THE COUNCIL OF QUADRUPEDS. lio

settlers, who trust almost solely to the sudden ex-
plosions which they can direct against us at their plea-
sure with such deadly effect. The possession of this
power more than counterbalances their deficiencies of
courage or of skill, and in its application they are
often prompted by the most wanton cruelty; for not
only we, but their own species also, whose only offence
appears to be a darker skin, are shot for their amuse-
nent. When their passions are excited by a real or
supposed injury, their barbarity knows no bounds:
of this I shall relate an instance, from which the as-
sembly may perceive the perfidiousness as well as
power of the beings whose destruction forms the sub-
ject of our debate :— ‘

“Soon after the settlement of the whites in cur
neighbourhood, the natives had great cause for com-
plaint: they were deprived, on various pretexts, of
their most fertile grounds, they were driven farther
into the interior, and many of them were put to death :
at last, being goaded to desperation, they took their
weapons, and, attacking the nearest settlements, killed
several of the whites, and put the rest to flight.
Having collected the sheep and oxen (who have always
been slaves to man), they returned in triumph, think-
ing their enemies would never dare to approach them
again. But they were deceived. Before the expira-
tion of two moons, a great number of the whites were
collected, and marched against them. They spread
death and desolation throughout the country, and pur-
sued the natives from one place to another, until they
reached the river, near which we are now assembled.
There they halted ; and messengers of peace appeared
among the whites, offering restitution, and craving
forgiveness. A day was appointed when the terms of
reconciliation were to be agreed upon, and on that day,
from a neighbouring grove, I witnessed the proceed-
ings. Many hundreds of the natives were assembled
on the sloping bank of the river. The cattle were
giver up, and the boundaries of their future posses