Chapter 4

CHAP. I.

_Of the Original of the_ Indians, Europeans, _and_ Negroes.

One main Cause, why the _Gospel_ is not propagated with better Success among the _Infidels_, and why it is not more strictly followed by such _Europeans_ as inhabit the _American Plantations_, is the little right Knowledge that _Superintendants_ of the _Church_ have of them, from imperfect Accounts and false Information; for before we can entertain any tolerable Idea of the Tenents, and Inclinations of any People; it is requisite we should know something of their Original, Temper, and Government; for want of which much Cost and Labour have been in vain expended, and many pious Designs and Projects frustrated.

And as the Progress of Religion, so for the same Causes, and in the same Manner, is the Improvement of Arts, Sciences, and Trade, much retarded.

I shall therefore exhibit a short View of the present Inhabitants of _Virginia_; which are _Indians_, _English_, and _Negroes_, with a Description of the Country: After which their Morals and Manners may more plainly and briefly be described; from whence may easily be inferred an Account of _Maryland_ and _North Carolina_, nearly agreeing with _Virginia_ in many Respects.

The _Indians_ may be term'd _Aborigines_; for to pretend to determine their Pedigree exactly, with the Time and Manner of seating this unknown World, to me seems as morally impossible, as it is naturally to account for the Complexion of their Bodies, and the Temper of their Minds.

So that the best History of them till late Years is but meer Guess-work, of which my Sentiments are these:

We know that all Nations of the World are the Descendants of _Noah_'s three Sons, _Shem_, _Ham_, and _Japheth_: From the youngest (from some promised Blessings) may we suppose the _Europeans_ and _Western Asiaticks_ to be descended. From _Canaan_ the Son of the middlemost issued the _Canaanites_, and from some of his Sons might spring the _Egyptians_, _Moors_, _Negroes_, and other Inhabitants of _Africa_.

From _Shem_ sprung _Eber_, and from _Eber_'s eldest Son _Peleg_ sprung the _Hebrews_, and from _Eber_'s younger Son _Joktan_ are derived the _East_, and (I suppose) their Cousins the _West-Indians_ of _America_. For in _Peleg_'s _Days the Earth was divided_, Gen. x. 25. and his Brother _Jocktan's Dwelling was from_ Mesha, _as thou goest unto_ Sephar, _a Mount of the_ East, v. 30. _By these were the Nations divided in the Earth after the Flood_, v. 32.

To me the _Indians_ of _America_ seem to be some of the Posterity of _Shem_, driven thither by _Providence_, for Causes unknown to us, which might easily be done (in large Boats or Canoes and Periaguas) from the Eastern Parts of _Asia_, their Grandfather _Jocktan_'s Country; which is not improbable: Since a Storm might drive them off from the Shore, and the trade Winds, which blow constantly one Way half the Year, might carry them directly to _America_, over the vast _South Sea_ Ocean; in which Passage their greatest Danger of Death might be Hunger and Thirst; but they, that know the _Indians_, know also, that they can bear Want a prodigious while; and what might they not bear, when the Divine Power was miraculously concerned in it, for Purposes known to the Almighty only?

Indeed for what we have yet discovered, we don't know, but the Continent of _America_ may be join'd to _Tartary_; from whence (if so) they might have an easy, though tedious Conveyance. Be it how it will, I am of Opinion, that they are descended from _Asia_, and not _Africa_; because in their copper Colour, long black Hair, strait proper Shape, and haughty Carriage, they are somewhat like the _East-Indians_; whereas they seem to be of a different Breed from the _Negroes_, who are blacker, have uglier Faces and Bodies, and are of a more servile Carriage, and slavish Temper: Besides, the _Africans_ circumcise, which with other _Jewish_ Customs, I imagine, they may derive from _Egypt_; whereas the _Indians_ use no such Practices: Moreover they hate, and despise the very Sight of a _Negroe_; but they seem to like an _East-Indian_, and fear and revere the _Whites_.

