USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky, from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, V. 1 > Part 49
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"They are remarkably superstitious, and hold their 'conjurers' in great veneration. These dignitaries are generally old and decrepid. On the bor- ders of Lake Erie, one evening, a squaw came running into camp, where Smith, Tontillogo, and a few others were reposing, after a long day's journey, and alarmed them with the information that two strange Indians, armed with rifles, were standing upon the opposite shore of a small creek, and appeared to be reconnoitering the camp. It was supposed that they were Johnston Mohawks, and that they would be shortly attacked. Instantly, the women and children were sent into the woods, and the warriors retired from the light of the fires, taking their stations silently in the dark, and awaiting the enemy's approach.
"Manetohcoa, their old conjurer, alone remained by the fire, regardless of the danger, and busily employed in his necromantic art. To assist him in his labors, he had dyed feathers, the shoulder-blade of a wildcat, and a large quantity of leaf tobacco. Thus accoutered, he conjured away, with great industry, in the light of the fire, and exposed to the most imminent danger in case of an attack, as he was very lame, totally deaf, and miserably rheumatic. After a few minutes' anxious expectation, old Manetohcoa called aloud upon his friends to return to the fire, assuring them that there was no danger. They instantly obeyed with the utmost confidence, and their squaws and children were recalled, as if no further danger was to be ap- prehended. Upon coming up, they found old Manetohcoa enveloped in tobacco smoke, and holding the bone of the wildcat in his hand, on which his eyes were fixed with great earnestness.
"He told them, after having burnt his feathers, fumigated himself with the tobacco, heated his blade-bone, and pronounced his charm, that he expected to see a multitude of Mohawks arise upon the surface of the bone; but, to his surprise, he saw only the figures of two wolves. He assured them that the woman had mistaken the wolves for the Mohawks, and that no enemy was near them. The Indians instantly composed themselves to rest, relying confidently upon the truth of the old man's assertions. In the morning, to Smith's astonishment, the tracks of two wolves were seen at the spot where
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
the squaw's account had placed the Mohawks. The Indians expressed no surprise at this extraordinary confirmation of the old man's skill in divina- tion, but Smith's infidelity was powerfully shaken. Admitting the truth of the facts-and, from Colonel Smith's high reputation for piety and integrity, we presume they can not be questioned-it must be acknowledged either an extraordinary instance of sagacity, or else we must class it among those nu- merous fortunate coincidences of circumstances which occasionally have staggered the faith of much more learned men than Colonel Smith. John- ston's superstition is well known, and Smith's doubts may at least be par- doned.
"Their military principles are few and simple, but remarkable for sagacity, and singularly adapted to the character of the warfare in which they are generally engaged. Caution, perhaps, rather than boldness, is the leading feature of their system. To destroy their enemy at the least possible risk to themselves is their great object. They are by no means, as has been some- times supposed, destitute of discipline. Their maneuvers are few, but in performing them they are peculiarly alert, ready, and intelligent. In form- ing a line, in protecting their flanks by bodies arranged en potence, or in forming a large hollow square for the purpose of making head against a superior force, they are inferior to no troops in the world. Each movement is indicated by a loud whoop, of peculiar intonation, from their leader, and is irregularly but rapidly obeyed. The result is order, although during the progress of the movement the utmost apparent confusion prevails.
" Nothing astonished them more than the pertinacity with which Braddock adhered to European tactics in the celebrated battle on the banks of the Monongahela. They often assured Smith that the Long Knives, so called from their use of swords and bayonets, were fools; that they could neither fight nor run away, but drew themselves up in close order and stood still, as if to give their enemies the best possible opportunity of „shooting them down at their leisure. Grant's masquerade before the walls of Fort Du- quesne also gave them much perplexity. A venerable Canewaughga chief, who had in his youth been a renowned warrior and counselor. and who ex- celled all his contemporaries in sagacity and benevolence, frequently told Smith that Grant's conduct was to him totally inexplicable.
