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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. t errata d to It 18 pelure, pon A 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 NO] THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, BT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS; Aim TSB ORIGIN OVTHB NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. By J. MACKINTOSH- •#^ TORONTO: rBHTTBD BY W. J. COATSfl, KINO tTftSfTT. 1836. >•■ /-/r/6 * "'i^^ ' :€ .tTtl Wiie: which remote affcctc state a A man sp orid in enjoym men, w but thai 80 ndve once St I of consi [laid op( f travel le frurne ui races of .,. the hum ■k sities of f : But h^ 1^ by mam of body, human fi species, I being de: On dis and feat I I to attribu volution ' history, v mankind in that co gris, somi I N 'I R O D tr C T I O N. When we take even a superficial view of the surface of the globa which wc inhabit, we evidently perceive, that at some unknown remote periods, various revolutions have hnppened, which not only aflTcclcd materially the superficial structure of the earth, but the state and conditioti of its inhabitauts. All hough we may fairly boast of the pre-eminence, of the hu. man species over all other animals in arts of ingenious contrivance, and in mental capacities, which elevate our hopes beyond terrestrial enjoyments, yet we find the earth inhabited by different races of men, who du not only vary in complexion, manners, and customs, but th3ir rules of conduct, sentiments, and opinions, are apparently so adverse and inconsistent, that the minds of the curious are at once struck «vith a degree of surprise that naturally excites a desire of consulting those extensive sources of information which have been laid open to th? Antiquarian by the travels and researches of modern travellers. The intellectual faculties of man, as well as his bodily frame and complexion, exhibit so various au aspect among different races of mankind, as would seem to authorise an arrangement of the human species into different classes, marked by specific diver- sities of powers, both mental and corporeal. But how much soever the human race may seem to be diversified, by manners and customs, opinions and sentiments, shape and size of body, colour, complexion, or tinge of skin, the organization of the human frame, in all the regions of the earth, prove an uniformity of species, which excludes not the possibility of the whole human race [being desceadcd from one original pair. On discovering, therefore, such a contrariety in the bodily frame and features of man as well as in his mental capacities, we are led to attribute this diversity in the human species, to that general re« volution which happened at the confusion of Babel. From sacred history, we are assured, that for several centuries after the deluge, mankind continued together and composed only one nation, seated in that country, which was watered by the river Euphrates and Ti. gris, sometimes called in general Syria, but more particularly dis- ir. tinguinhed by the several names of Armenia^ Assyria and Chaldea, Being (ho children of one fumily (of Nouh nnd his sons J iiotwith- Btnnding the early dificrence, which appeared betwixt Cham and his two brothers, their language M'as the same; and doubtless their re* ligion, customs and manners could not bo very different as long os they continued together ; and together they continued till vainly presuming to build a city and a. tower whosii top should reach even heaven and defeat the decrees of the Almighty, God thought proper to confound all such airy schemes, by miraculously introducing different languages, or at least different dialects of the formor uni> versal language. By this confusiiun those who s|)oke the same dialect, consisted together and srperated themselves from those whose speech they no longer could understand. 'J'hus was mankind reduced to the necessity of forming as many different parties as they had languages among them. As those different tribes dispersed themselves into many coun> tries and had no intercourse with each other, it was necessary that the essentiols of their religion, manners and customs, should also undergo a change. This was actually the case, for mankind, im. mediately after the confusion of tongues, was split into seventy.two distinct nations, speaking seventy-two different dialects, while they adopted modes of living quite difierent from those which they prac* tised when they lived together in the Plains of Shinar. As they increased and multiplied in the different countries which they inhabited, several bodies were sent out to seek their for. tune in strange lands, where they made settlements, when they found that they were fine and delightful countries, which promised them great felicity. Others by reason of civil and domestic quar- rels, were driven abroad and passed into distant regions far beyond the encroachments of an enemy. Thus they spread themselves over almost the greater part of Asia ; but their roving and wandering disposition was not yet satis- fied, until by continued migrations, they had extended their dis- coveries to Africa, Europe, and America. In the present object of enquiry, by which we shall endeavour to prove the Asiatic origin of the North American Indians, we do not mean to resort to oral tradition, which, prior to the invention of letters was the erroneous vehicle of knowledge. ThM rood* of information which was liable to be disguised by M the embellishment of fancy, the effusions of the warm imaginttioM of poets, by the vanity of descent from an illustrious oncestry, and by the variety which in the first ages influenced the human mind and produced those traditionary fables, in which the earliest ac- counts of nations as given by themselves are universally found toba involved. As it is generally allowed that the agreement of the manners and customs of two natioi.s, isthe most authentic monument of their original connection, we have offered an extensive catalogue of coin- cidences so singular and itidicative of the identity of peopele, that we will at once be induced to believe the Asiatic origin of the North American Indians. If we meet, therefore, with many customs, religious, military and civil, practised only by some nations in Asia and ftllowcd up by the earliest inhabitants of the western continent, we may fairly conclude that the North American Indians and those Asiatic nations to whom they bear the greatest resemblance ia bodily frame and intellectual faculties, were once united and lived together as the children of the same parents. ^^%. ..41^' iiXf^ Jit-i'" '■It. n- 'Uti. il "%^ ''%. .-J ■3 * ^ '«(«&-. i^! CONTENTS. P*ot. DlSLOTCRY OF AMERICA * ORiai.N or THE NoiiTii A.MF.ttirAN Indians. 3J Persons, Foaluros, and Colour of tlio North American Indiana 39 Persons, reatiircs, und Complexion of the Tongusi of Siborin, in Asia... 43 Purticularilics of the Iiidiun Liingua(;e 43 Particularititis of tlio Lungungos of tlio Tongusi and Coriuki of Siberia 46 Rolixion of tlio Nortli Aiiiuriuin Indians 47 Religion of tliu Tongusi, toriaka, and Kamschadalos 50 Dross and Ornaments of llio North Amoricin Indiana 59 Dross and * 'rnamfnts of the Ton^yusi, Coriuitti, and Kamschadales 55 Murriaijo among the Norili American Indians 57 Marriage umnn^ the Tongusi, Coriaks, and Kamachadules 63 War among the North American Indians • 65 War among tlio Tongusi, ( oriaks, Kamschadalos, Yakutai, and Okotsi of Siberia 79 Tho Dance of the ("alumet an)ong the North American Indians 83 The Dance of the Potuosi, or (Calumet among tho Tongusi, Slc... 85 Sacrifices among tlio North American Indians 86 Sacrifices among tho Tongusi 87 Funeral Kites among tho North American Indians 88 Funeral Uites among tho < oriaks, Tongusi, and Kamscliadales 93 Festival of Drcamsamong tho North American Indiana 93 Festival of Dreams among the Tongusi, Coriaks, and Kamschadales.... 96 Gamo of tho Dish, or Little Bones among the North American Indians.. 97 Game of the Patooni among tlio Kamschadales 99 Tho Naming of (Miildrou among the North American Indians ib. The Naming of Children among tiio Kamschadales 100 Jugglers an.ong tho North American Indians 101 Tliu Ponomoosi, or Prophets among the Kamschadales, CoriaKs, &o 103 Orators among the North American Indians 103 Orators among several Asiatic Trihcs 110 Tho ' ouncilsund Government of Villages among the North American Indians Ill Councils and Government among Asiatic I ribea 113 Shapes which the North American Indians give to their Children 114 What Strengthens and Shapes the Indians so well ib. Their first E.Yercisea 115 In what assist their Education ib. Works of the Women ,.. ib. Works of the Men 116 'I heir Tools ib. Tho Form of their Villages , ib. Their Notion of the Origin of Man IIT Their Vestals ib. Their Vows i'j. Their Fasts ib. Their ihoughta on the Immortality of tbeSoul....^ 119 Of the 'ountry of Souls ib. An Indians Chief's Account of tho Origin of tho N. American Indians, 119 America Peopled by a more Civilized Raeo than the present Red Indiana, IdX Th* Mexicans are the Semaina of a moro Polished Nation than the NorUi AoMriofttt Indisaa 136 1 il II: 'K u DISCOVERY OF AMKRU A. In tracing the origin of the primitive inhabitants of Ameriea, it may not, ncrhaps, he improper to ofl'er a few preliminary remarks on the di.scovery of the New World, as several nations claim the honor of havinij visited thisC/ontiiient previous to the arrival of Christo^iher Columbus. That the ancients had an imperfect notion ot the existence of this quarter of the globe, cannot be doubted, when we consider the very early period at which th(; sciences of Geometry, Cosmography, Astronomy, and Drawing, were studied in the schools of Greece ami Rome, as well as in Egypt and Carthage. In those days, the spherical figure of the earth was known, and its magnitude ascertained with considerable accuracy. From such a knowledge it was evident, that Europe, Asia and Africa, as far as they were known at that time, formed but a small portion of the terraqueous globe. It was also suitable to the ideas of man, concerning the wisdom and beneficence of the Author of Nature, to believe that the vast space still unexplored, was not covered entirely by an unprofitable ocean, but occupied by countries fit for the habitation of man. It appeared likewise extremely probable, that the continents on one side of the globe were balanced by a proportional quantity of land in the other hemisphere. From these conclusions, arising solely from theoretical principles, the existence of the western continent might, very probably, have been known to the ancients. Although we have no reason to believe that they ever ventured to explore it by practical obser- vation ; yet there are some historians who seem to favor the opinion that the Carthaginians, the Welsh and Norwegians^disco- vered the American continent at a very early peri(>d. Those who contend for the Carthaginian^, have no other support, except the following obscure passage from Diodorus Siculus, a Sicilian historian and a stoic philosopher, in the time of JuUus Cffisar. " Phcsnices vetustissimis temporibus extra columnas Her- ctdis navigantes ingentibus ventorum procellis ad longinquos Oceani tractus fuisse abreptos, ac muUis diebus vi tempestatis jactatos, tandem ad ingentem insulan in Oceano Atlantico^ complurium dierum navigatione a Lybia in occasum remotam venisse ; cvjus solum fructiferum^ amnes navigabHes^ sump- tuosa aedificia fuerint. Inde Carthaginenses et Tyrrhenos harum terrarum notitian accepisse. Postea CarthasineseSy cum saepe a Tyriis et Mauritanis heUo premerentur^ Gadibus it \ 16 *' prater navigalis, et Allantico provectos oeeuno, lundetn ad ** novas has regiones appulisscy ct cohniam duxisse; eamque " rem diu taciturn servassct ut si rursum scdibus mcerentur, ** haberent locum in quern se cum suis reciperent. — nepertam a " Carthaginiensibus fortuito insulam ; et in earn injussu Ma- " gistratus commigrasse plurimos : quod disjluente paulatim " populo coeperit postea Capitale esse.** Here we are told b y Diodorus, that the Phojnicians were, at a very early period, driven by the violence of the winds far beyond the pillars of Hercules or the Straits of Gibraltar, into the ocean : That they discovered to the west of Lybia or Africa, at the distance of a few days sailing from that continent, a large and fertile island and finely watered with navigable rivers ; That this discovery was soon made known to the Carthaginians, a Phcenician colony in Africa, and to the Tyrrhennians or Tus- cans in Italy : That the Carthaginians some time after, under- took, on account of hostile invasions made by the Moors and Tyrians, a voyage in which they passed the straits of Gibral- tar and advanced bcvond Cadiz without the pillars of Hercules, till they arrived in those new regions, where they made a set- tlement; but the policy of Carthage dislodged the colony, and laid a strict prohibition on all the subjects of the State not to attempt any future establishment. It is truly surprising that historians of considerable renown should have mistaken the American continent for the fertile and beautiful island which is mentioned in this passage from Dio- dorus. This geographical sketch of the new country which the Phcenicians discovered, and the Carthaginians afterwards colon- ized, corresponds in every respect with the situation and 1 ^rtility of Ireland, being distant only a few days sailing from the straits of Gibraltar, wmle few countries can surpass it in beauty. Ire- land is also supplied with navigable rivers. In the researches of eminent antiquarians, we are taught to believe beyond the possibility of a doubt, that the Phoenicians were about the first of the human race that visited Ireland, where they established a colony. The chronicles of Ireland bear testimony to this fact ; and when we collate the Irish language with the Punic or Phcenician, we find so striking an affinity, that the Irish or Cel- tic language may be said to have been, in a great degree, the language of Hannibal, Hamilcar, and Asdrubal. This opinion willat once be confirmed by having recourse to Plautus, where we see a Carthaginian si)eaking the Punic, which is no other than almost the pure Celtic or Irish language. In a lorthcom- ing work, however, to be entitled " The Origin of the Primitive Iimabitants of Great Britain and Ireland,^ we have proved this point so clearly, that to doubt it would bo denying the most glaring truth. pas.sa beyo] island settle comp begini same yond theref the si^ seas, they r and er tcrpris minds sage, 1 the lar seeing m which I his nob J when \ j| and lai ^to atte ^of poll sfous sta J ritories bed in Hercul '^exists i \ custom; Were \ prior tc ^ very ex I globe, { some of I for in S less sur I temptec lAmericj [was dis( jsupport, [dorus, \ To |tius,a Icc' iMentium. I fished, 11 indem ml : eamqut icerentur, ipertam a ussu Ma- paulaiim lans were, ■winds far altar, into or Africa, nt, a large lie rivers; thaginians, ns or Tus- ;er, undcr- ^oors and of Gibral- f Hercules, fiade a set- ;olony, and >tate not to ble renown ! fertile and 5 from Dio- f which the ards colon- md iijrtility 1 the straits luty. Ire- researches jeyond the ut the first established to this fact ; Punic or rish or Cel- degree, the his opinion itus, where is no other xorthcom- e Primitive proved this g the most " The Phojniciaiis," says Diodorus in the first part of th« passage which we have transcribed, " after a few ciays sailing beyond the pillars of Hercules, discovered a large and fertile island in the ocean ; and its beauty induced the discoverers to settle there." It is certain that the invention of the Mariner's compass cannot be dated from a much earlier period, than tli« beginning of the 14th century; and that towards the close of the game ccntnry, the navigation of Europe was not extended be- }ond the limits of the Mediterranean. It is not reasonable, therefore, to think that the Carthaginians should venture from the sight of land and stretch out into unfrequented and unknown seas, without the help of this sure guide, however prompted they might have been by the most ardent spirit of discovery, and encouraged by the patronage of princes. Such a bold en- terprise is not at all congenial to the cautious and timorous minds of the ancient navigators. We see also in the same pas- sage, that they performed their voyage in a few days, so that the land which they discovered could not have been America, seeing that Columbus, the most skilful navigator of the age in which he lived, consumed seventy-one days in accomplishing his noble undertaking. The second part is no less inconsistent, when we learn that the policy of Carthage dislodged the colony and laid a strict prohibition on all the subjects of the State not to attempt any future establishment. This is certainly a line of policy, which could not have been pursued by any ambiti- ous state, that wished to extend its powerd and enlarge its ter- ritories, by the discovery of so valuable an island as is descri- bed in Diodorus ; and at so short a distance from the pillars of Hercules. It has never been satisfactorily proved, that there exists in America any tribe, whose language, manners and customs bear any resemblance to those of the Carthaginians. Were we even to grant, that the Carthaginians visited America prior to the discovery of Columbus, it would certainly appear very extraordinary, that the existence of this portion of tho globe, should not have been revealed by the Carthaginians to some of their neighbouring nations, especially to the Spaniards ; for in Spain the Carthaginians founded several cities. It is no less surprising that the Carthaginians themselves had never at- tempted, at a future period, to make a second settlement in America. The opinion, therefore, that the western continent was discovered by the Carthaginians, seems to have no other support, except the passage which we have quoted from Dio- dorus, who undoubtedly must have been alluding to Ireland. To confirm us in our opinion, we shall here attend to Vespu- tius,a learned latin author, who made able researches/fe origine {rentium. His manuscrpts, which have noi as yet been pub - ished, are still preserved in the Vatican library at Rome. — 12 " Extra cohmnas Herculis quam vastissimus est oceanus, in quo sitcB sunt insulcB duae quae Albion, et lerna appellantur. JSx Gallia saepenumero colonos acceperunt, quamobrem lingua Gallica aut Celtica incolcB loqui dicuntur. llluc, neque dubita- ri potestf quin Carthaginienses coloniam olim miserint, lingua enim Punica quam simillima est eorum sermoni" This learned antiquarian contends that Albion and £rin, wFiich are situated, according to him, in a vast ocean without the pillars of Hercu- les, received colonies not only from Gaul, as their inhabitants speak the language of the Gauls, but that the Phcenicians also contributed at some remote period to the colonization of these two islands, on account of the affinity between the Celtic and the Phoenician languages. Vesputius is simported by Monsieur Boullet, a French etymologist, in his Mem. sur la langue Celtique : La langue Celtique etant de la plus haute antiquite (says Boullet) n'etant meme, ainsi qu*on ha prouve, qu^un dialecte de la primitive, elle a du etre la mere de celles qui se sent formees par la succession des temps dans lespays qtCont occupe les Celtes, ou CeltoScythes. Le Latin, le Gothique, r Anglo-Saxon, le Theuton, VIslandois, le Prunique, le Suedois, le Danois, VAllemand, rAnglois, Fltalien, rEspagnol, le Francois, ayent ete formes immediatement, ou me- diatement, en tout, ou en partie, du Celtique, on doit regarder cet ouvrage comjne un dictionaire etimologique de ces langues dans lequel on trouvera Forigine des termes qui hs composent. lUy-a encore tant de similitude entre la langue Celtique et la langue Carthaginoise, qu*on doit regarder les Irlandois et les Carthaginois comma deux nations de la meme origine. The learned Boullet says, that the Celtic language is so an- cient, that it is, as has been often proved, no less than a dialect of that language which was first spoken in paradise ; and that it must be the mother of all those languages which had been for- med in those Countries which were formerly occupietl by the Celts or Celto-Scythians. Therefore he concludes, that the La- tin, the Gothic the Anglo-Saxon, the Teutonic, the Islandic, the Prunic, the Swedish, the Danish, the German, the English, the Italian, the Spanish, 6c French languages must have been deri- ved directly or indirectly from the Celtic, which is no other than etymological dictionary of the terms of which those several lan- guages are composed. There is also, he continues, such a si- milarity between the Celtic and the Carthaginian language, that the Irish and Carthaginians are to be considered as two na- tions of the same origin. We could offer the testimony of seve- ral other learned men who are not only convinced that the Carthaginians visited and colonized Ireland prior to the arrival of any other colony, but are also of opinion that Diodorus Sicu- lus alludes to Ireland, while he describes that fertile island which 13 t!ic Carthaginians discovered beyond tlie pillars of Hercules. As we do not however intend, on the present occasion, to trace the ongin ol'the Irish nation, but merely to shew from the national ronnoxion which evidently exists between the Irish and Cartha- ginians, that Ireland must, and undoubtedly, be that coun- try which the Carthaginians, according to Diodorus, discovered in the Atlantic ocean. The most reasonable mode, therefore, of accounting for this ancient consanguinity is to conclude that at some remote period the Carthaginians, after a few days sailing from Cadiz, a town which was built by the Tha'nicians in An- dalusia, a province in tlie south of Spain, arrived fortuitously in Ireland, where they made settlements. The Welsh also fondly imagine, that their country contri- buted, in 1170, to people the new world, by the adventures of Madoc, son of Owen Guynedd, who, they say, on the death of his father, sailed there, and colonized a part of the country. All that is advanced in proof of this discovery, is a quotation from one of the British poets, who proves no more, than that he had distinguished himself both by sea and land. This com- pliment was immediately perverted by the Welsh Bards. — They pretend that he made two voyages ; that sailing west, he left Ireland so far to the north, that he came to a land unknown, : where he saw many strange things ; that on returning home, md making a report of the fruitfulness of the new discovered 'country, he prevailed on numbers of the Welsh of each sex, ^to accompany him on a second voyage, from which ne never 'jreturned. Without commenting on these assertions, for they [do not wear the visage of truth, we need only enquire who the Welsh Bards were. It is clearly stated by Strabo and Am- mian, what they were, anciently, in their day ; but Lucan has : more briefly, and distinctly enough for the present purpose, m- fbrmed us in the following verses : Vos quoque, qui fortes aniinas, belloqiio pereinptas, Laudibus in longuin vates demittis aevum, - '• * Plurima securi fudistis caruiina Bardi. ' . The brave who fell in war, ye pools, praise In strains that shall descend to distant times, And spread their fame, ye Bards, in many songs. The Bards, therefore, were retained by the chiefs of anci- [ent families, as minstrels who, by their songs, perpetuated to [posterity, the memory of their patrons. Next come the Sena- [chies, another description of minstrels, who recited, from me- [mory, the genealogies of their chiefs and other men of proper- ^ ty. But these too, were generally destitute of learning, and, I besides, no reliance could be placed on men whose expectations and subsistence depended on adulation. If, to tliis be added, M 14 as it often must, that national partiality which usually perver- ted their judcmcut, who would venture to affirm upon their testimony, either what is true or what is false, or seek for cer- tainty among such uncertain authorities. The Welsh, Uien, have no other testimony except the fabulous relations of Bards and Senachies ; and as such, w^ere ever liable to delusion and error, their claim must ever bo pronounced, as entirely desti- tute of support. Besides the Welsh were never known as a people, who were skilful in naval affairs, and even the age in which Madoc lived, was particularly ignorant in navigation ; so that the most which they attempted, could not have been more than a mere coasting voyage. The Norwegians claim their share of the glory, on grounds rather better than the Welsh. By their settlements in Iceland and Greenland, they had arrived within so small a distance of the new world, that there is at least a possibility of its having been touched at by a people so versed in maritine affairs, and so adventurous, as the ancient Normans were. The proofs arc much more numerous than those produced by British historians, for the discovery is mentioned in several Islandic manuscripts. The period was about the year 1002, when according to their own records, it was visited by one Biorn ; and the disco- very pursued to greater effect by Leif, the son of Eric, the discoverer of Greenland. It does not appear that they reached farther than Labrador ; on which coast they met with the Es- quimauXj on whom they bestowed the name of Skraelingues, or dwarfish people, from their small stature. They were armed with bows and arrows, and had leathern canoes, such as they have at present. All this is probable, although the following tale of the German, called Tuckil, one of the crew, docs not tend to prove the discovery. He was one day missing ;~ but soon returned, leaping and singing with all the extravagant marks of joy a bon vivant could shew, on discovering tlie ine- briating fruit of his own countiy, the grape; TorfaBus even says, that he returned in a state of intoxication. To convince his commander, he brought several branches of grapes, who from that circumstance named that country Vinland. It is not to be denied, that North America produces the true vine ; but it is found in far lower latitudes than our adventurers could reach in the time employed in their voyages, which was comprehended in a very small space. H«>wever, be this as it may, there ap- pears no reason to doubt the discovery ; but as the land was never colonized, nor any advantages made of it by the Norwe- gians, it may fairly be conjectured, that they reached no farther than the coast of Labrador. In short it is from a much later . period, that we must date the real discovery of America. The mariners of the seventeenth centiu'y acquired great _ years' J the eqi '\ elapse Isign no mneficial kI Ar '^jnade b^ topher ( It biogn lot kno^ historiai 1 " C # no Mi rinaro condot ^ Africa *• medesi u applauae by soiling along the coast of Africa and discovering some of tlie neighboring islands ; and although the Portugese were decidedly the most skilful navigators of the age, still with all their industry and persevcrence, they advanced southward no farther than the equator. The rich commodities of the east had for several ages been brought into Europe by the way of the Red Sea and the Medi- terranean ; and it had now become the object of the Portugese to find a passage to India by sailing round the southren extremity of Africa, and then taking an eastern course. Tliis great object engaged the general attention of mankind, and drew into the Portugese service adventurers from every maritime nation in Europe. Every year added to their experience in navigation, and seemed to promise a reward to their industry. The prospect, however, of arriving at the Indies was extremely distant. Fifty years* perseverance in the same track had brought them only to the equator ; and it was probable that as many more would elapse before they could accomplish their purpose, had not Columbus^ by an uncommon exertion of genius, formed a de- [sign no less astonishing to the age in which he lived, than be- ' leficial to posterity. Among the foreigners whom the fame of the discoveries lade by the Portuguese had allured into their service was Chris- topher Columbus or Colon, a subject of the republic of Genoa. It has been generally asserted by those who have given us biographical sketch of Columbus, that the place of his birth is bt known with certainty ; but Father Lcrafini, a learned Italian historian, speaks as follows, of the famous navigator. " Cristofero Columbus era nato nella citta di Genoa, Pan- no Millequattro cento e cinquanta due. II suo padre, un ma- rinaro Portuguese, era nominato di cotnmun consenso, per condottiere principale in un viaggio di scopci'ta sulla cos^a Africana. Cristofero il secondo Jiglio, volendo sequire la medesima occupazione, commincio a studiarc le lingue, la na~ vigazione, e le altre scienze che erano necessarie per scoprire nuovi paesi" According to Lerafini, who was also a Genoese by birth, Jhristopher Columbus was born in Genoa, in the year one thou- and four hundred and forty-two. His father, he says, a native M" Portugal, was so skilful a mariner, that by the common con- Snt of his followers he was appointed to the chief command of I small Genoese squadron, whieh had been fitted out for a voy- te of discovery on the coast of Africa. Christopher, the se- bnd son, wishing to pursue tlie same course of life, to which lis father had been trained, applied himself with the greatest in- lustiy and perseverance to the study of the Latin tongue, the 'nly language in which science was taught at that time : he was '^1 IG also instructed in oil those branches, which are connected with navigation, such as Geometry, Cosmography, Astronomy, and the art of Drawing. Thus qualified, he went to sea at the age of fourteen, and began his career on that element, which con- ducted him to so much glory, and proved so interesting to man- kind in general and to the inhabitants of Europe in particular. As his early voyages were confined to those ports in the Mediterranean, which were frequented by his countrymen the Genoese, his active mind, could not be satisfied, until he had made an'^excursion to the northern seas and visited the coasts of Iceland, to which the English and other nations had begun to resort on account of its fisheries. The fame which was now acquired in navigation, excited such emulation among the more enterprising mariners, that Columbus ventured to proceed seve- ral degrees within the polar circle and advanced beyond that island, which is called the Thule of the ancients. Having sa- tisfied his curiosity by this voyage, which tended more to en- large his knowlege of naval afiairs, than to improve his fortune, he entered into the service of a famous sea captain of his own name and family. This man commanded a small squadron, with which he cruised sometimes against the Mahometans, sometimes against the Venetians, the rivals of his country in trade. With him Columbus continued several years, no less distinguished for his courage, than for his experience as a sailor. At length in an obstinate engagement oflf the coast of Portugal, with some Venetian caravels, returning richly laden from the low countries, the vessel on board which he served took fire to- gether with one of the enemy's ships, to which it was fast grap- 1 pled. In this dreadful extremity his intrepidity and presence of | mind did not forsake him. He threw himself into the sea, laid \ hold of a floating oar and by the support of it, and his own j dexterity in swimming, he reached the shore ; though above | two leagues distant, and saved a life reserved for great under- takings. Columbus immediately repaired to the Court of Portugal,] where they conceived such a favorable opinion of his merit, as well as talents, that they warmly solicited him to remain in that' kingdom. Columbus listened with a favorable ear to the advice ^ of his friends, and having gained the esteem of a Portuguese lady, whom he married, he fixed his residence in Lisbon. As his father-in-law, Bartholomew Perestrello,was one of the cap- tains who were employed by Prince Henry, when the islands of Porto Santo and Madeira were discovered and planted, Colum-^ bus got possession of the journals and charts of Perestrello, whot was an experienced navigator. The more he contemplated thej maps and read the descriptions of the new countries which Pe- restrello had discovered, the more impatient he became to visit' 17 ili«:jn. Im Older, Oic-refore, to indulce his favorite passion, he madfi a voyage to Madeira, and continued during several years to trade with that island, with the Canaries, the Azores, the scttl( nicnts in Guinea, and all the other places which the Portu- guese had discovered on the continent of Africa. during such a variety of voyages to almost every part of » the globe with which, at that time, any intercourse was carried on by sea, Columbus was now become one of the most skilful navigators in Europe. But not satisfied with that praise, hif ambition aimed at something more. The successful progress of the Portuguese navigators had awakened a spirit of curiosity and emulation, which set every man of science upon examining all the circumstances that led to the discoveries which they had made, or that afforded a prospect of succeeding in any new and bolder undertaking. The mind of Columbus, naturally inquisitive, capable of deep reflection and turned to speculations of tiiis kind, was so often employed in revolving the principles on which the Portuguese had founded their schemes of disco- very, and the mode in which they had carried them on, that he gradually began to form an idea of improving on their plan, and of accomplishing discoveries which hitherto Uiey had attempted in vain. To find out a passage by sea to the East Indies, was the great object in view at that period. From the time that the I*ortuguese doubled Cape de Verd, this was the point at which they aimed in all their navigations, and in comparison with it all their discoveries in Africa appeared inconsiderable. The fertility and riches of India had been known for many ages ; jits spices and other commodities were in high reputation throughout Europe, and the vast wealth of the Venetians aris- ling from their having engrossed this trade, had raised the envy lof all nations. More than half a century had been employed )y the Portuguese in advancing from Cape Non to the equator, [in hopes of arriving at India by steering towards the south md turning to the east, after they had sailed round the farther jxtremity of Africa. Even although they could succeed in irriving at India by pursuing this course, they were at last convinced that the remaining part of the navigation, from the jquator to India was so extensive, that it could not but be at- tended with uncertainty, danger and tediousness. These dif* iculties naturally led Columbus to consider whether a shorter |ind more direct passage to the East Indies might not be found ^ut. After revolving long and seriously every circumstance juggested by his superior knowledge, in the theory as well as ^ bractice of navigation, and comparing attentively the pbserva-, Ws of modern pilots, with the hints and conjectures of ancient iiuthors, he at last concluded that by sailing directly towardf ..,'1' the west across the Atlantic ocean, new countries which pro- bably formed a part of the great continent of India must in- fallibly be discovered. Columbus was confirmed in his opinion by the accounts of a certain Portuguese pilot, who having stretched farther to the west than was usual at that time, took up a piece of timber, artificially carved, floating on the sea ; and as it was driven towards him by a westerly wind, he con- cluded that it came from some unknown land situated in that quarter. Pieces of timber fashioned in the same manner, and float- ing on the waves were seen by several Portuguese pilots, to the west of the Madeira isles, and thither they were bi ought by a westerly wind. Canes also of an enormous size had been found, which resembled those described by Ptolemy, as pro- ductions peculiar to the East Indies. After a course of westerly winds, trees torn up by the roots, were often driven upon the coasts of Azores, and at one time the dead bodies of two men, with singular features, resembHng neither the inhabitants of Europe nor of Africa, were cast ashore there. As the force of this united evidence, arising from theori- tical and practical observations, led Columbus to expect the discovery of new countries in the western ocean, other rea- sons induced him to believe that these must be connected with the continent of India. Though the