Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/108

 96 On the decent of tbc American Indians from tbe yews.

into that nioft facred place, where the divine Shekinah refided, carrying a center imoking in his hand with incenfe, which hindered him Jrom having a clear fight of the ark. But lie- was not allowed to enter that holy place, only once a year, on this great day of expiation, to offer the general lacil- fice both for the fins of the people and of himfelf. Nor did he ever mention the divine four- lettered name, YO HE WAH, except on this -great day, when he blcITed the people.

Becaufe the Ifraelites lived in tabernacles, or booths, while they were in the wildernefs ; as a memorial therefore of the divine bounty to them, they were commanded to keep the feaft of tabernacles, on the fifteenth day of the month Tifri, which they called Ro/h Hofancb, or Hojrjianab^ i: lafted eight days; during which time, they lived in arbours, (covered with green boughs of trees, unlefs when they went to worfhip at the temple, or fung Hojhaniyo around the altar. When they were on this religious duty, they were obliged each to carry in their hands a bundle of the branches of willows, palm-trees, myrtles, and others of different forts, laden with fruit, and tied together with ribbons ; and thus rejoice together with the appointed fingers, and vocal and instrumental mufic, in the divine prefence before the altar. On the eighth day of the feaft, one .of the priefts brought fome water in a golden veffcl, from' the pool of Siloam, mixed it with wine, and poured it on the morning-facrifice, and the firft fruits of their latter crops which were then prefented, as an emblem of the divine graces that fhould flow to them, when Shilo came, who was to be their anointed king, prophet, and high-pried The people in the mean time finging out of liaiah " with joy fhall ye draw water out of the wells of falvation."

Let us now turn to the copper colour American Hebrews. While their fanctified new fruits are dreffing, a religious attendant is ordered to call fix of their old beloved women to come to the temple, and dance the be loved dance with joyful hearts, according to the old beloved fpecch. They cheerfully obey, and enter the fuppofed holy ground in folemn procefiion, each carrying in her hand a bundle of fmall branches of various green trees ; and they join the fame number of old magi, or priefts, who carry a cane in one hand adorned with white feathers, having likewife green boughs in their other hand, which they pulled from their holy arbour,, and carefully place there, encircling it with fevcral rounds. Thofe beloved men have their heads

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