in a clear plain, and the opposite parties all
attend at the centre, where a disinterested
person casts up the ball, then the opposite
parties all contend for it. If any one gets
it into his net, he runs with it the way he
82 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
wishes it to go, and they all pursue him. If
one of the opposite party overtakes the per-
son with the ball, he gives the staff a stroke,
which causes the ball to fly out of the net;
then they have another debate for it, and if
the one that gets it can outrun all the oppo-
site party, and can carry it quite out, or over
the line at the end, the game is won ; but this
seldom happens. When any one is running
away with the balh and is likely to be over-
taken, he commonly tlirows it, and with this
instrument can cast it fifty or sixty yards.
Sometimes when the ball is almost at the one
end, matters will take a sudden turn, and the
opposite party may quickly carry it out at
the other end. Oftentimes they will work a
long while back and forward before they can
get the ball over the line, or win the game.
About the 1st of June, 1757, the warriors
were preparing to go to war, in the Wyan-
dot, Pottowatomy, and Ottawa towns; also
a great many Jibewas came down from the
upper lakes; and after singing their war-
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 83
songs and going through their common
ceremonies, they marched off against the
frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, and Penn-
sylvania, in their usual manner, singing the
travelling song, slow firing, etc.
About the middle of June the Indians
were almost all gone to war, from sixteen to
sixty; yet Tecaughretanego remained in
town with me. Though he had formerly,
when they were at war with the southern
nations, been a great warrior and an eminent
counsellor, and I think as clear and able a
reasoner upon any subject that he had an
opportunity of being acquainted with as I
ever knew, yet he had all along been against
this war, and had strenuously opposed it in
council. He said, if the English and
French had a quarrel, let them fight their
own battles themselves ; it is not our business
to intermeddle therewith.
Before the warriors returned we were very
scarce of provision; and though we did not
commonly steal from one another, yet we
84i CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
stole during this time anything that we could
eat from the French, under the notion that
it was just for us to do so, because they
supported their soldiers; and our squaws,
old men, and children were suffering on
account of the war, as our hunters were all
gone.
Some time in August the warriors re-
turned, and brought in with them a great
many scalps, prisoners, horses, and plunder;
and the common report among the young
warriors was that they would entirely sub-
due Tulhasaga, that is the English, or it
might be literally rendered the Morning
Light Inhabitants.
About the first of November a number of
families were preparing to go on their winter
hunt, and all agreed to cross the lake to-
gether. We encamped at the mouth of the
river the first night, and a council was held,
whether we should cross through by the three
islands, or coast it round the lake. These
islands lie in a line across the lake, and are
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 85
just in sight of each other. Some of the
Wyandots, or Ottawas, frequently make
their winter hunt on these islands; though,
excepting wild fowl and fish, there is scarcely
any game here but raccoons, which are
amazingly plenty, and exceedingly large and
fat, as they feed upon the wild rice, which
grows in abundance in wet places round
these islands. It is said that each hunter,
in one winter, will catch one thousand rac-
coons.
It is a received opinion among the Indians
that the snakes and raccoons are transmi-
gratory, and that a great many of the snakes
turn into raccoons every fall, and raccoons
into snakes eveiy spring. This notion is
founded on observations made on the snakes
and raccoons in this island.
We concluded to coast it round the lake,
and in two days we came to the mouth of the
JMiami of the Lake, and landed on Cedar
Point, where we remained several days.
Here we held a council, and concluded we
86 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
would take a driving hunt in concert and in
partnership.
The river in this place is about a mile
broad, and as it and the lake form a kind of
neck, which terminates in a point, all the
hunters (which were fifty-three) went up the
river, and we scattered ourselves from the
river to the lake. When we first began to
move we were not in sight of each other, but
as we all raised the yell, we could move
regularly together by the noise. At length
we came in sight of each other, and appeared
to be marching in good order; before we
came to the point, both the squaws and boys
in the canoes were scattered up the river and
along the lake, to prevent the deer from
making their escape by water. As we ad-
vanced near the point the guns began to
crack slowly, and after some time the firing
was like a little engagement. The squaws
and boys were busy tomahawking the deer in
the water, and we shooting them down on the
land. We killed in all about thirty deer,
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 87
though a great many made their escape by
water.
