A History of the United State ... Illustrated, etc

Front matter

A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. FOR FAMILIES AND LIBRARIES. BT BENSON J. LOSSING, AUTHOR OF " PICTORIAL FIELD-BOOK OF THE REVOLUTION," " HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR SCHOOLS ;" " LIVES OF EMINENT AMERICANS," ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY NEARLY THREE HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS. NEW YORK: MASON BROTHERS, 108 & 110 DUANE STREET. 18 5 7. DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONTISPIECE. On one side stands an old man representing The Past, counting the passage of the years upon the dial of Time. On the opposite side is a young woman, representing The Present, and holding in her hand the Constitution, and the pileus and cap of Liberty. She is pointing to the unfinished pyramid of the States of the Republic, over which is the rising sun, with the words Excelsoie— " still higher I" On one side of The Past is The British Flag indicating the Colonial Era.

On the other side is the American Flag, indicating the Confederation. In the center is a Doric Column, Emblem of Strength and Congniity. surmounted by an Eagle, the symbol of Sovereignty. These represent our government. Leaning against the column is History, making her records. On the side of The Past is a Censer, emblem of Purification, the incense from which, coming down from The Past, is diffused over The Present. Over-arching the whole are stars upon a blue field, our national Constel lation, and symbol of our Confederated States. Around The Past clusters the Ivy, and around The Present is the Honeysuckle. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, BY MASON BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. ELKCTROTYPED BY THOMAS B. SMITH 82 & 34 Beekman Street, N. f PRINTED by C A. ALVORD, 15 Vandewater-st, N.Y. PEEF A CE This work has been prepared with great care, for the purpose of supplying a want long felt by the reading public, and especially by Heads of Families.

Every important event in the history of the United States, from the Aboriginal period to the present time, is presented in a concise, but perspicuous and comprehensive manner, without giving those minute and often tedious details, which are valuable to the student, but irksome to the common reader. The History of our Republic is herein popularized, and adapted to the use of those who may not find leisure to peruse more extensive works upon the subject. The materials have been drawn from the earlier, most elaborate, and most reliable historians and chroniclers of our continent. The work is constructed upon a new plan, which, it is believed, will be found to be the most acceptable yet offered to the public, for obtaining, with facility, and fixing in the memory, a knowledge of the great events of our truly wonderful history.

Preface

. confederation. The fifth has a full account of the important events of the War for Independence, and the sixth gives a concise history of the Re public, from its formation to the present time. The Supplement is com posed of the most important State Papers connected with that formation, such as the Stamp Act, and papers put forth by the Stamp Act Congress ; the papers presented to the consideration of the world by the First and Sec ond Continental Congresses ; the Declaration of Independence ; the Articles of Confederation ; and the Federal Constitution, with the admirable Farewell Address of Washington. These documents, thus grouped and preserved, will be found valuable as embodying the principles of our government. The original draft, with the amendments, of the Declaration of Independence, is given ; and, in foot-notes, every charge made against the king of Great Brit ain, in that manifesto, is proven from History.

The Federal Constitution is also accompanied by important commentaries. The system of concordance interwoven with the notes throughout the entire work, is of great importance to the reader. When a fact is named which bears a relation to another fact elsewhere recorded in the volume, a reference is made to the page where such fact is mentioned A knowledge of this relationship of separate events is often essential to a clear view of the subject, and without this concordance, a great deal of time would be spent in searching for that relationship. With the concordance the matter may be found in a moment. Favorable examples of the utility of this new feature may be found on page 289. If strict attention shall be given to these refer ences, the whole subject will be presented to the mind of the reader in a comprehensive aspect of unity not to be obtained by any other method.

The engravings are introduced not for the sole purpose of embellishing the volume, but to enhance its utility as an instructor. Every picture is intended to illustrate a fact, not merely to beautify the page. Great care has been taken to secure accuracy in all the delineations of men and things, so that they may not convey false instruction. Geographical maps have been omitted, because they must necessarily be too small to be of essential service. History may be read for the purpose of obtaining general information on the subject, without maps, but it should never be studied without the aid of an accurate Atlas. 7 Al5 59 The author has endeavored to make this work essentially a Family History, attractive and instructive; and the Publishers have generously co-worked with him in producing a volume that may justly claim to be excellent in every particular.

