Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/106

 94 Ott the defcmt of tie American Indians from the Jews.

them, for, inflead of being fit for a horfe, it would require a great many ten horfes to carry it. Around the infide of the beloved houfe, there was a multitude of he and (he beloved people, or male and female faints or angels, whofe living originals, they affirmed, dwelt above the clouds, and helped them to get every good thing from Ijhtohoollo Aba^ when they earneftly crave their help. The French beloved men fpoke a great deal with much warmth, the reft were likewife bufily employed in imitation of their Ijhto- hoollo and Lodche. At one time they fpoke high, at another low. One chofe this, and another chofe that fong. Here the men kneeled before the" images of their me-beloved people , there the women did the like before their fa vourite and beloved he-pictures, entreating them for forne particular favour which they ftood in need of. Some of them, he faid, made very wild mo tions over their heads and breafts ; and others ftruck their ftomachs with a vehemence like their warriors, when they drink much Ookka Homma, " bitter .waters," or fpirituous liquor ; while every one of them had a bunch of mixed beads, to which they frequently fpoke, as well as counted over ; that they loved thefe beads, for our people ftriclly obferved, they did not give them to their Lodche and TJhtoboollo, as the red people would have done to thofe of their own country, though it was very plain they de- ferved them, for beating themfelves fo much for the young people's roguifh actions-, and likewife for labouring fo ftrongly in pulling off their clothes, and putting them on again, to make the beloved phyfic work, which they took in fmall pieces, to help to bring on the rain. On the third day (added he) they brought it down in great plenty, which was certainly a very difficult performance ; and as furprizing too, that they who are always, when opportunity anfwers, perfuading the red people to take up the bloody hatchet againft their old fteady friends, mould ftill have the beloved fpeech, which Ijhtohoollo Aba Eloa formerly fpoke to his beloved Lodche. Thus ended our friendly difcourfe.

��ARGUMENT VIII.

Their FESTIVALS, FASTS, and RELIGIOUS RITES, have alfo a great re- femblance to thofe of the Hebrews. It will be neceflary here to take a mort view of the principal Jewim feafts, &c. They kept every year, a facred feaft called the Paflbver, in memory of their deliverance from Egyptian

bondage.

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