STUDIES OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN 65 



had been detected in an amorous intrigue, with the wife of a 

 young chief, the day after his arrival: the chief being out on 

 a hunt, but arrived next day, who upon information of the 

 affair, and the fact being confirmed, he with his friends and 

 kindered resolved to exact legal satisfaction which in this case 

 is cutting off both ears of the delinquent, close to the head." ^^ 

 The vivid, intimate glimpses of Indian life contained in these 

 stories of white and Indian relations do not diminish in value 

 because they were apparently designed to support Bartram's 

 general plea, expressed in his Introduction, for a humane gov- 

 ernmental policy towards the Indians. Incidentally, his sugges- 

 tion, it is to be noted, is in harmony with his attitude in support 

 of impartial investigation and scientific truth. In modest but 

 clear terms he points out that the best way of dealing with the 

 Indians is not, as his father had advised, " to bang them 

 stoutly," but to send 



men of ability and virtue, under the authority of government, as 

 friendly visitors into their towns ; let these men be instructed to learn 

 perfectly their languages, and by a liberal and friendly intimacy, become 

 acquainted with their customs and usages, religious and civil; their 

 system of legislation and police, as well as their most ancient and 

 present traditions and history. These men thus enlightened and 

 instructed would be qualified to judge equitably, and when returned 

 to us, to make true and just reports, which might assist the legislature 

 of the United States to form, and offer to them a judicious plan for 

 their civilization and union with us.^^ 



Knowledge, then, he believed, is the first step towards justice. 



An indication of the breadth of Bartram's interest in the 

 Indians may be gained from the topics he discussed. Besides 

 the numerous observations, anecdotes, and generalizations relat- 

 ing to Indians scattered throughout the Travels, he appended 

 to that book, as Part IV, "An Account of the Persons, Manners, 

 Customs, and Government of the Muscogulges or Creeks, Cher- 

 okees, Chactaws, &c. Aborigines of the Continent of North 

 America." Under this general heading he discusses in short 

 chapters the Character, Customs and Persons of the American 

 Aborigines; their Government and Civil Society; their Dress; 



*'lbid., 441AS. ^'Ibid., xxxiv. 



