We were a great
nation--we are so now, we have always been so, and we will ever be. At
that time, also, our tribe spread all along the western shores of the
great stream Mississippi, for no Pale-face had yet settled upon it. We
were a great people, ruled by a mighty chief; the earth, the trees, the
rivers, and the air know his name. Is there a place in the mountains or
the prairies where the name of Mosh Kohta has not been pronounced
and praised?
"At that time a strange warlike people of the Pale-Faces broke their big
canoes along our coasts of the South, and they all landed on the shore,
well armed with big guns and long rifles, but they had nothing to eat.
These were the 'Mahamate-kosh-ehoj' (the French); their chief was a good
man, a warrior, and a great traveller; he had started from the northern
territories of the Algonquins, to go across the salt water in far
distant lands, and bring back with him many good things which the
Red-skins wanted:--warm blankets to sleep upon, flints to strike a fire,
axes to cut the trees, and knives to skin the bear and the buffalo. He
was a good man, and loved the Indians, for they also were good, and good
people will always love each other.
"He met with Mosh Kohta; our warriors would not fight the strangers, for
they were hungry, and their voices were soft; they were also too few to
be feared, though their courage seemed great under misfortune, and they
would sing and laugh while they suffered.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318