 | CHAPTER V. The Shoshonee Valley |  |
5. CHAPTER V.
As though the golden days of yore
Had circled back once more,
And brought again that guileless mirth,
Which bards have sung, and sages dreamed
In bright reversion yet for earth
M. P. F.
The youthful visitants, who thus so unexpectedly
perceived themselves in a place, and in presence
of society so different from their previous conceptions,
did not at once comprehend, how to deport
themselves in their new train of feelings. All ideas
of being familiar, and accounting for their visit and
its motives in such words and manner, as would
have answered, for what they expected to see, were
abandoned, and each of the young men moved the
other, to explain the purpose of their visit. To crown
their confusion, they apprehended, that Jessy saw it,
and made efforts not to smile, in view of their confusion.
Even the tall and stern Indians seemed to be
transformed in their eyes to superior beings; and they
might have reported their estimate of this spectacle,
as the embassador of Pyrrhus did his impression of
the Roman senate, when he saw it for the first time.
Wilhelm, the Russian captain, appeared most calm.
He made blunt, but respectful compliments in bad
French, easily, and fluently explaining the objects of
the party, in coming to the Shoshonee. He said, `that
they should have held themselves inexcusable, having
come here to hunt, eat strawberries, spear salmon,
and spend a few days in exploring the beautiful valley,
not to have paid their respects to Mr. Weldon,
and to his family. He was sure they would all be
happy, on their return to declare, that fame, instead
their residence, and the interest excited by the appearance
of its inmates, had not related a tenth part of
either.' The factor and the musicians were then
named; and a general and easy conversation ensued,
turning upon the pleasantness of the trip, and the satisfaction
of the visitants, and making enquiries, touching
the country beyond, the strength and number of
the Indians, and discussions of that sort. Supper,
coffee and tea, strawberries and cream, were speedily
prepared; and the two young strangers could not at
all reconcile their previous conceptions of extreme
awkwardness, annexed to Indian character, with their
present feelings, as they saw with how much decorum
and propriety of manners Ellswatta and the two young
chiefs partook of it with the rest. The elder chief
was both gracious and communicative; and told the
young men, `that the Master of Life had shown them
singular good fortune, in giving them fine weather and
a south wind, to waft them up without the labor of
the oar; and in having brought them among his people
on the day previous to the evening when the great
annual festival of spearing the salmon was to take
place.'
It was understood, that the united tribe would celebrate
a great feast, and the kettle dance, as customary,
previous to the religious solemnity of the salmon
spearing. The young strangers announced to William
Weldon's family, and the rest of the people at
table, `that they desired much, to travel up the plain
on the morrow; and hoped, they might have the pleasure
of their society, in exploring the vicinity; and
to show them where were those fine strawberries, of
which they had heard.' This was a civility, which
could not be denied; and Ellswatta told them, that,
after the feast and dance of the morning, himself, his
wife and son would accompany them to the strawberry
that of your lady and lovely daughter?' somewhat
timidly asked Julius, turning to William Weldon.
Jessy stole a look at her father's countenance, and a
volume of words could not have explained more explicitly,
what was passing in his mind. After a moment
of seemingly earnest deliberation, and looking
intensely in the face of his wife, he hesitatingly gave
consent to the request.
It would be unnatural to suppose, that the eye of
Jessy had not perceived, in a moment, that Julius
Landino was a youth, that equalled in person, manners
and dress, or rather transcended any of all the
heroes in her father's romances. Frederic, though
by no means so striking at first view, under less showy
person and manners, under a certain silence and reserve,
concealed a something, that created interest
and curiosity, exciting the wish to study him further,
and the impression, that he concealed still more, than
he put forth. Perhaps, this influence, when allowed
scope for display, is on the whole more favorable to
the party, than the striking person and manners, that
achieve their greatest result at first sight.
It would be equally unnatural to imagine, that Jessy
Weldon, thus singularly brought in contact with these
young strangers, one of them at least most elegant in
person and manners, did not find her curiosity and interest
piqued, did not feel a novel and keen sensation
of wonder and delight, in being thus enabled to form
those estimates and comparisons, which the creations
of her imagination had so often inclined her to wish
to institute. After a long and delightful conversation,
in which all parties, save Areskoui and Nelesho,
had been called forth in the display of their utmost
conversational talents, the evening closed by a proposition
on the part of Hatch, disposed to be magnificent
on this occasion, that the whole party should
They all consented. The musicians proposed to close
the evening with a serenade. Julius Landino played
the flute, Frederic Belden the clarionet, and the band
gave two or three of the popular airs of the day. In
mother and daughter the predominant impression from
the music and the scene certainly was dissatisfaction
with the rude and simple people and manners, among
which they lived, and indefinite longings after that society,
where such music and such visitants were the
natural order of things.
It would be difficult to analyze the feelings of the
different parties, as they severally retired to their rest.
Areskoui, good and magnanimous, as he was, had
groaned inwardly; and all the demons of jealousy
tugged at his heart. He had not had chances of
comparison; but he comprehended by a glance, that
the young men were of the higher class; that they
were of uncommon beauty of person. All this he
discovered through the magnifying medium of his apprehensions.
He went, by the torch light of his own
humble partition of his father's tent, to his little looking
glass, and compared his own copper visage with
the blooming faces, and the high finish of deportment,
which, he perceived, belonged to these strangers.
`What am I?' he asked, `what chances have I, who
am but a wild, untrained animal of the woods, in her
eye, compared with men, like these?' The unhappy
young chief had noted all the eagerness of pleasure,
sparkling in the eye of his foster sister. He understood,
too, the speaking countenance, the delicate
attentions, the soft and low words, the respectful admiration
of the young men. He noted every turn of
the liquid lustre of her eye upon them; and for the
first time, he thought, he discovered on her part a clear
effort, to display herself to advantage, and to practise
the arch looks and the proud and conscious triumph
be the day,' he said, `when these fascinating
white men first appeared in our valley!' Then another
thought came over his mind. `They call us
savages. Why not show ourselves so? Why not persuade
my mother, and through her my father, to expel
them at once from our country? Or if they refuse
to go, act the part of savages, which they assign
us, and kill them?' Better and nobler thoughts replaced
these meditations; and his generous heart recalled
all such unworthy measures. Besides, that, he
saw clearly, would incur her eternal hatred and disgust.
`Let her be happy,' he said. `Let the Master
of Life determine between us. I will show more
generous love. I will display more efficient power
to protect her and her father's family. I will make
her see that I deserve her love, and let the Wacondah
decide the rest. Such were the final thoughts
of Areskoui, in view of the new guests, and the expected
festivities of the morrow.
Nelesho retired from the abode of Elder Wood,
with a malignant and gloomy joy. Not, that he had
not seen with the same eyes with Areskoui. Not,
that his hate was not of a more depraved character.
Not, that he did not feel how the young warriors, and
himself among them, would compare with the new
visitants. But his jealousy and his hatred towards
Areskoui were of longer standing, and had deeper
and firmer hold of his thoughts. `No matter,' he
thought. `Areskoui will lose all chances of her love
—and any thing would be tolerable, rather than see
her become the wife of Areskoui. I am ready to
thank the Wacondah for tortures, which he is obliged
to share with me.'
The factor and musicians, as they retired to spend
the night with Trader Hatch, the publican of the
village, discussed the beauty of Jessy Weldon, in the
loveliness directed by intelligence, and kindness, had
been cast, as a spell, even over the rough bosoms of
these mariners. Baptiste had never been in more
request, as Cicerone and interpreter. He had partaken
liberally, too, of Trader Hatch's l'eau de vie, and
he had been complaisant and voluble to a charm.—
Even the habitually pensive countenance of William
Weldon had caught the smile of hilarity, and the
electric sympathy of mutual pleasure. Yensi, to whom
savage life had never possessed charms, had been
transported this evening to a new world, and a new
order of things. Such were the men, whom she had
seen, and admired in her own country. Such was
the society, for which her daughter had been formed.
She drank in the words, as she was charmed with the
beauty of Julius. How exactly he was formed for
her dear daughter; and in the revival of her early
associations and remembrances, she invoked the Universal
Tien, to incline the hearts of the two young
people towards each other; and that of her husband
to return to Macoa, the country of Julius. Discouragement
came over her mind, as she remembered the
downcast looks of her husband, during the evening,
and imagined him giving himself up to see dark omens,
and anticipations of evil in this visit of the young
strangers.
What were the thoughts of Jessy Weldon, as she
retired to her bed? This evening had introduced her
to a new world, and a new order of realities instead
of ideal imaginings. Her innocent and joyous nature
saw good and happiness in every thing. Experience
of the deceptiveness of external show, an unhappy
power of piercing through appearances, and interpreting
the real character and motive at the heart, had
not yet spoiled the painted vision of life, and replaced
its illusions by the sad reality. What a city of fairy
thought, `is existence. This is reality. This is happiness.
How little have I tasted yet!' She loved her
parents with all her heart. Elder Wood had at times
uttered words in his religious exercises, that had softened,
and affected her. Areskoui had sometimes
made a remark, or performed an action, that had called
forth the admiration of the moment; and had given
her a transient impression, that it would not be difficult
to love him. But here had been drawn forth a
long associated chain of sensations, that were either
born for the first time, or had hitherto slumbered.—
Here her intellect had been easily, and delightfully
drawn out. Here were persons, in the same period
of life, with the same kind of training, with minds in a
temperament, by the unchangeable laws of nature, to
think the same thoughts, and weave the same dreams
with herself. For the first time she had felt her
thoughts anticipated; and perceived, that they, who
conversed with her, comprehended exactly what to
say, in order to give birth to the proper train of
thoughts on her part. Then she remembered the
charm of their civility, their deference, and the homage
of their eye and manner! In books, and from
the conversation of her father, she had learned, that
men were addicted to flattery, and that there was no
necessary connexion between their words and intentions.
But there could be no deception in the bland
unction of such soft and flattering words, to which
look, manner and tone gave such unequivocal marks
of sincerity. Then she thought of the young chief,
the playmate of her early years, the nobleness of his
way of thinking, the energy of his mind, the charm of
his simple and natural figures, drawn direct from truth
and nature. She had seen the paleness, that crossed
his brow that evening. She understood, what he had
felt, and what he had suffered; and pity began to predominate.
wished, that she might be united to him. Here
the dreadful word `savages' came over her thoughts.
Savages! She felt the import of the word as strongly,
as if she had been educated in the most polished society.
Though reared among them, she felt that she
was not of them, and that there was little more sympathy
between her and them, than with the lower
orders of being.
Then a sketching of to-morrow's festival floated
through her mind. She was to accompany these
strangers to the Indian sports, and the great solemnity
of the Salmon spearing. They would see the dances,
hear the whoops, witness the extreme rudeness of
the savages, among whom she had been reared, and
where she had received all her ideas! There was humiliation
in the thought; and she was exactly aware,
how they would view all this matter. To counterbalance
this thought, she endeavored to recall their
respectful words and actions. She should carry there
the same person to renew the same claims upon their
continued respect. The transition was natural, to
busy her thoughts, and task her invention, touching
the dress, that would be most calculated to concur
with her appearance, to prevent their remembering,
where she had been brought up. `They shall see,'
she thought, as this subject floated through her mind,
`they shall acknowledge, that I am not an Indian girl,
at least in the taste and arrangement of my dress.'
It required less, than her native quickness of apprehension
to foresee, that her predicament, and that of
her father's family, was one of extreme delicacy for
right management. It had often occurred to her, that
the very existence of her family, depended upon the
good will of Ellswatta and Josepha, and that this was
suspended, as a matter of course, upon that of Areskoui.
She reposed much upon the magnanimous forbearance
triumph? Would not jealousy finally vanquish it, as
it became more and more excited by comparison with
these strangers? She had noted him that very evening,
struggling with the risings of his spirit. She was
painfully aware, notwithstanding the long season of
tranquility, that had passed over the tribe, how their
singular government was exposed to sudden storms
and a fierceness of popular fury, that swept every
thing before it, with the besom of destruction. Fatal
riots and insurrections were but too recent events in
the history of the tribe. She felt, in common with her
mother, the utter insecurity of things, where there
were no fixed laws. She had often heard her father
and Ellswatta express fearful surmises, that the Shienne
meditated a revolt, through the instrumentality
of Nelesho. The laboring and thoughtful countenance
of her father, during the highest hilarity of the
evening, was to her an ominous token, that he saw harbingers
of coming storms.
She had thrown herself upon her bed, to court
sleep. But these, and a thousand undefined and agitating
subjects of reflection, passed over her mind, like
gleams of lightning upon the summer clouds. Sleep
fled from her eyelids. She opened her window, that
looked out upon the pine tops, in which the night
breeze was swelling, and sinking away, in strains, that
inspired `solemn thought and heavenly musing.' The
breath of spring came fresh from the flowering forests
and valleys. The trees scintillated with millions of
fire flies. On the peaks of some of the mountains in
view, the unmelted snows of ages glistened in the
moon-beams; and the moon was half obscuring her
enlarged and crimsoned disk behind the mists, that
curled in prodigious folds, as they sprang up from the
mountain tops. The nightingale sparrow sang its little
dirge in the adjoining tree. The loons screamed
streams, swollen with the melting ice of spring, discoursed
deep and hollow notes amidst the stillness of
night. In the dome of the firmament, clouds more
etherial than the muslins of India, were rolled, mass
over mass, showing a few stars beyond them. As she
sat at the window, inhaling the aroma of spring, and
contemplating this magnificent night scene, and reflected,
that a new leaf in the great volume of life was
just unfolded for her reading, religious awe came upon
her. `Oh,' she said, `that I could foresee the hidden
future.' Dear parents, doubtless ye sleep. Venerable
servant of God, thou too, art at rest, unconscious,
that such thoughts could ever have floated through the
mind of one, to whom you have shown fatherly kindness.
