Class 
 
 Book_. 1 
 
 1* 
 
3 J 6. 
 
 THRILLING SKETCH 
 
 OF TH2 LIFE OF THE 
 
 DISTINGUISHED CHI 0MB TME 
 
 
 7 
 
 ALIAS, WM. CHUBBEE, 
 
 Son of the Read Chief, Moshileh Tubbes, of the 
 Choctaw Nation of Indians, 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. L. L. ALLEN, 
 
 &VTM* OF "PENCILLJKGS UPON THE RIO ©BANDE * fcrf 
 
 NEW YOEI 8 
 1348, 
 
 
;> s^; 
 
 CzTSz 
 
 
 Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 
 1848, by Okah Tubbee, alias William Chubb.ee, in the Clerk's 
 Gfnce of the District Court of the United States, for the South- 
 ern District of New York. 
 
 

 AN ESSAY 
 
 UPON THE INDIAN CHARACTER. 
 
 In contemplating the Indian character, there is an interest 
 thrown around it, which cannot fail to impress the mind of every 
 inquiring person, although the Indian race is fading away ; their 
 palmy days being gone; yet there is a charm thrown around 
 their past history, and the most lively emotions are created in 
 the mind of the Patriot and Philanthropist in contemplating 
 their past and present history, and are led to look upon the high 
 and lofty bearing of the red man, with the most intense admi- 
 ration. There was a period in the history of the aborigines of 
 North America, when they reigned as supreme lords over this 
 vast Continent. The Yonkoo tribe had undisputed sway over 
 the New England country, which means literally conqueror. 
 The term Yankee comes from the tribe of Indians styled Yon- 
 koo — when the English conquered them after a long and bloodv 
 contest ; when blood had flown in crimson currents, and the 
 shrieks of many an innocent and massacred female rent the air, 
 and the red man's tomahawk was wreaking in tfee blood of its 
 victim. At length they were subdued, when the War Chief, a 
 proud and noble fellow, stepped forth and presented his toma- 
 hawk to the officer in command of the English forces, saying 
 me yonkoo or conqueror, but now you yonkoo, hence the term has 
 been twisted about until it has become yankee — the English 
 called the six States named New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 
 Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont, New England, in con- 
 tradistinction to Old England ; we Americans call the New 
 Englanders Yankees, but on the other side of the ocean, all 
 Americans are called Yankees, Odium sometimes is 
 attached to the term Yankee, yet candid and unprejudiced minds 
 are willing- to admit that the Yankees are a thorough going go- 
 a-head people. The Massachusetts tribe inhabited what is now 
 called the State of Massachusetts, the name being derived from 
 he tribe. All the States do not derive their names from the 
 
Indian tribes. Vermont is an exception from the Latin words, vers 
 mons 'meaning verdure or green, and mount, meaning mountain, 
 hence' the name of the State Vermont, or green mountain, the 
 State of New York, so cailed from the Duke of York, and called 
 New York to distinguish it from old York. Pennsylvania, mean- 
 in" 1 Penn's woods ; Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, 
 Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Dakotah, Mim 
 esotah, and Nebrascah, and Oregon, all are Indian names. 
 Louisiana, derives its name from Louis a former monarch of 
 France; the Carolinas, from Queen Caroline; Virginia, from 
 one who bore that name in the old world ; Georgia, derived its 
 name from a king. It would be interesting- and useful to trace 
 this feature of the subject further, but time will not permit me 
 at present, hereafter we will resume the subject. All Indian 
 names are beautifully significant— take a few merely for the sake 
 of illustration. Okah Tubbee, which means Big Chief, not 
 only referring to a great and enlarged mind but to a powerful tribe, 
 a Chief of the Choctaw nation. Mississippi father, hence the 
 Choctaw of the Mississippi, hence the Mississippi is called the 
 father of waters — how significant one of the largest rivers upon 
 the face of the globe, taking its rise in the rocky mountains, 
 continuing its onward course through an immense valley, widen- 
 insr and deepening in its onward course, bearing on its broad 
 bosom a world of commerce, wealth and enterprize, with six 
 thousand trading and two thousand steam boats, until it disem- 
 bogues into the gulph of Mexico, moistening and legalizing 
 the soil of three territories and ten states. Laah, Ceil, Mane- 
 toi, Elaah, or the Great Spirit's gift, a Princess of the Mohawk 
 tribe. Oletepu, the beautiful Prarie-Bird. We will pursue this 
 subject also hereafter. 
 
 It is difficult to arrive at a correct conclusion as to the origin 
 of the Indian race ; it is supposed by historians sacred and pro. 
 fane ancient and modern, that all the races which have been, 
 and are now upon the earth are derived from Noah, that from 
 Shem Bam and Japheth sprang white, red, and black men, and 
 from them the great variety of nations, kindreds and tongues. 
 Some suppose that the Indians are descended from some of the 
 lost tribes of Jews, that they pursued a northern course as far 
 as Behrring Straits and constructed some kind of floating raft, 
 and crossed over where it is only about nineteen miles to one 
 Island and about nineteen to another, and took possession ol 
 the country before it was discovered by Americus Vespucius, or 
 Christopher Columbus ; indeed, there is strong evidence to sup- 
 port this view, from tradition, and a similarity of features, 
 
&c. There is another fact worthy of consideration— the 
 great number of mounds and tumuli, found in various parts 
 of the United States and Mexico, and Central America, there is 
 every evidence of their having been constructed by a race in 
 possession of art and science. Antiquarians have given care- 
 ful research and enlarged dissertations upon them ; whatever po- 
 sition the Indian may have occupied in past ages, one fact we 
 must admit, they were the rightful owners of the soii, when the 
 transatlantics found them here, and that they then roamed un- 
 molested over these vast domains ; they dwelt secure in their 
 own leafy bowers, they smoked their pipes in their own wig- 
 wam s, the young Indians chased the wild deer and skimmed the 
 light canoes over the murmuring streams and siivery iakes ; the 
 young Indian girl entwined the wreath around her raven tresses, 
 as beautiful as her own lovely form, but they are melting away, 
 driven away from their own lovely bowers. Nation afler nation, 
 and tribe after tribe, are passing away. 
 
 Philip, Logan, Blackhawk, Powahatan Keckuck, and other 
 noble warriors, have bowed themselves under the crushing weight 
 of misfoi tunes; disease has spread like a pestilence through 
 the tribes ; war has swept like a dessolating ravager through 
 their lauds, and a foe like a hydra monster has swept on its fiery 
 course, carrying its millions to the grave. What a melancholy 
 picture is presented in bold relief to the mind of the phi- 
 lanthropist ; how scenes of the most thrilling interest come 
 looming upon the vision. Behold a mother bidding a final 
 farewell to the place of her nativity, to the spot where the light 
 of heaven first fell upon her infant eyes, what tender emotions 
 rush upon her memory, scenes of other days cluster around 
 her, and that which is indearing, the tombs of her ances- 
 tors ; view her standing upon the last green hill pressing 
 her little one to her bosom, covering its little face with her 
 burning tears ; she moves on a few steps, and then for the last 
 time bids her long and much loved home farewell forever, and 
 often in her migrations to the far west, does scenes of the past 
 crowd upon her memory. At last, with a little remnant of a 
 tribe, they arrive to the place of their new home, and finally, 
 broken hearted they sink into the tomb. The white man often 
 in his undue thirst for more land, and a want of reflection, 
 ploughs up the very bones of their children, and scatter them to 
 the four winds of heaven. But I will not pursue this painful 
 subject. There are features in the Indian character which we 
 invite your attention to. An Indian never forgets an injury or 
 an act of kindness, and there are instances on record where In- 
 
6 
 
 dians have cherished for years feelings of revenge, and have 
 finally avenged the injury ; they are strict in carrying out their 
 own laws. An Indian once in a fit of anger committed murder, 
 and gave himself up immediately, but asked for time to enable 
 him to raise corn, and provide venison for his family, which was 
 allowed him ; at the end of six months, he came and told the 
 friends of the person whose friend he had killed, that he had 
 provided for his family, and as he had broken the laws of the 
 Great Spirit, and of his nation, he must suffer the penalty, and 
 he was ready to die. The brother of the wife of the deceased 
 arose, and deliberately clove his skull through with his toma- 
 hawk. They often return good for evil. An instance is related 
 where an Indian applied to a white man for food and shelter, as 
 he had been hunting all day and killed no game, and he was very 
 hungry and tired, but the white man in angry tone bid the In- 
 dian dog to begone. Sometime after this, the -white man went 
 out on a hunting excursion, but after hunting all day was unsuc- 
 cessful, and losing his way, being weary and hungry, he was 
 about to give up in despair, but seeing the smoke of a wigwam, 
 he hastened to it, but what was his surprise when entering the 
 lodge to find the very Indian he had driven away and hungry 
 from his own lodge — he expected immediate death, but the In- 
 dian bid him welcome, with the utmost kindness and his squaw 
 prepared him food ; he eat and drank, and then he lay down and 
 slept free from all harm. In the morning the Indian gave Jiim 
 his gun, and accompanied him on his journey. Arriving near 
 the white settlement, and pointing through the wood told him 
 there was the white man's home. His wife, and children were 
 weeping and with anxious solicitude were awaiting his return. 
 M You remember poor Indian hungry aad tired, ask you give some 
 food, and lie down and sleep in your wigwarm ; you say no be- 
 gone you Indian — you come by and by to Indian lodge, you tired 
 and hungry, you think Indian kill you, but no, Indian say no, 
 you have wife and children who love you, me look on my 
 squaw and papoose, me love em too, me say no me kill white 
 man, and make sorrow and sadness come to his house — you are 
 free, go white man, go to your home, make your wife and chil- 
 dren happy, and dont forget poor Indian, how much he sutler, 
 how the white man have wronged him." 
 
 Noble son of the forest, what lofty and sublime principles oc- 
 cupy his heart ; how magnanimous his mind to prove himself 
 superior to the white man in returning good for evil. I remem- 
 ber an instance which occurred in the days of my childhood, 
 which is fresh in my memory. An Indian woman came to the 
 
house of my parents, and being very sick asked permission to 
 remain a few days, which was cheerfully granted. On recover- 
 ing she left us, returning her thanks. Some months after she 
 returned, bringing with her a number of beautiful baskets which 
 she had made with her own hands, and a quantity of home-made 
 sugar which she gave to my mother — my mother went to pay her 
 an equivolent, which the Indian woman positively refused, saying 
 lt me sick squaw, you good to squaw, me never forget white 
 squaw for her kindness to poor indian squaw.''' 
 
BIOGRAPHY 
 
 Mosholeh Chubbee, the father of the subject of this Memoir, 
 was a Chief of the Choctaws, who inhabited a scope of country 
 on the Yazoo River, about one hundred miles west of the Mis- 
 sissippi River. Of this tribe we will briefly allude to their pre- 
 sent situation, after allading to a treaty between the eastern and 
 western Indians. 
 
 THE COVENANT 
 Between the Six Nations and the Ckoeiows, 
 
 The Covenant, readily received, end Mcintosh with the Six 
 Nations, also at the same time, the wise men of the Choctaws 
 and Six Nations, went over the river to propose the Covenant. 
 To the Osages they said they could not treat with them, but 
 would call the young men together, and all that would might 
 take the Covenant. They then left them and returned to the 
 Choctaw Nation, as the Six nations had not finished their road 
 any farther, they left the Covenant with the Choctaws, and told 
 them they would return in a \ They Left them the 
 
 word, also the token, which was Wampum. 
 
