IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
7'
w
A
V ^ ,„. %^
WJ.
'J.
%
1.0
I.I
t. lis 12.0
IL25 i u
JA
1.6
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, NY. 14580
(716) 872-4503
%^
iV
ip
4.
V
^9>
.V
^.
^-%
#
>^
/
^
CIHM/ICMH
Microfiche
Series.
CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.
Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques
X
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques
The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur
I I Covers damaged/
Couverture endommagde
Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul6e
I I Cover title missing/
Le titre de couverture manque
I I Coloured maps/
Cartes gdographiques en couleur
Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)
I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur
Bound with other material/
Relid avec d'autres documents
Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/
La re Mure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de la marge intdrieure
Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas dt6 filmdes.
Additional comments:/
Commentaires suppldmentaires;
L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a dtd possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage
sont indiquds ci-dessous.
□ Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur
□ Pages damaged/
Pages endommagdes
□ Pages restored and/or laminated/
Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes
>/
s/
n
Th«
to 1
Th<
poi
of
filn
Ori
be(
the
sio
oth
firs
sio
or
Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages ddcolor^es, tachet^es ou piqudes
Pages detached/
Pages ddtachdes
Showthrough/
Transparence
I I Quality of print varies/
Qualitd indgale de I'impression
Includes supplementary material/
Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire
Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponible
Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont dtd filmdes d nouveau de faqon d
obtenir la meilleure image possible.
Th<
shs
Ti^
wh
Ma
difl
ent
beg
rigl^
req
me
This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/
Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous
10X 14X 18X 22X
26X
30X
y
12X
16X
20X
24X
28X
32X
-e
Stalls
IS du
nodifier
tr une
itmage
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:
National Library of Canada
The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.
L'exemplaira filmd fut reproduit grfice d la
g6n6rosit6 de:
Bibliothdque nationals du Canada
Les images suivantes ont 6td reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettetd de I'exemplaire filrn^, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.
Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated Impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.
9S
Les exemplaires orlginaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprimde sont filmds en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exempiaires
originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la
premidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la dernidre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.
The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol — ^- (meaning "CON-
TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END "),
whichever applies.
Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbole —^ signifie "A SUIVRE". le
symbole V signifie "FIN".
Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:
Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre
film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre
reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir
de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mdthode.
errata
to
peiure,
in d
n
32X
1 2 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
FURTHER INFORMATION
UESl'ECTINU
TIT E Ar>()ll KLINES;
(.'ON I AIMVC
REPORTS 01' THE COMMITTEE 0\ INDIAN
VFEAIHS AT PHILADELPHIA,
EXTRACTS FJIOM THE rilOCEEDINGS OF THE YEARLY MEETINGS
OF FIIILADELrillA, NEW YORK,
NEW EXGLAND, MARYLANJ3 VIRGLXIA, AND OHIO.
TO(,|-.TlIER WITH SOME PAliTK Ll.vns IM" LATl VL TO
THE NATIVES Oi<' NEW ZEALAND, NE^^■ HOLLAND, AND VAN
DIEMANS I,AND.
I I l:r.l>in.li 1,^ UlUEiTIDN ()|- THK
A J} R I (i ] N E S' (J M M I T T E E
Ul
srtie metting for ^iutnin00»
LONDON:
EDAVAlil) MARSH, SJ, HOI NDSDITCJL
[Truclh, I'clativo to tin.' Aboii^niics, N'o. bi.]
r
Fl i irr ITER INFORM AT ION
HKSPECTTNG
T PI E A B O R I G T N E S.
The Aborigines' Committee of the Meeting for Suf-
ferino-s continue to have their attention directed to the
important concerns committed to their care. Since the
publication of the pamphlet last issued by the society on
this subject, important information has been received
through various channels respecting the Aborigines
in the British Colonies, and other parts of the
globe ; and as it is believed that much of this pos-
sesses a character that will also prove interesting to
Friends generally, and that it may tend to keep their
minds alive to the importance of this subject, and
contribute to promote their interest and more ex-
tensive co-operation in it, the Committee are induced
to publish the following pages.
The communications which the Committee have
from time to time received, in reference to the Aborigi-
nal inhabitants of those distant parts where they have
happened to come in contact with the white settlers
B
and traders, and the details wliieli those communica-
tions furnish of tlic ag^Tavated sulferings and oppres-
sions inflicted on the uncivilized portions of the great
human family, by the cupidity and avarice of merely
nominal Christians, are indeed alVecting, and the Com-
mittee would express a strong desire that the mem-
bers of our religious society may be concerned care-
fully to guard against being, either directly or indi-
rectly, implicated in these things ; and that, both in
their individual and their collective capacity, they may
be fully alive to the enormity of this 3vil, and avail
themselves of such opportunities as may arise for
pleading on behalf of the just rights of these deeply-
injured people, or for promoting an amelioration of
their condition.
Friends who receive information, bearing on the
situation and condition of the native population in our
colonies and elsewhere, would, wo believe, be pro-
moting the objects entrusted to this Committee, by
transmitting such intelligence to it.
A new edition of 3000 copies of the Address to
Emigrants to newly-settled colonies, is now in the
press. The distribution of this address to individuals
who may be ^about to emigrate is very desirable.
Copies may be had on application to Edward Marsh,
84, lioundsditch.
NORTH AMERICA.
The interesting tribes of the native Indian population, in-
luibiting the vast territory of the North American continent,
still continue to claim the sympathy and regard of Friends,
both in that countrv and in this.
3
^^y the lollowing extracts iVoin I'lpistlcs rccoivcd at our
last Yearly Mcctinjj^, from sonic of tlio ^'carly greetings of
l"'riciKls in America, ami llie Jleports of tlio Committee on
Indian affairs at Piiiladeljjiiia, wo are stratified to observe
that llicir attention towards the amelioration of tlie condition
of the Indian races continues undiminisiiod.
Exli-actftom (ho Hp/sl/c c/ (he Ycarlij Mcclin;i of Xcw York, 1811.
Tlio concern of tliis mooting rolativo to tlio Indian tiibos, located west of
flie Mississippi, lias fe('lini,dy occupied its attention, and liopes avo enter-
tained that some way will open to render tlieni essential service ; but as
yet, however, our efforts have been confintnl to preparatory measures. Tlio
Committee charged with this very interesting subject, were encouraged to
continue their exertions to promote the benevolent object in view.
Extract fromihc Epistle of fhc Ycar/i/Jhcfiiir/ of SewE)i(j/aiu/,]Si\.
We still continue to extond a caro towards the Aborigines of our coun-
try, and especially to the Penobscot tribe of Indians; and led that this
interesting and injured portion of the human family have strong claims
upon our benevolent and Christian feelings.
Extract from the Epistle of the Yearly MceHinj of Maryland, 1811,
Our establishment among the Rhawnese tribe of Indians, now west of
the INIississippi, continues to afford their children an op})ortunity for ac-
quiring such an education as is best adajited to their wants.
About thirty-six youths of both sexes have been in the school dur ■; .ho
present year. The males are also instructed in agriculture, and the fenr. ies
in housewifery. A i-cligious meeting is kept up, wliich the children attend,
and frerpiently a few of the Indians of the settlement. Care is taken to
read the Holy Scriptures in the school. Our Superintendent is of the
opinion that if our buildings were enlarged, and means adequate, the num-
ber of scholars would be very soon increased to one hundred.
Extract from the Epistle of the Yearly Meetiny (f Viryinia, 1841.
Our Meeting for Sufferings continues its care and assistance to such of
the descendants of African and Indian races as arc illegally held in liondagc.
By information received from an attorney, Avhom they have long retained
in their servic<?, it appears that measures arc now in contemplation, if not
•1
iiiuctiiul piofjrcsH, by which It is iipjtrolicndcil that the llhi^rty of u very nii-
incroiis flaws wlio havt' \tcvn rcHtorcd to their ri<^lits, through the instru-
Tiiiiitality of that iiicctiiiir, will Jijiaiii he hroii^'hl into jcojiardy; the Coiii-
luittff t(» whom llii'ii' case for a iuiiuIkM' of years [last has heen s]iecially
eoiifiile<l, were itistructeil to employ able counsel for their defence, and
encoura<re(l to Ix'stow all the earo which their ease may require.
Exlidcl /'ro)ii /he Epi^^Cw i>f ilia Yc.arhj Mccthuj of Ohio, 1841.
The areoiint lately recei\e(l from our pstahlishment west of the Missis-
sip])! is (Micoura;,'inf(. The school there ofni)wards of thirty Indian children,
is jirof^n-essiiig satisfactorily. Tiie hoys being instructed in husbandry, as
Avell as letters ; and the girls emjiloyed in domestic services, whilst gaining
literary knowledge. A portion of Scripture is daily read, a meeting held,
and we hope the Christian instruction of yoimg and old will continue to
engage the close attention of our friends, who are placed among them as
superintendents and teachers.
Extrncl f'rovi llic K phi If of tlie Ycarhj Jleefimj of Philadelphia,
1841.
Our Committee for Lhe gradual civilization and improvement of the Indian
natives, eonlrinue to give attention to this interesting concern ; and, although
many difliculties an<l discouragements attend its prosecution, we believe it
right to pursue our ellorts for the relief and assistance of these oppressed
and injured people. Wo send you herewith a copy of the Report for tUis
year.
INDIAN REPORT.
Report of the Commit lee of ihv Yearly Meeting of Friends held in
Philadelphia, appointed for the (jradaal civilization, ^c, of the
Indian Natives, presented to the Meeting 4th mo. 21s/, 1841, and
directed to he printed for the use of the members.
TO THE YEAKLY MEETINO.
The Committee charged with promoting the gradual Improvement and
Civilization of the Indian Natives, report :
That although they have given the usual attention to this interesting
concern, tiiere arc but few subjects in their operations since the last rei^ort
which rctpiire notice. The Indians have been in a very unsettled condition
'
't
1
tr
tliiriuf,' tlio past year, in coiisciiiK'iico uf the oiiilmirus^innit and distress
prodiiocd I)y the ratifiration of tlio treaty, ami their iiiu'ertninty a-^ to tho
liest courso to bo pursued hy tliein in tlicir trying'' and i)erple.\iiii,' (Mrciini-
stances. They still clin;^ to tlu- lio])e that tliey shall be ai)l(! to ward otV the
calamity which throalens them, eitlu'r throni,'h the t'avourahle disposition of
the niMv administration and s(>nate to give their case a n-lu-arinijr, or hy an
apj)i"al to the Suj)reine Court of tlH> l.'nited .States, Snuill as the hope
aHord(!d l»y those sources nuiy appear to a disintercstwd observer, they aro
buoyed up by it, and seem us unwillinfif as over to look towaj'd roltjupiishin/jj
their present homes.
In a communication addressed to tho Committee, dated, Tuncsassah, 5
mo. :2 4tli, IMIO, signed by ten chiefs, they say :-" Although tho information
of the ratification of tho treaty is distressing to us, yet it is a satisfaction to
hear from you, ami to le.iru that you still n-member us in our troubles, and
are disposed to advise and assist us. The intelligence of the confirmation
of the treaty causeil m;iuy of our wumeu to slunl tears of sorrow. AVe aro
sensible that we stand in need of the advice of our friends. Our minds
are umdtered on the subject of emigration." Aimther, dated Cold Spring^,
12th mo. (ith, 1}{4(), holds this language: — " lirothers, wc continue to feel
relative to the treaty as we have ever felt. We cannot regard it as an act
of our nation, or hold it to be binding on us. We still consider that in jus-
tice the land is at this time as much our own as ever it was. We have
done nothing to forfeit oui- right to it ; and have come to a conclusion to
remain upon it as long as avo can tMijoy it in peace. We trust in tho
Great Spirit : to Ilim wo submit our cause."
A letter from the Senecas, residing at Tonawauda, was addressed to the
Conunittee, from which the following extracts are taken : —
" iJy the help of the Great Spirit Me have met in open council tiiis 2;>d day
of the 5tli month, 1}{40, for th(> purpose of deliberating on the right courso
for us to pursue under the late act of the government of the United States
itdating to our lands. Brothers, wo are in trouljle ; we have been told that
the president has ratified a treaty bj- which these lands are sold from our pos-
session. We look to you and solicit your advice and your symi)athy, under
the accumulating difficulties that now surround us. AVe feel uioro than
over our need of tho help of the gn.'at and good Spiiit to guide us aright.
May his council ever preserve and direct us all in true wisdom.
" It is known to you, brothers, that at dilTerent times our peopU- hav(>
been induced to cede, by stiiiulated treaties, to the government of tho
United States, various tracts of our territory, mitil it is so reduced that it
barely affords us a hom{\ Wo had hoped by these liberal concessions to
secure the quiet and unmolested possession of this small residue, but we have
abundant reason to fear that we have been mistaken. The agent ami sur-
veyor of a company of land speculators, known as the Ogden Company,
t>
hu\c lipcn on lii'if to lay out our laiul intu lotH, to l»o sold from us to the
wliilcs. Wcliiivc piotcsti'il ;i|,Miii>-t it,;iiitl have luiljiiUli-ii their iirocccdiii!,'.
