Indian Biography; Vol. 1 (of 2): Or, An Historical Account of Those Individuals Who Have Been Distinguished among the North American Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen, and Other Remarkable CharactersThatcher, B. B. (Benjamin Bussey)
History
Indian Biography; Vol. 1 (of 2): Or, An Historical Account of Those Individuals Who Have Been Distinguished among the North American Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen, and Other Remarkable Characters
Thatcher, B. B. (Benjamin Bussey)
Indians of North America -- Biography; Indians of North America -- History
In regard to his personal appearance, always a matter of curiosity in the
case of great men, sketches purporting to be portraits of him are extant,
but none of them are believed to have more verisimilitude than the
grotesque caricature prefixed to the old narrative of Captain Church (the
model of the series); and we must therefore content ourselves to remain
ignorant in this matter. As to his costume, Josselyn who saw him at Boston
says that he had a coat on, and buskins set thick with beads, "in pleasant
wild works and a broad belt of the same;" his accoutrements being valued
at 20 pounds. A family in Swanzey (Mass) is understood to be still in
possession of some of the royalties which were given up by Anawon, at
the time of _his_ capture by Church. [FN] There were two horns of glazed
powder, a red-cloth blanket, and three richly and beautifully wrought
wampum belts. One was nine inches wide, and so long as to extend from the
shoulder to the ankles. To the second, which was worn on the head, were
attached two ornamented small flags. The third and smallest had a star
figured in beads upon one end, which came over the bosom.
* * * * *
[FN] Anawon is said to have been Philip's chief counsellor and captain
during the war; and also to have fought under Massasoit. But the latter
was not a very belligerent character; nor do we find mention of Anawon's
services under Philip, previous to the time of his fall at the
swamp-skirmish, when the counsellor made his escape. Hubbard states that
he boasted of having killed ten whites in one day; but nearly all that is
known of him we derive from the picturesque account of his capture by
Church, who headed an expedition for the express purpose. Anawon met his
misfortune, and even entertained his conqueror, most manfully on that
occasion; and Church reciprocated his courtesies; but all in vain--the
old warrior, with many others of his tribe, was soon after beheaded at
Plymouth. To the traveller from Taunton to Providence, through the
south-east corner of Rehoboth, _Anawon's rock_ is pointed out to this
day--an enormous pile, from twenty-five to thirty feet high, on a sort of
island in a swamp of some thousand acres.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account