The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-11-03

accompanied by the amin ated wardance,
were the ceremonies preceding the horrid
rite of human sacrifice. The victims were
bound, and led to the stakes in success.
ion; but one who was to have added i'm
portance to the occasion, was not there.
So noble soul as Walemba's could not
be destitute of those milder virtues which,
in the breast of the truly brave, stand next
to the love of glory. Walemba had seen
and loved the daughter of a chief, who was
more beautiful than forest nymph was
ever fancied by the poet. She was called
the Mayhower by her tribe; and her beau
ty was so uncommon, that the Sachem had
founded prediction upon it, pronounc-
ing her as being destined to fate which
was hidden to their skill. She fled to her
friends, on hearing of Walemba being
a prisoner, and sought him for whom she
had conceived an attachment, enduring
and indissoluble as the bonds of fate
Such is woman wherever she is found
By her no sacrifice is deemed too great---
no undertaking too difficult TO accomplish,
when her affections are placed on the OBJ
ject. She can endure the scorn of the
world. and the obloquy ever thrown upon
female actions, where their delicacy seems
in the least questionable. But in the eti-
quette of Indian manners, the strongest
avowal of love, or of the most inyeterate
enmity, are alike applauded, when direct
ed to an object that is known to call them
forth. The devotion and conduct of the
Mayllower. or as we shall call her, Te-
moolah, was consequently such as any
Iudian damsel, under similar circumstan-
ces, might have shown.
On the second day ofhis captivity, Wa
lemba. alone and musing, was suddenly
surprised and elated with Joy, to see Te-
moorah standing before him--the being
who had been ever present to his magma
ton. and who constituted the only cause
Of regret he felt in yielding up his life
Her glossy and dark tresses fell luxuriant-
ly over her shoulders, on one side, while
on the other they formed, interwoyen with
variegated feathers, bunch, which in its
tasteful arrangement. would not discredit
the head ofone Of our modern bellies. Her
features, in their beautiful proportions.
would have served for the model Of a stat
uary-they were decidedly Grecian Her
raised arm, when she extended it, exhibited
an outline Of beauty seldom equalled, and
never surpassed; and it may safely IDEAS:
serted, that the most polished manners
could not have dictated more truly fem
mime delicacy. than that with which she
approached Walemba, who extended his
hand to receive her. The warrior soften
ed by her presence. continued to gaze on
the expressive beauty of her countenance
in silence for some moments. "Temoo-
rah." he at length exclaimed. when he re-
covered from his surprise, ''why hast thou
left thy father and thy people, to become
the prisoner of the Shawanese! Nothing
would 50 crafty his revenge as to have
the daughter the Black Eagle in his pow
er. Return home TO thy father, and bless
him with thy presence, happiness which
Manitou denies to Walemba.'
This appeal, as may be supposed, had
no effect to drive from the chief his willing
auditor; but regarding him with look of
devoted affection, she declared that moth
ing should tear her from him, and that she
would no longer live unless her fate could
be united to his.
1t is the custom among all Indian ma
tons to conclude hostilities by exchanging
belts of wampum, which are as scrupu-
lously regarded by them, as the most sol
emn treaties among civilized natlons.--
Hence they attach to them no little val
ue, and they are preserved with care, and
considered as honorable memorials of ma
tional achievements. They are general
ly entrusted, together with other property
common to the tribe, to the care OF chief
and any casualty or misfortune beiall-
ing them is regarded as ominous of evil
And when a case occurs oftheir being de-
sipnedly destroyed, the offender or often
ders are punished with capital severity.
Walemba, as a chief renowned for his
great exploits, received the Difference Of a
seperate lodge from the other prisoners
This was not far removed from that of the
chief of thetrbe; indeed it was so near,
LndL ITc luteTlUT vi INC was ulo
cernible from the entrance ofthe other.---
Temoorah had entered the tent of her low
er unobserved by any ofthe tribe; all of
whom were absent, except a few who re-
NAMED to guard the prisoners
The interior of the lodge. occupied by
the chief, presented a variety Of trophies
ofthe war and the chase. Suspended from
its sides, were to be seen the ornamented
skins ofthe deer and the buffalo, and more
conspicuous than all, the recent Belt OF
Wampum, which had, by the terms it rat
flied, inflicted such severe penalties upon
her tribe, and which to the excited imagina1
ton of Temoorah, was the cruel arbiter
of the fate of her devoted chief. Rushing
from his presence, she entered the other
lodge and seized the hated Belt. With
out pausing or turning, she ran towards a
fire of brush kindled near the hut, and
threw it so nearly into the centre of the
flames that had AN attempt To save IL been