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diff --git a/old/55063-0.txt b/old/55063-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 029faf2..0000000 --- a/old/55063-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6257 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Civilization of the Indian Natives, by Halliday Jackson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Civilization of the Indian Natives - or, a Brief View of the Friendly Conduct of William Penn - Towards Them in the Early Settlement of Pennsylvania - -Author: Halliday Jackson - -Release Date: July 7, 2017 [EBook #55063] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIAN NATIVES *** - - - - -Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Wayne Hammond and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - -[Transcriber’s Note: - -The corrections in the errata on page 120 have been incorporated into -the original.] - - - - -CIVILIZATION - -OF THE - -INDIAN NATIVES; - -OR, - -A Brief View - -OF THE FRIENDLY CONDUCT - -OF - -WILLIAM PENN - -TOWARDS THEM - -IN THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA; - -_The subsequent care of the Society of Friends in endeavouring to -promote peace and friendship with them by pacific measures_; - -AND - -_A concise narrative of the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of -Friends, of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and parts adjacent, since the -year 1795, in promoting their improvement_ - -AND GRADUAL CIVILIZATION. - -BY HALLIDAY JACKSON. - -“And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former -desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of -many generations.”--_Isaiah_ lxi. 4. - -[Illustration] - -_PHILADELPHIA_: MARCUS T. C. GOULD, No. 6, NORTH EIGHTH STREET. - -_NEW YORK_; ISAAC T. HOPPER, No. 420, PEARL STREET. - -1830 - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -Our readers have, no doubt, perused with satisfaction the numbers which -have appeared from time to time in this periodical, respecting the -Seneca Indians--their habits, superstitions, &c. The facts which these -articles embraced, were rendered the more interesting, by the late -difficulties which had been manifested between the United States, and -several southern and western tribes, upon the subject of their lands, -and the right by which they held them in possession. - -Since the conclusion of these interesting numbers, we have been -favoured by the writer with a more enlarged and particular narration, -respecting the situation of the Indians, in the early settlement of -this country--in which a concise view is presented of the proceedings -of William Penn, in relation to them at the period of the first -settlement of Pennsylvania. A very particular description is also given -of the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of Friends of Pennsylvania, -New Jersey, &c. touching the means adopted to increase their happiness, -and improve their moral and physical condition. Many speeches, highly -characteristic and beautiful, delivered by distinguished chiefs, in -council, will be found interspersed through the narrative. - -Having concluded, in our last number, the works of WILLIAM SHEWEN, we -think we cannot better occupy, for a few weeks, the pages heretofore -devoted to that work, than by appropriating them to the interesting -subject, of which the above is an outline, and which the writer has -kindly given us permission to publish. It may then be preserved in the -same manner as the works just completed, and will form a small but -valuable book for all classes. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -Believing that some account of the measures pursued by the Society of -Friends, towards the Indian natives, may prove an auxiliary in the -cause of humanity, and probably interest the serious and benevolent -mind in behalf of the aborigines of our country, whom we consider as -children of one universal parent, who is no respecter of persons, but -regards with equal care all nations, whether of a fair complexion or -a tawny skin; I am, therefore, induced to believe that every thing -relating to their history may prove interesting to posterity, when they -shall be told that such a race of men, who may then have passed away, -once inhabited this populous country. And having acquired considerable -knowledge of some of the Indian tribes, and of the progress some of -them have made in the arts of civilized life, I am induced to offer a -concise view of the friendly intercourse that has subsisted between -the society of Friends and the aborigines of our country, from the -time the illustrious William Penn, and some of his cotemporaries first -landed on the American shores, and exhibited to the world, the singular -spectacle of establishing a new model of government, amidst a mixture -of persons of different nations, and different civil and religious -opinions, surrounded by savage tribes of Indians, without recourse to -any coercive measures--which has since been the wonder and admiration -of mankind. - -His great treaty, too, with the Indians, was also made without the -solemnity of an oath, and has been immortalized as the only treaty, so -made, that has never been broken. - -In most of the histories, in which we can trace the character of the -Indian nations, we find them to abound either with romantic tales, or -scenes of cruelty and barbarity, calculated to excite prejudice in -the mind of the reader; but in this will be found the conciliating -language of peace and mutual friendship, and a disposition on the part -of the Indians, to exchange the tomahawk and scalping knife, for the -plough and the hoe, and peacefully betake themselves to the innocent -employments of the pastoral and agricultural life. - -Although the author has spent but a small portion of time in a personal -residence among this people, in comparison with many others, yet he can -acknowledge, that the short time devoted to that service embraced some -of the happiest moments of his early life. For, although deprived of -the social comforts of society, and far removed from all the near and -tender connexions of his youthful days, yet from a full conviction of -the rectitude of the work, and the incalculable good, under the divine -blessing, that might finally result to that people, the wilderness was -often made as it were an Eden, and the desert as the garden of the -Lord. “Joy and gladness was found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice -of melody.” - -During the author’s residence among the natives, as well as on several -visits since that period, he had a fair opportunity of noticing the -gradual improvement of the Indians, in some of the arts of civilized -life, by which he is enabled to furnish, he trusts, well authenticated -accounts of the benefits which have resulted to that people from the -benevolent exertions of the society of Friends. And, although these -exertions may appear to be limited in their operation towards a reform, -yet when we take into view the numerous tribes of Indians within and -circumjacent to the United States, there is reason to hope, that the -instruction already afforded to several tribes, and the advancement -they have made in some of the most useful arts of civilized life, will -have a stimulating influence on their more distant brethren. - - - - -A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS, &c. - - -The benign spirit of the gospel, operating upon the benevolent mind of -that eminently distinguished character William Penn, induced him, at -the very commencement of the settlement of Pennsylvania, to cultivate, -by the exercise of gentleness, kindness, and the love of peace, a good -understanding with the natives; and in all his transactions with them, -by scrupulously adhering to the law of universal righteousness, which -dispenses justice to all, and infringes on the natural rights of none, -he pursued the best means of establishing harmony between them and the -new settlers, and thereby ensured their confidence and friendship. - -In a letter which he sent them by his deputy, previous to his arrival -in America, dated Eighth month, 1681, he called their attention to -the existence of a supremely good, ALL-WISE BEING, and to his law -written in the heart, by which men are taught to love, help, and do -good, one to another; and briefly informed them respecting his grant -from the king, and assured them that he desired to enjoy it with their -love and consent, that they might always live together as neighbours -and friends. Then, in allusion to some of the other settlements on -this continent, which in too many instances having been marked with -injustice and oppression, were followed by melancholy and distressing -circumstances, he proceeded more at length to unfold to the natives -the motives and principles, by which he was actuated towards them, -adding: “The people I send are of the same mind, and if in any thing -any shall offend you, or your people, you shall have a full and speedy -satisfaction for the same, by an equal number of just men on both -sides, that by no means you may have just occasion of being offended -against them.” - -In the year 1682, William Penn first arrived in this country, and -began to purchase land of the Indians, exemplifying the sincerity of -his previous declarations, by giving them full satisfaction for every -grant, accompanied with the best advice for promoting their comfort and -happiness. - -Thus began that firm and lasting friendship with the natives, which -continued during the life of William Penn, and with the religious -society of which he was a member, for the space of seventy years; that -is, as long as the society retained sufficient influence, effectually -to interpose between the natives and the other inhabitants, so as to -prevent misunderstandings, or to redress such grievances as occurred. -A friendship which to this day remains unobliterated between the -society of Friends and the Indians who have knowledge of them, and is -a standing proof that the gentle and upright conduct inculcated by -the gospel, as exemplified in the practice of William Penn, is a far -more effectual means of preserving treaties inviolate, and insuring -the permanent enjoyment of reciprocal benefits, than the system of -violence, fraud, and oppression too frequently resorted to, on such -occasions. - -By this memorable treaty between William Penn and the natives, the -parties mutually engaged to live together in peace and concord, as -brethren of the same universal parent; and according to Indian customs, -ratified the same by the usual token of a chain of friendship, which -was not to be broken, so long as the sun and moon endure. - -William Penn had also many other conferences with the Indians, during -his residence in the country, some of which were of a religious nature; -and his conduct towards them was in general so engaging, the advice he -gave them so evidently for their advantage, and his regard to justice -so conspicuous, that he became greatly endeared to them: hence, the -name of Onas, by which they distinguished him, (and still do the -society of Friends,) has been transmitted from father to son, with much -veneration and esteem. That such was the fact, much might be advanced -as proof, which, with other circumstances in the subsequent behaviour -of this people, demonstrate not only their sense of gratitude, but -the extensive influence which justice, tempered by love, may have on -the untutored mind. It may, however, be proper to state, that in the -early settlement of Pennsylvania, when the country was almost an entire -wilderness, and producing little for human sustenance but a scanty -supply of natural fruits, and the wild animals of the forest, the new -settlers were exposed to much hardship and difficulty in obtaining -food--but their sufferings and difficulties in these respects, were -much alleviated by the attention and kindness of the natives, in -supplying their necessities; not only extending their beneficence to -those of the society of Friends, but generally to such as were under -the patronage of William Penn--thereby evincing towards them the -genuine spirit of hospitality--frequently visiting them in their houses. - -In the course of events, the society of Friends becoming mostly -excluded from the proprietory agency to which the management of -Indian affairs had been chiefly committed, the trade with the Indians -became corrupted, and they were frequently imposed on in the sale of -their lands. Hence arose jealousies and a spirit of resentment in -some of the tribes, situated north-westward of the settled parts of -Pennsylvania. Hostilities ensued, and many of the inhabitants suffered, -in consequence of a war which continued for several years. But -notwithstanding the diminished influence which the society of Friends -now possessed in public transactions, and the negotiations of treaties -with the Indians, they did not relax their endeavours to improve every -opportunity of cultivating a friendly intercourse with them, and -promoting a peaceable disposition; for which purpose they formed an -association among themselves, denominated the “friendly association for -gaining and preserving peace with the Indians by pacific measures.” - -To carry these benevolent views into operation, contributions to -the amount of several thousand pounds were raised, which (with the -governor’s permission) they applied in presents, and otherwise, in such -a discreet and well timed manner, as, together with their conciliating -demeanour and candour, which the Indians had often experienced, to have -a happy effect in disposing them to hearken to terms of peace; which -desirable event took place in 1775. - -About the year 1791, at which time a contest subsisted between the -United States and several of the Indian tribes, a committee of the -Yearly Meeting of Friends, held in Philadelphia, appointed for the -purpose of representing the society during the recess of the Yearly -Meeting, believed it right to address congress on the occasion, -thereby showing the expediency of pursuing pacific measures, which had -heretofore been found salutary and effectual, in securing peace and -friendship with the original owners of the soil for the settlement -of existing differences: at the same time, suggesting that if their -religious instruction and civilization were rightly promoted, it -might essentially contribute to conciliate the minds of the Indians, -and restore harmony between the contending parties. Although the -representation was well received, the measures recommended were not -then adopted, and the calamities of war still continuing to prevail on -the western frontiers of the states, the Yearly Meeting held in 1792, -appointed a large committee to unite with the former, (commonly called -the meeting for Sufferings,) to deliberate on the momentous subject, -and, if practicable, to recommend such measures as would be most likely -to promote peace and friendship with the Indian tribes, and thereby -prevent the further effusion of human blood. - -In the spring of 1793, deputies from several Indian nations visited -Philadelphia, with a view of forwarding an accommodation with the -United States, and government having agreed that a treaty should be -held in the Indian country near Detroit, the summer following, these -Indian deputies repeatedly urged, in several conferences, that some -Friends should attend the negotiations, stating, “that the nations they -represented had a special confidence in them as a people, who, from -their first settlement in America, had manifested a steady adherence -to the maintenance of peace and friendship with the natives.” In -accordance with the desire the society had long felt to promote peace, -the proposition was acceeded to, and six Friends were deputed to -accompany the commissioners appointed by government on this occasion, -after having obtained the president’s approbation. - -These Friends were present at several interviews with the -commissioners, and about thirty Indian chiefs deputed from a grand -council composed of a numerous body of Indians, made up of many -different nations. They used what endeavours they could to prepare the -minds of the Indians for a calm and deliberate consideration of the -several subjects in controversy. But the Indians not being satisfied -with the conditions held out by the commissioners as the terms of -peace, the treaty proved abortive, and Friends were disappointed in -having an interview with the Indians in general council. They had, -however, reason to believe the Indians were generally made acquainted -with their friendly motives and sentiments, and that their ancient -attachment to the society was measurably renewed. - -Again, in the summer of 1794, Friends were invited by the -representatives of the Six Nations to attend a treaty to be held at -Canandaigua, in the state of New York, and government approving the -same, four Friends were deputed for that service, by whom a suitable -address was sent, accompanied by some presents, as “a token (in -the language of the address,) for you the descendants of the first -inhabitants of this land of America, whom our forefathers found here -after they had crossed the great waters.” - -About sixteen hundred Indians were assembled on this occasion, -and these Friends had an opportunity in their public councils, of -endeavouring to impress their minds with a sense of the advantages to -be derived from living in peace with one another, and with all men, -and with the expediency of living a more sober and quiet life, that -they might draw down the divine blessing upon them. These Indians still -retained a lively remembrance of the just and friendly treatment their -forefathers met with from the first founder of Pennsylvania, continued -to distinguish him by the name of Onas, and considered Friends as his -descendants, expressing that if _we_ deceived them they should no more -place confidence in mankind. - -The disputed matters were now brought into a train of amicable -adjustment, and a firm peace (it was hoped) was about to be established -between these nations and the United States. - -During this visit, many of the difficulties and sufferings to which the -Indians were subjected, were brought into view, and their situation -appeared loudly to claim the sympathy of those who had grown opulent -on the former inheritance of these poor declining people. Hence these -Friends suggested the propriety of the society of Friends, pursuing -some plan of rendering them more essential service than had hitherto -been rendered. - -Again in 1795, a treaty was held with some of the western tribes of -Indians, and, although Friends did not send a deputation to attend -it, they nevertheless, forwarded a suitable address, calculated to -evince their love of peace, and ardent desire for the restoration of -harmony between the Indians and the government of the United States. -This letter was accompanied by suitable presents, directed to the -care of General Anthony Wayne, who informed Friends that they were -gratefully received by the Indians, and also, that there now was the -fairest prospect of a lasting peace and friendly intercourse between -the citizens of the United States, and the aborigines of America. - -Peace accordingly once more took place between the United States -and the Indians, after many years of war and devastation; but this -cessation of hostilities was purchased, on behalf of the Indians, by -the relinquishment of a large tract of their country north-west of the -river Ohio, and they were also otherwise left in a poor and destitute -situation. - -Previous to this period, several of the Indians’ chiefs had, in a -pathetic manner, applied to the society of Friends to remember them in -their distressed situation, and also to instruct them in the modes of -civilized life. - -The following speech, from Gay-us-hu-ta, an ancient chief of the Seneca -nation, on the borders of Pennsylvania, is worthy of preserving on -record: - -“Brothers, the sons of my beloved brother Onas--When I was young and -strong, our country was full of game, which the great spirit sent for -us to live upon. The lands which belonged to us, were extended far -beyond where we hunted. I, and the people of my nation, always had -plenty to eat, and always something to give to our friends when they -entered our cabins, and we rejoiced when they received it from us. -Hunting was then not tiresome. It was diversion--it was a pleasure. - -“Brothers, when your fathers asked land of my nation, we gave it to -them--Gay-us-hu-ta was always among the first to say, “Give land to our -brother Onas, for he wants it--and he has always been a friend to Onas -and his children.” - -“Brothers, your fathers saw Gay-us-hu-ta when he was young, when he had -not even thought of old age or of weakness--but you are too far off to -see him now--he is grown old, he is very old and feeble, and he wonders -at his own shadow, it has become so little. He has no children to take -care of him, and the game is driven away by the white people, so that -the young men must hunt all day to get game for themselves to eat--they -have nothing left for Gay-us-hu-ta. And it is not Gay-us-hu-ta only -that is become old and feeble; there yet remains about thirty men of -your old friends, who, unable to provide for themselves, or to help one -another, are become poor, and are hungry and naked. - -“Brothers, Gay-us-hu-ta sends you a belt, which he received long ago -from your fathers, and a writing which he received but as yesterday -from one of you; by these you will remember him and the old friends of -your father’s in this nation. Look on this belt and this writing, and -if you remember the old friends of your fathers, consider their former -friendship and their present distress, and if the good spirit shall put -it into your hearts to comfort them in their old age, do not disregard -his counsel. We are men, and therefore need only tell you, that we -are old and feeble, and hungry, and naked, and that we have no other -friends but you, the children of our beloved brother Onas.” - - * * * * * - -The following is an extract from a letter addressed by Cornplanter, a -chief of the same nation, to Friends in the year 1791. - -“Brothers, the Seneca nation see that the great spirit intends they -should not continue to live by hunting, and they look round on every -side and inquire, who it is that shall teach them what is best for them -to do. Your fathers dealt honestly with our fathers, and they have -engaged us to remember it: we wish our children to be taught the same -principles by which your fathers were guided. - -“Brothers, we have too little wisdom among us, and we cannot teach our -children what we perceive their situation requires them to know. We -wish them to be taught to read and write, and such other things as you -teach your children, especially the love of peace.” - - * * * * * - -Two Friends visited some of the Indians of the Delaware nation near -Muskinghum, in the year 1793. The following is a speech of one of their -chiefs named Neet-wot-willimon, on the occasion. - -“Brothers, we are glad, and rejoice in our hearts to see our brothers, -the Quakers, speaking before us--we feel the grace that is in your -hearts conveyed to us, and we wish to be of the same religion, but -we are poor, and weak, and not capable of judging for ourselves--we -hope you will have pity upon us, and instruct us how to gain a more -comfortable living--and, also, how we may come to obtain everlasting -happiness: when we think of our poor children, our hearts are affected -with sorrow--we hope you will send us teachers.” - -These circumstances, together with the remembrance of the kindness -of the natives to the early settlers in this country, continued to -interest the feelings of the society of Friends in their behalf, and -from motives of religious obligation, the Yearly Meeting, held in -Philadelphia in the Ninth month, 1795, appointed a large committee -for the special purpose of promoting the improvement and gradual -civilization of the Indian natives, in such a way and manner, as would -best tend to meliorate their condition; and to render an account -annually to the Yearly Meeting of their progress therein. This -committee promoted liberal subscriptions through the society--appointed -a clerk and treasurer, and held stated meetings to deliberate on such -measures, as, under the divine blessing, might best promote the real -welfare of these inhabitants of the wilderness. - -In order more fully to learn the disposition of the several tribes of -Indians bordering on the state of Pennsylvania, it was an early object -with the committee, to address to them a circular letter, informing -them of the objects the society had in view for their benefit--and also -therein communicating much salutary advice and counsel; which letter -was also accompanied by one from Timothy Pickering, then secretary of -state, in which he expresses a hearty co-operation with the views and -plans of the committee, and the necessity of the Indians’ gradually -declining their former modes of procuring sustenance, and betaking -themselves to the cultivation of the soil, and raising domestic animals. - -In his letter he says-- - -“Now, Brothers, I have the great pleasure to inform you, that your -good friends, the Quakers, have formed a wise plan to show your young -men and boys the most useful practices of the white people. They will -choose some prudent, good men to instruct them. These good men will -do this, only from the love they bear to you, their fellow men, and -children of the Great Spirit whom they desire to please, and who will -be pleased with the good they do to you. - -“The Quakers, and the good men they employ, will ask nothing from -you, neither land, nor money, nor skins, nor furs, for all the good -they will render to you. They will request only your consent, and the -attention of the young men and boys to learn what will be so useful. - -“Brothers, if this first attempt succeed, the way will be open in which -your young people may learn other useful practices of the white people, -so as to enable them to supply all their own wants; and such as choose -it, may learn to read and write. - -“Having thus explained to you the plan of your friends the Quakers, I -conclude, with heartily recommending it to your adoption, as better -calculated to procure lasting and essential benefits to your nation, -than any plan ever before attempted. - -“Wishing it great success, I remain your friend and brother, - - “TIMOTHY PICKERING. - -“_Philadelphia, February 15, 1796._” - - * * * * * - -Timothy Pickering also wrote to the superintendent of the six nations, -and to the interpreter for the United States, requesting them to -prepare the minds of the Indians for the intended plan formed by the -society of Friends, to introduce among them some of the necessary -arts of civil life. Those letters were explained to various tribes of -Indians, who generally expressed their approbation of the measures -proposed. - -The Oneidas, however, and those Indians settled on the Oneida -reservation, comprehending the Stockbridges--and a part of the -Tuscaroras, near the sources of the Mohawk river, in the state of New -York, were most solicitous to co-operate with Friends in the intended -experiment for a reform in the Indian mode of life. - -In the spring of the year 1796, three young men, who offered their -services to spend some time in the instruction of the natives, were -accompanied by four of the committee into the Oneida country, and -provided with implements of husbandry, carpenters’ and smiths’ tools, -and other necessary accommodations. The Indians received them with -joyful countenances, and gave them a hearty welcome to their villages. -Their first council was held with the Stockbridges. These Indians -are not of the six nations. They were said to consist of about sixty -families, and three hundred individuals; and possessed upwards of -twenty-three thousand acres of land, which had been given to them -by the Oneida nation. They had a saw-mill, three carts, three pair -of good working oxen, and some other things, which they enjoyed in -common; but, in general, possessed their improvements and other fruits -of their industry as private property; and little appeared to be -wanting, but a spirit of industry, frugality, and sobriety, to make -their situation comfortable. After giving them such advice as their -situation required, Friends held a general council with the Oneidas, -about four miles distant from the Stockbridge settlement. Here they -fully explained the nature of their embassy, and endeavoured to -impress the Indians with the necessity of a change in their manner of -life, and the means whereby it might be accomplished, if they became -industrious, cultivated their land, and raised cattle, sheep, and other -domestic animals--also, that their women should learn to spin, knit, -and manufacture their clothing. - -The Indians appeared well satisfied with the offer that had been made -them, and the prospect of the young men staying among them to assist -them. The women, especially, who had great reason to coincide with -the views of Friends in this business, appeared to be well satisfied; -for in proportion to the rude and uncultivated state of these people, -are the hardships of their women increased; they having most of the -drudgery to perform; such as hoeing corn, chopping wood, carrying -burthens, &c. while their men are sporting with their bows and arrows, -and other similar diversions. - -It was supposed the Oneidas at this time possessed about two hundred -and forty square miles of land. They were, in number, about six -hundred and twenty. They had a saw-mill, built by government, and a -considerable number of cattle, horses, and some working oxen. With -these, and their annuities from the government, they might, with a -proper application on their part, have become good livers, abounding -in the necessary comforts of life. But such were their excessive -indolence, want of economy, and love of strong drink, that instead of -improving the means in their power to make themselves comfortable, they -were poor and wretched; and many of them, a great part of the year, -almost reduced to a state of starvation. The little corn and other -produce the women raised with their hoes, were frequently bartered -for strong drink. The evil effects of this practice, Friends were -particularly concerned to remark, in their councils; and some exertions -were said to have been used by their chiefs, to prevent strong liquor -from being sold in their villages. - -Friends also had a council with the Brotherton Indians, about nine -miles from the Stockbridges, composed of fifty-six families, and -possessed of about nine thousand nine hundred acres of land. They also -had a saw-mill, and a considerable number of cattle and other animals. -They also had an interview with a smaller tribe of the Tuscaroras, -who lived on the Oneida’s land, and furnished them with some goods, -and implements of husbandry, encouraging them to industry, and sober -habits, whereby they might partake plentifully of the blessings of -the Great Spirit. They had further satisfactory interviews with the -Stockbridge Indians, and in addition to the implements of husbandry -they had given them, presented them with a set of smiths’ tools. At -the close of their communications, an old chief replied to them as -follows:-- - -“Brothers, I am glad to see you, in my heart, and to hear your good -words--you use us just like a father--I am old--have lost all my -family--and cannot live many days--but all this spring, I think the -Great Spirit will send me some comfort in my trouble--but nobody say -any thing to me, till now, you are come,--I wish I was young, then I -would do what you say--I will go and see your young men at Oneida, -every two or three days, and tell our young men how you do.” - -The principal chief of the nation, on behalf of the rest, expressed -much satisfaction for the kind offers Friends had made them, especially -for the smiths’ tools; stating that they had suffered much for the want -of them, having had to go many miles, and sometimes lose many days, to -get one link of a chain mended. - -The committee who accompanied the young men, now having spent near a -month in the Indian country, and having obtained a house to accommodate -them, and got satisfactory arrangements made between them and the -Indians, set out homewards. On their way, about thirty miles westward -of Oneida, they called to see a small tribe of the Onondaga Indians. -They were about one hundred and thirty-five in number, and possessed -about twelve thousand eight hundred acres of good land, but were in -a poor and miserable condition, spending their time in idleness, and -much given to intemperance; even pawning the blankets they received -from government, for liquor, before they got them home. Friends had an -interview with them, and endeavoured to impress them with the necessity -of a change in their manner of life, and the advantage that would arise -from habits of industry and sobriety; letting them know that they were -willing to help them a little, but that their main object was to get -them to help themselves. - -They also visited a small tribe of the Cayuga Indians, about seventy -miles westward from Oneida, said to be about sixty in number, in a -similar situation to the Onondagas. To these the committee promised to -send some implements of husbandry, which were afterwards furnished them. - -The three young men now stationed at Oneida, began to set before the -natives an example of industry, and to use endeavours to promote in -them a like disposition; but they, being unaccustomed to labour, and -naturally averse to habits of industry, continued in their former -pursuits. Friends then improved a piece of land, without assistance -from the natives, hoping some of them would be induced to follow their -example. They also repaired and worked a saw-mill, belonging to the -Oneidas, and instructed several of the Indians in the knowledge of -sawing. - -In the fall of this year, one of the young men returned home, and -another who offered his services, went forward to that station. - -The ensuing winter, Friends opened a school for the instruction of the -children, and an Indian, qualified by an education in New England, -taught the Stockbridge children, and was allowed a salary by Friends -for several years. - -In the year 1797, but little improvement was made by the Oneida -Indians. Sickness prevailed among them, which Friends did not wholly -escape. One of the young men went to distribute some implements of -husbandry, &c. among the Onondaga, and Cayuga Indians, and to encourage -them to apply themselves to the use of them, earnestly recommending -them to sobriety and industry, as the only means of promoting -their happiness. For while they remained in habits of idleness and -drunkenness, they would be poor and miserable. They were grateful for -the presents received, and promised to apply themselves to the use of -them; but said, that “drinking rum, and getting drunk they were not -able to keep from, because it was running all round them; that they -lived on an island, and the white people gave them drams, and then they -craved more, so that they thought it was impossible to leave it off, -they had been so long accustomed to it; but they were in hopes the -young people would learn better.” - -In the fore part of this summer, the Oneida Indians, as was their -usual custom, (to supply themselves with food, being urged thereto by -necessity,) went on an expedition, about twenty miles, to the other -side of the Oneida lake, after young pigeons. These they caught in -great abundance, and after salting them in bark troughs, brought them -home to their villages. - -In the Ninth month, this year, another of the young men returned from -the Oneida settlement, by whom the principal chiefs of that nation -addressed a letter to the committee, expressive of their gratitude for -the favours received, and their satisfaction with the conduct of the -young man who had resided among them. - -The Sachems of the Stockbridge nation also sent a letter, from which -the following is extracted: - -“Brothers and friends, attend. We the Sachems and counsellors of the -Mohikonick or Stockbridge nation, send our voice to you. We feel -rejoiced that the great, good Spirit, has put such light and love in -your hearts, and influenced your minds to such a degree, as to have -compassionate feelings towards us, the natives of this island. We ever -have felt the gladness on our hearts, to find and see with our own -eyes, that you have not only spoke good words from your lips, but have -been doers of the good work--you have extended your charity towards -us in this wilderness. You have taken the pains to come up, year ago -last summer--you have sat with us in council, you have given us many -good councils--you have raised our heads which were hung down--you have -directed our eyes to see the good path of life--you have put tools on -our hands--you have hung a good kettle by the side of our fire-place, -whereby our food may be cooked without any trouble--you have even put -a good staff into the hands of our children--that they may be enabled -to learn the path that leads to good life, and indeed you have done -much good for us. By these means we have been enabled to avoid many -difficulties--our young men are greatly encouraged, and our old men -comforted. - -“Brothers, we hope that in a future day, you will rejoice, that what -you have done for us was not in vain. The kindness which you have -done to us is by this time sounded in the ears of our allies, the -different nations towards the setting sun; for it was the custom of our -forefathers, when any thing was done for them by the white people--all -their friends and allies must know of it.” - - Signed by six Chiefs. - -_Dated New Stockbridge, 9th mo. 1797._ - - * * * * * - -A desire was expressed by the Indians, that some of their daughters -might be brought into the neighbourhood of Philadelphia to receive -instruction. Accordingly six girls, aged from nine to eighteen years -were received, and placed in the families of Friends in Chester county, -to be instructed in school-learning, and the usual branches of -housewifery and domestic economy, where some of them remained several -years. - -In the spring of the year 1798, (in order to induce the Indians to -labour,) a proposition was made to hire some of them to assist in -improving the land allotted for a farm; but they were so irregular in -working, that the plan was abandoned. Some days nearly thirty would -come to work, and on other days, scarcely one was to be had. They -therefore engaged a number of lads and young men whom they boarded, and -allowed a reasonable compensation for their services. - -At this time some improvement had taken place. Many of the Indian men -would assist their wives in working their little lots of land; but they -experienced some difficulty from the want of a blacksmith, to make and -repair their tools. A Friend, however, well qualified to instruct them -in this business, offered his services, who, with his wife, and another -female, desirous of spending some time in the instruction of the Indian -women, proceeded to that settlement, and were usefully engaged in the -benevolent object of improving the condition of the natives. - -In the Seventh month, this year, this settlement was visited by two -of the committee, who assisted the Friends there, in making some -arrangements with the Indians relative to the smith’s business, and -otherwise imparting suitable encouragement to them in regard to the -cultivation of their land. - -About this time, and for some time previous, (probably instigated by -the evil insinuations of some designing white men,) some of the Indians -had manifested suspicions of the sincerity of Friends’ views. They knew -that the improvement made on their land, and the various tools and -implements of husbandry furnished them by Friends, must have cost a -great deal of money, and they