172 



CRANIA AMERICANA. 



was invented by a native Indian of that tribe, and by means of which any 

 individual of the nation can be taught to wTite his own language in three weeks. 



Mr. Gallatin records the following interesting observation. " The only well 

 ascertained instance, among our own Indians, of their having, at least in part, 

 become an agricultural nation, (meaning thereby that state of society in which the 

 men themselves do actually perform agricultural labor,) is that of the Cherokees, 

 and it is in proof, that, in this case also, cultivation was at first introduced through 

 the means of slavery. In their predatory incursions they carried away slaves from 

 Carolina; these were used to work, and continued to be thus employed by their 

 new masters. The advantages derived by the owners were immediately perceived. 

 Either in war, or in commercial intercourse, slaves of the African race became 

 objects of desire ; and gradually, assisted by the efforts of the government and the 

 beneficial influence of the missionaries, some among those Indians who could not 

 obtain slaves, were induced to work for themselves. Accounts vary as to the 

 extent of that true civilisation, but it is believed that it embraces nearly one third 

 of the male population."* 



The same learned author observes that the late Dr. Barton thought the 

 Cherokee language belonged to the Iroquois family, " and on this point," he adds, 

 " I am inclined to the same opinion. The affinities are few and remote ; but there 

 is a similarity in the general termination of the syllables, in the pronunciation and 

 accent, which has struck some of the native Cherokees."! 



PLATE XXV. 



CHEROKEE. 



The head of a Cherokee warrior who was known in the army by the name 



* Archaeolog. Amer. II, p. 157. 



tlbid. p. 91, 



