American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-05-15
INDIAN CRUEL'TIES.

Inc employment OF savages by the French and
British, and Of bIooIhounds by the Spaniards, tn
destroy their enemies, are among the most afro.
cious acts which Christendom has been called to
witness. We shall not here tax our own recolcc.
ton, nor the feelings Of our readers, by any reci
tai of the enormites we have seen, or of which we
have heard or read. The Imagination can furnish
no aid towards just conception Of these scenes.
There is nothing more appalling than the reality.
The Indians are inpelle,l to war by passions,
which acknowledge no control, and death and de-
ISOLATION are the objects Of their military expedi-
tons. From infancy, they are taught to inflict
cruelties upon their enemies. and TO bear with
stern fortitude, whatever may befall them. They
are equally prepared to endure and to torture,
and in either situation without the slightest symp-
tom Of human frailty or feeling. They have not
only no principles Of religion or morality to re.
press their passions. but they are urged forward in
heir career of blood, by all around them; by the
examples Of their fathers and BY the deeds Of their
companions. He is the most renowned warrior,
whose tomahawk flies swftest and sinks deepest.
There is horrible institution among some OF
the tribes, which furnishes powerful illustration
Of this never string love of vengeance. 1t is cal
led the Man-eatng Society, and it is the duty Of
its associates TO levour all such prisoners as are
preserved and delivered to them for that purpose
The members Of this Society belong to partcu.
ar IdtnlY, anu tHS uTedulut IHiclHdHtC uCo1cHus
to all the children, male and female. Its duties
cannot be dispensed with, and the sanctions Of
religion arc added to the obligation of immemolia
usage. The feast is consecrated solemn cere
monv, at which TIE whole tribe is collected, as
actors or spectators. The miserable victim is fas
tenet to stake, and burned at slow lire, witt
all the refinements Of cruelty, which savage inge
nuity can invent There is Evolutionary ritual
which regulates with revolving precision, the whole
| curse Of procedure at these ceremonies. The In
,titution has atterly declined, but we know thos
,,ho have seen and related to US the incident
which occurred on these occasions, when whit
men we're sacrificed and consumed. The chief O
the family, and principal member OF the societ
among the Miames. whose name was White Skin
we have seen, and with feelings OF oathing, excl
ted BY narrative of his atrocities, amid IN
scenes where they occurred.
There are but two serious occupations connec
ted With the ordinary business OF lite, to whic
an Indian willingly devotes himself These ar
rar and hunting. Labor is pertorme. eycluslvei
lby the women, and this distribution OF duties IS
marked characteristic Of all harbarous nations..
The passion fur war is fostered and encouraged
institutions. which are admirably adapted TO max
the warrior brave and entcrprising. Nothing
the systems ni the ancient republics was bette
devised to stimulate the arlor Of their citizen
Ana when assembled Greece proclaimed the VII
tor at the OLYMPIC games. and crowned nm VII
the olive wreath. she furnished no more powesf
motive for exertion and distinction, than IS pr
: yide.l in the institutions Of our aborigines. 1t
, the same love Of distinction, which mpels Il
wa.Iior to tear from the head Of the writing ar
rcekns victim. the bloody trophy Of savage victor
I and at the next war dance in his distant village,
srike the post. AM, 10 recount the atrocities, whc
bv the aid Of the Sag a.nosh,* he has been en-
blrd to commit upon the Tshe-mo ke-maun.f
: Erglishnsn, Z in the Algonquin oia'ect.
= +npknife American { ~ AMERICAN Repie1p.