this about. fame had been made by Little | them to think of doing without a Turtle in his fpeech to the Prefi- minifter till this experiment could dent, which was in behalf of fev- be made-that if they thought eral nations; and as the fame had they had not refolution enough in been warmly expreffed by the head general to adopt, and purfue the chief of the Shawanefe-that it plan I had propofed, there would was not in the power of our good probably be fome who would be people who had fent me, to put a willing to attempt it—that if they top to it; but that they would would make choice of a place for rejoice to hear that they were op- a village, I would begin it, if I pofed to having it come among could not get more than one or them; and that, if they would get two families to begin with methe other nations to join them, that I would be learning their and petition Congrefs against it, language, fchooling their children our good people would undoubt- and receiving new members into edly do the fame in their behalf; the fociety as faft as they were and that then there would be little difpofed to comply with the re danger but that the united infiu- gulations of it; and that I would ence of the whole would prevail; do what I could for the comfort and that Congrefs would pass a of the aged or the fick, who law to prevent liquor from being might be left there through the carried into the Indian country. winter, and exert myself to I affured them that nothing fhould promote the general intereft of the be wanting on my part to bring whole. I then pointed out the advantages that would occur to the children, the aged, the fick and all who would be fo wife as to comply with my propofals. And I reprefented the flourishing state the village would probably be in before many years, if they would fuffer me to make this beginning, as the most of them muft foon be convinced that it was for their intereft to come and live in it, and follow my advice. I told them that it was all in vain for them to think that they could profper and do well while they rejected what God had to fay to them by his minifters that he had been very angry with the Indians for their wickednefs (thowing them in what it confifted) and had suffered them for feveral hundred miles, to melt away before the white people, like the fnow before the fun; and that the only way that they could expect to profper was by liftening to what he had to fay to them by mc. I affured them that if they Here I enlarged on the tranfientrefs of the pleafures derived from it, and the mifchievous and deftructive cenfequences attending it; and on the happy confequences that would follow the prohibition of it; and urged them to use their utmoft endeavors to get as many of the Indian nations as poffible to join them, and fend in their petition without delay. I informed them that fome of the fix nations on the Allegany, through the influence of the Quakers who were among them, had come to the noble refolution to dafh the heads of every keg of liquor that was offered for fale to their people, and had acted accordingly; and that, if they fhould not be fuccefsful in petitioning Congrefs, it would be not only juftifiable in them, but their indifpenfable duty to follow their example. But I told them that it would do by no means for would come and live together and build a great houfe for God, and meet in it and worship him every feventh day, as our good people did, and do as God told them to do in his bock, and by his minifters, that he would not fuffer them to be deftroyed as he had the other India is, but would preferve them and profper them as he had the white people. With refpect to vifiting all the other Indians, I obferved to them that it would be of no fervice to get the corfent of every tribe, as I could ferve but one, and as our good people were not prepared to fend out any more at prefent; that if I travelled round as they had propofed, I might not find any Indians who were fo well inclined as they were, or who would be difpofed to receive methat they had a fufficient number about them for me to begin with that if they wifhed to have all the other Indians join them in thefe things, the belt way was for them to fet the example, and thow them the happy confequences, which would preach louder to them than any thing I could fay or do. I concluded what I had to fay to them in the following words. Fathers, you fee that I am very unwilling to leave you. I have come a great way to vifit you, and I find there is a profpect of my doing you fo much good if I remain here, that I do not know how to think of going away. You fee that it is juft with me as it is with your children. If you tell them that you can't have them with you, and that they muil go off and look out for another bome; they will tell you that they love you fo that they can't leave you. And if you infift on their going away, they will hang round you, and tell you they can't; and they will plead with you to let them live with you, and will tell you how much good they will do you if you will let them ftay. Now, Fathers, if you will not turn away your children who love you and are willing to do any thing for you, and who plead with you in this manner to keep them, I think I may conclude that you will not turn me away. I then left them to prepare an answer. This extract is much fhorter than the original, tho' much longer than I intended. But they paid better attention than before; and I believe they were very much