USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky, from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, V. 1 > Part 50
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"A few days afterward, there came a fine rain, and the Ollentangy was soon sufficiently deep to admit of their passage in safety, and, after reach- ing the Sandusky, they killed four bears and a great many wild turkeys. Tecaughnetanego gravely assured Smith that this was a clear and direct answer to his prayer, and inferred from it that his religion could not be as unacceptable to Owaneeyo as Smith supposed. Perhaps it would be dif- ficult to disprove the first part of the old Indian's observation; the last is more questionable."
1 Dancing is most prominent among the aboriginal ceremonies, and all tribes practice it. The Indians have their war dance and their peace dance, their dance of mourning, their pipe dance, their green-corn dance, and their wabana, each of these distinguished by some peculiarity appropriate to the occasion. In the war dance, the actors are distinguished by a free use of black and red paint; in the peace dance, by green and white; in that for the dead, by black, and in the other dances, except the wabana, black prevails.
The paint, in all the dances, is put on according to the fancy of each in- dividual. A line is sometimes drawn, dividing the body, from the forehead and from the back of the head downward, on either side of which different figures are drawn, representing beasts, birds, fish, snakes, etc. Frequently the hand is smeared with paint and pressed on either cheek, the breast, and the sides. It rarely happens that two of the group are painted alike. The music consists of a monotonous thumping with sticks upon a rude drum, accompanied by the voices of the dancers, and mingled with the rattling of gourds, containing pebbles, and the jingling of small bells and pieces of tin worn as ornaments. The wabana is an offering to the devil, and, like some others, the green-corn dance, for example, winds up with a feast.
2 On a certain occasion in 1819, when Shaumonekusse, an Ottoe chief, and some of the most noted warriors, performed a dance in honor of an American party under Colonel Long, they formed around the flagstaff which
t Indian Gallery. Department at Washington, D. C.
2 Indian Gallery, War Department.
25
386
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
had been erected. Ietan stepped forward and struck the staff, as the others moved around it. This ceremony they called striking the post, when every word spoken is pledged to be true. In recounting his martial deeds, Ietan said he had stolen horses seven or eight times from the Kansas; he had first 1 struck the bodies of three of that nation slain in battle. He had stolen horses from the Ietans, and had struck one of them dead. Then he stole them from the Pawnees, and he had struck the body of one. He had stolen horses several times from the Omahas, and once from the Puncas. He had struck the bodies of two Sioux. On a war party, in company with the Paw- nees, he had attacked the Spaniards in the South-west, and shot down and struck one. All these performances were of the most meritorious character with the savages, and gave an envious fame to the heroic actor. With the whites, the deeds could only have been recounted to portray the deviltries of the most abandoned penitentiary convict, hopelessly outlawed.
On the occasion, as the chief recited, in a sort of frenzied rhapsody, his thefts and murders, he acted out, in dramatic or comic style, the manner of his performances to the life in horse-stealing. He carried a whip in his hand, as did a number of his comrades in the dance, and around his neck were thrown several leather thongs for bridles and halters, the ends of which trailed on the ground behind him. After many preparatory maneuvers, he stooped down, and, with his knife, represented the act of cutting the hopples by which horses are tied ; he then rode his tomahawk, as children ride their broomsticks, and made such use of his whip as to indicate the necessity of rapid movement, lest his foes should overtake him.
Shaumonekusse was, like most Indians, intensely fond of ornamentation, and the dude of his tribe. His squaw, The Eagle of Delight, was an Indian beauty, and together they visited Washington in IS21. Many presents were given the pretty wife during the visit, which, as soon as received, the vain chief suspended upon his own nose, ears, neck, and head, thinking a wife unadorned adorned the most.
