The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-03-15

shat OF Great Britaia in the East Indies. But |
40 one in rendering them this justice can
help taking interest in the fate of the Indians. |
EAus, meeting az every step the bark hut of
wandering hunter who inhabits it in secn |
rIty. ana III the simple virtues Of ignorance,
We cannot think without sorrow that they
viii soon be overturned and replaced by an
American cultipator's farm.
II was heara rapid creek, the borders OF which
we're Steep that we saw for the first time the In
dans united in a body to receive the General. A
great number ot women and young boys broke
through the trees on the opposite border Of the
aver, and, upon seeing rs, they raised cries Of
10Y. Some warriors descended the brow of
i.lll at little distance and to spot on the
river side where the boat was, iii which we were
20 land-Thc variety and singular richness Of
their costumes offered most picturesque view.
hlr George Lafayette splan!s first upon the land,
and III moment was surrounded by men, wo
incn and children, who moved round him, dane
ed about him, touched his hands and his garments
with an air Of surprise, and delight which caus
Cd him almost as much embarrassment rs emo.
ton Suddenly, as il they wished to give more
dgnhed and solemn expression to their Joy they
retired behind the men ranged in front. lie
who appeared to be the chief Of the tribe, By
shr and prolonged cry gave the signal for a sort
OF salute which was repeated by the whole troops
when they rushed again towards the boat.-Im-
mediately upon the Generals descending, some
of the strongest brought little low chair, which
we had with us, and obliged him to mount it,
"not wishing they said, shat their father
should put his foot on the damp earth.' The
General was thus carried as in a paanquin, to a
certain distance from the river side, then he
whom have already distinguished as the chief
Of the tribe approached, and told him in English,
that all his brothers were happy at being visited
by him, who in his affection for the inhabitants
of America, had never distinguished blood or
color; who was the cherished father OF mcn who
nhabitthe continent After the chief had spok
en-, the other Indians came to press the hand OF
the General and to place it on their heads. They
would not abandon the carriage, but dragged ii
themselves, mounted by short steps the hill from
which which we had seen them descend, and ON
which was situated one OF their largest hamets,
Whilst We walked, approached the Indian
Chief thought that, since lie spoke English, he
had been brought up like liamly in the United
States, and SO was informed lie was about 28
years of aye, Of middle size his limbs per
fectv beautiful, his phys,ognony noble, and hi,
airsorowfi.l. When he did not speak he cast
down his large black eyes, which were covered
With thick eyc-lashes. When he toll me that he
was the eldest son Of Macintosh, could not re-
cal, without pain, the mPrecations that | had
heard from the watch, against the Ctiet OF the
Maacogulges 1t was this, undoubtedly, which
gave the young man the air Of detection and
meditation; but, after what coali gather, from
his conversation, explained il to myself still
better his Intelligence only developed itself a
the expense ofhis security. lie appreciated the
true position fthis nation; he perceived it was
growing weaker, and forcsaw its approaching
distinctions he feh how inferior it was to those
which surrounded III he had learned how impos
slble it was to change the wandering lite ot men
of his race. The neighborhood ofclylzed men
had not done them any good, and had introduced
among them vices to which they we're strangers
He seemed to hope that the treaty, which cast
them back into country wholly desert, would
restore the ancient organization Of the tribes, or
at least guaranty their preservation in the state
n which they now were.
In the meantime. we arrived at the top Of the
hlll-there we saw helmets, and swords, and
horsemen, ranged along the road; they were
not Indians, but civilized men sent from the state
Of Alabama, to meet the General. The slngu-
lar triumphant march, to which he had been
obliged to submit, then ceased. The Indians
could not see without Jealousy. the American
escort place themselves around him; but we ap.
preached their village, and they hastened to
approach il before rs. There, at our afrval, we
found them met together, having thrown aside
their garments and prepared to exhibit before
rs their warlike games. We reached vast
plain, about which was scattered q hundred In.
dian habitations, improved BY the verdure Of the
thick groves We noticed house larger than
the others; it was that Of the American resident;
he at the same time kept an inn, and his wife had
the direction ofa school, in which they attempt
ed tc instruct the children Of the Indians All
the men were assembled in this place, having
thrown aside part Of their vestnents; their faces
painted with colors Enthusiastically mixed and some
wearing, by way Of distinction, plumes in their
hair, They told us that they were going to play
in honor Of their white father And we really
saw them separate into two armies, form two
camps in two extremities Oft the place, name two
chiefs, and provoke each other to combat. The
cry which was raised by each Of the two divisions,
and which they told us was the war-cry Of the
Indian tribes, is perhaps, the strongest modnla-
ton of the human voice, that it is possible to
hear, and the effect which it produced upon the
warriors, Young and old, is more extraordinary
still. The sports commenced-They explained
to us that the game was, for the two parties to
throw ball, something like that of our scholars,
10 certain mark, and that he who struck this
mark seven times should be victorious We in
reality saw the combatants, each armed with
two long and heavy rockets prcc tate them.
selves with light movement, leap one above
the other, in order to seize It in the air, with
unprecedented skill, and scnd il to the mark ~
when the ball was missed by player, it rolled
on the pround-Then they all lowered theil