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
The favourite wife of the deceased Stung Serpent, who was likewise to be
sacrificed, and who saw the preparations for her death with firmness,
hearing the complaints and groans of Etteacteal, said to him, “Art thou
no warrior?” he said, “Yes, I am one.” “However,” said she, “thou criest,
life is dear to thee; and as that is the case, it is not good that thou
shouldst go along with me—go with the women.” Etteacteal replied, “True,
life is dear to me: it would be well if I walked yet on earth; wait, O
wait till the death of the great sun, and I will die with him.” “Go
thy way,” she said, “it is not fit that thou die with me, and thy heart
remain behind on earth; the warriors will obey my word, for now, so near
to the Spirit of life, I am full of power: go away, and let me see thee
no more.” He did not stay to have this order repeated; he disappeared
like lightning. Three old women, two of whom were his relations, offered
to pay his debt; their age and their infirmities had disgusted them with
life, none of them had been able to walk for a great while; but the hair
of the two that were related to Etteacteal, was no more grey than that
of young women; the third was a hundred and twenty years old; they were
sacrificed in the evening, at the going down of the sun.
The generosity of these women gave the Indian life again, acquired
him the degree of _Considered_, and cleared his honour, that had been
sullied by his fearing death. The hour being come for the sacrifice of
the favourite wife of the deceased chief, she came forth, and called her
children round her, while the people stood a little way off: “Children,”
she said, “this is the day on which I am to tear myself from your arms,
and to follow your father’s steps, who waits for me in the country of
the spirits; if I were to yield to your tears, I should injure my love,
and fail in my duty. I have done enough for you by bearing you next to
my heart, and by suckling you with my breasts. You that are descended of
his blood, and fed by my milk, ought you to shed tears? rejoice, rather,
that you are suns and warriors: go, my children, I have provided for
all your wants, by procuring you friends; my friends, and those of your
father, are yours too. And you, Frenchmen,” she added, turning herself
towards our officers, “I recommend my orphan children to you;—you ought
to protect them; we shall be longer friends in the country of the spirits
than here, because we do not die there again. And now the day is sinking
behind the hills; yet a few moments, my husband, and I come!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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