VOL. LXIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 409 



Oil their haunts, as on all other occasions, they are strict observers of meum 

 and tuuin; and this from principle, holding theft in contempt; so that they are 

 rarely guilty of it, though tempted by articles of much value. Neither do the 

 strong attempt to seize the prey of the weak; and I must do them the justice- 

 to say that, unless heated by liquor, or inflamed by revenge, their ideas of right 

 and wrong, and their practices in consequence of them, would, if more known, 

 do them much honour. It is true that, having been often deceived by us in the 

 purchase of lands, in trade, and other transactions, many of them begin now 

 to act the same part. But this reflects most on those who set them the 

 example. 



As to your remark on their apparent repugnance to civilization, I must 

 observe, that this is not owing to any viciousness of their nature, or want of 

 capacity; as they have a strong genius for arts, and uncommon patience. 

 I believe they are put to the English schools too late, and sent back too soon to 

 their people, whose political maxim. Spartan like, is to discountenance all 

 pursuits but war, holding all other knowledge as unworthy the dignity of man, 

 and tending to enervate and divert them from that warfare on which they con- 

 ceive their liberty and happiness depend. These sentiments constantly instilled 

 into the minds of youth, and illustrated by examples drawn from the contemp- 

 tible state of the domesticated tribes, leave lasting impressions ; and can hardly 

 be defeated by an ordinary school education. 



I wish my present leisure would allow me to give you as many specimens of 

 their language as would show that, though not very wordy, it is extremely 

 emphatical; and their style adorned with noble images, strong metaphors, and 

 equal in allegory to many of the eastern nations. The article is contained in the 

 noun, by varying the termination ; and the adjective is combined into one word. 

 Thus of echin, a man, and gowana, great, is formed echingowana, a great man. 

 Caghyunghaw is a creek, caghyungha a river, caghyunghaowana a great river; 

 caghyungheeo a fine river. Haga the inhabitants of any place, and tierham the 

 morning; so, if they speak of eastern people, they say tierhans-aga, or people 

 of the morning. Esq is expressive of a great quantity, and esogee is the 

 superlative. The words goronta and golota, which you mention, are not of 

 the six nations, but a southern language. It is curious to observe, that they ■ 

 have various modes of speech and phrases peculiar to each age and sex, which 

 they strictly observe. For instance, a man says, when he is hungry, cadagcariax, n 

 which is expressive both of his want and of the animal food he requires to 

 supply it; whilst a child says, in the same circumstances, cautsore, that is, 

 I require spoon-meat. 



There is so remarkable a difference in the language of the six nations from all 

 others, as affords ground for inquiring into their distinct origin. The nations 



VOL. XIII. 3 G 



