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A
NARRATIVE
i n
Of the CAPTURE : &
Of certain A M E R I C A N ^
At tPeftmoreland^
By SAYAOESj
.e£ the perilous £ s c a r e which they eftefied* bgr;
furprizing Specimens of Policy aftdJHteroifau
To which i* fubjoinfel,
Some Account of the ReHgton, Go*ernrneȣ*r
Cuftoms, and Manners of the Aborigines
of NORTH- AMERICA. !
N«w.L<mdon i Printed by T, Gr*en, 1784-
■^■M— 1 1— > l» llll
3 *4-0
ON hearing a particular Account of the Cap-
ture of certain Americans at Weftmoreland on
the Sufquehannah, and the furprizing Efcapc which
they effe&ed, by rifing upon and vanquilhing the:
Savage Captors, my Mind was fo ftruck with t
nre Specimens of Entcrprize, Bravery, and Cond
which were exhibited in thefe little Adventures, ths-
I prefcndy projected the Publication thereof, though
the Narmtion is worthy of an abler Pen.
( 3 )
A Narrative, &c.
THE favages who occafloned the following fcenet, were
fent from the Britifh gtarifon at Niagara, fome time
in the fore part of March, A. fX 17S0.. through a deep fnow,
on a wretched bulking indian espjdition,agarnfta few bar-
tering people which they hoped to find about Sufquehannah ;
efpecially thofe who were making fugar in the wood* at
that time of the year-
The number of indians which fkulked about Weltmore-
land at this time, was 16 : whether they all came from Ni-
agara in company and feparated in the vic'nity, or were
feparate parties from Niagara, I never could learn: but
they appeared about Weltrnoreland in two parties of fix
_and ten indians in different parts of the country * the party
of 10 appeared the next day after the party of f:X.
I will give a narrative of each in their turns.
The party of ten indians, after lurking about the fettle-
ment for fome time, firft made their appearance on Tuefday
the 28th of March, at break of day, five miles below Ply-
mouth fettlement, where fundry people were fcittered about
miking maple fugar, which is known to be a profitable
branch of bufinefs here as in many parts of America : the
manufacturers frequently build a little hut near a maple
grove, and continue boiling all night. In one of thefe huts
was a Mr. Upfon, and Jonah Rogers, a lad 13 yearn of age,
they wa:ched with the fugar boiling by turns ; and at daj*-
breaking Upfon having finiftaei his watch, was reclined on
the rloor a-fleep, and Jonah was up, and at this time a-
mufing himfeif in fome trines 5 when to hisfurprize, a fa-
vage fuddenly entered the hut. and immediately fired hii
pie „j through the bowels of Upfon, and with his tomahawk
fplit out his brains ; a fecond of thefe frightful femi-painted
daemons immediately entered, and feiied Jonah by the arm.
when the whole gang prefently ruthed into the hut, with
their ihocking painted vifages and favage fhoutingg, upon
the devoted Jonah, to whofe affrighted mini they ^ relented
the
(4)
the urmoft horrors of inftant death, heigfetned by a glaring
raprefentation of the infernal pit : they gave him to under-
ftand by their jargon dialed, which he partly underftood,
that he muft go with them \ which in his prefent view was
but the more wretched alternative of inftant death. He had
no way tQ vent his horror but by immoderate crying, which
the favage« fupprefs'd by menaces of death ; he then fell to
fupplicating then with all rus might, for liberty to go
home j but thefe intreaties alfo the favages fupprefs'd by
the fame threats as before : thus the lad, advanced far
enough in life to anticipate the horrors of favage cruelty and
captivity, yet too young to (hare the full fortitude of uian-
l.ood,not fuffered to vent his horror by crying, nor daring
to beg for relief from his inexorable mafters, and not a
mortal with whom to confer p r condole, he was fix'd in a
plethory ofgrjefand defpair, whjile the fa vages performed
their deteftable cufiom* by taking off the fcalp of Mr. Up-
fon. '
The fa vages next proceed dpwn the river, to a place
called Fifhing-Creek ; where on Wednefday they furpiizttf
and took Mefti. Pejer Pence, Mofes VanCampen,an# a lad
named Mofes Van Campen, nephew to the former They
continued lurking about until Friday, when they difcovered
fome fiigar wo^ks where the kettles were boiling i they
concluded that the people had hid theoifelves near by,
whom they catch d by the following ftratagem: they obliged
the prifoners to halloo, and callrhem out as if they all were
friends ; this had the effe# propofed, and brought out a
Mr. Pikej with his wife and child i the man they retained
as a prifoner, but the woman and child they fpared, for the
fake of gratifying a humour of painting them in the Indian
juanner, which they performed, and then fent them home.
