Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
their jackets , and entered the lists quite naked , except their breechcloths and shoes . Fearing I might have occasion to run with the rest , I thought it also adviseabie to pull off my stockings and eap , and to tie my hair as close up as possible . " By the time the Indians had made themselves thus completel y frightful , it was near one o ' clock in the morning of the seventeenth ;
when , finding all the Esquimaux quiet in their tents , they rushed forth from their ambuscade , and fell on the poor unsuspecting creatures , unperceived till close at the very eves of their tents , when they soon began the bloody massacre , while I stood neuter in the rear . " In a few seconds the horrible scene commenced ; it was shocking beyond description ; the poor unhappy victims were surprised in the their
midst of sleep , and had neither time nor » power to make anv resistance ; men , women , and children , in all upward of twenty , ran out of their tents stark naked , and endeavoured to make their escaoe ; but the Indians having possession of all the land-side ; to no place could they fly for shelter . One alternative only remained , that of jumping into the river ; butas none of them attempted itthey all fell a
sacri-, , fice to Indian barbarity ! " The shrieks and groans of the poor expiring wretches were trul y dreadful ; and my horror was much increased at seeino * a youno * o-ir j seemingly about eighteen years of age , killed so near me , that , ' when the first spear was stuck into her side , she fell down at my- feet , and twisted round my legs , so that it was with difficulty I could
disengage myself from her d ying grasps . As two' Indian men pursued this unfortunate victim , I solicited very hard for her life ; but the murderers made no reply till they had stuck both their spears through her body , and transfixed her to the ground . They then looked me sternly in tiie face , and began to ridicule me , by asking if I wanted an Esquimaux wife ? and paid not the smallest regard to the shrieks ancl of the
agony poor wretch , who was twinim ? round their spears like an eel ! Indeed , after receiving much abusive language from them On the occasion , I was at length obliged to desire that they would be more expeditious in dispatching : then * victim out of her misery , otherwise' I should be obliged , out of pity , to assist in the friendly office of putting an end to the existence of a fellow-creature who cruellwounded
was y . On this request being made , one of the Indians hastily drew his spear from the place where it was first lodged , and pierced her through her breast near the heart . The love of life , however , even in this most miserable state , was so predominant , that though this mi ght justly be called the most merciful act that could be done for the poor creature , it seemed to be unwelfor much exhausted
come : though bv pain and loss of blood , she made several efforts to ward off the friendly blow . My situation and the terror of my mind , at beholding this butchery , cannot easil y be conceived , much less described ; though I summed up all the fortitude I was master of on the occasion , it was with difficulty that I could retrain from tears ; and I am confident : , that my features must have feelingly expressed how sincerel y I was affected at the barbarous scene I S s 3
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
their jackets , and entered the lists quite naked , except their breechcloths and shoes . Fearing I might have occasion to run with the rest , I thought it also adviseabie to pull off my stockings and eap , and to tie my hair as close up as possible . " By the time the Indians had made themselves thus completel y frightful , it was near one o ' clock in the morning of the seventeenth ;
when , finding all the Esquimaux quiet in their tents , they rushed forth from their ambuscade , and fell on the poor unsuspecting creatures , unperceived till close at the very eves of their tents , when they soon began the bloody massacre , while I stood neuter in the rear . " In a few seconds the horrible scene commenced ; it was shocking beyond description ; the poor unhappy victims were surprised in the their
midst of sleep , and had neither time nor » power to make anv resistance ; men , women , and children , in all upward of twenty , ran out of their tents stark naked , and endeavoured to make their escaoe ; but the Indians having possession of all the land-side ; to no place could they fly for shelter . One alternative only remained , that of jumping into the river ; butas none of them attempted itthey all fell a
sacri-, , fice to Indian barbarity ! " The shrieks and groans of the poor expiring wretches were trul y dreadful ; and my horror was much increased at seeino * a youno * o-ir j seemingly about eighteen years of age , killed so near me , that , ' when the first spear was stuck into her side , she fell down at my- feet , and twisted round my legs , so that it was with difficulty I could
disengage myself from her d ying grasps . As two' Indian men pursued this unfortunate victim , I solicited very hard for her life ; but the murderers made no reply till they had stuck both their spears through her body , and transfixed her to the ground . They then looked me sternly in tiie face , and began to ridicule me , by asking if I wanted an Esquimaux wife ? and paid not the smallest regard to the shrieks ancl of the
agony poor wretch , who was twinim ? round their spears like an eel ! Indeed , after receiving much abusive language from them On the occasion , I was at length obliged to desire that they would be more expeditious in dispatching : then * victim out of her misery , otherwise' I should be obliged , out of pity , to assist in the friendly office of putting an end to the existence of a fellow-creature who cruellwounded
was y . On this request being made , one of the Indians hastily drew his spear from the place where it was first lodged , and pierced her through her breast near the heart . The love of life , however , even in this most miserable state , was so predominant , that though this mi ght justly be called the most merciful act that could be done for the poor creature , it seemed to be unwelfor much exhausted
come : though bv pain and loss of blood , she made several efforts to ward off the friendly blow . My situation and the terror of my mind , at beholding this butchery , cannot easil y be conceived , much less described ; though I summed up all the fortitude I was master of on the occasion , it was with difficulty that I could retrain from tears ; and I am confident : , that my features must have feelingly expressed how sincerel y I was affected at the barbarous scene I S s 3