`But Thou,' she said, as she looked beyond the
clouds, `Thou slumberest not, neither sleepest;' and
her young heart deeply, and confidentially communed
with the best of beings; and the result of that communion
was, that she slept after it profoundly, until
morning.
The expected morning, that was to usher in the
first festival day of a similar character, that had ever
been witnessed by the white and red men in the valley
of the Shoshonee, arose upon the dark green solitudes,
in the splendor of a cloudless May day. The
cool breath of the south only breezed from the direction
of the Pacific, and came charged with the delightful
coolness of the sea, and the blended odours,
which it had taken, in passing over a hundred leagues
of plains covered with flowers. Fleecy wreaths of
clouds, spread at intervals over all the hemisphere,
just tempered the radiance of the morning and the
glow of the sun to a voluptuous softness of light. The
air, which gently rustled the tender and not fully
formed leaves, had a feeling of blandness, that can
only be known by sensation. When it swelled a little,
nature felt all the charmed influence of morning
and spring. The birds trilled their long drawn,
half gay, half plaintive songs, as if languid from the
excess of the inspiration of the new born day. The
bees shook the dew drops from the cups of the flowers,
as they closed their hum of approach and entered,
bending down the cups to plunder from the gaudy
cells their nectar. The snows and ices of the ancient
mountains, lighted up by the brilliance of a morning
sun, glittered with a gorgeousness of gold and crimson,
to which all the magnificence of an oriental palace
is but a feeble imitation. The dogs were baying
on the sides of the mountains, inviting their masters
out to hunt. The domestic animals vied with
the tenants of the branches in notes of joyousness.
Every thing in which was the breath of life, felt the
call of a spring morning to rejoice.
Such was the time, in which the family of William
Weldon, accompanied by Elder Wood, and Jessy,
adorned in the dress which had been selected in her
night meditations, brushed away the dews of morning
from their path, as they set forth to meet the new
guests of the valley at the house of Trader Hatch.
The square and ruddy cheeked Dutchman and his
Indian wife were in readiness to receive them, and
they were ushered into a large apartment, which served
various uses. In winter divine service was performed
there. At all times, except during the Sabbath, it
was a store, a tavern and an eating hall. It was plaistered,
and painted in front, and like the abode of William
Weldon, the roof was the arching vault of nature's
masonry in everlasting stone; and the wall in
the rear was formed in the same way. It was commodiously
fitted up with benches and chairs, covered
with skins, and all arranged with especial reference
to Indian ideas of taste, comfort and utility. Hatch
York. The young men came forward, and paid the
compliments of the morning. Neither they nor Jessy
felt, as often has happened in such cases, that the
highly colored imaginings of the night ended in disappointed
convictions of illusion in the morning. Neither
abated aught of what they had thought of each
other, when seen by the glare of artificial light of the
evening before. Jessy, glowing with the excitement
of the occasion and the influence of youth and spring,
was dressed in a green Chinese silk, of the texture of
those dresses, intended for the daughter of a Mandarin,
and such as would have been worn by her mother
in her own country. Her fawn skin sandals had
been wrought with a care and art of mixing different
colors of feathers and porcupine quills with the interwoven
ornaments, which had cost Josepha many an
anxious day. Her flowing curls were adorned with
just opening rose buds, which seemed to have imparted
their coloring to her cheeks, their dew to her
lips, and their brilliance to her eyes. The young
strangers, refreshed from the fatigues of their journey,
not by repose, but by having talked of the fair
girl through the night, and dressed with particular
care, showed not less attractions in the severe scanning
of sun light, than they had the evening before.
Ellswatta, his wife, and three of the leading chiefs of
the Shoshonee and Shienne, and the young chiefs,
Areskoui and Nelesho, were also there, with countenances
indicating either pensiveness or dissatisfaction;
though each, without any faltering of bashfulness, advanced
to offer Jessy the customary morning salutations
of their people.
Breakfast being announced, a long grace was said
by Elder Wood; and all the guests were socially arranged
at a table, where coffee and tea, and salmon
and wild fowls and venison and various vegetables,
cookery, that could result from the united experience
and mother wit of Trader Hatch and his Indian
wife. The restraint, imposed by the presence
of such a mixed assemblage of guests, prevented any
other intercourse, than the common civilities; and
any other reflection, than admiration in view of the
stern and silent propriety of deportment manifested
by the Indian guests.
From the breakfast table they adjourned to the
council house, into which they were introduced with
the wonted ceremony by Ellswatta. Every portion
of it was hung with ever greens and flowers. The
council fire blazed in the centre. A medicine circle
was drawn round the fire, within which sat Ellswatta
at the head of the council chiefs. The war chiefs,
painted, and dressed in their gayest, sat below them.
Areskoui wore a costume compounded, like his blood,
of Spanish and Shoshonee. A certain paleness of
evident, though suppressed emotion, imparted to
him such an interest, so well sustained by his picturesque
dress, that Jessy, as she glanced a look upon
him, internally remarked, that she had never seen him
to so much advantage. And beneath, she thought,
there is a noble heart too. She drew a deep and painful
sigh, as she compared this untrained son of the forest
with Julius, in all the pride of beauty, and all the
elegance of a countenance exactly matched to his fine
person. She glanced a comparing look, too, upon the
other. In the countenance of Frederic, along with
the reserve and sternness, there was a moral interest,
that elicited curiosity.
Outside of the medicine circle the Shoshonee and
Shienne, young and old, male and female, to the number
of thousands, were congregated, and filled the
council house, and all the green area about it. The
tents of the tribes, on this festival, had all been removed
and afforded a spectacle at once unique and impressive.
They were, as has been remarked, circular,
composed of buffalo robes, or beautifully fabricated
of rushes. The women were universally habited in
their best. Every one, who could afford it, wore a
belted cloth petticoat, either of scarlet, or blue. The
unmarried girls were painted high with rouge of red
lead and vermilion. The married women had the
compartments of red, marked with blue, and here and
there, a supplementary line of Chrome yellow. In
the intervals of the paint, on their clear, burnished,
copper cheeks might be seen the native flush of youthful
expectation. The tall, clean-limbed urchin boys
displayed their bare shoulders and breasts, painted
blue. Most of them carried a bow and quiver, gracefully
hung over their shoulders. Half a dozen favored
sons of chiefs, or richer warriors, carried yagers.
The old men wore the medicine festival paint,
vermilion and pale green, emblems of peace and joy.
The Russian captain was dressed in his proper costume
of office, and the flag of his nation waved, in
union with the stars and stripes, under the shade of a
noble sycamore, just on the verge of the Sewasserna.
The musicians wore a badge, and sat on a raised turf
seat in the shade, without the council house. When
all were hushed to silence and expectation, Josepha,
in a gorgeous, half Spanish, half Indian dress, preceded
Yensi and her daughter into the council house;
and the general buz of delight and affectionate greeting
of her, whom they called Wakona, showed not
only the deep Indian homage to beauty, but intimated
a still deeper regard for her virtues.
As soon as his wife, Yensi and her daughter were
seated, Ellswatta came forward, threw his robe from
his muscular right arm, and with an attitude of calm
dignity addressed a short harangue to the assembled
and bless the Master of Life. Twelve moons have
seen the passing away of maize, flowers, and snow;
and the moon of green leaves, and the period to spear
the salmon in honor of the Wakondah has returned
once more; and as soon as the stars of evening are in
the sky, we mean to celebrate it. The Master of Life
has thrown peculiar light upon this day. Our brethren
of the pale face have come up our great rivers,
from the setting sun, and the shore of the boundless
salt lake. We bless the Wakondah, that he hath sent
them—that his own breeze blew them against the current—that
grass and flowers sprang up beneath their
feet—and that their fair young men have brought
hither words and thoughts of peace. They will first
smoke the calumet, then taste our salmon and venison.
They will speak good words about their red
brethren, when they are far away in their own country,
and when they are grey, they will talk of this day
to their children. We salute them. Let us bind them
to our hearts by the chain of peace. We invite them
to eat our strawberries, look upon the fair valleys,
that enclose the bones of our forefathers, and be present
at our great salmon festival. While they are
here, may our daughters smile upon them. When
they go, may the Master of Life shine upon them in
a clear sun, and blow upon them in the breeze of the
mountains, to waft them back to their friends. Let no
sounds, but those of peace, meet their ears; and when
their children meet ours in this valley, may they smoke
the calumet, after we shall have gone to the sunny
mountains of the land of spirits, and say `our fathers
did so before us.” The calumet was then passed
round, and the stranger guests each smoked a few
whiffs in turn. Ellswatta afterwards announced, that
the festival was begun.
Instantly such a long, loud and continued cry of
within, as reverberated back from the ancient mountains.
Repeatedly, the shout rose and sunk away,
and the deep notes of the kettle dance rung from a
thousand voices. Whence is the impression, that the
united voices of the multitudes, in their festivals, loud,
shrill, discordant, though they may be, thrills the
heart, and produces a feeling of the sublime? The
men of all ages have felt, and later times have explained
it, in saying, `that the voice of the people is
the voice of God.' The young strangers forgot, that
the people were called savages. They had united
their power and their voices; and their deep song raised
in the hearts of these foreign guests a feeling of awe
and respect. At a pause in the song, a thousand yagers
were discharged. When the explosion was
passed, at the request of Ellswatta, the band played
a march; and the electric effect, in its mysterious and
sympathetic influence, which is found to operate deeply
even upon the lower orders of animal life, had its
full impression upon those sons of the forest. The
warriors formed into small circles, and began to dance
with the wonted Indian vehemence. Four aged
chiefs, surrounded by as many medicine men, most
fantastically dressed, beat their drums, moving
their heads in time, and uttering in cadence a low
guttural note or two, at every beat of the drum.
Their countenances wore an invincible and religious
gravity; while the dancing warriors laughed, as if in
convulsions; and the young women, though they joined
not in the dance, chimed in a note or two at the
close of each strain of the song, and clapped their
hands, and cheered the dancing warriors. Such was
the extent of the hilarity and jubilee, that even the
thousand Indian dogs, that sat beyond the circles of
the dance, raised their sharp and bristled noses, and
barked in concert.
Areskoui and Nelesho necessarily headed the dances
of the select warriors; and the white inhabitants
of the valley, and the strangers, were invited to walk
round, and survey the several groups, both within and
without the council house. Elder Wood and Baptiste
named to them the several chiefs and warriors,
their standing, influence and achievements; and Baptiste,
in particular, went into the history of the young
women, their loves, and the matrimonial alliances,
that were on the tapis; and in the course of his long
and fluent colloquy, it became an obvious fact, that
there was as much gossip and scandal, as much incident,
and as deep an impression, that the events here
taking place, and about to take place, were the most
important, that had been, or would be; as if it all
belonged to a civilized, and not a savage community.
During these promenades, the young strangers and
Jessy began to acquire that tone of intercourse, which
resulted from their having a position that gave decorum
to a familiarity, which they would not have meditated,
or Jessy allowed, had not her parents been
present, to see, but not to hear. Under such circumstances,
conversation between persons of such an age
soon becomes confidential. The strangers, in half an
hour after the babbling Baptiste had left them to themselves,
had already begun to discuss their modes of life,
their pleasures, the cities where they had been born,
and educated; what were the pleasures and shows
and amusements, the splendor of the dresses of the
ladies, the balls, masquerades, and theatrical entertainments,
the operas and concerts, the literary pursuits
and fashions, the famous blue stocking ladies—
in short, a panorama of the distractions and enjoyments
of the great world. Half a dozen times, they
had verged to the point of hinting at the necessary
comparative barrenness and monotony of a life, spent
among rocks and mountains, with no other changes
than the Shoshonee, and no other spectacles but such
as these. Though Jessy sometimes replied to them,
and with great discretion and propriety, and at times
threw into her comments upon their accounts of their
country and hers a considerable degree of arch irony,
her general purpose was to hear, rather than answer;
and to call them out, and learn their leading impressions;
and if they had character, to satisfy herself
what it was.
Thus passed away the hours of the kettle song and
dance, which could have very little interest for any
but Indians, after the first inspection. To an enquirer,
touching the import and origin of the Indian religious
rites and ceremonies, it would be a spectacle of
pleasure; for to him it would have explained many
of their mysteries of worship; and would have thrown
strong light upon their manners. But for the two
young gentlemen, nothing would have offered sufficient
excitement to have turned their attention for a
moment from the chief object of their pursuit,—unwitnessed,
and unmolested conversation with Jessy.
Captain Wilhelm, indeed, had found one of the prettiest
of the young Indian girls, disposed to smile upon
him; and Baptiste, who generally carried on some
little sub-plots for his own especial behoof, was willing
to turn aside from them, to show his consequence,
by acting as interpreter between Captain Wilhelm
and his inamorata. Each of the musicians, too, had
found Indian damsels, not disposed to be disdainful.