I may here obferve, that I don't remember to have heard
an iuftance of thefe lavages offering to violate the chaftity
of any of the fair fex who have fallen into tneir hands ; this
is principally owing to a natural inappetancy in their ccrfti-
fitions ; which circumfta nee, were it otheiwife, and were,
they equally nefarious in this, as in their other violation of
the laws of nature and humanity, it would render their de-
predations, if poiftble, much more demoniack than they are*
This is an inftance, among numberlefs, which an obferving
( s )
mind may perceive, where the wife Creator of all. in his
alignments of paflions, powers and properties, ha* balan-
ced and foiled thofe matters in a imnner worthy of himfelf.
The favages beins; now in pofrfuon of rive prifoners, vi •.
Meflrs. Pence, Van Campen, Pike, joung Van dampen, i?
years of age, and Jonah Rogers, 13 years old, together with
a number of blankets, and a quantity of fugai and Indian
meal, wbieh they had plundered in the fugar-huts, which
was all the provinon they bad, they, without delay, thaped
their courfe for Niagara They ufually marched about 15
miles in a day. The lad Jonah ,after being joined bytheother
prifoners. recovered his fpirits, and bein? fume what humor-
ous, rendered himfelf a great favorite of the favages. The
prifoners were mifer ably fcanted in ther allowance of pro-
vifions, but Jonah grew bold and familiar, and had the ad^
drefstoget aimuch as he pleafed of any thing that the fi-
vages had ; fome of which he ufually imparted fecretly to
his fellow prifoners, who were half ttarved, and obliged to
ftagger along with ail the baggage of the whole party, which
was very heavy ♦, and what rendered their duty doubly bur-
thenfome, the fnow was up to their knees every ftep they
hod, and all the chance any of them had for their live?, wss
from continuing this intolerable route, 300 miles, to Niagara,
without any relief or refrefhment, excepting the hope of the
Ravages taking venifon, or other game by the way 5 and to
render their condition completely defperate, the indians,
whofe (ay age tempers cannot be fufficientiy gorged, Amply*
by the blood cf their ci£tims, but are greatly delightea in
frequently reminding them of their approaching tortures, im-
politicly informed the prifoners that they were to be kept
alive for the purpofe of carrying the baggage, u.til they
had marched well toward Niagara, and then they fhould fee*
the tomahawk, and their fcilps, not themfelves, be carried
into Niagara j which fentence, it was expected, would be
put into execution, at leait on fome of them, efpeciully on
Mr. Pike, of whom they were apprehenfue, on account of
his having been a continental foldier.
