The Indians taken Collectively did Certainly a few Centurys ago live under some more Order & Govt than they do at present--this may seem odd, but it is the Truth for their Intercourse in gen' being with the Lower Class of our Traders they learn little from us but Vices, & Their long Wars together with the Immoderate use of Spirituous Liquors have so reduced them as to render that ord* weh was first instituted unnecessary & impracticable. Add to this that since the reduction of Canada, their System of politicks is changed, Their Eyes are upon us, whom they consider as a people too formidable, & much of their Time is much spent in Intrigues of State to wceh other matters have given place.

But tho it does not appear that they had the use of Letters yet the traces of Government may still be seen, and there is reason to believe that they made use of Hieroglyphics Tho they Neglect them at present, for Hieroglyphicks are understood to be figures, intended to conceal somewhat from the Vulgar, But theirs are drawn to the utmost of their skill to represent: the thing intended, for Instance, when they go to War, they paint some trees with the figures of men, often the exact' number of their party, and if they go by Water, they delineate a Canoe, when they make any atchievement, they mark the Handle of their Tomahawks with human figures to signify prisoners, bodies without heads te express scalps. The figures which they affix to