1760-1763.] INDIFFERENCE OF THE ENGLISH. 173 



war, descending in their canoes for hundreds of 

 miles, to fight against the enemies of France. All 

 these tribes entertained towards the English that 

 rancorous enmity which an Indian always feels 

 against those to whom he has been opposed in 

 war. 



Under these circumstances, it behooved the Eng- 

 lish to use the utmost care in their conduct towards 

 the tribes. But even when the conflict with France 

 was impending, and the alliance with the Indians 

 was of the last importance, they had treated them 

 with indifference and neglect. They were not likely 

 to adopt a different course now that their friendship 

 seemed a matter of no consequence. In truth, the 

 intentions of the English were soon apparent. In 

 the zeal for retrenchment, which prevailed after the 

 close of hostilities, the presents which it had always 

 been customary to give the Indians, at stated inter- 

 vals, were either withheld altogether, or doled out 

 with a niggardly and reluctant hand; while, to 

 make the matter worse, the agents and officers of 

 government often appropriated the presents to 

 themselves, and afterwards sold them at an exorbi- 

 tant price to the Indians.^ When the French had 

 possession of the remote forts, they were accus- 

 tomed, with a wise liberality, to supply the sur- 

 rounding Indians with guns, ammunition, and 

 clothing, until the latter had forgotten the weapons 

 and garments of their forefathers, and depended on 

 the white men for support. The sudden withhold- 

 ing of these supplies was, therefore, a grievous 



1 MS. Johnson Papers. 