With these few observations concerning the general plan and merits of the work, it is presented to the public with an entire willingness to have its reputation rest upon its own merits. ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE PAGE 1. Illuminated Frontispiece 2. Sioux Indians 9 3. Portrait of Red Jacket 9 4. A Wigwam 18 5. Wampum 13 6. Indian Hieroglyphics 13 7. Indian Weapons 14 8. Calumets t 14 9. Indian Burial-Place 15 10. Indian Totum 15 11. Profile of Black IIawk 18 12. Uncas's Monument 21 13. Portrait of Samuel Kirkland 25 14. Southern Indians 30 15. Columbus before the Council of Salamanca 34 16. Portrait of Amerigo Vespucci 34 17. Northman 34 18. Norman Ship 35 19. Old Tower at Newport 85 20. Portrait of Columbus 36 21. Portrait of Isabella 38 22. The Fleet of Columbus 39 23. Banner of the Expedition 40 24.

Balboa. .*. 42 25. Portrait of De Soto 44 26. Portrait of Sebastian Cabot 46 27. Portrait of Veragazzi 47 28. Cartier's Ship 48 29. Arms of France 48 30. French Nobleman, 1540 49 31. Raleigh's Expedition at Roanoke 53 32. Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh 55 83. Raleigh's Ships 55 34. English Gentleman, 1580 57 35. Portrait of Henry Hudson 59 36. The Half-Moon 59 37. Building Jamestown 61 38. Portrait of Captain John Smith 61 39. Portrait of Pocauontas 66 40. Seal of New Netiierland 73 41. A Puritan 75 42. The Mayflower 77 43. Governor Carver's Chair 79 44. Portrait of Cecil, Lord Baltimore 81 45. Hooker's Emigration to Connecticut 83 46. First Meeting-House in Connecticut 86 47. Portrait of Roger Williams 90 48. Portrait of William Penn 95 49. The Assembly House, Pennsylvania 97 50. Oglethorpe on the Site of Savannah 101 51.

Embarkation of the Pilgrims 104 52. Portrait of James Edward Oglethorpe 104 53. CiiURcn Tower at Jamestown 112 54. First Colony Seal, Massachusetts 117 55. Portrait of John Winthrop 117 56. First Money Coined in the United States.. 122 57. Portrait of King Philip 124 58. P allisaded Building 127 59. Portrait of Captain Church 128 60. Portrait of Cotton Mather 133 61. Williams's House, Deerfield 135 62. Plan of the Siege of Louisburg 137 63- Portrait of Peter Stuyvesant 142 64. City of New York in 1664 144 65. Stuyvesant Surrendering Fort Amsterdam to the english 145 66. The Charter Oak 156 67. Penn's House 162 68. Plan of Charleston in 1680 166 69. Early New England House 176 70. Dutchman, 1660 176 71. Plan of Fort Du Quesne 186 72. Pof.trait of Braddook 186 73. Burial of Braddock 187 74. Plan of Fort Edward 190 75.

Portrait of Sir William Johnson 190 76. Plan of Fort William Henry 191 77. Portrait of General Abercrombie 191 78. Plans of Forts at Oswego 192 79. Block House 192 80. Map of Lake George and Vicinity 194 81. Portrait of Lord Amherst 196 82. Plan of Ticonderoga 196 83. Ruins of Ticonderoga 197 84. Portrait of Lord Howe 197 85. Plan of Crown Point 200 86. Plan of Fort Niagara 200 87. General Wolfe 201 88. Military Operations at Quebec 202 89. Monument to Wofle and Montcalm 202 90. Patrick Henry before the Virginia Assembly 207 91. Portrait of James Otis 207 92. Portrait of Benjamin West 210 93. Portrait of David Rittenhou6E 211 94. Portrait of Patrick Henry 214 95. AStamp 215 96. Portrait of Cadwallader Colden 216 97. Portrait of William Pitt 217 98. Portrait of John Dickenson 219 99. Portrait of Samuel Adams 221 100.

