travels in North America. 229 



that is attended with fuch fatal Confequences, they are fatisfied 

 tvith replying, " It is you that have accïiftomed us to it, we can 

 no longer do without it, and if you refufe to fupply us, we 

 will get it of the Englijh, This Liquor ftrips us naked, and 

 kills us, it is true, but it is you who have done the Mifchief, 

 and there is now no Remedy." Neverthelefs, they are in 

 the wrong to blame us alone ; had it not been for the Englijh Ï 

 believe we could have put a Stop to this Trade in the Colony, or 

 reduced it within proper Bounds. — But we ftiall perhaps be foon 

 obliged to give Permiffion to fupply them with it from France^ 

 taking Meafures to prevent its Abufe, inafmuch as the Englijh 

 Brandy is more hurtful than our's. 



A Diforder that corrupts the Manners of a People never comes 

 alone ; it is always the Principle, or the Rife of many 

 others. The Savages, before they fell into this I am fpeaking 

 of, excepting War, which they always made in a barbarous and 

 inhuman Manner, had nothing to difturb their Happinefs : 

 Drunkennefs hath rendered them interefted, and has difturbed 

 the Peace they enjoyed in their Families, and in the Commerce 

 of Life. Notwithllanding, as they are only ftruck with the pre- 

 fent Objeél, the Evils, which this Paffion has caufed theni, have 

 not yet become a Habit : They are Storms which pafs over, and 

 which they almoft forget when they are paft, thro' the Goodn efs 

 of their Charaéler, and the great Fund of Calmnefs of Soul, 

 which they have received from Nature. 



We mull acknowledge that at iirft Sight, the Life they lead 

 rr . r n 1 appcars vcry hard ; but befides that in this 

 apptnjS oj e- Yioûàti'g gives Uneafinefs but by Comparifon, 

 bagages. ^^^^ Cuflom is a fécond Nature, the Li- 



berty they enjoy, fufficiently compenfates the Lofs of thofe 

 Convcniençies they are deprived of. What we fee every Day in 

 fome Beggiars by Profelîion, and in feveral Perfons in the Coun- 

 try, gives us a fenfible Proof that we may be happy in the midll: 

 of Indigence. But the Savages are ftill more-happy: Firft, be- 

 caufe they think themfelves fo : Secondly, becaufe they are in thé 

 peaceable Pofîeffion of the moil precious of all the Gifts of Na- 

 ture : And laftly, becaufe they are entirely ignorant of, and have 

 not feven a Defire to know thofe falfe Advantages which we 

 fo much efteem, and which we purchafe at the Expence of reaJ 

 Good ; and of which we have fo little Enjoyment. 



In Fa6l, what they are moft valuable for, and for which they 

 ought to be looked upon as true Philofophers, is, that the Sight 

 of our Conveniencies, our Riches, our Magnificence, have little 

 moved them, and that they are pleafed with themfelves that they 

 can do without them. Some Iroquois^ who went to Paris in ï666, 

 and who were ftie^red all the Royal Houfes, and all the Beauties 



of 



