convenience and advantage. It was this connection that induced the native
inhabitants of the forest, peaceably to admit stranger differing so much
in complexion, language and manners, among them and allow them to clear
and cultivate their lands.

From the ignorance of Englishmen with respect to the policy and customs
of these wild tribes, they must have been exposed to numberless dangers
in the earlier periods of their commercial intercourse. At first, the
rude manners of the western savages must have been equally strange to the
European, as the civilized manners of eastern nations to the Indian. The
commerce itself served to enhance the danger; for although Indians lived
much dispersed, yet they united under one chief, and formed different
towns, all the lands around which they claimed as their property. The
boundaries of their hunting grounds being carefully fixed, each tribe was
tenacious of its possessions, and fired with resentment at the least
encroachment on them. Every individual looked on himself as a proprietor
of all the lands claimed by the whole tribe, and bound in honour to
defend them. This may serve to account for many umbrages (which we shall
afterwards have occasion to mention) taken by Indians in general at
purchases made and titles obtained by private persons, and even by
particular provinces: for no Indian, however great his influence and
authority, could give away more than his own right to any tract of land,
which, in proportion, is no more than as one man to the whole tribe. To
all such gifts the concurrence and consent of the whole nation must be
obtained. Here a large source of difference and quarrels opened, and a
foolish bargain of an individual often exposed the European settlers to
the fury and vengeance of the whole clan.

[Sidenote] General remarks on the manners, government and religion,
_&c._ of the Indians.