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
The next morning they divided the last of their provisions which they
had brought from Fort Du Quesne, and gave me an equal share, which was
about two or three ounces of mouldy biscuit; this and a young
ground-hog, about as large as a rabbit, roasted, and also equally
divided, was all the provision we had until we came to the Loyal
Hannan, which was about fifty miles; and a great part of the way we
came through exceeding rocky laurel-thickets without any path. When we
came to the west side of Laurel hill, they gave the scalp halloo, as
usual, which is a long yell or halloo for every scalp or prisoner they
have in possession; the last of these scalp halloos were followed with
quick and sudden shrill shouts of joy and triumph. On their performing
this, we were answered by the firing of a number of guns on the Loyal
Hannan, one after another, quicker than one could count, by another
party of Indians who were encamped near where Ligonier now stands. As
we advanced near this party, they increased with repeated shouts of joy
and triumph; but I did not share with them in their excessive mirth.
When we came to this camp we found they had plenty of turkeys and other
meat there; and though I never before ate venison without bread or
salt, yet as I was hungry it relished very well. There we lay that
night, and the next morning the whole of us marched on our way for Fort
Du Quesne. The night after we joined another camp of Indians, with
nearly the same ceremony, attended with great noise, and apparent joy,
among all except one. The next morning we continued our march, and in
the afternoon we came in full view of the fort, which stood on the
point, near where Fort Pitt[1] now stands. We then made a halt on the
bank of the Alleghany, and repeated the scalp halloo, which was
answered by the firing of all the firelocks in the hands of both
Indians and French who were in and about the fort, in the aforesaid
manner, and also the great guns, which were followed by the continued
shouts and yells of the different savage tribes who were then collected
there.
[1] Pittsburgh.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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