CHILDREN'S BOOK

COLLECTION
LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

A 3fAP

OF

SCENES IN AMERICA,
FOR THE

AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION

OF LITTLE

TARRY-AT-HOME TRAVELLERS.
BY THE

REV ISAAC TAYLOR,

HARTFORD:
PUBLISHED BY

S.

ANDRUS &

1848.

SON.

INTRODUCTION.

ONCE

again

your friend a hearing

Claims from you,

With

FuL

my

little

miss

volume neat appearing,,

of pictures, see,

'tis this.

Long ago he gave a promise

O'er America to roam
;

Travelling far and wide, tho' from his

House, ne'er moving,

home.

still at

Yet o'er many a volume poring,

Such as you could hardly read

Distant realms and climes exploring,

Your

He

inquiring minds to feed.

has travelled thro' and thro' them.

Often wearied with his

That

at

ease

toil

you here might view them,

Gath'ring knowledge

True some scenes

all

the while.

will raise

your laughter,

They're so differenymd so strange

Yet perhaps, your feelings after,

May

to approbation change.

INTRODUCTION.
Possibly the very climate

Forces

Frozen

men

to

clumsy modes

blasts appropriate time

it,

Thickening dress, or dark abodes.

View the Ourtes of North West Coasters

Buried deep beneath the ground

They, not we, may be the boasters

If thus warmth and life are found.
While the sun's o'er-head direction

Makes West Indian natives pant,

Need they under-ground protection

'Tis the cooling breeze they want.

Wonder

not

Seems

While the

Wraps

From

if

fierce

.-J*

beaux

..; ; ,

and stormy weather

in fur the

Esquimaux.

the icy northern ocean

Southward,
Sluggish

some

There they

Go

but a feather

a dress for Hayti

still

to

Darien turn

are,

some

all

motion

freeze, and here they burn

southward, climes are colder,

Ice locks

Hardships

Warmth

up Magellan's

make

Straits

the natives bolder,

dissolving strength abates.

INTRODUCTION.
View

the roving Indian fighting,

Hunting wild his scanty food

But bis senses sharpen, brighten,
:

Agile, tho' of

manners rude.

Mexico with gold resplendent,

Rich Peru in brilliance shines

Riches make them weak, dependent.

Mind seems buried in their mines.

Thus abundance, and

privation,

Changing, mingling, balance well

Where
Each

exists a perfect nation

in

something can excel.

Let us strive

to learn by reading.
That ourselves may wiser grow

Better manners, better breeding,

Let our daily conduct show.

They

are sad barbarians truly

Who

untaught and savage

roam:-

Worse

are they, examined duly,

Who refuse to learn at home.

Those who never saw

Ignorant, and dull

But we hope

Where we

a letter,

may be

for something better

education see.

INTRODUCTION.
Are you then

Or

all

a gentle,

hoity toity,

worthy

child

Fit to grace genteel society,

Or

to

run in desarts wild.

Ask your
If

parents, playmates, sisters,

your conduct they approve

Little misses, little misters,

Do

they fear, or do they love.

is marked by knowledge, goodness.

Not by riches, or by name
Worst of Indians they, whose rudeness.

Rank

Makes

'

their friends to cry out

* ;

bhome.

SCENES IN AMERICA.

1.

Portrait of Christopher Columbus.

who the world destroyed,

And raised themselves right famous by their crimes;

Portraits of heroes

Making of regions fair an empty void,

Are prized
of ancient, or of modern
:

Shall

we

not rather prize, the

world he found himself,

times.

man who gave

in

western skies

Who

pierced thro' unknown seas, sublimely brave

Nor turned, nor doubted, till he saw it rise.

Methinks old Ocean from his oozy bed,

Must startle, when th' adventurous prow was seen,
Foaming the waters o'er his ancient head ;
Disturbing his domain of liquid green.

COLUMBUS.

Long had he

untroubled his repose

slept,

The light canoe was nothing he could feel

The refluent tides might wake his slumbering doze
Or fierce tornadoes make bis palace reel.
-

Unnumbered

keels the liquid surface cleave,

Since thou Columbus, showed the daring way,

With loaded

fleets his struggling

waters heave

And

Britain's thunders claim the trident sway.

We

have several times glanced at ColumWe have seen him struggling through

bus.
all

the learning of the

times,

determined to

was then known, respecting

and
the
navigation,
shape and situation of the
various parts of our earth.
Yet like a true

understand

all

that

genius he was not

tion

is

given.

He

think for himself.

satisfied,

satisfac-

All his reasoning led

that looking

to surmise,

where no

found he was obliged to

him

westward, he must

if he went straight forward,

supposing all were open sea, and nothing were
and if there were lands and nato intervene

reach the Indies

between them, in keeping his course due

west he must come upon them, and find them

tions

out

what they were, and how placed.

Many

S;

COLUMBUS.

a day dream had he indulged; till, his mind

all on fire with the subject, he re-

becoming

solved to explain his scheme, to such persons

might help Jiim to give it a fair trial.

as

He was

a Genoese by birth, and with true

made the first offer of his grand
his
But the noto
native country.
discovery
bles of Genoa, though sufficiently rich, and
patriotism, he

proud, did not abound in science, and learning: and as it is easier with some to call

names, than to reason, they pronounced him

an absurd speculator, and sent him off. This
did

riot

convince him that his scheme was

He

wrong.
applied to other powers, he met
with many rebuffs, much contempt, and delay ;
and at last was furnished by Isabella, queen
of Castile in Spain, with three small vessels,
utterly unfit for so important, so hazardous an

undertaking, in 1492.

Contemplate him however having actually set

and pressing onward due west, penetrating

sail,

into

unknown

ended

seas.

Are

norance of

his

seamen, with their absurd

and superstitious notions.

man,

all his difficulties

now

Alas he had to contend with the

bore

it

all

Columbus

ig-

fears,

as a great

with magnanimity;

calmly

COLUMBUS.

10

reasoning when they would listen to him, and

making the best of every circumstance as it
arose.

He

course,

till

sailed five weeks, continuing his

he was above 5000 miles distant

from home.

At

last

behold the object of

all

his hopes,

On

labours,

and

sufferings.

him, the

new

world, after which his imagination

the morning of
October 12 he distinctly saw stretched before

had so long panted.

Bright rose the cheerful morning,

The Sun in brilliance gay

The new found world adorning,
Bade every beauty

play.

*Twas

after many a season

Of midnight dark and dull

That science, courage, reason,

Obtained

this victory full.

So brighter was the beaming

Of joy and
'Twas sober

rapturous glee
truth, not

What every eye

The

dreaming

could see.

shores' long length delighted,

Green

hills,

and mountains blue

COLUMBUS.
The

Indian half affrighted,

Aghast

at things so

new.

COLUMBUS, 'twas a feeling

Could pay for toil and blame

Thy wisdom
*

And

2.

clear revealing,

giving deathless fame.

Columbus first Landing.

With great alacrity the boats were ordered

Columbus got into the principal boat,

out.

being accompanied by a band of armed men,

with flags flying, and martial music sounding.
As they drew near the shore, they found it

covered with vast numbers of the simple nawhose curiosity was greatly excited by

tives

such strange visitors, in every respect so

ent from themselves.

Columbus on

this

his best apparel.

differ-

occasion dressed himself

With a drawn sword

in

he stepped out of the boat, and had

the pleasure of feeling himself on the firm

his hand,

ground,

in his

new world.

us to enter into his feelings.

his first

It

is

impossible for

As a pious man,

emotions were gratioide to God,

who

COLUMBUS.

f2

had made

his voyage prosperous.

All his com*
panions joined him in this feeling, and the
whole company knelt down, and with enthusi-

asm

kissed the shore,

on which they had so

happily landed.

During

all

this,

the simple natives stood

Looking with amazement,

sometimes at the strange beings hefore them,
sometimes at the floating houses in which they

gazing

around.

came.

The natives were of a dark copper colour.

They were mostly naked, except as they were
gaily

ornamented with

feathers, shells,

and

bits

of gold.

Soon the Spaniards began

to

sents of glass beads, ribands,

of a similar value.

make them
and showy

pretoys,

For these ihe ignorant

creatures were willing to part with any thin

The grand object of the avathey possessed.
ricious Spaniards

was the

gold,

which

in

sfl

plenteous a manner the natives wore, as rings,

And the constant
bracelets, and broad plates.
inquiry

was

after the

country from which

it

was procured. They affirmed that there was

none in their islands, but pointed continually to

COLUMBUS.
countries southward,
plentiful

They

13

where they

said gold

was

enough.
kept,

therefore, steering

southward,

they came to a very large island ; not flat

like those they had seen already, hut consisting

till

of high lands, slopes, and mountains.

called

Cuba.

discovered.

Still

On

It

was

the gold country was not

December he

the 6th of

ar-

rived at Hayti, and was told the gold country

was in the eastern part of that island.
He,
therefore, again set sail, impatient to

come

at

the source of incalculable riches.

Columbus

3.

visited by a
Caztque.

Columbus having passed to another part of

the island, near the dwelling of the principal
Cazique, he found his Indian Majesty had a
great curiosity to

come and

see these white

people and sent to say he would

mira! on board his own vessel.
:

visit

the ad-

With a very splendid train of attendants he

His
came, brought in a sort of palanquin.
behaviour to his subjects was dignified, and
commanding,

bnt

he

had

no distinguishing

COLUMBUS.

14

dress

indeed he was as

encumbered with

little

dress as any of them.

He went on

board without showing any signs

Finding the admiral was just going

of fear.
to

dinner, he

two of

called

went

into the great cabin,

with

dignity

and

his

attendants,

and seated himself

familiarity,

by the side of

He

partook of whatever was presented to him, and then sent the remainder to

Columbus.

his retinue

upon deck.

After dinner he presented Columbus with

some pieces of sheet gold, and a girdle of very
curious workmanship.
In return, Columbus

gave him a string of beads, and a pair of red

In the evening he requested to be
slippers.

on shore again.

set

Firing the Cannon.

4.

Sailing on,

Columbus was much alarmed

in

the middle of the night, by the shock of the

vessel striking

may on
sea

full

on a rock.

soon bulged, and

gone.

What was

his dis-

looking around him, to perceive the

of rocks on every side.
The ship
all

hopes of saving her were

COLUMBUS.
The next morning he
aster to his

He came

sent notice of his dis

Guakanahari.

friendly Cazique,

with

of his people, expressing

many

the deepest sorrow, and yielding them every

In a short time the
relief in their power.
principal stores of the stranded vessels were
The Cazique took many of
got on shore.

them under
kind

his

immediate care

endeavoured

messages

to

and by many
comfort

the

shipwrecked admiral.

Though kindly
rassed
ship.

second

treated,

Columbus was ha-

He had lost his best

by anxieties.
Pinzon had deserted him with the
best

and

the only one

remaining,

was too small

to

accommodate half the people,

and too crazy

to

be

voyage home.
He determined

fit

at

for a long

last,

and hazardous

that himself,

and

part of his people, would hazard the voyage

While the others should remain on
home.
as a colony, till Columbus returned.
of the crew were glad to stop, where
they were treated as heavenly visitants. The
Cazique was delighted with the plan. It ap-

shore

Many

peared, that from islands towards the southeast, came often a people whom he called

COLUMBUS.

16

Caraibs,

who were

Cazique and

woods

his

at their

strong,

and

people could only

fierce

the
the

approach.

Columbus promised the Cazique,

and

fly into

that

he

people should be protected from them,

and from every enemy. And in order to give
his

him courage, determined to exhibit to him

some of the European modes of warfare. The
Indians were amazed at the force and rapidity
of their movements, but when the cannon
saved from the vessel were fired, they all fell

down

flat

with astonishment.

Columbus
turn to

in

overtook Pinzon,

his

his re-

crazy vessel; he also

whom

he was glad

to join

But he encountered several tremen-

again.

dous

he intended on

sailed as

Spain,

storms,

which put

their

lives in great

tempests, who had

watched over them through so many dangers.

danger.

The God

of

brought them all safe to Spain again.

There he attracted attention from all parties.

The common people

flocked to discover

among

the men, a brother, a son, a father, at last reHis enemies could no longer jeer at
turned.
his

scheme, for there he stood, having actually

new world. He was invited to

discovered a

COLUMBUS.

17

court in the most honourable manner.

nand and
paid him

Ferdi-

king and queen of Spain,

possible honours, and provided a

Isabella,
all

seat at the king's right hand,

where Columbus

recounting to the astonished court, the

story of his discoveries; exhibiting at the
sat,

same time the gold, the strange birds, and

the strange people, he had brought over with
him.
Columbus was too great a man to be overset
with

all

these honours.

He had

view, dearer to him than

attained

knew he had only begun

which

one thing

gratified

him

to discover.

most,

was

giving orders to equip a large

the

fleet,

in

That
king's

which

he might return to encounter anew all

In a short time
distresses and dangers.
venteen vessels were ready for sea.

among

in

he had already
which was the new world, which he
all

the

numbers who crowded

his
se-

And from
to the land

of gold, he chose out fifteen hundred.

With a fair wind they reached the

spot,

where they had left their companions, but

could find no Spaniards, no fort, only a few
dead bodies scattered around.
In a short time the brother of their friendly

COLUMBUS.

18

Cazique Guakanahari, came down, and gave

them the

particulars of the dismal story.

