Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
History
Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
Indians of North America -- Anecdotes
The prisoners taken at this time were mostly carried to Canada, and
sold to the French; and these, so far as can be learned, were the
first that ever were carried thither. One of these prisoners was
Sarah Gerrish, a remarkably fine child, of seven years old, and
grand-daughter of Major Waldron, in whose house she lodged that fatal
night. Some circumstances attending her captivity are truly affecting.
When she was awakened by the noise of the Indians in the house, she
crept into another bed, and hid herself under the clothes to escape
their search. She remained in their hands till the next winter, and
was sold from one to another several times. An Indian girl once pushed
her into a river; but, catching by the bushes, she escaped drowning,
yet durst not tell how she came to be wet. Once she was so weary with
travelling, that she did not awake in the morning till the Indians were
gone, and then found herself alone in the woods, covered with snow,
and without any food; having found their tracks, she went crying after
them till they heard her and took her with them. At another time they
kindled a great fire, and the young Indians told her she was to be
roasted. She burst into tears, threw her arms round her master’s neck,
and begged him to save her, which he promised to do if she would behave
well. Being arrived in Canada, she was bought by the Intendant’s lady,
who treated her courteously, and sent her to a nunnery for education.
But when Sir William Phips was at Quebec she was exchanged, and
returned to her friends, with whom she lived till she was sixteen years
old.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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