233 EXPEDITION TO THE 



though by some they are pitied, as labouring under an un- 

 fortunate destiny which they cannot avoid, being supposed 

 to be impelled to this course by a vision from the female 

 spirit that resides in the moon. Upon the subject of in- 

 toxication, Wennebea spoke with much feeling and philo- 

 sophy. "Intoxication," said he, "is a bad thing; the In- 

 dian has been seduced to it by the white man ; when our 

 forefathers were first offered liquor they declined it; for 

 they had seen its evil effects upon white men. At last 

 two old men were bribed to taste it; they liked it and 

 took more ; they were then affected by it, their language 

 became more voluble; they were merry in their wine. 

 Pleased with the experiment they repeated it, and induced 

 two others to join them ; thus did the evil spread gi-adu- 

 ally. To drink a little is not improper, but to drink to in- 

 toxication is not right; our ancestors have forbidden us to 

 do it. You, white men, can take a little and refrain from 

 more; while the red man follows but the impulse of 

 his feelings; if he takes a little, he requires more, and wuU 

 have it if he can get at it in any way. You encourage us 

 in this practice; your agents, your traders, instead of 

 withholding it, offer it to us, make us take it, and when we 

 have had a little we lose all control over ourselves. We had 

 no intoxicating draughts before the white man came among 

 us, and we were better men ; this has been the ruin of us ; 

 all our broils and our quarrels spring from intoxica- 

 tion; some of our women take to liquor; they lose all 

 shame, and become common." It is melancholy to think 

 of the truth contained in these words ; not only do our tra- 

 ders, in violation of all law, sell or give liquor to the In- 

 dians, but even the agents frequently give them some 

 when they visit the forts, either to keep up a sort of popu- 

 larity among them, or to rid themselves of their impor 



