INTRODUCTION. Iv 



and ask you to spread a blanket in his lodge ef you ever 

 passed that a- way. But the Injun he don't care shucks 

 for you, and is ready to do you a heap of mischief as soon 

 as he quits your feed. No, Cap.," said the western to 

 General May, " it's not the right way to give um presents 

 to buy peace ; but ef I war governor of these yeer United 

 States, I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd invite um all to a 

 big feast, and make b'lieve I wanted to have a big talk ; 

 and as soon as I got um all -together, I'd pitch in and 

 sculp about half of um, and then t'other half would be 

 mighty glad to make a peace that would stick. That's the 

 way I'd make a treaty with the dog'ond, red-bellied var- 

 mints ; and as sure as you're born, Cap., that's the only 

 way." I suggested to him the idea that there would be a 

 lack of good faith and honour in such a proceeding, and 

 that it would be much more in accordance with my notions 

 of fair dealing to meet them openly in the field, and there 

 endeavour to punish them if they deserve it. To this he re- 

 plied, " 'Tain't no use talk about honour with them, Cap. ; 

 they hain't got no such thing in um ; and they won't show 

 fair fight any way you can fix it. Don't they kill and 

 sculp a white man when-ar they get the better on him ? 

 The mean varmints, they'll never behave themselves until 

 you give um a clean out-and-out licking. They can't 

 onderstand white folks' ways, and they won't learn um ; 

 and ef you treat urn decently, they think you are afeard. 

 You may depend on't, Cap., the only way to treat Injuns 

 is to thrash them well at first, then the balance will sorter 

 take to you and behave themselves." : 



Only a few years ago in one of the Western territories, 

 whilst conversing with some of the leading settlers in the 

 neighbourhood, I heard a somewhat similar plan proposed. 

 In the instance, however, to which I refer, the speaker 

 stated that his remedy and settlement of the Indian 

 question would be to place all Indians on reservations, 



