The Art of R. Terry Malone
Fine Art Giclee Prints Depicting the Era of the 1700 and 1800s
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The Background to
The Assimilation of James Smith
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Original-Vinyls on Illustration Board
Printed on canvas
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In 1755, eighteen year old James Smith was clearing
a road near Bedford, Pennsylvania for the British troops. Nearby, General
Braddock is being defeated by the French and Indians. A small band of Kanawaga
Indians captured him and took him to Fort Duquesne, present day Pittsburgh,
and made him run the gauntlet. The blows given by the Indians served to
appease the friendly spirits, which in turn wipes the slate clean for the
death of one of their tribal members brought about by their enemies. He
is then allowed to be taken in as a family member.
His hair was plucked out like a turkey and then he was taken to the river and
bathed by two women. He thought the women were going to drown him. The more he
struggled, the more the women laughed. He was then dressed in Indian clothes.
It was all a part of the adoption ceremony. The chief said to him:
"You are now flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone. By the ceremony this day,
every drop of your white blood has been washed out of your veins. You are adopted
into a great family. We are under the same obligation to love, support and defend
you as we are to love, support and defend one another. You are to consider yourself
one of our people. " He was given the Indian name of Scoouwa.
After five years, he returns to white society, where he becomes an Evangelical
preacher. He is best known as a colonel in the British Army training Ranger troops
to fight Indian style. |
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© 2005
R. Terry Malone
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