180 NATURAL AND CIVflL 



or restrained his child, taught him to moderate 

 his appetites and passions, to submit to parent-- 

 al, or any other authority : On the contrary he 

 was trained up to take care of himself, to grati- 

 fy every inclination and appetite, and to look 

 for food and honour in his own exertions, inde- 

 pendence, and superiority. The parent wished 

 and aimed to form his son to hardship and dan- 

 ger, to bear fatigue, famine, and torture, to en- 

 snare and take the game, and to carry destruc- 

 tion and vengeance upon his enemies. To this 

 plan of education, the whole aim and conduct, 

 the instruction, the manners, and the example 

 of the parent, was directed : the only aim and 

 design, was to make the youth an able and ac- 

 complished hunter, and warrior. Neither the 

 views of the parent, or the wishes and aims of 

 the child, ever rose any higher, or extended any 

 further than this. 



Next to the civil and military regulations, 

 theCusTOMs andMANNERs of the Indians claim 

 our attention. The customs and manners of a 

 nation, always constitute a distinguishing part 

 of the national character ; and as they vary with 

 the progress of society, they serve to ascertain, 

 and mark the different stages of it. ~ In several 

 respects, the manners and customs of the In- 

 dians were different from those of other people, 

 and are marked with a singularity peculiar to 

 the savasre state. 



Gravity of Appearance, A gravity of 

 appearance and countenance always engages our 

 attention, v/hen we are in the company of the 

 Indians. Placed in a situation of constant dif- 



situ 



ficulty and danger, dej^(nding altogether upon 



