A family history of the United States

Front matter

Copyright N".

COPYRIGHT DEPOStK

A FAM I LY

Preface

This work Iiaa been prepared with great care, for the purpose of supplying a want long felt by the reading public, and especially by Heads of Families. Every important event in the history of the United States, from the Aboriginal period to the present time, is presented in a concise, but perspicuous and comprehensive manner, without giving those minute and often tedious details, which are valuable to the student, but irksome to the common reader. The History of our Republic is herein popularized, and adapted to the use of those who may not find leisure to peruse more extensive worka upon the subject. The materials have been drawn from the earlier, most elaborate, and most reliable historians and chroniclers of our continent. The work is constructed upon a new plan, which, it is believed, will be found to be the most acceptable yet offered to the public, for obtaining, with facility, and fixing in the memory, a knowledge of the great events of our truly wonderful history. And having visited a greater portion of the localities made memorable by important occurrences in our country, the writer claims, in that particular, an advantage over his predecessors in this special field, for he has been able to correct errors and give truthful impressions of things and events. An endeavor has also been made to show the cause of every important event, and thus, by developing the philosophy of our history, to make it more attractive and instructive than a bald record of facts. And wherever the text appeared to need further elucidation, additional facts have been given in foot-notes.

The arrangement of the work is new. It is in six Periods, each commencing where the history naturally divides into distinct epochs. The first Period exhibits a general view of the Ahoriginal race who occupied the continent when the Europeans came. The second is a record of all the Discov^ eries and preparations for settlement, made by individuals and governments. The third delineates the progress of all the Settlements until colonial governments were formed. The fourth tells the story of these Colonies from their infancy to maturity, and illustrates the continual development of Democratic ideas and Republican tendencies which finally resulted in a political confederation. The fifth has a full account of the important events of the War for Independence, and the sixth gives a concise history of the Republic from its formation to the present time. The Supplement contains

VI PKEFACE.

the Articles of Co?) federation and tlie ISTational Co?istitution. The former shows the final result of the efforts of the people of the Colonies, who had struggled together for general independence, to form a national organization, but which signally failed, because in that League of States the supremacy of each was recognized, and the vitality of unity, which is essential to the existence of a nation, was wanting. The National Constitutif.n is given in its original form, and with all of the amendments since adopted, accompanied by explanatory notes. The Supplement also contains a brief outline History of the Progress of the Nation, in all its aspects, during the first one hundred years of the existence of our Republic.

The system of concordance interwoven with the notes throughout the entire work, is of great importance to the reader. When a fact is named which bears a relation to another fact elsewhere recorded in the volume, a reference is made to the 2ycige where such fact is mentioned. A knowledge of this relationship of separate events is often essential to a clear view of the subject, and without this concordance, a great deal of time would be spent in searching for that relationship. "With the concordance the matter may be found in a moment. Favorable examples of the utility of this new feature may be foiind on page 289. If strict attention shall be given to these references, the whole subject will be presented to the mind of the reader in a comprehensive aspect of unity not to be obtained by any other method.

The engravings are introduced not for the sole purpose of embellishing^ the volume, but to enhance Its utility as an instructor. Every picture is intended to illustrate a fact, not merely to beautify the page. Great care has been taken to secure accuracy in all the delineations of men and things, so that they may not convey false instruction. Geographical maps have been omitted, because they must necessarily be too small to be of essential service. History may be read for the purpose of obtaining general information on the subject, without maps, but it should never be studied without the aid of an accurate Atlas.

The author has endeavored to make this work essentially a Family History, attractive and instructive ; and the Publishers have generously co-worked with him in producing a volume that may justly claim to be excellent in every particular. With these few observations concerning the general plan and merits of the Avork, it is presented to the public, with &%> entire willingness to have its reputation rest upon its own merits.

B. J. L.

The Ridge, Dover, N. Y.,

ILLUSTRATIONS

STEEL PLATES.