Here our company separated. The chief
part of them went up the Miami River,*
which empties into Lake Erie at Cedar
Point, while we proceeded on our journey in
company with Tecaughretanego, Tontil-
eaugo, and two famihes of the Wyandots.
As cold weather was now approaching, we
began to feel the doleful effects of extrava-
gantly and foolishly spending the large
quantity of beaver we had taken in our last
winter's hunt. We were all nearly in the
same circumstances ; scarcely one had a shirt
to his back ; but each of us had an old blanket
which we belted romid us in the day, and
slept in at night, with a deer or bear skin
under us for our bed.
When we came to the Falls of Sandusky
we buried oui' birch-bark canoes, as usual, at
a large burying-place for that purpose, a
little below the falls. At this place the river
* The Miami of the Lakes, now called Maumee.
88 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
falls about eight feet over a rock, but not
perpendicularly. With much difficulty we
pushed up our wooden canoes; some of us
went up the river, and the rest by land with
the horses, until we came to the great mea-
dows or prairies that lie between Sandusky
and Sciota.
When we came to this place, we met with
some Ottawa hunters, and agreed with them
to take what they call a ring hunt, in part-
nership. We waited until we expected rain
was near falling to extinguish the fire, and
then we kindled a large circle in the prairie.
At this time, or before the bucks began to
run, a great number of deer lay concealed
in the grass in the day, and moved about in
the night ; but as the fire burned in towards
the centre of the circle, the deer fled before
the fire; the Indians were scattered also at
some distance before the fire, and shot them
down every opportunity, which was very fre-
quent, especially as the circle became small.
When we came to divide the deer, there were
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 89
about ten to each hunter, which were all
killed in a few hours. The rain did not come
on that night to put out the outside circle of
the fire, and as the wind arose, it extended
through the whole prairie, which was about
fifty miles in length, and in some places
nearly twenty in breadth. This put an end
to our ring hunting this season, and was in
other respects an injury to us in the hunting
business ; so that upon the whole we received
more harm than benefit by our rapid hunting
frolic. We then moved from the north end
of the glades, and encamped at the carrying-
place.
About the time the bucks quit running,
Tontileaugo, his wife and children, Tecaugh-
retanego, his son Nunganey, and myself, left
the Wyandot camps at the carrying-place,
and crossed the Sciota River at the south
end of the glades, and proceeded on about a
southwest course to a large creek called
OUentangy, which I believe interlocks with
the waters of the Miami, and empties into
90 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
Sciota on the west side thereof. From the
south end of the prairie to Ollentangy there
is a large quantity of beech land, intermixed
with first-rate land. Here we made our
winter hut, and had considerable success in
hunting.
After some time one of Tontileaugo's
stepsons (a lad about eight years of age)
offended him, and he gave the boy a moder-
ate whipping, which much displeased his
Wyandot wife. She acknowledged that the
boy was guilty of a fault, but thought that
he ought to have been ducked, which is their
usual mode of chastisement. She said she
could not bear to have her son whipped like
a servant or slave ; and she was so displeased,
that when Tontileaugo went out to hunt, she
got her two horses, and all her effects ( as in
this country the husband and wife have sepa-
rate interests), and moved back to the
Wyandot camp that we had left.
When Tontileaugo returned he was much
disturbed on hearing of his wife's elopement.
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 91
and said that he would never go after her,
were it not that he was afraid that she would
get bewildered, and that his children that
she had taken with her might suffer. Ton-
tileaugo went after his wife, and when they
met they made up the quarrel ; and he never
returned, but left Tecaughretanego and his
son (a boy about ten years of age) , and my-
self, who remained here in our hut all winter.
Tecaughretanego had been a fost-rate
warrior, statesman, and hunter, and though
he was now near sixty years of age, was yet
equal to the common run of hunters, but sub-
ject to the rheumatism, which deprived him
of the use of his legs.
Shortly after Tontileaugo left us, Te-
caughretanego became lame, and could
scarcely walk out of our hut for two months.
