arises far more frequently from connexion with negroes, than with whites.

3. Professors of religion are considerably numerous. Perhaps there may be fifty; composed of Congregationalists and Baptists; a few of whom are eminently pious, considerable numbers decent in their lives, and not a few shockingly profligate. The number of men and women are perhaps nearly equal. The state of morals generally is low. Intemperance, with its concomitants, is found among them, as with almost all Indians. They manifest a wish, however, to have their children instructed. Schools are maintained among them at the expense of the plantation; and though increased means of instruction would be desirable, there are few children, who are not taught to read and write.

4. Their territory comprises about 13,000 acres, worth on an average about four dollars an acre; held in joint stock (except what individuals choose to cultivate and enclose, which is theirs, not in fee, but only in tillage) guaranteed to them by the State, managed by a Board of Overseers, appointed by the Governor and Council, and rendered unalienable, except by legislative authority.

5. As to the plan of removing them, were they in favor of the measure, it would scarcely be an object. They are of public utility here, as expert whalemen and manufacturers of various light articles; have lost their sympathy with their brethren of the forest; are in possession of many privileges, peculiar to a coast, indented by the sea; their local attachments are strong; they are tenacious of their lands; of course, the idea of alienating them and removing to a distance, would be very unpopular. This is evident from the feelings manifested by those whom I have sounded on the subject; I have reason, therefore, to believe the scheme would not take with them.

6. As to the Indians of Marshpee, they are, I think, diminishing, though rather slowly. The proximate cause of diminution is their vices, occasioned, I conceive, chiefly by their concern in whaling, and their unavoidable connexion with whites, whose vices they imitate, particularly the sin which most easily besets Indians, an intemperate use of ardent spirits. If industrious and sober, they might live with the greatest comfort, and be respecta

ble. Their connexion with the State, and with those immediately superintending their affairs, is a very happy one, did they but know the things pertaining to their happiness.

7. At Herring Pond, there are not more than forty people of color. Their territory is considerable; but their affairs are embarrassed, and probably at no distant day, Government will see fit to dispose of their land, and perhaps remove them to Marshpee. I preach to them as often as one-sabbath in six or seven. They are fourteen miles from this place. Both at Marshpee and Herring Pond, there is a public allowance from the State for schools. A large proportion of their children live in white families, as servants, and then the stipulation with their masters or mistresses always is, that they be taught to read and write, and frequently to manage domestic affairs, or the occupation of their master or mistress."

The Rev. Mr. Thaxter, the venerable minister of Edgarton, on Martha's Vineyard, writes thus, to Rev. Dr. Holmes, Secretary to the Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North America.

Af

"There was, early after the settlement of the Island, much pains taken by the Mayhews to Christianize the Natives. They were remarkably successful. The Natives of Gay Head made a grant of a large tract of land at Gay Head for the express purpose of obtaining instruction for themselves and their children."* ter giving some account of their jealousies and disputes about this land, which they now consider as secure in their own hands, he observes: "Were they possessed of common prudence, such are the advantages they enjoy, they might contribute considerable to their own instruction. They are as jealous of one another, as they are of the white people. Those who have no children will not consent that their overseers shall apply any of their income for the instruction of the children of others. I consider the intruction

*This is a tract of land, probably granted by the Indians of this island many years sgo, to the Society in England, for propagating the Gospel in Foreign parts, to enable that Society to extend the means of instruction among our Indians. The revolutionary war interrupted their operations in this country, which have never since been renewed, and this valuable property, it seems, has reverted to the descendants of the Indians, who gave it.

of these poor creatures an object of importance. I have been acquainted with them for near forty years, and am fully persuaded, that schooling the children ought to be the first object; preaching to them the second. Farm Neck and Christian Town are trifling objects, compared with Gay Head and Chab-aquiddick.† I am often at Chab-aquiddick. They appear thankful for the instruction afforded them. I often admonish them to be attentive; that if they are not, I must report them to the Society, and then they will lose their Instructor. They appear to feel it. It is true, we think we see but little good in preaching to these people; did we not take into consideration what evils we probably prevent, who would not be discouraged, and give up the cause, saying, I have labored in vain, and spent my strength for naught? Having put our hands to the plough, we must not look back."

