of ocean and river, met the Indians pre- | greater among the Indians than among cisely where they were most numerous other races and other lands which recov and stationary, and could not thoroughly ered from it. Moreover, these ravages explore the endless tracts where they only have been greatly exaggerated often, as Occasionally roamed, or which they en- may be seen from the report of the Canatirely avoided; while the enormous dis- dian minister of the interior for 1876. In tances of separation prevented any one 1868 it was stated the Indians of Vancoutraveller from actually seeing, and thereby ver's Island had been nearly exterminated distinguishing between, but a limited num- from small-pox, and that "hundreds of ber of tribes. Even if an expedition bodies lay unburied." After a full inquiry through the wilderness were risked, the it was found that only eighty-eight Indians very presence of the explorers from obvi- had died from the disease in the whole disous motives of curiosity, barter, or defence, trict throughout the entire year. The fact would, as we have said, attract all the is that many Indians have died of smallbands over many miles. Cunning and van- pox, as did many Europeans before the ity, moreover, would induce every tribe to days of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and exaggerate its own importance, which there Dr. Jenner, and also that those who could was at first no evidence to contradict. So ran away from the danger, as more enlightlate as 1829 Naw-Kaw, a Winnebago chief, ened people do now, with the difference attending a balloon ascent in the Battery in that the latter are brought back by the ties New York, where there was an immense of real and personal property, which, not crowd, and being asked if he had ever troubling the former, they ever after avoidseen so many people together, replied ed a locality that in their theory of disease haughtily, "We have more in our smallest was the scene of demoniac wrath. It may villages." Considering that his whole tribe be noted that this particular disease has only mustered then about three thousand ceased to be a scourge to the tribes, the souls, this may pass as a creditable speci- reports of fifty-six agents in recent years men of aboriginal brag, which, if govern not including any fatal case. ment officials had not already become familiar through systematic fraud with the actual count of the Winnebagoes, would doubtless have been adopted as a faithful comparison to influence statistics, as has actually occurred with other chiefs, who, likening their few score warriors to "the leaves of the forest," have been seriously quoted. The early travellers received such tales with alacrity to enhance their own adventures, repeating them with the fabled reproductiveness of the three black crows, even when they did not imitate Falstaff in the multiplication of his men in buckram. Another potent cause of error in the enumeration of the Indians, extending even to modern times, and from which we are scarcely yet free, necessarily arose from the utterly confused synonyms. Not only had each of the tribes a variety of names among themselves, but the various English, French, and Dutch immigrants added to these names of their own coining so that one tribe might have a dozen different names, and each name has often been mistakenly held to apply to a different tribe.

As to the destructive element of war, that was the normal condition of the Indians before the advent of the whites, who only added to the number of the combatants. The whites did not introduce extermination and dispossession, which were systematically carried out before they came by one or two of the most powerful tribes. The whites were never more systematic or successful in subjugation by force of arms than were several of the Indian leagues, and all we know of the prevailing customs of the continent tells us that war was with its natives a necessity for the assertion of manhood, if not a religious duty. Perhaps since the power of the white race has been established with restraining effect, there have been fewer and less bloody wars than were frequent for centuries before, and certainly for years past no whole tribe, and but a minority of individuals among very few of the tribes, have been on the war path against any other in the United States. No such conversion, then, from less to greater combativeness is apparent as would account for any important change in the Indian population. If warfare has The main explanations of the lately un- been a chief cause of their decrease, they questioned law dooming all the American were on the wane long prior to their disIndians to speedy death have been in their covery. Of this, however, there is no constant wars and the strange diseases in- evidence. Taking the Iroquois as a reptroduced. As regards the latter small-pox resentative body of Indians, Colonel Malhas been the most fatal; but Colonel Mal-lery shows that they now number 13,668 lery shows that its ravages have been no souls, as against 11,650, thirteen years be

fore the Declaration of Independence, be- | wish some one would do for it what Colonel ing an increase of two thousand. This is Mallery has done for North America. We not a solitary instance; and especially believe the results for South America, if among the hybrids of Canada, New York, the native population question were carethe Indian Territory, Massachusetts, and fully examined, would show that there also Wisconsin, has there been a steady in- the decrease has been greatly exaggerated. crease during the past thirty or forty years. To make a sweeping generalization as to Figures are given to show that the Sioux the inevitable disappearance of white beConfederacy have quadrupled in one hun- fore black is absurd; what would be the dred and forty years, and doubled, at least, use of Africa to the world if this were so? in twenty-nine years. Remarkable increase As to the future of the American Indian, is shown in other tribes, notwithstanding both Colonel Mallery and Professor Wilwar, disease, and whisky. It is at the same son speak hopefully. The process of time admitted that in some of the western breaking in the savage to civilized ways of regions, especially California, the unusual life must be slow. It cannot be done per barbarity of the brutal white has told seri- saltum. How long did it take the Euroously on the Indian population there, pean conglomeration of tribes to settle though not to nearly so great an extent as down and reach their present stage of culvague estimates would make out. ture? In Canada many so-called Indians are really as settled and civilized as the English peasant, perhaps, on the whole, more so; and if the Indians in the States had as fair play as their Canadian brethren, the process would be much more rapid than it is. At all events, the theory of disappearance by extinction seems now a most improbable one, and that by absorption is proved to be actually occurring. Indeed, the old, old drama which has been acted in Europe from the time of the cavemen until even now is being continued on the other side of the Atlantic; and the result a century or two hence may be a race more mixed, perhaps, than any in the old world, but with the English type of character dominant, and by its very mixture better able to cope with the conditions which prevail on a continent so different in many respects from Eurasia. Professor Huxley has shown how absurd it is to talk of purity of race; there is no such thing probably anywhere in the world, least of all in Europe, in whose population there are lower strains than even that of the North American Indian. We may state that some of the most eminent scientific inquirers in the United States share Colonel Mallery's opinions as to the increase of the Indians.

