dant reward for all the fatigues and privations I have endured in so long a tour, in so hot a season, and far away from my family. I am, dear Sir, with high consideration and esteem,

Your obedient Servant,

JEDIDIAH MORSE.

Hon. JOHN C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

1. On the difficulties peculiar to this subject, of which the reader of this report should be apprized in the outset. Accuracy in regard to the names, numbers, and situations of the numerous Indian Tribes, which are spread over our widely extended territory; and in the spelling of their names, seeing that these tribes, in not a single instance, have a written language, is not pretended, nor must absolute correctness be expected.

The nature of these subjects precludes accuracy. No individual can visit the whole territory inhabited by the Indians and personally make the necessary inquiries. Even this, could it be done, would not prevent mistakes. Information is derived from many sources, on which different degrees of reliance are to be placed. No standard of spelling and pronouncing Indian names, has yet been agreed on, though we have several learned and able dissertations on this subject.* The same tribes are called by different names, by the French, English, and Spaniards, and even by the Indians themselves. The Winebago Tribe, for example, is called by the French, Puant; by the Sioux, Ho-tonka-among themselves their name is O-shun-gu-lap. The Fox Tribe is called by the Chip-pa-was, Ot-tah-gah-mie; by the Sauks, or Sacs, Musquah-kie; by the Sioux, Mich-en-dick-er; by the Winebagoes, O-sher-a-ca; and by the French, Renard: and so of others. Our acquaintance with many tribes is but commencing, and with many

*By P. S. Duponceau, Esq. Rev. John Heckewelder, Hon. John Pickering, Esq. Rev. Dr. Jarvis, and others.

more, contained in our Table, we have only the uncertain information of travellers, who have barely passed through, or only near, their villages. I can only say, I have been fully aware of these difficulties, and have met them with diligence and fidelity, and have employed my best and most assiduous endeavors to lay before the Government, as full and correct a view of the numbers and actual situation of the whole Indian population within their jurisdiction, as my information and materials would admit. It is a subject, indeed, in which accuracy is not now required. Enough is given for present use;-enough to show us our object with sufficient distinctness, and to commence our operations for the attainment of it. Our advances in knowledge of the names, numbers and situation of the western tribes, will keep pace with the advance of our operations. We shall always know enough on this subject, to enable us to do present duty.

2. My second remark relates to the nature of the composition of this report. The body of it is not intended to be original, but to consist of existing facts and materials, now scattered in many books and manuscripts, which it is important should be collected and arranged, for convenient use, under proper heads. To accomplish this, so far as it has been accomplished in this volume, has cost no small labor.

The length of the report will excite no surprize in the mind of any one, who will reflect a moment on the extent of my commissions, the magnitude of the subject, the number and variety of facts and materials relating to it, and the deep interest happily excited concerning it, both in the civil and religious community.

Names, Numbers and places of Residence, of Indian Tribes in the United States.

The following article in my instructions, is the first in order: I. "You will particularly ascertain, as far as practicable, the number of the various tribes which you may visit, and those adjacent."

I have taken the liberty to give a liberal construction to this article; and as the object of the government is to attempt the civilization of the Indians generally, I have prepared, with no small labor, from the most authentic materials which I could command, a Statistical Table, embracing the names and numbers of all the tribes within the jurisdiction of the United States, and have accompanied this Table with a map, shewing, as far as is known, where each tribe resides. [The reader is referred to the Table and Map, preceding the Title page.]

II. After the foregoing general tabular and map views, of a preliminary nature, I proceed to give, in order, such particular accounts of the several tribes enumerated in the table, as shall exhibit, what my commission requires, "the actual condition" of the Indian Tribes-particularly "the extent of their respective territories, with the nature of their soil and climate, their modes of life, customs, laws and political institutions, the character and dispositions of their principal and most influential men; the number of schools, their position, the number of teachers-of scholars of each sex, the plan of education, with the degree of success which appears to attend the respective schools, and the disposition, which appears to exist in the tribes, and with their chief men, to promote among them civilization.'

The body of the information collected in compliance with the part of my commission above recited, I have, for obvious reasons, thrown into an Appendix, to which reference may be had for facts and information in detail, to establish and illustrate the different branches of this Report.

In this part of my Report, I shall make general, summary remarks only, on the various nations of Indians, in the order they are mentioned in the Table, beginning with the Remnants of the Tribes remaining in

NEW-ENGLAND.

A particular account of these several tribes is given in the Appendix.* These Indians are all provided for, both as to instruc

tion and comfort, by the governments and religious associations, of the several states in which they reside, as far as they will, in their present situation, receive these blessings. Should the Government of the United States, provide an Asylum for the remnants of these depressed and wretched people, who have been long insulated, corrupting and wasting away in the midst of us, a portion of them might be persuaded to take shelter in it from the ruin which otherwise seems inevitably to await them. The body of them, however, would doubtless prefer to remain where they are, for this prominent reason, among others, that very few of them are of unmixed blood. The others, having intermarried with the lowest classes of white people and negroes, and feeling no sympathy with Indians of pure blood, would not be comfortable, or happy, or of wholesome influence, if removed and planted among them. In the view given of the history, and present state, of these tribes, we may see the results of past experiments; and continue those means which have been successful, and correct, or abandon those, which have proved abortive. On these tribes, formerly, and on others now extinct, were bestowed the Missionary labors almost single handed, of Eliot, the Mayhews, Edwards, the Sergeants, Kirkland, Wheelock, Badger, Occum and others, whose zeal, trials, and faithful services, are remembered and recorded on earth, and, we doubt not, in heaven.

NEW-YORK.

In this State, are what remain in the United States, of the celebrated confederacy of the Six Nations, with the Stockbridge, Brotherton, and some of a few other tribes, who are planted on lands given them principally by the Oneidas and Senecas. Of the present state of these Indians, in all the particulars desired by the Government, a full account will be found in the Appendix.* There is a division among them on the subject of removal. The greater part, probably, at present, choose to remain on their several Reservations; and they are supported in this choice by some religious associations and individuals, who believe that they can,

Appendix M.

to more advantage, be civilized where they are, than in any place to which they could be removed. My own opinion, however, and that of many others, and of a large part of the Indians themselves, is different. A removal of these, and of all other reduced tribes, in the settled parts of our country, and their colonization on some sequestered spot, selected and prepared with judgment, and liberality, under the direction and patronage of the Government, would place them in circumstances for improvement, far more eligible than those in which they are now placed. The spot which has been lately selected, and purchased of the Winebago and Menomine Indians, on Fox river, in the N. W. Territory, by a delegation from the Stockbridge, Oneida, St. Regis, and some other tribes, at the head of which was Mr. Eleazer Williams, I consider as judiciously chosen for this purpose. After those who are now willing to go, shall have settled in this chosen and pleasant country, under the auspices of the Government, and some religious Association, who will plant Education Families among them, there is little doubt, in my own mind, but more of these, and other reduced and feeble tribes, and ultimately the whole, or nearly all of this class, will voluntarily, or with a little persuasion and assistance follow them. But more will be found on this prominent subject in the Appendix, F. G. H.

All these tribes remaining in New-York, have been supplied for many years with more or less of religious and moral instruction; several houses for public worship have been erected for their use; schools established, various kinds of mills have been built, tools for husbandry and for carrying on several of the mechanical arts, furnished, and other means employed for the general improvement of these Indians. Besides what has been done for them in these ways by the Legislature and religious Associations of the State in which they reside, the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian Knowledge, the Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North-America, established in Boston and vicinity, and the Corporation of Harvard College, have supported for many years, one or more Missionaries and school-masters among the Oneida and Stockbridge Indians.