ancients had hardly ever penetrated into India farther than the banks of the Ganges, yet some Greek authors had ventured to describe the provinces beyond that river. As men are prone and at liberty to mag- nify what is remote or unknown, they represented them as regions of an immense extent. Cesias affirmed that India was as large as all the rest of Asia. Onesicritus, whom Pliny the naturah'st follows, contended that jt was equal to a third part of the inhabitable earth. Nearchus asserted, that it would take four months to march in a straight line from one extremity of India to the other. The journal of Marco Polo, who had proceeded towards the east far beyond the limits to which any European had ever advanced, seemed to confirm these exag- gerated accounts of the ancients. From the magnificent descriptions which Marco Polo gave of Cathay and Cipango, and of many other countries on that continent, it appeared to Columbus that India was a region of vast extent. He concluded, that in proportion as the continent of India stretched out towards the east, it must in consequence of the sperical figure of the earth, approach nearer to the islands which had lately been discovered to the west of Africa ; that the distance from the one to the other was probably not very considerable, and that the most direct, as well as the shortest course, to the remote regions of the east, was to be 19 tuund by sailing due west. Although he was supported in tliid opinion by some of the most eminent writers among the an- cients, still, not wishing to rest with absolute assurance, cither upon his own arguments or upon the authority of the ancients, he consulted such of his contemporaries as he considered capa- ble of comprehending the nature of the evidence which he had produced. At that tune, as the most distinguished astronomer and cosmoffrapher was one Paul, an emment physician of Florence, Columbus failed not to communicate to him his ideas concerning the probability of discovering new countries by sailing westward. The learned physician highly approved of the plan, and exhorted Columbus t5 p^severe in so laudable an undertaking. Columbus being fully satisfied with respect to the truth of his system and a successful issue, was impa- tient to bring it to the test ; and wishing that his native coun- try should first reap the fruits of liis labours, he luid the scheme before the senate of Genoa. But the Genoese, unfortunately for their commonwealth, were unacquainted with the abilities and character of the projector, by reason of his having resided so long in foreign countries, that they rejected his plan as a chi- merical undertaking. The country which had the second claim to his service was Portugal, where he had been long esta- blished. To John the second, therefore, King of Portugal, he made the next tender of his service, by offering to sail under the Portuguese flag, in quest of the new regions which he expected to discover. At first he met with a favourable re- ception from the King, to whom the professional skill and per- sonal good qualities of Columbus were well known. As King John was a monarch of an enterprising spirit, and no incom- petent judge in naval affairs, he listened to Columbus in a most B*acious manner, and referred the consideration of his plan to iego Ortiz, bishop of Certa, and two Jewish physicians, eminent cosmoeraphers, whom he was accustomed to consult in matters of tTiis kind. Here Columbus had to combat with prejudice, an enemy no less formidable than the ignorance of the Genoese, who were so little accustomed to distant voyages, that they could form no just idea of the principles on wmchhe founded his hopes of success. The persons according to whose decision his scheme was to be adopted or rejected in Portugal, had been the chief directors of the Portuguese navi- gations, and contended with great confidence Uiat India could be arrived at by pursuing a course directly opposite to that which Columbus recommended. Under these circumstances they could not approve of his proposals, without submitting to the double mortification of condemning their own theory, and of acknowledging his superior sagacity. After Columbus had given such a particular explanation of his system, as might lead Hi ^Il li I » them into a knowledge of its nature, thuy declined passing nuy judffmtnt in its favour. On the contrary they endeavoured (•• uncfermine him by advising the King to despatch a vessel, secretly, in order to attempt the discovery, by followinc exactly the course which Columbus seemed to point out. John fur- gettiiu^ on this occasion the sentiments oecoming a monarch, meanfy adopted this perfidious counsel. But tiie pilot clioscn to execute Columbus's plan, had neither the genius nor the fortitude of its author. Contrary winds arose, no sight of ap- proaching land appeared, his courage failed, and he returned to Lisbon execrating the project as equally extravagant anssesscd knowledge superior to all the rest of mankind. litre also Columbus had to contend with the same ignorance and pride of false knowledge which counter- acted his plans in Portugal. Five years had now elapsed in fruitless endeavours, when Talavera, to whom the decision was referred, made such an unfavourable report to Ferdinand and Isabella as induced them to acquaint Columbus, that until the war with the Moors should be brought to a period, it would be imprudent to engage in any new and expensive enterprise. — Columbus's hopes of success were, however, so sanguine that his enthusiasm was not to be cooled by delays, nor damped by disappointments. He next applied to persons of inferior rank, and addressed successively the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, and Medina Celi, who, though subjects, were possessed of power and opulence nKjrc than equal to the enterprise which he pro- jectSvl. Columbus met with the snme mortifying disappoint- ment from tiiese noblenKui, who either from their ignorance of the force of his arguments, or a dread of offending tlie pride of a sovereign who would not countennnce the scheme, rejected the plan as the invention of a chimerical projector. Among these disappointments, Columbus had also the mortification to be unacquiiintcd with the fate of his brother, who, as has been said by some Spanish historians, fell into the hands of Pirates on his way to England. And having been stripped of every thing, was detained a prisoner for several years. At length he made his escape and arrived in London, [but in such extreme indigence, that he was obliged to employ himself during a considerable time, in drawing and selling maps, in order to pick up as much money as would purchase a decent dress, in which he might venture to appear at court. He then laid before the King the proposals, with which he had been [entrusted by his brother, and notwithstanding Henry's exces- jsive caution and parsimony which rendered him averse to new )r expensive undertakings, he received Columbus's overtures [with more approbation than any monarch to whom they had 'litherto been presented. At this time Columbus seeing that he lad no prospect of encouragement in Spain, was preparing to [follow his brother to England. But Juan Perez, the guardian of the monastery in which >olumbus's children had been educated, and a man of some cre- iit with Isabella, prevailed on him to defer his journey for a ■short time. This learned Monk, being a considerable proficient lin mathematical knowledge, soon became acquainted with the labilities and integrity of Columbus, to whom he was so warmly lattached, that he ventured to write to Queen Isabella, conjuring HI »>> hoi' to coiisitler tlio mutter anew \vith the utteiitiun which it ineritod. As there wus now a ccrtniii prospect that the war with the Moors might he brougiit to a happy issue by the reduction ut Uninada, which would leave the national Kberty to engage in now undertakings, the Queen, moved by the representations of Juan Pere2, a ))eriion whom she re8|)ccted as a competent judg«; to decide in matters of this description, countenanced, for the second time, the grand schemes of Columbus. Accordingly, she desired Perez to repair to the village of Santa Fe, in which, on account of the siege of Granada, the court resided at that time, that she might confer with him on this important subject. This interview proved so favorable, that Columuus received a warm invitation to return to court. His former friends, there- fore, Alonso de Quintanilla, comptroller of the finances in Cus- tilie, and Louis de Santangcl, re(;eiver of the ecclesiastical reve- nues in Arrogon, seeing this Iiappy change in favor of Columbus, apjxjared with greater confidence than ever to support his schome. Although Isabella expressed her approbation, still Ferdinand pronounced the scheme to be impracticable. Colum- bus, however, as if determined to surmount every obstacle tluit could be thrown in his way, appeared before them with the same confident hopes of success as formerly, and insisted upon the same high recompense. Columbus proposed that a small fleet should DC fitted out under his command, to attempt the) discovery ; that he should be appointed hereditary admiral and viceroy of all the seas and lands which he should discover ; and that he should have the tenth part of the profits arising from them settled irrevocably upon himself and his descendants. At the same time he oflered to advance the eighth part of the sum necessary for accomplishing his design, on condition that he should be entitled to a proportional snare of benefit from the adventure. If the enterprize should totally fail, he made no stipula- tion for any reward or emolument whatever. But the persons with whom Columbus was treating, began to calculate the enor- mous expense of the expedition, and the exhorbitant reward which he demanded for himself. In this imposing garb of cau- tion and prudence, they misrepresented every thing to Ferdi- nand, who opposed the adventure from the commencement.-— Isabella, though more generous and enterprising, was under the influence of her husband in all her actions, and declined again giving any countenance to Columbus. Thus Columbus almost despaired of success, and withdrew from Court in deep anguish, with an intention of prosecuting his voyage to Eng- land, as his last resource. • About that time, Granada surren- dered, and Ferdinand and Isabella, in triumphal pomp took ofler [ scheme land ho T I thority clTect. [ dered < lution finance her ow . require [she mij[ jged to jlumbus jreturne ijourney j facility I bus wa Tl [as sove f admiral ■ disco ve for eve] rogativ* ,^5 the limii ■M viceroy fl ver ; bi '$ hereafite ^ of those * * 23 pussfssion of a city, tin* \\ action of which, cxtirj>aleil a to- verei^n power from the heart of I heir (Unninions and rendcrtMl thorn masters of ail the provinces, extending]; from iho bottom of the l*yref»ees to the frontiers of Portugal. As the flow of spirits which aecompanics success elevates the mind, ami n-mhTs it enterprising, Quintanilla and SantAn- gel, the vigiient and di<<'«'ii inj; patrons of Columhus, tfK)k a«l- vantaf'e of this favourahle siHi.Mion, in order to make one rfl'ort more m behalf of their frienil. They addressed themselves to Isabella, anronouac';(I the man, whom tliey had so lately reviled and threatened, to l}e a person r.snt by heaven with sagacity au'i ibrtitude more than human, in order to accomplish a design, so far beyond the ideas und conceptions of all foi'mer ages. As soon as tho sun arose, all their boats were manned and armed. 'J'liey rowed towards the island with their colours dis- pla3'cd, with war-like music, aii;.! other martial 'pomp. As tliey approach;jd the co;ist, tliey saw it covered with a multitude of people, whom the novelty of t!ie spectacle had drawn togetlicr, \vhos3 attitudes and gestures expressed wonder and astonish- ment at the strange objects wlii Ji jjrer^ented themselves to their view. Columbus was the lirst European who set foot in the new world vvhich ho liad discovered, lie landed in a rich dress, and with a naked sword in his hand, llis men followed, and hneclinsr down, they ^dl kissod the tn*ound wdiich thev had so long desired to s^e. They next erected a crucifix, and jtros- trating themselves before it, returned thanks to God for con- ducting their voyagr; to such an happy issue. They then took solemn possession of the country for the crown of Castile and Leon, with all t!ij formalities which t!ie Portuguese were accus- tomed to observe in acts of this kind, in their own discoveries. The Spaniards, while thus employed, weri; surrounded by many of the natives, wdio gazed in silent admiration upon actions which they could not comprehend, and of which they did not foresee the consequences. The dress of the Spaniards, tlio whiteness of their skins, their beards, their arms, ajipeared Btrange and sur})rising. The vast machine in wdiich they had traversed the ocean, that seemed to move in the water wdth wings, and uttered ;i dreadful sound resembling thunder, ac^r.^panied with lightning and smoke, struck them w^ith such i- nor, that they began to respect their new guests as a superior order of beings, and con- cluded that they were children of the sun, who had descended to visit the earth. fit i ■ • . • t The Europeans were Imrdly less amazed at the scene new hefore them. Every herb, and shrab, and tree, was diiFerent from those which flourished in Kuropo. The soil seemed to be rich, but bore few marks of cultivation. The climate, even to Sp'miards, felt warm, though extremely delightful. The in- habitants appeared in the simple inno(xn(!o of nature, entirely naked. Their black hair, long and uncurled, lloatcd upon their shoulders, or was bound in tresses around their heads. They had no beards, and every part of their bodies was perloctly smooth. Their com})Iexiou was of a dusky copper colour, their features singular, ratljer than disagreeable, tlieir aspect genlia and timid, though not tall, they wcvo. well shaped, and active. Their faces and several parts oftlicir bodies were fantastically painted with glaring colours. They were shy at first, through fear, but soon became familiar with the Spaniards, and with transports of joy received from them hawk's-bells, glass beads, or other baubles, in retm-n for which they gave such provisions as they had, and some cotton yarn, the only commodity of valuo they could produce. Towards evening (.olumbus returned to the ships, accompanied by many of the islanders in their boats, whicli they called canoe.'!, and though rudvdy iormed out of the trunk of a single tree, they rowed them with surprising dexterity. Thus in the first interview between t!ic i.'ihabitants of tho ohl and nev/ worlds, every tiling was conducted amicably, an.d to their mutual satisfaction. 1'hc former, enlightened and ambi- tious, formed already vast ideas with respect to t'le advantages which they might derive from the regions which began to open to their view. The latter, simple and undisccrning, had no foresight of the calamities and desolation which were approach- ing their country. Columbus who now assumed the title and authority of admiral and viceroy, called the island which hs discovered. Sail Salvador. It is better known by the name of Guamikani, wliich tli'^ natives gave it, and is one of that largo cluster of islands called the Tjucaya or Bahama isles. Thus Columbus, by his superioi' sagacity and fortitude, had conducted the Spaniards, by a route concealed from past ages, to the knowledge of the new world. No event ever proved so interesting to mankind in general, and to tlie inhabitants of Europe in particular, as tho discovery of America and tho passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope : it at once gave rise to a revolution in the commerce and in the power of nations, as well as in the manners, industry and go- vernment of almost the whole world. At this period new con- nexions were formed by the inhabitants of the most distant re- gions, for tho supply of wants they had never before experienced. The production of climates situated under the equator were ©onsuraed in countries bordering on the pole ; the industry of 5" I IM 32 . I the north was transplanted to the south ; and the inhabitants of the west were clothed with the manufactures of the east ; in short, a general intercourse of opinions, laws and customs, diseases and remedies, virtues and vices, were established among them. Ill \M "', . !i i ! '''iiliili: •■^ m *, 1 OllIGIN OF THE NOIITH AMEKICAN INDIANS. Having given an account of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, we shall now proceed to account for the peopling of this continent. When America was discovered, it was found inhabited by a race of people, no less different from the inhabitants of Europe, Africa, and the greater part of Asia, than the climate and natural productions of the new world are different from those of the old. To trace the descent of the red men who are melting, as was said by one of their most celebrated warriors, like snow before the sun, and perpetuate their national character on the page of history, before they totally disappear as a portion of the liuman race, will, we have no doubt, be no less gratifying to the scientific than to the cu- rious. In perambulating this labrynth of obscurity and anti- quity ; no safer guide can be offered us, than a portrait of the characteristical features of the Indians, which, when compared with the national character of some Asiatic tribes, will, by the resemblance which, in their manners, habits and customs they bear to each other, lead us to the original source whence sprang the North American Indians. The European colonies in Ame- rica have now become too numerous and too powerful to fear the effects of savage barbarity, and when fear ceases contempt is the natural consequence. While* the Indians are thus des- pised and forgotten as the original proprietors of this vast continent, which has served as a refuge to the oppressed inha- bitants of Europe in general, they are by many deemed un- worthy the attention of antiquaries. The Indians, it is true, cannot be classed among civilized nations, who cultivated the arts, agriculture and commerce ; still, leading a barbarous life as they did, it cannot be denied that the lofty notions of honour and independence, with which the minds of some Indian tribes were imbued and urged them to deeds of admirable heroism and striking generosity, is a proof of elevation of mind and refinement of sentiment ; qualities, perhaps, which are seldom to be found among those who charge the Indians with an inferiority of species. The greatest part of them had truly a nobleness and an equality of soul, which we seldom attain, with all the helps we can obtain from philosophy and religion. They were always masters of themselves, in the most sudden misfortunes, and the least alteration could not be perceived in their counten- ances. A prisoner who knev/ in what his captivity would end, or which, perhaps is more surprising, who was uncertain of his E I 3^ T' fate, (lid not loose ©n this account a qimrler of an hour's ilftcp; •ven the first emotions did not find thorn at a fault. It ia no less astonishing to see men whose whole outward appearance proclaimed nothing but barbarity, behave to each other with such kindness and regard, that are not perhaps to be experienced among the most civilized nations. This doubt- less proceeded u\ some measure from the \\ anh 7nijie and thine being as yet unknown to those savages. Those cold words, ns St. Chrysostom calls them, which extinguishing in our hearts the fire of charity, light up that of covotousiiess. We arc equally charmed with that natural and unnlicctcd gravity which reigned in all their behaviour, in all their actions, in the great- est part of their diversions. As likewise witli the civility and deference they showed to their equals, and the respect of the young people to the aged ; and lastly, to see that they never quarrelled among themselves with those indecent expressions, and the oaths and curses so common among the whites. All these are proofs of good sense, and a great command of temper. The Indians nave been frequently misrepresented by "writers, who had been either prejudiced (gainst them from some impure motives, or who had been 'too transiently resident amongst them, to ascertain with any accuracy the real charac- ter of the Indians ; for the Indians arc not communicative iu relation to their national peculiarities, or original descent. It requires, therefore, a good deal of familiar, attentive and un- suspecting observation to abtain any knowledge respecting them, as they have neither records nor oral tradition to throw any degree of satisfactory light on their character and descent. The speculative opinions of several historians who wrote concerning the religion of the Indian tribes of America, and the question, whence America might have been peopled, led to many misrepresentations of the religious rites, language and customs of its original inhabitants. They discovered affinities which existed no where, but in the fanciful invention of the discoverers. Gomara, Lerius, and Ijcscarbot inferred from some resemblances of this kind, that America had been peo- pled by the Canaanites, when they were expelled by Joshua. The celebrated Grotius adopting the opinion of Martyr, ima- ^ned that Yucatan, a Province of New Spain, was first colonized by the Ethiopians, and that those Ethiopians were christians. The human mind derives pleasure from paradox, for the same reason that it delights in wit. Both produce new and surprising combinations of thought, and the judgment being overpowered by the fervours of imagination, becomes for a time insensible to their extravagance. The opinion extensively prevails, that the North American iMdians are descendants of the tribes of Israel. This theoiy 35 •ij ])()S9r:j>ect t! ihiolity of his statements, because his judgment had lost /u^ iqiii poise, and he saw every thing through a discolouuM^ inedinm. It is impossible fol* the religious man, not to take particular interest in the history of the Hebrews ; and while he reads of the extermination of the kingdom of Israel, when the blind- folded tribes were torn from the land of their prerogative, his soul must be filled with compassion for their misfortunes. — Their subsequent history is attended with such impenetrable darkness, that this sentiment of compassion naturally combines with curiosity, to penetrate even the forests of the western con- tinent, in order to identify the lost tribes of Israel. This has actually been the case, for the idea of tracing to America the long lost tribes of Israel, rose before the imagination of many with captivating splendour. In the establishment however of tliis theory, the judgments of those who endeavoured to make researches this way, were so much perverted that resemblance* v/ere imagined which had no existence in reality. The affinity it is true, of languages tends in some measure to point out the connexion of nations ; but this depends on the high or low degree of similarity which wc find when we collate the one language with the other. In the Celtic language, for example, we find several words which bear some radical resemblance to the Indian, especially to that language which is spoken by the Algonkins : but hence, it would not be reasonable to conclude a consanguinity between the Irish and the North American Indians. It is, therefore, on the resemblance which a few wordi in tlic languages of the Indians of North America bear to the Hebrew, that some authors have contended with a great deal of confidence, that the lost tribes of Israel are the red men of Nyrth America. On the continent of America three radical languages are spoken by the Indians, exclusive of the Karalit or Esquimeaux. Mr. Heckenelder denominates them the Iroquois, the Lenape» and the Floridian. The Iroquois is spoken by the six nations, the Wyandots or Hurons, the Naivlowessies, the Assioiboils, and other tribes beyond the St. Lawrence. The Lenape which is the most widely extended langu- age on this side of the Mississippi, was spoken by the tribes now extinct, who formerly inhabited Nova Scotia and the pre- sent State of Maine, the Abenakis, Micmacs, Canibas, Open» angos, Soccokis, Etchemins, and Souriqois ; dialects of it are now spoken by the Miamis, the Potanotamies, Mississagoos, and Kickapoos; the Cohestogos, Nanticc^os, Shawanefle, and . 1 I ( ■t: ' 36 \*' ill Mochicaiis ; lliu Aljifonquins, the Knistcwans, and Chijjpcvvays. The Floridian iiicludcs the langua^'cs ul" the (.!n;cks or Mus- cohgces, Chic'kosaus, Cht)cktaws, Pasca^oulas, tlio Clierokccs, Scminolcs and several others in the southern states of Florida. These three languages are primitive, that is to say, are no distantly related, as to have no perceivable aftinity. Seeing ther(;fore that there arc three primitive languages spoken by the North American Indians, which have no radical connexion the one with the other, it would be absurd to coun- tenance for a momt^nt the assertion, that the red men of Anus rica are the lost tribes of Israel, without having a better proof than u similarity, as we have already mentioned, between a few Indian and Hebrew words. The distant relation itself betwe<'. Hy the disr,ov(!ri(\s of Captain Cooke in ills hist vovM'^", it has heen cstahlished Ix yond a doubt, that at Kr insehatk'i, in about lutifude (>(5" north, the eontinents of Asia iii»; America an; se^paratcd by a strait on!y eighteen miles widi , iiM.l that the inhabitants on c^ach coiitiiK'ut an; similar, and \'i't - (;aentiy pass and repass in tlies, IVom the one eo!itiiiei;t i'» tlu! other. It is also <;e!talu tint during the wint(T season, Meering's straits are trny,( n from the one sid(! to the other, (-'aptain Williamson, who was lieutenant to ('ooke in those voy- ages, has also assertcil that, from tlit! iniddlc of the channel bt- tween Katnseh;ifka aufl America he had discovered land on cither side. This short ilistance, tluTefonN he says, should ac- count for the jMiOpling of America from the north east parts of Asia. The same author further asserts, that there is a be sufficient witliuut any other proof to satisfy the philosophio mind, in the absence ot" a surer guide. The Huron ianguago has a copiousness, an energy, and a sublimity perhaps not lobe found united in any of liie liiiest languages tiiat we know. It has frequently been asserted, that those whose native tongue it is, arc endowed with an elevation of soul, which agrees with the majesty of their language. Some have fancied they found in it some similitude with the Hebrew ; others have said that it had the same origin as the Greek ; but nothing could l)e more trifling than the proofs they bring forward, (rabriel Sajjhard imagined he had made wonderful discoveries in his vocabulary ; James Cartier and Baron de la Huntan were ecpially enthusias- tic in their researches. These three authors took at random some terms, some of which were Huron and other Algonquin, signifying quite diflcrent from what they asserted. They pre- te(ided from a similarity of sound in a few words, to have dis- covered a radical connexion between the Indian languages and the Hebrew. The Algonquin language has not so much force as the Huron; but it has more sweetness and elegance, and mav with great propriety be denominated the Italian of the western con- tinent ; for it abounds with vowels, which renders it soft, musi- cal, and harmonious. Doth the Algovguln and the Huron have a richness of expressien, a variety of turns, a propriety of terms and a regularity which seldom prevails in some of the more cultivated languages of Europe. .r In the Huron, all is conjugated ; a certain device, which cannot be well explained, distinguishes the verbs, the nouns, the pronouns, the adverbs, &c. The simple verbs have a double conjugation, one absolute and the other reciprocal : the third f)ersons have the two genders, for there are but two in these anguages ; that is to say, the noble and the ignoble gender. As to the number and tenses they have the same differences, as the Greek and some languages spoken in the north east of Asia : for instance, to relate travels, they express themselves differently according as it was by land or water. The verbs active mul- tiply, as often as there are things which fall under action; as the verb which signifies to eat varies as many times as there arc things to eat. The action is expressed differently in respect to any thing that has life, and an inanimate thing ; thus, to see a man, and to see a stone, are two different verbs ; to make use of a thing that belongs to him who uses it, or to him to whom we speak, are also two different verbs. It may be said, and it is certainly true, that these languages from their richness and variety are attended with consideraole difficulty in learning them, and it is no less certain that their ptf w iy stad b«rr«iuMU on the other hand, render them equally 45 10. When we speak of their poverty and barrenness, vre must not he understood as alluding to the sterility of the languages ; for the richness or poverty of a language depends on the know- ledge or ignorance of the people who speak it. The Indians, for instance, seldom gave names to things which they did not use, or which did not iall under their senses, so tliat when Euro- peans conversed with them on subjects with which they were unacquainted, they were naturally in want of terms to express their ideas. Even the refined languages vi' Greece and Rome, when we speak of modern inventions and things which were not known in ancient times, are labouring under the same dis- ndvantagc ; still they arc not to be pronounced as barren, for it is not to be expected that man is to give names to things which he neither saw or hoard of. In speaking to an Indian in his savage state, concei-ning religious worship, heaven and tho Deity ; about virtues, vices, and the cultivation of the arts, or other subjects of our common conversation, nothing could be expected but confused ideas and such a vacuity in his langungo as would require circumlocutions in order to throw any infor- mation wiihin the compass of his understanding. Such, then, is the barrenness of the Indian languages, but as far as they havo been cultivated, they are found to be not only rich in expressions but full of harmony and melody. Travellers have differed in giving names to tho three primitive languages wdiich are spoken in North America ; they generally go, however, under the names of the Sioi/., the Huron, and the Algonquin. That of the Hurons is more copious and better cultivated than those spoken by the Algonquins and Sious, by reason of their having attained a higher degree of cultivation; for the Ilurons have always ap- plied themselves more than any other tribe, to the cultivation of the land. They have also extended them.selves much less, which has produced two effects. In the first place, they are better settled, better lodged, and better fortified. Under these circumstances they could more easily cultivate the arts, and form fixed rules for their government. These would inevitably be the means of supplying their language with terms, which, otherwise, would never have been introduced. In the second place they became more industrious, more dexterous in manag- ing their aflairs ; these improvements cannot be attributed but to a spirit of society, which they have preserved better than others. Notwithstanding the difference which evidently exists between these three primitive languages, it cannot be denied, that a radical connexion exists, which is not easily perceived but by those who are well versed in them. Although we are fully satisfied from several other circum- stances, as well as the affinity of languages, that the North American^ Indians are descended from the north east parts of It iM 'If- lip 16 ii '. Wlb iiiilliiil. iili:] -\sia, still vrc do not :it all iniagino that they are descen- dants of one and tlie same Asiatic tribe who spoke the same luMi^unge. It PI IV :i})pear singular that there t;hould exist such a dissimilarity in liic iajiguagcs which the north cast Asiatics carried with them to America ; but the surprise will at once vanish when we consider that the north east parts of Asia had been peopled by dillcrcnt races of men from different parts of Asia. The Highlanders of (Scotland, it is well known, are of H different origin with their more soutliern neighbours ; and their language which is likewise radic^ally different, they have pre- served in its purity, notwithstanding their union by local situa- tion and inter-marriages. In every part of the new world where these Highlanders have made settlements, the Gn;lic is spoken ns purely almost as it came from t!ie lips of Ossian ; under similar circumstances, thereUjre, the Indians have been able to retain the languages of their respective progenitors. The same can be said of the Irish, Germans, and Dutch who migrated to America. It is not, therefore, to be wondered that there should exist among the Indians three primitive languages, which are very distantly connected, although they all came latterly from the north east parts of Aaia. Santini after collating the Indian languages with those spoken by the Coriacks and Tongusi, gives us the following par- ticularities of these Asiatic tongues : " Le lingue cha siparlano dai Tongusi e i CoriaH di Sihe- ** ria, sono original m^nte uscite dalla medesbna fonte ; pcrche, ** avsiido studiato tutte h dus,sono capace divedc.re I'ajjiniki; oltre *♦ questo, ho osservato sovcnte volte che i Tongusi e Coriakipotc- " vanoparlare insiema senza alcuna interpretazione ; e ciascJie- " duno parlava nslla lingua sua. Quests lingiie hanno due ge- ** neHy una che si applica alH animantc, e un aJlro aW inanimato. ** J verbi sono canza nuniero^ e si aum'intaiio secondo la varieta *' delle cose che si faiirj) e si vcdono. Per esenwio, nn Coriako *' nonsi serve del mrdc^imo verbor^ (piando vuol dire che haveduto *' un uccello e un nlhero. NcIIa. Medesbna vianlcra, si varia il ** verbo, quando dice, che ha hevtito deW acqiia o del vino. II " medesimo idioma i-i puo vedere mile lingue che parlano gli ** Indiani America ni. Padre CJiiaratcsta, che ei^arestato due *♦ anni in Ka.vr-chatha. ha ddto e 7ion si puo duhitnre le sue " parole, che qucJli daW ultra parte del stretto di Beering, com- " prendevano la lingua dci Kanischadali e che si vedevano fre- *^ quentemente passare e ripassare da un continente aW altro^ The languages which are spoken by the Tongusi and Co- riaks of Siberia, sayr; Santini, have originally sprung from the same fountain. Having studied them both, the affinity appears to me to be very evident. Besides, I frequently observed the Tongusi and the Coriaks conversing together, wliile each used 47 hat language wliich was spoken in his own country. They could not, certainly, understanl each other easily, frcni the re- petitions, gestures and circumlocutions vvhich I observed durin^j their conversation. Both languages have two genders ; the one is called the noble, and is applied to animate things ; and the other the ignoble, of which gender are inanimate things. The verbs are without number, and are increased according to the variety and quality ot" the action. For example, a Coriaic docs not use the same verb, when he says he saw a bird or a tree. In the same manner the Coriaks alter their verb, when they say they drank wine or water. The same idiom, conti- nues Santini, is peculiar to some languages which are spf)ken by the North American Indians. Father Chlaratesta, who re- mained two years in Kamschatka, has said, and his word should not be doubted, that those on the American side of the straits ot* Beering understood the language of the Kamsciiadales, and were seen frequently to pass and repass from the one continent to the other. These sources of information are certainly worthy of credit; for they are distinguished as men of the highest veracity, as well as profound judgment and acute imagination. It is like- wise generally known that no person can contract a greater intimacy with barbarous nations, than missionaries, who, by the dignity of their sacred office, the affability of their manners, and their brotherly counsels, have always succeeded in endearing themselves to the rudest of nations. We have the testimony of other travellers, to corroborate the assertions of the learned Santini and Chiaratesta, while they endeavour to prove a simi- larity between the Indian languages and those of the Tongusi and Coriaks. Hennepin, who travelled among the Indians of North America, says, that the Huron language partakes in a high degree of the idiom of Asiatic tongues : that they abound with those figurative expressions, sublimity of thought and sweetness, which are so characteristic of some Asiatic langua- ges. Abernethy collated two hundred Indian words with the Coriack language, and the identity is so evident that every per- son who is acquainted with the derivation and formation of lan« guages, will at once acknowledge the Asiatic origin of the In- dian languages. J>3 f ''A l^ RELIGION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. Among the most savage nations in the world, the opinion prevails, that there are beings superior to themselves, who manage by their power and wisdom* tho affairs of this world :...J ii ■■■' lllilli ''! 