BOOK meat, a pot of meal, and a robe, as a present to Captain LXXXI. Lewis and Clarke. Though marriage be founded on mutu

Superstitions.

al affection, and is made with the consent of the father of the girl, the moment she becomes a wife her slavish obedience commences. She is considered as the property of her husband, who, for different offences, especially in case of elopement, may put her to death with impunity. One of the wives of a Minitaree chief eloped with her lover, by whom she was soon abandoned, and was afterwards obliged to seek protection in her father's house, where the chief repaired with a mind bent on deep revenge. The old men were smoking round the fire, in which he joined without seeming to recognise the unfortunate woman, till, at the moment of departure, he seized her by the hair, and dragging her near the door of the lodge, with one stroke of the tomahawk took away her life. He then suddenly departed, crying out, that, if revenge were sought, he was always to be found at his lodge. Yet this same chief is represented to have offered his wife or daughter to the embraces of a stranger. For an old tobacco-box, the first chief of the Mandan tribe lent his daughter to one of the exploring party. The Sioux husbands have been known to offer both their wives and daughters.

All the Missouri Indians believe in the existence of good and evil spirits, in sorceries, dreams, charms, and prognostications. Every extraordinary occurrence of life is ascribed to a supernatural cause. The residénce of the agents of the good spirit is in the air; those of the evil genius reside on the earth. A chief of the Toways, who accompanied Major Stoddard to the seat of the American government, in 1805, had a curious shell in which he carried his tobacco. In passing through Kentucky, a citizen expressed a desire for this article. The chief presented it to him, turned round, and observed to his companions, that the circumstance of his having parted with his tobacco shell, reminded him that he must shortly die; and such was the power of his imagination, that in the course of a few days he expired.

In every band or nation there is a select number who BOOK are styled the warriors, and who are always ready to act LXXXI. either offensively or defensively, as occasion requires. These are well armed, bearing the weapons commonly in Their wars. use among them, which vary according to the situation of their countries. Such as have an intercourse with the Europeans make use of tomahawks, knives, and fire-arms; but those who have not an opportunity of purchasing these kinds of weapons, use bows and arrows, and also the Casse Tete or War Club. The extension of empire is seldom a motive with these people to invade, and to commit depredations on the territories of those who happen to dwell near them. To secure the rights of hunting within particular limits, to maintain the liberty of passing through their accustomed tracks, and to guard those lands which they consider from a long tenure as their own, against any infringement, are the general causes of those dissensions that so often break out between the Indian nations, and which are carried on with so much animosity. The manner in which the Indians declare war against each other, is by sending a slave with a hatchet, the handle of which is painted red, to the nation which they intend to break with; and the messenger, notwithstanding the danger to which he is exposed from the sudden fury of those whom he thus sets at defiance, executes his commission with great fidelity.

The Indians seldom take the field in large bodies, as such numbers would require a greater degree of industry to provide for their subsistence, during their tedious marches through dreary forests, or long voyages over lakes and rivers, than they would care to bestow. Their armies are never encumbered with baggage or military stores. Each warrior, besides his weapons, carries with him only a mat, and whilst at a distance from the frontiers of the enemy, supports himself with the game he kills, or the fish he catches. After they have entered the enemy's country, no people can be more cautious and circumspect; fires are no longer lighted, no more shouting is heard, nor the game any longer pursued. They are not even permitted to

They now proceed

Having discovered

BOOK speak; but must convey whatever they have to impart to LXXXI. each other by signs and motions. wholly by stratagem and ambuscade. their enemies, they send to reconnoitre them; and a council is immediately held, during which they speak only in whispers, to consider of the intelligence imparted by those who were sent out. The attack is generally made just before day-break, at which period they suppose their foes to be in their soundest sleep. Throughout the whole of the preceding night they will lie flat upon their faces, without stirring; and make their approaches in the same posture, creeping upon their hands and feet, till they are got within bowshot of those they have destined to destruction. On a signal given by the chief warrior, to which the whole body makes answer by the most hideous yells, they all start up, and discharging their arrows in the same instant, without giving their adversaries time to recover from the confusion into which they are thrown, pour in upon them with their war-clubs or tomahawks. When the Indians succeed in their silent approaches, and are able to force the camp which they attack, a scene of horror, that exceeds description, ensues. The savage fierceness of the conquerors, and the desperation of the conquered, who well know what they have to expect should they fall alive into the hands of the assailants, occasion the most extraordinary exertions on both sides. The figure of the combatants, all besmeared with black and red paint, and covered with the blood of the slain, their horrid yells, and ungovernable fury, are not to be conceived by those who have never crossed the Atlantic.

