New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-09-19

strong and capsoious intellect possessing CON
mandng energy q character, and ~ s1bsie'y
and savage ~lles not suTpasse- y 'Ae resi- o.
Indian blood.
Twas a mono ntous aid gloomy crIsls tC- ne IN
dian race or never before had ;ney been exposed 20
such pressing and Immint NJ danger VIII a CON-
fall 81 Canada, the Indian tnDes mad SUNK a. on
from their position Of power and importance fl'n.
erto the two nva European nations had KEEP 800 go
other ~ check upon the American coh,lhshl aii
Indian tribes had. N some measure n..u ~ s
OF power between them. To cOnctIatS &c -
VII! and gain their alliance 10 AVOID oHehut- ''e.'
bv INJUSTICE and encrnac 5ment IA me Pon,s Oo.'
Of the French and English Bu1 now me iare 20, %
afFa,,sva cnanred The English had gained an N
disnuted ascendency and the Indians. no longer I'M
oortapt a. allies were treated a mere oareaflahs-
Who might be uampied on win impuhy. tuth,
doned Ia their own feeble resources ana ciFlled
strength the tribes must fast recede. and dwIn1ie
away before the steady progress Of the colonial POI"
or Already their pest hunting grounds were INV aoeo
and from the eastern ridges o. the Ai!eghaMes taei
might see from far and near the smoke Of the SET
tiers clearings rising tall columns from the dark
green bosom Of the forest. The doom OF the rare
was sealed, and no human power could avert J,
but they. IN Their ignorance beheved otherwise ana
yainIy thought that, BY desperate Effort tney Lneh
vet uproot and overthrow the growing suehgh OF
their destrOyers. 1900
OF The Indians understood. IN ts fnil extent. the
danger which threatened their race VIM thrH' me
war was A mere outbreak OF fury. and tney tuned
against their enemies with as little reason or lo!e
cast as a panther when he leaps al me throa' on
me hunter Goaded by wrongs and lndlgniues' they
struck for revenge, and reIef from the evu OF me
moment But the mind OF Pontiac could embrace d
wider and deeper view The peril Of the times was
unfolded N H. full extent before him and ne resolved
TO unite the tribes IN one grand EFFORT 70 aver ~
He did not like many Of his people. entertain tne
Absurd idea that the Indians. by their uhdideu
strength. could drive the English INTO the sea. ne
adopted the only plan that was CONSISTENT VAIN rea-
son that restoring the French asc endency IN me
West and once more opposing a fntch 10 DIlAiSi
encroachmcnt. With views Ike these, ne tent
greedy ear the plausible alsenoods OF the ana
dians who assured him that the armies OF hlng
Louis were already advancing to recover Canasa,
and that the French and Their red brethren, fighting
SIDE BY SIDE, would drive the English dogs back
within Their own narrow limits.
We have now introduced our readers to the
main subject of this volume. and we will not
anticipate their curiosity by following the his
torlan at any greater length IN the absorbing de-
tails Of his narrative He has certainly invested
the subject with singular interest combining
the diligence and fidelity of the historian with
the vivid fancles and picturesque descriptions OF
the poet Every page bears the marks OF grave
and patient research liwas no easy task 10 re-
duce such lncoherent materials 10 order and sym
metrv In dong this. the author has shown a
degree of judgment and skill, which egitmates
his title to a high rank among accurate and trust
worthy historians Nor IS he a mere dry col
lec,or of facts He Is never lost IN the multpll-
city of details His narrative Is remarkable for
its ust proportions and graceful flow The
whole volume presents grand historical picture,
which satisfies at once both the eye and the
Imagination 4 perpetual freshness Is gwen to
the narrative by the authors own experience of
Indian life. He describes less as an explorer of
musty documents. than as an eyewitness OF
events HIS scenes are often redolent OF forest
fragrance or ring with the shrll war-cry OF In
dian rage He has turned to the best account
the familiar acquaintance with the men and
scenery Of the wilderness. which he obtained by
the campfire or IN the canoe, while domcSl-
Gated at various intervals in the wild regions of
the North and West
A valuable feature of this volume IS the ire
quent episodes, illustrative OF Indian character
and history. which the author brings IN with
great effect though not TO the interruption Of
the regular narrative Their style usually be
travs the artistic and practiced writer. Many OF
them, though treating OF the rude traits OF
wilderness warfare, are highly finished pieces Of
composition, and, IN point of graphic force and
uoiished elegance Of expression, would do no
d,credit to the pen OF Irving or OF Bancroft.
We select from the first part Of the volume
description of
LlFE AMONG TUE oJIBWAS.
In their mode of lite, they were far more rude than
the lfoQuols even the southern Algonquin Tribes
The totemc system Is found among them IN MS most
| imperfect state. The original clans have become
| broken into fragments. and indefinitely multiplied d,
and many of the ancient customs OF The institution
are but loosely regarded Agriculture is little known
| and through Summer and Winter they range the vii
CemesS with restless wandering, now gorged 10 re-
| plotOn. and now perhhng with want. In the calm
| DAYS OF Summer, the Oubwa fish rman pushes out
his birch canoe upon the great inland ocean of the
! North and, a. he gazes down INTO the pellucid
| DEPTHS he seems like one balanced between earth
| and sky The watchfu hShhawk circles above has
head and below further than his line viii reach, he
sees lie trout glide shadowy and silent over the
| glmmerng pebbles. The hile ISLANDS on the verge
| OF the horizon seem nON starting luio spires, nON
melting from The sight. now shaping themselves INTO
| a thousand fantastic forms. with the strange mirage
OF the waters, and he fancleS thai the EVIL sprltS OF
tie lake he taSkmg their serpent forms on those
! hslloWod shores AGAIN, he explores the watefy
| 'abyunihs where the stream sweeps among pine
tuited Stands, runs, bacA and deep. beneath The
shadows OF moss bearded frs or h. .ls his canoe mp
on the sandy beach. and. while his campfire crackles
Oh the grass plat. REGIMES beneath the trees, and
smokes and laughs ava, the Suitry hours, in lazy
| luxury Of enjoyment
| But when Winter descenus upon the North, st thng
up The fountains, lettering the streams and turning
l the Crecn-lobed forests % ShYcuuc uahctucSs,
1 then bearing their uall dwellings OF then backs.
the Oubwa family wander ioTth into the wilderness,
cheered only. their drey track, by the wishing
OF The IoTth wind, and Abe hungry howl OF wolves.
/ RN the banks OF some frozen stream. women and
children, men and dogs lie cToucAed together around
! he IRE They spread then henumbed fingers over
The embers. while the wind >hrleks through the hr
| Iet> like the gale through the rigging OF fngate.
/ aid iAe narrow cOncayC OF TIE WlcMdm SpaIAleS
With Tie irosi-work of Their CONCEALED breath. In
vain thCy bCa, the magic drum ana G. al upon their
guardian manltoes the w.uy moose keeps alOOf
TIE bear hes close IN his hollow nee ana famine
stareS them IN the face. And now the hunter
ight more against the nippm. cold
anc binding sleet stA and stark. with haegard
cheek and ShriSeled lip, ne lies among the snow