The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-11-05
NortE, Western Indians.

DR.. Scott. of Lancaster, the ven
erab!e and well-known historian OF
Fairfield proposes furnishing to the
Toledo Commercial Telegram. Sc
ries of articles upon the North
Western Indians. The publication
will give additional i'll crest TO that
very excellent newspaper. We copy
below an extract from DIR. Scott's
first paper, published in last Mon
days Commercial Telegram. Our
readers may see that the chapters
to follow will be intensely interest
ing:
when discovered. the Indians
believed themselves strangers on the
continent. They had no tradition
al ideas of the mound builders which
seems to have been race extinct
before they came. Nothing has ev-
er transpired to connect them in any
way with the ancient Affects, or
South Americans. Some have
thought they discovered among
them faint traces of the ancient Is
raelites, and hence the theory of the
descent from the lost tribes; but
solution in that direction has been
aba andoned for the present.
Though separated into distinct
tribes, and living apart, there is yet
a striking similarity throughout
the race, physically, morally and
mentally. Their hair is univers-]
ally deep black. strais ht and shiny;
skin dark red cheek bones prom
inent, and face broad. Their stat
ure corresponds, On an average, with
the European race, though some
vary slightly from others in this re-
spect. The tribes speak different
languages or perhaps dialects am
ounting to nothing moro than pro.
vincilisms, for when the Indian Ian
guage IS analysed there Is found close
similarity. Their vocabulary is
meagrc, and their words largely
monosyllabic. The natural dispo-
sition Of all Indians is that of sto
lidity, and taciturnlty; and. as
might be supposed, moroseness.-
They seldom smile or weep. and
will meet death without a murmer
or groan; even under torture; and
yet they are mirthful in their way,
and engage in many kinds of sport
and pastime, among which are va
riety of games at ball In these
traits all tribes are alike.
Their kings and ch iefs are he
reditary. Their laws were the laws
Of force; but they had some estab-
lished rules, amo ng which was a life
for life; and if the murderer could
not be found, they required the life
Of one of the tribe. They practic-
ed the same rules as against the
" hite race. Their religion was
faith in what they called the Great
Spirit, to whom they sacrificed. and
a vast expanse of hunting grounds
10 which all good Indians, with their
dogs, were to 60 after death. Some
Of the tribes were monogamists
others practiced polygamy; in still
others they changed companions at
prescribed times. The squaws were
slaves to their husbands, who We're
proud OF being called warriors, OF
braves.
In their revenges they were fear
Ful, even to burning their captivcs
It the stake, and disembowellng.-
They knew no mercy. In war they
we're brave and fierce, but with the
of cowardice; for they
never, if they could avoid it, meet
heir enemies in the open field
was-their 1eliance-the
and shooting from behind
;rees. They were treacherous to
my degree for the purpose of ac-
,ompllshing their purpose. of the
and when they had moth
ng to revenge--they were for tho
most part friendly; and when the :
friendship of an Indian was secured
,y kindness. they were faithful and
and would divide their
asst morsel of food with the white
nan, or render him any act of kind
less in their power. Some of their
.hiefs were real noblemen in times |
If peace. Logan, The Mingo chief, {
recumsch and many others might !
,e mentioned. l.
The aborigines all over the con-
inents we're found to possess some
ideas of medicine and the
lealing art. Some of tribes prac-
iced agriculture, producing corn,
'arious kinds of vegetables and to-
,acco, In some places they were
iound to have apple and peach Or
hards. They likewise made pot.
cry, baskets, canoes and various I
'ther implements: but in their rude
ife they knew nothing of the use of !
ron. They never knew anything !
f whisky and small pox until the
'hite race came among them. Their
,omen had made considerable ad-
ance in spinning and weaving the T
'ool of the Rocky Mountain sheep, 4
nd constructing the fabrics into a
They W ere owners, by poss ssion e