would have melted any heart but mine, which was steeled against all the feelings of humanity. "We lived six years in this manner, in which time we had two children; they were lovely as their mother, and seemed to inherit all her good qualities. My temper grew worse, if it were possible, and at length my wife told me in mild terms, that if I continued to conduct myself in such a manner, she should be under the necessity of leaving me; at this I flew at her with violence, and gave her several blows, which she bore with meekness my oldest child came accidentally between us, and received a blow which laid it dead at my feet. All the feelings of the mother were now roused; she called me an inhuman wretch, the murderer of my child, and threatened to have me made a public example. This roused me from the stupor into which I had sunk on seeing my child dead at my feet, and I determined at once to rid myself of the only one who could possibly bring me to punishment; I seized her by the hair, and in a few minutes she was no more." Here he stopped, overcome with his emotion, and covered his face with both his hands. I was so much shocked and surprised that it was impossible for me to ask him to proceed, or even to utter a syllable. At length he recovered, and taking me by the hand, asked me if I did not think him a wretch who ought to be banished from all society and ranked among the brutes.Before I had time to reply, he exclaimed in a wild and frantic manner, "I know you do, and had you known my beloved Ma ria you would call me the greatest monster that ever lived: she loved me with tenderness, and sought every opportunity of calming my temper and rendering me happy; but I wilfully refused to be pleased, and took pleasure in contradicting and rendering unhappy the best woman in the world." As soon as he became sufficiently composed, I requested him to inform me how he came among these Indians: he told me that he immediately left the house, after securing the doors, taking with him what cash he had on hand, his youngest child having been left at his father's some days before. He took passage on board a vessel bound to New-York, which sailed at 12 o'clock and had a very quick passage. On his arrival he went on board a vessel bound to New-Orleans, which sailed the next day. After his arrival at New-Orleans, he engaged with some men who were about ascending the Mississippi. On his arrival at the Red river he left them, and proceeded till he found this nation, who had given him a friendly reception, and among whom he had continued ever since. Having heard him with attention until he had finished his story, I thought it my duty before I left him to endeavour to con ments suitable for working the mines, nor any idea of what is necessary. I took several pieces of the metal, which I found to be purer than any I had before seen. Davis begged me to conceal it is such a manner as that it would not be discovered by the natives, and I assured him I should bury it on my return to my hut. We returned by the same way we had come, making all possible haste for fear the natives would miss us and. suspect where we had gone. We had just cleared the mountain, and were travelling slowly along the common path, when we were met by two Indians who were agoing a fishing. On being told we had been a hunting they passed us without suspicion, and I reached my hut in safety, where I deposited my booty, and set about making arrangements for another visit to the mine. The next morning it rained with violence; the storm continu-' ed for four or five days, during which time I had no opportunities of visiting the mine, but employed the time in arranging my papers, and making particular observations on the manners and customs of the natives, the construction of their huts, &c. The white Indian visited me very constantly, and conversed on several topics with ease. As he spoke the Indian language with fluency, he was of great help to me in all my communica tions with the natives, among whom he had considerable influence. He appeared to be a man of good information, and would many times converse with gaiety and good humour. He nevertheless would frequently be sunk in the greatest despondency, and set with his eyes fixed on the ground for hours; he would then start from his seat, rush into the thickest part of the woods, and remain for the rest of the day. The Indians ceased to be surprised at his conduct, and the old chief told me that they thought him troubled by the Great Spirit ; I was of their opinion, for he must have felt the gnawings of a guilty conscience, which is, to use the emphatical language of Scripture, "the worm that never dies." As soon as the weather became fine I made a journey to the mine. The plan I adopted was this: as soon as the Indians retired to rest, myself and Edom would sally forth, and taking our horses which were grazing near the skirts of the town, proceed with a quick pace till we reached the foot of the mountain where the mine lay, leave our horses and proceed on foot; and we generally succeeded in returning by daylight. The white Indian had never been with me to the mine since the first time, and never attempted to converse with me on the subject; he would generally visit me once a day. He came in one morning about ten o'clock. unperceived by me as I was employed in writing; he stood some time, and when I turned and discovered him, his countenance was visibly altered from its common appearance; his large eyes glared with unusua fierceness, and his whole appearance betrayed emotions of the most violent kind. As soon as he saw I noticed him, he advanced, and endeavoured to converse; but he was evidently embarrassed, and in a short time retired. In the evening myself and Edom again started for the mine; we had now made three journeys, and judging I had as much as we could conveniently carry, was determined this should be the last. I arrived at the mouth of the mine and was preparing to descend, when Edom exclaimed that he saw some one among the long grass which covered the mountain. I immediately seized my rifle, but before I could get it in a position to defend myself, I was surrounded by about fifty Indians, who immediately seized my gun and bound me with thongs of buffalo skin. Edom was less fortunate, for attempting to make some resistance, they knocked him on the head, and would in all probability have dispatched him had it not been for the positive command of a chief who had orders to bring us alive before the principal council. We were conducted with much silence, the Indians scarcely speaking a word. I attempted