Newspaper Page Text
THE REFLECTOR-
MILLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER.22, 1818.
NO. 46.
I'THKRN INDIANS.
journal Witten in the Crock-nation of Indians.
_ svernment of the Creeks is in form
ii, each town or village elect ;i chief
whose authority :s never disputed,’
he remains in office, and who rc-
his town in the great council at
business of the nation is transact-
hcre a speaker or head man of the
lected. The military authority is
nd subordinate to the civil. M’ln-
relebratcd warrior, reports to and
orders from the civil head of the
-nt. But although their chiefs arc
.ted, they are invested with more
an any legitimate sovereign in Eti-
1 the submission the people pay to
riors is so remarkable that they
bmit to the most arbitrary acts of
iefs of towns execute, the laws in
summary manner. Murder is pull
ing them by putting the murderer
if he can lie found ; if lie abscond,
i death his nearest male relation,
nerates the original aggressor, who
safely return. If a man kills a
e himself is not executed for the
t they put to death his sister or o-
fcinnic relation. In many instances,
s make relations responsible for each
lis has created among them a great
to family ; there is little social in-
:, except among those, united by tin
lood. The knowledge they have nt
ideations and branches, not only <>i
-n family but of those of the whole
surprising. No lieraldy office could
correct or minute than the heads of
their old men. I was once aked by
an, who spoke a little English, “ you
e f” I answered “ no.” «» No !” he
ed, “ why my father killed six men
attle and was astonished that any
should not know a man who was thus
islicd by his ancestor. In one of tin
I passed, there had been a lew days
a frac as, at which a man was killed,
rderer was immediately secured, ami
ef ordered him to dig a grave, for
he had killed and put him into it.—
had done this, lie was told to put .
over the man ; while doing this
knocked hi.n in the head, and buri-
both together, acting himself
ury, executioner and sexton,
ng marks so much the barbarous,
ed state of these savages, as tli
in which their women are treated.—
y is allowed among them, they are
d to have as many wives they are
pport. The consent of the woman
age is never asked, she must h
om her father, to him application is
hen, if accompanied with presents,
refused, and a marriage takes plat
he parties having previously ex
it word wi'.’i each other. Ail assein-
rrlations to drink or dance, is all
ony used on the occasion. From
art either party may he divorced,
three months before-hand, that
corn is ripened, it is their int.cn-
rt. The women are employed in
servile, menial drudgery, working
"ield, cooking, pounding or grind-
anil drying fish are their prin-
upations. A widow is compel!
ain single four years after the deal!
‘band.
meat to ardent spirits is a general
pg '.'lose people. Teeuinseh end
vain to eradicate tlris inveterate
Mississippi into hostility against the United
States. This was a field worthy of his great
and enterprising genius. lie commenced in
the year J 809, and in the execution of his
project he displayed unequalled adroitness,
loquence and courage. He insinuated him
self into every tribe from Micliilimackinak
to Georgia and was invariably successful in
his attempts to bring them over to his views,
lie played upon their feelings, but principal
ly upon their superstitions, and sometimes
assumed the character of a prophet, and car
ried with him a red stick, to which lie at
tached certain mystical properties, and the
acceptance of which was considered as the
joining of Ids party, from hence the name
Red Stick is applied to all Indians hostile to
the United States. Unfortunately for Te-
cumsch, but happily for the United States
was it, that before his plan hail become ma
tured, before his arrangements for general
hostility were perfected, before, in fact, he
had properly organized or brought into the
field any of his forces, his brother made a
premature attack upon the troops of the U.
States, under the command of colonel Boyd,
in the summer of 1811, at Tippecanoe, iii
w hit'll he suffered asigual defeat. The disas
ter marred the prospect of the gallant Tccuin-
seli; his own soul was unshaken, but it
(lamped the ardor of his associates ; and al
though many continued firm in their warlik<
Attitude and hostile intentions towards the
whites, yet numbers shrunk from a contest
'hat had commenced with defeat, and all the
hurts of Teeuinseh were unavailing to s ip-
ply the links thus broken in his chain of ope
rations. The w^r against England declared
soon after this event by the United States,
opened new views to the talents of Teeuinseh.
llis merits were duly appreciated by the Bri
tish go /eminent, and they made him a bri
gadier general in their service. At the head
of Itis formidable warriors, he more than
once turned the scale of victory against the
Americans, and Detroit, river Basin and
Fort Meigs were witnesses of his conduct
and valor. In 1813, w hen general IiarriBon
entered Canada, Tccumseh advised colonel
1’roetor to attack him ; the British colonel
prelered retreating ; an attack was, howe
ver sustained near the river Thames, in
which Teeuinseh displayed his usual ability,
and laid down his life for the cause he had
espoused.
