to migrate,
fixed upon that beautiful and fertile vale for the place of their
settlement, and soon an Indian village arose, where before had rested
the holy, maiden calmness of a region almost untrod by man. Now, all was
dirt, confusion, discord: the vices of civilized life were added to
those of the savage, without the decency or refinement which seeks to
throw a veil over their deformity. Orikama woke up as from a beautiful
dream, to find that those whom she would love to think of as brethren,
were vile and degraded: she saw lazy, drunken men, lounging about at the
doors of smoky huts, or administering chastisement to yelping curs, or
to women as noisy, reduced by ill-treatment and domestic drudgery to be
the cunning, spiteful slaves they were. Every thing shocked the noble
and pure spirit of Orikama: there were none here that she could make
companions and friends, nor would Towandahoc and Ponawtan have been
pleased to have her associate with them. It could not be expected that
she should be a favorite with the young girls of the tribe, who were
jealous of her superior attractions, and hated her for her reserve; and
their conduct made her feel sensibly that she was of another race, and
of another nature. Their malice was perhaps quickened by the fact, that
some slight hostilities had again arisen between the red men and the
pale faces, in which their tribe had been very prominent.

So unpleasantly changed did the whole family find their beautiful
valley, that it was resolved to remove to some distant spot, where they
should not be crowded out by uncongenial companionship. Accordingly,
Towandahoc departed for an absence of some weeks, to choose a situation
for settlement; the less reluctantly, as all the warriors of the tribe
had already left upon an expedition, which he had reason to suspect was
aimed against the whites. None remained behind but old men, squaws, and
pappooses, not to forget the Indian dogs, ever ready by their snarl to
recall their unwelcome existence to your mind. One day during her
husband's absence, Ponawtan departed early in the morning, with a view
to gather some herbs which grew upon one spot alone, a marsh at a
considerable distance: she left Orikama to take charge of the wigwam
till her return, which would not be before nightfall. Soon after she had
left, the crack of the rifle was heard, and the Indian village was
startled from its repose by the shout of the white man, and armed
backwoodsmen