had not been witnesses of any instance, -where white people had come forward in such a manner to assist Indians, -but, sooner or later an interested motive discovered itself--therefore, -some had fear that it was intended to make a permanent establishment, -and lay claim to a part of their land. And indeed when we advert to -the many impositions practised upon this much injured people, by those -who have gone among them, under the character of missionaries, and -religious instructors, we cannot much marvel that this should be the -case. - -Friends, however, expostulated with them on various subjects, relative -to their improvement, and reminded them of their ungrateful surmises -and whisperings in this respect--and told them, that they had never -asked any of their land--they never should--nor would they take it, -if offered to them--and that they had no other inducement for staying -among them, spending their time and their money, but their own good. - -In their reply to Friends, the Indians, by way of apology, -mention--“There are some had people, who have spoke against you, that -you had a design to take away our land; and sometimes when our minds -were not right, we believed such talk--and this made us feel very -ugly--but now we are convinced, and sorry we believed such things. We -are satisfied that you are a true people, and we will continue to be of -that mind.” - -This visit seemed (to use the Indian term,) to brighten the chain of -friendship; and the prospect of improvement assumed a more encouraging -appearance. A comfortable dwelling house and barn were built this -year, and the Indian lads and young men were usefully employed in -cultivating the farm. A large quantity of grain, hay, and vegetables -were raised--affording ample proof to the natives, of the beneficial -effects of cultivating the soil. - -Several of them, also, acquired considerable knowledge of the -blacksmith’s business, and many of their young women and girls received -instruction in spinning, knitting, sewing, and other domestic affairs, -and some progress was made in their school learning. - -In the spring of 1799, a more encouraging prospect of success, in -improving the condition of the Indians, was apparent. Several of the -Indian men improved lots of land for their own benefit, which they -sowed with wheat, and other grain. The smith’s business continued to -be attended to by them, and Friends, with the aid of the Indians, -continued to work their farms; nor were their exertions, either this -or any former year, confined to their immediate residence; but as -opportunities for usefulness presented, they extended their labours to -the various parts of the Indian settlements, and afforded assistance in -as many ways, as the necessities of the natives required. - -As the Indians at this place had now obtained sufficient instruction to -enable them, by proper application, to procure a comfortable living, -it was concluded by Friends, that the time was drawing near, when it -might be right to withdraw from them, and to convince the Indians of -their disinterested motives, by leaving all their improvements, tools, -and implements of husbandry for their own use and benefit; and with -a view of making this arrangement, four of the committee visited the -settlement in the Ninth month this year. After viewing the progress -made by the Indians in the agricultural art, and also finding that two -of them had acquired the knowledge of the blacksmith’s business, so -fully as to be likely to answer all the work the natives might stand in -need of, and others having applied themselves to the use of carpenter’s -tools, so as to be capable of building good houses, barns, and making -ploughs, harrows, and many other implements of husbandry, it appeared -that very little was wanting but application on their part, to put -themselves in a way of living comfortably, and of procuring or raising -in a plentiful degree, most of the necessaries of life. - -Friends now had a free and open conference with the Indians, on the -subject of relinquishing that settlement, and told them, as they had -at the first, that they came not among them to make them presents that -would soon slide away, but to teach them some of the useful practices -of the white people; that they had now set before them a clear example, -and showed them what a great deal of produce for the support of life, -might be raised from a small piece of land; and expressed a hope they -would take their advice, and follow the example they had set before -them, informing them that there were a great many more of their Indian -brethren that stood in need of assistance and instruction--and hoped -they would be satisfied with what was already done for them. - -To the communications of Friends on this occasion, an ancient chief, -Skenandoah, made the following reply, on behalf of the nation:-- - -“Brother Onas attend. We know you told us you came not amongst us to -make us presents that would soon wear away, but to stay some time--to -instruct us how to gain a comfortable living, by tilling the ground, as -the white people do. Now you have staid the time you proposed, and have -fulfilled all your engagements to our nation, and we shall follow the -good example you have set before us, which we know would be of lasting -benefit to us; and we thankfully acknowledge your kindness, having -never heard of any people who have done so much for Indians, without -any view of advantage to themselves--which is a convincing proof to us -that you are our real friends. And we are glad the good spirit has put -it into your minds to assist others of our Indian brethren, in learning -the same good way of living, for which we also thank you, as well as -for the good advice you gave us about strong drink; and we will try all -we can to persuade our young men to do better. - -“And now Brothers, if we have done any thing that displeases you, we -wish you would tell us, that our friendship may remain bright; for now -we know you are a true people, and we will keep this writing and tell -our young men and children every year, that they may always remember -your friendship.” - -Near the close of the year, the Friends at Oneida having made the -necessary arrangements about the distribution of the property, which -consisted of between two and three hundred bushels of grain, a quantity -of hay, a cow, a number of hogs, a cart, ploughs, harrows, carpenter’s -and smith’s tools, household and kitchen furniture, all for the benefit -of the Indians, they had a parting conference with them, when they -presented them with the following address in writing. - -“Brothers of the Oneida nation. We are now about to leave you, and -return to our respective homes. We desire to speak to you in a few -words. You know it is more than three years since your friends, the -people called Quakers, have been endeavouring to assist and instruct -you how to gain a comfortable living, by cultivating your land, and -some of us who are here, have left our near connexions and friends in -order to be useful to your nation. - -“Now, Brothers, we have set before you a clear example, how to till -your land, so as to raise plenty of wheat, and other good things for -your support. We wish you, therefore, to improve the opportunity, by -which means you may come to live happy and plentifully by the fruits of -your own industry and care. We have often told you that we want nothing -from you for all our trouble and expense, but the improvement of your -nation. - -“Brothers, you have now the advantage of having most of your smith -work done by your own people, which is not the case with any of your -brethren to the westward. If you do not improve the advantages you -have, you must blame yourselves for your poverty and distress. We -entreat you, therefore, to be wise for your own interest, and leave -off the practice of drinking strong drink, (for you know it has been -the cause of most of your difficulties,) and try to pursue a sober, -industrious course of life. Then we believe the good spirit will bless -you with lasting benefits; and as we have endeavoured to live in peace -among you, we wish you to live in peace one with another, that your -good example may be a blessing to your children--always remembering, -that your welfare and happiness as well as the improvement of your -children will depend much on your sobriety and industry. - -“Brothers, we now leave you, hoping your good understanding will -incline you to pursue the way we have endeavoured to point out to you. -We now bid you farewell.” - -The Indians, both of the Oneida and Stockbridge tribes, made replies -of considerable length to our friends on this parting opportunity, in -which they expressed their sense of gratitude for the many services -Friends had rendered them; and, among other things, stated, that “they -would endeavour to pursue the path Friends had pointed out to them,” -and further added:-- - -“Brothers, it is now a long time since the white people have lived on -this island. They have frequently told us they loved us--but none of -them have ever tried to instruct us in cultivating our land before. We -now see, brothers, that your society has manifested more regard for the -welfare of the Indians, than any other people, for which we thank you. -We also thank the Great Spirit that he has put it into your hearts to -love and regard Indians.” - -These Friends arrived in Philadelphia in the First month, 1801.--It -was hoped that the labour bestowed upon those Indians would eventually -prove a blessing to them, and that the spirit of industry that had -been discovered in individuals, would gradually progress from family -to family, and have a powerful and beneficial influence on many of the -adjacent tribes-and, in time, also, on those more remote. - -In the autumn of this year, the Stockbridge girls, who had been placed -among Friends in the fall of 1797, were returned to their parents. -They had acquired a considerable knowledge of school learning, and of -spinning, knitting, sewing, and the different branches of housewifery. - -To show a specimen of their improvement in school learning, I will here -give a copy of a letter written by one of them, the following spring -after their arrival among Friends, in which time she had acquired so -much of the English language, as to enable her to convey her ideas by -writing: - - * * * * * - - _New Garden, Third mo. 10th, 1798._ - -“My dear mother: I will try to let thee know how I do so far from -thee--I have been well ever since I left thee. I would be glad to see -thee mother--I want to see thee, and brothers and sisters, and all -Stockbridge friends--I want to see father--I like to live in this -country pretty well--and dear friends clever--me live in clever house, -very good man, make clocks--make porringers and spoons--me like to -see him--I can knit stockings and spin--I have made sampler--I know -how to mark my clothes, then I know my own--three girls make bonnets -and do all work--I work a little, play a little--go to meeting a -little--sometimes walk--sometimes ride on horseback, when roads are -muddy--the girls’ mother very good old woman--I love her--she learns me -to work. - - MARY PETERS. - - * * * * * - -My dear Brother--Me live well at very good house. I love thee, and -sisters, and mother--I want see you all--Friends say, may be we all go -back to Stockbridge before next winter--I think I have told thee all I -can now, so bid thee farewell. - - MARY PETERS. - -N. B. This letter my own hand writing, so you may see I learn write.” - - * * * * * - -The following is an extract of a letter written by one of the Indian -girls after her return home, dated the Ninth month, 1803, to one of -the women Friends who had engaged in the instruction of the natives at -Oneida. - -“I have spun some flax and wool since I come home, and made some cheese -to show our Indians how to make cheese--they be very much pleased to -know how to make cheese--some said they never thought Indians could -make cheese so well. They began to try to keep cows ever since to make -cheese and butter. Some of them began to sow some flax, and good many -of our Indians got sheep--meat good to eat, and wool good for cloth. I -hope we will do better every year. Good many have left off drinking, -and some of them drink very hard yet. I have been to see Oneidas not -long ago--they improve very much since thee come away--good many have -new frame houses and frame barns--they improve very much ever since -they left off drinking. I believe three hundred of men and women left -off drinking this sometime past--I hope they will keep their words -good.” - -By some information received afterwards, it appears some of these -young women married soon after their return and settled themselves to -industry, lived well, and some Friends calling to see them, were kindly -received and hospitably entertained by them. - -After the committee of the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania withdrew -their attention from the Oneidas, and those Indians in the vicinity, -they came more particularly under the notice of Friends of the Yearly -Meeting of New York, who had formed similar plans for the improvement -and civilization of the Indian natives. - - * * * * * - - -_Friendly intercourse between the Society of Friends, and various -nations of Indians._ - -It seems necessary, in this place, to go back a little in the order -of time, and give some account of the interviews with the chiefs and -others, of various nations of Indians, who at different times visited -Philadelphia. - -As the minds of Friends were attentively opened to the great object -of the concern, in promoting the well-being and gradual improvement -of the Indian natives, every opportunity was embraced of cultivating -a friendly intercourse with them, and of giving such counsel and -encouragement as seemed to be adapted to their situation, accompanied -with some such aid in implements of husbandry and other things, as -their necessities demanded. - -In the Ninth month, 1796, Benjamin Hawkins superintendent of the -Creek nation, settled in the interior of Georgia, was introduced to -the committee on Indian affairs. He brought with him four lads of -that nation to be educated; two of whom were placed with Friends, -where they remained several years, and were instructed in school -learning. He also suggested the propriety of furnishing those Indians -with some mechanical tools, which were procured and forwarded to -them, accompanied by a suitable address, from which the following is -extracted: - -“Brothers, we feel it in our hearts to tell you that the great and good -spirit, made all people with a design that they should live in peace -and good will, and that it is for this end he hath placed his law in -the hearts of all men, which, if carefully attended to, would keep them -in love and friendship--and teach them to avoid every thing that would -lead them to hurt and destroy one another. - -“Brothers, are you not sensible that when you are quarrelsome, or have -done any bad action, that you are made sorrowful and uneasy, and that -on the contrary when you are serious, and do good actions, your minds -feel easy, pleasant, and comfortable? This is from the good spirit, -who is all love, and who hath placed his law in our hearts, to give us -peace and comfort when we do well, and make us sad and uneasy when we -do evil. - -“Brothers, we are glad in believing that the good spirit has influenced -the hearts of our great men to do the Indians good; and we earnestly -desire, that you may be so wise as to follow their good advice in -trying to improve your fertile land by farming, and raising cattle, -sheep, and hogs; so that you may have food and clothing for yourselves, -your wives, and your children.” - -About the beginning of the year 1797, Friends had satisfactory -interviews with deputies from various nations, among whom were some of -the Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Indians, inhabiting the -northern and western parts of Georgia; and the Shawanees, Chippewas, -and Pottawattamies, living on the waters of the Wabash river, and -bordering on lakes Michigan and Superior. - -To these Indians suitable presents were made to a considerable amount. -In divers conferences had with them, Friends informed them of the -nature and effect of their peaceable principles, and testimony against -wars and fightings--their care of the society in first settling -Pennsylvania, under the patronage of William Penn, whom the Indians -called brother Onas, not to settle on lands that were not fairly -purchased and paid for to the satisfaction of the natives, with whom -friendship, harmony, and mutual kind offices long subsisted. They -also informed them of their continued desire to maintain this amity, -by exerting their best endeavours and influence for the healing of -differences between white people and Indians. They endeavoured to -explain to their understandings how much the attainment of this happy -end depends upon cherishing, in ourselves, the benevolent disposition -inseparable from the true spirit and practice of real Christianity. -They also recommended them to instruct their youth in modes of living -more conformable thereto, than had heretofore been customary with -them, and especially warned them against the pernicious effects of -using spirituous liquors. - -A number of the chiefs expressed great satisfaction with these -interviews. Some of them said they remembered to have heard of -such a people as the Quakers; but the account remained with them -an uncertainty, until now they had witnessed its reality; that the -sentiments and advice communicated, was such as they had never heard -before; that it had sunk deep into their hearts, and that they wished -it conveyed to their people more extensively by personal visits from -some of the Quakers. One of them remarked particularly on the counsel -imparted not to revenge injuries, and gave repeated assurances, “that -although he had heard of two of his people being killed, he was -determined not to retaliate, but to adhere to peace.” - -An ancient chief of the Creek nation, among many other things said, -“Brothers, I am an old man, yet I have travelled much this year to -promote peace. I went many hundred miles to the treaty on the frontiers -of Georgia, held by the commissioners of the United States, and of the -State of Georgia, with my nation, where several matters were adjusted -to my satisfaction. I then returned home, but in a short time, came -by invitation to this city, to make the chain of friendship still -brighter. On my way, and since coming here, I have met with nothing -unpleasant; nor do I regret all the toil and fatigue of a long journey -to establish a firm peace. I believe the Great Spirit above made both -white and red men; but I suppose it is because we are red men, that the -white men impose upon us, and try to get our land, which we do not want -to part with. - -“Brothers, I am glad to find there are a people who love peace, and -give such good advice to red men. I was a stranger to you, till since -my coming here. You kindly took notice of me. A few days ago one of -your women delivered a talk which I have hid deep in my heart. I never -heard such an one before. I want to tell it to my nation, after I get -home--and for fear I should forget some of it, I should like to have it -in print that it might be fully explained to them.” - -In the First month, 1798, the Little Turtle, a chief of the -Miami nation, and some other western Indians, were introduced -to the committee by a letter from General James Wilkinson, then -commander-in-chief of the army of the United States, to his -brother-in-law, Owen Biddle, of Philadelphia. In this letter, he wrote -as follows, “When we contemplate the fortunes of the aborigines of our -country, the bosom of philanthropy must heave with sorrow. What would -not that man, or that community merit, who reclaims the untutored -Indian--opens his mind to sources of happiness unknown, and makes him -useful to society--since it would be in effect to save a whole race -from extinction? For, surely, if these people are not brought to -depend for sustenance on their fields instead of their forests, it will -be found impossible to reclaim their present habits; and the seeds of -their extinction already sown, must be matured. - -“The bearer of this letter, the Little Turtle, is forcibly impressed -with these truths, and is anxious to co-operate in a fair experiment on -his tribe. It is with this view that I introduce him particularly to -you, in hopes you may think proper to recommend him to the patronage of -the benevolent society of which you are a member.” - -Friends had satisfactory interviews with these Indians, and suitable -presents were given to them. The Little Turtle expressed a strong -desire for the improvement of his people, and hoped Friends would use -their endeavours to promote the work of civilization among them. - -The committee embraced this opportunity of addressing a general letter -to the Miami Indians, and other nations united with them, in which they -reminded them of the ancient friendship that subsisted between their -forefathers and Friends, in the early settlement of this country--that -the chain of friendship had been kept bright for more than one hundred -years, by mutual acts of kindness to each other, and that while Friends -had the chief direction of public affairs in Pennsylvania, there was -no war between the white people and Indians in that state: but since -those times of brotherly kindness, some men had given way to the -power of the bad spirit in their hearts, so as to become desperately -wicked, coveting their neighbours’ goods, and even thirsting for blood. -This had caused wars and fightings, and produced much misery in the -world--and that the society of Friends were concerned to persuade their -rulers to do justly, and maintain peace with the Indians, and with all -men--and were also very desirous that the Great overruling Spirit of -love, might so influence and direct the councils of the Indian nations, -and so dispose their hearts to peace, that the sound of war might no -more be heard in their land. - -They were, also, in this address, especially warned against the -pernicious effects of spirituous liquors, which concern may be -understood to have been particularly attended to in most of their -communications to the Indians. - -In the summer of this year, Friends received a letter from the Little -Turtle, giving them an account of the safe arrival of the articles sent -to his nation. They also received one from the Creek nation, giving -an account of the reception of the implements of husbandry forwarded -to them, for which they expressed a sense of gratitude for the great -benefit to that nation. - -In the Twelfth month, this year, Friends had a satisfactory interview -in Philadelphia, with two chiefs of the Ottawa nation, two chiefs -of the Pottawattamies, and the principal chief of the Chippewa -nation, who were accompanied by Jonathan Sheffelin, agent and Indian -interpreter, being then on an embassy to the president of the United -States. - -At the conclusion of a speech made by Kekis, (the Sun) the principal -chief of the Pottawattamies, on behalf of the three nations, he -presented six strings of white wampum as a token of brotherly regard -for the society of Friends. - -Among other things, in his speech, he says-- - -“Brothers, we are an ignorant people, and don’t know what is right as -well as you do. We have often been persuaded by the white people to -join in their wars against one another. A great while ago, the French -set us against the English. They should have taught us better things. -I hope, however, our hearts will become as white as the wampum in my -hand. The Great Spirit above has made us, as well as you; though we are -not of one colour. He has put it into our hearts to live in peace with -the white people. I believe it is his will that we should meet together -in the centre of this great island. I am sensible your hearts are good -towards your brothers the red people. - -“Brothers, when you came to see us at Detroit,[1] we wanted to see you; -but other people would not suffer us to take you by the hand. If they -had been of our minds, you would have had us round you then, as you are -now round us. Colonel M’K.[2] prevented us. We return you thanks for -the good you came for. Our wives and children shed tears because they -could not come to you. When they said we will go, he said, you will -be disappointed, they will not give you so much as a needle full of -thread. We believed it--our dependence was on them. - -“Brothers, we hope you will continue your friendship to us, and help us -to keep our lands. I speak from my heart. We know you are not capable -of giving bad advice. The Great Spirit hears what we say, and it will -be known among our people, so long as red men shall remain upon this -island. - -“Brothers, these six strings of wampum, in the sight of the Great -Spirit, are to sweep all the bad things away from between us. - -“If the white people should want to spill our blood again, we hope you -will use your endeavours to preserve peace.” - -These Indians also presented a large belt of ten strings of white -wampum from the Delaware nation, with a speech of considerable length -in writing, from which we extract the following. - -After acknowledging the kindness of Friends, and the good advice -communicated in the speech which they had received by the hands of the -Miami chief, the Little Turtle, they say-- - -“Brothers, you strongly recommend peace--we are much inclined to peace. -The war axe is long since buried deep in the bottom of the great -lake--so very deep, that we hope the evil Spirit will never be able -to take it up again. There we hope it will ever remain, and never be -thought of by any of us. We hope that the master of life, who disposes -of all things according to his will and pleasure, may also so dispose -the hearts and minds of his white brethren, as they used to be at that -time when our forefathers first met on this great island, and smoked -the pipe of peace with your grandfather Onas, (Penn) on the very same -spot where your great village (Philadelphia) now stands. - -“Brothers, at that time the hearts and minds of men were white and -good. The evil spirit who works in the inside of the bodies of men, had -then no power over them. Our villages were peaceful, and our paths, -at that time, were covered with flowers, and we knew nothing of war. -But soon after, the bad spirit fixed himself deep in the hearts and -minds of our white brethren. They made war against each other, and -soon taught us to be as wicked as themselves, and, like themselves, -cruel and unjust. It was them who took the pipe of peace out of our -hands, and it was them who put the destructive war axe into our hands, -to strike against their white brethren and their helpless women -and children. They only are the cause of all our misfortunes--the -destruction of our villages, the death of our young warriors and -helpless women and children--the loss of our lands and our happiness. - -“Brothers, we are told by you, in your speech to us, that you wish -to know our situation, and in what manner you could be of service to -us--we are poor and pitiful indeed--destructive war has caused many -of our families to be scattered abroad in the wilderness, insomuch, -that we can scarcely find their places of residence. Our once peaceful -villages exist no more. Our paths, which once were covered with -flowers, are now full of thorns, and stained with the blood of our -young warriors and our helpless women and children. We have almost -considered ourselves as last men, and thrown our bodies away, but by -the advice of our brother, Jonathan Shefflin, and the assistance of -the Great Spirit, we will now assemble ourselves together, and form an -extensive village on the plains of the White river. Speeches are this -day sent to our brethren for that purpose, and we hope that by the next -summer, we shall all be assembled at that place, when we will point out -the means of your assisting us. - -“Brothers, may the great regulator of all things, he who knows the -hearts and minds of all men, so dispose the hearts and minds of our -Quaker brethren, that they may never be induced to withdraw their -friendship and counsel from men who by their ignorance, are easily led -astray by the songs of the bad birds--men who are real objects of pity, -and who require the protection of their white brethren more at this -time than ever.” - -Signed by Buckingeheles, and six other Chiefs of the Delaware nation. - - * * * * * - -These Indian chiefs, before alluded to, were presented with suitable -presents previous to their leaving Philadelphia, as a token of -brotherly regard entertained for the natives of the land,--and some -time after the committee wrote to the Delaware nation, strongly -recommending them to betake themselves to the cultivation of the earth -to procure sustenance, and in allusion to the time of their first -intercourse with Friends in the early settlement of the country, they -say: - -“Brothers, at that time the white inhabitants were few and inclined -to peace; since then, they have increased to a great number, amongst -whom we and our brethren are but as a handful. Yet the good Spirit who -taught our forefathers to cultivate peace with the Indians and all men, -still teaches us the same; therefore, we can take no part in the war -with any people, and our influence in the great councils of our nation -is very small--but we use our endeavours to persuade men to live in -peace, and have brotherly love towards each other.” - -In the First month, 1802, the Little Turtle and several other chiefs of -the Miami and Pottawattamie nations, again visited Philadelphia, when -Friends had satisfactory conferences with them, in which the Little -Turtle renewed in a pathetic manner his request for some assistance to -be given his nation, to accelerate their improvement in civilization. -Suitable advice was given them on this subject, accompanied with some -presents: but these nations lived more within the vicinity of Friends -of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, who had formed similar plans to improve -the condition of the Indian natives; it was therefore concluded by -their committee, to extend aid to some of the nations north-west of the -river Ohio--of which some account may be given hereafter. - -Early in the spring of 1802, a number of the Indians of the Delaware -and Shawaneese nations came to Philadelphia, and in their conferences -with Friends, renewed their requests for assistance in procuring some -necessary articles, and particularly that they might be furnished with -a schoolmaster in their towns to instruct their children. - -These people, being the immediate descendants from those tribes who -were very friendly and kind to our ancestors in the early settlement of -Pennsylvania, seemed to have a special claim upon Friends. Accordingly, -they were furnished with a considerable amount in money, and goods -adapted to their wants. Suitable advice was given them, encouraging -them to cultivate their land, and raise cattle, hogs, and other useful -animals. They lived at so remote a distance, that Friends had no -expectation of any one of their people going among them in the capacity -of schoolmaster. - -In the conclusion of their reply to Friends, they say: - -“May the great good Spirit above protect you for the favours you -have shown us. The present you have made us will put us in grateful -remembrance of you for ever.” - -Thus we see, in this short account of the correspondence with the -Indians, of various and distant nations to the westward, (of which much -more might have been said,) not only their strong attachment to the -society of Friends, but their determination to live in peace with the -people of the United States. We also may discover their destitute and -miserable situation, in consequence of the ravages of war, and the wide -field of labour that opens for the benevolent and philanthropic mind -to extend the empire of civilization and knowledge, to these untutored -sons of the forest. It was a pleasing reflection, at that time, that -the benign influence of the prince of peace had so softened the hearts -of men, that measures were contemplated by the rulers of our land -to extend the blessings of civilization to these aborigines of our -country; to reclaim them from their savage habits and induce them to -adopt the innocent employments of the pastoral and agricultural life. -But alas! the subsequent policy of the general government, combined -with the interested motives of individual states, too sorrowfully -demonstrate that their fate is inevitably fixed--the decree has gone -forth--they must recede before the giant march of white population; and -however strong their attachment to their native soil, and reluctant to -abandon the homes of their fathers, be compelled to retreat further and -further into the dreary abodes of an unknown wilderness, and to seek an -asylum among more savage and barbarous tribes, towards the setting sun. - -We cannot but express an ardent desire, that the great controller -of human affairs may yet so dispose the hearts of the rulers of our -country to feelings of humanity, towards the miserable remnants of -the Indian tribes, yet within the state governments--that they may -preserve inviolate the _faith_ of the United States, solemnly pledged -at the formation of the federal constitution, to protect them in their -unalienable rights and privileges, as the aboriginal owners of the -soil; for it is an incontrovertible truth, “that national evils will -produce national calamities.” - - * * * * * - -I shall now resume the narrative of the proceedings of Friends in -improving the condition of the Indians which has been progressing under -the direction of the committee of the Yearly Meeting, for more than -thirty years, among the Seneca nation. - - -_First settlement of Friends among the Seneca nation of Indians._ - -The noted chief Cornplanter, having, as we have already stated, opened -the way for the introduction of the agricultural arts among his tribe, -in the spring of the year 1798, three young men, who offered themselves -to go and instruct them, accompanied by two of the committee, proceeded -to his settlement. After a long journey, and much of the way through -(then) a wilderness country, they arrived at Cornplanter’s village, -on the Alleghany river, the seventeenth of the Fifth month. The chief -having previous knowledge of their coming, expressed his thankfulness -to the Great Spirit for their preservation on the way and safe arrival -among them. They were kindly invited into his house, and inquired of -whether they could eat Indian’s provisions, and being answered in the -affirmative, they were hospitably entertained with the best he could -offer them; but made a very temperate meal. - -This village, (which was called in their language) Jenuchshadago, -(which means burnt house,) stood on the bank of the Alleghany river, -about four miles south of the northern boundary of Pennsylvania. The -land had a rich bottom, and appeared favourable for cultivation. -The village contained about thirty or forty houses and bark cabins, -scattered along the margin of the river, without any regard to -a regular arrangement. The venerable chief appeared to live in -patriarchal style; his house was not distinguished from any of the rest -by any tokens of magnificence, except by being somewhat larger--near -it stood a wooden image of a man, round which at stated times they -performed their religious ceremonies and sacrifices. - -The image was about seven feet in height, elevated on a pedestal, of -the same block, and being painted a variety of colours, it altogether -exhibited a wild appearance. - -The Indians had, perhaps, from two to three hundred acres of land, -inclosed with a sort of fence round the town, in which inclosure many -of their women were industriously engaged in clearing off the rubbish -and planting small patches of corn and beans, while the men were -standing in companies sporting themselves with their bows and arrows -and other trifling amusements, but none of them were seen assisting -their women in the labours of the field. - -The Indians appeared to live poor and dirty, and it was said to be -a time of scarcity among them, and the greater part of them under -Cornplanter’s superintendence, estimated at about four hundred, had -deserted their old settlements up the river, and come to live with -their chief in this place. - -As it was necessary for Friends to have a general council with the -Indians, in order to explain their views and the object of their coming -among them, the day after their arrival, they assembled in council -at the chief’s house, about forty of their principal men, with many -others. Cornplanter opened the council by a short speech, expressing -his thankfulness for the safe arrival of Friends, and the joy he felt -when he saw them come out of the bushes the day before, to see their -Indian brothers, who were poor and living in bad houses, covered with -bark; and they were not able to build them better. - -Friends now made them fully acquainted with the nature of their -mission, that it was in order to improve the condition of the Indian -natives, and to teach them the ways of good and honest white people, -that they, with their wives and children, might be enabled to live -more comfortably, and be relieved from the distresses and difficulties -to which they had been subjected by their old habits and modes of -living--that these young men had concluded to leave their friends and -comfortable dwellings, and remain for a time in the Indian country, in -order to instruct them in the cultivation of their land, in the raising -and managing of cattle, and also to example them in a life of sobriety -and industry. They were also informed, that Friends had a variety -of farming utensils, carpenters’ tools, &c. coming up the river, in -a boat, which were intended for their benefit, in a hope, that the -Indians, with Friends’ instruction, would diligently apply themselves -to the use of them, that by so doing they might come to reap the -plentiful fruits of industry; and that this was the sole object Friends -had in view, having no desire for their lands, their skins, their furs, -or any other part of their substance. - -To these propositions the Indians seemed to express a general assent; -but took the subjects under serious consideration, until next day, -when near evening they admitted Friends again to the council house, -when Cornplanter on behalf of the natives made a reply, from which we -extract the following. - -“Brothers, the Quakers, listen now to what I am going to say to you. -You know, brothers, the red people are poor; they are not like the -white people. The Great Spirit has made them of another language, so -that it is very hard for us to understand one another plainly, as we -have no good interpreter. - -“Brothers, we suppose the reason you came here was to help the poor -Indians in some way or other, and you wish the chiefs to tell their -warriors not to go on so bad as they have done heretofore, and you also -wish us to take up work like the white people, and cultivate our land. -Now brothers, some of our sober men will take up work and do as you -say, and if they do well, then will your young men stay longer amongst -us, but some others will not mind what you say. - -“Brothers, we cannot say a word against you. It is the best way to -call Quakers brothers. You never wished our lands, therefore we are -determined to learn your ways, and these young men may stay here two -years, and then if they like it and we like it, your young men may stay -longer.” - -In reply they were informed, that the young men would want some house -to live in, and a piece of land to work, in order to set the Indians -an example and raise something for themselves to live upon; but that -the land should still be the Indians’, and all the improvements they -put upon it should be theirs, when Friends left it. They were