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With refpecl: to particulars and the interior go- 

 vernment or police of towns, affairs are reduced 

 to few articles, and are foon concluded. The au- 

 thority of the chief feldom or never extends to 

 thefe ; and, generally fpeaking, perfons in any de- 

 gree of credit, are entirely taken up about the pu- 

 blic bufinefs. A fingle affair of however little im- 

 portance, is long under deliberation ; every thing 

 being conducted with much coolnefs and phlegm, 

 and nothing being decided till all who are defirous 

 have been acquainted with it. Jf a prefent has 

 been given underhand to any of the elders, to 

 make fure of his fuffrage, you are fure to ob- 

 tain it, if the prefent has been accepted of. It has 

 fcarce ever been known, that an Indian has failed 

 in an engagement of this fort ; but it is no eafy 

 matter to bring them to accept of it, nor does he 

 ever receive with both hands. Young perfons enter 

 early into the knowledge of affairs, which natu- 

 rally renders them grave and ripe, at an age in 

 which we are (till children ; this interefts them, 

 from their tenderefl infancy, in the public weal, 

 and infpires them with an emulation which is fo- 

 mented with great care, and from which there is 

 nothing that might not be hoped for. 



The greateft defect in this government is, that 

 they have fcarce the fhadow of criminal juftice 

 among them ; though, to fay truth, it is far from 

 being attended with the fame bad effects it would 

 certainly be among ft us : the great fpring of 

 our paffions, and the chief fource of thofe difor- 

 ders which are the mo ft pernicious to civil foci- 

 ety, to wit, private intereft, having fcarce any 

 power over men who never think of hoarding, 

 and give themfelves very little concern about to- 

 morrow. 



We 