An Indian is at home in any part of the
forest; lie curries with him parched corn
pulverised, and at night, if lie has shot no
tiling, lie cooks his parched corn with water
alone, which although insipid to liio taste is
exceedingly nutritious, and sleeps in the. o-
pen air. If he- intends civamping lor seve
ral days, or the weather is bad, he strips the
bark from a pine tree and makes shelter that
secures him from rain.
sell was the most‘extraordinary In-
lias ever appeared in their history,
y birth a Shawannees, and would
a great nran in any age or nation
nt of the most consummate couragi
s a warrior, and all the charactcr-
ncss of his race, he was endowed
with all the attributes of a mind
for great political combinations.—
understanding very e.tly in lift
im,that they were gradually yield-
whites, who were acquiring an im-
ucnce over them. Instigated lit
iderations, and, perhaps, by hi
unity and attachment to war, lie
lecided enemy to the whites, and
invincible determination (lie sur-
but with his life) to regain for
tire proud independence lie sup-
ad lost. For a number of years
most in every actol hostility com-
inst those lie conceived were the
of his countrymen* and was equal-
able for intrepidity* as skill* in
ats that took place under his ban-
re, at length, of the extent, num-
wer of the United States, he be-
convinced of the futility of any
n of red men attempting to cope
He formed therefore the grand
uniting all the tribes ejist of the
I passed where a little girl had been shot
through the arm, and scalped notw ithstand
ing which she is in a fair way to recover.—
Scalping is a custom among these people
wlirn they have killed or wounded an enemy,
by making a circle r.unid the top of the head
with a knife and stripping off the skin ; this
ncrally followed by acoup-de-gracc with
the tomahawk. Scalps arc trophies held in
great esteem among them ; and lie who can
produce the largest number is entitled to the
high honors awarded a great warrior, a till
Of much distinction among them. Frequent
instances have occurred of recovery of per
sons who have been scalped when the other
wounds they have received were slight.—
During the war of the revolution, and in the
last war, the Indians employed by the Brit
ish government received their compensation
in a stipulated price for each scalp they pro-
ddred. 1 am sorry to say that the practice
of scalping is sometimes adopted by our fron
tier militia.
The facility with which an Indian can dis
cover the track or trail of man or beast is
really surprising: where an inexperienced
observer is unable to discover that either
have passed, an Indian will trace the marks
with unerring accuracy anil be able to tell
how many there were, and how long it lias
been since they passed. On all subjects that
it is indispensably necessary for them to have
an acquaintance with, in the prosecution of
their wars, or in the pursuit of game, they
discover an acuteness and sagacity very sur
prising, considering their ignorance on ab
stract subjects.
General Gaines lias bad a narrow escape ;
when general Jackson arrived at Hartford,
general Gaines, anxious to prepare his brig
ade for movement, and fearful that the offi-
•cr commanding at Fort Scott should, un
aware of the approach of supplies, abandon
Ids post, resolved on making the hazardous
attempt of reaching the Fort. The Flint
river, on which Fort Scott is situated, was
at this time very much swollen, and its cur
rent exceedingly rapid and w ide. He em
barked on board a boat with two officers
and twelve men. He had proceeded down
the river hilt 70 miles, when his boat struck
upon a stump on an island then overflowed by
w ater,the boat, filled but luckily did not sink.
It was nignt; major Wright and two sol
diers immediately attempted to swim ashore,
but they perished iu the attempt. The gen
eral remained in the boat about one hour,
lie then prepared himself to swim and start
ed with five soldiers and a strong active Iu|.
dian named Billy. The current was ex
tremely rapid, and they had half a mile to
swim. The Indian had torn a piece of hoard
from the boat to which he attached a string
that lie carried in his teeth, and by that
means rendered the general great assistance.
