It is right you should have one, as you are a great distance from
home, and we do not wish to detain you. But we will first look back a
little, and tell you what our fathers have told us, and what we have heard
from the white people.
"Brother: Listen to what we say.--There was a time when our fathers owned
this _great island_. [Footnote: The term used by the Indians when
speaking of this continent.] Their seats extended from the rising to the
setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the Indians. He had created
the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made the bear,
and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them
over the country, and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth
to produce corn for bread. All this he had done for his red children
because he loved them. If we had some disputes about our hunting ground,
they were generally settled without the shedding of much blood. But an
evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water, and
landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and
not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of
wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a
small seat. We took pity on them, granted their request, and they sat down
amongst us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return.
[Footnote: Spirituous liquors.]
"The white people had now found our country.
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