also -informed that the tools and implements of husbandry which were intended -for their use, would be under the care of the young men, to lend to -such Indians as wanted to use them, rather than to distribute them -among them as presents; offering this reason, “that if they were given -to them some of them might barter them away for whiskey,” as divers -instances of intoxication had been noticed among them. - -On the twenty-first of the Fifth month, Friends, with Cornplanter in -company, and several other Indians, passed up the river about nine -miles in canoes, in order to look out for a settlement. They came to an -ancient village called Genesinguhta, which was nearly deserted by the -Indians--only three or four families remaining. The bottoms along the -river side appeared fertile, though much grown over with bushes, and -covered with abundance of fallen timber. Yet it was considered the most -eligible place for Friends to settle, in order to be of benefit to the -Indians, as it was on the land belonging to the nation, and where they -intended to have a reservation located of forty-two square miles. - -This conclusion being proposed to Cornplanter, and he queried with, -“whether he was willing Friends should start their fence at the river -side,” and enclose a piece of land they pointed out to him--to which he -replied, “I told you, brothers, the land was all before you, to choose -where you please; but he thought that was the best place for Friends -to settle, and this man, said he, (in whose house they then were) is -very glad you are going to settle so near him--he is very sober man, -he is like you, he drinks no whiskey.” He was then inquired of whether -Friends might have liberty to cut timber in the woods for the use of -the farm, to which he replied, “I wish you would cut all the trees -down, and I will give you another liberty, if you see a deer you may -shoot him, and you may catch fish in the river.” - -The place being finally agreed upon, several old Indian cabins were -included in it, and one occupied by a family, which was well situated -to accommodate Friends; the owners of it were amply compensated. The -family immediately moved out their goods and chattels, which (though -apparently some of their best livers,) consisted chiefly in homony -blocks and pounders, a brass, kettle or two, some wooden bowls, and -ladles, a leathern sack of bear’s oil, a basket of corn, some blankets, -and a few deer skins. - -On the twenty-third of the month, Friends settled in their new -habitation and made some preparations for a garden. The women of -Cornplanter’s village, to show their hearty and good will in the -undertaking, had previously made a collection of some seed--corn, -potatoes, beans, squashes, and a variety of other garden seeds which -they presented as a present to Friends, observing “that it was very -hard to come so far and have nothing to begin with.” - -Previous to the two Friends of the committee leaving this station, -another council was had with the Indians, in which they were strongly -recommended to industry, and reminded of the unreasonableness of their -present practice of letting their women work all day in the fields and -woods, either in cultivating with the hoe, all that was raised for -their sustenance, or in cutting firewood and bringing it home on their -backs from a considerable distance, while they themselves were spending -their time in idleness, amusing themselves with their bows and arrows, -and other useless practices. They were also particularly expostulated -with on various subjects relative to their civil and moral conduct, and -especially in regard to their excessive use of strong drink, to which -Friends in many instances had been eye witnesses. Cornplanter again -replied to the communications of Friends, and at a subsequent parting -opportunity, told the two Friends of the committee, that “They might -make their minds perfectly easy about their young men, for although he -could not answer for sickness or death, he should look upon it his duty -to be their friend, and that they might depend upon him as such, and no -harm should happen to them from any of his people.” - -On the thirty-first of the month, the boat arrived from Pittsburgh -with the goods and implements of husbandry; and notwithstanding the -late season for planting, and the ground being to clear of abundance -of old logs and rubbish, Friends were enabled to get a small patch of -corn and potatoes planted, and a variety of garden vegetables. The land -being fertile, they soon had a pleasing prospect of the fruits of their -labour, as well as of showing the natives the beneficial effects of -their mode of cultivation. - -The Indians were much pleased to see the ground so much easier prepared -for seed by the plough, than in their usual way of hoeing. Great -numbers of them came flocking about Friends, especially the women, who -appeared kind and respectful, frequently supplying them with venison, -fish, strawberries, and such other delicacies, as their country -afforded--and Friends distributed among them a variety of useful -articles, such as needles, thread, scissors, combs, spectacles, &c. -which were sent for that purpose, and were received by the natives -with lively marks of gratitude. These presents had a powerful effect in -gaining their confidence, and keeping up a friendly intercourse, which -frequently afforded suitable opportunities of giving them instruction. - -A number of the Indians also borrowed carpenters’ tools, to enable them -to build better houses, and also some farming utensils, with a view of -using them. - -From the little experience Friends already had, it was evident the -ruinous effects of spirituous liquors among the Senecas, together with -the natural propensity of the men to an indolent and improvident life, -would operate as a serious discouragement in the view of Friends, -towards ameliorating their condition. Therefore every suitable -opportunity was embraced to impress upon the minds of their chiefs the -necessity of prohibiting altogether, the introduction of spirituous -liquors into their villages, as the first effectual step towards -their improvement in the domestic arts. This counsel was in a good -degree carried into effect; and by the exertions of their chiefs in a -little time, such prohibition took place as evidently tended to their -advantage, and the great encouragement of Friends in their arduous -undertaking. A hope was entertained that, although their improvement, -at first was small, yet as they come to taste the sweets of industry, -and enjoy the benefit of their labours, they would gradually relinquish -their former pursuits, and follow the example Friends were setting -before them. - -Divers of the Indians early manifested a disposition to have better -houses to live in; and being furnished with the necessary tools, they -were also afforded the requisite assistance and instruction. Several -of them constructed in the course of this summer, much better houses -than they had been accustomed to, and manifested a considerable share -of ingenuity in the use of the carpenter’s tools. And while Friends -were employed on their farm, the Indians would frequently come about -them, and sometimes take hold of their tools and work a little--some of -the lads were pleased with driving the horses, and every opportunity -was embraced to prevail on them to love labour; but their natural -proneness to idleness and trifling diversions soon evinced, that -patience and perseverance on the part of Friends, were essentially -necessary to inculcate in the minds of the natives, just ideas of -civilized life, the great stimulus thereto being yet wanting, as they -had not sufficiently acquired ideas of distinct propriety, nor tasted -the sweets resulting therefrom. - -In the course of this summer, divers reports were propagated among -the Indians that Friends had a selfish motive, and in the end meant -to defraud them of their land. This to a people who had long been -subjected to suffering by the intrigue of designing men, could not fail -of making impressions on the minds of some who were rather unfriendly -to civilization, and to induce them to scrutinize very narrowly the -conduct of Friends towards them. These groundless reports, however, -were contradicted, and Friends were enabled to satisfy the Indians -generally, that no such design was contemplated; and it rather had the -effect to increase their confidence in us. - -Besides attending to the business of the farm, and the various and -frequent calls of the Indians, the young men were enabled to build for -themselves a comfortable house, two stories high, with a cellar under -it. Being the first of the kind, perhaps some of the natives had ever -seen, it excited great admiration among them. - -The Indian women had raised, in their usual way, a considerable -quantity of corn this summer, in small patches, interspersed among the -bushes, wherever they found the most favourable spot to cultivate. In -the fall, they were busily employed in collecting it with their other -produce of vegetables, and carrying it home to their dwellings, where -it was carefully laid by for use. - -One of the Friends opened a school at Cornplanter’s village, and -remained there through the winter. At times, nearly twenty children -attended, and made some progress in learning to spell and read; but -as their parents had but little control over them, they were very -irregular in their attendance, and no great progress in learning was -made. The Friend was at times otherwise usefully engaged in aiding and -assisting the Indians of that village. - -In the Twelfth month, after a considerable snow had fallen, most of the -Indians retired to the woods to their hunting grounds, many of them -taking their families with them. Game was now plentiful. Some of their -best hunters killed near one hundred deer, and some even more than that -number; taking off the skins and leaving much of the meat scattered -about in the woods. What was collected to their camps, was through much -hardship and fatigue to their poor women, whose task it was to carry it -on their backs through deep snows, and often over hills and mountains. - -About the middle of the First month, they generally came home to their -villages from their hunting excursions, when they made a feast, and -performed their religious ceremonies and sacrifices. - -In the course of this winter, a chief of the Cattaraugus village, -another branch of the Seneca nation about forty-five miles distant, -called on Friends at Alleghany. They had a favourable opportunity of -impressing his mind with the advantages that would result to his people -by cultivating their land, as they possessed a country so favourable -for agriculture, and raising cattle and other useful animals. He -informed Friends, they were very anxious to have a saw-mill built on -their land, and wished to have somebody to instruct them how to go on -with their business; that when they saw and heard what improvements -were making at Alleghany, it made them anxious to go to work. - -Soon after his return home, Friends received a written speech from the -council at Cattaraugus, signed by six chiefs, in which they strongly -solicited instructors to be sent among them, and also that they might -be furnished with a set of saw-mill irons. This address being forwarded -to the committee at Philadelphia, together with an account of their -situation, it was concluded to furnish them with a set of saw-mill -irons, whenever they should be ready to make use of them. - -Early in the spring of 1799, more of a spirit of industry seemed to -exhibit itself among some of the Indians, and several who were settled -near Friends began to work at splitting rails, and fencing in lots of -land, as they saw Friends fence in theirs. Some who inclined to work, -that had no families, were employed at the business of the farm, and -seemed capable of doing as much in a day as the generality of white -people. - -The use of whiskey and other strong drink had considerably decreased -among the Indians, in the course of the last year, and many of their -chiefs seemed desirous of preventing its introduction into their -village. Notwithstanding which, as many of them went down the river -in the spring to Pittsburgh and other places, to dispose of their -skins, furs, &c. which they had taken during the late winter, they -brought in return for their peltry, kegs full of this destructive -article--although Friends had cautioned them against it, previous -to their going away--with this many of them were for a considerable -time intoxicated, so that little could be done in promoting their -improvement while the liquor lasted. - -It was believed expedient, from this affecting circumstance, to have -their chiefs and principal men collected in council, and to remonstrate -against such conduct as well as to encourage them to avail themselves -of the present opportunity of gaining instruction in the cultivation of -their land. - -At this interview, Friends seriously expostulated with them on -various subjects relative to their moral conduct, and endeavours -were used seriously to impress on their minds the evil consequences -of introducing so much strong liquor into their villages, and that -it greatly obstructed their improvement in agriculture, because for -it they bartered away their money and other articles with which they -ought to purchase horses, and cattle, and implements of husbandry, to -enable them to till their land; and that this operated as a serious -discouragement to Friends in their arduous undertaking to instruct them. - -The Indians appeared seriously attentive in this council, being -convicted in their minds of the truth of what had been declared to -them, and in a few days after, they met in council again, and informed -Friends that they had seriously considered the subjects proposed to -them, and that their chiefs had come to a resolution not to permit, for -the future, any of their people to bring liquor into their villages to -sell to one another; that they had appointed two young chiefs to watch -over the rest, and to endeavour to promote good order among them--and -they desired Friends to be easy in their minds respecting them, for -they were determined to take their advice and try to do better; that -they had made inquiry among themselves, and could find no fault in -Friends, or discover any fraud in any of their actions, but on the -contrary, that the fault and bad conduct had all been on their own -side, but now they were determined to quit those bad practices, and to -assist their women in the labours of the field. - -A set of smith’s tools was procured, and a smith shop erected at -Friends’ settlement this season, which was found useful in repairing -the Indians’ tools. In the course of this summer, divers of the men -assisted their women in the labours of the field. Their crops of corn -were larger than they had been before; but as yet, none of them had -attempted to use the plough for themselves, though Friends had ploughed -some small lots for them with which they were much pleased, and a hope -was entertained that the next year some of them would take hold of the -plough and commence farming. A school house was built at Cornplanter’s -village, and the Friend stationed there, continued through the summer, -instructing the children, and otherwise affording aid and counsel -to the Indians--and two Friends at Genesinguhta, besides setting -the Indians a proper example in the improvement of their own farm, -afforded them assistance and instruction in many ways, as convenient -opportunities presented, and many of the Indians by this time had built -good log houses, and generally covered them with shingles. Cornplanter -had a saw-mill of his own, worked on the shares by a white man; this -afforded the Indians an opportunity of procuring boards to complete -their houses. - -In the Ninth month this year, the settlement was visited by four of the -committee, one of whom had been there when the settlement was first -formed, and was the better qualified to judge of the improvement made -by the Indians. - -They had a council with the Indians, and encouraged them to persevere -in the attempt they had already made to become farmers; and expressed -the satisfaction it afforded them, to see the improvement they had -made, and that their stock of cattle was increased, and especially, -with the wise resolution they had formed, to prevent strong drink from -being brought into their villages. The Indians were also informed, that -the young man who resided at Cornplanter’s village, was desirous of -leaving them and returning home to his friends before winter--and it -was hoped another would come forward and supply his place. - -Cornplanter, on behalf of the Indians replied, in substance, that when -Friends first settled among them, some of his chiefs were averse to -it; but they had had this summer several councils among themselves, -respecting the young men, and all the chiefs seeing their good conduct, -and readiness to assist Indians, were now well satisfied. He hoped that -several of his young men would do more at farming than heretofore, and -that Friends would not get discouraged, because so little was done; -but exercise patience towards them, as it was hard for them to make -much change from their ancient customs. He regretted the loss of the -Friend who was about to leave them, and said he had been useful to him -in keeping whiskey and other strong liquor out of their town; that they -now drank much less than formerly, but he feared when the Friend went -away, he should not be able to prevent its use so well as he had lately -done. - -The deputation from the committee went from this place to Cattaraugus, -the residence of those Indians who had requested a set of saw-mill -irons, and other aid; but the chiefs being generally from home, they -were addressed by a letter, giving them suitable advice on various -subjects, relative to their improvement. - -In the latter end of the Tenth month, Cornplanter accompanied the -Friend who had lived at his village, on his way as far as Canandaigua, -where the superintendent of Indian affairs resided. At this place, he -dictated a letter to one of the committee; the superintendent wrote it, -and Cornplanter signed it with his mark. The following is extracted -from it. - -“I thank the _Great Spirit_ for his protection in preserving me and -my friend whom I have accompanied to this place. I hope the Great -Spirit will still preserve my friend on his journey to Philadelphia, -and every evening when night shall overtake him, that the Great Spirit -will spread over him the curtain of safety,--that he may again meet -the society that sent him among us, for the purpose of teaching us the -useful arts of the white people; and that he may return to them my -kind thanks, for the kind offices which they are disposed to bestow on -us. I cannot omit this favourable opportunity to inform Friends that -I believe the young men placed at the Alleghany, have discharged the -trust committed to them, in endeavouring to do the best they could for -our advantage. - -“Dear friends, when I first heard your voice, and learned your kind -offers to us, I was pleased; as I thought we were apt to transgress -the good rules of the Great Spirit, and by the aid and advice of your -people, the Great Spirit would lend us his aid, by which we might -become a better people. I hope you will not be discouraged, in still -aiding us, although we make slow progress in the arts of the white -people.” - -The two Friends at Alleghany were enabled this fall, for the first -time, to sow several acres of wheat and rye, and several of the Indians -manifested a disposition to labour, by aiding them in gathering in -their summer crops. - -Near the close of this year, the two Friends residing among the Indians -received a letter from the chiefs at Cattaraugus, expressive of their -great satisfaction, for the advice contained in the letter which had -been left for them last fall, and the great joy that they felt at the -prospect of receiving instruction and assistance from the Quakers. - -These Indians were much addicted to intemperance, and although much -more favourably situated than the Alleghany Indians, to make progress -in the agricultural arts, yet they were in a poor and destitute -situation, and did not appear to make use of the advantages within -their power, to assist themselves. It was, therefore, believed right, -in reply to their letter, to urge the necessity of their abstaining -from intemperate practices, and of making use of the means in their -power to better their condition. - - * * * * * - -Therefore the two Friends wrote to them nearly as follows: - -“Brothers, we are glad to hear that you have come to a resolution to -lay up so much of your money, to buy cattle and other useful articles, -and that you seem determined to quit drinking whiskey, and not to allow -traders to sell it on your ground. Now brothers, this is a very wise -resolution, and we hope you will be sincere and keep to it. We hope -that some of you have got your eyes open, to see that whiskey and other -strong drink have been the cause of much evil and wickedness among you, -and that these pernicious things have taken much of your money, your -skins, and your furs, which the Great Spirit has favoured you with, and -with which you might buy clothing, and oxen, and axes, hoes, and other -useful articles to assist you in tilling the field, and we fear, in -time past, it has taken some of the corn your poor women have worked -hard at raising, with their hoes. - -“Brothers, you know there are many white people who love money, and -they know that you love whiskey, and this is the way they take to get -your money and property from you. But if you keep to your resolution -not to drink it, then there will be no danger. You may then have oxen -and ploughs, with which you may plough your ground and raise a great -deal of corn, and you may also buy axes and hoes, and other useful -implements of husbandry to farm with. And then when your friends the -Quakers see that you are trying to help yourselves, and that you make -good use of your money, it will encourage them to help you more. - -“Brothers, we desire you often to think upon the Great Spirit, and -pray to him in your hearts, and then he will show you what is good and -what is evil. And we want you to take up work like the white people, -for your land is very good, and would produce a great deal of grain if -properly managed--and if you get plenty of cattle and sheep, and swine, -they will afford you plenty of meat, and be much more certain than the -elk, the deer, and the bear. Then will your old men, your wives and -your children be happy, and enjoy the comforts of life, and you can -look on your flocks and your fields with contentment and pleasure.” - -These Indians, in addition to the set of saw-mill irons before -promised, were furnished with some axes, hoes, and a set of plough -irons, to encourage them in farming. - -A school was kept at Genesinguhta, this winter, by one of the Friends, -where a number of children attended, and made some progress in -learning--also a grown person who was debilitated in body, resided with -Friends throughout the winter, and being able to converse a little in -the English language, acquired so much learning as to enable him to -read and write, and afterwards to procure a living, by trading among -the Indians. - -In the spring of 1800, the Indians appeared somewhat animated, and more -of them made preparation for farming, by scattering more from their -villages, fencing in lots and clearing land; but not yet having working -animals to plough their ground, Friends ploughed some small lots for -them, which operated as a stimulus to them; and one Indian took hold -of the plough, and began to manage it himself, which was viewed as a -matter of some surprise, and excited great curiosity in the beholders. - -In the Fifth month, this spring, two of the Friends who had left the -Oneida settlement the preceding winter, as before stated, being willing -to spend some more time among the Indians, proceeded to Alleghany, to -unite with Friends there in promoting the welfare of the natives. - -Soon after their arrival, the Indians at Cattaraugus requested Friends -at Alleghany to give them some advice and assistance, about planning -a saw-mill. Accordingly two Friends proceeded to that settlement, -and gave such advice on the occasion as seemed to be requisite; the -millwrights having already arrived, and commenced the building of a -saw-mill. - -As these Indians will in the sequel constitute an interesting part of -the narrative of this concern, it seems proper in this place to give a -more particular account of their situation. The Senecas here possess a -reservation of forty-two square miles, part of it bounded by lake Erie. -It is generally composed of land of a superior quality. The bottoms -along the Cattaraugus river produce black and white walnut and sugar -maple of a superior size. The higher land, abounds with white oak, -white pine, bass, poplar, hickory, and other timber. There are, also, -exclusive of the Indians’ corn fields, large openings like natural -meadows, containing many hundred acres of excellent land, covered -with abundance of grass and herbage, affording abundance of food for -cattle. The Senecas at this place were said to be about one hundred and -sixty in number. Their houses were made in the usual Indian style, and -covered with bark, and their situation, in general, as to habits and -living, much similar to those at Alleghany, when Friends first settled -among them. About a mile from the Seneca village was a town of the -Delawares, (more frequently called Munsies) about one hundred and sixty -in number, who lived on sufferance on the Seneca Indians’ land. - -These Indians, as well as the Senecas, had a considerable number of -cattle, some horses, and abundance of poultry and swine. They had small -enclosures round their villages, in which they kept their stock during -the corn season, and sometimes the poor animals had but a scanty supply -of fodder, notwithstanding the abundance of grass on their lands, from -which, for want of a little labour to fence off their corn lots, they -had little or no benefit during the summer. - -Previous to leaving them, the two Friends had an interview with a -number of their chiefs, and principal men and women, in which they were -encouraged to industry, and to put in practice their good resolutions. -Being informed by one of the Friends present, that he was shortly going -to leave their country and return to his friends, one of the chiefs -replied, “You may tell your old friends, the Quakers at Philadelphia, -when you go home, that we are exceedingly thankful for the kindness you -have shown us, and the assistance you have already given us. We are now -determined to follow your advice as far as we are able, and to spill -all the whiskey traders bring among us for sale. You must not think we -are offended at you for trying to make us sensible of our weaknesses; -for even our young men and young women rejoice to hear it, and are in -hopes their hands will grow stronger, that they may be able to overcome -their weaknesses. We are determined to try to help ourselves, and to -lay up money to purchase useful articles to go to farming with. We pity -our poor women, and see it is too hard for them to work in the hot -sun, and do all the labours of the field. And although we cannot ask -any more favours of you, yet one thing in particular we desire you to -remember; that is, that we are a poor, ignorant people, and for want of -learning, in the course of our dealings with the white people, we have -been greatly wronged, and lost much of our property--we want some of -our children instructed, that they may be able to do the business of -our nation.” - -On the fourteenth of the Sixth month, Friends had a council with the -Indians at Alleghany, in which the two Friends lately came into their -country, were introduced to them, and also informed that one of the -Friends who had now been more than two years among them, was about to -return home to his friends. Several matters were opened to encourage -them to persevere in habits of industry, and to be strong in their -resolutions against the use of spirituous liquors, over which they had, -by this time, gained a great conquest. - -A few days after this, Cornplanter and several other chiefs, called -to see the Friend who was leaving them set out on his journey, and -sent three of their people to accompany him on his way through the -wilderness. - -In their parting conference, Cornplanter expressed many thanks for -the Friend’s services among them, and desired the Great Spirit might -conduct him safely home to his relations, and that on his arrival he -might inform his old friends, the Quakers in Philadelphia, that he -was very thankful for their kind endeavours to instruct his people in -a life of civilization, and he believed the Great Spirit above was -pleased with it. - -During the summer of 1800, the Indians made some further improvements, -and seemed more disposed to relinquish their old habits. A yoke of -oxen, which they purchased, were found very useful in drawing their -firewood, and thereby relieving some of their women from heavy -burthens; several of them procured cows. By this time many of the -Indians had built themselves more comfortable houses, and began to -assist their women in their agricultural labours, so that a gradual -improvement was evident among them in the habits of civilized life. - -In the following winter, Red Jacket, a Seneca chief, residing at -Buffalo creek, with several other chiefs of the Seneca nation, visited -Philadelphia, with whom Friends had a satisfactory interview. Suitable -presents were given them, among which, was a set of saw-mill irons, -which were particularly requested by Red Jacket. - -In the spring of 1801, a greater spirit of industry seemed to manifest -itself among the Indians. Divers more of them fenced in lots, and -procured moreover, some working animals; their increasing attention to -raising cattle and hogs, afforded a pleasing prospect; and was a strung -inducement for them to scatter more from their villages, and realize -the advantages of settling on separate tracts of land. - -Circumstances, however, occurred among the Indians, which claimed the -particular attention of the committee, and three Friends were deputed -to visit the settlement. They proceeded there in the Ninth month, -accompanied by a young Friend, a blacksmith, who offered his services -to instruct some of the Indians in his useful occupation. - -Previous to giving a detail of this interview, it seems necessary -to observe, that some extraordinary ideas respecting witchcraft had -prevailed among the natives for sometime, which were principally -insinuated among them by an infirm old man named Connediu, a half -brother to Cornplanter, who had the appearance of a simple man, and had -been from his youth very intemperate. He had no influence in the nation -till about three years before, when, after a long time of sickness, -he was supposed by the Indians to be several times in a trance. After -he had recovered therefrom, he asserted that he had seen angels, who -communicated to him such things as the Great Spirit designed should -be imparted to the Indians--that they must all quit drinking whiskey -and other strong liquors--that they must revive the custom of their -forefathers in eating dog’s flesh, and have frequent dances--performing -their religious ceremonies, &c. This to a people naturally prone to -superstition, was like oracles delivered from the _Great Spirit_, and -to use their own language, “was the manner in which _He_ was revealing -his mind and will to the Indians.” Connediu had actually some of his -imaginary interviews with the inhabitants of the spiritual world -committed to writing, that they might keep it in remembrance, as the -will of the Great Spirit concerning them. - -Connediu frequently asserted that these heavenly messengers continued -to favour him with frequent interviews, and he succeeded in propagating -a belief among the natives, that most of their bodily afflictions -and disorders arose from witchcraft, and undertook to point out the -individuals who had the power of inflicting these evils. He was said -to have wholly declined the practice of drinking to excess, and by an -artful exercise of his pretended knowledge, he acquired considerable -influence in the nation, so as to be appointed high priest and chief -Sachem in things civil and religious. - -Some of Cornplanter’s family being in a declining state of health, -Connediu, (whom they now esteemed a great doctor, as well as a -prophet,) was applied to for counsel. In his wild reveries he alleged -that some of the Delaware Indians who lived at Cattaraugus possessed -the power of witchcraft, and were the cause of their illness. - -This brought on a quarrel between the two tribes, and some of the -Delawares were taken prisoners, and threatened with death if they did -not remove the disorder. - -During the contention, Cornplanter wrote to the governor of -Pennsylvania on the occasion, and the committee on Indian affairs -being made acquainted with the circumstances, letters both from the -committee and government were addressed to both tribes of Indians on -the subject. A council was called between the contending parties, -and Friends, with some other well disposed people on the frontier -settlements, used their influence to have an amicable adjustment, and -endeavoured to obliterate from the Indians’ minds, those superstitious -ideas of witchcraft which appeared to have been the ground of their -uneasiness. The result was, that the Delawares were acquitted, and -all disputes buried between them and the Senecas. Cornplanter told -them “that he had swept their beds clean, that they might lie down -in peace--that he had swept their houses clean, that they might live -comfortably in them--that he had swept clean before their doors, that -they might go out and in, without molestation.” - -About the time that Friends of the committee arrived at Genesinghuta, -the Indians generally were met in council, about these matters; and -although Connediu had advised them to quit drinking whiskey, he was -otherwise endeavouring to propagate notions very inimical to the -concern in which Friends were engaged, by recommending them to follow -their old customs, and not allow their children to learn to read and -write; that they might farm a little, and build houses, but must not -sell any thing which they raised on their land, but give it away to one -another, and especially to their old people; and, in short, enjoy all -things in common. - -With this doctrine several of the young chiefs and others were not -satisfied; and one of them judiciously observed, “they had better -hold councils about fencing in fields, and clearing land, than about -witchcraft, and other strange notions of Connediu.” - -The committee, who now visited the settlement, were pleased, on passing -down the river, with the view of fences, where not long before there -were none to be seen; and instead of the bark cabins, that formerly -stood in clusters along its banks, there were now good houses, with -shingled roofs; and the tinkling of cow bells, which they heard in -various directions, denoted an increase of cattle, and had a cheering -effect on their minds. It was in the spring of 1801, that the Indians -first began to use the plough for themselves. They took a very cautious -method of determining whether it was likely to be an advantageous -change to them or not. Several parts of a large field were ploughed, -and the intermediate spaces prepared by their women with the hoe, -according to former custom. It was all planted with corn; and the -parts ploughed, (besides the great saving of labour,) produced much -the heaviest crop; the stalks being more than a foot higher, and -proportionably stouter than those on the hoed ground. The corn was now -gathered in, and as their stock of cattle had much increased, instead -of leaving their corn fodder to perish, as formerly, they preserved -it for their cattle in winter--and several had mown grass, and made -small stacks of hay. They had made a fence, about two miles long, which -enclosed the lower town, and a large body of adjacent land fronting on -the river, and several other fences were made within it, to separate -the corn from the pasture ground. - -With the exception of houses and fences, the improvements at the -lower town, (Jenuchshadaga) did not bear a comparison with the upper -settlement, where the Indians lived more detached from each other. -Their thus separating, was evidently more to their advantage, than -crowding together in villages. A chief, who was not ashamed to be seen -at work by the women of his own family, would probably have been much -mortified when discovered by a number of other females, who on such -occasions do not always refrain from ridicule. Yet this false shame on -the part of the men, and ridicule of the women, gradually wore away as -they became familiarized to each others’ assistance, in their little -agricultural labours. - -The Indians now became very sober, generally refraining from the use of -strong liquor, both at home and when abroad among the white people. One -of them observed to Friends, “no more bark cabins, but good houses--no -more get drunk here, now, this two year.” - -The blacksmith was introduced to the Indians with a request that two -of their young men would learn his business, so as to be qualified to -do their own work; as it was not very likely he should stay long. But -before they would agree to this proposition, they queried with Friends, -“whether they would at any future time want land or money for the -services which they had done, and were doing for them? They wished to -know very clearly in writing about it. Also, whether they would leave -the tools for the young men, who might learn the blacksmiths’ trade, -when the smith left them, or whether they would take them away?” To -which the following answer was given in writing:-- - -“Brothers, we tell you now, plainly, as we told you before, that your -brothers, the Quakers, do not want any of your land, or any of your -money, or any of your skins, for any thing they have done for you; and -they never will bring a charge against you, for any of these things. -And we give you this writing, to keep forever, to make your minds -perfectly easy on this account. About the smiths’ tools we cannot say -much; but think we shall leave them with you, if some of your young men -will learn the trade.” - -At a subsequent interview, Cornplanter made a reply to Friends, in -which he stated, “We understand the writing which you gave us very -well, and our minds are now quite easy. Two of our young men will learn -the smiths’ trade; one from the lower town, and one from the upper.” - -Friends again opened the business respecting the schooling of their -children, which had for sometime past been impeded by the system of -Connediu. The chiefs were particularly desired to take this subject -under consideration, and let Friends know when they were ready. - -It was supposed that the quantity of corn raised this year by the -natives, was nearly tenfold what it was when the settlement was first -formed, and a few of the Indians made the first attempts to raise -wheat; but those who did something at farming, occasionally went out a -hunting; and many of the men still adhered to their ancient customs, -and left the women of their families to cultivate with the hoe, what -corn and vegetables were necessary for their sustenance. - -As one of the young men, who had been there from the time of first -opening the settlement, was about to return home with the committee, -Cornplanter expressed the great regard he had for him; saying, “that, -although he had been so long amongst them, not one of them was able to -say a word against him, ever since he had been there--that his words -and his conduct had been altogether good, and agreeable to them; and -he hoped the Good Spirit would preserve him on his way home to his -friends.” - -The committee, also, on this visit, had an interview with the Indians -of Cattaraugus. They arrived at a time when the Indians were performing -their religious ceremonies--concerning which, the chief warrior, -Waun-dun-guh-ta, made the following remark to Friends. - -“Brothers, you have come at a time which has by us been set apart for -performing worship to the Good Spirit, after our ancient customs. It is -our way of worship, and, to us, solemn and serious, and not to be made -light of, however different it may be from your mode. It is the manner -our forefathers have taught us. We hope you will excuse us for not -being so attentive to you as we should, had we not been thus engaged.” - -They had now their saw-mill completed, and one of the Friends from -Alleghany remained sometime with them, instructing some of the Indians -in the sawing business. - -The spring of 1802, furnished greater marks of improvement, than had -heretofore been discovered among the natives. Eighteen or twenty -thousand rails were split, and put up into fences by the Indians, and -thirteen or fourteen new lots enclosed, most of which were cleared -this spring. Several families who had not any when this settlement was -first formed, had got six or seven head of cattle, and other useful -animals. Whiskey was not knowingly suffered to be brought into the -settlement; and if any were found out to have been intoxicated, when -they were out in the white settlements, they were sharply reproved by -the chiefs on their return, which had nearly the same effect among -Indians, as committing a man to the workhouse among white people. The -Indians opened a good road for about five miles up the river from -Friends’ settlement, where before it was very difficult to travel, -even on horseback. Several of them sowed spring wheat--and a gradual -improvement was apparent during this season. - -The benefits derived by the Senecas at Alleghany, from their attention -to agriculture, encouraged other branches of the nation to apply for -assistance. The chief of the Tonewanta village, about one hundred -miles distant from Friends’ settlement at the Alleghany, in a pathetic -speech, applied to Friends to assist them with saw-mill irons, farming -utensils, &c. which request was granted, with the addition of a yoke of -oxen, and chains. - -The young man who went out as a blacksmith, returned home this fall; -two of the Indians having acquired such knowledge of his business as to -answer their necessities. - -Although the improvements at this place were gradually progressing, -obstructive causes at times occurred, difficult to combat. This -induced Friends, among them, to believe that a change made in their -situation, so as to render them more independent of the natives, -might subject them to less difficulty in the further prosecution of -the concern. The improvement heretofore made on their own land, for a -time, had a good effect; but their ideas were weak, and for want of -more sensibility in some of the intentions of Friends towards them, -it had led to a dependence, which evidently impeded their progress -in civilization. This dependence seemed to increase, as they saw the -increase of produce from the land that Friends cultivated. Some of the -Indians had increased their stock of cattle faster than the means of -supporting them through a long and rigorous winter. When their hay and -other fodder become reduced, they applied to Friends to give them some. -These requests could not be complied with, to an extent proportioned -to their necessity, without reducing Friends to alike state of want; -and fearing, least in future winters, a renewal of similar requests, -without the means of supplying them, might disturb that harmony which -had hitherto subsisted between Friends and the Indians, it was thought -adviseable by the committee to embrace an opportunity which now -presented, of purchasing from a company of white people, an adjoining -tract of land, in order to make such improvements thereon, as might -accommodate a family or more, of such, who from time to time, might -feel desirous to assist in the instruction of the Indians, and thus by -making it a more permanent establishment, entirely independent of the -natives, be enabled to extend more efficient aid to other branches of -the Seneca nation. - -In the spring of 1803, this proposal of a removal of Friends’ -settlement was communicated to the Indians, and they generally -coincided with it, provided the move should not be far up the river. -They had several councils on the occasion, and communicated to Friends -their views; and although their prophet, Connediu, had, in time back, -been somewhat opposed to the views of Friends in changing the customs -of the Indians, he was now entirely friendly, and strongly recommended -industry and perseverance in the plans which Friends had recommended -to them. The following paragraphs from one of his speeches on this -occasion, may be worthy of notice. - - * * * * * - -“My friends, Quakers, attend.