My happiness in this respect, however, was not without alloy; for my son
Thomas, from some cause unknown to me, from the time he was a small lad,
always called his brother John, a witch, which was the cause, as they grew
towards manhood, of frequent and severe quarrels between them, and gave me
much trouble and anxiety for their safety. After Thomas and John arrived
to manhood, in addition to the former charge, John got two wives, with
whom he lived till the time of his death. Although polygamy was tolerated
in our tribe, Thomas considered it a violation of good and wholesome rules
in society, and tending directly to destroy that friendly social
intercourse and love, that ought to be the happy result of matrimony and
chastity. Consequently, he frequently reprimanded John, by telling him
that his conduct was beneath the dignity, and inconsistent with the
principles of good Indians; indecent and unbecoming a gentleman; and, as
he never could reconcile himself to it, he was frequently, almost
constantly, when they were together, talking to him on the same subject.
John always resented such reprimand, and reproof, with a great degree of
passion, though they never quarrelled, unless Thomas was intoxicated.

In his fits of drunkenness, Thomas seemed to lose all his natural reason,
and to conduct like a wild or crazy man, without regard to relatives,
decency or propriety. At such times he often threatened to take my life
for having raised a witch, (as he called John,) and has gone so far as to
raise his tomahawk to split my head. He, however, never struck me; but on
John's account he struck Hiokatoo, and thereby excited in John a high
degree of indignation, which was extinguished only by blood.

For a number of years their difficulties, and consequent unhappiness,
continued and rather increased, continually exciting in my breast the most
fearful apprehensions, and greatest anxiety for their safety. With tears
in my eyes, I advised them to become reconciled to each other, and to be