I had considerable success in hunting and
trapping. Though Tecaughretanego en-
dured much pain and misery, yet he bore it
all with wonderful patience, and would often
endeavor to entertain me with cheerful con-
92 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
versation. Sometimes he would applaud me
for my diligence, skill, and activity; and at
other times he would take great care in giv-
ing me instructions concerning the limiting
and trapping business. He would also tell
me that if I failed of success we would suffer
very much, as we were about forty miles
from any one living, that we knew of ; yet he
would not intimate that he apprehended we
were in any danger, but still supposed that
I was fully adequate to the task.
Tontileaugo left us a little before Christ-
mas, and from that until some time in Feb-
ruary we had always plenty of bear meat,
venison, etc. During this time I killed much
more than we could use ; but having no horses
to carry in what I killed, I left part of it in
the woods. In February there came a snow,
with a crust, which made a great noise when
walking on it, and frightened away the deer ;
and as bear and beaver were scarce here, we
got entirely out of provision. After I had
hunted two days without eating anything,
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 93
and had very short allowance for some days
before, I returned late in the evening, faint
and weary. When I came into our hut,
Tecaughretanego asked what success. I
told him not any. He asked me if I was
not very hungry. I replied that the keen
appetite seemed to be in some measure re-
moved, but I was both faint and weary. He
commanded Nunganey, his little son, to
bring me something to eat, and he brought
me a kettle with some bones and broth.
After eating a few mouthfuls, my appetite
violently returned, and I thought the victuals
had a most agreeable relish, though it was
only fox and w^ildcat bones, which lay about
the camp, which the ravens and turkey-buz-
zards had picked; these Nunganey had col-
lected and boiled, until the sinews that
remained on the bones would strip off. I
speedily finished my allowance, such as it
was, and when I had ended my sweet repast,
Tecaughretanego asked me how I felt. I
told him that I was much refreshed. He
94 CAPTIVES. AMONG THE INDIANS
then handed me his pipe and pouch, and told
me to take a smoke. I did so. He then
said he had something of importance to tell
me, if I was now composed and ready to
hear it. I told him that I was ready to hear
him. He said the reason why he deferred
his speech till now was because few men are
in a right humor to hear good talk when they
are extremely hungry, as they are then gen-
erally fretful and discomposed; " But as you
appear now to enjoy calmness and serenity
of mind, I will now communicate to you the
thoughts of my heart, and those things that
I know to be true.
"Brother, — As you have lived with the
white people, you have not had the same
advantage of knowing that the great Being
above feeds his people, and gives them
their meat in due season, as we Indians have,
who are frequently out of provisions, and yet
are wonderfully supplied, and that so fre-
quently, that it is evidently the hand of the
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 95
great Owaneeyo * that doth this. Whereas
the white people have commonly large stocks
of tame cattle, that they can kill when they
please, and also their barns and cribs filled
with grain, and therefore have not the same
opportunity of seeing and knowing that they
are supported by the Ruler of heaven and
earth.
"Brotlier, — I know that you are now
afraid that we will all perish with hunger,
but you have no just reason to fear this.
^'Brother^ — I have been young, but now
am old; I have been frequently under the
like circumstances that we now are, and that
some time or other in almost every year of
my life ; yet I have hitherto been supported,
and my wants supplied in time of need.
"Brother, — Owaneeyo sometimes suffers
us to be in want, in order to teach us our
dependence upon him, and to let us know
that we are to love and serve him; and like-
* This is the name of God, in their tongue, and signifies
the owner and ruler of all things.
96 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
wise to know the worth of the favors that
we receive, and to make us more thankful.
''Brother, — Be assured that you will be
supplied with food, and that just in the right
time; but you must continue diligent in the
use of means. Go to sleep, and rise early
in the morning and go a-hunting ; be strong,
and exert yourself like a man, and the Great
Spirit will direct your way."
The next morning I went out, and steered
about an east course. I proceeded on slowly
for about five miles, and saw deer frequently ;
but as the crust on the snow made a great
noise, they were always running before I
spied them, so that I could not get a shot.