Trader Hatch was, all the while, arranging his plans,
and driving his bargains, at one of those opportune
occasions, that brought so many of his debtors and
customers together. Elder Wood was more worthily,
and appropriately engaged, in conversing with the
few persons of the tribes, who had manifested some
excitement, or interest in relation to the subjects of
official functions in the ceremonies, from which they
could not be spared a moment. Josepha and Yensi
wandered about together, the one entering with all
her heart into ceremonies, which had from long habit
as deep an interest in her thoughts, as though she had
been born a Shoshonee. Yensi watched the countenance
of her daughter, as it kindled with the delighted
influence of such associates and conversations. Even
Josepha, thoughtless as she was, and occupied with
the present, could not prevent feeling a pang of jealousy,
as she compared the present intercourse between
Jessy and the young gentlemen, with that,
which she had so often witnessed between her and her
son. Alas! Poor Areskoui, she thought, this bodes
no good to his hopes of gaining the ultimate affection
of the Wakona.
The dinner was given by Ellswatta; but he had had
all the counsel and assistance of Yensi and her domestics.
The table was spread under the shade of
the huge sycamore. It was a long line of raised
benches, covered with neat painted rush matting.—
Sod seats were raised for the whites, and the stranger
guests; and they were literally strewed with roses.
The white guests were served from China, and the
Indians with wooden trenchers, such as had been
used among them from time immemorial. Every luxury,
that the valley could supply, was upon it. Meats,
salmon, broths, pies and puddings, prepared in Yensi's
kitchen, were there to profusion. More than all, there
was `London Particular' from the cellar of Trader
Hatch. The dinner was not only substantial, but
magnificent; and it was contrived, that the valley
flower sat between the young gentlemen, and Captain
Wilhelm near his elected damsel. The musicians
stood, and played awhile, to the great delight
of the Indians, and then sat down with the rest. The
of novelty and interest, would have formed a fine
subject for a painter. The young gentlemen were
lavish in all the customary civilities of the table; conversed
with Jessy in half whispers, not unfrequently
put to the blush by the felt superiority of the intelligence
and ready irony of her remarks. Areskoui and
Nelesho contemplated from their assigned point of
the table, with what satisfaction they might, her frequent
smiles and blushes, and the visible and sparkling
delight of her countenance. William Weldon,
alone, of all the group, sat silent and thoughtful, and
as though afraid to indulge in joy.
After dinner, war and medicine dances were exhibited.
War and death songs were sung. The Indians
then displayed their astonishing dexterity at the
game of Indian ball. In another place they were
shooting at a target with their yagers; and the younger
Indians put forth the inconceivable sureness of their
mark in trials of archery.
Enough of spirits had been distributed, to excite
merriment, and banish that moodiness, which would
have ensued, had there been an entire interdiction.
Ellswatta had so well taken his precautions, that no
person could be seen intoxicated. The plain presented
the fairest sample of the joyous hilarity of the red
men. Some were sauntering and singing beside the
stream. Others were stretched in pairs on the grass,
conversing together. The aged parents surveyed
their children with a look of ineffable satisfaction.
The strangers felt, as if transported to a new world,
and Arcadian scenes.
The rays of the declining sun abated of their fervor,
before they went forth to the Strawberry prairie.
Ellswatta and Josepha led the way; and the white
guests were mixed with the red people, as they dispersed
over the reddened surface. The large and
the exclusion of other matter of interest. But Areskoui
devised the means to draw the daughter of Yensi
apart from the rest, and the following conversation
ensued. `I well know,' said Areskoui, `that in separating
thee from the two handsome strangers, I am
giving thee pain. It is not with such intent, as thou
wilt believe, that I have sought for a moment, to
speak to thee alone. Thou hast seen me suffer, and
thou well knowest, that it is not a slight suffering, that
will make itself visible in my countenance. I had determined
to be silent, but I am weak from the share
of the blood of the pale face in my veins. I could not
endure to see thee giving up thy whole thoughts to
these acquaintances of a day. Thou hast taught thy
ignorant brother thyself, that beauty is not of the
face or the form. Will these fair strangers vie with
me in courage? Would they sooner suffer and die
for thee? On thy fair forehead is painted the joy,
with which their flattering speeches fill thy mind.
But can they love, as I do, who have loved from the
first hour, in which I had memory? Art thou sure,
that these men are good and true, and speak only the
thing, that is? Thy parents belong to these valleys.
Will either of them share this solitude with thee; or
wilt thou leave thy parents to follow them to the world
of the pale face? In a few days they will be gone.
Will they return for thee, as the birds come back with
the spring to seek the bowers and the nests of the
past year? Oh! that the Master of Life had walled
up these valleys with battlements to the clouds against
the approach of these flattering pale faces, who will
steal from thy heart any remaining kindness, thou
mightest once have felt for thy brother. Would, that
the Wahcondah might strengthen me to triumph over
these thoughts that burn within my bosom, and to
look up to that land of souls, where thy medicine man
She was at once affected and rebuked with the justice
of the charge. But, she gently parried the complaint.
`Didst thou not promise me,' she said, `that
thou wouldst not annoy me again with such language?
Do not the tenants of the air and of the plains consort
with those of their kind? Findest thou not thy pride
and pleasure, in being the chief of these red people?
Why shouldst thou not find it natural, that I should
not rudely avoid the converse of these sons of my own
race? Will it comfort thee to be assured, that I know
not of love, except for my parents, and my Creator?
It was thy generous forbearance, and thy self-control,
which taught me respect for thee. Thou must continue
it, or that respect will cease. I request thee, to
view the visit of these strangers, as I do, with pleasure.
I well know, that they will leave us after a few
days, and we shall return to our former course of life
—and their coming among us will be, as though it had
not been.'
`Could it be so,' he replied, `I should again think
of happiness. But do not I know, that this fatal visit
has forever dispelled all chance, that thou shouldst
regard me and my people, except with disgust and
aversion? Accursed be the day, that gave me life,
partly of the red race, to be the object of thy dislike,
and yet with the spell of the pale face upon me, to
love thee, were it even unto death. Were I not born
chief, thou couldst not hinder, that I would not have
followed thee to the cities of thy people, where I
would have learned their ways, and have rendered
myself worthy of thee. But the Wahcondah has not
only formed me of the red race, and made me a chief,
but he has given me the heart and the purpose of a
chief, and I feel, that I may not leave my duties. It
would kill my parents, to say our son was given by
the Wahcondah, to soar, like the eagle, in the flight
like a sparrow. Oh! my sister, that thou couldst love
these mountains, as the birds do the groves, in which
are their nests; and that thou couldst find pride in the
affection of the young chief, instead of that of the perfidious
strangers, who come here only to disturb our
repose.'
`I implore thee, chief,' she replied, `to banish these
dark thoughts forever from thy mind. Be content
with the same kind feelings from the daughter of Yensi,
which thou hast always shared. Do I not remember,
that my parents owe their home and protection
to thy father? Need I be reminded, that thy influence
might have been exerted against both the parents
and the daughter; and that, sojourning among a
people, who have no other law, than the will of their
chief, we owe every thing to thy noble forbearance?'
`Ah, Wakona,' he rejoined, `I see the hateful images,
that are in thy breast. Thou viewest us as lawless
and fierce animals of the forest; and thou art grateful,
that we do not, like them, tear, and devour. Knowest
thou not, that of all people, the red men are first
to hold thy race inviolate, and as sacred and medicine
things? It is no virtue, but the immemorial custom
of our race, so to regard thine. Beware of Nelesho.
But I swear to thee, that thy brother would burn at
the slow fire, sooner than obtain aught of favor from
thee through fear, or in any way, except from thy free
thoughts. I will prove to thee, that in forbearance,
and self-mastery, the pale face has yet to learn of us.
One only violence, Wakona, will I practise on thee.
I know, that thou hast an eye to see, what is great and
glorious. These flattering strangers may smile, and
flatter, and dazzle thee with the arts and manners of
their cities. But I will compel thee, my sister, to see,
that in stern truth, in noble daring, and resigning every
thing for the love of thee, they shall not be able to
compete with the son of Ellswatta.'
In conversations, like these, Jessy had imperceptibly
led the way to rejoin their parents and the strangers.
All had feasted to satiety on the rich fruit, that
so covered the prairie, that it seemed another layer
of purple flowers beneath the upper stratum of flowers
and grass. The young warriors, and their girls,
intermixed with the foreign guests, were engaged in
the last scene of the entertainment. The plain echoed
with their shouts of laughter, as each, in frolic violence,
was painting the face of the other with the
crimson of the rich berries. All faces were soon alike
red. Some of the Indian girls, most intimate with
Jessy, were approaching to rouge her fair cheeks in
the same way. To avoid the custom-honored violence,
she took of the large and almost melting fruit,
and soon was as highly rouged, as the rest, while the
mountains echoed with the acclamations and shouts
of laughter. `You see,' said Jessy to the strangers,
`how cheaply we make ourselves happy.' Meanwhile,
it was a kind of Indian Saturnalia, in which the usages
of the people dispensed with their customary reserve
and taciturnity. That white guest was either
awkward or unfortunate, who had not his romping
Indian girl, sufficiently disposed to save him the trouble
of making advances. Not one of the visitants
from Astoria had reason to complain, or wear a willow.
Baptiste, who acted as a kind of master of ceremonies,
was interpreter between the two races, and
continually in employment. Never had he appeared
a personage of so much consequence, or capered with
so much elasticity. Elder Wood bore a grave, and
William Weldon a sad, countenance, through the
whole scene. Julius and Frederic surveyed the plain
covered with these savage Arcadians, so joyous, apparently
so gentle and courteous, and in admiration
of the freshness and novelty of the picture, expressed
regret, that they had not been born to a partnership
in the joys of this happy valley.
It need not be remarked, that much was said in
this interview, that was appropriate in that place, which
would have little interest, when separated from the
circumstances, which gave it value. The two young
strangers seemed the most limited of any of their company
in range. For, avoiding all advances from the
Indian girls, they confined themselves assiduously to
Jessy, around whose steps constantly hovered not only
her parents, and those of the two young chiefs, but
Areskoui and Nelesho themselves. The countenance
of the former was thoughtful; of the latter decidedly
stern and proud. Nor was it among the least of their
vexations, that the young strangers could carry on a
conversation with Jessy in English, not a word of
which they could understand, and the meaning and
purport of which they could only divine by the effect
upon the countenance of the parties.
After expressing themselves with youthful and
somewhat extravagant enthusiasm, in regard to the
pleasures of the strawberry party, they turned the
conversation upon the amusements and pursuits of the
great world, in which they had lived. Julius Landino,
though born in Macoa, had resided both in London
and Paris. He discussed these places, as one, who
had many masonic words, intelligible only to the initiated.
Through all his affected humility, Jessy failed
not to perceive, with something like pique, that he
strongly felt, that they were to be pitied, as ignorant
of true enjoyment and of all grace and polish, who had
not been trained in these places. Frederic, with real
modesty, brought forward the humbler pretensions of
Boston, New York and Philadelphia, the most considerable
cities, in which he had sojourned. Each put
forth his most ambitious eloquence to place the attraction
of these places in their fairest light, and in
their strongest contrast with the solitude, wildness,
and rude features of the scene before them. They
valley, and declared themselves happy and
abundantly compensated in having visited it. They
hinted with as much address, as they could command,
at the witchery of one of the spells of the valley, which,
they expressed their apprehensions, they should never
be either able, or disposed to cast off. But the drift
of their conversation evidently had for object, to render
her dissatisfied with her abode in such a place, by
painting the superior pleasures and advantages of social
life. In an under tone, not to be heard by her
parents, they expressed the utmost astonishment, that
a family, which, they understood, had such ample
means of returning to society, should choose to lead
an obscure and lonely existence in such a place. They
spoke alternately; the one resumed the conversation,
as the other paused. They did not fail finally to add
ironical hints, that the daughter might not possibly be
without a motive, in having an election before her between
two such fine fellows, as the young chiefs.
Areskoui observed, that her countenance was here
marked with irrepressible dissatisfaction; and perceived,
that they had in some way harped a grating
string. With affectionate earnestness, he requested
her to translate what they had said, in his own speech.
She told him, it was impossible. `See then,' said he,
`Wakona, the difference between the talks of the white
and red people. Have I ever said a word to thee,
which thou mightest not at once convey to these pale
faces in their own tongue?'
In reply to the strangers, she remarked, that she
owed no thanks for the rude allusion, with which they
had closed; nor could she see kindness in an effort to
render her dissatisfied with the residence, which providence
had assigned her. `Of the millions,' she continued,
`who dwell on the earth, what the bible calls
the bounds of their habitation seem to be fixed almost
their control. I have here before me sublime views,
an imposing and beautiful nature, a happy valley, a
commodious dwelling, ample range of books, dear parents,
and a simple, ancient and affectionate people,
the study of whom is by no means destitute of interest.
All my humble wishes have hitherto been bounded
by this vale. It is not your part to ask, what
circumstances have fixed us here. It is sufficient for
you to know, that they are such, as will not be likely
to change. For one at least of the young chiefs, I
may be allowed to say, in answer to your polite insinuation,
that I have no doubt, that multitudes of the
young men in the great cities, where you have resided,
might learn not only courage and truth, but even
gentlemanly feeling from him.'
`Rose of the prairie,' said Areskoui, as he noted
the sparkling of her eye, `what sayest thou. I beseech
thee, declare it in my speech.'
`They would tell me,' she answered, `that there is
no true joy, but in the polished cities of the white
people. I have told them, that I am happy here, and
find sufficient objects of interest to satisfy all my desires.
