Adair's History of the American IndiansAdair, James
History
Adair's History of the American Indians
Adair, James
Indians -- Origin; Indians of North America -- Southern States
In the first commencement of a war, a party of the injured tribe turns
out first, to revenge the innocent crying blood of their own bone and
flesh, as they term it. When the leader begins to beat up for
volunteers, he goes three times round his dark winter-house, contrary to
the course of the sun, sounding the war-whoop, singing the war-song, and
beating the drum. {159} Then he speaks to the listening crowd with very
rapid language, short pauses, and an awful commanding voice, tells them
of the continued friendly offices they have done the enemy, but which
have been ungratefully returned with the blood of his kinsmen; therefore
as the white paths have changed their beloved colour, his heart burns
within him with eagerness to tincture them all along, and even to make
them flow over with the hateful blood of the base contemptible enemy.
Then he strongly persuades his kindred warriors and others, who are not
afraid of the enemies bullets and arrows, to come and join him with
manly cheerful hearts: he assures them, he is fully convinced, as they
are all bound by the love-knot, so they are ready to hazard their lives
to revenge the blood of their kindred and country-men; that the love of
order, and the necessity of complying with the old religious customs of
their country, had hitherto checked their daring generous hearts, but
now, those hindrances are removed: he proceeds to whoop again for the
warriors to come and join him, and sanctify themselves for success
against the common enemy, according to their ancient religious law.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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