The Indians appeared well satisfied with the offer that had been made them, and the prospect of the young men staying among them to assist them. The women, especially, who had great reason to coincide with the views of Friends in this business, appeared to be well satisfied; for in proportion to the rude and uncultivated state of these people, are the hardships of their women increased; they having most of the drudgery to perform; such as hoeing corn, chopping wood, carrying burthens, &c. while their men are sporting with their bows and arrows, and other similar diversions.
It was supposed the Oneidas at this time possessed about two hundred and forty square miles of land. They were, in number, about six hundred and twenty. They had a saw-mill, built by government, and a considerable number of cattle, horses, and some working oxen. With these, and their annuities from the government, they might, with a proper application on their part, have become good livers, abounding in the necessary comforts of life. But such were their excessive indolence, want of economy, and love of strong drink, that instead of improving the means in their power to make themselves comfortable, they were poor and wretched; and many of them, a great part of the year, almost reduced to a state of starvation. The little corn and other produce the women raised with their hoes, were frequently bartered for strong drink. The evil effects of this practice, Friends were particularly concerned to remark, in their councils; and some exertions were said to have been used by their chiefs, to prevent strong liquor from being sold in their villages.
Friends also had a council with the Brotherton Indians, about nine miles from the Stockbridges, composed of fifty-six families, and possessed of about nine thousand nine hundred acres of land. They also had a saw-mill, and a considerable number of cattle and other animals. They also had an interview with a smaller tribe of the Tuscaroras, who lived on the Oneida’s land, and furnished them with some goods, and implements of husbandry, encouraging them to industry, and sober habits, whereby they might partake plentifully of the blessings of the Great Spirit. They had further satisfactory interviews with the Stockbridge Indians, and in addition to the implements of husbandry they had given them, presented them with a set of smiths’ tools. At the close of their communications, an old chief replied to them as follows:—
“Brothers, I am glad to see you, in my heart, and to hear your good words—you use us just like a father—I am old—have lost all my family—and cannot live many days—but all this spring, I think the Great Spirit will send me some comfort in my trouble—but nobody say any thing to me, till now, you are come,—I wish I was young, then I would do what you say—I will go and see your young men at Oneida, every two or three days, and tell our young men how you do.”
The principal chief of the nation, on behalf of the rest, expressed much satisfaction for the kind offers Friends had made them, especially for the smiths’ tools; stating that they had suffered much for the want of them, having had to go many miles, and sometimes lose many days, to get one link of a chain mended.
The committee who accompanied the young men, now having spent near a month in the Indian country, and having obtained a house to accommodate them, and got satisfactory arrangements made between them and the Indians, set out homewards. On their way, about thirty miles westward of Oneida, they called to see a small tribe of the Onondaga Indians. They were about one hundred and thirty-five in number, and possessed about twelve thousand eight hundred acres of good land, but were in a poor and miserable condition, spending their time in idleness, and much given to intemperance; even pawning the blankets they received from government, for liquor, before they got them home. Friends had an interview with them, and endeavoured to impress them with the necessity of a change in their manner of life, and the advantage that would arise from habits of industry and sobriety; letting them know that they were willing to help them a little, but that their main object was to get them to help themselves.
They also visited a small tribe of the Cayuga Indians, about seventy miles westward from Oneida, said to be about sixty in number, in a similar situation to the Onondagas. To these the committee promised to send some implements of husbandry, which were afterwards furnished them.
The three young men now stationed at Oneida, began to set before the natives an example of industry, and to use endeavours to promote in them a like disposition; but they, being unaccustomed to labour, and naturally averse to habits of industry, continued in their former pursuits. Friends then improved a piece of land, without assistance from the natives, hoping some of them would be induced to follow their example. They also repaired and worked a saw-mill, belonging to the Oneidas, and instructed several of the Indians in the knowledge of sawing.
In the fall of this year, one of the young men returned home, and another who offered his services, went forward to that station.
The ensuing winter, Friends opened a school for the instruction of the children, and an Indian, qualified by an education in New England, taught the Stockbridge children, and was allowed a salary by Friends for several years.