Portrait of Lord North 224 101. Faneuil Hall 225 102. Snake Device 226 103. Portrait of Charles Thomson 227 104. Carpenter's Hall 228 105. John Hancock 230 106. Plan of Bunker Hill Battle 235 107. Bunker Hill Monument 235 108. Portrait of Joseph Warren. 237 109. Portrait of Philip Schuyler 239 110. Plan of the Walls of Quebec 242 111. Portrait of General Montgomery 242 112. Culpepper Flag 243 113. Union Flag 245 114. Bill of Credit or Continental Money 245 115. Portrait of General Lee 248 116. Portrait of General Moultrie 249 117. State House, Philadelphia 250 US. Portrait of Benjamin Rush 251 119. Portrait of General Putnam 253 120. Plan of the Battle on Long Island 254 121. Plan of Fort Washington 256 122. Retreat of the Americans from Long Island 257 123. The Jersey Prison-Ship 259 124.

Plan of the Battle at Trenton 263 125. Portrait of Robert Morris 264 126. Portrait of Sil.as Deane 266 127. Portrait of Benjamin Franklin 267 128. Plan of the Battle at Princeton 269 129. Portrait of La Fayette 273 130. Plan of the Battle at the Brandywine... 273 131. Chevaux-de-frise 274 132. Plan of the Battle at Gekmantown ILLUSTRATIONS VIII PAGE PAGE 208. Portrait of Martha Washington 387 209. Portrait of Thomas Jefferson 389 210. Portrait of Commodore Bainbridge 391 211. United States Frigate 391 212. Portrait of Lieutenant Decatur 392 213. Mohammedan Soldier 392 214. Burning of the Philadelphia at Tripoli.. 393 215. Portrait of Rufus King 395 216. Portrait of Aaron Burr 396 217. Portrait of Robert Fulton 398 218. Fulton's first Steamboat 399 219. Portrait of William Pinkney 400 220. A Felucca Gun-Boat 401 221.

Portrait of John Randolph 403 222. Portrait of James Madison 405 223. Portrait of General Dearborn 410 224. Portrait of Stephen Van Eennsselaer 413 225. Sloop-of-War 415 226. Portrait of Governor Shelby 417 227. Plan of Fort Meigs 418 22S. Plan of Fort Sandusky 419 229. Major Croghan 420 230. Perry on Lake Erie 421 231. Portrait of Commodore Perry 423 232. Portrait of General Pike 425 233. Foet Niagara in 1S13 427 234. Portrait of Captain Lawrence 429 235. Portrait of Commodore Porter 431 236. Portrait of General Brown 432 237. Map of the Niagara Frontier 434 238. Portrait of Commodore Macdonough 435 239. Plan of the Battle of New Orleans 439 240. Portrait of W. C C. Claiborne 440 241. Jackson at New Orleans 441 242. Portrait of James Monroe 447 243. Capture of Pensacola 449 244. Portrait of Ed ward Livingston 452 245.

Portrait of JunN Quincy Adams 455 246. Portrait of Dewitt Clinton 456 247. Portrait of John C Calboun 45S 248. Portrait of General Jackson 460 249. Portrait of Robert T. Hayne 463 250. Portrait of Osceola -466 251. Map of the Seat of the Skminole War 467 252. Portrait of Martin Van Buren 470 253. Portrait of William H. Harrison: 474 254. Portrait of John Tyler 476 255. Portrait of James K. Polk 479 256. Portrait of General Scott 485 257. Map of the Region of Taylor's Operations 4S6 258. Portrait of John C. Fremont 488 259. Plan of Intrenchments at Veea Cruz 4S9 260. Map of TnE Route of Scott's Army in Mexico 490 2G1. Bombardment of Vera Cruz 491 262. Operations near Mexico 493 263. General Scott Entering the City of Mexico 495 264. Portrait of General Taylor 498 265. Portrait of Henry Clay 500 266.

