Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-10-30

listing utSncd men u HiS ueLtoAs III Ot0Ek T
3 make his communication to them; and |
after giving the best explanation Of his dis
eovery that he could, stripping il Of all
influence, he proceeded to
demonstrate to them, in good earnest,
that be had made discovery.
His daughter, who was now his only
pupil, was ordered out of hearing, while
he requested his friends TO name word
or sentiment, which he would put down,
and thea she was called in and read it to
them; then the father retired, and the
daughter wrote; the Indians were X err
hit not entirely satisfied. g5ee-
~ ueN' ~. .hoa -. ~osed that the tribe
should select several youths Irc-.n among :;
their brightest young men, that he might
communicate the mystery to them. This
was at length agreed to, although there
were some lurking suspicious OF NEGRO
NANCY insthe whole business. John Nav,
This Indian name / have forgotten, q la9
blood and several others, were 81 'sSse'a
for this purpose. The tribes watched the
youths for several months with anxiety;
and when they offered themselves for OK
animation, the feelings ofall were wrought
up to the highest pitch. The youths were
separated from their master, and from
each other, and watched with great care.
The uniniatiated directed what the master
and pupil should write to each other, and
these tests were varied in such a manner
as not only 10 destroy their infdelity, but
most firmly to fix theirlaith. The Indians,
on this, ordered a great feast, and made
-quah-yah conspicuous at it. How
nearly is man alike in every age! Pyth-
agoras did the same, on the discovery Of
an important principle in geometry. See
quah-yah became at once schoolmaster,
professor, philosopher, prophet and chief.
His countrymen were proud of his talents,
and held him in reverence as ole favored
by the Great Spirit.
The Inventions of early times were
shrouded in mystery. See-quah.yah dis.
dained all quacksry. He did not stop
here but carried his discoveries to num-
bers. He, Of course, knew nothing of
the Arabic digits, or of the power Of Ro-
man letters in the science. The Chero.
KEGS had mental numerals to one hundred,
and had words for all numbers up to that;
but they had no signs or characters to as
sist them 10 enumerating, adding, subtrac-
ting, multiplying, or dividing. He rehec-
ted upon this, until he had created their
elementary principles in his mind; but he
was at first obliged to make words to ex-
press his meaning, and then signs to ex.
plain it. by this process, he soon had a
clear conception of numbers up to a mill.
ion. His great difficulty was at the thres-
hold, TO fix the powers. Of signs according
to their places. When this was overcome
his next step was adding up his different
numbers in order to put down the fraction
of the decimal, and give the whole num-
Der to its next place. But when I knew
him, he had overcome all these difficult
ties, and was quite a. ready arithmetician
in the Fundamental rules. This was the
the result ofmy interview; and can safe.
" say that hav. seldom met with man
of more shrcwdness than See-quah.yah.
He adhered to all the customs of his coun.
try; and when his associate chiefs on the
mission assumed our costume. he was
dressed IN all respects like an Indian.
See-quah.yah possesses diversified tai.
ents; be passed from metaphysical and
philosophical Investigations 10 mechanical
occupations, with the greatest ease. The
only practical mechanics he was acquain-
ted5with were a few bungling blacksmiths
who could make rough tomahawk, or
tinker the lock of rife; vet he became a
white aud silyersnith without any instruc-
ton, and made spurs and silver spoons
with eatness and skill. to the great ADM.
ration of the people of the Cherokee ma
ton. See-quah-ya has also greattasie
for painting. He mixes his paints with
skill; taking all the art and science his
tribe upon the sutjec., he added to it many
chemical experiments of his own, and
some of them were very successful, and
would be worth being known to our paint
ers. For his drawings he had no, model
but what Nature furnished, and be often
copied, them with astonishing faithfulness.
Ills resemblance of the human fcrm,it is
true are coarse, but spirited and correct;
and he gave action, and sometimes grace,
to his representations of animals He la
never seen a camel haired pencil when he
made use ofthe hair of wild animals tor
his brushes: Some Of his productions
discover a considerable practical knoWl-
edge Of perspective; but he could not have
formed rules for this. The painters Ia
the early ages were many years coming to
9 knowledge Of this part of the art and
even now they are more successful 10 the
art han perfect in the rules of It. The
manners of the American Cadnrs are the
most easy. and his habits those Of the most
assidlous scholar, and his disposition is
more lively thansfhat Of any Indian lever
saw He understood and felt the advan.
tages the white man had long enjoyed, soI
having the accumulaiions ofeyeFy branch
OF knowledge, from generation to genera.
lionl by means Of a written Language
tyhile the red man could commit his
Thoughts to uncartain tradition. Re reas
soned correctly when he urged tbs e bis
friends as the cause why the red man la 4
mad so few advances In knowiedse q
comp arlson with rs: and to remedy tbs
va one Of bis great aims and one Which
h6 has accomplished beyond that Of any
Other nan living. &C. perhaps any Other
1er existed I'll rude slale ol M
ft
erhaps NAV not Be known thai
Cove nment Of tie United Sales had s
(rt II fVnes east for the alnhabef 81 I1a