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diff --git a/44934-8.txt b/44934-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 77ca025..0000000 --- a/44934-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4259 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captives Among the Indians, by -James Smith and Francesco Giuseppe Bressani and Mary White Rowlandson and Mercy Harbison - -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: Captives Among the Indians - -Author: James Smith - Francesco Giuseppe Bressani - Mary White Rowlandson - Mercy Harbison - -Editor: Horace Kephart - -Release Date: February 16, 2014 [EBook #44934] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected -without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have -been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with -underscores: _italics_. - -The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby -placed in the public domain. - - - - -OUTING ADVENTURE LIBRARY - - -CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS - -First-hand Narratives of Indian Wars, Customs, -Tortures, and Habits of Life in Colonial Times - - -EDITED BY - -HORACE KEPHART - - -NUMBER 3 - - -NEW YORK -OUTING PUBLISHING COMPANY -MCMXV - -COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY -OUTING PUBLISHING COMPANY - -All rights reserved - - - - -CONTENTS - - - I COLONEL JAMES SMITH'S LIFE AMONG THE DELAWARES, 1755-1759 9 - - II FATHER BRESSANI'S CAPTIVITY AMONG THE IROQUOIS, 1644 117 - -III CAPTIVITY OF MRS. MARY ROWLANDSON AMONG THE INDIANS OF - MASSACHUSETTS, 1676 143 - - IV CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF MERCY HARBISON, 1792 210 - - - - -CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS - - - - -I - -COL. JAMES SMITH'S LIFE AMONG THE DELAWARES, 1755-1759 - - - James Smith, pioneer, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in - 1737. When he was eighteen years of age he was captured by the - Indians, was adopted into one of their tribes, and lived with them - as one of themselves until his escape in 1759. - - He became a lieutenant under General Bouquet during the expedition - against the Ohio Indians in 1764, and was captain of a company of - rangers in Lord Dunmore's War. In 1775 he was promoted to major of - militia. He served in the Pennsylvania convention in 1776, and in - the assembly in 1776-77. In the latter year he was commissioned - colonel in command on the frontiers, and performed distinguished - services. - - Smith moved to Kentucky in 1788. He was a member of the Danville - convention, and represented Bourbon county for many years in the - legislature. He died in Washington county, Kentucky, in 1812. - - The following narrative of his experience as member of an Indian - tribe is from his own book entitled "Remarkable Adventures in the - Life and Travels of Colonel James Smith," printed at Lexington, - Kentucky, in 1799. It affords a striking contrast to the terrible - experiences of the other captives whose stories are republished in - this book; for he was well treated, and stayed so long with his red - captors that he acquired expert knowledge of their arts and - customs, and deep insight into their character. (_Editor._) - - -In May, 1755, the province of Pennsylvania agreed to send out three -hundred men, in order to cut a wagon-road from Fort Loudon, to join -Braddock's road, near the Turkey Foot, or three forks of Youghiogheny. -My brother-in-law, William Smith, Esq., of Conococheague, was appointed -commissioner, to have the oversight of these road-cutters. - -Though I was at that time only eighteen years of age, I had fallen -violently in love with a young lady, whom I apprehended was possessed -of a large share of both beauty and virtue; but being born between -Venus and Mars, I concluded I must also leave my dear fair one, and go -out with this company of road-cutters to see the event of this -campaign; but still expecting that some time in the course of this -summer I should again return to the arms of my beloved. - -We went on with the road, without interruption, until near the -Alleghany mountain; when I was sent back in order to hurry up some -provision-wagons that were on the way after us. I proceeded down the -road as far as the crossings of Juniata, where, finding the wagons were -coming on as fast as possible, I returned up the road again towards the -Alleghany mountain, in company with one Arnold Vigoras. About four or -five miles above Bedford, three Indians had made a blind of bushes, -stuck in the ground as though they grew naturally, where they concealed -themselves, about fifteen yards from the road. When we came opposite to -them they fired upon us, at this short distance, and killed my -fellow-traveller, yet their bullets did not touch me; but my horse, -making a violent start, threw me, and the Indians immediately ran up -and took me prisoner. The one who laid hold on me was a Canasatauga, -the other two were Delawares. One of them could speak English, and -asked me if there were any more white men coming after. I told them not -any near that I knew of. Two of these Indians stood by me, while the -other scalped my comrade; they then set off and ran at a smart rate -through the woods, for about fifteen miles, and that night we slept on -the Alleghany mountain without fire. - -The next morning they divided the last of their provisions which they -had brought from Fort Du Quesne, and gave me an equal share, which was -about two or three ounces of mouldy biscuit; this and a young -ground-hog, about as large as a rabbit, roasted, and also equally -divided, was all the provision we had until we came to the Loyal -Hannan, which was about fifty miles; and a great part of the way we -came through exceeding rocky laurel-thickets without any path. When we -came to the west side of Laurel hill, they gave the scalp halloo, as -usual, which is a long yell or halloo for every scalp or prisoner they -have in possession; the last of these scalp halloos were followed with -quick and sudden shrill shouts of joy and triumph. On their performing -this, we were answered by the firing of a number of guns on the Loyal -Hannan, one after another, quicker than one could count, by another -party of Indians who were encamped near where Ligonier now stands. As -we advanced near this party, they increased with repeated shouts of joy -and triumph; but I did not share with them in their excessive mirth. -When we came to this camp we found they had plenty of turkeys and other -meat there; and though I never before ate venison without bread or -salt, yet as I was hungry it relished very well. There we lay that -night, and the next morning the whole of us marched on our way for Fort -Du Quesne. The night after we joined another camp of Indians, with -nearly the same ceremony, attended with great noise, and apparent joy, -among all except one. The next morning we continued our march, and in -the afternoon we came in full view of the fort, which stood on the -point, near where Fort Pitt[1] now stands. We then made a halt on the -bank of the Alleghany, and repeated the scalp halloo, which was -answered by the firing of all the firelocks in the hands of both -Indians and French who were in and about the fort, in the aforesaid -manner, and also the great guns, which were followed by the continued -shouts and yells of the different savage tribes who were then collected -there. - - [1] Pittsburgh. - -As I was at this time unacquainted with this mode of firing and yelling -of the savages, I concluded that there were thousands of Indians there -ready to receive General Braddock; but what added to my surprise, I saw -numbers running towards me, stripped naked, excepting breech-clouts, -and painted in the most hideous manner, of various colors, though the -principal color was vermilion, or a bright red; yet there was annexed -to this black, brown, blue, etc. As they approached, they formed -themselves into two long ranks, about two or three rods apart. I was -told by an Indian that could speak English that I must run betwixt -these ranks, and that they would flog me all the way as I ran; and if I -ran quick, it would be so much the better, as they would quit when I -got to the end of the ranks. There appeared to be a general rejoicing -around me, yet I could find nothing like joy in my breast; but I -started to the race with all the resolution and vigor I was capable of -exerting, and found that it was as I had been told, for I was flogged -the whole way. When I had got near the end of the lines I was struck -with something that appeared to me to be a stick, or the handle of a -tomahawk, which caused me to fall to the ground. On my recovering my -senses I endeavored to renew my race; but, as I arose, some one cast -sand in my eyes, which blinded me so that I could not see where to run. -They continued beating me most intolerably, until I was at length -insensible; but before I lost my senses I remember my wishing them to -strike the fatal blow, for I thought they intended killing me, but -apprehended they were too long about it. - -The first thing I remember was my being in the fort amidst the French -and Indians, and a French doctor standing by me, who had opened a vein -in my left arm: after which the interpreter asked me how I did. I told -him I felt much pain. The doctor then washed my wounds, and the bruised -places of my body with French brandy. As I felt faint, and the brandy -smelt well, I asked for some inwardly, but the doctor told me, by the -interpreter, that it did not suit my case. - -When they found I could speak, a number of Indians came around me, and -examined me, with threats of cruel death if I did not tell the truth. -The first question they asked me was how many men were there in the -party that were coming from Pennsylvania to join Braddock? I told them -the truth, that there were three hundred. The next question was, were -they well armed? I told them they were all well armed (meaning the arm -of flesh), for they had only about thirty guns among the whole of them; -which if the Indians had known they would certainly have gone and cut -them all off; therefore I could not in conscience let them know the -defenceless situation of these road-cutters. I was then sent to the -hospital, and carefully attended by the doctors, and recovered quicker -than what I expected. - -Some time after I was there, I was visited by the Delaware Indian -already mentioned, who was at the taking of me, and could speak some -English. Though he spoke but bad English, yet I found him to be a man -of considerable understanding. I asked him if I had done anything that -had offended the Indians which caused them to treat me so unmercifully. -He said no; it was only an old custom the Indians had, and it was like -"how do you do"; after that, he said, I would be well used. I asked him -if I should be admitted to remain with the French. He said no; and told -me that as soon as I recovered, I must not only go with the Indians, -but must be made an Indian myself. I asked him what news from -Braddock's army. He said the Indians spied them every day, and he -showed me, by making marks on the ground with a stick, that Braddock's -army was advancing in very close order, and that the Indians would -surround them, take trees, and (as he expressed it) _shoot um down -all one pigeon_. - -Shortly after this, on the 9th day of July, 1755, in the morning, I -heard a great stir in the fort. As I could then walk with a staff in my -hand, I went out of the door, which was just by the wall of the fort, -and stood upon the wall, and viewed the Indians in a huddle before the -gate, where were barrels of powder, bullets, flints, etc., and every -one taking what suited. I saw the Indians also march off in rank -entire; likewise the French Canadians, and some regulars. After viewing -the Indians and French in different positions, I computed them to be -about four hundred, and wondered that they attempted to go out against -Braddock with so small a party. I was then in high hopes that I would -soon see them fly before the British troops, and that General Braddock -would take the fort and rescue me. - -I remained anxious to know the event of this day; and, in the -afternoon, I again observed a great noise and commotion in the fort, -and though at that time I could not understand French, yet I found that -it was the voice of joy and triumph, and feared that they had received -what I called bad news. - -I had observed some of the old-country soldiers speak Dutch: as I spoke -Dutch, I went to one of them, and asked him what was the news. He told -me that a runner had just arrived, who said that Braddock would -certainly be defeated; that the Indians and French had surrounded him, -and were concealed behind trees and in gullies, and kept a constant -fire upon the English, and that they saw the English falling in heaps, -and if they did not take the river, which was the only gap, and make -their escape, there would not be one man left alive before sundown. The -morning after the battle I saw Braddock's artillery brought into the -fort; the same day I also saw several Indians in British officers' -dress, with sash, half-moon, laced hats, etc., which the British then -wore. - -A few days after this the Indians demanded me, and I was obliged to go -with them. I was not yet well able to march, but they took me in a -canoe up the Alleghany River to an Indian town that was on the north -side of the river, about forty miles above Fort Du Quesne. Here I -remained about three weeks, and was then taken to an Indian town on the -west branch of Muskingum, about twenty miles above the forks, which was -called Tullihas, inhabited by Delawares, Caughnewagas, and Mohicans. - -The day after my arrival at the aforesaid town a number of Indians -collected about me, and one of them began to pull the hair out of my -head. He had some ashes on a piece of bark, in which he frequently -dipped his fingers in order to take the firmer hold, and so he went on, -as if he had been plucking a turkey, until he had all the hair clean -out of my head except a small spot about three or four inches square on -my crown; this they cut off with a pair of scissors, excepting three -locks, which they dressed up in their own mode. Two of these they -wrapped round with a narrow beaded garter made by themselves for that -purpose, and the other they plaited at full length, and then stuck it -full of silver brooches. After this they bored my nose and ears, and -fixed me off with earrings and nose jewels; then they ordered me to -strip off my clothes and put on a breech-clout, which I did; they then -painted my head, face, and body in various colors. They put a large -belt of wampum on my neck, and silver bands on my hands and right arm; -and so an old chief led me out in the street, and gave the alarm -halloo, _coo-wigh_, several times repeated quick; and on this, all -that were in the town came running and stood round the old chief, who -held me by the hand in the midst. As I at that time knew nothing of -their mode of adoption, and had seen them put to death all they had -taken, and as I never could find that they saved a man alive at -Braddock's defeat, I made no doubt but they were about putting me to -death in some cruel manner. The old chief, holding me by the hand, made -a long speech, very loud, and when he had done, he handed me to three -young squaws, who led me by the hand down the bank, into the river, -until the water was up to our middle. The squaws then made signs to me -to plunge myself into the water, but I did not understand them; I -thought that the result of the council was that I should be drowned, -and that these young ladies were to be the executioners. They all three -laid violent hold of me, and I for some time opposed them with all my -might, which occasioned loud laughter by the multitude that were on the -bank of the river. At length one of the squaws made out to speak a -little English (for I believe they began to be afraid of me), and said -_no hurt you_. On this I gave myself up to their ladyships, who were as -good as their word; for though they plunged me under water, and washed -and rubbed me severely, yet I could not say they hurt me much. - -These young women then led me up to the council-house, where some of -the tribe were ready with new clothes for me. They gave me a new -ruffled shirt, which I put on, also a pair of leggings done off with -ribbons and beads, likewise a pair of moccasons and garters dressed -with beads, porcupine quills, and red hair--also a tinsel-laced cappo. -They again painted my head and face with various colors, and tied a -bunch of red feathers to one of those locks they had left on the crown -of my head, which stood up five or six inches. They seated me on a -bearskin, and gave me a pipe, tomahawk, and pole-cat skin pouch, which -had been skinned pocket fashion, and contained tobacco, killegenico, or -dry sumach leaves, which they mix with their tobacco; also spunk, -flint, and steel. When I was thus seated, the Indians came in dressed -and painted in their grandest manner. As they came in they took their -seats, and for a considerable time there was a profound silence--every -one was smoking; but not a word was spoken among them. At length one of -the chiefs made a speech, which was delivered to me by an interpreter, -and was as followeth: "My son, you are now flesh of our flesh, and bone -of our bone. By the ceremony which was performed this day every drop of -white blood was washed out of your veins; you are taken into the -Caughnewaga nation, and initiated into a warlike tribe; you are adopted -into a great family, and now received with great seriousness and -solemnity in the room and place of a great man. After what has passed -this day, you are now one of us by an old strong law and custom. My -son, you have now nothing to fear--we are now under the same -obligations to love, support, and defend you that we are to love and to -defend one another; therefore, you are to consider yourself as one of -our people." At this time I did not believe this fine speech, -especially that of the white blood being washed out of me; but since -that time I have found out that there was much sincerity in said -speech; for, from that day, I never knew them to make any distinction -between me and themselves in any respect whatever until I left them. If -they had plenty of clothing, I had plenty; if we were scarce, we all -shared one fate. - -After this ceremony was over I was introduced to my new kin, and told -that I was to attend a feast that evening, which I did. And as the -custom was, they gave me also a bowl and a wooden spoon, which I -carried with me to the place where there was a number of large brass -kettles full of boiled venison and green corn; every one advanced with -his bowl and spoon, and had his share given him. After this, one of the -chiefs made a short speech, and then we began to eat. - -Shortly after this I went out to hunt in company with Mohawk Solomon, -some of the Caughnewagas, and a Delaware Indian that was married to a -Caughnewaga squaw. We travelled about south from this town, and the -first night we killed nothing, but we had with us green corn, which we -roasted and ate that night. The next day we encamped about twelve -o'clock, and the hunters turned out to hunt, and I went down the run -that we encamped on, in company with some squaws and boys, to hunt -plums, which we found in great plenty. On my return to camp I observed -a large piece of fat meat; the Delaware Indian, that could talk some -English, observed me looking earnestly at this meat, and asked me, -"What meat you think that is?" I said I supposed it was bear meat; he -laughed, and said, "Ho, all one fool you, beal now elly pool," and -pointing to the other side of the camp, he said, "Look at that skin, -you think that beal skin?" I went and lifted the skin, which appeared -like an ox-hide; he then said, "What skin you think that?" I replied, -that I thought it was a buffalo-hide; he laughed, and said, "You fool -again, you know nothing, you think buffalo that colo'?" I acknowledged -I did not know much about these things, and told him I never saw a -buffalo, and that I had not heard what color they were. He replied, "By -and by you shall see gleat many buffalo; he now go to gleat lick. That -skin no buffalo-skin, that skin buck-elk-skin." They went out with -horses, and brought in the remainder of this buck-elk, which was the -fattest creature I ever saw of the tallow kind. - -We remained at this camp about eight or ten days, and killed a number -of deer. Though we had neither bread nor salt at this time, yet we had -both roast and boiled meat in great plenty, and they were frequently -inviting me to eat when I had no appetite. - -We then moved to the buffalo lick, where we killed several buffalo, and -in their small brass kettles they made about half a bushel of salt. I -suppose this lick was about thirty or forty miles from the aforesaid -town, and somewhere between the Muskingum, Ohio, and Sciota. About the -lick was clear, open woods, and thin white-oak land, and at that time -there were large roads leading to the lick, like wagon-roads. We moved -from this lick about six or seven miles, and encamped on a creek. - -Some time after this, I was told to take the dogs with me, and go down -the creek, perhaps I might kill a turkey; it being in the afternoon, I -was also told not to go far from the creek, and to come up the creek -again to the camp, and to take care not to get lost. When I had gone -some distance down the creek, I came upon fresh buffalo tracks, and as -I had a number of dogs with me to stop the buffalo, I concluded I would -follow after and kill one; and as the grass and weeds were rank, I -could readily follow the track. A little before sundown I despaired of -coming up with them. I was then thinking how I might get to camp before -night. I concluded, as the buffalo had made several turns, if I took -the track back to the creek it would be dark before I could get to -camp; therefore I thought I would take a near way through the hills, -and strike the creek a little below the camp; but as it was cloudy -weather, and I a very young woodsman, I could find neither creek nor -camp. When night came on I fired my gun several times, and hallooed, -but could have no answer. The next morning, early, the Indians were out -after me, and as I had with me ten or a dozen dogs, and the grass and -weeds rank, they could readily follow my track. When they came up with -me they appeared to be in very good-humor. I asked Solomon if he -thought I was running away; he said, "No, no, you go too much clooked." -On my return to camp they took my gun from me, and for this rash step I -was reduced to a bow and arrows for near two years. We were out on this -tour for about six weeks. - -This country is generally hilly, though intermixed with considerable -quantities of rich upland and some good bottoms. - -When we returned to the town, Pluggy and his party had arrived, and -brought with them a considerable number of scalps and prisoners from -the south branch of the Potomac; they also brought with them an English -Bible, which they gave to a Dutch woman who was a prisoner; but as she -could not read English, she made a present of it to me, which was very -acceptable. - -I remained in this town until some time in October, when my adopted -brother, called Tontileaugo, who had married a Wyandot squaw, took me -with him to Lake Erie. On this route we had no horses with us, and when -we started from the town all the pack I carried was a pouch containing -my books, a little dried venison, and my blanket. I had then no gun, -but Tontileaugo, who was a first-rate hunter, carried a rifle gun, and -every day killed deer, raccoons, or bears. We left the meat, excepting -a little for present use, and carried the skins with us until we -encamped, and then stretched them with elm bark, in a frame made with -poles stuck in the ground, and tied together with lynn or elm bark; and -when the skins were dried by the fire, we packed them up and carried -them with us the next day. - -As Tontileaugo could not speak English, I had to make use of all the -Caughnewaga I had learned, even to talk very imperfectly with him; but -I found I learned to talk Indian faster this way than when I had those -with me who could speak English. - -As we proceeded down the Canesadooharie waters, our packs increased by -the skins that were daily killed, and became so very heavy that we -could not march more than eight or ten miles per day. We came to Lake -Erie about six miles west of the mouth of Canesadooharie. As the wind -was very high the evening we came to the lake, I was surprised to hear -the roaring of the water, and see the high waves that dashed against -the shore, like the ocean. We encamped on a run near the lake, and, as -the wind fell that night, the next morning the lake was only in a -moderate motion, and we marched on the sand along the side of the -water, frequently resting ourselves, as we were heavily laden. I saw on -the sand a number of large fish, that had been left in flat or hollow -places; as the wind fell and the waves abated they were left without -water, or only a small quantity; and numbers of bald and gray eagles, -etc., were along the shore devouring them. - -Some time in the afternoon we came to a large camp of Wyandots, at the -mouth of Canesadooharie, where Tontileaugo's wife was. Here we were -kindly received; they gave us a kind of rough, brown potatoes, which -grew spontaneously, and were called by the Caughnewagas _ohnenata_. -These potatoes, peeled and dipped in raccoon's fat, taste nearly like -our sweet potatoes. They also gave us what they call _canaheanta_, -which is a kind of hominy, made of green corn, dried, and beans, mixed -together. - -We continued our camp at the mouth of Canesadooharie for some time, -where we killed some deer and a great many raccoons; the raccoons here -were remarkably large and fat. At length we all embarked in a large -birch-bark canoe. This vessel was about four feet wide and three feet -deep, and about five-and-thirty feet long; and though it could carry a -heavy burden, it was so artfully and curiously constructed that four -men could carry it several miles, or from one landing-place to another, -or from the waters of the lake to the waters of the Ohio. We proceeded -up Canesadooharie a few miles, and went on shore to hunt; but, to my -great surprise, they carried the vessel we all came in up the bank, and -inverted it, or turned the bottom up, and converted it to a -dwelling-house, and kindled a fire before us to warm ourselves by and -cook. With our baggage and ourselves in this house we were very much -crowded, yet our little house turned off the rain very well. - -While we remained here I left my pouch with my books in camp, wrapped -up in my blanket, and went out to hunt chestnuts. On my return to camp -my books were missing. I inquired after them, and asked the Indians if -they knew where they were; they told me that they supposed the puppies -had carried them off. I did not believe them, but thought they were -displeased at my poring over my books, and concluded that they had -destroyed them, or put them out of my way. - -After this I was again out after nuts, and on my return beheld a new -erection, composed of two white-oak saplings, that were forked about -twelve feet high, and stood about fifteen feet apart. They had cut -these saplings at the forks, and laid a strong pole across, which -appeared in the form of a gallows; and the poles they had shaved very -smooth, and painted in places with vermilion. I could not conceive the -use of this piece of work, and at length concluded it was a gallows. I -thought that I had displeased them by reading my books, and that they -were about putting me to death. The next morning I observed them -bringing their skins all to this place, and hanging them over this -pole, so as to preserve them from being injured by the weather. This -removed my fears. They also buried their large canoe in the ground, -which is the way they took to preserve this sort of a canoe in the -winter season. - -As we had at this time no horse, every one got a pack on his back, and -we steered an east course about twelve miles and encamped. The next -morning we proceeded on the same course about ten miles to a