'i' lllifil"^" ; m i i: ' :i -I ,: I.- f: .1 ::i I I' inted out by the Great Spirit, who threatens vengeance rly against those who might intrude on professions so sacred. It aassdldoia or never beem obtenrod by travellers, that the V # Indians offered human sacrifices to either of the deities. It has, however, been frequently asserted that when an offering was made, it consisted generally of a dog ; and this took place at no other time, except in the times of calamity, scarcity, and sick- ness. Having procured a suitable animal, generally a dog, thoy tie his mouth, without killing him, and singe him at the fire. They then affix him to a pole"^with a bundle of beaver skins. When the pole is erected the priest approaches, addresses the Spirit, deprecates his wrath, and implores a mitigation of their troubles. The tribe at the conclusion of his speech shout their concurrence. They then leave the dog and the pole, never touching them till they rot and fall. This ridiculous mode of offering a sacrifice was witnessed on many occasions among the Hurons, by Hennepin, Perin, and several other travellers. The Indians have their God of war also, but this being is no other than the Great Spirit, to whom we have already al- luded, and who is particulary invoked in their war songs. The Hurons call him Arcshoui, and the Iroquois call him Agreskoui. How he is styled in the Algonquin, we have not been able to ascertain. But it is somewhat strange, that Ar-es in the Greek language is Mars, or the God of war ; from this it would appear that Ares in Greek is the root whence Areskoui of the Hurons, and AgreskouK of the Iroquois must have been derived. Al- though we are not warranted from this similarity alone to pro- nounce an affinity between the Greek and Indian languages, still it appears probable enough that the Greek and Indian terms for the God of war had one common origin, if we allow that the early progenitors of the Greeks and Indians might have been intimately allied at some unknown remote period, previous to the establishment of colonies in the Grecian isles, and long before the arrival of any Asiatic tribe on the continent of Ame- rica. If this opinion be well founded, and we do not see how it could be doubted, whatever alterations these languages may have undergone in the course of ages, by the multiplication of ideas, and consequently of words or by the revolution?] which the languages of a civilized nations must undergo, it would be very unjust to deny the probability of some affinity between the Greek, Hebrew and Indian languages. After the disper- sion of Babel, for instance, they might have set oflT together in quest of settlements. Notwithstanding this probability, we are far from believing that the Indians are consanguineously related to those Greeks, whose language rose into a fabric of the most exquisite and astonishing art, or to any of the tribes of Israel whose language was the Hebrew. Let us now, however, re- turn to the Indian God of war. Before the battle and in height of the engagement, his name is the war cry ; upon the march also they often repeat it, by way of encouragement to each 11 I e J *t' f I other, and to implore his assistance. L'Abbe IVrin aays, thai before an Indian engagement, the warriors raise a most hii{eous yell, with which they address thoir Gnd of bn'fka, lockin:; at the same time upwards, as if in the yroatcst soiivitudii to behold his mijcrhtincss in tii'* heavens. L'Abbe' tie la Fontaine says, that when tliey are afraid of being conquered in batljn, thoy send their supplications also to an evil Spirit, that lie may ho pleaseil to p.rcvont llieir i.ittcr destruction ; this they do with the greritost liiinilily and sub- mission, accompanied with resolutions and ]»ruinises never to incur his wrath for the time to come. Do la Fontiine admires and eulogizes the sublime language which they make use of on- these solemn occasions: he compares their ]x>elical and martial ideas to the lofty strains of Ossian, llie famous bard of the an^ cient Celts. J- ,:!!,, !■ m f^ THE RELIGIOxN OF THE TOXGUSI, CORIAKS, AND KAMSCHADALES. The most barbarous nations in the world believe in the ex- istence of a being who is sujiorior to thompelvrs. \alure has- never failed to indicate to the human mi:id, the existence ofsom« Deity, who presides over the human race. Although man sees not his superior, yet the various revolutions which he sees take place around him inculcate the idea th t there exists a Sove- reign Lord, at wIjobc control the world revolves. The Mahometans, who borrowed their religious notions from the Jews and Christians, pretend that they are the great supporters of the doctrine of the unity of the Deity. Under a pretence ofimprovement, they impoach both the Jew and, Chris- tian with a plurality of Deities. But it is well known, that the Jews and Christians make the unity of the Deiiy a fundamental doctrine of their religion. From these three sects, however, the doctrine of the unity of the Deity has been impai ted to almost every nation and tribe with which we are acquainted. We do not, however, mean to say, that they have m en solely the means of propagating this doctrine, for we are no less certain, that several nations with which we are utterly unacquainted and which never, perhaps, heard of revelation, entertain ideas of one Supreme Deity, with many inferior ager. is, similar to each other. Among those rude nations, the notion of a Supreme Being ap- pears to have arisen from the force of human reiason : the idea of his numerous inferior ministers seeius to have origing.ted in the imbecility of the human imagination. Notwithstanding this general belief of the unity of the t^^ityt whicli prcvailn (imiof;t 51 •*! Ui •very -^fhcro, however nuio the imtion may bo, every oounti^ has its own peculiarities in religion, as well as in ihcir language and modes of living. In no part of yVsia, has thn (unr.y multiplied inoro inferior Spirits, than in Hindostan. Tiio spiritual agents of the Deity aro then; innnnicrabli-. and each ol tI,;M.i h represented under diillM-Mit asp!M'ts ; but to cnuuKMato ihe w'aole would be inr\pos* sible and superlhiou;; o'l the jJnsiMit occasion. From tiu) researches of the most veracious travellers in Aria, we are infornied, that of all the Asiatic; nations, whoso roli'^aons ten<'fs they could ascertain with any aci'uracy, the Ton'Hisi, C'oriaKs and Kamschadaicij res'-nihlo most the North Aiacriran Indians, in tluMr ideas concerning the Deity. " Tho ToUi^nsi," say.s Al»crnethy, "believe in the existence of a su- iireine bein;^, accordin;.; to w'nose will they sliall cither conquer rr die. They call him I he (.uul of lioslr,, because on him, they imaixine, the fate oftluir v/arlike expedition!? depends. They worship likewise an infernal Dontun, whose attributes are wrath and vengeance ; while tlu-y invoke him, they are influenced folely by lear, lest he may alTiict or torment them, for they be- lieve that fi'om him ail their calatnities and mosfortuncs proceed. As to a faturo state, they are as charilable as tho Universaliat, for they cannot bear to hear of a future state of torments and dnmnation. On the other hand, thoy imaginti that they arc to enjoy all tho pleasures after which thoy aspired in this world. They have their i)riests, prophets, and physicians ; and their sacrifices consist generally of those brute animals which they consider the greatest favorites of the evW Spirit, for they seldom supplicate the Grco't Spirit, except before battle, as they deem him a benevolent Deity, who is disposed to favor, rather than torment them," The Coriaks have a God of War, whose aspect they ima- gine to be fierce and sour, while terror is in his looks as well as in his dress. This Mars of the Romans, and the Ares of tho Greeks, they call Arinski, a name which not only resembles the . Arcs of the Greeks, but is almost the very same as the Areskoui of the Ilurons of America, an appellation which they apply to the same martial Deity. It appears rather singular that the, same term for the God of War should be ibund in the Coriak , of Siberia, the Greek and tho Huron langu iges of America. We cannot, however, account for this identitv of terms, more reasonably than wc have already done. The Greeks called,, him Ares, either from the- destruction and slaughter which he- caused ; or from the silence which is kept in war, where ac-- tions, not words,, are necessary. This term may, very proba- bly, have . been derived from the Greek verb airein^ to take away, or nnaircin, to kill. But from whatever words this nam© Ffl 4^ 5? is derived, it is certain that those famous names, Areopagus and Areqpagita, are, derived from Ares. The Areopagus, that is, the «*hiir' or "mountain" of Mars, was a place at Athens, ac- cording to the Greek Mythology, in which Mars being accused of murder, &c., was forced to defend himself before twelve gods, and was acquitted by six voices ; from which time, that place became a court wherein were tried capital causes, and the things belonging to religion. The Kamschadales, according to Santini, coincide with the Coriaks and Tongusi, almost in every point of religion, < x- cept the offering of sacrifices. They believe in a supreme and benevolent being, whose sole care it is to watch over their in- terests, provided they do not incur the displeasure of the evil spirit, who is always disposed to punish them when they offend him. DRESS AND ORNAMENTS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. Hill It has always been observed thj;t all the various tribes have a close resemblance in their dress ; that of the North American Indians ifi their original state, consists entirely of furs and hides; one piece is fastened round the waist, which reaches the middle of tne thigh, and another larger piece is thrown over the shoulders. Their stockings are of skins, fitted to the shape of the lee ; the seams are ornamented with porcupines' quills ; their shoes are of the skin of the deer, elk, or buflalo, drsssed for the most part with the hair on ; they are made to fasten about the ancles, where they have ornaments of brass or tin, about an inch long, hung by thongs. The women are all co- vered from the knees upwards. Their shifts cover their body, but not the arms. Their petticoats reach from the waist to the knees; and both are of leather. Their shoes and stockings aire not different from those of the men. Those men who wish to appear gay, pluck the hair from their heads, except a round spot of about two inches diameter on the crown of the head ; (pii this are fastened plumes of feathers with quills of ivory or silver. The peculiar ornaments of this part are the distinguish- ing marks of the different nations. They sometimes paint their faces black, but oftener red ; they bore their noses and slit their ears, and in both they wear various ornaments. The higher raoks '] 55 DRESS AND ORNAMENTS OF THE TONGUSI* GO^ RIAKS. AND KAMSCIIADALES. - -,..-. *♦ The Tongusi, Coraiks, Kanischadales and other tril)cs in (he north east parts of Asia," says Abcrnctliy, " arc difibrcntlj attirctl froiu what tliey were a century ago. Like every other rude nation in their original state, they covered tiicrnsolvcs with furs and; hides like the shepherds of Spain and Italy, the npper garment consisted of one piece, with a liood and sleeves ; it bears also some resemhlance to the dress of Capuchin Monks, though not so long, for it reaches not further tlian the kneo. From the knee downwards, they are covered with leggins of deer or buffalo skin ; their shoes also are made of the san^ie. These robes were formerly dressed with the hair on, but the Tonf^usi especial!}', and the Coriaks, have made tliemsclves so well acquainted with the art of tanning, that hair is not 5;een in any part of their dress, except the hood, the neck, and the cutis of the sleeves of the upper garment. The tanned covering is generally painted with considerable taste. The figures repre- sent those animals which have been chosen by each tribe as th.eir distinguishing marks. In the summer season, they wear a kind of petticoat round the vvaist which comes down to the knees ; it is made of coarse linnen or cotton, which they manufacture themselves. At this time the}' pain* their bodies with a varieiy < r colours. The process of thus adorning themseivcs, consists J pricking those parts of the bod}' which are not covered, and rubbing them over with different colours. " The warriors paint their faces that they may appear more warlike* Others who are not engaged in hostilities do the same, because, I suppose, they imagine tliey look more handsome. " They take great pains to dreiSs their hair, which is gene- rally long and oily, by reason of being smeared v»-{th grease. The pendants in their ears and nostrils are usually shells which are painted on one side with a red, and on the other with a blue colour; but they never consider themselves in their full unifoim without a crown made of the plumage of a bird called the rotoo. Their women may be said to follow the same practices, although they pay very little attention to their hair." " The inhabitauts of Kamschatka," the same a-uthor con- tinues, " have preserved their ancient dress better than any of their neighbouring tribes, because, although tliey are tributary to the Russian empire, they are farther removed from civilizecl society, without alluding particularly to their dress, I have only to say, that they were anciently clad in the same manner, as (be I Coriaks and Tongusj, notwithstanding the difference which has bftrn effected by the novelty of tlic fashions of modern timcis.. ^il ■i.ri i II 5G .lij vJi 'M Santini says almost the same : ♦♦ Quanta all' ahito dei Ton- ** gusi, eglino e tutte h altre nazioni barbare hanno quasi il " inedesimo vestito, die consists dei/e pclle di hestiejiere. Que&t' " ahito e setnplicejmnte accomodato al corpo, o adornato con or- **namenti secondo il grado di cimlizazionefra .^utllagente. I •* Tongusi andavano, iina volta, vastiti in pelli-; depinge.vano il ** corpo e lafaccia con dijferenti colori. Pertuggiavano il naso " e g/i orechii, dove si impicavano dei nickii coloriti. Hanno " una corona fatta dalle piurm dei piu belli e rari uccelli, sped- ** almente i pavoni. Ogid parte dd loro vestito era (ihhellata ** colle pcenns del porco spinoso. Lj huro scarps psr rinvcrno " sono due piedi di hinghezza : son fattn per camminars sidJa "neye; la lorojigura e oua'e : con questcfanno lungi viaggii; " sono leggieri perche il suolo di qurstc scarpe e composlo d' '^une rets di cordicelle che son fatts della j^cllc di quidche ani- « male." Santini tells us here that the dress of every barbarous na- tion as well as that of the Tongusi is generally made of the skin of wild beasts. This dress is simply fitted to the form and shape of the body, or it is adorned with various ornaments according to the degree of civilization which these nations Imvo arrived at. The Tongusi in tlieir original state of barbarity were dressed in skins ; they painted their bodies and faces with various colours ; they bored their noses and ears whence hang coloured shells. For their head coverini? t'lev had crovv^ns made of the skin of a young deer, ornamented with the plumage of rare birds, especially the peacock. Every part of their dress was embellished with coloured porcupine quills ; they had shoes particularly suited for the winter, in order to traverse the snowy plains more easily ; their length was about two feet. From the lightness and structure of these shoes they were able to perform long journies. The soles consisted of a net made of strings of a raw hide. The Asiatic snow shoes are to be seen in the museum of;, St. Ignatius's college at Rome j for Santini took several pair of them with him from Siberia. La Perouse and Lisseps found the snow shoe in Tartary. Count Buenaventura observes how serviceable they are to the Siberians. Rosetti has a pair of jj them in his collection of antiquities ; these he found among the Hurons of North America. Rosetti compaired his Indian dress, in which he appeared once at a masquerade ball at Rome, with the dresses of the two Tongusian princes, the converts of Santini, and the resemblance was striking. Santini in speaking of the shirts which are introduced in the modem dress of the Tongusi, makes the following obser- vation : " Slo severe osMrvato, eke i Tongusi, almeno la maggioT t 57 * parte degli uomini, hanno due camicit nelt abito moderrutt unu " che sta sempre presso alia pelle, e un* altra copre it primo vea- ♦' timinto. La raggione di quesio costume non conosco^ nulladi- " meno alcuni mi hanno detto die era originato d*un motivo di " vanita." According to Santini, the Tongusi, in their modern dress, wear two shirts, one next their skin and another over their waistcoat. How this custom originated he could not ascertain ; but he says he was told by some that they did it through pride or vanity. Those who are acquainted with the manners, habits and, customs of the North American Indians, must be aware of their attachment also to wear a shirt over their waistcoat. MARRIAGE AMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. None of the North American tribes, however rude, were unacquainted with the institution of marriage. They generally are contented with one wife, they sometimes take two, and seldom more than three. The women are under the direction of their fathers in the choice of a husband, and very seldom ex- press a predilection for any particular person. Their courtship is short and simple. The lover makes a present, generally of game, to the head of that family to which belongs the woman he fancies. Her guardian's approbation being obtained, an appro- bation which, if the suitor is an expert hunter, is seldom refused; he next makes a present to the woman, and her acceptance of tliis signifies her consent. The contract is immediately made, and the match concluded. As soon as he chooses he is admit- ted to cohabitation ; but the time of the consummation is always a secret to every one but themselves. All this is transacted without ceremony, without even a feast. The husband gene- rally carries his wife among his own relations, where he either returns to the tent which he formerly inhabited, or constructs a new one for their own use. They sometimes, but seldom, re- main with the wife's relations. When the wife Is removed, if the game be plentiful, he gives an entertainment to her relations. These contracts are binding no longer than both parties are willing. If they do not agree they separate ; the woman returns to her relations, and, if they have any children, she takes them along with her; but after they have children, a separation very seldoni takes place. If a woman be guilty of zulultery, and her husband be unwilling to divorce her, he cuti. hor hair which is the highest female dugrace. ii't"' ■ "V,M^' ! hi C)9 ^ 0n the Woman is devolved every (f()incsti(! cjmrge. ftiio erects the tent, procures wood ihr tlio fire, manages tlie agri- cultural affairs, dresses the provisions, catches fish, and makes traps for small animals. The husband only employs himself in the chase. Z:... When a woman is with child,' she works at her ordinary occupations, convinced that work is advantageous both for her- self and child ; her labour is easy, and she may be seen on tho day after her delivery with her child at her back, avoiding non? of her former employments. They suckle their children till they are at least two years of age. Their cradle was anciently a board, to which they laced their children, after having wrap- ped them in furs, to preserve them in heat. This is set down in a corner, or hung up in the tent, and without loosing it from its cradle, the mother often takes it on her back, and in that man- ner carries it about. Among the Indians, widows cannot contract a second mar- riage without the consent of those on whom they depend, in virtue of the laws of widowhood. If they can find no husband for the widow, she finds herself under no difficulties ; if she has arty sons of an age to support her, she may continue in a stato of widowhood, without danger of ever wanting any thing ; if she is willing to marry again, she may, and the man she mar- ries becomes the father of her children : he enters into all the rights and obligations of the first husband. The husband does not weep for his wife, because, accord- ing to the savages, tears do not become men ; but this is not general among all nations. The women weep for their hus- bands a year ; they call him without ceasing, and fill their vil- lage with cries and lamentations, especially at the rising and setting of the sun, at noon, in some places when they go out to work, and when they return. Mothers do much the same for their children. The chiefs mourn only six months, and may afterwards marry again. La Roche was once entertained in the following manner, at the puptials of a Huron Chief: " Next morning the father and his sons proposed to con- duct us down the river in their canoes to a certain place, where they assured us, we would be entertained with all the ancient amusements of the Indians ^ because their chief a young man of about 19 years of age, was to take to himself a wife from among the white people. To this proposal we gave Our con- sent, a small fleet of canoes were now riding on the river and waiting our arrival. The ladies w*ho accompanied us were at .'first as timorous as the mountain shephetd, when fii^st he em- barks on tlie billows of a falhand the rose spring up under you feet whither- soever you go.* *• We took our leave of the grateful Indians, congratulating ourselves on our successful adventures. This excursion will, 1 am sure, form a golden subject for the conversazioni of Venice ; for Donnabella failed not to depict every scene. In the even- ing we retired to the house of an English gentleman. His ele- gant cottage stood on a lofty cliff which commanded a pleasing prospect at eventide. When the last ray of the golden light was illuminating the west, we took our seat on the side of a hill : here we sat and mused till the pale moon broke through the clouds and tipped the waters beneath with its soft and silvery light, while the forest tops were tingedwith the light moonshine. Before us opened in a contracted view, the dark and lonely woods ; through them whispered a gentle breeze, such as the mournful echo of some distant flute. Beneath we beheld a serpentine stream which broke through the shade of a dark anrl distant forest ; on its limpid waters were miiTorcd the silver moon and the celestial orbs. As it greeted with a murmuring voice the height whence we gazed,and rolled along in the silence of night, to pursue its nocturnal course, we were reminded of the journey of our life and the time which glides along, never to return. The nuptial feast was still continued on the plain? JMiMftth, anil well ini|^t we say with the poet, [^^i .h 01 ',SY_ nient are thoM foasU witli nimplo plenty er»wa*«i, Wliero tliu rurul family iirouiiJ, « Bo>it>t of lljo Idns.iiiiga tA' tlic luwly train, Which the rich doriilu and the proud diudnin, To tficia nioro dear, conjronial to thoir iicurta One nativo ohuriii, thun ull thu glotis ot url: Spiiiiliineous joys, where uaturo has its phiy, 'I'iio fuul iK'ojits ind OAJis their first horn bwajr; Lij^htly they frolic o'er tlio vaciint mind, Unouvy'd, unmolested, uncji.fia'd.' i>; " Betwoon tlie hours of nino an I ten we liastenod home by the light of the moon, to muse on the excursion oi' the day and the pleasures of the cver.iuL^ vicv/," It appears, therefore?, that iho Indianf? have also their nner- rirnents on occa^:ions of this sort; allhougii their marriages go oir more commonly without anv ccremonv. There are in all natioaii some coiisi Icraltlo families, which cannot marrv hut among thr^ms;'lves, t^speiMallv among the AI- gonquins. Tn general, the stability of marriages is sacred in this countrj', and for the most ])art thoy consider, as a great disorder, those agreements wliitdi s;)me persons make to live together as long as they like, and to separate wiien they are tired of each other. A husband wiio should forsake his wife, without any lawful cause, must expect many insults from her relations ; and a woman who should leave her husband without being forced to it by his ill conduct, would pass her tune still worse. Among the Miamis, the husband has a right to cut off his wife's nose if she runs away from him ; but among the Iroquois and the ITurons, they may p.art by consent. This is done with- out noise, and the parties thus separated may marry again. They cannot even conceiv-e that there can be any crime in this. " Mv wife and I cannot aixree t jucther," said one of them to a missionary who endeavoured to mtdLC him comprehend the in- decency of such a separation 4 "my neighbour's case was the same, we changed wives and we were all happy ; for notliing is more reasonable than to make each other happv, when it is so cheaply done without wronging any body." Novortlieloss, this custom, as we have alr'^idy observed, is lor)ke;i upon as an abupo, and is not ancient, at least among tlio Iro [uois. Among some nations of the Indians, treaties of marriages are carried on by the parents alono. The parties intoreste:] do not appear at all ; they give themselves up entirely to the will of those on whom they depend; however, the parents come to no conclusion without the consent of those who are to be mar- ried*. If a girl continues too long without being courted, her fa.mi\y generally contrive to find her a suitor. On this occa-. ihl 69 ; '■ . ii ■ \m m sion tliey act with a ginat deal ol" prccuiuiou. Jii soiiif [>lu«'ts t'le wouKMi are nut in haste to he married, because they are allowed to irnke trials of it when ihoy (ran, and th« ceremony of marriage only chan:] wood tliat will be wanted next winter. And it is to Le absorv* cii, that in all I have just said, thoro is no difference between the nations, where the wonvMi have all the nuthority, and those where they have nothing to do with tlie aflhirs of government. Thrse same women who arc in some do^rco the mistresses of the state, at least for for?n, and who make the principal body of it, when they have attained a certain ;:ge, and have children in .1 condition to make tliom respc(;table, arc not at ail respected before this, and arc in their domestic alfuirs the slaveu of their husbands." MARRIAGE AMONG THK TONGITSl, CORIAKS, A\I) KAMSCIIADALES. " In the marriage of the Tongitsi," sny; Ahcrnr thy, ''many ceremonies arc used, but the principal and indispiMisahle one is, tlie otTering of a plate of corn or some game to the bi ide by her intended husband. Among several tribes of the 'i\)ngMsi, mar- riage is attended with dancing, music, and a variety of games and sports which sometimes continue for se\eral dayfj. There arc others who do not exhibit any mark of rejoicing on tliesv: occasions. Their courtship is generally of a very short dura- tion. Among some, the contract is conducted by th(iir parents, while others allow the lovers to choose and come to an agree- ment. They frequently bestow presents on each olhrr, in order to ascertain each others minds, fcr the acceptance of tl»( se giitn is a sure mark of their consent. The iiusband gonerally tidcrs his wife among his own relations, where she spends several weeks, and is entertained with kindness and hospitality. " If the husband he a himter, wdiich is generally the case, for the greater part of them procure their subsistence either by hunting or fishing, every domestic charge is devolved on the wife ; still there are some who attend to agiiculture and the rearing of cattle. Nothing can exceed the modesty wldch both the bride and bridegroom assume on the night they are wed- ded; and I have also been told that a scpir.ntion trc(]urnfly takes place a week or two after they are married, by reason of her desire to live four weeks in perfect continence. This, how- ever, is not generally true, for I observed that chastity was very often violated, among them, before they are legally united. Among the Coriaks there are many tribes or families who never marry but among themselves. Here the w<^.man signifies her consent by keeping the present which he sends her; if she re- turns it, he never sends it to another. Although the women are the slaves of their husbands in the domestic affairs, still thev are 5 i m M 44. .!,.;. ' \m vary much respected whon tliey attnin a ccrlMin age, ami th«r •ven contribute to ro;.duct the afluirs of ;,'C)Vonjmorit, under tho title (){ the Mistrcitucs of thr, Stat''. TlieiV cnutrnrts of mar- ringc arc binding no lou/xer tlinu both prulics an; willini,'. If a seF>aration takes place, the mother takes the chiltlron witii her to her relations ; however, it is ikjI a common tiling to Koe them separate after tiiey liave cliildren." Santini tells us that Ik? wan once entertained bv the Kani- schadaies at tlie celebration of the nuptials of a Kamsciiadaliaii Chief. Hi.s description of ihe merry festivities conTsponds willi the Olympic ^f^Mtixs whieii were observed among tlie llurons of North America on a similar occasion : " ./Jm arinundato fra tiUtn In fami'^'ir c/ii nppnrtcncvann *♦ al principc, ch". Ic nczxc del loro pnnc'^uh'Jhss'^ro ir.lchratc il *' giorno s'^guentc. TutU le si^nore e ngJinri del parsfi si. appa- ** rrc/iunutiio alt' (t/lrirrczza aapra un montc. licirio nl capo *' di'tlii nnzionn. Nclla viatlinn del ginrno nouu'nf/fo vi era una " grandr coinpagnla nc! luogn docc si dccono rodana)".-. Ave- " vano dei fnusici e dci cantatori di gn'rra. Danzavano con *' mninmriiti cirocolari. 11 sposo c la spnsa shtruno wd mezzo e ** cantavtnio una canzone per la loro fiUura JeUclta. Dnpo qir- «' s!o cofnm.inciavano a corrcre, saltare, e scoccan; dci dardi ; " Qu'.ista sccna mi ridusse alUi memoria gli csercixii dci Greet " antichi. QuesC usanza di fcstrggidmenii ai sposalizii non si " troi'a per tutto rpiesto pacse. Sowntemenie vonno insicme ** scnza aJcun. ceremonio. dopo die si oltenc il cansenso dei par- *• euii. Quandn fonno i'ainore, ch) non sara lungo tempo, si ** regain, qualcke cosa daW noma alia donna, e l\icccttazione di ** questo e un ccrto indizio dcT approhazione.^* " It was announced," says Santini, " among the relations of the prince, that his nuptials were to be celebratoj] the following day. All the damsels and young men, and the old of both sexes prepared themselves for the approaching festivities. Agreeably to the request, crowds were seen repairing to the favored spot, which was the summit of a beautiful hill in the immediate vicinity of the residence of the chief, the intended spouse. Musicians and singers of war were there to inspire their minds with mirth and sentiments of bravery and heroism. Having formed a ring round the wedded couple, who at this time sang a song for their own future happiness and prosperity, they danced and moved in a circular way. The dance was then superseded by their athletic exercises, which consisted in running, leaping, and shoot- ing arrows. The scene at once reminded me of the Olympio games of the ancient Greeks. These rejoicings and amuse- ments at the marriages of the Kamschadales are not at all general. In some parts of this country they frequently go to- goiber wit>bo|«t aa^ oeromony, if the cOfRsent of thenr parents be ' I 65 obtainod. Their courtship commonly lasts no longer than th* tlmo which is consufnetl in sending a present to the worn: whicii, it' she accepts of it, is a mark of her approbation.