THE GEOKGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLEEY. 157 



you he has given the arts. To these he has not opened onr eyes. "We know these 

 things to be true, since He has made so great a difference between us in other things, 

 ■why may we not conclude that he has given us a different religion, according to our 

 understanding. The Great Spirit does right ; He knows what is best for his children ; 

 we are satisfied. 



We are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These 

 people are our neighbors; we are acquainted with them ; we will wait a little while 

 and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, 

 makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of 

 what you have said. 



Brother, you have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say 

 at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and 

 hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you safe to your 

 friends. 



As the Indians began to approach the missionary he rose hastily 

 from his seat and replied that "he could not take them by the hand, 

 that there was no fellowship between the religion of God and the works 

 of the devil!" 



This being interpreted to the Indians, they smiled, and retired in a 

 peaceful manner. 



At a council afterwards, in answer to another proposal to establish a 

 mission among his people, Eed Jacket replied : 



Your talk is fair and good; but I propose this: Go, try yonr hand in the town of 

 Buffalo for one year. They need missionaries — if you can do what you say. If in 

 that time you shall have done them any good, and made them any better, then we 

 will let you come among our people. 



REASONS FOR HIS OPPOSITION TO MISSIONARIES. 



Judge James Hall writes of a gentleman's interview with Eed Jacket: 



In a private conversation with Eed Jacket, Colonel Chapin, and myself, in 1824, I 

 asked him why he was so much opposed to the establishment of missionaries among 

 his people. * * * Because they do us no good. If they are not useful to the white 

 people why do they not keep them at home ; they are surely bad enough to need the 

 labor of every one who can make them better. These men know we do not under- 

 stand their religion ; we cannot read their book. They tell us different stories about 

 what it contains, and we believe they make the book to talk to suit themselves. If 

 we had no money, no land, and no country to be cheated out of, these black coats 

 would not trouble themselves about our good hereafter. The Great Spirit will not 

 punish us for what we do not know. He will do justice to his red children. These 

 black coats talk to the Great Spirit and ask for light, that we may see as they do, 

 when they are blind themselves, and quarrel about the light which guides them. 

 These things we do not understand, and the light they give ua makes the straight and 

 plain path trod l)y our fathers dark and dreary. These black coats teU us to work 

 and raise corn ; they do nothing themselves, and would starve to death if somebody did 

 not feed them. All they do is to pray to the Great Spirit ; but that will not make 

 corn or potatoes grow. K it will, why do they beg from us and from the white people ? 



The red men knew nothing of trouble until it came from the white man. As soon 

 as they crossed the great waters they wanted our country, and in return have always 

 been ready to teach us how to quarrel about their religion. — McKenny & Hall, vol. 1, 

 page 6. 



