Memoirs of a Captivity Among the Indians of North America, by John Dunn Hunter (1824)

Memoirs of a Captivity Among the Indians of North America, by John Dunn Hunter; 3rd edition (London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Ohme, Brown, & Green, 1824)

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MEMOIRS
OF A
CAPTIVITY
AMONG
THE INDIANS
OF
NORTH AMERICA,
FROM CHILDHOOD TO THE AGE OF NINETEEN:

WITH
ANECDOTES DESCRIPTIVE OF
THEIR MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE
SOIL, CLIMATE, AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS
OF THE TERRITORY WESTWARD OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
By JOHN D. HUNTER.

THE THIRD EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS.



LONDON:
PRINTED FOR
LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN,
PATERNOSTER-ROW.

1824.

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London:
Printed by A. & R. Spottiswoode,
New-Street-Square.

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[p. iii]

Messrs. Longman and Co.

                     Dear Sirs,

The Editor of the Eclectic Review, in examining my Memoirs, has made a very natural enquiry, who is the gentleman alluded to in the Preface as my assistant? I am very happy to answer the question by referring to Col. Aspinwall, consul-general for the United States to Great Britain, and Mr. Toppan, 69. Fleet-street, London. I might refer to many of the most respectable persons in all parts of the United States, but perhaps a few will suffice: Robert Walsh, Esq., Editor of the National Gazette, Philadelphia; Col. William Duarre, Editor of the Aurora, Philadelphia; Dr. Waterhouse, Boston; Dr. Mitchell, Dr. Hosack, and Mr. Silliman, of New York; Professors Paterson and Potter of Baltimore

Yours with esteem, &c.

JOHN D. HUNTER.

London, August 2, 1823.

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PREFACE.

In presenting myself to the world as an author, I have complied more with the wishes of friends than my own inclinations. Indeed, I do so with reluctance, being fully sensible of my inability to do justice to the undertaking. This conviction arises from an imperfect acquaintance with the English language, and total ignorance of the art of book-making. Besides, I write from memory, of events, persons, and things, which are many years separated from the present, and some of them so remotely, as barely to come within my recollection. Under such circumstances, although kindly assisted by my friend Edward Clark, with interrogations respecting some of the subject matter, and the revisal and arrangement of the manuscript; still, as regards manner, I am not insensible that there is ample ground for the exercise of indulgence on the part of my readers. If I were a finished scholar, the case would have scarcely suffered

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any change, because the data would remain the same; and it is questionable, whether I could have improved its present form, at least within the prescribed limits. From the circumstance of writing altogether from memory, and at different periods of time, some repetition has been unavoidable. In the history of my early life, I could have mentioned many more incidents and anecdotes of a particular or general nature, which, though of some interest to myself, would not, I am persuaded, prove so to my readers. Indian life is full of adventures, privations, and dangers: and the history of many of their warriors would, in my opinion, prove much more interesting than mine: except from the circumstance of my being a sojourner amongst strangers, and comparatively a youth.

Here I ought to remark, as I omitted to do in my narrative, that I am ignorant of the length of time I lived with the Indians. I have reason to believe I was nineteen or twenty years of age when I left them, which was in the spring of 1816.

In telling the story of my captivity during the above-mentioned period, I found many things to say respecting the people among whom I lived, which tempted me to frequent and long digressions. To avoid the inconvenience that would have resulted from such a mode of proceeding,

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I have adopted the expedient of throwing into a detached form, under appropriate heads, my observations on the Manners and Customs of the Indian tribes dwelling westward of the Mississippi, and my notices on the climate, soil, and vegetable productions of the territory occupied by them. To the former I have ventured to add some anecdotes, which appeared likely to prove at once characteristic and amusing; while the latter have been augmented by such details as I was able to offer respecting the Materia Medica of the Indians. It is with great diffidence that I submit the volume to the critical examination of the British Public; and in bespeaking indulgence for its faults, I would remind the reader, that the information which it contains was acquired at a period when I had neither the hope nor the intention of communicating it in this manner, and that therefore it is given simply and entirely from memory.

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p. ix

PREFACE.

Memoirs of a Captivity among the Indians of North America, from the Author's earliest recollection to his assumption of the habits of civilized life ... 1

Manners and Customs of several Indian tribes located west of the Mississippi; including some observations on the extent, aspect, and natural productions and circumstances of the country they inhabit.

CHAP. I.

Of the extent, aspect, soil, and climate of the country, distinguished at present by the names of the Missouri and Arkansas territories ... 137

CHAP. II.

Observations on the mountains, lakes, and rivers of the before-described territories ... 154

CHAP. III.

Brief remarks on some of the animals, plants, and minerals, indigenous to this district of country ... 164

CHAP. IV.

Considerations on the physical and moral condition of the Indians ... 177

CHAP. V.

Brief statistical remarks on the Kickapoo, Kansas, and Osage Indians ... 209

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CHAP. VI.

Views of the theocracy, religion, agency of good and bad spirits; of the soul and its migration; religious rites; prophets, priests, and physicians; dreams, &c. ... 214

CHAP. VII.

Courtship, marriage, widowhood, polygamy, divorcements, continuance of familes, adoption of children, Indian names, disposition of the inform and poor ... 231

CHAP. VIII.

Family government, occupation, and economy; birth, nursing, and education of infants; education and amusements of youth; games of chance; modes of salutation; treatment of strangers; forms of visits, feasts, festivals, &c. ... 253

CHAP. IX.

Hunting, fishing, agriculture, manufactures, currency, and trade ... 276

CHAP. X.

Crimes and modes of punishment ... 297

CHAP. XI.

Manner of counting time, traditions, tumuli, monuments, &c. ... 304

CHAP. XII.

Policy, councils, transaction of public business generally, election of chiefs, reception of ambassadors, peace-runners, &c. ... 311

CHAP. XIII.

Patriotism, martial character and propensity, war implements, preparations for management and termination of war, &c. ... 320

CHAP. XIV.

Residence, dress, painting, food, diseases, treatment of the sick, disposal of the dead, mournings, &c. ... 334

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CHAP. XV.

Observations on civilizing the American Indians ... 360

CHAP. XVI.

Indian anecdotes ... 374

CHAP. XVII.

Observations on the materia medica of the Indians ... 401

CHAP. XVIII.

Observations on the Indian practice of surgery and medicine ... 429

CHAP. XIX.

A short description of the practice of physic among several tribes of the Western Indians of North America who reside on the waters of the Missouri and Mississippi ... 436

Reflections on the different states and conditions of society; with the outlines of a plan to ameliorate the circumstances of the Indians of North America ... 449

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