INDIANS, 



231 



were accommodated ; and being asked to state 

 what he had to complain of, said, c Boots too 

 much, and light too little' 



The Indians, not being encouraged to inter- 

 marry or mix with white people on terms of 

 equality, have receded as a distinct people, or 

 have been driven before those who have car- 

 ried commerce, with civilization, far into the 

 wilderness and lands of their forefathers. And 

 it cannot be otherwise than affecting to an 

 honest and feeling mind, to recollect the way 

 in which Europeans first obtained a footing in 

 their country, and the possession of their patri- 

 mony. c You look sorry, brother,' said an 

 American general to an Indian chief, who was 

 on a visit to the city of New York, ' Is there 

 any thing to distress you?' ( I'll tell you, 

 brother,' said he, f I have been looking at your 

 beautiful city, the great water, your fine country, 

 and see how happy you all are. But then, I 

 could not help thinking, that this fine country, 

 and this great water, were once our's. Our 

 ancestors lived here ; they enjoyed it as their 

 own, in peace ; it was the gift of the Great 

 Spirit to them and their children. At last 

 the white people came here in a great canoe ; 

 they asked only to let them tie it to a tree, 

 lest the water should carry it away : we 



