nched
their canoes upon the distant Mississippi, the men of that region fled,
like a startled deer or elk from the growl of the carcajou.

[Footnote B: Chesapeak Bay.]

Their numbers have now become thinned; many populous villages have
disappeared--brother, the Nansemonds are not what they were, at least
in numbers. But they have not lost their courage and valour, nor
degenerated from the ancient renown of their fathers, nor has the
thinning of their nation in the least tarnished the reputation of the
few who yet live, or caused their enemies to deem them less than men.
None can say that they ever turned their backs upon a foe, or shunned
encountering one who wished for combat. Even the Iroquois, whose arms
have always wielded a tomahawk against them, and who, in their turn,
have encountered their deadly vengeance, confess them very brave, and,
whenever they make them captives, honour them with the prolonged
torture, which it is the right of the brave and valiant only to suffer.

There was once upon a time, in this tribe, formerly so potent and
renowned, but now so few and feeble, a maiden, whose name was
Aton-Larre, one of whose souls--that which speaks of things understood
by all, and discourses in a language intelligible to all--had left its
house of flesh to go to the Cheke Checkecame, or land of departed
spirits. The other soul yet abode in the body, but it was the soul
which takes care that the mouth has meat and drink, administering to
the wants of the flesh which enshrouds it by supplying it with food
and clothing, and protecting it from fire and frost. Yet, though the
sensible soul had wandered out, it had not taken away her memory, nor
her faculty of seeing things unseen by other mortals, or of relating
entertaining stories.

She was very beautiful, but her beauty was of a strange character. Her
form was very tall and commanding, and she was straight as a reed. Her
dark eyes had, from the disordered state of her mind, received a very
wild expression, but none that knew her feared her, for she was
innocent and harmless as a child. Her long black hair, which swept the
earth at her feet, was interlaced with gay beads and shells, and gayer
wild flowers, and around her wrists and ancles were fastened strings
of the teeth of the alligator. It was her greatest pleasure to enter
her canoe, and commit it to the current of the river. Then, while
drifting about, she would sing wild and melancholy songs, striking the