( 3°9 ) 



entered, and proved their fuccefs in war, and had tail- 

 ed of the fweets of conqueft:, they could no longer re- 

 main quiet, like lions, whofe thirft after blood is only 

 enereafed by tailing of it. One would hardly imagine 

 to what an immenfe diftance they have gone to feek 

 out their enemies, and to give them battle. Not- 

 withstanding, by dint of making continual war, as 

 they were not without feveral checks at different 

 times, they have found themfelves extremely dimi- 

 nished ; and were it not for the flaves they have 

 made on all hands, mofeof whom they have adopt- 

 ed, their fituation would be equally miferable with 

 that of the nations they have fubdued. 



What happened in this refpect to the Iroquois, 

 may with ftili more reafon be faid of the other In- 

 dians in this country, and we are not to wonder if, 

 as I have already remarked, thefe nations diminifh 

 daily in a very fenfible manner. For tho' their wars 

 appear lefs ruinous than ours at firft fight, they are 

 however much more fo in proportion. The mod 

 numerous of thefe nations perhaps never contained 

 above fixty thoufand fouls, and there fometimes hap- 

 pen battles, in which cafe there is much blood fpilt. 

 A furprife, or coup de main, fometimes deftroys a 

 whole town oftentimes the fear of an irruption of 

 an enemy makes a whole canton be deferted, when 

 the fugitives to fhun the fword of the enemy, or 

 their torturing punifhments, expofe themfelves to 

 die of hunger and mifery in the woods, or on moun- 

 tains, having feldom leifure or confideration enough 

 to carry the neceffary provifions to fuch places. This 

 happened in the la ft age to a great number of Hu- 

 rons and Algonquins, whofe fate it has been impofii- 

 ble to learn. 



/ am* cVc. 



LETTER 



