Thenaturalprincipleofwaristodothemostharmtoourenemy
　　withtheleastharmtoourselves；andthisofcourseistobeeffected
　　bystratagem。Thatchivalrouscouragewhichinducesustodespise
　　thesuggestionsofprudence，andtorushinthefaceofcertain
　　danger，istheoffspringofsociety，andproducedbyeducation。It
　　ishonorable，becauseitisinfactthetriumphofloftysentiment
　　overaninstinctiverepugnancetopain，andoverthoseyearningsafter
　　personaleaseandsecurity，whichsocietyhascondemnedasignoble。It
　　iskeptalivebyprideandthefearofshame；andthusthedreadof
　　realevilisovercomebythesuperiordreadofanevilwhichexists
　　butintheimagination。Ithasbeencherishedandstimulatedalsoby
　　variousmeans。Ithasbeenthethemeofspirit—stirringsongand
　　chivalrousstory。Thepoetandminstrelhavedelightedtoshedround
　　itthesplendorsoffiction；andeventhehistorianhasforgotten
　　thesobergravityofnarration，andbrokenforthintoenthusiasmand
　　rhapsodyinitspraise。Triumphsandgorgeouspageantshavebeenits
　　reward：monuments，onwhicharthasexhausteditsskill，and
　　opulenceitstreasures，havebeenerectedtoperpetuateanation’s
　　gratitudeandadmiration。Thusartificiallyexcited，couragehasrisen
　　toanextraordinaryandfactitiousdegreeofheroism：andarrayedin
　　alltheglorious"pompandcircumstanceofwar，"thisturbulent
　　qualityhasevenbeenabletoeclipsemanyofthosequiet，but
　　invaluablevirtues，whichsilentlyennoblethehumancharacter，and
　　swellthetideofhumanhappiness。
　　Butifcourageintrinsicallyconsistsinthedefianceofdanger
　　andpain，thelifeoftheIndianisacontinualexhibitionofit。He
　　livesinastateofperpetualhostilityandrisk。Periland
　　adventurearecongenialtohisnature；orratherseemnecessaryto
　　arousehisfacultiesandtogiveaninteresttohisexistence。
　　Surroundedbyhostiletribes，whosemodeofwarfareisbyambushand
　　surprisal，heisalwayspreparedforfight，andliveswithhisweapons
　　inhishands。Astheshipcareersinfearfulsinglenessthroughthe
　　solitudesofocean；—asthebirdminglesamongcloudsandstorms，
　　andwingsitsway，amerespeck，acrossthepathlessfieldsofair；—
　　sotheIndianholdshiscourse，silent，solitary，butundaunted，
　　throughtheboundlessbosomofthewilderness。Hisexpeditionsmayvie
　　indistanceanddangerwiththepilgrimageofthedevotee，orthe
　　crusadeoftheknight—errant。Hetraversesvastforests，exposedto
　　thehazardsoflonelysickness，oflurkingenemies，andpiningfamine。
　　Stormylakes，thosegreatinlandseas，arenoobstaclestohis
　　wanderings：inhislightcanoeofbarkhesports，likeafeather，on
　　theirwaves，anddarts，withtheswiftnessofanarrow，downthe
　　roaringrapidsoftherivers。Hisverysubsistenceissnatchedfrom
　　themidstoftoilandperil。Hegainshisfoodbythehardshipsand
　　dangersofthechase：hewrapshimselfinthespoilsofthebear，
　　thepanther，andthebuffalo，andsleepsamongthethundersofthe
　　cataract。
　　NoheroofancientormoderndayscansurpasstheIndianinhis
　　loftycontemptofdeath，andthefortitudewithwhichhesustains
　　itscruellestinfliction。Indeedweherebeholdhimrisingsuperiorto
　　thewhiteman，inconsequenceofhispeculiareducation。Thelatter
　　rushestogloriousdeathatthecannon’smouth；theformercalmly
　　contemplatesitsapproach，andtriumphantlyenduresit，amidstthe
　　variedtormentsofsurroundingfoesandtheprotractedagoniesof
　　fire。Heeventakesaprideintauntinghispersecutors，andprovoking
　　theiringenuityoftorture；andasthedevouringflamespreyonhis
　　veryvitals，andthefleshshrinksfromthesinews，heraiseshislast
　　songoftriumph，breathingthedefianceofanunconqueredheart，and
　　invokingthespiritsofhisfatherstowitnessthathedieswithout
　　agroan。
　　Notwithstandingtheobloquywithwhichtheearlyhistorianshave
　　overshadowedthecharactersoftheunfortunatenatives，somebright
　　gleamsoccasionallybreakthrough，whichthrowadegreeof
　　melancholylustreontheirmemories。Factsareoccasionallytobe
　　metwithintherudeannalsoftheeasternprovinces，which，though
　　recordedwiththecoloringofprejudiceandbigotry，yetspeakfor
　　themselves；andwillbedweltonwithapplauseandsympathy，when
　　prejudiceshallhavepassedaway。
　　InoneofthehomelynarrativesoftheIndianwarsinNewEngland，
　　thereisatouchingaccountofthedesolationcarriedintothetribe
　　ofthePequodIndians。Humanityshrinksfromthecold—bloodeddetail
　　ofindiscriminatebutchery。Inoneplacewereadofthesurprisalof
　　anIndianfortinthenight，whenthewigwamswerewrappedin
　　flames，andthemiserableinhabitantsshotdownandslainin