A violent appetite returned, and I became
intolerably hungry. It was now that I con-
cluded I would run off to Pennsylvania, my
native country. As the snow was on the
gromid, and Indian hunters almost the whole
of the way before me, I had but a poor pros-
pect of making my escape, but my case ap-
peared desperate. If I staid here, I
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 97
thought I would perish with hunger, and if
I met with Indians they could but kill me.
I then proceeded on as fast as I could
walk, and when I got about ten or twelve
miles from our hut I came upon fresh buf-
falo tracks; I pursued after, and in a short
time came in sight of them as they were pass-
ing through a small glade. I ran with all
my might and headed them, where I lay in
ambush, and killed a very large cow. I im-
mediately kindled a fire and began to roast
meat, but could not wait till it was done; I
ate it almost raw. When hunger was
abated I began to be tenderly concerned for
my old Indian brother and the little boy I
had left in a perishing condition. I made
haste and packed up what meat I could
carry, secured what I left from the wolves,
and returned homewards.
I scarcely thought on the old man's speech
while I was almost distracted with hunger,
but on my return was much affected with it,
reflected on mj^self for my hard-heartedness
98 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
and ingratitude, in attempting to run off and
leave the venerable old man and little boy
to perish with hunger. I also considered
how remarkably the old man's speech had
been verified in our providentially obtaining
a supply. I thought also of that part of his
speech which treated of the fractious disposi-
tions of hungry people, which was the only
excuse I had for my base inhumanity, in
attempting to leave them in the most de-
plorable situation.
As it was moonlight, I got home to our
hut, and found the old man in his usual good-
humor. He thanked me for my exertion,
and bid me sit down, as I must certainly be
fatigued, and he commanded Nunganey to
make haste and cook. I told him I would
cook for him, and let the boy lay some meat
on the coals for himself; which he did, but
ate it almost raw, as I had done. I imme-
diately hung on the kettle with some water,
and cut the beef in thin slices, and put them
in. When it had boiled awhile, I proposed
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 99
taking it off the fire, but the old man replied,
"Let it be done enough." This he said in as
patient and unconcerned a manner as if
he had not wanted one single meal. He
commanded Nunganey to eat no more beef
at that time, lest he might hurt himself, but
told him to sit down, and after some time he
might sup some broth; this command he re-
luctantly obeyed.
When we were all refreshed, Tecaughre-
tanego delivered a speech upon the necessity
and pleasure of receiving the necessary sup-
ports of life with thankfulness, knowing that
Owaneeyo is the great giver. Such speeches
from an Indian may be thought by those
who are unacquainted with them altogether
incredible; but when we reflect on the In-
dian war, we may readily conclude that they
are not an ignorant or stupid sort of people,
or they would not have been such fatal ene-
mies. When they came into our country
they outwitted us ; and when we sent armies
into their country, they outgeneralled and
100 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
beat us with inferior force. Let us also take
into consideration that Tecaughretanego was
no common person, but was among the In-
dians as Socrates in the ancient heathen
world; and, it may be, equal to him, if not
in wisdom and in learning, yet perhaps in
patience and fortitude. Notwithstanding
Tecaughretanego's uncommon natural abili-
ties, yet in the sequel of this history you will
see the deficiency of the light of nature, un-
aided by revelation, in this truly great man.
The next morning Tecaughretanego de-
sired me to go back and bring another load
of buff(ilo beef. As I j)roceeded to do so,
about five miles from our hut I found a bear
tree. As a sapling grew near the tree, and
reached near the hole that the bear went in
at, I got dry dozed or rotten wood, that
would catch and hold fire almost as well as
spunk. This wood I tied up in bunches,
fixed them on my back, and then climbed up
the sapling, and with a pole I put them,
touched with fire, into the hole, and then
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 101
came down and took my gun ir( my hand.
After some time the bear came out, and I
killed and skinned it, packed up a load of the
meat (after securing the remainder from the
wolves), and returned home before night.
On my return my old brother and his son
were much rejoiced at my success. After
this we had plenty of provisions.
We remained here until some time in
April, 1758. At this time Tecaughretanego
had recovered so that he could walk about.
We made a bark canoe, embarked, and went
down Ollentangy some distance, but, the
water being low, we were in danger of split-
ting our canoe upon the rocks ; therefore Te-
caughretanego concluded we would encamp
on shore, and pray for rain.
