Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
of sentiment . There was not among them the least altercation or separate opinion ; ail were united in the general cause , and as ready to follow ' where Matonabbee led , as he appeared to be ready to lead , according to the advice of an old Copper Indian , who had joined us on our first arrival at the river , where this bloody business was first proposed .
" Never was reciprocity of interest more generally regarded among a number of people , tiran ' it was on the present occasion by my crew : for not one was a moment in want of any thing that another could spare ; and if ever the spirit of disinterested friendship expanded the heart of a Northern Indian , it was here exhibited in the most extensive meaning of the word . Property of every kind that could be of who had
general use " now ceased to be private , and every one any thing which came under that description , seemed proud of aif opportunity of giving it , or lending it those who had none , or were most in want of it . ' ' " The number of my crew was so much greater than that which five tents could contain , and the warlike manner in which they were equipof the
ped so greatly superior to what could be expected poor Esquimaux , tiiat no less than a total massacre of every one of them was likely to be the case , unless Providence should work a miracle for their deliverance . " The land was so situated that we walked under cover of the rocks and hills till we were within two hundred yards of the tents . There we lay inambush for some time , watching the motions of the
Esqui-, maux ' ; and here the Indians would have advised me to stay till the - fight was over ; but to this 1 could by no means consent : for I considered that when the' Esquimaux came to be surprised , they would trv every way to escape , and if they found me alone , not knowing me from an enemy , they would probably proceed to violence against me , when no person was near to assist . For this reason 1 determined to that 1 would not
accompany them , telling them at the same time , have ' any " hand in the murder they were about to commit , unless I found it necessary for my own safety . The Indians were not disp leased at this proposal ; one of them immediately fixed me a spear , and another lent me a broad bayonet for my protection , but at that time I could not be provided with a target ; nor did I want to
be encumbered with such an unnecessary piece of lumber . ' While we lay in ambush , the Indians performed the last ceremonies which were thought necessary before the engagement . These chiefly consisted in painting their faces ; some all black , some all . red , and others with a mixture of the two ; and to prevent their hair from blowing into their it was either tied before ancl behindand on
eyes , , both sides , or else ciit short all round . The next thing they considered was to make themselves as lig ht as possible for running ; which they did , by pulling . off their stockings , and . either cutting off the sleeves of their jackets , or roiling thein up close to their arm-pits ; and though the ' nuiskettoes at that time were so numerous a * to surpass all credibility , yet some of the Indians [ actually pulled ' oif their
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
of sentiment . There was not among them the least altercation or separate opinion ; ail were united in the general cause , and as ready to follow ' where Matonabbee led , as he appeared to be ready to lead , according to the advice of an old Copper Indian , who had joined us on our first arrival at the river , where this bloody business was first proposed .
" Never was reciprocity of interest more generally regarded among a number of people , tiran ' it was on the present occasion by my crew : for not one was a moment in want of any thing that another could spare ; and if ever the spirit of disinterested friendship expanded the heart of a Northern Indian , it was here exhibited in the most extensive meaning of the word . Property of every kind that could be of who had
general use " now ceased to be private , and every one any thing which came under that description , seemed proud of aif opportunity of giving it , or lending it those who had none , or were most in want of it . ' ' " The number of my crew was so much greater than that which five tents could contain , and the warlike manner in which they were equipof the
ped so greatly superior to what could be expected poor Esquimaux , tiiat no less than a total massacre of every one of them was likely to be the case , unless Providence should work a miracle for their deliverance . " The land was so situated that we walked under cover of the rocks and hills till we were within two hundred yards of the tents . There we lay inambush for some time , watching the motions of the
Esqui-, maux ' ; and here the Indians would have advised me to stay till the - fight was over ; but to this 1 could by no means consent : for I considered that when the' Esquimaux came to be surprised , they would trv every way to escape , and if they found me alone , not knowing me from an enemy , they would probably proceed to violence against me , when no person was near to assist . For this reason 1 determined to that 1 would not
accompany them , telling them at the same time , have ' any " hand in the murder they were about to commit , unless I found it necessary for my own safety . The Indians were not disp leased at this proposal ; one of them immediately fixed me a spear , and another lent me a broad bayonet for my protection , but at that time I could not be provided with a target ; nor did I want to
be encumbered with such an unnecessary piece of lumber . ' While we lay in ambush , the Indians performed the last ceremonies which were thought necessary before the engagement . These chiefly consisted in painting their faces ; some all black , some all . red , and others with a mixture of the two ; and to prevent their hair from blowing into their it was either tied before ancl behindand on
eyes , , both sides , or else ciit short all round . The next thing they considered was to make themselves as lig ht as possible for running ; which they did , by pulling . off their stockings , and . either cutting off the sleeves of their jackets , or roiling thein up close to their arm-pits ; and though the ' nuiskettoes at that time were so numerous a * to surpass all credibility , yet some of the Indians [ actually pulled ' oif their