we landed in safety. But long -before we reached this city, its _outliers_, to use a geological phrase, -were encountered, in long lines and rafts of boards and pine timber, -from the sources of the Alleghany, and arks and flat-boats, from all -imaginable places, with all imaginable names, north of its latitude. -Next, steamboats lying along the gravel or clay banks, then a steam-mill -or two, puffing up its expended strength to the clouds, and finally, the -dense mass of brick and wooden buildings, jutting down in rectangular -streets--from high and exceedingly beautiful and commanding hills in the -rear. All was suited to realize high expectations. Here was a city -indeed, on the very spot from which St. Clair set out, on his ill-fated -expedition in 1791, against the hostile Indians. Twenty-five years had -served to transform the wilderness into scenes of cultivation and -elegance, realizing, with no faint outlines, the gay creations of -eastern fable. - - -NO. III. - -Cincinnati had, at this time, (1818,) the appearance of a rapidly -growing city, which appeared to have, from some general causes, been -suddenly checked in its growth. Whole rows of unfinished brick buildings -had been left by the workmen. Banks, and the offices of corporate and -manufacturing companies, were not unfrequently found shut. Nor did it -require long looking or much inquiry to learn that it had seen more -prosperous times. A branch bank of the U. S. then recently established -there, was much and bitterly, but I know not how justly, spoken against. -But if there was not the same life and air in all departments, that -formerly existed, there was abundant evidence of the existence of -resources in the city and country, which must revive and push it onward -in its career and growth, to rank second to no city west of the -Alleghanies. This city owes its origin, I believe, to John Cleves Symes, -father-in-law of the late President Harrison, a Jerseyman by birth, who, -in planning it, took Philadelphia as his model. This has imparted a -regularity to its streets, and squares, that visitors will at once -recognize, as characteristic of its parentage. It stands on a heavy -diluvial formation of various layers of clay, loam, sand, and gravel, -disposed in two great plateaux, or first and second banks, the lowest of -which is some thirty or forty feet above the common summer level of the -Ohio. Yet this river has sometimes, but rarely, been known to surmount -this barrier and invade the lowermost streets of the city. These -diluvial beds have yielded some curious antiquarian relics, which lead -the mind farther back, for their origin, than the Indian race. The most -curious of these, if the facts are correctly reported to me, was the -discovery of a small antique-shaped iron horse-shoe, found twenty-five -feet below the surface in grading one of the streets, and the blunt end, -or stump of a tree, at another locality, at the depth of ninety-four -feet, together with marks of the cut of an axe, and an iron wedge. I -have had no means to verify these facts, but state them as credible, -from the corroborative testimony afforded them by other discoveries in -the great geological basin of the west, examined by me, which denote -human occupancy in America prior to the deposition of the last of the -unconsolidated and eocene series. - -Our flotilla here broke up, and the persons who had formed its floating -community separated, each to pursue his several way, and separate views. -I made several acquaintances, whose names are recollected with pleasure. -Dr. S. invited me to dine with him, introduced me to his young partner, -Dr. Moorhead, and put me in the way of obtaining eligible private -lodgings. The three weeks I spent in this city were agreeably passed, -varied as they were, by short excursions in the vicinity, including the -Licking valley--a stream which comes in, on the Kentucky side, directly -opposite the city. I went, one day, to see an experimental structure, -built at the foot of the Walnut hills, with a very long pipe, or wooden -chamber leading up their sides, and rising above their tops. This was -constructed by an ingenious person, at the expense of the late Gen. -Lyttle, under the confident hope of his realizing a practical mechanical -power from the _rarifaction of atmospheric air_. There was confessedly -_a power_, but the difficulty was in multiplying this power, so as to -render it practically applicable to the turning of machinery. The ratio -of its increase, contended for, namely, the length of the pipe, appeared -to me to be wholly fallacious, and the result proved it so. The thing -was afterwards abandoned. There was an ancient mound here, which had not -then been opened, but which has since yielded a curious ornamented -stone, bearing a kind of arabesque figures, not dissimilar, in the style -of drawing, to some of the rude sculptured figures of Yucatan, as -recently brought to light by Mr. Stephens and Mr. Catherwood. - -I received, one day, a note from one of the directors of the White Lead -Works, above the city, requesting me to visit it, and inspect in detail -the processes of the manufacture. The latter I found to be defective in -the mode of corroding the lead by the acetic acid; there was also an -unnecessary complication and amount of machinery in bringing the oxide -into the condition of a good pigment, and putting it into kegs, which -had been very onerous in its cost, and was perpetually liable to get out -of order. - -It was during my stay here that I first felt the effects of the western -limestone waters in deranging the stomach and bowels, and paid for my -initiation into the habit, as all strangers must, by some days -confinement. Dr. M. brought me about, and checked the disease, without -any permanently injurious effects on my general health. - -When I was ready to proceed down the river, I went to seek a passage -along the landing, but found no boat (steamboats were few and far -between in those days.) While pacing the beach, I met a man of -gentlemanly appearance, who had experienced the same disappointment, and -was desirous to go forward in his journey. He told me, that he had found -a small row boat, well built, and fitted with seats, which could be -purchased for a reasonable sum; that it would hold our baggage very -well, and he thought we could make a pleasant trip in it as far as -Louisville at the Falls, where the means of communication by steamboats -were ample. On examining the boat, and a little inquiry, I acceded to -this proposition, and I had no cause to regret it. This gentleman, -whose name I have forgotten, but which is somewhere among my papers, was -a native of the city of Nancy, but a resident of Baltimore. He was, like -the city itself I believe, Franco-German, speaking the two languages -very well, and the English with peculiarities. He had a benevolent and -honest countenance and social, agreeable manners, not two free, nor -stiffly reserved; and we performed the trip without accident, although -we had a narrow escape one day from a sawyer, one of that insidious cast -of these river pests, called in western parlance, a sleeping sawyer. It -was now the month of May; the atmosphere was mild and balmy, loaded with -the perfumes of opening vegetation; we took the oars and the helm -alternately; we had a constant succession of pretty views; we put ashore -to eat and to sleep, and the whole trip, which occupied some three or -four days at the farthest, was perfectly delightful. - -We put ashore at Vevay, where the Swiss had then newly introduced the -cultivation of the vine, to see the vineyards and the mode of -cultivation. I have since witnessed this culture on the banks of the -Rhine, and found it to be very similar. The vines are closely pruned and -kept from becoming woody, and are trained to slender sticks, which, are -arranged with the order of a garden bean-bed, which at the proper -season, they much resemble. We also tasted the wine, and found it poor. - -On the last day of the voyage, we took into our boat a young -physician--a Hollander, recently arrived in the country, telling him, -that by way of equivalent, we should expect him to take his turn at the -oars. He was a man of small stature--well formed, rather slovenly, yet -pretty well dressed, with blue eyes, a florid face, and very voluble. Of -all that he said, however, by far the most striking part, was his -account of his skill in curing cancer. It was clear that he was an -itinerating cancer-doctor. He said, amid other things, that he had -received an invitation to go and cure the Governor of Indiana. We now -had Indiana on our right hand, and Kentucky on our left. - -These are the principal incidents of the trip. We reached our -destination in safety, and landed on the superb natural sylvan wall, or -park, which is formed by the entrance of Beargrass Creek with the Ohio, -just in front of, or a little above, Louisville. Here we sold our boat, -took separate lodgings, and parted. I found in a day or two, that my -friend from Nancy had a flourishing school for military tactics and the -sword exercise, where, at his invitation, I went to visit him. From this -man, I learned, as we descended the Ohio, that the _right_ and _left_ -banks of a river, in military science, are determined by the supposed -position of a man standing at its head, and looking _downwards_. - -I found in the lime-stone rocks which form the bed of the river between -the town and Corn Island, the cornu ammonis and some other species of -organic remains; and while I remained here, which was several weeks, I -wrote a notice for one of the papers, of a locality of manganese on -Sandy river, Ky., and others of some other objects of natural history in -the west, which I perceived, by their being copied at the eastward, were -well taken. It was my theory, that there was a general interest felt in -the Atlantic States for information from the west, and this slight -incident served to encourage me. - -The steamboat canal since constructed around the falls at this place, -was then a project only spoken of, and is here alluded to for no higher -purpose than to mention, that in its actual subsequent execution, we are -informed the workmen came, at the depth of fourteen feet below the -surface of the _calcareous rock_, to a brick hearth, covered with what -appeared to be the remains of charcoal and ashes. - -I took walks almost daily, on the fine promenade, shaded with lofty -trees, festooned with their native vines, along the Beargrass Creek, -which is the common place of landing for arks and boats. On one of these -occasions, there came in a large ark, which had been freighted at -Perryopolis, on the Yioughagany, some thirty miles from Pittsburgh. The -two proprietors were K. and K., Marylanders, both young men, or verging -to middle life, who had clubbed together the necessary funds, and in the -spirit of adventure, resolved on a trading voyage. There was something -in the air and manners of both, which I thought I could trust in for an -agreeable voyage, especially as they saw in me, not a rival in commerce -of any kind, but a mere observer,--a character which I found, on more -than one occasion, placed me on grounds of neutrality and advantage. -Steamboats are the worst vehicles ever invented by the ingenuity of man -to make observations on a country, always excepting the last improvement -on locomotive rail-roads. To a naturalist, especially, they are really -horrible. Not a tree or plant can be examined; not a shell, or a rock -certainly identified. Hundreds of miles are passed in a few hours; the -effect of speed is to annihilate space; town succeeds town, and object -object, with such rapidity, that there is no distinct time left for -observation or reflection; and after the voyager has reached his point -of destination, he is often seriously in doubt, what he has seen, and -what he has not seen, and is as much puzzled to put together the exact -feature of the country's geography, as if he were called to re-adjust -the broken incidents of a night's dream. I had yet another objection to -this class of boats, at the era mentioned. Their boilers and machinery -were not constructed with elaborate skill and strength; their commanders -were often intemperate, and a spirit of reckless rivalry existed, whose -results were not infrequently exhibited in exploded, sunk, or grounded -boats, and the loss of lives. - -It is a regulation of law that pilots are provided for all boats, -descending the falls--a descent, by the way, which can only be made on -the Indiana side. When this officer came on board, the owners thought -best to go by land to Shippingport. I had less at stake in its safety -than they, yet felt a desire to witness this novel mode of descent; nor -did the result disappoint me. Standing on the deck, or rather flat roof -of the ark, the view was interesting and exciting. The first point at -which the mass of water breaks was the principal point of danger, as -there is here a powerful reflux, or eddy current, on the right hand, -while the main velocity of the current drives the vessel in a direction -which, if not checked by the large sweeps, would inevitably swamp it. -The object is to give this check, and shoot her into the eddy water. -This was done. The excitement ceased in a few moments, and we passed the -rest of the way with less exertion to the men, and got down the -remainder of the falls in perfect safety. All this danger to the growing -commerce of the west, is now remedied by the Louisville canal, which, by -a work of but two miles in length, which holds the relative position of -a string to the bow, connects the navigable waters above and below those -falls, and permits all river craft of the largest burden to pass. - -It was about the falls of the Ohio, or a little above, that I first saw -the gay and noisy paroquet, or little parrot of the west; a gregarious -bird, whose showy green and yellow plumage makes it quite an object to -be noticed and remembered in a passage on the lower Ohio. One of these -birds, which had been wounded, was picked up out of the river, a few -miles below the falls. It was evident, from the occurrence of this -species, and other features in the natural history of the country, that -we were now making a rapid southing. The red-bud, the papaw, the -buckeye, and the cucumber tree, had all introduced themselves to notice, -among the forest species, below Pittsburgh; although they are all, I -think, actually known to extend a little north of that latitude; and we -now soon had added to the catalogue, the pecan and cypress, and the -cane, with the constant attendant of the latter, the green briar. I had -no opportunity to examine the pecan, until we reached the mouth of the -Wabash and Shawneetown, where I went on a shooting excursion with a -young Kentuckian, who gave me the first practical exhibition of bringing -down single pigeons and other small game with the rifle, by generally -striking the head or neck only. I had heard of this kind of shooting -before, and witnessed some capital still shots, but here was a -demonstration of it, in brush and brier--catching a sight as best one -could. The ball used on these occasions was about the size of a large -buckshot. - -Shawneetown is a word which brings to mind one of the North American -tribes, who, between 1632 and the present time, figure as one of the -frontier actors in our history. They have, in this time, with the -ubiquity of one of their own genii, skipped over half America. They were -once, certainly dwellers on the Savannah, if not, at a still earlier -day, on the Suanee, in Florida; then fled north, a part coming down the -Kentucky river, and a part fleeing to the Delaware, and thence west. -They are now on the Konga, west of the Missouri. So much for the -association of names. History never remembers any thing which she can -possibly forget, and I found at least, one high-feeling personage here, -who did not like the manner in which I associated the modern town with -reminiscences of the savages. "Why, sir," said he, as we walked the deck -of the ark, floating down the Ohio, and getting nearer the place every -moment, "we have a bank there, and a court house; it is the seat of -justice for Gallatin county;--and a printing press is about to be -established;--it is a very thriving place, and it bids fair to remain -second to none below the Wabash." "All this, truly," I responded, -willing to reprove pride in an easy way, "is a great improvement on the -wigwam and the council-fire, and wampum coin-beads." It is sometimes -better to smile than argue, and I found it so on the present occasion. I -did not wish to tread on the toes of rising greatness, or pour upon a -love of home and locality, honorable and praise-worthy in my fellow -traveller, the chilling influence of cold historical facts. My allusions -were the mere effect of the association of ideas, resulting from names. -If the residents of Shawneetown do not like to be associated with the -native race, who would not have exchanged a good bow and arrows for all -the court houses in Christendom, they should bestow upon the place some -epithet which may sever the tie. - - -LANGUAGES OF MEXICO. - -Humboldt observes that there are twenty languages in Mexico and New -Spain, of which fourteen have grammars and dictionaries tolerably -complete. The latter are---- - - 1. Mexican, or Aztec. - 2. Otomite. - 3. Tarasc. - 4. Zapotec. - 5. Mistec. - 6. Mia, or Yucatan. - 7. Zotonac. - 8. Popolouc. - 9. Matlazing - 10. Huastec. - 11. Mixed. - 12. Caquiquel. - 13. Tarauma. - 14. Tepehuan. - 15. Cora. - -The languages of New Zealand, Tonga and Malay, have no declension of -nouns, nor conjugation of verbs. The purposes of declension are answered -by particles and prepositions. The distinctions of person, tense, and -mode, are expressed by adverbs, pronouns, and other parts of speech. -This rigidity of the verb and noun is absolute under every order of -arrangement, in which the words can be placed, and their meaning is not -helped out, by either prefixes or suffixes, as it is in the dialects of -the Algonquin and other North American languages. - - -NO. IV. - -After stopping a day or more at Shawneetown, and reconnoitering its -vicinity, I proceeded to the mouth of the Cumberland, and from thence, -after many days detention at that point waiting for a boat, to the mouth -of the Ohio. I found this to be a highly interesting section of the -river, from its great expanse and its fine water prospects. The -picturesque calcareous cliffs on the west banks, display a novel and -attractive line of river scenery. The Ohio had, from its commencement, -well sustained the propriety of its ancient appellation of the Beautiful -River; but it here assumed something more than beautiful--it was -majestic. Let it be borne in mind that this stream, in the course of -some seven or eight hundred miles flow from Pittsburg to Shawneetown, -had been swelled on the right and left hand by the Scioto, the -Muskingum, the Kentucky, the Miami, Green River, Wabash, and other -rivers of scarcely inferior size. It is still further augmented, from -the left bank, with those noble tributaries, the Cumberland and -Tennessee, which bring in the gathered drain of the middle ranges of the -Alleghanies. It is below Shawneetown, too, that the cliffs of the -Cave-in-Rock-Coast present themselves on the west shore--with their -associations of the early robber-era which has been commemorated by the -pen of fiction of Charles Brockden Brown. These cliffs are cavernous, -and assume varied forms. They rise in bold elevations, which bear the -general name of the Knobs, but which are well worthy of the name of -mountains. Distinct from the interest they have by casting their -castle-like shadows, at sunset, in the pure broad stream, they -constitute a kind of Derbyshire in their fine purple spars, and -crystalized galena and other mineralogical attractions. I was told that -a German of the name of Storch, who pretended to occult knowledge, had, -years before, led money and mineral diggers about these Knobs, and that -he was the discoverer of the fine fluates of lime found here. - -One can hardly pass these broken eminences, with the knowledge that they -tally in their calcareous structure and position with the rock formation -of the Missouri state border, lying immediately west of them, without -regarding them as the apparent monuments of some ancient geological -change, which affected a very wide space of country north of their -position. A barrier of this nature, which should link the Tennessee and -Missouri coasts, at Grand Tower, would have converted into an inland -sea the principal area of the present states of Illinois, Indiana, and -Southern Ohio. The line of separation in this latitude is not great. It -constitutes the narrowest point between the opposing rock formations of -the east and west shores, so far as the latter rise through and above -the soil. - -I was still in a floating Monongahela ark as we approached this coast of -cliffs. The day was one of the mildest of the month of June, and the -surface of the water was so still and calm that it presented the -appearance of a perfect mirror. Our captain ordered alongside the skiff, -which served as his jolly boat, and directed the men to land me at the -Great Cave. Its wide and yawning mouth gave expectations, however, which -were not realized. It closes rapidly as it is pursued into the rock, and -never could have afforded a safe shelter for gangs of robbers whose -haunts were known. Tradition states, on this point, that its mouth was -formerly closed and hid by trees and foliage, by which means the -unsuspecting voyagers with their upward freight were waylaid. We -overtook the slowly floating ark before it had reached Hurricane Island, -and the next land we made was at Smithfield, at the mouth of the -Cumberland. While here, several discharged Tennessee militiamen, or -volunteers from the still unfinished Indian war in the south, landed on -their way home. They were equipped after the fashion of western hunters, -with hunting shirts and rifles, and took a manifest pride in declaring -that they had fought under "old Hickory"--a term which has, since that -era, become familiar to the civilized world. I here first saw that -singular excrescence in the vegetable kingdom called cypress knees. The -point of land between the mouth of the Cumberland and Ohio, was a noted -locality of the cypress tree. This tree puts up from its roots a blunt -cone, of various size and height, which resembles a sugar loaf. It is -smooth, and without limb or foliage. An ordinary cone or knee would -measure eight inches in diameter, and thirty inches high. It would seem -like an abortive effort of the tree to put up another growth. The -paroquet was exceedingly abundant at this place, along the shores, and -in the woods. They told me that this bird rested by hooking its upper -mandible to a limb. I made several shooting excursions into the -neighbouring forests, and remember that I claimed, in addition to -smaller trophies of these daily rambles, a shrike and a hystrix. - -At length a keel boat came in from the Illinois Saline, commanded by a -Captain Ensminger--an Americo-German--a bold, frank man, very -intelligent of things relating to river navigation. With him I took -passage for St. Louis, in Missouri, and we were soon under weigh, by the -force of oars, for the mouth of the Ohio. We stopped a short time at a -new hamlet on the Illinois shore, which had been laid out by some -speculators of Cincinnati, but was remarkable for nothing but its name. -It was called, by a kind of bathos in nomenclature, "America." I -observed on the shores of the river at this place, a very recent -formation of pudding-stone, or rather a local stratum of indurated -pebbles and clay, in which the cementing ingredient was the oxyde of -iron. Chalybeate waters percolated over and amongst this mass. This was -the last glimpse of consolidated matter. All below, and indeed far -above, was alluvial, or of recent origin. Nothing could exceed the -fertile character of the soil, or its rank vegetation and forest growth, -as we approached the point of junction; but it was a region subject to -periodical overflows, the eras of which were very distinctly marked by -tufts and bunches of grass, limbs, and other floating matter which had -been lodged and left in the forks and branches of trees, now fifteen or -twenty feet above our heads. It was now the first day of July, and I -felt the most intense interest as we approached and came to the point of -confluence. I had followed the Ohio, in all its sinuosities, a thousand -miles. I had spent more than three months in its beautiful and varied -valley; and I had something of the attachment of an old friend for its -noble volume, and did not well like to see it about to be lost in the -mighty Mississippi. Broad and ample as it was, however, bringing in the -whole congregated drain of the western slopes of the Alleghanies and the -table lands of the Great Lakes, the contest was soon decided. The stream -had, at that season, sunk down to its summer level, and exhibited a -transparent blue volume. The Mississippi, on the contrary, was swelled -by the melting snows of the Rocky Mountains, and was in its vernal -flood. Coming in at rather an acute angle, it does not immediately -arrest the former, but throws its waters along the Tennessee shores. It -runs with prodigious velocity. Its waters are thick, turbid, and replete -with mingled and floating masses of sand and other comminuted rock and -floating vegetation, trees, and rubbish. For miles the line of -separation between the Ohio and Mississippi waters was visible by its -colour; but long before it reaches the Iron Banks, the modern site of -Memphis--the Father of Waters, as it is poetically, not literally, -called--had prevailed, and held on its way to make new conquests of the -St. Francis, the White, the Arkansas, and other noble streams. - -Our captain, although he had no lack of self-confidence, did not seem to -be in haste to grapple with this new foe, by plunging at once into the -turbid stream, but determined to try it next morning. This left me, a -good part of the day, in a position where there was not much to reward -inquiry. I fished awhile from the boat's side, but was rewarded with -nothing besides a gar, a kind of sword, or rather billed fish, which -appears to be provided with this appendage to stir up its food or prey -from a muddy bottom. Its scales and skin are nearly as hard and compact -as a shark's, and its flesh is equally valueless. It is at this point -that the town of Cairo has since been located. There were, at the period -mentioned, several arks and flat-boats lying on the higher banks, where -they had been moored in high water. These now served as dwellings, and -by cutting doors in their sides they formed rude groceries and -provision stores. Whatever else, however, was to be seen at so low and -nascent a point, the mosquito, as night came on, soon convinced us that -he was the true magnate of those dominions. - -The next morning at an early hour our stout-hearted commander put his -boatmen in motion, and turned his keel into the torrent; but such was -the velocity of the water, and its opacity and thick turbidness, that I -thought we should have been precipitated down stream, and hurled against -sunken logs. Those who have ascended this stream in the modern era of -steamboats, know nothing of these difficulties. It seemed impossible to -stem the current. A new mode of navigation, to me at least, was to be -tried, and it was evidently one which the best practised and -stoutest-hearted men by no means relished. These boats are furnished -with a plank walk on each side, on which slats are nailed to give a -foothold to the men. Each man has a pole of ash wood about 16 feet long, -with a wooden knob at the head to rest against the shoulder, and a blunt -point at the other end shod with iron. Planting these upon the bottom -near shore, with their heads facing down stream, the men bend all their -force upon them, propelling the boat by their feet in the contrary -direction. This is a very laborious and slow mode of ascent, which has -now been entirely superseded on the main rivers by the use of steam. - -Such is the fury and velocity of the current, that it threatens at every -freshet to tear down and burst asunder its banks, and run lawless -through the country. Often whole islands are swept away in a short time. -We had an instance of this one night, when the island against which we -were moored, began to tumble into the channel, threatening to overwhelm -us by the falling earth and the recoil of the waves, and we got away to -the main shore with much effort, for night was set in, the current -furious, and the shore to which we were going entirely unknown. To have -struck a sunken log on such a traverse, under such circumstances, must -have been fatal. We got at length upon a firm shore, where we moored and -turned in at a late hour; but a curious cause of alarm again roused us. -Some animal had made its appearance on the margin of the stream, not far -below us, which in the dimness of the night appeared to be a bear. All -who had arms, got them, and there was quite a bustle and no little -excitement among the cabin passengers. The most knowing pronounced it to -be a white bear. It produced a snorting sound resembling it. It seemed -furious. Both _white_ and _furious_ it certainly was, but after much -delay, commendable caution, and no want of the display of courage, it -turned out to be a large wounded hog, which had been shot in the snout -and head, and came to allay its fevered and festered flesh, by night, in -the waters of the Mississippi. - -To stem the current along this portion of the river required almost -superhuman power. Often not more than a few miles can be made with a -hard day's exertions. We went the first day six miles, the second about -the same distance, and the third eight miles, which brought us to the -first cultivated land along a low district of the west shore, called the -Tyewapety Bottom. There were six or eight small farms at this spot; the -land rich, and said to be quite well adapted for corn, flax, hemp, and -tobacco. I observed here the papaw. The next day we ascended but three -miles and stopped, the crew being found too weak to proceed. While -moored to the bank, we were passed by several boats destined for St. -Louis, which were loaded with pine boards and plank from Olean, on the -sources of the Alleghany. They told us that sixty dollars per thousand -feet could be obtained for them. - -Additional men having been hired, we went forward the next day to a -point which is called the Little Chain of Rocks, where, from sickness in -some of the hands, another halt became necessary. It is at this point -that the firm cherty clay, or diluvial soil of the Missouri shore, first -presents itself on the banks of the river. This soil is of a sterile and -mineral character. I noticed beneath the first elevated point of it, -near the river's edge, a locality of white compact earth, which is -called chalk, and is actually used as such by mechanics. On giving a -specimen of it, after my return to New York in 1819, to Mr. John -Griscom, he found it completely destitute of carbonic acid; it appears -to be a condition of alumine or nearly pure clay. Large masses of -pudding-stone, disrupted from their original position, were seen lying -along the shore at this locality, being similar in their character to -that seen on approaching the mouth of the Ohio. - -We ascended the river this day ten miles, and the next five miles, which -brought us to Cape Girardeau, at the estimated distance of fifty miles -above the mouth of the Ohio. At this place I was received with attention -by one of the principal residents, who, on learning that my object was -to examine the natural history of the country, invited me to his house. -In rambling the vicinity, they showed me a somewhat extra but -dilapidated and deserted house, which had been built by one Loramee, a -Spanish trader, who has left his name on one of the branches of the -river St. Mary's of Indiana. This old fabric excited a strong interest -in my mind as I walked through its open doors and deserted rooms, by a -popular story, how true I know not, that the occupant had been both a -rapacious and cruel man, siding with the Indians in the hostilities -against our western people; and that he had, on one occasion, taken a -female captive, and with his own hands cut off her breasts. - -The journey from Cape Girardeau to St. Louis occupied nineteen days, and -was fraught with scenes and incidents of interest, which I should detail -with pleasure were it compatible with my limits. Indeed, every day's -voyage along this varied and picturesque shore presented objects of -remark, which both commended themselves to my taste, and which the slow -mode of ascent gave me full means to improve. This might be said -particularly of its geological structure and its mineralogical -productions--themes which were then fresh and new, but which have lost -much of their attractions by the progress which natural science has made -in the country during six and twenty years. To these topics it is the -less necessary to revert, as they were embraced in the results of my -tour, given in my "_View of the Mines_," published in 1819. - -The article improperly called pumice, which floats down the Missouri -during its floods, from the burning coal banks in the Black Hills, I -first picked up on the shore in the ascent above Cape Girardeau, and it -gave me an intimation that the waters had commenced falling. We came to, -the same night, at a well known fountain, called the Moccasin Spring, a -copious and fine spring of crystal water, which issues from an elongated -orifice in the limestone rock. - -While lying at the mouth of the river Obrazo, where we were detained on -account of hands, several boats touched at the place, carrying emigrants -from Vermont and New York, whose destination was the most westerly -settlements on the Missouri. At higher points in the ascent we -encountered emigrants from Maine, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, North -Carolina, and Kentucky, which denotes the wide range of the spirit of -migration at the era. The ends of the Union seemed to be brought -together by this general movement towards the west. It was not uncommon -to find representatives from a great number of the states in these -accidental meetings; they were always of a social and highly friendly -character, and the effect of such a system of intercommunication and -residence, from districts widely separated, could not but be highly -auspicious in promoting uniformity of manners and opinions, and -assimilating customs, dress, and language. If long continued it must -destroy provincialisms, and do much to annihilate local prejudices. - -Every one who has ascended this stream will recollect the isolated -cliff, standing in its waters, called Grand Tower, with the -corresponding developments of the coast on the contiguous shores, which -tell the traveller plainly enough that here is the site of some ancient -disruptive process in the physical history of the valley. The current -has an increased velocity in sweeping around this obstacle; and we -found, as the waters fell, that there were numerous eddies and strong -jets or currents along this precipitous coast, which it required extra -force to surmount. We saw one day a number of pelicans standing on a -sand bar. The wild turkey and quail were daily encountered on shore. - -Our approach to St. Genevieve was preceded by a sight of one of those -characteristic features in all the early French settlements in this -quarter--the great public field extending several miles, five miles I -think, along the banks of the river. St. Genevieve itself lies about a -mile from the river, and is concealed by irregularities in the surface. -It is a highly characteristic antique French town, and reminds one -strongly of the style and manner of building of the provincial villages -and towns of the parent country, as still existing. Three miles above -this place we came to a noted point of crossing called the Little Rock -Ferry; a spot worthy of note at that time as the residence of a very -aged Frenchman, called _Le Breton_. Statements which are believed to be -true, made him 109 years old. From his own account he was at the seige -of Bergen-op-zoom, in Flanders; at the seige of Louisburg; at the -building of Fort Chartres, in Illinois; and at Braddock's defeat. After -his discharge, he discovered those extensive lead mines in Washington -county, about forty miles west of the river, which still bear his name. - -The coast between St. Genevieve and Herculaneum is almost one continuous -cliff of precipitous rocks, which are broken through chiefly at the -points where rivers and streams discharge. Herculaneum itself is seated -on one of these limited areas, hemmed in by cliffs, which, in this case, -were rendered still more picturesque by their elevated shot towers. I -landed at this place about noon of my twenty-second day's ascent, and -finding it a convenient avenue to the mine district, determined to leave -my baggage at a hotel till my return from St. Louis, and pursue the rest -of the journey to that place on foot. It was at this point that I was -introduced to Mr. Austin, the elder, who warmly approved my plan of -exploring the mines, and offered every facility in his power to further -it. Mr. Austin was, he informed me at a subsequent stage of our -acquaintance, a native of Connecticut. He had gone early into Virginia -and settled at Richmond, where his eldest son was born, and afterwards -removed to Wythe county. In 1778 he went into Upper Louisiana, enduring -severe sufferings and the risk of life, in crossing the country by way -of Vincennes to St. Louis, where he was well received by the Spanish -local governor. He obtained a grant of land in the present area of -Washington county, the principal seat of the older mines. About the time -I went to Missouri, or soon after it, he resolved to visit San Antonio, -in Texas, with a view of introducing a colony of Americans into that -quarter. This plan he carried into execution, I think, in 1820, and -returned with an ample grant; but he did not live to carry its -stipulations into effect, having died suddenly after his return, at the -house of his daughter, Mrs. Bryant, at Hazel Run. - -Mr. Austin was a man of great zeal and fervour of imagination, and -entered very warmly into all his plans and views, whatever they were. He -was hospitable, frank, intelligent, and it is with feelings of unmixed -pleasure, that I revert to my acquaintance with him, no less than with -his talented son, Stephen, and the excellent, benign, and lady-like Mrs. -Austin, and other members of this intelligent family. - - -NO. V. - -Herculaneum had nothing in common with its sombre Italian prototype, -which has been dug out of dust and ashes in modern times, but its name. -Instead of buried palaces and ruins of a luxurious age of marble, bronze -and silver, most of the houses were built of squared oak logs, and had -bulky old fashioned chimneys, built outside with a kind of castelated -air, as they are seen in the old French and Dutch settlements in Canada, -and along the vallies of the Hudson and Mohawk. The arts of painting and -gilding and cornices, had not yet extended their empire here. Mr. -Austin's residence, was the only exception to this remark, I remember. -The Courts of Justice were content to hold their sessions in one of the -oaken timber buildings named; the county jail had a marvellous -resemblance to an ample smoke-house, and my kind host, Ellis, who was a -native of South Carolina, was content to serve up substantial and good -cheer in articles, not exhumed from a city buried in volcanic ashes, but -in plain fabrics of Staffordshire and Birmingham. In addition to the -host-like and agreeable resort, which travellers unexpectedly found at -his hands, in a mansion whose exterior gave no such signs, he presided -over the department of a public ferry, established at this place, across -the wild and fluctuating Mississippi; and had he kept note book, he -could have given account of many a one, from other lands, with golden -hopes of the far west, whom he had safely conducted, against the most -adverse floods, to the Missouri shore. I found a few old books at his -house, which showed that there had been readers in his family, and which -helped to while away moments, which every traveller will find on his -hands. - -I have intimated that there was nothing in the way of the antique, in -Herculaneum, but its name. To this I might add, that there was no -exception, unless it be found in the impressions of objects, in the -structure of the rocks, in this quarter, denoting a prior age of -existence. I was shown an impression, in the surface of a block of -limestone, quarried here, which was thought to resemble a man's foot. It -did not appear to me to bear this similitude, but was rather to be -referred to some organic extinct forms, which are not yet well -understood. - -Having passed a couple of days here, I set out early one morning, on -foot, for St. Louis, accompanied by two young men from Pennsylvania, -with whom I had become acquainted on prior parts of my route. They had -come with an adventure of merchandize from the waters of the -Yioughagany, and were desirous of seeing the (then) capitol of the -Territory. Nothing untoward occurred, until we reached and crossed the -river Merrimack, where night overtook us, and set in with intense -darkness, just as we reached the opposite shore. There was but one house -in the vicinity; and not distant more than a mile, but such was the -intensity of the darkness, owing to clouds and a gathering storm, that -we lost the road, wandered in the woods for some hours, during which the -rain commenced, and were at length directed to the house we sought, by -the faint and occasional tinkling of a cow bell. - -We travelled the next morning twelve miles, to breakfast at the antique -looking village of Carondalet. The route lies over an elevated tract of -uplands, eligibly situated on the right bank of the Mississippi, in -which a growth of wild prairie grass and flowers, filled up the broad -spaces between the trees. There was no habitation visible on the -route--a standing spring under a ledge of rocks, about half way, was the -only spot where we could get a drop of water to allay our thirst--for it -was a hot August day. We encountered several deer, and from the frequent -occurrence of their tracks, deemed such an occurrence to be common. It -is on this elevated and airy tract, that the site of Jefferson Barracks, -has since been judiciously established by the government. - -Beyond Carondalet, the country has the appearance of a grown-up heath. -It is a bushy uninviting tract, without mature forest trees. The most -interesting feature we saw, consisted of a number of regular -depressions, or cup-shaped concavities in the soil, caused by the -passage of springs over a clay basis, upon which there is deposited a -heavy diluvial stratum of sand, mixed earth and pebbles. Within about -three miles of the city, this heathy and desolate tract began to assume -a cultivated character; dwellings and gardens soon succeeded, and we -found ourselves, by almost imperceptible grades, introduced into the -city, which we reached about four o'clock in the afternoon. On entering -its ancient Spanish barriers, we noticed one of the old stone towers, or -defences, which constituted a part of the enclosure. This town, I -afterwards learned, had been regularly walled and fortified, during the -possession of the country by the Spanish crown. As soon as I had taken -lodgings, I called on R. Pettibone Esq., a friend formerly of Vernon, in -western N. Y. who had established himself in this central city of the -west, in the practice of the law; he was not in, at the moment, but his -family received me with cordiality. He returned my visit in the evening, -and insisted on my taking up my quarters at his house. The time that I -spent here, was devoted to the most prominent objects which the town and -its vicinity presented to interest a stranger, such as the private -museum of the late Gen. Wm. Clark, containing many articles of rich and -valuable Indian costume; the large natural mounds above the city, and -the character of the rock formation along the shores of the river, which -was said to have had the impressions of human feet, on its original -surface. The latter I did not see till the summer of 1821, when the -block of stone containing them was examined in Mr. Rapp's garden, at -Harmony, on the Wabash. - -My inclinations having led me, at this time, to visit the extensive lead -mines, southwest of this city, on the waters of the Merrimack, I lost no -time in retracing my way to Herculaneum, by descending the Mississippi. - -When I was prepared to descend the river, the two gentlemen who had been -my travelling companions, on the journey up, had completed the business -of their adventure, and offered me a seat, in a small boat, under their -control. It was late in the afternoon of the day that this arrangement -was proposed, and it was dusk before we embarked; but it was thought the -village of Cahokia, some five or six miles below, could be reached in -good season. A humid and misty atmosphere rendered the night quite dark, -and we soon found ourselves afloat on the broad current of the stream, -without knowing our position, for it was too intensely dark to descry -the outlines of either shore. Being in a light open boat, we were not -only in some peril, from running foul of drifting trees, but it became -disagreeably cold. On putting in for the Illinois shore, a low sandy -bar, or shoal was made, but one of my companions who had landed came -running back with an account of a bear and her cub, which caused us to -push on about a mile further, where we passed the night, without beds or -fire. Daylight disclosed to us the fact that we had passed Cahokia; we -then crossed over to the Missouri shore, and having taken breakfast at -Carondalet, continued the voyage, without any further misadventure, and -reached Herculaneum at noon. - -I lost no time in preparing to visit the mines, and having made -arrangements for my baggage to follow, set out on foot for Potosi. The -first day I proceeded eighteen miles, and reached Steeples, at the head -of the Zwoshau, or Joachim river, at an early hour. The day was -excessively hot, and the road lay for the greater part of the distance, -over a ridge of land, which afforded no water, and very little shelter -from the sun's rays. I met not a solitary individual on the route, and -with the exception of the small swift footed lizard, common to the way -side, and a single wild turkey, nothing in the animal kingdom. The -antlers of the deer frequently seen above the grass, denoted it however -to abound in that animal. I was constrained while passing this dry -tract, to allay my thirst at a pool, in a rut, not, however, without -having disconcerted a wild turkey, which had come apparently for the -same purpose. - -Next day I crossed the valley of Grand or _Big_ river, as it is commonly -called, and at the distance of twelve miles from the Joachim, I entered -the mining village of Shibboleth--the feudal seat, so to say, of the -noted "John Smith T." of whose singularities rumour had already -apprized me. Here was a novel scene. Carts passing with loads of -ore--smelting furnaces, and fixtures, and the half-hunter, half-farmer -costumes of the group of men who were congregated about the principal -store, told me very plainly, that I was now in the mining region. Lead -digging and discovering, and the singular hap-hazards of men who had -suddenly got rich by finding rich beds of ore, and suddenly got poor by -some folly or extravagance, gave a strong colouring to the whole tone of -conversation at this spot, which was carried on neither in the mildest -or most unobtrusive way: quite a vocabulary of new technical words burst -upon me, of which it was necessary to get the correct import. I had -before heard of the pretty term, "mineral blossom," as the local name -for radiated quartz, but here were tiff (sulphate of barytes), -glass-tiff (calcareous spar), "mineral sign," and a dozen other words, -to be found in no books. At the head of these new terms stood the -popular word "mineral," which invariably meant galena, and nothing else. -To hunt mineral, to dig mineral, and to smelt mineral, were so many -operations connected with the reduction of the ores of galena. - -I soon found the group of men about the village store, was a company of -militia, and that I was in the midst of what New Yorkers call a -"training," which explained the hunter aspect I had noticed. They were -armed with rifles, and dressed in their every day leather or cotton -hunting shirts. The officers were not distinguished from the men, either -because swords were not easily procured, or more probably, because they -did not wish to appear with so inefficient and useless an arm. "Food for -powder," was the first term that occurred to me on first surveying this -group of men, but nothing could have been more inapposite; for although -like "lean Jack's" men, they had but little skill in standing in a right -line, never were men better skilled for personal combat,--from the -specimens given, I believe there was hardly a man present, who could not -drive a bullet into the size of a dollar at a hundred yards. No man was -better skilled in this art, either with rifle or pistol, than the Don of -the village, the said John Smith T., or his brother, called "the Major," -neither of whom travelled, or eat, or slept, as I afterwards witnessed, -without their arms. During my subsequent rambles in the mine country, I -have sat at the same table, slept in the same room, and enjoyed the -conversation of one or the other, and can say, that their extraordinary -habit of going fully armed, was united in both with courteous manners, -honourable sentiments, and high chivalric notions of personal -independence; and I had occasion to notice, that it was none but their -personal enemies, or opponents in business, that dealt in vituperation -against them. John Smith T. was doubtless a man of singular and -capricious humours, and a most fiery spirit, when aroused; of which -scores of anecdotes are afloat. He was at variance with several of his -most conspicuous neighbours, and, if he be likened to the lion of the -forest, it will be perfectly just to add, that most of the lesser -animals stood in fear of him. - -My stop here had consumed some time, but thinking I could still reach -_Minè a Burton_, I pushed on, but had only proceeded a couple of miles -when I was hastily compelled to seek shelter from an impending shower. -As it was late, and the storm continued, I remained at a farm house, at -Old Mines during the night. They gave me a supper of rich fresh milk and -fine corn bread. In the morning, a walk of three miles brought me to -Potosi, where I took lodgings at Mr. Ficklin's, proprietor of the -principal inn of the place. Mr. F. was a native of Kentucky, a man of -open frank manners, and most kind benevolent feelings, who had seen much -of frontier life, had lived a number of years in Missouri, and now at a -rather advanced period of life, possessed a fund of local knowledge and -experience, the communication of which rendered the time I spent at his -house both profitable and pleasing. - -I reached Potosi on the second of August. The next day was the day of -the county election[1], which brought together the principal miners and -agricultural gentlemen of the region, and gave me a favourable -opportunity of forming acquaintance, and making known the object of my -visit. I was particularly indebted to the civilities of Stephen F. -Austin, Esq. for these introductions. During my stay in the country he -interested himself in my success, omitted no opportunity of furthering -my views, and extending my acquaintance with the geological features and -resources of the country. He offered me an apartment in the old family -mansion of Durham Hall, for the reception and accumulation of my -collections. Mr. Bates and sons, Mr. Jones and sons, Mr. Perry and -brothers, Mr. Elliot, Mr. Brickey, Mr. Honey and others, seconded these -civilities. Indeed the friendly and obliging disposition I uniformly met -with, from the inhabitants of the mines, and the mine country generally, -is indelibly impressed on my memory. - -I was now at the capital of the mines, and in a position most favourable -for obtaining true information of their character and value. Three -months devoted to this object left scarcely a nook of the country which -I had not either personally explored, or obtained authentic information -of. I found forty-five principal mines, or mineral _diggings_ as some of -them are called, within a circumference of less than forty miles. -Potosi, and its vicinity yielded annually about three millions of pounds -of lead, and furnished employment to the estimated number, of eleven to -twelve hundred hands. The business was however depressed, like almost -every other branch of domestic arts or industry, after the peace of -1814, owing to the great influx and low prices of foreign products, and -the general derangement of currency and credit. Prepared ore, delivered -at the furnaces, was worth two dollars per cwt., paid chiefly in -merchandize. Pig lead sold at four dollars, at the mines; and but half a -dollar higher on the banks of the Mississippi, and was quoted at seven -dollars in the Atlantic cities. Judged from these data, there appeared -no adequate cause for the alleged depression; for in addition to the -ordinary merchant's profit, in the disposition of his stock to the -operative miner or digger of ore, a profit of one cent and a half per -pound was left, over and above the cost of transportation to an eastern -market; besides, the difference in exchange, between the south western -and eastern cities. And it was evident, from a view of the whole -subject, that the business could not only be profitably pursued, with -economical arrangements, but that the public domain, upon which most of -the mines are seated, might be made to yield a revenue to the treasury, -at least equal to the amount of this article required for the national -consumption, over the expenses, the superintendence and management. -Besides which, there was great room for improved and economical modes of -mining; and there was hardly one of the manipulations, from the making -of a common drill or pick, to the erection of a smelting furnace, which -did not admit of salutary changes for the better. The recovery of the -mere waste lead, in its sublimated form, around the open log furnaces of -the country, promised to add a valuable item to the profit of the -business. The most wasteful, hurried, and slovenly of all systems is -pursued in exploring and raising the ore, by which the surface of the -country is riddled with pit holes, in the most random manner; the loose -and scattered deposits in the soil hastily gathered up, and the real -lead and veins of metal left, in very many cases, untouched. Thousands -of square acres of land were thus partially rifled of their riches, and -spoiled, and condemned, without being exhausted. By having no scientific -knowledge of mineral veins and geological structure, as practically -adopted in Europe, all rule in the process of mining and raising the ore -had degenerated into mere guess work, and thousands of dollars had been -wasted, in some places, where the application of some of the plainest -mining principles, would not have warranted the removal of a shovel full -of earth. In short, there was here observed, a blending of the miner and -farmer character. Almost every farmer was a miner. Planters who had -slaves, employed them part of the year in mining; and every miner, to -some extent was a farmer. Because the ore found in the clay beds did not -occur in east and west, or north and south lines, or its rules of -deposition had not been determined by careful observation, all success -in the exploration was supposed to be the result of chance. And whoever -surveys the mineral counties of Missouri, will be ready to conclude, -that more labour has been thrown away in the helter-skelter system of -digging, than was ever applied to well directed or profitable mining. -Had an absolute monarch called for this vast amount of labour from his -people to build some monument, he would have been declared the greatest -tyrant. Indeed, I know of no instance in America, of the misapplication -of so great an amount of free labour--labour cheerfully bestowed, and -thrown away without a regret. For the losers in mining, like the -adventurers in a lottery, have no one to blame but themselves. - -It appeared to me that a statement of the actual condition of the mines, -would be received with attention at Washington, and that a system for -the better management of them could not but be approved, were it -properly brought forward. I determined to make the attempt. It did not, -however, appear to me, that nature had limited the deposits of ore to -one species, or to so limited an area, and I sought means to extend my -personal examinations farther west and south. To bring this about, and -to collect the necessary information to base statements on, in a manner -correspondent to my wishes, required time, and a systematic mode of -recording facts. - -To this object, in connexion with the natural history of the country, I -devoted the remainder of the year, and a part of the following year. I -soon found, after reaching the mines, that I had many coadjutors in the -business of collecting specimens, in the common miners, some of whom -were in the habit of laying aside for me, any thing they found, in their -pits and leads, which assumed a new or curious character. Inquiries and -applications relative to the mineralogy and structure of the country -were made, verbally and by letter, from many quarters. I established my -residence at Potosi, but made excursions, from time to time, in various -directions. Some of these excursions were fruitful of incidents, which -would be worth recording, did the cursory character of these -reminiscences permit it. On one occasion, I killed a horse by swimming -him across the Joachim river, at its mouth, whilst he was warm and -foaming from a hard day's ride. He was put in the stable and attended, -but died the next day, as was supposed, from this sudden transition. -There was scarcely a mine or digging in the country, for forty miles -around, which I did not personally examine; and few persons, who had -given attention to the subject, from whom I did not derive some species -of information. - -The general hospitality and frankness of the inhabitants of the mine -country could not but make a favourable impression on a stranger. The -custom of riding on horseback, in a region which affords great -facilities for it, makes every one a horseman and a woodsman, and has -generated something of the cavalier air and manners. But nothing -impressed me more, in this connexion, than the gallant manner, which I -observed here, of putting a lady on horseback. She stands facing you, -with the bridle in her right hand, and gives you her left. She then -places one of her feet in your left hand, which you stoop to receive, -when, by a simultaneous exertion and spring, she is vaulted backwards -into the saddle. Whether this be a transmitted Spanish custom, I know -not, but I have not observed it in the French, or American settlements -west of the Alleghanies. - -The earthquakes of 1812, which were so disastrous in South America, are -known to have propagated themselves towards the north, and they exerted -some striking effects in the lower part of the valley of the -Mississippi, sending down into the channel of the latter, large areas of -deluvial earth, as was instanced, in a remarkable manner, at New Madrid. -Portions of the forest, back of this town, sunk, and gave place to lakes -and lagoons. These effects were also witnessed, though in a milder form, -in the more solid formations of the mine country. Soon after reaching -Potosi, I visited the Mineral Fork, a tributary of the Merrimack, where -some of these effects had been witnessed. I descended into the pit and -crevices of the Old Mines. These mines were explored in the -metalliferous rock. Every thing had an old and ruinous look, for they -had been abandoned. Large quantities of the ore had been formerly raised -at this mine, which was pursued into a deep fissure of the limestone -rock. I descended into this fissure, and found among the rubbish and -vein stones, large elongated and orbicular masses of calc spar, the -outer surfaces of which bore strong marks of geological abrasion. They -broke into rhombs very transparent, and of a honey-yellow colour. Mr. -Elliot, the intelligent proprietor of this mine, represented the -indications of ore to have been flattering, although every thing was now -at a stand. Masses of sulphuret of zinc, in the form of blende, were -noticed at this locality. Mr. Elliot invited me to dine, and he filled -up the time with interesting local reminiscences. He stated, among other -facts, that a copious spring, at these mines, dried up during the -remarkable earthquakes of 1812. These earthquakes appear to have -discharged their shocks in the direction of the stratification from the -southwest to the northeast, but they spent their force west of the -Mississippi. Their chief violence was at Natchitoches and New Madrid, at -the latter of which they destroyed an immense area of alluvial land. -Their effects in the Ohio valley, lying exactly in the direction of -their action, were slight. A Mr. Watkins, of Cincinnati, accompanied me -on this examination, and rode back with me to Potosi. - -On the 9th of August, I had dined with Samuel Perry, Esq., at Mine á -Burton, one of the principal inhabitants of the county, and was passing -the evening at Mr. Austin's, when Mr. and Mrs. Perry came suddenly in. -They had hardly taken seats, when a rabble of persons with bells and -horns surrounded the house, and kept up a tumult that would have done -honor to one of the wildest festivals of St. Nicholas, headed by Brom -Bones himself. This, we were told, was a Chiraviri. And what is a -Chiraviri? I am not deep enough read in French local customs to give a -satisfactory answer, but the custom is said to be one that the populace -may indulge in, whenever a marriage has taken place in the village, -which is not in exact accordance with their opinions of its propriety. I -was, by this incident, informed of Mr. Perry's recent marriage, and -should judge, moreover, that he had exercised both taste and judgment in -his selection of a partner. The affair of the Chiraviri is said to have -been got up by some spiteful persons. - -Towards the middle of the month (12th,) I set out, accompanied by Mr. -James B. Austin, on horseback, for Herculaneum, by the way of Hazel Run, -a route displaying a more southerly section of the mine country than I -had before seen. A ride on horseback over the mine hills, offers one of -the most delightful prospects of picturesque sylvan beauty that can be -well conceived of. The hills are, with a few exceptions, not precipitous -enough to make the ride irksome. They rise in long and gentle swells, -resembling those of the sea, in which the vessel is, by an easy motion, -alternately at the top of liquid hills, or in the bottom of liquid -vales. From these hills the prospect extends over a surface of -heath-grass and prairie flowers, with an open growth of oaks, giving the -whole country rather the aspect of a _park_ than a _wilderness_. -Occasionally a ridge of pine intervenes, and wherever there is a brook, -the waters present the transparency of rock crystal. Sometimes a range -of red clay hillocks, putting up rank shrubs and vines of species which -were _unknown before_, indicates an abandoned digging or mine. Farms and -farm houses were then few; and every traveller we met on horseback, had -more or less the bearing of a country cavalier, with a fine horse, good -equipments, perhaps holsters and pistols, sometimes a rifle, and always -something of a military air, betokening manliness and independence. -Wherever we stopped, and whoever we met on the way, there was evinced a -courteous and hospitable disposition. - -We did not leave Potosi till afternoon. It was a hot August day, and it -was dusk before we entered the deep shady valley of Big River. Some -delay arose in waiting for the ferryman to put us across the river, and -it was nine o'clock in the evening when we reached Mr. Bryant's, at -Hazel Run, where we were cordially received. Our host would not let us -leave his house, next morning, till after breakfast. We rode to -McCormick's, on the Platten, to dinner, and reached Herculaneum before -sunset. The distance by this route from Potosi is forty-five miles, and -the road, with the exception of a couple of miles, presented a wholly -new section of the country. - -The Mississippi was now low, displaying large portions of its margin, -and exhibiting heavy deposits of mud and slime, which broke into cakes, -as they dried in the sun. I know not whether these exhalations affected -me, but I experienced a temporary illness for a few days during this -visit. I recollect that we had, during this time, some severe and -drenching rain storms, with vivid and copious lightning, and heavy -pealing thunder. These drenching and rapid showers convert the brooks -and rills of the mine country to perfect torrents, and this explains one -cause of the washing away and gullying of roads and streets, so -remarkable on the west bank of the Mississippi. My illness induced me to -give up returning on horseback; and I set out, on the 18th of the month, -in a dearborn, accompanied by Mrs. Austin. On descending the long hill, -near Donnell's, beyond the Joachim, the evening was so dark that I -became sensible I must have got out of the road. I drove with the more -care a few moments, and stopped. Requesting Mrs. Austin to hold the -reins, I jumped out and explored the ground. I found myself in an -abandoned, badly gullied track, which would have soon capsized the -wagon; but leading the horse by the bridle, I slowly regained my -position in the direct road and got down the hill, and reached the house -without further accident. Next day we drove into Potosi by four o'clock -in the afternoon. This was my second visit, and I now accepted a room -and quarters for my collection, at their old homestead called Durham -Hall. - -From this period till the middle of September, I pursued with -unremitting assiduity, the enquiry in hand, and by that time had made a -cabinet collection, illustrating fully the mineralogy, and, to some -extent, the geological structure of the country. I erected a small -chemical furnace for assays. Some of the clays of the country were found -to stand a high heat, and by tempering them with pulverized granite, -consisting largely of feldspar, I obtained crucibles that answered every -purpose. Some of the specimens of lead, treated in the dry way, yielded -from 75 to 82 per cent. - -Accident threw in my way, on the 25th of August, a fact which led to the -discovery of a primitive tract, on the southern borders of the mine -country, the true geological relation of which to the surrounding -secondary formations, formed at the outset rather a puzzle. I rode out -on horseback on that day, with Mr. Stephen F. Austin, to Miller's, on -the Mineral Fork, to observe a locality of manganese, and saw lying, -near his mills, some large masses of red syenitic granite, which -appeared to have been freshly blasted. He remarked that they were -obtained on the St. Francis, and were found to be the best material at -hand for millstones. On examination, the rock consisted almost -exclusively of red feldspar and quartz. A little hornblende was present, -but scarcely a trace of mica. This species of syenitic granite, large -portions of which, viewed in the field, are complete syenite, and all of -which is very barren of crystals, I have since found on the upper -Mississippi, and throughout the northwestern regions above the secondary -latitudes. The hint, however, was not lost. I took the first opportunity -to visit the sources of the St. Francis: having obtained letters to a -gentleman in that vicinity, I set out on horseback for that region, -taking a stout pair of saddle-bags, to hold my collections. I passed -through Murphy's and Cook's settlements, which are, at the present time, -the central parts of St. Francis county. _Mine a la Motte_ afforded some -new facts in its mineralogical features. I first saw this red syenite, -in place, on Blackford's Fork. The westernmost limits of this ancient -mine extends to within a mile or two of this primitive formation. The -red clay formation extends to the granitic elevations, and conceals -their junction with the newer rock. The nearest of the carboniferous -series, in place, is on the banks of Rock Creek, at some miles' -distance. It is there the crystalline sandstone. How far this primitive -district of the St. Francis extends, has not been determined. The St. -Francis and Grand rivers, both have their sources in it. It is probable -the Ozaw Fork of the Merrimack comes from its western borders. Not less -than twenty or thirty miles can be assigned for its north and south -limits. The Iron mountain of Bellvieu is within it. The vicinity of the -pass called the Narrows, appears to have been the locality of former -volcanic action. A scene of ruder disruption, marked by the vast -accumulation of broken rock, it would be difficult to find. Indeed the -whole tract is one of high geological, as well as scenic interest. Had -the observer of this scene been suddenly dropped down into one of the -wildest, broken, primitive tracts of New England, or the north east -angle of New York, he could not have found a field of higher physical -attractions. Trap and greenstone constitute prominent tracts, and exist -in the condition of dykes in the syenite, or feldspathique granite. I -sought in vain for mica in the form of distinct plates. Some of the -greenstone is handsomely porphorytic, and embraces green crystals of -feldspar. Portions of this rock are sprinkled with masses of bright -sulphuret of iron. Indeed iron in several of its forms abounds. By far -the largest portion of it is in the shape of the micaceous oxyde. I -searched, without success, for the irridescent specular variety, or Elba -ore. In returning from this trip, I found Wolf river greatly swollen by -rains, and had to swim it at much hazard, with my saddle-bags heavily -laden with the results of my examination. It was dark when I reached the -opposite bank: wet and tired I pushed for the only house in sight. As I -came to it the doors stood open, the fences were down, a perfect air of -desolation reigned around. There was no living being found; and the -masses of yawning darkness exhibited by the untenanted rooms, seemed a -fit residence for the genius of romance. Neither my horse nor myself -were, however, in a temper or plight for an adventure of this kind, and -the poor beast seemed as well pleased as I was, to push forward from so -cheerless a spot. Four miles' riding through an untenanted forest, and a -dark and blind road, brought us to a Mr. Murphy's, the sponsor of -Murphy's settlement. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [1] About 70 votes were polled in the town of Potosi. Mr. Austin, the -younger, was returned by the county to the Territorial Legislature. - - - - -SCENES AND ADVENTURES - -IN THE OZARK MOUNTAINS. - -A. D. 1818 AND 1819. - -FROM THE ORIGINAL NOTES AND JOURNAL. - - - - -PRELIMINARY REMARKS. - - -Very little, it is conceived, is necessary to enable the reader to -determine the writer's position on the extreme south western frontiers, -in the year 1818. He had spent the summer of that year in traversing the -mine district, which extends along the right bank of the Mississippi, -between the mouth of the Maromeg and the diluvial cliffs south of Cape -Girardeau, extending west and south westward to the sources of the St. -Francis. In these mineralogical rambles, which were pursued sometimes on -foot, and sometimes on horseback, or wheels, he made acquaintance with -many estimable men, amongst whom he may name the Austins, father and -son, the late Col. Ashley, John Rice Jones, Esq., and many others who -are still living, by all whom, his object in visiting the country was -cordially approved and encouraged, at all times. He also became -acquainted with practical miners, and persons of enterprize who were not -only familiar with the settled frontiers, but who had occasionally -penetrated beyond them, into the broad expanse of highlands, now -geographically known under the term of, the Ozark Chain. Geologically -considered, the mine country is but the eastern flanks of this chain, -which extends flush to the banks of the Mississippi, and has its -terminus in that elevated range of mural cliffs, which form so striking -and often picturesque a display, between St. Genevieve and St. Louis. -There was, at the time, a general apprehension felt and expressed, by -hunters and others who had penetrated those wilds in quest of deer and -buffalo, or of saltpetre-earth in the limestone caves, of the predatory -tribe of the Osages,--a people who had for years enjoyed the bad -reputation of being thieves and plunderers. All concurred, however, in -the interesting character of the country extending in a general course, -south-westwardly, from the junction of the Missouri with the -Mississippi. He felt an ardent desire to penetrate this terra incognita. -He could not learn that any exploratory journey had been made towards -the Rocky Mountains, since the well known expeditions of Lewis and -Clark, up the Missouri, and of Lieut. Pike, across the upper region of -the Arkansas, to Sante Fe and Chihuahua. Breckenridge had subsequently -published an account of a trip to Council Bluffs.[2] But neither of -these routes crossed the wide and mountainous tracts referred to, or -gave any definite information respecting them. Viewed on the map, these -routes formed the general exterior outlines, but they left the interior -filling up to be supplied,--or, if supplied at all, it was too often -with such vague phrases as these--"Here are salt mountains." "The ---- -is supposed to take its rise here." "Volcanic hills," and so forth. The -geology of the country furnished no indications whatever of the -probability of the latter remark. The kind of pseudo-pumice found -floating down the Missouri, in high water, had been stated by Lewis and -Clarke, to have a far more remote, and local origin. The description of -rock salt, in mountain mass, had long been numbered by popular belief, -among the fanciful creations of an exciting political era; and together -with western volcanoes, had settled down among those antiquarian -rumours, which hold up, as their prime item, the existence of the living -mammoth "beyond the big lakes." - -If the writer of the notes and journal which furnish these sketches, was -not swayed by any particular theories of this nature, yet was he not -free from the expectation of finding abundant materials, in the natural -productions and scenery and incidents of the journey, to reward him -amply for its perils. He had received from hunters several objects of -the minerological and geological collection which he made, while living -at Potosi, and _Mine à Burton_: from these wild borders, and, without -pretending to estimate the force of each particular object which made up -the sum of his motives, he resolved to organize an expedition, with all -the means he could muster, and explore the region. The Austins, who had -treated him with marked kindness and attention, from the hour of his -first landing in Missouri, were then preparing to make their first -movement into Texas, and held out to him a fine theatre for enterprise; -but it was one not suited to his particular means or taste. He recoiled -from the subtlety of the Spanish character; and is free to confess, that -he deemed it a far more attractive latitude for the zea maize and the -cotton plant, than for those pursuits which led him to prefer the more -rugged eminences of the Ozarks. They, in the end, founded a republic, -and he only made an adventurous journey. - -Having thus recalled the era and the motive of the following sketches, -the purport of these remarks is accomplished. - -_New York, 1844._ - -FOOTNOTES: - - [2] The United States government, the very next year, 1819, sent out -Col. Long to the Yellow Stone. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - Things to be thought of before plunging into the woods--Composition - of the party, and reasons why it was not more numerous--First - night's encampment--Preliminaries--Sleep in a deserted Indian - lodge--A singular variety of the Fox Squirrel--The Pack Horse - escapes--Cross the elevation called the Pinery--Reach the outskirts - of the settlements in the valley of the Fourche A'Courtois. - - -Whoever would venture into the wilderness, should provide himself with -such articles of personal comfort, or safety, as habits, forecast, or -the particular object of pursuit or observation, require. Every one will -think of arms and ammunition, but there are other things required to -make life pleasant, or even tolerable in the woods. This, prior -excursions had already taught me, but the lesson was repeated by those -of greater experience. There were two persons who had agreed to go with -me, and stick by me, to the end,--the one a native of Massachussets, and -the other, of Connecticut, both like myself, new in the field, and -unacquainted with life in the woods. What they lacked in this art, they -more than made up, I thought, in intelligence, enterprise and resource. -The name of the first was Brigham. The other, I shall allude to, under -the name of Enobitti. Some three or four other persons, natives of the -region, had consented to go as hunters, or adventurers into a new field -for emigration, but it so happened, that when all was ready--when every -objection to the tour had been obviated, and every want supplied, and -when my two eastern friends came on to the ground, these persons all -quietly, and with an easy flow of reasons, backed out. In fact, my -friend Brigham, was also obliged to relinquish the journey, after he had -reached the point of rendezvous, i. e. Potosi. A residence on the -American bottom, in Illinois, the prior summer, had exposed him to the -malaria of that otherwise attractive agricultural area, and an -intermittent fever, which he had thus contracted, forbade his venturing -beyond the settlements. So that when the appointed day arrived, Enobitti -and myself and my good landlord, Ficklin--a warm hearted Kentuckian, who -had been a hunter and border spy in his youth, were all the persons I -could number, and the latter, only went a short distance, out of the -goodness of his heart, and love of forest adventure, to set us, as it -were, on the way, and initiate us into some necessary forest arts. It -was a bright balmy day,--the 6th of November, 1818. The leaves were -rapidly falling from the trees, and strewed the road and made a musical -rustling among the branches, as we passed the summits of the mine hills, -which separated the valley of Mine á Burton from the next adjoining -stream. The air had just enough of the autumn freshness in it, to make -it inspiring; and we walked forward, with the double animation of -health and hope. As we passed through forests where the hickory -abounded, the fox and grey squirrel were frequently seen preparing their -winter's stores, and gave additional animation to the scene. It was -early in the afternoon when we came into the valley of Bates' Creek--it -was indeed but a few miles from our starting point, where our kind -Mentor told us, it was best to encamp; for, in the first place, it was -the only spot where we could obtain _water_ for a long distance, and -secondly, and more important than all, it was necessary that we should -re-arrange the load of our pack-horse, take a lesson in the art of -encamping, and make some other preparations which were proper, before we -plunged outright into the wilderness. This was excellent advice, and -proper not only to novices, but even, to the initiated in the woodsman's -art. It is always an object, to make, by this initiatory movement, what -is technically called _a start_. - -I had purchased at Potosi, a horse--a low priced animal, rather old and -bony, to carry our blankets, some light cooking utensils and a few other -articles of necessity, and some provisions. He bore the not very -appropriate name of "Butcher," whether from a former owner, or how -acquired I know not, but he was not of a sanguinary temper, or at least, -the only fighting propensity he ever evinced was to get back to Potosi, -as quick as possible, for he ran off the very first night, and -frequently, till we got quite far west, repeated the attempt. The poor -beast seemed to know, instinctively, that he was going away from the -land of corn fodder, and would have to sustain himself by picking up his -meals out of sere-grass, often in stony places, or in some dense and -vine-bound cane bottom, where his hind legs would often be bound fast by -the green briar, while he reached forward in vain, to bite off a green -leaf. - -Here we took the first lesson in duly hobbling a horse--a very necessary -lesson: for if not _hobbled_, he will stray away, and cause great -detention in the morning, and if not _well_ hobbled he will injure his -legs. We found, near the banks of the stream, a deserted Indian lodge, -which appeared susceptible, by a little effort, of affording us a very -comfortable night's lodging, and would furthermore, should it rain, -prove an effectual shelter. This arrangement we immediately set about: -the horse was unpacked, his burden stowed in the lodge, the horse -hobbled and belled, and a fire lit. While my companion arranged the -details of the camp, and prepared to boil a cup of tea, I took my gun, -and, with but little ado, shot a number of fine fox and grey -squirrels--being the first fruits of our exertions in the chace. Among -them, there was one of decidedly mongrel species. If not, the variety -was peculiar. He had a grey body, and a red foxy tail, with the belly, -nose, and tips of the ears black, thus uniting characteristics of three -varieties. One or two of these were added to our supper, which we made -with great satisfaction, and in due time spread out our blankets, and -slept soundly till day break. - -On sallying out, I found the horse was gone, and set out in pursuit of -him. Although his fore feet were tethered, so that he must lift up both -together, he made his way back, in this jumping manner, to his former -owner's door, in the village of Mine à Burton. He had not, however, kept -the path, all the way, and losing his track after he got on the herbage, -my ear caught the sound of a bell far to the left, which I took to be -his, and followed. I pursued the sound of this bell, which was only -heard now and then, till after crossing hill and dale, without deviation -from the line of sound, I came out at a farm yard, four miles below -Potosi; where I found the bell to be attached to the neck of a stately -penned ox. The owner, (who knew me and the circumstance of my having set -out on the expedition,) told me, that Butcher had reached the mines, and -been sent back, by a son of his former owner, to my camp. I had nothing -left, but to retrace my way to the same spot, where I found the -fugitive, and sat down to a breakfast of tea, bread, ham and squirrel. -The whole morning, had been lost by this misadventure. It was ten -o'clock before we got the animal packed and set forward. - -Our second day's journey yielded but little to remark. We travelled -diligently along a rough mountainous path, across a sterile tract called -the Pinery. This tract is valuable only for its pine timber. It has -neither farming land nor mineral wealth. Not a habitation of any kind -was passed. We saw neither bird nor animal. The silence of desolation -seemed to accompany us. It was a positive relief to the uniform -sterility of the soil, and monotony of the prospect, to see at length, a -valley before us. It was a branch of the Maromeg, or Merrimack, which is -called by its original French term of _Fourche á Courtois_. We had -travelled a distance of fourteen miles over these flinty eminences. The -first signs of human habitation appeared in the form of enclosed fields. -The sun sunk below the hills, as we entered this valley, and we soon had -the glimpse of a dwelling. Some woodcock flew up as we hastened forward, -and we were not long in waiting for our formal announcement in the loud -and long continued barking of dogs. It required the stern commands of -their master, before they slunk back and became quiet. It was a small -log tenement of the usual construction on the frontiers, and afforded us -the usual hospitality and ready accommodation. They gave us warm cakes -of corn bread, and fine rich milk. We spread our blankets before an -evening's fire, and enjoyed a good night's rest. Butcher here, I think, -had his last meal of corn, and made no attempt to return. With the -earliest streaks of day light, we re-adjusted his pack, and again set -forward. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - Reach a hunter's cabin on the outskirts of the wilderness--He - agrees to accompany us--Enter the Ozark Hills--Encounter an - encampment of the Delaware Indians--Character of the country--Its - alpine air, and the purity of its waters.--Ascend to the source of - the Merrimack--Reach a game country--Deserted by the hunter and - guide, and abandoned to individual exertions in these arts. - - -Every joint labour, which proceeds on the theory, that each person -engaged in it is to render some personal service, must, in order that it -may go on pleasantly and succeed well, have a definite order, or rule of -progress; and this is as requisite in a journey in the wilderness as any -where else. Our rule was to lead the pack horse, and to take the compass -and guide ahead, alternately, day by day. It was thought, I had the best -art in striking and making a fire, and when we halted for the night, -always did this, while my companion procured water and put it in a way -to boil for tea. We carried tea, as being lighter and more easy to make -than coffee. In this way we divided, as equally as possible, the daily -routine of duties, and went on pleasantly. We had now reached the last -settlement on the frontier, and after a couple of hours' walk, from our -last place of lodging, we reached the last house, on the outer verge of -the wilderness. It was a small, newly erected log hut, occupied by a -hunter of the name of Roberts, and distant about 20 miles from, and -south-west of Potosi. Our approach here was also heralded by dogs. Had -we been wolves or panthers, creeping upon the premises at midnight, they -could not have performed their duty more noisily. Truly this was a very -primitive dwelling, and as recent in its structure as it was primitive. -Large fallen trees lay about, just as the axeman had felled them, and -partly consumed by fire. The effect of this partial burning had been -only to render these huge trunks black and hideous. One of them lay in -front of the cottage. In other places were to be seen deer skins -stretched to dry; and deers' feet and antlers lay here and there. There -was not a foot of land in cultivation. It was quite evident at first -sight, that we had reached the dwelling of a border hunter, and not a -tiller of the ground. But the owner was absent, as we learned from his -wife, a spare, shrewd dark-skinned little woman, drest in buckskin, who -issued from the door before we reached it, and welcomed us by the term -of "Strangers." Although this is a western term, which supplies the -place of the word "friend," in other sections of the union, and she -herself seemed to be thoroughly a native of these latitudes, no Yankee -could have been more inquisitive, in one particular department of -enquiry, namely the department relative to the chace. She inquired our -object--the course and distance we proposed to travel, and the general -arrangements of horse-gear, equipage, &c. She told us of the danger of -encountering the Osages, and scrutinized our arms. Such an examination -would indeed, for its thoroughness, have put a lad to his trumps, who -had come prepared for his first quarter's examination at a country -academy. She told us, con amore, that her husband would be back -soon,--as soon indeed as we could get our breakfast, and that he would -be glad to accompany us, as far as Ashley's Cave, or perhaps farther. -This was an opportunity not to be slighted. We agreed to wait, and -prepare our morning's meal, to which she contributed some well baked -corn cakes. By this time, and before indeed we had been long there, -Roberts came in. It is said that a hunter's life is a life of feasting -or fasting. It appeared to be one of the latter seasons, with him. He -had been out to scour the precincts, for a meat breakfast, but came home -empty handed. He was desirous to go out in the direction we were -steering, which he represented to abound in game, but feared to venture -far alone, on account of the rascally Osages. He did not fear the -Delawares, who were near by. He readily accepted our offer to accompany -us as hunter. Roberts, like his forest help-mate, was clothed in deer -skin. He was a rather chunky, stout, middle sized man, with a ruddy -face, cunning features, and a bright unsteady eye. Such a fellow's final -destination would not be a very equivocal matter, were he a resident of -the broad neighbourhood of Sing Sing, or "sweet Auburn:" but here, he -was a man that might, perhaps, be trusted on an occasion like this, and -we, at any rate, were glad to have his services on the terms stipulated. -Even while we were talking he began to clean his rifle, and adjust his -leathern accoutrements: he then put several large cakes of corn bread in -a sack, and in a very short time he brought a stout little horse out of -a log pen, which served for a barn; and clapping an old saddle on his -back and mounting him, with his rifle in one hand, said, "I am ready," -and led off. We now had a guide, as well as a hunter, and threw this -burden wholly on him. Our course lay up a long ridge of hard bound clay -and chert soil, in the direction of the sources of the Marameg, or, as -it is now universally called and written, Merrimack. After travelling -about four miles we suddenly descended from an acclivity into a grassy, -woodless valley, with a brisk clear stream winding through it, and -several lodges of Indians planted on its borders. This, our guide told -us, was the Ozaw Fork of the Merrimack, (in modern geographical parlance -Ozark.) And here we found the descendants and remainder of that once -powerful tribe of whom William Penn purchased the site of Philadelphia, -and whose ancient dominion extended, at the earliest certain historical -era, along the banks the Lennapihittuck, or Delaware river. Two of them -were at home, it being a season of the year, and time of day, when the -men are out hunting. Judging from peculiarity of features, manners and -dress, it would seem to be impossible that any people should have -remained so long in contact with or juxtaposition to the European races -and changed so little, in all that constitutes national and personal -identity. Roberts looked with no very friendly eye upon these ancient -lords of the forest, the whole sum of his philosophy and philanthropy -being measured by the very tangible circle of prairie and forests, which -narrowed his own hunting grounds. They were even then, deemed to have -been injudiciously located, by intelligent persons in the west, and have -long since removed to a permanent location, out of the corporate limits -of the States and Territories, at the junction of the river Konga with -the Missouri. I should have been pleased to have lengthened our short -halt, but the word seemed with him and Enobitti to be "onward," and -onward we pushed. We were now fairly in the Ozark chain--a wide and -almost illimitable tract, of which it may be said, that the vallies only -are susceptible of future cultivation. The intervening ridges and -mountains are nearly destitute of forest, often perfectly so, and in -almost all cases, sterile, and unfit for the plough. It is probable -sheep might be raised on some of these eminences, which possess a -sufficiency of soil to permit the grasses to be sown. Geologically, it -has a basis of limestones, resting on sandstones. Unfortunately for its -agricultural character, the surface has been covered with a foreign -diluvium of red clay filled with chips of horstone, chert and broken -quartz, which make the soil hard and compact. Its trees are few and -stunted; its grass coarse. In looking for the origin of such a soil, it -seems probable to have resulted from broken down slates and shists on -the upper Missouri and below the range of the Rocky Mountains, in which -these broken and imbedded substances originally constituted veins. It is -only in the vallies, and occasional plains, that a richer and more -carbonaceous soil has accumulated. The purest springs, however, gush out -of its hills; its atmosphere is fine and healthful, and it constitutes a -theatre of Alpine attractions, which will probably render it, in future -years, the resort of shepherds, lovers of mountain scenery, and -valetudinarians. There is another remark to be made of the highland -tracts of the Ozark range. They look, in their natural state, more -sterile than they actually are, from the effects of autumnal fires. -These fires, continued for ages by the natives, to clear the ground for -hunting, have had the effect not only to curtail and destroy large -vegetation, but all the carbonaceous particles of the top soil have been -burned, leaving the surface in the autumn, rough, red, dry and hard. -When a plough comes to be put into such a surface, it throws up quite a -different soil; and the effects of light, and the sun's heat are often -found, as I have noticed in other parts of the west, to produce a dark -and comparatively rich soil. - -We occupied the entire day in ascending and crossing the ridge of land, -which divides the little valley of the Oza from that of the Merrimack. -When getting near the latter, the soil exhibited traces of what appeared -to be iron ore, but somewhat peculiar in its character, and of dark -hue. This soon revealed itself, in passing a short distance, in an -abundant locality of black and coloured oxide of manganese--lying in -masses in the arid soil. The Indian trail which we were pursuing led -across the valley. We forded the river on foot. No encampments of -Indians were found, nor any very recent traces of them; and we began to -think that the accounts of Osage depredations and plundering, must be -rather exaggerated. The river pours its transparent mountain waters over -a wide bed of pebbles and small boulders, and, at this season, offered -but little impediment to the horses or ourselves in crossing it. The sun -was getting low, by the time we reached the opposite side of the valley, -and we encamped on its borders, a mile or two above. Here we took due -care of our horses, prepared our evening's meal, talked over the day's -adventures, enjoyed ourselves sitting before our camp fire, with the -wild wide creation before us and around, and then sank to a sound repose -on our pallets. - -Novices in the woodman's art, and raw in the business of travelling, our -sleep was sounder and more death-like, than that of Roberts. His eye had -shown a restlessness during the afternoon and evening. We were now in a -game country, the deer and elk began to be frequently seen, and their -fresh tracks across our path, denoted their abundance. During the night -they ventured about our camp, so as to disturb the ears of the weary -hunter, and indeed, my own. He got up and found both horses missing. -Butcher's memory of Mine á Burton corn fodder had not deserted him, and -he took the hunter's horse along with him. I jumped up, and accompanied -him, in their pursuit. They were both overtaken about three miles back -on the track, making all possible speed homeward, that their tethered -fore legs would permit. We conducted them back, without disturbing my -companion, and he then went out with his rifle, and quickly brought in a -fine fat doe, for our breakfast. Each one cut fine pieces of steaks, and -roasted for himself. We ate it with a little salt, and the remainder of -the hunter's corn cakes, and finished the repast, with a pint cup each, -of Enobitti's best tea. This turned out to be _a finale_ meal with our -Fourche à Courtois man, Roberts: for the rascal, a few hours afterwards, -deserted us, and went back. Had he given any intimation of -dissatisfaction, or a desire to return, we should have been in a measure -prepared for it. It is probable his fears of the then prevalent bugbear -of those frontiersmen, the Osages, were greater than our own. It is also -probable, that he had no other idea whatever, in leaving the Fourche à -Courtois, than to avail himself of our protection till he could get into -a region where he could shoot deer enough in a single morning to load -down his horse, with the choicest pieces, and lead him home. This the -event, at least, rendered probable; and the fellow not only deserted us -meanly, but he carried off my best new hunting knife, with scabbard and -belt--a loss not easily repaired in such a place. - -To cloak his plan, he set out with us in the morning: it had rained a -little, during the latter part of the night, and was lowering and dark -all the morning. After travelling about ten miles, we left the Osage -trail, which began to bear too far north-west, and struck through the -woods in a south course, with the view of reaching Ashley's Cave on one -of the head streams of the river currents. Soon after leaving this -trail, Roberts, who was in advance on our left, about half a mile, fired -at, and killed, a deer, and immediately re-loaded, pursued and fired -again; telling us to continue on our course, as he, being on horseback, -could easily overtake us. We neither heard nor saw more of him. Night -overtook us near the banks of a small lake, or rather a series of little -lakes or ponds, communicating with each other, where we encamped. After -despatching our supper, and adjusting, in talk, the day's rather -eventful incidents, and the morrow's plan of march, we committed -ourselves to rest, but had not sunk into forgetfulness, when a pack of -wolves set up their howl in our vicinity. We had been told that these -animals will not approach near a fire, and are not to be dreaded in a -country where deer abound. They follow the track of the hunter, to share -such part of the carcass as he leaves, and it is their nature to herd -together and run down this animal as their natural prey. We slept well, -but it is worthy of notice, that on awaking about day break, the howling -of the wolves was still heard, and at about the same distance. They had -probably serenaded us all night. Our fire was nearly out; we felt some -chilliness, and determined to rekindle it, and prepare our breakfast -before setting forward. It was now certain, that Roberts was gone. -Luckily he had not carried off our compass, for _that_ would have been -an accident fatal to the enterprise. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - A deeper view of the Ozark Chain. Pass along the flanks of the - highlands which send out the sources of the Black, Eleven points, - Currents and Spring rivers. Reach a romantic glen of caves. Birds - and animals seen. Saltpetre earth; stalactites. Cross the alpine - summit of the western Ozarks. Source of the Gasconade river - Accident in fording the Little Osage river.--Encamp on one of its - tributaries. - - -It was found as we began to bestir ourselves for wood to light our fire -that we had reposed not far from a bevy of wild ducks, who had sought -the grassy edge of the lake during the night, and with the first alarm -betook themselves to flight. With not so ready a mode of locomotion, we -followed their example, in due time, and also their course, which was -south. At the distance of a couple of miles, we crossed a small stream, -running south-east, which we judged to be the outlet of the small lakes -referred to, and which is, probably the source of Black River, or the -Eleven points. Our course led us in an opposite direction, and we soon -found ourselves approaching the sterile hills which bound the romantic -valley of the currents. There had been some traces of wheels, on the -softer soil, which had been driven in this direction towards the -saltpetre caves, but we completely lost them, as we came to and ascended -these arid and rugged steeps. Some of these steeps rose into dizzy and -romantic cliffs, surmounted with pines. We wound our way cautiously -amongst them, to find some gorge and depression, through which we might -enter the valley. For ourselves we should not have been so choice of a -path, but we had a pack horse to lead, and should he be precipitated -into a gulf, we must bid adieu to our camp equipage. Our arms and a -single blanket, would be all we could carry. At length this summit was -reached. The view was enchanting. A winding wooded valley, with its -clear bright river, stretched along at the base of the summit. Rich -masses of foliage, hung over the clear stream, and were reflected in its -pellucid current, with a double beauty. The autumnal frost, which had -rifled the highland trees of their clothing, appeared to have passed -over this deeply secluded valley with but little effect, and this -effect, was only to highten the interest of the scene, by imparting to -portions of its foliage, the liveliest orange and crimson tints. And -this was rendered doubly attractive by the contrast. Behind us lay the -bleak and barren hills, over which we had struggled, without a shade, or -a brook, or even the simplest representative of the animal creation. For -it is a truth, that during the heat of the day, both birds and -quadrupeds betake themselves to the secluded shades of the streams and -vallies. From these they sally out, into the plains, in quest of food at -early dawn, and again just before night fall. All the rest of the day, -the plains and highlands have assumed the silence of desolation. Evening -began to approach as we cautiously picked our way down the cliffs, and -the first thing we did, on reaching the stream was to take a hearty -drink of its crystal treasure, and let our horse do the same. The next -object was to seek a fording place--which was effected without -difficulty. On mounting the southern bank, we again found the trail, -lost in the morning, and pursued it with alacrity. It was my turn this -day to be in advance, as guide, but the temptation of small game, as we -went up the valley, drew me aside, while Enobitti proceeded to select a -suitable spot for the night's encampment. It was dark when I rejoined -him, with my squirrel and pigeon hunt. He had confined himself closely -to the trail. It soon led him out of the valley, up a long brushy ridge, -and then through an open elevated pine grove, which terminated abruptly -in a perpendicular precipice. Separated from this, at some eight hundred -yards distance, stood a counter precipice of limestone rock, fretted -out, into pinnacles and massy walls, with dark openings, which gave the -whole the resemblance of architectural ruins. The stream that ran -between these cliffs, was small, and it lay so deep and well embrowned -in the shades of evening, that it presented vividly from this elevation, -a waving bright line on a dark surface. Into this deep dark terrific -glen the path led, and here we lit our fire, hastily constructed a bush -camp, and betook ourselves, after due ablutions in the little stream, to -a night's repose. The sky became rapidly overcast, before we had -finished our meal, and a night of intense darkness, threatening a -tempest, set in. As we sat by our fire, its glare upon huge beetling -points of overhanging rocks, gave the scene a wild and picturesque cast; -and we anticipated returning daylight with an anxious wish to know and -see our exact locality. By the restless tramping of our horse, and the -tinkling of his bell, we knew that he had found but indifferent picking. - -Daylight fulfilled the predictions of the evening. We had rain. It also -revealed our position in this narrow, and romantic glen. A high wall of -rocks, encompassed us on either hand, but they were not such as would -have resulted in a volcanic country from a valley fissure. Narrow and -deep as the glen was, it was at once apparent, that it was a valley of -denudation, and had owed its existence to the wasting effects of the -trifling stream within it, carrying away, particle by particle, the -matter loosened by rains and frosts, and mechanical attrition. The -cliffs are exclusively calcareous, and piled up, mason like, in -horizontal layers. One of the most striking pictures which they -presented, was found in the great number, size and variety of caves, -which opened into this calcareous formation. These caves are of all -sizes, some of them very large, and not a few of them situated at -elevations above the floor of the glen, which forbade access. - -One of our first objects, after examining the neighbourhood, was to -remove our baggage and location up the glen, into one of these caves, -which at the distance of about a mile, promised us an effectual shelter -from the inclemency of the storm. This done, we determined here to wait -for settled weather, and explore the precincts. By far the most -prominent object, among the caverns, was the one into which we had thus -unceremoniously thrust ourselves. It had evidently been visited before, -by persons in search of saltpetre earth. Efflorescences of nitric earth, -were abundant in its fissures, and this salt was also present in masses -of reddish diluvial earth, which lay in several places. The mouth of -this cave presented a rude irregular arc, of which the extreme height -was probably thirty feet, and the base line ninety. The floor of this -orifice occurs, at an elevation of about forty feet above the stream. -And this size is held for about two hundred feet, when it expands into a -lofty dome, some eighty or ninety feet high, and perhaps, three hundred -in diameter. In its centre a fine spring of water issues from the rock. -From this dome several passages lead off in different directions. - -One of these opens into the glen, at an inaccessible point, just below. -Another runs back nearly at right angles with the mouth, putting out -smaller passages, of not much importance, however, in its progress. So -splendid and noble an entrance gave us the highest hopes of finding it -but the vestibule of a natural labyrinth; but the result disappointed -us. These ample dimensions soon contract, and after following the main -or south passage about five hundred yards, we found our further entrance -barred, by masses of fallen rock, at the foot of which a small stream -trickled through the broken fragments, and found its way to the mouth. -Have we good reason to attribute to this small stream, a power -sufficient to be regarded as the effective agent in carrying away the -calcareous rock, so as to have in a long period produced the orifice? -Whence then, it may be asked, the masses of compact reddish clay and -pebble diluvium, which exist? These seem rather, to denote that these -caves were open orifices, during the period of oceanic action, upon the -surface of the Ozarks, and that a mass of waters, surcharged with such -materials, flowed into pre-existing caverns. This diluvium is, in truth, -of the same era as the wide spread stream of like kind, which has been -deposited over the metalliferous region of Missouri. If these, however, -be questions for geological doubt, we had lit upon another inquiry, -very prominent on our minds in making this exploration, namely, whether -there were any wild beasts sheltered in its fissures. Satisfied that we -were safe on this score, we retraced our footsteps to our fire, and -sallied out to visit other caves. Most of these were at such heights as -prevented access to them. In one instance, a tree had fallen against the -face of the cliff, in such a manner, that by climbing it to its forks, -and taking one of the latter, the opening might be reached. Putting a -small mineral hammer in my pocket, I ascended this tree, and found the -cave accessible. It yielded some wax-yellow and white-translucent -stalactites, and also very delicate white crystals of nitre. The -dimensions of this cave were small, and but little higher than to enable -a man to stand upright. - -In each of the caves of this glen which I entered, during a halt of -several days in this vicinity, I looked closely about for fossil bones, -but without success in any instance. The only article of this kind -observed was the recent leg and foot bones and vertebra of the bos -musarius, which appeared to be an inhabitant of the uppermost fissures -in these calcareous cliffs, but I never saw the living species, although -I ranged along their summits and bases, with my gun and hammer, at -various hours. Some of the compact lime stone in the bed of the creek -exhibited a striped and jaspery texture. The wood-duck and the duck and -mallard sometimes frequented this secluded stream, and it was a common -resort for the wild turkey, at a certain hour in the evening. This bird -seemed at such times to come in thirsty, from its ranges in quest of -acorns on the uplands, and its sole object appeared to be to drink. -Sitting in the mouth of our cave, we often had a fine opportunity to see -flocks of these noisy and fine birds flying down from the cliffs, and -perching on the trees below us. If they came to roost, as well as to -slack their thirst, a supposition probable, this was an ill-timed -movement, so long as we inhabited the glen, for they only escaped the -claw and talons of one enemy, to fall before the fire-lock of the other. -This bird, indeed, proved our best resource on the journey, for we -travelled with too much noise and want of precaution generally, to kill -the deer and elk, which, however, were abundant on the highland plains. - -We passed three days at the Glen Cave, during which there were several -rains; it stormed one entire day, and we employed the time of this -confinement, in preparing for the more intricate and unknown parts of -our journey. Hitherto we had pursued for the most of the way, a trail, -and were cheered on our way, by sometimes observing traces of human -labour. But, from this point we were to plunge into a perfect -wilderness, without a trace or track. We had before us, that portion of -the Ozark range, which separates to the right and left, the waters of -the Missouri from those of the Mississippi. It was supposed, from the -best reports, that by holding south-west, across these eminences, we -should strike the valley of the White River, which interposed itself -between our position there and the Arkansas. To enter upon this tract, -with our compass only as a guide, and with the certainty of finding no -nutritious grass for our horse, required that we should lighten and -curtail our baggage as much as possible, and put all our effects into -the most compact and portable form. And having done this, and the -weather proving settled, we followed a short distance up the Glen of -Caves; but finding it to lead too directly west, we soon left it and -mounted the hills which line its southern border. A number of latter -valleys, covered with thick brush, made this a labour by no means -slight. The surface was rough; vegetation sere and dry, and every -thicket which spread before us, presented an obstacle which was to be -overcome. We could have penetrated many of these, which the horse could -not be forced through. Such parts of our clothing as did not consist of -buckskin, paid frequent tribute to these brambles. At length we got -clear of these spurs, and entered on a high waving table land where -travelling became comparatively easy. The first view of this vista of -high land plains was magnificent. It was covered with moderate sized -sere grass and dry seed pods, which rustled as we passed. There was -scarcely an object deserving the name of a tree, except, now and then, a -solitary trunk of a dead pine, or oak, which had been scathed by -lightning. The bleached skull of the buffalo, was sometimes met, and -proved that this animal had once existed here. Rarely we passed a -stunted oak; sometimes a cluster of saplings crowned the summit of a -sloping hill; the deer often bounded before us; we sometimes disturbed -the hare from its sheltering bush, or put to flight the quail or the -prairie hen. There was no prominent feature for the eye to rest upon. -The unvaried prospect produced satiety. We felt in a peculiar manner the -solitariness of the wilderness. We travelled silently and diligently. It -was a dry and thirsty barren. From morning till sun set we did not -encounter a drop of water. This became the absorbing object. Hill after -hill, and vale after vale were patiently scanned, and diligently footed, -without bringing the expected boon. At length we came, without the -expectation of it, to a small running stream in the plain, where we -gladly encamped. There was also some grass which preserved a greenish -hue, and which enabled our horse also to recruit himself. - -Early the next morning we repacked him, and continued our course, -travelling due west south-west. At the distance of five or six miles, we -reached the banks of a clear stream of twenty feet wide, running over a -bed of pebbles and small secondary boulders. This stream ran towards the -north west, and gave us the first intimation we had, that we had crossed -the summit and were on the off drain of the Missouri. We supposed it to -be the source of the Gasconade, or at farthest some eastern tributary of -the Little Osage. - -A few hours travelling brought us to the banks of another stream of -much larger size and depth, but running in the same direction. This -stream we found it difficult to cross, and spent several hours in -heaping piles of stone, and connecting them with dry limbs of trees, -which had been carried down by floods. It had a rapid and deep current, -on each side of which was a wide space of shallow water and rolled -boulders of lime and sand stone. We succeeded in driving the horse -safely over. Enobitti led the way on our frail bridge-work, but -disturbed the last link of it as he jumped off on the south bank, so -that it turned under my tread and let me in. There was no kind of danger -in the fall as it was in the shallow part of the stream, but putting out -my hands to break the fall, it so happened that my whole weight rested -on my gun, which was supported on two stones, merely on its butt and -muzzle; the effect was to wrench the barrel. I gave it a counter wrench -as soon as we encamped, but I never afterwards could place full -confidence in it. We had not gone over three or four miles beyond this -river, when we came to the banks of a third stream, running west, but -also sweeping off below, towards the north-west. This stream was smaller -than the former and opposed no difficulty in fording it. Having done -this we followed it up a short distance, and encamped on its south -banks. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - Hearsay information of the hunters turns out false--We alter our - course--A bear hunt--An accident--Another rencontre with - bears--Strike the source of the Great North Fork of White - River--Journey down this valley--Its character and productions--A - great Spring--Incidents of the route--Pack horse rolls down a - precipice--Plunges in the river--A cavern--Osage lodges--A hunter's - hut. - - -It was now manifest, from our crossing the last two streams, that we -were going too far north--that we were in fact in the valley of the -Missouri proper; and that the information obtained of the hunters on the -source of the Merrimack, was not to be implicitly relied on. It is not -probable that one of the persons who gave this information had ever been -here. It was a region they were kept out of by the fear of the Osages, -as our own experience in the case of Roberts denoted. Willing to test it -farther, however, we followed down the last named stream a few miles; in -the hope of its turning south or south-west, but it went off in another -direction. We then came to a halt, and after consulting together, -steered our course due south south-west, thus varying our general course -from the caves. This carried us up a long range of wooded highlands. The -forest here assumed a handsome growth. We passed through a track of the -over-cup oak, interspersed with hickory, and had reached the summit of -an elevated wooded ridge, when just as we gained the highest point, we -discovered four bears on a large oak, in the valley before us. Three of -the number were probably cubs, and with their dam, they were regaling -themselves on the ripe acorns without observing us. We had sought no -opportunities to hunt, and given up no especial time to it, but here was -too fair a challenge to be neglected. We tied our horse securely to a -sapling, and then examining our pieces, and putting down an extra ball, -set out to descend the hill as cautiously as possible. An unlucky slip -of Enobitti threw him with force forward and sprained his ankle. He lay -for a short time in agony. This noise alarmed the bears, who one after -the other quickly ran in from the extremities of the limbs to the trunk, -which they descended head first, and scampered clumsily off up the -valley. I pursued them without minding my companion, not knowing, indeed -how badly he was hurt, but was compelled to give up the chase, as the -tall grass finally prevented my seeing what course they had taken. I now -returned to my companion. He could not stand at first, nor walk when he -arose, and the first agony had passed. I proposed to mount him on the -pack horse, and lead him slowly up the valley, and this plan was carried -into effect. But he endured too much suffering to bear even this. The -ankle began to inflame. There was nothing but rest and continued repose -that promised relief. I selected a fine grassy spot to encamp, unpacked -the horse, built a fire, and got my patient comfortably stretched on his -pallet. But little provision had been made at Potosi in the medical -department. My whole store of pharmacy consisted of some pills and -salves, and a few simple articles. The only thing I could think of as -likely to be serviceable, was in our culinary pack,--it was a little -sack of salt, and of this I made a solution in warm water and bathed the -ankle. I then replenished the fire and cut some wood to renew it. It was -still early in the day, and leaving my companion to rest, and to the -effect of the remedy offered, I took my gun and strolled over the -adjoining hills, in hopes of bringing in some pigeons, or other small -game. But it was a time of day when both birds and quadrupeds have -finished their mornings repast, and retired to the groves or fastnesses. -I saw nothing but the little grey bunting, and the noisy jay. When I -returned to our camp in the vale I found my companion easier. The -bathing had sensibly alleviated the pain and swelling. It was therefore -diligently renewed, and the next morning he was so far improved, that he -consented to try the pack horse again. We had not, however, travelled -far, when two large bears were seen before us playing in the grass, and -so engaged in their sport, that they did not perceive us. We were now on -the same level with them, and quickly prepared to give them battle. My -companion dismounted as easily as possible, and having secured the horse -and examined our arms, we reached a stand within firing distance. It was -not till this moment that our approach was discovered by them, and the -first thing they did after running a few yards, was to sit up in the -grass and gaze at us. Having each singled his animal, we fired at the -same instant. Both animals fled, but on reaching the spot where my mark -had sat, blood was copiously found on the grass, and a pursuit was the -consequence. I followed him up a long ridge, but he passed over the -summit so far before me, that I lost sight of him. I came to a large -hollow black oak, in the direction he had disappeared, which showed the -nail marks of some animal, which I believed to be his. While examining -these signs more closely my companion made his appearance. How he had -got there I know not. The excitement had well nigh cured his ancle. He -stood by the orifice, while I went for the axe to our camp, and when I -was tired chopping, he laid hold. We chopped alternately, and big as it -was, the tree at last came down with a crash that made the forest ring. -For a few moments we looked at the huge and partly broken trunk as if a -bear would start from it; but all was silence. We thoroughly searched -the hollow part but found nothing. I went over another ridge of forest -land, started a noble elk, but saw nothing more of my bear. Here -terminated this adventure. We retraced our footsteps back to the valley, -and proceeded on our route. This incident had led us a little south of -our true course; and it so turned out that it was at a point, where a -mile or two one way or the other, was calculated to make a wide -difference in the place of our exit into the valley of White River; for -we were on a high broken summit ridge, from which several important -streams originated. The pursuit of the bear had carried us near to the -head of the valley, and by crossing the intervening summit, we found -ourselves at the head springs of an important stream, which in due time -we learned was the Great North Fork of White River. This stream begins -to develope itself in pools, or standing springs, which soak through the -gravel and boulders, and it is many miles before it assumes the -character of a continuous stream. Even then it proceeds in plateaux or -steps, on which the water has a level, and the next succeeding level -below it has its connection with it, through a rapid. In fact, the whole -stream, till near its mouth, is one series of these lake-like levels, -and short rapids, each level sinking lower and lower, till, like the -locks in a canal, the last flows out on a level with its final -recipient. But however its waters are congregated, they are all pure and -colourless as rock crystal, and well vindicate the propriety of their -original name of _la Rivière Blanc_. They all originate in mountain -springs, are cool and sparkling, and give assurance in this feature, -that they will carry health to the future inhabitants of the valley -through which they flow. With the first springs begins to be seen a -small growth of the cane, which is found a constant species on its -bottom lands. This plant becomes high in more southern latitudes, and -being intertwined with the green briar, renders it very difficult, as we -soon found, to penetrate it, especially with a horse. Man can endure a -thousand adventures and hardships where a horse would die; and it would -require no further testimony than this journey gave, to convince me, -that providence designed the horse for a state of civilization. - -We followed the course of these waters about six miles, and encamped It -was evidently the source of a stream of some note. It ran in the -required direction, and although we did not then know, that it was the -valley of the Great North Fork of White River, we were satisfied it was -a tributary of the latter stream, and determined to pursue it. This we -did for twelve days, before we met with a human being, white or red. It -rapidly developed itself, as we went, and unfolded an important valley, -of rich soil, bearing a vigorous growth of forest trees, and enclosed on -either hand, by elevated limestone cliffs. Nothing could exceed the -purity of its waters, which bubbled up in copious springs, from the -rock, or pebble stratum. For a long distance the stream increased from -such accessions alone, without large and independent tributaries. On the -second day's travel, we came to a spring, of this crystal character, -which we judged to be about fifty feet across, at the point of its issue -from the rock and soil. Its outlet after running about a thousand yards, -joined the main stream, to which it brings a volume fully equal to it. -This spring I named the Elk Spring, from the circumstance of finding a -large pair of the horns of this animal, partly buried in the leaves, at -a spot where I stooped down to drink. I took the horns, and hung them in -the forks of a young oak tree. - -We found abundance of game in this valley. There was not an entire day, -I think, until we got near the hunters' camps, that we did not see -either the bear, elk, or deer, or their recent signs. Flocks of the wild -turkey were of daily occurrence. The gray squirrel frequently sported on -the trees, and as the stream increased in size, we found the duck, brant -and swan. - -There were two serious objections, however, in travelling down a wooded -valley. Its shrubbery was so thick and rank that it was next to -impossible to force the pack horse through it. Wherever the cane -abounds, and this comprehends all its true alluvions, it is found to be -matted together, as it were, with the green briar and grape vine. So -much noise attended the effort at any rate, that the game generally fled -before us, and had it not been for small game, we should have often -wanted a meal. With every effort, we could not make an average of more -than fourteen miles a day. The river was so tortuous too, that we could -not count, on making more than half this distance, in a direct line. To -remedy these evils we sometimes went out of the valley, on the open -naked plains. It was a relief, but had, in the end, these difficulties, -that while the plains exposed us to greater heats in travelling, they -afforded no water, and we often lost much time in the necessity, we were -under, towards night-fall, of going back to the valley for water. -Neither was it found to be safe to travel far separated, for there were -many causes of accident, which rendered mutual assistance desirable. One -day, while Enobitti led the horse, and was conducting him from a lofty -ridge, to get into the valley, the animal stumbled, and rolled to the -bottom. We thought every bone in his body had been broke, but he had -been protected by his pack, and we found that he was but little injured, -and when repacked, still capable of going forward. On another occasion, -I had been leading him for several hours, along a high terrace of cliffs -on the left banks where this terrace was, as it were, suddenly cut off -by the intersection of a lateral valley. The view was a sublime one, -standing at the pinnacle of junction; but there was no possible way of -descent, and it was necessary to retrace my steps, a long--long way. As -an instance of the very tortuous character of this stream, I will -mention that a rocky peninsula, causing a bend which it took my -companion some two hours to pass, with the horse, I had crossed in less -than twenty minutes, with my hammer and gun. When we had, as we -supposed, become familiar with every species of impediment and delay, in -descending the valley, a new, and very serious and unexpected one, arose -one day, in crossing the stream, from the left to the right bank. It was -my turn to be muleteer that day, and I had selected a ford where the -river was not wide, and the water, apparently, some two or three feet -deep. I judged from the clearness of the pebbles at the bottom, and -their apparent nearness to the surface. But such was the transparency of -the water, that a wide mistake was made. We had nearly lost the horse, -he plunged in over head, could not touch bottom, and when with great -ado, we had got him up the steep bank on the other side, he was -completely exhausted. But this was not the extent of the evil. Our sugar -and salt were dissolved. Our meal, of which a little still remained, was -spoiled. Our tea was damaged,--our blankets and clothing wetted,--our -whole pack soaked. The horse had been so long in the water, in our often -fruitless efforts to get him to some part of the bank depressed enough, -to pull him up, that nothing had escaped its effects. We encamped on the -spot, and spent the rest of the day in drying our effects, and expelling -from our spare garments the superfluous moisture. - -The next day we struck out into the high plains, on the right bank, and -made a good day's journey. The country was nearly level, denuded of -trees, with sere autumnal grass. Often the prairie hen started up, but -we saw nothing in the animal creation beside, save a few hares, as -evening came on. To find water for the horse, and ourselves, we were -again compelled to approach the valley. We at length entered a dry and -desolate gorge, without grass or water. Night came on, but no sound or -sight of water occurred. We were sinking deeper and deeper into the -rocky structure of the country at every step, and soon found there were -high cliffs on either side of us. What we most feared now occurred. It -became dark, the clouds had threatened foul weather and it now began to -rain. Had it not been for a cavern, which disclosed itself, in one of -these calcareous cliffs, we must have passed a miserable night. On -entering it, we found a spring of water. It was too high in the cliff to -get the horse in, but we carried him water in a vessel. He was -afterwards hobbled, and left to shift for himself. On striking a fire, -in the cave, its rays disclosed masses of stalactites, and a dark avenue -into the rocks back. Having made a cup of tea and finished our repast, -we determined to explore the cave before lying down to rest, lest we -might be intruded on by some wild animal before morning. A torch of pine -wood was soon made, which guided our footsteps into the dismal recess, -but we found nothing of the kind. On returning to our fire, near the -mouth of the cave, we found the rain had increased to a heavy shower, -and the vivid flashes of lightning, illumined with momentary -brilliancy, the dark and frowning precipices of this romantic gorge. The -excitement and novelty of our position, served to drive away sleep, -notwithstanding a long day's march, and it was late before we sought -repose. - -Morning brought a clear sky, but the horse was gone. He had followed on -the back track, up the glen, in search of something to feed upon, and -was not found till we reached the skirts of the plains. The whole -morning was indeed, lost in reclaiming him, and we then set forward -again, and returned to the North Fork valley. We found it had assumed a -greater expanse, at the point of our re-entry, which it maintained, and -increased, as we pursued it down. Wide open oak plains extended on the -left bank, which appeared very eligible for the purposes of settlement. -On an oak tree, at this spot, we observed some marks, which had probably -been made by some enterprising land explorer. With these improved -evidences of its character for future occupation, we found the -travelling easier. Within a few miles travel, we noticed a tributary -coming in on the left bank, and at a lower point another on the left. -The first stream had this peculiarity, that its waters came in at a -right angle, with the parent stream, and with such velocity as to pass -directly across its channel to the opposite bank. In this vicinity, we -saw many of the deserted pole camps of the Osages, none of which -appeared, however, to have been recently occupied. So far, indeed, we -had met no hindrance, or annoyance from this people; we had not even -encountered a single member of the tribe, and felt assured that the -accounts we had received of their cruelty and rapacity, had been grossly -exaggerated, or if not wholly overcoloured, they must have related to a -period in their history, which was now well nigh past. We could not -learn that they had hunted on these lands, during late years, and were -afterwards given to understand that they had ceded them to the United -States by a treaty concluded at St. Louis. From whatever causes, -however, the district had been left free from their roving parties, it -was certain that the game had recovered under such a cessation of the -chase. The black bear, deer and elk, were abundant. We also frequently -saw signs of the labours of the beaver along the valley. I had the good -luck, one day, while in advance with my gun, of beholding two of these -animals, at play in the stream, and observing their graceful motions. My -position was, within point blank shot of them, but I was screened from -their gaze. I sat, with gun cocked, meaning to secure one of them after -they came to the shore. Both animals came out together, and sat on the -bank at the edge of the river, a ledge of rocks being in the rear of -them. The novelty of the sight led me to pause, and admire them, when, -all of a sudden, they darted into a crevice in the rock. - -On the second day after re-entering the valley, we descried, on -descending a long slope of rising ground, a hunter's cabin, covered with -narrow oak boards, split with a frow; and were exhilarated with the -idea of finding it occupied. But this turned out a delusive hope. It had -been deserted, from appearance, the year before. We found, among the -surrounding weeds, a few stems of the cotton plant, which had grown up -from seeds, accidentally dropped. The bolls had opened. I picked out the -cotton to serve as a material in lighting my camp fires, at night, this -being a labour which I had taken the exclusive management of. The site -of this camp, had been well chosen. There was a small stream in front, -and a heavy rich cane bottom behind it, extending to the banks of the -river. A handsome point of woodlands extended north of it, from the -immediate door of the camp. And although somewhat early in the day, we -determined to encamp, and soon made ourselves masters of the fabric, and -sat down before a cheerful fire, with a title to occupancy, which there -was no one to dispute. - - -THE BIRD. - -VERSIFIED FROM THE GERMAN OF GESSNER: 1812. - - A swain, as he strayed through the grove, - Had caught a young bird on a spray-- - What a gift, he exclaimed, for my love, - How beautiful, charming, and gay. - - With rapture he viewed the fair prize, - And listened with joy to its chat, - As with haste to the meadow he hies - To secure it beneath his straw hat. - - I will make of yon willows so gay, - A cage for my prisoner to mourn, - Then to Delia, the gift I'll convey, - And beg for a kiss in return. - - She will grant me that one, I am sure; - For a present so rare and so gay, - And I easily can steal a few more - And bear them enraptured away. - - He returned: but imagine his grief, - The wind had his hat overthrown, - And the bird, in the joy of relief, - Away with his kisses had flown. - - H. R. S. - - - - -PERSONAL INCIDENTS AND IMPRESSIONS OF THE INDIAN RACE, DRAWN FROM NOTES -OF TRAVEL AND RESIDENCE IN THEIR TERRITORIES. - -CHARACTER OF THE RED MAN OF AMERICA. - - - INQUIRY I.--What kind of a being is the North American - Indian?--Have we judged rightly of him?--What are his peculiar - traits, his affections, and his intellectual qualities?