It

appeared that soon after the departure of Columbus, the Spaniards left behind forgot his

keep on friendly terms with the

and began to rove all over the
country, 'in parties of two and three, plundering and ill-treating the people, beyond a)l
advice to
Indians

bearing.

This

was done

chiefly in the part

called Civao, because gold was there so

The Cazique

more abundant.

at last flew to arms, cut off all the

and then

set fire to the fort

Columbus's
fort,

When

which,
all

first

when

was

safe,

to discover yet

He
his

stragglers,

and burnt

it.

care was to erect a

built,

he called

Columbus

much

of that district

new

Isabella.

set sail in ordet

more of his new world.

returned after a long cruise, and found that

countrymen had brought

before.

All

the

all to ruin,

much

as

Caziques were assembling

their people to drive these tyrants away.

And
he found an army of an hundred thousand

men, gathered
one stroke.

at

to

sweep away the Spaniards

COLUMBUS.
Attack of the Indian Army.

5.

The

19

awful

which the

moment appeared

at hand,

in

the freedom, or the slavery,

of the native Indians, was to be won or lost for
fate,

But what an inequality was seen. On

the one side a hundred thousand irritated men,

ever.

armed with

darts,

On

arrows.

wooden swords,

spears,

and

the other side were about two

hundred European infantry, twenty cavalry,

and a small body of Indians under Guakanahari

but

courage,
horses,

the
their

grand

balance

regular

lay

tactics,

in

their

their

arms,

his

attack

and dogs.

Columbus determined

to

make

on the Indian army by night. As soon, therefore, as it was quite dark, he began his march,
and came on the unsuspecting Indians like a
hurricane.

The noise they made was

ing and terrifying,

ning of their

fire

confound-

the thundering and light-

arms, the snorting and trampand the barking of the dogs.

ling of the horses,

The Indians were too much confused to make

much resistance. They soon fled in all diwhen the destruction and havoc
rections,
"xiade in their flying tribes

was dreadful.

COLUMBUS.

20

The

Indians never

made any

further resist

ance, but submitted to their conquerors ; and

the Spaniards treated them as an enslaved

people, taking possession of

all as

their

own.

Columbus had many enemies, who endeathe king and queen of Spain
which obliged him to return to
Spain, that he might defend his own cause and

voured

set

to

against him,

character.

But

in

one instance

shamefully.

be sent over professedly

admiral's conduct, but
solent

man

enemies prevailed
a commission to

his

They procured

of the

it

was given

name

without any examination,

chains, and sent

him

examine into the

to

of

to an in-

Bovadilla,

who

put the admiral in

to Spain as a culprit.

The Court were much

hurt at his

ill-treat

ment, ordered him immediately to be set at

liberty, and received him with all due honours.

Another

grievances,
party.

and

fleet

set

was sent over

aside

to redress

Bovadilla and his

But the command of

this fleet

was not

given to Columbus, he had to remain idle

at

home.
Like a great man, however, he kept his
in view.
He wished much to

main object

COLUMBUS.
ascertain,

"1

whether there was any sea beyond

and espe-

the Continent he had discovered

whether there might not be some opening or narrow strait, into it

through which he
cially

sail to

might

the Indies.
laid before the Court, a plan

He, therefore,
for

ascertaining these points

the

king and

were glad of an opportunity

queen

to rid

themselves of the continual presence of a

man

whom

Orders were
they had treated so ill.
fit out four
to
The
ships for his use.
given
in the hands of his enefitting them out was
mies

and

found

he

provided for

sloops,

four
so

miserable

little

important an enier-

prize.

Columbus, who was never daunted by diffiand after many struggles

set sail
reached the Western Continent, near Hon-

culties,

duras.

From

thence he

hopes of discovering
much wished to find.

6.

His
plate,

kept

coasting,

in

the Strait which he so

Indian alarmed at the

Pen and

Ink.

brother, Bartholomew, landed in one

where the natives in a very friendly man-

COLUMBUS.

22
ner, invited

He

him

to sit

down with them on

the

them many quesgrass.

He
tions, to which they gave him answers.
requested his secretary to write them down.
did so, asking

But scarcely did the natives perceive the pen,

its
operations, than they suddenly rose, and

and

and as they
;
it was
suspected some magic was in action
with difficulty their fears were overcome.
ran away in the greatest alarm

7. Indians

This

fish,

customed

catching Anchovies.

when pursued by others, being acjump upon land

in desperation to

covered their canoes with palm

and sailing about in the rivers, dis-

the Indians
leaves,

turbed the water as

their

oars.

The

much

terrified

as

possible with

fish

mistaking the

palm leaves for land, would jump upon them,

and be easily caught.

8.

Columbus delivered by an Eclipse.

In one place the Indians

plying their voracious

grew weary of supand lest they

guests,

COLUMBUS.
should think to settle there,

23
determined

to

them no more provisions.

Here the*
knowledge and sagacity of Columbus served
him well.
He knew that an eclipse of the
bring

moon was
chiefs

He

nigh.

together,

therefore gathered their

and by the aid of an

inter-

preter, he informed them, that the Spaniards

worshipped the most high God, who made the

who rewarded the good, and
That God was angry
punished the wicked.
sun and moon,

with them, for refusing to his servants, the Spaniards, necessary food

nish them.

That

as a

and would certainly putoken of

his displeasure

moon rise with an angry

and bloody appearance. The Indians laughed
at the threat, but when the moon rose, when
the eclipse appeared, when the darkness gradually increased, their consternation became
they would see the

great.

God

They

entreated the admiral to pray to

and solemnly
in future.
promised to bring him regular supplies
We shall have little more to do with Colum-

bus.

to forbear his punishments,

.Yet anxious as

we have been
we shall be

his various difficulties,

to hear the

little

for

him

in

interested

remainder concerning him.

After being shipwrecked, deserted, and abused.

COLUMBUS.

he made

his

way

to Spain.

On

his arrival

he

found to his great dismay, that his last friend

and patron, queen Isabella, was dead.
He
slights from king Ferdinand, exhausted, neglected, this discoverer
of the new world died in the 65th year of his

experienced nothing but

age.
9.

Planting the first Sugar Cane in th'

West Indies.

Ovando, who had been appointed Governor

of Hispaniola, had conducted affairs so, as to
bring the colony into some regular order.
One thing too he did, well worthy our notice ;
he procured from the Canaries, plants of the
Sugar Cane, which have taken well to the soil,
have spread all over the West India Islands,
and now have become the staple mass of wealth
to them ; affording us, what by custom is be-

come one of

the necessaries of

life.

One

not get one's breakfast without sugar.

From a little
Which we
Great

trifling

thing

glance at carelessly,

effects will

sometimes springy

Swelling to the wondering eye.

can-

COLUMBUS.
Those few

Were

95

plants of Sugar

a curiosity

Cane

But what treasures now remain,

Bringing wealth and luxury.

Let

me

then where'er

Drop
Give a

Who
Let

me

can

a seed for future use

hint, or lay a plan

can say

'twill

nought produce

o'er the infant

mind

Exercise this constant care.

Principles for good design'd

Root, and grow, with fruitage

fair.

During the long course of Columbus's life,

many of the islands he had discovered had
:
and different governors appointed to them, especially Cuba, where Ve-

been colonized

lasquez

commanded.

He was

impatient to make discoveries too,

but he had not sufficient courage to" undertake
such a hazardous employment himself.

He equipped several little fleets, and the

testimony uniformly was, that there was much
land in the west ; that the people were cultiva-

CORTEZ.

2C

ted,

and more warlike than the natives of the

islands,

he

whom they domineered. At last

out a fleet of ten large ships, and

over

fitted

gave the

command

who

to Cortez,

sailed

Dec.

18th, 1518.

He

took the same course which had been

taken by Grijalva, a former commander; and

Here he found
arrived at the island Cozumel.
a poor Spaniard,

who had been

shipwrecked,

and had lived among the natives eight years.

He became of great use to them as an interpreter.

10. Cortez landing.

He

steered towards Tabasco, hoping to find

as friendly a reception, as Grijalva

On

before him.

sembled

in great

was obliged
artillery

his

to

numbers

to

attack them

drove them

men.

had done

the contrary, the natives as-

all

oppose him. He
one volley of
;

away, and he landed

But the opposition of the natives

was not yet abated, he had to fight them again

next day, and then to attack them in their
fortified

town Tobasco.

battle to fight.

He

had

still

another

Fortv thousand native? were

CORTEZ.

27

gathered, and Cortez could only by dreadful

havoc defeat them. He took several prisoners,

whom

he kindly treated, and sent home. The

had was wonderful, in softening the

effect this

minds of the Indians.

They

sent in

all

man-

ner of provisions, and the Cazique sent presents,

and sued for peace.

11.

Marina

is

presented

to Cortez.

Among other things, the Cazique presented

Cortez with twenty young women, who knew
how to make bread of Indian corn. One of
these afterwards called Marina, was the daughter of a Cazique, who had been taken captive.

She was a woman of great

she soon

talent,

learned the Spanish language, and became of

great service and importance, as an interpreter.

Cortez had said to the messenger sent to

request his departure, that his master had sent

him with proposals

to

Montezuma

and he

therefore declared his determination to have

an interview.

All

the Caziques,

and great

men, were astonished to find any man who

would dare dispute the repeated order of their

CORTEZ.

28

After in vain endeavouring

mighty emperor.
to

move him,

they

all

retired in great anger.

While they were preparing for battle, they

were surprized with a message from the Cazique
of Zernpoalla, offering them a friendly alliance.

12.

The

Burning Mexican

zeal of Cortez

Idols

was blind and furious

hearing that a human sacrifice was about to

take place, at a neighbouring temple, he was

determined to prevent
But not content with

So

it.

priests to destroy their idol

were struck with horror

commanded
The huge,
long,

his

soldiers

ugly,

idols,

and broken

far

he was

right.

he commanded the

this,

gods; and as they

he

at the proposal,

to do it by force.
were tumbled head-

The temple was

human blood washed from

to pieces.

cleared out, and the

the walls and pavement.

13. Spaniards destroying their

Cortez had

much

to fear

own

ships.

from the cowardice,

and discontent of many of his own people.

He

CORTEZ.

29

discovered that a plan was laid by some of them,

to seize one of the
He
ships and return home.

determined on a desperate measure, and resolved to destroy his whole fleet ; that every
soldier might feel he had only to conquer or

He

ordered them, therefore, to be comHe prevailed with the carpletely unrigged.

and
penters to declare their bottoms unsound

die.

in

an inflammatory speech, worked upon the

passions

under
pulled

The

of

soldiers

his

intoxication

the

them

the

500

He

to pieces.

all

proceeded with

infantry,

pieces.

they flew

moment, and

determination of Cortez to have an

terview with Montezuma, was

force.

that

so,

of

From

fifteen

now

his

cavalry,

to

little

and

in-

be put

in

army of
six

the friendly Caziques of

field

Zem-

he accepted four hundred men, with

two hundred Tamenes, or carriers, to convey
stores and provisions.
poalla,

As long

as his route lay through the lands

of the friendly Caziques,

in a

all

was

But

quiet.

few days time they entered the

territories

of the Ilascalans, a very warlike people.

Cor-

tez endeavoured to pacify them, and gain

them

over to his side

but his endeavours were

all

CORTEZ.

30

One

in vain.

of the chiefs, a high spirited

young man, named Xicotencatl, declared for

war, and roused the whole nation to resistance.
In a few days march, Cortez found himself
opposed by an innumerable army of Ilascalans,

who

Again the

fought desperately.

calans assembled in

immense numbers

Ilas-

their

attack was furious, the issue for a long while

appeared doubtful, but

prevailed.
Jcft

at last

The enemy

fled

European
on

all

the Spaniard master of the field.

this,

the

Ilascalans

superstitiously

tactics

sides,

and

After

imagining

were children of the Sun,

and defended by him, resolved to attack them
in his absence, and came upon the Spaniards

that the Spaniards,

But the vigilance of Cortez could

night.
not be surprised, they were furiously resisted,
and driven off with great loss.

by

all

At length their opposition appearing to be

in vain, they sent an embassy to sue for

peace

at the

head of which came the valiant

Xicotencatl himself.

Cortez

and

his

whole

army were conducted to Ilascala, where they

were received rather as heavenly visitants, than
as

men.
Cortez steadily pursued

his

march towards

CORTEZ.
Mexico

overcoming
At

all

secret or open.

3i

opposition,

length

whether

he crossed the

mountains of Chalco, when^with astonishment

and rapture, the Spaniards beheld a beautiful
country, spreading farther than the eye could

reach

in the

centre was a large lake,

ing with villages,

and

turrets,

towering as queen of

whole appeared
zling, so superb,

14.

like

was

some
all

The

all.

fairy land,

so daz-

they saw.

Meeting of Cortez and Montezuma.

Cortez made
this lake,

his

way

along the borders of

and was surprised one day,

ceive a grand procession

from

glitter-

and Mexico, with temples,

the

city.

Above

to per-

issuing towards

thousand,

him

whoso

with plumes and mantles showed

be persons of high rank then came
two hundred of the body guard, all in uniform
adornings

them

to

these withdrew on one side, in order to give a

view of Montezuma himself, carried in a chair,

or palanquin, of gold, and borne by nobles.

As soon

as the

emperor approached suffiand advanced

ciently near, Cortez dismounted,

in a respectful attitude.

At the same time Mrn-

CORTEZ.