large -creek that empties into Lake Erie, betwixt Canesadooharie and Cayahoga. -Here they made their winter cabin in the following form: they cut logs -about fifteen feet long, and laid these logs upon each other, and drove -posts in the ground at each end to keep them together; the posts they -tied together at the top with bark, and by this means raised a wall -fifteen feet long and about four feet high, and in the same manner they -raised another wall opposite to this, at about twelve feet distance; -then they drove forks in the ground in the centre of each end, and laid -a strong pole from end to end on these forks; and from these walls to -the poles they set up poles instead of rafters, and on these they tied -small poles in place of laths; and a cover was made of lynn-bark, which -will run[2] even in the winter season. - - [2] Peel. - -It was some time in December when we finished this winter-cabin; but -when we had got into this comparatively fine lodging another difficulty -arose--we had nothing to eat. While I was travelling with Tontileaugo, -as was before mentioned, and had plenty of fat venison, bear's meat, -and raccoons, I then thought it was hard living without bread or salt; -but now I began to conclude that, if I had anything that would banish -pinching hunger, and keep soul and body together, I would be content. - -While the hunters were all out, exerting themselves to the utmost of -their ability, the squaws and boys (in which class I was) were -scattered out in the bottoms, hunting red haws, black haws, and hickory -nuts. As it was too late in the year we did not succeed in gathering -haws, but we had tolerable success in scratching up hickory-nuts from -under a light snow, and these we carried with us lest the hunters -should not succeed. After our return the hunters came in, who had -killed only two small turkeys, which were but little among eight -hunters and thirteen squaws, boys, and children; but they were divided -with the greatest equity and justice; every one got their equal share. - -The next day the hunters turned out again, and killed one deer and -three bears. One of the bears was very large and remarkably fat. The -hunters carried in meat sufficient to give us all a hearty supper and -breakfast. The squaws and all that could carry turned out to bring in -meat; every one had their share assigned them, and my load was among -the least; yet, not being accustomed to carrying in this way, I got -exceedingly weary, and told them my load was too heavy; I must leave -part of it and come for it again. They made a halt, and only laughed at -me, and took part of my load, and added it to a young squaw's, who had -as much before as I carried. - -This kind of reproof had a greater tendency to excite me to exert -myself in carrying without complaining than if they had whipped me for -laziness. After this the hunters held a council, and concluded that -they must have horses to carry their loads; and that they would go to -war, even in this inclement season, in order to bring in horses. - -Tontileaugo wished to be one of those who should go to war; but the -votes went against him, as he was one of our best hunters; it was -thought necessary to leave him at this winter-camp to provide for the -squaws and children. It was agreed upon that Tontileaugo and three -others should stay and hunt, and the other four go to war. - -They then began to go through their common ceremony. They sung their -war-songs, danced their war-dances, etc. And when they were equipped -they went off singing their marching-song and firing their guns. Our -camp appeared to be rejoicing; but I was grieved to think that some -innocent persons would be murdered, not thinking of danger. - -After the departure of these warriors we had hard times; and though we -were not altogether out of provisions, we were brought to short -allowance. At length Tontileaugo had considerable success, and we had -meat brought into camp sufficient to last ten days. Tontileaugo then -took me with him in order to encamp some distance from this -winter-cabin, to try his luck there. We carried no provisions with us; -he said he would leave what was there for the squaws and children, and -that we could shift for ourselves. We steered about a south course up -the waters of this creek, and encamped about ten or twelve miles from -the winter-cabin. As it was still cold weather, and a crust upon the -snow, which made a noise as we walked, and alarmed the deer, we could -kill nothing, and consequently went to sleep without supper. The only -chance we had, under these circumstances, was to hunt bear-holes; as -the bears, about Christmas, search out a winter lodging-place, where -they lie about three or four months without eating or drinking. This -may appear to some incredible, but it is well known to be the case by -those who live in the remote western parts of North America. - -The next morning early we proceeded on, and when we found a tree -scratched by the bears climbing up, and the hole in the tree -sufficiently large for the reception of the bear, we then felled a -sapling or small tree against or near the hole, and it was my business -to climb up and drive out the bear, while Tontileaugo stood ready with -his gun and bow. We went on in this manner until evening without -success. At length we found a large elm scratched, and a hole in it -about forty feet up, but no tree nigh suitable to lodge against the -hole. Tontileaugo got a long pole and some dry rotten wood, which he -tied in bunches with bark; and as there was a tree that grew near the -elm, and extended up near the hole, but leaned the wrong way, so that -we could not lodge it to advantage, to remedy this inconvenience he -climbed up this tree and carried with him his rotten wood, fire, and -pole. The rotten wood he tied to his belt, and to one end of the pole -he tied a hook and a piece of rotten wood, which he set fire to, as it -would retain fire almost like punk, and reached this hook from limb to -limb as he went up. When he got up with his pole he put dry wood on -fire into the hole; after he put in the fire he heard the bear snuff, -and he came speedily down, took his gun in his hand, and waited until -the bear would come out; but it was some time before it appeared, and -when it did appear he attempted taking sight with his rifle; but it -being then too dark to see the sights, he set it down by a tree, and -instantly bent his bow, took hold of an arrow, and shot the bear a -little behind the shoulder. I was preparing also to shoot an arrow, but -he called to me to stop, there was no occasion; and with that the bear -fell to the ground. - -Being very hungry, we kindled a fire, opened the bear, took out the -liver, and wrapped some of the caul-fat round, and put it on a wooden -spit, which we stuck in the ground by the fire to roast; then we -skinned the bear, got on our kettle, and had both roast and boiled, and -also sauce to our meat, which appeared to me to be delicate fare. After -I was fully satisfied I went to sleep; Tontileaugo awoke me, saying, -"Come, eat hearty, we have got meat plenty now." - -The next morning we cut down a lynn-tree, peeled bark and made a snug -little shelter, facing the southeast, with a large log betwixt us and -the northwest; we made a good fire before us, and scaffolded up our -meat at one side. When we had finished our camp we went out to hunt; -searched two trees for bears, but to no purpose. As the snow thawed a -little in the afternoon, Tontileaugo killed a deer, which we carried -with us to camp. - -Some time in February the four warriors returned, who had taken two -scalps and six horses from the frontiers of Pennsylvania. The hunters -could then scatter out a considerable distance from the winter-cabin -and encamp, kill meat, and bring it in upon horses; so that we -commonly, after this, had plenty of provision. - -In this month we began to make sugar. As some of the elm-bark will -strip at this season, the squaws, after finding a tree that would do, -cut it down, and with a crooked stick, broad and sharp at the end, took -the bark off the tree, and of this bark made vessels, in a curious -manner, that would hold about two gallons each; they made above one -hundred of these kind of vessels. In the sugar-tree they cut a notch, -sloping down, and at the end of the notch stuck in a tomahawk; in the -place where they stuck the tomahawk they drove a long chip, in order to -carry the water out from the tree, and under this they set their vessel -to receive it. As sugar-trees were plenty and large here, they seldom -or never notched a tree that was not two or three feet over. They also -made bark vessels for carrying the water that would hold about four -gallons each. They had two brass kettles that held about fifteen -gallons each, and other smaller kettles in which they boiled the water. -But as they could not at times boil away the water as fast as it was -collected, they made vessels of bark that would hold about one hundred -gallons each for retaining the water; and though the sugar-trees did -not run every day, they had always a sufficient quantity of water to -keep them boiling during the whole sugar-season. - -About the latter end of March we began to prepare for moving into town -in order to plant corn. The squaws were then frying the last of their -bear's fat and making vessels to hold it; the vessels were made of -deer-skins, which were skinned by pulling the skin off the neck without -ripping. After they had taken off the hair they gathered it in small -plaits round the neck, and, with a string, drew it together like a -purse; in the centre a pin was put, below which they tied a string, and -while it was wet they blew it up like a bladder, and let it remain in -this manner until it was dry, when it appeared nearly in the shape of a -sugar-loaf, but more rounding at the lower end. One of these vessels -would hold about four or five gallons. In these vessels it was they -carried their bear's oil. - -When all things were ready we moved back to the falls of -Canesadooharie. On our arrival at the falls (as we had brought with us -on horseback about two hundred weight of sugar, a large quantity of -bear's oil, skins, etc.) the canoe we had buried was not sufficient to -carry all; therefore we were obliged to make another one of elm-bark. -While we lay here a young Wyandot found my books. On this they -collected together. I was a little way from the camp, and saw the -collection, but did not know what it meant. They called me by my Indian -name, which was Scoouwa, repeatedly. I ran to see what was the matter; -they showed me my books, and said they were glad they had been found, -for they knew I was grieved at the loss of them, and that they now -rejoiced with me because they were found. As I could then speak some -Indian, especially Caughnewaga (for both that and the Wyandot tongue -were spoken in this camp), I told them that I thanked them for the -kindness they had always shown to me, and also for finding my books. -They asked if the books were damaged. I told them not much. They then -showed how they lay, which was in the best manner to turn off the -water. In a deer-skin pouch they lay all winter. The print was not much -injured, though the binding was. This was the first time that I felt my -heart warm towards the Indians. Though they had been exceedingly kind -to me, I still before detested them on account of the barbarity I -beheld after Braddock's defeat. Neither had I ever before pretended -kindness, or expressed myself in a friendly manner; but I began now to -excuse the Indians on account of their want of information. - -We staid at this camp about two weeks, and killed a number of bears, -raccoons, and some beavers. We made a canoe of elm-bark, and -Tontileaugo embarked in it. He arrived at the falls that night; while -I, mounted on horseback, with a bear-skin saddle and bark stirrups, -proceeded by land to the falls. I came there the next morning, and we -carried our canoe and loading past the falls. - -We again proceeded towards the lakes; I on horseback and Tontileaugo by -water. Here the land is generally good, but I found some difficulty in -getting round swamps and ponds. When we came to the lake I proceeded -along the strand and Tontileaugo near the shore, sometimes paddling and -sometimes poling his canoe along. - -After some time the wind arose, and he went into the mouth of a small -creek and encamped. Here we staid several days on account of high wind, -which raised the lake in great billows. While we were here Tontileaugo -went out to hunt, and when he was gone a Wyandot came to our camp. I -gave him a shoulder of venison which I had by the fire well roasted, -and he received it gladly; told me he was hungry, and thanked me for my -kindness. When Tontileaugo came home I told him that a Wyandot had been -at camp, and that I gave him a shoulder of roasted venison. He said -that was very well, "and I suppose you gave him also sugar and bear's -oil to eat with his venison." I told him I did not, as the sugar and -bear's oil were down in the canoe, I did not go for it. He replied, -"You have behaved just like a Dutchman.[3] Do you not know that when -strangers come to our camp we ought always to give them the best that -we have?" I acknowledged that I was wrong. He said that he could excuse -this, as I was but young; but I must learn to behave like a warrior, -and do great things, and never be found in any such little actions. - - [3] The Dutch he called Skoharehaugo, which took its - derivation from a Dutch settlement called Skoharey. - -The lake being again calm, we proceeded, and arrived safe at -Sunyendeand, which was a Wyandot town that lay upon a small creek which -empties into the little lake below the mouth of Sandusky. - -The town was about eighty rood above the mouth of the creek, on the -south side of a large plain, on which timber grew, and nothing more but -grass or nettles. In some places there were large flats where nothing -but grass grew, about three feet high when grown, and in other places -nothing but nettles, very rank, where the soil is extremely rich and -loose; here they planted corn. In this town there were also French -traders, who purchased our skins and fur, and we all got new clothes, -paint, tobacco, etc. - -After I had got my new clothes, and my head done off like a red-headed -woodpecker, I, in company with a number of young Indians, went down to -the corn-field to see the squaws at work. When we came there they asked -me to take a hoe, which I did, and hoed for some time. The squaws -applauded me as a good hand at the business; but when I returned to the -town the old men, hearing of what I had done, chid me, and said that I -was adopted in the place of a great man, and must not hoe corn like a -squaw. They never had occasion to reprove me for anything like this -again; as I never was extremely fond of work, I readily complied with -their orders. - -As the Indians, on their return from their winter hunt, bring in with -them large quantities of bear's oil, sugar, dried venison, etc., at -this time they have plenty, and do not spare eating or giving; thus -they make way with their provision as quick as possible. They have no -such thing as regular meals, breakfast, dinner, or supper; but if any -one, even the town-folks, would go to the same house several times in -one day, he would be invited to eat of the best; and with them it is -bad manners to refuse to eat when it is offered. If they will not eat -it is interpreted as a symptom of displeasure, or that the persons -refusing to eat were angry with those who had invited them. - -At this time hominy, plentifully mixed with bear's oil and sugar, or -dried venison, bear's oil, and sugar, is what they offer to every one -who comes in any time of the day; and so they go on until their sugar, -bear's oil, and venison are all gone, and then they have to eat hominy -by itself, without bread, salt, or anything else; yet still they invite -every one that comes in to eat while they have anything to give. It is -thought a shame not to invite people to eat while they have anything; -but if they can in truth only say we have got nothing to eat, this is -accepted as an honorable apology. All the hunters and warriors -continued in town about six weeks after we came in; they spent this -time in painting, going from house to house, eating, smoking, and -playing at a game resembling dice, or hustle-cap. They put a number of -plum-stones in a small bowl; one side of each stone is black, and the -other white; they then shake or hustle the bowl, calling, "_Hits, -hits, hits, honesey, honesey, rago, rago_;" which signifies calling -for white or black, or what they wish to turn up; they then turn the -bowl, and count the whites and blacks. Some were beating their kind of -drum and singing; others were employed in playing on a sort of flute -made of hollow cane; and others playing on the jew's-harp. Some part of -this time was also taken up in attending the council-house, where the -chiefs, and as many others as chose, attended; and at night they were -frequently employed in singing and dancing. Towards the last of this -time, which was in June, 1756, they were all engaged in preparing to go -to war against the frontiers of Virginia. When they were equipped they -went through their ceremonies, sung their war-songs, etc. They all -marched off, from fifteen to sixty years of age; and some boys, only -twelve years of age, were equipped with their bows and arrows, and went -to war; so that none were left in town but squaws and children, except -myself, one very old man, and another, about fifty years of age, who -was lame. - -The Indians were then in great hopes that they would drive all the -Virginians over the lake, which is all the name they know for the sea. -When the warriors left this town we had neither meat, sugar, or bear's -oil left. All that we had then to live on was corn pounded into coarse -meal or small hominy; this they boiled in water, which appeared like -well-thickened soup, without salt or anything else. For some time we -had plenty of this kind of hominy; at length we were brought to very -short allowance, and as the warriors did not return as soon as they -expected, we were soon in a starving condition, and but one gun in the -town, and very little ammunition. The old lame Wyandot concluded that -he would go a-hunting in a canoe, and take me with him, and try to kill -deer in the water, as it was then watering time. We went up Sandusky a -few miles, then turned up a creek and encamped. We had lights prepared, -as we were to hunt in the night, and also a piece of bark and some -bushes set up in the canoe, in order to conceal ourselves from the -deer. A little boy that was with us held the light; I worked the canoe, -and the old man, who had his gun loaded with large shot, when we came -near the deer, fired, and in this manner killed three deer in part of -one night. We went to our fire, ate heartily, and in the morning -returned to town in order to relieve the hungry and distressed. - -When we came to town the children were crying bitterly on account of -pinching hunger. We delivered what we had taken, and though it was but -little among so many, it was divided according to the strictest rules -of justice. We immediately set out for another hunt, but before we -returned a part of the warriors had come in, and brought with them on -horseback a quantity of meat. These warriors had divided into different -parties, and all struck at different places in Augusta County. They -brought in with them a considerable number of scalps, prisoners, -horses, and other plunder. One of the parties brought in with them one -Arthur Campbell, that is now Colonel Campbell, who lives on Holston -River, near the Royal Oak. As the Wyandots at Sunyendeand and those at -Detroit were connected, Mr. Campbell was taken to Detroit; but he -remained some time with me in this town. His company was very -agreeable, and I was sorry when he left me. During his stay at -Sunyendeand he borrowed my Bible, and made some pertinent remarks on -what he had read. One passage was where it is said, "It is good for a -man that he bear the yoke in his youth." He said we ought to be -resigned to the will of Providence, as we were now bearing the yoke in -our youth. Mr. Campbell appeared to be then about sixteen or seventeen -years of age. - -About the time that these warriors came in the green corn was beginning -to be of use, so that we had either green corn or venison, and -sometimes both, which was, comparatively, high living. When we could -have plenty of green corn, or roasting ears, the hunters became lazy, -and spent their time, as already mentioned, in singing and dancing, -etc. They appeared to be fulfilling the Scriptures beyond those who -profess to believe in them, in that of taking no thought of to-morrow; -and also in living in love, peace, and friendship together, without -disputes. In this respect they shame those who profess Christianity. - -In this manner we lived until October; then the geese, swans, ducks, -cranes, etc., came from the north, and alighted on this little lake, -without number, or innumerable. Sunyendeand is a remarkable place for -fish in the spring, and fowl both in the fall and spring. - -As our hunters were now tired with indolence, and fond of their own -kind of exercise, they all turned out to fowling, and in this could -scarce miss of success; so that we had now plenty of hominy and the -best of fowls; and sometimes, as a rarity, we had a little bread, which -was made of Indian-corn meal, pounded in a hominy block, mixed with -boiled beans, and baked in cakes under the ashes. - -This with us was called good living, though not equal to our fat, -roasted, and boiled venison, when we went to the woods in the fall; or -bear's meat and beaver in the winter; or sugar, bear's oil, and dry -venison in the spring. - -Some time in October, another adopted brother, older than Tontileaugo -came to pay us a visit at Sunyendeand, and he asked me to take a hunt -with him on Cayahoga. As they always used me as a free man, and gave me -the liberty of choosing, I told him that I was attached to Tontileaugo, -had never seen him before, and therefore asked some time to consider of -this. He told me that the party he was going with would not be along, -or at the mouth of this little lake, in less than six days, and I could -in this time be acquainted with him, and judge for myself. I consulted -with Tontileaugo on this occasion, and he told me that our old brother -Tecaughretanego (which was his name) was a chief, and a better man than -he was, and if I went with him I might expect to be well used; but he -said I might do as I pleased, and if I staid he would use me as he had -done. I told him that he had acted in every respect as a brother to me; -yet I was much pleased with my old brother's conduct and conversation; -and as he was going to a part of the country I had never been in, I -wished to go with him. He said that he was perfectly willing. - -I then went with Tecaughretanego to the mouth of the little lake, where -he met with the company he intended going with, which was composed of -Caughnewagas and Ottawas. As the wind was high and we could not proceed -on our voyage, we remained here several days, and killed abundance of -wild fowl, and a number of raccoons. - -When a company of Indians are moving together on the lake, as it is at -this time of the year often dangerous sailing, the old men hold a -council; and when they agree to embark, every one is engaged -immediately in making ready, without offering one word against the -measure, though the lake may be boisterous and horrid. One morning, -though the wind appeared to me to be as high as in days past, and the -billows raging, yet the call was given "_yohoh-yohoh_," which was -quickly answered by all--"_ooh-ooh_," which signifies agreed. We were -all instantly engaged in preparing to start, and had considerable -difficulties in embarking. - -As soon as we got into our canoes we fell to paddling with all our -might, making out from the shore. Though these sort of canoes ride -waves beyond what could be expected, yet the water several times dashed -into them. When we got out about half a mile from shore we hoisted -sail, and as it was nearly a west wind, we then seemed to ride the -waves with ease, and went on at a rapid rate. We then all laid down our -paddles, excepting one that steered, and there was no water dashed into -our canoes until we came near the shore again. We sailed about sixty -miles that day, and encamped some time before night. - -The next day we again embarked, and went on very well for some time; -but the lake being boisterous, and the wind not fair, we were obliged -to make to shore, which we accomplished with hard work and some -difficulty in landing. The next morning a council was held by the old -men. - -As we had this day to pass by a long precipice of rocks on the shore, -about nine miles, which rendered it impossible for us to land, though -the wind was high and the lake rough, yet, as it was fair, we were all -ordered to embark. We wrought ourselves out from the shore and hoisted -sail (what we used in place of sail-cloth were our tent-mats, which -answered the purpose very well), and went on for some time with a fair -wind, until we were opposite to the precipice, and then it turned -towards the shore, and we began to fear we should be cast upon the -rocks. Two of the canoes were considerably farther out from the rocks -than the canoe I was in. Those who were farthest out in the lake did -not let down their sails until they had passed the precipice; but as we -were nearer the rock, we were obliged to lower our sails, and paddle -with all our might. With much difficulty we cleared ourselves of the -rock, and landed. As the other canoes had landed before us, there were -immediately runners sent off to see if we were all safely landed. - -About the first of December, 1756, we were preparing for leaving the -river: we buried our canoes, and as usual hung up our skins, and every -one had a pack to carry. The squaws also packed up their tents, which -they carried in large rolls that extended up above their heads, and -though a great bulk, yet not heavy. We steered about a southeast -course, and could not march over ten miles per day. At night we lodged -in our flag tents, which, when erected, were nearly in the shape of a -sugar-loaf, and about fifteen feet diameter at the ground. - -In this manner we proceeded about forty miles, and wintered in these -tents, on the waters of Beaver Creek, near a little lake or large pond, -which is about two miles long and one broad, and a remarkable place for -beaver. - -It is a received opinion among Indians that the geese turn to beavers, -and the snakes to raccoons; and though Tecaughretanego, who was a wise -man, was not fully persuaded that this was true, yet he seemed in some -measure to be carried away with this whimsical notion. He said that -this pond had been always a great place for beaver. Though he said he -knew them to be frequently all killed (as he thought), yet the next -winter they would be as plenty as ever. And as the beaver was an animal -that did not travel by land, and there being no water communication to -or from this pond, how could such a number of beavers get there year -after year? But as this pond was also a considerable place for geese, -when they came in the fall from the north, and alighted in this pond, -they turned beavers, all but the feet, which remained nearly the same. - -In conversation with Tecaughretanego I happened to be talking of the -beavers catching fish. He asked me why I thought that the beaver caught -fish. I told him that I had read of the beaver making dams for the -conveniency of fishing. He laughed, and made game of me and my book. He -said the man that wrote that book knew nothing about the beaver. The -beaver never did eat flesh of any kind, but lived on the bark of trees, -roots, and other vegetables. - -In order to know certainly how this was, when we killed a beaver I -carefully examined the intestines, but found no appearance of fish; I -afterwards made an experiment on a pet beaver which we had, and found -that it would neither eat fish nor flesh; therefore I acknowledged that -the book I had read was wrong. - -Near this pond beaver was the