Newspaper Page Text
No. 35 Vot, IV.
From the Democratitk Preu,
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
One of the roost valuable in<l best writ
ten books touching tbe immediate interests
of the United States, which has issued from
our press, is this day published by Messrs.
and Lee. ■lt is in two volumes of up
wards of 500 pages each, and accompanied
with an atlas. The mechanical part of the
books is well executed. We hastily, but
with deep interest, perused these two vol
umes. They contain a mass of information
-as to the country and Indians. Its face and
resources, its rivers and other natural rich
es, now for the first time spread before us,
expand our minds so as almost to embrace
the fdture population and greatuess of the
IJnited States. While our imaginations
wander over the villages and hunting
grounds of the Indians, and our eyes may
be said to behold them in the enjoyment
of health and activity, and our ears to hear
the eloquence which promises so much, if
the mind whence it flows were cultivated;
when these objects present themselves we
cannot but regret that they will soon be no
more.—lt seems a dispensation of Provi
dence that the Indian race must, every
where, fall before the scythe of civilization.
%Ve submit a quotation from the “expedi
tion to the Rocky Mountains,” which, while
it presents a fair specimen of the work,
■conveys information of an interesting char
acter. The party, under Major Long,
were within two miles of a Pawnee Village
when an Indian messenger requested them
to halt to enable the Chiefs to make suita
ble arrangements to meet the representa
tives of a nation “so great and powerful as
that of the Big-Knives.”
After waiting a short time, we observed,
af the distance of a mile before us, a great
number of mounted Indians emerging sud
denly, apparently from the plain itself, for
we could not then see a ravine that had
previously concealed them from our view.
They immediately began to ride in various
directions, and to perform numerous evolu
tions until the whole were arranged in a
widely extended line. These movements
having ceased, we perceived a small body of
men who were independent of the others, &
who were advancing at a moderate pace.
When all were formed, they set forwards
slowly at first, but gradually increasing their
•peed as they approached, until they sur
rounded us at a full charge. It is impossible
hy description to do justice to the scene of
a savage magnificence that was now display
ed. Between three and four hundred
mounted Indians, dressed in their richest
habiliments of war, were rushing around U 9
in every direction, with streaming feathers,
war weapons, and with loud shouts and
yells. The few whom we had observed in
advance of the main body, and whom, as
they came near, we recognized to be tbe
chief men, presented a perfect contrast to
the others in their slow movements, and
simplicity of dress. Courtesy obliged us to
shake hands with each individual as they
came to us in succession for that purpose,
nor was a single soldier of our train forgot
ten on this occasion by any of them. They
expressed great satisfaction on account of
our visit, rubbing their breasts in token of
the sincerity of this pleasure. Many re
marked that the nation had been mourning
for their grievoijs losses in a recent battle
with an enemy ; but that now grief should
give place to rejoicing. Major O’Fallon
addressed the Indians, as usual —after which
ave again moved on towards the village.
Latcleshu, the grand chief, perceiving that
the division of his warriours that were on
our left, raised some dust on the march, or
dered them ail So the leeward that we
might not be incommoded. Almost from
the beginning of this interesting fete,our at
tention had been attracted to a young man
who seemed to he the leader or partisan of
the warriours. He was about 23 years of
nge, of the finest form, tall, muscular, ex
ceedingly graceful, and a most preposses
sing countenance. His head dress of war,
eagles’ feathers, descended in a double se
ries upon his back like wings, to his saddle
croup, his shield was highly decorated, and
his long lance was ornamented by a plated
casing of red and blue cloth. On inquiring
of tbe interpreter, our admiration was aug
mented by learning that he was no other
than Petalsharon, with whose name and
character we were already familiar. He
is the most intrepid warriour of the nation,
eldest son of Latelesha, destined as well by
mental and physical qualifications, ashy bis
distinguished birth, to be the future leader
of this people. Seeing that his father had
taken a place in our cavalcade on the left
of Major O’Fallon, he rode up on his right,
to the exclusion of a brave officer who had
previously occupied that situation, & now re
garded him with an apparently stern aspect,
but in which there was perhaps more of ad
miration than of irritation at this unexpect
ed intrusion. The young chief caught the
look, and retorted with an eye that seemed
npver to have been averted through fear.