5. De Soto on the Misbissippi to face page

3. Governor Caevee AND Massasoit " "

4. Death OF Wolfe " " S

6. Washington AT Kip's Bay " " S

1. Washington besignino his Commissiok to face page 15?

8. Hull's Surrender " " 4iw

9. Japanese Embassy " '• 512

10. Grant AND Pemberton " " M6

11. Faeragut IN THE Rigging OF THE Hartford.. " " ?1|>

ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

. Sioux Indians 9

:. Portrait of Red Jacket. 9

. A Wigwam 13

..Wampum 13

i. Indian Hieroglyphics. 13

'. Indian Weapons 14

. Calumets 14

. Indian Burial-Place 15

. Indian Totum 15

. Profile of Blacli Hawk 18

. Uncas's Monument 21

. Portrait of S. Kirkland 25

. Southern Indians 30

. Columbus before the Council 34

. Portrait of Vespucci 34

. Northman 34

. Normiin Ship 35

. Old Tower at Newport. 35

. Portrait of Columbus 36

. Portrait of Isabella 38

. The Fleet of Columbus 39

, B.mnerof the Expedition 40

. Balboa 42

. Portrait of De Soto 44

. Portrait of Cabot 46

, Portrait of Verazani 47

. Cartier's Ship 48

. Arms of France 48

, French Nobleman, 1540 49

. Raleigh's Expedition 53

, Portrait of Raleigh . 55

, Raleigh's Ships 55

, English Gentleman, 1580 57

, Portrait of Henry Hudson 59

The Half-Moon 59

, Building Jamestown 61

, Portrait of Captain J. Smith 61

. Portrait of Pocahontas 66

Seal of New Netherland 73

A Puritan 75

TheMayflower 77

Governor Carver's Chair 79

, Portrait of Lord Baltimore 81

Hooker's Emigr.ition... 83

First Meeting-House in Connecticut 86

Portrait of Roger Williams 90

Portrait of William Penn 95

, The Assembly House 97

Oglethorpe, at Savannah 101

Embarkation of the Pilgrims 104

Portrait of Oglethorpe 104

Church Tower at Jamestown 112

First Colony Seal, Massachusetts 117

Portrait of Jolin Winthrop 117

First Money Coined in the United States 122

Portraitof King Philip 124

Palisaded Building 127

Portrait of Captain Church 128

, Portrait of Cotton Mather 133

Williams's House 135

Plan of the Siege of Louisburg 137

Portrait of Peter Stuyvesant 142

City of New York in 1664. 144

Stuyvesant's Surrender . 145

The Charter Oak 156

Penn's House 162

Plan of Charleston in 16S0 166

Early New England House 176

Plan of Fort Du Quesne. 186

Portrait of Braddoek 186

Burial of Braddoek 187

Plan of Fort Edward 190

Portrait of Sir W. Johnson 190

Plan of Fort William Henry 190

Portrait of Abercrombie 191

Plans of Forts at Oswego 192

Block House 192

Map of Lake George. 194

Portrait of Lord Amherst 196

Plan of Ticonderoga 196

Ruins of Ticonderoga ^ 197

Portraitof Lord Howe IS'

Plan of Crown Point 200

Plan of Fort Niagara 200

General Wolfe 201

, Military Operations at Quebec 2(i2

, Monument to Wolfe and Montcalm 202'

Patrick Henry before the Virginia .Assembly 2(IT

Portrait of James Otis 2i)T

Portraitof Benjamin West 210

Pi.rtrait of David Rittenhouse 211

Portraitof Patrick Henry 214

A Stamp 2;5

Portraitof Cadwallader Colden 216

Portraitof William Pitt 21T

Portrait of John Dickenson 2'.9i

Portrait of Samuel Adams Syii

Portrait of Lord North 21i4'-

Faneuil Hall 22S

Snake Device 226i

Portrait of Cli.irles Thomson 227"

Carpeutc's ll.ill 228;

i:ittle.

. Portrait oUmsviiL Warren 237'

. Portrait of Philip Schuyler 239'

. Plan of the Walls of Quebec 24i

. Portrait of General Montgomery 242

. Culpepper Flag S-1'1

. Union FlaL' 2«

Continental Monev 24i

. Portrait of General Lee 248

. Portraitof General Moultrie 249

. State House, Philadelphia 5JC

. Portrait of Benjamin Rush 251

. Portrait of General Putnam 2;*:j

. Plan ofthe Battle on Long Island 214

. Plan of Fort Washington -JM

, Retreat from Long Island 2;*,7

. The Jersey Prison-Ship 269>

. Plan of tlic Battle at Trenton 263j

. Portraitof Robert Morris 264-

. Portraitof Silas Deane 266.