In thefe defperate circumitances, it i* erty to conceive, that
people would be led to meditate, if pofiible, fome way of ef-
cape ; to fave themfelves by flight, was impracticable as the*
lavages were fleeter than themfches.^iii would purfue »■ rh
( 6)
fire arms, with fatal efTe& on the fugitive* j the only chance
was to r.fe by night, did r in and attack the favages : but if
weconfijer that the prifoners had their hands carefully fe-
cured behind them both night and day, and carefully depri-
ved of any utentil that might be ufed to feperate their li-
gatures ; and that the enemy were a&iveand watchful, and
more than double in number to thofe who were able to aiHil
in fuch anenterprize j and that the crueleft death that fa-
vages could infti£t, would be pra£Hced on them, in cafe their
plot mould be difcovered, or fnifcarry ; I fay, if we confider
thefe things, we may form fome idea of the bravery, or ra-
ther defperation which infpired fuch an attempt. Some one
of them firit oroje&ed the enterprize, and when they had ,
opportunity of conference on the march, the propofal wat
made to the reft, who all concurred on the firft motion, with*
out the leaft reluctance or helitation in any one of them j.and
on the next Friday after they be^an their march, they refoi-
ved to put the planinto execution the enfuing night. They
faithfully promife eich other by all the ties of honour and
common calamity, to ftand by each other, and abide the com-
bat, if fate fo leqaired, even to the fpendin^ their laft dropt
of blood. Their pbn exprefaly agreed on, was as follows :
e/.ch one was to watch his opportunity, if polfible, to poifefg
feimfeif of fome inftrument, wherewith to feparate the cords
which tied his hinds behind him, and if any one mould be
fo fortunate as to fecure an inflrument, he was. at night,
when the indians were well aflsep, to cut himfelf loofe, and
then liberate the others himfelf, or reach the inftrunaent
to his neareft fellow, as he ihould judge fafert, and fo to be
handed, ifpomble, until all were loofe; this done, each
one was, with the titmott addreft, dexterity and ftillref«, to
fecure fuch arms and ammunition, as were moft contiguous
to him, and nimbly repair therewith to a certain fpot of
rendezvous, about two rods diftant from where they couched
by the fide of a fire ; when, if leifure mould permit, they 1
werefuther to confolton the particular mode of attack, and
to ail-.gn to each man his duty, or in whatever ftage of the
plot after they were loofe, the favages might take the alarm,
each man was to catch fome weapon, and without giving the
favages a moment's time to recover from their confternationj
weie to attack them with all fury, and at once put the mat-
ter
(7)
fer to a final ifTue. But when night came on, no ore had
been able to fecure any kind of tool, wherewith to cut him-
felf loofe 5 they however, when the fa rages were a fleep,
ftruggled and ftrove to get their hands at liberty, but all
in vain. The night palled without effecting any thing, and
happily without exciting theleaft fufpicion.
On Saturday it was agreed at all events to bring matters
to a crifis the enfuing night ; they all as one declared (hey
would march no farther toward Niagara. By Saturday night
they had marched 75 miles ; their lodging was as follows j
after erettlng a fire, they fpread down their blankets, of
which they now had fuch a plenty as to afford them a com-
fortable bed and covering. One circumftance worthy of
notice in this place is, that the favages were fo infefted with
lice, that they could not fleep qiietly with their cloathson,
and this being a cold night, they ftript ofTeven their fhirts,
and expofed them on fome bufhes to freeze, in order to thin
the lice ; whence it happened, that when they turned out in
the alarm at midnight, they were Mark naked. • Pike had
obferved that theindian whom he was taught to call hie
*^tter, when he went to fleep, laid his knife^ under his body,
which he pofleiTed himfelfof by the following art: pretending
a great fondnefs for hisfaid mafter, he begged the favour of
fleeping at night by his fide, and had the dexterity when the
Indians were afleep, to exfracl the knife unperceived where-
with he foon cut himfelf loofe. Mr. Pence lik ewife being al-
lowed a knife at fupper time, inftead of returning it, drop'd
and covered it in a certain place by the couch ; and when the
Indians demanded his knife, he pretended that it had been
furrendered up, and fo it patted over ; and when the favage*
were gfleep, he refumed his knife, and cut himfelf loofe ; and
by means of thefe two knives, all the prifoners were foon at
liberty, excepting Jonah, whcm it was thought beft not to
awake ; everyone, as foon as poflible, got 'hold of fome
kind of weapon, expecting every moment the fa rages would
be upon their legs, give the yell of war, and ccmrrence .1
violent attack, with the inequality of 10 to 4 ; but frill they
lept. One grand objetl w;.s fecuring the fire arms: thoie
were all fet againft a tree at the head of the couch, and were
presently removed to a place appointed, about two rods d'd-
tant, by the fide of a tree, Some ammunition they likewise.