32

tezuma alighted from his palanquin, arid resting on the shoulders of two princes, advanced
a slow and

at

covering the

stately

way with

pace

his

attendants

pieces of cotten cloth,

that his feet might not touch the ground.

Cor

him with a profound reverence,

Montewas customary in Europe.

tez accosted

such as

zuma showed

his

by touching the
it.
A?

courtesy,

earth with his hand, and then kissing

Montezuma was accustomed

to salute

even

his

gods with a nod, his people became convinced, that the strangers before whom he
his

humbled himself
than

thus,

must be something more

human.

Cortez wore a necklace of

false

which he intended

as a present for

As soon, therefore,
paid, he took off

as the first
this

diamonds,

Montezuma.

compliments were
ornament, and hung it

about Montezuma's neck

who seemed

well

pleased with it and sent for one of his most

valuable treasures, a necklace of shells, on
;

both sides of each hung a golden crab

placed this ornament on Cortez, with his

he

own

hands, a sort of condescension which greatly

increased the astonishment of his subjects.

The

procession

now

returned, attended

by

CORTEZ.

33

all these visitors.

A very large palace was
given as an habitation for Cortez, which he for
and surrounded with sentinels, and
lined,

cannon.

Ah Montezuma
To show thy

Thy

'twas a great mistake

treasures vast at such an hour.

grandeur, and thy gold, could only make

visitants, wish all within their power.

These

Wouldst thou drive

off a fox,

by rich display

Of poultry fat, and flourishing, and fair

Or think to send the hungry wolf away

By
Gold

flocks of bleating sheep, or lambkins rare

is

the Spaniard's object

thou hast gold

Thoucouldst not hide it, hadst thou known the case

Thy presents to appease, made rapine bold

Thy rich display, roused every feeling base
;

Ah

vain the struggle 'twixt the

weak and

strong

Resistance but spreads devastation wide,

Thy rights are feeble, for his spear

Thy gold or his ? his sword will
Think not

Thy

to

make him

is

long.

soon decide

grateful, or to bind

safety to his oaths, or promises

CORTEZ.

34

He

will cajole thee, if to

May
Look

keep thee blind

soonest reach thy treasures' deep recess.

at his

sword

sinewy arm observe

his

The rampant horse,that beats the tremblingground

His bullets murderous range

Till all thou hast, within his grasp

15.

is

found.

Mexican Worship.

Montezuma wished

to

grandeur of his temples.

to one of the largest.
part to Cortez

nor thinkhe'll swerve,

show

He
He

his

guests the

conducted them

explained every
recounted the names of his

gods, the principal of

The whole horde

them was

Vizlipuzli.

of Mexican idols were ugly

but there is something hor-

and contemptible
rible in their modes of worship, which consisted
;

principally in

They

human sacrifices.
made war on neighbouring

frequently

procure prisoners, to fatten and

honour of their gods
and then themselves devoured their flesh.
states only to

slay

them on

their altars in

The manner of it was as follows. Six priests

were principal actors. The victim was laid on
his back on a large stone
two priests held
;

CORTEZ.
down

his legs,

two of them

ther his head and neck.

35

his arms,

When

and ano-

the principal

with a sharp flint, cut open his body,

and tore out the yet beating heart of the palpitating wretch, and holding it up towards the
priest,

sun, offered the

fume of

it

an acceptable

as

sacrifice.

16.

Montezuma

seized.

it is true had
accomplished his oband obtained an interview with Monte-

Cortez
ject,

zuma.

But

it is

equally true, that by entering

the city, and being shut up in a palace, he had

put himself, and his whole army, completely

power of a man who would be glad tu

in the

cut him

off.

In this situation, his only choice was to be-

come a

prisoner himself,

or to seize Monte-

zuma, and keep him in custody. By threats

and flatteries he prevailed on the emperor, as
a voluntary compliment, to come and spend a
Spanish quarters. After he had
while, he came in an angry
manner, and reproached him with the conduct

few days

in the

been there a

little

of some of his Mexican chiefs

who had

at-

36

CORTEZ.

tacked the Spaniards left behind, had killed a

In a
Spaniard, and sent his head to Mexico.
great rage he ordered the emperor to be put in
irons

thus he aimed to

and break

his spirit

that

humble Montezuma,
he might not under-

take any thing against him.

But though Montezuma himself was humbled,
his

They made

people were not.

tacks on the Spanish quarters,

on

their buildings
to drive

away

fire,

all

hazards.

thou'rt a tim'rous dove,

Beneath the eagle's

What now can

some of

and seemed determined

the Spaniards at

Poor Montezuma

incessant atset

talons

save thee

making moan.

gentle pity, love,

His stern breast knows not

'tis

a heart of stone

Once thou wert grand, endued with high command,

And distant nations trembled at thy frown
;

Once thou wert

Thy
Gold,

rich, with gold

on every hand

riches ruined thee, and cast thee down.

what mischiefs haunt

Tho' meant
Those bow

to

How much

th' alluring

name

mercy, thou'rt abused to guilt

thee, who do not bow to fame.
for

for thee has

human blood been

spilt.

CORTEZ.

37

station, brings a desperate cruel fall ;

Great riches, tempt the murderer's steel to
I'm thankful for the mercies given me, all ;

High

But covet not great wealth, so

17.

oft

Montezuma harangues

great

kill

ill.

his Subjects.

At one time, when a furious

commencing, Montezuma, who

still

attack was
resided in

the Spanish quarters, determined to dress himself in his

to

hi-s

grandest attire, and show himself

Accordingly one of his at-

subjects.

tendants ascended the

wall,

and announced

At the name
Montezuma the combatants desisted. The
monarch ascended the wall, at sight of him
the approach of their sovereign.

of

the greatest veneration was expressed.

He
t'nanked them for the submission they showed,

assured them that he was not kept a prisoner,

that

it

was

Spaniards

wish to continue among the

his

and begged them

arms, and return

to lay

down

their

home

peaceably.
he* ceased to speak, a violent

The moment
murmur arose among

the crowd.

They

be-

gan to abuse their monarch. They let fly a

shower of arrows, and a large stone struck

CORTEZ.

38
him, and he

fell

wounds, but
saulted

by

senseless to the ground.

still

his

more

own

his

The

rage at being as-

subjects,

overcame him,

and he died.
This made a great change in the circumThe Mexicans imstances of the Spaniards.
a
chose
new
emperor, Guatimozin,
mediately

and their zeal and fury increased without restraint.

Only one way remained to Cortez,

which was to effect his retreat. He accordingly

got his whole army in motion, and in the dead
of night began his march.
But he found the
broken down, and the whole lake
covered with canoes of armed, and enraged
enemies.
Though exerting all their usual

bridges

courage,
that

he

yet

so, desperate

lost half his

army

was

his situation,

before he gained the

open country.

1 8.

Seizing the great Mexican Standard.

After

many

marching about six days, through

and almost without food on

difficulties,

ascending a

they saw a vast plain before

with an innumerable army.
hill,

them, filled
Cortez arranged his

little

company, and

told

CORTEZ.
them they must

39

either conquer,

or die

he

spoke in a manner so cheerful, as raised the

spirits and hopes of his companions.
They
rushed forwards to the carnage, till through
weariness of killing, they were scarcely able
to fight.

Cortez observed the Mexican general, with

the grand standard of the empire.
He assembled a few of his bravest men, whose horses

were not disabled and placing himself at their

head, pressed on towards the standard with an
;

With one
impetuosity which was irresistible.
blow, he slew the general, and took possession
of jjie standard.
The Mexicans considered all
as lost

now.

At the same

ard was lowered

instant every stand-

a sudden panic seized their

whole army, they made no more resistance,

but threw down their arms and fled.
This victory was good in another view.

Mexicans were richly

niards found an immense booty
as all the

drest, the

For
Spa-

in stripping the

slain.

Yet Mexico was not subdued, nor the people

Cortez gathered all
brought into subjection.
determined to take the city. While

his forces,

Guatimozin with a courage rendered desperate.

BALBOA.

40

opposed him inch by inch. The combats were

but in the end the
furious, and often repeated
;

The

Spaniards conquered.

nobles of

Mex-

were slaughtered; the emperor Guatimoand the whole country subzin was taken
ico

mitted to a handful of strangers.

Yes Cortez, 'twas judgment that taught thee

Like an eagle to pounce on thy prey.

Thy blow

at that rag, cut

to dart,

each Mexican's heart.

His courage soon melted away.

When courage on principle fixes, 'tis

No dangers can daunt, or appal.

sure,

But when superstition with charms would

'Tis false, and must lead to a fall.

allure,

Though we have kept unbroken the histories

of Columbus and Cortez, we must not suppose
the Spaniards

were

the contrary

many

pushing,

Among

some
these a

came with a
Isthmus

idle

On
every where else.
adventurers were

sets of

this

man

way,
of

the

and

name

some

that.

of Balboa,

parcel of his countrymen, to the

of Darien

where he soon

distin-

guished himself, and was chosen commander.

1.3

BALBOA.

He

41

formed an alliance with one friendly Cawho presented them with a considera-

zique,

quantity of gold,

ble

which

seized with great eagerness.

Cazique perceiving

said

it,

the

The

Spaniards
son of the

he could show them

a country, where they might obtain as

much

as

they pleased.

This hint was not

They became
gold.

But

lost upon the Spaniards.

impatient to come at this land of
Balboa's whole force consisted

only of an hundred and sixty men.

'

According to the account of Comagre's son,

mountains, a

there was beyond those western

ocean.

vast

that this

Balboa

immediately

was the ocean

had searched

in vain,

after

surmised,

which Columbas

and across which a west-

ern course would lead to the East Indies.

19. Balboa's first Sight

of the Sea.

The journey across these mountains was extremely difficult; but the courage of Balboa
was not to be daunted. He determined to undertake the journey.

After five-and-twenty days

came to the last moun-

incessant fatigue, they

tain

up

this

he went alone, being determined

BALBOA.

42

none should rob him of the

that

He

attained the summit,

vast Pacific
fell

upon

Ocean

his knees,

rolling

and

first

sight.

whence he saw the

He

before him.

lifted

hands

his

up

in

This in order of time took

a state of ecstacy.
place, five years before Cortez set out against

Mexico.

Long doubted, long sought

To
The

gain

at last,

for with labour in vain

what a prize.

labour seems nothing

We
May

it

when once we

gaze, and absorbed, feast our eyes

obtain

always our object be worthy and good,

trifles deserve our regard

No

Then

with zeal and address be pursued,

Success then will richly reward.
let it

Balboa was infamously treated, and by Peda new governor, executed. This man re-

rarias,

moved
where
aside.

across the mountains, and built

Panama,

thoughts of attacking Peru were laid

Pedrarias was not qualified to under-

all

take any thing dangerous.

Among

drawn together at Panama, were

mined to distinguish themselves.

the persons

three,

deter-

These were

PIZARRO.

43

These

Pizarro, Almagro, and Luque, a priest.

advance their whole property, in an

agreed
As Pizarro could
expedition against Peru.
to

much

not advance so

as his

undertook the part of danger

mand

companions, he
and was to com-

Almagro wa

the expedition.

to gather

reinforcements, and follow him, while

was

to

remain

the governor in

The whole

Luque

Panama, and keep Pedrarias

good humour.

at

force these parties could raise.

conquer the vast kingdom of Peru, was one

single ship, with a hundred and twelve men.
to

With

this did

He
as did

Pizarro set

much
Almagro, who

suffered

cruits.

Nov.

14,

15*

hazardous vo

^e;

joined him with fresh reAt last they landed at Tacames. in

Here they found them-

the province of Quito.

selves so

sail,

in his

weakened,

as not to

be able

to un-

dertake any thing.

It was determined that
Pizarro should remain, and that Almagro should
return, to gather

new

recruits.

20. Pizarro separating his

Almagro on

new governor

his
;

return to

man

men by a

line.

Panama, found a

of no enterprize, and

PIZARRO.

44

who

thought the undertaking of the three asand so hazardous, that he

sociates so absurd,

new

and

sent out a vessel to recall Pizarro and his

com-

forbad Almagro

to

Upon

panions.

raise

sight

recruits

of this order, Pizarro

refused to comply, but he perceived that many

of his soldiers were weary of their sufferings,

and longed

to return.

He

therefore

drew a

upon the sands with his sword and bade

every soldier whojwas desirous of leaving him

line

over that

to pass

line.

tion, the greatest part

To

his great mortifica-

went over

it,

and there

remained with him only fourteen, one of

was a mulatto.

whom

These waited under every privation five

months, before any vessel arrived for their reInstead of

returning to

Panama, they
Tumbes. Pizarro
had scarcely anchored when he was visited by
several Peruvians, whose astonishment was
lief.

steered south for Peru, near

great, both at the floating

house and

inhabitants, with long beards.

in a large

its

white

They soon

sent

supply of provisions, with liquor, in

gold and silver vessels.

All that Pizarro

was

in

vain

to

saw convinced him, that it

attempt conquering such a

PIZARRO.

46

He

country, with ihe force he had with him.

was once more obliged

By
plies,

to return to

he obtained sup-

to Spain,

application

and once more sailed

Panama.

for Peru, with three

small ships, and a hundred and eighty men,

thirty six of whom were cavalry.

The Peruvian empire had

flourished three

or four hundred years, before the Spaniards

Their own story is, that two persons

made
their appearance among them,
suddenly
called Manca Capac, and his wife, Mama
arrived.

