| | | [37] Archæologia Americana, Vol. II, pp. 128. | | | | [38] In Chapter xvii it will be seen that the Aztecs or Toltecs in | | Yucatan, also, in certain cases, killed the victim by a flight of | | arrows. | | | | [39] One of the best authenticated instances of this custom of | | torturing prisoners was witnessed by a Mr. James Smith who, during | | the time that he was a captive amongst the Delawares, was present | | when the English prisoners taken after General Braddock’s defeat | | were brought into camp by the Indians. | | | | He states that, upon that occasion, about a dozen of the prisoners | | were stripped and tied to stakes, tortured with fire-brands and | | burnt to death. | | | | The ferocity of the Indians towards their captives after battle | | was well known to the British and French commanders, and was one | | of the difficulties that attended their employment as allies. | | There is a subject indirectly connected with these Indian customs | | in war which may here be considered. It is that of cannibalism. | | | | Investigations into this question lead to the conclusion that | | there is no evidence to show that any of the North American tribes | | were in the habit of following this revolting custom except under | | rare circumstances during the prosecution of a serious war. | | | | I only know of two instances, seen and recorded, of Indians | | devouring human flesh. In both cases it is evident that the acts | | were committed in accordance with the usages of hostile tribes | | when engaged in war. | | | | The first case is mentioned in a report made to his superiors, by | | the French missionary, Father Roubaud, who accompanied the Indian | | allies of the French troops during the operations against the | | British forces in 1757. | | | | An English captive, who was believed to have been an officer, was | | cooked and eaten by the Ottawas under circumstances singularly | | repulsive. The Father Roubaud, who was present and witnessed part |