# Solomon Spalding, Oberlin 'Manuscript Story' (~1809-1812)
# Source: archive.org themanuscriptsto00spauuoft (1885 RLDS printing, OCR)
# Story text only; correspondence and copyist notes removed.
NEAR the west Bank of the Coneaught River there are the remains of an ancient fort. As I was walk ing and forming various conjectures respecting the character situation & numbers of those people who far exceeded the present Indians in works of art and inginuety, I hapned to tread on a flat stone. This was at a small distance from the fort, <fe it lay on the top of a great small mound of Earth exactly horizon tal. The face of it had a singular appearance. I discovered a number of characters, which appeared to me to be letters, but so much effaced by the rav ages of time, that I could not read the inscription. With the assistance of a leaver I raised the stone. But you may easily conjecture my astonishment when I discovered that its ends and sides rested on stones & that it was designed as a cover to an artificial Cave. I found by examining that its sides were lined with stones built in a connical form with down, & that it was about eight feet deep. Deter mined to investigate the design of this extraordinary work of antiquity, I prepared myself with the neces sary requisites for that purpose and descended to the Bottom of the Cave. Observing one side to be per pendicular nearly three feet from the bottom, I began to inspect that part with accuracy. Here I noticed a big flat stone fixed in the form of a doar. I immedi ately tore it down and Lo, a cavity within the wall presented itself it being about three feet in diamiter from side to side and about two feet high. Within this cavity I found an earthern Box with a cover which shut it perfectly tite. The Box was two feet in length one & half in breadth & one & three inches in diame ter. My mind filled with awful sensations which crowded fast upon me would hardly permit my hands to remove this venerable deposit, but curiosity soon gained the assendency & the box was taken & raised to open it. When I had removed the Cover I found that it contained twenty-eight rolls of parchment-&that when appeared to be manuscrips written in eligant hand with Roman Letters & in the Latin Lan guage. They were written on a variety of Subjects. But the Roll which principally attracted my attention contained a history of the author's life & that part of America which extends along the great Lakes & the waters of the Mississippy. Extracts of the most interesting and important matTHE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.'1 18 ters contined in this Roll I take the liberty to pub lish. Gentle Reader, tread lightly on the ashes of the venerable dead. Thou must know that this Country was once inhabited by great and powerful nations considerably civilized & skilled in the arts of war, <t that on ground where thou now treadeat many a bloody Battle hath been fought, & heroes by thou sands have been made to bite the dust. In the history given of these nations by my author you will find nothing1 but what will mi-respond with the natural sentiments we should form on viewing the innumerable remains of antiquity which are scattered OYer an extensive Country. This is an evidence of the author's impartiality and veracity. But if any should pretend that the whole story is fictitious or fabulous To publish a translation of every particular cir cumstance mentioned by our author would produce a volume too expensive for the general class of readers, But should this attempt to throw off the veil which has seculded our view from the transactions o nations who for ages have been extinct, meet the approbation of the public, I shall then be happy to gratify the more inquisitive and learned part of my readers by a more minute publication. Apprehensive that skep tical illiberal or superstitous minds may censure this performance with great accrimony I have only to remark that they will be deprived of. a great fund of entertainment of a contrary disposition will obtain. My compassion will be excited more than my resentment and there the contest will end. Now, Gentle Reader, the Translator who wishes well to thy present and thy future existence entreats thee to peruse this volume with a clear head a pure heart and a candid mind. If thou shalt then find that thy head and thy heart are both improved it will afford him more satisfaction than the approbation of ten thousand who have received no benefit. And now permit me to admonish thee that if thou shouldst reside in or travil thro* any part of the CHAPT. I. AN EPITOME OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE & OF HIS ARIVAL IN AMERICA. As IT is possible that in some future age this part of the Earth will be inhabited by Europians & a his tory of its present inhabitants would be a valuable acquisition I proceed to write one & deposit it in a box secured so that the ravages of time will have no effect upon it that you may know the author I will give a succint account of his life and of the cause of his arival which I have extracted from a manuscript which will be deposited with this history. My name was is Fabius The family name I sustain is Fabius, being decended from the illustrious general of that name. I was born at Rome & received my education under the tuition of a very Learned Master. At the time that Constantine arived at that city and had overcome his enimies & and was firmly THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.'9 15 seated on the throne of the Roman empire I was introduced to him as a young Gentleman of genius and learning & as bevig worthy of the favourable notice of his imperial majesty. He gave me the appointment of one of his secritaries, & such were the gracious intimations which he frequently gave me of his high approbation of my conduct that I was happy in my station. One day he says to me Fabius you must go to Brittian & carry an important to the general of our army there sail in a vessel & return when she returns. Preparation was made instantly and we sailed The vessel laden with provisions for the army Cloath -knives and other impliments for their use had now arived near the coast of Britain when a tremendous storm arose & drove us into the midst of the boundless Ocean. Soon the whole crew became lost & bewildered. They knew not the direc tion for to the rising Sun or polar Star, for the heav ens were covered with clouds; & darkness had spread her sable mantle over the face of the raging deep. Their minds were filled with consternation and despair. & unanimously agreed that What could we do? How be exfrecated from the insatiable jaws of a watry tomb. Then it was that we felt our absolute dependence on that Almighty & gracious Being who holds the winds & floods in - - hands. From him alone could we expect deliverance. To him our most fervent desires assended. Prostrate <fc on bended nees we poured forth incessant Supplication & even Old Ocean appeared to sympathize in our distress by returning the echo of our vociforos Cries & lamentations. After being driven five days with incridable velocity before the furious wind the storm abated in its violance. but still the strong wind blew strong in the strong as I now believe in the same direction. Doubtful whether the wind had not changed her point we give the ship full sail & let her drive. On the sixth day after, the storm wholly subsided, the sun rose clear and the heavens once more appeared to smile. Inexpressible was the consternation of all the crew, they found themselves in the midst of a vast Ocean. No prospect of returning. All was lost. The wind blowing westwardly, & the presump tion was that it had been blowing in that direc tion during the whole of the storm. No pen can paint the dolorious cries & lamentations of the poor mariners^ for the loss of friends for the loss of everything they held most At length a Mariner stept the midst and proclaimed. Attend O friends & listen to my words. A voice from on high hath penetrated my soul & the inspiration of the Almighty hath bid me proclaim. Let your sails be wide spread & the gentle winds will soon waft you into a safe harbor, a Country where you will find hospitality. Quick as the lightnings flash joy sparkled in every countenance. A Hymn of Thanks giving spontaniously burst forth from their lips. In full confidence that the divine prediction would be accomplished they extoled the loving kindness and tender mercies of their God & promised by the assist ance of his grace to make ample return of Gratitude. On the fifth day after this we came in sight of sand, we entered a spacious river & continued sailing up the many leagues until we came in view of a town. Every heart now palpitated with joy, <fc loud shouts of gladness expressed the enthusiastic trans ports of our souls. We anchored within a small dis tance from shore. Immediately the natives ran with apparent signs of surprize & astonishment to the bank of the River. After viewing us for some time, & receiving signs of Friendship, they appeared to hold a counsel for a few minutes. Their King then stept forward to the edge of the bank, & proffered us the hand of friendship, & by significant gestures invited us to Land, promising us protection and hospitality We now found ourselves once more on terra firma, & were conducted by the king <fe four chiefs into the town whilst the multitude followed after, shouting <fc performing many odd jesticulations. The King ordered an entertainment to be prepared for his new friends which consisted of fish boiled beans <fc samp The whole was placed under a widespreading Oak in wooden dishes A large clam shell & a Stone Knife were provided for each one. The king then came forward with about twenty of his principal subjects, & con seated us (being about twenty in number) & seated us by the side of our repast. He <fc his company then took seats in front. After waving his hand & bowing all fell to eating & a more delicious repast we never enjoyed. The repast being finished, our attention was called to a collection of about one thousand men & women who had formed a ring & invited our company to come forward into the midst. After gazing upon us sometime with surprize we were permitted to withdraw & to take our stand in the Ring. About forty in number then walked into the midle of the Ring & began a song with but a dis cordant and hedious modification of sounds, & such frantic jesticulations of body that it seemed that chaos had bro't her furies to set the world in an uproar. And an uproar it was in a short time for the whole company fell to dancing, shouting, whooping, & screaming at intervals, then dancing jumping & tumbling with many indescribable distortions in their countanance & indelicate jestures. In fact, they appeared more lik a company of devils than human Beings. This lasted about one hour. They then took their places in a circle & at a signal given gave three most tremendous whoops, they then instantly dispersed playing many antike capers & making such a confused medly of sound by skreaming, whooping, screaching like owls, Barking like dogs & wolves & bellowing croaking like Bullfrogs, that my brain seemed to be turned topseturvy, & for some time I could scarce believe that they belonged to the human species. CHAPT. II AN ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SHIP'S COMPANY & MANY PARTICULARS RESPECT ING THE NATIVES. As no alternative now remained but either to make the desperate attempt to return across the wide boistrous Ocean, or to take up our residence in a country in a land of savages inhabited by savages & wild ferocious beasts, we did not long hesitate. We held a solemn treaty with the King & all the chiefs of his nation. They agreed to cede to us a tract of excel lent land on the north part of the town on which was six wigwams & engaged perpetual amity & hospitality & the protection of our lives & property. In consid eration of this grant we cave them fifty yards of scarlet cloth & fifty knives With this present they were highly pleased. Arrangements must now be made for set tlement. Vessel & cargo had received no material damage & by striping the vessel of its plank we could erect a house in which we could deposite the whole cargo in safety. All hands were immediately em ployed, some in procuring timber which we hued on two sides & then locked together, some in procuring shingles & some in striping the vessel of its plank; & having a large quantity of nails on board, in ten days we finished a very convenient store-house, suffi ciently spacious to receive the whole cargo. We also built a small house adjoining which was to be the habitation of the Captain & myself. Having secured all our property, we then found it necessary to estab lish some regulations for the government of our little society. The Captain whose name was Lucian & myself were appointed judges in all matters of con troversy & managers of the public property to make bargains with i/he natives & barter such articles as we did not need for necessaries. As we all professed The next thing to be done was to to believe in the religion of ^Jesus Christ we unanimously chose Trojanus, the mate of the ship, a pious good man to be our minister, to lead our devotions every morning & evening & on the Lords day But now a most singular & delicate subject pre sented itself for consideration. Seven young women we had on board as passenjers to viset certain friends in Brittian. Three of them were ladies of rank & the rest were healthy bucksom lassies. Whilst deliber ating on this subject a mariner arose whom we called Droll Tom Hark ye, shipmates says he. Whilst tossed on the foming billows what brave son of Neptune had any more regard for a woman than a Sturgeon, but now we are all safely anchored on Terra firma, our sails furled & ship keeled up, I have a huge longing for some of those rosy dames. But willing to take my chance with my shipmates, I propose that they should make their choice of hus bands. The plan was instantly adopted. As the choice fell on the young women they had a consul tation on the subject, <fc in a short time made known the result. Droll Tom was rewarded for his benevolent proposal with one of the most sprightly, rosy dames in the company. Three other of the most cheerful, resolute mariners were chosen by the other three bucksom Lassies. The three young Ladies of rank fixed their choice on the Captain the Mate & myself. Happy indeed in my partner, I had formed^ an high esteem of the excellent qualities of her mind The young Lady who chose me for a partner was possessed of every attractive charm both of body & mind. We united heart A hand with the fairest prospect of enjoy ing every delight & gratification which are attend ant on the connubial state. Thus ended the affair. You may well conceive our singular situation. The six poor fellows who were doomed to live in a state of celibacy or accept of savage dames, discovered a little chagrin & anxiety. However, they consoled themselves with the idea of living in families, where they would enjoy the company of the fair sex, <fc be relieved from the work which belongs to the department of women. Our community might be said to be one family, tho' we lived in separate houses situate near each other The property was common stock. what was produced by our labor was likewise to be com mon. All subject to the distribution of the judges, who were to attend to each family & to see that propper industry & econimy were practised by all. The Captain & myself, attended with our fair part ners & two mariners, repaired to the new habitation, which consisted of. two convenient apartments. After having partook of an elligant dinner & drank a bottle of excellent wine our Spirits were exhilerated & the deep gloom which beclouded our minds evapo rated. The Captain assuming his wonted cheerful ness, rnada the following address. "My sweet, good "soul'd fellows, we have now commenced a new voy1 'age. Not such as bro't us over mountain billows to "this butt end of the world. No, no, our voige is on "dry land, <fc now we must take care that we have "sufficient ballast for the riging. Every hand on "board this ship must clasp hands & condesend to each "others humour. This will promote good cheer & "smooth the raging billows of life. Surrounded by "innumerable hordes of human beings, who resemble "in manners the Orang outang, let us keep aloof "from them & not embark in the same matrimonial "ship with them. At the same time, we will treat "them with good cheer & inlighten their dark souls "with good instruction. By continuing a different "people & prefering our customs, manners, religion "& arts & sciences & other things another Italy will "grow up in this wilderness, & we shall be celebrated "as the fathers of a great & happy nation." May God bless your soul, says one of the mariners, what would you have us do who have had the woful luck not to get mates, to cheer our poor souls & warm our bodies. Methinks I could pick out a healthy plum Lass from the copper colored tr;be that by washing & scrubing her fore & aft & upon the labbord & stabbord sides she would become a whole some bedfellow. I think, may it please your honour, that I could gradually pump my notions into her head & make her a good shipmate for the cupboard & as good hearted a Christian as any of your white damsels & upon my Soul I warrant you if we have children, by feeding them with good fare, & keeping them clean, they will be as plump & as fair & nearly as white as your your honours children. Upon this I filled the bottle with wine & observing to honest Crito that he was at liberty to make the experiment if he could find a fair to his liking. I then expressed the the sweet pleasure I received from the addresses of the speakers A wished drank success to the new voige. All drank plentifully, & the exhileration produced the greatest cheerfulness & hilarity. By this time the Sun had hid his head below the horizon & darkness invited all the animal creation to sleep & rest. We retired two & two, hand in hand. Ladies heads a little awri, blushing like the morn <fc .... But I forgot to mention that our society passed a resolution to build a church in the in the midst of our vilage. CHAPT. III. MANY PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE NATIVES. INTEREST as well as curiosity invited an acquaint ance with our new neighbours. They were called in their Language Deliwanucks. They were Tall, bodies weel proportioned, strait limbs, complections of a brownish hue broad cheek bones, black wild roling eyes, & hair black & course. To strangers they were both true to their engagements, ardent in their friendship, but to enimies implacable, cruel <fe bar barous in the extreme. Innumerable hordes of this description of people were scattered over an exten sive country, who gained their living by hunting the elk, the deer & a great variety of other wild animals by fishing & fowling & by raising corn, beans & squashes Shooting the arrow, flinging stones, wres tling, jumping, hoping, and runing were their princi pal amusements, & prizes would often be staked as a reward to the conqueror. Their cloathing consisted of skins dressed with the hair on, but in warm weather only the middle part of their bodies were incumbered with any covering. The one half of the head of the men was shaved & painted with red & the one half of the face was painted with black. The head was adorned with feathers of various kinds, & their ears & noses were adorned ornamented with rings formed formed from the sinues of certain ani mals, on which were suspended smooth stones of different coulors. Thus cloathed, thus painted, thus ornimented, the Deliwannuck made a most terrif They held festivals at stated times which varied in the manner of conducting them, according to the object they had in view. At one of their annual festivals their ceremonies were particularly singular & different from any that