" IJrotlu'rs, wliat we want is tliat you should iiiti-rct'di; with the L'liited
States govi'rniiieut on our liciialf. \Vo do not want to leave our lands.
We arc williii;,^ tliat the eini^jrating party bhould sell out their rights, but
•we are not willing that they should sell ours.
"r.rolhers, we want the rresident of the United States to know that wo
are for i)e;U'o; that we only asli the possession of t)ur just rights. Wo
]iav(> kept '.a good faith (ill our agreements with tho government. In
our innocence of any violation, wi^ ask its protection ; in our weak-
ness wo loolc to it Jbr justice and mercy. Wc desire to live upon our
lamls in peaee an<l harmony. We lov(! 'J'onawanda. It is tho residue left
us of the land oi' ovv fort'lVitlu-rs. We have no wish to leave it. Here aro
our cultivated jlelds, our houses, our wives and children, and our tiresides
— and here we wish to lay our bones in peace.
" iJrothers, in conclusion, wi; desire to express our sincere thanks to yoii
for your friendly assistance in times past, and at the same time earnestly
.solicit your further atti'ntion and advice. IJrothers, may the Great Spirit
befriend you all— I'arewell."
I)esirous of rendering siuh aid as might bo in our power, a correspon-
denco has been held with sonic members of Congress, on the subject of tho
treaty, and other matters comiocted with it ; and recently, tAvo of our num-
ber visited Wa.'-Iiin^'ton, and were assured by the ])resent socretaiy of war,
under whose imme(li;.te charge the Indian uifairs are placed, that it was his
detormiiuition and that of the other olUcers of the government, to give to
the treaty and the cireuuistances attending its procurement, a thorough ex-
amination; and to ado])t .such a course respecting it as justice and humanity
to the Indians would dictate.
Thcfritnidswho have forseveifd years resided at Tunesassah, still continue
to occupy the farm, and have charge of the saw and grist mills, and other
imi)rovements. The farm during the past year has yielded about thirty-fivo
tons of hay, two hundred bushels of potatoes, one hundred bushels cf oats,
and ona hundred bushels of apples. Notwithstanding tho unsettlement
produced by the treaty during the past season, the Lulians have raised an
ade(|uate supply of piovisions to keep them comfortably diiring the year ;
and they manifest au increased desire to avoid tho use of ardent spirits, and
to h.ive their children educated. In their letter of tho 12th month last, tho
chiefs say, — " We aro more engaged to have our children educated than we
have heretofore been. TJiero are at this time thi'oe schools in operation
on this reservation for the instruction of our youth."
Our friend, .loseph Eat ty, in a letter dated 2Uth of 2nd mo. last, says:
— " The Indians have held several temperance councils this winter. The
chiefs (with the exception of two who Avere not present) have all signed a
pledge to abstain fi-oui the use of all intoxicating lirpiors ; and appear en-
gnged to l.iiiig al.o»it a reform ninong their pooi.Ic ; but tho influence of tlio
wiiites amonj,' tlioni is pnjiidiciul to their improvement in this and other
r(>s|)oct.s.
Hy direction of tho Committee,
THOMAS WJSTAH, Clerk.
rhilade/jjliia, 4th mouth, iTt/A, \M\,
Ext racf from the Epistle, of the Yearly Meet iihj of Philadelphia, 1R42,
The Report of our Committeo for tlie giadual civilization and improve-
inent of tho Indian natives, a copy of which we lierewith send you, will
inform you of tiio present state of that interesting,' concern.
INDIAN REPORT.
Report of the Commit lee of the Yearlij Mectimj of Friends held in
Philadelphia, appointed for the gradual Cirilization, S^c, of the
Indian Natives, presented to the Meetinj held from the ISth to the
2'2nd of the 4lh month, 18A2.
TO THE YEARl.T MEETIKO.
Tlie Committee for tho gradual Civilization rind Improvement of the
Indian Natives, report, that duriu!^' the past year tliey have given such at-
tention to this interesting,' concern, as it appeared to recpiire; and they have
the satisfaction to l»elieve that the labour and care of Friends continues to
bo acceptable and nseful to these deeply injured people.
Soon after the last Yearly Meotini,' two of our number made avisit toAYash-
ington, had interviews with the President of tho United States, and the Se-
cretary of War, and endeavoured to give them correct information, as l< the
unjust means by which the treaty with the Seneca Indians had been pro-
cured, as well as to inculcate feelings of sympathy toward that people. Our
friends were kindly received, and o.ssurances given them that tho treaty,
and the circumstances attending its procurement, should be closely scru-
tinized, and such measures pursued, in relation to it, as justice and humanity
would dictate. Soon after this, the Secretary of War retired from office ;
and no opportunity has yet been had with his successor. By information
recently received from one of the senators at Washington, it appears that
no measures have yet been taken by the government to carry tho treaty
into effect, and tho hope is entertained that some means may yet be de-
vised to avert the oppression and injustice which would arise from its
execution.
The farm and other concerns at Tunesassah, continued under tho care of
our friends Joseph iintl Rebecca Batty, until the loth montli last ; when
they were released at their own suggestion, and our friend I{c»l)ert Scottin,
believing it might be riglit for him to spend some further time in promoting
the welfare of the natives, and having the a])probatiou of the C'onnnittee,
as well ab that of his friends at home, tookciiarge of the property at the set-
tlement; and, w(> believe, is usefully employed there.
^lany of ilm Indians continue to pursue tiieir agricultural busincs- \.itli
considerable industry and judgment, and procure a comfortable subsistence
for themselves and families from the products of the soil. There has been
a manifest improvement of late years in the character of their tlwellings,
many of them having erected good frame-houses, well finished, witli glass
windows and jjainielcd doors, and some of them painted white, presenting
a very neat and respectable aj)i)earanee ; and there is reason to believe that
this would become more general, if it were not for the fear wliich possesses
many of tit r minds, lest, after liaving expended their time and labour for
these objects, they should soon be driven away, and con)pelled to surrendei-
to others the enjoyments of the fruits of their industry. The su.ne feeling
operates as a discouragement to improving their lands ; and it is obvious,
that their present unsettled state retards both their moral and social im-
pi'ovemeiit.
They have recently manifested increased interest on tlu^ subject of edu-
cation, l)eiiig desirous of having their children instructed, and also of jiro-
moting temperance and sobriety among their nation ; and have used con-
siderable efforts to accomplish these ends.
In the autumn of last year two of our number made a visit to the settle-
ment at Tunesassah, aiul held a council Avitli the natives, in which a letter
from the Committee was read to them, and sonu> other advice imparted.
Blacksnakc, an aged chief, in rejilying, exi)ressed their thankfulness ibr the
kindness and care of Friends. lie said, the counsel given them had sunk
into their hearts ; thiit it was a long time since Friends first came forward
and helped thelndip.ns ; and that often, since then, they had stood by them,
and befriendod them in the time of their extremity. That the chiefs were
very desirous to promote industrious and sober habits among the people ;
and that care was now being taken for that purpose, and to induce them to
desist from the use of ardent spirits ; and many of the iieoplo had taken
the advice given them, but others were still intemperate. Another chief
said, that they were engaged in building a school-house, which they had
hoped to finish that fall ; but the labour having principally devolved on a
few, and they being otherwise very much engaged, it was doubtful. It was
stated by another, that the opposition to education had now very much
subsided, and many of the people -wero very desirous to have a Quaker
teacher to instruct their children for a time ; after which it might be done
i)y their own people. They all evinced much satisfaction at tlio prospect
of having their oM frioid, Hobert Scotlen, to resi<le among them again ;
9
and the Coniiiiittco lielievcd that the visit made them tended to renew and
brif^liten the chain of frie)id.ship, and to increase their kindness and confi-
dence towards Friends.
A letter received from I{ol)ei't Scotten, dated 2nd of 12th inontl; last,
remarks, " The Alle^dieny Indians had a conncil at Cold Sjirinj,', on (Itli of
last month, to ])roniote temperance among their peo])le. They appeared
earnest lor the cause, and unanimous. The coimcil was attended by men
and women, and was the largest f rememl)er to have si!en at the place.
Large as it was, I did not liLar of any drunken Indian at the time of hold-
ing it, or since, at the village or elsewhere. They have had meetings since
on the subject, and there is a concern iimong thein to advise and j)ersuade
their people to decline tie use of anient spirits as a drink. The natives
have gathered a good croj) oi corn apd ])otiitoes, and some otiier grain, and
are about liiliing their hogs. They appear )n-rtty vvcllfurnislied with pro-
visions for the coming year."
Another letter, dated 7th of 2nd month, gives tl'e following information,
viz. " Peter Crous^s (a half-bred Indian,) opened school iu tlie fore-part of
12th month last, and continued it but a short time, being taken sick. Ap-
plication was made to King Teirce, (an liulian,) to teach the school, and he
acceded to it Avitiiout much loss of time, and has given close attention
thereto. IIo keeps good order in the school, the children improve in their
learning, and their parents ai*e satisfied with him as a teacher. It is at-
tended by from fifteen to twenty children.
" The natives continue their concern to promote tem]»erance among
their people. Tiiey have frecpiently held councils on the subject in dif-
ferent parts of the reservation, and appointed sober men and women to
watch over and advise those who are not so. I think it woidd be safe to
say that their care and labour have not been lost, as tli(> fruits of it appear
in the conduct of the Indians, especially about the village of Cold Spring."
In contemphiting the dilliculties whicli seem to be accumulating around
these poor people, and the encroachments of the white population upon
their soil, and upon their rights, and how little their sorrows and sufferings
appear to awaken the commiseration, or call forth the aid of many who
have the ])0\ver to relieve them, we feel tluit their situation demands the
continued care of Frieiuls, and that they have strong claims ujion our sym-
pathy, as children of tlie one universal Parent.
l>y an examination of the account of our treasurer, it appears that he has re-
ceived for interest, &e. the sum of ■S222'Jjj^, and has paid >2f)G -|", leaving
a balance of cash on hand of ,51942 i,^,^, beside which there are bonds and
mortgages in his possession, and drawing interest, amounting to vr«''>!iOO.
Signed, on behalf, and by direction of the Committee, Pliiladelphia, 4th
mo. 1 4th, 1842.
THOMAS EVANS, Clekk.
10
Other ])articnlars, of an agreeable nature, relating to
the Indians in the United States, have reached us througli
tlie medium of a letter from our friend Stephen Grellett,
of Burlington, New Jersey, to William Allen ; in which
he states, that John Meader, of New England, a minister
in our society, is gone on a religious visit to the Indian
tribes west of the Mississippi ; and that the American
goverimient had evinced a disposition to promote the pros-
pects of John Meader, by furnishing him, at Washington,
with documents addressed to the Indians and public
functionaries resident among them, connnending him, and
the objects of his visit, in strong terms, to their notice.
John D. Long and Samuel Taylor, jun., both Friends in
the station of ministers, have, we are also informed, under
a sense of religious duty, oilered their services to promote
the concerns of the Yearly Meeting of Friends of New
England, and by a visit to the Indians located in the
territory west of the Mississippi, and to those situated
in the north, thoroughly to investigate the situation
of the various tribes in those parts ; in order to ascertain the
course it may be most desirable for that Yearly ^Meeting to
pursue, most availingly to render them assistance. We un-
derstand that these two friends intended to (;nter upon their
arduous engagement in the 8th month last.
The following documents are those which the American
government furnished to our friend John Meader.
To the SupcrhUendcnti vf Iiidiau affairs, the Agents, Sub-Agents, and other
Officers coimccted xvith the administration of Indian affairs, Civil and Military.
The bearer hereof, John INIoadei', an approved minister of the orthodox
Society of Friends, proposes to pay a visit to the different Indian tril)es to
the west and soutli-west. He is pronipti'd to tliis luuUrtaking hy a sense
of religious obligation and a strong desire to extend the knowledge of Chris-
tian principles and duty among these wards of government ; and in inti-
mate connexion therewith to advance their acquaintance with sound
moi-als ; to urge upon them the necessity of their engaging in agricultural
pursuits, the adoption of the manners and habits of civilized life; and, as
indispensable to success in any, or all of these steps in improvement — the
observance of strict temperance.
n
This Friend is liiglily commended. He will require the countenance and
protection of the dillcrent officers of the department, .-md facilities for hig
intorcoiirso with the several tribes he may visit. You will please to receive
him kindly, and to aftbrd him every reasonable opportunity of addressing
and conferring with the objects of his pliilanthropic exertions.
^ It is the desire of tho depart-nent that ho shall have all the protection,
aid, and facility to extend hisbenovolcnt purposes that you can respectively
furnish Iiim, and with that view ho is commended in the strongest terms to
your notice.
