it is also interesting
as reflective of the attitude of a dramatist with a problem to
propound. "Ponteach" is our first American problem play. Parkman
claims that at least part of it was written by Rogers, thus throwing
doubt on his entire claim to authorship. There is not only a dignity
displayed in the drawing of the main character of the Indian, but
there is a very naive attempt at subtle humour in the characters of
the Englishmen. There is no distinct excellence in depicting Indian
character as such, after the romantic manner of Cooper, although
Rogers, with his English tradition, has been able to lend to his
dialogue a certain dignity of diction which is striking, and which
gives the play a decided literary value. Taken, however, as an
historical document--and Mr. Nevins does this--one can trace in
"Ponteach" the whole range of Rogers's experience as an Indian
fighter. There are constant allusions in the text to matters which Mr.
Nevins has found necessary to explain in copious footnotes, and
therefore to the student I would recommend this single edition of the
play. "Ponteach" is published here, not from a scholarly standpoint,
but simply as an example of early Indian drama.

Of these Indian dramas, there are many examples in the early history
of American playwriting. Laurence Hutton has an entertaining chapter
on the subject in his "Curiosities of the American Stage," in which he
enumerates such titles as "Oroloosa," "Oroonoka," "Miautoumah," to say
nothing of "Hiawatha." "Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags" was
brought to success through the powerful acting of Edwin Forrest,
December 15, 1829. William Wheatley, of the Park Theatre, was likewise
famed for his Indian impersonations. Among other more or less
well-known plays of the species, enumerated by Wegelin, are:

F. DEFFENBACH. "Onliata; or, The Indian Heroine." Philadelphia. 1821.

JOSEPH DODDRIDGE. "Logan: The Last of the Race of Skikellemus, Chief
of the Cayuga Nation." Buffalo Creek, Brooke Co., Va. 1823.

G. W. P. CUSTIS. "The Indian Prophecy." A National Drama in Two Acts,
founded on a most interesting and romantic occurrence in the life of
General Washington. Georgetown. 1828.

NATHANIEL DEERING. "Carrabasset; or, The Last of the Norridgewocks." A
Tragedy in Five Acts. Portland. 1830.

W. H. C. HOSMER. "The Fall of Tecumseh." Avon. 1830.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] These pictures were struck off on October 1, 1776. See Smith's
"British Mezzotin