puzzled for fome time to know what reply to make to it; as they wished to put me off, if poffible, without affigning the true caufe for it. They went alone, and were very fecret in their confultations with respect to an anfwer. After deliberating for fome time, they fent for me to hear Little Otter's reply. The firft part of it was mere repetitions of a few things that were nothing to the purpofe; occafioned, as I fuppofe, by a reluctance to come to the main point. The principal ideas contained in it, expreffed in fewer words, are as follows. Brother, the most of our horfes are wild. In order to catch them, we have to catch one of the tame ones firft, and then we can draw the reft in fo as to fecure them too. It feems that you think that the Indians are like thefe hories. You confider us to be the tameft, and imagine that if you begin with us that you will be able to draw in the whole. But we are all wild, and if you was to try ever fo long, you could never get us to live together. You can go home, or write home to the great Fathers who fent you, and let them know how it is. Tei! therefore we cannot listen to you. -You mentioned that you had come a great ways to fee us. We to you. The Interpreter told me, that what they meant by the new way, was conjuration. Little Otter, though said to be clever, is a very fhrewd old man, and capable of deceiving if he is difpofed for it; but, from what I could discover, I am of opinion that he was in favor of having me come there at firft; and am inclined to believe that in delivering thefe fpeeches he fpoke for the conjurers, rather than himself. It was evident, at least that he was not half fo bitterly opposed to me. them that it is not with their red | brothers as it is with the white people; that you have tried all that you could, to have us live to-go a great ways, fometimes to fee gether, and that you could not folks, and get news; but if we get us to do it; and that if they do not get any news, or make out were to try ever fo much, they any thing, we don't mind it, or would never be able to do any think any thing of it. This is all thing with us; and that this is that your red brothers have to fay the way of their red brothers. Brother, your religion is very good; but it is only good for white people. It will not do for It will not do for Indians. They are quite a different fort of people. When the Great Spirit made white people, he made them just as they be, and put them on another island, and gave them farms and tools to work with; and he made horfes and horned cattle, and fheep and hogs for them, fo that they might get their living that way. And he learned them to read and gave them their religion in a book. When he made Indians, he made them wild, and put them in the woods on this ifland, and gave them the game that they have, fo that they might live by hunting. So that he did not make us to live like the white people. The religion, which we used to have, was very much like yours. But we found that that would not do for us; and we have lately discovered a much better way. We have now got so that fome of us come to life again. There, [ftripping up his fhirt fleeve] do you fee that black spot on my arm? Well that was put into my arm when I lived before, away in the open country. Afterwards I came to life here on this ground where you fee me. If you had only propofed to fchool our children, you might have got here and there one to attend to you, but we are afraid of your religion. We find that it will not anfwer for us, and At the clofe of this laft fpeech I told them that I had nothing more to fay, only that I thanked them for treating me fo civilly, and fhould always with well to them-that I was forry to find them fo dreadfully deluded, and that they would be forever forry for it in the world to come.-İ then fhook hands with the whole and left them. The Interpreter appeared very forrowful. This was Saturday the 15th, and near night; but as we had every thing in readinefs, and the wind favorable, we fat out and went feveral miles that evening. As the wind was fair the next day, and as we were on the Lake fhore where we were liable to be detained with contrary winds for many days, and were on expence, and my call to be home was very urgent, we failed about half of the day; and we were fo far favored as to be enabled, with hard rowing, to But if I do not fucceed in getting him, I do not know but I am like to make out about as well; for I have lately feen a young man from the main land, who fpeaks good English and Indian, and who has partly agreed to ferve me for his board and schooling. Such an interpreter would be of great fervice to me in getting the language. Indeed it would be next to impoffible for me to get it without an interpreter, unless I could be all the time with the Indians; and even then it would be very difficult. From what I can learn, I fear that is not much better with the Indians at Arborcrofh, on account of drinking and fighting, than it is with thofe at the Miami. Hear. ing that they were mostly drunk, and not having an interpreter, I have not vifited them yet. Orifit had not been for thefe difficulties I do not know but I should have waited for the affiftance of Col. Hunt; as he is now expected ev reach home before noon the Tuef-, day following. We were bleffed with good health, though we were exposed to wind and weather, and were obliged to lie up- on the ground almost every night. In purfuance of my original plan, to vifit the