 In a few days they returned back to the Choctaws, and together 
 went to treat with the Osages, sending- six men before them (to 
 the Osage Nation.) to remind then of the talk. Some 
 of them were of the Six Nations, some Ch< Chub- 
 
 bee was one. When they came near, knowing^hem to be war. 
 like, they sent in a part of their men; the Osages said, in so 
 many suns , and so many sun Chiefs and 
 
 young men would he ready to meet them in Council. Agreeable 
 to the request of the Osages they returned, and found the Osages 
 prepared for defence, with a kind of brush fort, ditched about 
 inside and outside, piqueted with brush and poles, they wished to 
 get the Osages word, and would not be repulsed by their war- 
 like appearance. Their word was, that they would not all re» 
 
ceive their Covenant, yet some of them had been weak enough 
 to do so, and had hung the tokens in their ears. They are 
 sober men, but we are not, but choose to stand by ourselves. 
 The Choctaws and Six Nations were friends — their errand was 
 peace, and they asked will you not receive our Covenant? The 
 Osages were very independent, and said they would not wil* 
 ling!y, but told them as they were their grandfathers, they must 
 make them do so, as children had some limes to be whipped into 
 obedience. The Chiefs that were treating with them, bade 
 them recollect their grandfather was like a Bear, whenever he 
 laid his tue-nail down, he was always sure to gain the ground. 
 They told them they would come b.ick in a few days in peace, 
 as they should now return to the Choctaws, and when ihey re- 
 turned to them again, if they received not the peace, they would 
 cause them to do so by chastisement. They likewise so done. 
 After they were whipped, they wandered off between the two 
 rivers, supposed to be the Mississippi and Missouri, hut their 
 grandfather followed them there, and then made them receive 
 the Covenant of Peace. The Chiefs of the Six Nations wore 
 not willing to leave the Covenant with them, although they had 
 made their road this far, and the emblems thereof were worked 
 on the Wampum, but chose to carry it back and leave it. with 
 the Choctaws, called in their original tongue, Oijataiv, signifying 
 a large Nation The Mississippi River, they called Oyatawgak, 
 because of its size, and having many snags. Now this people, 
 called by them Oyataw. The Cherokee Nation claimed to be 
 the same who treated with the Six Nations at this time, but the 
 grandfather says it was the Choctaw, and that they knew no dif- 
 ference then between the Cherokees and Choctaws ; but finding 
 them all living on this great river, named them after it as one 
 great nation, the Oyataw, But they named the Chociaws many 
 days afterwards, acknowledging the same men to have been 
 their Chiels. Farthermore, let the Council be examined ; here 
 we find the Qherokees have not got the Covenant of Peace left 
 by the Chiefs of the North ; neither the speeches, significations, 
 or article?, belonging thereunto, but a very lew, neuher do they 
 explain or seem to know the use of these illustrations. Thus 
 we aie left to judge that they never really belonged to that por- 
 tion of the Oyataw, but they have been separated away by theii 
 Cfiieis and called Cherokees. But the Six Nations knew them 
 in these days, the Oyataw, One Nation. Furthermore, this road 
 has not been extended any farther in a proper manner, or any 
 thing done as should have been, ihough the Chiefs have made 
 many trials. Except one Covenant of Peace made by George 
 
11 
 
 • 
 
 Herron, with the Camanches. This was rightly done, the only 
 one that has been conducted, after the pattern since the Six Na- 
 tions and the Oyataw covenanted, together with the Osages. 
 Furthermore, let the old men of the Six Nations treat the Choc- 
 taw and Cherokee as seemeth them good ; receive them as two 
 nations, search out their Chiefs, wise men, their fathers and their 
 families, aud let them be received in order in the Covenant, or 
 else consider them as one, the former Oyatavv, and let the Six 
 Nations ascertain and point out those of the families of their 
 former Chiefs, namely the Chubbee, the Mcintosh that the 
 braves of the Choctaws need no longer say, as they said to me 
 in the Cherokee Council, we have no head, no elderly wise 
 men ; the Chubbee is gone : his family, none of thsm survive 
 him to our knowledge. We are babes in the sayings of our fa- 
 thers, and request our grandfather of ihe Six Nations to teach 
 us. I ask them for the Pipe of Peace given them by the Chiefs 
 of the Six Nations ; described it by say ing it Was one-haif white, 
 and one side red. It could not at first be found. I thought this 
 might throw some light upon the gloom that darkens the hopes, 
 even the dying request of the loved, the brave, the lamented, 
 Big Chief, or Chubbee, of the Oyataw Nation, respecting the 
 youngest son ot his, who was with the pale face. Furthermore, 
 many evil designing men, have reported that this child was dead, 
 others that Chief Chubbee had no such child, and now had no 
 heir living. Others said there was such a person, but that his 
 origin had never been traced out, and many disputed his being 
 the son of their Chief. These statements were made at the last 
 Council, when the Choctaws said if they could find him, they 
 would serve and love him. At length the Pipe was brought, 
 having been found, among the Cherokees — the grandfather knew 
 that it was left with Chubbee. The pipe was injured; the 
 Articles of the Covenant scattered among the two divisions. 
 The braves under&tood not the talk of their grandfather, but their 
 silence and confused faces showed they were children in the af- 
 fairs of their nation, and they again requested to be taught; but 
 the grandfather being grieved at heart, determined to seek out 
 the last one — the child of their worthy Chief, and divert his 
 mind from his pale faced friends to his own people, if possible. 
 He has succeeded ; he is proud and satisfied, thankful to the 
 Great Spirit, that so fine a mind, so much national talent, upright 
 principle, is concent! ated in the son, the representative of the 
 long distinguished line of noble Chiefs, the Chubbee. Grateful 
 respects to the pale face friends for their care and attention from 
 the grandfather, whose heart is warm of being pleased with bis 
 
12 
 
 prize, as he bears a strong personal resemblance to his father, 
 except the father was taller and heavy built also. Now may the 
 pale face and the Red man dwell peacefully together, is the de- 
 sire, the prayer of the grandfather. 
 Respectfully, 
 
 POCHONGEHAHALA. 
 
 There certainly is no rsce of mankind who have so many 
 claims upon the attention and admiration of ihe philanthropist 
 as that of the Indian ; a noble race, with high and exalted no- 
 tionsof honor, he scorns anything which is low and mean. How 
 melancholy to trace his history from the period. when the pale 
 face first landed at Plymouth and Jamestown — behold them in 
 their native fores', 'roaming the wild wood alone, unmolested, 
 chasing the nimble deer, or in skimming the light canoe over the 
 limpid waters or in smoking the pipe of peace around the coun- 
 cil fire, happy in their own native home, the little birds carolled 
 their mellow notes beneath the foliage, the young Indian girl as 
 innocent and as beautiful as the wild flowers which wove and 
 entwined around her young brow, and adorned her lovely tresses, 
 and the young warriors, bedecked in gaudy attire, went forth to 
 battle, with a consciousness of being the descendant from a no- 
 ble race, while the mighty Chiefs held their talks, and poured 
 forth some of the most lofty and sublime strains o( eloquence 
 •which ever fell from the lips of mortals. But the White man 
 came and drove the Red man from, his native home-^tribe after 
 tribe have been driven away step by step, until they have dwin- 
 dled down to a few scattered and pealed people. Look at 
 them leaving their hunting grounds, council fires, and the bones 
 of their sires and matrons — see the fond mother pressing her lit- 
 tle one tenderly and affectionately to her bosom, and kissing off 
 the little tear from the soit velvet cheek — how she lingers upon 
 the iast green hill, and how the affections clings to their ahars. 
 But they are gone— ttoey are melting away, and when they shall 
 all have crossed over the waters of the Mississippi, and 
 
 the immoveable barriers, the Rocky Mountains, where will they 
 then find a resting place? 
 
 The following view of the present condition of the Choctaw 
 
 ndians, (1846) written by a highly respected and devoted Jl,s- 
 senary, and Teacher at Fort Coffee Academy, Iowa Territory, 
 
 Kev VV. G, Montgomery? will show that the Indian is not tlr- 
 
13 
 
 degraded being that some would have him to be, but that he has 
 been endowed with a mind as susceptible of improvement as the 
 pale face. 
 
 The Choctaws have a pleasant, and for many considerations, 
 an interesting country, lying between latitude 32 deg. and 35 
 deg. north. On the north, it is bounded by the Arkansas River, 
 it being the line between them and the Cherokees ; on the south 
 Red River separates them from the State of Texas, on the east 
 they are bounded by the State of Arkansas, on the west by the 
 Creek and Seminolo Indians. They have perhaps more territo- 
 ry than half the State of Kentucky. Some portions are very 
 fertile, especially the bottom and low lands on the rivers and 
 creeks. There area good many extensive prairies, some of 
 them are rich, others are too sandy to be productive. On the 
 low lands there are extensive cane brakes and a bottom grass, 
 which keeps green through the winter. 
 
 The Porto, Cliaimahu and Canadian River.-, with many 
 other smaller rivers and creeks, are all tributaries of Red River, 
 and Arkansas, and take their rise in, and flow their whole length 
 through the Choctaw country. Steamboats go up the Arkansas 
 River more than a thousand mile.?, passing several hundred 
 miles into the Indian country. There is high water in this riwi 
 always in the months of .Tunc- and July. There is much min- 
 eral Wealth from ore, stone coal,- and salt springs, in their country. 
 
 The Clim\te.— The winters are mild, the summers are very 
 warm, and frequently dry. Cotton and corn grow here 
 in abundance. Th t migratory disposition so characteristic of 
 the Indian tribe*-, has hi a grea'f measure left the Choctaws, and 
 I to 'be stationary. They do not wish to remove to any 
 
 other country— they are now improving their lands; building 
 houses, and planting vineyards. Many of these farmers have 
 from ten, twenty, fifty, to one hundred acres in com, and large 
 fields of cotton. There are few, comparatively speaking, who 
 by hunting. The Buffalo are gone, there are Bear and 
 Deer, and many other kinds of wild game. During the winter 
 season the whole creation seems alive with the various tribes or" 
 biras; the forests and prairies are made to resound nith the 
 melody Of their notes* and the river and . 
 covered with water fowls of various kinds ; cattle, horses and 
 I in great abundance. He says, " I saw very few 
 sheep awongthern. It is not uncommon for an Indian man to 
 httVe 560 head of cattle ; I frequently saw fifty snd one hundred 
 and sixty milk cows belonging to one man, the cows and calves 
 •pt gentle by the following course: the calves are put into 
 
14 
 
 a pen or lot of an acre or more, on the edge of a prairie and are 
 kept in there during the day, and at night the cows are put into 
 the same pen, the calves are turned out into the prairie, where 
 they feed around during the night, and in the morning they 
 are about the fence waiting to be let in the pen with the cows; 
 in the fall they are branded and turned out, and live during the 
 winter upon the cane rushes and prairie grass. Their horses 
 and cattle are smaller than ours, their horses being most general- 
 ly of the pony stock. 
 
