other missionaries, to propagate the gospel amongst the Indians, and
though many different tribes have been induced thereby to submit to
baptism, yet it does not appear, except in very few instances, that any
material advantages have resulted from the introduction of the Christian
religion amongst them. They have learned to repeat certain forms of
prayer; they have learned to attend to certain outward ceremonies; but
they still continue to be swayed by the same violent passions as before,
and have imbibed nothing of the genuine spirit of christianity.
[Sidenote: MISSIONARIES.]
The Moravian missionaries have wrought a greater change in the minds of
the Indians than any others, and have succeeded so far as to induce some
of them to abandon their savage mode of life, to renounce war, and to
cultivate the earth. It is with the Munsies, a small tribe resident on
the east side of Lake St. Clair, that they have had the most success;
but the number that have been so converted is small indeed. The Roman
Catholics have the most adherents, as the outward forms and parade of
their religion are particularly calculated to strike the attention of
the Indians, and as but little restraint is laid on them by the
missionaries of that persuasion, in consequence of their profession of
the new faith. The Quakers, of all people, have had the least success
amongst them; the doctrine of non-resistance, which they set out with
preaching, but ill accords with the opinion of the Indian; and amongst
some tribes, where they have attempted to inculcate it, particularly
amongst the Shawnese, one of the most warlike tribes to the north of the
Ohio, they have been exposed to very imminent danger[17].
Footnote 17:
The great difficulty of converting the Indians to christianity does
not arise from their attachment to their own religion, where they have
any, so much as from certain habits which they seem to have imbibed
with the very milk of their mothers.
A French missionary relates, that he was once endeavouring to convert
an Indian, by describing to him the rewards that would attend the
good, and the dreadful punishment which must inevitably await the
wicked, in a future world, when the Indian, who had some time before
lost his dearest friend, suddenly interrupted him, by asking him,
whether he thought his departed friend was gone to heaven or to hell.
I sincerely trust, answered the missionary, that he is in heaven. Then
I will do as you bid me, added the Indian, and lead a sober life, for
I should like to go to the place where my friend is. Had he, on the
contrary, been told that his friend was in hell, all that the reverend
father could have said to him of fire and brimstone would have been of
little avail in persuading him to have led any other than the most
dissolute life, in hopes of meeting with his friend to sympathise with
him under his sufferings.
The Indians, who yet remain ignorant of divine revelation, seem almost
universally to believe in the exigence of one supreme, beneficent, all
wise, and all powerful spirit, and likewise in the existence of
subordinate spirits, both good and bad. The former, having the good of
mankind at heart, they think it needless to pay homage to them, and it
is only to the evil ones, of whom they have an innate dread, that they
pay their devotions, in order to avert their ill intentions. Some
distant tribes, it is said, have priests amongst them, but it does not
appear that they have any regular forms of worship. Each individual
repeats a prayer, or makes an offering to the evil spirit, when his fear
and apprehensions suggest the necessity of his so doing.
The belief of a future state, in which they are to enjoy the same
pleasures as they do in this world, but to be exempted from pain, and
from the trouble of procuring food, seems to be very general amongst
them. Some of the tribes have much less devotion than others; the
Shawnese, a warlike daring nation, have but very little fear of evil
spirits, and consequently have scarcely any religion amongst them. None
of this nation, that I could learn, have ever been converted to
Christianity.
[Sidenote: LANGUAGE.]
It is a very singular and remarkable circumstance, that notwithstanding
the striking similarity which we find in the persons, manners, customs,
dispositions, and religion of the different tribes of Indians from one
end of the continent of North America to the other, a similarity so
great as hardly to leave a doubt on the mind but that they must all have
had the same origin, the languages of the different tribes should yet be
so materially different. No two tribes speak exactly the same language;
and the languages of many of those, who live at no great distance
asunder, vary so much, that they cannot make themselves at all
understood to each other. I was informed that the Chippeway language was
by far the most general, and that a person intimately acquainted with it
would soon be able to acquire a tolerable knowledge of any other
language spoken between the Ohio and Lake Superior. Some persons, who
have made the Indian languages their study, assert, that all the
different languages spoken by those tribes, with which we have any
connection, are but dialects of three primitive tongues, viz. the Huron,
the Algonquin, and the Sioux; the two former of which, being well
understood, will enable a person to converse, at least slightly, with
the Indians of any tribe in Canada or the United States. All the nations
that speak a language derived from the Sioux, have, it is said, a
hissing pronunciation; those who speak one derived from the Huron, have
a guttural pronunciation; and such as speak any one derived from the
Algonquin, pronounce their words with greater softness and ease than any
of the others. Whether this be a just distinction or not I cannot
pretend to determine; I shall only observe, that all the Indian men I
ever met with, as well those whose language is said to be derived from
the Huron, as those whose language is derived from the Algonquin, appear
to me to have very few labial sounds in their language, and to pronounce
the words from the throat, but not so much from the upper as the lower
part of the throat towards the breast. A slight degree of hesitation is
observable in their speech, and they articulate seemingly with
difficulty, and in a manner somewhat similar to what a person, I should
suppose, would be apt to do if he had a great weight laid on his chest,
or had received a blow on his breast or back so violent as to affect his
breath. The women, on the contrary, speak with the utmost ease, and the
language, as pronounced by them, appears as soft as the Italian. They
have, without exception, the most delicate harmonious voices I ever
heard, and the most pleasing gentle laugh that it is possible to
conceive. I have oftentimes sat amongst a group of them for an hour or
two together, merely for the pleasure of listening to their
conversation, on account of its wonderful softness and delicacy.
