00-KOO-HOO'S EL DORADO 75 



less of the season, an ancient custom of their old religion, but 

 used to-day more for the purpose of lighting pipes. Beside 

 the fire a post stripped of its bark is erected, and on it a fire- 

 bag containing tobacco for the use of all hands is hung. Around 

 the fire the women and children spread a carpet of brush, 

 upon which the men sit while conversing. At such meetings 

 one never hears two Indians talk at once — a fine example 

 for white people to heed — nor do they openly contradict one 

 another as the vulgar white man does, for such an offence would 

 be considered, by the savage, rude — and the offender would be 

 regarded as no better than a white man; for they believe them- 

 selves to be not only the wisest and the bravest, but the politest 

 people in the world; and when one stops to compare the average 

 Indian with the average white man in North America, one must 

 grant that the savage is right. 



In relation to their politeness I can go beyond my own 

 observation and quote the experience of Sir Alexander Henry — 

 whom they called Coseagon — while he was held a prisoner. 



"I could not let all this pass without modestly remarking 

 that his account of the beginning of things was subject to 

 great uncertainty as being trusted to memory only, from woman 

 to woman through so many generations, and might have been 

 greatly altered, whereas the account I gave them was written 

 down by direction of the Great Spirit himself and preserved 

 carefully in a book which was never altered, but had ever re- 

 mained the same and was undoubtedly the truth. 'Coseagon,' 

 says Canassatego, 'you are yet almost as rude as when you first 

 came among us. When young it seems you were not well 

 taught; you did not learn the civil behaviour of men. We 

 excused you; it was the fault of your instructors. But why 

 have you not more improved since you have long had the 

 opportunity from our example? You see I always believe 

 your stories. That is, I never contradict them. Why do you 

 not believe mine?' Contradiction, or a direct denial of the 



