Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/390

 378 General Obfervations on

and fome are overfpread with large trees, beyond the reach of Indian tra dition. About 12 miles from the upper northern parts of the Choktah country, there (land on a level trad of land, the north-fide of a creek, and within arrow-mot of .it, two oblong mounds of earth, which were old garrifons, in an equal direction with each other, and about two arrow-mots apart. A broad deep ditch inclofed thofe two fortrefles, and there they raifed an high bread-work, to fecure their houfes from the invading enemy. This was a ftupendous piece of work, for fo fmall a number of favages, as could fupport themfelves in it ; their working inftruments being only of (lone and wood. They called thofe old fortreffes Nanne Tah^ " the- hills, or mounts of God."

Probably, different parties, and even nations, were formed at firft, either by caprice, differences, or the fear of punifament for offences. The demon of perfecution however was never among them not an individual durft ever prefume to infringe on another's liberties. They are all equal the only precedence any gain is by fuperior virtue, oratory, or prowefs ; and they efteem themfelves bound to live and die in defence of their country. A warrior will accept of no hire for performing virtuous and heroic actions; they have exquifite pleafure in purfuing their own natural dictates. The head-men reward the worthy with titles of ho nour, according to their merit in fpeaking, or the number of enemies fcalps they bring home. Their hearts are fully fatisfied, if they have re venged crying blood, enobled themfelves by war act'ons, given cheerfulnefs- to their mourning country, and fired the breafts of the youth with a fpiric of emulation to guard the beloved people from danger, and revenge the wrongs of their country. Warriors are to protect all, but not to moleft or injure the meaneft. If they attempted it, they would pay dear for their folly. The reafon they are more earneft than the reft of mankind,, in maintaining that divine law of equal freedom and juftice, I apprehend, is the notion imbibed from their (fuppofed) Hebrew anceftors of the divine theocracy, and that inexpreflible abhorrence of flavery, which muft have taken place after their captivity by the Affyrians, or the Babylonians.

Every warrior holds his honour, and the love of his country, in fo high

efteem, that he prefers it to life, and will fulfer the raoft exquifite tortures

3 rather

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