inhabitants of America. To this they add a pride which leads them to isolate themselves from other tribes.1 66 NORTH AMERICANS. According to an authority quoted by De Rochefort, 2 the Caribs originated in Florida, among the Appallachians, and there is no doubt that their moral qualities were much the same as those exhibited by the nations not only of Florida, but of the greater part of the North American continent. Accepting the evidence of Captain Smith as more reliable than that of Fenimore Cooper, we find the Virginians described as being "inconsistent in everything but what fear constraineth them to keep," savage, crafty, timorous, quick of apprehension, and very ingenious; moreover, soon moved to anger, and so malicious that they seldom forget an injury." They did not thieve from each other, "lest their conjurors should reveal it, and so they be pursued and punished,"3 but theft from strangers does not appear to have been uncommon. 4 Smith gives several examples of the murderous and deceitful conduct of the Virginian natives towards both their fellow-countrymen and the settlers. On one occasion upwards of 347 European men, women, and children were most treacherously massacred. As to sexual morality, it would seem that regular prostitutes existed among them, and although wives were faithful to their husbands, yet this was only so long as the latter withheld their permission to act otherwise. The ideas of uncultured peoples in relation to sexual matters are evidenced by its having been cus1 "Personal Narrative," vol. vi., pp. 11 seq., 40. 2 Op. cit., p. 351, seq. History of Virginia" (Pinkerton, vol. xiii.), p. 35. * Do., pp. 59, 93, 143. 5 Do., pp. 43, 87, 145. 6 Do., pp. 35, 43. "1 tomary with the Virginian natives, when one chief visited another by night, "to set a woman fresh painted red with pocones and oil, to be his bedfellow.' Perhaps this custom throws light on the statement of Depous, that a law of hospitality among the natives of South America requires women to paint themselves afresh when a stranger arrives at a dwelling.2 The character of the New England aborigines, as described by Captain Smith, differs little from that of the Virginians. He speaks of their power, dexterity, treachery, and inconstancy. They practised polygamy and divorce, and Smith says, quaintly, "they have harlots and honest women, the harlots never marry, and are widows."3 The moral condition of the native inhabitants of the various parts of the North American continent has a remarkable general similarity. Peculiar features are sometimes observable, but they are probably due to the influence of special conditions affecting only particular tribes, or of exceptional operation. Thus Du Lac says of the Chawanons of Upper Louisiana, that although they are generally mild and humane, treating their prisoners with kindness and compassion, yet, during their war with the Americans, "they burned great numbers, after causing them to endure every torture which revenge or hatred could suggest. "5 In the heat of action, the Chawanons, like many other tribes, appear to have indiscriminately massacred the men, women, and children, whom they had surprised by their tactics.6 The ruling pas sions of the Indians of Louisiana were hatred of their "History of Virginia," p. 38. 2 Op. cit.. p. 56. 3. History of New England," loc. cit., pp. 226, 242, 245. This agrees with Dobritzhoffer's testimony as to the Abipones. See supra. 5 "Travels through the two Louisianas Travels and Voyages), voi. vi., P. 46. (a collection of modern 6 Do., p. 75. enemies, and desire for vengeance, the old men and mothers constantly reminding their children of those who had been killed by another tribe, and exhorting them to be brave and seek revenge. It was urged as a justification for the non-correction of children, that the beating of a child deprived him of the spirit necessary for a warrior.2 In return, children, instead of respecting their fathers, often ill-treated them with impunity.3 Women were thought to be inferior beings, created only for the wants and pleasures of man, and they were treated in accordance with that idea. 4 As among uncultured people generally, women were freely lent by their husbands to others, and Du Lac relates that the chiefs of the Kanees offered him their daughters. There appears to have been no limit to the number of wives a man might have, and a Chawanon had the privilege either of marrying all his wife's sisters as they attained puberty, or of disposing of them to whom he pleased. "But," adds the traveller, "the young savage seldom lives long with his first wife. Often before the age of thirty or thirty-five, he married and abandoned at least a dozen.6 Probably the Shoshones may be taken as representative of the Indians of the Upper Missouri. They are described by Lewis and Clarke as being honest, and decent, and proper in their conduct.7 They did not, however, treat their old people with much respect, and they would seem, like the other hunting tribes, to have 1 "Travels through the two Louisianas," pp. 66, 69. 