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
When we were all refreshed, Tecaughretanego delivered a speech upon the
necessity and pleasure of receiving the necessary supports of life with
thankfulness, knowing that Owaneeyo is the great giver. Such speeches
from an Indian may be thought by those who are unacquainted with them
altogether incredible; but when we reflect on the Indian war, we may
readily conclude that they are not an ignorant or stupid sort of
people, or they would not have been such fatal enemies. When they came
into our country they outwitted us; and when we sent armies into their
country, they outgeneralled and beat us with inferior force. Let us
also take into consideration that Tecaughretanego was no common person,
but was among the Indians as Socrates in the ancient heathen world;
and, it may be, equal to him, if not in wisdom and in learning, yet
perhaps in patience and fortitude. Notwithstanding Tecaughretanego's
uncommon natural abilities, yet in the sequel of this history you will
see the deficiency of the light of nature, unaided by revelation, in
this truly great man.
The next morning Tecaughretanego desired me to go back and bring
another load of buffalo beef. As I proceeded to do so, about five miles
from our hut I found a bear tree. As a sapling grew near the tree, and
reached near the hole that the bear went in at, I got dry dozed or
rotten wood, that would catch and hold fire almost as well as spunk.
This wood I tied up in bunches, fixed them on my back, and then climbed
up the sapling, and with a pole I put them, touched with fire, into the
hole, and then came down and took my gun in my hand. After some time
the bear came out, and I killed and skinned it, packed up a load of the
meat (after securing the remainder from the wolves), and returned home
before night. On my return my old brother and his son were much
rejoiced at my success. After this we had plenty of provisions.
We remained here until some time in April, 1758. At this time
Tecaughretanego had recovered so that he could walk about. We made a
bark canoe, embarked, and went down Ollentangy some distance, but, the
water being low, we were in danger of splitting our canoe upon the
rocks; therefore Tecaughretanego concluded we would encamp on shore,
and pray for rain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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