Ozello.

These persons called themselves

dren of the

sun.

They

taught

tribes to cultivate the earth,

and

to

women

build

houses

in spinning,

and

to

chil-

the savage

make

cloathes,

instructed

and housewifery.

the

They

abolished the barbarous worship of the natives,

whir-h consisted

much

and bade them

in sacrificing

human

vic-

and worship, the

source of all their blessings, which they said was
The descendants of these two perthe sun.

tims

sons were called

distinct, confined

imitate,

Incas, they

kept themselves

to themselves all the offices

or royalty, and officiated as priests of the sun,

to whom they caused temples to be built.

PIZARRO.

46

21. Peruvians* anxiety at an Eclipse.

They

considered the rnoon too as a deity,

And were always

an eclipse, that the moon was
sick ; they apprehended it would die, and fallAt such
ing from heaven destroy the earth.
but of an inferior order.
fearful during

times,

therefore,

they

made

noises the most violent.

and beat them,

howling.
" Mama

manner of
their dogs,

to increase the noise

All the while incessantly

Cuilla," or dear mother

the eclipse began to

vive

all

Tied up

and when

it

wear
was

off,

all

their

by

reoeating

When

moon.

they began to reover,

a universal

shout of joy arose.

There are two productions of Peru which

have proved of immense benefit. One is the
potato, whose native soil is the fertile province of Quito
Virginia,

although as

we have been

we

received

apt to regard

native of North America.

it

it

How many

from
as

thou-

sands have been supported by this root, how

"important is it now Hcom.e to the existence of
nations

PIZARRO.

47

22. Discovery of the Bark.

The

other,

potatoe

called

monly

is

as important in medicine, as the

for food

is

it

is

the bark.
said to

the Cinchona, com-

The mode
have been

of disco-

as follows

vering its virtues

is

Some Cinchona

trees

had been blown down

into a pool of water,

by which means it benobody could drink it.

came

so

that

bitter

However, a poor Indian, reduced extremely

by a

fever,

drank

any other.

He

it; being unable to procure

soon recovered and relating
:

the circumstance to others, they were induced

to

try

When

it,

they

water owed
in the

this

its

became

all

came

well

presently.

examine, they found the

virtues to the trees, and that
to

bark of the

quality.

by

and

tree,

How many

resided

lives are

its

medicinal

saved every

Peruvian bark.

Sickly sufferer come and drink,

Tho" the nauseous draught repel.
Little did the sufferer think,

This alone would make him well.

d;iy

PIZARRO.

48

Had he been

To some

he

less feeble,

purer stream had gone

Forced by strong necessity,

This he drinks, and this alone

So

in

'tis

providence

found,

What we hate, refuse, despise

Shall make health or wealth abound
:

Source of peace, and purest joys.

"

No

wo'nt"

Since

Let

to

know

me keep

And

When

dare not say

not what

is

the prudent way,

God

leave

all

the rest.

Pizarro landed in Peru, he soon dis

covered that there were dissentions

pire,

best.

between two brothers

to

in the

whom

em-

the two

grand provinces of the kingdom were left. Huascar was to have the old kingdom of Cusco;
and Atahualpa, the lately conquered kingdom
of Quito.

The

latter

had a vast army, and deHe soon subdued his

termined to rule both.

him prisoner. When Pizarro

march up the country, he was not
opposed, therefore, because all parties were too
brother, and took

began

his

PIZARRO.
busy in their private quarrels.

49
Indeed each

party hoped to obtain the assistance of these

terrible strangers

and therefore rather aimed

to conciliate, than oppose.

Pizarro had penetrated till he came very

camp of Atahualpa. Then embas-

near the
sies,

and presents, and professions of

ship, took place.

The

and pay the Spaniards a

friend-

Inca promised to

come

visit.

23. Pizarro seizes the Inca.

he came in great grandeur,

seated in a palanquin, richly adorned

Accordingly

He was
with

precious

gold,

stones,

and

feathers.

appeared peaceable, and friendly, on

a sudden the drums beat, the cannon roared

While

all

on the astonished Peruvians, the cavalry galloped among them, and all was confusion, and
Pizarro attacked the corps which
despair.
surrounded the Inca, penetrated *o his palanquin, tore him from his seat, and dragged him

towards his

own head

quarters.

The

Inca thus a prisoner, soon perceived

that the ruling passion with these marauders

was the love of gold.

From hence he

indulged

PIZARRO.

50

The room in
a hope of gaining his liberty.
which he was confined was twenty-two feet
wide.
The Inca offered to fill
long, by sixteen
with golden vessels, as high as he could
This offer was accepted.
And Atahualpa dispatched orders all over his
it

reach, for his ransom.

empire, ta bring in the needed treasures.

But when

all

was punctually

paid, in vain

did the Inca solicit for his liberty.

like justice,

or

kindness,

had

Nothing

place in the

heart of Pizarro, or his companions.

24. Discovering

that

Pizarro

could

not

read.

There were none of the European Arts

which so much delighted the Inca, as reading
and writing.
He wanted to know whether
this was natural
to them all, or
acquired
hy education.

He

of the soldiers

who
name

to

write

the

requested therefore one

stood guard over him,
of their God, on his

He then presented his thumb to

every one who came near him ; to his great

thumb-nail.

surprise

he found them

all

pronounce

it

ex-

PIZARRO.

51

At length Pizarro came

actly the same.

hi,

and he asked him the same question. Pizarro,

who in his youth had been^a swineherd, had
not learned to read, and

was under the ne-

cessity of telling the Inca

he did not know.

From

moment Atahualpa seemed

that

Ah Mr. Pizurro your

coat's

all

it is,

de-

very gay,

Pearl, purple, and gold well refined

But certain

to

no education.

spise him, as a person of

these fine garments

may

But cover an ignorant mind.

Your fin'ry and grandeur are splendid indeed,
But then you're a divice Sir, you know you can't read.

You

are high in

Men

command,

on his throne,

like a king

your frown
Your sword is a strong one your enemies own,
Your word can lift up, or cast down.
tremble and start

at

But in every sentence assistance you need,

Because you can't write, nay, you can't even read.

Now thanks to my
My clothes are
I

am but

My

a child,

friends, if I'm not

sufficient

can

you see

very

call

nothing mine,

parents and friends

command me.

In pretty books tho\

Because tho'

a child,

fine,

have treasures indeed,

am

able to read.

PIZARRO.

52

Pizarro could ill brook being treated with

contempt, and that too by an Indian. A plot
was soon laid, charging the Inca with an intention to massacre all the Spaniards.
In

vain the Inca protested his innocence.

judges

all

condemned

His

and he was

thirsted for his blood,

to die.

On

the death of Atahualpa many competitors started up, claiming the Peruvian throne.

This threw the whole empire into confusion.

Pizarro rejoiced at it, as he knew how much

more easy

it

would be

for

him

to

conquer a

divided people.
He, therefore, determined to
He was opposed
attack Cusco, the capital.

by vast armies, but European

skill

and cou-

Every battle
rage overcame every opposition.
ended in a dreadful slaughter of the poor
natives.

The booty

they found in

this

capital

was

immense, exceeding the ransom paid by the

Inca.

25. Founding the City of Lima.

Pizarro was desirous of building a city in
the midst of his conquests, and to make it the

PIZARRO.
capital of

them

He

all.

valley on the sea coast,

little river,

from which

it

selected a beautiful

upon the mouth of a

was called Lima.
Pizarro and

This city rose rapidly.

chiefs adorning it with
It

remains

The

to

this

53

sumptuous

all his

palaces.

day the capital of Peru.

pride, and

capital, too, of all the riches,

luxury, of those vast regions.

The conduct of Pizarro was extremely tyThe cruelty and treachery to the Peand when all opporuvian princes was hateful

rannical.

on their part had ceased, he showed the

same spirit, in his conduct towards his prinsition

cipal officers.

Some he

exalted,

and some he

violently cut off; leaving to neglect, poverty,

and every

many who had deserved

distress,

Acting in the most impe-

well at his hands.

rious

manner, that

his pride,

arrogance, and

prosperity, could dictate.

It

long.

is

seldom
It

that

creates

and revenge.

such

conduct continues

jealousies,

heartburnings,

Among many, he had

ingly ill-treated

an old and honourable

He

exceedofficer,

deprived him of his government, and finally of his life. The adherents and friends of Almagro he treated with
called Almagro.

CHIMBORAZO.

54

contempt, and neglect; so as to

make them

desperate.

26.

Death of Pizarro.
them began

Several of

to

associate,

and

Accordplan some deed of deep revenge.

at
one
him
rushed
noon,
day
upon
ingly, they

and slew him

when he

little

expected such an

attack.

27. Chimborazo.
In South America,
mountains in the world.

we find the highest

One range, or rather

cluster of ranges, runs from north to south, at

the back of Peru,

Andes.

called the Cordilleras

of

begin at the Isthmus of

Darien, and form a sort of back-bone through
In this long course,
the whole land to Chili.

the

They

some of the mountains stand prominent, and

That which seems to

receive distinct names.

be the highest,

much by
thousand

One
Peru

is

is

itself,

called

the

Chimborazo.

summit

is

It

stands

twenty-two

or above four miles high.

the most remarkable animals of

feet,

of

the Llama.

Something

like a

small

CHIMBORAZO.

55

camel, with wool like sheep. It is about four

feet in height, of which its neck is half.
It is

one of the most useful animals, not only on

account of its flesh, and its wool
hut be;

cause

it

burdens.
tains,

is

It

so

admirably adapted to carry

will climb the steepest moun-

above

carrying

two hundred

pounds

weight.

There is a large tract of country on the

southern part of America, which is very little
known.

It

regions.

It

may be
is

called

cut across at

the Magellanic
its

lower extre-

The separated part is called Terra del Fuego, or the

land of fire, because a volcano exists upon it.
The upper part on the eastern shore, is called

mity, by the Straits of Magellan.

the coast of Patagonia.

The Straits were discovered by Ferdinand

Magellan,

who was aiming

Indies

by a westerly

much,

especially by

the weather.

and they are

sail

He

to

the

suffered

the intense coMncss of

The whole

bleak mountains.

to

course.

land consist? of high

There are few

in a half starving,

inhabitants,

wretched

state.

PENGUINS.

56

28. Penguins.

There

no want of inhabitants, however,

is

of the feathered tribes, especially penguins,

who here maintain an undisturbed possession.

So tame are

so

they,

disturbance from him

little

used to man, and

that

when

sailors

ac-

cidentally land on

any of these islands, they

may walk among them without occasioning
or tuck one or two under each
any alarm
;

arm, as they choose.

Qjuack, quiick, quack,

how

dost thee neighbour ?

Stretch your pinions to the sun.

I'm too

Glad

fat for
I

am

any labour,
need not run.

Let's enjoy our health and beauty,

None
Clumsy

We
What
Is't

Come
Are

with penguins can compare

may talk of duty

birds

are free, as free as

air.

d'ye think's that great thing yonder,

an albatross, or goose,
t'admire us now,
his wings of

wonder

any use

.-

^SSs^^^sssiissgs^^'

"

i..-

FATAGONIANS.
Ah

he nips me.

My

67

I'm a dying.

fat sides will

choke

my

breath.

Am I

swimming now, or flying ?

Quack qua qu I'm pinched to death.

29. Patagonians.
the eastern coast,

Coming up

country very desolate.

It

them

The

large,

yet

find

the

be thinly
size

is

early voyagers represented

as eight feet high

Byron touched

we
to

whose gigantic

inhabited, by a people

remarkable.

seems

there,

the general

but

when Commodore

though he saw none so

size

of the

men was

All the English, looking very small

gigantic.

by their side. They are clothed with a skin,

which they wear hair inwards.
They ride

much on
horses

horseback,

though

their

breed

oi

They- paint themselves

with broad circles round the eye*

not large.

is

frightfully,

but of different colours.

30. Antics with a Mirror.

Captain Wallis took several of them on

board his ship; but no curiosity, or wonder,

PARAGUAY.

58

At last
appeared to be excitable in them.
one of them saw himself in a looking-glass.
This afforded them infinite diversion.
They
advanced,

and played a thousand

retreated,

antics before

it

laughing violently.

PARAGUAY.
The

Amazon

seen stretching

all

across the widest part of South America.

It

has

its

river

rise in the

is

Andes, and receiving many

of great magnitude, after

thousand miles, it becomes a

streams

tributary

three

running
a hundred and fifty miles
mighty stream
wide at its mouth, it pours into the ocean with
a force, which repels the water of the sea to a
;

distance of

the

name

many

country, of which

Below
called

this,

river Plata
city,

a great extent of

almost nothing.

another wide region,

which comes

on which

Buenos Ayres.
and very

are many,

to

we know

spreads

Paraguay,

This river gives

leagues.

Amazonia

of

is

down

situated the

The

rivers of

large.

They

to

the

capital

Paraguay

unite their

PARAGUAY

59

waters, and issue in the river Plata; which

becomes a stream of immense extent, its width
being upwards of an hundred and fifty miles,

and
its

Buenos Ayres, two hundred miles from

at

mouth, forty miles wide.

