The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

THE MERRIMXACK RIVER;
chiefs formed a ring around this pile of brush, sitting cross-legged
upon the ground; next to these the warriors formed a second ring,
and back of these the old men, women, and children were mixed
without order or rank. The pile being fired in due time, the principal chief stepped into the ring, and dancing around flourished his
tomahawk and knife, naming his exploits, and the people with whom
he was at enmity. At the mention of every enemy.he would strike
the fire with his hatchet, seize a brand, flourish it about in numberless vibrations with his hands, and, contorting his body into every
conceivable shape, he would bury his hatchet deep in the ground and
leave the ring. Others would follow, and in the same manner dance
about the fire and fight it, closing with burying their hatchets in the'
ground, till the whole of the warriors inclined to follow the war-path
had joined in the dance. Every man who joined in the dance was
considered as enlisted for the war." This ceremony was always
performed in the night; but when the exigencies of the case required
immediate action, a ceremony of the same signification was performed
in the daytime.
"Around a sapling in the grove, or one standing near the wigwam of the sagamon, after relating their adventures as they danced
about the ring, each warrior closed his dance by striking his tomahawk into the sapling; and every one who struck the sapling was
claimed as a volunteer upon the war-path. The chief then appointed
his rendezvous, and the warriors repaired to their wigwams to make
their slight preparations for their departure."
The Scalp Dance was performed by the braves on their return
hoiee from the war-path when success had crowned their arms.
"Each Indian hung to his girdle the scalp locks he had taken in
other wars, if he had taken any, while the fresh scalps were held by
the hair between his teeth. The Indians, thus garnished with these
horrid trophies, took a stooping posture, so that the scalps suspended
from their teeth might not touch their bodies, and in such positions
commenced the most hiideous cries and furious stamping, jumping,
and dancing about like mad men, ever and anon taking the scalps
from their teeth to recite the incidents connected with the killing of
the enemy, and then replacing them, to continue the frantic dance
with redoubled fury.
"These dances were truly horrible, and led Nathaniel Segar, who
iss