Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-03

tongue I've treated her like dog. Forty oil
=. The chieftain became ncensed the moment
his wife's name was mentioned: he seiled his
Gun, and, before the last sentence was ended,
ball from it passed through the brave fellows
heart, and terminated his frightful suiferlngs.
The religious belief of the western tribes &C.
neralIy is confined TO few vague notions OF the
Divinity. mixed up among some OF them with
gloomy superstitions about an evil demon and
spirits of hate ever on the alert to invade their
quiet and happiness in the world. Ali, however,
believe in a state of future rewards and punish
ments, though they differ widely as to what acts
merit the one or the other. We give Mr.. Cox's
account of the religious teDets, ii SO they may
be called, Of tribe among whom he dwelt for
some time:
"The Flat-heads believe in the existence OF a
good and evil spirit, and consequently IN future
state Of rewards aud punishments. They hold,
that after death the good Indian goes to country
in which there will be perpetual summer; that
he will meet his wife and children; that the
rivers will abound with fish and the plains
with the much loved buffalo; and that he will
spend his tl,ae in hunting and fishing. free from
the terrors of war. or the apprehensions ct cold
or famine. The bad man, they believe, will SO to
place covered with eternal snow: that he will al
ways be shivering with cold, and will see Tires at
distance which he cannot enjoy: water which
he cannot procure to quench his thirst, and bufa-
10 and deer which he canu0t kill to appease his
hunger An impenetrable wood. full OF wolves,
panthers. and serpen:s. separates these "shrlnk-
iny slaves of winter" from their more fortunate
brethren in the 6 meadows OF ease" Their pun
ishment is not however eternal. and ding to
| the diterent shapes of their crime they are soon
er or later emancipated. and permitted to join
| their friends in the Eysian fields.
..Their code Of morality, although short, is
| comprehensive. They say that honesty. brave
~, love Of TRUTH attention to parents, obedience
to their chiefs, and affection for their wives and
children, are the principal virtues which enttle
them to the place Of happiness. while the oopPo-
site vices condemn them to that oil misery"
| Some of our authors adventures among these
wild regions, the accounts OF several OF which
we have copied at different times from the Eng
lish papers, will seem rather extravagant TO ina
nv of his readers, and indeed one can hardly help
thinking that he ornaments occasionally: at the
same time we have the utmost confidence IN the
most of his details. having been personally &C.
quainted with several Of the gentlemen who are
mentioned in the course of his narrative as ac-
tors upon the scene, and heard the identical au-
ecdo,es he relates from their lips. One or two OF
these we recognize as particular acquainances
| from having, after throwing them into readable
shape, published them in this paper about l8months
since. 1t rs therefore, that IN extracting the fol-
lowing highly characteristic sketch, we do not
1 for moment doubt IT'S entire Authenticity.
| One day as we were sitting down 10 dinner,
one of our men, followed by native. rushed into
| the dining-room, and requested sc would instant
| " repair to the village to prevent OOntshed. as
Mr., M'Donald was about to fight duel with one
of the chiefs. We ran to the scene OF action.
| and found our FREUD surrounded by a number of
indians. all of whom kept at respectful dis
lance. He had his fow ling piece. which he chang
ed from one hand to the other. and appea'ed VIC.
lently chafed. The chief stood about twenty
yards from him, and the following colioquy took
place betwe, them, which, for the 70 nation Of
my uniearned readers, shall translate.
Md Come on, now you rascal! you toad !.
you dog. Will you fsht!"
Indian" wil:-but you're foolish man.
chief should not be passionate. I always
thought the white chiefs were wise men,
MIDI want none OF your Jaw: say you
cheated me You're dog! Will YOU fsht?''
Indian.-" Yoa are not wise. You pet angry
like woman; but will fight. Let us 60 to the
woods Are YOU ready?"
Md Why, you id rascal, what do you
mean? III fight you here. Take your distance
like a brave man, face to face. and we'll draw
lots for the first shot. or fire together, which ever
you please"
Indian.-''You are greater foil than 1 thought
you were. Who ever heard of wise warrior
standing before his enemy's gun to be shot at liA
a dog? No one but fool of white man would
do sou
Md What do you meanf What ,cay do
you want to hght?"
Indian" The way that all red warriors fight
Let US take our guns, and retire to yonder wood;
place yourself behind one tree, and will take
my stand behind another, and then we shall see
who will shoot the other frst!''
MD -. You are afraid, and you're coward"
Indian" am not afraid; and you're fool"
M'D-"Come then. d-n my eyes if care.
Here's at you your own way" And he was
about proceeding to the wood. when we interfer-
ed. had the combatants disarmed, and after much
entreaty induced our brave Gaal to return to the
fort
The quarrel originated in gambling transac-
ton, in which M'Donald imagined he had been
cheated, and under that impression struck the