"BURYING THE HATCHET."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20372, 28 September 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

"BURYING THE HATCHET."

Each great event in our history lias loft its mark upon our language. Since the days of William the Conqueror there has beeu uo national act of more importance than the exodus of tho Puritans in the sixteenth century. With the landing of tho pilgrim fathers upon tho shores of America began a new epoch in the, history of English-speaking nations, and tho new words and new phrases soon began to appear in tho language. Of these, "To bury tho hatchet'' is tho most characteristic. Tho Indians, with whom the Puritans had many differences, carried always a small hatchet, a club, and a carving-knife when they went upon tho war-path. If they could bo prevailed upon to come to terms, a great meeting of chiefs and warriors was held, and after solemnly smoking tho calumet, or pipe of peace, they buried a hatchet, a club, and a scalping-knife, in token of peaceful intentions. It was a religious act with them, and not lightly done. Tho Great Spirit had taught their fathers, to make a treaty of peace in this manner, and they followed tho custom of their ancestors.

The picturesque act of these sons of the forest impressed the imagination of tho Pilgrim Fathers, and soon the phrase becamo common among them, and man who wished to be reconciled to his neighbour would offer to " bury tho hatchet"— .1 form of speech well understood to mean a hearty desiro for peace and goodwill. —From Doreen Care. Great South Road. Prpatoetoe.