centuries, may justly be said to exceed even the most heroic American Indians, for they bore the bitterest persecution with steady patience, in imitation of their divine leader Messiah, in full confidence of divine support and of a glorious recompense of reward; and, instead of even wishing for revenge on their cruel enemies and malicious tormentors, (which is the chief principle that actuates the Indians,) they not only forgave them, but, in the midst of their tortures, earnestly prayed for them, with composed countenances, sincere love, and unabated fervor.  And not only men of different conditions, but the delicate women and children suffered with constancy, and died praying for their tormentors:  the Indian women and children, and their young men untrained to war, are incapable of displaying the like patience and magnanimity.”

Thus impartially looks the old trader.  I meant to have inserted other passages, that of the encampment at Yowanne, and the horse race to which he challenged them, to show how well he could convey in his garrulous fashion the whole presence of Indian life.  That of Yowanne, especially, takes my fancy much, by its wild and subtle air, and the old-nurse fashion in which every look and gesture is detailed.  His enjoyment, too, at outwitting the Indians in their own fashion is contagious.  There is a fine history of a young man driven by a presentiment to run upon his death.  But I find, to copy these stories, as they stand, would half fill this little book, and compression would spoil them, so I must wait some other occasion.

The story, later, of giving an Indian liquid fire to swallow, I give at full length, to show how a kind-hearted man and one well disposed towards them, can treat them, and view his barbarity as a joke.  It is not then so much wonder, if the trader, with this same feeling that they may be treated, (as however brutes should not be,) brutally, mixes red pepper and damaged tobacco with the rum, intending in their fever to fleece them of all they possess.

Like Murray and Henry, he has his great Indian chief, who represents what the people should be, as Pericles and Phocion what the Greek people should be.  If we are entitled to judge by its best fruits of the goodness of the tree, Adair’s Red Shoes, and Henry’s Wawatam, should make us respect the first possessors of our country, and doubt whether we are in all ways worthy to fill their place.  Of the whole tone of character, judgment may be formed by what is said of the death of Red Shoes.

“This chief, by his several transcendent qualities had arrived at the highest pitch of the red glory....

He was murdered, for the sake of a French reward by one of his own countrymen.  He had the misfortune to be taken very sick on the road, and to lodge apart from the camp, according to their custom.  A Judas, tempted by the high reward of the French for killing him, officiously pretended to take great care of him.  While Red Shoes kept his face toward him, the barbarian had such feelings of awe and pity that he had not power to perpetrate his wicked design; but when he turned his back, then gave the fatal shot.  In this manner fell this valuable brave man, by hands that would have trembled to attack him on an equality.”