I have told them too, son of Ellswatta, that
thou art generous and noble in thy nature.'
Tears rushed to the glistening eyes of the young
chief. Pride struggled with love, as he seemed in
search of the way, in which to manifest his gratitude
to her. The polished young men stood rebuked before
this noble, who had his patent from nature.
`Fair sons of the pale face,' he said, as Jessy translated,
`I keep kind thoughts of you in my bosom; for
Wakona is of your race. We have invoked the Master
of Life, to bestow good things upon you. Our
chiefs have smoked with you the calumet of peace;
and we have spread before you, of the best, that we
have to impart. If ye would return our kindness, by
dissatisfied with her residence among the red people,
who cherish her, as a daughter of the Great Spirit, I
can only declare to you, that the red men do not so requite
the hospitality, which they have received.'
There was a noble simplicity and force of truth in
the words and gestures of the young chief, that added
grace invincible. Jessy blushed of course, as she rendered
his energetic compliment into English; smiling
as she told them, that the first duty of a translator was
fidelity to the meaning. The occasion was opportune,
for expressing the apologies of the young strangers,
which they did by declaring, that they were
most thankful for the hospitalities, which had been
shown them, and entertained the kindest and most
respectful feelings towards the young chief. He must
excuse them, if they could not but feel some envy in
view of the incomparable gem of the valley. [Here
Jessy refused to translate, as pretending not to understand.]
They were ready to ask pardon, if they had
given the slightest unintentional offence. A reconciliation
ensued, like the contests of lovers, only rendering
the subsequent intercourse more cordial. The
young chief shook hands with them in token of reconciliation.
His brow relaxed, and all seemed forgotten.
A delightful conversation ensued; and Jessy, notwithstanding
she had rebuked the strangers, keenly
felt, that the converse, alternately witty, and tender,
affectionate and polite, now narrative, and then description,
of these intelligent and graceful young men,
was a treat, as high, as it was new. Young hearts
involuntarily open to the delights of such intercourse.
Delightful associations with that society, to which
they belonged, clustered about her imagination. The
manners of Julius, educated in Europe, possessed a
glittering artificial finish. All was cold, studied, and
for effect. The manners of the other had greater
they were observed. To compare, and discriminate
between them, soon became a study for Jessy. A volume
would scarcely contain the conversation of this
strawberry party. Frederic declared, that he should
say to his companions on his return, that none, but
they who had been at the Shoshonee valley, could
know the luxury of strawberries. Julius, in phrase
more appropriate to his character, averred, that he
should say nothing of what he had seen and enjoyed,
through fear, that all the world would be tempted to
make the same discovery; and take from what he had
seen its delightful charm of privacy. Areskoui, on
his part, named the different grand peaks, that stood
forth before them in the blue of the firmament. This
one marked the scene of some memorable battle, or
incident in their history. Near the valley of another,
some of the bravest of his warriors had had contests
with the grizzly bear. One peak, pre-eminently high,
above the rest, was consecrated in the religious feelings
of his tribes. It was a medicine mountain, and
supposed to be the favorite residence of `the little
white men of the mountains.'
The pleasant hours had elapsed, and the sun hung
over the verge of the mountains, though each, save
Areskoui, had they been able, would have suspended
the sign of day immovable in the firmament. They
were beginning sorrowfully to number the days of the
visit.
From the prairie of strawberries, they walked to
the banks of the Sewasserna, and found seats on the
flowering turf, whence they contemplated the scenes
of preparation going on over all the plain for the
great achievements of the evening. Every individual
of both tribes, that was neither too old, too young,
or infirm to arrive there, was on the plain, which literally
rung with the note of preparation. The young
and the woods only could have given birth to
the thousands, which were congregated. From this
spectacle, Areskoui called their attention to the bosom
of the pellucid stream, on whose shores they sat.
The large salmon, that were to constitute the sport
of the evening, were seen in their brilliant colors,
either gliding from the shadow of the beholders under
the bank, or slightly moving their fins, and playing
with swallowing the passing motes. Some seemed to
be asleep in the sun beams. Some were moving in
one direction, and some in another. Some were apparently
making love, and others battle; and in whatever
direction those tyrants of the river moved, the
countless swarms of smaller fishes, in all the colors
of the bow, darted from their path, like gleams of light.
The sun was below the mountains; and the cylindrical
curling of the mists from their summits, along with
the long parallel lines of red clouds, in which the sun
descended, betokened that a beautiful evening for the
contemplated sport, was drawing on.
The salmon spearing commenced not in form, until
the first star was in the sky. Jessy requested the
party, meanwhile to accompany her to her favorite
and well known haunt, the `blue lake.' It was a little
distance from the west bank of the Sewasserna, and
its surface elevated two hundred feet above the level
of the river. Two enormous sycamores, that had fallen
from either bank across the stream, and met in the
centre, formed a rustic bridge of the most perfect security
for crossing. The parties crossed the stream,
traversed the vale, and ascended the craggy sides of
the mountain, until they arrived at the beautiful table
terrace, which nature had scooped out, as a vase for
the transparent little lake, that slept there. The lake
had its hundred traditions in Shoshonee story. A
despairing maiden had thrown herself from one of
It was half a mile in length, and of fathomless depth.
From its singular position on the side of the mountain,
by a curious and unexplained optical fallacy, it
showed the mountains, and the plains and the people
and the animals below grouped together, as in the
most polished mirror. The Indians looked down these
transparent depths in superstitious reverence, and
saw other suns and worlds, the creation of their own
excited imaginations, and they regarded the place
with awe, as a grand medicine, and the image of the
world of souls. Areskoui laughingly told them, that
it was the belief among his people, that whoever
looked into the depths, for the first time, saw the
image of the person, with whom the party was to
marry. This, of course, produced not a little merriment,
as the young men cautiously stepped up the
rocks, and looked over, insisting, that Jessy should
make trial of her fortune at the same time. She de-clined,
on the ground, that the charm only lasted for
the first look, and that she had made the experiment
a thousand times.
On the western shore of the blue lake, a singular
cascade, which showed at the distance where they
stood, like a broad, white silk ribband suspended in
the air, fell perpendicularly a thousand feet from the
cliffs above, into the lake. Jessy called them to her
grotto, where was the finest point of view, in which
to contemplate this grand spectacle. A beautiful
little arch, partly scooped out by nature, and partly
by the labor of Areskoui, under the cliffs, embowered
on three sides by bignonias and grape vine, on which
the humming birds were swarming, was called `Wakona's
bower.' There were her drawing materials.
There were the books which she was reading at the
time. There, with the village, the smoke of her father's
abode, the scenes of humble life on the plains,
—and the mimic paradise in the lake continually under
her eye, she had spent many of her happiest days
alone. Areskoui showed them Wakona's bower—
and the unrivalled beauty and repose of the place
might well call forth some of the exclamations of delight
and surprize, with which the young men regarded
it. Here the hollow roar of the wind in the mountains,
mingling with the unremitting dash of the cascade,
produced a harmony of tones, the character and
power of which no words could reach. Here she had
commenced her first efforts at imitating nature with
the pencil. The young gentlemen surveyed many of
her landscapes. As a copyist of nature, she could
have formed no other, than those, in which sublimity
and beauty were blended. The two guests vied with
each other in applauses and admiration of the genius,
imagination and power of the young and beautiful artist.
All their terms of connoisseurship were exhausted
in pointing out the virtu and skill and richness of
the execution. In the course of this discussion, it appeared,
that both the young gentlemen were artists,
who had made respectable proficiency in this delightful
pursuit. This circumstance at once induced
another tie of interest and community of feeling between
them. As either of them had received much
higher aid from art and discipline, than herself, and as
she manifested stronger natural talent and predilection
for the pursuit, each had a peculiar advantage in
the intercourse, and each received new ideas from the
views of the other. In this way a conversation, inspections
and comparisons were introduced, which detained
them, until a message came from her father to
summon them to supper.
The ceremonial on this occasion did not differ materially
from those of breakfast and dinner, except that
the parties, now more acquainted, were throwing off
to those, acquainted with Indian manners,
to remark, that each of the stranger guests, except
the two young gentlemen, who seemed solely devoted
to Jessy, were assiduously attended with store of
young women of the valley, who expected to accompany
them to the show of the evening; and the voice
of shouting and laughter was heard; and the ancient
walls of the abode echoed from every side sounds of
hilarity and mirth.
From the table the parties walked to the Sewasserna,
on whose banks thousands of Indians were already
assembled. For a distance of a mile up and down
the river, brilliant streams of light arose from fat
splits of the pitch pine. Apart from the peculiar circumstances
of the festival, such as its being a Shoshonee
solemnity of the highest import, and that the warrior,
whoever he might be, who should take the largest
salmon of the evening, was by immemorial usage,
king of the wake, and was supposed to have peculiar
claims, and to lay a kind of charm upon the unengaged,
and marriageable girl, whoever she might be, at
at whose feet he should lay this prize—apart from
these circumstances, the fish to be taken this evening
were contracted to the visitants from Astoria upon
certain stipulated terms. A thrill of expectation and
excitement ran through the whole assembled multitude;
and here might be seen the natural impression
of festival solemnities, which had been time-honored
for unknown ages. A far greater number of Indians
were here, than the strangers had yet seen together.
We are so simply and naturally imitative and sympathetic,
that Jessy herself, with whatever associations
she generally thought of this people, caught the enthusiasm
from the rest, and waited with a feeling,
which can only be known by sensation, for the expected
sport. She failed not to hear from the young
witty, touching the ceremony of laying the prize fish
at the feet of the lady love of the winner; and upon
the probability of her receiving this most flattering
mark of favor. She answered them, in the same tone;
and in the gay conversation, which ensued, brought
forth the long hoarded treasures of her youthful meditations,
of a life of reading and converse with nature,
of extraordinary endowments of talent, quickness and
sensibility. The young men saw, that she knew, in
this encounter of mind, to foil them at their own
weapons. They exchanged meaning glances, which
told delight and astonishment, not unmixed with dismay.
They would have shrunk from her with that
reluctance, with which most men contemplate learned
and talented women, had not the party been still more
beautiful, than talented; and had she not tempered
the brightness of intellectual display with a playfulness
of voice and manner, a naivete of youthful simplicity,
a certain original and picturesque manner of
coloring her thoughts with words, which she had acquired
from the modes of the Shoshonee, and the
scenes, amidst which she had been reared.
The last ruddy glories, which the sun had left behind
him, in a golden set behind the western mountains,
had disappeared. The evening was warm, and
the atmosphere had a feeling of the breezy south. A
beautiful play of evening lightning flashed, like prolonged
gold wires, across the whole western hemisphere.
In the cloudless blue of the zenith appeared
that host of stars, which announced, according to
usage, that the time to commence the sport had come.
The moon came up in her evening chariot, from behind
the dark mountains of the east, to replace, with
beams more fitted for these solemnities, the departed
light of day. Her cool attendant breezes came with
her.
Ellswatta came forth from the council house, habited
in his most splendid costume. As soon as he appeared,
on the margin of the river, the tumultuous
buzz of voices was as hush as death. He bared his
sineway arm, and raised it towards the sky. `The
evening has come,' he said, `the glorious evening of
the maize and salmon festival, those bountiful gifts of
the Master of Life. He hath sent us his moon over
the mountains. He hath kindled the stars in the sky.
He hath brought our white friends to join with us in
our songs and our joys. Let us bless the Master of
Life—and, my red children, now rush into the stream.
Bring forth the salmon. Seek the first honor of the
greatest salmon, the next of the greatest weight, and
the last of the greatest number.'
At the word, every warrior of sure hand and foot, of
quick eye and strong purpose, rushed to the sport;
for to all others it was as dangerous, as it would be
unavailing. They formed into pairs, in which the
dearest friends, and those used to stand by each other
as friends in danger or in battle, rushed into the stream,
the one with a torch pan, full of burning splinters of
pine on his back, and the other equipped with a simple
spear, not unlike the trident of Neptune. The
effect of this sudden and dispersed illumination was
inconceivable. The whole surrounding prospect with
all its scenery became a bright glare, in which every
object was distinctly visible. The effect upon the
opening verdure and the dark sides of the mountains,
compared with the pale gleams of the moon upon their
icy summits, was of incomparable grandeur. As soon
as the warriors had rushed into the stream, a general
rush of the assembled multitudes to the bank took
place, exhibiting an eagerness of interest, only second
to that, which belongs to the commencement of a battle.
While the warriors were struggling for foot-hold
in the almost icy waters, deeper in general than their
the young gentlemen the origin, purpose, history and
circumstances of this ceremonial. To these Indians,
the Sewasserna was as the Ganges to the Hindoos, a
beneficent divinity, their path way to the sea, the supply
of their waters, the home of their sea-fowl, the
liquid pastures of their fish, the nourisher of the fertility
of the valley, and the embodied image of usefulness
and beauty most deeply impressed on their
thoughts. Its crystal waters at this moment by the
glare of torches showed them the countless millions
of the finny tribe, that were making their way up the
devious stream to its most icy mountain source. The
stream was seen, too, in the light of producing at least
half the animal subsistence of the two tribes. The
spectacle, so contemplated, as Jessy remarked, presented
the eager excitement of the Indians, on this occasion,
in a light neither unreasonable nor without
motives.
The young visitants declared, that they had never
contemplated so striking and interesting a spectacle.
