HISTORY OF VERMONT. 271 



maxims and prejudices, to the savages ; and to 

 attach them as much as possible to their own 

 nation, views, and party. As war had now 

 ceased, this was the time to try what could be 

 done by the councils, measures and arts of 

 policy and insinuation. In this kind of manoeu- 

 vering, or Indian courtship, the French had the 

 most address and success. They not only sent 

 their traders, but they sent their Priests to re- 

 side among the Indian tribes. The missiona- 

 ries, educated in all the knowledge of Europe, 

 studied the Indian tem-per and character ; and 

 soon became well acquainted with their busi- 

 ness. Their superior knowledge and address 

 gave a direction to the councils and measures 

 of the savages ; their acquaintance with medi- 

 cal and chirurgical subjects, qualified them to 

 become their physicians and surgeons ; from 

 their knowledge in the arts of life, the Indians 

 were daily instructed in their rude attainments 

 of fishing, agriculture, and making their cabins 

 and weapons. To gain their affections, the 

 fathers were distinguished by their attention to 

 all the offices of humanity ; and to these were 

 added the arts and influence of superstition, as 

 a still more effectual means of gaining an ascen- 

 dency over the savage mind. In this kind of 

 management the Jesuits were most of ail distin- 

 guished : And it does not appear that in any 

 other order of clergy, so much knowledge of 

 science, of business, of men, of human life and 

 conduct, were ever so well united. Wherever 

 they were sent they 'tnet with great success ; and 

 when their manners and conduct were compare 

 cd with the aykward and, disgusting manners of 



