a 
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Then game would grow. scarce; deer 
and bison would disappear; and the 
Osages would be obliged to. retire, and- 
dispossess their neighbours by force, or 
remain at home, and adopt the manners 
of the white men. I asked him, when 
food grew so scarce, what he and his 
countrymen woulddo? ‘ Father,” said 
he, in reply, ‘* we hear, that-the Presi: 
dent of the United States is a very rich 
man, and has got a great quantity of 
money : : we have been told, that the Se- 
cretary at War is exceedingly wealthy 
too, and keeps many bags . cok dollars ; 
the Seua‘or, from New York, likewise, 
Father, possesses a great estate, and has 
as much silver as he wants:—what will 
Mr Jefferson, Mr. Dearborn, and Mr.. 
Mitchill, do when ali. their- money 1s 
gone £” 
I. OSAGE SONG’/OF FRIENDSHIP, 
Composed on the arrival of a party 
of their Warriors at Washington, in De- 
cember, 1805, and sung at Dr. Mitchill’s, 
with their accompaniment of aboriginal 
musical instruments, The joy of. this 
band was the greater, on having reached 
in safety the place of their destination, 
inasmuch as another band had been 
killed, on their journey, by the murder- 
ous Sioux. They also express singalar 
delight, in having had an interview with 
the President of the United States, whom 
they call their “ Great White Father.” 
My corcrades brave, and friends of note ! 
Ye hither come from lands remote, 
To see your grand exalted Sire, 
And his sagacious words admire. 
#¢ The Master* of your Life and Breath” 
Averted accidents and death; 
That-you might such a sight behold, 
“Jn spite of hunger, foes, and cold. 
Ye Red-men' since ye here have been, 
Your Great White Father ye have seen ; 
Who cheer’d his children with his voice, 
And made their beating hearts rejoice. 
Thou Chief Osage! fear not-to come, 
And leave awhile thy sylvan home; 
The path we trod is clear-and free, , 
And wide and smoother grows for thee. 
When here to march thou feel’st inclin’d, 
We'll arm a length’ning file behind ; 
And dauntless from our forests waite 
- To hear our Great White Father’s talk. 
; 
* The Great Spirit or. Supreme Being is - 
galled, by-the Osages, ** The Master of 
’ Breath, or Mastey ef Life.” 
Curious Particulars concerning the Osages, 
[Oct. 15° 
II. OSAGE WAR-SONG. 
Wanapasha, one of their Chiefs, en- 
courages them to be intrepid in battle. 
Say, warfiors, why, when arms are sung, 
And dwell on every native tongue, 
Do thoughts of death intrude ? 
Why weep the common lot of all? 
Why fancy you yourselves may fall, 
Pursuing or pursu’d ? 
Doubt not your Wanapasha’s* care, 
To lead you forth, and shew you WnErS 
The enemy’s eoueeaie dz 
His single arm shall ae we th? BEG 
And drive the sly invaders back, - 
Or stretch them on the field. 
Proceeding with embodied force, 
No natien can withstand our course, 
Or check our bold career; 
Though did they know my warlike fame, 
The terrors of my form and name, 
They’d quake, or die with fear. 
III. OSAGE SONG OF PEACE ; 
On terminating the War with their 
Neighbours, the Kanzas. 
- Ye brave Osages ! one and all 
My friends and relatives I call ! 
Here smoke the calumet at ease 5- 
The Kanzas come to talk of peace 5 
The same, whose warriors, babes, and 
wives, 
Beneath your fury lost their lives ; 
As suppHants now your grace implore, 
And sue for peace from door to door. 
May Red-men form, for happiest ends, 
A band of relatives and friends! 
Ye brave Osages ! one and all 
My friends and relatives I call! 
There, take the hands the Kanzas show3 
‘Forget that they were once your foe; 
Resentment check ; be calm and mild, 
Like men sincerely reconcil’d 5 
And recollect the temper good, 
That joins them to your brotherhood. 
May Red-men form, for noblest ends,, 
A band of relatives and friends ! 
Ye brave Osages! one and all 
My friends and relatives [ call ! 
Your Life’s Great Master now adore, 
That War’s destructive rage iso’er 5 
He always views with equaleye _ 
The children of his family. y 
May Peace uanamber'd blessings brifig, 
And may we never cease to sing, 
How Red-men form, for wisest ends,  —_- 
A band of relatives and friends ! 
I hope the attention of gentlemen, 
who speculate upon the genius and intel-: 
lect of the pecple called Savages, may be 
turned to this subject. 
* Wanapasha died afterwards at Washing- 
fons 
ie 