The Indian is always very true and confiding toward his own race; but toward the whites, whom he held generally to be inveterate enemies, he was secretive, lying, and treacherous, without scruple or remorse, except in in- dividual cases of friendship and warm attachments. Indeed, this is charac- teristic of every ignorant and degraded race, when it comes in contact with one of superior civilization, ever suspicious that the self-interest, which is the dominant motive with men in secular relations, only seeks the oppor- tunity in every dealing, for advantage. The extremes of the sublime and the ridiculous meet in the red man of the forest. He is heroic in bravery, in patience under fatigue or privation : often generous, and sometimes te. nacious of a point of honor, to an extreme which is paralleled only in the records of chivalry. In all that relates to war or the council, they are sys- tematic; and the leading men exhibit much dignity and consistency of char-
1 Scalped.
387
ANECDOTES OF WAWKAW.
acter. But when the Indian is taken from this limited circle and thrown into contact with the white man in social intercourse, his want of versatility and deficiency of intellectual resources often degrade him at once into mean- ness and puerility. For a time he may disguise himself in his habitual gravity, and his native shrewdness may enable him to parry attempts to pry into his thoughts, or throw him off his guard; but the sequel is very sure to betray the barrenness of the savage mind.
1 An anecdote of Wawkaw', a Winnebago chief, and a retinue of famed warriors, and other Indians eminent in council, while on a mission visit at Washington and the East, in IS29, at Government expense, is a good illus- tration of these characterizing comments. While at New York, the Winne- bago deputies attended, by invitation, a balloon ascension at the Battery. At this beautiful spot, where the magnificence of a city on the one hand, and a splendid view of one of the noblest harbors in the world on the other, combine to form a landscape of unrivaled grandeur, thousands of spectators were assembled to witness the exploit of the aeronaut, and to behold the impression which would be made upon the savage mind by so novel an ex- hibition. The chiefs and warriors were provided with suitable places, and many an eye was turned in anxious scrutiny upon their imperturbable coun- tenances, as they gazed in silence upon the balloon ascending into the upper atmosphere. At length Wawkaw was asked what he thought of the aero- naut? He replied coolly : "I think they are fools to trifle in that way with their lives; what good does it do?" Being asked if he had ever before seen so many people assembled at one time, he answered: "We have more in our smallest villages."
While at Washington they lodged at a public hotel, and regaled in the most plentiful and sumptuous manner; notwithstanding which, when about to leave the city, Wawkaw complained of the quality of the food placed upon his table. Such a remark from an Indian, whose cookery is the most unartificial imaginable, and whose notions of neatness are far from being refined, was considered singular, and on inquiry being made, it turned out that a piece of roast beef, which had been taken from the table untouched, was placed a second time before these fastidious gentlemen, who, on their native prairies, would have devoured it raw, but who now considered their dignity infringed by such a procedure. Being asked if the beef was not good enough, he replied that there were plenty of turkeys and chickens to be had, and he would choose them in preference.
On their way home, at the first place at which they stopped to dine after leaving Baltimore, they sat down at a well-furnished table. A fine roasted turkey at the head of the table attracted their attention, but keeping that in reserve, they commenced upon a chicken pie. While thus engaged, a stranger entered, and, taking his seat at the head of the table, called for a plate. The Indians became alarmed for the turkey, cast significant glances
1 Indian Gallery, War Department, Washington, D. C.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
at each other, and eyed che object of their desire with renewed eagerness .. They inquired of each other. in subdued accents, what was to be done; their plates being well supplied. they could not ask to be helped again, yet the turkey was in imminent jeopardy. The stranger was evidently hungry, and he looked like a man who would not trifle with his knife and fork. Luckily, however, he was not yet supplied with these necessary implements. there was a moment still left to be improved, and the red gentlemen having cleared their plates, occupied it by dividing among them an apple pie, which quickly vanished. A clean plate. knife, and fork were now placed before the stranger, who was about to help himself, when, to his astonishment and utter discomfiture, one of the Indians arose, stepped to the head of the table, and adroitly fixing his fork in the turkey, bore it off to his companions, who very gravely, and without appearing to take the least notice of the details of the exploit, commenced dividing the spoil, while the stranger, recover- ing from his surprise, broke out into a loud laugh, in which the Indians joined.
