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which, long accustomed to no softer mattress than mother earth, tossed about all night, unable to appreciate the unusual luxury. I found chairs a positive nuisance, and in my own room caught myself in the act, more than once, of squatting cross-legged on the floor. The greatest treat to me was bread; I thought it the best part of the profuse dinners of the Planter's House, and consumed prodigious quantities of the staff of life, to the astonishment of the waiters. Forks, too, I thought were most useless superfluities, and more than once I found myself on the point of grabbing a tempting leg of mutton mountain fashion, and butchering off a hunter's mouthful. But what words can describe the agony of squeezing my feet into boots, after nearly a year of moccasons, or discarding my turban for a great boardy hat, which seemed to crush my temples! The miseries of getting into a horrible coat — of braces, waistcoat, gloves, and all such implements of torture —” etc.

To the same effect — as showing the reversionary tendencies and proclivities of many whites for barbarism, and as encouraging the Indian in casting the balance against civilization — is to be noted a fact which has had a very painful significance in many saddened affections. As soon after the settlement of this country as the savages learned in their constant border raids on the whites that they could get a ransom price in money or goods for captives, they, in many cases, spared from torture and death young persons, and women first, and then men, whom they carried back with them to their haunts. From time to time arrangements were made with them for the exchange of prisoners and the redemption of captives. Then in very many cases it was found to the dismay of parents and friends that even young girls, as well as males, who had lived with the Indians for quite a short time, — a year or two, — were so fascinated with their new ways as to be utterly averse to return to their homes and kindred in civilized scenes. There was something in the wild life and its