they cut down our forests; they drove our warriors before them, and frightened the wild herds, so that they sought security in the deep shades of the west.

    “Brothers:—­These white men were not your grandfathers; for, as
    I said before, the sons of Onas were always the friends of red
    men.

    “Brothers:—­The whites are still advancing upon us.  They have
    reached our territory, and have built their wigwams within our
    very hunting grounds.  Our game is vanishing away.

“Brothers:—­Formerly our hunters pursued the wild deer, and the buffalo, and the bear; and when they killed them they ate their flesh for food, and used their skins as covering for themselves, their old men, their women, and their children.  But now, they kill them that they may have plenty of skins and furs to sell to the white men.  The consequence of this is, the game is destroyed wantonly, and faster than our necessities require.

“Brothers:—­We would not mind all this, provided these skins and furs were exchanged for useful articles—­for implements of husbandry, or clothes for our old men, our women, and our children.  But they are too often bartered away for whiskey, that vile poison, which has sunk even Wapakee into the dust.

“Brothers:—­We shall soon be under the necessity either of leaving our hunting grounds or of converting them into pastures and fields of corn.  Under the kind assistance of our brothers, the Quakers, we have already proceeded a great way.  You have witnessed, as you have passed among us, the good effects of the kindness of our brothers.  We are disposed to go on as we have begun, until our habits and manners, as well as the face of our country, shall be changed and look like those of the white people.

“Brothers:—­Accept from us this belt of wampum and pipe of peace.  And may the Great Sasteretsy, who conducted you here in safety, still go with you and restore you in peace and happiness to the arms of your women and children.”

After this, with ceremonies such as those already described, but, if possible, accompanied with more solemnity, the chiefs dissolved the council.

It is a melancholy reflection, that soon such memorials as these will be the only remains of that noble but unfortunate race who once peopled the continent of North America. War has slain its thousands, but alcohol its tens of thousands; and the fortitude which could bear without shrinking the most cruel inflictions of torture, has proved powerless to resist the seductions of strong drink.  It is to be feared a heavy retribution awaits the white man, the pitiless author of their extermination.