Pioneers and Founders | Page 8

of a sudden change is
almost always fatal both to mental and bodily health. This conclusion,
however, has been a matter of slow and sad experience, often confused
by the wretched effects of the vice, barbarity, and avarice of the settler
and seaman, which in many cases have counteracted the effects of the
missionary, and accelerated the extinction of the native.
In John Eliot's time, there was all to hope; and the community of
Englishmen with whom he lived, though stern, fierce, intolerant, and at
times cruel in their intolerance, did not embarrass his work nor corrupt
the Indians by the grosser and coarser vices, when, in his biographer's
words, "our Eliot was on such ill terms with the devil as to alarm him
with sounding the silver trumpets of Heaven in his territories, and make
some noble and zealous endeavours towards ousting him of his ancient
possessions." The Pilgrim Fathers had obtained their land by fair
purchase, i.e. if purchase could be fair where there was no real mutual

understanding; and a good deal of interest had been felt in England in
the religious state of the Red men. The charter to the colony had
enforced their conversion on the settlers, and Dr. Lake, Bishop of Bath
and Wells, declared that but for his old age and infirmities he would
have headed a mission to America for the purpose. Had he done so,
perhaps something systematic might have been attempted. As it was the
new colonists had too severe a struggle with their own difficulties to
attend to their heathen surroundings, even though the seal of their
colony of Massachusetts represented an Indian with the label in his
mouth, "Come over and help us." A few conversions had taken place,
but rather owing to the interest in the White men's worship taken by
individual Indians, than to any efforts on the part of the settlers.
Sixteen years, however, passed without overt aggression, though
already was beginning the sad story that is repeated wherever civilized
man extends his frontiers. The savage finds his hunting-ground broken
up, the White man's farm is ruined by the game or the chase, the
luxuries of civilization excite the natives' desires, mistrust leads to
injury, retaliation follows, and then war.
In 1634, only two years after Eliot's arrival, two gentlemen, with their
boat's crew, were killed on the Connecticut river, and some of the
barbarities took place that we shall too often have to notice--attacks by
the natives on solitary dwellings or lonely travellers, and increasing
anger on the part of the colonists, until they ceased to regard their
enemies as fellow-creatures.
However, the Pequots were likewise at war with the Dutch and with the
Narragansets, or river Indians, and they sent a deputation to endeavour
to make peace with the English, and secure their assistance against
these enemies. They were appointed to return for their answer in a
month's time; and after consultation with the clergy, Mr. Dudley and
Mr. Ludlow, the Governor and Deputy-Governor, decided on making a
treaty with them, on condition of their delivering up the murderers of
the Englishmen, and paying down forty beaver and thirty otter skins,
besides 400 fathoms of wampum, i.e. strings of the small whelks and
Venus-shells that served as current coin, a fathom being worth about

five shillings.
It surprises us that Eliot's name first appears in connection with the
Indians as an objector to this treaty, and in a sermon too, at Roxbury;
not on any grounds of injustice to the Indians, but because it had been
conducted by the magistrates without reference to the people, which
was an offence to his views of the republican rights to be exercised in
the colony. So serious was his objection deemed, that a deputation was
appointed to explain the principles on which Government had acted,
and thus convince Mr. Eliot, which they did so effectually that he
retracted his censure in his next sermon.
Probably this was what first awakened John Eliot's interest in the Red-
skins; but for the next few years, in spite of the treaty, there was a good
deal of disturbance on the frontier, and some commission of cruelties,
until the colonists became gradually roused into fury. Some tribes were
friendly with them; and, uniting with these the Mohicans and river
Indians, under the conduct of Uncas, the Mohican chief, seventy- seven
Englishmen made a raid into the Pequot country and drove them from it.
Then, in 1637, a battle, called "the Great Swamp Fight," took place
between the English, Dutch, and friendly Indians on the one hand, and
the Pequots on the other. It ended in the slaughter of seven hundred of
the Pequots and thirteen of their Sachems. The wife of one of the
Sachems was taken, and as she had protected