RODIANGE OF HISTORY. JUAN ORTIZ. Sotne Spainards taken prisoners were condemned to die by the Indians. Juan Ortiz, a lad scarcely eighteen years of age, and of a noble family, was the fourth victim. As they were leading him forth, his extreme youth touched with compassion the hearts oftlie wife and daughters ofthe caciqne, who inter- ccdcd in his favor. I-lirrihigna listened to their importunities, and for the present granted the life of Ortiz; but it proved to be a most wretched boon. From norning until evening he was employed in carrying wood and water, being allowed butlittle sleep and less food. Not a day passed that he was not beaten. On festivals; he was an object of barbarous amusement to the cacitpio, who would oblige him In rtiti from sunrise tosunset, in the public square of the village, where his companions had been so barbarously sacrified. Upon these occasions, a number of Indians were stationed at different parts of the quadrangle with Vhmvs and arrows, to shoot him, should he halt one nioinent.— \Vhen the day was spent, the unfortunate youth lay stretched upon the hard floor of his hut, more dead than alive. At such times the chicf’s wife and daughters would come to him privately with food and clothing, and by tlieirkititl treatuient his life was ;preserved. At length the caciqne, being determined to put and end to his victim's existence, ordered that he should be bound upon a wooden frame, in the form of a huge gridiron, placed overa bed of burning coals, and roasted alive. The cries and shrieks of the miserable sufferer reached his female protectors, and their eiitreaties were once more successful ‘with the cacique. They unbound Ortiz. dragged him from the ifire, and took him to their dwelling, where they bathed his wounds with the juice of herbs, and tended him with assiduous care.- After many days he recovered, though his body was marked with many a deep scar. His employment was now to guard the village cemetery, which was in a lonely field in the bosom ofa forest. The bodies of the dead were depositedin wooden boxes. covered with boards, without any fastening except a stone or log of wood laid upon the top, so that the bodies were often carried away by wild lbeasts. In this cemetery Ortiz was stationed, with a bow and -arrows, to watch day and night, and told that should a single body be carried awa ' he wotild be burnt alive. He returned -I‘ '. God for having freed him from the dreaded presence of ’ ;~:a, hoping to lead a better life with the dead than he -"ii. . It inn’: ii.-:2 i.~i:_.+l;,r done with the living, ptir one occasion, while he was watching, towards morning st...-p <....:rpowered him. Being awakened by the lid of one of the chests suddenly falling, upon examination he found the body ‘had disappeared. The chest had contained the corpse of an infant recently deceased—the child of an Indian of note. Ortiz supposing some animal had dragged it away, immedi- ntely set out in pursuit. After wandering for some time, at a short distance within the woods, he heard a noise like that of a cat gnawing bones. Drawing near to the spot with a stealthy step, he dimly perceived a living object among the bushes, and invoking aid from on high, discharged an arrow at it. The thick aad tangled underwood prevented him from seeingthe efiect of his shot, but as the animal did not stir, he flattered himself that he had killed it. \Vith this hope he waited until the day dawned," when he beheld his victim, a huge creature of the panther kind, lying dead, the arrow having passed through its entrails and pierced its heart. Gathering together the mangled remains of the infant, and replacing them in the coliin, Ortiz dragged his pray in triumph to the village, with the arrow still in its body. The exploit, gained him credit with the old hunters, and for some time soften- ed even.the ferocity of Hirrihigua. The resentment ofthe lat- ter, however, frotn the wrongs he had suffered from white men, was too bitter to beappeased. Some time afterliis e1destdangh- ter came to Ortiz, and warned him that her father had deter- mined to sacrifice him at the next festival, which wasjust at hand. She stated that the influence of her mother, her sisters, and herself, would no longer be ofany avail to save him, and there- fore wished that he should take refuge with a neighboring °aciquc, named Mucozo, who had sought her in marriage, and w.°°"l befriend him for her sake. ‘This very night,’ said the l‘mdhe“‘°d maiden, ‘at the northern extremity ofthe village, . t ms 4 THE NORVVALK ‘GAZETTE. _.