regulation for those, who like himself, were too indolent to labor for the acquisition of it.  A more salutary and rational precept, and one which he enforced with considerable energy, was the duty of the young, at all times and under all circumstances, to support, cherish and respect the aged and infirm.  He declaimed with vehemence against all innovations in the original dress and habits of the Indians—­dwelt upon the high claims of the Shawanoes to superiority over other tribes, and promised to all his followers, who would believe his doctrines and practice his precepts, the comforts and happiness which their forefathers enjoyed before they were debased by their connection with the whites.  And finally proclaimed, with much solemnity, that he had received power from the Great Spirit, to cure all diseases, to confound his enemies, and stay the arm of death, in sickness, or on the battle field.

[Footnote A:  In the remaining pages of this work this person will be called the Prophet, the name by which he is most generally known.]

Such is the superstitious credulity of the Indians, that this crafty impostor not only succeeded for a time, in correcting many of the vices of his followers, but likewise influenced them to the perpetration of outrages upon each other, shocking to humanity.  If an individual, and especially a chief, was supposed to be hostile to his plans, or doubted the validity of his claim to the character of a prophet, he was denounced as a witch, and the loss of reputation, if not of life, speedily followed.  Among the first of his victims were several Delawares,—­Tatepocoshe (more generally known as Teteboxti,) Patterson, his nephew, Coltos, 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 fire for four days, calling upon her 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 he was tied and brought into camp.  He acknowledged that on one occasion 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 bed-time; but he insisted that he had returned the charm to its owner; and after some consultation, he was set at liberty.  The following day, a council was held over the case of the venerable chief Tatepocoshe, he being present.  His death was decided upon after full deliberation; and, arrayed in his finest apparel, he calmly assisted in building his own funeral pile, fully aware that there was no escape from the judgment that had been passed upon him.  The respect due to his whitened locks, induced his executioners to treat him with mercy.  He was deliberately tomahawked