. Portrait of Benjamin Franklin 26r

. Plan of the Battle at Princeton 269-'

. Portrait of La Favette 273;

. Plan of the Battle at ihe Brandy wine 27?.

. Chevaux-de-Frise 'i14

. Plan of the Battle at Germantown 275.

. Portraitof General SU Clair. 276-

, Portraitof Kosciuszko 27T

. Portrait of Joseph Brant 278

, Portrait of General Burgoyne 278

. A Treaty 278

. 3urgovne's Surrender 279

. Operations at Bemis's Heights 281

. Portrait of Francis Hupkinson 284

. Encampment at Valley Forge 285

, Portraitof Sir Henry Clinton 287

. Plan of the Battle at Monmouth 288-

, Portrait of Count D'Estaing 289-

, P..rtrait of Baron Steuben 291

, Portraitof General Lincoln 294

, Plan of Stony Point 298.

Portrait of General Wayne 298

Portrait of Daniel Boone 299

, Portrait of George R. Clarke 3li9

Clarke's Expedition 301

Portrait of General Sullivan 304

Plan of the Siege of Savannah 305.

Portrait of Count Pulaski 305.

, Portraitof John Paul Jones 3oT

A Gun-boat at Boston 30T;

. P.Ttrait of Admiral Hopkins 31"-:

, Cipher Alphabet... 3(>i)>

, Portrait ot Governor Rutledge -. Xl*

, Portraitof Commodore Whipple 310.

, Plan of the Siege of Charleston. 313

Portraitof David Ramsay 31 i.-

, Portrait of General Gates 3141

Portraitof General Sumter 315

Plan of Battle at Sanders's Creek 315

Portraitof Baron De Kalb 316

Portrait of Colonel Tar eton. 318

Portrait of General Marion 317

Portraitof Lord Cornwallis 318

. Marion's Encauipment on the Pedee. 321

Portrait of GcTernor Trumbull 323

Portrait of Benedict Arnold. S:'.')

TheCaptors' Medal iSI

I L L iCr 3 T R A T I X S .

Portrait ofGeneralGreene

Portrait of General Morgan

Portrait of Colonel Washington

Bjrtrait of Colonel Henry Lee

Plan of the Battle at Guilford

Plan of the Battle at Hobkirk's Hill

Pt>rtrait of Rebecca Motte

Plan of Fort Ninety-Six

Portrait of General Pickens..

Portrait of Count de Rochanibeau

Portrait of Count de Grasse

Plan of the Siege of Yorktown

Portrait of Benjamin Thompson

Portrait of James Jackson

Portrait of George Clinton

Portraitof John Marshall

Portrait of Genera I Mifilia.,

Order of the Cindnnati

Portrait of Bishop C arroll

Franklin before the Convention

Portrait of Oliver Ellsworth.

Portrait of Alexander Hamilton

Portrait ofRufus Putnam

Inauguration of Washington

Portrait of Gouvemeur Morris

Portrait of Washington

Portrait of Robert R. Livingston

Portrait of Tench Coxe •

Portraitof General Knox

Wayne's Defeat of the Indians

Portrait of John Jay

Portrait of Fisher Ames

Portrait of John Adams

Portrait of C. C. Pinckney

Portrait of Martha Washington

Portrait of Thomas Jeflferson

Portrait of Commodore Bainbridge

United States Frigate

Portrait of Lieutenant Decatur

Mohammedan Soldier

Burning of the Philadelphia at Tripoli

Portrait ofRufus King

Portrait of Aaron Burr

Portrait of Robert Fulton.

