624 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ANN. 40 



fectious diseases, where will the poor Indian be then? Bitter would 

 and should be the reflections of our great national reformers that 

 they had not in time stretched out a saving arm to the aborigines. 



It may be said, point out a way, state some feasible plan. Here- 

 tofore our policy has been lame, and our efforts retarded by our being 

 but partially informed as to their capacity of improvement, or the 

 practicability of bettering their condition. 



To all this we would answer the course to be pursued is plain and 

 can be easily gathered from these pages, which, like other productions 

 of the kind, most probably will be thrown aside as soon as read or 

 disbelieved because the facts recorded do not coincide with precon- 

 ceived notions of Indian character. 



We do not feel ourselves called upon by the inquiry to present a 

 plan of operations, neither do we feel capable of instructing superior 

 men. A plain statement of facts is sought and herein presented, 

 though more could have been done had it been requested. Extensive 

 establishments having for their object the civilization of the Indians 

 have already been commenced with several nations within the bound- 

 aries of the United States and have met with success. Let others be 

 tried, adapting the means to the situation and necessities of the 

 roving tribes. A sudden revolution of feeling, an entire change in 

 their habits and occupations, can not immediately be expected, would 

 not be natural, neither would it be durable, but a gradual change 

 brought about in their present employments, by combining them with 

 pastoral and agricultural pursuits, a judicious introduction of me- 

 chanical arts, their superstitions carefully undermined and replaced 

 by moral truth, their temporal welfare consulted, and a certain chance 

 of subsistence presented ; these things being accomplished, the eyes of 

 the present grown generation would close in the rising prosperity of 

 their children. 



We perceive in the closing remarks of the inquiry these words: 

 " In all questions where the interests of the tribes clash with those of 

 the persons whom you may consult, there is much caution required." 

 Now. our personal interests and those of every trader are at direct 

 variance with any innovations in the present employments or 

 organization of the Indians. Any improvement in their condition 

 mentally or the introduction of other pursuits such as arts and agri- 

 culture, even the inculcation of the Christian religion, would immedi- 

 ately militate against the trade and unfit the Indians for being only 

 hunters or being regarded only as a source of profit. We are per- 

 fectly aware that the policy advised in these pages, if acted upon, 

 would effectually ruin the trade and with it our own personal interest 

 and influence in that capacity. All these things have been well con- 

 sidered and had they any effect would only have led to our remain- 



