The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-12-25
HE KEPT HIS vow.
An Indian Pythias Seeks His Death

An Indian Pythias Seeks His Death
Mr. Ephraim Webster is said to have
been the first white man, says the
Syracuse Herald, who sought per
manent residence in OnOndaga county
and passed most of his time among
the red men of his day. Force of cir
cumstances brought him to OnOndaga,
and soon after he had located there, a
young brave of the Cayuga nation one
morning presented himself before the
chiefs of the OnOndagas and Mr.. Web
ster, while sitting at the door of the
council-house. The young man said:
81 have come to dwell among you and
your people, if you will permit. |
have left forever the home of my father
and the hearth of my mother. | seek
q home among you my name is Man
tinoah deny me not.n
"Maninoah, you are welcome here, u
said the aged chief Ka-whick-do-ta
''sit down among us. Be our son, we
will be to you IL father; you can hunt
and fish with our young men, and
tread the warpath with the braves of
our nation you shall be honored as
you deSerVe.n
Nearly two years passed and Manti-
noah was apparently cOntented and
happy. He was the first in the chase,
most active in the dance, and the
lOudest in the song. His cVer-pleas-
ant and even manner won for him the
friendship of Webster, and, therefore,
it was that where one was there was
the other also. Webster was surprised
one bright morning by MantinOah
saying: g must leave your peaceful
valley soon forever. | go toward the
setting sun | have vow to perform
My nation and my friends know Man
tinoah will be true. My friend, | de.
sire you to go with me.n Webster
consented, and preparation was made
valley together, and, after a walk of
three or four days, taking their jour
ney leisurely, hunting and fishing by
the way, they arrived at an eminence
near Mantinoah's village.
"Here," said Mantinoah, "let us rest
let us invoke the Great Spirit to
grant us strength to pass triumphantly
through the scenes ofthis day Here"
said he, 1--WE will eat, and here, for the
last time, will smoke the pipe Of peace
ana 1llenuSnlp together"
After repast of boiled venison and
bread, the pipe was passed from one
to the other in regular succession, and |
the silence was broken by Mantinoah
saying: "a little more than two |
years have elapsed since, in my native
village near to us, in Il burst Of pas
sion, | slew my bosom friend and |
chosen companion. The chiefs of my 7!
nation declared me guilty of my |
friends blood, and decreed must suf- |
fer death. 1t was then / sought your
nation it was then | won your friend
ship. The nearest of kin to him |
slew, according to our custom, was to
become my eXecutioner. My eXecu-
ton was deferred two full years, dur
ing which time | was condemned to
from my nation. |
vowed to return. The time of two
full years expires this day, when the
setting sun sinks behind the topmost
branch of yonder tree. Beneath the
BROAD branches of this venerable oak,
where we now stand, at the foot of
his ancient rock, against which we
now lean, stand prepared to receive
ny doom. My friend, we have had
many cheerful sports together; our
Oys have not been circumscribed, our
yripfs have been few look not so sad
low, but let new joys arouse you to
When you return to the
bear witness that Mantin-
,ah died like Il true brave of the Cay
lgas that he trembled not at the APP
roach of death, like the coward pale
ace, nor shed tears like Il woman.
Nv friend take my belt, my knife,
fife; accept them as mementOcs of
ny hunting pouch, my horn, and
ur friendship; | shall need them no
Dnger; few moments and the
venger will be here; the Great Spirit
alls; | am ready; Mantinoah fears
ot to die; farewell"
As soon as the brave Indian had
nished, Webster demonstrated with
i'm, but in vain he urged him to {
scape the consequences. A short q
Hence ensued, when yell was heard $
l the distance, to which the Cayuga q
,sponded A single Indian approach |
I and took MantinOah by the hand. Q
Ie, too, had been his friend, but the 5
NV of the savage could not be broken. j
After mutual salutations and eX- c
ressions of kindness, the avenger !
ldresSed him: "MantinOah, you I
ave slain my brother; our laws de- a
are me his avenger and your eXecu- :
oner. Your time has come death /
at hand prepare to meet him. BE I
eadfast, be firm; ard may the Great j
pirit sustain you.' [
Upon this Mantinoah gracefully a
evated his manly form, carefully u
lred his broad bosom, camly laid his I
m across his manly breast; not u
uscle moved, not breath was v
card. There he stood, ready for the L
lluntary sacrifice, immovable as b
lamant. Accompanied by deafeu- l.
g veil, the bright tomahawk of the '
;enger glistened i'm the fading light a
, keen edge sank deep into the brain o
his victim. The thirsty earth q
.ank the life-bloOd of Maniinoah, a
ld he sank, without a groan, a life n
$ corpse before his friend. Instant {
as if by magic, a host of savages ''
,peared; the mournful song of death s.
echoed through the forest; the v
oomv dance OF the dead moved i'm q
elanchOly sOlemnity around the il
rpse Of the departed; the low gut Z