Indians did not live long in one place. As soon as the game began to be scarce in one part of their land, they would move their families, their wigwams, and all their belongings to

another hunting-ground where

the game was more plen

tiful.

took more pleasure in fighting than in hunting or fishing. Wars between the tribes were going on in some part of the country nearly all the time.

They seldom fought in open battles as the people

of Europe did, but "would creep stealthily through the wild forests to rush upon their enemies when least expected. The one who could show the greatest number of scalps torn from the heads of his foes was considered the bravest warrior."

In appearance the Indians were entirely different from any of the people of Europe. They belonged to a different race. Their skin was reddish, or copper-colored, and their eyes were dark and deeply set. Their straight, black hair grew long, sometimes almost covering their faces. They wore no beards as the Europeans did.

They clothed themselves with the skins of animals, and for ornament wore strings of beads or shells, called wampum, and, like the Britons, stained their faces and bodies with colored earths and the juices of plants.

This is a description of the dress of a young Indian brave:

十

"He was dressed in shirt of doeskin,
White and soft and fringed with ermine,
All inwrought with beads of wampum ;
He was dressed in deerskin leggings,
Fringed with hedgehog quills and ermine,
And in moccasins of buckskin,

Thick with quills and beads embroidered;
On his head were plumes of swan's down,
On his heels were tails of foxes,

In one hand a fan of feathers,
And a pipe was in the other.

Barred with streaks of red and yellow,
Streaks of blue and bright vermilion,
Shone the face of Pau-Puk-Keewis.
From his forehead fell his tresses,
Smooth and parted like a woman's,
Shining bright with oil, and plaited,
Hung with braids of scented grasses.'

Only the chiefs were thus gaily dressed. The Indian has justly been called the man of the woods, for

"He learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets,
How they built their nests in summer,
Where they hid themselves in winter.

Of all the beasts he learned the language,
Learned their names and all their secrets,
How the beavers built their lodges,

Where the squirrels hid their acorns,

How the reindeer ran so swiftly,
Why the rabbit was so timid."

He was

"Skilled in all the craft of hunters,
In all youthful sports and pastimes,
In all manly arts and labors.

He could shoot an arrow from him,
And run forward with such fleetness
That the arrow fell behind him.

He could shoot ten arrows upward,

Shoot them with such strength and swiftness
That the tenth had left the bowstring

Ere the first to earth had fallen."

But, in spite of all these good traits, the Indians were always sullen and unsocial, and, when angered, no race has ever shown the power of being more cruel or more treacherous.

Like the Saxons, the Indian tribes warred with each other, trying to destroy each other whenever they had the opportunity; but, unlike the Saxons as we found them in Germany, and unlike them as we found them in England, the Indians never united successfully against a common enemy.

They were not as wise as the Saxons. They did not see the benefits of union. Perhaps they were too jealous of each other.

I will ask you to read two poems from Mr. Longfellow's "Hiawatha."

A PLEA FOR PEACE.

"O my children, my poor children!
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Listen to the words of wisdom,

Listen to the words of warning,
From the lips of the Great Spirit,
From the Master of Life who made you!
I have given you lands to hunt in,
I have given you streams to fish in,
I have given you bear and bison,
I have given you roe and reindeer,
I have given you brant and beaver,
Filled the marshes full of wild fowl,
Filled the rivers full of fishes;
Why then are you not contented?
Why then will you hunt each other?
I am weary of your quarrels,
Weary of your wars and bloodshed,
Weary of your prayers for vengeance,
Of your wranglings and dissensions;
All your strength is in your union,

All

your danger is in discord; Therefore, be at peace henceforward, And as brothers live together.''