Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-09-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Baltimore Morning Chronicle.
M ERESTlNG WORK,

INTERESTING WORK,
We have lately pernsed with un.
common interest, work from tht
Den Of Mr.. John Hunter, entitled
=. Manners and Customs of the seve-
raj Indian tribes. located west of the
mississippi" The biography OF
this gentleman, from his own pen.
forms not the least interesting part
Is. noid this adop'ed son of the will
derness, associatins with his brother
savages. pursuing the feet of the fly
ing misunderstanding the war hoop
and actually exercising the sca'ping
knife on his PROSTATE victim. Such
was the author Ut the above work.
Ra,ished BY the piandeTing savage
frn,n the arms of his murdered pa
rents, at SO early period, that their
names are not remembered bronghi
I'D az an Indian, rendered expert in
their modes of warfare, indoC trina
ted in their habits and manners. ia
miliarized to their privatiops, he was
completely identified with the howl
ing sons Of the wilderness. Let US
gaze once more at this Wild and sa-
wage being. and we shall behold him
adorned with the graces of social
lite. What a transformation must
have passed in the mind of this man
\-what new associations, modes OF
thinking, habits and manners must
h.ye been Witnessed! Once in COM
pany with his savage associates, he
was overtaken by violent snow
storm, and almost famished for want
Of provisions; they laid their skins
,upon the snow, and covering them
selves over with the same shaggy
uautIeS, recommended themselves to
the mercy Of the Great Spirit, and
fell asieep.-From this repOse they
were awakened by the bowling of a
wolf. who, having scented them out.
f.area tn attack them alone. and cali
al his comrades to his assistance.
Six az these animals were killed in
the course of single night. on one
of which, while it was warm with It's
blood, they Toasted. This repast,
says nur rovIng traveller, although
made in az intense cold night on the
aurfare Of a deep snow. and with lit
fir more to cover them than the ethe-
ria, arch, was the most delicious that
he ever before esin.ed. They final
Nv exCavated the snow, under which
they made themselves lodge, where
they took up their abode for several
DAYS. subsistins on the raw venIson
which they procured with their rifles.
One thing IS peculiarly remarkable ;
the Indians, before they closed their
ewes IN sIumber, recommended them
srlres to the protection of the Great
Shirt. 1t may be amusing to lear,
the Indian mode of writing. They
wish perhaps TO communicate to their
tribe. that a hunting party belonging
ITO them, were surprised by a party
of hostile Indians, and we're relieved
nv the whites. 4'hey would first in
scribe on the bark of tree the
prints of Bufaloe feet in advance
Yhe feet of the hunters would then
be represented; and lfany of the par
,ty were killed, they would be distin'
guishrd b, b!ondy TIA ks--t wound
ed, by tracks partially stained with
blsod-tha number OF these prints
would represent the number killed d
wounded; if too many were slain Ia
De thus especially numbered, large
track woald stand for ten; a track
halt the sizes for five, and smaller
impressions for units. The number
of their esemies, their killed and
wounded, would be designated in the
same way, changing only the color
Of the foot prints. Ii the place wss
to be represented, tree or stream
would represent the spot. If they
described the tribe which had done
this deed, they would take some ap.
prNpriste device, such as a VOLTS
he'd to represent Pa~nee. Ths
footsteps lisin' ed whit, would show
their 0ehyeCers aud q stag or an ca +.