Now I Am Gone So Far In Giving An Account Of The Indians Temper,
I Will Proceed; And Can Give
You no other Character of them,
but that they are a very wary People, and are never hasty or impatient.
They will endure a great many Misfortunes, Losses, and Disapointments
without shewing themselves, in the least, vex'd or uneasy.
When they go by Water, if there proves a Head-Wind, they never vex and fret,
as the Europeans do, and let what Misfortune come to them,
as will or can happen, they never relent. Besides, there is one Vice
very common every where, which I never found amongst them,
which is Envying other Mens Happiness, because their Station is not equal to,
or above, their Neighbours. Of this Sin I cannot say I ever saw an Example,
though they are a People that set as great a Value upon themselves,
as any sort of Men in the World; upon which Account they find something
Valuable in themselves above Riches. Thus, he that is a good Warriour,
is the proudest Creature living; and he that is an expert Hunter, is esteem'd
by the People and himself; yet all these are natural Vertues and Gifts,
and not Riches, which are as often in the Possession of a Fool as a Wise-man.
Several of the Indians are possess'd of a great many Skins, Wampum,
Ammunition, and what other things are esteem'd Riches amongst them;
yet such an Indian is no more esteem'd amongst them, than any other
ordinary Fellow, provided he has no personal Endowments, which are
the Ornaments that must gain him an Esteem among them; for a great Dealer,
amongst the Indians, is no otherwise respected and esteemed,
than as a Man that strains his Wits, and fatigues himself, to furnish others
with Necessaries of Life, that live much easier and enjoy more of the World,
than he himself does, with all his Pelf.
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