were ever practised by any nation. Here a description would give us some idea of their religion, & would gratify the curi osity of an injenious mind. When the time arives, which is in September, the who whole tribe assemble. They are dressed & orni mented in the highest fashion. The women in par ticular have their garments & heads so adorned with feathers, shells, & wampum, that they make a very brilliant & grotesque appearance. The form a cir cle: their countanances are solemn. A Speaker mounts a stage in the midst. At this moment two Black Dogs led by two Boys & two white Dogs led by two young damsels enter the circle & are tied together. The Speaker then extended his hands & spoke. Hail, ye favorite children of the great and good Spirit, who resides in the Sun <£ I IBRA^Y THE "MANUSCRIPT -STO/M***' ' who 18 the father of all living, creatures & whose arms encircle us all around, who'x^f^rida us from the malicious design of that great that pours upon us all the evils we endure He gives us all our meat <fe our life & causes the corn & the fruits to spring up & makes us to rejoice in his goodness. He hath prepared a delightful Country to receive us, if we are valiant in battle or are benevolent <fe good. There we can pick all kinds of delicious fruit, & have game & fish in abundance <fc our women being improved in beauty & sprightliness will cause our hearts to dance with delight. But wo unto you wicked, malicious mis chievous mortals. Your lot will be cast in a dark dreary, mirey swamp, where the malignant Spirit will torment you with musquetoes & serpents & will give you nothing to eat but toads, frogs & snails. But my dear friends, all hail, here is a custom which is sanctioned by time immemorial. Look steadfastly on the black dogs & let not your eyes be turned away, when they are thrown on the sacred pile <fe the flames are furiously consuming their bodies, then let your earnest prayer assend for pardon & your transgressions will flee away like shadows & your sins will be carried by the smoke into the shades of oblivion. When this sol emn expiatory sacrifice is ended, then prepare your souls to partake of the holy festival Each one will receive a precious morsel from these immaculate snow colored dogs, in token that your offences have all evaporated in the smoke of the holy sacrifice. & that you are thankful to him the benevolent 26' THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY." Spirit, for the abundance of good things that you enjoy, & that you humbly anticipate the continu ance of his blessing that he will defend you against the evil designs of that malignant Spirit, who gives us gawl & wormwood, & fills our bosom with pain & our eyes with tears. He then proclaimed, let the sacred pile be erected & the solemn sacrifice per formed. Instantly about one hundred men come forward with small dry wood & bundles of dry sticks & having thrown them in one pile within the circle, they set the pile on fire. The black dogs were knocked on the middle head, & thrown on the top,- in a moment all was in a blaze & the flames assended in curls to heaven. The whole company assumed the most devout attitude & muttered in sounds almost inarticulate their humble confession & earnest requests. When the dogs were consumed & the fire nearly extinguished, the ceremonies of their sacred festival began. The white dogs which were very plump & fat were knocked on the head & their throats cut. Their hair was then singed off, having first their entrails taken out, & being suspended by the nose before a hot fire, they were soon roasted, thrown upon a long table & desected into as many pieces as there were persons to swallow them. The company immediately formed a procession, one rank of men the other of women, the men marching to the left & the women to the right of the table, each one took a piece & devoured it with as good a if it had been the most delicious moreel. Having completed these sacred ceremonies with great solemnity, the THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.'1 27 whole company formed themselves into a compact circle round the stage ten musitians immediately mounted, & facing the multitude on every side sang a song. The tune & the musical voices of the singers pleased the ear, whilst the imagination was delighted with the poetic inginuity of the composition. The multitude all joined in the chorus with voice so loud & multifarious, that the atmosphere quaked with ter ror, & woods & neighbouring hills sent back by way of mockery, sent back the sound of their voices, their vociferation improved by ten -fold confusion. Perhaps, reader, you have the curiosity to hear the song. I can give you only the last stanzy & the chorus. "For us the sun emits his rais "The moon shines forth for our delight. "The stars shine forth extol our heroes praia "And warriors flee before our sight. CHORUS. "Delawan to chakee poloo "Manegengo forwah toloo "Chanepant, lawango chapah "Quinebogan hamboo gowah. The solemnities are ended & in their opinion their poor souls are compleatly whitewashed & every stain entirely effaced. A little will now dissipate the solemnity & inspire them with cheerfulness & meriment. The whole tribe repair to the top of an hill, at one place their is a gradual slope a small dis tance, <fc then it desends about twenty-five feet in an almost perpendicular direction, at the bottom of which is a quagmire which is about ten feet in length. & the soft mud is about three feet deep. At each end the ground is soft, but not miry. Down this declivity twenty pair of very suple & sprightly young men & women are to desend. If by their dexterity & agility they escape the quagmire, a piece of wam pum will be the reward of each fortunate champion ; but if they plunge in their recompense will be the ridicule of the multitude. In making this desent, six young women & five young men by a surprizing dexterity in whirling their bodies as they desended, cleared themselves from the quagmire. The rest as their turn came, plunged in & came out most wofully muded to the great diversion of the Spectators. The incident which excited the most meriment, hapned when the last pair desended. by an unlucky spring to clear himself from the quagmire he bro't his body alongside of the declivity & roled his whole length into the midst of the quagmire, where he lay his whole length in an horizontaj^position on his back neither heels nor head up, but horizontally, soft & easy, but alas, when one unlucky event happens another follows close on its heals, the fair-plump corpulent damsel his affectionate sweetheart came instantly sliding with great velocity. She saw the woful position of her beloved. She wished him no harm, she raised her feet, this bro't the center of gravity directly over the center of his head, here she rested a moment, his head sunk, she sunk after him, his heels kicked against the wind like Jeshuran waxed fat, but not a word from his lips, but his ideas came in quick succession, tho't he, what a disgrace to die here in the mud under the pressure of my sweet heart, however his time for such reflections were short, the tender hearted maid collecting all her agility in one "effort, dismounted & found herself on dry land in an instant, not a moment to be lost. She seized her lover by one leg, & draged him from the mud, a curious figure extending about six feet six inches on the ground, all besmeared from head to foot, spitting, puffing, panting & struggling for breath. Poor man, the whole multitude laughing at thy calamity, shouting ridiculing, none to give thee consolation but thy loving & sympathetic partner in misfortune. Upon my soul, exclaims 1 >n»ll T«>m. Stoni f<>rem<^t. That bouncing Lass ought to have the highest prize for drawing her ship from the mud. She was clean ing the filth from his faoe. CHAPT. IV. A JOURNEY TO THE N. W. & REMOVALL Gracious God! how deplorable our situation Are we doomed to dwell among hordes of savages <fc be deprived of all intercourse with friends & the civilized world? & what will be the situation of our offspring? Will they preserve our customs <fc manners, cultivate the arts & sciences & maintain our holy religion; or i-athtT will they not rather degenerate into savages & by mingling with them become the most race of beings in existence. Who can indure such reflec tion, such heart-rending anticipation? They pour upon my soul like a flood & bear me down with the weight of a milstone. O that my head were water, & my eyes a fountain of tears, Then my intolerable burthen should should be poured forth in a torrent & my soul set at liberty. But behold the light springs up & beams upon my soul. She brings in her train Hope that celestial Codes, that sure & strong anchor that dispenser of comfort & pleasing anticipation, & that dispeller of corroding grief & blank dispair. She bids me review the exploded reasoning of of a great philosopher & compare it with my own observations, perhaps the result will point out a safe road to the land of our nativity. Thus I reasoned respecting the solar system of which the earth is a part. Provided the earth is sta tionary according to the present system of philoso phy, then the sun the moon & the plannets, being at an immense distance from the earth, must perform their revolutions around her with inconceivable velocity; Whereas, if according to the platonio sys tem, the earth is a globe & the sun is stationary, then the earth by a moderate velocity perform her revolutions. This scheme will represent the solar system as displaying the transendant wisdom of its Almighty architect, for in this we behold the Sun suspended by Onmipotence & all the plannets moving round him as their common center in exact order & harmony. In this we can easily account for days & nights & the diferent seasons of the year. When the earth presents one part of her face to the sun it is day, & when that part is turned from his beams it is night. When she varies to the South the sun shines upon us in a more perpendicular direction, the sun beams become more dense & the heat increases, as she turns back the heat decreases in proportion as this part of the earth looses its perpendicular direc tion, <fc to the sun & the cold becomes more intense in the same proportion. This account for the various seasons of the year appears correct & consistent & highly honourable to the divine perfection. But behold the other system. The earth firmly fixed on a firm foundation, perhaps a stone, some say on a giants back who stands on a back. Its surface widely extends nearly horizontal, <fc its cut down <fc its sides cut down Btrait or perpendicular to the the very bottom, below which is a fathomless abis8. Pray, Mr. Philosopher, what man was ever there & looked down & what prevents the Ocean, u n 1 ess it is damd with earth & rooka, from pouring down A- loosing itsr'f in this ImrnMe a)>in? IUit h<>\v expensive is this teraqueous surface? Indeed I am of opinion if this system is true, I am nearly at one end of it. But the hipothises is too absurd & inconsistent. The earth must be of a spherical form <fc a westerly course will lead us to the land of our nativity. Per haps this is a par! of the eastern foiitiiit'iit, <>r j.erhaps only a narrow strip of the Ocean intervenes? On no other principle can we account for the emigra tion of the ancestors of these innumerable hords of human beings that possess this continent. Their tradition is that their ancestors came from the west, & they agree in their information that at the distance of fifteen days journey in > westernly direction there are nations vastly more numerous, powerful <fc civil ized than themselves. The earth therefore must be of a spherical form a Globe & a westerly course will lead us to the land of our nativity. On what principle can we account for emigration of the ancestors of these innumer able hords of human beings that possess this Continent? Their tradition tells them that they emi grated from the westward. From this I draw the conclusion that the sea if any, which intervenes between the two Continents at the westward is not so extensive but that it may be safely navigated I have also learnt from some of the natives We are also informed by some of the natives that at the distance of about fifteen days journey in a north westerly course there is a great river which runs in a south westerly direction, they can not tell how far & that along the banks of this river there are great towns & mighty kings & a people who live in a state of civilation. From all these con 7 siderations I am determined to remove, pursue a westerly course, & seek the delightful country of my ancestors. I immediately communicated my deter mination & the reasons on which it was founded to our little Society, who joyfully acquiessed. It was thot to be the most prudential to find out the dis position & character of the inhabitants, who were settled along the great River lest we should fall into the hands of Robbers. For this purpose my man Crito & myself & a Delawan for an interpreter set forth. We passed thro* a country interspersed with vilages, inhabited by the same kind of people as the Delawans, until we came to a great Mountain. Having passed over this, we had not traveled far before we came to the confluence of two great rivers which in conjunction produced a river which was called Owaho, deep enough for the navigation of ships. Here was a lagge town or city inhabited by a different race of people from any we had seen before. We were immediately conducted to the King & were received who received us very graciously, & having asked a number of very pertinent ques tions <fc received answer to his satisfaction, I then made known to him our business & had all my requests granted. As we proposed to move into his territory, he offered to furnish us for our conven ience, with four Mammoons A four men to manage them. These were an animal of prodigious magni tude even biger than the elephant, which the natives had tamed <fc domesticated. They were very sagacious & docile & were employed in carying burthens & in drawing timber & in plowing their land. Their hair at the Spring season was about seven inches in length, & was of a fine wooly con sistence, & being sheared off at the proper season, was manufactured into course cloath. And the milk of the female which they produced in abundance, afforded a very wholesome nutriment. Having thus succeeded beyond our expectations, we made as much expidition to return as possible. We arrived in safety without any material accidents. The Lit tle Society I had left were greatly rejoiced at our returne, <fc highly pleased with the account we gave 34 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.'1 of the country we had visited, & at the sight of those extraordinary & prodigious animals Mammoons which we had bro't to convey our baggage. No time was lost to make preparation for the journey. The Captain, Mate & myself went to the King & held a conference with him & the chiefs & obtained leave to depart, tho' with apparent regret & reluctance. Sacks were provided from course cloth to receive the most valuable part of our goods & furniture. These were thrown across three of the Mammoons The other was caparisoned in a manner too tedious to describe for the accommodation of our women & children. They were all mounted upon him & rode with great convenience & safety. Being thus pre pared & ready Thus having resided among the Deliwans two years, & being prepared to take our depart ure. The King & his chiefs & many of his principal Subjects came forward to take an affectionate fare well. This was done on both sides with with mutual expressions of the most ardent & sincere friendship & the most earnest wishes & prayers for future pros perity & happiness. Having taken our final adieu 1 observed honest Crito sheding tears very plenti fully. You seem to be affected, said I. God bless your honour said he, when I think how kind & gen erous these poor Delawans have been to us, I can not help feeling an affection & friendship for them. We were obliged to anchor amongst them, we were strangers, & helpless, & they were ignorant Savages, yet they held out the hand of kindness, & treated us as brothers & sisters. Have they not fulfilld the law of Christian charity? O that they were good Christians, may God forgive their ignorance A unbe lief, & reward them for their kindness & genosity. We passed on. No obsticles impeded our journey until we came to the great river Suscowan, which lif.s, runs between the Deliwah River & the great moun mountain. The water being too deep for ford ing, we built a small boat, & with this at several times, we conveyed the whole of the baggage & company & baggage across, except the managers of the Mammoons, who mounted them Afforded & swam across. We then proceeded on by slow marches. But in crossing the great mountain we had some difficulties to encounter, but however met with received no material damage, but finally arived safely at the great city Owkahon on the twenty fifth day after our departure from Delawan. Fatigued with a long & difficult journey great joy & gladness were visible in every in_ countanance <fe all were disposed to establish our residence here, until further information could be obtained, & further measures concerted to prosecute our journey to Europe. The King & his principal officers proffered us every assistance necessary to make our situation agreeable. They assigned us in compliance with our request conformity to our desire a number of houses on the bank of the river a little distance from the city. We made him some valuable presents in return, which he received as a token of friendship, but not as a compensation. For such was the high sense of honour which this prince sustained, that when he made a present he would take it as an insult to offer him anything as a compensation. Having now once more become settled our little community continued the same regulations which they had established at Deliwan & all things pro ceeded in peace & our affairs prospered. CHAP. V. A DESCRIPTION OF THE OHONS, & MANNER OF PROCURING A LIVING. I AM now to describe a species of nation who have but little resemblance to those to those inumerable tribes of savages, who live along the coast of the Atlantic. Their complexion, the form & construction of their bodies, their customs manners laws govern ment & religion all demonstrate that they must have originated from some other nation & have but a very distant affinity with their savage neighbors. As to their persons they were taller on an average than I had ever seen in any nation, their bones were large limbs strait & shoulders broad. Their eyes rather smalll & sunk deep in the head. Their foreheads were prominent & the face below tapering in such a manner that the chin that was formed nearly to a point. As to their complexion it was bordering on an olive tho' of a lighter shade. Their eyes were generally of a dark brown or black. Their hair of the same color, tho' I have sometimes seen persons, whose hair was of a redish hue. They cloathed themselves in choath which was manufactured among themselves from the hair of the Mammoon & from Cotton, which was transported from the South west westward. The men wore shoes THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.1' 87 <fc long stockings wide trouses, a waistcoat <t a gar ment with wide short sleaves, which came down to their nees, & in cold weather a cloak over the whole. The covering for the head was generaly a kind of a Cap, which ran up high & tapered to a point. This was generally made of fur skins & was ornimented with feathers. It had a small brim in the shape of an half moon to project over the forehead. The women besides stockings & shoes wore a short petecoat a shirt of cotton a loose garment with sleaves which they girted round them with belts & a cloack. They had various orniments such as ribbons made from cotton & coulared with