A history of the United States

Front matter

BookJ=L^l_ do n

(9^ f^

^A

Preface

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. And having visited a greater portion of the localities made memorable by important occurrences in our country, the writer claims, in that particular, an advantage over his predecessors in this special field, for he has been able to correct errors and give truthful impressions of things and events. An endeavor has also been made to show the cause of every important event, and thus, by developing the philosophy of our history, to make it more attractive and instructive than a bald record of facts. And wherever the text appeared to need further elucidation, additional facts have been given in foot-notes.

The arrangement of the work is new. It is in six Periods, each commencing where the history naturally divides into distinct epochs. The first Period exhibits a general view of the Aboriginal race who occupied the continent when the Europeans came. The second is a record of all the Discoveries and preparations for settlement, made by individuals and governments. The third delineates the progress of all the Settlements until colonial governments were formed. The fourth tells the story of these Colonies from their infiincy to maturity, and illustrates the continual development of Democratic ideas and Republican tendencies which finally resulted in a political

VI PEEPACE.

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 Republic, from its formation to the present time. The Supplement is composed 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 Second 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 Britain, 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 references, 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 j^ead 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,

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.

1. iLLtTMINATED FrOXTISPIECE

2. Sioux Indians

3. Portrait of Red JACiiET

4. A Wigwam

5. Wampum

6. Indian HiEROtti-TPiiics

7. Indian Weapons

8. Calumets

9. Indian Burial-Place

10. Indian Totum

11. Profile of Black Hawk

12. Uncas's Monument

13. Portrait of Sa.muel Kirkland

14. Southern Indians

15. Columbus before tue Council of Salamanca

16. Portrait of A.merigo VESPtJCCl

17. Northman

IS. Norman Ship

19. Old Tower at Newport

20. Portrait of Columbus

21. Portrait of Isabella

22. The Fleet of Columbus

23. Banner of the Expedition

24. Balboa

25. Portrait of De Soto

26. Portrait of Sebastian Cabot

27. Portrait of Verag azzi

2S. Cartier's Ship

29. Arms of France

30. French Noblem.4^n, 1540

31. Raleigh's Expedition at Roanoke

32. Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh

33. R-^leigh's Ships

34. English Gentleman, 15S0

35. Portrait of Henry Hudson

36. The Half-Moon

37. Building Jamestown

38. Portrait of Captain John Smith

39. Portrait of Pocahontas

40. Seal of New Netherland

41. A Puritan

42. Thf, Mayflower

43. Governor Carver's Chair

44. Portrait of Cecil, Lord Baltimore

45. Hooker's Emigration TO Connecticut

46. First Meeting-House in Connecticut

47. Portrait of Roger Williams

48. Portrait of William Penn.

49. The Assembly* House, Pennsylvania

50. Oglethorpe on the Site of Savannah

51. Embarkation of the Pilgrims

52. Portrait of James Edward Oglethorpe

53. Church Tower at Jamestown

54. First Colony Seal, Massachusetts

55. Portrait of John Wixtiirop

56. First Money Coined in the United St.vtes..

57. Portrait of King Philip

5S. Pallisaded Building

59. Portrait of Captain Church

&>. Portrait of Cotton Mather

61. Williams's House, Deekfield

62. Plan of the Siege of Louisburg

63. Portr.\it of Peter Stuyvesant

64. City of New York in 1664

65. Stuyvtjsant Surrendering Fort A.msterdam

to the English

66. The Charter Oak

PAGE

Penn's House 162

Plan of Charleston in 1680 166

Early" New England House 176

Plan of Fort Du Quesne 1S6

Portrait of Braddock 186

Burial of Braddock 187

Plan of Fort Edward 190

Portrait of Sir William Johnson 190

Plan of Fort William Henry 191

Portrait of General Abebcrombie 191

Pl.\.ns of Forts at Oswego 192

Block House 192

M.\p of Lake George and Vicinity 194

Portrait of Lord Amherst 196

Plan of Ticonderog.i 196

Ruins of Ticondeeog a 19J

Portrait of Lord Howe 107

