McKenzie, Charles. The Mississouri Indians, 1809. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0009

which he hastened to the outside of the Village (singing a lamentable dirge as he went) to deposit as an offering to his God! Tired of so dreadful a scene after passing some time, I withdrew and returned to my quarters – where I found the Guard of Police indulging their amorous propensities to their full extent with the Girls during the absence of their parents[.] As to the Warriors the sun was high the following morning before the last of them left his conspicious stand at the beam to take his painful turn before the old priest[.]

The old priest was handsomely rewarded for his trouble and attendance[.] The young warriors on whom he operated so signally loaded him with presents – and the next morning he was one of the Richest men in the Village[.]

The Indians, as it is well known, are extremely attached to their children, and become inconsolable when they have the misfortune of losing any of them[.] Such is their distress that they throw away all their property, cut off joints of their fingers, and commit a thousand extravagances[.] On the other hand they are cruel enemies, and will go any lengths for revenge[.] Still there are

surprising

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L E G E N D :
 in red , modifications made by the editor(s).
 in lavender , modifications made by the assumed author(s).

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