Signed, T. HARTLEY CRAWFORD,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
JOHN C. SPENX'CR, Secretary of War.
W(f^ri;„i/ton, ^[(ly vmh, iui-j.
ADDRESS TO THE INDIANS.
Friends and BROTHEiig,
John .Aleadcr, a minister of tlio society known by the name of
Q.iaker5<, goes among you on an errand of love and mercy. He has under-
taken a long and toilsome journey, because ho believes tlie Great Spii-it
will Ijo pleased, if lie can succeed in persuading you to look to the Cod who
made tlie red man, as m-oU as the white.
Witliout this dependence no people can be ha])py or prosperous. The
history of the world proves, tliat the nation which foi'gets religious .luty
soon loses sight of all other obligations, and withers and falls into misfor-
tune.
Ho intends to talk with you also about dealing justly with each other,
paying wjiat you owe; and will show you that you ought not to injure or
talv-e each other's property, or that of tho white man; that you should
plough and hoe your land, and plant or sow seed in it ; build houses, and
live like wliite men.
The great evil and destroyer of the human race is whiskey. You cannot
prosper in any undertaking without refusing to taste, touch, or handle this
unclean tiling.
Your white brethren arc so well convinced of this truth, i^nt a great
change has come over them in this respect. It is considered among them
to bo unmanly and disgraceful to use fire-waters ; and they have fbnned
societies to encourage each other in the observance of temperate habits
and sober lives.
If this good man talks to you on this important subject, listen to him,
12
follow Ills advice, and you will soon discern how just and true it is, that to
have comfortable houses, good farms, obedient children, and happiness at
your firesides, it is necessary to be sober.
Signed, T. HARTLEY CRAWFORD,
Commissioner of Indian Aft'airs.
JOHN C. SrENCER, Secretary of War.
May \:Uh, 1«42.
Exiracl of a Lei Icr from Pcnnsyhxiiiia, dalcd 8 mo. lo, 1842.
Our Indian concern remains nixu-h as when I last wrote : the new bar-
gain is about to be carried into operation. The Indians are to give up
Bufl'alo and Tonawanda reservations, by far ilie most valuable, and to be
allowed to retain Cattaraugus and Alleghany. It is a hard case, a most
unjust measure altogether. I fear that as soon as the holders of the pre-
emption right sell out what they thus get, they will i-enew their claims for
the rest : in fact they 'ieclare as much.
Extract of a Letter from New York, dated S mo. 31, 1842.
Those devoted Friends, John D. Long and Samuel Taylor, jun. passed
tliroiigh our city last second day, on their way to the Indian country. They
intend to be present at Ohio Yearly jMeeting ; then to proceed on to those
tribes situated at the north, not far, probably, from the British boundaries;
then travel south as far as Red River, on the borders of Texas. They ex-
pect to be absent from four to six months. They are in good health, and
seem wholly given up to this important and arduous labour of love. The
government have encouraged them by handing suitable documents to show
to military posts on their way, if they should need any help of this kind by
guides, &c. through the wilds of America.
Extract of a Letter fom a Friend of Philadelphia, dated the 18//t
of the 8th month, 1842.
Our friend Christopher Ilealey is now on a visit to the Indians in INli-
cliigau, and some of the other western states. An account from him
states, that on reaching a settlement in ]\[ichigan, he felt deeply tried in
mind, and he was almost ready to doubt whether he had not mistaken his
duty in coming ; but hearing of an aged Indian woman, >vliom he visited
some years previous, at a settlement called Brotherstown, he went to see
her. She renuvrked. that it seemed like presumption for a poor woman,
in
like her, to spe.ik ; but slio beliovod it right to say, tliat she folt it a great
ftivoxir that her dear aged brother was sent to visit thorn again ; that what
ho Jiad said, wlion amongst them before, was the everlasting gospel. It
had brought conviction to her mind, wliicli had ever since remained sealed
there: they were truths wliicli would do to live by, and die by. She hoped
his labours would bo blessed to their young people. She believed his day's
work (as well as her own) was nearly finished, and she hoped his mantle
would fall on the young men w ho wore with him, as the mantle of Elijah
fell on Elisha, with much more to the same import. IIo remarked, every
doubt of the propriety of the journey was removed. She has meetings held
regularly at lier house on first and fifth-day nu)inings since his first visit.
J[ow consoling to see his labours of love so blesiiol to these poor perse-
cuted children of the forest '
Some interesting imuimalion relating to the tribe of the
Cherokee Indians will be found in the following extract from a
letter from Thomas Kimbcr. This powerful and intelligent
portion of the native Indian population of the United States,
by the policy of General Jackson, have been forced from the
land of their forefathers to a strange and unknown country,
far remote in the west; in their transmission to which it is said
that no less than seven hundred have ])evished. It is with feel-
ings of much regret that tiie Committee have heard, that
although the Clierokees have submitted to the um-ighteous
mandate of the Federal Govennncnt, by removing from their
native soil, in oi)position to their unalterable attachment to
it, by which many millions of acres of land have been added
to the territories conceded by the Indians, military posts are
])roposed to be established, which are likely to lead to the in-
troduction of white settlers to the territory which the Indians
at })resent occupy, and which they were given to understand,
by the advocates for their removal, would be their lasting
and final location.
Extract of a Letter from Thomas Kimher to Isaac Collins, dated
Philadelphia, '22nd ofSth month, 1842.
I have just had a very interesting interview with Jesse Btisheyhead, a
half-blood Cherokee, very intelligent and well educated, one of the deputa-
tion recently sent to Washington, to urge the cla'im of that injured tribe to
further indemnity for the losses sustained by their expulsion from Georgia.
I i
14
I Avas much gratified with liis description of their present condition and
prospects. He says they have adopted, in open council, a reguhar and very
good constitution, guaranteeing to them a ropuhlican form of government,
and trial hy jury, and enjoining, as a requisite for public office, a hclicf in
one God, and in a future state of rewards and punishments. They elect,
by hallot, a president and vice-president ; or, as they call tliom, a principal
and second chi(!f, who hold their office for a term of four years; also a legis-
lative council and committee, or an upper and a lower house, for a term of
two years each. They number about 20,000 souls. They have sevei-al
churches, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Lutheran ; First-day schools ;
temperance laws, prohibiting the introduction and s;Je of ardent spirits,
which, however, are still foiced upon them, or clandestinely introduced by
the whites, resident at and near the forts which our government persist in
m.aintaining on their confines, notwithstanding their earnest entreaties to
have them removed. They have almost Avholly abandoned the chase, and
depend for support on agiiculturo and the mechanic arts, which they are
cultivating with energy and success. Steam-boats run on the Arkansas
river, through their settlement to New Orleans, which is their principal mar-
ket for their produce. They have generally assumed our costume, and
adopted the English language in all their official and public proceed-
ings, and teach it principally in their schools. Their lands, which are of
good quality, are held in severalty, and may bo conveyed by deed, or inhe-
rited by their legal heirs, but cannot be sold to strangers ; this is the only
restriction to the entire control of them. Their territory is bounded by
that of tho Choctaws, containing a population of about 12,000. and that of
the Creeks, containing about 20,000 ; both of which tribes are also making
rapid advances in civilization. And Jesse admitted freely, that many of
the Cherokees were agreeably disappointed in regard to tho advantages of
their present location; and that the injustice and oppression that had been
inflicted on them by the American Government, might bo so overruled as
ultimately to promote their best interests.
Although, in past years, some arrangements were made for
the admission of Indian delegates, as representatives of their
tribes in Congress, yet this desirable object seems to have
been frustrated, and it docs not appear that any steps have
latterly been tal<cn to secure for tho Indian population, a re-
presentation in the government of the country of which they
foiTTi an important section.
Turning now from these tribes, which are within the
United States, to those within the British possessions,
16
\vc liiid tluiL the aborij^inal inliabilanls of Nova Scotia,
kuowii as the little tribe of Micinac Indians, cut olF by tlieir
ge()gi'a])hical position from inlerconrse with other Indian
races of the American continent, and confined within boun-
daries insulficic nt lor the sujijdy of their wants, have, by a
deputation frt)m their body, laid their case before the colonial
office, and their rccci)tion by liord Stanley, the head of
that department, encourages us to hope that their case will
claim the attention ctf the government on their behalf.
Of the numerous tribes of Indians inhabiting the north-
west of America, in the vicinity of ('ohnnbia river, the an-
nexed connnunication, addressed by Tierbert IJeaver, a friend
of Thomas Clarkson's and late cha])lain at the Hudson's
Bay Company's settlement on the river Columbia, to the
Committee of the Aborigines' Protection Society, conveying
important information respecting these natives, adds another
to the already numerous and melancholy proofs of the ruinous
consequences which have ensued to the Indian races, on that
continent, by contact with those who, professing as they do
the name of Jesus, should have proved as their friends and
bretln-en, and instructors in righteousness ; but respecting
whom we fear that the language of the apostle is but too
applicable: " The name of God is blasphemed among the
Gentiles through you."
Letter of Herbert Beaver, rehi/iin/ /» the Indians on the north-west
coast of America, to the Committee of the Aborifjineii Protection
Society.
Gentlemen,
I proceed to furnish you with such information respecting the
present condition of the Indians on tho uorth-wost coast of America, more
particularly as it is affected by their intercourse with foreigners, as 1 was
enabled to obtain during a residence of more than two years, in the capa-
city of chaplain, at the Hudson's Bay Company's settlements on the
river Columbia. I resided at Fort Vancouver, the Company's principal
dep6t west of the Rocky Mountains, from the beginning of September,
1836, to the end of October, 1838, and during that time had ample oppor-
tunities of observing the moral, social, political, and intellectual state of
16
our rod Ijiotlireii in its neif^libourliorMl. From time to time I ropoitod, to
tho Governor and Committeo of tJiu Conijjany in llngland, and to tlie Go-
vernor and Council oftlie t.'onipany abroad, tlie result uf my observationPj
with a view to tliof^rudual amelioration of tho wretched dej^'radation with
which I was surroimded, by an innnediato attemjit at the introduction of
civilization and Christianity among one or more of the aboriginal tribes ;
but my earnest rei)resentations wore neither attended to nor acted upon;
no means were placed at my dis))fisal, for carrying out tho plans which I
suggested.
1 also became acquainted with many acts of cruelty and murder com-
mitted upon natives, by persons in the C'ompany's service, some of which I
narrated by letter to the Deputy Governor of tho Company at home, and to
the Governor of tho Company's foreign possessions, in the hope that a stop
might be put to the recurrence of these horrible atrocities ; but from both
I incurred a rebuke for my nncbtc interference in matters which did not
professionally concern me. I therefore rejoice in an opi)ortunity aftbrded
me by the Aborigines' Society, of bringing to light some of those hidden
things of darkness, as well as of making pidtlic some statements regarding
the interesting people among whom 1 so long sojourned, in order that
liumanity and religion may alike be roused to pi-event their oppression and
promote tlieir salvation.
Although the trade in 'peltry is undoubtedly one of the grand means of
civilizing and evangelizing the North American Indians, and although the
Hudson's ]3ay Company, in whose name and interests those of the North
AVest Company have merged, owes its entire prosperity, nay, its very (ex-
istence, to conmierce witii the natives of the well-nigh iniliinited territory
over which it exercises a nearly uncontrolled sway, yet little has hitherto
been done by the Company on the east side of the Rocky ^Mountains, and
nothing on the west side, towards advancing in the scale of creation the
innumerable tribes of untold rational and immortal beings, whoso most im-
portant destinies have for the last hundred and soventy years been placed
in its hands.
Of the state of the aboriginal inhabitants of the eastern side of the con-
tinent, considerable int«!lligence has, through various channels, been com-
nmnicated ; none, or but little authentic, of that of those of the western ;
and it is only with reference to a small part of these that I can now offer
the result of personal inquiry.
Taking Fort Vancouver as the centre of a circle, having one of its radii
extending to the sea, about ninety miles distant, there are within the cir-
cumference, about twelve distinct tribes of Indians, each speaking a difFer-
ont language and comprising an average of two hundred souls ; with two of
these, the Chinook and Klickatack, I was most conversant, having freely
niixed with them on many occasions, as some of both were continiuilly in
tho vicinitv of the fort. In manners and customs these tribes differ essen-
17
tially fVoir i li otlior, nntl as a similarity in tli(";o vt'Hj)Octs to one or other
oltliciii exists aiiioiiL,' tlu' uci'^lilpoiiriii^' tiilx's, I coiiccivc tliat an aocdniit of
tliiMii may serve as a t(ileraMe;^Miiilc to an af'i|iiaintaiice witii tliese el'wliom
1 coulJ oblaiii lail .i hOtUity iifisuiial IxHonn I* dye, iVuiii tlieii' nut so miu'h
frequenting tlie i)Ost at whicli I was stationed during my residence in the
country.
