d the wild herds, so that they sought
security in the deep shades of the west.

"Brothers:--These white men were not your grandfathers; for, as
I said before, the sons of Onas were always the friends of red
men.

"Brothers:--The whites are still advancing upon us. They have
reached our territory, and have built their wigwams within our
very hunting grounds. Our game is vanishing away.

"Brothers:--Formerly our hunters pursued the wild deer, and the
buffalo, and the bear; and when they killed them they ate their
flesh for food, and used their skins as covering for themselves,
their old men, their women, and their children. But now, they
kill them that they may have plenty of skins and furs to sell to
the white men. The consequence of this is, the game is destroyed
wantonly, and faster than our necessities require.

"Brothers:--We would not mind all this, provided these skins and
furs were exchanged for useful articles--for implements of
husbandry, or clothes for our old men, our women, and our
children. But they are too often bartered away for whiskey, that
vile poison, which has sunk even Wapakee into the dust.

"Brothers:--We shall soon be under the necessity either of
leaving our hunting grounds or of converting them into pastures
and fields of corn. Under the kind assistance of our brothers,
the Quakers, we have already proceeded a great way. You have
witnessed, as you have passed among us, the good effects of the
kindness of our brothers. We are disposed to go on as we have
begun, until our habits and manners, as well as the face of our
country, shall be changed and look like those of the white
people.

"Brothers:--Accept from us this belt of wampum and pipe of
peace. And may the Great Sasteretsy, who conducted you here in
safety, still go with you and restore you in peace and happiness
to the arms of your women and children."

After this, with ceremonies such as those already described, but, if
possible, accompanied with more solemnity, the chiefs dissolved the
council.

It is a melancholy reflection, that soon such memorials as these will be
the only remains of that noble but unfortunate race who once peopled the
continent of North America. _War_ has slain its thousands, but _alcohol_
its tens of thousands; and the fortitude which could bear without
shrinking the most cruel i