What some may object in Contradiction to the Universality of the Deluge; that the Communication between _Asia_ and _America_ was washed away by it; thence inferring that the _Americans_ are of _Antidiluvian_ Families, may (I presume) be exploded, when we remark, that in most Places, at a great Depth, and far distant from the Sea, are many great Beds of strange Shells, and Bones, and Teeth of Fish and Beasts vastly different from any Land or Water-Animals now found in those, or any other Parts of the World; so that notwithstanding all the curious Speculations of Philosophers to reconcile this with Reason, and ascribe for it natural Causes; yet to me it appears evidently to be a Token, and Relict of the general Flood of _Noah_. For these Shells and Bones might be easily preserved from Corruption, and mouldering so long a Time, whilst covered with a great Thickness of dry Earth, and kept from Air; to which when they are exposed they soon decay.

The best true Account that we have of the Primitive wild Inhabitants of the Earth, not civilized by Government, nor assisted by Learning, Arts and Communication with Strangers, is of the _Canaanites_; whose State of Nature the _Indians_ still retain, resembling them in most Respects, who may be their Cousins descended from _Joktan_, and may be some cursed Generations, for Reasons hidden from us. For which Causes they might be separated from the rest of Mankind, and be debarred the Light of _Grace_, and kept in their barbarous Ignorance, for their obstinate Rebellion against _God_; till of his gracious Goodness and Mercy he be pleased in his appointed Time to compleat their Conversion, and be more favourable to them.

I have a much truer and clearer Notion of the _Canaanites_, _Hebrews_, &c. since I have seen the _Indians_, than I could have before, who afford living Examples of the primitive _Savages_, and _Idolaters_.

To confirm this, observe; that as the Inhabitants of the Land of _Canaan_, who were vanquished by the _Israelites_, and were principally descended from _Canaan_ the fourth Son of accursed _Ham_, being a Mixture of several remarkable Nations that were great and idolatrous, and in an especial Manner hateful to God, with frequent Wars and Barbarities among themselves; in like Manner are the _American Indians_, as savage, idolatrous, unbelieving, numerous, monstrous, idle and delighting in War and Cruelty as their antient Relations the Inhabitants of the Land of _Canaan_; and have as many different Nations, Languages, and strange Names and Customs as the _Canaanites_, the _Jebusites_, the _Hittites_, the _Hivites_, the _Perizites_, and the _Gergisites_. The _Indians_ being subdivided into as many Branches and Sovereignties as they, intermixt with as hideous Neighbours, as the Gigantick _Philistines_ of the Race of _Misraim_; with the _Moabites_ and _Amorites_, Descendants of _Lot_ by his own Daughters; with the _Midianites_ and _Edomites_, the Posterity of _Midian_ and _Esau_.

The _Senecaa Indians_ in their War Dress may appear as terrible as any of the Sons of _Anak_. The _Usherees_, _Shuterees_, and _Cherackees_ are full as formidable as the _Hittites_, _Jebusites_, and _Amalakites_; and a _Tuskaroodau_ is as savage and strange as any _Canaanite_, that dwelt by the Sea; and a _Pomunkee_, _Sapony_, or _Sugarr_ is as fierce and frightful as any _Amorite_ that dwelt upon or beyond the Mountains; and _Powhatan_, _Oppechancanough_ and _Wickmaunatauchee_ have fought many Battles not unlike _Og_, _Sihon_, and _Chederlaomer_.

In my mean Judgment it seems not improbable that when _Noah_ had cursed the Posterity of _Ham_, and reserved different blessings for _Shem_ and _Japheth_, God set a distinguishing Colour upon their Bodies, and ingrafted in their Nature various Tempers, and endowed them with separate Talents. From whence their Posterity are of three different Complexions and Countenances, as is apparent in _White_, _Black_, and _Brown_ People, which by Mixtures, or from Climates or otherwise are subdivided: Particularly the _brown_ Children of _Shem_ have two peculiar Aspects different from each other, and distinct from all the rest; one proper to the _Jews_, the Sons of _Peleg_, and the other belonging to the _East_ and _West-Indies_, the Sons of _Joktan_, _Peleg_'s younger Brother.

To the _white_ Posterity of _Japheth_, viz. to the _Europeans_ in particular are _Noah_'s Words (_Gen._ ix. 27.) very applicable, where he said, _that God should enlarge_ Japheth, _and he should dwell in the Tents of_ Shem, _and_ Canaan _shall be his Servant_; which seems fulfilled in our Possession of Lands in the _East_ and _West-Indies_, the Tents of the Sons of _Shem_, where _Canaan_ or the _Negroe_ is our Servant and Slave; and as it is said of him in the 25{th} Verse, _a Servant of Servants is_ Canaan _unto his Brethren_.

