Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-02-15
Stltttr0 Storp.
FOSTER, THE INDIAN HUNTER
m THE REv. tt. 4. GUILD.

The Mohavks were q fierce, blood
thirsty tribe OF Indians; not SLOW in their
acknowledgement Ola favor, but lilelou g
in ,hc remembrance Of an injury. Once
aroused. their anger could only lie ap.
pcaseI with blood. Sarewd as well IS
savage, and expert in the use OF weapons
OF warfare. ;heic presence always proved
On inspiration Of terror. E0joying from
time immemoyial the uUcon,ested occu-
paucy and range og The valley OF The
Mohawk and TIE hills aud wood Of Her
kimer. when tnally the white man began
20 show his face among them all the
ieutish qualities in their nature were ex-
cited; and upon the S'ishioS, provoca-
,iou. As also quite frequently in the
absence of any proyocaiion whatever,
the ,omahawk was buried 10 the braioS OF
their hated rivals. The hunting grounds
o. Herkimer belonged 20 them, 50 they
conceived; and the pale face must
hands or or make an uncercmOniOu
pilgrimage 10 that country where Indians
'.ccasc from troubling. and the weary are
az rest /; would no, DO 10 set up the
plea that they were no. the mselyes some
times dispatched upon a journey to The
"hsppy hunting grounds, ," for which they
had made no especial preparation, and
i.r which they had no clearly defined
desire. Apple,on's New American Cy'
c'orgdia0 saws OF those Mohawks:
During the French aud Indian war
they supported Sir William Johnson fol-
lowing him in his most perilous expedi'
,ions. and aiding him in the contests OF
Lake George and Niagara. After bis
death. they transferred their attachment
TO his family. and were forced to flee
from their ancestral home TO Canada. A
few Of them now reside with their breIh'
ren.the SenCcas. .Tuscororas, and Oneidas
bu, the greater portion Of them occupy
lands appropriated for their use bY the
British government. at Brantford' on the
grand river ol Canada west. To tins
place they followed their leader, Ihay
endanega (Joseph BranO, at the close O
the revolution
These facts are sufficiently accurate tC
pass Tor history. They do not, however
embrace the whole truth. While th'
major portion OF the Mohawks followed
Bran, 10 Canada, yet there were mani
remnants of the tribe still scattered
through the wilds Of northern Herkimer
unwilling 10 cult the ancestral lurking
places and game aboundidg forests Ia
miiiarly known 70 all New Workers as IN
"Jobn Brown tract The writer re
members having met many Of these saw
ages in the town OF Salisbury. at diiferen
times. even so late as 1888 and 81. The.
would frequently call at bis fathers resi-
depce. and not ask for, but demand sue
articles Of food, clothing, and ornamen
As they might chance to see, or nav
reason 10 suppose were among The iarnll
possessions. A hesitancy TO comply VIII
their demands was attended by sue
peculiar aboriginal contortions oi cour
tenanee, and such warlike gestieu'a'Ion'
Is would ordinarily obyiate proIrae'e
parleying, and insure the graiiheaiion {
tbeir desires. No. only were they cor
summate beggars. after this STYLE OF
they were also most accomplished thieves
and bad 4 peculiar penchsnt for tat ialnt
and calves. which they would "goooI
mn al liJitum. Rumor too' woui
sometimes allege that they were IN ID
habit OF "conGscatipg" little childre
when they desired to enjoy speclal'
,a,o,.ble meal. However this may b'
!, j. certainly true that children did som'
,;,,es mvsteriously disappear. and wei
~, recovered By their parents uni
months and even years had elapsed au
IN some instances were not recovered
al Wild beasts. as palthers. bears al
wolves. were numerous in those uay'
-, :, u nrobable that many oil tue