from people a great while ago that they knew no-
thing of. There is also near this lake, as we are in-
formed, the appearance of old forts, curiously made
in ancient time, where pieces of earthenware are
often found, though large trees are now standing in
the entrenchments, of which the present Indians
can give no account. We seem pretty generally led
to believe, from various circumstances, that the na-
tives of this land must be the descendants of old
Jacob, and are of the scattered tribes, who probably
found their way here through Russia

, and crossed
over the narrow strait from Kamschatka to the west
side of America. Be all this as it may, we find them
here in great numbers, at present a savage, barbarous
people when at war, and more particularly when in-
toxicated with strong drink, which has been intro-
duced by the white people that suppose themselves
by far their superiors in religious and natural under-
standing. Happy would it have been for them and
us, had we used those superior talents, in mercy
conferred upon us, more to the honour of God, by
following the example of our holy leader, Christ
Jesus, who said he came not to destroy men's lives,
but to save them. May all Christendom more and
more labour to experience a renovation of heart and
mind, submitting and conforming to the will of hea-
ven in all our conduct, consistent with the design of
our creation. Then might we have reason to hope
for a blessing on our labours, tending to stop the
effusion of human blood, and the establishment of
Christ's kingdom on the mountain of love and holi-
ness, where the lion and the lamb might lie down
together, there being nothing to make us afraid.
In the afternoon we re-embarked and returned to