2 The same remark is made by Lewis and Clarke in their account of the Shoshones of the Upper Missouri. 3 Du Lac, op. cit., p. 68. 6 Du Lac, op, cit., p. 47. 4 p. 51. 5 Do., For information as to the character of the Creek Indians, see "Traits of Indian Character," by G. Turner (1835); See also Halliday Jackson's "Sketch of the Manners of the Seneca Indians," (1830). 7"Travels to the Source of the Missouri River," vol. ii., p. 156. abandoned the aged when the means of subsistence had to be sought at a distance. On the other hand, some of their feasts were chiefly for the benefit of the old and infirm. The position of the women was not more favourable than is usual among uncultured peoples. The mass of them spent their lives in the lowest and most laborious drudgery. A man might have several wives at the same time, who were usually sisters, and they and his daughters were at his absolute disposal. For a small gift a husband would "lend his wife for a night to a stranger, and the loan may be protracted by increasing the value of the present." This shows that female chastity was not much regarded, and yet a connection of that kind without the consent of the husband, was treated as very offensive.2 A recent American writer, the first volume of whose exhaustive work has appeared while this was passing through the press, speaks of the lower tribes of the Shoshones as the most degraded of human beings, while the better ones are "thieving, treacherous, cunning, moderately brave after their fashion, fierce when fierceness will avail them anything, and exceedingly cruel.” The Utah tribes practise great cruelty towards their slaves, and not only do they steal their neighbours' wives and children, to sell into slavery, but they will dispose of their own wives and children for a few trinkets. 3 The estimate formed by Catlin of the native character may seem to be at variance with the opinions of other travellers. He says: "The North American Indian is everywhere, in his native state, a highly moral and religious being, endowed by his Maker with an intuitive 1 "Travels to the Source of the Missouri River," vol. ii., pp. 180, 421-2. 2 Do., 164-5. 3 "The Native Races of the Pacific States," by H. H. Bancroft (1875), vol. i., p. 435 seq. knowledge of some great author of his being and the universe, in dread of whose displeasure he constantly lives, with the apprehension before him of a future state, where he expects to be rewarded or punished according to the merits he has gained or forfeited in this world." 1 The Mandans, and other tribes visited by Catlin, no doubt are sincere in their conduct, and pass through their exercises of self-denial with a belief that these are pleasing to the Great Spirit, but whether they are what we should call "moral" must be judged of by their actions. Catlin agrees with Lewis and Clarke, when he says that by nature the natives are decent and modest. He adds that they are unassuming and inoffensive, and that all history "proves them to have been found friendly and hospitable on the first approach of white people to their villages on all parts of the American continent." 2 This is, on the whole, no doubt true, but such conduct is consistent with the exhibition of a very different spirit. Thus cruelty is one of the leading traits of the Indian character. It is shown especially in the treatment of prisoners, who are usually made to undergo the most appalling tortures; although Catlin seeks to palliate this conduct, on the ground that the cruelties are practised only by way of retaliation, and to appease the manes of those of their friends who have been before similarly treated. When this has been done by the sacrifice of a sufficient number of prisoners, the remainder are adopted into the tribe by marrying the widows of those who have fallen in battle. Moreover, the custom of exposing aged people is admittedly practised by all the tribes who roam over the prairies. This, however, Catlin thinks is inevitable, and readily ac 1 "Illustrations of the Manners, &c., of the North American Indians," vol. ii., p. 246. 2 * Do., p. 245. 3 Do., vol. ii., p. 240. |