Buenos Ayres
fruitful

lands;

Peru and
hither,

to

The

is

but

not only the centre of very

much of the treasures of

Chili, are

brought across the country

be shipped for Europe.

country properly called Paraguay, is

but extremely flat
Consisting

fertile

very
of boundless plains, destitute of wood.
inhabitants

native
Jesuits
that
tion

are wild.
to

the

represented
grand hindrance

the

In

court
to

the

The

1580,

of

the

Spain,

propaga-

of religion among the natives, was the

lives of the Spaniards.
They soli-

immoral
cited,

and obtained, leave

to shut

up the country

entirely to themselves.

31. Jesuits instructing.

With

great skill

and prudence,

therefore,

They persuaded
they proceeded in their plan.
forty or fifty families to come and live together ;

PARAGUAY.

60

they instructed them, brought them into order,

and without any violence, ruled them to their

own benefit.
Gradually by the same gentle
means, they gained over more, and yet more
such societies ; till a vast extent of country,
was, without force, subdued, and kept in excellent order.

Gentle persuasion suits the human mind,

Which silently is won by dealings kind.
Which yields unconscious, ere it is aware
And loves the teacher, for his friendly care.
;

But then the teacher must be cool, and wise,

Nor let

his spirit into anger rise.

The

stupid and perverse must patient bear

Still

showing friendliness, and constant care.

But who will act this part, so calm, so good ?

Teachers are often blusterous, rough, and rude

you once, the thing you ous^ht

With angry words enforce it, or a blow
They'll

tell

If dulness does not instant

Or

comprehend

carelessness with deference due

to

know

atte* d.

So they ensure disgust with those who t* ach,

Perhaps with what is taught, beyond the r reach.

Here we observe
E'en Indians

a far

more

pleasing tcene.

listen to that placid

mien.

PARAGUAY.

61

No fear is roused, or anger, or disgust.

They do not learn it just because they must.
But want

From

to

know, and

teachers

who

find

they learn with ease,

oblige themselves to please.

So spreads the gentle feeling far and wide ;

Those once led gently, gently learn to guide.

32. Catching wild Cattle.

In

these vast plains the cattle have multi-

plied prodigiously.

So

that as

many

as are

wanted, may be had at any time. They are

often hunted only for their hides, and the carcase

is left,

as of

no value.

They have two ways

of catching them, with

The hunters

and with the noose.

the spear,

go out on horseback, in companies, with a long

They dexterously
spear pointed with iron.
strike the hind leg of the bullock, so as to cut
its

sinews

it

then becomes unable to run, and

drops presently.

The huntsmen

leave them to

pursue others, and come back at their leisure,

to kill and flay them.
Others pursue them at

full

speed, and dex-

terously throw the noose over the head, or horn.

While another
kills it.

dismounts,

and with a knife

PARAGUAY.

62

33.

Drinking Mate.

In Paraguay grows a herb which is called

by that name; and which is in high repute
among the Spaniards of Buenos Ayres, and

them

Monte Video.

It

the use of tea,

or coffee, being very

mon.
all

They

serves

drink

it

for breakfast;

uncom-

as soon as they rise, at

hours of the day, and frequently at their

meals.
Instead of using

it

as

the plant into a calabash,

we do

tea,

globular goblet of silver,

stand, among the richer classes.

or a

is

called a Mate',

whole

they put

mounted with

and gives

its

on a

silver

silver

This vessel

name

to the

affair.

They pour boiling water on the plant, and

sometimes sugar, and milk. Hot as it is, they
drink it in summer or winter.
But they do
not pour

it

out as

we do

tea.

infusion through a silver tube.

They suck

whole

the
fa-

mily, or large party, sucking in turns, from the

same bowl, and through the same tube.

BRAZILS.

63

BRAZILS.
t

From
the

the river de la Plata, to the river of

Amazons,

miles;

it

is

a length of country of

includes

almost

eastern coast of South America.

called the

is

Brazils.

It

3000

the whole of the

This country

was discovered by

accident.

of

The Portuguese had sailed round the Cape

Good Hope, and had actually arrived at

India.
Willing to improve so grand a discovery, the Court of Portugal in the year 1500,
fitted out a large fleet under the command of

Don Pedro

Alvarez de Cabraal.

34. CabraaVs discovery of the Brazils.

As

all

in their

his precursors

had suffered dreadfully

storms, and

voyages from currents,

tempests, in running down the coast of Africa

to the Cape ; he was determined to keep clear
of

it,

and stood out

doing,

He

far to the

westward.

In so

he found himself on an unknown coast.

landed, and as the custom then was, he

took possession of

it

for the

crown of Portu-

BRAZILS.

64
gal

by erecting a cross and causing mass

He

be said under a tree.

called

it

the

to

Land

of the Holy Cross ; but on account of the

Brazil wood obtained here, so useful in dyeing,

name was given it.

The northern parts

that

are liable to tempests,

but the country more to the south,

is
very fine, fruitful, and pleasant. The Portuguese had been long in possession of the

and floods

country, carrying on great trade in its produce ; before they discovered that it contains

mines of gold, and

diamonds.

He who

in

watches,

one part abounds with

oft will

see

Providence's guiding hand.

'Twas not seeing it, that he

Touched upon
Oft

we know

But

to

this

unknown

land.

not what will come,

watch our duty

Looking round, has given

is.

to

some

Excellent advantages.
Carelessness throws

Giddy childhood

all

lets

away,
it

go.

Would you rend, and think, and pray

You would see, and learn, and know.
;

BRAZILS,
35.

The

65

Diamond Washing.

principal mines are on the river Jigiton-

The persons employed turn the water

of the river by a canal, till it is laid dry. They
then dig a considerable quantity out of the bed
honha.

of the

river,

which they take away

This washing

for washing.

performed in a long shed,

where are a number of troughs, into each of
is

which a parcel of the

of water

is

let in

earth,

upon

it.

is

put,

This

is

and a run
then raked

about by the negroes, till the water runs clear.

They then search narrowly for the diamonds.

When

a negro

and holds

it

finds

between

one he stands upright,

his finger and thumb;

the overseer then comes, and receives it of

him, and puts it in a bowl of water.
When a negro is so fortunate as to find a

diamond beyond a certain size, he is crowned

with flowers, and carried before the administrator,

36.

who

gives

him

his

freedom.

The Royal Family of Portugal, taking

shelter in the Brazils.

In the year 1807, the power of Buonaparte,

66

MODERN WEST

INDIES.

emperor

extended

the

French,

through

French troops were pourSpain, to Portugal.

that
Prince
in
so
the
;
Regent of Portugal,
ing
with the principal nobility, were glad to escape

by

the assistance of a British

fleet,

which

ianded them safely in the Brazils.

MODERN WEST
We saw

much

of the

accompanied Columbus
ages

but that

is

INDIES.

West

Indies

when we

in his adventurous voy-

more than three hundred years

much altered since.

who went over to settle

ago, and things are

The

Spaniards

in the

indulged the most avaricious expectations of getting gold.

They parcelled out
islands,

among themselves
cattle,

in a

the poor natives, as so many

and obliged them to dig in the mines

way

their feeble constitutions

They sunk under

endure.

could not

their toil very fast,

so as to disappoint their covetous masters.

With

a kind intention of relieving these Inwas resolved to purchase negroes,

from the coast of Africa. This did indeed re-

dians,

it

MODERN WEST

INDIES.

lieve the Indians, .but brought

67

many thousand

We

have
negroes every year into slavery.
given some account of the infamous Slave
Trade, in the SCENES IN AFRICA.
Jamaica, with many of the smaller islands,
belong

now

to

the

English.

Some

to

the

French, and the hold the Spaniards have of

them

is

very feeble.

37. Slaves at Work.

Although the Slave Trade is happily put

an end to, so that no more can be brought over ;
yet there are
still

slaves.

It

many thousand negroes who are

has made no difference to them,

except that their masters are not so oppressive

to them, as they cannot easily replace
if

them

they die.

The

principal

employ of the slaves is in culFor this they are out

tivating the sugar cane.

The canes
at early dawn, working in parties.
are planted in rows, and the slaves with a hoe,
To ev.ery
clear the ground between them.
party there is an overseer, who stalks among
them with a long whip, ready to lash any who
do not work fast enough to please him.

MODERN WEST

68

INDIES.

38. Free Inhabitants.

There are many

chiefly regulated

planter,

different ranks

among

their colour.

The

by

who glories

in the

these,

English

number of his

slaves,

rendered miserable by the means. He need

not do any thing, he therefore does nothing ;
and becomes weak, both in body and mind.
is

He

all day, fanned by his slaves, smokand drinking rum and water.
Sometimes the negroes obtain their liberty

lounges

ing,

become possessed of
slaves themselves.
lattoes

do

so.

property, and masters

More

oi

frequently the mu-

These are not

so

deep

in colour

as the negroes, having a white father, though

These people of colour, as

they are called, love to dress very fine ; this
shows they are free, for slaves have but little

a black mother.

dress,

'

and that of very poor materials.

39. Black

King of Hayti.

During the long and bloody contests in EuSpain, which was at

rope, under Buonaparte

all

times weak,

trol

became

utterly unable to con-

her American possessions.

The

black po-

MODERN WEST
pulation of the
rose

upon

INDIES.

Spanish part of Hispaniola.

their white masters,

subdued them.
into a state,

69

and completely

They soon formed themselves

which they called by the

original

name of the island, Hayti. Proclamation of

the new order of things was made in February,
1807; Christophe being declared president,
and afterwards king. Like most ?ov*-rrjments

where power
duals,

is

assumed by untutored

indivi-

Hayti was ruled with rigour by Chris-

tophe, which naturally created him many enemies, and a revolution broke out on the 6th of

October,

1820,

which threatened immediate

destruction to his power.

Finding the few

forces he collected unable to stand against the

and having no chance of escape,

he shot himself through the heart on the 8th.
Whatever may be said of the despotic conduct
revolutionists,

of this man, he must bs regarded as a person of

extraordinary enterprize, decision, and energy.

The Black Government

rival in

is

continued, under his

power, the president Boyer.

MODERN WEST

70

Bay of Honduras.

40.

This coast

is
very
it
and
inhabitants,

makes

INDIES.

no

fine land, yet there are

is

What

quite a desert.

however of "very great importance, is

which are so

it

the abundance of logwood trees,

useful

in

dyeing.

And

the

mahogany

tree,

which here grows in great perfection.

At the proper season, therefore, great numbers of logwood cutters

come

over.

When

trees are felled, they are transported to

land,

the

Eng-

and become of great value.

41. Acapulco.

This appears but an inconsiderable town,

for

the

greatest part of

the annual

which

fair,

the year.
But at
about a month, it

lasts

suddenly becomes a very populous

ed with the richest commodities.
that at this time,

very large ship,

dities of India,

city,
It

crowdis

here,

comes the Manilla galeon

full

of

all

commoAsia.
And

the richest

and Persia, and

all

from Peru, an annual ship laden with

gold and silver, and all the treasures of those
And once more, all sorts of Euroregions.
also

NORTH WEST COAST.

71

pean goods, which are brought over land from

Vera Cruz.

Nootka Sound.

42.

This

is

a harbour on the western coast of

North America
tain

Cook.

discovered in 1778, by Capprincipal villages of

There are two

the natives, supposed to contain

two thousand

souls.

Their houses are constructed of very long

upon the edges of each other,

planks, resting

and tied here and there with withies of pine

bark.

They cure

their fish inside their houses,

and

leave the bones and fragments in filthy heaps

before the doors, to putrify.

The
into

sides of the

compartments,

house within, are divided

for distinct families : but

not so as to hinder seeing from end to end.

NORTH WEST COAST.

If

we

look at the most western extremity

we shall see it almost joins

of North America,

NORTH WEST

72

COAST.

Asia.
Behring's Straits, which run between,
being scarcely forty miles wide.

43. Inside of an Ourte at Oonalashka.

i

In
tial

northern climates, warmth

all

especially in the

essen-

They,

dig in the ground a pit thirty feet

therefore,
long,

is

winter season.

and

fifteen,

or twenty, broad.

Over

this, they form a roof of wood, which they

cover with earth. A square opening at one

end serves to admit

light

a similar one at

the other, gives entrance, by

means of a post

something like a ladder.

Round the sides and ends of the building are
separate compartments, where each family
cut

into

steps,

resides.

44. Obtaining

Ught.

They have two ways of doing this. Sometimes they strike two stones together, on one
of which some brimstone has been rubbed.

The

other method

pieces of
a? a drill,

wood
when

is, by rubbing together two

whirling one of them briskly,

fire is

nuiokly produced.

West

Coast

^.American

India i

NORTH WEST COAST.

Come Jacky

and

can you do the trick,

Tommy,

Could you obtain

73

light in this

What get a good blaze just by

You neither will try, I dare

way

twirling a stick

So then, you see those whom you savages

Know better, and better can do.

So don't be conceited,

To

is

lesrn,

as if

becoming

say

you knew

call,

all,

in you.

45. Dog-ribbed Indians.

These poor people live very far north ;

and are destitute of many conveniences. The

men have two double

black,
to the

lines,

either blue, or

tattooed on each cheek,

nose

through

it

from the ear

the cartilage of which has a hole

to admit a goose-quill to pass.

Their clothing

is

the dressed skin of the rein-

deer.

When

the father of a family takes a journey,

he cuts a lock of hair from

this into several parts,

on the head of

his wife,

he

his

head

fastens

dividing

and one on each of his

blowing on it as he does
times, with all his might.
children

one of them

it,

three

74

NORTH AMERICAN
Between

INDIANS.