different coulars, the most beautiful feathers that could be obtained & shells of various kinds. Indeed the higher class of women were extremely fond of ornament, & wore placed a large share of their happiness in the brilliancy <fe gaudy appearance of their garments. These people obtained their living generally by the cultivation of the Land, & the manage by tending & managing certain animals which had been so long domesticated that they had lost their wild nature & become tame. Corn, wheat, beans, squashes & carrots they raised in great abun dance. The ground was plowed by horses & gen erally made very mellow for the reception of the seed. It was the occupation of a certain part of the men to tend upon the tame animals, to drive them to pas ture, & keep them from straying, & feed them when the snow was on the ground. Two men would tend twenty Mammouth, which were indifferent whether they fed on grass or cropt the bushes. When these animals were fat their flesh was highly esteemed. They had droves of Elk, which they had so tamed & tutored that they could manage them as they pleased. These had their tenders (several words illegible) & would follow them like a flock of of sheep. & it was but seldom that any would leave their companions. The elk constituted a considera ble portion of their animal food. The horses were managed in the same way & the people tho't their meat to be a savoury dish. They had large numbers of turkies & gees, which tho' originally wild, yet by treating them with great familiarity by croping their wings & feeding them they frequently they discovered no disposition to ramble off, but would propogated their species & laid eggs in abundance. Hunting & fishing were the employment of some others followed the mechanical buciness & others car ried on a bartering trade to the Southwestward in order to furnish to furnish the people with cotton & other arti cles whose production was not congenial to their cli mate. By pursuing these various employments they generally had an abundance of provision & were at all seasons comfortably cloathed. And here I would remark as one striking characteristic of this people, that they observed great neatness in their dress, in their cookery & in their houses. The manufacturing of lead Iron & lead was under stood, but was not carried on to that extent & perfec tion as in Europe. A small quantity of Iron in proportion to the number of Inhabitants served to supply them with all the impliments which custom had made necessary for their use. By hammering & hardening their Iron they would convert it nearly into the consistence of Steal & fit it for the purpose of edged tools. The potery business was conducted with great inginuity & great quantities of stone & earthen ware consisting of every kind of vessel of every construc tion which were needed for family use, were manu factured in every part of this extensive country. They would These vessels they they ornimented with pictures with the likenessess of various kinds of ani mals & trees & impressed upon them such coulars as would strike the fancy with delight. The females of the high Class most welthy Class would often have a large & superfluous quantity of this brittle furniture to decorate one apartment of the house. The vessels they arranged in such order as to make a display of taste & impress the mind with the agreeable sensa tion of beauty. In Architecture there can be no comparison with the civilized nations of Europe. In their most welthy and populous Cities they their houses & public build ings exhibit no eligance, no appearance of wealth or grandure, all is plain <fc nothing superfluous. But convenience seems to be the whole object they had in view in the construction of their buildings of every kind. Their houses were generally but one story high built of wood, being framed & covered with split clapboards or shingles, & in the inside the walls were formed of clay, which was plastered over with a thin coat of lime. Their houses seldom consisted of more than three apartments. As to their chimneys they built construct a wall of stone about five feet hight for the fire to be against which they build their fire, from the top of this wall they construct the chimney with thin pieces of split timber, on the inside with wet dirt or clay of which they plaister wet dirt or clay which compleatly covers & adheres to the timber & prevents the fire from having any operation upon it. The inside of their houses as the women generally practise neatness, makes a much better appearance than the outside. It is my opinion says Trojanus that this people dis play a taste in building which is formed upon the true principles of Reason. Their houses are suffi ciently spacious for convenience. No expense or Labour are thrown away in building useless apart ments or in erecting their houses higher than what convenience requires. The whole catalogue of orna mental trumpery is neglected. This in Rome pro duces more than half the Labour & expense in building. Yes says Lucian, and without this these labouring people must starve for want of employment, & the citizens of the Roman empire would be deprived of the honour of possessing a splendid Capital & of the exquisite pleasure of beholding the greatest exhibition of human ingenuity in the elegance the splendour the purity & beauty of their houses, their palaces & their public edifices. True indeed, replies Trojanus, men may be dazed & delighted with such objects for the moment, But could not wealth be better bestowed upon to promote interest of the com munity A for charitable purposes <fe these artists tn-tter employ their strength A ingenuity in producing some substantial benefits to themselves A others? Rejoins Lucian, the course reason dictates is to avoid extremes. A slab coulared world would, tire the senses by its uniformity A too much orniment A splendor, would cease to please by its frequency. Besides, lofty houses can be more easily over thrown by tornadoes or tumbled down upon our heads by earthquakes. The course, says Lucian that reason dictates is to avoid extremes. A slab coulored world by its uniformity would tire the senses, A by its possessing too much ornament A splendor it would cease to please. (But the wonder wont cease when it is considered that mankind with but few exceptions to walk in the tracks of their fathers A to pursue the road marked out by their education.) CHAP. VI. DESCRIPTION OF THE LEARNING, RELIGION & CUSTOMS OF THE OHONS. LEARNING appears to be so important to the nature of man A a good convenient share of it so easy to obtain, that some may wonder why it is not univer sally diffused thro* the world. But If we can place any reliance on the dark annals of antient history, it is certain that letters are indebted for their existence to the inventive genius of certain extraordinary characters. Egypt & Chaldea contended for the honour of being the first who invented letters. Perhaps they were invented in each nation nearly at the same time. But let this be as it may could no other nation in the world produce as great geniuses as Egypt or Chaldea?* Is there any natural obsticle to prevent their production in America as well as in Asia? Whatever may be the reasoning of some on this sub ject, the fact is that I found Letters or some share of learning, tho' in a very imperfect state among this people. At present I shall wave the account of its introduction & shall merely describe the state of learning as it existed among the Ohons. They had characters which represent words & all compound words were had each part represented by its appro priate character. The variation of cases, moods & tenses was designated by certain marks placed under the characters. They generally wrote on parchment & beginning at the right wrote from the top to the bot tom, placing each character directly under the pro ceeding one & having finished one column or line they begin the write the next on the left of that & so con tinue on until they cover the parchment if the subject requires it. It is a work of considerable labour <fc time to obtain such a knowledge of their characters & the application as to be able to read with fluencey & to write with ease & accuracy. In the principal Cities & towns the government appointed learned men to instruct the sons of the * Note. The most probable conjecture is that they were communicated from one nation to the other. THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.11 43 higher class of Citizens <fc in the course of four or five years they will make such proficiency as to become tolerable schollars. The works of the learned are not very voluminous. Records are kept of the transactions of their govern ment. Their constitution & laws are committed to writing. A sacred Roll in manuscript is preserved among the Records of tln-ir Kmporors <fe kings. <fc are dispersed thro* the Empire <fe much pains taken to diffuse the knowledge of them among the people. In all their large towns & Cities they have deposited under the care of a priest a sacred Roll which con tains the tenets of their Theology & a description of their religious ceremonies. This order of men pub lish comments upon these sacred writings. They publish some tracts on moral philosophy & some con taining a collection of proverbs & the wise sayings of their sages. But the kind of composition in which they most exult is poetry. In poetic numbers they describe the great events which take place & the exploits & mighty achievements of their heroes. In soft elegies they describe paint the Amours of Lovers & in pathetic strains they delineate the calamities of sor row of the unfortunate. In their assemblies it is very common for a certain class of these learned poets to entertain the company ( line gone -) with a resital of poetic pieces describing the baties <fc exploits of their war riors, or to sing some arnourous or witty ballad. As for theators they have none, but as a kind of susstitute there are actors who entertain the people by pronounsing dialogues or plays in which they display all the arts of mimicry & act out the express in their countanance their gesture & the tone of their voices the different passions of the human mind. As only a small portion of the people are instructed in the arts of reading & writing, of consequence the great mass must possess a large share of ignorance, but not so great a share as savages who have no learn ing among them. They hear the conversation & the lectures of their sages, they are entertained with Their poetic orators entertain them with the productions of their poets, containing the history of great events & mighty athievements. Their actors divert & please them by exciting the various passions at the same time communicating instruction & correcting the nat ural savageness of manner by & as the pieces they rehearse contain many ideas & sentiments tending to expose the deformity of vice & the folly of supersti tion & the disgustingness of rude & clownish man ners, the people are of consequence improved & considerably refined & add to their living in compact towns or considerable cities in which there is a con stant & reciprocal communication of ideas, which of course would have no small effect to inform their minds. To all these causes combined the Ohons the great mass of the people are indebted for possessing a considerable share of knowledge & civilization. RELION VH. IN every nation there is some kind of Religion & in every religion, however adulterated & corrupted, there are some things which are* commendable, some things which serve to improve the morals & influence mankind to conduct better than what they would do provided they pursued the natural dictates of their depraved mind, without any restraint As this senti ment is an established maxim which has been believed in every nation from the earliest ages in every nation, hense it has been the policy of all governments to encourage & protect some kind of religion. In exam ining the religious systems, sentiments <fc precepts which are believed & practised throughout this exten sive Empire, & which are encouraged & protected by the government. I found some things which are common to the various systems of theology in Europe & Asia, & some things which have no resemblance to either From the sacred Roll as it is denominated I shall extract the tenets of their theology & a descrip tion of their religious ceremonies. It expresses them them to this effect "There is an intelligent omnipotent Being who is self-existent <fc infinitely good <fc benevolent. Matter eternally existed. He put forth his hand & formed it into such bodies as he pleased. He presides over the universe <fc has a perfect knowledge of all things. From his own spiritual substance he formed seven sons. These are his principal agents to manage the affairs of his empire. He formed the bodies of men from matter. Into each body he emitted infussed a particle of his own spiritual substance, in conse quence of which man in his first formation was inclined to benevolence & goodness. There is also another great intelligent Being who is self -existent & possessed of great power but not of Omnipotence. He is filled with infinite malice against the good Being & exerts all his subtlety & power to ruin his works. Seing the happy situation of man he approached so near as to tuch his soul with his deliterious -hand. The poison was immediately dif fused & contaminated his passions & appetites. His reason & understanding received no injury. The good being looking upon his unhappy offspring with infinite love & compassion, made a decree that if mankind would reduce their passions & appetites under the government of reason, he should be enjoy blessings in this world, & be compleatly happy after death his soul quits his body. Death dissolves the connection. Material Bodies are prepared for the souls of the righteous. These bodies can pass thro' any part of the universe & are invisible to mortal eyes. Their place of residence is on a great & city vast plain, which is beautiful with magnificent build ings, with Trees fruits & flowers. Here they enjoy every delight which No imagination can paint the delights the felicity of the Righteous. But the wicked have no etherial are denied etherial bodies. Their souls naked & incapable of seeing light dwel in darkness & are tormented with the keenest anguish. Ages roll away A the good Being has compassion upon them. He permits them to take possession of etherial bodies & they arise quick to the abodes of delight & glory. Now, O man, attend to thy duty <fc thou shalt escape the portion of the wicked. <fc enjoy all the delights of the righteous. Avoid all acts of cruelty to man & beast.* defraud not thy neighbours nor suffer thy hands secretly to convey his property from him. Preserve thy body from the contamination of lust, <fe remember that the seduction of thy neighbours wife would be a great Crime. Let thy citizens be numbered once in two years, A if the young women who are fit for marriage are more numerous than the young men, then wealthy men who are young <fc who have but one wife shall have the privilege with the permission of the king to marry another until the number of the single young women A the single young men are made equal. But he who hath two wives shall have a house provided for each & he shall spend his time equally with each one. Be grateful for all favours A forsake not thy friend in adversity. Treat with kindness & reverence thy Parents. Forsake them not in old age nor let their cheek be furrowed with tears for the want of bread. Bow down thy head before the aged, treat thy superi ors with respect, & place thy rulers & thy teachers in the most honourable seats. Let Rulers consult the welfare of the people & not agrandize themselves by *No crime Is BO horrid as maliciously to destroy the life of man. oppression & base bribes. Let Religious Teachers walk in the road which leads to celestial happiness & lead the people after them. Let Parents restrain the vices of their children & instruct their minds in useful knowledge. Contention & Strife is is the Bane of Families & the destruction of domestick happiness, being yoked together the husband & wife ought to draw in the same direction. Their countanances will then appear beautiful shine with the effulgent Beams of Friendship & love, peace & harmony will attend their habitation & their affairs will prosper. Hold out the hand of kindness & friendship to thy neighbour, consider him when reduced to indigence & distress, He is as dear to the great & good being a-s what thou art. & thou now hast an opportunity to manifest the disposition of thy heart To afford him relief will be pleasing to thy Maker & an expression of thy gratituge. Envious & malicious Souls are almost incurably contaminated with that hellish poison which which was first disordered the soul of man. Partake not of their guilt by joining them in the malignant work of slander & detraction. Their intended mischief returns upon their own heads, & the slandered character of the innocent & just shines forth with increasing lus tre. Let the stranger find an hospitable resting place under thy roof. Give him to eat from thy por tion that when he departs he may bless thee & go on his way rejoicing. Industry will Say not to thyself I will indulge inactivity & idleness & lie upon the bed of sloth & THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY." . 