For the _Negroes_ seem evidently to be Descendants from some of the Sons of _Canaan_. For it is not to be supposed that the _Jews_ destroyed them all, for the _Families of the_ Canaanites _were spread abroad_, Gen. x. 18. so that probably in process of Time they possessed _Africa_. As for the _Blessing upon_ Shem in the 26{th} Verse, and _Canaan being his Servant_; this appears to be fulfilled in the _Jews_ in Part, descended from _Peleg_, _Heber_'s eldest Son; from whom sprung _Abraham_ the Father of the Faithful, in whose Seed the Lord God of _Shem_ may be said to be blessed according to _Noah_'s Prophecy, who made Part of _Canaan_ Slaves, and took them Captive. And as for the other Branches of _Shem_'s Posterity by _Joktan_ (which Sound is not quite lost in either of the _Indies_) I take them to be the _East_ and _West-Indians_, _Chinese_, and _Tartars_; and it may be the _Persians_, for whom with their Cousins the _Jews_, none but God knows what Blessings may still be reserved in Store, it being to be hoped that they and all the Ends of the World may be converted, and see and partake of the Salvation of our God; so that by all may the Lord God of _Shem_ at length be blessed.

_Thus far_, as to my Notions of the Original of the _Indians_, whom I imagine to be descended from some of the Sons of _Joktan_, second Son of _Eber_, sprung from _Shem_, _Noah_'s eldest Son: With a Derivation of the _Whites_ from _Japheth_ the youngest, and the _Negroes_ from some of the Sons of _Canaan_, Descendant of _Ham_, _Noah's_ second Son.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Government, Religion, Habit, Wars, Lives, Customs, &c. of the_ Indians of North America, _and_ of Christanna.

As to the Government and Life of the _Indians_, they live in a kind of patriarchal Manner, variously diversify'd, not unlike the Tribes and Families mentioned in the _Old Testament_. Every small Town is a petty Kingdom govern'd by an absolute _Monarch_, assisted and advised by his _great Men_, selected out of the gravest, oldest, bravest, and richest; if I may allow their Dear-Skins, _Peak_ and _Roenoak_ (black and white Shells with Holes, which they wear on Strings about their Arms and Necks) to be Wealth.

Sometimes there are general _Emperors_, who have several petty Kingdoms in some Measure under their Protection and Power.

They dwell in Towns some twenty, some a hundred Miles, and some farther from one another, each Town having a particular _Jargon_ and peculiar Customs; though for the most Part they agree in certain Signs, Expressions, and Manners.

They are frequently at War with all their Neighbours, or most of them, and treat their Captive Prisoners very barbarously; either by scalping them (which I have seen) by ripping off the Crown of the Head, which they wear on a Thong by their Side as a signal Trophee and Token of Victory and Bravery. Or sometimes they tie their Prisoners, and lead them bound to their Town, where with the most joyful Solemnity they kill them, often by thrusting in several Parts of their Bodies scewers of Light-wood which burn like Torches. The poor Victim all the while (which is sometimes two or three Days) not shewing the least Symptom of Grief, nor Sign of Pain, but bearing it with a scornful Sullenness.

In their Rejoicings and Wardances they with the most antick Gestures, in the most frightful Dress, with a hideous Noise, enumerate the Enemies, that they have murder'd, and such like Exploits.

They attack always by Surprize, and will never stand their Ground when discovered; but fly to Ambush, whither the Enemy may pursue with Peril of his Life.

They are made for running very swiftly, and are nicely dextrous at fishing, hunting, and fowling; whereby they support themselves and Families with Venison, Fish, wild Turkies, _&c._

The Women do all the hard Labour, such as cutting down the Trees, planting Corn, _&c._ carrying Burthens and all their other Work; the Men only hunting, fishing and fowling, eating, drinking, dancing and sleeping.

The Boys still use Bows and Arrows for Exercise, with which they are very dextrous; but the Men always use Fire-Arms, which with Ammunition they buy of us with their Dear-Skins, going rarely out unarmed.

