Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.*
arriving at a Frenchman ' s quarters in the neig hbourhood of Detroit . This man , being a friend of my master ' s , we took up our residence close by his house , rather than join with the rest of the Indian warriors , who were encamped five miles nearer the Fort . We immediately set about buildin ° - a large bark house , more convenient than those they generally carry about with them . This we finished in about four days' time , the severest part of the labour falling to my share , such as carrying home lace without doors that I
the wood and water . Here the fire-p was , so was obliged to broil in the sun for two hours every day over a fire cooking their kettle of fish and Indian corn . The pain I then suffered was almost inexpressible , not having even so much as a shirt to protect me from the scorching rays ; and my back became in consequence so burnt , that it was one continued blister ; the palms of my hands being in the same condition , from constant working with the axe . Another piece of fatigue to which I was here subjected , was that of assisting my mistress in planting a large field with Indian corn or maize , pumpkins ,
and other vegetables , . , , When the necessary preparations for our establishment were'finished , my master carried me with him to the great encampment of the Indian warriors , about five miles distant from Fort Detroit . There I had the happiness of seeing Captain Campbell , and Lieutenant Mc Dougal , ot the 60 th Regiment , who had been sent out from the fort at the commencement of the blockade , with proposals of peace to the Indians . but detained the two officers
These however they not only rejected , as prisoners , at the house of a Frenchman . Upon my communicating to Campbell that I thought we mig ht make an attempt to escape , he advised me by no mean ' s to think of it , as he was well assured that it any individual did escape , the savages were certain to sacrifice those that remained in their hands . Both he and Lieut . Mc Dougal belonged to the Ottawa nation , and I had opportunity of visiting them
re-^ At this time prisoners and scalps were brought to the camp almost every day . The scalp , I may mention , is not as is commonly supposed , the whole skin of the scull , but only the uppermost part or crown ofthe head and must have in it that swirl in the hair peculiar to that part l , pfnrfi it can be approved of as a proper trophy . Another English officer
now fell into their hands , Ensign Pauli , of the 60 th Regiment , who was in command of a small fort on lake Erie . The Indians first entered as friends into the fort , and whilst some of them were smoking a pipe with him in pretended friendship , the rest were butchering his little garrison of whom they left not one alive . This gentleman made a very good Indian being of a dark complexion ; and was fortunate in being fancied by his captor , who adopted him into his family , by which he was exand service
empted from much drudgery . . So great a concourse of Indians as were now gathered together in the French Settlements reduced the inhabitants to great straits fov want ot provisions . They killed their cattle , sheep , and poultry , and when these failed at last we were almost starved , having no food sometimes tor a whole day , except a handful of Indian corn , which we parched m hot ashes , and ate with a spoonful of bear ' s grease . I used often to beg for a morsel of bread at the French people ' s houses , from whose doors I was frequently turned away with an empty stomach . This privation 1 was not so inured to bear as the Indians , who when sorely pinched by nun-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.*
arriving at a Frenchman ' s quarters in the neig hbourhood of Detroit . This man , being a friend of my master ' s , we took up our residence close by his house , rather than join with the rest of the Indian warriors , who were encamped five miles nearer the Fort . We immediately set about buildin ° - a large bark house , more convenient than those they generally carry about with them . This we finished in about four days' time , the severest part of the labour falling to my share , such as carrying home lace without doors that I
the wood and water . Here the fire-p was , so was obliged to broil in the sun for two hours every day over a fire cooking their kettle of fish and Indian corn . The pain I then suffered was almost inexpressible , not having even so much as a shirt to protect me from the scorching rays ; and my back became in consequence so burnt , that it was one continued blister ; the palms of my hands being in the same condition , from constant working with the axe . Another piece of fatigue to which I was here subjected , was that of assisting my mistress in planting a large field with Indian corn or maize , pumpkins ,
and other vegetables , . , , When the necessary preparations for our establishment were'finished , my master carried me with him to the great encampment of the Indian warriors , about five miles distant from Fort Detroit . There I had the happiness of seeing Captain Campbell , and Lieutenant Mc Dougal , ot the 60 th Regiment , who had been sent out from the fort at the commencement of the blockade , with proposals of peace to the Indians . but detained the two officers
These however they not only rejected , as prisoners , at the house of a Frenchman . Upon my communicating to Campbell that I thought we mig ht make an attempt to escape , he advised me by no mean ' s to think of it , as he was well assured that it any individual did escape , the savages were certain to sacrifice those that remained in their hands . Both he and Lieut . Mc Dougal belonged to the Ottawa nation , and I had opportunity of visiting them
re-^ At this time prisoners and scalps were brought to the camp almost every day . The scalp , I may mention , is not as is commonly supposed , the whole skin of the scull , but only the uppermost part or crown ofthe head and must have in it that swirl in the hair peculiar to that part l , pfnrfi it can be approved of as a proper trophy . Another English officer
now fell into their hands , Ensign Pauli , of the 60 th Regiment , who was in command of a small fort on lake Erie . The Indians first entered as friends into the fort , and whilst some of them were smoking a pipe with him in pretended friendship , the rest were butchering his little garrison of whom they left not one alive . This gentleman made a very good Indian being of a dark complexion ; and was fortunate in being fancied by his captor , who adopted him into his family , by which he was exand service
empted from much drudgery . . So great a concourse of Indians as were now gathered together in the French Settlements reduced the inhabitants to great straits fov want ot provisions . They killed their cattle , sheep , and poultry , and when these failed at last we were almost starved , having no food sometimes tor a whole day , except a handful of Indian corn , which we parched m hot ashes , and ate with a spoonful of bear ' s grease . I used often to beg for a morsel of bread at the French people ' s houses , from whose doors I was frequently turned away with an empty stomach . This privation 1 was not so inured to bear as the Indians , who when sorely pinched by nun-