The facts are justly stated, in several of their accounts; and they ought to have concluded from them, that the soil was uncommonly rich, fertile, and luxuriant. Anxious to find marks of degradation in America, they have almost universally advanced a contrary conclusion: that this prolific power of nature, denoted an uncommon corruption, and degradation of climate. No conclusion was ever further from the truth, or more remote from probability. It is only a rich soil, and a temperate climate, which can produce what they call a rank vegetation, or numerous reptiles and insects, of the largest size.

FROM this imperfect view of our quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and insects, instead of finding nature but weak and feeble in America, as M. de Buffon has supposed;* her animals appear to be marked with an energy, and a magnitude, superior to what is found in Europe; and equalled only, by the magnificent and vigorous productions of Asia.

"La nature vivante est beaucoup moins agissante beaucoup moins forte." Hist. Nat. xviii. 122. edit. Paris, 1764.

CHAPTER VII.

ORIGINAL INHABITANTS. The Employments, Civil Government, System of War, Education, Manners, and Customs of the Indians; the Advantages, and Disadvantages of the Savage State.

IN the formation of the mountains, rivers, vegetables, and animals, the powers of nature appear to rise in a steady and beautiful progress. This progress seems to be completed in the production of a rational, moral, and accountable animal. This animal is MAN: And he evidently appears in every part of the globe, to be at the head of all the productions of nature But the men of different countries and nations, appear to be very different from one another.

THE original inhabitants of this country were the Indians: These were the only species or kind of men, that had spread over America. It will be more difficult to give a just account of the man of America, than to describe its vegetables, and animals. The latter are subject to stated, and invariable laws; they pass through but few changes and variations, and are always to be found in that state, in which nature placed them. Man is subject to a great variety of alteration, and improvement. In his rudest and most simple state, he appears but little superior to the brute; in his highest improvement and polish of manners, he appears at an infinite remove from the bare animal; and in all the

stages of his progress from the one state to the other, he passes through an endless variety of situations and circumstances, which are constantly giving a new appearance to his capacity, powers, passions, manners, and pursuits. The natural history of man is therefore the most difficult, but it is also the most useful and important subject we can contemplate. In examining the history of the Indian of America, we shall find man in the most simple, rude, and unimproved state, in which he has ever been placed, or viewed.*

The

APPEARANCE AND COUNTENANCE. appearance of the Indians was different from any, under which man had ever been viewed before. The colour of their skin is of a reddish brown, nearly resembling the colour of copper, but rather darker. Their faces are broad, the nose appears flattish, their eyes black, small, and very active. The hair of their heads is always black, coarse, long, and perfectly straight; and they generally appear without any beard. The men are taller than the Europeans, but rarely corpulent; and their bodies appear to be firm, strong, and well proportioned. Their features are regular and well adjusted, but their countenance discovers something wild, fierce, and sullen. None of them are seen crooked, mutilated, or deformed; defective in any of their senses, or deficient in any of their bodily organs; but straight, well built, and robust. In the ap

* THE following account relates chiefly to the Indians in the northern parts of America. I have received much assistance from the wri tings of Dr. Robertson, and other authors. But the authorities on which the accounts are founded, are chiefly the relations of those persons who have lived among the Indians, and been intimately acquainted with them.

pearance, aspect, and countenance of the Indians, there is an uncommon uniformity, and resemblance. It is the same in all climates, and in all the tribes of America. It does not vary with heat, cold, situation, employment, or other circumstances; but the Indian countenance has the same combination of features, and peculiarity of aspect, in every part of America.

PRO

EMPLOYMENT, AND METHOD OF CURING SUBSISTENCE. The food proper for man, is to be found in every part of the earth. But the means and the method of procuring it, are different among different nations, and in different stages of society. The savages of North America had discovered the properties and effects of those seeds, berries, and roots, which the earth spontaneously produces; and one part of their food was derived from this source. Fishing was another method which they used to procure subsistence. The great plenty and variety of fish, with which the rivers of America abounded, rendered this kind of provision easy to be procured, and of great use. Indian had acquired much skill and address, in his method of catching the fish; and he was accustomed to dry, and smoke them, in order to preserve them. The falls of rivers were the places, to which they most resorted for this purpose And most of these falls were the places, where some of their tribes or small companies resided: And they were generally distinguished by some particular Indian name. A more general and effectual method of support, was hunting. The fruits which the earth spontaneously produced, were but few, and of short

The

continuance. A few tribes only could be accommodated, by the vicinity and convenience of a river: But game was every where to be found. The bear, the deer, the beaver, the fox, and other animals, were in great numbers, and in every part of the northern continent. From these, the Indian derived his most sure, and plentiful support. But this method of procuring food, required great efforts of invention, and activity. The strength, the fierceness, and the swiftness of the wild animals, the feebleness of the weapons, the bow, arrow, and club, with which the savage attacked them, joined to make the business of the hunter laborious and difficult; and called forth all the active powers of the savage. And here, he appeared to the greatest advantage; fertile in invention, sagacious in distinguishing and observing, nice and accurate in tracing the animal; indefatigable, and persevering in the pursuit. An employment which thus gave exertion to all the invention, courage, force, and vigor of the man, naturally became the most honourable employment; And the most dexterous hunter became the most distinguished savage of the tribe. these methods of procuring food, were added some feeble attempts in agriculture. Indian corn, beans, pompions, and squashes, were the only plants they cultivated. The culture of these was wholly in the hands of the women. Without the use and knowledge of any of the domestic animals, altogether destitute of the proper instruments of husbandry, their efforts were weak and languid; and the supplies they derived this way, were but small.

To