They reached the shore, with the loss of
three out of the seven that started. General
Gaines hailed the boat and informed major
Nicks of the loss he had sustained, in con
sequence of which, those who survived re
mained on the wreck until next day, when
they all, except one, reached the shore, op
posite to that on w hich the gen. had landed.
General Gaines now found himself naked,
without food,- in a wilderness, surrounded
by hostile Indians who would immediately
put him to death if they discovered him.—
He decided on endeavoring to reach Fort
Scott, distant as he immagined 35 miles, but
lie soon became weak, sick, exhausted and
unable to proceed. He dispatched the Indi
an and a soldier, to endeavor to reach Fort
Scott and bring him assistance and an cs-
ort. After waiting with ail anxiety that
may be t -adily imagined, a sufficient time
for time for tiie Indian to have returned, lie
began to apprehend that either Fort Scott
hud been abandoned or that the Indian had
been destroyed in attempting to reach it.—
ile determined therefore to reach an Indian
settlement, distant about 50 miles although
doubtful whether it was a friendly or a hos
tile one. lie wrote on the sand a statement
>f the route lie had taken, intending if tin
Indian should return, that he might be able
to find him, and in his weak exhausted state
proceeded, lie had no guide but the river,
and his path was intersected by creeks that
lie bad to swim, and swamps to wade thro*.
He was obliged to travel very cautiously, the
wood being filled with hostile Indians, and
inalile to make a fire, and without clothes.
ie suffered much from the cold, lie was witli-
iut any arms but a penknife, with which he
ut clubs for himself and the soldier, and he
had determined, should he meet with but
two or three Indians in a body, he would at-
tark and endeavor to take their arms, lie
requenlly saw tracts of the savage enemy,
and more than once warmed himself at fires
they, had just quitted. At length, after be
ing about four days without tasting a mouth
ful of food, he reached an Indian village : he
found the warriors had all left it, and was
received with great coldness by an old squaw,
to whose hut he first went, and from whom
with much difficulty he procured a breakfast.
It is remarkable, that although the general
and his soldier had been four days without,
food, yet when some cooked venison was
placed before them, they felt little disposi
tion to eat, and experienced no inconveni
ence from long abstinence. The general
proceeded, and soon after joined the army.
in this, however, owing to the failure of his
principal mind, lie but partially succeeded ;
immense breaches, it is true, were made in
ils w alls, and several of the towns attached
to them, laid in ruins, with the arsenal, Ac.;
>ne church only was prprthrown, the steeplo
of which, (the highest in Moscow) remains
quite unhurt. The largest bell then hang
ing in Moscow was in this steeple, which
fell down at that time, and still lies upon the
ground into this bell I have walked and stood
upright with case, against the, hook to which
the clapper was fixed. This is said to be
the second largest bell in the world, the first
lying in a large hole in the kremlin, where it
('•II many years ago, nearly covered with
dirt, and will in a few years more be doubt*
less quite hidden ; this one is said to weigh
432,000 lbs. our weight. In the. kremlin, a-
inong other wonderful things, is a cannon,
the weight of which, is 2100 poods or 75,600
lbs ; this was never discharged but once,,
which was on the coronation of the emperor
I’aul. Here too arc to he seen seven hund
red and fifty-three pieces of cannon which
vcrc taken from the French in the campaign
>f 1812.
•* Moscow, though containing many mag
nificent edifices, is awkwardly and irregu
larly built, presenting to the eye in the part
•f it which was preserved from the flames,
md in those again built up, the prince’s pal
ace and the peasant’s hut, at the same time.
Unlike our cities, in the very centre of it
■hi the finest streets, the most miserable
buildings are to be seen, so that a person in
'Moscow can say with the strictest truth
that he has almost constantly at the same
lime before his eyes, the extremes of wealth
and of poverty. I am sensible that I am re
peating here what you have read perhaps in
many books, but I flatter myself it will af
ford you some satisfaction to receive the
same detail from me, inasmuch as you will
lecl confident that in reading it you are not
reading a thing of falsehood, made up by
travellers to deceive the world.”
TOPOGRAPHY.
LI.TTi.US FROM IIUSSIA.
MOSCOW.
