The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-08

was brought from his confinement, and led
by acoupe ofour voyagers to the top of Tie
,nonnd, and placed against the flag stnti;Gov-
ornor Cass and myself, and the interpreters,
being there also. Never before had ] wit
messed in Indians feeling so intense. Eve
ly eye of chief, half chief, brave, and squaw,
aye, and of every child and it seemed to me
of every dog also, was beamng with concen-
rated lnstre, and every eye WINS upon us
They had all heard of the assault upon the
woman, but to n man justified it, alleging that
a woman WINS nobody, when the power and
freedom ofthe man were attempted 10 be IN
terfered with; and that the life ofany woman
would he no more than Just forfeit for such
intermeddlmg.
The squaws entertained different notions,
and were deeply interested, personally, in
the scene before them not one of them
knowing any thing further than that some
punishment was to be inflicted on the man
i0r his conduct. The offender stood unmov-
cd. Not n particle ofnterest did he seem to
take in what was to befall him. Ifhe had
been there alone, listening to the rustlng
leaves, and the moaning of the winds
aud looking upon the woods, the sky,
the river, and the lake, he could not have been
more unmoved. He was dressed in his best.
Moccasins, ornamented, were on his feet; his
eggins were of scarlet cloth tringed and dec
Grated, besides, with bits of fur, foxes tails,
ind rattles. A good blanket was about his
waist; his ears were ornamentcd with silver
aings, his arms with bracelets, his face with
paint, and his hair sprnkled with vermilion.
Attention heng called through the various
interpreters the governor spoke, explaining
the case-the innocence and kind designs OF
the woman-the propricty and usefulness OF
the interference, which was not rldely at
Il, 81, ,,fly Inr
daughters husband from Joining in drunken
revelries, and being berett of all their stores,
aud then going home poor, and naked, and
hungry. That was her object; whilst the
whislIey trader cared for none ofthese things,
hut sought only to rob them oftheir blankets
and calicoes, &c, and give them nothing in
exchange for them but fire water. The
Great Spirit looked down and smiled on this
net ofthe woman, and was angry at the bad
conduct of the man, and with the whlskey
trader. 1t was for an attempt so kind and so
proper on her part that this man, the husband
of her daughter had seized her, and with his
knife struck at her heart, to kill her, aud but
for her arms, with which she had shielded her
breast, she would have been murdered. Her
cries, and tears, and blood, were all unavail-
ing; nothing could have saved her but the
timely arrival of help, and blow that put it
out of his power to consunmate his blood
purpose. For this net he shall be no Ion
ger brave; he has forfeited his character as
Il man: from henceforth let him be u woman!
At this annunciation, the chiefs and braves
muttered vengeance. We were told by the
Interpreters they would resist us. But new
Der before were hearts put more at rest or did
hope gleam in upon such multitude OF
sq,laws; never did eyes dance in frames OF
such emotion, or smiles radiate faces with
such animation. Never was the 'neaD"-a
term expressive of mingled surprise and
gladness-uttered with such vehemence and
Joy. Even the papooses, turning from their
sources of nourishment, looked round rs if
some new and blessed influence was felt by
them; and the very dogs barked.
Meantime II voyager had procured OF an
old suuaw her pettcoat. stiff with the accr-
mulated grease and dirt of many years. AS
he assembled the mound with this relic, anoth-
er mutter of vengeance was heard from the
men, whose faces were black with rage; but
1t was literally drowned amidst the acclama-
yIions that broke at this moment from the
esquaws. Now they saw, for the first time
new light and new hope breaking i'll upon
their destiny. Our burdens, they seemed &c
say, will he lighter, our rights more respected
our security more secure. There stood the
voyager, holding tie petticoat The sight of
than would have been the eXecutioner arm
ed with his axe. But still he was unmoved
Not a muscle stirred. Around his waist was
n belt with n knife in it, such as butchers usC
Taking hold of the handle, drew it from Its
Scabbard, thrust the blade into crack tho
flag staff, and broke it off at the handle; thes
putting the handle in the culprit's hand,
raised il well and high up, and said, No mar
who employs his knife as this man employs
his, has n right to carry one. Hencefortt
this shall be the only knife he shall ever use
Woman, wherever she is, should be protect
ed bv man, not murdered. She is mans hes
friend. The Great Spirit gave her to man tc
he one with him, and to bless him: and man
whether red or white should love her, anC
make her happy Then turning to the voy
ager, told him to strip off his leggins anC
his ornaments. Ii was done, when the ole
pettcoat was put OH him. Being thus array
ed, the voyagers, each putting hand upon
his shoulders ran him down the mound, a
midst n storm of indignation from the men
mingled with every variety of gladstone ut
terance by the squaws; when, letting him go
he continued his trot alone to lodge nea
by, rushed into it. and fell upon his face. Al
interpreter followed him, and reported hi
condition, and what he said. His first words
rs he lay on his face, were-I wish they hat
Kllleu Inc. went up tIle iiIouiiu ~ oo Sho'
thought was taken there to be shot, PC
rarher be dead. am no longer brave; Pm ;
,Uomanr
Now, this mode ofpunshment was inten
ded to produce moral results, and to, elevate
The condition of women among the Indians
1t was mild in its physical effects, but more
terrible than death in its action and conse
.quences upon the offender. Henceforth, and
as long as continued to hear ofthis 'brave,
he had not been admitted among his former
associates, hut was pushed aside, as having