' 137 



above a century ago. Carter, in his travels, feems to exhibit thisaa au 

 original colleftion, for he has tranfpofed, though he has merely tran- 

 fcribed the words, but without informing us that he is a tranfcriber. 

 From his omitting to add to a M which folicited additions, I conclude 

 that his knowledge of the language was limited. The view given by 

 thefe writers, of the manners of the more civilized Indians, is lefs de- 

 feftive than any I have met with. Whatever palTes under the eye they 

 have, in general, delineated faithfully. With refpeft to almoft every 

 other objea, it is my opinion that Carter is deflitute of original merit. 

 Lahontan knew the Indians intimately ; he ranks in a higher clafs, and 

 has given fome infight into the Indian charafter, and the workings of 

 the Indian mind. What is feen by a ftranger in a new country, is 

 at the beft, but a pageant that amufes. Books and converfation open 

 up the fcenes, and furnifla new lights; till obfervation by their aids, 

 ripens into knowledge. Among nations which have not the ufe of let- 

 ters, the perfonal obfervation of the individual mud derive all its aids 

 from a fmgle, often a difficult fource, friendly oral communication : ac 

 curate and important according to the charafters and capacity of the 

 perfons reforted to ; as the refults mud prove interefting, exaftly in 

 proportion to the value of the objefts enquired after, and their power 

 to gratify rational curiofity. 



Vol. IX, 