** WAU AMONG THE NORTH AMERK AN INDIANS. The youths of those vnrious trih'^s are much addicted to wnr. Wfiilc wo thus express ourselves in the present tense, let us be understood ns deserihinf? the Indian sonic centuries ago. Accustomed to hear the exploits of their forefathers related with admiration, they IxHiome impatient to signalize themselves in the same career. The usual avowed causes of war among the In:li;uis, are to secure their right of passing throuc^h certain tracts of country ; to assert their right of hunting within cer- tnin hounrls ; to maintani th(;ir claims to their own territories ; or to avenge the death of such of their tribe, as may have liillen in former conflict^. Every tribe has a band of warriors. This consists of all iho males of the nation, from 15 years of age to 00. Their arms are bows and arrows, and a war club. The head of this ck'.b is about three inches and a half in diameter, with an cf!ge of Hint or steel fixed in one side of it. Since their intercourse with Europeans, they have substituted the musket, for their bows and arrows, and the tomahawk for their war club ; to these they have now added a scalping knife, and a dagger. These warriors are under the command of the war chief. When the assembly of chiefs and elders have determined that war is necessary, they endeavour to persuade the warriors to take arms. " The bones of our deceased countrymr"n,"thcy say, " lie uncovered ; they cry to us to avenge their wrongs ; their spirits must be appeased. The invisible gunrdinns of our honour inspire us with a resolution to seek the murrlerers of oar brothers. Let us go and devour those by whom they were slain. Sit not, therefore, inacti\e. Giv(* way to your valour. Anoint your hair. Paint your faces. Fill your quivers. Make the forests resound with your songs. Console the spirits of the dead, and tell then; they shall be avenged." The warriors immediatelv raise the war song, and demand to be led against the enemy. The chief who is to be thpir leader paints himself black : fasts several days and avoids all conversation with those of the tribe. By this means he means to Conciliate the favour of the Great Spirit and to avert thel malevolence of the evil one. He carrfully observes his dreamy which generally portend success. Some people have fanciedf that this fattiog aroM from a desire to accustom themselves to V'- -* •m <.i ] 06 •• »» i^UQger; but accoiding to their own notions, vre arc informed, that they do it purely from a religious motive. It is no less certain also that they esteem their dreams as real oracles and notices from heaven. Those Indians who are in any trouble of mind, it is said, frequently lie down to sleep in order to com- municate with these oracles. Having fasted the appointed time, he takes a belt of wam- pum in his hand, and addresses his warriors, informing them of all the motives for the war, and of the success which the Great Spirit has promised to their arms. He then lays down the belt, and he who takes it up is second in command. The chief re- moves the black paint, and is painted red. He sings the war song and makes a devotional address to the Great Spirit, in which he is joined by all the warriors. They then perform the war dance, and ccmclude with a feast of dog's flesh. The chief, though he has fasted so long, seldom partakes of this feast ; he recounts the valiant actions of himself and his ancestors. From this time till their departure on their expedition, every day is spent in preparation, and every night in feasting. A hatchet painted red is sent to the nation which they arc to attack. This is the declaration of war ; a dangerous com- mission, which is generally discharged by a slave, and often proves fatal to him. When the Indians set out on their march, a mat is all they take besides their arms. They maintain themselves on their way by hunting. If not near the enemy's country, they are quite unguarded, separating in small parties during the day, for the convenience of hunting ; but taking care at night, to return to their camp, which is pitched before sunset. By the sun and their knowledge of the country, they direct their different routes so well, that they never fail of meeting at the appointed place. When they have entered the enemy's country, a very different conduct is observed ; circumspection now attends the minutest actions. The game is no longer pursued ; fires are not lighted ; they are not even permitted to speak ; they converse by signs ; they are sensible that they themselves have much sagacity in discovering an enemy, and they rightly conclude, that their enemies have no less. The Indians, indeed, possess a degree of sagacity, in this respect, which can scarcely be conceived by civilize^d nations. At a very great distance, they discover habi- tatifsns by the smell of the fire. They perceive the track of a foot on the smoothest grass, and on the hardest substa.nce. From the track they discover, with amazing certainty, the na- tion, the sex, the stature of the person who has parsed, and the time ijn&i has elapsed since the track was formeid* it i^ ^oto^s^ to avoid an enemy so sagacious. It bepomeis, th^ gtcat concern of bpth parties, tter^ore, to conceal their <»? H ti^CW ai^i d^t- 1 1 67 cover those of their opponents. For the former purpose Aet use all precautions ; they follow each other in a single line, eacn treading in the footsteps of those before him ; while the lai^t carefully conceals their track by throwing leaves upon it. If they discover a rivulet on their way, they march in it, the mora eftcctually to deceive their enemies. Their precautions increase as they approach ihcir adversaries ; thoy march only during the night, and during the day form a continual ambuscade. If they succeed in discovering their enemies without themselves being discovered, thoy immediately hold a council, in which they only" whisper, and thus plan the dreadful scene which is to be acted. Immediately before day break, at the time when their adversa- ries arc supposed to be iinmorsed in the soundest sleep, they approach them on their hands and knees, till within bow shot. Tiic chief gives a signal : they start up, and with a horrid yeH discharge their arrows. Taking advantage of the confusion, they rush forward, and, with their tomahawks complete the car- nage. Without some evident advantage of this kind, an Indian seldom engages ; for he expects no praise for a victory which is purchased with the lives of any of his party. Having secured the victory, and despatched all who would be troublesome to them on their return, they make the rest prisoners. They then scalp the dead and wounded ; twisting the hair round their left hand and setting their foot on the person's neck, with a few strokes of the scalping knife, they dexterously separate the scalp from the head, preserve it as a monument of their victory. They never dispute about the di- vision of their prisoners. He who is apprehensive of being wronged, with his tomahawk soon despatches the unhappy cause of their contest. They now turn their faces towards their own country, and if apprehensive of being pursued they use the same precautions with which they advanced. If all these precautions do not conceal them, they slay all their pri- soners and each taking a seperate road homewards, they put an eflbctual stop to the searches of an enemy. If they proceed in security, they are very careful to watch their prisoners ; who during the day are conafantly held by some of their con- querors, and during the night are fastened to the ground by the arms, the legs, and the necks, and cords from all these places aro lieid by an Indian, who is instantly awaked by the smallest motion. The prisoners often during the night time sing their death song. " I am going to die," they exclaim, " but will not shrink from the tortures inflicted by my enemies. I will die like a warrior, and go to join those chiefs who have suHered before me." *• • t - When ihey approach their tents, they announce their ar^ rival by different- cries. The number of war whoops indicatei 08 M ;i how many prisoners they have taken. The number of death cries, indicates how many of their companions they liave lost. The whole village meets them to learn the particulars. They form a line through which the ])risoners ai-e obliged to pass ; and they beat them with sticks from one end to the other. By a council which is immediately held, their fate is soon deter- mined. Those who are condtMnned to die are delivered to the war chief; those who arc spared are to be given to the chief of the nation. A prisoner is no sooner condemned than he is led to execution. He is bound to the stake, while, for the last time, he sings his death song. He is then burned and expires with that ferocious courage which distinguishes an Indian war- rior. If he be a chief who has given fjrool's of his pn^wess in former engagements with his enemies, they frequeiitly give his fortitude a severe trial, by the intiictiou of the most dreadful torments. Terror finds no place oi» tlie one hand, nor pity on the other, ^i iio victim glories in his torments as unecjuivocal rnarks of the opinion entertained of him by his toimcutors. He boasts of the victories he has obtained over their naiitfu; he enumerates the scalps w^iich he possesses ; he reciipitulatcs the manner in which he has treated his prisoners, and rc|)rocches them with ignorance in the act of torture. This scene, it is said, sometimes continues with little intermission for several days, till the prisoner is exhausted, but not humbled, expires without a sigh, or till his taunts provoke his tormentors to frustrate their own designs by putting a speedy end to his existence. The tortures made use of on these occasions are of various kinds, but all of them are such only as a savage heart could conceive, or a savage hand could inflict, and that only when prompted by that deadly animosity which cannot ejcist, but among barbarous tribes. It is not to be imagined that these tortures are often in- flicted. None ever sufler them but a chief, who has distin- guished himself in war. Burning is the general way of putting prisoners to death, and but few of them suffer even in that manner. A great part are delivered to the chief of the nation, and distributed to those who have lost their husbands, sons or other relations in the war. They are by them generally adopt- ed into their respective families ; and if they conduct themselves properly and seem contented with their condition, they experi- ence that tenderness and regard which belong to those whose places they fill. They have no chance of returning to their own tribe, for the Indians esteem all who permit themselves to be made prisoners as being unworthy of life, and would not receive them, could they make their escape. The prisoners who are not adopted into some family, are made slaves, and are ditpoMd of to Europeans for spirituous liquors ; a Qu^tom m A !lf introduced by the French missionaries for the purpose of pro- venting the tortLU'ing of prisonors of war. The animosity of savages is hereditary, and can seldom be extinguished ; when peace becomrs necessary, therefore, it is not easy to bring about the prcsliininarii^s. Even when an In- dian is brought to the hist extremity, ho will seldom confess that peace is necessary for him ; he tries to shew that it is the in- terest of his adversary ; and gr'neraHy em[)loys a mediator who is a friend to both parties. A. ^h\v of the most respectable heads of the tribe, attended l)y those chiefs who have undertaken to bo mediators, proceed to tliat nulion with which tiiey are to treat. Before them is carried the pio? of peace, a sacred symbol, the rights of whicli no Indian will presume to violiite. This pipe is about four feet long ; its bov/l is of red marble : its stein of wood, adoru'-MJ with leathers, and painted with hieroglyphics. From the variety of those ornaments an Indian can imme.iiateiy judge to wliat nation it belongs. IIa^•ing re !<.;Iied the encamp- meat of the hostile nation, an inf-Mior chi:4" tills the pip*; of peace with tobacco; and having lighted it, pi-ericnlo it, fast to lieavcn, then to earth, and, lastly, in a circle to all parts of the horizon ; thereby invoking all the spirits that dwell in heaven, in earth and air, to bo pi-(?se;il nt the treaty, lie next presents it to the hereditary cliief. vrho takes a fcnv quitis, blowing the smoke, first t nvar.ls heaven, and then aroivad hiin towards the earth. In their turns it is pres 'Ute i to all the ciile's in gradations, none presuming to touch il. but with their lips. A council is imme- diately held, and if the parties agree, a red hatchet is buried as a svmbol of tiio promised oblivion of their aniraosltv. A belt mule ot a kind of shells, ctmmonlv called a b:dt of wamnum, is made use of on this ot'tsion; and, by the arrangement of the shells, records to posterity everv stipulation of the treaty. With this account, which is given us in the G!as'.Tow Geog- raphy, the follov.-lng observations by the I3is!iop of IMIcux. are concordant : " As soon as all tlie warriors are cmbar]:ed, the canoes at first go a iiirle way and range themselves close tog;:;i:her up.^n a line ; then the chief rises up, and holding a Chichicou(^ in his hand, he thunders out his song of war, and his S'.>!di''rs answer bim by a treble Th, drawn with nil their strengt'i froio the bot- tom of their breasts. The ehlers anil chieil^ of ihe c,)i;n(;il who remain on the shore, exhort the warriors to behave well, and especially not to sutler themselves to bo surprised. Of all the advices that can be given to a savage, this is the most necessary. This exhortation does not interrupt the chief who continues singing. Lastly the warriors conjure their relations and friends uot to forget them. Then sending forth all together hidooua I ft I'iy '. 70 . howlings, they set off directly, unci row with such speed that they are soon out of sight. *' The llurons and the Iroiiquois do not use the Chichicoe, but thiiv gWc tiicin t > tiieir prisoners ; so that these iiistruments, which among others is an instrument of war, seem among them to be a mark of slavery. Ttie warriors seldom make any short mirchtjs, especially when the troop is numerous ; but on the oilier hand, they take presages from every thing ; and the jug- glcrs, whose business it is to explain them, hasten or retard their march to t'leir pleasure. Whilst they are not in a suspected country, they take no precaution, and frequently one shall sr:arce find two or three warriors together, each taking his own way to hunt ; but !io\v far soever they stray from the route, they all return punctually to the place, and at the hour appointed for their remlezvous. They encamp a long time betorc sunset, and com!n:i>nly they leave before the camp a large space surrounded with palisades, or rather a sort of lauicc, on whif.'li they place their Alanitous, turned towards the; {)lacc they uro going to. They invoke them for an hour, and tlioy do the same every morning before they decani;). Ailor this they think they have nothing to fear, they suppose tliat the spirits lake upon them to be Sv-intinols, and ail the army sleeps q'llctly under their sup- posed safeguard. Expcrien'-e does not undeceive these barba- rians, nor bring them oat of ihair presu nptuous confidence. It has its source in an iaJolence and laziacss which nothing can conquer. Every one Is an enemy in the way of the warriors, but nevertheless, if they meet any of their allies, or any parlies nearly e-qual in force of 'people, willi whom thoy have no quar- rel, they make fricndoldp with each other. If the allies they meet are at war with the same enemy, Use chief of the strongest party, or of that wiiich took up arms first, gives some scalps to the other, which they are always provided with for these occa- sions, and says to him, *' Y'-^i have done your business f that is to say, " you have fulfilled your engagement, your honor is safe, you 'may retui-n home." But this is to be understood when the meeting is accidental, when they have not appointed them, and when they have no occasion for a reinforcement. When th^y are just entering on an enemy's country, they stop for a ceremony whicli is something lingular. " At niglit they make a great feast, after which they lie down ; as saon as they are awake, those who have had any dreams go from fire to* fire, singing their song of death, with which they intermix their dreams in an enigmatical manner. Every, one racks his brains to guess them, and if no body can do it, those who have dreamt are at liberty to return home. This gives a fine opportunity to cowards. Then they nnake iaew ianovations to the i^rils ; they animate each other more 71 than ever to do wonders ; they swear to assist each other, «inl then they renew their march ; and if they. come thitlier by wa- ter, they quit their canoes, which they hide very carefully. If every thing was observed that is prescribed on llicse occasions, it would be difficult to surprise a party of war that is entered into an enemy's country. They ought to make no more fires, no more cries, nor hunt no more, nor even speak to each other but by signs. But these laws are sometimes vioiaterise, and it generally succeeds, for as the savages very frequently neglect the pr«s cautions nticcssary to sliun a surpripc, so are they active and skilful in surpiisi'.ig. On the other hand these people have a wonderful talent, 1 may say, an instinct, to know if any per- son has passed any place. On the shortest grass, or the* hard- est ground, even ujion stones, they discover soio(» traces, and by the way they are turned ; by the shnj^e of their fret ; by the manner they are separated from each r>fh.er, they rt of our village.* L)r else, ' w*.' r(;,L(ret tlu; spirit of siicli an one yon h;ive lost ; and who, by his wisdom, maintained the piil^lii', tnuiqnillity ; he nm»t appear aijairi this ase with him; and then the council express themselves in these terms, when they put him in their hands : — • 'This is to repair t!;e loss of su(di a one, and to (deanse the heart of his father, of his mother, of his wilb, and of his cliil- dren. If you are either willinij to make them drink the broth of this llesh, or that you had rather replace the deceas(jd on his mat, in the person of this caiitive, you may dispose of him as you please.' •♦ When a prisoner is adopted, they load him to the cribin where he must live, and the first thiu'^ they do is to untie him ; then tliev warm some water and wash him ; tliev dresr, his wounds, if he has any, and if they wen; even pufrilied, and full of worms, he is soon cured; they omit nothing to make him forget his sulVorings ; they make him eat, and clothe him de- cently. In a word, they would not ilo more for their own (diil- dren, nor for him wJiom he, rais-s frain the chad ; this is their expression. Souie days ai'tor, they mak Aberncthy, Santini, and otliers, the first ceremony, which is the very same among the North American Indians, is to hanir the kdth on the fire. This preliminary, no doubt, originated fronv the barbarous custom of eating the prisoners of war, and thoso who had been killed, after they had been boiled. We find, however, no authentic proof adduced by any European writer or traveller, which will induce us to believe that it was cus- tomary, either anrong the North American Indians or the tribes inhabiting the north east part of Asia, to cat human flesh ; still it is acknowledged by themselves on both continents. Some- eminent travellers have asserted that the terms to drink the blood or broth ofthefiesh of their enemies^ were only an allego- rical way of speaking among the Asiatics, and coivsequcntly among the Indians ot North America. These figurative ex- pressions arc often found in the scripture. The enemies of David did not, as it appears, make it a custom to eat the flesh of their enemies, when he said, Psalm xxvii. 5. ii., • When the wicked, even mine enemies, came upon me to eat up my fiesh.^ In after times, however, we are convinced that nations substi- tuted the fact in room of the figure. Although the expressions which the Asiatics of Siberia and the North American Indians made use of, when they addressed their prisoners of war, would in their literal sense induce us to believe that cannibalism was common among them on certain occasions, yet, as we have no better proof than their own allegorical expressions, wo must not be rash enough to accuse them of such inhumanity. " The motives," says AlK3rnothy, " which engage the bar- barous tribes of north east Asia to make war, are generally trifling, and often founded on some old or new injury. Under these circumstances, nations which were once enemies, are sel- dom at peace with each other. Before they set out on any warlike expedition, they must first obtain the approbation and sanction of their elders and chiefs, who constitute the council. Among the Yakutsi and Okotsi, fasting for several days is deemed in- dispensably necessary, especially for their chiefs or leaders. Some tribes amon^ the Tongusi and Coriaks paint themselves black the day before they depart ; this colour, however, is changed into red on setting off*. " The chief among the Kamschadales fasts longer than the other warriors, and during that time he scarcely converses with any person, and is besmeared with black. This painting them- selves with black arises, I suppose, from some notions of the death ox slaughter which they are about to inflict on their ene- '¥''H ' '; if t I t iJI Jf if I 80 mies. Dreams are also carefully observed, and more favour- ably interpreted, for they are generally auspicious omens. After they have performed many ridiculous ceremonies, the chief assembles his warriors, and tells them that the Great Spirit and the spirits of their murdered brethren demand revenge. Having delivered an enthusiastic and figurative speceh of no great length, in which he reminds them of the bravery and heroism of their fathers and of the injuries done them and their brethren, thev heat water with which they wash the black co- lour from his face. They set his hair in order, grease it, and repaint it with red and various other colours. After he is dressed in his finest robes he begins to sing the sojig of death in a low tone. Ilis warriors then who are to accompany him, sing one after another their war sonu; ; for every man has his own, which is not to be sung by another. Some families have also songs peculiar to themselves. They now proceed to hear the final decision of the council, who are for two or three days secluded from society. ' Go,^ says the elders, ' and wipe away the hlood of your brethren; their bodies are not covered ; de- stroy your enemies and eat all your captives. This sentence is received with acclamations, bowlings and yells, and they depart to make a feast, which is called the feast of the dog ; for the dogs are generally the only dish. Before thedog is put into the kettle, they offer him to the god of war. Sometimes they de- clare war openly by sending a painted tomahawk to their ene- mies ; and at other times they take them by surprise without giving the least notice of their hostile intentions. Among the Coriaks a second feast is given by the chief before their depar- ture, to which he invites all the village. Before they partake of anything, the chief stands up and delivers a longer speech than usual. ' We have been slain,' says he, ' the bones of our brethren remain uncovered, their spirits cry against us, and we must satisfy them. The Great Spirit tells us to take revenge. Take therefore courage and dress your hair ; paint your faces and fill your quivers.' " After this discourse he is applauded with deafening yells. He then advances into the midst of the assembly to sing with his war club in his hand. The warriors swear or promise to follow him and support him till they die. They put themselves in the position of fighting, and their gestures would almost make one believe t4iat they are actually fighting among themselves* This they do that their chiefs and family may understand their intrepidity and firm resolutions of not flying from thd enemy. Songs and dances follow these assurances, and the feast puts an end to these ceremonies. " The Tongusi, in order to ascertain the courage, patience and perseverance of their warriors, inflict many injuries and '■Vi i :'; 81 e favour- i omens. )nies, tho eat Spirit revenge. !eh of no very and and their black co- ise it, and ter ho is • of dcatJi pany iiim, in lias his lilies have cd to hoar three days uHfi. away vered; de- ;entcnoe is liey depart rr ; for tllC ut into the 3 they de- their ene- SG without mong the leir depar- y partake er speech fnes of our |us, and we revenge. our faces ling yells, sing with )roniise to [hemselves lost make lemselves. ttand their Id enemy, feast puts ;, patience iuries and insults on the yoimtjf people who never ^ar^il an enemy. They llrst reproach them with the nn»nej' r:f cowards ; they h(>at them with their clu!)s and even throw boiling water on tliem; and if they show on those of^casions the least impatience and sensi- bilitv, they ere reckoned as dastards who are not worthy oftlu^ irime of warriors. They carry this practice of trying the vouncT men so far that it would be too tedious to relate them. " When the day of departure is arrived, they jire not at all •roid f)f those tender teelin.frs, wliich are always found among iMiv civilized nation on occasions of this sort. They give mu- tn;d pledges as assurances of a perpetual remembrance. At their d(^parttn'e tho whole village meets at the cabin of the chief which is now snrrouniims tho son!:r of death, and they all take their leave of their families, friends and relations. "Their arms are bow^s and arrows, a javelin and a /wcfr/- hrcahcr. Their d(;fensive armour consists of the hides of butih- loes and sometimes a coat of pliable sticks, woven and pretty well wi'onghi,. They have now however substituted swords nad muskets for their ofibnsivo weapons and defensive armour, which prove more fatal and destructive. " Tho Coriaks have their tutelar deities which they carry with them on these expeditions. These symbols under which Rvery one represents his familiar spirit, are painted with vari- ous colours and carried in sacks. When they travel by water tlioy place the sacks which contain them, their presents, and other valuable articles in the fore part of their canoes where the chief ^its with no other intention, I supnose, than that of honourintr hiui. " When they encamp, which is always about sunset, they con- ruct tents of mats which they carry along with them. During the night they divide their watches after the manner of the Romans. Sometimes, however, they all sleep, except two or three on whom they have the greatest dependence. But thoir principal safeguards are their deities whom they imagine to be their surest protectors. On the following morning, if they are not in any hurry to arrive in the country of their enemies, small parties separate into different directions to hunt, and in the evening all return to their camp about the same time. Tims fhov procure their subsistence as thev rjo alonjr without beinfj at I tiiG trouble ot carrying burdens of provisions. *• It is generally about day break that they attack their I enemies, because about this time they imagine that they are "sleep. The chief gives the signal, and they all rush forward, discharging their arrows, and preparing their more deadly wea- !■ :UI ■.'.'ll m il:'. 82 w f)ons, their tomahawks. Slauglitcr and destruction aro novv- committed without mercy or compassion, and i!ie Nuniiuitlied frequently undergo the painful ojjcration v.^ acalpinir. " In retreating, they use the greatest i)recaution, by march- ing forward expeditiously and pursuing a dilierent route from what their enemies would suppose. They also conceal th;; marks of their steps by covering them witli the loaves of ilio trees. Those who have been taken i)risonors are doomed t') the most cruel treatment, much worse than the torments which the Christians endured from the Pagans. " The Yakutsi conduct their prisoners to ihcir villages where ihoy are immediately slaughtered, except those who are ransomed by their respective chiefs. Many of them are also given to those widows who have lost their husbanfducrus of Mercury^ and that in its institution it was esteemed :is a symbol ot' pnace. Ail those I saw dance, sing, shake the 'hichii. Then he expresses by different cries the various aifections of his mind, during his last campaign, and finishes by reciling all the brave actions he has performed in the war. " In the western parts there is another dance used, whir-h is called the dance of the hull. The dancers form several cir- cles or rings, and the music, which is always the drum or tin- 85 chkhicoue, is in the midst of th<; plaoe. 'i*licy never separate those of the lainily ; th(!y do not j)iii liuiids, and every one car- ries in his hand, his arms and his biicld'/r. All the circles do not turn in liie same way ; a-i;! llioii_,di they caj)cr niucii, and very Ini^lu tfiey always keop time and measure. " IVom time to time a chief oi' a family prescntL^ his slji;'ld ; they all sti'ike on it, and at every stroke he repeats some of his exploits. Then he i^'oos and cuts a pie(^e of tobacco ai a post, where they have fa^leiicd a ecu tain quantity, and gives it to one of his friends, if any one can prose that he iias done greater exploits, or !»;ul a saai'c in thos;; ihe other boasts of, he lias u right to take uie piece of tobacco that was presenti'd, and give it to another. This dan(;c is ibllowed by a feast ; but I do not see wt;ll from wii'-iice it (ieri\'es its name, uidess it be from the shields, on which tliev strike, which are covered with biiU'a iiides. •' There aie dances which arc prescribed by the pliysicians i'ov the cure of t'le sick, but they are generally very lascivifjus, Thei'e are some that are entirely for liiscr.ssion, ihiit have ro relation to any tiling. They are almost always in circles, to the sound <>f ti.e drum and the c/tichicoiic, ti.'O men apart from the women. The men jlance with tiieir arms in their hands, ;ind thono-h ihev nevi^r take lu>ld of each otlier, ihev never break the circle. As h) what I said l;efore, that th.ey are always in lime, it is no diiH jult thing to believe, that the music of the sava- ges was but two or 'hrea notes wiiich ai"(; ri.'jiealed continually. This makes their i'easts very tiresome to a European after he has sei-n them once, liecause they kisi a lon'r time, and vou hear alwavs the aanac ihiiig." THE DANCE OF THE POTOOSI, OR rA[JJMET, AMONO THE T0i\GUSI,C0RIAKS,KAjV18CIIA- DALES, YAKUTSI, AND OKOTSI. Abernethy, in speaking of the Potoosi dance among tho Tongusi, gives us the following description of it : — '• On tho iMght previous to their departure, a ^ery singular entertainment is given by the chief, in which the Potaoai, or llu; .sacred pipe, is introiiuced, fo:- the purpose of binding the warriors to fuielity and laravery. Tiie Potoosi, among all the Tongusian trii)es, is considered a sacred instrument, which their fathers received from the Great Spirit, or God of War. to make vows by fuming tobacco. On the evening, tljerefore, before they depart, the warriors are sunnnnoned to appear before the chief, in ihcir martial uniforms. The women also attend, and thov are attired 80 in llirir licliosl re »])♦.■!. ITnvinn: formed a circle, i\\o musiciaii=^ •slnnd in the midst, 'i'licir music is very simple; lor it <*,onr;isis only of two inr;truMirnts', which proihicc ncdthcr lirirmony nor ordo;-. 'I'ho dnncors, howrvor. ktM'p titno to tho cadcnco of the music. Tltis dance, as usual, w^xr-. a vUi;j; or circ'c in which the/ inovod roundwnrds incessantly, till it was aniiounccd to scat themselves on tho t^ronnd to partake of the foist, the )>rincipal dish ol' which consist;; of the flesh of a .'/'////c do<;: Before tho do^ is put into the /cetlle, they perform several ceremonies in of- fering him while alive to the Great Spirit ; for they imagine that no animal is more pleasing, in a sacrilice, than a white dog. All their feasts are supplied with the flesh of the dog, and they might as well be called sacrifices as feasts ; because the olFer- ing of tho dog to their Supreme Deity alv.ays precedes the fe.asL After the iXo^,?, are consumed, thev rise and renew their dances. The first thing, however, after tho feast, is the olTering of tho Pntoosi to the Great Spirit, by the senior chief. The fumes f>f the pipe are directed upwards to'vards the (yrcatSjri'-il. This ceremony resembles, in a great measure, tho Asiatic ofiering of inccns-'. When the chief imagines that the Deity is fully sitisfied with this act of adoration, every warrior in his turn, takes the pipe, which is decorated v/ith various ornaments, and, at every quiffs promises to adhere to his commander, and never fiy from his enemy. At the same time he relates what he has done in fivour of his nation ; and he foretells his future achieve- ments. The chief takes the Potnosi a second time, and at every quilf he enumerates the various engagements in which he con- quered his enemies. The whole as. jmbly then join in applaud- ing his l>ravery and undaunter! spirit. The feast of the Potoosi is concluded with the .n.-:i.sis u'lnoiiy nor Icnco of tij(> wJiicJi thov "ed to sciit ic )>rincipni Bejbrc t!)o onies in o\'- nagine that '■ dog. AH . and they ) llio olFer- s the IcasL. cir dances, 'ing of tho fiimc^ of ;v/. This ic ofibring 'tf/ is fully n his turn, lents, an{|, and never lat he has 3 achievc- J at evei'v h he con- ! applaud- ic I'otoosi t^car vcn- 2lr cahins mornijg. iG, and to iiiG ccrc- bcs A'ery )crnethy, hem all. ihadales, ices of a rongusi, ICAN irits dif- : They throw into tho lakes^tobacco or birds tirat have liud th'ir tliroal.i cut, to render tho gods of the waters j)ro])itious to tl.ciii. Jn honour of tho ISnn, und s»niotiincs also of the inferior spinti^, tliuy throw into the lire a part of every thing tiiey use, and which thoy acknowledgt^ to hold from them. It is sometimes out of gratitude, but oftener througii interest; their acknow- L'dgoment is also interested ; for these people have w) sentiments of the heart towards their deities. There have been oI;served ;dso on certain occasions some libations, andallthis is accoin|ni- niod witli invocations in mvsterious terms, which the savages cDuld never explain to the Europeans, either that in fact liiey h;ive no meaning, or that tho sense of thorn has not been trans- nfitted by tradition witii the words ; perhaps also t!i?y keep it as a secret from us. We learn also that collars of porcelain, tobacco, e irs of maizc^ skins and whole animals, especially dogs, were found on the r.Mes of diiTicult and daniierous ways, on rocks, or bv the side of the tails ; and these were so many offerings made to the sj)irits which presided in these places. We have ah'cady said that a cbg is the common victim which they ofi'er them ; sometimes they hang iiim up alive on a tree by the hind feet, and let liim die there raving mad. The war feast, which is always of dogs, may very well pass for a sacrilice. In short, thov render much the same iionours to the mischievous spirits, as to those that are beneficent, when thev have anv thing to fear from their malice. SACRIFICES AMONG THE TOXGU^I. " These tribes," says Abernethy, '-have their sacrifices as well as the Jews, but in a very inferior manner ; because v/heir thev make an offering to a deitv, it is not on account of their reverence or veneration towards that being. They imagine that if they sacrifice the dog^ or any other animal whicli is agree- able to the spirits, they can conquer their enemies in battle, and shun all those calamities whicli are inflicted on the human spe- cies in this world. As for a future state, thev imamne that no person can be unhapj)y. By offering sacrifices to tlie malevo- lent spirits, far it is seldom that thev worship the benevolent deitJ/, they think that they can avert his wrath. '• I have often observed that the T^Higusi,of all the other tribes of Siberia, are those who pay the greatest attention to this religious cer?fnony ; for whenever they labour under diseases, or scarcity of food, they first offer a sacrifice and then set out to hunt, fully convinced of their success. Their mode of oi- ferinjnj sacrifices is attended v.-ith manv ceremonies wluch are 88 ill l-jerformed by their l)rav'cst wjiriiors. Ilavin^r liglited a firo. thoy take a dog ami sonidtiDies a b?nr, which tlioy .suspend above tho liro by sovoral polor,, till tho animal is totully consuni- od. It is customary anu^uf; .S'lmo Tongusian tribes, to daiicn during the saoriliee ; thcn^ are otl'.ci's, however, who stand silent and motionless till t.'je oliering is ('Otnplcied. Then u dance commences whieh lasJs lor ;;.-jverul hours, as if rejoicing for ap]ieasing the angry (lemon. IJefbre they ;UO to battle, they never fail to make an olicrin'(. Then all their villages are as- sembled and they form a kin.i of proef.ssion. The women walk one alter another, till they ariive atthe sfiot where the sacrilie IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 11.25 1^1^ 12.5 ■tt lii 12.2 U 11.6 — 6" •? *3 i*^>* ^j^ '/ Photogra{iiic Sciences Corporation 23 WKT MAIN STRUT WEBSTER, N.Y. MSM (716) •72-4503 02 m i!;'" games, aud coiiibats, for which there arc also prizes proposed. From time to tim-j they make certain cries, which they call the cries of the souls. They make presents to strangers, nmong whom* there are sometimes some wl'O come an hundred and fifty leagues, and they receive presents from them. They also take advantage of these opportunities to twut of common af- fairs, or for the election of a chief. Every thini/ passes with a great deal of order, decency and modesty ; and every one appears to entertain sentiments suitable to the principal aclioii. Every thing, even in the dunces and songs, carries an air of sadness and mourning; and one can sec in ail, hearts pierced with the sharpest sorrow. The most insensible would be af- fected at the sight of this spectacle. After some days are past, they go again in procession to the great council room, built for the purpose ; they hang up against the walls the bones and the carcasses in the same condition they took them from the bury- ing place, and they lay forth the presents designed for the dead. If among these sad remains there happens to be those of a chief, his successor gives a great feast in his name, antl sings his song. In many places the bones are carried from villaire to village, and they are received every where with great de- monstrations of grief and tenderness. Whithersoever they go, they receive presents. Lastly, they carry them to the place where they are to remain always, liut I forgot to mention that all these marches are made to the sound of their instruments, accompanied with their best voices, and that every one in these inarches keep time to the music. *♦ This last and common burial place is a great pit, which they line with their finest furs and the best tilings ihcy have. The presents designed for the dead are set by themselves. By degrees as the procession arrives, each family range themselves on a kind of scaffolds set up round the pit ; and the moment the bones are laid in, the women renew their weeping and wailing. Then all present go down into the pit, and every one takes a little of the earth, which they keep carefully. They fancy it procures luck at play. The bodies and the bones, rang- ed in order, are covered with entire new furs, and over that with bark, on which they throw stones, wood and earth. Si very one returns to his own cabin; but the women come for several days after, and pour Sagamitty on the place." FUNERAL RITES AMONG THE CORIAKS, TONGUSI, AND KAMSCHADALES. We are told by several travellers that mourning for the is eommota among the various tribes that inhabit Siberia; 93 i proposed, ey call the 'rs, nmcng ntlrcd and They also ommon af- asses witjj every oiio pal action, s an air of rts pierced mid be af- 's arc past, n, built for ics and the I the bury, r the dead, those of a , anil sings om villaire 1 great de- er they go, } the place ention that struments, lie in these pit, which thc_y have. Ives. By hcmsclves moment :ping and every one They nes, rang- that with Ivery one 'eral days and that they have their funeral ceremonies, which are very ridiculous. They meet their fate with a degree of fortitude which is inspired by hopes of being rendered more happy after their departure from this world. \Vhi;never the dying person breathes his last, they dreas the (Corpse in the finest robes they can procure. Their presents to the deceased are also innu- merable. In carrying their dead bodies to the grave, women are hired to weep, mourn, and sing melanclu^ly airs. The corpses are, however, exposed for several days on scartl)lds be- fore they are interred. •' Tlie Tongusi," says -\bernethy, "evince a great deal of tenderness at the death of any of their family ; their mourning sometimes lasts for a whole year. For several days they are commonly exposed on scallblds within their cabins, and at other times near the [)lace of interment. They bring them presents and food, which is consumed, they im.igine, by their spirits. 