Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.
knew not how vain it was to ask it from wretches whose hearts were steeled against every feeling of humanity . I ventured to crawl to the window , where I saw them lead to the river side which ran just by the house , eight of these poor creatures , one by one , whom they put to death upon the spot , with more or less circumstances of barbarity . Some of them they tomahawked , others they shot with their guns , while some they made the little boys shoot at with their bows and arrows , to accustom them to and them in the of
cruelty , perfect use those weapons . The pains of the unhappy victims were thus prolonged : and when one would fall , the crowd of savages set up the most dreadful cries and yellings of exultation . When they were all dead , the Indians scalped them ; and some took off the skins of their arms to make tobacco-pouches , leaving the first joints of the fingers hanging by way of tassels . They then threw the bodies into the river that they mihtfloatdown to Fort Detroit
g , in order that their countrymen might see what fate ( they threatened ) they should ah undergo in a short time . When this tragical scene was at an end , the Indian that had hid me came to set me at liberty , first leading me publicly through the crowd , to convince me there was no more
danger at that time . He then conducted me to Peewash , who seemed very glad to see me safe , having heard that the warriors had been upon the hunt after me amongst others . The following reason was given for this last instance of their barbarity : —an old squaw , the wife of a chief ; dreamed that she saw ten Englishmen killed and scalped ; this she told tothe young warriors , who wished for nothing better than a pretext for a frolic of that sort . She conjured them to make good her dream , otherwiseshe assured them would
, , they never prosper in the war . This , with a great deal more enthusiastic stuff mixed in her address , so excited their passions , that they flew immediately about the camp like mad men , in order to collect their prisoners and slay them , and thereby verify the dream of this imp of hell . But they were partly disappointed in their prey , all those who had any regard for their captives having hid them . The little drummer mentioned above was the favourite of old
an squaw , who wanted much to save him ; but notwithstanding her tears and entreaties the young fellows tore him from her arms , declaring that upon such an occasion they would spare neither sex nor age . Almost every clay fresh instances of their barbarity to the prisoners were occurrin" -, so that I lived now in continual terror , expecting every hour that my turn would come next . I therefore resolved to attempt an escape at all hazards .
There lived , near where we had our cabin , a Frenchman , named Boileau . This man had been civil to me on several occasions , and I thought he might assist me in making my escape . I therefore sounded him upon the subject , and found that a little money would go a great way with him . Accordingly , I promised to reward him if he should assist me , and thereby gained him over to my views . As the French people were admitted into Detroit , I gave him a letter to my friend , Mr . Stirlingwho likewise him reward if he
, promised a should succeed in delivering me . Major Gladwin also , and several other officers , assured him of their countenance . When he returned from the fort I found him ready to engage in my undertaking . I then redoubled my entreaties and promises towards him in the event of success . The next point to be considered was a plan for my departing in the most secret and unsuspicious manner . Our respective eagerness—he to obtain the expected recompense , and I to gain my wished-for liberty—
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.
knew not how vain it was to ask it from wretches whose hearts were steeled against every feeling of humanity . I ventured to crawl to the window , where I saw them lead to the river side which ran just by the house , eight of these poor creatures , one by one , whom they put to death upon the spot , with more or less circumstances of barbarity . Some of them they tomahawked , others they shot with their guns , while some they made the little boys shoot at with their bows and arrows , to accustom them to and them in the of
cruelty , perfect use those weapons . The pains of the unhappy victims were thus prolonged : and when one would fall , the crowd of savages set up the most dreadful cries and yellings of exultation . When they were all dead , the Indians scalped them ; and some took off the skins of their arms to make tobacco-pouches , leaving the first joints of the fingers hanging by way of tassels . They then threw the bodies into the river that they mihtfloatdown to Fort Detroit
g , in order that their countrymen might see what fate ( they threatened ) they should ah undergo in a short time . When this tragical scene was at an end , the Indian that had hid me came to set me at liberty , first leading me publicly through the crowd , to convince me there was no more
danger at that time . He then conducted me to Peewash , who seemed very glad to see me safe , having heard that the warriors had been upon the hunt after me amongst others . The following reason was given for this last instance of their barbarity : —an old squaw , the wife of a chief ; dreamed that she saw ten Englishmen killed and scalped ; this she told tothe young warriors , who wished for nothing better than a pretext for a frolic of that sort . She conjured them to make good her dream , otherwiseshe assured them would
, , they never prosper in the war . This , with a great deal more enthusiastic stuff mixed in her address , so excited their passions , that they flew immediately about the camp like mad men , in order to collect their prisoners and slay them , and thereby verify the dream of this imp of hell . But they were partly disappointed in their prey , all those who had any regard for their captives having hid them . The little drummer mentioned above was the favourite of old
an squaw , who wanted much to save him ; but notwithstanding her tears and entreaties the young fellows tore him from her arms , declaring that upon such an occasion they would spare neither sex nor age . Almost every clay fresh instances of their barbarity to the prisoners were occurrin" -, so that I lived now in continual terror , expecting every hour that my turn would come next . I therefore resolved to attempt an escape at all hazards .
There lived , near where we had our cabin , a Frenchman , named Boileau . This man had been civil to me on several occasions , and I thought he might assist me in making my escape . I therefore sounded him upon the subject , and found that a little money would go a great way with him . Accordingly , I promised to reward him if he should assist me , and thereby gained him over to my views . As the French people were admitted into Detroit , I gave him a letter to my friend , Mr . Stirlingwho likewise him reward if he
, promised a should succeed in delivering me . Major Gladwin also , and several other officers , assured him of their countenance . When he returned from the fort I found him ready to engage in my undertaking . I then redoubled my entreaties and promises towards him in the event of success . The next point to be considered was a plan for my departing in the most secret and unsuspicious manner . Our respective eagerness—he to obtain the expected recompense , and I to gain my wished-for liberty—