--It is now a long time since you first -came amongst us. It has even exceeded the time that was first proposed. -I now speak the united voice of our chiefs and warriors to you, of -our women also, and of all our people. Attend, therefore, to what I -say. We wish you to make your minds perfectly easy--we are all pleased -with your living amongst us, and not one of us wants you to leave our -country. We find no fault with you in any respect, since you come -amongst us; neither have we any thing to charge you with. You have -lived peaceably and honestly with us, and have been preserved in -health, and nothing has befallen you. This we think is proof, also, -that the Great Spirit is pleased with you living here, and with what -you have done for us.” - -“Friends, Quakers--we now all agree to leave you at full liberty, -either to remain where you now are, on our land, or to remove up the -river and settle on land of your own, only that you settle near us, -that you may extend further assistance and instruction. For although we -have received much benefit from you, and some of our people have made -considerable advancement in useful labour, yet we remain very deficient -in many things, and numbers of us are yet poor.” - - * * * * * - -As the important change proposed to be made in conducting the affairs -at Alleghany, required serious consideration, four of the committee -proceeded to that settlement, and on conferring with Friends there, -were satisfied of the propriety of a removal from their present -station, to one more independent of the Indians, and less subject to -their control. - -A tract of land adjoining the Indians’ reservation on Tunesassa creek, -which empties into the river on the east side, about two miles above -Genesinghuta, was agreed upon, and afterwards purchased, as the most -eligible place for a settlement; inasmuch as it furnished an ample -situation for water works, and much of the tract was covered with -excellent pine timber. The tract included about seven hundred acres. - -Friends had free and open conferences with the Indians on the subject -of their removal, and various other matters; and satisfactory -arrangements were made respecting the old settlement, the Indians -insisting on Friends’ occupying the farm until they got suitable -accommodations, and provender for their stock, at their new settlement. - -In one of their conferences, Cornplanter observed: - -“Brothers, when your friends first came amongst us, and for a long -time after, the white people told us, ‘keep a good watch on those -Quakers--they are a cunning, designing people; and under pretence -of doing something for you, want to get hold upon you, to make an -advantage of you some way or other;’ but of late, finding that all was -straight, and no advantage was attempted to be taken, they have left -off talking about it. - -“Brothers, your young men do not talk much to us, but when they do they -speak what is good, and have been very helpful in keeping us from using -spirituous liquors.” - -Here it may be proper to remark, that in the spring of 1798, an Indian -lad of the Tuscarora nation, from near the falls of Niagara, had been -taken to Philadelphia, and placed with a Friend in Chester county, -to learn the blacksmiths’ business, where he continued till the last -spring;--and having acquired a competent knowledge of his trade, and -made considerable proficiency in school learning, the Friend with whom -he had been instructed, felt such an interest in his welfare, that he -accompanied him home to his Indian friends, staid several weeks with -him, to see him set up in his business, and assisted him therein. - -This Friend, on his return, had now been several weeks at Alleghany, -affording the two Indian blacksmiths there, some further instruction in -that art. They were very desirous he should tarry longer with them; and -an old chief observed, “Friends had now sent on a blacksmith, the best -they had ever seen--he knows how to make all things we want.” - -Considerable improvement among the Indians at this time was observable, -more particularly up the river. Several families had settled about two -miles higher up, than where they formerly resided, and had cleared and -fenced in about sixty acres of land. Seventeen new houses with shingled -roofs, were observed neatly built, with square logs, most of them two -stories high, with stone chimneys and glass windows. They had about one -hundred head of cattle, thirty horses, and several hundred hogs. And -the Indians had opened a road, about twenty miles along the river, and -much of it through heavy timber; which was a great work for them. - -The committee proceeded from thence to Cattaraugus, and noticed -considerable improvement in that settlement. Several of them were -building good houses. Their crops of corn were good, and their stock of -cattle increased; and, generally speaking, they had declined the use -of strong drink. They had divers requests to make to Friends, some of -which were granted; especially one, for a set of smith tools and plough -irons. While Friends were sitting with the chief warrior, he seemed -in a pensive mood, and said he wished to ask them a question, but -hesitated. They desired him to say on--It was, “_Do the Quakers keep -any slaves?_”--He was answered in the negative. He said he was very -glad to hear it; for if they did, he could not think so well of them as -he now did--that he had been at the city of Washington last winter, on -business of the nation, and found that many white people kept blacks in -slavery, and used them no better than horses. - -The committee on their way home had interviews with the Buffalo and -Tonewanta Indians, and gave them such advice and encouragement as their -situation required. It was satisfactory to observe, from the account of -Red Jacket and others of their chiefs, that some improvement was taking -place among those Indians. - -Our friends at Alleghany built a temporary house at their new -settlement this fall, to which they removed, which we shall hereafter -call Tunesassa. The land being heavily timbered, much exertion and -labour were necessary, to make their situation tolerably comfortable -during the first winter. - -In the spring of 1804, the Indians generally removed from the lower -town, and settled higher up the river; several of them not far from -Tunesassa. This removal subjected them to some inconveniences, the -first year, but eventually proved much to their advantage; especially -to those who were detached from their little towns. - -As it was believed much benefit would result to the Indians from the -erection of a grist mill on Friends’ farm, there being none nearer -than about forty miles, measures were adopted to have grist and -saw-mills erected this summer; and they were so far completed, as to -be in operation the ensuing winter, when the Indians had considerable -grinding done, and were much pleased to see the grain reduced to meal -so much quicker than by pounding it in wooden mortars. - -An Indian man, after having a grist of wheat of his own raising ground -and bolted, said with animation, “I think this will make the Indians -see day-light.” - -In the course of this season, some dissentions took place among the -Indians with regard to their chiefs. Several young men of considerable -influence in the nation, and who were anxious to assume the reigns of -government, became disaffected to Cornplanter, and taking measures to -subvert his authority, artfully prevailed with the Indians to confer -on themselves the dignified title of chiefs. This, among men whose -rulers only hold their authority during the good will of the people, -was not difficult to effect. In the mean time, Connediu, who had some -time before been promoted to the highest title in the nation, continued -(as he said) his imaginary interviews with the inhabitants of the -spiritual world, so that his fame spread abroad, and visits were paid -to him from distant tribes. He also travelled to distant parts himself, -and promulgated his doctrines, (which happily were now become more -innocent,) throughout the Seneca nation. - -In the latter end of the winter and spring of 1805, the Indians -experienced much damage to their infant settlements, by some unusual -freshets in the Alleghany river. Nearly all their fences were swept -away; but instead of being discouraged by their losses, they joined -together very spiritedly, and soon repaired them; and in the end -appeared to have been benefitted; for by this exertion, they gradually -became more accustomed to labour--a thing, to them, of the greatest -consequence. - -As it was believed the time had now come when it would be right to take -some measures to instruct the Indian women in the various branches -of housewifery, and domestic economy, and as this could not be done -without female aid, a suitable family were sought for, and a man and -his wife offering for that service, as well as a single female, who had -before been at the Oneida settlement, they proceeded to Tunesassa in -the early part of summer; and the natives expressed much satisfaction -on their arrival among them. - -The arrival of the females was no less satisfactory to the Friends -residing at Tunesassa--for as from the first settlement to this -time, in addition to the various calls of the Indians, and their -out-door labours, they had all their domestic and culinary services to -perform,--except some little aid received at times, by hiring some of -the Indian women. - -Although many of the Indians had constructed comfortable houses, very -few of their women took any pains to keep them clean and in neat order. -They manufactured none of their own clothing, except the mockasins they -wore on their feet. They had no knowledge of making soap, and of course -their clothes could not be very clean--and very little improvement in -domestic affairs had as yet taken place among the Indian families. -In proportion, however, as the men became more accustomed to labour, -it released the women from their former drudgery; and having now the -opportunity of getting all their grain ground, which before they had to -pound in wooden mortars, it would afford them more time to turn their -attention to the business of the house, and the concerns more properly -allotted to females, in all civilized societies. - -To aid and assist them in accomplishing this, was the object of our -female friends; and some of the Indian girls pretty soon began to show -a willingness to be instructed in knitting and spinning. A house of -employment was built at a little distance from Friends’ dwelling, -and particularly allotted to their use; but for want of the necessary -materials, not much could be done at these useful employments the first -season. Our women Friends were, however, enabled to instruct many -of them in the art of making soap, which enabled them to keep their -clothes and persons more cleanly; and also by frequently visiting them -in their families, had opportunities of instructing and encouraging -them in habits more assimilated to civilized life. The Indian women, -also, made frequent visits to them, and by observing their industry, -economy, and superior mode of living, an inclination began soon -to manifest itself, even among these uncultivated females of the -wilderness, to imitate the more useful and rational economy of our -women Friends. - -In the course of this summer, Friends had got about thirty acres of -land cleared on their farm--their spring crops were productive, and -they sowed fourteen or fifteen acres with winter grain. The grist -and saw-mills were kept in operation, and found to answer a valuable -purpose. - -In the spring of 1806, the Indians were much engaged in clearing land, -splitting rails, and carrying on various improvements. One of the more -sagacious observed to Friends, “Our Indians are getting to have more -sense, very fast.” - -They continued strongly opposed to the use of spirituous liquors, and -seldom held a council without some animadversions on their baneful -effects--and nothing excited more wonder among the surrounding white -people, than to find them entirely refuse liquor when offered to them. -The Indians said, that when the white people urged them to drink -whiskey, they would ask for bread or provisions in its stead. - -In the course of this summer, a company of Indians from Alleghany, with -Connediu (whom they called their prophet,) at their head, paid a visit -to several villages of their brethren, near the Genessee river, in -order to dissuade them from the use of strong drink, and to encourage -them in habits of industry. - -In the Ninth month, this year, the settlement was again visited by -three of the committee. The writer being one of the number, and -having resided more than two years among them at the first opening -of the settlement, was afforded a full opportunity of judging of the -improvements the Indians had made. A council was held with the Indians -at Cold Spring, which was a new town the Indians had built on the west -side of the river, a few miles above Tunesassa. Various subjects were -discussed in this council, relative to the Indians’ improvement, and -much advice communicated relative to their moral conduct, and long -replies again made by the Indians, which the limits prescribed for this -narrative will not admit in detail. One thing, however, not heretofore -noticed, was earnestly pressed upon them; to live in peace and harmony -with their wives, and not to let trifling matters part them, as was -sometimes their practice; but to consider them as companions for life: -and also to live in peace and friendship one with another, which would -enable them to make a greater progress in the good work Friends were -endeavouring to promote among them. - -Our Friends at Tunesassa had now got about fifty acres of land -cleared, well enclosed, and in good order. They had built a large and -commodious dwelling house and barn, which, together with the mills -and improvements generally, gave it the appearance of a desirable -settlement. - -It was believed the Indians had built about one hundred new houses -since the committee visited them three years before. Most of them were -put up with hewn logs very neatly notched at the corners; many of -them were covered with shingles, and some had pannel doors and glass -windows. The carpenter work was chiefly done by the Indians. Scarcely a -vestige remained of the cabins they occupied when Friends first settled -among them. Their farms, which were of different dimensions, were -enclosed with good fences, and much more detached from each other than -formerly. A much greater proportion of corn was planted this season -than had been known before, and generally looked well. Many of them -had raised wheat and oats, and several had raised flax and buckwheat, -besides potatoes and turnips in abundance. Their stock of cattle and -horses was increased, and they had a good many working oxen, which they -found very advantageous to them. Sheep were not yet introduced, owing -to the danger of their being destroyed by wolves. - -Upon the whole, it was evident their improvements rather exceeded, in -divers respects, those made in some new settlements of white people on -the frontiers, in the same length of time. - -Several of the young women had this year learned to spin and knit a -little; but although the improvement among the females was yet small, -it was, nevertheless evident, a change in this respect had taken place -for the better, since our women Friends came among them. Their persons -and apparel, as well as their houses, appeared in more neat and cleanly -order. And as Friends approached some of their habitations, a pleasing -mark of neatness discovered itself among some of their women, who -would immediately begin to sweep their houses, and appear somewhat -disconcerted, if Friends entered their doors before they got their -apartments in good order. - -After spending near a week at Alleghany, the committee proceeded to -Cattaraugus, and had a very satisfactory interview with the Seneca -Indians at that place. Various matters were opened to them in a written -communication, tending to incite them to industry, and to encourage -them in a life of sobriety. A great reform had taken place among -those Indians in this respect. The chief warrior in his reply said, -“He believed the Great Spirit was better pleased with them when they -took hold of the axe and the hoe and went to work, than when they were -pursuing their former bad practices of drinking, &c.” “And he was very -glad Friends had given them their speech upon paper, that they would -not only advise their young people themselves, but would have that -speech to apply to, to strengthen their minds.” - -Although a considerable change had taken place for the better at this -settlement within three years past, their stock of cattle and horses -having considerably increased, (and instead of confining them as -formerly in small enclosures round their villages, they had, since -enclosing their cornfields, the advantage of pasturing them on the -large plains,) yet they appeared very far behind their brethren at -Alleghany, in agricultural improvements, as well as in buildings and -cleanliness of living. - -In the year 1807, no very important change took place among the Indians -at Alleghany, except that divers of the young women and girls applied -themselves to spinning in the course of the winter, under the direction -of our women Friends, and succeeded so far as to have a piece of linen -spun and wove into cloth, besides manufacturing a quantity of sewing -thread with which many of the Indians were well pleased. - -Some evil disposed persons, and doubtless opposed to the advancement -of the Indians in civilization, took every opportunity of creating -suspicions in their minds, of the views of Friends, and artfully -insinuated that Friends’ saw-mill was erected to accumulate an interest -out of them, notwithstanding that Friends had given them many thousand -feet of boards, and also their grain at the grist-mill was then ground -free of toll. - -In order, therefore, to settle the minds of the Indians, to counteract -the suspicions in circulation, and as a convincing evidence of the -disinterested views of Friends,--believing also, that it might redound -to the Indians’ advantage, they offered to assist them in building a -saw-mill for themselves; and three hundred dollars, in addition to a -set of saw-mill irons, were granted for that purpose. - -This fall Cornplanter was again restored to his former station of -chief; and from the disposition he had always manifested to the object -of Friends, there was reason to expect his renewed influence in their -councils would be useful. - -The family at Tunesassa, experienced a great trial by the removal of -the Friend’s wife residing there, who, after about two weeks illness -was taken from this transitory scene. She had by her prudent and -obliging conduct very much endeared herself to the natives, many of -whom attended her funeral, and a number of them called to see the -family some days afterwards, and desired them to make their minds -easy, seeing it was the will of the Great Spirit, and what must happen -to all mankind; and they were come to sympathize with them, and to wipe -away their tears that they might sorrow no more. - -In the following winter, a number of the Indian women and girls were -engaged at spinning, and a disposition to industry and manufacturing -their own clothing, seemed to be gaining ground. A loom was provided, -and several pieces of their own spinning were made into cloth. - -1808. As Friends for sometime past, had been desirous of rendering more -essential service to the Indians at Cattaraugus, it was now believed -expedient to purchase a tract of land adjoining their reservation, and -have a family stationed there, that would more effectually accelerate -their improvement. - -Accordingly a large tract of land was agreed for, on Clear creek, which -furnished a good seat for water-works, within four or five miles of the -Indian town. The land being heavily timbered, the Indians were engaged -in opening a road from their villages to it; and considerable advances -were made towards opening a settlement this season, superintended by -some of the Friends from Tunesassa. - -The Indians at Alleghany got their saw-mill completed this fall so as -to be in operation, and the Friends at Tunesassa were joined by another -family, a Friend with his wife, a single female who accompanied them, -and several children; the parents offering their services to spend some -time in the instruction of the Indian natives. - -Near the close of this year, and through the succeeding winter, -very considerable progress was made among the women and girls in -learning to spin; several purchased wheels and commenced spinning at -their own houses; and an aged female, of the first influence, named -O-yong-go-gas, resided sometime with Friends, to be instructed in this -employment, and made an unexpected progress. Her attention to assist -in encouraging and superintending the younger women and girls, was a -favourable circumstance, and tended to promote their improvement. On -hearing that Friends at Tunesassa were about writing to the committee, -she delivered the following address, desiring it might be sent also. - -“Brothers, attend--I wish to speak a few words to you. Since your women -came here, I have frequently had a prospect of learning to spin; but as -I was an ancient woman, I was afraid to make a beginning, lest I should -not make out, and would then have to decline it, without accomplishing -any thing. I at length concluded to try, and have learned so much as to -be able to spin flax and tow pretty well. - -“Brothers, I am very happy that I have the satisfaction to inform you -a little of my progress, and also that I can now with more assurance, -impress the necessity of this valuable improvement on the minds of our -young women, and I intend in future to recommend it as a most necessary -employment. - -“For my own part, I intend to pursue it as long as my eye-sight will -continue, and I hope yet to be able to spin wool for a blanket, if -the Good Spirit will continue my sight. I am very thankful for the -knowledge I have acquired of your women Friends. - -“Brothers, I hope this may find you all well, and I wish the Great -Spirit may bless you.” - -In the spring of 1809, a Friend, who had spent many years among the -natives, returned again to his former station at Tunesassa, and being -acquainted with the weaving business, he was usefully employed in -manufacturing into cloth the yarn which the Indian women had spun in -the last winter, and the industry of several of them procured them -sufficient specimens of domestic manufactures, to stimulate them to -further exertions. - -This spring four of the Friends resident at Tunesassa proceeded to -Cattaraugus, in order to carry on the improvements at this new station, -and to instruct the Indians in that settlement. - -The Indians at Alleghany continued to make a satisfactory progress in -their agricultural labours, seven or eight families sowed flax this -spring, and other marks of improvement were observable. The settlement -was visited again by a deputation from the committee, and the situation -of the Indians fully inspected, and much advice and counsel were -communicated to them relative to their moral conduct, as well as in -regard to their temporal concerns. - -They were particularly warned of the iniquity of men and their wives -separating, (a practice which was too common among them,) and marrying -again with others; the natural consequence of which was, leaving their -children in poverty and distress, besides being attended with a variety -of other evils. - -The communications of Friends appeared to be well received, and in the -replies which the Indians made, among many other things, Cornplanter -remarked, “We are sensible that it is displeasing to the Great Spirit -for men and their wives to separate, and I am very happy that you have -now mentioned it, when so many of our young warriors are present who -have the opportunity of hearing; and I hope they will attend to the -good counsel you have given us.” - -This deputation from the committee also visited Cattaraugus settlement, -and had satisfactory interviews with those Indians, encouraging them to -industry and sobriety, and to avail themselves of the opportunity they -now had of receiving instruction from our Friends, who had lately come -to settle near them. - -In their replies to Friends, the chief warrior observed:--“You still -continue to speak the same language to our nation, and we believe your -views towards us are the effects of pure friendship, and a desire for -our welfare; and although we have fallen short in fulfilling your -former advices, we are still encouraged to follow your counsel, and -to pursue the path you have set before us. We hope you will continue -to have patience towards us, as Indians cannot adopt all these habits -that you recommend at once; but we are convinced that industry in -cultivating our lands, is the only method by which we can receive -lasting benefits, and we are determined to pursue it--and we hope we -shall still continue to make a gradual advancement.” - -During the winter and spring of 1810, the Indian women at Alleghany -gave increasing attention to spinning. Some elderly females, who had -acquired sufficient knowledge, and being anxious to promote this -valuable art, took the superintendence of the young girls, and this -season they spun sufficient to make one hundred and twenty yards, part -of which was woollen, and manufactured into blankets. - -Some small premiums were offered to such of the men as should sow -spring wheat, which had a stimulating effect; and sixteen or seventeen -individuals availed themselves of the offer. - -The Indians purchased four yoke of oxen, which enabled them to do more -ploughing--and during the course of the season many of the young men -inclined to hire to work for other Indians, a practice which had not -been common among them. This, however, was in part produced by the -embargo system which was now in operation, and had an effect to reduce -the price of skins and furs, so as to render hunting not worth pursuing -as an object of profit. - -Red Jacket, and three other chiefs of the Seneca nation, visited -Philadelphia this year, and Friends had a satisfactory interview with -them. Red Jacket in his remarks, stated: - -“I am unable to express the thankfulness I feel for the many acts of -kindness your society have shown to us; particularly when that old -gentleman, (pointing to an elderly Friend present,) and many others now -no more, attended at our treaties. And I am happy in observing your -disposition to pursue the same track of conduct your fathers observed -towards Indians, now they are removed to the world of spirits.” - -Some implements of husbandry were furnished to the Tuscarora Indians, -residing on the Seneca reservation near Buffalo; and the situation of -the Delaware Indians residing on the Cattaraugus reservation claiming -the sympathy of Friends, as being the remnant of a scattered tribe -who formerly inhabited the parts along the river Delaware, and who -for many years lived on terms of sincere friendship and reciprocal -acts of kindness with the early settlers, while the country was then a -wilderness; it was believed right to make them an offer of purchasing -a tract of land in the neighbourhood of Cattaraugus, provided they -would live on, and occupy it. Although the offer was not accepted they -gratefully acknowledge the kindness of Friends, and their answer on -this occasion strongly excites our sympathy for the destiny of this -once great and powerful nation. - -“Our nation, say they, seem as if they were scattered over the whole -world; and we have been desirous, for many years past, of getting -together, and have now fully concluded to leave the country of the -Senecas. The land you propose giving us here, if we could take it on -our backs and set it down in the neighbourhood of our nation to the -westward, we should be very thankful for; but we don’t feel satisfied -to remain in this country, and have concluded certainly to leave it as -soon as we can.” - -Considerable progress was made this season by the Cattaraugus Indians. -Many of them enclosed fields separately, and had plentiful crops of -corn; and as an incitement to this plan of farming, small premiums had -been offered by Friends. And as a further encouragement, to accommodate -the Indians, preparations were made to erect grist and saw-mills on -the tract of land belonging to Friends, whereby they could have their -grinding done, and be furnished with boards to enable them to build -better houses. - -In the beginning of the year 1811, the Indian women at Alleghany -manifested a much earlier attention to the spinning business; and -before the time they usually began, had sufficient spun for one -hundred and sixty yards of cloth. Near one half of their women by this -time, had acquired some knowledge of this business; and though they -had heretofore, for the most part, attended to it at the house of -employment, many of them now procured wheels of their own, and attended -to it at their own houses. Four of them within two years had spun yarn -for about one hundred and twenty-five yards; and two others, in the -last season, had spun and wove themselves twenty-one yards of linsey. - -The instruction of their children in school learning, had for several -years past, been but little attended to, owing to the impediments the -Indians themselves had thrown in the way--but this year it was again -revived; and a young man, qualified for that purpose, kept a school -among them, at their request. - -The Indians at Cattaraugus were also making satisfactory improvement -this season. The saw-mill was in operation this fall, and the grist -mill in a considerable state of forwardness. - -The progress of improvement had, for many years past, exhibited an -encouraging prospect--affording a comfortable hope, that the desirable -object would be effected, of reclaiming at least a portion of the -Indians from a savage and rambling life, to enjoy in a plentiful -manner, and in undisturbed security, the productions of the fruitful -field. Yet it now seems our painful task to record some circumstances, -which for a time much unsettled the minds of the Indians, and retarded -their progress in civilization. - -By a company of individuals, claiming what they called the pre-emption -right, an attempt was now made to purchase from the Seneca nation, -all their land which they held in the state of New York, and under a -specious show of benevolence, to give them a large tract of country far -to the westward, where they might enjoy their native forest, away from -the intrusions of white people. - -The peculiar situation of their land--being generally of an excellent -quality, and an increasing white population fast settling round -it--made it an object very desirable to this company, who, it is -probable, paid a large sum of money for this pre-emption right. - -From the best information I have received respecting this claim, it -appears, by the original charter, that the state of Massachusetts had -this pre-emption right, or privilege of purchasing the Indians’ land -in this part of the territory; and to satisfy this claim, in 1787, the -state of New York ceded to Massachusetts the right of soil--reserving -to itself the jurisdiction thereof. The state of Massachusetts, in -1792, again sold their right of purchase to an individual, who, in the -year 1797, at a treaty held at Genessee river, in the state of New -York, purchased of the Indians a large tract of country, as has been -already stated--the Indians “_nevertheless and always reserving_” out -of this grant and conveyance, such reservations as were therein agreed -upon; “_to remain the property of the said Seneca Indians, in as full -and ample a manner_,” as if the said sale had not been made. This -purchase again passed into other hands, and finally the pre-emption -right to the Indians’ reservations into the hands of the company now -claiming them. - -Notwithstanding these were the only persons who had a legal right to -purchase, it was only when the Indians were disposed to sell: and -always to be understood, as the original owners of the soil, they had -the right to refuse to sell, as guaranteed in the most solemn manner by -the president of the United States. - -But notwithstanding their indubitable title to the soil, the attempt -thus made, in an artful manner, to obtain their land, had the effect to -produce great commotion and disturbance among them. Nor was it to be -doubted, but that means, too frequently practised on such occasions, -would be resorted to. These were, to offer rewards to the chiefs or -principal men of the nation, to gain their influence, in order to bring -about the object they had in view. - -The Indians, however, at this time, did not accede to the proposals -that had been held out to them, as may be seen from the following -extracts of a speech of Red Jacket to an agent, who, it seems, was -employed by the primitive holders to negotiate this business. - -“Brother, we opened our ears to the talk you lately delivered to us, at -our council fire. In doing important business, it is best not to tell -long stories, but to come to it in a few words--we shall therefore not -repeat your talk, which is fresh in our minds. We have well considered -it, and the advantages and disadvantages of your offers--we request -your attention to our answer, which is not from the speaker alone, but -from all the sachems and chiefs now round our council fire. - -“Brother, your application for the purchase of our lands is, to our -minds, very extraordinary. It has been made in a crooked manner. -You have not walked in the straight path, pointed out by the Great -Council of your nation. You have no writing from our Great Father -the president. We have looked back, and remembered how the Yorkers -purchased our lands in former times. They bought them, piece after -piece, for a little money, paid to a few men in our nation, and not to -all our brethren,--until our planting and hunting grounds have become -very small; and if we should sell these, we know not where to spread -our blankets. - -“Brother, you tell us your employers have purchased of the council of -Yorkers, a right to buy our lands. We do not understand how this can -be. The lands do not belong to the Yorkers. They are ours, and were -given to us by the Great Spirit. - -“Brother, you want us to travel with you, and look for other lands. If -we should sell our lands, and move off into a distant country, towards -the setting sun, we should be looked upon, in the country to which we -go, as foreigners and strangers, and be despised by the red, as well as -the white men. We should soon be surrounded by the white people, who -would there also kill our game, come upon our lands, and try to get -them from us. - -“Brother, we are determined not to sell our lands, but to continue