principal game. Before the water froze up -we caught a great many with wooden and steel traps; but after that we -hunted the beaver on the ice. Some places here the beavers build large -houses to live in; and in other places they have subterraneous lodgings -in the banks. Where they lodge in the ground we have no chance of -hunting them on the ice; but where they have houses, we go with mauls -and handspikes, and break all the hollow ice, to prevent them from -getting their heads above the water under it. Then we break a hole in -the house, and they make their escape into the water; but as they -cannot live long under water, they are obliged to go to some of those -broken places to breathe, and the Indians commonly put in their hands, -catch them by the hind-leg, haul them on the ice, and tomahawk them. -Sometimes they shoot them in the head when they raise it above the -water. I asked the Indians if they were not afraid to catch the beavers -with their hands. They said no: they were not much of a biting -creature; yet if they would catch them by the fore-foot they would -bite. - -I went out with Tecaughretanego and some others a beaver hunting; but -we did not succeed, and on our return we saw where several raccoons had -passed while the snow was soft, though there was now a crust upon it; -we all made a halt, looking at the raccoon tracks. As they saw a tree -with a hole in it, they told me to go and see if they had gone in -thereat; and if they had to halloo, and they would come and take them -out. When I went to that tree, I found they had gone past; but I saw -another the way they had gone, and proceeded to examine that, and found -they had gone up it. I then began to halloo, but could have no answer. - -As it began to snow and blow most violently, I returned and proceeded -after my company, and for some time could see their tracks; but the old -snow being only about three inches deep, and a crust upon it, the -present driving snow soon filled up the tracks. As I had only a bow, -arrows, and tomahawk with me, and no way to strike fire, I appeared to -be in a dismal situation; and as the air was dark with snow, I had -little more prospect of steering my course than I would in the night. -At length I came to a hollow tree, with a hole at one side that I could -go in at. I went in, and found that it was a dry place, and the hollow -about three feet diameter, and high enough for me to stand in. I found -that there was also a considerable quantity of soft, dry rotten wood -around this hollow; I therefore concluded that I would lodge here, and -that I would go to work, and stop up the door of my house. I stripped -off my blanket (which was all the clothes that I had, excepting a -breech-clout, leggings, and moccasons), and with my tomahawk fell to -chopping at the top of a fallen tree that lay near, and carried wood, -and set it up on end against the door, until I had it three or four -feet thick all around, excepting a hole I had left to creep in at. I -had a block prepared that I could haul after me to stop this hole; and -before I went in I put in a number of small sticks that I might more -effectually stop it on the inside. When I went in, I took my tomahawk -and cut down all the dry rotten wood I could get, and beat it small. -With it I made a bed like a goose-nest or hog-bed, and with the small -sticks stopped every hole, until my house was almost dark. I stripped -off my moccasons, and danced in the centre of my bed, for half an hour, -in order to warm myself. In this time my feet and whole body were -agreeably warmed. The snow, in the meanwhile, had stopped all the -holes, so that my house was as dark as a dungeon, though I knew it -could not yet be dark out of doors. I then coiled myself up in my -blanket, lay down in my little round bed, and had a tolerable night's -lodging. When I awoke all was dark--not the least glimmering of light -was to be seen. Immediately I recollected that I was not to expect -light in this new habitation, as there was neither door nor window in -it. As I could hear the storm raging, and did not suffer much cold as I -was then situated, I concluded I would stay in my nest until I was -certain it was day. When I had reason to conclude that it surely was -day, I arose and put on my moccasons, which I had laid under my head to -keep from freezing. I then endeavored to find the door, and had to do -all by the sense of feeling, which took me some time. At length I found -the block, but it being heavy, and a large quantity of snow having -fallen on it, at the first attempt I did not move it. I then felt -terrified--among all the hardships I had sustained, I never knew before -what it was to be thus deprived of light. This, with the other -circumstances attending it, appeared grievous. I went straightway to -bed again, wrapped my blanket round me, and lay and mused awhile, and -then prayed to Almighty God to direct and protect me as he had done -heretofore. I once again attempted to move away the block, which proved -successful; it moved about nine inches. With this a considerable -quantity of snow fell in from above, and I immediately received light; -so that I found a very great snow had fallen, above what I had ever -seen in one night. I then knew why I could not easily move the block, -and I was so rejoiced at obtaining the light that all my other -difficulties seemed to vanish. I then turned into my cell, and returned -God thanks for having once more received the light of heaven. At length -I belted my blanket about me, got my tomahawk, bow and arrows, and went -out of my den. - -I was now in tolerable high spirits, though the snow had fallen above -three feet deep, in addition to what was on the ground before; and the -only imperfect guide I had in order to steer my course to camp was the -trees, as the moss generally grows on the northwest side of them, if -they are straight. I proceeded on, wading through the snow, and about -twelve o'clock (as it appeared afterwards, from that time to night, for -it was yet cloudy) I came upon the creek that our camp was on, about -half a mile below the camp; and when I came in sight of the camp I -found that there was great joy, by the shouts and yelling of the boys, -etc. - -When I arrived they all came round me, and received me gladly; but at -this time no questions were asked, and I was taken into a tent, where -they gave me plenty of fat beaver meat, and then asked me to smoke. -When I had done, Tecaughretanego desired me to walk out to a fire they -had made. I went out, and they all collected round me, both men, women, -and boys. Tecaughretanego asked me to give them a particular account of -what had happened from the time they left me yesterday until now. I -told them the whole of the story, and they never interrupted me; but -when I made a stop, the intervals were filled with loud exclamations of -joy. As I could not at this time talk Ottawa or Jibewa well (which is -nearly the same), I delivered my story in Caughnewaga. As my sister -Molly's husband was a Jibewa, and could understand Caughnewaga, he -acted as interpreter, and delivered my story to the Jibewas and -Ottawas, which they received with pleasure. - -One day, as I was looking after my traps, I got benighted, by beaver -ponds intercepting my way to camp; and as I had neglected to take -fireworks with me, and the weather very cold, I could find no suitable -lodging-place; therefore the only expedient I could think of to keep -myself from freezing was exercise. I danced and hallooed the whole -night with all my might, and the next day came to camp. Though I -suffered much more this time than the other night I lay out, yet the -Indians were not so much concerned, as they thought I had fireworks -with me; but when they knew how it was, they did not blame me. They -said that old hunters were frequently involved in this place, as the -beaver dams were one above another on every creek and run, so that it -is hard to find a fording-place. They applauded me for my fortitude, -and said, as they had now plenty of beaver skins, they would purchase -me a new gun at Detroit, as we were to go there the next spring; and -then if I should chance to be lost in dark weather, I could make a -fire, kill provision, and return to camp when the sun shone. By being -bewildered on the waters of Muskingum, I lost repute, and was reduced -to the bow and arrow, and by lying out two nights here I regained my -credit. - -After some time the waters all froze again, and then, as formerly, we -hunted beavers on the ice. Though beaver meat, without salt or bread, -was the chief of our food this winter, yet we had always plenty, and I -was well contented with my diet, as it appeared delicious fare after -the way we had lived the winter before. - -Some time in February we scaffolded up our fur and skins, and moved -about ten miles in quest of a sugar-camp, or a suitable place to make -sugar, and encamped in a large bottom on the head-waters of Big Beaver -Creek. We had some difficulty in moving, as we had a blind Caughnewaga -boy, about fifteen years of age, to lead; and as this country is very -brushy, we frequently had him to carry. We had also my Jibewa -brother-in-law's father with us, who was thought by the Indians to be a -great conjuror; his name was Manetohcoa. This old man was so decrepit -that we had to carry him this route upon a bier, and all our baggage to -pack on our backs. - -Some time in March, 1757, we began to move back to the forks of -Cayahoga, which was about forty or fifty miles. And as we had no -horses, we had all our baggage and several hundred weight of beaver -skins, and some deer and bear skins, all to pack on our backs. The -method we took to accomplish this was by making short days' journeys. -In the morning we would move on with as much as we were able to carry, -about five miles, and encamp, and then run back for more. We commonly -made three such trips in the day. When we came to the great pond, we -staid there one day to rest ourselves, and to kill ducks and geese. - -When we came to the forks, we found that the skins we had scaffolded -were all safe. Though this was a public place, and Indians frequently -passing, and our skins hanging up in view, yet there were none stolen. -And it is seldom that Indians do steal anything from one another. And -they say they never did, until the white people came among them, and -taught some of them to lie, cheat, and steal; but be that as it may, -they never did curse or swear until the whites taught them. Some think -their language will not admit of it, but I am not of that opinion. If I -was so disposed, I could find language to curse or swear in the Indian -tongue. - -We took up our birch-bark canoes which we had buried, and found that -they were not damaged by the winter; but they not being sufficient to -carry all that we now had, we made a large chestnut-bark canoe, as -elm-bark was not to be found at this place. - -We all embarked, and had a very agreeable passage down the Cayahoga, -and along the south side of Lake Erie, until we passed the mouth of -Sandusky; then the wind arose, and we put in at the mouth of the Miami -of the Lake, at Cedar Point, where we remained several days, and killed -a number of turkeys, geese, ducks, and swans. The wind being fair, and -the lake not extremely rough, we again embarked, hoisted up sails, and -arrived safe at the Wyandot town, nearly opposite to Fort Detroit, on -the north side of the river. Here we found a number of French traders, -every one very willing to deal with us for our beaver. - -We bought ourselves fine clothes, ammunition, paint, tobacco, etc., -and, according to promise, they purchased me a new gun; yet we had -parted with only about one third of our beaver. At length a trader came -to town with French brandy; we purchased a keg of it, and held a -council about who was to get drunk and who was to keep sober. I was -invited to get drunk, but I refused the proposal; then they told me -that I must be one of those who were to take care of the drunken -people. I did not like this; but of two evils I chose that which I -thought was the least--and fell in with those who were to conceal the -arms, and keep every dangerous weapon we could out of their way, and -endeavor, if possible, to keep the drinking-club from killing each -other, which was a very hard task. Several times we hazarded our own -lives, and got ourselves hurt in preventing them from slaying each -other. Before they had finished this keg, near one third of the town -was introduced to this drinking-club; they could not pay their part, as -they had already disposed of all their skins; but that made no -odds--all were welcome to drink. When they were done with this keg, -they applied to the traders, and procured a kettle full of brandy at a -time, which they divided out with a large wooden spoon; and so they -went on, and never quit while they had a single beaver skin. When the -trader had got all our beaver, he moved off to the Ottawa town, about a -mile above the Wyandot town. - -When the brandy was gone, and the drinking-club sober, they appeared -much dejected. Some of them were crippled, others badly wounded, a -number of their fine new shirts torn, and several blankets were burned. -A number of squaws were also in this club, and neglected their -corn-planting. We could now hear the effects of the brandy in the -Ottawa town. They were singing and yelling in the most hideous manner, -both night and day; but their frolic ended worse than ours: five -Ottawas were killed and a great many wounded. - -After this a number of young Indians were getting their ears cut, and -they urged me to have mine cut likewise, but they did not attempt to -compel me, though they endeavored to persuade me. The principal -arguments they used were, its being a very great ornament, and also the -common fashion. The former I did not believe, and the latter I could -not deny. The way they performed this operation was by cutting the -fleshy part of the circle of the ear, close to the gristle, quite -through. When this was done they wrapped rags round this fleshy part -until it was entirely healed; they then hung lead to it, and stretched -it to a wonderful length: when it was sufficiently stretched, they -wrapped the fleshy part round with brass wire, which formed it into a -semicircle about four inches in diameter. - -Many of the young men were now exercising themselves in a game -resembling football, though they commonly struck the ball with a -crooked stick made for that purpose; also a game something like this, -wherein they used a wooden ball, about three inches in diameter, and -the instrument they moved it with was a strong staff, about five feet -long, with a hoop net on the end of it large enough to contain the -ball. Before they begin the play, they lay off about half a mile -distance in a clear plain, and the opposite parties all attend at the -centre, where a disinterested person casts up the ball, then the -opposite parties all contend for it. If any one gets it into his net, -he runs with it the way he wishes it to go, and they all pursue him. If -one of the opposite party overtakes the person with the ball, he gives -the staff a stroke, which causes the ball to fly out of the net; then -they have another debate for it, and if the one that gets it can outrun -all the opposite party, and can carry it quite out, or over the line at -the end, the game is won; but this seldom happens. When any one is -running away with the ball, and is likely to be overtaken, he commonly -throws it, and with this instrument can cast it fifty or sixty yards. -Sometimes when the ball is almost at the one end, matters will take a -sudden turn, and the opposite party may quickly carry it out at the -other end. Oftentimes they will work a long while back and forward -before they can get the ball over the line, or win the game. - -About the 1st of June, 1757, the warriors were preparing to go to war, -in the Wyandot, Pottowatomy, and Ottawa towns; also a great many -Jibewas came down from the upper lakes; and after singing their -war-songs and going through their common ceremonies, they marched off -against the frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, in their -usual manner, singing the travelling song, slow firing, etc. - -About the middle of June the Indians were almost all gone to war, from -sixteen to sixty; yet Tecaughretanego remained in town with me. Though -he had formerly, when they were at war with the southern nations, been -a great warrior and an eminent counsellor, and I think as clear and -able a reasoner upon any subject that he had an opportunity of being -acquainted with as I ever knew, yet he had all along been against this -war, and had strenuously opposed it in council. He said, if the English -and French had a quarrel, let them fight their own battles themselves; -it is not our business to intermeddle therewith. - -Before the warriors returned we were very scarce of provision; and -though we did not commonly steal from one another, yet we stole during -this time anything that we could eat from the French, under the notion -that it was just for us to do so, because they supported their -soldiers; and our squaws, old men, and children were suffering on -account of the war, as our hunters were all gone. - -Some time in August the warriors returned, and brought in with them a -great many scalps, prisoners, horses, and plunder; and the common -report among the young warriors was that they would entirely subdue -Tulhasaga, that is the English, or it might be literally rendered the -Morning Light Inhabitants. - -About the first of November a number of families were preparing to go -on their winter hunt, and all agreed to cross the lake together. We -encamped at the mouth of the river the first night, and a council was -held, whether we should cross through by the three islands, or coast it -round the lake. These islands lie in a line across the lake, and are -just in sight of each other. Some of the Wyandots, or Ottawas, -frequently make their winter hunt on these islands; though, excepting -wild fowl and fish, there is scarcely any game here but raccoons, which -are amazingly plenty, and exceedingly large and fat, as they feed upon -the wild rice, which grows in abundance in wet places round these -islands. It is said that each hunter, in one winter, will catch one -thousand raccoons. - -It is a received opinion among the Indians that the snakes and raccoons -are transmigratory, and that a great many of the snakes turn into -raccoons every fall, and raccoons into snakes every spring. This notion -is founded on observations made on the snakes and raccoons in this -island. - -We concluded to coast it round the lake, and in two days we came to the -mouth of the Miami of the Lake, and landed on Cedar Point, where we -remained several days. Here we held a council, and concluded we would -take a driving hunt in concert and in partnership. - -The river in this place is about a mile broad, and as it and the lake -form a kind of neck, which terminates in a point, all the hunters -(which were fifty-three) went up the river, and we scattered ourselves -from the river to the lake. When we first began to move we were not in -sight of each other, but as we all raised the yell, we could move -regularly together by the noise. At length we came in sight of each -other, and appeared to be marching in good order; before we came to the -point, both the squaws and boys in the canoes were scattered up the -river and along the lake, to prevent the deer from making their escape -by water. As we advanced near the point the guns began to crack slowly, -and after some time the firing was like a little engagement. The squaws -and boys were busy tomahawking the deer in the water, and we shooting -them down on the land. We killed in all about thirty deer, though a -great many made their escape by water. - -Here our company separated. The chief part of them went up the Miami -River,[4] which empties into Lake Erie at Cedar Point, while we -proceeded on our journey in company with Tecaughretanego, Tontileaugo, -and two families of the Wyandots. - - [4] The Miami of the Lakes, now called Maumee. - -As cold weather was now approaching, we began to feel the doleful -effects of extravagantly and foolishly spending the large quantity of -beaver we had taken in our last winter's hunt. We were all nearly in -the same circumstances; scarcely one had a shirt to his back; but each -of us had an old blanket which we belted round us in the day, and slept -in at night, with a deer or bear skin under us for our bed. - -When we came to the Falls of Sandusky we buried our birch-bark canoes, -as usual, at a large burying-place for that purpose, a little below the -falls. At this place the river falls about eight feet over a rock, but -not perpendicularly. With much difficulty we pushed up our wooden -canoes; some of us went up the river, and the rest by land with the -horses, until we came to the great meadows or prairies that lie between -Sandusky and Sciota. - -When we came to this place, we met with some Ottawa hunters, and agreed -with them to take what they call a ring hunt, in partnership. We waited -until we expected rain was near falling to extinguish the fire, and -then we kindled a large circle in the prairie. At this time, or before -the bucks began to run, a great number of deer lay concealed in the -grass in the day, and moved about in the night; but as the fire burned -in towards the centre of the circle, the deer fled before the fire; the -Indians were scattered also at some distance before the fire, and shot -them down every opportunity, which was very frequent, especially as the -circle became small. When we came to divide the deer, there were about -ten to each hunter, which were all killed in a few hours. The rain did -not come on that night to put out the outside circle of the fire, and -as the wind arose, it extended through the whole prairie, which was -about fifty miles in length, and in some places nearly twenty in -breadth. This put an end to our ring hunting this season, and was in -other respects an injury to us in the hunting business; so that upon -the whole we received more harm than benefit by our rapid hunting -frolic. We then moved from the north end of the glades, and encamped at -the carrying-place. - -About the time the bucks quit running, Tontileaugo, his wife and -children, Tecaughretanego, his son Nunganey, and myself, left the -Wyandot camps at the carrying-place, and crossed the Sciota River at -the south end of the glades, and proceeded on about a southwest course -to a large creek called Ollentangy, which I believe interlocks with the -waters of the Miami, and empties into Sciota on the west side thereof. -From the south end of the prairie to Ollentangy there is a large -quantity of beech land, intermixed with first-rate land. Here we made -our winter hut, and had considerable success in hunting. - -After some time one of Tontileaugo's stepsons (a lad about eight years -of age) offended him, and he gave the boy a moderate whipping, which -much displeased his Wyandot wife. She acknowledged that the boy was -guilty of a fault, but thought that he ought to have been ducked, which -is their usual mode of chastisement. She said she could not bear to -have her son whipped like a servant or slave; and she was so -displeased, that when Tontileaugo went out to hunt, she got her two -horses, and all her effects (as in this country the husband and wife -have separate interests), and moved back to the Wyandot camp that we -had left. - -When Tontileaugo returned he was much disturbed on hearing of his -wife's elopement, and said that he would never go after her, were it -not that he was afraid that she would get bewildered, and that his -children that she had taken with her might suffer. Tontileaugo went -after his wife, and when they met they made up the quarrel; and he -never returned, but left Tecaughretanego and his son (a boy about ten -years of age), and myself, who remained here in our hut all winter. - -Tecaughretanego had been a first-rate warrior, statesman, and hunter, -and though he was now near sixty years of age, was yet equal to the -common run of hunters, but subject to the rheumatism, which deprived -him of the use of his legs. - -Shortly after Tontileaugo left us, Tecaughretanego became lame, and -could scarcely walk out of our hut for two months. I had considerable -success in hunting and trapping. Though Tecaughretanego endured much -pain and misery, yet he bore it all with wonderful patience, and would -often endeavor to entertain me with cheerful conversation. Sometimes he -would applaud me for my diligence, skill, and activity; and at other -times he would take great care in giving me instructions concerning the -hunting and trapping business. He would also tell me that if I failed -of success we would suffer very much, as we were about forty miles from -any one living, that we knew of; yet he would not intimate that he -apprehended we were in any danger, but still supposed that I was fully -adequate to the task. - -Tontileaugo left us a little before Christmas, and from that until some -time in February we had always plenty of bear meat, venison, etc. -During this time I killed much more than we could use; but having no -horses to carry in what I killed, I left part of it in the woods. In -February there came a snow, with a crust, which made a great noise when -walking on it, and frightened away the deer; and as bear and beaver -were scarce here, we got entirely out of provision. After I had hunted -two days without eating anything, and had very short allowance for some -days before, I returned late in the evening, faint and weary. When I -came into our hut, Tecaughretanego asked what success. I told him not -any. He asked me if I was not very hungry. I replied that the keen -appetite seemed to be in some measure removed, but I was both faint and -weary. He commanded Nunganey, his little son, to bring me something to -eat, and he brought me a kettle with some bones and broth. After eating -a few mouthfuls, my appetite violently returned, and I thought the -victuals had a most agreeable relish, though it was only fox and -wildcat bones, which lay about the camp, which the ravens and -turkey-buzzards had picked; these Nunganey had collected and boiled, -until the sinews that remained on the bones would strip off. I speedily -finished my allowance, such as it was, and when I had ended my _sweet_ -repast, Tecaughretanego asked me how I felt. I told him that I was much -refreshed. He then handed me his pipe and pouch, and told me to take a -smoke. I did so. He then said he had something of importance to tell -me, if I was now composed and ready to hear it. I told him that I was -ready to hear him. He said the reason why he deferred his speech till -now was because few men are in a right humor to hear good talk when -they are extremely hungry, as they are then generally fretful and -discomposed; "But as you appear now to enjoy calmness and serenity of -mind, I will now communicate to you the thoughts of my heart, and those -things that I know to be true. - -"_Brother_,--As you have lived with the white people, you have not -had the same advantage of knowing that the great Being above feeds his -people, and gives them their meat in due season, as we Indians have, -who are frequently out of provisions, and yet are wonderfully supplied, -and that so frequently, that it is evidently the hand of the great -Owaneeyo[5] that doth this. Whereas the white people have commonly -large stocks of tame cattle, that they can kill when they please, and -also their barns and cribs filled with grain, and therefore have not -the same opportunity of seeing and knowing that they are supported by -the Ruler of heaven and earth. - - [5] This is the name of God, in their tongue, and signifies - the owner and ruler of all things. - -"_Brother_,--I know that you are now afraid that we will all perish -with hunger, but you have no just reason to fear this. - -"_Brother_,--I have been young, but now am old; I have been frequently -under the like circumstances that we now are, and that some time or -other in almost every year of my life; yet I have hitherto been -supported, and my wants supplied in time of need. - -"_Brother_,--Owaneeyo sometimes suffers us to be in want, in order to -teach us our