The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-08-25
From Mainr Long Exneailian.
STORY OF AMPAIO SApA.

and leig'lten the interest which. Of
itself. il is calculated to produee.-
To Nazekota, an old indian,we arc
indebted for the narration Of the fol
loving transaction. to which his mo-
/ ther Was an eye witness. An Indian
Of the Dacato nation had united
himself early in life 10 n youthful ir-
male. whose name was Ampato Sa-
I pa, which signifies the dark day =
with her he lived happy for several
years. apparently enjoying every
comfort which the savage life can Al
ford. Their union had been blessed
with two children, Oh whom both
parents doated with that depth Of
feeling which is unknown 10 such rs
have other treasures besides those
that spring from nature. The man
had acquired a reputation as a hunter,
which drew round him many FAM
lies, who were happy 10 place them
selves under his protection, and n
vail themselves of such part Of his
chase rs he needed not for the main
tenance Of his family. DESTROYS Of
Strengthening their interest with him,
some Of them invited him To form Il
connection with their family, ohser
wing, al the same time, that man
OF his talent and importance reqnir
ed more than one woman To wait up
on the numerous guests whom his re
pntation would induce to visit his
lodge. They assured him that he
would soon be acknowledged as Il
chief. aud that, in this case, asecond
wife was indispensable. Fired with
ambition Of obtaining high honors he
resolved to incrcsc his Importance
by an union with the daughter OF an
influential man of his tribe. lie had
accordingly taken u second wife,
without having ever mentioned The
subject to his former companion.--
Being DESTROYS tOintroduce his bride
into his lodge, in the manner which
should b. least offensive To the mo-
Tier oil his children, for whom he
|
duccd. the subject is these words
-" You KNOW" said he, that | can
love no woman SO fondly as | doat
upon you. With regret, | have seen
YOU of late, subject 10 tolls, which
must be oppressive to you, and from
which | would gladly relieve you !;
yet know no other way OF doing So
than by associatlng to you III the
! household duties one, who shall re-
liepe you from the trouble Of enter
taing the numerous guests, whom my
growing Importance IN the nation
collects around me. / have therefore
resolved upon taking another vile.
but she shall always be subject To
your control, & will always rank in
my affections sccondto YOU" With
the utmost anxiety, and deepest con-
Germ, did his companion listen To
this unexpected proposal. She eX-
postulated in tie kindest terms, en-
treated him with all the arguments
which undisguised love and the pu
rest conjugal affection could suggest.
She replied to all the objections
which his duplicitly led him to raise.
DESTROYS Of winning her from her
opposition, the Indian still concealed
the secret OF his union with another,
While she redoubicd all her care To
convince him that she was equal tn
the task imposed anon her. When
lie again spoke on the subject, she
pleaded all tie cndearments oil their
past lile-shc spoke OF his former
! iondncss for her, Of his regard for
/ his happiness and that OF their mu-
tual ohspring-shc bade him beware
of the consequence of this fatal pur-
pose ofhis. Finding her bent upon
withholding her consent to this plan,
he informed her that all opposition
on her part was unnecessary, as he
had already selected another part
ner and that il she could not see
his new wife as a friend, she must
receive her as necessary incum-
! brance. for he had resolved that she
should be an inmate i'll his house,
Distressed at this information, she
watched her opportunity, she stole
away from tie cabin with her in
fants, and fled to a distance where
her father Was. With bin she re-
manned until a party OF Indians with
whom he lived went up the Missis-
sippi on a winter hunt. In the
Spring, as they were returning with
their canoes, loaded with peltries,
they encamped near the falls. IN
the morning as they left it, she Iinger-
! Il innt.<.l,aI l,ai.