As the party receded from the capital, the fare became coarser, and the red men began to sigh for the fat poultry and rich joints that were left behind them. And now another idea occurred to their minds. Having noticed that payment was made regularly for every meal, they inquired if all the meals. they ate were paid for, and being answered in the affirmative, each Indian, on rising from the table, loaded himself with the fragments of the feast, until nothing remained. When they observed that this conduct was noticed, they defended it by remarking that the provisions were all paid for.
Perhaps nothing in human ferocity ever surpassed the fiendish orgies of diabolical malice and delight which the savages practiced around their suf- fering and dying victims whom they burned at the stake. As an example of what they were capable. Dr. Knight's narrative of the burning of Colonel Crawford is instructive :
1 " When the speech was finished, they all yelled a hideous and hearty assent to what had been said. The Indian men then took up their guns and shot powder into the colonel's body from his feet as far up as his neck. I think that not less than seventy loads were discharged upon his naked body. They then crowded about him, and, to the best of my observation, cut off his ears. When the throng had dispersed a little, I saw the blood running from both sides of his head in consequence thereof. He seemed an object fitted to move the pity of a wolf, if possible.
"The fire was about six or seven yards from the post to which the col- one! was tied. It was made of small hickory poles. burnt quite through in the middle, each end of the pole remaining about six feet in length. Three or four Indians by turns would take up. individually, one of these burning pieces of wood and apply it to his naked body, already burnt black with the powder. These tormentors presented themselves on every side of him with
t Western Annals, p. 246.
389
THE BURNING OF COLONEL CRAWFORD.
the burning fagots and poles. Some of the squaws took broad boards, upon which they would carry a quantity of burning coals and hot embers and throw on him, so that in a short time he had nothing but coals of fire and hot ashes to walk upon.
"In the midst of these extreme tortures, he called to Simon Girty and begged of him to shoot him; but Girty making no answer, he called to him again. Girty then, by way of derision, told the colonel he had no gun, at the same time turning about to an Indian who was behind him laughed heartily, and by all his gestures seemed delighted at the horrid scene.
"Girty then came up to me and bade me prepare for death. He said, however, I was not to die at that place, but to be burnt at the Shawanese towns. He swore that I need not expect to escape death, but should suffer it in all its extremities.
"He then observed that some prisoners had given him to understand that if our people had him they would not hurt him. For his part, he said, he did not believe it, but desired to know my opinion of the matter; but, being at that time in great anguish and distress for the torments the colonel was suffering before my eyes, as well as the expectation of undergoing the same fate in two days, I made little or no answer. He expressed a great deal of ill-will for Colonel Gibson, and said he was one of his greatest ene- mies, and more to the same purpose, to all of which I paid very little atten- tion.
"Colonel Crawford, at this period of his sufferings, besought the Almighty to have mercy on his soul, spoke very low, and bore his torments with the most manly fortitude. He continued in all the extremities of pain for an hour and three-quarters or two hours longer, as near as I can judge, when at last, being almost exhausted, he lay down on his belly. They then scalped him, and repeatedly threw the scalp in my face, telling me 'that was my great captain.' An old squaw, whose appearance every way an- swered the ideas people entertain of the devil, got a board, took a parcel of coals and ashes, and laid them on his back and head. after he had been scalped. He then raised himself upon his feet and began to walk around the post. They next put a burning stick to him, as usual, but he seemed more insensible of pain than before.
" The Indian fellow who had me in charge now took me away to Cap- tain Pipe's house, about three-quarters of a mile from the place of the colonel's execution. I was bound all night, and thus prevented from seeing the last of the horrid spectacle. Next morning, being June 12th, the Indian untied me, painted me black, and we set off for the Shawanese town, which he told me was somewhat less than forty miles distant from that place. We soon came to the place where the colonel had been burnt, as it was partly in our way. I saw his bones lying among the remains of the fire, almost burnt to ashes. I suppose after he was dead they laid his body on the fire. The Indian told me that was my big captain, and gave the scalp halloo."
