Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/402

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they are condemned, and tied to the dreadful ftake, one at a time. The victors firft (trip their miferable captives quite naked, and put on their feet a pair of bear-fkin maccafeenes, with the black hairy part outwards -, others faften with a grape-vine, a burning fire-brand to the pole, a little above the reach of their heads. Then they know their doom deep black, and burning fire, are fixed ;feals of their death-warrant. Their puniih- ment is always left to the women, and on account of their falfe ftandard of education, they are no way backward in their office, but perform it to the entire fatisfaction of the greedy eyes of the fpectators. Each of them pre pares for the- dreadful rejoicing, a long bundle of dry canes, or the heart of fat pitch-pine, and as the victims are led to the ftake, the women and their ^young ones beat them with thefe in a mod barbarous manner. Happy would i[ be for the miferable creatures, if their fufferings ended here, or a merciful tomohawk finifhed them at one ftroke ; but this fhameful treat ment is a prelude to future fufferings.

The death-Fignal being given, preparations are made for acting a more tragical part. The victims arms are fall pinioned, and a ftrong grape-vine is tied round his neck, to the top of the war-pole, allowing him to track around, about fifteen yards. They fix fome tough clay on his head, to fe- cure the fcalp from the blazing torches. Unfpeakable pleafure now fills the exulting crowd of fpectators, and the circle fills with the Amazon and mercilefs executioners The fuffering warrior however is not difmayed ; with an infulting manly voice he fings the war-fong ! and with gallant con tempt he tramples the rattling gourd with pebbles in it to pieces, and outbraves .even death itfelf. The women make a furious on-let with their ^burning torches : his pain is foon fo excruciating, that he rufhes out from the pole, with the fury of the moft favage bead of prey, and with the vine iweeps down all before him, kicking, biting, and trampling them,, with the greateft defpite. The circle immediately fills again, either with the fame, or freih perfons : they attack him on' every fide now he runs to the .pole for flicker, but the flames purfue him. Then with champing teeth, and fparkling eye-balls, he breaks through their contracted circle afrefh, and acts every part, that the higheft courage, moft raging fury, and blacked defpair can prompt him to. But he is fure to be over-power'd by numbers, .and after fome time the fire affects his tender parts. Then they pour ovjer him a quantity of cold water, and allow him a proper time of refpice, 7 till

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