t custom of their old religion, but
used to-day more for the purpose of lighting pipes. Beside the fire a
post stripped of its bark is erected, and on it a fire-bag containing
tobacco for the use of all hands is hung. Around the fire the women
and children spread a carpet of brush, upon which the men sit while
conversing. At such meetings one never hears two Indians talk at
once--a fine example for white people to heed--nor do they openly
contradict one another as the vulgar white man does, for such an
offence would be considered, by the savage, rude--and the offender
would be regarded as no better than a white man; for they believe
themselves to be not only the wisest and the bravest, but the politest
people in the world; and when one stops to compare the average Indian
with the average white man in North America, one must grant that the
savage is right.

In relation to their politeness I can go beyond my own observation and
quote the experience of Sir Alexander Henry--whom they called
Coseagon--while he was held a prisoner.

"I could not let all this pass without modestly remarking that his
account of the beginning of things was subject to great uncertainty as
being trusted to memory only, from woman to woman through so many
generations, and might have been greatly altered, whereas the account I
gave them was written down by direction of the Great Spirit himself and
preserved carefully in a book which was never altered, but had ever
remained the same and was undoubtedly the truth. 'Coseagon,' says
Canassatego, 'you are yet almost as rude as when you first came among
us. When young it seems you were not well taught, you did not learn
the civil behaviour of men. We excused you; it was the fault of your
instructors. But why have you not more improved since you have long
had the opportunity from our example? You see I always believe your
stories. That is, I never contradict them. Why do you not believe
mine?' Contradiction, or a direct denial of the truth of what another
says, is among the Indians deemed extremely rude. Only great
superiority, as of a father to a child, or of an old counsellor to some
boy, can excuse it. Alaquippy and the other Indians kindly made some
apology for me, saying I should be wiser in time, and they concluded
with an observation which they thought very polite and respectful
toward me, that my stories might be best for the white people, but
Indian stories were undoubtedly best for