ft EM Aft ks. ' 223 
j^hawnese, ofte of the most warlike tribes,, bag 
been lessened nearly one half by sickness. 
Many other reasons could be adduced for their 
decrease^ but it is needless to enumerate them. 
That their numbers have gradually lessened, as 
those of the whites have increased, for two 
centuries past, is incontrovertible; and they 
are too much attached to old habits, to leave 
any room to imagine that they will vary their 
line of conduct, in any material degree, during 
years to come; so that they must of conse¬ 
quence still continue to decrease. 
In my next letter I intend to com mum cafe 
to you a few observations that I have made 
Upon the character, manners, customs, and 
personal and mental qualifications, &c. of the 
Indians. So much has already been written 
on these subjects, that I fear I shall have little 
to' offer to your perusal but whaf you may 
have read before. T am induced to think, 
however, that it will not be wholly unpleasirig: 
to you to hear the observations of others con¬ 
firmed by me; and if you should meet with 
any thing new in what I have to say, it. will 
have the charm of novelty at least to recbm- 
mend it to your notice. I aih riot going to 
give you a regular detail of Indian 'manners, 
&c ; it would be absurd in me, who have only 
¥ 
been with them for a few weeks, to attempt 
to do so.' If you wish to have an account of 
