Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-15

IL is not generally known that the island
Of Nantucket, which affords scarcely a tree of
natural growth, was, when first visited by the
whites, covered with woods and inhabited by
native Indians. The aborignes were divided
into several large tribes, ca ch Of which occu-
pied an extensive village where they pounded
their samp and smoked .heir wooden pipes in
peaceful security. But the place which once
knew them, knows them no more--thoy have
gone with the years before the food, and sew
raj large heaps of clam shells arc the only re-
naming witnesses of their ever having cXs-
ted.
Scarcely had tho foot Of white man pres
sed their soil, scarcely had the genius of civil
zation planted his standard on the rude and
barbarous shore, than an epidemic broke out
among tho natives, and marched through their
tents hko a destroying angel on an erand OF
eytermination.
Although the whites escaped the contagion,
yet for the Indians there was no help. The
fiend of desola,ion stnlked proudly on nothing
could arrest his progress--the natives fell be-
| iblC HiS p'ou'hs tSH WIS ''iIt,
and wei! they knew it. In this distressing
emergency some Of the Indians would OCCASION
| ally 90 to the settlement to obtain little food
for their sick and perishng families At home-
their common expression at parting would be
Farewell, white brothers, we are here to day,
bat we know not where we shall be to-mor-
row the good spirit is angry with his red
| people, and we must lie down in the Gns'!'-
and these representations never failed of be-
ing fulfilled to the very letter.
AT length the calls of the Indlns became
less frequent. and finally ceased sItogc'her.--
Then, one or two humane settlers set out TO
make them visit, and sey { they could be Of
any use in alleva'ing their disiresses, or prov-
ding for the children On their arrival among
the Indians, such a scene Of misery presented
| itself as was shocking in the highest degree
The unburried corses lay fostering in the sun
children were loudly calling on their dead pa
rents to awake and get them a little water to
cool their raging thirst. A number Of the sick
unable to help themselves were porshing for
want ofnecessaries. The whites rendered what
assistance they could to their suffering neigh
bours, but not many suns had passed ;hc merd-
ian ere the island of savages had gone into
other hands and the whole copper colourod ma
ton had bowed in mass TO the dust, and the
sol was manured with ten thousand corses.
Hard was their fate-but not less deplora-
bic was the situation of the unhappy few who
survived the general wreck. A dozen desc
late souls still stood, like few naked trees
that have escaped the conaagra,'ons which
has lain the forest around them in asnes!
They lived to witness the destruction of their
whole naton-to see the forms Of their nssO-
ciates, friends and kindred. gradually assimila-
ting with the dust to find themselves sudden
" become strangers in their own land home
less wanderers, surrounded by a people they
know not; whose habits, whose sentiments
and feelings did not accord with their own
yet, with these they must miagle-thcy must
forget their fathers, nay, they must forget
themselves, and become as one of the pale
! faces.
Bat although the miserable survivors gcncr-
ally smothcred their grief and seemed in the
society Of the christians to have forgotten their
! foimer manners, customs and anuscnents;
there was one whom no change of "rcumstan-
ccs cou d alter; one Who scorncd all inter-
course with the whites and roamed at large in
the woods of her fathers, and i" sung the wild
song Of her own native pansH'
Her name was Malow issa she was the on
Is daughter of Powhaitan a famous. indian chief
noted for his great powers of mind, his mar
tial superiority, and kindness to the whites.
Bot her father had fallen prey to the raging
distcmper, aud she alone was left Of tie noble
family. On the very day which should have
seen her bride, she was left without friend
or relative to cheer her droopng spirits, and
Young Chcwlu hunk had carried all her hopes
to the grave with hm.
As the uhite settlers felt considerable inter
est in this young Prncoss, tncy frequently WIS.,
tied her in her own solitary wilds, and Intrcat-
ed her 10 go with thcm to the settlement,
where she could bo provided for and become
instructed in tho arts Of civilization. She re-
ec,od their offers with disdan. "Whte men''
said she, "whcrc's my father where is Che
wawhunk! before YOU visited this land the
great chief was happy and his people blessed
him -ye camo and my father received you
with open arms, ho called you brothers; hnt
I the pesiilenco came with you, you brought tho
curse of your God to our doors, and where are
the children Of Powhattanr'
Finding all persuasion iEeGectnal, they
abandoned tho idea OF aonostioating her
and left her TO pursue her own wayward inci
Ito ;o,ue T,t,,,,s p,reuinu lis nm n