The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-06-27
Youths Department.
INDIAN FORTITU DE.

The fortitude of the North American Indians has
long been a bject of wonder to tho white man.
These savages early taught to endure without
en- murmur sigh, any degree Of physical suf
fering or pain-and the white man, who vents his
complaints when subject to agonizing torure,s mock
ed and ridculed, as weak and womanly and coward
ly, and is tauntingy called square,
Charevoise, in his history Of Canada, Cape Breton,
SC relates singular case, which happened to two
Iroquois captives, illustrating the forttude with
which savages will bear the most excruciatng tor
ments.
The first, who called by the whites Joseph,
was captured by the Hurons When he was brought
to their largest village, the elders held a council in
which twas resolved he should be given up to an
old chief, to supply, if he thought proper, the place
of nephew that had been made prisoner by the
Iroquois, else to do whatever he pleased with him.
The poor man had already been most cruelty treated ;
they had crushed Of his hands, between stones
and sawed off Of his fingers: two fingers had been
cut off the other hand with Ratchet, and then the
wounds dressed with the leaves of trees, tied with
small bands Of the bark. An ncsion had also been
made in of his arms, and the joints Of both had
been burned. All this was done on the road When
he came to the village of the Hurons, he was very
well received land Toasted in every cabin; and one
could have imagined that these civies were soon TO
be changed into the most horrid crueltics.
They kept him several days uncertain Of his fate,
during which timo his wounds gave him exquisite
pain nevertheless, they made him sing every day,
till his voice failed him. lie was at last brought to
his new uncle, before him he appeared with the
countenance of who looks upon life and death
will equal Indifference; but he acquainted
with his doom:-"Nephew, (sad the old chief 10
him. thou canst not my joy, when I heard
that thou vert mine; at first imagined that my LOST
nephew restored to his life and resolved to give
thee his place. had already prepared thee mat in
my place, and delighted in thinking that I should
pass the remainder Of my days peaceabIy with thee
but the condition which see thou art in, forces me
to alter my resolution. 1 make no doubt, consider
ing what thou snfferest and how thou art mangIed
but that life is burden to thee, and that thou wilt
be obliged to me for putting end to it. Those who
have but thee in this condition ARE truly thy murderers
Take courage, my nephew; BIO ready for this even
ing; show that thou art man, and be not cast down
by the fear of torments''
The prisoner hearkened to this as if it had no
concerned him, and boldly answered, call this il
right" Then the sister of the man whose place h,
had baen voted to take, him, and as if h,
had been her own brother, gave him something tt
eat and served him with all the appearances Of tn,
most sincere and tenderest friendship The old chic
caressed him much. and gave him all the marks of
truly parental affection. At noon the prisoner mad,
his farewell feast, at the uncle's expense, ane
the whole village being met, he told them, ssM,
brethren, am going to de- do not scrupe making
your sport Of me; remember that l am man, ant
aud be persuaded that fear neither death nor what
ever fortunes you may put me to- a-
After this he sung; several warriors did the sam,
with him; and the dinner served. This feast be
ing over, the prisoner brought the place of ex
ecuon, which was cabin designed for that pur
pose; for each of the villages have such, known b,
the name Of the bloc dy cabin and it always belong
to leader at war; From the moment prisoner ha
set his foot in it, it is mans power to grant him hi
life. -
About eight o'c'ock in the evening they had clever
fires, at about fahom distance one from the other
and the company sat in double rows on each side, tn
young men who were to be actors ia the fret row