HISTORY OF VERMONT. 205 



but is fair, open, and honest in his trade. He 

 was accustomed to no falsehood or deception^ 

 in the management of his barter. And he was 

 astonished at the deceit, knavery, and fraud of 

 the European traders. He had no bolts or 

 locks to guard against stealing, nor did he ever 

 conceive his property was in any danger of be- 

 ing stolen, by any of his tribe. All that trairt 

 of infamous and unmanly vices, which arise 

 from avarice, were almost unknown to the sav- 

 age state. Lying" and falsehood were viewed 

 with horror, and detestation. When they foiind 

 tliese vices Common among some of the Euro- 

 peans, the Indians viewed them as a corrupt 

 and odious race ; in whose truth, justice, and 

 declarations, no faith could be placed. They 

 had no name for adultery, or rape. Quarrelling^, 

 contention, and discord, with their numerous ill 

 effectS, were but little known among the mem- 

 bers of the same tribe. 



Their morality, confined to a few objects, 

 admitted of fewer vices than the civilized state. 

 Where no v/ants are known but those of nature," 

 and the way to supply those wants is the same, 

 and open to all ; the individuals of the same so- 

 ciety, will live in a friendly and cordial manner 

 together ; without many grounds of strife, and 

 without much temptation to injure each other. 

 In the language of the Indians, this is denomi- 

 nated a state of brotherhood : In this state, the 

 moral sense will join its influence with the so- 

 cial affections, to prevent injuries, evils, and vi- 

 ces ; and to restrain the members of the tribe^ 

 from violating the rules of morality. As such 

 a state does not adrait of many of the virtues ci 



VOL. I, B 2 



