Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-06-03


tho Indians, is, and should be a source of
much regret to those who delight to store
their mindswith those facts connected with
the original possessors of that soil which
now opens the bosom of its wealth to beings
Of almost another origin. Having dwclt
some time with and near them, have used
considerable diligence at various times, in
cndcayoring to ascertain how and in what
manner, IL any, they have preserved the re-
fnembrance of remarkable events among
them. Whether they had Evolutionary or le-
gendary tales of the origin Of their tribes;
whether they knew the time when the coun-
try in which they resided was first occupied
{ by them; whether in that case, it was unoc-
cupied, or IN the possession Of other Indians,
and whether they conquered or purchased
tho country SO occupied. Myinquires have
also extended to their wars--the arts and
uiIes practiced by their most distinguished
warriors; the nature also of their pretended
intercourse with the Great Spirit; how many
spirits they supposed possessed of an inhu-
ence over their tribes; what they thought of
futurity, and what their general ideas were
Ut moral and social duties and obligations.
have seldom received, to any of these in
quiries, clear and satisfactory answer.
They have traditions; but Of SO confused a
nature, and SO mysteriously combined with
mon and beasts extraordinary transforma-
tons from one to the other, and so tho
roughly involved in the clouds of supersti-
ton, that they are rendered utterly unintel-
ligible to all but Indians themselves. o,sa
Their songs constitute their history, but as
dates are entirely neglected, (for they keep
no note of time,'') it is impossible for the
Oldest man among them TO fix the events
thus narrated upon any particular period of
IA cna <>f
structive amusement among them, and that
is to sit and listen to the rehearsal of the
warlike achievements that have been per-
formed within the remembrance of the mar
rator, and possibly by him. He often tells
them with spirit and sprightlness, and can
generally say how many winters are past BY
since they were acted. No one but he who
has resided among them knows, or can
know, the fund of military anecdote, if may
so call it, in their possession.
No one knows, or can know, the surprising
acts of valor performed by them, sometimes
as tribe, but more generally by individuals.
Under an excitement particularly after lit
tie success, there are no people on earth bra
yer or moro daring, even TO rashness, than
they are. Once under this excitement,
alone or among thousands, an Indian sees
nothing but the object of his rage, if an enc
my, or of his love, if friend In fact, they
are ed~eetOd for bravo men Influence and
wealth are only for the brave, and the high
est scat at the council FIRE, or the most Inn
portant character in the dance, is always
awarded to him who passes for the bravest
man. Indians Il speak offhose on the upper
mlssourD are moderated. White men talk.
and suppose think as they talk, as if TWEEN
ty common men, well armed, could drive the
prairies for Indians as they would beat a Jun
gle for deer. This is idle talk. These In
dians have yet TO learn who are their supe-
riors in their own method of fighting. Per
feet horsemen, they know their strength
when well mounted. better than the whites
would have them believe. No men but
mounted men ever, except in large bodies,
safely travel the country where they live or
roam. The morale (as Napoleon called the
impression of strength or force on the nind)
isyery considerable, and, with inexperienced
men, often creates sudden panic or aston
lsnment that prove their ruin, before suffi-
cient time elapses for them TO recover their
self-possession. Painted, almost naked, and
at full speed they rush upon their foes sud-
denly from an ambush, with yell apparent
ly of delight at the prospect of blood. The
hldeons expression of their countenance has.
at the same time, an appalling effect to those
nnaccustomed to their mode of painting
themselves. The first effect is intended
tor, and often is an almost perfect stupefac-
ton.
Here lies their strength on the plain, or
where they can act with celebrity, and they
who can retain self possession at the onset
with tolerably adequate force, have nothing
to fear afterwards. Without retaining that
(Which the main effort of the Indians is TO
DESTROY the chances are against escape
Many white man has gone to these pralries
confident of his abilities for self projection.
and been literally cut to pieces by the toma.
hawk whilst on his horse with his loaded RI
6e in his hand. They might have been, pro-
baby were, brave, bat they allowed them.
selves to be astonished, and all from under.
rating their foes.
Their is, another strong trait Of character
in Indians--their singular pride Gounvos