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Show THE PRESENT OF STATE the warriors to merit success by being fee ane plafidence in the great Giver of life.”” “ Simi ac (he adds) are generally held on the confar Tien of peace ; or the attainment of hol gt Sal oa triumphant, they dance and sing eae 0 se : yin ee which the name of the Great Spirit is eaeent rae ae How duced with great reverence.” a » accounts accord with those of Messrs. Bou 4 . oe and others, of the natives in other regions . wh and ? ee one all have India these ns doubt but a | ‘ relig their ion of ean doubt ‘he origin On the occurrence of an epidemic, such mee rss a holden; and some old man, or a prophet v “oe as Sehem = sent) addresses the Indians, and a ot ee calamity is a visitation from the Great offenc wilful and lives, spent tise them for their ill to be penitent them He then commands him. acainst — site ayers pt Silent for what has passed, and to reform. are then offered, with promises to become more o C r.—All ae , dient to their Great Fathe c eere- g creations cease; and individual prayers an are frequently observed for many successive ae All their various devotions are performed in a standing > | ' osture. observ ingathering of corn, (he adds) they “At the here. in im 7 Yes join able | are who all which at s; Sei : oes s, songs, ite npropria apat te dances, 8¢ » and feast s, and in thanks; to afl Poe. 1. ard ao4 ie : | ius nce tow he Grea t Spirit for his munilice . at on those occas an ions, He goes on to state tha ) : aad . eee night all burn ing lamp s keep they wait a ane hie occasion: but for what perpen’ ee hoien eit they can tell; “as the indians ae a : “a : age.’ Possibly the night : ce to usage Re: . ’ it only in obed a lamp s burn in the templer of ancieie nt _ ing ien srael, ee may os, explain the origin of this oe : neral on discovering ays; “ They in gener al on pi ‘nirit.? Be ieee short > prayer to the Great o hey See sin e n WwW ; In all the ys future tribes I have visited, (he adds) a ee and punish state of existence; and of future a e respects is ments, is maintained; Dee a ud chats 9 «This .ious, and | generally ally confu contsed an cot Statetae ( fhe Spirit, belief of dere accountability to the Great ? : 1 = ste JUDAH AND ISRAEL, adds) makes the Indians generally scrupulo us thusiastic observers of all their traditionary and endogmas, ——T’his conduct with most of the India ns js founded on a perfect conviction that the cultivation and observance of good and virtuous actions in this life, will in the next eutitle them to the perpetual enjoyment ef ease and hanpiness—-where they will again be restored to the favour and enjoy the immediate pres ence, counsel and protection of the Great Spirit; while dereliction from it—will as assuredly entail on them endless afflictions.” The writer continues==‘ Kivery Indian of any standing has his sacred place, such as a tree, rock, fountain, &c. to which he resor ts for devo tional exercise. Sometimes many resort to the same place. Preceding any public meeting held either for religious or festive purposes, or the assembli ng of a counsel, they uniformly retire to their resp ective places of private worship, and solicit the coun sel and protection of the Great Spirit. Those who omit (these meetings) are thought less of, and their coad uct js ase eribed to an indifference to holy things, and want of solicitude for the national welfare.” “The religious opinions entertained, and mode s of worship observed by the several Indian tribe s, with Which | have any acquaintance, (says Mr, Hunter) vary in their general character but Little? «| have sey- eral times heard the chiefof the Great Osages obse rve, both in public and private meetings, that all good actions would be rewarded, and all bad actio ns punished by the Great Spirit.” * At first (says Mr. Hunter) one might be led to suppose that this belief was a modification of doct rine s taught by some of the missionaries ; but such is not the Case.” He goes on to state reasons to show that "these things are from Indian tradition prev ious to their having any knowledge of white people”? In stating his attendance at asacrifice at the Rickara villaves, where the ceremony was performed on an altar and in a holy place, where none might tread but the priest, Mr. Hunter says; ** The ouly thine farther Connected with this circumstance, and worthy of re- |