1625-1750.] THE ENGLISH AND THE IROQUOIS. 73 



respect also to missionary enterprise, and the polit- 

 ical influence resulting from it, the French had 

 every advantage over rivals whose zeal for conver- 

 sion was neither kindled by fanaticism nor fostered 

 by an ambitious government. Eliot labored within 

 call of Boston, while the heroic Brebeuf faced the 

 ghastly perils of the western wilderness ; and the 

 wanderings of Brainerd sink into insignificance 

 compared with those of the devoted Rasles. Yet, 

 in judging the relative merits of the Eomish and 

 Protestant missionaries, it must not be forgotten 

 that while the former contented themselves with 

 sprinkling a few drops of water on the forehead 

 of the proselyte, the latter sought to wean him 

 from his barbarism and penetrate his savage heart 

 with the truths of Christianity. 



In respect, also, to direct political influence, the 

 advantage was wholly on the side of France. The 

 English colonies, broken into separate governments, 

 w^ere incapable of exercising a vigorous and consist- 

 ent Indian policy ; and the measures of one gov- 

 ernment often clashed with those of another. Even 

 in the separate provinces, the popular nature of 

 the constitution and the quarrels of governors and 

 assemblies were unfavorable to efficient action ; and 

 this was more especially the case in the province 

 of New York, where the vicinity of the Iroquois 

 rendered strenuous yet prudent measures of the 

 utmost importance. The powerful confederates, 

 hating the French with bitter enmity, naturally 

 inclined to the English alliance ; and a proper treat- 

 ment would have secured theu' firm and lasting 