Indians at Arborcrofh, I fet fail, the 2d of June, with my family, in a convenient fchooner, for this place. Our accommodations were good, our Capt. all kindnefs and attention, and we were gently wafted to this place in seven days. The Indians are vaftly more numerous here than at Detroit. I fee none here but Ottawas and Chip-it eways. I believe that the Ottawas are much the most numerous just about here. They are accounted by both nations to be the fathers of the Chipeways. I find, as I had been informed, that there is a good deal of difference between the language of thefe Indians, and those of the fame nations about Detroit. Some words feem wholly unlike; but the dif-ery day, to take the command of ference in general appears to be in the pronunciation; which is not fo drawling ; but much more agreeable to the English pronunciation. Thefe Indians appear much more sprightly, cleanly, induftrious and agreeable than those. I have not been able to talk with them much yet, for the want of an interpreter. I am difappointed with refpect to the public interpreter, as he is a Frenchman and can fpeak fcarce any English. In order to fpeak with them by him, it is neceffary to have another to interpret French. I am in fome hopes that the interpreter at St. Jofeph's, whom I mentioned in one of my letters last winter, will be here within a few days, as there is a veffel expected in from that place. this poft. Knowing that he was to be here fo foon, I rather wished not to see them till he came. For it is faid that there are no Indians who pay fo great refpect to the commanding officer as what thefe do; and he told me he would ufe all his influence in my favor. With all the forbidding circumstances in view, which I fee attending my miffion to thefe Indians, as I am not to look for miracles, I confidered it a matter of the utmost importance to avail myself of every circumftance in my favor, at my first introduction. With all thefe I think it is very doubtful whether I fhall be received by the chiefs. There are two circumftances against me which I have not men tioned. One is, that thefe In Cians at Arborcrofh, have forinerly had Roman catholic priests with them, to whom they adhered as frictly as could have been expected. Another circumstance not mentioned is, the Indians in general have an idea that minifters have a power to ferd diftempers or fick nefs among people, like their conjurers. And if any mortal difeafe breaks out among them while they are with them they are fupposed to be the authors of it. The Indians, to this day, tell that the pricfts whom they had with them at Arborcrofh, fent fickness among them. So that though they would be more likely to prefer the Roman Catholics than us, yet it does not feem very likely that they would wish. for either to come among them. But if I cannot prevail on the chiefs to receive me, I mean to infift hard on their letting me have a number of their fons to educate here on the ifland, whilst I am learning their language; and I hall require them to find them food and clothes. My prefent determination is, to remain about here, till in one way or another, I get the language; and if I can get a good interpreter at a moderate expenfe, be preaching through the fummer to all the Indians who will hear me. As they are always abfent through the winter, I must try in that part of the time to be doing fomething to help fupport myfelf, either by a fchool (which must be fmall) or by fome kind of labor. Remarks on the foregoing Extract. The reader will perceive from Mr. Bacon's account of the Indians, that one of the greatcft obftacles in the way of propagating the gospel among them is the influence of the conjurers. Thefe conjurers are the fame as the Powows fpoken of in the history of the NewEngland Indians which has been publifhed in feveral numbers of this Magathat the introduction of the Chriftian zine. They have fenfe enough to fee religion among the Indians will destroy their influence and endanger their craft. They will therefore exert themselves to the utmost to prevent Miffionaries being received; and as Mr. Bacon very jufly obferves they are doubtlefs the inftruments of Satan in preferving idolatry and oppofing the true God. But the failure of this first attempt of Mr. B. ought not to difcourage the friends to the miffionary caufe; it should rather ftimulate them to more vigerous exertions. The Indians on the Miami from their proximity to the white people have more free access to fpirituous liquors and are much more oppofed to every thing good than the tribes which live more remote. There is still reafon to hope that to fome of the tribes God will give a liftening ear, and that he will profper the labors of mifionaries that may be fent among them. It is certainly the duty of Chriftians, and it is a duty the obligatian of which they cannot but feel, when they fee to what a deplorable ftate of fin and wretchedness the Indians are reduced, to make every poffible leaft from that ftate. They ought al exertion to recover fome of them at fulness of the Gentiles hail come in :ways to remember the promise that the that the glorious head of the church is infinitely fuperior to Satan and all his they fhould exert themfelves and fubinftruments, and believing these things miflively wait God's time to blefs their exertions with fucccfs. Donations to the Miffionary Society of Connecticut. Daniel Root, Frauklin, State of New-York, James W. Woodward, contributed in new fettlements, |