Ocean and

the Pacific

the United

States, lies a vast extent of country, but little

The

native inhabitants here dwell in

distinct tribes,

each claiming a certain space of

known.
ground as
tion

is

its

own, for huating. The populathin, and the various tribes

extremely

are dimishing every year, by the poverty in

live, and especially by their cease-

which they
less state

of warfare with their neighbouring

tribes: in

which pride, covetousness, and

re-

venge, continually keep them.

In the year 1804, the government of the

United States sent out Captains Lewis and

Clarke, with a suitable company, to travel all
across this vast continent, till they should
reach the Pacific Ocean.

With
they

They
1

infinite

toil,

fatigue,

and

suffering,

accomplished the mighty undertaking.

left the United States in the summer of

803, to reach the remotest western settlement

which to winter. In May, 1804, they set

in

out steering up the river Missouri ; on the

banks of which they spent the next winter.

NORTH AMERICAN

INDIANS.

75

Setting out afresh in the spring of 1805, they

its source.
They then

traced the river to

found they had several ranges of steep and

rugged mountains to cross after which they
descended the river Columbia, and arrived at
;

the Pacific Ocean,

their grand object, in

De-

cember of the same year.

and

Lewis

46. Captains

Clarke at the

Pacific Ocean.

Their small canoes would not bear the

ing of the water, at the
river.

They were

by land

to the

obliged to take a journey

where the pro;

repaid them for all

extreme point

spect actually attained,

their labours, hazards,

and privations.

Roll, gently roll thy refluent

wave,

Thou boundless ocean, spreading far

Or angry, toss thy foam, and lave
The rocks high tops, thy destined bar.
;

To

us, to see

thee

Long have we

roll-

mouth of the Columbia

is

delight

travelled to obtain

This grand, this gratifying sight,

Thy wide expanse of green domain

NORTH AMERICAN

76

Thro'

perils, sufferings, labours, fears,

We steadily
Thro'

INDIANS.

pursued our way

hostile tribes, thro' rolling years,

Thro' winter's

and summer's ray.

ice,

Far from our home, and

all

the heart

most tenderly to prize :'Tis fame a balance must impart

Is apt

Thus

daring deeds of honour rise.

The way is opened who can tell

What traffic future years may see,
To tame the savage Indian's yell,
:

And bind

in chains

of amity.

E'en trade can harmonize the mind,

Curb angry

passions, train to peace

But the sweet Gospel, best can bind,

Bid rage, and

strife,

and murder, cease.

47. Child preserved from Fire.

places the country is in large flat
covered with high grass, called praries.
These sometimes take fire; the flames spread
rapidly, so that persons are often burnt to
In

many

plains,

death, being unable to outrun the flames.

NORTH AMERICAN
On

INDIANS.

one of these occasions, an Indian

77

woman

finding she could not carry off her son,

him down, and threw over him

When

hide.

turned

raw

laid

buffalo's

the flames had passed, she re-

and found the child perfectly

48. darkens escape

from a

safe.

Flood.

In one place, Captain Clarke with his interpreter's wife, and child, took shelter in a dry

ravine, under

some

rocks, because they

The shower was

shower coming.

saw a

at first

mo-

derate, but increased to a torrent of rain and

hail.

The

waters

hail

rising,

choaked up the ravine, and the

came rolling as on a heap.

Captain Clarke happening to observe

pidity, climbed up the steep rocks,

which they had

woman and her
taneous

was

taken

shelter,

child before him.

the rise of

its

ra-

under

pushing the

So instan-

the water,

that

it

reached his waist, before he could obtain his

gun and begin

to ascend.

NORTH AMERICAN

78

INDIANS.

49. Meeting of two Indian

Affection

is

Women.

always valuable, and pleasing.

with it among those whom

And when we meet

we are apt to call

savages, it is doubly so.

In Captain Clarke's journey, the wife of his
interpreter, was an Indian woman ; who had

been
native

taken

prisoner

tribes,

and

at

carried far from

last

her

was married

to

Chaboneau, a Frenchman. In passing beyond

the mountains, this man and his wife were a
hundred yards forward; when she began to
dance, and show every mark of extravagant
joy, for she

who were

saw a party of Indians coming up

own tribe. When they met a

of her

young woman forced her way out of the crowd,

and recognizing her long lost companion, with
whom she had played in infancy, and with

whom

she had suffered in captivity, they emall the symptoms of ardent affec-

braced, with
tion.

Sacajewa, sister, friend,

Art thou come again to

life

Will thy bitter sorrows end,

Wanderings, sufferings,

toil,

and

strife.

NORTH AMERICAN

INDIANS.

79

Oft beneath the pine's high bough

Frisk'd we, when the sun was bright

Chas'd the jumping squirrel

Caught the

now

fire-fly's flickering light.

Joys of childhood, doubly dear

Now the cares of life intrude

Sweet remembrance, vivid,

Comfort in my solitude.

clear,

50. Consulting the Medicine Stone.

Man

know what

generally desires to

to happen, before

it

comes.
is

of divination.

of

Many

with others

a stone

to

is

likely

ignorant

always some method

the Indian tribes

nations, therefore, there

have some sacred cave

Among

which they resort

serves

for

consultation.

In the present case, a large stone about

twenty

A de-

feet in circumference, stands

by

putation from the tribe

every spring, to

visit it

itself.

inquire what shall be done in the coming year.

The

deputies

smoke before

it,

and present the

After this they retire to an

to sleep.
In the morning they

pipe to the stone.

adjoining

wood

find white

marks on the stone,

telling

them

NORTH AMERICAN

80

what they wanted

plicitly believed

INDIANS

which directions are im-

by the whole

to see, that during the night,

company

secretly

comes,

tribe.

It is

easy

some one of the

and

makes

what

marks he pleases.
51.

One

The Pipe of Peace.

of the most important customs

among

the Indians, relates to the use and efficacy of

the pipe of peace.

This has a long stem, and is decorated in a

It is
peculiar manner, with eagle's feathers.
as
of
truce
is
a
;
among
Europeans
regarded
flag

and the bearers of it are never

When

any nation

is

insulted.

tired of war, they will

send a deputation of chiefs to the adverse

A council is
party, with the pipe of peace.

immediately held.

The

assistant to the great

warrior, lights the pipe, taking care that no

He then turns
part of it touches the ground.
the stem of it first towards the heavens, then
and then presents it horizontally
He then,
around, to the invisible Spirit.

to the earth,
all

holding the pipe himself, presents the stem to

the principal chief, who takes two or three

49

,:5

--

-.

NORTH AMERICAN
whiffs

INDIANS.

81

the chiefs in turn, according to their

all

rank do the same.

In a

murderous bleeding world,

Where the angry passions rage,

Where defiance stern is hurl'd,
Spurning
Is

and sex, and age

life,

there any thing can stay

Slaughter, in his high career

Stem the

spite in battle

day

Bid the boisterous savage hear

Hail

it

Signal

'tis

the Pipe of Peace.

known, and honoured well

Once

contentions cease;
displayed
Soothed the heaving bosoms swelL
;

Yes, we'll hail the Pipe of Peace

Glad it lives those tribes among

When

shall truth,

Rectify those passions strong

and Gospel grace,

?

52. Indian Sagacity.

who live in cultivated society have

But
advantages, especially as to mind.

Persons

many
those

whom we
F

call

savage,

have

some

82

NORTH AMERICAN

INDIANS.

chiefly in the exquisite nicety,

and keen ope-

ration of their senses.

Thus an

Indian, will

has passed any place

which

tett

whether the enemy

will discern footmarks

he
European could not sec
it w as, and what were

ar\

what

tribe

numbers.

On

tell

the

smoothest

grass,

will

their

on the

hardest earth, and even on the very stones,

will he discern traces.

Or
their

if

they are out hunting, they will track

prey

which way

in

to

the same manner,

go in the pursuit.

how he is poking his nose,

And down to the very ground

and learn

See

To

Who
I

vow
I

stooping

find out the track of his foes,

silently passed, without

whooping.

can't see any marks,

think he'll be out in his guessing

smells I suppose, and he harks,

He
He

As sure

He

now

points,

as a

gun he was

said there

onward be

hundred

count them in sight

guided here,

pressing,

right,

were more than

Why now we can

Had

lets

we had

blundered.

NORTH AMERICAN
53.

Hunting

the Buffalo

Every spring when the

gins to

on

fire

INDIANS.
on the

83

Ice.

ice in the rivers be-

break up, the Indians set the praries

because then immediately springs up a

new and sweet

The

grass.

buffalo are

aware

of this, and often attempt to cross the .rivers to

get at

it.

In so doing one will sometimes get

upon a loose piece of

ice

the Indians

their opportunity to surround him.

mal

is

The

watch

The

ani-

of course unsteady on his slippery ground.

Indian

who

gives

him

his

death wound,

then paddles the cake of ice, with his prize

on it, to the shore.

54. Catching

When

Deer

in a

Pound.

the Indians determine to hunt in this

1
they diligently search for some deers
to go.
accustomed
are
where
They
they
path,
then surround a large space with strong stakes,

way,

and bushes

leaving a narrow entrance.

From

entrance they plant two rows of bushes,

widening as they are carried on, perhaps a
mile or two. The hunters then pitch their tents
this

on a rising ground, from whence they can see

NORTH AMDR1UAN

84

INDIANS.

if any deer are roaming about.

They then
come behind them, men and women, mak-

ing a line a mile

long

selves pursued, go on,

pound and are

and gently press on

deer finding them-

The

towards the pound.

till

they at kst enter the

easily killed.

The

55.

Rattle-snake.

This dreadful serpent belongs to the American

Its bite is certain death, in a few

continent.

hours.
its

Providence has, however, warned us of

by a number of loose bones at the

vicinity,

end of its

tail

which

rattle

whenever the crea-

ture moves.

Abhorred

reptile,

who

can hear

warning rattle without fear.

Who view thy fierce malignant eye,

Thy

Thy mouth

malicious, sulky, sly,

Without a shudder

Of boiling

hate to

True thou

Thy

all

aud a mind
thy kind.

hast power.

envy not

despot, solitary lot.

Who loves
Who turns

thee
to

who

e'er longs to play

watch thy wily way

NORTH AMERICAN

INDIANS.

36

All fear thee, hate thee, and pursue

Thy

caitiff life,

me be

Let

Who
Let

with vengeance due.

loved.

do not core

domineerg, and lives to scare.

all

who

see me, see a friend

Let goodness all my. steps attend ;

Let fond affection mark my power

And

bliss

56.

conferred, gild every hour.

The Humming Bird.

There are many species of them. Some of

them no bigger than a humble-bee, so that they
are without doubt the smallest of the feathered

Their plumage is exceedingly brilliant,

they hover at a flower when they want to suck
its sweetness, but do not alight on it.
They
tribes.

are very passionate, and will tear to pieces a

flower which disappoints them.

Little

lump of

brilliance, burning,

Sporting in the summer's day :

Blue, and green, and gold, as turning

To

or from the solar ray.

$6

NORTH AMERICAN

INDIANS.

Art thou conscious of thy beauty ?

While we gaze, we must forgive.

Yet

passion guides, not duty,

'tis

For thyself thou

lovest to live,

Hovering o'er the beauteous tiowret,

Seeking nectared juices bright
art welcome to devour it

Thou

Beauty

to the best has right.

But when beauty yields to passion,

Loves to storm, and fight, and tear
All abhor the angry fashion

All despise the fairest

The Fire

57.

We have
its

in

brilliance

fair.

Fly.

England the glow worm, darting

in a moist autumn

beautifully,

But

evening.

the

in

West

Indies,

and

in

America, there are several species of insects

very luminous which enliven their vallies, as
;

soon as

it

is

dark

flitting in

every direction,

The larger kind seem all on

by thousands.
and from some point, comes a
fire within
5

luirmous radiance of great brilliancy.

Six or

NORTH AMERICAN
eight of

enough

them put

INDIANS,

in a clear vial, will give

to read or write by.

Buzzing, glittering, flickering flame,

This way, that way, mocking sight

Sporting, frisking, gay thy game,

Dancing

When the

in self-shining light.

shades of evening rise,

Dark and gloomy

Then

all

around,

the blaze of thousand

flies,

Cheers, and gilds the dark profound.

Let but daylight's brighter beam

Glance, thy glories disappear

Darkness makes thee

Thou
Let

me

art dull,

brilliant

when

shine, that

all

light

may

is

see

Works

seem

near.

of goodness, clear, and bright.

Moral brightness stream from me,

Glowing with

celestial light.

87

lig**:

88

HEARNE'S JOURNEY.
The government

Prince of Wales,

at fort

belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, in

the year 1770, and following, sent out Mr.
Hearne to make discoveries. He went with an
Indian chief

who undertook

to

be

his guide,

and a large party. They travelled northward

for six months
when he came to the sea.
;

Through astonishing difficulties, and sufferings,

was the journey completed and he returned
;

to the fort Prince of Wales, after

an absence

of a year and a half.

58. Indian Conjurer.

All nations have their conjurers,
to

be able

to

do wonderful

things.

who pretend
These im-

postors abound especially in savage countries,

as the

more ignorant any people

are, the

more

easily are they

imposed upon.
Mr. Hearne found such among the northern

Indians.