They are so wonderfully quick-sighted, that they will swiftly pursue by _Eye_ the Track of any Thing among the Trees, in the Leaves and Grass, as an Hound does by the Scent, where _we_ can't perceive the least Mark or Footstep.

They cohabit in some hundreds of Families, and fix upon the richest Ground to build their wooden Houses, which they place in a circular Form, meanly defended with Pales, and covered with Bark; the middle Area (or _Forum_) being for common Uses and publick Occasions. The Women in order to plant their _Indian Corn_ and _Tobacco_ (to clear the Ground of Trees) cut the Bark round; so that they die and don't shade the Ground, and decay in Time.

Wherever we meet with an old _Indian Field_, or Place where they have lived, we are sure of the best Ground. They all remove their Habitation for fear of their Enemies, or for the Sake of Game and Provision.

They have small Sweating Houses like Ovens; out of which when they are almost smothered with Heat, they run into a River, which they always contrive to build their Towns near.

This Practice in all Distempers often kills vast Numbers in Sicknesses, which are new to them.

They have no Notion of providing for Futurity; for they eat Night and Day whilst their Provision lasts, falling to as soon as they awake, and falling asleep again as soon as they are well crammed.

Their Fish, Flesh, and Fowl, they either barbacue on an high Gridiron, or broil on sharp Sticks before a Fire, which they always keep in the Middle of their Cabbin; and they lie upon Boards and Skins raised like Benches round about their Room.

Their Drink is Water, unless they can get _Rum_; with which they make themselves the greatest Beasts, never ceasing as long as they have Liquor to drink, and can keep awake.

I have known, when Cows have been given them, that they let them go dry for Laziness in neglecting to milk them, and die in the Winter for want of Fodder.

They commonly wear a Dear-Skin, putting their Arms thro' the Holes of the Shoulder, with a Flap ty'd before and behind to cover their Nakedness; though they buy often _Matchcoats_ or Blankets now, to defend them from the Wet and Cold, and think themselves very fine in such Coats as our common Soldiers wear, or of any taudry Colours: Besides this, some pin Pieces of red or blue Cloth about their Legs, and make _Moccasons_ or leather Purses for their Feet, with which they can travel in the Woods, without Danger of Thorns or Stumps. For all the Country is but one continued Forest, with Patches of some hundred Acres here and there cleared; either being formerly seated by _Indians_, or the Trees being burnt in Fire-Hunting, or cut down for Plantations.

Their Children almost as soon as born, are ty'd flat on their Backs to a Board; and so may be flung on the Ground, or put to lean against any Thing, or be flung over their Neck in Travelling, or hung upon a Bough, as Occasion requires.

This occasions them to be exactly strait; so that it is a Miracle to see a crooked or deformed _Indian_.

Their Hair is very black, coarse and long; and they are all over daubed frequently with Bear's Oil.

Each Nation has some distinguishing Mark, especially in the Cut or Tie of their Hair, in which they are very whimsical and comical.

They often wear Shells hanging upon their Breasts, with Feathers or a Deer's Tail in their bored Ears or Hair, with a Wolf or Fox-Skin for a Snapsack; with other odd Accoutrements.

In their Opinion, they are finest when dressed most ridiculously or terribly. Thus some have their Skins all over curiously wrought with blewish Lines and Figures, as if done with Gun-Powder and Needles, and all of them delight in being painted; so that when they are very fine, you may see some of them with their Hair cut off on one Side, and a long Lock on the other. The Crown being crested and bedaubed with red Lead and Oil; their Forehead being painted white, and it may be their Nose black, and a Circle of Blue round one Eye, with the Cheek red, and all the other Side of the Face yellow, or in some such fantastical Manner. These Colours they buy of us, being persuaded to despise their own, which are common and finer.

They are treacherous, suspicious and jealous, difficult to be persuaded or imposed upon, and very sharp, hard in Dealing, and ingenious in their Way, and in Things that they naturally know, or have been taught; though at first they are very obstinate, and unwilling to apprehend or learn Novelties, and seem stupid and silly to Strangers.

