On h.iuan Dogs. 14I 



ho-.vever, I mav oVjfervr, that many circumftances forbid the 

 idea that America is a new creation, recenlly emerged from 

 the influence of the ocean. Aod circumliances, impreUive 

 in their nature, render it extremelv probable that many of 

 the nations of America have rcfided in this portion of the 

 world for fonie thouland vcars. Trymg tiiem by their hui- 

 guaijes, the Americans will appear to be children of the ear- 

 Jieft hnman families of which hillory or the traditions of 

 mankind have prefervcd any memorials. 



Amono- the almoft innumerable charges which have been 

 brought agaiuft the Indian inhabitants of America, there is 

 one which it becomes the hiltorian of Indian dogs to take 

 fome notice of. The Indians are accufed of great feveritv or 

 cruelty in the treatment of their dogs. Mr. Lawfon fays the 

 favaQ;es are the " word dog-maiiers in the world, fo that it 

 is an infallible cure for fore eyes ever to fee an Indian's dog 

 fat *." I have already made mention of this refpedlable tra- 

 veller's notion of the procefs by which he fuppofed wolves are 

 turned into doo;s t. The faithful father Charlevoix fays, the 

 Indians feed their dogs " but poorly, and never fondle 

 themj." Carver, who fo frequently borrows from Charle- 

 voix, fays nearly ihe fame thing §. It is even faid, that, 

 owing to their fcanty allowance of food, the Indian dogs are 

 often fo weak, that they are obliged to lean againfl a tree, or 

 fome other prop, whiUt they bark. 



It is well known how much ingenuity, eloquence, and Ici- 

 ence, have, within the laft fifty years, been employed to re- 

 prefent the Americans as the degenerated, or imperfedly or- 

 ganized, children of the earth. To complete the large vo- 

 hinie of calumnv againlt thefe poor people, even the manner 

 in which tiicy treat their dogs is not fufi'ered to pafs unnoticed 

 by the hiitorlans of the new world. " Prior to their inter- 

 courfe with the people of Europe," fays the eloquent Dr. 

 Robertfon, " the North Americans had fome || tame dogs, 

 which accompanied them in their hunting excurfions, and 

 fcrved them with all the ardour and fidelity^ peculiar to the 

 fpecies. But, inllead of that fond attachment which the 

 hunter naturally feels towards thofe ufeful companions of his 



* A New Voyage, Sfc. p. 38. i Si;e p. 7. 



f A Voyage to North Aiutiica, Lc. vol. i. p. 79. 



5 '1 nivtls, &c. p. 416. 



II Tlicy had many tame does. The liberality with which the Indian'; 

 fiipiilicd Soto's men, and the facility witii which the jntn lupplicd iheni- 

 fcivcs with do^s, Itavc uu no room to doubt that tame dogs abounded lu 

 Florida. 



•I Tlitir juddit/ has been called in q'JifiioD, See p. ?• 



toils. 