Tiio Chinook is a iishing triln', dwcHing on tlie hanks of tho river, and
using canoi's; the Ivlickataek is a liunting trilie, dwelling in tho jilains, and
using horses. The latter is a much liner raeo than tin.' former, both in ap-
jM'aranco and disi)osition. 'i'ho eomnion dress of the Chinooks, both nnile
and feniak', is a blanket, to which tho females add a kilt or short petticoat,
while tho Klickatack men are seldom seen without a eapot shirt, and jjair
of h'ggings, and the \vonn>n aro not nnfrerpiently clothed in coarse cloth
gowns. The Chinook women wear nothing on their heads, and those of
the men are often without a covering : but the fenude Klickatack Inis always
a cap of plaited grass, and tho male one of fur or some other material. The
anus and accoutrements of llie on(> are also kept in a nuuh more cleanly
and efiicient style than are those of the other. The persons too of tho
Kliekatacks, both men and wonu-n, aro far more ])leasing than those of the
Chinooks, who from s(puitting continually in their canoes, on their heels,
(die posture of paddling) contract a habit of stoojiing, and a viry inactive
gait, while the others are upright, and walk with an elastic sti<[i. 'i In'
hgares of the Chinook women are often disgustingly obese; those of the
Ivilkatack are gi>nerally straight, and sometinu's almost beautiful.
l^>ut the greatest point of ditl'erence between the two tribes relates lo
their moral (jualities. The Chinook^^, in consruueiice of theirgroater inter-
course with sailors, and tho other lower seivants of tlie Company, aro
excessively dejiraved. Their women, especially, are as accomplished cour-
tesans as any u])on tho face of the whole earth : inferior to none in proili-
gacy, disease, and extravagance. No instance came to my knowledge, or at
least but one, and that uncertain, of a Ivlickatack woman misconducting
herself with a white num. It is true that polygamy is practised by both
tribes, and that capricious divorces sometimes take place ; but this is a
native custom, in which they know no harm, and vastly to be distinguished
from those exotic vices, which have been imjjlanted in the aboi'iginal
soil.
Among crimes which aro ceitainly not indigenous, infanticide stands
foremost. It is committed by the mother, or at her desire, hut never when
an Indian is the father, genenJly in conserpienco of tho desertion of the
white father. Ahortion is likewise resorted to with tho design of not put-
ting him to the expense and trouble of maintaining his offspring. Yet tho
unhallowed connexions, Avhich lead to these crimes, are permitted, nay,
encouraged by the Company, who might easily restrain them. Iniididity
in Indian wouumi living with their natural husbands is of rare occurrence ;
IS
that of those liviii;,' witli tho lower surviiiils of llir Company notoriously
common. Of its droailfii! cfVi'ds let tlio ViHonln of the hospital at N'ancouvor
testify. Nor are tlic ruva^'os of tho malady uiliidod to confinod to that spot,
I bi'licvo that th(> Mood of tho whole Ciiinook race is tainted with it, and
that throiiph the uycncy of sailors it is disseminated nhmg the co.iat for
hnndrcds of mil(>s, and periietuated at tlie other posts of tho Cotnpany.
AVhile tiie tide of demoralization thns overspreads with irresistible vio-
lence tlie only rt>gions ■wjiere he can at present exist, tho efforts of tin-
missionary nnist he feeble, if not altogether useless, it is an observation,
never moi-c truly ox(Mni)litied tlian at the Company's settlements, that
wherever the Gosjiel lius been carried amoiifr modern heatlu^n nations,
there, simultaneously, has vice, belbn* unknown, been imported; and that
the lives of the professors of Cliristianity are tho most fatal Jiindranccs to its
being endmiced by even tho most uncultivated sava^jes. The Indians, with
whom I conversed, were, for the most part, intellif^(>nt and ai-gumentative,
and drew conclusions, not from what they heard, but from what they saw ;
and .assuredly they saw no recommendation of reli;,'ion in the example of
the generality of the Company's servants, witli wliom its precepts seemed
to be in almost total abeyance.
One great cause of the immorality at the place where I w.as stationed,
and a consequent barrier to the improvement and conversion of the Indians,
was the holding of some of tliem in a state of slavery by i»ersons of all
classes in tho Company's s(>rvice, and by those who haM? retired from it,
and become settlers on the rivers A\ illamette andCowlitye, but over whom
tho Company retain authority. The whole number of these wretched beings
amomitcd to between eiglity and ninety. They were miserably clothed and
fed, nor was it possible that they could receive any instruction while they
continued in their very degraded condition. I know some of them to be
floiru'cd bv order of tlio ollicer in charge of tho establishment, and others to
be cruelly ill-used by their owners. The wi)men themselves, who were liv-
ing with tho lower class of tho Company's servants, were much in tho
condition of slaves, being purchased of theii' Indian proprietors or relations,
and not unfrequently resold amongst each other by their purchasers. But I
forbear to add more upon this part of my subject, having connnunicated
full information respecting it to the Committee of the Anti-slavery Conven-
tion, by whom my communication has been published.
Besides these standing evils, to which the Aborigines are subjected by
their intercourse with the Hudson's Bay Company, several most atrocious
outrages, committed upon them by persons in tlie Company's service,
came to my knoAvledge. Soon after my arrival at Vancouver I was in-
formed by many persons, one of whom had nearly been an eye-witness of
the transaction, having been invited to assist in holding down the unhappy
sufferer, that in the month of February 133r>, a most infamous outrage,
which cannot here be more particularly described, was committed upon the
l:t
person of tvn Indian, not liowovor ns .1 n^ccssru'v surjjit'iU opovation, liy tin-
surjifoon of the ostiiMislmicnt, but with tliu connivance luul ponnis-jion, it" no
Ity tliu order of tlio otticor in cliargo.
Alioiit tlic middle of the sinnnior 11''.', nnd shortly In^fore my arrival at
Vancouver, six Indians were wantonly and fiiatuitonsly murdered Ity a
parly of trappers and sailors, who land il for the purjtose from one of tiio
C!ouipany's vessels on the coast somewhcro between tlu? montii of the river
Columbia and the coiiiines of California. Having on a former oeeasion read
the particulars of this horrid njassacro,as I received tliem fiom an cye-wil-
noss, before a moetiuLr of the Ahori^'ines' Society, I will not now repeat them.
To my certain kiujwled^'o the circumstance was broujdit ollicially bel'ci'e tlio
authorities of Vancouver, by whom no notice was taken of it, and the saniu
l)arty of trappers, with the same leader, oue of the mo^t infamous murderers
of a murderous fraternity, is annually s(iit to the sani(> vicinity to perform,
if they please, other equally tra;:^ic i^c(Mies. God ahnie knows how many j-ed
men's lives have been sacrificed by them since the time of wliich 1 have
been speakiii;,', lie also knows that I sjteak the conviction of my mind,
and nuiy IIeforjj;ive mo if l speak unadvisedly, wlien 1 state my iirm belief
that the life of an Indian was never yet by 11 trapper jiut in competition
with a beaver's skin ! The very way in which the Al;ori:,dnes are spoken
of by the trappers and leaders of trapping parties goes far to prove the
ceri'cctncss of my assertion. " Those d - d," " tliose rascally,'" " those
treacherous" Iudi;ins, are the luunerited appellations, by whicii the race is
universally designated.
In the former part of the same year, I was credibly informed, that tho '
•same party killed one Indian, wounded another, supposed inoi'tally, and
threw a child into a fire, in conseqni'U' e of a qmirrel rcsp(.'cting a knife,
whiidi was afterwards found upon oiu' of themselves. And during the year
before, they put l"our Indian:; to death for stealing their horses, which might
be jdeaded as some excuse for th<;brutiiiiy, but tliat tliey afterwards killed
ten or twelve more in cold blood, and fjct fire to their village. Tho Indians
lived in such constant dread of this ]iarty, that they wore unable to descend
into the plains from their fastn'.."ss(>s in the mountains, to j)rocure their
usual modes of subsistence. Do not these tilings iinporativeiy dcniaml
inquiiy and interference? Is not such treatment as I have narrated of
their red brethren unbecoming to persons who profess the religion of the
Prince of Peace, and to persons, -who, ignorant themselves of the precepts
of Christianity, may be in the service of such professors!' Yet these acts
are not onlycommiUed and winlu'd ;■!, but op|uiilunilics are even i"iindsh(^d
for their recurrence. It should never be forgotten that tiie Jludson"s IJay
Company are but as invaders of the soil, on which these excesses are com-
niittcd by their servants, and that as such, the least they can do is to restrain
all unnecessary violence towards the rightful ])osse<-sors, l)oth of it and of
the furs which it produces, not for tlie bi'iieht of the Aborigine-, but for
•>(l
the iironiotiiiii oC I'n di' ( ml ini'iciMtili' int'Tosts. If it !••• nssortcd Unit
rcsiHtaiict' a;,'iuiisl Imliaii .•ii,'^ii'NHii)ii is iiitrn|i('nsiilili', or lliat iffaliatioii is
iH'i'OHsary to iiisiin' liitaio "-alrfy, I inaiiitaiii that tin- uliitc man lius no
rij^'lit to iiitimli' liims( IT into a coimtiy a;;aiiist llu' \s islics of its iiiliahitaiitrt.
](" it 111' saiil tiiat (lu-y iiiaki' no iisf, or not a pruju'r us*', ot' its juotliiftioiis,
I would asl{, liavo tlicy not a ii;.;Iit to do \vlait tlicy will with their own ?
Jiut 1 ai>|»nhcnil tliat it tin- Imlian iiad alsvays Ijitu trcuti-d us ho oui,'ht to
liavo Ii'MMi liy the white; nuin, he would novor have rosoiiod to acts of vio-
lence to expel iVoMi his country him, Mhoni constant il!-nsaL;i' has tan;,'ht
him to rc'^Mvd as his natural eneniy. And with rcsjiect to tiie furs of tiiat
(•oiintrv, to roh tlieir lawfid owni'r of thcni, hy taUin/j; ijos.sossion of them,
I'ithei- with no payment, or a most inadequate one, is suri-Iy not a le^dti-
mate method of tiachinf; him their proper use ami value. Of articles liar-
tered I»y the C'oniitany for peltry and other native* iiroduce, one half may
l(e classi'd as nsi'less, one (luaiter as iiernicions, and the renuunder as of
douhti'ul ntility ; fori cannot hut consider of very (juestionalde utility, in
the real sense of the word, even that clothinj^, for which the natives are
servilely dependent on the ('omi)any, and for mIucIi they havo long since
discarded tlie vestments wluch their own country spontaneously affords.
Wevi' 1 to dilate upon the ruinous coie;e([uences to our red hrethre-n,
which have ensued upon their intercoui'se with m hiles, ami to narrate all I
licard and knew of their ill-usage hy the latter, I .sliould far exceed the; linnts
of this communication. 1 have alti-mjited to en\hody the infonnation. of
■which I am possessed in a puhiicatloii which I hojio will soon ho rei\dy for the
press. In t!ie mean lime J have to express my )'eadiness to rej)ly most fully
nnd freely to any inquiries which may l»e made with a view to anudiorate the
condition ol the Ahori^ines of the north-west coast ; nor may it ho irrelevant
from the desinns of a society formed for their iirotection, if I were to state
tionio facts relative to that of the Sandwich islandors in the Company's ser-
vice.
There is a considerable nnmher of them in the service scattered all over
the continent, from twelve to twenty being imported about every other
year from their native country, Avhich is three or four weeks' sail from the
Columbia River, and few ever returning home again. Tlieir condition is
little better than that of slavery, being sidiject to all the imperious treat-
ment which tlu!ir employers may think tit to lay on them, whether l)y flog-
ging, imprisonment, or otherwise, without a possibility of obtaining redress.
]''aeh of them, before embarkation in their own country, receives a small
advance of money, part of which their chiefs seize as a bonus for permitting
them to have it, and for relinquishing all future claim to their services.
The remainder is usually scpuindered ; so tliat when they arrive in a colder
clinnite they are destitute of adequate clothing, the supply of which gene-
rally consumed the whole of their wages for the lirst year. Nor an; they
afterwards aide to save much of these, for all their necessaries are charged
•^f!
21
at (lio nit(> ofoiit' ImiikIi'ciI jiir ci'iit. iipdii (lii> iiiMticc ]>i h i<, that \^ <ImiiI>Ii>
the value of tin; kouiIs in l',nfj;laii<l ; wIioiH'as only fifty piT ci'Mt. a'Mili<tn to
tlic prinio cost is fluir^cil to tin- . iIut scrviints «)f tin' Coiniiany. 'I'liis
(liircrcnci' is niatli- in onlcr to coniix-iisat • tin; f^mipany for tlio nmninai
liayments to the Satnlwicli islan<ltTs of liiLrhcc \\.>^'i"^. than arc frivcn to tlirir
otliiT servants of tin- same cla'^';. Wliile others reioive seventeen poiimis
l)er anmnn l/wy receive thiity poun'ls, or ton ilollnrs per month ; liv wliieli
tempting otl'er this simple hut aniiahlc people are mkIii' .-d to entir tho
servico. In reality, tlierefore, they nro wurwe paid than others, ,ilthoii;^li
their i;;Miirane(> of tlio value of nnnu'v, and their contidin;; disposition, [ac-
vent them from heini,' co^Miiziint of the deeoption and inipojjilion thn.s .shame-
lessly practised upon tliem.
lUit these are not all the {,'ricvances of which tl^'yliave to comphiiir.