An Instance of their resolute Stupidity and Obstinacy in receiving a new Custom, I have seen in the prodigious Trouble of bringing them to sell their Skins, and buy Gunpowder by Weight; for they could not apprehend the Power and Justice of the Stilliard; but with the Scales at Length they apprehended it tolerably well; though at first they insisted upon as much Gunpowder as the Skin weighed, which was much more than their Demand in Measure. They have Geographical Notions, as to the Situation of their own Country, and will find the Way to very remote Places in a surprizing Manner; steering by the Course of the Rivers, _&c._ or by the Trees, whose _North_ Side is easily known by the Moss.

Thus I know, that _Wickmannatauchee_ (a great King among the _Southern Indians_) whom I saw just before, and since, when he made his Escape from his Enemy _Indians_ at _Christanna_, where his _Queen_ and abundance of his People were slain, and he ty'd in order to be carried away Prisoner; yet broke loose, and ran directly Home several hundred Miles stark-naked, without Arms or Provision, in the Month of _March_, when the Trees afforded no Fruit; neither did he go near any other Nation, till he got to his own; therefore I suppose Roots were his Provision, and Water his Liquor, unless by some cunning Method (with which they abound) he caught Fish, Fowl, or Venison; and as for Fire I know they can kindle that by rubbing of certain Sticks together.

They count their Time by Days, or by the Return of the Moon, and _Cohonks_, a sort of wild Geese. They walk one after another in a Line, are very serious in Debates, speak but one at a Time; and in Negotiations all agree to what either proposes or approves of, and are not easily imposed upon; and when affronted, they highly resent Injuries, and being treacherous are no more to be trusted than tame _Lions_, who can't wholly lose their savage Hearts.

They have tolerable good Notions of natural Justice, Equity, Honour and Honesty, to the Rules whereof the great Men strictly adhere; but their common People will lye, cheat, and steal.

They seldom commit Violence upon the _English_, but when provoked, or put on by others.

The _French_, that are seated upon the River of St. _Laurence_ and the _Messisippi_, and the Lakes between them in _Canada_ and _Lovisiana_, which extend behind all the _English Plantations_ along the Heart of _North America_ a vast Way, from the most Northern Parts of the _French_ Settlements, which are contiguous quite to the Gulf of _Mexico_, are numerous, and through the Policy of their late _King_ intermarry with the _Indians_; by which means being united with them, they often set them on to destroy the _English_, which may prove dangerous in Case of a War with _France_.

But to prevent more Mischiefs of this kind, Providence has secured us from them by a continued Ridge of vast high Hills, called the _Apelachian Mountains_, running nearly under the _Meridian_, as being passable but in very few Places; which Mountains through the Care and Conduct of the _Honourable Colonel Spotswood_ are secured for his Majesty, tho' not guarded as yet; which might easily be done to the great Safety and Encouragement of back Settlements in a vast rich Country Westward of the Settlements of _Virginia_, some hundred of Miles from the Sea quite to the Mountains, which might prove a Terror to the _French Indians_ and _Planters_, in Case of Inroads and Irruptions, and become a Safeguard to the Trade of those Places.

_Governor Spotswood_, when he undertook the great Discovery of the _Passage_ over the _Mountains_, attended with a sufficient Guard and Pioneers and Gentlemen, with a sufficient Stock of Provision, with abundant Fatigue _passed_ these _Mountains_, and cut _his Majesty's Name_ in a _Rock_ upon the _Highest_ of them, naming it MOUNT GEORGE; and in Complaisance the Gentlemen from the Governor's Name, called the Mountain next in Height, _Mount Alexander_.

For this Expedition they were obliged to provide a great Quantity of Horse-Shoes; (Things seldom used in the lower Parts of the Country, where there are few Stones:) Upon which Account the Governor upon their Return presented each of his Companions with a Golden Horse-Shoe, (some of which I have seen studded with valuable Stones resembling the Heads of Nails) with this Inscription on the one Side: _Sic juvat transcendere montes_: And on the other is written the tramontane Order.

This he instituted to encourage Gentlemen to venture backwards, and make Discoveries and new Settlements; any Gentleman being entitled to wear this Golden Shoe that can prove his having drank _His Majesty's Health_, upon MOUNT GEORGE.

He built a Fort called _Christanna_, which tho' not so far back, yet proved of great Service and Use; where at his sole Expence (I think) I have seen Seventy Seven _Indian Children_ at a Time at School, under the careful Management of the worthy Mr. _Charles Griffin_, who lived there some Years for that Purpose; from whom I have been informed of most of the _Indian_ Customs and Principles, that I here mention, except such as I have seen and known my self.

