Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.
which was very large , vied w ith another in showing me favour and protection ; and when any disturbance arose in the camp , or alarm of danger , such as the young fellows sometimes excite , out of mere wantonness or in a drunken frolic , killing any of the captives that may come in their way , I was always hid till the danger was over- King Ouasser soon became so fond of me , that he offered to make me his son-in-law , should I be disposed for matrimony , and fancy any of his
daughters , who were reckoned the handsomest girls in the camp , and possessed more wampum than any others . He was satisfied with my telling him that I deemed myself highl y honoured by the proffered alliance , and that although at that time not inclined to take to myself a wife , I did not know how soon I might change my mind , and that then assuredly 1 should be most happy to select one of the princesses of his familfor a partner . Little did I suspect at this time that the
y tranquillity and ease which I now so far enjoyed were to be of so short a duration . I had not been in Ouasser ' s family above ten days , when my former father , Peewash , expressed a strong desire to have me back again , saying , that he and his squaw had heartily repented selling me to the Frenchman , and that they were even ready , to return the merchandise they had received for me if I was restored to them , adding , that it grieved their hearts to see me in the possession of another .
Ouasser , however great his desire to keep me , knew that although chief of the tribe he had no power to keep to himself what was another ' s property . He likewise did not choose to expose himself or his family to the revenge of Peewash , who would take the first opportunity to resent such an injury . He therefore found himself obliged to give me up to my first master , who , with his whole house received me again with joy and every mark of affection ; whilst the family of Ouasser seemed sorry to part with me , the princesses themselves showing they were not indifferent .
The number of prisoners made by the Indians increased every day , and towards the end of July they had upwards of fifty , besides , a great number of scalps were brought into the camp . My prospects were by no means pleasant , or improving . Every day they were murdering some of the captives , even such as had lived as long amongst them as myself . One day in particular , I was in the hall of a Frenchman ' s house which was crowded with Indians , when some of the young warriors brought
in eig ht of the captives naked into the hall , at the si g ht of which I \ vas astonished and terrified . I asked of an Indian who was of the same nation with me , if he thought I was likely to fall a sacrifice with those they were about to murder . At this question he looked amazed to see me there , and without say ing a word hurried me through the crowd , and put me into another room of the house , charging me to lie close and make no noise , otherwise I should be discovered and killed . He then this
locked the door , and left me to reflect on what had passed . In room I found two Dutch merchants in the same circumstances as myself , haviii" - been hid there by their masters to save them from the fury of the others . While we were here concealed we heard the savages making Ion" - haran gues over the unhappy persons who were about to suffer , whom tliey " informed that it was in order to make the Indians prosper in war against the English that they were to be sacrificed . Those poor victims were begging the French people who were present to intercede in their behalf . One little boy , a drummer in the rangers , about twelve years old , was crying bitterly , and imploring their mercy : but alas ! he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.
which was very large , vied w ith another in showing me favour and protection ; and when any disturbance arose in the camp , or alarm of danger , such as the young fellows sometimes excite , out of mere wantonness or in a drunken frolic , killing any of the captives that may come in their way , I was always hid till the danger was over- King Ouasser soon became so fond of me , that he offered to make me his son-in-law , should I be disposed for matrimony , and fancy any of his
daughters , who were reckoned the handsomest girls in the camp , and possessed more wampum than any others . He was satisfied with my telling him that I deemed myself highl y honoured by the proffered alliance , and that although at that time not inclined to take to myself a wife , I did not know how soon I might change my mind , and that then assuredly 1 should be most happy to select one of the princesses of his familfor a partner . Little did I suspect at this time that the
y tranquillity and ease which I now so far enjoyed were to be of so short a duration . I had not been in Ouasser ' s family above ten days , when my former father , Peewash , expressed a strong desire to have me back again , saying , that he and his squaw had heartily repented selling me to the Frenchman , and that they were even ready , to return the merchandise they had received for me if I was restored to them , adding , that it grieved their hearts to see me in the possession of another .
Ouasser , however great his desire to keep me , knew that although chief of the tribe he had no power to keep to himself what was another ' s property . He likewise did not choose to expose himself or his family to the revenge of Peewash , who would take the first opportunity to resent such an injury . He therefore found himself obliged to give me up to my first master , who , with his whole house received me again with joy and every mark of affection ; whilst the family of Ouasser seemed sorry to part with me , the princesses themselves showing they were not indifferent .
The number of prisoners made by the Indians increased every day , and towards the end of July they had upwards of fifty , besides , a great number of scalps were brought into the camp . My prospects were by no means pleasant , or improving . Every day they were murdering some of the captives , even such as had lived as long amongst them as myself . One day in particular , I was in the hall of a Frenchman ' s house which was crowded with Indians , when some of the young warriors brought
in eig ht of the captives naked into the hall , at the si g ht of which I \ vas astonished and terrified . I asked of an Indian who was of the same nation with me , if he thought I was likely to fall a sacrifice with those they were about to murder . At this question he looked amazed to see me there , and without say ing a word hurried me through the crowd , and put me into another room of the house , charging me to lie close and make no noise , otherwise I should be discovered and killed . He then this
locked the door , and left me to reflect on what had passed . In room I found two Dutch merchants in the same circumstances as myself , haviii" - been hid there by their masters to save them from the fury of the others . While we were here concealed we heard the savages making Ion" - haran gues over the unhappy persons who were about to suffer , whom tliey " informed that it was in order to make the Indians prosper in war against the English that they were to be sacrificed . Those poor victims were begging the French people who were present to intercede in their behalf . One little boy , a drummer in the rangers , about twelve years old , was crying bitterly , and imploring their mercy : but alas ! he