South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-05-23
@tscelGaugauG.

swung,
SO light to the saddle before her he sprung?
"She is won! we are gone. over bank,
bush and scaur,
They'll have fleet steeds that follow, "
quoth young Lochinvar.
The Pawnee Loups, or Ske.re, as
they called themselves not many years
since, and within the memory of per-
sons now living, exhibited the singular
anomaly. among the North American
aborigines Of people addicted to the
revolving superstition Of making propi-
tiatory offering Of human victims upon
the alter of idolary. Mekakatungah,
"the Grea, STAR" was the divinity to
whom this sanguinary worship had
been from time immemorial, ascribed.
The barbarous ceremony was perform
ed annually. The Great S,ar was sup.
posed to preside over the fruits Of the
earth and on each return of the sea-
son of planting, the life blood Of hu-
man being was poured out in libation
upon the soul. A breach of this duty,
the performance of which they believed
was required by the Great Star, it was
supposed would be succeeded by the
total failure Of their crops of maize,
beans, and pumpkins, and the conse.
quent privation Of the supply of vege.
table food, which formed half the sub.
stance of the tribe. To obviate a ca.
lamity so formidable, any person was
at liberty to offer up prisoner, OF eth.
er sex, that by his proves in war he
had become possessed OF, and the hor-
rid rite was,accompanied by all the SOL
emn ceremonies which characterize the
supers,i,ious idolatry ofan ignorant and
barbarous people. The devoted indi.
vidual was placed under the care ofthe
Ouabineaux, or magi of the tribe who
anticipated all his wants, while they
cautiously concealed from him the real
object of their sedulous attentions /;
which was to preserve his mind in a
state of cheerfulness, with view Of
promoting Obesity, and thereby render
the sacrifice more acceptable to their
Ceres. When the victim was pros
| nounced sufficiently fai.ened for insmo-
laticn, suitable lime was appointed
for the performance of the rite, that the
whole nation might attend. Whenthe
appointed day for his fate arrived, he
was clothed in the gayest and m ost
costly attire, and led out to the spot
where he was to suffer. Here he was
bound TO cross, in presence of The as.
sembed multitude, and solemn dance
was performed around him. A mum.
Der of other ceremonies followed, and
then the warrior whose prisoner he had
been, stepped into the open space and
assumed the glorious task of his execu-
ton. Generally single blow OF the
tomahawk despatched the victim; but
if the first blow failed to cleave his
head, the speedy death of the person
inundated was insured by shower OF
arrows from a band of archers, who
were always ia attendance. The abo.
Iition of this revolving custom was
| brought about in the manner here re.
lated.
The day Of sacrifice 10 the Great
Star had arrived. 1t was beautiful
morning in April, when the misguided
children of the wilderness were assem-.
bled at the call ofthe magi, to cele-
bra,e the anniversary of the cruel del
~.
The scene of their Internal orgies
was q tall grove upon the edge of the
prairie, an isIet of timber, which view.
ed al distance seemed rather to re-
pose upon, than to spring from ; the
broad green surface. 1t was grand
festival day with the Pawnee Loups
and the wonted military watchfulness
of this warlike Tribe was dispensed with
upon the occasions of general relaxa
tion--the usual sen,inels OF the Gang
were scattered round 10 groups, among
the rest of the people, and their horses
which generally were tethered ready
saddled near the lodges of the guard
were now scattered over the prairie
with other cattle of the tribe. There
were two chargers only, that did no
seem to share the general liberty ; anc
these stood fully equipped, paving thu
ground as if impatient Of confinement
behind small cropse not far from thu
scene ofsacrifice. One oflhem, a igh
and graceful! palfrey, was tied to sap
pling which grew upon the spot, Will
| the reins of the other were held by a
gallant cavalier as ever crossed sad
die. He was young man of not NOR
than three and twenty, of the fines
form--sali and muscular and of mos
prepossessing countenance. His hea'