Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-04-25

ward until II IS scarcely TO DO seen in The re.
note tribes near tho mountains. Here the
folly IS confined to few fami,ic, only. 1'h.
Practice must have commenced AT a very ea,
" period, rs Columbus noticed IL among tb,
hrst OBJECTS that met his attention. Ap essen.
lal point of beauty with these sa,agcs i, a
dss head. Immediately after the birth of a
ehi'u' inc mother, anxious 10 procure the
Recommendation Of q broad forehead for lac r
infant, places II in COMPRISING machine
This Is a cradle formed like n trough, with
one end where the head reposes, more
elevated than the other. A padding il thep
placed upon the forehead, which presses n
gainst the head by cords passing through holes
On each side Of the cradle. The child is kept
an this manner upwafds Of q year, and the
operation Is SO gradual a. to be attended viii,
scarcely any pain. During this period OF com
preston the infant presents a frightfri appear
anec, its little keen black eyes being forced
Out To an unnatural degree by tho pressure of
the bandages. When relieved from mis- pro-
cess, the head Is hatieboJ, and seldom ex-
Gees more than one or two inches in thick
ness. Nature with all its efforts can never
afterwards restore the proper shape. The
heads OF grown persons often form n straight
iine from the nose 10 the top al the forehead
80 widely does a Flat-Load diG,r from the rest
Ut the great family OF man. SO great is this
difference as to compel anatomists themselves
to confess that an examination OF such skull.
and ocular demonstration only, could have
convinced them Of the possibility of moulding
The head into this form. The Human face
Divine" Is thus sacrificed TO fantastic ideas of
savage beauty. They alioge as an apology
Tor this custom, that their slaves have rous,i
heads, and that the children &c a brave and
Tree race ought not 10 suffer such degrade
I ton.
This deformity, however, OF the Flat-IIcad
Indians IS redeemed BY numerous good cuaIi.
tics. Travellers relate that they have fewer
vices than any OF the tribes ia those rcgss,s
They arc honest, brave and peaccabie. The
women become exemplary wives and mo-
Tiers, and n husband with an unfliihful com
panion Is 4 circumstance almost unknown a
mong them. They believe in the existence
OF good and evil Spirit, with rewards and
punishmcnts Of q future state. Their rcli-
gion promises TO the yirtuous after death a
climate where perpetual summer will shine
over plains filled with their much loved buff
falo, and upon streams Astounding in the most
delicious fish. Here they will spend their
time in hunting aud fishing, happy aud undis-
turbed from every enemy while the bad In
liam will be consigned TO a place of eternal
SHOWS, with fires in hrs sight that he cannot
enjoy, and buffalo and deer that cannot be
caught to satisfy his hunger.
| curious tradition prevails among them
concerning beavers. These animals, so ceIe.
brated for their sagacity, they believe are q
fallen race Of Indians, who may have been
condemned on account OF their wickcdness
by the great Spirit, 10 their present form OF
brute creation. AZ some future period they
also declare that these fallen creatures will
be restored TO their former state.
/ How deeply affecting is ttis circumstance
OF tie four natives travelling on foot 3OOd
miles through thick forests and extensive
prairies, sincere searehcrs after truth! The
story b. scarcely parallel in history"