26 INDIAN TRIBES. [Chap. I. 



their southern neighbors the Lenape/ the leading 

 members of the Algonquin family, and expelled 

 the Ottawas, a numerous people of the same lin- 

 eage, from the borders of the river which bears 

 their name. In the north, the west, and the south, 

 their conquests embraced every adjacent tribe ; and 

 meanwhile their war parties were harassing the 

 French of Canada with reiterated inroads, and 

 yelling the war-whoop under the walls of Quebec. 

 They were the worst of conquerors. Inordinate 

 pride, the lust of blood and dominion, were the 

 mainsprings of their warfare ; and their victories 

 were stained with every excess of savage passion. 

 That their triumphs must have cost them dear ; 

 that, in spite of their cautious tactics, these multi- 

 plied conflicts must have greatly abridged their 

 strength, would appear inevitable. Their losses 

 were, in fact, considerable ; but every breach was 

 repaired by means of a practice to which they, in 

 common with other tribes, constantly adhered. 

 When their vengeance was glutted by the sacrifice 

 of a sufficient number of captives, they spared the 

 lives of the remainder, and adopted them as mem- 

 bers of their confederated tiibes, separating wives 

 from husbands, and children from parents, and dis- 

 tributing them among different villages, in order 

 that old ties and associations might be more com- 

 pletely broken up. This policy is said to have 

 been designated among them by a name which 

 signifies " flesh cut into pieces and scattered among 

 the tribes." 



1 Gallatin places the final subjection of the Lenape at about the year 

 1750 — a printer's error for 1650. — Synopsis, 48. 