Only within the past four years has there been any official report of the births and deaths among several tribes sufficiently general to be of value. These official returns relate to over one hundred thousand Indians, belonging to nearly one hundred tribes, and the excess of births over deaths was found to vary from six-tenths to 2:32 per cent. Again, in former times only the strongest survived, weak children not being allowed to live, and old and diseased persons being often put out of the way. Only one of twins was allowed to survive, and generally the battle of life was only to the strong. Now, since the United States government protect and subsidize the Indians the latter are acute enough to see that it is to their interest to have as many mouths to feed and bodies to clothe as possible, and act accordingly.

Colonel Mallery then, from the data which he has collected, comes to the conclusion that when Columbus discovered America there were not more than five hundred thousand Indians to the north of Mexico, and that now, in the United States and Alaska alone, excluding Canada, there are something like three hundred thousand. If the Canadian Indians and hybrids were added to this it would probably turn out that the native population had not at least Colonel Mallery disperses a few other decreased. At all events it seems to us delusions with regard to the North Amerthat Colonel Mallery has adduced strong ican Indian, most people's idea of whom reasons for hesitating to accept the is derived from Cooper's fictions. He "blight" and "withering" theory for the shows how they got their name of "red American Indians at least. That it does men "- from the fact that they were in apply to other races with which the Anglo- the constant habit of coloring their faces Saxon at least has come into contact, there with the ochre found in the soil. Their is only too good reason to believe. The real color is brown, with many shades. last of the Tasmanians has gone, the years No more common notion exists with reof the Sandwich Islanders are numbered, gard to the Indians than their belief in one many other Pacific islands have been al-Great Spirit," under names like Manitou, most depopulated. As to Australia, we Taku Wakau, etc. A better acquaintance

From The Saturday Review.
THE ART OF GOING AWAY.

with Indian traditions, and particularly | phases. We will not enlarge upon the adwith the etymology of its languages, shows visableness of moderation in the length of that this also is a great delusion. The morning calls, because we lately treated more learned missionaries are now not this matter in some detail; and to write an only agreed that a general creator or up- essay instructing people how to get away holder never existed in aboriginal cosmog- from their friends would be about as useful ony, but that the much simpler belief in a as an attempt to teach riding by means of superhuman Great Chief or ruler is a mod- a book. It would of course be easy to ern graft. However unpleasant, from a multiply palpable truisms on the subsentimental point of view, Colonel Mallery ject, after the manner of the writer on has done good service by his researches etiquette who observed that it was ungenin abolishing beliefs which are so unfound- teel to blow your nose with your table nap ed, and some of which are apt to be mis- kin. We might, for instance, point out chievous in their consequences. that it is unnecessary for a nervous bore who has paid a call lasting three-quarters of an hour to announce his withdrawal by observing that he "fears he must go; for his host would probably mentally reply, in the words of Sir Walter Scott, "Sinful brother, part in peace." Or we might inveigh against the habit to which some ladies are addicted, of waiting to say an interminable quantity of last words after they have risen to leave; but we have come to the conclusion that the regeneration of mankind on these matters is quite hopeless. Although, however, we have little expectation that the virtue of early departure will ever become common, we may point out the popularity of such a proceeding. It is often a doubtful question whether people will be much gratified by one's arrival, but it is almost always certain that they will be secretly glad at one's departure. At any rate, nobody suffers in the estimation of his friends by leaving them with an appetite for his society.

We have heard it said that one of the most important social accomplishments is that of entering a room gracefully; but to our mind that of leaving one easily and judiciously is to be preferred. It is painful to see people anxious to beat a retreat from a call or visit, and yet apparently as unable to escape as rats in a trap, although nothing bars their egress, and all persons concerned would gladly dispense with their company. The art or science of departure both from localities and positions is worth studying in great as well as little matters. To understand when to bring to an end a morning call or a public career requires, in a lesser or greater degree, the exercise of the same faculty. No visitor is likely to be popular who has not the tact to leave at the proper time a house at which he may be staying; and no prime minister understands his business unless he recognizes the exact moment at which he ought to tender his resignation. Many cases at once present themselves to the mind in which the judicious exercise of the faculty of bringing things to a conclusion is necessary. It is one of the greatest merits of a novelist to know when to wind up his story, and the orator who can sit down at the right moment and in the right way is master of a good half of his art. Preachers sometimes complain that their greatest difficulty is that of concluding their sermons; but in this particular case there is little need for the exercise of any special ingenuity, as an abrupt but early ending is the fault, of all others, which is most readily pardoned by their hearers.