`They could hardly believe,' they said, `that they
were looking on reality. The whole seemed to them
enchantment; and the vale and the mountains, and
the moon and stars, the men and women, as the illusions
of magic.' They expressed complimentary and
poignant regrets, that they had not the requisite experience,
to enable them to plunge into the stream,
and take their chance for the prize with the rest.
Jessy gaily replied, `that whoever might have the
honor, that evening, of being elected lady-love by the
winner, she had no doubt, that the honored person
would receive it from the hand of an Indian, even
though they should have entered themselves as competitors.'
Meantime, the dashing of warriors in the stream,
the shouts of laughter or surprize, when a warrior, as
cheering of friends, the sudden and spasmodic bound
in the water, the cries of pursuit, the leaping of the
large fish, thrown on the shore, presented a show of
mingled and indescribable interest. This was the
time, when a person acquainted with their manners,
as Jessy explained, might see the portraiture of their
strong nationality. The Shienne were observed to be
constantly consorting together, and aiding each other;
and when a larger fish was taken by either nation, the
cry of acclamation only arose from people of that nation.
Here, too, was an impressive display of the Indian
custom of sworn companionship and help to the last
between the pairs of warriors, who, when they pass
the solemnity of assuming arms, agree to subserve
each other's interest and glory, and stand by each other
even to death. The intimacy, thus induced, is like
that between members of the sacred band of Thebes.
An Indian, so allied, who should desert his friend in
the talons of a grizzly bear, or surrounded by a host
of enemies, would be considered, as having forever
dishonored his totem, and as a recreant to be ever after
abandoned to the infamy of having shown selfish cowardice.
The salmon of this river are of an uncommon size;
and swift and powerful in proportion to their dimensions.
Hence there is no inconsiderable danger, when
a fish of very great size and power is struck, that the
spear will be carried away by it, a loss disgraceful to
the loser, or that himself will be borne down the
stream into the deep water. These sworn friends,
fish, as has been seen, in partnerships. The one
bears the torches, and the other the spear. The current,
as was remarked, is powerful; and the stones
covered with a green and slippery moss. If the party
striking a fish, is borne by the fish with his spear into
the deep waters, the torch bearer throws his torch
Thus there is requisite in this fishery great muscular
strength, a keen discernment, and tact of experience,
and knowledge of the habits of the fish; and last of
all, unshrinking courage and firmness.
The visitants needed not magnify to their host the
unexampled interest and grandeur of this spectacle.
The stream, illuminated by innumerable moving
torches, became a wide crimson sheet, flashing with
diamond radiance, from the numberless ripples of its
current, in which the dark mountains with their rocks,
peaks, trees, and ices were gorgeously repainted in a
crimson ground. Not only the long and brilliant salmon,
darting like lightning from one covert to another,
were seen in the transparent water, but, by a curious
optical illusion, all the bright varieties of the finny races
showed in their darting flight, reflected on the
green leaves of the trees. The large and full formed
foliage of the cucumber tree, in particular, showed
all these movements in the transparent waters, as
though each leaf had been a magic lanthern. The
young men, as they beheld, exclaimed in constant astonishment,
that nothing could compare with the
beauty of the Shoshonee fishery of salmon by torch-light.
The fish were leaping at every point along the
grassy shore; and few spearings recorded had
been more ample, or successful for the time. On
a given signal from Ellswatta, some yagers were fired,
and in an instant the dusky forms of the young warriors,
only covered to the loins with a kind of close
leathern pantaloons, were seen springing to the shore,
accompanied by their sworn companions, the torch
bearers. In a moment every thing was as hush, as
the grave. The eldest medicine man of the tribe advanced
to the bank, and began a prayer to the Master
of Life. He thanked the Wahcondah for the
just sprung from the earth, for the abundant supply
of salmon, and for the fortunate spearing of this evening.
`Thou,' he continued, `Master of Life, hast
given us stream, fish, fowl, buffaloes, deer, the sheltering
mountains and the fertile valleys, and all good
things for thy red children. May they be this night
magnified in the eyes of their guests of the pale face.
May the tree of peace, under which we have feasted
together, reach the clouds, and never wither.'
He ceased, and at Ellswatta's request, the band
struck up a loud and cheering march, and the united
acclamations of the whole assembled multitude rent
the sky, and came back broken into innumerable sharp
echoes from the mountains. When the band ceased,
the Indian maize song rang from the voice of every
man, woman and child. The burden of the song was
to this import.
He fills the streams;
He gives us game;
He hears our praise with joy.
The deep chewonna! hah! hah! hum! the invariable
Indian chorus, sounded loud and not unimpressive,
as it rang through the forests. The old medicine
men assembled round the drummers of the tribe; and
while they continued the monotonous chorus, and beat
upon their drums, the warriors again rushed into the
stream, and the spearing was renewed with redoubled
eagerness. Some of the warriors were soon borne
down into the deep waters. Shouts of joy and triumph,
and cries for help, were mingled. One collected
all his force, and putting his eye, his heart and
power to the stroke, darted his spear into the back of
a huge salmon, and instantly dived to bring it up to
the surface. In another place, one warrior, in the eagerness
of his pursuit, ran upon another, and both
that the cheering and the shouts and the cries had
a general tone of hilarity and merriment, it might have
been deemed at a distance, the sound of two armies
engaged in battle. The dogs, in their sympathy with
their masters, sprang into the water, and were seen
diving down at the point, where the spear had been
struck. Shouts and acclamations of praise testified
of those, who manifested peculiar dexterity and success,
and, particularly, of those, who remained longest
under water. The banks were every where alive
with these large and powerful fish; and the torch
bearers were continually springing on shore, to keep
the piles of their companions separate from all others.
It excited frequent shouts among the people on the
banks, to see Baptiste in the water, and more noisy
and loquacious, if not more efficient than any other.
He was often under the water; but recovered himself
with great nimbleness, amidst bursts of laughter from
the beholders. So joyous was the effect of the spearing
of the Frenchman, that even William Weldon was
heard to cry, excellent! excellent! in sympathy with
the rest. Elder Wood repeatedly showed the movements
of Kentucky blood, clapped his hands, and said,
that `the sport was worthy of being canonical.' The
guests from Astoria had no need to feign the semblance
of ecstacy; for their youthful admiration of exciting
and dangerous sport partially transferred their
thoughts from Jessy. They sprang as nimbly, as the
Indians, when an unusually large fish was thrown out,
to learn, who had been the successful taker. They
even expressed surprise, while Josepha and Yensi
gave their whole interest to the spectacle, that Jessy
turned away with aversion from this scene of bustle
and shouting. When asked, why she alone appeared
not to partake the intense excitement of interest with
the rest, she answered, `that she had always considered
the reflection of the mountain and valley scenery in
the crimson waters, and the magic picture of the fishes,
the rocks and mosses on the leaves.' `But I cannot
forget,' she added, `that the sport, however necessary,
is purchased by agony and death. Can I avoid
seeing these fishes, so happy in their own element,
struggle, and agonize, when thrown, bleeding, and
wounded on the bank? Can I be blind to their spasms,
and their show of torture? Alas! that so much of our
enjoyment can only be purchased with misery!'
Frederic replied, that he had experienced at first,
and had often felt before, similar sensations; but that
he strove to overcome this sensitiveness; that since
such inflictions were necessary, it seemed right, that
they who were compelled to make them, should not be
conscious, or at least not painfully conscious, of the
suffering, they cause. Elder Wood, who listened to
the conversation, consented, that it was not right, to
indulge such feelings. He contended, that man had
a particular and special grant from the Almighty, in
the scriptures, so to make use of animals; and that
since such use was lawful, it ought to be resorted to
without pain. She answered, that for her it was useless
to reason against feeling. She admitted, that
she had felt great pleasure in seeing them pleased;
that the scene, though no novelty to her, was one of
extreme intrinsic interest. She was delighted to see,
that they had by thus entering into the sport strongly
recommended themselves to the dwellers in the valley,
showing, that they took an interest in the simple
and cheap enjoyments of these children of nature.
A conversation, thus commenced, called off their
attention from the scene before them, and soon led to
points of confidential discussion, not unlike those,
which had been more than once agitated, during the
day. It turned once more on the regrets of the
be so short. They wished, they never had come,
or could remain for life; or persuade her parents to
return with them to society. They added flattering
remarks, touching the conquest of hearts, that would
ensue on the one part, and the envy on the other, from
such a step.
People of such an age, and so circumstanced, know,
that such a conversation, which plays pleasantly on
the fancy, and draws lightly on the understanding,
half jest and half earnest, may be prolonged forever
with untiring interest. One compliment on the part
of the gentlemen provoked another; and one ironical
reply made room for another, and they were so deeply
engaged in their discussions, that they forgot the
solemnity of the salmon spearing, and remembered
only their own share of enjoyment. Captain Wilhelm,
too, and the other portion of the party from
Astoria, had not been without their own individual
moiety of enjoyment. They had been pleasantly occupied
with Indian belles, little afflicted with bashfulness
or coyness, who knew not the oral language of
their admirers. But they proved merry and communicative
by the Indian language of signs; and as the
German Wilhelm was a little merry, he handled his
fair one, bearing in her own language a name, which
imported `Spotted Turtle,' with very little ceremony.
The musicians following the example, solaced themselves
with the smiles of their selected Indian girls,
each rouged to the last finish of vermilion.
The Indians, on ordinary occasions, are sober observers
of early hours. On this annual solemnity, the
sport was prolonged, until near eleven at night—an
unusually late hour for that people. Ellswatta then
announced, that the spearing was closed, and that the
prizes were to be awarded. The drums were beaten
with renewed vigor, and the customary deep notes of
woods. The warriors sprang ashore, and their mothers
and sisters provided them, as usual, with fresh
and dry clothes, and they retired into the deep woods
to dress. The lights were conveyed round the seats
of the council chiefs, who gravely sat under a lofty
tree, to hear, and determine the claims, and award
the prizes of the evening. The countenance of Areskoui,
as he took his seat below his father, was clouded
with unwonted gloom. Successful on former occasions,
he had been particularly unfortunate, having
no ground to expect either of the prizes of the evening.
It happened, that Jessy stood near him. He
asked her how she had passed the evening? She
questioned him in return, what success had attended
his spear? He replied, in his own speech, `Wakona,
thy brother has been under the influence of a malign
star. I have done no more, than the work of an old
woman. Knowest thou not, Wakona, that this sport
requires all the eye, and all the mind? That my eye
was charmed, thou canst believe. I saw thee wandering
about, so happy with the fair pale faces, that I
had neither eye nor hand. My heart, thou knowest,
is always with thee.' `My father,' he added, addressing
Ellswatta, `thy son this night has done thee no
honor.' His brother of the torch wore on his copper
visage a deep touch of gloom. After a silent assorting,
and counting, the humblest of the three prizes,
that of having taken the greatest number of salmon,
was awarded to a middle aged Shienne warrior.—
To another Shienne, also, little known, was assigned
the second prize, that of having taken the greatest
weight. A shout of acclamation filled all the valley,
as it arose from the Shienne, and was but faintly
echoed by the Shoshonee, who thus evinced the sullenness
of jealousy, that the two prizes should have
been carried off by their humble, and subdued allies.
that seemed for a moment to restore good feeling to
the two races, was occasioned by the coming forward
of Baptiste, a little merry, to enquire if there could
be no prize for the only white man, who had had the
courage to go into the water. He had been more
conspicuous and noisy, than any other aspirant, and
quite ready to plunge in the water. He had taken,
however, but two or three fish, and those of the meanest
class. He insisted, earnestly, that the white man's
fish should be weighed. This claim overcame even
the stern gravity of Ellswatta. He could not resist
partaking in the continued and renewed bursts of
laughter, that began with the chiefs and warriors, and
was prolonged even through the crowds of women and
children in the rear, who laughed, they knew not at
what. He had intended the claim to be considered,
as a stroke of wit. But even the self-complacency of
Baptiste was overcome, when, as Ellswatta held up
the mean fish of the white skin of quick movement
and babbling tongue, instead of laughing with him, as
he intended, every man, woman and child laughed at
him. He exhibited visible chagrin, as the shouts died
away, only to be renewed again. He exclaimed, `riz,
s'il vous plait. Diable! me no bon fisherman, certainment;
eh bien, sacre, Messieurs, sauvages. De
Frenchman bon pour attrapper des filles, if no bon for
take de fish. Sacre! vos filles savent toute ca!'
More serious thoughts again engaged the attention
of the multitude. A Shoshonee warrior, attended by
his torch bearer, produced an uncommonly large and
fine salmon, but slightly wounded. All present deemed
it the one, that would carry the prize. The plaudits
of the Shoshonee rang through the woods. Baptiste
instantly pointed out the girl, that the taker was
known to love, and at whose feet apparently the prize
would be laid. He turned an exulting eye towards
look told, that he intended the fish as an offering to
her. The admiration of Ellswatta and the other
chiefs, while they weighed the fish, clearly gave
countenance to the acclamations, which considered the
Shoshonee warrior as the winner. Nelesho, to gain
greater effect to his intended triumph, kept back to
the last. At length he advanced with a large salmon,
at view of which the Shoshonee warrior's countenance
fell, and the reiterated cries of joy of the Shienne
arose again. Areskoui, Josepha, and all the Shoshonee
surveyed the fish with downcast and disappointed
looks. Even Yensi showed chagrin and vexation,
while the young men remarked, with painful
surprize, that Jessy turned as pale as death. But
Ellswatta, whatever he thought, and felt, weighed
the fish with the inflexible calmness of Indian justice.