Ihirin;; my I'esidence at N'aiicouver, one of them was coutineil then' in iioii.s
for the space of live montlis and four days, duiiny which he was m-vir re-
leased from his haudiMiil's, and this for no fit nit «N/// only for a .sui>pi.seil
dereliction of duty, which afterwanls tui'iuMl out not to ho the case. At tho
commonconient of his imprisonment for the same imputed oifonce, he ic-
coivod forty hislies on his liarehark; anil durin;.j the continuance of it lu;
was attacked with intermittent faver, wliich lieini^ reported to tiie oilicer in
cluirge of tho ostahlishment, his humane rejdy wa"-, " I-et him shake an<l
he d-d !"' nor was the poor lellow released from his irons even tmder that
alllictive circumstance, 'i'he same man had hern tioy^-eil on a previous oc-
casion for accidentally losinga canoe, the v;due of w hiih was ciiargod against
his account, heing thus nuide to pay for the same fault, if it Wiis one, hoth
in his person anil in his pocket.
I knew another Sandwii'h islander to he si'Verelv tloi;!n'd, thou:;h hcarini'
a general good character, for makiii',' a trifling mistake^, unattended hy
any injury to the service, with respect to some erd.rs which he had received,
and which, from his igncnMUce of the lan,:^Mia'.;;e in which tlu>y were conveyed,
lie prohahly had nut understood. I knew another die i'l the hosiiital, as
was generally sup[iosed, in conseijuence of a wound inliicted on his head hy
the connnander of one of the Company's vossi'ls. Ili.s countrymen madi* a
compJaint to tho oflicer in cliarge, by wiiom it was not enterlaiiud, nor was
any investigation instituted. 'I'he surgeon aflirmed that he died of ;i[io-
ple\y. I will not put my judgment in compi'tiliun with the prolessional ;
I will only stati.^, that from the time when the poor man came into the hos-
pital until that of his death, which waii several days, ho was continually
convulsed, having a sort of paralytic motion, or catching of tho head and neck.
In tho year 1 0^2, as I was informed hy tho conimander of tin* vessrl in
which he was proceeding to his native country, as well as hy several others,
u Sandwich islander died on hoard, and that his death was attrihuted to a
llogging which lie had received for slealiug a pig. Ihit I h.'ive said enough
to prove the oppression practi.sed toward.'^ these Iieli>less peo[)le. Perhaps
>'>
iIk' most depluiultk- jiuit of thcii couilltion is t list they soon lose the Cliiis-
tiuu instruction uhifh has been iiuiKivti'tl to thcui by thoir excelU'nt niis-
Hlonarics lit home ; they ivvort to tlic al)ominal)lc( i)riicti(.'es of their idola-
trous times, and form connexions with tiie Indians, to whose level they
spocdily sink. On my second visit to Oahu, I had the satisfaction, in con-
sequence of my representations and those of some of their subjects wlio had
returned, of learning that the king and the chiefs had issued a decree that
no more of t'Mnn sliould enter the Company's service. How long cupidity
may permit tlu; observance of this d(>cree, I am unable to conjecture ; but
even sliould it be acted ujion, ther(^ will still remain in ^he Company's ser-
vice a sufficient number, Avith their offspring, of those interesting islanders
to attract the attention of tlie humane.
Should the society desire it, I shall have nmcli pleasure in communi-
cating the plans which T have suggested, and which I should wish to see
adopted, for the improvement of their condition, and likewise for the im-
provement of that of some of the aboriginal tribes of the north-west coast,
particularly the Klickatack, to wliieh I chiefly directed my attention and
that of the C-^mpany, as being most likely to benefit by missionary enter-
prise.
Since writing the above, I have learned fi'oni good authority that in the
month of August lf{4(), an Indian was hanged near the mouth of the Co-
lumbia river, and several others shot, and their village set on fire, by a
party in the employment of the Ihidscm's Bay Company, inider the com-
mand of chief factor ]\rLoughlin, who led them from Fort Vancouver;
thus ill dificriminately to revenge the death of a man, who lost his life in an
aifray while curing .salmon. (Signed) IIehheut Deaveu.
Since tlie writing' of tliislctterj llerLcil Beaver has gone to
reside inSouth Africa, andtlie farther coninumications to which
he alhulcs have uot as yet been received. It must also be stated,
that since the period to which the letter above quoted relates,
an extension of missionary settlements in the Indian country
has taken place under the auspices of tlie Hudson Ray Com-
pany ; that Governor Sir George Simpson has traversed the
continent of North America from east to west, and there is
reason to ho])e that an imjn-ovement in the treatment of the
Indians may be the result of liis attention to the subject. It
is, however, of vital importance that attention be ke})t alive
to this subj'jict, both for the purpose of intevc^Hnjr those who
may have any inlluence in that (juarter, and of eliciting infor-
mation from a part of the globe regarding which very little
transpires.
xNEW HOLLAND.
liesjH'Ctiug llic nutives of Australia \vc arc in ])o.ssessiou of
infonnatioii of a gloomy character. It has been with feelings
of a ])ainful nature \vc have noticed that the accounts
from this country contain many instances of cruel barbarity,
conniiitted both by the natives and the colonists, in which great
destruction of property and loss of life have taken place, but
which, it is considered, have fallen in the proportion of at
least forty to one on the incensed Aborigines. The following
extract from a ])a])er, which we have before us, contains an
allusion to some of the causes which have led to these de])lo-
rable events, and by Nvhicli it is evident that these occurrences
have arisen from wrongs indicted on these poor ignorant peo-
ple by the white settlers, vi/.
" Tluit the Aborigiiu's have been losers, instead of gainers, by tlie settle-
ment ot'tlie whites umong-st them, is beyond dispute ; they have contracted, if
not all the vices of the Europeans,. at least numy of tliem, and none oftiieir
virtues. From their mixing with only the basest of mankind what otlun-
can be ex2)0cted than tlieir being contaminated ? Instead of being even
partially civilized, the only advantages bestowed on tlunnby their brethren
of the white skin^ is the reiulering tlu-ir hunting-grounds useless to them,
and of having taught them habits of lying, pilfering, swearing, drinking,
and smoking, and of having had entailed on tluMU and their offspring the
most loathsome diseases. This descri^jtion does not aj)ply in all cases ; yet,
generally speaking, it is but too aeeinate. AVhere t]\v l)hieks havi' had
little or no inti-rcourse with the wiate.s, you will find them more rol)ust
in their persons, more independent in their bearing, and altogether free
from those detestable practices that have enfeebled and brutalized their
brethren. They have been accused of murder and the destructioii of the
property of the settlers ; Ijut it is not of that alarming cJiaracter as made
out — in fact, the contrary is the case; for it is well known that tea
blacks are murdeied for one white. That the blacks, from sheer necessity,
ai driven to spear some of the settlers' cattle is true ; yet, to the candid
reader this will be nuitter of no surprise, when he recollects that the savage
considers the white man as the wrongful i)Ossessor of his country, and that
instead of receiving any benefit therefrom, fatal experience has taught him
that wherever the print of the European apjicars, he must eitliei- remain to
starve or fall back upon some hostile tribt>, which he either exterminates or
by w liich he is exterminated. AVhich of these evils shall he choose ? The
kangaroo and the emu forsake the plains aud the forests, wherever the
■21
herds and Hocks break ^'loitnd. The writer sayis, he was one day a.sked by a
native oftlic Maueroo country for sometliiniif to oat, at the same time re-
marking, witli a niost i/itiful exi)re.ssion of countenance, " Yon see, massa,
all about hero belon;^ to black fellow Ion;,' time ago. Plenty emu, and
tousand, tousand Icangaroo. Cinmbulcku luck, dundial com and drivo
kangarao and enni all away. Poor fellow — black fellow." These wero
the very words. Let but one consider, that in spite of all the boasted
philanthropy of England, the natives of New Holland, instead of being
either civilized or Christianized, after an intercourse of more than
half a century, are now in a more dejilorablc state than when this vast con-
tinent was a blank on the M-orUl'smap. It is absurd to suppose that mira-
cles can be wrought, and that the untamed savage sliould become, all at
once, versed in the knowledge and arts of civilized men. No, tluit cannot
be done ; but much could by such a people as Britons. But what has been
dono to better the condition of these children of nature? Absolutely no-
thing. It has been argued that they are so wedded to their savage mode of
life that they Avill not relimpiish it for any other ; and also, that there i.s
manifest intellectual incapacity in them to receive instruction. As regards
the former assertion, why such is always the case Avith savage tribes. What
Av ere the ancestors of polished England previous to the Roman invasion?
In a state of society little removed from that of the New Hollander. As to
tlie latter, it is denied that there is any such mental inca])acity as to pre-
vent them from becoming, in time, intelligent and useful meml)ers of the
community. This is apparent to every one avIio has had opportunities of ob-
serving the shrewdness and natural quickness of observation they possess
in a high degree. Where the experiment has been tried, to educate any of
them, it has perfectly succeeded : all arc not apt alike, but this cannot bo
exi)ected ; there is a Avide-sprcad prejudice afloat on this subject, at homo
and abroad."
It would liavc been gratifviiiu; lo tlie C'oiiiniillcc to have
been able to stale, that the natives in our eolunies in this dis-
tant region, had been admitted to the lights of citi;5(;iiship,
and that they were allowed to be rceeived as competent wit-
nesses in criminal cases ; but wc are concerned to observe
that this is denied them — a i)ractical evil, by which the ends
of justice, as res])ects the natives, are frustrated. Annexed we
subjoin tlu) highly interesting and important re])ort of Cap-
tain Grey to Lord John llussell, as Secretary for tlie Colonies,
])rior to his assuming the government of Soutli Austra-
tralia ; which report, we understand, has been reconnnended
by liord .lohn llussell to the governors of the various co-
lonies, as well as New Zealand. One very interesting feu-
4 * ■■^g^r— .^ttt fr-
25
line in lliis n'])i)rl is, the inii)()i-l;uK'c wliicli (';i])tiiin (Jroy
altuclics to the n-cciviii*,' of tlio evidence of natives, witliout
an uatli, in courts of law ; tlieir iyiKU-ance of the nature
of which lias hitherto been made the plea for cxcludin;^
iheni from !j;ivin,^" their evidence in a court of justice, and
wliich thev consider as a j^reat hardshi]), and a.nainst which
Friends luive rejieatedly remonstrated at the Colonial Ollice.
Iv'pur/ (]/' ('tfj)((iiii (ircij, dorvnior <i/' Sou/It .hislrdlin, oilUh'd, A
l\cj>(>rl Kpim (he hcsf Afcmisnl' protnoliiiij //tc Ciri/izdliou cj' the
.Ihorii/iiKil liifi'thi/aii/s of AitslniUd.
1 . 'i'hc Aliuriginos of Aiistraliii Iiavc hillicrto rosLsted all the ciForls whieli
liavc l)L'on made for thoir civilization. It would appear, that if thoy aro
capable of bc'iufj civilized, it can \u- sliowji that all the systems on which
tlicso efforts have been founded contained some common error, or that each
of them involved some erroneous principles. The former supposition ap-
pears to be the true one ; for they all contained one element — they all stai ted
with one recognised principle, the presence of which in the scheme must
necessarily have entailed its failure.
2. This principle was, that although the natives should, as far as Eu-
ropean property and European subjects weie concerned, he made amenable
to Drilishlaws, yet, so long as they oidy exercised their own customs ujion
themselves, and riot too inunediately in tlie presence of Europeans, they
should be allowed to do so with impunity.
.'J. This principle originates in philanthropic motives, and a total igno-
rance of the peculiar traditional laws of this people; which laws, dillering
from those of any other known rac(>, have necessarily imparted to the peo-
ple subject to them a character different from all other races, and hence
arises the anomalous state in which they have been found.
4. They are as apt and intelligent as any other race of men I am ac-
(piainted with: they are subject to the same affections, appetites, and pas-
sions as other men ; yet, in many points of character they arc totally
dissimilar to them ; and, from the peculiar code of laws of this people, it
would appear not only impossible that any nation subject to them could
ever emerge from a savage state, but even that no race, however highly
endowed, however civilized, could in other respects renuvin long in a state
of civilization, if they w«re submitted to tin' operation of such barbarous
customs.
