The Shasta courier., 1866-06-16
The Block of Sacrifice.


ramento Bee relates the following:
Near the aerolite, before mentioned, is
mass of nearly pure copper, which was
brought from the Ontonagon mines on Lake
Superior, at an expense to Government of
s., 1854. 1t is in its rough State, with the
exception of one side, in the center of which
a space about the size of brick has been
squared and polished. The weight of the
specimen is not given, but it probably ex-
ceeds ton. 1t was once used as a sacra-
fee block by the Lake Superior Indians, who
are said to have guarded it with jealous care,
as tradition among them ran to the effect
that as soon as the eye of the white man res
ted upon it their lands and power would
pass from them. Father Charlevoix, "A Jes
uit Missionary, makes this mention of the
block, and narrates one of the many terrible
incidents connected with it, 6 In my first
voyage to the country" says he, - have
heard of the Manitou of the savages, which
was of pure copper, and used as place of
sacrifice. | listened with horror to the cir
cumstances that attended the sacrifice of a
young female, who had been taken prisoner
during an excursion of war party of the
natives. An expedition had been resolved
upon, and they thus thought to insure sue
The young maiden was only fifteen years old
After having lodge appointed for her use,
attendants to meet her every wish, her neck,
arms and ankles covered with bracelets of
silver and copper, she was led to believe she
was to be the bride of the son of the head
Chief. The time appointed was the end of
Winter and she felt rejoiced as the time
rolled on, waiting for the warm season of her
happiness. The day fixed upon for her sac
rifice having dawned, she passed through
all the preparatory ceremonies and was dress
ed in her best attire, covered with all the
ornaments the settlement could command
after which she was placed in the midst OF
q circle of warriors dressed in their war suits,
who seemed to escort her for the purpose OF
showing her Difference. Besides their usual
arms, each one carried several pieces of wood
which he had received from the girl. She
had carried wood to the rock on the proceed
ing day which she had helped gather in the
forest. Believing she was to be elevated to
a high rank, her ideas being of the most
pleasing character, the poor girl advanced
to the altar with rapturous feelings of tlmidi
ty. which would naturally be raised in the
bosom Of a young female of her age. As the
procession proceeded, which occupied some
time, savage music accompanied them, and
chaunts invoking the Intervention of the
Manitou, that the Great Spirit would pros
per their enterprise so that, being excited
by the music and dacing the deceittul delu-
sion under which she had been kept remain
ed till the last moment. But soon as
they reached the place OF sacrifice, where
nothing was to be seen but fires, torches and
instruments of torture, her eyes were opened
her fate was revealed to her-and she be-
came aware of her horrible destiny, as she
had often heard of the mysterious sacrifices Of
the Copper Rock She conjured the stern
warriors that surrounded her to have pity
on her youth, her innocence, but all in vain
the Indian priests coolly proceeded with the
horrible ceremonies. She was tied with
withes to the top of the rock. The fire was
gradually applied to her body with torches
made of the wood which she had with her
own hands distributed to the warriors. When
exhausted with her cries. and about expiring,
her tormentors opened the circle that sur
rounded her, and the great chief shot an
arrow into her heart, which was followed by
the spears and arrows of his followers,
which, after being turned and twisted in the
wounds, were torn from her body in such
a manner that it presented but one shape
less mass of human flesh, and the blood
poured down the glistening sides of the rock
in streams. When the blood had ceased to
flow the high priest approached the body of
the victim, and, to crown the horrible deed,
tore out her heart, and after invoking the
blessings of the bloody Manitou, devoured
the bleeding flesh amid the exclamations Of
the whole tribe. The mangled remains
were then left to be devoured by wild beasts.
Their weapons were sprinkled with her
blood to render them invincible, and all
retired to their cabins cheered and encour-
aged with the hone OF a glorious victory. =
1t has been doubted by some that the North
American Indians offered up human sacri-
fees to their deities, but this seems to be a
well authenticated case, and of as cruel and
aggravated character as any ever transpired
on the teocalli of the Aztecs.