 Christianity has done much for this people, and is still doing 
 more, they may be said to be redeemed from heathenism, and 
 placed upon the high and elevated ground of civilization, the 
 arts and sciences being cultivated by them to some considerable 
 extent. They have a well drawn up, and printed Constitution ; 
 republican in its character ; the elective franchise committed to 
 the people ; ihe members of the Council are elected every year ; 
 ciimes are punished by fines and otherwise; the murderer is 
 &hot by an officer called the Lighthoiseman. There are Wash- 
 ingtonian Temperance Societies among them, and the Tempe- 
 rance cause has many advocates. The tribe may be said to be 
 temperate — the while man is prohibited by law from selling 
 wh skey among them— the New Testament is translated into 
 their language, and many other little historical and religious 
 tracts, hymn books, &c. &c. . And now the weapons of war 
 are beaten into ploughshares, and no longer is the war whoop 
 heard, but songs of Zion may be heard from their cabins and 
 houses, and places of worship are built for the true and living 
 God. Oh ! for the salvation of God to all the aborigines of 
 the wilderness. By an act of their council, they have set apart 
 forever more than six hundred thousand dollars, of their annuity 
 money as a fund, the interest of which is to be appropriated to 
 educational purposes. There are three National Academies 
 now established among them, where twenty thousand dollars is 
 expended annually for the education of their youth. The Fort 
 CofFu Academy is located on the Arkansas river, and is under 
 the control of the M. E. C. S. Trie Spencer Academy Is 
 within a few miles of Red River, and under the control of the 
 Presbyterian Church, Old School. The Armstrong Academy 
 on Chiamechia river, is under the control of the Baptist church. 
 The children who enter these Academies are selected by the 
 Trustees, two from each Indian family — some of them come 
 150 miles, without names, in their Indian costume— they are 
 expected to remain four years, during which time they complete 
 the following English branches of education : Reading, writing, 
 
15 
 
 arithmetic, grammar and geography, and learn to talk the Eng- 
 lish language. The senior class then enters upon the study of 
 ancient languages and the higher branches of English. After 
 going through a prefacatory course, some members of" this class 
 will be sent to the best colleges and universities in United States, 
 whore they will remain until they graduate. Each of the afore- 
 said Academies is expected to take under its care 100 students, 
 where they are clo'hed, boarded and instructed. The buildings 
 for the female department at Fort Coffee are frame, and were 
 put up at an expense ot $3,000. The boys are taught agricul- 
 ture — they spend three hours a day on the (arm at work; the 
 girls are instructed in sewing, knitting, and the science of hou&e 
 wifery. These Academies are all on the manual labor system. 
 There are several other missionary schools among them, (the 
 Choctaws) supported entirely by the money of ; Mi ion^ry 
 Societies, and there are now, at least 500 of their children going to 
 their schools and academies now in successful operation among 
 them. Workshops are intended to' be established with each of 
 the three National Academies, and a part of each day spent in 
 learning the differed* trades of mechanism. The population of 
 this trine is about 30,000. 
 
 [Here commences a true narrative drawn up from his own 
 bps in a simple, touching and beautiful style, which may be relied 
 upon as true.] 
 
 The first recollections of my childhood are scenes of sorrow, 
 though 1 have an imperfect recollection of a kind lather, who 
 was a very large man, with dark red skin, and his head was 
 adorned with feathers of a most beautiful plumage. I seena to 
 have been happy then, and remember the green woods, and 
 be took me out at night, and taught me to look up to the stars, 
 and said many things to me that made my young heart swell 
 with sweet hope, more than filled with bright thoughts, too large 
 for it to retain, then he bent over me to say farewell, this scene 
 soon changed, for I had a new father, or a man who took me to a 
 new home which proves to nave been Natchez, Mississippi; 
 although I have no recollection where this ietercourse took 
 with my own father, yet from various circumstances which has 
 since occurred, I am led to believe that it must have been upon 
 the Yazoo river before the Choclews removed from their old 
 homes. I soon found this was not my old, father neither in ap- 
 pearanc.e nor action, and began to understand I could have but 
 one father. This man was white, and the slave ivoman had the 
 management of his house ; she had (wo children older than 
 myself, a boy and a girl ; she was very fond of them, but was 
 
16 
 
 never even kind to me, yet they obliged me to call her mother, 
 I was always made to serve the two children, but many times 
 had to be whipped into obedience ; if I had permission to go out 
 an hour to play I choose to be alone, that I might weep over my 
 situation, but even this consolation was refused me. I was forced 
 to go in company with them, taking with me, many times, a 
 smarting back, after a promise had been exhorted from me that I 
 would remain with, and obey them ; I soon found myself boxing 
 heartiiy with the boys, both white and black, because they 
 called me nigger, and every thing but that which was true, for I 
 could not, .and would not, and never wiil submit to such gross 
 insults without defending myself, which is so characteristic of 
 the Red man. Her children were well dressed aad neat;T 
 was not only in rags, but many times my proud heart seemed 
 crushed within me, and my cheek crimsoned with shame becaue 
 of their filthy condition, aad I often left them oft in consequence, 
 but soon learned to take them off and wash them myself, such 
 was my abhorrence to filth. I often wore them unironed. 
 When i was compelled to go in a nude state to enable me to 
 wash my clothes and they upbraided me for my nakedness, I 
 replied where did you ever see or hear of a child being born 
 with clothes on. I was then a child too young to work, but did 
 errands. A very aged man obtained leave of this unnatural 
 mother to let me go with him to Shell ing's Lake io fish with 
 him. lie set me to holding his line, and how te manage it, and 
 oh, what a proud moment was this to my little heart, and with 
 what ecstasy did I gaze upon the fish as 1 drew it out of its na- 
 tive element, struggling for life. I was so fortunate as 
 to catch one more fish than the old man ; this encou- 
 raged me much, a new world sprang before me. 1 then began 
 io contrive how 1 could possess myself of a hook and line. I 
 could imitate many sounds, such as mewing of a cat, the bark- 
 ing, howling and growling of a dog, &c. Some gentlemen 
 overhearing me gave me a few pence ; this was my 
 first bow in ventriloquism, imitation, music, &c, and the first 
 compensation 1 received, not dreaming for a moment that I 
 should ever stand before such large and respectacle audiences 
 which 1 have since had the honor to appear before, through vari- 
 ous portions of the United States, and so warmly greeted atd 
 smiled upon. I was so delighted with the money I received 1 
 could hardly contain myself, not because I loved money, but 
 because it secured my wishes. I went twice with the old man, 
 after this 1 went alone and .caught twelve or fourteen dozen 
 fishes. I took the money home to this unnatural mother and 
 
it 
 
 asked her to buy me some clothes, for my fish brought me half 
 a dollar a dozen; but she retained the money, and the only 
 satisfaction I had, was to be compelled to follow her and the two 
 children to the store, and see her expend it for finery for them, 
 and then carry it home. I had however the consolation of 
 retaining a trout and perch line with a hook for each, which I hid 
 under the pavement with a few pence ; although they were steel 
 hooks, yet they were more valuable than silver or gold to me. 
 After this little experiment, when 1 wished 10 enjoy a fishing 
 excursion, I was obliged to run away ; I laid up money enough 
 to purchase a suit of clothes ; my bank was the brick pavement, 
 my banker was my fish-hooks and lines, my cashier was my 
 own hands, and my associates my own brains. At length I 
 got a lawyer to obtain me a suit of clothes with my own money, 
 but I not only had the mortification of having them taken away 
 from me, but given to her little boy, and by way of interest re- 
 ceived a sound flogging, and here 1 remember hearing her for 
 the first, in her anger, call me an outlandish savage, although I 
 could not understand it, yet it made a peculiar impression on my 
 young mind. At night when I ought to have been sleeping I 
 was rolling on my bed watering my pillow with my teats, think- 
 ing of the advice of my old, and tried friend, a colored man 
 who was a preacher, and truly a good man, who taught me to 
 pray and to hope for better nays. When he died I lost the only 
 true friend, I had in the world, and I was almost inconsolable at. 
 the loss. Peace to his ashes. Reader, tread lightly over the 
 ashes of the dead. 
 
 About this time I became acquainted with a family by the 
 name of Thomas Muncc. By this time 1 had become quite 
 a whistler, by this method and other means had obtained 
 ^uite a sum of money again, and I employed the same lawyer 
 who had assisted me on a former occasion, to purchase another 
 suit of clothes, and the lawyer went and told this woman that he 
 had presented them to me, and that she must let me wear them. 
 She did so, for which I was so thankful that I was willing to 
 give her anything which I could make by my ingenuity. She 
 could not bear to hear me praised, especially above her own 
 children, and I supposed she saw a superiority in mind over her 
 children, and forbid me receiving any more presents. I then 
 hired out to doctors and lawyers to sweep their offices, &c. 
 Some were kind enough to feed and pay me something ; others 
 led me only, and took me home with them to their families. I 
 gav8 the woman my money, also the presents I received, but the 
 more I gave her, the more she exacted from me. Child as I was, 
 
18 
 
 I could not allow myself to weep by day, If she found my 
 pillow wet with my tears, she whipped me for that, and I form- 
 ed a habit of going alone at night, and lifting my heart to God 
 in prayer, for his preservation, and that my father might leturn. 
 When I stood thus alone, in the open air, high hope was in my 
 heart, and a feeling of hope within my heart, when I felt thus 
 alone before God, with the stars, which in my childish language 
 I called the eyes of heaven, gazing down upon me ; hero I 
 gained fortitude to bear all my wrongs — here I determined to ask 
 the white men, whom 1 sometimes saw, about my own father. I 
 had now and then mentioned it to the woman, she always told 
 with tongue and heart, begone, outlandish, savage, you never had 
 any father. As she was always angiy at my inclination to be 
 alone about this time, she gave me a severe whipping for climb- 
 ing a blufT, which no other boy dared to, and thus spending a 
 Sabbath with my thoughts, tears, prayers, and childish aspira- 
 tions. This point was called Buzzard Koost. I have since, 
 thought she in her anger, forgot herself at this time, for she 
 asked me if I did not know that this was the way Indians and 
 all wild savages lived, and could not be tamed— that the white 
 people could not make as much service of them, as they could 
 of the blacks, for they could n©t work for them, but sport their 
 lives in wandering about in the woods, both day and night, living 
 with the wild beasts. Now 1 loved wild beast, and my heart 
 was swelling within me; I forgot her evil blows with clasped 
 hands, and tearful eyes, my heart kindling with the most intense 
 emotion at her recital. I cried out, Oh ! tell me more, tell me 
 more. She looked at me, said something about the strange wild 
 light in my eyes — seated herself, and seemed in deep thought. 
 She then said something which I did not understand, though I 
 listened, for I thought she was going to tell me more. I think 
 she said in a soliloquy, what is bred in the bone will be in the 
 marrow, consequently, when I hear the remark, my mind resorts 
 to this scene of my childhood, with peculiar emotion, and intense 
 interest. I accordingly asked the white man where he found 
 me, and when my father would come for me. He seemed as- 
 tonished to find I had any recollection of a father before I saw 
 him. He told me I had been dreaming that he was not my fa- 
 ther ; bade me remember I was this woman's child, and she 
 could do as she pleased with me ; bade me never to mention this 
 thing to any one, nor speak of it again to him ; but told me 1 
 would know more about it when old enough to work. Here I 
 gave myself up to despair, and run away and went into the back 
 part of the city. I had often been nearly starved, and thought I 
 
19 
 
 could stand hunger pretty well, and manage to climb up and 
 sleep it: an old hay loft ; but I became very hungry, and knew 
 not what, to do, as I was unacquainted here, and wished to re- 
 main in secrecy least I should be taken back. My .spirits were 
 so much broken, that 1 could not enter into my old pranks to gain 
 me friends, I sat myself down early in the morning, near a fine 
 looking house, thinking what I should do. I could not bear to 
 beg. There chanced to come to teed their dogs, some of the 
 inmates of the house. As soon as their backs were turned, I 
 hastened to the spot, and with all the strength I had, begged 
 the poor dogs for a morsel of food to prevent me from starving. 
 My hunger made it sweet Jo me. For several days I slept up- 
 on my bed of hay at night, and watched the shaking of table 
 cloths, and with the dogs picked up the crumbs that was thrown 
 from the table of the owners. 1 could not endure this kind of 
 life, and began to search for work. I at length hired to assist in 
 a brickkiln. I passed a few weeks here as happy as my feelings 
 would allow, but a black woman, who knew my pretended mo- 
 ther, recognized me, and gave information. I was taken back. 
 They had searched much for me, also advertised for me. The 
 brick maker had heard of the search, but never supposed that it 
 referred to me. He had often spoken to me of my red skin, 
 saying I resembled Indian boys he had often seen about Matches. 
 I then had the privilege of asking what Indian Savages meant, 
 and received satisfactory answers. They told much of them 
 which excited my curiosity; that brought to my mind scenes of 
 my earliest recollection. Then they had faded from my mind, 
 yet I determined if my life was spared, I would visit that peo- 
 ple. He also set before me the different grades of society, 
 which enabled me to understand why I had often seen this hated 
 appellation, while I had been absent. This unnatural mother 
 had seen and advertised in a N. 0. paper, which she mistook 
 for me, and she had not been home long before I was brought 
 there also. After her old custom, as usual, she stripped me to 
 give me a lashing, but at the sight of my bruised and lacerated 
 body, she seemed to have some relentin'gS, and I thought was 
 moved for a moment even to pity. The reason of my being 
 thus managed, was in consequence of refusing to return. They 
 beat me and lashed me so unmercifully with a cowhide, that my 
 body was black and blue. She then said she wished she had 
 never seen me or the man who had brought me there. She 
 seemed to have given up all hopes of conquering me, and said 
 she ought to tell all she knew and get rid of me, least I should 
 do something is my fits of anger ot an awful nature. She then 
 
