Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-03-03
From the Matches Courier.
OSCEOLA.

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The following extracts from a letter
written by Catlin, the celebrated artist,
some weeks previous to the death Of the
Chleitain, possess much interest, especial
" now that their subject has passed away
to the spirit-land of his ancestors. The
name Of Osceola will long be remembered
in song, and ITS mention like that of the
heroic Wallace, will always cause the
mind to refer to the deed of treachery that
preceded his captivity. The Indian even
in death will have his revenge on the vio-
lator Of the sacred simbol Of peace.
The sketch possesses pecAli interest.
"a Creek by birth, he left his own tribe
whilst boy, and sought an asylum a.
mongst the Seminoles where I'D has been
reared, and where he has fiourished since.
lis father was white man, by the name
Powell, who abandoned him and sent
him vagrant upon the wTld to cater for
himself. He soon became favorite a.
mongst the SeminoIes, and from his force
of character and genius alone, he has ris-
en- to the highest honors of the nation.
AT all the ball plays and other manly
sports, Powell was reputed first in the ma
ton; and his name was changed to Osceo-
la, from the fact that he could drink a
greater quantity Of the 'black drink (call-
asseoin,) which was prepared from some
bitter and nauseating herbs, and drank
preparatory to the fast and feast of the
green corn dance.
In stature he is about middling size and
in his features there is no striking pecul-
iarity to stamp them out Of mediocre, but
a pleasing symmetry Of proportion, upon
which the lights and shadows Of passion
and feeling are seen to play with perfect
effect. There is at times spread over them
the most benignant and expressive smiles,
even to perfect effemnacy, and at others,
they arc darkened with the sternness of a
Brutus, or the agony Of dying gladiator.
In fact he is the perfect beau ideal of an
Indian prince-gracefuli in his movements,
and mild, almost to childishness, in his in
tercourse with the world. His hand is
small and delicate to the touch as that of
a female, aud the loveliest Of them are
continually flocking around him in groups
to feel its gentle grasp, and catch the Ian
gushing look of his down-cast eye--to
bestow upon him some beautiful tinsel or
plume, and levy upon his raven locks for
a small and precious keepsake of Os-ce-o-
la
His face is certainly one Of the most ex.
pressive kind have ever seen-capable
of the most vivid and striking exhibition
of the human passions that can possibly
be imagined, bearing upon its front the
predominant characteristic impress of
sternness and reserve, and excessive per-
severance in the pursuits Of life.
He smiles and frowns and languishes be-
fore gazing world; but in his solitude, or
when he tells in confidence his tales Of
grief, though mild and smiling dew drops
moisten his eyes at one moment, yet the
burning hero rushes through their sockets
at the next-his black brows jet over their
balls of fre-his nostrils and his bosom
swell with impatence-and his clenched
teeth are set in silent oaths of irretrieva-
BILE revenge.
There arc elements in such spirit that
wage deadly war with the body, when
thwarted and chained down to a prison.
his ply steal strength is rapidly giving way,
and would be very much surprised II ne
should survive many months or even
weeks in his present confinement, and I'M
der his present agony Of feeling.