Murphey. How! Not a Sin to cheat an Indian, say you?
Are they not Men? hav’nt they a Right to Justice
As well as we, though savage in their Manners?
M’Dole. Ah! If you boggle here, I say no more;
This is the very Quintessence of Trade,
And ev’ry Hope of Gain depends upon it;
None who neglect it ever did grow rich,
Or ever will, or can by Indian Commerce.
By this old Ogden built his stately House,
Purchased Estates, and grew a little King.
He, like an honest Man, bought all by weight,
And made the ign’rant Savages believe
That his Right Foot exactly weighed a Pound.
By this for many years he bought their Furs,
And died in Quiet like an honest Dealer.
Murphey. Well, I’ll not stick at what is necessary;
But his Devise is now grown old and stale,
Nor could I manage such a barefac’d Fraud.
M’Dole. A thousand Opportunities present
To take Advantage of their Ignorance;
But the great Engine I employ is Rum,
More pow’rful made by certain strength’ning Drugs.
This I distribute with a lib’ral Hand,
Urge them to drink till they grow mad and valiant;
Which makes them think me generous and just,
And gives full Scope to practise all my Art.
I then begin my Trade with water’d Rum;
The cooling Draught well suits their scorching Throats.
Their Fur and Peltry come in quick Return:
My Scales are honest, but so well contriv’d,
That one small Slip will turn Three Pounds to One;
Which they, poor silly Souls! ignorant of Weights
And Rules of Balancing, do not perceive.
But here they come; you’ll see how I proceed.
Jack, is the Rum prepar’d as I commanded?
Jack. Yes, Sir, all’s ready when you please to call.
M’Dole. Bring here the Scales and Weights immediately;
You see the Trick is easy and conceal’d.
[Showing how to slip the Scale.
Murphey. By Jupiter, it’s artfully contriv’d;
And was I King, I swear I’d knight th’ Inventor.
Tom, mind the Part that you will have to act.
Tom. Ah, never fear; I’ll do as well as Jack.
But then, you know, an honest Servant’s Pain Deserves Reward.