A bulky treatise might be written upon this subject if we had no scruple about violating our own precepts, but we only propose to look at it in some of its social

Few people have more or better oppor tunities of observing the idiosyncrasies of mankind in this matter than owners of country houses. It is often amusing to notice the various methods of intimating an exit which are adopted by different persons in any houseful of guests. Some will try to break the distressing news gently, as if they were afraid it would overwhelm us with grief, expressing their fears that they "really must go" on such or such a day, probably a later day than they were expected to remain; and it is lucky if the unavoidable regrets expressed by their entertainer do not call forth a reply that they "will do their best to stay a little longer." Others hint indirectly that they are going to deprive you of the pleasure of their company by inquiring where they may obtain flys; while some, on the other hand, say not a word till the carriage is at the door to take them away. Between ignorance as to when some of the guests intend to leave and the sudden departure of others,

a host is often thrown into a state of con- | prospect of success when it suddenly turns siderable perplexity. To add to these and out that the most desirable guest of all, the other cares of hospitality, some vis- who had been expected to stay a week, can itors, especially maiden ladies, are apt to only remain for a couple of days. The bother him about their intended journey welcome visitor who leaves too soon is a for several days beforehand, expecting him great offender, and his sin is aggravated to study "Bradshaw " for their edification. when it leads to the extra stay of a decided At last perhaps they find that they "can't bore. But a considerable knowledge of get" to their proposed destination in one character is required by the guest who day, or at any rate in time for dinner; and would stay or go exactly at the right time. therefore they determine to remain a few It is sometimes difficult to discover days longer in their present quarters. whether his host is telling the truth or poWhen the time arrives for a party of the litely lying when he presses him to remain. guests to start for the station, one or two The proper hour of the day for leaving is will very likely keep their entertainer in a also a matter of some moment. The visstate of nervous anxiety by making no visi-itor who goes away at an inconvenient time ble preparations for a start; the servants of others will not be forthcoming, although their masters and mistresses are ready, the carriages at the door, and the luggage on the top of them. Two or three people will want change, too evidently for the purpose of tipping the servants, and the mind of one will be concentrated upon the mysterious disappearance of his umbrella, that of another upon the non-arrival of a letter which he expected that morning, and which he will wish to be carefully forwarded to a place with an unpronounceable Welsh name. When the host's mind is occupied with these matters, one of his visitors will probably call his attention to a telegram in the morning papers; and, just as he is about to bid a graceful farewell to the most im portant of his guests, there will very likely be an outcry that somebody's fly has not arrived, and a rush will have to be made to the stables, where there will be a scramble to provide a conveyance of some sort at a moment's notice. The worst case of all is when a departed guest suddenly reappears, hot and flurried, having left some of his belongings behind him. Seizing his lost property, he wishes his host a breathless good-by, and, springing into his fly with a bounce and a bang, shuts the door, hoarsely calling to his driver to go on as quickly as possible lest he should miss his train. Fortunate and worthy of all praise is he who succeeds in taking his leave easily and courteously, saying the right thing at the right moment, and calmly going away without fuss or hurry.

There is a proper time for everything, and not least for going away. We must not be misunderstood as implying that, as a universal rule, the sooner our guests leave us the better. On the contrary, there are few greater social nuisances than the premature loss of an important member of a well-assorted party. Perhaps every thing has been arranged with the best

often gives an immensity of trouble. Many a half-day is wasted by people having to wait at home in order to see a guest off. It is of course desirable to use the most convenient trains, but it is not desir able that a whole household should be dis arranged in order that one man may catch an express. It were better that a guest should be an hour longer on his journey than that he should put his entertainer to inconvenience by starting at an awkward moment; for he should remember that his host's recollection of him and his visit will probably be a good deal associated with the occasion of his departure, and it is therefore highly important that that association should be agreeable. One of the greatest difficulties in bidding farewell to a host is to convey to him the impression that you have enjoyed yourself. Expressions of thanks for a pleasant visit are apt to have a stereotyped and conventional ring about them. A hospitable man likes to know that his friends have been happy; but when each of them mutters a sort of little grace on his departure, he feels that they are but paying him an ordinary social compliment, for he knows that they thank their entertainers wherever they go as regularly as they tip the servants. Indeed we once heard of an absent and nervous man who, as he was getting into the carriage which was to convey him to the station, inadvertently tipped his host and thanked the butler for his pleasant visit.

There are unhappy mortals who are so utterly ignorant of the art of departure that more or less decisive measures have to be taken to induce them to leave at all. It is a distressing episode when a visitor has to be assisted in making up his mind to go away, in much the same manner as a lame dog is said to be helped over a stile. It is hard to say which appears the greater fool under such circumstances - the guest or his host. A man is in a decidedly false

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position when, having enticed another into | rates, who knew a good deal about his