122 A CHIEF'S DAUGHTER. 



are so exchang-ed as to induce the purchaser to believe he is obtaining a 

 third more than he actually receives ; and others, yet more cunning, fill the 

 measure half full of tallow and deal out the liquor from off it, — the witless 

 dupe, not thinking to examine the bottom, supposes he receives the requi- 

 site quantity. 



No wonder the Indian, with such examples before him, learns to hate the 

 white man, and despise and abhor his boasted civilization. No wonder he 

 looks with an eye of suspicion, alike upon his religion and his learning, 

 and revolts at the thoucrht of either, as the ingenious devices of scientific 

 roguery. He is taught all the white man's vices before he learns any of 

 his virtues. The emissaries of Satan, by their untiring efTorts, effectually 

 stop his ears, blind his eyes, and harden his heart, ere yet the heralds of 

 the Gospel set foot upon his soil, to tell him of the blessings of Christianity, 

 and the way to happiness and to heaven. 



If the Indian is bad, it is because the white man has made him so. Un- 

 contaminated by intercourse with the offscourings of civilization, who come 

 to cheat and despoil him of his property, and deprive him of his comforts, 

 you find him quite a different being. You find him brave, generous, and 

 hospitable, as well as possessed of many exemplary moral qualities. If he 

 is a savage, he might, in many respects, prove a safe and worthy teacher 

 to those who pride themselves upon a more enlightened education. 



He has a heart instinctive of more genuine good feeling than his w^hite 

 neighbor — a soul of more firm integrity — a spirit of more unyielding inde- 

 pendence. Place the white man in his condition, divested of all the re- 

 straints of law, and unacquainted with the learning and arts of civilized 

 life — surrounded by all the associations of the savage state — and the In- 

 dian, by comparison, will then exhibit, in a more striking light, that innate 

 superiority he in reality possesses. 



No : The Indian should not be despised. He holds weighty claims upon 

 our pity, our compassion, and our respect, — but never should he be 

 despised. 



Old Bull Tail, of whom I had occasion to speak in a former chapter 

 havinof forgotten the wholesome sentiments he advanced at the time refer- 

 red to, took it into his head to have a spree. But, as he was not possessed 

 of the means to obtain the wherewith, he adopted a somewhat novel sub- 

 stitute. 



He had an only daughter, — and she was handsome — the pride of her 

 family and the boast of her village. She was lovely, and all the high qual- 

 ities of a princess were exhibited in her deportment. But, Bull Tail must 

 drink ; why not give his daughter to the Yellow-hair and receive from him 

 a keg of liquor as a marriage present? 



This thought was acted out, and one morning the old chief came to us, 

 followed by his daughter, who, aware of her father's designs, gave vent to 

 her grief in a flood of tears. 



As he entered the door, our trader addressed him : 



Trader. Bull Tail is welcome to the lodge of the Long-knife ; — ^but, 

 why is his daughter, the pride of his heart, bathed in tears ? It pains me 

 tliat one so beautiful should weep. 



