Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black HawkBlack Hawk, Sauk chief
History
Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk
Black Hawk, Sauk chief
Black Hawk War, 1832; Black Hawk, Sauk chief, 1767-1838; Sauk Indians -- Biography
We left Baltimore in a steamboat, and traveled in this way to the big
village, where they make medals and money, (Philadelphia.) We again
expressed surprise at finding this village so much larger than the one
we had left; but the war chief again told us we would see another much
larger than this. I had no idea that the white people had such large
villages, and so many people. They were very kind to us, showed us all
their great public works, their ships and steamboats. We visited the
place where they make money, (the mint) and saw the men engaged at it.
They presented each of us with a number of pieces of the coin as they
fell from the mint, which are very handsome.
I witnessed a militia training in this city, in which were performed
a number of singular military feats. The chiefs and men were all well
dressed, and exhibited quite a warlike appearance. I think our system of
military parade far better than that of the whites, but as I am now done
going to war I will not describe it, or say anything more about war, or
the preparations necessary for it.
We next started for New York, and on our arrival near the wharf, saw a
large collection of people gathered at Castle Garden. We had seen many
wonderful sights in our way--large villages, the great national road
over the mountains, the railroad, steam carriages, ships, steamboat,
and many other things; but we were now about to witness a sight more
surprising than any of these. We were told that a man was going up in
the air in a balloon. We watched with anxiety to see if this could be
true; and to our utter astonishment, saw him ascend in the air until the
eye could no longer perceive him. Our people were all surprised and one
of our young men asked the Prophet if he was going up to see the Great
Spirit?
After the ascension of the balloon, we landed and got into a carriage
to go to the house that had been provided for our reception. We had
proceeded but a short distance before the street was so crowded that it
was impossible for the carriage to pass. The war chief then directed the
coachman to take another street, and stop at a different house from the
one we had intended. On our arrival here we were waited upon by a number
of gentlemen, who seemed much pleased to see us. We were furnished with
good rooms, good provisions, and everything necessary for our comfort.
The chiefs of this big village, being desirous that all their people
should have an opportunity to see us, fitted up their great council home
for this purpose, where we saw an immense number of people; all of whom
treated us with great friendship, and many with great generosity. One
of their great chiefs, John A. Graham, waited upon us and made a very
pretty talk, which appeared in the village papers, one of which I now
hand you.
MR. GRAHAM'S SPEECH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account