The Committee appointed to make a visit to the Indians
on Long Island
We, of the Committee appointed to make a visit to the
Indian Natives
on the Eastern part of Long
Island
report
That in pursuing the object of our appointment
we found but two
settlements that appeared to claim out
attention, which was more
particularly directed to the
situation of the Montauk Tribe
extremity of the Island into which we have made
careful inspection; we found them compasing a settlement
of about seventeen houses & wigwams & numbering about
Eighty five individuals, of whom a considerable part is absent;
amongst those who remain is a number of ancient widows
whose situation excited our sympathy
This Tribe have the occupancy during the season of
tillage of a very
fertile tract of land of about a Thousand
Acres, which they improve
to less advantage than we could
desire being too generally
indolent, averse to applying them
selves to husbandry & much
addicted to the use of ardent
Spirits; a number of their young men
are engaged
in fishing & whaling & a considerable
proportion of their
youth placed out in the neighbouring town of
East