"This general formed the advance of General Forbes in 1767. He marched with great secrecy and celerity through the woods, and appeared upon the hill above Duquesne in the night. There he encamped, and, by way of bravado, caused the drums to be beat and the bag-pipes to play, as. if to inform the enemy of his arrival. At daylight, he was surrounded by Indians, who, creeping up under cover of bushes, gullies, and other con- cealments, nearly annihilated his army without any sensible loss to them- selves. The old chief observed 'that, as the great art of war consisted in ambushing and surprising your enemy and preventing yourself from being surprised, Grant had acted like a skillful warrior in coming secretly upon
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SMITH'S CRITICAL SITUATION.
them, but that his subsequent conduct in giving the alarm to his enemy, in- stead of falling on them with the bayonet, was very extraordinary; that he could only account for it by supposing Grant, like too many other warriors, was fond of rum, and had become drunk about daylight.'
"They had the most sovereign contempt for all book-learning. Smith was occasionally in the habit of reading a few elementary English books, which he had procured from traders, and lost credit among them by his fondness for study. Nothing with them can atone for a practical ignorance of the woods. We have seen, that for losing himself, Smith was degraded from the rank of a warrior, and reduced to that of a boy. Two years afterward he regained his rank, and was presented with a rifle, as a reward for an exhibition of hardihood and presence of mind. In company with the old chief, to whom we have just referred, and several other Indians, he was en- gaged in hunting. A deep snow was upon the ground, and the weather was tempestuous. On their way home, a number of raccoon-tracks were seen in the snow, and Smith was directed to follow them and observe where they treed. He did so, but they led him off to a much greater distance than was supposed, and the hunters were several miles ahead of him when he attempted to rejoin them.
"At first, their tracks were very plain in the snow; and although night approached, and the camp was distant, Smith felt no anxiety. But about dusk his situation became critical. The weather became suddenly much colder, the wind blew a perfect hurricane, and whirlwinds of snow blinded his eyes and filled up the tracks of his companions. He had with him neither a gun, flint, nor steel; no shelter but a blanket, and no weapon but a tomahawk. He plodded on for several hours, ignorant of his route, stum- bling over logs, and chilled with cold, until the snow became so deep as seriously to impede his progress, and the flakes fell so thick as to render it impossible to see where he was going. He shouted aloud for help, but no answer was returned; and as the storm every instant became more outrage- ous, he began to think that his hour had come.
"Providentially, in stumbling on through the snow, he came to a large sycamore with a considerable opening on the windward side. He hastily crept in, and found the hollow sufficiently large to accommodate him for the night, if the weather side could be closed so as to exclude the snow and wind, which was beating against it with great violence. He instantly went to work with his tomahawk, and cut a number of sticks, which he placed upright against the hole, and piled brush against it in great quantities, leav- ing a space open for himself to creep in. He then broke up a decayed log, and cutting it into small pieces, pushed them, one by one, into the hollow of the tree, and lastly, crept in himself. With these pieces he stopped up the remaining holes of his den, until not a chink was left to admit the light. The snow, drifting in large quantities, was soon banked up against his de- fenses, and completely sheltered him from the storm, which still continued
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to rage with undiminished fury. He then danced violently in the center of his den for two hours, until he was sufficiently warmed, and, wrapping him- self in his blanket, he slept soundly until morning.
"He awoke in utter darkness, and, groping about, found his door and attempted to push it away, but the snow had drifted against it in such quan- tities that it resisted his utmost efforts. His hair now began to bristle, and he feared that he had, with great ingenuity, contrived to bury himself alive. He laid down again for several hours, meditating upon what he should do, and whether he should not attempt to cut through the tree with his toma- hawk; but at length he made one more desperate effort to push away the door, and succeeded in moving it several inches, when a great bank of snow fell in upon him from above, convincing him at once of the immense quantity which had fallen. He at length burrowed his way into the upper air, and found it broad daylight and the weather calm and mild. The snow lay nearly four feet deep, but he was now enabled to see his way clearly, and, by examining the barks of the trees, was enabled to return to camp.
" He was received with loud shouts of joy and congratulation, but not a single question was asked until he had dispatched a hearty meal of venison. hominy, and sugar.
