toil, especially in the mining operations, and for this cause and
this alone, were they selected in preference to any other race of men,
to do the labor of the New World. They had proven themselves physically
superior either to the European or American races--in fact, superior
physically to any living race of men--enduring fatigue, hunger and
thirst--enduring change of climate, habits, manners and customs, with
infinitely far less injury to their physical and mental system, than any
other people on the face of God's earth.

The following extract shows, that even up to the year 1676, the
Indians were enslaved--but that little value were attached to them
as laborers, as the price at which they were disposed and sold to
purchasers, fully shows:

SLAVERY IN PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Immediately after the struggle between
the natives and some of the New England settlers, known as "King
Philip's war," it became necessary to dispose of certain Indian
captives then in Providence. The method adopted was common in that
day, but to us remarkable, as also the names of those who figured
prominently therein. Only think of ROGER WILLIAMS sharing in the
proceeds of a slave sale. The following is from the "Annals of
Providence."

"A town meeting was held before Thomas Field's house, under a tree,
by the water side, on the 14th of August, 1676. A committee was
appointed to determine in what manner the Indians should be
disposed of. They reported as follows:

"Inhabitants wanting, can have Indians at the price they sell at
the Island of Rhode Island or elsewhere. All under five, to serve
till thirty; above five and under ten, till twenty-eight; above ten
to fifteen, till twenty-seven; above fifteen to twenty, till
twenty-six; from twenty to thirty, shall serve eight years; all
above thirty, seven years.

"We whose names are underwritten, being chosen by the town to see
the disposal of the Indians now in town, we agree that Roger
Williams, N. Waterman, T. Fenner, H. Ashton, J. Morey, D. Abbot, J.
Olney, V. Whitman, J. Whipple, sen., E. Pray, J. Pray, J. Angell,
Jas. Angell, T. Arnold, A. Man, T. Field, E. Bennett, T. Clemence,
W. Lancaster, W. Hopkins, W. Hawkins, W. Harris, Z. Field, S.
Winsor, and Capt. Fenner, shall each have a whole share in the
product. I. Woodward and R. Pray, three-fourt