INDIAN
MURDER, &c
Since [Christmas inst.?] the following
murders have been committed by the indians in this
country; also persons near the mines on the Mississippi,
nine in the district of St. Charles within the settlements
supposed to be killed by the Kicapoos [Kickapoos], one man
at Fort Madison on the 3rd inst. by the Winabagoes
[Winnebago]. - - There were several men who left
Fort Madison for this part of the Territory, about the
17th inst. who are supposed to have fallen into the hands
of the enemy as they have not been heard of.
Main Poc, the Pottowatimi [Potawatomi], is preparing a war
party to proceed against the Osages. this fellow has
been, until lately, at Fort Malden; and it is thought at
the Peorias that he intends to strike at the whites.
We received a few days ago, some account of Governor
Harrison's treating with some of the chiefs who were in
the late action on the Wabash; this news may be correct,
but we know from the most authentic channels, that those
are only squads of bands, who either are amusing Gov.
Harrison, to avert a merited retaliation, or wish to
secure their individual families from an expected attack
this spring. The officers of the garrisons of
Chicago and Fort Madison, U. S. agents on the Mississippi,
and Illinois, Traders, Travelers and Spies, all concur in
the same story, that the Indians have no idea of making
peace with us, that red wampum is passing through all the
upper villages, from the Sioux to St. Peters, to the head
of the Wabash, that at every council fire, the Americans
are devoted and [proscribed?]; and in short, that a
general combination is ripening fast. We should be
sorry that Gov. Harrison should be the dupe of a few
[rascals?]; or that we should call our frontier people to
a fatal security, by giving them a soporifick from
Vincennes; we know that we have a better opportunity of
acquiring a knowledge of Indian movements [than?] can
possibly be attained on the Wabash and therefore will
sound the alarm when danger is apprehended.
It is a well known fact that most, if not all the Indians
[east?] of the Mississippi have divided into [illeg.]
bands, some are for peace, while a band of the same nation
are determined on war with the United States; thus one
party of each of the Pottawatomies, Kickapoos, Puants
[Winnegabo], &c. are treating with Gov. Harrison, the
others are butchering our frontier people yet the [peace]
party will not scruple to engage for the whole nation whom
they know it is impossible to restrain as long as there is
a British subject suffered to trade within the lines of
our territories, or receive presents at Malden, Mr.
Follet's slang to the contrary notwithstanding.
In consequence of various and groundless rumors of the
dissatisfaction of the Louisiana Delawares and Shawonee's
[Shawnee], their chiefs lately addressed a letter to Gen.
Clark, expressive of the most acute mortification in that
their fidelity could be doubted, and demanding the subject
should be brought before Court, in order to confront and
punish their calumniators. We are sorry that the
idle, the vicious, and the talkative could not find some
other topic to indulge their genius.
The new company of rangers, now doing duty in the district
of St. Charles, is perhaps, as fine a body of hardy
woodsmen as ever took the field. they cover, by
constant and rapid movements, that tract of country from
Salt River on the Mississippi to the Missouri near
[Louvre?].
The Cherokees who were exploring that tract of Country,
between the Arkansas and White River have returned home
terrified by the repeated and violent shocks of
earthquakes. We understand they intended to exchange
with the U. States their country on the E. of the
Mississippi for a like quantity on the Arkansas.
The tremendous effect of earthquake in this Territory has
revived an almost obsolete Indian rite, in the mode of
imploring [illegible] [pleasure - - samples protecting in
the Indian ability?] to make offerings to the [GREAT
SPIRIT?]. The Shawanoes of the [illegible] (40 miles
from this place) have [hushed] their religious
devotions. The following authentic account of it may
be interesting to our readers.
The Indian mode of worship, as happened in consequence of
the late Earthquakes.
This alarming Phenomenon of nature, struck with such
consternation and dismay, those tribes of Indians, that
live within and contiguous to the tract of country, on the
Mississippi, where the severity of the earthquakes appears
to have been the greatest, that they were induced to
convene together in order to consult upon the necessity of
having recourse to some method of relief, from so alarming
an incident; when it was resolved to fall upon the
following expedient to excite the pity of the GREAT
SPIRIT.
After a general hunt had taken place to kill deer enough
for the undertaking. A small hut was built to
represent a temple, or place of offering a sacrifice.
The ceremony was introduced by a general cleansing of the
body and face. The novelty of the occasion rendering
it unusually awful and interesting. After neatly
skinning the deer, they suspended them by the forefeet, so
that the heads might be directed to the heavens, before
the temple, as an offering to the Great Spirit. In
this attitude they remained for three days; which interval
was devoted to such penance, as consists in absolute
fasting; at night lying on the back upon fresh deer skins;
turning their thoughts exclusively upon the happy prospect
of immediate protection; that they may conceive dreams to
that effect, the only vehicle of intercourse between them
and the Great Spirit; the old and young men observing a
most rigorous abstinence from cohabitation with the women,
under the solemn persuasion, that for a failure thereof,
instant death and condemnation awaited; and lastly,
[gravely?] and with much apparent piety, imploring the
attention of the GREAT SPIRIT to their helpless and
distressed condition; acknowledging their absolute
dependence on him; entreating his regard for their wives
and children; declaring the fatal consequence that must
inevitably ensue by withholding his notice; namely the
loss of their wives and children; and their total
disability to master their game, arising from their
constant dread of his anger, and concluded in asserting
their full assurance that their prayers are heard, their
object is accomplished by a cessation of [terrors] and
game becoming again plenty and easily overcome.
On the lapse of the three days, thus dedicated, believing
themselves forgiven, for every unwarrantable act of which
they were sensible, that the offering was accepted; they
finally begin with a mutual relation of their respective
dreams & the scene is changed to joy and
congratulation, by proceeding ravenously to devour the
sacrificed deer to allay their fast.
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