'J'he Coriaks have a practice of em- balming their dead in caves where the earth does not touch tho corpse. 1 have seen among them several bodies in a good state of preservation, after being dead for several years. In accom- panying the remains of the deceased to the burying ground, the women form a procession in which they walk one ai'ter another; bat these arc ttie women who are hired to weep and sing; the rest move onwards irreguhu'ly. All the brave deeds of the deceased aio enumerated, publicly by a crier, who is generally a near relation of him whcje memory and fame he endeavours to perpetuate. The Kamschadales use almost tho same cere- monies, but anjong them tiic ffMuale mourners paint themselves black, and remain so fjr ten days, during which time they re- side with the friends and relations of those whose death they lament." Santiiii and La Roche say that the Tongusi and Co- riaks mourn for the deceased for a considerable time ; that the pits and caves where the dead are to be carried, must first be famigatcd or incensed by burning rosin or some dried aromatic herbs. La Roche observed in Kamschatka several women who sang, wept and danced at the interment of their dead. Santini was informed that it was customary among the Ton- gusi and Coriaks to bury, along with the dead, every thin^ that was dear to them while alive, especially their anms and family distinctions. !l )NGUSI, g for the Siberia ; THE FESTIVAL OF DREAMS AiMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. I know not if religion has ever had an} share in what they generally call the festival of dreams, and which the Iroquois, and some others, have more properly called the turning of the 91 brain. This is a kind of Bachanel, which commoniv lasts fif- Iccn days, and is cclcbratcil about the end of winter. They act at this time all kinds of fooleries, and every one runs from cabin to cabin, dis<;nised in a thousand ridiculous ways ; they break and overset every thing, and nobody darea to contradict. Whoever chosos not to be present in such a confusion, nor be exposed to all the tricks they play, must keep out of the way. If they meet any one they desire him to guess their dreams, and if they do, it is at their expence, for he must give the thing he dreamt of. When it ends, they return every tiling, they make a great feast, and they only think how to re- pair l!ie sad eflectfj of the mas(juerade, for most commonly it is no trifling business ; because this is also one of those opportu- nities which they wait for, without saying any thing, to give those a good drubbing who, they think, have done them any wrong. When the festival, however, is over, all injuries are forgotten. The following description of one of these festivals is found in the journal of one of the Missionaries, who was forced to be a spectator of it, much against his will, at Onontaffue : ♦' The approaching festival was proclaimed on the 22nd of February, by the ciders, with as much pavity as if it had been a M eighty afliiir of state. Iluy had no sooner re-entered their cabin, than there came forth ir.r4antly, men, women, and chil- dren, almost qiiite naked, thoiv.jh tJ .^ wentluir was excessively cold. They entered directly into all the cabins, tlu^n ihey went raving about on every side, without knowing whither they went or what they would have. One would take them for people who were drunk or mad. " Many returned immediately to their cabins after uttering some bowlings. Others were resolved to make use of the privilege of the festival, during which they are reputed to be out of their senses, and of consequence not responsible for what they do, and revenge their private quarrels. They did so to some purpose, for they threw whole pails full of water on some people, and this water, which froze immediately, was enough to chill them with cold. Others they covered with hot ashes, or all sorts of filth ; othcjs took lighted coals, or firebrands, and threw them at the head of the first they met ; others broke every thing in the cabins, fallinf* on those they bore a grudge to, and beating them unmercifully. To be freed from this per- secution, one must guess dieams, which often no one can form flny conception of." " A missionary and his companion were often on the point of being more than- witnesses of these extravagancies ; one of these mq.d-men went into a cabin, where he had seen them take a sbeker &t the first. Boiog disappointed by their flighty he 06 tlv laata fif- • I every one 1 ridiculous •body dares L in such a , must keep lim to guess for he must Dturn every how to re- imoiily it is >se opportu- ing, to give ? liicm any injuries arc als is found forced to be 'ue : the 22nd of it had been intered their 2n, and ciiil- excessively n they went !r they went I for people ftcr uttering use of the 3uted to be ble for what cy did so to ter on some Ls enough to ot ashes, or brands, and hers broke re a grudge am this per- 16 can form m the point lies ; one of n them take flightf he cried out that they must guess hid dream, and tat^ify it immo diatcly : as they were to lone; ab )ut it, he said, * I must kill a Frenchman.* Immediatoly the master of the cabin threw him a French coat, to which this mad-in;in gave several stabs. " Then he that had thrown the coat, growing furious in hif turn, said he would revenge the Frenchman, and burn the whole village down to the ground. He began, in fact by setting liro to his own cabin, where the scene was first acted ; anrl wiien all the rest were gone out, he shut himself up in it. The fire which he had lighted up in several places, did not yet a))pear on the outside, when one of the missionaries came to the door. He was told what had happened, and was afraid that his host could not get out, though he miglit be w'Ming ; then he broke open the door and laid hold of the savage, turned him out and extinguished the fire. His host nevertheless ran through the village, crying out that he would burn it. They threw a dog to him, in hopes that he would glut his fury on that animal ; he said it was not enough to repair the affront he had received by the killing of a Frenchman in his cabin. They threw him a second dog, which he cut in pieces. His fury was then in- stantly over. " This man had also a brotlier who would play his part. He dressed himself up nearly as painters represent the Satyrs, covering himself from head ta fx>t with the leaves of Malz, He equipped two women like real Jhffaras^ their heads blacked, their hair dishevelled, a wolf*s skin over their bodies, and a club in their hands. Thus attended, he goes into all the cabins, yelling and howling with all his strength. He climbs on the roof and plays as many tricks there as the most skilful dancer could perform ; then he made niost terrible outcries, as if he had got some great hurt ; then he came down and marched on gravely, preceded by his two Bacchantes, who, growing furious in their turn, overset with their clubs every thing that met them in their way. They were no sooner out of this IVenzy, or tired with acting their parts, than another woman took their place and entered the cabin in which were the two missionaries. She was armed with a blunder buss, which she had just got by hav- ing her dream guessed. She sang the war sojig, making 3 thousand imprecations on her self, if sho did not bring Iwuic sooie prisoners.'* " A warrior followed close after this Amazon, with a bow and arrow in one hand, and a bayonet in the other. After he had made himself hoarse with bawling, he then threw him'selfall at once on a woman, who was standing quietly by, not expecting it, and lighting up his bayonet to her throat,took her by the hair, out off a handful and went away. Then a iuggtor appaariMh Mdai^ a iKick is hii Ixukl adoroed with, iaadbarsv by^raoaoioi at which he boasted thai he .could reveal the most secret things. A savage accompanied him, carrying a vessel I know not what liquor, which from time to time he gave him to drink : the jug- cler had no sooner taken it in his mouth, than he spit it out again, blowing on his hands and his stick, and at every time he ex- plained all the enigmas that were proposed to him. " Two women came afterwards, and gave to understand that they had some desires, one directly spread a mat on the ground ; they guessed that she desired some fish, which was given her. The other had a hoe in hor hand, and they judged that she desired a field to cultivate : they carried her out of the village and set her to work. A chief had dreamt ns he said, that he saw two human hearts: they <'.ould not explain his his dream, and at this every body was greatly concerned. It made a great noise, the even prelonged the festival for a day, but all was in vain and he was obliged to make himself easy without. Sometimes there were troops of people that made sham-lights ; sometimes companies of dancers who acted all sorts of farces. This madness lasted four days, and it appeared that it was out of respect to the two missionaries that they had thus shortened the time . " But there were as many disorders commited in this space of time, as they used to do in fifteen days, nevertheless they had this regard for the missioniaries, that they did not disturb them in their functions, an! did not hinder the christians from discharging themselves of their religious duties. Let this suf- fice to give the reader some idea concerning their festivals of dreams." FESTIVAL OF DREAMS AMONG THE TONGUSI, CORIAKS, AND KAMSCHADALES Several travellers who visited the north east parts of Asia mention several festivals and among them rejoicings called the Nokoosi or interpretations of dreams. In a certain season of the year we are told by Santini, that all the young people of both sexes among the Coriaks assemble in order to guess dreams. — These merriments and entertainments, he tells us, continue for several days, during which time dances, songs, and music, form the principal part of the entertainment. According to Aber- nethy they paint and disguise themselves when they go abroad witliout paying any respect either to moralitjr or decency.— Many of them, especially among the Tongusi, sayg the same author, consider this a favourable opportunity of revenging in- sults and injuries, because they imaguie that they are notknown U> the suf&rer. La Roche compares the Nokoosi of the Kamr lecret tilings. ow not what ink : the jng. t it out again, y time he ex- • understand a mat on the b, which was they judged ler out of the (It as he said, t explain his ncerned. It 'al for a day, himself easy )le that made k^ho acted all d it appeared hat they had in this space rtheless they d not disturb ristians from Let this suf- • festivals of TONGUSI. IS Darts of Asia gs called the lin season of leople of both ;s dreams. — continue for music, form ing to Aber- sy go abroad decency.-— ys the same avenging in- re not known of the Kam- 97 schadales with the Carnavili of the continent of Europe, which takes place yearly in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and in some parts of France before lent commences. During the celebration of the CarnavUh which lasts for fourteen days, those who join it masquerade themselves and are at full liberty to play all those tricks with impunity which cannot be considered criminal. — The Kamschaaales,as well as the North American Indians, may do the same without punishment ; because, according to their custom, every person makes himself as foolish as he can. Aber- nethy speaks of his having disguished himself on one of these occasions among the Coriaks for the sole purpose, as he himself tells us, of saving his life ; because he considered them actually deranged, and consequently his life in danger on account of being a stranger and a foreigner. Santini found himself in the same predicament among some tribes of the Tongusi, and would most likely have been grossly insulted, had not his converts, the Tongusian princes, interfered in his behalf. Without des- cribing the barbarous scenes which these travellers witnessed during these festivals among certain tribes in north-east Asia, we assure our reader that they were not much different from those which have been observed among the North American Indians on similar occasions. V'> THE GAME OF THE DISH, OR OF LITTLE BONES, AMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. The game of the dish wnich, they also cull the game of the little hones^ is only played by t>vo persons, each has six or eight little bones, vvhich resemble apricot stones in their shape and bigness. On viewing them closely, however, a person can perceive six unequal surfaces, the two principal of which are painted, one black and the other white, inclining to yellow. They make them jump up, by striking the ground, or the table, with a round and hollow dish, which contains them, and which they twist round tirst. When thev have no dish, they throw the bones up in the air with their hands ; if, on falling, they come all of one colour, he who plays wins five. There is forty up, and they substract the numbers gained by the ad- verse party. Five bones of the same colour win, but one for the first time, but the second time they win the game, while a less number wins nothing. He that wins the game continues playing. The loser gives his place to another, who is named by the markers of his side ; for they make parties at first, and often the whole village is concerned in the same : oftentimes also one village plays against another. ]&ch party chooses a marker ; but he with- i 98 m. draws when he pleases, which never hapjiens, but when his party loses. At every throw, especially if it happens to be de- cisive, they make great shouts. The players appear like j)oo- ple possessed with an evil spirit, and the spectators are not mon; calm. They all make a thousand contortions, talk to the bones, load the spirits of the adverse party with imprecations, and tlio whole village echoes with bowlings. If all this does not re- cover them back, the losers may put off the party till the next day ; it costs them only a small treat to the company. Then they prepare to return to the engagement, each in- voking his genius, and throwing some tobacco in the fire to his honour. They ask him above all things for lucky dreams. As soon as day appears they go ajsjain to play ; but if the losers fancy that the goods in their cabnis made them unlucky, the first - thing they do is to change them all. The great parties com- monly last iive or six days, and often continue all night. In tlio mean timc,as all the persons present, at least those who are con- cerned in the game, are in an agitation that deprives them of reason, as tliey quarrel and fight, which never happens among the savages, but on these occasions, and in drunkenness, on»i may judge, if when they have done playing,they do not want rest. The Indians are so superstitious, that these parties of play- are often made by order oi the Physician or at the request of the sick. There needs no more for this purpose than the dream of the one or the other. This dream is always taken fvr the order of some spirit ; and then they prepare thenuclves for plav with a great deal of care. They assemble for several nights to try, and to see who has the luckiest hand. They con- sult their Genii^ they fast, the married persons observe contin- ence ; and all this to obtain a favourable dream. Every morn- ing they relate what dreams they have had, and all those things which they dreamt of, were those which they thought lucky. They make a collection of all, and put them into little bags which they carry about with them. If any one has the repu- tation of being lucky, that is in the opinion of these people, of having a familiar spirit more powerful, or more inclined to do good, they never fail to make him keep near him who holds the dish. They even go to a great way sometimes to fetch him ; and if, through age or any infirmity, he cannot walk, they will carry him on their shoulders. They have often pressed the Missionaries to be present at these games, as they believe their guardian Genii are more powerful. It happened one day in a Huron village, that a sick person having sent for a juggler, this quack prescribed the game of the dish, and appointed a village at some distance from the sick person's residence, to play at. They immediately sent to ask the leave of their chief; it was granted, and they played. 99 t when Ills US to be (Ic- pr like \)V()- re not more the bones, 3ns, and tlio Joes not re- till the next jnt, each m- ic fire to his dreams. As if the losers cky, the first parties com- light. In tho vho arc con- ivcs them of »pens among kenness, om^ ot want res.t. irties of play le request of m the dream taken fvr the enueives for e for several They con- ierve contin- Ivery morn- those things ought lucky, to little bags as the repu- sc people, of iclined to do m who holds ;o fetch him ; Ik, they will be present at nil are more e, that a sick 5ed the game nee from the lately sent to they played. When the game was ended, the sick |)erson returned many thanks to the players for having cured nor, as she said. But there was nothing of truth in all this ; on the contrary, she was worse. The ill humor of this woman and her relations fell on tho Missionaries, who had refused to assist at the game, notwith- standing all the imix>rtunitics they used to engage them ; and in their anger for the little complaisance they shewed them on this occasion, they told them, by way of reproach, that since their arrival in this country, the Genii of the savages had lost their power. Such are the observations of a French missionary who resided a long time among the Hurons. GAME OF THE PATOONI AMONG CIIADALES. THE KAMS- The game of the Patooni, which La Roche briefly des- cribes, was, from every appearance, originally the same as that of the little bones among the American Indians, although in Kamschatka sticks were substituted for bones. "It is surpri- sing, says La Roche, to witness the simplicityand superstition of some of these people while they play some games. Before they set out to hunt, they frequently form a party to play the Patooni, which consists in throwing up in the air small sticks about the size of an orange, with four sides, and resembling the dice of tho Europeans, because each side has a certain number. He who has the greatest number upwards, when they fall on the ground, is conqueror ,and expects to be the most successful in the chase. It is considered, therefore a great favor to be- long to the winner's party when they separate themselves into dif^rent companies, because they imagine that they cannot be utterly disappointed while they are the associates of him who is to kill the most.'* Abernethy observed this and other frivolous gaiLOj, which be did not deem worthy of any notice. Santini, in speaking of a certain game which he does not describe, says, that the Ton- gusi, when they played, resembled madmen more than rational beings, from the way in which their feelings were excited. THE THE NAMING OF CHILDREN AMONG NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. This ceremony is performed at a feast wiiere no persons are present but those of the same sex withths child that i« to he- '-' , !!<'. 1(1 m i'ii 100 named. While they are cnting, the child is upon the knees of the father or mother, who continually reconnncnd it to the spirits, especially to that which is to bo its Guardian (Jcniua ; for every person has their own, but not at their birth. They never mako new names ; each family has a certain number, which they take by turns, sometimrs also thoy change their names as tlioy grow up, and there are some names which they cannot go by af- ter a certain age ; this, however, is not the custom every where. They never call a man by his proper name, when they talk to him m common discourse ; this, they imagine, would be impo- lite. They always give him the quality he has with respect to the person that speaks to him ; but when there is between them no relation or affinity, they use the term of brother or unch;, nephew or cousin, according to each other's age, or accordinj^ to the value tliey have for the person whom tiioy address. Further, it is not so much to render the names immortal, that they revive them, as to engage those to whom they are given, either to initiate the brave actions of their prcdc<;essors, or to revenge them if they have been killed or burnt, or lastly to comfort and help their families. Thus, a woman who has lost her husband, or her son, and finds herself without the sup- port of any person, delays as little as slie can to transfer tho name of him she mourns for, to some person capable of supply- ing his place. They change their names on many other occa- sions, to give the particulars of which would take up too much time. There needs no more for this purpose than a dream, or the order of a Physician, or some sucn trifling cause. THE NAMING OF CHILDREN AMONG THE KAM- SCHADALES &c. **Siprepara, says San tini,rfai Coriahi^ un banchetto, quando .' vogliono nominare ifanciulli. Se sara una fanciulla *bisogna cf^ tutta la compagniUf eccetto ilpadre^sia composta di donne, e d^uomini solamentef eccetto la madre^ se sara un ragazxo, Og- " nifamiglia ritienegli stessi nomi che avevano ricevuti da loro antenatL Sovente volte pero, quando una vedova e maritata un altra voUa, il nuovo marito prende il nome di lui chi e morto. — Ivecchii si chiamano datgiovaniy i loro padriy e quelli della me- desima cto, i loro Jratelli.** According to Santini, the Coriaks and other tribes of Si- beria, prepare a feast, when they are to name a child. If it be '^'aboy, t|ie cetemony is performed in the presence of men alone, excepting the mother of the child; and mthe presence of women only, excepting the father, if it be a girl. Every family 101 '• I'll mecH of tlie the spirits, ; for every icver make vhich they les as they ot go by af- ^ery where, hey talk to Id be impo- h respect to twecn them r or uncl(;, r according idress. i immortal, m they nie 'edc(;cssors, nt, or lastly an who has lit the siip- transter the c of supply- other occa- ip too much a dream, or HE KAM- ettOf quando lla *bisogna I di donne, e <;azzo. Og- vuti da loro maritata un e morto. — Ui della me- tribes of Si- Id. If it be ice of men presence of very family have retained tlic names which have been delivered down to them by their ancestors; sometimes, however,when a widow,the name of the diseased is trans! r red to hor new husband. Old rncn are goiierally by the young ci\\\vA fathers^ and those of the same age brothers ; La Uocho tells us that the chihlren of some Tartar trihcs.who had been converted to ehristianity, were al- lowed to go only a week by the names which they received at the Baptismal Font ; because they dreamt that the spirits cf their fathers were offended at the changing of their names. 1^, JUGGLERS AMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. Thesf jncfglers, according to the Bishop of Mienx. make a profession of corresponding only with what they call the benefi- cial Genii, and who boast of knowing by their means whatever passes in the most distant countries, and whatever shall come to pass in the most distant ages. They pretend to discover the use and nature of the most hidden diseases, and to have the se- cret of curing them; to discern in the most intricate affairs wjjat resolution it is best to take ; to explain the most obscure dreams; to obtain success to the most difficult undertakings,and to render the gods propitious to warriors and hunters. These ])reten(lc(l good Genii an?, like all the Pagan deities, real devils, who receive homages that are due only to the true god, ami whose deceits arc still more dang(^rous than those of the evil Genii, because they contribute more to keep their worshippers in blindness. It is certain, that amongst their agents the boldest are most respected. With a little artifice therefore, they easily persuade those who are brought up in sujierstition. Although they might have seen the birth of these impostors, if they take a fancy to give themselves a supernatural birth, they find people, who be- lieve them on their word, as much as if they had seen them come down fj-om heaven, and who take it for a kind of enchant- ment and illusion, that they thought them born at first like other men. Their artifices are. in general, so gross, and so common, that there are none but fools and children who are imposed up- on by them. But when they act as Physicians, their skill is never doubted : for the greatest credulity is found in every country, concerning the recovery of health. It has been asserted by persons whose words could 'not be suspected, thut when these impostors shut themselves up in their stoves to sweat, and this is one of their most common pre- parations to perform J|their tricks, they difler very little from J 02 iIm' Pi/fhoniss(ii's, as iIk; pcx'ts liavo ruprcsentcti them on tlio Tripod. They are seen to bee«nn«! eonvulsed, and possessed with entlnisiasin, toactiuirc tones of the voice, and to do actions which appear to be beyond the Mtiength of nature. It is also asserted, liiat they suller much on these occasions ; so that there arc sonic vviio do not rcailily cncnge, even whoti thoy are well jKiid, to give themselves up in this manner to thu spirit that agitates them. Alter coming out of these violent sweats, they go and throw themselves into cold water, even when it is frozen, without re- ceiving any damage. This is a matter which i)hysi(; cannot ac- count for; however, it is certain liiat there is nothing sujKjrna- tund in it. THE PONOMOOSI OR IMlOPlIlVrs AMONG THE KAJM- SCHADALES, COlUAKf J, iS:c. We arc assured by Santini,Abcrncthy, and La Roche, that several tribes in liic north-east parts of Asia have their pro- phets whom they call Punomoosi. This deceitful order, they tell us predict their fate in i)attle and their success in the chase; and this knowledge they pretend to have received from their deities. They retire into the foretit where they last for several days. During this time they beat a drum, cry, howl, sing, and smoke. This preparation is accompanied with so many furious actions that one would take them for evil spirits. These fortune-tellers are visited at night by their relations who bring them intelligence of every thing that happens in the villages during their absence. By these means they are enab- led, on their return from their dens, to impose upon the credu- lous; because the first part of their j)rophecy consists of giving BQ account of all those who married, died, and returned from the chase since thoy departed. They seldom fail in giving a correct statement of these and other things, as their private in- fonnants are equally interested in the success of their prophecy, from an expectation of bcmg remunerated. ** The FonomQosi of the Coriaks, says Aberncth)^ are an inferior order of priests, who declare the will of their deities, and act as their interpreters ; but in ofterin^ sacrifices, the Po- nomoosi are never their priests. Their chief employment is to practise physic, in which they are sometimes successful, and to foretell the consequence of their wars and the chase. They prac- tice physic on principles founded on the loiowlcdge of simples, on experience, and on circumstances, as they do in other coun- tries. To this knowledge they always join a great deal of su- perstition and imposture." them oil tiio id possessed to Jo actions ic occusioii.i ; , even vvhrri lannor to tlu; TO and thiow , williout ro- il", cannot air- ing su[)crna- FHE KAiM- I Roche, that ve their pro- I order, ihev m tiie chase; J from the li- st lor several wl, sing, and many furious leir relations ppens in tiic ey are enab- )n tlie credu- ists of giving Dturned from II in giving a ir private in- ;ir prophecy, icthy, are an their deities, ces, the Po- loyment is to ssful, and to . Thcyprac- e of simples, other coun- it deal of su- 103 Sniitini {v\U us that pn.phtns of the same kind arc held in groat veneration aniong : 104 battle field and council-fire may be regarded as attractive fic- tions, or at the best as beautiful exaggerations. " This is but in the nature of things. Actions always lose their reality and distinctness in the perspective of ages : time is their charnal house. And no memorials are to be lost or for- gotten, as soon as those of conquered nations. Of the Angles and Saxons little more than a name has survived, and the Indian may meet no better fate. Even thougli our own history is envel- oped in theirs, it is somewhat to be feared, that from neglect, the valuable cover will be suffered to decay, and care bestowed only on the precious contents. ♦ Be it so,' exclaimed some ; • what pleasure or profit is to be derived from the remembrance of such things ? Let the wild legend be forgotten ; they are but exhibitions of a savage life, teeming with disgusting excess, and brutal passion. They portray man in no interesting light; for with every redeeming trait, there rises on some a revolting characteristic in horrid contrast. Was he grateful ? so was his revenge bloody and eternal. Was he brave ? so was he treacherous. Was he generous? so was he crafty and cruel.' " But a more philosophical mind would say, no ! he pre- sents a part of the panorama of humanity, and his extermina- tion is an embodiment of a great principle — the same retreat of the children of the v/ilderness before the wave of civilization ; hence arises a deep interest in his fortune, which should induce us to preserve, carefully and faithfully, the most trifling record of his greatness and degradation. At a time when barbarous nations elsewhere had lost their primitive purity, we find him the only true child of nature — the best specimen of man in his native simplicity. We should remember him as a study of hu- man nature — as an instance of a strange mixture of good and evil passions. We perceive in him fine emotions of feeling and delicacy, and unrestrained systematic cruelty, grandeur of spirit and hypocritical cunning, genuine courage and fiendish treachery. He was like some beautiful spar, part of which is regular, clear and sparkling, while a portion impregnated with clay, is dark and forbidding. " But above all, as being an engrossing subject to an Ame- rican, as coming to us the only relic of the literature of the aborigines, and the most perfect emblem of their character, their glory and their intellect, we should dearly cherish the remains of their oratory. In these we see developed the mo- tives which animated their actions, and the light and shadows of their very soul. The iron encasement of apparent apathy in which the savage had fortified himself, impenetrable at or- dinary moments, is laid aside in the council room. The genius of eloquence burst the swathing bands of custom, and the In- dian stands forth accessible, natural, and legible. W« oom- 105 t ttractive fic- always lose ges : time is 1 lost or for- 3 Angles and ; Indian may ry is envel- rom neglect, ire bestowed limed some; emembrapce they are but y excess, and ng light; for } a revolting ful? so was so was he y and cruel.' no ! he pre- s extermina- same retreat ' civiUzation ; should induce rifling record jn barbarous we find him of man in his study of hu- of good and of feeling and grandeur of and fiendish t of which is egnated with 3t to an Ame- •ature of the ir character, y cherish the oped the mo- and shadows arent apathy itrable at or- The senim t and the In- ». W« oom- mune with him, listen to his complaints, understand, appreciate and even feel his injuries. " As Indian eloquence is a key to his character,, so is it a noble monument of their literature. Oratory seldom finds a more auspicious field. A wild people, and region of thought, forebade feebleness ; uncultivated, but intelligent and sensitive, a purity of idea, chastely combined with energy of expression, ready fluency and imagery now exquisitely delicate, now soar- ing to the sublime, all united to rival the efforts of any ancient or modern orator. ♦' What can be imagined more impressive, than a warrior rising in the council room to addresss those who bore the same scarred marks of their title to fame and the chieftainship ? The dignified stature, the easy repose of limbs — the gracefiil gesture, the dark speaking eye, excite equal admiration and expecta- tion. We would anticipate eloquence from an Indian. He has animating remembrances — a poverty of language, which exacts rich and apposite metaphoncal allusions, even for ordi- nary conversation — a mind which, like his body, has never been trammelled and mechanised by the formalities of society, and passions which, from the very outward restraint imposed upon them, burnt more fiercely within. There is a mine of truth in the reply of Red Jacket, when called a warrior : * A warrior /' said he ; * I am an orator — I was born an orator.' " There are not many speeches remaining on record, but , even in this small number there is su' ": a rich yet varied vein of all the characteristics of true eloquence, that we even rise from their perusal with regret that so few have been preserved. No where can be found a poetic thought clothed in more cap- tivating simplicity of expression, than in the answer of Tecum- setn to Governor Harrison, in the conference at Vincennes. It contains a high moral rebuke, and a sarcasm heightened in ef- fect by an evident consciousness of loftiness above the reach of insult. At the close of his address, he found that no chair had been placed for him, a neglect which Governor Harrison or- dered to be remedied as soon as discovered. Suspecting, per- haps, that it was more an affront than a mistake, with an air of dignity elevated almost to haughtiness, he declined the seat proflfered, with the words, * Your father requests you to take a chair,* and answered as he calmly disposed himself on the ground : * My father ? The sun is my father, and the earth is my mother. / will repose upon her bosom.* " As they excelled in the beautiful, so also they possessed «i nice sense of the ridiculous. There is a clever strain of irony, united with the sharpest taunt, in the speech of Garao- fula to De la Barre, the Governor of Canada, when that crafty Venchman met his tribe in council, for the purpose of obtain- n m ;•;!■: "«ii 106 1, 1 i^^ peace, and reparation for past injuries. The European, a iaitbful believer in the maxim that * JEn guerre ou la peau du Kpn nspeut suffire ihjfaut coudre un lopin de celle du reguard* attempted to over-awe the savage by threats, which he well knew he had no power to execute. Garangula, who also was ^ell aware of the weakness, replied, * Yonondia, you must have believed when you left Quebec, that the sun had burnt up all the forests which render our country inaccessible to the French, or that the lakes had so overflowed their banks, that they had surrounded our castles, and that it was impossible for us to get out of them. Yes, surely you must have dreamed so, and curiosity of seeing so great a wonder has brought you so fain Hear, Yonondia : our women had taken their clubs, our children and old men had carried their bows and arrows into the heart of your camp, if our warriors had not disarmed them, and kept them back when your messengers came to our castle.