of some peril, the North American Indian
war-whoop; but that is trifling compared with
it, and their countenances are hideous beyond
description. My principal astonishment on
these occasions was, that they did not actually
kill each other, or, at least, break each other’s
bones; for they seemed to strike with all the
fury and vigour of a real engagement; but
they kept such exact time, that at a moment’s
notice they all left off, and began joking and
laughing, except a very few, whom I observed
to sneak away to wash off some bloody witness,
or to put a plaster on their broken skin.
After these military and gymnastic exhibitions,
they formed a grand assembly, and
the chiefs, as usual, made long speeches in
rotation. This rude parliament is one of the
most beautiful features in savage government:
all public matters are discussed openly;
grievances are complained of, and justice is
summarily administered.
Thus, after spending a pleasant day, we
rose to depart, and took an affectionate leave
of our entertainers, who were most anxious
that we should remain longer; but we thought
we had better return to Ko-ro-ra-di-ka, where
our property bad been left. Most of the
chiefs accompanied us to our boats; and, after
exhibiting various testimonies of their friendly
feeling towards us, they suffered us to depart.
The day following this visit, we were
alarmed by the appearance of two war-ca-
noes crossing the bay: we waited their approach
with considerable anxiety: what few
valuables we had with us, we concealed about
our persons; but, as they neared our beach,
our fears subsided, on finding there were only
a few men in each. Three chiefs (unarmed,)
landed, whom we found to be Rivers and two
of his near kinsmen, the most dreaded persons
of our expected invaders ; but they immediately
informed us they came on a mission
of peace, and, for that reason, had come to us
unattended and unarmed.
We were most happy to hear this, and to
find hostilities were again likely to be deferred.
Though we well knew the character
of these men, and that they were capable of
the most treacherous acts, and the deepest
n 8