Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/453

 the North American Indians. 441

thofe fymbols ceaied. The people were enjoined a very ftrict purity, both in civil and religious life, efpecially all the priefts or beloved men ; and in a particular manner, the great beloved man, or high prieft. He was to be equally perfect. in body, and pure in heart and was not allowed to touch the dead, as their bodies were in a corrupting ftate. The old be loved fpeech allures us, he was appointed as a reprefentative of the people to IJhtoboollo Aba, and as a lively emblem of an extraordinary divine per- fon, who was to be fent to inftruft the whole earth, and purify them from all their pollutions; which the fupreme fatherly chieftain will enable us fully to inform you of, in due time. He came according to divine appoint ment, taught the people, as never man did before, cured them of their va rious ailments, even the lame and the blind, by the power of his word, and a bare touch. He had fo great a command over nature, that through pity to the tender tears of the people, he awaked fome who had flept a con- fiderable time in the grave, in a warm country. They, who ftrove to lefien the merit of the furprifmg miracles he wrought, were not fo weak as to deny the well known truth of them, as they had been performed at differ ent places, and on different occafions, before a great many people, under the light of the fun, and were lafling. At laft, he, as an uncommon kindly friend, gave up his innocent life to fave his enemies from the burning wrath of the holy fire : and, while the anger of Loacbe IJhtohoollo lay very (harp on him, as the atoning viclim, and his enemies were tormenting him with, the moft exquifite tortures, he earneftly fpoke the beloved fpeech, and en treated in their favour, that he would not let his heart be crofs with, nor revenge his blood upon them, as they imagined they were acting according to the divine law. As foon as that great beloved meflenger died, all na ture felt a prodigious fhock. The graves opened, and the dead arofe to fee the cauie of that alarming prodigy. The earth fhook, the rocks burft afunder, the fun, contrary to the dated courfe of nature, was immediately darkened, the great beloved houfe rent afunder, and its guardian angels flew off to other countries : his death alfo exceedingly deftroyed the power of Nana Ookproo^ the evil fpirits. On the third day, the matter of breath awaked that great chieftain, prophet, and high prieft, according to his former true fpeech i and when he arofe, he was feen by multitudes of peo ple, and fulfilled the old divine law, and confirmed every thing he for merly taught his humble, and kind hearted fcholars.

L 1 1 Till

�� �