--Is he much - influenced by his religion, his mode of government, and his - complicated language. - -My earliest impressions of the Indian race, were drawn from the fireside -rehearsals of incidents which had happened during the perilous times of -the American revolution; in which my father was a zealous actor, and -were all inseparably connected with the fearful ideas of the Indian -yell, the tomahawk, the scalping knife, and the fire brand. In these -recitals, the Indian was depicted as the very impersonation of evil--a -sort of wild demon, who delighted in nothing so much as blood and -murder, Whether he had mind, was governed by any reasons, or even had -any soul, nobody inquired, and nobody cared. It was always represented -as a meritorious act in old revolutionary reminiscences, to have killed -one of them in the border wars, and thus aided in ridding the land of a -cruel and unnatural race, in whom all feelings of pity, justice, and -mercy, were supposed to be obliterated. These early ideas were sustained -by printed narratives of captivity and hair-breadth escapes of men and -women from their clutches, which, from time to time, fell into my hands, -so that long before I was ten years old, I had a most definite and -terrific idea impressed on my imagination of what was sometimes called -in my native precincts, "the bow and arrow race." - -To give a definite conception of the Indian man, there lived in my -native valley, a family of Indians of the Iroquois stock, who often went -off to their people in the west, and as often returned again, as if -they were a troop of genii, or the ghosts of the departed, who came to -haunt the nut wood forests, and sub-vallies of the sylvan Tawasenthaw, -which their ancestors had formerly possessed, and to which they still -claimed some right. In this family, which was of the Oneida tribe, and -consisted of the husband and wife, with two grown up sons, I first saw -those characteristic features of the race,--namely, a red skin, with -bright black eyes, and black straight hair. They were mild and docile in -their deportment, and were on friendly terms with the whole settlement, -whom they furnished with neatly made baskets of the linden wood, split -very thin, and coloured, to impart variety, and with nice ash brooms. -These fabrics made them welcome guests with every good housewife, who -had forgotten the horrific stories of the revolution, and who was ever -ready to give a chair and a plate, and a lodging place by the kitchen -fire, to poor old Isaac and Anna, for so they had been named. What their -original names were, nobody knew; they had lived so long in the valley -that they spoke the Dutch language, and never made use of their own, -except when talking together; and I recollect, we thought it a matter of -wonder, when they discoursed in Indian, whether such a guttural jargon, -could possibly be the medium of conveying any very definite ideas. It -seemed to be one undistinguished tissue of hard sounds, blending all -parts of speech together. - -Had the boys of my own age, and I may say, the grown people, stopped to -reflect, and been led to consider this family and their race in America, -independently of their gross acts, under the strong excitements of war -and revenge, goaded by wrongs, and led on by the class of revolutionary -tories, more implacable than even themselves, we must have seen, in the -peaceable lives, quiet manners, and benevolent dispositions of these -four people, a contradiction to, at least, some part, of the sweeping -conclusions above noticed. But no such thoughts occurred. The word -"Indian," was synonymous then, as perhaps now, with half the opprobrious -epithets in the dictionary. I recollect to have myself made a few lines, -in early life, on the subject, which ran thus:-- - - Indians they were, ere Colon crossed the sea, - And ages hence, they shall but _Indians_ be. - -Fortunately I was still young when my sphere of observation was -enlarged, by seeing masses of them, in their native forests; and I, -after a few years, assumed a position as government agent to one of the -leading tribes, at an age when opinions are not too firmly rooted to -permit change. My opinions were still, very much however, what they had -been in boyhood. I looked upon them as very cannibals and blood-thirsty -fellows, who were only waiting a good opportunity to knock one in the -head. But I regarded them as a curious subject of observation. The -remembrance of poor old Isaac, had shown me that there was some feeling -and humanity in their breasts, I had seen many of them in my travels in -the west, and I felt inclined to inquire into the traits of a people, -among whom my duties had placed me. I had, from early youth, felt -pleased with the study of natural history, and I thought the Indian, at -least in his languages, might be studied with something of the same mode -of exactitude. I had a strong propensity, at this time of life, for -analysis, and I believed that something like an analytical process might -be applied to enquiries, at least in the department of philology. -Whenever a fact occurred, in the progress of my official duties, which I -deemed characteristic, I made note of it, and in this way preserved a -sort of skeleton of dates and events, which, it was believed, would be a -source of useful future reference. It is, in truth, under advantages of -the kind, that these remarks are commenced. - -The author has thrown out these remarks, as a starting point. He has -made observations which do not, in all respects, coincide with the -commonly received opinions, and drawn some conclusions which are -directly adverse to them. He has been placed in scenes and circumstances -of varied interest, and met with many characters, in the course of four -and twenty years' residence and travel in the wilds of America, who -would have struck any observer as original and interesting. With numbers -of them, he has formed an intimate acquaintance, and with not a few, -contracted lasting friendships. Connected with them by a long residence, -by the exercise of official duties, and by still more delicate and -sacred ties, he has been regarded by them as one identified with their -history, and received many marks of their confidence. - -The Indians, viewed as a distinct branch of the human race, have some -peculiar traits and institutions, from which their history and character -may be advantageously studied. They hold some opinions, which are not -easily discovered by a stranger, or a foreigner, but which yet exert a -powerful influence on their conduct and life. There is a subtlety in -some of their modes of thought and belief, on life and the existence of -spiritual and creative power, which would seem to have been eliminated -from some intellectual crucible, without the limits of their present -sphere. Yet, there is much relative to all the common concerns of life, -which is peculiar to it. The author has witnessed many practices and -observances, such as travellers have often noticed, but like others, -attributed them to accident, or to some cause widely different from the -true one. By degrees, he has been admitted into their opinions, and if -we may so call it, the philosophy of their minds; and the life of an -Indian no longer appears to him a mystery. He sees him acting, as other -men would act, if placed exactly in his condition, prepared with the -education the forest has given him, and surrounded with the same wants, -temptations and dangers. - -The gentler affections are in much more extensive and powerful exercise -among the Indian race, than is generally believed, although necessarily -developed with less refinement than in civilized society. Their -paternal and fraternal affections, have long been known to be very -strong, as well as their veneration for the dead. It has been his -province in these departments, to add some striking examples of their -intensity of feeling and affection, and truthfulness to nature. - -The most powerful source of influence, with the Red man, is his -religion. Here is the true groundwork of his hopes and his fears, and, -it is believed, the fruitful source of his opinions and actions. It -supplies the system of thought by which he lives and dies, and it -constitutes, indeed, the basis of Indian character. By it he preserves -his identity, as a barbarian, and when this is taken away, and the true -system substituted, he is still a Red Man, but no longer, in the popular -sense, an _Indian_--a barbarian, a pagan. - -The Indian religion is a peculiar compound of rites, and doctrines, and -observances, which are early taught the children by precept and example. -In this respect, every bark-built village is a temple, and every forest -a school. It would surprise any person to become acquainted with the -variety and extent to which an Indian is influenced by his religious -views and superstitions. He takes no important step without reference to -it. It is his guiding motive in peace and in war. He follows the chace -under its influence, and his very amusements take their tincture from -it. To the author, the facts have been developing themselves for many -years, and while he is able to account for the peculiar differences -between the conduct of Indians and that of white men, in given cases, he -can easily perceive, why the latter have so often been unable to -calculate the actions of the former, and even to account for them, when -they have taken place. It may be here remarked, that the civilized man, -is no less a mysterious and unaccountable being to an Indian, because -his springs of action are alike unintelligible to him. - -If the following pages shall afford the public any means of judging of -the Red Race, with greater accuracy, he hopes they may lead to our -treating them with greater kindness and a more enlarged spirit of -justice. The change which has been wrought in his own mind, by the facts -he has witnessed, has been accompanied by a still more important one, as -to their intellectual capacities and moral susceptibilities, and their -consequent claims on the philanthropy of the age. As a class of men, it -is thought their native speakers, without letters or education, possess -a higher scope of thought and illustration, than the _corresponding -class_ in civilized life. This may be accounted for, perhaps, from -obvious external causes, without impugning the actual native capacity of -the lower, although educated classes of civilized life. Still, it is a -very striking fact, and one which has very often forced itself on the -attention of the author. The old idea that the Indian mind is not -susceptible of a high, or an advantageous developement, rests upon -questionable data. The two principal causes, which have prolonged their -continuance in a state of barbarism, on this continent, for so long a -period, are a false religion, and false views of government. The first -has kept back social prosperity and impeded the rise of virtue. With -respect to government, during all the time we have had them for -neighbours, they may be said to have had no government at all. Personal -independence, has kept the petty chiefs from forming confederacies for -the common good. Individuals have surrendered no part of their original -private rights, to secure the observance of the rest. There has been no -public social organization, expressed or implied. The consequence has -been that the law of private redress and revenge prevailed. In the only -two cases where this system was departed from, in North America, namely -that of the Azteek empire, and of the Iroquois confederacy, there was no -lack of vigour to improve. The results were a constantly increasing -power, and extending degree of knowledge up to the respective eras of -their conquest. It was not want of mental capacity, so much as the -non-existence of moral power, and of the doctrines of truth and virtue, -that kept them back; and left our own wandering tribes, particularly, -with the bow and the spear in their hands. He believes, that their -errors, in these particulars, may be pointed out, without drawing -conclusions adverse to their political or social prosperity, under -better auspicies, and without attributing such failures to mental -imbecility. - -The mode of recording thought, among these tribes, by means of pictorial -signs, and mnemonic symbols, has attracted particular attention, and -gives the author hopes, that he has been enabled to collect, and bring -forward, a body of facts, in this department, which will recommend -themselves by their interest and novelty. Confidence, inspired by long -residence in their territories, revealed to him another trait of -character, in the existence among them of a traditionary imaginative -lore, which is repeated from father to son, and has no small influence -upon their social condition. It is in these two departments, that, he -believes, he has opened new and important means of judging of the Indian -character, and discovered the sources of views and opinions, on many -subjects, which had escaped previous inquirers. - -There is one more point, to which he will here invite a momentary -attention, and which, although not usually enumerated as among the -practical causes that influenced Indian society and character, is yet -believed to exercise a strong, though silent sway, both upon the -question of the mental character, and its true development. The author -alludes to the topic of their languages. Some of the most venerated -writers present a theory of the origin of national government languages -and institutions, difficult or impossible to be conformed with the -nature of man in society, and unsupported by such evidence as their -doctrines require. Such, he regards, the theory of the "social compact," -except it be viewed in the most undefined and general sense possible. -Such, also, is the theory of the origin and improvement of languages. -The system of government generally prevailing among the Indian tribes, -is indeed so simple and natural, under their circumstances, that it is -thought no person would long seek for the traces of any great -legislator, giving them laws in any past period. When, however, we -consider the curious structure of their languages, we find an ingenuity -and complexity, far surpassing any theory to be discovered in that of -the modern languages of Europe, with, perhaps, some exceptions in the -Basque and Majyer, and even beyond any thing existing in the Greek. As -the latter has long been held up as a model, and the excellencies of its -plan attributed to some unknown, but great and sagacious, learned and -refined mind, we might feel justified in assigning the richness of -forms, the exceeding flexibility, and the characteristic beauties and -excellencies of the Indian tongues, to a mind of far superior wisdom, -ingenuity, and experience. Yet how perfectly gratuitous would this be! -All history bears testimony against the human invention and designed -alteration of language; and none but a mere theorist can ever embrace -the idea that it is, or ever was, in the power of any man, to fabricate -and introduce a new language, or to effect a fundamental change in the -groundwork of an existing one. This, at least, is the decided opinion of -the author; and he firmly believes, that whoever will contemplate the -subject, amidst such scenes as he has been accustomed to, will -inevitably come to the same conclusion. He has seen changes in dialects -commenced and progressive, and indications of others going on, but these -owed their origin and impulse to accidental circumstances, and were not -the result of any plan or design. They were the result of necessity, -convenience, or caprice. These three causes, that is to say, necessity -convenience and caprice, if properly examined and appreciated in their -influence, and traced with care to their effects, will develop the -origin of many things, whose existence has been sought at too great a -distance, or amidst too much refinement. - -Books, and the readers of books, have done much to bewilder and perplex -the study of the Indian character. Fewer theories and more observation, -less fancy and more fact, might have brought us to much more correct -opinions than those which are now current. The Indian is, after all, -believed to be a man, much more fully under the influence of common -sense notions, and obvious every-day motives of thought and action, hope -and fear, than he passes for. If he does not come to the same -conclusions, on passing questions, as we do, it is precisely because he -sees the premises, under widely different circumstances. The admitted -errors of barbarism and the admitted truths of civilization, are two -very different codes. He is in want of almost every source of true -knowledge and opinion, which we possess. He has very imperfect notions -on many of those branches of knowledge in what we suppose him best -informed. He is totally in the dark as to others. His vague and vast and -dreamy notions of the Great Author of Existence, and the mode of his -manifestations to the human race, and the wide and complicated system of -superstition and transcendental idolatry which he has reared upon this -basis, place him, at once, with all his sympathies and theories, out of -the great pale of truth and civilization. This is one of the leading -circumstances which prevents him from drawing his conclusions as we draw -them. Placed under precisely similar circumstances, we should perhaps -coincide in his opinion and judgments. But aside from these erroneous -views, and after making just allowances for his ignorance and moral -depression, the Indian is a man of plain common sense judgment, acting -from what he knows, and sees, and feels, of objects immediately before -him, or palpable to his view. If he sometimes employs a highly -figurative style to communicate his thoughts, and even stoops, as we -_now_ know he does, to amuse his fire-side circle with tales of -extravagant and often wild demonic fancy, he is very far from being a -man who, in his affairs of lands, and merchandize, and business, -exchanges the sober thoughts of self preservation and subsistence, for -the airy conceptions of fancy. The ties of consanguinity bind him -strongly. The relation of the family is deep and well traced amongst the -wildest tribes, and this fact alone forms a basis for bringing him back -to all his original duties, and re-organizing Indian society. The author -has, at least, been thrown into scenes and positions, in which this -truth has strongly presented itself to his mind, and he believes the -facts are of a character which will interest the reader, and may be of -some use to the people themselves, so far as affects the benevolent -plans of the age, if they do not constitute an increment in the body of -observational testimony, of a practical nature, from which the character -of the race is to be judged. - - - - -PERSONAL INCIDENTS AND IMPRESSIONS OF THE RED RACE, DRAWN FROM NOTES OF -RESIDENCE AND TRAVEL IN THE INDIAN TERRITORIES. - -DOMESTIC CONDITION OF THE TRIBES AND CONSTITUTION OF THE INDIAN FAMILY. - - - INQUIRY II.--What is the domestic condition and organization of the - Indian family? Is the tie of consanguinity strong, and what - characteristic facts can be stated of it? How are the domestic - duties arranged? What are the rights of each inmate of the lodge? - How is order maintained in so confined a space, and the general - relations of the family preserved? Are the relative duties and - labours of the hunter and his wife, equally or unequally divided? - Who builds the lodge, and how is it constructed? - -There is a very striking agreement, in the condition, relative duties -and obligations, of the Indian family, among all the tribes of whom I -have any personal knowledge, in North America. Climate and position, the -abundance or want of the means of subsistence and other accidental -causes, have created gradations of condition in the various tribes, some -of whom excel others in expertness, in hunting and war, and other arts, -but these circumstances have done little to alter the general -characteristics, or to abridge or enlarge the original rights and claims -of each inmate of the lodge. The tribes who cultivated maize in the rich -sub-vallies and plains of the Ohio and Mississippi, had fuller means of -both physical and mental development, than those who were, and still -are, obliged to pick a scanty subsistence, among the frigid, and half -marine regions in the latitudes north of the great lakes. There are some -peculiar traits of manners, in the prairie-tribes, west of the -Mississippi, who pursue the bison on horse back, and rely for their -subsistence greatly, on its flesh, and the sale of its skin. The well -fed Muscogee, Cherokee, or Choctaw, who lived in the sunny vallies of -upper Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, the robust Osage, revelling in -the abundance of corn and wild meat, south of the Missouri, and the -lean and rigid Montaignes, Muskeego, and Kenisteno, who push their -canoes through waters choked with aquatic weeds, and wild rice, present -very different pictures of home and comfort, within their lodge doors. -But they really present the same idea, the same sentiments, and the same -round of duties and obligations, of father and mother, sister and -brother, wife and husband. The original type of the human family among -them, is well preserved, better, indeed, than was to have been expected -in a state of barbarism, and among branches of the race who have been so -long separated, and subjected to such severe vicissitudes. It would be -useless, in this view, to draw a parallel between the relative condition -of the members of a family, within, and without the pale of -civilization. Nothing of the kind could be done, without showing up -pictures of want in the hunter-life which are wholly unknown in the -agricultural state. It cannot perhaps, in fair justice, be said that the -tie of consanguinity, in the man of the woods, is stronger, than in -civilized life. But it is in accordance with all observation to say, -that it is very strong, that its impulses beat with marked force, and -are more free from the intertwined ligaments of interest, which often -weakens the tie of relationship in refined and affluent society. - -The true idea of matrimony, in Indian life, is also well set forth and -acknowledged, although it has come down through ages of plunder and -wandering, degraded in its condition, shorn of its just ceremonies, and -weakened in its sacred character. I have observed that polygamy, among -the northern tribes, is chiefly to be found, among bands who are -favourably located, and have the best means of subsistence. But even -here it is not reputable; it may often increase a man's influence in the -tribe or nation, but there are always persons in the wildest forests, -who do not think the practice right or reputable. In the worst state of -Indian society, there are always some glimmerings of truth. If the -conscience of the Red man may be compared to a lamp, it may be said to -have rather sunk low into its socket, than actually to have expired. The -relation between husband and wife, in the forest, are formed under -circumstances, which are generally uniform. Various incidents, or -motives determine a union. Sometimes it is brought about by the -intervention of friends; sometimes from a sudden impulse of admiration; -sometimes with, and sometimes against the wishes of the graver and more -prudent relatives of the parties. Where the husband is acceptable, and -has not before been married, which covers the majority of cases, he -comes to live for a while after marriage, in the lodge of his -mother-in-law; and this relation generally lasts until the increase of -children, or other circumstances determine his setting up a lodge for -himself. Presents are still a ready way for a young hunter to render -himself acceptable in a lodge. There are some instances, where -considerable ceremony, and the invitation of friends, have attended the -first reception of the bridegroom, at the lodge; but these are in most -cases, what we should denominate matches of state, or expediency, in -which the bravery, or other public services of a chief or leader, has -inclined his village to think, that his merits deserve the reward of a -wife. Generally, the acceptance of the visitor by the party most -interested, and her mother and father, and their expressed, or tacit -consent, is the only preliminary, and this is done in a private way. The -only ceremonial observance, of which I have ever heard, is the assigning -of what is called an abbinos, or permanent lodge seat, to the -bridegroom. When this has been done, by the mother or mistress of the -lodge, who governs these things, he is received, and henceforth -installed as a constituent member of the lodge and family. The simple -rule is, that he who has a right to sit by the bride, is her husband. - -The lodge itself, with all its arrangements, is the precinct of the rule -and government of the wife. She assigns to each member, his or her -ordinary place to sleep and put their effects. These places are -permanent, and only changed at her will, as when there is a guest by day -or night. In a space so small as a lodge this system preserves order, -and being at all times under her own eye, is enforced by personal -supervision. The husband has no voice in this matter, and I have never -heard of an instance in which he would so far deviate from his position, -as to interfere in these minor particulars. The lodge is her precinct, -the forest his. - -There is no law, nor force, to prevent an Indian from decreeing his own -divorce, that is to say, leaving one wife and taking another whenever he -sees cause. Yet it often occurs that there is some plausible pretext for -such a step, such as if true, would form some justification of the -measure. The best protection to married females arises from the ties of -children, which by bringing into play the strong natural affections of -the heart, and appeals at once to that principle in man's original -organization, which is the strongest. The average number of children -borne by the women, and which reach the adult period is small, and will -scarcely exceed two. On the pay rolls it did not exceed this. Much of -this extraordinary result is owing to their erratic mode of life, and -their cramped means of subsistence. Another cause is to be found in the -accidents and exposure to which young children are liable, but still -more to their shocking ignorance of medicine. I once knew a child at -three years of age to be killed by an attempt to restore a deranged -state of the bowels, by a strong overdose of an astringent tincture of -hemlock bark administered by her father. This man, who was called -Attuck, had strong natural affections, but he was very ignorant even in -the eyes of the Indian race, being one of that people living N. E. of -lake Superior, who are called variously Gens de Terres, Mountaineers, -and Muskeegoes, Wherever the laws of reproduction are relieved from -these depressing circumstances, the number of children is seen to be -increased. - -The chief Iaba-Waddick, who lived on a small bay at the foot of lake -Superior, and had abundance of means of subsistence, had fourteen -children by one wife. He was an excellent hunter, and of habits for the -most part of his life, strictly temperate; he had married young, and had -always had the means of providing his family with adequate clothing and -food. Not one of these children died in infancy. He lived himself to be -old, and died rather from a complaint induced by constitutional -structure, than from a natural decay of vital power. - -The duties and labours of Indian life, are believed to be equally, and -not, as has been generally thought, unequally divided between the male -and female. This division is also the most natural possible, and such as -must ever result from the condition of man, as a mere hunter. It is the -duty of the male to provide food, and of the female to prepare it. This -arrangement carries with it to the share of the male, all that relates -to external concerns, and all that pertains to the internal to the care -of the female as completely as is done in civilized life. To the man -belongs not only the business of hunting, for this is an _employment_ -and not a _pastime_, but the care of the territory, and keeping off -intruders and enemies, and the preparation of canoes for travel, and of -arms and implements of war. The duties of cooking and dressing meats and -fowl, and whatever else the chase affords, carries on the other hand, to -the share of the hunter's wife, the entire care and controul of the -lodge, with its structure and removal, and the keeping it in order, with -all its utensils and apparatus. A good and frugal hunter's wife, makes -all this a point of ambitious interest, and takes a pride in keeping it -neat and proper for the reception of her husband's guests. She sweeps -the earth clean around the fire, with a broom of branches of the cedar -constructed for this purpose. This lodge it is to be remembered, is made -not of beams and posts, and heavy carpentry, but out of thin poles, such -as a child can lift, set in the ground in a circle, bent over and tied -at the top, and sheathed with long sheets of the white birch bark. A rim -of cedar wood at the bottom, assimilates these birch bark sheets to the -roller of a map, to which in stormy weather a stone is attached to hold -it firm. This stick has also the precise use of a map-roller, for when -the lodge is to be removed, the bark is rolled on it, and in this shape -carried to the canoe, to be set up elsewhere. The circle of sticks or -frame, is always left standing, as it would be useless to encumber the -canoe with what can easily be had at any position in a forest country. - -Such at least is the hunting lodge, and indeed, the lodge generally used -by the tribes north of lattitude 42°. It is, in its figure, a half -globe, and by its lightness and wicker-like structure, may be said to -resemble an inverted bird's nest. The whole amount of the transportable -materials of it, is often comprehended in some half a dozen good rolls -of bark, and as many of rush mats which the merest girl can easily lift. -The mats which are the substitute for floor cloths, and also the under -stratum of the sleeping couch, are made out of the common lacustris or -bullrush, or the flag, cut at the proper season, and woven in a warp of -fine hemp net thread, such as is furnished by traders in the present -state of the Indian trade. A portion of this soft vegetable woof, is -dyed, and woven in various colours. Lodges thus constructed are to be -still abundantly seen, by the summer visitor, in the upper lakes, at all -the principal points, to which the Indians resort, during the height of -summer. Such are the posts of Michilimackinac, Sault Ste. Marie, and -Green Bay. At Michilimackinac, where it is now difficult to get fresh -lodge poles, without going some distance, or trespassing on private -rights, the natives who resort thither, of late years, have adopted an -ingenious change, by which two objects are accomplished at the same -time, and the labour of the females dispensed with in getting new poles. -It is known, that the bark canoe, being itself but an enlarged species -of wicker work, has not sufficient strength to be freighted, without -previously having a number of poles laid longitudinally, in the bottom, -as a kind of vertebral support. These poles on landing upon the gravelly -shores of that island, are set up, or stacked, to use a military phrase, -that is tying the tops together and then drawing out the other ends so -as to describe a circle, and thus making a perfect cone. The bark -tapestry is hung around these poles very much as it would be around the -globular close lodges; and by this arrangement, an Indian lodge is -raised, and ready for occupation, in as many minutes, after landing, as -the most expert soldiers could pitch a tent in. - -Before we can affirm that the labour of preparing these barks and mats -and setting up, and taking down, the lodge, is disproportionately great, -or heavy on the females, it will be necessary to inquire into other -particulars, both on the side of the male and female. Much of the time -of an Indian female, is passed in idleness. This is true not only of a -part of every day, but is emphatically so, of certain seasons of the -year. She has not like the farmer's wife, her cows to milk, her butter -and cheese to make, and her flax to spin. She has not to wash and comb -and prepare her children every morning, to go to school. She has no -extensive or fine wardrobe to take care of. She has no books to read. -She sets little value on time, which is characteristic of all the race. -What she does, is either very plain sewing, or some very pains taking -ornamental thing. When the sheathing and flooring of the lodges are once -made, they are permanent pieces of property, and do not require frequent -renewal. When a skin has been dressed, and a garment made of it, it is -worn, till it is worn out. Frequent ablution and change of dress, are -eminently the traits of high civilization, and not of the hunter's -lodge. The articles which enter into the mysteries of the laundry, add -but little to the cares of a forest housekeeper. With every industrial -effort, and such is, sometimes the case, there is much unoccupied time, -while her husband is compelled by their necessities, to traverse large -tracts, and endure great fatigues, in all weathers in quest of food. He -must defend his hunting grounds, in peace and war, and has his life -daily in his hands. Long absences are often necessary, on these -accounts. It is at such times, during the open season, that the Indian -female exerts her industry. In the fall season, she takes her children -in a canoe, or if she have none, invites a female companion to go with -her, along the streams, to cut the rush, to be manufactured into mats, -at her leisure, in the winter. It is also a part of her duty, at all -seasons, to provide fuel for the lodge fire, which she is careful to do, -that she may suitably receive her husband, on his return from the chase, -and have the means of drying his wet moccasins, and a cheerful spot, -where he may light his pipe, and regain his mental equilibrium, while -she prepares his meals. The very idea of a female's chopping wood, is to -some horriffic. But it is quite true that the Indian female _does_ chop -wood, or at least, exert an undue labour, in procuring this necessary -article of the household. In speaking of the female, we, at once, rush -to the poetic idea of the refinement of lady like gentleness, and -delicacy. Not only does the nature of savage life and the hardiness of -muscle created by centuries of forest vicissitude, give the hunter's -wife, but a slender claim on this particular shade of character, but the -kind of labour implied, is very different from the notion civilized men -have of "wood chopping." The emigrant swings a heavy axe of six pounds -weight, incessantly, day _in_, and day _out_, against immense trees, in -the heaviest forest, until he has opened the land to the rays of the -sun, and prepared an amount of cyclopean labours for the power of fire, -and the ox. The hunter clears no forests, the limits of which on the -contrary, he carefully cherishes for his deer to range in. He seats -himself down, with his lodge, in the borders of natural glades, or -meadows, to plant his few hills of maize. He had no metallic axe, -capable of cutting down a tree, before 1492, and he has never learned to -wield a heavy axe up to 1844. His wife, always made her lodge fires by -gathering sticks, and she does so still. She takes a hatchet of one or -two pounds weight, and after collecting dry limbs in the forest, she -breaks them into lengths of about 18 inches, and ties them in bundles, -or faggots, and carries them, at her leisure, to her lodge. Small as -these sticks are, in their length and diameter, but few are required to -boil her pot. The lodge, being of small circumference, but little heat -is required to warm the air, and by suspending the pot by a string from -above, over a small blaze, the object is attained, without that -extraordinary expenditure of wood, which, to the perfect amazement of -the Indian, characterizes the emigrant's roaring fire of logs. The few -fields which the Indians have cleared and prepared for corn fields, in -northern latitudes, are generally to be traced to some adventitious -opening, and have been enlarged very slowly. Hence, I have observed, -that when they have come to be appraised, to fix their value as -improvements upon the land, under treaty provisions, that the amount -thereof may be paid the owner, they have uniformly set a high estimate -upon these ancient clearings, and sometimes regarded their value, one -would think, in the inverse proportion of these limits. As if, indeed, -there were some merit, in having but half an acre of cleared ground, -where, it might be supposed, the owner would have cultivated ten acres. -And this half acre, is to be regarded as the industrial sum of the -agricultural labours of all ages and sexes, during perhaps, ten -generations. Could the whole of this physical effort, therefore, be -traced to female hands, which is doubtful, for the old men and boys, -will often do something, it would not be a very severe imposition. There -is at least, a good deal, it is believed, in this view of the domestic -condition of the women to mitigate the severity of judgment, with which -the proud and labour-hating hunter, has sometimes been visited. He has, -in our view, the most important part of the relative duties of Indian -life, to sustain. In the lodge he is a mild, considerate man, of the -non-interfering and non-scolding species. He may indeed, be looked upon, -rather as the guest of his wife, than what he is often represented to -be, her tyrant, and he is often only known as the lord of the lodge, by -the attention and respect which _she_ shows to him. He is a man of few -words. If her temper is ruffled, he smiles. If he is displeased, he -walks away. It is a province in which his actions acknowledge her right -to rule; and it is one, in which his pride and manliness have exalted -him above the folly of altercation. - - -THE MANITO TREE. - -There is a prominent hill in the vicinity of Sault Ste. Marie, at the -outlet of lake Superior, called by the French _La Butte des Terres_. An -Indian footpath formerly connected this hill with the old French -settlement at those falls, from which it is distant about a mile. In the -intermediate space, near the path, there formerly stood a tree, a large -mountain ash, from which, Indian tradition says, there issued a sound, -resembling that produced by their own war-drums, during one of the most -calm and cloudless days. This occurred long before the French appeared -in the country. It was consequently regarded as the local residence of a -spirit, and deemed sacred. - -From that time they began to deposit at its foot, an offering of small -green twigs and boughs, whenever they passed the path, so that, in -process of time, a high pile of these offerings of the forest was -accumulated. It seemed as if, by this procedure, the other trees had -each made an offering to this tree. At length the tree blew down, during -a violent storm, and has since entirely decayed, but the spot was -recollected and the offerings kept up, and they would have been -continued to the present hour, had not an accidental circumstance put a -stop to it. - -In the month of July 1822, the government sent a military force to take -post, at that ancient point of French settlement, at the foot of the -falls, and one of the first acts of the commanding officer was to order -out a fatigue party to cut a wagon road from the selected site of the -post to the hill. This road was directed to be cut sixty feet wide, and -it passed over the site of the tree. The pile of offerings was thus -removed, without the men's knowing that it ever had had a superstitious -origin; and thus the practice itself came to an end. I had landed with -the troops, and been at the place but nine days, in the exercise of my -appropriate duties as an Agent on the part of the government to the -tribe, when this trait of character was mentioned to me, and I was thus -made personally acquainted with the locality, the cutting of the road, -and the final extinction of the rite. - -Our Indians are rather prone to regard the coming of the white man, as -fulfilling certain obscure prophecies of their own priests; and that -they are, at best, harbingers of evil to them; and with their usual -belief in fatality, they tacitly drop such rites as the foregoing. They -can excuse themselves to their consciences in such cases, in -relinquishing the worship of a local manito, by saying: it is the tread -of the white man that has desecrated the ground. - - - - -TALES OF A WIGWAM. - - - - -THE WHITE STONE CANOE. - - -There was once a very beautiful young girl, who died suddenly on the day -she was to have been married to a handsome young man. He was also brave, -but his heart was not proof against this loss. From the hour she was -buried, there was no more joy or peace for him. He went often to visit -the spot where the women had buried her, and sat musing there, when, it -was thought, by some of his friends, he would have done better to try to -amuse himself in the chase, or by diverting his thoughts in the -war-path. But war and hunting had both lost their charms for him. His -heart was already dead within him. He pushed aside both his war-club and -his bow and arrows. - -He had heard the old people say, that there was a path, that led to the -land of souls, and he determined to follow it. He accordingly set out, -one morning, after having completed his preparations for the journey. At -first he hardly knew which way to go. He was only guided by the -tradition that he must go south. For a while, he could see no change in -the face of the country. Forests, and hills, and vallies, and streams -had the same looks, which they wore in his native place. There was snow -on the ground, when he set out, and it was sometimes seen to be piled -and matted on the thick trees and bushes. At length, it began to -diminish, and finally disappeared. The forest assumed a more cheerful -appearance, the leaves put forth their buds, and before he was aware of -the completeness of the change, he found himself surrounded by spring. -He had left behind him the land of snow and ice. The air became mild, -the dark clouds of winter had rolled away from the sky; a pure field of -blue was above him, and as he went he saw flowers beside his path, and -heard the songs of birds. By these signs he knew that he was going the -right way, for they agreed with the traditions of his tribe. At length -he spied a path. It led him through a grove, then up a long and elevated -ridge, on the very top of which he came to a lodge. At the door stood an -old man, with white hair, whose eyes, though deeply sunk, had a fiery -brilliancy. He had a long robe of skins thrown loosely around his -shoulders, and a staff in his hands. - -The young Chippewayan began to tell his story; but the venerable chief -arrested him, before he had proceeded to speak ten words. I have -expected you, he replied, and had just risen to bid you welcome to my -abode. She, whom you seek, passed here but a few days since, and being -fatigued with her journey, rested herself here. Enter my lodge and be -seated, and I will then satisfy your enquiries, and give you directions -for your journey from this point. Having done this, they both issued -forth to the lodge door. "You see yonder gulf, said he, and the wide -stretching blue plains beyond. It is the land of souls. You stand upon -its borders, and my lodge is the gate of entrance. But you cannot take -your body along. Leave it here with your bow and arrows, your bundle and -your dog. You will find them safe on your return." So saying, he -re-entered the lodge, and the freed traveller bounded forward, as if his -feet had suddenly been endowed with the power of wings. But all things -retained their natural colours and shapes. The woods and leaves, and -streams and lakes, were only more bright and comely than he had ever -witnessed. Animals bounded across his path, with a freedom and a -confidence which seemed to tell him, there was no blood shed here. Birds -of beautiful plumage inhabited the groves, and sported in the waters. -There was but one thing, in which he saw a very unusual effect. He -noticed that his passage was not stopped by trees or other objects. He -appeared to walk directly through them. They were, in fact, but the -souls or shadows of material trees. He became sensible that he was in a -land of shadows. When he had travelled half a day's journey, through a -country which was continually becoming more attractive, he came to the -banks of a broad lake, in the centre of which was a large and beautiful -island. He found a canoe of shining white stone, tied to the shore. He -was now sure that he had come the right path, for the aged man had told -him of this. There were also shining paddles. He immediately entered the -canoe, and took the paddles in his hands, when to his joy and surprise, -on turning round, he beheld the object of his search in another canoe, -exactly its counterpart in every thing. She had exactly imitated his -motions, and they were side by side. They at once pushed out from shore -and began to cross the lake. Its waves seemed to be rising and at a -distance looked ready to swallow them up; but just as they entered the -whitened edge of them they seemed to melt away, as if they were but the -images of waves. But no sooner was one wreath of foam passed, than -another, more threatening still, rose up. Thus they were in perpetual -fear; and what added to it, was the _clearness of the water_, through -which they could see heaps of beings who had perished before, and whose -bones laid strewed on the bottom of the lake. The Master of Life had, -however, decreed to let them pass, for the actions of neither of them -had been bad. But they saw many others struggling and sinking in the -waves. Old men and young men, males and females of all ages and ranks, -were there; some passed, and some sank. It was only the little children -whose canoes seemed to meet no waves. At length, every difficulty was -gone, as in a moment, and they both leapt out on the happy island. They -felt that the very air was food. It strengthened and nourished them. -They wandered together over the blissful fields, where every thing was -formed to please the eye and the ear. There were no tempests--there was -no ice, no chilly winds--no one shivered for the want of warm clothes: -no one suffered for hunger--no one mourned for the dead. They saw no -graves. They heard of no wars. There was no hunting of animals; for the -air itself was their food. Gladly would the young warrior have remained -there forever, but he was obliged to go back for his body. He did not -see the Master of Life, but he heard his voice in a soft breeze: "Go -back, said this voice, to the land from whence you came. Your time has -not yet come. The duties for which I made you, and which you are to -perform, are not yet finished. Return to your people, and accomplish the -duties of a good man. You will be the ruler of your tribe for many days. -The rules you must observe, will be told you by my messenger, who keeps -the gate. When he surrenders back your body, he will tell you what to -do. Listen to him, and you shall afterwards rejoin the spirit, which you -must now leave behind. She is accepted and will be ever here, as young -and as happy as she was when I first called her from the land of snows." -When this voice ceased, the narrator awoke. It was the fancy work of a -dream, and he was still in the bitter land of snows, and hunger and -tears. - - - - -THE - -LYNX AND THE HARE, - -A FABLE FROM THE OJIBWA-ALGONQUIN. - - -A lynx almost famished, met a hare one day in the woods, in the winter -season, but the hare was separated from its enemy by a rock, upon which -it stood. The lynx began to speak to it in a very kind manner. "Wabose! -Wabose!"[3] said he, "come here my little white one, I wish to talk to -you." "O no," said the hare, "I am afraid of you, and my mother told me -never to go and talk with strangers." "You are very pretty," replied the -lynx, "and a very obedient child to your parents; but you must know that -I am a relative of yours; I wish to send some word to your lodge; come -down and see me." The hare was pleased to be called pretty, and when she -heard that it was a relative, she jumped down from the place where she -stood, and immediately the lynx pounced upon her and tore her to pieces. - - -FOOTNOTES: - - [3] This word appears to be a derivation from the radix WAWB, white. The -termination in o is the objective sign. The term is made diminutive in -s. - - - - -THE WORSHIP OF THE SUN, - -AN OTTOWA TRADITION. - - -A long time ago, there lived an aged Odjibwa and his wife, on the shores -of Lake Huron. They had an only son, a very beautiful boy, whose name -was O-no-wut-a-qut-o, or he that catches the clouds. The family were of -the totem of the beaver. The parents were very proud of him, and thought -to make him a celebrated man, but when he reached the proper age, he -would not submit to the We-koon-de-win, or fast. When this time arrived, -they gave him charcoal, instead of his breakfast, but he would not -blacken his face. If they denied him food, he would seek for birds' -eggs, along the shore, or pick up the heads of fish that had been cast -away, and broil them. One day, they took away violently the food he had -thus prepared, and cast him some coals in place of it. This act brought -him to a decision. He took the coals and blackened his face, and went -out of the lodge. He did not return, but slept without; and during the -night, he had a dream. He dreamed that he saw a very beautiful female -come down from the clouds and stand by his side. "O-no-wut-a-qut-o," -said she, "I am come for you--step in my tracks." The young man did so, -and presently felt himself ascending above the tops of the trees--he -mounted up, step by step, into the air, and through the clouds. His -guide, at length, passed through an orifice, and he, following her, -found himself standing on a beautiful plain. - -A path led to a splendid lodge. He followed her into it. It was large, -and divided into two parts. On one end he saw bows and arrows, clubs and -spears, and various warlike implements tipped with silver. On the other -end, were things exclusively belonging to females. This was the home of -his fair guide, and he saw that she had, on the frame, a broad rich -belt, of many colours, which she was weaving. She said to him: "My -brother is coming and I must hide you." Putting him in one corner, she -spread the belt over him. Presently the brother came in, very richly -dressed, and shining as if he had had points of silver all over him. He -took down from the wall a splendid pipe, together with his sack of -a-pa-ko-ze-gun, or smoking mixture. When he had finished regaling -himself in this way, and laid his pipe aside, he said to his sister: -"Nemissa," (which is, my elder sister,) "when will you quit these -practices? Do you forget that the Greatest of the Spirits has commanded -that you should not take away the children from below? Perhaps you -suppose that you have concealed O-na-wut-a-qut-o, but do I not know of -his coming? If you would not offend me, send him back immediately." But -this address did not alter her purpose. She would not send him back. -Finding that she was purposed in her mind, he then spoke to the young -lad, and called him from his hiding place. "Come out of your -concealment," said he, "and walk about and amuse yourself. You will grow -hungry if you remain there." He then presented him a bow and arrows, and -a pipe of red stone, richly ornamented. This was taken as the word of -consent to his marriage; so the two were considered husband and wife -from that time. - -O-no-wut-a-qut-o found every thing exceedingly fair and beautiful around -him, but he found no inhabitants except her brother. There were flowers -on the plains. There were bright and sparkling streams. There were green -vallies and pleasant trees. There were gay birds and beautiful animals, -but they were not such as he had been accustomed to see. There was also -day and night, as on the earth; but he observed that every morning the -brother regularly left the lodge, and remained absent all day; and every -evening the sister departed, though it was commonly but for a part of -the night. - -His curiosity was aroused to solve this mystery. He obtained the -brother's consent to accompany him in one of his daily journies. They -travelled over a smooth plain, without boundaries, until -O-no-wut-a-qut-o felt the gnawings of appetite, and asked his companion -if there were no game. "Patience! my brother," said he, "we shall soon -reach the spot where I eat my dinner, and you will then see how I am -provided." After walking on a long time, they came to a place which was -spread over with fine mats, where they sat down to refresh themselves. -There was, at this place, a hole through the sky; and O-no-wut-a-qut-o, -looked down, at the bidding of his companion, upon the earth. He saw -below the great lakes, and the villages of the Indians. In one place, he -saw a war party stealing on the camp of their enemies. In another, he -saw feasting and dancing. Oh a green plain, young men were engaged at -ball. Along a stream, women were employed in gathering the a-puk-wa for -mats. - -"Do you see," said the brother, "that group of children playing beside a -lodge. Observe that beautiful and active boy," said he, at the same time -darting something at him, from his hand. The child immediately fell, and -was carried into the lodge. - -They looked again, and saw the people gathering about the lodge. They -heard the she-she-gwan of the meeta, and the song he sung, asking that -the child's life might be spared. To this request, the companion of -O-no-wut-a-qut-o made answer--"send me up the sacrifice of a white dog." -Immediately a feast was ordered by the parents of the child, the white -dog was killed, his carcass was roasted, and all the wise men and -medicine men of the village assembled to witness the ceremony, "There -are many below," continued the voice of the brother, "whom you call -great in medical skill, but it is because their ears are open, and they -listen to my voice, that they are able to succeed. When I have struck -one with sickness, they direct the people to look to me: and when they -send me the offering I ask, I remove my hand from off them, and they are -well." After he had said this, they saw the sacrifice parcelled out in -dishes, for those who were at the feast. The master of the feast then -said, "we send this to thee, Great Manito," and immediately the roasted -animal came up. Thus their dinner was supplied, and after they had -eaten, they returned to the lodge by another way. - -After this manner they lived for some time; but the place became -wearisome at last. O-no-wut-a-qut-o thought of his friends, and wished -to go back to them. He had not forgotten his native village, and his -father's lodge; and he asked leave of his wife, to return. At length she -consented. "Since you are better pleased," she replied, "with the cares -and the ills, and the poverty of the world, than with the peaceful -delights of the sky, and its boundless prairies, go! I give you -permission, and since I have brought you hither, I will conduct you -back; but remember, you are still my husband, I hold a chain in my hand -by which I can draw you back, whenever I will. My power over you is not, -in any manner, diminished. Beware, therefore, how you venture to take a -wife among the people below. Should you ever do so, it is then that you -shall feel the force of my displeasure." - -As she said this, her eyes sparkled--she raised herself slightly on her -toes, and stretched herself up, with a majestic air; and at that moment, -O-no-wut-a-qut-o awoke from his dream. He found himself on the ground, -near his father's lodge, at the very spot where he had laid himself down -to fast. Instead of the bright beings of a higher world, he found -himself surrounded by his parents and relatives. His mother told him he -had been absent a year. The change was so great, that he remained for -some time moody and abstracted, but by degrees, he recovered his -spirits. He began to doubt the reality of all he had heard and seen -above. At last, he forgot the admonitions of his spouse, and married a -beautiful young woman of his own tribe. But within four days, she was a -corpse. Even the fearful admonition was lost, and he repeated the -offence by a second marriage. Soon afterwards, he went out of the lodge, -one night, but never returned. It was believed that his wife had -recalled him to the region of the clouds, where the tradition asserts, -he still dwells, and walks on the daily rounds, which he once witnessed. - - * * * * * - -The native tribes are a people without maxims: One of the few which have -been noticed is this: Do not tell a story in the summer; if you do, the -toads will visit you. - - - - -SHINGEBISS, - -FROM THE ODJIBWA-ALGONQUIN. - - -There was once a Shingebiss, [the name of a kind of duck] living alone, -in a solitary lodge, on the shores of the deep bay of a lake, in the -coldest winter weather. The ice had formed on the water, and he had but -four logs of wood to keep his fire. Each of these, would, however, burn -a month, and as there were but four cold winter months, they were -sufficient to carry him through till spring. - -Shingebiss was hardy and fearless, and cared for no one. He would go out -during the coldest day, and seek for places where flags and rushes grew -through the ice, and plucking them up with his bill, would dive through -the openings, in quest of fish. In this way he found plenty of food, -while others were starving, and he went home daily to his lodge, -dragging strings of fish after him, on the ice. - -Kabebonicca[4] observed him, and felt a little piqued at his -perseverance and good luck in defiance of the severest blasts of wind he -could send from the northwest. "Why! this is a wonderful man," said he; -"he does not mind the cold, and appears as happy and contented, as if it -were the month of June. I will try, whether he cannot be mastered." He -poured forth ten-fold colder blasts, and drifts of snow, so that it was -next to impossible to live in the open air. Still the fire of Shingebiss -did not go out: he wore but a single strip of leather around his body, -and he was seen, in the worst weather, searching the shores for rushes, -and carrying home fish. - -"I shall go and visit him," said Kabebonicca, one day, as he saw -Shingebiss dragging along a quantity of fish. And accordingly, that very -night, he went to the door of his lodge. Meantime Shingebiss had cooked -his fish, and finished his meal, and was lying, partly on his side, -before the fire singing his songs. After Kabebonicca had come to the -door, and stood listening there, he sang as follows: - - Ka Neej Ka Neej - Be In Be In - Bon In Bon In - Oc Ee. Oc Ee. - Ca We-ya! Ca We-ya! - -The number of words, in this song, are few and simple, but they are made -up from compounds which carry the whole of their original meanings, and -are rather suggestive of the ideas floating in the mind, than actual -expressions of those ideas. Literally he sings: - - Spirit of the North West--you are but my fellow man. - -By being broken into syllables, to correspond with a simple chant, and -by the power of intonation and repetition, with a chorus, these words -are expanded into melodious utterance, if we may be allowed the term, -and may be thus rendered: - - Windy god, I know your plan, - You are but my fellow man, - Blow you may your coldest breeze, - Shingebiss you cannot freeze, - Sweep the strongest wind you can, - Shingebiss is still your man, - Heigh! for life--and ho! for bliss, - Who so free as Shingebiss? - -The hunter knew that Kabebonicca was at his door, for he felt his cold -and strong breath; but he kept on singing his songs, and affected utter -indifference. At length Kabebonicca entered, and took his seat on the -opposite side of the lodge. But Shingebiss did not regard, or notice -him. He got up, as if nobody were present, and taking his poker, pushed -the log, which made his fire burn brighter, repeating as he sat down -again: - - You are but my fellow man. - -Very soon the tears began to flow down Kabebonicca's cheeks, which -increased so fast, that, presently, he said to himself, "I cannot stand -this--I must go out." He did so, and left Shingebiss to his songs; but -resolved to freeze up all the flag orifices, and make the ice thick, so -that he could not get any more fish. Still Shingebiss, by dint of great -diligence, found means to pull up new roots, and dive under for fish. At -last Kabebonicca was compelled to give up the contest. "He must be aided -by some Monedo," said he, "I can neither freeze him, nor starve him, he -is a very singular being--I will let him alone." - - * * * * * - -The introduction of the Saxon race into North America, has had three -determined opponents, the life of each of whom forms a distinct era. -They were Powhatan, Metakom, and Pontiac. Each pursued the same method -to accomplish his end, and each was the indominitable foe of the -race.--Sassacus ought, perhaps, to be added to the number. Brant, was -but a partisan, and fought for one branch, against another. Tecumseh, -was also, rather the foe of the American type of the race, than the -whole race. The same can be said of lesser men, such as Little Turtle, -Buckanjaheela, and Black Hawk. Uncas was also a partisan, not a hater of -the white race, and like Waub Ojeeg in the north, fought, that one tribe -might prevail over another. If the Saxon race profited by this, he could -not help it. Tuscaloosa fought for his tribe's supremacy; Osceola for -revenge. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [4] A personification of the North West. - - - - -EARLY INDIAN BIOGRAPHY. - -PISKARET. - - -There lived a noted chief on the north banks of the St. Lawrence in the -latter part of the 16th century, who was called by the Iroquois, -Piskaret, but the true pronunciation of whose name, by his own people, -was Bisconace, or the Little Blaze. Names are often arbitrarily bestowed -by the Indians, from some trivial circumstance in domestic life, or -hunting, as mere nick names, which take the place of the real names: for -it is a practice among this people to conceal their real names, from a -subtle, superstitious notion, that, if so known, they will be under the -power of priestly incantation, or some other evil influence. - -What the real name of this man was, if it differed from the above, is -not known, as this was his only appellation. He was an Adirondak: that -is to say, one of the race of people who were called Adirondaks by the -Iroquois, but Algonquins by the French. And as the Algonquins and -Iroquois, had lately became deadly enemies and were so then, the -distinction to which Bisconace rose, was in the conducting of the war -which his people waged against the Iroquois, or Five Nations. - -It seems, from the accounts of both English and French authors, that the -Algonquins, at the period of the first settlement of the St. Lawrence, -were by far the most advanced in arts and knowledge, and most -distinguished for skill in war and hunting, of all the nations in North -America. This at least is certain, that no chief, far or near, enjoyed -as high a reputation for daring valor and skill as Bisconace. He is -spoken of in this light by all who name him; he was so fierce, subtle -and indomitable that he became the terror of his enemies, who were -startled at the very mention of his name. Bisconace lived on the north -banks of the St. Lawrence, below Montreal, and carried on his wars -against the Indians inhabiting the northern parts of the present state -of New York, often proceeding by the course of the River Sorel. - -The period of the Adirondak supremacy, embraced the close of the 15th -century and the beginning of the 16th, and at this time the people began -to derive great power and boldness, from the possession of fire arms, -with which the French supplied them, before their southern and western -neighbours came to participate in this great improvement, this striking -era of the Red man, in the art of war. Colden is thought to be a little -out, in the great estimate he furnishes of the power, influence, and -advances of this great family of the Red Race. The French naturally -puffed them up a good deal; but we may admit that they were most expert -warriors, and hunters; and manufactured arms and canoes, with great -skill. They were the prominent enemies of the Five Nations; and like -all enemies at a distance had a formidable name. The word Adirondak is -one of Iroquois origin; but the French, who always gave their own names -to the Tribes, and had a policy in so doing, called them Algonquins--a -term whose origin is involved in some obscurity. For a time, they -prevailed against their enemies south of the St. Lawrence, but the -latter were soon furnished with arms by the Dutch, who entered the -Hudson in 1609, and their allies, the Iracoson, or Iroquois, soon -assumed that rank in war which, if they had before lacked, raised them -to so high a point of preeminence. It was in that early period of the -history of these nations that Bisconace exerted his power. - -Where a people have neither history nor biography, there is but little -hope that tradition will long preserve the memory of events. Some of the -acts of this chief are known through the earlier colonial writers. So -great was the confidence inspired in the breast of this chief, by the -use of fire arms, that he pushed into the Iroquois country like a mad -man, and performed some feats against a people armed with bows only, -which are astonishing. - -With only four chiefs to aid him, he left Trois Rivieres, on one -occasion, in a single canoe, with fifteen loaded muskets, thus giving -three pieces, to each man. Each piece was charged with two balls, joined -by a small chain ten inches long. Soon after entering the Sorel river, -he encountered five bark canoes of Iroquois, each having ten men. To -cloak his ruse he pretended to give himself up for lost, in view of such -a disparity of numbers; and he and his companions began to sing their -death song. They had no sooner got near their enemies, however, than -they began to pour in their chain-shot, riddling the frail canoes of the -enemy, who tumbled into the water, and sank under the active blows of -their adversaries. Some he saved to grace his triumphant return, and -these were tortured at the stake. - -On another occasion he undertook an enterprize alone. Being well -acquainted with the Iroquois country, he set out, about the time the -snow began to melt, taking the precaution to put the hinder part of his -snow-shoes forward to mislead the enemy, in case his track should be -discovered. As a further precaution, he avoided the plain forest paths, -keeping along the ridges and high stony grounds, where the snow was -melting, that his track might be often lost. When he came near to one of -the Villages of the Five Nations, he hid himself till night. He then -crept forth, and entered a lodge, where he found every soul asleep. -Having killed them all, he took their scalps, and went back to his -lurking place. The next day the people of the village searched in vain -for the perpetrator. At night he again sallied forth, and repeated the -act, on another lodge, with equal secrecy and success. Again the -villagers searched, but could find no traces of his footsteps. They -determined, however, to set a watch. Piskaret, anticipating this, -gathered up his scalps, and stole forth slyly, but found the inhabitants -of every lodge on the alert, save one, where the sentinel had fallen -asleep. This man he despatched and scalped, but alarmed the rest, who -rose in the pursuit. He was, however, under no great fears of being -overtaken. One of the causes of his great confidence in himself was -found in the fact that he was the swiftest runner known. He eluded them -often, sometimes, however, lingering to draw them on, and tire them out. -When he had played this trick, he hid himself. His pursuers, finding -they had let him escape, encamped, thinking themselves in safety, but -they had no sooner fallen asleep, than he stole forth from his lurking -place, and despatched every one of them. He added their scalps to his -bundle of trophies, and then returned. - -Recitals of this kind flew from village to village, and gave him the -greatest reputation for courage, adroitness and fleetness. - -The Five Nations were, however, early noted for their skill in -stratagem, and owed their early rise to it. They were at this era -engaged in their long, fierce and finally triumphant war against the -Algonquins and Wyandots, or to adopt the ancient terms, the Adirondaks -and Quatoghies. These latter they defeated in a great battle, fought -within two miles of Quebec. In this battle the French, who were in -reality weak in number, were neutral. Their neutrality, on this -occasion, happened in this way. They had urged the reception of priests -upon the Five Nations, through whose influence, they hoped to prevail -over that people, and to wrest western New York from the power of the -Dutch and English. As soon as a number of these missionaries of the -sword and cross had insinuated themselves among the Five Nations, the -latter seized them, as hostages; and, under a threat of their execution, -kept the French quiet in this decisive battle. This scheme had succeeded -so well, that it taught the Five Nations the value of negociation; and -they determined, the next year, to try another. Pretending that they -were now well satisfied with their triumph on the St. Lawrence, they -sent word that they meant to make a formidable visit to Yonnendio, this -being the official name they bestowed on the governor of Canada. Such -visits they always made with great pomp and show; and on this occasion, -they came with 1000 or 1200 men. On the way to Quebec, near the river -Nicolet, their scouts met Piskaret, whom they cajoled, and kept in utter -ignorance of the large force behind until they had drawn out of him an -important piece of information, and then put him to death. They cut off -his head, and carried it to the Iroquois army. To have killed him, was -regarded as an assurance of ultimate victory. These scouts also carried -to the army the information, which they had obtained, that the -Adirondaks were divided into two bodies, one of which hunted on the -river Nicolet, and the other at a place called Wabmeke, on the north -side of the St. Lawrence. They immediately divided their forces, fell -upon each body at unawares and cut them both to pieces. - -This is the great triumph to which Charlevoix, in his history of New -France, alludes. It was the turning point in the war against the -confederated Wyandots, and Algonquins, and, in effect, drove both -nations, in the end, effectually out of the St. Lawrence valley. The -former fled to Lake Huron, to which they imparted their name. Some of -the Adirondaks took shelter near Quebec, under the care of the Jesuits; -the larger number went up the Utawas, to the region of Lake Nipising; -the Atawairos fled to a large chain of islands in Lake Huron, called the -Menaloulins; other bands scattered in other directions. Each one had -some local name; and all, it is probable, were well enough pleased to -hide their defeat by the Five Nations, under local and geographical -designations. But they had no peace in their refuge. The spirit of -revenge burned in the breast of the Iroquois, particularly against their -kindred tribe, the Wyandots, whom they pursued into Lake Huron, drove -them from their refuge at Michilimackinac, and pushed them even to Lake -Superior, where for many years, this ancient tribe continued to dwell. - - * * * * * - -The pernicious examples of white men, who have conducted the Indian -trade, their immoral habits, injustice, and disregard of truth, and open -licentiousness, have created the deepest prejudice in the minds of the -Red men against the whole European race. - -The Indian only thinks when he is forced to think, by circumstances. -Fear, hunger and self-preservation, are the three prominent causes of -his thoughts. Affection and reverence for the dead, come next. - -Abstract thought is the characteristic of civilization. If teachers -could induce the Indians to think on subjects not before known to them, -or but imperfectly known, they would adopt one of the most efficacious -means of civilizing them. - -Christianity is ultraism to an Indian. It is so opposed to his natural -desires, that he, at first, hates it, and decries it. Opposite states of -feeling, however, affect him, precisely as they do white men. What he at -first hates, he may as suddenly love and embrace. - -Christianity is not propagated by ratiocination, it is the result of -feelings and affections on the will and understanding. Hence an Indian -can become a christian. - - - - -THE SAUSTAWRAÝTSEES, - -OR - -THE ORIGIN OF THE WYANDOT AND SENECA TRIBES. - -A WYANDOT TRADITION. - - -Towards the middle of the seventeenth century, a body of Indians, -composed of the Wyandots (or as they were then called the -Saus-taw-ray-tsee) and Seneca tribes inhabited the borders of Lake -Ontario. The present Wyandots and Senecas are the remains of this -community, and of the cause of their separation and of the relentless -hostilities by which it was succeeded, the following details are given -in the traditionary history of the Wyandots. - -A Wyandot girl, whose name for the sake of distinction shall be -_Oon-yay-stee_, and in whom appeared united a rare combination of moral -attractions, and of extraordinary personal beauty, had for her suitors, -nearly all the young men of her tribe. As insensible however, as -beautiful, the attentions of her lovers were productive of no favorable -effect, for though none were rejected, yet neither was any one -distinguished by her partiality. This unaccountable apathy became, in -time, a subject not only of general, but of common interest to the young -Wyandots. A council composed of those interested in the issue of these -many and importunate applications for her favor, was held for the -purpose of devising some method, by which her intentions in relation to -them might be ascertained. At this, when these amourists had severally -conceded, each, that he could boast of no indication of a preference -shown by Oon-yay-stee to himself, upon which to found a reasonable hope -of ultimately succeeding, it was finally determined, that their claims -should be withdrawn in favor of the War Chief of their lodge. This was -adopted, not so much for the purpose of advancing the interests of -another to the prejudice of their own, as to avoid the humiliating -alternative of yielding the object of so much competition to some more -fortunate rival not connected with their band. - -It may be here necessary to remark that nearly all the suitors belonged -to one lodge, and that each of these was a large oblong building, -capable of containing 20 or 30 families, the domestic arrangements of -which were regulated by a war chief, acknowledged as the head of that -particular subordinate band. - -Many objections to the task imposed on him by this proposition were -interposed by the chief, the principal of which were, the great -disparity of age and the utter futility of any further attempt, upon the -affections of one so obdurate of heart. The first was obviated by some -well applied commendations of his person, and the second yielded to the -suggestion that women were often capricious, were not always influenced -by considerations the most natural, or resolvable to reasons the most -obvious. - -The chief then painted and arrayed himself as for battle, bestowing some -little additional adornment upon his person, to aid him in this species -of warfare, with which he was not altogether so familiar as that in -which he had acquired his reputation; his practice having been confined -rather to the use of stone-headed arrows than love darts, and his -dexterity in the management of hearts displayed rather in making bloody -incisions, than tender impressions. Before he left the lodge, his -retainers pledged themselves, that if the prosecution of this adventure -should impose upon their chief the necessity of performing any feat, to -render him better worthy the acceptance of Oon-yay-stee, they would aid -him in its accomplishment, and sustain him against its consequences to -the last extremity. It was reserved for so adventurous a spirit that it -should be as successful in love, as it had hitherto been resistless in -war. - -After a courtship of a few days, he proposed himself and was -conditionally accepted, but what the nature of this condition was, -further than that it was indispensable, Oon-yay-stee refused to tell -him, until he should have given her the strongest assurances that it -should be complied with, After some hesitation and a consultation with -the lovers who urged him to give the promise, he declared himself -ready to accept the terms of the compact. Under her direction he then -pledged the word of a warrior, that neither peril to person, nor -sacrifice of affection should ever prevail with him to desist, -imprecating the vengeance of _Hau-men-dee-zkoo_, and the persecution -of _Dairh-shoo-oo-roo-no_ upon his head if he failed to prosecute to -the uttermost, the enterprise, if its accomplishment were only possible. - -She told him to bring her the scalp of a Seneca chief whom she -designated, who for some reason she chose not to reveal, was the object -of her hatred. - -The Wyandot saw too late, that he was committed. He besought her to -reflect, that this man was his bosom friend, they had eaten and drank -and grown up together--and how heavy it would make his heart to think -that his friend had perished by his hand. He remonstrated with her on -the cruelty of such a requisition, on the infamy of such an outrage of -confidence and the execration which would forever pursue the author of -an action so accursed. But his expostulations were made to deaf ears. -She told him either to redeem his pledge, or consent to be proclaimed -for a lying dog, whose promises were unworthy ever to be heard, and then -left him. - -An hour had hardly elapsed, before the infuriated Wyandot blackened his -face, entered the Seneca Village, tomahawked and scalped his friend, and -as he rushed out of the lodge shouted the scalp-whoop. In the darkness -of the night his person could not be distinguished, and he was -challenged by a Seneca to whom he gave his name, purpose, and a defiance -and then continued his flight. But before it had terminated, the long -mournful scalp-whoop of the Senecas was resounding through the Wyandot -Village; and the chief had hardly joined in the furious conflict that -ensued between the avengers of his murdered victim and his own -retainers, before he paid with his life the forfeit of his treachery. - -After a deadly and sustained combat for three days and nights, with -alternate success, the Wyandots were compelled to retire, deserting -their village and abandoning their families to such mercy as might be -granted by an infuriated enemy. Those who were left, sunk under the -tomahawk and scalping knife--the village was devastated--and the -miserable author of the bloody tragedy herself perished amid this scene -of indiscriminate slaughter and desolation. - -This war is said to have continued for a period of more than 30 years, -in which time, the Wyandots had been forced backwards as far as Lakes -Huron and Michigan. Here they made an obstinate stand, from which all -the efforts of their relentless enemies to dislodge them were -ineffectual. Their inveterate hatred of each other was fostered by the -war parties of the respective tribes, whose vindictive feelings led them -to hunt and destroy each other, like so many beasts of the forest. These -resulted generally in favor of the Wyandots, who, inspirited by these -partial successes, prepared for more active operations. Three encounters -took place, on the same day, two being had on Lake Michigan and one on -Lake Erie, and which from their savage and exterminating character, -closed this long and merciless contest. It is somewhat remarkable, as no -other tradition makes mention of an Indian battle upon water, that one -of these, said to have occurred on Lake Erie, between Long Point and -Fort Talbot, was fought in canoes. Of this the following detail is -given. - -A large body of Wyandots accompanied by two Ottawas left Lake Huron in -birch canoes, on a war excursion into the country of the Senecas, who -had settled at this time, near the head of the Niagara river. They put -ashore at Long Point to cook, when one of the Ottawas and a Wyandot were -sent out as spies to reconnoitre. They had proceeded but a short -distance from the camp, when they met two Senecas, who had been -despatched by their party for the like purposes, and from whom they -instantly fled. The Ottawa finding his pursuers gaining upon him, hid -himself in the branches of a spruce tree, where he remained till the -Seneca had passed. The Wyandot, fleeter of foot, succeeded in reaching -his camp and gave the alarm, when the whole body embarked and pushed out -into the lake. In another moment a party of Senecas was discovered, -turning the nearest point of land in wooden canoes. Immediately the -war-whoops were sounded and the hostile bands began to chant their -respective songs. As they slowly approached each other, the Wyandots -struck a fire, and prepared their gum and bark to repair any damage -which might occur to the canoes. The battle was fought with bows and -arrows, and after a furious and obstinate contest of some hours, in -which the carnage was dreadful, and the canoes were beginning to fill -with blood, water and mangled bodies, the Senecas began to give way. The -encouraged Wyandots fought with redoubled ardor, driving the Senecas to -the shore, where the conflict was renewed with unabated fury. The -Wyandots were victorious, and few of the surviving Senecas escaped to -tell the story of their defeat. One of the prisoners, a boy, was spared -and adopted by the nation. Two Wyandots are now living who profess to -have seen him, when very far advanced in years. - -The two other attacks to which allusion has been made, as occurring on -the borders of Lake Michigan, were not more fortunate in their issue. -The Senecas were repulsed with great slaughter. - -Thus, say the Wyandots, originated this long, bloody and disastrous war, -and thus it terminated after proving nearly the ruin of our nation. - - HO-TSHUNG-RAH. - -_Upper Sandusky, March 1st, 1827._ - - - - -EARLY SKETCHES OF INDIAN WOMEN. - - -The oldest books we possess written by the first observers of our -Indians abound in interest. Among these is a small work by William Wood, -who visited Plymouth and Massachusetts soon after their settlement, and -published his "_New England's Prospect_," in London, in 1634. - -The following extract from this book, (now very scarce,) we make here, -partly for the purpose which the author declares he had in view in -writing it, viz.: to excite the special interest of our female readers, -though the good humour and wit, as well as the benevolence of the -writer, will doubtless commend it to persons of both sexes. That we may -not run the risk of losing any of the effect of the quaint, -old-fashioned style of the original, we have been careful to preserve -the author's orthography and punctuation, together with the long -sentences, for which, as well as many of his contemporaries, he was, -remarkable. We have omitted short and unimportant passages in a few -places, marked with asterisks. - - - - -WASBASHAS; - -OR, - -THE TRIBE THAT GREW OUT OF A SHELL. - -AN OSAGE LEGEND. - - -There was a snail living on the banks of the river Missouri, where he -found plenty of food, and wanted nothing. But at length the waters began -to rise and overflow its banks, and although the little animal clung to -a log, the flood carried them both away: they floated along for many -days. When the water fell, the poor snail was left in the mud and slime, -on shore. The heat of the sun came out so strong, that he was soon fixed -in the slime and could not stir. He could no longer get any nourishment. -He became oppressed with heat and drought. He resigned himself to his -fate and prepared to die. But all at once, he felt a renewed vigour. His -shell burst open, and he began to rise. His head gradually rose above -the ground, he felt his lower extremities assuming the character of feet -and legs. Arms extended from his sides. He felt their extremities divide -into fingers. In fine he rose, under the influence of one day's sun, -into a tall and noble man. For a while he remained in a dull and stupid -state. He had but little activity, and no clear thoughts. These all came -by degrees, and when his recollections returned, he resolved to travel -back to his native land. - -But he was naked and ignorant. The first want he felt was hunger. He saw -beasts and birds, as he walked along, but he knew not how to kill them. -He wished himself again a snail, for he knew how, in that form, to get -his food. At length he became so weak, by walking and fasting, that he -laid himself down, on a grassy bank, to die. He had not laid long, when -he heard a voice calling him by name. "Was-bas-has." exclaimed the -voice. He looked up; and beheld the Great Spirit sitting on a white -horse. His eyes glistened like stars. The hair of his head shone like -the sun. He could not bear to look upon him. He trembled from head to -foot. Again the voice spoke to him in a mild tone: "Was-bas-has! Why do -you look terrified?" "I tremble," he replied, "because I stand before Him -who raised me from the ground. I am faint and hungry,--I have eaten -nothing since the floods left me upon the shore--a little shell." - -The Great Spirit here lifted up his hands and displaying a bow and -arrows, told him to look at him. At a distance sat a bird on a tree. He -put an arrow to the string, and pulling it with force, brought down the -beautiful object. At this moment a deer came in sight. He placed another -arrow to the string, and pierced it through and through. "These" said -he, "are your food, and these are your arms," handing him the bow and -arrows. He then instructed him how to remove the skin of the deer, and -prepare it for a garment. "You are naked," said he, "and must be -clothed; it is now warm, but the skies will change, and bring rains, and -snow, and cold winds." Having said this, he also imparted the gift of -fire, and instructed him how to roast the flesh. He then placed a collar -of wampum around his neck. "This," said he, "is your authority over all -beasts." Having done this, both horse and rider rose up, and vanished -from his sight. - -Was-bas-has refreshed himself, and now pursued his way to his native -land. He had seated himself on the banks of the river, and was -meditating on what had passed, when a large beaver rose up from the -channel and addressed him. "Who art thou;" said the beaver, "that comest -here to disturb my ancient reign?" "I am a _man_" he replied; "I was -once a _shell_, a creeping shell; but who art thou?" "I am king of the -nation of beavers," he answered: "I lead my people up and down this -stream; we are a busy people, and the river is my dominion." "I must -divide it with you," retorted Was-bas-has. "The Great Spirit has placed -me at the head of beasts and birds, fishes and fowl; and has provided me -with the power of maintaining my rights." Here he held up the bow and -arrows, and displayed the collar of shells around his neck. "Come, -come," said the Beaver, modifying his tone, "I perceive we are -brothers.--Walk with me to my lodge, and refresh yourself after your -journey," and so saying he led the way. The Snail-Man willingly obeyed -his invitation, and had no reason to repent of his confidence. They soon -entered a fine large village, and his host led him to the chief's lodge. -It was a well-built room, of a cone-shape, and the floor nicely covered -with mats. As soon as they were seated, the Beaver directed his wife and -daughter to prepare food for their guest. While this was getting ready, -the Beaver chief thought he would improve his opportunity by making a -fast friend of so superior a being; whom he saw, at the same time, to be -but a novice. He informed him of the method they had of cutting down -trees, with their teeth, and of felling them across streams, so as to -dam up the water, and described the method of finishing their dams with -leaves and clay. He also instructed him in the way of erecting lodges, -and with other wise and seasonable conversation beguiled the time. His -wife and daughter now entered, bringing in vessels of fresh peeled -poplar, and willow, and sassafras, and alder bark, which is the most -choice food known to them. Of this, Was-bas-has made a merit of tasting, -while his entertainer devoured it with pleasure. He was pleased with the -modest looks and deportment of the chief's daughter, and her cleanly and -neat attire, and her assiduous attention to the commands of her father. -This was ripened into esteem by the visit he made her. A mutual -attachment ensued. A union was proposed to the father, who was rejoiced -to find so advantageous a match for his daughter. A great feast was -prepared, to which all the beavers, and other animals on good terms with -them, were invited. The Snail-Man and the Beaver-Maid were thus united, -and this union is the origin of the Osages. So it is said by the old -people. - - - - -THE BOY WHO SET A SNARE FOR THE SUN; - -OR - -THE ORIGIN OF THE KUG-E-BEENG-WA-KWA,[5] OR DORMOUSE. - -FROM THE ODJIBWA ALGONQUIN. - - -At the time when the animals reigned in the earth, they had killed all -but a girl, and her little brother, and these two were living in fear -and seclusion. The boy was a perfect pigmy, and never grew beyond the -stature of a small infant; but the girl increased with her years, so -that the labor of providing food and lodging devolved wholly on her. She -went out daily to get wood for their lodge-fire, and took her little -brother along that no accident might happen to him; for he was too -little to leave alone. A big bird might have flown away with him. She -made him a bow and arrows, and said to him one day, "I will leave you -behind where I have been chopping--you must hide yourself, and you will -soon see the Gitshee-gitshee-gaun, ai see-ug or snow birds, come and -pick the worms out of the wood, where I have been chopping," (for it was -in the winter.) "Shoot one of them and bring it home." He obeyed her, -and tried his best to kill one, but came home unsuccessful. She told him -he must not despair, but try again the next day. She accordingly left -him at the place she got wood, and returned. Towards nightfall, she -heard his little footsteps on the snow, and he came in exultingly, and -threw down one of the birds, which he had killed. "My sister," said he, -"I wish you to skin it and stretch the skin, and when I have killed -more, I will have a coat made out of them." "But what shall we do with -the body?" said she: for as yet men had not begun to eat animal food, -but lived on vegetables alone. "Cut it in two," he answered, "and season -our pottage with one half of it at a time." She did so. The boy, who -was of a very small stature, continued his efforts, and succeeded in -killing ten birds, out of the skins of which his sister made him a -little coat. - -"Sister," said he one day, "are we all alone in the world? Is there -nobody else living?" She told him that those they feared and who had -destroyed their relatives lived in a certain quarter, and that he must -by no means go in that direction. This only served to inflame his -curiosity and raise his ambition, and he soon after took his bow and -arrows and went in that direction. After walking a long time and meeting -nothing, he became tired, and lay down on a knoll, where the sun had -melted the snow. He fell fast asleep; and while sleeping, the sun beat -so hot upon him, that it singed and drew up his bird-skin coat, so that -when he awoke and stretched himself, he felt bound in it, as it were. He -looked down and saw the damage done to his coat. He flew into a passion -and upbraided the sun, and vowed vengeance against it. "Do not think you -are too high," said he, "I shall revenge myself." - -On coming home he related his disaster to his sister, and lamented -bitterly the spoiling of his coat. He would not eat. He lay down as one -that fasts, and did not stir, or move his position for ten days, though -she tried all she could to arouse him. At the end of ten days, he turned -over, and then lay ten days on the other side. When he got up, he told -his sister to make him a snare, for he meant to catch the sun. She said -she had nothing; but finally recollected a little piece of dried deer's -sinew, that her father had left, which she soon made into a string -suitable for a noose. But the moment she showed it to him, he told her -it would not do, and bid her get something else. She said she had -nothing--nothing at all. At last she thought of her hair, and pulling -some of it out of her head, made a string. But he instantly said it -would not answer, and bid her, pettishly, and with authority, make him a -noose. She told him there was nothing to make it of, and went out of the -lodge. She said to herself, when she had got without the lodge, and -while she was all alone, "neow obewy indapin." This she did, and -twisting them into a tiny cord she handed it to her brother. The moment -he saw this curious braid he was delighted. "This will do," he said, and -immediately put it to his mouth and began pulling it through his lips; -and as fast as he drew it changed it into a red metal cord, which he -wound around his body and shoulders, till he had a large quantity. He -then prepared himself, and set out a little after midnight, that he -might catch the sun before it rose. He fixed his snare on a spot just -where the sun would strike the land, as it rose above the earth's disc; -and sure enough, he caught the sun, so that it was held fast in the -cord, and did not rise. - -The animals who ruled the earth were immediately put into a great -commotion. They had no light. They called a council to debate upon the -matter, and to appoint some one to go and cut the cord--for this was a -very hazardous enterprise, as the rays of the sun would burn whoever -came so near to them. At last the dormouse undertook it--for at this -time the dormouse was the largest animal in the world. When it stood up -it looked like a mountain. When it got to the place where the sun was -snared, its back began to smoke and burn, with the intensity of the -heat, and the top of its carcass was reduced to enormous heaps of ashes. -It succeeded, however, in cutting the cord with its teeth, and freeing -the sun, but it was reduced to a very small size, and has remained so -ever since. Men call it the Kug-e-been-gwa-kwa. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [5] Blind Woman. - - - - -AMPATA SAPA; - -OR, - -THE FIRST-WIFE. - -A TRADITION OF THE DACOTAHS. - - -Ampata Sapa was the wife of a brave young hunter and warrior, by whom -she had two children. They lived together in great happiness, which was -only varied by the changes of a forest life. Sometimes they lived on the -prairies; sometimes they built their wigwam in the forest, near the -banks of a stream, and they paddled their canoe up and down the rivers. -In these trips they got fish, when they were tired of wild meats. In the -summer season they kept on the open grounds; in the winter, they fixed -their camp in a sheltered position, in the woods. The very change of -their camp was a source of pleasure, for they were always on the -look-out for something new. They had plenty, and they wanted nothing. - -In this manner the first years of their marriage passed away. But it so -happened, that as years went by, the reputation of her husband in the -tribe increased, and he soon came to be regarded as a Weetshahstshy -Atapee, or chief. This opened a new field for his ambition and pride. -The fame of a chief, it is well known, is often increased by the number -of his wives. His lodge was now thronged with visitors. Some came to -consult him; some to gain his favour. All this gave Ampata Sapa no -uneasiness, for the Red People like to have visitors, and to show -hospitality. The first thing that caused a jar in her mind, was the -rumour that her husband was about to take a new wife. This was like a -poison in her veins; for she had a big heart. She was much attached to -her husband, and she could not bear the idea of sharing his affections -with another. But she found that the idea had already got strong hold of -her husband's mind, and her remonstrances did little good. He defended -himself on the ground, that it would give him greater influence in the -tribe if he took the daughter of a noted chief. But before he had time -to bring her to his lodge, Ampata Sapa had fled from it, taking her two -children, and returned to her father's lodge. Her father lived at some -distance, and here she remained a short time in quiet. The whole band -soon moved up the Mississippi, to their hunting ground. She was glad to -go with them, and would, indeed, have been glad to go any where, to get -farther from the lodge of her faithless husband. - -Here the winter wore away. When the Spring opened, they came back again -to the banks of the river, and mended and fitted up the canoes, which -they had left in the fall. In these they put their furs, and descended -to the Falls of St. Anthony. Ampata Sapa lingered behind a short time -the morning of their embarkation, as they began to draw near the rapids -which precede the great plunge. She then put her canoe in the water, and -embarked with her children. As she approached the falls, the increasing -velocity of the current rendered the paddles of but little use. She -rested with her's suspended in her hands, while she arose, and uttered -her lament: - -"It was him only that I loved, with the love of my heart. It was for him -that I prepared, with joy, the fresh killed meat, and swept with boughs -my lodge-fire. It was for him I dressed the skin of the noble deer, and -worked, with my hands, the Moccasins that graced his feet. - -"I waited while the sun ran his daily course, for his return from the -chase, and I rejoiced in my heart when I heard his manly footsteps -approach the lodge. He threw down his burden at the door--it was a -haunch of the deer;--I flew to prepare the meat for his use. - -"My heart was bound up in him, and he was all the world to me. But he has -left me for another, and life is now a burden which I cannot bear. Even -my children add to my griefs--they look so much like him. How can I -support life, when all its moments are bitter! I have lifted up my voice -to the Master of life. I have asked him to take back that life, which he -gave, and which I no longer wish. I am on the current that hastens to -fulfil my prayer. I see the white foam of the water. It is my shroud. I -hear the deep murmur from below. It is my funeral song. Farewell." - -It was too late to arrest her course. She had approached too near the -abyss, before her purpose was discovered by her friends. They beheld her -enter the foam--they saw the canoe for an instant, on the verge, and -then disappear for ever. Such was the end of Ampata Sapa; and they say -her canoe can sometimes be seen, by moonlight, plunging over the falls. - - * * * * * - -Internal dissention has done more to destroy the Indian power in -America, than the white man's sword. Could the tribes learn the wisdom -of confederation, they might yet be saved. This is a problem now -undergoing an interesting process of solution. - - - - -MUKAKEE MINDEMOEA; - -OR, - -THE TOAD-WOMAN - -AN ODJIBWA TALE. - - -Great good luck once happened to a young woman who was living all alone -in the woods, with nobody near her but her little dog, for, to her -surprise, she found fresh meat every morning at her door. She felt very -anxious to know who it was that supplied her, and watching one morning, -very early, she saw a handsome young man deposit the meat. After his -being seen by her, he became her husband, and she had a son by him. One -day not long after this, the man did not return at evening, as usual, -from hunting. She waited till late at night, but all in vain. Next day -she swung her baby to sleep in its tikenágun, or cradle, and then said -to her dog: "Take care of your brother whilst I am gone, and when he -cries, halloo for me." The cradle was made of the finest wampum, and all -its bandages and decorations were of the same costly material. After a -short time the woman heard the cry of her faithful dog, and running home -as fast as she could, she found her child gone and the dog too. But on -looking round, she saw pieces of the wampum of her child's cradle bit -off by the dog, who strove to retain the child and prevent his being -carried off by an old woman called Mukakee Mindemoea, or the Toad-Woman. -The mother followed at full speed, and occasionally came to lodges -inhabited by old women, who told her at what time the thief had passed; -they also gave her shoes, that she might follow on. There were a number -of these old women, who seemed as if they were all prophetesses. Each of -them would say to her, that when she arrived in pursuit of her stolen -child at the next lodge, she must set the toes of the moccasins they had -loaned her pointing homewards, and they would return of themselves. She -would get others from her entertainers farther on, who would also give -her directions how to proceed to recover her son. She thus followed in -the pursuit, from valley to valley, and stream to stream, for months and -years; when she came, at length, to the lodge of the last of the -friendly old Nocoes, or grandmothers, as they were called, who gave her -final instructions how to proceed. She told her she was near the place -where her son was, and directed her to build a lodge of shingoob, or -cedar boughs, near the old Toad-Woman's lodge, and to make a little bark -dish and squeeze her milk into it. "Then," she said, "your first child -(meaning the dog) will come and find you out." She did accordingly, and -in a short time she heard her son, now grown, going but to hunt, with -his dog, calling out to him, "Monedo Pewaubik (that is, Steel or Spirit -Iron,) Twee! Twee!" She then set ready the dish and filled it with her -milk. The dog soon scented it and came into the lodge; she placed it -before him. "See my child," said she, addressing him, "the food you used -to have from me, your mother." The dog went and told his young master -that he had found his _real_ mother; and informed him that the old -woman, whom he _called_ his mother, was not his mother, that she had -stolen him when an infant in his cradle, and that he had himself -followed her in hopes of getting him back. The young man and his dog -then went on their hunting excursion, and brought back a great quantity -of meat of all kinds. He said to his pretended mother, as he laid it -down, "Send some to the stranger that has arrived lately." The old hag -answered, "No! why should I send to her--the Sheegowish."[6] He -insisted; and she at last consented to take something, throwing it in at -the door, with the remark, "My son gives you, or feeds you this." But it -was of such an offensive nature, that she threw it immediately out after -her. - -After this the young man paid the stranger a visit, at her lodge of -cedar boughs, and partook of her dish of milk. She then told him she was -his real mother, and that he had been stolen away from her by the -detestable Toad-Woman, who was a witch. He was not quite convinced. She -said to him, "Feign yourself sick, when you go home, and when the -Toad-Woman asks what ails you, say that you want to see your cradle; for -your cradle was of wampum, and your faithful brother, the dog, bit a -piece off to try and detain you, which I picked up, as I followed in -your track. They were real wampum, white and blue, shining and -beautiful." She then showed him the pieces. He went home and did as his -real mother bid him. "Mother," said he, "why am I so different in my -looks from the rest of your children?" "Oh," said she, "it was a very -bright clear blue sky when you were born; that is the reason." When the -Toad-Woman saw he was ill, she asked what she could do for him. He said -nothing would do him good, but the sight of his cradle. She ran -immediately and got a cedar cradle; but he said "That is not my cradle." -She went and got one of her own children's cradles, (for she had four,) -but he turned his head and said, "That is not mine." She then produced -the real cradle, and he saw it was the same, in substance, with the -pieces the other had shown him; and he was convinced, for he could even -see the marks of the dog's teeth upon it. - -He soon got well, and went out hunting, and killed a fat bear. He and -his dog-brother then stripped a tall pine of all its branches, and stuck -the carcass on the top, taking the usual sign of his having killed an -animal--the tongue. He told the Toad-Woman where he had left it, saying, -"It is very far, even to the end of the earth." She answered, "It is not -so far but I can get it," so off she set. As soon as she was gone, the -young man and his dog killed the Toad-Woman's children, and staked them -on each side of the door, with a piece of fat in their mouths, and then -went to his real mother and hastened her departure with them. The -Toad-Woman spent a long time in finding the bear, and had much ado in -climbing the tree to get down the carcass. As she got near home, she saw -the children looking out, apparently, with the fat in their mouths, and -was angry at them, saying, "Why do you destroy the pomatum of your -brother." But her fury was great indeed, when she saw they were killed -and impaled. She ran after the fugitives as fast as she could, and was -near overtaking them, when the young man said, "We are pressed hard, but -let this stay her progress," throwing his fire steel behind him, which -caused the Toad-Woman to slip and fall repeatedly. But still she pursued -and gained on them, when he threw behind him his flint, which again -retarded her, for it made her slip and stumble, so that her knees were -bleeding; but she continued to follow on, and was gaining ground, when -the young man said, "Let the Oshau shaw go min un (snake berry) spring -up to detain her," and immediately these berries spread like scarlet all -over the path for a long distance, which she could not avoid stooping -down to pick and eat. Still she went on, and was again advancing on -them, when the young man at last, said to the dog, "Brother, chew her -into mummy, for she plagues us." So the dog, turning round, seized her -and tore her to pieces, and they escaped. - - * * * * * - -Death is frightful, or welcome, according to the theories men have of -it. To the Indian, it is a pleasing and welcome event. He believes a -future state to be one of rewards, and restitutions, and not of -punishments. - -The Indian idea of paradise is the idea of the orientals. It consists of -sensualities, not spiritualities. He expects the scene to furnish him -ease and plenty. Ease and plenty make the Indian's happiness here, and -his heaven is but a bright transcript of his earth. - -Paganism and idolatry, require more mysteries for their support than -Christianity. The Christian has but one God, existing in three -hypostases. It would be below the truth to say that the Indian has one -hundred thousand gods. - -The Hindoos _worship_ their multiform gods of the earth, air and sea. -The North American Indian only _believes_ in them. He worships the Great -Spirit. - -Wild thoughts are often bright thoughts, but like the wild leaps of a -mountain torrent, they are evanescent and unequal. We are dazzled by a -single figure in an Indian speech, but it is too often like a spark amid -a shower of ashes. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [6] _Sheegowiss_, a widow, and _mowigh_, something nasty. - - - - -THE FLIGHT OF THE SHAWNEES FROM THE SOUTH. - -A MOHEGAN TRADITION. - - -Metoxon states, that the Shawnees were, in ancient times, while they -lived in the south, defeated by a confederacy of surrounding tribes, and -in danger of being totally cut off and annihilated, had it not been for -the interference of the Mohegans and Delawares. An alliance between them -and the Mohegans, happened in this way. Whilst the Mohegans lived at -Schodack, on the Hudson river, a young warrior of that tribe visited the -Shawnees, at their southern residence, and formed a close friendship -with a young warrior of his own age. They became as brothers, and vowed -for ever to treat each other as such. - -The Mohegan warrior had returned, and been some years living with his -nation, on the banks of the Chatimac, or Hudson, when a general war -broke out against the Shawnees. The restless and warlike disposition of -this tribe, kept them constantly embroiled with their neighbours. They -were unfaithful to their treaties, and this was the cause of perpetual -troubles and wars. At length the nations of the south resolved, by a -general effort, to rid themselves of so troublesome a people, and began -a war, in which the Shawnees were defeated, battle after battle, with -great loss. In this emergency, the Mohegan thought of his Shawnee -brother, and resolved to rescue him. He raised a war-party and being -joined by the Lenapees, since called Delawares, they marched to their -relief, and brought off the remnant of the tribe to the country of the -Lenapees. Here they were put under the charge of the latter, as their -grandfather. - -They were now, in the Indian phrase, put between their grandfather's -knees, and treated as little children. Their hands were clasped and tied -together--that is to say, they were taken under their protection, and -formed a close alliance. But still, sometimes the child would creep out -under the old man's legs, and get into trouble--implying that the -Shawnees could never forget their warlike propensities. - -The events of the subsequent history of this tribe, after the settlement -of America are well known. With the Lenapees, or Delawares, they -migrated westward. - -The above tradition was received from the respectable and venerable -chief, above named, in 1827, during the negotiation of the treaty of -_Buttes des Morts_, on Fox river. At this treaty his people, bearing the -modern name of Stockbridges, were present, having, within a few years, -migrated from their former position in Oneida county, New York, to the -waters of Fox river, in Wisconsin. - -Metoxon was a man of veracity, and of reflective and temperate habits, -united to urbanity of manners, and estimable qualities of head and -heart, as I had occasion to know from several years' acquaintance with -him, before he, and his people went from Vernon to the west, as well as -after he migrated thither. - -The tradition, perhaps with the natural partiality of a tribesman, lays -too much stress upon a noble and generous act of individual and tribal -friendship, but is not inconsistant with other relations, of the early -southern position, and irrascible temper of the Shawnee tribe. Their -name itself, which is a derivative from O-shá-wan-ong, the place of the -South, is strong presumptive evidence of a former residence in, or -origin from, the extreme south. Mr. John Johnston, who was for many -years the government agent of this tribe at Piqua, in Ohio, traces them, -in an article in the Archælogia Americana (vol. 1, p. 273) to the -Suwanee river in Florida. Mr. Gallatin, in the second volume of the same -work (p. 65) points out their track, from historical sources of -undoubted authority, to the banks of the upper Savannah, in Georgia; but -remarks that they have only been well known to us since 1680. They are -first mentioned in our scattered Indian annals, by De Laet, in 1632. - -It may further be said, in relation to Metoxon's tradition, that there -is authority for asserting, that in the flight of the Shawnees from the -south, a part of them descended the Kentucky river west, to the Ohio -valley, where, in after times, the Shawnees of Pennsylvania and New -Jersey, rather formed a re-union with this division of their kindred -than led the way for them. - - * * * * * - -To depart one step from barbarism, is to take one step towards -civilization. To abandon the lodge of bark--to throw aside the -blanket--to discontinue the use of paints--or to neglect the nocturnal -orgies of the wabeno, are as certain indications of incipient -civilization, as it unquestionably is, to substitute alphabetical -characters for rude hieroglyphics, or to prefer the regular cadences of -the gamut, to the wild chanting of the chichigwun. - - - - -BOSH-KWA-DOSH, - -OR - -THE QUADRUPED WITH THE HAIR BLOWN OFF ITS SKIN. - - -There was once a man who found himself alone in the world. He knew not -whence he came, nor who were his parents, and he wandered about from -place to place, in search of something. At last he became wearied and -fell asleep. He dreamed that he heard a voice saying, "Nosis," that is, -my grandchild. When he awoke he actually heard the word repeated, and -looking around, he saw a tiny little animal hardly big enough to be seen -on the plain. While doubting whether the voice could come from such a -diminutive source, the little animal said to him, "My grandson, you will -call me Bosh-kwa-dosh. Why are you so desolate. Listen to me, and you -shall find friends and be happy. You must take me up and bind me to your -body, and never put me aside, and success in life shall attend you." He -obeyed the voice, sewing up the little animal in the folds of a string, -or narrow belt, which he tied around his body, at his navel. He then set -out in search of some one like himself, or other object. He walked a -long time in woods without seeing man or animal. He seemed all alone in -the world. At length he came to a place where a stump was cut, and on -going over a hill he descried a large town in a plain. A wide road led -through the middle of it; but what seemed strange was, that on one side -there were no inhabitants in the lodges, while the other side was -thickly inhabited. He walked boldly into the town. - -The inhabitants came out and said; "Why here is the being we have heard -so much of--here is Anish-in-á-ba. See his eyes, and his teeth in a half -circle--see the Wyaukenawbedaid! See his bowels, how they are -formed;"--for it seems they could look through him. The king's son, the -Mudjékewis, was particularly kind to him, and calling him -brother-in-law, commanded that he should be taken to his father's lodge -and received with attention. The king gave him one of his daughters. -These people, (who are supposed to be human, but whose rank in the scale -of being is left equivocal,) passed much of their time in play and -sports and trials of various kinds. When some time had passed, and he -had become refreshed and rested, he was invited to join in these -sports. The first test which they put him to, was the trial of frost. At -some distance was a large body of frozen water, and the trial consisted -in lying down naked on the ice, and seeing who could endure the longest. -He went out with two young men, who began, by pulling off their -garments, and lying down on their faces. He did likewise, only keeping -on the narrow magic belt with the tiny little animal sewed in it; for he -felt that in this alone was to be his reliance and preservation. His -competitors laughed and tittered during the early part of the night, and -amused themselves by thoughts of his fate. Once they called out to him, -but he made no reply. He felt a manifest warmth given out by his belt. -About midnight finding they were still, he called out to them, in -return,--"What!" said he, "are you benumbed already, I am but just -beginning to feel a little cold." All was silence. He, however, kept his -position till early day break, when he got up and went to them. They -were both quite dead, and frozen so hard, that the flesh had bursted out -under their finger nails, and their teeth stood out. As he looked more -closely, what was his surprise to find them both transformed into -buffalo cows. He tied them together, and carried them towards the -village. As he came in sight, those who had wished his death were -disappointed, but the Mudjékewis, who was really his friend, rejoiced. -"See!" said he "but one person approaches,--it is my brother-in-law." He -then threw down the carcasses in triumph, but it was found that by their -death he had restored two inhabitants to the before empty lodges, and he -afterwards perceived, that every one of these beings, whom he killed, -had the like effect; so that the depopulated part of the village soon -became filled with people. - -The next test they put him to was the trial of speed. He was challenged -to the race ground, and began his career with one whom he thought to be -a man; but every thing was enchanted here, for he soon discovered that -his competitor was a large black bear. The animal outran him, tore up -the ground, and sported before him, and put out its large claws as if to -frighten him. He thought of his little guardian spirit in the belt, and -wishing to have the swiftness of the Kakake, i. e. sparrow hawk, he -found himself rising from the ground, and with the speed of this bird he -outwent his rival, and won the race, while the bear came up exhausted -and lolling out his tongue. His friend the Mudjékewis stood ready, with -his war-club, at the goal, and the moment the bear came up, dispatched -him. He then turned to the assembly, who had wished his friend and -brother's death, and after reproaching them, he lifted up his club and -began to slay them on every side. They fell in heaps on all sides; but -it was plain to be seen, the moment they fell, that they were not men, -but animals,--foxes, wolves, tigers, lynxes, and other kinds, lay thick -around the Mudjékewis. - -Still the villagers were not satisfied. They thought the trial of -frost, had not been fairly accomplished, and wished it repeated. He -agreed to repeat it, but being fatigued with the race, he undid his -guardian belt, and laying it under his head, fell asleep. When he awoke, -he felt refreshed, and feeling strong in his own strength, he went -forward to renew the trial on the ice, but quite forgot the belt, nor -did it at all occur to him when he awoke, or when he lay down to repeat -the trial. About midnight his limbs became stiff, the blood soon ceased -to circulate, and he was found in the morning, a stiff corpse. The -victors took him up and carried him to the village, where the loudest -tumult of victorious joy was made, and they cut the body into a thousand -pieces, that each one might eat a piece. - -The Mudjékewis bemoaned his fate, but his wife was inconsolable. She lay -in a state of partial distraction, in the lodge. As she lay here, she -thought she heard some one groaning. It was repeated through the night, -and in the morning, she carefully scanned the place, and running her -fingers through the grass, she discovered the secret belt, on the spot -where her husband had last reposed. "Aubishin!" cried the belt--that is, -untie me, or unloose me. Looking carefully, she found the small seam -which enclosed the tiny little animal. It cried out the more earnestly -"Aubishin!" and when she had carefully ripped the seams, she beheld, to -her surprise, a minute, naked little beast, smaller than the smallest -new born mouse, without any vestige of hair, except at the tip of its -tail, it could crawl a few inches, but reposed from fatigue. It then -went forward again. At each movement it would _pupowee_, that is to say, -shake itself, like a dog, and at each shake it became larger. This it -continued until it acquired the strength and size of a middle sized dog, -when it ran off. - -The mysterious dog ran to the lodges, about the village, looking for the -bones of his friend, which he carried to a secret place, and as fast as -he found them arranged all in their natural order. At length he had -formed all the skeleton complete, except the heel bone of one foot. It -so happened that two sisters were out of the camp, according to custom, -at the time the body was cut up, and this heel was sent out to them. The -dog hunted every lodge, and being satisfied that it was not to be found -in the camp, he sought it outside of it, and found the lodge of the two -sisters. The younger sister was pleased to see him, and admired and -patted the pretty dog, but the elder sat mumbling the very heel-bone he -was seeking, and was surly and sour, and repelled the dog, although he -looked most wistfully up in her face, while she sucked the bone from one -side of her mouth to the other. At last she held it in such a manner -that it made her cheek stick out, when the dog, by a quick spring, -seized the cheek, and tore cheek and bone away and fled. - -He now completed the skeleton, and placing himself before it, uttered a -hollow, low, long-drawn-out-howl, when the bones came compactly -together. He then modulated his howl, when the bones knit together and -became tense. The third howl brought sinews upon them, and the fourth, -flesh. He then turned his head upwards, looking into the sky, and gave a -howl, which caused every one in the village to startle, and the ground -itself to tremble, at which the breath entered into his body, and he -first breathed and then arose. "Hy kow!" I have overslept myself, he -exclaimed, "I will be too late for the trial." "Trial!" said the dog, "I -told you never to let me be separate from your body, you have neglected -this. You were defeated, and your frozen body cut into a thousand -pieces, and scattered over the village, but my skill has restored you. -Now I will declare myself to you, and show who and what I am!" - -He then began to PUPOWEE, or shake himself, and at every shake, he grew. -His body became heavy and massy, his legs thick and long, with big -clumsy ends, or feet. He still shook himself, and rose and swelled. A -long snout grew from his head, and two great shining teeth out of his -mouth. His skin remained as it was, naked, and only a tuft of hair grew -on his tail. He rose up above the trees. He was enormous. "I should fill -the earth," said he, "were I to exert my utmost power, and all there is -on the earth would not satisfy me to eat. Neither could it fatten me or -do me good. I should want more. It were useless, therefore, and the gift -I have, I will bestow on you. The animals shall henceforth be _your -food_. They were not designed to feed on man, neither shall they -hereafter do it, but shall _feed_ him, and he only shall prey on beasts. -But you will respect me, and not eat _my kind_." - - [The preceding is a traditionary tale of Maidosegee, an aged and - respected hunter, of Sault-ste-Mairie, who was the ruling chief of - the band of Chippewas at those falls, and the progenitor of the - present line of ruling chiefs. It is preserved through the Johnston - family, where he was a frequent guest, prior to 1810, and was happy - to while away many of his winter's evenings, in return for the - ready hospitalities which were sure to await him at the house of - the Indian's friend.] - - - - -MÄSH-KWA-SHA-KWONG, - -OR - -THE TRADITIONARY STORY OF THE RED HEAD AND HIS TWO SONS. - -BY NABINOI, AN AGED ODJIBWA CHIEF. - - -Mash-kwa-sha-kwong, was a first rate hunter, and he loved the chase -exceedingly, and pursued it with unceasing vigilance. One day, on his -return home, arriving at his lodge, he was informed by his two sons, who -were but small then, that they were very lonesome, because their mother -was in the habit of daily leaving them alone, and this occurred so soon -as he started upon his daily chase. This circumstance was not unknown -to Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong, but he seemed fully aware of it; he took his boys -in his arms and kissed them, and told them that their mother behaved -improperly and was acting the part of a wicked and faithless woman. But -Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong behaved towards his wife as if ignorant of her vile -course. One morning rising very early, he told his sons to take courage, -and that they must not be lonesome, he also strictly enjoined them not -to absent themselves nor quit their lodge; after this injunction was -given to the boys, he made preparations, and starting much earlier than -usual, he travelled but a short distance from his lodge, when he halted -and secreted himself. After waiting a short time, he saw his wife coming -out of their lodge, and immediately after a man made his appearance and -meeting Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong's wife, they greeted one another. His -suspicions were now confirmed, and when he saw them in the act of -carrying on an illegal intercourse, his anger arose, he went up to them, -and killed them with one blow; he then dragged them both to his lodge, -and tying them together, he dug a hole beneath the fire-place in his -lodge and buried them. He then told his sons that it was necessary that -he should go away, as he would surely be killed if he remained, and -their safety would depend upon their ability of keeping the matter a -secret. He gave his eldest son a small bird, (Kichig-e-chig-aw-na-she) -to roast for his small brother over the ashes and embers where their -mother was buried, he also provided a small leather bag, and then told -his sons the necessity of his immediate flight to heaven, or to the -skies. And that it would be expedient for them to fly and journey -southward, and thus prepared their minds for the separation about to -take place. "By and bye," said Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong to his sons, "persons -will come to you and enquire for me and for your mother, you will say to -them that I am gone hunting, and your little brother in the mean time -will continually point to the fire place, this will lead the persons to -whom I allude, to make inquiries of the cause of this pointing, and you -will tell them that you have a little bird roasting for your brother, -this will cause them to desist from further inquiry at the time. As soon -as they are gone escape! While you are journeying agreeably to my -instructions, I will look from on high upon you, I will lead and conduct -you, and you shall hear my voice from day to day." Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong at -this time gave his sons an awl, a beaver's tooth, and a hone, also a dry -coal, and directed them to place a small piece of the coal on the ground -every evening, so soon as they should encamp, from which fire would be -produced and given to them; he told his eldest son to place his brother -in the leather bag, and in that manner carry him upon his back; he then -bade them farewell. - -The two boys being thus left alone in the lodge, and while in the act of -roasting the little bird provided for them, a man came in, and then -another, and another, until they numbered ten in all; the youngest boy -would from time to time point at the fire, and the men enquired to know -the reason, the eldest boy said that he was roasting a bird for his -brother, and digging the ashes produced it. They enquired, where their -father and mother were, the boy answered them saying, that their father -was absent hunting, and that their mother had gone to chop and collect -wood; upon this information the men rose and searched around the -outskirts of the lodge, endeavouring to find traces of the man and his -wife, but they were not successful, and returned to the lodge. Before -this, however, and during the absence of the ten men, -Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong's eldest son placed his little brother in the leather -bag, (Ouskemood,) and ran away southward. - -One of the ten men observed, that the smallest boy had repeatedly -pointed to the fire place, and that they might find out something by -digging; they set to work, and found the woman and the man tied -together. On this discovery their wrath was kindled, they brandished -their weapons, denouncing impercations upon Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong, who was -of course suspected of having committed the deed. - -The ten men again renewed their search in order to avenge themselves -upon the perpetrator of this dark deed, but Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong, in order -to avoid instant death, had sought a large hollow tree, and entering at -the bottom or root part, passed through and reached the top of it, from -whence he took his flight upwards to the sky. His pursuers finally -traced him, and followed him as far as the tree, and into the sky, with -loud and unceasing impercations of revenge and their determination to -kill him. The spirit of the mother alone followed her children. About -mid-day the boys heard, as they ran, a noise in the heavens like the -rolling of distant thunder.[7] The boys continued their journey south, -when the noise ceased; towards night they encamped; they put a small -piece of the coal on the ground, then a log of fire-wood was dropped -down from the skies to them, from whence a good blazing fire was -kindled. This was done daily, and when the fire was lit, a raccoon would -fall from on high upon the fire, and in this manner the boys were fed, -and this over-ruling care they experienced daily. In the evenings at -their camping place, and sometimes during the day, the Red Head's voice -was heard speaking to his children, and encouraging them to use their -utmost exertions to fly from the pursuit of their mother. To aid them in -escaping, they were told to throw away their awl, and immediately there -grew a strong and almost impassable hedge of thorn bushes behind them, -in their path, which the pursuing mother could scarcely penetrate, and -thus impeding her progress, tearing away her whole body and leaving -nothing but the head. So they escaped the first day. - -The next day they resumed their march and could distinctly hear the -noise of combat in the sky, as if it were a roaring thunder; they also -heard the voice of their mother behind them, desiring her eldest son to -stop and wait for her, saying that she wished to give the breast to his -brother; then again Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong's voice, encouraging his sons to -fly for their lives, and saying that if their mother overtook them she -would surely kill them. - -In the evening of the second day the boys prepared to encamp, and the -noise of combat on high ceased; on placing a small piece of the coal on -the ground, a log and some fire-wood was let down as on the preceding -night, and the fire was kindled, and then the raccoon placed on it for -their food. This was fulfilling the promise made by their father, that -they would be provided for during their flight. The beaver's tooth was -here thrown away, and this is the cause why the northern country now -abounds with beaver, and also the innumerable little lakes and marshes, -and consequently the rugged and tedious travelling now experienced. - -On the third day the boys resumed their flight, and threw away their -hone, and it became a high rocky mountainous ridge, the same now seen on -the north shore of these straits, (St. Mary's) which was a great -obstacle in the way of the woman of the Head, for this was now her name, -because that part alone remained of her whole frame, and with it she was -incessantly uttering determinations to kill her eldest son; the boys -finally reached the fishing place known as the eddy of Wah-zah-zhawing, -at the rapids of Bawating, situated on the north shore of the river. -Here Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong, told his sons that he had himself been -overtaken in his flight by his pursuers and killed, and he appeared to -them in the shape of a red headed wood-pecker, or a _mama_. This is a -bird that is seldom or never attacked by birds of prey, for no vestiges -of his remains are ever seen or found by the Indian hunter. "Now my -sons," said the red headed wood-pecker, "I have brought you to this -river, you will now see your grand father and he will convey you across -to the opposite side." Then the boys looked to the southern shore of the -river, and they saw in the middle of the rapid, an OSHUGGAY standing on -a rock; to the Oshuggay the boys spoke, and accosted him as their grand -father, requesting him to carry them across the river Bawating. The -Oshuggay stretching his long neck over the river to the place where the -boys stood, told them to get upon his head and neck, and again -stretching to the southern shore, he landed the boys in safety, upon a -prairie: the crane was seen walking in state, up and down the prairie. - -The persevering mother soon arrived at Wah-zah-hawing, and immediately -requested the Oshuggay to cross her over, that she was in pursuit of -her children and stating that she wished to overtake them; but the -Oshuggay seemed well aware of her character, and objected to conveying -her across, giving her to understand that she was a lewd and bad woman; -he continued giving her a long moral lecture upon the course she had -pursued and the bad results to mankind in consequence, such as quarrels, -murders, deaths, and hence widowhood. - -The woman of the Head persisted in her request of being conveyed across. -Objections and entreaties followed. She talked as if she were still a -woman, whose favour was to be sought; and he, as if he were above such -favours. After this dialogue the Oshuggay said that he would convey her -across, on the condition that she would adhere strictly to his -injunctions; he told her not to touch the bare part of his head, but to -get upon the hollow or crooked part of his neck; to this she agreed, and -got on. The Oshuggay then withdrew his long neck to about half way -across, when feeling that she had forgotten her pledge he dashed her -head upon the rocks, and the small fish, that were so abundant instantly -fed upon the brain and fragments of the skull and became large white -fish. "A fish" said the Oshuggay, "that from this time forth shall be -abundant, and remain in these rapids to feed the Indians and their -issue, from generation to generation."[8] - -After this transaction of the Oshuggay's, landing the boys safely -across, and dashing the woman's head upon the rocks, he spake to the -Crane and mutually consulting one another in relation to -Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong's sons they agreed to invite two women from the -eastward, of the tribe of the WASSISSIG, and the two lads took them for -wives. The Oshuggay plucked one of his largest wing feathers and gave it -to the eldest boy, and the Crane likewise did the same, giving his -feathers to the youngest; they were told to consider the feathers as -their sons after this, one feather appeared like an Oshuggay and the -other like a young Crane. By and by they appeared like human beings to -the lads. Thus the alliance was formed with the Wassissig, and the -circumstance of the Oshuggay and Crane interesting themselves in behalf -of the boys and the gift to them of their feathers and the result, is -the origin of the Indian _Totem_. - -Here Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong's sons were told that they would be considered -as chieftains and that this office would be hereditary and continue in -their generations. After this, they multiplied exceedingly and became -strong and powerful. About this time the Obinangoes, (or the Bears' -Totem) came down from Shaugah-wah-mickong, near the extremity of Lake -Superior. On their way eastward they were surprised on reaching Bawating -to find such a numerous population of human beings: they were not aware -of its being in existence; fear came upon the Obinangoes, and they -devised the plan of securing friendship with the Oshuggays and Cranes, -by adopting and claiming a relationship with them, and calling them -their grandsons. This claim was yielded, and they were permitted to -remain at Bawaiting upon the score of relationship thus happily -attained. The Obenangoes eventually emigrated eastward and settled upon -the northern coast of Lakes Huron and Ontario. - -Population increased so rapidly at Bawaiting, that it was necessary to -form new villages, some settling on the Garden River, some upon the -Pakaysaugauegan River, and others upon the island of St. Joseph's, and -upon the Menashkong Bay and Mashkotay Saugie River. - -About this time, a person in the shape of a human being came down from -the sky; his clothing was exceedingly pure and white; he was seated as -it were in a nest, with a very fine cord attached to it, by which this -mysterious person was let down, and the cord or string reached heaven. -He addressed the Indians in a very humane, mild, and compasionate tone, -saying that they were very poor and needy, but telling them that they -were perpetually _asleep_, and this was caused by the Mache Monedo who -was in the midst of them, and leading them to death and ruin. - -This mysterious personage informed them also that above, where he came -from, there was no night, that the inhabitants never slept, that it was -perpetually day and they required no sleep; that Kezha Monedo was their -light. He then invited four of the Indians to ascend up with him -promising that they would be brought back in safety; that an opportunity -would thereby present itself to view the beauty of the sky, or heavens. -But the Indians doubted and feared lest the cord should break, because -it appeared to them so small. They did not believe it possible it could -bear their weight. With this objection they excused themselves. They -were, however, again assured that the cord was sufficiently strong and -that Kezha Monedo had the power to make it so. Yet the Indians doubted -and feared, and did not accompany the messenger sent down to them. After -this refusal the mysterious person produced a small bow and arrows with -which he shot at the Indians in different parts of their bodies: the -result was the killing of multitudes of small white worms, which he -showed to them; telling them that they were the Mache Monedo which -caused them to sleep, and prevented their awakening from their -death-like state. - -This divine messenger then gave to the Indians laws and rules, whereby -they should be guided: first, to love and fear Kezha Monedo, and next -that they must love one another, and be charitable and hospitable; and -finally, that they must not covet their neighbours property, but acquire -it by labour and honest industry. He then instituted the grand medicine -or metay we win dance: this ceremony was to be observed annually, and -with due solemnity, and the Indians, said Nabinoi, experienced much good -from it; but unfortunately, the foolish young men were cheated by Mache -Monedo, who caused them to adopt the Wabano dance and its ceremonies. -This latter is decidedly an institution of the _sagemaus_, or evil -spirits, and this was finally introduced into the metay we wining, (i. -e. medicine dance) and thereby corrupted it. - -The old chief continued his moral strain thus: While the Indians were -instructed by the heavenly messenger they were told that it would snow -continually for the space of five years, winter and summer, and the end -would then be nigh at hand; and again that it would rain incessantly as -many winters and summers more, which would cause the waters to rise and -overflow the earth, destroying trees and all manner of vegetation. After -this, ten winters and summers of drought would follow, drying up the -land, and mostly the lakes and rivers; not a cloud would be seen during -this period. The earth would become so dry, that it will then burn up -with fire of itself, and it will also burn the waters to a certain -depth, until it attains the first created earth and waters. Then the -good Indians will rise from death to enjoy a new earth, filled with an -abundance of all manner of living creatures. The only animal which will -not be seen is the beaver. The bad Indians will not enjoy any portion of -the new earth; they will be condemned and given to the evil spirits. - -Four generations, he went on to say, have now passed away, since that -brotherly love and charity, formerly known, still existed among the -Indians. There was in those ancient times an annual meeting among the -Indians, resembling the French New Year's Day, which was generally -observed on the new moon's first appearance, Gitchy Monedo gesus. The -Indians of our village would visit these of another, and sometimes meet -one another dancing; and on those occasions they would exchange bows and -arrows, their rude axes, awls, and kettles, and their clothing. This was -an annual festival, which was duly observed by them. In those days the -Indians lived happy; but every thing is now changed to the Indian mind, -indicating the drawing near and approach of the end of time. The Indians -who still adhere to the laws of the heavenly messenger experience -happiness; and, on the contrary, concluded the old man, those who are -wicked and adhere to the Wabano institution, generally meet with their -reward; and it is singular to say that they generally come to their end -by accidents, such as drowning, or miserable deaths. - -He then reverted to the former part of his story. The Oshuggays, and the -Cranes quarrelled, and this quarrel commenced on a trivial point. It -appears that the Cranes took a pole, without leave, from the Oshuggays, -and they broke the pole; this circumstance led to a separation. The -Oshuggays emigrated south, and are now known as the Shawnees. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [7] Note by Mr. George Johnston, from whom this tale was received.--Any -thing of the kind, or a similar noise heard, is attributed by the -Indian, to this day, as an indication of the contention between -Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong and his pursuers, and hence a prelude to wars and -contentions among the nations of the world. - - [8] The small white shells that the white fish live upon, and the white -substance found in its gizzard are to this day considered by the -Indians, the brain and skull of the woman of the Head. - - - - -WA-WA-BE-ZO-WIN, - -OR - -THE SWING ON THE LAKE SHORE. - -FROM THE TRADITIONS OF THE ODJIBWAS. - - -There was an old hag of a woman living with her daughter-in-law, and -son, and a little orphan boy, whom she was bringing up. When her -son-in-law came home from hunting, it was his custom to bring his wife -the moose's lip, the kidney of the bear, or some other choice bits of -different animals. These she would cook crisp, so as to make a sound -with her teeth in eating them. This kind attention of the hunter to his -wife, at last, excited the envy of the old woman. She wished to have the -same luxuries, and in order to get them she finally resolved to make way -with her son's wife. One day, she asked her to leave her infant son to -the care of the orphan boy, and come out and swing with her. She took -her to the shore of a lake, where there was a high range of rocks -overhanging the water. Upon the top of this rock, she erected a swing. -She then undressed, and fastened a piece of leather around her body, and -commenced swinging, going over the precipice at every swing. She -continued it but a short time, when she told her daughter to do the -same. The daughter obeyed. She undressed, and tying the leather string -as she was directed, began swinging. When the swing had got in full -motion and well a going, so that it went clear beyond the precipice, at -every sweep, the old woman slyly cut the cords and let her daughter drop -into the lake. She then put on her daughter's clothing, and thus -disguised went home in the dusk of the evening and counterfeited her -appearance and duties. She found the child crying, and gave it the -breast, but it would not draw. The orphan boy asked her where its mother -was. She answered, "She is still swinging." He said, "I shall go and -look for her." "No!" said she, "you must not--what should you go for?" -When the husband came in, in the evening, he gave the coveted morsel to -his supposed wife. He missed his mother-in-law, but said nothing. She -eagerly ate the dainty, and tried to keep the child still. The husband -looked rather astonished to see his wife studiously averting her face, -and asked her why the child cried so. She said, she did not know--that -it would not draw. - -In the meantime the orphan boy went to the lake shores, and found no -one. He mentioned his suspicions, and while the old woman was out -getting wood, he told him all that he had heard or seen. The man then -painted his face black, and placed his spear upside down in the earth -and requested the Great Spirit to send lightning, thunder, and rain, in -the hope that the body of his wife might arise from the water. He then -began to fast, and told the boy to take the child and play on the lake -shore. - -We must now go back to the swing. After the wife had plunged into the -lake, she found herself taken hold of by a water tiger, whose tail -twisted itself round her body, and drew her to the bottom. There she -found a fine lodge, and all things ready for her reception, and she -became the wife of the water tiger. Whilst the children were playing -along the shore, and the boy was casting pebbles into the lake, he saw a -gull coming from its centre, and flying towards the shore, and when on -shore, the bird immediately assumed the human shape. When he looked -again he recognized the lost mother. She had a leather belt around her -loins, and another belt of white metal, which was, in reality, the tail -of the water tiger, her husband. She suckled the babe, and said to the -boy--"Come here with him, whenever he cries, and I will nurse him." - -The boy carried the child home, and told these things to the father. -When the child again cried, the father went also with the boy to the -lake shore, and hid himself in a clump of trees. Soon the appearance of -a gull was seen, with a long shining belt, or chain, and as soon as it -came to the shore, it assumed the mother's shape, and began to suckle -the child. The husband had brought along his spear, and seeing the -shining chain, he boldly struck it and broke the links apart. He then -took his wife and child home, with the orphan boy. When they entered the -lodge, the old woman looked up, but it was a look of despair, she -instantly dropped her head. A rustling was heard in the lodge, and the -next moment, she leaped up, and flew out of the lodge, and was never -heard of more. - - * * * * * - -The name of God, among the ancient Mexicans, was Teo, a word seldom -found, except in compound phrases. Among the Mohawks and Onondagas, it -is Neo. With the western Senecas, as given by Smith, Owayneo. With the -Odjibwas, Monedo; with the Ottowas, Maneto. Many modifications of the -word by prefixes, to its radix Edo, appear among the cognate dialects. -It is remarkable that there is so striking a similarity in the principal -syllable, and it is curious to observe that Edo, is, in sound, both the -Greek term Deo, and the Azteek Teo, transposed. Is there any thing -absolutely _fixed_ in the sounds of languages? - - - - -TAKOZID, - -OR - -THE SHORT-FOOT. - -A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. - - -Most of the individuals who have figured amongst the Red Race in -America, have appeared under circumstances which have precluded any -thing like a full and consistent biography. There is, in truth, but -little in savage life, to furnish materials for such biographies. The -very scantiness of events determines this. A man suddenly appears among -these tribes as a warrior, a negociator, an orator, or a prophet, by a -name that nobody ever before heard of. He excites attention for a short -time, and then sinks back into the mass of Indian society, and is no -more heard of. His courage, his eloquence, or his diplomatic skill, are -regarded as evidences of talent, and energy of thought or action, which, -under better auspices, might have produced a shining and consistent -character. But he has been left by events, and is sunk in the mass. He -appeared rather like an erratic body, or flash, than a fixed light amid -his people. The circumstances that brought him into notice have passed -away. A victory has been won, a speech made, a noble example given. The -affair has been adjusted, the tribe resumed its hunting, or -corn-planting, or wandering, or internal discords, and the new name, -which promised for a while to raise a Tamerlane, or Tippoo Saib in the -west, settles down in the popular mind; and if it be not wholly lost, is -only heard of now and then, as one of the signatures to some land -treaty. There is not, in fact, sufficient, in the population, military -strength, or importance of the affairs of most of our tribes, to work -out incidents for a sustained and full biography. Even the most -considerable personages of past times, who have been honoured with such -full notices, have too much resemblance to a stout boy in his father's -regimentals. They hang loosely about him. The most that can be done--all -indeed which the occasion requires in general--is a sketch of such -particular events, in aboriginal history, as the individual has -connected his name with. It is proposed in the progress of this work, to -furnish some of such sketches from the unwritten annals of the west and -the north. - -Among that class of aboriginal chiefs and actors, who have not risen to -the highest distinction, or attained general notoriety out of the circle -of their own tribes, was Takozid, or the Short-Foot; a Mukundwa, or -pillager; a fierce, warlike, and predatory tribe of the Odjibwa -Algonquin stock, who, at an early time seated themselves on the sources -of the Mississippi, making their head quarters at Leech Lake. To this -place, their traditions assert, they came from Chagoimegon, or still -farther east, prior to the discovery of the country by Europeans. They -were consequently intruders in, or conquerors of the country, and drove -back some other people. It seems equally probable that this people were -the Dacotahs, the Naddowassies, or as it is abbreviated, Sioux, of early -French writers. The Sioux are a numerous and warlike stock, who occupy -portions of the banks of the Missouri and the Mississippi, at, and about -the latitude of St. Anthony's Falls. A hereditary war of which "the -memory of man runneth not to the contrary," was the consequence of this -ancient inroad. Of all this region of country we can speak from personal -knowledge, having traversed it at sundry times, and in various -directions. It is in local reminiscence, little more than a widely -extended scene of Indian battles, ambuscades and murders. There is -hardly a prominent stream, plain or forest, which is not referred to, as -the traveller proceeds, as the particular locality of some fight, -tragedy, or hair-breath escape among the Red Men. The Olympic games were -not a surer test of fame in successful rivalry, than is this wide area -of aboriginal warfare, for the opposing nations of the Sioux and -Chippewas. War is the prime avenue to distinction to the Indian mind. As -soon as a hunter has acquired any distinction, and begins to look upon -himself as a person of courage and address, he turns his efforts to the -war path. Whatever else he is famous for, this is the crowning test and -seal of his reputation. And none have pursued it with more incessant -devotion than the Chippewas. - -Takozid determined from his earliest youth to take a part in the strife -for barbaric glory. He early joined the war parties going into the great -plains. He learned their arts, repeated their songs, and became expert -in all the warrior's arts. He established the reputation of a brave -young man. The next step was to lead a war party himself. He courted -popularity by generosity, self denial, and attention to their religious -rites and ceremonies. These things may be done on a smaller scale, as -effectually among a band of savages, as in the hall or forum. He -succeeded. He raised a war party, conducted it into the plains, -discovered his enemies, approached them slily, fell upon them, defeated -them, and returned in triumph with their scalps to his village. His deep -and hollow CHE KWAN DUM, or death-cry of victory as he came to the -eminence which overlooked his village, announced all this before he set -foot in his village: and the number of his scalps. - -These exploits placed him on the pinnacle of fame. It is a curious fact, -in the lives of our Red men, to observe that war is a stimulus to -poligamy. One of the first things he thought of, as a proper reward for -his bravery, was to take another wife. In this, his friends and -partizans concurred, although he had no cause of dissatisfaction with -his first wife, to whom he had been married but a short time, and who -had borne him a son. Time added confirmation to this plan. It was talked -of, and even debated by the chiefs. It was conceded to be due to his -bravery. All, indeed, appeared to approve of it, but his wife. She heard -of the rumor with alarm, and received the account of its confirmation, -with pain. It could no longer be doubted, for the individual who was to -share, nay, control the lodge with her was named, and the consent of her -parents had been obtained. - -Monon, or the Little-Iron-Wood-Tree, as she was called, was a female of -no ordinary firmness of character. She was ardently attached to her -husband, not the less so for his rising fame, jealous of her rights, and -prompted by strong feelings to maintain them. In all these points she -was above the generality of her country women. Like others, however, in -a community where poligamy was common, she might have submitted at -length, to her fate, had not her rival in the affections of Takozid, -appealed to a deeper seated principle, and waked up, in the breast of -the injured wife, the feeling of revenge: a principle reckless enough, -in communities where there are the safeguards of education and -christianity to restrain and regulate it; but horrible in wild and -roving bands of barbarians. Monon's fidelity was slandered. She was a -pure and high minded woman, and the imputation goaded her to the quick. - -When this slander first reached her ears, through the ordinary channel -of village gossip, a chord was struck, which vibrated through every -throe, and steeled her heart for some extraordinary act; although none -could anticipate the sanguinary deed which marked the nuptial night. An -Indian marriage is often a matter of little ceremony. It was not so, on -this occasion. To render the events imposing, many had been invited. The -bride was dressed in her best apparel. Her father was present. Many -young and old, males and females were either present or thronged around -the lodge. The broad clear blue waters of the lake, studded with green -islands, spread before the door. A wide grassy lawn, which was the -village ball and play ground, extended down to its margin. It was a -public event. A throng had gathered around. Takozid was to be married. -He was to take a second wife, in the daughter of Obegwud. Takozid -himself was there. Hilarity reigned within and without. All indeed, were -there, but the dejected and deserted Monon, who had been left with her -child, at the chieftain's own lodge. - -But a spirit had been aroused in her breast, which would not permit her -to remain absent. She crossed the green silently, stealthily. She stood -gazing awhile at the lake. She approached the bridal lodge. She passed -easily among the group. She entered the lodge. Nor had any one, at that -moment, a thought of suspicion or alarm. The bride was seated on her -envied abbinos; her affianced husband was at her side. - -All at once, there arose a shrill cry, in the Chippewa tongue. "_This_, -vociferated the enraged Monon, _This_ for the bastard!" and at each -repetition of the words, she raised an Indian poignard, in her hand. -The suddenness of her movement had paralyzed every attempt to arrest -her. Amazement sat in every face. She had plunged a pointed knife into -the breast of her rival. - -There is little to be added to such a catastrophe. Its very suddenness -and atrocity appalled every one. Nobody arrested her, and nobody pursued -her. She returned as she came, and re-entered her lodge. Her victim -never spoke. - -From this moment the fame of Takozid declined. The event appeared to -have unmanned him. He went no more to war. His martial spirits appeared -to have left him. He sank back into the mass of Indian society, and was -scarcely ever mentioned. Nor should we, indeed, have recalled his name -from its obscurity, were it not associated in the Indian reminiscences -of Leach lake, with this sanguinary deed. - -I had this relation a few years ago, from a trader, who had lived at -Leech lake, who personally knew the parties, and whose veracity I had no -reason at all, to call into question. It is one of the elements that go -into the sum of my personal observations, on savage life, and as such I -cast it among these papers. To judge of the Red race aright, we must -view it, in all its phases, and if we would perform our duty towards -them, as christians and men, we should gather our data from small, as -well as great events, and from afar as well as near. When all has been -done, in the way of such collections and researches, it will be found, -we think, that their errors and crimes, whatever they are, assume no -deeper dye than philanthropy has had reason to apprehend them to take, -without a knowledge of the principles of the gospel. _Thou shall not -kill_, is a law, yet to be enforced, among more than two hundred -thousand souls, who bear the impress of a red skin, within the -acknowledged limits of the American Union. - - - - -MACHINITO, THE EVIL SPIRIT; - -FROM THE LEGENDS OF IAGOU. - -BY MRS. E. OAKES SMITH. - - "The Pagan world not only believes in a myriad of gods, but - worships them also. It is the peculiarity of the North American - Indian, that while he _believes_ in as many, he _worships_ but one, - the Great Spirit."--(_Schoolcraft._) - - -CHEMANITOU, being the master of life, at one time became the origin of a -spirit, that has ever since caused himself and all others of his -creation a great deal of disquiet. His birth was owing to an accident. -It was in this wise. - -METÓWAC, or as the white people now call it, Long Island, was originally -a vast plain, so level and free from any kind of growth, that it looked -like a portion of the great sea that had suddenly been made to move back -and let the sand below appear, which was the case in fact. - -Here it was that Chemanitou used to come and sit, when he wished to -bring any new creation to the life. The place being spacious and -solitary, the water upon every side, he had not only room enough, but -was free from interruption. - -It is well known that some of these early creations were of very great -size, so that very few could live in the same place, and their strength -made it difficult for Chemanitou, even to controul them; for when he has -given them certain elements, they have the use of the laws that govern -these elements, till it is his will to take them back to himself. -Accordingly, it was the custom of Chemanitou, when he wished to try the -effect of these creatures, to set them in motion upon the island of -Metówac, and if they did not please him, he took the life out before -they were suffered to escape. He would set up a mammoth or other large -animal, in the centre of the island, and build him up with great care, -somewhat in the manner that a cabin or a canoe is made. - -Even to this day may be found traces of what had been done here in -former years; and the manner in which the earth sometimes sinks down -[even wells fall out at the bottom here,] shows that this island is -nothing more than a great cake of earth, a sort of platter laid upon the -sea, for the convenience of Chemanitou, who used it as a table upon -which he might work, never having designed it for anything else; the -margin of the CHATIEMAC, (the stately swan,) or Hudson river, being -better adapted to the purposes of habitation. - -When the master of life wished to build up an elephant or mammoth he -placed four cakes of clay upon the ground, at proper distances, which -were moulded into shape, and became the feet of the animal. - -Now sometimes these were left unfinished; and to this day the green -tussocks, to be seen like little islands about the marshes, show where -these cakes of clay had been placed. - -As Chemanitou went on with his work, the NEEBANAWBAIGS (or water -spirits,) the PUCK-WUD-JINNIES, (Fairies[9]) and indeed all the lesser -manittoes, used to come and look on, and wonder what it would be, and -how it would act. - -When the animal was quite done, and had dried a long time in the sun, -Chemanitou opened a place in the side, and entering in, remained there -many days. - -When he came forth, the creature began to shiver and sway from side to -side, in such a manner as shook the whole island for many leagues. If -his appearance pleased the master of life he was suffered to depart, and -it was generally found that these animals plunged into the sea upon the -north side of the island, and disappeared in the great forests beyond. - -Now at one time Chemanitou was a very long while building an animal, of -such great bulk, that it looked like a mountain upon the centre of the -island; and all the manittoes, from all parts, came to see what it was. -The Puck-wud-jinnies especially made themselves very merry, capering -behind his great ears, sitting within his mouth, each perched upon a -tooth, and running in and out of the sockets of the eyes, thinking -Chemanitou, who was finishing off other parts of the animal, could not -see them. - -But he can see right through every thing he has made. He was glad to see -them so lively, and bethought himself of many new creations while he -watched their motions. - -When the Master of Life had completed this large animal, he was fearful -to give it life, and so it was left upon the island, or work-table of -Chemanitou, till its great weight caused it to break through, and -sinking partly down it stuck fast, the head and tail holding it in such -a manner as to prevent it from going down. - -Chemanitou then lifted up a piece of the back, and found it made a very -good cavity, into which the old creations, which failed to please him, -might be thrown. - -He sometimes amused himself by making creatures very small and active, -with which he disported awhile, and finding them of very little use in -the world, and not so attractive as the little Vanishers, he would take -out the life, holding it in himself, and then cast them into the cave -made by the body of the unfinished animal. In this way great quantities -of very odd shapes were heaped together in this _Roncomcomon_, or "Place -of Fragments." - -He was always careful to first take out the life. - -One day the Master of Life took two pieces of clay and moulded them into -two large feet, like those of a panther. He did not make four--there -were two only. - -He stepped his own feet into them, and found the tread very light and -springy, so that he might go with great speed, and yet make no noise. - -Next he built up a pair of very tall legs, in the shape of his own, and -made them walk about awhile--he was pleased with the motion. Then -followed a round body, covered with large scales, like the alligator. - -He now found the figure doubling forward, and he fastened a long black -snake, that was gliding by, to the back part of the body, and let it -wind itself about a sapling near, which held the body upright, and made -a very good tail. - -The shoulders were broad and strong, like those of the buffaloe, and -covered with hair--the neck thick and short, and full at the back. - -Thus far Chemanitou had worked with little thought, but when he came to -the head he thought a long while. - -He took a round ball of clay into his lap, and worked it over with great -care. While he thought, he patted the ball upon the top, which made it -very broad and low; for Chemanitou was thinking of the panther feet, and -the buffaloe neck. He remembered the Puck-wud-jinnies playing in the eye -sockets of the great unfinished animal, and he bethought him to set the -eyes out, like those of a lobster, so that the animal might see upon -every side. - -He made the forehead broad and full, but low; for here was to be the -wisdom of the forked tongue, like that of the serpent, which should be -in his mouth. He should see all things, and know all things. Here -Chemanitou stopped, for he saw that he had never thought of such a -creation before, one with but two feet, a creature who should stand -upright, and see upon every side. - -The jaws were very strong, with ivory teeth, and gills upon either side, -which arose and fell whenever breath passed through them. The nose was -like the beak of the vulture. A tuft of porcupine quills made the -scalp-lock. - -Chemanitou held the head out the length of his arm, and turned it first -upon one side and then upon the other. He passed it rapidly through the -air, and saw the gills rise and fall, the lobster eyes whirl round, and -the vulture nose look keen. - -Chemanitou became very sad; yet he put the head upon the shoulders. It -was the first time he had made an upright figure. - -It seemed to be the first idea of a man. - -It was now nearly night; the bats were flying through the air, and the -roar of wild beasts began to be heard. A gusty wind swept in from the -ocean, and passed over the island of Metówac, casting the light sand to -and fro. A heavy scud was skimming along the horizon, while higher up in -the sky was a dark thick cloud, upon the verge of which the moon hung -for a moment, and then was shut in. - -A panther came by and stayed a moment, with one foot raised and bent -inward, while he looked up at the image, and smelt the feet, that were -like his own. - -A vulture swooped down with a great noise of its wings, and made a dash -at the beak, but Chemanitou held him back. - -Then came the porcupine, and the lizard, and the snake, each drawn by -its kind in the image. - -Chemanitou veiled his face for many hours, and the gusty wind swept by, -but he did not stir. - -He saw that every beast of the earth seeketh its kind; and that which is -like draweth its likeness unto himself. - -The Master of Life thought and thought. The idea grew into his mind that -at some time he would create a creature who should be made not after the -things of the earth, but after himself. - -He should link this world to the spirit world,--being made in the -likeness of the Great Spirit, he should be drawn unto his likeness. - -Many days and nights, whole seasons, passed while Chemanitou thought -upon these things. He saw all things. - -Then the Master of Life lifted up his head; the stars were looking down -upon the image, and a bat had alighted upon the forehead, spreading its -great wings upon each side. Chemanitou took the bat and held out its -whole leathery wings, (and ever since the bat, when he rests, lets his -body hang down,) so that he could try them over the head of the image. -He then took the life of the bat away, and twisted off the body, by -which means the whole thin part fell down over the head, and upon each -side, making the ears, and a covering for the forehead like that of the -hooded serpent. - -Chemanitou did not cut off the face of the image below, he went on and -made a chin, and lips that were firm and round, that they might shut in -the forked tongue, and the ivory teeth; and he knew that with the lips -and the chin it would smile, when life should be given to it. - -The image was now all done but the arms, and Chemanitou saw that with a -chin it must have hands. He grew more grave. - -He had never given hands to any creature. - -He made the arms and the hands very beautiful, after the manner of his -own. - -Chemanitou now took no pleasure in his work that was done--it was not -good in his sight. - -He wished he had not given it hands; might it not, when trusted with -life, might it not begin to create? might it not thwart the plans of the -master of life himself? - -He looked long at the image. He saw what it would do when life should be -given it. He knew all things. - -He now put fire in the image: but fire is not life. - -He put fire within, and a red glow passed through and through it. The -fire dried the clay of which it was made, and gave the image an -exceedingly fierce aspect. It shone through the scales upon the breast, -and the gills, and the bat-winged ears. The lobster eyes were like a -living coal. - -Chemanitou opened the side of the image, _but he did not enter_. He had -given it hands and a chin. - -It could smile like the manittoes themselves. - -He made it walk all about the island of Metówac, that he might see how -it would act. This he did by means of his will. - -He now put a little life into it, but he did not take out the fire. -Chemanitou saw the aspect of the creature would be very terrible, and -yet that he could smile in such a manner that he ceased to be ugly. He -thought much upon these things. He felt it would not be best to let such -a creature live; a creature made up mostly from the beasts of the field, -but with hands of power, a chin lifting the head upward, and lips -holding all things within themselves. - -While he thought upon these things, he took the image in his hands and -cast it into the cave. - -_But Chemanitou forgot to take out the life!_ - -The creature lay a long time in the cave and did not stir, for his fall -was very great. He lay amongst the old creations that had been thrown in -there without life. - -Now when a long time had passed Chemanitou heard a great noise in the -cave. He looked in and saw the image sitting there, and he was trying to -put together the old broken things that had been cast in as of no value. - -Chemanitou gathered together a vast heap of stones and sand, for large -rocks are not to be had upon the island, and stopped the mouth of the -cave. Many days passed and the noise grew louder within the cave. The -earth shook, and hot smoke came from the ground. The Manittoes crowded -to Metówac to see what was the matter. - -Chemanitou came also, for he remembered the image he had cast in there, -and forgotten to take away the life. - -Suddenly there was a great rising of the stones and sand--the sky grew -black with wind and dust. Fire played about the ground, and water gushed -high into the air. - -All the Manittoes fled with fear; and the image came forth with a great -noise and most terrible to behold. His life had grown strong within him, -for the fire had made it very fierce. - -Everything fled before him and cried--MACHINITO--MACHINITO--which means -a god, but an evil god! - - * * * * * - -The above legend is gathered from the traditions of Iagou, the great -Indian narrator, who seems to have dipped deeper into philosophy than -most of his compeers. The aboriginal language abounds with stories -related by this remarkable _personage_, which we hope to bring before -the public at some future time. Whether subsequent events justify the -Indian in making Long Island the arena of the production of Machinito or -the Evil Spirit, will seem more than apocryphal to a white resident. -However we have nothing to do except to relate the fact as it was -related. - -As to these primitive metaphysics, they are at least curious; and the -coolness with which the fact is assumed that the origin of evil was -accidental in the process of developing a perfect humanity, would, at an -earlier day, have been quite appalling to the schoolmen. - - E. O. S. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [9] Literally, little men, who vanish. - - - - -REPOSE OF THE SOUL. - - -When an Indian corpse is put in a coffin, among the tribes of the -Lake-Algonquins, the lid is _tied_ down, and not nailed. On depositing -it in the grave, the rope or string is loosed, and the weight of the -earth alone relied on, to keep it in a fixed position. The reason they -give for this, is, that the soul may have free egress from the body. - -Over the top of the grave a covering of cedar bark is put, to shed the -rain. This is roof-shaped and the whole structure looks, slightly, like -a house in miniature. It has gable ends. Through one of these, being the -head, an aperture is cut. On asking a Chippewa why this was done, he -replied,--"To allow the soul to pass out, and in." - -"I thought," I replied, "that you believed that the soul went up from -the body at the time of death, to a land of happiness. How, then, can it -remain in the body?" - -"There are two souls," replied the Indian philosopher. - -"How can this be? my friend." - -"It is easily explained," said he. - -"You know that, in dreams, we pass over wide countries, and see hills -and lakes and mountains, and many scenes, which pass before our eyes, -and affect us. Yet, at the same time, our bodies do not stir, and there -is a soul left with the body,--else it would be dead. So, you perceive, -it must be another soul that accompanies us." - -This conversation took place, in the Indian country. I knew the Indian -very well, and had noticed the practice, not general now, on the -frontiers, of _tying_ the coffin-lid, in burials. It is at the orifice -in the bark sheeting mentioned, that the portion of food, consecrated in -feasts for the dead, is set. It could not but happen, that the food -should be eaten by the hystrix, wolf, or some other animal, known to -prowl at night; nor that, Indian superstition, ever ready to turn slight -appearances of this kind to account, should attribute its abstraction to -the spirit of the deceased. - - - - -THE LITTLE SPIRIT, OR BOY-MAN. - -AN ODJIBWA FAIRY TALE. - -WRITTEN OUT FROM THE VERBAL NARRATIVE BY THE LATE MRS. H. R. -SCHOOLCRAFT. - - -There was once a little boy, remarkable for the smallness of his -stature. He was living alone with his sister older than himself. They -were orphans, they lived in a beautiful spot on the Lake shore; many -large rocks were scattered around their habitation. The boy never grew -larger as he advanced in years. One day, in winter, he asked his sister -to make him a ball to play with along shore on the clear ice. She made -one for him, but cautioned him not to go too far.--Off he went in high -glee, throwing his ball before him, and running after it at full speed; -and he went as fast as his ball. At last his ball flew to a great -distance: he followed it as fast as he could. After he had run for some -time, he saw four dark substances on the ice straight before him. When -he came up to the spot he was surprised to see four large, tall men -lying on the ice, spearing fish. When he went up to them, the nearest -looked up and in turn was surprised to see such a diminutive being, and -turning to his brothers, he said, "Tia! look! see what a little fellow -is here." After they had all looked a moment, they resumed their -position, covered their heads, intent in searching for fish. The boy -thought to himself, they imagine me too insignificant for common -courtesy, because they are tall and large; I shall teach them -notwithstanding, that I am not to be treated so lightly. After they were -covered up the boy saw they had each a large trout lying beside them. He -slyly took the one nearest him, and placing his fingers in the gills, -and tossing his ball before him, ran off at full speed. When the man to -whom the fish belonged looked up, he saw his trout sliding away as if of -itself, at a great rate--the boy being so small he was not distinguished -from the fish. He addressed his brothers and said, "See how that tiny -boy has stolen my fish; what a shame it is he should do so." The boy -reached home, and told his sister to go out and get the fish he had -brought home. She exclaimed, "where could you have got it? I hope you -have not stolen it." "O no," he replied, "I found it on the ice." "How" -persisted the sister, "could you have got it there?"--"No matter," said -the boy, "go and cook it." He disdained to answer her again, but thought -he would one day show her how to appreciate him. She went to the place -he left it, and there indeed she found a monstrous trout. She did as she -was bid, and cooked it for that day's consumption. Next morning he went -off again as at first. When he came near the large men, who fished every -day, he threw his ball with such force that it rolled into the ice-hole -of the man of whom he had stolen the day before. As he happened to raise -himself at the time, the boy said, "Neejee, pray hand me my ball." "No -indeed," answered the man, "I shall not," and thrust the ball under the -ice. The boy took hold of his arm and broke it in two in a moment, and -threw him to one side, and picked up his ball, which had bounded back -from under the ice, and tossed it as usual before him. Outstripping it -in speed, he got home and remained within till the next morning. The man -whose arm he had broken hallooed out to his brothers, and told them his -case, and deplored his fate. They hurried to their brother, and as loud -as they could roar threatened vengeance on the morrow, knowing the -boy's speed that they could not overtake him, and he was near out of -sight; yet he heard their threats and awaited their coming in perfect -indifference. The four brothers the next morning prepared to take their -revenge. Their old mother begged them not to go--"Better" said she "that -one only should suffer, than that all should perish; for he must be a -monedo, or he could not perform such feats." But her sons would not -listen; and taking their wounded brother along, started for the boy's -lodge, having learnt that he lived at the place of rocks. The boy's -sister thought she heard the noise of snow-shoes on the crusted snow at -a distance advancing. She saw the large, tall men coming straight to -their lodge, or rather cave, for they lived in a large rock. She ran in -with great fear, and told her brother the fact. He said, "Why do you -mind them? give me something to eat." "How can you think of eating at -such a time," she replied,--"Do as I request you, and be quick." She -then gave him his dish, which was a large _mis-qua-dace_ shell, and he -commenced eating. Just then the men came to the door, and were about -lifting the curtain placed there, when the boy-man turned his dish -upside-down, and immediately the door was closed with a stone; the men -tried hard with their clubs to crack it; at length they succeeded in -making a slight opening. When one of them peeped in with one eye, the -boy-man shot his arrow into his eye and brain, and he dropped down dead. -The others, not knowing what had happened their brother, did the same, -and all fell in like manner; their curiosity was so great to see what -the boy was about. So they all shared the same fate. After they were -killed the boy-man told his sister to go out and see them. She opened -the door, but feared they were not dead, and entered back again hastily, -and told her fears to her brother. He went out and hacked them in small -pieces, saying, "henceforth let no man be larger than you are now." So -men became of the present size. When spring came on, the boy-man said to -his sister, "Make me a new set of arrows and bow." She obeyed, as he -never did any thing himself of a nature that required manual labour, -though he provided for their sustenance. After she made them, she again -cautioned him not to shoot into the lake; but regardless of all -admonition, he, on purpose, shot his arrow into the lake, and waded some -distance till he got into deep water, and paddled about for his arrow, -so as to attract the attention of his sister. She came in haste to the -shore, calling him to return, but instead of minding her he called out, -"Ma-mis-quon-je-gun-a, be-nau-wa-con-zhe-shin," that is, "_you_, of the -_red fins_ come and swallow me." Immediately that monstrous fish came -and swallowed him; and seeing his sister standing on the shore in -despair, he hallooed out to her, "Me-zush-ke-zin-ance." She wondered -what he meant. But on reflection she thought it must be an old mockesin. -She accordingly tied the old mockesin to a string, and fastened it to a -tree. The fish said to the boy-man, under water, "What is that -floating?" the boy-man said to the fish, "Go, take hold of it, swallow -it as fast as you can." The fish darted towards the old shoe, and -swallowed it. The boy-man laughed in himself, but said nothing, till the -fish was fairly caught; he then took hold of the line and began to pull -himself and fish to shore. The sister, who was watching, was surprised -to see so large a fish; and hauling it ashore she took her knife and -commenced cutting it open. When she heard her brother's voice inside of -the fish, saying, "Make haste and release me from this nasty place," his -sister was in such haste that she almost hit his head with her knife; -but succeeded in making an opening large enough for her brother to get -out. When he was fairly out, he told his sister to cut up the fish and -dry it, as it would last a long time for their sustenance, and said to -her, never, never more to doubt his ability in any way. So ends the -story. - - - - -AINGODON AND NAYWADAHA. - - STORY OF A FAMILY OF NADOWAS, OR PEOPLE OF THE SIX NATIONS OF - TORONTO, CONSISTING OF SIX BROTHERS, THEIR YOUNGEST SISTER, AND TWO - AUNTS. THEIR FATHER AND MOTHER HAVING DIED, THEY WERE LEFT ORPHANS, - THEIR ORIGIN, HOWEVER, WAS FROM THE FIRST CLASS OF CHIEFTAINS IN - THEIR NATION. - -NARRATED PROM THE ORAL RELATION OF NABANOI, BY MR. GEORGE JOHNSTON. - - -In the days of this story, wars, murders, and cruelty existed in the -country now comprising the province of Upper Canada, or that portion -bordering upon Lakes Simcoe, Erie, and Ontario, which was claimed and -belonged to the powerful tribe of the eight nations of the Nawtoways. -The young men had, on a day, started for a hunting excursion: in the -evening five only of the brothers returned, one was missing. Upon search -being made the body was found, and it appeared evident that he had been -killed: this gave a great blow to the family, but particularly causing -great affliction to the sister, who was the youngest of the family. She -mourned and lamented her brother's death, and she wept incessantly. - -The ensuing year another was killed, and so on till four were killed. -The remaining two brothers did all they could to afford consolation to -their pining sister, but she would not be consoled: they did all they -could to divert her mind from so much mourning, but all their endeavours -proved ineffectual: she scarcely took any food, and what she ate was -hardly sufficient to sustain nature. The two brothers said that they -would go hunting, which they did from day to day. They would bring -ducks and birds of every description to their sister, in order to tempt -her appetite, but she persisted in refusing nourishment, or taking very -little. At the expiration of the year when the fourth brother had been -killed, the two young men set out upon the chase; one of them returned -in the evening, the other was missing, and found killed in like manner -as the others had been. This again augmented the afflictions of the -young girl; she had been very delicate, but was now reduced to a mere -skeleton. At the expiration of the year the only and last of her -brothers, taking pity upon his pining sister, said to her that he would -go and kill her some fresh venison, to entice her to eat. He started -early in the morning, and his sister would go out from time to time, in -the course of the day, to see if her brother was returning. Night set -in, and no indications of his coming--she sat up all night, exhibiting -fear and apprehension bordering upon despair--day light appeared, and he -did not come--search was made, and he was finally found killed, like all -the other brothers. After this event the girl became perfectly -disconsolate, hardly tasting food, and would wander in the woods the -whole day, returning at nights. One of her aunts had the care of her at -this time. One day in one of her rambles she did not return; her aunt -became very anxious, and searched for her, and continued her search -daily. On the tenth day, the aunt in her search lost her way and was -bewildered, and finally was benighted. While lying down, worn with -fatigue, she thought she heard the voice of some one speaking: she got -up, and directing her course to the spot, she came upon a small lodge -made of bushes, and in it lay her niece, with her face to the ground. -She prevailed upon her to return home. Before reaching their lodge the -girl stopt, and her aunt built her a small lodge, and she resided in it. -Here her aunt would attend upon her daily. - -One day as she lay alone in her little lodge, a person appeared to her -from on high: he had on white raiment that was extremely pure, clean and -white: he did not touch the earth, but remained at some distance from -it. He spoke to her in a mild tone and said, Daughter, why do you remain -here mourning? I have come to console you, and you must arise, and I -will give you all the land, and deliver into your hands the persons who -have killed your brothers. All things living and created are mine, I -give and take away. Now therefore arise, slay and eat of my dog that -lays there. You will go to your village and firstly tell your relatives -and nation of this vision, and you must act conformably to my word and -to the mind I'll give you, and your enemies will I put into your hands. -I will be with you again. - -After this, he ascended on high. When the girl looked to the place where -the heavenly being pointed, she saw a bear. She arose and went home, and -mentioned to her relatives the vision she had seen, and made a request -that the people might be assembled to partake of her feast. She directed -her relations to the spot where the bear was to be found; it was killed -and brought to the village, and singed upon a fire, and the feast was -made, and the nature of the vision explained. Preparations were -immediately set on foot, messengers were sent to each tribe of the six -nations, and an invitation given to them, to come upon a given day to -the village of Toronto. Messengers were also sent all along the north -coast of lake Huron to Bawiting, inviting the Indians to form an -alliance and fight against the enemies of the young girl who had lost so -many brothers. - -In the midst of the Nadowas, there lived two chieftains, twin brothers. -They were Nadowas also of the Bear tribe, perfect devils in disposition, -cruel and tyrannical. They were at the head of two nations of the -Nadowas, reigning together, keeping the other nations in great fear and -awe, and enslaving them; particularly the Indians of the Deer totem, who -resided in one portion of their great village. Indians in connection -with the Chippewas were also kept in bondage by the two tyrants, whose -names were _Aingodon_ and _Naywadaha_. When the Chippewas received the -young girl's messengers, they were told that they must rescue their -relatives, and secretly apprize them of their intention, and the great -calamity that would befall Aingodon and Naywadaha's villages and towns. -Many therefore made their escape; but one remained with his family, -sending an excuse for not obeying the summons, as he had a great -quantity of corn laid up, and that he must attend to his crops. The -Indians all along the north shore of lake Huron and of Bawiting, -embarked to join the general and common cause; they passed through the -lakes, and reached Toronto late in the fall. In the beginning of the -winter the assembled allies marched, headed by the young girl. She -passed through lake Simcoe, and the line covered the whole lake, -cracking the ice as they marched over it. They encamped at the head of -the lake. Here the young girl produced a garnished bag, and she hung it -up, and told the assembled multitude that she would make chingodam; and -after this she sent hunters out directing them to bring in eighteen -bears, and before the sun had risen high the bears were all brought in, -and they were singed, and the feast of sacrifice offered. At this place -the person from on high appeared to the girl in presence of the -assembled multitude, and he stretched forth his hand and shook hands -with her only. He here directed her to send secret messengers into the -land, to warn the Indians who had the deer totem to put out their totems -on poles before their lodge door, in order that they might be known and -saved from the approaching destruction; and they were enjoined not to go -out of their lodges, neither man, woman, or child; if they did so they -would be surely consumed and destroyed; and the person on high said--Do -not approach nigh the open plain until the rising sun, you will then see -destruction come upon your enemies, and they will be delivered into your -hands. - -The messengers were sent to the Deer Totems, and they entered the town -at night, and communicated their message to them. After this all the -Indians bearing that mark were informed of the approaching calamity, and -they instantly made preparations, setting out poles before their lodge -doors, and attaching deer skins to the poles, as marks to escape the -vengeance that was to come upon Aingodon and Nawadaha, and their tribes. -The next morning at daylight the Aingodons and Nawadahas rose, and -seeing the poles and deer skins planted before the doors of the lodges, -said in derision, that their friends, the Deer Totems, had, or must have -had, bad dreams, thus to set their totems on poles. The Indians of the -deer totems remained quiet and silent, and they did not venture out of -their lodges. The young girl was nigh the skirts of the wood with her -host, bordering upon the plain; and just as the sun rose she marched, -and as she and her allied forces neared the village of the twin tyrants, -it became a flame of fire, destroying all its inhabitants. The Deer -Totems escaped. Aingodon and Nawadaha were not consumed. The allied -Indians drew their bows and shot their arrows at them, but they bounded -off, and the blows inflicted upon them were of no avail, until the young -girl came up and subdued them, and took them alive, and made them -prisoners. - -The whole of Aingodon's and Nawadaha's towns and villages were destroyed -in the same way; and the land was in possession of the young girl and -the six remaining tribes of the Nadowas. After this signal vengeance was -taken the young girl returned with her host, and again encamped at the -head of lake Simcoe, at her former encamping place; and the two tyrants -were asked, what was their object for making chingodam, and what weight -could it have? They said, in answer, that their implements for war, were -war axes, and if permitted they would make chingodam, and on doing so -they killed each two men. They were bound immediately, and their flesh -was cut off from their bodies in slices. One of them was dissected, and -upon examination it was discovered that he had no liver, and his heart -was small, and composed of hard flint stone. There are marks upon a -perpendicular ledge of rocks at the narrows, or head of lake Simcoe, -visible to this day, representing two bound persons, who are recognized -by the Indians of this generation as the two tyrants, or twin brothers, -Aingodon and Nawadaha. One of the tyrants was kept bound, until the time -the French discovered and possessed the Canadas, and he was taken to -Quebec. After this the young girl was taken away by the god of light. - - GEO. JOHNSTON. - -_Sault Ste. Marie, May 12th, 1838._ - - * * * * * - -The Indian warriors of the plains west of the sources of the -Mississippi, chew a bitter root, before going into battle, which they -suppose imparts courage, and renders them insensible to pain. It is -called zhigowak. - - - - -SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF NOTED RED MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE APPEARED ON -THE WESTERN CONTINENT. - - - - -WABOJEEG, OR THE WHITE FISHER. - - -This individual has indelibly interwoven his name with the history of -the Chippewa nation, during the latter half of the 18th century. His -ancestors had, from the earliest times, held the principal chieftainship -in lake Superior. His father, Ma-mongazida, was the ruling chief during -the war of the conquest of the Canadas by the British crown. In common -with his tribe and the northern nations generally, he was the fast -friend of the French government, and was present with his warriors, -under Gen. Montcalm, at the loss of Quebec, in 1759. He carried a short -speech from that celebrated officer to his people in the north, which is -said to have been verbally delivered a short time before he went to the -field. - -The period of the fall of the French power in the Canadas, is one of the -most marked events in Indian reminiscence throughout all northwest -America. They refer to the days of French supremacy as a kind of golden -era, when all things in their affairs were better than they now are; and -I have heard them lament over the change as one which was in every -respect detrimental to their power and happiness. No European nation, it -is evident from these allusions, ever pleased them as well. The French -character and manners adapted themselves admirably to the existing -customs of forest life. The common people, who went up into the interior -to trade, fell in with their customs with a degree of plasticity and an -air of gaiety and full assent, which no other foreigners have, at least -to the same extent, shown. These _Couriers du Bois_ had not much to -boast of on the score of rigid morals themselves. They had nearly as -much superstition as the wildest Indians. They were in fact, at least -nine-tenths of them, quite as illiterate. Very many of them were far -inferior in their mental structure and capacity to the bold, eloquent, -and well formed and athletic northern chiefs and hunters. They respected -their religious and festive ceremonies. They never, as a chief once told -me, _laughed_ at them. They met their old friends on their annual -returns from Montreal, with a kiss. They took the daughters of the red -men for wives, and reared large families, who thus constituted a strong -bond of union between the two races, which remains unbroken at this -day. - -This is the true secret of the strenuous efforts made by the northern -and western Indians to sustain the French power, when it was menaced in -the war of 1744, by the fleets and armies of Great Britain. They rallied -freely to their aid at Detroit, Vincennes, the present sites of -Pittsburg and Erie, at Fort Niagara, Montreal, and Quebec, and they -hovered with infuriated zeal around the outskirts of the northern and -western settlements, during the many and sanguinary wars carried on -between the English and French. And when the French were beaten they -still adhered to their cause, and their chiefs stimulated the French -local commanders to continue and renew the contest, even after the fall -of Niagara and Quebec, with a heroic consistency of purpose, which -reflects credit upon their foresight, bravery, and constancy. We hope in -a future number to bring forward a sketch of the man who put himself at -the head of this latter effort, who declared he would drive the Saxon -race into the sea, who beseiged _twelve_ and took _nine_ of the western -stockaded forts, and who for four years and upwards, maintained the war, -after the French had struck their colours and ceded the country. We -refer to the great Algic leader, Pontiac. - -At present our attention is called to a cotemporary chief, of equal -personal bravery and conduct, certainly, but who lived and exercised his -authority at a more remote point, and had not the same masses and means -at his command. This point, so long hid in the great forests of the -north, and which, indeed, has been but lately revealed in our positive -geography, is the AREA OF LAKE SUPERIOR. It is here that we find the -Indian tradition to be rife with the name of Wabojeeg and his wars, and -his cotemporaries. It was one of the direct consequences of so remote a -position, that it withdrew his attention more from the actual conflicts -between the French and English, and fixed them upon his western and -southern frontiers, which were menaced and invaded by the numerous bands -of the Dacotahs, and by the perfidious kinsmen of his nation, the -Outagamies and Saucs. He came into active life, too, as a prominent war -leader, at the precise era when the Canadas had fallen into the British -power, and by engaging zealously in the defence of the borders of his -nation west, he allowed time to mitigate and adjust those feelings and -attachments which, so far as public policy was concerned, must be -considered to have moulded the Indian mind to a compliance with, and a -submission to, the British authority. Wabojeeg was, emphatically, the -defender of the Chippewa domain against the efforts of other branches of -the Red Race. He did not, therefore, lead his people to fight, as his -father, Ma-mongazida, and nearly all the great Indian war captains had, -to enable one type of the foreign race to triumph over another, but -raised his parties and led them forth to maintain his tribal supremacy. -He may be contemplated, therefore, as having had a more patriotic object -for his achievement. - -Lake Superior, at the time of our earliest acquaintance with the region, -was occupied, as it is at this day, by the Chippewa race. The chief -seat of their power appeared to be near the southwestern extremity of -the lake, at Chagoimegon, where fathers Marquette and Alloez found their -way, and established a mission, so early as 1668. Another of their -principal, and probably more _ancient_ seats, was at the great rapids on -the outlet of that lake, which they named the Sault de Ste. Marie. It -was in allusion to their residence here that they called this tribe -Saulteur, that is to say, people of the leap or rapid. - -Indian tradition makes the Chippewas one of the chief, certainly by far -the most _numerous and widely spread_, of the Algonquin stock proper. It -represents them to have migrated from the east to the west. On reaching -the vicinity of Michilimackinac, they separated at a comparatively -moderate era into three tribes, calling themselves, respectively, -Odjibwas, Odawas, and Podawadumees. What their name was before this era, -is not known. It is manifest that the term Odjibwa is not a very ancient -one, for it does not occur in the earliest authors. They were probably -of the Nipercinean or true Algonquin stock, and had taken the route of -the Utawas river, from the St. Lawrence valley into lake Huron. The term -itself is clearly from Bwa, a voice; and its prefix in Odji, was -probably designed to mark a peculiar intonation which the muscles are, -as it were, _gathered up_, to denote. - -Whatever be the facts of their origin, they had taken the route up the -straits of St. Mary into lake Superior, both sides of which, and far -beyond, they occupied at the era of the French discovery. It is evident -that their course in this direction must have been aggressive. They were -advancing towards the west and northwest. The tribe known as Kenistenos, -had passed through the Lake of the Woods, through the great lake -Nipesíng, and as far as the heads of the Saskatchewine and the portage -of the Missinipi of Hudson's bay. The warlike band of Leech Lake, called -Mukundwas, had spread themselves over the entire sources of the -Mississippi and extended their hunting excursions west to Red River, -where they came into contact with the Assinaboines, or Stone Sioux. The -central power, at this era, still remained at Chagoimegon, on Superior, -where indeed, the force of early tradition asserts there was maintained -something like a frame of both civil and ecclesiastical polity and -government. - -It is said in the traditions related to me by the Chippewas, that the -Outagamies, or Foxes, had preceded them into that particular section of -country which extends in a general course from the head of Fox River, of -Green Bay, towards the Falls of St. Anthony, reaching in some points -well nigh to the borders of lake Superior. They are remembered to have -occupied the interior wild rice lakes, which lie at the sources of the -Wisconsin, the Ontonagon, the Chippewa, and the St. Croix rivers. They -were associated with the Saucs, who had ascended the Mississippi some -distance above the Falls of St. Anthony, where they lived on friendly -terms with the Dacotahs or Sioux. This friendship extended also to the -Outagamies, and it was the means of preserving a good understanding -between the Dacotahs and Chippewas. - -The Fox tribe is closely affiliated with the Chippewas. They call each -other brothers. They are of the same general origin and speak the same -general language, the chief difference in sound being that the Foxes use -the letter l, where the Odjibwas employ an n. The particular cause of -their disagreement is not known. They are said by the Chippewas to have -been unfaithful and treacherous. Individual quarrels and trespasses on -their hunting grounds led to murders, and in the end to a war, in which -the Menomonees and the French united, and they were thus driven from the -rice lakes and away from the Fox and upper Wisconsin. To maintain their -position they formed an alliance with the Sioux, and fought by their -side. - -It was in this contest that Wabojeeg first distinguished himself, and -vindicated by his bravery and address the former reputation of his -family, and laid anew the foundations of his northern chieftaindom. -Having heard allusions made to this person on my first entrance into -that region, many years ago, I made particular enquiries; and found -living a sister, an old white-headed woman, and a son and daughter, -about the age of middle life. From these sources I gleaned the following -facts. He was born, as nearly as I could compute the time, about 1747. -By a singular and romantic incident his father, Ma-mongazida, was a -half-brother of the father of Wabashaw, a celebrated Sioux chief, who -but a few years ago died at his village on the upper Mississippi. The -connexion happened in this way. - -While the Sioux and Chippewas were living in amity near each other, and -frequently met and feasted each other on their hunting grounds and at -their villages, a Sioux chief, of distinction, admired and married a -Chippewa girl, by whom he had two sons. When the war between these two -nations broke out, those persons of the hostile tribes who had married -Chippewa wives, and were living in the Chippewa country, withdrew, some -taking their wives along and others separating from them. Among the -latter was the Sioux chief. He remained a short time after hostilities -commenced, but finding his position demanded it, he was compelled, with -great reluctance, to leave his wife behind, as she could not, with -safety, have accompanied him into the Sioux territories. As the blood of -the Sioux flowed in the veins of her two sons, neither was it safe for -her to leave them among the Chippewas. They were, however, by mutual -agreement, allowed to return with the father. The eldest of these sons -became the father of Wabashaw. - -The mother thus divorced by the mutual consent of all parties, remained -inconsolable for some time. She was still young and handsome, and after -a few years, became the wife of a young Chippewa chief of Chagoimegon, -of the honoured totem of the ADDICK or reindeer. Her first child by -this second marriage, was Ma Mongazida, the father of Wabojeeg. In this -manner, a connexion existed between two families, of separate hostile -nations, each of which distinguished itself, for bravery and skill in -war and council. It has already been stated that Ma Mongazida, was -present, on the side of the French, in the great action in which both -Montcalm and Wolf fell, and he continued to exercise the chieftainship -till his death, when his second son succeeded him. - -It was one of the consequences of the hostility of the Indians to the -English rule, that many of the remote tribes were left, for a time, -without traders to supply their wants. This was the case, tradition -asserts, with Chagoimegon, which, for two years after the taking of old -Mackinac, was left without a trader. To remonstrate against this, Ma -Mongazida visited Sir William Johnson, the superintendant general of -Indian affairs, by whom he was well received, and presented with a broad -wampum belt and gorget. This act laid the foundation of a lasting peace -between the Chippewas and the English. The belt, it is added, was of -blue wampum, with figures of white. And when Wabojeeg came to the -chieftainship, he took from it the wampum employed by him to muster his -warparties. - -In making traditionary enquiries I have found that the Indian narrators -were careful to preserve and note any fact, in the early lives of their -distinguished men, which appeared to prefigure their future eminence, or -had any thing of the wonderful or premonitory, in its character. The -following incident of this sort, was noticed respecting this chief. Ma -Mongazida generally went to make his fall hunts on the middle grounds -towards the Sioux territory, taking with him all his near relatives, -amounting usually to twenty persons, exclusive of children. Early one -morning while the young men were preparing for the chase, they were -startled by the report of several shots, directed towards the lodge. As -they had thought themselves in security, the first emotion was surprise, -and they had scarcely time to fly to their arms, when another volley was -fired, which wounded one man in the thigh, and killed a dog. Ma -Mongazida immediately sallied out with his young men, and pronouncing -his name aloud in the Sioux language, demanded if Wabasha or his -brother, were among the assailants. The firing instantly ceased--a pause -ensued, when a tall figure, in a war dress, with a profusion of feathers -upon his head, stepped forward and presented his hand. It was the elder -Wabasha, his half brother. The Sioux peaceably followed their leader -into the lodge, upon which they had, the moment before, directed their -shots. At the instant the Sioux chief entered, it was necessary to stoop -a little, in passing the door. In the act of stooping, he received a -blow from a war-club wielded by a small boy, who had posted himself -there for the purpose. It was the young Wabojeeg. Wabasha, pleased with -this early indication of courage, took the little lad in his arms, -caressed him, and pronounced that he would become a brave man, and -prove an inveterate enemy of the Sioux. - -The border warfare in which the father of the infant warrior was -constantly engaged, early initiated him in the arts and ceremonies -pertaining to war. With the eager interest and love of novelty of the -young, he listened to their war songs and war stories, and longed for -the time when he would be old enough to join these parties, and also -make himself a name among warriors. While quite a youth he volunteered -to go out with a party, and soon gave convincing proofs of his courage. -He also early learned the arts of hunting the deer, the bear, the moose, -and all the smaller animals common to the country; and in these -pursuits, he took the ordinary lessons of Indian young men, in -abstinence, suffering, danger and endurance of fatigue. In this manner -his nerves were knit and formed for activity, and his mind stored with -those lessons of caution which are the result of local experience in the -forest. He possessed a tall and commanding person, with a full black -piercing eye, and the usual features of his countrymen. He had a clear -and full toned voice, and spoke his native language with grace and -fluency. To these attractions, he united an early reputation for bravery -and skill in the chase, and at the age of twenty-two, he was already a -war leader. - -Expeditions of one Indian tribe against another, require the utmost -caution, skill, and secrecy. There are a hundred things to give -information to such a party, or influence its action, which are unknown -to civilized nations. The breaking of a twig, the slightest impression -of a foot print, and other like circumstances, determine a halt, a -retreat, or an advance. The most scrupulous attention is also paid to -the signs of the heavens, the flight of birds, and above all, to the -dreams and predictions of the jossakeed, priest, or prophet, who -accompanies them, and who is entrusted with the sacred sack. The theory -upon which all these parties are conducted, is secrecy and stratagem: to -steal upon the enemy unawares; to lay in ambush, or decoy; to kill and -to avoid as much as possible the hazard of being killed. An intimate -geographical knowledge of the country, is also required by a successful -war leader, and such a man piques himself, not only on knowing every -prominent stream, hill, valley, wood, or rock, but the particular -productions, animal, and vegetable, of the scene of operations. When it -is considered that this species of knowledge, shrewdness and sagacity, -is possessed on _both_ sides, and that the nations at war watch each -other, as a lynx for its prey, it may be conceived, that many of these -border war parties are either light skirmishes, sudden on-rushes, or -utter failures. It is seldom that a close, well contested, long -continued hard battle is fought. To kill a few men, tear off their -scalps in haste, and retreat with these trophies, is a brave and -honourable trait with them, and may be boasted of, in their triumphal -dances and warlike festivities. - -To glean the details of these movements, would be to acquire the modern -history of the tribe, which induced me to direct my enquiries to the -subject; but the lapse of even forty or fifty years, had shorn tradition -of most of these details, and often left the memory of results only. The -Chippewas told me, that this chief had led them seven times to -successful battle against the Sioux and the Outagamies, and that he had -been wounded thrice--once in the thigh, once in the right shoulder, and -a third time in the side and breast, being a glancing shot. His war -parties consisted either of volunteers who had joined his standard at -the war dance, or of auxiliaries, who had accepted his messages of -wampum and tobacco, and come forward in a body, to the appointed place -of rendezvous. These parties varied greatly in number; his first party -consisted of but forty men, his greatest and most renowned, of three -hundred, who were mustered from the villages on the shores of the lake, -as far east as St. Mary's falls. - -It is to the incidents of this last expedition, which had an important -influence on the progress of the war, that we may devote a few moments. -The place of rendezvous was _La Pointe_ Chagomiegon, or as it is called -in modern days, La Pointe of Lake Superior. The scene of the conflict, -which was a long and bloody one, was the falls of the St. Croix. The two -places are distant about two hundred and fifty miles, by the most direct -route. This area embraces the summit land between Lake Superior and the -upper Mississippi. The streams flowing each way interlock, which enables -the natives to ascend them in their light canoes, and after carrying the -latter over the portages, to descend on the opposite side. On this -occasion Wabojeeg and his partizan army, ascended the Muskigo, or -Mauvais river, to its connecting portage with the Namakagon branch of -the St. Croix. On crossing the summit, they embarked in their small and -light war canoes on their descent westward. This portion of the route -was passed with the utmost caution. They were now rapidly approaching -the enemy's borders, and every sign was regarded with deep attention. -They were seven days from the time they first reached the waters of the -St. Croix, until they found the enemy. They went but a short distance -each day, and encamped. On the evening of the seventh day, the scouts -discovered a large body of Sioux and Outagamies encamped on the lower -side of the portage of the great falls of the St. Croix. The discovery -was a surprise on both sides. The advance of the Chippewas had landed at -the upper end of the portage, intending to encamp there. The Sioux and -their allies had just preceded them, from the lower part of the stream -with the same object. The Foxes or Outagamies immediately fired, and a -battle ensued. It is a spot indeed, from which a retreat either way is -impracticable, in the face of an enemy. It is a mere neck of rugged -rock. The river forces a passage through this dark and solid barrier. It -is equally rapid and dangerous for canoes above and below. It cannot be -crossed direct. After the firing began Wabojeeg landed and brought up -his men. He directed a part of them to extend themselves in the wood -around the small neck, or peninsula, of the portage, whence alone escape -was possible. Both parties fought with bravery; the Foxes with -desperation. But they were outnumbered, overpowered, and defeated. Some -attempted to descend the rapids, and were lost. A few only escaped. But -the Chippewas paid dearly for their victory. Wabojeeg was slightly -wounded in the breast: his brother was killed. Many brave warriors fell. -It was a most sanguinary scene. The tradition of this battle is one of -the most prominent and wide spread of the events of their modern -history. I have conversed with more than one chief, who dated his first -military honours in youth, to this scene. It put an end to their feud -with the Foxes, who retired from the intermediate rice lakes, and fled -down the Wisconsin. It raised the name of the Chippewa leader, to the -acme of his renown among his people: but Wabojeeg, as humane as he was -brave, grieved over the loss of his people who had fallen in the action. -This feeling was expressed touchingly and characteristically, in a war -song, which he uttered after this victory which has been preserved by -the late Mr. Johnston of St. Mary's, in the following stanzas. - - On that day when our heroes lay low--lay low, - On that day when our heroes lay low, - I fought by their side, and thought ere I died, - Just vengeance to take on the foe, - Just vengeance to take on the foe. - - On that day, when our chieftains lay dead--lay dead, - On that day when our chieftains lay dead, - I fought hand to hand, at the head of my band, - And here, on my breast, have I bled, - And here, on my breast, have I bled. - - Our chiefs shall return no more--no more, - Our chiefs shall return no more, - Nor their brothers of war, who can show scar for scar, - Like women their fates shall deplore--deplore, - Like women their fate shall deplore. - - Five winters in hunting we'll spend--we'll spend, - Five winters in hunting we'll spend, - Till our youth, grown to men, we'll to war lead again, - And our days, like our fathers, we'll end, - And our days, like our fathers, we'll end. - -It is the custom of these tribes to go to war in the spring and summer, -which are, not only comparatively seasons of leisure with them, but it -is at these seasons that they are concealed and protected by the foliage -of the forest, and can approach the enemy unseen. At these annual -returns of warmth and vegetation, they also engage in festivities and -dances, during which the events and exploits of past years are sang and -recited: and while they derive fresh courage and stimulus to renewed -exertions, the young, who are listeners, learn to emulate their fathers, -and take their earliest lessons in the art of war. Nothing is done in -the summer months in the way of hunting. The small furred animals are -changing their pelt, which is out of season. The doe retires with her -fawns, from the plains and open grounds, into thick woods. It is the -general season of reproduction, and the red man for a time, intermits -his war on the animal creation, to resume it against man. - -As the autumn approaches, he prepares for his fall hunts, by retiring -from the outskirts of the settlements, and from the open lakes, shores, -and streams, which have been the scenes of his summer festivities; and -proceeds, after a short preparatory hunt, to his wintering grounds. This -round of hunting, and of festivity and war, fills up the year; all the -tribes conform in these general customs. There are no war parties raised -in the winter. This season is exclusively devoted to securing the means -of their subsistence and clothing, by seeking the valuable skins, which -are to purchase their clothing and their ammunition, traps and arms. - -The hunting grounds of the chief, whose life we are considering, -extended along the southern shores of Lake Superior from the Montreal -River, to the inlet of the Misacoda, or Burntwood River of Fond du Lac. -If he ascended the one, he usually made the wide circuit indicated, and -came out at the other. He often penetrated by a central route up the -Maskigo. This is a region still abounding, but less so than formerly, in -the bear, moose, beaver, otter, martin, and muskrat. Among the smaller -animals are also to be noticed the mink, lynx, hare, porcupine, and -partridge, and towards its southern and western limits, the Virginia -deer. In this ample area, the La Pointe, or Chagoimegon Indians hunted. -It is a rule of the chase, that each hunter has a portion of the country -assigned to him, on which he alone may hunt; and there are conventional -laws which decide all questions of right and priority in starting and -killing game. In these questions, the chief exercises a proper -authority, and it is thus in the power of one of these forest governors -and magistrates, where they happen to be men of sound sense, judgment -and manly independence, to make themselves felt and known, and to become -true benefactors to their tribes. And such chiefs create an impression -upon their followers, and leave a reputation behind them, which is of -more value than their achievements in war. - -Wabojeeg excelled in both characters; he was equally popular as a civil -ruler and a war chief; and while he administered justice to his people, -he was an expert hunter, and made due and ample provision for his -family. He usually gleaned, in a season, by his traps and carbine, four -packs of mixed furs, the avails of which were ample to provide clothing -for all the members of his lodge circle, as well as to renew his supply -of ammunition and other essential articles. - -On one occasion, he had a singular contest with a moose. He had gone -out, one morning early, to set martin traps. He had set about forty, and -was returning to his lodge, when he unexpectedly encountered a large -moose, in his path, which manifested a disposition to attack him. Being -unarmed, and having nothing but a knife and small hatchet, which he had -carried to make his traps, he tried to avoid it. But the animal came -towards him in a furious manner. He took shelter behind a tree, shifting -his position from tree to tree, retreating. At length, as he fled, he -picked up a pole, and quickly untying his moccasin strings, he bound his -knife to the end of the pole. He then placed himself in a favourable -position, behind a tree, and when the moose came up, stabbed him several -times in the throat and breast. At last, the animal, exhausted with the -loss of blood, fell. He then dispatched him, and cut out his tongue to -carry home to his lodge as a trophy of victory. When they went back to -the spot, for the carcass, they found the snow trampled down in a wide -circle, and copiously sprinkled with blood, which gave it the appearance -of a battle-field. It proved to be a male of uncommon size. - -The domestic history of a native chief, can seldom be obtained. In the -present instance, the facts that follow, may be regarded with interest, -as having been obtained from residents of Chagoimegon, or from his -descendants. He did not take a wife till about the age of thirty, and he -then married a widow, by whom he had one son. He had obtained early -notoriety as a warrior, which perhaps absorbed his attention. What -causes there were to render this union unsatisfactory, or whether there -were any, is not known; but after the lapse of two years, he married a -girl of fourteen, of the totem of the bear, by whom he had a family of -six children. He is represented as of a temper and manners affectionate -and forbearing. He evinced thoughtfulness and diligence in the -management of his affairs, and the order and disposition of his lodge. -When the hunting season was over, he employed his leisure moments in -adding to the comforts of his lodge. His lodge was of an oblong shape, -ten fathoms long, and made by setting two rows of posts firmly in the -ground, and sheathing the sides and roof with the smooth bark of the -birch. From the centre rose a post crowned with the carved figure of an -owl, which he had probably selected as a bird of good omen, for it was -neither his own nor his wife's totem. This figure was so placed, that it -turned with the wind, and answered the purpose of a weathercock. - -In person Wabojeeg was tall, being six feet six inches, erect in -carriage, and of slender make. He possessed a commanding countenance, -united to ease and dignity of manners. He was a ready and fluent -speaker, and conducted personally the negotiations with the Fox and -Sioux nations. It was perhaps twenty years after the battle on the St. -Croix, which established the Chippewa boundary in that quarter, and -while his children were still young, that there came to his village, in -the capacity of a trader, a young gentleman of a respectable family in -the north of Ireland, who formed an exalted notion of his character, -bearing, and warlike exploits. This visit, and his consequent residence -on the lake, during the winter, became an important era to the chief, -and has linked his name and memory with numerous persons in civilized -life. Mr. Johnston asked the northern chief for his youngest daughter. -Englishman, he replied, my daughter is yet young, and you cannot take -her as white men have too often taken our daughters. It will be time -enough to think of complying with your request, when you return again to -this lake in the summer. My daughter is my favourite child, and I cannot -part with her, unless you will promise to acknowledge her by such -ceremonies as white men use. You must ever keep her, and never forsake -her. On this basis a union was formed, a union it may be said, between -the Erse and Algonquin races--and it was faithfully adhered to, till his -death, a period of thirty-seven years. - -Wabojeeg had impaired his health in the numerous war parties which he -conducted across the wide summit which separated his hunting grounds -from the Mississippi valley. A slender frame, under a life of incessant -exertion, brought on a premature decay. Consumption revealed itself at a -comparatively early age, and he fell before this insidious disease, in a -few years, at the early age of about forty-five. He died in 1793 at his -native village of Chagoimegon. - -The incident which has been named, did not fail to make the forest -chieftain acquainted with the leading truth of Christianity, in the -revelation it makes of a saviour for all races. On the contrary, it is a -truth which was brought to his knowledge and explained. It is, of -course, not known with what particular effects. As he saw his end -approaching, he requested that his body might not be buried out of -sight, but placed, according to a custom prevalent in the remoter bands -of this tribe, on a form supported by posts, or a scaffold. This trait -is, perhaps, natural to the hunter state. - - My friends when my spirit is fled--is fled - My friends when my spirit is fled, - Ah, put me not bound, in the dark and cold ground, - Where light shall no longer be shed--be shed, - Where day-light no more shall be shed. - - But lay me up scaffolded high--all high, - Chiefs lay me up scaffolded high, - Where my tribe shall still say, as they point to my clay, - He ne'er from the foe sought to fly--to fly, - He ne'er from the foe sought to fly. - - And children, who play on the shore--the shore, - And children who play on the shore, - As the war dance they beat, my name shall repeat, - And the fate of their chieftain deplore--deplore, - And the fate of their chieftain deplore. - - -MODE OF WRITING AN INDIAN LANGUAGE. - -The rules of utterance of these tribes, after all that has been said and -written on the subject, are very simple, and determine the orthography, -so far, at least, as relates to distinctions for the long and short -vowels. If, in writing Indian, the syllables be separated by hyphens, -there need be no uncertainty respecting their sounds, and we shall be -saved a world of somewhat over nice disquisition. A vowel preceded by a -consonant, is always long, a vowel followed by a consonant is always -short. A vowel between two consonants, is short. A vowel standing by -itself is always full or long. A few examples of well known words will -denote this. - - On ta' ri o. - Ni ag' ar a. - O we' go. - Ti ó ga. - Os wé go. - I´-o-wa. - Wis con' sin. - Chi cá go. - Wá bash. - Pe ó ri a. - Tí con de ró ga. - Mis siss ip pi. - O neí da. - Al ab á ma. - O tis' co. - Or' e gon. - -Write the words by whatever system of orthography you will, French, -English, or German, and the vowel sounds will vindicate this -distinction. If diphthongs have been used, for simple vowels, through -early mistake or redundancy, the rule is the same. If they appear as -proper diphthongs, they follow the rule of diphthongs. This principal of -utterance appears to be a general and fixed law in the Indian languages -as respects the sounds of e, i, o, u, and the two chief sounds of a, 1 -and 3 of Walker's Key. As the letter a has four distinct sounds, as in -English, the chief discrepancies, seen above, will appear in the use of -this letter. - - - - -SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF NOTED RED MEN AND WOMEN, WHO HAVE APPEARED ON -THE WESTERN CONTINENT. - - - - -BRANT, RED JACKET, UNCAS, MIONTONIMO. - -A NOTICE OF THE BIOGRAPHIES OF THE LATE COL. WILLIAM L. STONE, PREPARED -FOR THE DEMOCRATIC REVIEW--1843. - - -The Egyptians embalmed their dead in myrrh and spices, but the blessed -art of printing has given us a surer and less revolting method of -preserving and transmitting to posterity, all that is truly valuable in -the plaudits of virtue, worth, and honor. Books thus become a more -permanent memorial than marble, and by their diffusion scatter those -lessons among all mankind, which the age of mounds and hieroglyphics, -stone and papyrus, had confined to the tablet of a shaft, or the dark -recesses of a tomb or a pyramid. It is never to be forgotten, that in -the development of this new phasis in the history of the human race, it -was printing that first lit the lamp of truth, and has driven on the -experiment, till the boundaries of letters have well nigh become -co-extensive with the world. If we do not widely err, there is no part -of the globe, where books of all descriptions have become so cheap and -abundant as they are at this time in the United States, and, laying -aside all other considerations, we may find a proof of the position -stated in the fact, that our vernacular literature is no longer confined -to the production of school books, the annals of law and divinity, the -age of muddy pamphlets, or the motley pages of the newspaper. We have no -design to follow up these suggestions by showing how far the study of -the natural sciences, the discussion of political economy, or the -advances of belles-lettres, have operated to produce this result; far -less to identify those causes, in the progress of western arts and -commerce, which have concurred to bring down the price of books, and -scatter the blessings of an untrammelled press, among all classes. It is -sufficient for our purpose to say that even the lives of our -distinguished native chieftains have come in for a share of modern -notice, and, we feel proud to add, of a notice which, so far as it -reaches, is worthy of the subject. And should our contributions on this -head, for the last few years, be equally well followed up for a few -years to come, even the desponding strains of one of their own -impersonated heroes can no longer be repeated with perfect truth: - - "They sink, they pass, they fly, they go, - Like a vapor at morning's dawn, - Or a flash of light, whose sudden glow - Is seen, admired, and gone. - - "They died; but if a brave man bleeds, - And fills the dreamless grave, - Shall none repeat his name, his deeds, - Nor tell that he was brave?" - -To no one in our literary annals is the public so much indebted for -rescuing from oblivion the traits and character of the four celebrated -chiefs whose names stand at the head of this article, as to the able -author of these biographies, William L. Stone. Gifted with a keen -perception of the questions of right and wrong, which turn upon the -planting of the colonies among barbarians, who more than idled away -their days upon a soil which they did not cultivate--with a deep -sympathy in their fate and fortunes, on the one hand, and the paramount -claims of letters and Christianity on the other, he has set himself to -the task of rendering justice to whom justice belongs, with the ardor of -a philanthropist, and the research of a historian. He appears to have -planned a series of biographies which, if completed, will give a -connected view of the leading tribes who occupied New York, Connecticut, -Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, with a range in the examination of -contemporary men and collateral topics, which embraces a wide circle. -And he has filled up the outlines of his plan, thus far, in a manner -which leaves but little to glean in the path which he has trod. If the -extension of this circle, and the large amount of contemporaneous matter -brought in, has, in the minds of some, abstracted too large a share of -attention, and left the biographies with less unity and compactness than -they would otherwise have assumed, this is exclusively the fault of -their plan, so far as it is acknowledged, and not of the execution. And -for this course of extension there is a plea to be found in the nature -of the subject, in the treatment of which, scantiness of material was -often sought to be supplied by the introduction of collateral and -sometimes extraneous matter. - -We propose briefly to notice the series of these biographies in their -order of publication. In his first work on Brant, he has presented, in -living colors, the great Mohawk of 1776, who rose up to crush that -confederacy which Washington and his compeers had pledged their lives to -maintain. Brant was a man of power and capacities, mental and physical, -beyond his tribe; and was so situated, in the actual contest, as to -throw a greater weight into the scale against us, than any other, or all -of the hostile chiefs of the Red Race put together. If he could not, -like Ariel, call up the "spirits of the vasty deep," he could, at his -bidding, summon together the no less malignant spirits of the woods, who -fell upon our sleeping hamlets with the fury of demons. And whether at -Johnson Hall or Niagara, at Cherry Valley or Schoharie, on the waters of -the Oriskany or the Chemung, he was the ruling and informing spirit of -the contest. Such was the power he wielded as commander of a most -effective body of light troops (for such are all Indian warriors), who -were supported by large and well appointed armies, that, like the -electric flashes of the boding storm, he preceded the heavier outbreak -by sounding aloud the wild notes of terror and dismay. It was in this -manner that his name became a talisman on the frontiers, to conjure up -deeds of evil, and in this way also, doubtless, it became loaded with -reproaches, some of which, as the author has denoted, were due to other -actors in the contest. It is difficult, however, to disturb the -judgments of a preceding age, on the character of individuals who have -long passed off the stage of action, whether those judgments be -favorable or unfavorable; and it is, in fact, impossible to reverse -them. It is only necessary to glance backward a short way, on the track -of biography, to perceive that posterity never revises the opinions once -put on individual character, heroic or literary. It tries to forget all -it can, and every body it can, and never remembers a long time any name -which it is possible to forget. It is willing, we should infer, to -concede something to the great men among barbarian nations, whose names -have often burst upon civilized society with the fearful attractions of -the meteor, or the comet, producing admiration in the beholders, without -stopping to inquire the true cause. Such were the Tamerlanes, and the -Tippoo Saibs of the eastern world, of a prior age, as well as the -Mehemet Alis and Abdel Kaders of the present. And such were, also, with -reduced means of action, numbers of the American aboriginal chiefs, who, -between the days of Manco Capac and Micanopy have figured in the history -of the western world. Most of these men owe their celebrity to the mere -fact of their having dazzled or astounded, or like Brant himself, -excited the terror of those who opposed them. In the case of the latter, -a change of opinion in those particular traits which affect his -humanity, is less readily made, from the fact, yet generally remembered, -that he had received a Christian education; that he was, while a mere -boy, received into the best society, acquired the English language, and -had been instructed, first at a New England academy, and afterwards at -one of its most practically efficient colleges. Posterity holds the -Mohawk chief responsible to have carried the precepts thus obtained into -the forest, and to have diffused their blessings among those who had -perhaps his bravery, without his talents of his knowledge. Those who -fought against him were ill qualified, we confess, to be his judges. He -had not only espoused the wrong cause, wrong because it was adverse to -the progress of national freedom and those very principles his people -contended for; but he battled for it with a master's hand, and made the -force of his energy felt, as the author has more fully indicated than -was before known, from the banks of the Mohawk and the Niagara, to the -Ohio, the Miami, and the Wabash. Yet, if there was error in the extent -to which he failed to carry the precepts of civilization and -Christianity, it was meet it should be pointed out, although it will -also be admitted, the public have a right to look for the strongest of -these proofs of a kind and benevolent feeling towards his open enemies, -out of the range of his domestic circle. His family had carried the -incipient principles of civilization, which he gave them, too -high--they had exhibited to the next age, a too prominent example of -cultivation and refinement in every sense--not to feel deeply the -obloquy cast upon his name, by the poetic spirit of the times; and not -to wish that one who had, in verity, so many high and noble qualities, -both in the council and the field, should also be without a spot on his -humanity. We deem the feeling as honorable to all who have the blood of -the chieftain in their veins as it is praiseworthy in his biographer. We -cannot, however, consent to forget, that historical truth is very severe -in its requisitions, and is not to be put off, by friend or foe, with -hearsay testimony, or plausible surmises. - -Brant cannot, like Xicotencal, be accused of having joined the invaders -of his country, who were recklessly resolved upon its subjugation; but -he overlooked the fact, that both the _invader_ and the _invaded_ in the -long and bloody border warfare of the revolution, were, in all that -constitutes character, the same people. They were of the same blood and -lineage, spoke the same language, had the same laws and customs, and the -same literature and religion, and he failed to see that the only real -point of difference between them was, who should wield the sceptre. -Whichever party gained the day in such a contest, letters and -Christianity must triumph, and as the inevitable result, barbarism must -decline, and the power of the Indian nation fall. - -In Brant, barbarism and civilization evinced a strong and singular -contest. He was at one moment a savage, and at another a civilian, at -one moment cruel, and at another humane; and he exhibited, throughout -all the heroic period of his career, a constant vacillation and struggle -between good and bad, noble and ignoble feelings, and, as one or the -other got the mastery, he was an angel of mercy, or a demon of -destruction. In this respect, his character does not essentially vary -from that which has been found to mark the other leading red men who, -from Philip to Osceola, have appeared on the stage of action. Like them, -his reasoning faculties were far less developed than his physical -perceptions. And to attempt to follow or find anything like a fixed -principle of humanity, basing itself on the higher obligations that sway -the human breast, would, we fear, become a search after that which had -no existence in his mind; or if the germ was there, it was too feeble to -become predominant. We do not think it necessary, in commenting on his -life, to enter into any nice train of reasoning or motives to account -for this characteristic, or to reconcile cruelties of the most shocking -kind, when contrasted with traits of mildness and urbanity. They were -different moods of the man, and in running back over the eventful years -of his life, it becomes clear, that civilization had never so completely -gained the mastery over his mind and heart, as not to desert him, -without notice, the moment he heard the sound of the war-whoop. The fact -that he could use the pen, supplied no insuperable motive against his -wielding the war club. His tomahawk and his Testament lay on the same -shelf. The worst trait in his character is revealed in his tardiness to -execute acts of _purposed_ mercy. There was too often some impediment, -which served as an excuse, as when he had a ploughed field to cross to -save Wells and his family, or a lame heel, or gave up the design -altogether, as in the case of Wisner, whom he construed it into an act -of mercy to tomahawk. - -That he was, however, a man of an extraordinary firmness, courage and -decision of character, is without doubt. But his fate and fortunes have -not been such as to give much encouragement to chiefs of the native race -in lending their influence to European, or Anglo-European powers, who -may be engaged in hostilities against each other on this continent. -Pontiac had realized this before him, and Tecumtha realized it after -him. Neither attained the object he sought. One of these chiefs was -assassinated, the other fell in battle, and Brant himself only survived -the defeat of his cause, to fret out his latter days in vain attempts to -obtain justice from the power which he had most loyally served, and -greatly benefited. Had he been knighted at the close of the contest, -instead of being shuffled from one great man to another, at home and -abroad, it would have been an instance of a noble exercise of that -power. But George III seemed to have been fated, at all points, neither -to do justice to his friends nor his enemies. - -Such was Brant, or Thayendanegea, symbolically, the Band of his -tribe,[10] to whose lot it has fallen to act a more distinguished part -in the Colonies, as a consummate warrior, than any other aboriginal -chieftain who has arisen. And his memory was well worthy of the -elaborate work in which his biographer has presented him, in the most -favourable points of view, amidst a comprehensive history of the border -wars of the revolution, without, however, concealing atrocities of which -he was, perhaps sometimes unwillingly, the agent. - -A word, and but a word, will be added, as to some points connected with -this chief's character, which are not in coincidence with the generally -received opinion, or are now first introduced by way of palliation, or -vindication. We confess, that so far as the presence or absence of the -Great Mohawk in the massacre of Wyoming, is concerned, the statements -are either inconclusive, or less satisfactory than could be wished. -There was quite too much feeling sometimes evinced by his family, and -particularly his son John, to permit us to receive the new version of -the statement without some grains of allowance. An investigation is -instituted by Col. Stone as to the immediate ancestry of Brant, and much -importance is attached to the inquiry, whether he was descended from a -line of hereditary chiefs. We think the testimony adverse to such a -supposition, and it affords no unequivocal proof of talents, that -notwithstanding such an adventitious circumstance, certainly without -being of the line of _ruling_ chiefs, he elevated himself to be, not -only the head chief and leader of his tribe, but of the Six Nations. -Courtesy and popular will attach the title of chief or sachem to men of -talents, courage or eloquence among our tribes generally; and while mere -descent would devolve it upon a chief's son, whatever might be his -character, yet this fact alone would be of little import, and give him -little influence, without abilities: whereas abilities alone are found -to raise men of note to the chieftainship, among all the North American -tribes, whose customs and character are known. - -It has constituted no part of our object, in these general outlines, to -examine minor points of the biography or history, upon which the -information or the conclusions are not so satisfactory as could be -wished, or which may, indeed, be at variance with our opinions. One -fact, however, connected with this name, it is not deemed proper to pass -_sub silentio_. Brant is made to take a part in the Pontiac war, a -contest arising on the fall of the French power in Canada in 1759, and -which closed in 1763. Brant was at its close but twenty-one years of -age, and had not, it is probable, finally returned from his New England -tutors. At any rate, there is no reason to suppose, that, at that early -period of his life and his influence, he could have had any -participation in the events of that war. - -In the life of Red Jacket, or Sagóyewata, we have a different order of -Indian intellect brought to view. He was an orator and a diplomatist, -and was at no period of his life noted for his skill as a warrior. Nay, -there are indubitable proofs that his personal courage could not always -be "screwed up to the sticking point." But in native intellect, he was -even superior to Brant. He was, indeed, the Brant of the council, and -often came down upon his opponents with bursts of eloquence, trains of -argument, or rhapsodies of thought, which were irresistible. And of him, -it may be symbolically said, that his tongue was his tomahawk, and the -grandiloquent vocabulary of the Seneca language, his war-club. Nor has -any native chieftain welded the weapon to more purpose, or with a longer -continued effect than the great Seneca orator. The specimens of his -eloquence which have appeared in our newspapers for forty years or more, -are still fresh in the memory, and it was due and meet that these should -be collected and preserved in a permanent shape, together with such -particulars of his life and career as could be obtained. This task has -been performed by Col. Stone, in a manner which leaves nothing more to -be attempted on the subject. Much zeal and industry have been evinced in -eliciting facts from every quarter where it was probable information -could be had. And he has brought together a body of contemporaneous -proofs and reminiscences, touching this chief, which a few years would -have put beyond the power of recovery, and which a position less -prominent than he occupied as a public journalist, might have rendered -it difficult for another to collect. We need only refer to the names of -Gen. P. B. Porter, Rev. J. Breckenridge, Mr. Parish, and Mr. Hosmer, to -show the character of this part of his materials. - -Other chiefs of the native stock, have produced occasional pieces of -eloquence, or admired oratory, but Red-Jacket is the only prominent -individual who has devoted his whole career to it. That he did, indeed, -excel, producing effects which no reported speech of his ever equalled -or did justice to, there are still many living to attest. In the -question of land sales, which arose between the white and red races, -there were frequent occasions to bring him out. And these, in the end, -assumed a complicated shape, from either the vague nature, or ill -understood conditions of prior grants. In all these discussions, he -preserved a unity and consistency in the set of opinions he had adopted. -He was opposed to further sales, to removal, to civilization, and to the -introduction of Christianity among his people. What Brant had done in -_politics_, Red-Jacket repeated in _morals_. Both took the wrong side, -and both failed. But it is to be said of the Seneca orator, that he did -not live to see the final defeat of that course of policy which he had -so long and so ably advocated. - -It was remarked by Mr. Clinton, and the fact had impressed others, that -the Iroquois, or Six Nations, excelled the other natives in eloquence. -Of this, their history, during the Supremacy of Holland and England in -New York, as given by Golden, furnishes ample proofs. The speech of -Garangula, against the Governor General of Canada and his wily policy, -is unexcelled, as a whole, by anything which even Red-Jacket has left in -print, though much of the effect of it is due to the superior and heroic -position occupied by the tribes for whom he spoke. Logan, unexcelled by -all others for his pathos and simplicity, it must be remembered, was -also of this stock,--Mingo, or _Mengwe_, as the Delawares pronounced it, -being but a generic term for Iroquois; so that the transmission of this -trait, from the proud era of the Iroquois confederacy down to modern -days, is quite in keeping with the opinion quoted. - -It is to be wished that Col. Stone would supply another link in the -chain of Iroquois history, by favoring the public with the life of the -noted Oneida chief, Shenandoah, for which materials must exist in the -Kirkland family. - -The lives of the two men, Uncas and Miontonimo, whose leading acts are -described in one of the volumes named in our caption, belong to an -earlier period of history, and a different theatre of action. The scene -changes from western New York to the seaboard of Connecticut, Rhode -Island, and, to some extent, Massachusetts. Uncas was the good genius, -the tutelary spirit, if we may so say, of the colony of Connecticut; and -the best monument which that State could erect to his memory, would be -to change the unmeaning and worn out name of one of her counties, New -London, for that of the noble and friendly chief, of whose forest -kingdom it once formed a part. From the first day that the English -colonists set foot within it, to the hour of his death, Uncas was the -unwavering "friend of the white man," as his biographer justly calls -him. He was of that race, whom history has, without making a particle of -allowance for savage ignorance and hereditary prejudice, branded under -the name of Pequods. They were of that type of languages and lineage, -which was very well characterized generically, at least as far south as -the original country of the Delawares; but which assumed a sub-type -after crossing the Hudson, and was known east of that point under one of -its superinduced forms, as the Mohegan. This term had been dropped by -the Pequods, if it was ever their specific cognomen, but it is a proof, -and we think a very conclusive proof, of the yet freshly remembered -affiliation with Taminund[11] and the Manhattans, that Uncas, the moment -he revolted from King Sassacus, assumed the name of a Mohegan, and put -himself at the head of that tribe, as it then existed within the -boundaries of Connecticut, Or rather, he constituted the revolted -Pequods a new tribe, under an old and respected name, and he thus laid -the foundation of the Uncas dynasty. Placed thus by circumstances in a -position in which he sought an alliance with the early colonists, and -finding his security in theirs, he was in fact the only leading chief of -the times who, really, heartily, and faithfully sought their prosperity -and growth to the end. The rise of Uncas and Connecticut thus began at -one era; and as the alliance was founded on mutual interest and safety, -it only grew stronger with time. A man of less force of character or -natural sagacity than Uncas, would have vacillated when he saw the -colonists becoming more powerful and himself more weak as years rolled -on, and would have been seduced to enter into alliances for arresting -the white man's power, as other native chiefs had done. But all history -concurs in showing that, under every circumstance, and there were many -of the most trying kind, he carried himself well, and avoided even a -suspicion of his fidelity. - -Uncas was well qualified for a ruler both in mind and person. He -possessed a fine figure, over six feet in height, a commanding voice, -and a noble bearing. He was mild yet dignified in his manners. He was -not only wise in council, but brave[12] in war, as he evinced in many -instances, but particularly in the battle of Sachem's Plain, in which he -proved himself the bravest and most chivalrous of the brave. Yet his -wisdom and moderation in governing his people, and the well balanced -justice and consistency of his character, give him a still higher -reputation, and establish his best claim to remembrance. In all the -trials in which he was placed, in all the temptations he had to fly into -a rage, and act out the savage, he sustained this character for wise -deliberation; and by adhering to his first covenant with the English, -and laying all his plans and grievances before the colonial courts, he -raised himself in strength and reputation, and finally triumphed, first -over Sassacus, and then over Miontonimo, the two greatest and most -powerful of his immediate contemporaries. - -If Uncas was the patron of Connecticut, Miontonimo, with his family of -the Narragansett chiefdom, was equally so of Rhode Island. And it is -from this obvious fact, probably, in part, that we find the historical -notices of him, from the last quarter, decidedly more favorable to his -general character than those emanating from the land of his enemy and -his conqueror, Uncas. While there is no disagreement as to any -historical fact of note, it is natural that some little shade of feeling -of this nature should remain. We have noticed a similar feeling with -respect to existing tribes and chiefs, in the western world, where the -inhabitants never fail to be imbued with those peculiar notions and -traditions of the particular tribe about them, which represent the -latter as the principal nation, and invest them with tribal traits of -superiority. It is a feeling which leans to the better side of one's -nature, and does honor to men's hearts; but the historian is obliged to -look at such questions with a colder eye, and can never abate a tittle -of the truth, although he may run counter to this local sympathy and -bias. We could name some remarkable instances of this prejudice, if we -were willing to digress. - -If Miontonimo be compared to Uncas, it will at once be seen that he -lacked the latter's sagacity and firmness of character. Had the -Narragansett listened to Sassacus, and formed a league with him, he -would have crushed, for a time, the infant colony of Connecticut. This -he declined, apparently, because it had the specific character of -enabling Sassacus to put down Uncas. After the Pequod king had been -defeated and fled to the Mohawks, Miontonimo was left in a position to -assume the Pequod's policy, and then tried to bring Uncas into just such -a combination to fall on the colonists, as he had himself refused, when -the proposition came from Sassacus. As Uncas not only refused, but laid -the scheme before his allies, Miontonimo went to war against him, with a -large army. Uncas hastily prepared to meet him, with a smaller force. -They met on Sachem's Plain, on the banks of the Shawtucket. Uncas, -unwilling to see so many of his people slain in battle, nobly stepped -forward and proposed a personal combat, to decide the question of who -should rule, and who obey. It was declined, but the moment the reply was -made, he threw himself on the plain, a signal, it seems, for his men to -advance, and they came on with such an impulse, that he won the day and -took Miontonimo prisoner. This capture was the act of one of his minor -chiefs; but when his enemy was brought before him, he declined -exercising his right of putting him to death, but determined to refer -the matter to the authorities of Hartford. There it was found to be a -knotty question, and finally referred to the General Court at Boston. -The Court strengthened itself with the opinions of six distinguished -clergymen and several eminent civilians; and then decided, that the -Narragansett chief had justly forfeited his life, by violating his -political covenants with the colonies, but it might not be taken away -_by them_. He must be remanded to Uncas, within his jurisdiction, and by -him be executed; but it was enjoined, with a very poor compliment to the -known mildness of the character of Uncas, that no needless cruelty -should be practised. Here, then, the white man evinced less mercy than -the red had done. Miontonimo was now released from his confinement, and -conducted back to the very spot where he had first been taken prisoner, -as he approached which, one of the Mohegans who accompanied him, keeping -him in entire ignorance of his fate, raised his tomahawk as he walked -behind him, and laid him dead at a blow. - -Whether the moral responsibility of this execution rests with the court, -or the executioner, we do not propose particularly to inquire, nor to -ascertain to what degree it was shuffled off, by directing an Indian to -commit an act which it was unlawful for a white man and a Christian to -perform. Had Uncas slain his adversary in cold blood, after the action, -the thing would have been in perfect accordance with Indian law. Had -Miontonimo been a subject of either of the colonies of Connecticut, -Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, and levied war, or committed any overt -act of treason, his execution would have been in accordance with the -laws of civilized nations. Neither condition happened. It was, however, -felt, that the great disturber of the colonies, after Sassacus, had now -been caught. He had violated his covenant by going to war without -apprising them. They did not believe he would keep any future covenants. -The moral sense of the community would not be shocked, but rather -gratified by his execution. This point was strongly signified to the -court. But they could not legally compass it. English law opposed it. -The customs of civilized nations, in warring with _each other_, opposed -it. Should a different rule be observed towards the aborigines? Did the -dictates of sound judgment and common sense, did the precepts of -Christianity,--aye, "there was the rub,"--did the precepts of -Christianity sanction it? On full deliberation,--for the question was -not decided in haste,--neither of these points could be affirmatively -answered. But while policy--the policy of _expediency_, the lust of -power, and the offended moral sense of an exposed and suffering -community demanded, as it was thought, the death of the sachem, still it -was not found that one whom they had ever treated, and then viewed, as a -foreign prince, legally considered, could be thus deprived of his life. -Imprisonment was not, as a permanent policy, resolved on. There was one -course left to escape both dilemmas, and to avoid all censure. It was to -restore things to the precise footing they had before his surrender. It -was to hand him back to Uncas, without the expression of any decision, -leaving that chieftain to act as he deemed fit. They remanded him -indeed, but went one step too far, by first deciding in a formal court, -after months of deliberation, in the course of which the clergy and -gentry, (this is a term that would be proper to the times) had been -formally consulted, and directed his death, stipulating only that he -should not be killed with cruelty. If there was not something that -smacks of the want of true and noble dealing in this--if it accorded -with the bland precepts of Christianity, to do unto others as you would -that others should do unto you--if the act did not, in fine, partake of -the very spirit of Jesuitism in the worst sense in which the word has -been adopted into the language, we have, we confess, formed a totally -wrong idea of its meaning. - -A case, in some respects similar to this, happened in modern times, -which may be thought to contrast rather strongly with the above example -of Puritan mercy. The reasons for a capital punishment, were, indeed, -far more cogent, and the community called out strongly for it, and would -have sustained it. It was the capture of Black Hawk, which, it will be -recollected, took place during the first Presidential term of General -Jackson. Black Hawk had levied war within the boundaries of one of the -States, on lands ceded by treaty, and organized a confederacy of Indian -tribes, which, though broken up in part, chiefly through the failure of -the other tribes to fulfil their engagements with him, yet required for -its suppression the entire disposable force of the Union. The Sac chief -was finally captured on Indian territory, in the act of fleeing west of -the Mississippi. He was imprisoned, and the case referred to the -Government for decision. He had broken his treaty covenants. He had not -only made war, but in its outbreak and its continuance, had been guilty -of countenancing, at least, the most shocking barbarities. He had, -indeed, opened the scene by cruelly murdering the agent of the -Government, the representative of the President, in the person of Mr. -St. Vrain. The community, the western States particularly, called -loudly for his execution. There could be no security, it was said, if -such a bloody fellow was allowed to roam at large. He had forfeited his -life a thousand times. There was, indeed, the same popular feeling -against him, which had existed in New England, one hundred and ninety -years before, against Miontonimo. But could he have been _legally_ -executed? And if so, was it, indeed, the true policy? Was it noble--was -it high-minded? Was it meting out exact and equal justice to men with -red skins, as well as white? It was thought that all these questions -must be negatively answered; and the bold Sac insurgent was sent home, -accompanied by an officer of the army, to secure his comfort and safety, -and thus to see that a wise and merciful decision should be faithfully -carried out, and popular indignation be prevented from wreaking itself, -in the assassination of the chief. - -In closing these remarks, it may appear selfish to express the hope, -that Mr. Stone, to whom we are already indebted for these spirited, -comprehensive, and well written volumes, should still further employ his -pen in adding to the sum of these obligations. But he has so well -studied the field in its historical bearing, so far at least as relates -to the eastern department of the Union, that we know of no one to whom -the labour would present less of the character of a task. We are in want -of a good account of Philip, or Metacom, the energetic sachem of the -Pokenokets, who impersonated so fully the wild Indian character, and -views, and battled so stoutly against the occupancy of New England by -the Saxon race. In showing up to modern times such a man, we think a -biography would derive very deep interest, and it would certainly be a -new experiment, to take up the aboriginal views and opinions of the -invading race, and thus write, as it were, from _within_, instead of -_without_ the circle of warlike action. In this way, their combinations, -efforts and power, would better appear, and redound more to the credit -of the aboriginal actors, as warriors and heroes. As it is, history only -alludes to them as conspirators, rebels, traitors, or culprits; as if -the fact of their opposing the egress of civilized nations, who were in -all respects wiser and better, were sufficient to blot out all their -right and claim to the soil and sovereignty of the land of their -forefathers, and they were in fact bound to stand back, and give it up -_nolens volens_. - -We had designed to subjoin a few remarks on the biographical labors of -other writers in this department, particularly those of Thatcher and -Drake, but our limits are already exhausted, and we must abandon, or at -least, defer it. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [10] The name is usually translated, two-sticks tied, or united. - - [11] The name of this chief is Anglicised in the word Tammany. - - [12] The terms "brave" and "braves" used in a substantive sense, in this -work, are neither English nor Indian. The Indian term should be -translated strong-heart, its literal import; for it is one of the -general rules of these languages, that the operation of the adjective, -as well as action of the verb, is uniformly marked upon the -substantive--there being, indeed, different inflections of each -substantive, to denote whether this operation or action be caused by a -noble or ignoble, or an animate or inanimate object. Still the general -use of the Canadian term _Brave_, on our Indian border, may give it some -poetic claims to introduction into our vernacular burthened as it -already is with more objectionable Americanisms. - - - - -THE RABID WOLF. - -A VERITABLE TRADITION OF THE VALLEY OF THE TAWASENTHA. - - -The great Pine Plains, beginning not far south of the junction of the -Mohawk with the North River, are still infested by wolves, who harbour -in its deep gorges, from which they sally out at night, on the -sheep-folds of the farmers, and often put a whole neighbourhood in fear. -The railroad track from Albany to Schenectady, passes over a part of -these plains, which stretch away in the direction of the blue outlines -of the Helderberg mountains. It is many miles across the narrowest part -of them, and they reach down to the very outskirts of the city of -Albany, where they have of late years, and since Buel's day, begun to -cultivate them by sowing clover, planting fruit trees, and in other -ways. They constitute the table land of the county, and send out from -beneath their heavy mass of yellow sand and broken down sand stones, -mica slates, and granites, many springs and streams of the purest and -most crystalline waters, which find their outlets chiefly into the -valley of the Tawasentha, or, as the river is called in popular -language, the Norman's Kill, and are thus contributed to swell the noble -volume of the Hudson. These springs issue at the precise point where the -arenaceous mass rests on a clay or impervious basis. The effect, in -ancient years, has been that the sand is carried off, grain by grain, -till a deep ravine or gorge is formed. The sides of this gorge being -composed of mixed earth and some mould, and free from the aridity of the -surface, bear a dense and vigorous growth of hard wood trees and -shrubbery, and are often found to be encumbered with immense trunks of -fallen pines and other forest rubbish, which renders it very difficult -to penetrate them. It is into these dark gorges that the wolves retreat, -after scouring the plains and neighbouring farms for prey; and here they -have maintained their ancient empire from time immemorial. Such, at -least, was the state of things between the settlers and the wolves, at -the date of this story, in 1807. - -Sometimes the whole country armed and turned out _en masse_, to ferret -them out of their fastnesses and destroy them; and truly the forces -assembled on some of these wolf-hunts were surprising, and, in one -respect, that is to say, the motley and uncouth character of their arms, -they would have put both Bonaparte and Wellington to flight. There was -nothing, from a pitchfork to a heavy blunderbuss, which they did not -carry, always excepting a good rifle, which I never remember to have -seen on these occasions. Indeed, these formal turn-outs were better -suited to frighten away, than to kill and capture the foe; so that there -was no just cause of surprise why the wolves remained, and even -increased. They still kept masters of the Plains--sheep were killed by -dozens, night after night, and the alarm went on. - -It was at other times tried to trap them, and to bait them in sundry -ways. I recollect that we all had implicit faith in the village -schoolmaster, one Cleanthus, who knew some Latin, and a little of almost -every thing; and among other arts which he cherished, and dealt out in a -way to excite wonder for his skill, he knew how to make the wolves -follow his tracks, by smearing his shoes with æsofoedita, or some -other substance, and then ensconcing himself at night in a log pen, -where he might bid defiance to the best of them, and shoot at them -besides. But I never could learn that there were any of these -pestiferous animals killed, either by the schoolmaster and his party, or -any other party, except it was the luckless poor animal I am about to -write of, which showed its affinities to the canine race by turning -rabid, and rushing at night into the midst of a populous manufacturing -village. - -Iosco was eligibly seated on the summit and brow of a picturesque series -of low crowned hills, just on the southern verge of these great Plains, -where the tillable and settled land begins. It was, consequently, in -relation to these wolves, a perfect frontier; and we had not only -frequent alarms, but also the privilege and benefit of hearing all the -wonderful stories of wolf-adventure, to man and beast, for a wide -circle. Indeed, these stories often came back with interest, from the -German and Dutch along the Swarta Kill, and Boza Kill settlements, away -up to the foot of the Helderberg mountains. A beautiful and clear stream -of sparkling cold water, called the Hungerkill, after gathering its -crystal tributaries from the deep gorges of the plains, ran through the -village, and afforded one or two seats for mills, and after winding and -doubling on its track a mile or two, rendered its pellucid stores into -the Norman's Kill, or, as this stream was called by the ancient Mohawk -race, in allusion to their sleeping dead, the Tawasentha. No stream in -the country was more famous for the abundance of its fine brook trout, -and the neighbouring plains served to shelter the timid hare, and the -fine species of northern partridge, which is there always called a -pheasant. - -The village was supported by its manufacturing interests, and was quite -populous. It had a number of long streets, some of which reached across -the stream, and over a spacious mill pond, and others swept at right -angles along the course of the great Cherry Valley turnpike. In its -streets were to be heard, in addition to the English, nearly all the -dialects of the German between, the Rhine and the Danube; the Low Dutch -as spoken by the common country people on the manor of Rensselaerwyck, -the Erse and Gaelic, as not unfrequently used by the large proportion of -its Irish and Scotch, and what seemed quite as striking to one brought -up in seclusion from it, the genuine Yankee, as discoursed by the -increasing class of factory wood choppers, teamsters, schoolmasters, men -out at the elbows, and travelling wits. The latter were indeed but a -sorry representation of New England, as we have since found it. No small -amount of superstitions were believed and recited in the social meetings -of such a mixed foreign population. Accounts of instances of the second -sight, death-lights on the meadows and in the churchyard, the low -howling of premonitory dogs before funerals, and other legendary wares, -to say nothing of the actual and veritable number of downright spooks, -seen on various occasions, on the lands of the Veeders, the Van -Valkenburgs, the Truaxes, and the Lagranges, rendered it a terror to all -children under twelve to stir out of doors after dark. There were in the -annals of Iosco, several events in the historical way which served as -perfect eras to its inhabitants; but none, it is believed, of so -striking and general importance as the story of the Mad Wolf, of which I -am about to write. - -There had been found, soon after the close of the revolutionary war, in -a dark wood very near the road, pieces of a cloth coat and metallic -buttons, and other things, which rendered it certain that a man had been -murdered at that spot, in consequence of which the place was shunned, or -hurried by, as if a spirit of evil had its abode there. On another -occasion, the body of a poor old man of the name of Homel, was found -drowned deep in the Norman's Kill, clasped in the arms of his wife, both -dead. A gentleman of standing, who ventured alone, rather groggy, one -dark night, over the long unrailed bridge that crossed the mill pond, -pitched upon some sharp pallisadoes in the water, and came to a -melancholy end. Hormaun, an Iroquois, who haunted the valley, had -killed, it was said, ninety-nine men, and was waiting an opportunity to -fill his count, by dispatching his hundredth man. This was a greatly -dreaded event, particularly by the boys. There was also the era, when a -Race Course had been established on a spot called the "Colonel's Farm," -and the era of the "Deep Snow." There were many other events celebrated -in Iosco, such as the De Zeng era, the Van Rensselaer era, and the Van -Kleeck era, which helped the good mothers to remember the period when -their children were born; but none, indeed, of so notable a character to -youthful minds as the adventure of the mad wolf. - -Wolf stories were in vogue, in fact, in the evening and tea party -circles of Iosco for many years; and if one would take every thing as it -was given, there had been more acts of bravery, conduct, and firm -decision of character and foresight, displayed in encountering these -wild vixens of the plains and valleys by night, than would, if united, -have been sufficient to repel the inroads of Burgoyne, St. Leger, or Sir -John Johnson, with Brant, and all his hosts of tories and Indians, -during the American revolution. - -I chanced one night to have left the city of Albany, in company with -one of these heroic spirits. We occupied my father's chaise, an -old-fashioned piece of gentility now out of vogue, drawn by a prime -horse, one which he always rode on parades. It was late before we got -out of the precincts of the city, and up the hill, and night overtook us -away in the pine woods, at Billy McKown's, a noted public-house seated -half way between the city and Iosco, where it was customary in those -days to halt; for besides that he was much respected, and one of the -most sensible and influential men in the town, it was not thought right, -whatever the traveller might require, that a _horse_ should be driven -eight miles without drawing breath, and having a pail of water. As I was -but young, and less of a charioteer than my valiant companion, he held -the whip and reins thus far; but after the wolf stories that poured in -upon us at McKown's that evening, he would hold them no longer. Every -man, he thought, was responsible to himself. He did not wish to be -wolf's meat that night, so he hired a fleet horse from our host, and a -whip and spurs, and set off with the speed of a Jehu, leaving me to make -my way, in the heavy chaise, through the sandy plains, as best I could. - -In truth we had just reached the most sombre part of the plain, where -the trees were more thick, the sand deep and heavy, and not a house but -one, within the four miles. To render it worse, this was the chief -locality of wolf insolence, where he had even ventured to attack men. It -was on this route too, that the schoolmaster had used his medical arts, -which made it better known through the country as the supposed centre of -their power. Nothing harmed me, however; the horse was fine, and I -reached home not only uneaten, but unthreatened by a wolf's jaw. - -But I must confine myself to the matter in hand. A large and fierce wolf -sallied out of the plains one dark summer's night, and rushed into the -midst of the village, snapping to the right and left as he went, and -biting every animal that came in his way. Cows, swine, pigs, -geese--every species, whether on four legs, or two legs, shared its -malice alike. The animal seemed to have a perfect ubiquity--it was every -where, and seemed to have spared nothing. It is not recollected that -there was a single house, or barn-yard in the village, where something -had not been bitten. If he had come on an errand of retribution, for the -great and threatening wolf-parties which had gone out against his race, -and all the occult arts of the schoolmaster in trying to decoy them at -Barrett's hollow, he could not have dealt out his venomous snaps more -indiscriminately. - -It must have been about midnight, or soon after, that the fearful -visiter came. Midnight, in a country village, finds almost every one in -bed, but such was the uproar among the animal creation, made by this -strange interloper, that _out_ of bed they soon come. The cattle -bellowed, the pigs squealed, the poultry cackled--there must be -something amiss. Santa Claus himself must be playing his pranks. "A -wolf!" was the cry--"a wolf is committing havoc." "It is mad!" came next -on the voices of the night. "A mad wolf!