on -them. They are fruitful, and produce us corn in abundance, for the -support of our women and children, and grass and herbs for our cattle. - -“Brother, the white people buy and sell false rights to our lands; and -your employers, you say, have paid a great price for their right. They -must have plenty of money to spend it buying and selling false rights -to lands belonging to Indians. The loss of it will not hurt them, but -our lands are of great value to us; and we wish you to go back to your -employers, and tell them and the Yorkers, that they have no right to -buy and sell false rights to our lands.” - -Although the inducements held out to Indians at this time were -rejected, yet the scheme, on the part of the applicants, was by no -means abandoned; and as a measure like this, so inimical to the cause -in which Friends were engaged, could not fail of exciting considerable -alarm, it was reasonable to suppose, their influence would interpose -to prevent the adoption of a measure so pregnant of evil to the poor -Indians. Accordingly, an appropriate address was presented to the -Seneca nation, strongly recommending them to a diligent improvement of -their land, and to keep strong in their resolution not to part with -it--for if they should sell and remove to a distant country, it was -not likely Friends would go with them, or assist them, as they had -heretofore done. - -The minds of the Indians appeared to be quieted for the present, and -they were peculiarly pleased with the communications of Friends on this -occasion. One of their chiefs observed in council--“Your words reached -our hearts, and as though they had been handed down from the Great -Spirit above, they have satisfied our minds.” - -The spring of 1812, commenced with very encouraging prospects of -improvement at both the settlements. The women were engaged in their -spinning business, and the men in their agricultural pursuits, which -relieved the women of much of their former hardships and burthens in -procuring a livelihood. The measures adopted for their improvement had -now been in operation at the Alleghany settlement for fourteen years, -and the advantages resulting therefrom were more sensibly felt, and -clearly distinguished by the Indians than at any former period. The -progress of the Indians at Cattaraugus, considering the infant state -of the establishment of Friends there, afforded the most sanguine -prospect, that, by a steady perseverance, in the course of a few years -more, a very important change would be effected in their situation -and manner of life. But a reverse of circumstances, in the course of -events, again took place, which it seems proper now to mention. - -It was in the Sixth month, this year, that war was proclaimed by -the United States against Great Britain, and her dependencies. This -circumstance created very considerable alarm amongst the Indians, and -to use their own expressions, “seemed to turn the world upside down.” - -Their situation was peculiarly trying. War was a circumstance replete -with many evils, which would inevitably involve them in serious -difficulties. Their money, for which they had sold their land in 1797, -was in the hands of the government. Their remaining lands were nearly -all within the boundaries of the state of New York, and lying near to -the British lines, which it was probable would become the seat of war, -and therefore they would be liable to be much harassed by either party, -even should they remain neutral. In the next place, there were several -tribes of their confederates of the Six Nations, whom they had always -considered as brethren, who resided within the British dominions, and -called upon to fight their battles; and it was probable they would be -called upon by the United States to assist in the contest, and thus -they would be reduced to the sad dilemma, of either being considered, -in case of a refusal, as enemies to the United States, or otherwise be -under the necessity of raising the hatchet against their own flesh and -blood, who had not given the slightest cause of offence or provocation. - -Nor were these all the evils that seemed to threaten their repose. They -were generally represented, in war, as a ferocious, unrelenting people; -and hence it was natural to conclude, that jealousies would exist among -their surrounding white neighbours, and prejudices be excited, which it -would be difficult to remove. - -Their fears were not groundless in this respect; for soon after war was -proclaimed, many of the surrounding inhabitants became very uneasy, and -divers left their settlements, and removed to places more remote from -the natives. This circumstance caused some alarm among the Indians. -They apprehended that their sincerity and friendly dispositions were -suspected; in consequence whereof, a council was held between them -and their white neighbours, to endeavour to eradicate the fears and -jealousies which existed between them. The result of this was, that the -Indians promised to take no part in the war, and the whites agreed not -to molest them in their peaceable possessions. - -This conclusion, however, did not stand long, on the part of the -Indians. They were called upon by the United States to engage in -the contest, and to take up arms against their brethren in Canada, -who were, no doubt, excited to this unnatural war, by the British -government. Some of the young warriors, who had never before seen -the dreadful effects of such a conflict, were anxious to try their -valour, and gain themselves a name; while many of their elderly people, -who retained some knowledge of former wars, were more disposed to -remain quiet at home. But as it is not the design of this work to -give a history of the war, in all its bearings on the Indians, it is -sufficient to say, that during the period the war lasted, they were at -times engaged therein by parties; and in proportion to the part they -acted on this occasion, their advancement in civilization was impeded. - -In the autumn of this year, two of the committee visited the -settlements at Tunesassa and Cattaraugus, by whom a suitable address -was sent to the Indians. But they found them in a very unsettled -situation, on account of the war; and said “they could not, at present, -attend to their improvements--for, look which way they would, they saw -nothing but war.” - -As the situation of the Friends stationed among the Indians was also -trying at this period, they were left at liberty either to leave them, -and return home, or to remain, as they felt best satisfied to do. - -In the year 1813, although frequent alarms continued to pervade the -Indians’ borders, our Friends did not apprehend it sufficient cause to -abandon their residence, or to relax their endeavours to establish the -Indians in a more permanent advantage from the soil. The Indians, too, -appeared to have a special confidence in Friends, and often consulted -them on account of their own safety, stating “that if Friends removed -from them, they would become uneasy, and flee also.” - -Although some of the Indians attended to their business, yet the -continual alarms, and frequent calls on them to assist in the invasion -of Canada, very much diverted their attention from their domestic -concerns; and their war excursions had a demoralizing effect, by -exposing them again to the use of intoxicating liquors, which gained an -ascendency over some. - -Towards the close of this season, at the time Buffalo was attacked and -burned by the British, the Indians became exceedingly agitated. Those -of Cattaraugus, lying more contiguous to the scene of action, moved a -great part of their property to the south side of the river, in order -to flee in case of an attack. The consternation that prevailed among -the inhabitants generally, in that country, had a tendency to increase -their fears; and probably a consciousness of their having taken up arms -against their brethren in Canada, naturally created apprehensions, -that, if their enemies proved victorious they would have to suffer a -retaliation. - -The alarm, however, subsided, as there was no attack made on them, and -they were permitted to remain quiet the succeeding winter, and attend -somewhat to their necessary concerns. - -In the fall of 1814, the settlements were visited again by four of the -committee. They arrived at Cattaraugus the thirteenth of the Ninth -month, and had a council on the fifteenth with the Indians. Many of -them were then absent, being engaged in the war, and more were about -going. But when they heard of Friends’ arrival, they concluded to stay -at home. - -They stated the many difficulties which they laboured under, on account -of the war, and the great obstruction it was to their improvement. They -said the officers often called on them to go to war, and if they staid -at home, they were not satisfied--and they did not know whether they -were safe or not. - -“Brothers, said they, the war has continued for three summers past. We -have still had time to provide a little for our families; but this year -we scarcely get home, before another express comes for us. We have been -in hopes these troubles would subside; but from the present commotions, -and noise of the great guns on the lines, we have entertained doubts -how or when it will end.” - -At the conclusion of the council, they remarked the great satisfaction -they felt, that the Friends who lived beside them had remained so -steady with them through their difficulties, that although the great -guns had roared so loud as to shake the ground whereon they stood, yet -they remained quiet; which convinced them that they must be under the -protection of the Great Spirit. - -Notwithstanding the various interruptions the Indians had met with -on account of the war, they had made very considerable advances in -agricultural improvements, at this settlement. The author, being one of -the deputation who now visited them, had an opportunity of observing -the great contrast in their situation, since Friends came to settle -among them. They had enclosed with good fences, and cultivated several -hundred acres of good land, within three or four years past; a great -proportion of which was planted with corn and potatoes, or sowed with -oats, &c. and generally looked well. Many families had raised wheat, -and were preparing to sow more in the fall. Several had raised flax, -and about twenty-five of their women had learned to spin. Their women, -also, appeared more neat and cleanly, in their dress and houses. But -three or four families remained in their old village, having found -it much to their advantage to settle more detached from each other. -They were now scattered along, on the rich bottoms, for several miles. -Considerable improvement had also taken place in the mode of building. -Many had good houses, and some had barns, and scarcely any of the old -cabins were seen standing. The Indians had procured a number of wagons -and carts, with other farming utensils, as well as several yoke of -oxen. Their stock of cattle, in general, was much increased; and the -Indians said, in council, there were but one or two families but had -cows or horses. - -The committee also visited the settlement at Alleghany, and held a -general council with the Indians at Cold Spring, where they were -encouraged to perseverance in the path they had for many years been -pointing out to the Indians, and in which good way they had made -considerable progress. But it was observed, that they were deficient in -several respects, and had not made so much improvement as was desirable -for the opportunity they had had. In their replies, they acknowledged -the very great benefit they had received in time past, from the advice -and instruction of Friends, but said they had made less improvement -since the war commenced; that they were frequently called upon by the -officers to go to war, and this kept them uneasy, so that they could -not attend to their business. Some of their people had, also, during -the war, got into habits of intemperance--and this tended to retard -their advancement in the modes of civilized life. - -The old chief, Cornplanter, not having attended this council, several -of the company paid him a visit at his own house, about eleven miles -distant from Tunesassa. About five or six families remained with the -old chief, at his settlement, mostly his connexions. The old town of -Jenuchshadaga, where all the first councils between Friends and the -Indians were held, was entirely deserted, and so overgrown with young -timber, as almost to conceal the place where it stood. This strange -mutation of things at this place, was principally owing to the land -being Cornplanter’s private property, and to the disposition of the -other Indians to move higher up the river, and settle on land belonging -to the nation, where they would have a greater security for the -improvements they should make. - -Cornplanter expressed his great satisfaction at once more seeing his -friends in his own house, and that he was still preserved alive to -talk with them. He acknowledged the advice of Friends had always been -good, and that in consequence of many of the Indians adhering to it, -their situation had been much improved, but that in consequence of the -miseries of war, some of his people had again become intemperate. - -The too common practice of men and their wives parting, having been -animadverted upon at the late council, the old chief observed, that he -also reprobated it, as being attended with many evil effects; and that -he had often seen children, who had been thus neglected, when young, -in consequence of their parents’ separation, reflect on their parents, -when they got old, and charge them with neglect of duty; it being -generally the practice where separations take place, for the mother to -take charge of the children, and provide for them as well as she can. - -“The liquor, said he, has been introduced among us by white people; but -this evil practice has grown up among ourselves. Our young people are -too fond of diversions, and not serious enough, in forming connexions. -I have often advised them to more sobriety and regular conduct, and -spent much of my time in serving the nation.” - -The Indians, generally, on the Alleghany river, continued to increase -their stock of cattle, horses, and swine, quite equal to their means -of supporting them through the winter; although in other respects, -since the commencement of the war, they had made but little progress -in agriculture. Many of the women, however, had given considerable -attention to spinning--especially in the winter season. They appeared -more cleanly in their persons and houses than they formerly did; and -their manners, and general deportment, appeared to be rising from that -degraded state in which they had formerly lived, and becoming more -assimilated to the modes and practices of white people. - -The spring of 1815, was ushered in with the welcome and consoling news -of peace, to the poor Indians; an accommodation having taken place -between the United States and Great Britain in the preceding winter. -Not only could the Seneca nation participate in the blessings of -peace, by having their prospects to pursue their agricultural labours -again brightened, but many of the surrounding tribes, who had been -more extensively engaged in the late contest, could now lay down the -hatchet, which had often been stained with the blood of their enemies. - -But although peace had now taken place, and hostilities ceased -between the contending parties, it was doubtful whether the Seneca -nation would be conciliated, and immediately restored to that mutual -friendship, which previous to the war had subsisted between them and -their confederate tribes in Canada, who had, under the banner of Great -Britain, taken up arms against the United States. It was, therefore, -believed expedient by the committee at this critical juncture to send -them a suitable address on the occasion, from which the following is -extracted. - -“Brothers, since it has pleased the Great Spirit to restore to our -country the blessing of peace, we have felt our minds concerned to -address you, in order to encourage you to pursue the path we have long -been pointing out to you; and likewise to call your attention to the -great advantages resulting from living in peace with all men. - -“Brothers, we are sensible that there are two spirits at work in -the minds of men. The one produces in us a disposition of love and -good will towards all men, and is a comforter for all good actions. -The other excites evil thoughts and desires, and influences to bad -actions, such as lying, swearing, drunkenness, pride, envy, hatred, -gaming, and many other evils, which, if given way to, often create war -between nations. So we believe it is in our power to resist the evil -spirit, and conquer all the evil propensities of our nature, by obeying -the Good Spirit, and by daily watching, and prayer to him. If we so -conduct, he will deliver us from evil. - -“Brothers, our fathers, and we their children, who profess the same -principles by which they were guided, have always believed that wars -and fightings are displeasing to the Great Spirit, who is all love, -and who made of one blood all nations of men, that they should live in -peace and love with each other. For this cause, he hath placed his law -in our hearts, and in the hearts of all men, teaching, not only to love -one another, but also to forgive injuries, and even to love and do good -to our enemies. - -“Brothers, where people live in this disposition, and trust in the -Great Spirit for protection, it has a powerful effect in producing the -same disposition in the minds of those who wish to do them an injury; -and instead of hatred, it will produce in their minds love and good -will. For you must be sensible, brothers, that when a man is angry with -another, and uses many threatening expressions, if the other returns -mild answers, and endeavours to pacify him by acts of kindness and good -will, it is more likely to restore the angry man to a sober and right -state of mind, than if he were to quarrel and fight with him--and this -would be overcoming evil with good, which is always pleasing to the -Great Spirit. - -“Brothers, we are sensible that the late war must have brought you into -great difficulty and distress--and we are thankful for the return of -peace. We hope the Great Spirit will preserve you from again feeling -the miseries of war. We also wish you to be reanimated, to pursue your -farming, and the improvement of your land, under the instruction of -our friends who reside among you, as this is the only sure method we -can recommend to you to obtain a comfortable living for yourselves -and families; and the most likely means, as you are industrious and -become sensible of the value of your property, of securing you in the -permanent possession of your land. - -“Brothers, our desires continue as strong at the present day, as ever -they were, to promote your happiness in this life, and in that which is -to come. But this happy state we know can only be attained, by having -our minds drawn to the Great Spirit, by imploring his protection, -and by beseeching him that he would preserve us in love towards all -mankind. If we are sincere in our desires for his assistance, and -attentive to the voice of his spirit in our hearts, we shall have -reason to hope for his blessing upon our labours, which is our desire -for ourselves, for our Indian brethren, and for all men.” - -The Indians were also strongly reminded in this address, of the -dangerous tendency of introducing strong liquor again into their -villages, as the late war had exposed them to the use of it more than -they had been for many years previous--and if they now become so unwise -as to fall again in love with it, it would prove their ruin. - -This communication had a stimulating effect upon the Indians at both -the settlements. Those of Alleghany sent a written address to the -committee, signed by six of their chiefs, in which they expressed in -a high degree, their sense of gratitude for the continued care of -the society of Friends over them, and the great advantages they had -received from their instruction. They also renewed their request that -they might be furnished with a schoolmaster, as but little attention -had been given to their improvement in school learning for some time -past, owing to the general disinclination of the Indians to have their -children thus instructed. - -At the request of the Indians, also, in the summer of 1816, four lads, -two from Buffalo, and two from Alleghany, were brought into Chester -county, within forty miles of Philadelphia, and placed with suitable -persons under the care of the committee, to be instructed in school -learning, and some of the mechanic arts. - -In the Eighth month this year, a Friend who had formerly devoted many -years to the instruction of the natives, proceeded again with his wife -to the Alleghany settlement, accompanied by a young man in the capacity -of a schoolmaster; and the family who had resided there for some -years past returned from thence. The school was again opened at Cold -Spring town, in the Tenth month, where about twenty different scholars -attended, in an irregular manner, owing, in part, to the scarcity of -provisions. This scarcity of food was occasioned by unusually early -frost, which destroyed more than half their corn, and likewise many -other vegetables. This calamity was felt through all that part of the -country bordering on the lakes. - -Although the Indians had had the fairest prospect of a plentiful -supply, yet, from the foregoing circumstance, many of them were -compelled to resort to their former source of dependence, and with -their families, retire to the woods and hunting encampments, where they -remained a great part of the winter. - -The Indians at Cattaraugus were conspicuous sufferers by this calamity; -many of them having their crops of corn entirely cut off, while they -had as yet scarcely recruited from their sufferings during the late -war. Friends duly considered their distressed situation, and granted -five hundred dollars to be applied in supplying them with provisions, -and three hundred more to be administered to the necessities of -those on the Alleghany reservation. These donations were gratefully -received by the Indians, and were peculiarly useful in enabling them, -the following spring, more generally to attend to their agricultural -pursuits, without being compelled from necessity to retire to their -hunting grounds. It was said five hundred and twelve individuals at -Alleghany, and three hundred and ninety at Cattaraugus, partook of this -timely donation of Friends. - -In the spring of 1817, the fears of the committee were strongly excited -for the safety of the Indians, from the various concurring accounts, -that plans were again devising to induce a removal of many of them in -the state of New York, from their present seat, to one very remote -among the western tribes. A measure of this kind would not only tend -to unsettle the Indians in their agricultural pursuits, but if carried -into effect, would entirely frustrate the plan of their civilization, -and render of little avail the labours of Friends for twenty years -past, and the expenditure of more than forty thousand dollars in -promoting their advancement toward a civilized state. - -The committee, therefore, being fully impressed with the great loss -the Indians would inevitably sustain by a removal to a distant clime, -communicated their views by a written address; and with a view of -setting them in a more permanent possession of the soil, recommended a -division of their land into lots, suitable to accommodate each family, -to be held under such regulations, that it might descend from parent -to children, and other near connexions; and under such restrictions as -would debar individuals from selling, leasing, or transferring it, in -any way, to white people. - -This measure being of an important character in the disposition of -Indian affairs, it was believed expedient, by the committee, to present -a memorial to the President of the United States, in their behalf, -by which he was fully made acquainted with the plan proposed to the -Indians for a division of their land; and being visited, also, by a -deputation from the committee, and furnished with various documents, it -opened the way for a free communication of sentiment on the subject, -and the president gave assurance of attentively perusing and duly -considering the documents and memorial. - -In the Ninth month this year, the settlements of Tunesassa and -Cattaraugus were again visited by four of the committee, who spent -several weeks among the Indians, in attending to the various services -of their appointment. They inspected, particularly, the state of -improvement at both the settlements, and also had divers interviews -with the Indians in council, at both places. - -With respect to the improvements at Cattaraugus, the author being one -of the deputation now visiting them, had a fair opportunity of judging -of the advances they had made in three years past. Their settlements -at this place were now extended about ten miles in length--and they -had fenced in many fields and laid out their farms much more detached -from each other--and were gradually advancing in agriculture. It -was supposed they had more than two hundred acres of corn growing, -(and it generally looked well,) besides one hundred acres more under -cultivation; spring wheat, oats, potatoes, and a great variety of -garden vegetables. Their stock of cattle and horses was much increased, -and divers of them had enclosed lots of grass on which they gathered -hay for winter. Many of the women had made considerable progress in -spinning, so as, in the course of the last year, to make about one -hundred and seventy yards of cloth. - -The Alleghany settlement was said to consist of about seventy families, -all of whom, except four, had horned cattle, amounting in the whole to -upwards of four hundred. - -They had more horses than was any advantage to them. Their corn, oats, -and buckwheat, were in a prosperous condition, and promised to afford -them a plentiful supply. And it was pleasing to find, that they had -generally refrained from the use of spirituous liquors. The women, -also, continued their attention to spinning and manufacturing their -clothing. - -The school taught by the Friend at this place was also in a more -prosperous condition than had hitherto been evidenced among those -Indians. Nearly twenty lads attended, divers of whom could write and -read the English language, and had otherwise made satisfactory progress -in learning. The cleanliness of their persons, their order in the -school, and general deportment, appeared to be encouraging. - -A prominent object in this visit was, to encourage the Indians to -make the experiment of dividing their land into lots, and holding it -as private property, under certain restrictions. This was suggested -to them, in separate councils with the different tribes, as the most -eligible plan by which they could continue to possess the good land -which they and their fathers had so long enjoyed, and which of late -years they had improved so much, that “this land, with its valuable -improvements, might pass to their children, and be inherited by them as -long as the Alleghany and Cattaraugus rivers should continue to run, -and the grass and corn to grow.” - -The Indians in their several settlements, took this matter under -serious consideration; and, in consequence of an arrangement made for -the purpose, Friends met the principal chiefs, and many others of -the Seneca nation, in a general council at Cattaraugus, among whom -was the noted chief, Red Jacket, and several others from Buffalo. In -this general council, the subject of dividing their land into lots, -was again proposed to the Indians, as the most eligible means of -accelerating their civilization, and securing them more permanently -in the possession of the remnant of the land they yet occupied; and -that these lots should be of adequate dimensions to accommodate each -family with a farm, and be held under such restrictions, that they -could not be alienated, or leased to any other than their own people, -but in such manner as to secure to the individuals respectively, the -land, with the improvements thereon, which should be appropriated to -each. It was believed the adoption of this measure would prove an -additional stimulus to their industry and care, in the prospect it -presented, of the benefits which might result from their agricultural -labours descending to, and being enjoyed by, their children, and -posterity more remote. This important subject occupied the deliberate -attention of the Indians for several days. The result was, a resolution -that an experiment should be made on the Alleghany reservation by the -Indians residing thereon, many of whom had for a considerable time been -desirous of possessing their property more distinct from each other -than had heretofore been the case. - -On the morning Friends were about to proceed on their way homewards, -a number of the chiefs called to see them, and expressed their -great satisfaction with the conclusions that had resulted at the -late council. One of them named Blue-eyes, said, “Brothers, we want -you to continue your endeavours to strengthen us, that we may not -become a lost people, but that by persevering in the right path, we -may experience preservation. We believe it is owing to the favourable -disposition of the United States, that the Six Nations yet exist. And -we are of the opinion, from the representations that have been made, -that we owe much to you--and we trust to an overruling providence, who -has thus favoured us, that we may yet experience preservation.” - -Notwithstanding the repeated refusals of the Indians to dispose of any -more of their land, renewed applications were made by those holding the -pre-emption right in the beginning of the year 1818; and at a general -council, held at Buffalo, about this time, they again determined not to -sell; and with a view of making the President of the United States more -particularly acquainted with their situation, and with the difficulties -to which they were subjected, by these repeated applications for land, -they sent forward a talk for that purpose, signed by twenty-one chiefs -of the Seneca, Cayuga, and Onondago tribes, which was published in the -Niagara Patriot, and from which, for its simple, natural, impassioned, -and pathetic eloquence, we shall present to the reader a few extracts. - - * * * * * - -“Father, from the fatherly care the presidents of the United States -have exercised towards their red children, we speak to our father in -confidence, believing he will not turn away his ears from his red -children. We are alarmed lest we lose our seats. Those men who say -they have a right to purchase our lands, have been distressing us for -a number of years with their plans to possess our lands--offering us -in exchange lands to the westward. We declare to you, we desire you to -publish to all our white brothers, that it is our fixed and determined -purpose to live and die on our present land. It is sealed to us by -the bones of our fathers--they obtained it by their blood. Our bones -shall lie beside theirs--it is the heritage of the Almighty--he gave it -us--he it is must take it from us.” - -“We mean no threat by this--we know we are in the hands of our white -brethren--they can destroy us with ease--but they need not think to -persuade us to part with our lands--as free men we claim the right to -choose between being killed outright, or a lingering execution, by -being driven a thousand miles into the wilderness. - -“Where, father, where would our white brothers have us to go? The -Indian claim to land is put out for more than a thousand miles to the -west--except little spots for particular nations. - -“We have confidence in you. You cannot see your red children, with -their little ones, driven off by stealth and fraud--leaving the -sepulchres of their fathers, their farms, their farming tools, and -their cattle, and dying by families on the road, through hardships -and privation--exchanging all their advances in civilization and its -comforts, for the hardships of the chase--without house or friend. - -“Father, we have confidence in you, that if you see any device formed -against us, you will frustrate it, and succour your red children. We -have deceived no man--we have wronged no man--our language has been -one--we choose not to part with our land. If we have been needlessly -alarmed, you will pity our ignorance, and forgive our childish fears. - -“We trust that you will pardon the multitude of our words. Let none -deceive you in saying that this is the voice of a few individuals, and -not the voice of the Six Nations. It is the voice of the Six Nations in -the state of New York. The chiefs of Buffalo, Cattaraugus, Genessee, -and Onondago, are now in council. We have the message of Oneida -and Alleghany with us, desiring we should speak to our father the -president--intreating him to consider and help us. Speak, father--speak -to your children, that their minds may be at rest. Speak to our council -fire at this place, and let us hear your own words; send them by safe -hands. - -“May the Great Spirit preserve you many years a blessing to all your -children.” - - * * * * * - -The Indians also sent a copy of the foregoing talk to the governor of -New York, accompanied with a short address, from which we make the -following extracts: - -“Father, we thank you that you feel anxious to do all you can to the -perishing ruins of your red children. We hope, Father, you will make a -fence strong and high around us, that wicked white men may not devour -us at once, but let us live as long as we can. We are persuaded you -will do this for us, because our field is laid waste and trodden down -by every beast--we are feeble and cannot resist them.” - -“Father, we are persuaded you will do this for the sake of our white -brothers, lest God, who has appeared so strong in building up white -men and pulling down Indians, should turn his hand and visit our white -brothers for their sins, and call them to an account for all the wrongs -they have done them, and all the wrongs they have not prevented, that -it was in their power to prevent, to their poor red brothers, who have -no helper. - -“Father, would you be the father of your people and make them good and -blessed of God, let not the cries of his red children ascend into his -ears against you.” - -Without further comment on these impressive communications of the -Indians, we shall leave the reader to his own reflections, after -stating, that whatever impressions they might have made on the rulers -to whom they were addressed, it did not prevent the renewed and -persevering applications of the pre-emption holders, to obtain the -Indians’ land, which, although they as often refused to sell, had the -effect to keep them in a state of agitation and unsettlement; for -although they had been repeatedly told that their lands were their -own, and that they could not be compelled to dispose of them without -their consent, and that President Washington had fully assured them -that the United States would protect them in the remainder of their -lands, which they had not legally conveyed away at public treaties, -yet there appeared to be a degree of jealousy existing with some, as -to the sincerity of these professions, and a fear lest they might, at -some time, be compelled to relinquish their rightful possessions and be -removed to another clime. - -The Indians at Alleghany, therefore, sent a message to the committee, -in which they expressed a wish that Friends would endeavour to obtain -for them a written instrument from the President of the United States, -to strengthen, as they said, their title to their land, so that they -might be easy themselves, and their children after them. And as it had -been concluded in the last fall, to divide the Alleghany reservation -into lots, they also wished to know whether this plan was agreeable to -the President. - -In consequence of this request of the Alleghany chiefs, as also with -a view of making the executive department of government more fully -acquainted with their situation, various documents were prepared and -committed to the charge of four of the committee, to present to the -secretary of war, and such other officers of government as seemed to -be requisite. These documents were calculated to explain the views of -Friends in the interesting and benevolent design of ameliorating the -condition, and promoting the civilization of the Indians, and also to -impress the public mind with the peculiarly distressed situation of the -aborigines of our country generally. - -A surveyor being furnished by Friends, some essay was made, in the -course of this year, towards dividing the Alleghany reservation into -lots, as had previously been concluded on in general council. But -difficulties occurred among the Indians respecting it, which they were -not at that time able to reconcile; as the division lines would in many -instances interfere with their present improvements; and their local -attachments having, in a considerable degree, been increased since they -become more detached in their settlements and applied themselves to the -pursuits of an agricultural life, the plan of division was abandoned -for the present. - -It may here be proper to state, that in their former practice of -locating the land they wished to cultivate, they never interfered with -each other’s boundaries. There was land sufficient for them all. Each -family possessed the spot upon which they settled, without interruption -from others; and if they wished to relinquish it, and remove to -another, they might sell their improvements to other Indians. It is, -therefore, not surprising, that in effecting so radical a change from -their former customs, as the one contemplated, difficulties should -occur--and it will require time for local prejudices, gradually to give -way to the more enlightened views of civilization, and for more correct -ideas of distinct property to be realized. - -Notwithstanding the state of unsettlement, considerable improvement in -divers respects, was apparent this year, especially at the Cattaraugus -settlement. A school for the first time was opened at that place, by a -young man who offered for that service, and was attended by a number of -children, with as much regularity as could reasonably be expected. - -In the year 1819, and for some time previous, the Indians on the -Alleghany river had got much in the practice of cutting and rafting -pine timber down the river, and selling to white people, which was -rather an injury to them than otherwise, as it opened an intercourse -with some of the most profligate of the whites, and exposed them more -to the use of intoxicating liquors than when at home, engaged in their -agricultural labours. It also had a tendency to frustrate the plan of -dividing their land into lots, as they now had liberty to range at -large in the woods and get timber where they pleased, while the land -remained as common stock to the nation. - -In the spring of this year, an Indian, who was a lad when Friends -first settled amongst them, and who had since been instructed in the -blacksmith business, dictated a letter to the author, in reply to one -sent to him sometime before, from which, to show his own views of the -improvement he had made, we make the following extracts. - - * * * * * - -“I received thy letter of the eighteenth of last month, much to my -satisfaction. I was glad to hear that my old friend W---- was well, and -thou may inform him that I have usual health also. I well remember the -counsel of my friends, the Quakers. I see they want to do me good--I -feel strong about it. They told me to work at my trade, and to plough, -and sow, and raise grain and grass. All this is very good advice. I -now have plenty of corn, and some other grain, and hay. I have worked -at my trade so as to earn ninety