314 ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



of herbs, roots, &c. and their medical skill, enables 

 them heavily to tax the other tribes. Indeed, 

 their medicines, with their skill in regard to their 

 application, form considerable articles of com- 

 merce with their neighbours. Sometimes, for a 

 handsome compensation, they will instruct a per- 

 son where to procure ingredients, and how to pre- 

 pare them as medicines, to be used in particular 

 cases. It is very probable, however, that the In- 

 dian doctors, like some apothecaries in the civiliz- 

 ed world, sell some medicines, of little or no value. 

 It is also well known to those acquainted with 

 the Indians, that their physicians frequently effect 

 cures with their roots, herbs, &c. in cases, which 

 would baffle the skill and the drugs, of a scientifick 

 physician. 



The white people have been among the above 

 mentioned tribes, for about one hundred and fifty 

 years. To this circumstance it is probably to be 

 attributed, that the knowledge of these Indians is 

 more extensive, than that of the other tribes. 

 But I very much question whether they have im- 

 proved in their character or condition, by their 

 acquaintance with civilized people. In their sav- 

 age state, they were contented with the mere 

 necessaries of life, which they could procure, with 

 considerable ease ; but now they have many 

 artificial wants, created by the luxuries which we 