One

of them pretended to swallow a

bayonet ; making many grimaces, and wry

faces, such as might be expected if he actually

Jndians

He ai lie's

HEAKNE'S JOURNEY.
had
it

it

After a while he brought

the whole so adroitly,

in his throat.

He

up again.

that although

89

did

Mr. Hearne knew

it

was only a

he could not discern wherein the de-

trick, yet

ception lay.

Nothing can kee^ us from heing deceived by

such tricks, but knowledge. Those who have

no opportunity of learning, may be

pitied

when

they are deceived but those who don't try to

learn, are rightly served when cheated by the
:

cunning sleight of hand impostor.

59.

This

is

The Beaver.

a surprising

many wonderful

little

stories

animal, although

told of

it

are quite

false.

They

will

throw a dam, or bank, quite across

its becoming
This
dry.

a stream, to prevent

dam

is

made of wood, mud, and

stones.

They

build their houses on the banks of creeks, and

They proportion their houses to

number of inhabitants, which seldom exceeds ten, or a dozen. Their work is chiefly
small rivers.

the

executed
in

it.

in the night,

and very rapid are they

HEARNE'S JOURNEY.

90

So William you thought you had done vastly well,

Such a rabbit-hutch maker is clever
;

Yet some of the bars are quite

And one
I

of the hinges

with the

nail,

ready to fail
think you might learn of the beaver.

How

is

neat in his house,

'tis

Smoothed over with mud

No
No

split

not clumsy in shape,

as with plaister

cracks let in water, no crevices gape,

tying together with pack-thread or tape

Could you do the same,

The

entrance

is

my

young master.

under the water, and there

They go to their chambers and cellars.

You will not go with them, although you might share
Of the stores they've provided,all plenteous and rare;
But content you

And look

at that

To keep

to call

bank

fine fellows.

across the clear stream,

the sweet waters from sinking

What mud work, and

How

all

them

stone work, and

clever, and wise, and laborious they

'Tis wonderful well to

my

many a beam
seem

,-

thinking.

but man will

Ah could they enjoy it
Come hunting, and alter the matter
!

one day

He'll

make all

Then
And

their dads, aunts, and sisters his prey

travel a thousand miles

sell their soft skins, to

off, far

away,

the hatter.

HEARNE'S JOURNEY.
60. Boiling in

Wooden

91

Vessels.

Aye indeed, how can they manage that.

Will not the bottom burn out, as soon as it is
set

on the

dians,

fire ?

who

Certainly

So these poor

In*

are not able to buy a brass kettle,

are forced to take another method.

Their ves-

and upright, made of the rind of

the birch tree.
These they fill with water, and
sels are large

then put in stones made red hot

the water
soon boil, when they proceed with their
;

will

A little

cookery.

grit

arnon^ their meat, they

must not mind.

Bring the stones all glowing hot,

Let us have a glorious siss
;

Drop them
Don't

let

in the

any be forgot

See, the steam

Now

wooden

pot,

fast rising is.

the meat, the rein deer's head,

Body,

entrails long,

Tender soon

We no
Claw

'twill all

and paunch
be made ;

cabbage want, nor bread.

his ribs, and tear his haunch.

HUDSON'S BAY.

92

Fingers excellent are found

we shall the whole devour.

Men and women squatting round
Soon

Now

let

mirth and glee abound

Weeks we

starve, enjoy the hour.

HUDSON'S BAY.
Captain Henry Hudson,

was determined

-an

intrepid seaman,

to discover if there

was not

a passage round the north of America, into the

Ocean.

Pacific

He made

three

and discovered the vast bay which

by his name.

voyages,
still

goes

In 1670, a charter was obtained by a company of merchants, to trade to these parN,,

who have several forts on its western coasts.

Annual Mart

61.

The
parts,

at

Hudson's Bay.

animals which live in these northern

are provided by nature with furs, ex-

tremely soft and warm.

fore, for

The

Indians, there-

some hundred miles round,

hu-nt

them,

HUDSON'S BAY.
and bring their skins

What

they bring

is

the forts and

for sale, to

establishments of the Hudson's

what they take

93

extremely

Bay Company.
valuable,

in exchange, are

and

our coarsest

manufactures.

The Esquimaux, who

live

dispersed over

the country of Labrador, are a very peculiar

i"ace;

distinct

extremely

American

Indians.

from

the

North

Short,

square featured,
they resemble rather the Greenlanders.

62. Sacrificing

a Child

on

its

Mothers

Grave.

The

superstitions of

often very cruel, even

ness.

When

an ignorant people, are

when they mean

young child has

lost its

kind-

mother,

they think it a kindness to the child, to kill it

on its mother's grave ; supposing it will have
a happy meeting with her, in the world of

When

spirits.

both

*Tis true religion

parties

fills

be better

the heart

With kindness and love

The

will

Saviour's grace moulds every part,

And

bids compassion

move.

HUDSON'S BAY.

94

But superstition always leads

To

cruelty and blood

Excites to rage, and barbarous deeds,

And

God.

says, this pleases

E'en when they kindness have

'Tis cruelty in act

With

in view.

principles and feelings true,'

They're barbarous

They wish
Under

the

its

little

in fact.

babe

to

mother's care

be

That's kind,

They

as in the grave
send the baby there.

Poor babe, the dagger's

is

she,

glittering blade,

Excites thy infant smile

And when within thy breast conveyed,

One groan shall end thy toil.

What

To

shoals of babes, with savage glee,

cruel deaths are given

But Jesus

Such

"
says,

live with

bring

all to

me

heaven."

in

me,

Sin urges on to deeds of shame,

Exults in early graves

Grace disappoints the

And

tyrants' aim,

souls in thousands saves.

HUDSON'S BAY.

95
I

63.

Moravians among

Dreary

is

the

Esquimaux.
Their

the abode of these people.

long wintry nights, the extreme coldness of the

climate, the poverty of the people, and the
privations of comfort

which are unavoidable

would suppose to make a

enough
accustomed
to comforts, revolt from
European,
one

are

the idra of dwelling there.

But what

will not the love of Christ effect.

With no other motive than the conversion of

these heathen souls,
the

have

missionaries from

Moravian brethren penetrated

into these

regions
subjecting themselves to all
the hardships of such a life, in order to preach
forlorn

to

them

Christ,

and

cess after a while

Their suc-

his salvation.

was encouraging, and they

continue to labour, not regarding the loss

of this world's comforts, but looking for their
reward another day.

still

Men of this world calculate

Where may wealth be easiest
There they

Where

found

go, and speculate,

the rich returns abound.

HUDSON'S BAY.

90

They will venture princely sums,

They will toil and hazard meet

Nothing grudging if there comes

Cent per cent, of profit sweet.
If they disappointment find.

See their gains are growing small.

Quickly then they change their mind
Interest

Trade

in

Men

is

their

thousand channels flows,

leave home, dwell far away

Distant Ind,

No

all in all.

they find

to

Esquimaux

this don't repay.

Days a few they'll venture here.

Rich fine furs to bear away
;

Produce of their Arctic year,

Traffic done, they will not stay.

Who

does stay then

see a few

Mingle with companions wild

Men who

Europe's comforts knew,

Social joys, and climate mild.

What

:an bring them, what can :<nep,

"What can make them calm endure ;

Is

it

worldly wealth they reap

they're poorest of the poor.

Ah

Ih-ul.s.m

NEWFOUNDLAND.
Tis

97

the love of Jesus brings,

'Tis in hope to save a soul

They endure

terrific things,

Daring climate to the pole.

And they

gain a rich reward

See these savage bosoms bow

Love, their loving dying Lord

Sing, and pray, and worship

now.

Here's delight of sweetest kind,

When
Now the

success by grace

is

given

fiercest climate's mild,

Patient here they wait for heaven.

NEWFOUNDLAND.
Hudson's Bay, and Labrador, bring us to
which completes the circuit
;
of these very northern parts. It lies almost

Newfoundland

level with England,

and yet

being covered with snow

year.

it is

five

intensely cold

months

ip tb

NEWFOUNDLAND.

98

64.

Wigwam

Village.

There are some native Indians

part of the island, governed

live

on one

by a Sachem or

Chief.

The wigwam, or hut, of these people, is

constructed of poles, stuck in a circle, with
their tops gathered to a point.
This is covered
with skins

all

out the smoke.

centre, over
to

dry

it

but an aperture at top, to

They make

which they hang

for winter stores.

let

their fires in the

their deers' flesh,

All the distinction

enjoyed by the Chief, is, that he dwells in a

square hut, boarded up at the sides.

65. Fishing on the Banks.

The principal importance to us, of NewThe banks

foundland, consists in its fishery.
where such

immense

quantities

of cod are

caught every year, are much larger than the

island itself, and lie south east of it, stretching
far out to sea.

In the fishing season, the island

is

resorted

Hundreds of
by thousands of people.
British vessels come, and carry away five or

to

NEWFOUNDLAND.
six

99

hundred thousand quintals of salted

with which

all

Europe

is

fish

supplied.

Bright glows the yellow harvest o'er the plains,

And

precious fruits for

All hearts rejoice

Both rich and poor

Some

man and

beast are given

the farmer and his swains,

live

on the

gifts

of heaven.

dig in mines, and precious metals gain

From the deep bowels of the mountain bleak

Some turn to commerce, plough the stormy main,
;

Wealth,wealth, the object which they toiling seek.

But who can say what wealth the seas include,

What wholesome

food in shoals immense

Luxury delighted views, while

is

there

nations rude

Claim from the watry deeps their welcome share.

The

shoals advance, traced

by the well known

In one vast solid mass, they crouded

Nought -turns

aside, or

come

sign
;

breaks the steady line;

Heedless they rush upon their destined doom.

Let down the baited hook, and instant raise,

For instant do they seize the welcome spoil
Let down again, again, with quick amaze,
No patient anglers here, but sturdy toil.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

100

Thus thousands

tars

an annual living gain

Merchants increase

in

wealth by every tide

Thus hundred thousands poor their food obtain

From the deep seas, by Providence supplied.
66. Salting Houses.

The fish caught on the banks, is immediately

brought on shore, to be cured ; and made fit
for market.
Every fish is split, and salted
with great care, as we see the salt cod brought
to England.
In order to perform this operation conveniently, very long stages ar^ erected

on

all

poles,

These are supported by

the shores.

have a

flat

This
top of dried fern.
At the end ol each stage

is

called a fish flake.

is

a hut, or small house, for receiving the salted

cod,

till it is

removed

dried in the sun

to ths frues,

where

it is

101

CANADA.

We

are

society.

now coming among more civilized

And glad may we be, to have es-

all the dangers which occur,

barbarian tribes as we have visited.

caped

among such

Canada is a very large province ; seven hundred miles in length, and about two hundred
in breadth.
It is indeed now divided.
Montreal

is

bec of

the capital of Upper Canada, and QueLower Canada.

The whole

province was originally settled by

the French, and the principal families are of

French extraction

but

it

was surrendered

to

the English at the peace in 1760.

The

winter

lasts

six

months, and

is
very
few days' snow,
till
after which all is bright and clear weather
it thaws, and the ice breaks
up when in a few

severe.

It

comes

in with a

days more the grass

is

green,

and the roads

dusty.

67. Quebec.

This

is

the capital of

a handsome

city,- built

Lower Canada.

upon a rock,

it is

It is

divided

CANADA,

102

upper and lower town, and

into the

The

fortified.

is

strongly

Lawrence

river St.

here

is

about a mile wide.

Suddenly narrowing, as all

the way from the sea, it had been twelve, or

fifteen times, that

width.

68. Carioling.

Although the winter at Quebec

and severe, we must not think of it

The weather

seaspn.

and the inhabitants

is

always clear and

Quebec

be

Those who dwell

round, defer their journey to

this season;

till

fine

find travelling then to

extremely safe and pleasant.

in the country

so long

is

as a dreary

because travelling

is

much more easy.

The sledges they use are called Carioles,
Those offhe common people go close to the

so

ice,

or snow

but those of genteeler persons,

have the seat raised about two

too are

made

like birds,

very gaily.

in

feet.

every fantastic shape

or beasts

These

fashioned

and they paint them

They go with

so

much

ease, that

the horses of the country who are used to it,

will travel fifteen miles an hour.
The people
think nothing of going forty or fifty miles to
see a friend, and returning home the same day.

CANADA.

103

The snow's done its worst,and has covered the ground

Ten feet, you my word may rely on
The Irost has succeeded, and every thing bound
:

As hard,

But

shall

With

if

we

not harder than iron.

then shut ourselves up in despair,

melancholy and crying

If the snow is so hard, why then surely

Our

dull

sledges

at least 'tis

worth

'twill

bear

trying.

See what

a troop rushes, what creatures are these

Bears, lions, elks, eagles, what mixtures

The

elephant here, and the camel, one sees

All running, or flying, tho' fixtures.

Full swiftly the horses these vehicles ply,

Scarce touching the ground with their playing ;

hills, and o'er vallies, o'er rivers*they fly ;

O'er

High

spirited, active, and neighing.

So ne'er

let's

be overcome whatever may hap,

Try every way genius can mention

Don't whimper if one thing's amiss, my young chap,
:

The

stoppage should sharp your invention.

CANADA.

104

69. Niagara.

The lakes of North America are immense*

The waters run through each of them, making
their

way

to the river St.

Accumulated

sea.