several times to converse with the chief who conducted us, but was always commanded to keep silence. We were conducted by a nearer path than the one by which we came, and in a short time arrived at the village. They put me in a different hut from the one I had occupied, and placed a strong guard at the door. I had here full leisure to reflect upon my situation, and expected that nothing but the most lingering death awaited me. In the morning I was taken from the hut and examined by the principal chiefs, who were seated around a fire at the door of the old chief's hut. Not a person was to be seen but the Indians who guarded me and the chiefs who formed the council. Profound silence reigned, when the old chief began his interrogations. He first inquired the cause of my going to the mountain; I told him I had been a hunting a few days before, when I had accidentally discovered some metal, and not knowing what it was I had gone back to get some and see what was its value.The old chief shook his head, and seemed not satisfied with the answer. I was asked several other questions, which principally related to leaving my country, reasons for travelling among them, &c. I answered all of them as well as I could, and after being about an hour in their presence they conducted me again to my hut. The next day I was permitted to remain where I was. I re quested leave to see the white Indian, which they denied me, alledging as an excuse, that he was sick, and could not see me; my man Edom was however brought to the hut, who assured me that he was free, as the Indians thought that he was not guilty, and would not have gone had it not been for me. On the morning of the third day I was conducted from my hut to the great square, where I found every inhabitant of the village who was over fourteen years of age. In the centre of the square sat the same chiefs who tried me a few days before; on one side stood all the girls of the village, and on the other all the warriors, who were armed with bows and arrows. I was now brought forward, and the old chief addressed me, charging me with a wish to destroy their nation by tempting white men to come among them; he charged me with falsehood in telling them that it was the first time I had been at the mine, as I had more platina in my hut than could be brought away at once; he uncovered a heap that lay at one end of the stage, and showed me all I had brought from the mine; he then told me that I must prepare for death as I should be shot in about an hour. My feelings cannot be described when this information was communicated to me; but it was grateful to me to see that the greater part of the Indians, particularly the females, were much affected at the severity of the sentence; indeed I had conducted myself with such strict propriety, and made the natives such a number of little presents that there was not one who had any ill will towards me. I requested to see Edom, and he was conducted towards me. When the poor fellow understood I was to be shot, he could scarce keep within the bounds of reason; he tore his hair, threw himself upon the ground, and was some time before I could induce him to hearken to me; at last be became more calm. I told him he must endeavour to get back to New-Orleans, on my account, as I wanted him to carry information to my friends; I told him that after my death he must collect such articles as were allowed him of mine, particularly my papers, and deliver them to Dr. De Fludcar; he promised me he would. I then requested him to leave me, as my time was short, and I had some preparation to make before I went hence to "that bourne from whence no traveller returns." He now left me, and I turned my attention to that Being in whose hands are the "issues of life and death." Although I had by no means been faithful to the divine commands, and had, in common with all mankind, gone far from the path which is marked out by strict rectitude and propriety, I nevertheless knew he was a GOD who cast none off in the hour that they ap discovered him, his countenance was visibly altered from its common appearance; his large eyes glared with unusua fierceness, and his whole appearance betrayed emotions of the most violent kind. As soon as he saw I noticed him, he advanced, and endeavoured to converse; but he was evidently embarrassed, and in a short time retired. In the evening myself and Edom again started for the mine; we had now made three journeys, and judging I had as much as we could conveniently carry, was determined this should be the last. I arrived at the mouth of the mine and was preparing to descend, when Edom exclaimed that he saw some one among the long grass which covered the mountain. I immediately seized my rifle, but before I could get it in a position to defend myself, I was surrounded by about fifty Indians, who immediately seized my gun and bound me with thongs of buffalo skin. Edom was less fortunate, for attempting to make some resistance, they knocked him on the head, and would in all probability have dispatched him had it not been for the positive command of a chief who had orders to bring us alive before the principal council. We were conducted with much silence, the Indians scarcely speaking a word. I attempted several times to converse with the chief who conducted us, but was always commanded to keep silence. We were conducted by a nearer path than the one by which we came, and in a short time arrived at the village.They put me in a different hut from the one I had occupied, and placed a strong guard at the door. I had here full leisure to reflect upon my situation, and expected that nothing but the most lingering death awaited me. In the morning I was taken from the hut and examined by the principal chiefs, who were seated around a fire at the door of the old chief's hut. Not a person was to be seen but the Indians who guarded me and the chiefs who formed the council. Profound silence reigned, when the old chief began his interrogations. He first inquired the cause of my going to the mountain; I told him I had been a hunting a few days before, when I had accidentally discovered some metal, and not knowing what it was I had gone back to get some and see what was its value.The old chief shook his head, and seemed not satisfied with the answer. I was asked several other questions, which principally related to leaving my country, reasons for travelling among them, I answered all of them as well as I could, and after being about an hour in their presence they conducted me again to my hut. The next day I was permitted to remain where I was. I re |
