A book by Robert Mills, published in 1826, offers some
unusually detailed insights on the native people of the Palmetto State, and
especially the Catawba Indians.
Following is a passage from Statistics of South Carolina: Including a
View of Its Natural, Civil, and Military History, General and Particular:
Among; the Catawbas at the present day, some adults no doubt
may be found, exhibiting an intelligent mind, and an aptness to receive
instruction. Should this even not be the case, we may be assured that their
children can be taught.
It is truly to be desired, that our legislature should institute
an inquiry into this momentous subject, and direct a commission to go into the
nation, (composed of such men as are known to be respected by the Indians,) and
consult with the chiefs, and such influential individuals, as may be among them
upon the best plan to be pursued to effect the object under consideration, and
report the same to them at an early day, so that the interesting work of
instruction may be commenced and carried on with vigour and perseverance, under
the auspices of the state.
What an honour to South Carolina would it be, to rescue this
last remaining of the numerous and powerful tribes of the aborigines of this
state, from total annihilation! The act would shed a lustre on the character of
the state, rescue its honor from the minutest stigma, connected either with the
claims of justice or gratitude, which this nation have upon it.
The Catawbas, in the zenith of their glory, were a noble
race. In war they were fearless of enemies—in address surpassed by none. Their
warriors often traversed the Blue ridge of mountains in all its difficulties,
to wreak their vengeance upon the Six Nations in the northern parts of America.
An instance or two of their heroism and address, will suffice to exhibit the
character of this people.
A party of Seneca Indians, came to war against the Catawba;
bitter enemies to each other. In the woods, the former discovered a sprightly
Catawba warrior, hunting, in their usual light dress. On his perceiving; them,
he sprung off for a hollow rock, four or five miles distant, as they intercepted
his running homewards. He was so extremely swift, and skilful with the gun,
that he killed seven of them in the running fight, before they were able to
surround and take him.
They carried him to their country in sad triumph; but though
he had filled them with uncommon grief and shame, for the loss of so many of
their kindred, yet the love of martial virtue, induced them to treat him,
during their long journey, with a great deal more civility, than if he had
acted the part of a coward.
The women, and children, when they met him, at their several
towns, beat and whipped him, in as severe a manner as the occasion required, according
to their law of justice, and at last he was formally condemned to die by the
fiery tortures. It might reasonably be imagined from what he had for some time
gone through, being fed with a scanty hand, a tedious march, lying at night on
the bare ground, exposed to the changes of the weather, his arms and legs
extended in a pair of rough stocks, and suffering such punishments on his
entering into their hostile towns, as a prelude to those sharp torments for
which he was destined, would have so impaired his health, and effected his
imagination as to have sent him to his long sleep, out of any more sufferings.
Probably this would have been the case with the major part
of the white people, under similar circumstances; but I never knew this with
any of the Indians. And this cool-headed, brave warrior, did not deviate from
their rough lessons of martial virtue, but acted his part so well, as to
surprise and sorely vex his numerous enemies
For when they were taking him unpinioned in their wild
parade, to the place of torture, which lay near to a river, he suddenly dashed
down those who stood in his way, sprung off, and plunged into the water,
swimming underneath like an otter, only rising to take breath, till he made the
opposite shore.
He now ascended the steep bank; but though he had good
reasons, to be in a hurry, as many of the enemy were in the water, and others
running every way like blood-hounds in pursuit of him; and the bullets flying
around him from the time he took to the river, yet his heart did not allow him
to leave them abruptly, without taking leave of them in a formal manner in
return for the extraordinary favors they had done, and intended to do him;
after moving round, and exhibiting several signs of contempt, he put up the
shrill war-whoop, and darting off in the manner of a beast broke loose from its
torturing enemies, he continued his speed so as to run, by about midnight of
the same day, as far as his eager pursuers were two days in reaching.
There he rested till he discovered five of those Indians who
had pursued him, and he lay hid a little way off their camp, till they were
sound asleep. Every circumstance of his situation occurred to him, and inspired
him with heroism. He was naked, torn, and hungry, and his enraged enemies were
come up with him. But there was everything now to relieve his wants, and a fair
opportunity to save his life, and get great honor, and sweet revenge, by
cutting them off. Resolution, a convenient spot, and sudden surprise, would
effect the main object of all his wishes, and hopes.
He accordingly creeped towards them, took one of their
tomahawks, and killed them all on the spot. He then chopped them to pieces, in
as horrid a manner, as savage fury could excite, both through national and
personal resentment. He stripped off their scalps, clothed himself, took a
choice gun, and as much ammunition and provisions as he could well carry in a
running march, set off afresh, with a light heart, and did not sleep for
several successive nights, only when he reclined, as usual, a little before
day, with his back to a tree.
As it were by instinct, when he found he was free from the
pursuing enemy, he made directly to the very place where he had previously
killed seven of his enemies. He digged them up, scalped them, burned their
bodies to ashes, and went home in safety, with singular triumph. Other pursuing
enemies came on the evening of the second day, to the camp of their dead
people, where the sight gave them a greater shock than they had ever known
before. In their chilled war council, they concluded that as he had done such
surprising things in his defence before he was captivated, and since that, in
his naked condition, and was now well armed, if they continued the pursuit he
would spoil them all, for he surely was an enemy wizard. And therefore they
returned home.
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