CHAPTER VI.

Decline of the Indian power. English barbarities to the conquered natives. Women at Marblehead. Great English losses. Biographical sketch of Capt. Church. His narrow escape. Influence over Indians. Interview with Awashonk. Execution of Barrow. Extraordinary capture of Anawon. War terminates. Eastern Indians. Excited by the French. Tarenteen massacres. Their dread of the Mohawks. French supply the Indians. turn of peace in 1678.

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The death of king Philip and the losses of the Narraganset nation gave a new turn to Indian affairs. One defeat of the natives seemed only to prepare the way for another, and to weaken forces which were once to be feared. In the pursuit which terminated in the death of Philip, 130 more Indians were either killed, or made prisoners. Within a few weeks, Capt. Church subdued several hundred more. Others submitted to the English government; and the reign of peace seemed about to commence with all its blessings.

A small portion of the Indians, pressed by famine and terrified at what had passed, went some to the western and some to the Canadian tribes. By the time winter approached, none were found in arms. Numerous cruelties were inflicted on those who had surrendered to the English. Neither these or the prisoners were promised any thing more than their lives. The most active in the murders committed on the English could obtain no hopes of mercy. A great number of chiefs were executed at Plymouth by public authority. Multitudes were sold for life; and others sent to Bermudas were disposed of as slaves. The cruelty with which they were treated is deeply to be regretted, as being inconsistent alike with the modern rules of warfare, sound policy and the more benevolent spirit of the religion those conquerors so rigidly professed. They endeavored to justify themselves by pleading the rights of retaliation.

Feeling strongly the losses, terrors and afflictions so long experienced, the spirit of revenge used sometimes to kindle into a flame. A surprising instance of this existed at Marblehead. As the English women came out of the meetinghouse, on the sabbath day, seeing two Indian prisoners in the street they barbarously murdered them in a tumulutous manner. This madness originated in revenge for the many massacres which had been committed by the Indians on some fishermen at the eastward, who were relations.

The excesses were great. The treachery of those who professed to be friendly Indians, as well as the murders and cruelties committed by all the rest, had awakened the worst passions of the human heart. About 600 men had either been murdered by the natives, or had fallen in battle. As many buildings had been burnt. An eleventh part of the militia through New-England had been slain in the former wars. There was scarcely a single family not in mourning. The flood of tears was great; the distresses and losses were extensive.

Among those most distinguished in the war against Philip was Capt. Benjamin Church. At the age of 37, the most vigorous period of life, he was able to sustain privations and hardships. Having lived at Little Compton, in the neighborhood of the Indians, he well knew their character, customs and designs. By his acquaintance with many of them, he was invited to their war dances, where he refuted the arguments which the adherents of Philip employed against the English, by which means he prevented some of the tribes from joining in his war measures. His sagacity in penetrating their intentions before they were put into execution was surprising, whereby numerous massacres and ravages were entirely prevented, or at least greatly diminished.

His frequent escapes from danger and death were very remarkable. In sight of Rhode Island, he with 20 men was furiously attacked by 300 savages well armed with guns. Retreat was out of the question. The water was on one side and the hills seemed to move with multitudes of savages on the other sides, while the air was filled with bullets and the roaring of arms. At this critical juncture, a boat came in sight, which might have taken them off. But the people in it made off, as soon as they saw the dangers of a nearer approach to the shore. Some of the men were now in despair; but Church still cheered them with the hope of deliverance

As one of the English was sitting up a flat stone for defence, it was struck by a bullet, which greatly alarmed him. Capt. Church observed, "See how God directs the bullets. The enemy could not hit you, when in the same place. Yet they could hit the stone, the moment it was raised." After a brave defence of 6 hours, a sloop came to take them off. The sails were instantly perforated with bullet holes. Capt. Church was the last to go on board. Even then recollecting he had left his hat and cutlass at a well, unwilling these trophies should fall into the hands of the savages, he went for them into new dangers. As he returned, two bullets struck the canoe, another hit a stake opposite his breast, while a forth grazed the hair of his head.

He next was sent to form a treaty with Awashonk, the squa sachem of the Seconet tribe. The queen permitting him to land received him with great apparent kindness. But while going from the shore to a place suitable for them and her attendants to sit down on the grass, where they might converse on the term of the proposed treaty, in a moment a vast body of Indians, armed with hatchets, guns and spears, with faces painted and hair trimmed in the style of war, rose up, like a black cloud, from their concealment in the tall grass, and surrounded him. Our hero coolly observed, to the queen, when people treat of peace, they lay aside their "The warriors looking surly, he again observed, "they might only carry their guns at a small distance for formality.' They instantly complied. Circulating freely his tobacco and bottle of rum, they soon concluded to submit to the English and even to join the Captain in his wars. He once gave some liquor to a sturdy Indian from a shell, in circumstances full of dangers in the midst of savages. The Indian, as usual, drank with great avidity, when Capt. Church humorously seized the savage, bidding him, "not to swail shell andow all."

arms.