When they have overcome an enemy, and victory is no longer doubtful, the conquerors first dispatch all such as they think they shall not be able to carry off without great trouble, and then endeavour to take as many prisoners as possible; after this they return to scalp those who are either dead or too much wounded to be taken with them. Having completed their purposes, and made as much havock as possible, they immediately retire towards

their own country with the spoil they have acquired, for BOOK fear of being pursued. The prisoners destined to death LXXXI. are soon led to the place of execution, which is generally in the centre of the camp or village; where, being stript, and every part of their bodies blackened, the skin of a crow or raven is fixed on their heads. They are then bound to a stake, with faggots heaped around them, and obliged, for the last time, to sing their death song. The warriors, for such it is only who commonly suffer this punishment, now recount with an audible voice all the brave actions they have performed, and pride themselves in the number of enemies they have killed. In this rehearsal they spare not even their tormentors, but strive, by every provoking tale they can invent, to irritate and insult them. Sometimes this has the desired effect, and the sufferers are dispatched sooner than they otherwise would have been. There are many other methods which the Indians make use of to put their prisoners to death, but these are only occasional; that of burning is most generally used. If any men are spared, they are commonly given to the widows that have lost their husbands by the hand of the enemy, should there be any such, to whom, if they happen to prove agreeable, they are soon married. But should the dame be otherwise engaged, the life of him who falls to her lot is in great danger; especially if she fancies that her late husband wants a slave in the country of spirits to which he is gone. The women are usually distributed to the men, from whom they do not fail of meeting with a favourable reception. The boys and girls are taken into the families of such as have need of them, and are considered as slaves; and it is not uncommon that they are sold in the same capacity to the European traders that come among them.*

The Indians are extremely circumspect and deliberate Manners, in every word and action; there is nothing that hurries them into any intemperate warmth, but that inveteracy to

*Carver's Travels, chap. IX.

LXXXI.

BOOK their enemies, which is rooted in every Indian heart, and never can be eradicated. In all other instances they are cool, and remarkably cautious, taking care not to betray, on any account whatever, their emotions. If an Indian has discovered that a friend is in danger of being intercepted and cut off, by one to whom he has rendered himself obnoxious, he does not inform him in plain and explicit terms of the danger he runs by pursuing the tract near I which his enemy lies in wait for him, but he first coolly asks him which way he is going that day; and having received his answer, with the same indifference tells him, that he has been informed that a dog lies near the spot, which might probably do him a mischief. This hint proves sufficient; and his friend avoids the danger with as much caution as if every design and motion of his enemy had been pointed out to him. This apathy often shows itself on occasions that would call forth all the fervour of a susceptible heart. If an Indian has been absent from his family and friends many months, either on a war or hunting party, when his wife or children meet him at some distance from his habitation, instead of the affectionate sensations that would naturally arise in the breast of more refined beings, and be productive of mutual congratulations, he continues his course without paying the least attention to those who surround him, till he arrives at his home. He there sits down, and, with the same unconcern as if he had not been absent a day, smokes his pipe; those of his acquaintance, who have followed him, do the same; and perhaps it is several hours before he relates to them the incidents which have befallen him during his absence, though perhaps he has left a father, brother, or son, on the field, whose loss he ought to have lamented, or has been unsuccessful in the undertaking that called him from his home. If you tell an Indian that his children have greatly signalized themselves against an enemy, have taken many scalps, and brought home many prisoners, he does not appear to feel any extraordinary pleasure on the oc