-■). The plea generally set up in defence of this principle is, that the
natives of this country are a couipiored peojile, and that it is an act of
generosity to allow them the full power of oxenusing their own laws upon
themselves : but this plea would appear to be inadmissible ; for, in the first
r'
:20
place, savage and traditional riistonis slioulJ not be coufounded with a
regular code of laws : and, secondly, where Great Britain ensures to a con-
quered eountry tlu; privilege ol'])ie.serving its own laws, all persons resident
in this territory become amenable to the sftme laws, and jjroper jjo'sons are
selected by the Government to watch over their due and etpiitable adminis-
tration. Notliing of this kind either exists or can exist with regard to tho
customs of the! natives of Austi'alia. Between these two cases, tlien, there
is no appar(.'nt analogy.
G. I would .submit, therefore, tliat it is necessary, from thct moment tho
Aborigines of this country are declared British subjects, they should, as
far as possible, be taught that tho British la^\ s are to supersede their own ;
so that any native who is suffering under their own customs may have the
power of an ajjpoal to those of Great Britain : oi', to put this in its true
light, that all authorised persons should, in all instances, be required to pro-
tect a native from the violence of his fellows, even though they be in tlio
execution of their own laws.
7. So long as this is not the case, the older natives have at their disposal
the means of eftectually preventing the civilization of any individuals of
their own tribes; and those among them who may be inclined to adajit
themselves to the European habits and mode of life will be deterred fi'om
so doing, by their fear of tho consequences that the displeasure of others
may draw down upon them.
8. So much importance am I disposed to attach to this point, that I do
not hesi<^ate to assert my full conviction, that whilst those tribes which are
in communication with luu'oiieaus are allowed to execute their barbarous
laws and customs upon one another, so long will they remain hopelessly
innnersed in their present state of barbarism : and however unjust such a
T •oceeding might at first sight appear, I believe that the course pointed
out by true hunuinity wouM be, to make them, from tlie very commence-
ment, amenable to the British laws, both as regards themselves and
Europei.iis ; for I hold it to be imagining a contradiction, to suppose that
individuals subject to savage and barbarous laws can rise into a state of
civilization which those laws have a manifest tender.cy to destroy and
overturn.
9. I have known many instances of natives who have been almost or
quite civilized being compelled by other natives to return to the bush;
more particularly girls, who have been betroihed in their infancy, and who,
on approaching tho years of puberty, have been compelled by their hus-
bands to join them.
10. It is ditHcult to ascertain the exact effect the institutions of a country
produce upon the character of its inhabitants ; but it may be readily ad-
mitted that if two savage races of equal mental endowments, and vvith
the same capacity for civilization, were subject to two distinct sets of laws,
the one mild and favourable to the development of civilization, the other
blood-thirsty and opposed to it, the former race might gradually be brought
to u kiiowloil^e of Cliristiiiuity ^uJ civilization ; whilst piocisely s;iinilur I'f-
foits niiiile with ri'gard to tliu lattt'i' might l)e attt'iuk'tl with no hfiu'ficial
result.
1 1. Again, it. would bo unfair to consider the laws of the natives of Aus-
tralia as liny indication of tiic real character of this peo])le ; for many races
who wore at one period subject to the most barbarous laws, have, since new
institutions have been introduced amongst them, taiven their rank among
the civilized nations of tlie earth.
12. 'I'o punisii the Aborigines severely for the violation of laws of which
they are ignorant, would be manifestly cruel and unjust ; but to punish
them in the first instance slightly, fur the violation of these laws, would inflict
no great injury on them ; whilst, by always punishing them when guilty of
a Clime, without i-eference to the length of period that had ehipsed between
its perpetration and their apprehension, at the same time fully explaining
to them the measure of punishment that would await them in the event of a
second commission of the same fault, would teach them gradually the laws
to which they are hi'nceforth to be amenable ; and would show them that
crime was always eventually (although it might be remotely) followed by
punishment.
13. I imagine that this course would be more merciful than that at pre-
sent adopted ; viz. to punish them for the violation of a law they are igno-
rant of, when this violation affects an European; and yet to allow them to
commit this crime as often as they like, when it only regards tiiemselves.
For this latter course teaches them, not that certain actions, such, for in-
stance, as murder, 6i.c., are generally criminal, but only that tliey are cri-
minal when exercised towards the white people ; and the impression conse-
quently excited in their minds is, that these acts only excite our detestation
wlien exercised towards ourselves ; and that their crinunality consists, not
in having committed a certain odious action, but in having violated our pre-
judices.
14. In the vicinity of towns, where there is a certain judicial force, and
where, on account of the facility of obtaining food, the natives always con-
gregate, it would, by a steady and determined line of conduct, be comj)ara-
tively easy to enforce an observance of the British laws ; but even partially
to attain this object in the remote and thinly-peopled districts, it is neces-
sary that each colony should possess an efficient mounted police : a portion
of whom should bo constantly in movement from district to district ; whilst
another portion, resident in a central situation, should be ready to act in-
stantly in any diret^tion where their i)reseuee was required. I do not appre-
hend that this body need be numerous; for their utility would dejjend
more on their activity and efficiency than on their numbers. It is abso-
lutely necessary, for th»> cause of humanity and good order, thai such a force
should exist ; for so long as distant settlers are left unprotected, and are
compelled to take care of and avenge themselves, so long must great barba-
rities necessarily bo conuuittcd ; and the only way to prevent great crini(>s
28
on tlio part of tlio natives, and iiiassarrcs of tlioso poor croaturos as tlic pu-
nishincnt of such crimes, is to check and punish their excesses in their in-
fiincy. It is only after becoming emboldened by frequent petty successes
that they have hitherto committed those crimes which have drawn down .so
fearful a vengeance npo)i them.
15. The greatest obstacle that presents itself in considering the applica-
tion of the British laws to these Aborigines, is the fact, that from their
ignorance of the nature of an oath, or of tho obligations it imposes, they are
not competent to give evidence before a court of jnstice; and hence, in
many eases, it Avould be extremely dithcult, if not impossible, to obtain evi-
den(;c on which a prisoner could be convicted.
10. One mode of evading this difficulty would bo, to empower the court
to receive evidence from natives in all causes relating solely to themselves,
without tlie witness being sworn ; only allowing testimony of this nature to
hold goofl when borne out by very strong circumstantial evidence. Secondly,
to empower the court always to receive evidence from natives called on by
a native prisoner in his defence, such evidence being subject to the before-
named restrictions.
17. The fact of the natives being unable to give testimony in a court of
justice is a great hardship on them, and they consider it as such. The rea-
son that occasions their disability for the iierformanco of this function is at
present quite beyond their comprehension, and it is impossible to explain it
to them. I have been a personal witness to a ease in which a native was most
mideservedly punished, from the circumstance of tiic natives, who were the
only persons who could speak to certain exculpatory remarks, not being
jjermitted to give their evidence,
Mi. Thero are certain forms in our colonial courts of justice, as at present
conducted, which it is impossible to make a savage comprehend. I attended
one quarter-sessions, at which a number of natives were tried on a great
variety of charges. Several of them were induced to plead guilty ; and on
this admission of their having committed the crime, sentence was pro-
nounced upon them. But when others denied their guilt, and found that
this denial produced no corresponding result in their favour, whilst, at tho
same time they were not permitted to bring forward other natives to deny
it also, and to explain tho matter for them, they became perfectly con-
founded. I was subse(piently applied to by several intelligent natives to
explain this mystery to them, but I failed in giving such an explanation as
would satisfy them.
1!). Tho natives being ignorant of tho laws, of the forms of our courts of
justice, of the language in which the proceedings are conducted, and the
sentence pronounced iq)on them, it would appear that but a very imperfect
protection is aflbrded them, by having present in the court merely an inter-
preter, (very often an i,',niorant man,) who knows nothing of legal proceed-
ngs, i;nd can be but very imperfectly acquainted with the native language.
It must also be borne iu mind that the natives are not tried by a jury ol
( .
2!i
LO
ic
i't
tlicir poors, liut l>y a jury liavinf^ intorosts directly opposed to llioiv own,
and who oiiu scarocly avoiil bcini^ in sonio di'tfico projiidii'od aujainst nativo
t>nbndors. From tlio.so considorutions I would su;,'jrost, that it sliould
bo made binding' upon tlii; local govununont, in all instanctjs, (or at
least in such in^jtancos as allt'ct life,) to provide a counsel to defend native
prisoners.
20. Some otiior priiici])al preventives to the civilization of the Aborigi-
nes, in addition to thoso 1 have alreaily stated, are -
I'irst -The existence of an uncertain and irn'jj:ular demand for their la-
bour: thus tliey may have one day sufficient opportunity aflbrded tlieni
ibr the exertion of tiieir industry ; whilst the next day their services are not
rotpnred, so that thi-y are compelled once more to have recourse to their
ft)rmer irregidar and wanderiuLj haliits.
Secondly — Tlieir j^'^oncrally receivin;^ a very inadequate reward for the
services they render : this, combined with their natural fondness for the
liusli, induces thom to prefer that mode of subsistence which, whilst it is
infinitely more agreeable and h>ss laborious, procures for them nearly as
great a reward as hiring with white peoi)le.
Tidrdly — Their not being taught that diiVerent values are attached to
diderent degrees of labour, as well us to the skill and neatness with which
it is performed.
21. These impediments might all (^itlier be removed or modified in some
districts by the establishment of native institutions and schools; but in
foiiiiing a general plan for their )'emoval,w]iich woidd be ocjually applicable
to all parts of a colony, a very novel diillculty presents itself:- —
22. Imagining tliat a nati/e child is perfectly capable of being civilized,
let it be also granted, that froi:i proper preventive measures having been
adopted, this child has nothing to fear froni the vengeance of the other
natives, so that it stands, in these respects, nearly, or altogether, in the
position of a European.
2!{. If this native child is a boy, who is to pay the individual who un-
dertakes to teach him some calling the i'v^^ usually given with an ajiprentice?
A\ ho will indenniify this person for the time he spends in instructing the
boy, before he can derive any benefit from his labour ; or for the ri.sk he in-
curs of the boy's services being bestowed elsewhere, as soon as they are
worth having.
24. Until this dillicidty is got over it appears evident that the natives
will only be employed in herding cattle, or in the lowest order of manual
labour, w hich requires no skill, and for which the reward they receive will
be so small as scarcely to oiler an inducement to them to quit their pre-
sent wandering mode of life.
25. The remedy I would suggest for thl> evil w ould have another advan-
tage, besides a tendi'ucy to ameliorate it; for it would give th(> settlers a
great and direct interest in th(> Aborigines, without entailing any expense
ui)on the (Jovernment. It is fo\inded on the following fact : —
30
2fi. Tlio Government, in order to orojito a supply of luhour in tlio colo-
nies, liavG been in tlio habit of giving certain rewards to those individuals
■\vlio introduced labourers into tlieni. Now it would appear, that he who
reclaims one of the Aborigines, not only adds another labourer to tliose who
are already in the colony, but confers such a beneiit on his fcUow-settlers,
l)y rendering one who was before; a useless and dangerous being, a service-
able member of the connnunity, that this circumstance alone entitles him
to a rewerd.
27. T would therefore propose, lliat on the production of the hereafter-
named documents, a settler sliould receive a certiticati', entitling him to a
certain sum, which should either lie allowed to reckon towards the comple-
tion of location duties, or else, as a remission certiticato in the purchase of
land, or, in lieu of this, a grunt of land ; and that this sum, or grant, should
be regulated according to a tabic sjjecifyiug the various circumstances that
are liicely to occur, and diawn uj) by the local Government of each place,
where such reguhitions sliould be introduced.
28. The documents to Avhicli I allude are these: First, a deposition be-
fore the nearest magistrate to such settler's house, that a native or natives
liave been resident with him constantly for the last six months, and have
been employed in stated species of labour. Secondly. A certificate from
the Government Resident of the district, that to tlie best of his belief
Buch statement is true ; for that, on his visiting this settler's house, the
stated numbers of natives were there, and were respectively occui)ied in the
kinds of labour described. Tiiirdly. A certificate from the Protector of
Aborigines, that he has visited this settler's house, that the stated numbers
of natives were residinit there, and appeared to be progressing in the know-
ledge of that branch of industry in which they were respectively stated to
be cni])loyed.
2!). It Avould be furtlun- necessary, that any settler who intended to en-
deavour to reclaim natives should give a short notice to the Protector of
Aborigines, previously to the commencement of the first six months.
30. Could this plan be brought into operation, the work of the civilization
of the Aborigines would at once be commenced upon a great scale, it would
not bo confined to a single institution, but a variety of individuals, en-
dowed with different talents and capacities for this work, would at once bo
employed on it. It is, indeed, rather suited and intended for the outskirts
of eivili/ation, thinly populated by settlevs, than for towns ; yet it is a2)pli-
cable to both situations ; whilst its direct operation would be to induce
the settler adequately to remunerate the native, as well as to provide him
with a constant supply of labour, and to use every exertion, by kiiul and
proper treatment, to attach him, for as long a period os possible, to his es-
tablishment.
