CHAPTER XVIII — THE INDIANS
113. The Life of an Indian Trader (1735-1775)
BY JAMES ADAIR (1775)
Adair spent a great part of his life among the Indians, and his account of them is one of the best that we have. — Bibliography : Tyler, American Literature, I, 154-157; Channing and Hart, Guide, §§ 80, 104, 131. — For other extracts on the Indians, see Contemporaries, I, Index.
I SHALL now describe the domestic life of the Indians, and the traders among them. The Indians settle themselves in towns or villages after an easy manner ; the houses are not too close to incommode one another, nor too far distant for social defence. If the nation where the English traders reside, is at war with the French, or their red confederates, which is the same, their houses are built in the middle of the town, if desired, on account of greater security. But if they are at peace with each other, both the Indians and traders chuse to settle at a very convenient distance, for the sake of their live stock, especially the latter, for the Indian youth are as destructive to the pigs and poultry, as so many young wolves or foxes. Their parents now only give them ill names for such misconduct, calling them mad ; but the mischievous, and thievish, were formerly sure to be dry-scratched, which punishment hath been already described.
Most of the Indians have clean, neat, dwelling houses, white-washed within and without, either with decayed oyster-shells, coarse-chalk, or white marly clay ; one or other of which, each of our Indian nations abounds with, be they ever so far distant from the sea-shore : the Indians, as well as the traders, usually decorate their summer-houses with this favourite white-wash. — The former have likewise each a corn-house, fowl-house, and a hot-house, or stove for winter : and so have the traders likewise separate store-houses for their goods, as well as to contain the proper remittances received in exchange.
The traders hot-houses are appropriated to their young-rising prolific family, and their well-pleased attendants, who are always as kindly treated
327
