2i8 An Hijîorîcal Journal of 



tarniftied by great Vices. Thefe Men,' who at firft View ap- 

 pear to us fo contemptible, of all Mankind have the greateft 

 Contempt for all others, and the higheft Opinion of themfelves. 

 The proudeft of all were the Hurons, before Succelîes had lifted 

 up the Hearts of the Iroquois^ and grafted in them a Haughti- 

 jiefs, which nothing can yet fupprefs, on a fierce Rudenefs, 

 which before was their diftinguifhing Charadler. 



On the other Side, thefe People, fo proud and jealous of their 

 Liberty, are beyond all Imagination Slaves to Human Refpedl : 

 They are accufed of being light and inconftant ; but they are 

 fo, rather through a Spirit of Independence, than by Charader, 

 as I have obferved of the Canadians. They are diftrullful and 

 fufpicious, efpecially towards us ; treacherous, when their In- 

 tereft is concerned ; DilTemblers, and revengeful to Excefs. 

 Time does not abate in them their Délire of Revenge : It is the 

 moft precious Inheritance which they leave to their Children, 

 and which is tranfmitted from Generation to Generation, till 

 they find an Opportunity to execute it. 



As to what we call more particularly the Qualities of the 



r> r .1 Heart, the Savages do not value themfelves 



^uahties of the ^ t ^ r i , 



p. ^ much on them ; or, to fpeak more properly, 



* they are not Virtues in them. Friendfhip, 



Compafiion, Gratitude, Attachment, they have fomething of all 

 this, but it is not in the Heart ; and in them it is lefs the EfFeél 

 of a good Difpofition, than of Reflexion, or Inftlnft. The Care . 

 they take of Orphans, Widows, and the Infirm, and theHofpita- 

 lity they exercife in fuch an admirable Manner, are to them only 

 the Confequence of their Perfuafion, that all Things ought to 

 be in common among Men. Fathers and Mothers have a Fond- 

 nefs for their Children, which rifes even to Weaknefs ; but 

 which does not incline them to make them virtuous, and which 

 appears to be purely Animal. Children, on their Side, have no 

 natural Gratitude for their Parents, and they even treat the'm 

 fometimes with Indignity, efpecially their Fathers. I have 

 heard fome Examples of this Sort, that are horrible, and which 

 cannot be related : But here follows one Inilance that was pub- 

 lic. 



An Iroquoisy who ferved a long Time în our Troops againfthis 

 J J own Nation, and even as an Officer, met his 



Example of the ^zûitY in an Engagement, and was going to 

 l^t^l^^- fP^jon of j^.^^^ ^^^^^ difcovered who he was. 



Children for their ^^^^ ^^^^^ and faid to him, " You 

 rarents. ^^^^ once gi^enme Lfcy and no'w I gi've it to 



•* y ou» Let me meet nvith you no more i for I hwve faid the Debt I 

 ** cnjod you.^* Nothing can better prove the Neceffity of Edu- 

 cation, and that Nature alone does not fufficiently inllruû us in 



our 