The name of Petalesharoo is connected
with the abolition of a custom formerly pre
valent ini’ this nation, at which humanity
shudders. .
The Pawnee Loops heretofore exhibited
the singular anomaly, amongst the Ameri
can natives, of a people addicted to the in
iiuoi.in, superstitious rile of making propjti-
the missionary.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, FEBRUARY JO, 1823.
atory offerings of human victims to Venus,
the Great Star. The origin of this sangui
nary sacrifice is unknown—probably it exis
ted previous to their intercourse with the
white traders. This solemn ceremony was
performed annually, and immediately pre
ceded their horticultural operations, for the
success of which it appears to have been in
stituted. A breach of this study, the per
formance of which they believed to be re
quired by the Great Star, it was supposed
would be succeeded by the total failure of
their crops of maize, beans and pumpkins,
and the consequent total privation of their
vegetable food.
To obviate a national calamity so formi
dable, any person was at liberty to offer up
a prisoner of either sex, that by his prow
ess in war he had become possessed of.
The devoted individual was clothed in
the gayest and most costly attire—profuse
ly supplied with the choicest food and con
stantly attended by the magi, who anticipat
ed all his wants, cautiously concealed from
him the real object of their sedulous atten
tions, and endeavoured to preserve his
miud in a state of cheerfulness, with the
view of promoting obesity, and thereby
rendering the sacrifice more acceptable
to their Ceres.
When the victim was thus sufficiently fat
tened for (heir purpose, a suitable day was
appointed for the performance of the rite,
that the whole nation might attend.
The victim was bound to a cross, in pre
sence of the assembled mullitude, when a
solemn dance was performed, and after some
other ceremonies, the warriour whose pris
oner he hd been, cleaved his head with the
tomahawk, and his speedy death was insured
by numerous archers, who penetrated his
body with their arrows.”
A trader informed us that the squaws
ent piecesof flesh from the deceased, with
which they greased their hoes; but Ibis
was denied by another who bad been pre
sent at one of these sacrifices. However
this may be, the ceremony was believed to
have called down a blessing upon the la
bours of the field, Had they proceeded to
planting without delay.
The present mild and humane chief of
the nation, Latelesha, or Knife-chief, bad
long regarded this sacrifice as an unneces
sary and cruel exhibition of power, exerci*
ed upon unfortunate and defenceless individ
uals, whom they were hound to protect,
and he vainly endeavoured to abolish it by
philanthropick admonitions.
An letan woman who was brought cap
tive info the village, was doomed to the
Great Star, by the warriour, whose proper
ty she had become by the fate of war. She
underwent the usual preparation, and on
the appointed day, was led to the cross,
amidst a great concourse of people, as ea
ger, perhaps, as their civilized fellow men,
to witness the horrours of n execution.
The victim was bound to tbe cross with
thongs of skin, and tbe ceremonies being
performed, her dread of a most terrible
death was about to be terminated by the
tomahawk and the arrow. At this critical
juncture, Petalesharoo (son of the Knife
chief) stepped forward into the area, and
in a hurried hut firm manner declared
that it was his father’s wish to abolish this
sacrifice ; that for himself, be had present
ed himself before them for the purpose of
Uying down his life upon the spot, or for
the purpose of releasing the victim.—He
then cut the cords which bound her to the
cross, carried her swjftly through the crowd
to a horse, which he preseuted to her, and
having mounted another himself, he con
veyed her beyond the reach of immediate
pursuit; when, after having supplied her
with food, and admonishing her to make the
best of her way. to her own nation, which
was at the distance of at least four hundred
miles, he was constrained to return to his
village. The emancipated letan had, bow
ever, the good fortune, on her journey of
the .subsequent day, so maet with a war
parly of her own people, by whom she was
conveyed to her family in safety.