"The old chief, Tecaughnetanego, whom we have already mentioned, then presented him with his own pipe, and they all remained silent until Smith had smoked. When they saw him completely refreshed, the venerable chief addressed him in a mild and affectionate manner, for Smith at that time was a mere boy with them, and desired to hear a particular account of the manner in which he had passed the night. Not a word was spoken until Smith concluded his story, and then he was greeted on all sides with shouts of approbation.
"Tecaughnetanego arose and addressed him in a short speech, in which his courage, hardihood. and presence of mind were highly commended. He was exhorted to go on as he had begun, and assured that one day he would make a very great man ; that all his brothers rejoiced in his safety, as much as they had lamented his supposed death ; that they were preparing snow- shoes to go in search of him when he appeared, but, as he had been brought up effeminately among the whites, they never expected to see him alive. In conclusion, he was promoted from the rank of a boy to that of a warrior. and assured that, when they sold skins in the spring, at Detroit, they would purchase for him a new rifle. And they faithfully observed their promise.
"They are extravagantly fond of rum, but drinking does not with them. as with the whites, form part of the besetting habits of life. They occasionally indulge in a wild and frantic revel, which sometimes lasts several days, and then return to their ordinary habits. They can not husband their liquor, for the sake of prolonging the pleasure of toping ; it is used with the most reckless profusion while it lasts, and all drink to beastly intoxication. Their squaws are as fond of liquor as the warriors, and share in all their excesses.
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THE ORGIES OF INDIANS.
" After the party to which Smith belonged had sold their beaver-skins, and. provided themselves with ammunition and blankets, all their surplus cash was expended in rum, which was bought by the keg. They then held a council, in which a few strong-bodied hunters were selected to remain sober and protect the rest during the revel, for which they were preparing. Smith was courteously invited to get drunk, but, upon his refusal, he was told that he must join the sober party and assist in keeping order. This, as he quickly found. was an extremely dangerous office; but before engaging in the serious business of drinking, the warriors carefully removed their tomahawks and knives, and took every precaution against bloodshed. A shocking scene was then commenced. Rum was swallowed in immense quantities, and their wild passions were stimulated to frenzy. Smith and the sober party were exposed to the most imminent peril, and were compelled to risk their lives every moment. Much injury was done, but no lives were lost.
"In the Ottawa camp, where the same infernal orgies were celebrated, the result was more tragical. Several warriors were killed on the spot, and a number more wounded. So long as they had money, the revel was kept up day and night; but when their funds were exhausted, they gathered up their dead and wounded, and, with dejected countenances, returned to the wil- derness. All had some cause of lamentation. The blanket of one had been burnt, and he had no money to buy another; the fine clothes of another had been torn from his back ; some had been maimed, and all had improvidently wasted their money.
"The religion of the Indians, although defaced by superstition, and in- termingled with many rites and notions which appear absurd, contains, nevertheless, a distinct acknowledgment of the existence of a Supreme Being, and a future state. The various tribes are represented by Dr. Rob- ertson, as polytheists ; and Mr. Hume considers polytheism as inseparably attendant upon the savage state. It appears, however, that the Western Indians approached more nearly to simple deism than most savage nations with whom we have been heretofore acquainted. One Great Spirit is uni- versally worshiped throughout the West, although different tribes give Him different names. In the immense prairies of the West, He is generally termed Wahcondah, or Master of Life. With the Indians of the lakes. He was generally termed Manito, which, we believe, means simply The Spirit. In the language of Smith's tribe, He was known by the title of Owaneeyo, or the Possessor of All Things.
" Human sacrifices are very common among the tribes living west of the Mississippi ; but we have seen no evidence of such a custom among those of the North-west.
"Tecaughnetanego, the veteran chief, whom we have already mentioned, was esteemed the wisest and most venerable of his own nation, and his re- ligious opinions, perhaps, may be regarded as a very favorable sample of Indian theology. We shall take the liberty of detailing several conversations
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of this old chief, particularly upon religious subjects, which to us were the most interesting passages of Smith's diary, growing, as they did. out of a situation which required the exercise of some philosophy and reliance upon Providence. We have already adverted to the precarious nature of the Indian supplies of food, dependent, as they are, upon the woods for their meat, and liable to frequent failures from the state of the weather, and other circumstances over which they had no control.
