The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-11-21
THE WAMPUM BELT;
Or. the Indian Sacrifice.

than that part Of it included between the
Great and Little Miamies; and hence
known by the distinguishing appelatioE
Of the Miami country. This is one of the
most favored portions Of the Great Val
ley.
In it's rapid progress towards refine
ment, it rivals the Atlantic States; and
from its great local advantages, must in
cvitablv become the emporium of the
West. From the earliest Indian records,
it appears to have been the residence Of
some Of the most powerful and warlike
tribes.
Here, before the foot Of the white man
had pressed the native green sward, Or
ere his enterprise had introduced the
arts ofcivillzed and polished life, the abo-
riginal savage roamed the undlsputed
lord of vale and river.
Here, the Shawnese and Miamies Of the
woods, the most warike Of the savage
races, sent their warriors to battle. And
here, at the return Of every moon, the ia
vor and projection Of the all powerful
Manitou, were conciiated by the sanguin-
airy sacrifice of the unfortunate war
victim, whose tortures, aggravated by
barbarous rics-lhe triumphant shouts
Of savage connict-and the stately dance
of the warrior, were deemed the on y Of.
iering worthy Of acceptance Of the Deity.
An hundred times, according to trad:-
ton, has the golden sun sunk into the
great ocean, since sangulnary and
bloody battle was fought between the
Shawnese, the Miamies, and the Ouitan-
Gus of the West. The subject Of the con
test was the lands which lay beyond the
Great Miami, to the distance Of three
days Journey towards the setting SUM-
The Ouitanous had arrogatcd to them
selves the exclusive right Of these lands,
as the hunting grounds Of their tribe
The Shawneso and Miamies, lnhabitinG
the adjacent valley, considering them
selves mutually aggrieved; united to re-
pei the invasion, Of what they sldercd
as their property. The principles OF H.
dian warfare are we'll known. Those OF
the r"motest periods appear tc resemble
the customs OF THO present day. Ere
quently the contest is only terminated
by the almost mutual determination o
f Of the combatants. At other times, a mum
Der Of prisoners, taken by the victorious
, party, terminates the confict-but will
this distinguishing characteristic Of say
age warfare, that those who are so IN
fortunate as TO become prisoners, are ia
tally doomed TO the horrors oflhc scourgt
and the stake.
The result Of this fcrcely contested
: battle was victory and secure possession
t Of the disputed territory 10 the Shawncs
! and Miamies, and defeat and dispossessiol
to the discontinued and disheartcncd Gu
famous. These felt the ignominy Of de
t feat more kcenlv, from the number o
: their tribe in the power Of the enemy
and from the unusually severe exaction
which were made the basis Of the treaty
between them and the victors These
were indeed so severe, as nearly to re
, ducc the tribe TO a state Of vassalagc. By
= the terms OF this treaty, they were neve
] again TO hunt or locate themselves, in a
ny part Of the ground they had (ormcrI,
! occupied. This, with the reduction O
! their number, and the loss Of their mos
= noted chief, seemed to threaten them wit
2; almost total annihilalon. The numbe
2 orprisoncrs was unprecedented in the trf
: dilions Of Indian battles One Of the mos
illustrious Of these was Walembe -
t young warrior, whose exploits had sprea
= his fame from the rising 10 the scttin
: sun. Great was the regret and dlsaE
: pointmenl Of his tribe, on learning tn
t certainty of his fate. Although but rey
a suns had rolled over his head, and bu
. few winters had braccd his sinows wit
/ energy, ct was Valencia the terror ant
: dread Of his enemies. He was the &C
S knowledgod successor of his father, a We
! nerable chief, who fell in battle, ere hi
. sons nineteenth summer had proclsime
t him capable OF achieving warlike exploits
: Ii any conditions, no matter how humili
r ating, could have restored their favorit
chief, the Ouitanous, though noted 70
+ their haughtiness and stern Observance
e Of the rules Of war, would almost willing
ly have submitted 10 them.
Valencia knew his fate, and wishc
not to avert it. Nor would he have stoop
ed TO accept, from his naughty captors
any other treatment than that prescribe'
|. by the strictest custom. Such was Wa
: emba, whose magnanimity would hav
). adorned more enlightened times.
The period Of an unusually solemn fes
tival was approac ching, when, besides the
i great number Of sacrifices offered, tn
G peculiar ceremonies attending it render
), ed it terribly imposing. The day arriv
t ed, and the prisoners were brought to tn
9 place Of sacrifice. In the centre Of a larg
plain, peculiarly adapted to the purpose
n appea red, arranged at some PAGES distant
a number of stakes; and near each was
= quantity Of combustibles, apparently jus
j. collected from the forest. Boughs an
= branches Of beech, and scared leaves, wer
d the mate rails used on these occasions.
t The ceremonies commenced at breal
! Of day, and the Sachems were employed
J in the performance Of their mystic rite
J, for several hours. "' 81
}. These were Of the most imprcssiv
v kind, all calculated TO propi,iate the favo
s Of their lulelary deity. Prayers for fu