NOTES

[Note 1] ([page 7])

The modern repeating rifle is a far different weapon from the clumsy, uncertain, inaccurate flint-lock musket, and yet our forefathers developed rare skill in the use of these primitive guns, which were fired by a flint striking the hammer, causing a spark to ignite a pinch of powder in a receptacle called the "pan." This in turn ignited the charge of powder that speeded the bullet on its way.

The loading of such a gun was a slow and painstaking task. The charge of powder must be measured out and poured down the barrel. The bullet, with its "patch," or bit of rag, must then be rammed down upon the powder, and finally the priming of powder must be placed in the pan. The utmost care was used in loading, but, even then, the spark might fail to ignite the priming, or the latter might be damp, or have been shaken from the pan. Many a brave frontiersman lost his life because, in his time of need, his musket failed to "go off."

[Note 2] ([page 21])

The Five Nations was the name given by Champlain to a league that had been formed by five powerful tribes of the Iroquois race, the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, who inhabited the Lake Region of what is now Central New York. The name of the league was changed to the Six Nations when, in 1722, the Tuskaroras, fleeing from North Carolina, found a refuge with the league and became a member of it.

The union was for the purposes of offence and defence and originally had a permanent central government lodged in fifty chiefs, who held office for life. In the colonial wars between the French and English and, later, in the Revolutionary War, the Six Nations were usually found fighting on the side of the English.

[Note 3] ([page 85])

Except for some tribes of the Pacific Coast, who held their captives as slaves, a male prisoner was either adopted into the tribe, or else put to death by torture, the decision usually resting with the women. If the prisoner's death was decided on, the most fiendish ingenuity was shown. While burning at the stake was the most common mode of death, it was usually preceded by a succession of tortures, carefully planned to prolong the victim's agony to the utmost.

[Note 4] ([page 107])

The turkey, now domesticated in nearly every country of the world, is a native of North America, and was unknown before the coming of Columbus. While now the wild turkey is almost extinct, the early settlers found these birds in the greatest abundance, and they formed a not unimportant portion of the frontiersman's fare.

[Note 5] ([page 192])

The Indian method of disposing of the dead varied with the different tribes and different localities. While burial in the ground was more common, many tribes, notably of the plains, placed the bodies in trees or upon platforms; others placed their dead in sitting positions in caves; still others practised cremation. It was the general custom to either burn or bury the personal belongings of the deceased, in order that he might enjoy their use in the life to come.

[Note 6] ([page 226])

Although smoking was a universal custom among the American Indians, tobacco was unknown to the rest of the world previous to the discovery of America; but its use has since spread to the four quarters of the globe. The Spaniards were the first European smokers, but their example was quickly followed by the other nations, although church and state did what they could to prevent the spread of the habit, Pope Urban VII having even gone so far as to issue an edict against it.

The scientific name, Nicotiana, was given tobacco in honor of Jean Nicot, French Ambassador to Portugal, who, on his return to France, presented a package of seed to Catherine de Medici.

Among the Indians, ceremonial smoking was a universal rite, and had a deep religious significance, smoke being considered as an incense of the gods, while the act of smoking was the strongest form of oath.

All discussions between individuals, all councils of a tribe, all treaty-making was preceded by the smoking of "the pipe of peace" and all agreements were ratified by the passing of the sacred pipe from hand to hand until all had joined in the solemn ceremony.

[Note 7] ([page 284])

Among the eastern Indians the principal civil officers were the Sachems. This office was elective, in theory; but, in practice, it was usually hereditary. There was also a head war-chief, although at times the two offices were held by the same individual. Except for these two officers, there can hardly be said to have been any social distinctions among the various members of a tribe. At that, the authority of the Sachem generally depended more on the ability and influence of the individual than on the power conferred by his office, while, except in actual warfare, where his commands were fairly well obeyed, the head war-chief seems to have had no authority whatever.

[Note 8] ([page 337])

Wampum was used by the Indians both as an ornament and as money. It was of two kinds, the white, made from the stem of the periwinkle shell, and the black, made from the dark spot in the quahog shell. Both were carefully shaped and polished, then pierced and strung in the form of belts, necklaces or bracelets. The black wampum was considered more valuable than the white.

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A TEXAS BLUE BONNET

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BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY

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BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON; Or, Boarding-School Days at Miss North's.

By Caroline E. Jacobs and Lela Horn Richards.

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BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE; Or, The New Home in the East.

By Caroline E, Jacobs and Lela Horn Richards.

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THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO; Or, Clearing the Wilderness.

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THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;
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THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE;
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ALMA AT HADLEY HALL

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THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE

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PEGGY RAYMOND'S VACATION

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SCHOOL DAYS ON FRIENDLY TERRACE

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FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS

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LIST OF TITLES

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CAPTAIN JANUARY

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SAME. Illustrated Holiday Edition$1.25
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MELODY: The Story of a Child.

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MARIE

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ROSIN THE BEAU

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NARCISSA

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"SOME SAY"

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NAUTILUS

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ISLA HERON

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THE LITTLE MASTER

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Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Varied hyphenation retained as printed.

The frontispiece originally had a stick of the owner on it. That was deleted, hence the empty space on the left.

Page 11, "on" changed to "an" (or an Oneida)

Page 183, "sideway" changed to "sideways" (jump sideways just at)

Page 202, "seemd" changed to "seemed" (seemed in a fair way)