20 
 
 bade me put on my clothes and begone out of her sight, and told 
 me to remember that at some future time she should punish me, 
 I then went to Major Young of the U. S. Army, who was then 
 stationed there, and through his influence I obtained a situation 
 with a Physician, Dr. A. P. Merill, who was also a Surgeon in 
 the U. S. Army. How long I remained with this kind gentle- 
 man, my memory does not serve me • it may have been a year. 
 I was one day sent to the office of the Surgeon, upon an errand, 
 by some of the ladies of the officers of the Post. While pas. 
 slug from the office, a young man who was studying medicine 
 with the Surgeon, raised his window and called me. A lad 
 about 16 years of age happened to be near (to who.) This lad 
 was asking the young Surgeon if I lived there ; when I came up, 
 he seeing me, said with a sneer of contempt, there comes the 
 nigger. Mrs. Munce's family, of whom I have before spoken, 
 was very kind to me, and when memory brings up the reminis- 
 cences of the past, the scenes of my childhood cluster around 
 me, causing my bosom to heave with peculiar emotion, and my 
 bosom heaves to and fro iike the troubled waves of old ocean, 
 and the h'g burning tears often course down my cheeks, and so 
 long as memory holds her empire, I cannot forget the kindness 
 of this family. This family was blessed with a young daughter 
 as beautiful as she was kind and innocent, who manifested much 
 sympathy for me. 
 
 This lad, of whom I have spoken, was very fond of Mary, 
 and become very jealous of me, consequently he was always 
 tantalizing me, and upbraiding me with the epithet of nigger. 
 When this lad thus said, yonder comes the nigger, all my Indian 
 nature was aroused, and my very blood boiled in every vein, and 
 my feelings were so intense that I called upon the Great Spirit, 
 and conjured heaven and earth to know where I originated from. 
 I picked up a part of a brick, though I scarcely hoped toj'each 
 him, yet 1 aimed at his head with all my m ; ght; it reached him 
 just as he happened to turn around, to see what I was doing. It 
 cut his lips, and knocked out five of his teeth. Tfte doctor had 
 to sew up his lips. His friends made a search to see who was 
 around me, and threatened to prosecute them- The Surgeon 
 quieted my feelings, saying no harm should befall me. They 
 went io my unnatural mother to see what they could do with her. 
 My runaway excursion was not yet settled for, and she said she 
 could not do any thing about it, and they must take my body. 
 She made many complaints about my violent and unconquerable 
 temper, and said she had intended to have me imprisoned, and 
 there whipped and starved, until my spirit should be tame. 
 
21 
 
 The white people were strangers to me, and the fathers of many 
 other boys that I had boxed for the same insult, took advantage 
 of this, and bore testimony against me that 1 was a dangerous 
 boy when angry. They however spoke of my industrious hab- 
 its and talents favorably, and upon the whole they concluded to 
 confine me. I became alarmed at this, began to beg for pardon, 
 with now and then a flogging, with little to eat. I heard my 
 sentence with sullen composure — they asked me it I was not 
 sorry ; I told them if their laws and prison had power to keep 
 my body, I was sure I had power over my own tongue, that I 
 could not, and would not, talk with them, and when I was sorry 
 it would be before God alone. While I was in prison, a white 
 man came to me, and said he had many things to say to me to 
 which I must listen attentively. He told me that the woman cal- 
 led my mother was a slave, as well as the mother of the two 
 children, but she was set free before the birth of these two chil- 
 dren, consequently her two children were free, but I was their 
 slave. This unloosed my tongue, and raised every angry passion 
 of my nature. I loudly asserted that he had brought me from 
 my own home, and had made me a slave ; he bade me be quiet 
 until he could tell me all ; he then changed his tone, and told me 
 I had a faiher, probably a white man, but as he did not come to 
 buy me, I was to come ; I was consequently given over as a 
 slave to the children ; he said I must never reveal this, he only 
 told it to comfort me, but told me if I would promise to bear 
 the taunts that would occur ; I told him I could not and 
 should not (break) make any such promises, for I would be sure 
 to break them, and to spare himself the trouble of trying to con- 
 sole me, with such base falsehoods. I told him this woman 
 when angry called me different names wishing she had never 
 seen the wild savage devils, sometimes even calling me a white 
 woman's child, which besides her evil treatment, gave me every 
 reason to believe she was not my mother. I told him that some 
 strange mysteries hung over my birth, and I accused him of 
 knowing what it was, and on my knees implored him to unravel 
 it to me if to none other, telling him by so doing he could con- 
 sole me. He turned coldly from me, while I stretched myself 
 on the floor in despair, assuring him my blood was free, and pure, 
 I crawled around where I could look him in the face, telling him 
 he need not fear to rescue me from this place of abuse and dis- 
 grace, that every step in my after life, should be to prove it, and 
 honor him, but said nothing to reassure me, nor even to speak. 
 I then thought he would do nothing for me ; I said, well, I will 
 bear it ; it will lay me in my grave, and there I shall be fres, 
 
He was touched with my earnest importunity ; gazed upon me a 
 moment, then stooped, and raised me from the floor, with his own 
 hand and he begged me to be calm, to compose the tumult 
 of my feelings, saying it is a pity that ycu should be wronged 
 for the love of money, for let your skin be what it may, you have 
 a noble heart ; and when I contrast your last appeal to my hu- 
 manity, with your language regarding your enemies, it reminds 
 me of the sun breaking out clear and warm through a dark, thick 
 cloud. He promised me he would never wrong me, but strove 
 again to obtain the promise he first wished ; but I could not pro- 
 mise ; he said he would use his influence to obtain my release ; 
 he bid me a kind farewell, wishing me kind friends, and better 
 success for the future. I was then left alone for the night, and a 
 part of the next day, after which I underwent a severe course 
 of punishment, the severest of it being their advice as regarded 
 names or epithets that I might receive, telling me I must even 
 expect it 5 and bear it too, from the very factor the woman known 
 as my mother, having been a slave, but as usual I denied her be- 
 ing my mother, told them ail I knew of myself before I knew her, 
 which was new to them, and some of my enemies were thus 
 turned to friends ; they said it was not reasonable to suppose that 
 I was an Indian child, taken when small, for the purpose of 
 making me a slave. Some asserted they had heard of such 
 circumstances, and it was easily done, where there was such a 
 diversity of color as there is in the South. I was allowed to re- 
 main with kind friends, who said it they had known of my troub- 
 les they would have interposed, and proved me a good child, 
 with the exception of a violent temper, which could not be de- 
 nied, but when treated half right, I was industrious, obedient, 
 gentle and kind, and was free from many faults that beset boys, 
 who had not only the advantage of being white, but whose pa- 
 rents moved in the highest circles of society — that my manners 
 were manly in the extreme; and then I had tinny exalted and 
 noble ideas, relative nj)t only to men and things in this world, but 
 also entertained the most elevated and exalted views of God and 
 his attributes, and as I had received no education, either 
 moral, mental or physical, these thoughts must have been origi- 
 nal. This leads me to believe that these ideas must have ema- 
 nated from the Good Spirit, and that man is immortal, and shall 
 live eternally after he leaves this world. 
 
 I soon accepted an offer from a Mr. Russell, to learn the black- 
 smith's trade. He urged me much to come, and promised to 
 treat me well, but he failed in the very commencement. I had 
 entertained such entire confidence in him that my spirits sank 
 
23 
 
 within me. I was totally unprepared for his unkind treatment 
 I wept again and again over his cruel conduct to me, and found 
 suspicion and jealousy so contrary to my nature, and which had 
 hitherto been a stranger to me, had taken possession of my heart. 
 I was entirely unconscious of other persons suffering the same 
 painful emotions, that was gnawing like a canker worm upon my 
 heart, crushing down my young heart ; I was becoming poorer 
 in flesh every day, but I still continued s'.eadily at my work, to 
 drive away my bad feelings. I do not know how old I was. but 
 they raised three steps to raise me high enough to blow the bel- 
 lows, and strike upon the anvil. Some months had passed in 
 this fearful manner, when at length one day Mr. Russell came to 
 me, and ordered me to strip for the whip ; in vain I begged to 
 know what I had done to merit such usage ; he only answered 
 me with angry oaths, so loud that I was dead in silence, and 
 obeyed, determining in my mind that this should be the last time 
 I would do it. He used a whip known in the South as the over- 
 seer's whip. I fell to the floor, after a few of the first blows, 
 they were so severe, they seemed to take away my breath, and 
 I thought my life ; but I retained my consciousness of it until 
 he ceased ; I tried but could not arise, but my cries for help at 
 first were so heart rending, that although the shop was closed, 
 people heaiing my cries rushed through the back way and forced 
 him to stop ; they raised me up, but I knew it not ; I had faint- 
 ed ; they took me away, and washed my body, bathed my 
 wounds, which brought back a sense of pain, but it was only to 
 faint again, while the blood flowed fast. On coming to myself 
 again, I vomited freely, but soon fainted again from pain and 
 loss of blood. A Physician was called, he seemed alarmed at 
 my situation, and said it might cause my death, the vomiting and 
 fainting for twenty-four hours in spite of all their efforts, contin- 
 uing. Russell seemed now very much alarmed, but I could 
 not bear the sight of him, and would not permit him to come 
 near me; he then gave orders to have every thing done possible 
 for my recovery. What alarmed him most was that the people 
 told him that if I died, in consequence of his cruel treatment, 
 that they would put the law in force against him, which would 
 be first without any formal trial to tar and feather him, ride him 
 on a rail, and then hang him without judge or jury, or the bene- 
 fit of clergy. 
 
 My friends. watched over me with all the tenderness that they 
 would if I had been their own child. For the first three weeks I 
 was compelled to lie upon my stomach, and when I was com- 
 pelled to change my position, I was compelled to rest on my 
 
24 
 
 knees, so that I have at least been in a humble position once ia 
 my life, if no more, from the force of circumstances, but I feel 
 grateful to the Good Spirit that he has given me a heart to bow 
 before him, and adore his goodness, and I shall even be thank. 
 fu) that he raised me up such kind friends, for had he not I must 
 have died, and now been sleeping beneath the green sod of the 
 valley ; the wounds in my back were so deep that you could in 
 some places see through into my stomach. My back was a com- 
 plete mass of supuration. It was well known that I was per- 
 fectly well on the morning that this circumstance took place, 
 and then to sec me in this situation, it was talked over again 
 and again, that the people became so exasperated that they told 
 Russell that if he did not leavo, they would ride him out of the 
 town on a rail ; this so alarmed him that he picked up his duds 
 and moved away; soon after he died a miserable life, being 
 drowned in a ditch, in a fit of intoxication, making my prophe. 
 cies true that God would punish him for his savage treatment to 
 me, though hand in hand the wicked shall not go unpunished. 
 