dependence upon him, and to let us know that we are to -love and serve him; and likewise to know the worth of the favors that -we receive, and to make us more thankful. - -"_Brother_,--Be assured that you will be supplied with food, and that -just in the right time; but you must continue diligent in the use of -means. Go to sleep, and rise early in the morning and go a-hunting; be -strong, and exert yourself like a man, and the Great Spirit will direct -your way." - -The next morning I went out, and steered about an east course. I -proceeded on slowly for about five miles, and saw deer frequently; but -as the crust on the snow made a great noise, they were always running -before I spied them, so that I could not get a shot. A violent appetite -returned, and I became intolerably hungry. It was now that I concluded -I would run off to Pennsylvania, my native country. As the snow was on -the ground, and Indian hunters almost the whole of the way before me, I -had but a poor prospect of making my escape, but my case appeared -desperate. If I staid here, I thought I would perish with hunger, and -if I met with Indians they could but kill me. - -I then proceeded on as fast as I could walk, and when I got about ten -or twelve miles from our hut I came upon fresh buffalo tracks; I -pursued after, and in a short time came in sight of them as they were -passing through a small glade. I ran with all my might and headed them, -where I lay in ambush, and killed a very large cow. I immediately -kindled a fire and began to roast meat, but could not wait till it was -done; I ate it almost raw. When hunger was abated I began to be -tenderly concerned for my old Indian brother and the little boy I had -left in a perishing condition. I made haste and packed up what meat I -could carry, secured what I left from the wolves, and returned -homewards. - -I scarcely thought on the old man's speech while I was almost -distracted with hunger, but on my return was much affected with it, -reflected on myself for my hard-heartedness and ingratitude, in -attempting to run off and leave the venerable old man and little boy to -perish with hunger. I also considered how remarkably the old man's -speech had been verified in our providentially obtaining a supply. I -thought also of that part of his speech which treated of the fractious -dispositions of hungry people, which was the only excuse I had for my -base inhumanity, in attempting to leave them in the most deplorable -situation. - -As it was moonlight, I got home to our hut, and found the old man in -his usual good-humor. He thanked me for my exertion, and bid me sit -down, as I must certainly be fatigued, and he commanded Nunganey to -make haste and cook. I told him I would cook for him, and let the boy -lay some meat on the coals for himself; which he did, but ate it almost -raw, as I had done. I immediately hung on the kettle with some water, -and cut the beef in thin slices, and put them in. When it had boiled -awhile, I proposed taking it off the fire, but the old man replied, -"Let it be done enough." This he said in as patient and unconcerned a -manner as if he had not wanted one single meal. He commanded Nunganey -to eat no more beef at that time, lest he might hurt himself, but told -him to sit down, and after some time he might sup some broth; this -command he reluctantly obeyed. - -When we were all refreshed, Tecaughretanego delivered a speech upon the -necessity and pleasure of receiving the necessary supports of life with -thankfulness, knowing that Owaneeyo is the great giver. Such speeches -from an Indian may be thought by those who are unacquainted with them -altogether incredible; but when we reflect on the Indian war, we may -readily conclude that they are not an ignorant or stupid sort of -people, or they would not have been such fatal enemies. When they came -into our country they outwitted us; and when we sent armies into their -country, they outgeneralled and beat us with inferior force. Let us -also take into consideration that Tecaughretanego was no common person, -but was among the Indians as Socrates in the ancient heathen world; -and, it may be, equal to him, if not in wisdom and in learning, yet -perhaps in patience and fortitude. Notwithstanding Tecaughretanego's -uncommon natural abilities, yet in the sequel of this history you will -see the deficiency of the light of nature, unaided by revelation, in -this truly great man. - -The next morning Tecaughretanego desired me to go back and bring -another load of buffalo beef. As I proceeded to do so, about five miles -from our hut I found a bear tree. As a sapling grew near the tree, and -reached near the hole that the bear went in at, I got dry dozed or -rotten wood, that would catch and hold fire almost as well as spunk. -This wood I tied up in bunches, fixed them on my back, and then climbed -up the sapling, and with a pole I put them, touched with fire, into the -hole, and then came down and took my gun in my hand. After some time -the bear came out, and I killed and skinned it, packed up a load of the -meat (after securing the remainder from the wolves), and returned home -before night. On my return my old brother and his son were much -rejoiced at my success. After this we had plenty of provisions. - -We remained here until some time in April, 1758. At this time -Tecaughretanego had recovered so that he could walk about. We made a -bark canoe, embarked, and went down Ollentangy some distance, but, the -water being low, we were in danger of splitting our canoe upon the -rocks; therefore Tecaughretanego concluded we would encamp on shore, -and pray for rain. - -When we encamped Tecaughretanego made himself a sweat-house, which he -did by sticking a number of hoops in the ground, each hoop forming a -semicircle; this he covered all round with blankets and skins. He then -prepared hot stones, which he rolled into this hut, and then went into -it himself with a little kettle of water in his hand, mixed with a -variety of herbs, which he had formerly cured, and had now with him in -his pack; they afforded an odoriferous perfume. When he was in, he told -me to pull down the blankets behind him, and cover all up close, which -I did, and then he began to pour water upon the hot stones, and to sing -aloud. He continued in this vehement hot place about fifteen minutes. -All this he did in order to purify himself before he would address -the Supreme Being. When he came out of his sweat-house he began to -burn tobacco and pray. He began each petition with "_Oh, ho, ho, ho_" -which is a kind of aspiration, and signifies an ardent wish. I observed -that all his petitions were only for immediate or present temporal -blessings. He began his address by thanksgiving in the following -manner: - -"O Great Being! I thank thee that I have obtained the use of my legs -again; that I am now able to walk about and kill turkeys, etc., without -feeling exquisite pain and misery. I know that thou art a hearer and a -helper, and therefore I will call upon thee. - -"_Oh, ho, ho, ho,_ - -"Grant that my knees and ankles may be right well, and that I may be -able, not only to walk, but to run and to jump logs, as I did last -fall. - -"_Oh, ho, ho, ho,_ - -"Grant that on this voyage we may frequently kill bears, as they may be -crossing the Scioto and Sandusky. - -"_Oh, ho, ho, ho,_ - -"Grant that we may kill plenty of turkeys along the banks, to stew with -our fat bear meat. - -"_Oh, ho, ho, ho,_ - -"Grant that rain may come to raise the Ollentangy about two or three -feet, that we may cross in safety down to Scioto, without danger of our -canoe being wrecked on the rocks. And now, O Great Being, thou knowest -how matters stand; thou knowest that I am a great lover of tobacco, and -though I know not when I may get any more, I now make a present of the -last I have unto thee, as a free burnt-offering; therefore I expect -thou wilt hear and grant these requests, and I, thy servant, will -return thee thanks and love thee for thy gifts." - -During the whole of this scene I sat by Tecaughretanego, and as he went -through it with the greatest solemnity I was seriously affected with -his prayers. I remained duly composed until he came to the burning of -the tobacco; and as I knew he was a great lover of it, and saw him cast -the last of it into the fire, it excited in me a kind of merriment, and -I insensibly smiled. Tecaughretanego observed me laughing, which -displeased him, and occasioned him to address me in the following -manner. - -"_Brother_,--I have somewhat to say to you, and I hope you will not be -offended when I tell you of your faults. You know that when you were -reading your books in town I would not let the boys or any one disturb -you; but now, when I was praying, I saw you laughing. I do not think -that you look upon praying as a foolish thing; I believe you pray -yourself. But perhaps you may think my mode or manner of praying -foolish; if so, you ought in a friendly manner to instruct me, and not -make sport of sacred things." - -I acknowledged my error, and on this he handed me his pipe to smoke, in -token of friendship and reconciliation, though at this time he had -nothing to smoke but red-willow bark. I told him something of the -method of reconciliation with an offended God, as revealed in my Bible, -which I had then in possession. He said that he liked my story better -than that of the French priests, but he thought that he was now too old -to begin to learn a new religion, therefore he should continue to -worship God in the way that he had been taught, and that if salvation -or future happiness was to be had in his way of worship, he expected he -would obtain it, and if it was inconsistent with the honor of the Great -Spirit to accept of him in his own way of worship, he hoped that -Owaneeyo would accept of him in the way I had mentioned, or in some -other way, though he might now be ignorant of the channel through which -favor or mercy might be conveyed. He said that he believed that -Owaneeyo would hear and help every one that sincerely waited upon him. - -A few days after Tecaughretanego had gone through his ceremonies and -finished his prayers, the rain came and raised the creek a sufficient -height, so that we passed in safety down to Scioto, and proceeded up to -the carrying-place. We proceeded from this place down Sandusky, and in -our passage we killed four bears and a number of turkeys. -Tecaughretanego appeared now fully persuaded that all this came in -answer to his prayers, and who can say with any degree of certainty -that it was not so? - -When we came to the little lake at the mouth of Sandusky, we called at -a Wyandot town that was then there, called Sunyendeand. Here we -diverted ourselves several days by catching rock-fish in a small creek, -the name of which is also Sunyendeand, which signifies rock-fish. They -fished in the night with lights, and struck the fish with gigs or -spears. The rock-fish here, when they begin first to run up the creek -to spawn, are exceedingly fat, sufficiently so to fry themselves. The -first night we scarcely caught fish enough for present use for all that -were in the town. - -The next morning I met with a prisoner at this place by the name of -Thompson, who had been taken from Virginia. He told me, if the Indians -would only omit disturbing the fish for one night, he could catch more -fish than the whole town could make use of. I told Mr. Thompson that if -he was certain he could do this, that I would use my influence with the -Indians to let the fish alone for one night. I applied to the chiefs, -who agreed to my proposal, and said they were anxious to see what the -Great Knife (as they called the Virginian) could do. Mr. Thompson, with -the assistance of some other prisoners, set to work, and made a -hoop-net of elm-bark; they then cut down a tree across the creek, and -stuck in stakes at the lower side of it to prevent the fish from -passing up, leaving only a gap at the one side of the creek; here he -sat with his net, and when he felt the fish touch the net he drew it -up, and frequently would haul out two or three rock-fish that would -weigh about five or six pounds each. He continued at this until he had -hauled out about a wagon-load, and then left the gap open in order to -let them pass up, for they could not go far on account of the shallow -water. Before day Mr. Thompson shut it up, to prevent them from passing -down, in order to let the Indians have some diversion in killing them -in daylight. - -When the news of the fish came to town the Indians all collected, and -with surprise beheld the large heap of fish, and applauded the -ingenuity of the Virginian. When they saw the number of them that were -confined in the water above the tree, the young Indians ran back to the -town, and in a short time returned with their spears, gigs, bows and -arrows, etc., and were the chief part of that day engaged in killing -rock-fish, insomuch that we had more than we could use or preserve. As -we had no salt, or any way to keep them, they lay upon the banks, and -after some time great numbers of turkey-buzzards and eagles collected -together and devoured them. - -Shortly after this we left Sunyendeand, and in three days arrived at -Detroit, where we remained this summer. - -Some time in May we heard that General Forbes, with seven thousand men, -was preparing to carry on a campaign against Fort Du Quesne, which then -stood near where Fort Pitt was afterwards erected. Upon receiving this -news, a number of runners were sent off by the French commander at -Detroit to urge the different tribes of Indian warriors to repair to -Fort Du Quesne. - -Some time in July, 1758, the Ottawas, Jibewas, Potowatomies, and -Wyandots rendezvoused at Detroit, and marched off to Fort Du Quesne, to -prepare for the encounter of General Forbes. The common report was that -they would serve him as they did General Braddock, and obtain much -plunder. From this time until fall we had frequent accounts of Forbes's -army, by Indian runners that were sent out to watch their motion. They -espied them frequently from the mountains even after they left Fort -Loudon. Notwithstanding their vigilance, Colonel Grant, with his -Highlanders, stole a march upon them, and in the night took possession -of a hill about eighty rods from Fort Du Quesne; this hill is on that -account called Grant's Hill to this day. The French and Indians knew -not that Grant and his men were there, until they beat the drum and -played upon the bagpipes just at daylight. They then flew to arms, and -the Indians ran up under cover of the banks of the Alleghany and -Monongahela for some distance, and then sallied out from the banks of -the rivers, and took possession of the hill above Grant; and as he was -on the point of it, in sight of the fort, they immediately surrounded -him; and as he had his Highlanders in ranks, and in very close order, -and the Indians scattered and concealed behind trees, they defeated him -with the loss only of a few warriors; most of the Highlanders were -killed or taken prisoners. - -After this defeat the Indians held a council, but were divided in their -opinions. Some said that General Forbes would now turn back, and go -home the way that he came, as Dunbar had done when General Braddock was -defeated; others supposed he would come on. The French urged the -Indians to stay and see the event; but as it was hard for the Indians -to be absent from their squaws and children at this season of the year, -a great many of them returned home to their hunting. After this the -remainder of the Indians, some French regulars, and a number of -Canadians, marched off in quest of General Forbes. They met his army -near Fort Ligonier, and attacked them, but were frustrated in their -design. They said that Forbes's men were beginning to learn the art of -war, and that there were a great number of American riflemen along with -the redcoats, who scattered out, took trees, and were good marksmen; -therefore they found they could not accomplish their design, and were -obliged to retreat. When they returned from the battle to Fort Du -Quesne, the Indians concluded that they would go to their hunting. The -French endeavored to persuade them to stay and try another battle. The -Indians said if it was only the redcoats they had to do with they could -soon subdue them, but they could not withstand _Ashalecoa_, or the -Great Knife, which was the name they gave the Virginians. They then -returned home to their hunting, and the French evacuated the fort, -which General Forbes came and took possession of, without further -opposition, late in the year 1758, and at this time began to build Fort -Pitt. - -When Tecaughretanego had heard the particulars of Grant's defeat he -said that he could not well account for his contradictory and -inconsistent conduct. He said, as the art of war consists in ambushing -and surprising our enemies, and in preventing them from ambushing and -surprising us, Grant, in the first place, acted like a wise and -experienced warrior in artfully approaching in the night without being -discovered; but when he came to the place, and the Indians were lying -asleep outside of the fort, between him and the Alleghany River, in -place of slipping up quietly, and falling upon them with their -broadswords, they beat the drums and played upon the bagpipes. He said -he could account for this inconsistent conduct in no other way than by -supposing that he had made too free with spirituous liquors during the -night, and became intoxicated about daylight. But to return. - -This year we hunted up Sandusky and down Scioto, and took nearly the -same route that we had done the last hunting season. We had -considerable success, and returned to Detroit some time in April, 1759. - -Shortly after this Tecaughretanego, his son Nunganey, and myself went -from Detroit (in an elm-bark canoe) to Caughnewaga, a very ancient -Indian town, about nine miles above Montreal, where I remained until -about the first of July. I then heard of a French ship at Montreal that -had English prisoners on board, in order to carry them over sea and -exchange them. I went privately off from the Indians, and got also on -board; but as General Wolfe had stopped the river St. Lawrence, we were -all sent to prison in Montreal, where I remained four months. Some time -in November we were all sent off from this place to Crown Point, and -exchanged. - -Early in the year 1760 I came home to Conococheague, and found that my -people could never ascertain whether I was killed or taken until my -return. They received me with great joy, but were surprised to see me -so much like an Indian, both in my gait and gesture. - -Upon inquiry, I found that my sweetheart was married a few days before -I arrived. My feelings I must leave, on this occasion, for those of my -readers to judge who have felt the pangs of disappointed love, as it is -impossible now for me to describe the emotion of soul I felt at that -time. - -In the year 1788 I settled in Bourbon County, Kentucky, seven miles -above Paris, and in the same year was elected a member of the -convention that sat at Danville to confer about a separation from the -State of Virginia; and from that year until the year 1799 I represented -Bourbon County either in convention or as a member of the General -Assembly, except two years that I was left a few votes behind. - - - - -II - -THE NARRATIVE OF FRANCESCO GIUSEPPE BRESSANI, S.J., RELATING HIS -CAPTIVITY AMONG THE IROQUOIS, IN 1644 - - - The Italian Jesuit missionary Father Bressani was born in Rome, 6 - May, 1612. At the age of fourteen he entered the novitiate of the - Society of Jesus. Becoming zealous to serve as missionary among the - American Indians, he went to Quebec in the summer of 1642, and the - following year he was sent among the Algonquins at Three Rivers. - - In April, 1644, while on his way to the Huron country, where a - mission had been established, he was captured by the Iroquois, who - at that time were an exceedingly fierce and even cannibal nation, - perpetually at war with nearly the whole known continent. By them - he was subjected to tortures, but finally was made over to an old - squaw to take the place of a deceased relative. From her he was - ransomed by the Dutch at Fort Orange (the modern Albany), and by - them he was sent to France, where he arrived in November, 1644. - - Despite his terrible experiences among the savages, and his maimed - condition, the indomitable missionary returned to Canada the next - spring, and labored with the Hurons until their mission was - destroyed by the Iroquois four years later. - - In November, 1650, Bressani, in broken health, went back to his - native land. Here he spent many years as a preacher and home - missionary. He died at Florence, 9 September, 1672. - - The following account of Father Bressani's sufferings among the - Indians is translated from two of his own letters in his book - _Breve Relatione d'alcune Missioni nella Nuova Francia_, published - at Macerata in 1653. (_Editor._) - - -FIRST LETTER, - -Dated "From the Iroquois, the 15th of July, 1644." - -OUR MOST REVEREND FATHER IN CHRIST: - -_PAX CHRISTI_--I know not whether Your Paternity will recognize the -handwriting of a poor cripple, who formerly, when in perfect health, -was well known to you. The letter is badly written, and quite soiled, -because, among other inconveniences, the writer has but one whole -finger on his right hand, and can scarcely prevent the paper's being -stained by the blood which flows from his yet unhealed wounds. His ink -is arquebuse powder [gunpowder rubbed up with water], and his table the -bare earth. He writes to you from the land of the Iroquois, where he is -now a captive, and would briefly relate what Divine Providence has at -last ordained for him. - -I set out from Three Rivers, by order of the Superior, the 27th of last -April, in company with six Christian Indians and a young Frenchman, -with three canoes, to go to the country of the Hurons. - -On the evening of the first day, the Huron who steered our canoe, when -firing at an eagle, upset us into Lake St. Pierre. I did not know how -to swim, but two Hurons caught me and drew me to the shore, where we -spent the night, all drenched. The Hurons took this accident for an -ill-omen, and advised me to return to our starting point, which was -only eight or ten miles off. "Certainly," they cried, "this voyage will -not prove fortunate." As I feared that there might be some superstition -in this discourse, I preferred to push on to another French fort -[Richelieu], thirty miles higher up, where we might recruit a little. -They obeyed me, and we started quite early the next morning, but the -snow and bad weather greatly retarded our speed, and compelled us to -stop at midday. - -On the third day, when twenty-two or twenty-four miles from Three -Rivers, and seven or eight from Fort Richelieu, we fell into an -ambuscade of twenty-seven Iroquois, who killed one of our Indians, and -took the rest and myself prisoners. We might have fled, or killed some -Iroquois; but I, for my part, seeing my companions taken, judged it -better to remain with them, accepting it as a sign of the will of -God.... - -Those who had captured us made horrible cries, and after profuse thanks -to the Sun for having in their hands, among the others, a "Black Robe," -as they call the Jesuits, they changed the canoes. Then they took from -us everything; that is, provisions for all of ours residing among the -Hurons, who were in extreme want, inasmuch as they had for several -years received no aid from Europe. - -Having commanded us to sing, they led us to a little river hard by, -where they divided the booty, and scalped the Huron whom they had -killed. The scalp was to be carried in triumph on a pole. They also cut -off the feet, hands, and most fleshy parts of the body to eat, as well -as the heart. - -Then they made us cross the lake to pass the night in a retired but -very damp spot. We there began to take our sleep bound and in the open -air, as we continued to do during the rest of the voyage.... - -The following day we embarked on a river, and after some miles they -ordered me to throw overboard my papers, which they had left me till -then. They superstitiously imagined that these had caused the wreck of -our canoe. They were surprised to see me grieve at this loss, who had -never shown any regret for all else. We were two days in ascending this -river to the rapids [of Chambly], which compelled us to land, and we -marched six days in the woods. - -The next day, which was Friday, the sixth of May, we met other Iroquois -going out to war. They added some blows to the many threats they had -made; and having related to us the death of one of their party, killed -by a Frenchman, was the cause of their commencing to treat me with -greater cruelty than before. - -At the moment of our capture the Iroquois were dying of hunger; so -that, in two or three days, they consumed all our provisions, and we -had no food during the rest of the way but from hunting, fishing, or -some wild roots, if any were found. Their want was so great that they -picked up on the shore a dead beaver already putrefying. They gave it -to me in the evening to wash in the river; but, its stench leading me -to believe that they did not want it, I threw it into the water. I was -paid for that by a severe penance. - -I will not here relate all I had to suffer in that voyage. It is enough -to say that we had to carry our loads in the woods where there were no -roads, but only stones, shoots, holes, water, and snow, which had not -yet everywhere melted. We were barefooted, and were left fasting -sometimes till three or four o'clock in the afternoon, and often during -the whole day, exposed to the rain, and drenched with the waters of the -torrents and rivers which we had to cross. - -When evening was come I was ordered to go for wood, to bring water, and -to cook when they had any provisions. When I did not succeed, or -misunderstood the orders which I received, blows were not spared; still -less when we met other barbarians going to fish or hunt. It was not -easy for me to rest at night, because they tied me to a tree, leaving -me exposed to the keen night air, which was still quite cold. - -We at last arrived at their lake [Champlain]. We had to make other -canoes, in which I too had to do my part. After five or six days' -sailing we landed, and marched for three more. - -The fourth day, which was the fifteenth of May, we arrived about the -twentieth hour [3 P.M.], and before having as yet taken any food, at a -river where some four hundred barbarians were gathered fishing. Hearing -of our approach, they came out to meet us. When about two hundred paces -from their cabins, they stripped off all my clothes, and made me march -ahead. The young men formed a line on each side, armed with sticks, -except the first one, who held a knife in his hand. - -When I began my march this one stopped my passage, and, seizing my left -hand, cleft it open with his knife between the little finger and the -ring finger, with such force and violence that I thought he would lay -open my whole hand. The others then began to load me with blows till I -reached the stage which they had erected for our torture. Then I had to -mount on great pieces of bark, raised about nine palms high so as to -give the crowd an opportunity to see and insult us. I was all drenched -and covered with blood that streamed from every part of my body, and -exposed to a very cold wind that made it congeal immediately on my -skin. But I consoled myself, seeing that God granted me the favor of -suffering in this world some pain in place of what I was under -obligation, on account of my sins, to pay in the other with torments -incomparably greater. - -The warriors came next, and were received by the people with great -ceremony, and regaled with the best of all that their fishing supplied. -They bade us sing. Judge whether we could do so, fasting, worn down by -marching, broken by their blows, and shivering from head to foot with -cold. - -Shortly after, a Huron slave brought me a little Indian corn, and a -captain, who saw me all trembling with cold, at last, at my entreaty, -gave me back the half of an old summer cassock, all in tatters, which -served to cover rather than warm me. - -We had to sing till the warriors went away, and