Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-06-13
1E.SSE-LANESQS.


Messrs. Harpers of New York have puphsn
ed. in handsome octave volume, Coxs Ao NJ
lures on the Columbia river, including me IVA.
rative of his residence oil SIX years Oh 'ho w.
ern side of the Rocky Mountains, among Variou
tr;hes Of Indians hitherto unknown, together wiz
I. MASSAGE across the American Continent. n
T7nol;sh papers have teemed Of late, with extract
from this interesting work, and many seiec"on
,herefrom have found their way INTO 'he ]Aniei,
ean periodicals. and have been read with Sraiiil
cation. , -, L.
The form of journal or diary always ma
charms, and, if kept by an intelligent observer
emono such scenes and incidents, as the western
division of continent furnishes, IL cahiio' ia'
of instrueting as well as pleasing.
We add the following extract, which illustrates
the Indian mode of settling affairs sol honor
u S. Gazette.
some day, as we were sitting down to dinner
one of our men, followed by native, rushed into
.he dining room, and requested we would repair 70
the village to prevent bloodshed, as Mr. NC Ion
aid was about to fight duel with one OF the cnieis.
We ran to the scene OF action, and foun9 our
friends surrounded by number of Indians, all OF
whom kent at a respectful distance. He had his
fowling piece, which he changed from one hand
to the other, and appeared violently chafed. The
chief stood about twenty yards from him, and the
following oolIoquy took place betwoeu thcui,
which. for the information of my unlearned rea-
ders. shall translate
Nc Donald.-Come on now, you rascal you
toad YOU dog! Will you fight?
Indian.-E will; but you are foolish man.
chief should not be passionate 1 always
Thought the white chiefs were wise men.
Md want none of your jaw: say you
cheated me- You are dog! Will you fghtP
Indian.-'You are not wise. You get angry
like woman; but will fight Let US go to the
woods. Are you readyp
M,D.-Why you id rascal, what do you
mean? I'll fight you here. Take your distance
like brave man, face to face, and we will draw
lots for the first shot, fire together, which eve
you please
Indian.-You are greater fool than though
you were. Who ever heard of wise warrio
standing before his enemy's gun to be shot a
like dog? No one but fool of white mai
M'D.-'What do you mean-what way do yo
want to fghtg
Indian-'The way that all red warriors fight
Let US take our guns and retire to Wonder wood
place yourself behind one tree, and will TAX
nv stand behind another, and then we shall Sc
who will shoot the other first
M'D-You are afraid and you are coward
Indian.-I am not afraid; and you are a fool
MD Come on then, d--n your eyes if
was about proceeding to the woods when we II
tertered. had the combatants disarmed, and attic
much entreaty, induced our brave Gael to retur
10 the fort
The quarrel originated in a gambling transat
ton, in which Nc Donald imagined he had bee
cheated, and under that impression, struck tn
chief. and called him rogue. The latter tol
him lie took advantage Of his size and strength
and that he would not meet him on equal term
with his gun. The imputation reused all his lr'
He instantly darted into the field with his TOW
ing piece, followed by the chief, when, by our
rival, we prevented an encounter which, IN
probability, would have proved fatal to our irent
The gigantic figure, long red flowing lock:
foamlng mouth, and violent gesticniatlon OF NJ
Donald, presented striking mad characteristic
contrast to the calm and immutable features c
the chieftain. His inflexible countenance was
for moment, disturbed by something lik
smile, when he told his opponent that no on
but fool would stand before gun to be shot a
like dog. In fact, Nc Donald's proposition
appeared to him so much at variance with hi
notions of wisdom, that he could not comprehent
how any man in his senses could make such al
offer. On explaining to him afterwards the cir
ilized mode of deciding gentlemanly quarrels. HI
manifested the utmost incredulity, and deciar
ed that he could not conceive how people so wis
in other respects, should be guilty of such foolish
ness. But when we assured him in the most pos
tive manner that were stating facts, he shoot
his head, and SAID, IL see plainly there are fools
every where.'