399
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
The practice of nursing and rearing their infants is unique and interest- ing, and peculiar to the extremities of savage life. The cradle is a simple contrivance; a board, shaven thin, is its basis. On this the infant is placed, with its back to the board. At a proper distance, near the lower end, is a projecting piece of wood. This is covered with the softest moss, and when the cradle is perpendicular, the heels of the infant rest upon it. Before the head of the child there is a hoop, projecting four or five inches from its face. Two holes are bored on either side of the upper end of the board, for the passage of deer-skin or other cord. This is intended to extend around the forehead of the mother, to support the cradle when on her back. Around the board and the child bandages are wrapped, beginning at the feet, and winding around until they reach the breast and shoulders, binding the arms and hands to the child's sides. There is great security in this contrivance. The Indian woman, a slave to the duties of the lodge, with all the fondness of a mother, can not devote that constant attention to her child which her heart constantly prompts her to bestow. She must often leave it. to chop wood, build fires, cook, erect the wigwam or take it down, make a canoe. or bring home the game which her lord has killed, but which he disdains to shoulder. While thus employed, the infant charge is safe in its rude cradle. If she place it against a tree, or a corner of her lodge, it may be knocked down in her absence. If it fall backward, then all is safe. If it fall side- ways, the arms and hands being confined, no injury is sustained; if on the front, the projecting hoop guards the face and head. The Indian mother would find it difficult to contrive anything better calculated for her purpose. To this early discipline in the cradle, the Indian owes his erect form; and to the practice, when old enough to be released from the bandages, of brac- ing himself against his mother's waist, with his toes inward, may be traced the origin of his straightforward gait, and the position of his foot in walking, which latter is confirmed afterward by treading in the trails scarcely wider than his foot, cut many inches deep by the travel of centuries.
When the child has attained sufficient strength to sit alone, or to walk about, the cradle is dispensed with. Then it is taken by the mother and placed upon her lap, she being in a sitting posture; or, if she have occasion to make a long journey, a blanket, or part of a blanket, is provided-two corners of which she passes around her middle. Holding these with one hand, she takes the child by the arm and shoulder with the other, and slings it upon her back. The child clasps with its arms its mother's neck. presses its feet and toes inward against and. as far as the length of its legs will permit, around her waist. The blanket is then drawn over the child by the remaining two corners, which are now brought over the mother's shoulder. who, grasping all four of these in her hand before her, pursues her way. If the child require nourishment, and the mother has time, the blanket is thrown off, and the child is taken by the arm and shoulder. most adroitly replaced upon the ground, received upon the lap of the mother, and nour-
391
THE FOOD OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
ished. Otherwise, the breast is pressed upward, in the direction of the child's mouth, till it is able to reach the source of its nourishment, while the mother pursues her journey.
We have learned from the earlier chapters of this history that, for several years, the forest rangers were mainly corraled and sheltered in the principal forts, on account of the dangers of the woods from predatory bands of In- dians, and the need of co-operative defense on the part of the whites. While every man was skilled in the use of the rifle, in the arts of the hunter, and in the tactics of Indian fighting, there was need for system and vigilance in all these, especially so in hunting. The latter occupation was not followed simply for sport, nor was sport the main object usually. Through these ini- tial years of trial, the woods supplied the pioneers with the greater amount of their subsistence. 1 At intervals, the spoils of the hunter were the only resource for food, for it was no uncommon thing for families to live several months without a mouthful of bread, vegetables, or fruits, saving grapes, nuts, or the wild fruits of the woods. Oftentimes there was no breakfast until it was obtained by the early morning hunt. There were always parties detailed for the purpose of procuring a daily supply of wild meat for a con- stant reliance. When this party was more than ordinarily unsuccessful, and the supply became inconveniently short, it was re-enforced by others from day to day, until all danger of shortage was over. Nor must it be supposed that the game was hunted for a supply of food altogether. Fur and peltry were the people's money: they had little else to exchange for rifles, ammu- nition, iron, and other indispensables.