Lawrence, and the

as they are, they rush in a

vast body, with astonishing grandeur, down a

stupendous precipice, of a hundred and fifty
feet perpendicular;

it

this

being at

three quarters of a mile wide.

part about

The water wher*

rebounds to a great height

occasioning thick clouds of misty
On these the aun at times, paints the

strikes the bottom,

in the air

vapours.

most beautiful rainbows.

Very near

to the falls,

terly inaccessible

have fixed their

is

a small island, ut-

by man. Here some eagles

domain. Secure from all in-

terruption ; and amply supplied with food, by

the fish which are hurried down the stream,

and are dashed

in pieces

by the

fall.

Down

tumbling headlong with astounding noise,

This world of waters delves its chosen way j

To

conquer, seems the summit of its joys

Its

power

resistless aiming to display.

>

Canada

me

UNITED STATES.
Must

it

105

not stop e'er long, such volumns thrown

Incessantly, and passing swiftly on

Their parent river leaving, now not known,

In the far distant ocean lost and gone."-

Ah

stop

its

whelming

By hackward

Five ocean lakes

To

tides are hurried past

waters, rushing to the brink

still

urging, as in haste

try their prowess, leap, and boil, and sink.

See the vast breadth, stupendously how wide

Observe the solid mass that rushes o'er

How

swift

Then

it

shoots

calculate

its

its

never ceasing

bulk

guess

tide

do no more.

See too the cloudy spray, it rises high

The waters torn are dissipate in air

The

boiling cauldron foams tormentedly

Dashing, and whirling, as in vexed despair.
;

Yet see the sun-beams paint the rainbow

Adorning well the unsubstantial spray
Rich in its radiance of prismatic light,

Which

flits,

bright,

and dances in the noontide ray.

UNITED STATES.
By many
rent

times,

emigrations from England at diffe^

were settlements made on the

UNITED STATES.

106
eastern

North

of

coast

America.

These

mostly had patents from the king, stating their

bounds, and forming them into governments ;
but all of them dependent on the crown of

These colonies increased very

Great Britain.

fast in population,

and

in

in the

produce of the land,

commerce.

The

Parliament of Great Britain proceeding

on the prin;

to tax these colonies, they resisted

ciple that they

and

had always taxed themselves

had no representatives in our

House of Commons, it was illegal and tyrannias

they

cal in that house to tax them.

This dispute

produced a cruel war which cost England a

hundred thousand lives, and a hundred mil;

money, all in vain. The various states

and formed a congress from them
in
1776 declared themselves to be
who,
and independent states.
This at last

lions of

had
all;
free,

united,

Britain

was

forced

to

acknowledge,

in the

treaty of peace at Paris, in 1783.

70. Emigrants

for Conscience sake

landing in America.

The Reformation
good, a partial

in

affair.

first

England was, though a

There alwavs was a

UNI
number of

TD

persons,

STATES.

who wished

107

to carry

it

fur-

and restore every thing to scripture puThis obtained for them the nick name of

ther,
rity.

During the reigns of Henry VITI.,

Mary, Elizabeth, and James I., these Puritans
were the objects of many bloody persecuPuritans.

tions.
It

was

to avoid

these vexations and

dis-

that various parties of religious people

tresses,

sought refuge in the wilds of America.

The

first

company which came

over, be-

longed to a religious society, under the care

of the Rev. Mr. Robinson who may be called
;

the father of

New

small part of his

These

sons.

England. They were but a

church ; about a hundred per-

after encountering difficulties of

every name, landed

at a place,

which from

re-

collection of their native country, they called

Plymouth.
Sure

it

was conscience sake

These

what else could lead

outcasts in this wilderness to dwell.

In drearyness what prospects can exceed

Their

sufferings,

can

tell

toils,

and wants, what tongue

UNITED STATES.

108

What

gives the

charm then

to this

dreary wild

God aright
not now are

'Tis liberty to serve their

Their holy Sabbath hours,

By

spoiled

base informers, insolence, and spite.

He whom

the pious soul would worship pure,

Guiding his feelings br &<* ^ ord divine ;
Can well repay what we for him endure
r

His smiles give happiness, where'er they shine.

71.

Maryland proclaiming Liberty of Con

science.

Although all who came over to people these

from persecution ; yet the true prin-

wilds, fled

ciple of every

ing to
'1

;ie

his

man's right to serve God accordwas not understood.

conscience,

\ariuns sects soon began to persecute one

Lord Baltimore, a Roman Catholic,

another.

hud settled Maryland with a great number of

his oppressed brethren.
Among them were

au enlarged mind ; they passed

it, that no person should
be molested on account of his religion in that

some men

of

a law, and proclaimed

state.

Thus emanated

leration,
spirit.

the true principle of to-

from a sect famous for

its

persecuting

UNITED STATES.
'Twas wise, 'twas noble, Maryland,

To

snap these chains, to break

T" ordain " with us conscience in

109
in

thec

rod

this iron
all is

Religion solely should account with

free ;"

God

72. Carolina Rice.

The
grows

rice plant has this peculiarity,

best,

water.

where the ground

One

large part of South

low marshy land,

flown.

The

it

Carolina

is

be periodically overalways keep its head

liable to

rice

will

above water, even though

twelve or

that

flooded with

is

this

should rise to

fifteen feet.

Vast quantities are thus grown, and Carolina

rice,

being far superior to that which comes

from the East Indies, bears

price in our markets.
73.
This
nature.

is

Rock Bridge,

a curious,

The

hill

its

proportionate

Virginia.

and wonderful work of

on which

it is,

seems as

if it

had been cloven through by some earthquake.

This bridge hangs in the air, at a heigh t^of 270
feet

above the water.

ninety feet wide at top,

The
it is

bridge

sixty feet

is

about

broad at

UNITED STATES.

110

the top in the middle, and more at the ends.

The sides of the bridge are solid rock in many

^places, yet few persons have courage, to walk

up to them, and look over into the deep abyss.

They

involuntarily

and creep towards

is

fall

on their hands and knees,

If the

it.

view from the top

is most

so painful, the .view at the bottom

The

delightful.

bridge itself appears sublime,

and the view
;

hoisted up that height in the air

shows the blue mountains

it

through

in the dis-

with the cedar creek passing at your

foot, through the arch-way.
tance,

The

bridge affords a

commodious mode

of

crossing a valley, which could not be crossed

any where

Travelling to a distant Settlement.

74.

The
been

eastern states

now

and

away

America have long

settling.

is
is

As the lands are very

as the travelling five hundred, or a

thousand miles,

what

of

and are now overflowing with

The western states on the contrary,

settled,

people.
are only

(me

else.

is

thought nothing of;

more, as the leaving home to go

lightly

felt

there

is

and
far

a continual pass-

age of emigrants removing thither.

Sometimes

UNITED STATES.

ill

a long
persons of property remove thus, with
More often, a
train of waggons and cattle.

young man with

a few dollars in a bag, and a

horse to carry his wife and child, with a cow or

two, if he is so rich ; sets out on his long journey ; till he comes to the plot of ground where

he intends

to settle.

Jiggity jog, the

weary beast

Step after step, goes many a mile.

Day after day, without any rest ;
On it proceeds with patient toil.
'Tis but five hundred they've wearily trode,

Since they

left fathers'

and mothers' snug

One other thousand of similar road,

Then to their own piece of land they

will

home

come.

Yet they seem cheerful, the woman can smile

Husband and child her heart's treasure

found

are

They make her solace in every toil,

They make her home, wherever the

ground.

All hail affection, invisible spell,

Solace of life in

They may be
Comfort

its

blest

shall

every day

who

in wildnesses dwell.

round their brisk

fire side play.

ONITED STATES.
75. Kentucky Cavern.

This

well pass

may

America.

This cavern

among
is

the wonders of

indeed a cluster of

caverns, with long passages in which you

go

many

miles, all under ground.

may

These pas-

sages have upright sides, from sixty to a hun-

There are seve-

dred feet high, arched at top.

ral large

as they

caverns, called cities

term

is

it,

eight acres of land

support the roof, which

feet high.

Dr.

the chief city

a broad place the size of

without a single pillar to
is

about a hundred

Nahum Ward, who

with two

a few years ago, says, " nocan

be
more
sublime, and grand, than this
thing
Only a faint idea of it can be conveyed
sight.

guides explored

it

by words." There are several other cities, some

extending to four, and one to six acres these
;

are several miles from each other, in different

directions.

go under ground who like it best,

Groping and poring their ignorant way ;
Glaring their flambeaux with terrified zest,

They may

Creeping, and slipping, without any rest

I like the fields, and the sweet light of day.
:

UNITED STATES.
flow

all

113

the spars nnd the stalactites shine,

Glittering a thous "d fold ever around

1 rue, one quite

They
1

wonck

shall ne'er glitter

like to

jump on

to see

them so

fine

M h flambeau of mine,

the plain open ground.

Here a dark passage creeps

zigz;v

along,

n
Puzzling one sadly to know whei it leads
Were it ell rubies, and diamonds, amon.

Ready
-

for

me

too

I'd not

change

I'd rather frisk in the butter

So

that vast cavern,

how

my

song,

cup meads.

monstrously dark,

Stretching eight acres, one cannot see

where

but a dim spark ;

No pillars, no pathway, nor yet any mark :
I love the broad
landscape you don't catch

flambeau

at

one end

is

me

there.

76. Penn's Treaty with the Indians.

In 1681, Mr. William Penn, son of Admiral
Penn, obtained of king Charles II. a grant
of the country now called Pennsylvania.

Thereby obtaining

all

the right which was

thought necessary by the preceding

settlers.

Mr. Penn, however, when he came over, conceived that the Indians, the original inhabiHe theretants of the country, had a claim.

UNITED STATES.

114

with various goods such as they preferred,

purchased of their sachems, or chiefs, all the
rights they claimed ; and so became in eve^

fore,

mode the lawful

M. Penn was

proprietor of the soil.

a quaker, and the bulk of the

of Pennsylvania are of that per-

inhabitants
suasion.

The world

will always praise an honest

man,

Altho' the sharping world won't imitate,

They know

To

the

wisdom of an upright

plan,

bless a neighbourhood, or rule a state.

E'en savage Indians feel the difference,

They know

To

what's just, whoever would oppose.

common sense

buy, to barter, meets their

Who

drives

them

off,

they must esteem as foes.

Thy conduct, Penn, made Sachems call thee friend,

They took the price agreed, and far retired.
No lurking Indian will thy walks attend
To seek thy death thy life were more desired.
;

Nay, such the honour of thy well known dress

Thro' distant tribes, who never saw thy face

Quaker may explore the wilderness,

And welcome meet, from all the red-man

So character well

tried,

race.

and goodness known,

An honourable name will always gain.

Fraud, force, and mischief, soon are overthrown
But truth and

fairness,

ever w\ll remain.

UNITED STATES.

115

77. Dr. Franklin

drawing Electricity from
the Clouds.
Philadelphia

is

the principal city of Penn-

Under the mild government

sylvania.

esta-

blished by Penn, the province filled very fast,

and the city became the chief mart for com-

merce

in the central States.

Many Americans have rendered themselves

famous. But there is one name which is well
worthy

boy
life

to

be pointed out, Dr. Benjamin Frank-

He was

lin.
;

originally only a poor printer's

but by industry and prudence, he rose in
and by an attentive and thinking mind,

he made several important discoveries

in na-

tural philosophy*

In

his

busy with
his

time

electricity

was

quite a

new

Europe were
Franklin studied it much. In

All the philosophers of

science.

it.

reasoning,

he took up

tire

idea,

that the

thunder and lightning of the heavens, were

electric ; and similar to the snap arid the spark
of the machines.

He was determined to try. One day when

he saw a thunder-storm was coming on, he flew
a kite he had prepared, to a considerable
height.

He

inclosed a very small wire in the

UNITED STATES.

116

string of the kite, to

He
post

and when the cloud was just over the

his knuckle to the wire, and,

he clapped

kite,

much

delighted,

drew a spark

just such as

an

machine produces.

electrical

78.

conduct the electricity.

fastened the lower end of the string to a

entrance

Washington's

into

Philadel-

phia.
After the American war was over, General

Washington, who had commanded their armies

with so much prudence and success, resigned
his

commission, and retired to his private seat

in Virginia.

When

American Congress,

the

their government,

the

choice

ladelphia,

in

forming

to chdose a president,

unanimously upon General

He. accordingly came to Phi-

fell

Washington.
office.

came

to

To do

assume
the

General, and to his

the

greater

new

functions

of

his

honour

to

the

dignity,

two hundred

of the principal citizens met him some way

out of town, on horseback with laurels, and
;

and every demonstration of joy and

conducted him in grand procession to the
Town House.
colours,

UNITED STATES.
Blow

117

the trumpets, beat the drums,

Not

for warlike deeds of blood

See the civic hero comes,

Washington, the

Time

just, the good.

has been, he led the van

Thro' the thick of battle roar

Laid the wise,

th' effective plan,

Marched, and conquered, o'er and o'cr

Ceased the din of armed host,
Laid asleep each hostile feud

Now

he comes,

Still

Great

their patriot,
in council,

Wisdom

his country's boast,

hdpe

for good.

and they need

their affairs to guide

He, sedate, and firm, will heed

What is right on every side.
Choice deliberate of the free,
Searching wide the country thro*
All the States unite in thee

High thy

Blow

station

'tis

thy due.

the trumpets, beat the drums,

Citizens in best array

Greet him

Freedom,

at

your

'tis

call

he comes.

thy triumph day.