206 THE COUNCIL. [1763, April. 



and again began to ascend among the rocks, while 

 the woman, seeing him still discouraged, laughed 

 at his faintness of heart, and told him that, if be 

 wished for success, he must climb by the aid of 

 one hand and one foot only. After great toil and 

 suffering, he at length found himself at the summit. 

 The woman had disappeared, and he was left alone, j 

 A rich and beautiful plain lay before him, and at 

 a little distance he saw three great villages, far 

 superior to the squalid wigwams of the Delawares. 

 As he approached the largest, and stood hesitating 

 whether he should enter, a man gorgeously attired 

 stepped forth, and, taking him by the hand, wel- 

 comed him to the celestial abode. He then con- 

 ducted him into the presence of the Great Spirit, 

 where the Indian stood confounded at the unspeak- 

 able splendor which surrounded him. The Great 

 Spirit bade him be seated, and thus addressed 

 him : — 



" ' I am the Maker of heaven and earth, the trees, 

 lakes, rivers, and all things else. I am the Maker 

 of mankind ; and because I love you, you must do 

 my will. The land on which you live I have made 

 for you, and not for others. Why do you suffer 

 the white men to dwell among you ? My children, 

 you have forgotten the customs and traditions of 

 your forefathers. Why do you not clothe yourselves 

 in skins, as they did, and use the bows and arrows, 

 and the stone-pointed lances, which they used? 

 You have bought guns, knives, kettles, and blank- 

 ets, from the white men, until you can no longer do 

 without them ; and, what is worse, you have drunk 



