BBNIO] THE ASSINIBOIN 623 



meroe, for through the chief and council as the organ of public 

 opinion and soldiers as its support the nation could be spoken to, 

 their interest consulted, their feelings known, and the mass made to 

 advance toward a further point of improvement. 



Property by means of commerce having been acquired, rates of 

 exchanges established, and hunting operations enlarged and facili- 

 tated, other things besides scalps became valuable in the eves of the 

 Indians. Each having something to lose, perceived the necessity 

 of respecting the rights of others, giving rise to a spirit of com- 

 promise in difficulties, so that arms were less resorted to in settling 

 disputes, payment in most cases superseding that ancient and bar- 

 barous custom; also they evinced a disposition to aid each other in 

 limes of need, which minor obligations bound still closer their 

 hitherto feeble bonds of society. 



These were some of the effects of the introduction of commerce. 

 A still further improvement is visible in their expansion of ideas 

 arising from association with white traders, exhibited in their amelio- 

 ration of manners, desire for knowledge, doubts of their own super- 

 stitions, increase of their vocabulary and modes for expressing 

 thought, reason supplying the place of passion, and the general use- 

 fulness of the whole, resulting in their minds having been made 

 capable of comprehending religious or scientific instruction and 

 their time and talents to be applied to either their moral or spiritual 

 welfare. 



This is the point to which these wild tribes are supposed bj' us to 

 have arrived, but no further. Their future condition depends more 

 upon their white allies than themselves. Traders have instilled edu- 

 cation enough to serve their purposes and let them alone. It would 

 be inexpedient for them to do more. 



It is also apparent, if their present attainments be not improved 

 upon by those in power, that they must recede, and in case of a dis- 

 continuance of trade or a worse influx of whites, their now to them 

 useful organization must dissolve. In this event they must become 

 more miserable than at first, because the desires and necessities in- 

 duced by their partial elevation can not be satisfied from their 

 original resources, these having been lost and abandoned during their 

 advancement, consequently their present support withdrawn, their 

 hunting ruined, distress, famine, and dissolution as nations must 

 certainly follow. 



If they are left in their present condition until the tide of emigra- 

 tion has reached their as yet undisturbed hunting grounds, and the, 

 green plains, now covered with multitudes of buffalo, shall be strewn 

 with innumerable grog shops, occupied by nests of gamblers, and 

 hordes of outlaws, bringing with their personal vices a host of in- 