--a mad wolf!" Nothing but a -mad wolf could venture alone into the heart of the village, and do so -much mischief. Out ran the people into the streets, men, women and all. -Some caught up guns, some clubs, some pitchforks. If the tories and -Indians, in the old French war, had broke into the settlement with fire -and sword, there could not have been a greater tumult, and nothing but a -mad wolf would have stood his ground. Where is he? which way did he run? -who saw him? and a thousand like expressions followed. He had gone -south, and south the mob pushed after him. He was away over on the -street that leads up from the middle factory. It was a cloudy night, or -the moon only came out fitfully, and threw light enough to discern -objects dimly, as the clouds rolled before it. Indistinct murmurs came -on the breeze, and at length the scream of a woman. The cause of it soon -followed. The wolf had bitten Mrs. Sitz. Now Mrs. Sitz was a careful, -tall, rigid-faced, wakeful housewife, from the dutchy of Hesse -D'Armstadt, who had followed the fortunes of her husband, in trying his -mechanical skill in the precincts of Iosco; but while her husband Frank -laid fast asleep, under the influence of a hard day's labour, her ears -were open to the coming alarm. It was not long before she heard a tumult -in her goose pen. The rabid animal had bounded into the midst of them, -which created as great an outcry as if Rome had a second time been -invaded. Out she ran to their relief, not knowing the character of the -disturber, but naturally thinking it was some thief of a neighbour, who -wished to make provision for a coming Christmas. The animal gave her one -snap and leapt the pen. "Mein hemel!" screamed she, "er hat mein -gebissen!" Sure enough the wolf had bit her in the thigh. - -The party in chase soon came up, and while some stopt to parley and -sympathize with her, others pushed on after the animal--the spitzbug, as -she spitefully called him. By this time the wolf had made a circuit of -the southern part of the village, and scampered down the old factory -road, by the mill dam, under the old dark bridge at the saw mill, and up -the hill by the old public store; and thus turned his course back -towards the north, into the thickest part of the village, where he had -first entered. He had made a complete circuit. All was valour, boasting, -and hot speed behind him, but the wolf had been too nimble for them. -Unluckily for him, however, while the main group pushed behind, just as -he was scampering up the old store hill, he was suddenly headed by a -party coming down it. This party was led by old Colonel S., a -revolutionary soldier, a field-officer of the county militia, and the -superintendent of the extensive manufacturing establishment from which -the village drew its prosperity. He was armed with a fusil of the olden -time, well charged, and having been roused from his bed in a hurry, -could not at the moment find his hat, and clapt on an old revolutionary -cocked hat, which hung in the room. His appearance was most opportune; -he halted on the brow of the hill, and as the wolf bounded on he -levelled his piece at the passing fugitive, and fired. He had aimed at -the shoulders; the fleetness of its speed, however, saved its vital -parts, but the shot took effect in the animal's hind legs. They were -both broken at a shot. This brought him down. The poor creature tried to -drag himself on by his fore paws, but his pursuers were too close upon -him, and they soon dispatched him with hatchets and clubs. - -Thus fell the rabid wolf, to be long talked of by men and boys, and put -down as a chief item in village traditions. But the effects of his visit -did not end here. In due time, symptoms of madness seized the cattle and -other animals, which had come within the reach of his teeth. Many of the -finest milch cows were shot. Calves and swine, and even poultry went -rabid; and as things of this kind are generally overdone, there was a -perfect panic in the village on the subject, and numbers of valuable -animals were doubtless shot, merely because they happened to show some -restiveness at a very critical epoch. - -But what, methinks the reader is ready to ask, became of Mrs. Sitz? -Whether it was, that she had brought over some mystical arts from the -Wild Huntsman of Bohemia, or had derived protection from the venom -through the carefully administered medicines of Dr. Crouse, who duly -attended the case, or some inherent influence of the stout hearted -woman, or the audacity of the bite itself, had proved more than a match -for the wolf, I cannot say; but certain it is, that while oxen and kine, -swine and fatlings, fell under the virus and were shot, she recovered, -and lived many years to scold her dozing husband Frank, who did not jump -up immediately, and come to her rescue at the goose pen. - - * * * * * - -INDIAN POSSESSIONS.--The Ottoes own, at the latest accounts, a large -tract of country on the Big Platte, west of the Missouri; they are a -poor race of people, and receive a small annuity of $2,500. The Pawnees -are a powerful body, and number about 6,500 persons, divided into bands -under the names of Pawnee Loups, Grand Pawnees, Republican Pawnees, -Pawnee Pics, &c.; they are wild and furtive in their habits, and receive -provisions and goods. The Grand Nation is the Pottowattomies, or the -"united bands of the Chippewas, Ottawas, and Pottowattomies." They own -five millions of acres of prairie lands, along the Missouri river to the -Little Sioux, number about 2,000, and receive $42,000 a year for their -lands sold in Illinois and Michigan. They are a respectable body of -Indians, are good farmers, and educate their children. The payment of -the annuities is always a season of great hilarity and festivity.--_N. -O. Pic._ - - It is a characteristic of some of the Indian legends, that they - convey a _moral_ which seems clearly enough to denote, that a part - of these legends were invented to convey instruction to the young - folks who listen to them. The known absence of all harsh methods - among the Indians, in bringing up their children, favours this - idea. The following tale addresses itself plainly to girls; to whom - it teaches the danger of what we denominate coquetry. It would seem - from this, that beauty, and its concomitant, a passion for dress, - among the red daughters of Adam and Eve, has the same tendency to - create pride, and nourish self-conceit, and self-esteem, and assume - a _tyranny over_ the _human heart_, which writers tell us, these - qualities have among their white-skinned, auburn-haired, and - blue-eyed progeny the world over. This tale has appeared in the - "Columbian." The term Moowis is one of the most derogative and - offensive possible. It is derived from the Odjibwa substantive, mo, - filth, or excrement. - - - - -MOOWIS, - -OR - -THE MAN MADE UP OF RAGS AND DIRT. - -A TRADITIONARY LEGEND OF THE ODJIBWAS. - - -In a large village, there lived a noted belle, or Ma mon dá go kwa, who -was the admiration of all the young hunters and warriors. She was -particularly admired by a young man, who from his good figure, and the -care he took in his dress, was called the Beau-Man, or Ma mon dá gin -in-e. This young man had a friend and companion, whom he made a -confidant of his affairs. "Come," said he, one day in a sportive mood, -"let us go a courting to her who is so handsome, perhaps she may fancy -one of us." But she would listen to neither of them, and when the -handsome young man rallied from the coldness of her air, and made an -effort to overcome her indifference, she put together her thumb and -three fingers, and raising her hand gracefully towards him, deliberately -opened them in his face. This gesticulatory mode of rejection is one of -the highest contempt, and the young hunter retired confused and abashed. -His sense of pride was deeply wounded, and he was the more piqued, that -it had been done in the presence of others, and the affair was soon -noised about the village, and became the talk of every lodge circle. -Besides, he was a very sensitive man, and the thing so preyed upon him, -that he became moody, and at last took to his bed. He was taciturn, -often lying for days without uttering a word, with his eyes fixed on -vacancy, and taking little or no food. From this state no efforts could -rouse him; he felt abashed and dishonoured, even in the presence of his -own relatives, and no persuasions could induce him to rise. So that when -the family prepared to take down the lodge to remove, he still kept his -bed, and they were compelled to lift it over his head, and leave him -upon his skin couch. It was a time of general removal and breaking up of -the camp, for it was only a winter's hunting camp, and as the season of -the hunt was now over, and spring began to appear, they all moved off, -as by one impulse, to the place of their summer village, and in a short -time, all were gone, and he was left alone. The last person to leave him -was his boon companion, and cousin, who has been mentioned as also one -of the admirers of the forest belle. But even _his_ voice was -disregarded, and as soon as his steps died away on the creaking snow, -the stillness and solitude of the wilderness reigned around. - -As soon as all were gone, and he could no longer, by listening, hear the -remotest sounds of the departing camp, the Beau-Man arose. It is to be -understood that this young man was aided by a powerful guardian spirit, -or personal Moneto; and he resolved to make use of his utmost power to -punish and humble the girl. For she was noted in the tribe for her -coquetry, and had treated others, who were every way her equals, as she -had done him. He resolved on a singular stratagem, by way of revenge. -For this purpose, he walked over the deserted camp, and gathered up all -the bits of soiled cloth, clippings of finery, and cast off clothing, -and ornaments which had either been left or lost. These he carefully -picked out of the snow, into which some of them had been trodden and -partially buried, and conveyed them to one place. The motly heap of -gaudy and soiled stuffs, he restored to their original beauty, and -determined to make them into a coat and leggins, which he trimmed with -beads, and finished and decorated after the best fashion of his tribe. -He then made a pair of moccasins and garnished them with beads, a bow -and arrows, and a frontlet and feathers for the head. Having done this, -he searched about for cast out bones of animals, pieces of skins, -clippings of dried meat, and even dirt, and having cemented them -together with snow, he filled the clothes with these things, and pressed -the mass firmly in, and fashioned it externally in all respects, like a -tall and well framed man. He put a bow and arrows in his hands, and the -frontlet on his head. And having finished it, he brought it to life, and -the image stood forth, in the most favoured lineaments of his fellows. -Such was the origin of Moowis, or the Dirt and Rag Man. - -"Follow me," said the Beau-Man, "and I will direct you, how you shall -act." He was indeed, a very sightly person, and as they entered the new -encampment, the many colours of his clothes, the profusion of ornaments -which he had managed to give him, and his fine manly step, and animated -countenance, drew all eyes. And he was received by all, both old and -young, with marks of attention. The chief invited him to his lodge, and -he was feasted on the moose's hump and the finest venison. - -But no one was better pleased with the handsome stranger than Ma mon dá -go kwa. She fell in love with him at the first sight, and he was an -invited guest at the lodge of her mother, the very first evening of his -arrival. The Beau-man went with him, for it was under his patronage that -he had been introduced, and, in truth, he had another motive for -accompanying him, for he had not yet wholly subdued his feelings of -admiration for the object, against whom he had, nevertheless, exerted -all his necromantic power, and he held himself subject to any favourable -turn, which he secretly hoped the visit might take, in relation to -himself. But no such turn occurred. Moowis attracted the chief -attention, and every eye and heart were alert to entertain him. In this -effort on the part of his entertainers, they had well nigh revealed his -true character, and dissolved him into his original elements of rags, -and snow, and dirt; for he was assigned the most prominent place before -the fire: this was a degree of heat which he could by no means endure. -To ward it off he put a boy between himself and the fire. He shifted his -position frequently, and evaded, by dexterous manoeuvres, and timely -remarks, the pressing invitation of his host to sit up, and enjoy it. He -so managed these excuses, as not only to conceal his dread of immediate -dissolution, but to secure the further approbation of the fair forest -girl, who could not but admire one who had so brave a spirit of -endurance against the paralysing effects of cold. - -The visit proved that the rejected lover had well calculated the effects -of his plan. He withdrew from the lodge, and Moowis triumphed. Before he -went, he saw him cross the lodge to the coveted abinos, or bridegroom's -seat. Marriage in the forest race, is a simple ceremony, and where the -impediments of custom are small, there is but little time demanded for -their execution. The dart which Ma mon dá go kwa had so often delighted -in sending to the hearts of her admirers, she was at length fated -herself to receive. She had married an image. As the morning begun to -break, the stranger arose and adjusted his warrior's plumes, and took -his forest weapons to depart. "I must go," said he, "for I have an -important business to do, and there are many hills and streams between -me and the object of my journey." "I will go with you," she replied. "It -is too far," he rejoined, "and you are ill able to encounter the perils -of the way." "It is not so far, but that I can go," she responded, "and -there are no dangers which I will not fully share for you." - -Moowis returned to the lodge of his master, and detailed to him the -events we have described. Pity, for a moment, seized the breast of the -rejected youth. He regretted that she should thus have cast herself away -upon an image and a shadow, when she might have been mistress of the -best lodge in the band. "But it is her own folly," he said, "she has -turned a deaf ear to the counsels of prudence, and she must submit to -her fate." - -The same morning the Image-man set forth, and his wife followed him, -according to custom, at a distance. The way was rough and intricate, and -she could not keep up with his rapid pace; but she struggled hard, and -perseveringly to overtake him. Moowis had been long out of sight, when -the sun arose, and commenced upon his snow-formed body the work of -dissolution. He began to melt away, and fall to pieces. As she followed -him, piece after piece of his clothing were found in the path. She -first found his mittens, then his moccasins, then his leggins, then his -coat, and other parts of his garments. As the heat unbound them, they -had all returned also to their debased and filthy condition. The way led -over rocks, through wind falls, across marshes. It whirled about to all -points of the compass, and had no certain direction or object. Rags, -bones, leather, beads, feathers, and soiled ribbons, were found, but she -never caught the sight of Moowis. She spent the day in wandering; and -when evening came, she was no nearer the object of her search than in -the morning, but the snow having now melted, she had completely lost his -track, and wandered about, uncertain which way to go, and in a state of -perfect despair. Finding herself lost, she begun, with bitter cries, to -bewail her fate. - -"Moowis, Moowis," she cried. "Nin ge wen e win ig, ne won e win -ig"--that is--Moowis, Moowis, you have led me astray--you are leading me -astray. And with this cry she continued to wander in the woods. - -Sometimes the village girls repeat the above words, varying the -expressions, till they constitute an irregular kind of song, which, -according to the versions of a friendly hand, may be set down as -follows:-- - - Moowis! Moowis! - Forest rover,---- - Where art thou? - Ah my bravest, gayest lover, - Guide me now. - - Moowis! Moowis! - Ah believe me, - List my moan, - Do not--do not, brave heart, leave me - All alone. - - Moowis! Moowis! - Foot-prints vanished, - Whither wend I, - Fated, lost, detested, banished, - Must I die. - - Moowis! Moowis! - Whither goest, - Eye-bright lover, - Ah thou ravenous bird that knowest, - I see you hover. - - Circling--circling, - As I wander, - But to spy - Where I fall, and then to batten, - On my breast. - - - - -THE LONE LIGHTNING. - -AN ODJIBWA TALE. - - -A little orphan boy who had no one to care for him, was once living with -his uncle, who treated him very badly, making him do hard things and -giving him very little to eat; so that the boy pined away, he never grew -much, and became, through hard usage, very thin and light. At last the -uncle felt ashamed of this treatment, and determined to make amends for -it, by fattening him up, but his real object was, to kill him by -over-feeding. He told his wife to give the boy plenty of bear's meat, -and let him have the fat, which is thought to be the best part. They -were both very assiduous in cramming him, and one day came near choking -him to death, by forcing the fat down his throat. The boy escaped and -fled from the lodge. He knew not where to go, but wandered about. When -night came on, he was afraid the wild beasts would eat him, so he -climbed up into the forks of a high pine tree, and there he fell asleep -in the branches, and had an aupoway, or ominous dream. - -A person appeared to him from the upper sky, and said, "My poor little -lad, I pity you, and the bad usage you have received from your uncle has -led me to visit you: follow me, and step in my tracks." Immediately his -sleep left him, and he rose up and followed his guide, mounting up -higher and higher into the air, until he reached the upper sky. Here -twelve arrows were put into his hands, and he was told that there were a -great many manitoes in the northern sky, against whom he must go to war, -and try to waylay and shoot them. Accordingly he went to that part of -the sky, and, at long intervals, shot arrow after arrow, until he had -expended eleven, in vain attempt to kill the manitoes. At the flight of -each arrow, there was a long and solitary streak of lightning in the -sky--then all was clear again, and not a cloud or spot could be seen. -The twelfth arrow he held a long time in his hands, and looked around -keenly on every side to spy the manitoes he was after. But these -manitoes were very cunning, and could change their form in a moment. All -they feared was the boy's arrows, for these were magic arrows, which had -been given to him by a good spirit, and had power to kill them, if aimed -aright. At length, the boy drew up his last arrow, settled in his aim, -and let fly, as he thought, into the very heart of the chief of the -manitoes; but before the arrow reached him, he changed himself into a -rock. Into this rock, the head of the arrow sank deep and stuck fast. - -"Now your gifts are all expended," cried the enraged manito, "and I will -make an example of your audacity and pride of heart, for lifting your -bow against me"--and so saying, he transformed the boy into the -Nazhik-a-wä wä sun, or Lone Lightning, which may be observed in the -northern sky, to this day. - - - - -SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF - -NOTED RED MEN AND WOMEN - -WHO HAVE APPEARED ON THE WESTERN CONTINENT. - - - - -CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE OGEE WYAN AKWUT OKWA; - -OR THE WOMAN OF THE BLUE-ROBED CLOUD, - -THE PROPHETESS OF CHEGOIMEGON. - - [These confessions of the Western Pythoness were made after she had - relinquished the prophetic office, discarded all the ceremonies of - the Indian _Medáwin_ and _Jesukeéwin_, and united herself to the - Methodist Episcopal church, of which, up to our latest dates, she - remained a consistent member. They are narrated in her own words.] - - -When I was a girl of about twelve or thirteen years of age, my mother -told me to look out for something that would happen to me. Accordingly, -one morning early, in the middle of winter, I found an unusual sign, and -ran off, as far from the lodge as I could, and remained there until my -mother came and found me out. She knew what was the matter, and brought -me nearer to the family lodge, and bade me help her in making a small -lodge of branches of the spruce tree. She told me to remain there, and -keep away from every one, and as a diversion, to keep myself employed in -chopping wood, and that she would bring me plenty of prepared bass wood -bark to twist into twine. She told me she would come to see me, in two -days, and that in the meantime I must not even taste snow. - -I did as directed; at the end of two days she came to see me. I thought -she would surely bring me something to eat, but to my disappointment she -brought nothing. I suffered more from _thirst_, than hunger, though I -felt my stomach gnawing. My mother sat quietly down and said (after -ascertaining that I had not tasted anything, as she directed), "My -child, you are the youngest of your sisters, and none are now left me of -all my sons and children, but you _four_" (alluding to her two elder -sisters, herself and a little son, still a mere lad). "Who," she -continued, "will take care of us poor women? Now, my daughter, listen to -me, and try to obey. Blacken your face and fast _really_, that the -Master of Life may have pity on you and me, and on us all. Do not, in -the least, deviate from my counsels, and in two days more, I will come -to you. He will help you, if you are determined to do what is right, and -tell me, whether you are favored or not, by the _true_ Great Spirit; and -if your visions are not good, reject them." So saying, she departed. - -I took my little hatchet and cut plenty of wood, and twisted the cord -that was to be used in sewing _ap puk way con un_, or mats, for the use -of the family. Gradually, I began to feel less appetite, but my thirst -continued; still I was fearful of touching the snow to allay it, by -sucking it, as my mother had told me that if I did so, though secretly, -the Great Spirit would see me, and the lesser spirits also, and that my -fasting would be of no use. So I continued to fast till the fourth day, -when my mother came with a little tin dish, and filling it with snow, -she came to my lodge, and was well pleased to find that I had followed -her injunctions. She melted the snow, and told me to drink it. I did so, -and felt refreshed, but had a desire for more, which she told me would -not do, and I contented myself with what she had given me. She again -told me to get and follow a good vision--a vision that might not only do -us good, but also benefit mankind, if I could. She then left me, and for -two days she did not come near me, nor any human being, and I was left -to my own reflections. The night of the sixth day, I fancied a voice -called to me, and said: "Poor child! I pity your condition; come, you -are invited this way;" and I thought the voice proceeded from a certain -distance from my lodge. I obeyed the summons, and going to the spot from -which the voice came, found a thin shining path, like a silver cord, -which I followed. It led straight forward, and, it seemed, upward. No. -3. After going a short distance I stood still, and saw on my right hand -the new moon, with a flame rising from the top like a candle, which -threw around a broad light. No. 4. On the left appeared the sun, near -the point of its setting. No. 11. I went on, and I beheld on my right -the face of _Kau ge gag be qua_, or the everlasting woman, No. 5, who -told me her name, and said to me, "I give you my name, and you may give -it to another. I also give you that which I have, life everlasting. I -give you long life on the earth, and skill in saving life in others. Go, -you are called on high." - -I went on, and saw a man standing with a large circular body, and rays -from his head, like horns. No. 6. He said, "Fear not, my name is Monedo -Wininees, or the Little man Spirit. I give this name to your first son. -It is my life. Go to the place you are called to visit." I followed the -path till I could see that it led up to an opening in the sky, when I -heard a voice, and standing still, saw the figure of a man standing near -the path, whose head was surrounded with a brilliant halo, and his -breast was covered with squares. No. 7. He said to me: "Look at me, my -name is _O Shau wau e geeghick_, or the Bright Blue Sky. I am the veil -that covers the opening into the sky. Stand and listen to me. Do not be -afraid. I am going to endow you with gifts of life, and put you in array -that you may withstand and endure." Immediately I saw myself encircled -with bright points which rested against me like needles, but gave me no -pain, and they fell at my feet. No. 9. This was repeated several times, -and at each time they fell to the ground. He said, "wait and do not -fear, till I have said and done all I am about to do." I then felt -different instruments, first like awls, and then like nails stuck into -my flesh, but neither did they give me pain, but like the needles, fell -at my feet, as often as they appeared. He then said, "that is good," -meaning my trial by these points. "You will see length of days. Advance -a little farther," said he. I did so, and stood at the commencement of -the opening. "You have arrived," said he, "at the limit you cannot pass. -I give you my name, you can give it to another. Now, return! Look around -you. There is a conveyance for you. No. 10. Do not be afraid to get on -its back, and when you get to your lodge, you must take that which -sustains the human body." I turned, and saw a kind of fish swimming in -the air, and getting upon it as directed, was carried back with -celerity, my hair floating behind me in the air. And as soon as I got -back, my vision ceased. - -In the morning, being the sixth day of my fast, my mother came with a -little bit of dried trout. But such was my sensitiveness to all sounds, -and my increased power of scent, produced by fasting, that before she -came in sight I heard her, while a great way off, and when she came in, -I could not bear the smell of the fish or herself either. She said, "I -have brought something for you to eat, only a mouthful, to prevent your -dying." She prepared to cook it, but I said, "Mother, forbear, I do not -wish to eat it--the smell is offensive to me." She accordingly left off -preparing to cook the fish, and again encouraged me to persevere, and -try to become a comfort to her in her old age and bereaved state, and -left me. - -I attempted to cut wood, as usual, but in the effort I fell back on the -snow, from weariness, and lay some time; at last I made an effort and -rose, and went to my lodge and lay down. I again saw the vision, and -each person who had before spoken to me, and heard the promises of -different kinds made to me, and the songs. I went the same path which I -had pursued before, and met with the same reception. I also had another -vision, or celestial visit, which I shall presently relate. My mother -came again on the seventh day, and brought me some pounded corn boiled -in _snow water_, for she said I must not drink water from lake or river. -After taking it, I related my vision to her. She said it was good, and -spoke to me to continue my fast three days longer. I did so; at the end -of which she took me home, and made a feast in honor of my success, and -invited a great many guests. I was told to eat sparingly, and to take -nothing too hearty or substantial; but this was unnecessary, for my -abstinence had made my senses so acute, that all animal food had a gross -and disagreeable odor. - -After the seventh day of my fast (she continued), while I was lying in -my lodge, I saw a dark round object descending from the sky like a round -stone, and enter my lodge. As it came near, I saw that it had small feet -and hands like a human body. It spoke to me and said, "I give you the -gift of seeing into futurity, that you may use it, for the benefit of -yourself and the Indians--your relations and tribes-people." It then -departed, but as it went away, it assumed wings, and looked to me like -the red-headed woodpecker. - -In consequence of being thus favored, I assumed the arts of a medicine -woman and a prophetess; but never those of a Wabeno. The first time I -exercised the prophetical art, was at the strong and repeated -solicitations of my friends. It was in the winter season, and they were -then encamped west of the Wisacoda, or Brule river of Lake Superior, and -between it and the plains west. There were, besides my mother's family -and relatives, a considerable number of families. They had been some -time at the place, and were near starving, as they could find no game. -One evening the chief of the party came into my mother's lodge. I had -lain down, and was supposed to be asleep, and he requested of my mother -that she would allow me to try my skill to relieve them. My mother spoke -to me, and after some conversation, she gave her consent. I told them to -build the _Jee suk aun_, or prophet's lodge, _strong_, and gave -particular directions for it. I directed that it should consist of ten -posts or saplings, each of a different kind of wood, which I named. When -it was finished, and tightly wound with skins, the entire population of -the encampment assembled around it and I went in, taking only a small -drum. I immediately knelt down, and holding my head near the ground, in -a position as near as may be prostrate, began beating my drum, and -reciting my songs or incantations. The lodge commenced shaking -violently, by supernatural means. I knew this, by the compressed current -of air above, and the noise of motion. This being regarded by me, and by -all without, as a proof of the presence of the spirits I consulted, I -ceased beating and singing, and lay still, waiting for questions, in the -position I had at first assumed. - -The first question put to me, was in relation to the game, and _where_ -it was to be found. The response was given by the orbicular spirit, who -had appeared to me. He said, "How short-sighted you are! If you will go -in a _west_ direction, you will find game in abundance." Next day the -camp was broken up, and they all moved westward, the hunters, as usual, -going far ahead. They had not proceeded far beyond the bounds of their -former hunting circle, when they came upon tracks of moose, and that -day, they killed a female and two young moose, nearly full-grown. They -pitched their encampment anew, and had abundance of animal food in this -new position. - -My reputation was established by this success, and I was afterwards -noted in the tribe, in the art of a medicine woman, and sung the songs -which I have given to you. About four years after, I was married to O -Mush Kow Egeezhick, or the Strong Sky, who was a very active and -successful hunter, and kept his lodge well supplied with food; and we -lived happy. After I had had two children, a girl and a boy, we went -out, as is the custom of the Indians in the spring, to visit the white -settlements. One night, while we were encamped at the head of the -portage at Pauwating (the Falls of St. Mary's), angry words passed -between my husband and a half Frenchman named Gaultier, who, with his -two cousins, in the course of the dispute, drew their knives and a -tomahawk, and stabbed and cut him in four or five places, in his body, -head and thighs. This happened the first year that the Americans came to -that place (1822). He had gone out at a late hour in the evening, to -visit the tent of Gaultier. Having been urged by one of the trader's men -to take liquor that evening, and it being already late, I desired him -not to go, but to defer his visit till next day; and after he had left -the lodge, I felt a sudden presentiment of evil, and I went after him, -and renewed my efforts in vain. He told me to return, and as I had two -children in the lodge, the youngest of whom, a boy, was still in his -cradle, and then ill, I sat up with him late, and waited and waited, -till a late hour, and then fell asleep from exhaustion. I slept very -sound. The first I knew, was a violent shaking from a girl, a niece of -Gaultier's, who told me my husband and Gaultier were all the time -quarrelling. I arose, and went up the stream to Gaultier's camp fire. It -was nearly out, and I tried in vain to make it blaze. I looked into his -tent, but all was dark and not a soul there. They had suddenly fled, -although I did not at the moment know the cause. I tried to make a light -to find my husband, but could find nothing dry, for it had rained very -hard the day before. After being out a while my vision became clearer, -and turning toward the river side, I saw a dark object lying near the -shore, on a grassy opening. I was attracted by something glistening, -which turned out to be his ear-rings. I thought he was asleep, and in -stooping to awake him, I slipped and fell on my knees. I had slipped in -his blood on the grass, and putting my hand on his face, found him dead. -In the morning the Indian agent came with soldiers from the fort, to see -what had happened, but the murderer and all his bloody gang of relatives -had fled. The agent gave orders to have the body buried in the old -Indian burial ground, below the Falls. - -My aged mother was encamped about a mile off, at this time. I took my -two children in the morning, and fled to her lodge. She had just heard -of the murder, and was crying as I entered. I reminded her that it was -an act of providence, to which we must submit. She said it was for me -and my poor helpless children that she was crying--that I was left as -she had been, years before, with nobody to provide for us. With her I -returned to my native country at Chegoimegon on Lake Superior. - -Thus far, her own narrative. We hope, in a future number, to give -further particulars of her varied, and rather eventful life; together -with specimens of her medicine, and prophetic songs. - - - - -RULING CHIEF OF THE MIAMIS. - - -Died, on the 13th inst. (August, 1841), at his residence on the St. -Mary's, four and a half miles south-west of this city, John B. -Richardville, principal chief of the Miami nation of Indians, aged about -eighty years. - -Chief Richardville, or "_Piskewah_" (which is an Indian name, meaning in -English "wild-cat"), was born on the point across the Maumee river, -opposite this city, under or near a large apple tree, on the farm of the -late Colonel Coles; and at a very early age, by succession, became the -chief of the tribe, his mother being chieftainess at the time of his -birth. His situation soon brought him in contact with the whites, and he -was in several engagements, the most important of which was the -celebrated slaughter on the St. Joseph River, one mile north of this -city, designated as "Harmar's Defeat," where several hundred whites, -under General Harmar, were cut off in attempting to ford the river, by -the Indians, who lay in ambush on the opposite shore, by firing upon the -whites when in the act of crossing; which slaughter crimsoned the river -a number of days for several miles below with the blood of the -unfortunate victims. - -The Chief is universally spoken of as having been kind and humane to -prisoners--far more so than most of his race; and as soon as peace was -restored, became a worthy citizen, and enjoyed the confidence of the -whites to the fullest extent. He spoke good French and English, as well -as his native tongue; and for many years his house, which is pleasantly -situated on the banks of the St. Mary's, and which was always open for -the reception of friends--was a place of resort for parties of pleasure, -who always partook of the hospitality of his house. - -The old man was strictly honest, but remarkably watchful of his -interest, and amassed a fortune exceeding probably a million of dollars, -consisting of nearly $200,000 in specie on hand, and the balance in the -most valuable kind of real estate, which he has distributed by "will" -among his numerous relations with "even-handed justice." He had always -expressed a great anxiety to live, but when he became conscious that the -time of his departure was near at hand, he resigned himself with perfect -composure, saying that it was ordered that all must die, and he was then -ready and willing to answer the call of the "Great Spirit." His remains -were deposited in the Catholic burying-ground with religious -ceremonies.--_Fort Wayne (Ind.) Sentinel._ - - - - -THE MAGICIAN OF LAKE HURON. - -AN OTTOWA TALE RELATED BY NABUNWA IN THE INDIAN TONGUE, TO MR. GEORGE -JOHNSTON. - - -At the time that the Ottowas inhabited the Manatoline Islands, in Lake -Huron, there was a famous magician living amongst them whose name was -Masswäwëinini, or the Living Statue. It happened, by the fortune of war, -that the Ottowa tribe were driven off that chain of islands by the -Iroquois, and obliged to flee away to the country lying between Lake -Superior and the Upper Mississippi, to the banks of a lake which is -still called, by the French, and in memory of this migration, _Lac -Courtorielle_, or the lake of the Cut-ears, a term which is their _nom -de guerre_ for this tribe. But the magician Masswäwëinini remained -behind on the wide-stretching and picturesque Manatoulins, a group of -islands which had been deemed, from the earliest times, a favorite -residence of the manitoes or spirits. His object was to act as a -sentinel to his countrymen, and keep a close watch on their enemies, the -Iroquois, that he might give timely information of their movements. He -had with him two boys; with their aid he paddled stealthily around the -shores, kept himself secreted in nooks and bays, and hauled up his canoe -every night, into thick woods, and carefully obliterated his tracks upon -the sand. - -One day he rose very early, and started on a hunting excursion, leaving -the boys asleep, and limiting himself to the thick woods, lest he should -be discovered. At length he came unexpectedly to the borders of an -extensive open plain. After gazing around him, and seeing no one, he -directed his steps across it, intending to strike the opposite side of -it; while travelling, he discovered a man of small stature, who appeared -suddenly on the plain before him, and advanced to meet him. He wore a -red feather on his head, and coming up with a familiar air, accosted -Masswäwëinini by name, and said gaily, "Where are you going?" He then -took out his smoking apparatus, and invited him to smoke. "Pray," said -he, while thus engaged, "wherein does your strength lie." "My strength," -answered Masswäwëinini, "is similar to the human race, and common to the -strength given to them, and no stronger." "We must wrestle," said the -man of the red feather. "If you should make me fall, you will say to me, -I have thrown you, _Wa ge me na_." - -As soon as they had finished smoking and put up their pipe, the -wrestling began. For a long time the strife was doubtful. The strength -of Masswäwëinini was every moment growing fainter. The man of the red -feather, though small of stature, proved himself very active, but at -length he was foiled and thrown to the ground. Immediately his adversary -cried out, "I have thrown you: _wa ge me na;_" and in an instant his -antagonist had vanished. On looking to the spot where he had fallen, he -discovered a crooked ear of _mondamin_, or Indian corn, lying on the -ground, with the usual red hairy tassel at the top. While he was gazing -at this strange sight, and wondering what it could mean, a voice -addressed him from the ground. "Now," said the speaking ear, for the -voice came from it, "divest me of my covering--leave nothing to hide my -body from your eyes. You must then separate me into parts, pulling off -my body from the spine upon which I grow. Throw me into different parts -of the plain. Then break my spine and scatter it in small pieces near -the edge of the woods, and return to visit the place, after _one moon._" - -Masswäwëinini obeyed these directions, and immediately set out on his -return to his lodge. On the way he killed a deer, and on reaching his -canoe, he found the boys still asleep. He awoke them and told them to -cook his venison, but he carefully concealed from them his adventure. At -the expiration of the moon he again, _alone_, visited his wrestling -ground, and to his surprise, found the plain filled with the spikes and -blades of new grown corn. In the place where he had thrown the pieces of -cob, he found pumpkin vines growing in great luxuriance. He concealed -this discovery also, carefully from the young lads, and after his return -busied himself as usual, in watching the movements of his enemies along -the coasts of the island. This he continued, till summer drew near its -close. He then directed his canoe to the coast of that part of the -island where he had wrestled with the Red Plume, drew up his canoe, bid -the lads stay by it, and again visited his wrestling ground. He found -the corn in full ear, and pumpkins of an immense size. He plucked ears -of corn, and gathered some of the pumpkins, when a voice again addressed -him from the cornfield. "Masswäwëinini, you have conquered me. Had you -not done so, your existence would have been forfeited. Victory has -crowned your strength, and from henceforth you shall never be in want of -my body. It will be nourishment for the human race." Thus his ancestors -received the gift of corn. - -Masswäwëinini now returned to his canoe, and informed the young men of -his discovery, and showed them specimens. They were astonished and -delighted with the novelty. - -There were, in those days, many wonderful things done on these islands. -One night, while Masswäwëinini was lying down, he heard voices speaking, -but he still kept his head covered, as if he had not heard them. One -voice said, "This is Masswäwëinini, and we must get his heart." "In what -way can we get it?" said another voice. "You must put your hand in his -mouth," replied the first voice, "and draw it out that way." -Masswäwëinini still kept quiet, and did not stir. He soon felt the hand -of a person thrust in his mouth. When sufficiently far in, he bit off -the fingers, and thus escaped the danger. The voices then retired, and -he was no further molested. On examining the fingers in the morning, -what was his surprise to find them long wampum beads, which are held in -such high estimation by all the Indian tribes. He had slept, as was his -custom, in the thick woods. On going out to the open shore, at a very -early hour, he saw a canoe at a small distance, temporarily drawn up on -the beach; on coming closer, he found a man in the bows and another in -the stern, with their arms and hands extended in a fixed position. One -of them had lost its fingers: it was evidently the man who had attempted -to thrust his arm down his throat. They were two Pukwudjininees, or -fairies. But on looking closer, they were found to be transformed into -statues of stone. He took these stone images on shore, and set them up -in the woods. - -Their canoe was one of the most beautiful structures which it is -possible to imagine, four fathoms in length, and filled with bags of -treasures of every description and of the most exquisite workmanship. -These bags were of different weight, according to their contents. He -busied himself in quickly carrying them into the woods, together with -the canoe, which he concealed in a cave. One of the fairy images then -spoke to him and said: "In this manner, the Ottowa canoes will hereafter -be loaded, when they pass along this coast, although your nation are -driven away by their cruel enemies the Iroquois." The day now began to -dawn fully, when he returned to his two young companions, who were still -asleep. He awoke them, and exultingly bid them cook, for he had brought -abundance of meat and fish, and other viands, the gifts of the fairies. - -After this display of good fortune, he bethought him of his aged father -and mother, who were in exile at the Ottowa lake. To wish, and to -accomplish his wish, were but the work of an instant with Masswäwëinini. - -One night as he lay awake, reflecting on their condition, far away from -their native fields, and in exile, he resolved to visit them, and bring -them back to behold and to participate in his abundance. To a common -traveller, it would be a journey of twenty or thirty days, but -Masswäwëinini was at their lodge before daylight. He found them asleep, -and took them up softly in his arms and flew away with them through the -air, and brought them to his camp on the Manatolines, or Spirit's -Islands. When they awoke, their astonishment was at its highest pitch; -and was only equalled by their delight in finding themselves in their -son's lodge, in their native country, and surrounded with abundance. - -Masswäwëinini went and built them a lodge, near the corn and wrestling -plain. He then plucked some ears of the corn, and taking some of the -pumpkins, brought them to his father and mother. He then told them how -he had obtained the precious gift, by wrestling with a spirit in red -plumes, and that there was a great abundance of it in his fields. He -also told them of the precious canoe of the fairies, loaded with sacks -of the most costly and valuable articles. But one thing seemed necessary -to complete the happiness of his father, which he observed by seeing him -repeatedly at night looking into his smoking pouch. He comprehended his -meaning in a moment. "It is tobacco, my father, that you want. You shall -also have this comfort in two days." "But where," replied the old man, -"can you get it--away from all supplies, and surrounded by your -enemies?" "My enemies," he answered, "shall supply it--I will go over to -the Nadowas of the Bear totem, living at Penetanguishine." - -The old man endeavored to dissuade him from the journey, knowing their -blood-thirsty character, but in vain. Masswäwëinini determined -immediately to go. It was now winter weather, the lake was frozen over, -but he set out on the ice, and although it is forty leagues, he reached -Penetanguishine the same evening. The Nadowas discerned him coming--they -were amazed at the swiftness of his motions, and thinking him somewhat -supernatural, feared him, and invited him to rest in their lodges, but -he thanked them, saying that he preferred making a fire near the shore. -In the evening they visited him, and were anxious to know the object of -his journey, at so inclement a season. He said it was merely to get some -tobacco for his father. They immediately made a contribution of the -article and gave it to him. During the night they however laid a plot to -kill him. Some of the old men rushed into his lodge, their leader crying -out to him, "You are a dead man." "No, I am not," said Masswäwëinini, -"but you are," accompanying his words with a blow of his tomahawk, which -laid the Nadowa dead at his feet. Another and another came, to supply -the place of their fallen comrade, but he despatched them in like -manner, as quickly as they came, until he had killed six. He then took -all the tobacco from their smoking pouches. By this time, the day began -to dawn, when he set out for his father's lodge, which he reached with -incredible speed, and before twilight, spread out his trophies before -the old man. - -When spring returned, his cornfield grew up, without planting, or any -care on his part, and thus the _maize_ was introduced among his people -and their descendants, who have ever been noted, and are at this day, -for their fine crops of this grain, and their industry in its -cultivation. It is from their custom of trading in this article, that -this tribe are called Ottowas. - - - - -CORN-PLANTING, AND ITS INCIDENTS. - - -The zea, mais, originally furnished the principal article of subsistence -among all the tribes of this race, north and south. It laid at the -foundation of the Mexican and Peruvian types of civilization, as well as -the incipient gleamings of it, among the more warlike tribes of the -Iroquois, Natchez, Lenapees, and others, of northern latitudes. They -esteem it so important and divine a grain, that their story-tellers -invented various tales, in which this idea is symbolized under the form -of a special gift from the Great Spirit. The Odjibwa-Algonquins, who -call it Mon-dá-min, that is, the Spirit's grain or berry, have a pretty -story of this kind, in which the stalk in full tassel, is represented as -descending from the sky, under the guise of a handsome youth, in answer -to the prayers of a young man at his fast of virility, or coming to -manhood. - -It is well known that corn-planting, and corn-gathering, at least among -all the still _uncolonized_ tribes, are left entirely to the females and -children, and a few superannuated old men. It is not generally known, -perhaps, that this labour is not compulsory, and that it is assumed by -the females as a just equivalent, in their view, for the onerous and -continuous labour of the other sex, in providing meats, and skins for -clothing, by the chase, and in defending their villages against their -enemies, and keeping intruders off their territories. A good Indian -housewife deems this a part of her prerogative, and prides herself to -have a store of corn to exercise her hospitality, or duly honour her -husband's hospitality, in the entertainment of the lodge guests. - -The area of ground planted is not, comparitively, large. This matter is -essentially regulated by the number of the family, and other -circumstances. Spring is a leisure season with them, and by its genial -and reviving influence, invites to labour. An Indian female has no cows -to milk, no flax to spin, no yarn to reel. Even those labours, which, at -other seasons fall to her share, are now intermitted. She has apukwas to -gather to make mats. Sugar-making has ended. She has no skins to dress, -for the hunt has ended, the animals being out of season. It is at this -time that the pelt grows bad, the hair becomes loose and falls off, and -nature itself teaches the hunter, that the species must have repose, and -be allowed a little time to replenish. Under these circumstances the -mistress of the lodge and her train, sally out of the lodge into the -corn-field, and with the light pemidge-ag akwut, or small hoe, open up -the soft ground and deposit their treasured mondamin. - -The Indian is emphatically a superstitious being, believing in all sorts -of magical, and secret, and wonderful influences. Woman, herself, comes -in for no small share of these supposed influences. I shrewdly suspect -that one half of the credit we have been in the habit of giving the -warrior, on the score of virtue, in his treatment of captives, is due -alone to his superstitions. He is afraid, at all times, to spoil his -luck, cross his fate, and do some untoward act, by which he might, -perchance, fall under a bad spiritual influence. - -To the wéwun, or wife--the equá, or woman, to the guh or mother,--to the -equázas, or girl, and to the dánis, or daughter, and shéma, or sister, -he looks, as wielding, in their several capacities, whether kindred or -not, these mystic influences over his luck. In consequence of this, the -female never walks in the path before him. It is an unpropitious sign. -If she cross his track, when he is about to set out on a hunting, or war -excursion, his luck is gone. If she is ill, from natural causes, she -cannot even stay in the same wigwam. She cannot use a cup or a bowl -without rendering it, in his view, unclean. - -A singular proof of this belief, in both sexes, of the mysterious -influence of the steps of a woman on the vegetable and insect creation, -is found in an ancient custom, which was related to me, respecting -corn-planting. It was the practice of the hunter's wife, when the field -of corn had been planted, to choose the first dark or overclouded -evening, to perform a secret circuit, sans habilement, around the field. -For this purpose she slipt out of the lodge in the evening, unobserved, -to some obscure nook, where she completely disrobed. Then taking her -matchecota, or principal garment in one hand, she dragged it around the -field. This was thought to ensure a prolific crop, and to prevent the -assaults of insects and worms upon the grain. It was supposed they could -not creep over the charmed line. - -But if corn-planting be done in a lively and satisfied, and not a -slavish spirit, corn-gathering and husking is a season of decided -thankfulness and merriment. At these gatherings, the chiefs and old men -are mere spectators, although they are pleased spectators, the young -only sharing in the sport. Who has not seen, the sedate ogema in such a -vicinage, smoking a dignified pipe with senatorial ease. On the other -hand, turning to the group of nature's red daughters and their young -cohorts, it may be safely affirmed that laughter and garrulity -constitute no part of the characteristics of civilization. Whatever else -custom has bound fast, in the domestic female circle of forest life, the -tongue is left loose. Nor does it require, our observation leads us to -think, one tenth part of the wit or drollery of ancient Athens, to set -their risible faculties in motion. - -If one of the young female huskers finds a _red_ ear of corn, it is -typical of a brave admirer, and is regarded as a fitting present to some -young warrior. But if the ear be _crooked_, and tapering to a point, no -matter what colour, the whole circle is set in a roar, and _wa ge min_ -is the word shouted aloud. It is the symbol of a thief in the cornfield. -It is considered as the image of an old man stooping as he enters the -lot. Had the chisel of Praxitiles been employed to produce this image, -it could not more vividly bring to the minds of the merry group, the -idea of a pilferer of their favourite mondámin. Nor is there any doubt -on these occasions, that the occurrence truly reveals the fact that the -cornfield has actually been thus depredated on. - -The term wagemin, which unfolds all these ideas, and reveals, as by a -talisman, all this information, is derived in part, from the tri-literal -term Waweau, that which is bent or crooked. The termination in g, is the -animate plural, and denotes not only that there is more than one object, -but that the subject is noble or invested with the importance of -animated beings. The last member of the compound, min, is a shortened -sound of the generic meen, a grain, or berry. To make these coalesce, -agreeably to the native laws of euphony, the short vowel i, is thrown -in, between the verbal root and substantive, as a connective. The -literal meaning of the term is, a mass, or crooked ear of grain; but the -ear of corn so called, is a conventional type of a little old man -pilfering ears of corn in a cornfield. It is in this manner, that a -single word or term, in these curious languages, becomes the fruitful -parent of many ideas. And we can thus perceive why it is that the word -wagemin is alone competent to excite merriment in the husking circle. - -This term is taken as the basis of the cereal chorus or corn song, as -sung by the northern Algonquin tribes. It is coupled with the phrase -Paimosaid,--a permutative form of the Indian substantive made from the -verb, pim-o-sa, to walk. Its literal meaning is, he who walks, or the -walker; but the ideas conveyed by it, are, he who walks at night to -pilfer corn. It offers, therefore, a kind of parallelism in expression, -to the preceding term. The chorus is entirely composed of these two -terms, variously repeated, and may be set down as follows: - - Wagemin, - Wagemin, - Paimosaid. - Wagemin, - Wagemin, - Paimosaid. - -When this chant has been sung, there is a pause, during which some one -who is expert in these things, and has a turn for the comic or ironic, -utters a short speech, in the manner of a recitative, in which a -peculiar intonation is given, and generally interrogates the supposed -pilferer, as if he were present to answer questions, or accusations. -There can be no pretence, that this recitative part of the song is -always the same, at different times and places, or even that the same -person should not vary his phraseology. On the contrary, it is often an -object to vary it. It is a perfect improvisation, and it may be supposed -that the native composer is always actuated by a desire to please, as -much as possible by novelty. The whole object indeed is, to keep up the -existing merriment, and excite fun and laughter. - -The following may be taken as one of these recitative songs, written -out, on the plan of preserving the train of thought, and some of those -peculiar interjections in which these languages so much abound. The -chorus alone, it is to be observed, is fixed in its words and metre, -however transposed or repeated, and, unlike an English song, precedes -the stanza or narrative. - -CORN SONG. - - Cereal chorus. Wagemin! wagemin! - Thief in the blade, - Blight of the cornfield - Paimosaid. - - Recitative. See you not traces, while pulling the leaf, - Plainly depicting the TAKER and thief? - See you not signs by the ring and the spot, - How the man crouched as he crept in the lot? - Is it not plain by this mark on the stalk, - That he was heavily bent in his walk? - Old man be nimble! the old should be good, - But thou art a cowardly thief of the wood. - - Cereal Chorus. Wagemin! wagemin! - Thief in the blade, - Blight of the cornfield - Paimosaid. - - Recitative. Where, little TAKER of things not your own-- - Where is your rattle, your drum, and your bone? - Surely a WALKER, so nimble of speed, - Surely he must be a Meta[13] indeed. - See how he stoops, as he breaks off the ear, - Nushka![14] he seems for a moment in fear; - Walker, be nimble--oh! walker be brief, - Hooh![15] it is plain the old man is the thief. - - Cereal chorus. Wagemin! wagemin! - Thief in the blade, - Blight of the cornfield - Paimosaid. - - Recitative. Wabuma![16] corn-taker, why do you lag? - None but the stars see you--fill up your bag! - Why do you linger to gaze as you pull, - Tell me, my little man, is it most full? - A-tia![17] see, a red spot on the leaf, - Surely a warrior cannot be a thief! - Ah, little night-thief, be deer your pursuit, - And leave here no print of your dastardly foot - -FOOTNOTES: - - [13] A Juggler. - - - - -TO HEALTH. - -BY THE LATE JOHN JOHNSTON, ESQ. - - - Health! dearest of the heavenly powers, - With thee to pass my evening hours, - Ah! deign to hear my prayer; - For what can wealth or beauty give, - If still in anguish doomed to live - A slave to pain and care. - - Not sovereign power, nor charms of love, - Nor social joys the heart can move, - If thou refuse thy aid; - E'en friendship, sympathy divine! - Does, in thy absence, faintly shine, - Thou all-inspiring maid. - - Return then, to my longing soul, - Which sighs to feel thy sweet control - Transfused through every pore; - My muse, enraptured, then shall sing - Thee--gift of heaven's all bounteous king, - And gratefully adore. - -_February 4, 1807._ - -FOOTNOTES: - - [14] A sharp exclamation quickly to behold something striking. - - [15] A derogatory exclamation. - - [16] Behold thou. - - [17] A masculine exclamation, to express surprise. - - - - -DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL MANNERS OF THE INDIANS, WHILE ON THEIR WINTERING -GROUNDS. - - -The Indian, who takes his position as an orator, in front of his people, -and before a mixed assemblage of white men, is to be regarded, in a -measure, as an actor, who has assumed a part to perform. He regards -himself as occupying a position in which all eyes are directed upon him, -in scrutiny, and he fortifies himself for the occasion, by redoubled -efforts in cautiousness and studied stoicism. Rigid of muscle, and -suspicious of mind by nature, he brings to his aid the advantages of -practised art, to bear him out in speaking for his tribe, and to quit -him manfully of his task by uttering sentiments worthy of them and of -himself. This is the statue-like and artistic phasis of the man. It is -here that he is, truly - - "A man without a fear--a stoic of the wood." - -All this is laid aside, so far as it is assumed, when he returns from -the presence of the "pale-faces," and rejoins his friends and kindred, -in his own village, far away from all public gaze, in the deep recesses -of the forest. Let us follow the man to this retreat, and see what are -his domestic manners, habits, amusements, and opinions. - -I have myself visited an Indian camp, in the far-off area of the -NORTHWEST, in the dead of winter, under circumstances suited to allay -his suspicions, and inspire confidence, and have been struck with the -marked change there is in his social temper, character, and feelings. -And I have received the same testimony from Indian traders, who have -spent years among them in these secluded positions, and been received by -them as friends and kindred. All indeed, who have had frequent and full -opportunities of witnessing the red man on his hunting grounds, concur -in bearing evidence to his social, hospitable, and friendly habits and -manners. Viewed in such positions, the most perfect sincerity and -cheerfulness prevail; and their intercourse is marked with the broadest -principles of charity and neighborly feeling. The restraint and ever -watchful suspicion which they evince at the frontier post, or in other -situations exposed to the scrutiny and cupidity of white men, is thrown -aside and gives way to ease, sociability and pleasantry. They feel while -thus ensconced in the shades of their native forests, a security unknown -to their breasts in any other situations. The strife seems to be, who -shall excel in offices of friendship and charity, or in spreading the -festive board. If one is more fortunate than the other, in taking meat, -or wielding the arrow or spear, the spoil is set apart for a feast, to -which all the adults, without distinction, are invited. When the set -time of the feast arrives, each one, according to ancient custom, takes -his dish and spoon, and proceeds to the entertainer's lodge. The -victuals are served up with scrupulous attention that each receives a -portion of the best parts. While at the meal, which is prolonged by -cheerful conversation, anecdote, and little narrations of personal -adventure, the females are generally listeners; and none, except the -aged, ever obtrude a remark. The young women and girls show that they -partake in the festivity by smiles, and are scrupulous to evince their -attention to the elder part of the company. Conversation is chiefly -engrossed by the old men and chiefs, and middle-aged men. Young men, who -are desirous to acquire a standing, seldom offer a remark, and when they -_do_, it is with modesty. The topics discussed at these public meals -relate generally to the _chace_, to the _news_ they have heard, or to -personal occurrences about the village; or to deeds, "real or fabulous," -of "old lang syne;" but the matters are discussed in a lively, and not -in a grave style. Business, if we may be allowed that term for what -concerns their trade and government intercourse, is never introduced -except in _formal councils_, convened specially, and opened formally by -smoking the pipe. It seems to be the drift of conversation, in these -sober festivities (for it must be recollected that we are speaking of -the Indians on their wintering grounds and beyond the reach, certainly -beyond the free or ordinary use of ardent spirits), to extract from -their hunts and adventures, whatever will admit of a pleasant turn, draw -forth a joke, or excite a laugh. Ridiculous misadventures, or comical -situations, are sure to be applauded in the recital. Whatever is -anti-social, or untoward, is passed over, or if referred to by another, -is parried off, by some allusion to the scene before them. - -Religion (we use this term for what concerns the great spirit, sacred -dreams, and the ceremonies of the Meda or medicine dance), like -business, is reserved for its proper occasion. It does not form, as with -us, a free topic of remark, at least among those who are professors of -the dance. Thus they cheat away the hours in pleasantry, free, but not -tumultuous in their mirth, but as ardently bent on the enjoyment of the -present moment, as if the sum of life were contained in these three -words, "eat, drink, and be merry." When the feast is over, the women -return to their lodges, and leave the men to smoke. On their return, -they commence a conversation on what they have heard the men advance, -and thus amuse themselves till their husbands return. The end of all is -generally some good advice to the children. - -The company in these ordinary feasts is as general, with respect to the -rank, age or standing of the guests, as the most unlimited equality of -rights can make it. All the aged and many of the young are invited. -There is, however, another feast instituted, at certain times during -the season, to which young persons only are invited, or admitted, except -the entertainer and his wife, and generally two other aged persons, who -preside over the feast and administer its rites. The object of this -feast seems to be instruction, to which the young and thoughtless are -induced to listen for the anticipated pleasure of the feast. Before this -feast commences, the entertainer, or some person fluent in speech, whom -he has selected for the purpose, gets up and addresses the youth of both -sexes on the subject of their course through life. He admonishes them to -be attentive and respectful to the aged and to adhere to their counsels: -never to scoff at the decrepid, deformed, or blind: to obey their -parents: to be modest in their conduct: to be charitable and hospitable: -to fear and love the great Spirit, who is the giver of life and every -good gift. These precepts are dwelt upon at great length, and generally -enforced by examples of a good man and woman and a bad man and woman, -and after drawing the latter, it is ever the custom to say, "you will be -like one of these." At the end of every sentence, the listeners make a -general cry of haá. When the advice is finished, an address, or kind of -prayer to the great Spirit is made, in which he is thanked for the food -before them, and for the continuance of life. The speaker then says, -"Thus the great Spirit supplies us with food; act justly, and conduct -well, and you will ever be thus bountifully supplied." The feast then -commences, and the elders relax their manner and mix with the rest, but -are still careful to preserve order, and a decent, respectful behavior -among the guests. - -Let it not be supposed, however, that the Indian's life, while on his -wintering grounds, is a round of feasting. Quite the contrary; and his -feasts are often followed by long and painful fasts, and the severity of -the seasons, and scarcity of game and fish, often reduce himself and -family to the verge of starvation, and even death. When the failure of -game, or any other causes, induce the hunter to remove to a new circle -of country, the labor of the removal falls upon the female part of the -family. The lodge, utensils and fixtures of every kind, are borne upon -the women's backs, sustained by a strap of leather around the forehead. -On reaching the intended place of encampment, the snow is cleared away, -cedar branches brought and spread for a flooring, the lodge set up, the -moveables stowed away, wood collected, and a fire built, and then, and -not until then, can the females sit down and warm their feet and dry -their moccasins. If there be any provisions, a supper is cooked. If -there be none, all studiously strive to conceal the exhibition of the -least concern on this account, and seek to divert their thoughts by -conversation quite foreign to the subject. The little children are the -only part of the family who complain, and who are privileged to -complain, but even they are taught at an early age to suffer and be -silent. Generally, something is reserved by the mother, when food -becomes scarce, to satisfy their clamors, and they are satisfied with -little. On such occasions, if the family have gone supperless to rest, -the father and elder sons rise early in the morning in search of -something. If one has the luck to kill even a partridge or a squirrel, -it is immediately carried to the lodge, cooked, and divided into as many -parts as there are members of the family. On these occasions, the elder -ones often make a merit of relinquishing their portions to the women and -children. If nothing rewards the search, the whole day is spent by the -father upon his snow-shoes, with his gun in his hands, and he returns at -night, fatigued, to his couch of cedar branches and rush mats. But he -does not return to complain, either of his want of success, or his -fatigue. On the following day the same routine is observed, and days and -weeks are often thus consumed without being rewarded with anything -capable of sustaining life. Instances have been well authenticated, when -this state of wretchedness has been endured by the head of a family -until he has become so weak as to fall in his path, and freeze to death. -When all other means of sustaining life are gone, the skins he has -collected to pay his credits, or purchase new supplies of clothing or -ammunition, are eaten. They are prepared by removing the pelt, and -roasting the skin until it acquires a certain degree of crispness. Under -all their sufferings, the pipe of the hunter is his chief solace, and is -a solace often resorted to. Smoking parties are frequently formed, when -there is a scarcity of food not tending, as might be supposed, to -destroy social feeling and render the temper sour. On these occasions -the entertainer sends a message to this effect: "Come and smoke with me. -I have no food; but we can pass away the evening very well without it." -All acknowledge their lives to be in the hand of the great Spirit; feel -a conviction that all comes from him, and that although he allows them -to suffer, he will again supply them. This tends to quiet their -apprehensions; they are fatalists, however, under long reverses, and -submit patiently and silently to what they believe to be their destiny. -When hunger and misery are past, they are soon forgotten, and their -minds are too eagerly intent on the enjoyment of the present good, to -feel any depression of spirits from the recollection of the past, or to -hoard up anything to provide against want for the future. No people are -more easy, or less clamorous under sufferings of the deepest dye, and -none more happy, or more prone to evince their happiness, when -prosperous in their affairs. - -October 29th, 1826. - - - - -PUGASAING; - -OR, - -THE GAME OF THE BOWL. - - -This is the principal game of hazard among the northern tribes. It is -played with thirteen pieces, hustled in a vessel called onágun, which is -a kind of wooden bowl. They are represented, and named, as follows. - -[Illustration] - -The pieces marked No. 1, in this cut, of which there are two, are called -Ininewug, or men. They are made tapering, or wedge-shaped in thickness, -so as to make it possible, in throwing them, that they may stand on -their base. Number 2, is called Gitshee Kenabik, or the Great Serpent. -It consists of two pieces, one of which is fin-tailed, or a -water-serpent, the other truncated, and is probably designed as -terrestrial. They are formed wedge-shaped, so as to be capable of -standing on their bases length-wise. Each has four dots. Number 3, is -called Pugamágun, or the war club. It has six marks on the handle, on -the _red side_, and four radiating from the orifice of the club end; and -four marks on the handle of the _white side_; and six radiating marks -from the orifice on the club-end, making ten on each side. Number 4 is -called Keego, which is the generic name for a fish. The four circular -pieces of brass, slightly concave, with a flat surface on the apex, are -called Ozawábiks. The three bird-shaped pieces, Sheshebwug, or ducks. - -All but the circular pieces are made out of a fine kind of bone. One -side of the piece is white, of the natural colour of the bones, and -polished, the other red. The brass pieces have the convex side bright, -the concave black. They are all shaken together, and thrown out of the -onágun, as dice. The term pugasaing denotes this act of throwing. It is -the participial form of the verb.--The following rules govern the game: - -1. When the pieces are turned on the red side, and one of the Ininewugs -stands upright on the bright side of one of the brass pieces, it counts -158. - -2. When all the pieces turn red side up, and the Gitshee Kenabik with -the tail stands on the bright side of the brass piece, it counts 138. - -3. When all turn up red, it counts 58 whether the brass pieces be bright -or black side up. - -4. When the Gitshee Kenabik and his associate, and the two Ininewugs -turn up white side, and the other pieces red, it counts 58, irrespective -of the concave or convex position of the brass pieces. - -5. When all the pieces turn up white, it counts 38, whether the -Ozawábiks, be bright or black. - -6. When the Gitshee Kenabik and his associate turn up red, and the other -white, it counts 38, the brass pieces immaterial. - -7. When one of the Ininewugs stands up, it counts 50, without regard to -the position of all the rest. - -8. When either of the Gitshee Kenabiks stands upright, it counts 40, -irrespective of the position of the others. - -9. When all the pieces turn up white, excepting one, and the Ozawábiks -dark, it counts 20. - -10. When all turn up red, except one, and the brass pieces bright, it -counts 15. - -11. When the whole of the pieces turn up white, but one, with the -Ozawábiks bright, it counts 10. - -12. When a brass piece turns up dark, the two Gitshee Kenabiks and the -two men red, and the remaining pieces white, it counts 8. - -13. When the brass piece turns up bright, the two Gitshee Kenabiks and -one of the men red, and all the rest white, it is 6. - -14. When the Gitshee Kenabik in chief, and one of the men turn up red, -the Ozawábiks, bright, and all the others white, it is 4. - -15. When both the Kenabiks, and both men, and the three ducks, turn up -red, the brass piece black, and either the Keego, or a duck white, it is -5. - -16. When all the pieces turn up red, but one of the Ininewugs, and the -brass piece black, it counts 2. - -The limit of the game is stipulated. The parties throw up for the play. - -This game is very fascinating to some portions of the Indians. They -stake at it their ornaments, weapons, clothing, canoes, horses, every -thing in fact they possess; and have been known, it is said, to set up -their wives and children, and even to forfeit their own liberty. Of such -desperate stakes, I have seen no examples, nor do I think the game -itself in common use. It is rather confined to certain persons, who hold -the relative rank of gamblers in Indian society--men who are not noted -as hunters or warriors, or steady providers for their families. Among -these are persons who bear the term of Ienadizze-wug, that is, wanderers -about the country, braggadocios, or fops. It can hardly be classed with -the popular games of amusement, by which skill and dexterity are -acquired. I have generally found the chiefs and graver men of the -tribes, who encouraged the young men to play ball, and are sure to be -present at the customary sports, to witness, and sanction, and applaud -them, speak lightly and disparagingly of this game of hazard. Yet, it -cannot be denied, that some of the chiefs, distinguished in war and the -chase, at the west, can be referred to, as lending their example to its -fascinating power. - -An analysis of this game, to show its arithmetical principles and -powers, might be gone into; but it is no part of the present design to -take up such considerations here, far less to pursue the comparison and -extension of customs of this kind among the modern western tribes. It -may be sufficient to say, from the foregoing rules, that there seems to -be no _unit_ in the throw, and that the count proceeds by _decimals_, -for all numbers over 8. Doubtless these rules, are but a part of the -whole series, known to experienced players. They comprise, however, all -that have been revealed to me. - - "Gambling is not peculiar to our race, - The Indian gambles with as fixed a face." - - * * * * * - -Herodotus says of the ancient Thracians--that "the most honourable life, -with them, is a life of war and plunder; the most contemptible that of a -husbandman. Their supreme delight is war and plunder." Who might not -suppose, were the name withheld, that this had been said by some modern -writer of the Pawnees, or the Camanches? - - - - -REVERENCE AND AFFECTION FOR PARENTS. - - -There lived a noted chief at Michilimackinac, in days past, called -Gitshe Naygow, or the Great-Sand-Dune, a name, or rather nick-name, -which he had, probably, derived from his birth and early residence at a -spot of very imposing appearance, so called, on the southern shore of -Lake Superior, which is east of the range of the Pictured Rocks. He was -a Chippewa, a warrior and a counsellor, of that tribe, and had mingled -freely in the stirring scenes of war and border foray, which marked the -closing years of French domination in the Canadas. He lived to be very -old, and became so feeble at last, that he could not travel by land, -when Spring came on and his people prepared to move their lodges, from -their sugar-camp in the forest, to the open lake shore. They were then -inland, on the waters of the Manistee river, a stream which enters the -northern shores of Lake Michigan. It was his last winter on earth; his -heart was gladdened by once more feeling the genial rays of Spring, and -he desired to go with them, to behold, for the last time, the expanded -lake and inhale its pure breezes. He must needs be conveyed by hand. -This act of piety was performed by his daughter, then a young woman. She -carried him on her back from their camp to the lake shore, where they -erected their lodge and passed their spring, and where he eventually -died and was buried. - -This relation I had from her own lips, at the agency of Michilimackinac, -in 1833. I asked her how she had carried him. She replied, with the -Indian apekun, or head-strap. When tired she rested, and again pursued -her way, on-wa-be-win by on-wa-be-win, or rest by rest, in the manner -practised in carrying heavy packages over the portages. Her name was -Nadowákwa, or the female Iroquois. She was then, perhaps, about -fifty-five years of age, and the wife of a chief called Saganosh, whose -home and jurisdiction were in the group of the St. Martin's Islands, -north of Michilimackinac. - -The incident was not voluntarily told, but came out, incidentally, in -some inquiries I was making respecting historical events, in the -vicinity. One such incident goes far to vindicate the affections of this -people, and should teach us, that they are of the same general lineage -with ourselves, and only require letters and Christianity, to exalt them -in the scale of being. - - * * * * * - -The first words of men, says Harris in his Hermes, like their first -ideas, had an immediate reference to sensible objects; in after days, -when they began to discern with their intellect, they took those words -which they found already made, and transferred them by metaphor, to -intellectual conceptions. - - - - -ANDAIG WEOS, OR CROWS-FLESH. - - -Many persons among the Indian race, have attracted notice from their -exploits on the war-path. Andaig Weos was not among the number of these, -or if he had mingled in such events, his deeds of daring are now lost -amid the remembrance of better qualities. He was a chief of the once -prominent and reigning band of Odjibwa Algonquins, who are called -Chippewas, located at Chegoimgon, on Lake Superior, where his name is -cherished in local tradition, for the noble and disinterested deeds -which he performed in former days. He lived in the latter part of the -18th century. - -It was perhaps forty years ago--said my informant, it was while the late -Mr. Nolin, of Sault Ste. Maries was a trader in the Chippewa country, -between lake Superior and the Mississippi, that he wintered one year low -down on the Chippewa river. On his way down this stream, and while he -was still on one of its sources, cold weather set in suddenly, the ice -formed, and he was unable to get on with his goods. He consequently put -them en cache, according to the custom of the country, and proceeded on -foot, with his men to the lower part of the river, to the spot at which -he had determined to winter. Here he felled trees, and built his house, -and having made all things ready, he set out with his men on his return -to his _cache_, in order to bring down his goods. - -On the way he fell in with an Indian hunter and his wife, who followed -him to the place where he had secreted his goods. On reaching this, he -filled a bottle with spirits and gave a glass to each of his men, took -one himself, and then filling the glass presented it to the Indian. This -was done after the camp had been made for the night. It so happened that -the Indian was taken suddenly ill that night, and before day light died. -Nolin and his men buried him, and then proceeded back to his wintering -house below, each man carrying a pack of goods; and the widow rejoined -her friends. - -After the Indians had taken their credits, and dispersed to their -several wintering grounds, it was rumoured amongst them, that the trader -had administered poison to the Indian who died so suddenly after taking -the glass of spirits. And this opinion gained ground, although the widow -woman repeatedly told the Indians, that the liquor given to her deceased -husband was from the same bottle and glass, that all the French people -had drank from. But it was of no avail; the rumour grew, and Mr. Nolin -began to be apprehensive, as he had already learnt that the Indians -meant to kill him. To confirm this suspicion a party of forty men, soon -after, entered his house, all armed, painted black, and with war dresses -on. They were all presented with a piece of tobacco, as was customary, -when each of them threw it into the fire. No alternative now appeared to -remain to avert the blow, which he was convinced must soon follow. -Almost at the same instant, his men intimated that another party, of six -men more, were arriving. - -It proved to be the chief Andaig Weos, from near Lac du Flambeau, in -search of a trader, for a supply of tobacco and ammunition. On entering, -the chief eyed the warriors, and asked Mr. N. whether he had given them -tobacco. He replied that he _had_, and that they had all, to a man, -thrown it in the fire, and, he added, that they intended to kill him. -The chief asked for some tobacco, which he threw down before the -warriors, telling them to smoke it, adding in an authoritive voice, that -when Indians visited traders, it was with an intention of getting -tobacco from them to _smoke_ and not to _throw into the fire_; and -that, for his part, he had been a long time without smoking, and was -very happy to find a trader to supply him with that article. This -present from him, with the rebuke, was received with silent -acquiescence,--no one venturing a reply. - -The chief next demanded liquor of the trader, saying, "that he intended -to make them drink." The politic Frenchman remonstrated, saying, "that -if this was done, he should surely be killed." "Fear not, Frenchman," -replied the chief, boldly. "These are not _men_ who want to kill you: -they are _children_. I, and my warriors will guard you." On these -assurances, a keg of liquor was given, but with the greatest reluctance. -The chief immediately presented it to the war-party, but cautioned them -to drink it at a distance, and not to come nigh the trader during the -night. They obeyed him. They took it a short distance and drank it, and -kept up a dreadful yelling all night, but did not molest the house. - -The next morning Andaig Weos demanded tobacco of the still uneasy -_marchand voyageur_, and ordered one of his young men to distribute it -to the Indians in the war-dress. He then rose and addressed them in an -energetic and authoritative speech, telling them to march off, without -tasting food; that they were _warriors_, and needed not any thing of the -kind; and if they did, they were _hunters_,--they had guns, and might -hunt, and kill and eat. "You get nothing more here," he added. "This -trader has come here to supply your wants, and you seek to kill him--a -poor reward for the trouble and the anxiety he has undergone! This is no -way of requiting white people." They all, to a man started, and went -off, and gave the trader no farther molestation while he remained in the -country. - -On another occasion Andaig Weos was placed in a situation which afforded -a very different species of testimony to his principles and integrity. A -French trader had entered lake Superior so late in the season, that with -every effort, he could get no farther than _Pointe La Petite Fille_, -before the ice arrested his progress. Here he was obliged to build his -wintering house, but he soon ran short of provisions, and was obliged to -visit La Pointe, with his men, in order to obtain fish--leaving his -house and store-room locked, with his goods, ammunition, and liquors, -and resolving to return immediately. But the weather came on so bad, -that there was no possibility of his immediate return, and the winter -proved so unfavourable that he was obliged to spend two months at that -post. - -During this time, the chief Andaig Weos, with fifteen of his men, came -out from the interior, to the shores of the lake, for the purpose of -trading, each carrying a pack of beaver, or other furs. On arriving at -the point La Petite Fille, they found the trader's house locked and no -one there. The chief said to his followers.--It is customary for traders -to invite Indians into their house, and to receive them politely; but as -there is no one to receive us, we must act according to circumstances. -He then ordered the door to be opened, with as little injury as -possible, walked in, with his party, and caused a good fire to be built -in the chimney. On opening the store-door he found they could be -supplied with all they wanted. He told his party, on no account to -touch, or take away any thing, but shut up the door, and said, "that he -would, on the morrow, act the trader's part." - -They spent the night in the house. Early the next morning, he arose and -addressed them, telling them, that he would now commence trading with -them. This he accordingly did, and when all was finished, he carefully -packed the furs, and piled the packs, and covered them with an oilcloth. -He then again addressed them, saying that it was customary for a trader -to give tobacco and a keg of spirits, when Indians had traded -handsomely. He, therefore, thought himself authorized to observe this -rule, and accordingly gave a keg of spirits and some tobacco. "The -spirits," he said, "must not be drank here. We must take it to our -hunting camp," and gave orders for returning immediately. He then caused -the doors to be shut, in the best manner possible, and the outer door to -be barricaded with logs, and departed. - -When the trader returned, and found his house had been broken open, he -began to bewail his fate, being sure he had been robbed; but on entering -his store-room and beholding the furs, his fears were turned to joy. On -examining his inventory, and comparing it with the amount of his furs, -he declared, that had he been present, he could not have traded to -better advantage, nor have made such a profit on his goods. - -These traits are not solitary and accidental. It happened at another -time, that a Mr. Lamotte, who had wintered in the Folle-avoine country, -unfortunately had a quarrel with the Indians, at the close of the -season, just when he was about to embark on his return with his furs. In -the heat of their passion the Indians broke all his canoes in pieces, -and confined him a prisoner, by ordering him to encamp on an island in -the St. Croix river. - -In this situation he remained, closely watched by the Indians, till all -the _other_ traders had departed and gone out of the country to renew -their supplies, when the chief Andaig Weos arrived. He comprehended the -case in an instant, and having found that the matter of offence was one -of no importance, he immediately went to the Indian village, and in a -loud and authoritative tone of voice, so as to be heard by all, -commanded suitable canoes to be taken to the imprisoned trader--a -summons which was promptly obeyed. He then went to Mr. Lamotte and told -him to embark fearlessly, and that he himself would see that he was not -further hindered, at the same time lamenting the lateness of his return. - -The general conduct of this chief was marked by kindness and urbanity. -When traders arrived at Chagoimegon, where he lived, it was his custom -to order his young men to cover and protect their baggage lest any thing -should be injured or stolen. He was of the lineage of the noted -war-chief, Abojeeg, or Wab Ojeeg. He lived to be very old, so that he -walked nearly bent double--using a cane. The present ruling chief of -that place, called Pezhickee, is his grandson. These anecdotes were -related by Mr. Cadotte, of Lapointe, in the year 1829, and are believed -to be entitled to full confidence. - - * * * * * - -The Tartars cannot pronounce the letter _b_. Those of Bulgaria pronounce -the word _blacks_ as if written _ilacs_. It is noticeable, that the -Odjibwas and their cognate tribes at the north, not only make great use -of the letter b, in native words, but when they come to pronounce -English words, in which the letter v occurs, they invariably substitute -the b for it, as in village, and vinegar. - -There are three letters in the English alphabet which the above tribes -do not pronounce. They are f, r, and l. For f, they substitute, in their -attempts to pronounce foreign words, p. The sound of r, they change to -broad a, or drop. L is changed to n. - - * * * * * - -Singing and dancing are applied to political and to religious purposes -by the Indians. When they wish to raise a war-party, they meet to sing -and dance: when they wish to supplicate the divine mercy on a sick -person, they assemble in a lodge, to sing and dance. No grave act is -performed without singing and dancing. - - - - -ORIGIN - -AND - -HISTORY OF THE RACE. - - - - -WYANDOT TRADITIONS OF THE CREATION, AND OTHER EPOCHS. - - -The following traditions of the creation of man, and of the Red Race; of -the order of precedence and relationship among the tribes, and the -notice of the first arrival of Europeans on the continent, together with -the allegories of Good and Evil, and of Civilization, and Barbarism, are -extracted from a private journal, kept during the period of my official -intercourse with the various tribes. - - Superintendency Indian Affairs, - Detroit, January 30th, 1837. - -A delegation of three Wyandot chiefs visited me, this day, from their -location near Amherstburg in Canada, with their interpreter, George C. -Martin. Their names were O-ri-wa-hen-to, or Charlo, On-ha-to-tun-youh, -or Round Head, son of Round Head, the brother of Splitlog, and -Ty-er-on-youh, or Thomas Clark. They informed me, in reply to a -question, that the present population of their band, at that location, -was eighty-six souls. After transacting their business, I proposed -several questions to them respecting their origin and history. - -1. What is the origin of the Indians? We believe that all men sprang -from one man and woman, who were made by God, in parts beyond the sea. -But in speaking of the Indians we say, how did they cross the sea -without ships? and when did they come? and from what country? What is -your opinion on the subject? - -Oriwahento answered: "The old chief, Splitlog, who could answer you, is -not able to come to see you from his age and feebleness; but he has sent -us three to speak with you. We will do the best we can. We are not able -to read and write, like white men, and what you ask is not therefore to -be found in black and white." (This remark was probably made as they -observed I took notes of the interview.) - -"There was, in ancient times, something the matter with the earth. It -has changed. We think so. We believe God created it, and made men out of -it, We think he made the Indians in this country, and that they did not -come over the sea. They were created at a place called MOUNTAINS. It -was eastward. When he had made the earth and those mountains, he covered -something over the earth, as it were, with his hand. Below this, he put -man. All the different tribes were there. One of the young men found his -way out to the surface. He saw a great light, and was delighted with the -beauty of the surface. While gazing around, he saw a deer running past, -with an arrow in his side. He followed it, to the place where it fell -and died. He thought it was a harmless looking animal. He looked back to -see its tracks, and he soon saw other tracks. They were the foot prints -of the person who had shot the deer. He soon came up. It was the creator -himself. He had taken this method to show the Indians what they must do, -when they came out from the earth. The creator showed him how to skin -and dress the animal, bidding him do so and so, as he directed him. When -the flesh was ready, he told him to make a fire. But he was perfectly -ignorant. God made the fire. He then directed him to put a portion of -the meat on a stick, and roast it before the fire. But he was so -ignorant that he let it stand till it burned on one side, while the -other was raw. - -"Having taught this man the hunter's art, so that he could teach it to -others, God called the Indians forth out of the earth. They came in -order, by tribes, and to each tribe he appointed a chief. He appointed -one Head Chief to lead them all, who had something about his neck, and -he instructed him, and put it into his head what to say to the tribes. -That he might have an opportunity to do so, a certain animal was killed, -and a feast made, in which they were told to eat it all. The leader God -had so chosen, told the tribes what they must do, to please their maker, -and what they must not do." - -Oriwahento further said: God also made Good and Evil. They were -brothers. The one went forth to do good, and caused pleasant things to -grow. The other busied himself in thwarting his brother's work. He made -stony and flinty places, and caused bad fruits, and made continual -mischief among men. Good repaired the mischief as fast as it was done, -but he found his labour never done. He determined to fly upon his -brother and destroy him, but not by violence. He proposed to run a race -with him. Evil consented, and they fixed upon the place. But first tell -me, said Good, what is it you most dread. Bucks horns! replied he, and -tell me what is most hurtful to you. Indian grass braid! said Good. Evil -immediately went to his grandmother, who made braid, and got large -quantities of it, which he put in the path and hung on the limbs that -grew by the path where Good was to run. Good also filled the path of his -brother with the dreaded horns. A question arose who should run first. -I, said Good, will begin, since the proposition to try our skill first -came from me. He accordingly set out, his brother following him. But as -he began to feel exhausted at noon, he took up the grass braid and eat -it. This sustained him, and he tired down his brother before night, who -entreated him to stop. He did not, however, cease, till he had -successfully reached the goal. - -The next day Evil started on his path. He was encountered every where by -the horns, which before noon had greatly weakened him. He entreated to -be relieved from going on. Good insisted on his running the course. He -sustained himself 'till sunset, when he fell in the path, and was -finally dispatched by one of the horns wielded by his brother. - -Good now returned in triumph to his grandmother's lodge. But she was in -an ill humour, as she always was, and hated him and loved his brother -whom he had killed. He wanted to rest, but at night was awoke by a -conversation between her and the ghost of Evil. The latter pleaded to -come in, but although he felt for him, he did not allow his fraternal -feelings to get the better, and resolutely denied admission. Then said -Evil "I go to the north-west, and you will never see me more, and all -who follow me will be in the same state. They will never come back. -Death will for ever keep them." - -Having thus rid himself of his adversary, he thought he would walk out -and see how things were going on, since there was no one to oppose his -doing good. After travelling some time he saw a living object a-head. As -he drew nearer, he saw more plainly. It was a naked man. They began to -talk to each other. "I am walking to see the creation, which I have -made," said Good, "but who are you?" "Clothed man," said he, "I am as -powerful as you, and have made all that land you see." "Naked man," he -replied, "I have made all things, but do not recollect making you." "You -shall see my power," said the naked man, "we will try strength. Call to -yonder mountain to come here, and afterwards I will do the same, and we -will see who has the greatest power." The clothed man fell down on his -knees, and began to pray, but the effort did not succeed, or but -partially. Then the naked man drew a rattle from his belt, and began to -shake it and mutter, having first blindfolded the other. After a time, -now said he, "look!" He did so, and the mountain stood close before him, -and rose up to the clouds. He then blindfolded him again, and resumed -his rattle and muttering. The mountain had resumed its former distant -position. - -The clothed man held in his left hand a sword, and in his right hand the -law of God. The naked man had a rattle in one hand, and a war club in -the other. They exchanged the knowledge of the respective uses of these -things. To show the power of the sword, the clothed man cut off a rod, -and placed it before him. The naked man immediately put the parts -together and they were healed. He then took his club, which was flat, -and cut off the rod, and again healed the mutilated parts. He relied on -the rattle to answer the same purpose as the other's book. The clothed -man tried the use of the club, but could not use it with skill, while -the naked man took the sword and used it as well as the other. - -Oriwahento continued:--It is said that Evil killed his mother at his -birth. He did not enter the world the right way, but bursted from the -womb. They took the body of the mother and laid it upon a scaffold. From -the droppings of her decay, where they fell on the ground, sprang up -corn, tobacco, and such other vegetable productions as the Indians have. -Hence we call corn, our mother. And our tobacco propagates itself by -spontaneous growth, without planting; but the clothed man is required to -labour in raising it. - -Good found his grandmother in no better humor when he came back from the -interview with the naked man. He therefore took and cast her up, and she -flew against the moon, upon whose face the traces of her are still to be -seen. - -This comprised the first interview; after a recess during which they -were permitted to refresh themselves and smoke their pipes, I returned -to the office and resumed the inquiries. - -2. Where did your tribe first see white men on this continent? The -French say you lived on the St. Lawrence, and afterwards went to the -north, from whence you afterwards came down to the vicinity of Detroit. -That you possess the privilege of lighting up the general council fire -for the Lake tribes; and that you were converted to the catholic faith. -Oriwahento again answered. - -When the tribes were all settled, the Wyandots were placed at the head. -They lived in the interior, at the mountains east, about the St. -Lawrence. They were the first tribe of old, and had the first -chieftainship. The chief said to their nephew, the Lenapees, Go down to -the sea coast and look, and if you see any thing bring me word. They had -a village near the sea side, and often looked, but saw nothing except -birds. At length they espied an object, which seemed to grow and come -nearer, and nearer. When it came near the land it stopped, but all the -people were afraid, and fled to the woods. The next day, two of their -number ventured out to look. It was lying quietly on the water. A -smaller object of the same sort came out of it, and walked with long -legs (oars) over the water. When it came to land two men came out of it. -They were different from us and made signs for the others to come out of -the woods. A conference ensued. Presents were exchanged. They gave -presents to the Lenapees, and the latter gave them their skin clothes as -curiosities. Three distinct visits, at separate times, and long -intervals, were made. The mode in which the white men got a footing, and -power in the country was this. First, room was asked, and leave given to -place a chair on the shore. But they soon began to pull the lacing out -of its bottom, and go inland with it; and they have not yet come to the -end of the string. He exemplified this original demand for a cession of -territory and its renewal at other epochs, by other figures of speech, -namely, of a bull's hide, and of a man walking. The first request for a -seat on the shore, was made he said of the Lenapees; alluding to the -cognate branches of this stock, who were anciently settled at the -harbour of New York, and that vicinity. - -To the question of their flight from the St. Lawrence, their settlement -in the north, and their subsequent migration to, and settlement on, the -straits of Detroit, Oriwahento said: - -The Wyandots were proud. God had said that such should be beaten and -brought low. This is the cause why we were followed from the east, and -went up north away to Michilimackinac, but as we had the right before, -so when we came back, the tribes looked up to us, as holding the council -fire.[18] - -3. What relationship do you acknowledge, to the other western tribes? - -Answer by Oriwahento: We call the Lenapees, _nephews_; we call the -Odjibwas (Chippewas) Ottawas, Miamis &c. _Younger Brother_. We call the -Shawnees, _the Youngest Brother_. The Wyandots were the first tribe in -ancient times. The first chieftainship was in their tribe. - - -SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS TO THE INTERPRETER. - -1. Are the Wyandot and Mohawk languages, alike in sounds. You say, you -speak both. - -Ans. Not at all alike. It is true there are a few words so, but the two -languages do not seem to me more akin than English and French. You know -some English and French words are alike. The Mohawk language is on the -_tongue_, the Wyandot is in _the throat_. - -2. Give me some examples: Read some of this translation of the Mohawk, -(handing him John's Gospel printed by the American Bible Society in -1818.) He complied, reading it fluently, and appearing to have been -acquainted with the translation. - -Further conversation, in which his attention was drawn to particular -facts in its structure and principles, made him see stronger analogies -between the two tongues. It was quite evident, that he had never -reflected on the subject, and that there were, both grammatically, and -philologically, coincidences beyond his depth. - - H. R. S. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [18] This is certainly a dignified and wise answer; designed as it was, -to cover their disastrous defeat and flight from the St. Lawrence valley -to the north. The precedence to which he alludes, on reaching the -straits of Detroit, as having been theirs before, is to be understood, -doubtless, of the era of their residence on the lower St. Lawrence, -where they were at the head of the French and Indian confederacy against -the Iroquois. Among the latter, they certainly had no precedency, so far -as history reaches. Their council fire was kept by the Onondagas. - - - - -TRADITIONS OF THE ARCTIDÉS. - - -There are some curious traditions related by the race of people living -on that part of the continent lying north and west of Athabasca lake, -and the river Unjigah. Mackenzie has described that branch of them, who -are called by the trivial name of Che-pe-wyans. This is an Algonquin -term, meaning puckered blankets, and has reference only to the most -easterly and southerly division of the race. They are but the van of an -extensive race. All that gives identity to their general traditions, and -distinctive character and language, relates as well to the Dogribs, the -Coppermines, the Strongbows, the Ambawtawoots, the Hares, the -Brushwoods, the Sursees, the Tacullies, the Nateotetains, and other -tribes located north of them, extending to the Arctic Ocean, and west -through the Peace river pass of the Rocky Mountains. Philology brings -into one groupe all these dialects of a wide spread race, who extend -from the borders of the Atnah nation on the Columbia, across the Rocky -Mountains eastwardly to the Lake of the Hills and the Missinipi or -Churchill river, covering many degrees of latitude and longitude. In the -absence of any generic name for them, founded on language or character, -I shall allude to them under the geographical phrase of ARCTIDES. - -This stock of people have proceeded from the direction of the North -Pacific towards the Atlantic waters, in a general eastern direction, in -which respect, their history forms a striking exception to the other -great stocks of the eastern part of the United States, the Canadas, and -Hudson's bay, who have been in a continual progress towards the WEST and -NORTHWEST. The Arctides, on the contrary, have proceeded EAST and -SOUTHEAST. They may be supposed, therefore, to bring their traditions -more directly from opposite portions of the continent, and from Asia, -and it may be inferred, from more unmixed and primitive sources. Some of -these traditions are, at least, of a curious and striking character. -They believe, like the more southerly tribes, in the general tradition -of a deluge, and of a paradise, or land of future bliss. They have -apparently, veiled the Great Spirit, or creator of the globe, under the -allegory of a gigantic bird. They believe, that there was originally -nothing visible but one vast ocean. Upon this the bird descended from -the sky, with a noise of his wings which produced sounds resembling -thunder. The earth, as he alighted, immediately rose above the waters. -This bird of creative power, then made all the classes of animals, who -were made out of earth. They all had precedency to man. Man alone, the -last in the series, was created from the integument of a dog. This, they -believe, was their own origin, and hence, as Mackenzie tells us, they -will not eat the flesh of this animal, as is done by the other tribes of -the continent. To guard and protect them, he then made a magic arrow, -which they were to preserve with great care, and hold sacred. But they -were so thoughtless, they add, as to carry it away and lose it, upon -which the great bird took his flight, and has never since appeared. This -magic arrow is doubtless to be regarded as a symbol of something else, -which was very essential to their safety and happiness. Indian history -is often disguised under such symbolic forms. - -They have also a tradition that they originally came from a foreign -country, which was inhabited by a wicked people. They had to cross a -great lake, or water, which was shallow, narrow, and full of islands. -Their track lay also through snow and ice, and they suffered miserably -from cold. They first landed at the mouth of the Coppermine river. The -earth thereabouts was then strewed with metallic copper, which has since -disappeared. - -They believe that, in ancient times, men lived till their feet were worn -out with walking, and their throats with eating. They represent their -ancestors as living to very great ages. They describe a deluge, in which -the waters spread over the whole earth, except the highest mountains, on -which their progenitors were saved. - -Their notions of a future state coincide generally with the other -stocks. But their paradise is clothed with more imaginative traits. They -believe, that at death they pass immediately to another world, where -there is a large river of water to cross. They must embark in a stone -canoe, and are borne along into a wide lake, which has an island in its -centre. This is the island of the blest, and the object of the -disembodied soul is to reach it. If their lives have been good, they -will be fortunate, and make it. If bad, they will sink; but they will -only sink to the depth of their chins, so that they may be permitted to -behold the happy land, and strive in vain to reach it. Eternity is -passed in this vain endeavour. - -They have also some notion of the doctrine of transmigration. Such are -the traditionary notions of this numerous family of the Red Race, which -are sufficiently distinctive and peculiar,--and while they resemble in -many traits, yet in others they contradistinguish them from the great -Algic race of the eastern part of the continent. The most advanced -branch of these tribes in their geographical position, call themselves, -as reported by Capt. Franklin, People of the Rising Sun, or -_Saw-eesaw-dinneh_. - -It seems singular, that the farther north we go, the greater evidences -do we behold of imagination, in the aboriginal race, together with some -fore-shadowings of future punishment. - - - - -HISTORICAL TRADITIONS OF THE CHIPPEWAS, ODJIBWAS, OR ODJIBWA-ALGONQUINS. - - -Of all the existing branches of the Algonquin stock in America, this -extensive and populous tribe appears to have the strongest claims to -intellectual distinction, on the score of their traditions, so far, at -least, as the present state of our inquiries extends. They possess, in -their curious fictitious legends and lodge-tales, a varied and -exhaustless fund of tradition, which is repeated from generation to -generation. These legends hold, among the wild men of the north, the -relative rank of story-books; and are intended both to amuse and -instruct. This people possess also, the art of picture writing, in a -degree which denotes that they have been, either more careful, or more -fortunate, in the preservation of this very ancient art of the human -race. Warriors, and the bravest of warriors, they are yet an -intellectual people. - -Their traditions and belief, on the origin of the globe, and the -existence of a Supreme Being, are quite accordant with some things in -our own history and theory. They believe that the Great Spirit created -material matter, and that he made the earth and heavens, by the power of -his will. He afterwards made animals and men, out of the earth, and he -filled space with subordinate spirits, having something of his own -nature, to whom he gave a part of his own power. He made one great and -master spirit of evil, to whom he also gave assimilated and subordinate -evil spirits, to execute his will. Two antagonist powers, they believe, -were thus placed in the world who are continually striving for the -mastery, and who have power to affect the fortunes and lives of men. -This constitutes the groundwork of their religion, sacrifices and -worship. - -They believe that animals were created before men, and that they -originally had rule on the earth. By the power of necromancy, some of -these animals were transformed to men, who, as soon as they assumed this -new form, began to hunt the animals, and make war against them. It is -expected that these animals will resume their human shapes, in a future -state, and hence their hunters, feign some clumsy excuses, for their -present policy of killing them. They believe that all animals, and birds -and reptiles, and even insects, possess reasoning faculties, and have -souls. It is in these opinions, that we detect the ancient doctrine of -transmigration. - -Their most intelligent priests tell us, that their forefathers -worshipped the sun: this luminary was regarded by them, as one of their -Medas told me, as the symbol of divine intelligence, and the figure of -it is drawn in their system of picture writing, to denote the Great -Spirit. This symbol very often occurs in their pictures of the medicine -dance, and the wabeno dance, and other sacred forms of their rude -inscriptions. - -They believe, at least to some extent, in a duality of souls, one of -which is fleshly, or corporeal, the other is incorporeal or mental. The -fleshly soul goes immediately, at death, to the land of spirits, or -future bliss. The mental soul abides with the body, and hovers round the -place of sepulture. A future state is regarded by them, as a state of -rewards, and not of punishments. They expect to inhabit a paradise, -filled with pleasures for the eye, and the ear, and the taste. A strong -and universal belief in divine mercies absorbs every other attribute of -the Great Spirit, except his power and ubiquity; and they believe, so -far as we can gather it, that this mercy will be shown to all. There is -not, in general, a very discriminating sense of moral distinctions and -responsibilities, and the faint out-shadowings, which we sometimes hear -among them, of a deep and sombre stream to be crossed by the adventurous -soul, in its way to the land of bliss, does not exercise such a -practical influence over their lives, as to interfere with the belief of -universal acceptance after death. So firm is this belief, that their -proper and most reverend term for the Great Spirit, is Gézha Monedo, -that is to say, Merciful Spirit. Gitchy Monedo, which is also employed, -is often an equivocal phrase. The term Wäzheáud, or Maker, is used to -designate the Creator, when speaking of his animated works. The compound -phrase Wäosemigóyan, or universal Father, is also heard. - -The great spirit of evil, called Mudje Monedo, and Matche Monito, is -regarded as a _created_, and not a pre-existing being. Subordinate -spirits of evil, are denoted by using the derogative form of the word, -in _sh_ by which Moneto is rendered Monetosh. The exceeding flexibility -of the language is well calculated to enable them to express distinction -of this nature. - -This tribe has a general tradition of a deluge, in which the earth was -covered with water, reaching above the highest hills, or mountains, but -not above a tree which grew on the latter, by climbing which a man was -saved. This man was the demigod of their fictions, who is called -Manabozho, by whose means the waters were stayed and the earth -re-created. He employed for this purpose various animals who were sent -to dive down for some of the primordial earth, of which a little was, -at length, brought up by the beaver, and this formed the germ or nucleus -of the new, or rather rescued planet. What particular allegories are hid -under this story, is not certain; but it is known that this, and other -tribes, are much in the habit of employing allegories, and symbols, -under which we may suspect, they have concealed parts of their -historical traditions and beliefs. This deluge of the Algonquin tribes, -was produced, as their legends tell, by the agency of the chief of the -evil spirits, symbolized by a great serpent, who is placed, throughout -the tale, in an antagonistical position to the demi-god Manabosho. This -Manabozho, is the same, it is thought, with the Abou, and the Michabou, -or the Great Hare of elder writers. - -Of their actual origin and history, the Chippewas have no other certain -tradition, than that they came from Wabenong, that is to say, the land -of the EAST. They have no authentic history, therefore, but such -remembered events, as must be placed subsequent to the era of the -discovery of the continent. Whether this tradition is to be interpreted -as an ancient one, having reference to their arrival on the continent, -or merely to the track of their migration, after reaching it, is a -question to be considered. It is only certain, that they came to their -present position on the banks of Lake Superior, from the direction of -the Atlantic seaboard, and were, when discovered, in the attitude of an -invading nation, pressing westward and northward. Their distinctive name -sheds no light on this question. They call themselves _Od-jib-wäg_, -which is the plural of Odjibwa,--a term which appears to denote a -peculiarity in their voice, or manner of utterance. This word has been -pronounced Chippewa by the Saxon race in America, and is thus recorded -in our treaties and history. They are, in language, manners and customs, -and other characteristics, a well marked type of the leading Algonquin -race, and indeed, the most populous, important, and wide spread existing -branch of that family now on the continent. The term Chippewa, may be -considered as inveterately fixed by popular usage, but in all -disquisitions which have their philology or distinctive character in -view, the true vernacular term of Od-jib-wa, will be found to possess -advantages to writers. The word Algonquin is still applied to a small -local band, at the Lake of Two Mountains, on the Utawas river, near -Montreal, but this term, first bestowed by the French, has long been a -generic phrase for the entire race, who are identified by the ties of a -common original language in the United States and British America. - -One of the most curious opinions of this people is their belief in the -mysterious and sacred character of fire. They obtain sacred fire, for -all national and ecclesiastical purposes, from the flint. Their national -pipes are lighted with this fire. It is symbolical of purity. Their -notions of the boundary between life and death, which is also -symbolically the limit of the material verge between this and a future -state, are revealed in connection with the exhibition of flames of -fire. They also make sacrifices by fire of some part of the first fruits -of the chase. These traits are to be viewed, perhaps, in relation to -their ancient worship of the sun, above noticed, of which the traditions -and belief, are still generally preserved. The existence among them of -the numerous classes of jossakeeds, or mutterers--(the word is from the -utterance of sounds low on the earth,) is a trait that will remind the -reader of a similar class of men, in early ages, in the eastern -hemisphere. These persons constitute, indeed, the Magii of our western -forests. In the exhibition of their art, and of the peculiar notions -they promulgate on the subject of a sacred fire, and the doctrine of -transmigration, they would seem to have their affiliation of descent -rather with the disciples of Zoroaster and the fruitful Persian stock, -than with the less mentally refined Mongolian hordes. - - - - -MYTHOLOGY, SUPERSTITIONS, AND RELIGION OF THE ALGONQUINS. - - THEIR SYSTEM OF MANITO WORSHIP, AS RECENTLY DISCLOSED BY THE - CONFESSIONS OF ONE OF THEIR PROPHETS; THEIR LANGUAGES, AND - CHARACTER OF THE TRANSLATIONS OF THE GOSPEL MADE INTO THESE - DIALECTS; AND THE LEADING MOTIVES OF CHRISTIANS AND PHILANTHROPISTS - TO PERSEVERE IN THEIR CIVILISATION AND CONVERSION.[19] - - -It is known that the Indian tribes of this continent live in a state of -mental bondage to a class of men, who officiate as their priests and -soothsayers. These men found their claims to supernatural power on early -fastings, dreams, ascetic manners and habits, and often on some real or -feigned fit of insanity. Most of them affect a knowledge of charms and -incantations. They are provided with a sack of mystic implements, the -contents of which are exhibited in the course of their ceremonies, such -as the hollow bones of some of the larger anseres, small carved -representations of animals, cowrie and other sea-shells, &c. Some of -these men acquire a character for much sanctity, and turn their -influence to political purposes, either personally or through some -popular warrior, as was instanced in the success of the sachems -Buchanjahela, Little Turtle and Tecumthè. - -We have recently had an opportunity of conversing with one of this class -of sacred person, who has within late years embraced Christianity; and -have made some notes of the interview, which we will advert to for the -purpose of exhibiting his testimony, as to the true character of this -class of impostors. Chusco, the person referred to, is an Ottawa Indian -who has long exercised the priestly office, so to say, to his brethren -on the northern frontiers. He is now a man turned of seventy. He is of -small stature, somewhat bent forward, and supports the infirmities of -age by walking with a staff. His sight is impaired, but his memory -accurate, enabling him to narrate with particularity events which -transpired more than half a century ago. He was present at the great -convocation of northern Indians at Greenville, which followed Gen. -Wayne's victories in the west--an event to which most of these tribes -look back, as an era in their history. He afterwards returned to his -native country in the upper lakes, and fixed his residence at -Michilimackinac, where in late years, his wife became a convert to the -Christian faith, and united herself to the mission church on that -island. A few years after, the old prophet, who despised this mode of -faith, and thought but little of his wife's sagacity in uniting herself -to a congregation of believers, felt his own mind arrested by the same -truths, and finally also embraced them, and was propounded for -admission, and afterwards kept on trial before the session. It was about -this time, or soon after he had been received as an applicant for -membership, that the writer visited his lodge, and entered into a full -examination of his sentiments and opinions, contrasting them freely with -what they had formerly been. We requested him to narrate to us the facts -of his conversion to the principles of Christianity, indicating the -progress of truth on his mind, which he did in substance, through an -interpreter as follows: - -"In the early part of my life I lived very wickedly, following the META, -the JEESUKAN, and the WABENO, the three great superstitious observances -of my people. I did not know that these societies were made up of errors -until my wife, whose heart had been turned by the missionaries, informed -me of it. I had no pleasure in listening to her on this subject, and -often turned away, declaring that I was well satisfied with the religion -of my forefathers. She took every occasion of talking to me on the -subject. She told me that the Indian societies were bad, and that all -who adhered to them were no better than open servants of the Evil -Spirit. She had, in particular, _four_ long talks with me on the -subject, and explained to me who God was, and what sin was, as it is -written in God's book. I believed before, that there was One Great -Spirit who was the Master of life, who had made men and beasts. But she -explained to me the true character of this Great Spirit, the sinfulness -of the heart, and the necessity of having it changed from evil to good -by praying through Jesus Christ. By degrees I came to understand it. She -told me that the Ghost of God or Holy Spirit only could make the heart -better, and that the souls of all who died, without having felt this -power, would be burned in the fires. The missionaries had directed her -to speak to me and put words in her mouth; and she said so much that, -at length, I did not feel satisfied with my old way of life. Amongst -other things she spoke against drinking, which I was very fond of. - -"I did not relish these conversations, but I could not forget them When -I reflected upon them, my heart was not as fixed as it used to be. I -began to see that the Indian Societies were bad, for I knew from my own -experience, that it was not a good Spirit that I had relied upon. I -determined that I would not undertake to _jeesukà_ or to look into -futurity any longer for the Indians, nor practice the _Meta's_ art. -After a while I began to see more fully that the Indian ceremonies were -all bad, and I determined to quit them altogether, and give heed to what -was declared in God's book. - -"The first time that I felt I was to be condemned as a sinner, and that -I was in danger of being punished for sin by God, is clearly in my mind. -I was then on the Island of Bois Blanc, making sugar with my wife. I was -in a conflict of mind, and hardly knew what I was about. I walked around -the kettles, and did not know what I walked for. I felt sometimes like a -person wishing to cry, but I thought it would be unmanly to cry. For the -space of two weeks, I felt in this alarmed and unhappy mood. It seemed -to me sometimes as if I must die. My heart and my bones felt as if they -would burst and fall asunder. My wife asked me if I was sick, and said I -looked pale. I was in an agony of body and mind, especially during _one_ -week. It seemed, during this time, as if an evil spirit haunted me. When -I went out to gather sap, I felt conscious that this spirit went with me -and dogged me. It appeared to animate my own shadow. - -"My strength was failing under this conflict. One night, after I had -been busy all day, my mind was in great distress. This shadowy influence -seemed to me to persuade me to go to sleep. I was tired, and I wished -rest, but I could not sleep. I began to pray. I knelt down and prayed to -God. I continued to pray at intervals through the night; I asked to know -the truth. I then laid down and went to sleep. This sleep brought me -rest and peace. In the morning my wife awoke me, telling me it was late. -When I awoke I felt placid and easy in mind. My distress had left me. I -asked my wife what day it was. She told me it was the Sabbath (in the -Indian, prayer-day). I replied, 'how I wish I could go to the church at -the mission! Formerly I used to avoid it, and shunned those who wished -to speak to me of praying to God, but now my heart longs to go there.' -This feeling did not leave me. - -"After three days I went to the mission. The gladness of my heart -continued the same as I had felt it the first morning at the camp. My -first feeling when I landed, was pity for my drunken brethren, and I -prayed that they might also be brought to find the true God. I spoke to -the missionary, who at subsequent interviews explained to me the truth, -the rite of baptism, and other principles. He wished, however, to try -me by my life, and I wished it also. It was the following autumn, that I -was received into the church." - -We now turned his mind to the subject of intemperance in drinking, -understanding that it had been his former habit. He replied that he had -been one of the greatest drunkards. He had not been satisfied with a ten -days' drink. He would go and drink as long as he could get it. He said, -that during the night in which he first prayed, it was one of the first -subjects of his prayers, that God would remove this desire with his -other evil desires. He added, "God did so." When he arose that morning -the desire had left him. The evil spirit then tempted him by suggesting -to his mind--"Should some one now enter and offer you liquor, would you -not taste it?" He averred he could, at that moment, firmly answer No! It -was now seven years since he had tasted a drop of strong drink. He -remarked that when he used first to visit the houses of Christians, who -gladly opened their doors to him, they were in the habit of asking him -to drink a glass of cider or wine, which he did. But this practice had -nearly ruined him. On one occasion he felt the effects of what he had -thus been prevailed on to drink. The danger he felt himself to be in was -such, that he was alarmed and gave up this practice also. - -He detailed some providential trials which he had been recently exposed -to. He had observed, he said, that those of his people who had professed -piety and had subsequently fallen off, had nevertheless prospered in -worldly things, while he had found it very hard to live. He was often in -a state of want, and his lodge was so poor and bad, that it would not -keep out the rain. Both he and his wife were feeble, and their clothes -were worn out. They had now but a single blanket between them. But when -these trials came up in his mind, he immediately resorted to God, who -satisfied him. - -Another trait in the character of his piety, may here be mentioned. The -autumn succeeding his conversion, he went over to the spot on the island -where he had planted potatoes. The Indian method is, not to visit their -small plantations from the time that their corn or potatoes are -_hilled_. He was pleased to find that the crop in this instance promised -to yield abundantly, and his wife immediately commenced the process of -raising them. "Stop!" exclaimed the grateful old man, "dare you dig -these potatoes until we have thanked the Lord for them?" They then both -knelt in prayer, and afterwards gathered the crop. - -This individual appeared to form a tangible point in the intellectual -chain between Paganism and Christianity, which it is felt important to -examine. We felt desirous of drawing from him such particulars -respecting his former practice in necromancy and the prophetic art, as -might lead to correct philosophical conclusions. He had been the great -juggler of his tribe. He was now accepted as a Christian. What were his -own conceptions of the power and arts he had practised? How did these -things appear to his mind, after a lapse of several years, during which -his opinions and feelings had undergone changes, in many respects so -striking? We found not the slightest avoiding of this topic on his part. -He attributed all his ability in deceptive arts to the agency of the -Evil Spirit; and he spoke of it with the same settled tone that he had -manifested in reciting other points in his personal experience. He -believed that he had followed a spirit whose object it was to deceive -the Indians and make them miserable. He believed that this spirit had -left him and that he was now following, in the affections of his heart, -the spirit of Truth. - -Numerous symbols of the classes of the animate creation are relied on by -the Indian _metays_ and _wabenos_, to exhibit their affected power of -working miracles and to scrutinize the scenes of futurity. The objects -which this man had appealed to as personal spirits in the arcanum of his -lodge, were the tortoise, the swan, the woodpecker and the crow. He had -dreamed of these at his initial fast in his youth, during the period set -apart for this purpose, and he believed that a satanic influence was -exerted, by presenting to his mind one or more of these solemnly -appropriated objects at the moment of his invoking them. This is the -theory drawn from his replies. We solicited him to detail the _modus -operandi_, after entering the juggler's lodge. This lodge resembles an -acute pyramid with the apex open. It is formed of poles, covered with -tight-drawn skins. His replies were perfectly ingenuous, evincing -nothing of the natural taciturnity and shyness of the Indian mind. The -great object with the operator is to agitate this lodge, and cause it to -move and shake without uprooting it from its basis, in such a manner as -to induce the spectators to believe that the _power of action is -superhuman_. After this manifestation of spiritual _presence_, the -priest within is prepared to give oracular responses. The only articles -within were a drum and rattle. In reply to our inquiry as to the mode of -procedure, he stated that his first essay, after entering the lodge, was -to strike the drum and commence his incantations. At this time his -personal manitos assumed their agency, and received, it is to be -inferred, _a satanic energy_. Not that he affects that there was any -visible form assumed. But he felt their spirit-like presence. He -represents the agitation of the lodge to be due to currents of air, -having the irregular and gyratory power of a whirlwind. He does not -pretend that his responses were guided by truth, but on the contrary -affirms that they were given under the influence of the evil spirit. - -We interrogated him as to the use of physical and mechanical means in -effecting cures, in the capacity of a meta, or a medicine man. He -referred to various medicines, some of which he thinks were antibilious -or otherwise sanatory. He used two bones in the exhibition of his -physical skill, one of which was _white_ and the other _green_. His -arcanum also embraced two small stone images. He affected to look _into_ -and _through_ the flesh, and to draw from the body fluids, as bile and -blood. He applied his mouth in suction. He characterized both the _meta_ -or medicine dances and the _wabeno_ dances by a term which may be -translated _deviltry_. Yet he discriminated between these two popular -institutions by adding that the _meta_ included the use of medicines, -good and bad. The _wabeno_, on the contrary, consisted wholly in a wild -exhibition of mere braggadocio and trick. It is not, according to him, -an ancient institution. It originated, he said, with a Pottawattomie, -who was sick and lunatic a month. When this man recovered he pretended -that he had ascended to heaven, and had brought thence divine arts, to -aid his countrymen. - -With respect to the opinion steadfastly maintained by this venerable -subject of Indian reformation, that his deceptive arts were rendered -effectual in the way he designed, by _satanic agency_, we leave the -reader to form his own conclusions. In his mode of stating the facts, we -concede much to him, on the score of long established mental habits, and -the peculiarities arising from a mythology, exceeding even that of -ancient Greece, for the number, variety and ubiquity of its objects. But -we perceive nothing, on Christian theories, heterodox in the general -position. When the truth of the gospel comes to be grafted into the -benighted heart of a pagan, such as Chusco was, it throws a fearful -light on the objects which have been cherished there. The whole system -of the mythological agency of the gods and spirits of the heathen world -and its clumsy machinery is shown to be a sheer system of demonology, -referable, in its operative effects on the minds of individuals, to the -"Prince of the power of the air." As such the Bible depicts it. We have -not been in the habit of conceding the existence of demoniacal -possessions, _in the present era of Christianity_, and have turned over -some scores of chapters and verses to satisfy our minds of the -_abrogation of these things_. But we have found no proofs of such a -withdrawal of evil agency short of the very point where our subject -places it--that is, the dawning of the light of Christianity in the -heart. We have, on the contrary, found in the passages referred to, the -declaration of the full and free existence of such an agency in the -general import, and apprehend that it cannot be plucked out of the -sacred writings. - -The language of such an agency appears to be fully developed among the -northern tribes. _Spirit-ridden_ they certainly are; and the mental -slavery in which they live, under the fear of an invisible agency of -evil spirits, is, we apprehend, greater even than the bondage of the -body. The whole mind is bowed down under these intellectual fetters -which circumscribe its volitions, and bind it as effectually as with the -hooks of steel which pierce a whirling Hindoo's flesh. Whatever is -wonderful, or past comprehension to their minds, is referred to the -agency of a spirit This is the ready solution of every mystery in -nature, and of every refinement of mechanical power in art. A watch is, -in the intricacy of its machinery, a spirit. A piece of blue cloth--cast -and blistered steel--a compass, a jewel, an insect, &c., are, -respectively, a spirit. Thunder consists, in their transcendental -astronomy, of so many distinct spirits. The aurora borealis is a body of -dancing spirits, or rather ghosts of the departed. - -Such were the ideas and experiences of Chusco, after his union with the -church; and with these views he lived and died, having given evidence, -as was thought, of the reception of the Saviour, _through faith_. - -To give some idea of the Indian mythology as above denoted, it is -necessary to conceive every department of the universe to be filled with -invisible spirits. These spirits hold in their belief nearly the same -relation to matter that the soul does to the body: they pervade it. They -believe not only that every man, but also _that every animal, has a -soul_; and as might be expected under this belief, they make no -distinction between _instinct_ and _reason_. Every animal is supposed to -be endowed with a reasoning facility. The movements of birds and other -animals are deemed to be the result, not of mere instinctive animal -powers implanted and limited by the creation, without inherent power to -_exceed_ or _enlarge_ them, but of a process of ratiocination. They go a -step farther, and believe that animals, particularly birds, can look -into, and are familiar with the vast operations of the world above. -Hence the great respect they pay to birds as agents of omen, and also to -some animals, whose souls they expect to encounter in another life. Nay, -it is the settled belief among the northern Algonquins, that animals -will fare better in another world, in the precise ratio that their lives -and enjoyments have been curtailed in this life. - -Dreams are considered by them as a means of direct communication, with -the spiritual world; and hence the great influence which dreams exert -over the Indian mind and conduct. They are generally regarded as -friendly warnings of their personal manitos. No labor or enterprise is -undertaken against their indications. A whole army is turned back if the -dreams of the officiating priest are unfavorable. A family lodge has -been known to be deserted by all its inmates at midnight, leaving the -fixtures behind, because one of the family had dreamt of an attack, and -been frightened with the impression of blood and tomahawks. To give more -solemnity to his office the priest or leading _meta_ exhibits a sack -containing the carved or stuffed images of animals, with medicines and -bones constituting the sacred charms. These are never exhibited to the -common gaze, but, on a march, the sack is hung up in plain view. To -profane the medicine sack would be equivalent to violating the altar. -Dreams are carefully sought by every Indian, whatever be their rank, at -certain periods of youth, with fasting. These fasts are sometimes -continued a great number of days, until the devotee becomes pale and -emaciated. The animals that appear propitiously to the mind during these -dreams, are fixed on and selected as personal manitos, and are ever -after viewed as guardians. This period of fasting and dreaming is deemed -as essential by them as any religious rite whatever employed by -Christians. The initial fast of a young man or girl holds the relative -importance of baptism, with this peculiarity, that it is a free-will, or -self-dedicatory rite. - -The naming of children has an intimate connection with the system of -mythological agency. Names are usually bestowed by some aged person, -most commonly under the supposed guidance of a particular spirit. They -are often derived from the mystic scenes presented in a dream, and refer -to aerial phenomena. Yellow Thunder, Bright Sky, Big Cloud, Spirit Sky, -Spot in the Sky, are common names for males. Females are more commonly -named from the vernal or autumnal landscape, as Woman of the Valley, -Woman of the Rock, &c. Females are not excluded from participation in -the prophetical office or jugglership. Instances of their having assumed -this function are known to have occurred, although it is commonly -confined to males. In every other department of life they are apparently -regarded as inferior or _inclusive_ beings. Names bestowed with ceremony -in childhood are deemed sacred, and are seldom pronounced, out of -respect, it would seem, to the spirit under whose favor they are -supposed to have been selected. Children are usually called in the -family by some name which can be familiarly used. A male child is -frequently called by the mother, a bird, or young one, or old man, as -terms of endearment, or bad boy, evil-doer, &c., in the way of light -reproach; and these names often adhere to the individual through life. -Parents avoid the true name often by saying my son, my younger, or my -elder son, or my younger or my elder daughter, for which the language -has separate words. This subject of a reluctance to tell their names is -very curious and deserving of investigation. - -The Indian "art and mystery" of hunting is a tissue of necromantic or -mythological reliances. The personal spirits of the hunter are invoked -to give success in the chace. Images of the animals sought for are -sometimes carved in wood, or drawn by the metas on tabular pieces of -wood. By applying their mystic medicines to these, the animals are -supposed to be drawn into the hunter's path; and when animals have been -killed, the Indian feels, that although they are an authorized and -lawful prey, yet there is something like accountability to the animal's -_suppositional soul_. An Indian has been known to ask the pardon of an -animal, which he had just killed. Drumming, shaking the rattle, and -dancing and singing, are the common accompaniments of all these -superstitious observances, and are not peculiar to one class alone. In -the wabeno dance, which is esteemed by the Indians as the most -latitudinarian co-fraternity, love songs are introduced. They are never -heard in the medicine dances. They would subject one to utter contempt -in the war dance. - -The system of _manito worship_ has another peculiarity, which is -illustrative of Indian character. During the fasts and ceremonial dances -by which a warrior prepares himself to come up to the duties of war, -everything that savors of effeminacy is put aside. The spirits which -preside over bravery and war are alone relied on, and these are supposed -to be offended by the votary's paying attention to objects less stern -and manly than themselves. Venus and Mars cannot be worshipped at the -same time. It would be considered a complete desecration for a warrior, -while engaged in war, to entangle himself by another, or more tender -sentiment. We think this opinion should be duly estimated in the general -award which history gives to the chastity of warriors. We would record -the fact to their praise, as fully as it has been done; but we would -subtract something from the _motive_, in view of his paramount -obligations of a sacred character, and also the fear of the ridicule of -his co-warriors. - -In these leading doctrines of an oral and mystic school of wild -philosophy may be perceived the ground-work of their mythology, and the -general motive for selecting familiar spirits. Manito, or as the -Chippewas pronounce it, monédo, signifies simply a spirit, and there is -neither a good nor bad meaning attached to it, when not under the -government of some adjective or qualifying particle. We think, however, -that so far as there is a meaning distinct from an invisible existence, -the tendency is to a bad meaning. A bad meaning is, however, distinctly -conveyed by the inflection, _osh_ or _ish_. The particle _wee_, added in -the same relation, indicates a witch. Like numerous other nouns, it has -its diminutive in _os_, its plural in _wug_, and its local form in -_ing_. To add "great," as the Jesuit writers did, is far from deciding -the moral character of the spirit, and hence modern translators prefix -_gezha_, signifying merciful. Yet we doubt whether the word God should -not be carried boldly into translations of the scriptures. In the -conference and prayer-room, the native teachers use the inclusive -pronominal form of Father, altogether. Truth breaks slowly on the mind, -sunk in so profound a darkness as the Indians are, and there is danger -in retaining the use of words like those which they have so long -employed in a problematical, if not a derogative sense. - -The love for mystery and magic which pervades the native ceremonies, has -affected the forms of their language. They have given it a power to -impart life to dead masses. Vitality in their forms of utterance is -deeply implanted in all these dialects, which have been examined; they -provide, by the process of inflection, for keeping a perpetual -distinction between the animate and inanimate kingdoms. But where -vitality and spirituality are so blended as we see them in their -doctrine of animal souls, the inevitable result must be, either to exalt -the principle of life, in all the classes of nature, into immortality, -or to sink the latter to the level of mere organic life. Indian -word-makers have taken the former dilemma, and peopled their paradise -not only with the souls of men, but with the souls of every imaginable -kind of beasts. Spirituality is thus clogged with sensual accidents. The -human soul _hungers_, and it must have food deposited upon the grave. -_It suffers from cold_, and the body must be wrapped about with cloths. -It is in _darkness_, and a light must be kindled at the head of the -grave. It wanders through plains and across streams, subject to the -providences of this life, in quest of its place of enjoyment, and when -it reaches it, it finds every species of sensual trial, which renders -the place not indeed a _heaven of rest_, but _another experimental -world_--very much like this. Of punishments, we hear nothing; rewards -are looked for abundantly, and the idea that the Master of life, or the -merciful Spirit, will be alike merciful to all, _irrespective of the -acts of this life_, or the degree of _moral turpitude_, appears to leave -for their theology a belief in restorations or universalism. There is -nothing to refer them to a Saviour; that IDEA was beyond their -conception, and of course there was no occasion for the offices of the -Holy Ghost. Darker and more chilling views to a theologian, it would be -impossible to present. Yet it may be asked, what more benign result -could have been, or can now be, anticipated in the hearts of an -ignorant, uninstructed and wandering people, exposed to sore -vicissitudes in their lives and fortunes, and without the guidance of -the light of Revelation? - -Of their mythology proper, we have space only to make a few remarks. -Some of the mythologic existences of the Indians admit of poetic uses. -Manabozho may be considered as a sort of terrene Jove, who could perform -all things whatever, but lived some time on earth, and excelled -particularly in feats of strength and manual dexterity. All the animals -were subject to him. He also survived a deluge, which the traditions -mention, having climbed a tree on an extreme elevation during the -prevalence of the waters, and sent down various animals for some earth, -out of which he re-created the globe. The four cardinal points are so -many demi-gods, of whom the West, called KABEUN, has priority of age. -The East, North and South are deemed to be his sons, by a maid who -incautiously exposed herself to the west wind. IAGOO (Iagoo) is the god -of the marvellous, and many most extravagant tales of forest and -domestic adventure are heaped upon him. KWASIND is a sort of Samson, who -threw a huge mass of rock such as the Cyclops cast at Mentor. WEENG is -the god of sleep, who is represented to have numerous small emissaries -at his service, reminding us of Pope's creation of gnomes. These minute -emissaries climb up the forehead, and wielding a tiny club, knock -individuals to sleep. PAUGUK is death, in his symbolic attitude. He is -armed with a bow and arrows. It would be easy to extend this -enumeration. - -The mental powers of the Indian constitutes a topic which we do not -design to discuss. But it must be manifest that some of their -peculiarities are brought out by their system of mythology and -spirit-craft. War, public policy, hunting, abstinence, endurance and -courageous adventure, form the leading topics of their mental efforts. -These are deemed the appropriate themes of men, sages and warriors. But -their intellectual essays have also a domestic theatre of exhibition. It -is here that the Indian mind unbends itself and reveals some of its less -obvious traits. Their public speakers cultivate a particular branch of -oratory. They are careful in the use of words, and are regarded as -standards of purity in the language. They appear to have an accurate ear -for sounds, and delight in rounding off a period, for which the -languages afford great facilities, by their long and stately words, and -multiform inflexions. A drift of thought--an elevation of style, is -observable in their public speaking which is dropt in private -conversation. Voice, attitude and motion, are deemed of the highest -consequence. Much of the meaning of their expressions is varied by the -vehement, subdued, or prolonged tone in which they are uttered. In -private conversation, on the contrary, all is altered. There is an -equanimity of tone, and easy vein of narration or dialogue, in which the -power of mimicry is most strikingly brought out. The very voice and -words of the supposed speakers, in their fictitious legends, are -assumed. Fear, supplication, timidity or boasting, are exactly depicted, -and the deepest interest excited. All is ease and freedom from -restraint. There is nothing of the coldness or severe formality of the -council. The pipe is put to its ordinary use, and all its symbolic -sanctity is laid aside with the wampum belt and the often reiterated -state epithets, "Nosa" and "Kosinan," i.e. _my father_ and _our father_. - -Another striking trait of the race is found in their legends and tales. -Those of the aboriginal race who excel in private conversation, become -to their tribes oral chroniclers, and are relied on for historical -traditions as well as tales. It is necessary, in listening to them, to -distinguish between the gossip and the historian, the narrator of real -events, and of nursery tales. For they gather together everything from -the fabulous feats of Manebozho and Misshozba, to the hair-breadth -escapes of a Pontiac, or a Black Hawk. These narrators are generally men -of a good memory and a certain degree of humor, who have experienced -vicissitudes, and are cast into the vale of years. In the rehearsal of -their tales, transformations and transmigrations are a part of the -machinery relied on; and some of them are as accurately adapted to the -purposes of amusement or instruction, as if Zoroaster or Ovid himself -had been consulted in their production. Many objects in the inanimate -creation, according to these tales, were originally men and women. And -numerous animals had other forms in their first stages of existence, -which they, as well as human beings, forfeited, by the power of -necromancy and transmigration. The evening star, it is fabled, was -formerly a woman. An ambitious boy became one of the planets. Three -brothers, travelling in a canoe, were translated into a group of stars. -The fox, lynx, hare, robin, eagle and numerous other species, retain -places in the Indian system of astronomy. The mouse obtained celestial -elevation by creeping up the rainbow, which Indian story makes a flossy -mass of bright threads, and by the power of gnawing them, he relieved a -captive in the sky. It is a coincidence, which we note, that _ursa -major_ is called by them the bear. - -These legends are not confined to the sky alone. The earth also is a -fruitful theatre of transformations. The wolf was formerly a boy, who, -being neglected by his parents, was transformed into this animal. A -shell, lying on the shore, was transformed to the raccoon. The brains of -an adulteress were converted into the _addikumaig_, or white fish. - -The power of transformation was variously exercised. It most commonly -existed in magicians, of whom Abo, Manabosh or Manabozha, and Mishosha, -retain much celebrity. The latter possessed a magic canoe which would -rush forward through the water on the utterance of a charm, with a speed -that would outstrip the wind. Hundreds of miles were performed in as -many minutes. The charm which he uttered, consisted of a monosyllable, -containing one consonant, which does not belong to the language; and -this word has no definable meaning. So that the language of magic and -demonology has one feature in common in all ages and with every nation. - -Man, in his common shape, is not alone the subject of their legends. The -intellectual creations of the Indians admit of the agency of giants and -fairies. Anak and his progeny could not have created more alarm in the -minds of the ten faithless spies, than do the race of fabulous Weendigos -to the Indian tribes. These giants are represented as cannibals, who ate -up men, women and children. Indian fairies are of two classes, -distinguished as the place of their revels is either the land or water. -Land-fairies are imagined to choose their residences about promontories, -water-falls and solemn groves. The water, besides its appropriate class -of aquatic fairies, is supposed to be the residence of a race of beings -called Nibanaba which have their analogy, except as to sex, in the -mermaid. The Indian word indicates a male. Ghosts are the ordinary -machinery in their tales of terror and mystery. There is, perhaps, a -glimmering of the idea of retributive justice in the belief that ghosts -and spirits are capable of existing in fire. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [19] New York Lit & Theo. Review. - - - - -INDIAN ARROW HEADS, &c. - - -By far the most numerous relics of the Red Race, now found in those -parts of our country from which it has disappeared, are the small stones -with which they headed their arrows. Being made of the most durable -substances, they have generally remained in the soil, unaffected by time -and the changes of season. They most abound in those rich meadows which -border some of our rivers, and in other spots of peculiar fertility, -though of less extent, where the pasture, or other attractions, -collected game for the Red men. The stones most commonly used were -quartz and flint, which were preferred on account of the facility of -shaping them, the keenness of the points and edges, which they readily -present under the blows of a skilful manufacturer, as well as their -superior hardness and imperishable nature. Multitudes of specimens still -exist, which show the various forms and sizes to which the Red men -reduced stones of these kinds: and they excite our admiration, by their -perfect state of preservation, as well by the skilfulness of their -manufacture. - -Other stones, however, were not unfrequently used: and a collection -which we have been making for many years, presents a considerable -variety of materials, as well as of sizes, shapes and colors. Hard -sandstone, trap or graacke, jasper and chalcedony, appear occasionally; -some almost transparent. One of the larger size is made of steatite, and -smooth, as if cut or scraped with a knife, contrary to the common -method, of gradually chipping off small fragments of more brittle stone, -by light blows often repeated. These arrow heads were fastened to the -shaft, by inserting the butt into the split end, and tying round it a -string of deer's sinews. A groove or depression is commonly observable -in the stone, designed to receive the string. But it is sometimes -difficult to imagine how the fastening was effected, as some perfect -arrow-heads show no such depressions, and their forms are not well -adapted to such a purpose. This peculiarity, however, is most frequently -to be observed in specimens of small size, the larger, and especially -such as are commonly supposed to have been the heads of spears, being -usually well shaped for tying. - -It is remarkable that some spots have been found, where such relics were -surprizingly numerous. In Hartford, Connecticut, about thirty years ago, -many were picked up in a garden, at the corner of Front and Mill -streets. The spot was indeed on the bank of the Little River, probably -at the head of Indian Canoe navigation: but yet no rational conjecture -could be formed, to account for the discovery, except one. It was -concluded that the place was an ancient burying ground. Many bits of -coarse earthen-ware were found, such as are common in many parts of the -country. About two miles below Middletown, Connecticut, on the slope of -a hill on the southern side of the Narrows, we discovered, some years -since, a great number of small fragments of white quartz, scattered -thickly over the surface of the ground, perhaps for half an acre. Among -them were several arrow heads of various forms, most of them imperfect, -and many pieces of stone, which at first sight resembled them, but, on -closer inspection, seemed to have been designed for arrow heads, but -spoiled in the making. Some had one good edge, or a point or barb, while -the other parts of the same stones showed only the natural form and -fracture. In many instances, it was easy to see that the workman might -well have been discouraged from proceeding any farther, by a flaw, a -break or the nature of the stone. Our conclusion was, that the spot had -long been a place where Indian arrow heads were made, and that we saw -around us the refuse fragments rejected by the workmen. Other spots have -been heard of resembling this. - -If such relics were found nowhere else but in our own country, they -would be curious, and worthy of preservation and attention: but it is an -interesting fact, not however generally known, that they exist in many -other parts of the world. Stone arrow and spear heads have been found in -England for hundreds of years, and are believed to have been made and -used by the Britons, who, in respect to civilization, were nearly on a -level with our Indians. These relics are called by the common people -Celts, from the race whose memory they recal; and particular accounts of -them are given, with drawings, in several antiquarian works. They bear a -striking resemblance to our Indian arrow heads; and many of them could -be hardly, if at all, distinguished from those of America. - -African arrows have been brought to this country, in which the points -were of the same forms and materials, and fastened in the same manner. -About twelve years ago a vessel from Stonington was attacked by a party -of Patagonians, who threw arrows on board. One of these which we -procured, was pointed with a head of milky quartz, exactly corresponding -with specimens picked up in New England. - -Among the relics found in excavating the low mounds on the plain of -Marathon, as we were informed by one of our countrymen, who was at -Athens some years ago, there were spear heads made of flint, which, he -declared, were like those he had often seen ploughed up in his native -fields. These, it was conjectured, might have been among the weapons of -some of the rude Scythians in the Persian army, which met its defeat on -that celebrated battle ground. - -A negro, from an obscure group of islands, just north of New Guinea, in -describing the weapons in use among his countrymen, drew the forms of -spear heads, which he said were often made of stones; and, when shown -specimens from our collection, declared that they were very much like -them. - -It has been thought, that certain instruments would naturally be -invented by men in particular states of society and under certain -circumstances, as the result of their wants and the means at hand to -supply them. It is not, however, always easy to reconcile this doctrine -with fasts. For example, the black race of the islands north of New -Holland, (of which so little is yet known,) appear to require the use of -the bow as much as any other savage people, yet they are entirely -ignorant of it, though it has been thought one of the simple, most -natural and most indispensable instruments in such a condition of -society. - -We are therefore left in doubt, in the present state of our knowledge, -whether the manufacture and use of stone arrow heads have been so -extensively diffused over the globe by repeated inventions, or by an -intercourse between portions of the human race long since ceased, or by -both causes. To whichever of these opinions we may incline, the subject -must still appear to us worthy of investigation, as the history of these -relics must necessarily be closely connected with that of different -families and races of men in every continent and in every zone. - -We would invite particular attention to the position and circumstances -of Indian remains which may hereafter be found; and would express a wish -that they might be recorded and made known. Our newspapers offer a most -favorable vehicle for the communication of such discoveries and -observations, and our editors generally must have taste and judgment -enough to give room for them. - -It was remarked in some of our publications a few years ago, that no -unequivocal remains of the Red men had yet been discovered in the earth, -below the most recent strata of soil, excepting cases in which they had -been buried in graves, &c. Perhaps later observations may furnish -evidence of the longer presence of that race on our continent than such -a statement countenances. - -One of the most interesting objects of enquiry, with some antiquaries, -is whether there are any ancient indications of Alphabetical writing in -our continent. A small stone found in the Grave-Creek Mound, and others -of a more doubtful character, are quite sufficient to awaken interest -and stimulate enquiry. - -A few specimens of rude sculpture and drawing have been found in -different parts of the U. States; and shells, ornaments, &c., evidently -brought from great distances. There may be others, known to individuals, -of which antiquaries are not aware. After perusing the foregoing pages, -it will be easy to realize that all such remains may be worthy of -attention. Not only copies should be made and dimensions taken, but -descriptions should be written, local information and traditions -collected, measures taken to preserve the originals, and some notice -given which may reach persons interested in such subjects.--_E._ - - - - -INDIAN MUSIC, SONGS, AND POETRY. - - -No. 1. - -The North American tribes have the elements of music and poetry. Their -war songs frequently contain flights of the finest heroic sentiment, -clothed in poetic imagery. And numbers of the addresses of the speakers, -both occasional and public, abound in eloquent and poetic thought. "We -would anticipate eloquence," observes a modern American writer, "from an -Indian. He has animating remembrances--a poetry of language, which -exacts rich and apposite metaphorical allusions, even for ordinary -conversation--a mind which, like his body, has never been trammelled and -mechanized by the formalities of society, and passions which, from the -very outward restraint imposed upon them, burn more fiercely within." -Yet, it will be found that the records of our literature, scattered as -they are, in periodicals and ephemeral publications, rather than in -works of professed research, are meagre and barren, on these topics. One -of the first things we hear of the Indians, after their discovery, is -their proneness to singing and dancing. But however characteristic these -traits may be, and we think they are eminently so, it has fallen to the -lot of but few to put on record specimens, which may be appealed to, as -evidences of the current opinion, on these heads. With favourable -opportunities of observation among the tribes, we have but to add our -testimony to the difficulties of making collections in these -departments, which shall not compromit the intellectual character of the -tribes, whose efforts are always oral, and very commonly extemporaneous. -These difficulties arise from the want of suitable interpreters, the -remoteness of the points at which observations must be made, the heavy -demands made upon hours of leisure or business by such inquiries, and -the inconvenience of making notes and detailed memoranda on the spot. -The little that it is in our power to offer, will therefore be submitted -as contributions to an inquiry which is quite in its infancy, and rather -with the hope of exciting others to future labours, than of gratifying, -to any extent, an enlightened curiosity on the subject. - -Dancing is both an amusement and a religious observance, among the -American Indians, and is known to constitute one of the most wide spread -traits in their manners and customs. It is accompanied, in all cases, -with singing, and, omitting a few cases, with the beating of time on -instruments. Tribes the most diverse in language, and situated at the -greatest distances apart, concur in this. It is believed to be the -ordinary mode of expressing intense passion, or feeling on any subject, -and it is a custom which has been persevered in, with the least -variation, through all the phases of their history, and probably exists -among the remote tribes, precisely at this time, as it did in the era of -Columbus. It is observed to be the last thing abandoned by bands and -individuals, in their progress to civilization and christianity. So true -is this, that it may be regarded as one of the best practical proofs of -their advance, to find the native instruments and music thrown by, and -the custom abandoned. - -Every one has heard of the war dance, the medicine dance, the wabeno -dance, the dance of honour (generally called the begging dance,) and -various others, each of which has its appropriate movements, its air, -and its words. There is no feast, and no religious ceremony, among them, -which is not attended with dancing and songs. Thanks are thus expressed -for success in hunting, for triumphs in war, and for ordinary -providential cares. Public opinion is called to pressing objects by a -dance, at which addresses are made, and in fact, moral instructions and -advice are given to the young, in the course of their being assembled at -social feasts and dances. Dancing is indeed the common resource, -whenever the mass of Indian mind is to be acted on. And it thus stands -viewed in its necessary connection with the songs and addresses, in the -room of the press, the newspaper, and the periodical. The priests and -prophets have, more than any other class, cultivated their national -songs and dances, and may be regarded as the skalds and poets of the -tribes. They are generally the composers of the songs, and the leaders -in the dance and ceremonies, and it is found, that their memories are -the best stored, not only with the sacred songs and chants, but also -with the traditions, and general lore of the tribes. - -Dancing is thus interwoven throughout the whole texture of Indian -society, so that there is scarcely an event important or trivial, -private or public, which is not connected, more or less intimately, with -this rite. The instances where singing is adopted, without dancing, are -nearly confined to occurrences of a domestic character. Among these, are -wails for the dead, and love songs of a simple and plaintive character. -Maternal affection evinces itself, by singing words, to a cheerful air, -over the slumbers of the child, which, being suspended in a kind of -cradle receives, at the same time a vibratory motion. Children have -likewise certain chants, which they utter in the evenings, while playing -around the lodge door, or at other seasons of youthful hilarity. Some of -the Indian fables are in the shape of duets, and the songs introduced in -narrating their fictitious tales, are always sung in the recital. - -Their instruments of music are few and simple. The only wind instrument -existing among them is the Pibbegwon, a kind of flute, resembling in -simplicity the Arcadian pipe. It is commonly made of two -semi-cylindrical pieces of cedar, united with fish glue, and having a -snake skin, in a wet state, drawn tightly over it, to prevent its -cracking. The holes are eight in number, and are perforated by means of -a bit of heated iron. It is blown like the flagolet, and has a similar -orifice or mouth piece. - -The TAYWA[']EGUN, (struck-sound-instrument,) is a tamborine, or -one-headed drum, and is made by adjusting a skin to one end of the -section of a moderate sized hollow tree. When a heavier sound is -required, a tree of larger circumference is chosen, and both ends closed -with skins. The latter is called MITTIGWUKEEK, i. e. Wood-Kettle-Drum, -and is appropriately used in religious ceremonies, but is not, perhaps, -confined to this occasion. - -To these may be added a fourth instrument, called the SHESHEGWON, or -Rattle, which is constructed in various ways, according to the purpose -or means of the maker. Sometimes it is made of animal bladder, from -which the name is derived, sometimes of a wild gourd; in others, by -attaching the dried hoofs of the deer to a stick. This instrument is -employed both to mark time, and to produce variety in sound. - - -ORAL COMPOSITION. - -Common as the Indian songs are, it is found to be no ordinary -acquisition to obtain accurate specimens of them. Even after the -difficulties of the notation have been accomplished, it is not easy to -satisfy the requisitions of a correct taste and judgment, in their -exhibition. There is always a lingering fear of misapprehension, or -misconception, on the part of the interpreter--or of some things being -withheld by the never sleeping suspicion, or the superstitious fear of -disclosure, on the part of the Indian. To these must be added, the -idiomatic and imaginative peculiarities of this species of wild -composition--so very different from every notion of English -versification. In the first place there is no unity of theme, or plot, -unless it be that the subject, war for instance, is kept in the singer's -mind. In the next place both the narration and the description, when -introduced, is very imperfect, broken, or disjointed. Prominent ideas -flash out, and are dropped. These are often most striking and beautiful, -but we wait in vain for any sequence. A brief allusion--a shining -symbol, a burst of feeling or passion, a fine sentiment, or a bold -assertion, come in as so many independent parts, and there is but little -in the composition to indicate the leading theme which is, as it were, -kept in mental reserve, by the singer. Popular, or favourite expressions -are often repeated, often transposed, and often exhibited with some new -shade of meaning. The structure and flexibility of the language is -highly favourable to this kind of improvisation. But it is difficult to -translate, and next to impossible to preserve its spirit. Two languages -more unlike in all their leading characteristics, than the English and -the Indian were never brought into contact. The one monosyllabic, and -nearly without inflections--the other polysyllabic, polysynthetic and so -full of inflections of every imaginative kind, as to be completely -transpositive--the one from the north of Europe, the other, probably, -from Central Asia, it would seem that these families of the human race, -had not wandered wider apart, in their location, than they have in the -sounds of their language, the accidence of their grammar and the -definition of their words. So that to find equivalent single words in -translation, appears often as hopeless as the quadrature of the circle. - -The great store-house of Indian imagery is the heavens. The clouds, the -planets, the sun, and moon, the phenomena of lightning, thunder, -electricity, aerial sounds, electric or atmospheric, and the endless -variety produced in the heavens by light and shade, and by elemental -action,--these constitute the fruitful themes of allusion in their songs -and poetic chants. But they are mere allusions, or broken description, -like touches on the canvass, without being united to produce a perfect -object. The strokes may be those of a master, and the colouring -exquisite; but without the art to draw, or the skill to connect, it will -still remain but a shapeless mass. - -In war excursions great attention is paid to the flight of birds, -particularly those of the carnivorous species, which are deemed typical -of war and bravery, and their wing and tail feathers are appropriated as -marks of honor, by the successful warrior. When the minds of a war party -have been roused up to the subject, and they are prepared to give -utterance to their feelings by singing and dancing, they are naturally -led to appeal to the agency of this class of birds. Hence the frequent -allusions to them, in their songs. The following stanza is made up of -expressions brought into connection, from different fragments, but -expresses no more than the native sentiments: - - The eagles scream on high, - They whet their forked beaks, - Raise--raise the battle cry, - 'Tis fame our leader seeks. - -Generally the expressions are of an exalted and poetic character, but -the remark before made of their efforts in song, being discontinuous and -abrupt, apply with peculiar force to the war songs. To speak of a brave -man--of a battle--or the scene of a battle, or of the hovering of birds -of prey above it, appears sufficient to bring up to the warrior's mind, -all the details consequent on personal bravery or heroic achievement. It -would naturally be expected, that they should delight to dwell on scenes -of carnage and blood: but however this may be, all such details are -omitted or suppressed in their war songs, which only excite ideas of -noble daring. - - The birds of the brave take a flight round the sky, - They cross the enemy's line, - Full happy am I--that my body should fall, - Where brave men love to die. - -Very little effort in the collocation and expansion of some of their -sentiments, would impart to these bold and unfettered rhapsodies, an -attractive form, among polished war songs. - -The strain in which these measures are sung, is generally slow and grave -in its commencement and progress, and terminates in the highest note. -While the words admit of change, and are marked by all the fluctuation -of extempore composition, the air and the chorus appear to be permanent, -consisting not only of a graduated succession of fixed sounds, but, -always exact in their enunciation, their quantity, and their wild and -startling musical expression. It has always appeared to me that the -Indian music is marked by a nationality, above many other traits, and it -is a subject inviting future attention. It is certain that the Indian -ear is exact in noting musical sounds, and in marking and beating time. -But little observation at their dances, will be sufficient to establish -this fact. Nor is it less certain, by attention to the philology of -their language, that they are exact in their laws of euphony, and -syllabical quantity. How this remark may consist with the use of -unmeasured and fluctuating poetry in their songs, it may require studied -attention to answer. It is to be observed, however, that these songs are -rather _recited_, or _chanted_, than sung. Increments of the chorus are -not unfrequently interspersed, in the body of the line, which would -otherwise appear deficient in quantity; and perhaps rules of metre may -be found, by subsequent research, which are not obvious, or have been -concealed by the scantiness of the materials, on this head, which have -been examined. To determine the airs and choruses and the character of -the music, will prove one of the greatest facilities to this inquiry. -Most of the graver pieces, which have been written out, are arranged in -metres of sixes, sevens, and eights. The lighter chants are in threes or -fours, and consist of iambics and trochees irregularly. Those who have -translated hymns into the various languages, have followed the English -metres, not always without the necessity of elision, or employing -constrained or crampt modes of expression. A worse system could not have -been adopted to show Indian sentiment. The music in all these cases has -been like fetters to the free, wild thoughts of the native singer. As a -general criticism upon these translations, it may be remarked that they -are often far from being literal, and often omit parts of the original. -On the other hand, by throwing away adjectives, in a great degree, and -dropping all incidental or side thoughts, and confining the Indian to -the leading thought or sentiment, they are, sometimes, rendered more -simple, appropriate, and effective. Finally, whatever cultivated minds -among the Indians, or their descendants may have done, it is quite -evident to me, from the attention I have been able to give the subject, -that the native compositions were without metre. The natives appear to -have sung a sufficient number of syllables to comply with the air, and -effected the necessary pauses, for sense or sound, by either slurring -over, and thus shortening, or by throwing in floating particles of the -language, to eke out the quantity, taken either from the chorus, or from -the general auxiliary forms of the vocabulary. - -Rhyme is permitted by the similarity of the sounds from which the -vocabulary is formed, but the structure of the language does not appear -to admit of its being successfully developed in this manner. Its forms -are too cumbrous for regularly recurring expressions, subjected at once -to the laws of metre and rhyme. The instances of rhyme that have been -observed in the native songs are few, and appear to be the result of the -fortuitous positions of words, rather than of art. The following -juvenile see-saw is one of the most perfect specimens noticed, being -exact in both particulars: - - Ne osh im aun - Ne way be naun. - -These are expressions uttered on sliding a carved stick down snow banks, -or over a glazed surface of ice, in the appropriate season; and they may -be rendered with nearly literal exactness, thus: - - My sliding stick - I send quick--quick. - -Not less accurate in the rhyme, but at lines of six and eight feet, -which might perhaps be exhibited unbroken, is the following couplet of a -war song: - - Au pit she Mon e tög - Ne mud wa wa wau we ne gög. - - The Spirit on high, - Repeats my warlike name. - -In the translation of hymns, made during the modern period of missionary -effort, there has been no general attempt to secure rhyme; and as these -translations are generally due to educated natives, under the inspection -and with the critical aid of the missionary, they have evinced a true -conception of the genius of the language, by the omission of this -accident. Eliot, who translated the psalms of David into the -Massachusetts language, which were first printed in 1661, appears to -have deemed it important enough to aim at its attainment: but an -examination of the work, now before us, gives but little encouragement -to others to follow his example, at least while the languages remain in -their present rude and uncultivated state. The following is the XXIII -Psalm from this version: - - 1. Mar teag nukquenaabikoo - shepse nanaauk God. - Nussepsinwahik ashkoshqut - nuttinuk ohtopagod - - 2. Nagum nukketeahog kounoh - wutomohkinuh wonk - Nutuss [oo]unuk ut sampoi may - newutch [oo]wesnonk. - - 3. Wutonkauhtamut pomushaon - mupp[oo]onk [oo]nauhkoe - Woskehettuonk mo nukqueh tam[oo] - newutch k[oo]wetomah: - - 4. Kuppogkomunk kutanwohon - nish n[oo]nenehikquog - Koonoch[oo] hkah anquabhettit - wame nummatwomog - - 5. Kussussequnum nuppuhkuk - weetepummee nashpea - Wonk woi God n[oo]tallamwaitch - pomponetupohs hau - - 6. [OO]niyeuonk monaneteonk - nutasukkonkqunash - Tohsohke pomantam wekit God - michem nuttain pish[20]. - -This appears to have been rendered from the version of the psalms -appended to an old edition of King James' Bible of 1611, and not from -the versification of Watts. By comparing it with this, as exhibited -below, there will be found the same metre, eights and sixes, the same -syllabical quantity, (if the notation be rightly conceived,) and the -same coincidence of rhyme at the second and fourth lines of each verse; -although it required an additional verse to express the entire psalm. It -could therefore be sung to the ordinary tunes in use in Eliot's time, -and, taken in connection with his entire version, including the Old and -New Testament, evinces a degree of patient assiduity on the part of that -eminent missionary, which is truly astonishing: - - The Lord is my shepherd, I'll not want; - 2. He makes me down to lie - In pastures green: he leadeth me - the quiet waters by. - - 3. My soul he doth restore again - and me to walk doth make - Within the paths of righteousness - E'en for his own name's sake. - - 4. Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale, - yet will I fear none ill; - For thou art with me and thy rod - and staff me comfort still. - - 5. My table thou hast furnished - in presence of my foes; - My head thou dost with oil annoint, - and my cup overflows. - - 6. Goodness and mercy all my life - shall surely follow me; - And in God's house forevermore - my dwelling place shall be. - -The harmony of numbers has always detracted from the plain sense, and -the piety of thought, of the scriptures, which is the probable cause of -so many failures on the subject. In the instance of this Psalm, it will -be observed, by a comparison, that Watts, who has so generally -succeeded, does not come up, in any respect, to the full literal meaning -of the original, which is well preserved, with the requisite harmony, in -the old version. - -There is one species of oral composition existing among all the tribes, -which, from its peculiarities, deserves to be separately mentioned. I -allude to the hieratic chants, choruses and incantations of their -professed prophets, medicine men and jugglers--constituting, as these -men do, a distinct order in Indian society, who are entitled by their -supposed skill, wisdom or sanctity, to exercise the offices of a -priesthood. Affecting mystery in the discharge of their functions, their -songs and choruses are couched in language which is studiously obscure, -oftentimes cabalistic, and generally not well understood by any but -professed initiates. - -Nothing, however, in this department of my inquiries, has opened a more -pleasing view of society, exposed to the bitter vicissitudes of Indian -life, than the little domestic chants of mothers, and the poetic -see-saws of children, of which specimens are furnished. These show the -universality of the sentiments of natural affection, and supply another -proof, were any wanting, to demonstrate that it is only ignorance, -indolence and poverty, that sink the human character, and create the -leading distinctions among the races of men. Were these affections -cultivated, and children early taught the principles of virtue and -rectitude, and the maxims of industry, order and cleanliness, there is -no doubt that the mass of Indian society would be meliorated in a -comparatively short period; and by a continuance of efforts soon exalted -from that state of degradation, of which the want of letters and -religion have been the principal causes. - -In presenting these specimens of songs, gathered among the recesses of -the forest, it is hoped it will not be overlooked, by the reader, that -they are submitted _as facts_ or _materials_, in the mental condition -of the tribes, and not as evidences of attainment in the arts of metre -and melody, which will bear to be admitted or even criticised by the -side of the refined poetry of civilized nations. And above all, not as -efforts to turn Indian sentiments to account, in original composition. -No such idea is entertained. If materials be supplied from which some -judgment may be formed of the actual state of these songs and rude oral -compositions, or improvisations, the extent of the object will have been -attained. But even here, there is less, with the exception of a single -department, i. e. versification and composition by cultivated natives, -than it was hoped to furnish. And this little, has been the result of a -species of labour, in the collection, quite disproportionate to the -result. It is hoped at least, that it may indicate the mode in which -such collections may be made, among the tribes, and become the means of -eliciting materials more worthy of attention. - -This much seemed necessary to be said in introducing the following -specimens, that there might not appear, to the reader, to be an undue -estimate placed on the literary value of these contributions, and -translations, while the main object is, to exhibit them in the series, -as illustrations of the mental peculiarities of the tribes. To dismiss -them, however, with a bare, frigid word for word translation, such as is -required for the purposes of philological comparison, would by no means -do justice to them, nor convey, in any tolerable degree, the actual -sentiments in the minds of the Indians. That the opposite error might -not, at the same time, be run into, and the reader be deprived -altogether of this means of comparison, a number of the pieces are left -with literal prose translations, word for word as near as the two -languages will permit. Others exhibit both a literal, and a versified -translation. - - * * * * * - -All the North American Indians know that there is a God; but their -priests teach them that the devil is a God, and as he is believed to be -very malignant, it is the great object of their ceremonies and -sacrifices, to appease him. - -The Indians formerly worshipped the Sun, as the symbol of divine -intelligence. - -Fire is an unexplained mystery to the Indian; he regards it as a -connecting link between the natural and spiritual world. His -traditionary lore denotes this. - -Zoroaster says: "When you behold secret fire, without form, shining -flashingly through the depths of the whole world--hear the voice of -fire." One might suppose this to have been uttered by a North American -Indian. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [20] Eliot employed the figure 8, set horizontally, to express a -peculiar sound: otherwise he used the English alphabet in its ordinary -powers. - - - - -CHANT TO THE FIRE-FLY. - - -In the hot summer evenings, the children of the Chippewa Algonquins, -along the shores of the upper lakes, and in the northern latitudes, -frequently assemble before their parents' lodges, and amuse themselves -by little chants of various kinds, with shouts and wild dancing. -Attracted by such shouts of merriment and gambols, I walked out one -evening, to a green lawn skirting the edge of the St. Mary's river, with -the fall in full view, to get hold of the meaning of some of these -chants. The air and the plain were literally sparkling with the -phosphorescent light of the fire-fly. By dint of attention, repeated on -one or two occasions, the following succession of words was caught. They -were addressed to this insect: - - Wau wau tay see! - Wau wau tay see! - E mow e shin - Tshe bwau ne baun-e wee! - Be eghaun--be eghaun--ewee! - Wa Wau tay see! - Wa wau tay see! - Was sa koon ain je gun - Was sa koon ain je gun. - - -LITERAL TRANSLATION. - -Flitting-white-fire-insect! waving-white-fire-bug! give me light before -I go to bed! give me light before I go to sleep. Come, little -dancing[21]-white-fire-bug! Come little flitting-white-fire-beast! Light -me with your bright white-flame-instrument--your little candle[22]. - -Metre there was none, at least, of a regular character: they were the -wild improvisations of children in a merry mood. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [21] In giving the particle wa, the various meanings of "flitting," -"waving," and "dancing," the Indian idiom is fully preserved. The final -particle see, in the term wa wa tai see, is from the generic root -_asee_, meaning a living creature, or created form, not man. By -prefixing Ahw to the root, we have the whole class of quadrupeds, and by -pen, the whole class of birds, &c. The Odjibwa Algonquin term for a -candle, was sa koon ain je gun, is literally rendered from its -elements--"bright--white--flamed--instrument." It is by the very -concrete character of these compounds that so much meaning results from -a few words, and so considerable a latitude in translation is given to -Indian words generally. - - [22] Fire-fly, fire-fly! bright little thing, - Light me to bed, and my song I will sing. - Give me your light, as you fly o'er my head, - That I may merrily go to my bed. - Give me your light o'er the grass as you creep, - That I may joyfully go to my sleep. - Come little fire-fly--come little beast-- - Come! and I'll make you to-morrow a feast. - Come little candle that flies as I sing, - Bright little fairy-bug--night's little king; - Come, and I'll dance as you guide me along, - Come, and I'll pay you, my bug, with a song. - - - - -ETHNOLOGY. - - - - - SCHOOLCRAFT'S AMERICAN CYCLOPÆDIA, OR ETHNOLOGICAL GAZETTEER OF THE - INDIAN TRIBES OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT, NORTH AND SOUTH, - COMPRISING THEIR HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND NOMENCLATURE, FROM THE - DISCOVERY IN 1492, TO THE PRESENT PERIOD. - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - -A prospectus for this work was issued in 1842. While the title is -slightly modified, the design and plan of its execution have not been -essentially changed. The principal object aimed at, under the general -idea of the history and geography of the Aboriginal Race, is to furnish -a general and standard reference-book, or short encyclopædia of topics -relative to the entire race, alphabetically arranged. By the insertion -of the name of each family of tribes, nation, sub-tribe, or important -clan, the occasion will be presented of noticing the leading or -characteristic events, in their history, numbers, government, religion, -languages, arts or distinctive character. - -Where the scene or era of their expansion, growth and decay has been so -extensive, embracing as it does, the widest bounds and remotest periods, -their antiquities have also called for a passing notice. Nor could any -thing like a satisfactory accomplishment of the plan be effected, -without succinct notices of the lives and achievements of their -principal chiefs, rulers, and leading personages. - -Language is an important means of denoting the intricate thread of -history in savage nations. Mr. Pritchard considers it more important -than physiological structure and peculiarities. It is, at least, found -often to reveal ethnological affinities, where both the physical type, -and the light of tradition, afford but little aid. The words and names -of a people, are so many clues to their thoughts and intellectual -structure; this branch of the subject, indeed, formed the original germ -of the present plan, which was at first simply geographical, and has -been rather expanded and built upon, than, if we may so say, supplied -the garniture of the edifice. In a class of transpositive languages, -which are very rich in their combinations, and modes of concentrated -description, it must needs happen, that the names of places would often -recall both associations and descriptions of deep interest in -contemplating the fate and fortunes of this unfortunate race. Without -intruding upon the reader disquisitions which would be out of place, no -opportunity has been omitted, from the consideration of their names, to -throw around the sites of their former or present residence, this -species of interest. - -But half the work would have been done, it is conceived, to have -confined the work to North America; and it must necessarily have lost, -by such a limitation, more than half its interest. We are just beginning -in truth to comprehend the true character and bearing of that unique -type of civilization which existed in Mexico, Peru, and Yucatan. The -rude hand with which these embryo kingdoms of the native race were -overturned, in consequence of their horrid idolatries, necessarily led -to the destruction of much of their monumental, and so far as their -picture writing reached, some of their historical materials, of both of -which, we now feel the want. It is some relief, to know, as the -researches of Mr. Gallatin, which are now in progress, demonstrate, that -by far the greatest amount of the ancient Mexican picture writings, as -they are embraced in the elaborate work of Lord Kingsborough, relate to -their mythology and superstitions, and are of no historical value -whatever. And if the portions destroyed in the Mexican and Peruvian -conquests, were as liberally interspersed with similar evidences of -their wild polytheism, shocking manners, and degraded worship, neither -chronology nor history have so much to lament. - -The early, strong and continued exertions which were made by the -conquerors to replace this system of gross superstition and idolatry, by -the Romish ritual, filled Mexico and South America with missions of the -Catholic Church, which were generally under the charge of zealous, and -sometimes of learned and liberal-spirited superintendants, who have -accumulated facts respecting the character and former condition of the -race. These missions, which were generally spread parallel to the sea -coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific, reaching inland along the banks of -the great rivers and plains, have confessedly done much to ameliorate -the manners and condition of the native race, to foster a spirit of -industry, and to enlighten their minds. Still, it is scarcely known, -that numerous and powerful tribes, stretching through wide districts of -the Andes and the Cordilleras, never submitted to the conqueror, and yet -exist in their original state of barbarism. - -In this department of inquiry, the geographical and historical work of -De Alcedo, which, so far as the Spanish and Portuguese missions are -concerned, is both elaborate and complete in its details, has been taken -as a basis. No one can write of South America and its native tribes, -without reference to Humboldt. Other standard writers have been -consulted, to give this part of the work as much value as possible, not -excepting the latest voyages and travels. The design has been, without -aiming at too much, to compress a body of leading and characteristic -facts, in the shortest practicable compass, which should, at the same -time, present an ethnological view of the various families and groups of -the race. - -In each department of inquiry, which admitted of it, the author has -availed himself of such sources and opportunities of personal -observation and experience, as his long residence in the Indian -territories, and his study of the Indian history have afforded. And he -is not without the hope, that his inquiries and researches on this head -may be found to be such as to merit approval. - - -A. - -AB, often pronounced with the sound of we, before it,--a particle which, -in geographical names, in the family of the Algonquin dialects, denotes -light, or the east. It is also the radix of the verb wab, to see, as -well as of the derivatives, a-ab, an eye-ball, and wabishka, a white -substance, &c.,--ideas which either in their origin or application, are -closely allied. - -ABACARIS, a settlement of Indians in the Portuguese possessions of the -province of Amazon. These people derive their name from a lake, upon -which they reside. It is a peculiarity of this lake, that it has its -outlet into the river Madiera which, after flowing out of the province -turns about and again enters it, forming, in this involution, the large -and fertile island of Topanambes. This tribe is under the instruction of -the Carmelites. They retain many of their early peculiarities of manners -and modes of life. They subsist by the cultivation of maize, and by -taking fish in the waters of the Abacaris; or Abacactes in addition to -these means, they rely upon tropical fruits. The latest notices of them -come down to 1789. But little is known of their numbers, or present -condition. - -ABACHES, or Apaches, an erratic tribe of Indians, who infest the -prairies of western Texas and New Mexico. They are supposed by some, to -consist of not less than 15,000 souls. They are divided into petty -bands, known under various names. They are the most vagrant of all the -wild hunter tribes of the general area denoted. They do not live in -fixed abodes, but shift about in search of game or plunder, and are -deemed a pest by the Santa Fe traders. They raise nothing and -manufacture nothing. Those of them who are east of the Rio del Norte, -subsist on the baked root of the mauguey, and a similar plant called -Mezcal, and hence they are called Mezcaleros. - -Another division of them, and by far the greatest, rove west of that -stream, where they are called Coyoteros, from their habit of eating the -coyote, or prairie wolf. They extend west into California and Sonora. -They bear a bad character wherever they are known. If on the outskirts -of the ranches and haciendas, they steal cattle and sheep. If on the -wide and destitute plains which they traverse, they thieve and murder. -Sometimes they are pursued and punished; more frequently, they escape. -The Mexican authorities keep some sort of terms with them by treaties, -which the vagrants, however, break and disregard, whenever they are -excited by hunger, or the lust of plunder. For Indians bearing the name, -formerly from the U. States, see Apaches. - -ABACO, one of the Bahama islands. The native inhabitants of this, and -the adjacent groupes of islands, were, early after the discovery, -transported to the main, to work in the mines. In 1788 this island, -known to nautical men as the locality of the Hole in the Wall, had a -population of 50 whites, and 200 Africans. - -ABACOOCHE, or COOSA, a stream rising in Georgia. It flows into Alabama, -and after uniting with the Tallapoosa, a few miles below Wetumpka it -forms the Alabama river. The word is, apparently, derived from Oscooche, -one of the four bands into which the Muscogees, were anciently divided. - -ABANAKEE, or Eastlanders, a distinct people, consisting of a plurality -of tribes, who formerly occupied the extreme north eastern part of the -United States. The word is variously written by early writers. See -Abenakies, Abernaquis, Wabunakies. - -ABANCAY, the capital of a province of the same name 20 leagues from -Cuzco, in Peru. It is memorable for the victories gained in the vicinity -by the king's troops in 1542 and 1548 against Gonzalo Pizarro. It lies -in a rich and spacious valley, which was inhabited by the subjects of -the Inca, on the conquest. - -ABASCA, or RABASCA, a popular corruption, in the northwest, of -Athabasca, which see. - -ABANES, an unreclaimed nation of Indians, living in the plains of St. -Juan, to the north of the Orinoco, in New Grenada. They are of a docile -character, and good disposition, lending a ready ear to instruction, but -have not embraced the Catholic religion. They inhabit the wooded shores -of the river, and shelter themselves from the effects of a tropical sun, -in the open plains, by erecting their habitations in the small -copse-wood. They are bounded towards the west, by the Andaquies and -Caberras, and east by the Salivas. - -ABANGOUI, a large settlement of the Guarani nation of Indians, on the -shores of the river Taquani, in Paraguay. This stream and its -inhabitants were discovered by A. Numez, in 1541. - -ABECOOCHI, see Abacooche. - -ABEICAS, an ancient name for a tribe of Indians, in the present area of -the United States, who are placed in the earlier geographies, _south_ of -the Alabamas and _west_ of the Cherokees. They dwelt at a distance from -the large rivers, yet were located in the districts of the cane, out of -the hard substance of which they made a kind of knife, capable of -answering the principal purposes of this instrument. They were at enmity -with the Iroquois. - -ABENAKIES, a nation formerly inhabiting a large part of the -territorial area of the states of New Hampshire and Maine. There were -several tribes, of this nation the principal of which were the -Penobscots, the Norredgewocks, and the Ameriscoggins. They were at -perpetual hostilities with the New England colonists. They had received -missionaries, at an early day, from the French in Canada, and acted in -close concert with the hostile Indians from that quarter. At length in -1724, the government of Massachussetts organized an effective expedition -against them, which ascended the Kennebec, attacked the chief town of -the Norredgewocks, and killed a large number of their bravest warriors. -Among the slain, was found their missionary Sebastian Rasle, who had -taken up arms in their defence. There was found, among his papers, a -copious vocabulary of the language, which has recently been published -under the supervision of Mr. Pickering. In the year 1754, all the -Abenakies, except the Penobscots, removed into Canada. This nation had -directed their attention, almost exclusively, to hunting. At the mouth -of the Kennebec they absolutely planted nothing. Their language, as -observed by Mr. Gallatin, has strong affinities with those of the -Etchemins, and of the Micmacs, of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; there -are fewer resemblances in its vocabulary to the dialects south of them. -This nation appears to have been called Tarrenteens, by the New England -Indians. Their generic name for themselves, if they had one, is unknown. -The term Abenakie, is one manifestly imposed by Algonquin tribes living -west and south of them. It is derived from wabanung, the east, or a -place of light, and akee, land. - -ABEKAS, a name applied, so late as 1750, to a band of the Muscogees, -living on the river Tombigbee, within the present area of Alabama. - -ABERNAQUIS, a settlement of the expatriated Abenakies of New England, -in Lower Canada. They subsist themselves at this time in a great measure -by agriculture, and manifest a disposition to improve. From a report -made in 1839 by the American Board of Foreign missions of Boston who -employ a missionary and teacher among them, sixty persons attend -Protestant worship, of which number, 24 are church members. Twenty of -the youth attend a daily school. - -ABIGIRAS, an Indian mission formerly under the charge of the order of -Jesuits, in the governmental department of Quito. It is situated on the -river Curasari, 30 leagues from its mouth, and 240 from Quito. It was -founded in 1665 by father Lorenzo Lucero. - -ABINGAS, or WABINGAS, a name for a band, or sub-tribe of the River -Indians, of the Mohegan, or Mohekinder stock, who formerly inhabited the -present area of Dutchess county, N. Y., and some adjacent parts of the -eastern shores of the Hudson, above the Highlands. - -ABIPONES, an unreclaimed nation of Indians, who inhabit the south shores -of the river Bermejo, in the province of Tucuman, Buenos Ayres. This -nation is said, perhaps vaguely, to have formerly numbered 100,000 -souls, but was, at the last accounts, about A.D. 1800, much reduced. -They present some peculiar traits, living as nearly in a state of nature -as possible. The men go entirely naked, subsisting themselves by hunting -and fishing, and passing much of their time in idleness or war. The -women wear little ornamented skins called _queyapi_. Physically, the -people are well formed, of a lofty stature and bearing, robust and good -featured. They paint their bodies profusely, and take great pains to -inspire hardihood. For this purpose they cut and scarify themselves from -childhood; they esteem tiger's flesh one of the greatest dainties, -believing its properties to infuse strength and valor. In war they are -most cruel, sticking their captives on the top of high poles, where, -exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, they are left to die the most -horrid death. - -They have no knowledge of God, of laws, or of policy, yet they believe -in the immortality of the soul, and in a land of future bliss, where -dancing and diversions shall prevail. Widows observe celibacy for a -year, during which time they abstain from fish. The females occupy -themselves in sewing hides, or spinning rude fabrics. When the men are -intoxicated--a prevalent vice--they conceal their husbands' knives to -prevent assassinations. They rear but two or three children, killing all -above this number. - -ABISCA, an extensive mountainous territory of Peru, lying between the -Yetau and Amoramago rivers, east of the Andes, noted from the earliest -times, for the number of barbarous nations who occupy it. It is a wild -and picturesque region, abounding in forests, lakes and streams, and -affording facilities for the chase, and means of retreat from -civilization, so congenial to savage tribes. An attempt to subjugate -these fierce tribes made by Pedro de Andia in 1538, failed. The same -result had attended the efforts of the emperor Yupanqui. - -ABITANIS, a mountain in the province of Lipas, in Peru. In the Quetchuan -tongue, it signifies the ore of gold, from a mine of this metal, which -is now nearly abandoned. - -ABITTIBI, the name of one of the tributaries of Moose River, of James' -Bay, Canada. Also a small lake in Canada West, near the settlement of -Frederick, in north latitude 48°, 35´ and west longitude 82°: also, a -lake north of lake Nepissing, in the direction to Moose Fort. It is a -term, apparently derived from nibee, water, and wab, light. - -ABITIGAS, a fierce and warlike nation of Indians, in the province of -Tarma in Peru, of the original Quetche stock. They are situated 60 -leagues to the east of the Andes. They are barbarians, roving from place -to place, without habits of industry, and delighting in war. They are -numerous, as well as warlike; but like all the non-agricultural tribes -of the region, they are often in want and wretchedness. They are -bounded on the south by their enemies the Ipilcos. - -ABO, ABOUOR MICHABO, or the Great Hare, a personage rather of -mythological, than historical note, in the traditions of the Lake -Algonquin tribes. It is not clear, although probable, that he is to be -regarded as identical with Manabosho, or Nanabosho. - -ABOJEEG, a celebrated war and hereditary chief of the Chippewa nation, -who flourished during the last century; more commonly written Wabojeeg, -which see. - -ABRAHAM, a chief of the Mohawks, who, after the fall of king Hendrick, -so called, at the battle of lake George, in 1755, between the English -and French armies, became the ruling chief of that nation. He was the -younger brother of Hendrick, and lived at the lower Mohawk Castle. He -was of small stature, but shrewd and active, and a fluent speaker. -Numbers of his speeches are preserved, which he delivered, as the ruling -chief of his tribe, in various councils, during the stormy era of 1775, -which eventuated in the American revolution. In the events of that era, -his name soon disappears: as he was then a man of advanced years, he -probably died at his village. It is not known that he excelled in war, -and, at all events, he was succeeded, about this time, in fame and -authority, by a new man in the chieftainship, who rose in the person of -Thyendanegea, better known as Joseph Brant. Abraham, or little Abraham, -as he was generally called, appears from his speeches and policy, to -have thoroughly adopted the sentiments and policy of Sir William -Johnson, of whom, with his tribe generally, he was the friend and -admirer. He was, as his speeches disclose, pacific in his views, -cautious in policy, and not inclined, it would seem, to rush headlong -into the great contest, which was then brewing, and into which, his -popular successor, Brant, went heart and hand. With less fame than his -elder brother Hendrick, and with no warlike reputation, yet without -imputation upon his name, in any way, he deserves to be remembered as a -civilian and chieftain, who bore a respectable rank; as one of a proud, -high spirited, and important tribe. Little Abraham was present at the -last and _final_ council of the Mohawks, with the American -Commissioners, at Albany, in September 1775, and spoke for them on this -occasion--which is believed to have been the last peaceable meeting -between the Americans and the Mohawk tribe, prior to the war. - - - [NOTE.--Accents are placed over all words of North American origin, - when known. Vowels preceding a consonant, or placed between two - consonants, are generally short: following a consonant, or ending a - syllable or word, they are generally long. Diphthongs are used with - their ordinary power.] - -ABSECON. A beach of the sea coast of New Jersey, sixteen miles southwest -of Little Egg Harbor. The word is a derivative from Wabisee, a Swan, and -Ong, a Place. - -ABSORÓKA, a name for the Minnetaree tribe of Indians on the river -Missouri. They are philologically of the Dacotah family. See Minnetaree. - -ABUCEES, a mission of the Sucumbias Indians, in the province of Quixos, -Quito, which was founded by the order of Jesuits. It is situated on the -shores of a small river, which enters the Putumago, in north latitude O° -36´ longitude 79° 2´ west. - -ABURRA, a town, in a rich valley of the same name, in New Grenada, -discovered in 1540, by Robledo. In its vicinity are found many huacas, -or sepulchres of the Indians, in which great riches, such as gold -ornaments, are found deposited. There are, in the vicinity, some streams -of saline water, from which the Indians manufacture salt. - -ABWOIN, or BWOIN, a name of the Chippewas, Ottawas, and other modern -Algonquin tribes of the upper Lakes, for the Dacotah or Sioux nation. It -is rendered plural in ug. The word is derived from abwai, a stick used -to roast meat, and is said to have been given to this tribe, in reproach -from the ancient barbarities practised towards their prisoners taken -captive in war. For an account of this tribe, see Dacotah and Sioux. - -ABWOINAC; ABWOINA: Terms applied to the general area between the -Mississippi and Missouri, lying north of the St. Peter's, occupied by -Sioux tribes. In the earlier attempts of Lord Selkirk, to plant a colony -in parts of this region, the compound term Assinaboina, was, to some -extent, but unsuccessfully employed. The two former terms are -derivatives from Abwoin, a Sioux, and akee, earth; the latter has the -prefix assin, (ossin,) a stone. - -ACAQUATO, a settlement of Indians in the district of Tancitars, in Peru, -reduced in 1788, to fifteen families, who cultivated maize and -vegetables. - -ACAMBARO, a settlement of 490 families of Indians, and 80 of _Mustees_, -belonging to the order of St. Francis, in the district of Zelaya, in the -province and bishopric of Mechoacan, seven leagues S. of its capital. - -ACAMISTLAHUAC, a settlement of 30 Indian families in the district of -Tasco, attached to the curacy of its capital, from whence it is two -leagues E. N. E. - -ACHAMUCHITLAN, a settlement of 60 families of Indians in the district of -Texopilco, and civil division of Zultepec. They sell sugar and -honey--the district also produces maize and vegetables. It is 5 leagues -N. of its head settlement. - -ACANTEPEC. The head settlement of Tlapa, embracing 92 Indian families, -including another small settlement in its vicinity, all of whom maintain -themselves by manufacturing cotton stuffs. - -ACAPETLAHUALA, a settlement of 180 Indian families, being the principal -settlement of the district of Escateopan, and civil district of -Zaquaepa. - -ACARI, a settlement in a beautiful and extensive valley of Camana, in -Peru, noted for a lofty mountain called Sahuacario, on the skirts of -which the native Indians had constructed two fortresses, prior to their -subjugation by the Spanish. This mountain is composed of "misshapen -stones, and sand," and is reported, at certain times of the year to emit -loud sounds, as if proceeding from pent up air, and it is thought to -have, in consequence, attracted the superstitious regard of the ancient -Indian inhabitants. - -ACATEPEC. There are five Indian settlements of this name, in Spanish -America. - -1. A settlement comprising 860 Indian families, of the order of St. -Francis, in the district of Thehuacan. Forty of these families live on -cultivated estates stretching a league in a spacious valley, four -leagues S. S. W. of the capital. - -2. A settlement in the district of Chinantla, in the civil jurisdiction -of Cogamaloapan. It is situated in a pleasant plain, surrounded by three -lofty mountains. The number of its inhabitants is reduced. The Indians -who live on the banks of a broad and rapid river, which intercepts the -great road to the city of Oxaca, and other jurisdictions, support -themselves by ferrying over passengers in their barks and canoes. It is -10 leagues W. of its head settlement. - -3. A settlement of 100 Indian families, in the same kingdom; situated -between two high ridges. They are annexed to the curacy of San Lorenzo, -two leagues off. - -4. A settlement of 39 Indian families annexed to, and distant one league -and a half N. of the curacy of Tlacobula. It is in a hot valley, skirted -by a river, which is made to irrigate the gardens and grounds on its -borders. - -5. A settlement of 12 Indian families in the _mayorate_ of Xicayun of -the same kingdom. - -ACATEPEQUE, ST. FRANCISCO, DE, a settlement of 140 Indian families in -the mayorate of St. Andres de Cholula, situated half a league S. of its -capital. - -ACATLAN, six locations of Indians exist, under this name, in Mexico. - -1. A settlement of 850 families of Indians in the _alcaldia_ of this -name, embracing some 20 Spaniards and _Mustees_. In the vicinity are -some excellent salt grounds. The climate is of a mild temperature, and -the surrounding country is fertile, abounding in fruits, flowers, and -pulse, and is well watered. It is 55 leagues E. S. E. of Mexico. - -2. A settlement of 180 Indian families in Xalapa of the same kingdom, -(now republic.) It occupies a spot of clayey ground of a cold moist -temperature, in consequence of which, and its being subject to N. winds, -fruits, in this neighbourhood, do not ripen. Other branches of -cultivation succeed from the abundance of streams of water, and their -fertilizing effects on the soil. This settlement has the dedicatory -title of St. Andres. - -3. SAN PEDRO, in the district of Malacatepec, and _alcaldia_ of -Nexapa. It contains 80 Indian families, who trade in wool, and the fish -called _bobo_, which are caught, in large quantities, in a considerable -river of the district. - -4. ZITLALA. It consists of 198 Indian families, and is a league -and a half N. of its head settlement of this name. - -5. SENTEPEC, a settlement 15 leagues N. E. of its capital. The -temperature is cold. It has 42 Indian families. - -6. ATOTONILCO, in the _alcaldia mayor_ of Tulanzingo. It contains -115 Indian families, and has a convent of the religious order of St. -Augustine. It is 2 leagues N. of its head settlement. - -ACATLANZINGO, a settlement of 67 Indian families of Xicula of the -alcadia mayor of Nexapa, who employ themselves in the culture of -cochineal plants. It lies in a plain, surrounded on all sides by -mountains. - -ACAXEE, a nation of Indians in the province of Topia. They are -represented to have been converted to the catholic faith by the society -of Jesuits in 1602. They are docile and of good dispositions and -abilities. One of their ancient customs consisted of bending the heads -of their dead to their knees, and in this posture, putting them in -caves, or under a rock and at the same time, depositing a quantity of -food for their supposed journey in another state. They also exhibited a -farther coincidence with the customs of the northern Indians, by placing -a bow and arrows with the body of the dead warrior, for his defence. -Should an Indian woman happen to die in child-bed, they put the -surviving infant to death, as having been the cause of its mother's -decease. This tribe rebelled against the Spanish in 1612, under the -influence of a native prophet, but they were subdued by the governor of -the province, Don Francisco de Ordinola. - -ACAXETE, Santa Maria de, the head settlement of the district of Tepcaca, -on the slope of the _sierra_ of Tlascala. It consists of 176 Mexican -Indians, 7 Spanish families, and 10 Mustees and Mulatoes. In its -vicinity there is a reservoir of hewn stone, to catch the waters of the -mountain, which are thence conducted to Tepcaca, three leagues N. N. W. - -ACAXUCHITLAN, a curacy consisting of 406 Indian families of the -bishopric of La Peubla de los Angeles. It is in the _alcaldia_ of -Tulanzingo, lying 4 leagues E. of its capital. - -ACAYUCA, the capital of a civil division of New Spain, in the province -of Goazacoalco, embracing, in its population, 296 families of Indians, -30 of Spaniards, and 70 of mixed bloods. It lies a little over 100 -leagues S. E. of Mexico, in lat. 17° 53´ N. - -ACAZINGO, St. Juan de, a settlement of the district of Tepcaca, -consisting of 700 families of Indians, 150 of Spaniards, 104 of Mustees, -and 31 of Mulatoes. It is situated in a plain of mild temperature, well -watered, and has a convent and fountain, and a number of "very ancient -buildings." - -ACCÓCESAWS, a tribe of Indians of erratic habits, of Texas, whose -principal location was formerly on the west side of the Colorado, about -200 miles S. W. of Nacogdoches. At a remoter period they lived near the -gulf of Mexico: they made great use of fish, and oysters. Authors -represent the country occupied, or traversed by them, as exceedingly -fertile and beautiful, and abounding in deer of the finest and largest -kind. Their language is said to be peculiar to themselves; they are -expert in communicating ideas by the system of signs. About A. D. 1750 -the Spanish had a mission among them, but removed it to Nacogdoches. - -ACCOMAC, a county of Virginia, lying on the eastern shores of Chesapeak -bay. This part of the sea coast was inhabited by the Nanticokes, who -have left their names in its geography. We have but a partial vocabulary -of this tribe, which is now extinct. It has strong analogies, however, -to other Algonquin dialects. Aco, in these dialects, is a generic term, -to denote a goal, limit, or fixed boundary. Ahkee, in the Nanticoke, is -the term for earth, or land. Auk, is a term, in compound words of these -dialects, denoting wood. The meaning of accomac, appears to be _as far -as the woods reach_, or, the boundary between meadow and woodlands. - -ACCOMACS, one of the sub tribes inhabiting the boundaries of Virginia on -its discovery and first settlement. Mr. Jefferson states their numbers -in 1607 at 80. In 1669, when the legislature of Virginia directed a -census of the Indian population, within her jurisdiction, there appears -no notice of this tribe. They inhabited the area of Northampton county. -They were Nanticokes--a people whose remains united themselves or at -least took shelter with the Lenapees, or Delawares. - -ACCOHANOCS, a division or tribe of the Powhetanic Indians, numbering 40, -in 1607. They lived on the Accohanoc river, in eastern Virginia. - -ACCOMENTAS, a band, or division of the Pawtucket Indians inhabiting the -northerly part of Massachusetts in 1674. (Gookin.) - -ACHAGUA, a nation of Indians of New Grenada, dwelling in the plains of -Gazanare and Meta, and in the woods of the river Ele. They are bold and -dexterous hunters with the dart and spear, and in their contests with -their enemies, they poison their weapons. They are fond of horses, and -rub their bodies with oil, to make their hair shine. They go naked -except a small _azeaun_ made of the fibres of the aloe. They anoint -their children with a bituminous ointment at their birth, to prevent the -growth of hair. The brows of females are also deprived of hair, and -immediately rubbed with the juice of _jagua_, which renders them bald -ever after. They are of a gentle disposition but addicted to -intoxication. The Jesuits formerly reduced many of them to the Catholic -faith, and formed them into settlements in 1661. - -ACHAFALAYA, the principal western outlet of the Mississippi river. It is -a Choctaw word, meaning, "the long river," from _hucha_, river, and -_falaya_, long. (Gallatin.) - -ACKOWAYS, a synonym for a band of Indians of New France, now Canada. See -Acouez. - -ACKEEKSEEBE, a remote northern tributary of the stream called Rum river, -which enters the Mississippi, some few miles above the falls of St. -Anthony, on its left banks. It is a compound phrase, from Akeek, a -kettle, and seebe, a stream. It was on the margin of this stream, in a -wide and spacious area, interspersed with beaver ponds, that a -detachment of Gen. Cass's exploring party in July 1820, encamped; and -the next morning discovered an Indian pictorial letter, written on bark, -detailing the incidents of the march. - -ACKEEKO, or the Kettle chief, a leading Sauc chief who exercised his -authority in 1820, at an important Indian village, situated on the right -banks of the Mississippi, at Dubuque's mines. - -ACHQUANCHICÓLA, the name of a creek in Pennsylvania; it signifies in the -Delaware or Lenapee language, as given by Heckewelder, the brush-net -fishing creek. - -ACHWICK, a small stream in central Pennsylvania. It denotes in the -Delaware language, according to Heckewelder, brushy, or difficult to -pass. - -ACOBAMBA, a settlement in the province of Angaraes in Peru, near which -are some monumental remains of the ancient race, who inhabited the -country prior to its conquest by the Spanish. They consist, chiefly, of -a pyramid of stones, and the ruins of some well sculptured stone -couches, or benches, now much injured by time. - -ACOLMAN, San Augustin de, a settlement of 240 families of Indians of -Tezcoco in Mexico. It is situated in a pleasant valley, with a benign -temperature, and has a convent of Augustine monks. - -ACOMES, a fall in the river Amariscoggin, Maine, denoting, in the -Indian, as is supposed, a rest, or place of stopping. From aco, a bound -or point. - -ACOMULCO, a village of 12 Indian families in Zochicoatlan, New Spain, -two leagues W. of its capital. - -ACONICHI, the name of a settlement of Indians formerly living on the -river Eno, in North Carolina. - -ACOTITLAN, a settlement of 15 Indian families, in the _alcaldia_ of -Autlan, Mexico. They employ themselves in raising cattle, making sugar -and honey, and extracting oil from the _cacao_ fruit. - -ACOUEZ, a name formerly applied by the French to a band of Indians in -New France. Believed to be identical with Ackoways. - -ACQUACKINAC, or ACQUACKINUNK, the Indian name of a town on the W. side -of the Passaic river, New Jersey, ten miles N. of Newark and 17 from New -York. From aco, a limit, misquak, a red cedar, and auk, a stump or trunk -of a tree. - -ACQUINOSHIÓNEE, or United People, the vernacular name of the Iroquois -for their confederacy. It appears, from their traditions, communicated -to the Rev. Mr. Pyrlaus, a Dutch missionary of early date, that this -term had not been in use above 50 years prior to the first settlement of -the country: and if so, we have a late date, not more remote than 1559 -for the origin of this celebrated union. But this may be doubted. -Cartier discovered the St. Lawrence in 1534, and found them at the site -of Montreal; Verrizani, is said to have entered the bay of New York ten -years before. Hudson entered the river in 1609. Jamestown was founded -the year before. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth 14 years later. It is -more probable that the 50 years should be taken from the period of the -earlier attempts of the French settlements, which would place the origin -of the confederacy about A. D. 1500. (See Iroquois.) - -ACTOPAN, or OCTUPAN, a town and settlement of the Othomies Indians, -situated 23 leagues N. N. E. of Mexico. Its population is put by Alcedo -in 1787, at 2750 families. These are divided into two parties, separated -by the church. It also contains 50 families of Spaniards, Mustees, and -Mulatoes. The temperature is mild, but the ground is infested with the -cactus, thorns and teasel, which leads the inhabitants to devote their -attention to the raising of sheep and goats. In this vicinity are found -numbers of the singular bird, called _zenzontla_, by the Mexican -Indians. - -ACTUPAN, a settlement of 210 families of Indians in the district of -Xocimilco, Mexico. - -ACUIAPAN, a settlement of 58 Indian families, in the _alcaldia mayor_ -of Zultepec, annexed to the curacy of Temascaltepec. They live by dressing -hides for the markets--ib. - -ACUILPA, a settlement of 92 Indian families, in the magistracy of Tlapa, -Mexico. It is of a hot and moist temperature, yielding grain, and the -white medicinal earth called _chia_, in which they carry on a trade. - -ACUIO, a considerable settlement of Spaniards, Mustees, Mulatoes, and -Negroes, 30 leagues W. of Cinaqua, in the curacy of Tauricato, Mexico; -embracing 9 Indian families. - -ACULA, SAN PEDRO DE, an Indian settlement of 305 families, four leagues -E. of Cozamaloapan, its capital. It is situated on a high hill, bounded -by a large lake of the most salubrious water, called _Peutla_ by the -natives. This lake has its outlet into the sea through the sand banks of -Alvarado, and the lake is subject to overflow its banks in the winter -season. - -ACUTITLAN, an Indian settlement of 45 families, in the district of -Tepuxilco, Mexico, who trade in sugar, honey, and maize. It is five -leagues N. E. of Zultepec, and a quarter of a league from Acamuchitlan. - -ACUTZIO, an Indian settlement of Tiripitio, in the magistracy of -Valladolid, and bishopric of Mechoacan, Mexico. It contains 136 Indian -families, and 11 families of Spaniards and Mustees. Six cultivated -estates in this district, producing wheat, maize, and other grains, -employ most of this population, who also devote part of their labour to -the care of large and small cattle. - -ADAES, or ADAIZE, a tribe of Indians, who formerly lived forty miles -south west from Natchitoches, in the area of country, which now -constitutes a part of the republic of Texas. They were located on a -lake, which communicates with the branch of Red-river passing Bayou -Pierre. This tribe appears to have lived at that spot, from an early -period. Their language is stated to be difficult of acquisition, and -different from all others, in their vicinity. They were at variance with -the ancient Natchez, and joined the French in their assault upon them in -1798. They were intimate with the Caddoes, and spoke _their_ language. -At the last dates, (1812) they were reduced to twenty men, with a -disproportionate number of women. The synonyms for this now extinct -tribe are, Adayes; Adees; Adaes; Adaize. - -ADARIO, a celebrated chief of the Wyandot nation, who was at the height -of his usefulness and reputation, about 1690. He was able in the -councils of his tribe, shrewd and wily in his plans, and firm and -courageous in their execution. The Wyandots, or Hurons as they are -called by the French, were then living at Michilimackinac, to which -quarter they had been driven by well known events in their history. The -feud between them and their kindred, the Iroquois, still raged. They -remained the firm allies of the French; but they were living in a state -of expatriation from their own country, and dependant on the friendship -and courtesy of the Algonquins of the upper lakes, among whom they had -found a refuge. Adario, at this period, found an opportunity of making -himself felt, and striking a blow for the eventual return of his nation. - -To understand his position, a few allusions to the history of the period -are necessary. - -In 1687, the English of the province of New York, resolved to avail -themselves of a recent alliance between the two crowns, to attempt a -participation in the fur trade of the upper lakes. They persuaded the -Iroquois to set free a number of Wyandot captives to guide them through -the lakes, and open an intercourse with their people. Owing to the high -price and scarcity of goods, this plan was favored by Adario and his -people, and also by the Ottowas and Pottowattomis, but the enterprise -failed. Major McGregory, who led the party, was intercepted by a large -body of French from Mackinac, the whole party captured and their goods -were distributed gratuitously to the Indians. The lake Indians, who had -covertly countenanced this attempt, were thrown back entirely on the -French trade, and subjected to suspicions which made them uneasy in -their councils, and anxious to do away with the suspicions entertained -of their fidelity by the French. To this end Adario marched a party of -100 men from Mackinac against the Iroquois. Stopping at fort Cadarackui -to get some intelligence which might guide him, the commandant informed -him that the governor of Canada, Denonville, was in hopes of concluding -a peace with the Five Nations, and expected their ambassadors at -Montreal in a few days. He therefore advised the chief to return. Did -such a peace take place, Adario perceived that it would leave the -Iroquois to push the war against his nation, which had already been -driven from the banks of the St. Lawrence to lake Huron. He dissembled -his fears, however, before the commandant, and left the fort, not for -the purpose of returning home, but to waylay the Iroquois delegates, at -a portage on the river where he knew they must pass. He did not wait -over four or five days, when the deputies arrived, guarded by 40 young -warriors, who were all surprised, and either killed or taken prisoners. -His next object was to shift the blame of the act on the governor of -Canada, by whom he told his prisoners, he had been informed of their -intention to pass this way, and he was thus prepared to lie in wait for -them. They were much surprised at this apparent act of perfidy, -informing him at the same time, that they were truly and indeed on a -message of peace. Adario affected to grow mad with rage against -Denonville, declaring that he would some time be revenged on him for -making him a tool, in committing so horrid a treachery. Then looking -steadfastly on the prisoners among whom was Dekanefora, the head chief -of the Onondaga tribe, "Go," said he, "my brothers, I untie your bonds, -and send you home again, although our nations be at war. The French -governor has made me commit so black an action, that I shall never be -easy after it, until the Five Nations have taken full revenge." The -ambassadors were so well persuaded of the perfect truth of his -declarations, that they replied in the most friendly terms, and said the -way was opened to their concluding a peace between their respective -tribes, at any time. He then dismissed his prisoners, with presents of -arms, powder and ball, keeping but a single man (an adopted Shawnee) to -supply the place of the only man he had lost in the engagement. By one -bold effort he thus blew up the fire of discord between the French and -their enemies, at the moment it was about to expire, and laid the -foundation of a peace with his own nation. Adario delivered his slave to -the French on reaching Mackinac, who, to keep up the old enmity between -the Wyandots and the Five Nations, ordered him to be shot. On this -Adario called up an Iroquois prisoner who was a witness of this scene, -and who had long been detained among them, and told him to escape to his -own country, and give an account of the cruelty of the French, from whom -it was not in his power to save a prisoner he had himself taken. - -This increased the rage of the Five Nations to such a pitch, that when -Mons. Denonville sent a message to disown the act of Adario, they put no -faith in it, but burned for revenge. Nor was it long before the French -felt the effects of their rage. On the 26th of July, 1688, they landed -with 1200 men on the upper end of the island of Montreal, and carried -destruction wherever they went. Houses were burnt, plantations sacked, -and men, women and children massacred. Above a thousand of the French -inhabitants were killed, and twenty-six carried away prisoners, most of -whom were burnt alive. In October of the same year, they renewed their -incursion, sweeping over the lower part of the island as they had -previously done the upper. The consequences of these inroads were most -disastrous to the French, who were reduced to the lowest point of -political despondency. They burnt their two vessels on Cadarackui lake, -abandoned the fort, and returned to Montreal. The news spread far and -wide among the Indians of the upper lakes, who, seeing the fortunes of -the French on the wane, made treaties with the English, and thus opened -the way for their merchandise into the lakes.--[Colden.] - -Such were the consequences of a single enterprise, shrewdly planned and -vigorously executed. The fame of its author spread abroad, and he was -every where regarded as a man of address, courage and abilities. And it -is from this time, that the ancient feud between the Wyandots and their -kindred, the Five Nations, began to cool. They settled on the straits of -Detroit, where they so long, and up to the close of the late war (1814,) -exercised a commanding influence among the lake tribes, as keepers of -the general council fire of the nations. - -La Hontan, in his Travels in New France, relates some conversations with -this chief, on the topic of religion, which may be regarded, almost -exclusively, as fabulous. - -ADAYES, ADAES, and ADEES, forms of orthography, occurring in various -writers, for the Adaize Indians, which see. - -ADEQUATÁNGIE, a tributary of the eastern head waters of the river -Susquehanna in New-York. The word is Iroquois. - -ADDEES, the number of this tribe, residing on the waters of Red River, -in Louisiana, in 1825, is stated, in an official report, from the war -department of that year, at twenty-seven. - -ADÓLES, a settlement of Indians in the province of Orinoco. They were of -the Saliva nation. The settlement was destroyed by the Caribs in 1684. - -ADIRÓNDACKS, the name of the Iroquois tribes for the Algonquins. The -consideration of their history and characteristics, as a family of -tribes, will be taken up, under the latter term. - -ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS, a name bestowed, in the geological survey of New -York, upon the mountains at the source of the Hudson River. - -ADIK, IÁ-BA. See Iaba Wadik. - -ADIKÍMINIS, or Cariboo Island; an island situated in the north eastern -part of lake Superior, which is invested with no other importance than -it derives from Indian mythology and superstition. It is small and has -seldom been visited. The Chippewas believe that this is one of the -places of residence of their local manitoes, and that it was formerly -inhabited by Michabo or Manabosho. Early travellers, who notice this -belief, represent its shores to be covered with golden sands, but that -these sands are guarded by powerful spirits, who will not permit the -treasure to be carried away. Many fanciful tales are told of its having -been once attempted, when a huge spirit strode into the water, and -reclaimed the shining treasure. This is Carver's version, who, however, -confounds it with another contiguous island. Henry, who visited it in -his search after silver mines, in 1765, says that the Indians told him -that their ancestors had once landed there, being driven by stress of -weather, but had great difficulty in escaping from the power of enormous -snakes. He calls it the Island of Yellow Sands. It abounded certainly -with hawks in his day, one of whom was so bold as to pluck his cap from -his head. He found nothing to reward his search but a number of -Cariboos, which is the American reindeer, of which no less than 13 were -killed, during his stay of three days. He represented it to be 12 miles -in circumference, low, and covered with ponds, and to be sixty miles -distant from the north shore of the lake. He thinks it is perhaps the -same island which the French called _Isle de Pontchartrain_. - -AFFAGOULA, a small village of Indians, of Louisiana, who were located in -1783 near Point Coupé, on the Mississippi. - -AGACES, a nation of Indians of the province of Paraguay. They are -numerous, valiant, and of a lofty stature. They were, in ancient times, -masters of the banks of the Paraguay, waging war against the Guavanies, -and keeping the Spaniards at bay, but were at last subjugated in 1542, -by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, governor of the province. - -AGARIATA, an Iroquois chief, who, having gone on an embassy of peace -about 1688, to Canada, the governor, Monsieur Coursel, being -exasperated against him, on account of bad faith and a violation of a -treaty, caused him to be hanged in the presence of his countrymen. - -AGAMENTIGUS, a mountain of considerable elevation, eight miles from York -harbour, Maine; also, a river of the same vicinity, which derives its -waters chiefly from the influx of Piscataqua bay. The termination of the -name in _us_, is foreign, and not in accordance with the Abenakie -dialects of this coast. - -AGAMUNTIC, the name of a small lake, or pond, of Maine, which discharges -its waters through the west branch of the Chaudiere river. - -AGAWAMS, a band of Indians of the Pokenoket, or Wampanoag type, who -formerly lived at various periods, in part in Sandwich, in part in -Ipswich, and in part in Springfield, Massachusets. The word is written -with some variety, in old authors, the chief of which, are, the addition -of another g, and the change of the penultimate a to o. - -AGIOCOCHOOK, a name of the Indians, for the White Mountains of -New-Hampshire; of which the penultimate ok, is the plural. This group is -also called, according to President Allen, Waumbek--a word, which in -some of the existing dialects of the Algonquin, is pronounced Waubik, -that is, White Rock. - -AGNALOS, a tribe of infidel Indians, inhabiting the mountains north of -the river Apure, in New Grenada. - -AGRIAS, a tribe of Indians, formerly very numerous, of the government of -Santa Marta, to the north of the Cienegra Grande. They are, at present, -considerably reduced. - -AGUA DE CULEBRA, San Francisco Xavier De La, a _reduccion_ of -Indians of the Capuchins, of the province of Venezuela. The vicinity -produces, in abundance, cacao, yucao, and other vegetable productions. - -AGUACAGUA, an Indian mission, on a branch of the Oronoco, called Caroni. - -AGUACATLAN, an Indian mission of Xala, in Mexico. In 1745, it contained -80 families of Indians, who cultivated maize and French beans. - -AGUALULCO, the capital of the jurisdiction of Izatlan, New Galicia, -which in 1745, contained 100 Indian families. - -AGUANOS, a settlement in the province of Mainas, Quito, so called from -the Indians of whom it is composed. - -AGUARICO, an Indian mission of the Jesuits, on the shores of the river -Napo, of the province of Máinás, Quito. - -AGUARINGUA, an ancient and large settlement of Indians of the Taironas -nation, in Santa Marta. - -AGUILUSCO, a settlement of the district of Arantzan, in the province of -Mechoacan, which contains 36 Indian families. They subsist by sowing -seed, cutting wood, making saddle trees, and manufacturing vessels of -fine earthen ware. - -AHAPOPKA, a lake of Florida, having its outlet through the Oclawaha -river of the St. John's. - -AHASIMUS, an ancient Indian name, for the present site of Jersey city, -Hudson county, New Jersey. - -AHOME, or Ahoma, a nation of Indians, living on the banks of the river -Zaque, in the province of Cinaloa, of California. They are located four -leagues from the gulf, in extensive and fertile plains, and are said to -be superior, by nature, to the other Indians of New Spain. Some of their -customs denote this. They abhor poligamy, they hold virginity in the -highest estimation. Unmarried girls, by way of distinction, wear a small -shell suspended to their neck, until the day of their nuptials, when it -is taken off by the bridegroom. They wear woven cotton. They bewail -their dead a year, at night and morning. They are gentle and faithful in -their covenants and engagements. - -AHOUANDÁTE, a name for the tribe of the Wyandots, which is found on -ancient maps of the Colonies. - -AHUACATLAN, the name of four separate settlements of Mexico, containing, -respectively, 51, 13, 450, and 160 families of Indians. - -AHUACAZALCA, Nueva Espána. At this place, 56 families of Indians live by -raising rice and cotton. It is in the district of San Luis de la Costa. - -AHUACAZINGO, in the district of Atengo, Nueva Espána, contains 46 Indian -families. - -AHUALICAN, of the same province, has 36 Indian families. - -AHUATELCO, ib. Has 289 families, who cultivate wheat and raise cattle. - -AHUATEMPA, ib. Has 39 families. - -AHUATEPEC, ib. Has 32 families. - -AHUAZITLA, ib. Has 36 families, who trade _inchia_, a white medicinal -earth, grain and earthen-ware. - -AHWAHAWA, a tribe of Indians who were found in 1805 to be located a few -miles above the Mandans, on the south west banks of the Missouri. They -are believed to have been a band of the Minnitares. They numbered at -that date 200. They were at war with the Snake Indians. They claim to -have once been a part of the Crow nation. They professed to have been -long residents of the spot occupied. The name has not been kept up, and -does not appear in recent reports from that quarter. Their history is, -probably, to be sought in that of the Mandans and the Minnetares. - -AIAHUALTEMPA, a settlement of Chalipa, Mexico, containing 36 Indian -families. - -AIAHUALULCO, ib. Two settlements of this name, contain, respectively, 70 -and 42 Indian families. - -AIAPANGO, ib. contains 100 Indian families. - -AIATEPEC, ib. has 45 families of natives. - -AIAUTLA, ib. has 100 families. - -AICHES, a settlement of Indians of Texas, situated on the main road to -Mexico. - -AIECTIPAC, Mexico. Twenty-one Indian families reside here. - -AINSE, a Chippewa chief of Point St. Ignace, Mechilimackinac county, -Michigan. The population of this band, as shown by the government census -rolls in 1840, was 193, of whom 33 were men, 54 women, and 106 children. -They support themselves by the chase and by fishing. They cultivate -potatoes only. They receive, together with the other bands, annuities -from the government, in coin, provisions, salt, and tobacco, for which -purpose they assemble annually, on the island of Michilimackinac. The -name of this chief is believed to be a corruption from Hans. - -AIOCUESCO, an Indian settlement of Chalipa, Mexico. Has 400 Indian -families. - -AIOCTITLAN, ib. Has 76 ditto. - -AIOZINAPA, ib. Has 34 ditto. - -AIOZINGO, ib. Has 120 ditto. - -AIRICOS, a nation of Indians inhabiting the plains of Cazanare and Meta -in the new kingdom of Grenada, to the east of the mountains of Bogota. -They inhabit the banks of the river Ele. They are numerous and warlike, -and feared by all their neighbours, for their valour and dexterity in -the use of arms. In 1662 Antonio de Monteverde, a Jesuit, established a -mission among them, and baptized numbers. - -AISHQUÁGONABEE. A Chippewa chief, of some note, of a mild and dignified -carriage, living on Grand Traverse Bay, on the east shores of lake -Michigan. In 1836 he formed a part of the delegation of Chippewa and -Ottowa chiefs, who proceeded to Washington city, and concluded a treaty -ceding their lands to the U. S. from Grand river on lake Michigan, to -Chocolate river on lake Superior. The name signifies, the first feather, -or feather of honour. The population of his village in 1840, as shown by -the census rolls, was 207, of whom 51 were men, or heads of families, 49 -women, and 107 children. They receive annuities annually at -Michilimackinac. They subsist by the chase, by planting corn, beans and -potatoes, and by fishing. - -AISHKEBUGÉKOZH, or the Flat Mouth, called Guelle Platte, in the patois -of the Fur Trade. The Head chief of the band of the Chippewas, called -Mukundwas or Pilligers, who are situated at Leech Lake, on the sources -of the Mississippi. This band, it is estimated, can furnish 200 -warriors. They are a brave and warlike people, and are at perpetual war -with their western neighbours, the Sioux. They subsist by the chase, and -by taking white fish in the lake. Some corn and potatoes are also raised -by the women and the old and superannuated men of the band. They are a -fierce, wild, untamed race, strong in their numbers, and proud and -confident in their success in war, and the comparative ease with which -they procure a subsistence from the chase. They adhere to their ancient -religious ceremonies and incantations, and are under the government of -their native priests, jossakeeds and seers. Aishkebugekozh, has for many -years exercised the political sway over them, leading them, sometimes to -war, and presiding, at all times, in their councils. He is a shrewd man, -of much observation and experience in the affairs of the frontiers. He -is of a large, rather stout frame, broad shoulders and chest, and broad -face, with a somewhat stern countenance, denoting decision of character -and capacity to command. Thin and extended lips, parted in a right line -over a prominent jaw, render the name, which his people have bestowed on -him, characteristic. By the term Kozh, instead of Odoan, the true -meaning of it is rather muzzle, or snout, than mouth, a distinction -which the French have preserved in the term _Guelle_. - -AIUINOS, a nation of Indians, of the government of Cinaloa, New Spain. -They live in the north part of the province. They formerly dwelt in -lofty mountains, to escape the effects of war with other nations. In -1624, the Jesuits established a mission amongst them. They are docile, -well inclined, and of good habits. - -AIUTLA, a settlement of New Spain, containing 187 Indian families. -Another location of the same name contains 23 families. - -AJOUES, a tribe of Indians of Louisiana, in its ancient extent, while it -existed under the government of the French. The word, as expressed in -English orthography, is Iowas, and the tribe will be considered under -that head. - -AKÓSA, an Odjibwa chief, living on the peninsula of Grand Traverse Bay, -lake Michigan, known for his good will towards the mission established -near his village, by the American Board, in 1839. In the recess periods -of hunting, he is attentive on the means of instruction furnished at -that station. He enjoins on his children attendance at the school. He -bestows a punctual care in planting his corn-field and garden. He has -erected a good dwelling house of logs, and supplied it with several -articles of plain household furniture. He is of a mild and pleasing -character, and appreciates and acknowledges the superiority of -agriculture and civilization over the uncertainties of the chase. -Without distinction in war, or eloquence, or a genealogy of warriors to -refer to, and consequently, of but little general note or fame in his -tribe, he is an active hunter, and stable, temperate man, and may be -regarded as a fair average specimen, physically and mentally, of the -race. The band of Akosa mustered 160 souls, on the pay rolls of 1840, of -which number, 37 were men, 42 women, and 89 children. They receive their -annuities at Michilimackinac. - -AKANSA, a synonym of Arkansas. - -ALABÁMA, one of the United States of America. The name is derived from a -tribe of Indians, who formerly inhabited the banks of the river of the -same name. This river, on its junction with the Tombigbee, forms the -Mobile. The Alabama Indians, were succeeded in the occupancy of this -river by the Creeks, or Muscogees. They withdrew towards the west. In -1790 their descendants lived in a village, eligibly situated, on several -swelling green hills on the banks of the Mississippi. No accounts of -them are given in recent reports. They appear to have continued their -route westward by the way of Red River. The precise period of their -crossing the Mississippi is not known. They came to Red River about the -same time as the Bolixies and Appalaches. Their language is represented -to be the Mobilian, as denominated by Du Pratz, that is the Chacta. Part -of them lived, at the end of the 18th century, on Red River, sixteen -miles above Bayou Rapide. Thence they went higher up the stream, and -settled near the Caddoes, where they raised good crops of corn. Another -party, of about 40 men, lived in Apalousas district, where they -cultivated corn, raised and kept horses, hogs and cattle, and exhibited -a quiet and pacific character. From a statement published in a paper, at -Houston, the seat of government of Texas, in 1840, their descendants -were then settled on the river Trinity, in that republic, where they are -associated with the Coshattas, forming two villages, numbering two -hundred warriors, or about 1000 souls. They preserve, in this new -location, the pacific and agricultural traits noticed during their -residence in Louisiana. - -ALACHUA, an extensive level prairie, in Florida, about 75 miles west of -St. Augustine. The ancient Indian town of Alachua, stood on its borders, -but its inhabitants removed to a more healthful position at Cuscowilla. - -ALACLATZALA, a settlement in the district of St. Lewis, New Spain, -containing 125 Indian families. - -ALAHUITZLAN, ib. a settlement having 270 Indian families. - -ALAPAHA, one of the higher tributary streams of the Suwannee river, in -Florida. - -ALASKE, or ONALASKA, a long peninsula on the N. W. coast of America. At -its termination, are a number of islands, which form a part of the -cluster called the northern Archepelago. - -ALBARRADA, a settlement of Indians in the kingdom of Chile, situated on -the shores of the river Cauchupil. Also a settlement of New Spain, -containing 22 Indian families. - -ALEMPIGON improperly written for Nipigon, a small lake north of lake -Superior. - -ALFAXAIUCA, a settlement of New Spain, containing 171 Indian families. - -ALGANSEE, a township of the county of Branch, Michigan. It is a compound -derivative from Algonkin, _gan_, a particle denoting a lake, and -mushcodainse, a prairie. - -ALGIC, an adjective term used by the writer, to denote a genus or family -of tribes who take their characteristic from the use of the Algonquin -language. It is a derivative from the words _Algonquin_, and _Akee_, -earth, or land. - -ALGONQUIN, a nation of Indians who, on the discovery and settlement of -Canada, were found to occupy the north banks of the St. Lawrence between -Quebec, Three Rivers, and the junction of the Utawas. Quebec itself is -believed to be a word derived from this language, having its origin in -Kebic, the fearful rock or cliff. When the French settled at Quebec, -fifteen hundred fighting men of this nation lived between that nation -and Sillery. They were reputed, at this era, to be the most warlike and -powerful people in North America, and the most advanced in their policy -and intelligence. Colden speaks of them as excelling all others. On the -arrival of Champlain, who, although not the discoverer of the country, -was the true founder of the French power in Canada, they were supplied -with fire arms, and even led to war, by that chivalric officer, against -their enemies, the Iroquois. They were stimulated to renewed exertions -in various ways, by the arrival of this new power, and carried the -terror of their arms towards the south and south-west. They were in -close alliance with the Wyandots, a people who, under the names of -Quatoghies and Hurons, on Cartier's arrival in 1534, were seen as low -down the St. Lawrence as the island of Anticosti, and bay Chaleur. But -as soon as the Iroquois had been supplied with the same weapons, and -learned their use, the Algonquins were made to feel the effects of their -courage, and combined strength. The Wyandots were first defeated in a -great battle fought within two leagues of Quebec. The Iroquois next -prepared to strike an effective blow against the collective tribes of -kindred origin, called Algonquins. Under the pretence of visiting the -Governor of Canada, they introduced a thousand men into the valley of -the St. Lawrence, when, finding their enemies separated into two bodies, -the one at the river Nicolet, and the other at Trois Rivière, they fell -upon them unawares, and defeated both divisions. In this defeat the -Nipercerinians (Nipessings) and the Atawawas (Ottowas) who then lived on -the banks of the St. Lawrence, participated. The former, who were indeed -but the Algonquins, under their proper name, drew off towards the -north-west. The Atawawas migrated to the great chain of the Manatoulines -of lake Huron, whence they have still proceeded further towards the west -and south, until they reached L'arbre Croche and Grand River of -Michigan, their present seats. The Quatoghies or Wyandots fled to the -banks of the same Lake (Huron) which has derived its name from the -celebrity of their flight to, and residence on its banks. - -Of the Algonquins proper who remained on the St. Lawrence, and who are -specifically entitled to that name, but a limited number survive. About -the middle of the 17th century, they were reduced to a few villages near -Quebec, who were then said to be "wasted, and wasting away under the -effects of ardent spirits." Subsequently, they were collected, by the -Catholic Church, into a mission, and settled at the Lake of Two -Mountains, on the Utawas or Grand River of Canada, where they have been -instructed in various arts, and effectually civilized. There, their -descendants still remain. They are a tall, active, shrewd, lithe, -energic race. Parties of them have been engaged as voyagers and hunters, -within modern times, and led in the prosecution of the fur trade into -the remote forests of the north-west. In these positions, they have -manifested a degree of energy, hardihood, and skill in the chase, far -beyond that possessed by native, unreclaimed tribes. The Algonquin -women, at the Lake of Two Mountains, make very ingenious basket and bead -work, in which the dyed quills of the porcupine, and various coloured -beads of European manufacture, are employed. They also make finger rings -out of moose hair, taken from the breast tuft of this animal, in which -mottoes or devices are worked. They have melodious soft voices, in -chanting the hymns sung at the mission. This tribe is called -Odishkuaguma, that is, People-at-the-end-of-the-waters, by the Odjibwas. -They were called Adirondacks, by the Six Nations. The term Algonquin, -which we derive from the French, is not of certain etymology. It appears -at first to have been a _nom de guerre_, for the particular people, or -tribe, whose descendants are now confined to the position at the Lake of -Two Mountains. It was early applied to all the tribes of kindred origin. -And is now a generic term for a family or primitive stock of tribes in -North America, who either speak cognate dialects, or assimilate in the -leading principles of their languages. - -The number of these tribes still existing, is very large, and viewed in -the points of their greatest difference, the variations in the -consonantal and diphthongal sounds of their languages, are considerable. -As a general geographical area, these tribes, at various periods from -about 1600, to the present time, ethnographically covered the Atlantic -coast, from the northern extremity of Pamlico-sound to the Straits of -Bellisle, extending west and north-west, to the banks of the Missinipi -of Hudson's Bay, and to the east borders of the Mississippi, as low as -the junction of the Ohio. From this area, the principal exceptions are -the Iroquois of New York, the Wyandots west, and the Winnebagoes and -small bands of the Docotahs. The grammatical principles of these -dialects, coincide. As a general fact, in their lexicography the letters -f, r and v are wanting. The dialects derive their peculiarities, in a -great measure, from interchanges between the sounds of l and n, b and p, -d and t, g and k, in some of which, there is a variance even in distant -bands of the same tribe. The language is transpositive. In its -conjugations, the pronouns are incorporated with the verb, either as -prefixes or suffixes. Its substantives are provided with adjective -inflections, denoting size and quality. Its verbs, on the other hand, -receive substantive inflections. Gender is, as a rule, lost sight of, in -the uniform attempt, to preserve, by inflections, a distinction between -animate and inanimate, and personal or impersonal objects. It is -remarkable for the variety of its compounds, although the vocabulary -itself, is manifestly constructed from monosyllabic roots. All its -substantives admit of diminutives, but, in no instance, of -augmentatives. They also admit of derogative and prepositional -inflections. The comparison of adjectives, is not, on the contrary, made -by inflections, but by separate words. There is no dual number, but in -all the dialects, so far as examined, a distinction is made in the -plural of the first person, to denote the inclusion or exclusion of the -object. There is no distinction between the pronoun, singular and -plural, of the third person. The language has some redundancies, which -would be pruned off by cultivation. It has many liquid and labial -sounds. It has a soft flow and is easy of attainment. It is peculiarly -rich and varied, in its compound terms for visible objects, and their -motions or acts. Streams, mountains, vallies, and waters, in all their -variety of appearance, are graphically described. It is equally suited -to describe the phenomena of the heavens, the air, tempests, sounds, -light, colours, motion, and the various phases of the clouds and -planetary bodies. It is from this department, that a large portion of -their personal names are taken. - -It is true that many of the grammatical principles of the Algonquin -languages, are also developed in other stocks. Yet these stocks are not -as well known. It was chiefly in the area of the Algonquin tribes, that -the British and French, and Dutch and Swedish colonists settled, and the -result of enquiry, through a long period, has accumulated most materials -in relation to this type of the American languages. Specific notices of -each of the subdivisions of this stock, will be given under the -appropriate names. - -The general synonyms for this nation are but few. The principal -differences in the orthography, between the French and English writers -consist in the latter's spelling the last syllable _quin_, while the -former employ _kin_. In old encyclopædias and gazetteers, the phrase -Algonquinensis, is used. The term Abernaquis, is also a French mode of -annotation for the same word, but is rather applied at this time to a -specific band. The word Algic, derived from the same root, has been -applied by the writer to the entire circle of the Algonquin tribes, in -their utmost former extent in North America. Mr. Gallatin has proposed -the term "Algonkin-Lenape," as a philological denomination for this -important family. Their own name for the race, is a question of some -diversity of opinion. Those particular tribes, who were found on the -Atlantic coast between the Chesapeak-bay and the Hudson, called -themselves Lenapes, generally with the prefixed or qualifying noun of -Linno, or Lenno. Other tribes extending over the largest area of the -union, and of British America, inhabited by this stock, denote -themselves as a race, by the term Anishinábá, that is, the common -people. - -The term Lenápe, signifies a male, and is identical in sense with the -Algonquin word Iába. If Lenno, or Linno be, as some contend, a term -denoting _original_, they must be conceded to have had more forethought, -and a greater capacity for generalization, than other stocks have -manifested, by calling themselves, Original Men. If, however, it only -implies, as others acquainted with this language, assert, _common_ or -_general_, then is here perceived to be a perfect identity in the -meaning of the two terms. - -ALGONAC, a village of the county of St. Clair, Michigan, which is -pleasantly situated on the banks of the river St. Clair. It is a term -derived from the word Algonquin, and _akee_, earth or land. - -ALGONQUINENSIS, a term used in old gazetteers and geographical -dictionaries, for the Algonquins. - -ALIETANS, a name for the Shoshones, or Snake Indians. See Ietans. - -ALIBAMONS, or ALIBAMIS, ancient forms of orthography for the tribe of -the Alabamas. - -ALINA, a settlement of Pinzandarc, New Spain, containing 20 Indian -families, who have a commerce in maize and wax. - -ALIPKONCK, an Indian village which, in 1659, stood on the east banks of -the river Hudson, between the influx of the Croton, then called by the -Dutch Saehkill, and the Indian village of Sing Sing. [Osinsing.] -Aneebikong? place of leaves, or rich foliage. - -ALLCA, an ancient province of the kingdom of Peru, south of Cuczo, -inhabited by a race of natives, who made a vigorous stand against Manco -Capac, the fourth emperor of the Incas, and called the conqueror. In -this defence, they were favoured by the rugged character of the country, -which abounds in woods, mountains, lakes, and gold and silver mines. - -ALLEGAN, an agricultural and milling county of the state of Michigan, -bordering on the east shores of lake Michigan. It is a derivative word, -from Algonkin, and _gan_ the penultimate syllable of the Odjibwa term -Sa-gí-é-gan, a lake. - -ALLEGHANY, the leading chain of mountains of the United States east of -the Mississippi, also one of the two principal sources of the Ohio -river. Indian tradition attributes the origin of this name to an ancient -race of Indians who were called Tallegewy, or Allegewy. This nation, -tradition asserts, had spread themselves east of the Mississippi and of -the Ohio. They were a warlike people, and defended themselves in long -and bloody wars, but were overpowered and driven south by a confederacy -of tribes, whose descendants still exist in the Algonquin and Iroquois -stocks. Such is the account of the Delawares. - -ALMOLOIA, a settlement of Zultepec in New Spain, of 77 Indian families; -also, in Metepec, in the same kingdom, of 156 families. - -ALMOLOLOAIAN, a settlement in the district of Cohma, New Spain, of 60 -Indian families. - -ALOTEPEC, ib. has 67 families. - -ALOZOZINGO, ib. has 110 families. - -ALPIZAGUA, ib. has 36 families. - -ALPOIECA, ib. has 42 families. Another, same name, of 115 families. - -ALPOIECAZINGO, ib. has 140 families. - -ALPONECA, ib. has 30 families. Another, same name, 77 families. - -ALTAMAHA, a river of Georgia. - -ALTOTONGA, the name of a settlement of Xalapa, in New Spain. The word -signifies in the Mexican language, hot and saltish water, and this comes -from the intermingled qualities of two streams which originate in a -mountain near to each other, and form by their junction a river which -runs into the lake of Alchichica. - -ALZOUI, a settlement of 190 Indian families, of Tlapa, in New Spain, or -Mexico. They are industrious, cultivating maize, cotton, French beans -and rice. - -ALMOUCHICO, the Indian name for New England, on the map of "Novi -Belgii," published at Amsterdam in 1659. - -AMACACHES, a nation of Indians of Brazil, of the province of Rio -Janiero. They inhabit the mountains south of the city. They are -numerous, and much dreaded, on account of the desperate incursions they -have made into the Portuguese settlements. Their weapons are darts, and -macanaw, a kind of club made of a very heavy wood. They poison their -arrows and lances. - -AMALISTES, a band of Algonquins, living on the St. Lawrence, and -numbering 500 in 1760. - -AMANALCO, an Indian settlement of the district of Metepeque, Mexico, of -1224 families. - -AMAPAES, a barbarous nation of Indians in New Andalusia, to the west of -the river Orinoco, near the mountains of Paria. They are valiant and -hardy; sincere and faithful in their engagements. They live by the chace -and by fishing. They make arms, which are tipped by vegetable poisons. -They are at war with the Isaperices. Their territory is called, after -them, Amapaya. - -AMAPILCAN, a settlement of Tlapa, Mexico, containing 15 Indian families. - -AMATEPEC, an Indian settlement of Zultepec, Mexico, situated on the top -of a mountain, consisting of 80 families. Another settlement, of the -same name, in the district of Toltontepec, has 15 Indians families. Both -have a cold temperature. - -AMATICLAN, a settlement of Huitepec, in Mexico, containing 43 Indian -families. - -AMATINCHAN, a settlement of Tlapa, Mexico, containing 62 Indian -families. - -AMATLAN, a settlement of Tanzitaro, Mexico, containing 60 Indian -families. Another settlement of San Louis, has 380 families. Another, in -the district of Cordova, has 220. Another, in Zacatlan 248. Another, in -Cozamaopan has 150. All these bear the same name, with the prefix of the -dedicatory patron, Santa Ana. - -AMBOY, a bay of New Jersey. This part of the state was occupied, in -ancient time, by a tribe or band of the Minci, who were called -Sauhikans. - -AMEALCO, a settlement of Querataro, Mexico, containing 38 Indian -families. - -AMECA, a settlement of Autlan, Mexico, containing 43 Indian families. - -AMECAMECA, a settlement of Chalco, Mexico, containing 570 Indian -families. - -AMECAQUE, a settlement of Calpa, Mexico, containing 275 Indian families. - -AMERICA; no nation of Indians on this continent, had, so far as we know, -ever generalized sufficiently to bestow a generic name on the continent. -The Algonquin terms "Our Country," AINDANUKEYAN, and "The West," KABEAN, -were probably the most comprehensive which their intercourse or ideas -required. Equivalents for these phrases might be, perhaps, successfully -sought among all the most advanced tribes. The instances here given are -from the Odjibwa dialect. - -AMICWAYS, or AMICAWAES, a tribe or family of Indians, who are spoken of -by the French writers as having formerly inhabited the Manatonline chain -of islands in lake Huron. The term is from Amik, a beaver. The Ottowas -settled here, after their discomfiture, along with the Adirondacks, on -the St. Lawrence. - -AMIK-EMINIS, the group of Beaver islands of Lake Michigan. The -easternmost of this group is called Amik-aindaud, or the Beaver-house. -These islands are inhabited by Chippewas. In 1840, they numbered 199 -souls, of whom 39 were men, 51 women, and 109 children. All were engaged -in the chase, or in fishing, and none in agriculture. Their chief was -called Kinwabekizze. - -AMIKWUG, a wild roving nation northwest of the sources of the -Mississippi. See Beaver Indians. - -AMILPA, a settlement of Xochimilco, in Mexico, containing 730 Indian -families, who live by agriculture. - -AMILTEPEC, a settlement of Juquila, M., containing 14 Indian families. - -AMIXOCORES, a barbarous nation of Indians of Brazil. They inhabit the -woods and mountains south of Rio Janerio. They are cruel and -treacherous. They are at continual war with the Portuguese. Very little -is known of the territory they inhabit, or of their manners. - -AMMOUGKAUGEN, a name used in 1659, for the southern branch of the -Piscataqua river. - -AMOLA, or AMULA, a judicial district in Guadaxalara, Mexico. In the -Mexican tongue, it signifies the land of many trees, as it abounds in -trees. The change from o to u in the word, is deemed a corruption. - -AMOLTEPEC, a settlement of Teozaqualco, Mexico, containing 96 Indian -families. - -AMONOOSUCK, an Indian name which is borne by two rivers of New -Hampshire. Both take their rise in the White Mountains. The upper -Amonoosuck enters the Connecticut River, at Northumberland, near upper -Coos. The lower, or Great Amonoosuck, enters the same river above the -town of Haverhill, in lower Coos. - -AMOPOCAN, a settlement of Indians of Cuyo, in Chili, situated along the -shores of a river. - -AMOZAQUE, a settlement of Puebla de los Angelos, in a hot and dry -temperature, containing 586 Indian families. - -AMPONES, a barbarous nation of Indians, in Paraguay. They inhabit the -forest to the south of the Rio de la Plata. They are of small stature. -They are divided into several tribes. They are courageous. They live on -wild tropical fruits, and on fish which are taken in certain lakes. They -preserve these by smoking. They enjoy a fine country and climate. They -find gold in the sand of their rivers, and have some traffic with the -city of Conception. Some converts have been made to the Catholic faith. - -AMUES, a settlement and silver mine of San Luis de la Paz, in Mexico. It -has 43 Indian families, besides 93 of Mustees and Mullatoes. They -subsist by digging in the mines. - -AMURCAS, a nation of barbarous Indians, descended from the Panches, in -New Grenada. They live in the forests to the south of the river -Magdalena. But little is known of them. - -AMUSKEAG, the Indian name of a fall in the river Merrimack, New -Hampshire, 16 miles below Concord, and 7 miles below Hookset falls. - -ANA, SANTA. Of the fifty-five names of places in Mexico, or New Spain, -mentioned by Alcedo, which bear this name, seven are the seat of a joint -population of 544 Indian families. Of these, 31 are in Zaqualpa; 117 in -Zultepec; 124 in Toluca; 134 in Cholula; 18 in Yautepec; 25 in Mitla; 70 -in Amaqueca; and 149 in Huehuetlan. - -ANAHUAC, the ancient Indian name of New Spain, or Mexico. The valley of -Mexico, or Tenochtitlan, is, according to Humboldt, situated in the -centre of the cordillera of Anahuac. This valley is of an oval form. Its -length is 18-3/4 leagues, estimating from the entry of the Rio Tenango -into lake Chalco to the foot of the Cerro de Sincoque, and 12-1/2 -leagues in breadth, from St. Gabriel to the sources of the Rio de -Escapusalco. Its territorial extent is 244-1/2 square leagues, of which -only 22 square leagues are occupied by lakes, being less than a tenth -of the whole surface. The circumference of the valley, estimating around -the crest of the mountains, is 67 leagues. This crest is very elevated -in most parts, and embraces the great volcanoes of La Puebla, -Popocatepetl, and Iztacchihuatl. There are five lakes in this valley, of -which, that of Tezcuco is the largest. All are much diminished in the -quantity of water they yield, since the 16th century, which is owing, in -part, to the destruction of trees by the Spaniards, but most directly to -the canal of Huehuetoco, cut through a mountain, by which the waters are -drawn into the river Panuco, and thus find their way into the Atlantic. -By this work, the city of Mexico itself was freed from all effects of -periodical inundation, and the site enlarged and rendered better suited -to streets and carriages. The waters of lake Tezcuco are impregnated -with muriate and carbonate of soda. Those of Xochimilco are the most -pure and limpid. Humboldt found their specific gravity to be 1.0009, -when distilled water at the temperature of 54° Fahrenheit, was 1.000, -and that of Tezcuco 1.0215. - -Of the five lakes mentioned, Xochimilco and Chalco contain 6-1/2 square -leagues; Tezcuco, 10-1/10; San Christoval, 3-6/10; and Zumpango, 1-3/10. -The valley is a basin, surrounded by an elevated wall of porphyry -mountains. The bottom of this basin is 2,277 metres, or 7,468 feet above -the sea. - -ANALCO, a settlement of Guadalaxara, in Mexico, containing 40 Indian -families. - -ANASAGUNTAKOOK, a band of the Abenaki, on the sources of the -Androscoggin, in Maine. - -ANCAMARES, a nation of Indians inhabiting the shores of the river -Madera. They are very warlike and robust. In 1683 they attacked the -Portuguese, and compelled them to give up the navigation of the river. -They are divided into different tribes. The most numerous are the -Ancamares, who inhabit the shores of the river Cayari. - -ANCAS, a nation of Indians in Peru, who, on the 6th January, 1725, were -overwhelmed and destroyed by the ruins of a mountain which burst forth -by an earthquake. Fifteen thousand souls perished on that occasion. - -ANCE, or HANCE'S band of Chippewas, living at Point St. Ignace, on the -straits of Michilimackinac, in Michigan. This band, in 1840, as denoted -by the annuity pay rolls, numbered 193; of whom, 33 were men, 54 women, -and 106 children. They subsist in part by hunting the small furred -animals still existing in the country, and in part by fishing. They -migrate from place to place, as the season varies, plant very little, -and are addicted to the use of ardent spirits. - -ANCLOTE, an island on the southwest coast of Florida; also, a river -flowing into the gulf at that locality, which is also called, in the -Seminole dialect, the Est-has-hotee. - -ANCUTERES, a nation of infidel Indians inhabiting the forests of the -river Napo, in Quito. They are numerous, savage, treacherous, and -inconstant. - -ANDASTES, a nation formerly inhabiting the territory on the southern -shores of lake Erie, southwest of the Senecas. They were extirpated by -the Iroquois. - -ANDAIG WEOS, or CROW'S FLESH, a hereditary chief of the Chippewa nation, -living towards the close of the last century at the ancient Indian -village of La Pointe Chegoimegon, on lake Superior. He possessed -qualities, which, under a different phasis of society, would have -developed themselves in marked acts of benevolence. Numbers of -anecdotes, favourable to his character, are related of him, and have -been handed down by tradition among the French residents on that remote -frontier. Although a warrior, engaged in frequent expeditions against -the enemies of his tribe, he opposed the shedding of the blood of white -men who were encountered, in a defenceless state, in the pursuits of -trade. He also resisted the plunder of their property. He had a strong -natural sense of justice, accompanied with moral energy, and gave -utterance to elevated and ennobling sentiments in his intercourse. - -ANDREAS, SAN. A settlement of Texupilco, in Mexico, containing 77 Indian -families; another of Toluco, of 134; another in Tlatotepec, of 33; -another in Tuxtla, of 1170; another in Guejozingo, of 15; another in -Papalotepec, of 20; another in Hiscoutepec, of 68; another in -Tepehuacan, of 40; all under the same dedicatory name. - -ANDROSCOGGIN, the main western source of the river Kennebec, in Maine. - -ANGAGUA, SANTIAGO DE; a settlement of Valladolid, Mexico, containing 22 -Indian families. - -ANGAMOCUTIRO, a settlement of the same district with the preceding, -containing 106 Indian families. - -ANGARAES, a province of Peru, containing six curacies or parishes of -Indians. - -ANGELES, PUEBLA DE LOS, the capitol of the province of Tlaxcala, in New -Spain, or Mexico, founded in 1533. The entire number of Indian families -within this important jurisdiction is 3,200, which, at the ordinary rate -of the estimation of Indian population here, that is, five souls to a -family, gives an aggregate of 16,000. These are descendants of the -ancient Azteecs, who inhabited the country on its conquest. - -This is, however, but the population of the chief town or capital. The -entire intendency of Pueblos de los Angeles contained, in 1793, 508,098 -souls. Of this number, 373,752 were Indians of pure blood, divided into -187,531 males, and 186,221 females. There were also 77,908 of the mixed -race, divided into 37,318 males, and 40,590 females. But 54,980 were -Spaniards, or whites, exclusive of 585 secular ecclesiastics, 446 monks, -and 427 nuns. This preponderance of the native Indian population is -still more striking in the government of Ilaxcala, which, of course, -includes the capital above named. In 1793, it contained a population of -59,177 souls; of which, 42,878 were Indians, divided into 21,849 males, -and 21,029 females. The town is governed by a Cacique, and four Indian -Alcaldes, who represent the ancient heads of the four quarters, still -called Teepectipac, Ocotelalco, Quiahtuitztlan, and Tizatlan. By virtue -of a royal cedula of 16th April, 1585, the whites have no seat in the -municipality. The Cacique, or Indian Governor, enjoys the honors of an -_alferez real_. Notwithstanding the zeal of a Spanish intendant general, -the progress of the inhabitants in industry and prosperity has been -extremely slow. The secret of this is, perhaps, revealed in the fact -that four fifths of the whole property belongs to mort-main proprietors, -that is to say, to communities of monks, to chapters, corporations, and -hospitals. Their trade is also depressed by the enormous price of -carriage from the table lands, and the want of beasts of burden. - -The geology and antiquities of this part of Mexico, are equally -interesting. The intendency of Puebla is traversed by the high -cordilleras of Anahuac, which, beyond the 18th degree of latitude, -spreads into a plain, elevated from 1,800 to 2,000 metres above the -level of the ocean, or from 5,905 to 6,561 feet. In this intendency is -also the Popocatepetl, the highest mountain in Mexico. Humboldt's -measurement of this volcano makes it 600 metres (1,968 feet,) higher -than the most elevated summit