49 slumber away the precious moments of time, for in this thou art unwise, for unwise disease will attend thee, hunger will torment thee & Rags will be thy clothing. Let industry & economy fill up the meas ure of thy waking moments. So shall thy countanance display health & sprightliness, plenty shall supply the wants of thy family & thy reputation shall be respectable. But behold a being in human form from whom I turn away in disgust & abhorrence. He is covered with so much dirt & filth that no etherial body is provided for him nor can he be received into the abodes of the blessed. Suffer not thy bodies or thy garments to remain long besmeared with dirt & filth. Cleanliness prevents many diseases <fc is pleasant to the sight. But from a dirty filthy mortal we turn with disgust & abhorrance. As the great Author of our existence being is benevolent to all his offspring, so it becomes us to be benevolent to our fellow beings around us. Oou Country is one body & we are part of its members. We are therefore bound to maintain their rights & priviledges & the the honour & dignity of our Country at the risk of our lives. Great rewards attend the brave & their exploits & achieve ments in contending against tyrants & in defending the Rights their of their Country will be celebrated on the plains. But the vision now expands & directs our contemplation to fix on his attributes, whose spiritual substance is commensurate with infinity. As only a single particle from his substance consti tutes our souls, how small how diminutive must we 50 m THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY." appear in the view of Omniscience. We must there fore contemplate his attributes thro* the medium of his works, & admire with profound reverance & adoration his wisdom goodness & power which are visible in the formation & arrangement of all material bodies & spiritual beings. He requires us to suplicate his favours, & when received to express our gratitude. As our passions & appetites often get the assendence of our reason, we are therefore bound to confess our faults & implore forgiveness. Now that you may know and keep all these thing which were made known by divine inspiration, it is ordained that on every eighth day, ye lay aside all unnecessary labour, that ye meet in convenient numbers & form assemblies, that at each assembly a learned holy man shall preside, who shall lead your devotions & explain this sacred Roll & give you such instruction as shall promote your happiness in this life & in the life to come. Once in three months ye shall hold a great festival in every great city & town, & your priests shall sacrifice an Elk as a token that your sins deserve punishment, but that the divine mercy hath banished them into shades of forgetfulness. Be attentive oh man, to the words of truth which have been recorded & & respect to all the command ments which have been written for your observance. Your Maker will then be rejoiced to see you rejoice in the participation of his favour & to behold your faces brighten with the cheering benign beams of cheerfulness. AN ACCOUNT OF BASKA CHAP VIII AMONG the great A illustrious characters who have appeared in the world in different ages as instructors & reformers of mankind, Baska holds is entitled to a conspicuous place. The place of his nativity is not recorded. But the first notice which is given of him is his appearing at the great City of Golanga, which is situate on the Banks of the Siota River. He was attended by his wife & two little sons. The fashion of their garments were different from the natives. Their complexion like wise was of a little whiter. They were Baska was grave solemn & sedate reserved in his conversation, but when he spoke wisdom proceeded from his lips. His fame spread rapidly thro' the city & country, & he was celebrated as a man of the most brilliant & extraordinary talents. He was conducted to the King & introduced to him. The King asked him from what country he came. His reply was, at a great distance from the westward. He then asked him induced him to come into his country. He replied CHAPT VHI PERHAPS reader, before we describe the government of the Ohons it might be proper to relax our mind by with a few seeches of Biography. The character which will best connect with the history of the learn ing & religion & the government^: laws of the Ohons is that of the great and illustrious Lobaska. He is the man who first introduced their present method of writing who presented them with the sacred Roll which contains the tenets & precepts of their religion, & who formed their political constitu tion as it respects the connection of various kingdoms or tribes under one government. There are many anecdotes which tradition has handed down respecting this extraordinary man, which have the complexion of fables the miraculous & hence I conclude they must be fabulous Such as his As for instance he is represented as forming a curious machine by which & having placed himself upon it he mounted into the Atmosphere & assended a great hight & having sailed a considerable time distance thro' the air he desended slowly & received no damage & that multitudes of astonished Spectators had a number of times seen him perform this miracu lous exploit, & that he declared that when he took these excursions, his extraordinary wisdom & knowl edge was communicated to him. If he did in fact perform such exploits no wonder that he managed an ignorant people as he pleased. But as it is not my intention to amuse my readers by a splendid relation of fables, I shall confine myself to facts which can not be contested. The place of his nativity is not recorded. The first account given of him was his appearance in the great City of Golanga which is situate on the Banks of the Siota River. When he entered that city he was attended by his wife & four sons the the eldest of whom was about eighteen years of age. He himself appeared to be about forty. His personal appearance was commanding being of midling Stature of a bold frank countanance & eyes lively & penetrating. In his general deportment he was cheerful yet displayed much sedateness & gravity. He was affable & familiar in conversation but not loquacious, he never would converse long on trifling subjects, had a wonderful faculty to intermix some wise sayings <fc remarks that should improve & of turning with dignity and gravefulness the attention of the company to subjects that were important & interesting. None could then withstand the energy of his reasoning, & all were astonished at the inge nuity of his arguments & the great knowledge & wisdom which he displayed. His fame spread thro* the City Ajnulti <fc country A multitudes frequently assembled & importuned him to give them instruction. Always cheerful to gratify the curiosity & comply with the reasonable requests of the multitude, he entertained them by conversing with them familiarly, & by exhibiting public discourses. All were charmed with his wisdom & eloquence, and all united in pro nouncing him to be the most extraordinary man in existence, & generally believed that he had conver sation with the celestial beings, & always acted under the influence of divine inspiration. The people were very liberal in their donations, which enabled him to support his family in affluence. Having thus in a short time established a character with respect to wisdom & eloquence to any man who had ever appeared before him in the nation, he then at an enterview which he held with the king & the chiefs told them that he had invented the art of expressing B4 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY." ideas by certain marks or characters, & having explained the nature of the subject to their full satis faction, he then proposed to establish a school for the instruction of the sons of the principal subjects of the King. This proposal was received & accepted with much gratitude & cheerfulness. A house was imme diately prepared for the accommodation of Schollars, & in a short time the number amounted to nearly two hundred. But here it must be observed that the art of making & applying the characters to the words which they represented, was taught principally by his sons. They had all received an education from their father & even the youngest who was but eleven years old could read & write with great correctness. & facility. He superintended their instruction & very frequently gave them lectures on scientific & moral subjects, his schollars made great progress in learn ing & delighted their parents with the improvement they had made in literature civilization & refinement. He still continued to associate among the people, & was indefatigable in his labours to dispel their igno rance, correct their superstition & vices & to diffuse a more accurate knowledge of the mechanical arts. The manufacture of Iron in particular was not known. This he taught a number by showing them how to build a small furnace, & to cast iron ware, & then to build a small forge & there refine pigs, & convert them into Iron. He had resided among the Siotans about three years, & the happy effects of his labours were visible to all observers. A great reformation had taken place in the morals & manners of the people, Industry THE ''MANUSCRIPT STORY." 66 had encreased,_& agriculture A the mechanical arts had received great improvement & houses were built on a more commodious & eligant construction. But not willing to stop here the benevolent mind of the great Tobaska meditated a more important revolu tion. Now was the propitious era_to had arived & the way was prepared for the introduction of that system of Theology, which is comprized in the sacred Roll. In the first place he read & explained the whole system to the King & the chiefs of the nation, who cordially gave it their approbation & gave permission to propogate it among the people. Under the pre tense that this system was revealed to him in several enterviews, which he had been permitted to have with the second son of the great <fc good Being, the people did not long hesitate but received as sacred & divine truth every word which he taught them. They forgot their old religion which was a confused & absurd medly of Idolitry & superstitious nonsense & embraced a religion more sublime & consistent, db more fraught with sentiments which would pro mote the happiness of mankind in this world. Whilst the Siotans were thus rapidly progressing in their improvements they were unhappily disturbed by the certain prospect of war. Bombal, the King of the Kentucks, a nation that lived on the south side of the great River Ohio, had taken great umbrage against Kadokam the King of Siota. This Bombal was the most haughty & the jnost powerful prince who reigned in this part of the western Continent. It had been the custom for several ages for the King & chiefs of the Kentucks to have the exclusive right to wear in their caps a bunch of blue feathers, which designated their preeminence over every nation. The Siotan princes envying them this dis tinguished honor & considering themselves as being at least their equals assumed the liberty to place bunches of Blue feathers upon their caps. This in the opinion of the Kentucks was an unpardonable offense if persisted in, & a most daring insult upon their supreme dignity. A messenger was immedi After a solemn Council was held with his chiefs Bombal, with their unanimous consent dispatched a messenger to Kadocam, who thus proclaimed. Thus saith Bombal, the king of kings & the most mighty prince on earth. Ye have insulted my our honour & dignity, in assuming blue feathers which was the badge of our preeminence. Know ye that uless you tear them from your caps ye shall feel the weight of our ven-gence. Kadocam replied. Tell your master that a great Company of Wolves made an attack upon a City, to rob the citizens of their dear & elk, & they let forth their dogs upon them, which attacked them with such fury, & courage that they fled mangled & torn to a most dreary swamp. Here they by the most tremendous the most plaintive howling, they lamented their sad disaster & disgrace. An answer so shrewd & insulting it was expected would soon be followed by an invasion. Measures must immediately be taken for the defense of the kingdom. Lobaska was invited to set in council. All THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY." .57 were unanimously of opinion that to comply with the haughty demand of Bombal, by tearing the Blue feathers from their caps would be degrading the honour of the nation & a relinquishment of their natural right, that they were likewise sensible that the most vigorous exertions were necessary to save the country from ruin. The opinion & advice -of Lobaska was requested. It is my opinion says he that by using a little stratigem, this war might be bro't to a conclusion, which will be honourable to this kingdom. We will pursue, says the King your advice & directions. I shall be happy says Lobaska to assist you with my best advice. Call immediately into the field an army of three Thousand men, pro vide two thousand shovels five hundred mathooks & five hundred wheelbarrows, & one hundred axes. I will give directions how to make them. Not a moment was lost. The army was assembled, & impliments provided with the utmost expidition. & they marched down the river, to a certain place where the Army of the Enimy must pass in order to arrive at the city of Golanga. At this place the hills or moun tains came within less than a mile of the river, & a flat or level land intervened. Here Lobaska directed that a canal should be cut from the River to the River to the Hill That it should be eight feet wide & eight deep & that the dirt which they dug should be thrown into the river. That the canal except what should be wanted to lay over thin pieces of split timber, which should be extended over the canal so weak & slender that the weight of a man would break them down. This novel invention invention was soon carried into 58 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.1' effect & the work compleatly finished. Every pre caution was used to prevent any intelligence of these transactions from getting to the enimy. In the meantime Kadokam bro't into the field seven thousand more of his warriors, men of brave hearts & valiant for the battle. The indignant king of the Kentucks had by this time assembled an army of Thirty Thousand men, who were ready at the risk of their lives to vindicate the preeminence of their nation. & the transendent dignity of their King & his chiefs. Had of this At the head of this army Bombal began his march to execute his threatened vengance on the Siotans. As he entered their country he found the viliges deserted, & all the movable property con veyed away, not a man or worn was to be seen until he came in view of the army of Kadokam, who was encamped within a small distance of the Canal. Bombal halted & formed his men in two Ranks, extending from the River to the Hill. He had a reserved core, who were placed in the rear of the main body, Having thus arranged them for battle he went from one wing to the other, proclaiming alould, we have been insulted, brave Soldiers, by these cow ardly Siotans. They have assumed the blue Feather the badge of our preeminance & exalted dignity. Behold it flying in their Caps. Will your highborn souls submit to behold such Dastards place them selves on equal terms with you? No, my valiant warriors, let us revenge the insult by the destruc tion of their puny army, & the conflagration of their city. Make a furious charge upon them & & the victory is ours. Let your motto be blue Feather & you will fight like wolves robbed of their puppies. Hadokam had by this time formed his army in order of Battle close to the edge of the canal & extended them in one rank only from the River to the Hill. As the Kentucks approached within a small distance, the Siotans gave back & began a retreat with apparent confusion, notwithstanding the pretended efforts of the King & his officers to pre vent their retreating. Bombal, observing this com manded to rush forward on the full run, but to keep their ranks in order. This they instantly obeyed as one man, <fc as soon as their feet stept on the slender covering of the canal it gave way & they fell to the bottom, some in one position & some in another. A disaster so novel & unexpected might have appalled the stoutest & filled their minds with amazement & terror. Nor did this compleat their misfortune of the army of Bombal. An ambush of the Siotans, who lay on the side of the hill opposite to the reserved Corps of the Kentucks, rushed down upon them in an instant. Surprize & terror pre vented resistance, they threw down their arms & surrendered. The retreating army of Hadocam immediately returned with shouting to the edge of the Canal. Their enimies, who but a moment before thot themselves invincible & certain of victory, were now defenceless & wholly in their power. When Lobaska was present & saw the success of his stratigem, his great soul disdained revenge on an enimy helpless & prostrate enimy. He conjured the Siotans not to shed one drop of Blood, but to be generous & merciful. Bombal had now recovered from his surprize, & feeling the deplorable situation of his army, his haughty soul felt the keenest anguish. Where says he is the King of the Siotans? Here I am says Hadokam. What is your re-quest my brother? Reduced says he by stratigem the most ingenious & artful to a situation which subjects us wholly under your power, & in which you can take ample revenge. I now implore your generosity & compassion for my army. Spare their lives & then name your terms, & if I can comply with them without degrading the honour of my crown it shall be done. Your request says Hadokam is granted Surrender your army, & let you army return in peace. As for your majesty & the chiefs of your nation who are present, you will give us the pleasure of your company in our return to the city of Golanga, there we will execute a treaty of peace & amity, that shall be advantageous & hon ourable to both nations. These terms were accepted & the Kentucks returned in peace to their own Coun try, not to describe exploits & bloody victories, but the curious stratigem of Lobaska. The two kings & their splendid retinue of princes having arived at Golanga, every attention was paid by the Hodokam & his chiefs to their honorable visitors. Hadokam made a sumptuous entertainment at which all were present. The next day both parties met for for the purpose of agreeing to terms of peace & perpetual amity. What are your terms says Bombal? Lobaska, says Hadokam, shall be our Arbitra tor. He shall name the terms his wisdom will dictate nothing which will be dishonourable for either party. Your proposal, says Bombal is generous. Lobaska shall be our Arbitrator. Lobaska then rose. Attend, says he to my words, ye princes of Siota & Kentuck. t You have all derived your existence from the great Father of Spirits, you are his children & belong to his great family. Why, then have you thirsted for each others' blood? for the Blood of Brothers? & what has, & what has produced this mighty war? A blue feather, may it please your majesties, a blue feather a badge of preeminence. It is pride, it is unruled ambition & avarice which devastate the world & produce rivers of human Blood. & the wars which take place among nations generally originate from as trifling causes as the blue feather. Let this be the first article of your treaty that any person may wear a blue feather in his Cap, or any other feather that he pleases. Let this be the second, that the individuals of each nation may carry on a commerce with each other, & that they shall be protected in their persons & property. Let thjsjbe the third, that I shall be at liberty to establish a school or schools in any part of the dominion of Kentuck & furnish them with such instructors as I please That none shall be restrained from hearing our instructions & that we shall be patronized & protected by the King <fc his chiefs. Let_fhia_be_the fourth, that perpetual peace & amity shall remain between both nations & as a pledge for the fulfilment of these articles on the part of the* princes of Kentuck, that the eldest son of the King & fJ2 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY." four sons of the principal chiefs, shall be left as hostiges in this City for the term of Term of Three years. These terms met the cordial approbation of both parties & were ratified in the most solemn manner. Thus happy was the termination of the war about the blue feather having taken place Lobaska pro ceeded with indefatigable industry & perseverance in his benevolent scheme of enlightening & reforming mankind. And how happy would it be for mankind if all wars about as trifling causes as this might ter minate in the same way. The benevolent mind of Loboska soared above trifles viewing all mankind as brothers & sisters he wished the happiness of all. He then made provision in the treaty with the Kentucks for the introduction of schools in Kentuck amongst them. This was the first step which he foresaw would introduce improvement in agriculture & the mechani cal arts, produce a reformation in their morals & religious principals, & a happy revolution in some part of their political institutions. Bombal had become so captivated with Lobaska, that he invited him to bear him company to his own dominions. He consented, & when he had arived at the royal City of Gamba, which is situate on the River Kentuck, he there pursued the same course which he had done at Golanga, & his success answered his most sanguine expectations. The peo ple were now prepared for the introduction of a school. He returned back to Tolanga, & sent his second son & three of the most forward scholars of the Siotans to establish a school at Gamba. In the meantime his intention was to make some a m endments in the government of Sciota. But as there were several Cities <fc a great number oTviliages that Acknowledged the jurisdiction of the Sciotan king which still were ignorant of the principles <fc doc^ trines^ which he taught, he found it necessary to visit them & to introducejnstructors amongst them. In t ! i i s work he was engaged^ about two years, <fe the happy effect of his labors were now visible, in various kinds of improvement &7n the reformation of mann ers morals & religion. The way was now prepared to introduce his system^o^gay^nnient.