dollars, and received my pay from our -agent. Besides this, about thirty dollars for other smithing, done last -year. I feel glad the Quakers live so near me. I do their smithing. -They have ploughed several days for me. I have good corn in the land -they ploughed, and some good wheat, potatoes, and other things, so that -I have plenty. All this comes from my friends the Quakers’ advice. - -“Thee mentions about running out our land into lots, and that an evil -bird has sung us a bad song. We are in hopes that the good bird will -begin to sing, and in hopes that by next spring, his song will be for -our good. I want he should sing a good song for us. I myself cannot say -much, but I want the land divided into lots. Some say they do not want -it, and are putting it by. I am glad thee has wrote thy mind on paper -to me on this subject, and sent it here--I think I can see more light -by it. I wish thee to make thy mind easy. I will do what I can, and -speak what I know is for our good. I am in hopes to see my friend H---- -here, whom I remember when I was a boy. I intend to keep thy letter by -me, that I may see what it says in time to come, that I may not forget -thy advice. Farewell.” - - * * * * * - -Notwithstanding the repeated assurances, from time to time, given to -the Indians, that Friends were acting towards them from disinterested -motives, and would never bring any charge against them, yet there -were still individuals among them, probably instigated by the enemies -of Friends among white people, who continued to excite jealousies -and surmises, that Friends would at some future day, bring a charge -against them. In order, therefore, to make their minds entirely easy -on this _subject_, a writing was drawn up on parchment, containing the -same assurances heretofore given, that Friends _never would bring any -charge against them for their services_. This, as also a communication -obtained from the President of the United States, respecting the -division of their land, and sanctioning the plan of Friends, was -forwarded to them, and seemed for the present to have a conciliating -effect. - -During this summer, an increasing improvement was manifested by -several of the Indians, clearing themselves new farms, distinct from -their former fields, and preparing to put in their crops, which they -accomplished in due season. - -In the summer of 1820, circumstances again requiring a visit from the -committee to the Indian settlements, two other Friends and the writer, -were deputed for that service. They proceeded to Tunesassa in the Ninth -month; and after inspecting into the situation of the Indians, and -their state of improvement, they found, that, although many had made -considerable advances in agriculture and the modes of civilized life, -yet there were individuals who probably being instigated by designing -white men, or from a perverse disposition in themselves, had become -inimical to their abandoning their former habits, and pursuing the -mode of life in which Friends had for many years been endeavouring to -instruct them. This created jealousy and party spirit in some degree -among them at this period. - -To meet these circumstances, and to endeavour to reconcile the minds of -the Indians, a council was called, which their chiefs generally, and -many others of their people, attended, to the number of about seventy. - -The following is extracted from the address of Friends, delivered to -them on this occasion. - - * * * * * - -“Brothers, by the permission of the Great and Good Spirit who made the -world, and is acquainted with all the actions of men, we are permitted -to meet in council, and we desire that he may help us to come to right -conclusions. - -“Brothers, it is now a long time since the Seneca nation became -sensible that if they continued to exist as a people, they must change -their mode of living from the hunter state, and engage in agricultural -pursuits. They were very desirous that their brothers, the Quakers, -would assist them. They believed it pleasing to the Great Spirit, that -men should assist and help each other, and that Friends came amongst -them for that purpose. - -“Brothers, when our Friends first came among you, you had no good -houses--very few cattle--very little land cultivated--your numbers -were decreasing, and it appears certain to us, and to yourselves, that -unless a change were made, you would fast dwindle away, and the Seneca -nation become as it were dead. - -“Brothers, some of our friends have been engaged in instructing -you for more than twenty years. You have been taught to build more -comfortable houses--you have enclosed and cultivated fields--you have -much increased your stock of cattle, and other useful animals. Some of -your men have been instructed in useful trades. Many of your women have -learned to spin, and some of your children have been taught to read and -write. - -“Brothers, we love you, and therefore we feel bound to speak plainly to -you. We hope our words may sink deep into your minds. It is the voice -of your old and true friends, who have never deceived you. You must -endeavour to improve in the habits of civilized life, until you arrive -at the state of some of the best of the white people, or you will -gradually go back until you lose what you have gained--your friends -with mournful hearts will give you up--your lands will go from you--and -the very name of the Seneca nation, like many that have gone before -you, will only be known in history. - -“Brothers, a man in the habit of taking strong drink to excess sets -a bad example to his neighbours, and his family, and brings his poor -wife and innocent children to poverty and distress. This conduct is -offensive to the Great Spirit; and unless he changes, he becomes one -of the most wretched of men. We wish you, therefore, to endeavour to -reclaim such of your people as have fallen into this evil practice, and -to warn those who may be in danger of contracting the habit. - -“Brothers, we desire to stimulate you to increased industry. The -industrious man is always the most comfortable. Labour is good for -health; it makes the mind cheerful; and by steadily attending to -business, we have the satisfaction to see every thing improving around -us. What appeared hard, by perseverance becomes easy. - -“Brothers, the greatest kindness a man can do to his children, is to -begin early, to learn them to be industrious, and to engage them in -business suitable to their years. The boys ought to help their fathers -in the fields--the mothers and daughters to be engaged in spinning--in -making clothes, in cooking victuals, and in all the business that is -suitable to their sex--their houses, their beds, their clothes, and -every thing about them, should be kept clean and in good order. - -“Brothers, it is consistent with the will of the Great Spirit, that men -and women should be connected in marriage. It is an engagement of great -importance, and we should not enter into it, until we are of sufficient -age to think and judge for ourselves; and when marriage is contracted, -the parties are bound to help and love each other--to care for, and -instruct their children--and while families live in love and harmony -together, it is very comfortable and very good;--but when division -gets in, and differing, it is the work of the evil spirit--and if man -and wife separate and marry others, it produces confusion, and must be -displeasing in the Divine sight, and no people can prosper and grow -strong who are in such practices. - -“Brothers, it is the duty of parents to have their children educated. -The Great Spirit has given us minds capable of improvement, and by -education children become more capable of learning the various trades, -which will add to their comfort and happiness; and we believe it is -right that the girls should be taught as well as the boys. - -“Brothers, we have been desirous that the lands belonging to you might -remain firm in your hands, that your children and children’s children -might possess them. For this end, we advised you to divide to every -family a farm, so that they might say, “this is mine,” and improve it -for their own benefit. And although changes are at first subject to -some difficulties, yet we believe those difficulties may be overcome. - -“Brothers, on this subject you wished to have the mind of your -father, the President of the United States, to strengthen you in the -conclusion you had come to in general council, to divide the Alleghany -reservation. You requested your friends in Philadelphia to go to the -President, and obtain his opinion. One of us, who are now present, with -some others, took a journey to Washington, for the purpose of complying -with your request, and we found the President fully impressed with the -necessity of such a measure, and he gave us a paper, in strong words, -sealed with the great seal of the United States, and directed to the -Alleghany chiefs, advising and urging that you might carry the business -into effect, which paper was sent to you. - -“Brothers, we hope you will keep your minds strong on this subject, -for we shall hardly know how to go again to the President, and make -requests on your behalf, if, when they are granted, they are not -proceeded in. - -“Brothers, our talk has been long. Circumstances seemed to require it; -we hope you will consider it well. We love and desire the prosperity of -you all; and although you may differ in opinion in some matters, yet we -desire that the Good Spirit may unite your minds in love, and that you -may all join in endeavours to promote education and improvement.” - - * * * * * - -The Indians took these matters into serious consideration, and promised -to make a reply the day following--and when they assembled for that -purpose, it was evident they were divided into two parties, and divers -of them had become opposed to their children’s being instructed in -school learning, giving this as a reason, “that they were more liable -to be corrupted by bad white people.” - -Much the greater part, however, continued to manifest an attachment to -Friends, and, in their replies, gave hearty assurances of attending -to their advice. They appeared to be fully sensible that remaining on -their land, and pursuing the plan that Friends had pointed out to them, -were the only means by which they could continue to be a nation. The -chief sachem, named _Blue-Eyes_, in the course of his speech, remarked, -“If we go from here we are a lost people. Look to the east, west, -north, or south; all is filled up, and there is no place for us.” - -On the subject of dividing their land, they appeared to be discouraged, -owing to their divided state, and the opposition met with from -some individuals, who no doubt were influenced by interested and -_designing men_; as this great object would be the most likely means -of settling the Indians in a permanent possession of the soil, and -thereby frustrate _the avaricious designs_ of speculators. The secret -insinuations of this class of the white people added much to the -difficulties of Friends in pursuing their plans of civilization; nor -was it to be wondered at, that individuals, among a people who had -long been a prey to designing white men, should become alienated from -Friends, and cease to follow their counsel. - -At the close of this council, they were, however, reminded of the -dangers to which they were exposing themselves, and the advantages that -might be taken by their enemies, of their divided state, and especially -by those who wished to obtain their lands. They were told that, “we -still considered them as brethren--that we were not divided in our good -wishes for them--that we had always desired, and continued to desire, -the welfare of all Indians, and that, on bidding them farewell, on the -present occasion, we still hoped the Great Spirit might incline their -minds to unite together in love as brethren, and that they would yet -join in promoting the education of their children, and in advancing -in all the improvements that were necessary for the comfort and real -benefit of man.” - -From Alleghany the committee proceeded to the Cattaraugus settlement, -and spent some time in viewing the improvements of the Indians at that -place. They found that considerable progress had been made within three -years past, in building houses, and enclosing more land on the rich -fiats, which was cultivated with corn, oats, potatoes, turnips, and -other vegetables of various kinds, affording a prospect of a plentiful -supply of provisions. - -A council was held with the Indians, and after an introductory speech -from the chief warrior, which is customary on all such occasions, the -following address was delivered to them. - - * * * * * - -“Brothers, having been preserved through a long journey, we are now, -by the favour of the Great Spirit, enabled once more to meet you in -council. - -“Brothers, in passing through your land, we are glad to see that you -are situated on a rich and fruitful soil, where, by reasonable care and -industry, every thing necessary for a comfortable subsistence may be -readily obtained. - -“Brothers, it affords us satisfaction to observe the improvements you -have already made--your well fenced fields, your corn, and other grain, -and your cattle--and we feel, as your old and true friends, a strong -desire that you may be stirred up to increased industry. - -“Brothers, by perseverance and daily attention to business, the -industrious man prospers, and is able to make a comfortable provision -for his family; and it is not only our duty to labour for their -support, but to train our children to assist in all the business they -are capable of--to begin with them young, and thus, while they are -useful to their parents, it adds greatly to their own real comfort. - -“Brothers, by the united exertions of a family, much may be done. -The house may be made more comfortable. Out houses may be erected to -shelter the cattle. Barns may be built to store the grain and hay, -to prevent injury from the weather. While the boys are engaged in -assisting their fathers in these things, the girls ought to help their -mothers in keeping the house clean, in spinning, in making clothes, in -cooking victuals, and every business that is suitable for their sex. - -“Brothers, by thus uniting in promoting improvements, you would soon -make your farms to equal some of the best of your white neighbours; and -if you would fully make the experiment, you would find that what we -tell you is true. - -“Brothers, it is good that parents tenderly love their children. It is -also the duty of children to love and serve their parents. Families -should live together in harmony; and when men and their wives differ -and part, and marry to others, it is wrong--it is an injury to their -children, and displeasing to the Great Spirit. We wish you seriously to -think of these things, and to discourage so injurious a practice. - -“Brothers, you have often been told by your friends, that the use of -spirituous liquors is hurtful. We must again repeat it--we wish you to -keep your minds strong on this subject, and often advise such of your -people as are in the use of it to decline the practice. - -“Brothers, we think it our duty to caution you not to listen to every -voice that would divide you into parties. It will make you weak in your -councils. Your enemies may take advantage of it, and by this means, the -very land that you own may slide from you.” - - * * * * * - -To the foregoing communication, the chief warrior made a short reply, -but intimated that they must confer together on the subject of Friends’ -communication, and wished to meet them again in council, in two days, -when they would reply more particularly. - -At the close of this interview, which appeared to be solemn, one of -the Friends present communicated some sentiments on the subject of -religion, and the nature of true worship to the Great Spirit--stating -that it might be performed while engaged in their fields, on the road, -or while sitting with their families by their firesides. This they -appeared fully to comprehend; and the chief warrior replied, “it was -his religion, and the only one with which he was acquainted.” - -This short though sincere confession of faith, from a native Indian, -was a corroborating evidence that they were not destitute of the -divine principle operating in the heart of man, which teaches him -what constitutes the true worship of God, and requires not the aid of -men or books to accomplish it, but is performed according to Christ’s -testimony “in spirit and in truth,” arising from the sincere homage of -a devout heart. - -It appeared that the Indians at this place were also divided into -parties, which prevented that free intercourse and conference with -each other, which in former councils, were manifest, in forming their -replies to Friends--and without a design to impeach the sincere natives -of any religious sect of professing Christians, I may here state, from -the observations made, and the information received on this visit, that -the introduction of these, under the character of missionaries, on -their land at Buffalo, where the chief councils of the nation are held, -had created great uneasiness among them, and was a prominent cause -of their present difficulties, and conflicting opinions. Some of the -Indians had attached themselves to the missionary system, and joined -in their modes of worship, singing, &c. and these were looked upon as -converted to the Christian faith. Hence the others, who were opposed -to the missionary plans, were branded with the epithet of pagans, a -term hateful to Indians, and which they did not fully understand. -Thus a spirit of jealousy was excited between the parties, and a fear -entertained by some, that the introduction of missionaries on their -land was designed to obtain a permanent possession, and eventually to -dispossess them of it. - -At the appointed time to meet them again in council, Friends attended, -when the Indians of each party made replies to the former communication -of Friends, which, for novelty of opinions, and to show the dilemma in -which the Indians were involved, the reader will indulge me to give at -considerable length. - -The chief warrior’s son, on behalf of the one part, opened the council -in the following manner. - - * * * * * - -“Brothers, the Great Spirit has blessed us, and enabled us once more to -meet in council, with our brothers, the Quakers. We feel thankful that -the Great Spirit has preserved our friends in health who have come to -see us. - -“Brothers, we want you not to be displeased, if we of this party open -our minds to you. We are going to tell you our situation. Some of us -pay attention and observe the sabbath day--others do not. We wish you -now, brothers, to give us suitable advice, and make our difficulties -straight, as you understand how to remove difficulties. - -“Brothers, you know the cause of our difficulties. You know the reason -we are divided. The young men who sit here (pointing to four or five -who sat near him,) think different from the old ones. Our old men -observe the sabbath, or First day. We are not prepared for it. We wish -you to tell us which is best. Whether to do as our old men do, or -follow our old customs. - -“Brothers, we have heard from the Quakers, that it is a bad thing -for a nation to divide, and you wished us to be of one mind as one -man--and now we want you to tell us which is the best plan for us to -pursue--whether white people’s customs, or our old ones. On the other -hand, you have been well acquainted, from old time, with our ancient -customs. We meet three times in the year to worship the Great Spirit; -and we want you now to put us right about it, and give us your advice -on this subject, whether we shall keep the sabbath, or continue to -adhere to our former practice of worshipping the Great Spirit. - -“Brothers, it is now many years since you have taken us by the hand, -and have yearly given us advice. We intend to follow the advice we have -heard from you; but some of our old men have been drawing towards the -_missionaries_, and keeping the First-day. - -“Brothers, we hope you fully understand what we have said, and wish the -chain of friendship still may be kept bright between us and you--and -that you will not be displeased at what we have said to you.” - - * * * * * - -A chief, named Strong, of the opposite party, then spoke nearly as -follows: - -“Brothers, yesterday we deliberated among ourselves, and we wanted to -have our minds made up and united. When our younger brother proposed -the foregoing questions to be put to our brothers the Quakers, we were -glad; hoping they would make the thing straight among us. - -“Brothers, I will now tell you our minds about it, and the reason why -we have undertaken to keep the First-day of the week. Last season we -went to a council at Buffalo, our agent P----, showed us a paper which -came from the President, which stated that he wanted his brothers, the -Indians, to take hold of improvements, and also to keep the First-day -of the week. He also wanted our children to learn their books. He told -us that Congress had made an appropriation for the purpose of improving -the condition of the Indians, and he wished to know whether they would -accept it. We told the agent we had the Quakers living beside us, with -whom we were satisfied; and if any help came from the President, we -wished it to come through the Quakers. Our agent told us, the Quakers, -he knew were friends to us; they have property of their own to help -you. Congress has also appropriated money to assist you, and you should -leave it to the President to dispose of that, as he thinks best for -your benefit. We, therefore, concluded to pay attention to both the -Quakers and the President, and have friends of both. We saw that many -of the different nations of Indians were becoming civilized, and that -the Seneca nation still remained in their old habits. We saw that the -Quakers and the ministers, (meaning missionaries,) both observed the -First-day. We concluded, as they did so, it must be an appointment -of the Great Spirit to keep that day holy. We then thought, that as -he had appointed it we must observe it also. Some of our people were -wicked. They stole, and committed many bad actions. We thought we -would endeavour to have our children instructed, while young, which -would be better for them. We have been told, the world had been made a -long time, when the Great Spirit sent his son, who brought light into -the world, and wished that knowledge might be spread among mankind. -Your brothers have often told us, there was but one God over all--we, -therefore, thought our friends would be pleased if we should endeavour -to christianize our children. We then inquired among our people who -were prepared for keeping First-day. Many of them were pleased with it, -and prepared to observe it, and others were not. And after a while, -a minister came along, and wanted to know if they wished to hear -him preach. We consulted among ourselves, and concluded that when a -minister came of his own accord, if he was a good man, he ought to be -heard, but if he wanted to come and live amongst us and preach to us -steadily, we would not accept him, or have a minister that our children -could not understand. But we rather concluded to have some of our own -people to give good advice to our children, on First-day, that they -might improve and grow better. Some of our people have often heard of -the accounts given in the Bible, and we thought it was right for us to -keep First-day and hear good advice, or be read to, out of the Bible. -The ministers who come here are different from our friends the Quakers. -They are only travellers. Our friends the Quakers have given us a -writing on parchment, stating that they would never bring any charge -against us for what they have done.” - - * * * * * - -Friends, in their former council, had impressed upon the Indians the -necessity of having their children instructed in school learning, and -offered to supply them with a teacher, provided they would erect a -school house, and send their children. The chief warrior, in reply, -stated, that on consulting among themselves, both parties were willing -to have their children instructed, and would endeavour to procure a -house for that purpose. He also made some remarks on the advantages -they had already received from the instruction of Friends, and among -other things said, - - * * * * * - -“Brothers, in your good advices, you have cautioned us against the use -of strong drink. There is a great alteration among us in that respect, -and many of us are much improved both in this, and in industrious -habits. Long ago we had no fences, no cattle, and were destitute of -many other things which we now enjoy. We see a great difference in our -people. We think we shall get along, though perhaps it may be slowly. - -“Brothers, this village is divided into three or four districts, in -each of which there are persons appointed to endeavour to have your -advices put in practice. When they see any disorders, they are to treat -with their brothers in order to reclaim them.” - - * * * * * - -They were then informed, that as the day was far spent, Friends would -retire a few minutes to consult together, and return them an answer. In -about half an hour, Friends returned again to the council house, and -after informing them that (although they were divided in some things,) -they were glad they were of one mind about the education of their -children; and as soon as they got their house in readiness, they might -inform Friends of it, and they would endeavour to furnish them with a -teacher. - -They were then presented with the following observations in writing, as -the best advice that Friends could give them in their present divided -and critical situation. - - * * * * * - -“Brothers, when your friends the Quakers came among you, their design -was to improve your condition--to teach you to build more comfortable -houses, to cultivate your land, to raise more grain, so as to enable -you to raise and support more cattle--to educate your children, and to -advance in all the useful habits of civilized life. - -“Brothers, we believe that men ought to live, so as to seek for the -assistance of the Good Spirit, to enable them to love and worship -him--and although it is our practice to meet together to worship -him, yet we do not wish to force upon you any of our performances in -religion. We think it right that every man should follow the teachings -of the Good Spirit, in his own heart, which, if attended to, would -always lead him in the right path. - -“Brothers, we beseech you not to let any thing divide you into parties, -and make you feel enmity one against another. It would put you back in -your improvements, it will make you weak--it is contrary to all right -religion, and displeasing to the Great Spirit.” - - Signed, SAMUEL BETTLE. - WILLIAM NEWBOLD. - HALLIDAY JACKSON. - - * * * * * - -Several of the chiefs seemed desirous of having a more decided reply -to the question they had urged upon us, with regard to the observation -of the First-day of the week; and although they well knew the practice -of Friends in meeting together for public worship on that day, yet it -was believed most expedient, under their present circumstances, not to -enforce it upon them. They were again recommended to attend strictly -to the one, unerring guide, the voice of the Good Spirit in their own -hearts, which was sufficient to direct them in the right path, without -the teachings of any man; and that as they were obedient to this -principle, it would gradually enlighten their understandings, and by -degrees they would come to see more light. - -This council concluded, with a hearty farewell by Friends, who informed -them that they parted with them in as sincere friendship as they had -ever done; having the same regard for one party as for the other. - -From what transpired in this council, it was very evident that -their difficulties and divisions arose from the introduction of the -missionary system. By enforcing the observation of the Sabbath, so -called, and inculcating doctrines and dogmas, which the Indians could -not comprehend, and were not prepared to adopt, their ideas with regard -to religion had become confused. Hence some were disposed to make the -observation of the Sabbath and some formal ceremonies, essential and -fundamental points,--while others, jealous of the encroachments of -missionaries on their land, and fearing they might have some sinister -motives in view, were disposed to lay aside all ideas of imitating the -whites in the practice of religion and worship, and adhere only to -their old Indian customs, in this respect. - -From Cattaraugus, Friends again returned to Alleghany, and had some -further interviews with their chiefs respecting the schooling of their -children, and although a few of them continued to be opposed to having -a school on their land, yet the greater part were anxious for it, and -expressed strong desires that a school might again be established among -them. - -While the committee remained at Alleghany, they were visited by the -son of the ancient _Guy-us-hu-ta_, mentioned in the early part of this -narrative. He had learned the blacksmith business--was fifty-six years -of age, and had lived with his present wife thirty-four years, and -never had any other. A chief of the same age, who accompanied him, had -twelve children by one wife, with whom he still lived. - -These circumstances, among all their depravity in this respect, may be -noted to their credit. - -Although these Indians were not yet prepared to make a division of -their land into lots, so as for each to have his distinct property, -yet the practice of buying and selling each other’s improvements was -becoming more frequent among them. In several instances they had -applied to Friends to value them, and this circumstance, it was hoped, -would open their ideas more to the advantage of individual possessions, -and in time, Induce them to adopt the plan that had been recommended, -of dividing their land. - -The young man, in the capacity of a schoolmaster, again commenced -teaching their children, and devoted a part of his time to visiting -them in their houses, in a more familiar way, and also affording them -instruction in the labours of the field. It was evident, that those who -had the most frequent intercourse with Friends, had made the greatest -progress in the arts of civilized life. - -In the spring of 1821, an Indian lad, (the son of one of their -principal chiefs) who had been brought to the neighbourhood of -Philadelphia, instructed in school learning, and taught the shoemaker’s -trade, returned to his father at Alleghany, and immediately commenced -his business, which promised to be advantageous to him, as well as a -great accommodation to the Indians. - -The frequent solicitations of the pre-emption holders, continued to be -a source of uneasiness to the Indians--as _they_ urged the necessity of -having surveys and drafts made of their different reservations of land, -to be divided and kept by the pre-emption holders, in order that when -the Indians were disposed to sell, each one might know the quantity as -well as the quality of such reservation, as they were about to purchase. - -In the Twelfth month, this year, the following statistical account -of the Indians at Alleghany was furnished to the author by the -schoolmaster, who resided among them, which will exhibit the -improvements made by about thirty-five families, though it is cause -of regret that the account was not completed--there being about forty -families more, which were not included. - -The dates affixed to the names of individuals, is the time the account -was taken. - -Big John, Tenth month 23, 1820.--Has about twenty acres of cleared -land, raised eight acres of corn, three of oats, one of potatoes--about -forty apple-trees, several of which are bearing fruit--three cows, four -calves, one steer, one yoke of oxen, four horses, eighteen pigs, one -plough, and one wagon. - -William Platt, 30 years of age.--Fifteen acres of cleared land--a -considerable quantity of corn, three acres of oats, half an acre of -potatoes, one yoke of oxen, and twenty pigs. - -Levi Halftown, blacksmith.--Nine and a half acres of land cleared--one -yoke of oxen, two cows, one calf, two horses, one plough and ox chains, -seven hogs and eight pigs. - -Long John, Tenth month 25, 48 or 50 years of age.--Has twelve children -by one wife, with whom he still lives--twenty acres of cleared land, -seven acres of corn, four of oats, a quantity of potatoes, two yoke of -oxen, three cows, one heifer, three calves, twelve hogs, and a number -of pigs; one wagon, and ploughs. - -Stephen, a blacksmith, 56 years old, and son of the ancient -Guy-us-hu-ta.--Eight acres of corn, four of oats, one of potatoes, four -of mowing grass, one yoke of oxen, five cows, six calves, fifteen hogs -and pigs, and one plough. - -John Jemison, 24 years old.--Fifteen acres of cleared land, four acres -of oats, one of buckwheat, four of corn, potatoes, and beans; sixteen -hogs and several pigs, two horses, two cows, one heifer, one calf, one -yoke of oxen, one steer. Ploughed last spring about thirty acres of -land, twenty-one of which was hired by other Indians at two dollars per -acre--has put up a new barn fifty feet long--made new fence to enclose -six acres of land the present season. - -Big Jacob, 50 years old.--Eight or ten acres of cleared land, five -acres of corn, four of oats, one of potatoes, one yoke of oxen, three -yoke of steers, four cows, one calf, five hogs and near twenty pigs; -has sown one bushel of wheat this fall. - -Moses Pierce, aged 32.--Twenty acres and a half of land, two and a half -of corn, three and a half of oats, quarter of potatoes, one and a half -of hay, one yoke of oxen, two cows, three young steers, one calf, five -hogs and seven pigs; makes ploughs, sleighs, and does carpenter work. - -John Pierce, Eleventh month 3, aged 56.--Twenty acres of cleared land, -raised five acres of corn, one and a half of potatoes, four of oats, -four of grass, has eight head of cattle, fifteen hogs and pigs. - -Eli Jemison, twenty-seven years old.--Has begun a new improvement in -the woods, and has about three acres cleared--parted with his old -field, which contained six acres, raised three acres of corn, half -an acre of potatoes, and one acre of turnips, five hogs, one yoke of -steers, one cow, one heifer, one plough and wagon. - -Simon Pierce, Eleventh month 16, 26 years old.--Fourteen acres of land, -five acres of corn, three of oats, half an acre of potatoes, two of -wheat, three and a half of meadow, two cows, two heifers, two steers, -one ox, four hogs and ten pigs. - -Billy, 50 years old.--Raised fifty bushels of corn, half an acre of -potatoes, one cow, one calf, and three hogs. - -William Johnson, Twelfth month 2, 50 years old.--Eleven acres of land, -raised six acres of corn, half an acre of potatoes, quantity of beans, -one yoke of oxen, two cows, two heifers, twelve hogs and pigs. - -Morris Halftown, First month 31, 1821, 26 years old.--Eighteen acres of -land, raised last year three and a half acres of corn, six of oats, one -and a half of potatoes, two and a half of hay, one yoke of oxen, two -cows, three steers, one calf, one horse, four pigs, and three hogs. - -Israel Jemison, Second month 2, 30 years of age.--Fourteen acres of -land cleared, and four more part cleared, three and a half acres of -corn, three of oats, two of buckwheat, half an acre of peas, one of -potatoes, one of wheat, two and a half of meadow, two yoke of oxen, two -cows, one yoke of steers, six hogs, fourteen pigs; killed in the fall -five hogs--one plough, one cart and log chains. - -John Dick, Third month 29, 65 or 70 years old.--Had last year two acres -of spring wheat, four of oats, three horses, and one hog. - -Jemison, a blacksmith, 54 years old.--Ten and a half acres of land, -three horses, two cows, three calves, three hogs and four pigs, and -killed three hogs for pork; five acres of corn, one of potatoes, three -of oats, half an acre of peas, one plough, and harness for horses. - -Jacob Taylor, Fifth month 10, 40 years old.--Five and a half acres -of land, one yoke of steers, one heifer, four hogs,--corn, oats, and -potatoes, quantity not mentioned. - -James Robeson, Seventh month 1, 48 years of age.--Thirteen and a half -acres of land, planted five acres of corn, half an acre of potatoes, -two acres of spring wheat, three and a half of oats, two and a half of -meadow, nine head of cattle, seven hogs, one plough, one harrow, chains -and sled. - -Blue Eyes.--Twelve acres of land, quantity of corn, one acre of wheat, -three and a half of oats, sowed half a bushel of flaxseed, two and a -half acres of meadow, one yoke of oxen, five cows, three calves, four -hogs, twenty-two pigs, five horses, plough, chains, &c. - -John Watt, 35 years old.--Three acres of corn, half an acre of -potatoes, four hogs, twenty-six pigs. - -Jonathan Titus, 55 years old.--Three acres of land, two cattle, and -three pigs. - -Jacob Snow, Seventh month 8, 50 years old.--Five acres of land, three -acres of corn, one and a half of potatoes, one-third of an acre of -beans, and four hogs. - -Jacob Thomas, 28 or 30 years old.--Eight acres of land, three of corn, -two of oats, three-fourths of an acre of peas, some potatoes, seven -cattle, seven hogs, and seven pigs. - -Big John, Seventh month 23, 53 years old.--Fourteen acres of land, five -acres of corn, one of potatoes, five of oats, three of meadow, sixteen -head of cattle, four horses, and thirteen hogs. - -William Halftown, aged 26.--Fourteen and a half acres of land, ten -of which he lately had cleared, for which he paid fourteen dollars -per acre for clearing; one acre of corn, two of oats, two and a half -meadow, one yoke of oxen, one cow, one horse, plough, sled, and some -bearing apple-trees. - -John Bone, 33 years old.--Three acres of corn, two of oats, two of -meadow, four cattle, one plough. - -George Silverheels, 43 years old.--Ten and a half acres of land, eight -head of cattle, eleven hogs, five acres of corn, one of potatoes, -one of oats, one and a half of meadow--has lately commenced a new -improvement. - -John Lewis, Eighth month 4, 21 years of age.--Five acres of land, -mostly in with corn, one yoke of steers, one heifer, and eight hogs. - -Bucktooth, 55 years old.--Ten acres of land enclosed, six acres of -corn, three horses, one heifer, and eleven hogs. - -Jacob Strong, Eighth month 14, 32 years old.--Eleven acres of land, -three of corn, one and half of potatoes, one and half of oats, one -and a half of meadow, one cow, two heifers, one calf, ten hogs, one -plough--has put up a good house with stone chimneys up and down stairs. - -Jacob Jemison, Ninth month 3, 30 years of age.--Four acres of corn, one -and a half of oats, three-fourths meadow, one yoke of oxen, one cow, -about twenty head of swine, one plough and chains. - -David Halftown.--Five acres of corn, one of buckwheat, two of oats, one -of potatoes, two of beans and other vegetables, one yoke of oxen, two -cows, one yoke of steers, five hogs, one plough and chains. - -Fight Thompson, 34 years of age.--Three acres of corn, half an acre of -potatoes, one patch of turnips, one yoke of oxen, one calf, five hogs, -and one plough. - -William Patterson, Tenth month 1, 28 years old.