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Journal of Joshua Evans 1795-1796 (E)

SW_JE1796E_Page_51

Indians, I attended also. This was in consequence of Friends concern for their benefit &; advancement in civilized life, and a desire to aff- ord them some assistance by giving them impliments such as axes, howes,&;c. This conference was not so satisfactory as we could desire; these In-dians then shewing rather a coveting disposition, or looking for largergifts from friends than was proper to expect, or for them to be suppliedwith so hastily: perhaps their expectations had been by some meansimprudently raised before our coming to see them. --- Before weparted from this Council, so called, the Indians were informed that attwo hours from that time, I proposed to have a meeting at the same placewhere we now met them. --- In consequensce of which notice a largeNumber of them, men and women came together; It proved to be anexercising Season, life was much wanting; many of them were ignorantin our language, so that an interpreter was made use of, and I felt myself poor at parting. -- I understand that the Portion of Land wchthese Stockbridge Indians possess, is said to be 23,000, Acres, and their number is about three hundred: Also that their yearly income fromthe Government is 600 dollars; which might yield them more benefitif a considerable part of it went not, or was not spent in Strongdrink, which I suppose has manifestly been too often the Case. 5th. Passing thro' the Town of the Tuscarora Tribe (who are but few or about 60 in num-ber) we went to the settlement of Oneida Indians, where was held aCouncil so called. Things here were not very pleasant, The Indians seem