FROM PHILADELPHIA 147 



to bring out the blackest and most hateful side of the 

 Indian character in order the more easily to justify and 

 excuse every unrighteous and grewsome act committed 

 against them, and gladly committed. In confirmation 

 there may be given in passing the following sad and 

 little known story, of the inhuman treatment which a 

 part of these christianized Indians suffered without 

 cause at the hands of their neighbors who call them- 

 selves more enlightened and more moral. 



The three Indian settlements on the Muskingum 

 (known under the general name of the Moravian 

 Indians) found themselves at the beginning of the last 

 war in a very unpleasant situation. They were often 

 urged by the contesting parties to join in the war, but 

 they remained constant to their adopted principles, 

 kept quietly neutral, and regarded not the threats and 

 maltreatment to which they were subjected by other 

 Indian nations taking part in the war. As was neces- 

 sary in their uncertain situation they bore themselves 

 patiently with roving parties of the one side and of the 

 other. For in their expeditions through the wild 

 woods between Canada and the farther regions of 

 Pensylvania and Virginia both sides were glad to turn 

 in for supplies at the Moravian villages. I have heard 

 American officers, sent out against hostile Indian tribes 

 far back on the Mississippi and the Ohio and on their 

 return visiting the settlements of these Christian In- 

 dians, speak of the great pleasure it was to find so un- 

 expectedly evidences of good order and careful manage- 

 ment they and their men, after long marches through 

 a wild country, being in want of supplies, the good 

 Indians gave them everything they could spare and 

 were only rejoiced to be left undisturbed to the minis- 



