| OCR Text |
Show zi6 THE INDIANS OF THE cinity of Salt Lake City, to possess a single trait of true nobility. The character of Pocahontas in saving the cap tive Smith, is so out of keeping with the character of squaws of the present day, that if I regard her as a specimen of her nation, then I must consider the squaws now debased beyond hope of improvement. But it is now made to appear that Captain Smith's story of Pocahontas saving his life was all a fabrication, and that she possessed none of the remarkable feelings of kindness, or an) other of the good traits generally attributed to her ; that she was a common indecent squaw, perhaps of more than ordinary attractiveness of appear ance, and lionized in England after she became the wife of an Englishman. The Indian does everything through motives of policy. He has none of the kindlier feelings of humanity in him. He is as devoid of gratitude as he is hypocritical and treacherous. He observes a treaty or promise only so long as it is dangerous for him to disregard it, or for his interest, in other ways, to keep it. His selfishness is unequalled by any other people, and is often manifested in the most unnat ural ways. For instance : when a tribe is moving, a " buck " may have two or three extra horses running loose, but he will not allow a brother, or sister, or mother, to ride one of them, though thev may be journeying afoot. Cruelty is inherent in them, and is early manifested in the young pappoose torturing birds, or any little animal that may fall into his hands, and he seems to delight in it ; while the pleasure of the adult in torturing his prisoners is most un questionable. These are usually inflicted by the squaws, because it is supposed to be more mortifying and humiliating to be tor tured by a woman. They are inveterate beggars, but never give unless with a view to receive a more valuable present in return, and then their's is likely to be reclaimed. Hence we hear our children say," I wouldn't make an Indian gift." They lie from principle, as it were. To sum up the whole in a word, they possess every trait of human character that is despicable, and no trait that is noble. |
