THIRTY YEARS A HUNTER. 223 



was at your request that we came together at this 

 time ; we have listened with attention to what you 

 have said ; you requested us to speak our minds 

 freely ; this gives us great joy, for we now consider 

 that we stand upright before you, and can speak 

 what we think, all have heard your voice, and all 

 speak to you- as one man ; our minds are agreed. 



Brother, you say you want an answer to your talk 

 before you leave this place. It is right you should 

 have one, as you are a great distance from home, 

 and we do not wish to detain you ; but we will h'rst 

 look back a little and tell you what our fathers have 

 told us, and what we have heard from the white 

 people. 



Brother, listen to what we say. There was a time 

 when our forefathers owned this great land. Their 

 seats extended from the rising to the setting sun. 

 The Great Spirit had made it for the use of the 

 Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and 

 other animals for food. He had made the bear and 

 the beaver, and their skins served us for clothing. 

 He had scattered them over the country, and taught 

 us how to take them. He had caused the earth to 

 produce corn for bread, and this he had done for his 

 red children, because he loved them. If we had 

 any disputes about hunting grounds, they were gen- 

 erally settled without the shedding of much blood ; 

 but an evil day came upon us ; your forefathers 

 crossed the great waters and landed on this island. 

 Their numbers were small ; they found tribes, and 

 not enemies ; they told us they had fled from their 