^jThe chiefs of the nation were invited to attend a grand council at Tolanga. When th ey were met Lobaska roBe,~& presented them with the following constitution of government. The king of Siota shall be stiled the Emperor of Ohion_&_the King^f Siota, his crown shall be heredi tary injhej)lde8t male heir of his family. The cities A vilages who acknowledge his jurisdiction or who may hereafter do it, shall bejmtitled to protection tV''mJhe^mjperor1_if ^inyaded_by an enimy, he shall defend them with all the force of the Empire. Once every year,_the chief s shall meet at Golan ga~ to nmke l.-iwg for the good of the nation. These young men having imbibed the spirit & prin ciple of their great preceptor, spared no exertions to instruct the schollars & to diffuse useful knowledge amongst the people. The happy effects of their Labors were visible in a short time. The people The people embraced the religion of Lobaska <fc became more industrious & civilized. In their various improvements in agriculture, the mechanical arts they & literature they even exeled the Sciotans, & appeared to be as prosperous & flourishing. Even Bombal himself declared that the termination of the war about the blue feather, which at first appeared unfortunate, yet as it occationed such happy effects among his people, it gave him more satisfaction & pleasure than the reputation of being a great Conqueror. what he could have received from the repu tation of being a great Conqueror. CHAP. IX. GOVERNMENT & MONET THE people who were denominated Ohians were set tled on both sides of the River Ohiojrom & along the various branches of the river. The settlements extended to a great distance in the time of Lobaska, but how far it is not mentioned. They lived in com fortable villages or towns except the cities. We might except the cities, Golanga on the River Sciota & Gamba on the which River Kentuck. The various villiges or towns formed independent soveranties, & were governed by their respective chiefs. Excepting the Cities of Golanga & Gamba, whose Kings claimed jurisdiction over an extent of country of country of about one hundred & fifty miles along the River Ohio & about the same extent distance back from the River, the remaining part of this extensive country was settled in compact vialiges or towns A These formed independent soveranties A were gov erned by their respective chiefs. Frequent bicker ings contentions & wars took place among these chiefs, which were often attended with perilous con sequences. To remedy these evils & to facilitate & accomplish the general & benevolent plan, of reform ing & civilizing the Ohians, Lobaska had formed a system of Government, with a design of establishing two great Empires one on each side of the River Ohio. Their different constitutions were on the same plan & were presented by the hand of Lobaska to the respective Kings of Sciota <fc Kentuck. The Sciotan Constitution was comprised in these words. The country east of the great River Ohio shall form the Empire of Sciota. At the head of this Empire shall be placed with the title of Emperor, Labamack the oldest son of Lobaska. The office shall be hereditary in the eldest male of his family. He and his sons successively shall marry natives of the kingdom of Sciota & all their daughters shall marry within their own dominions. He shall have four counsellors. He, with the advice of his coun sellors, shall have the exclusive right, of making war & peace, <fc of forming treaties with other nations. He shall be the commander in chief of all the forces of the King & the King of Sciota shall be next to him. All controversies between the rulers or chiefs of the different tribes shall be reffered to the decision of him & his counsellors, & he is authorized to compel a compliance. He shall hold his settings annually in four different parts of the Empire. The King of Sciota & the chiefs of the different tribes shall hold their offices & exercise the same authority in civil matters that they have done. They shall be ameniable to the emperor & his counsellors, whose duty it shall be to inquire into all complaints against them from their subjects & to redress grievances & punish for oppression & injustice by fines. He & his Coun sellors shall have the explusive priviledge of coining money. They may likewise lay taxes for the sup port of the government & for the defence of the nation. They shall coin no more money than what is necessary for the convenience of the people, & in such quantity only that the value shall not depre ciate. In time of war he shall appoint the officers of his army except where the chiefs chuse to command their own subjects. In that case, they shall be sub ject to the commands of the Emperor. The people in every City town or village shall respectively chuse one or more Censors, whose duty it shall be to enquire into all mal-conduct of rulers, & all vicious & improper conduct of the priests & the people & they shall pursue such measures to obtain justice & to produce a reformation of morals in the offenders as the laws shall direct. In order that the priests & instructors of learning may know & perform their duty for the benefit of civilization, morality & religion, Lambon the third son of Lobaska shall preside over them & shall have the title of high Priest, & the office shall be heredi tary in the eldest males of his family successively. There shall be associated with him four priests as his assistants. They shall exercise a jurisdiction over all the priests of the Empire, & shall see that they faith fully perform the duties of their office. They shall attend to the instructors of learning & shall direct that a suitable number are provided thro'out the Empire. It shall likewise be their duty at all suita ble times & places to instruct Rulers & people in the duties of their respective Stations, <fc to labour inces santly to persuade mankind to restrain subject their passions & appetites under the government of Rea son, that they may secure happiness to themselves in this life & immortal happiness beyond the grave. The people shall make contribution in proportion to their wealth for the support of their priests. If any refuse they shall be denied the priviledge of their instructions & shall be subjected to the ridicule & contempt of the people. For the convenience of the people and the easy support of the government it is necessary that there government shou should be something which shall represent property, & which is of small weight. It is therefore provided that certain small pieces of iron stamped in a peculiar manner shall be this circu lating medium. Each piece according to its particu lar stamp shall have a certain value fixed upon it. It shall be the peculiar prerogative of the Emperor & his counsellors to direct the coining of these pieces, which shall be denominated money. No more money shall be coined than what will be for the benefit of the Empire, nor shall the Emperor & his counsellors receive any more of it than an adequate compensation for their services. They shall keep an account of the amount of money coined annually & the manner in which it has been distributed & expended. This account shall be submitted to the examination of the King of Sciota & the chiefs of the Empire. The Emperor shall always be ready to receive the petitions & complaints of his subjects, He shall consult the welfare of his people & save them from oppression & tyranny & by his beneficent acts shall gain their affections & obtain the appella tion of a just, a good & a glorious Prince. When Hadocam King of Sciota had received this plan of government, he immediately assembled all the chiefs or princes within his kingdom. Lobaska pointed out the defects of the existing governments, & the excellencies of that form which he presented for their acceptance. His reasons could not be resisted, they unanimously agreed to establish it as their constitution of Government. Labamack accepted the office of Emperor & his four counsellor were appointed. Lambon was ordained high Priest & his four assistants chosen. The new government was now put in operation. The various tribes living con tiguous to the Empire seeing its prosperity, solicited the priviledge of being received as parts of the Empire. Their requests were granted. Improvement & prosperity attended them. This induced other con tiguous Tribes to request the same priviledge, <fc others still adjoining them came forward with their petitions. All were granted & the same regulations established in every part. Within about three years from the first establishment of the Empire, Lobaska had the pleasure of seeing his son reign over a territory of more than four hundred miles in length along the River Ohio, A of beholding a nation rapidly progressing from a state of barbarism, ignorance & wretchedness, to a state of civilization 4 prosperity. Having now beheld the happy result of his experi ment at Sciota, Lobaska made a second viset to Bambo king of Kentuck. The second son whose name was Hamback, was present at the city of Gamba at His youngest son Kalo attended him. He made known his plan of revolution to Bambo, who cordially acquiessed <fe called together his princes. They unanimously agreed to place Hamback on the throne of the Empire south of the Ohio River, & to ordain Kalo as their high Priest. With the excep tion of names & places the constitution of government was the same as that which the Sciotans adopted. The same measures were purpued to insure its suc cess. A great & flourishing Empire arose <fc barba rous tribes connected themselves with the Empire, & under the fostering care of the government became wealthy civilized & prosperous. Thus within the term of twelve years from the arival of Lobaska at Golanga, he had the satisfaction of beholding the great & benevolent objects which he had in view accomplished. He still continued his useful Labours & was the great Oriole of both Empires. His advice & sentiments were taken upon all important subjects, & no one ventured to contro vert his opinions. He lived to behold the successful experiment of his institutions, <fc to see them acquire that strength & firmness as not easily to be over thrown. Having- acquired that renown & glory which are beyond the reach of envy, & which aspiring ambition would despair of attaining, at the age of eighty he bade an affectionate adieu to two Empires & left them to lament in tears hisjmle exit. These two empires continued to progress in their improvements & population, & to rival each other in prosperity during the reign of Ten successive Emper ors on the throne of Sciota. Peace & harmony & a friendly intercourse existed between them. No wars took place to disturb their tranquility, except what arose from the surrounding Savages, who sometimes disturbed the frontiers in a hostile manner for the sake of gaining plunder. But these attacks were generally repelled & defeated, without much loss of blood. They were in fact of such trifling conse quence as to make no perceptible impediment to prevent the population improvement & prosperity of both Empires, & happy, thrice happy would it have been for them if they had still continued to have pur sued the amicable & benevolent principles, which first marked the commencement & progress of their insti tutions. CHAT. X. MILETARY ARRANGEMENTS, AMUSEMENTS, CUSTOMS & EXTENT OP THE EMPIRES. THE customs & amusements of a Nation evince the state of society which exists among the people. When the two Empires of Sciota & Kentuck had commenced their new career on the plan which was > \*1 v THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.1' 71 formed by Lobaska, they adopted as a true maxim that to avoid wai it was necessary to be in constant preparation for it. It was the wise policy of of the two governments to make such military arrangements as never to be surpriz^ by any enimy unprepared. In every city town & vir'ge the people were required to provide military impliments, & to deposit them in a secure place. These magazines were to contain a sufficient quantity of arms & warlike impliments to furnish every man who should be able to bear arms should be destitute. In order that every man might have sufficient skill to use them to advantage, great p;iins was taken to prepare him by teaching him the arts of war. The knowledge of military tackticks as they it was then attainable, was likewise difused among the peo ple. Young men from sixteen to twenty five years old were required to take the field four times in each year. & to spend sixteen days during each time in learning the military art, <fc in building fortifications. And very able-bodied men were required to spend eight days in each year in the same employments. In consequence of these regulations a rivalship existed among the different sexions of the Empire to exceed each other in skill & dexterity in their mili tary manoevers. Hence it was a general custom in every part of the country for different bodies of men to meet to engage in feigned battles once every year, in order to make a display of their improvements in the art of war. Premiums were given to those who were the most expert in shooting the arrow or in managing the spear & the sword. Their amusements were generally of the athletick kind, calculated to improve their agility & strength & prepare them for warriors. Wrestling, slinging, & throwing stones at marks, leaping ditches & fences dfc climbing trees & pricipices were some of their most favorite diversions. And as they took great pains to perfect themselves in these exercises, it would astonish Spectators of other nations, to observe the improvement they had made & the extraordinary feats of agility & strength which they exhibited. Other diversions which had no tendency to fit them for war they seldom practiced, except when in the company of women, being taught by their religion the social virtues, they manifested a great regard for the rights of the other sex & always treated them with attention civility & tenderness. Hence, when in the company of the fair sex it was curious to observe that when in the company of women they easily exchanged the warriors ruged AJbold attitude of the bold warrior for the complasant & tender deport ment of the affectionate galant. The amusements which were pleasing to the female mind were equally pleasing to the men, whenever they held their social meeting for recreation. These meetings were fre quent among the younger class of Citizens, whether married or single. Various kinds of amusements would frequently be introduced at such times for their mutual entertainment, but that which held the most conspicuous place was dancing. But their manner of Dancing was different from that of the polished Europians. Gracefulness & easy attitude were not so much studied in their movements as sprightliness & agility, & those tunes which admitted the greatest display of activity & sprightliness were generally the most pleasing fashionable. Hence those whose bodies were formed for the quickest movements if they keept time with the music, were the most admired. In small assemblies it was fash ionable to amuse themselves with at playing with pieces of parchment. This they denominate the Bird Play. Each peice o_f is of an oval form A of convenient length & width & on each one is portraid the likeness of a Bird. All the birds of Prey that came within their knowledge have the honour of being represented on these peices of Parchment. On the other pieces are portraid other birds of different kinds The whole number of the peices amount to about sixty. These are promiscuous placed in a pack & dealt of to the company of players whose number does not exceed six. The person then, who has the greatest number of carnivorous Birds by a dextrous management, may catch the greatest number of the other Birds & thus obtain the victory. During these enterviews of the different sexes <fc even in their common intercouse with each other they are always very cheerful & sociable <fc often display that fondness & familiarity, which in Europe would be considered as indicative of a lascivious character, but in this country are considered as what good man ners requird^ Nothing rude nothing indecent or immodest according to their ideas of the meaning of these terms, are admissible in company, <fc absolute 74 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.1' lasciviousness would meet the most severe reprehen sion. When a young man wishes to settle himself in a family state he proclaims it by wearing a red feather in his cap. This is considered as an admonition to the young women who would not receive him for a husband, to avoid his company, whereas those whose inclinations towards him are more favourable admit his attentions. From this number he selects one as the object of his addresses. He obtains an enterview & proposes a courtship. If the proposition accords with her wishes, they then agree on a time when he shall make known the affair to her parents, whose approbation being obtained, he is then permited to viset her ten times in sixty days. At the expiration of this time the bargain for matrimony must be fin ished. Otherwise there must be a final termination of the courtshi or a postponement of the courtship, for the term of one year, or else a The parties are at liberty during the postponement to But if the parties are pleased with each other, the contract is made & the time for the celebra performance of the nuptial ceremonies is appointed. An entertainment is pro vided made friends are invited & the Bridegroom & the Bride present themselves in their best apparel. The company form a circle & they take their stand in the centre. The father of the Bride speaks. For what purpose do you present yourselves They answer, to join hands in wedlock. Our hearts are already joined, & we have made a solemn contract covenant to be true & faithful to each other. The company then all explain. "Blessings will attend you if ye fulfil, but Curses if ye transgress. They are then conducted jinto a log, round which a Rope is tied. The Bride groom takes hold of one end of the rope & the Bride the other, <fc being commanded to draw the log into the house. They pull in opposite directions with all their might. Having worried themselves for some time to no purpose to the great diversion of the company, the parents of both parties step forward & giving them a severe reprimand, com mand them to draw in the same direction. They instantly obey & the Log is easily drawn to its des tined place. The rest of the time is spent in great cheerfulness, & meriment. They partake of the entertainment & conclude with customary amuse ments. The Bridegroom & Bride are now desirous to form a family by themselves. If their parents are of sufficient ability they furnish them with a convenient house & such furniture as will be required for family use & such other property as they^will need to enable them to obtain a comfortable living. But if their parents are poor they receive a pittance & contribu tions from relations & neighbours, db are placed in such a situation that with proper industry & econimy they can live live above indigence <fe enjoy life agreeably. At the time they enter their new habitation they are attended by Priests <fc by their relation & friends. They kneel in the centre of the Room <fc the Priest places his right hand on the head of the Bridegroom & his left on the head of the Bride. After explaining & enjoining in the most solemn manner the various duties of the married state, he concludes his injunc tions with these words. "My Dear children, I conjure you as you regard your own peace <fe felicity, as you would wish to acquire wealth <fe reapectibility__A set an example worthy of emitation, that as you are now yoked together to draw in the same direction. They then rise & he presents each with a piece of Parchment on which is written Draw in the same direction