A great part of the Cherokees are now actually civilized. To fix the precise point where barbarity ceases, and civilization begins, is perhaps impossible. Many of these people have considerable information, and great decency of manuers: these are strong marks of civilization. If, in any society, it be required that every individual be well informed, and decent in manners, before that society could be entitled to the appellation of civilized society, I do not know what considerable district of any country, would be entitled to the appellation. The fact is, the Chero. kees have made considerable advances in civilization, the consideration of which will afford much satisfac tion to the government, and to the friend of man every where. It has been some expense to the government, but it has saved more expense. It has almost destroyed their thirst for war, which, although, it flattered the pride of the warrior, must, if persisted in, eventually terminate in their extinction. But in the revolution of events, their destiny has been placed in the bands of the United States, whose magnanimity, it is presumed, will not let them perish. "I have several times visited the principal school, which is under the patronage of the government. The progress of the children in reading and writing, is equal to that of any other children of their age. The order of the school and decency of manners, excite in the mind of the spectator pleasing and affecting contemplation. It would wrest the barbarous from his ferocity, and evince to the mind, that it is not the colour of the skin that designates the savage," There are probably in England, other equally satisfactory reports of the proceedings in America under the immediate direction of its govern ment; and the transmission of such, to the editor of the Philanthropist, will be thankfully acknowledged. Of the labours of the society cal led Quakers, our information is in some respects more ample. Its concerns are managed by what are called yearly meetings, of which there are six in North America. Encou raged also by the conclusion of the treaty of Greeneville, already mentioned, each of those held in Philadelphia and Baltimore, appointed a committee "for promoting the improvement and civilization of the Indian natives," and directing the application of the contributious recommended to be made by their res pective members, to defray the expense. Separate and remote * districts were fixed upon for the first experiment; and that of the Philadelphia committee was concluded to be made among the Oneidas, aboot twenty or thirty miles nearly due south of the great falls of Niagara; and about 350 miles north eastward of Philadelphia. It is situated in, and part of, a large tract of land on the south side of lake Ontario, and south-eastward of lake Erie, granted to the United States by the Oneida, Seneca, Tuscarora, and other tribes, with the exception of certain districts, which are called the Indian Reservations; and may together contain about 200,000 acres, and upwards of 2,000 Indians. Each of the committees published a report of its proceedings in 18054; and the following is the import of that of Philadelphia. The entire approbation of the ex ecutive government was signified in a letter from the secretary of state; which with others from the com mittee, addressed to the various tribes, In 1797, improvement was much retarded by sickness; but the Stockbridge Indians were instructed and assisted in the construction of a gristmill. In this year, also a considerable number of agricultural implements were distributed among the Onondagos and Cayugas in these parts. In the spring of 1798, some Indians were hired to assist in the improvement of the land allotted for a farm. On some days near thirty came to work on others not one appeared. The plan therefore of hiring labourers, although for their own exclusive benefit, was abandoned; and a number of lads and young men were boarded in the family, and allowed a compensation for their labour. At this time a little general improvement was appa to rent. Some of the men were observ- The year 1799 afforded indications it was not conceive that labours, attended with many personal hardships, as well as considerable pecuniary expense, could be so long persevered in, without some selfish motive, or entirely to conceal their fears that a permanent establishment on this part of their land, and a consequent claim to it, would ultimately appear to have been intended. Under this impression, and in the belief that the assistance and instruction already afforded, were such as would enable the Indians to occupy, and continue the improvements which have been related, it was concluded to with.raw, and leave them, with all the implements of husbandry, &c. for the use of the Indians. This was effected satisfactorily in September 179),,by a deputation from the committee at Philadelphia; whose written address to the Indians on the occasion, received the following reply: Onas, attend! We "Brothers know you told us you came not amongst us to make presents that would soon wear away; but to instruct us how to gain a comfortable living by