The Indians, both men and women, speak with great deliberation, and
never appear to be at a loss for words to express their sentiments.
[Sidenote: INDIAN MUSIC.]
The native music of the Indians is very rude and indifferent, and
equally devoid of melody and variety. Their famous war song is nothing
better than an insipid recitative. Singing and dancing with them go hand
in hand; and when a large number of them, collected together, join in
the one song, the few wild notes of which it consists, mingled with the
sound of their pipes and drums, sometimes produce, when heard at a
distance, a pleasing effect on the ear; but it is then and then only
that their music is tolerable.
The first night of our arrival at Malden, just as we were retiring to
rest, near midnight, we were most agreeably entertained in this manner
with the sound of their music on the island of Bois Blanc. Eager to hear
more of it, and to be witness to their dancing, we procured a boat, and
immediately crossed the river to the spot where they were assembled.
Three elderly men, seated under a tree, were the principal musicians.
One of these beat a small drum, formed of a piece of a hollow tree
covered with a skin, and the two others marked time equally with the
drum, with rattles formed of dried squashes or gourds filled with pease.
At the same time these men sung, indeed they were the leaders of the
song, which the dancers joined in. The dancers consisted solely of a
party of squaws, to the number of twenty or thereabouts, who, standing
in a circle, with their faces inwards and their hands folded round each
other’s necks, moved, thus linked together, sideways, with close short
steps, round a small fire. The men and women never dance together,
unless indeed a pretty squaw be introduced by some young fellow into one
of the men’s dances, which is considered as a very great mark of favour.
This is of a piece with the general conduct of the Indians, who look
upon the women in a totally different light from what we do in Europe,
and condemn them as slaves to do all the drudgery. I have seen a young
chief with no less than three women attendant on him to run after his
arrows, when he was amusing himself with shooting squirrels; I have also
seen Indians, when moving for a few miles from one place to another,
mount their horses and canter away at their ease, whilst their women
were left not only to walk, but to carry very heavy loads on their backs
after them.
[Sidenote: INDIAN DANCES.]
After the women had danced for a time, a larger fire was kindled, and
the men assembled from different parts of the island, to the number of
fifty or sixty, to amuse themselves in their turn. There was little more
variety in their dancing than in that of the women. They first walked
round the fire in a large circle, closely, one after another, marking
time with short steps to the music; the best dancer was put at their
head, and gave the step; he was also the principal singer in the circle.
After having made one round, the step was altered to a wider one, and
they began to stamp with great vehemence upon the ground; and every
third or fourth round, making little leaps off the ground with both
feet, they turned their faces to the fire and bowed their heads, at the
same time going on sideways. At last, having made a dozen or two rounds,
towards the end of which each one of them had begun to stamp on the
ground with inconceivable fury, but more particularly the principal
dancer, they all gave a loud shout at once, and the dance ended.
In two or three minutes another dance was begun, which ended as soon,
and nearly in the same way as the other. There was but little difference
in the figures of any of them, and the only material difference in the
songs was, that in some of them the dancers, instead of singing the
whole of the air, came in simply with responses to the airs sung by the
old men. They beckoned to us to join them in their dance, which we
immediately did, as it was likely to please them, and we remained on the
island with them till two or three o’clock in the morning. There is
something inconceivably terrible in the sight of a number of Indians
dancing thus round a fire in the depths of thick woods, and the loud
shrieks at the end of every dance adds greatly to the horror which their
first appearance inspires.
Scarcely a night passed over but what there were dances, similar to
those I have described, on the island. They never think of dancing till
the night is considerably advanced, and they keep it up till day-break.
