But it must be admitted that, from the first, the British in America were far behind the French in christianlike conduct towards the native races.

The colonial traders generally despised the Indians and treated them as of commercial value only, as gatherers of pelts, and held their lives in little more esteem than the lives of the animals that yielded the pelts.

The missionary zeal of New England, compared with that of New France, was exceedingly mild.

Rum was a leading article of trade.

The Indians were often cheated out of their furs; in some instances they were slain and their packs stolen.