Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/105

. French tricks to feduce the Indians to their inter eft. 9}

things to us, according to our actions. He added, that though the former beloved fpeech had a long time fubfided, it was very reasonable they fhould (till continue this their old beloved cuftom -, efpecially as it was both profitable in ftsp porting many of their helplefs old beloved men, and very productive of virtue, by awing their young people from violating the ancient laws. This (hewed him to be cunning in prieftcraft, if noc pofiefied of a tradition from the Hebrew records, that their prophets by the divine power, had, on material occafions, acted beyond the ftated laws of nature, and wrought miracles.

My old prophetic friend told me, with a good deal of furprize, that though the beloved red people had by fome means or other, loft the old beloved fpeech -, yet Frenjhe Lakkane ookproo, " the ugly yellow French," (as they term the Miffifippians) had by fome wonderful method- obtained it ; for his own people, he aflured me, had feen them at New Orleans to bring down rain in a very dry feafon, when they were giving out feveral bloody fpeeches to their head warriors againft the Englifh Chikkafah, traders. On a mifchievous politic invitation of the French, feveral of the Chikkafah had then paid them a vifit, in the time of an alarming drought and a general fad, when they were praying for fealbnable rains at mafs. When they came, the interpreter was ordered to tell them, that the French had holy places and holy things, after the manner of the red people that if their young people proved honeft, they could bring down rain whenever they ftood in need of it and that this was one of the chief reafons which induced all the various nations of the beloved red people to bear them fo intenie -a love, and, on the contrary, fo violent and inexpreffible an hatred; even to the very name of the Englim, becaufe every one of them was marked; with Anumlole Ookkpro^ " th curfe of God."

The method the Chikkafah prophet ufed in relating the affair, has fome- humour in it for their ignorance of the chriftian religion, and inftitutions^ perplexes them when they, are on the fubject j. on which account I ihalk literally tranfcribe it,

He told me, that the Chikkafah warriors during three fucceflive days,,

accompanied the French Lodcbe and IfhtchooHo to the great, beloved houfe,,

where a large bell hung a-top, which ftrange fight exceedingly. furprizecL

7 them <,,

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