Their tears flowed freely, and they exhibited all the signs of real
mourning. At the commencement of this scene, one of their number began, in
a voice somewhat between speaking and singing, to recite some words to the
following purport, and continued the recitation till the ceremony was
ended; the company at the same time varying the appearance of their
countenances, gestures and tone of voice, so as to correspond with the
sentiments expressed by their leader:
"Oh our brother! Alas! He is dead--he has gone; he will never return!
Friendless he died on the field of the slain, where his bones are yet
lying unburied! Oh, who will not mourn his sad fate? No tears dropped
around him; oh, no! No tears of his sisters were there! He fell in his
prime, when his arm was most needed to keep us from danger! Alas! he has
gone! and left us in sorrow, his loss to bewail: Oh where is his spirit?
His spirit went naked, and hungry it wanders, and thirsty and wounded it
groans to return! Oh helpless and wretched, our brother has gone! No
blanket nor food to nourish and warm him; nor candles to light him, nor
weapons of war:--Oh, none of those comforts had he! But well we remember
his deeds!--The deer he could take on the chase! The panther shrunk back
at the sight of his strength! His enemies fell at his feet! He was brave
and courageous in war! As the fawn was harmless: his friendship was
ardent: his temper was gentle: his pity was great! Oh! our friend, our
companion is dead! Our brother, your brother, alas! he is gone! But why do
we grieve for his loss? In the strength of a warrior, undaunted he left
us, to fight by the side of the Chiefs! His war-whoop was shrill! His
rifle well aimed laid his enemies low: his tomahawk drank of their blood:
and his knife flayed their scalps while yet covered with gore! And why do
we mourn? Though he fell on the field of the slain, with glory he fell,
and his spirit went up to the land of his fathers in war! Then why do we
mourn? With transports of joy they received him, and fed him, and clothed
him, and welcomed him there! Oh friends, he is happy; then dry up your
tears! His spirit has seen our distress, and sent us a helper whom with
pleasure we greet.
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