.SI. In considering the kinds of labour in which it would be most ad-
visable to engage natives, it should be borne in mind, that in I'emote dis-
ii'icts, where the European popidalion is small, it would Ite imprudent to in-
)0
ts
i-
s-
(luiu iiKiiiy nativos to coii;,rrt<nrato at any ono point ; and tli(> k'uvU of labom-
in uliicli tlicy should lip tlioie cn^^agi'd, oii<;lit to bo of siidi a nature as to
liavo a tendency to scatter tlieni over tlio conntry, ami to distribute tin'
lunongsttlK! separate establislinionts.
.'{2. Whilst in the wcll-jieoidcd di.-trirts, Mhrro a force sufficient both to
protect and control the Abori^j^ines exists, t'ley should be induced t(» as-
semble in {,'reat numbers 4 for they work much more readily when em-
ldoy<'d in masses: and by thus asseniblin;j: them on one point, their num-
bei's an> diminislied in those portions of liio colony \vhich have a small
European population, and they are concentrated at a spot where proper
means jor their improvement can be provided.
X\. The first of l!i'"-(> jiriii'iples has be(>n strictly attended to in the [dan
proposed in the 'J7th and followini; paraf^raphs of this lieport : the second
lias been carried into successful operation in AVestern Australia.
IM. In order that the work on which Mie natives arc employed in the
vicinity of towns should be of Mie most advantat,^'0us nature, it is neces-
sary that it should !);• productive of benefit both to themselves and to the
fJovernment which employs tlicju, so that it cann('t be complain>Ml of as a
iisek'ss expense; whilst, at tlio same time, it should be of sncli a kind as to
accord with that love of excitement and change which is so peculiar to this
pcoj)le.
;$.">. IJoth of these ends would lie attained by employing the Aberigines
cither in opening now roads or in I'cpairing old lines of communication :
indeed, this mode of employment is singularly suited to the habits of these
people; they might be kept cttnstantly moving from post to post, thus
varying the scene of their operations : one portion of the party might bo
employed in Imnting with kangaroo-dogs, or fishing, in order to snjiply the
others with fresh meat ; and the species of labour in which the main body
wore engaged, might, if they wished it, bo changed onco or twice in tlu?
course of the day, to prevent their being wearied by the monotonous (dia-
racttn* of their employment.
30. 7\niong other enactments which I believe would have a tendency to
promote the civilization of the Aborigines, and which are ap])l!cable to tliose
districts in which, for some tinu', a great intercourse luis existed between
the natives and the Kurojjeans, are the following : —
37. " That any native w ho could produce a certificate (from the Protector
of Aborigines) of having been constantly employed at the house of any set-
tler for a period of not less than throe years, should be entitled to a grant
of land ; the c^xtent of which should be fixeil by the local (iovejiiment of
the colony to which such native should belong; ami that, if possible, this
grant should bo given in that district to which this native, by liirth, be-
longed.
" That, in addition to this grant, he should receive a snm of money, the
amount of which should also be fixed by the local Government, and which
should be drawn from the funds raised by the .-^ale of (iovernment land>;
32
ruirl which sliniihl lie ox])oiiilo(l in rrnt^ts, ijoiilfry. Sir , so as to cniilih' thi'
uativi- ill sonic niiiniifi' lu stock his hiiul.
" 'J'hat any nativo havinj; only ono wife, who jirochiccil a ccrlilicaic of tin*
civil iiuiiTiai,'i! contract having hen in;i'forni(;il hotwocn hiniscll" and Iut ]>y
tlic Ivusidoiit of the district to wliicii he hclongctl, siioiild ho entitled to a
small reward.
" 'i'hat any natives who ref^istcred dniy the birth of any of their children
should he entitled to a small reward.
" That some competent person slionld ho paid to instruct two native hoys,
in such a manner as to (pialify them to act as interpreters in courts of law:
and that as soon as they are found competent they sliouUl be employed for
this purpose.
" 1 believe that many other regulations similar to these would be found
1(1 produce a very bi>nefieial efiect."
NEW ZEALAND.
'JMio C())mnitl.ce refer, with ])cculiav inlcvost and aiixiel\,
to the situalion and ]n'os])ects of the \e\v /oahiiultM's ; and
cannot but regard, a\ itli feelings of dee]) concern and a]>-
])rehen.si()n, the ])rogress t)f emigration to tliis distant colony,
mdess nieasm'cs be taken by Avliich the riglits and ])r()i)erty
of the natives are acknowledged and ])ro])erly secured.
We are gratilicd in l)eing able to state, from the various
connmniications which we have received, that the natives are
an agricultural people, and accustomed to fixed habitations;
and that there exists a disposition and an aptitude, on tlieir
■|)art, to enter into social connnunion, and to become citizens of
the same state with th(; colonists, ^\■hosc numbers now amount
lo about 10,000. Ernest Diellenbach, ?,1.D., late natu-
ralist to the New Zealand Company, who has had abundant
op])ortunity, by a sojourn among the natives of New Zealand,
of arriving at a just estimate of their character, supports this
view ; in a letter relating to them, he says: —
" They are a people decidt.'dly in a nearer relation to us tlian any otlier ;
they are endowed with uncommonly good intellectual faculties ; they are
an agricultural nation, with fixed domicile, and have reached the furthest
point of civilization which they possibly could, witliout the aid of other
nations, or without the example of histoiy. They mix easily with tlie
Europeans, which has been elFected to such :i degree, tliat, Jty future immi-
grations, an I'utire mixture must be foreseen."
re
3t
|o
|i-
.33
Wc arc also inlonned that tlicse Ahorij^Mnesi'viucu a sluing
desire to bo able to read and write ; and we understand that,
out oftlieir poj^ulation, wliicJi is now eonipuled at 1'2(>,()()(),
one-third of the whole have already learnt to read, and that
several thousand testaments in their own lanj,Mia;^'e are now
])ossessed by them; most of which they have obtained lioni
the missionaries, princii)ally in exchan;^'e for artieles ol'
f(^od.
Wc have recently received from an intelligent and bene-
volently disposed settler in Nc;w Zealand, and one ujxni
whose statements we can place full reliance, some information
ot a higiily interesting and im])ortant character, relating to
the subject of native reser\es of land, an<l the native terri-
torial rights. The beneficial effects wliich had been anti-
ei])ated as the result of reserving a tenth, or rather, as it
turns out to be, an eleventh of the territory of New Zealand
for the exclusive use and benefit of its native iidiabitanls,
have, we arc informed by this connnunication, hilheilo been
very much frustrated, by the mode ado])ted in selecting these
reserves. In alluding to this subject, the writer observes:
" In the purcliaso deeds, as well as in tlie publisliodilocuments ot'thoConi-
pany, there is contained a pledge that one-tenth of the land acquired should
lie set apart for the use of the natives. Tliis pkd/![e has heen, in form, re-
deemed ; hut in substance it lias, it seems to iiio, been ■widely (k^parted
from, lleserves for the henL'fit of the natives have been made ; but, nnfor-
tunately, they have been made in such a manner as to produce few or none
of those immediate results which wei'o anticipated by tJie intelligent and
philanthropic individuals avIio devised the plan. In tlie harbour of Port
Nicholson, for instance, there are nine Pahs, or native villages ; of these
only three have been selected us native reserves, and one is laid out as a
public reserve, leaving five Avhieh have become llie property of private
individuals. In the immediate vicinity of the harbour, there were, perhaps,
about five or six hundred acres, which might be con&i<lered as occupied by
the natives for the purpose of cxdtivation ; not that the whole of this wa»
under culture, at any one time, but that this quantity had been reduced
into possession by individual natives. Of this (quantity certainly not one-
third has been reserved for them ; I believe I might say not oue-sixtlu
And, nnfortunately, althougli it may 1)0 that the land which has been
selected as native reserves, may bi', in quality and position, of fair average
D
;ji
value, it is so Hfl<!ckMl as to posscNs, with only oiio I'xrt'ptioii, that of
Victoria, Ijut little utility lor the jiri'st'iit piirposeH of the natives.
" Tlicro arc, in the iiunu'iliato vicinity of the li;irl)oiir ot" Port
NieholscMi, alMnit five huiulrcil natives, who aie iiliuost uhsolutely (lepen-
ilvnt upon llir products of tlieir own cuIti\ation for Hultsistenei*. 'l\w
laud reserved for thcni is conipiiralively useless. They liaTc no liejists of
Iturtiien, and no means of traiis[iorlin;^' produce exce[it in their canoes, or
upon their own backs. C'onsc()uently, neaiiy all their cultivation was alonjj
thu hanks of the rivers, and within u very short dititauce of their settlements.
Land, however valuahle in itsell", if situated at a distance of four or livu
miles, is useless to thoni. The majority of these assi-rt, that they have not
sold their land, and it has haiipened, that the only trihe within the distrid
who admit the sale, isaho the only trilie whoso I'ahand potato-f^rounds have
been maintained inviolate. 'J'hose who deny the sah', liud themselves gra-
dually thrust out of all the laud they have Itt'cn accustomed to cultivate,
and which they considered as their own peculiar [iroj)erty. llanlly are thoy
allowed to take out of the soil the crop they have planted ; and as soon as
the croj) is taken out, they are inl'ormud that the land is no longer theirs,
und that they must go elsewhere.
"It must uot bo imagined that the land required for the use of the
natives could not be reserved without injuiy to the settlement— no doubt
assertions of this nature will he made, and it may even he asserted, that
there is an absolute incompatibility hetween the preservation of the natives
in their old modes of life, and the pvof,n-ess and prosperity of English coloni-
zation. Nothing can bo more unfounded. Out of nearly 1(),()(M> acres of
fertile land which have bcou surveyed and selected in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of Port Nicholson, six hundred would have amply suthced for tho
present wants of the natives. Out of 1,100 acres of wliich the town is com-
posed, only eight are occupied by the native Pahs. Had the land actually
occupied, or reclaimed by the natives, been reserved, it would, no doubt,
have been rather more than one-tenth in value, though far less than one-
tenth in extent, of the land which some of their chiefs nominally added,
and which the New Zealand Company now ehiinis, under that cession.
But this reserve would have satisfied the natives, and it would have enabled
the New Zealand Company to obtain a valid title to their possessions.
That such reserves are not made, is absolutely unaccountable.
" As an illustration of the mode in which the native reserves in this district
have been selected, I will proceed to describe the general char.acter of the
most important, in reference to the various native settlements around tho
harbour.
" The natives of the Pah To Aro on the southern shore of what is now
termed Lambton Harbour, who were never consulted as to the sale, and not
one of whom signed the deed conveying the land to the New Zealand Com-
pany, had cultivated from sixty to eighty acres of land on the hills immc-
I
1
1
ilifit«'ly in t1i<^ roar of Hioir Pali, f\n<l Imtl fjnrrlons on tlio <i\\nco nowocni]>io<l
liy tlu' (own. I'vi'rv on'' oC llicir rlrarinift innl i;f\rili'n«<, as will as llii-ir
rail, liasltcpn Hi'lccttMl fur tlio |iurcli(ist'sunilt'r tin* ('onipany, ami tlii-y liavo
li('( II n'(|iilri'(l (o ;,'ivt' up |iosM'>siMn. 'I'liivi, liowrvt r, (lu-y liavc nut yet
tlonc. 'I'ln'iv is one M( lion iiiinnMlialcly Itcliiiid lliiiiclcaiitif,'^ ; and tlioro
arc llir( I' otlicrsaf m (ll^tanrc of alioiit two niilrs farther, wliii-h iwo, Iiow-
rvcr, (.Hittli' vahio, ( uijit lor f,'raziiif,'. 'I'licy do, novcrtliolcss, possi-ss in
llii' oiu' sortidU in tlic rear of their iirt'sr>nt <'l('ariii}jfs, oni' valuaMc section,
wliicli, ill a yrur or two, tlicy will [irolpably occnpy ami cultivate ; Imt it
would liavc Itccn more just and niurc i)ra<lcnt to secure to tlnin the ^'lound
tlioy liud actually cleared. The natives of Kuniutoto, on the west shore of
Laniliton If arbour, Imvo been nllowedto retain ono aero on which part of their
Tall stood; Iiut they liave not, within all their district, a sin;,de acre of country
laud. Tlie natives of the Pah Tissitea hav(> retained their Pah, because it
has been selected as a public reserve, and tiiere are about twenty acres of
native reserves within that part of the town ■which belongs to theni ; but
they liavo not a single country section. The natives of Tiakiwai have
neither Pah nor countiv land ; all luv; been taken from tlieni. The natives
of Jvaiwarawani, whose Pah, situated beyond the contines of the town, niii^ht
have been reserve<l, without the slightest puldic inconvenience, have had
their Pah, and the whole of theii cleared grounds, taken from them. The
same course luis been pursued with the natives of Xgawranga. The natives
of Pitoni, more fortunate than any of their brethren, have had tlm-e sec-
tions, including their Pah, and th(> whol", or nearly the whole of their clear
iugs reserved. 'I'lie natives of W'aiwetu lave neither Pah nor clearings Kft
them. Two sections have been resi'rveU in ourjiart of the land tliey claiui,
•which w ill eventually possessavcry considerable valu(> ; but, at piesent, less
than afifth of these reserves is available,tlie nuiainderbeinga swamp. Tlieio
are also two other sections,out of w Inch perhaps lifteen or twenty aci-es woidd
l)e available, and upon which they formerly hiid some small potato-grounds ;
but these have been abaiuloned since the dcvvth of their chief Picliakawa, who
■was nuirdi'red thon- by a hostile tribe, about two years ami a half .ago. I
should qualify my statement with regard to tlicso last, when I said, that all
thi'ir cl(\arings had been taken away, since the two sections last referred to
did contain some clearings. The land thus cleared, however, belonged to
the murderiHl chieftain, and had been utterly abandoned by his family
before the selection."