* We cannot give a better idea of the effect of their harangues upon their own people, and at the same time a finer instance of their gratefulness when skilfully touched, than in the address to to the Wallah Wallahs by their young chief, the Morning Star. In consequence of the death of several of their tribe, killed in one of their predatory excursions against the whites, they had collected in a large body for the purpose of assailing them. The stern, uncompromising hostility with which they were ani- mated, may be imagined from the words they chaunted on ap- proaching to the attack : * Rest, brothers, rest 1 You will be avenged. The tears of your widows will cease to flow, when they heboid the blood of your murderers, and on seeing their scalps, your children shall sing and leap with joy. Rest, bro- thers, in peace I Rest, we shall have blood I* The last strains of the death-song had died away. The gleaming eye, burning with the desire of revenge — the countenance, fierce even through an Indian's cloak — the levelled gun and poised arrow, forbade promise of peace, and their superior force as little hope of successful resistance. At this moment of awful excitement, a mounted troop burst in between them, and its leader address- ed his kindred : • Friends and relations 1 Three snows have only passed over our heads, since we were a poor, miserable people. Our enemies were numerous and powerful ; we were few and weak. Our hearts were as the hearts of children. We could not fight like warriors, and were driven like deer about the plain. When the thunder rolled, and the rains pour- ed, we had no place save the rocks, whereon we could lay our heads. Is such the case now ? No I We have regained pos- session of the land of our fathers, in which they and their fa* thers* fathers lie hurried ; our hearts are great within us, and we ar^ now a nation* Who has produced this change ? Thf 107 European, a ( la peau du du reguard* ich he well ho also was u must have burnt up all the French, »at they had for us to get ned so, and ; you so fain our children to the heart them, and our castle/ r harangues r instance of e address to orning Star, be, killed in IS, they had ailing them, jy were ani- nted on ap- fou will be flow, when seeing their Rest, bro- last strains ye, burning ierce even ised arrow, s little hope excitement, er address- mows have miserable we were )f children. m like deer rains pour- iild lay our gained pos- id their fa> hin us, and ige? Thf white man ! And are we to treat him With ingratitude ? Th^ warrior with the stroTig arm and great heart wiU never rob a friend,* The result was wonderful. There was a complete revulsion of feeling. The angry waves were quieted, and the eavage, forgetting his enmity, smoked the calumet with then whom the eloquence of Morning Star alone had saved from hif scalping knife. " fearlessness and success in battle were the highest titlet to honor, and an accusation of cowardice was a deadly insult. A reproach of this kind to a celebrated chief received a chivalrlo reply. Kognethagecton, or as he was more generally called. White Eyes, at the time his nation was solicited to join in the war against the Americans, in our struggle for liberty, exerted his influence against hostile measures. His answer to the Sene- cas, who were in the British interest, and who, irritated by his obstinate adherance to peace, attempted to humble him, by re- ference to an old story of the Delawares being a conquered people, is a manly and dignified assertion of independence, tt reminds one of the noble motto of the Frenchman; ^Jenestima uii autre plus grand que moi lors quefai mon epee.* * I know well,* said he, • that you consider us a conquered nation — ba women — as your inferiors. You have, say you, shortened our legs, and put petticoats on us. You say you have given us a hoe and a corn-pounder, and told us to plant and pound for yoit— you men — you warriors. But look at me — am I not full grownl And have I not a wan-ior's dress ? Ay ! / am a man — and these are the arms of a man — and all that country is mine I* What a dauntless vindication of manhood, and what a nice perception of Indian character, is this appeal to their love of courage, and their admiration for a fine form, vigorous limbs, complete arms, and a proud demeanor 1 How effective and emphatic the conclusion, *all that country is mine 1' exclaimed in a tone of mingled defiance and pride, and accompanied with a wave of the hand over the rich country bordering on the Al- leghany. " This bold speech quelled for a time all opposition, bat the desire to engage against the Americans, increased by the false reports of some wandering tories, finally became so vehement, that, as a last resort, he proposed to the tribe to wait ten days before commencing hostilities. Ev^n this was about to be ie* nied him, and the term traitor beginning to be whispered around, when he rose in council, and began an animated expostulation against their conduct. He depicted its inevitable consequenceib the sure advance of the white man, and the ruin of his nation } and then, in a s^enerous manner, disclaimed any interest or fy%V uigs separate from those of his friends ; and added : * But if yoo im go out in this war, you sbaU not go withovt rm. I m^. ' 4 I nil m 108 » H'" 1 taken peace measures, it is true, with a view of saving my tribe from destruction. But if you think me in the wrong — if you give more credit to runaway vagabonds than to your ownjriends — to a man — to a warrior — to a Delaware — ii you insist upon fighting the Americans— go ! And I will go with you. And I will not go like the bear hunter, who sets his dogs upon the ani- mal, to be beaten about with his paws, while he keeps himself at a safe distance. No ! 1 will lead you on. I will place myself in the front. I will fall with the first of you. You can do as you choose. But as for me, I will not survive my nation. I "will not live to bewail the miserable destruction of a brave peo- ple, who deserved, as you do, a better fate !* "The allusion to their greater confidence in foreigners than in their own kindred, is a fine specimen of censure, wonderfully strengthened by a beautiful climacteric arrangement. Com- mencmg with a friend — and who so grateful as an Indian ? — it passes to a man — and who so vain of his birth-right as an Indi- an ? — then to a warrior ; and who more glorious to the savage than the man of battles ? — and lastly, to a Delaware — a word which rings through the hearts of his hearers, starts into life a host of proud associations, and while it deepens tl>eir contempt for the stranger and his falsehoods, imparts a grandeur to the orator, in whom the friend, the man, the warrior, the Delaware are personified. " The spirit of the conclusion added to its force. It Avas the out-bursting of that firm determination never to forsake their customs and laws — that brotherhood of feeling which have ever inspired the action of the aborigines — a spirit which time has strengthened, insult hardened to obstinacy, and op- pression rendered almost hereditary. It bespeaks a bold soul, resolved to die with the loss of its country's liberties. " We pass by the effect of this speech, by merely stating that it was successful, to notice a letter much of the same cha- racter as the close of the last, sent to General Clinch, by the chief who is now setting our troops at defiance in Florid n. • You have arms,' says he, * and so have we ; you have powder and lead, and so have we ; you have men, and so have we ; your men will fight, and so will ours, till the last drop of the Seminole's blood has moistened the dust of his hunting ground* This needs no comment. Intrepidity is their character. " View these evidences of attachment to the customs of their fathers, and of heroic resolution to leave their bones in the forests where they were born, and which were their inheritance, and then revert to their unavailing, hopeless resistance against the march of civilization ; and though we know it is the rightful natural course of things, yet it is a hard heart which does not f«el for their fate. Turn to Red Jacket's graphic description 100 ig my tribe ng— j/] you }wn friends insist upon )u. And 1 on the ani- s himself at lace myself }i can ao as ' nation. I . brave peo- jigners than A'onderfully ent. Corn- Indian ? — it as an Indi- the savage re — a word s into life a ir contempt ideur to the e Delaware te. It was to forsake ling which jpirit which 3y, and op- a bold soul, ?s. rely stating ) same cha- nch, by the in Florida, ive powder have we ; drop of the ig ground.* cter. customs of )ones in the nheritance, ace against the rightful h does not description of the fraud which purloined their territory, and shame mingles somewhat with our pity. * Brothers, at the treaties held for the purchase of our lands, the white men, with sweet voices and smiling faces, told us they loved us, and they would not cheat us, but that the king's children on the othei side of the lake would cheat us. When we go on the other side of the lake, the king's children tell us your people will cheat us. These things puzzle our heads, and we believe that the Indians must take care of themselves, and not trust either in your people or in the king's children. Brothers, our seats were once large, and yours very small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets' True, and soon their graves will be all they shall retain of their once am- ple hunting grounds. Their strength is wasted, their countless warriors dead, their forests laid low, and their burial places upturned by the ploughshare. There was a time when the war-cry of a Pawhattan, a Delaware, or an Abenaquis, struck terror to the heart of a pale-face ; but now the Seminole is singing his last song. " Some of the speeches of Slienandoah, a celebrated Oneida chief, contain the truest touches of natural eloquence. He lived to a great age ; and in his last oration in council, he opened with the following sublime and beautiful sentence : * Brothers — / am an aged hemlock. The winds of an hundred winters have whistled through my branches, and I am dead at the top* Every reader who has seen a tall hemlock, with a dry and leafless top surmounting its dark green foilage, will feel the force of the simile. — I am dead at the top. His memory, and all the vigo- rous powers of youth, had departed for ever. " Not less felicitous was the close of a speech made by Pushmataha, a venerable chief of a western tribe, at a council held, we believe, in Washington, many years since. In allud- ing to his extreme age, and to the probability that he might not even survive the journey back to his tribe, he said : • My chil- dren will walk through the forests, and the great spirit will whistle in the tree-tops, and the flowers will spring up in the trails — but Pushmataha will hear not — he will see the flowers no more. He will be gone. His people will know that he is dead. The news will come to their ears, as the sound of the fall of a mighty oak in the stillness of the woods* *" The most powerful tribes have been destroyed ; and as Sadekanatie expressed it, * Strike at the root, and when the trunk shall be cut down, the branches shall fall of course.* The trunk has fallen, the branches are slowly withering, and shortly the question. Who is there to mourn for Logan^ may be made of the whole race, and find not a sympathizing reply. " Their actions may outlive, but their oratory we think i-:n i-l IF 110 must survive their fate. It contains many attributes of tru^ eloquence. With a language too barren, and minds too free for the rules of rhetoric, they still attained the power of touch* ing the feeling, and a sublimity of style which rival the highest productions of their more cultivated enemies. Expression apt and pointed — language strong and figurative — comparisons rich and bold— drscriptions correct and picturesque — and gesture energetic and graceful, were the most striking peculiarities of their oratory. The latter rations, accurate mirrors of their character, their bravery, immoveable stoicism, and a native grandeur, heightened* as they are in expressiveness by the me- lancholy accompaniment of approaching extermination, will be as enduring as the swan-like music of Attica and Roman elo- quence, which was the funeral song of the liberties of those re- publics.'* These remarks, which allude to the state of the Indians of America, arc evidently too true to require any comments ; and as to Indian eloquence, we cannot hesitate a moment to admit the fact, when we consider that every rude nation whose lan- guages are original, yet barren, use a style sublime and figura- tive, full of bold and beautrftil expressions : and such was the style of Ossian ; yet his languKi^e has never been cultivated, but left in its original giandcur and simplicity. ORATORS AMONG SEVERAL ASIATIC TRIBES- ** I have seen no tribe in Siberia," says Abernethy, " who had not their councils, and courts of justice, with their orators, and public pleaders, who are by them called Periotsi-Kahsi, that is, men of justice. The orators of the Makouri^ a tribe of the Tongusian nation, displayed no small degree of talents and eloquence on a certain occasion when a young man, the son of their respective chief, appeared before one of their courts of justice, accused of having murdered his uncle. His own fa- ther presided with as much dignity and pomp, as usually attend the judges and courts of more civilized nations. The venera- ble chief evinced a firm determination to administer justice, even although by the law his son should be pi^ to death, if found guilty. The heads of every family were seated round the chief, whom he addressed briefly in the following manner :— * M}/ brat/ier has been murdered; my son stands b^ore you now, and for you it is to find out whether he is guilty or not. Ths law of your nation demands blood for blood; because such wers the laws of our forefathers,^ An orator, tall and grave, fluent wad rather eloquent, itood in tbe oentro of t^ circle and hof- Ill s of tru^ I too freo of touch- le highest ession apt risons rich d gesture liarities of s of their I a native )y the me- jn, will be ,oman clo- f those re- Indians of icnts ; and U to admit whose lan- and figura- ch was the Livated, but angucd for an hour to defend the youn^ chief; and if I tvcoIImI well, he commenced with these words : * Ponyong is gone to his fathers — he is dead^ hut not murdered ; for who would take the life of him who bore the wounds of fifty battles? His ne- phew stands before you as if he had spilt the blood of his own kindred : they say, it is truB^ that he is tfie murderer ; but who are they that accuse him ? Are they not they whose words should not he believed ? Have they fought either for you or their country ? They never saw the face of an enemy. Has he not fought already ? Has he not lad you to the field? Has he not conducted you victorious from the battles in the absence of his father ? If you destroy him you destroy an innocent many the pride of your nation^ and the conr/ucror of your enemies.* This, however, will suffice as a specimen of Siberian oratory. His feelings appeared to be very much excited as his innumerable but natural gestures expressed. Whether it was through his eloquence, or their regard for the life of the accused, I know not, but the young chiet was not found guilty." La Roche mentions the natural eloquence of the orators of the Kamschadales. Snntini says, that among different na- tions in Tartary and Siberia, orators plead at their councils and courts of justice. Ri Hi I m 'RIBES. thv, "who |eir orators, )tsi-Kahoiy ^, a tribe of [talents and 1, the son of r courts of is own fa- [aliy attend he venera- Iter justice, ko death, if lated round anner :— e you now, not. Ths such wers ave, fluent ie and bar* THE COUNCILS AND GOVERNMENT OF TIL- LAGES, AMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. We are told by travellers and missionaries that the In- dians, even when they were first visited by Europeans, con- ducted themselves in their assemblies with such prudence, maturity, and ability, as would do honor to the Areopagus of Athens, and the Senate of Rome, in the most flourishing times of tliose Republics. Nothing is concluded hastily, and that self- interest which so often corrupts the senator of civilized nations, never prevailed in the Indians when they discus^kd afliiirs which related to the public good. It is also true, that they possess, in the highest degree, the art of concealing their proceedings. For the most part, the glory of the nation, and the motives of honoui*, are the chief objects at which they aim. But what cannot be excused, is that almost all the time, during which they ut in council, is consumed in concocting plans in order to r»- tenge their enemies ; this, however, can only be remedied hj the christian religiai^ altbougb mom tliristiaM w ta i9adia(is% •I wuy lavaga. ':■- it I I .■ , . 'I t! ifij 113 " As to what relates to private persons," says the Bishop of Mieux, " and the particular concerns of the village, these things are soon decided among some nations ; but among other tribes they are referred to higher courts, and considerable time mjiy elapse before they are settled. A single affair, however trifling it may, is, sometimes, a long time under deliberation. Every thing is treated with a great deal of circumspection, and nothing is decided till they have heard the opinion of all their elders. If they have made a present to an elder, in order to secure his vote, they are sure of his interest, when the present is accepted. It was never heard, that an InvUan failed in an engagement of this kind ; but he seldom accepts it, and when he does, he never receives it with both hands. The young peo- ple enter early into the knowledge of business, which renders them serious and mature in an age in which they are yet chil- dren. This interests them in the public good from their early youth, and inspires them with an emulation which is cherished with great care, and from which there is reason to expect great benefits. " The most apparent defect of their government, is, the want of pnnishment for crimes. But this defect has not the same effect among them, which it would inevitably have with European nations. The great spring of our passions, and the principal source of the disorders which most disturb civil society, which is self-tnterest, have scarcely any power over people, who never think of laying up riches, and who take little thought for the morrow. They may also be reproached for their manner of bringing up their children. They know not what it is to chastise them. Whilst they are little, they say they have no reason ; neither are they of opinion, that punish- ment promotes understanding. When they are old enough to reason, they say that they are the masters of their own actions, and that they are accountable to no person for them. " In a word the American Indians are entirely convinced that man is born free ; that lo power on earth has any right to make any attempts against his liberty ; and that nothing can make him amends for its loss. We have even had much pains to undeceive those converted to Christianity on this head, and to make them understand, that in consequence of the corruption of our nature, which is the effect of sin, an unrestrained liberty of doing evil differs little from the necessity of doing it, con- sidering the strength of the inclination, which carries us to it ; and that the law which restrains us, brings us nearer to our first liberty, in seeming to deprive us of it. Happy for them, experience does not make them feel in many material articles all the force of this bias, which it produces in other countries. As their knowledge is more confinetd than ours, $• are their Aber Tart; war, their who chief the hi IIJ he Bishop ige, these lonj; other rable time , however iliberation. action, and )f all their in order to the present failed in an and when young peo- ich renders ire yet chil- their early IS cherished (xpect great ncnt, is, the has not the y have with 3ns, and the disturb civil power over ho take little iroached for y know not ,le, they say ;hat punish- l enough to own Tactions, m. y convinced s any right to : nothing can i much pains lis head, and le corruption •ained liberty oing it, con- 'ries us to it ; nearer to our )py for them, terial articles ler countries. s« are their desire* still more so. Being used only to the sitnplr nec««- saries of life which providence has sufficiently provided for thsm, they have scarcely any idea of superfluity. COUNCILS AXD GOVERNMENT AMOxXG ASIATIC NATIONS. " Tutte h nazioni,'* says Santini, " che si trovano fra i •* Tongusi, Coriaki, Kamschadali e molte altre in quella parte " d* Asia settentrinnalc fianno dei conciglii, che sono composti " del principe e dei maggiornati. Tutti gli affar'i che appar- " tengono alia guerra, alia pace, alle regole delta caccia, ed altre •• cose domcstice, sono qui esaminate. " Quanta al lore governo, ogni cosa e regolata in questi ** conciglii. II loro principe ancora regola molte querelc da se ** stesso, senza andar al conciglio. Vomicidio e punito, pero, " dagli amici di queUo chi era stato ammazzatOy e alloro piacere. " Molii mi hanno dcito che, benche romicidio srcondo Ic lorn ^ leggi, e proihito sotto pena della vita, V assassino c rarissi/nc " volte castigato colla morte ; perche credono che romicidio era " ordinato dallo spirito cattivoJ* Here we see, that according to Santini, all the ditFerent tribes among the Tongusi, Coriaks, Kamschadales and many others inhabiting the north-east parts of Asia, have councils composed of the chief and the elders. All the aflairs which appertain to war, peace, the chase, and other domestic laws are here discussed and decided. As to their government, I may say that these councils con- stitute their legislative assemblies ; for in them their laws civil and military are framed and administered. The chief also de- cides many private quarrels on his own authority without re- fering to council. The punishment of a murder is at the mercy of the relations of the murdered. I was often told that al- though murder, according to law, should be punished with death, the murderer is seldom put to death, because they believe that it was the desire of their evil Genii, that such a thing should come to pass. This has been confirmed by Abernethy and La Roche. Abernethy, however, observes that the Kamschadales and some Tartar tribes have war chiefs who preside at their councils of war, and lead their warriors to battle ; and otlicrs who govern their villages, never leaving home. La Roche says, that he who remains at home, is the nereditary one ; and that the war chief is elected by the warriors ; however, he observed, that if the hereditary one was of a military and heroic disposition* be t H !':! ':\$\ 114 would insist upon going to battle. Wc shall now proceed to f;ive a promiscuous account of the manners and customs of the ndians, according to the journals of tho Bishop of Mieux, Ro- setti, Claude Allouez, Paul du Ru, M. dc St. Cosme, and others, who were the first Mls^(ionarics that ever preached Christianity tp the red men of North America when the Canadas were in the possession of the French. After that, we shall offer a ge- neral sketch of the manners and customs of different nations in north-east Asia, which will also in no small dctjroe tend, by their coincidence, to prove the identity of the people — that is to say — that the North American Indians and these Asiatic tribes, were once united. The foregoing comparative views of the different customs of the American and Asiatic tribes will, no doubt, satisfy the reader ; however, as we wish not only to prcsve ail affinity between the inhabitants of both continents, out also to deliver down to posterity their national j)eculiarities before they disappear, it is but right, we think, to impart as much information as we possibly can. VARIOUS CUSTOMS AMONG THE NORTH AME- RICAN INDIANS. Shapes which they give to their Children. — There are, on the continent of America, some nations which they call Flat Heads. These have their foreheads very flat, and the top of their heads lengthened. This shape is not the work of na- ture ; — it is the mothers who give it to their children as soon as they are born. For this end, they apply to their foreheads and the back part of their heads, two mosses of clay, or some other heavy substance, which they bind by little till the skull has taken the shape they desire to give it. It appears that this operation is very painful to the children, whose nostrils emit some whit- ish matter ; but neither this circumstance, nor the cries of these little innocents, alarm their mothers, as they are desirous of proc u -?ng them a handsome appearance, without which they cannot conceive how others can be satisfied. It is quite the reverse with certain Algonquins, named Round Heads or Bowl Heads; for they make their beauty consist in having their heads perfectly round, and mothers take care also very early to give them this shape. What strengthens and shapes the Indians so well. —The children of the Indians when they leave the cradle, are not confined in any manner ; and as soon as they can crawl upon their hands and feet, they let them go where they will, proceed to toms of the iVIieux, Ro- and others, Christianity las were in offer a ge- t nations in ;e tend, by ! — thiit is to siatic tribes, ews of the bes will, no lot only to continents, peculiarities > impart as IH AME- EN. — There ich they call , and the top vork of na- in as soon as reheads and ■ some other uU has taken lis operation t some whit- ;ries of these desirous of which they is quite the '.ads or Bowl tiaving their > very early NS so WELL. 3 cradle, are y can crawl ?re they will, 115 quite naked, into the water, into the woods, and into the snow, which makes their bodies strong, their limbs very supple, and hardens them against the injuries of the air ; but it makes them also subject to distempers of the stomach and lungs, which destroys them early. In summer, they run as soon as they are up, to the river, or into the lakes, ancf continue there a part of the day, playinff like fish when it is fine weather at the surface of the water. It is certain that nothing is better than this ex- ercise to make their joints free, and to render them nimble. Their first Exercises. — They put a bow and arrow into their hands betimes ; and in order to excite in them that emulation, which is the best teacher of the arts, there is no need to set their breakfasts on the top of a tree, as they did with the young Lacedemonians. They are all born with that passion for glory, that has no need of a spur ; and indeed they shoot with a surprising exactness, and with a little practice, they acquire the same dexterity in the use of fire arms. They make them also wrestle, and they pursue this exercise so eager- ly, that they would often kill one another, if they were not parted. Those who are defeated, are so enraged at it, that they do not take the least repose till they have their revenge. In what consists their Education. — In general their fathers and mothers neglect nothing to inspire their children with certain principles of honor, which they preserve all their lives, but which they often abuse ; and in this ttieir whole edu- cation consists. When they give their instructions on this head, it is always in an indirect way ; the most common is to relate to them the brave actions of their ancestors, or of their countrymen. These young people are fired at these stories, and are never easy till they find an opportunity of imitating the examples they have made them admire. Sometimes, to correct them for their faults, they use prayers and tears, but never menaces. They would make no impression on spirits, pre- possessed with an opinion that no person has a right to use compulsion. Works of the Women. — The little works of the women, and which are their common employment in the cabins, are to make thread of the inner membranes of the bark of a tree, which they call the white wood. They work it pretty nearly as Europeans do the hemp. The women also dye every thins. They make several works with bark, on which they work small figures with porcupine's quills. They make little cups or other utensils of wood : they embroider roe-buck skins, and they ksit girdles and garters with the hair or wool of tk« BuialiMs. .(,11' li :;!m! ilc> m WouKu uv THK Mcy, — All for the men, they glory in their idloiics's ; and. in loalily, they jmss til)ove hull' of their lives in doing notliin^', in iIk^ por.suusioti thai daily labor disgraces a man, whii li, ihcy iina^nnc, sshftiild i;i ihc duty of the womi n. Man, they s,;y. is unl) ukuU; ior Uiir, hunting, and fishing. Ne- vortheioss, it h{!l<^ngs Jo them to make all things necessary for these three exepMscs ; ihererorc. niuking arms, nets, and all tlie equipnge of the hunters and Jishers, chielly belong to them, as as well as the caiiocs and their ri;i7ging, the Kaquets or snow shoes, and tht; huiding luitl re|>airing oi cabins ; but they often oblige the women to assist then* in all these things. TiiRiu Tools. — These people, before they had been fur- nished with hatchets and oiher tools by l^u^opeans, were greatly embarrassed in culling down their trees and fitting them fur use. They burnt them at fht; fout, and to split and cut ihcin they used luu.Ii. i.; made orilinlfi, which did net break, but tuok up a great deal of time to sharpen. To fix them in ihi* li.)nule, they cut off the heailof .i young tree, and, as if they wuuld huve grafted it, they made a notch in it, into >vhich they thiucl th? head of the hatchet. After some time tlic tree, by growing to- gether, kept the hatchet so fixed, that it could not come oat i then they euf the tree to such a length as they would Lave il:e handle. The foum op tueib Villages — Their villages have ge- nerally no regidar form. The greatest part of the French Missionaries represent them as being of a round form, and perhaps their authors had not seen any but of this sort. These villages consisted of a heap of cabins without orti(n- ; somo like cart nouses, others like tunnels, built of bark, t;upported b)' post^, sometimes plastered on the outside with mud in a coarse manner; in a word, built with less art, neatness, aiid solidity, than the cabins of the beavet. These cabins are iiI)out fifteen and twenty feet in breadth, and sometimes a hundred in length ; then they contain several fires ; for a hre noxcr t;i!ie.s up more than twelve feet. When the fk)or is not sulllcieiit for all ihe in- habitants to sleep on, the young people lay on a w ide bench, about tive or six feet Iiigh, that runs the whole length of the cabin. The furniture and provisions are over this, placed on pieces of wood put across under the roof. For the most pan there is before the door a sort of porch, where the }'ouiig ]ieople sleep in the summer, and which serves for a wood lioutie in the winter. The doors are nothing but bark, fixed like the um- brella of a^window, and they never shut close. These cabins have neitKer windows nor chimnies ; but they leave an opening in the middle of the roof, by which part the emoke goes out ; >rv in their ur li\ I's ii) isgruce!) a le vvointn. shing. Ne- ejssarv for » and all the o them, aa Is or snow they often boon fur- cre greatly ; then\ for I cut lliLin ik, but IwoU the I.Jiiule, kVouId huvo th!u::t ll'? rrowing lo- ['oine odt ; i have I he i liave ge- he French form, and :)rt. These son":o like ported b)' n a coarse 1(1 solidity, out iifleen in length : s up more all the in- ide bench, ;lh of the placed on most part mg people muG in the the nm- ;se cabins m opening goes out : 117 And they are obliged to cover it when it rains or snows, and then they must extinguish the lire lest tlicy be blinded with smoke. TiiRiR NOTION OP xm: oitiorN OF Man. — Nothing is more certain than that the American Indians havoan idea of a first being.but at the same time nothing is ittorc ol^scure. They agree, in general, in makinif hitn tlie first spirit, thc^ tiord and creator of the world, but when thi. v are pn^ssed a iitt(e on this article, to explain what they mean by the firsf spirit, we find nothing but odd fancies, fables so ill conceived, systems so little digest- ed, and so little uniformity, that one can say nothing regular on this subject. It has been said that the Siout came much nearer than the rest to what we think of this first principle. Almost all the Algonquin nations have given the name of the great Hare to the first spirit ; some call him Michabnn, others Atahocun. The Arcshuui of the Hurons, and the Agrescoue of the Iroquois^ is, in the opinion of these people, the Supremo Being and the God of War. '\''estai.s amo\o Tin: Indians. — In some memoirs we are told, that many nations of this continent had formerly young maids, who never h id any conversation with man, and conse- quently never married ; but we shall neither warrant nor con- tradict this assertion, because our authors appear somewhat doubtful on this point. It is true, however, that the Indians shew us some plants which, they say, are very salutar}, but which have no virtue unless they are administered by virgin hands. It has also been related with greater confidence, that among the Hiirons and Iroquois there were hermits^ who ob- served continence. Their Vows. — It cannot be doubted that the vows of the Indians were pure acts of religion, and that they performed them on the same occasions as Christians do. For instance, when they were out of provisions, as it often happened in their jour- nies and huntings, they promised their Gniil, to give in honor of them, a portion of the first beast they should kill to one of their chiefs, and not to eat till they should have performed their promise. If they find this impossible, because the chief is at a great distance, they burn what was designed for him, and make a sort of sacrifice. Their Fasts. — Some have fancied that their fasts were only intended to accustom them to bear hunger, and it may partly be designed for this end ; but all the circumstances which accompany them, leave no room to doubt that religion is the principal motive. I 118 Their thoughts of the immortality of the Soul. — When we ask the Indians what they think of their souls, they tell us that they are, as it were, the shadows and the animated images of tiie body ; and it is in consequence of this principle that they believe every thing is animated in the universe. Therefore, it is entirely by tradition that they hold that our souls do not die. In the different expressions they use to explain themselves on this subject, they often confound the soul with its faculties, and the faculties with their operations, though they very well know how to make the distinction when they choose to speak correctly. Of the rornTRY of Souls. — The Indians bciieve that the souls, when they die, are to part for ever from their bodies, and that they go to a region which is appointed to be their everlasting abode. This country, say the Indinns, is far toihe west, and the souls are several months iravelling t'lithcr. They have also great difficulti-r'S to surmount, and they run through great dangers before they go there. They speak especially of a river they have to pass where many have been wrecked ; of Ji dog, from v/hich it is not easy to defend one's self; of a place of toimentG, vi'here they expiate their faults ; of another where the tou'a of the prisoners of war who had been burnt, are tormented. This notion is the reason why, after the death of these wretches, for fear their souls should stay about the cabins, to revenge their sufferings, they very carefully visit all places, striking continually with a stick, and sending forth hideous cries, to drive away these souls. Without entering into details of other customs peculiar to the Asiatic tribes, to whom we have already so often alluded, we need only say, that the different practices which we have latterly described among the North American Indians, are common in Asia, especially among the Coriaks, Kamschadales, and others. Abcrncthy tells us, that among the Coriaks, the mothers give, as they imagine, a decorous form to their chil- dren, when infants, by applying three boards, one on the top to give them a flat head, and one on each side to give them a. sharp forehead. Whenever their children arrive at 12 years of age, they are to accompany the hunters into the forest, in order to imbibe while'young a desire of excelling in thatcxercise. He who excels among these youths, receives presents from the village on their return home. Their education consists solely in hearing the brave actions of their forefathers. 119 niE Soul. — T souls, they the animated this principle he universe. :hat our souls le to explain soul with its though they I they choose believe that I their bodies, id to be their 1, is far toihe lling tiiithcr. ind thev run They speak y have been defend one's their faults ; ar who had ;ath of these he cabins, to t all places, lideous cries, 5 peculiar to ften alluded, lich we have Indians, are imschadales, Coriaks, the o their chil- on the top give them a )f age, they ler to imbibe e who excels [age on their hearing the The women arc generally employed in making dresses, both for themselves and their family — they procure fuel and cultivate the soil ; in short, they provide all the furniture which is required in their cabir.'