Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/39

 DELAWARE COUNTY. 15 where the great question was debated in a committee of the whole, and where they listened to, and waxed patriotic, from the harangues of their untutored hut truly eloquent brethren. It was this council that declared war and ratified peace. This confederacy carried terror to all the surrounding nations, none of whom could compete with them in battle, or equal them in fortitude and courage. In the arts, too, they far outstripped their tawny brethren. They did not live entirely by hunting and fishing, but paid a good deal of attention to agriculture. They cultivated patches of Indian corn in the most fertile districts of their territory. Grrapes grew in abundance along many of the principal rivers, and hoary apple trees may now be seen in many parts of the State, from whose boughs the Indian, when in the zenith of his power, plucked its choicest fruit to regale his own appetite or that of his simple, confiding sweetheart. The Indian nature is peculiarly susceptible of excitement — the giddy war-dance and the battle-field are to him theatres of fascination ; he seeks rather than avoids them. He takes delight in inflicting torture, and in the excruciating pains of his captives; he makes it his study to inflict. the greatest amount of pain before death ensues — the stake, with its slow fire — skinning alive — scalping — and the gauntlet, are all fami- liar modes of punishment. Their weapons of defence are the bow and arrow, the war club and the scalping knife. In the use of these messengers of death they are well skilled. With the simple bow and arrow, the wily Indian easily captures the shyest animal of the forest — the faithful arrow speeds with unerring aim, and leaves no report or volume of smoke behind to reveal his hiding-place. In this way he often captures a number of animals, whereas the report of a rifle would give a timely warning, and the otherwise easy prey would make good their, escape.