It was unequivocally, the largest and finest fish, that
had been taken. Never was proud exultation and
triumph more strongly marked on human countenance.
His fierce eye glistened, and various shades of satisfaction
sat on his countenance, as it recognized, caught,
and communicated the satisfaction of his own Shienne.
His admirable form seemed to be drawn up to
super-human height, as, amidst a silence of ecstacy,
he held up the shining salmon, exhibiting not a wound
or a trace of blood, and measuring more than half the
length of the tall chief. Ellswatta awarded the first
prize of the salmon spearing to Nelesbo, amidst acclamation
upon acclamation. Ellswatta and Josepha
stole looks of pity at Areskoui, who waited in apparent
strong effort at the seeming savage insensibility
to mark where Nelesho would bestow the prize.
To judge of the importance, attached to the bestowment
of this palm, a thousand circumstances must
be understood, which could only be adequately apprehended
by living long among that people. To
games, for it was identified with religious feeling, and
with supposed bearings upon the fortune of him, who
granted, and her, who received it. Though presenting
the fish at the feet of the favorite girl, according
to the rites of the tribe, gave him no exclusive claims
to her love, there was a deeply prevalent superstitious
persuasion among them, that the girl, who refused
the proffered love of one, thus favored of the
Wahcondah, would never prosper. A hundred girls
beheld the shining prize with eyes of desire, for Nelesho
was a general favorite with the girls of unmixed
Indian blood. It was hard to say, who suffered most,
while the decision of Nelesho was pending, Jessy or
Areskoui. Every circumstance concurred to fill the
mind of the latter with gloomy presages. Though
belonging, in the general range of his thoughts, to the
white race, in his superstitious veneration for this kind
of success, he was altogether a red man. Nor could
he imagine, that this triumph had not as much importance
in the mind of Jessy and the young stranger
guests, as it had in his own. But he struggled with
himself, and became calm, as he would have been, had
he been about to be bound to the stake. Every eye,
especially every female eye, was fixed upon Nelesho,
his rival, who cherished for him a deadly, and concealed
hatred, not the less so, because political motives
induced both to smother it. His eye quailed,
as he noted the young Shienne directing his course
to the point, where Jessy stood. As he moved through
the crowd, cheered by deafening acclamations, especially
of his own people, the proud spirit of Areskoui
suffered inexpressible tortures.
Nelesho moved calmly on amidst the crowd. The
heart of Jessy beat quick, almost to suffocation. The
chief stood with a look of defying dignity in front of
Yensi. He whispered words in her ear for a moment.
the infectious impulse of the multitude, and the thrill
of sensation was not wholly unaccompanied by envy,
as the haughty chief gracefully laid the prize on the
grass at the feet of Jessy. `Receive,' he said, `Wakona,
the gift of Nelesho, who received it himself from
the Master of Life. From thy young days, thou hast
well known, and thou hast despised the feeling, that
has been burning here;' and as he said, he laid his
hand on his bosom. `I am a red man, and the son of
a red man, and I am worthy of thee. I know none
greater, except the Wahcondah. If thou returnest
not the love of the young Shienne chief, may thy star
wither thy fair face. Mayest thou never know peace;
and may the little white men of the mountains torment
thee, till thou desire death. Take thy choice between
the love and the curse of Nelesho.' The glowing
countenance and the flashing eye were seen by all.
The fierce energy of his manner sufficiently indicated
the general tenor of his speech. The closing words
met only the ear of Jessy.
It would need no effort of the imagination to paint
the situation of Jessy, as a thousand female voices
cried, `Wakona, accept the love of the young chief.'
The rose and the lily chased each other away in her
fair cheek. A faintness, as of death, came over her.
She felt, that dearer interests, than her own were involved
in her deportment. She exchanged glances
with her father. She consulted the countenance of
Elder Wood, and she made her election with instant
firmness. She arose, as she had marked the custom
on former occasions, and put her hand upon the fish.
She then inclined herself towards the moon, and thence,
to the chief, according to the prescribed ceremonial.
I accept thy gift, chief of the Shienne, she said, with
thankfulness. `But love,' Nelesho, she added in an
under tone, `is never granted, that is demanded with a
the Shienne, `Wakona, the Wahcondah has given
thee to our chief.'
All this was explained, and translated by Baptiste
to the young strangers; nor could a more trying position
be imagined for the daughter of Yensi. It called
forth humiliation, ridicule, shame, disgust and abhorrence.
She could read in the pale and agonizing
countenance of Areskoui the gnawing of the vultures
at his heart. She felt, in all its bitterness, what it
was to live among Indians, to see lives, dearer than
her own, involved in their loves, quarrels and caprices.
She turned a glance upon the polished young
visitants, in whose person and manner the trace of civilization,
and high training were so visibly written.
Shame, natural, instinctive, burning, female shame
glowed in her cheek, to have these fine young strangers,
and so many white inhabitants witness this scene,
without knowing her reasons for acquiescing in the
degradation. She could not have spoken her feelings.
Her fevered voice would not have allowed her
utterance; and the guests had sufficient tact to see, that
any words of gay raillery, or ironical comment would
have been misplaced, and they had the discretion to
keep silence. The chief, retired at a little distance,
remained attentively surveying the changes of her
countenance, as he stood at the head of his Shienne.
Ellswatta dismissed the assemblage with these words.
`The maize dance and the salmon spearing are past.
Let my red children retire to their homes, and come
to the council-house to-morrow evening, as soon as the
stars are in the sky, to hear the words of the medicine
man of the pale face, Elder Wood. He will declare
to us the good words of the Wahcondah of the pale
face. May the Master of Life send you sweet sleep.'
The Indians instantly began to file off to their
tents; and the lovers to their assignations. Wilhelm
and each of the whites had the same proffer from
many hands. Better feelings had come to the relief
of Jessy. As she passed Areskoui, and saw the deep
and poignant suffering on his brow, she said to herself,
`shall I basely forego all good feelings, because
these strangers behold me? He has shown me the
confirmed kindness of years, and these men are, as he
says, the acquaintances of a day. Let humanity triumph
over pride.' She bestowed in passing a look of
unwonted kindness upon him. She said, `chief, I am
full of sorrow, that this has been a dark evening to
thee. Accompany us home, and in all thy fortunes,
know, that thou hast the entire respect of thy sister.
Be calm, chief. The Author of Good, sends clouds
one day, and a clear sky the next.' `Wakona,' replied
Areskoui, `art thou still kind, as always? This
talk goes to my heart. If thou smile upon me, I can
sustain all the rest. Thou hast seen this a dark night
for thy brother. Thou knowest, Wakona, that rebellion
and blood are in the thoughts of the Shienne.
I owe forbearance to my people. But thou owest
none to Nelesho. Oh! that the Master of Life had
given thee purpose, to reject his medicine gift. Let
him but have looked resentment, and I would have
settled our ancient grudge on the spot.' `And, it
was, therefore, chief,' she replied, `that I yielded, and
accepted the hateful gift. Thou needest not, that I
tell thee, in what light I look upon that proud and
revengeful man. Thou knowest the customs of thy
people. I longed, and yet dreaded to refuse the gift.
But it was a rite consecrated, as thou knowest, by the
ceremonial of ages, and I conceded out of tenderness
for thy peace and welfare.' `Sayest thou so,'
he eagerly asked; `sayest thou so, Wakona, daughter
of the sun? Thy words are as the south wind, breezing
on the first flowers of the spring. Thou hast
Let the Master of Life send what signs he may to
Nelesho, so that Wakona continue to smile on Areskoui.'
It was not the least embarrassing trial of this day,
that, thus accompanied on her way home by the guests
from Astoria, and by Areskoui, she saw the lowering
countenance of Nelesho, saw his knit brows, and heard
him murmur, as she passed him, low imprecations to
the little white men of the mountains. Something
of the superstitious dread of the supposed power and
influence of these mysterious personages of Shoshonee
fancy, had been imbibed from them, and thrilled
through her frame. It placed her, too, in a dilemma
sufficiently perplexing, that she conversed in one language
with Areskoui, and in another with the Astorians,
neither understood by the other. They jested with
her upon the convenience of being able to utter backward
compliments upon either party, without consciousness
of the purport by the other. They gaily
insisted on a translation of Areskoui's confabulation.
Ironical allusion to him and the claims of Nelesho ensued,
which she could well have spared. She however,
rallied with them in their own tone, as long as
her drooping spirits would allow. As they still showed
inclination to place each of the chiefs in a ludicrous
light, she menaced them with faithful translation.
But she was unable to put an end to this unpleasant
theme, in any other way, than by showing herself in
earnest, as she requested them to spare her feelings
by never speaking of Areskoui, either in his presence
or absence, except with respect. `Think of the chief,'
she said, `as you please—and be as merry, in speaking
of my relations with him, as you may. I best
know his noble nature. I may not forget his kindnesses
to all I love. I ought not to endure, to hear
any one place him in a ridiculous light in my presence.'
promised never to repeat their offence.
Next day was devoted to no set festival; and all
parties were at liberty to make arrangements for
spending it, as they chose. Captain Wilhelm and the
musicians joined a hunting party, requesting Areskoui
to head them, to hunt the grizzly bear. Julius
and Frederic declined being of the party. `I leave
you,' said Areskoui, `with Wakona. Allow, that the
young chief is generous and confiding, not to disturb
your enjoyments by his presence.'
A party of mounted Indians moved off, after breakfast,
for the haunts of the grizzly bear, in the dens of
the mountains. Josepha, Yensi, William Weldon,
and Elder Wood, formed one party, and the two
young gentlemen, a half breed domestic girl of William
Weldon's, and Jessy, another, for a long promenade
to survey various interesting points of the valley.
They first visited the blue lake, whence was
presented one of the noblest views of the valley and
the mountains. There was an indescribable charm
from this point, in tracing the winding course of the
Sewasserna among the mountains, bringing irrigation,
cherishing plants, flowers, fertility and verdure along
the feet of these precipitous and awful piles. The
domestic smokes arose; and the low of the cattle, and
the hatchet of the wood-cutter, the hum of life, and
the baying of the dogs, came up delightfully mixed,
and softened upon the ear. The grand mountains
soared aloft in the transparent blue on every side.
The passing shadows flitted over them in one point.
Deep chasms vocal with the war of winds or the fall
of waters were seen in another, and the snows and
ices on the tops of all the higher peaks glittered in
cloudless brilliance.
The parents were intently engrossed in their own
separate themes of conversation, kindly aware, that
would be to leave them to themselves. They admired
the views, that spread before them. They compared
their own drawings, and those of Jessy, of course
with infinite praise to the latter, and discussed the
comparative advantages of genius, endowment, discipline,
and the direct imitation of nature, with that
of the finest models of art. Each saw, that an endless
field of improvement was open from the advantage,
which each could derive from the other. All were
enthusiasts in their admiration of the delightful art,
which is able to trace the grand and beautiful of nature,
and give it the fidelity of life, without any of its
harshness and deformity.
After a long survey from this point, they climbed
to a charming terrace plain, still higher up the mountain.
As they passed through a thick grove of ancient
and immensely large chesnuts, William Weldon pointed
out to them the place where he had come in just
at the seasonable moment to save Ellswatta from the
talons of an enormous grizzly bear. He gave a most
graphic description of the deadly struggle between
them, the terrific form of the savage monster, and the
calm intrepidity of the warrior, though streaming with
the blood of numerous wounds, inflicted by the fierce
animal. The parties involuntarily shivered. It led
to a discussion of the noble forbearance, the calm wisdom
and untiring benevolence of the excellent chief,
and the young men admitted, that they had been impressed
from the beginning with his intrinsic dignity,
shrewdness and native eloquence.
This easy and untrammelled intercourse, this succession
of new and imposing scenery, this commemoration
of various spots, by some striking event, connected
with them, gave this promenade every conceivable
interest. Inspiring prospects, were before them.
Youth and beauty were on their foreheads, and all the
of thought, feeling, and wit, fancy, eloquence and enthusiasm
were all stirred in their secret cells, and each
one not only admired, that the other at once became
endowed with eloquence, but felt new resources moved
within themselves. Each one experienced that
delicious sensation, of finding not only the very
thoughts, they wished, arise unconsciously, but the
very words, in which to clothe them, flowed equally
unsought to their lips. Each one, too, felt called out
in his own appropriate way of thinking and speaking.
Hence the pleasure of the mutual survey of distinctive
character. There was the warm internal thrill
of surprize and admiration in the strangers at the alternate
strokes of talent, thought, earnest feeling, delightful
and benevolent wit, and a calm joyousness peculiarly
her own, in their fair companion. The result
of much reading and study, the scintillations of genius,
the native superiority of strong intellect, would have
showed her in a light too like ostentation of talent, had
not the unrestrained familiarity of the ramble placed
them all so perfectly at their case, ease, that the careless
simplicity of her manner took from her sayings all appearance
of dogmatism, and a desire of display. Her
countenance glowed with the exercise. Her eye
glistened with fullness of satisfaction, and the lustre
of her beauty showed in its utmost richness.
