Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/29

 Their divifan into tribes and families* 1 7

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their primo-genial tribes. Their main cuftoms correfponding with thofe of the- Ifraelites, fufficiently clears the fubjecl:. Befides, as hath been hinted, they call fome of their tribes by the names of the cherubimical figures, that were carried on the four principal ftandards of Ifrael.

I have obierved with much inward fatisfaction, the community of goods that prevailed among them, after the patriarchal manner, and that of the primitive chriftians ; efpecially with thofe of their own tribe. Though they are become exceedingly corrupt, in moft of their ancient com mendable qualities, yet they are fo hofpitable, kind-hearted, and free, that they would mare with thofe of their own tribe, the lad part of their provifions, even to a fingle ear of corn ; and to others, if they called when they were eating; for they have no ftated meal-time. An open gene rous temper is a (landing virtue among them ; to be narrow-hearted, efpe cially to thofe in want, or to any of their own family, is accounted a great crime, and to reflect fcandal on the reft of the- tribe. Such wretched mifers they brand with bad characters, and wifh them the fate of Prometheus, to have an eagle or vulture fattened to their liver : or of Tantalus, ftarving in the midft of plenty, without being able to ufc it. The Cheerake Indians have a pointed proverbial expreffion, to the fame effect Sinnawah na wora\ " The great hawk is at home." However, it is a very rare thing to find any of them of a narrow temper : and though they do not keep one promif- cuous common ftock, yet it is to the very fame effect ; for every one has his own family, or tribe : and, when one of them is fpeaking, either of the individuals, or habitations, of any of his tribe, he fays, " He is of my houfe -," or, " It is my houfe." Thus, when King David prayed that the divine wrath might only fall on his houfe, he might mean the tribe of Judah, as well as his own particular family, exclufive of the aggregate body of Ifrael.

When the Indians are travelling in their own country, they enquire for a houfe of their own tribe ; and if there be any, they go to it, and are kindly received, though they never faw the perfons before they eat, drink, and regale themfelves, with as much freedom, as at their own tables ; which is the folid ground covered with a bear-fkin. It is their ufual cuftom to carry nothing along with them in their journies but a looking-glafs, and red paint, hung to their back their gun and fhot pouch or bow and quiver

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