Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-10-06
GuaIlsris Glurkabur9 Reaister
weddiag iinstead OF d scalping.

AeWeddins instead of a scaIping.
The way the Western Indians dispose
ofa1prisoner, whom they have spared to
bring home alive, is both curious and
cruel. This Is what / saw after the bat.
tle,Os.A \ large FIRE was then made and a
ringformed ofthe;men and women sit.
ting on the earth round the FIRE, upon
which was placedt the enormous kettle full
ofwater. wherein to boil dog, in order
10 celebrate the event with proper and
ample rejoieings, AS soon as the water
began TO boil the intended victim was
brought outinto the ring, and informed
that he was at liberty to make his brag,
orwhat with us would be called last
dying speech and confession. Upon this
the prisoner who had painted himself
with much care, and in the most fantas-
teal manner from head to foot, to his en-
tire satisfaction. entered the circle with a
slow and majestic step, and walked round
and round the inside of the enclosure
pompously enumerating the many occa-
sions on which he had spilled the blood
of his enemies, the frequent daring acts
he had committed against the nation by
which he was then held prisoner. Du-
ring this time boy about twelve years
of age, had been selected as one of the
best looking or most daring perhaps,
also. in consequence of his experiences
with the tomahawk. and being painted
and decorated with eagles feathers was
directed to follow the prisoner round in
his walk, with his tommshawk in hand,
ready to strike the fatal blow. The boy
accordingly advanced with naughty air,
elenching the instrument of death in his
right hand. whilst waiting the victims
orders to strike. The custom is, as soon
as the man falls, be he dead or still IL
Wing, the boy, or come other Indian steps
forward. and with the sharp point of a
common butchers knife, cuts circle
about four inches in diameter through the
skin of the head, which must contain the
star, or division of the hair on the crown.
Having done this. he lifts up the skin all
round the edge of the circle, passing his
knife between the skull and the scalp, and
then taking firm grasp of the hair, with
one violent tug he tears the scalp from
the head, which he fourishes round his
own, whilst he screeches out the war
whoop, to which the whole of the savages
present reply with marks of ferocious de-
relic, it is stretched upon small hoop,
the edge of the scalp being carefully turn
cd over it like the head Of drum, and
sewn on when dry, the skin side is be-
smeared with vermillion. mixed with
grease, and then, by string fastened to
the two opposite edges OF the hoop, it is
hung to the end OF thin stick eight or
ten feet long, the hair floating in tho wind.
This banner is then stuck into the ground
in front Of tina camp, as an emblem of vic
tory. In this case the boy followed the
prisoner, ms have said, ready to acquire
the honor due to his boldnesS, when the
captive, in passing round and round, re-
garded him with sneering contempt
Then, having proclaimed his last deed
with extraordinary exultation, he sudden
~ stopped-the boy collected all his
strength, raised himself on tiptoe, and,
swinging round the tomahawk, was on
the point Of striking the fatal blow, when
the prisoner, with hellish grin, proclaim
ed he had now Dragged Of all he had done
against tho nation, in whose mercy the
fortune of war had placed him {; "but. :"
said he, "let me show you that at tho in
slant when am about to be sent to the
happy prairies, and quit this world for
ever, l fear not to add one more glorious
victim to those have already mentioned
With the fury of tiger he darted on an
infant sucking at its mothers breast,
whence he tore it from her grasp, and us
quickly plunged the innocent babe into
the cauldron Of boiling water then on the
fire. Among any other people general
rising of the whole of the witnesses of such
an Internal act would have been the i'm
mediate consequence, 10 tear limb from
limb the perpetrator of the cruel deed /;
but in this instance, the mother of the
murdered infant, who happened to be a
widow, started TO her feet and declared
that man who could act thus in defiance
Of his enemies, even while their captive,
must not perish Z" will take him as my
future husband" she exclaimed, che is
too brave to die like dog-he is worthy
Of being received into our tribe" This
most extraordinary declaration was fol,
lowed by general silence, which did not
however, last beyond the lapse OF few
seconds, when the whole assembly grunt.
ed, shouted, yelped, and gave various
screams of joy, in proof of their unani-
nous appreciation.
AN AGGRAVATED CASE OF CHoLERA..E
The Sunday Courier tells funny stor,, 90