File:Thrilling adventures among the Indians- comprising the most remarkable personal narratives of events in the early Indian wars, as well as of incidents in the recent Indian hostilities in Mexico and (14759736626).jpg

Identifier: thrillingadventu00fros_1 (find matches)
Title: Thrilling adventures among the Indians: comprising the most remarkable personal narratives of events in the early Indian wars, as well as of incidents in the recent Indian hostilities in Mexico and Texas
Year: 1850 (1850s)
Authors: Frost, John, 1800-1859
Subjects: Indians of North America Indian captivities
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Bradley Lowell, L. P. Crown
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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s lands, and watchfor the coming boat of the white men. His orderswere obeyed; and on that same high promontory, overthe tomb of the Indian warrior was raised his nationalbanner, capped with the scalps which he had takenin battle. Of course the Indians regard the rock withsuperstitious reverence, and have their own stories ofthe scenes which occasionally take place on andaround it. This ceremony seems to be peculiar to the Assin-neboin Indians. A small fire is made on a hard-trod-den pavement in front of the village, and round thisthe dancers, generally young men, collect—eachseated upon a bulfalo robe spread on the ground.The presiding genius is a chief, sometimes a medicine-man, who, with a long pipe in his hand, seats him-self by the fire, and smokes with a fervour and per-severance worthy the dignity of an Indian ceremony.Occasionally he harmonizes the surrounding uproar bya song uttered in half-strangled gutturals, intelligibleonly to himself Meanwhile^ an equally august per- 1
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ESCAPE FROM TORTURE. 851 sonage beats on a drum, modifying its music by asong, wholly independent of the pipe-smokers. In alittle while, one of the young men leaps from theground, and, while singing in time with the taps of thedrum, leaps about off of one foot and on to the otherin the most violent manner. In this way he goesround the circle several times, brandishing his fists inthe face of each one seated, and at length jerking oneof them forcibly to his feet. Both now dance andsing, until at length another is dragged out, who, inhis turn, drags another. The whole party then joinin frightful yells, and gesticulations so violent thatthe earth seems to shake under their feet. Mean-while, the master of ceremonies sits with the utmostcoolness, puffing clouds of smoke, and merrily grunt-ing his inimitable song. The dance usually lastsnearly an hour, and closes with piercing yells andbarkings, like those uttered by frightened dogs. A RENOWNED Muscoghec warrior, named OldScranny, was taken

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