Diplomacy and Indian Gifts: The French-English Rivalry for Indian Loyalties during the French and Indian War Years 1748-1763

During the course of the French and Indian War years, thousands of pounds sterling was expended by both the French and the British in their diplomatic competition to buy Indian friendship and loyalty through gift giving. Indian gifts and their givers indeed made diplomatic history. To say diplomacy and Indian gifts was a high stakes game would not do justice to everything that was really involved. It was a war for empire, but also was a war for profit, and the Indians were pawns to be bought by whatever means necessary to affect the outcome.
These diplomatic missions along with this showering of gifts helped decide the war that inspired a melting pot of people to form a nation. The details of these transactions along with there hoped for results are detailed magnificently here by Dr. Jacobs' book and come with complete documentation. The story makes fascinating reading and Dr. Jacob's book is the final authority. This history of Indian gifts and how it affected the outcome of the early history of our country was hitherto an unexplored area in the records of the Colonial westward movement and Dr. Jacobs spent seven years in historically sleuthing through old manuscripts, journals and various other printed material in putting together this magnificent record of how the Indians were paid off and how the "West was won." Describing the various gifts like vermilion war paint, liquor and trinkets, and even guns for which young warriors would "tear the heart out of a trader", the author gives page after page of specific examples of how these coveted treasures were used to buy friendship and loyalty. This never before published book is an exciting, insightful and informative collection of information about the part Indian gifts played in changing the course of American history. Seekers of Indian lore will find much to intrigue them in these pages.
Hardback, (1950) reprint, 208 pp., $29.95