When we encamped Tecaughretanego
made himself a sweat-house, which he did by
sticking a number of hoops in the ground,
each hoop forming a semicircle ; this he cov-
ered all round with blankets and skins. He
then prepared hot stones, which he rolled
102 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
into this hut, and then went into it himself
with a little kettle of water in his hand,
mixed with a variety of herbs, which he had
formerly cured, and had now with him in his
pack ; they afforded an odoriferous perfume.
When he was in, he told me to pull down
the blankets behind him, and cover all up
close, which I did, and then he began to pour
water upon the hot stones, and to sing aloud.
He continued in this vehement hot place
about fifteen minutes. All this he did in
order to purify himself before he would ad-
dress the Supreme Being. When he came
out of his sweat-house he began to burn to-
bacco and pray. He began each petition
with "Oh, ho, ho, ho,'' which is a kind of as-
piration, and signifies an ardent wish. I ob-
served that all his petitions were only for
immediate or present temporal blessings.
He began his address by thanksgiving in the
following manner:
"O Great Being! I thank thee that I
have obtained the use of my legs again ; that
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 103
I am now able to walk about and kill tur-
keys, etc., without feeling exquisite pain and
misery. I know that thou art a hearer and
a helper, and therefore I will call upon thee.
"Oh, ho, ho, ho,
"Grant that my knees and ankles may be
right well, and that I may be able, not only
to walk, but to run and to jump logs, as I
did last fall.
''Oh, ho, ho, ho,
"Grant that on this voyage we may fre-
quently kill bears, as they may be crossing
the Scioto and Sandusky.
''Oh, ho, ho, ho,
"Grant that we may kill plenty of turkeys
along the banks, to stew with our fat bear
meat.
"Oh, ho, ho, ho,
"Grant that rain may come to raise the
Ollentangy about two or three feet, that we
may cross in safety down to Scioto, without
danger of our canoe being wrecked on the
rocks. And now, O Great Being, thou
104. CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
knowest how matters stand; thou knowest
that I am a great lover of tobacco, and
though I know not when I may get any
more, I now make a present of the last I
have unto thee, as a free burnt-offering;
therefore I expect thou wilt hear and grant
these requests, and I, thy servant, will re-
turn thee thanks and love thee for thy gifts."
During the whole of this scene I sat by
Tecaughretanego, and as he went through it
with the greatest solemnity I was seriously
affected with his prayers. I remained duly
composed until he came to the burning of the
tobacco ; and as I knew he was a great lover
of it, and saw him cast the last of it into
the fire, it excited in me a kind of merriment,
and I insensibly smiled. Tecaughretanego
observed me laughing, which displeased him,
and occasioned him to address me in the fol-
lowing manner.
''Brother, — I have somewhat to say to
you, and I hope you will not be offended
when I tell you of your faults. You loiow
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 105
that when you were reading your books in
town I would not let the boys or any one dis-
turb you; but now, when I was praying, I
saw you laughing. I do not think that you
look upon praying as a foolish thing; I be-
lieve you pray yourself. But perhaps you
may think my mode or manner of praying
foolish ; if so, you ought in a friendly manner
to instruct me, and not make sport of sacred
things."
I acknowledged my error, and on this he
handed me his pipe to smoke, in token of
friendship and reconciliation, though at this
time he had nothing to smoke but red-willow
bark. I told him something of the method
of reconciliation with an offended God, as
revealed in my Bible, which I had then in
possession. He said that he liked my story
better than that of the French priests, but
he thought that he was now too old to begin
to learn a new religion, therefore he should
continue to worship God in the way that he
had been taught, and that if salvation or
106 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
future happiness was to be had in his way of
worship, he expected he would obtain it, and
if it was inconsistent with the honor of the
Great Spirit to accept of him in his own way
of worship, he hoped that Owaneeyo would
accept of him in the way I had mentioned, or
in some other way, though he might now be
ignorant of the channel through which favor
or mercy might be conveyed. He said that
he believed that Owaneeyo would hear and
help every one that sincerely waited upon
him.
A few days after Tecaughretanego had