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
About the time that these warriors came in the green corn was beginning
to be of use, so that we had either green corn or venison, and
sometimes both, which was, comparatively, high living. When we could
have plenty of green corn, or roasting ears, the hunters became lazy,
and spent their time, as already mentioned, in singing and dancing,
etc. They appeared to be fulfilling the Scriptures beyond those who
profess to believe in them, in that of taking no thought of to-morrow;
and also in living in love, peace, and friendship together, without
disputes. In this respect they shame those who profess Christianity.
In this manner we lived until October; then the geese, swans, ducks,
cranes, etc., came from the north, and alighted on this little lake,
without number, or innumerable. Sunyendeand is a remarkable place for
fish in the spring, and fowl both in the fall and spring.
As our hunters were now tired with indolence, and fond of their own
kind of exercise, they all turned out to fowling, and in this could
scarce miss of success; so that we had now plenty of hominy and the
best of fowls; and sometimes, as a rarity, we had a little bread, which
was made of Indian-corn meal, pounded in a hominy block, mixed with
boiled beans, and baked in cakes under the ashes.
This with us was called good living, though not equal to our fat,
roasted, and boiled venison, when we went to the woods in the fall; or
bear's meat and beaver in the winter; or sugar, bear's oil, and dry
venison in the spring.
Some time in October, another adopted brother, older than Tontileaugo
came to pay us a visit at Sunyendeand, and he asked me to take a hunt
with him on Cayahoga. As they always used me as a free man, and gave me
the liberty of choosing, I told him that I was attached to Tontileaugo,
had never seen him before, and therefore asked some time to consider of
this. He told me that the party he was going with would not be along,
or at the mouth of this little lake, in less than six days, and I could
in this time be acquainted with him, and judge for myself. I consulted
with Tontileaugo on this occasion, and he told me that our old brother
Tecaughretanego (which was his name) was a chief, and a better man than
he was, and if I went with him I might expect to be well used; but he
said I might do as I pleased, and if I staid he would use me as he had
done. I told him that he had acted in every respect as a brother to me;
yet I was much pleased with my old brother's conduct and conversation;
and as he was going to a part of the country I had never been in, I
wished to go with him. He said that he was perfectly willing.
I then went with Tecaughretanego to the mouth of the little lake, where
he met with the company he intended going with, which was composed of
Caughnewagas and Ottawas. As the wind was high and we could not proceed
on our voyage, we remained here several days, and killed abundance of
wild fowl, and a number of raccoons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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