All the duties of the conjugal state in their opinion are comprized in this injunction Com mand. As the Priests <fe the Censors were vigilent & caref ul to required to see that parents restrained the vices of their children & instructed them in the knowledge of their religious principles the effects were very conspicuous. Having been early taught to restrain the govern their passions & to regard the practice of virtue as their greatest good, it was generally the case that love friendship & harmony existed in families. & when parents were treated by their children with great tenderness & respect Parents manifested an anxious solicitude for the future welfare & respectibility of their children, & in their turn children treated their parents with respect & reverence. Nor did they forsake them in old age, but paid provided liberally for their support &^ But we are not to suppose that in the most virtu ous age of the nation all were virtuous. Far from this. But with such punctual exactness were the laws executed, in the most prosperous state of the nation, that vice & impiety had but few advocates & the wicked were ashamed of their own characters. Tho' every vice was prohibited by law, yet the pen alties were not severe. Murder alone was punished with death. With respect to other Laws, they were cal culated to wound the pride & ambition of the trans gressor, <fc produce shame <fc regret. Adultery wasis punished by obliging the Culprit to wear a pair of Elk horns on his shoulders six days, & to walk thro* the City or vilage once each day, at which times the boys are at liberty to pelt him with rotten eggs. The thief is compelled to make ample restitution. For the third offense he is covered with tar & feath ers & exhibited as a specticle for laughter & ridicule. Pugilists or boxers, if they are equally to blame for fighting, are yoked together at least one day, & in this situation are presented to the view of the multi tude. They must wear the yoke until the quarrel is settled. Such being the nature of their penal laws & such the punctuality of executing the penal ties on offenders that crimes were far less frequent in this country than in Europe, where the Laws are more severe, & offenders more often escape punish ment. Tho' learning civilization & refinement had not arrived at that state of perfection, in which they exist in a great part of the Roman Empire, yet the two Empires of Sciota & Kentuck during their long period of peace & prosperity, were not less happy As luxury and extravagance were scarcely known to exist especially among the common people, an happy equality was hence there was a great simi larity in their manner of living, their dress, their habits & manners. Pride was not bloated & puffed up with enormous wealth. Nor had envy fewel to inflame her hatred & malice. As the two Empires were not displeased with each others prosperity & happiness & the two governments had no thirst nor jealous of nor jealous of each others power, & as the governments were not infested with a thirst for con quest, Peace of consequence waved her olive branch, & the malignant passions lay dormant. Avarice & corruption did not contaminate the ruling powers nor bribery infest the seats of justice. The people felt secure in the enjoyment of their rights, & desirous to raise up families to partake of the same blessings which they enjoyed We can now trace the causes of their increase & prosperity. To a religion which presented powerful motives to restrain vice & impiety, & encourage vir tue. To the difusion of a competent share of learn ing & knowledge to enable the people to understand their right & enjoy the pleasures of social intercourse. To the establishment of political institutions, which gagrded property & life against oppressing injustice & tyranny.. To the knowledge which the people obtained of agriculture & the mechanical arts & their habits of industry & econimy. To the mild nature of their laws & the certainty of executing the penalty upon transgressors, & to such an equality of property as to prevent the pride of wealth & the extravagance of Luxury. To such causes may be ascribed the rapid encrease of population, & the apparent content ment & felicity which extended thro' every part of the country of the Empires. We might add like wise the long peace that continued & the friendly intercourse that existed between the two rival Empires. A peace which had no interruption for the term of near five hundred years. During this time their vil lages & cities were greatly enlarged, new settlements were formed in every part of the country which had not been inhabited, & towns a vast number of towns were built, which rivaled as to number of inhabitants, those which existed at the time their imperial govern ments were founded. Their settlements extended the whole length of the great River Ohio to its confluence with the Mississippi, <fc over the whole country on both sides of the Ohio River, which are watered by streams which empty into it. And also along the great lakes of Eri & Mishigan, & even some settle ments were formed in some parts of the country which borders on Lake Ontarion. Such was the vast extent of the country which they inhabited, & such the fertility of the soil, that many milions were easily fed & supported with such a plenty, & competence of provision as was necessary for their comfort & hap piness. During the time of their rising greatness & tran quillity, their policy led them to fortify the country in every part, the interior as well as the frontiers. This they did partly for their own safety, provided a war should take place, & they should be invaded by an enimy, & partly to keep alive a military & improve a warlike spirit, & the knowledge of military tackticks. Near every vilage or City they constructed forts or fortifications These were generally of an oval form & of different dimentions according to the number of inhabitants who lived in the town. The Ramparts or walls were formed of dirt which was taken in front of the fort. A deep canal or trench would likewise be formed. This would still increase the dificulty of surmounting the walls in front In addition to this they inserted sticks pieces of Timber on the top of the Ramparts. These peices were about seven feet in length from the ground to top, which was sharpned. The distance between each piece was about six inches, thro' which they would shoot their arrows against an Enimy. Some of their fortifications have two Ramparts which run paralel with each other, built in the same manner with a distance between of about two or three perches. Their gates are strong & well constructed for defense. Within these forts are likewise a number of small houses, for the accom modation of the army & inhabitants, in case of an invasion <fc likewise a storehouse for the reception of provisions & arms. A country thus fortified, con taining so many milions of inhabitants hearty & robust & with habits formed for war, might well be supposed as able to defend themselvs against an invading enimy. If they were beat from the frontier, they would still retreat back to the fortifications in the interior & there make a successful stand. But what avails all the wisdom, the art & the works of men, what avails their valour their strength & num bers, when the Almighty God is provoked to chastise them, & to execute his vengeance in their overthrow & destruction. THE "MANUSCRIPT ( CHAT. XI. As the Sciotans & the Kentuoks had maintained with eaoh other an unterrupted peace & friendly intercourse for the space of four hundred & eighty years, it seems almost incredible that a Cause which was of no great importance to either nation, should excite their resentment against each other & produce all the horrors of war. But such was the unhappy effect of an affair, which had no regard to a single person except the imperial families Gi the two empires & the king of Sciota. As the families had were dessended from the great Lobaska, they had during the reign of all their Emperors been in the habit of visiting each other, but as each Emperor & his chil dren were required not to marry out of their respec tive dominions, no intermariages had taken place. They however claimed relationship, & still continued to each other the appelation of our dearest & best beloved Cousen. A Cousen of this description, who was the eldest son of Hamboon, the Emperor of Kentuck arrived at the City of Golanga with a small but splendid retinue of Friends. At that time Rambock, who was the fourteenth Emperor, was seting on the throne of Sciota. He received the young Prince with apparent sensation of the highest pleasure, & spared no pains to manifest towards him by his treatment the greatest esteem & friendship. The Emperor had an only son whose name was Moonrod. He ordered him to attend the young prince & to treat him with every token of affection & honour. They spent their time in receiv ing visets from the officers of the government, in viewing curiosities, & in the assemblies of the first Class of young citizens who met for recreation. Elseon, for this was the name of the young prince, was soon after his arival introduced to Lamesa, the eldest daughter of the Emperor. She was a young Lady of a very fair & beautiful countenance. Her features & the construction of her person were formed to please the fancy, whilst the ease & gracefulness & modesty of her deportment, were very pleasing to all her acquaintance. Her mind was replenished with the principles of knowledge & virtue & such was her vivacity and the ease with which she expressed her ideas, that all were delighted with her conversation. No wonder that this fair imperial dansel attracted the attention of Elsion, & at their first enterview enkindled a spark in his boosom, which he could hardly prevent from being discovered thro his blushing countanance, & the embarassment he felt in conversation. He strove to erase those tender impressions which she had made on his heart, but in vain; every renewed enterview only served only to fix her image deeper in his mind with & to make the flame of Love more difficult to extinguish. He reasoned on the obsticles in the way of obtaining this young lady for his partner, but instead of cooling only ser it only increased the ardor of his passion, & produced a resolution that with the consent of Lamesa, nothing should prevent the attainment of his wishes. To a mind thus ardent which possessed the native courage, resolution & perseverance of Elseo, the most gigantic obsticles would vanish into vapour. Nor was it long before he found that a correspondent pas sion was excited in her breast. The moment she first saw him, her heart palpitated, her face was covered with crimson, she turned her eyes & attempted to speak, her tongue stopt its motion in the midle of a period. She .named, sat down & observed that she was not well. A description of this scene is painted by a Sciotan bard in poetic numbers. He represents the young Lady as recovering in a short time from this state of agitation <fc confusion, & as being afterwards composed & having a better command of her pas sions. To follow the poet in the description which he gives of Elseon, to whom he attaches a countenance & figure superior to other mortals, & qualities which produced the universal esteem & admiration, would not comport with the faithful page of history. Suf fice it to say that Lamesa was captivated with his person, & was impressed with those ideas <fc senti ments that her happiness fled except when she either enjoyed or anticipated his company. After Elsion had firmly determined to marry Lamesa, he was impatient for a private enterview with her to disclose his sentiments. This occured in a short time. They were together in one of the apartments of the Emper ors palace, the company had all retired. I have, said he in a low voice to Lamesa, conceived that opinion of you that I hope you will not be displeased if I express my feelings with frankness & sincerity. You must, she replied, be the best judge of what it is proper for you to express. I am always pleased with sincerity. As the sun, says he, my dear Lamesa, when he rises with his radiant beams, dispels the darkness of knight, so it is in your power to dispel the clouds of anxiety that rest upon my soul. The Crown of Kentuck will be like a Rock on my head, unless you will condesend to share with me the glory & felicity of my reign. Will you consent to be my dearest friend & companion for life? There is nothing, she replies, would give me more pleasure than a compliance with your request, provided it shall meet the approbation of my Father. But how can he consent, when our Constitution requires that his daughters should marry in his own domin ions? Beside, my father intends that I shall receive the King of Sciota for my husband. By perform ming, says he, the oerimonies of maraige at Talanga, we shall literally comply with the imperial constitu tion, as Talanga is within the dominions of your Father. But as for the King of Sciota, do you sin cerely wish to have him for a husband? No, she quickly replies, speaks anger sparkled in her eyes. No. the King of Sciota for my husband. His pride, his haughtiness, the pomposity of all his movements excite my perfect disgust. I should as leave be yoked to a porcupine. Several These Lovers, as you may well conjecture, said many things too tender & endearing to please the taste of the common Class of Lovers. In this enterview which lasted about four hours, they exchanged the most transporting expression of love, made the most solemn protests vows of sincerity & perpetual friendship & finally agreed that Elseon should make known to the Emperor their mutual desire to be joined in wedlock. The next day he wrote to the Emperor as follows. May it please your most excellent Majesty. Per mit me to express my most sincere gratitude for the high favors & honour, which thro' the beneficence of of your Majesty I have enjoyed in your dominions. I am likewise impelled to request a favour, which to me would be the most precious gift, that is in the power of your Majesty to bestow. Having contracted an acquaintance with your most amiable daughter Lamesa, & finding that a correspondent affection A esteem exist in our hearts toward each other A a mutual desire to be united by the solemn covenant of maraige, I would therefore solicit your Majesty's per mission that such a connection be formed. Such a connection I conceive, may in its effect be very salutary & beneficial to bothe Empires. It will unite the two imperial families in a nearer in the bond of consanguinity, A fix upon them an additional obli gation to cultivate friendship, peace & an amiable intercourse. It will strengthen the sinues of both governments & promote & promote an happy inter change of friendly offices. As to the objection that might arise from the constitution requiring, that the Emperors daughters should marry in his own domin ions, this according to its literal meaning can have respect only to the place where the Emperors daughter shall marry. If by your Majestys permis sion, I should marry your daughter Lamesa in your dominions it will be a literal fulfillment of the oonsti88 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.'1 tution. From this ground therefore, I conceive that no objection of any weight can arise. Will your majesty please to vouchsafe me an answer to my request. Signed. ELSEON. PRINCE OF KENTUOK. This letter was presented to the Emperor by Helicon, an intimate friend of Elseon. The Emperor read it assumed the aspect of deep consideration, walked the room a few moments, then took a seat & told Helicon that he might inform the young prince that he should receive an answer in a ten days. But why this few Ten days, a long time for two ardent lovers to remain in suspense. But the Em peror must consult his counsellors, his priests & the last & most fatal counsellor of all the King of Sciota, who presumed to claim the hand of the fair Lamesa. The affair became public. The popular sintiment at first favoured the connection. The Emperors coun sellors & his priests were at first inclined to recom mend an affirmative answer. But the interest of the Sciotan King soon prevailed. This produced a dif ferent view of the subject The Counsellors perceived that such a connection would be a most flagrant violation of the true meaning & spirit of the constitu tion, & the priests considered that it would be an act of the greatest impiety, as it transgress an explicit injunction of the great founder of their government & religion. This opinion had vast Weight on the minds of a great majority of the people. The more liberal sort vindicated the cause of Elseon. This produced a great debate altercation A confusion thro* the City. All were anxious to know the Emperora decision. On the tenth day the Emperor transmitted to the prince the following answer to his letter. To our best beloved Cousen Elseon Prince of Kentuck. The letter we received from your highness has impressed our hearts with a deep sense of the honor & benefit, which you intended uor family & Empire. At first we were inclined to accept of the alliance you proposed. But having examined <fe considered the subject with great seriousness & attention, we that find that to admit your Highness who is not a citizen of our Empire to marry into our family, would be a most flagrant violation of the true meaning <fe spirit of our constitution. & an impious outrage on the sacred memory of its Founder For these reasons we must solicit your Highness not to insist on our com pliance with your request. Signed. HAMBOCK, EMPEROR OF SCIOTA. As Elseon had been informed of the complexion which his affairs had assumed in the court, & thro' the City, he was prepared for the alswer which he received. Without manifesting the least chagrin or Resent ment, he appeared to acquiesse in the decision of the Emperor. He displayed his in his countenance, his conversation <fc deportment, his usual cheerfulness & vivacity. He continued his amusements & asso ciated with company with the same ease, gracefulness & dignified conduct which he had done before. At the same time, his determination was fixed to trans port the fair Lamesa into his fathers dominions. The first enterview he had with her after he received the Emperors letter, he informed her of its contents. She trembled, paleness began to cover her face, & had not Elseon received her into his arms, perhaps she would have falen from her seat However, by a few soothing words and caresses, she was restored to her former composure & recollection. Believe me, quoth he, my Dearest Lamesa, you shall be mine. This heart shall be torn from my bosom, & these limbs from my body, nothing else shall prevent our union & compleat enjoyment of happiness. Can the ancient scribbling of a great sage or the degree of an Em peror prevent the streams from uniting with the ocean? With the same ease & propriety can they prevent the union of our hands, since our hearts are united. With your consent, you shall be mine. Is it possible, she replies, is it possible to disregard the authority of an indulgent & beloved parent & disobey his com mand. This I never did. What if he should com mand you, says Elseao, to marry the King of Sciota? would you obey? He might, she replies, with more regard to my happiness, command me to plunge a dagger into my heart. I cannot endure that super cilious bundle of pride & affectation. At this moment her maid entered the room & gave her a letter. I received this letter, she says, from your Brother, who told me it was from the Emperor. She opened it & read. My Dearest & best beloved Daughter. Having the most tender & affectionate regard for your future welfare A felicity, we have concluded a treaty of marriage between you <fc Lambul the King of Sciota. This alliance will be honourable to our family & be productive of many benefits to the Empire. On the tenth day from