. The men are generally engaged in war, hunting, or fishing. They deem labor beneath the dig- nity of man. Their hatchets, which they call Mamoski, were anciently much the same as those which were originally used among the North American Indians : they were made of hard flint : sometimes they were observed to fell huge trees with them. The Tongusi observe fasts ; they also perform vows as well as the North American Indians. Thev believe that tire soul shall never die, and that it has to perform a long journey before it reaches its destination. These, and many other customs among the Asiatics, coin- cide in a striking manner with the inhabitants of tlie western continent. AN INDIAN CHIEFS ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN OF THE N. A. INDIANS. [The following journey of an Indian chief across the con- tinent of North America, during the middle of last century, will in some measure tend to prove the Asiatic origin of the North American Indians. It has been reduced to writing by M. Le Page du Pratz, and communicated to the Literary Society of Qubec by Andrew Stuart, Esq.] "It has been often conjectured, that America was originally peopled from Siberia or Tartary, and that these Asiatic tribes entered this continent by the way of Kamschatka. There are many reasons for believing that the new continent as well as the old, has been peopled by different races at different times, and tiiat the last great change which took place, was produced by a great Siberian or Tartar hivasion, similar to that which under Gengiskhan devastated the Chinese empire, and to that which overwhelmed the Roman empire. The exterminating character of these Asiatic tribes is well known, and it is pro- bable that the whole race which built the forts, the vestiges of which are found between Lake Ontario and the gulf of Mexico, was utterly destroyed by these Siberian invaders, whose des- cendants we now see scattered over the North American con- tinent. I do not mean here to enter on the grounds and rea- sons on which this opinion rests, but beg leave to lay before the public, facts relating to this subject, that seemed to me to be of interest to be found m a work not so generally known as it ought to be ; this is the history of Louisiana by M. Le Page du Pratz, wiio gvro« th« following a««<»unt of the peopling of Am>;riMi : ^n nm It;.:' - Hi:',.: hi ■'■•:• V.' . l:^ 130 • When the Natchez retired to this part of America, where 1 saw thev were found to be several nations, or rather the re- mains of several nations ; some on the east, and some on the west of the Mississippi. These are the people Avho are distin- guished among the natives, by the name of red men ; and their origin is so much the more obscure, as they have no tradition, nor arts and sciences like the Mexicans, from whence we miglit draw some satisfactory inferences. All that I could learn from them was, that tiiey came from the North and the sun setting. This account they uniformly adhered to, whenever they gave an account of their origin. This lame tradition did not at all satisfy the desire I had of being informed on this subject. I made great inquiries to know if there was any old wise man among the neighbouring nations, who could give me further intelligence about the origin of the natives. I was happy enough to discover one, named Moncacht-ape among the Ya- zons, a nation about forty leagues north of the Natchez. Tliis man was remarkable for his understanding and elevation of sentiments; and I may justly compare him to those first Greeks who travelled chiefly into the east to examine the manners and customs of different nations, and to communicate to their fel- low citizens on their return, the knowledge which they had ac- quired. Moneacht-ape, indeed, never executed so noble a plan ; but he had, however, conceived it. He was by the French called the interpreter, because he understood several of the North American languages ; but the other name which I men- tioned was given him by his own nation, and signifies the killer of pain and fatigues. This name was indeed most justly ap- plicable to him ; for to satisfy his curiosity he made light of tlie most dangerous and painful journies in \vl-uc.h he had spent se- veral years of his life. He stayed two or three days with me, and on my desiring him to give me an account of his travels, he very readily complied with my request and spoke to the fol- lowing effect :* " ♦ I had lost my wife and all the children I had by her. When I undertook my journey towards the sun rising, I set out from my village contrary to the inclination of all my relations. I went first to the ChicasawSf our friends and neighbours. I continued several days among them, to inform myself whether they knew whence we all came, or at least whence they came themselves ; they who were our elders, since from them came the language of die country. As they could not inform me, 1 proceeded on my journey. I reached the country of the Cha>- aunouSf and afterwards went up the Wabash or Ohio, almost to its source, which is in the country of the Iroquois or five nations. I left them, however, towards the north, and during the winter, which is in that country very severe and long, 1 121 en, where 1 iher the re- ome on the lo are distin- i ; and their tio tradition, ce we might i learn from sun setting, r they gave id not at all subject. I Id wise man me further was happy ng the Ya- chez. Tiiis elevation of first Greeks manners and to their fel- :hey had ac- oble a plan ; the French ^eral of the hich I meu- es the killer t justly ap- light of llie id spent se- ys with me, } travels, he to the fol- had by her. ig, I set out y relations. ;hbours. I If whether they came them came nform me, 3f the Ch(b- lio, almost wis or five and during ind long, I lived in a village of the Abenaquis, whero I contracted an jw- quaint.;incG with a man somewhat older than myself, who pro- mised to conduct me the following spring to the great water. Accordingly when the snows were melted and the weather was settled, we proceeded eastward, and nftcr several days journey, I at lonrrth saw the great water, which filled me with such joy and admiration, that I could not s])eak. Night drawing on, wo took up our lodging on a high bank abovethc water, which was sorely vexed by the wind, and made so great a noise that I could not sleep. Next day the ebbing and llowing of the water filled mo with great apprehcinsion ; but my companion quieted my fears by assuring me that the water observed certain bounds both in advancing and retiring. Having satisfied our curiosity in viewing the great water, we turned to the village of the Ahenaqitis, where I continued the following winter ; and after the snows were melted, my companion and I went and viewed the great fall of the river St. Lawrence at Niagara, which was distant from the village several days' journey. The view of this great fail at first made my hair stand on end, and my heart almost leapt out of its place ; but afterwards before I left, I had the courage to walk under it. Next day we took the shortest road to Ohio, and my companion and I cutting down a tree on the bank of the river, we lormed it into a Pettiaugref which served to conduct me down the Ohio and the Mississippi^ after which with much diiFicrdty, I went up our small river; and at length arrived safe among, my relations, who were re- joiced to «^ce me in good health. "' This journey instead of satisfying, only served to excite mv curiosity. Our old men for several vears. had told me that the ancient speech informed them that the red men of the north came originally much higher and mu<^h farther than the source of the river Missouri ; and as I had longed to see, with my own eyes, the land whence our first fathers came, I took my precautions for my journey westwards. Having provided a small quantity of corn, I proceeded up along the eastern bank of the river Missouri, till I came to the Ohio. I went up along the bank of this last river about the fourth part of a day's jour- ney, that I might be able to cross it without being carried into the Mississippi. There I formed a Caugeux, or rait of canes, by the assistance of which I passed over the river ; and next day meeting with a herd of buffaloes in the meadows, I killed a fat one, and took from it the fillets, the bunch and the tongue. Soon after I arrived among the Tamaroas, a village of the na- tion of Illinois^ where I rested several days and then proceeded northwards to the mouth of the Missouri, which after it enters the great river runs for a considerable time without intermixing its muddy waters with the clear stream of the other. Having iliii m '!iii : U i» r ^- tf V2'2 eroascd the Mississipi, I went up the Misaonri alonw its north- ern bank, and after several days journey I anived at the nation of the Missourit where I staid a long time to learn iho lan- guage that is spoken beyond them. In going along the Mis- souri I passed through meadows a whole day's journey in length which were quite covered with buffaloes. " * When the cold was past, and the snows were melted I continued my journey up along the Missouri, liH I came to the nation of the west, or the Caverns. Afterwards in consnquence of directions from them, I proceeded in the same conrsc, near thirty days, and at length I met with some of the nation of Otters who were hunting in that neighbourhood and were sur- prised to see me alone. I continued with the liuntors two or three days, and then accompanied one of them and his wife, who was near her time of lying in, to their village?, which lay far off betwixt the north and west. We continued nnr journey along the Missouri for nine days, and then we marched directly north for five days, and met more of the Oilers who received me with as much kindness as if I had boon of their own nation. A few days after, I joined them when we came to the fine river which runs westward in a direction contrary to that of the Missouri, we proceeded down this river a whole day nnd ar- rived at a village, a party of the Otters, who were going to carry a Calumet of peace to a nation beyond them, and we em- barked in a Pettiaugre and went down the river for eighteen days, landing now and then to supply ourselves with provisions. When I arrived at the nation who were at peace with the Otters, I. stayed with them till the cold was past, that I might learn their language, which was common to most of the nations that lived beyond them. The cold was hardly gone when I em- barked on the fine river, and in my course I met with several nations with whom I generally stayed but one night, till I ar- rived at the nation which is but one day's journey from the great water in the west. This nation lives in the wood about the dis- tance of a league from the river, from the apprehension of bearded men, who come on their coasts in floating villages and carry off their children and make slaves of them. These men are described to be white with long white benrd that came down to their breast. They were thick and short and had large heads covered with cloth ; they were always dressed, even in the greatest heats ; their clothes fell down to the middle of their legs, which with their feet were covered with red or yellow stuff. Their arms made a great fire and a great noise ; and when they saw themselves out numbered by red men, they re- tired on board their lar^e Pcttiaugres ; and their number, sometimes, amounted to thirty, but never more. Those strangers came from the sun-stcttirg, in search <( ( Gf its nortli- t tlic nation ini the hn- X the Mis- journey in re melted I ;amn to tbo onspquencft Diirsc, near 10 nation of d wore snr- tors two or lid his wife, ', which )av nnr jonrney !ied directly ho received Dwn nation, le fine river that of tho rlay nnd nr- ;re going to rtnd wo cm- ov eighteen provisions. I the OttcrSy might learn ations that rvhen 1 em- n\\\ several it, till I ar- m the great lOut tho dis- hension of llages and These men that came I had large cd, even in die of their I or yellow noise; and I, thoy ra- ir number, ', in search 123 of a yellow stinking wood, which dies a fine yellow color ; but the people of this nation, that they might not be tempted to visit them, destroyed all those kinds of tiees. Two other nations in their neighbourhood, however, having no other wood, could not destroy them, and were still visited by these strangers ; and being greatly incommoded by them, had invited their allies to assist them in making an attack upon them the next time they would return. The following summer I accordingly joined in this expedition, and after travelling five long days' journey, we came to the place where the bearded men usually landed ; there we waited seventeen days for their arrival. The red men, by my advice, placed themselves in ambuscade to surprise the strangers, and accordinfdv, when thev landed, we were so sue- cessful as to kill eleven of them ; the rest immediately escaped on !)oard two large Pettiaugres and fled westward on the great water. " ' Upon examining those whom we had killed, we found them much smaller than ourselves, and rather fairer; they had a large head, and in the middle of the crown the hair was very long; their heads were wrapt in great many folds of stuff, and tlieir clothes seemed to be made neither of wool nor silk, thev were very soft, and of ditferent colours : two only of those who were killed had lire arms, powder and ball. I tried their pieces and found that thoy were much heavier than ours and did not kill at so great a distance. After the expedition, I thought of nothing but proceeding on my journey, and with that design I \>tt the red men return home, and joined myself to those who lived more westward on the coast, with whom I travelled along the coast of the great water, which bends directly betwixt the north and the sun-setting. When I arrived at the village of my fellow travellers where I found the days very long and the nights very short, I was advised by the old men to give up every thought of continuing my journey. They told me that the land extended a long way between the north and the sun-setting ; after which it ran directly west and at length was cut by the groat water from north to south. One of them added that when he was young, he knew a very old man who had seen that distant land before it was cut away by the great water, and that .when the great water was low, many rocks still ap- })eared in those parts. Finding it therefore impracticable to proceed much farther on account of the severity of the climate and the want of game, I returned by the same route by which I liad set out ; and reducing my whole travels westward to two days journey, I compute that they would not have employed me thirty-six moons ; but on account of my frequent delays it was five years before I returned to my relations among th« Yozons. rii ";. if u t-i m SI 124 "•The n'ln.'uKaMf (lifVoiviuM' I ((bsrivrd bctwrrn (ho Natchvz incliuliiiu: in thsit ii.'iino tho iiKtiuiis whom (lu>y i\n \>n> thvcn, ami lh»> o\\uv proplooC Lousiiuia. nuulo me oxtniiu ly dosiiouH of luiowiiiiT whriK'o hoJh of thom <»i,uin;illy cnim-. Wo \\\u\ nol tlnMJ thai (all iho iMloniialioii which wo havo siiico roooivi'il iVom tho travols aiai i\od liolwo<'i\ ihe NatoJKV. and tho iioi'4;hlnimiiiv^ liihos, I was nf th«» opinion that llioy wore not ori^jinallv I'luni tho sanio oonntiy. and that if tho anoiont spcooh taoidil hini any thini,' on iliat siiltj(>ot, ho would do n>o a ^roat ploasiuo to inlorni mo of it At thc-^o words \\c loanod his hoad »»m his lvv«> hands with wliioh ho oo- ve»o»l his oyos, and havinjx I'MiKiincd in dial posimc ItM-aipiar- tei* of an hour, as if to ivo,i>llool himsolf, ho auswoiovl to tho Ibllowinjif oiK'tt. : '♦'Uidort^ wo oajuo to this inland wo iivivl y»innor under the sun, (pointing; with his (ini;or noaily soiuh-wost, hy wliioii 1 undorstiiod ho moant iMoxii-o.) wo liv(>d in ii lino <'onnliy whoro tho oartii is always pleasant ; ihoto om- suns had thoir abode, and our nation maintained itsell" lor a lonij time against hostile strauj^ois, \iho octntpu^red somo of our villa_i:;os in the plains, but never eouM loiee ns from the mountains. Our na- tion cxtoiulod itself aliMig the jjfivat water whoro this larii^e river loses itself: hut as our enemies were bo(M»m(? very uumor.>us and very wieked. our suns sent some ol' our suhjeets who lived near this river, to exannne wluMher voeould retire into il.o country through whieh it llowed. The eoimtry ou the east si«!o being found extremely ploavsant, the great sun upon tho reimn of those who liad examinoil it, ordered all his suhjeets who lived in the }>lains, ami who still delended tluiuselves against the enemies of tluMr eountry. to remove into this land, hero to build a tetuple, and to prestMve tho eternal tire. "*A great partof our ir.ition aeei)rdingly settled here, where they livoil in peaee and ahundanee for several genera- tions ; tho great sun and those who hail riMuained with him, never thought of joining us, being temj)ted to eontinue where thev were hv tho ph>asantness of tiie eounlrv, whieh was verv warm and by the weakness ot their enemies who had fallen into civil dissensions by the ambition of one of their chiefs who wanted to raise himself from a state of equality with the '^^thcr chiefs of the viilages and to treat all his people as • lives. During those discords among our enemies, some of them even entered into an alliance with the great sun, who still remained m our old country, that he might assist some other brodhi'eo 125 I worn tho 10 V J»8 lire- oxtn imly illy cnuio. Iiiivr siiico fiis.'c ill \\\v. tplii'd n»y- (I lu'.rniiiit', ty ; I then (I IkMwccii li«* opitiicM t. iiiid (hill siilijcct, !l(! At tli(>«' hich he ctv ItH";! (|u;n- ci»\l to \\\c ulcr under , by Nsliich IH' <'(niMiry I Ir.iil llicir imi> {i,u;(iiist lui^cs in llio [. (Uir iiti- 'iw'^c river UUIlKT-illS s who lived ire into ilic ic t'list side the nMurn ihjeets who ves ;ij4;iiiist. lid, hero to tiled hero, ral genera- wiili liim, nuo where \ was very fallen into chiol's who I tlie '^^flicr as lives. them even 1 remained ir brethi^oa who hnd settled on the banks of the great water to the cnst of the laru;(« river, ami extended themselves so far on the eoasf, and amon::!: the isles that the great snn did not hear of thorn, suiiu.'timos for (ive or six years together. •* • It was not till after many g<*neratioris that the great sun came to Juin us in this part of the country, where from tlu; fine oliinalo and peace wo had enjoyed, wo had multiplied like this leavi's (»!' fh(> tiers. Warriors of lire who made the earth tromltle had arrived in our old country, and having enterofi into alliaiK? uilli our hnMhren, conqucrorl our ancient oneniies; hut attenijititig afl(M\vards to make slaves of our sons, they ra- ther ih.in siilnuit to them I(.'{t our hrollin'n who refused to fol- low ihoiu. eaiue hilhi-r atlen;led f»nly with their slaves.' '" Upon nn' a-^king him who those warriors (»f lire were, \\r Implied that ilioy were bearded white men, somewhat of a hrownish coliMn-. wh) <-,ariiod arms which started lire with a gr(Mt noise, and l.ilicd at a great distant;e, that they had like- wise heavy arms wliieh killed many men at once, and like thiMiiler made iIk* o;irli» tremble, and that they came from tho sun rising in fl)ating \ Illag'S. *' • TIh? aneieni;' of the country, he said, were numerous and inhahiloil from thi- \vi slern coast of the great water, to tho norlhi'rn connliies on tiiis f^i(li> tho sun, and very far up o.i tho sauK^ eo:isi heyoiii! ihc sun. They liaJ-a great nurTih(,'r of large and small vill.igrs, v.lii<']i were ad built of stone and in which tliert> were lionsrs hw'jj': ciinngli to lodge a whole village. Their lianpl»>s w(>re Imilt \y\'\) groat laljf»nr and art, and llicy )nad(? he.'.ntii'ul woik:; nf all kinds ci' materials. " ' lj.,t v(« vMursolves, s.-.id I, wlnMicc are yc como ? Th© ancient s|K>";-!,, he i>>]>!io,!. diil ni-t tell whence we came ; alJ that we know i,-. ilni our f;itlievs, lo como hither, followed the snn and einie wiili '.iiu frfWM the phice where he rises; that thi^v were a long finie on tl'o journey, were all on the point of perishing, anvl were iu'onglit iiiirn[)t to ndso himself t(^ the sovereign power :copled by the inhabitants of C'cvT-r. - - . v.. N- - '' Monaclit-apc. after giving mc an account of his travels, f,:}cn' f>ur or live days visiting among the Natchez, and then retiUiseil to take leave of me, when 1 made him a present of tevcnd v/arcs of no vale.c. rsmong wdiich was a concave mirror about tv.'o i iclies and a half diametei', v/hich had cost me three pence and one half-penny : as tiiis magnified the face to four or five i:\clic3, its liatural size, he was wonderfully delighted with it, und would not have exchanged it for the best mirror i.i France. After cxpiessing his regret for parting with me, he returned highly satisfied to his ov/n nation. ■. ♦• Moaacht-apo's a(%count of the junction of America with the eastern purt of Asia, seems confirmed from the following remarkable fact : — ' Some years ago the skeletons of two large elephants and two small ones were discovered in a marsh near tile* Ohio river, and" as they were not much consumed it is sup- 127 :d by otlj^r gia of ihf: se cliarrtc- 7.liaracters, :ul pcihnjis [tly rcsein- tlio Mvs'i- ict, "\^■ll<•l•e countries, Agn power IS mill look limfjcli", ho riavigalion new map i orth Ame- inor<" pro- 'tween liie ;ked on as Ltion of my 1752, that ^vhich ijosi- tabitants of [lis travels, and then present of ve mirror it me three ice to four delighted )est niirror with me, ?rica with following two large larsh near it is sup- {)orwd that llio ploph:>nt-; nimc from Asia not many years )cforo. Ifwcalso consider the form of government, and (h.' manner of Jiving among tiie northern nations of An^eri<'.n, there will appear a great resemblance l)etwer>n them and the Tartars or Siberians in the north-east part of Afia.' "The foregoing story lias in it mnnv intcrnid i^iarkn of trnth. Some of the morn prominent of them may b-.; hcvr> succinctly stated. Indians who have never seen t!ie rhbing and tlowing of the tide, are wonderfully ^trurk widi this ph-- noi-nenon. Many of the inhabitants of Or? l-.-'c must s-till r»^- mcr.Tber, th.p.t the rroat donritniion of tlv Indian.-? chiof'^ iVoui the Mississippi who came t!> Quebec during tlie admmi.sirrit.on of Sir George IVevont. and lu*?! in their ronij^.any th<^ sister of Tecumseth, were often to 1 o seen sitting :>i a rcw uron a u Iku;' in the lower town of Qu(d:^^r'c, cnntrr.TpJntiug in sileiuv, ruvl evidently under tiio deoprr^t im})ref::^ion oi' av.o, t!)o using juid falling of the waters of the St. Lawreu'^e. " The white men hero drserihed correspe-ntl in every par- ticular with the Chinese, who, there is reason to Ijelicve, h^ld commercial intercourse v,it,h the r^oiitli of Afi'icn a long timv» before Vat^co de Gawn discovered and rio'..liiei] ti.'o {J;>.pe of Good Hope. The ("hine>'=o are rather smaller tlian we are, anl have the palest complexion indigenous to Asia. Their musket* are match-locks, and hctivicr than oin-s, the'r powder is in'erior in quality. ♦* The slinking wood mentioned by the Indian chief i.- j,r,-- bably fristic, yielding a yellow dye, whi'di is the prevading colour of the garments of the superior classes in (.'hiiia. I^Co'.nr of these things couhl have been known to tlie Indian ehiid'. and the general tone and character of M. l)u Pratz's v.-ork cxcludrsh the idea of his having fabricated the storv." The learned Winterbothnm who wr^t'^ the hist'.-rr of North America, confanns us also in tiio opinion tliat America was entered from Asia by "Kainsch;).!'!; \ " In the strait," says he, •• ■vvhioii s?.p.;rn'er; Americn. fr^n Asia, many islands are fouiui^ wliitdi probably were 'h'? moun- tains belonging to that tract of laud, wiiich v.'e supposo toharo been swallowed up by earlh-qiiakes ■, whi; li is made rivr-'> pro- hablo by the multitude of vo'canocs wldtdi we know of in tl!'-» Peninsula of Kamschatka. It is inviginod. ho-'.vfM'ci', tlu^t ihs sinking of that land, and tlio separation of thn two continent::. by thoso great and extraoidinarj- earthquakes r.->entioned in tho histories of the Americana, which formed an era aln^os* ir; memorable as that of the deluge. Ths histories of th.e Tnltrcni', fiv such onrthquakcs in the year I Te.cpaf.l : but as we know not to what century that belonged, we .can forra no coMJ3ct9 great cartli- tlierc should ans as there doubfetl. in been united lenv it. )f the conti- Amoiica, is jw ; but we ' settling the ;ted. Their )etvveen oon- This nar- which would nto the new ' the convul- lides, it may often filled ase mankind as extremely lent of Ame- jorlh e;-?lern ,0 peop'o the , is a matter ires. aturally pro- iher cause of irth Asiati( 9 Europeans, loean moun- inhabiJants: by iho next ;w impulses /hich spread gain, it co- lest limits of to occupy a discovery^ oth worlds." lili.'Zent anti- offspring of ods arrived s now to be s impossible 3d, to admit t the bulk of L few proofs may be added, taken from customs or dresses con^uon u- Im inhabitants of both worlds ; some have bt'cn \oug cxiinci m the old, but others remain in both in full fon"<\ " The custom of scalping was a barbarism iji use with lh<; Scythians, who carried about them at all times this savage mark of triumph. Th(;y cut a circle round the neck, and stripped off the skin, as they would that of an ox. A little imnge found among the Calmucks, of a Tartarian deity.nnxintod on a horse, and silting on a human skin, with scalps pendant from the breast, fully illustrates the custom of the Scythian progenitors, as described by the Greek historian. This usage, as the Euro- ])eans know by horrid experience, is continued to this day in America. The ferocity of the Scythians to the jirisoners ex- tended to the remotest part of Asia. The Kamscnadales, even at the time when they were discovered by the Russians, put their prisoners to death by the most lingering and excruciating invention : a practice in full force till this day iunong the abori":inal Americans. A race of the Scvthians were stvled Anthropophaji;}, from their feeding on human tlesh. " The people of Nootka Sound still make a repast on their fellow creatures ; but what is more wonderful the savage allies of the JJritish Armv have been known to throw the mangled limbs of the French jiiisoners into the horrible cauldron and devour them with the same relish as those of a quadruped. '• The Scythians were said, for a ccrtahi time, annually to transform themselves into wolves, and again to resume the hu- man shape. The new discovered Americans alx)ut Nootka Sound, at this time, disguise themselves in the dresses made of the skins of wolves and other wild beasts, and wear even the heads fitted to their own. These habits thev use in the chase, to circumvent the animals of the field. But would not ignor- ance or superstition ascribe to a supernatural metamorphosis these temporary expedients to deceive the brute creation ? " In their marches the Kamschadales never went abreast, but followed one another in the same tract. The same custom is exactly observed by the Americans. " The Tongusi, the most numerous nation resident in Si- beria, prick their faces with small punctures with a needle in various shapes ; then rub into them charcoal, so that the marks become indelible. This custom is still observed in several parts of America. The Indians on the back of Hudson's bay, to this day, perform the operation exactly in the same manner, and puncture the skin into various figures ; as the natives of New Zealand do at present, and as the ancient Britons did with the herb glastum^ or woad ; and the Virginians on the first dis- covery of that xjountry by the English. " The Tongusi use canoes made of birch bark, distended 130 •ver ribs of wocxi, and nicely »cwod togother. The Canadian and many other American nations, use no other sort of boats. The paddles of the Tongusi are broad at each en»: ; those of the people near Cook's river and of Oiisiascha, tire of the &aiuo form. " In the buryinpf of the dead, many of the American na- tions place the corpse at full length, after preparing it accord- ing to their custoiTis. Other place it in a sitting poylure, and lay by it the most valuable clothing, wampum, and other mat- ters. The Tartars and Coriaks did the same a» well as the Tongusi and Kamschadales. Thoy ail agree in covering tlio whole with earth, so as to form a tumulus, harrow, or carnedd. " Some of the American nations hang their dead in trees. Certain of the Tongusi observe a similar custom. " We can draw some analogy from dross ; conveniency in that article must have been consulted on both continents, and originally the materials must have been the same, the skins of birds and beasts. It is singular that the conic bonnet of the Chinese should be found among the people of Nootka. " In respect to the features and form of the human body, almost every tribe found along the western coast has some similitude to the Tartar and Siberian nations, and still i etain the little eyes, small noses, high cheeks and broad faces. They vary in size from the lusty Calmucks to the little Nogains. The internal Americans, such as the five Indian nations, who are tall of body, robust in make, and of oblong faces, are derived from a variety among the Tartars and Siberians them- selves. " The continent which stocked America with the human race poured in the brute creation through the same passage. Very few quadrupeds continued in the Peninsula of Kams- chatka; M. Pennant enumerates only twenty-five which are inhabitants of land ; all the rest persisted in their migration, and fixed their residence in the new world. Seventeen of the quadrupeds of Kamschatka are found in America ; others are common to Tartary or Siberia, having, for unknown causes entirely evacuated Kamschatka, divided themselves between America and the parts of Asia above cited." The reader is now at liberty to judge whether these ob- servations and researches of modern travellers will serve as incontrovertible proofs of the Asiatic origin of the North Ame- ricans Indians, or as mere conjectures, which are liable to de- lusion and error. Conjectures, hypothesis and speculative opinions are, it is true, frequently to be considered as unwary guides, and false clues which will not lead us,in a labyrinth of obscurity, and antiquity, to the original source of a nation. In the present inquiry, however, there is no room for suspicion. 131 'he Canadian Dl't ol" boiits. iii: ; those of I ol" the j>aino Vmciican na- ng it Mccord- P'jyturc, unci id other mai- ls Well as tho covering tiio I, or carnerld. Jead in trees. ^nvcnicncy in ntincnts, and , the skins ol lonnet of the )tka. human body, )ast has some nd still 1 otain faces. They ittle Nogains. nations, who ng faces, are jerians them- th the human ame passage, la of Kams- c which are }ir migration, jnteen of the . ; others are nown causes Ives between ner these ob- will serve as North Ame- nable to de- speculative d as unwary I labyrinth of of a nation, br Buspicion, because the mann' rs and customs, the intellectual facultios af well as the externa appearance and complexion of the Asiatics and the aboriginrs .;f North America, have been depicted faith- fully and imparti.illy by 8ev«?ral persons of v(;racity and erudi- tion, without rcl" iico to the dL'scont of cither the aboriginal AiiK'ricaiis or tho Asiati<; tribes which they described, from any prirticiilar iuiU(jn, or country. When, therefore, the cha- raclfMistical foaturos, as W(>ll as the external appearance, bodily frame, and tho manners and customs of the American Indians, and C(!rtain tribes n Asia coincide so singularly, and difier so considerably from tho national peculiarities of the rest of the human race, an ancient consanguinity will at once be acknow- ledged even by tho most incredulous or suspicious. In the absence of true and faithful traditions, records and history, a comparative view of the manners and customs of two nations, and a collation of their languages are the only means by which the anti(iuarv (;an discover an alunity between them. This wc have done with as much fidelity as the importance of the en- quiry evidently requires. Our researches, therefore, are founded on the intercourse of modern travellers with the inhabitants of both continents ; and the reader will not, we hope, hesitate to believe not only the Asiatic origin of the North Amerian Indians, but their immediate descent from the Siberians, Kamschadales, and Tartars. ajMEIuca peopled by a more civilized race than the present red indians. At what period the continent of America was originally peopled, is a question which has not as yet been satisfactorily proved; in fad all the sources of information which have been hitherto exhibited to the philosophic mind, will not be sufficient to form any prol)ab!e conjecture on this head. If the geolo- gical constitution of America be altcntivcly examined, the opinion that it is a continent more recently formed than the rest of the glono, will not stand. " The same succession of stony strata,'* says a learned author, " are found no less in the new world than in the old world. At a height superior to mount Blanc, petrified sea shells are found on the summit of the Andes. The fossil bones of elephants, are spread over the equinoctial regions of a conti- nent where living elephants do not exist ; and these bones are not found merely in low plains, but in the coldest and most elevated regions of the Cordilleras. There, as well as in the old world, geherations of animals long extinct, have preeed94 ')':"^' 132 those which now exist on the surface of the carlh. There is no reason to believe, that because America has been but recent- ly discovered, that, therefore, it has been but recently peopled. The comparative thinness of its population is no proof to the contrary, for the regions of central Asia are as thinly peopled as the Savannahs of New Mexico and Paragu.iy. The fact is, that the problem of the (irst population of most countries, is nearly as difficult to solve as that of America. The reason is plain, because the first population of a country is generally far beyond the period of its history. The problem, therefore, of the population of the new world, is no more within the pro- vince of history, than questions on the origin of plants and ani- mals are in that of natural science." It has been frequently proved beyond the possibility of a doubt, that the remains of a more polished and cultivated people than the presen* red Indians of North America do still exist in different parts of the w^estern continent. In the absence of these remains the vestiges of civilization which are every year discovered between Lake Ontario and the gulf of Mexico, and even towards the north-west, should sufficiently prove the fact. Mr. Barton, in his observations on some parts of Natural History^ part /., has collected the scattered hints of Kalm, Carver, and others, and has added a plan of a regular work, which had been discovered on the banks of the Muskingum, near its junction with the Ohio. These remains are principally stone walls, large mounds of earth, and a combination of these mounds with the walls, suspected to have been fortifications. In some places the ditches and the fortresses are said to have been plainly seen ; in others, furrows, as if the land had been ploughed. The mounds of earth are of two kinds ; they are artificial tumuli, designed as repositories for the dead ; or they are of a greater size for the purpose of defending the adjacent country ; and with this view they are artificially constructed, or advantage is taken of the natural eminences, to raise them into a fortification. The remains near the banks of the Muskingum, are situated about one mile above the junction of that river with the Ohio, and a hundred and sixty miles below fort Pitt. They consist of a number of walls and other elevations of ditches, &c., altogether occupying i^, space of ground about three hun- dred perches long, and from about a hundred and fifty to twen- ty-five or twenty broad. The town, as it has been called, is a large level, encompassed by walls, nearly in the form of a square, the sides of which are from ninety-six to eighty-six perches in length. These walls are, in general, about ten feet in height above the level on which they stand, and about twenty feet in diameter at the base, but at the top they are much 133 1. There is 1 but reccnt- itly peopled, proof to the inly peopled \ * The fact ist countries, The reason is generally n, therefore, thin the pro- mts and ani- ssibility of a d cultivated erica do still 1 the absence ^h are every If of Mexico, ;ly prove the Is of Natural nts of Kalm, 'gular work, Muskingum, e principally ition of these brtifications. said to have nd had been s ; they are ad ; or they the adjacent constructed, raise thcnn cingum, are t river with Pitt. They of ditches, t three hun- fty to twen- 1 called, is a 3 form of a eighty-six out ten feet 30Ut twenty y are much narrower ; they arc at present overgrown with vegetables of different kinds, and among others, with trees of several feet in diameter. The chasms, or opening in the walls, were proba- bly intended for gate-ways ; they are three in number on each side, besides the smaller openings in the angles. Within the walls there are three elevations, each about six feet in height, with regular ascents to them. These elevations considerably resemble some of the eminences already mentioned, which have been discovered near the river Mississippi. This author's opi- nion is, that the Tolticas, or some other Mexican nation, were the people to whom the mounds and fortifications, which he has described, owe their existence. Tkis conjecture is thoi.ght probable, from the similarity of the Mexican fortifications described by the Abhe Clavigero, and other author's to those described by our author ; and from the tradition of the Mexi- cans that ihey cainc from the north-west ; for, if we can rely on the testimony of late travellers, fortifications similar to those mentioned by Mr. Barton have been discovered as far to the north as J/ake l*epin ; and we find them, as we approach to the south, even as low as the coasts of Florida. To enumerate the antiquities of America and the different places where they are found, would only be a repetition of what has already appeared before the public; and these disco- veries are evidently so much attended with the exaggeration of enthusiasts, that it would ill become any person, who was not an actual observer, to present to the public what, perhaps, never existed. It is, hov.