418 CRUELTY. INFANTICIDE. 



Partly no doubt from the hatred produced by almost in- 

 cessant wars, partly perhaps encouraged by the stoical dis- 

 regard of pain which it was their pride to aifect, the North 

 American Indians were very cruel to captives taken in 

 war. Scalping seems to have been an universal practice, 

 and it is even said that the Sioux sometimes ate the hearts 

 of their enemies, every one of the war party getting a 

 mouthful, if possible. 



Infanticide was common in the north, but does not seem to 

 have prevailed among the southern tribes to any great ex- 

 tent ; and until the advent of Europeans they do not appear 

 to have had any fermented liquors. The Sioux, Assiniboines, 

 and other tribes on the Missouri are said to have habitually 

 abandoned those who from age or infirmities were unable to 

 follow the hunting camps. The same was frequently the 

 case among the northern tribes. 



As a race the North Americans are rapidly disappearing. 

 Left to themselves they would perhaps have developed an 

 indigenous civilisation, but for ours they are unfit. Unable 

 to compete with Europeans as equals, and too proud to work 

 as inferiors, they have profited by intercourse with the supe- 

 rior race only where the paternal government of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company has protected them both from the settlers and 

 from themselves, has encouraged hunting, put an end to war, 

 prevented the sale of spirits, and, in times of scarcity, pro- 

 vided food. Ere long the only remains of the Indian blood 

 will, perhaps, be found in the territories of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company. 



Copper is found native in the northern districts, and even 

 before the advent of the Europeans was used for hatchets, 

 bracelets, etc. Nevertheless, it was used rather as a stone 

 than as a metal ; that is to say, the Indians did not heat it and 

 run it into moulds, or work it when hot, but simply took 

 advantage of its malleability and hammered it into form, 



