Indian Giver

Posted by Soren on January 09, 2004

I've been lead to believe this saying came from a misunderstanding of trading between settlers and Native Americans. "Indians" would lay their wares at the feet of settlers as customary to begin trade, when settlers didn't have anything to offer that the Native Americans wanted; They would pick-up all their things and leave. Settlers were confused and thought that they were presenting gifts and then later taking them back. Most tribes do not make a show of giving gifts and will not "give" openly.

• Indian Giver pdianek 10/January/04