tilling the ground as the white people do. Now you have staid the time you proposed, and have fulfilled all your cn age. ments to our nation; and we hope we shall follow the good example you have set before us, which we know would be of lasting benefit to us, and thankfully acknowledge your kindness; having never heard of any people that had done so much for Indians, without any view of advintage to themselves; which is convincing proof to us, that you are our real friends. And we are glad that the good spirit has put it into your minds to assist others of our Indian brethren in learning the same good way of living for which we also thank you, as well as for the good advice you gave us about the strong drink; and we will try all we can, to persuade our young men to do better. And now, brothers! It we have done any thing that displeases you, we wish you would tell us, that our friendship may remain bright; for we know you are a true people: and we will keep this writing, and will tell our young men and children every year, that they may always remember your friendship: and we wish you may often remember and visit us, to see whether we grow better or worse." *These reports exhibit many other spe cimens of Indian eloquence, too numerous for insertion in this summary: but it may gratify the reader to see one sent about forty years before from Gayashuta (an ancient Seneca chief of this district) by Cornplanter to be delivered by him to the governor of Pennsylvania, a grandson of William Penn. "Brothers, the sons of my beloved brother Onas! When I was young and strong, our country was full of game, which the good spirit sent for us to live upon. The land which belonged to us, was extended far beyond where we hunted. I and the peo ple of my nation had enough to eat ; "and always something to give to our friends when they entered our cabins ; and we rejoiced when they received it from us.— Hunting was not then tiresome—it was diversion-it was vas a pleasure. “Brothers! When your fathers asked land from my nation, we gave it to them, for we had more than enough. Gayashuta brother Chas, for he wants it; and he has was among the first to say, give land to our always been a friend to Onas, and to his children. "Brothers! Your fathers saw Gayashuta when he was young-when he had not even thought of old age, or of weakness: but now you are too far off to see him now he is grown old: he is very old aud feeble; and he wonders at his own shadow, it is become so little. He has no children to take care of him; and the game is driven away by the white people; so that his younger friends must hunt all day long, to find game out for themselves to eat; they have nothing left for Gavashuta. And it is not Gayashuta only who is become old and feeble. There yet remain about thirty more of your old friends, who, unable to provide for themselves, or to help one another, are become poor, and are hungry and naked. which he received long ago from your "Brothers! Gayashuta sends you a belt, fathers; and a writing + which he received † A passport given him some years before, big Governor Penn. In addition to services thus acknowledged, several of their girls and young women were brought into the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, and placed in families, where they received much instruction as qualified them for much usefulness on their return to the settlement. A letter from one of them afterward, written by her own hand in September 1803, (more interesting than correct in composition,) contains the following literal information to a former mistress: “I have spun from flaxe and woole since I came home, and made some cheese, to show our Indians how to make cheese. They been very much pleas'd to know how to make cheese. Some said they never thought Indians could make cheese so well. They been try to keep their cows ever since, to make cheese and butter. Some of them begin to sewe some flax, and good many of our Indian got sheepe, and they found very good to keep sheep; meat good to eat, and wool good for cloth. I hope we will do better every year. Good many has left off drinking, and some of them drink very hard yet. I have been to see Oneidas not long ago. I found they improve very much since thee came away.Good many has new frame-houses and frame-barns. They improves very much since they left of drink but as yesterday from one of you. By these you will remember him, and the old friends of your fathers in this nation. "Brothers Look within this belt and this writing and if you remember the old friends of your fathers, consider their former friendship, and their present distress; and if the good spirit shall put it into your hearts to comfort them in their old age, do not disregard his counsel. We are men; and therefore can only tell you, that we are old and feeble, and hungry and naked; and that we have no other friends but you, the children of our beloved brother Onas !" BELFAST MAG. NO, XLI. ing. I believe three hundred of man and women, both left of drinking this some time I hope they will keep their words good," &c. In the year preceding (1798) the improvements observed at Oneida, induced