Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-09-05
INDIAN TRADITIONS.

+" '"'''i " 'hc it"u race OF America.
awork Just published by II II Sehooicraf
intended to illustrate the history, customs.
&c, Of the abougincs, is told tie follow
ing beautiful tradition, the "Bouer Land
of which some CLEAN exists IN the hopes Of
81 nations not totally cnvelopod IN Gimme
nan darkness II is prchccd By this &c.
count Of Indian storytelling
II q stranger among the Indians hanprns
10 he scented with the family in the lodge
(sherc The lonely wandcrer hes often found
q welcome uireat) he may sometimes OBJ
serve a sudden commo,ion, aud find. from
the countcnances OF The family that agree
able news has arrived. odd - hns
come There is general iov. An old
Indian enters, onfeeblcd by years, and no
longer able to Join the warriors and hun.
ters, now perhaps absent on some DANCE.
rous enterprise. He possesses a memory
%re,entive OF the traditions Of the tribe. and
probably an imagination quick at inven.
ton or establishment. As a necessary
qualification, he is one of the few well &C.
q%uainted with his native language. He
loves to repeat his tales, and the children
dearly love to listen. In the many waste
hours OF savage life, the mother often real.
ICES the inconvenience of having TO provide
occupation for unemployed minds; and the
s'orytcller is welcomed by her for the re.
lief he brings.
The old man, seated on the ground, and
surrounded by an attentive circle, begins
his stale; and as the %interes, rises, and the
narrative requires it, he now changes his
tones TO Initiate different speakers, varies his
conntenance and attitudes, or moves across
the lodge TO personatc the characters he de.
scrlbes The mother without disturbance,
places the kettle on the fire, and quietly pre.
pares some savory dish to regale the old
wandercr at tho close of his labors.
Thus, as by the minstrels. bards. and
lrnbadours OF former days, and as BY the
Turkish story %,ellers at the present time.
iheln lians hand down their traditions Of diff.
iercnt kinds from generation to generation.
The WHITE Stone CANOE.
There was a very beautiful, young girl,
who died suddenly on the day She was to
have been married to a handsome Young
man. He was also brave, but his heart
was not proofagainst this loss. From the
hour she was buried, there was no more
joy or peace Cor him. He wen, often 10 visi,
the spot where the women had buried her
and sat musing there, when, it was thought
by some Of his friends. he would have done
better to Try TO amuse himself in the chase.
or by dlveTilng his thoughts in the war
path. But war and hunting had both los,
their CHAINS for him, his heart was al
ready dead within him. He pushed aside
both his war club and his bow and arrows.
He had heard the old people say, that
there was a path. that led to the land of
souls, and be determined 10 follow it. He
accordingly SET out, one morning after hav.
ing completed his preparations for the Jour
ney Al first he hardly knew which way
TO 90. He was only guided by the tradi.
ton that he must 90 south. For a while.
he could see 40 ch,nge in the face of the
country Forests, and hills and valleys.
and streams. had the same looks. which
they wore in his native place. There was
snow on the ground when he set out. and
II was sometimes seen to be piled and mat
ted on the thick trees and bushes. At,
length, it began 10 diminish, and finally
disappea red. The forest assumed a more
cheerful appearance, the leaves put forth
iheir buds, and before he was aware of the
completeness of the change, he found him.
selfsurrounded by spring. He had left be-
hind him the land ofsnow and ice. The
air became mild, the dark clouds of winter
had rolled away from the sky, a pure field
of blue was above him. and he saw flowers
beside his path, and heard the songs of
birds. BY these signs he knew that he
was gong the right way, for they agreed
with the traditions of his tribe. At length
he spicd a path 1t led him through a
grove, then up a long elevated ridge, on the
very top of which he came to a lodge. At
thedoor stood an old man, with white hair,
whose eyes, though deeply sunk, had a
fiery bnlliancy. He had a long robe of
skins thrown loosely around his shoulders,
and a staff in his hands.
The young Chippewayan began to tell
his story, bu, the venerable chief arrested
him, before he proceeded 10 speak ten words.
| have expected you. he replied. and had
Just risen to bid Won welcome 10 nv abode.
She, whom YOU seek passed here but few
days ago, and beng aligued with her Jour
ney rested here. Enter my lodge and be
seated ana | will then satisfy your inqui-
sies' and give you directions for your Jour.
ney from tins point Having done tins:
they 10th issued forth to the lodge door.
"fon see Wonder gulf, said he, and the
wide stretching blue plains beyond. 1t is
the lana oil souls You stand on its Dor.
ders, and my lodge is the gate of entrance.
But you canno: take your body alone
Leave It here with your bows and arrows
your bundle and your dog. You will find
them safe on your return" So saving he