152 CHAPTER XI. SALE OF LANDS BY THE INDIANS. THE following is a statement of land purchased by the United States from the Indians up to the year 1820: Total quantity, 191,778,536 acres. In payment for which, sums to the amount of 2,542,916 dollars have been appropriated. Of these lands 18,601,930 acres, have been vended by the States' Government, and there remain in their possession 173,176,606 acres. The sum of 22,229,180 dollars has actually been paid into the treasury of the United States, in part of the purchases of the above land; leaving still due, (for which the land is a security) 22,000,657 dollars. The account, then, will stand thus: Lands unsold, viz., 173,176,606 Acres, at 39,986,205 the lowest estimate, one dollar per acre* 173,176,606 * The price fixed by Congress is two dollars per acre. How irresistibly, to say nothing of natural rights, do these transactions establish the claim of the Indians to protection and kindness from the United States! The purchases of land from the Indians by the British Government do not exceed ten millions of acres; for 7,491,190 of which, the Indians receive goods annually amounting in value to 4155l. Halifax currency, or 16,620 dollars. The British Government has not sold its lands, but, with the exception of few hundred acres lately disposed of near Yorkin Upper Canada, has made gratuitous grants of them. Besides which, about 20,000 Indians annually receive from the British government, blankets, and presents of various kinds-so that while the Americans have gained so largely by their intercourse with the natives within their territories, the British are annually losers. But both are awfully deficient in using means to improve the condition of the Indians. 155 CHAPTER XII. NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT INDIAN NATIONS HITHERTO DISCOVERED. IN NORTH AMERICA, THE SITUA TION OF THEIR COUNTRIES, WITH THE NUMBER OF The Chukesws, Mississippi The Cherokees, South Carolina The Chatabas, between North and South Carolina 4,500 150 750 2,500 150 The Peantias, a wandering tribe, both sides of the Mississippi 800 The Caocutas, on the East of the River Alibamous 700 The Orusconsins, on the river of the same name, falling The Conaway Crunas, near the Falls of St. Lewis 200 58,730 warriors, one-third old men, makes 78,306. Multiplying by six gives 469,836 souls, men, women, and children*. ** The publishers think it necessary to state that the M.S. of the above Indian names was in an almost illegible hand; and the author being in America, they had no means of correcting it. |