164 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



These were all the methods of procuring 

 food, with which the Indians were acquainted. 

 They afforded them but a scanty and precarious 

 support. When the game was plenty, and the 

 hunter successful, they had an abundance of 

 food. When the season of the year was unfa- 

 vourable, and their success but small, they 

 were reduced to scarcity and want. Their suf- 

 ferings this way, were sometimes extremely se- 

 vere. And there was no year, in which they 

 were not subject to these extremes, of great 

 plenty, and severe famine. 



The appetite of the Indian conformed to this 

 state of things. In the seasons of plent}^, the 

 savage indulged himself to great excess : In the 

 time of famine, the Indian bore his hungei- with 

 astonishing patience, and firmness. So accus- 

 tomed was he to this irregular method of living, 

 that excess and famine were equally familiar to 

 him ; and his constitution and health remained 

 firm and vigorous, under the extremes of both. 



From this situation and employment of the 

 Indian, all the regulations^ customs, advantages, 

 and disadvantages of the savage state, were de- 

 rived. 



Society. When any considerable number 

 of the human race subsist near each other, they 

 will always combine in some form of society. 

 Mutual wants, dangers, dependencies, interests, 

 and benefits, operating v/ith the appetite man 

 has for society, will not fail to produce this ef- 

 fect. The situation and employment of the In- 

 dians, determined what the nature and extent 

 of this society inust be, among them. The 

 chief source of subsistence among them, was 



