NORTH AMERICA. 
509 
CHAP. IV. 
Concerning Property , Agriculture \ Arts , and Manu- 
factures. 
IT has been faid by hiftorians, who have writ- ; 
ten concerning the cuftoms and ufages of the 
aborigines of America, that they have every 
thing in common, and no private property ; which 
are terms in my opinion too vague and general, 
when applied to thefe people. From my own fre- 
quent opportunities of obfervation, and the infor- 
mation of refpeclable characters, who have fpent 
many years amongil them, I venture to fet this 
matter in a juft view before my readers. 
I flialf begin with the produce of their agricultural 
labours. 
An Indian town is generally fo fituated, as to 
be convenient for procuring game, fecure from 
fudden invafion, having a large diflrict of excel- 
lent arable land adjoining, or in its vicinity, if 
pofllble on an iithmus betwixt two waters, or 
where the doubling of a river forms a peninfula. 
Such a fituation generally comprifes a fufficient 
body of excellent land for planting Corn, Pota- 
toes, Beans, Squafh, Pumpkins, Citruls, Melons, 
ccc. and is taken in with a fmall expence and 
trouble of fencing, to fecure the crops from the 
invafion of predatory animals. At other times 
however they choofe fuch a convenient fertile 
fpot at fome diftance from their town, when cir- 
cumftances will not admit of having both toee- 
tner„ 
This 