These Children could all read, say their Catechisms and Prayers tolerably well; but this pious Design being laid aside thro' the Opposition of Trade and Interest, Mr. _Griffin_ was removed to the College to teach the _Indians_, instructed there by the Benefaction of the _Honourable Mr. Boyle_.

The _Indians_ so loved and adored him, that I have seen them hug him and lift him up in their Arms, and fain would have chosen him for a _King_ of the _Sapony_ Nation.

The _Southern Indians_, that came several hundred Miles to meet the _Governor_, there to treat of War, and Peace, and Trade, though they had several murthered by their own _Northern_ Enemies, (even under the Mouths of our great Guns, and whilst we were there) which made them somewhat jealous that we had betray'd them; yet left several Children under his Care, and engaged themselves to send more, though they themselves would not relinquish their Barbarity; for they in reasoning with us by Interpreters, asked Leave to be excused from becoming as we are; for they thought it hard, that we should desire them to change their Manners and Customs, since they did not desire us to turn _Indians_: However, they permitted their Children to be brought up in our Way; and when they were able to judge for themselves, they were to live as the ENGLISH, or as the INDIANS, according to their best liking.

The _Indians_ have a blind Worship and Sacrifice, Priests, and Physicians, and Expiation, with howling Lamentations and Purgation at their Burials: All which I have seen at the Funeral of their Slain at _Christanna_, whom they buried thus; having made Holes like Saw-Pits, and lined them with Bark and Sticks, they wrapped the Bodies in the best Cloth they could buy with the Skins of the Deceased, and laid them in the Graves, with all the Cloths, Skins and Nicknacks of the Dead: Then they covered the Body hollow with Sticks, and flung in the Earth with mournful Noise; so the Bodies lay as in Coffins.

The Priest or Physician in curing the Wounded, made an hideous Noise, singing certain Charms, with particular Actions and Forms of Incantation, to which he ascribed the Cure, tho' I believe this is done only to blind the common _Indians_; for I observed he did not begin his Operation, till he had been in the Woods. Then he shut us all out for an Hour, and when we were readmitted, I perceived he had been using certain Roots and Herbs that I knew not.

Upon Enquiry, we have from them these their Notions of the State of the Dead.

They believe that they go to _Mohomny_ that lives beyond the Sun, if they have not been Wicked, nor like Dogs nor Wolves, that is, not unchast, then they believe that _Mohomny_ sends them to a plentiful Country abounding with Fish, Flesh and Fowls, the best of their Kind, and easy to be caught; but if they have been naughty, then he sends them to a poor barren Country, where be many Wolves and Bears, with a few nimble Deer, swift Fish and Fowls, difficult to be taken; and when killed, being scarce any thing but Skin and Bones.

They allow Polygamy, if the Man can maintain his Family, as I have been informed.

They punish Adultery in a Woman by cutting off her Hair, which they fix upon a long Pole without the Town; which is such a Disgrace that the Party is obliged to fly, and becomes a Victim to some Enemy, a Slave to some Rover, or perishes in the Woods.

They have certain _Hieroglyphical_ Methods of characterizing Things; an Instance of which I have seen upon the Side of a Tree where the Bark was taken off.

There was drawn something like a Deer and a River, with certain Strokes and Dashes; the Deer looking down the River, which we interpreted to be left for Information to some of their stragling Company, that certain of them were gone down that River a Hunting, and others were gone different Ways.

I know by the Boys at the College, that they have an excellent _Genius_ for Drawing; and I fancy by Art they might be made some of the best Masters of Painting and Limning, to which they seem naturally inclined.

They hate Injury and Oppression; and I have been told they have some capital Punishments.

Besides the _French_, the _Traders_ of some Companies and Countries often set the _Indians_ on to injure the _English_ on the Frontiers, out of a barbarous inhuman Design; and often private Injuries done by some of our ordinary or vile People (who esteem and use the _Indians_ as Dogs) are repaid with publick Barbarity.

An Instance of their Resolutions for Satisfaction, we have in the Death of _Major Wynne_, who was shot by an _Indian_, because one of our Servants had killed one of their _great Men_; and upon the Trial of the _Indian_, they pleaded that we were the Aggressors, and that they never rest without Revenge and Reprisals; and that now they said we and they were equal, having each lost a _great Man_: Wherefore to avoid more Bloodshed, there was a Necessity to pardon the _Indian_.

