AN INDIAN COUNCIL. 



99 



poetical language, with a few satirical touches, which 

 were warmly applauded by the audience. The following 

 is a specimen of the colloquy : — 



" What reason can we offer to those who have sent us, 

 for your having refused to allow us to travel through 

 your country ? " 



Chief. — " The reason why we stop you is because we 

 think you do not tell us why you want to go that way, 

 and what you want to do with those paths. You say 

 that all the white men we have seen belong to one party, 

 and yet they go by three different roads, why is that ? 

 Do they want to see the Indian's land ? Remember, if 

 the white man comes to the Indian's house, he must walk 

 through the door, and not steal in by the window. That 

 way, the old road, is the door, and by that way you must 

 go. You gathered corn in our gardens and put it away ; 

 did you never see corn before ? Why did you not note 

 it down in your book ? Did your people want to see our 

 corn ? Would they not be satisfied with your noting it 

 down ? You cannot pass through those paths." 



" We ask you now to send us one of your young men 

 to show us the road ; we shall pay him well, and send 

 back presents to you : what do you wish for ? " 



Chief. — " It is hard to deny your request ; but we see 

 how the Indians are treated far away. The white man 

 comes, looks at their flowers, their trees, and their rivers ; 

 others soon follow ; the lands of the Indians pass from 

 their hands, and they have nowhere a home. You must 

 go by the way the white man has hitherto gone. I have 

 told you all." 



At the close of the council, the chief said to the inter- 

 preter, "Let not these men think bad of us for taking 

 away their guides. Let them send us no presents ; we 

 do not want them. They have no right to pass that way. 



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