The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-11-03
TIL E W A MPUM BEL T;
OR, THE INDIAN SACRIFICE. /,

and Little Miamies; and hence known by
the distinguishing appellation ofthe Miami
country. This is one of the most favored
portions of the Great Valley.
In its rapid progress towards refine
ment, it rivals the Atlantic States; and
: from its great local advantages, must in
evitably become the emporium ofthe 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
of civilized and polished life, the aborigin-
al savage roamed the undisputed lord of
vale and river.
Here the Shawnees and Miamies of the
woods, the most warlke ofthe savage races
sent their warriors to battle And here,
at the return of every moon, the favor and
protection of the all-powerful Manitou,
were conciliated by the sanguinary sacri-
fee Of the unfortunate war-viclim, whose
tortures, aggravated by barbarous rites
the triumphant shouts of savage conflict
and the stately dancepf the warrior were
deemed the only offering worthy the ac-
ceptance OF the Deity.
An hundred times, according to tradition,
has the golden sun sunk into the great
ocean, since sanguinary and bloody
battle was fought between the Shawanese,
the Miamles, and the Ouitanous of the
West. The subject of contest was the
lands which lay beyond the Great Miami,
to the distance of three days journey to-
wards the setting sun. The Ouitanous had
arrogated to themselves the exclusive right
Of these lands, as the hunting grounds of
their tribe. The Shawanese and Miamies,
inhabiting the adjacent valley, considering
themselves mutually aggrieved united to
repel the invasion, of what they considered
as their property. The principles of Indi-
an warfare are well known Those ofthe
remotest periods appear to resemble the
customs Of the present day. Frequently
the contest is only terminated by the al
most mutual determination of the combat
ants. At other times. number of prison
ers, taken by the victorious party. termin-
ates, the conhict--but with this distinguish
ing characteristic Of savage warfare, that
those who are so unfortunate as to become
prisoners, are fatally doomed TO the hor-
rors of the scourge and the stake.
The result ofthis iercely contested bat
tie was victory and secure possession of
the disputed territory to the Shawanese
and Miamies, and defeat and dispossess-
ion TO the discounted and disheartehed
Ouitanous. These felt the ignominy of
defeat more keenly, from the number of
their tribe in the enemy's power, and from
the unusually severe exactions which were
made the basis of the treaty between them
and the victors These were indeed so
severe; as nearly to reduce the tribe to
state of vassalage. By the terms of this
treaty they were never again to hunt or
locate themselves, in any part ofthe ground
they had formerly occupied. This with
the reduction oftheir number, and the loss
oftheir most noted chief, seemed to threat
en- them with almost total annihilation.-
The number of prisoners was unprecedent-
ed in the tradition of Indian battles. One
of the most llustrious OF these was Wa
lemba-a young warrior, whose exploits
had spread his fame from the rising to the
setting sun. Great was the regret and
disappointment of his tribe, on learning
the certainty of his fate. Although but
few suns had rolled over his head, and but
few winters had braced his snews with en-
ergy, vet was Walemba the terror and
dread of his enemies. lie was the ac-
knowledged successor of his father, ven.
cradle chief, who fell in battle, ere his
sons nineteenth summer had proclaimed
him capable Of achieving warlike exploits.
If any conditions, no matter how humllia-
ting, could have restored their favorite
chief, the Ouitanous, though noted for their
haughtiness, and stern observance of the
rules ofwar, would almost willingly have
submitted to them.
Walemba knew his fate, and wished
| not to avert it. Nor would he have stoop-
ed to accept, from his naughty captors,
any other treatment than that prescribed
by the strictest custom. Such was Wa
lemba, whose magnanimity would have
adorned more enlightened times
The period of solemn festival was
approaching, when, besides the great num-
ber of sacrifices offered, the peculiar cer-
emonies attending it rendered il TERRIBLY
imposing. The day arrived, and the pris-
oners were brought to the place Of sacri-
fee. In the centre of a large plain, pc
culiarly adopted to the purpose, appeared,
arranged at some PAGES distant, num-
Der ofstakes; and near each was guam
tity of combustibles, apparently Just col
lected from the forest. Boughs and branch
es of beech, and scared leaves, were the
materials used on these occasions.
The ceremonies commenced at break
of day, and the Sachems were employed
in the performance oftheir mystic rites for
several hours. g eisl1a . B6a Fejgi
These were of the most impressive kind,
all calculated to propitiate the favor of