"The hospitality of the Indians
is well-known. It extends even
to strangers who take refuge among
them. They count it a most sacred
duty, from which no one is exempt-
ed. "Whoever refuses relief to any
one commits a grievous offence,
and not only makes himself de-
tested and abhorred by all, but
liable to revenge from the offended
person. In their conduct towards
their enemies they are cruel and
inexorable, and when enraged,
bent upon nothing but murder and
bloodshed. They are however re-
markable for concealing their pas-
sions, and waiting for a convenient
opportunity of gratifying them.
But then their fury knows no
bounds. If they cannot satisfy
their resentment, they will even
call upon their friends and poste-
rity to do it. The longest space
of time cannot cool their wrath,
nor the most distant place of refuge
afford security to their enemy"
(Loskiel, History of the Mission
of the United Brethren among the
North American Indians , Part I.
ch. 2. p. 15).
"Charlevoix observes (says Dr.
Ferguson, Essay on Civil Society,
Part II. § 2. p. 145) , that the na-
tions among whom he travelled in
North America never mentioned
acts of generosity or kindness un-
der the notion of duty. They acted
from affection, as they acted from
appetite , without regard to its
consequences. When they had done
a kindness, they had gratified a
desire; the business was finished
and it passed from the memory.