This man had an astonishing skill in managing the savages, it was no uncommon thing for him to make good soldiers out of his prisoners. When they refused to join him, he had only to clap them on the shoulder, and say with a smile, "" come, come. This signifies nothing. My best soldiers were once as sullen as you are. Be with me one day, and you will love me, and feel happy.' He was never disap pointed. Capt. Church, however, knew how to be stern. Among the prisoners taken at Dartmouth was one Barrow,

an Indian warrior, noted for the cruelties and massacres he had committed. The Captain told him, he could expect no mercy, and must prepare to die. The warrior answered. "Your sentence is just. I am ashamed to live any longer, I ask no favor, only to smoke before execution." When he had taken a few whiffs, he said, I am ready." An In

dian behind him sunk a hatchet into his head.

A singular adventure will give another view of the genius of Capt. Church, as well as a further insight into the Indian character. From two prisoners, an Indian and his daughter, it was discovered that Anawon and about 60 of Philip's best soldiers were in a swamp at Rehoboth. Capt. Church had with him about 20 men, 16 of whom were Indians. But he was resolved to pursue them. The Indian captive consented to be his guide, but warned him of the danger, saying, "Anawon is a great warrior. He was a valiant soldier of Woosamequin, the father of Philip. He has been Philip's chief captain during the war. He is a cunning man, of great resolution. He has declared, he would never be taken alive by the English. His men are daring fellows, some of Philip's best soldiers. We fear, he cannot be taken by so few. It will be a great pity, after the great things you have done, now to throw away your life."

Although he had now only one white man with him, Capt. Church could not forego so good an opportunity to come up with the famous Anawon, whom he had so long pursued. At sunset, they arrived near the place of destination. They rested themselves during the time Anawon used to send out his scouts in order to see if the coast was clear. Church then asked his pilot, whether he would take a gun and fight for him. Greatly affected at this, with a very low bow, he declined, saying, "I pray you not to impose such things on me as to fight my old friend, Capt. Anawon; at the same time I will go with you, and as you have given me my life, I will lay hands on any man, who shall offer to hurt you."

Church

They soon came within hearing of the enemy. crawled to the edge of a precipice, where they might be seen. They were in 3 companies. Anawon, his son and some chiefs had prepared a shelter for the night by setting up some bushes against a tree leaning upon the rocks. On the outside, great fires were burning, kettles boiling, and spits turning loaded with meat. Their arms were collected into one place, and covered with a mat. Church arranged for march

ing down the steep. The pilot and his daughter that they might pass unnoticed, descended forward with their baskets on their backs. In the shadow of these, Church and his men let themselves silently down by the bushes among the rocks unperceived. With his hatchet in his hand, Church reached the arms first at the feet of Anawon. The old chieftian, starting up on end, cried out, "Howah !" and sunk down again in silent despair. The whole submitted, without one ef fort at resistance.

"What have you for supper?" said Church to Anawon. "I am come to sup with you.' Anawon directed his women to prepare supper; and asked, whether he would have cow beef or horse beef. Church replied, cow beef would suit him best. After supper, as he had not slept for 48 hours, Church told his men, if they would watch 2 hours they should sleep the rest of the night. Sleep, however, in his peculiar situation he found impossible. Getting up, he found all his guards asleep. In the whole camp, Church and Anawon were the only two awake. The recollection of "the days of other years," the remembrance of the 3 Indian kings in whose service he had grown old, the idea of the ruin of his country, and the thought of his own captivity, carried despair into the very soul of Anawon. For one hour, he and Church lay in silence, gazing at each other. Anawon arose and walked away. Being soon out of sight, and not returning as expected, Church began to grow alarmed. He provided for his own safety by taking all the arms to himself, and by placing himself so near to young Anawon, that in killing one, both must be equally in danger.

It was not long before Anawon appeared. Falling down on his knees, he said, "Great Captain! You have killed king Philip, and conquered his country. I believe, I and my company are the last, who war against the English. So, I suppose, the war is ended by your means. These things are, therefore, yours. They are the royalties of king Philip, with which he adorned himself, when he sat in state. I think myself happy in presenting them to Capt. Church, who has so fairly won them." Opening his pack, he pulled out a belt 9 inches broad, curiously wrought with black wampum mingled with white, made into pictures of birds, animals and flowers; also another worn on the head of the warrior with two flags waving behind; a third, with a star on the end, hung round his neck down to his breast. To Capt. Church