Archæologia Americana, Vol. II, pp. 128.
In Chapter xvii it will be seen that the Aztecs or Toltecs in Yucatan, also, in certain cases, killed the victim by a flight of arrows.
One of the best authenticated instances of this custom of torturing prisoners was witnessed by a Mr. James Smith who, during the time that he was a captive amongst the Delawares, was present when the English prisoners taken after General Braddock’s defeat were brought into camp by the Indians.
He states that, upon that occasion, about a dozen of the prisoners were stripped and tied to stakes, tortured with fire-brands and burnt to death.
The ferocity of the Indians towards their captives after battle was well known to the British and French commanders, and was one of the difficulties that attended their employment as allies. There is a subject indirectly connected with these Indian customs in war which may here be considered. It is that of cannibalism.
Investigations into this question lead to the conclusion that there is no evidence to show that any of the North American tribes were in the habit of following this revolting custom except under rare circumstances during the prosecution of a serious war.
I only know of two instances, seen and recorded, of Indians devouring human flesh. In both cases it is evident that the acts were committed in accordance with the usages of hostile tribes when engaged in war.