Mary Peters.
N. B. This letter my own hand writing, so you may see I learn write.”
The following is an extract of a letter written by one of the Indian girls after her return home, dated the Ninth month, 1803, to one of the women Friends who had engaged in the instruction of the natives at Oneida.
“I have spun some flax and wool since I come home, and made some cheese to show our Indians how to make cheese—they be very much pleased to know how to make cheese—some said they never thought Indians could make cheese so well. They began to try to keep cows ever since to make cheese and butter. Some of them began to sow some flax, and good many of our Indians got sheep—meat good to eat, and wool good for cloth. I hope we will do better every year. Good many have left off drinking, and some of them drink very hard yet. I have been to see Oneidas not long ago—they improve very much since thee come away—good many have new frame houses and frame barns—they improve very much ever since they left off drinking. I believe three hundred of men and women left off drinking this sometime past—I hope they will keep their words good.”
By some information received afterwards, it appears some of these young women married soon after their return and settled themselves to industry, lived well, and some Friends calling to see them, were kindly received and hospitably entertained by them.
After the committee of the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania withdrew their attention from the Oneidas, and those Indians in the vicinity, they came more particularly under the notice of Friends of the Yearly Meeting of New York, who had formed similar plans for the improvement and civilization of the Indian natives.
Friendly intercourse between the Society of Friends, and various nations of Indians.
It seems necessary, in this place, to go back a little in the order of time, and give some account of the interviews with the chiefs and others, of various nations of Indians, who at different times visited Philadelphia.