leg to the foot. Some of the young unmarried squaws are handsome; but after marriage, Indian women, from being obliged to work, become remarkably ugly. The men are mostly good-looking, tall, and uncommonly straight and upright.

Indians are very good judges of the cloth, blankets, and other articles which they purchase; more so indeed than the whites. The moment they lay their hands on a piece of broad cloth, or a blanket, they know its quality and its value; and the shopkeepers told me that it would be quite impossible to cheat them. They will purchase no cloth or blankets but the superfine; and at however low a price an inferior article may be offered to them, they will not even look at it, apparently determined to have the best, or none.

It is amusing to see the manner in which the Squaws carry their children. The child is swaddled, and bound to a board, which rather increases in size upwards, and projects six or eight inches above the head of the young Indian. The mother fastens this board to her shoulders, the child and she of course looking different ways. But when she goes into a house to buy any thing, she takes the board from her shoulders, and placing the lower part on the ground, leans it in a sloping position against the wall, in the same manner a porter would his load. I have laughed to see one or two of these boards placed against the wall, while the little urchins with their brown faces were looking

out above the bandages, and although so completely helpless, seemed contented with their situation.

After the money was distributed, there was a grand foot-race. Ten or fifteen of the most nimble Indians started from the bottom of the town, to run a mile and a half out, and the same distance back again, which was to be repeated three times without stopping, making on the whole a distance of nine miles. The runners were stript nearly naked, and set off at that long springing pace which is peculiar to the Indians, and which enables them to get over a great deal of ground, without appearing to do so. No little anxiety was manifested by their companions, each time that they returned to the goal; but at last the race was won by a large athletic Indian of the Alleghany tribe, whose name being interpreted is the Black Squirrel.* The prize was made up by a subscription among the Indians, who all contributed something. One of the townspeople moreover presented a red flag to the winner, on which was inscribed in white letters: "Eclipse for ever, old Virginia a little tired," an inscription which alluded to the great horse-race at New York, but which, as it was of

* The Indians always give the individuals of their tribe names descriptive of their exploits, mode of life, the qualities. in which they excel, &c. Among the names of the most celebrated Chiefs we find, Split-log, Walk-in-the-water, Little Turtle, Mad Buffalo, &c.

course unintelligible to the Indian, did not by any means diminish his extreme delight in receiving the trophy.

.

Constant though vain attempts have been made in the neighbourhood to convert the Indians to Christianity, a labour which Mr. Irving very properly remarks has long been considered the most important branch of civilization, and that which all the zealous have most strenuously extolled. * . « It was truly a sight that might well inspire horror, to behold these savages stumbling among the dark mountains of Paganism, and guilty of the most horrible ignorance of religion. It is true, they neither stole, nor defrauded; they were sober, frugal, continent, and faithful to their word; but though they acted right habitually, it was all in vain, unless they acted so from precept. The new comers, therefore, used every method, to induce them to embrace and practise the true religion,except indeed that of setting them the example. But notwithstanding all these complicated labours for their good, such was the unparalleled obstinacy of these stubborn wretches, that they ungratefully refused to acknowledge the strangers as their benefactors, and persisted in disbelieving the doctrines

* Knickerbocker's New York, book i. cap. v. The whole of this chapter is well worth perusing, as it gives, though in a humorous way, a most faithful picture of the means of civilizing and converting the Indians, adopted by the early settlers in America, and which, though somewhat modified, are still pursued by their descendants.

they endeavoured to inculcate; most insolently alleging, that from their conduct, the advocates of Christianity did not seem to believe in it themselves."

Among the Indians of the Six Nations, the great opposer of the only true faith is the celebrated chief Red Jacket, whom I saw and made acquaintance with at Buffalo. This fine-looking hale old man wore round his neck a large silver medal, which was given him by General Washington, and of which he is extremely proud. I cannot better explain the reasons of his opposition to Christianity, than by giving an account of two councils, held between the Indians of the Six Nations and the agents of the Missionary Society. The speeches were taken down in short-hand by some gentlemen present, and after being read over to my Indian friend, who said they were correct, were published in several of the United States newspapers.

*In the summer of 1805, a number of the principal Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations, principally Senecas, assembled at Buffalo Creek, in the State of New York, at the particular request of the Rev. Mr. Cram, a missionary from the State of Massachusetts. The Missionary, being furnished with an interpreter, and accompanied by the Agent of the United States for Indian affairs, met the Indians in council, when the following talk took place:

* American Speaker.

First by the Agent.

"Brothers of the Six

Nations, I rejoice to meet you at this time, and thank the Great Spirit that he has preserved you in health, and given me another opportunity of taking you by the hand.

"Brothers, the person who sits by me is a friend who has come a great distance to hold a talk with you. He will inform you what his business is, and it is my request that you would listen with attention to his words."

Missionary." My friends, I am thankful for the opportunity afforded us of uniting together at this time. I had a great desire to see you, and inquire into your state and welfare: for this purpose I have travelled a great distance, being sent by your old friends the Boston Missionary Society. You will recollect, they formerly sent Missionaries among you to instruct you in religion, and labour for your good. Although they have not heard from you for a long time, yet they have not forgotten their brothers the Six Nations, and are still anxious to do you good.

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Brothers, I have not come to get your lands or your money, but to enlighten your minds, and to instruct you how to worship the Great Spirit, agreeably to his mind and will, and to preach to you the gospel of his Son Jesus Christ.-There is but one religion, and but one way to serve God; and if you do not embrace the right way, you cannot be happy hereafter. You have never worshipped the Great