114 THROUGH CANADA 



Great as was the zeal of the Jesuits, their mission 

 was a failure. Its weak point lay in the fact that 

 they were more concerned in converting the Indians 

 to the Roman Catholic faith than in subduing their 

 warlike temper and quelling tribal strife. Their 

 connexion with the Hurons made the Iroquois — 

 the enemies of the former — their enemies also. The 

 latter were the most powerful and warlike of all 

 the North American Indians. Perpetual feuds were 

 waged between the tribes. The ravages of the 

 tomahawk and the gun left no room for the culti- 

 vation of agricultural pursuits. The Indians moved 

 from place to place, too restless to take root, paying 

 no heed to the great natural resources which invited 

 their labour. With the exception of trapping, all 

 industries were neglected. Wampum was the only 

 currency they knew, a few beads the highest reward 

 they coveted. The very principles that the Jesuits 

 sought to inculcate, forgiveness of injuries, suffering 

 without murmuring, were to the Indians poor 

 weapons with which to fight their enemies — openly 

 ridiculed by them, and rejected with contempt. Even 

 when a truce was called between the tribes, and 

 peace speeches were made, it was only marking time 

 for a fresh outburst of hostilities. 



The final struggle at Lake Erie practically 

 exterminated the nation that dwelt on its shores. 

 But the victory was bought at a high price. The 

 battle broke the power of the conquerors themselves, 