were then left at the -mercy of the youths, who made us come down from the scaffold, where we -had been about two hours, to make us dance in their fashion; and, -because I did not succeed, nor indeed knew how, they beat me, pricked -me, plucked out my hair, my beard, etc. - -They kept us five or six days in this place for their pastime, leaving -us at the discretion or indiscretion of every one. We were obliged to -obey even the children, and that in things unreasonable, and often -contradictory. "Sing!" cries one. "Hold your tongue!" says another. If -I obeyed the first, the latter tormented me. "Stretch out your hand; I -want to burn it." Another burned it because I did not extend it to -_him_. They commanded me to take fire between the fingers to put -in their pipes, full of tobacco, and then let it fall on the ground -purposely four or five times, one after another, to make me burn myself -picking it up each time. - -These scenes usually took place at night. Towards evening the captains -cried in fearful voices around the cabins, "Gather, ye young men; come -and caress our prisoners!" - -On this they flocked together, and assembled in some large cabin. There -the remnant of dress which had been given me was torn off, leaving me -naked. Then some goaded me with pointed sticks; some burned me with -firebrands or red-hot stones, while others used burning ashes or hot -coals. They made me walk around the fire on hot ashes, under which they -had stuck sharp sticks in the ground. Some plucked out my hair, others -my beard. - -Every night, after making me sing, and tormenting me as above, they -spent eight or ten minutes in burning one of my nails or a finger. Of -the ten that I had I have now but one left whole, and even of that they -have torn out the nail with their teeth. One evening they burned a -nail; the next day the first joint; the day after, the second. By the -sixth time they burned almost six. To the hands they applied fire and -iron more than eighteen times; and during this torment I was obliged to -sing. They ceased torturing me only at one or two o'clock at night. -Then they usually left me tied to the ground in some spot exposed to -the rain, with no bed or blanket, but a small skin which did not cover -half my body, and often even without any covering; for they had already -torn up the piece of a cassock which had been given me. Yet, out of -compassion, they left me enough to cover what decency, even among them, -requires to be concealed. They kept the rest. - -For a whole month I had to undergo these cruelties, and greater still, -but we remained only eight days in the first place. I never would have -believed that man could endure so hard a life. - -One night that they were as usual torturing me, a Huron, taken prisoner -with me, seeing one of his companions escape torments by siding against -me, suddenly cried out, in the middle of the assembled throng, that I -was a person of rank, and a captain among the French. This they heard -with great attention; then, raising a loud shout in sign of joy, they -resolved to treat me still worse, and the next morning I was condemned -to be burnt alive, and to be eaten. They then began to guard me more -narrowly. The men and children never left me alone, even in the -necessities of nature, but came tormenting me to force me to return to -the cabin with all speed, fearing that I might take flight. - -We left there the 26th of May, and four days after reached the first -village of this nation. In this march on foot, what with rain and other -hardships, I suffered more than I had yet done. The barbarian then my -keeper was more cruel than the first. I was wounded, weak, ill-fed, -half naked, and slept in the open air, bound to a stake or a tree, -shivering all night with cold and from the pain caused by my bonds. - -At difficult places in the road my weakness called for help, but it was -refused; and even when I fell, renewing my wounds, they showered blows -on me again, to force me to march; for they believed that I did it -purposely to lag behind, and so escape. - -One time, among others, I fell into a river, and was like to have -drowned. However, I got out, I know not how, and in this plight had to -march nearly six miles more till evening, with a very heavy burden on -my shoulders. They jeered at me and at my awkwardness in falling into -the water, and they did not omit, at night, to burn off one of my -nails. - -We at last reached the first village of this nation, and here our -reception resembled the first, but was still more cruel. Besides blows -from their fists, and other blows, which I received in the most -sensitive parts of my body, they a second time slit open my left hand, -between the middle finger and the fore finger, and the bastinade was -such that I fell half dead on the ground. I thought I would lose my -right eye forever. As I did not rise, because I was unable to do so, -they continued to beat me, especially on the breast and head. I should -surely have expired beneath their blows had not a captain caused me to -be dragged by main strength upon a stage made, like the former one, of -bark. There they soon after cut off the thumb and mangled the fore -finger of my left hand. Meanwhile a great rain came, with thunder and -lightning, and they went away, leaving us exposed naked to the storm, -till some one, I know not who, took pity on us, and in the evening took -us into his cabin. - -Here we were tormented with more cruelty and impudence than ever, -without leaving a moment's rest. They forced me to eat filth, and -burned some of my fingers and the rest of my nails. They dislocated my -toes, and ran a firebrand through one of them. I know not what they did -not do to me another time, when I pretended to faint, so as to seem not -to see an indecent action. - -After glutting their cruelty here, they sent us into another village, -nine or ten miles further. Here they added to the torments of which I -have spoken that of hanging me up by my feet, either with cords or with -chains, which they had taken from the Dutch. By night I lay stretched -on the ground, naked and bound, according to their custom, to several -stakes, by the feet, hands, and neck. The torments which I had to -suffer in this state, for six or seven nights, were in such places, and -of such nature, that it is not lawful to describe them, nor could they -be read without blushing. I seldom closed my eyes those nights, which, -though the shortest of the year, seemed to me most long. "My God, what -will purgatory be?" This thought lightened my pains not a little. - -In this way of living I had become so fetid and horrible that every one -drove me away like a thing of carrion, and they never came near me save -to torment me. Scarcely anyone would feed me, although I had not the -use of my hands, as they were extraordinarily swollen and putrid. Thus -I was still further tormented by hunger, which led me to eat Indian -corn raw, not without concern for my health, and made me find a relish -in chewing clay, although I could not easily swallow it. - -I was covered with loathsome vermin, and could neither get rid of them -nor defend myself from them. In my wounds worms were born; more than -four fell out of one finger in one day.... - -I had an abscess in the right thigh, caused by blows and frequent -falls, which hindered me from all repose, and especially as I had only -skin and bone, and the earth, for bed. Several times the barbarians had -tried, but failed, to open it with sharp stones--not without great pain -to me. I was forced to employ as surgeon the renegade Huron who had -been taken with us. He, on what was supposed to be the eve of my death, -opened it for me with four knife-thrusts, and caused blood and matter -to issue from it in so great abundance, and with such stench, that all -the barbarians of the cabin were constrained to abandon it. - -I desired and was awaiting death, though not without some horror of the -fire. Still I was preparing for it as best I could, and was commending -myself to the Mother of Mercy, who was, after God, the sole refuge of a -poor sinner forsaken by all creatures in a strange land, without a -language to make himself understood, without friends to console him, -without sacraments to strengthen him, and without any human remedy to -sweeten his ills. - -The Huron and Algonquin prisoners (these are our barbarians), instead -of consoling me, were the first to torment me, in order to please the -Iroquois. - -I did not see the good Guillaume [Cousture], except afterward, when my -life was spared me, and the boy who had been taken in my company was no -more with me. They had noticed that I had him say his prayers, and that -they did not favor. But they did not let him escape torments, for, -although he was no more than twelve or thirteen years old, they tore -out five of his nails with their teeth; and, on his arrival in the -country, they bound his wrists tightly with thongs, causing him the -severest pain--and all before me, to afflict me the more.... - -My days being thus filled up with sufferings, and my nights being spent -without repose, I counted in the month five days more than there were; -but, seeing the moon one night, I corrected my error. I was ignorant -why the savages so long deferred my death. They told me that it was to -fatten me before eating me; though they took no means to do so. - -One day, at last, they assembled to despatch me. It was the nineteenth -of June, which I deemed the last of my life, and I begged a captain to -put me to death, if possible, otherwise than by fire; but another man -exhorted him to stand firm in the resolution already taken. The first -then told me that I was to die neither by fire nor by any other death. -I could not believe it, nor do I know whether he spoke in earnest; yet -finally it was as he said, because such was the will of God and of the -Virgin Mother.... - -The barbarians themselves marveled at this result, so contrary was it -to their intentions, as the Dutch have written to me. I was therefore -given, with all the usual ceremonies, to an old woman, to replace her -grandfather, formerly killed by the Hurons, but instead of having me -burned, as all desired, and had already resolved, she redeemed me from -their hands at the expense of some beads, which the French call -"porcelain" [wampum]. - -I live here in the midst of the shadows of death, hearing nothing -spoken of but murder and assassination. They have recently murdered one -of their own countrymen in his cabin, as useless and unworthy to live. - -I have still something to suffer; my wounds are yet open, and many of -the barbarians look upon me with no kindly eye. But we cannot live -without crosses, and this is like sugar in comparison with the past. - -The Dutch gave me hopes of my ransom, and that of the boy taken -prisoner with me. God's will be done in time and in eternity! My hope -will be still more confirmed, if you grant me a share in your holy -sacrifices and prayers, and those of our fathers and brethren, -especially of those who knew me in other days. - - -SECOND LETTER, - -Dated "From New Amsterdam, the 31st of August, 1644." - -I have found no one to carry the enclosed, so that you will receive it -at the same time as the present one, which will give you the news of my -deliverance from the hands of the barbarians, whose captive I was. I am -indebted for it to the Dutch, and they obtained it with no great -difficulty, for a moderate ransom, on account of the little value which -the Indians attached to me, from my unhandiness at everything, and -because they believed that I would never get well of my ailments. - -I have been twice sold: first to the old woman who was to have me -burned, and next to the Dutch, dear enough, that is, for about fifteen -or twenty doppias [sixty to eighty dollars in gold]. - -I chanted my "exodus from Egypt" the nineteenth of August, a day that -is in the octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, who was my -deliverer. - -I was a prisoner among the Iroquois for four months; but small is that -compared to what my sins deserve. I was unable, during my captivity, to -render to any of those wretched beings, in return for the evil they did -me, the good which was the object of my desires; that is, impart to -them a knowledge of the true God. Not knowing the language, I tried to -instruct, through a captive interpreter, an old man who was dying; but -he was too proud to listen to me, answering that a man of his age and -standing should teach, and not be taught. I asked him if he knew -whither he would go after death. He answered me: "To the Sunset." Then -he began to relate their fables and delusions, which those wretched -people, blinded by the Demon, esteem as the most solid truths. - -I baptized none but a Huron. They had brought him where I was, to burn -him, and those who guarded me told me to go and see him. I did so with -reluctance; for they had told me falsely that he was not one of our -Indians, and that I could not understand him. I advanced towards the -crowd, which opened and let me approach this man, even then all -disfigured by the tortures. He was stretched upon the bare ground, with -nothing to rest his head upon. Seeing a stone near me, I pushed it with -my foot towards his head, to serve him as a pillow. He then looked up -at me, and either some wisp of beard that I had left, or some other -mark, made him suppose I was a foreigner. - -"Is not this man," said he to his keeper, "the European whom you hold -captive?" - -Being answered "Yes," he again cast towards me a piteous look. "Sit -down, my brother, by me," said he; "I would speak with thee." - -I sat down, though not without horror, such was the stench that exhaled -from his already half-roasted body. Happy to be able to understand him -a little, because he spoke Huron, I asked him what he desired, hoping -to be able to profit by the occasion to instruct and baptize him. To my -great consolation I was anticipated by the answer: - -"What do I ask?" he said; "I ask but one thing, baptism. Make haste, -for the time is short." - -I wished to question him as to the faith, so as not to administer a -sacrament with precipitation; but I found him perfectly instructed, -having been already received among the catechumens in the Huron -country. I therefore baptized him, to his and my own great -satisfaction. Though I had done so by a kind of stratagem, using the -water which I had brought for him to drink, the Iroquois nevertheless -perceived it. The captains were at once informed, and, with angry -threats, drove me from the hut, and then began to torture him as -before. - -The following morning they roasted him alive. Then, because I had -baptized him, they brought all his members, one by one, into the cabin -where I was. Before my eyes they skinned and ate the feet and hands. -The husband of the mistress of the lodge threw at my feet the dead -man's head, and left it there a long while, reproaching me with what I -had done, alluding to the baptism and prayers which I had offered with -him, and saying: "And what indeed have thy enchantments helped him? -Have they perhaps delivered him from death?" - - - - -III - -NARRATIVE OF MRS. MARY ROWLANDSON - -WHO WAS TAKEN CAPTIVE BY THE WAMPONOAGS UNDER KING PHILIP, IN 1676. - -WRITTEN BY HERSELF. - - - Mary Rowlandson was the wife of the Reverend Joseph Rowlandson, the - first minister of Lancaster, Massachusetts. On the tenth of - February, 1676, during King Philip's War, the Indians destroyed - Lancaster, and took her captive. She was treated with gross - cruelty, and was sold by her Narragansett captor to a sagamore - named Quannopin. After nearly three months of starving and - wretchedness she was ransomed for about eighty dollars which was - contributed by some women of Boston. - - Her own account of her captivity, originally published in 1682, is - here given with the omission of nothing but certain reflections - that are not essential to the narrative. (_Editor._) - - -On the 10th of February, 1676, came the Indians with great numbers[6] -upon Lancaster. Their first coming was about sun-rising. Hearing the -noise of some guns, we looked out; several houses were burning, and the -smoke ascending to heaven. - - [6] Fifteen hundred Wamponoags, led by King Philip, and - accompanied by the Narragansetts, his allies, and by the - Nipmucks and Nashaways. - -There were five persons taken in one house. The father and mother, and -a sucking child, they knocked on the head; the other two they took and -carried away alive. There were two others, who, being out of their -garrison upon occasion, were set upon; one was knocked on the head, the -other escaped. Another there was, who, running along, was shot and -wounded, and fell down; he begged of them his life, promising them -money, as they told me, but they would not hearken to him, but knocked -him on the head, stripped him naked, and split open his bowels. -Another, seeing many of the Indians about his barn, ventured and went -out, but was quickly shot down. There were three others belonging to -the same garrison who were killed. The Indians getting up on the roof -of the barn, had advantage to shoot down upon them over their -fortification. Thus these murderous wretches went on burning and -destroying all before them. - -At length they came and beset our house, and quickly it was the -dolefulest day that ever mine eyes saw. The house stood upon the edge -of a hill; some of the Indians got behind the hill, others into the -barn, and others behind anything that would shelter them; from all -which places they shot against the house, so that the bullets seemed to -fly like hail, and quickly they wounded one man among us, then another, -and then a third. - -About two hours, according to my observation in that amazing time, they -had been about the house before they prevailed to fire it, which they -did with flax and hemp which they brought out of the barn, and there -being no defence about the house, only two flankers at two opposite -corners, and one of them not finished; they fired it once, and one -ventured out and quenched it, but they quickly fired it again, and that -took. - -Now is the dreadful hour come that I have often heard of in time of the -war, as it was the case of others, but now mine eyes see it. Some in -our house were fighting for their lives, others wallowing in blood, the -house on fire over our heads, and the bloody heathen ready to knock us -on the head if we stirred out. Now might we hear mothers and children -crying out for themselves and one another, "Lord, what shall we do?" -Then I took my children, and one of my sisters (Mrs. Drew), hers to go -forth and leave the house, but as soon as we came to the door and -appeared, the Indians shot so thick that the bullets rattled against -the house as if one had taken a handful of stones and threw them, so -that we were forced to give back. We had six stout dogs belonging to -our garrison, but none of them would stir, though at another time if an -Indian had come to the door, they were ready to fly upon him and tear -him down. The Lord hereby would make us the more to acknowledge his -hand, and to see that our help is always in him. But out we must go, -the fire increasing, and coming along behind us roaring, and the -Indians gaping before us with their guns, spears and hatchets, to -devour us. - -No sooner were we out of the house, but my brother-in-law[7] (being -before wounded in defending the house, in or near the throat) fell down -dead, whereat the Indians scornfully shouted and hallooed, and were -presently upon him, stripping off his clothes. The bullets flying -thick, one went through my side, and the same, as would seem, through -the bowels and hand of my poor child in my arms. One of my elder -sister's children, named William, had then his leg broke, which the -Indians perceiving, they knocked him on the head. Thus were we -butchered by those merciless heathens, standing amazed, with the blood -running down to our heels. - - [7] Thomas Rowlandson, brother to the clergyman. - -My eldest sister being yet in the house, and seeing those woful sights, -the infidels hauling mothers one way and children another, and some -wallowing in their blood; and her eldest son telling her that her son -William was dead, and myself was wounded, she said, "Lord, let me die -with them:" which was no sooner said but she was struck with a bullet, -and fell down dead over the threshold. The Indians laid hold of us, -pulling me one way and the children another, and said, "Come, go along -with us." I told them they would kill me; they answered, if I were -willing to go along with them they would not hurt me.... - -There were twelve killed, some shot, some stabbed with their spears, -some knocked down with their hatchets. When we are in prosperity, oh, -the little that we think of such dreadful sights, to see our dear -friends and relations lie bleeding out their heart's-blood upon the -ground. There was one who was chopped in the head with a hatchet, and -stripped naked, and yet was crawling up and down. - -I had often before this said, that if the Indians should come, I should -choose rather to be killed by them than taken alive, but when it came -to the trial my mind changed; their glittering weapons so daunted my -spirit that I chose rather to go along with those (as I may say) -ravenous bears, than that moment to end my days. And that I may the -better declare what happened to me during that grievous captivity, I -shall particularly speak of the several removes we had up and down the -wilderness. - -THE FIRST REMOVE.--Now away we must go with those barbarous creatures, -with our bodies wounded and bleeding, and our hearts no less than our -bodies. About a mile we went that night, up on a hill within sight of -the town where we intended to lodge. There was hard by a vacant house, -deserted by the English before, for fear of the Indians. I asked them -whether I might not lodge in the house that night; to which they -answered, "What, will you love Englishmen still?" This was the -dolefulest night that ever my eyes saw. Oh, the roaring and singing and -dancing and yelling of those black creatures in the night, which made -the place a lively resemblance of hell! And miserable was the waste -that was there made of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, calves, lambs, -roasting pigs, and fowls (which they had plundered in the town), some -roasting, some lying and burning, and some boiling, to feed our -merciless enemies; who were joyful enough, though we were disconsolate. - -To add to the dolefulness of the former day, and the dismalness of the -present night, my thoughts ran upon my losses and sad, bereaved -condition. All was gone, my husband gone (at least separated from me, -he being in the Bay;[8] and, to add to my grief, the Indians told me -they would kill him as he came homeward); my children gone, my -relations and friends gone,[9] our house and home, and all our comforts -within door and without--all was gone except my life, and I knew not -but the next moment that might go too. - - [8] Boston. - - [9] Seventeen of her family were put to death or captured. - -There remained nothing to me but one poor, wounded babe; and it seemed -at present worse than death, that it was in such a pitiful condition, -bespeaking compassion, and I had no refreshing for it, nor suitable -things to revive it. Little do many think what is the savageness and -brutishness of this barbarous enemy, those even that seem to profess -more than others among them, when the English have fallen into their -hands. - -THE SECOND REMOVE.--But now (the next morning) I must turn my back upon -the town, and travel with them into the vast and desolate wilderness, I -know not whither. It is not my tongue or pen can express the sorrows of -my heart, and bitterness of my spirit, that I had at this departure; -but God was with me in a wonderful manner, carrying me along and -bearing up my spirit, that it did not quite fail. One of the Indians -carried my poor wounded babe upon a horse. It went moaning all along, -"I shall die, I shall die!" I went on foot after it with sorrow that -cannot be expressed. At length I took it off the horse, and carried it -in my arms, till my strength failed and I fell down with it. Then they -set me upon a horse with my wounded child in my lap, and there being no -furniture on the horse's back, as we were going down a steep hill we -both fell over the horse's head, at which they, like inhuman creatures, -laughed, and rejoiced to see it, though I thought we should there have -ended our days, overcome with so many difficulties.... - -After this it quickly began to snow, and when night came on they -stopped. And now down I must sit in the snow, by a little fire, and a -few boughs behind me, with my sick child in my lap, and calling much -for water, being now, through the wound, fallen into a violent fever; -my own wound also growing so stiff that I could scarce sit down or rise -up. - -THE THIRD REMOVE.--The morning being come, they prepared to go on their -way. One of the Indians got upon a horse, and they sat me up behind -him, with my poor sick babe in my lap. A very wearisome and tedious day -I had of it; what with my own wound, and my child being so exceeding -sick, and in a lamentable condition with her wound, it may easily be -judged what a poor, feeble condition we were in, there being not the -least crumb of refreshing that came within either of our mouths from -Wednesday night to Saturday night, except only a little cold water. -This day in the afternoon, about an hour by sun, we came to the place -where they intended, viz., an Indian town called Wenimesset (New -Braintree), northward of Quabaug (Brookfield). - -This day there came to me one Robert Pepper, a man belonging to -Roxbury, who was taken at Captain Beers's fight, and had been now a -considerable time with the Indians, and up with them almost as far as -Albany, to see King Philip, as he told me, and was now very lately come -into these parts. Hearing, I say, that I was in this Indian town, he -obtained leave to come and see me. He told me he himself was wounded in -the leg at Captain Beers's fight, and was not able some time to go, but -as they carried him, and that he took oak leaves and laid to his wound, -and by the blessing of God he was able to travel again. Then took I oak -leaves and laid to my side, and with the blessing of God it cured me -also. - -I sat much alone with my poor wounded child in my lap, which moaned -night and day, having nothing to revive the body or cheer the spirits -of her; but instead of that, one Indian would come and tell me one -hour, "Your master will knock your child on the head," and then a -second, and then a third, "Your master will quickly knock your child on -the head." - -This was the comfort I had from them; miserable comforters were they -all. Thus nine days I sat upon my knees, with my babe in my lap, till -my flesh was raw again. My child being even ready to depart this -sorrowful world, they bid me carry it out to another wigwam, I suppose -because they would not be troubled with such spectacles; whither I went -with a very heavy heart, and down I sat with the picture of death in my -lap. About two hours in the night, my sweet babe, like a lamb, departed -this life, on Feb. 18, 1676, it being about six years and five months -old. - -In the morning when they understood that my child was dead, they sent -me home to my master's wigwam. By my master in this writing must be -understood Quannopin, who was a sagamore, and married King Philip's -wife's sister; not that he first took me, but I was sold to him by a -Narragansett Indian, who took me when I first came out of the garrison. - -I went to take up my dead child in my arms to carry it with me, but -they bid me let it alone. There was no resisting, but go I must, and -leave it. When I had been a while at my master's wigwam, I took the -first opportunity I could get to look after my dead child. When I came -I asked them what they had done with it. They told me it was on the -hill. Then they went and showed me where it was, where I saw the ground -was newly digged, and where they told me they had buried it. There I -left that child in the wilderness, and must commit it and myself also -in this wilderness condition to Him who is above all. - -God having taken away this dear child, I went to see my daughter Mary, -who was at the same Indian town, at a wigwam not very far off, though -we had little liberty or opportunity to see one another. She was about -ten years old, and taken from the door at first by a praying Indian,[10] -and afterwards sold for a gun. When I came in sight she would fall -a-weeping, at which they were provoked, and would not let me come near -her, but bid me begone, which was a heart-cutting word to me. I could -not sit still in this condition, but kept walking from one place to -another; and as I was going along, my heart was even overwhelmed with -the thoughts of my condition, and that I should have children, and a -nation that I knew not ruled over them. Whereupon I earnestly entreated -the Lord that he would consider my low estate, and show me a token for -good, and if it were his blessed will, some sign and hope of some -relief. - - [10] Convert to Christianity. - -And, indeed, quickly the Lord answered in some measure my poor prayer; -for as I was going up and down mourning and lamenting my condition, my -son (Joseph) came to me and asked me how I did. I had not seen him -before since the destruction of the town; and I knew not where he was, -till I was informed by himself that he was among a smaller parcel of -Indians, whose place was about six miles off. With tears in his eyes he -asked me whether his sister Sarah was dead, and told me he had seen his -sister Mary, and prayed me that I would not be troubled in reference to -himself. The occasion of his coming to see me at this time was this: -there was, as I said, about six miles from us, a small plantation of -Indians, where it seems he had been during his captivity; and at this -time there were some forces of the Indians gathered out of our company, -and some also from them, among whom was my son's master, to go to -assault and burn Medfield. In this time of his master's absence his -dame brought him to see me. - -Now the Indians began to talk of removing from this place, some one way -and some another. There were now, besides myself, nine English captives -in this place, all of them children except one woman. I got an -opportunity to go and take my leave of them, they being to go one way -and I another. I asked them whether they were earnest with God for -deliverance. They told me they did as they were able, and it was some -comfort to me that the Lord stirred up children to look to Him. The -woman, viz., good-wife Joslin, told me she should never see me again, -and that she could not find it in her heart to run away by any means, -for we were near thirty miles from any English town, and she with a -child two years old; and bad rivers there were to go over, and we were -feeble with our poor and coarse entertainment.... - -THE FOURTH REMOVE.