The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-10-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
SoUAND0, THE INDIAN SACHEM.
TRUE HISTORICAL SKETCH.
BI sEBA snirH.

ut sEBA shirH.
Clear sighted and impartial history will
one day d., justice TO The original red man oil
lhis country. Aud when our great future
historian shall rise and gird himself for the
task, in turning over the bloody records Of
almost innumerable conflicts between the
man und the white, since the latter
found q ioothold upon these shores, we will
find the provocations for quarrels and hostili.
tiles, in large majority )f cases, came from
the whites. IL is not our purpose uow to
enter into all the proof of this position; We
are only about to glance ut a single incid.
dent as An illustration Ofour remark.
When Philip, the bold and heroic chief OF
the WampanOags, was endeavoring to carry
into execution his grea, design OF extermlna'
ting all the whites by general attack from
the yery numerous tribes throughout New
England. there was formidable trihe resi-.
ding about the mouth Of the Saco river, gov
erned by a sachem or chief whose name was
Souando. This chief had always lived on
terms of friendly intercourse with the En-
clsh settlers in that neishborhood, and
when the emissaries of Philip visited the
eastern tribes and endeavored 10 draw them
into his plans they could uake no impression
whatever upon Sauando He turned deaf
ear 10 all their entreaiies, cOldly rejected
their oyertures, and bade them tell Philip
the hatche, had been buried on the banks OF
The Saco, and no warhoop should be allowed
to disturb its quiet valley. -,
The white man is my BROTHER" said
Souando: "we hunt in the same woods,and
paddle our canoes on the same waters. l
sit down at his tables and eat with him side
by side, and he comes to my wigwam and
smokes the pipe Of peace without Tear.
carry him venisou for food, and soft beaver
skins for clothing. and he gives me blankets
and hatchets, and whatever want. why
should raise my tomahawk against my
white brother! The tree OF peace Is grown
above our heads let it flourish and no blight
come upon it forever. If Philip is great
chief so is Squando; and let him beware
how he crosses Squando's path. The tribes
of the Saco, and the Presumpscott and the
Androsscoggn, and the Kennebec, all look
up to Squando with fear and respect. AMI
will not draw the bow while the arrows OF
Sauando remain quiet in The culver.
Year after year the messenger OF Philip
returned wieh the same answer from Squan.
do the white man j. my friend, will
not take mp the hatchet against him.
Sauando was no, only powerful sachem
but he exercised also the Office of priest, or
powwow, and the mysteries and ceremonies
he practiced helped to give him great iniu-
ence over the neighboring tribes.Several years
had passei. and therestless spirit Of Philip
had driven on his great plan with untiring
assiduity. Many chiefs had joined his league
frequent acts of hostillities had even been
committed. and dark and protentIous cloud
hang over the whole of New England which
threatened eutire destruction to the white
Inhabitants. Still Squando remained the
faithful friend of the whites. and kept the
tribes around him in peaceful altitude, till
the cruel unprovoked aggression npon
his domestic happiness reused him to ven
geance.
On summer day 1915, Lindoyah, the
sqnaw Of S9uando. pad1led her light birch
canoe upon the bright waters Of the Saco.
Her infant, but few months old, was sleep.
| ing on soft skins OH the bottom of the canoe,
while slight screen ofgreen bouShs arched
over il, sheltered it from the warm rays OF
the sun. 1t breathed sweetly in the open
pure air Of heaven. and gently rolled to the
slight rocking Of the canoe, as the careful
paddle cf the mother, with regular motion
touched the water. The joyous eyes Of Lindo'
yah rested on her infant with all moth
er's devotion, and in clear voice she
sang
! SI,,, h,hy .l,,en.
Brealhe the breath Of morning;
| Drink fragrance from the fresh blown flower
| Thy gentle brow adorning.
| Sleep, baby sleep,
Rocked by the lowing nver
While for thy gentle spirit gih
Lindoyah thanks the givcr.
| Sleep baby, sleep,
| Sweet be thy rosy dream ng
While over the lowery spirit land
| Thy blessed eyes are cleaning.
Sleep baby, sleep,
| No danger here is hiding,
While soft along the green wood bank
| The light canoe is gliding.
Lindoyah in her morning excursion had
called ut one of the white settlements. Her
babe had been admired. praised, and cares
sed and 81 G was returning home with q light
heart She had but about halt mile far
ther to GO to reach the wigwam Of Sqandn,
which stood oul few rods from the river.
Her eyes us she was passing caught beau.
tiiul cluster Of wild flowers u little way upon
the bank.
=" will gather them." said Lindoyah to
herself us she turned her little canoe to the
shore, land carry them to Squando. He
has by this time returned from his morning
hunt. Squando is u loving gentle spirit,
and the sight of the flowers will make his
heart glad"
She drew the canoe gently up till tres
ted ON the sloping grass, and with light
step assembled the bank. While she was
gaIhering the flowers, u couple Of giddy,
thoughtless sailors, wandering along the
shore, came to the canoe.
"Hallo. Jack, - said he that was foremost,
-" see this little Indian toad lying there
in the canoe" .f
"Yes," says Jack, >" and | saw its moth
er just now u lew rods up the bank"
Come, let's tip the canoe over and see
the little rat swim"
"See it drown, more like" said Jack.
"No," said jim, II bet you quid OF to
bacco it'll swim frs, rate. All young ami
mails swim naturally, and I'll bet young
Indian will swim like duck, Ill try il,
anyhow" D..
With ,ha, he gave the light canoe whiIl,
and tipped the child into the river. Al thai
instant Lindoyah, who had heard The sound
Of their voices, came with shrek. rushing
down the bank. her eyes wild with terror
and her long hair streaming in the wind,
and sprang eagerly toward the water. Jim
caush, her by the arm and held her with
great coolness, determined TO take suificien,
lime 10 give his experiment, a fair trial.
L,idoyah shrieked and Struggled, and press.
ec toward The walter, but The iron grip Of The
sailor held her fast.