　　attemptingtoescape，"allbeingdespatchedandendedinthecourseof
　　anhour。"Afteraseriesofsimilartransactions，"oursoldiers，"as
　　thehistorianpiouslyobserves，"beingresolvedbyGod’sassistanceto
　　makeafinaldestructionofthem，"theunhappysavagesbeinghunted
　　fromtheirhomesandfortresses，andpursuedwithfireandsword，a
　　scanty，butgallantband，thesadremnantofthePequodwarriors，with
　　theirwivesandchildren，tookrefugeinaswamp。
　　Burningwithindignation，andrenderedsullenbydespair；with
　　heartsburstingwithgriefatthedestructionoftheirtribe，and
　　spiritsgalledandsoreatthefanciedignominyoftheirdefeat，
　　theyrefusedtoasktheirlivesatthehandsofaninsultingfoe，
　　andpreferreddeathtosubmission。
　　Asthenightdrewontheyweresurroundedintheirdismalretreat，
　　soastorenderescapeimpracticable。Thussituated，theirenemy
　　"pliedthemwithshotallthetime，bywhichmeansmanywerekilled
　　andburiedinthemire。"Inthedarknessandfogthatprecededthe
　　dawnofdaysomefewbrokethroughthebesiegersandescapedinto
　　thewoods："therestwerelefttotheconquerors，ofwhichmanywere
　　killedintheswamp，likesullendogswhowouldrather，intheir
　　self—willednessandmadness，sitstillandbeshotthrough，orcut
　　topieces，"thanimploreformercy。Whenthedaybrokeuponthis
　　handfulofforlornbutdauntlessspirits，thesoldiers，wearetold，
　　enteringtheswamp，"sawseveralheapsofthemsittingclosetogether，
　　uponwhomtheydischargedtheirpieces，ladenwithtenortwelve
　　pistolbulletsatatime，puttingthemuzzlesofthepiecesunder
　　theboughs，withinafewyardsofthem；soas，besidesthosethatwere
　　founddead，manymorewerekilledandsunkintothemire，andnever
　　weremindedmorebyfriendorfoe。
　　Cananyonereadthisplainunvarnishedtale，withoutadmiringthe
　　sternresolution，theunbendingpride，theloftinessofspirit，that
　　seemedtonervetheheartsoftheseself—taughtheroes，andtoraise
　　themabovetheinstinctivefeelingsofhumannature？WhentheGauls
　　laidwastethecityofRome，theyfoundthesenatorsclothedin
　　theirrobes，andseatedwithsterntranquillityintheircurule
　　chairs；inthismannertheysuffereddeathwithoutresistanceor
　　evensupplication。Suchconductwas，inthem，applaudedasnobleand
　　magnanimous；inthehaplessIndianitwasreviledasobstinateand
　　sullen！Howtrulyarewethedupesofshowandcircumstance！How
　　differentisvirtue，clothedinpurpleandenthronedinstate，from
　　virtue，nakedanddestitute，andperishingobscurelyinawilderness！
　　ButIforbeartodwellonthesegloomypictures。Theeastern
　　tribeshavelongsincedisappeared；theforeststhatshelteredthem
　　havebeenlaidlow，andscarceanytracesremainoftheminthe
　　thickly—settledstatesofNewEngland，exceptinghereandtherethe
　　Indiannameofavillageorastream。Andsuchmust，sooneror
　　later，bethefateofthoseothertribeswhichskirtthefrontiers，
　　andhaveoccasionallybeeninveigledfromtheirforeststominglein
　　thewarsofwhitemen。Inalittlewhile，andtheywillgotheway
　　thattheirbrethrenhavegonebefore。Thefewhordeswhichstill
　　lingerabouttheshoresofHuronandSuperior，andthetributary
　　streamsoftheMississippi，willsharethefateofthosetribesthat
　　oncespreadoverMassachusettsandConnecticut，andlordeditalong
　　theproudbanksoftheHudson；ofthatgiganticracesaidtohave
　　existedonthebordersoftheSusquehanna；andofthosevarious
　　nationsthatflourishedaboutthePotomacandtheRappahannock，and
　　thatpeopledtheforestsofthevastvalleyofShenandoah。Theywill
　　vanishlikeavaporfromthefaceoftheearth；theirveryhistory
　　willbelostinforgetfulness；and"theplacesthatnowknowthemwill
　　knowthemnomoreforever。"Orif，perchance，somedubiousmemorial
　　ofthemshouldsurvive，itmaybeintheromanticdreamsofthe
　　poet，topeopleinimaginationhisgladesandgroves，likethefauns
　　andsatyrsandsylvandeitiesofantiquity。Butshouldheventureupon
　　thedarkstoryoftheirwrongsandwretchedness；shouldhetellhow
　　theywereinvaded，corrupted，despoiled，drivenfromtheirnative
　　abodesandthesepulchresoftheirfathers，huntedlikewildbeasts
　　abouttheearth，andsentdownwithviolenceandbutcherytothe
　　grave，posteritywilleitherturnwithhorrorandincredulityfromthe
　　tale，orblushwithindignationattheinhumanityoftheir
　　forefathers。—"Wearedrivenback，"saidanoldwarrior，"untilwecan
　　retreatnofarther—ourhatchetsarebroken，ourbowsaresnapped，our
　　firesarenearlyextinguished：—alittlelonger，andthewhiteman
　　willceasetopersecuteus—forweshallceasetoexist！"
　　THEEND