of the old continent. It is, indeed, only -exceeded between Panama and Behring's Straits, by Mt. St. Elias. - -The table land of Puebla exhibits remarkable vestiges of ancient -civilization. The fortifications of Tlaxcala are posterior in the date -of their construction to the great pyramid of Cholula. This pyramid, or -teocalli, is the most stupendous monument erected by the race. Its -squares are arranged in exact accordance with the astronomical -parallels. It is constructed in stages or terraces, the highest of which -is 177 feet above the plain. It has a base of 1423 feet. By a passage -excavated into the north side of it, a few years ago, it is found to be -solid, and to consist of alternate layers of brick and clay. Its centre -has not, however, been reached. Its height exceeds the third of the -great Egyptian pyramids of the group of Ghiza. In its base, however, it -exceeds that of all other edifices found by travellers in the old -continent; it is almost double that of the great pyramid of Cheops. To -conceive of the vastness of the structure, let the traveller imagine a -square four times the size of the Place Vendome, piled up with brick, in -terraces, twice the utmost height of the palace of the Louvre. - -The Indians of the province of Tlaxcala speak three languages, differing -from one another, namely: the Mexican, Totonac, and Tlapanac. The first -is peculiar to the inhabitants of Puebla, Cholula, and Tlascalla; the -second to the inhabitants of Zacatlan; and the third is preserved in the -environs of Tlapa. The population of the entire intendency of Puebla, in -1803, that is, ten years after the census above noted, had advanced to -813,300 in an extent of 2,696 square leagues, giving 301 inhabitants to -the square league. Small as this may appear, it is four times greater -than that of Sweden, and nearly equal to that of the Kingdom of Arragon. - -ANIALIS, a barbarous nation of South American Indians, in the llanos of -Casanare and Meta, in the new kingdom of Grenada. They are descended -from the Betoyes. They are very numerous, and of a gentle nature. The -Jesuits established a mission among them in 1722. - -ANNACIOIS, or ANNACOUS, a barbarous nation of Indians, of the province -of Puerto Seguro, in Brazil. They inhabit the woods and mountains to the -west, and near the rivers Grande and Yucara. They are in a constant -state of warfare, night and day. They are irreconcileable enemies of the -Portuguese, whose colonies and cultivated lands they continually infest, -and which they destroyed in 1687. - -ANNEMOSING, the name of the Ottowas, and Chippewas, for the Fox Islands, -of lake Michigan. It is derived of Annemose, a young dog or fox, and -_ing_, a particle denoting place, or locality. - -ANNEMIKEENS, a Chippewa hunter of Red River, in Hudson's bay, who -survived a conflict with a grisly bear. After being terribly lacerated, -in his face and limbs, but not deprived of consciousness, he affected -death. The animal then seized him gently by the neck, and dragged him to -a thicket, where he was left, as it was thought, to be eaten when the -calls of hunger should demand. From this position he arose, first -setting up, and binding parts of his lacerated flesh down, and -afterwards rose, and succeeded in reaching his wigwam, where, by skill -in the use of simples, his wounds were entirely healed. The name -signifies little thunder, being a compound from Annimikee, thunder, and -the diminutive inflection in us. - -ANNUTTELIGO, a hammock brought to notice in the late war with the -Seminoles, in Florida. It is situated east of the Withlacooche river. - -ANOLAIMA, a settlement of Iocaima, in New Granada, containing a small, -but indefinite population of Indians. - -ANTALIS, a barbarous and warlike nation of Indians, in the kingdom of -Chile, to the west of Coquimbo. They valorously opposed the progress of -the Inca Yupanqui, compelling him, in the end, to terminate his -conquests on the other side of the river Maule, the last boundary of -Peru. - -ANTIQUITIES. See the articles Grave Creek, Marrietta, Circleville, &c. - -ANTHONY ST.; the falls of, being the fourth and lowermost of the -perpendicular, or prominent falls of the Mississippi, and by far the -greatest. - -The first fall of this stream is the Kakabika, situated about half a -day's journey below Itasca lake; the second is called Pukägama, and -occurs below the influx of the Leech lake branch. The third is below -Elk river, and is passable in boats and canoes. St. Anthony's is the -most considerable of the series, and the only one which presents an -abrupt plunge of the stream from horizontal rocks. They were thus named -by Hennepin, about 1680. By the Dacotah Indians, who inhabit the -country, they are called Haha. It is at this point, that the -Mississippi, which gathers its waters from high table lands, and has its -course, for several hundreds of miles, through diluvions superimposed on -the primitive, first plunges into the great secondary formation. For -more than a thousand miles, in its way southward, its banks are rendered -imposing and precipitous by this formation. At or near the Grand Tower, -and its adjunct precipice, on the Missouri shore, this formation ceases, -and the river enters the great delta, which still confines it, for a -like distance, before it expands itself, by its bifurcations, and final -exit, in the Gulf of Mexico, at the Balize. - -ANTONIO, SAN. The following statistical facts, denote the Indian -population, of sundry settlements, bearing this name, within the former -government of New Spain, now Mexico. In the limits of Toliman, 32 -families; in Tampolomon, 128; in Toluca, 51; in Metepec, 261; in -Coronango, 44; in Huehuetlan, 140; in Chapala, 27. - -APACAHUND, or WHITE EYES, a Delaware chief of note, of the era of the -American revolution, who is frequently mentioned in documents of the -times. - -APACES, SAN JUAN BAUTISTA DE, a settlement of Zelaga in the province and -bishopric of Mechoacan, containing 135 Indian families. Another -settlement, of the same name, with the dedicatory title of Santa Maria, -in the district of Zitaguaro, contains 24 families. - -APACHES, a nation of Indians, located between the Rio del Norte and the -sources of the Nuaces, who were reported, in 1817, at 3,500. In an -official report submitted to Congress, in 1837, their numbers "within -striking distance of the western frontier," are vaguely put at, 20,280. - -APALLACHIANS; a nation of Indians who formerly inhabited the extreme -southern portion of the United States, and have left their name in the -leading range of the Apallachian mountains. In 1539 De Soto found them -in Florida, a term at that era comprehending also the entire area of the -present states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other portions of -the southern territory. They were numerous, fierce, and valorous. They -were clothed in the skins of wild beasts. They used bows and arrows, -clubs and spears. They did not, as many nations of barbarians do, poison -their darts. They were temperate, drinking only water. They did not make -wars on slight pretences, or for avarice, but to repress attacks, or -remedy injustice. They treated their prisoners with humanity, and like -other persons of their households. They were long lived, some persons -reaching a hundred years. They worshipped the sun, to which they sang -hymns, morning and evening. These facts are to be gleaned from the -narrative. What were their numbers, how far they extended their -jurisdiction, what were their affiliations by language, customs, and -institutions with other tribes, cannot be accurately decided. Much that -is said of their civil and military polity, buildings, ceremonies and -other traits, applies to the Floridian Indians generally, and may be -dismissed as either vague, or not characteristic of the Appalachians. A -quarto volume was published in London in 1666, by John Davies, under the -title of a "History of the Caribby Indians," in which he traces the -caribs of the northern groups of the West Indies, to the Apallachians, -and relates many incidents, and narrates a series of surprising wars and -battles, reaching, in their effects, through the Mississippi valley up -to the great lakes, which have the appearance of fable. How much of this -account, which speaks of "cattle" and "herds," may be grafted on ancient -traditions, it is impossible to tell. There are some proofs of such an -ancient civilisation in the Ohio valley and other sections of the -country, but they are unconnected with any Indian traditions, which have -survived, unless we consider the mounds and remains of antique forts as -monumental evidences of these reputed wars. The Lenapee accounts of -these ancient wars with the Tallagees or Allegewy, may be thought to -refer to this ancient people, who had, if this conjecture be correct, -extended their dominion to the middle and northern latitudes of the -present area of the United States, prior to the appearance of the -Algonquin and Iroquies races. Mr. Irving has suggested the name of -Apallachia, or Allegania, derived from the stock, for this division of -the continent. - - - - -LANGUAGE. - - -LECTURES ON THE GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE OF THE INDIAN LANGUAGE. - - -The course of lectures, of which the following are part, were delivered -before the St. Mary's committee of the Algic Society. Two of them only -have been published. They are here continued from the article "Indian -Languages," at page 202 of the "Narrative of the Discovery of the actual -Source of the Mississippi, in Itasca Lake," published by the Harpers, in -1834. The family of languages selected as the topic of inquiry, is the -Algonquin. All the examples employed are drawn from that particular type -of it which is called Chippewa, in our transactions with them, but which -they uniformly pronounce themselves, Od-jib-wa. These terms are employed -as perfect synonyms. The phrase "Odjibwa-Algonquin," wherever it occurs, -is intended to link, in the mind of the inquirer, the species and the -genus (if we may borrow a term from natural history) of the language, -but is not fraught with, or intended to convey, any additional idea. The -three terms relate to one and the same people. - - - - -LECTURE III. - - Observations on the Adjective--Its distinction into two classes - denoted by the presence or absence of vitality--Examples of the - animates and inanimates--Mode of their conversion into - substantives--How pronouns are applied to these derivatives, and - the manner of forming compound terms from adjective bases, to - describe the various natural phenomena--The application of these - principles in common conversation, and in the description of - natural and artificial objects--Adjectives always preserve the - distinction of number--Numerals--Arithmetical capacity of the - language--The unit exists in duplicate. - -1. It has been remarked that the distinction of words into animates and -inanimates, is a principle intimately interwoven throughout the -structure of the language. It is, in fact, so deeply imprinted upon its -grammatical forms, and is so perpetually recurring, that it may be -looked upon, not only as forming a striking peculiarity of the language, -but as constituting the fundamental principle of its structure, from -which all other rules have derived their limits, and to which they have -been made to conform. No class of words appears to have escaped its -impress. Whatever concords other laws impose, they all agree, and are -made subservient in the establishment of this. - -It might appear to be a useless distinction in the adjective, when the -substantive is thus marked; but it will be recollected that it is in the -plural of the substantive only, that the distinction is marked. And we -shall presently have occasion to show, that redundancy of forms, are, to -considerable extent, obviated in practice. - -For the origin of the principle itself, we need look only to nature, -which endows animate bodies with animate properties and qualities, and -vice versa. But it is due to the tribes who speak this language, to have -invented one set of adjective symbols to express the ideas peculiarly -appropriate to the former, and another set applicable, exclusively, to -the latter; and to have given the words good and bad, black and white, -great and small, handsome and ugly, such modifications as are -practically competent to indicate the general nature of the objects -referred to, whether provided with, or destitute of the vital principle. -And not only so, but by the figurative use of these forms, to exalt -inanimate masses into the class of living beings, or to strip the latter -of the properties of life--a principle of much importance to their -public speakers. - -This distinction is shown in the following examples, in which it will be -observed, that the inflection _izzi_, generally denotes the personal, -and _au_, _un_, or _wud_, the impersonal forms. - - Adj: INANIMATE. Adj: ANIMATE. - - Bad Monaud ud Monaud izzi. - Ugly Gushkoonaug wud Gushkoonaug oozzi. - Beautiful Bishegaindaug wud Bishegaindaug oozzi. - Strong Söng un Söng izzi. - Soft Nök un Nök izzi. - Hard Mushkow au Mushkow izzi. - Smooth Shoiskw au Shoisk oozzi. - Black Mukkuddäw au Mukkuddäw izzi. - White Waubishk au Waubishk izzi. - Yellow Ozahw au Ozahw izzi. - Red Miskw au Miskw izzi. - Blue Ozhahwushkw au Ozhahwushkw izzi. - Sour Sheew un Sheew izzi. - Sweet Weeshkob un Weeshkob izzi. - Light Naung un Naung izzi. - -It is not, however, in all cases, by mere modifications of the -adjective, that these distinctions are expressed. Words totally -different in sound, and evidently derived from radically different -roots, are, in some few instances, employed, as in the following -examples: - - - Adj: _Inanimate._ Adj: _Animate._ - - Good Onisheshin Minno. - Bad Monaudud Mudjee. - Large Mitshau Mindiddo. - Small Pungee Uggaushi. - Old Geekau Gitizzi. - -It may be remarked of these forms, that although the impersonal will, in -some instances, take the personal inflections, the rule is not -reciprocated, and minno, and mindiddo, and gitizzi, and all words -similarly situated, remain unchangeably animates. The word pungee, is -limited to the expression of quantity, and its correspondent uggaushi, -to size, or quality. Kishedä, (hot) is restricted to the heat of a fire; -keezhautä, to the heat of the sun. There is still a third term to -indicate the natural heat of the body, _Kizzizoo_. Mitshau (large) is -generally applied to countries, lakes, rivers, &c. Mindiddo, to the -body, and gitshee, indiscriminately. Onishishin, and its correspondent -onishishshä, signify, handsome or fair, as well as good. Kwonaudj a. a. -and kwonaudj ewun a. i. mean, strictly, handsome, and imply nothing -further. Minno, is the appropriate personal form for good. Mudgee and -monaudud, may reciprocally change genders, the first by the addition of -_i-e-e_, and the second by altering _ud_ to _izzi_. - -Distinctions of this kind are of considerable importance in a practical -point of view, and their observance or neglect, are noticed with -scrupulous exactness by the Indians. The want of inanimate forms to such -words as happy, sorrowful, brave, sick &c. creates no confusion, as -inanimate nouns cannot, strictly speaking, take upon themselves such -qualities, and when they do--as they sometimes do, by one of those -extravagant figures of speech, which are used in their tales of -transformations, the animate forms answer all purposes. For in these -tales the whole material creation may be clothed with animation. The -rule, as exhibited in practice, is limited, with sufficient accuracy, to -the boundaries prescribed by nature. - -To avoid a repetition of forms, were the noun and the adjective both to -be employed in their usual relation, the latter is endowed with a -pronominal, or substantive inflection. And the use of the noun, in its -separate form, is thus wholly superceded. Thus onishishin, a. i. and -onishishsha, a. a. become Wanishishing, that which is good, or fair, and -Wanishishid, he who is good or fair. The following examples will exhibit -this rule, under each of its forms. - - Compound or Noun-Adjective Animate. - - Black Mukkuddaw izzi Makuddaw izzid. - White Waubishk izzi Wyaubishk izzid. - Yellow Ozahw izzi Wazauw izzid. - Red Miskw izzi Mashk oozzid. - Strong Song izzi Song izzid. - - Noun-Adjective Inanimate. - - Black Mukkuddäw au Mukkuddäw aug. - White Waubishk au Wyaubishk aug. - Yellow Ozahw au Wäzhauw aug. - Red Mishkw au Mishkw aug. - -The animate forms in these examples will be recognized, as exhibiting a -further extension of the rule, mentioned in the preceding chapter, by -which substantives are formed from the indicative of the verb by a -permutation of the vowels. And these forms are likewise rendered plural -in the manner there mentioned. They also undergo changes to indicate the -various persons. For instance onishisha is thus declined to mark the -person. - - Wänishish-eyaun I (am) good, or fair. - Wänishish-eyun Thou (art) good, or fair. - Wänishish-id He (is) good or fair. - Wänishish-eyang We (are) good or fair (ex.) - Wänishish-eyung We (are) good a fair (in.) - Wänishish-eyaig Ye (are) good or fair. - Wänishish-idigj They (are) good or fair. - -The inanimate forms, being without person, are simply rendered plural by -_in_, changing maiskwaug, to maiskwaug-in, &c. &c. The verbal -signification which these forms assume, as indicated in the words am, -art, is, are, is to be sought in the permutative change of the first -syllable. Thus o is changed to wä, muk to mäk, waub to wy-aub, ozau to -wäzau, misk to maisk, &c. The pronoun, as is usual in the double -compounds, is formed wholly by the inflections eyaun, eyun, &c. - -The strong tendency of the adjective to assume a personal, or -pronomico-substantive form, leads to the employment of many words in a -particular, or exclusive sense. And in any future practical attempts -with the language, it will be found greatly to facilitate its -acquisition if the adjectives are arranged in distinct classes, -separated by this characteristic principle of their application. The -examples we have given are chiefly those which may be considered -strictly animate, or inanimate, admit of double forms, and are of -general use. Many of the examples recorded in the original manuscripts -employed in these lectures, are of a more concrete character, and, at -the same time, a more limited use. Thus shaugwewe, is a weak person, -nökaugumme, a weak drink, nokaugwud, a weak, or soft piece of wood. -Sussägau, is fine, but can only be applied to personal appearance: -beesau, indicates fine grains. Keewushkwa is giddy, and keewushkwäbee, -giddy with drink, both being restricted to the third person. Söngun and -songizzi, are the personal and impersonal forms of strong, as given -above. But Mushkowaugumme, is strong drink. In like manner the two words -for hard, as above, are restricted to solid substances. Sunnuhgud is -hard (to endure,) waindud, is easy (to perform), Söngedää is brave, -Shaugedää cowardly, keezhinzhowizzi, active, kizhekau, swift, -onaunegoozzi lively, minwaindum happy, gushkwaindum, sorrowful, but all -these forms are confined to the third person of the indicative, -singular. Pibbigwau, is a rough or knotted substance. Pubbiggoozzi, a -rough person. Keenwau is long, or tall, (any solid mass.) Kaynozid is a -tall person. Tahkozid a short person. Wassayau is light; wassaubizzoo, -the light of the eye; wasshauzhä, the light of a star, or any luminous -body. Keenau is sharp, keenaubikud, a sharp knife, or stone. -Keezhaubikeday, is hot metal, a hot stove, &c. Keezhaugummeda, is hot -water. Aubudgeetön, is useful,--a useful thing. Wauweeug is frivolous, -any thing frivolous in word, or deed. Tubbushish, appears to be a -general term for low. Ishpimming is high in the air. Ishpau, is applied -to any high fixture, as a house, &c. Ishpaubikau is a high rock. -Taushkaubikau, a split rock. - -These combinations and limitations meet the inquirer at every step: They -are the current phrases of the language. They present short, ready, and -often beautiful modes of expression. But as they shed light, both upon -the idiom and genius of the language, I shall not scruple to add further -examples and illustrations. Ask a Chippewa, the name for rock, and he -will answer _awzhebik_. The generic import of aubik, has been explained. -Ask him the name for red rock, and he will answer miskwaubik,--for white -rock, and he will answer waubaubik, for black rock mukkuddäwaubik,--for -yellow rock, ozahwaubik,--for green rock, ozhahwushkwaubik,--for bright -rock, wassayaubik, for smooth rock, shoishkwaubik, &c. compounds in -which the words red, white, black, yellow, &c. unite with aubik. Pursue -this inquiry and the following forms will be elicited. - - _Impersonal._ - - Miskwaubik-ud. It (is) a red rock. - Waubaubik-ud. It (is) a white rock. - Mukkuddäwaubik-ud. It (is) a black rock. - Ozahwaubik-ud. It (is) a yellow rock. - Wassayaubik-ud. It (is) a bright rock. - Shoiskwaubik-ud. It (is) a smooth rock. - - _Personal._ - - Miskwaubik-izzi. He (is) a red rock. - Waubaubik-izzi. He (is) a white rock. - Mukkuddäwaubik-izzi. He (is) a black rock. - Ozahwaubik-izzi. He (is) a yellow rock. - Wassayaubik-izzi. He (is) a bright rock - Shoiskwaubik-izzi. He (is) a smooth rock. - -Add _bun_ to these terms, and they are made to have passed -away,--prefix tah to them, and their future appearance is indicated. -The word "is" in the translations, although marked with brackets, is not -deemed wholly gratuitous. There is, strictly speaking, an idea of -existence given to these compounds, by the particle au in aubic, which -seems to be indirectly a derivative from that great and fundamental root -of the language iau. Bik, is, apparently, the radix of the expression -for "rock." - -Let this mode of interrogation be continued, and extended to other -adjectives, or the same adjectives applied to other objects, and results -equally regular and numerous will be obtained. Minnis, we shall be told, -is an island: miskominnis, a red island; mukkaddäminnis, a black island; -waubeminnis, a white island, &c. Annokwut, is a cloud; miskwaunakwut, a -red cloud; mukkuddawukwut, a black cloud; waubahnokwut, a white cloud; -ozahwushkwahnokwut, a blue cloud, &c. Neebe is the specific term for -water; but is not generally used in combination with the adjective. The -word _guma_, like _aubo_, appears to be a generic term for water, or -potable liquids. Hence the following terms:-- - - Gitshee, Great. Gitshiguma, Great water. - Nokun, Weak. Nôkauguma, Weak drink. - Mushkowau, Strong. Mushkowauguma, Strong drink. - Weeshkobun, Sweet. Weeshkobauguma, Sweet drink. - Sheewun, Sour. Sheewauguma, Sour drink. - Weesugun, Bitter. Weesugauguma, Bitter drink. - Minno, Good. Minwauguma, Good drink. - Monaudud, Bad. Mahnauguma, Bad drink. - Miskwau, Red. Miskwauguma, Red drink. - Ozahwau, Yellow. Ozahwauguma, Yellow drink. - Weenun, Dirty. Weenauguma, Dirty water. - Peenud, Clear. Peenauguma, Clear Water. - -From minno, and from monaudud, good and bad, are derived the following -terms. Minnopogwud, it tastes well; minnopogoozzi, he tastes well. -Mauzhepogwud, it tastes bad; mawzhepogoozzi, he tastes bad. -Minnomaugwud, it smells good; minnomaugoozzi, he smells good; -magghemaugawud, it smells bad; mawhemaugoozzi, he smells bad. The -inflections gwud, and izzi, here employed, are clearly indicative, as in -other combinations, of the words _it_ and _him_. - -Baimwa is sound. Baimwäwa, the passing sound. Minwäwa, a pleasant sound. -Minwäwa, a pleasant sound. Maunwawa, a disagreeable sound. -Mudwayaushkau, the sound of waves dashing on the shore. Mudwayaunnemud, -the sound of winds. Mudway au kooskau, the sound of falling trees. -Mudwäkumigishin, the sound of a person falling upon the earth. -Mudwaysin, the sound of any inanimate mass falling on the earth. These -examples might be continued ad infinitum. Every modification of -circumstances--almost every peculiarity of thought is expressed by some -modification of the orthography. Enough has been given to prove that the -adjective combines itself with the substantive, the verb and the -pronoun--that the combinations thus produced are numerous, afford -concentrated modes of conveying ideas, and oftentimes happy terms of -expression. Numerous and prevalent as these forms are, they do not, -however, preclude the use of adjectives in their simple forms. The use -of the one, or of the other appears to be generally at the option of the -speaker. In most cases brevity or euphony dictates the choice. Usage -results from the application of these principles. There may be rules -resting upon a broader basis, but if so, they do not appear to be very -obvious. Perhaps the simple adjectives are oftenest employed before -verbs and nouns, in the first and second persons singular. - - Ningee minno neebau-nabun, I have slept well. - Ningee minno weesin, I have eaten a good meal. - Ningee minno pimmoossay, } I have walked well, or a good - } distance. - Kägät minno geeghigud, It (is) a very pleasant day. - Kwunaudj ningödahs, I have a handsome garment. - Ke minno iau nuh? Are you well? - Auneende ain deyun? What ails you? - Keezhamonedo aupädushshäwainenik, God Prosper you - Aupädush Shäwaindaugoozzeyun, Good luck attend you. - Aupädush nau kinwainzh pimmaudizziyun, May you live long. - Onauneegoozzin, Be (thou) cheerful. - Ne miuwaindum waubumaun, I (am) glad to see you. - Kwanaudj Kweeweezains, A pretty boy. - Kägät Söngeedää, He (is) a brave man. - Kägät onishishsha, She (is) handsome. - Gitshee kinözee, He (is) very tall. - Uggausau bäwizzi, She (is) slender. - Gitshee sussaigau, He (is) fine dressed. - Bishegaindaugooziwug meegwunug, They (are) beautiful feathers. - Ke daukoozzinuh? Are you sick. - Monaudud maundun muskeekee, This (is) bad medicine. - Monaudud aindauyun, My place of dwelling (is) bad. - Aindauyaun mitshau, My place of dwelling is large. - Ne mittigwaub onishishsha, My bow (is) good. - Ne bikwukön monaududön, But my arrows (are) bad. - Ne minwaindaun appaukoozegun, I love mild, or mixed, tobacco. - Kauweekau neezhikay ussämau } But I never smoke pure tobacco. - ne sugguswaunausee, } - Monaudud maishkowaugumig, Strong drink (is) bad. - Keeguhgee baudjeëgonaun, It makes us foolish. - Gitshee Monedo nebee ogee } The Great Spirit made water. - ozhetön, } - Inineewug dush ween ishkädä } But man made whiskey. - waubo ogeo ozhetönahwaun. } - -These expressions are put down promiscuously, embracing verbs and nouns -as they presented themselves; and without any effort to support the -opinion--which may, or may not be correct--that the elementary forms of -the adjectives are most commonly required before verbs and nouns in the -first and second persons. The English expression is thrown into Indian -in the most natural manner, and of course, without always giving -adjective for adjective, or noun for noun. Thus, God is rendered, not -"Monedo," but, "Geezha Monedo," _Merciful Spirit_. Good luck, is -rendered by the compound phrase "Shäwaindaugoozzeyun," indicating, in a -very general sense _the influence of kindness or benevolence on success -in life_. "Söngedää" is alone, _a brave man_; and the word "Kägät," -prefixed, is an adverb. In the expression "mild tobacco," the adjective -is entirely dispensed with in the Indian, the sense being sufficiently -rendered by the compound noun "appaukoozzegun," which always means the -Indian weed, or smoking mixture. "Ussamau," on the contrary, without the -adjective, signifies, "pure tobacco." "Bikwakön," signifies blunt, or -lumpy-headed arrows. Assowaun is the barbed arrow. Kwonaudj -kweeweezains, means, not simply "pretty boy," but _pretty little boy_; -and there is no mode of using the word boy but in this diminutive -form--the word itself being a derivative, from kewewe, conjugal with -the regular diminutive in _ains_. "Onaunegoozzin" embraces the pronoun, -verb and adjective, _be thou cheerful_. In the last phrase of the -examples, "man," is rendered men (inineewug) in the translation, as the -term _man_ cannot be employed in the general plural sense it conveys in -this connection, in the original. The word "whiskey," is rendered by the -compound phrase ishködawaubo, literally, _fine-liquor_, a generic for -all kinds of ardent spirits. - -These aberrations from the literal term, will convey some conceptions of -the difference of the two idioms, although, from the limited nature and -object of the examples, they will not indicate the full extent of this -difference. In giving anything like the spirit of the original, much -greater deviations, in the written forms, must appear. And in fact, not -only the structure of the language, but the mode and _order of thought_ -of the Indians is so essentially different, that any attempts to -preserve the English idiom--to give letter for letter, and word for -word, must go far to render the translation pure nonsense. - -2. Varied as the adjective is, in its changes it has no comparative -inflection. A Chippewa cannot say that one substance is hotter or colder -than another; or of two or more substances unequally heated, that this, -or that is the hottest or coldest, without employing adverbs, or -accessory adjectives. And it is accordingly by adverbs, and accessory -adjectives, that the degrees of comparison are expressed. - -Pimmaudizziwin, is a very general substantive expression, in indicating -_the tenor of being or life_. Izzhewäbizziwin, is a term near akin to -it, but more appropriately applied to the _acts_, _conduct_, _manner_, -_or personal deportment of life_. Hence the expressions: - - Nin bimmaudizziwin, My tenor of life. - Ke bimmaudizziwin, Thy tenor of life. - O Pimmaudizziwin, His tenor of life, &c. - Nin dizekewäbizziwin, My personal deportment. - Ke dizhewäbizziwin, Thy personal deportment. - O Izzhewäbizziwin, His personal deportment, &c. - -To form the positive degree of comparison for these terms minno, good, -and mudjee, bad, are introduced between the pronoun and verb, giving -rise to some permutations of the vowels and consonants, which affect the -sound only. Thus:-- - - Ne minno pimmaudizziwin, My good tenor of life. - Ke minno pimmaudizziwin, Thy good tenor of life. - Minno pimmaudizziwin, His good tenor of life. - Ne mudjee pimmaudizziwin, My bad tenor of life. - Ke mudjee pimmaudizziwin, Thy bad tenor of life. - Mudjee pimmaudizziwin, His bad tenor of life. - -To place these forms in the comparative degree, nahwudj, _more_, is -prefixed to the adjective; and the superlative is denoted by _mahmowee_, -an adverb, or an adjective as it is variously applied, but the meaning -of which, is, in this connexion, _most_. The degrees of comparison may -be therefore set down as follows:-- - - _Positive_, Kishedä, Hot, (restricted to the heat of - a fire.) - _Comp_. Nahwudj Kishedä, More hot. - _Super_. Mahmowee Kishedä, Most hot. - - Your manner of life is good, Ke dizzhewäbizziwin onishishin. - - Your manner of life is better, { Ke dizzhewäbizziwin nahwudj - onishishin. - - Your manner of life is best, { Ke dizzhewäbizziwin mahmoweé - { onishishin. - - His manner of life is best, { Odizzhewabizziwin mahmowee - { onishishinine. - - Little Turtle was brave, Mikkenoköns söngedääbun. - - Tecumseh was braver, Tecumseh nahwidj söngedääbun. - Pontiac was bravest, Pontiac mahmowee söngedääbun. - -3. The adjective assumes a negative form when it is preceeded by the -adverb. Thus the phrase söngedää, he is brave, is changed to, Kahween -söngedää_see_, he is not brave. - - _Positive._ _Negative._ - - Neebwaukah, Kahween neebwaukah-see, - He is wise. He is not wise. - Kwonaudjewe, Kahween kwonaudjewe-see, - She is handsome, She is not handsome. - Oskineegee, Kahween oskineegee-see, - He is young. He is not young. - Shaugweewee, Kahween Shaugweewee-see, - He is feeble. He is not feeble. - Geekkau, Kahween Geekkau-see, - He is old. He is not old. - Mushkowizzi, Kahween Mushkowizzi-see, - He is strong. He is not strong. - -From this rule the indeclinable adjectives--by which is meant those -adjectives which do not put on the personal and impersonal forms by -inflection, but consist of radically different roots--form exceptions. - - Are you sick? Ke dahkoozzi nuh? - You are not sick! Kahween ke dahkoozzi-see! - I am happy. Ne minwaindum. - I am unhappy. Kahween ne minwuindaz-see. - His manner of life is bad. Mudjee izzhewabizzi. - His manner of life is not bad. Kahween mudjee a izzhewabizzi-see. - It is large. Mitshau muggud. - It is not large. Kahween mitshau-seenön. - -In these examples the declinable adjectives are rendered negative in -_see_. The indeclinable, remain as simple adjuncts to the verbs, and the -_latter_ put on the negative form. - -4. In the hints and remarks which have now been furnished respecting the -Chippewa adjective, its powers and inflections have been shown to run -parallel with those of the substantive, in its separation into animates -and inanimates,--in having the pronominal inflections,--in taking an -inflection for tense--(a topic, which, by the way, has been very -cursorily passed over,) and in the numerous, modifications to form the -compounds. This parallelism has also been intimated to hold good with -respect to number--a subject deeply interesting in itself, as it has its -analogy only in the ancient languages, and it was therefore deemed best -to defer giving examples till they could be introduced without -abstracting the attention from other points of discussion. - -Minno and mudjee, good and bad, being of the limited number of personal -adjectives, which modern usage permits being applied, although often -improperly applied, to inanimate objects, they as well as a few other -adjectives, form exceptions to the use of number. Whether we say a good -man or a bad man, good men or bad men, the words minno and mudjee, -remain the same. But all the declinable and coalescing -adjectives--adjectives which join on, and, as it were, _melt into_ the -body of the substantive, take the usual plural inflections, and are -governed by the same rules in regard to their use, as the substantive, -personal adjectives requiring personal plurals, &c. - - Adjectives Animate. - - _Singular._ - - Onishishewe mishemin, Good apple. - Kwonaudjewe eekwä, Handsome woman. - Songedää inine, Brave man. - Bishegaindaugoozzi peenasee, Beautiful bird. - Ozahwizzi ahmo, Yellow bee. - - _Plural._ - - Onishishewe-wug mishemin-ug, Good apples. - Kwonaudjewe-wug eekwä-wug, Handsome women. - Songedää-wug inine-wug, Brave men. - Bishegaindaugoozzi-wug peenasee-wug, Beautiful birds. - Ozahwizzi-wug ahm-ög, Yellow bees. - - Adjectives Inanimate. - - _Singular._ - - Onishishin mittig, Good tree. - Kwonaudj tshemaun, Handsome canoe. - Monaudud ishkoda, Bad fire. - Weeshkobun aidetaig, Sweet fruit. - - _Plural._ - - Onishishin-ön mittig-ön, Good trees. - Kwonaudjewun-ön tshemaun-un, Handsome canoes. - Monaudud-ön ishkod-än, Bad fires. - Weeshkobun-ön aidetaig-in, Sweet fruits. - -Peculiar circumstances are supposed to exist, in order to render the use -of the adjective, in this connexion with the noun, necessary and proper. -But in ordinary instances, as the narration of events, the noun would -precede the adjective, and oftentimes, particularly where a second -allusion to objects previously named became necessary, the compound -expressions would be used. Thus instead of saying the yellow bee, -wäyzahwizzid, would distinctly convey the idea of that insect, _had the -species been before named_. Under similar circumstances kainwaukoozzid, -agausheid söngaunemud, mushkowaunemud, would respectively signify, a -tall tree, a small fly, a strong wind, a hard wind. And these terms -would become plural in _jig_, which, as before mentioned, is a mere -modification of _ig_, one of the five general animate plural inflections -of the language. - -Kägát wahwinaudj abbenöjeeug, is an expression indicating _they are very -handsome children_. Bubbeeweezheewug monetösug, denotes _small insects_. -Minno neewugizzi, is good tempered, he is good tempered. -Mawshininewugizzi, is bad tempered, both having their plural in _wug_. -Nin nuneenahwaindum, I am lonesome. Nin nuneenahwaindaumin, we -(excluding you) are lonesome. Waweea, is a term generally used to -express the adjective sense of _round_. Kwy, is the scalp. (_Weenikwy_ -his scalp.) Hence Weewukwon, hat; Wayweewukwonid, a wearer of the hat; -and its plural Wayeewukwonidjig, wearers of the hats--the usual term -applied to Europeans, or white men generally. These examples go to -prove, that under every form in which the adjective can be traced, -whether in its simplest or most compound state, it is susceptible of -number. - -The numerals of the language are converted into adverbs, by the -inflection _ing_, making _one_, _once_, &c. The unit exists in -duplicate. - - Päzhik, One, general unit } Aubeding, Once. - Ingoot, One, numerical unit} - Neesh, Two. Neeshing, Twice. - Niswee, Three. Nissing, Thrice. - Neewin, Four. Neewing, Four-times. - Naunun, Five. Nauning, Five-times. - N'goodwaswä, Six. N'goodwautshing, Six-times. - Neeshwauswä, Seven. Neeshwautshing, Seven-times. - Shwauswe, Eight. Shwautshing, Eight-times. - Shongusswe, Nine. Shongutshing, Nine-times. - Meetauswee, Ten. Meetaushing, Ten-times. - -These inflections can be carried as high as they can compute numbers. -They count decimally. After reaching ten, they repeat, ten and one, ten -and two, &c. to twenty. Twenty is a compound signifying two tens, -thirty, three tens, &c., a mode which is carried up to one hundred -_n'goodwak_. Wak, then becomes the word of denomination, combining with -the names of the digits, until they reach a thousand, _meetauswauk_, -literally, _ten hundred_. Here a new compound term is introduced made by -prefixing twenty to the last denomination, neshtonnah duswak, which -doubles the last term, thirty triples it, forty quadruples it, &c., till -the computation reaches to ten thousand, n'goodwak dushing n'goodwak, -_one hundred times one hundred_. This is the probable extent of all -certain computation. The term _Gitshee_, (great,) prefixed to the last -denomination, leaves the number indefinite. - -There is no form of the numerals corresponding to second, third, fourth, -&c. They can only further say, _nittum_ first, and _ishkwaudj_, last. - - - - -LECTURE IV. - - Nature and principles of the pronoun--Its distinction into - preformative and subformative classes--Personal pronouns--The - distinction of an inclusive and exclusive form in the number of the - first person plural--Modifications of the personal pronouns to - imply existence, individuality, possession, ownership, position and - other accidents--Declension of pronouns to answer the purpose of - the auxiliary verbs--Subformatives, how employed, to mark the - persons--Relative pronouns considered--Their application to the - causative verbs--Demonstrative pronouns--their separation into two - classes, animates and inanimates--Example of their use. - - -Pronouns are buried, if we may so say, in the structure of the verb. In -tracing them back to their primitive forms, through the almost infinite -variety of modifications which they assume, in connexion with the verb, -substantive and adjective, it will facilitate analysis, to group them -into preformative and subformative, which include the pronominal -prefixes and suffixes, and which admit of the further distinction of -separable and inseparable. By separable is intended those forms, which -have a meaning by themselves, and are thus distinguished from the -inflective and subformative pronouns, and pronominal particles -significant only, in connection with another word. - -1. Of the first class, are the personal pronouns Neen (I,) Keen (thou,) -and Ween or O (he or she.) They are declined to form the plural persons -in the following manner: - - I, Neen. We Keen owind (in.) - We Neen owind (ex.) - Thou, Keen. Ye Keen owau. - He or She, Ween or O. They Ween owau. - -Here the plural persons are formed by a numerical inflection of the -singular. The double plural of the first person, of which both the rule -and examples have been incidentally given in the remarks on the -substantive, is one of those peculiarities of the language, which may, -perhaps, serve to aid in a comparison of it, with other dialects, -kindred and foreign. As a mere conventional agreement, for denoting -whether the person addressed, be included, or excluded, it may be -regarded as an advantage to the language. It enables the speaker, by the -change of a single consonant, to make a full and clear discrimination, -and relieves the narration from doubts and ambiguity, where doubts and -ambiguity would otherwise often exist. On the other hand, by -accumulating distinctions, it loads the memory with grammatical forms, -and opens a door for improprieties of speech. We are not aware of any -inconveniencies in the use of a general plural. But in the Indian it -would produce confusion. And it is perhaps to that cautious desire of -personal discrimination, which is so apparent in the structure of the -language, that we should look for the reason of the duplicate forms of -this word. Once established, however, and both the distinction, and the -necessity of a constant and strict attention to it, are very obvious and -striking. How shall he address the Deity? If he say--"_Our father who -art in heaven_," the inclusive form of "our" makes the Almighty one of -the suppliants, or family. If he use the exclusive form, it throws him -out of the family, and may embrace every living being but the Deity. -Yet, neither of these forms can be used well in prayer, as they cannot -be applied directly _to_ the object addressed. It is only when speaking -_of_ the Deity, under the name of father, to other persons, that the -inclusive and exclusive forms of the word "our" can be used. The dilemma -may be obviated, by the use of a compound descriptive phrase--Wä ö se -mig o yun, signifying--THOU WHO ART THE FATHER OF ALL. Or, universal -father. - -In practice, however, the question is cut short, by those persons who -have embraced Christianity. It has seemed to them, that by the use of -either of the foregoing terms, the Deity would be thrown into too remote -a relation to them, and I have observed, that, in prayer, they -invariably address Him, by the term used by children for the father of a -family, that is, NOSA, my father. - -The other personal pronouns undergo some peculiar changes, when employed -as preformatives before nouns and verbs, which it is important to -remark. Thus neen, is sometimes rendered ne or _nin_, and sometimes -_nim_. Keen, is rendered ke or _kin_. In compound words the mere signs -of the first and second pronouns, N and K, are employed. The use of -_ween_ is limited; and the third person, singular and plural, is -generally indicated by the sign, O. - -The particle _suh_ added to the complete forms of the disjunctive -pronouns, imparts a verbal sense to them; and appears in this instance, -to be a succedaneum for the substantive verb. Thus Neen, I, becomes -Neensuh, it is I. Keen, thou, becomes Keensuh, it is thou, and Ween, he -or she. Weensuh, it is he or she. This particle may also be added to the -plural forms. - - Keenowind suh. It is we (in.) - Neenowind suh. It is we (ex.) - Keenowa suh. It is ye, or you. - Weenowau suh. It is they. - -If the word _aittah_ be substituted for _suh_, a set of adverbial -phrases are formed. - - Neen aittah, I only. Neen aittah wind, We &c. (ex.) - Keen aittah wind, We &c. (in.) - Keen aittah, Thou only. Keen aittah wau, You &c. - Ween aittah, He or she only. Ween aittah wau, They &c. - -In like manner _nittum_ first, and _ishkwaudj_ last, give rise to the -following arrangement of the pronoun: - - Neen nittum, I first. - Keen nittum, You or thou first. - Ween nittum, He or she first. - Keen nittum ewind, We first. (in.) - Neen nittum ewind, We first. (ex.) - Keen nittum ewau, Ye or you first. - Ween nittum ewau, They first. - -ISHKWAUDJ. - - Neen ishkwaudj, I last. - Keen ishkwaudj, Thou last. - Ween ishkwaudj, He or she last. - Keenowind ishkwaudj, We last (in.) - Neenowind ishkwaudj, We last (ex.) - Keenowau ishkwaudj, Ye or you last. - Weenowau ishkwaudj, They last. - -The disjunctive forms of the pronoun are also sometimes preserved before -verbs and adjectives. - -NEEZHIKA. Alone. (_an._) - - Neen neezhika, I alone. - Keen neezhika, Thou alone. - Ween neezhika, He or she alone. - Keenowind neezhika, We alone (in.) - Neenowind neezhika, We alone (ex.) - Keenowau neezhika, Ye or you alone. - Weenowau neezhika, They alone. - -To give these expressions a verbal form, the substantive verb, with its -pronominal modifications, must be superadded. For instance, _I am_ -alone, &c., is thus rendered: - - Neen neezhika nindyau, I am alone, × aumin. - Keen neezhika keedyau, Thou art alone, × aum. - Ween neezhika Iyau, He or she is alone, &c. × wug. - -In the subjoined examples the noun ow, body, is changed to a verb, by -the permutation of the vowel, changing ow to auw, which last takes the -letter d before it, when the pronoun is prefixed. - - I am a man, Neen nin dauw. - Thou art a man, Keen ke dauw. - He is a man, Ween ah weeh. - We are men, (in.) Ke dauw we min. - We are men, (ex.) Ne dauw we min. - Ye are men, Ke dauw min. - They are men, Weenowau ah weeh wug. - -In the translation of these expressions "man" is used as synonomous with -person. If the specific term _inine_, had been introduced in the -original, the meaning thereby conveyed would be, in this particular -connexion, I am a man with respect to _courage_ &c., in opposition to -effeminacy. It would not be simply declarative of _corporeal existence_, -but of existence in a _particular state or condition_. - -In the following phrases, the modified forms, or the signs only, of the -pronouns are used: - - N' debaindaun, I own it. - Ke debaindaun, Thou ownest it. - O debaindaun, He or she owns it. - N' debaindaun-in, We own it (ex.) - Ke debaindaun-in, We own it (in.) - Ke debaindaun-ewau, Ye own it. - O debaindaun-ewau, They own it. - -These examples are cited as exhibiting the manner in which the prefixed -and preformative pronouns are employed, both in their full and -contracted forms. To denote possession, nouns specifying the things -possessed, are required; and, what would not be anticipated, had not -full examples of this species of declension been given in another place, -the purposes of distinction are not effected by a simple change of the -pronoun, as _I_ to _mine_, &c., but by a subformative inflection of the -_noun_, which is thus made to have a reflective operation upon the -pronoun-speaker. It is believed that sufficient examples of this rule, -in all the modifications of inflection, have been given under the head -of the substantive. But as the substantives employed to elicit these -modifications were exclusively _specific_ in their meaning, it may be -proper here, in further illustration of an important principle, to -present a generic substantive under their compound forms. - -I have selected for this purpose one of the primitives. IE-AÚ, is the -abstract term for existing matter. It is in the animate form and -declarative. Its inanimate correspondent is IE-EÉ. These are two -important roots. And they are found in combination, in a very great -number of derivative words. It will be sufficient here, to show their -connexion with the pronoun, in the production of a class of terms in -very general use. - - Animate Forms. - - _Singular._ _Plural._ - - {Nin dyë aum, Mine. Nin dyë auminaun, Ours. (ex.) - Poss. { Ke dyë auminaun, Ours. (in.) - {Ke dyë aum, Thine. Ke dyë aumewau, Yours. - - Obj. O dyë aum-un, His or Hers. O dyë aumewaun, Theirs. - - Inanimate Forms. - - _Singular._ _Plural._ - - {Nin dyë eem, Mine. Nin dyë eeminaun, Ours. (ex.) - Poss.{ Ke dyë eeminaun, Ours. (in.) - {Ke dyë eem, Thine. Ke dyë eemewau, Yours. - - Obj. O dyë eem-un, His or Hers. O dyë eemewaun, Theirs. _Poss. in._ - - -In these forms the noun is singular throughout. To render it plural, as -well as the pronoun, the appropriate general plurals _ug_ and _un_ or -_ig_ and _in_, must be superadded. But it must be borne in mind, in -making these additions, "that the plural inflection to inanimate nouns -(which have no objective case,) forms the objective case to animates, -which have no number in the third person," [p. 30.] The particle _un_, -therefore, which is the appropriate plural for the inanimate nouns in -these examples, is only the objective mark of the animate. - -The plural of I, is _naun_, the plural of thou and he, _wau_. But as -these inflections would not coalesce smoothly with the possessive -inflections, the connective vowels i. and e. are prefixed, making the -plural of I, _inaun_, and of thou, &c. _ewau_. - -If we strike from these declensions the root IE, leaving its animate and -inanimate forms AU, and EE, and adding the plural of the noun, we shall -then,--taking the _animate_ declension as an instance, have the -following formula of the pronominal declensions. - - -----+------+-----------+------------+--------+------------+-------+------ - Pron.|Place |Possessive |Obj. inflec.|Connect.|Plu. inflec.| Obj. |Plural - Sing.|of the|inflection.| to the | vowel. | of the |inflec.|of the - |Noun. | | noun sing. | | pronoun. |n. plu.|Noun. - -----+------+-----------+------------+--------+------------+-------+------ - Ne | ---- | aum | ---- | - i - | - naun | --- | - ig. - Ke | ---- | aum | ---- | - e - | - wau | --- | - g. - O | ---- | aum | un | | | | - O | ---- | aum | ---- | - e - | - wau | - n | - -----+------+-----------+------------+--------+------------+-------+------ - -To render this formula of general use, six variations, (five in -addition to the above) of the possessive inflection, are required, -corresponding to the six classes of substantives, whereby aum would be -changed to am, eem, im, öm, and oom, conformably to the examples -heretofore given in treating of the substantive. The objective -inflection, would also be sometimes changed to _een_ and sometimes to -_oan_. - -Having thus indicated the mode of distinguishing the person, number, -relation, and gender--or what is deemed its technical equivalent, the -mutation words undergo, not to mark the distinctions of _sex_, but the -presence or absence of _vitality_, I shall now advert to the inflections -which the pronouns take for _tense_, or rather, to form the auxiliary -verbs, have, had, shall, will, may, &c. A very curious and important -principle, and one, which clearly demonstrates that no part of speech -has escaped the transforming genius of the language. Not only are the -three great modifications of time accurately marked in the verbal forms -of the Chippewas, but by the inflection of the pronoun they are enabled -to indicate some of the oblique tenses, and thereby to conjugate their -verbs with accuracy and precision. - -The particle _gee_ added to the first, second, and third persons -singular of the present tense, changes them to the perfect past, -rendering I, thou, He, I did--have--or had. Thou didst,--hast--or hadst, -He, or she did--have, or had. If _gah_, be substituted for _gee_, the -first future tense is formed, and the perfect past added to the first -future, forms the conditional future. As the eye may prove an auxiliary -in the comprehension of forms, which are not familiar, the following -tabular arrangement of them, is presented. - - _First Person, I._ - - Nin gee, I did--have--had. - Nin gah, I shall--will. - Nin gah gee, I shall have--will have. - - _Second Person, Thou._ - - Ke gee, Thou didst--hast--hadst. - Ke gah, Thou shall--wilt. - Ke gah gee, Thou shall have--wilt have. - - _Third Person, He, or She._ - - O gee, He or she did--has--had. - O gah, He or she did--has--had. - O gah gee, He or she shall have--will have. - -The present and imperfect tense of the potential mood, is formed by -_dau_, and the perfect by _gee_, suffixed as in other instances. - - _First Person, I._ - - Nin dau, I may--can, &c. - Nin dau gee, I may have--can have, &c. - - _Second Person, Thou._ - - Ke dau, Thou mayst--canst, &c. - Ke dau gee, Thou mayst have--canst have, &c. - - - _Third Person, He, or She._ - - O dau, He or she may--can, &c. - O dau gee, He or she may have--can have, &c. - -In conjugating the verbs through the plural persons, the singular terms -for the pronoun remain, and they are rendered plural by a retrospective -action of the pronominal inflections of the verb. In this manner the -pronoun-verb auxiliary, has a general application, and the necessity of -double forms is avoided. - -The preceding observations are confined to the formative or _prefixed_ -pronouns. The inseparable suffixed or subformative are as follows-- - - Yaun, My. - Yun, Thy. - Id, or d, His, or hers. - Yaung, Our. (ex.) - Yung, Our. (in.) - Yaig, Your. - Waud, Their. - -These pronouns are exclusively employed as suffixes,--and as suffixes to -the descriptive compound substantives, adjectives and verbs. Both the -rule and examples have been stated under the head of the substantive, p. -43. and adjective, p. 81. Their application to the verb will be shown, -as we proceed. - -2. Relative Pronouns. In a language which provides for the distinctions -of person by particles prefixed or suffixed to the verb, it will -scarcely be expected, that separate and independent relative pronouns -should exist, or if such are to be found, their use, as separate parts -of speech, must, it will have been anticipated, be quite -limited--limited to simple interrogatory forms of expression, and not -applicable to the indicative, or declaratory. Such will be found to be -the fact in the language under review; and it will be perceived, from -the subjoined examples, that in all instances, requiring the relative -pronoun _who_, other than the simple interrogatory forms, this relation -is indicated by the inflections of the verb, or adjective, &c. Nor does -there appear to be any declension of the separate pronoun, corresponding -to _whose_, and _whom_. - - * * * * * - -The word Ahwaynain, may be said to be uniformly employed in the sense of -_who_, under the limitations we have mentioned. For instance, - - Who is there? Ahwaynain e-mah ai-aud? - Who spoke? Ahwaynain kau keeg[oe]dood? - Who told you? Ahwaynain kau ween dumoak? - Who are you? Ahwaynain iau we yun? - Who sent you? Ahwaynain waynönik? - Who is your father? Ahwaynain kös? - Who did it? Ahwaynain kau tödung? - Whose dog is it? Ahwaynain way dyid? - Whose pipe is that? Ahwaynain döpwaugunid en-eu? - Whose lodge is it? Ahwaynain way weegewomid? - Whom do you seek? Ahwaynain nain dau wau bumud? - Whom have you here? Ahwaynain oh omau ai auwaud? - -Not the slightest variation is made in these phrases, between who, -whose, and whom. - -Should we wish to change the interrogative, and to say, he who is there; -he who spoke; he who told you, &c., the separable personal pronoun ween -(he) must be used in lieu of the relative, and the following forms will -be elicited. - - Ween, kau unnönik, He (who) sent you. - Ween, kau geedood, He (who) spoke. - Ween, _ai_-aud e-mah, He (who) is there. - Ween, kau weendumoak, He (who) told you. - Ween, kau tö dung, He (who) did it, &c. - -If we object that, that in these forms, there is no longer the relative -pronoun _who_, the sense being simply, he sent you, he spoke, &c., it is -replied that if it be intended only to say, he sent you, &c., and not he -_who_ sent you, &c., the following forms are used. - - Ke gee unnönig. He (sent) you. - Ainnözhid, He (sent) me. - Ainnönaud, He (sent) him, &c. - Iau e-mau, He is there. - Ke geedo, He (spoke.) - Kegeeweendumaug, He (told) you. - Ke to dum, He did it. - -We reply, to this answer of the native speaker, that the particle _kau_, -prefixed to a verb denotes the past tense,--that in the former series of -terms, in which this particle appears, the verbs are in the perfect -indicative,--and in the latter, they are in the present indicative, -marking the difference only between _sent_ and _send_, _spoke_ and -_speak_, &c. And that there is absolutely no relative pronoun, in either -series of terms. We further observe, that the personal pronoun ween, -prefixed to the first set of terms, may be prefixed with equal -propriety, to the second set, and that its use or disuse, is perfectly -optional with the speaker, as he may wish to give additional energy or -emphasis to the expression. To these positions, after reflection, -discussion and examination, we receive an assent, and thus the -uncertainty is terminated. - -We now wish to apply the principle thus elicited to verbs causative, and -other compound terms--to the adjective verbs, for instance--and to the -other verbal compound expressions, in which the objective and the -nominative persons, are incorporated as a part of the verb, and are not -prefixes to it. This may be shown in the causative verb, _To make -Happy_. - - Mainwaindumëid, He (who) makes _me_ happy. - Mainwaindumëik, He (who) makes _thee_ happy. - Mainwaindumëaud, He (who) makes _him_ happy. - Mainwaindumëinung, He (who) makes _us_ happy, (inclusive.) - Mainwaindumëyaug, He (who) makes _us_ happy, (exclusive.) - Mainwaindumëinnaig, He (who) makes _ye_ or _you_ happy. - Mainwaindumëigowaud, He (who) makes _them_ happy. - -And so the forms might be continued, throughout all the objective -persons.-- - - Mainwaindumëyun, Thou (who) makest me happy, &c. - -The basis of these compounds is _minno_, good, and _aindum_, the mind. -Hence minwaindum, he happy. The adjective in this connexion, cannot be -translated "good," but its effect upon the noun, is to denote that state -of the mind, which is at rest with itself. The first change from this -simple compound, is to give the adjective a verbal form; and this is -effected by a permutation of the vowels of the first syllable--a rule of -very extensive application--and by which, in the present instance, the -phrase _he happy_, is changed to _he makes happy_, (mainwaindum.) The -next step is to add the suffix personal pronouns, id, ik, aud, &c., -rendering the expressions, he makes _me_ happy, &c. But in adding these -increments, the vowel e, is thrown between the adjective-verb, and the -pronoun suffixed, making the expression, not mainwaindum-yun, but -mainwaindumëyun. Generally the vowel e in this situation, is a -connective, or introduced merely for the sake of euphony. And those who -maintain that it is here employed as a personal pronoun, and that the -relative _who_, is implied by the final inflection; overlook the -inevitable inference, that if the marked e, stands for _me_ in the first -phrase, it must stand for _thee_ in the second, _he_ in the third, _us_ -in the fourth, &c. As to the meaning and office of the final inflections -id, ik, &c.--whatever they may, in an involuted sense _imply_, it is -quite clear, by turning to the list of _suffixed personal pronouns_ and -_animate plurals_, that they mark the persons, I, thou, he, &c., we, ye, -they, &c. - -Take for example, minwaindumëigowaud. He (who) makes them happy. Of this -compound, minwaindum, as before shown, signifies _he makes happy_. But -as the verb is in the singular number, it implies that but _one person_ -is made happy, and the suffixed, personal pronouns _singular_, mark the -distinctions between _me_, _thee_, and he, or him. - -Minwaindum-e-ig is the verb plural, and implies that several persons are -made happy, and, in like manner, the suffixed personal pronouns -_plural_, mark the distinctions between we, ye, they, &c. For it is a -rule of the language, that a strict concordance must exist between the -number of the verb, and the number of the pronoun. The termination of -the verb consequently always indicates, whether there be one or many -objects, to which its energy is directed. And as animate verbs can be -applied only to animate objects, the numerical inflections of the verb, -are understood to mark the number of persons. But this number is -indiscriminate, and leaves the sense vague, until the pronominal -suffixes are superadded. Those who, therefore, contend for the sense of -the relative pronoun "who," being given in the last mentioned phrase, -and all phrases similarly formed, by a succedaneum, contend for -something like the following form of translation:--He makes them -happy--him! or Him--he (meaning who) makes them happy. - -The equivalent for what, is _Waygonain_. - - What do you want? Waygonain wau iauyun? - What have you lost? Waygonain kau wonetöyun? - What do you look for? Waygonain nain dahwaubundamun? - What is this? Waygonain ewinain maundun? - What will you have? Waygonain kau iauyun? - What detained you? Waygonain kau oon dahme egöyun? - What are you making? Waygonain wayzhetöyun? - What have you there? Waygonain e-mau iauyun? - -The use of this pronoun, like the preceding, appears to be confined to -simple interrogative forms. The word _auneen_, which sometimes supplies -its place, or is used for want of the pronoun _which_, is an adverb, and -has considerable latitude of meaning. Most commonly it may be considered -as the equivalent for _how_, in what manner, or at what time. - - What do you say? Auneen akeedöyun? - What do you call this? Auneen aizheneekaudahmun - maundun? (i.) - What ails you? Auneen aindeeyun? - What is your name? Auneen aizheekauzoyun? - Which do you mean; this or that? (an.) Auneen ah-ow ainud, woh-ow - gämau ewidde? - Which do you mean; this or that? (in.) Auneen eh-eu ewaidumun oh-oo - gämau ewaidde? - Which boy do you mean? Auneen ah-ow-ainud? - - By adding to this word, the particle _de_, it is converted into an - adverb of place, and may be rendered _where_. - - Where do you dwell? Auneende aindauyun? - Where is your son? Auneende ke gwiss? - Where did you see him? Auneende ke waubumud? - -[The text at this point was misprinted. There is at least one missing -page.] - -becomes quite necessary in writing the language. And in the following -sentences, the substantive is properly employed after the pronoun. - - This dog is very lean, Gitshee bukaukdoozo woh-ow - annemoosh. - These dogs are very lean, Gitshee bukauddoozowug o-goo - annemooshug. - Those dogs are fat, Ig-eu annemooshug ween-in-oawug. - That dog is fat, Ah-ow annemoosh ween-in-ao. - This is a handsome knife, Gagait onishishin maundun mokomahn. - These are handsome knives, Gagait wahwinaudj o-noo mokomahnun. - Those are bad knives, Monaududön in-euwaidde mokomahnun. - Give me that spear, Meezhishin eh-eu ahnitt. - Give me those spears, Meezhishin in-eu unnewaidde - ahnitteen. - That is a fine boy, Gagait kwonaudj ah-ow kweewezains. - Those are fine boys, Gagait wahwinaudj ig-euwaidde - kweewezainsug. - This boy is larger than that, Nahwudj mindiddo woh-ow kweewezains - ewaidde dush. - That is what I wanted, Meeh-eu wau iauyaumbaun. - This is the very thing I wanted, Mee-suh oh-oo wau iauyaumbaun. - -In some of these expressions, the pronoun combines with an adjective, as -in the compound words, ineuwaidde, and igeuwaidde, _those yonder_, (in.) -and _those yonder_ (an.) Compounds which exhibit the full pronoun in -coalescence with the word _Ewaidde_ yonder. - - -CHRONOLOGY. - - Columbus discovered the West Indies Oct. 12, 1492. - Americo Vespucio, discovered the coast of South America, 1497. - Cabot discovered the North American coast 1497. - De Leon discovered Florida 1512. - Cortes, enters the city of Mexico, after a seige, Aug. 13, 1521. - Verrizani, is said to have entered the bay of New York, 1524. - Cartier discovered the St. Lawrence, 1534. - Jamestown, in Virginia, is founded, 1608. - Acknowledged date of the settlement of Canada, 1608. - Hudson discovers the river bearing his name, 1609. - The Dutch build a fort near Albany, 1614. - The Pilgrims land at Plymouth Dec, 22, 1620. - New Amsterdam taken from the Dutch by the Duke of York and Albany - and named New York 1664. - La Salle discovers the Illinois in upper Louisiana 1678. - discovers Lower Louisiana, and is killed 1685. - - - - -THE ERA OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH IN THE UPPER LAKES. - - -Ke-wa-kons, a chief of the straits of St. Mary's, told me, during an -interview, in 1827, that but seven generations of red men had passed -away, since the French first appeared on those straits. If we take the -date of Cartier's first visit to the St. Lawrence, as the era of their -acquaintance with this nation, A.D. 1534, we should have 56 years as the -period of an Indian generation. Should we take, instead of this, the -time of La Salle's first arrival on the upper lakes, 1778, there would, -on the contrary, be but a fraction over 22 years for a generation. But -neither of these periods, can be truly said to coincide with the -probable era of the chief's historical reminiscences. The first is too -early, the last too late. An average of the two, which is required to -apply the observation properly, gives 38 years as the Indian generation. -This nearly assimilates it to the results among Europeans, leaving 8 -years excess. Further data would probably reduce this; but it is a -department in which we have so little material, that we must leave it -till these be accumulated. It may be supposed that the period of Indian -longevity, before the introduction of ardent spirits, was equal, -perhaps, a little superior, to that of the European; but it did not -exceed it, we think, by 8 years. - -Ke-wa-kons, whom I knew very well, was a man of shrewd sense, and -respectable powers of observation. He stated, at the same interview, -that his tribe, who were of the Odjibwa type of the Algonquins, laid -aside their Akeeks, or clay cooking-vessels, at _that time_, and adopted -in lieu of them, the light brass kettle, which was more portable and -permanent. And from that time, their skill in pottery declined, until, -in our day, it is entirely lost. It is curious to reflect, that within -the brief period of 150 years, a living branch of coarse manufacture -among them, has thus been transferred into an object of antiquarian -research. This fact, should make historians cautious in assigning very -remote periods of antiquity to the monumental evidences of by-gone -generations. - -It is by such considerations that we get a glimpse of some of the -general principles which attended the early periods of discovery and -settlement, in all parts of the continent. Adventurers came to find -gold, or furs, to amass wealth, get power, or to perform mere exploits. -Nobody cared much for the native race, beyond the fact of their being -the medium to lead to these specified objects. There were none, to -record accurately, their arts, and other peculiarities, which now excite -intense interest. They died away very fast, whole tribes becoming -extinct within a generation or two. The European fabrics, then -introduced, were so much superior to their own, that they, at once, -discontinued such rude arts as they practised, at least in our northern -latitudes. New adventurers followed in the track of Columbus, Amerigo, -Cabot, and their compeers and followers, who, in the lapse of time, -picked up, from the soil, pieces of coarse pottery, pestles and such -like things, and holding them up, said,--"See these!--here are evidences -of very great skill, and very high antiquity." - -It is not the intention by any means, to assert, that there were not -antiquities of a far higher era, and nobler caste, but merely to impress -upon inquirers, the necessity of discriminating the different eras in -the chronology of our antiquities. All Indian pottery, north of the -capes of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, is of, or preceding the era of -the discovery; but there is found in graves, a species of pottery, and -vitrified ware, which was introduced, in the early stages of traffic, by -Europeans. Of this transition era between the dying away of the Indian -arts, and the introduction of the European, are the rude pastes, enamel -and glass beads, and short clay pipes of coarse texture, found in Indian -cemeteries, but not in the tumuli. In place of these, our ancient -Indians used wrought and unwrought sea shells of various species, and -pipes carved out of steatites and other soft materials. - - * * * * * - -Mr. Anderson remarks in his biography of Catharine Brown, that "the -Cherokees are said to possess a language, which is more precise and -powerful than any into which learning has poured richness of thought, or -genius breathed the enchantments of fancy and eloquence." - -David Brown, in one of his letters, in the same volume, terms his people -the Tsallakee, of which we must therefore take "Cherokee," to be a -corruption. It is seen by the Cherokee alphabet, that the sound of _r_ -does not occur in that language. - - -FAITH. - -When Chusco was converted to Christianity at the mission of -Michilimackinac, he had planted a field of potatoes on one of the -neighbouring islands in lake Huron. In the fall he went over in his -canoe, with his aged wife, to dig them--a labour which the old woman set -unceremoniously about, as soon as they got into the field. "Stop!" cried -the little old man, who had a small tenor voice and was bent nearly -double by age,--"dare you begin to dig, till we have thanked the Lord -for their growth." They then both knelt down in the field, while he -lifted up his voice, in his native language, in thanks. - - - - -SHINGABA-WOSSINS; OR IMAGE STONES. - - -The native tribes who occupy the borders of the great lakes, are very -ingenious in converting to the uses of superstition, such masses of -loose rock, or boulder stones, as have been fretted by the action of -water into shapes resembling the trunks of human bodies, or other -organic forms. - -There appears, at all times, to have been a ready disposition to turn -such masses of rude natural sculpture, so to call them, to an idolatrous -use; as well as a most ingenious tact, in aiding the effect of the -natural resemblance, by dots or dabs of paint, to denote eyes, and other -features, or by rings of red ochre, around their circumference, by way -of ornament. - -In the following figures, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, some of these masses are -represented. - -[Illustration] - -Number 3. was brought to the office of the Indian Agent at -Michilimackinac in 1839, and placed among objects of analagous interest -to visiters. It consisted of a portion of a vein or mass of gneiss or -granite, from which both mica and feldspar were nearly absent, existing -only in trace, while the quartzy portion predominated, and had, by its -superior hardness, resisted the elemental action. The mode of the -formation of such masses is very well known to geologists, resulting, in -almost every case, from the unequal degree of hardness of various parts -of a mass, submitted to an equal force of attrition, such as is -ordinarily given by the upheaving and rolling force of waves on a lake, -or ocean beach. To the natives, who are not prone to reason from cause -to effect, such productions appear wonderful. All that is past -comprehension, or wonderful, is attributed by them to the supernatural -agency of spirits. The hunter or warrior, who is travelling along the -coast, and finds one of these self-sculptured stones, is not sure that -it is not a direct interposition of his God, or guardian Manito, in his -favour. He is habitually a believer in the most subtle forms of -mysterious power, which he acknowledges to be often delegated to the -native priests, or necromancers. He is not staggered by the most -extraordinary stretch of fancy, in the theory of the change or -transformation of animate into inanimate objects, and vice versa. All -things, "in heaven and earth," he believes to be subject to this subtle -power of metamorphosis. But, whatever be the precise operating cause of -the respect he pays to the imitative rolled stones, which he calls -Shingaba-wossins, and also by the general-phrase of Muz-in-in-a-wun, or -images, he is not at liberty to pass them without hazarding something, -in his opinion, of his chance of success in life, or the fortune of the -enterprize in hand. - -If the image be small, it is generally taken with him and secreted in -the neighborhood of his lodge. If large and too heavy for this purpose, -it is set up on the shore, generally in some obscure nook, where an -offering of tobacco, or something else of less value, may be made _to_ -it, or rather _through_ it, to the spirit. - -In 1820 one of these stones (No. 2.) was met by an expedition of the -government sent north, that year, for the purpose of interior discovery -and observation, at the inner Thunder Bay island, in Lake Huron. It was -a massy stone, rounded, with a comparatively broad base and entablature -but not otherwise remarkable. It was set up, under a tree on the island, -which was small, with the wide and clear expanse of the lake in plain -view. The island was one of those which were regarded as desert, and was -probably but seldom stopped at. It was, indeed, little more than a few -acres of boulders and pebbles, accumulated on a limestone reef, and -bearing a few stunted trees and shrubs. The water of the lake must, in -high storms, have thrown its spray over this imaged stone. It was, in -fine, one of those private places which an Indian might be supposed to -have selected for his secret worship. - -In No. 3. is figured an object of this kind, which was found in 1832, in -the final ascent to the source of the Mississippi, on the right cape, in -ascending this stream into lac Traverse--at the distance of about 1000 -miles above the falls of St. Anthony. I landed at the point to see it, -having heard, from my interpreter, that such an object was set up and -dedicated to some unknown Manito there. It was a pleasant level point of -land shaded with trees, and bearing luxuriant grass and wild shrubbery -and flowers. In the middle of this natural parterre the stone was -placed, and was overtopped by this growth, and thus concealed by it. A -ring of red paint encircled it, at the first narrowed point of its -circumference, to give it the resemblance of a human neck; and there -were some rude dabs to denote other features. The Indian is not precise -in the matter of proportion, either in his drawing, or in his attempts -at statuary. He seizes upon some minute and characteristic trait, which -is at once sufficient to denote the _species_, and he is easily -satisfied about the rest. Thus a simple cross, with a strait line from -shoulder to shoulder, and a dot, or circle above, to serve for a head, -is the symbol of the human frame; and without any adjunct of feet, or -hands, it could not have been mistaken for anything else--certainly for -any other object in the animal creation. - - - - - -MNEMONIC SYMBOLS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. - -CHAPTER I. - - - PRELIMINARY REMARKS.--SYMBOLICAL REPRESENTATIONS AND HIEROGLYPHICS, - ONE OF THE EARLIEST OBSERVED TRAITS IN THE CUSTOMS AND ARTS OF THE - AMERICAN ABORIGINES; BUT THIS ART NOT SUSPECTED TO HAVE A - SYSTEMATIC FORM AMONG THE RUDE HUNTER TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA, - UNTIL THE YEAR 1820, WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED ON THE SOURCE OF THE - MISSISSIPPI. THIS INSTANCE GIVEN, WITH A DRAWING; THE HINT PURSUED. - -The practice of the North American tribes, of drawing figures and -pictures on skins, trees, and various other substances, has been noticed -by travellers and writers from the earliest times. Among the more -northerly tribes, these figures are often observed on that common -substitute for the ancient papyrus, among these nations, the bark of the -_betula papyracea_, or white birch: a substance possessing a smooth -surface, easily impressed, very flexible, and capable of being preserved -in rolls. Often these devices are cut, or drawn in colours on the trunks -of trees, more rarely on rocks or boulders. According to Colden and -Lafitou records of this rude character were formerly to be seen on the -blazed surface of trees, along some of the ancient paths and portages -leading from the sources of the Atlantic rivers into the interior, or in -the valley of the St. Lawrence; but these, after satisfying a transient -curiosity, have long since yielded to the general fate of these simple -and unenduring monuments. Pictures and symbols of this kind are now to -be found only on the unreclaimed borders of the great area west of the -Alleghanies and the Lakes, in the wide prairies of the west, or along -the Missouri and the upper Mississippi. It is known that such devices -were in use, to some extent, at the era of the discovery, among most of -the tribes, situated between the latitudes of the capes of Florida, and -Hudson's Bay, although they have been considered as more particularly -characteristic of the tribes of the Algonquin type. In a few instances, -these pictorial inscriptions have been found to be painted or stained on -the faces of rocks, or on loose boulders, and still more rarely, devices -were scratched or pecked into the surface, as is found to be the case -still at Dighton and Venango. Those who are intent on observations of -this kind, will find figures and rude hieroglyphics invariably at the -present time, on the grave posts which mark the places of Indian -sepulchre at the west and north. The nations who rove over the western -prairies, inscribe them on the skins of the buffalo. North of latitude -42°, the bark of the birch, which furnishes at once the material of -canoes, tents, boxes, water-dippers, and paper, constitutes the common -medium of their exhibition. Tablets of hard wood are confined to such -devices as are employed by their priests and prophets, and medicine-men; -and these characters uniformly assume a more mystical or sacred import. -But the recent discovery, on one of the tributaries of the Susquehanna, -of an Indian map, drawn on stone, with intermixed devices, a copy of -which appears in the 1st volume of the collections of the Historical -Committee of the American Philosophical Society, proves that stone was -also employed in that branch of inscription. This discovery was on the -area occupied by the Lenapees. - -Colden, in his history of the Five Nations,[23] informs us that when, in -1696, the Count de Frontenac marched a well appointed army into the -Iroquois country, with artillery and all other means of regular military -offence, he found, on the banks of the Onondaga, now called Oswego -river, a tree, on the trunk of which the Indians had depicted the French -army, and deposited two bundles of cut rushes at its foot, consisting of -1434 pieces--an act of defiance on their part, which was intended to -inform their invaders, that they would have to encounter this number of -warriors. In speaking in another passage of the general traits of the -Five Nations, he mentions the general custom prevalent among the Mohawks -going to war, of painting, with red paint, on the trunk of a tree; such -symbols, as might serve to denote the object of their expedition. Among -the devices was a canoe pointed towards the enemies' country. On their -return, it was their practice to visit the same tree, or precinct, and -denote the result: the canoe being, in this case, drawn with its bows in -the opposite direction. Lafitou, in his account of the nations of -Canada, makes observations on this subject to which we shall more -particularly refer hereafter, which denote the general prevalence of the -custom in that quarter. Other writers, dating as far back as Smith and -de Bre, bear a passing testimony to the existence of this trait among -the northern tribes. Few have however done more than notice it, and none -are known to have furnished any amount of connected details. - -A single element in the system attracted early notice. I allude to the -institution of the Totem, which has been well known among the Algonquin -tribes from the settlement of Canada. By this device, the early -missionaries observed, that the natives marked their division of a tribe -into clans, and of a clan into families, and the distinction was thus -very clearly preserved. Affinities were denoted and kept up, long after -tradition had failed in its testimony. This distinction, which is -marked with much of the certainty of heraldic bearings in the feudal -system, was seen to mark the arms, the lodge, and the trophies of the -chief and warrior. It was likewise employed to give identity to the -_clan_ of which he was a member, on his ad-je-da-teg or grave-post. This -record went but little farther; a few strokes or geometric devices were -drawn on these simple monuments, to denote the number of men he had -slain in battle. - -It has not been suspected in any notices to which I have had access, -that there was a pictorial alphabet, or a series of homophonous figures, -in which, by the juxtaposition of symbols representing acts, as well as -objects of action, and by the introduction of simple adjunct signs, a -series of disjunctive, yet generally connected ideas, were denoted; or -that the most prominent incidents of life and death could be recorded so -as to be transmitted from one generation to another, as long at least as -the monument and the people endured. Above all, it was not anticipated -that there should have been found, as will be observed in the subsequent -details, a system of symbolic notation for the songs and incantations of -the Indian metas and priests, making an appeal to the memory for the -preservation of language. - -Persons familiar with the state of the western tribes of this continent, -particularly in the higher northern latitudes, have long been aware that -the songs of the Indian priesthood, and wabenoes, were sung from a kind -of pictorial notation, made on bark. It is a fact which has often come -to the observation of military officers performing duties on those -frontiers, and of persons exercising occasional duties in civil life, -who have passed through their territories. But there is no class of -persons to whom the fact of such notations being made, is so well known, -as the class of Indian traders and interpreters who visit or reside a -part of the season at the Indian villages. I have never conversed with -any of this latter class of persons to whom the fact of such -inscriptions, made in various ways, was not so familiar as in their view -to excite no surprise or even demand remark. - -My attention was first called to the subject in 1820. In the summer of -that year I was on an exploring journey through the lake country. At the -mouth of the small river Huron, on the banks of Lake Superior, there was -an Indian grave fenced around with saplings, and protected with much -care. At its head stood a post, or tabular stick, upon which was drawn -the figure of the animal which was the symbol of the clan to which the -deceased chief belonged. Strokes of red paint were added to denote, -either the number of war parties in which he had been engaged, or the -number of scalps which he had actually taken from the enemy. The -interpreter who accompanied us, and who was himself tinctured with -Indian blood, gave the latter, as the true import of these marks. - -On quitting the river St. Louis, which flows into the head of the lake -at the Fond du Lac, to cross the summit dividing its waters from those -of the Mississippi, the way led through heavy and dense woods and -swamps, and the weather proved dark and rainy, so that, for a couple of -days together, we had scarcely a glimpse of the sun. - -The party consisted of sixteen persons, with two Indian guides; but the -latter, with all their adroitness in threading the maze, were completely -at fault for nearly an entire day. At night we lay down on ground -elevated but a few inches above the level of the swamp. The next morning -as we prepared to leave the camp, a small sheet of birch bark containing -devices was observed elevated on the top of a sapling, some 8 or 10 feet -high. One end of this pole was thrust firmly into the ground leaning in -the direction we were to go. On going up to this object, it was found, -with the aid of the interpreter, to be a symbolic record of the -circumstances of our crossing this summit, and of the night's encampment -at this spot. Each person was appropriately depicted, distinguishing the -soldiers from the officer in command, and the latter from the scavans of -the party. The Indians themselves were depicted without hats, this -being, as we noticed, the general symbol for a white man or European. -The entire record, of which a figure is annexed, accurately symbolized -the circumstances, and they were so clearly drawn, according to their -conventional rules, that the intelligence would be communicated thereby -to any of their people who might chance to travel or wander this way. -This was the object of the inscription. - -[Illustration] - -Fig. No. 1. represents the subaltern officer in command of the party of -the U. S. troops. He is drawn with a sword to denote his official rank. -No. 2 denotes the person who officiated in quality of Secretary. He is -represented holding a book. No. 3 denotes the geologist and mineralogist -of the party. He is drawn with a hammer. Nos. 4 and 5 are attachés; No. -6, the interpreter. - -The group of figures marked 9 represents eight infantry soldiers, each -of whom, as shown in group No. 10, was armed with a musket. No. 15 -denotes that they had a separate fire, and constituted a separate mess. -Figures 7 and 8 are the two Chippewa guides, the principal of whom, -called Chamees, or the Pouncing-hawk, led the way over this dreary -summit. These are the only human figures on this unique bark letter, who -are drawn without a hat. This was the characteristic seized on, by them, -and generally employed by the tribes, to distinguish the Red from the -white race. Figures 11 and 12 represent a prairie hen, and a green -tortoise, which constituted the sum of the preceding day's chase, and -were eaten at the encampment. The inclination of the pole, was designed -to show the course pursued from that particular spot: there were three -hacks in it, below the scroll of bark, to indicate the estimated length -of this part of the journey, computing from water to water, that is to -say, from the head of the portage Aux Couteaux on the St. Louis river, -to the open shores of Sandy lake, the Ka-ma-ton-go-gom-ag of the -Odjibwas. - -The story was thus briefly and simply told; and this memorial was set up -by the guides, to advertise any of their countrymen, who might chance to -wander in that direction, of the adventure--for it was evident, both -from this token, and from the dubiousness which had marked the prior -day's wanderings, that they regarded the passage in this light, and were -willing to take some credit for the successful execution of it. - -Before we had penetrated quite to this summit, we came to another -evidence of their skill in this species of knowledge, consisting of one -of those contrivances which they denominate Man-i-to-wa-teg, or Manito -Poles. On reaching this our guides shouted, whether from a superstitious -impulse, or the joy of having found a spot they certainly could -recognize, we could not tell. We judged the latter. It consisted of -eight poles, of equal length; shaved smooth and round, painted with -yellow ochre, and set so as to enclose a square area. It appeared to -have been one of those rude temples, or places of incantation or -worship, known to the metas, or priests, where certain rites and -ceremonies are performed. But it was not an ordinary medicine lodge. -There had been far more care in its construction. - -On reaching the village of Sandy lake, on the upper Mississippi, the -figures of animals, birds, and other devices were found, on the rude -coffins, or wrappings of their dead, which were scaffolded around the -precincts of the fort, and upon the open shores of the lake. Similar -devices were also observed, here, as at other points in this region, -upon their arms, war-clubs, canoes, and other pieces of moveable -property, as well as upon their grave posts. - -In the descent of the Mississippi, we observed such devices painted on a -rock, below and near the mouth of Elk river, and at a rocky island in -the river, at the Little Falls. In the course of our descent to the -Falls at St. Anthony, we observed another bark letter, as the party now -began to call these inscriptions, suspended on a high pole, on an -elevated bank of the river, on its west shore. At this spot, where we -encamped for the night, and which is just opposite a point of highly -crystalized hornblende rock, called the Peace Rock, rising up through -the prairie, there were left standing the poles or skeletons of a great -number of Sioux lodges. It is near and a little west of the territorial -boundary of the Sioux nation; and on inspecting this scroll of bark, we -found it had reference to a negociation for bringing about a permanent -peace between the Sioux and Chippewas. A large party of the former, from -St. Peter's, headed by their chief, had proceeded thus far, in the hope -of meeting the Chippewa hunters, on their summer hunt. They had been -countenanced, or directed in this step, by Col. Leavenworth, the -commanding officer of the new post, just then about to be erected. The -inscription, which was read off at once, by the Chippewa Chief -Babesacundabee, who was with us, told all this; it gave the name of the -Chief who had led the party, and the number of his followers, and gave -that chief the first assurance he had, that his mission for the same -purpose, would be favourably received. - -After our arrival at St. Anthony's Falls, it was found that this system -of picture writing was as familiar to the Dacotah, as we had found it -among the Algonquin race. At Prairie du Chien, and at Green Bay, the -same evidences were observed among the Monomonees, and the Winnebagoes, -at Chicago among the Pottowottomies, and at Michilimakinac, among the -Chippewas and Ottawas who resort, in such numbers, to that Island. While -at the latter place, on my return, I went to visit the grave of a noted -chief of the Monomonee tribe, who had been known by his French name of -Toma, i.e. Thomas. He had been buried on the hill west of the village; -and on looking at his Ad-je-da-tig or grave post, it bore a pictorial -inscription, commemorating some of the prominent achievements of his -life. - -These hints served to direct my attention to the subject when I returned -to the country in 1822. The figures of a deer, a bear, a turtle, and a -crane, according to this system, stand respectively for the names of -men, and preserve the language very well, by yielding to the person -conversant with it, the corresponding words, of Addick, Muckwa, -Mickenock, and Adjeejauk. Marks, circles, or dots, of various kinds, may -symbolize the number of warlike deeds. Adjunct devices may typify or -explain adjunct acts. If the system went no farther, the record would -yield a kind of information both gratifying and useful to one of his -countrymen who had no letters and was expert in the use of symbols; and -the interpretation of it, would be easy and precise in proportion as the -signs were general, conventional, and well understood. There was -abundant evidence in my first year's observation, to denote that this -mode of communication was in vogue, and well understood by the northern -tribes; but it hardly seemed susceptible of a farther or extended use. -It was not till I had made a personal acquaintance with one of their -Medas--a man of much intelligence, and well versed in their customs, -religion, and history, that a more enlarged application of it appeared -to be practicable. I observed in the hands of this man a tabular piece -of wood, covered over on both sides, with a series of devices cut -between parallel lines, which he referred to, as if they were the notes -of his medicine and mystical songs. I heard him sing these songs, and -observed that their succession was fixed and uniform. By cultivating his -acquaintance, and by suitable attention and presents, such as the -occasion rendered proper, he consented to explain the meaning of each -figure, the object symbolized, and the words attached to each symbol. By -this revelation, which was made with closed doors, I became a member or -initiate of the Medicine Society, and also of the Wabeno Society. Care -was taken to write each sentence of the songs and chants in the Indian -language, with its appropriate devices, and to subjoin a literal -translation in English. When this had been done, and the system -considered, it was very clear that the devices were mnemonic--that any -person could sing from these devices, very accurately, what he had -previously committed to memory, and that the system revealed a curious -scheme of symbolic notation. - -All the figures thus employed, as the initiatory points of study, -related exclusively to either the medicine dance, or the wabeno dance; -and each section of figures, related exclusively to one or the other. -There was no intermixture or commingling of characters, although the -class of subjects were sometimes common to each. It was perceived, -subsequently, that this classification of symbols extended to the songs -devoted to war, to hunting, and to other specific topics. The entire -inscriptive system, reaching from its first rudimental characters, in -the ad-je-da-tig, or grave board, to the extended roll of bark covered -with the incriptions of their magicians and prophets, derived a new -interest-from this feature. It was easy to perceive that much -comparative precision was imparted to interpretations in the hands of -the initiated, which before, or to others, had very little. An interest -was thus cast over it distinct from its novelty. And in truth, the -entire pictorial system was thus invested with the character of a -subject of acurate investigation, which promised both interest and -instruction. - -It has been thought that a simple statement of these circumstances, -would best answer the end in view, and might well occupy the place of a -more formal or profound introduction. In bringing forward the elements -of the system, after much reflection, it is thought, however, that a few -remarks on the general character of this art may not be out of place. -For, simple as it is, we perceive in it the native succedaneum for -letters. It is not only the sole graphic mode they have few -communicating ideas, but it is the mode of communicating all classes of -ideas commonly entertained by them--such as their ideas of war, of -hunting, of religion, and of magic and necromancy. So considered, it -reveals a new and unsuspected mode of obtaining light on their opinions -of a deity, of the structure or cosmogony of the globe, of astronomy, -the various classes of natural objects, their ideas of immortality and a -future state, and the prevalent notions of the union of spiritual and -material matter. So wide and varied, indeed, is the range opened by the -subject, that we may consider the Indian system of picture writing as -the thread which ties up the scroll of the Red man's views of life and -death, reveals the true theory of his hopes and fears, and denotes the -relation he bears, in the secret chambers of his own thoughts, to his -Maker. What a stoic and suspicious temper would often hold him back from -uttering to another, and what a limited language would sometimes prevent -his fully revealing, if he wished, symbols and figures can be made to -represent and express. The Indian is not a man prone to describe his -god, but he is ready to depict him, by a symbol. He may conceal under -the figures of a serpent, a turtle, or a wolf, wisdom, strength, or -malignity, or convey under the picture of the sun, the idea of a -supreme, all-seeing intelligence. But he is not prepared to discourse -upon these things. What he believes on this head, he will not declare to -a white man or a stranger. His happiness and success in life, are -thought to depend upon the secrecy of that knowledge of the Creator and -his system in the Indian view of benign and malignant agents. To reveal -this to others, even to his own people, is, he believes, to expose -himself to the counteracting influence of other agents known to his -subtle scheme of necromancy and superstition, and to hazard success and -life itself. This conduces to make the Red man eminently a man of fear, -suspicion, and secrecy. But he cannot avoid some of these disclosures in -his pictures and figures. These figures represent ideas--whole ideas, -and their juxtaposition or relation on a roll of bark, a tree, or a -rock, discloses a continuity of ideas. This is the basis of the system. - -Picture writing is indeed the literature of the Indians. It cannot be -interpreted, however rudely, without letting one know what the Red man -thinks and believes. It shadows forth the Indian intellect, it stands in -the place of letters for the Unishinaba.[24] It shows the Red man in all -periods of our history; both as he _was_, and as he _is_; for there is -nothing more true than that, save and except the comparatively few -instances where they have truly embraced experimental christianity, -there has not - -[At this point, there is at least one missing page, though the -pagination is continuous.] - -FOOTNOTES: - - [23] London, 1747, p. 190. - - [24] A generic term denoting the common people of the Indian race. - - - - -GRAVE CREEK MOUND. - - -This gigantic tumulus, the largest in the Ohio valley, was opened some -four or five years ago, and found to contain some articles of high -antiquarian value, in addition to the ordinary discoveries of human -bones, &c. A rotunda was built under its centre, walled with brick, and -roofed over, and having a long gallery leading into it, at the base of -the mound. Around this circular wall, in the centre of this heavy and -damp mass of earth, with its atmosphere of peculiar and pungent -character, the skeletons and other disinterred articles, are hung up for -the gratification of visiters, the whole lighted up with candles, which -have the effect to give a strikingly sepulchral air to the whole scene. -But what adds most to this effect, is a kind of exuded flaky matter, -very white and soft, and rendered brilliant by dependent drops of water, -which hangs in rude festoons from the ceiling. - -To this rotunda, it is said, a delegation of Indians paid a visit a year -or two since. In the "Wheeling Times and Advertiser" of the 30th August -1843, the following communication, respecting this visit, introducing a -short dramatic poem, was published. - -"An aged Cherokee chief who, on his way to the west, visited the rotunda -excavated in this gigantic tumulus, with its skeletons and other relics -arranged around the walls, became so indignant at the desecration and -display of sepulchral secrets to the white race; that his companions and -interpreter found it difficult to restrain him from assassinating the -guide. His language assumed the tone of fury, and he brandished his -knife, as they forced him out of the passage. Soon after, he was found -prostrated, with his senses steeped in the influence of alcohol. - - "'Tis not enough! that hated race - Should hunt us out, from grove and place - And consecrated shore--where long - Our fathers raised the lance and song-- - 'Tis not enough!--that we must go - Where streams and rushing fountains flow - Whose murmurs, heard amid our fears, - Fall only on a stranger's ears-- - 'Tis not enough!--that with a wand, - They sweep away our pleasant land, - And bid us, as some giant-foe, - Or willing, or unwilling _go_! - But they must ope our very graves - To tell the _dead_--they too, are slaves." - - - - -NAMES OF THE AMERICAN LAKES. - - -Ontario, is a word from the Wyandot, or, as called by the Iroquois, -Quatoghie language. This tribe, prior to the outbreak of the war against -them, by their kindred the Iroquois, lived on a bay, near Kingston, -which was the ancient point of embarkation and debarkation, or, in other -words, at once the commencement and the terminus of the portage, -according to the point of destination for all, who passed into or out of -the lake. From such a point it was natural that a term so euphonous, -should prevail among Europeans, over the other Indian names in use. The -Mohawks and their confederates, generally, called it Cadaracqui--which -was also their name for the St. Lawrence. The Onondagas, it is believed, -knew it, in early times, by the name of Oswego.[25] Of the meaning of -Ontario, we are left in the dark by commentators on the Indian. -Philology casts some light on the subject. The first syllable, _on_, it -may be observed, appears to be the notarial increment or syllable of -Onondio, a hill. Tarak, is clearly, the same phrase, written darac, by -the French, in the Mohawk compound of Cadaracqui; and denotes rocks, -i.e. rocks standing in the water. In the final vowels _io_, we have the -same term, with the same meaning which they carry in the Seneca, or old -Mingo word Ohio.[26] It is descriptive of an extended and beautiful -water prospect, or landscape. It possesses all the properties of an -exclamation, in other languages, but according to the unique principles -of the Indian grammar, it is an exclamation-substantive. How beautiful! -[the prospect, scene present.] - -Erie is the name of a tribe conquered or extinguished by the Iroquois. -We cannot stop to inquire into this fact historically, farther than to -say, that it was the policy of this people to adopt into their different -tribes of the confederacy, the remnants of nations whom they conquered, -and that it was not probable, therefore, that the Eries were -annihilated. Nor is it probable that they were a people very remote in -kindred and language from the ancient Sinondowans, or Senecas, who, it -may be supposed, by crushing them, destroyed and exterminated their name -only, while they strengthened their numbers by this inter-adoption. In -many old maps, this lake bears the name of Erie or "Oskwago." - -Huron, is the _nom de guerre_ of the French, for the "Yendats," as they -are called in some old authors, or the Wyandots. Charlevoix tells us -that it is a term derived from the French word _hure_, [a wild boar,] -and was applied to this nation from the mode of wearing their hair. -"Quelles Hures!" said the first visiters, when they saw them, and hence, -according to this respectable author, the word Huron. - -When this nation, with their confederates, the Algonquins, or -Adirondaks, as the Iroquois called them, were overthrown in several -decisive battles on the St. Lawrence, between Montreal and Quebec, and -compelled to fly west; they at first took shelter in this lake, and thus -transferred their name to it. With them, or at least, at the same -general era, came some others of the tribes who made a part of the -people called by the French, Algonquins, or Nipercineans, and who thus -constituted the several tribes, speaking a closely cognate language, -whose descendants are regarded by philologists, as the modern -Lake-Algonquins. - -The French sometimes called this lake _Mer douce_, or the Placid sea. -The Odjibwas and some other northern tribes of that stock, call it -Ottowa lake. No term has been found for it in the Iroquois language, -unless it be that by which they distinguished its principal seat of -trade, negociation and early rendezvous, the island of Michilimackinac, -which they called Tiedonderaghie. - -Michigan is a derivative from two Odjibwa-Algonquin words, signifying -large, i.e. large in relation to masses in the inorganic kingdom, and a -lake. The French called it, generally, during the earlier periods of -their transactions, the lake of the Illinese, or Illinois. - -Superior, the most northwesterly, and the largest of the series, is a -term which appears to have come into general use, at a comparatively -early era, after the planting of the English colonies. The French -bestowed upon it, unsuccessfully, one or two names, the last of which -was Traci, after the French minister of this name. By the -Odjibwa-Algonquins, who at the period of the French discovery, and who -still occupy its borders, it is called Gitch-Igomee, or The Big -Sea-water; from Gitchee, great, and guma, a generic term for bodies of -water. The term IGOMA, is an abbreviated form of this, suggested for -adoption. - - * * * * * - -The poetry of the Indians, is the poetry of naked thought. They have -neither rhyme, nor metre to adorn it. - -Tales and traditions occupy the place of books, with the Red Race.--They -make up a kind of oral literature, which is resorted to, on long winter -evenings, for the amusement of the lodge. - -The love of independence is so great with these tribes, that they have -never been willing to load their political system with the forms of a -regular government, for fear it might prove oppressive. - -To be governed and to be enslaved, are ideas which have been confounded -by the Indians. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [25] Vide a Reminiscence of Oswego. - - [26] The sound of i in this word, as in Ontario, is long e in the -Indian. - - - - -GEOGRAPHICAL TERMINOLOGY OF THE U. STATES, - -DERIVED FROM THE INDIAN LANGUAGE. - -_These Extracts are made from "Cyclopædia Indiænsis" a MS. work in -preparation._ - - -No. I. - -HUDSON RIVER.--By the tribes who inhabited the area of the present -County of Dutchess, and other portions of its eastern banks, as low down -as Tappan, this river was called Shatemuc--which is believed to be a -derivative from Shata, a pelican. The Minisi, who inhabited the west -banks, below the point denoted, extending indeed over all the east half -of New Jersey, to the falls of the Raritan, where they joined their -kindred the Lenni Lenape, or Delawares proper, called it -Mohicanittuck--that is to say, River of the Mohicans. The Mohawks, and -probably the other branches of the Iroquois, called it Cahohatatea--a -term of which the interpreters who have furnished the word, do not give -an explanation. The prefixed term Caho, it may be observed, is their -name for the lower and principal falls of the Mohawk. Sometimes this -prefix was doubled, with the particle _ha_, thrown in between. Hatatea -is clearly one of those descriptive and affirmative phrases representing -objects in the vegetable and mineral kingdoms, which admitted as we see, -in other instances of their compounds, a very wide range. By some of the -more westerly Iroquois, the river was called Sanataty. - -ALBANY.--The name by which this place was known to the Iroquois, at an -early day, was Schenectady, a term which, as recently pronounced by a -daughter of Brant, yet living in Canada, has the still harsher sound of -Skoh-nek-ta-ti, with a stress on the first, and the accent strongly on -the second syllable, the third and fourth being pronounced rapidly and -short. The transference of this name, to its present location, by the -English, on the bestowal on the place by Col. Nichols, of a new name, -derived from the Duke of York's Scottish title, is well known, and is -stated, with some connected traditions, by Judge Benson, in his -eccentric memoir before the New York Historical Society. The meaning of -this name, as derived from the authority above quoted, is _Beyond the -Pines_, having been applied exclusively in ancient times, to the -southern end of the ancient portage path, from the Mohawk to the Hudson. -By the Minci, who did not live here, but extended, however, on the west -shore above Coxackie, and even Coeymans, it appears to have been called -Gaishtinic. The Mohegans, who long continued to occupy the present area -of Rensselear and Columbia counties, called it Pempotawuthut, that is to -say, the City or Place of the Council Fire. None of these terms appear -to have found favour with the European settlers, and, together with -their prior names of Beaverwyck and Fort Orange, they at once gave way, -in 1664, to the present name. A once noted eminence, three miles west, -on the plains, i.e. Trader's Hill, was called Isutchera, or by prefixing -the name for a hill, Yonondio Isutchera. It means the hill of oil. -Norman's Kill, which enters the Hudson a little below, the Mohawks -called Towasentha, a term which is translated by Dr. Yates, to mean, a -place of many dead. - -NIAGARA.--It is not in unison, perhaps, with general expectation, to -find that the exact translation of this name does not entirely fulfil -poetic preconception. By the term O-ne-aw-ga-ra, the Mohawks and their -co-tribes described on the return of their war excursions, the neck of -water which connects lake Erie with Ontario. The term is derived from -their name for the human neck. Whether this term was designed to have, -as many of their names do, a symbolic import, and to denote the -importance of this communication in geography, as connecting the head -and heart of the country, can only be conjectured. Nor is it, in this -instance, probable. When Europeans came to see the gigantic falls which -marked the strait, it was natural that they should have supposed the -name descriptive of that particular feature, rather than the entire -river and portage. We have been assured, however, that it is not their -original name for the water-fall, although with them, as with us, it may -have absorbed this meaning. - -BUFFALO.--The name of this place in the Seneca, is Te-ho-sa-ro-ro. Its -import is not stated. - -DETROIT.--By the Wyandots, this place is called Teuchsagrondie; by the -Lake tribes of the Algic type, Wa-we-á-tun-ong: both terms signify the -Place of the turning or Turned Channel. It has been remarked by visiters -who reach this place at night, or in dark weather, or are otherwise -inattentive to the courses, that owing to the extraordinary involutions -of the current the sun appears to rise in the wrong place. - -CHICAGO.--This name, in the Lake Algonquin dialects, to preserve the -same mode of orthography, is derived from Chicagowunzh, the wild onion -or leek. The orthography is French, as they were the discoverers and -early settlers of this part of the west. Kaug, in these dialects is a -porcupine, and She kaug a polecat. The analogies in these words are -apparent, but whether the onion was named before or after the animal, -must be judged if the _age_ of the derivation be sought for. - -TUSCALOOSA, a river of Alabama. From the Chacta words _tushka_, -warrior, and _lusa_ black.--[Gallatin.] - -ARAGISKE, the Iroquois name for Virginia. - -ASSARIGOA, the name of the Six Nations for the Governor of Virginia. - -OWENAGUNGAS, a general name of the Iroquois for the New England Indians. - -OTESEONTEO, a spring which a the head of the river Delaware. - -ONTONAGON; a considerable river of lake Superior, noted from early -times, for the large mass of native copper found on its banks. This name -is said to have been derived from the following incident. It is known -that there is a small bay and dead water for some distance within its -mouth. In and out of this embayed water, the lake alternately flows, -according to the influence of the winds, and other causes, upon its -level. An Indian woman had left her wooden dish, or Onagon, on the -sands, at the shore of this little bay, where she had been engaged. On -coming back from her lodge, the outflowing current had carried off her -valued utensil. Nia Nin-do-nau-gon! she exclaimed, for it was a curious -piece of workmanship. That is to say--Alas! my dish! - -CHUAH-NAH-WHAH-HAH, or Valley of the Mountains. A new pass in the Rocky -Mountains, discovered within a few years. It is supposed to be in N. -latitude about 40°. The western end of the valley gap is 30 miles wide, -which narrows to 20 at its eastern termination, it then turns oblique to -the north, and the opposing sides appear to close the pass, yet there is -a narrow way quite to the foot of the mountain. On the summit there is a -large beaver pond, which has outlets both ways, but the eastern stream -dries early in the season, while there is a continuous flow of water -west. In its course, it has several beautiful, but low cascades, and -terminates in a placid and delightful stream. This pass is now used by -emigrants. - -AQUIDNECK.--The Narragansett name for Rhode Island. Roger Williams -observes, that he could never obtain the meaning of it from the natives. -The Dutch, as appears by a map of Novi Belgii published at Amsterdam in -1659, called it Roode Eylant, or Red Island, from the autumnal colour of -its foliage. The present term, as is noticed, in Vol. III. of the -Collections of the R. I. Hist. Soc. is derived from this. - -INCAPATCHOW, a beautiful lake in the mountains at the sources of the -river Hudson.--[Charles F. Hoffman, Esq.] - -HOUSATONIC; a river originating in the south-western part of -Massachusetts, and flowing through the State of Connecticut into Long -Island Sound, at Stratford. It is a term of Mohegan origin. This tribe -on retiring eastward from the banks of the Hudson, passed over the -High-lands, into this inviting valley. We have no transmitted etymology -of the term, and must rely on the general principles of their -vocabulary. It appears to have been called the valley of the stream -beyond the Mountains, from _on_, the notarial sign of wudjo, a mountain, -atun, a generic phrase for stream or channel, and ic, the inflection for -locality. - -WEA-NUD-NEC.--The Indian name, as furnished by Mr. O'Sullivan, [D. Rev.] -for Saddle Mountain, Massachusetts. It appears to be a derivative from -Wa-we-a, round, i.e. any thing round or crooked, in the inanimate -creation. - -MA-HAI-WE; The Mohegan term, as given by Mr. Bryant [N. Y. E. P.] for -Great Barrington, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. - -MASSACHUSETTS.--This was not the name of a particular tribe, but a -geographical term applied, it should seem, to that part of the shores of -the North Atlantic, which is swept by the tide setting into, and around -the peninsula of Cape Cod, and the wide range of coast trending -southerly, It became a generic word, at an early day, for the tribes who -inhabited this coast. It is said to be a word of Narragansett origin, -and to signify the Blue Hills. This is the account given of it by Roger -Williams, who was told, by the Indians, that it had its origin from the -appearance of an island off the coast. It would be more in conformity to -the general requisitions of ethnography, to denominate the language the -New England-Algonquin, for there are such great resemblances in the -vocabulary and such an identity in grammatical construction, in these -tribes, that we are constantly in danger, by partial conclusions as to -original supremacy, of doing injustice. The source of origin was -doubtless west and south west, but we cannot stop at the Narragansetts, -who were themselves derivative from tribes still farther south. The -general meaning given by Williams seems, however, to be sustained, so -far as can now be judged. The terminations in _ett_, and _set_, as well -as those in _at_ and _ak_, denoted locality in these various tribes. We -see also, in the antipenultimate Chu, the root of Wudjo, a mountain. - -TA-HA-WUS, a very commanding elevation, several thousand feet above the -sea, which has of late years, been discovered at the sources of the -Hudson, and named Mount Marcy. It signifies, he splits the -sky.--[Charles F. Hoffman, Esq.] - -MONG, the name of a distinguished chief of New England, as it appears to -be recorded in the ancient pictorial inscription on the Dighton Rock, in -Massachusetts, who flourished before the country was colonized by the -English. He was both a war captain, and a prophet, and employed the arts -of the latter office, to increase his power and influence, in the -former. By patient application of his ceremonial arts, he secured the -confidence of a large body of men, who were led on, in the attack on his -enemies, by a man named Piz-hu. In this onset, it is claimed that he -killed forty men, and lost three. To the warrior who should be -successful, in this enterprize, he had promised his younger sister. -[Such are the leading events symbolized by this inscription, of which -extracts giving full details, as interpreted by an Indian chief, now -living, and read before the Am. Ethnological Society, in 1843, will be -furnished, in a subsequent number.] - -TIOGA.--A stream, and a county of the State of New-York. From Teoga, a -swift current, exciting admiration. - -DIONDEROGA, an ancient name of the Mohawk tribe, for the site at the -mouth of the Schoharie creek, where Fort Hunter was afterwards built. -[Col. W. L. Stone.] - -ALMOUCHICO, a generic name of the Indians for New England, as printed -on the Amsterdam map of 1659, in which it is stated that it was thus "by -d inwoonders genaemt." (So named by the natives.) - -IROCOISIA, a name bestowed in the map, above quoted, on that portion of -the present state of Vermont, which lies west of the Green Mountains, -stretching along the eastern bank of Lake Champlain. By the application -of the word, it is perceived that the French were not alone in the use -they made of the apparently derivative term "Iroquois," which they cave -to the (then) Five Nations. - - -NAMES OF THE SEASONS. - -The following are the names of the four seasons, in the Odjibwa tongue: - - Pe-bon, Winter, From Kone, Snow. - Se-gwun, Spring, " Seeg, Running water. - Ne-bin, Summer, " Anib, A leaf. - Ta-gwá-gi, Autumn, " Gwag, The radix of behind etc. - -By adding the letter g to these terms, they are placed in the relation -of verbs in the future tense, but a limited future, and the terms then -denote _next winter_, &c. Years, in their account of time, are counted -by winters. There is no other term, but pe-boan, for a year. The year -consists of twelve lunar months, or moons. A moon is called Geézis, or -when spoken of in contradistinction to the sun, Dibik Geezis, or -night-sun. The cardinal points are as follows. - - (_a_) North, Ke wá din-ung. - (_b_) South, O shá wan-ung. - (_c_) East, Wá bun-ung. - (_d_) West, Ká be un-ung. - -_a._ Kewadin is a compound derived from Ke-wa, to return, or come home, -and nodin, the wind. _b._ Oshauw is, from a root not apparent, but which -produces also ozau, yellow, &c. _c._ Waban is from ab, or wab, light. -_d._ Kabeun, is the name of a mythological person, who is spoken of, in -their fictions, as the father of the winds. The inflection ung, or oong, -in each term, denotes course, place, or locality. - - - - -LETTERS ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE WESTERN COUNTRY, - - ADDRESSED TO THE LATE WILLIAM L. STONE, EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK - COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER. - - -I. - - WHEELING (Va.), August 19th, 1843. - -I have just accomplished the passage of the Alleghany mountains, in the -direction from Baltimore to this place, and must say, that aside from -the necessary fatigue of night riding, the pass from the Cumberland -mountains and Laurel Hill is one of the easiest and most free from -danger of any known to me in this vast range. An excellent railroad now -extends from Baltimore, by Frederick and Harper's Ferry, up the Potomac -valley and its north branch quite to Cumberland, which is seated just -under the mountains, whose peaks would seem to bar all farther approach. -The national road finds its way, however, through a gorge, and winds -about where "Alps on Alps arise," till the whole vast and broad-backed -elevation is passed, and we descend west, over a smooth, well -constructed macadamized road, with a velocity which is some compensation -for the toil of winding our way up. Uniontown is the first principal -place west. The Monongahela is crossed at Brownsville, some forty miles -above Pittsburgh, whence the road, which is everywhere well made and -secured with fine stone bridges, culverts and viaducts, winds around a -succession of most enchanting hills, till it enters a valley, winds up a -few more hills, and brings the travellers out, on the banks of the Ohio, -at this town. - -The entire distance from the head of the Chesapeake to the waters of the -Ohio is not essentially different from three hundred miles. We were less -than two days in passing it, twenty-six hours of which, part night and -part day, were spent in post-coaches between Cumberland and this place. -Harper's Ferry is an impressive scene, but less so than it would be to a -tourist who had not his fancy excited by injudicious descriptions. To -me, the romance was quite taken away by driving into it with a -tremendous clattering power of steam. The geological structure of this -section of country, from water to water, is not without an impressive -lesson. In rising from the Chesapeake waters the stratified rocks are -lifted up, pointing west, or towards the Alleghanies, and after crossing -the summit they point east, or directly contrary, like the two sides of -the roof of a house, and leave the inevitable conclusion that the -Alleghanies have been lifted up by a lateral rent, as it were, at the -relative point of the ridge pole. It is in this way that the granites -and their congeners have been raised up into their present elevations. - -I did not see any evidence of that wave-like or undulatory structure, -which was brought forward as a theory last year, in an able paper -forwarded by Professor Rogers, and read at the meeting of the British -Association for the Advancement of Science at Manchester. No organic -remains are, of course, visible, in this particular section, at least -until we strike the coal and iron-stone formation of Pittsburgh. But I -have been renewedly impressed with the opinion, so very opposite to the -present geological theory, that less than seven thousand years is -sufficient, on scientific principles, to account for all the phenomena -of fossil plants, shells, bones and organic remains, as well as the -displacements, disruptions, subsidences and rising of strata, and other -evidences of extensive physical changes and disturbances on the earth's -surface. And I hope to live to see some American geologist build up a -theory on just philosophical and scientific principles, which shall bear -the test of truth. - -But you will, perhaps, be ready to think that I have felt more interest -in the impressions of plants in stone, than is to be found in the field -of waving corn before the eye. I have, however, by no means neglected -the latter; and can assure you that the crops of corn, wheat and other -grains, throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Western Virginia, are -excellent. Even the highest valleys in the Alleghanies are covered with -crops of corn, or fields of stacked wheat and other grains. Generally, -the soil west of the mountains is more fertile. The influence of the -great western limestones, as one of its original materials, and of the -oxide of iron, is clearly denoted in heavier and more thrifty cornfields -along the Monongahela and Ohio valleys. - -Of the Ohio River itself, one who had seen it in its full flow, in April -and May, would hardly recognize it now. Shrunk in a volume far below its -noble banks, with long spits of sand and gravel running almost across -it, and level sandy margins, once covered by water, where armies might -now manoeuvre, it is but the skeleton of itself. Steamboats of a -hundred tons burden now scarcely creep along its channel, which would -form cockboats for the floating palaces to be seen here in the days of -its vernal and autumnal glory. - - Truly yours, - HENRY R. COLCRAFT - - -II. - - GRAVE CREEK FLATS (Va.), August 23, 1843. - -I have devoted several days to the examination of the antiquities of -this place and its vicinity, and find them to be of even more interest -than was anticipated. The most prominent object of curiosity is the -great tumulus, of which notices have appeared in western papers; but -this heavy structure of earth is not isolated. It is but one of a series -of mounds and other evidences of ancient occupation at this point, of -more than ordinary interest. I have visited and examined seven mounds, -situated within a short distance of each other. They occupy the summit -level of a rich alluvial plain, stretching on the left or Virginia bank -of the Ohio, between the junctions of Big and Little Grave Creeks with -that stream. They appear to have been connected by low earthen -entrenchments, of which plain traces are still visible on some parts of -the commons. They included a well, stoned up in the usual manner, which -is now filled with rubbish. - -The summit of this plain is probably seventy-five feet above the present -summer level of the Ohio. It constitutes the second bench, or rise of -land, above the water. It is on this summit, and on one of the most -elevated parts of it, that the great tumulus stands. It is in the shape -of a broad cone, cut off at the apex, where it is some fifty feet -across. This area is quite level, and commands a view of the entire -plain, and of the river above and below, and the west shores of the Ohio -in front. Any public transaction on this area would be visible to -multitudes around it, and it has, in this respect, all the advantages of -the Mexican and Yucatanese teocalli. The circumference of the base has -been stated at a little under nine hundred feet; the height is -sixty-nine feet. - -The most interesting object of antiquarian inquiry is a small flat -stone, inscribed with antique alphabetic characters, which was disclosed -on the opening of the large mound. These characters are in the ancient -rock alphabet of sixteen right and acute angled single stokes, used by -the Pelasgi and other early Mediterranean nations, and which is the -parent of the modern Runic as well as the Bardic. It is now some four -or five years since the completion of the excavations, so far as they -have been made, and the discovery of this relic. Several copies of it -soon got abroad, which differed from each other, and, it was supposed, -from the original. This conjecture is true; neither the print published -in the Cincinnati Gazette, in 1839, nor that in the American Pioneer, in -1843, is correct. I have terminated this uncertainty by taking copies by -a scientific process, which does not leave the lines and figures to the -uncertainty of man's pencil. - -The existence of this ancient art here could hardly be admitted, -otherwise than as an insulated fact, without some corroborative -evidence, in habits and customs, which it would be reasonable to look -for in the existing ruins of ancient occupancy. It is thought some such -testimony has been found. I rode out yesterday three miles back to the -range of high hills which encompass this sub-valley, to see a rude tower -of stone standing on an elevated point, called Parr's point, which -commands a view of the whole plain, and which appears to have been -constructed as a watch-tower, or look-out, from which to descry an -approaching enemy. It is much dilapidated. About six or seven feet of -the work is still entire. It is circular, and composed of rough stones, -laid without mortar, or the mark of a hammer. A heavy mass of fallen -wall lies around, covering an area of some forty feet in diameter. Two -similar points of observation, occupied by dilapidated towers, are -represented to exist, one at the prominent summit of the Ohio and Grave -Creek hills, and another on the promontory on the opposite side of the -Ohio, in Belmont county, Ohio. - -It is known to all acquainted with the warlike habits of our Indians, -that they never have evinced the foresight to post a regular sentry, and -these rude towers may be regarded as of cotemporaneous age with the -interment of the inscription. - -Several polished tubes of stone have been found, in one of the lesser -mounds, the use of which is not very apparent. One of these, now on my -table, is 12 inches long, 1-1/4 wide at one end, and 1-1/2 at the other. -It is made of a fine, compact, lead blue steatite, mottled, and has been -constructed by boring, in the manner of a gun barrel. This boring is -continued to within about three-eighths of an inch of the larger end, -through which but a small aperture is left. If this small aperture be -looked through, objects at a distance are more clearly seen. Whether it -had this telescopic use, or others, the degree of art evinced in its -construction is far from rude. By inserting a wooden rod and valve, this -tube would be converted into a powerful syphon, or syringe. - -I have not space to notice one or two additional traits, which serve to -awaken new interest at this ancient point of aboriginal and apparently -mixed settlement, and must omit them till my next. - - -III. - - GRAVE CREEK FLATS, August 24, 1843. - -The great mound at these flats was opened as a place of public resort -about four years ago. For this purpose a horizontal gallery to its -centre was dug and bricked up, and provided with a door. The centre was -walled round as a rotunda, of about twenty-five feet diameter, and a -shaft sunk from the top to intersect it; it was in these two excavations -that the skeletons and accompanying relics and ornaments were found. All -these articles are arranged for exhibition in this rotunda, which is -lighted up with candles. The lowermost skeleton is almost entire, and in -a good state of preservation, and is put up by means of wires, on the -walls. It has been overstretched in the process so as to measure six -feet; it should be about five feet eight inches. It exhibits a noble -frame of the human species, bearing a skull with craniological -developments of a highly favorable character. The face bones are -elongated, with a long chin and symmetrical jaw, in which a full and -fine set of teeth, above and below, are present. The skeletons in the -upper vault, where the inscription stone was found, are nearly all -destroyed. - -It is a damp and gloomy repository, and exhibits in the roof and walls -of the rotunda one of the most extraordinary sepulchral displays which -the world affords. On casting the eye up to the ceiling, and the heads -of the pillars supporting it, it is found to be encrusted, or rather -festooned, with a white, soft, flaky mass of matter, which had exuded -from the mound above. This apparently animal exudation is as white as -snow. It hangs in pendent masses and globular drops; the surface is -covered with large globules of clear water, which in the reflected light -have all the brilliancy of diamonds. These drops of water trickle to the -floor, and occasionally the exuded white matter falls. The wooden -pillars are furnished with the appearance of capitals, by this -substance. That it is the result of a soil highly charged with particles -of matter, arising from the decay or incineration of human bodies, is -the only theory by which we may account for the phenomenon. Curious and -unique it certainly is, and with the faint light of a few candles it -would not require much imagination to invest the entire rotunda with -sylph-like forms of the sheeted dead. - -An old Cherokee chief, who visited this scene, recently, with his -companions, on his way to the West, was so excited and indignant at the -desecration of the tumulus, by this display of bones and relics to the -gaze of the white race, that he became furious and unmanageable; his -friends and interpreters had to force him out, to prevent his -assassinating the guide; and soon after he drowned his senses in -alcohol. - -That this spot was a very ancient point of settlement by the hunter -race in the Ohio valley, and that it was inhabited by the present red -race of North American Indians, on the arrival of whites west of the -Alleghanies, are both admitted facts; nor would the historian and -antiquary ever have busied themselves farther in the matter had not the -inscribed stone come to light, in the year 1839. I was informed, -yesterday, that another inscription stone had been found in one of the -smaller mounds on these flats, about five years ago, and have obtained -data sufficient as to its present location to put the Ethnological -Society on its trace. If, indeed, these inscriptions shall lead us to -admit that the continent was visited by Europeans prior to the era of -Columbus, it is a question of very high antiquarian interest to -determine who the visitors were, and what they have actually left on -record in these antique tablets. - -I have only time to add a single additional fact. Among the articles -found in this cluster of mounds, the greater part are commonplace, in -our western mounds and town ruins. I have noticed but one which bears -the character of that unique type of architecture found by Mr. Stephens -and Mr. Catherwood in Central America and Yucatan. With the valuable -monumental standards of comparison furnished by these gentlemen before -me, it is impossible not to recognize, in an ornamental stone, found in -one of the lesser mounds here, a specimen of similar workmanship. It is -in the style of the heavy feather-sculptured ornaments of Yucatan--the -material being a wax yellow sand-stone, darkened by time. I have taken -such notes and drawings of the objects above referred to, as will enable -me, I trust, in due time, to give a connected account of them to our -incipient society. - - -IV. - - MASSILLON, Ohio, August 27th, 1843. - -Since my last letter I have traversed the State of Ohio, by stage, to -this place. In coming up the Virginia banks of the Ohio from -Moundsville, I passed a monument, of simple construction, erected to the -memory of a Captain Furman and twenty-one men, who were killed by the -Indians, in 1777, at that spot. They had been out, from the fort at -Wheeling, on a scouting party, and were waylaid at a pass called the -narrows. The Indians had dropped a pipe and some trinkets in the path, -knowing that the white men would pick them up, and look at them, and -while the latter were grouped together in this act, they fired and -killed every man. The Indians certainly fought hard for the possession -of this valley, aiming, at all times, to make up by stratagem what they -lacked in numbers. I doubt whether there is in the history of the -spread of civilisation over the world a theatre so rife with partisan -adventure, massacre and murder, as the valley of the Ohio and the -country west of the Alleghany generally presented between the breaking -out of the American revolution, in '76, and the close of the Black Hawk -war in 1832. The true era, in fact, begins with the French war, in 1744, -and terminates with the Florida war, the present year. A work on this -subject, drawn from authentic sources, and written with spirit and -talent, would be read with avidity and possess a permanent interest. - -The face of the country, from the Ohio opposite Wheeling to the waters -of the Tuscarawas, the north fork of the Muskingum, is a series of high -rolling ridges and knolls, up and down which the stage travels slowly. -Yet this section is fertile and well cultivated in wheat and corn, -particularly the latter, which looks well. This land cannot be purchased -under forty or fifty dollars an acre. Much of it was originally bought -for seventy-five cents per acre. It was over this high, wavy land, that -the old Moravian missionary road to Gnadenhutten ran, and I pursued it -to within six miles of the latter place. You will recollect this -locality as the scene of the infamous murder, by Williamson and his -party, of the non-resisting Christian Delawares under the ministry of -Heckewelder and Ziesberger. - -On the Stillwater, a branch of the Tuscarawas, we first come to level -lands. This stream was noted, in early days, for its beaver and other -furs. The last beaver seen here was shot on its banks twelve years ago. -It had three legs, one having probably been caught in a trap or been -bitten off. It is known that not only the beaver, but the otter, wolf -and fox, will bite off a foot, to escape the iron jaws of a trap. It has -been said, but I know not on what good authority, that the hare will do -the same. - -We first struck the Ohio canal at Dover. It is in every respect a well -constructed work, with substantial locks, culverts and viaducts. It is -fifty feet wide at the top, and is more than adequate for all present -purposes. It pursues the valley of the Tuscarawas up to the summit, by -which it is connected with the Cuyahuga, whose outlet is at Cleveland. -Towns and villages have sprung up along its banks, where before there -was a wilderness. Nothing among them impressed me more than the town of -Zoar, which is exclusively settled by Germans. There seems something of -the principles of association--one of the fallacies of the age--in its -large and single town store, hotel, &c., but I do not know how far they -may extend. Individual property is held. The evidences of thrift and -skill, in cultivation and mechanical and mill work, are most striking. -Every dwelling here is surrounded with fruit and fruit trees. The -botanical garden and hot-house are on a large scale, and exhibit a -favorable specimen of the present state of horticulture. One of the -assistants very kindly plucked for me some fine fruit, and voluntarily -offered it. Zoar is quite a place of resort as a ride for the -neighboring towns. I may remark, _en passant_, that there is a large -proportion of German population throughout Ohio. They are orderly, -thrifty and industrious, and fall readily into our political system and -habits. Numbers of them are well educated in the German. They embrace -Lutherans as well as Roman Catholics, the latter predominating. - -Among the towns which have recently sprung up on the line of the canal, -not the least is the one from which I date this letter. The name of the -noted French divine (Massillon) was affixed to an uncultivated spot, by -some Boston gentlemen, some twelve or fourteen years ago. It is now one -of the most