--And now must I part with the little company I had. -Here I parted with my daughter Mary, whom I never saw again till I saw -her in Dorchester, returned from captivity; and from four little -cousins and neighbors, some of which I never saw afterwards; the Lord -only knows the end of them. We travelled about a half a day or a little -more, and came to a desolate place in the wilderness, where there were -no wigwams or inhabitants before. We came about the middle of the -afternoon to this place, cold, wet, and snowy, and hungry and weary, -and no refreshing for man, but the cold ground to sit on, and our poor -Indian cheer. - -THE FIFTH REMOVE.--The occasion, as I thought, of their removing at -this time was the English army's being near and following them; for -they went as if they had gone for their lives for some considerable -way. Then they made a stop, and chose out some of their stoutest men, -and sent them back to hold the English army in play while the rest -escaped; and then, like Jehu, they marched on furiously with their old -and young. Some carried their old, decrepit mothers; some carried one, -and some another. Four of them carried a great Indian upon a bier; but, -going through a thick wood with him, they were hindered, and could make -no haste; whereupon they took him upon their backs, and carried him, -one at a time, till we came to Baquaug River. - -Upon Friday, a little after noon, we came to this river. When all the -company was come up and were gathered together I thought to count the -number of them, but they were so many, and being somewhat in motion, it -was beyond my skill. In this travel, because of my wound, I was -somewhat favored in my load. I carried only my knitting-work and two -quarts of parched meal. Being very faint, I asked my mistress to give -me one spoonful of the meal, but she would not give me a taste. They -quickly fell to cutting dry trees to make rafts to carry them over the -river, and soon my turn came to go over. By the advantage of some brush -which they had laid upon the raft to sit on, I did not wet my foot, -while many of themselves, at the other end, were mid-leg deep, which -cannot but be acknowledged as a favor of God to my weakened body, it -being a very cold time. I was not before acquainted with such kind of -doings or dangers. A certain number of us got over the river that -night, but it was the night after the Sabbath before all the company -was got over. On the Saturday they boiled an old horse's leg which they -had got, and so we drank of the broth as soon as they thought it was -ready, and when it was almost all gone they filled it up again. - -The first week of my being among them I hardly eat anything; the second -week I found my stomach grow very faint for want of something, and yet -it was very hard to get down their filthy trash; but the third week, -though I could think how formerly my stomach would turn against this or -that, and I could starve and die before I could eat such things, yet -they were pleasant and savory to my taste. - -I was at this time knitting a pair of cotton stockings for my mistress, -and I had not yet wrought upon the Sabbath day. When the Sabbath came -they bid me go to work. I told them it was Sabbath day, and desired -them to let me rest, and told them I would do as much more work -to-morrow; to which they answered me they would break my face. - -And here I cannot but take notice of the strange providence of God in -preserving the heathen. They were many hundreds, old and young, some -sick, and some lame; many had papooses at their backs; the greatest -number at this time with us were squaws, and yet they travelled with -all they had, bag and baggage, and they got over this river aforesaid; -and on Monday they set their wigwams on fire, and away they went. On -that very day came the English army after them to this river, and saw -the smoke of their wigwams, and yet this river put a stop to them. God -did not give them courage or activity to go over after us. We were not -ready for so great a mercy as victory and deliverance; if we had been, -God would have found out a way for the English to have passed this -river as well as for the Indians, with their squaws and children and -all their luggage. - -THE SIXTH REMOVE.--On Monday, as I said, they set their wigwams on fire -and went away. It was a cold morning, and before us there was a great -brook with ice on it. Some waded through it up to the knees and higher, -but others went till they came to a beaver-dam, and I among them, -where, through the good providence of God, I did not wet my foot. I -went along that day mourning and lamenting, leaving farther my own -country, and travelling farther into the vast and howling wilderness, -and I understood something of Lot's wife's temptation when she looked -back. We came that day to a great swamp, by the side of which we took -up our lodging that night. When we came to the brow of the hill that -looked towards the swamp I thought we had been come to a great Indian -town, though there were none but our own company; the Indians were as -thick as the trees; it seemed as if there had been a thousand hatchets -going at once. - -THE SEVENTH REMOVE.--After a restless and hungry night there we had a -wearisome time of it the next day. The swamp by which we lay was, as it -were, a deep dungeon, and an exceeding high and steep hill before it. -Before I got to the top of the hill I thought my heart and legs and all -would have broken and failed me. What with faintness and soreness of -body, it was a grievous day of travel to me. As we went along, I saw a -place where English cattle had been. That was a comfort to me, such as -it was. Quickly after that we came to an English path, which so took me -that I thought I could there have freely lain down and died. - -That day, a little after noon, we came to Squaheag,[11] where the -Indians quickly spread themselves over the deserted English fields, -gleaning what they could find. Some picked up ears of wheat that -were crickled down, some found ears of Indian corn, some found -ground-nuts,[12] and others sheaves of wheat that were frozen together -in the shock, and went to threshing of them out. Myself got two ears of -Indian corn, and, whilst I did but turn my back, one of them was stole -from me, which much troubled me. - - [11] Or Squakeag, now Northfield. - - [12] _Apios tuberosa._ The Pilgrims, during their first - winter, lived chiefly on these roots. The tubers vary from - the size of a cherry to that of a hen's egg, and grow in - strings of perhaps forty together. - -There came an Indian to them at that time with a basket of horse-liver. -I asked him to give me a piece. "What," says he, "can you eat -horse-liver?" I told him I would try, if he would give me a piece, -which he did; and I laid it on the coals to roast; but, before it was -half ready, they got half of it away from me; so that I was forced to -take the rest and eat it as it was, with the blood about my mouth, and -yet a savory bit it was to me; for to the hungry soul every bitter -thing was sweet. A solemn sight methought it was to see whole fields of -wheat and Indian corn forsaken and spoiled, and the remainder of them -to be food for our merciless enemies. That night we had a mess of wheat -for our supper. - -THE EIGHTH REMOVE.--On the morrow morning we must go over Connecticut -River to meet with King Philip. Two canoes full they had carried over. -The next turn myself was to go; but, as my foot was upon the canoe to -step in, there was a sudden outcry among them, and I must step back; -and instead of going over the river, I must go four or five miles up -the river farther northward. Some of the Indians ran one way, and some -another. The cause of this route was, as I thought, their espying some -English scouts, who were thereabouts. In this travel up the river, -about noon the company made a stop and sat down, some to eat and others -to rest them. As I sat amongst them, musing on things past, my son -Joseph unexpectedly came to me.... - -We travelled on till night, and in the morning we must go over the -river to Philip's crew. When I was in the canoe I could not but be -amazed at the numerous crew of pagans that were on the bank on the -other side. When I came ashore they gathered all about me, I sitting -alone in the midst. I observed they asked one another questions, and -laughed, and rejoiced over their gains and victories. - -Then my heart began to fail, and I fell a-weeping; which was the first -time, to my remembrance, that I wept before them. There one of them -asked me why I wept. I could hardly tell what to say; yet I answered, -they would kill me. "No," said he, "none will hurt you." Then came one -of them and gave me two spoonfuls of meal to comfort me, and another -gave me half a pint of peas, which was worth more than many bushels at -another time. - -Then I went to see King Philip. He bade me come in and sit down, and -asked me whether I would smoke--a usual compliment nowadays among the -saints and sinners; but this noway suited me; for though I had formerly -used tobacco, yet I had left it ever since I was first taken. It seems -to be a bait the devil lays to make men lose their precious time. I -remember with shame how, formerly, when I had taken two or three pipes, -I was presently ready for another, such a bewitching thing it is; but I -thank God He has now given me power over it. Surely there are many who -may be better employed than to sit sucking a stinking tobacco pipe. - -Now the Indians gathered their forces to go against Northampton. Over -night one went about yelling and hooting to give notice of the design. -Whereupon they went to boiling of ground-nuts and parching corn--as -many as had it--for their provision; and in the morning away they went. -During my abode in this place Philip spake to me to make a shirt for -his boy, which I did; for which he gave me a shilling. I offered the -money to my mistress, but she bid me keep it, and with it I bought a -piece of horse-flesh. - -Afterwards he asked me to make a cap for his boy, for which he invited -me to dinner. I went, and he gave me a pancake about as big as two -fingers; it was made of parched wheat, beaten and fried in bear's -grease, but I thought I never tasted pleasanter meat in my life. There -was a squaw who spake to me to make a shirt for her sannup; for which -she gave me a piece of beef. Another asked me to knit a pair of -stockings, for which she gave me a quart of peas. I boiled my peas and -beef together, and invited my master and mistress to dinner; but the -proud gossip, because I served them both in one dish, would eat -nothing, except one bit that he gave her upon the point of his knife. - -Hearing that my son was come to this place, I went to see him, and -found him lying flat on the ground. I asked him how he could sleep so. -He answered me that he was not asleep, but at prayer, and that he lay -so that they might not observe what he was doing. I pray God he may -remember these things now he is returned in safety. - -At this place, the sun now getting higher, what with the beams and heat -of the sun and smoke of the wigwams, I thought I should have been -blinded. I could scarce discern one wigwam from another. There was one -Mary Thurston, of Medfield, who, seeing how it was with me, lent me a -hat to wear; but as soon as I was gone the squaw that owned that Mary -Thurston came running after me and got it away again. Here was a squaw -who gave me a spoonful of meal; I put it in my pocket to keep it safe, -yet notwithstanding somebody stole it, but put five Indian corns in the -room of it; which corns were the greatest provision I had in my travel -for one day. - -The Indians, returning from Northampton,[13] brought with them some -horses and sheep and other things which they had taken. I desired them -that they would carry me to Albany upon one of those horses, and sell -me for powder; for so they had sometimes discoursed. I was utterly -helpless of getting home on foot, the way that I came. I could hardly -bear to think of the many weary steps I had taken to this place. - - [13] Northampton was attacked March 14, 1676. - -THE NINTH REMOVE.--But, instead of either going to Albany or homeward, -we must go five miles up the river, and then go over it. Here we abode -awhile. Here lived a sorry Indian, who spake to me to make him a shirt. -When I had done it he would pay me nothing for it. But he, living by -the river-side, where I often went to fetch water, I would often be -putting him in mind, and calling for my pay; at last he told me if I -would make another shirt for a papoose not yet born he would give me a -knife, which he did when I had done it. I carried the knife in, and my -master asked me to give it him, and I was not a little glad that I had -anything that they would accept of and be pleased with. - -My son being now about a mile from me, I asked liberty to go and see -him. They bid me go, and away I went; but quickly lost myself, -travelling over hills and through swamps, and could not find the way to -him. And I cannot but admire at the wonderful power and goodness of God -to me, in that though I was gone from home and met with all sorts of -Indians, and those I had no knowledge of, and there being no Christian -soul near me, yet not one of them offered the least imaginable -miscarriage to me. I turned homeward again, and met with my master, and -he showed me the way to my son. When I came to him I found him not -well; and withal he had a boil on his side, which much troubled him. We -bemoaned one another awhile, as the Lord helped us, and then I returned -again. When I was returned I found myself as unsatisfied as I was -before. - -But I was fain to go look after something to satisfy my hunger; and, -going among the wigwams, I went into one, and there found a squaw who -showed herself very kind to me, and gave me a piece of bear. I put it -into my pocket, and came home, but could not find an opportunity to -broil it for fear they should get it from me. And there it lay all the -day and night in my pocket. In the morning I went again to the same -squaw, who had a kettle of ground-nuts boiling. I asked her to let me -boil my piece of bear in the kettle, which she did, and gave me some -ground-nuts to eat with it; and I cannot but think how pleasant it was -to me. I have sometimes seen bear baked handsomely amongst the English, -and some liked it, but the thoughts that it was bear made me tremble. -But now that was savory to me that one would think was enough to turn -the stomach of a brute creature. - -One bitter cold day I could find no room to sit down before the fire. I -went out, and could not tell what to do, but I went into another -wigwam, where they were also sitting round the fire; but the squaw laid -a skin for me, and bid me sit down, and gave me some ground-nuts, and -bid me come again, and told me they would buy me if they were able. And -yet these were strangers to me that I never knew before. - -THE TENTH REMOVE.--That day a small part of the company removed about -three quarters of a mile, intending farther the next day. When they -came to the place they intended to lodge, and had pitched their -wigwams, being hungry, I went again back to the place we were before at -to get something to eat; being encouraged by the squaw's kindness, who -bid me come again. When I was there, there came an Indian to look after -me; who, when he had found me, kicked me all along. I went home and -found venison roasting that night, but they would not give me one bit -of it. Sometimes I met with favor, and sometimes with nothing but -frowns. - -THE ELEVENTH REMOVE.--The next day, in the morning, they took their -travel, intending a day's journey up the river; I took my load at -my back, and quickly we came to wade over a river, and passed over -tiresome and wearisome hills. One hill was so steep that I was fain to -creep up upon my knees, and to hold by the twigs and bushes to keep -myself from falling backwards. My head, also, was so light that I -usually reeled as I went. - -THE TWELFTH REMOVE.--It was upon a Sabbath-day morning that they -prepared for their travel. This morning I asked my master whether he -would sell me to my husband; he answered, _nux_; which did much -rejoice my spirits. My mistress, before we went, was gone to the burial -of a papoose, and returning she found me sitting and reading in my -Bible. She snatched it hastily out of my hand and threw it out of -doors. I ran out and caught it up, and put it in my pocket, and never -let her see it afterwards. Then they packed up their things to be gone, -and gave me my load; I complained it was too heavy, whereupon she gave -me a slap on the face and bid me be gone. I lifted up my heart to God, -hoping that redemption was not far off; and the rather because their -insolence grew worse and worse. - -But thoughts of my going homeward, for so we bent our course, much -cheered my spirit, and made my burden seem light, and almost nothing at -all. But, to my amazement and great perplexity, the scale was soon -turned; for when we had got a little way, on a sudden my mistress gave -out she would go no farther, but turn back again, and said I must go -back again with her; and she called her sannup, and would have had him -go back also, but he would not, but said he would go on, and come to us -again in three days. My spirit was upon this, I confess, very -impatient, and almost outrageous. I thought I could as well have died -as went back. Down I sat, with my heart as full as it could hold, and -yet so hungry that I could not sit neither. But going out to see what I -could find, and walking among the trees, I found six acorns and two -chestnuts, which were some refreshment to me. - -Towards night I gathered me some sticks for my own comfort, that I -might not lie cold; but when we came to lie down, they bid me go out -and lie somewhere else, for they had company they said come in more -than their own. I told them I could not tell where to go; they bid me -go look; I told them if I went to another wigwam they would be angry -and send me home again. Then one of the company drew his sword and told -me he would run me through if I did not go presently. Then was I fain -to stoop to this rude fellow, and go out in the night I knew not -whither. Mine eyes hath seen that fellow afterwards walking up and down -in Boston, under the appearance of a friendly Indian, and several -others of the like cut. - -I went to one wigwam, and they told me they had no room. Then I went to -another, and they said the same. At last, an old Indian bid me come to -him, and his squaw gave me some ground-nuts; she gave me also something -to lay under my head, and a good fire we had. Through the good -providence of God, I had a comfortable lodging that night. In the -morning, another Indian bid me come at night and he would give me six -ground-nuts, which I did. We were at this place and time about two -miles from Connecticut River. - -THE THIRTEENTH REMOVE.--Instead of going towards the Bay, which was -what I desired, I must go with them five or six miles down the river, -into a mighty thicket of brush, where we abode almost a fortnight. Here -one asked me to make a shirt for her papoose, for which she gave me a -mess of broth which was thickened with meal made of the bark of a tree; -and to make it better she had put into it about a handful of peas and a -few roasted ground-nuts. - -I had not seen my son a pretty while, and here was an Indian of whom I -made inquiry after him, and asked him when he saw him. He answered me, -that such a time his master roasted him, and that himself did eat a -piece of him as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat. -But the Lord upheld my spirit under this discouragement; and I -considered their horrible addictedness to lying, and that there is not -one of them that makes the least conscience of speaking the truth. - -In this place, one cold night, as I lay by the fire, I removed a stick -which kept the heat from me; a squaw moved it down again, at which I -looked up, and she threw a handful of ashes in my eyes. I thought I -should have been quite blinded and never have seen more; but, lying -down, the water ran out of my eyes, and carried the dirt with it, that -by the morning I recovered my sight again. - -About this time they came yelping from Hadley, having there killed -three Englishmen, and brought one captive with them, viz., Thomas Reed. -They all gathered about the poor man, asking him many questions. I -desired also to go and see him; and when I came, he was crying -bitterly, supposing they would quickly kill him. Whereupon I asked one -of them whether they intended to kill him; he answered me they would -not. He being a little cheered with that, I asked him about the welfare -of my husband; he told me he saw him such a time in the Bay, and he was -well, but very melancholy. By which I certainly understood, though I -suspected it before, that whatsoever the Indians told me respecting him -was vanity and lies. Some of them told me he was dead, and they had -killed him; some said he was married again, and that the governor -wished him to marry, and told him that he should have his choice; and -that all persuaded him that I was dead. So like were these barbarous -creatures to him who was a liar from the beginning. - -As I was sitting once in the wigwam here, Philip's maid came with the -child in her arms, and asked me to give her a piece of my apron to make -a flap for it. I told her I would not; then my mistress bid me give it, -but I still said no. The maid told me if I would not give her a piece, -she would tear a piece off it. I told her I would tear her coat then. -With that my mistress rises up, and takes up a stick big enough to have -killed me, and struck at me with it, but I stepped out, and she struck -the stick into the mat of the wigwam. But while she was pulling it out, -I ran to the maid, and gave her all my apron, and so that storm went -over. - -Hearing that my son was come to this place, I went to see him, and told -him his father was well, but very melancholy. He told me he was as much -grieved for his father as for himself. I wondered at his speech, for I -thought I had enough upon my spirit, in reference to myself, to make me -mindless of my husband and every one else, they being safe among their -friends. He told me also, that a while before, his master, together -with other Indians, were going to the French for powder; but by the way -the Mohawks met with them, and killed four of their company, which made -the rest turn back again. For which I desire that myself and he may -ever bless the Lord; for it might have been worse with him had he been -sold to the French, than it proved to be in his remaining with the -Indians. - -I asked his master to let him stay awhile with me, that I might comb -his head and look over him, for he was almost overcome with lice. He -told me when I had done that he was very hungry, but I had nothing to -relieve him, but bid him go into the wigwams as he went along, and see -if he could get anything among them; which he did, and, it seems, -tarried a little too long, for his master was angry with him, and beat -him, and then sold him. Then he came running to tell me he had a new -master, and that he had given him some ground-nuts already. Then I went -along with him to his new master, who told me he loved him, and he -should not want. So his master carried him away, and I never saw him -afterwards till I saw him at Piscataqua, in Portsmouth. - -That night they bid me go out of the wigwam again; my mistress's -papoose was sick, and it died that night; and there was one benefit in -it, that there was more room. I went to a wigwam and they bid me come -in, and gave me a skin to lie upon, and a mess of venison and -ground-nuts, which was a choice dish among them. On the morrow they -buried the papoose; and afterwards, both morning and evening, there -came a company to mourn and howl with her; though I confess I could not -much condole with them. - -THE FOURTEENTH REMOVE.--Now must we pack up and be gone from this -thicket, bending our course towards the Bay towns; I having nothing to -eat by the way this day but a few crumbs of cake that an Indian gave my -girl the same day we were taken. She gave it me, and I put it in my -pocket. There it lay till it was so mouldy, for want of good baking, -that one could not tell what it was made of. It fell all into crumbs, -and grew so dry and hard that it was like little flints; and this -refreshed me many times when I was ready to faint. It was in my -thoughts when I put it to my mouth that, if ever I returned, I would -tell the world what a blessing the Lord gave to such mean food. - -As we went along, they killed a deer, with a young one in her. They -gave me a piece of the fawn, and it was so young and tender that one -might eat the bones as well as the flesh, and yet I thought it very -good. When night came on we sat down. It rained, but they quickly got -up a bark wigwam, where I lay dry that night. I looked out in the -morning, and many of them had lain in the rain all night, I knew by -their reeking. Thus the Lord dealt mercifully with me many times, and I -fared better than many of them. - -In the morning they took the blood of the deer, and put it into the -paunch, and so boiled it. I could eat nothing of that, though they eat -it sweetly. And yet they were so nice in other things, that when I had -fetched water, and had put the dish I dipped the water with into the -kettle of water which I brought, they would say they would knock me -down, for they said it was a sluttish trick. - -THE FIFTEENTH REMOVE.