Fulton's first Steamboat

Portrait of William Pinkney

A Felucca Gun-Boat

Portraitof John Randolph

Portrait of James Madison

Portrait of General Dearborn

Portrait of S. Van Rennsselaer

Sloopof-War

Portrait of Governor Shelby

Plan of Fort Meigs

Plan of Fort Sandusky

MagorCroghan

Perry on Lake Erie

Portrait of Commodore Perry

Portrait of General Pike

Fort Niagara in 1813

Portrait of Captain Lawrence

Portrait of Commodore Porter

Portrait of General Brown

Map of the Niagara Frontier

Portrait of Commodore Macdonough

Plan of the Battle of New Orleans

Portraitof W. C. C.Claiborne

Jackson at New Orleans

Portrait of James Monroe

Capture ofPensacola

Portrait of Edward Livingston

Portrait of John Quincy Adams

Portrait of Dewitt Clinton

Portrait of John C. Calhoun

Portrait of General Jackson

Portraitof Robert Y. Hayne

Portrait of Osceola

Map of the Seat of the Seminole War . . . .

Portrait of Martin Van Buren

Portrait of William H. Harrison

Portraitof John Tyler

Portraitof James K. Polk

Portraitof General Scott

The Region of Taylor's Operations

Portraitof John C. Fremont

Plan of Intrenchments at Vera Cruz

The Route of Scott's Army in Mexico

Bombardment of vera Cruz

Operations near Mexico

General Scott entering the City of Mexico.,

Portraitof General Taylor

Portrait of Henry Clay

Portraitof .Millard Fillmore

Portraitof Daniel Webster

Portraitof Joseph Smith ,

Mormon Emigration

Portrait of S. F. B. Morse

Portrait of E. K. Kane

Portrait of Franklin Pierce

Portrait of Santa Anna

An Ocean Steamship

Crystal Palace, New York

Portraitof James M. Mason

Portraitof James Buchanan

Portrait of John Slide 11

South Carolina Institute

"Wigwam" at Chicago

Palmetto Cockade

Portrait of Jefferson Davis

. Fort Sumter In 1861. ...•.•

, The Confederate flag

. Harper's Ferry in 1861

, Portraitof Salmon P. Chase

Portrait of R. E. :

Ellsworth Zouave 565

Arsenal at St, Louia. 566

Portraitof S. Price. 5«S

Portraitof Winfield Scott 663

Ruinsof the Stone-bridge 569

Defenses of Washington 57J

Portrait of Leonidas Polk 57T

Fort Hatteras S80

Fort Pickens 5S1

298. Portrait of S. F. Dupont.

Portrait of W. S. Roseci Monument at Stone's River.

Portrait of R. Semmes

Portrait of J. C. Pembertoo.

A Louisiana Swamp .

Cave-Life in Vicksburg

Corps Badges

Portrait of J. Hooker,

Ruins of Chancelloravilie. . .

Scene near Gettysburg,

Drafting .,

Abatis

Libby Prison.

Pack Mules

The Chattanooga.

Pulpit Rock

'Ridge.

., 593 .. 595 .. 596

. Fort Lafayette..'. 566

. Portrait of C, Wilkes, 588

, Portraitof A. E. Bumside 589

. Portrait of S. A. Curtis 591

, Texas Ranger

, Portraitof a W.Hal leek

, ViewatFort Donelson

, Portraitof Lewis Wallace

. Island Number Ten

. Portraitof U, S, Grant

, Burning horses at Shiloh.,

, Portrait of Beauregard

. A Mortar Boat,

, Portrait of O, M. Mitchel

, Colyer's Head-Quarters

, Fort Pulaski breached

, Portrait of D. D. Porter

. Ram Manassas

, The Levee at New Orleans,

. Monitor and Merrimack

, Portrait of J, E. Johnston

, Portraitof T. J. Jackson

, View on the Chickahominy

. Harrison Mansion

, Thoroughfare Gap

. Monument at Groveton

. Portrait of Philip Kearney

, Battle-Field of South Mountain

, Antietam Battle-ground

, Fredericksburg on fire

. View at Nashville

. Portrait of D. C. Buell

. Graves at luka

Portrait of J. Longstreet,

A Parrott Gutt

Torpedo

The Swamp Angel

Fort de Russy

New Era,

Red River Dam

Place where Sedgwick was killed

Pontoon Bridge

Belle Isle

The Butler Medal

View at Cedar Creek

Portrait of W. T. Sherman B9»