thriving, city-looking, business places in the interior of -Ohio. In the style of its stores, mills and architecture, it reminds the -visitor of that extraordinary growth and spirit which marked the early -years of the building of Rochester. It numbers churches for -Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians, and also -Lutherans and Romanists. About three hundred barrels of flour can be -turned out per diem, by its mills. It is in the greatest wheat-growing -county in Ohio (Stark), but is not the county-seat, which is at Canton. - - -V. - - DETROIT, Sept. 15th, 1843. - -In passing from the interior of Ohio toward Lake Erie, the face of the -country exhibits, in the increased size and number of its boulder -stones, evidences of the approach of the traveller toward those -localities of sienites and other crystalline rocks, from which these -erratic blocks and water-worn masses appear to have been, in a remote -age of our planet, removed. The soil in this section has a freer mixture -of the broken down slates, of which portions are still in place on the -shores of Lake Erie. The result is a clayey soil, less favorable to -wheat and Indian corn. We came down the cultivated valley of the -Cuyahoga, and reached the banks of the lake at the fine town of -Cleveland, which is elevated a hundred feet, or more, above it, and -commands a very extensive view of the lake, the harbor and its ever-busy -shipping. A day was employed, by stage, in this section of my tour, and -the next carried me, by steamboat, to this ancient French capital. -Detroit has many interesting historical associations, and appears -destined, when its railroad is finished, to be the chief thoroughfare -for travellers to Chicago and the Mississippi valley. As my attention -has, however, been more taken up, on my way, with the past than the -present and future condition of the West, the chief interest which the -route has excited must necessarily arise from the same source. - -Michigan connects itself in its antiquarian features with that character -of pseudo-civilisation, or modified barbarianism, of which the works and -mounds and circumvallations at Grave Creek Flats, at Marietta, at -Circleville and other well known points, are evidences. That this -improved condition of the hunter state had an ancient but partial -connection with the early civilisation of Europe, appears now to be a -fair inference, from the inscribed stone of Grave Creek, and other -traces of European arts, discovered of late. It is also evident that the -central American type of the civilisation, or rather advance to -civilisation, of the red race, reached this length, and finally went -down, with its gross idolatry and horrid rites, and was merged in the -better known and still existing form of the hunter state which was -found, respectively, by Cabot, Cartier, Verrezani, Hudson, and others, -who first dropped anchor on our coasts. - -There is strong evidence furnished by a survey of the western country -that the teocalli type of the Indian civilisation, so to call it, -developed itself from the banks of the Ohio, in Tennessee and Virginia, -west and north-westwardly across the sources of the Wabash, the -Muskingum and other streams, toward Lake Michigan and the borders of -Wisconsin territory. The chief evidences of it, in Michigan and Indiana, -consist of a remarkable series of curious garden beds, or accurately -furrowed fields, the perfect outlines of which have been preserved by -the grass of the oak openings and prairies, and even among the heaviest -forests. These remains of an ancient cultivation have attracted much -attention from observing settlers on the Elkhart, the St. Joseph's, the -Kalamazoo and Grand river of Michigan. I possess some drawings of these -anomalous remains of by-gone industry in the hunter race, taken in -former years, which are quite remarkable. It is worthy of remark, too, -that no large tumuli, or teocalli, exist in this particular portion of -the West, the ancient population of which may therefore be supposed to -have been borderers, or frontier bands, who resorted to the Ohio valley -as their capital, or place of annual visitation. All the mounds -scattered through Northern Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, are mere barrows, -or repositories of the dead, and would seem to have been erected -posterior to the fall or decay of the gross idol worship and the offer -of human sacrifice. I have, within a day or two, received a singular -implement or ornament of stone, of a crescent shape, from Oakland, in -this State, which connects the scattered and out-lying remains of the -smaller mounds, and traces of ancient agricultural labor, with the -antiquities of Grave Creek Flats. - - -VI. - - DETROIT, Sept. 16th, 1843. - -The antiquities of Western America are to be judged of by isolated and -disjointed discoveries, which are often made at widely distant points -and spread over a very extensive area. The labor of comparison and -discrimination of the several eras which the objects of these -discoveries establish, is increased by this diffusion and disconnection -of the times and places of their occurrence, and is, more than all, -perhaps, hindered and put back by the eventual carelessness of the -discoverers, and the final loss or mutilation of the articles disclosed. -To remedy this evil, every discovery made, however apparently -unimportant, should in this era of the diurnal and periodical press be -put on record, and the objects themselves be either carefully kept, or -given to some public scientific institution. - -An Indian chief called the Black Eagle, of river Au Sables (Michigan), -discovered a curious antique pipe of Etruscan ware, a few years ago, at -Thunder Bay. This pipe, which is now in my possession, is as remarkable -for its form as for the character of the earthenware from which it is -made, differing as it does so entirely from the coarse earthen pots and -vessels, the remains of which are scattered so generally throughout -North America. The form is semi-circular or horn-shaped, with a -quadrangular bowl, and having impressed in the ware ornaments at each -angle. I have never before, indeed, seen any pipes of Indian manufacture -of baked clay, or earthenware, such articles being generally carved out -of steatite, indurated clays, or other soft mineral substances. It is a -peculiarity of this pipe that it was smoked from the small end, which is -rounded for the purpose of putting it between the lips, without the -intervention of a stem. - -The discoverer told me that he had taken it from a very antique grave. A -large hemlock tree, he said, had been blown down on the banks of the -river, tearing up, by its roots, a large mass of earth. At the bottom of -the excavation thus made he discovered a grave, which contained a vase, -out of which he took the pipe with some other articles. The vase, he -said, was broken, so that he did not deem it worth bringing away. The -other articles he described as bones. - -Some time since I accompanied the chief Kewakonce, to get an ancient -clay pot, such as the Indians used when the Europeans arrived on the -continent. He said that he had discovered two such pots, in an entire -state, in a cave, or crevice, on one of the rocky islets extending -north, of Point Tessalon, which is the northern cape of the entrance of -the Straits of St. Mary's into Lake Huron. From this locality he had -removed one of them, and concealed it at a distant point. We travelled -in canoes. We landed on the northern shore of the large island of St. -Joseph, which occupies the jaws of those expanded straits. He led me up -an elevated ridge, covered with forest, and along a winding narrow path, -conducting to some old Indian cornfields. All at once he stopped in this -path. "We are now very near it," he said, and stood still, looking -toward the spot where he had concealed it, beneath a decayed trunk. He -did not, at last, appear to be willing to risk his luck in life--such is -Indian superstition--by being the actual discoverer of this object of -veneration to a white man, but allowed me to make, or rather complete, -the re-discovery. - -With the exception of being cracked, this vessel is entire. It -corresponds, in material and character, with the fragments of pottery -usually found. It is a coarse ware, tempered with quartz or feld-spar, -and such as would admit a sudden fire to be built around it. It is some -ten inches in diameter, tulip-shaped, with a bending lip, and without -supports beneath. It was evidently used as retorts in a sand bath, there -being no contrivance for suspending it. I have forwarded this curious -relic entire to the city for examination. I asked the chief who -presented it to me, and who is a man of good sense, well acquainted with -Indian traditions, how long it was since such vessels had been used by -his ancestors. He replied, that he was the seventh generation, in a -direct line, since the French had first arrived in the lakes. - - -VII. - - DETROIT, Sept. 16th, 1843. - -There was found, in an island at the west extremity of Lake Huron, an -ancient repository of human bones, which appeared to have been gathered -from their first or ordinary place of sepulture, and placed in this rude -mausoleum. The island is called Isle Ronde by the French, and is of -small dimensions, although it has a rocky basis and affords sugar maple -and other trees of the hard wood species. This repository was first -disclosed by the action of the lake against a diluvial shore, in which -the bones were buried. At the time of my visit, vertebræ, tibiæ, -portions of crania and other bones were scattered down the fallen bank, -and served to denote the place of their interment, which was on the -margin of the plain. Some persons supposed that the leg and thigh bones -denoted an unusual length; but by placing them hip by hip with the -living specimen, this opinion was not sustained. - -All these bones had been placed longitudinally. They were arranged in -order, in a wide grave, or trench. Contrary to the usual practice of the -present tribes of red men, the skeletons were laid north and south. I -asked several of the most aged Indian chiefs in that vicinity for -information respecting these bones--by what tribe they had been -deposited, and why they had been laid north and south, and not east and -west, as they uniformly bury. But, with the usual result as to early -Indian traditions, they had no information to offer. Chusco, an old -Ottawa prophet, since dead, remarked that they were probably of the time -of the Indian bones found in the caves on the island of Michilimackinac. - -In a small plain on the same island, near the above repository, is a -long abandoned Indian burial-ground, in which the interments are made in -the ordinary way. This, I understood from the Indians, is of the era of -the occupation of Old Mackinac, or Peekwutinong, as they continue to -call it--a place which has been abandoned by both whites and Indians, -soldiers and missionaries, about seventy years. I caused excavations to -be made in these graves, and found their statements to be generally -verified by the character of the articles deposited with the skeletons; -at least they were all of a date posterior to the discovery of this part -of the country by the French. There were found the oxydated remains of -the brass mountings of a chief's fusil, corroded fire steels and other -steel implements, vermillion, wampum, and other cherished or valued -articles. I sent a perfect skull, taken from one of these graves, to Dr. -Morton, the author of "Crania," while he was preparing that work. No -Indians have resided on this island within the memory of any white man -or Indian with whom I have conversed. An aged chief whom I interrogated, -called Saganosh, who has now been dead some five or six years, told me -that he was a small boy when the present settlement on the island of -Michilimackinac was commenced, and the English first took post there, -and began to remove their cattle, &c., from the old fort on the -peninsula, and it was about that time that the Indian village of -Minnisains, or Isle Ronde, was abandoned. It had before formed a link, -as it were, in the traverse of this part of the lake (Huron) in canoes -to old Mackinac. - -The Indians opposed the transfer of the post to the island of -Michilimackinac, and threatened the troops who were yet in the field. -They had no cannon, but the commanding officer sent a vessel to Detroit -for one. This vessel had a quick trip, down and up, and brought up a -gun, which was fired the evening she came into the harbor. This produced -an impression. I have made some inquiries to fix the date of this -transfer of posts, and think it was at or about the opening of the era -of the American revolution, at which period the British garrison did not -feel itself safe in a mere stockade of timber on the main shore. This -stockade, dignified with the name of a fort, had not been burned on the -taking of it, by surprise, and the massacre of the English troops by the -Indians, during Pontiac's war. This massacre, it will be recollected, -was in 1763--twelve years before the opening of the American war. - - -VIII. - - DETROIT, Oct. 13th, 1843. - -The so-called copper rock of Lake Superior was brought to this place, a -day or two since, in a vessel from Sault Ste-Marie, having been -transported from its original locality, on the Ontonagon river, at no -small labor and expense. It is upwards of twenty-three years since I -first visited this remarkable specimen of native copper, in the forests -of Lake Superior. It has been somewhat diminished in size and weight, in -the meantime, by visitors and travellers in that remote quarter; but -retains, very well, its original character and general features. - -I have just returned from a re-examination of it in a store, in one of -the main streets of this city, where it has been deposited by the -present proprietor, who designs to exhibit it to the curious. Its -greatest length is four feet six inches; its greatest width about four -feet; its maximum thickness eighteen inches. These are rough -measurements with the rule. It is almost entirely composed of malleable -copper, and bears striking marks of the visits formerly paid to it, in -the evidences of portions which have from time to time been cut off. -There are no scales in the city large enough, or other means of -ascertaining its precise weight, and of thus terminating the uncertainty -arising from the several estimates heretofore made. It has been -generally estimated here, since its arrival, to weigh between six and -seven thousand pounds, or about three and a half tons, and is by far the -largest known and described specimen of native copper on the globe. -Rumors of a larger piece in South America are apocryphal. - -The acquisition, to the curious and scientific world, of this -extraordinary mass of native metal is at least one of the practical -results of the copper-mining mania which carried so many adventurers -northward, into the region of Lake Superior, the past summer (1843). The -person who has secured this treasure (Mr. J. Eldred) has been absent, on -the business, since early in June. He succeeded in removing it from its -diluvial bed on the banks of the river, by a car and sectional railroad -of two links, formed of timber. The motive power was a tackle attached -to trees, which was worked by men, from fourteen to twenty of whom were -employed upon it. These rails were alternately moved forward, as the car -passed from the hindmost. - -In this manner the rock was dragged four miles and a half, across a -rough country, to a curve of the river below its falls, and below the -junction of its forks, where it was received by a boat, and conveyed to -the mouth of the river, on the lake shore. At this point it was put on -board a schooner, and taken to the falls, or Sault Ste-Marie, and -thence, having been transported across the portage, embarked for -Detroit. The entire distance to this place is a little within one -thousand miles; three hundred and twenty of which lie beyond St. Mary's. - -What is to be its future history and disposition remains to be seen. It -will probably find its way to the museum of the National Institute in -the new patent office at Washington. This would be appropriate, and it -is stated that the authorities have asserted their ultimate claim to it, -probably under the 3d article of the treaty of Fond du Lac, of the 5th -of August, 1826. - -I have no books at hand to refer to the precise time, so far as known, -when this noted mass of copper first became known to Europeans. Probably -a hundred and eighty years have elapsed. Marquette, and his devoted -companion, passed up the shores of Lake Superior about 1668, which was -several years before the discovery of the Mississippi, by that eminent -missionary, by the way of the Wisconsin. From the letters of D'Ablon at -Sault Ste-Marie, it appears to have been known prior to the arrival of -La Salle. These allusions will be sufficient to show that the rock has a -historical notoriety. Apart from this, it is a specimen which is, both -mineralogically and geologically, well worthy of national preservation. - -It is clearly a boulder, and bears marks of attrition from the action of -water, on some parts of its rocky surface as well as the metallic -portions. A minute mineralogical examination and description of it are -required. The adhering rock, of which there is less now than in 1820, is -apparently serpentine, in some parts steatitic, whereas the copper ores -of Keweena Point on that lake, are found exclusively in the amygdaloids -and greenstones of the trap formation. A circular depression of opaque -crystalline quartz, in the form of a semi-geode, exists in one face of -it; other parts of the mass disclose the same mineral. Probably 300 lbs. -of the metal have been hacked off, or detached by steel chisels, since -it has been known to the whites, most of this within late years. - - -IX. - - DETROIT, Oct. 16th, 1843. - -In the rapid development of the resources and wealth of the West, there -is no object connected with the navigation of the upper lakes of more -prospective importance than the improvement of the delta, or flats of -the St. Clair. It is here that the only practical impediment occurs to -the passage of heavy shipping, between Buffalo and Chicago. This delta -is formed by deposits at the point of discharge of the river St. Clair, -into Lake St. Clair, and occurs at the estimated distance of about -thirty-six miles above the city. The flats are fan-shaped, and spread, -I am inclined to think, upward of fifteen miles, on the line of their -greatest expansion. - -There are three principal channels, besides sub-channels, which carry a -depth of from four to six fathoms to the very point of their exit into -the lake, where there is a bar in each. This bar, as is shown by the -chart of a survey made by officers Macomb and Warner, of the -topographical engineers, in 1842, is very similar to the bars at the -mouths of the upper lake rivers, and appears to be susceptible of -removal, or improvement, by similar means. The north channel carries -nine feet of water over this bar, the present season, and did the same -in 1842, and is the one exclusively used by vessels and steamboats. To -the latter this tortuous channel, which is above ten miles farther round -than the middle channel, presents no impediment, besides the intricacies -of the bar, but increased distance. - -It is otherwise, and ever must remain so, to vessels propelled by sails. -Such vessels, coming up with a fair wind, find the bend so acute and -involved at _Point aux Chenes_, at the head of this channel, as to bring -the wind directly ahead. They are, consequently, compelled to cast -anchor, and await a change of wind to turn this point. A delay of eight -or ten days in the upward passage, is not uncommon at this place. Could -the bar of the middle channel, which is direct, be improved, the saving -in both time and distance above indicated would be made. This is an -object of public importance, interesting to all the lake States and -Territories, and would constitute a subject of useful consideration for -Congress. Every year is adding to the number and size of our lake -vessels. The rate of increase which doubles our population in a given -number of years must also increase the lake tonnage, and add new motives -for the improvement of its navigation. - -Besides the St. Clair delta, I know of no other impediment in the -channel itself, throughout the great line of straits between Buffalo and -Chicago, which prudence and good seamanship, and well found vessels, may -not ordinarily surmount. The rapids at Black Rock, once so formidable, -have long been obviated by the canal dam. The straits of Detroit have -been well surveyed, and afford a deep, navigable channel at all times. -The rapids at the head of the river St. Clair, at Port Huron, have a -sufficiency of water for vessels of the largest class, and only require -a fair wind for their ascent. - -The straits of Michilimackinac are believed to be on the same water -level as Lakes Huron and Michigan, and only present the phenomenon of a -current setting east or west, in compliance with certain laws of the -reaction of water driven by winds. Such are the slight impediments on -this extraordinary line of inland lake navigation, which is carried on -at an average altitude of something less than 600 feet above the tide -level of the Atlantic. When this line of commerce requires to be -diverted north, through the straits of St. Mary's into Lake Superior, a -period rapidly approaching, a short canal of three-fourths of a mile -will be required at the Sault Ste-Marie, and some excavation made, so as -to permit vessels of heavy tonnage to cross the bar in Lake George of -those straits. - - -X. - - DUNDAS, Canada West, Oct. 26th, 1843. - -Fortunately for the study of American antiquities the aborigines have, -from the earliest period, practised the interment of their arms, -utensils and ornaments, with the dead, thus furnishing evidence of the -particular state of their skill in the arts, at the respective eras of -their history. To a people without letters there could scarcely have -been a better index than such domestic monuments furnish, to determine -these eras; and it is hence that the examination of their mounds and -burial-places assumes so important a character in the investigation of -history. Heretofore these inquiries have been confined to portions of -the continent south and west of the great chain of lakes and the St. -Lawrence; but the advancing settlements in Canada, at this time, are -beginning to disclose objects of this kind, and thus enlarge the field -of inquiry. - -I had, yesterday, quite an interesting excursion to one of these ancient -places of sepulture north of the head of Lake Ontario. The locality is -in the township of Beverly, about twelve miles distant from Dundas. The -rector of the parish, the Rev. Mr. McMurray, had kindly made -arrangements for my visit. We set out at a very early hour, on -horseback, the air being keen, and the mud and water in the road so -completely frozen as to bear our horses. We ascended the mountain and -passed on to the table land, about four miles, to the house of a worthy -parishioner of Mr. McM., by whom we were kindly welcomed, and after -giving us a warm breakfast, he took us on, with a stout team, about six -miles on the Guelph road. Diverging from this, about two miles to the -left, through a heavy primitive forest, with occasional clearings, we -came to the spot. It is in the 6th concession of Beverly. - -We were now about seventeen miles, by the road, from the extreme head of -Lake Ontario, at the town of Hamilton, Burlington Bay; and on one of the -main branches of the bright and busy mill-stream of the valley of -Dundas. As this part of the country is yet encumbered with dense and -almost unbroken masses of trees, with roads unformed, we had frequently -to inquire our way, and at length stopped on the skirts of an elevated -beech ridge, upon which the trees stood as large and thickly as in -other parts of the forest. There was nothing at first sight to betoken -that the hand of man had ever been exercised there. Yet this wooded -ridge embraced the locality we were in quest of, and the antiquity of -interments and accumulations of human bones on this height is to be -inferred, from their occurrence amidst this forest, and beneath the -roots of the largest trees. - -It is some five or six years since the discovery was made. It happened -from the blowing down of a large tree, whose roots laid bare a quantity -of human bones. Search was then made, and has been renewed at subsequent -times, the result of which has been the disclosure of human skeletons in -such abundance and massive quantities as to produce astonishment. This -is the characteristic feature. Who the people were, and how such an -accumulation should have occurred, are questions which have been often -asked. And the interest of the scene is by no means lessened on -observing that the greater part of these bones are deposited, not in -isolated and single graves as the Indians now bury, but in wide and long -trenches and rude vaults, in which the skeletons are piled -longitudinally upon each other. In this respect they resemble a single -deposit, mentioned in a prior letter, as occurring on _Isle Ronde_, in -Lake Huron. And they would appear, as is the case with the latter, to be -re-interments of bodies, after the flesh had decayed, collected from -their first places of sepulture. - -No one--not the oldest inhabitant--remembers the residence of Indians in -this location, nor does there appear to be any tradition on the subject. -It is a common opinion among the settlers that there must have been a -great battle fought here, which would account for the accumulation, but -this idea does not appear to be sustained by an examination of the -skulls, which, so far as I saw, exhibit no marks of violence. Besides, -there are present the bones and crania of women and children, with -implements and articles of domestic use, such as are ordinarily -deposited with the dead. The supposition of pestilence, to account for -the number, is subject to less objection; yet, if admitted, there is no -imaginable state of Indian population in this quarter, which could have -produced such heaps. The trenches, so far as examined, extend over the -entire ridge. One of the transverse deposits, I judged, could not -include less than fifteen hundred square feet. The whole of this had -been once dug over, in search of curiosities, such as pipes, shells, -beads, &c., of which a large number were found. Among the evidences of -interments here since the discovery of Canada, were several brass -kettles, in one of which were five infant skulls. - -Could we determine accurately the time required for the growth of a -beech, or a black oak, as they are found on these deposits, of sixteen, -eighteen and twenty inches and two feet in diameter, the date of the -abandonment or completion of the interments might be very nearly fixed. -The time of the growth of these species is, probably, much less, in the -temperate latitudes, and in fertile soils, than is commonly supposed. I -am inclined to think, from a hasty survey, that the whole deposit is the -result of the slow accumulation of both ordinary interment, and the -periodical deposit or re-interment of exhumed bones brought from -contiguous hunting camps and villages. To this, pestilence has probably -added. The ridge is said to be the apex or highest point of the table -lands, and would therefore recommend itself, as a place of general -interment, to the natives. Bands, who rove from place to place, and -often capriciously abandon their hunting villages, are averse to leaving -their dead in such isolated spots. The surrounding country is one which -must have afforded all the spontaneous means of Indian subsistence, in -great abundance. The deer and bear, once very numerous, still abound. - -We passed some ancient beaver dams, and were informed that the country -east and north bears similar evidences of its former occupation by the -small furred animals. The occurrence of the sugar maple adds another -element of Indian subsistence. There are certain enigmatical walls of -earth, in this vicinity, which extend several miles across the country, -following the leading ridges of land. Accounts vary in representing them -to extend from five to eight miles. These I did not see, but learn that -they are about six feet high, and present intervals as if for gates. -There is little likelihood that these walls were constructed for -purposes of military defence, remote as they are from the great waters, -and aside from the great leading war-paths. It is far more probable that -they were intended to intercept the passage of game, and compel the deer -to pass through these artificial defiles, where the hunters lay in wait -for them. - -Ancient Iroquois tradition, as preserved by Colden, represents this -section of Canada, extending quite to Three Rivers, as occupied by the -Adirondacks; a numerous, fierce, and warlike race, who carried on a -determined war against the Iroquois. The same race, who were marked as -speaking a different type of languages, were, at an early day, called by -the French by the general term of Algonquins. They had three chief -residences on the Utawas and its sources, and retired northwestwardly, -by that route, on the increase of the Iroquois power. Whoever the people -were who hunted and buried their dead at Beverly, it is manifest that -they occupied the district at and prior to the era of the discovery of -Canada, and also continued to occupy it, after the French had introduced -the fur trade into the interior. For we find, in the manufactured -articles buried, the distinctive evidences of both periods. - -The antique bone beads, of which we raised many, _in situ_, with crania -and other bones, from beneath the roots of trees, are in every respect -similar to those found in the Grave Creek mound, which have been -improperly called "ivory." Amulets of bone and shell, and pipes of fine -steatite and indurated red clay, are also of this early period, and are -such as were generally made and used by the ancient inhabitants prior to -the introduction of European wrought wampum or seawan, and of beads of -porcelain and glass, and ornamented pipes of coarse pottery. I also -examined several large marine shells, much corroded and decayed, which -had been brought, most probably, from the shores of the Atlantic. - -Having made such excavations as limited time and a single spade would -permit, we retraced our way to Dundas, which we reached after nightfall, -a little fatigued, but well rewarded in the examination of an object -which connects, in several particulars, the antiquities of Canada with -those of the United States. - - - - -ERA OF THE SETTLEMENT OF DETROIT, AND THE STRAITS BETWEEN LAKES ERIE AND -HURON. - - -The following papers, relative to the early occupancy of these straits, -were copied from the originals in the public archives in Paris, by Gen. -Cass, while he exercised the functions of minister at the court of -France. The first relates to an act of occupancy made on the banks of a -tributary of the Detroit river, called St. Deny's, probably the river -_Aux Canards_. The second coincides with the period usually assigned as -the origin of the post of Detroit. They are further valuable, for the -notice which is incidentally taken of the leading tribes, who were then -found upon these straits. - -It will be recollected, in perusing these documents, that La Salle had -passed these straits on his way to "the Illinois," in 1679, that is, -_eight_ years before the act of possession at St. Deny's, and -_twenty-two_ years before the establishment of the post of Detroit. The -upper lakes had then, however, been extensively laid open to the -enterprise of the missionaries, and of the adventurers in the fur trade. -Marquette, accompanied by Alloez, had visited the south shore of Lake -Superior in 1668, and made a map of the region, which was published in -the _Lettres Edifiantes_. This zealous and energetic man established the -mission of St. Ignace at Michilimackinac, about 1669 or 1670, and three -years afterwards, entered the upper Mississippi, from the Wisconsin. -Vincennes, on the Wabash, was established in 1710;[27] St. Louis, not -till 1763.[28] - - -CANADA, 7th June, 1687. - - _A renewal of the taking possession of the territory upon the Straits - [Detroit] between Lakes Erie and Huron, by Sieur de la Duranthaye._ - - _Oliver Morel, Equerry, Sieur de la Duranthaye, commandant in the name - of the King of the Territory of the Ottawas, Miamis, Pottawatamies, - Sioux, and other tribes under the orders of Monsieur, the Marquis de - Denonsville, Governor General of New France._ - -This day, the 7th of June, 1687, in presence of the Rev'd Father -Angeleran, Head of the Missions with the Ottawas[29] of Michilimackinac, -the Miamis of Sault Ste-Marie, the Illinois, and Green Bay, and of the -Sioux of Mons. de la Forest, formerly commandant of Fort St. Louis on -the Illinois, of Mons. de Lisle, our Lieutenant, and of Mons. de -Beauvais, Lieutenant of Fort St. Joseph, on the Straits [Detroit] -between Lakes Huron and Erie. We declare to all whom it may hereafter -concern, that we have come upon the banks of the river St. Deny's, -situated three leagues from Lake Erie, in the Straits of the said Lakes -Erie and Huron, on the south of said straits, and also at the entrance -on the north side, for and in the name of the King, that we re-take -possession of the said posts, established by Mons. La Salle for -facilitating the voyages he made or caused to be made in vessels from -Niagara to Michilimackinac, in the years * * * * * * at each of which we -have caused to be set up anew a staff, with the arms of the King, in -order to make the said renewed taking possession, and ordered several -cabins to be erected for the accommodation of the French and the Indians -of the Shawnees and Miamis, who had long been the proprietors of the -said territory, but who had some time before withdrawn from the same for -their greater advantage. - -The present act passed in our presence, signed by our hands, and by Rev. -Father Angeleran, of the society of Jesuits, by MM. De la Forest, De -Lisle and De Beauvais, thus in the original: - - Angeleran, Jesuite. - De la Duranthaye [la Garduer]. - De Beauvais, and - De la Forest. - -Compared by me with the original in my hands, Councillor Secretary of -the King, and Register in Chief of the Royal Council at Quebec, -subscribed, and each page _paraphe_. - -Collated at Quebec, this 11th September, 1712. - - [Signed], - BYON ET VANDREUIL. - - * * * * * - -_Memoir of Monsieur de la Mothe Cadillac, relative to the - establishment of Detroit, addressed to the Minister of Marine, 14th - September, 1704:_ - -_La Mothe Cadillac renders an account of his conduct relative to the - establishment of Detroit, by questions and answers. It is the - Minister who questions, and La Mothe who answers:_ - -Q. Was it not in 1699 that you proposed to me an establishment in the -Straits which separate Lake Erie from Lake Huron? - -A. Yes, my Lord. - -Q. What were the motives which induced you to wish to fortify a place -there, and make an establishment? - -A. I had several. The first was to make a strong post, which should not -be subject to the revolutions of other posts, by fixing there a number -of French and Savages, in order to curb the Iroquois, who had constantly -annoyed our colonies and hindered their prosperity. - -Q. At what time did you leave Quebec to go to Detroit? - -A. On the 8th of March, 1701. I reached Montreal the 12th, when we were -obliged to make a change. * * * * I left La Chine the 5th of June with -fifty soldiers and fifty Canadians--Messrs. De Fonty, Captain, Duque and -Chacornach, Lieutenants. I was ordered to pass by the Grand River of the -Ottawas, notwithstanding my remonstrances. I arrived at Detroit _the -24th July_ and fortified myself there immediately; had the necessary -huts made, and cleared up the grounds, preparatory to its being sowed in -the autumn. - -Compare these data, from the highest sources, with the Indian tradition -of the first arrival of the French, in the upper lakes, recorded at page -107, ONEOTA, No. 2. - - -THE CHOCTAW INDIANS. - -The _Vicksburg Sentinel_ of the 18th ult., referring to this tribe of -Indians, has the following:--"The last remnant of this once powerful -tribe are now crossing our ferry on their way to their new homes in the -far West. To one who, like the writer, has been familiar to their bronze -inexpressive faces from infancy, it brings associations of peculiar -sadness to see them bidding here a last farewell perhaps to the old -hills which gave birth, and are doubtless equally dear to him and them -alike. The first playmates of our infancy were the young Choctaw boys of -the then woods of Warren county. Their language was once scarcely less -familiar to us than our mother-English. We know, we think, the character -of the Choctaw well. We knew many of their present stalwart braves in -those days of early life when the Indian and white alike forget -disguise, but in the unchecked exuberance of youthful feeling show the -real character that policy and habit may afterwards so much conceal; and -we know that, under the stolid stoic look he assumes, there is burning -in the Indian's nature a heart of fire and feeling, and an all-observing -keenness of apprehension, that marks and remembers everything that -occurs, and every insult he receives. Cunni-at a hah! They are going -away! With a visible reluctance which nothing has overcome but the stern -necessity they feel impelling them, they have looked their last on the -graves of their sires--the scenes of their youth--and have taken up -their slow toilsome march, with their household gods among them, to -their new home in a strange land. They leave names to many of our -rivers, towns and counties; and so long as our State remains, the -Choctaws, who once owned most of her soil, will be remembered." - -FOOTNOTES: - - [27] Nicollet's Report. - - [28] Law's Historical Dis. - - [29] This is, manifestly, an error. The writer of this act of possession -appears to have mistaken the bank of the St. Mary's, one of the -tributaries of the Miami of the Lakes, in the Miami country, for the -Sault de Ste-Marie, at the outlet of Lake Superior. The latter position -was occupied, at the earliest dates, to which tradition reaches, by a -branch of the Algonquins, to whom the French gave the name, from the -falls of the river at that locality, of _Saulteux_. They are better -known, at this day under the name of Chippewas and Odjibwas. - - - - -A SYNOPSIS OF CARTIER'S VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY AT NORTH AMERICA. - - -FIRST VOYAGE. - -Forty-two years had elapsed from the discovery of America by Columbus, -when Jacques Cartier prepared to share in the maratime enterprise of the -age, by visiting the coast. Cartier was a native of Normandy, and sailed -from the port of St. Malo, in France, on the 20th April, 1534. It will -be recollected that the conquest of Mexico had been completed 13 years -previous. Cartier had two small vessels of 60 tons burden and 61 men -each. The crews took an oath, before sailing, "to behave themselves -truly and faithfully in the service of the most Christian king," Francis -I. After an unusually prosperous voyage of 20 days, he made cape "Buona -Vista" in Newfoundland, which he states to be in north latitude, 48° -30´. Here meeting with ice, he made the haven of St. Catherine's, where -he was detained ten days. This coast had now been known since the voyage -of Cabot, in 1497, and had been frequently resorted to, by fishing -vessels. Jean Denis, a native of Rouen, one of these fishermen, is said -to have published the first chart of it, in 1506. Two years after wards, -Thomas Aubert, brought the first natives from Newfoundland to Paris, and -this is the era, 1508, commonly assigned as the discovery of Canada. The -St. Lawrence remained, however, undiscovered, nor does it appear that -any thing was known, beyond a general and vague knowledge of the coast, -and its islands. The idea was yet entertained, indeed, it will be seen -by subsequent facts, that America was an island, and that a passage to -the Asiatic continent, existed in these latitudes. - -On the 21st May, Cartier continued his voyage, sailing "north and by -east" from cape Buona Vista, and reached the Isle of Birds, so called -from the unusual abundance of sea fowl found there, of the young of -which the men filled two boats, "so that" in the quaint language of the -journal, "besides them which we did eat fresh, every ship did powder and -salt five or six barrels." He also observed the godwit, and a larger and -vicious bird, which they named margaulx. While at this island, they -descried a polar bear, which, in their presence leapt into the sea, and -thus escaped. On their subsequent passage to the main land, they again -encountered, as they supposed, the same animal swimming towards land. -They manned their boats, and "by main strength overtook her, whose flesh -was as good to be eaten, as the flesh of a calf two years old." This -bear is described to be, "as large as a cow, and as white as a swan." - -On the 27th he reached the harbour of "Carpunt" in the bay "Les -Chastaux," latitude 51°, where he was constrained to lay by, on account -of the accumulation of ice, till the 9th of June. The narrator of the -voyage takes this occasion to describe certain parts of the coast and -waters of Newfoundland, the island of St. Catherine, Blanc Sablon, -Brest, the Isle of Birds, and a numerous group of Islands called the -Islets. But these memoranda are not connected with any observations or -discoveries of importance. Speaking of Bird and Brest Islands, he says, -they afford "great store of godwits, and crows, with red beaks and red -feet," who "make their nests in holes underground, even as conies." Near -this locality "there is great fishing." - -On the 10th June, he entered a port in the newly named island of Brest, -to procure wood and water. Meantime, boats were dispatched to explore -among the islands, which were found so numerous "that it was not -possible they might be told, for they continued about 10 leagues beyond -the said port." The explorers slept on an island. The next day they -continued their discoveries along the coast, and having passed the -islands, found a haven, which they named St. Anthony: one or two leagues -beyond, they found a small river named St. Servansport, and here set up -a cross. About three leagues further, they discovered another river, of -larger size, in which they found salmon, and bestowed upon it the name -of St. Jacques. - -While in the latter position, they descried a ship from Rochelle, on a -fishing voyage, and rowing out in their boats, directed it to a port -near at hand, in what is called "Jaques Cartier's Sound," "which," adds -the narrator, "I take to be one of the best, in all the world." The face -of the country they examined, is, however, of the most sterile and -forbidding character, being little besides "stones and wild crags, and a -place fit for wild beasts, for in all the North Island," he continues, -"I did not see a cart load of good earth, yet went I on shore, in many -places, and in the Island of White Sand, (Blanc Sablon,) there is -nothing else but moss and small thorns, scattered here and there, -withered and dry. To be short, I believe that this was the land that God -allotted to Cain." - -Immediately following this, we have the first description of the -natives. The men are described as being "of an indifferent good stature -and bigness, but wild and unruly. They wear their hair tied on the top, -like a wreath of hay, and put a wooden pin within it, or any other such -thing, instead of a nail, and with them, they bind certain birds -feathers. They are clothed with beast skins, as well the men as women, -but that the women go somewhat straiter and closer in their garments, -than the men do, with their waists girded. They paint themselves with -certain roan colours; their boats are made of the bark of birch trees, -with the which they fish, and take great store of seals. And as far as -we could understand, since our coming thither, that is not their -habitation, but they come from the main land, out of _hotter_[30] -countries to catch the said seals, and other necessaries for their -living." - -From this exploratory trip, the boats returned to their newly named -harbour of Brest, on the 13th. On the 14th, being the Sabbath, service -was read, and the next day Cartier continued his voyage, steering -southerly, along the coast, which still wore a most barren and cheerless -aspect. Much of this part of the narrative is taken up with distances -and soundings, and the naming of capes and islands of very little -interest at the present day. They saw a few huts upon the cliffs on the -18th, and named this part of the coast "Les Granges," but did not stop -to form any acquaintance with their tenants. Cape Royal was reached and -named the day prior, and is said to be the "greatest fishery of cods -there possibly may be, for in less than an hour we took a hundred of -them." On the 24th they discovered the island of St. John. They saw -myriads of birds upon the group of islands named "Margaulx," five -leagues westward of which they discovered a large, fertile, and -well-timbered island, to which the name of "Brion" was given. The -contrast presented by the soil and productions of this island, compared -with the bleak and waste shores they had before encountered, excited -their warm admiration; and with the aid of this excitement, they here -saw "wild corn," peas, gooseberries, strawberries, damask roses, and -parsley, "with other sweet and pleasant herbs." They here also saw the -walrus, bear, and wolf. - -Very little is to be gleaned from the subsequent parts of the voyage, -until they reached the gulf of St. Lawrence. Mists, head winds, barren -rocks, sandy shores, storms and sunshine, alternately make up the -landscape presented to view. Much caution was evinced in standing off -and on an iron bound coast, and the boats were often employed in -exploring along the main land. While thus employed near a shallow -stream, called the "River of Boats," they saw natives crossing the -stream in their canoes, but the wind coming to blow on shore, they were -compelled to retire to their vessels, without opening any communication -with them. On the following day, while the boats were traversing the -coast, they saw a native running along shore after them, who made signs -as they supposed, directing them to return towards the cape they had -left. But as soon as the boat turned he fled. They landed, however, and -putting a knife and a woollen girdle on a staff, as a good-will -offering, returned to their vessels. - -The character of this part of the Newfoundland coast, impressed them as -being greatly superior to the portions which they had previously seen, -both in soil and temperature. In addition to the productions found at -Brion's Island, they noticed cedars, pines, white elm, ash, willow, and -what are denominated "ewe-trees." Among the feathered tribes they -mention the "thrush and stock-dove." By the latter term the passenger -pigeon is doubtless meant. The "wild corn" here again mentioned, is said -to be "like unto rye," from which it may be inferred that it was the -zizania, although the circumstance of its being an aquatic plant is not -mentioned. - -In running along the coast Cartier appears to have been engrossed with -the idea, so prevalent among the mariners of that era, of finding a -passage to India, and it was probably on this account that he made such -a scrupulous examination of every inlet and bay, and the productions of -the shores. Wherever the latter offered anything favourable, there was a -strong disposition to admiration, and to make appearances correspond -with the theory. It must be recollected that Hudson, seventy-five years -later, in sailing up the North River, had similar notions. Hence the -application of several improper terms to the vegetable and animal -productions of the latitudes, and the constant expectation of beholding -trees bending with fruits and spices, "goodly trees" and "very sweet and -pleasant herbs." That the barren and frigid shores of Labrador, and the -northern parts of Newfoundland, should have been characterised as a -region subject to the divine curse, is not calculated to excite so much -surprise, as the disposition with every considerable change of soil and -verdure, to convert it into a land of oriental fruitfulness. It does not -appear to have been sufficiently borne in mind, that the increased -verdure and temperature, were, in a great measure, owing to the -advancing state of the season. He came on this coast on the 10th of May, -and it was now July. It is now very well known that the summers in high -northern latitudes, although short, are attended with a high degree of -heat. - -On the 3d of July Cartier entered the gulf to which the name of St. -Lawrence has since been applied, the centre of which he states to be in -latitude 47° 30´. On the 4th he proceeded up the bay to a creek called -St. Martin, near bay De Chaleur, where he was detained by stress of -weather eight days. While thus detained, one of the ship's boats was -sent a-head to explore. They went 7 or 8 leagues to a cape of the bay, -where they descried two parties of Indians, "in about 40 or 50 canoes," -crossing the channel. One of the parties landed and beckoned them to -follow their example, "making a great noise" and showing "certain skins -upon pieces of wood"--i. e. fresh stretched skins. Fearing their -numbers, the seamen kept aloof. The Indians prepared to follow them, in -two canoes, in which movement they were joined by five canoes of the -other party, "who were coming from the sea side." They approached in a -friendly manner, "dancing and making many signs of joy, saying in their -tongue Nape tondamen assuath."[31] The seamen, however, suspected their -intentions, and finding it impossible to elude them by flight, two shots -were discharged among them, by which they were so terrified, that they -fled precipitately ashore, "making a great noise." After pausing awhile, -the "wild men" however, re-embarked, and renewed the pursuit, but after -coming alongside, they were frightened back by the strokes of two -lances, which so disconcerted them that they fled in haste, and made no -further attempt to follow. - -This appears to have been the first rencontre of the ship's crew with -the natives. On the following day, an interview was brought on, by the -approach of said "wild men" in nine canoes, which is thus described. "We -being advertised of their coming, went to the point where they were with -our boats; but so soon as they saw us they began to flee, making signs -that they came to traffic with us, showing us such skins as they clothed -themselves withal, which are of small value. We likewise made signs unto -them, that we wished them no evil, and in sign thereof, two of our men -ventured to go on land to them, and carry them knives, with other iron -wares, and a red hat to give unto their captain. Which, when they saw, -they also came on land, and brought some of their skins, and so began to -deal with us, seeming to be very glad to have our iron wares and other -things, dancing, with many other ceremonies, as with their hands to cast -sea water on their heads. They gave us whatever they had, not keeping -any thing, so that they were constrained to go back again naked, and -made us signs, that the next day, they would come again and bring more -skins with them." - -Observing a spacious bay extending beyond the cape, where this -intercourse had been opened, and the wind proving adverse to the vessels -quitting their harbour, Cartier despatched his boats to examine it, -under an expectation that it might afford the desired passage--for it is -at all times to be observed that he was diligently seeking the long -sought passage to the Indies. While engaged in this examination, his men -discovered "the smokes and fires" of "wild men" (the term constantly -used in the narrative to designate the natives.) These smokes were upon -a small lake, communicating with the bay. An amiable interview took -place, the natives presenting cooked seal, and the French making a -suitable return "in hatchets, knives and beads." After these -preliminaries, which were conducted with a good deal of caution, by -deputies from both sides, the body of the men approached in their -canoes, for the purpose of trafficking, leaving most of their families -behind. About 300 men women and children were estimated to have been -seen at this place. They evinced their friendship by singing and -dancing, and by rubbing their hands upon the arms of their European -visitors, then lifting them up towards the heavens. An opinion is -expressed that these people, (who were in the position assigned to the -Micmacs in 1600 in Mr. Gallatin's ethnological map,) might very easily -be converted to Christianity. "They go," says the narrator, "from place -to place. They live only by fishing. They have an ordinary time to fish -for their provisions. The country is _hotter_ than the country of Spain, -and the fairest that can possibly be found, altogether smooth and -level." To the productions before noticed, as existing on Brion's island -&c., and which were likewise found here, he adds, "white and red roses, -with many other flowers of very sweet and pleasant smell." "There be -also," says the journalist, "many goodly meadows, full of grass, and -lakes, wherein plenty of salmon be." The natives called a hatchet -_cochi_, and a knife _bacon_.[32] It was now near the middle of July, -and the degree of heat experienced on the excursion induced Cartier to -name the inlet, Baie du Chaleur--a name it still retains. - -On the 12th of July Cartier left his moorings at St. Martin's creek, and -proceeded up the gulf, but encountering bad weather he was forced into a -bay, which appears to have been Gaspe, where one of the vessels lost her -anchor. They were forced to take shelter in a river of that bay, and -there detained thirteen days. In the mean while they opened an -intercourse with the natives, who were found in great numbers engaged in -fishing for makerel. Forty canoes, and 200 men women and children were -estimated to have been seen, during their detention. Presents of -"knives, combs, beads of glass, and other trifles of small value," were -made to them, for which they expressed great thankfulness, lifting up -their hands, and dancing and singing. - -These Gaspe Indians are represented as differing, both in nature and -language, from those before mentioned. They presented a picture of -abject poverty, were partially clothed in "old skins," and lived without -the use of tents. They may, says the journalist, "very well and truly be -called _wild_, because there is no poorer people in the world, for I -think, all they had together, besides their boats and nets, was not -worth five sous." They shaved their heads, except a tuft at the crown; -sheltered themselves at night under their canoes on the bare ground, and -ate their provisions very partially cooked. They were wholly without the -use of salt, and "ate nothing that had any taste of salt." On Cartier's -first landing among them, the men expressed their joy, as those at bay -Chaleur had done, by singing and dancing. But they had caused all their -women, except 2 or 3, to flee into the woods. By giving a comb and a -tin bell to each of the women who had ventured to remain, the avarice of -the men was excited, and they quickly caused their women, to the number -of about 20, to sally from the woods, to each of whom the same present -was made. They caressed Cartier by touching and rubbing him with their -hands; they also sung and danced. Their nets were made of a species of -indigenous hemp; they possessed also, a kind of "millet" called -"kapaige," beans called "Sahu," and nuts called "Cahehya." If any thing -was exhibited, which they did not know, or understand, they shook their -heads saying "Nohda." It is added that they never come to the sea, -except in fishing time, which, we may remark, was probably the cause of -their having no lodges, or much other property about them. They would -naturally wish to disencumber their canoes as much as possible, in these -summer excursions, that they might freight them back with dried fish. -The language spoken by these Gaspe Indians is manifestly of the Iroquois -type. "Cahehya," is, with a slight difference, the term for fruit, in -the Oneida. - -On the 24th July, Cartier set up a cross thirty feet high, inscribed, -"_Vive le Roy de France_." The natives who were present at this -ceremony, seem, on a little reflection, to have conceived the true -intent of it, and their chief complained of it, in a "long oration," -giving them to understand "that the country was his, and that we should -not set up any cross, without his leave." Having quieted the old chief's -fears, and made use of a little duplicity, to get him to come alongside, -they seized two of the natives for the purpose of taking them to France, -and on the next day set sail, up the gulf. After making some further -examinations of the gulf, and being foiled in an attempt to enter the -mouth of a river, Cartier turned his thoughts on a return. He was -alarmed by the furious tides setting out of the St. Lawrence; the -weather was becoming tempestuous, and under these circumstances he -assembled his captains and principal men, "to put the question as to the -expediency of continuing the voyage." They advised him to this effect: -That, considering that easterly winds began to prevail--"that there was -nothing to be gotten"--that, the impetuosity of the tides was such "That -they did but fall," and that storms and tempests began to reign--and -moreover, that they must either promptly return home, or else remain -where they were till spring, it was expedient to return. With this -counsel he complied. No time was lost in retracing their outward track, -along the Newfoundland coast. They reached the port of "White Sands," on -the 9th of August. On the 15th, being "the feast of the Assumption of -Our Lady," after service, Cartier took his departure from the coast. He -encountered a heavy storm, of three days continuance, "about the middle -of the sea," and reached the port of St. Malo, on the 5th of September, -after an absence of four months and sixteen days. - -This comprises the substance of the first voyage of discovery, of which -we have knowledge, ever made within the waters of the St. Lawrence. The -Newfoundland and Nova Scotia coasts, together with the shores of the -North Atlantic generally, had been discovered by Cabot, 37 years before. -The banks of Newfoundland had been resorted to, as is known pretty -freely for the purpose of fishing, for 26 years of this period, and the -natives had been at least, in one instance, taken to Europe. But the -existence of the St. Lawrence appears not to have been known. Cartier, -is, therefore, the true discoverer of Canada, although he was not its -founder. The latter honour was reserved for another. In the two -succeeding voyages made by Cartier, of which it is proposed to make a -synopsis, his title as a discoverer, is still more fully established. - - -SECOND VOYAGE. - -A. D. 1535, May, 19th, Cartier left St. Malo, on his second voyage of -discovery, "to the islands of Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay," with -three ships--the "Hermina" of 100 to 120 tons--the "little Hermina" of -60 tons, and the "Hermerillon" of 40 tons, commanded by separate -masters, acting under his orders as "General." He was accompanied by -several gentlemen and adventurers, among whom the narrator of the voyage -mentions, "Master Claudius de Pont Briand, son to the Lord of -Montceuell, and cup-bearer to the Dauphin of France; Charles of -Pomerais, and John Powlet." He suffered a severe gale on the outward -passage, in which the ships parted company. Cartier reached the coast of -Newfoundland on the 7th July, and was not rejoined by the other vessels -till the 26th, on which day the missing vessels entered "the port of -White Sands" in the _bay des Chasteaux_, the place previously designated -for their general rendezvous. - -On the 27th he continued his voyage along the coast, keeping in sight of -land, and consequently running great risks, from the numerous shoals he -encountered in seeking out anchorages. Many of the islands and headlands -named in the previous voyage, were observed, and names were bestowed -upon others, which had before escaped notice. Soundings and courses and -distances, are detailed with the tedious prolixity, and probably, with -the uncertainty of the era. Nothing of importance occurred until the 8th -of August, when Cartier entered the gulf, where he had previously -encountered such storms, and which he now named ST. LAWRENCE. From -thence on the 12th, he pursued his voyage westward "about 25 leagues" to -a cape named "Assumption," which appears to have been part of the Nova -Scotia coast. It is quite evident that the idea of a continuous -continent was not entertained by Cartier at this period, although the -Cabots had discovered and run down the coast nearly 40 years before -(1497.) He constantly speaks of his discoveries as "islands" and the -great object of anxiety seems to have been, to find the long sought -"passage" so often mentioned in his journals. - -The two natives whom he had seized on the previous voyage, now told him, -that cape Assumption was a part of the "southern coast," or main,--that -there was an island north of the passage to "Honguedo" where they had -been taken the year before, and that "two days journey from, the said -cape, and island, began the kingdom of Saguenay." - -In consequence of this information, and a wish to revisit "the land he -had before espied," Cartier turned his course towards the north, and -reentering the Gulf of St. Lawrence, came to the entrance of the river, -which is stated to be "about thirty leagues" across. Here, the two -natives told him, was the commencement of "Saguenay,"--that it was an -inhabited country, and produced "red copper." They further informed him, -that this was the mouth of the "great river of Hochelaga, and ready way -to Canada,"--that it narrowed in the ascent towards Canada, the waters -becoming fresh; that its sources were so remote that they had never -heard of any man who had visited them, and that boats would be required -to complete the ascent. - -This information appears to have operated as a disappointment on -Cartier, and he determined to explore northward from the gulf, "because -he would know" to use the quaint language of the narrator, "if between -the lands towards the north any passage might be discovered." No such -passage could however be found, and after devoting ten or twelve days to -re-examinations of points and islands before but imperfectly discovered, -or to the discovery of others, he returned to the river St. Lawrence, -which he began to ascend: and on the 1st Sept. he came to the entrance -of the Saguenay river, which is described as a bold and deep stream, -entering the St. Lawrence, between bare, precipitous rocks, crowned with -trees. Here they encountered four canoes of Indians, who evinced their -characteristic caution and shyness. On being hailed, however, by the two -captive natives, who disclosed to them, their names, they came along -side. But the journal records no further particulars of this interview. -They proceeded up the river next day. The tides are noticed as being -"very swift and dangerous," and the "current" is described as equalling -that at Bordeaux. Many tortoises were seen at the "Isle of Condres," and -a species of fish, which are described of equalling a porpoise in size, -with a head resembling a greyhound's, and of unspotted whiteness. It may -be vague to offer a conjecture from such a description as to the species -of fish intended, but as the natives reported them to be "very savoury -and good to be eaten," it may be inferred, that the sturgeon was meant. -Many of the descriptions of the animal productions of America, given by -Cartier, appear to be drawn up, rather with a view to excite wonder, in -an age when wonders were both industriously sought, and readily -credited, than to convey any accurate idea of their true characters and -properties. - -On the 7th of Sept they reached the island now called Orleans, where, it -is said "the country of Canada beginneth." This island is stated to be -ten leagues long, and five broad, being inhabited by natives who lived -exclusively by fishing. Having anchored his vessels in the channel, he -made a formal landing in his boats, taking the two captives, Domaigaia, -and Taignoagny, as interpreters. The natives at first fled, but hearing -themselves addressed in their own tongue, and finding the captives to be -their own countrymen, friendly intercourse at once ensued. The natives -evinced their joy by dancing, and "showing many sorts of ceremonies." -They presented Cartier, "eels and other sorts of fishes, with two or -three burdens of great millet, wherewith they make their bread, and many -great mush mellons." This "great millet" appears to have been _zea -mais_, which is here for the first time noticed, amongst the northern -Indians. The report of the arrival of their lost countrymen D. and T. -seemed to have put all the surrounding villages in commotion, and -Cartier found himself thronged with visitors, to whom he gave presents, -trifling in themselves, but of much value in the eyes of the Indians. -The utmost harmony and good feeling appear to have prevailed. - -On the following day Donnacona, who is courteously styled the Lord of -Agouhanna, visited the ships, with 12 boats, or canoes--ten of which -however, he directed to stay at a distance, and with the other two and -16 men approached the vessels. A friendly conference ensued. The chief, -when he drew near the headmost vessel began "to frame a long oration, -moving all his body and members after a strange fashion." When he -reached Cartier's ship, the captives entered into free discourse with -him, imparting the observations they had made in France, and the kind -treatment they had experienced. At this recital Donnacona was so much -pleased, that he desired Cartier to reach him his arm, that he might -kiss it. He not only kissed it, but "laid it about his neck, for so they -use to do, when they will make much of one." Cartier then entered into -the chief's boat, "causing bread and wine to be brought," and after -eating and drinking with him and his followers, the interview terminated -in mutual satisfaction. - -The advanced state of the season, and the determination to visit -Hochelaga (now Montreal) before the ice formed, admonished Cartier to -look for a harbour, which would afford a safe anchorage for his largest -vessels during the winter. He selected "a little river and haven," -opposite the head of the island, to which he gave the name of "Santa -Croix," being in the vicinity of Donnacona's village. No time was lost -in bringing up and mooring the vessels, and driving piles into the -harbour for their better security. While engaged in this work, further -acquaintance was made with the natives, and their opinion of Cartier's -visit, began to manifest itself, by which it appeared, that the -friendship established with him was rather apparent, than real. About -this time Taignoagny and Domaigaia were suffered to return to their -villages, and it soon became apparent, that the knowledge they had -acquired of the French, would be wielded to put their countrymen on -their guard against encroachments upon their soil. Taignoagny, in -particular, rendered himself obnoxious to the French, by his sullen and -altered conduct, and the activity he afterwards manifested in thwarting -Cartier's design of visiting the island of Hochelaga, although it -appears, he had, previous to leaving the vessels, promised to serve as a -guide on the expedition. - -Donnacona himself opposed the projected visit, by argument, by artifice, -and finally, by the extraordinary resource of human gifts. His aversion -to it first evinced itself by keeping aloof, and adopting a shy and -suspicious demeanour. Cartier finding this chief, with T. and D. and a -numerous retinue in his vicinity, "under a point or nook of land," -ordered a part of his men to follow him, and suddenly presented himself -in the midst of them. After mutual salutations, Taignoagny got up and -addressed him, in behalf of Donnacona, complaining that they came armed, -to which Cartier replied that, it was the custom of his country, and a -custom he could not dispense with. The bustle and heat of the -introduction being over, Cartier played the part of a politic -diplomatist, and was met by Donnacona and his counsellors on his own -grounds, and the whole interview, though it resulted in what is called -"a marvellous steadfast league of friendship" can only be looked upon, -as a strife, in which it is the object of both parties to observe the -most profound dissimulation. This "league" was ratified by the natives, -with three loud cries, "a most horrible thing to hear" says the -narrator. - -On the very next day Donnacona, attended with T. and D. and 10 or 12 "of -the chiefest of the country, with more than 500 persons, men, women and -children," came on board of the vessels, at their moorings, to protest -against the intended voyage of exploration. Taignoagny opened the -conference, by saying to Cartier, that Donnacona regretted his design of -visiting Hochelaga, and had forbid any of his people from accompanying -him, because the river itself "was of no importance." Cartier replied -that his decision was made, and urged the speaker to go with him, as he -had promised, offering to make the voyage every way advantageous to him. -A prompt refusal, on the part of T. and the sudden withdrawal of the -whole collected multitude, terminated this interview. - -On the next day Donnacona re-appeared with all his followers, bringing -presents of fish, singing and dancing. He then caused all his people to -pass to one side, and drawing a circle in the sand, requested Cartier -and his followers, to enter into it. This arrangement concluded, he -began an address, "holding in one of his hands a maiden child ten or -twelve years old," whom he presented to Cartier, the multitude at the -same time giving three shouts. He then brought forward two male -children, separately, presenting them in the same manner, and his -people at each presentation, expressing their assent by shouts. -Taignoagny, who by this time had drawn upon himself the epithet of -"crafty knave" told the "captain" (as Cartier is all along termed,) that -one of the children was his own brother, and that the girl was a -daughter of Donnacona's "own sister," and that this presentation, was -made to him, solely with a view of dissuading him from his expedition. -Cartier persisted in saying, that his mind was made up, and could not be -altered. Here, Domaigaia interposed, and said, that the children were -offered as "a sign and token of good will and security," and not with -any specific purpose of dissuading him from the expedition. High words -passed between the two liberated captives, from which it was evident -that one, or the other, had either misconceived or misrepresented the -object of the gift. Cartier however, took the children, and gave -Donnacona "two swords and two copper basins," for which he returned -thanks, and "commanded all his people to sing and dance," and requested -the captain to cause a piece of artillery to be discharged for his -gratification. Cartier readily improved this hint, to show them the -destructive effects of European artillery, and at a signal, ordered -twelve pieces, charged with ball, to be fired into the contiguous -forest, by which they were so astounded that they "put themselves to -flight, howling, crying, and shrieking, so that it seemed hell was broke -loose." - -These attempts to frustrate the purposed voyage, having failed, the -natives endeavoured to put the captain's credulity to the test, and -operate upon his fears. For this purpose three natives were disguised to -play the part of "devils," wrapped in skins, besmeared, and provided -with horns. Thus equipped they took advantage of the tide, to drop down -along side Cartier's vessels, uttering words of unintelligible import as -they passed, but keeping their faces steadfastly directed toward the -wood. At the same time Donnacona, and his people rushed out of the wood -to the shore,--attracting the attention of the ships' crews in various -ways, and finally seized the mock "devils" at the moment of their -landing, and carried them into the woods, where their revelations were -uttered. - -The result of this clumsy trick, was announced by Taignoagny and -Domaigaia, who said, that their god "Cudruaigny had spoken in -Hochelaga"--importing ill tidings to the French, and that he had sent -these three men to inform them that, there was so much ice and snow in -the country, that whoever entered it, must die. After some -interrogatives pro and con, in the course of which the power of "his -Priests" was oddly contrasted by the French commander with that of the -"devils," both Taignoagny and Domaigaia coincided in finally declaring -that Donnacona, "would by no means permit that any of them should go -with him to Hochelaga," unless he would leave hostages in his hands. - -All these artifices appear to have had but little effect on Cartier's -plan. He told his freed interpreters, that if they would not go -willingly, they might stay, and he would prosecute the voyage without -them. Accordingly, having finished mooring his vessels, on the 19th -September he set out to explore the upper portions of the river, taking -his smallest vessel and two boats with fifty mariners, and the -supernumerary gentlemen of his party. A voyage of ten days brought him -to an expansion of the river, which he named the lake of Angolesme, but -which is now known under the name of St. Peter. Here the shallowness of -the water, and rapidity of the current above, induced him to leave the -"Hermerillon," and he proceeded with the two boats and twenty-eight -armed men. The fertility of the shore, the beauty and luxuriance of the -forest trees, mantled as they often were, with the vine loaded with -clusters of grapes, the variety of water fowl, and above all the -friendly treatment they every where received from the Indians, excited -unmingled admiration. One of the chiefs whom they encountered presented -Cartier with two children, his son and daughter, the latter of whom, -being 7 or 8 years old, he accepted. On another occasion he was carried -ashore by one of a party of hunters, as "lightly and easily as if he had -been a child of five years old." Presents of fish were made, at every -point, where he came in contact with the natives, who seemed to vie with -each other in acts of hospitality. - -These marks of welcome and respect continued to be manifested during the -remainder of the journey to Hochelaga, where he arrived on the 2d of -October. A multitude of both sexes and all ages had collected on the -shore to witness his approach, and welcome his arrival. They expressed -their joy by dancing, "clustering about us, making much of us, bringing -their young children in their arms only to have our captain and his -company touch them." Cartier landed, and spent half an hour in receiving -their caresses, and distributed tin beads to the women, and knives to -some of the men, and then "returned to the boats to supper." The natives -built large fires on the beach, and continued dancing, and merry making -all night, frequently exclaiming _Aguiaze_, which is said to signify -"mirth and safety." - -Early the next morning Cartier having "very gorgeously attired himself," -and taking 20 mariners, with his officers and supernumeraries, landed -for the purpose of visiting the town, taking some of the natives for -guides. After following a well beaten path, leading through an oak -forest, for four or five miles, he was met by a chief, accompanied by a -retinue, sent out to meet him, who by signs gave him to understand, that -he was desired to rest at that spot, where a fire had been kindled, a -piece of civility, which it may be supposed, was something more than an -empty compliment on an October morning. The chief here made "a long -discourse," which, of course, was not understood, but they inferred it -was expressive of "mirth and friendship." In return Cartier gave him 2 -hatchets, 2 knives and a cross, which he made him kiss, and then put it -around his neck. - -This done the procession advanced, without further interruption, to the -"city of Hochelaga," which is described as seated in the midst of -cultivated fields, at the distance of a league from the mountain. It was -secured by three ramparts "one within another," about 2 rods in height, -"cunningly joined together after their fashion," with a single gate -"shut with piles and stakes and bars." This entrance, and other parts of -the walls, had platforms above, provided with stones for defensive -operations. The ascent to these platforms was by ladders. - -As the French approached, great numbers came out to meet them. They were -conducted by the guides, to a large square enclosure in the centre of -the town, "being from side to side a good stone's cast." They were first -greeted by the female part of the population, who brought their children -in their arms, and rushed eagerly to touch or rub the faces and arms of -the strangers, or whatever parts of their bodies they could approach. -The men now caused the females to retire, and seated themselves formally -in circles upon the ground; as if, says the narrator, "some comedy or -show" was about to be rehearsed. Mats were then brought in by the women, -and spread upon the ground, for the visitors to sit upon. Last came the -"Lord and King" Agouhanna, a palsied old man, borne upon the shoulders -of 9 or 10 attendants, sitting on a "great stag skin." They placed him -near the mats occupied by Cartier and his party. This simple potentate -"was no whit better apparelled than any of the rest, only excepted, that -he had a certain thing made of the skins of hedgehogs, like a red -wreath, and that was instead of his crown." - -After a salutation, in which gesticulation awkwardly supplied the place -of language, the old chief exhibited his palsied limbs, for the purpose -of being touched, by the supposed celestial visitants. Cartier, although -he appeared to be a man of sense and decision, on other occasions, was -not proof against the homage to his imputed divinity; but quite -seriously fell to rubbing the credulous chief's legs and arms. For this -act, the chief presented him his fretful "crown." The blind, lame, and -impotent, of the town were now brought in, and laid before him, "some so -old that the hair of their eyelids came down and covered their cheeks," -all of whom he touched, manifesting his own seriousness by reading the -Gospel of St. John, and "praying to God that it would please him to open -the hearts of this poor people, and to make them know his holy word, and -that they might receive baptism and Christendom." He then read a portion -of the catholic service, with a loud voice, during which the natives -were "marvellously attentive, looking up to heaven and imitating us in -gestures." Some presents of cutlery and trinkets were then distributed, -trumpets sounded, and the party prepared to return to their boats. When -about to leave their place, the women interposed, inviting them to -partake of the victuals they had prepared--a compliment which was -declined, "because the meats had no savour at all of salt." They were -followed out of the town by "divers men and women," who conducted the -whole party to the top of the mountain, commanding a wide prospect of -the plain, the river and its islands, and the distant mountains. -Transported with a scene, which has continued to afford delight to the -visitors of all after times, Cartier bestowed the name of "Mount Royal" -upon this eminence--a name which has descended, with some modifications, -to the modern city. Having satisfied their curiosity, and obtained such -information respecting the adjoining regions, as their imperfect -knowledge of the Indian language would permit, they returned to their -boats, accompanied by a promiscuous throng of the natives. - -Thus ended, on the 3rd Oct. 1535, the first formal meeting between the -French and the Indians of the interior of Canada, or what now began to -be denominated _New France_. As respects those incidents in it, in which -the Indians are represented as looking upon Cartier in the light of a -divinity, clothed with power to heal the sick and restore sight to the -blind, every one will yield the degree of faith, which his credulity -permits. The whole proceeding bears so striking a resemblance to "Christ -healing the sick," that it is probable the narrator drew more largely -upon his New Testament, than any certain knowledge of the faith and -belief of a savage people whose traditions do not reach far, and whose -language, granting the most, he but imperfectly understood. As respects -the description of a city with triple walls, those who know the manner -in which our Indian villages are built, will be best enabled to judge -how far the narrator supplied by fancy, what was wanting in fact. A -"walled city" was somewhere expected to be found, and the writer found -no better place to locate it. Cartier no sooner reached his boats, than -he hoisted sail and began his descent, much to the disappointment of the -Indians. Favoured by the wind and tide, he rejoined his "Pinnace" on the -following day. Finding all well, he continued the descent, without -meeting much entitled to notice, and reached the "port of the Holy -Cross," on the 11th of the month. During his absence the ships' crews -had erected a breastwork before the vessels, and mounted several pieces -of ships' cannon for their defence. Donnacona renewed his acquaintance -on the following day, attended by Taignoagny, Domaiga, and others, who -were treated with an appearance of friendship, which it could hardly be -expected Cartier could sincerely feel. He, in return visited their -village of Stadacona, and friendly relations being thus restored, the -French prepared for the approach of winter. - -Winter came in all its severity. From the middle of Nov. to the middle -of March, the vessels were environed with ice "two fathoms thick," and -snow upwards of four feet deep, reaching above the sides of the vessels. -And the weather is represented as being "extremely raw and bitter." In -the midst of this severity, the crews were infected with "a strange and -cruel disease," the natural consequence of a too licentiousintercourse -with the natives. The virulence of this disorder exceeded any thing that -they had before witnessed, though it is manifest, from the journal, that -it was in its virulence only, that the disease itself presented any new -features. A complete prostration of strength marked its commencement, -the legs swelled, the "sinews shrunk as black as any coal." The -infection became general, and excited the greatest alarm. Not more than -10 persons out of 110 were in a condition to afford assistance to the -sick by the middle of February. Eight had already died, and 50 were -supposed to be past recovery. - -Cartier, to prevent his weakness being known, as well as to stop further -infection, interdicted all intercourse with the natives. He caused that -"every one should devoutly prepare himself by prayer, and in remembrance -of Christ, caused his image to be set upon a tree, about a flight shot -from the fort, amid the ice and snow, giving all men to understand that -on the Sunday following, service should be said there, and that -whosoever could go, sick or whole, should go thither in procession, -singing the seven psalms of David, and other Litanies, praying, &c." - -The disorder, however, continued to spread till there were not "above -three sound men in the ships, and none was able to go under hatches to -draw drink for himself, nor for his fellows." Sometimes they were -constrained to bury the dead under the snow, owing to their weakness and -the severity of the frost, which rendered it an almost incredible labour -to penetrate the ground. Every artifice was resorted to by Cartier, to -keep the true state of his crews from the Indians, and he sought -unremittingly for a remedy against the disorder. - -In this his efforts were at last crowned with success, but not till he -had lost 25 of his men. By using a decoction of the bark and leaves of a -certain tree, which is stated to be "the Sassafras tree,"[33] the -remainder of his crews were completely recovered. The decoction was -drank freely, and the dregs applied externally, agreeably to the -directions of Domaigaia, to whom he was indebted for the information, -and who caused women to bring branches of it, and "therewithal shewed -the way how to use it." - -The other incidents of the winter were not of a character to require -notice. Mutual distrust existed. Cartier was in constant apprehension of -some stratagem, which the character and movements of his savage -neighbours gave some grounds for. He was detained at the bay of the Holy -Cross till the 6th May, 1536. The narrator takes the opportunity of this -long season of inaction to give descriptions of the manners and customs, -ceremonies and occupations of the Indians, and to detail the information -derived from them, and from personal observations respecting the -geographical features and the productions of the country. - -Touching the faith of the Indians, it is said, they believed no whit in -God, but in one whom they call "Cudruiagni," to whom, they say, they are -often indebted for a foreknowledge of the weather. And when he is angry, -his displeasure is manifested by casting dust in their eyes. They -believe that, after death, they go into the stars, descending by degrees -towards the horizon, and are finally received into certain green fields, -abounding in fruits and flowers. - -They are represented as possessing all property in common, and as being -"indifferently well stored" with the useful "commodities" of the -country--clothing themselves imperfectly in skins, wearing hose and -shoes of skins in winter, and going barefooted in summer. The men labour -little, and are much addicted to smoking. The condition of the women is -one of drudgery and servitude. On them the labour of tilling the -grounds, &c., principally devolves. The young women live a dissolute -life, until marriage, and married women, after the death of their -husbands, are condemned to a state of perpetual widowhood. Polygamy is -tolerated. Both sexes are represented as very hardy, and capable of -enduring the most intense degree of cold. In this there is little to -distinguish the native of 1536 from that of the present day, if we -substitute the blanket for the _muttatos_,[34] and except the remark -respecting the condition of widows, the accuracy of which, as it was -made upon slight acquaintance, may be reasonably doubted. It may also be -remarked, that the condition of young women, as described by Cartier, -was more degraded and vitiated than it is now known to be among any of -the North American tribes. - -The geographical information recorded respecting the St. Lawrence and -its tributaries is generally vague and confused. But may be referred to -as containing the first notice published by the French of the Great -Lakes. Cartier was told by Donnacona and others that the river -originated so far in the interior, that "there was never man heard of -that found out the end thereof," that it passed through "two or three -great lakes," and that there is "a sea of fresh water," alluding, -probably, to Superior. - -At what time the ice broke up, is not distinctly told. It is stated that -"that year the winter was very long," and a scarcity of food was felt -among the Indians, so much so, that they put a high price upon their -venison, &c., and sometimes took it back to their camps, rather than -part with it "any thing cheap." Donnacona and many of his people -withdrew themselves to their hunting grounds, under a pretence of being -absent a fortnight, but were absent two months. Cartier attributed this -long absence to a design of raising the country, and attacking him in -his fortified positions--a design which no cordiality of friendship on -the part of D. would prevent his entertaining, and which the latter gave -some colour to by neglecting to visit Cartier on his return with great -numbers of natives not before seen, and by evading the attempts made to -renew an intercourse, by feigning sickness as the cause of his neglect. -Cartier felt his own weakness, from the death of so many of his crew and -the sickness of others, and has recorded for his government on this -occasion the proverb, that "he that takes heed and shields himself from -all men, may hope to escape from some." He determined to abandon one of -his vessels, that he might completely man and re-fit the others, and -appears to have been diligent in making early preparations to return. -While thus engaged, Donnacona (April 22,) appeared with a great number -of men at Stadacona, and John Powlet, "who being best believed of those -people," he sent to reconnoitre them in their principal villages, -reported that he saw so many people, that "one could not stir for -another, and such men as they were never wont to see." Taignoagny, whom -he saw on this occasion, requested him to beseech Cartier to take off "a -lord of the country," called Agonna, who probably stood in the way of -his own advancement. Cartier availed himself of this request to bring on -an interview with Taignoagny, and by flattering his hopes, finally -succeeded in the execution of a project he appears to have previously -entertained. This was nothing less than the seizure of Donnacona, -Taignoagny, Domaigaia, (his previous captives,) and "two more of the -chiefest men," whom, with the children before received, making ten -persons in all, he conveyed to France. - -This seizure was made on the 3d of May, being "Holyrood day," at a time -when Cartier had completed his preparations for sailing. He took formal -possession of the country, under the name of New France, by erecting a -cross "thirty-five feet in height," bearing a shield with the arms of -France, and the following inscription: - - "Franciscus primum dei gratia Francorum Rex regnat," - -a sentence upon which this unjustifiable outrage formed a practical -comment. Three days afterwards he sailed from the port of the Holy -Cross, leaving crowds of the natives to bewail the loss of their chiefs. -And whose kindness led them to send on board a supply of provisions, -when they found they could not effect their liberation. Finding the -current of the St. Lawrence much swoln, he came to anchor at the isle of -Filberds, near the entrance of the Sagnenay, where he was detained nine -days. In the meantime many of the natives of Sagnenay visited the ships, -and finding Donnacona a prisoner, they presented him three packs of -beaver. On the 17th May, he made an unsuccessful attempt to proceed, but -was forced back and detained four days longer, waiting "till the -fierceness of the waters" were past. He entered and passed out of the -gulph on the 21st, but encountering adverse winds, did not take his -final departure from the Newfoundland coast till the 19th June. He then -took advantage of a favorable wind, and performed the homeward voyage -in 17 days. He entered the port of St. Malo, July 6, 1536, having been -absent less than 14 months, 8 of which had been passed in the St. -Lawrence. - - -THIRD VOYAGE. - -The reports and discoveries of Cartier were so well received by the King -of France (Francis I.), that he determined to colonize the newly -discovered country, and named John Francis de la Roche, Lord of -Roberval, his "Lieutenant and Governor in the countries of Canada and -Hochelaga." Cartier retained his former situation as "Captain General -and leader of the ships," and to him was entrusted the further -prosecution of discoveries. Five vessels were ordered to be prepared at -St. Malo, and measures appear to have been taken to carry out settlers, -cattle, seeds, and agricultural implements. Much delay, however, seems -to have attended the preparations, and before they were completed, -Donnacona and his companions, who had been baptized, paid the debt of -nature. A little girl, ten years old, was the only person surviving out -of the whole number of captives. - -It is seldom that a perfect harmony has prevailed between the leaders of -naval and land forces, in the execution of great enterprises. And though -but little is said to guide the reader in forming a satisfactory opinion -on the subject, the result in this instance proved that there was a -settled dissatisfaction in the mind of Cartier respecting the general -arrangements for the contemplated voyage. Whether he thought himself -neglected in not being invested with the government of the country he -had discovered, or felt unwilling that another should share in the -honors of future discoveries, cannot now be determined. It should be -recollected that the conquest of Mexico had then but recently been -accomplished (1520), and it is not improbable that Cartier, who had -taken some pains to exalt Donnacona into another Montezuma, thought -himself entitled to receive from Francis, rewards and emoluments in some -measure corresponding to those which his great rival, Charles, had -finally bestowed upon Cortez. - -Whatever were the causes, four years elapsed before the ships were -prepared, and M. La Roche, on visiting the vessels in the road of St. -Malo, ready for sea, then informed Cartier that his artillery, -munitions, and "other necessary things" which he had prepared, were not -yet arrived from Champaigne and Normandy. Cartier, in the meantime, had -received positive orders from the King to set sail. In this exigency, it -was determined that Cartier should proceed, while the King's Lieutenant -should remain "to prepare a ship or two at Honfleur, whither he thought -his things were come." - -This arrangement concluded, La Roche invested Cartier with full powers -to act until his arrival, and the latter set sail with five ships, "well -furnished and victualled for two years," on the 23d of May, 1540. Storms -and contrary winds attended the passage. The ships parted company, and -were kept so long at sea, that they were compelled to water the cattle, -&c., they took out for breed, with cider. At length, the vessels -re-assembled in the harbor of Carpunt in Newfoundland, and after taking -in wood and water, proceeded on the voyage, Cartier not deeming it -advisable to wait longer for the coming of La Roche. He reached the -little haven of Saincte Croix (where he wintered in the former voyage), -on the 23d of August. His arrival was welcomed by the natives, who -crowded around his vessels, with Agona at their head, making inquiries -after Donnacona and his companions in captivity. Cartier replied, that -Donnacona was dead, and his bones rested in the ground--that the other -persons had become great lords, and were married, and settled in France. -No displeasure was evinced by the intelligence of Donnacona's death. -Agona, on the contrary, seemed to be well pleased with it, probably, as -the journalist thinks, because it left him to rule in his stead. He took -off his head-dress and bracelets, both being of yellow leather edged -with wampum, and presented them to Cartier. The latter made a suitable -return to him and his attendants in small presents, intimating that he -had brought many new things, which were intended for them. He returned -the chieftain's simple "crown." They then ate, drank, and departed. - -Having thus formally renewed intercourse with the natives, Cartier sent -his boats to explore a more suitable harbor and place of landing. They -reported in favor of a small river, about four leagues above, where the -vessels were accordingly moored, and their cargoes discharged. Of the -spot thus selected for a fort and harbor, as it was destined afterwards -to become celebrated in the history of Canada, it may be proper to give -a more detailed notice of Cartier's original description. The river is -stated to be fifty paces broad, having three fathoms water at full tide, -and but a foot at the ebb, having its entrance towards the south, and -its course very serpentine. The beauty and fertility of the lands -bordering it, the vigorous growth of trees, and the rapidity of -vegetation, are highly and (I believe) very justly extolled. Near it, -there is said to be "a high and steep cliff," which it was necessary to -ascend by "a way in manner of a pair of stairs," and below it, and -between it and the river, an interval sufficiently extensive to -accommodate a fort. A work of defence was also built upon the cliff, for -the purpose of keeping the "nether fort and the ships, and all things -that might pass, as well by the great, as by this small river." Upon the -cliff a spring of pure water was discovered near the fort, "adjoining -whereunto," says the narrator, "we found good store of stones, which we -esteemed to the diamonds" (limpid quartz). At the foot of the cliff, -facing the St. Lawrence, they found iron, and at the water's edge -"certain leaves of fine gold (mica) as thick as a man's nail." - -The ground was so favorable for tillage, that twenty men labored at an -acre and a half in one day. Cabbage, turnip, and lettuce seed, sprung up -the eighth day. A luxurious meadow was found along the river, and the -woods were clustered with a species of the native grape. Such were the -natural appearance and advantages of a spot which was destined to be the -future site of the city and fortress of Quebec,[35] "but to which he -gave the name of 'Charlesbourg Royal.'" - -Cartier lost no time in despatching two of his vessels to France, under -command of Mace Jollobert and Stephen Noel, his brother-in-law and -nephew, with letters to the king, containing an account of his voyage -and proceedings, accompanied with specimens of the mineral treasures he -supposed himself to have discovered; and taking care to add "how Mons. -Roberval had not yet come, and that he feared that by occasion of -contrary winds and tempests, he was driven back again into France." -These vessels left the newly discovered town and fort of "Charlesbourg -Royal" on the 2d of September. And they were no sooner despatched, than -Cartier determined to explore the "Saults" or rapids of the St. -Lawrence, which had been described to him, and partly pointed out, -during his ascent to the mountain of Montreal. Leaving the fort under -the command of the Viscount Beaupre, he embarked in two boats on the 7th -of September, accompanied by Martine de Painpont and other "gentlemen," -with a suitable complement of mariners. The only incident recorded of -the passage up, is his visit to "the Lord of Hochelay"--a chief who had -presented him a little girl, on his former visit, and evinced a -friendship during his stay in the river, which he was now anxious to -show that he preserved the recollection of. He presented the chief a -cloak "of Paris red," garnished with buttons and bells, with two basins -of "Laton" (pewter), and some knives and hatchets. He also left with -this chief two boys to acquire the Indian language. - -Continuing the ascent, he reached the lower "Sault" on the 11th of the -month, and, on trial, found it impossible to ascend it with the force of -oars. He determined to proceed by land, and found a well-beaten path -leading in the desired course. This path soon conducted him to an Indian -village, where he was well received, and furnished with guides to visit -the second "Sault." Here he was informed that there was another Sault at -some distance, and that the river was not navigable--a piece of -information that meant either that it was not navigable by the craft -Cartier had entered the river with, or was intended to repress his -further advance into the country. The day being far spent, he returned -to his boats, where four hundred natives awaited his arrival. He -appeased their curiosity, by interchanging civilities, and distributing -small presents, and made all speed to return to Charlesbourg Royal, -where he learned that the natives, alarmed by the formidable defences -going on, had intermitted their customary visits, and evinced signs of -hostility. This inference was confirmed by his own observations on the -downward passage, and he determined to use the utmost diligence and -precaution to sustain himself in his new position. - -The rest of this voyage is wanting. Hackluyt has, however, preserved two -letters of Jacques Noel, a relative of Cartier, written at St. Malo in -1587, with the observations of latitude, courses, and distances, made by -"John Alphonso of Xanctoigne," who carried out La Roche, Lord of -Roberval, to Canada, in 1542, and a fragment of Roberval's narrative, -which indicated the sequel of Cartier's third and last voyage. From the -latter, it appears that Roberval entered the harbor of Belle Isle in -Newfoundland, on the 8th of June, 1542, on his way to Canada; and while -there, Cartier unexpectedly entered the same harbor, on his return to -France. He reported that he was unable "with his small company" to -maintain a footing in the country, owing to the incessant hostility of -the natives, and had resolved to return to France. He presented the -limpid quartz, and gold yellow mica, which he had carefully cherished, -under a belief that he had discovered in these resplendent minerals, the -repositories of gold and diamonds. An experiment was made the next day, -upon what is denominated "gold ore," by which term the journalist does -not probably refer to the "mica," considered, in an age in which -mineralogy had not assumed the rank of a science, as "leaves of gold," -but to pieces of yellow pyrites of iron, which it is mentioned in the -description of the environs of "Charlesbourg Royal" Cartier had -discovered in the slate rock. And the ore was pronounced "good"--a proof -either of gross deception, or gross ignorance in the experimenter. -Cartier spoke highly of the advantages the country presented for -settlement, in point of fertility. He had, however, determined to leave -it. He disobeyed Roberval's order to return, and "both he and his -company" secretly left the harbor, and made the best of their way to -France, being "moved," as the journalist adds, "with ambition, because -they would have all the glory of the discovery of these parts to -themselves." - -January 21st, 1829. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [30] I underscore the word "hotter," to denote the prevalent theory. -They were searching for China or the East India. - - [31] In Mr. Gallatin's comparative vocabulary, "Napew" means man, in the -Sheshatapoosh or Labrador. It is therefore fair to conclude that these -were a party of Sheshatapoosh Indians, whose language proves them to be -of the kindred of the great Algonquin family. - - [32] Koshee and Bahkon. These are not the terms for a hatchet and a -knife in the Micmac, nor in the old Algonquin, nor in the Wyandot. - - [33] As the tree is afterwards stated to be "as big as any oak in -France," it was probably the _box elder_, and not the sassafras, which -never attained to much size. - - [34] Robe of beaver skins. Eight skins of two year old beaver are -required to make such a robe. - - [35] Query--Is not the word Quebec a derivative from the Algonquin -phrase _Kebic_--a term uttered in passing by a dangerous and rocky -coast? - - - - -THE INFLUENCE OF ARDENT SPIRITS ON THE CONDITION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN -INDIANS. - -AN ADDRESS READ BEFORE THE CHIPPEWA COUNTY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, AT SAULT -STE-MARIE, MAY 8th, 1832. - - -The effects of intemperance on the character of nations and individuals -have been often depicted, within a few years, in faithful colors, and by -gifted minds. "Thoughts that breathe and words that burn" were once -supposed to be confined, exclusively, to give melody to the lyre, and -life to the canvass. But the conceptions of modern benevolence have -dispelled the illusion, and taught us that genius has no higher objects -than the promotion of the greatest amount of good to man--that these -objects come home to the "business and bosoms" of men in their every day -avocations--that they lie level to every capacity, and never assume so -exalted a character, as when they are directed to increase the sum of -domestic happiness and fireside enjoyment-- - - "To mend the morals and improve the heart." - -It is this consideration that gives to the temperance effort in our day, -a refined and expansive character-- - - "Above all Greek, above all Roman fame"-- - -which has enlisted in its cause sound heads and glowing hearts, in all -parts of our country--which is daily augmenting the sphere of its -influence, and which has already carried its precepts and examples from -the little sea-board village,[36] where it originated, to the foot of -Lake Superior. And I have now the pleasure of seeing before me a -society, assembled on their first public meeting, who have "banded -together," not with such mistaken zeal as dictated the killing of Paul, -or assassinating Cæsar, but for giving their aid in staying the tide of -intemperance which has been rolling westward for more than three -centuries, sweeping away thousands of white and red men in its -course--which has grown with the growth of the nation, and strengthened -with its strength, and which threatens with an overwhelming moral -desolation all who do not adopt the rigid maxim-- - - "Touch not, taste not, handle not." - -The British critic of the last century little thought, while moralizing -upon some of the weaknesses of individual genius, that he was uttering -maxims which would encourage the exertions of voluntary associations of -men to put a stop to intemperance. It was as true then as now, that "in -the bottle, discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and -bashfulness for confidence." It was as true then, as now, that the -"negligence and irregularity" which are the fruits of this habit, "if -long continued, will render knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and -genius contemptible." "Who," he exclaims, "that ever asked succors from -Bacchus, was able to preserve himself from being enslaved by his -auxiliary?"[37] And is there a species of servitude more pernicious in -its influence, more degrading in its character, more destructive of all -physical and intellectual power, than the slavery of inebriation? The -rage of the conflagration--the devastation of the flood--the fury of the -tempest, are emblematic of the moral fury of the mind under the -influence of alcohol. It is equally ungovernable in its power, and -destructive in its effects. But its devastations are more to be -deplored, because they are the devastations of human faculties--of -intellectual power--of animal energy--of moral dignity--of social -happiness--of temporal health--of eternal felicity. - -Intemperance is emphatically the parent of disease, mental and physical. -Its direct effects are to blunt the faculty of correct thinking, and to -paralyze the power of vigorous action. Nothing more effectually takes -away from the human mind, its ordinary practical powers of -discrimination and decision, without which man is like a leaf upon the -tempest, or the chaff before the wind. Dr. Darwin has aptly compared the -effects of spirituous liquors upon the lungs to the ancient fable of -Prometheus stealing fire from heaven, who was punished for the theft by -a vulture gnawing on the liver.[38] A striking allegory: but one which -is not inaptly applied to characterize the painful and acute diseases -which are visited upon the inebriate. Dr. Rush was an early advocate of -the cause. He likened the effects of the various degrees of alcohol, in -spirituous drinks, to the artificial mensuration of heat by the -thermometer, and took a decided stand in pointing out its poisonous -effects upon the system, in the generation of a numerous class of -diseases, acute and chronic. - -If unhealthy food had been the cause of such disorders, the article -would be rigidly shunned. No man would choose to eat twice of the -cicuta; to use bread having a portion of lime in it; or to drink -frequently of a preparation of sugar of lead. Even the intemperate would -fear to drink of alcohol, in its state of _chemical_ purity, for its -effects would certainly be to arrest the functions of life. Yet he will -drink of this powerful drug, if diluted with acids, saccharine and -coloring matter, water and various impurities, under the disguised names -of wine, brandy, rum, malt liquors, whisky, cordials, and mixed -potations, which all tend to pamper the natural depravity of the human -heart, and poison its powers of healthful action. - -Alcohol is one of the preparations which were brought to light in the -age of the Alchemysts--when the human mind had run mad in a philosophic -research after two substances which were not found in nature--the -philosopher's stone, and the universal panacea. One, it was believed, -was to transmute all substances it touched into gold, and the other, to -cure all diseases. The two great desires of the world--_wealth_ and -_long life_, were thus to be secured in a way which Moses and the -Prophets had never declared. A degree of patient ascetic research was -devoted to the investigation of natural phenomena, which the world had -not before witnessed; and modern science is indebted to the mistaken -labors of this race of chemical monks, for many valuable discoveries, -which were, for the most part, stumbled on. So far as relates to the -discovery of the alcoholic principle of grains, a singular reversal of -their high anticipations has ensued. They sought for a substance to -enrich mankind, but found a substance to impoverish them: they sought a -power to cure all diseases, but they found one to cause them. Alcohol is -thus invested with great talismanic power: and this power is not to -create, but to destroy--not to elevate, but to prostrate--not to impart -life, but death. - -How extensive its uses are, as a re-agent and solvent, in medicine and -the arts--or if its place could be supplied, in any instances, by other -substances--are questions to be answered by physicians and chemists. But -admitting, what is probable to my own mind, that its properties and uses -in pharmacy and the arts are indispensable in several operations, in the -present state of our knowledge--does this furnish a just plea for its -ordinary use, as a beverage, in a state of health? No more than it -would, that because the lancet and the probe are useful in a state of -disease, they should be continued in a state of health. And do not every -class of men who continue the use of ardent spirits, waste their blood -by a diurnal exhaustion of its strength and healthy properties, more -injurious than a daily depletion; and probe their flesh with a fluid too -subtle for the physician to extract? - -The transition from temperate to intemperate drinking, is very easy. And -those who advocate the _moderate_ use of distilled spirits are indeed -the _real_ advocates of intemperance. No man ever existed, perhaps, who -thought himself in danger of being enslaved by a practice, which he, _at -first_, indulged in moderation. A habit of relying upon it is -imperceptibly formed. Nature is soon led to expect the adventitious aid, -as a hale man, accustomed to wear a staff, may imagine he cannot do -without it, until he has thrown it aside. If it communicates a partial -energy, it is the energy of a convulsion. Its joy is a phrenzy. Its hope -is a phantom. And all its exhibitions of changing passion, so many -melancholy proofs of - - "the reasonable soul run mad." - -Angelic beings are probably exalted above all human weaknesses.--But if -there be anything in their survey of our actions which causes them to -weep, it is the sight of a drunken father in the domestic circle. - -Instructed reason, and sound piety, have united their voices in decrying -the evils of intemperance. Physicians have described its effects in -deranging the absorbent vessels of the stomach, and changing the healthy -organization of the system. Moralists have portrayed its fatal influence -on the intellectual faculties. Divines have pointed out its destructive -powers on the soul. Poetry, philosophy and science, have mourned the -numbers who have been cut down by it. Common sense has raised up its -voice against it. It is indeed-- - - "----a monster of so frightful mien, - That to be _hated_, needs but to be _seen_." - -Like the genie of Arabic fable, it has risen up, where it was least -expected, and stalked through the most secret and the most public -apartments. And wherever it has appeared, it has prostrated the human -mind. It has silenced the voice of eloquence in the halls of justice and -legislation. It has absorbed the brain of the scientific lecturer. It -has caused the sword to drop from the hand of the military leader. It -has stupefied the author in his study, and the pastor in his desk. It -has made the wife a widow in her youth, and caused the innocent child to -weep upon a father's grave. We dare not look beyond it. Hope, who has -attended the victim of intemperance through all the changes of his -downward fortune, and not forsaken him in any other exigency, has -forsaken _here_. Earth had its vanities to solace him, but eternity has -none. - - "Wounds of the heart--care, disappointment, loss, - Love, joy, and friendship's fame, and fortune's cross, - The wound that mars the flesh--the instant pain - That racks the palsied limb, or fever'd brain, - All--all the woes that life can _feel_ or miss, - All have their hopes, cures, palliatives, but _this_-- - This _only_--mortal canker of the mind, - Grim Belial's _last_ attempt on human kind." - -If such, then, are the effects of ardent spirits upon the condition of -civilized man, who has the precepts of instructed reason to enlighten -him, and the consolations of Christianity to support him, what must be -the influence of intemperate habits upon the aboriginal tribes? I -propose to offer a few considerations upon this subject. And in so doing -I disclaim all intention of imputing to one nation of the European -stock, more than the other, the national crime of having introduced -ardent spirits among the American Indians. Spaniards, Portuguese, -Swedes, Dutch, Italians, Russians, Germans, French and English, all come -in for a share of the obloquy. They each brought ardent spirits to the -New World--a proof, it may be inferred, of their general use, as a drink -in Europe, at the era of the discovery. Whatever other articles the -first adventurers took to operate upon the hopes and fears of the new -found people, distilled or fermented liquor appears to have been, in no -instance, overlooked or forgotten. It would be easy to show the use made -of them in the West Indies, and in the southern part of our hemisphere. -But our object is confined to the colonies planted in the North. And in -this portion of the continent the English and French have been the -predominating powers. It had been well, if they had predominated in -everything else--if they had only been rivals for courage, wisdom and -dominion. If they had only fought to acquire civil power--conquered to -spread Christianity--negotiated to perpetuate peace. But we have too -many facts on record to show, that they were also rivals in spreading -the reign of intemperance among the Indians; in gleaning, with -avaricious hand, the furs from their lodges; in stimulating them to -fight in their battles, and in leaving them to their own fate, when the -battles were ended. - -Nor do we, as Americans, affect to have suddenly succeeded to a better -state of feelings respecting the natives than our English ancestry -possessed. They were men of sterling enterprise; of undaunted -resolution; of high sentiments of religious and political liberty. And -we owe to them and to the peculiar circumstances in which Providence -placed us, all that we are, as a free and a prosperous people. But while -they bequeathed to us these sentiments as the preparatives of our own -national destiny, they also bequeathed to us their peculiar opinions -respecting the Indian tribes. And these opinions have been cherished -with obstinacy, even down to our own times. The noble sentiments of -benevolence of the 19th century had not dawned, when we assumed our -station in the family of nations. If they were felt by gifted -individuals, they were not felt by the body of the nation. Other -duties--the imperious duties of self-existence, national poverty, wasted -resources, a doubtful public credit, a feeble population, harassing -frontier wars, pressed heavily upon us. But we have seen all these -causes of national depression passing away, in less than half a century. -With them, it may be hoped, have passed away, every obstacle to the -exercise of the most enlarged charity, and enlightened philanthropy, -respecting the native tribes. - -Nationality is sometimes as well characterized by small as by great -things--by names, as by customs. And this may be observed in the -treatment of the Indians, so far as respects the subject of ardent -spirits. Under the French government they were liberally supplied with -brandy. Under the English, with Jamaica rum. Under the Americans, with -whisky. These constitute the fire, the gall, and the poison ages of -Indian history. Under this triple curse they have maintained an -existence in the face of a white population. But it has been an -_existence_ merely. Other nations are said to have had a golden age. But -there has been no golden age for them. If there ever was a state of -prosperity among them, which may be likened to it, it was when their -camps were crowned with temporal abundance--when the races of animals, -furred and unfurred, placed food and clothing within the reach of -all--and when they knew no intoxicating drink. To counterbalance these -advantages, they were, however, subject to many evils. They were then, -as they are now, indolent, improvident, revengeful, warlike. Bravery, -manual strength, and eloquence, were the cardinal virtues. And their own -feuds kept them in a state of perpetual insecurity and alarm. The -increased value given to furs, by the arrival of Europeans, created a -new era in their history, and accelerated their downfall. It gave an -increased energy and new object to the chase. To reward their activity -in this employment, ardent spirits became the _bounty_, rather than the -_price_. A two-fold injury ensued. The animals upon whose flesh they had -subsisted became scarce, and their own constitutions were undermined -with the subtle stimulant. - -Historical writers do not always agree: but they coincide in their -testimony respecting the absence of any intoxicating drink among the -northern Indians, at the time of the discovery. It is well attested that -the Aztecks, and other Mexican and Southern tribes, had their _pulque_, -and other intoxicating drinks, which they possessed the art of making -from various native grains and fruits. But the art itself was confined, -with the plants employed, to those latitudes. And there is no historical -evidence to prove that it was ever known or practised by the tribes -situated north and east of the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Robertson, an able -and faithful describer of Indian manners, fully concurs with the Jesuit -authors, in saying that no such beverage was known in the north, until -Europeans found it for their pecuniary interest to supply it. After -which, intoxication became as common among the northern as the southern -tribes.[39] - -Three hundred and forty years ago there was not a white man in America. -Columbus discovered the West India Islands; but Cabot and Verrizani were -the discoverers of North America. Cartier and Hudson followed in the -track. The first interview of Hudson with the Mohegan tribes, took place -at the mouth of the river which now bears his name. It is remarkable as -the scene of the first Indian intoxication among them. He had no sooner -cast anchor, and landed from his boat, and passed a friendly salutation -with the natives, than he ordered a bottle of ardent spirits to be -brought. To show that he did not intend to offer them what he would not -himself taste, an attendant poured him out a cup of the liquor, which he -drank off. The cup was then filled and passed to the Indians. But they -merely smelled of it and passed it on. It had nearly gone round the -circle untasted, when one of the chiefs, bolder than the rest, made a -short harangue, saying it would be disrespectful to return it untasted, -and declaring his intention to drink off the potion, if he should be -killed in the attempt. He drank it off. Dizziness and stupor -immediately ensued. He sank down and fell into a sleep--the sleep of -death, as his companions thought. But in due time he awoke--declared the -happiness he had experienced from its effects--asked again for the cup, -and the whole assembly followed his example.[40] - -Nor was the first meeting with the New England tribes very dissimilar. -It took place at Plymouth, in 1620. Massasoit, the celebrated chief of -the Pokanokets, came to visit the new settlers, not long after their -landing. He was received by the English governor with military music and -the discharge of some muskets. After which, the Governor kissed his -hand. Massasoit then kissed him, and they both sat down together. "A pot -of strong water," as the early writers expressed it, was then ordered, -from which both drank. The chief, in his simplicity, drank so great a -draught that it threw him into a violent perspiration during the -remainder of the interview.[41] - -The first formal interview of the French with the Indians of the St. -Lawrence is also worthy of being referred to, as it appears to have been -the initial step in vitiating the taste of the Indians, by the -introduction of a foreign drink. It took place in 1535, on board one of -Cartier's ships, lying at anchor near the Island of Orleans, forty-nine -years before the arrival of Amidas and Barlow on the coast of Virginia. -Donnaconna, a chief who is courteously styled the "Lord of Agouhanna," -visited the ship with twelve canoes. Ten of these he had stationed at a -distance, and with the other two, containing sixteen men, he approached -the vessels. When he drew near the headmost vessel, he began to utter an -earnest address, accompanied with violent gesticulation. Cartier hailed -his approach in a friendly manner. He had, the year before, captured two -Indians on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and he now addressed the chief -through their interpretation. Donnaconna listened to his native language -with delight, and was so much pleased with the recital they gave, that -he requested Cartier to reach his arm over the side of the vessel, that -he might kiss it. He was not content with this act of salutation, but -fondled it, by drawing the arm gently around his neck. His watchful -caution did not, however, permit him to venture on board. Cartier, -willing to give him a proof of his confidence, then descended into the -chief's canoe, and ordered bread and wine to be brought. They ate and -drank together, all the Indians present participating in the banquet, -which appears to have been terminated in a temperate manner.[42] - -But like most _temperate_ beginnings in the use of spirits, it soon led -to intemperance in its most repulsive forms. The taste enkindled by -wine, was soon fed with brandy, and spread among the native bands like a -wildfire. It gave birth to disease, discord, and crime, in their most -shocking forms. Too late the government and the clergy saw their error, -and attempted to arrest it; but it was too deeply seated among their own -countrymen, as well as among the Indians. Every effort proved -unsuccessful; and the evil went on until the Canadas were finally -transferred to the British crown, with this "mortal canker" burning upon -the northern tribes. Those who have leisure and curiosity to turn to the -early writers, will see abundant evidence of its deep and wide-spread -influence. It became the ready means of rousing to action a people -averse to long continued exertion of any kind. It was the reward of the -chase. It was the price of blood. It was the great bar to the successful -introduction of Christianity. It is impossible that the Indian should -both drink and pray. It was impossible _then_, and it is impossible -_now_: and the missionary who entered the forest, with the Bible and -crucifix in one hand, and the bottle in the other, might say, with the -Roman soliloquist, who deliberated on self-murder, - - "My bane and antidote are both before me: - While _this_ informs me I shall never die, - _This_ in a moment brings me to my end." - -National rivalry, between the English and French governments, gave a -character of extreme bitterness to the feelings of the Indians, and -served to promote the passion for strong drink. It added to the horrors -of war, and accumulated the miseries of peace. It was always a struggle -between these nations which should wield the Indian power; and, so far -as religion went, it was a struggle between the Catholic and Protestant -tenets. It was a power which both had, in a measure, the means of -putting into motion: but neither had the _complete_ means of controlling -it, if we concede to them the _perfect_ will. It would have mitigated -the evil, if this struggle for mastering the Indian mind had terminated -with a state of war, but it was kept up during the feverish -intermissions of peace. Political influence was the ever-present weight -in each side of the scale. Religion threw in her aid; but it was trade, -the possession of the fur trade, that gave the preponderating weight. -And there is nothing in the history of this rivalry, from the arrival of -Roberval to the death of Montcalm, that had so permanently pernicious an -influence as the sanction which this trade gave to the use of ardent -spirits. - -We can but glance at this subject; but it is a glance at the track of a -tornado. Destruction lies in its course. The history of the fur trade is -closely interwoven with the history of intemperance among the Indians. -We know not how to effect the separation. Look at it in what era you -will, the barter in ardent spirits constitutes a prominent feature. From -Jamestown to Plymouth--from the island of Manhattan to the Lake of the -Hills, the traffic was introduced at the earliest periods. And we cannot -now put our finger on the map, to indicate a spot where ardent spirits -is not known to the natives. Is it at the mouth of the Columbia, the -sources of the Multnomah, or the Rio del Norde--the passes of the Rocky -Mountains on Peace River, or the shores of the Arctic Sea? it is known -at all these places. The natives can call it by name, and they place a -value on its possession. We do not wish to convey the idea that it is -abundant at these remote places. We have reason to believe it is seldom -seen. But we also believe that in proportion as it is scarce--in -proportion as the quantity is small, and the occasion of its issue rare, -so is the price of it in sale, and the value of it in gift, enhanced. -And just so far as it is used, it is pernicious in effect, unnecessary -in practice, unwise in policy. - -The French, who have endeared themselves so much in the affections of -the Indians, were earlier in Canada than the English upon the United -States' coast. Cartier's treat of wine and bread to the Iroquois of the -St. Lawrence, happened eighty-five years before the landing of the -Pilgrims. They were also earlier to perceive the evils of an -unrestrained trade, in which nothing was stipulated, and nothing -prohibited. To prevent its irregularities, licenses were granted by the -French government to individuals, on the payment of a price. It was a -boon to superannuated officers, and the number was limited. In 1685, the -number was twenty-five. But the remedy proved worse than the disease. -These licenses became negotiable paper. They were sold from hand to -hand, and gave birth to a traffic, which assumed the same character in -_temporal_ affairs, that "indulgences" did in _spiritual_. They were, in -effect, licenses to commit every species of wrong, for those who got -them at last, were generally persons under the government of no high -standard of moral responsibility; and as they may be supposed to have -paid well for them, they were sure to make it up by excessive exactions -upon the Indians. _Courier du bois_, was the term first applied to them. -_Merchant voyageur_, was the appellation at a subsequent period. But -whatever they were called, one spirit actuated them--the spirit of -acquiring wealth by driving a gainful traffic with an ignorant people, -and for this purpose ardent spirits was but too well adapted. They -transported it, along with articles of necessity, up long rivers, and -over difficult portages. And when they had reached the borders of the -Upper Lakes, or the banks of the Sasketchawine, they were too far -removed from the influence of courts, both judicial and ecclesiastical -to be in much dread of them. Feuds, strifes, and murders ensued. Crime -strode unchecked through the land. Every Indian trader became a -legislator and a judge. His word was not only a law, but it was a law -which possessed the property of undergoing as many repeals and mutations -as the interest, the pride, or the passion of the individual rendered -expedient. If wealth was accumulated, it is _not_ intended to infer that -the pressing wants of the Indians were not relieved--that the trade was -not a very acceptable and important one to them, and that great peril -and expense were not encountered, and a high degree of enterprise -displayed in its prosecution. But it is contended, that if _real_ wants -were relieved, _artificial_ ones were created--that if it substituted -the gun for the bow, and shrouds and blankets in the place of the more -expensive clothing of beaver skins, it also substituted ardent spirits -for water--intoxication for sobriety--disease for health. - -Those who entertain the opinion that the fall of Quebec, celebrated in -England and America as a high military achievement, and the consequent -surrender of Canada, produced any very important improvement in this -state of things, forget that the leading principles and desires of the -human heart are alike in all nations, acting under like circumstances. -The desire of amassing wealth--the thirst for exercising power--the -pride of information over ignorance--the power of vicious over virtuous -principles, are not confined to particular eras, nations, or latitudes. -They belong to mankind, and they will be pursued with a zeal as -irrespective of equal and exact justice, wherever they are not -restrained by the ennobling maxims of Christianity. - -Whoever feels interested in looking back into this period of our -commercial Indian affairs, is recommended to peruse the published -statistical and controversial volumes, growing out of the Earl of -Selkirk's schemes of colonization, and to the proceedings of the North -West Company. This iron monopoly grew up out of private adventure. Such -golden accounts were brought out of the country by the Tods, the -Frobishers, and the M'Tavishes, and M'Gillvrays, who first visited it, -that every bold man, who had either talents or money, rushed to the -theatre of action. The boundary which had been left to the French, as -the limit of trade, was soon passed. The Missinipi, Athabasca, Fort -Chipewyan, Slave lake, Mackenzie's and Copper Mine Rivers, the Unjigah -and the Oregon, were reached in a few years. All Arctic America was -penetrated. The British government is much indebted to Scottish -enterprise for the extension of its power and resources in this quarter. -But while we admire the zeal and boldness with which the limits of the -trade were extended, we regret that a belief in the necessity of using -ardent spirits caused them to be introduced, in any quantity, among the -North West tribes. - -Other regions have been explored to spread the light of the gospel. This -was traversed to extend the reign of intemperance, and to prove that the -love of gain was so strongly implanted in the breast of the white man, -as to carry him over regions of ice and snow, woods and waters, where -the natives had only been intruded on by the Musk Ox and the Polar bear. -Nobody will deem it too much to say, that wherever the current of the -fur trade set, the nations were intoxicated, demoralized, depopulated. -The terrible scourge of the small pox, which broke out in the country -north west of Lake Superior in 1782, was scarcely more fatal to the -natives, though more rapid and striking in its effects, than the power -of ardent spirits. Nor did it produce so great a moral affliction. For -those who died of the varioloid, were spared the death of ebriety. Furs -were gleaned with an iron hand, and rum was given out with an iron -heart. There was no remedy for the rigors of the trade; and there was no -appeal. Beaver was sought with a thirst of gain as great as that which -carried Cortez to Mexico, and Pizarro to Peru. It had deadened the ties -of humanity, and cut asunder the cords of private faith.[43] Like the -Spaniard in his treatment of Capolicon, when the latter had given him -the house full of gold for his ransom, he was himself basely executed. -So the northern chief, when he had given his all, gave himself as the -victim at last. He was not, however, consumed at the _stake_, but at the -_bottle_. The sword of his executioner was _spirits_--his gold, _beaver -skins_. And no mines of the precious metals, which the world has ever -produced, have probably been more productive of wealth, than the -fur-yielding regions of North America. - -But while the products of the chase have yielded wealth to the white -man, they have produced misery to the Indian. The latter, suffering for -the means of subsistence, like the child in the parable, had asked for -bread, and he received it; but, with it, he received a scorpion. And it -is the sting of the scorpion, that has been raging among the tribes for -more than two centuries, causing sickness, death, and depopulation in -its track. It is the venom of this sting, that has proved emphatically - - "----the blight of human bliss! - Curse to all _states_ of man, but most to _this_." - -Let me not be mistaken, in ascribing effects disproportionate to their -cause, or in overlooking advantages which have brought along in their -train, a striking evil. I am no admirer of that sickly philosophy, which -looks back upon a state of nature as a state of innocence, and which -cannot appreciate the benefits the Indian race have derived from the -discovery of this portion of the world by civilized and Christian -nations. But while I would not, on the one hand, conceal my sense of the -advantages, temporal and spiritual, which hinge upon this discovery, I -would not, on the other, disguise the evils which intemperance has -caused among them; nor cease to hold it up, to the public, as a great -and destroying evil, which was early introduced--which has spread -extensively--which is in active operation, and which threatens yet more -disastrous consequences to this unfortunate race. - -Writers have not been wanting, who are prone to lay but little stress -upon the destructive influence of ardent spirits, in diminishing the -native population, and who have considered its effects as trifling in -comparison to the want of food, and the enhanced price created by this -want.