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Show THE 162 OF JUDA!I STATE PRESENT warrior called Old Scranny, of the Muskhoge tribe, and condemned him to a fiery torture. He told them the oc* for- casion of his falling into their hands was, he had feited the protection of the Divine Power by some impurity or other, when carrying the holy ark of war against his devoted enemy. Here he recognized providence, speaks of his holy ark the one God, his borne against ene- mies, alludes to the purity of those who bear it, and if they become impure, Divine the Being will forsake The bearing which ideas lke these have on them. | our subject, needs no explanation. in Star Melvenda and Acasta (authors noted in the the West) both affirm that some of the natives hada tradition of a Jubilee, according to the Jubilee in Israel. Edwards, inhis West Indies, assures us, that the striking uniformity of the prejudices and customs ol the Caribbean Indians to practices the had not escaped the notice of histogians Du Testre, and others. ffi naw of the Jews, as Gomella, / In Hunter’s narrative of the manners and customs of the Indians. printed in Philadelphia in 1823, things are exhibited strikingly to our purpose. “This writer spent the younger part of his life among the Indiane in the Arkansas territories, and up the Missour. He was taken by the Indians when a child. He grew up among them, and lived among them many years. He seems (if | mistake not) not to be aware ofany question And he seems not to have relative to their origin. undertaken to make any comparison between them that and ancient Israel, as though they might be of But he states many facts, which may answe! people. Among the many opinions and tradlfor themselves. ¢ tions of those wild natives, he gives the following. fot judge may all that shall give them in his own words, ‘It is certain that they acknowledge, at themselves. pape least as far as my acquaintance extends, one et all powerful, and intelligent Being, viz. the a ts gor Spirit, or Giver of hfe, who created, and ie ; things.’’——That he (the Great Spirit) ceils and smoked with the red men often helc (1. e. In Busey times ;) gave them laws to be observed—but that! ISRAEL. i163 iu consequence of their disobedience, he withdrew from and abandoned them to the vexations of the bad spiri¢ who had since been instrumental of all th cir deg ae eneracy aud sufierings.”’ They believe that notwithstanding the offences of his red children, he continues to shower down on them things need; all the blessings they enjoy. In consequence of this his parental regard for them they are truly filial and sincere in their devotions, and pray to him for such as they and return thauks for such good things as they receive.” Mr. Hunter goes on to speak of these Indians believing the Great Spirit to be present, and invisible, and bie. And he adds; of existence.” being eternally unchancea- “ They believe ina future state As to their devotions, he says: « At the breaking up of winter, having supplied themse lves with such things as were necessary, we oflered up our Orisons (devotions) to the Great Spirit for haying preserved oo AND us, and supplied all our wants. adds) is the constant This (he practice of the Osages. Kansas and many other nations of Indians west of the Missin: sippi.—— You then witness (he says) the silent but deep, impressive communication the native of the forest holds with his Creator.” Mr. H. goes on to assure us that the natives have their particular times “ set apart for devotiona] purposes,—such as the declaration of war; the resto ration of peace; and extraordinary visitations.” He adds ‘ hey have also rejoicings which assume something of the pious form; such as their harvests; and the return of the new moon. In gencral, however. a day seldom passes with an elderly Indian, or others who are es- teemed wise and good, in which a blessing is not asked or thanks returned, to the Giver of life.?? “ Shortly after a council have determined on Ww ar, all who are able to walk, and the old men sometim e borne by others, assemble in a grove, or some place rendered sacred, and offer up their praye rs to the Great Spirit for success against theirenemies. Some one of the old men, or prophets, addresses the assembly ; States the cause of their grievances; and eu joins on |