This daring deed would, almost to a cer
tainty, have terminated in an unsuccessful
attempt, under the arm of any other war
riour, and Petalesharoo was, no doubt, in
debted for this successful and noble achieve
ment to the distinguished renown, wbieh
his feats of chivalry had already gained for
him, and which commanded the high re
spect of all his rival warriours.
Notwithstanding the signal success of this
enterprise, another display of the firmness
and determination of the young warriour
was required to abolish this sacrifice, it is to
be hoped, forever. The succeeding spring
a warriour, who bad captured a fine Span
ish hoy, vowed to sacrifice him to the Great
Star, and accordingly, placed him under the
care of the magi, for that purpose.
Tbe Knife-chief learning tbe determina
tion of the warriour, consulted with his son,
respecting the best means of preventing a
repetition of the horrible ceremony., “I
will rescue the boy,” said Petalesharoo,
“as a warriour should, by force;” hut the
Knife-chief, unwilling (hat his son should
again expose himself to a danger so immi
nent, as that which he had once encounter
ed in this cause, hoped to compel tbe war
riour to exchange his victim for a large
quantity of merchandize, which he would
endeavour to obtain with that view., For
INTO AI L THF. WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATITIIE.
this purpose be repaired to Mr. Pappan,
who happened to be in the village for the
purpose of trade, and communicated to him
bis intentions. Mr. Pappan generously con
tributed a considerable quantity of merchan
dize, and much was added by himself, Pet a
lesharoo, and other Indians.
All this treasure was laid up in a heap to
gether, in the lodge of the Knife-chief, who
thereupon summoned the warriour before
him. The chief armed himself with his
war-club, and explained tbe object of his
call, commanding the warriour to accept
the merchandize, and yield up the boy, or
prepare for instant death. The warriour
refused, and the chief waved his club iu
the air towards the warriour. “ Strike,”
said Petalesharoo, who stood near to support
his father, “ I will meet the vengeance of
his friends.” But the more prudent and
politick chief, added a few more articles to
the mass of merchandize, in order to give
the warriour another opportunity of acquies
cing without breaking his word.
Ibis expedient succeeded: the goods
were reluctantly accepted, and the boy was
liberated, and was, subsequently, conducted
to St. Louis by the traders. The merchan
dize was sacrificed in place of the boy ; the
cloth was cut in shreds and suspended by
poles at the place of sacrifice, and many of
the. valuables, were consumed by fire. It
is not expected that another attempt will
be made to immolate a human victim, dar
ing the life of Petalesharoo or of his benign
father.
THE HOLY LAND.
From the Christian Observer. — Oct. 1822.
Os late many of those persons who have
travelled in Egypt, the Holy Land, and oth
er parts of the East, have made it their bu
siness, after an excellent example of our
Maundrels, Chardins, and other old writers,
to compare the sacred writings with exist
ing circumstances ; and the result has been,
that not only a striking coincidence has been
found between them, but they have diffused
-light upon each other. Several valuable
publications of this kind have lately appear
ed, among which J. Lewis Burckhardt’s
“ Travels in Syria and the Holy Land” hold
a distinguished place. Burckbardt has ob
viated various geographical doubts, and set
tled many hitherto questionable points. In
the latter part of his volume he has furnish
ed some curious and important information
on the customs and habits of the people
with whom be associated. These 1 have
carefully selected and applied to those pas
sages of Scripture to which they appear to
belong.
Cedars of Lebanon.
The famous cedars of Lebanon, as they
now appear, are thus- described by Mr.
Burckbardt.
“ I left any guide on the small plain, and
proceeded to the right towards the cedars,
which are visible from the top of the moun
tain, standing half an hour from the direct
line of the route to Batumi, at the foot of
the steep declivities of the higher division
of the monntain. They stand on uneven
ground and form a small wood. Os (tie old
est and best looking trees ,f counted eleven
or twelve; twenty-fire very large ones;
about fifty middling size; and more than
three hundred smaller and younger ones.
