HISTORICAL NOTES

RESPECTING THE

INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA.

CHAP. I.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS- OPINIONS OF VARIOUS WRITERS ON THIS SUBJECT.

THE manners and customs of the Indians of North America have often furnished matter of curious and interesting inquiry. From the period when that portion of the Western hemisphere was first discovered, or rather from that in which the earliest European settlers established themselves upon its shores, the attention of various authors appears to have been drawn towards the delineation of those peculiar qualities which so strongly marked the native tribes by whom that continent was inhabited. Nor was the attention of those writers less directed, perhaps, to the discovery of the probable root from whence the American population had originally sprung. This question, indeed, has given rise to much discussion; and history, both sacred and profane, has been ingeniously referred

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to for the purpose of supporting the respective theories of those who have taken an active part in the controversy. The valuable researches, made of late years in North America, regarding the languages spoken by the Indian nations in that quarter of the globe, promise, if followed up, to throw more light upon this subject than is likely to arise from any other species of investigation. But, however much writers of eminence have differed respecting the source from which America may have been peopled, they will be found to have generally agreed with regard to the peculiar customs, disposition, and pursuits, of its aboriginal inhabitants.

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It is not proposed to enter into any minute delineation of the habits and manners of the North American Indians. These have been so often and so accurately described, by writers of different countries and various periods, that any description of them now would contain little more than a repetition of details to which there is every where easy access and reference. The principal object of these Notes is to give a concise view of facts drawn mostly from the early authors who resided in North America; by which it will probably be seen, that in every quarter a very erroneous system was pursued with regard to the Indian population. In addition to the observations upon the early proceedings respecting the Indians - and upon the results which flowed from them - it is also intended to submit such remarks and suggestions

as appear more immediately applicable to the attempts made in the present day to effect their civil and religious advancement. If, by pointing out the errors of former times, it can at all serve as a beacon in future attempts at Indian civilization or conversion, one important step towards success is likely to be attained. These errors are obvious from an examination of the works of the earliest writers, as well as those of later periods, who had much communication with the Indians. Travellers, who from curiosity-traders, who from views of commercial enterprise-military officers, who in the call of their professional duty — and the missionaries, who from religious motives, were led to explore the interior of that continent, have furnished ample materials for reflection on this subject; and by laying before the reader extracts from their works, it will no doubt enable him, by reference to the most authentic sources, to judge of the real nature of those endeavours which were made during the course of two centuries and made in vain to ameliorate the condition of the Indians of North America.

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It may be satisfactory, in this place, to notice the recorded opinions of some of those writers, most of whom had long resided in that country; and to describe, in their own words, the favourable sentiments which their experience had taught them to entertain respecting the Indian character. These opinions, indeed, are directly opposite to what has

been so strenuously asserted by some celebrated authors, particularly by the Count de Buffon and Monsieur de Pauw; both of whom laboured to paint the natives of the New World as despicable, vicious, and brutal; pronouncing them far inferior to those of the Old, both in mental and corporeal qualities. But there cannot be required a more satisfactory refutation of the assertion made by these writers, than what is conveyed in the numerous and concurring statements of those who, from a long residence among the Indians, had fully qualified themselves to judge of their real character and endowments.*

The celebrated Lafitau, the Jesuit, who resided a considerable time as a missionary in North America about the beginning of the last century, and who states, that to his own experience he added that of Garnier, another Father of his order, who had lived sixty years among the Indians, has given the following description of them in his learned and curious work, "The Manners of the American Savages compared with the Manners of Ancient Times."

They are possessed," says he, "of sound judgment, lively imagination, ready conception, and

Mr. Jefferson, the late President of the United States, in his Notes on Virginia, and the Abbé Clavigero, in his History of Mexico, have ably combated the opinions maintained by Buffon in his Histoire Naturelle, and of De Pauw in his Recherches Philosophiques sur les Américains.

wonderful memory. All the tribes retain at least some trace of an ancient religion, handed down to them from their ancestors, and a form of government. They reflect justly upon their affairs, and better than the mass of the people among ourselves. They prosecute their ends by sure means; they evince a degree of coolness and composure which would exceed our patience; they never permit themselves to indulge in passion, but always, from a sense of honour and greatness of soul, appear masters of themselves. They are high-minded and proud; possess a courage equal to every trial, an intrepid valour, the most heroic constancy under torments, and an equanimity which neither misfortune nor reverses can shake. Towards each other they behave with a natural politeness and attention, entertaining a high respect for the aged, and a consideration for their equals which appears scarcely reconcileable with that freedom and independence of which they are so jealous. They make few professions of kindness, but yet are affable and generous. Towards strangers and the unfortunate they exercise a degree of hospitality and charity which might put the inhabitants of Europe to the blush."*

Lafitau, indeed, qualifies the character he thus

* Mœurs des Sauvages Américains, comparées aux Mœurs des Premiers Temps. Par le Père Lafitau. Vol. i. chap. 3. Paris, 1724.