Prevod
Indijanci z Juga, ki so bili v stiku s civiliziranimi ljudstvi Srednje Amerike, so sodili med najnaprednejše in najčastnejše rdečekožce. Vladal jim je razum, ne sila, in nekaj podobnega spoštovanju, ki ga Evropejci gojijo do svojih kraljevskih rodbin, jih je pripravilo do tega, da so se podredili ženski vladavini. Dolina Nacooche v Georgii v svojem imenu še danes ohranja spomin na eno teh princes kraljevskega rodu; čeprav je modro vladala velikemu plemenu, ni bila nedovzetna za strasti navadnih smrtnikov. »Večerna zvezda« si je zaradi razočaranja v ljubezni sama vzela življenje. Njena zgodba je zgodba Julije, ona in njen ljubi pa — združena v smrti, kakor nista mogla biti v življenju — počivata pod gomilo sredi doline.
Indijanci iz tistih krajev so gradili mesta, namenjena trajnemu bivanju, in nekoliko poznali umetnosti, njihova verska prepričanja in obredi pa so bili nenavadno podobni prepričanjem in obredom perzijskih častilcev ognja. Na kraju, kjer danes stoji mesto v Mississippiju, ki nosi njihovo ime, so Indijanci plemena Natchez zgradili svoj Tempelj sonca. Ko je bil dokončan, je z neba padel meteor in zanetil ogenj na njihovem oltarju; od tiste ure so svečeniki nenehno varovali plamen, dokler ni neke noči po nesreči ugasnil. Ta dogodek so imeli za zlo znamenje in ljudstvo si ga je tako vzelo k srcu, da je ob prihodu belcev, ki je sledil kmalu zatem, premoglo le malo poguma za bojevanje in se je umaknilo pred osvajalcem, ne da bi še kdaj dobilo nazaj svojo starodavno domovino.
Izvirnik
The Indians of the South, being in contact with the civilized races of Central America, were among the most progressive and honorable of the red men. They were ruled by intelligence rather than force, and something of the respect that Europeans feel for their kingly families made them submit to woman's rule. The valley of Nacooche, Georgia, indeed, perpetuates in its name one of these princesses of a royal house, for though she ruled a large tribe with wisdom she was not impervious to the passions of common mortals. The “Evening Star” died by her own hand, being disappointed in love affair. Her story is that of Juliet, and she and her lover--united in death, as they could not be in life--are buried beneath a mound in the centre of he valley.
The Indians of that region had towns built for permanency, and possessed some knowledge of the arts, while in religion their belief and rites were curiously like those of the Persian fire-worshippers. It was on the site of the present city in Mississippi which bears their name that the Natchez Indians built their Temple of the Sun. When it was finished a meteor fell from heaven and kindled the fire on their altar, and from that hour the priests guarded he flame continually, until one night when it was extinguished by mischance. This event was believed to be an omen, and the people so took it to heart that when the white men came, directly after, they had little courage to prosecute a war, and fell back before the conqueror, never to hold their ancient home again.
