The Myths of the North American Indians — John Shaqi
The Myths of the North American IndiansSpence, Lewis
History
The Myths of the North American Indians
Spence, Lewis
Indian mythology -- North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
"'These considerations induced her to give the present history of
herself, which she would never do before, fearing that her kindred
would come and force her away. She has lived long and happy as an
Indian, and, but for her colour, would not be suspected of being
anything else but such. She is very respectable and wealthy, sober and
honest. Her name is without reproach. She says her father had a large
family, say eight children in all--six older than herself, one younger,
as well as she can recollect; and she doubts not that there are still
living many of their descendants, but seems to think that all her
brothers and sisters must be dead, as she is very old herself, not far
from {42} the age of eighty. She thinks she was taken prisoner before
the last two wars, which must mean the Revolutionary war, as Wayne's
war and the late war have been since that one. She has entirely lost
her mother tongue, and speaks only in Indian, which I also understand,
and she gave me a full history of herself.
"'Her own Christian name she has forgotten, but says her father's name
was Slocum, and he was a Quaker. She also recollects that it was on
the Susquehanna River that they lived. I have thought that from this
letter you might cause something to be inserted in the newspapers of
your county that might possibly catch the eye of some of the
descendants of the Slocum family, who have knowledge of a girl having
been carried off by the Indians some seventy years ago. This they
might know from family tradition. If so, and they will come here, I
will carry them where they may see the object of my letter alive and
happy, though old and far advanced in life.
"'I can form no idea whereabouts on the Susquehanna River this family
could have lived at that early period, namely, about the time of the
Revolutionary war, but perhaps you can ascertain more about it. If so,
I hope you will interest yourself, and, if possible, let her brothers
and sisters, if any be alive--if not, their children--know where they
may once more see a relative whose fate has been wrapped in mystery for
seventy years, and for whom her bereaved and afflicted parents
doubtless shed many a bitter tear. They have long since found their
graves, though their lost child they never found. I have been much
affected with the disclosure, and hope the surviving friends may
obtain, through your goodness, the information I desire for them. If I
can be of any service to them, they may command me. In the meantime, I
hope you will {43} excuse me for the freedom I have taken with you, a
total stranger, and believe me to be, Sir, with much respect, your
obedient servant,
"'GEO. W. EWING.'
"This letter met the fate of many others of importance--it was flung
away as a wild story.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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