true.

NOTE.

(1) _High-mindedness of the Indian._--p. 39.

The Indians very frequently evince a pride and greatness of mind which
would not have disgraced the heroes of ancient Greece and Rome. "The
greatest part of them," says Charlevoix, "have truly a nobleness and
an equality of soul which we cannot arrive at with all the helps we
can obtain from philosophy and religion." Always master of themselves,
in the most sudden misfortunes, we cannot perceive the least
alteration in their countenances. A prisoner who knows not in what his
captivity will end, or which is perhaps still more surprising, who is
still uncertain of his fate, does not lose on this account a quarter
of an hour's sleep. Even the first emotions do not find them at fault.
The following well attested stories shew their high-mindedness, and
one of them their singular chivalry of character.

A Huron Captain was one day insulted and struck by a young man. Those
who were present would have punished this audaciousness on the spot.
"_Let him alone_," said the Captain, "_Did you feel the earth tremble?
He is sufficiently informed of his folly._"--_Charlevoix_, ii. 64.

This passion of the Indians, which I have called _pride_, but which
might perhaps be better denominated _high-mindedness_, is generally
combined with a great sense of honour, and not seldom produces actions
of the most heroic kind. An Indian of the Lenape nation, who was
considered a very dangerous person, and was much dreaded on that
account, had publicly declared that as soon as another Indian, who was
then gone to Sandusky, should return from thence, he would certainly
kill him. This dangerous Indian called in one day at my house on the
Muskingum, to ask me for some tobacco. While this unwelcome guest was
smoking his pipe by my fire, behold! the other Indian whom he had
threatened to kill, and who at that moment had just arrived, also
entered the house. I was much frightened, as I feared the bad Indian
would take that opportunity to carry his threat into execution, and
that my house would be made the scene of a horrid murder. I walked to
the door, in order not to witness a crime that I could not prevent,
when, to my great astonishment, I heard the Indian whom I thought in
danger address the other in these words: "Uncle, you have threatened
to kill me--you have declared that you would do it, the first time we
should meet. Now I am here, and we are together. And I take it for
granted th