The oldest trees are distinguished by hav
the foliage and small branches at the top
only, and by four, five, and even seven
trunks,springing from one base; tbe branch
es and foliage of the others were lower;
but i saw none whose leaves touched the
ground like those in Kew gardens. The
trunks of the old trees are covered with the
names of travellers and other persons who
have visited them: I saw-a date of the sev
enteenth century. The trunks of tbe old
trees seenuto be quite dead: The wood is
of a grey tint.” Compare Psal. xcii. 12;
Ezek. xxxi. 3; l Kings.v. 6; 2 Chron. ii. 8 ;
Ezra iii. 7.
Many instances are recorded by our trav>
eller of the free and generous hospitality so
commonly practised in the East, and so oft
en alluded te in Scripture. The following
is an agreeable example.—“ The mountain
eers, when upon a journey, never think of
spending a> para for their eating, drinking,
or lodging. On arriving in the evening at
a village, they alight at the house of some
acquaintance, if they have any, which is
generally the case, and say to the owner,
I an* your gue9t.’ The host gives the
traveller a supper, consisting of milk, bread,
and borgul, and, if rich and liberal, feeds his
mule or mare also. When the traveller has
no acquaintance in the village, he alights at
any house he pleases, ties up bis beast, and
smokes his pipe till he receives a welcome
from the master of the house, who makes it
a point of honour to receive him as a friend,
and to give him a supper. In (lie morning
he departs with a simple “ Good bye.”
Again : “It is a point of honour with the
host never to accept the smallest return
from a guest. 1 only once ventured to give
a lew piastres to Che child of a very poor
family at Zahomet, ly whom we had been
most hospitably treated, and rode off with
out attending to the cries of the mother,
who insisted upon my taking back tbe mon
ey.” Job (xxxi. 32) says, respecting his
cooduct, “ The stranger didnot lodge in (he
street; but I opened my doors to the icav
eller.” % ’■
The Turks believe that all strangers,
who inquire after inscriptions, are in search
of treasure. “When questioned on this
subject at Balbeck, I answered, The treas
ures of this country are not beneath the
earth: they come from God, and we are on
the surface of the earth. Work your fields,
and sow them, and you will find the great
est treasure in an abundant harvest. ‘By
your life (a common oath,) truth comes
Irotn your lips,* was the reply.” Agreeable
to this mode of swearing, we find Joseph
protesting, “by the life of Pharoah ,” that
his brethren should not depart without leav
ing Benjamin. (Gen. xlii. 15; see also 1
Sam. i. 26, and xvii. 55.) Protesting by a
person’s life is, however, a common mode
of asseveration io most countries I believe;
and in nowhere more so than our own, at
least in the first person. “All that a man
hatn will he give for his life;” and hence
the expression, “Upon my life,” has be
come a sort of colloquial oath.
The shrub which produces the balm of
Mecca succeeds very well at Taharia (Ti
berias) and several people have it in their
gardens. “It was described to me,” says
Mr. Burckbardt, “as a low shrub, with
leaves resembling those of the vine, the
fruit about three inches long, and in the
form of a cucumber, changing from green
to a yellow colour when ripe. It is gather
ed in June: oil is then poured over it, and
in this state it is exposed to the sun, after
which the juice forming the balm is expres
sed from it. This is very possibly the stacte
mentioned in Exodus xxx. 34.
The Jews observe a singular custom at
Tabaria in praying. “ While the rabbin re
cites the Psalms of David, or the prayers
extracted from them, the congregation fre
quently imitate by their voice, or gestures,
the meaning of some remarkable passages.
