INTRODUCTION* XXU1 
finely ; and it is remarkable, that thefe reciprocally 
affift in their domeftic cares, as building their nefts 
and fitting on their eggs, feeding and defending 
their young brood, &c. The oriolus (iCterus, 
Cat.) is an inftance of this cafe; and the female of 
the iCterus minor is a bird of more fplendid and gay 
drefs than the male bird. Some tribes of birds 
will relieve and rear up the young and helpiefs, of 
their own and other tribes, when abandoned. Ani- 
mal fubftance feems to be the firft food of all birds^ 
even the granivorous tribes. 
Having paffed through fome remarks, which ap- 
peared of fufficient conlequence to be offered to the 
public, and which were moft fuitable to have a 
place in the introduction, I fhall now offer fuch ob- 
servations as muff neceffarily occur, from a careful 
attention to, and inveftigation of, the manners of 
the Indian nations; being induced, while travel- 
ing among them, to affociate with them, that I 
might judge for myfeif, whether they were deferving 
of the fevere cenfure which prevailed againft them 
among the white people, that they were incapable 
of civilization. 
In the confideration of this important fubjeCt it 
will be neceffary to inquire, whether they were in- 
clined to adopt the European modes of civil focie- 
ty? Whether fuch a reformation could be obtained, 
without ufing coercive or violent means ? And laftly, 
whether fuch a revolution would be productive of 
real benefit to them, and confequently beneficial to 
the public ? I was fatisfied in discovering that they 
w^ere defirous of becoming united with us, in civil 
and religious fociety. 
It may, therefore, not be foreign to the fubjeCt, 
to point out the propriety of fending men of abi- 
lity and virtue, under the authority of government, 
as 