-. .g. _I you will find a trusty friend, who will guide you to a bridge about two leagues hence. On arriving there you must send him baclt "that he may reach home before the morning dawns, to avoid suspicion—for well he knows thatthis boldact in daring to assist you may bring down destruction on us both. Six leagues further on you will reach the village of Mucozo. Tell him that 1 have sent you, and expect him to befriend you in your exttem-‘ ity. I know he will do it. Go, and may your God protect you !’ Ortiz threw liimselfat the feet ofhis generous protectress, and poured out his acknowledgment at the kindness she had always shown him. An Indian was at the place appointed to direct him, and they qnitted the village without alarming the warlike savages. When they came to the bridge, Ortiz sent back the guide, in obedience to the injunction of his mistress, and continuing his flight, found himself, by break of day, on the banks ofa small stream near the village of Mucozo. Looking cautiously round, he saw two natives fishing. Ashe was unacquainted with their language, and could not explain the cause of his appearence in their neighborhood, he was in dread lest they should take him for an enemy and kill biin.-- He therefore ran swiftly to the place were they had deposited their weapons and seized them. The savages fled to the village without attending to his signs offriendly intention. The inhabi- tants sallied out, armed with bows and arrows, and were about to attack him ; but Ortiz fixing an arrow in his bow, prepared for defence. crying out at the same moment that he came not as an enemy, but as ambassador from a female cacitlue to their chief. Fortunately, one present understood him. and interpreted his words. Upon this the Indians unbent their bows, and re- turned with him to their village, presented him to Mucozo.—- The latter, a youthful chieften, ofa gracefulform and handsome cotintenauce, received Ortiz kindly for the sake of her who had setit him ; but, on further scquaintance, became attached to him for his own merits, and treated him with the the affection of a brother. ‘ Hirrihigua soon learned where the fugitive had taken refuge, and demanded several times that he should be delivered up.-— Mucozo as‘ often declined, considering himself bound by the laws of honor and hospitality to protect him. Hirrihigua then employed as mediator another caciqne, a brother in law of Mucozo. The generous Mucozo, however, indignantly refused to deliver up to a cruel enemy the poor fugitive who had come so well recommended to his protection, and treated the request as a stain upon his honor. The two caciques continued their iinportunities, but the highminded savage remained faithful to his guest, tho’ in maintaining inviolable the sacred rights of hos- pitality, he lost the friendship of his brother in law, and forfeited the hand of Hirrihigua's beautiful daughter, whom he tenderly loved.—Irving's Conquest qf Florida. ' SLAVERY AT THE SOUTH. SLAVE MARKET AT NATCHEZ. The following account of the mode ofbuying and selling slaves at the South is ftotn an interesting work recently from the press of the Harpers, entitled “The South West, by :1 Yan- kee :” » I accompanied a friend, (a planter) to the slave market, which is situated about a mile from the city. It is composed ofa clus- ter of rough wooden buildings, in the angle of two roads, in front of which, several saddle horses, either tied or held by ser- vants, indicated a place of popular resort. Alighting, we left our horses in charge ofa neatly dressed-ycl- low boy belonging to the establishment. Entering through a wide gate into a tlal‘I'OVt[ cotirt-yard, partially enclosed by low buildings, a scene ofa novel character was at once presented.-—- A line of negroes, commencing at the entrance with the tallest, who was no more than five feet eight or nine in height—for ne- groes are a low rather than a tall race of men—down to a little fellow of about ten years ofage, extended in a semicircle around the right side oftlie yard. There were in all about forty. With their hats in their bands, which hung down by their side. they stood perfectly still, and in close order, whilesome gentleman were passing from one to anot.lier exatnining for the purpose of buying. Willi the exception ofdisplaying their teeth when ad- dressed. and rolling their great white eyes abotit the court, they were so many statues of the most glossy ebony. As we enter- ed the tnart, one of the slave merchants approached. us, saying
Norwalk Chronicler