Tlic sliilcinent ol' luiollicr tinigrau uf'the first class is per-
fectly in accordance with tlio preceding, wlieu he ohscrves :
" The New /oaland Company intended \\v]] when they de-
sired to set a])art a tenth of the land pnrchased of Govern-
ment for n.itive reserves, but thev connnitlcd a fatal error
I
wIhmi tlioy «nl)jc('tiMl ilic clioic*- of IIkmv rcsorvos to lot. All
tlio \'M\k\ liillii'} lo occupifd l)y {ho n:iti\os, (.•illicr us vill.igcs,
burial-grouiuls, and ciillivuted <j;rouiids, should have been vi;-
servcd iiiidieiiubly lor tlu^ir use, and ihu dillcrcnco between
the extent of" such gronnds and the one-tenth, might have
been subject to the ballot, for their use hereafter, in addition
lo what they at prescuit oeeii]ti(Ml."
The important subject of the native territorial rights,
the annihilation of which is now threatened, is undergoing
the investigation of a Connnissioner a])|)ointed especially for
that purpose, by the 1 British Government. Nevertheless,
when wc consider the ditTiculties of the question, and the in-
fluence of persons whose interests are oi)posed to those of the
natives, it is manliest, that, unless the just claims of the Abo-
rigines of New Zealand be strenuously pleaded for, by the
advocates of humanity and justice, there is much reas(»n
to fear, that another instance of the abuse of superior
intelligence and power, on the part of the white man, in dis-
possessing his less informed and less jjowerful brethren of
their ])roperty and lands, will be added to the already long
catalogue of sins which darken tlie historical page of English
colonization. lq)on this subject the writer says: —
" There lias i)rcvfiile(l in England an oxti'aordinai-y misconception, with
regard to the opinions and practices of tlu^ New Zealanders, in relation to
llio sale of land. It is very true, that immense tracts have been nominally
j)urchased by the agent of the New Zealand Company, and by others, for
very trifling and inaderpiate considerations. It may, however, be doubted,
M'hether the parties by M'honi the sale was made had any notion, liowever
imperfect, of the sense in which the ti'ansaction was understood by the
buyers. The iitmost %vhich they can 1)0 conceived to have understood was,
that within certain specitied limits, the party purchasing should bo allowed
to settle, ui)on the same terms as the members of the tribe owning the
land. They might have believed that they were conferring rights of citi-
zenship, so to speak, under which tlK> stranger who reclaimed and culti-
vated land, might be guaranteed in (he enjoyment of the land which he
had tluis appropriated. Or, as is equally probable, it was regarded as no
more than that the chiefs Avho signed the deed and received the price, con-
reded to the other contracting i)arty the right of purchasing, from its ac-
tual owner, any laml which he might desire to obtain fur use. At any rate
i
37
i
wliatovov tlioy did mean, no doul)t can bo folt, by any person aeqnainted
with (licir usa<r<'>^, that they did not mean to give to any one the liffjit to
drive tliem from their Tubs; to oconpy and appropriate tlie <<;roun(l tliey
had cleared and ciiltiviited, ;nid to restrain theiii fron\ tlie liberty of usinij
any unoccu])i(;d ground, for the pnrpose of raisini,' the food necessary to
tlieir very existence. Abundant evidence can bo furnished to prove that
this could not iiave been their intention. And, if it were more <loubtfuI
than is actually the case, tiny would be entitled to the protection of a court
of e(piity. aj^ainst the consi'ipienccs of tbcii' own i^nioranceand improvidence ;
nor could the Dritish Government and b^gislatiire, fairly or honourably,
affirm a contract founded in misconception, and pregnant with injury.
"The two principal pnrehasos by the New Zealand Company Iiavo boon
that of the luvrbour and district of Port Nicholson, and that from the
chiefs of the Kawia tribe, of all the land within certain limits defined by
(loL,M'ocs of latitude. The former is estimatcid to comi)rise about one hundred
thousand acres, and the latter includes within its boundaries, nearly twenty
millitms of acres. There is also a purchase of land at Wanganui, and ne
at Teranalu, both of which are known included in terms, in tlie limits of
the purchase" from the Kawia tiibo. To the two Hrst purchases, of whicli
alone I am at present competent to speak, there are objections arising ;
lirst, from the nature of the contract itself, and secondly, from the manner
in which the pledges given to the natives have been carried out. In the
first place, the purchase has been made from a few of the principal chiefs
only, although there is not a single freeman, or Rangatira, who has not an
a])solute right to portions of the hind, sid»ject to no interference or control,
eith(>r on the part of individual chiefH, or of the whole body of the tribe.
It is asserted by the great majority of the freemen and some of the princi-
pal chiefs of the tw'o tribes, from whom these purchases liave been made,
with what truth I cannot protend to affirm, that they did not consent to tho
sale of their own land ; nor oven to tho sale of the nnocenpied portions
of the teriitoiy, which might ho regarded as tho common property of tho
ti'ibe
" The names of very few are attached to tho purchase-deeds, and these,
without exception, admit that they only signed for themselves. Those
w ho have not signed the deeds, assert that they were no parties to the sale ;
and of those who did, the m.-ijority now pretend that they were not aware
of tlie nature and intention of the documents.
'•To confirm the titles of the Furopeaii settlers would be to deprive the
original occupiers of the soil, of land which they have never sold, and with-
out which tiiey can hardly subsist. It will be for the I'Jiglish Govern-
ment to decide between these conilicting claims. In this place, if any
questions arising out of them are to l>e decided by a jury of I'nglishmen,
ther(> would \tv but small probability of justic(> being done to the natives.
In whatever manner tho difficulty may be solved, there can be but one
Hn
r
n])inion as to tlio impolioy of iho proroodint'?' l>y Mliicli ilii« (llloninin has
)io(Mi rroatod.
" Tli(> oriirinators of tlio Now Zoalmid Company, franiiiif,' tlioir plan in
Enplantl, without otlicr ninti'i-ials iijioii whicli to haso tlicir opinion';, tlian
sucli as wero siipjilicnl by l)Ooks writ ton with I'ar difforoiit objocts, or worn
gatlioroil from the doscription of parties wliose attention liad never Itoen
directed to tlio iieciiliar rircnmstanees in tlie country, npon a full know-
lod^'o of which any plan for the benefit of the natives oui^dit to have been
founded could only frame a plan in outline, to be filled up on the spot by
their agent. Tiuit plan proceeded upon two assumptions. Firstly, that all
the land within certain extensive districts Avould be purchased for them ;
and, secondly, that the difTorent tribes occupied an extent of land quite
disproportioncd to their wants, of Avhioh the lar;j:est portion mij,dit be ap-
propriated to the European settlers, without any inconvenience. Both of
those assumptions have proved fallacious.
" The New Zealandersnovcr have consented to the sale of all their lands ;
and could not, in fact, conceive of such a bargain ; and although the land
occupied by many of the triltes is far more extensive than they rocpiired ;
y(!t it is only in respect of particular portions that an appropriation of the
laud to the English settler can be made, Avithout producing groat injury to
the native.
"With regard to the first point, ail the natives of Port Nicholson, Ibeliovo
without a single exception, agree tliat many, if not a majority of the land-
holders in the district, did not consent to the sale of their land to tlie agent
of the New Zealand Couijiany. And they all assert, what, from my obser-
vation of the natives here and in other i)arts, I am quite certain is the
case, that every free man has u right to particular pieces of ground, the
boundaries of which are as well defined and as rigidly maintained as any
estate in the most civilized country. They further agree that no one person
liowov.n' great maybe his power, has a right to interfere with, much less to dis-
pose of the propertyof any freeman without his consent ; and that even the
majority of the tribe have, in this respect, no power over the minority, or even
ovorasingledissentient party. According to the customs of the NewZealand-
crs, therefore, the New Zealand Com])any have no title to the greater portion
of the lands which thev have ])rofessed to sell. And it mav be stated with
confidence, that nothing short of an Act of Parliament could divest the
native ])roprietor of his title,— nor tliat witliout an adequate compensation.
The islands of New Zealand, by whatever title they may bcloug to the
British ci'owu, have not been acquired in ;iny manner which would operate
to the extinguisliment of private right to property, or could enable the
crown to grant lands previously occupied under a title, valid ai cording to
the rocogni/od customs which are the laws of the country. Not merely,
therefore, is the assumption of the Now Zealand Company, that they had ex-
tinguishod the native title to the lariro tracts nominally included within
f
\
31)
their piircliascs, quite unfoimdt'd ; Init tlic defect in their title, resulting
from tli(> ouiisfsion on the part oftiieir agent to complete his purchase, does
not seem susceptilih.' of any remedy, short of an act of parliament. And
assuredly tlie l(>gislature of Great liritain will ))auso, before it takes from
five hundriMl indiviiluals — sulijects of the eiiijiire, ami entitled to all tlio
riglits of citizenshij), settled in fixed habitations, and cultivating their own
lands — tlie six hundred or seven hundred acres needful to their subsistence.
" Witli regard to the second purchase, that from some of the principal
chiefs of the Kawia tribe, it is difficult to conceive that any claim can bo
seriously founded upon it. The deed professes to comprise all the land
between the 3J)th degree of soutli latitude, on the west coast, and the 431 d
degree of south latitude, including tlio possessions of several independent
tribes, as well as all the places occupied by the tiibe to Avhicli the parties
to tlio deed belongeil. To suijjiose that tlio persons wlio signed this deec.
liad any idea of its nature, would Ijc opposed to anything Avhich ex[)erienco
has disclosed with reference to the native character. And with regard to
this alleged purchase, the chiefs, who were parties to the contract, hav(> vi-
gorously, and hitherto successfully, resisted every attempt on the part of
the purchasers under the Company to settle upon their territories. In
Port Nicholson the inconveniences resultingfrom tlie pretensions of the New
Zealand Company to dispose of land to which tliey have no valid title, have
been mainly felt by the natives. In the neighliouring district of Pararua,
alleged to have been purchased from the Kawia tribe, the incouveuieuco
lias fallen upon the colonists."
Tin; attention of tlu; Directors of the Coiiipany, in this coun-
trv, has been tailed to these ])oints, and it is believed that
thcv have obtained their favourable consideration; \etnnicli
nnist de])end on the Colonial Government, and on the disjio-
silion entertained towards the nati\es by the colonists Ihcin-
seJves, ])oints to which those who have friends who have
already emigrated to New Zealand, or may be about to do so,
woidd do well to keep their attention alive.
TASMANIA.
It is with feelinj^s of nnicii sorrow tiiat tlie Committee ad-
vert to the Aborigines of Van J)ienuurs Land. These na-
tives, in 1S3J, were all (excepting four ])ersons) driven, by
order of the Government, from their hunting groinids to
riiuder's Island, and we lind, by the latest accounts, are now
reduced to but a small remnant of lllty- seven persons. This
40
interesting class of onr fellow-men, a few years since occu-
pying a fine island of one hundrcrl and sixty-five miles from
north to south, and one hundred and fortv-five from
east to west, and amounting in numbers, according to the tes-
timony of Cook, and the French navigators in search of La
Perouse, and the abundant testimony of early colonists, to
some thousands ; and remarkable, it appears, for their shrewd-
ness, natural sagacity, and benevolence, will, in all probabi-
lity, in the course of a few years, be numbered among the
extinct nations. It will then be impossible for the un])rcju-
diced and reilecting mind to study their history without ar-
riving at the conclusion, that a simple but noble-minded race
have been consigned to a premature grave, by a nation pro-
fessing to be guided by the principles of that religion which
breathes " peace on earth and good-will to men ;" but whose
conduct, in reference to these untutored inhabitants of the
forest, it is impossible to reconcile with feelings ofhumanitv,
or even with principles of justice and sound policy.
TUK KiND.