For example, when the rabbin pronounces
the words, Praise the Lord with the sound
of the trumpet, they imitate the sound
of the trumpet through their clenched fists ;
when a horrible tempest occurs, they puff
and blow, to represent the storm; or should
he mention the cries of the righteous in dis
tress, they all set up a loud screaming; and
it not unfrequently happens,that while sonle
are still blowing the storm, others have al
ready begun the cries of the righteous;
thus forming a concert which it is difficult
for any but a zealous Hebrew to hear with
gravity.” Such passages as Psal. cl. 3, xi.
6, xxxiv. 17, probably receive thia vocal il
lustration.
SYRIAN CHURCH.
The London Missionary Register, for October,
received at the office of the Southern Intelligencer,
contains some interesting details from the mission
aries, (employed by tbe Church Missionary Socie
ty) at Travancore, a part of India within the
Ganges particularly as respects the ancient Sy
rian Church in that region. These will be notic
ed under the head of Religious Abstracts ; but
the following letter from Dionysius, Metropolitan
of the Syrian Church in Malabar, to the President
and Members of the Church Missionary Societv,
is too important a document to be curtailed ; we
therefore present it t our readers entire—believ
ing that it will be perused with attention. It was
written in the Syriac, and translated by Professor
Lee - S. lit.
Letter from the Syrian Metropolitan.
“ May this letter come in peace and safe
ty to Lord Gambier, head of the Society
which is in the church of England, from the
school of Cotyrn!
JAH
In the name of the eternal and necessary
existence, the Almighty.
Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of the Jac
obite-Syrians in Malabar, subject to the au
thority of our father, Mar Ignatius, Patri
arch, who presides in the Apostolick See of
Antioch of Syria, beloved of the Messiah.
Love from Christ, and from the people of
all the churches, to Lord Gambier, the il
lustrious, hononrable, and renowned presi
dent ; and to our brother Mar Henry, the
honourable bishop of the city of Gloucester;
and to the priests and deacons, and true
Christians great and small, in the church of
England, whoure devoted to these things
and are mindful of them, who both assist
and provide that we should teach them and
preach the precepts of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Love from God, and grace from
his only begotten Son, and protection from
the Holy Ghost, be with you all ever more!
Beloved, kind and honoured brethren in
Christ, we would make known to you, in a
few words, what has happened to us from
the depth of our poverty.
We, who are called Syrian-Jacobites, and
reside in the land of Malabar, even from
the times of Mar Thomas, the holy Apostle,
until the wall of Cochin was taken in the
reign of Kiog Purgis, kept the true faith
according to the Qanner of the Syrian-Jac
obites, of real glory, without division or con
fusion. But by the power of the Franks,
our Jacobite fathers and leaders were pro
hibited from coming from Antioch: and, be
cause we had no leader and head, we were
like sheep without a shepherd; or, like or
phans and widows, oppressed iu spirit, with
out support or help. By the power and do
minion of the Franks, moreover, and by the
abundance of their wealth, and the exer
tions of their leaders, all our Syrian church
es in Malabar were subd#fed, and turned to
the faith of the Pope of liome.
In the year of our Lord 1G53, came our
spiritual fatter, Mar Ignatiys, the Patriarch,
Price 5 * 3 > so P r - Bnn
rrtCe'\ $3,00 in advance! \
from Antioch, to Malabar; but, when the
Franks knew this, they brought the holy
man to the walls of Cochin, imprisoned him
in a cell, and gave no small money to tbe
king of Cochin. They ibeo brought out
the good man, and tbpy drowned him in
the sea, and so pot him to death. But
when we knew this, all the Jacobite Syri
ans in Malabar assembled in tbe church <rf
Mathancherry, which is in Cochin, and we
swore a great oath, by the Father, Son and
Holy Ghost, that henceforth we would not
adhere to the Fraflfes, nor accept the faith
of the Pope of Rome: we accordingly sep
arated from them. A short time after this,
some of our people again joined them, and
received the faith of she Pope.
Again, in the year of our Lord 1753, came
to us some holy Jacobite Syrian fatbere
from Antioch, who turned U 9 to our true an
cient faith, and set up a high priest for us.
