PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 13 



could not possibly succeed without long previous 

 training, and then it would require to be introduced 

 by slow degrees. 



The Indians whom this law emancipated were essen- 

 tial to the support of the missions, not only for con- 

 ducting their agricultural concerns, but for keeping in 

 subordination by force and example those whom dis- 

 obedience and ignorance would exempt from the pri- 

 vilege ; and as a necessary consequence of this indulg- 

 ence the missions would be ruined before the system 

 could be brought into effect, even supposing the In- 

 dians capable of conducting their own affairs. So far 

 from this being the case, however, they were known 

 to possess neither the will, the steadiness, nor the pa- 

 tience to provide for themselves. Accustomed, many 

 of them from their infimcy, to as much restraint as 

 children, and to execute, mechanically, what they were 

 desired and no more, without even entertaining a 

 thought for their future welfare, it was natural that 

 such persons, when released from this discipline, 

 should abandon themselves entirely to their favourite 

 amusements, pastimes, and vices. Those also who had 

 been converted in later life would return to their 

 former habits, and having once again tasted the bless- 

 ins-s of freedom, which confinement and discipline 

 must have rendered doubly desirable, would forget all 

 restraint, and then being joined by the wild discon- 

 tented Indians, they would be more formidable ene- 

 mies to the missions than before, inasmuch as they 

 would be more enlightened. But I will not antici 

 pate the result, which we had an opportunity of see- 

 ing on our return the following year ; and from which 

 the reader will be able to judge how the system 

 worked. 