The dinner, that ensued the mountain scramble,
was equally delightful. They entered the charming
grounds of William Weldon. The clear sun shone;
and the privet and pawpaws were habited in their
brightest green. The rivulets tinkled through the
garden. The meadow pinks and acacias poured their
fragrance and beauty on the senses. `What an enchanted
mansion is this, which you inhabit,' the young
men exclaimed. `What a scene! What a conception
for a house! The valley, the inmate, the abode, are
the ultima Thule of the world.' `Thank you,' replied
Jessy gaily, `what astonishingly polite and complimentary
guests. For my part, I am both fatigued
and hungry, like a common mortal;' and they entered
to a table spread with the rural abundance of the valley,
and no other company to create restraint, than
Elder Wood.
In the afternoon the same party wandered forth
again, to visit many beautiful spots, which they had
not yet seen. They traversed flowering thickets, consecrating
each charming place by its appropriate history.
At one point they listened to the deep tumbling
of a large water fall, descending from the mountains
into a prodigious ravine, where the astonished
eye looked down hundreds of feet on the dark rolling
waters in the channel, and the roots, as it were, of
the mountain laid bare, and its huge spoils torn away,
and swept down to the base. As they returned, in
the cool of the declining sun, they attempted to take
a review of the subjects of their multifarious conversations
of the afternoon. Each admitted, that, if an
enemy had made a book, and put it all down, it would
have been a very voluminous one; and though it
might not be creditable to them in the eye of critical
readers, that it had been most delightful, while fabricating
by the authors.
The evening reassembled Captain Wilhelm, the
musicians, Baptiste, William Weldon's family, Elder
Wood, and the customary select number of Shoshonee,
at the house of Trader Hatch, for supper. The
hunting party, and Trader Hatch among them, had
been not a little glorious by the aid of the water of
life, and they were quite as merry on this occasion, as
comported with the more sober and chastised thoughts
of William Weldon's circle. The roar went round,
as they recounted, that Baptiste had fixed upon a calf
for a grizzly bear; and that one of their Indians had
bestridden a log, instead of his horse. In the noisy
dialect of huntsmen, they had many merry feats of
that sort, to recount. They had, moreover, killed
elk, deer, and other game, though they had met no
grizzly bear. The supper table was vocal with the
praises of the Shoshonee valley. Wilhelm averred,
in broken English, that he had a strong desire to return
to his own country, gather all together, and come,
and offer himself for adoption in the tribe. The musicians
had found the venison fine, the girls charming,
and saw nothing to make man happy on the earth,
that might not be enjoyed here. Baptiste was absolutely
in ecstacy, for he was confidante, translator, Cicerone,
and factotum for every one; and in the midst
of shouts of laughter, he proposed a pas des deux with
a favorite Shoshonee girl, who was present. Elder
Wood interposed, and begged, with due submission,
to know, whether so much merriment would be calculated
to put the parties in a right frame of mind, to
attend the solemn duties of the evening before them?
The grave look of the minister restored order. The
project was silently abandoned.
This evening was the reign of Elder Wood. He
had gradually prevailed, to be able to introduce regular
religious exercises, when the tribes were stationary
in their towns, twice in a week; on the Sabbath,
and on Wednesday evening. As the Indians have
much leisure, and spend but a small portion of their
time in labor, they naturally covet holidays. Any
thing, that creates a distraction for the wearying
monotony of their thoughts, is a relief to them. Gatherings
to attend Elder Wood's worship were additional
holidays engrafted upon their ancient stock.
His services were not without their effect. Most of
them spent no profound or painful thoughts upon the
presence, the deep words and solemn tones of the
minister. To some, who reasoned with him, and
were capable of that exercise, the exposition of some
of his dogmas was positively revolting. But he visited
the sick, and prayed with all, who would allow
him. He relieved the wants of those, who failed in
their hunt or supplies, or were in any way poor and
destitute. He cultivated peace and good will among
them; reconciled, as far as they would allow him, their
quarrels, gave always good counsels; and on the
whole, exercised in the tribe a high, salutary moral
influence. There was of course a general and unequivocal
feeling of respect towards him. Partly from
that feeling, partly from curiosity, and partly from
their natural love of a festival, or any kind of distraction,
they generally attended his meetings with a
great degree of punctuality. Two or three Indian
women had professed themselves serious, and were
now catechumens, under his especial care, as preparatory
for administering to them the ordinance of baptism.
To attend upon the service of the evening, to talk
over the preceding evening's circumstances, and to
see and communicate with the strangers, once more
brought a numerous concourse together. The preacher
was clad in a full black suit of canonicals, put in
order by Jessy and her mother. The added number
of distinguished strangers, and the nearness of the
time to the great Indian religious festival of the preceding
day, concurred to make this a season of peculiar
display. Long and deeply had he meditated his
subject; and while he would have severely tasked
Jessy and the young men, for devoting midnight vigils
to considering, in what dress they should appear next
day, he overlooked his own night-watchings, where
the All Seeing Eye, probably, discovered, that the
imposing display of oratory this evening. It must be
allowed, that the scene was one of most impressive
and touching interest. In a deep grove, God's first
temple, under the huge `medicine' sycamore, beside
the Sewasserna, the same calm rolling river, that was
the night before broken by the movements of a thousand
warriors, and flowing in crimson with the light
of as many torches, was the place of worship. Beneath
its long, lateral, white arms, held out as if in
shelter, were collected thousands of these simple people,
of every age. Their uncovered heads, their ever
grave copper faces, their stillness, and the intense interest
in their countenances, the earnestness of their
efforts to hush the cries of their children, all united to
give deep interest to the occasion. Half formed leaves
rustled over their heads; and through the branches,
the blue and the stars were seen twinkling in the high
dome of the firmament. The sighing of the evening
breeze, as it came down the mountains, over the hemlocks
and pines on their sides, sounded in the ear like
the deep whisperings of communication of heaven with
earth. The ancient mountains, with their hundred
peaks, stood forth in the light of the moon, to testify
the eternity of that Power, who had reared these enduring
and sublime piles, and to bear concurrent witness
with Elder Wood.
Under such circumstances, the minister appeared
before them, venerable in form and person, serious and
thoughtful in his manner, and with enough of the peculiar
temperament of his country, to be not only perfectly
composed, but even to feel the full influence of
an excitement, which imparts to a person, so constituted,
the power of achieving something more, on the
spur of the occasion, than he could have accomplished
in the silence of his closet. It has been remarked,
that the Indians are singular for the decorous attention
worship. The arrangement was in semi-circles, commencing
a few feet from the preacher, who sat central
to the smallest. On the first were the white people,
the visitants, and Jessy in the brightness of her beauty,
but with the thoughtful look, which she always
bore at divine service, as if waiting to hear. Next
were the chiefs and their families; and beyond them,
circle after circle, until the outer circumference of
the multitude was lost in the darkness.
The most conspicuous influence, which Elder Wood
could be said to have wrought upon this people, was
in having inspired in them a taste for psalm singing.
The Indians, it is well known, as a race, are keenly
alive to the influence of music. Though it may be
presumed, that Elder Wood had thoughts above the
sleeping majesty of the eternal mountains, that constituted
the glorious outer walls of his temple; yet, no
doubt, he felt some leaven of earthly mould, in a disposition
to display to the best effect, the proficiency of
his red pupils in psalmody, in proof of his own industry,
and that a part, at least, of his apostolic labors,
had prospered. It must be admitted, that the heart
of this good man kindled with rapture, as well as
pride, while he heard his catechumens sing.
He arose, after the fashion of his country, without
note or book, save the bible and a collection of hymns.
`The Eternal,' he said, `dwelleth not in temples made
with hands. In ancient days, the pure in heart worshipped
Him in the covert of groves, as we do. Yonder
are his goings above the mountains. We have
met in his unwalled temple, to show forth his praise.
He hath sent me to proclaim redemption for sinners,
even for the red dwellers in the wilderness, `who were
once afar off, but now are nigh.' There is hope in
the eternal mercy of God, of the pardon of sin, beyond
the grave. We are all journeying to the common
retribution. Let us then, with true hearts, worthily
celebrate the praises of the Eternal. Let us invoke
his mercy, pray for deliverance from sin, and for a
never-ending life of glory and felicity beyond the stars,
and beyond the grave.' Such was his exordium, delivered
slowly, and with deep intonation, uttered first
in English, and then with deliberate and distinct enunciation
rendered into Shoshonee. In the same impressive
manner, he recited first in English, and then
in Indian, the following lines of a hymn:
Thy better portion trace;
Rise from transitory things,
Towards heaven, thy native place.
Sun and moon and stars decay;
Time shall soon this earth remove;
Rise, my soul, and haste away
To seats prepared above.
Rivers to the ocean run,
Nor stop in all their course;
Fire ascending, seeks the sun;
Both speed them to their source, &c.
These simple children of nature caught the strain
of this beautiful hymn, as he raised the first notes
himself. The very trees seemed to have become
vocal. There was an awful key in the wild sound, as
it rose loud, full and clear in the peculiar accent and
tones of these native dwellers of the forest. No other
people could have produced such music, and in no
other place would it have been so appropriate. The
singing had in itself a wild grandeur; but the circumstances
would have rendered any singing, from such
people, grand. The music of the hymn was in itself
of the richest; and they sung it with an enthusiasm,
that gave it the fullest effect. As the song was repeated,
in bursts and cadences, sent back by echo
that these venerable witnesses for God had joined in
the strain. The frame, that would not have thrilled,
the heart, that would not have softened, the soul, that
would not have felt the upward movement of religious
enthusiasm, as these simple sons of the forest
followed Elder Wood through the strains of this anthem,
must have been obtuse and insensible. Frederic
felt the moisture rush to his eye, and the chill of
holy feeling run over his frame. Even the dissipated
heart of Julius Landino acknowledged the painful
compunctious visitings of a moment.
Elder Wood rose to pray, and the vast audience
reverently stood up, listening with grave attention.
Prayer finished, he commenced his sermon, translating,
as before, sentence by sentence. The intonation
in Shoshonee showed the hearers the point, on which
it had been laid in English, serving as a kind of interpretation,
and giving a singular impressiveness to the
sentences. The discourse was sensible, fervid and
eloquent; for these were attributes, that belonged to
his genius and character. He manifestly strove to be
simple, and to use Indian figure and illustration. In
this effort he was only partially successful; for full
success of this sort can be the result only of the training
of a life. In the doctrinal part of his sermon, he
evidently failed; for, instead of dwelling on the simple
and universal, but all important points, in which
thinking beings must agree, he very inappropriately
selected a doctrinal subject, not only wholly unfit for
the Shoshonee, but one deemed equally unscriptural
and unreasonable by the greater portion of professed
Christians. The tenor of his reasoning upon his
subject was abstruse, abstract, and out of the range of
thought of his simple audience, to whom there was
but one way of becoming usefully intelligible; and
that was to address them in simple ideas, clothed in
thought, and modes of conversing with visible nature.
Unfortunately, the preacher had deemed it a matter
of duty, to ground these simple Indians in the first
points, of what he considered the only true orthodoxy.
These points had hitherto constituted the chief burden
of his theme. They were the absolute and total depravity
of human nature, its entire importence and helplessness
previous to grace, unconditional election, and the
certain and inevitable destruction of all those, who
did not receive all these doctrines and act upon them,
as well those who had never had an opportunity to
hear the gospel, as those who had heard and rejected
it. There was power, and strong though undisciplined
eloquence, in his way of stating these dogmas.
But those of his white hearers, who attended to his
discourse, and cared enough about the subject of his
discussion, to deliberate and weigh it, clearly dissented
from both his positions and conclusions, as equally
revolting to Scripture and common sense. Still there
was a serious earnestness and simplicity of truth in
his manner, that caused the hearer, while he disliked
the general doctrine of the discourse, to feel respect
for the preacher. Occasionally, the deep guttural
ugh! the note of doubt and dissent, arose from some
of the council chiefs, as some of the stronger and
more intelligible points of the discourse were rendered
into their own speech.
A short extract is given, as a sample of the whole
discourse. `This book came from God; and He hath
given me a spiritual understanding to comprehend its
true meaning. Whosoever believeth not all these
doctrines, contained in it, will suffer eternally in hell,
that eternal and bottomless lake of brimstone and fire,
of which I have so often spoken to you. It declares,
that the white men in their cities of splendor, the
simple and moral people of the country, the inhabitants
and climes, children as beautiful and seemingly
as spotless as meadow lilies or the mountain
snow, are born wholly corrupt, entirely depraved and
sinful, black with native pollution, at war with the
Great Spirit, and receiving life under his everlasting
wrath and curse. The infant of a span long, who
dies out of Christ, and the hoary sinner of four score,
who has rejected him, will alike wail forever in the
bottomless pit, kindled to tenfold fierceness and fury
by the wrath of an incensed God.' This declaration
was followed by an immediate and general ugh! The
preacher paused a moment, a little disconcerted. But
his native firmness came to his aid. `I know,' he continued,
`my dear red brethren, I know, that this is a
hateful truth to flesh and blood. I know, that it runs
counter to all the wicked passions of depraved nature.
I know well, that this preaching does not agree with
carnal and corrupt human nature. This is the preaching,
that in all time has roused up all the opposition
of man against God's eternal truth. For preaching
these truths, missionaries and martyrs have died
among the heathens. For these truths the prophets
were stoned; the apostles crucified, and the Son of
God bled on the accursed tree.' This too, was followed
by a gentle ugh!