In the day time they lie sleeping in the sun, or sit smoking tobacco,
that is, when they have nothing particular to engage them. Though the
most diligent persevering people in the world when roused into action,
yet when at peace with their neighbours, and having got wherewith to
satisfy the calls of hunger, they are the most slothful and indolent
possible.
The dances mentioned are such as the Indians amuse themselves with in
common. On grand occasions they have a variety of others much more
interesting to a spectator. The dances which you see in common amongst
the Shawnese, and certain other tribes, are also, it is said, much more
entertaining than those I have described. There were several families of
the Shawnese encamped on the island of Bois Blanc when we were there;
but as there was not a sufficient number to form a dance by themselves,
we were never gratified with a sight of their performances.
[Sidenote: WAR DANCE.]
Of their grand dances the war dance must undoubtedly, from every account
I have received of it, for I never had any opportunity of seeing it
myself, be the one most worthy the attention of a stranger. It is
performed both on setting out and returning from their war parties, and
likewise at other times, but never except on some very particular and
solemn occasion. The chiefs and warriors who are about to join in this
dance dress and paint themselves as if actually out on a warlike
expedition, and they carry in their hands their warlike weapons. Being
assembled, they seat themselves down on their hams, in a circle, round a
great fire, near to which is placed a large post; after remaining a
short time in this position, one of the principal chiefs rises, and
placing himself in the center, begins to rehearse, in a sort of
recitative, all the gallant actions which he has ever performed; he
dwells particularly on the number of enemies he has killed, and
describes the manner in which he scalped them, making gestures all the
time, and brandishing his weapons, as if actually engaged in performing
the horrid operation. At the end of every remarkable story he strikes
his war club on the post with great fury. Every chief and warrior tells
of his deeds in turn. The song of one warrior often occupies several
hours, and the dance itself sometimes lasts for three or four entire
days and nights. During this period no one is allowed to sleep, a person
who stands at the outside of the circle being appointed (whose business
it is) to rouse any warrior that appears in the least drowsy. A deer, a
bear, or some other large animal is put to roast at the fire as soon as
the dance begins, and while it lasts each warrior rises at will to help
himself to a piece of it. After each person in the circle has in turn
told of his exploits, they all rise, and join in a dance truly
terrifying; they throw themselves into a variety of postures, and
leaping about in the most frantic manner, brandish their knives and
other weapons; at the same time they set up the war hoop, and utter the
most dreadful yells imaginable. In this manner the dance terminates.
[Sidenote: INDIAN FLUTE.]
The Indian flute or pipe is formed of a thick cane, similar to what is
found on the banks of the Mississippi, and in the southern parts of the
United States. It is about two feet or more in length, and has eight or
nine holes in it, in one row. It is held in the same manner as the oboe
or clarinet, and the sound is produced by means of a mouth piece not
unlike that of a common whistle. The tones of the instrument are by no
means unharmonious, and they would admit of a pleasing modulation, but I
never met with an Indian that was able to play a regular air upon it,
not even any one of the airs which they commonly sing, although I saw
several that were extremely fond of amusing themselves with the
instrument, and that would sit for hours together over the embers of
their cabin fires, playing over a few wild melancholy notes. Every
Indian that can bring a sound out of the instrument, and stop the holes,
which any one may do, thinks himself master of it; and the notes which
they commonly produce are as unconnected and unmeaning as those which a
child would bring forth from a halfpenny whistle.
In addition to what I have said on the subject of the Indians, I shall
only observe, that notwithstanding they are such a very friendly
hospitable people, yet few persons, who had ever tasted of the pleasures
and comforts of civilized life, would feel any inclination to reside
amongst them, on becoming acquainted with their manner of living. The
filthiness and wretchedness of their smoky habitations, the nauseousness
of their common food to a person not even of a delicate palate, and
their general uncleanliness, would be sufficient, I think, to deter any
one from going to live amongst them from choice, supposing even that no
other reasons operated against his doing so. For my own part, I had
fully determined in my own mind, when I first came to America, not to
leave the continent without spending a considerable time amongst them,
in the interior parts of the country, in order to have an opportunity of
observing their native manners and customs in their utmost purity; but
the samples I have seen of them during my stay in this part of the
country, although it has given me a most favourable opinion of the
Indians themselves, has induced me to relinquish my purpose. Content
therefore with what I have seen myself, and with what I have heard from
others, if chance should not bring me again into their way in
prosecuting my journey into the settled parts of the States, I shall
take no further pains to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance with
them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_LETTER _ XXXVI.
