Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/45

 Their belief of being under a theocracy. 33

very particular manner, and directed them by prophets ; while the reft of the world were aliens and out-laws to the covenant.

When the arcki-magtts, or any one of their magi, is perfuading the people, at their religious folemnities to a ftrict: obfervance of the old beloved, or di vine fpeech, he always calls them, " The beloved," or holy people, agree able to the Hebrew epithet, Ammi^ during the theocracy of Ifrael : he urges them, with the greateft energy of expreffion he is capable of, a ftrong voice, and very expreffive geftures, to imitate the noble actions of their great and virtuous forefathers, which they performed, in a furprizing manner, by their holy things, and a Uriel obfervance of the old, beloved fpeech. Then, he flourifhes on their beloved land that flowed with milk and honey, telling them they had good, and the beft things in the greatefl plenty : and fpeaks largely of their prefent martial cuftoms, and religious rites, which they derived from their illuftrious predecefibrs, ftrictly charging them not to deviate, in the leaft, out of that old, beloved, beaten path, and they will furely meet with all the fuccefs that attended their beloved fore fathers.

I have heard the fpeaker, on thefe occafions, after quoting the war actions of their diftinguiihed chieftains, who fell in battle, urging them as a, copy of imitation to the living affure the audience, that fuch a- death, in. defence of their beloved land, and beloved things, was far preferable to fome of their living pictures, that were only fpending a dying life, to the fhame and danger of the fociety, and of all their beloved things, while the others died by their virtue, and ftill continue a living copy. Then, to foften the thoughts of death, he tells them, they who died in battle are only gone to fleep with their beloved forefathers; (for they always collect the bones) * and mentions a common proverb they have, Neetak Intahab, " The days ap pointed, or allowed him, were finiflied." And this is their firm belief; for they affirm, that there is a certain fixt time, and place, when, and where, every one mult die, without any poflibility of averting it. They frequently fay, " Such a one was weighed on the path, and made to be light ;" afcribing life and death to God's unerring and particular providence ; which may be derived from a religious opinion, and proverb of the Hebrews, that " the divine care extended itfelf, from the horns of the unicorn, to the very feet of the lice.'* And the more refined part of the old heathens believed the like. The ancient Greeks and Romans, who were great copiers

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