Portrait of Millard Fillmore 502 267. Portrait of Daniel Webster 503 263. Portrait of Joseph Smith 504 269. Mormon Emigration 505 270. Portrait of Professor Morse 507 271 . Portrait of Dr. Kane 510 272. Portrait of Franklin Pierce 514 273. Portrait of Santa Anna 515 274. An Ocean Steamship 516 275. Crystal Palace in New York 517 276. Portrait of Captain Ingraham 518 277. Portrait of James Buchanan 532 278. Founding New States 537 279. Portrait of Thomas Jefferson 5S9 280. Portrait of John Adams , 539 281. Portrait of Dr, Franklin 539 282. Portrait of Robert R. Livingston...! .... ] 5S9 2S3. Portrait of Roger Sherman ....... 5S9 284. Portrait of Charles Carroll 601 285. Portrait of Judge Stoby ".".".!!'. 612 133. Portrait of Geneeal St. Claik 276 134. Portrait of Kosciuszko 277 135. Portrait of Joseph Brant 278 136.

Portrait of General Buegoyne 278 137. A Treaty 278 13S. Burgoyne Surrendering his Sword to Gates 279 139. Plan of Operations at Bemis's Heights 281 140. Portrait of Francis Hopkinson 284 141. Plan of Encampment at Valley Forge 2S5 142. Portrait of Sir Henry Clinton 2S7 143. Plan of the Battle at Monmouth 288 144. Portrait of Count D'Estaxkg 2S9 145. Portrait of Baron Steuben 291 146. Portrait of General Lincoln 294 147. Plan of Stony Point 29S 148. Portrait of General Wayne 298 149. Portrait of Daniel Boone 299 150. Portrait of George Rogers Clarke 300 151. Clarke's Expedition across the "Drowned Lands." 301 152. Portrait of General Sullivan 304 153. Plan of the Siege of Savannah 305 154. Portrait of Count Pulaski 305 155. Portrait of John Paul Jones 307 156. A Gun-Boat at Boston 307 157. Portrait of Admiral Hopkins 308 158.

Cipher Alphabet 309 159. Portrait of Governor Rutledge 310 160. Portrait of Commodop.e Whipple 310 161. Plan of the Siege of Charleston 311 162. Portrait of David Ramsay 312 163. Portrait of General Gates 314 164. Portrait of General Sumter 315 165. Plan of Battle at Sanders's Creek 315 166. Portrait of Baron De Kalb 316 167. Portrait of Colonel Taeleton 316 168. Portrait of General Marion 317 169. Portrait of Lord Cornwallis 318 170. Marion's Encampment on TnE Pedee 321 171. Portrait of Governor Trumbull 323 172. Portrait of Benedict Arnold 325 173. The Captors' Medal 327 174. Portrait of General Greene 331 175. Portrait of General Morgan 331 176. Portrait of Colonel Washington 332 177. Portrait of Colonel Henry Lee 333 178. Plan of the Battle at Guilfoed 333 179. Plan of the Battle at Hobkirk's Hill 334 180.

Portrait of Rebecca Motte 335 181. Plan of Fort Ninety-Six 336 182. Portrait of General Pickens 336 183. Portrait of Count de Rochambeau 339 1S4. Portrait of Count De Gra6SE 840 185. Plan of the Siege of Yorktown 841 1S6. Portrait of Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) 346 187. Portrait of James Jackson 347 188. Portrait of George Clinton 850 189. Portrait of John Marshall 351 190. Portrait of General Mifflin 852 191. Order of the Cincinnati 352 192. Portrait of Bisnop Carroll 854 193. Franklin before the Constitutional Convention 857 194. Portrait of Oliver Ellsworth 360 195. Portrait of Alexander Hamilton 361 196. Portrait of Rufus Putnam 362 197. Inauguration of Washington 364 198. Portrait of Gouverneur Morris 364 199. Portrait of Washington 365 200. Portrait of Robert R. Livingston 366 201.