fecufedL
( 8 )
fecured. with which they even had leifure to prime fheif
pieces, which the indians, previous to their lying down, had
cautioufly unprimeJ. Thus in the fpace of a few lucky mo-
ments, thefe four men, with the moft cautious dexterity, de*
prived 10 favages, not only of their firearms, but nearly of
all their tomahawks, removed them to the fpot afligned, and
after a hafty, but very wife and prudent confutation, it was
rcfohed that two men fhould ftand by the guns, and fire
upon the favages as they arofe up, and during the conflict ;
the other two men took each a tomahawk, and with undaunt-
ed bravery, advanced to the couch where the 10 intlianslay,
In order to commence the attack, one on each fide ofths
couch \ they uncovered the indians heads, and with an uner-
ring blow, each ftruck his tomahawk into the brains of art
indian, killing both in an inftant ; the other 8 indians fcirang
up the fame moment, and at once perceived that their arms
were not only taken from them, but fatally turned againft
themfelves, and moved by that cowardly qualm which natu-
jally rifesin bofoms that delight in cruelty, they fcampered
off as quick as they arofe, without giving the two men time
to give a fecond ^low. The two men who ftood by the gun* j ,
faluted the indians-as they a^rofe, and purfued them as they
hed with the fame falutaticn, as far as their naked precipita-^
tion would permit \ they forely wounded fome, which ap*
pea red from a profufion of blood which they fprinkled on the
fnow as they fled : the fnow at this time had a hard cruft, yet
not fo ftrong but that.they broke through almoft every aep j
thithad a fad opperation on their naked fhins, which their
prefent trouble and hafte weuld not permit them to take any
care of : fome fmall defence for their legs in this race would
have afforded them no fmall comfort, as they were obhged
to abandon them to the cruft, which mangled them moft p^
tifully. which appeared the next morning by numberleis frag-
ments of rlelb and foin, which they left by their tracks, many
of which were a« big as dollars. Jonah being afteep with
the indians, ft a r ted in furprize and confufion, and run oil
with them a few rods, but recollecting the plan to w™^
had been privy, he leaped back to the company; Pike huv
mourouily gave him a cuff oh the ear, faying, what you rataaij
you wis going to run off with the indians ? They were
all captured with their deliverance and vi&ory, which wat
\ every
(9)
ivery way com- lent, equal or even fuperior to the utmoft
flret°h of their f :r»cy and fond wilhes. Their jov was mix*
ed with a'*onifbment at fo rare and iurprizing an event}
whxh fo dizzied tUeir imaginations, that the) could fcarcely
be!»eve ai d realize f fts. lb ^-ported by the mllant teltimonyr
of all their fenfe3. How great and fudden was their chanwe
of circumMancea ! From the feierei* fuf'erings, and the raofl
ill boding a, prehenfions i f extremeft woe under favage cap-
tivity, by a bold and manly execution of a wife concerted
plan. they, in the fp*ce of a few minutes, vanqi'ifhed the
whole party of lavages, fo fuperior in nnmber thit they
deemed it reed left to keep a guard ; polfels d themfelves of
their efteOs, and completely regained their liberty.
It was pr itficed in antient times, even by heathen writers*
in cafes of fignal deliverance, to afcribe 'he efficiency thereof
to the power of Deity ; and it would be unpardonable in an
American^ at a day ofilich ftriking itianifeftations of divine
pauonage, not to afcribe to the aiifpicious providence of
Deity, not only the more general and important fpecimen*
of aid, but every fubordrcate inftance, and in fpecial (he
prefent. Who can conceive, that men without fpecial alfift-
ance, could a rife in the night ; in fuch an attempt a^aintt
fuch fuperior numbers ofmdinns, who are alert and vigi-
lant, and ever jealous in the extreme, ciit themfelves loofei
fecure ihe arms and perform all the neceifary tranfa£tions»
moving about on the fnow, crumping around the : r ears, with~
but a routing thefe infernal dogs ; and then, tti t they uSoull
lnftantly vamquiih them, without a conflict, when 'hey could
but know, that naked anddeftitute. they mud inevitably a -id
miserably freeze and ftarve, fhort of reaching any relief which
pro ed in fa£t to be their awful fate, their giulty ronfcie,* cei
lufficiently remonftratin^ againft turning about afid fubni.it-
ting to the mercy of their vi£ors. They piob-bly fei their
faces toward Niagara, 230 miles diftanr. without arms, or a
fcrap of cloathing or food, and hve never beet) heard of
iince, which occafic ed great mournings at Niagara, as fome
prifoners inform. It is probable that the operation of fa-
mine and froft, landed thofe wrexhes, one aftei another, ori
a bed of fnow, where they left the world, literallv as na- ed
as they cine into it. Their horrid fa?e had ii fallen to the
ihare even of wild beafts, oujht to have move 1 companion iri
fc?ery huaaaH« bieaft ; but when we. confider how richly
& B tbo£s
( io )
thofe irionfters mfrrited (Heir fate by the moft improVokea*
r;eediefi,and voluntary hoftilrties, profecuted With the mt'il
wanton ftretches of inhumanity and guilt, it moderates the
pang of fympathy, and conftrains the minds of the compsf-
fionate, in fome rrjeafnre, to acqtrefce in the providential
exercifeof thofe punitrimenti, wlych humane nature couLi
riot bare to infii& ort the moft accummuhted guiir.
