Hide Article Text (OCR)
As they approach Fori Ellice they pass an insulated hill, in the wide prairie, of which the following singular domestic legend is related. It leaves entirely in eclipse the fidelity of the widow of Kphe-sii8 to her first lord:14 Many, many summon* ago, a largr party of Aasiniboines, pouncing on a small band of Crees in the neighborhood of this knoll, nearly destroyed them. Among the victor* wu» the former wile of one of the vanquished, who, in u previous foray, had been carried off by her piesent husband from her ancient lord and master. Whether it was that her uew friend was younger than her old ihilt;‘, or lhat she was conscious of having been a willing accomplice in the elopement, the lady, rushing into the thickest of the light, directed every effort against the life of her first lover. In spite, however, of the faithless amazon**|peciul attentions, the Wolverine (for such wan his name) effected his escape from the field of carnage, while the conquerors were gloating over the sculps of his brethren in arms. Creeping stealthily along for the whole doy, under cover of the woods, he concealed himaelf at nightfall in a hole on the top of the rising ground in question, But though he had thus eluded the vigilance of his national enemies, yet there was one who, under the influence of personal hatred, hud never lost sight or scent of his trail ; and no sooner had he sunk, exhausted by hunger and faligue, into a sound deep, than (he unswerving and untiring bloodhound M-nt un nr row into his brain with a triumphant yell. Before the morning dawned, the virago proudly presented to her As-siniboine husband the bleeding sculp of his unfortunate rival; and the scene of her desperate exploit was thenceforward known as the Butte a Carcajai, or the Wolverine Knoll. In proof of the truth of the story, the Indiuus assert that the ghists of the murderess and her victim are often to be seen, from a considerable distance, struggling together on the verv summit of the height.’*We have, at page 58, another very striking story of the desolation which Indian wars inflict, often on both sides:“About twenty years ago, a large encampment of (iros Ventres and Blackfeet hud been formed in this neighborhood for the purpose of huntiug during the summer. Growing tired, however, of so peaceful and ignoble an occupation, the younger wurriors of the allied tribes determined to make an incursion into the territories of the Assiniboines. Having gone through all the requisite enchantments, they left behind them only the old men with the women and children. After a successful campaign they turned their steps homeward in triumph, loaded with scal|s and other spoils ; und on reaching the top of the ridge that overlooked the camp of the infirm and defenceless of their band, they notified their approach in ihe proudly swelling tones of their sjng of victory. Every lodge, however, was as still arid silent as the grave ; and at length, singing more loudly as they advanced, in order to conceal their emotions, they found the full tale of the mangled corpses of their parents and sisters, of their wives und children. In a word, the Assinihoines had been there to take their revonge. Such is a true picture of savage warlure, uud perhaps too often of civilized warfare also ; calamity to both sides, uud advantage to neither. On beholding the dismal scene, the lereaved conquerors cant away their jpoil-t, arms, and clothes ; uud then, putting on robes of leather und smeary ing their heads with mud, they betook themselves to the hilh} for three days und nights, to howl, and mourn, and cut thar llesh. This mode of expressing grief bears a very close rt-semblancc to the corresponding custom among the Jews miiliiinMf. t«vi«rv imrtii'iilar.iJIIt!uetInot!tikKa1.
Newspaper Details
Weekly National Intelligencer
Washington, Washington-DC, US
Sat, May 01, 1847
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 29 Jul 2020
Other Publications Near Washington, Washington-DC
Washington American Eagle
Washington National Intelligencer
Washington Globe
District of Columbia Evening Star
Washington Garfield Memorial
