Canton herald. (Canton, Miss.) 1837-1839, 1837-08-25

ten o'clock, two hundred came to the
shore at the Same time, and surrender
ed themselves. after having been swim
ming four and twenty hours. They
were in a wretched condition; swol-
len with the water they had swallow
ed, and overcome with fatigue, hun
ger, and the want Of sleep. There
still renamed seven Indians in the
lake-men Of such unconquerable
spirit, that neither the prayers Of the
interpreters, the promises of the gov
ernor, nor the example of their COM
rades, who had surrendered, had any
effect upon them. They treated all
promises with scorn, and detiied both
menaces and death. In this way they
remained until three in the afternoon,
and would have remained there until
they died.
The. governor, however, was struck
with admiration Of their courage and
magnanimity, and thought it would be
inhuman to allow such brave men to
perish. He ordered twelve Spaniards,
therefore, expert swimmers, to 90 into
the lake with their swords III their
mouths, and draw these warriors
forth. The Indians were too much
exh listed to resist. The Spapiards
seized them by the legs, the arms, and
hair, drew them to land, and threw
them upon the bank, where they lay
extended upon the ground, more dead
than alive: having according to the
Spanish narrator, been for thirty
hours in the water, apparently with
out putting foot to the ground, or re-
|ceiving any other relief; an exploit,
adds the Inca historian, almost incre-
dible, and which | would not dare to
write, if it were not for the authority
! 8. s 50 many cavaliers and mobiles, Who
in the Indies and in Spain, assured me
of the truth of it, besides the author
Iity Of him who related his history to
me, and who, in all things, is worthy
of belief.
The heroic obstiIacy of the seven
Indians cxtorted the admiration of the
ISpaniards. Moved to compasslop by
their present deplorable state, they
bore them to the encampmelt, and
used such assiduous means, that they
were restored to spiraat,ea in the
course of the night. The next morn
ing the governor summoned them be-
fore him, and, pretending to be angry,
demanded the reason of their despe-
rate resistance, and why they had not
surrendered themselves as their COM
panions had done.
-Four of them, who were in the
prime Of manhood, replied that they
were leaeers or captains, chosen as
such By their caciqYe, from his codf.
dence in their courage and constancy.
Their actions were to Justify his choice
They were bound to set an example
to their children, to their brother war.
riors, and above all. to such as should
henceforth be appointed as leaders
They felt as if being alive, they had
failed in fulfilling their duty and vim
dicating their honor; and while they
acknowledged the kindness Of the
gQvelpor, regretted only that he hae
not left them to perish in the lake
eff you want to add to your fayors,'
said they, stake our lives. After sur
viving the defeat and capture Of oul
chieftain, we are not worthy to ap
pear before him, or to live in ths
world"
j The governor listened with admira
I ton to the heroic words Of these
savage warriors, and when they hae
4 finished, he turned to their three com
panions, who had remained silent
!. These were young mennot more thar
eighteen years of age, sons, and heir:
to caciques of the adjacent provinces
i The governor demanded Of them theil
reason for persisting SO desperately
lin their defence, as they were not
Headers, nor bound by the same obi.
! cations as their companions.
j They replied witha proud and lofty
lair, that they had been melted to hos
tility, not through any desire for gain,
or through any implacable spirit
4 against the Spaniards, but merely a
thirst for glo.y. That although they
were not chiefs, yet, as the sons Of
caciques, and destined one day to be
J, caciques themselves, they felt bound
{ more than others to signalize them
1 selves by bravery in action, and by a
contempt for suffering and death.
I"These, offspring Of the sum- said
they, ssare the reasons for our obsti