They report that the _Northern Indians_ send out Bodies of young Fellows yearly, who dare not return without a certain Number of Scalps or Prisoners, in order to train them up, and qualify them for great and fighting Men.

Now these, and such as are set on by others, do some Mischief (tho' but very seldom) in the Frontier Plantations, tho' they be guarded with Rangers; and these with such as think themselves injured are the _Indians_ that make Wars, and such Disturbance in the _Northern_ and _Southern_ Colonies: But the tributary _Indians_, of which there are but four very small Nations in _Virginia_ on this Side the Mountains, keep to the Bounds allowed them, and seldom do any Hurt, being sure to be punished for Offences in a great Measure by our Laws, since we protect and shelter them, by permitting them to live among us; tho' sometimes they will pretend to claim their prior Right to all our Lands, as _Blunt King of the Tuskaroodaus_ did, when he told _Colonel Spotswood_ that the Country belonged to them before we _English_ came thither; so that he thought they had a better Title than we, and ought not to be confined to such narrow Limits for Hunting.

To retort this Argument, the Governor told him that _Mohomny_ took the Ground from _them_ and gave it _us_, because _we_ did as he bid us, but _they_ would not.

_Blunt_ answered, that _they_ could not tell what _Mohomny_ would have them do; and asked how we knew.

The _Governor_ then told him that _Mohomny_ sent his _Son_ to us, who lived a long time with us, and told us and taught us what we should do; and then he went back again to his _Father_.

With this _King Blunt_ seemed satisfied and surprized; and after a Pause, he said, he had talked with several Governors and other _English_, but he really never before heard that _Mohomny_ had a Son.

I relate this, to shew how by Degrees, after proper Methods, they may be humoured, and brought to have some Notions of the true Religion, when their Capacity and Temper is rightly studied and managed; for we must _give Milk to_ such _Babes_ in Faith.

Some indeed, after seeming Conversion have apostatized and returned to their own Ways, chiefly because they can live with less Labour, and more Pleasure and Plenty, as _Indians_, than they can with us; but this might easily be remedied by making a plentiful Provision for them, especially those at the _College_, by sending some to Sea, and putting out others to Trades, and not letting them idle away their Time, nor return to their Towns so soon, before they be perfect in the Understanding and Approbation of our Customs and Religion, and have seen some more of the World, and be handsomly provided for; for then if they returned, they might do Good to themselves and others.

This might by Degrees convert all the tributary and neighbouring _Indians_; and the _Northern_ and _Southern Nations_ might be managed by _Missionaries_ from the Society, and the _College Indians_.

These inland People are vastly numerous, as I have been told by the Traders, who are sent out amongst them seven or eight hundred Miles, with about a hundred Horses, and stay there sometimes for Years together.

The Missionaries that are now sent, generally keep among the _English_, and rarely see an _Indian_; or when they do, know but little how to manage them; for you may as well talk Reason, Philosophy, or Divinity to a _Block_, as to _them_, unless you perfectly understand their Temper, and know how to humour them.

I believe indeed, Mr. _Andrews_, Missionary to the _Northern Indians_, in the _late Queen_'s Time, did great Good among them in seven Years: In which Time, he found out something of their Nature, and translated Part of our Prayers and Psalms into their Language: Which Book when he gave me, he told me that it had not the desired Effect, neither did his Preaching avail as much as could be wished, because Policy and Interest intervening often superseded the Promotion of the Gospel, and the debauched Lives and vile Practices of our ordinary People give Examples very pernicious to Religion; for the _Indians_ think, that _they_ may surely be allowed the same Liberty as _we_; and if our Folks don't act, as they say, they should, the _Indians_ may think the _Christian Profession_ to be a Cheat, when our pretended Principles are contradicted by our Actions.

I have here specified some general Customs and Notions of the _Indians_, without a superficial Knowledge of which Things the Government and Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, may be at great Trouble and Expence, and yet make but small Progress in the Propagation of Learning, Religion and good Manners among the _Heathen Indians of America_; who in Gross may all be said to be such, as I have here given an Account of.