`The Great Spirit, from the depths of his own eternity,
and to magnify his own glory and the riches of
his mercy in Jesus Christ, did of his free and sovereign
grace, and without reference to merit, seen or
foreseen, to good or evil works, done, or to be done, and
without any regard to difference of character, elect
from all eternity a few—a very few—I know not how
many. God, who chose them from everlasting, only
knoweth. They were elected to everlasting life;
and the rest, being reprobate, and passed over, must
and will inevitably perish. The elect were chosen
or the sons of God shouted for joy.' In the
fulness of time they were to be sprinkled from the
native corruption of their hearts, by the blood of the
Son of God, the second person in the adorable Trinity.
They were to be renewed and sanctified by the
Holy Ghost, the third glorious person of the Godhead.
Bought by the blood of the Son of God, elected
by the Eternal Father, and their salvation sworn by
the oath of Him, who cannot lie, not one of them can
be lost. Not one of them can ever stray from the
heavenly mansions. The rest, the countless millions of
the reprobate, are passed by, and sealed up, as vessels
of wrath, and reserved for the eternal malediction
of the triune Jehovah! The spotless throne
of the Eternal is guiltless of their blood, and their
destruction, and will be equally glorified with their
execrations, as heard from the depths of the bottomless
pit, as with the hosannahs and hallelujahs of the
choral anthems of the blood-purchased elect, who
shall praise Him in the heaven of heavens.' Here
was a long and full drawn ugh!
He paused a moment, and resumed. `The last
and most solemn head of my discourse is, there is but
one way, truth and life, but one baptism by immersion,
one fold and one shepherd. All, that belong to
this fold and shepherd, and have received this baptism,
are saved. The rest perish everlastingly. Of
the countless millions, who have never heard the gospel—all—all
will perish everlastingly. This brings
me to my grand point. It is to declare the great
truths, my dear red brethren, for whom Christ died,
that I have put my life in my hand, and come among
you. It is for this, that prophets, and apostles, and
evangelists, have gone into heathen lands, and have
braved every form of torture and death. It is for this,
that my soul is in trouble, that rivers of tears run
and night, that he would give me the souls at least of
some of you, my dear red brethren, in answer to my
prayers and cries, as my crowns of rejoicing in the
day of the Lord Jesus; that he would give me your
souls, my white brethren according to the flesh, that
you may hear, believe and be saved, and shine with
me, as stars in the diadem of the Redeemer. The
case would not be so terrible, so worthy of labor, pity
and tears, if it were not, that every one, who doth not
receive this gospel, in its full import, truth and simplicity,
into a new and converted heart, will be everlastingly
scorched in the flames of the bottomless pit,
under the inexorable doom of a just and benevolent
God. By what motives, ye children of wrath, ye
dead in trespasses and sins, shall I warn, and adjure
you, to arise, and call upon Christ to give you light
and life!'
Here the preacher commenced a simple, fervid and
affectionate adjuration. It was earnest and solemn,
and in some points even thrilling and of the most
touching pathos. He continued to kindle his own
feelings with the subject, until, stern and little addicted
to the melting mood as he was, his voice quivered
with emotion, and his eyes streamed with tears.
This part of his address went home even to the hearts
of the Shoshonee, and many a hard featured warrior,
who had brandished the hatchet, or drawn the yager
with an unblenching eye and an unfaltering hand, was
seen to drop tears in silent sympathy with the preacher.
Such was the scope of a sermon, not without sense
and eloquence, but without judgment and discrimination,
which produced little impression upon most of
the white people, which operated in the naturally
acute and discerning intellects of the Indians positive
dislike, and unbelief, and which confounded the docile,
but enquiring spirit of Jessy. Having finished, as
they had any thing on their minds relating to religion, to
declare if; and if they had any thing to object, he would
be willing to hear them state their objections, that at
the next meeting he might be ready to obviate them.
Tutsaugee, or The Changing Wind, was the chief
reasoner among this people; and to him was generally
assigned the part of reasoning, and commenting
upon points, which, it was expected, the Indians would
answer. He had acquired great readiness and acuteness
at this kind of exercise, and was the professed
debater and disputant of the Shoshonee. When
Elder Wood gave out the challenge, a number of the
chiefs, disposed, as it appeared, to have the amusement
of a little wind in the form of religious disputation,
looked round to Tutsaugee, and gave the usual
ugh! in token, that it was expected, he would reply
to the positions of Elder Wood. Tutsaugee arose,
showing a calm and plausible countenance, and an
admirable sly natural physiognomy for a lawyer. He
reached forth his brawny right arm from the folds of
his buffalo robe, and began raising himself to his utmost
height, and speaking gracefully, and with vehement
gesticulation. `Our white father will forgive
the ignorant words of his untaught red brethren. We
are sensible, that we know nothing, and that the pale
faces know all deep things. Still it seems to us, that
all the talk of our white medicine father, this evening,
is not good talk. It is a strange and strong talk, and
our red men are too ignorant, to understand it. Hearken,
white father, and explain. You say, that the
little babes of the white and red people are born under
the wrath and curse of the Master of Life. Your
Wahcondah, then, must be quite different from ours.
Our Master of Life is too good to send little, innocent
babes, who have no strength, nor understanding
to do wrong, into life, to make them bad, and then
father, and explain. You say, that the Master of
Life chose, before the sun and moon rolled in the firmament,
a few to go to the good place; and chose
them, not because they were good, or would be good;
and passed by the rest, not because they were bad,
or would be bad; but merely for his will and pleasure;
that the chosen will surely go to the good place;
and the reprobate forever burn in the brimstone lake.
This seems to us not a good talk, father. The worst
red men in our nation would not act so cruelly, and
our Wakondah is far better, than the best of our men.
We have even seen no pale faces so bad, as that. The
Wakondah of red men chooses, and sends to the shadowy
land of souls brave and free spirits, because
they are brave, true and good. We do not feel, as if
we could love, and trust the Wakondah of the pale
face, if he conducts in a way, that seems to us so partial
and cruel, merely to show his power. We may
fear his power; but if he so shows it, we cannot love
him. Hearken, father, and explain. You say, that
your Master of Life hears the groans of the damned,
making as pleasant sounds in his ears, as the hosannahs
and praises of the blessed. Ah! father, is it because
the pale faces worship such a being, that we
have heard, that they are all so hard-hearted, cruel,
and unjust? Hearken, father, and explain. You
say, that the brown faces and the red skins, and the
black people, and all the strange people in the far
countries, and the islands of the great salt lake, who
have not heard of the Wakondah of the pale face,
will be damned, and burned forever in the brimstone
lake. Ah! because they never heard of him? Father,
will the Great Spirit of the white men punish the ignorant
red men, because they never heard a talk, that
no body was able to tell them. The red men are ignorant.
The Master of Life placed them where they
want of knowledge. But do you say, father, that he
first makes them ignorant, and then damns them for
being so? Father, that seems to us a bad talk. We
fear, that you do not say right words of the Wahcondah.
We think you slander him, and that he will be
angry with you. Put your ears to your medicine
book again, and be sure that it speaks just such words
as you declare. Father, explain. We are ignorant;
but we believe, that the Master of Life has always
had kind thoughts in his heart, and kind deeds in his
hands. You ask, since we so think of the words,
which you find in the book of the Wahcondah, why
we so respectfully hearken to our white father, and
love him, as a wise man, and give heed to him, as a
medicine man? Father, we hear you speak strange
words of the Wahcondah, which we neither understand
nor believe. But we see you doing good deeds.
We think, you must be a very good medicine man, if
you worship a strange and cruel Wahcondah, and yet
always do good. We love our white father, because
he does not act like the other white men. We know,
that words are wind. Deeds stand fast like the mountains.
Father, next time you declare to us a medicine
talk, we hope you will explain. I have done.'
Most who heard, were convinced, that missionaries,
who preach the mild and sublime truths of the gospel,
to simple and ignorant people, ought to dwell chiefly
on the clear and innate truth of that divine system,
and not strive to perplex these children of nature
with abstract, not to say revolting doctrines. Some
took the preacher at his literal word, and others cared
for none of these things.
The moon was nearly at her zenith, when the service
was closed. The breaking up was attended by
circumstances not unlike those, which mark the close
of the solemnities of the whites. Human nature
where, than we are ready to imagine. The Captain
and the musicians walked home, each striving to make
himself understood by his elected damsel. Areskoui
and Nelesho lingered near the daughter of Yensi, as
was their custom. She walked thoughtfully, between
her father and mother, with the young strangers at
their side. Some of the women of the tribe commented
on the talk of Elder Wood, and found it good
and reasonable. Others among the whites pronounced
it both unreasonable and unscriptural, as
their previous habits of thinking and education had
been. All criticised more in fault, than praise. But
their present pleasures, passions and pursuits soon
banished Elder Wood and his subject from their mind.
He, on his part, walked home, musing in sadness and
discouragement upon the hardness of heart, and stiffness
of neck of those, who would not at once give full
credence to the doctrines of the five points. Jessy,
too, as she retired to her rest, could not but admit
with Tutsaugee, that his doctrines were hard to understand,
and revolting to the common apprehension.
But the tones of his voice and his look of purity and
his life of sanctity, so well remembered, came in aid
of her confidence, and unabating respect for him. The
past, the present, and the future floated before her.
This passing moment of existence is all a dream, she
said. Not so with these awful realities of the future
—about which this good man speaks with so much
confidence. Let me banish all illusions, and give myself
up to meditations upon the eternal concerns of the
soul. But after her simple prayers were said, earthly
visions again rushed upon her. The honied words,
the fascinating manners of Julius—of countenance,
form and deportment so captivating—revisited her
memory. What beauty in his countenance! What
sweetness in his tones, and how irresistibly easy and
was insidiousness lurking in his eye; and that a want
of principle, a slighting of the sanctions of conscience,
moral obligation and the scriptures, had occasionally,
though almost covertly, crept into his discourse.
Might not the most real worth, the most sound understanding,
the most generosity and good feeling be concealed
under the sterner manner, the less striking
countenance of Frederic? The more closely she contemplated
him, in the more interesting light he appeared.
`I would be glad,' she thought, `that his
abode among us might give time to study his character.'
Then the transition was natural to the magnanimous
forbearance, the constant struggle for self
control in Areskoui. `I am destined to these valleys,'
she thought. `I can never hope to go forth to the
paradise, which these fair young men inhabit. Why
can I not command the discretion to control my imagination,
and see the chief, as my dear father would
wish?' As her mind, her imagination and her heart alternately
had the ascendancy, her thoughts floated in
vague confusion, and sleep fled her eye lids. She arose,
went to the window, looked up to the blue and star bespangled
arch. `Our Father, who art in heaven,' she
said, and fixed, and devout communion with the Father
of Spirits composed her mind. The repose that ensued
was the deep sleep of innocence and prayer.
Such is an outline of the intercourse of the visitants
from Astoria with the Shoshonee, during the allotted
time of their visit. The young gentlemen had spent
as great a portion of it with Jessy, as William Weldon's
stern interpretation of propriety would allow.
They had hunted, and angled, and walked, and conversed
together, or in company with the Indians; and
upon every allowed pretext had walked with Jessy,
accompanied by her mother, or Josepha, or their half
breed female domestic. Much of this time passed in
in discussing their respective paintings; but in fact
in conversations, which, originating in this subject,
wandered, before they closed, upon many points very
little related to painting. The distinctness of character,
which belonged to each of the strangers, had
begun to be apprehended by Jessy; and, much as she
was struck by the first appearance of Julius, she perhaps
more strongly regretted the approaching separation
from Frederic, who had scarcely said a civil thing
to her; while the other was continually seeking opportunities
to pour into her ear extravagant compliments.
But the considerate and forbearing young
chief, feeling that he was a constant drawback from
the pleasure of this visit, and aware that the general
theme turned upon subjects which he neither understood
or regarded, and was conducted in a strange
language, avoided his usual frank familiarity with her,
restricting himself to an occasional salutation, as they
passed.
The morning of the departure of the visitants on
their return to Astoria had arrived. At the parting,
all the white people, with the family of Ellswatta,
breakfasted at the house of Hatch. The departing
guests were apparently sincere in their expressions of
regret. Apart from the attraction of the splendid
daughter of Yensi, this wild life, this intercourse untramelled
by the usages of society, this image of Indian
range, with no limit but vague opinion, the unequalled
beauty of the scenery, all conspired to give this kind
of life a charm for men of such characters and pursuits.
They declared, that they had never been so
happy; that they had enjoyed themselves so highly,
and had been under the influence of such a spell, as
they feared, would render all other places tedious and
tasteless. The party had been more successful than
they had anticipated, in obtaining supplies of salmon,
ladened with these articles. Captain Wilhelm again
affirmed, that when he should have revisited his country
and disposed of his property, and arranged his affairs,
he felt serious purposes to return to the Shoshonee,
and select an Indian wife, and spend his days
with his friends. The young men looked so many
more things, as they said less. An exchange of paintings
and drawings between them and Jessy, took
place; and assurances, to which at the moment she paid
little attention, that they intended, this should not be
the last meeting. Josepha and Ellswatta were glad
they were gone, it must be admitted; for their son
would once more be left with no rival in the views of
Jessy; and these formidable impediments to his hopes
would once more be out of the way. The farewells
of the guests drew tears from the eyes of Yensi; for
they were returning to that society, for the pleasures
of which she still sighed. It may not be disguised,
that certain indefinite emotions, and those certainly
not of satisfaction, arose in the bosom of Jessy, as she
saw the fine forms of the young men gliding down
the Sewasserna in their boats, and disappearing behind
the wooded point.
| CHAPTER V. The Shoshonee Valley | |