" It so happened that Smith, together with Tontillogo and the old chief, Tecaughnetanego, were encamped at a great distance from the rest of the tribe, and during the early part of the winter they were very successful in hunting, and were abundantly supplied with all the necessaries. Upon the breach between Tontillogo and his wife, however, Smith and the old chief were left in the woods, with no other company than that of Nungany, a little son of the latter, not more than ten years old. Tecaughnetanego, notwith- standing his age, which exceeded sixty, was still a skillful hunter, and cap- able of great exertion when in good health; but, unfortunately, was subject to dreadful attacks of rheumatism, during which, in addition to the most excruciating pain, he was incapable of moving his limbs, or helping himself in any way. Smith was but a young hunter, and Nungany totally useless except as a cook ; but while Tecaughnetanego retained the use of his limbs, notwithstanding the loss of Tontillogo, they killed game very abundantly. About the middle of January, however, the weather became excessively cold, and the old chief was stretched upon the floor of his wigwam, totally unable to move. The whole care of the family now devolved upon Smith, and his exertions were not wanting; but from his youth and inexperience, he was unable to provide as plentifully as Tontillogo had done, and they were reduced to very short allowance. The old chief, notwithstanding the excru- ciating pain which he daily suffered, always strove to entertain Smith at night with agreeable conversation, and instructed him carefully and repeat- edly in the art of hunting. At length, the snow became hard and crusty. and the noise of Smith's footsteps frightened the deer, so that, with the utmost caution he could use, he was unable to get within gun-shot. The family, in consequence, were upon the eve of starvation.
"One evening, Smith entered the hut, faint and weary, after a hunt of two days, during which he had eaten nothing. Tecaughnetanego had fasted for the same length of time, and both had been upon short allowance for a week. Smith came in very moodily, and, laying aside his gun and powder- horn, sat down by the fire in silence. Tecaughnetanego inquired mildly and calmly what success he had had. Smith answered that they must starve. as the deer were so wild that he could not get within gun-shot. and it was too far to go to any Indian settlement for food. The old man remained silent for a moment, and then, in the same mild tone. asked him if he was hungry. Smith replied that the keen appetite seemed gone, but that he felt sick and dizzy, and scarcely able to walk. 'I have made Nungany hunt up
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AN INDIAN'S FAITH.
some food for you, brother,' said the old man kindly, and bade him pro- duce it. This food was nothing more than the bones of a fox and wildcat, which had been thrown into the woods a few days before, and which the buzzards had already picked almost bare.
"Nungany had collected and boiled them until the sinews were stripped of the flesh, intending them for himself and father, both of whom were nearly famished. But the old man had put them away for Smith, in case he should again return without food. Smith quickly threw himself upon this savory soup, and swallowed spoonful after spoonful with the voracity of a wolf. Tecaughnetanego waited patiently until he had finished his meal, which continued until the last spoonful had been swallowed, and then, hand- ing him his own pipe, invited him to smoke. Little Nungany, in the mean- time, removed the kettle, after looking in vain for some remnant of the feast for his own supper. He had watched every mouthful which Smith swallowed with eager longing, but in perfect silence, and finding that, for the third night, he must remain supperless, he sat down quietly at his father's feet, and was soon asleep.
"Tecaughnetanego, as soon as Smith had smoked, asked him if he felt refreshed, and, upon receiving an animated assurance in the affirmative, he addressed him mildly as follows: 'I saw, brother, when you first came in, that you had been unfortunate in hunting, and were ready to despair. I should have spoken at the time what I am now about to say, but I have always observed that hungry people are not in a temper to listen to reason. You are now refreshed, and can listen patiently to the words of your elder brother. I was once young like you, but am now old. I have seen sixty snows fall, and have often been in a worse condition for want of food than we are now; yet I have always been supplied, and that, too, at the very time when I was ready to despair. Brother, you have been brought up among the whites, and have not had the same opportunities of seeing how wonder- fully Owaneeyo provides food for His children in the woods. He sometimes lets them be in great want, to teach them that they are dependent upon Him, and to remind them of their weakness: but He never permits them abso- lutely to perish. Rest assured that your brother is telling you no lie, but be satisfied that He will do as I have told you. Go now ; sleep soundly ; arise early in the morning and go out to hunt; be strong and diligent; do your best, and trust to Owaneeyo for the rest.'