Portrait of Tench Coxe 369 202. Portrait of General Knox 370 203. AVayne's Defeat of the Indians 375 204. Portrait of John Jay 379 205. Portrait of Fishbb Ames 380 206. Portrait of John Adams 883 207. Portrait of C. C. Pinckney 384 2 m. 211 272. HISTORY 01 THE UNITED STATES. SIOUX INDIANS. FIRST PERIOD. THE ABORIGINALS.

Chapter I

Evert cultivated nation had its heroic age — a period when its first physical and RED JACKET. moral conquests were achieved, and when rude society, with all its impurities, was fused and refined in the crucible of progress. When civilization first set up its standard as a permanent ensign, in the western hemisphere, northward of the Bahamas and the great Gulf, and the contests for possession began between the wild Aboriginals, who thrust no spade into the soil, no sickle into ripe harvests, and those earnest delvers from the Old World, who came with the light of Christianity, to plant a new empire, and redeem the wilderness by cultivation — then commenced the heroic age of America. It ended when the work of the Revolution in the eighteenth century was accomplished — when the bond of vassalage to Great Britain was severed by her colonies, and when thirteen confederated States ratified a Fed eral Constitution, and upon it laid the broad foundation of our Republic.1 Long anterior to the advent of Europeans in America, a native empire, little inferior to old Rome in civilization, flourished in that region of our Con tinent which now forms the south-western portion of our Republic, and the adjoining States of Central America.

The Aztec Empire, which reached the acme of its refinement during the reign of Montezuma, and crumbled into frag ments beneath the heel of Cortez, when he dethroned and destroyed that mon arch,2 extended over the whole region from the Rio Grande to the Isthmus of Darien ; and when the Spaniards came, it was gradually pushing its conquests northward, where all was yet darkness and gloom. To human apprehension, this people, apparently allied by various ties to the wild nations of North America, appeared to be the most efficient instruments in the hands of Provi dence, for spreading the light of dawning civilization over the whole Continent. Yet, they were not only denied this glorious privilege, but, by the very race which first attempted to plant the seeds of European society in Florida, and among the Mobilian tribes,3 and to shed the illumination of their dim Chris tianity over the dreary region of the North, was their own bright light extin guished.

The Aztecs and their neighbors were beaten into the dust of debasement by the falchion blows of avarice and bigotry, and nothing remains to attest their superiority but the magnificent ruins of their cities and temples, and their colossal statuary, which has survived the fury of the Spanish icono clast and the tooth of decay. They form, apparently, not the most insignificant atom of the chain of events which connects the history of the Aboriginal nations of America with that of our Republic. The position of the tribes of the North is different. From the beginning of European settlements, they have maintained, and do still maintain, an important relation to the white people. The first inhabitants of a country properly belong to the history of all sub sequent occupants of the territory. The several nations of red or copper colored people who occupied the present domain of the United States, when Europeans first came, form as necessary materials for a portion of the history of our Republic, as the Frenchmen' and Spaniards,6 by whom parts of the territory were settled, and from whom they have been taken by conquest or purchase.

The history of the Indian" tribes, previous to the formation of settlements among them, by Europeans,' is involved in an obscurity which is penetrated ' Page 43. 8 Page 40. 3 Page 29. 1 Page 360. • Page 51. 4 Page 180. ' Before the year 1G07. only by vague traditions and uncertain conjectures. Whence came they ? is a question yet unanswered by established facts. In the Old World, the monu ments of an ancient people often record their history. In North America, such intelligible records are wanting. Within almost every State and Terri tory remains of human skill and labor have been found,1 which seem to attest the existence here of a civilized nation or nations, before the ancestors of our numerous Indian tribes became masters of the Continent. Some of these appear to give indisputable evidence of intercourse between the people of the Old World and those of America, centuries, perhaps, before the birth of Christ, and at periods soon afterward.2 The whole mass of testimony yet discovered does not prove that such intercourse was extensive ; that colonies from the eastern hemisphere ever made permanent settlements in America, or remained long enough to impress their character upon the country or the Aboriginals, if they existed ; or that a high degree of civilization had ever prevailed on our Continent.

