The Last of The Mohicans, literary device question. "Thievish race."?

Question

I am reading the book, The Last of The Mohicans, and I was wondering what literary device was being used, when Hawkeye is given the quote "A Huron!” repeated the sturdy scout, once more shaking his head in open distrust; >... they are a thievish race, nor do I care by whom they are adopted; you can never make anything of them but skulls and vagabonds. Since you trusted yourself to the care of one of that nation, I only wonder that you have not fallen in with more. If you could, generally just explain this statement to me, but moreover, focus on what literary device "thievish race" is. Thank you.

Answer 1

Essentially, what this passage is communicating is the scout's opinion of the people of the Huron tribe. The character believes that the Huron are fundamentally stupid and evil, with thievish meaning a person who acts like a thief. By "nor do I care by whom they are adopted," the scout is saying that the reason that Hurons are this way is not because of their society, but because of what they are from birth- essentially a racist argument.