Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-07-21
INDIAN SACRIFICE.

'Sat oOO, lOselHcT, 10 lily Test.'
INDIAN SACRIFICE.
E'ie Missouri paper contains letter from Mr..
w etinurc, an American officer at Council Bluffs, rcla
ting tie incidents attending the attempts OF Mr.. Dough-
herty, the agent Of Indian affairs, female pri
soner, from being sacrificed by the Pawnee Indians,
according TO their custom Mr.. Dougherty, two or
three officers, and escort from the garrison left the
Bluffs, Fort hinsou,) on tie 5tb OF April last and
reached the grand Pawnee village in five days.--They
we're told that the captive had been sometime fatening
for the sacrifice, and that the execution take
place Tie next day. the fuel AMI all the materials being
prepared The captive Paduca woman, who
had been captured by party two three months
oeore.-lhe chiefs and warriors met in counci and
no argument q" persuasion was spared by Mr. Dough
erty 10 obtain the release Of the intended victim The
principal! of the tribe seemed disposed TO give her
Up to tie leans, but the and children and
few men were ciamorous for the sacrifice The me
dICne-Inan or Chief Jugg!cr, appeared among them,
and after some ourishes said he could arrange the
medicine as TO plenty OF buffalo and corn W I
out burnt Offering. The captive then ed into
tue council lodge with evident marks OF Distress and
audible expressions OF grief but alter she appiZe
of the interpolation in her favor her face brighten
ed with smile. TO one present could speak her Ian
gusgc, aud ali communication with her was BY signs
The day she div cred 10 the Anne, leans who
placed her horse and started for the Bluffs They
had not proceeded far, when two Indians, who had
determined to kill the woman, sprang rom their con-
ceainient, and o. them let fy arrow at her which
passed through nCr DuaiO rome, inflicted
wound in her sde.-A scufle ensued. during which
disaiectcd Indians up, bore off the ca ptye
ana threw her down the groEGd still alive Two
hundred warriors from the village immediately assem-
bed around her, that they might dip their weapons in
her blood. After her DEATH tie Americans proceeded
homeward.
From Mr.. Wetmore's account OF the Indian Coun-
Gil, we extract Tie following:
''There Warrior conspicuous in council. AS
well on account of lbs standing in the Nation as his
tawdry coSume his name is Sad .ilorcaSin. This rcd
gentleman gold laced scarlet coat q necklace
OF white bear talons, and STOOD upright man in
green legGin and the advocate for Tner-
cy-the friend of christians he had visited Tie me
ropos CT the Union; and in language bold as Il was
eloquent, he urged the release OF the capiiye-Bv
his Intercourse with the White Men, he said, he was
convinced OF the improperly of the sacrifce-he had
. his Great Father lat Wa!iingtunl by the hand
ana pledged himselfo oppose these barbaIous rites
young brave likewise told his countrymeu, that he
knew ii was Tie opinion of Pawnees that these saCri-
fees would their prosperity at the hands OF the
of life; but sand he let istrus our own o0in
ion, for the Whites have intercourse and are bet
ter acquainted with God Almighty than we are: there
fore let listen to them let us please them Tor we car
not please better menu
The form OF conducting human sacrifices arnonr tie
Pawnees detailed to MIR. Dougharty and his par
ly by FreDchmaD who had witnessed one or two
'sWhen it Is, by the Big Medicine man. deemed ad
Ysabie 10 procure a subject for human sacrifice he
commits this medicine to the of partZan al the
head of party; Just he IS about TO open can
paigG, more OF the prisoners captured by the
party, esteemed the property of the Big Star that
is the planet Venus. When the subject is brought in
he is turned to Old Medicine, the high priest of
BeeIze5ub he is then placed 10 confinement in the me-
dicine lodge, where every possible exerlion is made
TO faten the victim Jr the sacriice-rneantr?,e the
medicine relieve each other in the dlty Ct guard
ing The subject and in chanting his side INCREASINGLY
internal ulabys, anthems OF the damned. When tie
victim is brought out for execution, he IS placed be-
tween two stakes resembling may poles surInounted
by black flag-the hands and feet being extended
are made fast to the poles, and a small fire is lsinded
the feet OF the Subject, winch irons are hea ted
and applied TO his breast and groins. This torture is
continued until the victim begins to sink under it,
when the spy, v3a;ts of party previously or
ganised fer tbs ceremony is seen approaching with
the caution that is observed in actual .yar. Az
ter this mocllery he reports TO the Chief Of the war
party, that re has discovered the enemy and that he is
IN bad position and off his guard. Under these cir.
Cunstarces immediate attack is determined on,
when The g1iorou' war party rush forward 10 the place
Of sacrifice, aud despatch The victim with literal show
of arrows After this the fire is INCREASED until the
fat exudes freely from the roasted subject and al this
stage the ceremony, the women of the nation who are
planters press around tie pile oil their hoes and
holding them up, implore abundant harrests; the ar
Of the warriors having been ingorously dipped in
the blood of the enemy, fitted for successful Buff
faIo hunt.o