INJUDICIOUS CONDUCT OF THE PROTESTANT SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA WITH REGARD TO THEIR CONVERTED IN- DIFFICULTY OF RECONCILING THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS TO EUROPEAN HABITS AND EDUCATION-UNFOUNDED ASSER- TIONS OF SOME WRITERS AS TO THE ALLEGED NATURAL GENERAL REMARKS ON THE ATTEMPTS MADE TO CONVERT THE INDIANS, AND ON THE CAUSES OF FAILURE-OBSTACLES ARISING FROM THE INFLUENCE OF THE NATIVE JUGGLERS- BENEFITS WHICH WOULD FOLLOW FROM THE AID OF MEDICAL SKILL EXTENDED TO THE INDIAN NATIONS INJUDICIOUS HISTORICAL NOTES RESPECTING THE INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA. CHAP. I. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS-OPINIONS OF VARIOUS WRITERS ON THIS SUBJECT. THE manners and customs of the Indians of North America have often furnished matter of curious and interesting inquiry. From the period when that portion of the Western hemisphere was first discovered, or rather from that in which the earliest European settlers established themselves upon its shores, the attention of various authors appears to have been drawn towards the delineation of those peculiar qualities which so strongly marked the native tribes by whom that continent was inhabited. Nor was the attention of those writers less directed, perhaps, to the discovery of the probable root from whence the American population had originally sprung. This question, indeed, has given rise to much discussion; and history, both sacred and profane, has been ingeniously referred B to for the purpose of supporting the respective theories of those who have taken an active part in the controversy. The valuable researches, made of late years in North America, regarding the languages spoken by the Indian nations in that quarter of the globe, promise, if followed up, to throw more light upon this subject than is likely to arise from any other species of investigation. But, however much writers of eminence have differed respecting the source from which America may have been peopled, they will be found to have generally agreed with regard to the peculiar customs, disposition, and pursuits, of its aboriginal inhabitants. It is not proposed to enter into any minute delineation of the habits and manners of the North American Indians. These have been so often and so accurately described, by writers of different countries and various periods, that any description. of them now would contain little more than a repetition of details to which there is every where easy access and reference. The principal object of these Notes is to give a concise view of facts drawn mostly from the early authors who resided in North America; by which it will probably be seen, that in every quarter a very erroneous system was pursued with regard to the Indian population. In addition to the observations upon the early proceedings respecting the Indians - and upon the results which flowed from them it is also intended to submit such remarks and suggestions as appear more immediately applicable to the attempts made in the present day to effect their civil and religious advancement. If, by pointing out the errors of former times, it can at all serve as a beacon in future attempts at Indian civilization or conversion, one important step towards success is likely to be attained. These errors are obvious from an examination of the works of the earliest writers, as well as those of later periods, who had much communication with the Indians. Travellers, who from curiosity-traders, who from views of commercial enterprise-military officers, who in the call of their professional duty and the missionaries, who from religious motives, were led to explore the interior of that continent, have furnished ample materials for reflection on this subject; and by laying before the reader extracts from their works, it will no doubt enable him, by reference to the most authentic sources, to judge of the real nature of those endeavours which were made during the course of two centuries and made in vain to ameliorate the condition of the Indians of North America. It may be satisfactory, in this place, to notice the recorded opinions of some of those writers, most of whom had long resided in that country; and to describe, in their own words, the favourable sentiments which their experience had taught them to entertain respecting the Indian character. These opinions, indeed, are directly opposite to what has |