AMERICA. 233 



emotion. What is most extraordinary, the sufferer himself, in the 

 little intervals of his torments, smokes too, appears unconcerned, 

 and converses with his torturers about indifferent matters. Indeed, 

 during the whole time of his execution, there seems a contest, which 

 shall exceed, they in inflicting the most horrid pains, or he in endu- 

 ring them with a firmness and constancy almost above human : not a 

 groan, not a sigh, not a distortion of countenance escapes him ; he 

 possesses his mind entirely in the midst of his torments ; he recounts 

 his own exploits ; he informs them what cruelties he has inflicted 

 upon their countrymen, and threatens them with the revenge that 

 will attend his death ; and, though his reproaches exasperate them 

 to a perfect madness of rage and fury, he continues his insults even of 

 their ignorance of the art of tormenting, pointing out more exquisite me- 

 thods and more sensible parts of the body to be afflicted. The women 

 have this part of courage as well as the men : and it is as rare for 

 any Indian to behave otherwise, as it would be for any European to 

 tuffer as an Indian. Such is the wonderful power of an early insti- 

 tution, and a ferocious thirst of glory. I am brave and intrepid, ex- 

 claims the savage in the face of his tormentors. I do not fear death, 

 nor any kind of tortures; those that fear them are cowards; they 

 are less than women ; life is nothing to those who have courage ; may 

 my enemies be confounded with despair and rage ! Oh ! that I could 

 devour them, and drink their blood to the last drop ! 



Nothing in the history of mankind forms a stronger contrast than, 

 this cruelty of the savages towards those with whom they are at war, 

 and the warmth of their affection towards their friends, who consist 

 of all those who live in the same village, or are in alliance with it. 

 Among these all things are common ; and this, though it may in 

 part arise from their not possessing very distinct notions of separate 

 property, is chiefly to be attributed to the strength of their attach- 

 ment ; because in every thing else, with their lives as well as their 

 fortunes, they are ready to serve their friends. Their houses, their 

 provisions, even their young women, are not enough to oblige a guest. 

 Mas any one of these succeeded ill in hunting. ...has his harvest fail- 

 ed. ...or is his house burned, he feels no other effect of his misfor- 

 tune, than that it gives him an opportunity to experience the benevo- 

 lence and regard of his fellow-citizens. But to the enemies of his 

 country, or to those who have privately offended him, the American 

 is implacable. He conceals his sentiments, he appears reconciled, 

 until by some treachery or surprise, he has an opportunity of execu- 

 ting a horrible revenge. No length of time is sufficient to allay his 

 resentment; no distance of place great enough to protect the object : 

 he crosses the steepest mountains, he pierces the most impenetrable 

 forests, and traverses the most hideous bogs and deserts for several 

 hundreds of miles; bearing the inclemency of the seasons, the fa- 

 tigue of the expedition, the extremes of hunger and thirst, with pa- 

 1 ience and cheerfulness, in hopes of surprising his enemy, on whom 

 he exercises the most shocking barbarities, even to the eating of his 

 flesh. To such extremes do the Indians push their friendship or their 

 enmity; and such indeed, in general, is the character of all strong and 

 uncultivated minds. 



But what we have said respecting the Indians would be a faint 

 picture, did we omit observing the force of their friendship, which 

 principally appears by the treatment of the dead. When any one of 

 the society is cut off, he is lamented by the whole ; on this occasion 



Vol. II. H h 