Mr. Baylies, an active and successful Missionary on Martha's Vineyard, 1819, writes to Dr. Holmes: "In my visits (among the Indians on Martha's Vineyard) my feelings are often hurt. The universal complaint is, "Our children are suffering for want of a school, and we are not able to support one. Can you help us?" Women schools, superintended by a man, would be productive of great good."" In my schools I had one hundred and thirty-two scholars; one hundred and twenty-two were colored; eleven were married people. In all the schools, I should say, there were one hundred and fifty colored scholars, of both sexes. Teachers of some of the schools were colored men and women. These schools are very pleasing to the Indians." Specimens of writing from seventy of the Indian scholars, left with the Secretary, do great honor to the schools, and furnish good encouragement to their continuance.

The

Mr. Baylies visited Troy, was well received by the Indians there, forty-eight in number. They have a decent house with two rooms, one for religious worship, the other for a school.

The Legislature of the State has recently granted three hundred dollars to the Indians at Chab-aquiddick, "to build a suitable house for public worship and a school." The house is built and dedicated. The effect on the Indians is happy, and the prospect of future benefit to them promising.

† An Island east of the Vineyard.

The facts stated concerning the tribes above enumerated, shew the extent and value of several of their Reservations; evince the dispositions, both of the old and young, in regard to schools; the capacities of their youth to receive instruction; their relation to the government of the states in which they reside; their situation as to civil priviliges; their feelings on the subject of a division of their lands and having individual property; of removal from their present places of abode; in regard to the christian religion and its institutions; and the effects of their connexion and intercourse both with the white and black population around them. These results, of long experience, may be of much value to guide in forming plans, and devising measures, to preserve the remaining Indians from extinction.

Rhode-Island.

The only Indians remaining in this State are Narragansetts, at Charlestown, forty miles south-west of Providence, over against Block Island. This tribe, at the period of the first settlement of New-England, was one of the most numerous and powerful in all the country, and were long the terror of the English settlers, and of all the tribes around them. The territory which they occupied was extensive. As late as 1744, they were still so numerous, as that in a remarkable revival of religion, under Rev. Mr. Park of Westerly, sixty-four adults were baptized and received into the Church. Now, their numbers are but four hundred and twentynine. Of these, twenty-two were denominated negroes; the rest are of Indian extraction, but are nearly all, if not every individual, of mixed blood and color, in various degrees and shades. Their territory is reduced to about three thousand acres, the joint property of the tribe, and is estimated to be worth about $50,000 or $60,000.

*

The Society for propagating the gospel among the Indians and others in N. America, support a missionary, and two schools of about fifty scholars, among these Indians, a part of the year.

*Prince's Ch'n. Hist. for 1744.

These schools are in a prosperous state, and doing much good. When these temporary schools cease, those who are disposed, send their children among the white people in their neighborhood.

A regular church, of the Baptist denomination, has been formed among these Indians, who have a house for public worship, the only one in the town. The state of morals among this people is commendable. They are nominally independent, appointing a Council of five members, and a Clerk, from among themselves, to manage their civil affairs. Their lands are unalienable, but with the consent of the Legislature. Formerly they had chiefs, but this title has long since been extinct among them.

As to the subject of removal, they say

"We wish not to be removed into a wild country. We have here farms and houses of our own. Those who will work, may here get a comfortable living; and those who will not work here, would not probably in a wilderness. We have land enough, and wood enough, and living on the salt water, and having boats of our own, have plenty of fish, &c. &c."*

Part of this tribe, emigrated to Oneida and Brotherton, some years ago, with the Rev. Mr. Occum.

Connecticut.

The Mohegans, once a very numerous tribe, whose territories embraced a great part of the present counties of New-London, Windham, Hartford, and Tolland, are now reduced to a small remnant, few of them of unmixed blood, who are the proprietors and occupants, in their manner, of a reservation of about four or five thousand acres of fine land, on the Thames river, half way between New-London and Norwich. A part of the tribe, with other Indians, in all about one hundred and fifty, under the care of Rev. Mr. Occum, by invitation, migrated and settled at Brotherton, near the Stockbridge and Oneida Indians, in New-York. Those who remain have made few advances in any thing which pertains

*The principal part of the foregoing information, was obligingly collected from the Indians, and communicated at my request, by Rev. Oliver Brown, of South Kingston, near the residence of these Indians.