Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-09-29

d great umDer-nIS enemies and those
that stood at all in his way. His reli-
glous mummery-by which he preten-
ded to hold interviews with the Al
mighty-was frequently practised in
his lodge; it was done with much
noise and ostentation, The nation
heard and trembled.
When he was known to be angry
or in times of great distress and calam-
ity-the people would fearfally enter,
and seek by all means to propltiate his'
favor; PROSTATE on the ground, they
gently raised his feet and placed them
on their neclzs!
One Of his wives eloped with Paw
nee: he shut himself up, and did not
speak for several days: the whole ma
ton were in despair: the parents of the
most handsome girls, took them to him,
and huInbly offered them for his accep-
lance.
The following instances given Of
Blackbird's despotism. The nation
were on their return from the summer
hant; near the heads of the Platte, they
were forced to cross sandy plain, in
which no water was to be found nearer
than long days journey. BY some
means-perhaps by their setting off be-
fore he gave the word-he was Offend
ed: he said nothing during the day,
but rode on in advance until he came to
the brow Of hill in view Of water, the
poor people had suffered exceedingly
on the hot plain, and came Struggling
on; each pressing desperately forward
with all his strength to quench raging
thirst. He allowed them to get in full
view of the water, and then command
ed halt! The nation obeyed and
threw themselves on the earth in an a.
gony of fear and suffering. Blackbird
himself sent forward for water and
drank.
The whole people were in danger of
destruction. There was a white man
among them, named Barada, after
some time he went to the chief and told
him plainly that he was killing him
his people: he could do 50 if he chose;
but as one of the whites, who held
Blackbird in great friendship and re-
spect, &C., requested to be allowed to
90 on. The tyrant then relented, or
was glad of an excuse to give way: he
gave lis gracious permission that the
nation should drink; and accordingly
with shouts Of joy and thanks they ran
off in great race to the stream.
Blackbird was in the habit of Selling
traders boats, and taking, or distribu-
ting among the people, every article OF
goods, without any account of them;
after the next fall hunt he would gen
orally make any or all go and throw
down their eurs and skins in a great
pile before the trader, until he should
say there was enough.
/ There was one warrior who qualled
not before the terrible power Of Black
bird. This was Maundehe Ghinga-
the Little Bow. He had become SO
distinguished that the chief was jealous,
or held his character in some dread;-
accordingly on an occasion of his abb
senee on a hunt, Blackbird's influence
prevailed over his wife, and she consen-
ted to poison him on his return.
Agreeably to her instructions, on
Little BOWS, arrival she was particu-
larly attentive and afectionate in her u
sual Offices: and setting before him a
tempting bowl of food, invited him to
eat. I know not if in this case his death
had been foretold-but from some
cause Little Bow was distrustfuf: he
requested her to partake of the meal;
and on her declining, positively com
manded her to eat. His wife then threw
herself at his feet, and with many tears
confessed her crime and revealed the
secret of Blackbird's power.
The Little Bow dashed his toma-
hawk into her brain. He then threw
on his war-dress-seized his arms. and
mounted his best horse. lie galloped
through all parts Of the village, proclai-
med the villainy Of the murderous chief,
and endeavored to slip up the people
by violent harangues; he paraded in
front ofBlackbird's lodge; accused him
of his crimes, uttered every abuse, and
dehed him to manly combat.
But Blackbird's power, founded on
the ignorance and superstitious fears of
the people, was scarcely to be shaken:
the result was that Little Bow raised a
party of about three hundred-includ-
ing families, with which he seeded, &
built village about thirty miles above.
Here they lived many years, until they
were nearly all exterminated by small
pox; Little Bow himself survived his
great enemy.
Blackbird, or Tow-wan-ga-hi-the
TOWN. builder, as he was also called