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Although the way has not yet opened to comply with the request in the foregoing communication, the committee were encouraged to persevere in their services the present year, in rendering such aid for the benefit of this poor afflicted people, as the limited means within their power would, under the direction of best wisdom enable them to do.
Some account of the proceedings of Friends of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
This concern for improving the condition of our red brethren, having been opened and spread in the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore, in the fall of 1795, and the minds of Friends being much united, and actuated by benevolent motives to promote this desirable object, referred the same to a special committee, to proceed therein as way might open, to render essential service to these aboriginal inhabitants. Accordingly their attention was turned to some of the Indian tribes north-west of the river Ohio, and a deputation was delegated to visit the Shawaneese, Delawares, Wyandots and such other natives in those parts as they might find practicable. They proceeded thereon, in the summer of 1796, after having first obtained the approbation of the general government.
When they arrived at the forks of the Muskingum river, where they had been informed a considerable number of Indians were collected, they found to their great disappointment, that the chiefs and hunters were dispersed: and it not appearing practicable to convene them at that time, to have a suitable conference with them, they returned without accomplishing the object of their visit. They, however, saw divers hunters and others, who appeared well disposed to receive the instruction and assistance which Friends proposed to furnish them.
In the spring of 1797, three Friends again proceeded to that country on an embassy, to inquire into the real situation of the Indian tribes; in the course of which visit, having passed by a number of their hunting camps and several of their towns, they had a large opportunity of discovering their destitute condition, often exposed to the inclemency of the weather, with a very precarious, and often a very scanty supply of food and clothing. They suffered all the miseries of extreme poverty, in a country which from its great fertility, would, with but little cultivation, supply them abundantly with all the necessaries of life.
These Friends had opportunities with some of the chiefs and hunters of the Wyandot and Delaware nations, in which they informed them of the views of the society of Friends, relative to their improvement; and endeavoured to impress on their minds the advantages they would derive, from permitting to be introduced among their people, a knowledge of agriculture, and some of the most useful mechanic arts.
The Indians were attentive to their communications, and promised to lay these matters before their grand council, and inform Friends of their conclusions on the subject.