THIRTY YEARS A HUNTER. 2^5 



bnt why did he not give to our forefathers the know- 

 ledge of that book, with the means of understanding 

 it rightly ? We only know what you tell us about 

 it; how shall we know what to believe, being so 

 often deceived by the white people ? 



Brother, you say there is but one way to worship 

 and serve the Great Spirit; if there is but one reli- 

 gion, why do you white people differ so much about 

 it ? Why not agree, as you can all read the book ? 



Brother, we do not understand these thing ; we 

 are told that your religion was given to your fore- 

 fathers, and has been handed down from father to 

 son. We also have a religion which was given to 

 our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, 

 their children. We worship that way. It teaches 

 us to be thankful for all the favors we receive ; to 

 love each other, and to be united. We never quar- 

 rel about our religioD. 



Brother, the Great Spirit has made us all ; but he 

 has made a great difference between his white and 

 his red children ; he has given us a different com- 

 plexion and different customs ; to you he has given 

 the arts, to these he has not opened our eyes ; we 

 know these things to be true. Since he has made 

 so great a difference between us in other things, why 

 may we not conclude that he has given us a different 

 religion according to our understanding ? The Great 

 Spirit does right ; he knows what is best for his chil- 

 dren ; we are satisfied. 



Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion, 

 or take it from you; we only want to enjoy our own. 



