New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-07-13

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Of one Of their number, which dream also point
e1 out the 70 be pursuel in order to arrive
at the place Of destination
Many important ceremonies were perfCrme1
at an appointed place Of parting, to which they
we're accompanied ~ the triLe They we're
laden with charms and amulets whose virture
"as expected 10 avert the spirits Of evil, n
"ho'i ma hgnant influence they were to lie ex-
PEI .t N their paradisaical quest. Lastly, the
dTAtn song was chantel by the yoyagers, in
"",','' a.'er recouhting the PRINCIPAL exploits
Iili 'iHIlhg lhreWtil TO tile friends vi on in this
ne were never % be met again. they painted, in
gloomy terms the delighis If paradisa IN
which deeds Of bloolsheI anl DARN, vnuII a.
q ready and honorsd access They frien-Is y9ors
entreated by the slaughter 0: an enaroies onJ
truth and union amongst themselves. In VII, ,Lc
right Of an entrance into land from vh;cb
their encroaching foes, the pale faces, would he
forever debarred At last, with stoical comro.
sure, they turned their faces to the South west
and, without further word or sign Of farewell
proceeded journey which their immagin a..
tons had painted as invested with neither diff .
Guilty nor danger which perseverance could not
surlnount.
Time rolled on AMI no intelligence was receiv-
ell by the Attakapas Of the absent warriors,
which was to them a decilel proof Of the sue
cess Of the pilgrimage. Suddenly, however, in
the midst OF great feast, at which the whole
tribe were assembled, n stranger stood amongst
them; at least, one who 1T hr-t sight appeared
a stranger, for 1t neelel long and close exam
inaton to detect the identity Of the haqgard
individual whose elnaciated form betokened .uf-
iering and fatigue, with one OF the buoyant and
dauntless braves who, years before had set
forth on their holy quest
His tale was a wonderful one, even to that
creiulous people. lie told Of months and months
Of dreary wanderings in the direction they had
chosen Of the lofty mountains which barri
cadld the path-of the wide and rapid rivers
which would sometimes bear their fral RATS
down the swift current, and dash them to
pieces against the roots Of the treets which
, projected far out into the stream. lie spoke of
the luxuriant growth Of the forests vines in
wild protusion, twining around the trunks of
gigantic trees and intercepting their progress
by warped and tangled growth strange flow
ers Of gorgeous hue and delicious perfume which
glowed Mt distance like clusters of brilliant
f fame, birds whose rlumage seemed tinted by
the rich dye Of the flowers on which they rested,
and insects which shonc like tiny stars through
I the thick boughs Of their leafy prison
/ lie said that in many places in the dense forest
they would journey on Tor days without catch
ing one CLEAN OF sunshine through the impene-
trable foliage overhead, and then they would
| carefully prepare the weapons Of defense, fOI
the fiery eyes Of wild beasts would glare out from
the thickets around, AMI serpents Of an enor-
nous size drop ut their feet and slowly and
lstlessly move their dark coils in the very path
E Sometimes, indeed earthly weapons were Of lit
tie avail, for strange voices would sound in their
! ears, uuearthly laughter break the stiffness
6 around, and then they knew it was with nc
mortal foe they had TO contend, fur the only liv-
q ing objects to he seen were thgs bright bird.
n overhead Right and left woull they then cast
the amulets to guard the path, and loud woult
q rise the exercising chant by which the Prophe
g had been taught TO lay the demons of the woods
! They, however, journeyed on, unharmed, for s.
:, strange was the sight Of man in those region
!. that even the wild beasts would gaze at the in
h truders with curiosity which overeame thei
>. natural instincts.
% At length, after many months dreary wan
70 derng, the travellers reached an immense pla
encrcled by a chain Of lofty mountains. The
10 thought Of the vast prairies OF Calcasieu, il
. which the greatest part of wandering life ha,
g. been spent, and to which the green desert befor
" them bore sister likeness, and with fcelin!
Il Of relief at quitting the dark forest i'll who's
,. depths they had been so long buried, the Indian
n emerged into the free pure air which breathe,
= of their distant home
! The ascent of the mountains was difficult am
,s fatiguing, for it was rocky and precipious, bu
y when the travellers reached the summit tn
70 scene which burst upon their view left though
~. save for the prospect before them
,d At their feet lay plain similar, in appear
ance and dimensions, to the one through whic
,d they had SO lately passed, and like it, encircle
w by mountains whose height seemed to oppos
~ | an insurerable barrier to further progress
=, Stretched over this rlan, and almost coveTin!
nc it by its extent, was city Of singular appear
4 ance, surrounded by high wall The bnild
- ings seemed, to the astonishcd Indians, TO b
y constructed Of some glittering substance whic
~ caught anl reflected the rays Of the sun wit
dazzling brilliancy. and, although at the hegl
l. at which they stood no sound could reach tn
=, ear, yet busy motion could plainly be discerne
~ among the objects within the walls of this mys
- | terious city.
~ The Warrior turned to the Prophet, who wa
4 generally the ready expounder OF all difficu
n Ties beyond their comprehension; but, for tn
~ first time since the commencement Of the journe
~ his features wore the perplexed and gloomy ex
~ preston of a mind doubtful and i'll at ease.
-. Brothers" he at last calculated, g the Grea
Il Spirit who has guided and directed our cours
ofl thus tal. has thrown veil OF darkness owe
10 my mind | can see nothing beyond the wal
al of yonder city. | know nothing OF what ma
~ befall us within them Through it lies GU
o6 path; but heavy mist enyelops our turthe
~ progress There are perils in our road, but J
u are braves not women to shrink from then
NJ Brothers, to gain all, We must dare all Il
,d us proceed.
iu i, If they had found the ascent OF the mountain
:, toilsome. the descent seemed almost impractic
70 ble; with hardly shrub or vine to steady the
"a | on the slippery pain, ana WIN tle sharp roc
- wounding their feet at every step, all previo
- difficulties became comparative trities but Il
% Prophet, with stoical Indifference, led the wa
~ and bearing without Il murmur the suterings
ll na which he was ashamed to complain, they II
1i. lowed him in silence
a. When the plain was reached, the sun was l.
~, ~, in the horizon but, although exhausted /
~ hunger and fatigue, the Indians managed
,,o drag their weary limbs to the city walls.
II'. These walls, Of great btcadth, were built
ny unburncd brick. but busted over with mctall
~ particles resembling gold, and the tops OF I
ie highest buildings, which rose above them, We
'eet covered with the same glitterng substance
IT. 1t equal distances on the walls were plac
of small shesSs of peculiar shape, and in viii
he stood Il atlnel as motionless as figure cary
he in stone They were men of darkly bron7
hue, high and regular features, but rather sm
es. OF stature they were covered with ornamcl
M OF every kind al.l sltape-lurge rings were II
,se dant from THEN cars, and species Of coron
", COMPOSED Of paIti79olorcd feathers, adori
he their heads Their dress was 4 short tunic
ycr cloth embroidered around the edges with
The Arabesuue pattern, formed o the same meta
vas substance which SO plcntiful2y adorned the ci
my and Il eirdle ut the same material Gncircled
j a waitt Their sole weapon was 4 Lance, VIII
raj they held poised, as ii ready to use it sgal
irh an invader, but by hardly glance did Il