The signal for a more terrible infliction being given—­the arms of the victim are pinioned, and he is disengaged from the pole, and a grapevine passed round his neck, allowing him a circle of about fifteen yards in circumference, in which he can he made to march round his pole.  They knead tough clay on his head to secure the cranium from the effects of the blaze, that it may not inflict immediate death.  Under the excitement of ineffable and horrid joy, they whip him round the circle, that he may expose each part of his body to the flame, while the other part is fanned by the cool air, that he may thus undergo the literal operation of slow roasting.  During this abhorrent process, the children fill the circle in convulsions of laughter; and the women begin to thrust their burning torches into his body, lacerating the quick of the flesh, that the flame may inflict more exquisite anguish.  The warrior, in these cases; goaded to fury, sweeps round the extent of his circle, kicking, biting, and stamping with inconceivable fury.  The throng of women and children laugh, and fly from the circle, and fresh tormentors fill it again.  At other times the humor takes him to show them, that he can bear all this, without a grimace, a spasm, or indication of suffering.  In this case, as we have seen, he smokes, derides, menaces, sings, and shows his contempt, by calling them by the most reproachful of all epithets—­old women.  When he falls insensible, they scalp and dismember him, and the remainder of his body is consumed.

We have omitted many of these revolting details, many of the atrocious features of this spectacle, as witnessed by Boone.  While we read with indignation and horror, let us not forget that savages have not alone inflicted these detestable cruelties.  Let us not forget that the professed followers of Jesus Christ have given examples of a barbarity equally unrelenting and horrible, in the form of religious persecution, and avowedly to glorify God.

During Boone’s captivity among the Shawnese, they took prisoner a noted warrior of a western tribe, with which they were then at war.  He was condemned to the stake with the usual solemnities.  Having endured the preliminary tortures with the most fearless unconcern, he told them, when preparing to commence a new series, with a countenance of scorn, he could teach them how to make an enemy eat fire to some purpose; and begged that they would give him an opportunity, together with a pipe and tobacco.  In respectful astonishment, at an unwonted demonstration of invincible endurance, they granted his request.  He lighted his pipe, began to smoke, and sat down, all naked as he was, upon the burning torches, which were blazing within his circle.  Every muscle of his countenance retained its composure.  On viewing this, a noted warrior sprang up, exclaiming, that this was a true warrior; that though his nation was treacherous, and he had caused them many deaths, yet such was their