The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-12

ne passed from MS bench, to the
AS high as the king to rest.
From the Nationul intelligencer.
@ The Dancing Ghosts. a,. ..
cHIrpEw LEGEND '
The beautiful phenomenon known to the
white man as the Aurora Borealis or Northern
Lights, is called by the Chippewa Indians .Je-bi-
nc.mc-id-de-,eand, or the Dancing Ghosts. The
legends accounting for it are numerous, and the
following, which was related to the translator by
Chippewa hunter, named Kesh- Chock. or pre-
cpce leaper, is quite as fantastic as the phe-
nonena itself. That it is very ancient tradi-
ton is evident from the fact that the sacrifice to
which it aludes has not been practsed by the
Chippewas for at least century
There was a time when all the inhabitants of
the far North, were afflicted by famine. 1t
was in the depth OF winter, and the weather had
for long time been so cold that even the white
bear was afraid to leave his hiding place. The
pralries were SO deeply covered with snow that
the deer and buffalo were compelled to wander to
warmer climate, and the lakes and rivers were
80 closely packed with ice that it was only once
IN while that even fish could be obtained.
Such sorrow as reign I'd throughout the land had
never before been known, The mag:cans and
wise men kept themselves hidden in their cabins.
The warriors and hunters, instead of Boosting
OF their exploits, crowded around their camp
fires, and in silence meditated upon Their un-
happy doom. Mothers abandoned their chill
dren to seek for berries in the desolate forests,
ana the fingers of the young women had be-
come stiff with idlcncss for they had not any
skins out of which to make the comfortable
moccasln. From one end of the Chippewa
country to the other was heard the cry Of hun
ger and distress. The Great Spirit was angry
with his people was universally believed, but for
What reason none of the magicans could tell.
me chiet CT the Chippewas was the oldest man
IN Inc nation, and he was consulted in regard to
tue impending calamity. He could give no rca-
son Tor the flmiIe, but stated that he had been
informed in dream that the anger of the Great
spirit could be appeased by human sacrifice.
How this should come to pass, however, he
cold not tell, and therefore to summon to his
lodge all the medicine men who lived within a
days joa:noJ 81 the purpose Of consulting with
them. lie did so, and when the council was
ended, 1t was proclaimed that three Chippewls
should be Immediately bound to the stake and
consumed They were to be selected by lot
from among the warriors of the tribe; and when
this sad intelligence was promulgated, nation
al assembly was ordered to convene.
Inc appointed time arrived and, in the pres
cnce OF large multitude, the fatal lots were
cast, and three Of the bravest men in the tribe
mitted to their fate without a murmur. Whilst
iheir friends gathered around them with wild
lamentations, and decked with the costlicst
robes, and ornaments to be found in all the tribe,
the youthful warriors uttered not word o.
bout their unsiinely departure, but only epose in
the most poetcal language of the happy hunt
ing grounds they were about to enter. The
spot securedsfor the sacrifice was the summit Of a
nelghbor.ng hill which was covered with woods.
Inn THE Il. Il,
erected, around which had been collected large
pile of dry branches and other combustible ma
tcrlals ID these stakes at the hour of mid
night, and BY the hands Of the magicians, unat-
tended by spectators, were the three warriors Sc
eusely fastened. They performed their cruel
duty in silence, and the only sounds that broke
the stiffness of that winter nig,t were the songs
and the shou.ings of the multitude assembled in
the neighboring village. The incantations of
the priest being ended, they applied torch to
the faggots, and returning to their village spent
the remainder of the night in performing
variety Of strange and hcart-slckening ceremo-
MES.
Morning dawled, and upon the hill! of sacrl-
fce were to be seen only pile of smouldcring
ashes On that day the weather moderated, and
an unusual number Of hunters went forth in
pursuit of game. They were all more success
full than they had been for seasons, and there was
an abundance of sweet game, such as the butfa-
10, the deer, and bear In every wigwanl. A coun-
CT was called, and the patriarch chief proclaim
ed the glad tidings that the Great Spirit had ac-
cep.ed their sacrifice, and that it was now the
duty of his children to express their gratitude
by feast-thc feast of bitter roots.
The appointed night arrived, and the bltterest
roots which could be found in all the lodges of
the magc!ans were collected together and made
into soup The company assembled to par
take Of this feast, was the largest that had ever
been known, and as they were to conclude their
ce.cn,ny By dancing; the, had cleared the snow
from the centre Of their village, and on this spot
remarkably clear night, and their watclpAl&s
burn. with unc ommon brilliancy. It was nov
the hour of midnight, and the bittersoup was all
gone. The flutes and the drums had just been
brought, and the dancetx aaeked IN their most
uncouth dresses, were about d enter The charm
ed ring, when series of loud she filaes were
heard, and the eyes Of the entire nude were
intently fixed upon the northern which was
Illuminated by most brilliant In sunearthly
light. It was light of many 1ors, and as
changeable as the reflections Of sumll er sea at
the sunset hour. Across this light We're con-
stantly dancing three huge figures Of crimson
hue, and these did the magcians proclaim to be
the ghosts of the three warriors who had given
up their bodies for the benefit of the people, and
who had thus become great chiefs in the spirit.
land. The fire by which their bodies had beer
consumed had also consumed every feeling q
revenge: and ever since that remote period, il
has been their greatest pleasure to ilumine by
their appearance on winter nights the pathway
Of the hunters oyer the snowy plains of the
North.
The UncIad Horseman.
BY MAJOR JOSEPH JONES'.
Jfy.Jouers sh0uLd IooE o,u for brcnErrs