Kenesaw Mountain '00

Portrait of J. B. Hood '00

Sherman's Quarters in Atlanta "Oil

Sherman's Quarters in Savannah 70S

The Albemarle 'M

Franklin Battle-ground '06

Portraitof J. A. Winslow '0»

Blockade-Runner. '09

Portraitof C. L Vallandigham 'H

Interior of Fort Fisher "*

Interior of Fort SteaJman '1'

Capitol at Richmond "*

McLean's House '^9

Portrait of A. Johnson '21

Davis's Prison, Fortress Monroe 722

The Capitol at Washington '31

The Senate Chamber, in which President Johnson was tried. 733

Portrait of Joseph R. Hawley 746

Seal of Centennial Commission '4T

Centennial Med.il 747

Portrait ofRulherford B. Hayes 750

Portrait of James A Garfield 755

Portrait or Ch-sl^r A.Arthur 769

HISTORY

OF

THE UNITED STATES.

THE ABORIGINALS.

Chapter I. Red Jacket

Every cultivated nation had its heroic

age — a period when its first physical and

moral conquests were achieved, and when

fude society, with all its impurities, was fused and refined in the crucible of

progress. When civilization first set up its standard as a permanent ensign, in

the western hemiapliore, northward of the Bahamas and the great Gnlf and the contests for possession began between the wild Aboriginals, who thrust no Bpade into the soil, no sickle into ripe harvests, and those earnest delvers from the Old World, who came with the light of Christianity, to plant a new empire, and redeem the wilderness by cultivation — then commenced the heroic age of America. It ended when the work of the Revolution in the eighteenth century was accomplished — when the bond of vassalage to Great Britain Avas severed by her colonies, and when thirteen confederated States ratified a Federal Constitution, and upon it laid the broad foundation of our Republic'

Long anterior to the advent of Europeans in America, a native empire, . little inferior to old Rome in civilization, flourished in that region of our Continent Avhich now forms the south-western portion of our Republic, and the adjoining States of Central America. The Aztec Empire, which reached the acme of its refinement during the reign of Montezuma, and crumbled into fragments beneath the heel of Cortez, when he dethroned and destroyed that monarch,' extended over the whole region from the Rio Grande to the Isthmus of Darien ; and when the Spaniards came, it was gradually pushing its conquests northward, where all was yet darkness and gloom. To human apprehension, this people, apparently allied by various ties to the wild nations of North America, appeared to be the most efficient instruments in the hands of Providence, for spreading the light of dawning civilization over the whole Continent. Yet, they were not only denied this glorious privilege, but, by the very race which first attempted to plant the seeds of European society in Florida, and among the Mobilian tribes,^ and to shed the illumination of their dim Christianity over the dreary region of the North, was their own bright light extinguished. The Aztecs and their neighbors were beaten into the dust of debasement by the falchion blows of avarice and bigotry, and nothing remains to attest their superiority but the magnificent ruins of their cities and temples, and their colossal statuary, which has survived the fury of the Spanish iconoclast and the tooth of decay. They form, apparently, not the most insignificant atom of the chain of events which connects the history of the Aboriginal nations of America with that of our Republic. The position of the tribes of the North is different. From the beginning of European settlements, they have maintained, and do still maintain, an important relation to the white people.

The first inhabitants of a country properly belong to the history of all subsequent occupants of the territory. The several nations of red or coppercolored people who occupied the present domain of the United States, when Europeans first came, form as necessary materials for a portion of the history of our Republic, as the Frenchmen* and Spaniards,' by whom parts of the territory Avere settled, and from whom they have been taken by conquest or purchase.

The history of the Indian' tribes, previous to the formation of settlements among them, by Europeans/ is involved in an obscurity which is penetrated

' Pnge :i60. ' Page 43 3 Page 29. < Paf^e IHi^

* Page 5i « Page 40. ^ Before the year 1G07.

