If the war is of a private and excursive nature, and not undertaken by the whole tribe, a band of adventu rers attach themselves to the chief who is to lead them, and they set out without delay. But when the w hole nation is concerned in the expedition, their proceedings arc regular and solemn The eflets of the tribe assent lde ; and the affair is debated in council. 'They estimate ihe advantages and disadvantages of the war, wan a calculation of probabilities, far beyond what comet be expected of men, whose passions in other instances, lead directly to their objects, and hurry them into action with resistfess precipitancy. The number of their ene mies, their valour awl skill, the situation of the coun try which they inhabit ; these, and many other circum stances, are examined and weighed. The priests, or soothsayers, are consulted, and even the advice of the women is asked and followed. If war is the result of their deliberations, tney prepare for it with equal so lemnity, and with a fixed and awful resolution. The Hatchet is publicly raised ; while means arc taken to conceal their design, and to lull their enemies iu more dangerous security. A leader offers to conduct the expedition. All who choose may attach themselves to his standard ; but no one is compelled to bear arms ; the service is voluntary, in the fullest meaning of that word. Each individual is master of his own con duct, notwithstanding the resolution of the community : but if any one is inclined to take part in the war, he gives to the leader a piece of wood (fa buckette,) often curiously wrought and adorned, as the mark of his de termination. The chief then fasts for several days and nights ; during which he maintains a profound silence, and is particularly attentive to the state of his dreams. These are generally explained so as to favour the expe dition. A solemn prayer is offered to the god of battles. (Sec Lujitizu, it. IOU.) The war-kettle is put on, indica tive of a resolution on the part of the tribe to eat the tlesh of their enemies ; and the shell is sent round, inviting their allies to come and to drink their blood. To con stitute and support an alliance, the nations who agree must have the same enmities and the same sentiments.
On the day which has been fixed for their departure, the warriors assemble near the hut of their chief, all completely armed, and adorned in their most elegant manner. 'The women go before them, carrying their provisions, and attend them till they reach the confines of the province where the enemy is known to reside. Here the Indians make a solemn pause ; and delivering to their wives, or their sisters, whatever is not absolutely necessary for their journey, they advance into the hos tile country. The wars of the American savages are conducted on principles very different from those which regulate the military operations of European kingdoms. They never take the field in large parties ; and they seldom or never risk the issue of a fair and open con test. Their principal objects arc to surprise their ene mies, and to cut them off in the midst of the alarm, which it is their study to excite ; and therefore, if they fail in their first attempt, they do not, in general, return to the charge, but take measures for a new stratagem, on which they depend for better success. They pur sue their enemies through the forest with the same caution and spirit which they exhibit in following the beasts or prey. They mark their footsteps with the
same accuracy ; and such is the effect of habitual obser vation, that they can tell when they passed, of what number the detachment consisted, and to what nation it belonged. While yet at a great distance, they ascer tam then- approach by the smell of the tires which they raise. T.ey know however, that their enemies are eqtr :Lnd vier:Hit with themselves, and make us:. of all their att to decti; them. They paint their bodies of the same colour with the leaves and brush wood ; lie close to the ground all day, and travel oily dining tile night ; they retrain trout killing the wild ammais, and subsist on the provisions which they have brought along with them ; and marching ill a line of individual warriors, and with a dead silence, the last of the train covers the footsteps of his companions with grass and weeds, Ill order to prevent detection. But in one matter of the utmost impol tanet, their caution They sleep without centurds ; and trusting to the ob servations which they have made, or to the intelligence which they have received, they are often slaughtered by their enemies, or carried oh as prisoners of war. If, however, they are so fortunate as to remain undisco vered, they enter the villages of the hostile tribe when the young men are engaged in the Chace, set fire to the huts, and massacre the IS omen and children with indis criminate and remorseless lury, or compel them to rush into the flames. ‘Vhen they are perceived, they gene rally- retire ; for with them it is a disgrace to fall in battle, and a proof that they have been deficient either in vigilance or skill.
In a small troop of warriors, the loss of a single mart is important and irreparable. The most complete suc cess is dishonourable to a chief, if many of his country men have perished in the attack ; and though vain of their exploits in other circumstances, they rarely boast of a victory in which the blood of their friends has been profusely spilt. If they persevere in the combat at all, they shelter themselves, each behind a tree, and throw ing themselves upon the ground as often as they dis charge their weapons, continue their fight. When no opposition is made, they carry off the prisoners, whom they reserve for a more dreadful treatment ; an whom they guard with the utmost care, till they reach the place of their abode.
Those nations who have been furnished with mus quets by the Eurcpeans, still carry on their wars in the same manner, though perhaps with more destructive effect. If they fall in with their enemies, they allow a part of them to march forward undisturbed; when, ris ing all at once 1'1(.111 the place which concealed them, with a fearful cry, they pour in their bullets, and shelter themselves as before. It is the practice, however, among the North Americans especially, when the force on both sides is nearly equal, to abandon their distant warfare, and rush upon each other with their dubs and hatchets; mingling with their blows the bitterest reproaches and the keenest insults. They bite their enemies, and tear off their scalps with a knife, which they carry for that purpose ; they wallow ii, their blood with savage frenzy and delight, till at last, meeting with opposition no lon ger, their rage abates, and they secure the prisoners. These unhappy men are doomed to suffer all that cruelty is able to inflict, and all that human fortitude is able to endure.