 I was one day walking the streets of New Orleans, when 
 Mrs- Russell accoste,d me, saying how do you do sir 1 I think I 
 know you, I replied probably you do madam. She then said do 
 you remember once telling a man that God would punish him for 
 his cruel treatment to you? I answered perfectly well. She 
 said my words had proved too true, and said she was his wife ; 
 after telling me her husband died, went on to say to me that she 
 was in distress, and had not eat any thing in three days, and 
 begged me to lend her some money, to buy something to eat, 
 anrTtell her where I lived. I had some $10 in my pocket, and 
 immediately gave her $5 50 and 25 cents to the child that was 
 with her. After this she came to the house where I lived, and 
 offered to return my money, but I looked at her feet, and saw 
 that she was partly barefooted, and I gave her g2 50 to buy hsr 
 another pair of shoes, for which she thanked me very kindly. 
 My heart was full with sorrow for her ; I could not nor would 
 not take any thing from her, but gave her my well wishes, and 
 advised he/to change her course. She gave me a full history 
 o r the rascality that had been practiced against me. Upon her 
 promising to reform I gave her the rent of my house free for 
 three months. She soon became industrious, and by her la- 
 bors was enabled to sustain herself. Having to repair my house, 
 *he left, and 1 have not heard from her since. My friends took 
 me away from Russell, home with them, where I remained unti 
 I revived, and any who offered to take rr.e home with them, I be= 
 cans© afraid of them, I saw the future in the past, as I visited 
 
25 
 
 from place to place, among my friends, I was secretly devising a 
 plan to visit some of the Indian tribes. An opportunity soon 
 offered. 
 
 One day I walked down to the river, and found Steam Boats 
 from every part of the great valley of the Mississippi. The cap- 
 tain of one of them, bound to Red River, who knowing I was 
 unprotected, without employment, asked how I would like a trip 
 to Alexandria, saying he thought it would improve my health and 
 spirits. I told him if I could pay my expenses I would gladly 
 go. I was soon on board, and the boat soon under way. Be- 
 fore we reached the place of destination, I frankly told the Cap. 
 tain my belief respecting my birth, and that I did not wish to re- 
 turn, but rather to remain in that country to visit some of 
 the Indian villages — he willingly permitted me to stay, and pro- 
 mised to sey nothing on his return respecting my retreat. I 
 here felt reassured, and though I had no friends present, it was 
 a comfort to know I had no enemies, I soon obtained sundry 
 small jobs, which paid for my board, and something beside. I 
 dicf not wish to enter into steady employment, as I intended the 
 first opportunity to visit the Indians. 
 
 Perhaps I should have stated, that I had seen Indians frequent- 
 ly in Natchez, but soon learned that when any of them came 
 to town I was careiully and closely watched. It appears that 
 some one always gave the necessary information to whoever I 
 lived with, saying I had threatened to run away with them. Per- 
 mit me to describe my feelings the first time I ever saw Indians. 
 I had just stepped out of a door into the street as they were 
 coming down tho street ; they were walking slowly, seeming to 
 be looking at the buildings; I appeared nailed to the spot, my 
 heart leaped with joy, yet a choaking sensation amounting to 
 pain seized me; confused ideas crowded upon my mind ; they 
 were near me, yet I moved not, until the keen eyes of one of 
 them rested upon me; he spoke, thn eyes of the whole company 
 turned upon me, and then upon each other, while as it seemed to 
 me they uttered an exclamation of surprise ; they came towards 
 me, I was wild with delight, I thought I was their child, that they 
 were seeking for me ; I started and held out my hands, tears 
 gushed from my eyes, I addressed them in a language to me un- 
 known before ; it was neither English, Spanish, or French ; 
 astonished, they spoke kind to me, smoothing my hair with their 
 hands ; an explanation now took place as one could speak Eng- 
 lish ; he said I had asked in Choctaw for my father, saying that 
 he had gone and left me, and I was with bad people ; that I 
 begged to know if he was not with them; they then asked for 
 
26 
 
 my mother, this pained me ; I told them she was not my mother; 
 they looked at each other, spoke faster and louder, and looked 
 very angry ; there had a crowd of children and men and wo- 
 men gathered ; the Indians loudly asked where and to whom 
 does this child belong? some one answered to a colored woman. 
 The clouds seemed to grow darker on their way, yet to me 
 sweet fact, the same one said, to a slave woman, and he is a 
 slave. The Indian held his hands high above his head and 
 said, but white man lie, he no good, him no slave/no niger, no, 
 bad white man steal him, his skin is red ; this was repeated in 
 imperfect English by them all — me, I love him — the crowd were 
 some smoking, laughing, some mocking, angry and cursing— 
 the Indians conversed in a low tone together : here some of the 
 crowd interfered, and separated me from my new, but dear 
 friends — while all the time, bad white man lie, he steal him, he 
 no niger, him Indian boy, now and then reached my ears. I 
 was then torn from them — my feelings towards them I cannot 
 attempt to explain. 
 
 I now returned to Alexandria. I hear learned that the In- 
 dians often visited the village, that they came here and fished 
 and sold their fish to the inhabitants, and I determined to make 
 their acquaintance here, and so get an invitation to their camps. 
 As I still retained a love for the hook and line, it was just in my 
 hand. The first Indian I met, assisted me in a friendly manner, 
 which I returned, and was soon happy among them, for they 
 seemed to regard me as a companion ; they did not even ask 
 for or look for other blood in me. I tasked my memory in 
 bringing to mind words, often on my tongue though I had no re- 
 collection of their meaning. They told me it was the Choctaw 
 tongue. I was over anxious to gain the friendship of those who 
 spoke a little English, and as soon as I was sure of their confU 
 dence, I gave to them a history of my sorrows in part ; it was 
 night, and we were gathered around the camp fire, one of them 
 serving as interpreter. I had scarcely began before the pipe 
 was laid by, one saying their hearts were sorry, and they could 
 not smoke ; the elder ones bent their eyes on the ground, their 
 features settled into an immoveable silence, their arms were 
 folded upon their breasts ; their very silence said to me, this is 
 but another lesson in the deceitfulness of the pale face ; the 
 eyes of the younger ones were fixed upon me, and their features 
 manifested a restlessness, and they manifested signs of revenge; 
 they grasped their tomahawks firmly ,• my emotion soon pre- 
 vented my proceeding ; I showed them my back ; that expres- 
 sion, eagh ! eagh ! ! eagh ! ! so significant of high resolves, 
 
27 
 
 contempt, and indignation, &c M escaped the lips of the older, 
 while an angry wail went forth from the young. Their leader 
 spoke, when all was silent ; their interpreter gave me what fol- 
 lows : Pale face always say he friend, poor Indian get money, 
 bad pale face get fire-water, then he friend ; Indian got no 
 money, then he got no friend, but he got hunting-ground, pale 
 face want it, he fight a little, give little this, and little that, last 
 poor Indian take fire-water, he then loses sense, then white man 
 get his home, the Great Spirit gave pale face children, houses, 
 cattle, but this no enough, he love black slave, Indian skin no 
 white, but dark red, so he think Indian make good slave, so he 
 try him, but he no make slave, so bad white man steal papoose, 
 may be he make good slave, no, no, no, bad white man, he no 
 good, he speak with a forked tongue. While he was speaking 
 not a motion was made, or any other sound heard, not a leaf 
 trembled; as he ceased my ears were almost deafened with the 
 loud yeils of indignation that burst upon me as they sprang to 
 their feet and began dancing around me. Th's was a scene 
 novel to me j I had roused their feelings for me, but knew not 
 how to quell them. It was late before we laid down in our wig- 
 wams ,- we rose very early, they said they could not sleep, and 
 were sorry for their brother's son, and their fears plainly showed 
 me that they were ill at ease. We washed ourselves all over, 
 thoroughly ; they gathered around the fire, standing in a circle, 
 holding their left hand up io the Great Spirit, said a few words 
 in their own tongue deeply serious, wet the fore finger with the 
 same hand, dipped it in the ashes, beginning at the corner of the 
 eye drew it downwards, imitating the trickling of a tear ; their 
 leader then spoke a lew words, the others imitating him, at hold- 
 ing up the same hand, their eyes fixed on the morning sky as 
 their words fell from their lips, they looked upon me, as though 
 they were reading my heart, instead of searching my featuies I 
 did not know how to act, but the interpreter told me they were 
 invoking the Great Spirit for me, and expressing sorrow for my 
 situation. They then very gravely informed me, that I must 
 not fish for them any more, as I had caught more fish than they, 
 and they were convinced that the Great Spirit had given him 
 this as a gift to supply his wants, and he would be angry with 
 them if they accepted of any which I could sell. To thi3 I 
 undertook to object, telling them I had some little money and 
 was their visitor, and had partaken of their bread, and still they 
 answered, we also have partaken of your fish. My interpreter 
 here motioned me to be silent ; they believed a supernatural 
 power would aphold me, and that these difficulties were suffered 
 
28 
 
 to gather around the path to test my honor ; that the God of the 
 pale face, and the bad alike, had come before me, if I chose the 
 good, the Great Spirit would deliver me ; I then wished to be 
 cheerful, but as long as they let the ashes grow upon their faces 
 I scarcely spoke, but when this was taken off, I felt at liberty, 
 and attempted to answer them, by telling anecdotes about myself 
 which pleased them so much that they had a great pow, pow 
 about it, and they were in perfect ecstacies about them. 
 
 I had stolen away one morning, repaired to the spot where I 
 had hidden my fish poles under a flat-bottomed boat, on touching 
 the poles I heard the cry which was like what I had always sup- 
 posed to proceed from a niger baby, and which gave me the 
 most horrid sensations, though I had never seen one, but had 
 often heard white people speak of the peculiarity of their cry, 
 not doubting, I stooped down to examine more closely, it seem- 
 ed in a sitting posture, leaning forward, looked young, and I felt 
 all my former disgust return, I touched it with a pole, again it ut- 
 tered a- hideous cry ; I snatched up my poles and returned to the 
 lake, I could not but reflect that if it was human it was sensible 
 of pain, cold and hunger. I was touched with pity, and re- 
 turned, determining to serve it ; but I could not reach it, it 
 seemed frightened at me : I relinquished the idea, and went back 
 to the lake, I passed several houses in watching, expecting to see 
 it emerge from its concealment, on being left alone — about one 
 o'clock, a Spaniard come to me, I told him my exploit, spoke of 
 its cries, and endeavored to interest him in its favor, he stooped 
 down and examined closely ,f and said ah, this Johny Crapo. and 
 to my amazement drew forth a large Bull-frog whose head was 
 nearly as large as my head : it still kept on crying like a niger 
 baby, the Spanish man killed, and dressed it, and sold it to some 
 Frenchmen for $3 ; another one opposite kept hollowing chubbe, 
 chubbe, chubbe ; I am coming, I started to go to it, and on the 
 way passed two large mockasin snakes, but they did not molest 
 me ; I killed the frog and sold it tor half a dollar ; while I was 
 fishing, I made a little basket to put my fish in and when I went 
 to put my fish in it, a [large mockasin jumped at me, but I 
 soon dispatched him ; I was afterwards attacked by two of their 
 snakeships who had stretched themselves on a log that had fallen 
 across a small river ; they were after my fish, 1 killed one and 
 the other escaped from me — this restored cheerfulness, and the 
 leader drew a moral from this, saying, my enemies took me for 
 a niger baby, but it will all come out like the frog story. The 
 Spanish man told the joke, and my enemies often tormented me 
 with it. 1 then would sit by the side of the lake and watch the 
 
29 
 
 frogs — I then imitated them in a coarse base voice, the head 
 one answed knee deep, and another one call out, fried bacon, 
 more rum, another, snatch him, the head frog called out, toler- 
 ation, his mate hollowed flam him, and another crawled along on 
 a log crying, caty dit — they were so delighted that they entered 
 heartily into the feast and dance. 
 