this time the nuptial ceremonies will be celebrated, con summated in our Palace. You will be in readiness & yield a cheerful compliance with our will. Signed. BAMBOCK. EM'R OP SCIOTA. Had the lightning flashed from the clouds & pierced her heart, it could not have produced a more instan taneous effect. She fell into the arms of Elseon, the maid ran for a cordial. Elseon rubed her temples & hands & loosened the girdle about her waist. Within about an hour her blood began to circulate. Elseon to his inexpressible joy felt her pulse begin to beat, & perceived flashes of colour in her face. With a plaintive groon, she once more opened her eyes to the beams of day, & in a kind of wild dis traction exclaimed, Ah cruel, cruel Father, why have you doomed your daughter to a situation the most odious & disgustful. As well might you have thrown her into a den of porcupines, opossums A serpents. With such animals I could enjoy life with less disgust <fc torment, than with this mighty King of Sciota, and An alliance with him an honour to our family, an honour to the descendants of the great Lobaska! What wicked counsellors have deceived my Father, & induced him to throw me into the arms of this hateful monster? Ah, whither shall I fly & escape my barberous destiny. I am your protector, says Elseon. | am your friend & will conduct you beyond the loving & gigantic grasp of Sambol. His loathsome arms shall never encircle my dear Lamesa. Consent to my request & we will be within ten days at the City of Gamba. There you will be esteemed as the brightest Orniment of my Fathers Empire. No longer Oh Elseon, she exclaimed, can I refuse my consent to your proposal. When a compliance with my fathers commands will entail wretchedness & misery thro' life. Heaven will pardon my disobe dience. Yes, Elseo, I will go with you, & place my happiness in your power, rather than fall into the hands of this haughty Sambul. What could she say more to excite the feelings of a heartTstruggling under the operation of different pas sions &^pposite^motives. She has taken her resolu tion, love has gained the preeminence over every obsticle At this resolution, Elseon was transported with joy. He now proceedejMx) form his plans for their flight. On the fourth day after, he called upon the Emperor & requested his permission to depart to his own Country^ The Emperor importuned him to tarry & be one of the guests at Lamesas wedding. But he declined ^by urging as his apology the anxiety & impatience of his father for his return. Permission was granted, & the Emperor aded that he should do himself the honour to furnish the prince with an escort when he left the city. Elseon replied that as he was not fond of much parade, he would wish that the escort might not consist of the Emperors soldiers, only his friend <fe his daughter A with with each of them a friend. These says he, are my dearest <fe best beloved cousens, for whom I shall ever retain the most sincere friendship. Nothing can afford me more pleasure, says the Emperor, than to comply with your request. Elseon took an affectionate leave of the Emperor A on the second day after, being prepared for his journey he set off with his three friends <t their eervants. Moonrod, prince of the Empire, & Lamesa with her two sisters, with each of them a friend, attended them on his journey about twenty miles. They all tarried at a vilage over night. Imagination alone can paint the pleasant <fe happy scene. Elseon was transported with joy. He prest her to his bosom with all the ardor of inthusiasm, <fc she yielded to all his tender & innocent embraces with a grateful sensibility & modest resignition. The invention & ingenuity of Elseon must now be employed in forming a plan for their flight to his Fathers dominions. As he appeared to acquiesse in the decision of the Emperor, & had maintained the same cheerful deportment, none were suspicious of his design. The Emperor & the whole court still manifested toward him every token of high respect & sincere friendship. Without any hesitation, the Emperor complied with his request that his dear cousins, the son & the three daughters of the Emperor, with each of them a friend, should accom pany him about twenty miles on his return to Kentuck. The retinue of the young Prince consisted of four of his most intimate friends & their servants. He took care to send their baggage on by two serv ants one day before they set out. The morning arived, the sun shone with radiant splendor, not a cloud intervened or was seen to float in the atmos phere. It was the fourth day after Lamesa had received the letters which doomed her to the embraces of Sambul. The Emperor, his Counsellors, his Priests & principal officers assembled, & having invited the young prince & his friends to meet them, they entered the circle with great ceremony. The Em peror then addressed the Young Prince, thanked him for the honour of his viset & expressed his firm determination, to maintain a sincere friendship & an inviolable peace with the government of Kentuck. Elseon replied that the whole sentiments would meet the cordial approbation of his Father, who retained the same sentiments of friendship & peace toward the government of Sciota. He then thanked the Emperor & the whole assembly for the high respect they had shown him. This was done with that frank ness & apparent sincerity that the whole assembly were highly pleased. The Emperor then embraced him & gave him his blessing. Customary ceremonies were mutually exchanged by the whole company, & even tears were seen to drop from every eye. As the whole of this parade indicates no flight of Elseon & Lamesa, we must now view them with their select company of friends setting out on a short journey. All mounted on horses, they rode about twenty miles to a village where they halted. An eligant supper was provided, they were chearful & TUB "MANUSCRIPT STORY." 93 sociable, none appeared more so, that Elseon & Lamesa. The next day Elsean requested the com pany of his dear cousens a short distance on his journey. When they had rode about two miles they halted & proposed to take their leave of each other Lamesa & her friend, without being perceived by the company rode on. It was a place where the road turned, & by riding one rod, they could not be seen. The rest of the company entered into a short con versation & passed invitation for reciprocal visets <fc friendly offices. They then clasped each others hands & bowing very low, took an affectionate fare well. But where are Lamesa & her friend? During these ceremonies their horses move with uncommon swiftness, her heart palpitates with an apprehension that she might be overtaken by her brother. But now a friend more dear, her beloved Elseon, with his companions, outstrip the wind in their speed. & within one hour & half they overtake these fearful Damsels. They all precipitate their course, casting their eyes back every moment to no purpose, her pursuers. But pursuers had not sufficient time to overtake them. They safeijTarive on~the Bank of the Great River. Elseon & Lamesa were the first that entered the boat, the rest follow. & such was Klseons engagedness & anxiety to secure his fair prize, that he even seized an oar and used it with great strength & dexterity. As their feet stept on the opposite shore, Elseon claspt his hands <fc spoke aloud, Lamesa is mine. She is now beyond the grasp of a pompous tyrant, & the control of a father whose mind is blinded by the sordid advice of a menial junto of counsellors & priests. She is mine & shall soon be the Princess of Kentuck. Their movement is no slow thro' the remaining part of their journey. They at length arive at the great City of Gamba. We may now contemplate them as having new scenes to pass thro* Not to delineate the parade which was made at the court of Hamboon, for the reception of his son, Lamesa, & their friends, or to describe the joy that was exhibited in every part of the city on their arival, & the universal surprize occasioned by the story of the flight of these two Lovers. Suffice it to say, that those who beheld Lamesa did not blame Elseon. As Hamboon was not very punctilious in his regard for the constitution, being possessed of very liberal sentiments, Elseon found no difficulty in obtaining his consent to marry Lamesa. On the fourth day after their arival, Elseon & Lamesa, with each of them a friend appeared on a stage, which was erected on the public square of the City. The Emperor & Empress with his counsellors, his Priests his officers, & all his relations, with the -principal Ladies of the City, formed a procession & surrounded the stage. The common Citizens being a great multitude, took their stands as they pleased. The Emperor & Empress then mounted the stage, & united Elseon & Lamesa in the bond of wedlock according to custom. & as pulling the Log was an indespensible ceremony one was provided with a rope around it on the stage. The Bridegroom & Bride played their parts in pulling the rope with such dexterity & gracefulness, that the whole assembly was most pleasingly entertained. THE ''MANUSCRIPT STORY." 95 When all was ended, the whole assembly clapetf their hands & cried, Long live Elseon & Lamesa. & giv ing three huzzas, the common citizens dispersed. The rest repaired to a sumptuous entertainment, & spent the remaining part of the day & evening in conversation, singing & recreation. CHAP XII. THE reader will recollect that Elseon A his friends left Moonrod & his friends in a very pleasant mood without the least suspicion, that Lamesa & her friend had deserted them. When they had arrived at the vilage, what was their surprize when they found that Lamesa & her friend were not in the company, nor had any one any recollection of her being in com pany, after they had stopped to take their leave of Elseon. Moonrod & the other gentlemen immediately rode back with the greatest speed to the place where they had halted, <fc not finding any traces of her Lamesa the conclusion was then certain that she had prefered the company of the young Prince & was on her \vay to Kentuck. Pursuit would be in vain. Their only alternative was to hasten back to carry the doleful intelligence to the Emperor. Their speed was nearly equal to that of Elseon. Without waiting to perform the cus tomary ceremony of entering the palace, Moonrod immediately rushed into the Emperors presence, & exclaimed, your daughter Lamesa has been seduced by Elseon to leave our company unperceived, & has gone with him to Kentuck. Nothing but the pencil of the Limner, could paint the Astonishment of the Emperor. He rose, stood motionless for a moment, then staring fiercely on Moonrod he spoke, is it pos sible, is it possible, are you not mistaken my Son. I am not, says he, my most excellent Father. I am not mistaken. This morning we attended Elseon a small distance from the village where we lodged. When we had halted to take our leave & our attention was all engaged she & her friend she & her friend rode off unperceived by any of our company nor did we miss her until we arived again at the vilage. We have made full search & enquiry, & find that she has absolutely gone with the young prince to Kentuck. What an ingrate says the Emperor, what a monster of hipocrisy Did the honourable attention we have shown him demand such treatment? How has he insulted the dignity of our family & outraged the high authority of our government. This affair will demand the most serious consideration. O Lamesa, Lamesa, my darling my best beloved child, was it possible for you to be so deceived by that artful prince, was it possible for you to disobey the com mand of your indulgent father? as they stept on the covering top of the canal, the thin pieces of timber broke & they all plunged in & found themselves in an instant at the bottom of the canal. Surprised & terrified & tliey soon found themselves in no situation to vindicate their exclusive right to wear blue feathers in their caps. They were compleatly in the power of their enimies who returned quick upon them They demanded quarter & surrendered themselves prisoners of war. And giving up their arms, their demand was granted. In the meantime a party of Soiotans who lay in ambuah, on the side of the Hill rushed down upon the reserved corps of the Kentucks, who being filled with consternation at the direful disaster of their companions, surrendered themselvs prisoners of war without a struggle. Thus in a few moments, by pursuing the stratigem or plan of Lobaska, An army of thirty Thousand men were captured, <fe the pride & haughtiness of a mighty Prince was humbled. Not a drop of blood was shed to accomplish the whole. & bring upon our family such wretchedness <fc dishon our. Fame with Her Thousand tongues commenced her pleasing employment, & as swift as the wings of Time she wafted the inteligence thro' the City with many distorted & exaggerated particulars. All was astonishment confusion & uproar. Resentment enkindled her indignant sparks into a flame & the general cry was revenge & war. The Sciotan King was walking in his parlour, feeding his imagination with the pleasing prospect of his. future glory & felicity. I am, quoth he to himself, honoured above all the other princes of the Empire, <fc even above the heair apparent to the imperial crown of Kentuck. Who could be admitted except myself to marry this fair Lamesa, the eldest daughter of the Emperor, the most amiable the most accomplished & the most hon orable Lady in the universe. This is a distinction which will place me on equal ground with the Emperor himself, & command from all my subjects the homage of their highest respect and reverence. Besides I have a soul that can relish the charms of the beautiful maid. She will adore me as her Lord & think herself highly honoured & exceeding happy to submit to my most endearing & affectionate embraces. But ah, mighty Sambul, you little tho't how soon this delightful prospect would be reversed, & that your soul would be filled with chagrin indignation & revenge. A messenger burst into his parlour & announced the astonishing tidings of Lamesas elopement. She had absolutely gone, says he, to become the wife of Elseon, & the empress of Kentuck. Not the wondrous & instantaneous roar of ten Thousand thunders instantaneously thro* the atmosphere, could have produced greater surprise. His countanance was all amazement It was for a moment covered with paleness, his lips quiv ered, his knees smote together & his gigantic body trembled like the shaking of a tower under the effects of an earthquake. But soon after a little silent his reflections & cogitations caused the blood to return with a ten -fold velocity into his face, it assumed the colour of redness & clinching He assumed the atti tude of terrific majesty & poured forth his feelings in a voice more terrible than the roaring of a volcano. How have I been abused, dishonoured, insulted & outraged. How have my prospects of glory been instantaneously blasted & my character, my character become the ridicule of a laughing world. What felicities of enjoying the imperial maid in my arms, THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.'1 99 adoring me for her husband are now vanished. A by whom am I thus disgraced insulted & injured? By the mock prince of Kentuck, an effeminate stripling, a cringing & plausible Upstart. He has robed me of the fairest orniment of my kingdom, sjhe Lamesa, who was mine by solemn contract, & must he now revel in her charms which are mine, & pride himself in those deceitful arts by which he has seduced her, & stolen her from my enjoyment? No, ungrateful & insidious monster, your triumph shall be of short duration, & this arm shall viset your crimes upon your head with a ten -fold vengence. Having poured forth a torrent of the most dreadful imprecations & menaces, he left his parlour & walked forth to consult his principal officers on the best plan to obtain revenge. In the meantime the Emperor, less haughty & indignant, & possessed of sentiments more humane & benelent, sent an invitation to his Counsellors to attend him. They were unanimous in the opinion that the offense of Elseon required reparation. But should war be the consequence, if he refused to return Lamesa? On this question, two of the coun sellors contended that an humble recantation would repair the injury done to the honour of the imperial family, & the authority of the government. The other two insisted that they should demand in addition that would not be sufficient But that they should demand in addition ten Mammouth which would be an adequate compensation, but they all depreciated the horrors of war. In the midst of their debetea which were managed with great coolness & impartiality, Sambul presented himself. I have come forward says he, may it please your most excellent majesty, to demand the fulfillment of that solemn contract, which you made to deliver me your eldest daughter in marriage. She has been surreptitiously carried off by the young prince of Kentuck. She is mine by contract & your majesty is bound to deliver her to me. I demand Let her be immediately demanded, & if the Emperor the father of the young prince shall refuse to return her, this will implicate him in the same crime & be a sufficient cause of war. In that case war will be indespensible to vindicate the honour of our respective crowns, & the rights of the Empire. I should then give my voice for war, & would then never sheathe my sword until the torrents of blood had made expiation for the ingratitude baseness & perfidy of the young Princy. An humble recanta tion or the delivery of ten mammouth, would this be a sufficient reparation for such an offense so flagi tious? No, the very proposal would be an insult on the dignity of our government. Can anything short of the repossession of the fair object stolen, of the invaluable prize felonously taken from us, be an adequate compensation? Nothing short of this can heal our bleeding honour, appease the indignation of our subjects, & reinstate friendship & and an ami cable intercouse, between both Empires. Let this be your demand that Lamesa shall be returned. Let a refusal be followed by an immediate declaration of war, Let the resources & energies of the nation be called forth. Assemble your armies & pour destruc tion upon all who shall oppose the execution of our THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.'1 101 revenge. I myself will lead the van A mingle my arm with those who fight the most bloody battles. . Heroes shall fall before us, their towns shall be laid in ruins, & carnage shall glut our indignant Swords. When further deliberation had taken place, the Emperor & two of his counsellors adopted the advice of Sambul to demand Lamesa <fc an envoy was immediately "dispatched to the Emperor of Kentuck with the following Letter. May it please your most gracious majesty. Noth ing could have given us more pleasure than the dis position you manifested in sending Elseon, the heir apparent to your crown to viset our family. We treated him as our dearest Cousen <fc as our most intimate friend. He was invited to associate with our children, <fc to consider himself whilst he tarried as a member of our family. Such being the confidence we placed in his rectitude & honour, that he assumed the liberty to contract the most intimate acquaint ance with Lamesa, our eldest daughter. This pro duced an agreement between them, that with our consent they would be united in marriage. Nothing could have been more pleasing than such a connec tion. But we found that it would be a most flagrant violation of the true meaning & spirit of our constitu tion, & an impious outrage on the memory of its great founder. For these reasons, we signified our pleasure that Elseon would not insist on our com pliance with his request. He appeared to acquiesse in our decision. & we afterwards contracted with Sambul, King of Sciota to give her in marriage