remedy. If both governments would strenuously join in laying the foundation of so good a work, there can be little doubt of their ultimate success. But neither the British nor American government will ever succeed in protecting the Indians from injustice, or in effecting their civilization, unless they begin by entirely and for ever estranging them from the use of those ardent liquors, which have proved such a curse to the Indian race. Some particular tribes, indeed, may perhaps at first feel disappointed, and even indignant at being deprived of their accustomed drunken entertainments; but the beneficial result will soon shew itself, and the Indian will hail the prohibition as the greatest boon he has ever yet received from his white brethren. In some parts of the country the Indians have strongly evinced their disapprobation of the use of spirituous liquor, and have not suffered themselves to be tempted to admit it among them. Bradbury, in his Travels, states that the Indians resident towards the Mandan country, on the Missouri, do not use spirits. In Lewis and Clarke's Travels we also read, -"On our side we were equally gratified at discovering that the Ricaras made use of no spirituous liquors of any kind; the example of the traders who bring it to them, so far from tempting, has in fact disgusted them. Supposing that it was Bradbury's Travels in America, p. 172. as agreeable to them as to the other Indians, we had at first offered them whiskey, but they refused it; with this sensible remark, that they were surprised their Father should present to them a liquor which would make them fools. And, on another occasion, they observed, that no man could be their friend who tried to lead them into such follies."* In James's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, he also observes, in noticing the Kanzas, "Drunkenness is rare and much ridiculed: a drunken man is said to be bereft of his reason, and is avoided.”† Thus it will be found, that many of the Indian tribes of the present day entertain the same sentiments as the Delaware nation expressed to the English, at a conference held in New Jersey, as far back as the year 1678"Strong liquors," said one of their chiefs, "were first sold to us by the Dutch. They had no eyes, and did not see it was for our hurt. The next were the Swedes: they were also blind in selling us this liquor; and although we know it to be hurtful to us, we love it so much, that if people will sell it to us, we cannot forbear drinking it. It makes us mad; we know not what we do; we abuse each other, and throw one another into the fire. Seven score of our tribe have been killed by reason of the drinking of it. But now a people are Lewis and Clarke's Travels, ch. 4. + James's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, ch. 6. come among us who have eyes: they are not blind -they are willing to deny themselves the profit of it for our good. We are glad that such a people are come among us. We must put it down by mutual consent: the cask must be sealed: it must not leak by day nor by night."* The seal, however, was speedily broken, and the English became soon as blind as the Dutch or the Swedes. In some cases it would appear that the Indians are so well aware of the mischiefs arising from the introduction of spirituous liquors among them, that they take a very decisive mode of preventing it. Mr. Bartram, who spent many years among the Indians of the Creek confederacy, (Cherokees, Chocktaws, Chickesaws, &c.) relates that the most important object with them, in some of their treaties, was to prevent spirits from being brought into their country: the traders were allowed only two small kegs for each company, that quantity being thought sufficient for their consumption on the road. If, upon their approaching the Indian towns, any part of that allowance remained, they were obliged either to spill it on the ground or secrete it. He mentions that, in his journey from Mobile, he was overtaken by two American traders, who informed him that they had been smuggling forty kegs of strong rum into the country, and that they had been surprised • Proud's History of Pennsylvania, vol. i., p. 148. by a party of Creek Indians, who discovered their merchandise, and immediately struck their tomahawks into the kegs; and, without tasting the contents, spilt the whole of it upon the ground; "the traders," says Bartram, "having enough to do to keep the tomahawks from their own skulls."* There can be no doubt that many of the chiefs and men of influence among the tribes, in various parts of the Indian country, would now give their cordial support to any measure calculated to put a total stop to the introduction of spirits among their people. The celebrated Seneca, chief Cornplanter, effected much among his nation in checking this baneful propensity. Mr. Hunter informed me, that many of the leading men of the Louisiana tribes with whom he was acquainted, do all in their power to prevent spirituous liquors from being used among them. In short, many of the North American Indian chiefs of the present day will be found to entertain sentiments similar to those expressed by their ancestors to the English many years ago: "Brothers, you have spoken to us against getting drunk. What you have said is very agreeable to us. We see it is a thing very bad, and it is a great grief to us that rum or any strong liquor should be brought among us, as we wish the chain of friendship which now unites us and our brethren the English may * Bartram's Travels in Florida, &c. part iv. ch. 1. remain strong. The fault is not with us: it begins with the white people. For if they will bring us rum, some of our people will buy it: it is for that purpose it is brought. But if there was none brought among us, then how could we buy it? Brothers, be faithful, and desire our brethren the white people to bring no more of it."* * Boudinot, Star in the West, ch. 8. |