Our people fpent the remaining part of the night very
agreeably by the fire fide, without any fe^i of the vanquifhec!
favages* The booty which the indians left, was more than
they could bring home, vhich determined them to make a
raft of timber on the Sufquehannah. in order to transport
themfelves, with their effects down the river j but this unw
luckily run aground, by which means they loft all their
yrovifions and booty, excepting their fire aims, with * h ch
they trade the beft of their way home, having 75 miles to
Ineafure back, without any provisions but what they could
catch by the way* They travelled until Monday, when they
killed a raccoon, and on Tuefiay found the carcafe of a
dear, lately kill'd i with which refreshment* they reached
the Certlemenfs on Thurfday. At their unex etted return,
with the account of their br l!"ant exploits, as we may well
ju'fee, they were heartily congratulated^
Having faid thus much of the ten favages, t proceed to a
tale of the fix. Thefe made their appearance on Monday the
lfth of March, near a place called Kingfton, within the li-
mits of WeHmcrelandf where they foon kidnapped Thomai
Bennit, witk his fon, 12 years old, and a Mr. H2fnu;ond, and
without delay, fet out for Niagara. The treatment they r*e»-
ceived from the favages- was rough and menacing, efpeci-
ally Bennet, with whom they had long be^ri acquainted, and
afwhofe houfe they had been entertained ; fueh is the per-
Sdioifsnattxreof thefe wretches, like the immortal Arnold,
and his brethren, that hoftihtiea, and inhumanity exercifed
•n an old acquaintance, efieeially a friendly one, but ferveai
more highly to feafon their taiie for inhumanity and lavage
friumph. Inthort, as to fifuation and profpecls, theTe peo«
pie were fimilar to thofe who were prifoners to 1 he other
paity of iniians, w hie If I need not repeat; they were re-
duced to the fame defperatc alternative, which naturally in
thefe brave men, produced a fi mular refolirion. On Tuef-
tfay ikey agreed to attack, the Ax i-ndians the eiifuihg night,
wjfh
( " )
with the inequality of two to ilx, they placing no dependence
on the hoy. They were toendeivour, in couching down a-
nigh*", to p'ace themfelves a9 favourably 38 they could, and
to take the beft observation, an to where the indians placed
their weapon?, when they went to jleep, and by all mean*,
each was to pofTeft himfelf of a tomahawk, and watching each
the other's motion, Bennit was to gi^e the fignal, when both
were to arife in an inftant, and addrefs themfeke* to the In-
dians with their tomahawks, in the true fa vage tafte. They
had the addrefs to prepare, and provide rhemfelve* a* wa>
propofed, and juftas they were about to fix their choice on a
f>rai moment, to arife in the defperare attempt, it fo happen*
ed that one of the indians began to Kir, and lift up his head*
and presently raifed up his body* and fat by the fire fide,
putting the fuel in order : Eennit iletermining fHll to purfue
the plan, and not let it die thus in embryo, be.^an to ftretch
himfelf as if juft awakeJ from Deep, and entered into fomc
fmall conversion with the indian, in order to arnufe him ;
he prefently arofe, and ftood on his fees turning himfelf by
the fire, and watching a favourable moment to put into exe-
cution the daring plan, which greatly fwelj'd ani heaved in
their anxious bofoms. Hammond lay as if afleep. tho* ready,
and waiting; the fignal to fpring and feco.nd the blow of hi*
fellow. Bennit began leifijrely to r^new hi# requeit for lir
berty to return home : promifi ng, that if he might go home, he
would fivp.'y them in a friendly manner wi-h proviiiong,
whenever they ihould apply * at this the indian turned up his
face, pointing npward with his finder, and in token of con-
tempt, cries out with indian accent, pee; at this i nil ant,
Bennit took his tomahawk, and wuh a viojent blow buried it
in the brains of the indian ; Hammond fprang at the fame
time, and with a lucky blow killed another ; the other four
indiars immediately a rote, and turn'd to run, when Ham-
mond, by a fecond blowi wounded a third deeply between
his moulders ; Bennit's weapon was fo fattened in the indi-
an's Ikull, that he cqmH npt extract if for a facond blow but
catched up a long indian fpear which was at hand , and bef zr.