Plan of Crown Point 200

Plan of Fort Niagara 200

General Wolfe 201

Milit.\ry Oper.^tions at Quebec 202

Monument to Wofle and Montcalm 202

P.\TRicK Henry before the Virginia Assembly 207

Portrait of James Otis 207

Portrait of Benjamin West 210

Portrait of David Rittenhouse 211

Portrait of Patrick Henry 214

A Stamp 215

Portrait of Cadwallader Colden 216

Portr.\it of William Pitt 217

Portrait of John Dickenson 219

Portrait of Sa.muel Ada.ms 221

Portrait op Lord North 224

Snake Device 226

Portrait of Charles Tuo.mson 227

Carpenter's Hall 228

John Hancock 2-30

Plan of Bunker Hill B.^ttle 235

Bunker Hill Monu.ment 235

Portrait of Joseph Warren 237

Portrait of Philip Schuyler 2-39

Plan of the AValls of Quebec 242

Portrait of General Montgo.mery 242

Culpepper Flag 243

Union Flag 245

Bill of Credit or Continental Money 245

Portrait of General Lee 243

Portrait of General Moultrie 249

State House, Philadelphia 250

Portrait of Benjamin Rush 251

Portrait of General Putnam 253

Plan of the Battle on Long Island 254

Plan of Fort Washington 256

Retreat of the Americ.vns from Long Island 257

The Jersey Prison-Ship 259

Plan of the Battle at Trenton 263

Portrait of Robert Morris 264

Portrait of Sil.\s Deane 266

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin 267

Plan of the Battle at Princeton 269

Portrait of La Fayette 273

Plan of the Battle at the Brandywine. .. 273

ClIEVAU.X-DE-FRISE 274

Plan of the Battle at Gee.mantown 275

Vlll

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

134. Portrait op Kosciuszko 277

135. Portrait OF Joseph Brant 27S

136. Portrait of General Burgoyne 27S

J37. A Treaty 278

13s. burgoyne surkenuering his swori) to

Gates 279

1-39. Plan of Operations at Bf.mis's Heights 281

] 10. Portrait of Francis Hopkinson 284

141. Plan of Encampment at Valley Forge 285

142. Portrait of Sir Henry Clinton 287

143. Plan of THE Battle at Monmouth 2S8

144. Portrait of Count D'Estaing 2S9

145. Portrait OF Baron Steuben 291

146. Portrait of General Lincoln 294

147. Plan of Stony Point 298

148. Portrait of General Wayne 298

149. Portrait OF Daniel Boone 299

150. Portrait of George Hogers Clarke SuO

151. Clarke's Expedition across tue "Drowned

Lands." 301

152. Portrait of General Sullivan 304

153. Plan of the Siege op Savannah 8h5

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

153. Cipher Alphabet 809

159. Portrait of Governor Kutledge 310

]G:>. Portrait OF Commodore Whipple 310

161. Plan of the Siege of Charleston 311

361 Portrait of David Kamsay 312

163. Portrait of General Gates 314

164. Portrait OP General Sumter 315

165. Plan OF Battle at Sanders's Creek 315

1C6. Portrait of Baron De Kalb 316

167. Portrait OF Colonel Tarleton 816

168. Portrait OF General Marion 317

16^ Portrait of Lord Corn wallis 3lS

llK Marion's Encampment on the Pedee 821

171: Portrait of Governor Trumbull 823

172. Portrait of Benedict Arnold 825

173. The Captors' Medal 827

174. Portrait of General Greene 331

175. Portrait of General Morgan 331

170. Portrait OF Colonel Washington 332

177. Portrait OF Colonel Henry Lee 333

178. Plan OF the Battle at Guilford 3.33

179. Plan OF the Battle AT IIobkirk's Hill 3-34

180. Portrait of Rebecca Motte 335

181. Plan of Fort Ninety-Six 3.36

183. Portrait of General Pickens 336

18-3. Portrait of Count de Eochambeau 839

184. Portrait op Count De Grasse 840

185. Plan of the Siege of Torktown 341

186. Portrait op Benjamin Thompson (Count

Eumford) 846

187. Portrait of Ja.mes Jackson 347

188. Portrait of George Clinton 350

189. Portrait of John Marshall 351

190. Portrait of General Mifflin 852

191. Order OF the Cincinnati 352

192. Portrait of Bishop Carroll 854

193. Franklin before the Constitutional Con-

vention 357

194. Portrait of Oliver Ellsworth 360

195. Portrait OF Alexander Hamilton .361

196. Portrait of llupus Putnam 302

197. Inauguration of Washington 364

198. Portrait of Gouverneur Morris 864

199. Portrait op Washington 365

200. Portrait op Robert R. Livingston 366

201. Portrait of Tench Coxe 869

202. Portrait of General Knox 870

203. AVayne's Defeat of the Indians 375

204. Portrait of John Jay 879

205. Portrait of Fisher Ames 3S0

206. Portrait of John Adams 883

207. Portrait of C. 0. Pinckne y 384

