other they are respectful, peaceable, and inoffensive. Sudden anger is
looked upon as ignominious and unbecoming, and, except in liquor, they
seldom differ with their neighbour, or ever do him any harm or injury. As
for riches they have none; nor covet any; and while they have plenty of
provisions, they allow none to suffer through want: if they are
successful at hunting, all their unfortunate or distressed friends share
with them the common blessings of life.

Although in some particular customs the separate tribes of Indians differ
from each other, yet in their general principles and mode of government
they are very similar. All have general rules, with respect to other
independent tribes around them, which they carefully observe. The great
concerns relating to war or peace, are canvassed in assemblies of
deputies from all the different towns. When injuries are committed, and
Indians of one tribe happen to be killed by those of another, then such a
meeting is commonly called. If no person appears on the side of the
aggressors, the injured nation deputes one of their warriors to go to
them, and, in name of the whole tribe, to demand satisfaction: if this is
refused, and they think themselves able to undertake a war against the
aggressors, then a number of warriors, commonly the relations of the
deceased, take the field for revenge, and look upon it as a point of
honour never to leave it till they have killed the same number of the
enemy that had been slain of their kinsmen. Having accomplished this,
they return home with their scalps, and by some token let their enemy
know that they are satisfied. But when the nation to whom the aggressors
belong, happen to be disposed to peace, they search for the murderers,
and they are, by the general judgment of the nation, capitally punished,
to prevent involving others in their quarrel; which act of justice is
performed often by the aggressor's nearest relations. The criminal never
knows of his condemnation until the moment the sentence is to be put in