“ I am now in Moscow for the purpose of
learning the Russian language (which, let
me observe by the way, is totally different
from all of the modern ones of Europe, anil
consequently very difficult to learn well,)
but if I succeed in it as 1 hope to do, it will
probably he the cause of, or at least great
inducement for my staying long iu this coun
try. The advantages which the possession
of the language promises, arc surely great
and ought not to be thrown away, out of
weakness or irresolution.
“ It is very certain that, in a country
where the language, manners, and every
thing arc different from what they are in
ours, I cannot be so happy as at home, yet
in a general way, I am very well contented
and I do uot allow myself to forget that 1
came here not like a lord, in search of a- ;
imisemcnt. but like some of those curious
fellows whose adventures we used to read
of when children,« to seek my fortune.”
“ And now, since I am in Moscow, I am
sure you will expect me to say something to
you concerning it, and much more than I am
able to say. According to a book which
was some years since published here con
cerning it, this city is eleven versts or about
7 3-4 of our miles long, 7 3-4 versts nr 5 3-4
miles in circumference. It contains at pres
ent 273 churches, and 20 monasteries and
convents ; the kremlin is constructed about
tbe middle of the town, on an elevated spot,
and was at one time the strong hold of the
ancient monarchs ; it was at first built with
wood in the year 1300, and renewed with
stone in the fifteenth century : the ground it
encloses is considerable, and it contains 13
churches, two palaces, arsenals, &c. Ac. all
fine, and somo of them magnificent build
ings. It is well known to you that this was
attempted to be destroyed by Bonaparte j ’ e9,
ST. PETERSBURG!!.
“"With regard to St. Petersburg!!, I could
never express to you the sensations with
which I first entered that magnificent city.
After having passed over Sweden and Hol
land, where (in their towns). I saw nothing
remarkable, but much filth and poverty, I
was not prepared for such a sight. It were
vain for ine to attempt describing to you the
thousand tilings I saw in it to delight me, ami
not at all useful. For me to enlarge upon
the beauty ot particular edifices, public
works, Ac. of which, without a long and la
bored description, it would be impossible for
you to have an idea : suffice it to say, that
the regularity, proportion, and scale of gran
deur upon which every thing in it is execut
ed has given me a better idea of what is ne
cessary to constitute a splendid city than I
had ever imagined, or (if I am to believe
travellers) than those who have not been at
St. Petersburg!! have ever seen.
The city of St. Petersburgh is, taken as a
ity, splendid in the full sense of the term-*
the streets are wide, many of them intersect
ed by large canals, which serve to supply
every part of the town with wood, materials
for building Ac. at a cheap rate : the houses
are very large and bcauliful ; none of them,
however, of the original color of the brick,
as ours are ; they arc all plastered and col
ored, occasionally yellow or green, but for
the most part white. The left bank of the
Neva, for two versts, and probably more, i3
beautified by a fine granite wall and walk.—
The boulevard is about one verst in length.
The winter palace of the Emperor Alexan
der is 660 feet in length, and 510 in breadth ;
it is by no means a handsome building ; its
windows are small, and at every step it is
deformed by columns ; it is also plastered.
The houses plastered in this manner, as long
as they are new, look very well; but after a
while the plaster scales off, and when this is
The case the appearance is very incau ; not
much of this, however, is seen here, as the
people are conscious of this fact, and, gener
ally speaking, keep the plaster at least ia
good order. The city is built on many little
islands formed by the Neva; the greater
portion of it is on the left bank of that river,
which is fast ground. Two bridges connect
thcjcity’s three principal parts, viz. that on
the Vassily Ostroff, (or Basil’s island ; Os-
trnff, in their language, meauing island) that
on the kaminy ostroff, or stony island, and
that on fast land ; these bridges are construct
ed on large boats, which appear like the hulks
of tolerably large vessels, but are built of
pine, and flat bottomed ; each bridge is built
on 18 boats, or thereabouts ; as soon as tbe
ice eomes down the Neva in the fall of tho
year, they are swung, and not replaced till
the spring, w hen the ice is all gone. This
is a great inconvenience ; for at that seasoa
it is sometimes weeks that the ice continues
floating, and although the river can general*
ly be crossed in boats, still the inhabitants
are deprived of the convenience of the bridg.
i arrived here on Urn 2d wf Majr, 1814,
