Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-02-01

on poles, their long black locks streaming
in the wind. Each was accompanied by
its rude music and minstrelsy. In this
way the procession extended nearly q
quarter Of mile. The warriors were va
riously armed, some few with guns, others
with bows and arrows and war clubs; all
had shields of buffalo hide, kind of de-
fence generally used by the Indians of the
open prairies, who have not the covert OF
trees and forests to protect them. They
were painted in the most savage style.
Some had the stamp of red band across
their mouths, sign that they had drank
the likelihood Of foe!
AS they drew near TO the village the old
men and women began to meet them, and
now scene ensued that proved the fallacy
of the old fable Of Indian apathy and stoi-
cism. Parents and children, husbands and
wives, brothers, and sisters, met with the
most rapturous expressions of Joy; while
wailings and lamentations were heard from
the relatives of the killed and wounded.
The procession, however, continued on
with slow and measured step, in ca
dence to the solemn chant, and the warriors
maintained their fixed and stern demean-
| or.
Between two of the principal chiefs rode
young warrior, who had distinguished
himself in the battle. He was severely
wounded so as with difficulty to keep on
his horse; but he preserved serene and
steadfast countenance, as if perfectly un-
harmed. His mother had heard of his
condition. She broke through the throng,
and rushing up, threw her arms around
him, and wept aloud. He kept the spirit
and demeanor of warrior to the last, but
expired shortly after he had reached his
home.
The village was now a scene Of the ut
most festivity and triumph. The banners,
and trophies, and painted shields we're ele-
waited on the poles near the lodges. There
were war-feasts, and scalp dances, with
warlike songs and savage music all the
inhabitants were arrayed in their festal
dresses, while the old heralds went round
from lodge to lodge, promulgating with loud
voices, the exents of the battle, and
the exploits Of the various warriors.
Such was the boisterous revelry of the
village but sounds of another kind were
heard on the surrounding hills piteous
wailings of the women, who had retired
thither to mourn in darkness and solitude,
for those who had fallen in battle. There
the poor mother of the youthful warrior
who had returned home in triumph but to
die, gave full vent to the anguish of a moth
er's heart. How much does this custom a.
mong the Indian women of repairing to
the hill tops in the night and pouring forth
their wailings for the dead, call to mind
the beautiful and affecting passage of scrip.
ture " In Rama was there voice heard
lamentation, and weeping and great mourn.
ing, Rachel weeping for the children, and
would not be comforted because they arc
not"
CLIMATE WEST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
A remarkable fact, characteristic of the
country west of the Rocky Mountains, is
the mildness and equability of the climate.
That great mountain barrier seems to di
vide the continent into different climates
even in the same degree of latitude. The
rigorous winters and salutary summers
and all the capricious inequalities of Tempe
nature prevalent on the Atlantic side of the
mountains, are but little felt on their west.
ern decivities. The countries between
them and the Pacific, are blest with mildel
and steader temperature, resembling the
climates of parallel ATTITUDES in Europe.
In the plains and valleys, but little snow
falls throughout the winter, and it usually
melts while falling. 1t rarely lies on the
ground more than two days at time, ex.
cept on the summit of the mountains.
The winters are rainy rather than cold.
The rains are five months, from the mid.
die of October to the middle Of March,
are almost incessant and often accompani.
ed by tremendous thunder and lightning.
The winds prevalent at this season are
from the south and southeast, which usual.
ly bring rain. Those from the north and
the southwest are the harbingers of fail
weather and a clear sky. The residue Of
the year, from the middle of March to the
middle of October, an interval of seven
months, is serene and delightful. There
is scarcely any rain throughout this time
yet the face of the country is kept fresf
and verdant by nightly dews, and occa
sionally by humid fogs in the mornings
These are not considered preiudicial tc
health, since both the natives and the white:
sleep in the open air with perfect impu
nifty. ~ ,a4f
While this cquable and bland tempera
ture prevails throughout the lower country
the peaks and ridges of the vast mountains
by which it is dominated, are covered witt
perpetual snow. This renders them dis
cernible at great distance, shining a
times like bright summer clouds, at othe
times assuming the most aerial tints, ant
| always forming brilliant and striking fea
lures in the vast landscape. The mil,
temperature prevalent throughout the coun
, try is attributed by some to the succession
, of winds from the Pacific ocean, extend
. ing from latitude twenty degrees to at leas
fifty degrees north. These temper tn
heat of summer, so that in the shade n
one is incommoded by the perspiration
they also soften the rigors Of winter, an
. produce such moderation in the climat
, that the inhabitants can wear the same dres
throughout the year.
INDIAN sEPULcHRE.
. A singular lodge, one hundred and fit
{ feet in circumference, supported by tn
r trunks of twenty trees, about twelve inche
in diameter, and forty flour feet long. A
D cross these we're laid branches of pine an
: willow trees, so as to yield tolerab