The origin of the Indian tribes is referred by some to the Phœnicians and other maritime nations, whose extensive voyages have been mentioned by ancient writers, and among whom tradition seemed to cherish memories of far off lands beyond the sea, unknown to the earlier geographers. Others per ceive evidences of their Egyptian or Hindoo parentage ; and others find their ancestors among the "lost tribes of Israel," who "took counsel to go forth into a further country where never mankind dwelt,"3 and crossed from north eastern Asia to our Continent, by way of the Aleutian Islands, or by Beh rin^'s Straits.4 These various theories, and many others respecting settlements of Europeans and Asiatics here, long before the time of Columbus, unsupported as they are by a sufficiency of acknowledged facts, have so little practical value ' Remains of fortifications, similar in form to those of ancient European nations, have been discovered.

An idol, composed of clay and gypsum, representing a man without arms, and in all respects resembling one found in Southern Russia, was dug up near Nashville, in Tennessee. Also fireplaces, of regular structure ; weapons and utensils of copper ; catacombs with mummies ; ornaments of silver, brass, and copper; walls of forts and cities, and many other things which only a people advanced in civilization could have made. The Aboriginals, themselves, have various traditions respecting their origin — each nation having its distinct records in the memory. Nearly all have traditional glimpses of a great and universal deluge ; and some say their particular pro genitor came in a bark canoe after that terrible event. This belief, with modifications, was current among most of the northern tribes, and was a recorded tradition of the half-civilized Aztecs.

The latter ascribed all their knowledge of the arts, and their religious ceremonies, to a white and bearded mortal who came among them ; and when his mission was ended, was made immortal by the Great Spirit. 2 A Roman coin was found in Missouri ; a Persian coin in Ohio ; a bit of silver in Genesee county, New York, with the year of our Lord, 600, engraved on it ; split wood and ashes, thirty feet below the surface of the earth, near Fredonia, New York; and near Montevideo, South America, in a tomb, were found two ancient swords, a helmet and shield, with Greek inscriptions, showing that they were made in the time of Alexander the Great, 330 years before Christ. Near Marietta, Ohio, a silver cup, finely gilded within, was found in an ancient mound. Traces of iron utensils, wholly reduced to rust, mirrors of isinglass, and glazed pottery, have also been discovered in these mounds.

These are evidences of the existence of a race far more civilized than the tribes found by modern Europeans. 3 2 Esdras, xiii. 40-45. * The people of north-eastern Asia, and on the north-west coast of America, have a near resemblance in person, customs, and languages ; and those of the Aleutian Islands present many of the characteristics of both. Ledyard said of the people of Eastern Siberia, "Universally and circumstantially they resemble the Aborigines of America." for the student of our history, that we will not occupy space in giving a deline ation of even their outlines. There are elaborately-written works specially devoted to this field of inquiry, and to those the curious reader is referred. The proper investigation of such subjects requires the aid of varied and exten sive knowledge, and a far wider field for discussion than the pages of a volume like this.

So we will leave the field of conjecture for the more useful and important domain of recorded history. The New World, dimly comprehended by Europeans, afforded materials for wonderful narratives concerning its inhabitants and productions. The few natives who were found upon the seaboard, had all the characteristics common to the human race. The interior of the Continent was a deep mystery, and for a long time marvelous stories were related and believed of nations of giants and pigmies ; of people with only one eye, and that in the centre of the fore head ; and of whole tribes who existed without eating. But when sober men penetrated the forests and became acquainted with the inhabitants, it was discovered that from the Gulf of Mexico to the country north of the chain of great lakes which divide the United States and the British possessions, the people were not remarkable in persons and qualities, and that a great similarity in manners and institutions prevailed over that whole extent of country.

