The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-16

assaed the brain and the nervous system, were
silently mingled with the food which was left
for their sus,enance and the very fumes ofthe
arroman,ic woods and gums with which they
we're appointed to feed their daily and nightly
fires possessed partially intoxicating effect
upon those who continued TO inhale them. 1t
was while under such influences that the vision
ofthe youth were to be- observed with heed
The images that were mos, frequent in their
dreams-the scenes which they witnessed-the
voices that they heard the laws which were
declared-lhese were Ia be the oraces by which
their whole succeeding lives were TO be regnla.
ted. BY these the young warrior was to be
guided in the chase or in the conflict, and the
young woman, in keeping Of the household, the
training of her young and the exercise of her
sympaihies and tastes. The favourite, or lead.
ing prospect, or object, in their visions, was to
become their guiding spirit forever after. 1t
was customary in many lribes-Perhaps in most
to adop. this object as their mark or sign;-
and this was the totem, inscribed upon the arm
or breast,-not dissirnilar to those ofknighhood
in the middle ages, drawn from favorte objects
of sight, or the events most conspicuous in their
Iives---wilh this difference, that, in Europe he
totem was inscribed upon the shield, the surcoat
or the pennon,-among the savages of the new
world, upon the naked person.
Night came on in the vaulted chamber Of
the lovely isle, occupied only by the Indian
damsel and the "Maroon." Without, all was
silent. except, now and then. the bark oflhe
marmozet as he bounded among the cocoanut
trees above. Several hours had elapsed since
the sounds of the wild chaunt of the women had
tailed upon his ears, yet our Spanard main.
tanned his place finding with religious quietude.
Meanwhile, the girl fed the fires upon her altar.
She sat upon rude swelling Of the rocky floor.
her hands folded in her lap, and the ends of her
shortened hair resting upon her shoulders
Her form was rather between the "Maroon"
and the ire,-the blaze Of which, as she height.
ened it by occasional supplies of fuel, made
marvellously distinct in his eyes the exquisite
outline OF her delicate but well marked profile
Aud thus she sat, and such was her only Office
for several hours more.
II must have been full midnight. when our
Spaniard, who had not slept an instant, discov.
ed that sleep had seized the Indian damsel.-
Her form subsidized into all attitude favourable
to rest. She sunk upon one side, her head rest.
ing upon sudden elevation of Tue floor, which
conducted 10 the niche which seemed TO have
been empldyedas as a couch on previous occasions,
and where, foI the last two nights, Lopez him.
self had taken his rest. Her breathing was
soft and regular. II denoted calm and per.
feet sleep. He was encouraged and gradually
withdrew from his place Of concealment. His
steps were cautiously taken. He drew nigh
to The sleeper-surveyed her with q keen and
pleasant interest; then. farther 10 he sure. he
stole forth into The ante. e.chamber Of the vault,
and gliding cautiously. maintaining vigilant
watch all the while, he emerged from the cav.
ern, and stood upon the beach. The waters of
the sea had gone down. The gray sands were
quite uncovered for a long stretch, The spot he.
ing wholly bare upon which the Indian bark had
anchored during the afternoon. The moon
was high in heaven, and at her fill. No cloud
obscured or suIied the blue serenity of the
skies. The scene was eminen,ly and wholly
spiritual. There was nothing human visible
in The surrounding aspects ofoccan, sky and
land. Satisfied Of this, our Maroon returned,
He stole back cautiously, however, 80 as moi to
disturb the damsel. She still slept. her position
being totally unchanged. But the fire lad
grown faint upon her aars. Hr fed 1t with
handful Of the fuel that lay contiguous. Ile
knelt beside her, and in the rpvvng blaze, he
examined closely The innocent features, which
he had thought so very sweet and beautiful in
the before imperfect light. The nearer sur.
vsy did not lesson her lovliness in bis sight.
Her closed eyes, and her slightly parted lips,
were studies for the scul ptor, they were so del.
icale in their structure yet so admirably defined.
The features might have been thought Cas,l.
ian. The forehead was high but narrow, the
nose good, and the neck moderately large and
smooth, rising into The gentle swell Of a bosom
which had not yet learned 10 heave with other
than happy childish emotions. One Of her
hands, the fingers of which were long and Ia.
per, had Stolen TO her breast the partial drape.
ry of which it seemed to grasp. The other lay
at her side. the fingers closing upon handful
Of wood intended Gor the fire. Thus she slept.
The "Maroon" stopped and pressed his lips
closely upon hers. She sighed deeply, but moved
not. Again he repeated The kiss, aud her eyes
opened upon him. They closed uvoluntarily.
Again they opened, and now with wild, ap-
pealingexpression. He had slightly retrcated, as
he found her about to waken. He had regain.
ed his feet. He stood somewhat apart, The al.
tar heiug in some degree between them.
No ho Va anokon of ba no rsnna1 anna ra MO