(1) _Courage of his race._--p. 205.
The North American Indian knows nothing of fear, he is perfectly
insensible to danger. I am not now referring to the wonderful
fortitude he displays while his enemies are exercising their cunning
and dexterity in devising, and carrying into effect, torments which
baffle description, but to the quality which is denominated courage
among civilised nations. Tecumseh was one of the bravest men that ever
lived, so was the celebrated Mackintosh. They must, however, be
allowed to display their valour in their own peculiar manner. I shall
further illustrate their remarkable and peculiar use of this quality
by referring to some well attested instances of almost superhuman
daring. The first is of a young Andirondack or Algonquin chief named
Piskaret. The story will further illustrate the mode of warfare used
in these bloody expeditions.
"Piskaret set out for the country of the Five Nations, about the time
the snow began to melt, with the precaution of putting the hinder part
of his snow-shoes forward, that if any should happen upon his
footsteps, they might think he was gone the contrary way; and, for
further security, went along the ridges and high grounds, where the
snow was melted, that his track might be often lost; when he came near
one of the villages of the Five Nations, he hid himself till night,
and then entered a cabin, while every body was fast asleep, murdered
the whole family, and carried their scalps into his lurking-place. The
next day, the people of the village searched for the murderer in vain.
The following night he murdered all he found in another cabin. The
inhabitants next day searched likewise in vain for the murderer; but
the third night a watch was kept in every house. Piskaret, in the
night, bundled up the scalps he had taken the two former nights, to
carry, as the proof of his victory, and then stole privately from
house to house, till at last he found an Indian nodding, who was upon
the watch in one of the houses; he knocked this man on the head: but,
as this alarmed the rest, he was forced immediately to fly. He was,
however, under no great concern from the pursuit, being more swift of
foot than any Indian then living. He let his pursuers come near him
from time to time, and then would dart from them. This he did with
design to tire them out with the hopes of overtaking him. As it began
to grow dark, he hid himself, and his pursuers stopped to rest. They,
not being apprehensive of any danger from a single man, soon fell
asleep, and the bold Piskaret observing this, knocked them all on the
head, and carried away their scalps with the rest."--_Colden's History
of the Five Nations, Lond._ 1747, p. 26.
Another instance which I shall relate of courage and intrepidity will
at the same time show the abolition of a bloody rite said to have been
peculiar to the Pawnee Loups, of making propitiatory sacrifices to
Venus, or the Great Star.
"An Ietan woman, who was brought captive into the village, was doomed
to the Great Star, by the warrior, whose property she had become by
the fate of war. She underwent the usual preparations, and, on the
appointed day, was led to the cross, amidst a great concourse of
people, as eager, perhaps, as their civilized fellow-men, to witness
the horrors of an execution. The victim was bound to the cross with
thongs of skin, and the usual ceremonies being performed, her dread of
a more terrible death was about to be terminated by the tomahawk and
the arrow. At this critical juncture, Petalesharoo (son of the Knife
Chief), stepped forward into the area, and, in an hurried but firm
manner, declared that it was his father's wish to abolish this
sacrifice; that, for himself, he had presented himself before them,
for the purpose of laying down his life upon the spot, or of releasing
the victim. He then cut the cords which bound her to the cross,
carried her swiftly through the crowd to a horse, which he presented
to her, and having mounted another himself, he conveyed her beyond the
reach of immediate pursuit; when, after having supplied her with food,
and admonishing her to make the best of her way to her own nation,
which was at the distance of at least four hundred miles, he was
constrained to return to his village. The emancipated Ietan had,
however, the good fortune, on her journey of the subsequent day, to
meet with a war-party of her own people, by whom she was conveyed to
her family in safety.
"Another display of the firmness and determination of the young
warrior was required to abolish this sacrifice, it is to be hoped for
ever. The succeeding spring, a warrior, who had captured a fine
Spanish boy, vowed to sacrifice him to the Great Star, and accordingly
placed him under the care of the magi for that purpose.
"The Knife Chief, learning the determination of the warrior, consulted
with his son, respecting the best means of preventing a repetition of
the horrible ceremony. 'I will rescue the boy,' said Petalesharoo, 'as
a warrior should, by force;' but the Knife Chief, unwilling that his
son should again expose himself to a danger so imminent as that which
he had once encountered in this cause, hoped to compel the warrior to
exchange his victim for a large quantity of merchandize, which he
would endeavour to obtain with that view. For this purpose, he
repaired to Mr. Pappan, who happened to be in the village for the
purposes of trade, and communicated to him his intentions. Mr. Pappan
generously contributed a considerable quantity of merchandize, and
much was added by himself, by Petalesharoo, and other Indians.
"All this treasure was laid in a heap together, in the lodge of the
Knife Chief, who thereupon summoned the warrior before him. The chief
armed himself with his war-club, and explained the object of his call,
commanding the warrior to accept the merchandize, and yield up the
boy, or prepare for instant death. The warrior refused, and the chief
waved his club in the air towards the warrior. 'Strike!' said
Petalesharoo, who stood near to support his father; 'I will meet the
vengeance of his friends.' But the more prudent and politic chief
added a few more articles to the mass of merchandize, in order to give
the warrior another opportunity of acquiescing without forfeiting his
word.
"This expedient succeeded; the goods were reluctantly accepted, and
the boy was liberated."--_James's Account of an Expedition to the
Rocky Mountains_, ii, 81.