Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-03-23

it's source, the bayou swells out around kind
of point or projection of the bank. and then
contracting again, forms abasin or pond which
remains full or nearly so, Of sweet clear water,
during the entire Summer. This is lovely
SPOT, and the one our tale refers tot is known
as Indian Hole.
"Here scattered wild, the lily Of the vale
Its balmy essence breathes here cowslips hang
Their dewy heads, and purple violets lurk'
With ali the lowly children Of the shade"
Look around you whilst we are here, and
behold this vast extended plain that spreads out
before US in solemn grandeur, its unbroken
view extending far away in the distant horizon,
where the blue.arched sky seems to descend
and meet it in gentle embrace! What authors
pen can do justice to this boundless prairie
ocean? Its magnitude reminds one Of the At
antic, and its grassy ridges waving in long
rolls, with the sunlight glistenng in the Valleys
also to recall to mind the oceans swell after
the gale has passed. Who can paint the bright
flowers of rainbow tint that stud its bosom,
whose odor-t the prairle's breath-scents the
air, transporting the weary hunter into an elys.
ium sweeter than that created by fairy music,
or the Mussulmans vision of his future Para
disc
Let us dismount, and, whilst our horses are
grazing the tender young grass we will reclIne
under the shade Of this oak. and, in the mean-
time, enjoying the soft air from the Gulf. and
the warbling of birds overhead. | will relate
! to you the history of this place--tbe Legend
of Indian Hole.
CHAPTER II
For ages these green woodlands and plains
were unknown and untenanted--the Deep op.
pressive silence which reigned over all, unbro.
ken save by the war. .whoop of the savage. the
howling of beasts, and the tramp of the wild
horse and buffalo. But anon, change came
over the scene. The fame Of the country
spread abroad--its rich lands, salubrnus eli
mate, and abundance of game were strong
inducements to the emigrating portion of the
Western people. The white man appeared
his rife rang through field and forest; the g.
gantic old trees--patriarchs! venerable in years
and grey headed with their mantles OF moss
bowed beneath the sharp strokes OF his axe.
Soon cabins arose, forming the nucleus OF
settlement Hundreds Of hardy pioneers pour
ed in from the Valley Of the Mississippi, bring.
ing with them their ALL Settlement after set.
tlemenl was lOTINeu, ioo'"'ie ''"NS
good against the nations Of the wilderness.
The Red Men soon sought the destruction OF
the intruders, for it needed no prophets warn-
ing voice as to the result of this encroachment
on the hunting grounds of their toretathers.
Now came the strife for the supremacy. and,
in the struggle that followed, the red tribes of
the forest were scattered like leaves before the
whirlAind. Many were the bloody scenes en-
acted but for every white mans scalp taken,
dozen aborig,nes bit the dust The Indians
led--leaving their hills and plains, their homes
and rraves of their forefathcrs in tho posses
sion of the conquerors. Unhappy race
Years have passed away, and the places that
once .:new you know You no more. ihe Tor
ests that once sheltered the lodges Of your tribe
and echoed to the dance and war whoop, is
now usurped by the rising city! The plough
share has again and again passed over the
bones of your ancestors-the golden grain OF
Ceres waves over their tombs
"Your day is DER,
Your fires are out from shore TO shore;
No more for you the wild deer bounds
The plough is on your hunting grounds
The pale mans axe rings through your woods,
The pale mans sail skins DER the floods;
Your pleasant springs are dry;
Your chiIdren-ook, by power oppressed,
Beyond the mountains of the west
Your children go to de.'
Among the many hostile tribes with whom
the white men were often engaged in deadly
strife, there were none they encountered more
frequently, or who made more desperate resist
auce, than that Of the Caronqueways. This
tribe inhabited the entire coast of Texas; and,
from their number, bravery, and savage char
acter, were more dreaded than all others.
Numerous and deadly were the encounters they
had with their white foes-deteat, instead Of
weakening their courage, served but to exas
perate them the more-they fought long and
we'll, and were among the last to retreat. Their
battle fields extend from the forests and cane
brakes of the Trinity to the suri-beaten shore
of the Gulf of Mexico
At the time Of our tale, but few years had
passed since this part Of the country had been
settled by immigrants and the leud was at its
height Scarcely month would pass away
without witnessing the blazing of some lonely
"squatter's" hut-the murder of his wife and
children, and the quick and fearful retributon
that followed. Such was the state Of affairs
when report came to the settlers, on and near
the Brazos, that large party of Caronqueway
Indians had Just returned from successful
foray against tribe friendly 10 the whites !;
| and tb,t tbov Ansbad with their lato victory