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قراءة كتاب Ponteach The Savages of America
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id="Page_114" class="x-ebookmaker-pageno" title="[Pg 114]"/>acter of the Indian, but there is a very naïve attempt at subtle humour in the characters of the Englishmen. There is no distinct excellence in depicting Indian character as such, after the romantic manner of Cooper, although Rogers, with his English tradition, has been able to lend to his dialogue a certain dignity of diction which is striking, and which gives the play a decided literary value. Taken, however, as an historical document—and Mr. Nevins does this—one can trace in "Ponteach" the whole range of Rogers's experience as an Indian fighter. There are constant allusions in the text to matters which Mr. Nevins has found necessary to explain in copious footnotes, and therefore to the student I would recommend this single edition of the play. "Ponteach" is published here, not from a scholarly standpoint, but simply as an example of early Indian drama.
Of these Indian dramas, there are many examples in the early history of American playwriting. Laurence Hutton has an entertaining chapter on the subject in his "Curiosities of the American Stage," in which he enumerates such titles as "Oroloosa," "Oroonoka," "Miautoumah," to say nothing of "Hiawatha." "Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags" was brought to success through the powerful acting of Edwin Forrest, December 15, 1829. William Wheatley, of the Park Theatre, was likewise famed for his Indian impersonations. Among other more or less well-known plays of the species, enumerated by Wegelin, are:
F. Deffenbach. "Onliata; or, The Indian Heroine." Philadelphia. 1821.
Joseph Doddridge. "Logan: The Last of the Race of Skikellemus, Chief of the Cayuga Nation." Buffalo Creek, Brooke Co., Va. 1823.
G. W. P. Custis. "The Indian Prophecy." A National Drama in Two Acts, founded on a most interesting and romantic occurrence in the life of General Washington. Georgetown. 1828.
Nathaniel Deering. "Carrabasset; or, The Last of the Norridgewocks." A Tragedy in Five Acts. Portland. 1830.
W. H. C. Hosmer. "The Fall of Tecumseh." Avon. 1830.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] These pictures were struck off on October 1, 1776. See Smith's "British Mezzotint Portraits."
[2] See the South Carolina Gazette files for 1760, 1761.
[3] Ponteach:/or the/Savages of America,/A/Tragedy/[Major Robert Rogers.] London:/Printed for the Author; and Sold by J. Millan,/opposite the Admiralty, Whitehall./M.DCC.LXVI./[Price 2s. 6d.]
[4] Ponteach/or the/Savages of America/A Tragedy/By Robert Rogers/With an Introduction/and a Biography of the Author/By Allan Nevins/Chicago/The Caxton Club/1914/
Fac-Simile Title-Page of the First EditionDRAMATIS PERSONÆ
| Ponteach, | Indian Emperor on the Great Lakes. | |
| Philip and Chekitan, | Sons of Ponteach. | |
| Tenesco, | His chief Counsellor and Generalissimo. | |
| Astinaco, | } | Indian Kings who join with Ponteach. |
| The Bear, | ||
| The Wolf, | ||
| Torax and Monelia | Son and Daughter to Hendrick, Emperor of the Mohawks. | |
| Indian | Conjurer. | |
| French | Priest. | |
| Sharp, | } | Three English Governors. |
| Gripe, | ||
| Catchum, | ||
| Colonel Cockum, | } | Commanders at a Garrison in Ponteach's Country. |
| Captain Frisk, | ||
| M'Dole and Murphey, | Two Indian Traders. | |
| Honnyman and Orsbourn, | Two English Hunters. | |
| Mrs. Honnyman, | Wife to Honnyman, the Hunter. | |
Warriors, Messengers, &c.
PONTEACH:
OR THE SAVAGES OF AMERICA
ACT I.
Scene I. An Indian Trading House.
Enter M'Dole and Murphey, two Indian Traders, and their Servants.
M'Dole.
Among the Savages in this wild Desart?
Murphey.
Which 'faith I find it hard enough to do;
Times are so dull, and Traders are so plenty,
That Gains are small, and Profits come but slow.
M'Dole.
Know you the Principles by which it prospers,
And how to make it lucrative and safe?
If not, you're like a Ship without a Rudder,
That drives at random, and must surely sink.
Murphey.
And