PACE fcu;^

208. Portrait of Martha Washington 387 '■ '

209. Portrait of Tiio.mas Jefferson 389

210. Portrait OP Commodore Bainbridge 391

211. United States Frigate 891 ^

212. PoRTRAix of Lieutenant Decatur 392

213. Mohammedan Soldier 392

214. Burning of Tijjg Philadelphia at Tripoli.. 393

215. Portrait of Rufus King 395

216. Portrait of Aaron 'Burr 896

217. Portrait of Robert Fulton 398 •

218. Fulton's first Steamboat. 899

219. Portrait of William PinkneA' 400

220. A Felucca Gun-Boat 401

221. Portrait op John Randolph 403

222. Portrait of James Madison 4W5

223. Portrait op General Dearborn :."410

224. Portrait of Stephen Van Rennsselaer.... fl3 22.5. Sloop-of-War 415

226. Portrait of Governor Shelby 417

227. Plan of Fort Meigs 418

228. Plan of Fort Sandusky 419

229. Major Croghan 420

230. Perry on Lake Erie 421

231. Portrait of Commodore Perry 423

232. Portrait op General Pike. 425

2.3.3. Fort Niagara in 1813 427

234. Portrait of Captain Lawrence 429

2.35. Portrait of Commodore Porter 431

2.36. Portrait op General Brown 432

237. Map op the Niagara Frontier 434

238. Portrait of Com.modore Macdonough 435

239. Plan OP THE Battle op New Orleans 4.39

240. Portp.ait op W\ C. C. Claiborne 440

241. Jackson at New Orleans 441

242. Portrait of James Monroe 447

243. Capture of Pensacola 449

244. Portrait ok Edward Livingston 452

24.5. Portrait of John Quincy Adams 455

246. Portrait of ])ewitt Clinton 456

247. Portrait of John C. Calhoun 458

248. Portrait op General Jackson 460

249. Portrait op Robert Y. IIayne 463

250. Portrait op Osceola 466

251. Map op the Seat op the Seminole AVar 467

252. Portrait of Martin Van Bl'ren 470

253. Portrait op "William H. Harrison 474

254. Portrait of John Tyler 476

255. Portrait op James K. Polk 479

256. Portrait of General Scott 485

2.57. Map of the Region of Taylor's Oper-'^.tions 486

258. Portrait op John C. Fremont 483

259. Plan op Intrenchments at Vera Cruz 489

260. Map of THE Route OF Scott's Army in Mexico 490

261. 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 P^illmore 502

267. Portrait of Daniel Webster 503

268. 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

2T3. Portrait of Santa Anna 515

274. An Ocean Steamship 516

27.5. Crystal Palace in New York 517

276. Portrait of Captain Ingraham 518

277. Portrait OP James Buchanan 532

278. Founding New States 537

279. Portrait of Tiio.mas Jefferson 589

280. Portrait of John Adams -. 589

281. Portrait of Dr. Franklin 589

282. Portrait op Robert R. Livingston 589

283. Portrait OF Roger Sherman 589

284. Portrait of Charles Carroll 601

285. PoBTKAiT or Judge Story 612

Ife _ »

H I S T Pt Y

THE UNITED STATES.

FIRST PERIOD.

THE ABORIGINALS.

Chapter I. Eed Jacket

Every cultivated nation had its heroic

age — a period when its first physical and

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 tlie 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 bj 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 Avhen thirteen confederated States ratified a Federal Constitution, and upon it laid the broad foundation of our Republic'

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 Continent 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 jNIontezuma, and crumbled into fragments beneath the heel of Cortez, when he dethroned and destroyed that monarch,' 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 wuld nations of North America, appeared to be the most efficient instruments in the hands of Province, for spreading the light of dawning civilization over the whole Continent. it, 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 amonor the Mobilian tribes,^ and to shed the illumination of their dim Christianity over the dreary region of the North, was their own bright light extinguished. 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 iconoclast and the tooth of decay. They form, apparently, not the most insignificant atom of the chain of events wdiicli 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 subsequent occupants of the territory. The several nations of red or coppercolored 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,^ by whom parts of the

territory were settled, and from whom they have been taken by conquest or

\ purcui*se.