 I then returned to Alexandria, where I made many friends, 
 French, Spanish, and one English family especially, who made 
 me acquainted with a gentleman who was very wealthy, who re- 
 sided in Mississippi ; claimed me as his cousin, he was related 
 to the family who became so friendly to me. Mrs. Kitchen, was 
 a sister of this gentleman, which would have made us relatives. 
 Captain Brown, was going up to Natchitoches in a keel boat, he 
 engaged me to accompany him, after having proceeded some 
 mites up the river, I being on deck, surveying the scenery as we 
 passed, having a pair of high heel shoes on made me very clum- 
 sy, and 1 fell overboard ; the current was swift here and carried 
 me down, as I was not an expert swimmer, I struggled and did 
 not exert myself; a young man saw me sinking and dove in and 
 rescued me from drowning ; I came up out of the water, farther 
 down the river than he had expected ; he by using all his exer- 
 tions saved me as I was sinking the thiid time; I had not until 
 this moment had any acquaintance with either the young man, 
 or his father, but a brotherly feeling sprang up between us ; we 
 made our trip and returned together, his father living opposite 
 Alexandria, I went home with him; the young man proposed 
 that 1 should assist him at the ferry ; I worked with them three 
 months ; my Indian friends often visited me, and informed me 
 that many of the Choctaws living in Mississippi advised me to 
 visit, them; about this time a gentleman living in Natchez 
 landed here ; recognized me ; coaxed me to return with 
 him, saying I had many friends in Natchez who were anxious 
 about me, and which had been much concerned about my ab- 
 sence. I found that to visit the Indian country I must return 
 by the way of Natchez; he promised that my unnatural mother 
 should have no control over me ; he said I should go to a trade 
 and be used well, and I told him that I must make one more 
 expedition ; 1 left Alexandria, many friends followed me to the 
 boat, sending their best wishes ; I returned to Natchez, having 
 been absent nine months ; my friends greeted me with smiles, 
 complimenting me with my improvement ; I had not only be- 
 come more bulky, but much taller, and ray spirits were much 
 improved ; I had ©ffers on every hand for employment ; a Mr. 
 McCafry, who had ever been my friend, proposed that I should 
 
30 
 
 finish the blacks miming with him ,• here I was treated as a mem- 
 ber of his family ; I worked very hard for some month?, when 
 I had a violent attack of the billions fever, the only sickness J 
 ever had in my life ; I was almost unconscious, and suffered 
 much for three weeks, I recovered slowly and lingered for some 
 time under the effects, and the physicians advised me to travel 
 for my recovery,- I had some money and insisted on the Doctor 
 taking some, and left for a while, starting for Brandon, and 
 my money giving out, threw me again upon my own resources. 
 One night being tired I stopped at a little cottage where the 
 people treated me very kindly, and gave me a poor old horse 
 which they had turned out upon the commons ; I rode him on 
 the level road and walked up and down the hills, bv this means I was 
 enabled to reach Brandon springs where I soon made friends, 
 and spent the fall and winter. I had sometimes visited bail 
 rooms and acted as a prompter, my voice being strong and 
 distinct. I was employed as a prompter — in the spring I re- 
 turned to my old employer. 
 
 Mr. Allen— Dear Sir : I am very sorry that I cannot see 
 you before I relate what soon followed — William at first said I 
 must not write it, for up to this day, he cannot keep down his 
 anger, when he remembers that he was tied when sleeping and 
 whipped by a woman after he was a man, the scars she left he 
 must take down into the grave — ah hough when released he gave 
 her a broomsticking, yet he is ashamed to have it mentioned. I 
 think it ought to be, for it was known there— he has consented 
 to have it in part, if we both wish — what I write will be but a 
 sketch, yet strictly true, if you think best use it. Please cor- 
 rect my many mistakes. 
 
 She asked me, if I thought I had ever seen Sally Kelly, be- 
 
SI 
 
 fore 1 saw her. I immediately recollected what Sally had said 
 to me when I was between ten and twelve years old, though I 
 had no recollf ciion of seeing her, when so young, yet I led her 
 to believe that 1 had. When somewhere about the age named, 
 I met a very black woman in the street, she seemed very glad to 
 see me, and yet big tears stood in her eyes, she ^sked me to 
 shake hands with her because she was my first black mamma; 
 one black mamma was too many, and I wished to be off, yet her 
 words fast chained me there ; she looked about the street and up 
 to the windows, I thought to see if any person was looking at 
 her, still holding on to my hand, said to herself, (but my ears 
 were open) yes, this son of the broad forest Chief was brought to 
 me first, though I was then and am yet very wicked, jet I never 
 wronged an innocent child, and his bitter lamentations for his 
 parents, especially his father, stid rings in my ears. I had be- 
 come impatient to know all she knew of me — she ceased speak- 
 ing, but gazing inquiringly into my eyes said, you are young and 
 if you should tell they would beat me to death — she said if I 
 would not tell until I was grown she would then tell me all she 
 knew of me ; she bade me follow her down the alley and she 
 would talk to me. She then said, yes, child, the white man's 
 blood possesses no more freedom than yours, yet they have made 
 no distinction between you and the negro slave — she then said 
 the white man who found me, and her master, were great friends, 
 that he had been on one occasion some time from home, and or 
 returning he brought me there and wished to see her master 
 alone ,* (she was the only woman there,) so when they were 
 alone, she slipped up and listened, for my appearance had ex- 
 cited her curiosity, for she had often heard them speak of steal- 
 ing Indian children and make slaves of them, and she heard him 
 say to her master, yes, I can gf t the shiners for him, for the old 
 Chief is away and will search for him when he returns, and I 
 can easily say I found him, and he will pay me for my trouble 
 and a present besides, and then I shall not have to raise him or 
 run the risk of his dying ,• and as his colored woman and himself 
 had parted in a quarrel, it was decided that I should be told that 
 he had bought you below, and that I mu=t learn you to talk, as it 
 seemed you did not know how to speak with any sense ; my 
 master then asked him it you was old Bill Chubby's son, he an- 
 swered yes, and they laughing, swore he had made a lucky hit. 
 I then left the key-hole and sought the child, who was afraid of 
 me and would not speak — they soon told me some tale about you, 
 little dreaming that I knew you was to be kept close in the house, 
 I was not to take you out myself; you seemed very anxious to go 
 
32 
 
 out, and eat very little, and either screamed and cried or sat in 
 sullen silence. I often listened to find out any thing concerning 
 you, and at length found that your father supposed you had been 
 destroyed by wild beasts or stolen by some warlike tribe, he had 
 vowed vengeance on whoever had the child. Now came many 
 consultations ; he feared to take you home lest he should suffer, 
 your father had not thought of your being with the white men, 
 he believed they were friends. They now began to talk of keep- 
 ing you as a slave ; my own conscience smoie me, and I threw 
 out my hints, thinking to frighten them, but they carelessly told 
 me I knew too much, saying they must find the child a mother, 
 but I was so black that I would not do ; I was glad of it, and the 
 man had long promised to set his woman free, he now offered 
 her freedom if she would say she gave birth to this child, when 
 they moved to Natchez, to this she agreed, and he set her free ; 
 we all moved to Natchez : she became known as the mother of 
 you. She then turned to me and said, now if you can keep this 
 until you are a man, I will tell you more, yes you will know it all 
 and be free and respected ; I always knew it and that has kept 
 my tongue still, but I could not help telling you I was your mo- 
 ther first, and when you are about they are afraid I will tell it all, 
 for I always took your part — so good bye, my heart is easier 
 now, come and see me and remember what I promise when you 
 are grown, so mind your tongue. 
 
 "When alone, I endeavored to stamp her words in my brain, 
 saying them over to myself, for fear I should forget them. I 
 had not seen Sally for some years, as some stolen goods were 
 found to be harbored by her, she had to leave the city unexpec- 
 tedly and unknown to me, and I had heard nothing of her since. 
 I had never named her communication with me, and now that I 
 was thus questioned I determined to make use of my knowl- 
 edge — I accordingly accepted an invitation to corne to her house, 
 and eat and talked with her, when I told her Sally was my mo- 
 ther before she was, she was silent some moments, and then 
 said, yes, but we did not think you remembered her, or being 
 with her at least. But she refused to tell me where Sally was, 
 but she told a story corroborating with Sally's, alleging she had 
 to do as her master wished. She opened a bureau-drawer and 
 showed me a suit of fine clothes that that man left when he 
 went away, saying he expected to return when he left, but she 
 should keep the clothes for his son ; she told me her children 
 was his. She then said that slavery was not confined to the negro, 
 but that any other child the whites could steal that was not white 
 was just as much a slave as the negro ; she then said she was 
 
going to tell me a little more and trust to my own good heart 
 to do her justice, I motioned her to proceed, and she said that 
 a white man had got me from old Bill Chubbe, the Chief of 
 some tribe of Mississippi Indians, and that because he was so 
 big and fat they called him Chubbee ; that he failed to come for 
 me ; every thing turned against the man ; he had prepared to 
 give her children a part of his fortune, (at this time eatibles were 
 brought in, and I drank coffee freely, while she after waiting as 
 long as she could added) so he just gave you to them, and now 
 we will do what is right, you are a tine young man about 25 or 
 26, I think, though some say, not over 23. While she was 
 speaking a painful stupor seemed to come over me, I raised to 
 go but she detained me almost forcibly saying, 1 must hear her 
 out ; I sat down for I could scarcely stand, and I tried to rally 
 myself, for I feared my feelings had overcome me, my head 
 seemed ready to burst, while a dizzy sleepiness took possession 
 of me ; the old woman finished by saying, you can make the 
 children a few presents and do something for me, and we will 
 give you up, and thus stop this quarrel. I told her I would 
 never give a farthing as a present, or pay for the freedom with 
 which I was born 1 again arose but could not walk or scarcely 
 stand. She told me [ must not go, that I was too sleepy, I must 
 go to bed ,- scarcely knowing what I did I pulled off my coat 
 and vest and threw myself on the bed and went to sleep, when I 
 awoke it was to a sense of the keenest pain, I seemed smarting, 
 could it be I felt the lash, yes, writhing under its torture, as it 
 way laid upon my flesh, I endeavored to rise, I could not move, the 
 blows seemed to fall heavy and fast, but how could this be p^s- 
 sible, I had been too happy, I must be suffering under some 
 dreadful disease, I thought 1 had the nightmare, but then by this 
 time 1 had gathered my scattered senses and remembered that I 
 was in bed, and found that I was on my face, the sheet wound 
 close about my head, my hands and feet tied fast to the bedstead, 
 I remembered where I was, and our conversation, I then knew it 
 was no nightmare, no dream, and I struggled with all my might 
 to unwrap my head, at length I partly succeeded, and saw light 
 again; the blows ceased and oh horror! there she stood, she 
 whose guest 1 was, and now her prisoner — even to this day, 
 when I think of or relate this disgusting scene, the same feelings 
 return, I felt sick at heart ; she soon spoke like this : sir, I have 
 taken this plan to show you have a master, you have refused to 
 give me any thing for yourself, just as 1 expected, though I 
 thought I would try you ; you are so ungovernable that no one 
 will buy you, and the people are fools enough to think that you 
 
34 
 
 do not belong to us, but I have got you now in my own power 
 in spite of your fraud or cunning, and no craftiness of yours can 
 release you, no indeed, nothing but your word that you will buy 
 yourself will do; I will lake your word for what a slave man is 
 worth, and now promise me quickly, and be like an Indian in 
 keeping your word, you would hate to own you was whipped 
 by me after you came out a fine gentleman, and if you please I 
 will say nothing about it, if not 1 will beat you until you are glad 
 to promise. 1 then said are you prepared beastly woman to an- 
 swer to God and man for my life ? I now solemnly say, I will 
 never promise that. She then saying, you are in my power, 
 began to lay on the blows — now that I discovered my foe had 
 tied me, and my senses had returned, the reality of my disgrace- 
 ful situation was plain before me, together with the smart of the 
 keen lash seemed to give me lion like .strength, and with a few 
 desperate leaps [ succeeded in tearing the bedstead into pieces, 
 breaking the cord that bound my feet, tearing up a cloth pair of 
 pants for which 1 had just paid $17, with the part to which my 
 hands were fastened I felled the old woman, leaving her to pick 
 up herself, while J rushed to the door where I soon gnawed my 
 right hand loose, and seeing a friend of hers coming to her at a 
 distance, 1 picked up a piece ol brick and leveled him — ntyjaws 
 and teeth were tired, and by way of experiment I found I rould 
 saw a rope in too with two bricks: I was soon loose but almost 
 naked and bloody, with little hesitation I walked to her door it 
 was locked, I picked up a stick of wood knocked in her window, 
 and went in, got my coat and vest, but then 1 had no pants, I 
 opened the drawer and took the suit she had shown me, dared ber 
 to move while I washed and dressed in these clothes, and left, 
 the house forever. Officers tracked me, and I was brought to 
 .Natchez — my enemies now undertook to make me buy myself, 
 saying let me be what I might I was given to them, and they 
 had a right to me, and I could not be sold for I was well known, 
 my friends respected me too much to buy me, and my enemies 
 were afraid of me. 
 
