1^6 ^ATunAL ^\ND CIVIL 



and health of the body. It is by exertion 

 and exercise, that the body acquires its 

 most improved state of activity, firmness, 

 vigour, and health. Accustomed to range the 

 forests in quest of game, the Indian acquired an 

 habit and activity in travelling, that exceeded 

 that of any other people. In the expedition, 

 swiftness and perseverance of his course, he 

 much exceeds the European. No people bear 

 hardship, suffering, and fatigue so well : The 

 extremities of heat and cold, of hunger and 

 thirst, of bad weather, and of bad accommoda- 

 tions, are perfectly familiar to the Indian : And 

 he bears them with a much less effect upon his 

 constitution, than the men who have been used to 

 better accommodations. Unaccustomed to the 

 steady and regular employments of agriculture, 

 his h )dy does not acquire the strength that the 

 Europeanshave. And whenthe exertion, isanex- 

 ertion of strength, and steady labour, the white man 

 is found to be the strongest. Those only of the 

 Indians, xvho have been educated and trained 

 up to steady and hard work, are equal to the 

 white men in bodily strength. In running the 

 race, and in bearing hardship, the Indian ex- 

 ceeds ; but in strength of body, and bearing 

 hard and stead labour, he is generally unequal 

 to the European. 



Li respect to health, the sa\'age state seems 

 fully equal to the civilized. Used to all the va- 

 riations of the Vv'eather and climate, he suffered 

 but little from, such changes. The diseases to 

 which the Indians were subject, were chiefly 

 those w^hich arose from exercise, hardships, and 

 fatigues. Fevers, the asthma, and paralytic 



