MICMAC INDIANS. 147 



extended from the rising to the setting sun. 

 The Great Spirit had made it for the use of 

 Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, 

 and other animals for food. He made the bear 

 and the beaver ; their skins served us for cloth- 

 ing. He had caused the earth to produce corn 

 for bread. All this he had done for his red 

 children because he loved them. But an evil 

 day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed 

 the great waters and landed here. Their num- 

 bers were small. They told us they had fled 

 from their country for fear of wicked men. 

 They asked for a small portion of land. We 

 took pity on them, granted their request ; they 

 sat down among us. We gave them corn and 

 meat. They gave us poison fire-water in return. 

 You have now become a great people and we 

 have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. 

 You have got our country, but are not satisfied. 

 You want to force your religion upon us. You 

 say that you are sent to instruct us how to wor- 

 ship the Great Spirit agreeable to his mind; 

 and if we do not take hold of the religion you 

 white people teach we shall be unhappy here- 

 after. You say that you are right and we are 

 lost. How do we know this to be true ? We 

 understand that your religion is written in a 

 book. If it was intended for us as well as for 



