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
One bitter cold day I could find no room to sit down before the fire. I
went out, and could not tell what to do, but I went into another
wigwam, where they were also sitting round the fire; but the squaw laid
a skin for me, and bid me sit down, and gave me some ground-nuts, and
bid me come again, and told me they would buy me if they were able. And
yet these were strangers to me that I never knew before.
THE TENTH REMOVE.--That day a small part of the company removed about
three quarters of a mile, intending farther the next day. When they
came to the place they intended to lodge, and had pitched their
wigwams, being hungry, I went again back to the place we were before at
to get something to eat; being encouraged by the squaw's kindness, who
bid me come again. When I was there, there came an Indian to look after
me; who, when he had found me, kicked me all along. I went home and
found venison roasting that night, but they would not give me one bit
of it. Sometimes I met with favor, and sometimes with nothing but
frowns.
THE ELEVENTH REMOVE.--The next day, in the morning, they took their
travel, intending a day's journey up the river; I took my load at
my back, and quickly we came to wade over a river, and passed over
tiresome and wearisome hills. One hill was so steep that I was fain to
creep up upon my knees, and to hold by the twigs and bushes to keep
myself from falling backwards. My head, also, was so light that I
usually reeled as I went.
THE TWELFTH REMOVE.--It was upon a Sabbath-day morning that they
prepared for their travel. This morning I asked my master whether he
would sell me to my husband; he answered, _nux_; which did much
rejoice my spirits. My mistress, before we went, was gone to the burial
of a papoose, and returning she found me sitting and reading in my
Bible. She snatched it hastily out of my hand and threw it out of
doors. I ran out and caught it up, and put it in my pocket, and never
let her see it afterwards. Then they packed up their things to be gone,
and gave me my load; I complained it was too heavy, whereupon she gave
me a slap on the face and bid me be gone. I lifted up my heart to God,
hoping that redemption was not far off; and the rather because their
insolence grew worse and worse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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