--Four acres of corn, -two of oats, two cows, and nine hogs, which he is fattening. - - * * * * * - -From the foregoing account of thirty-five families, it appears they had -about four hundred and forty acres of cleared land, one hundred and -fifteen of which was cultivated with corn, seventy-one with oats, nine -with wheat, seventeen with potatoes, and thirty-two in meadow ground. -They possessed twenty-six horses, twenty-two yoke of oxen, one hundred -and fifty-five other cattle, and nearly four hundred head of swine. But -little account is given of their improvements in building--this having -been heretofore noticed in this work. - -In the spring of 1822, a school was opened on the land owned by -Friends, for the instruction of the Indian children at the Alleghany -settlement; the schools hitherto kept for their instruction, having -been mostly on the Indians’ land. This school was continued for several -years, under the care of a teacher who had devoted many years of his -time to the instruction of the natives. In 1823, it was attended by -an average number of about twenty children, most of whom were in the -rudiments of their learning, but made considerable progress for the -time they had attended, and their general deportment gave satisfactory -evidence of an improvement in other respects. Another Friend, who -resided among them at this period, afforded them instruction in some -of the mechanic arts; and through this, and the succeeding year, -notwithstanding the existence of various difficulties in relation to -the prosecution of this desirable object, a spirit of industry and -attention to business continued to be apparent with many of the natives. - -In 1825, the school continued to be attended by about twenty children, -whose conduct and improvement were satisfactory. Many of the natives -had become increasingly sensible of the need they had of further -instruction, especially in those branches of domestic economy in which -females are commonly engaged. - -The Friend and his wife, who had long resided at this settlement, -having withdrawn therefrom, for a considerable time, another Friend, -with his wife and a single female, offered their services, and -proceeded to that settlement in the summer of this year, to unite with -the two Friends there, in their arduous and interesting service. A -school was established for the instruction of young females, and in -1826 the accounts were encouraging, of the progress made by the Indian -girls in their studies, as well as in knitting, spinning, and other -employments adapted to their sex. The school for the boys was also -regularly attended, and their conduct satisfactory. Between school -hours, they were employed on the farm at agricultural labours, or -otherwise in the shop at some mechanical business; and the regular -industrious habits thus encouraged and inculcated among the youth, it -was evident, would have a beneficial effect in the formation of their -future character. - -From a more particular investigation into the state of the Indians -at the Alleghany settlement, about this period, it appeared that -eighty families, composed of four hundred and thirty-nine individuals, -possessed four hundred and seventy-nine head of cattle, fifty-eight -horses, three hundred and fifty hogs, and six hundred and ninety-nine -acres of improved land, in which seventy acres of meadow were included; -two hundred and thirty-nine acres were the last season planted with -corn, forty-two with potatoes, thirty-eight sown with wheat, and one -hundred and sixteen with oats, besides a quantity of buckwheat, and -divers sorts of vegetables. But notwithstanding these encouraging -circumstances in agricultural pursuits, and the prosperous state of the -schools of both sexes, affording strong ground to believe, that this -people might be essentially and permanently benefitted by the labour of -Friends, yet their situation, at this period, was particularly trying, -and critical, from the great liability to be dispossessed of their -possessions. The continued applications in various ways of _those_ -claiming the pre-emption right, and the evident influence _they_ were -gradually making on the minds of some of the Indians, gave uneasiness -to others more considerate and reflecting among them, and their fears -in this respect soon became realized; for the Seneca nation, finally, -were induced to part with large bodies of their lands in different -places to the pre-emption holders. These sales (the amount of which -I have not ascertained) were parts of the Cattaraugus, Buffalo, and -Tonewanta reservations, and some smaller reservations near the Genessee -river. The reservation at Alleghany, where the greatest improvements -in agriculture were made, remained in the hands of the Indians; and -could this avaricious disposition on the part of the whites to obtain -their land be here restrained, and the natives left in the undisturbed -possession of their _rightful inheritance_, the Seneca nation have yet -a sufficiency of land to accommodate their numbers, and with industry -and care, in pursuing their agricultural labours, they might obtain all -the necessary comforts of life. - -The progress made by the Indians at the Cattaraugus settlement, and -the favourable situation of their land for cultivation, with proper -attention on their part, had induced Friends to withdraw their aid -for several years past, as it regarded an instructor among them. And -the settlement, having been now continued among the Indians at the -Alleghany for about thirty years, it was believed the time was nearly -come to withdraw from them; and, accordingly, the Friends residing at -Tunesassa, returned home in the year 1828, and left the Indians to -improve on the instructions already received from the long and arduous -labours of the society of Friends. - -Having no official means at command, of obtaining correct information -of their real situation at present, I am not able to bring this account -to as satisfactory a close as would be desirable; but from the best -information I can obtain on the subject, it appears, that the Indians -continue to progress in agricultural pursuits, and in some of the -mechanic arts; and some of their own people have kept schools for the -instruction of the youth. - -But it is also said, that the constant pressure upon them to obtain -their land, affords strong ground to fear, that their former sales were -only a prelude to their parting with the remainder, at no very distant -period. - -It is, however, a consoling reflection to the society of Friends, that -they have extended a benevolent hand to this poor, degraded, and much -injured people; and even should they finally be induced to part with, -and relinquish the remnants of their present possession, and migrate -to a more distant clime, the instruction they have already received in -the mechanic arts, together with their knowledge of agriculture, will -greatly contribute to their happiness and comfort, in the land in which -they may settle, and not only so, but the benefits resulting from their -knowledge of civilized habits be extended to more distant and savage -tribes. - -In concluding this account of the proceedings of Friends of the -Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia, it may be proper to state, that many -individuals, both male and female, from an apprehension of duty, -have, at different periods, devoted many years of their time to the -instruction of the natives, and have had the consoling evidence of -peace for their labours. But as this benevolent work could not be -accomplished, without very considerable expense to the society, -voluntary subscriptions were raised, at different periods, to a large -amount, in which it is but just to acknowledge, that the society of -Friends in England, feeling a lively interest in this righteous work, -liberally contributed to a fund for that purpose, which the Yearly -Meeting of New York and Baltimore partook of, for the purpose of aiding -them in extending their benevolent views, in promoting civilization -among various tribes, and of whose proceedings therein, a short account -will be here subjoined. - - _A brief account of the proceedings of Friends of the Yearly - Meeting of New York, in promoting civilization among the Indians, - residing in that state._ - -It will be seen in the early part of this narrative, that Friends of -the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania, first promoted a settlement among -the Oneida nation living near the Mohawk river, in the state of New -York. They also extended some aid to the Stockbridges, and some other -tribes in that quarter. This attention was continued from the spring -of 1796, till about the close of the year 1799, when Friends withdrew -from them; and the Yearly Meeting of New York, being actuated by the -same benevolent motives to improve the condition of the aboriginal -inhabitants, appointed a committee for that special purpose, who -sent instructors among them, and continued to aid and assist them in -agricultural pursuits, in some of the mechanic arts, and in school -learning, for many years. But as I have not at command the means -of furnishing a particular account of the gradual advancement made -in the civilized arts among those Indians, I can only say, that in -the prosecution of the work, Friends have had many difficulties to -encounter; and the Indians have frequently been disturbed and harassed, -by the same covetous spirit, that so frequently annoyed the Seneca -nation, in order to dispossess them of their land. In consequence of -this many of the tribes have been induced to sell and remove far to the -westward. - -By the kindness of a Friend in New York, I have been furnished with -an account of some of the more recent transactions of the society of -Friends, towards the Indians. He states some of the difficulties to -which the Indians are subjected, by the officious interference of a -_proselyting spirit_, which has much agitated several of the tribes, -and created parties and animosities among them. The ultimate object -appears to be, to unsettle them in their present possessions, and -eventually to induce them to abandon the rightful inheritance of their -fathers. - -It appears from the account, that the Onondaga tribe are the only -Indians at present under the care of the Yearly Meeting of New York; -and the only tribe in that state united among themselves, and exempt -from a party under the influence of a blind missionary zeal--desirous -to relinquish their present possessions and emigrate. But a few years -ago the Onondaga’s were an indolent, drunken people, and desirous of -moving to the westward, but as they have in a good degree embraced -the counsel of Friends, become industrious, and availed themselves of -their local advantages, and tasted the sweets of their labour from the -produce of the soil, a radical change has been effected among them. - -This tribe has for seven or eight years past been under the particular -care and superintendence of Adin T. Corey, as agent for the committee -of the Yearly Meeting; and being well qualified for the important -trust, and feeling his mind devoted to it, the Indians have reposed -great confidence in him, and distinguished him by the name of ‘Oatnus,’ -and consider him as their benefactor, as will be seen in the following -speech. - - * * * * * - - _Onondaga, Fourth mo. 27, 1829. - “To the committee of the Yearly Meeting of New York, on Indian - concerns._ - -“Brothers--Oatnus, our brother, told us he was going to New York to -attend the great council--and we thought good to send you a talk, to -let you know our minds. First, we thank you for all your goodness in -giving us the many useful things you have given us, for our benefit, -and we thank the Great Spirit, who in his unspeakable mercy put it into -your hearts to take us by the hand, and pity our condition; but most -of all, that he put it into your hearts and the heart of our brother -Oatnus, to come and live amongst us. - -“Brothers, he has been a wall about us, that in a great measure has -fenced out the encroachments of our white neighbours. When he speaks, -the white people hear, and they do not cheat us as they used to do. - -“Brothers, he has improved our condition much every way. When he -came among us, we were hungry and almost naked, but now we are more -comfortable. Our lands lay common, and were running up with bushes--now -there are many of them fenced and well cultivated, yielding an -abundant supply of food for our people. Our young men, women, and -children were running about doing no good--now, most of them are -diligently and profitably employed. One of our young men has learned -to work pretty well at blacksmithing--three lads have learned to make -good shoes--our young women, most of them, can spin, knit, and sew, -and some of them can weave. Oatnus has also transacted most of our -business--made many bargains, and handled much of our money, and done -all well--not one shilling sticks in his pocket--he has fed our hungry -children, clothed our naked, and helped us when we were sick--when he -came we were divided, now we are united--when there is war he makes -peace--when he speaks our young men hear and keep mostly out of bad -company--our farming begins to flourish, and although we have made much -improvement, we still want a head--we cannot go alone, and if you leave -us now, it will be like making us a very valuable present, and taking -it away again. - -“Brothers, remember, when our brother Oatnus come, we were wild and -ignorant respecting business, and it must necessarily take a good while -to tame a whole nation. - -“Brothers, our brother told us, our school was so thinly attended, he -thought it would be best to drop it till winter, but we are unwilling -it should stop, for fear our children will go back--we wish you to -keep it going--some of us have been negligent in sending our children, -but we will endeavour to be more diligent in the future, if we can be -favoured with it. - -“Brothers, our very tried brother is growing old, and through abundance -of labour and fatigue has grown feeble, having been sick a good deal, -and cannot do as he used to do, yet we are not willing to part with -him, we want him to stay enough with us, to oversee our business, -manage our affairs, and sit with us in council. - -“Brothers, we still want to go on in improvement, and as our young -man that has learned to work at smithing, has taken to farming in the -summer season, we therefore want to get a sober goodly man, to come -and set up his trade among us, and take some of our boys and learn -them the trade. We also want a wagon maker, and a cooper of the above -description, and for the same purpose, and we believe it might be done -with very little expense to our brothers, if Oatnus stays with us a -part of the time, and has the management of our affairs; for we have -abundance of materials to carry on the two last mentioned trades, and -part of the first; and our circumstances are very different now from -what they were when he first came amongst us. - -“Brothers, we have concluded to build a saw-mill this season, among -ourselves. - -“Brothers, it makes our hearts sick when we look abroad and see our -Oneida and Seneca brethren, who have got the blackcoats and hungry -mouths among them--for there is nothing but contention, spite, and -animosity, and no business that is profitable--and we thank the Great -Spirit that has sent us peace--sweet peace and no blackcoats. - -“Brothers, may the Great Spirit preside over your councils--make -you love one another, remember your real brethren and do much good. -Farewell.” - - Signed by the chiefs and some of the warriors. - - * * * * * - -To the foregoing speech the committee on Indian affairs made the -following reply: - -“Brothers, we have received by the hands of brother Oatnus your -communication to us, and it has made our hearts glad; and, that our -brothers and sisters of the Great council might hear it, we gave it -to them to read, and it made their hearts glad also, and greatly -to rejoice, to hear from you and to hear that Oatnus did well with -you--and that you listened to his voice. - -“Brothers, we cannot tell you how much we want you to improve in all -things--we know you cannot do every thing at once, but we want you to -hearken to our counsel--we love you--we desire your good, and that you -may increase and leave a good name behind you, when the Great Spirit -shall take you away. - -“Brothers, remember we can only counsel you for good--if you take our -counsel the Great Spirit will help you. - -“Brothers, you have now witnessed a little of the rewards of the -Good Spirit, in taking our counsel and the counsel of our brother -Oatnus--our counsel to you is, that you continue to improve as you have -begun. - -“Brothers, be sober, be industrious--love to improve yourselves, and -the Great Spirit will bountifully assist you. - -“Brothers, we want you to mind the Great Spirit, to be industrious--to -try to learn yourselves--to keep out of bad company--to avoid strong -drink--to counsel with brother Oatnus, who will never deceive you, but -counsel you for your good.” - - Signed, &c. - -_Fifth mo. 29, 1828._ - - - * * * * * - -By a report of the committee on Indian affairs dated the twenty-seventh -of the Fifth-month, 1830, and presented to the Yearly Meeting held in -the same month, it appears that during the past year, the Onondaga -tribe have received their care and attention as heretofore, and that -those Indians are realizing in an unprecedented manner, the fruits of -their own industry, being stimulated and encouraged, by the care which -Friends have extended towards them, for a few years past, which affords -great cause for encouragement. There is a striking contrast between -their situation now, and what it was seven years ago, when their only -buildings were two small barns, and a few inferior huts. The lands -which they then had cleared, were very imperfectly cultivated, and the -state and quality as well as quantity of their stock, as also teams -and utensils of husbandry of every kind, were correspondent. Since -that time, they have greatly increased their quantity of cleared land; -this season they had about three hundred acres of wheat--their crops -are more abundant, furnishing more than a supply for their people. The -fencing and arrangement of their fields are farmer-like and judicious. -The number of their barns is increased to about twenty--their teams -of horses and oxen, are numerous and efficient--they are pretty well -supplied with wagons, harness, ploughs, and other farming utensils, -and these articles are kept in tolerable repair. Many of their present -dwellings, though small, are comfortable frame buildings, and their -household furniture consists mostly of useful and plain articles--such -as are used in civilized life. - -On a good mill stream within their territory, which consists -of a reservation of about ten thousand acres, the committee’s -superintendent, during the past year, aided by the individual labour of -the Indians, raised a substantial dam, and by a discreet dispensation -of their resources, and by a general economy introduced among them, has -collected about five hundred dollars, which defrayed the expenses of -erecting a good saw-mill, which the Indians find to be highly useful -and productive. - -As the same stream furnished an eligible site for a grist-mill, at no -great distance from those improvements, and as the reducing of their -grain into meal for this tribe, was performed by the manual labour of -the women in a great measure, the committee were encouraged to believe, -that as they duly appreciated the benefits resulting from their newly -erected saw-mill, and from the increased display of mechanical genius, -industry, and method among them, the time was not far distant when -further and more useful improvements will be made by themselves, -calculated to raise their habits in domestic and civilized life, and -elevate their minds to a steady pursuit of their more substantial -happiness and welfare. - -The committee not having been able to comply with the Indians’ request, -made in their speech two years ago, for a blacksmith, wagon maker, and -cooper to be placed among them, as no suitable persons had offered -for that purpose, and also the school having been dropped, that had -formerly been kept, and in a flourishing condition among them, partly -for want of sufficient funds to continue a permanent teacher, these -subjects were again suggested to the Yearly Meeting, with an earnest -wish to inspire in the minds of Friends a feeling that might prove -beneficial in promoting these desirable objects. - -Notwithstanding this concern, to meliorate the condition of the -Indians, has been prosecuted for many years by the committee, with at -times, but little evidence of good resulting to these people, from -their labours, yet from more recent developments evinced from the -latter experience and research of the committee, though the prospect -is an arduous one, it presents encouragement, and the field of labour -is brightening, as the hidden causes of past obstructions present -themselves. - -The committee say in their report, “It appears that many associations -are formed in this country, and some of them under the denomination -of benevolent and religious; all apparently well disposed, and even -anxious to promote the good and the happiness of these original -proprietors of the soil. Yet unhappily for these, the means resorted -to, to advance their prosperity, have (in too many instances) been -elevated above their comprehensions, and not adapted to their wants, -their habits, and their religious views. From a zeal beyond knowledge, -to benefit these people, agents and missionaries have been settled -among them, patronized by these associations, little qualified to -inspire their confidence and respect, and in their zealous pretensions -to christianize, previous to properly instructing in the arts of -civilized life, they produce discouragement and incalculable injury, -divisions and dissentions; and in the language of the Indians -themselves, ‘quarrelling and contention, spite and animosity, and no -business that is profitable.’ - -“Since the Onondaga tribe has been under the care of the committee, -the missionaries have been inclined to leave them to the care of -Friends. And this tribe, which a few years ago was divided and full of -dissention, is restored to union and harmony, and there is a laudable -feeling springing up among them, and an increased desire to become -introduced into, and firmly fixed in the habits of civilization.” - -The committee, in time past, having extended some care to several -tribes of the Seneca nation west of the Genessee river, are of the -opinion that essential and lasting good might, by that care being -further extended, result to those people. To show the desire of the -Indians herein, the following speech of a principal chief, on behalf of -a large majority of the Indians, in the state of New York, presented in -the last winter, was laid before the Yearly Meeting. - - * * * * * - - _New York, January_ 20, 1830. - -“_To the society of Friends of the city of New York._ - -“At the treaty of Philadelphia with William Penn and the Six Nations, -we considered William Penn as a friend to us, not wishing to cheat -us out of our lands, but to pay us a full value for them. Since that -time, the society of Friends have treated us very kindly--they have -never shown a disposition to wrong us out of our lands, but seemed to -wish to cultivate friendship with us, and to let us have our rights -and privileges--and to enjoy our own religion. But there are certain -persons residing among us, at present, who we believe have a different -object. They say they have been sent by the Great Spirit, but we do not -think the Great Spirit would send people among us, to cheat us out of -our lands, and to cause disturbance to arise amongst us, which has made -a division in our nation. No, we do not think the Great Spirit sent the -blackcoat’s among us for any such purpose. There is at present five -thousand of our people and upwards, who wish the society of Friends to -send a suitable person among us, to teach our young men how to till -the ground, and our young women the art of domestic manufactures, and -our children to read and write. If our friends feel disposed to comply -with our wishes, we shall be happy to receive them, and will cause all -necessary buildings to be erected for their use--we think by having -this plan carried into effect, the nation once more would be united, -and become a happy people.” - - Your friend, - his - Signed, Red X Jacket. - mark - - * * * * * - -Although the way has not yet opened to comply with the request in the -foregoing communication, the committee were encouraged to persevere in -their services the present year, in rendering such aid for the benefit -of this poor afflicted people, as the limited means within their power -would, under the direction of best wisdom enable them to do. - - -_Some account of the proceedings of Friends of Baltimore Yearly -Meeting._ - -This concern for improving the condition of our red brethren, having -been opened and spread in the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore, in the fall -of 1795, and the minds of Friends being much united, and actuated by -benevolent motives to promote this desirable object, referred the same -to a special committee, to proceed therein as way might open, to render -essential service to these aboriginal inhabitants. Accordingly their -attention was turned to some of the Indian tribes north-west of the -river Ohio, and a deputation was delegated to visit the Shawaneese, -Delawares, Wyandots and such other natives in those parts as they might -find practicable. They proceeded thereon, in the summer of 1796, after -having first obtained the approbation of the general government. - -When they arrived at the forks of the Muskingum river, where they -had been informed a considerable number of Indians were collected, -they found to their great disappointment, that the chiefs and hunters -were dispersed: and it not appearing practicable to convene them at -that time, to have a suitable conference with them, they returned -without accomplishing the object of their visit. They, however, saw -divers hunters and others, who appeared well disposed to receive the -instruction and assistance which Friends proposed to furnish them. - -In the spring of 1797, three Friends again proceeded to that country on -an embassy, to inquire into the real situation of the Indian tribes; in -the course of which visit, having passed by a number of their hunting -camps and several of their towns, they had a large opportunity of -discovering their destitute condition, often exposed to the inclemency -of the weather, with a very precarious, and often a very scanty supply -of food and clothing. They suffered all the miseries of extreme -poverty, in a country which from its great fertility, would, with but -little cultivation, supply them abundantly with all the necessaries of -life. - -These Friends had opportunities with some of the chiefs and hunters of -the Wyandot and Delaware nations, in which they informed them of the -views of the society of Friends, relative to their improvement; and -endeavoured to impress on their minds the advantages they would derive, -from permitting to be introduced among their people, a knowledge of -agriculture, and some of the most useful mechanic arts. - -The Indians were attentive to their communications, and promised to lay -these matters before their grand council, and inform Friends of their -conclusions on the subject. - -As no way opened during the year 1798, for carrying the object of the -Yearly Meeting into effect, but little was done, more than furnishing -a few implements of husbandry, and some assistance to a few Indian -families, situated upon the branches of the Tuskarawee’s river. - -In the Second month 1799, the committee received a speech and belt -of wampum, from Tarhie, the principal chief of the Wyandot nation, -delivered at Detroit, in the Ninth month preceding, of which the -following is an extract. - -“Brethren Quakers--you remember we once met at a certain place. When we -had there met, a great many good things were said, and much friendship -was professed between us. - -“Brothers, you told us at that time that you not only took us by the -hand, but that you held us fast by the arm; that you then formed a -chain of friendship. You said that it was not a chain of iron; but that -it was a chain of precious metal, a chain of silver that would never -get rusty; and that this chain would bind us in brotherly affection for -ever. - -“Brethren, listen. We have often heard that you were a good and a -faithful people--ever ready to do justice, and good to all men without -distinction of colour--therefore, we love you the more sincerely, -because of the goodness of your hearts, which has been talked of among -our nation long since. - -“Brethren, listen. You have informed us that you intended to visit us. -Yes, that even in our tents and cabins you will take us by the hand. -You, brethren, cannot admit a doubt, but that we would be very happy to -see you. - -“Brethren, listen. It is but proper to inform you at this time, that -when you do come forward to see us, you will no doubt pass by my place -of residence, at Sandusky. I will then take you not only by the hand, -but by the arm, and will conduct you safe to the _grand council fire_ -of our great Sasteretsey, where all good things are transacted, and -where nothing bad is permitted to appear. When in the grand council of -our Sasteretsey we will then sit down together in peace and friendship, -as brethren are accustomed to do, after a long absence, and remind -each other, and talk of those things that took place between our good -grandfathers, when they first met upon our lands--upon this great -island. - -“Brethren, may the Great Spirit, the master of light and life, so -dispose the hearts and minds of all our nations and people, that the -calamities of war may never more be felt or known by any of them--that -our roads and paths may never more be stained with the blood of our -young warriors--and that our helpless women and children may live in -peace and happiness.” - - * * * * * - -On considering the foregoing communication, some Friends were deputed -to make them a visit, and to afford such assistance as they might be -enabled to render. They accordingly proceeded with an intention of -being at their general council, and arrived on the third of the Sixth -month at upper Sandusky, the principal village of the Wyandots, where -they were received by Tarhie (the crane,) and others of that nation. - -On their arrival there, it appeared a mistake had been made in the -translation of the speech the Indians had sent to Friends, respecting -the time of opening their great council, to which Friends had been -invited. They were now informed that it began annually at the full -moon in the Sixth month. - -Finding it would be difficult to procure food for themselves and -horses there, until that time, the committee concluded it best to -have a conference with Tarhie and other chiefs who were then in the -neighbourhood of Sandusky, which was accordingly agreed to. At the time -appointed they met at Tarhie’s house, with several other chiefs, and a -number of hunters, when they had a full opportunity with them, on the -subject of their visit. - -Their communication appeared to be received with great satisfaction by -the Indians, and in their answer, delivered on some strings of wampum, -they expressed the gratitude they felt for the care and friendship, -which their beloved brethren the Quakers had always manifested for -the Indians, and promised as soon as the grand council met, that they -should communicate fully to it, respecting the concern which the -society felt for their improvement, and inform Friends by a written -speech of their conclusion thereon. - -Whilst these Friends were at Sandusky and other villages, their minds -were deeply affected under the sorrowful considerations of the baneful -effects of spirituous liquors upon the Indians, who were at that time -supplied with it in almost every village, by Canadian traders, residing -amongst them--and they were confirmed in the opinion, that unless these -traders could be restrained from furnishing them with this destructive -article, in exchange for their skins and furs, they could not easily -be persuaded to turn their minds towards agriculture and the mechanic -arts. Notwithstanding which discouragement, the great affection they -have for the society of Friends, manifested on all occasions whilst -the committee were with them, induced them to hope that Friends would -endeavour to keep under the weight of the concern, and be prepared to -proceed in the benevolent work whenever way might open, for further -service amongst them. - -In the year 1800 and 1801, no personal interview was had by Friends -with those Indians. In the year 1802, the Little Turtle, Five Medals, -and several other principal chiefs of the Miami and Pottawatomie -nations passed through Baltimore, on their way to visit the President -of the United States, when the committee had a conference with them, in -which the view’s of Friends were fully opened, and they were informed -of the great discouragement Friends had met with, in carrying their -benevolent designs into effect, from the intemperate and destructive -use of spirituous liquor amongst the Indians, which was found to be the -greatest obstacle in the way of their profiting by the aid which the -society had been desirous of giving them. - -The Little Turtle in reply, made a very pathetic and impressive speech -upon this subject, from which the following is extracted. - - * * * * * - -“Brothers and friends--When our forefathers first met on this island, -your red brethren were very numerous. But since the introduction of -what you call spirituous liquors amongst us, and what we think may -justly be called _poison_, our numbers are greatly diminished. It has -destroyed a great part of your red brethren. - -“My brothers and friends--we plainly perceive that you see the very -evil which destroys your red brethren; it is not an evil of our own -making; we have not placed it amongst ourselves; it is an evil placed -amongst us by the white people. We look to them to remove it out of -our country. We tell them, brethren, fetch us useful things, bring -goods that will clothe us, our women and our children, and not this -evil liquor that destroys our reason--that destroys our health--that -destroys our lives. But all we can say on this subject is of no -service--it gives no relief to your red brethren. - -“My brothers and friends--I rejoice to find that you agree in opinion -with us, and express an anxiety to be, if possible, of service to us in -removing this great evil out of our country; an evil which has had so -much room in it, and has destroyed so many of our lives, that it causes -our young men to say, ‘we had better be at war with the white people; -this liquor which they introduce into our country, is more to be feared -than the gun and the tomahawk. There are more of us dead since the -treaty of Grenville, than we lost by the six years war before. It is -all owing to the introduction of this liquor amongst us.’ - -“Brothers, when our young men have been out hunting and are returning -home loaded with skins and furs, on their way, if it happens that they -come along where some of this liquor is deposited, the white man who -sells it, tells them to take a little drink. Some of them will say no, -I do not want it; they go on till they come to another house, where -they find more of the same kind of drink; it is there offered again; -they refuse, and again the third time; but finally the fourth or fifth -time, one accepts of it, and takes a drink, and getting one he wants -another, and then a third, and a fourth, till his senses have left him. -After his reason comes back again to him, when he gets up and finds -where he is--he asks for his peltry--the answer is, ‘You have drank -them’--Where is my gun? ‘It is gone’--Where is my shirt? ‘You have sold -it for whiskey!’ Now brothers, figure to yourselves what condition this -man must be in. He has a family at home--a wife and children who stand -in need of the profits of his hunting. What must be their wants, when -he himself is even without a shirt.” - -These chiefs appeared to be much rejoiced at the assistance Friends -proposed to render them, and in reply to that part of their -communication, observed, ‘that it was their anxious wish to engage in -the culture of their lands, for although the game was not so scarce but -that they could get enough to eat, yet they were sensible it was daily -diminishing, and that the time was not far distant, when they would be -compelled to take hold of such tools, as they saw in the hands of the -white people.’ - -The committee, from their former experience, being of the judgment, -that no great progress could be made in the civilization of the -Indians while they were so abundantly supplied with distilled spirits, -concluded to address congress on the subject. Their memorial was -favourably received, and a law passed, which in some measure provided -a remedy for the evil. - -As it now appeared to the committee, that the principal obstruction -to agriculture amongst the Indians was removed, they were encouraged -to proceed in their undertaking. They accordingly provided a number -of implements of husbandry, such as ploughs, hoes, axes, &c. &c. -which were forwarded and immediately distributed, as a present from -the society of Friends. These things were thankfully received by the -Indians. - -A letter in the summer of 1803, from the agent for Indian affairs at -Fort Wayne, informed, that ‘since there had been no spirituous liquor -in the Indian country, they appeared very industrious, and turned -their attention to raising stock.’ This agent also expressed as his -opinion, “that the suppression of spirituous liquors in that country, -was the most beneficial measure which had ever been adopted for them, -by the United States--that there had not been one Indian killed in -that neighbourhood for a year--and that in no preceding year since the -treaty of Grenville, had there been less than ten killed, and in some -years as many as thirty.” The agent further added, “that the Indians -appeared very desirous of procuring for themselves, the necessaries -of life, _in our way_, but say they do not know how to begin. Some of -their old men say, “the white people want for nothing.” We wish them to -show us how to provide the many good things we see amongst them, if it -is their wish to instruct us in their way of living as they tell us it -is, we wish them to make haste and do it, for we are old and must die -soon; but we wish to see before we die, our women and children in that -path, that will lead them to happiness. - -At the same time, a letter was received from the Little Turtle, and -Five Medals, in which they expressed a wish that some Friends would -visit their country. The committee, therefore, deputed some of their -number for that purpose. They were authorized to procure one or more -suitable persons to reside amongst the Indians, for the purpose of -teaching them agriculture and other useful knowledge, as far as it -should appear practicable. - -In Second month 1804, two of the deputation proceeded to Fort Wayne, -accompanied by Philip Dennis, who had offered his services to go with -them, and remain with the Indians during the summer, for the purpose -of instructing them in husbandry. They took with them two horses to be -employed in ploughing, &c. - -They arrived at Fort Wayne in the latter end of the Third month, and -soon after, convened several of their chiefs in a council with them; a -future day was fixed upon for the committee to meet them, with as many -of their old men, and their women and children as could be assembled. -Their chiefs previously requested, that whatever matter Friends might -have to communicate to the Indians, should be written down, in order -that they might lay it before the grand council in the Sixth month -following, to the attendance of which, they pressingly invited the -committee. - -On the day appointed, being met by a considerable number of the -natives, the committee presented them with a written address, from -which, though all excellent, and well calculated to impress the -Indians’ minds with the importance of adhering to their counsel, we -shall, for brevity, content ourselves with extracting some of the most -material parts, as follows: - - * * * * * - -“Brothers, our hearts are filled with thankfulness to the Great Spirit, -that he has brought us safely to the country of our red brethren, and -protected us through our journey. We also rejoice, that he has given us -this opportunity of seeing you and of taking you by the hand. - -“Brothers, we had for some time entertained apprehensions that the -many changes that were taking place in circumstances, must greatly -change the situation of our red brethren, and that the time was fast -approaching when it would be necessary for them to alter their mode of -living. - -“Brothers, after our talk with the chiefs, (alluding to the Little -Turtle and others whom we have just mentioned,) we were fully convinced -that the time was come, in which our red brethren ought to begin to -cultivate their lands. That they ought to raise corn and other grain, -also horses, cows, sheep, hogs, and other animals. We then proposed to -afford them some assistance. They appeared to be glad of the proposal, -and informed us, that many of their people were disposed to turn their -attention to the cultivation of the earth--they also expressed a desire -to be assisted by their brothers of Baltimore. - -“Brothers, it is for this purpose that we have now come, and we again -repeat, we rejoice that we have this opportunity of seeing you, and -taking you by the hand. - -“Brothers, in coming into the country of our red brethren, we have come -with our _eyes open_. And although we are affected with sorrow, in -believing that many of the red people suffer much for the want of food -and clothing, yet our hearts have been made glad, in seeing that it -has pleased the Great Spirit to give you a rich and valuable country. -Because we know, that it is out of the earth that food and clothing -come. We are sure, brothers, that with but little labour and attention, -you may raise much more corn and other grain than will be necessary for -yourselves, your women and children; and that you may also with great -ease, raise many more horses, cows, sheep, hogs and other valuable -animals, than will be necessary for your own use. We are also confident -that if you will pursue our method in the cultivation of your land, you -will live in much greater ease and plenty, and with much less fatigue -and toil, than attend hunting for a subsistence. - -“Brothers, it will lead you to have fixed homes--you will build -comfortable dwelling houses for yourselves, your women and children, -where you may be sheltered from the rain, the frost and the snow, and -where you may enjoy in plenty, the rewards of your labour. - -“Brothers, we will here mention, that the time was, when the forefather -of your brothers, the white people, lived beyond the great water, in -the same manner that our red brethren now live. The winters can yet be -counted when they went almost naked, when they procured their living by -fishing, and by the bow and arrow in hunting--and when they lived in -houses no better than yours. They were encouraged by some who came from -towards the sun rising, and lived amongst them to change their mode of -living. They did change--they cultivated the earth, and we are sure the -change was a happy one. - -“Brothers and friends, we are not ashamed to acknowledge that the time -was, when our forefathers rejoiced at finding a wild plum tree, or -at killing a little game, and that they wandered up and down, living -on the uncertain supplies of fishing and hunting. But brothers, for -your encouragement we now mention that by turning their attention to -the cultivation of the earth instead of the plum tree, they soon had -orchards of many kinds of fruit--instead of the wild game they soon -had large numbers of cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and other valuable -animals--and in many places instead of their forests they had large -fields of corn, and other grain--also many other valuable productions -of the earth. - -“Brothers, we have spoken plainly, we desire to speak plain--we will -now tell you that we have not come merely to _talk_ with you. We have -come prepared to render you a little assistance. Our beloved brother, -Philip Dennis, who is now present, has come along with us. His desire -is, to cultivate for you, a field of corn, and also to show you how to -raise some of the other productions of the earth--he knows how to use -the plough, the hoe, the axe, and other implements of husbandry. - -“Brothers, he has left a farm--he has left a wife and five small -children who are very dear to him--he has come, from a sincere desire -to be useful to our red brethren. His motives are pure--he will ask no -reward from you for his services--his greatest reward will be, in the -satisfaction he will feel, in finding you inclined to take hold of the -same tools he takes hold of--to receive from him instruction in the -cultivation of your lands, and pursue the example he will set you. - -“Brothers, we hope you will make the situation of our brother as -comfortable as circumstances will admit. We hope, also, that many of -your young men will be willing to be taught by him, to use the plough, -the hoe, and other implements of husbandry--for we are sure, brothers, -that as you take hold of such tools as are in the hands of the white -people, you will find them to be to you, like having additional hands. -You will also find that by using them they will enable you to do many -things, which without them, cannot be performed. - -“Brothers, the white people, in order to get their land cultivated, -find it necessary that their young men should be employed in it--and -not their women--women are smaller than men--they are not as strong as -men. It is the business of our women to be employed in our houses--to -keep them clean--to sow, knit, spin, and weave--to dress food for -themselves and families--to make clothes for the men and the rest of -their families, to keep the clothing of their families clean, and to -take care of their children. - -“Brothers, we are fully convinced that if you will turn your attention -to the cultivation of the earth, to raising the different kinds of -grain--to building comfortable dwelling houses for your families--to -raising useful animals--amongst others, sheep for the advantage of the -wool, in making clothing--to raising flax and hemp for your linen--and -your women learn to spin and weave--your lives will be much easier -and happier than at present--and your numbers will increase, and not -continue to diminish. As we before observed, brothers, your land is -good--it is far better than the land which the white people near the -great waters, cultivate. We are persuaded that your land will produce -double the quantity of any kind of grain, or flax, or hemp, with the -same labour necessary near the great water. - -“Brothers, we shall now end what we had to say, with informing you, -that all the corn and other productions of the earth which Philip -Dennis may raise, we wish our red brethren to accept as a token of our -friendship. And it is our desire that the chiefs of the Pottawattamie -and Miami nations who are now present, added to our brothers the Five -Medals, Tuthinipee, and Philip Dennis, make such a distribution thereof -as they may think proper.” - - * * * * * - -The Indians manifested great decorum, and were very attentive during -the delivery of this address--in reply to which, the Little Turtle -delivered a speech on behalf of the council, from which we extract the -following: - -“Brothers and friends--we rejoice that the Great Spirit has appointed, -that we should meet this day, for we believe this meeting will be of -the utmost consequence to your red brethren. - -“Brothers, the things which you have said to us, require our greatest -attention: it is really necessary that we should deliberate upon them. -In order to do so, we must beg you to leave the paper, upon which they -are written, that we may communicate them to our chiefs, when they -assemble in grand council. - -“Brothers, you have been very particular in pointing out to us the -duties of our women, and you have told us that in adopting your mode of -living, our numbers would increase and not continue to diminish. In all -this I certainly agree with you, and I hope my brother chiefs will also -agree with you. - -“Brothers, assure your people who sent you here--tell your old chiefs -that we are obliged to them for their friendly offers to assist us in -changing our present mode of living. Tell them it is a great work that -cannot be done immediately; but that we are favourably disposed, and -hope it will take place gradually.” - - * * * * * - -These Friends remained several weeks amongst the Indians, during which -time they visited a number of their towns and villages, at all of -which, they were received in the most friendly and hospitable manner. - -In the course of their journey, they passed by a settlement of the -Wyandots at Brownstown or the rock. They found that the Indians at this -place, had, since the visit made by Friends to their nation in the year -1799, advanced considerably, in agriculture, many of them having built -comfortable houses, and acquired a considerable number of cattle, hogs, -and other domestic animals. The Wyandots residing at Sandusky and the -Shawaneese, on the Auglaize river, had likewise, since that visit, -turned their attention very much towards the cultivation of their -lands; Friends had, therefore, the satisfaction to remark, that the -communication from the committee to these nations, and the exertions -which had been made to turn their attention to agriculture, although -limited in their effect, had not been altogether unavailing. - -They also visited the place fixed upon for the settlement of Philip -Dennis, on the Wabash river, about forty miles south-west of Fort -Wayne, and found its situation to be very advantageous for farming; -the soil appeared to be equal in fertility to any land in the western -country. - -Soon after the return of the Friends, a letter was received by the -committee, from the Indian agent at Fort Wayne, informing that the -Indians had held their grand council in the Sixth month, agreeably -to expectation, at which eight hundred and seventy-four of them -attended, when the written address of Friends delivered at Fort Wayne -in the previous spring, was produced--read and interpreted to all the -different nations present. In reply to which, divers of their chiefs -expressed great satisfaction, and amongst others Toethteboxie on behalf -of the _Delawares_ said, ‘For many years before I came into the world, -the white people have been offering to do for us what is now mentioned, -and it appears that our eyes were never opened until this time; we will -now take hold of it and receive it. I am an old man and want to see it -before I die; if I once see it, I will die in peace, to think I have -left my women and children in comfort.’ - -On the return of Philip Dennis, who remained in the Indian country -during most of the year 1804, and spent his time agreeably with the -natives--he informed that he had raised about four hundred bushels -of corn, besides a quantity of turnips, potatoes, and a quantity of -other garden vegetables, which he directed to be divided amongst the -Indians on their return from their hunting camps. He left with the -Indians, with whom he had resided, upon the farm he had cultivated, -twenty-three hogs and pigs, seven of which were in good order to kill; -and he engaged the agent to attend to killing and salting them. They -were small when they were brought to the farm in the spring, and had no -other food than what they gathered in the woods. - -With some assistance which he obtained from Fort Wayne, he cleared and -enclosed under a substantial fence twenty acres of ground, and built -a house thirty-two feet long, and seventeen wide, a story and a half -high, with floors and partitions. - -The Indians who remained with him had been very industrious, and -attended to his directions. The young women wished to work in preparing -the ground and in tending the corn; from this he dissuaded them, and -as some spinning wheels had just arrived at Fort Wayne, which had been -sent on by government--he encouraged them to go there, and learn to -spin and knit, of a white woman who was at that place;--this they did, -and soon learned both to spin and knit; and when he came away, he left -them knitting yarn of their spinning. - -The Indians were very desirous of Friends continuing their care towards -them, and that they should send a person to take the place of Philip -Dennis, but as no suitable Friend offered for that purpose, it was -believed best to request the agent of government residing at Fort -Wayne, (and who appeared to be friendly disposed towards the views of -Friends,) to procure and employ the most suitable person he could, in -that country, to plough the land cultivated by Philip Dennis, the last -season, and plant it in corn, and to endeavour to enlist the service -of the Indians in the labour of tending it; also to prepare a garden -of the most useful vegetables for the Indians’ use, which they might -afterwards easily manage. - -In reply to this request, Friends received an account from the agent, -stating that he would lose no time in complying with their request, -and that he was ready at all times, to put in execution the benevolent -designs of Friends towards the Indians, as far as it was in his power. - -He also mentioned, that at that time, ‘a spirit of industry existed -amongst the Indians generally, and that as several of the tribes had -requested of government to have a part of their annuities expended in -the employment of men to split rails and make fences for them, the -Delawares had twenty-three thousand rails put up into fences the last -winter; and that forty thousand more would be made into fences for the -Miami and Eel river Indians, by the first of the Sixth month--that -ten families of the Miamis had settled adjoining the place cultivated -by Philip Dennis, and that four men were employed in making rails to -fence in forty acres for them; also, that three persons more were at -work for the Eel river Indians, half a mile below Dennis’s station; -that they had twenty-five acres cleared and ready for the plough, and -expected to have fifty or sixty fenced in by the first of the Sixth -month. He expected at least twenty-five families would remove to reside -at that place the present season, and was confident the settlement -would increase very fast. The Indian who worked with Philip Dennis -during the last season, was about building himself a comfortable house, -had cleared two acres more of ground, and was ploughing the field -previously cleared by Philip Dennis. The hogs which were left there -with him had increased to one hundred in number.’ - -The agent further informed, 'that there would be one hundred acres of -land under good fence at the Little Turtle’s town, (eighteen miles -north of Dennis’s station,) by the first of the Sixth month, where they -had also obtained a large number of hogs and some cows, and he doubted -not, the Indians would soon see that it was easier to raise food, than -to procure it by hunting.' He also added, ‘that Friends may see from -the great progress they have made in civilization since Philip Dennis -was with them, that they only want good and suitable men to reside -among them, and teach them how to work.’ - -In the fall of the year 1805, the agent at Fort Wayne informed the -committee by letter, that agreeably to their directions, he had -employed a man to assist the Indians in cultivating the field on the -Wabash, which was cleared and cultivated by Philip Dennis, the last -year. The Indians with this man’s assistance, had raised, it was -supposed, at least six hundred bushels of good corn from this one -field, exclusive of what they had raised from ground of their own -clearing. - -“Many of the oldest of the Eel River and Weas Indians had removed and -settled at that place, where they would be followed by the younger -branches of their tribes in the ensuing spring.” - -He further adds, “Believing as I do that the society of Friends are -desirous of ameliorating the situation of their red brethren in the -country, I will take the liberty to observe, that the present is a -favourable time to put in execution their benevolent views towards -the distressed natives of the land; and that much good may be done on -the Wabash by sending one or two suitable men to reside amongst the -Indians, and teach them how to raise stock, and cultivate the earth. -Witness what Philip Dennis effected amongst them the last year, at -a station where he had every thing to begin. There are now at least -four hundred hogs, and twenty cows, and the Indians at no village -in this country live so comfortably as those at that place. If this -spirit of industry is kept alive for a few years, it will certainly -have a powerful influence upon the minds of the Indians in many of the -neighbouring villages.” - -An account published by the committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, -about this period, has enabled me to furnish so many interesting -particulars of their proceedings, that I have already exceeded the -bounds I had prescribed to myself, in this narrative. I shall, -therefore, only add, that the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore continued -for many years to extend aid and instruction, to the Indians in that -quarter, by personal visits, and by teachers frequently stationed among -them; and continued to have satisfactory proofs of the benefits derived -to this people, from their benevolent labours. Their progress, however, -in this laudable work was interrupted by the war of 1812, which much -agitated, not only those tribes of Indians, but the white people -generally, bordering on the Indian territory--this continued while the -war lasted. And many of the white inhabitants, it was said, went into -block houses, the better to secure themselves. - -It may, however, be noted, that Friends on the frontiers, generally -remained in their habitations, at least with a few exceptions, and -the Indians seemed to repose an unlimited confidence in them, and -frequently visited them. The author having visited a settlement of -the Indians, (called Lewis’ settlement) in the year 1816, had some -opportunity of judging of the high estimation in which the Indians held -the society of Friends, on the frontiers of that country. He also had -an account from one of the Friends who first settled in those parts -(near Mad river,) about the year 1800. He said the Indians manifested -much kindness to them, when the country was all a wilderness, by -frequently visiting them, and administering to their wants, while they -were first opening a settlement and preparing something to subsist upon. - -I may also here relate another evidence of the Indians’ kindness and -hospitality to the whites. A surveyor who lived in Chilicothe informed -me, when at his house in 1816, that being employed by government the -summer previous, to survey some land in the Michigan territory, he -and his company composed of seven or eight persons, running scant of -provisions, were put to their allowance of a spoonful of meal a day, -for each person, on which, with some little meat they procured from -the forest, they had subsisted for twenty-three days together. But -setting out at length towards the settlements in search of provisions, -they met with an Indian going on a journey very smartly. They made him -understand they were very hungry and had nothing to eat. He looked on -them with compassion--pointed towards his cabin, and making signs to -them to follow him, struck off in a direction towards it. They pursued -his track, often having to stop him, to wait for them, and after about -eight miles travelling, arrived at his solitary abode, where he kindly -treated them to all the provision at his command, which, though coarse, -was to them a delicious dainty. - -But to return from this digression, it may be proper to state, that -about the year 1813, a Yearly Meeting of Friends was established in the -state of Ohio, and being composed of part of the members previously -constituting the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore, they also become, as a -body, enlisted in the same concern, to improve the condition of the -Indian natives; and appointed a committee to carry their views into -execution. Friends of this Yearly Meeting living more contiguous to -the Indian settlements, unitedly agreed with the Yearly Meeting of -Baltimore, to make it a joint concern, as it regarded the requisite -pecuniary aid for promoting the object in view. Friends in Ohio, -however, became more actively engaged in personal visits, and sending -instructors among the Indians. - -When peace took place, and the minds of the Indians became -somewhat settled, the settlement which had previously been made at -Waughpaughkannatta was again resumed, and another promoted at captain -Lewis’, and considerable advancement made by the Indians in some of the -arts of civilized life. - -About the years 1817 and 1818, considerable sales of their lands were -made to the United States--and in the north-western parts of the -state of Ohio, which much unsettled the minds of the Indians, and in -consequence thereof, many of them removed further to the westward. - -In the rapid settlement of the states of Ohio and Indiana, and the -emigration of Friends further to the westward, it became necessary to -establish a Yearly Meeting in Indiana, which event took place about -the year 1820 or 1821. This Yearly Meeting, also as a body, feeling -the same deep interest, in the welfare of the aboriginal inhabitants, -appointed a committee to unite with Ohio Yearly Meeting in promoting -their civilization and improvement. - -Having but scanty means within my reach, of ascertaining the progress -made by those Yearly Meetings of latter years, I can only state, that -the concern still continues to engage their attention, and from a -report to the Yearly Meeting of Indiana, in 1826, it appears, that -the committee had continued their attention to the object of their -appointment. “Soon after our last Yearly Meeting,” say they, “the -school for the education of the Indian children was resumed, and -continued about two months, to the satisfaction both of the Indians -and the committee. The children conducted themselves orderly, and -made reasonable progress in learning. But towards the latter part of -winter the Indians became unsettled in their minds, and it was found -impracticable to continue the school to advantage. It was, therefore, -dismissed, and soon after Isaac Harvey and wife, in consequence of his -indisposition, returned to their former residence. They took with them -an Indian lad who remained about three months, during which time he was -at school. - -“About two hundred of the Indians who resided on the Waughpaughkonnatta -reserve, have removed, and are now on their way to join those of their -nation settled west of the Mississippi; and it is yet uncertain, -whether those that remain will shortly be in a situation to receive -instruction. However that may be, we feel satisfied that the labour -heretofore bestowed on them will not all be lost. They have obtained -a sufficient knowledge of agriculture, to enable them to supply their -more pressing wants, and many of them have acquired habits of industry, -which we believe they will retain. And should they all eventually -remove to join their nation in the west, we apprehend the advantages -they are deriving from the change in their manner of life, will be -sufficient to prevent them from returning to their former habits.” - -It appears also, that soon after the Yearly Meeting held in Indiana, in -the year 1827, “a deputation from the committee in company with a like -deputation of the committee of Ohio Yearly Meeting, visited Friends’ -establishment, near Waughpaughkonnatta, who found the farm in good -order, and the school progressing to satisfaction.” - -The minutes of the last Indiana Yearly Meeting of the society of -Friends, held at Miami, also show, that they continue a committee, to -act in conjunction with the Yearly Meetings of Ohio and Baltimore, and -to proceed in the further prosecution of this concern as way may open. - -Thus the society of Friends constituting the Yearly Meetings of -Philadelphia, New York, and Baltimore, have, for more than thirty -years, and those of Ohio, and Indiana, since their first establishment, -been engaged in endeavouring to reclaim from savage life, and to -meliorate the condition of various tribes, of the interesting but -much injured aborigines of our country; and they have succeeded in -instructing many of them in agriculture, in school learning, in -many of the most useful mechanic arts, and the raising of domestic -animals, whereby their lives are rendered more comfortable, and their -domestic engagements increased, as well as their moral condition -improved--and, could the Indians have been permitted to remain quiet -in the possession of their land, and to enjoy the fruits of their -labours, without interruption from the whites, there is reason to -believe, that by a continuation and extension of this care towards -them, a radical change in their character would in a short time have -been effected; and instead of migrating by families and tribes, far -to the westward, and traversing the dreary regions of an unknown -wilderness, in quest of a home, and in search of food, they might have -become useful citizens of the community, contributing to the wealth, -the happiness, and national character of the United States. For truly -it must be acknowledged, that there are among these native sons of the -forest, men of deep reflection--men of extraordinary talents--men of -superior powers of mind, and men who, considering the means of their -menial improvement, might rank with the ancient orators of Greece and -Rome. Added to this, there is sufficient evidence, that they believe -in the principle operating within them, a measure of which, or the -grace of God, according to the apostle’s doctrine, is given to every -man to profit withal, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free. And they -acknowledge in all important transactions, the overruling providence -and superintending care of one all-wise, omnipotent, and omnipresent -Being, who governs the universe; and they believe that they will be -rewarded in a future state, according as their actions have been in -this life, either good or evil. Why then should not the policy of the -government be directed to the protection and preservation of these -people, and not to their extermination from their native soil? Is it -not a doctrine sanctioned by the general consent of Christians, that -all nations are equally free? That one nation has no right to infringe -upon the freedom of another? - -Let us then fulfil the golden rule--let us then, my fellow citizens, -exercise that kind of policy towards them, that we would they should -have done to us, if they had landed on our shores with a superiority -of strength. Why should not things be equal on both sides? Or is the -balance of power always to decide the balance of justice, and rob the -weak and defenceless of their lawful rights--shall a nation professing -_christianity_, and having pledged itself in the most solemn manner to -_protect the Indians in all their rights_, be guilty of such injustice? -Or what part of the gospel will they plead in extenuation of such a -crime? In what part of the earth did the apostles or first promulgators -of the gospel assume, to extirpate from their country, or to claim -a right over the freedom and the substance of the Gentiles? What a -strange method this would be, of propagating the gospel of peace. And -can it be expected the natives of America, those keen-eyed observers of -the actions of men, will be brought to embrace the christian religion -by such a policy as this! And, while injustice is practised towards -them instead of the government redressing their wrongs, will they not -be induced to say as an Indian chief once did, to a missionary, on a -certain occasion, “We find the christians much more depraved in their -morals than we are, and we judge of _their doctrine_ by the badness of -their lives.” - - _Since the foregoing was prepared for the press, the following, - taken from a Pittsburg Gazette, has been forwarded by a friend, - and as it gives some recent account of the noted and ancient - chief, Cornplanter, as well as other of the Seneca Indians, it - may prove an interesting addition to this work._ - -It appears a trip was performed up the Alleghany river in the Fifth -month last, as high as Olean, in the state of New York, by a new -steamboat, and as it was the first that had ever ascended that river, -as far as the Indian towns, it excited some astonishment. The account -states, that “On the thirteenth of May, at nine o’clock, she arrived -opposite the village of Cornplanter. Here a deputation waited on -that ancient and well known Indian king or chief, and invited him on -board this new, and to him wonderful visiter, a steamboat. We found -him in all his native simplicity of dress and manner of living, lying -on his couch, made of rough pine boards, and covered with deer skins -and blankets. His habitation, a two story log house, is in a state -of decay, without furniture, except a few benches, and wooden bowls -and spoons to eat out of. This convinced us of his determination to -retain old habits and customs. This venerable old chief was a lad in -the first French war, in 1744, and is now nearly one hundred years of -age. He is a smart active man, seemingly possessed of all his strength -of mind, and in perfect health, and retains among his nation all that -uncontrolled influence he has ever done. - -“He, with his son Charles, sixty years of age, and his son-in-law, came -on board, and remained until she had passed six miles up, and then they -returned home in their own canoe, after expressing great pleasure. -His domain is a delightful bottom of rich land, two miles[3] square, -nearly adjoining the line between Pennsylvania and New York. On this, -his own family, about fifty in number, in eight or ten houses reside. -Cornplanter’s wife, and her mother, one hundred and fifteen years of -age, are in good health. - -The lands of this tribe being forty miles long and half a mile wide -on each side of the river, lie just above, but all in the state of -New York. They have a number of villages, and are about seven hundred -in number, scattered all along this reserve. Many of them have good -dwellings, and, like the whites, some are intelligent, industrious, and -useful--while others are the reverse. On the whole they are becoming -civilized and christianized, as fast as can be expected. The natives -appeared in great numbers, (we counted four hundred) who were attracted -to view this unexpected sight on their waters. Their lands terminate -eight miles below Olean.” - - * * * * * - - -_A vocabulary of some of the most familiar words and phrases in the -Seneca language, and the English, in alphabetical order._ - - All Cock _way_ go - All gone Ono, cock _way_ go - Any where, any thing, &c. Te caw a _noo_ we - A quiet mind _Ska_ no _sa_ na to nee - Axe At _too_ ga - Boy or child Uc _shaw_ - Brother _Ho_gh _gee_ - Blood Ot _quoon_ sah - Board Con _nish_ ta - Bear _U qui_ - Black _Gis_ taa - Beaver Te _con_ ne a ga - Big lake Con nu _di_ go _wan_ nee - Birds Ge _daa_ - Bread _Wagh_ qua - Beans Ci _daw_ - Beyond _Shee qua_ - Both De _jall_ - Book Ki _au_ dau shaw - Blanket Ee _yuse_ - Bed Con _noch_ ta - Barrel or tub Con _noch_ qua - Blacksmith Cow _wish_ to nee - Bad _Toos_ coss - Cold Hit _too_ a - Cow Tus _quan_ - Cat Dac _coos_ - Child Uc _shaw_ - Cousin _Kaa_ say - Chief Shin e _wan_ nee - Cannon Ca _u_ da _go_ aw - Coat Ja dau _wis_ a - Chest _Count_ sah - Cup Cow _wish_ ta - Candle Ogish to _taugh_ qua - Canoe _Cau_ waugh - Chocolate Nig a _di_ u - Crane Jo _a_ sah - Deer Nea _yu_ ka - Duck Se _wack_ - Dead A _way_ yu - Devil Nishe _o_ nee - Dog _Gee ah_ - Dish _Cud gee_ - Day U_daugh_ - Drink _Nig_ ge ah - Dark U _dagh_ sin _di_ go - Do you want it _Ees_ no wees - Earth U en _jau_ dy - Elk Je _naun_ de - Eel Con _taa_ na - Eat _Sutte_ coo nee - Eye _Ka haa_ - Ear _Woun_ tah - Evening, or sun down _Ono_ gagh qua - Father _Hau_ nee - Field K ion _to_ - Farmer E _yeant_ has - Fox O nung _quat_ qua - Fish Kin _jugh_ - Fire O _gish_ ta - Flour or meal Tee _sah_ - Fruit O _yah_ - Flea Te _was_ en _tas_ - Fine day O _we see_ ah - Fire-fly Gish te _noch_ qua - God, or Great Spirit How _wau_ ne au - Grandmother Uc _sute_ - Good Scoss - Grist-mill Cau _thish_ e _o_ ne - Gnat O gaw _whont_ - Gun Ca _u_ da - Greedy _Dus_ ki hau sy - Gift _Ska_ no - House Con ne _sute_ - Horse Con _don_ nah que - Hungry A _dus_ swa dau nee - High _Eait_ kah - Here in this place _Nich_ hooh - Him or her Au _whau_ - Hear Gut _hoon_ dy - Happy _Ska_ no _so_ ne _to_ nee - Hat or cap Kah _e quay_ - Hand Kas _chuch_ tah - Half Sut te _wau so_ nee - How many _Ton_ ne yu - How many miles _Ton_ ne _yute_ cot ho - Hawk _Swin_ go _dau_ ge au - Have you any, &c. _Goih_ yah - Indians A _gue_ o we - Indian corn O ne _ah_ - If Cow a _nee_ - I myself Ee - I don’t know Te _quaw_ - I think E _we_ - Island _Cow_ we _naut_ - Iron Con ne _u sah_ - Ice O _we_ sa - I don’t understand Te _gunk_ hau - I want it _Ic_ no wees - I am going now _Ono_ se _gogh_ tan dee - Iron pot Te _quosh_ e naute - King _Co_ wa _co_ a - Kettle Can _naun_ jau - Knife Ka _gun_ ne au sau - Land _U_ aun _ja_ - Louse _Gee_ no _e_ - Lonesome A _goon_ date - Lake, or sea Con nu _di_ - Lie Sun noo _aunt_ - Large Go _wau_ nee - Long ago O _nuch_ chee - Little, or small Nee _wau_, or _wis_ too - Little while ago _Wau_ gee - Linen Con ne _ga_ un sah - Like this _Sau_ gat - Log Can _hagh_ tau - Man or male Can _gee_ nah - Mother _No_ yegh - Many Con _nong_ gee - Much We _sue_ - Meat Au _wagh_ - Mosquito Ge ne _au_ da sa - Mush _Gis_ qua - Mountain Non on _dau_ dee - Mile _Yute_ cot hoo - Money O _wish_ ta - Merry, or pleased _Oon dut_ ca dee - Milk _Nung_ qua - Moon Gagh qua - Mouth Kish e _gaen_ - Morning Se _tugh_ ge au - Make it _Shish_ she _o_ ne - New town Can na da _say_ - Noon Gick ne _gah_ quaw - No Tah - Now Nay _wau_ - Not many _Tanty_ co _nong_ gee - Not much _Tanty_ we _sue_ - Not Tanty - Nose Ka kan _dah_ - Nonsense, trifling, &c. _Gish_ nit - One month _Swa_ no dock - Owl _E he_ - Old Caw _cuch_ gee - Over the river Ska _hoon_ dee - On this side Caw _oo_ - Philadelphia Ca ne _di_ an go au - Pittsburg Taun _too_ ga - Pig _Quees_ quees - Provisions A _den_ a sah - Potatoes _Non_ nun dau - Plenty Con _nong_ gee - Pipe Se _guah_ ta - Pretty We _u_ - Pheasant _Chuc_ que _a_ ne - Pigeons _Jah_ go au - Presently A ge _quash_ - People _Ung_ que - Rain Us _taun_ dee - River Ka _hone_ dee - Racoon Jo _ah_ qua - Rattlesnake So _quant_ - Right, or proper Ty wi _ye_ a - Raining, or stormy Onish wy _ate_ kah - Sea, or ocean _Ska_ ne la te _co_ ne - Shoes, or sandals At _tagh_ qua - Sun _Gagh_ qua - Squashes, &c. O _nuch_ sha - Sheep _Te_ de ne _gen_ do - Stone Cos _quagh_ - Spinning wheel See in _yeah_ ta - Saw mill Con _nish_ te o nee - Sick _Nonk_ ta nee - Strong Cau _haus_ tee - Star O _gish_ un da - Sit down Sut _tee_ - Snow Cun ne _i_ - Snow falling U _gaun_ dee - Spoon At te _quot_ sa - See, or look _Sut_ cot _hoo_ - Silver O _wish_ ta _no_ e a - Shut the door Se ho _tong_ goo - Snipe Te _ith_ to we - Shoemaker At _taugh_ qua _nee_ - Susquehanna _Cau_ wa ne _wy_ ne _i_ ne - Turkey Os soo _aunt_ - Thief _Nus qus_ - Turnips _Uc_ te au - Town _Con_ na da _go_ - Tobacco _Yaun_ gwa - Turtle Cun ne _wau_ - This _Nick_ hoo - Thou Eece - Tooth, or teeth Ca _noo_ jah - Tell it _Sat_ hu e - Talk _Gish_ nee - True, or truth _To gas_ - To-morrow U _haut_ - Uncle _Auh_ no ze - Ugly _Wy ate_ u - Verily, or very true _To_ gas _neh_ hue - Very large _Agos_ go _wan_ nee - Very far _Way_ uh - Winter Ka _unch_ neh - Water _Nick_ a _noos_ - Woods Ca ha _da_ go - Wheat O _naun_ jah - Weeds We _aah_ ta - Wolf Ty _o_ nee - Wild geese Hung _gawk_ - Watch Gah que _shawk_ ta - White people Hit _teen_ yah - Warm _Di_ u - Warm day Con _naa_ no - Woman _Yee_ uh - Wife _Yeak_ nee - Wind _Ga haa_ - Work Sutte ye _dott_ - Want. I want it, &c. _Ick_ no _eece_ - Where _Cong_ gwa - Yonder _Ho_ quaw - You _Eece_ de jal - Yes Naye - You want it _Eece_ no wees - Year _Tush shate_ - Yesterday _Tay_ day - - -_Names of some of the Indians, and their signification._ - - Ki on _twa_ ky Cornplanter - Te _ki_ on da A wager, or money staked - Con ne _di_ u Hansom lake - Neh ta _go_ a A large pine tree - _Waun_ dung _guh_ ta Passed by - Sa go e _wah_ ta Keeper arise - O _gish_ quat ta Dried mush - _Tak_ e wau sah Go to war - _Twa_ de ac Broken gun - _Yeang_ gwa haunt Chew tobacco - _Ki_ an _gwah_ ta Smoke - - -_Numerical terms, &c._ - - One Scote - Two _Tick_ nee - Three Shaugh - Four Keah - Five Wush - Six Yeah - Seven Chaw tawk - Eight Tick _yugh_ - Nine Tugh tah - Ten _Wush_ hau - Twenty Te _was_ hau - Thirty Sha ne _was_ hau - Forty Kea ne _was_ hau - Fifty _Wush_ ne was hau - Sixty Yea ne _was_ hau - Seventy Chaw tawk ne _was_ hau - Eighty Tick yaugh ne _was_ hau - Ninety Tugh ta ne _was_ hau - One hundred, that is, Wush haw ne _was_ haw, or scote - ten times ten de _wy_ ne _i_ - Two hundred Te non de _wy_ ne _i_ - Three hundred Sha non de _wy_ ne _i_ - Four hundred Keah non de _wy_ ne _i_, &c. &c. - One dollar _Scow_ wish taut - Two dollars Te gaw _wish_ tau gay - Three dollars Sha ne gaw _wish_ tau gay - Four dollars Kea ne gaw _wish_ tau gay, &c. - One penny Quin nish - One shilling _Sco_ ti on _shate_ - Two shillings Te _gash_ e on se gay - Three shillings Sha ne _gash_ e on se gay - One yard Tu we _naut_ - Two yards _Tic_ ne ju we _non_ gay - Three yards _Sha_ ne ju we _non_ gay - One pound Cau _goon_ sate - Two pounds Tich ne cou _goon_ se ga - Three pounds Sha ne cou _goon_ se ga - One quart Cus _saa_ dee - Two quarts Tick ne cus _say_ dee - Three quarts Shane cus _say_ dee - One day Onish _shate_ - Two days Te ne wa _nish_ a gay - Three days Sha ne wa _nish_ a gay - One month _Swa_ ne dock - Two months Te _wa_ ne da gay - Three months Sha ne wau ne da gay - One year Tush _shate_ - Two years Te _ush_ a gay - Three years Sha ne _ush_ a gay, &c. - - - _The author not having an opportunity of examining the proof - sheets, some typographical errors have occurred, especially in - the Indian words--the following errata will be observed by the - reader._ - -Page 5, line 20 from top, before motives, insert the words _natives -the_. - -Page 8, line 18 from bottom, for retaining read _retained_. - -Page 9, line 18 from top, read the following _speech_ from. - -Page 29, line 14 from top, read Je _nuch_ sha _da_ go. - -Page 40, line 13 from top, for Memsies read _Munsies_. - -Page 42, line 6 from top, for Connedin read Co ne _di_ u; and so -through the book. - -Same page, line 4 from bottom, for government read _governor_. - -Page 47, line 7 from bottom, for Junesassa read _Tunesassa_; and so -through the book. - -Page 54, line 20 from bottom, for nation read _natives_. - -Page 80, line 19 from bottom, read the chief warrior’s _son_. - -Page 110, line 16 from top, for nations read _natives_. - -Same page, line 3 from bottom, for in, read _to_ the United States. - -Page 111, line 20 from top, for Harkey read _Harvey_. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Alluding to an ineffectual attempt made during the war in 1793, -when six Friends, as before stated, attended with the commissioners of -the United States. - -[2] A British agent for Indian affairs resident in Canada. - -[3] I apprehend there is some mistake in the account given, of the -quantity of land possessed by Cornplanter. By the act of assembly, it -appears six hundred acres was the quantity located at that place.--ED. - - -Transcriber’s Note: - -Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Civilization of the Indian Natives, by -Halliday Jackson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIAN NATIVES *** - -***** This file should be named 55063-0.txt or 55063-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/0/6/55063/ - -Produced by Larry B. 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