Captives among the Indians : $b first-hand narratives of Indian wars, customs, tortures, and habits of life in colonial times — John Shaqi
Captives among the Indians : $b first-hand narratives of Indian wars, customs, tortures, and habits of life in colonial timesRowlandson, Mary White
History
Captives among the Indians : $b first-hand narratives of Indian wars, customs, tortures, and habits of life in colonial times
Rowlandson, Mary White
Indian captivities -- Northeastern States
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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