they were out of reach, he pufhed it quite through fhe»runk
of a fourth indian's body, who ran cif with the fame in his
body, as did likewife he that receive J a wciind from Ham-
mond, with the two found indians, never prefuming to con-
flsnd \ though had they dared to face the aKailants, and put
the
(I*)
the matter to the iflue of bodily ftrength, they might hare
had moie than an equal chance 5 but properties of fuch op-
pofite natures as braveryand cruelty, cannot exift in the feuio
pjreaft. Our people from being prifoners tofavages. fiiddeh?
]y became prifoners of rapture and amazement, at fuch an
extraordinary deliverance, and vi£tqry. They fecure ! he
armband without deliy returned home tc their ap;l tiding
friends, ft appears by fome after difcoveries, that the Indi-
ans fkulVed about in the dark, until they perceived that our
people had left the ground, when rheycameto the place, and
picked up fome provilions and clqafhing, hid heir de^' ? be-
tween fome logs, in which point the india ns are very a fii Ul-
cus, and marched for Niagara The two lavages who efi
eaped unhurt af this time, were all th at reaoheJ ^i gara,
out of i6j to report the forrowfui fate to their (name efs em-:
plovers.
To this narrative, it may not be wholly impertinent tofub-
join a few hims concerning the religion, government, cuf-
toins and manners of the aborigines of this country.
As to religon, thefe aborigines, though they are perhaps
the moft rude and illiterate of all the humane race, >efe
the principles of natural religion are not wholly extingnimed
in them ; and indeed, tho } fome authors have arrmfrd the
world with tales of whole nations of atheifts, more abfurd to.
2 man of thought, than the idea of na'ions of ideots and pig-
mies ; yet I appeal to the common fenfe of mankind, whe-
ther the grard 'ending ideas of an all-wife, ajl-ruiing Beings
thedeathlf' nature of mind, and a future reckoning would'
not naturally 2rife in ;he mind of e< ery thinking man, with
an irrefiftabie conclufion, tho* he were diverted ofa31 the par-
tialities of education. Thefe animals, though they trample
on the rights of humanity, and the diOates of nature, yet
feem to have f me confufed ideas of thefe leading points, as
J have teen informed. They addrefa the Supreme Bejng un-
der the title of the Great Man, and frequently pronounce
mandates, prefages and oracles, which they pretend to re-
ceive from him, on many occafions, and more efpecially at
their powows, a kind of beaitly raafquerade or frolic. There
is a notion prevails among them, that when one is fhin in
battle, if the enemy get his body, he will fare worfe for it
?ifter his de^efe, and for this reafon they will hazard their
Jive* $0$$ io bring oil the bodies of the fl^in, than in almoin
any
( IjS )
any other attempt-- A rotable inftance of this kind, we had a few
years paii, in an aOion at Weftmoreland : it is afferte !, by all
converfar.t among the indians. that at their funeral* jhey prac-
tice burying bottle* of rum tomahawks, and fuch things as the
dece^fed were moft fond of, with them in their graves. Such
rude cuftrms, confonant to the ignorance of fivages, difcovers
an auent to thofe natural principles of leligion. Thofe who be-
lieve there is a God, and after a natural death, that the> ihall
furvive in his prefence and dominion, rannot fupprefs the idea of
retribution. Ii is fa : d that among thefe favages when one com-
mits any abomnable crimes, which are (hocking in their v'ew,
they treat him with abhorrence, and fuppofe that the vengeance
pf heaven will furely overtake him*
Thefe people are as wholly deftitufp of any kind of govern-
ment, as any of the human fpecies cnn be. There is no kind of
animals whkh herd together, but have feme kind of govern-
ment ; among cattle, rank is determined by bodily ftrength and
activity ; each one knows hisfuperiqra ?n 1 inferiors , and when
a Granger is added to the flock, the firft bufjnefs is to determine