" The next day Smith was fortunate enough to kill a buffalo, at a distance of some ten miles from the wigwam. After satisfying his own hunger with some choice parts hastily roasted. he secured the carcass, after cutting off as much as he could carry home. He then returned to camp with as much expedition as he could exert. It was late at night when he entered the huts. Tecaughnetanego received him with the same mild equanimity which had heretofore distinguished him, and thanked him affectionately for the exer- tions he had used. In the meanwhile, the eyes of the famished boy were
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fastened upon the meat, as if he would devour it raw. Smith boiled some for the old man, while Nungany devoured a portion, barely scorched on the coals, with the voracity of a shark. Tecaughnetanego, though tort- ured with three days of fasting, patiently awaited the well-cooked stew, and then ate with all the avidity of his unrestrained appetite. The next day Smith was again fortunate enough to kill a bear; thus providing very boun- tifully for two or three weeks, and making all very contented.
" Early in April, Tecaughnetanego's rheumatism abated so much as to permit him to walk, upon which they built a bark canoe, and descended the Ollentangy, until the water became so shallow as to endanger their frail bark among the rocks. A council was then held, in which Tecaughnetanego proposed to go ashore and pray for rain to raise the creek or river so as to enable them to continue their journey. Smith readily consented ; and they accordingly disembarked. drawing their canoe ashore after them. Here the old Indian built a sweating-house, in order to purify himself before engaging in his religious duties.
" He stuck a number of semi-circular hoops in the ground, and laid a blanket over them. He then heated a number of large stones and placed them under the blanket, and finally crawled in himself. with a kettle of water in his hand, directing Smith to draw down the blanket after him, so as almost entirely to exclude the outside air. He then poured the water upon the hot stones, and began to sing aloud with great energy, the steam rising from the blanket like a heavy mist. In this hot place he continued for fifteen minutes, singing the whole time, and then came out dripping with perspiration from head to foot. As soon as he had taken breath, he began to burn tobacco, throwing it into the fire by handfuls, at the same time re- peating the following words in a tone of deep and solemn earnestness : 'O, Great Owaneeyo! I thank thee that I have regained the use of my legs once more; that I am now able to walk about and kill turkeys, without feeling exquisite pain. Oh! ho! ho! ho! grant that my knees and ankles may be right well, that I may be able not only to walk, but to run and to jump logs. as I did last fall! Oh! ho! ho! ho! grant that upon this voyage we may frequently kill bears as they may be crossing the Sandusky and Scioto! Oh! ho! ho! ho! grant that we may also kill a few turkeys to stew with our bear's meat ! Oh! ho! ho! ho! grant that rain may come to raise the Ol- lentangy a few feet, that we may cross in safety down to Scioto, without splitting our canoe upon the rocks! And now, O, Great Owaneeyo! Thou knowest how fond I am of tobacco, and though I do not know when I shall get any more, yet you see that I have freely given up all that I have for a burnt-offering; therefore, I expect that Thou wilt be merciful and hear all my petitions, and I, Thy servant, will thank Thee, and love Thee for all Thy gifts.'
"Smith explained to him the outlines of the Christian religion, and dwelt particularly upon the doctrine of reconciliation through the atonement of
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THE INDIAN DANCES.
Christ. Tecaughnetanego listened with patience and gravity until his com- panion had finished his remarks, and then calmly observed that 'it might be so!' but declared that he was too old now to change his religion; that he should, therefore, continue to worship God after the manner of his fathers, and if it were not consistent with the honor of the Great Spirit to accept him in that way, then he hoped that He would receive him upon such terms as were acceptable to Him; that it was his earnest and sincere desire to wor- ship the Great Spirit and obey His wishes, and he hoped that Owaneeyo would overlook such faults as arose from ignorance and weakness, not will- ful neglect.' To a speech of this kind, the sentiments of which find an echo in almost every breast, Smith could make no reply. Here, therefore, the subject ended.
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