We now have fifty-five Jacobite Syrian
churches in Malabar: and as tbe Franks are
more powerful and rich than we are, they
are hourly laying the trap of the Pope for
us, and endeavouring to take us in it: and,
from the power of a kingdom filled with
idols, the Heathen have subdued ns Jaco
bite Syrians, just as Pharoah king of Egypt
subdued the children of Israel, and had no
pity.
And, as the Lord sent Moses and Aaron,
and delivered the children of Israel from
the house of bondage of Pharaoh king of
the Lord beheld our sorrows and
afflictions; and there .have been sent to us
an illustrious leader named Macaulay, and
Mar Buchanan the illustrious priest": and
when they came to us, and saw our subju
gation and sorrow and poverty, they brought
us from the house of bondage, and consoled
us with kind words, and assisted us with
money.
After this, another illustrious leader wa&
sent to us, named Monro: and as Joshua,
the son of Nun, brought Israel to the Land
of Promise, and put them in possession of
Canaan, so did this illustrious, discerning,
and prudent leader, bring back and save us
poor people from the hand of violence;
and he built a school and one church for us,
in the place called Cotym; which he did
with great trouble, labour and expense, in
order that our eyes, made dim by the depth
of our poverty, may be opened by the
knowledge of the declarations of holy and
divine books. All the deacoos, moreover,
and children who are taught in the school
of our place, are cherished by the assistance
of this illustrious leader.
Again, the priest Benjamin,* the prigst
Joseph,! and the priest HeDry,J our spiritu
al and temporal friends, brothers, and assis
tants, whom you have sent to us, that they
may root out the thorns and tares from
among the children of God, are. anxiouslv
seeking all the requisites for the redemp
tion ot our souls, as well as constantly
teaching all the deacons and children of our
place the English language.
The books of the New Testament which
ye sent us, we divided, and gave to, the
churches in Malabar; and, with great joy,
does every man present his prayer unto
God for you: and we trust in our Lord Je
sus Christ, who is merciful to those who
shew mercy, that He will give you a good
reward in the Day of Judgment, even thir
ty, sixty, and a hundred-fold, for your work
and labour for us, and that be will make us
rejoice with you. But we are unable to
recompense you by any earthly riches; the
more, however, shall we supplicate God
daily that your dominion may be increased,
and that He would subdue those that hate
you under your feet: and daily may your
preaching in Christ Jesus be increased; and
may God raise up among you leaders who
fear GoJ, and who are kind to the poor,
endued also with knowledge and prudence!
We have heard, too, that the people of
your land are beseeching God for us, that
He would supply and complete that which
is defective and imperfect, both in our bod
ies and souls.
Respecting Samuel the Priest,§ who is
held in honour by us, we received (he Tet
ter which he sent by the hand of Joseph
•he Priest; and we read and understood
what was written in it: and very much did
we rejoice, with exceeding great joy, on
account of your friendship for us. And may
the Lord, who both bears prayer and grants
petitions, lengthen your lives aad increase
your peace!
But we call to mind the adage, “ A glance
is enough for the intelligent,” and avoid
prolixity. Besides James,jJ the honoured
priest, will make koown to you all thnt is
going on among us. And I, the Metropoli
tan, Mar Dionysius, your friend, cordially
salute you: nlso Abraham the Priest, ou
very obedient servant, and all the deacons,
and children that are in the school. Al\
the priests, moreover, and deacons, and (be
whole congregation of Christians who are
in all the churches in Malabar, salute you
May grace be with you all: even so, Amen L
Our Father who art in heaven, &o.
Remain firm in the power of Jesus !
In Ihe year of our Lord 1021.
On (lie third of the month Kanum the first, Fri*
From the School of Cotym.
(Signed) MAR DIONYSIUS,
—— 1 Metropolitan, of Malabar.”
* Mr, bailey— t Mr.