Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1843-08-22
A Character Of the Rocky Mount,ius.


our colleges, from FarnhaNl's Travels in the
Great Western prarics:
One OF the trappers was from New lamp
shire; he had been educated ut Dartmouth
College, aud was altog ethcr. one oil the most
remarkable men ! ever knew. splendid
gentleman. a finished scholar. Il critic on
English and Roman literature, politician,
trappcr, an Indian. Ills stature was
something more than SIX feet: lis shout
dcrs and chest were broad, and his arm, and
lower limbs well formed and very muscular.
His forehead WAS high and expansive; Casu-
ality. Comparison, Evcntuality. and all the
pcrccptivc organs, TO use Il chronological
description. remarkably large: Locality was,
however, larger, than any other organ in the
frontal region; Bcncvolcncc. Wonder. IDEAL
Ity, Secrctvcncs-. Dcstructiyencss and Adhe
sivcncss, tombativencss. Scllc,tccm, and
Hope were very high. The remaining or
eans were low. His head was clothed with
hair rs black as Jet. > - feet in length,
smoothly combcd and hanging down his back.
He was dressed in Il dccr--kin lroci. lcggings
and mocca>ins; not a shred OF cloth about his
person. On my first interview with him, he
addressed III, with the stiff. coll Formally OF
one conscious of his own importance: and. in
nizcd the movement OF every muscle OF my
face. and every word that | uttered. Md
when any thing was said Of political events
in the States or Europe. he gave silent and
intense attention. | lift ham without any
very good impress ion of hi, character. for J
had induced him 10 open his COMPRISED
mouth but once. and then to make the no
very agreeable inqurics-~ when do vou
start!" and '.What route do vol tale" 1t
my second interview. be VA, more fmiiinf
Having asccrtaincd t.; =, KS proud OF his
learning. approach hm -arough that me-
dunn. lie seemed pleased ut this compl-
ment TO MS superiority over t'osr around him.
and ut once became easy and laxative. His
Alma Mater was described and red ribcd:
all the field. AMI walks. and iisu!ets. the
beautiful Connecticut. t'lc cver grecn print
tive ridges living along is banks. which. he
said. had smiled for Il thousand agc> on q e
march of decay; were successive themes OF
his gigantic Imagination. Ills d scriptioas
were minute and exquisite. lie saw IN every
thing all that Science Sos. together with all
that his capacioI, Intellect. Instructed and
imbucd wi-a the wild .ancying, and legends
OF his race. could sec. inquired the reason
of hi, leaving civilized life Tor a precautions
livelihood In the wilderness. For reasons
found In the nature of my race be replied.
The Indian'> eye cannot be satisfied with Il
description OF things. how beautiful socver
may BE- the style. or the basMoui oil verse
in which it is conveyed. For neither TIC pc
rioi> of burning c!ogucncr. nor tie rieaty
and beautiful creations OF Tie imagination.
can unbo,om the treasures and realities rs
they live in their own native maguiicencc on
the eternal mount lins. and IN the secret. I'M
troddcn vale.
Is soon n YOU thrust the rloughsAarc under
the earth. it teens with worms and useless
weeds. 1t increases population To an I'M
natural cxtcnt-crcatcs the necessity OF penal
cnactmcnts-build, the iai-crccis the gal
lows-sprcads over the human face a mask OF
dec, ption and scliishnc>s-and substitute, VII
lainv. love OF wealth and power. and the
slaughter of millions Cor The gratiicat.on of
some royal cut-throat. In the place OF the sin
glc-mindcd honesty. the hospitality. the honor
and the purity of the natural stat. Hence.
wherever Agriculture appears. the increase
OF moral and physical wretchcdnc>s induce,
the thousands III necessities. they are
termed. for abridging hum IN liberty: for lct-
tcring down the mind to the principles OF
right. derived. not from nature. but from Il
restrained and forced condition of existence.
And hence my race. with IN entail ana phN>l-
cal habits rs free n the waters that Tow from
the hills. become FESTIVE under the ru!es OF
civilized life: dwindle TO their graves under
the control OF laws. and customs. and forms
which have grown out OF the endless vices
and the Fictitious virtues of ano.her race.
Red men often acquire and love the Sciences
But with the nature which the Great Spirit
has given them. what are all their truths to
them' Would IN Indian measure the height
of mountain that he could climb, No.
never. The legend of his tribe tell him no
thing about quadrants. and base lines and
angles Their old braves. however. have for
ages watched from the clill, the green life in
the spring. and the yellow death in the au-
tumn. of their holy forests Why should he
ever calculate an cclp.cl He always knew
such occurrences to be the doings of the
Great Spirit. Science. II is true. can tel tic
times and seasons of their ,oming: but the
Indian, when they d. occur. looks through
Nature. without the aid of Science. up 10 is
Cause. OF what usc i Lunar 10 him, Hi,
swift canoe has the swift cmhowercd shores.
and well known hcadlands to guide It's course.
In finc. what are the arts of peace, of war. Of