The Aboriginals spoke a great variety of dialects, but there existed not more than eight radically distinct languages among them all, from the Atlan tic to the Mississippi, and westward to the Rocky Mountains, namely : Al gonquin, Htjron-Iroquois, Cherokee, Catawba, Uchee, Natchez, Mobilian, and Dahcotah or Sioux. These occupied a region embraced within about twenty-four degrees of latitude and almost forty degrees of longi tude, and covering a greater portion of the breadth of the north temperate zone. All the nations and tribes were similar in physical character, moral senti ment, social and political organization, and religious belief. They were all of a copper color; were tall, straight, and well-proportioned; their eyes black and expressive; their hair black, long, coarse, and perfectly straight; their constitutions vigorous, and their powers of endurance remarkable.

Bodily deformity was almost unknown, and few diseases prevailed. They were indo lent, taciturn, and unsocial ; brave, and sometimes generous in war ; unflinch ing under torture ; revengeful, treacherous, and morose when injured or offended ; not always grateful for favors ; grave and sagacious in council ; often eloquent in speech ; sometimes warm and constant in friendship, and occasion ally courteous and polite. The men were employed in war, hunting and fishing. The women per formed all menial services. In hunting and fishing the men were assiduous and very skillful. They carried the knowledge of woodcraft to the hio-hest degree of perfection; and the slightest indication, such as the breaking of a twig, or the bending of grass, was often sufficient to form a clew to the pathway of an enemy or of game.

The women bore all burdens durinc journeys spread the tents ; prepared food ; dressed skins for clothing ; wove mats for beds, made of the bark of trees and the skins of animals ; and planted and gathered the scanty crops of corn, beans, peas, potatoes, melons, and tobacco. These constituted the chief agri cultural productions of the Aboriginals, under the most favorable circumstances. In these labors the men never engaged; they only manufactured their implements of war. Their wigwams, or houses, were rude huts, made of poles covered with mats, skins, or bark of trees ; and all of their domestic arrangements were very simple. A WIOWAlt. And simple, too, were their implements of labor. They were made of stones, shells, and bones, with which they prepared their food, made their clothing and habitations, and tilled their lands.

Their food consisted of a few vegetables, and the meat of the deer, buffalo, and bear, generally roasted upon the points of sticks ; sometimes boiled hi water heated by hot stones, and always eaten without salt. Their dress in summer was a slight covering around the loins. In winter they were clad in the skins of wild beasts,1 often profusely ornamented with the claws of the hear, the horns of the buffalo, the feathers of birds, and the bones of fishes. Their faces were often tat tooed, and generally painted with bright colors in hideous devices. Their money was little tubes made of shells, fastened TVAJtPTJM. upon belts or strung in chains, and called wampum? It was used in traffic, in treaties, and as a token of friendship or alliance. Wampum belts constituted records of public transactions in the hands of a chief.

There was no written language in all the New World, except rude hieroglyphics, or picture writings. The history of the nations, consisting of the records of warlike achievements, treaties of alliance, and deeds of great men, was, in the form of traditions, carefully handed down from INDIAN HIEROGLYPHICS.3 father to son, especially from chief to chief. Children were taught the simple 1 The engraving at the head of this chapter represents some Sioux Indians, in their winter and fanciful costumes. 5 "Wampum is yet in use, as money, among some of the Western tribes, and is manufactured, we believe, as an article of commerce on the sea-shore of one of the counties of New Jersey. It is made ofthe clear parts ofthe common clam-shell. This part being split off, a hole is drilled in it, and the form, which is that ofthe bead now known as the bugle, is produced by friction.

They are about half an inch long, generally disposed in alternate layers of white and bluish black, and valued, when they become a circulating medium, at about two cents for three of the black beads, or six of the white. They were strung in parcels to represent a penny, three pence, a shilling, and five shillings, of white ; and double that amount in black. A fathom of white was worth about two dollars and a half, and black about five dollars. They were of less value at the time of our war for independence. The engraving shows a part of a string and a bett of wampum. 3 This is part of a record of a war expedition. The figures on the right and left— one with a gun and the other with a hatchets — denote prisoners taken by a warrior. The one without a head, and holding a bow and arrow, denotes that one was killed; and the figure with a shaded part below the cross indicates a female prisoner.