moonkt] THE PROPHET'S TRANCE 673 



valuable published on the subject. The prophet and his doctrines are 

 also spoken of at some length by Tanner, Kendall Warren, and Catlin, 

 as hereafter quoted, while the history of Teeumtha is a part of the his- 

 tory of Ohio valley, to be found in any work treating' of that section 



and period ) 



In an account quoted by Drake, probably from an English writer, it 

 is stated that the prophet was noted for his stupidity and intoxication 

 until his fiftieth ( f) year, when one day, while lighting his pipe in his 

 cabin, he suddenly fell back apparently lifeless and remained in that 

 condition until his friends had assembled for the funeral, when he 

 revived from his trance, and after quieting their alarm, announced that 

 he had been to the spirit world and commanded them to call the people 

 together that he might tell them what he had seen. When they had 

 assembled, he declared that he had been conducted to the border of the 

 spirit world by two young men, who had permitted him to look in upon 

 its pleasures, but not to enter, and who, after charging him with the 

 message to his people already noted, had left him, promising to visit 

 him again at a future time. (Drake, Ab. Races, 1.) 



Although the language of this account is somewhat overdrawn, the 

 main statements are probably correct, as it is in complete accordance 

 with the Indian system by which all truth has been revealed in dreams 

 and trances from the first dawn of tradition down to Smohalla and the 

 messiah of the Ghost dance. 



His words aroused an intense excitement among his hearers, and the 

 impression deepened as the tidings of the new gospel were carried from 

 .amp to camp. Those who were addicted to drunkenness— the beset- 

 ting sin of the Indians since their acquaintance with the whites— were 

 so thoroughly alarmed at the prospect of a fiery punishment in the spirit 

 world that for a long time intoxication became practically unknown 

 among the western tribes. Their zeal led also to the inauguration of a 

 crusade against all who were suspected of dealing in witchcraft or 

 magic arts; but here the prophet took advantage of this feeling to 

 effectually rid himself of all who opposed his sacred claims. It was 

 only necessary for him to denounce such a person as a witch to have 

 him pay the forfeit with reputation, if not with life. 



Among the lirst of his victims were several Dela wares— Tatepocoshe (more gener- 

 ally known as Teteboxti), Patterson, his nephew, t'oltos. an old woman, and an aged 

 man called Joshua. These were successively marked by the prophet, and doomed 

 to be burnt alive. The tragedy was commenced with the old woman. The Indians 

 roasted her slowly over a lire for four days, railing upon ber frequently to deliver 

 up her charm and medicine bag. Just as she was dying, she exclaimed that her 

 grandson, who -was then out hunting, had it in his possession. Messengers were 

 sent in pursuit of him, and when found be was tied and brought into camp. Ho 



acknowledged that on 01 jcasion he had borrowed the charm of his grandmother, 



by means of which he had flown through the air over Kentucky, to the banks of the 

 Mississippi, and back again, between twilight and bedtime; but he insisted that he 

 had returned the charm to its owner, and, after some consultation, lie was set at 

 liberty. The following day a council was held over the case of the venerable chief 



