The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-12-30
FIRST AND LAST SACRIFICE.

. ne scene Oh THO IOllOWln9 narrative Is laid
in this country, and its subject is found in the
romantic characteristics of the native tribes
The writer represents himself as having left
New Orleans in the latter part of May, for an
overland journey to Savannah, induced chiefly
by wish to satisfy his curiosity as to the man.
ners and customs of savage life. On the twelfth
night of his journey, he encamped, alone, near
the margin of deep glen, known by the name
of Murder Greek, which fearful appellation it
received from having been the scene of trag-
ical event in former times, when thirty persons
there fell beneath the tomahawk of the savages.
Here, in the night, he encounters a we'll armed
Indian, by whom ha is taken prisoner, and con-
viewed to his cabin, in a remote and secret
part Of the forest. The walls of the wigwam
were decorated with the weapons and trophies
of its occupant, and among them the captive
shuddcred to behold the scalps of not less than
fifteen victims.
Sit p exclaimed the Indian, pointing to
the bed of buffalo and wild-deer skins in
one corner of the cabin. / did so; while
he, with the same stern silence which he
had all along maintained, spread before me
some milk, various preparations of Indian
corn, wild venison, and sofks; the last
not unpalatable dish, being made of the
flour of Indian corn, gathered while green,
mixed with honey and water. He seated
himself by my side, and partook of the meal
too ate, and with relish, after my morn
ing's ride, in spite of many uneasy refiec-
tions which could not repress. These re-
Elections, indeed, were gradually becoming
so painful, that | was on the point of de-
manding, from my host, an explanation of
his motives for bringing me here, when he
addressed me. | knew it was point of
Indian politeness not to interrupt person
who is speaking, and | was careful to avoid
any breach of decorum.
"You are white mani found you sleep
ing-yon were armed-I made you defence
| less, and then / offered you the pipe Of
peace.
A white man found MY FATHER defence
less and asleep, and shot him as he slept
| was in my mothers womb; but the blood
of my father was gathered, and before the
milk of her bosom was on my lips, they
were made red with his blood, that might
taste the TODD OF revenge bUfors the food
of life.
The first word | lsped, was REVENGE
The first passion knew, was HATRED OF
WHITE MANI The first time | knelt to
the Great Spirit, it was on my fathers
grave, to pray he would not send for me
| I'LL 0du ClOIneu ulyseli III IopS VI oloou.
to greet my father in the Spirit Country.
My prayer was heard. My oath has been
kept.
! grew man, and adopted myself into
the Panther Family by marriage. In my
cabin, which was then on the banks of the
Ontario, the Lake of Thousand Islands,
numbered three generations. My mother
lived children were born to me-we were
one family.
Did l forget my oath ? No. Did for
get the end for which | lived? Never.
The day that saw my first born in its moth
er's arms, saw my first sacrifice to my ia
theirs spirit-a white man dead at my feet.
Three moons after-another ;--and in that
third moon--a third. There" pointing to
the scalps, there hangs the proofs that
do not say the thing which is not.
Four SHOWS passed, and returned one
evening from hunting, when | found my
cabin burnt down. My mother alone sat
weeping and lamenting among the ruins.
could not separate the bones of my chill
dren and wife, from the common heap Of
blackened ashes, which marked the spot
where my home had stood when l went
forth in the morning. Ibid not weep. But
comforted my mother all that night, and