A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America | Page 9

Erie, to Portland in
Ohio, now called Sandusky City; the distance 240 miles. After about an
hour's sail, we entirely lost sight of the Canadian shores. The scenery
on the American side is very fine, particularly from Presqu' Isle onward
to the head of the lake, or rather from its magnitude, it might be termed
an inland sea.
On landing at Sandusky, I learned that there were several Indian
reserves between that place and Columbus, the seat of government.
This determined me on making a pedestrian tour to that city.
Accordingly, having forwarded my luggage, and made other necessary
arrangements, I commenced my pergrinations among the Aborigines.
The woods in the upper part of Ohio, nearest the lake, are tolerably
open, and occasionally interspersed with sumach and sassafras: the soil
somewhat sandy. I met with but few Indians, until my arrival at Lower
Sandusky, on the Sandusky river; here there were several groups
returning to their reserves, from Canada, where they had been to
receive the annual presents made them by the British government. In
the next county (Seneca) there is a reservation of about three miles
square, occupied by Senecas, Cayugas, and part of the Iroquois or six
nations, once a most powerful confederation amongst the red men.[1]
In Crawford county there is a very large reserve belonging to the Huron
or Wyandot Indians. These, though speaking a dialect of the Iroquois
tongue, are more in connexion with the Delawares than with the
Iroquois. The Wyandots are much esteemed by their white neighbours,
for probity and good behaviour. They dress very tastefully. A
handsome chintz shawl tied in the Moorish fashion about the
head--leggings of blue cloth, reaching half way up the thigh, sewn at
the outside, leaving a hem of about an inch deep--mocassins, or Indian
boots, made of deer-skin, to fit the foot close, like a glove--a shirt or
tunic of white calico--and a hunting shirt, or frock, made of strong

blue-figured cotton or woollen cloth, with a small fringed cape, and
long sleeves,--a tomahawk and scalping knife stuck in a broad leather
belt. Accoutred in this manner, and mounted on a small hardy horse,
called here an Indian pony, imagine a tall, athletic, brown man, with
black hair and eyes--the hair generally plaited in front, and sometimes
hanging in long wavy curls behind--aquiline nose, and fearless aspect,
and you have a fair idea of the Wyandot and Cayuga Indian. The
Senecas and Oneidas whom I met with, were not so handsome in
general, but as athletic, and about the same average height--five feet
nine or ten.
The Indians here, as every where else, are governed by their own laws,
and never have recourse to the whites to settle their disputes. That
silent unbending spirit, which has always characterized the Indian, has
alone kept in check the rapacious disposition of the whites. Several
attempts have been made to induce the Indians to sell their lands, and
go beyond the Mississippi, but hitherto without effect. The Indian
replies to the fine speeches and wily language of the whites, "We hold
this small bit of land, in the vast country of our fathers, by your written
talk, and it is noted on our wampums--the bones of our fathers lie here,
and we cannot forsake them. You tell us our great father (the president)
is powerful, and that his arm is long and strong--we believe it is so; but
we are in hopes that he will not strike his red children for their lands,
and that he will leave us this little piece to live upon--the hatchet is
long buried, let it not be disturbed."
Jackson has lately published a manifesto to all the Indian tribes within
the limits of the United States, commanding them to sell their reserves;
and with few exceptions, has been answered in this manner.
A circumstance occurred a few days previous to my arrival, in the
Seneca reserve, which may serve to illustrate the determined character
of the Indian. There were three brothers (chiefs) dwelling in this
reservation. "Seneca John," the eldest brother, was the principal chief
of the tribe, and a man much esteemed by the white people. He died by
poison. The chiefs in council, having satisfactorily ascertained that his
second brother "Red-hand," and a squaw, had poisoned him, decreed

that Red-hand should be put to death. "Black-snake," the other brother,
told the chiefs that if Red-hand must die, he himself would kill him, in
order to prevent feuds arising in the tribe. Accordingly in the evening
he repaired to the hut of Red-hand, and after having sat in silence for
some time, said, "My best chiefs say, you have killed my father's
son,--they say my brother must die." Red-hand merely replied, "They
say so;" and continued to smoke. After about fifteen minutes further
silence,