The history of the Indian^ tribes, previous to the formation of settlements

among them, by Europeans,' is involved in an obscui-ity which is penetrated

' Page 51. 6 Page 40. '' Before the year 1G07.

THE ABORIGINALS. l\

only by vague traditions and uncertain conjectures. Whence came they ? is a question yet unanswered by established facts. In the Old World, the monuments of an ancient people often record their history. In North America, such intelligible records are wanting. Within almost every State and Territory remains of human skill and labor have been found,' 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 afterw^ard.'^ The Avhole 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, Br** 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 Phoenicians and other maritime nations, whose extensive voyages have been mentioned by ancient writers, and among Avhom tradition seemed to cherish memories of far-off lands beyond the sea, unknown to the earlier geographers. Others perceive 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, "^ and crossed from north-eastern Asia to our Continent, by way of the Aleutian Islands, or by Behring's Straits.* These various theories, and many others respecting settlements of Europeans and Asiatics here, long before the time of Columbus, unsu])ported 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 reserabUng 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 efforts 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 progenitor came in a bark canoe after that terrible event. Tliis 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 wliite 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 Fredoniii, 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 Ciirist. 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-^5.

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 delineation 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 extensive 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 lonjr 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 forehead ; and of whole tribes Avho existed Avithout 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 Atlantic to the Mississippi, and westward to the Rocky Mountains, namely : Algonquin, Huron-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 longitude, and covering a greater portion of the breadth of the north temperate zone.

All the nations and tribes were similar in physical character, moral sentiment, 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 indolent, taciturn, and unsocial ; brave, and sometimes generous in war ; unflinching under torture ; revengeful, treacherous, and morose when injured or oifended ; not always grateful for favors ; grave and sagacious in council ; often eloquent in speech ; sometimes warm and constant in friendship, and occasionally courteous and polite.

The men were employed in. war, hunting and fishing. The women performed all menial services. In hunting and fishing the men were assiduous and very skillful. They carried the knowledge of woodcraft to the highest degree of perfection; and the slightest indication, such as the breaking of a twig, or the bending of grass, was often sufiicient to form a clew to the pathway of an enemy or of game. The women bore all burdens during journeys; spread the tents ; prepared food ; dressed skins for clothing ; wove mats for

THE ABORiaiNALS.

A WIGWAM.

beds, made of the bark of trees an^-the skins of animals ; and planted and gathered the scanty crops of corn, b^ns^ jjeas, potatoes, melons, and tobacco. These constituted *the chief agricultural 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.

And simple, too, were their implements of labor. They were made of stonesshells, 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 in 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,* often profusely ornamented with the claws of the bear, the horns of the buffalo, the feathers of birds, and the bones of fishes. Their faces were often tattooed, and generally painted with bright colors in hideous devices. Their money was little tubes made of shells, fastened upon belts or strung in chains, and called wampum^ It was used in traffic, in treaties, and as a token of friendship or alliance, 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 father to son, especially from chief to chief

Wampum

INDIAN HIEROGLYPHICS.^

Children were taught the simple

' The engraving at the head of this chapter represents some Sioux Indians, in their winter and fanciful costumes.

"^ "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 Je^se}^ It is made of the clear parts of the common clam-shell. This part being split off, a hole is drilled in it, and the form, which is that of the bead now known as the hwjle^ 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 shilUngs, of white; and double that amount in black. A fathom of white was worth about two dollars and a halij 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 siring and a heU of wampum.

3 This is part of a record of a war expedition. The figures on the right and leftr — one with a gun and the other with a hatchet — 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. Then he goes in a war canoe, with nine companions, denoted by the paddles, after which a council is held by the chiefs of the Bear and Turtle tribes, indicated by rude figures of these animals on each side of a fire.

THE ABOEIGINALS.

INDIAN WEAPONS.-'

CALUMETS.

arts practiced among them, sucli as making wampum, constructing bows, arrows, and spears, preparing matting and skins for domestic use, and fashioning rude personal ornaments.

Individual and national pride prevailed among the Aboriginals. They were ambitious of distinction, and therefore Avar was the chief vocation, a.s we have said, of the men.' They generally went forth in parties of about forty bowmen. Sometimes a half-dozen, like knights-errant,'' went out upon the war-path to seek renown in combat. Their weapons were bows and arrows, hatchets (tomahawks) of stone, and scalping-knives of bone.