The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-24

grand councils, just as the French ic used
among all the Courts Of Europe. The
fancy of the people is equally poetic with
their language. The Chippewa delights
to dwell in world Of visions. and TO
amuse himself with wild and mystic rhap-
sodies. The following is one of their
legends but like other Indian PONIES,
much Of its peculiar beauty is lost in the
translation
"A small war-party of the Chippewas
had left their homes on an expedition
against distant foe. Their leader, Ojib-
wan was a brave tina, never turned his
back in battle. He met the enemy and
fought them on the plain but just as he
had turned the tide of war, and raised the
exulting shout of victory, an arrow pier
ced his heart, and he fell upon the ground.
Dismayed at the loss of their daring chief,
and fearing that the enemy might soon
return with larger force, they hurried to
depart. Not willing to delay for the bu-
rial OF their leader, they placed him in
sitting posture on the ground, his back
supported by tree, his face towards the
flying enemy. his head dress carefully adj
jus,ed and his bow leaned up against
his shoulder.
But although deprived Of the power
of speech and of motion, he heard dis
tlnctly all that passed He heard his
friends extol his valor and lament his
death and when he saw them one by
one take leave, he made violent elfor,
and arose, or seemed to himself to arise
and follow them. Wherever they went,
he followed, but his person was invisible,
and all he said was unattended to; for no
one heard his voice, or if they heard it,
they mistook its sound for the winds Of
summer rushing among the green leaves.
Is it possible he exclaimed, that you
do not see me, do not hear me VIII
you suffer me to bleed to death, and not
offer 10 slaunch my wounds Will you
let me siarve in the midst of plenty 2
Thus he continued TO upbraid them, but
no one heard him.
Al length the returning warriors reach |
ed their native village; the women and
children all came ont 10 meet them and
proclaim their hraises. They have met,
fought and conquered, was uttered by
every voice, and echoed through the viii
lage. Those who had lost friends, came
to inquire their fate, end to ask whether
they had died like men. The decrepit
father consoled himself sr the loss Of his
son, with the reflection tina, he had fought
manfully; and the widow half forgot her
sorrow amid the praises that were lavish
ed on her husband. The hearts of youth
glowed with martial ardo,. and children
joined in shouts of which they hardly
knew the meaning. But in oil this scene
of mingled grief and joy no one could re-
cognize Ojibwan. lie heard them relate
how he had fought, conquered and fallen
with an arrow pierced through his heart /;
and that his body-had been left among the
slain. 1t is not true exclaimed the |
chief, that was killed and left among
the dead am here--l live--see me-
touch me. shall again raise my spear
in battle, and beat my drum at the feast
But no one heard him. He walked to his
own lodge, and saw his wife within. tear
ing her hair and raising her lamentations.
but she was alike unconscious of his |
presence. He asked her TO bind up his |
wounds, but she made no reply. lie |
placed his mouth to her ear and screamed, |
: am hungry his wife remarked, that
she heard buzzing in her ear. Grow
ing impatient, he struck her blow upon
her forehead. She complained of feeling
shooting pain across her temples.
Fooled thus in every attempt to make
himself known, the warrior chief began
10 reflect on what hc had heard in his
youth, ofthe spirits wandering sometimes
without the body. He determined to re-
turn to the battlefield, though distant -four
days journey. For three days he pur-
sued his way without obstruction; but on
the fourth, as he approacved the field, and
saw the body sitting there, a fire appeared
before him in his path. lie turned TO
pass it, but the mysterious fire still cross
ed his path aud barred his progress.
Rendered desperate, lie made a sudden
effort to leap ,hroughi. In this exerlion,
his body awoke from the trance. after sit
ting for eigh, days upon the Geld.
He looked up and behelj large war
eagle perched upon tree above his head |
lie recognized tho bird to be the same
tina, he had dreamed of in his youth, and
which he had selected for his guardian