 except his girdle and leggings, and with one half of
his fine features hid under a cloud of threatening black.
    Uncas moved with a slow and dignified tread towards the post, which he
immediately commenced encircling with a measured step, not unlike an ancient
dance, raising his voice, at the same time, in the wild and irregular chant of
his war-song. The notes were in the extremes of human sounds; being sometimes
melancholy and exquisitely plaintive, even rivalling the melody of birds - and
then, by sudden and startling transitions, causing the auditors to tremble by
their depth and energy. The words were few, and often repeated, proceeding
gradually from a sort of invocation, or hymn, to the deity, to an intimation of
the warrior's object, and terminating as they commenced, with an acknowledgment
of his own dependence on the Great Spirit. If it were possible to translate the
comprehensive and melodious language in which he spoke, the ode might read
something like the following -
 
Manitto! Manitto! Manitto!
Thou art great - thou art good - thou art wise -
Manitto! Manitto!
Thou art just!
 
In the heavens, in the clouds, Oh! I see!
Many spots - many dark - many red -
In the heavens, Oh! I see!
Many clouds.
 
In the woods, in the air, Oh! I hear!
The whoop, the long yell, and the cry -
In the woods, Oh! I hear!
The loud whoop!
 
Manitto! Manitto! Manitto!
I am weak - thou art strong - I am slow -
Manitto! Manitto!
Give me aid.
 
At the end of what might be called each verse, he made a pause, by raising a
note louder and longer than common, that was peculiarly suited to the sentiment
just expressed. The first close was solemn, and intended to convey the idea of
veneration; the second descriptive, bordering on the alarming; and the third was
the well-known and terrific war-whoop, which burst from the lips of the young
warrior, like a combination of all the frightful sounds of battle. The last was
like the first, humble and imploring. Three times did he repeat this song, and
as often did he encircle the post, in his dance.
    At the close of the first turn, a grave and highly esteemed chief of the
Lenape, followed his example, singing words of his own, however, to music of a
similar character. Warrior after warrior enlisted in the dance, until all of any
renown and authority were numbered in its mazes.
