Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/394

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always deem to be a true oracle of bad news. If it fmgs near to them, they are much intimidated : but, if it perches, and fings over the war- camp, they fpeedily break up. This fuperfticious cuftom prevailed with the early heathens, who pretended to prophefy by the flight of birds, and it reached even down to the time of the Romans.

Every war captain chufes a noted warrior, to attend on him and the company. He is called Etiffu, or " the waiter." Every thing they eat or drink during their journey, he gives them out of his hand, by a rigid ab- ftemious rule though each carries on his back all his travelling convenien- cies, wrapt in a deer {kin, yet they are fo bigoted to their religious cuftoms in war, that none, though prompted by fharp hunger t or burning thirft, dares relieve himfelf. They are contented with fuch trifling allow ance as the religious waiter diftributes to them, even with a fcanty hand. Such a regimen would be too mortifying to any of the white people, lee their opinion of its violation be ever fo dangerous.

When I roved the woods in a war party with the Indians, though I car ried no fcrip, nor bottle, nor ftaff, I kept a large hollow cane well corked at each end, and ufed to fheer off" now and then to drink, while they fuf- fered greatly by thirft. The conftancy of the favages in mortifying their bodies, to gain the divine favour, is aftonifhing, from the very time they beat to arms, till they return from their campaign. All the while they are out, they are prohibited by ancient cuftom, the leaning againft a tree, either fitting or {landing : nor are they allowed to fit in the day-time, under the (hade of trees, if it can be avoided ; nor on the ground, during the whole journey, but on fuch rocks, ftones, or fallen wood, as their ark of war refts upon. By the attention they invariably pay to thofe fevere rules of living, they weaken themfelves much more than by the unavoidable fa tigues of war : but, it is fruitlefs to endeavour to difluade them from thofe things which they have by tradition, as the appointed means to move the deity, to grant them fuccefs againft the enemy, and a fafe return home.

It may be expected I fhould defcribe the number of men their war compa nies confift of, but it is various, and uncertain : Ibmetimes, two or three onl^~ will go to war, proceed as cautioufly, and ftrike their prey as panthers. In

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