SOURCE OF ST. PETER's RIVER. 125 



haps, be induced to apply to the purchase of useful objects, 

 the money which is at present wasted in procuring spirits. 

 Under the present system, the moment an Indian receives 

 his annuity, he immediately converts it into whiskey •, the 

 deplorable effects of which upon their system are too well 

 known to require that we should dwell upon them ; but we 

 may be permitted to add the testimony of what came under 

 our own inspection, to the great mass of information which 

 has already transpired on this subject. During the three days 

 that we stayed at Fort Wayne, we saw two Indians toma- 

 hawked. The first case happened the night of our arrival ; 

 this man was very severely cut in the head by some 

 unknown person. It was supposed that it was by one 

 of the French engages. At the time this occurred, they 

 were all concerned in a drunken frolic. The next day, 

 on visiting the Fort, we met at the gate a few Indians, 

 one of whom was in a state of intoxication; and we 

 were informed by a boy, that he had threatened to shoot 

 his wife. A few moments after, while we were en- 

 gaged in conversation with the Indian Agent, word was 

 brought to him, that the Indian had drawn his knife and 

 severely wounded her in the forehead. It appeared the 

 only provocation she had given him, was in attempting to 

 draw him away from the town, and induce him to return 

 to his village. In both these cases the loss of blood was 

 very considerable, and such that it was believed none but 

 Indians could have survived it ; but they are so inured to 

 pain and privations of every kind, that it cannot be doubted 

 that they recover from wounds which to other men would 

 prove fatal. The excellent surgical assistance which they 

 receive in all cases of wounds and bruises, may also be 

 considered as one of the causes which tend to restore 

 them to health. These assaults are, however, so common 



