152 EXPEDITION TO THE 



ductive of results fully as important as those accruing from 

 more serious pursuits. In visiting Indian villages, we ob- 

 served, that the children seldom played together in the 

 manner in which those of white men unite for recreation. 

 The pursuits of the Indian boy are of a solitary nature, he 

 imitates the chace, practises shooting at a mark in order to 

 acquire a sure aim, prepares his arrows, &c. but seldom 

 appears to enjoy that community of pleasures, from which 

 a taste for society would necessarily spring. By inducing 

 the boys of the Mission-house to play together, they will 

 soon discover how many of the comforts and pleasures of 

 life arise from the communion of souls ; and they will be 

 led to form attachments which will attend them through 

 life, and which may induce them, after they have left the 

 peaceful abode of the missionary, to continue in the course 

 which has already been to them the fruitful source of so 

 much delight. The females receive in the school the same 

 instruction which is given to the boys, and are in addition 

 to this, taught spinning, weaving, and sewing, both plain 

 and ornamental ; they were just beginning to embroider, 

 an occupation which may, by some, be considered as unsuit- 

 able to the situation which they are destined to hold in 

 life, but which appears to us very judiciously used as a re- 

 ward and stimulus ; it encourages their taste and natural 

 talent for imitation, which is very great ; and by teaching 

 them that occupation may be connected with amusement, 

 it may prevent their relapsing into that idleness, which has 

 been justly termed the source of all evils. They are like- 

 wise made to attend to the pursuits of the dairy, such as 

 the milking of cows, churning of milk, &.c. The establish- 

 ment is intended to be opened for children from seven to 

 fourteen years old, but they very properly receive them 

 at a much earlier age, and even where a great desire of 