-ever, an undeniable fact, that several ves- tiges of civilization have been found in different parts through- out the western continent, which will at once prove that a peo- ple more versed in the arts and sciences than the present North American Indians, inhabited the western continent at some re- mote period. The venerable Bishop of Mieux, who addressed a series of letters to the Queen of France during his travels in North America, mentions the remains of several well built forts in the country of the Natchez, whom he supposes to be des- cendants of the Mexicans or the survivors of some nation which must have been somewhat acquainted with the arts, and might have been exterminated by war, pestilence, or fimine. " Ihis fortification," he says, ♦'which is large and square, might contain several hundred cabins. The walls which are built of stone, are seven or eight feet high. Round them runs a broad ditch, six feet deep, into which they could, in time of danger, draw the waters of a creek or small river that runs by the town, at the distance of thirty yards. Not far from thence I observed the remains of a tower, built with some taste and art; and on enquiring at the great temple of the Natchez, what it i t I! 134 was intended for, I was told by the priest, thnt it was a rejxv sitorv for tlic dead, or the tomb ot'lliuir chiefs." . Monsieur de la Sak\\\ho 111 si discovered llie country of the Natclie;^, speaks of fortiHcutions, tcnijjles, and cultivated fioUls, where he assures us the plough had been in use, from the fact that, on one occasion, when tliey were digging to make a well, tliey discovered liic remains of a plough and the bone of an elephant along with it. which from the shape they gave it, could not have been intended for any other jnirpose than anlorgh^lune. Another learned MiUior makes I'le folkmins^ observations: '•That North America was {brmerly inhabited by a nation more ci\ili::cd and njore versed in science, than the present, is certain from the late discoveries of M. Veranchier and his com- panions, who travelled v/estvvard from Montreal in order to reach the south sea. When they had traversed many nations, of which no European liad any knowledge before, they met with large tracts every where covered with Ib.rrows, A'.hichhad formerly been ploughed ; it is to be observed that the people who now inhabit North America, never make use of oxen, horses, or ploughs. In several places they met on the plains and in the woods, great pillars of stone, which to all appear- ance had been erected bv human hands, and with considerable taste. They found a stone,in which was fixed a smaller one.mea- sjring twelve inches by five, on w^hich was an inscription in un- known characters ; this they brought to Canada,from whence it was sent to France, to the Count deMaurcpas,then Secretary of State." Count Rosctti found a helmet among the Natchez, m.ade of Tortoise-shell, on which some Asiatic hieroglyphics w^erc engraved. On his return to Italy they were explnined by some ml'jsionarics who remained several years in China, and pur- ported the God of War and the Great Sun, or the Great Chief. The helmet is still })rcserved in the Count's collection of aaliquitics. L'Abbc de la Ville discovered, during his mission in Ohio, a defensive armour of Tortoise-shell, with inscriptions in the Chinese language. These he sent to Paris and are to be seen in the national museum, with the following observations: — " I have often heard among the present Indians, that, bolbre they arrived in this country from the north-west, they met the re- mains of a nation whose language they could not understand, and whose external appearance, manners, customs and religion, were not the same with llieirs. They represented tiiem as a people who had a diflerent origin, but who, they said, had en- tered this continent by Kamschatka, as they did themselves. This information I have not only acquired from those Indian tribes which I found in Ohio, but also from the Great Sun of was a rejx>- ountry of the ivated fielils, Tom the fact make a well, 3 bone of an GjLivc it, could nloru'li^lunc. observations: by a nation e present, is and his com- il in order to lany nations, re, thcv met vs, v.hichhad at the [)eople use of oxen, on the plains ;o all appear- considerable dler one,mea- ription in un- pm whence it en Secretary tchez, made yphics w^erc ined by some na, and pur- Great Chief. collection of sion in Ohio, ptions in the to be seen ations: — " I before they met the re- undcrstand, and religion, tiiern as a said, had en- themselves. hose Indian reat Sun of 135 the Natchez, who assured me that he was the dcscendftnt of those who were the original proprietors of the American soil, previous to the migration of the barbarous tribes by which ha found himself then surrounded. At the same time he told me, that a part of his nation survived the almost utter exter- mination of his tribes by that barbarous horde, and tluit they still lived towards the south." •* Innumerable fortifications," says Mons. du Chateau, "aro to be found throughout America ; but all these vestiges of civi- lization, and their monuments or pillars and the tumuli of the dead are now so overgrown with trees, that it is with some difficulty, they can be discerned." That several monuments of antiquity are very probably concealed from us, by the oveigrowth of the forest cannot at all be denied, when we exhibit to the view of the public, a ccr- tuin fact which recently came to light in the towi^ship of Be- verly, county of Halton, Upper Canada. A tumulus was dis- covered containing the remains of about a thousand Indians, vvith arms and cooking vcL':ieis. This golgotha was, when discovered, overgrown with trees of two hundred years growth. It is, therefore, reasonable to believe that several tnarkis of civilization have, under similar circumstances, escaped our notice. M. Sinclair, who travelled in North America in tlic year 1748, has made the following observations respecting the civi- lization of the aboriginal inhabitants of this continent : — '* That architecture and painting," he snys, *• were knov/n among the ancients of America camujt be denied, v/hen we examine tho art which they displayed in buildaig fortifications and towers ; and the taste which their pr'atings in relievo exhibit. It would be equally absurd to deny that iron tools were in use ; for how could they break and shape into different forms large stoucs almost as hard as the flint which the present red men used as hatchets. But, without any conjecture, we may easily arrive at a conclusion by consipeans who astonishing ? consider- n painting s they used )saic work, nee, which ley cut and i construct- 3f gold, sil- stones of nces, to be having the en of stone gates, into s of jasper sage to the 5 materials, le floors of were hung, jings made The roofs thout nails, them; on 3S of men, tones; and d. These I. and songs set to music, dcs(;ribing the achievcmcnls of their ancestors, formed a principal part of their amusements. Their writing was advanced no farther, than to represent transactions by paintings, and hieroglyphic representations. It was in this way that the Spanish invasion was announced to Montezuma. They were skilled in agriculture, so as to raise considera- ble quantities of maize. They had some knowledge of gar- dening and botany; particularly with regard to medicinal plants, of wliich this country produces great quantities. The Mexi- can year consisted of 305 days. It was divided into 18 months, of 20 days each; and the five days, which according to this way of reckoning, belonging to no month, were yearly spent in the greatest festivity. This calendar shews, that they paid more attention to the course of the sun, than to that of the moon. The principal food of the common people was maize ground into Hour and formed into cakes. They make use of plantains, cassavi, and many kinds of roots ; the flesh of the })ccari, deer, and difterent kinds of venison. When any considerable business was to be undertaken, they always commenced their consultations with a feast. They had feasts at weddings, and, in short, at every solemnity and every important transaction. At these feasts they .had always a plentiful store of their intoxicating liquors. Their drinkings continued sometimes several days, and never ended but with the liquor. The women were not permitted to eat in presence of the men. Their principal exercises were hunting and fishing, at which they were very expert. They were fond of dancing ; this exercise was performed to the music of a reed, with seve- ral stops ; accompanied by a kind of wooden drum. Their dances were performed sometimes in a circle ; at other times, an individual exhibited his performances ; and then they con- sisted chiefly of displays of activity, strength and agility. The women likewise danced and sung, but always separate from the men. The Mexicans, according to Acosta, were married in their temples by a priest. The ceremony consisted in his demanding of the parties, whether they were willing to accept of each other for husband and wife ? - Upon their answering in the affirmative, he tied a corner of the woman's veil, to a corner of the man's mantle. In this manner he led them home to the bridegroom's house ; the bride went seventimes round a fire, virhich, for that purpose, had been kindled on the floor; the par- ties then sat down together by the fireside, and the marriage was looked upon as concluded. The consummation took place on the same night. If the husband was satisfied with his spouse. if: J' . ' vAU^ 142 he gave an entertainment to lier friends, made them presents and sacriliccd to the gods. If he suspected her virginity, she was returned to her family, wliich was to them a c;onsiderahlc reproach. It does not appear to he certain, whether polygamy was commonly practised or i:ot. Their chiefs, we know, had many wives ; but we know that their customs were oiten ditlerent from those of the nation at largectable ma- s of religion domestic ac- d in a female larried state. _ ; they were ith them was ce to those of ns. When a id in his best 1 leave of by eighbourhood ring mournful ients. They em were bu- ecessaries of eemed during men, several slaves were put to death and interred, in order to attend their masters in a future state ; but this seems not to be sulficiently authenticated. Instead of burying their dead, they are snid, sometimes, to have burnt them ; and this seems to have been true, chieliy, with regard to their chiefs and princes. The CJovernment of Mexico, when the Spaniards arrived amongst them, was monarchical ; but it is said formerly to have been a republic : frequent factions having endangered the state, it was changed into an elective monarchy. At fust, their kings were elected by the whole community ; afterwards the elective power was assumed, exclusively, by the kings of of Zacuba and Tezcuco, and four princes of the blood. The monarch was always chosen from the royal family. IJefore the king, who had been elected, could be crowned, he was obliged to go on an expedition against some neighboring nation. At his return, he was met by his nobles, the ministers of state, and chief priests. He was conducted to the temph; of the god of war. There he was invested with the imperial robes. In his right hand he received a golden sword ; in his left a bow and arrows. The king of Tezcuco, first elector of the empire, set the crown on his head : one of the principal mini?- ters, in the name of the people, congratulated him upon hia accession to the crown, atid instructed him in the duties which his new dignity enforced upon him. The king lived in great magnificence and splendour. He ate alone but had always 200 dishes at his table ; he was vi'aited on by his principal nobility ; and among them he distributed the dishes, after he had taken of thcin what he wanted. He fre- quently drank out of a golden goblet ; a privilege denied to his greatest vassals. Justice was administered by proper courts, and judges appointed in every city and province ; but from them an appeal could be made to the supreme tribunal, in Mexico, which con- sisted of twelve judges. Superior, however, to every court of judicature in the kingdom, was the council of state, composed of the six electors of the empire, and generally held in the em- peror's presence ; and without consulting this council, he sel- dom resolved on any measure of importance. Treason, murder, sodomy, and adultery, to which some add robbery and theft, were punished with death. The revenues of the crown were under the cognizance of a council appointed solely for that purpose ; this council took charge of these parts of the king's income, arising from the mines, as well as of those taxes in kind, paid by his subjects of every profession. These taxes in the reign of Montezuma, amounted to a third part of every man's profits. The nobles were not subject to the same taxes, but were obliged to main- w It li-t' ' I i fi h '. 141 tain n certain number of men, to serve in the king's army whenever they were required. The military niKiirs of tho empire were ren^ulated by a separate council. Tho profession of a soldier was esteemed the most honourable in tno en^pire, and soldiers every where enjoyed peculiar privileces. Their armies were raised with ease, every cacique, or chief, being obliged, when called upon, to bring a certain number of men into tne field. The Spanish writers relate, that Montezuma had thirty vassals, each of whom could bring an hundred thousand men into the field but this calculation has evident marks of exaggeration. Each cacique commanded his own vassals, but under the control of the em- peror, who generally conducted his armies in person. War seems to have been the delight of the nation, and military talents were the surest means of preferment. In order to excite an emulation in courage and warlike skill among tho troops, several orders were created similar to the knights of Europe, in the days of chivalry. There were many of these orders, and one in particular, into which none could be admitted, who were not princes, or of royal descent. Their badge was a red ribbon, with which their hair was tied behind ; to this were affixed a number of tassels, corresponding to the number :>f heroic actions performed by tho wearer, a new tassel being added for each exploit. To this order the emperor himself belonged. Their arms ^ere generally bows and arrows ; but •'ome Spanish writers have asserted, that iron or steel weapons were also in use among them, some centuries previous to the arrival of Europeans. Of this fact they feel convinced from their having discovered several iron tools and warlike weapons in the tombs of the dead. It has been frequently mentioned by Don Fernandez, that tho Mexicans knew the use of iron, al- though other writers denied the fact. " I do not mean to assert, (says this author,) that the Mexicans ever arrived since their migration to the western continent, at such a proficiency in the use of iron as to be able to mould that metal into warlike weapons or other tools necessary for the promotion of the arts. I know, beyond the possibility of contradiction, that the Mexi- cans used iron instruments, when it can, as has frequently been done, be proved, that iron or steel swords and other tool? of the same metal, have been found buried with the dead." The in- credulous ask, how is it, that the Mexicans did not use them when the Spaniards first visited them ? They might, as we have already mentioned, when we alluded to the antiquities of North America, disappear, from the prevalent custom, among the different tribes who inhabited this continent, of burying those weapons and other useful tools with the deau. It might fie sun of sum COVi teni Oa h3a the tha the iiifei t\V3 SLSQC Witt tine 145 ng's army ilated by a s esteemed irery where raised witli allod upon, he Spanish ch of whom ild but this ich cacique of the em- n. nation, and . In order among the i knights of ny of tiicse )e admitted, badge was ind ; to this tlie number tassel being 2ror himself ; but «'ome japons were the arrival from their weapons in entioned by of iron, al- an to assert, I since their iency in the ito warlike 1 of the arts, it the Mcxi- [uently been tool? of the '* The in- lot use them light, as we ntiquitics of torn, among , of burying It might nlso be nskod, why th<; Mcxi'.-ans, siri'n- their nrrival on ihii continont, did not practise the art of mnkintj swords and dif- ferent other instruments which havo boon found in the tumuli of the dead, both in th'» northern and southern parts ofAmorica. lii answer to this question, it is reasonable enough to imagine, that this Asiatic colony who poopjnd Amorica and broun^ht along with them those iron instrutiK-iits from Ayiit, (liscovcrort no iron mines in America, whence Ihcy nii_<,'ht he lormcd. In battle, they w«,'rc totally ignorant of tin; ait of 'iisposin^ their soldiers in battle array. Tlu'V cngagoil lik(^ a tronluscd crowd, and wore, consequiintly, like a ral)lo of chiKlron, before mau skilled in militarv discipline; and to this circumstance, it has been conjectured, more than to thoir ignorance of fire arms, the Spaniards owed their easy conquest of the country. Fear was the basis on which the Mexican worship wns founded ; and in common with the religon of other pagan na- tions, that of the ancient Mexicans consisted chiefly in rites of deprecation. Whilst figures oi destructive animals decorated their temples, fasts, penances, voluntary wounds and tortures, formed the es ices of their religious rites. In the Mexican language tcotl was a general term for any divinity ; and they had an obscure belief of a creator, whom they styled Ipalnemoani that is, ho by whom we live. But their supreme deity was rather the evil spirit, denominated klacalecolatntU or the rational owl, whose dolight was to injure or terrify. They believed in the immortality of the soul, and a kind of transmigration ; the good being transformed into birds, and the bad into creeping animals. The first tcocalliy or great temple of Mexico, was com- posed of wood. The second temple wa-? erected in 1480, and appears to have been of a pyramidal form, 121 feet high, 316 feet hi the base, and situated in the midst of a vast inclosure surrounded with walls. It appears to have been a solid mass of earth faced with stone and consisted of five stories. On the summit of this enormous cube, were a great immber of altars, covered with wooden cupolas. The point where these cupolas terminated, was elevated 177 feet above the base of the edifice. Oil the ,wa.lls of the inclosure were represented many serpents* hoa is, twisted into various forms. A small chapel stood near the priiicip^il entrance, the front of which was adorned with iha skulls of th )so who had been sacrificed. On each side of tlio gr3at3st s^juare, wis a gate, surmounted by the statues of iaferiar deites ; and within the inclosure was the habitation of tha priests an J servants of the temple. The building was asoeadcd by 120 steps ; the top was 40 feet square, paved with jaspers of various colours ; round it was a rail of serpen- tine work* of beautiful black stone, joined with red and white \- u-"^ ■f * f 111 14a eetnent. Two marble images, sustaining a vast candlestick, stood on each side of the spoce ; and between them a green utone, five spans high, and pointed at tlie top, on -which they extended the victims they intended to sacrifice. These sacrifices were offared to the god, who sat opposite, in a cliapel of exqui- site workmanship. Tliis god was seated on a throne, su^^taiii- ad by a sphere of a blue colour, rej)rescnlina: heaven. From the sides of this sphere proceeded for.r staffs, tern»inating in figures of serpents' lieads : a twisted serpent w^as held in the hand of the image ; and in his left four arrows behind a shield, which was ornamented with white feathers, in the form of a cross. On its head was a helmet, adorned wilh feathers of various colours. The countenance of tiiis Mexican moloch was storn and terrific, dclbrmed wilh two blue hands, one across the nose and cheeks, and the other ncrnss the brow. As to the number of victims offered to this san;T;uinarv deitv, authors differ. Fernandez says, that those religions edifices of the Mexicans would, from the art and taste wiiich the archi- tecture displayed, be a credit to a more civilized nation than the Mexicans, and that they must have been acquainted with painting, sculpture, and architecture previous to their migration from Asia. From the foregoing observations on the clviliztition of the Mexicans, it appears that this great nation ii:ul nirained a high degree of refinement, previous to the arrival of the Spaniards. The habits of the emperor and his principal chiefs me said by Spanish writers, to have been rich and superb. In several arts they were considerable proficients. Paintijig and architecture they cultivated with assiduity and success. On agriculture depended chiefly their foeans of subsistence, although hunting and fishing were their favorite exeicises. In educating their children, they offered an example of their political sagacity ; because in every district of the empire public schools v/crc erected, in which the youths were fitted for the army, church and state according to their diflerents bents of inclination. In this they excelled even the most refined nations in Europe, where the dispositions and qualifications of the youth are not taken into consideration before they are sent abroad to learn the different professions. Their government, which was monarchical \vhcn tho Spaniards arrived among them, was conducted with the great- est prudence and the most refined policy. The ceremonies which attended the Jiing*s coronation were, according to the Spaniards, soleiJan and imposing. In war the Mexicans could boast of militaryHtlents, as well as bravery and intrepidity ; and in order to excite an emulation in courage and warlike ■kill arpong the troops, several orders were created among mdlcstick, m n green hich they ; sacrifices 1 of cxqui- e, su^^tiiin- !n. From [linating in held in the iH a shield, fovm of a feathers of an moloch hands, one l.-row. As larv deitv, ; edifices of 1 the archl- intion than ainted with r migration vtion of the ined a high Spaniards. arc said by several arts irchitccturo agriculture igh hunting eating their d safracitv ; :hools were my, church [nation. In in Europe, )uth arc not >ad to Icara Vrhen tho h the great- ceremonies rding to the cleans could intrepidity ; md warlike Ucd among 147 them, similar to the knights of Europe, in the da} s of chivalry. Their fortifications also displayed a degree of military skill which was not likely to be found among the tribes which inha- bited the new world. In their religious litcs, though a pagan worship, they sometimes displayed some taste with their im- posing ceremonies. That the Natchez, evidently the most civilized of all thr? present North American tribes were a branch o{ the j^reat family which constituted the Mexican nation, cannot be doubted, if we pay respect to the traditions of the Natchez dicmselvcs, to a similarity of language, manners', habits and custonis, as well as their external appearance and religion, if we admit under these circumstances, that a consanguinity exists between the Mexicans and the Natchez, and it cannot be reasonably denied, we must also grant the probability, that the vestiges of civilization, throughout the North American contirent, owe their existence to some polibhcd tribes who separated iiom the Toltecs, Chichimecs, and Aztecs (now the Mexicans,) at the period of their successive migrations, and colonized North America. This is the most reasonable conjecture that we can form, respecting the most ancient inhabitants of North America. The grounds of this hypothesis are evidently agreeable to rea- son from the fact that fortifications, ofiensive weapons, defen- sive armour, and tumuli were found among the Mexicans, mucli the same as those which indicate the civilization of those who preceded the present red Indians as the inhabitants of the North American soil. It may, indeed, appear to some rather singular that those tribes have totally disappeared in North America, and that they did not impart to the present Indians any of their arts or sciences in painting, architecture and agriculture. If we suppose that the present red Indians entered North Ame- rica from Siberia or Tartary as a powerful and numerous na- tion and exterminated with war, or expelled from the country the real aborigines of the American soil, it is not either likely or probable, tliatthc vanquished would teach the conquerors, or that the conquerors would learn from the vanquished. ' From the Coreans in Asia, the Toltec, Chichimec and Aztec, that formed the Mexican nation, are very reasonably supposed to have descended. They bear a striking resem- blance to the Mexicans in many respects. According to Aber- nethy, the Coreans have the narrow fctreheads, black eyes, and regular white teeth of the Mexicans ; their hair is black and thick, and their skins are of copper colour. Their warriors frequently paint their faces with various colours; and often aS those places which are not covered. This they do, in order to appear terrible io their enemies in mr- ' II il 1 148 time of war. The females paint themselves solely for the sake of adding to their pt^rsonal attractionfs. The Coreans were far from being ignorant of the arts and sciences, for Santini and Abeinethy assure us that painting and architecture were, as well fpwling, hunting, and fishing, their i'avourite pursuits. In painting or drawing they frequently used the coloured feathers, which, as we have already observ- ed, were in common use among the Mexicans for the same purpose. The Mexican music, which consisted of a reed and a small wooden drum, was also observed among the Coreans by several travellers, as well as the circular dances so preva- lent among all the Indian tribes throughout North and South America. Their other exercises were numerous and consisted merely of displays of activity, strength, ard agility. Marri- age was celebrated among the Coreans almost in the same manner as that of Mexicans. The priest tied the man's right hand to the woman's left, with a white cord. In this state they walked home from the temple to the bridegroom's house, where the cord was untied by the priest who accompanied them. A feast was then prepared, which ended in dancing, and on the retiring cf the married couple. The Mexicans ob- served a similar ceremony ; for the priest tied a corner _of the woman's veil, to a corner of the man's mantle. In this manner he led them home to the bridegroom's house. The Mexican custom of washing the woman and child in a neighbouring stream, whenever she was delivered was also common among the Coreans, who, however left it at the plea- sure of the woman herself ; and if she declined, it was consi- dered as a mark of impurity. The funeral rites of the Coreans did not differ materially from those of the North American Indians and Mexicans. Their dead they attired in their finest robes ; and along with them they buried those things which they esteemed when living. It has also been observed that it was customary with them to bury with the dead their favourite dogs. The Coreans engaged in battle with tremendous bowlings and shouts, similar to the out-cries of all the Indian tribes of America. Their original arms were bows and arrows ; but since a colony arrived there from China swords and other iron weapons were introduced. The religion of the Coreans, like that of every rude nation, was founded upon fear, and it consisted chiefly in rites of <2e- precation. Fasts, penances, tortures, and voluntary wounds formed the essences of their religion. That of the Mexicans corresponded in all its rites and ceremonies, with that of the Coreans. These Asiatics, as well as ahnost all the Indian tribes of America worshipped two particular divinities ; the y for the sake r the arts and painting and fishing, their y frequently eady observ- for the same >f a reed and the Coreans ces so preva- th and South and consisted lity. Marri- t in the same e man's right his state they house, where ed them. A !ing, and on lexicans ob- ed a corner mantle. In s house. and child in jred was also t at the plea- it was consi- r materially d Mexicans. along with when living, with them to ous bowlings dian tribes of arrows; but nd other iron ' rude nation, rites of copIe ; besides the traditions of the Mexican^, or rather their records in painting confirm the Chinese manuscripts which Santini has translated into the Italian language. According to him, the Kitans, in the second year of the dynasty of Tsin, emperor of China, declared war against the Coreans, The Kitans were a powerful nation, who inhabited eastern Tartary and dwelt to the north and north-east of the province of Fecheli, in China. Without detailing the parlioularitius of this campaign, so mi- nutely related by the Italian antiquary, we shall merely say, that the Coreans were subdued by the Kitans, who afterwards exercised such tyranny over the vanquished, that the Coreans undertook a sea voyage in order to establish a colony in some distant land. The course which they pursued was towards the north-east. During a voyage of nine weeks they passed by several islands, and arrived in a country, whose bounds they could not discover. This land Santini, very reasonably, sup- poses to be America. This information, of which we have only gi' ei .; ; substance, is certainly very interesting, and tends to prove . ■ ^ and the possibility of a doubt, that the Coreans were the first that visited the new world from Asia. It was communicated in Corea by prince Ala-couli, on his return to Corea ; and thence it was transmitted to China, where the manuscript is still preserved. FINIS. 9 , ■■ ! *i.>^' vH; 'to mni riir^ ,>-;; a;: jc,!ji:;j srfi Us ^i.y:(\ . ^ •*!J- *, -t ; •Mj ; l-ff* I -"♦■» *«^« '.'^ 1 f-l. -< ■ l - ■ V I. v/ . ! ■■.1 i-W ^11 i:,: ' '4. -':*?■ *•"-••■" .■-: '^ 1 T'*- ■ ;n|f "; i-V . ■ . li ^1 «.-■' . / ' t:- ' r ' *ii .c -is .br-o - ^» J. 1,. -s^. 4 v.«> „--.,.,•»■,' *?;-■>■ tji'''' ""S LIST . •• OF THE NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THE FOREOOINO WORK. • t- J Ti 'T "'^ *• 5 '^ Sir F. B. Head, v"? »/ ^■^f..i<'»^ Vj.', Sir Joliti Colborne, •i:-:^ • Hon. I). Cameron, ■i ■>!.-■.' .,•- = Hon. Wm. Allan, t? J'. ,1. --U>! Hon. J. H. Dunt), .;,... I'. .i> :■■ T. D. Morrison, It \K>. r4.^V ;!,>•' MacXab of MacNab, ..'>-,»;<:.';«:.».-»'!' - Jimics Small, '. t ^ - 1 , _•, ; All.iii ('liisltolm, . , . , , . Doiitild Cameron, ; IVtor Mcl),)>iii:ill, CiiJirU'S C. Siiiui!, J. II. PiiCC, S.mrio! P. Jarvis, ' .{oliti RadCi'ihuridt, R. IJ. iMiiIrr, ^ J. M.Ta.Nl.r, G. (iiinieu. Joiiii Ur<:|uliart, ■'■ J, iVlcCiilliH, .> ■; ^ — Richardson, 1 - L . i " ■ ' AlcxHrider Chisholm, ■ ••: Jl" .' D. Chisholm, . ^ .T )hu Murchison, John iMurchison, J. PoiukI, ■-.'■f Rev. I*. McDonongh, --■ ,' Rev. — Gibney, — ScoHiird, ■■ G. T. Dcnnison, .lolin Cniig, ■ :■■';, Dennis R. Bradley, :. \r I J. M. Manmnn, ■■Tf ': E. McElderry, ■: v'l Daniel Sullivan, - . ■ ^ v/' Walter H.Griffith, V -^ .1 J. Rogers, f '* James Foster, • - »te- .i Robert Blevina, .. . - .: T ^ J. Eastwood, • i;«_t>.^{^ ^ '; J. Lindsay, ^^ffiT n-:jiiJ\ • Hugh Tnrinor, • ••..-..'^ ■*' W. Keooedy, T. Mills, Thomas Thompson, James Smith, T. Daniel, B. J. Williams, C. Warmoll, T. Parson, W. G. Read, W. Wall is, George Underbill, Tiiomas Riddcll, Thos. M. Manning, Joint C. Scholfield, James SalmoMS. Vlirhael Kelly, 'rhf)miis Moore, VVillinm M. Mitchell, — Spraiige, ThonuH Armstrong, James Kerr, George .\rmstrong, M. Annstrot'g, Ri'b.^rt Emery, Michael Kane, William Ware, W. Gilmor, J. Scarlett, ' A. Fonlds, J Powell, Robert Davidson, Robert Walker, P. Burke, Charles Hardy, James A. Musson, Thomas Edmund, Benjamin Gollands, I Charles Smith, Thomas Smith, I JMnes Mathers, i R W. Wrcnnrd, M. Pe la Hayo, J. James, *&B«kor, F. T. Billing*, E. Cooper, Wm. Hughes, — Piatt, — Ryan, T. Bell, ; - ;■ John Stevenson, — Weir, — Thomson, > G. Nicholls. Donald Forbes, Duncan McDonell, Samuel McCardle, John McCardle, John Hutton, W. M. Bcnns, ' Donald Campb3n, Jacob Klieser, A. Kendrick, ' David D. C. Porter, ' Henry Lewis, A. J. Williamson, C. Veltenair, Conrad Varmatter, John Tiffey, lames McGuirc, John .McGuire, James Dixon, W. Callaghar, Dr. Mcl^»rmack, Hon. Alex. McDonell, John Kline, John Hay, William Lindsay, Thomas Thomas, Richard Score, Samuel Bayne, John Chipperiield, H. B. Forticr, J. G. Baird. Dr. Snllivars I — Eldunny, I John BMwtt, i . ■5Pw*/ 153 Subscriben Names^-^Continued. ■v:i • r V!- W. Church, J N. Robinaoti, Wm. Bergio, C. Currie, Patrick Hartney, James Benin, Owen Miller dc Co. James Lessle, Juhn S. Smith, David Jones, William McGuire, Timothy Daily, John Jones, David Jones, John MunM, Angus McVicar, James Brunner, William Mudson, James Shannon, Maurice Malone, 'J\ G. Brown, J. P. Turner, J. R. Armstrong, C. Murray, John Granthan*, Gnorge Munro, W. B. Jarvis, J. W. Hutcheson, D. Thompson, N. M. Bettis, Jacob Latham, Caleb Humphrey, James McMillan, H. McMurtrie, H. G. Benn, S. Washburn, A. Rennie, M. Z. Phipps, John Mortson, Joseph Purueli, Peter Vannatta, Juhn Lyon, Andrew Todd, William Higgins, John Laukton, James Williamson, $. McGilvray, WiUiftm BuraiH John Mcintosh, John Lysavht, Thomas Gfasco, A. Shade, Josiah Kendrick, John Holisler, Jonathan Hugil), Alex. McGregor, W. McCaskill, K. McCaskill, D. McKcnzie. John McKenzie, Hon. R. B. Sullivan, Dr. Baldwin, Capt. Baldwin, Thomas Milburn, Paul Bishop, John Armstrong, John Earls, Thomas Summers, James Trotter, lames Williamson, W. McCrackan, — Moore, P. M Howard, William Benns, James F. Smith, John Harley, John Cameron, — McDonald, Hugh Heward, Dr. King, James King, Duncan McLe'd, James Hawtlv^rn, Thomas MrMurchy, Alexander Munro, '. Daniel Monisbn, William Mcintosh, Robert Mcintosh, William Flock, William Campbell, George Thomson, Daniel Mosher, Samuel Johnson, Mrs. Pollock, William Hunter, Henry GUborleon, Stillwilt Willson, John Murray, A. P. McDonald, Ronald McDonald, John McKay, James Baby, John J. Evans, Pfler McVcan, Robt. Richardson, James B. Sutherland, Dtmald Ross, Co\. Filzgibbon, John Cnniernn, Francis Logan, Alexander Ross, M. Mc Lei Ian, Andrew Mercer, Charles Sloan, A. Bndenach, Dr. VVidmer, I W. Brent, L. T. Auld, P. Handy, G. Henderson, — Haffeity, G. Sinclair, James Colcleugh, Capt. Holcott, John Cameron, D. Cameron, Kenneth Cameron, W. Spraggc, J. G. Spraggo, — Grant, James Colqtiohoi, J. McDo: aid, Sidne.y S. Hamilton, J. M. A. Cameron, John Roddy, A. Stewart, John Robinson, M. Caldwell, James Ramsay, W. L. Stewart, Robert Ford, Peter McArtbur, Thomas Elliott, Thomas Gray. II Willson, lurray, McDonald, I McDonald, IcKay, Baby, . Evans, dcVcan, Richnrdron, B. Sutherland, I Ross, ilzgibbon, !nnieron, 9 Lngiin, der Ross, Lellan, V Mercer, 8 Sloan, lenach, idnier. Brent, Auid, idy, ulersoD, Feity, [rluir, Colcleugli, tlolcott, iameron, neron, :h Cameron, ragge, praggc, i.t, Colquohoi, )opaid, S. Hnmilton, K. Cameron, Loddy, irart, lobinson, dwell, Ramsay, Stewart, Ford, HcArlhur, 18 Elliott, ■ Gray. It