THE ABORIGINALS.

only by vague traditions and uncertain conjectures. Whence came they ? is a question yet unanswered by established facts. In the Old World, the monuments of an ancient people often record their history. In North America, such intelligible records are wanting. Within almost every State and Territory remains of human skill and labor have been found,' which seem to attest the existence here of a civilized nation or nations, before the ancestors of our numerous Indian tribes became masters of the Continent. Some of these appear to give indisputable evidence of intercourse between the people of the Old World and those of America, centuries, perhaps, before the birth of Christ, and at periods soon afterward.^ The whole mass of testimony yet discovered does not prove that such intercourse was extensive ; that colonies from the eastern hemisphere ever made permanent settlements in America, or remained long enough to impress their character upon the country or the Aboriginals, if they existed ; or that a high degree of civilization had ever prevailed on our Continent.

The origin of the Indian tribes is referred by some to the Phoenicians and other maritime nations, whose extensive voyages have been mentioned by ancient writers, and among whom tradition seemed to cherish memories of far-off lands beyond the sea, unknown to the earlier geographers. Others perceive evidences of their Egyptian or Hindoo parentage ; and others find their ancestors among the "lost tribes of Israel," who "took counsel to go forth into a further country where never mankind dwelt,"' and crossed from northeastern Asia to our Continent, by Avay of the Aleutian Islands, or by Behring's Straits." These various theories, and many others respecting settlement* of Europeans and Asiatics here, long before the time of Columbus, unsupported as they are by a sufficiency of acknowledged facts, have so little practical value

' Remains of fortifications, similar in form to those of ancient European nations, have been discovered. An idol, composed of clay and gypsum, representing a man without arms, and in all respects resembling one found in Southern Russia, was dug up near Nashville, in Tennessee. Also fireplaces, of regular structure ; weapons and utensils of copper ; catacombs with nmmmies ; ornaments of silver, brass, and copper; walls of forts and cities, and many other things which only a people advanced in civilization could have made. The Aboriginals, themselves, have variou* traditions respecting their origin — each nation having its distinct records in the memory. Nearly all have traditional glimpses of a great and universal deluge; and some say their particular progenitor came in a bark canoe aft;er that terrible event. This belief, with modifications, was current

mong most of the northern tribes, and was a recorded tradition of the half-civilized Azteas.

he latter ascribed all their knowledge of the arts, and their religious ceremonies, to a white and 1 'Carded mort;d who came among them; and when his mission was ended, was made immortal by^ ilie Great Spirit.

2 A Roman coin was found in Missouri ; a Persian coin in Ohio ; a bit of silver in Genesee county. New York, with the year of our Lord, 600, engraved on it; split wood and ashes, thirty ioet below the surface of the earth, near Fredonia, New York; and near Montevideo, South. America, in a tomb, were found two ancient swords, a helmet and shield, with Greek inscriptions, showhig that they were made in the time of Alexander the Great, 330 years before Christ. Near Marietta, Ohio, a silver cup, finely gilded within, Avas found in an ancient mound. Traces of iron utensils, wholly reduced to rust, mirrors of isinglass, and glazed pottery, have also been discovered in these mounds. Tnese are evidences of the existence of a race far more civilized than the tribe* found by modern Europeans.

3 2 Esdras, xiii. 40^5.

* The people of north-eastern Asia, and on the north-west coast of America, have a near resemblance in person, customs, and languages ; and those of the Aleutian Islands present many of the characteristics of both. Ledyard said of the people of Eastern Siberia, " Universally and circumstantially they resemble the Aborigines of America,"

for the student of our history, that we will not occupy space in giving a delineation of even their outlines. There are elaborately-written works specially devoted to this field of inquiry, and to those the curious reader is referred. The proper investigation of such subjects requires the aid of varied and extensive knowledge, and a far wider field for discussion than the pages of a volume like this. So we will leave the field of conjecture for the more useful and important domain of recorded history.

The New World, dimly comprehended by Europeans, afibrded materials for wonderful narratives concerning its inhabitants and productions. The few natives who were found upon the seaboard, had all the characteristics common to the human race. The interior of the Continent was a deep mystery, and for a long time marvelous stories were related and believed of nations of giants and pigmies ; of people with only one eye, and that in the centre of the forehead ; and of whole tribes Avho existed without eating. But when sober men penetrated the forests and became acquainted with the inhabitants, it was discovered that from the Gulf of Mexico to the country north of the chain of great lakes which divide the United States and the British possessions, the people were not remarkable in persons and qualities, and that a great similarity in manners and institutions prevailed over that whole extent of country.

