Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/172

 ri 60 On tht defcent of the American Indian* from the Jews.

Then he fpeaks to the liftening crowd with very rapid language, irjort paufes, and an awful commanding voice, tells them of the continued friendly offices they have done the enemy, but which have been ungratefully re turned with the blood of his kinfmen; therefore as the white paths have changed their beloved colour, his heart burns within him with eagernefs to tincture them all along, and even to make them flow over with the hateful blood of the bale contemptible enemy. Then he ftrongly perfuades his kindred warriors and others, who are not afraid of the enemies bullets and arrows, to come and join him with manly cheerful hearts : he allures them, he is fully convinced, as they are all bound by the love -knot, fo they are ready to hazard their lives to revenge the blood of their kindred and coun try- men, that the love of order, and the neceflity of complying with the old religious cuftoms of their country, had hitherto checked their daring generous hearts, but now, thofe hindrances are removed : he proceeds to whoop again for the warriors to come and join him, and fanctify themfelves for fuccefs againft the common enemy, according to their ancient religious law.

"By his eloquence, but chiefly by their own -greedy third of revenge, and intenfe love of martial glory, on which they conceive their liberty aod happinefs depend, and which they conftanxly inftil into the minds -of their youth a number foon join -him in his winter-houfe, where .they live feparate from all others, and purify themfelves for the fpace of three days and nights, .exclufive of the firil broken day. In each of thofe days they obferve a itric"l faft till fun-fet, watching the young men very narrowly who have not been initiated in war-titles, left unufual hun ger fhould tempt them to violate it, to the fuppofed danger of all their lives in war, by deftroying the power of their purifying beloved phyfic, which they drinlc plentifully during that time. This purifying phyfic, is warm water highly imbittered with button-rattle-fnake-root, which as hath been before obferved, they apply only to religious purpofes. Some times after bathing they .drink .a decoclion made of the faid root and in like manner the leader applies afperfions, or fprinklings, both at home and when out at war. They .are fuch itrict obfervers of the law of purification,, and think it fo efiential in obtaining health and fuccefs in war, as not to allow the beft beloved trader that ever lived among them, even to enter rthe beloved ground, appropriated to the religious duty of being fnafti- 7 fied

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