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Minutes of the Committee on Indian Concern No 1

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Indians for many years &; at present lives in their settlement, he having liberty to cultivate land for himself &; his family; the Natives appear better cloathed than the Oneidas, they received us very courteously &; we had a satisfactory time with them which was greatly increased when we were informed not only by themselves but the Interpreter, that they had totally refrained from the use of ardent spirits for abt. nine years &; that none of the natives will touch it; they spoke of the Divers Great Spirit &; of its divers influence with as much perspicuity as perhaps could be conveyed in any language their number consists of One hundred &; sixty, men, women &; children; they possess about twelve thousand acres of land &; after they were recommended to labor more on the ground, they signified they were willing so to do, but never having been much taught &; not having the necessary implements to work with, they have not been able to make any great advance therein; they informed us that they had received some