The boys' book of Indian battles and adventures, with anecdotes about them
History
The boys' book of Indian battles and adventures, with anecdotes about them
Indians of North America -- Anecdotes
This he kept in his pocket, and in the course of a few days the
Indian came again to stare at the workmen; the governor took no notice
of him for some time, but at length taking the letter out of his pocket,
and calling the Indian to him, said, ‘I will give you half a crown if you
will carry this letter to Boston.’ The Indian closed with his proposal,
and set out on his journey. He had not gone far, before he met with
another Indian in the employ of the governor, to whom he gave the letter,
and told him that the governor had sent him to meet him, and to bid him
return with that letter to Boston, as soon as he possibly could.
The poor fellow carried it with great diligence, and received a severe
flogging for his pains; at the news of which, the governor was not a
little astonished on his return. The other Indian came no more; but,
after the lapse of some months, at a meeting with some of his nation, the
governor saw him there among the rest, and asked him how he durst serve
him such a trick? The Indian looking him full in the face, and putting
his forefinger to his forehead, replied, ‘_Head work! governor, head
work!_’
MAGNANIMITY AND DISINTERESTED GENEROSITY: WITH STRIKING TRAITS IN THE
SAVAGE CHARACTER.
The Pawnee Loups (Wolf Pawnees) a tribe of Missouri savages, lately
exhibited the anomaly among the American aborigines of a people addicted
to the superstitious rite of offering human victims, in propitiation of
‘_Venus, the Great Star_.’ The inhuman ceremony was annually performed at
the period immediately preceding their horticultural operations, in order
to insure a bountiful return from the earth:—the neglect of which duty,
it was believed, would occasion a total failure of crops. To obviate,
therefore, a national calamity so formidable, any person was at liberty
to offer up a prisoner, of either sex, whom the fortune of war had placed
in his power.
The devoted individual was clad in the gayest attire, pampered with a
profusion of the choicest food, and constantly attended by the conjurers,
alias priests, who anticipated all his wants—cautiously concealed from
him the real object of their sedulous attentions—and endeavoured to
preserve his mind in a state of cheerful composure:—with the view of
promoting obesity, and thus rendering the sacrifice more acceptable to
their Ceres.
When the victim was sufficiently fattened, a day was appointed for the
sacrifice, that all might attend the celebration. In the presence of
the assembled multitude, he was bound to a cross; a solemn dance was
performed; and, after certain ceremonies, the warrior who had captured
him, cleft his head with a tomahawk; and, at the same moment, numerous
arrows were discharged at the body.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account