[44] The abundance or scarcity of food is a principle in political -economy, which is assumed as the primary cause of depopulation. And, as -such, we see no reason to question its soundness. If the value of labor, -the price of clothing and other necessary commodities, can be referred -to the varying prices of vegetable and animal food, we do not see that -the fact of a people's being civilized or uncivilized, should invalidate -the principle; and when we turn our eyes upon the forest we see that it -does not. A pound of beaver, which in 1730, when animal food was -abundant, was worth here about a French crown, is now, when food is -scarce and dear, worth from five to six dollars; and consequently, one -pound of beaver _now_ will procure as much food and clothing as five -pounds of the like quality of beaver _then_. It is the failure of the -race of furred animals, and the want of industry in hunting them, that -operate to produce depopulation. And what, we may ask, has so powerful -an effect in destroying the energies of the hunter, as the vice of -intemperance? Stupefying his mind, and enervating his body, it leaves -him neither the vigor to provide for his temporary wants, nor the -disposition to inquire into those which regard eternity. His natural -affections are blunted, and all the sterner and nobler qualities of the -Indian mind prostrated. His family are neglected. They first become -objects of pity to our citizens, and then of disgust. The want of -wholesome food and comfortable clothing produce disease. He falls at -last himself, the victim of disease, superinduced from drinking. - -Such is no exaggerated picture of the Indian, who is in a situation to -contract the habit of intemperance. And it is only within the last year -or eighteen months--it is only since the operation of Temperance -principles has been felt in this remote place, that scenes of this kind -have become unfrequent, and have almost ceased in our village, and in -our settlement. And when we look abroad to other places, and observe the -spread of temperance in the wide area from Louisiana to Maine, we may -almost fancy we behold the accomplishment of Indian fable. It is -related, on the best authority, that among the extravagances of Spanish -enterprise, which characterized the era of the discovery of America, the -natives had reported the existence of a fountain in the interior of one -of the islands, possessed of such magical virtues, that whoever bathed -in its waters would be restored to the bloom of youth and the vigor of -manhood. In search of this wonderful fountain historians affirm, that -Ponce de Leon and his followers ranged the island. They only, however, -drew upon themselves the charge of credulity. May we not suppose this -tale of the salutary fountain to be an Indian allegory of temperance? It -will, at least, admit of this application. And let us rejoice that, in -the era of temperance, we have found the spring which will restore bloom -to the cheeks of the young man, and the panacea that will remove disease -from the old. - -When we consider the effects which our own humble efforts as inhabitants -of a distant post have produced in this labor of humanity, have we not -every encouragement to persevere? Is it not an effort sanctioned by the -noblest affections of our nature--by the soundest principles of -philanthropy--by the highest aspirations of Christian benevolence? Is it -not the work of patriots as well as Christians? of good citizens as well -as good neighbors? Is it not a high and imperious duty to rid our land -of the foul stain of intemperance? Is it a duty too hard for us to -accomplish? Is there anything unreasonable in the voluntary obligations -by which we are bound? Shall we lose property or reputation by laboring -in the cause of temperance? Will the debtor be less able to pay his -debts, or the creditor less able to collect them? Shall we injure man, -woman or child, by dashing away the cup of intoxication? Shall we incur -the charge of being denominated fools or madmen? Shall we violate any -principles of morality, or any of the maxims of Christianity? Shall we -run the risk of diminishing the happiness of others, or putting our own -in jeopardy? Finally, shall we injure man--shall we offend God? - -If neither of these evils will result--if the highest principles of -virtue and happiness sanction the measure--if learning applauds it, and -religion approves it--if good must result from its success, and injury -cannot accrue from its failure, what further motive need we to impel us -onward, to devote our best faculties in the cause, and neither to faint -nor rest till the modern hydra of intemperance be expelled from our -country? - - -VENERABLE INDIAN CHIEF. - -The Cattaraugus (N. Y.) Whig, of a late date, mentions that Gov. -Blacksnake, the Grand Sachem of the Indian nation, was recently in that -place. He resides on the Alleghany Reservation, about twenty miles from -the village; is the successor of Corn Planter, as chief of the Six -Nations--a nephew of Joseph Brant, and uncle of the celebrated Red -Jacket. He was born near Cayuga Lake in 1749, being now ninety-six years -of age. He was in the battle of Fort Stanwix, Wyoming, &c., and was a -warm friend of Gen. Washington during the Revolution. He was in -Washington's camp forty days at the close of the Revolution--was -appointed chief by him, and now wears suspended from his neck a -beautiful silver medal presented to him by Gen. Washington, bearing date -1796. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [36] Andover. - - [37] Dr. Johnson. - - [38] Zoonomia. - - [39] Robertson's History of America. - - [40] Heckewelder's Account of the Indians. - - [41] Purchas' Pilgrims, Part iv., book x. - - [42] Hackluyt's Voyages. - - [43] The murder of Wadin, the cold-blooded assassination of Keveny, and -the shooting of Semple, are appealed to, as justifying the force of this -remark. - - [44] The North American Review. Sanford's History of the United States, -before the Revolution. - - - - -FATE OF THE RED RACE IN AMERICA: - -THE POLICY PURSUED TOWARDS THEM BY GOVERNMENT, AND THE PRESENT CONDITION -OF THE TRIBES WHO HAVE REMOVED WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.[45] - - -The removal of the Indian Tribes within our State boundaries, to the -west of the Mississippi, and their present condition and probable -ultimate fate, have been the topic of such frequent speculation, -misunderstanding, and may we not add, misrepresentation, within a few -years past, both at home and abroad, that we suppose some notice of -them, and particularly of the territory they occupy, and the result, -thus far, of their experiment in self-government, drawn from authentic -sources, may prove not unacceptable to the public. - -The nomadic and hunter states of society never embraced within -themselves the elements of perpetuity. They have ever existed, indeed, -like a vacuum in the system of nature, which is at every moment in -peril, and subject to be filled up and destroyed by the in-rushing of -the surrounding element. Civilisation is that element, in relation to -non-agricultural and barbaric tribes, and the only question with respect -to their continuance as distinct communities has been, how long they -could resist its influence, and at what particular era this influence -should change, improve, undermine, or destroy them. It is proved by -history, that two essentially different states of society, with regard -to art and civilisation, cannot both prosperously exist together, at the -same time. The one which is in the ascendant will absorb and destroy the -other. A wolf and a lamb are not more antagonistical in the system of -organic being, than civilisation and barbarism, in the great -ethnological impulse of man's diffusion over the globe. In this impulse, -barbarism may temporarily triumph, as we see it has done by many -striking examples in the history of Asia and Europe. But such triumphs -have been attended with this remarkable result, that they have, in the -end, reproduced the civilisation which they destroyed. Such, to quote no -other example, was the effect of the prostration of the Roman type of -civilisation by the warlike and predatory tribes of Northern Europe. -Letters and Christianity were both borne down, for a while, by this -irresistible on-rush; but they were thereby only the more deeply -implanted in the stratum of preparing civilisation; and in due time, -like the grain that rots before it reproduces, sprang up with a vigor -and freshness, which is calculated to be enduring, and to fill the -globe. - -Civilisation may be likened to an absorbent body, placed in contact with -an anti-absorbent, for some of the properties of which it has strong -affinities. It will draw these latter so completely out, that, to use a -strong phrase, it may be said to eat them up. Civilisation is found to -derive some of the means of its perfect development from letters and the -arts, but it cannot permanently exist without the cultivation of the -soil. It seems to have been the fundamental principle on which the -species were originally created, that they should derive their -sustenance and means of perpetuation from this industrial labor. -Wherever agricultural tribes have placed themselves in juxtaposition to -hunters and erratic races, they have been found to withdraw from the -latter the means of their support, by narrowing the limits of the forest -and plains, upon the wild animals of which, both carnivorous and -herbivorous, hunters subsist. When these have been destroyed, the grand -resources of these hunters and pursuers have disappeared. Wars, the -introduction of foreign articles or habits of injurious tendency, may -accelerate the period of their decline--a result which is still further -helped forward by internal dissensions, and the want of that political -foresight by which civil nations exist. But without these, and by the -gradual process of the narrowing down of their hunting grounds, and the -conversion of the dominions of the bow and arrow to those of the plough, -this result must inevitably ensue. There is no principle of either -permanency or prosperity in the savage state. - -It is a question of curious and philosophic interest, however, to -observe the varying and very unequal effects, which different types of -civilisation have had upon the wild hordes of men with whom it has come -into contact. And still more, perhaps, to trace the original efficiency, -or effeminacy of the civil type, in the blood of predominating races, -who have been characterized by it. In some of the European stocks this -type has remained nearly stationary since it reached the chivalric era. -In others, it had assumed a deeply commercial tone, and confined itself -greatly to the drawing forth, from the resources of new countries, those -objects which invigorate trade. There is no stock, having claims to a -generic nationality, in which the _principle of progress_ has, from the -outset, been so strongly marked, as in those hardy, brave and athletic -tribes in the north of Europe, for whom the name of Teutons conveys, -perhaps, a more comprehensive meaning, than the comparatively later one -of Saxons. The object of this race appears continually to be, and to -have been, to do more than has previously been done; to give diffusion -and comprehension to designs of improvement, and thus, by perpetually -putting forth new efforts, on the globe, to carry on man to his highest -destiny. The same impulsive aspirations of the spirit of progress, the -same energetic onwardness of principle which overthrew Rome, overthrew, -at another period, the simple institutions of the woad-stained Britons; -and, whatever other aspect it bears, we must attribute to the same -national energy the modern introduction of European civilisation into -Asia. - -When these principles come to be applied to America, and to be tested by -its native tribes, we shall clearly perceive their appropriate and -distinctive effects. In South America, where the type of chivalry marked -the discoverers, barbarism has lingered among the natives, without being -destroyed, for three centuries. In Canada, which drew its early -colonists exclusively from the feudal towns and seaports, whose -inhabitants had it for a maxim, that they had done all that was required -of good citizens, when they had done all that had been _previously -done_, the native tribes have remained perfectly stationary. With the -exception of slight changes in dress, and an absolute depreciation in -morals, they are essentially at this day what they were in the -respective eras of Cartier and Champlain. In the native monarchies of -Mexico and Peru, Spain overthrew the gross objects of idolatrous -worship, and intercalated among these tribes the arts and some of the -customs of the 16th century. With a very large proportion of the tribes -but little was attempted beyond military subjugation, and less -accomplished. The seaboard tribes received the ritual of the Romish -church. Many of those in the interior, comprehending the higher ranges -of the Andes and Cordilleras, remain to this day in the undisturbed -practice of their ancient superstitions and modes of subsistence. It is -seen from recent discoveries, that there are vast portions of the -interior of the country, unknown, unexplored and undescribed. We are -just, indeed, beginning to comprehend the true character of the -indigenous Indian civilisation of the era of the discovery. These -remarks are sufficient to show how feebly the obligations of letters and -Christianity have been performed, with respect to the red men, by the -colonists of those types of the early European civilisation, who rested -themselves on feudal tenures, military renown, and an ecclesiastical -system of empty ceremonies. - -It was with very different plans and principles that North America was -colonized. We consider the Pilgrims as the embodiment of the true -ancient Teutonic type. Their Alaric and Brennus were found in the pulpit -and in the school-room. They came with high and severe notions of civil -and religious liberty. It was their prime object to sustain themselves, -not by conquest, but by cultivating the soil. To escape an -ecclesiastical tyranny at home, they were willing to venture themselves -in new climes. But they meant to triumph in the arts of peace. They -embarked with the Bible as their shield and sword, and they laid its -principles at the foundation of all their institutions, civil, literary, -industrial, and ecclesiastic. They were pious and industrious -themselves, and they designed to make the Indian tribes so. They bought -their lands and paid for them, and proceeded to establish friendly -neighborhoods among the tribes. Religious truth, as it is declared in -the Gospel, was the fundamental principle of all their acts. In its -exposition and daily use, they followed no interpretations of councils -at variance with its plain import. This every one was at liberty to -read. - -Placed side by side with such an enlightened and purposed race, what had -the priests of the system of native rites and superstitions to expect? -There could be no compromise of rites--no partial conformity--no giving -up a part to retain the rest--as had been done in the plains of Central -America, Mexico and Yucatan. No toleration of pseudo-paganism, as had -been done on the waters of the Orinoco, the Parana and the Paraguay. -They must abandon the system at once. The error was gross and total. -They must abjure it. They had mistaken darkness for light; and they were -now offered the light. They had worshipped Lucifer instead of Immanuel. -This the tribes who spread along the shores of the North Atlantic were -told, and nothing was held back. They founded churches and established -schools among them. They translated the entire Bible, and the version of -David's Psalms, and the Hymns of Dr. Watts, into one of their languages. -Two types of the human race, more fully and completely antagonistical, -in all respects, never came in contact on the globe. They were the alpha -and omega of the ethnological chain. If, therefore, the Red Race -declined, and the white increased, it was because civilisation had more -of the principles of endurance and progress than barbarism; because -Christianity was superior to paganism; industry to idleness; agriculture -to hunting; letters to hieroglyphics; truth to error. Here lie the true -secrets of the Red Men's decline. - -There are but three principal results which, we think, the civilized -world could have anticipated for the race, at the era of the discovery. -1. They might be supposed to be subject to early extermination on the -coasts, where they were found. A thousand things would lead to this, -which need not be mentioned. Intemperance and idleness alone were -adequate causes. 2. Philanthropists and Christians might hope to reclaim -them, either in their original positions on the coasts, or in -agricultural communities in adjacent parts. 3. Experience and forecast -might indicate a third result, in which full success should attend -neither of the foregoing plans, nor yet complete failure. There was -nothing, exactly, in the known history of mankind, to guide opinion. A -mixed condition of things was the most probable result. And this, it -might be anticipated, would be greatly modified by times and seasons, -circumstances and localities, acting on particular tribes. Nothing less -could have been expected but the decline and extinction of some tribe, -whilst the removal of others, to less exposed positions, would be found -to tell upon their improvement. The effects of letters and Christianity -would necessarily be slow; but they were effects, which the history of -discovery and civilisation, in other parts of the world, proved to be -effective and practical. What was this mixed condition to eventuate -in?--how long was it to continue? Were the tribes to exercise sovereign -political jurisdiction over the tracts they lived on? Were they to -submit to the civilized code, and if so, to the penal code only, or also -to the civil? Or, if not, were they to exist by amalgamation with the -European stocks, and thus contribute the elements of a new race? These, -and many other questions, early arose, and were often not a little -perplexing to magistrates, legislatures, and governors. It was evident -the aboriginal race possessed distinctive general rights, but these -existed contemporaneously, or intermixed with the rights of the -discoverers. How were these separate rights to be defined? How were the -weak to be protected, and the strong to be restrained, at points beyond -the ordinary pale of the civil law? If a red man killed a white, without -the ordinary jurisdiction of the courts, could he be seized as a -criminal? And if so, were civil offences, committed without the -jurisdiction of either territory, cognizable in either, or neither? -Could there be a supremacy within a supremacy? And what was the limit -between State and United States laws? Such were among the topics -entering into the Indian policy. It was altogether a mixed system, and -like most mixed systems, it worked awkwardly, confusedly, and sometimes -badly. Precedents were to be established for new cases, and these were -perpetually subject to variation. Legislators, judges, and executive -officers were often in doubt, and it required the wisest, shrewdest, and -best men in the land to resolve these doubts, and to lay down rules, or -advice, for future proceeding in relation to the Red Race. It will be -sufficient to bear out the latter remark, to say, that among the sages -who deemed this subject important, were a Roger Williams, a Penn, a -Franklin, a Washington, a Jefferson, a Monroe, a Crawford, and a -Calhoun. - -It must needs have happened, that where the Saxon race went, the -principles of law, justice, and freedom, must prevail. These principles, -as they existed in England at the beginning of the sixteenth century, -were transferred to America, with the Cavaliers, the Pilgrims, and the -Quakers, precisely, as to the two first topics, as they existed at home. -Private rights were as well secured, and public justice as well awarded -here, as there. But they also brought over the aristocratic system, -which was upheld by the royal governors, who were the immediate -representatives of the crown. The doctrine was imprescriptible, that the -fee of all public or unpatented lands was in the crown, and all -inhabitants of the realm owed allegiance and fealty to the crown. This -doctrine, when applied to the native tribes of America, left them -neither fee-simple in the soil, nor political sovereignty over it. It -cut them down to vassals, but, by a legal solecism, they were regarded -as a sort of free vassals. So long as the royal governments remained, -they had the usufruct of the public domain--the right of fishing, and -hunting, and planting upon it, and of doing certain other acts of -occupancy; but this right ceased just as soon, and as fast, as patents -were granted, or the public exigency required the domain. The native -chiefs were quieted with presents from the throne, through the local -officers, and their ideas of independence and control were answered by -the public councils, in which friendships were established, and the -public tranquillity looked after. Private purchases were made from the -outset, but the idea of a public treaty of purchase of the soil under -the proprietary and royal governors, was not entertained before the era -of William Penn. - -It remained for the patriots of 1775, who set up the frame of our -present government, by an appeal to arms, to award the aboriginal tribes -the full proprietary right to the soil they respectively occupied, and -to guarantee to them its full and free use, until such right was -relinquished by treaty stipulations. So far, they were acknowledged as -sovereigns. This is the first step in their political exaltation, and -dates, in our records, from the respective treaties of Fort Pitt, -September 17, 1778, and of Fort Stanwix, of October 22, 1784. The latter -was as early after the establishment of our independence, as these -tribes--the Six nations, who, with the exception of the Oneidas, sided -with the parent country--could be brought to listen to the terms of -peace. They were followed by the Wyandots, Delawares, and Chippewas, and -Ottowas, in January, 1785; by the Cherokees, in November of the same -year; and by the Choctaws and Shawnees, in January, 1786. Other western -nations followed in 1789; the Creeks did not treat till 1790. And from -this era, the system has been continued up to the present moment. It may -be affirmed, that there is not an acre of land of the public domain of -the United States, sold at the land offices, from the days of General -Washington, but what has been acquired in this manner. War, in which we -and they have been frequently involved, since that period, has conveyed -no _territorial right_. We have conquered them, on the field, not to -usurp territory, but to place them in a condition to observe how much -more their interests and permanent prosperity would be, and have ever -been, promoted by the plough than the sword. And there has been a prompt -recurrence, at every mutation from war to peace, punctually, to that -fine sentiment embraced in the _first_ article of the _first_ treaty -ever made between the American government and the Indian tribes, namely, -that all offences and animosities "shall be mutually forgiven, and -buried in deep oblivion, and never more be had in remembrance."[46] - -The first step to advance the aboriginal man to his natural and just -political rights, namely, the acknowledgment of his _right to the soil_, -we have mentioned; but those that were to succeed it were more difficult -and complex in their bearings. Congress, from the earliest traces of -their action, as they appear in their journals and public acts, confined -the operation of the civil code to the territory actually acquired by -negotiation, and treaties duly ratified by the Senate, and proclaimed, -agreeably to the Constitution, by the President. So much of this public -territory as fell within the respective _State lines_, fell, by the -terms of our political compact, under _State laws_, and the jurisdiction -of the State courts; and as soon as new tracts of the Indian territory, -thus within State boundaries, were acquired, the State laws had an exact -corresponding extension until the whole of such Indian lands had been -acquired. This provided a definite and clear mode of action, and if it -were sometimes the subject of doubt or confliction, such perplexity -arose from the great extension of the country, its sparsely settled -condition, and the haste or ignorance of local magistrates. And these -difficulties were invariably removed whenever the cases came into the -Supreme Court of the United States. - -Without regard to the area of the States, but including and having -respect only to the territories, and to the vast and unincorporated -wilderness, called the "Indian country," Congress provided a _special -code_ of laws, and from the first, held over this part of the Union, and -holds over it now, full and complete jurisdiction. This code was -designed chiefly to regulate the trade carried on at those remote points -between the white and red men, to preserve the public tranquillity, and -to provide for the adjudication of offences. Citizens of the United -States, carrying the passport, license, or authority of their -government, are protected by their papers thus legally obtained; and the -tribes are held answerable for their good treatment, and if violence -occur, for their lives. No civil process, however, has efficacy in such -positions; and there is no compulsory legal collection of debts, were it -indeed practicable, on the Indian territories. The customs and usages of -the trade and intercourse, as established from early times, prevail -there. These customs are chiefly founded on the patriarchal system, -which was found in vogue on the settlement of the country, and they -admit of compensations and privileges founded on natural principles of -equity and right. The Indian criminal code, whatever that is, also -prevails there. The only exception to it arises from cases of Americans, -maliciously killed within the "Indian country," the laws of Congress -providing, that the aggressors should be surrendered into the hands of -justice, and tried by the nearest United States courts. - -These preliminary facts will exhibit some of the leading features of the -mixed system alluded to. Its workings were better calculated for the -early stages of society, while population was sparse and the two races, -as bodies, kept far apart, than for its maturer periods. As the -intervening lands became ceded, and sold, and settled, and the tribes -themselves began to put on aspects of civilisation, the discrepancies of -the system, and its want of homogeneousness and harmony, became more -apparent. Throughout the whole period of the administrations of -Washington, and John Adams, and Jefferson, a period of twenty years, the -low state of our population, and the great extent and unreclaimed -character of the public domain, left the Indians undisturbed, and no -questions of much importance occurred to test the permanency of the -system as regards the welfare of the Indians. Mr. Jefferson foresaw, -however, the effect of encroachments beyond the Ohio, and with an -enlightened regard for the race and their civilisation, prepared a new -and consolidated code of all prior acts, with some salutary new -provisions, which had the effect to systematize the trade and -intercourse, and more fully to protect the rights of the Indians. This -code served, with occasional amendments, through the succeeding -administrations of Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams, into that of -General Jackson, when, in 1834, the greatly advanced line of the -frontiers, the multiplied population, and necessarily increased force of -the Indian department, and the large amount of Indian annuities to be -paid, called for its thorough revision, and a new general enactment was -made. - -Previously, however, to this time, during the administration of Mr. -Monroe, it was perceived that the Indian tribes, as separate -communities, living in, and surrounded by, people of European descent, -and governed by a widely different system of laws, arts, and customs, -could not be expected to arrive at a state of permanent prosperity while -thus locally situated. The tendency of the Saxon institutions, laws, and -jurisprudence, was to sweep over them. The greater must needs absorb the -less. And there appeared, on wise and mature reflection, no reasonable -hope to the true friends of the native race, that they could sustain -themselves in independency or success as foreign elements in the midst -of the State communities. It was impossible that two systems of -governments, so diverse as the Indian and American, should co-exist on -the same territory. All history proved this. The most rational hope of -success for this race, the only one which indeed appeared practical on a -scale commensurate with the object, was to remove them, with their own -consent, to a position entirely without the boundaries of the State -jurisdictions, where they might assert their political sovereignty, and -live and develope their true national character, under their own laws. - -The impelling cause for the action of the government, during Mr. -Monroe's administration, was the peculiar condition of certain tribes, -living on their own original territories, within, the State boundaries, -and who were adverse to further cessions of such territory. The -question assumed its principal interest in the State of Georgia, within -which portions of the Creek and Cherokee tribes were then living. About -ten millions of acres of lands were thus in the occupancy of these two -tribes. As the population of Georgia expanded and approached the Indian -settlements, the evils of the mixed political system alluded to began -strongly to evince themselves. In the progress of the dispersion of the -human race over the globe, there never was, perhaps, a more diverse -legal, political, and moral amalgamation attempted, than there was found -to exist, when, in this area, the descendants from the old Saxons, -north-men and Hugenots from Europe, came in contact with the descendants -(we speak of a theory) of the idle, pastoral, unphilosophic, -non-inductive race of central Asia, living in the genial climate and -sunny valleys of Georgia and Alabama. - -The American government had embarrassed itself by stipulating at an -early day, with the State of Georgia, to extinguish the Indian title -within her boundaries, at the earliest practicable period, when it could -be done "peaceably and on reasonable conditions." The Indians, as they -advanced in agriculture, became averse to sell. The Georgians, as they -increased in numbers, became importunate for the territory to which they -had, in this event, the reversionary right. The President was frequently -importuned by the State authorities. The Indians were frequently brought -to consider the subject, which was one that increased its importance -with years. - -We have deemed it proper to put this matter in its right attitude in -relation to the great question of Indian removal; and as furnishing, as -it did, reasons for the early consideration and action of the -government. It is not our intention to pursue the Georgia question -disjunctively--we have neither time nor space for it here, and will only -further premise, that it is susceptible of some very different views -from those often premised of it.[47] That it was one of the prominent -considerations which led the administration of Monroe to take up betimes -the general question of the Indian tribes, is well known and remembered, -and apparent from a perusal of the public documents of the era. - -Governed by such considerations, Mr. Monroe communicated a special -message to Congress on the 27th of January, 1825, recommending the -removal of all the tribes within the States and Territories, and -providing for their future "location and government." This is the -official date and foundation of the plan of removal, which has been so -generally, and may we not add, so successfully and propitiously to the -best interests of the tribes, carried into effect. "Being deeply -impressed with the opinion," observes this venerated statesman, who has, -years since, gone to join the patriot spirits who achieved our -independence--"that the removal of the Indian tribes from the land which -they now occupy, within the limits of the several States and -Territories, to the country lying westward and northward thereof, within -our acknowledged boundaries, is of very high importance to the Union, -and may be accomplished on conditions, and in a manner, to promote the -interests and happiness of those tribes, the attention of the government -has been long drawn, with great solicitude, to the object. - -"For the removal of the tribes within the limits of the State of -Georgia, the motive has been peculiarly strong, arising from the compact -with that State, whereby the United States are bound to extinguish the -Indian title to the lands within it, whenever it may be done peaceably, -and on reasonable conditions. - -"In the fulfilment of this compact, I have thought that the United -States should act with a generous spirit, that they should omit nothing -which should comport with a liberal construction of the instrument, and -likewise be in accordance with the just rights of those tribes. From the -view which I have taken of the subject, I am satisfied that, in the -discharge of these important duties, in regard to both the parties -alluded to, the United States will have to encounter no conflicting -interests with either: on the contrary, that the removal of the tribes -from the Territories which they inhabit, to that which was designated in -the message at the commencement of the session, which would accomplish -the object for Georgia, under a well digested plan for their government -and civilisation, in a mode agreeable to themselves, would not only -shield them from impending ruin, but promote their welfare and -happiness. _Experience has clearly demonstrated that, in their present -state, it is impossible to incorporate them, in such masses, in any form -whatever, into our system. It has also demonstrated, with equal -certainty, that without a timely anticipation of, and provision against, -the dangers to which they are exposed, under causes which it will be -difficult, if not impossible, to control, their degradation and -extermination will be inevitable._" - -We have underscored the last two sentences, because they express in -forcible and just language, the experience of the American government, -in relation to the subject, after an experiment of fifty years, dating -from '75, and lie, indeed, at the foundation of the present Indian -policy. It is also the experience of sound and calm observers, who have -watched the operation of our laws and customs upon the isolated Indian -communities in the States. Every year has exemplified the futility of -raising them up to the European standard in industry, in intelligence or -character, while thus situated; nor, indeed, has it been practicable to -shield them effectually against the combined effects of intemperance, -personal sloth, and of popular and vulgar contumely. - -Mr. Calhoun, whose report on the subject was transmitted to Congress, -with the message above named, communicates the details essential to the -execution of the proposed plan. He states the whole number of Indians to -be removed from the States and Territories, excluding those located west -and north of Lake Michigan and the Straits of St. Mary's, at 97,000 -souls, who occupy about 77 millions of acres of land. The country -proposed for their location is that stretching immediately west, beyond -the boundaries of the States of MISSOURI and ARKANSAS, having the River -Arkansas running through its centre from west to east, the Missouri and -Red rivers respectively as the northern boundary, and the vast grassy -plains east of the Rocky Mountains, as its western limit. - -The map which we publish of this territory, is drawn on the basis of one -which was published by Congress in 1834, in illustration of the report -of the committee on Indian affairs of May 30th of that session. It -embraces all the locations of tribes to that period. - -The plan proposed the gratuitous grant of the country to the respective -tribes, and their removal to it at government expense. It embraces the -transference to it, of their schools established by religious societies, -and supported, in part, by the civilisation fund, and all their means of -moral and religious culture. It is based on the pursuit of agriculture, -the mechanic arts, and the raising of cattle and stock. It invests the -tribes with full power of making and executing all their laws and -regulations, civil and criminal. It stipulates military protection, to -keep the surrounding tribes at peace. It leaves them their political -sovereignty; being without the boundary of the States, under their own -chiefs and local governors, with such aids as are necessary to enable -the various tribes to associate and set up the frame of an associated -government to be managed by themselves, and as subsequently proposed in -Congress, to be represented in that body whenever the system shall be -perfected so as to justify this measure. It proposed, as the basis of -removal, a solemn act of Congress, guaranteeing the country to them, and -excluding its future incorporation into the States. A second location, -in the northern latitudes, was proposed for the Indians west of -Michigan, where a further body of 32,266 souls were estimated to reside. - -Such were the general principles of Mr. Monroe's plan, submitted in -1825, and subsequently adopted by Congress, in its essential features. -It has now been in operation EIGHTEEN YEARS, and it is proposed, in -bringing this paper to a close, briefly to examine the condition and -prospects of the expatriated tribes, in the country to which they have -been transferred. - -By a report from the proper department, transmitted to Congress with -the President's message in 1836, the result of the first ten years' -experiment is shown to have been the actual migration of 40,000 from -their original seats, east, to the allotted Indian territory, west of -the Mississippi. Of this number, 18,000 were Creeks, 15,000 Choctaws, -6,000 Cherokees, 2,000 Chippewas, Ottawas, and Pottowattomies, 1,300 -Shawnees, 800 Delawares, 500 Quapaws, 400 Seminoles, 600 Kickapoos, 400 -Senecas, and an average of, say 250 each, of Appalachicolas, Weas, -Piankashaws, Peorias and Kaskaskias. In this statement, small fractions -over or under, are omitted. A location and permanent home has been -provided for seventeen tribes and parts of tribes; a number which, in -the succeeding seven years, we speak from documents before us, has been -largely augmented. The whole body of the Cherokees, of the Creeks, or -Muscogees, of the Chickasaws and Choctaws, &c., and also, with the -exception of one principal band, of the Seminoles, have been removed. -Portions of other tribes, not then full, have joined their kindred; and -some whole tribes, who had not before come into the arrangement, and -ceded their lands east, as the Miamas of the Wabash, and the Wyandots of -Sanduskey, have since accepted locations in the Indian territory. The -Chickasaws are all located with their affiliated countrymen, the -Choctaws; and numbers of the ancient Iroquois confederacy, the Six -Nations of New York, as well as the ancient Mohegans and Munsees, have, -within a few years, selected locations south of the Missouri. The entire -number of red men now concentrated on those plains and valleys, where -winter scarcely exerts any severity of power, may be set down at 77,000 -souls, leaving, from the official report of 1841, but 21,774 of the -original estimated number of 1825, to be removed; exclusive of those -west of the straits of Michilimachinac and St. Mary's. - -From the documents accompanying the annual report transmitted to -Congress by the President, in December, 1840, the amount of funds -invested by the government in stocks, for the Indians, was $2,580,000, -on which the annual interest paid to them was $131,050. Twenty-four of -the tribes had permanently appropriated, by treaty, $60,730 per annum, -for the purpose of education. The number of schools maintained, and the -number of pupils actually taught, are not furnished. It is gratifying to -know, from this source, that civilisation, agriculture, and the mechanic -arts, are making a rapid progress, and that education and Christianity -are walking hand-in-hand. Planting and raising cattle are adopted -generally. Portions of the most advanced tribes have devoted themselves -to the mechanic arts, supplying themselves, to a limited extent, with -smiths, wheelwrights, carpenters, and joiners, and some other branches. -Spinning and hand-loom weaving are practised to some extent. There are -native merchants, among the three principal southern tribes, who ship -their own cotton and other products to market, and supply their people, -in return, with such products of the East and West Indies, and other -parts of the world, as they require. A large part of the contracts, -particularly for Indian corn, required to subsist the United States -troops in that quarter of the Union, is furnished by native contractors. -Their legislation is performed in representative councils, and is well -adapted to the actual and advancing state of society. Many of their -leading men are well educated; some of them classically; and the general -moral and intellectual tone and habits of the tribes, are clearly and -strikingly on the advance. It requires, it is believed, but time and -perseverance in civil associations, to lead them to the same results -arrived at by other barbarous nations, and to demonstrate to them the -value and importance of a general political confederation, founded on -the principles of equal rights and equal representation, supported by -public virtue and intelligence. - -Having sketched the cause of the decline of that portion of the North -American Indians, who were seated along the Atlantic, and the plan -proposed for checking it, we shall now, with the map and documentary -evidence before us, devote a few moments to the present condition and -prospects of the more prominent tribes. - -1. The Choctaws, beginning at the extreme south of the territory, are -the first in position. They occupy the country above the State of -Arkansas, extending from the Arkansas to the Red river, following up the -Canadian branch of the former, comprising an area of about 150 miles in -breadth, by 200 in length. They are bounded by Texas south-west. The -country is well adapted for grain and the raising of stock, in its -middle and northern parts, and for cotton on the south. Many of the -natives have large fields, where, but a few years since, the forest was -untouched. Saw mills, grist mills, and cotton gins, are either erecting -or erected throughout the country. Salt is manufactured by an -intelligent Choctaw. Iron ore has been found, and specimens of gold have -been picked up in various places. - -This tribe is governed by a written constitution and laws. Their -territory is divided into three districts, each of which elects, once in -four years, a ruling chief, and ten representatives. The general -council, thus constituted, and consisting of thirty councillors, meets -annually, on the first Monday in October. Voters must be Choctaws, of -age, and residents of the districts. The three chiefs have a joint veto -power on all laws passed; but two-thirds of the council may re-pass them -after such rejection. - -The council of thirty appoint their own speaker and clerk, and keep a -journal. They meet in a large and commodious council-house, fitted up -with seats for members and spectators, and committee rooms. Their -sessions are, usually, about ten days in duration. They are paid two -dollars per diem for their services, out of public funds. - -In addition to this evidence of capacity for self-government, there are -judicial districts established, the right of trial by jury is secured, -and there is an appeal to the highest tribunal. All the males, of a -special age, are subject to do military duty: for this purpose the -territory is subdivided into thirty two captaincies, the whole being -placed under the orders of a general. The council has passed many good -and wholesome laws; among them, one against intemperance and the sale of -ardent spirits. The collection of debts is at present not compulsory, -being regulated by questions of credit, punctuality, and honor, which -are to be adjusted between the buyer and seller. The country is too -sparsely settled, and the popular odium against incarceration too -strong, to permit a resort to it. Thus, it will be seen, this tribe -exhibit in their frame of government the elements of a representative -republic, not a pure democracy, with perhaps sufficient conservative -power to guard against sudden popular effervescence. - -The Choctaws have twelve public schools, established by treaty -stipulations with the United States. There are several missionaries -amongst them, of the Presbyterian and Methodist denominations, whose -labors are reported by the public agents to be beneficial, and -calculated to advance their condition. There are four public blacksmith -shops, two of which are exclusively worked by the natives. The strikers, -or assistants, at all the shops, are natives. Shops have also been -erected, in various parts of the nation, which are occupied only in the -spring and summer, in planting and crop time. The mechanics in these are -natives, who are paid, not by the individuals requiring aid, but out of -public funds. The nation has an academy located in Scott county, -Kentucky, at which 125 students were taught in 1839 and 1840. This -institution is now in the process of being established in their own -territory. This tribe we learn by the Secretary of War's report, -appropriated $18,000 of their annuities, in 1843, to educational -purposes. - -2. Chickasaws. This tribe is of the same lineage as the Choctaws; and, -by a compact with the latter, they occupy the same territory, and live -intermixed with them. It constitutes a part of this compact, that the -Chickasaws are to concentrate their population, and form a fourth -election district, which shall be entitled to elect ten representatives, -and three senatorial chiefs, to the national Council. The aggregate -amount of the vested funds of this tribe, in 1840, was $515,230 44; of -which $146,000 is devoted to orphans. The annual interest paid by the -government is $27,063 83. They participate equally in the advantages of -the Choctaw academy, and have had many of their youth educated at that -institution. - -3. Next, in geographical position, to the united Choctaws and -Chickasaws, are the Muskogees, who are more generally known under the -name of Creeks. They occupy a territory one hundred and fifty miles in -length, by ninety in breadth. They are bounded on the south by the -Canadian fork of the Arkansas, and by the district of the Seminoles, -which lies between the main branch of this stream and its north fork. -Their territory reaches to a point opposite the junction of the Neosho, -and is protracted thence north to the Cherokee boundary. It is a rich -tract, well adapted to the growth of corn, vegetables, and esculents, -and the raising of stock. It is not as abundantly watered by running -streams as some of the tracts, or rather, it is a characteristic of its -smaller streams that they run dry, or stand in pools, during the latter -part of summer. In place of these, it has some good springs. The main -and the north fork of the Canadian are exemptions from the effects of -summer drouth. In point of salubrity, the country is not inferior to -other portions of the Indian territory. - -The government of the Creeks is still essentially the same which they -exercised on the banks of the Chattahoochee and the plains of Georgia. -They exist in chieftainships, each head of which has his own local -jurisdiction, civil and criminal. Each ruling chief has his village and -his adherents; and the condition of things partakes of what we shall be -understood by designating feudal traits. They have no written -constitution; their laws are, however, now reduced in part to writing. -General councils, or conventions, not exact in the period of their -occurrence, consider and decide all general questions. At these, the -chieftainships are all entitled to representation. Local questions, of -right and police, come before the local chiefs, and are settled -according to usage. They adhere to the original mode of working common -or town fields, at which it is the duty of all to assist, both in the -original clearing and in the annual labor of planting and reaping. There -are also individuals, possessing slaves, who manage pretty extensive -plantations. More corn is raised by this tribe than by any other now -located West. Over and above their own wants, they have for several -years had a large amount for sale and exportation. Less attention has -been paid to the raising of stock, for which, indeed, the country has -been deemed less propitious; but this branch of industry has of late -years attracted more attention. - -The Creeks had, for many years prior to their removal, been divided into -_upper and lower towns_--a distinction which has been transferred to the -West. Opothleyoholo is the chief of the Upper, and Roly McIntosh of the -Lower Creeks. These two chieftainships embrace the lesser ones, and -divide the nation into two parties. It was the Lower towns, headed by -the father of the present chief (whose tragic death we have mentioned), -that ceded the Georgian territory, and thus sided in the policy of that -State. The condition in which this tribe existed, in portions of -Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, was, in other respects, peculiar. In -emerging, as they were well in the process of doing, from the _hunter_ -to the _agricultural_ state, the institution of slavery, by which they -were surrounded, and in which they participated, gave a peculiar -development to their industry. Chiefs, who were averse to work -themselves, employed slaves, and thus the relation of planter and slave -was established long before the question of their removal occurred. The -effects of this were to exalt a portion of the nation above, and to -depress others below, the average standing. The disparity which took -place in laborious habits and in wealth, also impressed itself on -education, dress, manners, and information generally. Although the idea -of slavery was well known to the red race from the earliest times, and -they all have a word for it, in their native vocabularies, and practised -it on their prisoners, yet the result we are considering was accelerated -by an admixture of European blood in their chieftains. Hence it is that -this tribe, and one or two others in the south, have for years been able -to put forth intelligent chiefs to transact their public business, who -have astonished the circles at Washington. Yet, if they were followed to -the huts of the common people, at home, there was a degree of ignorance -and barbarity, even below the standard of our leading northern tribes. -Two kinds of testimony, respecting the condition of the southern tribes, -both very different, and both true, could therefore be given. - -The Creeks came west, soured and disappointed, and but little disposed -for the effort before them. They had suffered in various ways, and they -had left the southern slopes and sunny valleys of the southern -Alleganies with "a longing, lingering look." They had never manifested a -general interest in schools, and none whatever in religion. The latter -is still the prevalent feeling. It is believed there is not a missionary -now tolerated among them. There is a more friendly feeling towards -education. Neither had they made much advance in mechanic arts. The -chiefs were too proud, the common people too indolent, to learn the use -of the saw or the hammer. Some change, in this respect, is thought to -have ensued. Mechanics are employed for their benefit and at their -charges, by the government, which must introduce the elements of -mechanical industry. They dress in a rather gaudy, but picturesque -manner. They live in comfortable houses of squared or scored logs, -fitted up with useful articles of furniture, and they employ beasts of -burthen and of pleasure. It is the evidence of the government agents, -that the signs of advancing thrift and industry are among them. Time -alone, it is believed, is necessary, with a perseverance in present -efforts, to carry them onwards to civilisation and prosperity.[48] - -4. Seminoles. This tribe is of the language and lineage of the Creeks. -They are appropriately placed on a tract within the general area of the -latter, bounded on the south by the Canadian fork of the Arkansas, and -by the lands of the Choctaws and Chickasaws. The tract has an extent of -seventy miles from east to west, and is fully adequate to their wants. A -blacksmith's shop is maintained for them; they are furnished with -agricultural implements, and have been gratuitously subsisted, as other -tribes, one year, at the public expense. It is thought to be unfavorable -to their progress, that they have been allowed to migrate, with their -slaves, who are averse to labor and exert a paralysing influence on -their industry. This tribe is far behind the other southern tribes in -civilisation and manners. They occupied, while in Florida, a region -truly tropical in its climate, and which yielded spontaneously no -unimportant part of their subsistence, in the arrowroot and in sea fish. -Their chief product thus far, in the west, has been corn. They live -under the authority of local chiefs, who, as in all their past history, -exercise influence in proportion to their talents and courage. Their -withdrawal from scenes and situations which served as nurseries of idle, -savage habits, and their association with the other leading tribes, who -are now bent on supporting themselves exclusively by agriculture, have -been favorable. They have been at peace since their arrival on the -waters of the Arkansas; and it is anticipated that they will, by example -and emulation, assimilate themselves in industry with the pre-existing -tribes. It has already been demonstrated that they will sustain -themselves in their new field of labor. But few of their numbers--from -the last accounts not exceeding 100[49]--now remain in Florida. - -5. Cherokees. This tribe is prominent among the native stocks in the -United States, and is foremost in the efforts it has made to take rank -among civilized nations. In this effort it has passed through some -severe and tragic ordeals from internal dissensions, from which it would -seem, that in proportion as the prize is brought within their grasp, are -the trials multiplied which delay its seizure. And, notwithstanding its -strong claims to consideration on this head, they have, it must be -admitted, much to attain. The original position of the Cherokees, in the -valleys and the western spurs of the Alleganies, and remote from the -disturbing causes which agitated the other tribes, was highly favorable -to their increase and advance. No tribe in North America had remained so -completely undisturbed, by red or white men, up to the year 1836. They -were early, and to a considerable extent, cultivators; and whatever they -were in ancient times, they have been a nation at peace, for a long -period. Soon after the close of the late war of 1812, a portion of this -tribe went over the Mississippi, and, by a compact with government, -placed themselves between the waters of the White river and the -Arkansas. This advance formed the nucleus of that political party, who -have mingled in their recent assemblies under the name of Western -Cherokees, and who deemed themselves to be entitled to some rights and -considerations above the Eastern Cherokees. The principal dissensions, -however, grew out of the question of the cession of the territory east -of the Mississippi. This was a broad question of _sale_ or _no sale_, -_emigration_ or _non-emigration_. At the head of the affirmative party -was Ridge; at the head of the negative, Ross. The latter, in addition to -his being the leading chief and most prominent man, was in a large -majority, and, for a time, successfully resisted the measure. The former -drew a number of the best educated chiefs and men to his side. Availing -himself of the temporary absence of his antagonist, Ross, from the -country, he ceded the country, and sealed the fate of his tribe east of -the Mississippi. It was a minority treaty, but the consideration was -ample; it secured large prospective advantages, besides a large and rich -domain in the West. It was, therefore, sustained by the government; the -U. S. Senate ratified it, adding some further immunities and further -compensation, at the instance of Ross. The tribe was removed, but it -went west with a deadly feud. In the end, Ridge, like McIntosh, paid for -his temerity with his life. A representative government was set up, -consisting of a house of delegates or representatives, annually chosen -by districts; a senatorial council, with powers of revision or -co-action, and an executive elective head. A code of laws has been -adopted, and a judiciary created to carry them into effect. This system, -which has been in operation some six or seven years, has been found -adequate to sustain itself through scenes of severe trial; and it must -be regarded as one which, modified as it may be, is destined to endure. - -The territory of the Cherokees is between that of the Creeks and Osages. -It is ample beyond their wants, fertile, and generally well watered. The -Arkansas crosses it centrally; it has the Neosho and the State of -Arkansas as its eastern boundary. It is well adapted to the cereal -grains. Corn, wheat and oats succeed well, together with melons and -culinary vegetables of all descriptions. The Cherokees have been long -accustomed to husbandry. They own large stocks of horses, cattle, hogs -and sheep. They occupy substantial and comfortable houses. Many of their -females spin and weave, and numbers of their people are clothed in their -own manufactures. Well improved farms extend through their settlements. -A number of their merchants are natives, who buy and sell produce, and -import foreign merchandise. Reading and writing are common attainments. -They have schools and churches. They have mills for grinding grain. They -manufacture salt to a limited extent. The country yields stone coal and -gypsum. The prairies, which are interspersed through the tract, yield a -fine summer range for cattle, and produce a species of grass, which, -when properly cured, is little inferior to timothy. With a country -which has thus the elements of prosperity in itself, and an intelligent -and industrious population, this tribe must, ere long, present the -gratifying spectacle of a civilized race. - -6. The Osages. This tribe is indigenous, and formerly owned a large part -of the territory which is now assigned to others. Their habits and -condition have been, however, but little benefited by the use which they -have made of their annuities. Great exertions have been made by the -local agents to induce them to give up their erratic mode of life, and -become agriculturists. To this end stock and agricultural implements -have been furnished them, and other facilities given, but without any -general effects. Among these may be named the building of mills, and the -erection of well built cabins for their chiefs. There is no tribe to -which the term predatory may be so appropriately applied as to the -Osages. They have, from an early day, been plunderers on that frontier, -among red and white men. Possessing a large territory, formerly well -supplied with the deer, elk and buffalo, powerful in numbers, courageous -in spirit, and enjoying one of the finest climates, these early -predatory habits have been transmitted to the present day. They are loth -to relinquish this wild license of the prairies--the so-called freedom -of the roving Indian. But it is a species of freedom which the -settlement of Missouri and Arkansas, and the in-gathering of the -semi-civilized tribes from the south and the north, has greatly -restricted. Game has become comparatively scarce. The day of the hunter -is well nigh past in those longitudes. When to this is added the example -of the expatriated Indians, in tillage and grazing, their field labors -in fencing and erecting houses, their improved modes of dress, their -schools, and their advanced state of government and laws, the hope may -be indulged that the Osages will also be stimulated to enter for the -prize of civilisation. - -Such are the six principal tribes who form the nucleus, or, to use a -military phrase, the right wing of the expatriated aboriginal -population, as the bands are arranged in their order from south to -north, in the trans-Ozark or Indian territory. It would afford us -pleasure to devote some separate considerations to each of the remaining -nineteen tribes and half tribes, or remnants and pioneers of tribes, who -make up this imposing and interesting colony, where, for the first time -since the settlement of the Continent, the Indian race is presented in -an independent, compact, and prosperous condition. But it would -manifestly extend this article beyond its just limits, and we must -therefore generalize our remaining notices. - -We still, however, adhere to a geographical method. The Senecas from -Sandusky, and the mixed Senecas and Shawnees, are situated northeast of -the Cherokees, and between the latter and the western boundary of -Missouri. They possess a hundred thousand acres of choice lands. The -Sanduskies number 251 souls; the mixed band, 222. They are represented -as farmers and stock-raisers, frugal, industrious, and less addicted to -intemperance than their neighbors. They cultivated, in 1839, from two -hundred and fifty to three hundred acres of corn. They have a -blacksmith's shop, under treaty stipulations, and possess good stocks of -horses, cattle, and hogs. The Quapaws adjoin the Senecas and Shawnees on -the north, and, as the latter, have their lands fronting on the Neosho. -This band formerly owned and ceded the south banks of the Arkansas from -its mouth as high as the Canadian fork. They are indolent, much addicted -to the use of ardent spirits, and depressed in numbers. They have a -tract of 96,000 acres. They cultivate, generally, about one hundred -acres of corn, in a slovenly manner. Part of their numbers are seated on -the waters of Red River, and the Indian predilection for rowing is -nourished by the frequent habit of passing to and fro. This erratic -habit is an unerring test of the hunter state. - -The Piankashaws and Weas are of the Miami stock, and came from the -waters of the Wabash. They are located on 255 sections, immediately west -of the western boundary of Missouri, and about 40 miles south of the -Konza. Their population is 384, of which 222 are Weas. Immediately west -of them are the Peorias and Kaskaskias of the Illinois family. They -number 132, and possess 150 sections, which gives an average of more -than a square mile to each soul. Still west of these, are the Ottowas of -Ohio, about 200 in number, and above them, a small band of 61 of the -Chippewas of Swan Creek and Black River in Michigan. These locations are -all on the sources of the Osage River. The lands are fine, partly woods -and partly prairie, and are easily cultivated. These six fragmentary -bands are not dissimilar in their habits of living and the state of -their advance in agriculture. They subsist themselves by raising corn -and cattle and hogs. They evince an advancing condition, and are -surrounded by circumstances eminently favorable to it. - -The Shawnees are placed at the junction of the Konza with the Missouri, -extending south and west. They number a little short of 1,300, and own a -territory of ten thousand square miles, or 6,400,000 acres. They are -cultivators and graziers in an advanced state of improvement. Hunting -may be occasionally resorted to as a sport or amusement, but it has, -years since, been abandoned as a source of subsistence. Indeed, the -failure of the game in that region would have rendered the latter -imperative, had not their improved habits of industry led to it. This -tribe have essentially conquered their aversion to labor. They drive -oxen and horses trained to the plough. They split rails and build -fences. They erect substantial cabins and barns. They have old corn in -their cribs from year to year. They own good saddle-horses and saddles, -and other articles of caparison, and a traveller or visitor will find a -good meal, a clean bed, and kind treatment in their settlements. - -Next in position to the Shawnees are the Delawares, the descendants of -the ancient Lenno Lenapees of Pennsylvania. Allies and kindred in their -ancient position, they are still in juxtaposition in their new. Their -tract begins at the junction of the Konza and Missouri on the north, and -after running up the former to the Konza reserve, extends north and west -so as to embrace it on the north. It contains about 2450 square miles, -or 2,208,000 acres. They number, at the last dates to which we have -referred, 826 souls, and are on the increase. In point of habits, -industry, and improvement, they are perhaps not inferior to any of the -northern stocks. Shielded from intemperance by their position, out of -the State limits, where they are exclusively under the influence and -protection of Congress laws, this tribe, together with the entire circle -of Indian communities on that frontier, has been for some years in a -favourable position for recovering and developing their true energies. -They have, within a few years, received into their protection a small -band (182) of the Monceys, and a smaller one, of 74, of the -Stockbridges: the latter, we need hardly inform the intelligent reader, -are descendants of the ancient Mohegans, and the former of the Minsi and -Minnisinks, who, at the era of the colonization of "Nova Belgica" and -New York, were respectively located on the east and the west banks of -the Hudson. The Stockbridges are civilized; the Munsees less so, but -industrious. Both are poor, and without funds. - -Immediately succeeding the Delawares are the Kickapoos, an erratic race, -who, under various names, in connection with the Foxes and Sacs, have, -in good keeping with one of their many names,[50] skipped over half the -continent, to the manifest discomfort of both German and American -philologists and ethnographers, who, in searching for the so-called -"Mascotins," have followed, so far as their results are concerned, an -_ignis fatuus_. The Kickapoos have 12,000 square miles, or 768,000 -acres. It is a choice, rich tract, and they are disposed, with the -example of the Delawares and Shawnees, to profit by it. They raise corn -and cattle, hogs and horses, and are prosperous. Their numbers, in 1840, -were 470. There is a tract of 200 square miles, on the Great and Little -Namaha, assigned to the metifs, or descendants of mixed blood, of the -lowas, Otoes, and Missouris. These separate the removed and -semi-civilized tribes, south and west of the Missouri, from the wild -indigenes--we mean the Otoes, the Pawnees, the Omahaws, and the Sioux, -who extend over vast tracts, and exist without any sensible improvement -in their condition. The same remark may be applied to the Konzas, who -are, however, hemmed in between the Delawares and the Shawnees, except -on their western borders. It is no part of our purpose to consider these -tribes, as, over and above the influence of contiguous examples, they -constitute no part of the evidence affecting the general question of the -plan of removal. - -That this evidence, as now briefly sketched, is favorable, and indeed -highly favorable, to the general condition and prosperity of the removed -tribes, is, we apprehend, clearly manifest. Not only have they been -placed beyond the wasting influence of causes which oppressed them, -within the circle of the State communities; but they have received in -exchange for their eastern lands, a territory which, as a whole, is -highly fertile and salubrious. It is a territory which has required -little comparative labor to cultivate, made up as it is of mixed forests -and prairies. It is also, viewed _in extenso_, well watered, having -those noble streams, the Red River, the Arkansas, the Konza, the Platte, -and the Missouri, with their tributaries, running through it. The range -which it affords for cattle and stock, and the abundance of wild hay, of -a nutritious quality, has proved very favorable to an incipient -agricultural population, and greatly mitigated the ordinary labors of -farming in northern climates. There are no latitudes in North America -more favorable to the growth of corn. The cotton plant has been -introduced by the Choctaws and Chickasaws, on the banks of Red river. It -is a region abounding in salt springs and gypsum beds, both which must -hereafter be fully developed, and will prove highly advantageous. It is -above the first or principal rapids of the great streams running down -the plateau of the Rocky Mountains, and consequently affords sites for -water-mills, which are scarce and almost unknown on the lower Arkansas. -There is, indeed, a combination of circumstances, which are calculated -to favor the General Government plan, and foster the Indians in a -general attempt at civilisation and self-government. And we look with -interest, and not without anxiety, at the result of the experiment. - -We are aware that there are trials before them, arising from great -diversity of feelings and opinions, and states of civilisation. Some of -the tribes are powerful, advanced, and wealthy; some feeble and poor. -Education has very unequally affected them. Laws are in their embryo -state. The Gospel has been but partially introduced. In clothing the -native councils with some of the powers of a congress, and regulating -their action by constitutional fixity, there is great care and -deliberation required, not, at once, to grasp too much. There is perhaps -yet greater danger in enlarging the authority of the chiefs and -sagamores into something like presidential dimensions. The natives have -great powers of imitation; and it is to be feared that they will content -themselves by imitating things which they do not fully understand or -appreciate. The national character of the Indians is eminently -suspicious. There is a fear to trust others, even themselves. Delegated -power is narrowly watched, and often begrudged when given. The acts of -their public men are uniformly impugned. The thought seems hardly to be -entertained by the common Indians, that an officer may be guided by -right and honest motives. The principle of suspicion has, so to say, -eaten out the Indian heart. The jealousy with which he has watched the -white man, in all periods of his history, is but of a piece with that -with which he watches his chiefs, his neighbors, and his very family. -Exaltation of feeling, liberality of sentiment, justness of reasoning, a -spirit of concession, and that noble faith and trust which arise from -purity and virtue, are the characteristics of civilisation; and we -should not be disappointed if they do not, all at once, grow and -flourish in these nascent communities. Still, our hopes predominate over -our fears. Where so much has been accomplished as we see by the -Cherokees, the Choctaws, and Chickasaws, and our most advanced northern -tribes, we expect more. From the tree that bears blossoms, we expect -fruit. - -We have no expectation, however, that without some principles of general -political association, the tribes can permanently advance. To assume the -character and receive the respect of a commonwealth, they must have the -political bonds of a commonwealth. Our Indian tribes have never -possessed any of these bonds. They are indeed the apparent remnants of -old races, which have been shivered into fragments, and never found the -capacity to re-unite. The constant tendency of all things, in a state of -nature, has been to divide. The very immensity of the continent, its -varied fertility and resources, and its grand and wild features, led to -this. Hitherto, the removed tribes in the West have opposed an -associated government. They have stoutly and effectually resisted and -rejected this part of the government scheme. They fear, the agents say, -it is some plan to bring them under the civil yoke. Time, reflection, -and education must tend to correct this. More than all, their civil -dissensions must tend to show the necessity of a more enlarged and -general frame of government, in which some individual rights must be -yielded to the public, to secure the enjoyment of the rest. We think -there is some evidence of the acknowledgment of this want, in their -occasional general councils, at which all the tribes have been invited -to be present. During the last year (1843) such a convocation was held -at Tahlequah, the seat of the Cherokee government. At this, there were -delegates present from the Creeks, Chickasaws, Delawares, Shawnees, -Piankashaws, Weas, Osages, Senecas, Stockbridges, Ottowas, Chippewas, -Peorias, Pottowattomies, and Seminoles. The result of these -deliberations, we are informed, was a compact in which it was agreed:-- - - 1. To maintain peace and friendship among each other. - - 2. To abstain from the law of retaliation for offences. - - 3. To provide for improvements in agriculture, the arts, and - manufactures. - - 4. To provide against any cession of their territory, in any form. - - 5. To punish crimes, committed by one tribe, in the bounds of another. - - 6. To provide for a general citizenship among the contracting parties. - - 7. To suppress the use or introduction of ardent spirits. - -These are very mixed principles, containing no basis of a government; -yet, futile as they are, we apprehend they contain no effective power -for their enforcement. A law without a penalty is like a rope of sand. -Any of these parties might nullify either of these acts, by neglecting -to enforce it. It is, we apprehend, the mere expression of the popular -will, in a council, without any binding obligation of the whole, or a -majority of the tribes, to compel obedience from the delinquent members. -It may, however, lead to further deliberations; and we cannot but regard -the movement as one which betokens political forethought and purpose. - -Our greatest apprehensions, we must confess, before closing this paper, -arise from the peculiar geographical position of the Indian territory -with relation to our own. And this could not, perhaps, have been -anticipated twenty years ago, when the plan was formed. Our population -is on the broad move west. Nothing, it is evident, will now repress them -this side of the Pacific. The snowy heights of the Rocky Mountains are -already scaled; and we but apply the results of the past to the future, -in saying that the path which has been trod by a few, will be trod by -many. Now, the removed tribes are precisely in the centre of this path. -From the mouth of the Platte, or the Konza, the great highway to the -Oregon must run west. Whether this new tide of emigration will be -successful or unsuccessful, will those who compose it spare to trample -on the red man? Will they suddenly become kind to him, to whom they have -been unkind? Will they cease to desire the lands which their children -want? Will they consent to see the nation separated by an Indian state? -Will they award honors, nay, justice, to that state? Twenty years will -answer these questions. - - * * * * * - -CHOCTAWS.--An appropriation of $113,000 has been made by Congress for -the removal and subsistence of the Choctaws now in Mississippi. There -are upwards of six thousand in our state, comprising about eleven -hundred families. These are under Colonels Johnson and Fisher. The half -of the money due the Indians, and to be paid after their landing in -their new homes in the West, is to be funded. This will effectually -prevent all speculation, and enable the Indians to obtain and hold what -is due them. Those now in the state are guarded against all coercive -measures for their removal, and left free to go West or remain in their -homes in Mississippi.--_Southern Reformer._ - -FOOTNOTES: - - [45] Democratic Review, 1844. - - [46] Treaty of Fort Pitt, 1778. - - [47] We have only space to say here, that the cession of the Georgia -lands was subsequently made by the Lower Creeks under the chieftaincy of -General M'Intosh, who was the first to affix his signature to it. For -this act he paid the penalty of his life; the Upper Creeks and their -adherents, having assembled in arms, surrounded his house, and fired -three hundred balls into it, killing its unhappy, but distinguished -inmate. - - [48] This tribe has, the past year (1843), passed a law expelling all -white men who play at cards, from the limits of the nation, whether they -have Indian wives or not. - - [49] Secretary of War's report, 1843. - - [50] This is said, by one interpretation, to mean Rabbit's Ghost. - - - - -NURSERY AND CRADLE SONGS OF THE FOREST. - - -The tickenagun, or Indian cradle, is an object of great pride with an -Indian mother. She gets the finest kind of broad cloth she possibly can -to make an outer swathing band for it, and spares no pains in -ornamenting it with beads and ribbons, worked in various figures. In the -lodges of those who can afford it, there is no article more showy and -pretty than the full bound cradle. The frame of the cradle itself is a -curiosity. It consists of three pieces. The vertebral board, which -supports the back, the hoop or foot-board, which extends tapering up -each side, and the arch or bow, which springs from each side, and -protects the face and head. These are tied together with deer's sinews -or pegged. The whole structure is very light, and is carved with a knife -by the men, out of the linden or maple tree. - -Moss constitutes the bed of the infant, and is also put between the -child's feet to keep them apart and adjust the shape of them, according -to custom. A one-point blanket of the trade, is the general and -immediate wrapper of the infant, within the hoop, and the ornamented -swathing band is wound around the whole, and gives it no little -resemblance to the case of a small mummy. As the bow passes directly -above the face and eyes, trinkets are often hung upon this, to amuse it, -and the child gets its first ideas of ornament from these. The hands are -generally bound down with the body, and only let out occasionally, the -head and neck being the only part which is actually free. So bound and -laced, hooped and bowed, the little fabric, with its inmate, is capable -of being swung on its mother's back, and carried through the thickest -forest without injury. Should it even fall no injury can happen. The bow -protects the only exposed part of the frame. And when she stops to rest, -or enters the lodge, it can be set aside like any other household -article, or hung up by the cradle strap on a peg. Nothing, indeed, could -be better adapted to the exigencies of the forest life. And in such tiny -fabrics, so cramped and bound, and bedecked and trinketed, their famous -Pontiacs and King Philips, and other prime warriors, were once carried, -notwithstanding the skill they afterwards acquired in wielding the lance -and war club. - -The Indian child, in truth, takes its first lesson in the _art of -endurance_, in the cradle. When it cries it need not be unbound to nurse -it. If the mother be young, she must put it to sleep herself. If she -have younger sisters or daughters they share this care with her. If the -lodge be roomy and high, as lodges sometimes are, the cradle is -suspended to the top poles to be swung. If not, or the weather be fine, -it is tied to the limb of a tree, with small cords made from the inner -bark of the linden, and a vibratory motion given to it from head to foot -by the mother or some attendant. The motion thus communicated, is that -of the pendulum or common swing, and may be supposed to be the easiest -and most agreeable possible to the child. It is from this motion that -the leading idea of the cradle song is taken. - -I have often seen the red mother, or perhaps a sister of the child, -leisurely swinging a pretty ornamented cradle to and fro in this way, in -order to put the child to sleep, or simply to amuse it. The following -specimens of these wild-wood chaunts, or wigwam lullabys, are taken from -my notes upon this subject, during many years of familiar intercourse -with the aboriginals. If they are neither numerous nor attractive, -placed side by side with the rich nursery stores of more refined life, -it is yet a pleasant fact to have found such things even existing at all -amongst a people supposed to possess so few of the amenities of life, -and to have so little versatility of character. - -Meagre as these specimens seem, they yet involve no small degree of -philological diligence, as nothing can be more delicate than the -inflexions of these pretty chaunts, and the Indian woman, like her white -sister, gives a delicacy of intonation to the roughest words of her -language. The term wa-wa often introduced denotes a _wave_ of the air, -or the circle described by the motion of an object through it, as we -say, swing, swing, a term never applied to a wave of water. The latter -is called tegoo, or if it be crowned with foam, beta. - -In introducing the subjoined specimens of these simple see saws of the -lodge and forest chaunts, the writer felt, that they were almost too -frail of structure to be trusted, without a gentle hand, amidst his -rougher materials. He is permitted to say, in regard to them, that they -have been exhibited to Mrs. Elizabeth Oakes Smith, herself a refined -enthusiast of the woods, and that the versions from the original given, -are from her chaste and truthful pen. - -In the following arch little song, the reader has only to imagine a -playful girl trying to put a restless child to sleep, who pokes its -little head, with black hair and keen eyes over the side of the cradle, -and the girl sings, imitating its own piping tones. - - Ah wa nain? (Who is this?) - Ah wa nain? (Who is this?) - Wa yau was sa-- (Giving light--meaning the light of the eye) - Ko pwasod. (On the top of my lodge.) - - Who is this? who is this? eye-light bringing - To the roof of the lodge? - -And then she assumes the tone of the little screech owl, and answers-- - - Kob kob kob (It is I--the little owl) - Nim be e zhau (Coming,) - Kob kob kob (It is I--the little owl) - Nim be e zhau (Coming,) - Kit che--kit che. (Down! down!) - - It is I, it is I, hither swinging, (wa wa) - Dodge, dodge, baby dodge; - -And she springs towards it and down goes the little head. This is -repeated with the utmost merriment upon both sides. - - Who is this, who is this eye-light bringing - To the roof of my lodge? - It is I, it is I, hither swinging. - Dodge, dodge, baby dodge. - -Here is another, slower and monotonous, but indicating the utmost -maternal content: - - Swinging, swinging, lul la by, - Sleep, little daughter sleep, - 'Tis your mother watching by, - Swinging, swinging she will keep, - Little daughter lul la by. - - 'Tis your mother loves you dearest, - Sleep, sleep, daughter sleep, - Swinging, swinging, ever nearest, - Baby, baby, do not weep; - Little daughter, lul la by. - - Swinging, swinging, lul la by, - Sleep, sleep, little one, - And thy mother will be nigh-- - Swing, swing, not alone-- - Little daughter, lul la by. - -This of course is exceedingly simple, but be it remembered these chaunts -are always so in the most refined life. The ideas are the same, that of -tenderness and protective care only, the ideas being few, the language -is in accordance. To my mind it has been a matter of extreme interest to -observe how almost identical are the expressions of affection in all -states of society, as though these primitive elements admit of no -progress, but are perfect in themselves. The e-we-yea of the Indian -woman is entirely analogous to the lul la by of our language, and will -be seen to be exceedingly pretty in itself. - -2. The original words of this, with their literal import, are also -added, to preserve the identity. - - (a.) - - Wa wa--wa wa--wa we yea, (Swinging, twice, lullaby.) - Nebaun--nebaun--nebaun, (Sleep thou, thrice.) - Nedaunis-ais, e we yea, (Little daughter, lullaby.) - Wa wa--wa wa--wa wa, (Swinging, thrice.) - Nedaunis-ais, e we yea, (Little daughter lullaby.) - - (b.) - - Keguh, ke gun ah wain e ma, (Your mother cares for you.) - Nebaun--nebaun--nebaun, e we yea, (Sleep, thrice, lullaby.) - Kago, saigizze-kain, nedaunis-ais, (Do not fear, my little daughter.) - Nebaun--nebaun--nebaun, (Sleep, thrice.) - Kago, saigizze-kain, wa wa, e we yea, (third line repeated.) - - (c.) - - Wa wa--wa wa--wa we yea, (Swinging, twice, lullaby.) - Kaween neezheka kediausee, (Not alone art thou.) - Ke kan nau wai, ne me go, suhween, (Your mother is caring for you.) - Nebaun--nebaun--nedaunis-ais, (Sleep, sleep, my little daughter.) - Wa wa--wa wa--wa we yea, (Swinging, &c. lullaby.) - Nebaun--nebaun--nebaun, (Sleep! sleep! sleep.[51]) - - -THE HARE AND THE LYNX. - -3. The story of the Wabose, (Hare,) and the Pighieu, (Lynx,) will at -once remind the reader of the so often recited tale of little Red Riding -Hood, in which the reciter imitates the tones of the wolf, and the -little nursery listener hears with a growing amazement, and starts as if -he felt the real wolf's teeth at the close. - -This story is partly spoken and partly sung. The Teller imitating -alternately the Hare, and its enemy, the Lynx. - -There was once, she says, a little Hare living in the lodge with its -grandmother, who was about to send it back to its native land. When it -had gone but a little way, a Lynx appeared in the path, and began to -sing, - - Where pretty white one? - Where little white one, - Where do you go? - -Tshwee! tshwee! tshwee! tshwee! cried the Hare, and ran back to its -grandmother. "See, grandmother," said the timid little creature, "what -the Lynx is saying to me," and she repeated the song. "Ho! Nosis," that -is to say, courage my grandchild, run along, and tell him you are going -home to your native land: so the Hare went back and began to sing, - - To the point of land I roam, - For there is the white one's home,-- - Whither I go. - -Then the Lynx looked at the trembling Hare, and began to sing, - - Little white one, tell me why - Like to leather, thin and dry, - Are your pretty ears? - -Tshwee! tshwee! tshwee! tshwee! cried the Hare, and she ran back to her -grandmother, and repeated the words. "Go Nosis, and tell him your uncles -fixed them so, when they came from the South." So the Hare ran back and -sang, - - From the south my uncles came, - And they fixed my ears the same,-- - Fixed my slender ears. - -and then the Hare laid her pink ears upon her shoulders, and was about -to go on, but the Lynx began to sing again,-- - - Why, why do you go away? - Pretty white one, can't you stay? - Tell me why your little feet, - Are made so dry and very fleet? - -Tshwee! tshwee! tshwee! tshwee! said the poor little Hare, and she ran -back again to the lodge to ask again. "Ho! Nosis!" said the grandmother, -who was old and tired, "do not mind him, nor listen to him, nor answer -him, but run on." - -The Hare obeyed, and ran as fast as she could. When she came to the spot -where the Lynx had been, she looked round, but there was no one there, -and she ran on. But the Lynx had found out all about the little Hare, -and knew she was going across to the neck of land; and he had nothing to -do but reach it first, and waylay her; which he did: and when the -innocent creature came to the place, and had got almost home, the Lynx -sprang out of the thicket and eat her up. - -The original chant, omitting the narrative part as given above, runs in -this fashion, word for word. - - Lynx. Tah kau (where ah!) - Tah hau (where ah!) - Wa bose (little white one) - Wa bose (little white one) - Ke te e zha (are you going?) - - Hare. Na kwa oushing (to the point of land) - Ain dah nuk e aum baun (in my native country) - In de e zha (I go.) - - Lynx. Au neen (what!) - Au neen (what!) - A nau be kaus o yun aig (causes it,) - Kish ke mun ing (why like stripes of leather,) - Ish o tow ug a una, (are your ears?) - - Hare. Nish ish sha ug (my uncles,) - O sha wun e nong (when from the south) - Ke e zha waud (they came,) - Ningeeaizh e goob un eeg (they did fix me so.) - - Lynx. Tah kau (where ah!) - Tah kau (where ah!) - Wa bose (little white one,) - Wa bose (little white one,) - Ke de e zha (are you going?) - Au neen (why?) - Na naub o kos o yun (look they so,) - Kish ke mun a, (like dry bits of leather,) - I izh e zida una, (your feet ha!) - - -4. THE KITE AND THE EAGLE. - -This is a specimen of Indian satire. The coward is boastful when there -is no danger: pretension succeeds in the absence of real merit! A Kite -was boasting how high he could fly, and ventured to speak disparagingly -of the eagle, not knowing that the latter overheard him. He began to -sing in a loud voice, - - I upward fly - I! I alone disdain the air - Till I hang as by a hair - Poised in the sky. - -The Eagle answers disdainfully, looking down from a branch far above the -Kite, - - Who _mounts_ the sky? - Who is this, with babbling tongue - As he had on the storm-cloud hung, - Who flies so high? - -The Kite in a shrinking, feeble voice, - - The great Khakake - I've sometimes thought he flew so high - That he must see within the sky - The dawn awake. - -The Eagle despises him, and yet cannot forbear to answer. - - I spurn you all, ye prating throng - How often have I passed ye by - When my broad pinions fleet and strong, - Soared up where leapt the thunder cry! - Nor ye with feeble wing might dare, - Those hill-tops high, to mount in air. - -and he soared off, up, up into the sky till the boaster could not behold -him. But no sooner was the Kite left alone to himself than he began to -sing again so as to be heard on every side, - - I upward fly - I, I alone disdain the air - Till I hang as by a hair - Poised in the sky. - -Literally thus. - - Kite. Neen a (I alone) - Neen a (I alone) - Ta wa e ya (can go up) - Bai bwau } (so as to seem as if hanging - As shau dau } by a hair) - Wa ke ge naun } - O shau wush ko geezhig oong a (from the blue sky.) - - Eagle. Au wa nain (Who is this?) - Au wa nain (Who is this?) - Tshe mud je wa wa (with babbling tongue, who boasts) - Ke pim o saing. (of flying so high?) - -Kite (shrinkingly) replies, "Oh I was only singing of the great Khakake, -it is he who is said to fly so high." - -Eagle disdainfully replies, "Tshe mud je wa wa, that is great babbler, -or bad-tongue, you are below my notice," &c., and soars aloft. - -Kite, resuming its boasting tone, as soon as the eagle is out of -hearing, - - Neen a (I alone &c., the whole being a - Neen a repetition of the first part.) - Ta we ya - Bai bwau - As shau dau - Wa ke ge naun, - O shau wush ko, geezhig oong a. - - -5. THE RAVEN AND WOODPECKER. - -A still farther view of Indian manners and opinions is hid under this -simple chant. Opinion among the forest race, makes the whole animated -creation cognizant and intelligent of their customs. - -A young married woman is supposed to go out from the lodge, and busy -herself in breaking up dry limbs, and preparing wood, as if to lay in a -store for a future and approaching emergency. - -A raven, perched on a neighbouring tree, espies her, at her work, and -begins to sing; assuming the expected infant to be _a boy_. - - In dosh ke zhig o mun - In dosh ke zhig o mun - In dosh ke zhig o mun - -My eyes! my eyes! my eyes! Alluding to the boy (and future man) killing -animals as well as men, whose eyes will be left, as the singer -anticipates, to be picked out by ravenous birds. So early are the first -notions of war implanted. - -A woodpecker, sitting near, and hearing this song, replies; assuming the -sex of the infant to be _a female_. - - Ne mos sa mug ga - Ne mos sa mug ga - Ne mos sa mug ga. - -My worms! my worms! my worms! Alluding to the custom of the female's -breaking up dry and dozy wood, out of which, it could pick its favourite -food, being the mösa or wood-worm. - - * * * * * - -Want of space induces the writer to defer, to a future number, the -remainder of his collection of these cradle and nursery chants. They -constitute in his view, rude as they are, and destitute of metrical -attractions, a chapter in the history of the human heart, in the savage -phasis, which deserves to be carefully recorded. It has fallen to his -lot, to observe more perhaps, in this department of Indian life, than -ordinary, and he would not acquit himself of his duty to the race, were -he to omit these small links out of their domestic and social chain. The -tie which binds the mother to the child, in Indian life, is a very -strong one, and it is conceived to admit of illustration in this manner. -It is not alone in the war-path and the council, that the Red Man is to -be studied. To appreciate his whole character, in its true light, he -must be followed into his lodge, and viewed in his seasons of social -leisure and retirement. If there be any thing warm and abiding in the -heart or memory of the man, when thus at ease, surrounded by his family, -it must come out here; and hence, indeed, the true value of his lodge -lore, of every kind. - -It is out of the things mental as well as physiological, that pertain to -maternity, that philosophy must, in the end, construct the true -ethnological chain, that binds the human race, in one comprehensive -system of unity. - - -LANGUAGES OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. - -The Polynesian languages, like those of the Algonquin group of North -America, have inclusive and exclusive pronouns to express the words -_we_, _ours_, and _us_. They have also causative verbs such as, to make -afraid, to make happy, &c., but while there appears this analogy in -grammatical principles, there are some strong points of disagreement, -and there appears to be no analogy whatever in the sounds of the -language. There are eight well characterized dialects in the Polynesian -family. They are the Tahitian, the Owyhee, [Hawaiian] Marquesan, or -Washingtonian, Austral island, Hervey island, Samoan, Tongatabu, and New -Zealand. In seven of these, the name for God is Atua, in the eighth, or -Tongua dialect, it is Otua. Great resemblances exist in all the -vocabularies. Much of the actual difference arises from exchanges of the -consonants r and l, h and s, and a few others. They possess the dual -number. The scheme of the pronouns is very complete, and provides for -nearly all the recondite distinctions of person. Where the vocabulary -fails in words to designate objects which were unknown to them before -their acquaintance with Europeans, the missionaries have found it to -fall in better with the genius of the language, to introduce new words -from the Greek, with some modifications. Thus they have introduced -_hipo_ for horse, _arenio_ for lamb, _areto_ for bread, and _baptizo_ -for baptism. - -To continue faithful during a course of prosperity, says Xenophon, hath -nothing wonderful in it, but when any set of men continue steadily -attached to friends in adversity, they ought, on that account, to be -eternally remembered. - -There are but two sources only, says Polybius, from whence any real -benefit can be derived, our own misfortunes and those that have happened -to other men. - -One wise counsel, says Euripides, is better than the strength of many. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [51] These translations are entirely literal--the verbs to "sleep" and -to "fear," requiring the imperative mood, second person, present tense, -throughout. In rendering the term "wa-wa" in the participial form some -doubt may exist, but this has been terminated by the idea of the -_existing_ motion, which is clearly implied, although the word is not -marked by the usual form of the participle in _ing_. The phrase -lul-la-by, is the only one in our language, which conveys the evident -meaning of the choral term e-we-yea. The substantive verb is wanting, in -the first line of b. and the third of c. in the two forms of the verb, -to care, or take care of a person; but it is present in the phrase -"kediausee" in the second line of c. These facts are stated, not that -they are of the slightest interest to the common reader, but that they -may be examined by philologists, or persons curious in the Indian -grammar. - - - - -EARLY SKETCHES OF INDIAN WOMEN. - -_From "New England Prospect."_ - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -OF THEIR WOMEN, THEIR DISPOSITIONS, EMPLOYMENTS, USAGE BY THEIR -HUSBANDS, THEIR APPARELL, AND MODESTY. - - -To satisfie the curious eye of women-readers, who otherwise might thinke -their sex forgotten, or not worthy a record, let them peruse these few -lines, wherein they may see their owne happinesse, if weighed in the -womans ballance of these ruder _Indians_, who scorne the tuterings of -their wives, or to admit them as their equals, though their qualities -and industrious deservings may justly claime the preheminence, and -command better usage and more conjugall esteeme, their persons and -features being every way correspondent, their qualifications more -excellent, being more loving, pittifull, and modest, milde, provident, -and laborious than their lazie husbands. Their employments be many: -First their building of houses, whose frames are formed like our -garden-arbours, something more round, very strong and handsome, covered -with close-wrought mats of their owne weaving, which deny entrance to -any drop of raine, though it come both fierce and long, neither can the -piercing North winde, finde a crannie, through which he can conveigh his -cooling breath, they be warmer than our _English_ houses; at the top is -a square hole for the smoakes evacuation, which in rainy weather is -covered with a pluver; these bee such smoakie dwellings, that when there -is good fires, they are not able to stand upright, but lie all along -under the smoake, never using any stooles or chaires, it being as rare -to see an _Indian_ sit on a stoole at home, as it is strange to see an -_English_ man sit on his heels abroad. Their houses are smaller in the -Summer, when their families be dispersed, by reason of heate and -occasions. In Winter they make some fiftie or thereescore foote long, -fortie or fiftie men being inmates under one roofe; and as is their -husbands occasion these poore tectonists are often troubled like -snailes, to carrie their houses on their backs sometimes to -fishing-places, other times to hunting places, after that to a -planting-place, where it abides the longest: an other work is their -planting of corne, wherein they exceede our _English_ husband-men, -keeping it so cleare with their Clamme shell-hooes, as if it were a -garden rather than a corne-field, not suffering a choaking weede to -advance his audacious head above their infant corne, or an undermining -worme to spoile his spurnes. Their corne being ripe, they gather it, and -drying it hard in the Sunne, conveigh it to their barnes, which be great -holes digged in the ground in forme of a brasse pot, seeled with rinds -of trees, wherein they put their corne, covering it from the inquisitive -search of their gurmandizing husbands, who would eate up both their -allowed portion, and reserved seede, if they knew where to finde it. But -our hogges having found a way to unhindge their barne doores, and robbe -their garners, they are glad to implore their husbands helpe to roule -the bodies of trees over their holes, to prevent those pioners, whose -theeverie they as much hate as their flesh. An other of their -employments is their Summer processions to get Lobsters for their -husbands, wherewith they baite their hookes when they goe a fishing for -Basse or Codfish. This is an every dayes walke, be the weather cold or -hot, the waters rough or calme, they must dive sometimes over head and -eares for a Lobster, which often shakes them by their hands with a -churlish nippe, and bids them adiew. The tide being spent, they trudge -home two or three miles, with a hundred weight of Lobsters at their -backs, and if none, a hundred scoules meete them at home, and a hungry -belly for two days after. Their husbands having caught any fish, they -bring it in their boates as farre as they can by water, and there leave -it; as it was their care to catch it, so it must be their wives paines -to fetch it home, or fast: which done, they must dresse it and cooke it, -dish it, and present it, see it eaten over their shoulders; and their -loggerships having filled their paunches, their sweete lullabies -scramble for their scrappes. In the Summer these _Indian_ women when -Lobsters be in their plenty and prime, they drie them to keepe for -Winter, erecting scaffolds in the hot sun-shine, making fires likewise -underneath them, by whose smoake the flies are expelled, till the -substance remains hard and drie. In this manner they drie Basse and -other fishes without salt, cutting them very thinne to dry suddainely, -before the flies spoile them, or the raine moist them, having a speciall -care to hang them in their smoakie houses, in the night and dankish -weather. - -In Summer they gather flagges, of which they make Matts for houses, and -Hempe and rushes, with dying stuffe of which they make curious baskets -with intermixed colours and portractures of antique Imagerie, these -baskets be of all sizes from a quart to a quarter, in which they carry -their luggage. In winter time they are their husbunds Caterers, trudging -to the Clamm bankes for their belly timber, and their Porters to lugge -home their Venison which their lazinesse exposes to the Woolves till -they impose it upon their wives shoulders. They likewise sew their -husbands shooes, and weave coates of Turkie feathers, besides all their -ordinary household drudgerie which daily lies upon them. * * * * [Of the -treatment of babes the writer says]: The young Infant being greased and -sooted, wrapt in a beaver skin, bound to his good behaviour with his -feete upon a board two foote long and one foote broade, his face exposed -to all nipping weather; this little _Pappouse_ travells about with his -bare footed mother to paddle in the ice Clammbanks after three or foure -dayes of age have sealed his passeboard and his mothers recoverie. For -their carriage it is very civill, smiles being the greatest grace of -their mirth; their musick is lullabies to quiet their children, who -generally are as quiet as if they had neither spleene or lungs. To hear -one of these _Indians_ unseene, a good eare might easily mistake their -untaught voyce for the warbling of a well tuned instrument. Such command -have they of their voices. - - * * * * * - -Commendable is their milde carriage and obedience to their husbands, -notwithstanding all this their customarie churlishnesse and salvage -inhumanitie, not seeming to delight in frownes or offering to word it -with their lords, not presuming to proclaime their female superiority to -the usurping of the least title of their husbands charter, but rest -themselves content under their helplesse condition, counting it the -womans portion: since the _English_, arrivall comparison hath made them -miserable, for seeing the kind usage of the _English_ to their wives, -they doe as much condemne their husbands for unkindnesse, and commend -the _English_ for their love. As their husbands commending themselves -for their wit in keeping their wives industrious, doe condemne the -_English_ for their folly in spoyling good working creatures. These -women resort often to the _English_ houses, where _pares cum paribus -congregatæ_[52], in Sex I meane, they do somewhat ease their miserie by -complaining and seldome part without a releefe. If her husband come to -seeke for his _Squaw_ and beginne to bluster, the _English_ woman -betakes her to her armes which are the warlike Ladle, and the scalding -liquors, threatening blistering to the naked runnaway, who is soon -expelled by such liquid comminations. In a word to conclude this womans -historie, their love to the _English_ hath deserved no small esteeme, -ever presenting them some thing that is either rare or desired, as -Strawberries, Hurtleberries, Rasberries, Gooseberries, Cherries, -Plummes, Fish, and other such gifts as their poore treasury yeelds them. -But now it may be, that this relation of the churlish and inhumane -behaviour of these ruder _Indians_ towards their patient wives, may -confirme some in the beliefe of an aspersion, which I have often heard -men cast upon the _English_ there, as if they should learne of the -_Indians_ to use their wives in the like manner, and to bring them to -the same subjection, as to sit on the lower hand, and to carrie water -and the like drudgerie: but if my own experience may out-ballance an -ill-grounded scandalous rumour, I doe assure you, upon my credit and -reputation, that there is no such matter, but the women finde there as -much love, respect, and ease, as here in old _England_. I will not deny, -but that some poore people may carrie their owne water, and doe not the -poorer sort in _England_ doe the same; witnesse your _London_ -Tankard-bearers, and your countrie-cottagers? But this may well be -knowne to be nothing, but the rancorous venome of some that beare no -good will to the plantation. For what neede they carrie water, seeing -every one hath a Spring at his doore, or the Sea by his house? Thus much -for the satisfaction of women, touching this entrenchment upon their -prerogative, as also concerning the relation of these _Indians_ Squawes. - - -FOOTNOTES: - - [52] Equals assembled with equals. - - - - -PAWNEE BARBARITY. - - -That the tribes west of the Missouri, and beyond the pale of the -ordinary influence of civilization, should retain some shocking customs, -which, if ever prevalent among the more favoured tribes east of the -Mississippi and the Alleghenies, have long disappeared, may be readily -conceived. Wild, erratic bands, who rove over immense plains on -horseback, with bow and lance, who plunge their knives and arrows daily -into the carcasses of the buffalo, the elk and the deer, and who are -accustomed to sights of blood and carnage, cannot escape the mental -influence of these sanguinary habits, and must be, more or less, blunted -in their conceptions and feelings. Where brute life is so recklessly -taken, there cannot be the same nice feeling and sense of justice, which -some of the more favoured tribes possess, with respect to taking away -human life. Yet, it could hardly have been anticipated, that such deeds -as we are now called upon to notice, would have their place even in the -outskirts of the farther "Far West," and among a people so sunk and -degraded in their moral propensities, as the Pawnees. But the facts are -well attested. - -In the fierce predatory war carried on between the Pawnees and Sioux, -acts of blood and retaliation, exercised on their prisoners, are of -frequent occurrence. In the month of February, 1838, the Pawnees -captured a Sioux girl only fourteen years of age. They carried her to -their camp on the west of the Missouri, and deliberated what should be -done with her. It is not customary to put female captives to death, but -to make slaves of them. She, however, was doomed to a harder fate, but -it was carefully concealed from her, for the space of some sixty or -seventy days. During all this time she was treated well, and had -comfortable lodgings and food, the same as the rest enjoyed. On the 22nd -of April, the chiefs held a general council, and when it broke up, it -was announced that her doom was fixed, but this was still carefully -concealed from her. This doom was an extraordinary one, and so far as -the object can be deduced, from the circumstances and ceremonies, the -national hatred to their enemies was indulged, by making the innocent -non-combatant, a sacrifice to the spirit of corn, or perhaps, of -vegetable fecundity. - -When the deliberations of the council were terminated, on that day, she -was brought out, attended by the whole council, and accompanied on a -visit from lodge to lodge, until she had gone round the whole circle. -When this round was finished, they placed in her hands a small billet of -wood and some paints. The warriors and chiefs then seated themselves in -a circle. To the first person of distinction she then handed this billet -of wood and paint; he contributed to this offering, or sort of -sacrificial charity some wood and paint, then handed it to the next, -who did likewise, and he passed it to the next, until it had gone the -entire rounds, and each one had contributed some wood and some paint. -She was then conducted to the place of execution. For this purpose they -had chosen an open grassy glade, near a cornfield, where there were a -few trees. The spot selected was between two of these trees, standing -about five feet apart, in the centre of which a small fire was kindled, -with the wood thus ceremoniously contributed. Three bars had been tied -across, from tree to tree, above this fire, at such a graded height, -that the points of the blaze, when at its maximum, might just reach to -her feet. Upon this scaffold she was compelled to mount, when a warrior -at each side of her held fire under her arm pits. When this had been -continued as long as they supposed she could endure the torture, without -extinguishing life, at a given signal, a band of armed bow-men let fly -their darts, and her body, at almost the same instant, was pierced with -a thousand arrows. These were immediately withdrawn, and her flesh then -cut with knives, from her thighs, arms and body, in pieces not longer -than half a dollar, and put into little baskets. All this was done -before life was quite extinct. - -The field of newly planted corn reached near to this spot. This corn had -been dropped in the hill, but not covered with earth. The principal -chief then took, of the flesh, and going to a hill of corn, squeezed a -drop of blood upon the grains. This was done by each one, until all the -grains put into the ground, had received this extraordinary kind of -sprinkling. - -This horrible cruelty took place in the vicinity of Council Bluffs. -Offers to redeem the life of the prisoner had been made by the traders, -in a full council of eighty chiefs and warriors, but they were rejected. -The original narrator was an eye witness. He concludes his description -by adding, that his wife's brother, a Pawnee, had been taken prisoner by -the Sioux, in the month of June following, and treated in the same -manner. Truly, it may be said that the precincts of the wild roving Red -man, are "full of the abodes of cruelty." - - * * * * * - -Hunting and war are arts which require to be taught. The Indian youth, -if they were not furnished with bows and arrows, would never learn to -kill. The same time spent to teach them war and hunting, if devoted to -teach them letters, would make them readers and writers. Education is -all of a piece. - -Example is more persuasive than precept in teaching an Indian. Tell him -that he should never touch alcohol, and he may not see clearly why; but -show him, by your invariable practice, that you never do, and he may be -led to confide in your admonitions. - - - - -"THE LOON UPON THE LAKE." - -BY C. F. HOFFMAN. - -[From the Chippewa.[53]] - - - I looked across the water, - I bent o'er it and listened, - I thought it was my lover, - My true lover's paddle glistened. - Joyous thus his light canoe would the silver ripples wake.-- - But no!--it is the Loon alone--the loon upon the lake. - Ah me! it is the loon alone--the loon upon the lake. - - I see the fallen maple - Where he stood, his red scarf waving, - Though waters nearly bury - Boughs they then were newly laving. - I hear his last farewell, as it echoed from the brake.-- - But no, it is the loon alone--the loon upon the lake, - Ah me! it is the loon alone--the loon upon the lake. - - -TO A BIRD, SEEN UNDER MY WINDOW IN THE GARDEN. - -By the late Mrs. H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT, who was a grand daughter of the war -chief WABOJEEG. - - Sweet little bird, thy notes prolong, - And ease my lonely pensive hours; - I love to list thy cheerful song, - And hear thee chirp beneath the flowers. - - The time allowed for pleasures sweet, - To thee is short as it is bright, - Then sing! rejoice! before it fleet, - And cheer me ere you take your flight. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [53] Nenemoshain nindenaìndum - Meengoweugish abowaugoda - Anewahwas mongoduga, - &c., &c. - - - - -ODJIBWA SONG. - - -The following song, taken from the oral traditions of the north, is -connected with a historical incident, of note, in the Indian wars of -Canada. In 1759, great exertions were made by the French Indian -department, under Gen. Montcalm, to bring a body of Indians into the -valley of the lower St. Lawrence, and invitations, for this purpose -reached the utmost shores of Lake Superior. In one of the canoes from -that quarter, which was left on their way down, at the lake of Two -Mountains, near the mouth of the Utawas, while the warriors proceeded -farther, was a Chippewa girl called Paig-wain-e-osh-e, or the White -Eagle, driven by the wind. While the party awaited there, the result of -events at Quebec, she formed an attachment for a young Algonquin -belonging to the French mission of the Two Mountains. This attachment -was mutual, and gave origin to the song, of which the original words, -with a literal prose translation, are subjoined: - -I. - - Ia indenaindum - Ia indenaindum - Ma kow we yah - Nin denaindum we. - -Ah me! when I think of him--when I think of him--my sweetheart, my -Algonquin. - -II. - - Pah bo je aun - Ne be nau be koning - Wabi megwissun - Nene mooshain we - Odishquagumee. - -As I embarked to return, he put the white wampum around my neck--a -pledge of truth, my sweetheart, my Algonquin. - -III. - - Keguh wejewin - Ain dah nuk ke yun - Ningee egobun - Nene mooshain we - Odishquagumee. - -I shall go with you, he said, to your native country--I shall go with -you, my sweetheart--my Algonquin. - - -IV. - - Nia! nin de nah dush - Wassahwud gushuh - Aindahnuk ke yaun - Ke yau ninemooshai wee - Odishquagumee. - -Alas! I replied--my native country is far, far away--my sweetheart; my -Algonquin. - -V. - - Kai aubik oween - Ain aube aunin - Ke we naubee - Ne ne mooshai we - Odishquagumee. - -When I looked back again--where we parted, he was still looking after -me, my sweetheart; my Algonquin. - -VI. - - Apee nay we ne bow - Unishe bun - Aungwash agushing - Ne ne mooshai we - Odishquagumee. - -He was still standing on a fallen tree--that had fallen into the water -my sweetheart; my Algonquin. - -VII. - - Nia! indenaindum - Nia! in denaindum - Ma kow we yuh - Nin de nain dum we - Odishquagumee. - -Alas! when I think of him--when I think of him--It is when I think of -him; my Algonquin. - - * * * * * - -Eloquence on the part of the speakers, is not so much the result of -superior force of thought, as of the strong and clear positions of -right, in which they have been placed by circumstances. It is the force -of truth, by which we are charmed. - - * * * * * - -An Indian war song, sung in public, by the assembled warriors on the -outbreak of hostilities, is a declaration of war. - - - NIAGARA, AN ALLEGORY. - - An old grey man on a mountain lived, - He had daughters four and one, - And a tall bright lodge of the betula bark - That glittered in the sun. - - He lived on the very highest top, - For he was a hunter free, - Where he could spy on the clearest day, - Gleams of the distant sea. - - Come out--come out! cried the youngest one, - Let us off to look at the sea, - And out they ran in their gayest robes, - And skipped and ran with glee. - - Come Su,[54] come Mi,[55] come Hu,[56] come Sa,[57] - Cried laughing little Er,[58] - Let us go to yonder broad blue deep, - Where the breakers foam and roar. - - And on they scampered by valley and wood, - By earth and air and sky, - Till they came to a steep where the bare rocks stood, - In a precipice mountain high. - - Inya![59] cried Er, here's a dreadful leap, - But we are gone so far, - That if we flinch and return in fear, - Nos,[60] he will cry ha! ha! - - Now each was clad in a vesture light, - That floated far behind, - With sandals of frozen water drops, - And wings of painted wind. - - And down they plunged with a merry skip, - Like birds that skim the plain; - And hey! they cried, let us up and try - And down the steep again. - - And up and down the daughters skipped, - Like girls on a holiday, - And laughed outright, at the sport and foam - They called Niagara. - - If ye would see a sight so rare, - Where nature's in her glee, - Go, view the spot in the wide wild west, - The land of the brave and free. - - But mark--their shapes are only seen - In fancy's deepest play, - But she plainly shews their wings and feet - In the dancing sunny spray. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [54] Superior. - - [55] Michigan. - - [56] Huron. - - [57] St. Claro. - - [58] Erie. - - [59] An exclamation of wonder and surprize.--_Odj. lan._ - - [60] My father.--_ib._ - - - - -A PSALM. - -OR SUPPLICATION FOR MERCY, AND A CONFESSION OF SIN, ADDRESSED TO THE -AUTHOR OF LIFE, IN THE ODJIBWA-ALGONQUIN TONGUE. - -BY THE LATE MRS. HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT. - - -1. Gaitshe minno pimaudizzeyun, Gezha Monedo, gezhigong aibeyun. - -2. Keen, maumauwaikumig waozhemigoyun. - -3. Keen, kah ozhiéeyong, keen gaugegaikumig, kai nuhwaunemeyong, -aikoobemaudizzeyong. - -4. Keen, kainuhwaubaimeyong, geezhig tibbikuk tibishko. - -5. Keen, Keozheahn-geezhik-geezis, dibbik-geezis, aunungug gia. - -6. Keen, kegeozhetoan tshe kimmewung, gia tshe annimikeeaug, tshe sai -sai yung, tshe sogepoog gia. - -7. Keen kau ozheiyong tshe unnewegauboweyaung, kakinnuk kau ozheudjig -akeeng. - -8. Kee, gemishemin odjechaugwug, wekaukaine bosigoog. Kee gemishemin -kebauzhigo kegwiss Jesus Christ, tshe oonjenebood neenowind. - -9. Mozhug issuh nemudjee-inaindumin, kagait mozhug nemudjee-ekidomin; -nahwudj neminwaindumin tshe mudjee-dodumaung. - -10. Kagaitego me kaisoondje izhauyaungebun mudjee Moneto. - -11. Showainemishinaum, Gezha Monedo. - -12. Showainemishinaum, Jesus Christ. - -13. Maishkoodjetoan ne mudjee-odai-enaunin. - -14. Meezhishenaun edush oushke odaiyun. - -15. Apaidush nah saugeigsayun, gia dush todumaung kau izhe gugeekwayun. - -16. Me ozhissinaum odaiyun tshe minwaindumaung, tshe annahme autogoyun. - -17. Showainim neendunahwaitmaugunenaunig unishenaubaig. - -18. Showainim kukinnuh menik pemaudizzejig akeeng. - -19. Showainemishenaum kaidokoo pemaudizzeyong, appe dush neeboyong. - -20. Showainemishenaum neen jeechaugonaunig tshe izhowaud keen. - -21. Kaugegaikumig edush tshe menawaunegooz eyong ozaum ne -mudje-pemaudizzewin auno unnahmeyauyongin. - -22. Kauween edush kewee pemaudizzewin, kishpin aitah appainemoyong -Kegwiss Jesus Christ. - -23. Aioetainemud kegwiss showainemishenaum. Kunnah gai kunnah. - - -TRANSLATION. - -1. Great good author of Life, Gezha Monedo, abiding in the heavens - -2. Thou hast made all things. - -3. Thou art the giver,--Thou, the everlasting preserver of life. - -4. Thou hast guarded me, by day and by night. - -5. Thou hast made the sun and moon, and the stars. - -6. Thou makest the rain, the thunder, the hail, and the snows. - -7. Thou didst make man to stand upright, and has placed him over all -that is on the earth. - -8. Thou hast given us souls, that will never die. Thou hast sent thy son -Jesus Christ to die for us. - -9. Continually are our thoughts evil, and truly, our words are evil -continually. - -10. Verily, we deserve punishment with the Spirit of Evil. - -11. Show pity on us, Gezha Monedo. - -12. Show pity on us, Jesus Christ. - -13. Reform our wicked hearts. - -14. Give us new hearts. - -15. May we love thee with all our hearts, and by our acts obey thy -precepts, (or sayings.) - -16. Give us hearts to delight in prayer. - -17. Show mercy to all our kindred, unishenaubaig, or common people, -(means exclusively the Red Men.) - -18. Show mercy to all who live on the earth. - -19. Pity us, and befriend us, living and dying. - -20. And receive our souls to thyself. - -21. Ever to dwell in thine abiding place of happiness. - -22. Not in our own frail strength of life, do we ask this; but alone in -the name of Jesus Christ. - -23. Grant us thy mercy, in the name of thy Son. So be it ever. - -Those who take an interest in the structure of the Indian languages, may -regard the above, as an _improvised_ specimen of the capacity of this -particular dialect for the expression of scripture truth. The writer, -who from early years was a member of the church, had made a translation -of the Lords prayer, and, occasionally, as delicate and declining health -permitted, some other select pieces from the sacred writings, and hymns, -of which, one or two selections may, perhaps, hereafter be made. - - * * * * * - -The distinction between the active and passive voice, in the Odjibwa -language, is formed by the inflection ego. - - Ne sageau, I love. - Ne sageau-ego, I am loved. - - - - -TRADITIONARY WAR SONGS - -OF THE - -ODJIBWA ALGONQUINS. - - -Whoever has heard an Indian war song, and witnessed an Indian war dance, -must be satisfied that the occasion wakes up all the fire and energy of -the Indian's soul. His flashing eye--his muscular energy, as he begins -the dance--his violent gesticulation as he raises his war-cry--the whole -frame and expression of the man, demonstrate this. And long before it -comes to his turn to utter his stave, or portion of the chant, his mind -has been worked up to the most intense point of excitement: his -imagination has pictured the enemy--the ambush and the onset--the -victory and the bleeding victim, writhing under his prowess: in -imagination he has already stamped him under foot, and torn off his -reeking scalp: he has seen the eagles hovering in the air, ready to -pounce on the dead carcass, as soon as the combatants quit the field. - -It would require strong and graphic language to give descriptive -utterance, in the shape of song, to all he has fancied, and seen and -feels on the subject. He, himself, makes no such effort. Physical -excitement has absorbed his energies. He is in no mood for calm and -connected descriptions of battle scenes. He has no stores of measured -rhymes to fall back on. All he can do is to utter brief, and often -highly symbolic expressions of courage--of defiance--of indomitable -rage. His feet stamp the ground, as if he would shake it to its centre. -The inspiring drum and mystic rattle communicate new energy to every -step, while they serve, by the observance of the most exact time, to -concentrate his energy. His very looks depict the spirit of rage, and -his yells, uttered quick, sharp, and cut off by the application of the -hand to the mouth, are startling and horrific. - -Under such circumstances, a few short and broken sentences are enough to -keep alive the theme in his mind; and he is not probably conscious of -the fact, that, to an unimpassioned and calm listener, with note book in -hand, there is not sufficient said to give coherence to the song. And -that such a song, indeed, under the best auspices, is a mere wild -rhapsody of martial thought, poured out from time to time, in detached -sentences, which are, so to say, cemented into lines by a flexible -chorus and known tune. The song and the music are all of a piece. Vivid -and glowing, and poetic pictures will float in such a train, and often -strike the imagination by their graphic truth and boldness; but the -poet must look elsewhere for finished melody, and refined and elaborate -composition. - -The Indian is to be viewed here, as elsewhere, as being in the highest -state of his _physical_, not of his _mental_ phasis. Such glimmerings -may however be picked out of these warlike rhapsodies, as denote that he -is of a noble and independent tone of thinking. We shall at least enable -the reader to judge. The following specimens, which have been derived -from actors in the depths of the forest, consist of independent songs, -or stanzas, each of which is sung by a different or by the same warrior, -while the dance is in progress. The words have been taken down from a -young Chippewa warrior of lake Superior, of the name of Che che-gwy-ung. -It will be perceived that there is a unity in the _theme_, while each -warrior exercises the freest scope of expression. This unity I have -favoured by throwing out such stanzas as mar it, and afterwards -arranging them together. - - -WAR SONG. - -_a._ In beginning this song the warrior has turned his eyes to the -clouds. - - O shá wan ong (From the place of the south) - Un dos´ e wug, (They come,) _repeat_. - Pe nä´ se wug, (The birds, _i. e._ the warlike birds.) - Ka baim wai wá dung-ig. (Hear the sound of their passing screams - on the air.) - -_b._ The idea of ravenous birds hovering in the sky, still prevails-- - - Tod ot´ to be (I wish to change myself to be) - Pe nä´ se. (A bird.) - Ka dow´ we á we yun´. (His swift body--to be like him.) - -_c._ The warrior now rises above all thoughts of fear. - - Ne wä be na, (I cast it away.) - Né ow a. (My body.) - Ne wá be na, (_Repeats._) This is a high symbolical boast - Né ow a. of personal bravery. - -_d._ He appeals to the Great Spirit for extraordinary power. - - Na bun á kum ig, (On the front part of the earth,) - Tshe bá be wish´ em ug. (First shines [strikes] the light.) - In do main´ em ik, (Such power to me,) - Mon´ e do, (My God,) - Shä wa nem id. (In thy mercy give!) - -By the boldness of this figure he claims the omnipotent power of the sun -to see and discover his enemies. - -_e._ He upbraids such of his people as hold back, and do not join in the -dance--that is to say, enlist in the war. - - Wä go nain, e win? (Why do ye, warriors,) - A be yun ah, (Stand back?) - Wä wos is se, we yun. (Ye who bear the mark of the Awasees.) - -The Awasee is a kind of fish, which is the _totem_ of a clan. - -_f._ He declares his full purpose to enter into the war. - - Ne má je, e yeh! (I go to the spot--the war path!) - Ne má je, e yeh! (_Repeats._) - Ne me kun ah, e yeh! (My war path!) - Ge zhig neen wá tin, (My sky is fair and clear.) The common - phrase to denote good fortune. - Hoh! Ne monedo netaibuätum (Let others linger. Onward! my - o win. God!--my right!) - -In presenting these specimens of the original words of some of our -western warriors, we are permitted to give the annexed versions of them -from the pen of one of our most gifted writers. - - -WAR-SONG--"Pe-nä´ se-wug." - -(From the Algonquin of Schoolcraft) - -BY C. F. HOFFMAN. - -I. - - Hear not ye their shrill-piping screams on the air? - Up! Braves for the conflict prepare ye--prepare! - Aroused from the canebrake, far south by your drum, - With beaks whet from carnage, the Battle Birds come. - -II. - - Oh God of my Fathers, as swiftly as they, - I ask but to swoop from the hills on my prey: - Give this frame to the winds, on the Prairie below, - But my soul--like thy bolt--I would hurl on the foe! - -III. - - On the forehead of Earth strikes the Sun in his might, - Oh gift me with glances as searching as light. - In the front of the onslaught, to single each crest, - Till my hatchet grows red on their bravest and best. - -IV. - - Why stand ye back idly, ye Sons of the Lakes? - Who boast of the scalp-locks, ye tremble to take. - Fear-dreamers may linger, _my_ skies are all bright-- - Charge--charge--on the War-Path, FOR GOD AND THE RIGHT. - -Take the following additional example, of a death song. These stanzas -have all been actually sung on warlike occasions, and repeated in my -hearing. They have been gleaned from the traditionary songs of the -Chippewas of the north, whose villages extend through the region of lake -Superior, and to the utmost sources of the Mississippi. Those bands are -the hereditary foes of their western neighbours, the Dacotahs or Sioux, -who are generally called by them, by way of distinction, Na do wä´ sees, -that is to say, OUR ENEMIES. The allusions in the songs are exclusively -to them. In writing the original, I omit the chorus, as it is not -susceptible of translation, and would increase considerably the space -occupied. - - -DEATH SONG. - -1. In opening this song the warrior is to be contemplated as lying -wounded on the field of battle. - - A´ be tuh ge´ zhig, (Under the centre of the sky,) - Ne bá baim wä´ wä. (I utter my baim wä wä.) - -Baimwäwä, is the sound of passing thunders, which will convey a just -idea of the violence of this figure. - -2. His thoughts revert to the star of his destiny. - - Ain dah´ so gezhig (Every day, thou star!) - Ke gá gun o wá bom in. (I gaze at you.) - -It is the morning star that is here alluded to. - -3. He sees the birds of carnage hovering over the field. - - A´ be tuh geézh-ig (The half of the day) - Ai be yaun (I abide--gazing) - Pe nä se wug. (Ye warlike birds.) - -4. He keeps the flight of these birds before his mind and hears their -shrill cries. - - Pe misk wosh e wug (They fly round the circuit of the sky.) - Pe nä´ se wug (The birds--circling) - A´ be tuh geezh ig oag. (Round half the circuit of the sky.) The - meaning is, approaching him in circle, - more nearly, as life becomes fainter in - him. - -5. This figure is continued. He lies bleeding. - - A´ zha waush e wug (They cross the enemy's line) - Pe nä se wug. (The birds.) - -6. He feels that he is called to another world. - - A pit she Mon e doag (The high gods) - Ne mud wä wä (My praise) - Wá we ne goag. (They sound.) - -7. He is content and willing to go. - - Kä gait´, ne min wain´ dum (Full happy--I) - Ne bun aí kum ig (To lie on the battle-field) - Tshe bá be wish e naun. (Over the enemy's line.) - - -DEATH-SONG--"A´ be tuh gé zhig." - -(From the Algonquin of Schoolcraft.) - -BY C. F. HOFFMAN. - - I. - - - Under the hollow sky, - Stretched on the Prairie lone, - Centre of glory, I - Bleeding, disdain to groan, - But like a battle cry - Peal forth my thunder moan, - _Baim-wä-wä_! - - II. - - Star--Morning-Star, whose ray - Still with the dawn I see, - - Quenchless through half the day - Gazing thou seest me-- - Yon birds of carnage, they - Fright not my gaze from thee! - _Baim-wä-wä!_ - - III. - - Bird, in thine airy rings - Over the foeman's line, - Why do thy flapping wings - Nearer me thus incline? - Blood of the Dauntless brings - Courage, oh Bird to thine! - _Baim-wä-wä!_ - - Hark to those Spirit-notes! - Ye high Heroes divine, - Hymned from your god-like throats - That Song of Praise is mine! - Mine, whose grave-pennon floats - Over the foeman's line! - _Baim-wä-wä_! - - - WAR SONG. - - Where are my foes? say, warriors, where? No forest is so black, - That it can hide from my quick eye, the vestige of their track: - There is no lake so boundless, no path where man may go, - Can shield them from my sharp pursuit, or save them from my blow. - The winds that whisper in the trees, the clouds that spot the sky, - Impart a soft intelligence, to show me where they lie, - The very birds that sail the air, and scream as on they go, - Give me a clue my course to tread, and lead me to the foe. - - The sun, at dawn, lifts up his head, to guide me on my way, - The moon, at night, looks softly down, and cheers me with her ray. - The war-crowned stars, those beaming lights, my spirit casts at night, - Direct me as I thread the maze, and lead me to the fight. - In sacred dreams within my lodge, while resting on the land, - Bright omens of success arise, and nerve my warlike hand. - Where'er I turn, where'er I go, there is a whispering sound, - That tells me I shall crush the foe, and drive him from my ground. - - The beaming WEST invites me on, with smiles of vermil hue, - And clouds of promise fill the sky, and deck its heavenly blue, - There is no breeze--there is no sign, in ocean, earth or sky, - That does not swell my breast with hope, or animate my eye. - If to the stormy beach I go, where heavy tempests play, - They tell me but, how warriors brave, should conquer in the fray. - All nature fills my heart with fires, that prompt me on to go, - To rush with rage, and lifted spear, upon my country's foe. - - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - - The intent of the corrections listed below is to restore the text - to the author's intent, as best as that can be surmised. - - Minor inconsistencies of punctuation have been resolved. On - occasion, the quotation marks, especially, have been added where - the quotation extends across paragraphs. If an ending mark has been - omitted, it has been added. Usually, but not always, a space is left - where a missing character should have appeared. - - Clear typographical errors (e.g. "emcamped" for "encamped", "atlar" - for "altar") have also been corrected. A non-standard or variable - spelling has been left as printed, unless it is the sole instance - of a word repeatedly otherwise spelled (e.g. characterestic (1) / - characteristic (35)). - - The spelling of names of persons and places, especially when derived - from Indian dialects vary considerably. For instance "Allegheny" is - also found multiple times as "Alleghany" and "Allegany". "Ottawa" - and "Ottowa" are each found several times. Nabinoi / Nabanoi / - Nabunwa seem to refer to the same Ojibwa elder. Nearly all such - variants are left as printed, except where explicitly noted below. - - Words that were hyphenated at the ends of line have been joined - with or without the hyphen, depending on the frequency of the - word's spelling elsewhere. No attempt was made to regularize other - cases. They are kept as printed. - - Corrections: - - Characters that have been removed, corrected, or which have been - added are noted using [] as delimiters. Where misprinted characters - are changed, the original and corrected characters are noted as - [x/y], where x is the original. Punctuation corrections are not - included in this list. - - - Page| Correction | Comment - ----+----------------------------------+------------------------------ - 7 | river at Brattleboro[,'/',] | The apostrophe may have been - | | meant as a contraction of - | | 'Brattleborough', which in - | | 1848 had yet to be - | | abbreviated. It should - | | precede the comma. - | | - 19 | not two free | _sic_. - | | - 40 | irridescen[t] | Added. - | brought us to a Mr. Murphy[']s | Added. - | | - 42 | inj[u]re | Added. - | mounta[ni/in]ous | Added. - | | - 44 | thus uniting character[e/i]stics | Corrected. - | of three varieties | - | | - 48 | and valetudinarians[.] | Added. - | | - 51 | Gascon[a]de | Added. - | | - 52 | highten | _sic_. - | | - 59 | e[m/n]camped | Corrected. - | | - 71 | CONST[IT]UTION | Added. - | | - 75 | som[e]times | Added. - | | - 76 | horriffic | _sic_. - | | - 83 | wife from that time[.] | Added. - | | - 88 | On another [a/o]occasion | Corrected. - | | - 93 | Senecas was discovered, turnin[g]| Added. - | | - 102 | calling ou[t] | Added. - | | - 114 | assured that th[s/e] cord | Corrected. - | | - 124 | had made [u/a]n | Corrected. - | | - | many days pass[s]ed | Removed. - | | - 145 | fate of their chiefta[i]n | Added to match spelling in - | | following line. - | | - 148 | necessary to gla[n]ce backward | Added. - | | - 153 | such a bloody fellow was | Line break hyphenation - | [al-]allowed | error corrected. - | | - 179 | allowed a li[s/t]tle time to | Corrected. - | replenish: | - | | - 189 | brass p[i]eces | Added. - | | - | Ozaw[a/á]biks | Corrected to match all other - | | occurences. - | | - 193 | and [and ]not to throw | Line break repetition - | | removed. - | | - 197 | ["]Having taught this man ... | Added continuing and end - | and what they must not do.["] | quotes. - | | - 200 | INTERPR[E]TER | Added. - | | - 203 | geogra[p/g]hical | Corrected. - | | - 212 | a[tl/lt]ar | Corrected. - | | - 225 | r[aph/hap]sodies | Corrected. - | | - 227 | [oo] / [OO] | Represent the figure 8, set - | | horizontally, per FN on - | | p. 227. - | | - | My soul he doth restore aga[in] | Missing characters inferred. - | | - 233 | modes of [of ]life | Line break error corrected. - | | - 234 | the present [e/a]rea of | Corrected. - | | - 250 | [t/T]hey are a brave and warlike | Corrected. - | people | - | | - 252 | Lou[i]siana | Added. - | | - 259 | Guadaxalara | _sic_--Guadalaxara? - | | - 273 | the [the ]word itself | Line break repetition - | | removed. - | | - | "Söngedää" | Missing close quote. - | | - 274 | Ke dizz[i]hewäbizziwin | Removed, based on following - | onishishin. | text. - | | Missing punctuation in tables - | | has been added for - | | consistency. - | | - 280 | Ween ishkwa[n/u]dj, | Corrected based on - | He or she last. | adjacent text. - | | - 282 | Pos[s]essive | Added 's' for consistency. - | | - 288 | in upper Louis[ai/ia]na | Corrected to adjacent text. - | | - 290 | s[t]eatites | Corrected to match all other - | | spellings. - | Michili[n/m]ackinac | Corrected to match all other - | | spellings. - | | - 301 | [']Tis not enough! | Added. - | | - 303 | r[yh/hy]me | Corrected. - | | - 307 | succes[s]ful | Added to match all other - | | spellings. - | | - 308 | [_c._] Waban is from ab, or | Italicized to match - | wab, light. | a., b., d. - | | - 313 | char[a]cter | Added. - | | - 319 | arr[r]ived | Removed. - | | - 332 | with[ ]them | Added. - | | - | [e/a]quatic | Corrected. - | | - 343 | retur[n]ed | Added. - | | - 377 | ... the amount of funds invested | '0' added, consistent with 5% - | by the government in stocks, | interest rate. See similar - | for the Indians,was $2,580,000, | statements on p. 379. - | on which the annual interest | - | paid to them was $131,05[0]. | - | | - 386 | Del[e/a]wares | Corrected. - | | - 402 | Feb[r]uary | Added. - | | - 404 | [E/C]. F. HOFFMAN. | Corrected, reference to - | | Charles Fenno Hoffman. - | | - 415 | Blood of the Dauntless brings[*] | Two footnotes, anchored - | ... | on the following lines, - | Mine, whose grave-pennon | were not provided. To - | floats[*] | avoid confusion, the - | | anchors have been removed. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Indian in his Wigwam, by Henry R. 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