APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



263 



highly exasperated, and resolved ou veiioeance, he replied, with a 

 counteiiniice and manner that expressed his feelings more forcibly than 

 language, "It is well, let them come — let them attack — let them destroy 

 us — it is well — we are but passing clouds," and added, pointing to the 

 sun, "Where is the man, like yonder sun, who never dies?"* 



Let us not be sus]>ected of representing these people in too favoura- 

 ble a light. They share, of course, the passions and vices that usually 

 prevail in the savage state. Implacable hatred and thirst for revenge, 

 engendered by real or supposed injuries, too often excite them to deeds 

 at which humanity sliudders. We have known in their intercourse with 

 foreigners instances of unprovoked outrage and violence. But we have 

 more frequently met with ex parte a(;counts of their trenchery and feroc- 

 ity where circumstances have been known to ns that gave a very different 

 colouring to their conduct. They are a ])eop]e more '^sinned against" 

 than "sinning." We should rejoice if the dark shades of their char- 

 a(;ter could be dispelled by the mild influence of Christianity, without 

 endangering that iiidei)^ ndence which is the ground-work of every 

 virtue they possess; but our knowledge of their habits and feelings 

 give us little hope of its accomplishment, and our fears that any change 

 encouraging white people to settle among them would lead to their 

 destruction leave us no wisli that it should be attempted. 



The march of civilization seems the signal for their disappearance, 

 and there is something mournful in the rellection that at no distant 

 period this race of men, which physiologists reckon as one of the distinct 

 varieties of mankind, will exist only in the pages of history. 



We have already extended this article beyond reasonable bounds, or 

 we should have offered some remarks on the letter of Mr. Prevost to 

 the Secretary of State respecting the Columbia Iviver. We do not sub- 

 scribe to all the opinions of that gentleman, and doubt the accuracy of 

 the information he received in relation to some facts he has stated. 

 But as we cannot go into the subject at large, we shall only notice an 

 unimportant error in relation to the language, which, he says, "bears a 

 strong analogy with that of ISTootka." This mistake (if it be one) may 

 be easily accounted for, when it is known that the natives of Columbia 

 River have frequent intercourse Avitli the Indians of Classett, who speak 

 the Nootka language, and that the first "foreign adventurers" who 

 visited the river had previously acquired a knowledge of that language. 

 It was natural that their intercourse should be carried on in a language 

 of which both had vsome knowledge, and this has been the case to a 

 certain extent ever since. A comparison of the following numerals in 

 the Nootka language and in that spoken at the mouth of the Columbia 

 will show an essential difference: 



English. 



Nootka. 



One. 



Two. 



Three. 



Four. 



Five. 



Six. 



Seven. 



Eight. 



Nine. 



Ten. 



* Keotlaiuiu Keeset, tsii6 cootcanong, come howeene cardie." 

 t Mouth of the Columbia. 



