200 TE-CUM-SEH.
up every thing and preparing to run away the other, without letting his red children know what his intentions are. You always told us to remain here and take care of our lands ; it made our hearts glad to hear that was your wish. Our great father, the king, is the head, and you represent him. You always told us that you would never draw your foot off British ground ; but now, father, we see you are drawing back, and we are sorry to see our father doing so without seeing the enemy. We must compare our father's conduct to a fat dog, that carries its tail upon its back, but when affrighted, it drops it between its legs and runs off.
" Father, listen ! The Americans have not yet defeated us by land ; neither are we sure that they have done so by water : ive therefore tvish to remain here and fight our enemy, should they make their appearance. If they defeat us, we will then retreat with our father.
" At the battle of the Rapids, last war, the Americans certainly defeated us ; and, when we retreated to our father's fort at that place, the gates were shut against us. We were afraid that it would now be the case ; but instead of that, we now see our British father preparing to march out of his garrison.
" Father ! You have got the arms and ammunition which our great father sent for his red children. If you have an idea of going away, give them to us, and you may go, and welcome for us. Our lives are in the hands of the Great Spirit. We are determined to defend our lands, and if it be His will, we wish to leave our bones upon them."
Extract from Lieutenant Hall's Travels. — Vide ante, page 144.
Having described the Six Nations, or Indians of the Grand River, the author thus continues : —
" The whole of the settlements are reckoned to furnish about five hundred warriors to our government. These, if not the best, are certainly the dearest of our allies : besides the support of them- selves and their families during war, several thousands are expended annually in clothing and nicknacks, under the name of presents. Every accidental loss, from failure of crops, or other disasters, they are in the habit of expecting should be made good by the liberality of their " Great Father,' whose means and generosity they are well disposed to consider as unbounded ; an idea which his agents are little careful to repress. During the late war they behaved with the cautious courage of German auxiliaries, evidently considering
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