The Aboriginals spoke a great variety of dialects, but there existed not more than eight radically distinct languages among them all, from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, and westward to the Rocky Mountains, namely : Algonquin, Huron-Iroquois, Cherokee, Catawba, Uchee, Natchez, MoBiLiAN, and Dahcotah or Sioux. These occupied a region embraced within about twenty-four degrees of latitude and almost forty degrees of longitude, and covering a greater portion of the breadth of the north temperate zone.

All the nations and tribes were similar in physical character, moral sentiment, social and political organization, and religious belief. They were all of a copper color; were tall, straight, and well-proportioned; their eyes black and expressive; their hair black, long, coarse, and perfectly straight; their constitutions vigorous, and their powers of endurance remarkable. Bodily deformity was almost unknown, and few diseases prevailed. They were indolent, taciturn, and unsocial ; brave, and sometimes generous in war ; unflinching under torture ; revengeful, treacherous, and morose when injured or offended ; not always grateful for favors ; grave and sagacious in council ; often eloquent in speech ; sometimes warm and constant in friendship, and occasionally courteous and polite.

The men were employed in war, hunting and fishing. The women performed all menial services. In hunting and fishing the men were assiduous and very skillful. They carried the knowledge of woodcraft to the highest degree of perfection; and the slightest indication, such as the breaking of a twig, or the bending of grass, was often sufficient to form a clew to the pathway of an enemy or of game. The women bore all burdens during journeys ; spread the tents ; prepared food ; dressed skins for clothing ; wove mats for

THE acorigixal;

beds, made of the bark of trees and the skins of animals : and planted and gathered the scanty crops of corn, beans, peas, potatoes, melons, and tobacco. These constituted the chief agricultural productions of the Aboriginals, under the most favorable circumstances. In these labors the men never engaged; thej only manufactured their implements of ■war. Their wigwams, or houses, were rude huts, made of poles covered with mats, skins, or bark of trees ; and all of their domestic arrangements were very simple.

And simple, too, were their implements of labor. They were made of stones, shells, and bones, with which they prepared their food, made their clothing and habitations, and tilled their lands. Their food consisted of a few vegetables, and the meat of the deer, buffalo, and bear, generally roasted upon the points of sticks; sometimes boiled in water heated by hot stones, and always eaten without salt. Their dress in summer was a slight covering around the loins. In winter they were clad in the skins of wild beasts,' often profusely ornamented with the claws of the bear, the horns of the buffalo, the feathers of birds, and the bones of fishes. Their faces were often tattooed, and generally painted with bright colors in hideous devices. Their money was little tubes made of shells, fastened upon belts or strung in chains, and called wampum^ It was used in traffic, in treaties, and as a token of friendship or alliance. Wampum belts constituted records of public transactions in the hands of a chief.

There was no written language in all the New World, except rude hieroglyphics, or picture writings. The history of the nations, consisting of the records of warlike achievements, treaties of alliance, and deeds of great men, was, in the form of traditions, carefully handed down from father to son, especially from chief to chief

<=?25-

INDIAN HIEROGLYPHICS.

Children were taught the simple

' They usuaUy wore the skins of the deer, the elk, and the bear, prepared with the fur on ; sometimes of the buffalo also.

' "Wampum is yet in use, as money, among some of the Western tribes, and is manufactured, we believe, as an article of commerce on the sea-shore of one of the counties of New Jersey. It is made of the clear parts of the common clam-shelL This part being split off, a hole is drilled in it, and the form, which is that of the bead now known as the hugh^ is produced by friction. They are about half an inch long, generally disposed in alternate layers of white and bluish black, and valued, when they become a circulating medium, at about two cents for three of the black beads, or six of the white. They were strung in parcels to represent a penny, three pence, a shilling, and five shilHngs, of white ; and double that amount in black. A fathom of white was worth •bout two dollars and a hal^ and black about five dollars. They were of less value at the time of our war for independence. The engraving shows a part of a string and a leU of wampum.