the Seneca nation to ask for similiar assistance; ́of which they were immediately assured. And three of the missionaries who offered their services, accompanied by two of the committee, arrived in May at the Allegany Reservation, and met a friendly reception from a council called on the occasion; in which Cornplanter, a chief of much influence, was the principal speak er on behalf of his nation. The difficulties peculiar to the undertaking, and the means of obviating them, already detailed, were the subjects of discussion. The evils arising from the intemperate use of ardent spi rits, and the necessity of an amelio ration of the servile condition of the women, were particularly recommended as entitled to their most se. rious consideration. The missionaries immediately proceeded to the erection of a comfortable log-house for their own accommodation; and the Indians were amply supplied with hoes, axes, scythes, plough-irons, and other farming implements, and with carpenter's, mason's, and cooper's tools, for the general use of the settlement, on loan. Having left the settlement at Oneida, the principal seat of the mission was transferred to the Allegany river, forty or fifty miles southward of the Oneida settlement, and sufficiently near to afford the occasional assistance to that and other settlements, which continued frequently to be applied for. The spot fixed upon, was an antien ndian villiage, called Genesungohta*, early cen tral to the Indians inhabiting this Reservation, and a little distance northward of the line dividing Pennsylvania from the State of New York. Here, the same obstacles which were encountered in the first attempt at Oneida, were again in a good degree subdued by similar means. The instruction of the children in useful learning, and of the adults in husbandry, was attended to with much assiduity, as far as circum stances permitted; but patient perseverance proved to be essential to success, in the labours which occupied this, and the succeeding year (1800). A letter written at Genesangohta in August 1801, says, of oxen: some others are about to train young cattle for work, of their own rearing the increasing attention that prevails amongst them in rearing cattle, hogs, &c. affords a grospect that they will, ere long, have a sufficient number of useful animals several are preparing ground to sow wheat, and expect to have it in readiness this season." In September 1801, three of the committee (of whom two had been there before) visited them, accompanied by a blacksmith who was left to instruct some of the Indians in that necessary occupation. The use of the plough had been introduced in the preceding spring with a lit tle assistance from their instructors. Wishing to ascertain the comparative merit of this important implement, with the hoe, to which they had been long accustomed," several parts of a very large field were plough "It is apprehended that a much greater proportion of useful labour, has been performed in the present season on this river, than has heretofore been done in the same space of time; and the prudence manifest-ed, and the intermediate spaces preed among the natives in expending the present years annuity, affords encouragement to hope, that the labour and concern of our society for their welfare, will not be fruitless. Divers have purchased cows, &c. for the use of their families: the Indians belonging to the upper settlement on the river, have reserved money sufficient to purchase a yoke yards wide, and by its course down to Pittsburgh (formerly Fort du Quesne) the distance is called 210 miles from Genesangotha. From this village northwestwardly, is the west end of the small lake Chataughque, (from which a stream runs into the Allegany;) and eight or nine miles further, in the same direction, is lake Erie: so that this last intervening land separates the waters, which running above 2000 miles south-westward, discharge into the gulf of Mexico; and those which, passing north-eastward through the lakes Erie and Ontario, fall into the river St. Lawrence. + Meaning their share of an annuity granted by the United States, in consideration of the Indian cession of the larger tract of land, of which this is part. pared by their women with the hoe, according to antient custom : it was all planted with corn [maize]: the parts ploughed, besides the great saving of labour, produced much the heaviest crop; the stalks being more than a foot higher, and proportionably stouter than those on the hoed ground. The corn was now ripe and gathering in; and as their stock of cattle was much increased, instead of letting their stocks and leaves perish on the ground as heretofore, they preserved them for winter fodder: several had mowed grass, and formed small stacks of hay: they had made a fence about two miles long, which incloses the lower town and a large body of adjacent land on the river; also several other fences within it, to separate the corn ground from the pasture: the cabins which they used to live in, were generally either gone to decay, or pulled down: most of them had built good log-houses; and some of them with stone chimneys." I |