Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-04-24

and White river, a returned home ,a~
r5ed by the repeated aud v~ioleu, shoet "a
earthquakes. We understand thew ;n,erJ
ed TO exchange with the United State,
their country on the east of the Missis,;n'
Pi, for a like quantity on the Arkansas.
The tire mendous effects of E.arthguaks.
10 this territory has revived, an almost oh.
solste Indian rite, in the mode oil inplo,.
ing the Deity, and to avert the Divine d..
plessure-Temples are erecting IN the In,
dian villages, to make offerings to the
Great Spirit. The Shawanecs of N.
Maramec, $40 miles from this plscel hay.
finished their religious devotions. Tn.
following authentic account of it may be in.
teres,irg 20 our readers.
The Indian mode of worship. as han.
pened IN consequence Of the late Earth.
quake.
This afar ming phenomenon of nature
struck with such CONSERVATION and dismav
those tribes OF Indians that live within and
contiguous TO that trac, of country, ON III.
Mississippi where the severity of the earth.
quaEe appears to have been greatest, tina,
they were induced to convene together IN
order to eonsuls upon the necessity IF hav.
ing recourse to some method OF relief from
so alarming an incident when il was re.
solved to fall upon the following expedien,
to excite the pity ofthe 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 sacrifice.
The ceremony was introduced by a gene.
raj cleansing of the body and face. The
novelty of the occasion rendering i,
unusually awful and interesting. After
neatly sklnning their deer, they suspended
them by the fore feet, so that their 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
pensnce, as consists in absolute f~astings
at night lying upon the back upon fresh deer
skins turning their thoughts exclusively
upon the happy prospects Of immediate
protection that they NAV conceive dreams
to that effect the only vehicle of intercourse
between then and the Great Spirit; the
old and Young men observing a most rieor.
Gus abstinence from a Capitalization with
the women, under the solemn persuasion
that, for a failure thereof, instant death
and condemnation awaited aud lastly.
graveiy and with much apparent piety, i'm
pforing the attention of the Great Spirit to
their helpless and distressed condition /; &C.
knowledging their absolute dependence on
him ; entreating his regard TO their wives
and children declaring the fatal conse-
quences that must inevitably ensue by with
holding his notice ), namely, the loss Of
their wives and children ; and their total
disability to master their game, arising
from their constant dread OF hi. anger, and
concluded in asserting their full assurance
that their prayers are heard, their object is
accomplished by a cessation ofterrors. and
game becoming again plenty and easily o.
vercome.
On the lapse of three days, thus dedica-
ted, believing themselves forgiven for eve-
ry unwarrantable act of which they were
sensible, that ths Offering was accepted /;
they finally begin with a mutual relation Of
changed tojoy and congratulation, by pro-
ceedlng ravenously to devour the sacrifice
deer to allay their fast.
We are informed from a respectable
source that the old road to the port of Ar.
kansas, by Spring River, is entirely des.
sfoyed, by the last violent shocks of earth
quakes /; chasms of great depth and consi.
derable length cross the country in various
directions, some swamps have become dry,
others deep lakes, in some places hills have
disappeared.
BY letters from Fort Madison of the 9Th
inst. we learn that the W~inebagoes con.
stautly hover about the garrison and FIRE on
those who venture beyond the limits of the
public ground. On the Sd a soldier (cor.
Poral Leonard) who was permitted to go