rank which is ordinarily done without murh firing : this
falutary regulation, fuited to their natures produces general
tranquility. Geefe that pnfs and repafa our c r u^try,fprng and
*autumn, for change of clmate, flying |ri regular v edges w th a
certain ot e a* head to direct their way, have a kind of inftincl-
ive policy in aligning the time and place of rendezvous, a*d ap-
pointing an expert leader; fo thefe fa v a re?, when they hear the
din of war., if there are white people inhumane enough to en-
courage them toijuilk, fun rize, kill and captivate the unwary
ot defencelefs which are their only exploit?, they repair to their
f'andard, and appointor acknowledge certain leaders, whom they
obey only in proportion to their naturil talents, to awe, influ-
ence and command ihem. : thefe are what they commonly (tile
head warriors i« befides which, efpecially in Jrrrcs of peace^
there are thofe whom they fiile great men ; and rf one of thefe
becomes eminent above the reft, and fo continue for a number cf
years, perhaps he obtains the title of fachem. Thefe great men
are fuch to whom nature ha^ b^en fo me what more liberal in the
beftowment of fenfe and nability, who have diHinguifhed them-
(elves on divers occ^fionsi, or have a commanding addrefs and
deportment ; by fuch means they of courfe obtain what I would
call a natural authority; this kind of authority obvio idly obtain*
among all mankind, by an irrefutable law oi nature : confpi*
cyous
( 14 )
sxeelieRce commands obfcquious deference. I am well infor*
med thefe great men have co .fiderable .we over the re«t, who
pay a very confideraMe deference to their opinion and advice
when they are under their infpetlion, and free from ftrong drink
and paflions,
But Ieaft we fliould form too refj enable an idea of thefe
great men. we may confider that they are drunk as often as
they have cider, mm. or other fpirits, and are frequently gorlry
of as grofs enormities as the reft. Thefe are the moft confiftent
ideas I can form from the fmall information I havehadyand he
few observations I have mnde concerning rulers and authority
among the indians, though I am willing to fubmit to the opinion
of any w&o may be otherwife and better informed, I th ; nk I
hue reprefented them with as much dignity in thefe mtters,
a* the fpecimena of their government will pofli b !y fjp>x> ft. It
it univerfally acknowledged that there i$ no authority among
them that pretends to inrM any kind of punilhme. t on thofe who
commit any kind of crimes : if this be fo, it is furBcie t to my
purpofe, and without any comment, proves the eflentiais of Go-
vernment and authority to be wholly warning. Murder is no
very uncommon crime am -ing them » they frequently eorge
their unhallowed palfions by mauling ani Rabin 3 the object of
them to death ; and herein the fear of punifhment does not
much excite the caution^ of doing it by night, or in a fotitary
place, but whenever their paffions and malice impels ; the per-
petrator expe&s perhaps to be called by fome an ugly fellow for
a whtle> but is apprehenfive of no puoifamerit, unlefs fome rela-
tive or friend of the (lain has bravery enough to avenge his
death*, I was fome years pail at an indian fettlement, and fiw a
Tecent'grave where a murdered indian had a few days before
heen buried j the murderer was about among the others, and
though this was in the chief town of that tribe or nation, yet nq
other notice was taken of the matter, than that the more lteudy
people viewed the murderer as a wrench, whom the vengeance
of heaven would fome time overtake. If no avenger a rofe in
that cafe, as I doubt whether any did, I conclude the odium de->
clined with time, adding one to their numberjefs ftigmas of na-
tional guilt. It ia common for a relative or friend in fuch a
cafe, to avenge the murder and fometimes the avenger meets the
vengeance of a third, and fo on until feveralfiil. I fubmit to
common fenfe the idea of a fovercign or fachem f rending over
fuch a tribe.