--We went on our travel. I having got a handful of -ground-nuts for my support that day, they gave me my load, and I went -on cheerfully, with the thoughts of going homeward, having my burthen -more upon my back than my spirit. We came to Baquaug River again that -day, near which we abode a few days. Sometimes one of them would give -me a pipe, another a little tobacco, another a little salt, which I -would change for victuals. I cannot but think what a wolfish appetite -persons have in a starving condition; for many times, when they gave me -that which was hot, I was so greedy, that I should burn my mouth, that -it would trouble me many hours after, and yet I should quickly do the -like again. And after I was thoroughly hungry, I was never again -satisfied; for though it sometimes fell out that I had got enough, and -did eat till I could eat no more, yet I was as unsatisfied as I was -when I began. - -THE SIXTEENTH REMOVE.--We began this remove with wading over Baquaug -River. The water was up to our knees, and the stream very swift, and -so cold that I thought it would have cut me in sunder. I was so weak -and feeble that I reeled as I went along, and thought there I must -end my days at last, after my bearing and getting through so many -difficulties. The Indians stood laughing to see me staggering along, -but in my distress the Lord gave me experience of the truth and -goodness of that promise, Isa. xliii., 2--"When thou passeth through -the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not -overflow thee." Then I sat down to put on my stockings and shoes, with -the tears running down my eyes, and many sorrowful thoughts in my -heart. But I got up to go along with them. - -Quickly there came up to us an Indian who informed them that I must go -to Wachusett[14] to my master, for there was a letter come from the -council to the sagamores about redeeming the captives, and that there -would be another in fourteen days, and that I must be there ready. My -heart was so heavy before that I could scarce speak or go in the path, -and yet now so light that I could run. My strength seemed to come -again, and to recruit my feeble knees and aching heart; yet it pleased -them to go but one mile that night, and there we staid two days. - - [14] Princeton. The mountain in this town still retains the - name of Wachusett. - -In that time came a company of Indians to us, near thirty, all on -horseback. My heart skipped within me, thinking they had been -Englishmen, at the first sight of them; for they were dressed in -English apparel, with hats, white neckcloths, and sashes about their -waists, and ribbons upon their shoulders. But when they came near there -was a vast difference between the lovely faces of Christians and the -foul looks of those heathen, which much damped my spirits again. - -THE SEVENTEENTH REMOVE.--A comfortable remove it was to me, because -of my hopes. They gave me my pack and along we went cheerfully. But -quickly my will proved more than my strength; having little or no -refreshment my strength failed, and my spirits were almost quite gone. -At night we came to an Indian town, and the Indians sat down by a -wigwam discoursing, but I was almost spent and could scarce speak. I -laid down my load and went into the wigwam, and there sat an Indian -boiling of horse-feet, they being wont to eat the flesh first, and when -the feet were old and dried, and they had nothing else, they would cut -off the feet and use them. I asked him to give me a little of his -broth, or water they were boiling it in. He took a dish and gave me one -spoonful of samp, and bid me take as much of the broth as I would. Then -I put some of the hot water to the samp, and drank it up, and my -spirits came again. - -THE EIGHTEENTH REMOVE.--We took up our packs, and along we went; but -a wearisome day I had of it. As we went along I saw an Englishman -stripped naked and lying dead upon the ground, but knew not who he was. -Then we came to another Indian town where we staid all night. In this -town there were four English children captives, and one of them my own -sister's. I went to see how she did, and she was well, considering her -captive condition. I would have tarried that night with her, but they -that owned her would not suffer it. Then I went to another wigwam, -where they were boiling corn and beans, which was a lovely sight to -see, but I could not get a taste thereof. Then I went home to my -mistress's wigwam, and they told me I disgraced my master with begging, -and if I did so any more they would knock me on the head. I told them -they had as good do that as starve me to death. - -THE NINETEENTH REMOVE.--They said when we went out that we must travel -to Wachusett this day. But a bitter weary day I had of it, travelling -now three days together, without resting any day between. Going along, -having indeed my life, but little spirit, Philip, who was in the -company, came up, and took me by the hand, and said, "Two weeks more -and you shall be mistress again." I asked him if he spoke true. He -said, "Yes, and quickly you shall come to your master again;" who had -been gone from us three weeks. - -My master had three squaws, living sometimes with one and sometimes -with another: Onux, this old squaw at whose wigwam I was, and with whom -my master had been these three weeks. Another was Wettimore, with whom -I had lived and served all this while. A severe and proud dame she was, -bestowing every day in dressing herself near as much time as any of the -gentry of the land; powdering her hair and painting her face, going -with her necklaces, with jewels in her ears, and bracelets upon her -hands. When she had dressed herself, her work was to make girdles of -wampum and beads. The third squaw was a younger one, by whom he had two -papooses. - -By that time I was refreshed by the old squaw, Wettimore's maid came to -call me home, at which I fell a-weeping. Then the old squaw told me, to -encourage me, that when I wanted victuals I should come to her, and -that I should lie in her wigwam. Then I went with the maid, and quickly -I came back and lodged there. The squaw laid a mat under me, and a good -rug over me; the first time that I had any such kindness showed me. I -understood that Wettimore thought that if she should let me go and -serve with the old squaw she should be in danger to lose not only my -service, but the redemption-pay also. And I was not a little glad to -hear this; being by it raised in my hopes that in God's due time there -would be an end of this sorrowful hour. Then came an Indian and asked -me to knit him three pair of stockings, for which I had a hat and a -silk handkerchief. Then another asked me to make her a shift, for which -she gave me an apron. - -Then came Tom and Peter with the second letter from the council, about -the captives. Though they were Indians, I gat them by the hand, and -burst out into tears; my heart was so full that I could not speak to -them; but recovering myself, I asked them how my husband did, and all -my friends and acquaintance. They said they were well, but very -melancholy. They brought me two biscuits and a pound of tobacco. The -tobacco I soon gave away. When it was all gone one asked me to give him -a pipe of tobacco. I told him it was all gone. Then he began to rant -and threaten. I told him when my husband came I would give him some. -"Hang him, rogue," says he; "I will knock out his brains if he comes -here." And then again at the same breath they would say that if there -should come an hundred without guns they would do them no hurt; so -unstable and like madmen they were. So that, fearing the worst, I durst -not send to my husband, though there were some thoughts of his coming -to redeem and fetch me, not knowing what might follow; for there was -little more trust to them than to the master they served. - -When the letter was come, the sagamores met to consult about the -captives, and called me to them to inquire how much my husband would -give to redeem me. When I came I sat down among them, as I was wont to -do, as their manner is. Then they bid me stand up, and said they were -the general court. They bid me speak what I thought he would give. Now -knowing that all we had was destroyed by the Indians, I was in a great -strait. I thought if I should speak of but a little, it would be -slighted and hinder the matter; if of a great sum, I knew not where it -would be procured. Yet at a venture I said twenty pounds, yet desired -them to take less; but they would not hear of that, but sent the -message to Boston, that for twenty pounds I should be redeemed. It was -a praying Indian that wrote their letters for them. - -About that time there came an Indian to me, and bid me come to his -wigwam at night, and he would give me some pork and groundnuts, which I -did; and as I was eating, another Indian said to me, "He seems to be -your good friend, but he killed two Englishmen at Sudbury,[15] and there -lie the clothes behind you." I looked behind me, and there I saw bloody -clothes, with bullet-holes in them. Yet the Lord suffered not this -wretch to do me any hurt; yea, instead of that, he many times refreshed -me: five or six times did he and his squaw refresh my feeble carcass. -If I went to their wigwam at any time they would always give me -something, and yet they were strangers that I never saw before. Another -squaw gave me a piece of fresh pork, and a little salt with it, and -lent me her frying-pan to fry it; and I cannot but remember what a -sweet, pleasant, and delightful relish that bit had to me, to this day. -So little do we prize common mercies when we have them to the full. - - [15] Sudbury was attacked 21st April. - -THE TWENTIETH REMOVE.--It was their usual manner to remove when they -had done any mischief, lest they should be found out; and so they did -at this time. We went about three or four miles, and there they built -a great wigwam, big enough to hold an hundred Indians, which they did -in preparation to a great day of dancing. They would now say among -themselves that the governor would be so angry for his loss at Sudbury -that he would send no more about the captives, which made me grieve and -tremble. - -My sister being not far from this place, and hearing that I was here, -desired her master to let her come and see me, and he was willing to -it, and would come with her, but she, being ready first, told him she -would go before, and was come within a mile or two of the place. Then -he overtook her, and began to rant as if he had been mad, and made her -go back again in the rain; so that I never saw her till I saw her in -Charlestown. But the Lord requited many of their ill doings, for this -Indian, her master, was hanged afterwards at Boston. - -They began now to come from all quarters, against their merry dancing -day. Among some of them came one good-wife Kettle. I told her my heart -was so heavy that it was ready to break. "So is mine too," said she, -"but yet I hope we shall hear some good news shortly." I could hear how -earnestly my sister desired to see me, and I earnestly desired to see -her; yet neither of us could get an opportunity. My daughter was now -but a mile off, and I had not seen her for nine or ten weeks, as I had -not seen my sister since our first taking. I desired them to let me go -and see them; yea, I entreated, begged, and persuaded them to let me -see my daughter, and yet so hard-hearted were they that they would not -suffer it. They made use of their tyrannical power while they had it, -but through the Lord's wonderful mercy their time was now but short. - -On a Sabbath day, the sun being about an hour high in the afternoon, -came Mr. John Hoar (the council permitting him, and his own forward -spirit inclining him), together with the two forementioned Indians, Tom -and Peter, with the third letter from the council. When they came near -I was abroad. They presently called me in, and bid me sit down and not -stir. Then they catched up their guns and away they ran as if an enemy -had been at hand, and the guns went off apace. I manifested some great -trouble, and asked them what was the matter. I told them I thought they -had killed the Englishman (for they had in the meantime told me that an -Englishman was come). They said no; they shot over his horse, and -under, and before his horse, and they pushed him this way and that way, -at their pleasure, showing him what they could do. Then they let him -come to their wigwams. - -I begged of them to let me see the Englishman, but they would not; but -there was I fain to sit their pleasure. When they had talked their fill -with him, they suffered me to go to him. We asked each other of our -welfare, and how my husband did, and all my friends. He told me they -were all well, and would be glad to see me. Among other things which my -husband sent me, there came a pound of tobacco, which I sold for nine -shillings in money; for many of them for want of tobacco smoked hemlock -and ground-ivy. It was a great mistake in any who thought I sent for -tobacco, for through the favor of God that desire was overcome. - -I now asked them whether I should go home with Mr. Hoar. They answered -no, one and another of them, and it being late, we lay down with that -answer. In the morning Mr. Hoar invited the sagamores to dinner; but -when we went to get it ready, we found they had stolen the greatest -part of the provisions Mr. Hoar had brought. And we may see the -wonderful power of God in that one passage, in that when there was such -a number of them together, and so greedy of a little good food, and no -English there but Mr. Hoar and myself, that there they did not knock us -on the head and take what we had; there being not only some provision, -but also trading cloth, a part of the twenty pounds agreed upon. But -instead of doing us any mischief, they seemed to be ashamed of the -fact, and said it was the _matchit_[16] Indians that did it. Oh, -that we could believe that there was nothing too hard for God. God -showed His power over the heathen in this, as He did over the hungry -lions when Daniel was cast into the den. - - [16] Wicked. - -Mr. Hoar called them betime to dinner, but they ate but little, they -being so busy in dressing themselves and getting ready for their dance, -which was carried on by eight of them, four men and four squaws, my -master and mistress being two. He was dressed in his Holland shirt, -with great stockings, his garters hung round with shillings, and had -girdles of wampom upon his head and shoulders. She had a kersey coat, -covered with girdles of wampom from the loins upward. Her arms from her -elbows to her hands were covered with bracelets; there were handfuls of -necklaces about her neck, and several sorts of jewels in her ears. She -had fine red stockings, and white shoes, her hair powdered, and her -face painted red, that was always before black. And all the dancers -were after the same manner. - -There were two others singing and knocking on a kettle for their music. -They kept hopping up and down one after another, with a kettle of water -in the midst, standing warm upon some embers, to drink of when they -were dry. They held on till almost night, throwing out their wampom to -the standers-by. At night I asked them again if I should go home. They -all as one said no, except my husband would come for me. When we were -lain down, my master went out of the wigwam, and by and by sent in an -Indian called James the printer, who told Mr. Hoar that my master would -let me go home to-morrow if he would let him have one pint of liquor. -Then Mr. Hoar called his own Indians, Tom and Peter, and bid them all -go and see if he would promise it before them three, and if he would he -should have it; which he did and had it. - -Philip, smelling the business, called me to him, and asked me what I -would give him to tell me some good news, and to speak a good word for -me, that I might go home to-morrow. I told him I could not tell what to -give him, I would anything I had, and asked him what he would have. He -said two coats, and twenty shillings in money, half a bushel of seed -corn, and some tobacco. I thanked him for his love, but I knew that -good news as well as that crafty fox. - -On Tuesday morning they called their General Court, as they styled it, -to consult and determine whether I should go home or no. And they all -seemingly consented that I should go, except Philip, who would not come -among them. - -At first they were all against it, except my husband would come for me; -but afterwards they assented to it, and seeming to rejoice in it; some -asking me to send them some bread, others some tobacco, others shaking -me by the hand, offering me a hood and scarf to ride in; not one moving -hand or tongue against it. Thus hath the Lord answered my poor desires, -and the many earnest requests of others put up unto God for me. - -In my travels an Indian came to me and told me, if I were willing, he -and his squaw would run away, and go home along with me. I told them -no, I was not willing to run away, but desired to wait God's time, that -I might go home quietly and without fear. And now God hath granted me -my desire. Oh, the wonderful power of God that I have seen, and the -experiences that I have had! I have been in the midst of those roaring -lions and savage bears that feared neither God nor man nor the devil, -by night and day, alone and in company, sleeping all sorts together, -and yet not one of them ever offered the least abuse of unchastity to -me in word or action; though some are ready to say I speak it for my -own credit; but I speak it in the presence of God, and to His glory. -God's power is as great now as it was to save Daniel in the lions' den -or the three children in the fiery furnace. Especially that I should -come away in the midst of so many hundreds of enemies, and not a dog -move his tongue. - -So I took my leave of them, and in coming along my heart melted into -tears more than all the while I was with them, and I was almost -swallowed up with the thoughts that ever I should go home again. About -the sun's going down Mr. Hoar, myself, and the two Indians came to -Lancaster; and a solemn sight it was to me. There had I lived many -comfortable years among my relations and neighbors, and now not one -Christian to be seen, or one house left standing. We went on to a -farmhouse that was yet standing, where we lay all night; and a -comfortable lodging we had, though nothing but straw to lie on. The -Lord preserved us in safety that night, raised us up again in the -morning, and carried us along, that before noon we came to Concord. Now -was I full of joy, and yet not without sorrow; joy to see such a lovely -sight, so many Christians together, and some of them my neighbors. - -Being recruited with food and raiment, we went to Boston that day, -where I met with my dear husband; but the thoughts of our dear -children--one being dead and the other we could not tell where--abated -our comfort in each other. I was not before so much hemmed in by the -merciless and cruel heathen, but now as much with pitiful, -tender-hearted, and compassionate Christians. In that poor and beggarly -condition I was received in I was kindly entertained in several -houses.... The twenty pounds, the price of my redemption, was raised by -some Boston gentlewomen, and Mr. Usher, whose bounty and charity I -would not forget to make mention of. Then Mr. Thomas Shepard, of -Charlestown, received us into his house, where we continued eleven -weeks; and a father and mother they were unto us. And many more -tender-hearted friends we met with in that place. We were now in the -midst of love, yet not without much and frequent heaviness of heart for -our poor children and other relations who were still in affliction. - -The week following, after my coming in, the governor and council sent -to the Indians again, and that not without success; for they brought in -my sister and good-wife Kettle. About this time the council had ordered -a day of public thanksgiving, though I had still cause of mourning; and -being unsettled in our minds, we thought we would ride eastward, to see -if we could hear anything concerning our children. As we were riding -along between Ipswich and Rowley we met with William Hubbard, who told -us our son Joseph and my sister's son were come into Major Waldren's. I -asked him how he knew it. He said the major himself told him so. So -along we went till we came to Newbury; and their minister being absent, -they desired my husband to preach the thanksgiving for them; but he was -not willing to stay there that night, but he would go over to Salisbury -to hear farther, and come again in the morning, which he did, and -preached there that day. - -At night, when he had done, one came and told him that his daughter was -come into Providence. Here was mercy on both hands. Now we were between -them, the one on the east, and the other on the west. Our son being -nearest, we went to him first, to Portsmouth, where we met with him, -and with the major also, who told us he had done what he could, but -could not redeem him under seven pounds, which the good people -thereabouts were pleased to pay. On Monday we came to Charlestown, -where we heard that the Governor of Rhode Island had sent over for our -daughter, to take care of her, being now within his jurisdiction; which -should not pass without our acknowledgments. But she being nearer -Rehoboth than Rhode Island, Mr. Newman went over and took care of her, -and brought her to his own house. And the goodness of God was admirable -to us in our low estate, in that he raised up compassionate friends on -every side, when we had nothing to recompense any for their love. Our -family being now gathered together, the South Church in Boston hired a -house for us. Then we removed from Mr. Shepard's (those cordial -friends) and went to Boston, where we continued about three quarters of -a year.... - - - - -IV - -CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF MERCY HARBISON, 1792 - - - On the 4th of November, 1791, a force of Americans under General - Arthur St. Clair was attacked, near the present Ohio-Indiana - boundary line, by about the same number of Indians led by Blue - Jacket, Little Turtle, and the white renegade Simon Girty. Their - defeat was the most disastrous that ever has been suffered by our - arms when engaged against a savage foe on anything like even terms. - Out of 86 officers and about 1400 regular and militia soldiers, St. - Clair lost 70 officers killed or wounded, and 845 men killed, - wounded, or missing. The survivors fled in panic, throwing away - their weapons and accoutrements. Such was "St. Clair's defeat." - - The utter incompetency of the officers commanding this expedition - may be judged from the single fact that a great number of women - were allowed to accompany the troops into a wilderness known to be - infested with the worst kind of savages. There were about 250 of - these women with the "army" on the day of the battle. Of these, 56 - were killed on the spot, many being pinned to the earth by stakes - driven through their bodies. Few of the others escaped captivity. - - After this unprecedented victory, the Indians became more - troublesome than ever along the frontier. No settler's home was - safe, and many were destroyed in the year of terror that followed. - The awful fate of one of those households is told in the following - touching narrative of Mercy Harbison, wife of one of the survivors - of St. Clair's defeat. How two of her little children were - slaughtered before her eyes, how she was dragged through the - wilderness with a babe at her breast, how cruelly maltreated, and - how she finally escaped, barefooted and carrying her infant through - days and nights of almost superhuman exertion, she has left record - in a deposition before the magistrates at Pittsburgh and in the - statement here reprinted. (_Editor._) - - -On the return of my husband from General St. Clair's defeat, and on his -recovery from the wound he received in the battle, he was made a spy, -and ordered to the woods on duty, about the 23d of March, 1792. The -appointment of spies to watch the movements of the savages was so -consonant with the desires and interests of the inhabitants that the -frontiers now resumed the appearance of quiet and confidence. Those who -had for nearly a year been huddled together in the blockhouses were -scattered to their own habitations, and began the cultivation of their -farms. The spies saw nothing to alarm them, or to induce them to -apprehend danger, until the fatal morning of my captivity. They -repeatedly came to our house to receive refreshments and to lodge. - -On the 15th of May my husband, with Captain Guthrie and other spies, -came home about dark and wanted supper; to procure which I requested -one of the spies to accompany me to the spring and spring-house, and -William Maxwell complied with my request. While at the spring and -spring-house we both distinctly heard a sound like the bleating of a -lamb or fawn. This greatly alarmed us and induced us to make a hasty -retreat into the house. Whether this was an Indian decoy, or a warning -of what I was to pass through, I am unable to determine. But from this -time and circumstance I became considerably alarmed, and entreated my -husband to remove me to some place more secure from Indian cruelties. -But Providence had designed that I should become a victim to their -rage, and that mercy should be made manifest in my deliverance. - -On the night of the 21st of May two of the spies, Mr. James Davis and -Mr. Sutton, came to lodge at our house, and on the morning of the 22d, -at daybreak, when the horn blew at the blockhouse, which was within -sight of our house and distant about two hundred yards, the two men got -up and went out. I was also awake, and saw the door open, and thought, -after I was taken prisoner, that the scouts had left it open. I -intended to rise immediately, but having a child at the breast, and it -being awakened, I lay with it at the breast to get it to sleep again, -and accidentally fell asleep myself. The spies have since informed me -that they returned to the house again, and found that I was sleeping; -that they softly fastened the door and went immediately to the -blockhouse, and those who examined the house after the scene was over -say that both doors had the appearance of being broken open. - -The first thing I knew from falling asleep was the Indians pulling me -out of bed by my feet. I then looked up and saw the house full of -Indians, every one having his gun in his left hand and tomahawk in his -right. Beholding the danger in which I was, I immediately jumped to the -floor on my feet, with the young child in my arms. I then took a -petticoat to put on, having on only the one in which I slept; but the -Indians took it from me, and as many as I attempted to put on they -succeeded in taking from me, so that I had to go just as I had been in -bed. While I was struggling with some of the savages for clothing, -others of them went and took the children out of another bed, and -immediately took the two feather beds to the door and emptied them. - -The savages immediately began their work of plunder and devastation. -What they were unable to carry with them they destroyed. While they -were at their work, I made to the door, and succeeded in getting out -with one child in my arms and another by my side; but the other little -boy was so much displeased by being so early disturbed in the morning -that he would not come to the door. - -When I got out I saw Mr. Wolf, one of the soldiers, going to the spring -for water, and beheld two or three of the savages attempting to get -between him and the blockhouse; but Mr. Wolf was unconscious of his -danger, for the savages had not yet been discovered. I then gave a -terrific scream, by which means Mr. Wolf discovered his danger and -started to run for the blockhouse. Seven or eight of the Indians fired -at him, but the only injury he received was a bullet in his arm, which -broke it. He succeeded in making his escape to the blockhouse. When I -raised the alarm, one of the Indians came up to me with his tomahawk as -though about to take my life; a second came and placed his hand before -my mouth and told me