A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Friday 30 July 2010

James Smith Capture and His Adoption Into Indian Society.

My narrow beaded hair garter that I finger wove.
My finger woven beaded garters.

7 comments:

Brianimchoppedliver said...

Hi there, just want to let you know how impressed and respectful i am of your blog! I live in Singapore which is a very urbanised country. It is sad that all the jungles have been converted to army camps or cities. It is very comforting that there are people actively living the "free" life and even if i may never experience it, i can have a taste of it through this blog. Keep the excellent work up!

Keith said...

Brian, thank you so much for your comment, I am glad that you find my blog interesting. A pitty that you can't participate where you are, but you are not so far from Australia, maybe one day you can join us.
Best wishes, take care.
Regards, Le Loup.

Anonymous said...

The man must have been scared to death waiting to see what the native women would do. Word is they could be VERY cruel to a man left to their punishment.

Thanks for sharing these passages.

Take care -

Casey

Tao Dao Man said...

I would also like to thank you for your great blog. I am going to put you on my blog roll so I can stay current with you. I found you through my friend Coyoteprime.

Martin said...

Hi Loup!

Your account of James Smith's adventure reminded me of the following story:

When Ben Franklin was in Paris he wrote a short article on Indians that told of an exchange, possibly apocryphal, between Virginian leaders and representatives of the Six Nations at the treaty negotiations in Lancaster, PA, back in 1744. The Virginians made a dramatic offer to educate six Indian youths at the College of William and Mary and bring them into the fold of white civilization. The speaker for the Six Nations responded politely - any other form of response would be unthinkable from an Indian chief - but he made it clear that his people were not interested in the white man's offer:

"Several of our young People were formerly brought up at the Colleges of the Northern Provinces, they were instructed in all your Sciences; but, when they came back to us, they were bad Runners, ignorant of every means of living in the Woods, unable to bear either Cold or Hunger, knew neither how to build a Cabin, take a Deer, or kill an Enemy, spoke our Language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for Hunters, Warriors, nor Counsellors; they were totally good for nothing. We are however not the less oblig'd by your kind Offer, tho' we decline accepting it; and to show our grateful Sense of it, if the Gentlemen from Virginia will send us a Dozen of their Sons, we will take great Care of their Education, instruct them in all we know, and make Men of them."

There is no record of the Gentlemen from Virginia taking the Iroquois up on their offer.

Yours,

Martin

Keith said...

RealityZone. Good to have you on board, and thanks for the comment. It is good to know I am doing something right.
Regards.

Martin, thanks for the info, I have used it as a post. Much appreciated.
Regards.

Keith said...

True Casey, a scary time all round.
Regards.