large belt of wampum and a bloody hatchet, inviting them to come and drink the blood of their enemies. The wampum made use of on these and other occasions before their acquaintance with the Europeans, was nothing but small shells which they picked up by the sea-coasts, and on the banks of the lakes; and now it is nothing but a kind of cylindrical beads, made of shells, white and black, which are esteemed among them as silver and gold are among us. The black they call the most valuable, and both together are their greatest riches and ornaments; these among them answering all the end that money does amongst us. They have the art of stringing, twisting, and interweaving them into their belts, collars, blankets, and mocazins, &c. in ten thousand different sizes, forms, and figures, so as to be ornaments for every part of dress, and expressive to them of all their important transactions. They dye the wampum of various colours and shades, and mix and dispose them with great ingenuity and order, and so as to be significant among themselves of almost every thing they please; so that by these their words are kept, and their thoughts communicated to one another, as ours, are by writing. The belts that pass from one nation to another in all treaties, declarations, and important transactions, are very carefully preserved in the cabins of their chiefs, and serve not only as a kind of record or history, but as a public treasure. - Major ROGERS's account. Stanza 17. 1. 5. As when the evil Manitou. It is certain the Indians acknowledge one supreme being, or giver of life, who presides over all things; that is the great Spirit: and they look up to him as the source of good, from whence no evil can proceed. They also believe in a bad Spirit, to whom they ascribe great power; and suppose that through his power all the evils which befall mankind are inflict ed. To him therefore they pray in their distresses, begging that he would either avert their troubles, or moderate them when they are no longer avoidable. . They hold also that there are good Spirits of a lower degree, who have their particular departments, in which they are constantly contributing to the happiness of mortals. These they suppose to preside over all the extraordinary productions of Nature, such as those lakes, rivers, and mountains that are of an uncommon magnitude; and likewise the beasts, birds, fishes, and even vegetables or stones that exceed the rest of their species in size or singularity. -CLARKE's Travels among the Indians. The supreme Spirit of good is called by the Indians Kitchi Manitou; and the Spirit of evil Matchi Manitou. Stanza 19. I. 2. Fever balm and sweet sagamite. The fever balm is a medicine used by these tribes; it is a decoction of a bush called the Fever Tree Sagamite is a kind of soup administered to their sick. Stanza 20. 1. 1. And I, the eagle of my tribe, have rusk'd with this lorn dove. The testimony of all travellers among the Ameriean Indians who mention their hieroglyphics, authorises me in putting this figurative language in the mouth of Outalissi. The dove is among them, as elsewhere, an emblem of meekness; and the eagle, that of a bold, noble, and liberal mind. When the Indians speak of a warrior who soars above the multitude in person and endowments, they say, " he is like the eagle who destroys his enemies, and gives protection and abundance to the weak of his own tribe." |