 I immediately left for Vicksburg, where there was a party 
 given, and they hired me to play on the llute, lor which they gave 
 me Si 00 for the night. J had several good jobs here, when I 
 was sent for to go to Natch/z to play on the Fourth of July, for 
 which they gave me $50 — this pleased my friends as much as it 
 gratified me. l returned to Vicksburg after a week';? visit here; 
 stayed long enough to be highly received by Dr. Anderson's 
 family, and Lawyer Harrison's Son-in-law, also by Mrs. Nartona, 
 who lived a few miles back of Natchez, at whose house i had 
 
35 
 
 often met with many ladies and gentlemen, 1 had many friends 
 here, yet some of the lower class began to find fault with my 
 visiting among them, and news began to circulate concerning my 
 fate in Natchez. 
 
 As things still remaineed unsettled I thought I would go still 
 further up the Mississippi river, and took passage onboard steam- 
 er George Washingron, Mr. Kgerton, Captain, and I take the 
 liberty of saying he was on the eve of marriage with the ac- 
 complished Miss Cathrine OJdam, of Louisville, Ky., I was in- 
 troduced to the family, and many of the first families of that 
 city. The day for the marriage to take place was fixed, and I 
 played now and then for the Captain and his lady love, to while 
 away the time, which seemed to hang heavy on their hands, but 
 the w dding day at length arrived, and a bright affair it was too; 
 afterwards they went down to the George Washington and had 
 a ball ; here my music was just the thing. I here saw the Hon. 
 Henry Ciay for the first time, I knew nothing of politics but I 
 was much pleased with the man himself. I went to a conven- 
 tion of the whig party, Mr. Clay was the hero of the day. 
 
 I kept a parlor open tor the reception of visitors, many came 
 here to practise with me, and many more to listen to us — several 
 young men put themselves under my tuition, and although I had 
 never been taught myself, they progressed finely in their studies 
 and I soon brought out, not only the best field music, but also 
 ior dinners, balls, cotilion and tea parties, weddings, &c. 1 be- 
 came acquainted with the Hon- Mr. Moiton, Gov. of Louisiana; 
 he seemed to be beloved by all as well as myself, and before all 
 parade days my name was circulated as unequaled— 1 was al- 
 ways present at the Governor's review, receiving presents and 
 compliments from that worthy gentleman, with many public 
 testimonials of regard — true, all were not my friends, and many 
 reports followed me from Natchez here, as they have since done 
 elsewhere, and belied by enemies, but my recommendations 
 were such, that 1 was admitted, and received and treated with 
 the respect due to a respectable white man. 
 
 1 visited Bay St. Louis again and was welcomed by the cit- 
 zens. When 1 visited a city 1 was lucky enough to find those 
 whom 1 could esteem as friends, by playing some of their favo- 
 rite melodies — thus wherever 1 roamed with this unseen key, 
 did 1 unlock the heart of the stranger, and find the priceless 
 treasure of a friend. O, where and what should I have been, 
 had not nature implanted within me this clue to that changeable 
 organ, the human heart— with it 1 could disarm envy, avert the 
 eye of suspicion, and although not able, even yet, to clip the 
 
36 
 
 tongue of scandal, yet have I trudged side by side with it, and 
 gained more friends than it could make me enemies — when I 
 returned, those of my acquaintance were very glad to see me, 
 it was near the hour for reviewing, and as I was riding through 
 the city, I met a carriage full of friends, who being the first peo- 
 ple of the United States, were at liberty to act as to them seem- 
 ed best, without the fear of enemies ; they alighted from their 
 carriage, and crowned me with a wreath of flowers, thus testify. 
 ing their regard for me, in honor of my uncultivated talents—- 
 this touched a tender chord in my bosom, and I mentally ex- 
 claimed, what am I ! As I remembered the crown of thorns, it 
 melted me even unto tears, and I feared that I had murmured 
 withal ; a strange foreboding crept into my heart, and I felt to 
 resign myself into the Hands of God, with confidence to believe 
 that he in his own time would deliver me from this dreadful un- 
 certainty. 
 
 I first started on a teaching excursion, and went to fort James 
 while the dispute was going on in Natchez about my indentures; 
 my enemies said, let him go, I could not travel without some- 
 thing stating who and what I was, but I did not think so, for I 
 had travelled even when a boy without any trouble, and I had no 
 fear of trouble on that point. I proceeded from Fort Adams to 
 Wardville, then returned to Natchez, from thence to Fayette, 
 thence to port Gibson, where I became acquainted With a very 
 excellent man by the name of John Flecher, also Mr. Green- 
 leaf and Mr. Bob Shelby, I also had the pleasure of meeting 
 my friend, Bob Shelby, at Jackson, Mississippi, some time af- 
 terwards, where I had gone to petition the legislature to grant 
 me the privilege of living in the State without being brought 
 under the laws enacted for the African race. I returned to 
 Natchez, ever hoping that God would enable me to find some 
 clue to dentify me as belonging to some family or tribe. 
 
 While at Brandon, I made many enquiries about theChocfaws, 
 found they lived still farther back. My horse having died the 
 next day after I reached Brandon, I had to postpone journeying 
 until my health was restored. I was ready to start two or three 
 times, but something occurred to hinder me, and I began to con- 
 sider that I had prolonged my stay longer than Mr. MeCafterey 
 expected. I determined to return and finish my trade, hoping 
 something would occur in my favor. I had seen several parties 
 of Indians, who I promised to visit at Natchez. Before I re- 
 turned, I made a firm promise to God, that if he would spare 
 my health, I would finish my trade as soon as possible. Many 
 hours I occupied my mind in beating the time of some favorite 
 
37 
 
 tune with my sledge hammer. I seemed to work faster, and 
 then it soothed the care of my mind, serving to drive away an- 
 gry and sorrowful thoughts. Soon after 1 returned, I was chosen 
 to play for the Natchez Cadets, and they elected me Fife Ma- 
 jor — gave me my uniform, and on the fourth of July, 1830 or 
 '31, (if I mistake not,) my feelings were of mingled gratitude 
 and pride, For as we marched through the street, I saw mortified 
 countenances on every hand — I received many congratulations 
 from friends, and the highest hopes of the future took possession 
 of my mind. I became a great favorite, loved on one hand as 
 strongly as I was hated — oppressed on the other. My boss soon 
 noticed the manner I executed music with my hammer— it was 
 commented upon by the workmen, comers and goers, and I 
 could get a dime a tune, many times 50 cents, and keep at mv 
 work, throwing in now and then some imitations — many horse 
 shoes I made in tins manner, and from my presents I managed 
 to keep an extra suit of fashionable clothes, preferring white lin- 
 nen for summer, as it v-uitcd the redness of my skin, and when 
 the shop was not crowded, I had the privilege of stopping at five 
 or six o'clock, and taking a pleasant stroll with my friends, who 
 seemed to vie with each other to cause me by their kindness to 
 forget the obscurity of my birth ; but it seemed to haunt most 
 of my waking hours, otherwise I should have been as happy as 
 need be. I still continued exercising music adding the clarionet 
 to my practice. 
 
 Late in the fall, some of the Indians I had seen at Brandon 
 came to see me. Mr. McCafYerey received them kindly — told 
 me I was free for the day. I had the inexpressible pleasure of 
 a wrdk with them through the principal streets, introducing them 
 to friends, and as they were well behaved, we were invited to 
 visit some of the Grandees, where they publicly acknowledged 
 me. This was very gratifying, as enemies always looked 
 black to see me walking or talking with respectable white people, 
 but now they had no time to look this way, seeming not to see 
 me. We returned to Mr. McCatTerey's, had something to eat 
 and retired, On rising, I was warmly greeted by shopmates, 
 who told me my last march was the best one I ever made, but 
 behind my back some white men who wished to see me held as 
 a slave, sought out the Indians — said white man no like black 
 man, he like Indian best, Eughl All silent hut the Indian and 
 white man. Why you if I me this with a little hesitation. 'I he 
 white man answered, we see you Indians and slave boy walking 
 together, eugh ! Again the white mm proceeded ; may be you 
 no know he slave. We tell you w~ like Indian heap, eugh ! Wo 
 
38 
 
 is excuse, we no know he slave — may be you no know it — may 
 be white man lie heap. They knew they alluded to me, and an- 
 grily told them they wanted no believe, and soon left the city. 
 Time moved on in this pleasant manner, without much interrup- 
 tion. I was steady at work — was well treated — nothing of im- 
 portance occurring that I need relate untill the next fall, except 
 that I began to save rny money and do extra jobs. Such mend- 
 ing as I could do, my boss gave me pay, and making pot hooks, 
 when one day my heart was gladdened as the sound of bobashe- 
 Iah (which is friend in Choctaw) fell on my ear- There was a 
 large party camped on the bluff, and had sent these after. I was 
 permitted to go after doing a job. I was very anxious to go, but 
 si ill when my work was done, I had not only the satisfaction of 
 going', with the consent of all hands, but had their congratula- 
 tions on being the cause of the approaching festivity as they were 
 making great preparations. They came for me at the house ; 
 I returned with them to the camp, from whence the whole com- 
 pany proceeded through the principal streets ; 1 walked in front 
 with the Chief, the oldest men followed next, the braves bringing 
 up the rear. We walked quietly through the street, back to the 
 camp, on the bluffs ; there I spent three days before they would 
 let me go ; they then conducted me home ; I waited at the door 
 until men women and children bade me adieu. I thought they 
 done this to gratify themselves and please me, but I ibund it 
 had a great bearing in the mind of many, knowing that one In- 
 dian can tell another, and they told all who met them that this 
 brother's son may be Big Chief's son. They told me to learn 
 my trade, and then come and see my people, and learn them. — 
 My extra jobs b?gan to increase so as to employ each moment. 
 I had learned to make gridirons, tributes, or iron stands, &c.,and 
 picked up all the scraps of Iron, saved aii the old horse shoes 
 about the shop, which I began welding together, working late 
 and early, for business in my line was increasing I soon finish- 
 ed welding, and had iron enough to make a pair of shovel and 
 tongs. My boss bought it for nails, giving me in return as much 
 new iron, and enough over to make a pair of andirons. When 
 I got them finished, I received $3 a piece for the three articles. 
 My health was good — strength increasing every day. In this 
 manner five years passed away, which released me from my 
 trade. Mr- McCatferey gave me a good suit of clothes, and by 
 my own industry, and through his indulgence, I had saved $300. 
 My friends had often told me to get papers or indentures to show 
 I had served my trade and was released honorably. My boss 
 was very willing, but some opposed it, and looked back on the 
 
39 
 
 last five years, and felt I had enjoyed a sweet calm — my sky had 
 long been clear — a cloud seemed gathering in the distance, from 
 which a fearful storm arose. 
 
 A friend offered me a house on reasonable terms, which I 
 fitted up with little expense, for my friends made me many pre- 
 sents in the household line — the front room was fitted for a bar- 
 ber shop. I hired a barber to tarry it on, whose custom was 
 quite extensive. Here I kept young bachelor's hall, being de- 
 termined that the lessons I had taken in my adversity, should 
 now be of some use to me. I served as market boy and cham- 
 ber maid. 
 