to hush, when a third came with a lifted tomahawk -and attempted to give me a blow; but the first that came raised his -tomahawk and averted the blow, and claimed me as his squaw. - -The commissary, with his waiter, slept in the storehouse near the -blockhouse; and, upon hearing the report of the guns, came to the door -to see what was the matter; and, beholding the danger he was in, made -his escape to the blockhouse; but not without being discovered by the -Indians, several of whom fired at him, and one of the bullets went -through his handkerchief, which was tied about his head, and took off -some of his hair. The handkerchief, with several bullet-holes in it, he -afterwards gave to me. - -The waiter, on coming to the door, was met by the Indians, who fired -upon him, and he received two bullets through the body and fell dead by -the door. The savages then set up one of their tremendous and -terrifying yells, and pushed forward and attempted to scalp the man -they had killed; but they were prevented from executing their -diabolical purpose by the heavy fire which was kept up through the -portholes from the blockhouse. - -In this scene of horror and alarm I began to meditate an escape, and -for that purpose I attempted to direct the attention of the Indians -from me and to fix it on the blockhouse, and thought if I could succeed -in this I would retreat to a subterranean cave with which I was -acquainted, which was in the run near where we were. For this purpose I -began to converse with some of those who were near me respecting the -strength of the blockhouse, the number of men in it, etc., and being -informed that there were forty men there, and that they were excellent -marksmen, the savages immediately came to the determination to retreat, -and for this purpose they ran to those who were besieging the -blockhouse and brought them away. - -They then began to flog me with their wiping sticks, and to order me -along. Thus what I intended as the means of my escape was the means of -accelerating my departure in the hands of the savages. But it was no -doubt ordered by a kind Providence for the preservation of the fort and -the inhabitants in it; for when the savages gave up the attack and -retreated, some of the men in the fort had the last load of ammunition -in their guns, and there was no possibility of procuring more, for it -was all fastened up in the storehouse, which was inaccessible. - -The Indians, when they had flogged me away with them, took my oldest -boy, a lad about five years of age, along with them, for he was still -at the door by my side. My middle little boy, who was about three years -of age, had by this time obtained a situation by the fire in the house, -and was crying bitterly to me not to go, and making sore complaints of -the depredations of the savages. But these monsters were not willing to -let the child remain behind them; they took him by the hand to drag him -along with them, but he was so very unwilling to go, and made such a -noise by crying, that they took him up by his feet and dashed his -brains out against the threshold of the door. They then scalped and -stabbed him, and left him for dead. When I witnessed this inhuman -butchery of my own child I gave a most indescribable and terrific -scream, and felt a dimness come over my eyes, next to blindness, and my -senses were nearly gone. The savages then gave me a blow across my head -and face and brought me to my sight and recollection again. During the -whole of this agonizing scene I kept my infant in my arms. - -As soon as the murder was effected they marched me along to the top of -the bank, about forty or sixty rods, and there they stopped and divided -the plunder which they had taken from our house, and here I counted -their number and found them to be thirty-two, two of whom were white -men painted as Indians. Several of the Indians could speak English -well. I knew several of them well, having seen them going up and down -the Alleghany River. I knew two of them to be from the Seneca tribe of -Indians, and two of them Munsees; for they had called at the shop to -get their guns repaired, and I saw them there. - -We went from this place about forty rods, and they then caught my uncle -John Currie's horses, and two of them, into whose custody I was put, -started with me on the horses towards the mouth of the Kiskiminetas, -and the rest of them went off towards Puckety. When they came to the -bank that descended towards the Alleghany it was so very steep, and -there appeared so much danger in descending it on horseback that I -threw myself off the horse, in opposition to the will and command of -the savages. - -My horse descended without falling, but the one on which the Indian -rode who had my little boy, in descending, fell and rolled over -repeatedly; and my little boy fell back over the horse, but was not -materially injured; he was taken up by one of the Indians, and we got -to the bank of the river, where they had secreted some bark canoes -under the rocks, opposite the island that lies between the Kiskiminetas -and Buffalo. They attempted, in vain, to make the horses take the -river, and had to leave the horses behind them, and took us in one of -the canoes to the point of the island, and there left the canoe. - -Here I beheld another hard scene, for as soon as we landed, my little -boy, who was still mourning and lamenting about his little brother, and -who complained that he was injured by the fall in descending the bank, -_was murdered_. One of the Indians ordered me along, probably that -I should not see the horrid deed about to be perpetrated. The other -then took his tomahawk from his side, and with this instrument of death -killed and scalped him. When I beheld this second scene of inhuman -butchery I fell to the ground senseless, with my infant in my arms, it -being under and its little hands in the hair of my head. How long I -remained in this state of insensibility I know not. - -The first thing I remember was my raising my head from the ground and -feeling myself exceedingly overcome with sleep. I cast my eyes around -and saw the scalp of my dear little boy, fresh bleeding from his head, -in the hand of one of the savages, and sank down to the earth again -upon my infant child. The first thing I remember, after witnessing this -spectacle of woe, was the severe blows I was receiving from the hands -of the savages, though at that time I was unconscious of the injury I -was sustaining. After a severe castigation, they assisted me in getting -up, and supported me when up. The scalp of my little boy was hid from -my view, and in order to bring me to my senses again they took me back -to the river and led me in knee-deep; this had its intended effect. -But, "the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." - -We now proceeded on our journey by crossing the island, and coming to a -shallow place where we could wade out, and so arrive at the Indian side -of the country. Here they pushed me in the river before them, and had -to conduct me through it. The water was up to my breast, but I -suspended my child above the water, and, with the assistance of the -savages, got safely out. Thence we rapidly proceeded forward, and came -to Big Buffalo; here the stream was very rapid and the Indians had -again to assist me. When we had crossed this creek, we made a straight -course to the Connoquenessing Creek, the very place where Butler, Pa., -now stands; and thence we travelled five or six miles to Little -Buffalo, which we crossed. - -I now felt weary of my life, and had a full determination to make the -savages kill me, thinking that death would be exceedingly welcome when -compared to the fatigue, cruelties, and miseries I had the prospect of -enduring. To have my purpose effected I stood still, one of the savages -being before me, and the other walking behind me, and I took from off -my shoulder a large powder-horn they made me carry, in addition to my -child, who was one year and four days old. I threw the horn on the -ground, closed my eyes, and expected every moment to feel the deadly -tomahawk. But to my surprise the Indian took it up, cursed me bitterly, -and put it on my shoulder again. I took it off the second time, and -threw it on the ground, and again closed my eyes, with the assurance I -should meet death; but instead of this, the Indian again took up the -horn, and with an indignant, frightful countenance, came and placed it -on again. I took it off the third time, and was determined to effect -it, and, therefore, threw it as far as I was able from me, over the -rocks. The savage immediately went after it, while the one who had -claimed me as his squaw, and who had stood and witnessed the -transaction, came up to me and said: "Well done; you did right and are -a good squaw, and the other is a lazy son-of-a-gun; he may carry it -himself." - -The savages now changed their position, and the one who claimed me as -his squaw went behind. This movement, I believe, was to prevent the -other from doing me any injury; and we went on till we struck the -Connoquenessing at the Salt Lick, about two miles above Butler, where -was an Indian camp, where we arrived a little before dark, having no -refreshment during the day. The camp was made of stakes driven into the -ground, sloping, and covered with chestnut bark, and appeared -sufficiently long for fifty men. The camp appeared to have been -occupied for some time; it was very much trodden, and large beaten -paths went out from it in different directions. - -That night they took me about three hundred yards from the camp, up a -run, into a large, dark bottom, where they cut the brush in a thicket -and placed a blanket on the ground and permitted me to sit down with my -child. They then pinioned my arms back, only with a little liberty, so -that it was with difficulty that I managed my child. Here, in this -dreary situation, without fire or refreshment, having an infant to take -care of, and my arms bound behind me, and having a savage on each side -of me who had killed two of my dear children that day, I had to pass -the first night of my captivity. - -But the trials and tribulations of the day I had passed had so -completely exhausted nature that, notwithstanding my unpleasant -situation, and my determination to escape, if possible, I insensibly -fell asleep, and repeatedly dreamed of my escape and safe arrival in -Pittsburgh, and several things relating to the town, of which I knew -nothing at the time, but found to be true when I arrived there. The -first night passed away and I found no means of escape, for the savages -kept watch the whole of the night without any sleep. - -In the morning one of them left us to watch the trail we had come, to -see if any white people were pursuing us. During the absence of the -Indian, the one that claimed and remained with me, and who was the -murderer of my last boy, took from his bosom his scalp, and prepared a -hoop and stretched the scalp upon it. Those mothers who have not seen -the like done to one of the scalps of their own children will be able -to form but faint ideas of the feelings which then harrowed up my soul. -I meditated revenge! While he was in the very act I attempted to take -his tomahawk, which hung by his side and rested on the ground, and had -nearly succeeded, and was, as I thought, about to give the fatal blow, -when, alas! I was detected. - -The savage felt at his tomahawk handle, turned upon me, cursed me and -told me I was a Yankee; thus insinuating he understood my intention, -and to prevent me from doing so again, faced me. My excuse to him for -handling his tomahawk was, that my child wanted to play with the handle -of it. The savage who went upon the lookout in the morning came back -about twelve o'clock, and had discovered no pursuers. Then the one who -had been guarding me went out on the same errand. The savage who was -now my guard began to examine me about the white people, the strength -of the armies going against the Indians, etc., and boasted largely of -their achievements in the preceding fall, at the defeat of General St. -Clair. - -He then examined the plunder which he had brought from our house the -day before. He found my pocket-book and money among his plunder. There -were ten dollars in silver and a half-guinea in gold in the book. -During this day they gave me a piece of dried venison, about the bulk -of an egg, and a piece about the same size the day we were marching, -for my support and that of my child; but, owing to the blows I had -received from them on the jaws, I was unable to eat a bit of it. I -broke it up and gave it to the child. - -The savage on the lookout returned about dark. This evening (Monday, -the 23d) they moved me to another station in the same valley, and -secured me as they did the preceding night. Thus I found myself the -second night between two Indians, without fire and refreshment. During -this night I was frequently asleep, notwithstanding my unpleasant -situation, and as often dreamed of my arrival in Pittsburgh. - -Early on the morning of the 24th a flock of mocking-birds and robins -hovered over us as we lay in our uncomfortable bed; and sang and said, -at least to my imagination, that I was to get up and go off. As soon as -day broke, one of the Indians went off again to watch the trail, as on -the preceding day, and he who was left to take care of me appeared to -be sleeping. When I perceived this I lay still and began to snore, as -though asleep, and he also fell asleep. Then I concluded it was time to -escape. I found it impossible to injure him for my child at the breast, -as I could not effect anything without putting the child down, and then -it would cry and give the alarm; so I contented myself with taking, -from a pillow-case of plunder stolen from our house, a short gown, -handkerchief, and child's frock, and so made my escape; the sun then -being about half an hour high. - -I struck the Connoquenessing, and went down stream until about two -o'clock in the afternoon, over rocks, precipices, thorns, briers, etc., -with my bare feet and legs. I then discovered I was on the wrong -course, and waited till the North Star appeared. Marking out the -direction for the next day, I collected a bed of leaves, laid down and -slept, though my feet, being full of thorns, began to be exceedingly -painful, and I had nothing for self or babe to eat. The next morning I -started early, nothing material occurring. Towards evening a gentle -rain came on, and I began to prepare my leaf bed, setting the child -down the while, who began to cry. Fearful of the consequences, I put -him to the breast and he became quiet. I then listened and distinctly -heard footsteps. The ground over which I had travelled was soft and my -foot traces had been followed. - -Greatly alarmed, I looked about for a place of safety, and -providentially discovered a large tree which had fallen, into the top -of which I crept. The darkness greatly assisted me and prevented -detection. The savage who followed me had heard the cry of the child -and came to the very spot where it had cried, and there he halted, put -down his gun, and was at this time so near that I heard the wiping -stick strike against his gun distinctly. My getting in under the tree -and sheltering myself from the rain, and pressing my boy to my bosom, -got him warm, and, most providentially, he fell asleep, and lay very -still during that time of extreme danger. All was still and quiet; the -savage was listening to hear again the cry. My own heart was the only -thing I feared, and that beat so loud that I was apprehensive it would -betray me. It is almost impossible to conceive the wonderful effect my -situation produced upon my whole system. - -After the savage had stood and listened with nearly the stillness of -death for two hours, the sound of a bell and a cry like that of a night -owl, signals which were given to him by his companions, induced him to -answer, and after he had given a most horrid yell, which was calculated -to harrow up my soul, he started and went off to join them. After his -retreat, I concluded it unsafe to remain there till morning. - -But by this time nature was so nearly exhausted that I found some -difficulty in moving; yet, compelled by necessity, I threw my coat -about my child and placed the end between my teeth, and with one arm -and my teeth I carried him, and with the other groped my way between -the trees and travelled on, as I supposed, a mile or two, and there sat -down at the root of a tree till morning. The night was cold and wet, -and thus terminated the fourth day-and-night's difficulties, trials, -and dangers! - -The fifth day, wet, exhausted, hungry, and wretched, I started from my -resting-place as soon as I could see my way, and on that morning struck -the head-waters of Pine Creek, which falls into the Alleghany about -four miles above Pittsburgh; though I knew not then what waters they -were; I crossed them, and on the opposite bank I found a path, and on -it two moccason tracks, fresh indented. This alarmed me; but as they -were before me, and travelling in the same direction as I was, I -concluded I could see them as soon as they could see me, and, -therefore, I pressed on in that path for about three miles, when I came -to where another branch emptied into the creek, where was a hunter's -camp, where the two men, whose tracks I had before discovered and -followed, had breakfasted and left the fire burning. - -I became more alarmed, and determined to leave the path. I then crossed -a ridge towards Squaw Run, and came upon a trail. Here I stopped and -meditated what to do; and while I was thus musing I saw three deer -coming towards me at full speed; they turned to look at their pursuers; -I looked too, with all attention, and saw the flash and heard the -report of a gun. I saw some dogs start after them, and began to look -about for shelter, and immediately made for a large log to hide myself. -Providentially I did not go clear to the log; for as I put my hand to -the ground, to raise myself so that I might see who and where the -hunters were, I saw a large heap of rattlesnakes, the top one being -very large, and coiled up very near my face, and quite ready to bite -me. - -I again left my course, bearing to the left, and came upon the -head-waters of Squaw Run, and kept down the run the remainder of that -day. It rained, and I was in a very deplorable situation; so cold and -shivering were my limbs, that frequently, in opposition to all my -struggles, I gave an involuntary groan. I suffered intensely from -hunger, though my jaws were so far recovered that, wherever I could, I -procured grape-vines, and chewed them for a little sustenance. In the -evening I came within one mile of the Alleghany River, though I was -ignorant of it at the time; and there, at the root of a tree, through a -most tremendous rain, I took up my fifth night's lodgings. In order to -shelter my infant as much as possible, I placed him in my lap, and then -leaned my head against the tree, and thus let the rain fall upon me. - -On the sixth (that was the Sabbath) morning from my captivity, I found -myself unable, for a very considerable time, to raise myself from the -ground; and when I had once more, by hard struggling, got myself upon -my feet and started, nature was so nearly exhausted and my spirits were -so completely depressed that my progress was amazingly slow and -discouraging. In this almost helpless condition I had not gone far -before I came to a path where there had been cattle travelling; I took -it, under the impression that it would lead me to the abode of some -white people, and in about a mile I came to an uninhabited cabin, and -though I was in a river bottom, yet I knew not where I was nor yet on -what river bank I had come. - -Here I was seized with feelings of despair, went to the threshold of -the cabin and concluded that I would enter and lie down and die, since -death would have been an angel of mercy to me in such a miserable -situation. Had it not been for the sufferings which my infant, who -would survive me some time, must endure, I would have carried my -determination into execution. Here I heard the sound of a cow-bell, -which imparted a gleam of hope to my desponding mind. I followed the -sound till I came opposite the fort at the Six Mile Island, where I saw -three men on the opposite bank of the river. - -My feelings then can be better imagined than described. I called to -them, but they seemed unwilling to risk the danger of coming after me, -and asked who I was. I told them, and they requested me to walk up the -bank awhile that they might see if Indians were making a decoy of me; -but I replied my feet were so sore I could not walk. Then one of them, -James Closier, got into a canoe to fetch me over, while the other two -stood with cocked rifles ready to fire on the Indians, provided they -were using me as a decoy. When Mr. Closier came near and saw my haggard -and dejected appearance, he exclaimed, "Who in the name of God are -you?" This man was one of my nearest neighbors, yet in six days I was -so much altered that he did not know me, either by my voice or -countenance. - -When I landed on the inhabited side of the river the people from the -fort came running out to see me. They took the child from me, and now -that I felt safe from all danger, I found myself unable to move or to -assist myself in any degree, whereupon the people took me and carried -me out of the boat to the house of Mr. Cortus. - -Now that I felt secure from the cruelties of the barbarians, for the -first time since my captivity, my feelings returned in all their -poignancy and the tears flowed freely, imparting a happiness beyond -what I ever experienced. When I was taken into the house the heat of -the fire and the smell of victuals, of both of which I had so long been -deprived, caused me to faint. Some of the people attempted to restore -me and some to put clothes on me, but their kindness would have killed -me had it not been for the arrival of Major McCully, who then commanded -along the river. When he understood my situation, and saw the -provisions they were preparing for me, he was greatly alarmed; ordered -me out of the house, away from the heat and smell; prohibited me from -taking anything but a very little whey of buttermilk, which he -administered with his own hands. Through this judicious management I -was mercifully restored to my senses and gradually to health and -strength. - -Two of the females, Sarah Carter and Mary Ann Crozier, then began to -take out the thorns from my feet and legs, which Mr. Felix Negley stood -by and counted to the number of one hundred and fifty, though they were -not all extracted at that time, for the next evening, at Pittsburgh, -there were many more taken out. The flesh was mangled dreadfully, and -the skin and flesh were hanging in pieces on my feet and legs. The -wounds were not healed for a considerable time. Some of the thorns went -through my feet and came out at the top. For two weeks I was unable to -put my feet to the ground to walk. The next morning a young man -employed by the magistrates of Pittsburgh came for me to go immediately -to town to give in my deposition, that it might be published to the -American people. Some of the men carried me into a canoe, and when I -arrived I gave my deposition. As the intelligence spread, Pittsburgh, -and the country for twenty miles around, was all in a state of -commotion. The same evening my husband came to see me, and soon after I -was taken back to Coe's Station. In the evening I gave an account of -the murder of my boy on the island, and the next morning a scout went -out and found the body and buried it, nine days after the murder. - - -THE END - - - - -OUTING ADVENTURE LIBRARY - -_Edited by Horace Kephart_ - - -¶ Here are brought together for the first time the great stories of -adventure of all ages and countries. These are the personal records of -the men who climbed the mountains and penetrated the jungles; who -explored the seas and crossed the deserts; who knew the chances and -took them, and lived to write their own tales of hardship and endurance -and achievement. The series will consist of an indeterminate number of -volumes--for the stories are myriad. The whole will be edited by Horace -Kephart. Each volume answers the test of these two questions: Is it -true? Is it interesting? - -¶ The entire series is uniform in style and binding. Among the titles -now ready or in preparation are those described on the following pages. - - PRICE $1.00 EACH, NET. POSTAGE 10 CENTS EXTRA - - THE NUMBERS MAKE ORDERING CONVENIENT - -1. IN THE OLD WEST, by George Frederick Ruxton. The men who blazed the -trail across the Rockies to the Pacific were the independent trappers -and hunters in the days before the Mexican war. They left no records of -their adventures and most of them linger now only as shadowy names. But -a young Englishman lived among them for a time, saw life from their -point of view, trapped with them and fought with them against the -Indians. That was George Frederick Ruxton. His story is our only -complete picture of the Old West in the days of the real Pioneers, of -Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, Bill Williams, the Sublettes, and all the rest -of that glorious company of the forgotten who opened the West. - - -2. CASTAWAYS AND CRUSOES. Since the beginnings of navigation men have -faced the dangers of shipwreck and starvation. Scattered through the -annals of the sea are the stories of those to whom disaster came and -the personal records of the way they met it. Some of them are given in -this volume, narratives of men who lived by their hands among savages -and on forlorn coasts, or drifted helpless in open boats. They range -from the South Seas to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from the iron coast of -Patagonia to the shores of Cuba. They are echoes from the days when the -best that could be hoped by the man who went to sea was hardship and -man's-sized work. - - -3. CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS. First of all is the story of Captain -James Smith, who was captured by the Delawares at the time of -Braddock's defeat, was adopted into the tribe, and for four years lived -as an Indian, hunting with them, studying their habits, and learning -their point of view. Then there is the story of Father Bressani who -felt the tortures of the Iroquois, of Mary Rowlandson who was among the -human spoils of King Philip's war, and of Mercy Harbison who suffered -in the red flood that followed St. Clair's defeat. All are personal -records made by the actors themselves in those days when the Indian was -constantly at our forefathers's doors. - - -4. FIRST THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON, by Major John Wesley Powell. Major -Powell was an officer in the Union Army who lost an arm at Shiloh. In -spite of this four years after the war he organized an expedition which -explored the Grand Canyon of the Colorado in boats--the first to make -this journey. His story has been lost for years in the oblivion of a -scientific report. It is here rescued and presented as a record of one -of the great personal exploring feats, fitted to rank with the exploits -of Pike, Lewis and Clark, and Mackenzie. - - -5. ADRIFT IN THE ARCTIC ICE-PACK, By Elisha Kent Kane, M.D. Out of the -many expeditions that went north in search of Sir John Franklin over -fifty years ago, it fell to the lot of one, financed by a New York -merchant, to spend an Arctic winter drifting aimlessly in the grip of -the Polar ice in Lancaster Sound. The surgeon of the expedition kept a -careful diary and out of that record told the first complete story of a -Far Northern winter. That story is here presented, shorn of the purely -scientific data and stripped to the personal exploits and adventures of -the author and the other members of the crew. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Captives Among the Indians, by -James Smith and Francesco Giuseppe Bressani and Mary White Rowlandson and Mercy Harbison - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS *** - -***** This file should be named 44934-8.txt or 44934-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/9/3/44934/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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