Theft
Theft and robbery among therp sre ven'al crimes, which tf
ders their fin 11 property very precarious, and difcour ages the
ncq^ifition of more, were they difptfe ' to It.
As to mairiage> it is attended with fome fma 11 ceremony a-
inoig them; but an indian whenever he pleafes, turns orTone
Wife and ta es" another : it is a little extraordinary for a roaH
ihd woman to live together during life. It is faid that if their
wives happen to be too familiar with another indian, the husband
is -pt enough to refent it, but not fo if with a white debauchee.
There i* in the v ; cinity of fome, if not all indian town*, &
hoiife conftrufiej, c -lied the wnman houfe, to which their wo-
men periodic illy refort \ to this the males never prefume to ap-
proach, but if their bufinefs c*lls thtm that way, they ibun it by
a circuito-ts w.«.lk j if the mnles have occaficn to carry them any
neceffaries, they leave th* fame at a certain diftance, where,
when they are gone, the women ^o and fet~h it ; this cuftom
refembles one obferved by the ancient Jews. The manner of
burying their de»d, is tofeit the body on the furface of the
earth, with the trunk ere£h and placing in his arms fuch thin**
as ufed to delight him in his life, and which they fuppofe will
b* ufefnl to him i"> future they co^er him with a pile of earth «
Ihefs ; iles a«e f metimes rl tteo" down by fome means or othei,
and leave ihe bones and funeal treafure abo\e groun !#
The indisms ar euniverf ally intern pe *te in drinking \ both
males and females never fail of intoxicating themfehes when*
ever they have the means. They are a aoH lazy, indolent ge~
aeration, efj-ecially the mates, who by their greater then ith,
and total want of delicacy oblige the fquaws to perform all 'he
mo laborious an 4 fati-iirg employments ; thefe, ufe ha*
taught to carry the molt : ere, ible burthens, when they trr.vei
to and fro, and on all occafions, while the mMes walk in their
*jomp.<ny without offering to p'*tti>' : e ofth'- burthen.
A gentleman, of veracity who ha.H retried confirlerabry among
theuj informe-l me, that he : c er obferved any of the males to
attempt any domeftic labour, but at one particular time, when
the fqunws were much involved in bufinefs, the) propofed an
entertainment, and invited the men to alTemble 3nd hoe a field
of corn for them, which they accordingly did, atid then parcook,
of the repait which the fquaws had provided, which was a pig
•ooked win fome indian corn and beans,, the ftelh was ca:;ccl
into as mm parts as there wcreguetts, of which my informant
vy fpeciai imitation wa s »ae, each was prefer h his Ihar^
of
( *5 )
©k fleli fixed on a ftiarpened ftick, and were told if any chafe 1<J
refrefh themfelves with the fauce, and carry the rleftv home,
they were at liberty fo to doj ace rdingly fome eat their allow-
ance on the fpof, and o: hers bore theirs home.
The indians by way of ornament, pafs a knife quite around
the circumference of their ears, Separating an annular liece of
cartilage, near half a ninth in width, which they curioufly wind
With wampum, but this is preferiH^ broken by foaie accident in
their fylvan walks, and the ftr ps are left | eiiduloiis. They like-
wife paint one half of their (aces with a deep red, which gives
them a very frightful appearance. What little cloaihin^ they
wear, is made either of the ikina of wild beafts 3 of. fame co.jrfe
cloth when they can get it. The women Wear a kind of petti-
coat reaching precisely to their knees, and the men fomething of
fmall widih fattened about their loins, and both fexes a blanket,
which is their chief garment, thrown over the whole \ if they
happen t;> get a linen mirt, it is full mounted with ruffles of the
fame.ieldoin fattened at the collar or wriftbands, and never put
art for warning, until it is worn to rags.
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