For the first year or two, patches of corn, or maize, with pumpkins, beans, melons, and other vegetables, were planted in the near vicinity of the forts, and the products of this partial culture gave great relief to the limited bills of fare to which the people had been hitherto subjected. Some fruit trees were planted, and the first appearances of homelike surroundings established. Year by year, the adventurous backwoodsmen would go out farther away from the stockade fort. and select some favorite spot for a cabin and clearing, and, with the ready and co-operating hands of his comrade neighbors, proceed to cut down the trees, hew and prepare the timbers, and erect the cabin for a home. This rude structure was provisioned in every simple way for defense against the assaults of savages. Around these iso- lated cabins the same clearings and plantings were made as around the stockade forts, and from these beginnings grew. in time. additional settle- ments and the tender plants of the new civilization.
The fall and early winter formed the season for hunting deer, and the whole of winter and part of spring for bears and fur-skinned animals. It was a customary saying that fur is good during every month of the year in which the letter R occurs. As soon as the autumn leaves were well down, and the weather became rainy, accompanied with light snows, after acting
Doddridge's Notes.
392
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
the part of husbandman, the hunting fever took possession of the settlers. They became uneasy at home. Everything about them became disagree- able. The house was too warm, the feather bed too soft, and even the good wife was not thought, for the time being, a proper companion. The mind of the hunter was wholly absorbed with the camp and the chase. They would rise early in the morning at this season, walk hastily out, look anx- iously to the woods, and snuff the autumnal winds with the highest rapture; then return into the house and cast a quick and attentive look at the rifle, which was always suspended to a joist by a couple of buck-horns, or little wooden forks. The hunting dog, understanding the intentions of his master, would wag his tail, and by every blandishment in his power express his readiness to accompany him to the woods. A day was soon appointed for the march of the little cavalcade to the camp. Two or three horses, with pack-saddles, were loaded with breadstuff, blankets, and everything else requisite for the use of the hunter. The hunter's camp we have described in a former chapter. It was located to shelter it from the winds and foul weather, and where the prowling Indians would be least likely to find it.
Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit of game, in which there was nothing of skill and calculation. On the contrary, the hunter, before he set out in the morning, was informed, by the state of the weather, in what situation he might reasonably expect to meet with his game ; whether upon the bottoms, sides, or tops of the hills. In stormy weather, the deer always seek the most sheltered places, and the leeward side of the hills. In rainy weather, in which there is not much wind, they keep in the open woods on the highest ground.
In every situation it was requisite for the hunter to ascertain the course of the wind, so as to get the leeward of the game. This he effected by put- ting his finger in his mouth, and holding it there until it became warm, then holding it above his head; the side which first became cold showed which way the wind blew.
As it was requisite, too, for the hunter to know the cardinal points, he had only to observe the trees to ascertain them. The bark of an aged tree is thicker and much rougher on the north than on the south side. The same thing may be said of the moss; it is much thicker and stronger on the north than on the south side of the trees.
The whole business of the hunter consists of a succession of intrigues. From morning till night he was on the alert to gain the wind of his game. and to approach it without being discovered. If he succeeded in killing a deer, he skinned it, and hung it up out of the reach of the wolves, and immediately resumed the chase till the close of the evening, when he bent his course toward the camp. When he arrived there, he kindled up a fire, and together with his fellow hunter cooked his supper. The supper finished, the adventures of the day furnished the tales for the evening. The spike buck, the two and three-pronged buck, the doe, and barren doe, figured
-
393
A CABIN-RAISING.
through their anecdotes with great advantage. It should seem that after hunting awhile on the same ground, the hunters became acquainted with nearly all the gangs of deer within their range, so as to know each flock of them when they saw them. Often some old buck, by the means of his superior sagacity and watchfulness, saved his little family from the hunter's skill, by giving timely notice of his approach. The cunning of the hunter and that of the old buck were staked against each other, and it frequently happened that at the conclusion of the hunting season, the old fellow was left the free uninjured tenant of the forest; but if his rival succeeded in bringing him down, the victory was followed by no small amount of boast- ing on the part of the conqueror.
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