Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/97

 tteir pr lefts method of feeking feafonable rains-* 85

the fpring, or latter rain, to be fo feafonable and fufficient as to give them a good harveft. And the Indian Americans have a tradition, that their fore fathers fought for and obtained fuch feafonable rains, as gave them plentiful crops j and they now feek them in a manner agreeable to the fhadow of this tradition..

��When the ground is parched, their rain-makers^ (as they are commonly termed) are to mediate for the beloved red people, with the bountiful holy Spirit of fire. But their old cunning prophets are not fond of entering on this religious duty, and avoid it as long as they poffibly can, till the mur murs of the people force them to the facred attempt, for the fecurity of their own lives. If he fails, the prophet is fhot dead, becaufe they are fo credulous of his divine power conveyed by the holy Spirit of fire, that they reckon him an enemy to the ftate, by averting the general good, and bringing defolating famine upon the beloved people. But in general, he is fo difcerning in the ftated laws of nature, and fkilful in prieftcraft, that he always feeks for rain, either at the full, or change of the moon ; unlefs the birds, either by inftincl, or the temperature of their bodies, fhould direct him otherwife. However, if in a dry feaforr, the clouds, by the veering of the winds, pafs wide of their fields while they are inveighing bitterly againft him, fome in fpeeeh, and others in their hearts, he foon changes their well-known notes he affumes a difpleafed countenance and car riage, and attacks them with bitter reproaches, for their vicious conduct in the marriage-ftate, and for their notorious pollutions, by going to the women in their religious retirements, and for multifarious crimes that never could enter into his head to fufpect them of perpetrating, but that the divinity his holy things were endued with, had now fuffered a great decay, although he had faded, purified himfelf, and on every other account, had lived an innocent life, according to the old beloved fpeeeh : adding, " Loak Ifhto- kocllo will never be kind to bad people." He concludes with a religious caution to the penitent, advifing them to mend their manners, and the times will mend with them : Then they depart with forrow and fhame. The old women, as they go along, will exclaim loudly againft the young people, and proteft they will watch their manners very narrowly for the time to come, as they are fure of their own Heady virtue*

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