 I had marched a few times with the Naiehes Fencibles white 
 at my trade, as soon as free I took the command of their music, 
 and now appeared with the INatchez Guards. Soon after, Adam's 
 Light Guards. This drew my acquaintance to my house — my 
 prosperity seemed to gall my enemies sorely, so much so that I 
 was often abused and insulted in the street by slaves and free, 
 even at the head of companies. This was very painful to me, 
 and seived to mar the peace I had so long enjoyed, without much 
 interruption. Some time had elapsed since I left Mr. M-cCaiTe- 
 rey, and I had not got my papers yet — I was much opposed. — 
 My enemies said that I could make money fast, and could af- 
 ford to buy myself of the woman, and thus settle the dispute. 
 This mortified me very much ; indeed my feelings I do not at- 
 tempt to describe. When 1 was waited upon for an answer to 
 the degrading proposition, what! I with the consciousness of 
 possessing a good heart, a fine mind ; nature having lavished on 
 me talents of the highest order, uncultivated •<:■$ they were, they 
 were beginning io be highly approved by many. Could I stoop 
 to ihi- 1 1 was exceedingly caiefui in my manners, and now that 
 the boy was somewhat polished in the man, why should they 
 persecute me still? I firmly refused them, not that 1 valued the 
 money so much, no ; to have had them cease tormenting me I 
 would not have begrudged twice the amount, but to heve it said 
 that I had to buy the flesh and blood that this lofty spirit — Oh! 
 horrible thought ! it stung my inmost soul, and almost maddened 
 me into despair ! 
 
 My friends done all they could for me ; I staid near three 
 mouths, saving while there $300, besides a present of a new 
 suit of clothes. It seemed by an act of Congress all free people 
 not white must pay license for living in the States. I was 
 about returning to Natchez to make a visit among my friends ; 
 some wished me never to go there again, but my mind Jed me 
 back. I went; my enemies again beset me. Determined that 
 
40 
 
 I should take out license in less than 23 hours or leave the State 
 in three days. To live in the State, my friends said they (my 
 enemies) were so ashamed to see me there at the dinner, they 
 were trying to pay me back. It is with a heart overflowing Wjth 
 gratitude, that I remember my truest friend, not yet named, and 
 if any of them peruse my book, and their name is missing, do 
 not think it has no place in the heart. I was blessed with the 
 friendship and advice of honorable Judge Edward Turner, Gen. 
 John A. Quitman, also Mr. Fcrraday, who gave me much good 
 advice ; he wished me to go to England, and cultivate my talents, 
 saying that there I could soon gain the good feelings of the 
 people, earn a fortune and win a name that would gladden the 
 heart of friends, and cause my enemies to blush. I was grieved 
 in heart, and determined, license or no license, I would leave the 
 State, for although it was the supposed land of my birth, some 
 of its sons were my bitter enemies. I had had the command of 
 the Military Music — several colored men had applied for a place 
 in the band, and on being refused would vent their spite on me, 
 with their fists and canes. I paid several bills to the physicians 
 from these assaults, but at length told them I had the receipt in 
 the pain and bruises, and they must get their money from those 
 to whom these liberties were allowed, or from their masters, who 
 when they had the bills to pay, would put a stop to their outra- 
 ges. I left the city, determined, though I had good friends there, 
 to seek others abroad. I proceeded to New Orleans. I did not 
 spend my money here but soon made one dollar bring me two. 
 I soon obtained the friendship of some influential persons there, 
 who advised me to become a Machinist, and I was soon to set 
 in for three years at finishing and fitting. 
 
 Now that I knew what I was going to do, I thought I would 
 go back to Natchez and settle up all and take a kind leave of my 
 friends. I visited Mrs. Munse again, and her kind son-in-law, 
 Mr. Cyrus Marsh, who had always been very kind indeed to me. 
 I well recollect being in his debt $13 ; he told me to take any 
 thing I needed ; it was late in the fall ; Ivvas not yet of age, and 
 was fixing for winter ; I was saving my money, and tried to get 
 new jobs to pay for what I wanted. Mr. Marsh said he would 
 find a way to pay for it, but it went on until I becamejUneasy, 
 and I went to him and offered the money, but he refused it, and 
 said he was only trying my integrity — that he intended to make 
 me a present of the things ; and now, said he, when you want 
 any thing, come to me, I am your friend. 
 
 While visiting my acquaintances, some of the gentlemen pro- 
 posed that a petition should be drawn up, and let all the ladies 
 
41 
 
 who wished me to stay sign their names, and have it presented 
 at the Orphan's Court. Mr. Turner, the Judge, being my friend, 
 I was to live as themselves, having all the privileges of citizen- 
 ship granted. They stated that I was not only worthy of citizen- 
 ship, but of unexceptionable character ; that it was greatly de- 
 sired by the ladies that I should remain, and enjoy the liberty of 
 a white citizen ; also all the Military Companies were very anx- 
 ious for my stay, as I was of great use to them; my enemies 
 said if I could get so many signers among the ladies they would 
 give it up and say no more about it. I was willing to make the 
 trial and sure of success, gladly improved the opportunity of 
 letting my enemies hear the high sounding titles of my friends. 
 The aged Matron stepped forth to aid me— the Mother, the 
 young and blooming Wife; yes, many beautiful Maidens, blush- 
 ingly added their names to my list ; all greeted me with wishes 
 for success, and many tears were shed in supplication for me. 
 My list was soon more than idled by dozens, but it was all in 
 vain that these kind ladies sent forth names to the public, for as 
 soon as it was found that the number was more than filled, they 
 flew' from their word, and said they would take every advantage 
 the law allowed. Thus was I doomed to feel the ingratitude of 
 man, because nature had made a red skin instead of a white one. 
 My enemies thus persecuted me, but God turned it to my good. 
 But did we know what hung over our heads, (referring to the 
 awful tornado that laid that city low a few years since) I could 
 but exclaim, Oh ! my native city, I have seen you blessed with 
 riches and prosperity, and in my adversity you turned on me your 
 back, and I have lived to see you prostrated, laid low by the hand 
 of him who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. Oh ! that 
 your sons had dealt in righteousness ; that you might have es. 
 caped this outpouring of the weather, or at least have been bet- 
 ter prepared to meet your doom. My language cannot describe 
 the feelings of my heart, as [ gazed from the hill down on the 
 ruins. I was at the lime the wind came, in the house of A. P. 
 Merrill, in company with a relative of Mrs. Merrill, John Fran- 
 cis Turault by name. As dinner was nearly ready, we saunter- 
 ed out on the back gallery. I had made Mr. Merrill's little sons 
 some pop guns, which he brought out. The balls were hanging 
 on the China trees, and Turault bantered meto shoot at them 
 with him. This was about half an hour before the storm. I 
 noticed a peculiarity in the lightning that I had never observed 
 before, and as I listened to the steady rolling of the deep toned 
 thunder, a strange awe crept over me. I said to John Francis, 
 listen, the merry thunder can speak, and it is now admonishing 
 
42 
 
 us that we are spending our time foolishly when we should he 
 thinking about God. Poh ! nonsense, said he, we are only try- 
 ing to raise enough to drown its bellowing ; It had begun in the 
 South, but was fast spreading to the North. Asitneared the 
 West it commenced blowing hard, growing very dark. Mr. 
 Merrill now came home — haste had nearly exhausted his 
 strength— he stopped a moment on the gallery — the wind seem- 
 ed to take away his breath ; I raised him up, caught him and 
 rushed into the house. The table was set, and candies were 
 lighted, because of the durkness. The ladies had fled up stairs, 
 and now the wind came from the North, the low, angry voice of 
 the thunder, sending dread into our very hearts — the house trem- 
 bled so violently that I chose the open air, placing myself under 
 the large Cedar tree, clasping it with my arms to keep my posi- 
 tion. The heavens grew darker still, and day light seemed 
 shut out. I heard as it were a loud explosion over head — again 
 louder, and the third one seemed not only to deafen us, but laid 
 prostrate much of the city. The tall Cedar seemed kissing the 
 earth in humble resignation to the will of its Maker. In a' few 
 moments the dreadlul rage seemed somewhat abated, and 1 with 
 difficulty reached the house, the door of which they had been 
 unable to shut. All was upside down ; indeed the lights were 
 extinguished, the dinner table was upset, leaving the dinner on 
 the floor, and throwing the doors wide open, (even the folding 
 doors in the parlor, in spite of the lock) the furniture was all out 
 of place, and a great part of it lay in heaps in and about the 
 stairway, even the dining table was there, the table cloth hanging 
 in one of the hinges. The ladies could not get down, the win- 
 dows were gone, and the beautiful curtains, which had cost $100, 
 were also gone, although they were hung with golden rings, yet 
 the tempest had torn them away ; the furniture was cleared 
 from the stairway ; the ladies in sorrow and weeping descended 
 to the scene of desolation, which but a few hours ago was filled 
 with tranquil pleasure, yet we were filled with thankfulness that 
 our lives were spared through this awful hour. 
 
 1 remained in Natchez until the time appointed for com- 
 mencing in a Foundry in New Orleans. 1 bade all adieu. 1 
 returned, and was soon engaged in finishing and fitting, or as a 
 Machinist. I furnished my own sleeping room, and boarded with 
 my employer. On first visiting New Orleans, I played for the 
 old Louisiana Guards, on an excursion on the 8th of January, 1837, 
 in which they had a sham battle, the first thing of the kind 1 had 
 ever seen. I rendered them great satisfaction, and now on my 
 return founj friends to greet me. 1 was steady at my post, and 
 found time to do some extra jobs of forging, for which I received 
 
43 
 
 pay. It was the custom of the city to parade on the first day of 
 the month. My music was always solicited, and I loved to favor 
 them with the same, for in many an hour of trouble, when sus- 
 pense seemed gnawing at the very strings of my heart, did I pour 
 into my instrument the deep emotions stirred within me, from a 
 heart warm and sensitive to a high degree, nearly bursting at times 
 with contending passions, at other times overflowing with grati- 
 tude for some friendly act- Then arose the soul thrilling tones and 
 variations for which my performance on the flute has since been so 
 highly praised by all lovers of music. 
 
 I soon attached myself to Charles F. Hosea ? s Company of 
 Washington Guards. 1 discharged my duties honorably, and gain- 
 ed the esteem of many warm hearted persons. The second sum- 
 mer I resided in INew Orleans it was very warm and sickly, and 
 consequently times were dull. T visited Bay St. Louis, across Lake 
 Pontchartrain, also Mobile, Alabama, making in all a very pleasant 
 summer. I was elected File Major for the Washington Battalion, 
 Charles F. Hosea was Major. In this manner the three years pas- 
 sed away ; afterwards I returned to Natchez, in order to visit my 
 friends, many of whom I had neither seen or heard from, during 
 the last three years I spent some weeks there, and on preparing to 
 return to New Orleans, was informed that the Natchez Guards 
 w^ere going to Orleans to celebrate, and wished me to go and escort 
 them toNew Orleans. They gave this demonstration of their re- 
 gard for me. I had left a man to fill my place in the Battalion, who 
 had been under my tuition, although I had never been taught, (but 
 am seif-tanght in every respect.) 1 proceeded with them ;o New 
 Orleans, attended the celebration, and returned with them to 
 Natchez, where 1 remained a few weeks before returning to New 
 Orleans. I had sometime before cultivated an acquaintance with 
 Mr. James F. Da kin. o( Louisiana, a young officer of high respec- 
 tability, and rising higher and higher in office, had carried v.ith 
 him respect and admiration, and through his instrumentality I was 
 elected Fife Major. 1 received a large compensation for my musi- 
 cal services, also applause. 1 again stopped laboring. I sUuated 
 myself very comfortably, kept bachelor's hall, and studied into my 
 duties in order to acquit myself honorably' 
 
 Tim thrilling and deeply interesting sketch will be continued 
 in forthcoming numbers, and presented to the public in a neat 
 and interesting form, jrom Cameron's Steam Power Presses.