_Departure from Malden.—Storm on Lake Erie.—Driven back amongst the
Islands.—Shipwreck narrowly avoided.—Voyage across the Lake.—Land at
Fort Erie.—Proceed to Buffalo Creek.—Engage Indians to go through the
Woods.—Set out on Foot.—Journey through the Woods.—Description of the
Country beyond Buffalo Creek.—Vast Plains.—Grand Appearance of the
Trees here.—Indian Dogs.—Arrival at the Settlements on Genesee
River.—First Settlers.—Their general Character.—Description of the
Country bordering on Genesee River.—Fevers common in Autumn.—Proceed
on Foot to Bath._
Bath, November.
[Sidenote: DEPARTURE FROM MALDEN.]
TOWARDS the latter end of the month of October, the schooner in which we
had engaged a passage to Presqu’ Isle made her appearance before Malden,
where she was obliged to lay at anchor for three days, the wind not
being favourable for going farther down the river; at the end of that
time, however, it veered about, and we repaired on board, after having
taken a long farewel of our friend Captain E——, whose kindness to us had
been unbounded, and was doubly grateful, inasmuch as it was totally
unexpected by us young strangers, who had not the slighted acquaintance
with him previous to our coming into the country, and had not been
introduced to him even by letter.
The wind, though favourable, was very light on the morning of our
embarkation, but the current being strong we were soon carried down to
the lake. In the afternoon we passed the islands, which had the most
beautiful appearance imaginable. The rich woods with which the shores
were adorned, now tinged with the hues of autumn, afforded in their
decline a still more pleasing variety to the eye than when they were
clothed in their fulled verdure; and their gaudy colours, intermingled
with the shadows of the rocks, were seen fancifully reflected in the
unruffled surface of the surrounding lake. At day-break the next morning
we found ourselves entirely clear of the land; but instead of the azure
sky and gentle breezes which had favoured us the preceding day, we had
thick hazy weather, and every appearance in the heavens indicated that
before many hours were over we should have to contend with some of those
dangerous storms that are so frequent on Lake Erie. It was not long
indeed ere the winds began to blow, and the waves to rise in a
tremendous manner, and we soon became spectators of a number of those
confused and disgusting scenes which a gale of wind never fails to
occasion in a small vessel crowded with passengers. A number of old
French ladies, who were going to see their grandchildren in Lower
Canada, and who now for the first time in their lives found themselves
on the water, occupied the cabin. The hold of the vessel, boarded from
end to end, and divided simply by a sail suspended from one of the
beams, was filled on one side with steerage passengers, amongst which
were several women and children; and on the opposite one with passengers
who had paid cabin price, but were unable to get any better
accommodation, amongst which number was our party. Not including either
the old ladies in the cabin, or the steerage passengers, we sat down to
dinner each day twenty-six in number, which circumstance, when I inform
you that the vessel was only seventy tons burthen, will best enable you
to conceive how much we must have been crowded. The greater part of the
passengers, drooping under sea-sickness, begged for heaven’s sake that
the captain would put back; but bent upon performing his voyage with
expedition, which was a matter of the utmost consequence indeed, now
that the season was so far advanced, and there was a possibility that he
might be blocked up by the ice on his return, he was deaf to their
entreaties. What the earnest entreaties, however, of the passengers
could not effect, the storm soon compelled him to. It was found
absolutely necessary to seek for a place of shelter to avoid its fury;
and accordingly the helm having been ordered up, we made the best of our
way back again to the islands, in a bay between two of which we cast
anchor. This bay, situated between the Bass Islands, which are among the
largest in the cluster, is called, from its being so frequently resorted
to by vessels that meet with contrary winds in going down the lake,
Put-in-Bay, vulgarly termed by the sailors Pudding Bay.
[Sidenote: A STORM.]
Here we lay securely sheltered by the land until four o’clock the next
morning, when the watch upon deck gave the alarm that the vessel was
driving from her anchor, and going fast towards the shore. The captain
started up, and perceiving that the wind had shifted, and the land no
longer afforded any protection to the vessel, he immediately gave orders
to slip the cable, and hoist the jib, in order to wear the vessel round,
and thus get free, if possible, of the shore. In the hurry and confusion
of the moment, however, the mainsail was hoisted at the same time with
the jib, the vessel was put aback, and nothing could have saved her from
going at once on shore but the letting fall of another anchor
instantaneously. I can only account for this unfortunate mistake by
supposing that the men were not sufficiently roused from their slumbers,
on coming upon deck, to hear distinctly the word of command. Only one
man had been left to keep the watch, as it was thought that the vessel
was riding in perfect safety, and from the time that the alarm was first
given until the anchor was dropped scarcely four minutes elapsed.