HISTORY OF VERMONT. 203 



est and the wisest became the leader, and the 

 sachem. No other arts could secure the pub- 

 lic esteem and favour, but superior abilities and 

 exploits. The ancients generally numbered 

 good fortune, among the most necessary qualifi- 

 cations of their heroes. The Indians adopted 

 this idea in its full force, and extent.' Without 

 distinguished bravery and success, the private 

 man was never promoted at all : If he proved 

 an unfortunate and unsuccessful leader, he soon 

 lost all his influence and reputation. 



In these maxims and customs of the savage 

 state, there were constant and powerful motives, 

 to the exertion of all their political talents and 

 virtues : And there w^is much less intrigue and 

 dorruption in those public proceedings, which 

 related to their own tribe, than there generally 

 is in the transactions of civilized societies. 



Favourable to the Kxercise of some 

 Virtues. Several of the vices that prevail a- 

 mong polished nations, were seldom to be found 

 among the Indians ; and there were some vir- 

 tues, to the exercise of which, the savage state 

 was not unfriendly. The hospitality which the 

 ancients celebrated so much, was of great im- 

 portance and use in the early stages of society. 

 When the stranger and traveller could lind no 

 accommodation or protection, but in the kind- 

 ness of those on whom he culled for relief, hos- 

 pitality became a virtue of the highest use and 

 excellcncv : the business and convenience of 

 life, could not have been easily carried on v/ith- 

 out it. As society became improved, the stran- 

 ger found in the protection of laws, and in the 

 use of money, that relief, which he before de- 



