Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-09-09
From ,as New York Mirror.
OC.NE.WA.KAH AND YARATILDA.
A1EcESp OF THE wrsxAxEE.*

LEGEND OF THE wISSAKEE*
The mild season Of flowers had far advanced,
and beautiful mountains, hill and PLAIN with the
rich and gaudy garments Of Flora, and every sec
ton Of the vast unbrokcn forest echoed with the
sublime and pleasing voices Of the meiodious min
strels Of nature. The bright waters of the Hud-
son flowed on from their gurgling sources in the
nor. b, through almost untrodden solitude,
whose silence was only disturbed b. the growl OF
the wolf and the bear, the cry of the panther,
the warbling Of birds, and the occasional whoop
Of the painted savage. From the pinnacle OF
Beacon Hill, the eye saw nothing but dense tor
est shrouded in its green mantle the noble river,
whose bosom was broken only by the playful leap
Of the sturgeon, or the canoe of solitary Indian.
Where now richly cultivated lands bespeak the
rewarded labors Of agriculture. and lovely villa
ges point the beauties OF the civilized social
system; solitude then bore regal sway, and God
was only worshipped by inferior creation.
! Following the course of a small stream, tribe
Of the powerful nation of the Delawares might
have been seen returning from the border of King
Philips domain, laden with the trophies Of .icto
nv and the rude spoils Of war. Pursuing their
course toward the setting sun, leading into cap
tivity several young Pequot warriors, these saw
age victors made the sylvan halls of the forest
ring with their wild and boistcrous joy. Sudden
ly they gave loud yell of exuitafion, for they
had gained an cminence where the sheen of the
from the dwellings, of home curied above the
black ccda-s that interviewed between them and
the river. From the brow Of the eminence the
Winnakec leaped in sparkling cascades over a
rocky bed, until it mingled its crystal treasures
with the still waters Of the great stream. Their
wives, their children, and their old men greeted
them with Joy; and the sun sank behind the
blue hills Of Shawangunk, they lighted their fires
md prepared to perform the celebration Of veto
~ by the po,s-wow, war dance. One by one
the valiant captives were sacrificed, adding new
energy to their internal jov, until Oune-wa-Aah,
the son Of the mighty chief of the Pequots alone
remaincd to giut their vengeance. A council was
held to consult upon the best mode Of dsposiDg Of
him, and after much dclberation it was determn-
ed to spare his life. If he would receive the mark
OF the Delaware and adopt their cause. Dune
wa-kah was brought before the grave council,
and in sucn silence heard the degrading propo-
sal Fierce Indignation burned in his eye and
qniyered upon his lips, when the old chief utter
ed the alternative. AT length the young war
ror spoke, and all gathered closer to hear his de-
terminate
sou ne -wa-kah,'' said he, "shall never lift the
tomahawk against his kindred. His finger shall!
never point out to the Delaware the hiding place
Of the PequOt. Ou-nc-wa-kah is now weak
weaker than a child. Shall he take up the knife
against his nation that he may get strength
Shall he appear in battle against his father with
the turtle Of the Delaware upon his breast! No,
no! Ou-ne-wa-kah is woman. Pequot does
not fear death. The Great Spirit hath seen his
strength in battle, shall he be ashamed of him
before the council firc?''
Thus spoke the young warrior His bravery
sealed ~: aass, and i was determined TO make
at his words, for they thought Of their kindred
who had been led captive by the Peqnots- AT
dawn, Howanga, the old chief of the Dclawares,
called his warriors around him, and ordered the
prisoner before them. Again he made the Gle
mcnt proposal, but Ol-nc-wa-kah was firm in his
resolve, and treated their expressed mercy with
silent contempt. The Dclawares and Pequots
were friends, and the latter laid aside their
cruelty in making the present sacrifice. Instead
IF tortures inflicted upon their long and bitter en-
smies, they resolved to slay the son Of their for
ner ally with the point of the arrow. Dune
wa-kah was bound to a tree, and three of the best
,rchers were selected cxecutioners. They had
measured the distance and had drawn their bows,
when fearful shrek from an adjoining thicket
,alsied each arm, and their arrows fell to the
ground. The whole multitude were petrefied by
he unearthly sound and the next moment a beau
iiul Indian maiden fell at the feet Of the pinon-
I'd youth. Superstition ovcrcame their thirst for
evengc, and they looked upon her as being
rom the land of the Great Spirit. But Dune
va kah knew we'll that lovely form. She
he niece of Uncas, the Mohawk chief; and twice
lad the Pequot snatched her from the grasp of
'oody Huron. She now found protect ion in the
Waiting the termination Of the war to receive Gu
le-wa-kah as her affianced husband. She had
eard of his captivity, and Immediately sped to
he counc-fire for his salvation. She arose, kis-
ed the stern brow Of the youth, and then turned
oward the assembled warriors:
s.Spare him! spare the betrothed Of Yaratilda!'
ried she, placing herself between the victim
nd the archers, who were preparing to obey the
ommand Of their chief. sWill We tear the heart
rom my bosom and cast it to eagles for food
Will We hush the voice Of the happy song bird that
ings sweety in the wigwam of the old warrior !
mega! Will ye redden your arrows with the {
lood Of the Delaware! Seer' she cried, and bar
her throbbing bosom, ''see! here is my mark !
{ protection!' {
And the old chief saw the turtle upon her :.
reast. His brow knit, and as the archers cast a +
lance toward him, awaiting his fiat, he shook his
ray locks. and waved his hands for them to re- =
re. Suddenly a wbar- whoop was heard in the :
istance, and the warriors sprang to their feet :
me clamor grew nearer, and on the brow of a
are rock to the south. appeared clan of the ter
ble Hurons, who had SO long been the terror of !.
ne Delawares. Yaratilda seized a Ratchet and /.
evered the bonds of Ou-ne-wa-k ah. But the .
nemy had advanced too rapid for him to conceal ,
er. The contest was long and bloody-the Del =
wares was defeated and put to flight, and the i.
anne fierce Huron who had twice been wounded :
y the hand Of the young Pequot, now secured l