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WAA-PA-LAA, OR THE PLAYING FOX.

THE hero of this memoir was a distinguished chief of the Sac tribe of Indians on the Mississippi. He was reputedly brave and magnanimous and equally celebrated as a warrior and orator. By his nation he was held in high estimation, and the border settlers united in according to him a rank second only to Kee-o-kuck, the present principal chief of the nation, with whom our hero was associated in all his most important undertakings. Of the genealogy of this chief, but little has been ascertained, save that his father had been a distinguished warrior chieftain, who, in his death scene, evinced a determination and fortitude for which some of the untutored Aborigines have rendered themselves famous, and have exhibited an endurance of pain, and a contempt of torture, calculated to crush the spirit and to quail the courage of the most hardy and daring of the white man's race. The following account of this transaction was related to the writer by the interpreter; and although its occurrence was many years ago, yet it may be confided in as strictly true.

Waa-baun-sa, (for that was the name of the father of Waa-pa-laa,) on a certain occasion, attacked a boat containing five Indian traders on the Illinois river, as they were returning to St. Louis with a cargo of furs. They had partly descended the river, when they were fired into by Waa-baun-sa and party, five in number, by which one of the traders was killed, while the others hastily made their way to the shore, hurried to the woods, and fortunately secured their safety by flight. The Indians fancying themselves safe in their possession, plundered the boat of all its valuable lading, and then set it on fire to destroy it. Information of the murder and robbery having been communicated to the commander of the nearest military post, (believed to be St. Louis,) a demand was immediately made by that officer for instant surrender of the murderers by the tribe, accompanied by a threat of their total extermination unless the surrender was made. A council of the Indians was called forthwith, at which various expedients

were suggested and proposed to appease the anger of the commandant of the whites, and if possible, also to preserve the life of Waa-baun-sa, (the others having escaped) from the melancholy though merited punishment that awaited him. The delay, however, of the Indians in arriving at any definite purpose, served only to increase the exasperation of the general, who more determinately than before, insisted on the surrender of the murderers. On the receipt of this second demand, commingled feelings of sorrow and dismay exhibited themselves on the anxious faces of the aged chiefs, to whom Waa-baun-sa was as precious as the apple of their eye. Discovering, however, that resistance was ineffectual, Waa-baun-sa, with characteristic dignity, arose in the midst of his tribe, and repairing to a neighbouring tree, with one blow of his tomahawk, cleft one of the branches from the stock, from which, with his knife, he fashioned two skewers from eight to ten inches in length: returning to his tribe, who were seated under the umbrageous branches of a gigantic oak, he bared his arms, and with his right hand he thrust one of the skewers through his left arm, above the elbow, until it projected half its length; and then, with his left hand, forced the other skewer through his right arm; when, stretching them forth in full view of his afflicted and half agonized tribe, and in the presence of the officers who had been sent to arrest him, made the following speech: "Brothers, behold! I go to deliver myself to the long-knives. I go like a brave man, — Waa-baun-sa is not a coward, I committed the murder on the white man, why should my nation suffer for my deeds? No, the Saukie is as the leaves of the forest, I go to the white man, he shall see me die brave and he will wonder." He then marched across the plain to the encampment of the officers and soldiers, with his arms reeking with his own blood streaming from the wounds he himself had made, and the pointed wood projecting through his flesh. He proudly surrendered himself to his foe to endure whatever punishment they might inflict as an atonement for the blood of their murdered countryman, but ere the morning sun had illumined the eastern sky, the manly spirit of Waa-baun-sa had departed to unite with the shades of his fathers. The impression prevailed that he had been poisoned by some of his tribe, to save him from an ignominious death.

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Waa-pa-laa was actively and energetically engaged in the war of 1812, against the Americans. In a majority of the battles that deluged the frontier in blood, he was a distinguished actor, and counted many scalps as the trophies of his valour. In those fierce conflicts he was several times wounded, and on one occasion was left for dead upon the field of his fame; he however survived, and fought with his wonted ferocity again. At the treaty of Prairie du Chien, this celebrated war-chief was present, and displayed no inconsiderable energy and eloquence in debate. In the adjustment of the territorial boundaries of the several tribes assembled in council, he ex

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hibited great ingenuity, talent, and tact. He was a master spirit amongst the red men, and their purposes were controlled, and opinions and wills subordinate to his

own.

In addressing himself on the treaty ground to the U. S. Commissioners, Governors Clark and Cass, he delivered the following as an opening speech:

"My fathers! were I to say I feel not glad to see you, I should lie. The Great Manito knows my heart; he knows that it rejoices; you have come a long road to see your red children, and we feel pleased. You are at our wigwams, and we are proud; we expect you will not leave us until you make us all happy.

"My fathers! The Sioux, the O-gib-ways, the Winnebagoes, and other great chiefs, are here to hear your talk; we would be at peace with them, let them be at peace with us; let the Sioux chiefs bury the tomahawk first, they took it first. My fathers! the good Indians' path is clear; out of that path we have not strayed; we are poor, but our voice is loud; and we are heard as well as those who seem better.

"My fathers! I have done."

Waa-pa-laa bore a most conspicuous part in what was designated by the name of the "Black-hawk war." In all the dangers and vicissitudes of that sanguinary and wearisome contest, he participated largely, as he also did in the resulting effects of its disastrous termination to his tribe, at the final battle with General Atkinson, that eventuated in the complete discomfiture and dispersion of the warring Indians; this chieftian fought with the most desperate and daring valour, and was severely wounded; he contrived, however, to escape capture, by secreting himself in an undiscovered retreat, and to survive the wreck of his hopes, and the injury he had received. opinion prevails, that having abdicated his honours and power, he yet lives in a state of humble retirement in the midst of his tribe, whose good opinions he continues to retain. His warlike virtues have woven enduring laurels for his brow, which the kindred feelings and memories of his compeers will continue in living green, until, with his countrymen, he descends into the dark and narrow vale.

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