to him. 102 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.1' But the after conduct of your son, may it please your most gracious majesty, did not correspond with the high confidence we placed in him. With deep regret & the most painful sensations we are compeled to declare that he has committed a crime which has disturbed our peace & happiness, dishonoured our family & outraged the authority of our government, & the rights of our Empire. He has formed a plan to transport Lamesa into your dominions. To accom plish this, he made use of the most insidious arts, He took advantage of our clemency & indescretion, & the high respect we manifested toward him, & without our consent & contrary to our will, he has succeeded in transporting to the City of Gamba. in his perfidious design. Lamesa is doubtless with you in the City of Gamba. A crime which of such malignity, committed against the honour & interest & dignity of our family government & Empire demands reparation. Your majesty will perceive that the only adequate reparation which can be made, will be the return of Lamesa to our dominions. We therefore demand that she be conveyed back with all possible expidition. No other alternative can prevent the interruption of that confidence friendship & peace, which have long continued between both Empires, & save them from the horrors & calamities of war. Signed. RAMBOCK, EMPEROR OF SCIOTA. When Hamboon had received this letter, he imme diately invited his counsellors to attend him, & laid it before them, & as it was a subject of vast importance to the Empire, he likewise invited his priests & principal officers to join them in council. The vari ous passions appeared to operate in the course of their consultation. To avoid Hostilities, with all its attendant calamities, was what they most ardently desired, & some contended that if no other alterna tive could be agreed upon, it would be for the inter est of the Empire & the best policy to return the princess, but others reprobated this measure as pusilanimous, & cowardly & advised if no other repa ration would be received, to retain the princess & maintain the conflict with a manly & heroic firmness. What, say they, do not honour & justice require that we should defend the rights of the imperial family? If the Sciotan government should demand that we should send them our Emperor or Empress, would not honour impel us to spurn at the demand, & reject it with indignation? Their present demand is as pre posterous & as insulting. No satisfaction will they receive for the supposed injury, except that we should seize the Princess of the Empire, tare her from the bosom of her consort & transport her to Sciota. Are we capable of an act so unjust & inhu man, so base & disgraceful? As the debate was pro ceeding Elseon rose. May I says he— claim your attention a moment. Undaunted by the cruel demand <fc haughty menace of the Sciotan govern ment, I am willing to abide your decision. If trans porting Lamesa into our dominions when she had been most unjustly & inhumanly denied me for a companion, is a crime so perfidious <fc flagitious as of such magnitude, then inflict a punishment that shall be adequate to the offense. But if the Almighty, whose benevolence is infinite, has designed the union of hands where hearts are united, I have then trans gressed no divine law, but have obeyed the divine will. I am therefore innocent of any crime. I have an undoubted right to retain Lamesa for my wife, & no government on earth have any authority from heaven to tear her from my bosom. Nor will I sub mit to such an event, so long as the life blood circu lates thro* my heart & warms my limbs. If war must be the consequence of my proceedings, which trans gressed no principle of honour justice or humanity, were both innocent <fc honourable, it will give me the most painful feelings. I shall deplore its calamities, but will never shrink like a Dastard from the conflict. The Sciotan King, who is at the bottom of all the mischief shall never behold me fleeing before his gigantic sword, or skulking to avoid a single combat with him. You have therefore no other alternative but either first to slay your prince, & then like cowards to send back your princess to Sciota, or else to make immediate preparations to meet their threat ened vengeance, with fortitude & courage. This speach of the young prince united the whole council. & they unanimously agreed to reject the demand of the Sciotan government. A letter was written & an Envoy dispatched, with instructions to attempt a reconciliation. He precipitated his journey to the court of Rambock, & when he arrived, he delivered him the following letter. May it please your most excellent Majesty. Next to the welfare & prosperity of our Empire, we should rejoice in the welfare A prosperity of yours. It is therefore with extreme regret that we view the unhappy difference, which has arisen A which threat ens to involve the two Empires in the calamities of war. Had you demanded a reparation for the supposed injury which which would consist with the principles of justice A the honour of our crown & government, it should be given you with the utmost cheerfulness. But to return you Lamesa, who has now become the princess of Kentuck, would be tearing her from the arms of an affectionate husband A breaking the bond of solemn wedlock. As the compliance with your demand, will subject us to the commission of such an injustice A cruelty, it must therefore be our duty to declare that we will not return the young princess. A as such an event would destroy her happiness as well as that of her affectionate consort, we shall permit her to tarry in our dominions A grant her protection. We are however desirous that an honourable reconcilia tion may take place, & a good understanding be restored. To effect this most important A very desir able object, we have given full authority to Labanko our beloved brother, the bearer of this Letter, to negotiate a settlement of our difference, provided you will receive anything as a substitute for what the object you have demanded. Signed. HAMBOON, EMPEROR OP KENTUCK. The mind of Rambock was not formed for the per petual exercise of resentment, A malice, A having conversed a considerable time with Labanco, who apologized for the conduct of the young prince with great ingenuity his anger abated & he felt a disposi tion for the negotiation of friendship. But the indig nation & malice of Sambul encreased with time, his dark soul thirsted more ardently for revenge, & noth ing would satisfy but blood & carnage. He employed instruments to assist in faning the spark of resent ment, & blowing them into the flames of war. Not content to represent facts as they existed, & in their true colours, monstrous stories were fabricated & put in circulation, calculated to excite prejudice & rouse the resentment of the people against Elseon, & the whole Empire of Kentuck. He had recourse to a class of men who were denominated prophets & con jurors to favour his designs. They had for many ages a commanding influence on the minds of a great majority of the people. As they pretended to understand, have art of investigating the councils & designs of the heavenly Hierarchy, & to have a knowledge of future events, the people listened with pleasure to their representations, predictions & tho't it impious to question or doubt their fulfilment A small company of these necromanceers or juglers assembled on the great square of the City, & mounted a stage which was provided for them. The citizens attended It was a prodigious concourse of all classes of citizens The of all descriptions both wise & simple, both male & female. They surrounded the stage & were all attention. All anxious to learn the decrees of heaven, & the future destinies of the Empire. Drofalick, their chief prophet extended his arms & cast up his eyes to -Heaven. Quoth he, Heaven unfolds her massy gates, & opens to my view a pros pect wide & vast. The seven sons of the great Spirit seize their glittering swords, & swear that they shall not be sheathed till blood in torrents run & deluge the fair land of Kentuck I behold armies martialing on the celestial plain, & hear warriors 4 heroes cry, Avenge the crime of Elseon. I hear a thundering, voice proceeding from the great throne of him who rules the world, proclaiming thus, Corn shall not grow in the Sciotan fields nor mammouth yield their milk, nor fish be taken in the snare but pestilence shall roam, unless Sciota shall avenge the crime of Elseon. Drofalick ended his prophesy. Hamaok then arose & in his hand he held a stone which he pronounced transparent. Thro' this he could view things present & things to come, could behold the dark intriques & cabals of foreign courts, A behold discover hidden treasures, secluded from the eyes of other mortals. He could behold the galant A his mistress in their bedchamber, & count all their moles warts & pimples. Such was the clearness of his sight, when this transparent stone was placed before his eyes. He looked firmly & steadfastly on the stone & raised his prophetick voice. I behold Hamboon with all his priests & great officers assembled around him "With what contempt he declares he despises all the Sciotans. They are, says he, cow ards & poltroons. They dare not face my brave warriors. Here I see four men coming forward bear ing an image, formed with all the fetures of ugliness & deformity. This they called Sambul the King of Sciota, the whole company break forth into boisterous Laughing. Ah, see & they are outing off his head with their swords. Yes, & are now kicking it about the palace. Here is a pole, it is stuck upon that & carried thro' the City. Oh my loving sparks, Elseon & Lamesa, what makes you so merry? Why Elseon says he has outwitted the Sciotans, he has got the prize & he little regards their resentment. Hamack was proceeding with such nonsensical vis ions, when the whole multitude interrupted him with a cry, Revenge, Revenge, "We will convince the Kentuckans that we are not cowards or poltroons. Their heads shall pay for their sport in kicking about the pretended head the head of our pretended beloved King We will avenge the crime of Elseon. The great & good Being is on our side & threatens us with famine & pestilence, unless we avenge the crime of Elseon. The arts of the Conjurers were the consummation of Sambuls plan to produce in the minds of the mul titude an enthusiasm & rage for war. He now repairs to the Emperor & solicits him to assemble his coun sellors immediately, proclaim war & concert measures for its prosecution. The Emperor replies that they should soon be assembled, but as to war, it was a subject which reguired great consideration. Early on the next day his counsellors -priests & principal officers met him in the council room. He laid before them the Letter of Hamboon, & added observed that tho* the government of Kentuck had refused to return Lamesa, yet they had offered to make to our government a recantation, for Elseon's crime, <fe to pay us almost any sum as a reparation for our injury. The council sat silent for some time. At length the venerable Boakim arose. I must beg, says he, the indulgence of your majesty, <fe this honourable council for a few moments. Never did I rise with such impressions of the high importance of our deliberations, as what I now feel. The great question to be decided, is peace or war. If peace can be preserved with honour, then let us maintain peace, but if not, let us meet war with fortitude & courage. As to the great Crime of Elseon, no one presumes to present an apoligy. Even their own government acknowledge that he had been guilty of a great Crime. But is it of such malignity as to require the conflagration of towns, & cities & the lives of milions to make an expiation? Can no other reparation con sistent with justice and humanity be received? Or must we compel in order to have an atonement made for the crime of Elseon compel the government of Kentuck to commit another crime to separate, to tear from each others embrace the husband & wife? Such a reparation as this, we cannot in justice expect. Shall we then accept of no other? Cannot our bleed ing honour be healed without sheding blood without laying a whole Empire in ruins? Such refined notions of honour may prove our own ruin, as well as the ruin of those on whom we attempt to execute our vengence The calamities of war have a reciprocal action on the parties. Each must expect to endure a portion of evils, how large a portion would fall to our share in case of war, it is not for us to determine. While thirsting for revenge, we contemplate with infinite pleasure, their armies routed, & their warriors bleeding under our swords their women helpless & children expiring by thousands, & their country in flames. But reverse the scene. Suppose the enimy have as much wit, as much stratagim, courage, strength & inhumanity as what we you possess, & such may be your situation. When the floodgate is once opened, who can stop the torrent, & prevent devastation & ruin. We ought therefore It was never designed by the great & good Being that his children should contend, & destroy that existence which he gave them, they all have equal rights & ought to strive to maintain peace & friendship. This has been the maxim of our fathers & this the doctrine taught by the great Founder of our government & religion. Under the influence of this maxim, our nation has grown to an emence multitude, & contentment & hap piness have been universal. But why can we not enjoy peace with honour? What insurmountable obsticles are there to prevent? Why truely a recan tation & — (word illegible) — are no compensation for the injury? For other offenses these are accepted, & why must the offense of Elseon be singular? The Emperors daughter we presume is happy, nor can it be a disgrace to the imperial family that she has married the son of an emperor, the heir apparent to his crown. But she wasjo have been the wife of Sambui, the King of Sciota We can therefore with honour to our government accept the reparation offered. & thus preserve the blessings of peace. But if we suffer resentment, pride & ambition to THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY." ill plunge us into a war, where will its mischiefs, where will its miseries end? As to both empires are nearly equal as to numbers & resources, I will venture to predict their eventual overthrow & destruction. Boakim would have proceeded, but Hamkol rose & interrupted. It was impudence in the extreme, but he had much brass & strong lungs, & could be heard further than Boakim "Such sentiments, says he, may comport with the infirmities of age, but they are too degrading & cow ardly for the vigor of youth & manhood. If we suffer insult, perfidy & outrage to pass with impunity, we may afterwards bend our necks to be trodden upon by every puny upstart, and finical coxcomb. No. Let us march with our brave warriors into the domin ion of Hamboon. This effeminate & luxurious Court will tremble at our presence & yield the fair Lamesa unto our possession. But if they should still have the temerity to refuse, we will then display our valour by inflicting upon them a punishment, which their crimes deserve. Yes, our valiant heroes shall gain immortal renown by their heroic exploits. & by the destruction of all shall who Sciota will ever after have the pre eminence over Kentuck, & compel her haughty sons to bow in our presence. Let war be proclaimed. & every kingdom & tribe from the River to the Lakes will pour forth their warriors, anxious to avenge our countrys wrongs. Scarce had he done speaking. And Lakoonrod, the High Priest arose. He was in the interest of Sambul & had married his sister. He had taken great umbrage at Elseon, for saying that 112 THE "MANUSCRIPT STORY.1' the priesthood had too great an assendency at the court of Hambock. And lifting up his sanctimoneous eyes slowly toward heaven, & extending his right reverand hand a little above an horizontal position he spoke. When the laws which are contained in our holy religion are transgressed, it is my duty as High Priest of the Empire to give my testimony against the transgression. Elseon, the heir apparent to the imperial throne of Kentuck has been guilty of Robery & impiety within our dominions. He has robed this Empire of an invaluable treasure, & as his crime is a most flagicious transgression of our divine law it must have been committed in defiance of the high authority of heaven, therefore it is an act of the greatest impiety. The injury the insult & the outrage has not been committed against us alone, if this was the case, perhaps we might accept of reparation; but it is committed against the throne of Omnipotence & in defiance of his authority. No reparation can of consequence be received, except it be a return of the stolen treasure, or the Blood of the Transgressor. Nothing else can satisfy the righteous demand of the Great and good Being. He therefore calls upon the civil power to execute his vengeance, to inflict an exempleary punishment. And as it is his cause & you are imployed as his instru ments, you may be assured that his almighty arm will add strength to your exertions, & give you a glori ous victory over your enimies. The mighty atchievements of your warriors shall immortalize their names, & their heads shall be crowned with never fading laurels. & as for those who shall die, gloriously fighting in the cause of their country & their God, they shall immediately receive etherial bodies, & shall arise quickly to the abodes of increasing delight and glory. He said no more. He had discharged some part of his malice against Elseon, for saing that the priesthood had too much influence in the court of Rambock. The door was now opened & it was seen that Sambul at the head of a great multitude of citizens, had taken their stand in front of the house, all crying with a loud voice, Revenge & war. Long live the Emperor & King. We will avenge their wrongs. This uproar & the harang of the high Priest determined the wavering mind of the Em peror. But the venerable Boakim <fc Bilhawa opposed~the torrent & stood as stood firm They boldly affirmed that a war was impolitic & unjuBtifiabe But the Their opposition however, was in vain. The popular voice was against them & the other two counsellors Hamkal & Gammaok gave their vote for war urged with great vehemence that war should be declared. In vain were all the reasonings of the venerable Boakim & Bilhawan. The other two counsellors, Hamkol & Gamanko joining the Emperor, they pro ceeded to made out a declaration of war. It was in these words. War is declared by the government & Empire of Sciota against the government & Empire of Kentuck. The Sciotans are required to exterminate with distinction of age or sex all the inhabitants of the Empire of Kentuck. They are required to burn their houses & either to destroy or take possession of their property, for their own use & benefit. This des truction is demanded by the great benevolent Spirit & the Empire government of Sciota Signed. RAMBOCK EMPEROR OF SCIOTA. A copy of this declaration was given to Labanco the brother & Envoy of Hamboon. He demanded a guard to defend him against the rage of the common people, who discovered a disposition to plunge their swords into the heart of every man whose fortune it was to be born on the other side of the River. Labanco was guarded as far as the River & con veyed across in safety. He repaired to Gamba & there he proclaimed the intelligence of the declara tion of War & there made known all the proceedings of the Sciotan government. Fond Parents I have received two letters the 10th jan 1812 the last mentioned Mr. Kings dismission from you, wich no doubt is great trial to you Christian Minister is great loss to any to any people teaches us the uncertainty of all sublinary enjoy ments & where to place our better trust & happiness