The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-31

the weakness INCIDENT 10 Ille NATURE VI CNhhLSu,
refined men. For the moment he forgot the
group of terrible war-chiefs before him come
to take him away to execution. He saw only
that other group in which his heart was bound
up, and for them he trembled with emotion,
for them he condescended to beg his lille at the
hands of the stern warriors.
Urged by an impulse which he could not re-
siSt, he poured forth vehement appeal, couch
ed in language such as he would have address
ed to a band of white men in like circumstan-
ces. When he had ended, he detected instant
ly smile of exultation on more than one or
the dark countenances before him-a smile
which seemed to say she, like all white men,
is weak-hearted." The orator bounded to his
feet to reply, but during that instant OF silence
a noise from another quarter arrested the at
tenton of the whole party.
A pattering Of soft moccasincd feet was heard
on the Threshold of the outer door and across
the bare floor as Nagkoah entered the apart
ment, followed by five other Indian women
the wives of the first chiefs of the tribe. With
soft step, but with determination stamped on
their brows they entered and ranged them
selves on one side of the room. The chiefs,
inexpressibly surprised as they were, by this
unheard-of breach of Indian etiquette, which
forbids unconditionally, any woman to enter
their councils, let fall some CALCULATIONS express
sive of their astonishment, but Shenandoah
signed to the orator to proceed. lie did so IN
q vein of irony mingled with invectivc, ending
in strain like the following:
"Our brothers heart has grown soft since
,,a o,.o, ,,J ba ic afrai1 to die We
thought our white brother brave, aud not like
women :, but all white men fear death. Is the
white mans God less kind to his children than
our Great Father is to US, that lie should fear
to 90 to the land of spirits9 Why should not
the white man die, when one of his nation hath
slain an Oneida! The chiefs and the great
Shenandoah have spoken it, and he shoN die!
Our knives are sharp, and his blood shall run
fast. for We would not torment our brother
but he must die y
When he had ceased, Shenandoah made a
sign as if he would adjourn the council; but
at this moment his wife, Nankoah, the beautl.
full Indian wohian, stepped forward two PAGES,
and the clear music of her voice was heard
throughout the the apartment, contrasting
strangely with the powerful tones of the speak
er who had just ended. And while her audi
tors we're paralized with astonishment, she
spoke. timidy at first but more encrgetically
as she proceeded She used no gesture, as
decming it improper that woman should at
tempt to play toe orator, but with her hands
folded on her bosom, she pressed out from her
full heart words which produced thrilling and
startling effect on all present. To Major Dean
she seemed at that moment, in her dark bcaa
tv like an angel sent TO save him from Death,
and those whom he loved better than life, from
orpharagc and widowhood.
"Oneidas," she said, "the white brother must
not die: The Cneidas must not make nno
cent blood flow. He hath done nothing wor-
thv ofdcath The white who killed an Oneida,
he should fail under the hatchet-his life should
be paid for that of our brother whom he hath
slain.
"Have the brave Oneidas come to the wig
wan of our brother to frighten his white squaw
and his papooscs? Let them rather hunt ont
the murderer. He is alive, he is guilty; he
has bad heart; but our friend, he has not a
bad heart; he has always been our friend, and
he is not the friend of the bad man who slew
an Oneida. Will you kill your friend who has
lived in your wigwams, aud let the enemy Of
the Oneidas live! Have the eyes of your
braves grown dim, that they cannot find the
track of the murderer! Have their limbs
grown weak that they cannot pursue him E.
Will You make the Great Spirit angry, by kill.
ing an innocent man, and letting murderer
live?.
'Your white brother is my son. He has
grown into my heart, and if the Oneidas pluck
him out, blood will flow. Nankoah and her
sisters love him, and he shall not die alone!
"Look !" she continued, rs she drew gilt
tering knife from beneath her blanket, while
each Of the Indian women initiated her exam-
pie, "you said your knives are sharp-ours arc
sharp too; we have sworn to the Great Spirit,
that when Nankoall's son dies, they shall find
their way quick to our hearts"
Had the gleam Of the threatening knives,
and the fashings of the dark eyes of the excl
ted women been real iightnings corruscatng
through the apartment, the assembled chiefs
could hardly have been struck with more pro-
found amazement than they were by this
speech and the dramatic movement which at
tended it close.
There was a brief pause in the white mans
cabin, during which nothing could be heard
except the beating of hearts and the tones
husky with agony, from the adjoining room,
where the wife and mother was kneeling III
prayer. Just at that moment too, the oldest
child awoke, and mingled its prattle with the
ascending petition. Maj. Deans head dropped
on his breast, and tears ran in currents down
his cheek at the sound of that small voice.
Nankoah started forward involuntarily, as If
about to rush into the sleeping apartment,
when Shenandoah, the chief of the Oncidas,
sprang to his feet.
"It is enough" said he, "thc Great Spirit
hath spoken! Never did woman before lift up
hnr voice in the conncils Of the Qnnidasl Onr