"But this account I wish to preface by a few remarks respecting these Indians, who seem too religious a race to be termed pagans. They acknowledged a Supreme Being, whom they denominated The Great Spirit, to whom they offered prayers and thanksgiving, and referred to Him as the rewarder of good and the punisher of evil. They regarded him as the source of all their blessings. If an Indian, when alone, shot a deer, as soon as he saw it fall, and before he came up to where it lay, he threw up his hand and exclaimed, Thanks ;' or, if several of them were together, they would say, 'We thank the Great Spirit.' If they met a friend, after an unusual separation, they invariably thanked the Great Spirit, who had permitted them to meet again. Did not these ignorant sons of the forest' then put to shame many a man who calls himself a Christian, but who refuses to acknowledge God in all his ways?

"They had some traditions relating to the creation and formation of man, the general deluge, and the dispersion, which all bore a great resemblance to the Scripture account we have of these

events.

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'Many tribes of Indians within the bounds of the United States believe in a future state of existence. Major Long, who, with a large party, made

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an exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains, gives many interesting facts relating to different tribes of Indians. Speaking of a tribe in Missouri, he mentions their habit of returning thanks to the Wacondah, or master of life.' They firmly believe in existence after death. The Wacondah is believed to be the greatest and best of beings, the creator and preserver of all things. Omniscience, omnipresence, and vast power are attributed to him; and he is supposed to afflict them with sickness, poverty, or misfortune for their evil deeds. In their conversation he is frequently appealed to as an evidence of the truth of their assertions, the Wacondah hears what I say.'

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"Of another tribe, the Minnetarees, he mentions many interesting circumstances. He says they annually celebrate a penitence dance, when self-inflicted tortures or expiations for sin are suffered by the devoted of the nation. He speaks of one Minnetaree, who, in compliance with a vow he had made, caused a hole to be perforated through the muscles of each shoulder; through these holes cords were passed, which were, at the opposite ends, attached, by way of a bridle, to a horse that had been penned up three or four days without food or water. In this manner he led the horse to the margin of a river. The horse, of course, en

deavoured to drink, but it was the promise of the Indian to prevent him, and that only by straining at the cords with the muscles of the shoulders, without resorting to the assistance of his hands! And, notwithstanding all the exertions of the horse to drink, his master succeeded in preventing him, and returned with him to his lodge, having accomplished his painful task.'

"From these extracts it appears these poor Indians may have some right views on religious subjects. But, though some of their ceremonies indicate an impression among them that some atonement for sin is necessary, they seem to have no knowledge of a Saviour, or of the way of salvation. But, if Sodom and Gomorrah in the judgment will rise up and condemn those who refused to listen to the Saviour, may we not suppose, that these Indians, who seem, with the little light they possess, to have some right views, will condemn those who in this day of gospel light remain unimpressed by the truths of the religion of Christ.

"A gentleman of great intelligence, who resided in the same neighbourhood, and who had spent a great part of his life with the Indians, and often acted as their interpreter, frequently narrated interesting incidents connected with the manners and customs of these Indians. He considered them a

religious people, according to their own notions. He informed us that they had, in their language, the word Hallelujah, which they used in singing, though they did not know its meaning-singing it in this way, Hal hal hal, le le le, lu lu lu, while all joined in a loud yah.

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I do not think that the Indians in the neighbourhood of my father's residence ever practised any of these ceremonies; but I remember, while a small child, hearing of the Indian sacrifice. I afterwards found out that this occurred annually in the month of February, and was a thank offering to the Great Spirit for success in hunting. There was something very interesting relating to this sacrifice. A white dog was selected, free from defect, injury, or scar. I remember hearing it said that a white dog, which they wished to procure for this purpose, was rejected, because the tip of one ear had been cut off. Since that period, I have

read Dr. Boudinot's Star in the West,' and I do not wonder that he supposed these Indians to be the descendants of the lost Ten Tribes. The Jewish ceremony of sacrificing a spotless lamb might, by the lapse of time, have degenerated into the use of another animal; the fact, too, that they are a race who do not have flocks and herds, would make it impossible for them to continue this

sacrifice unless they substituted something else in its stead.

"Having heard this sacrifice often spoken of as an interesting ceremony, a party, of which I was one, determined to witness it.

"On a fine morning in February, we wrapped ourselves warmly in cloaks and furs, and prepared for a ride to the Indian reservation, where the sacrifice was to be offered. There was just enough snow on the ground to make the sleighing fine, and a four miles' ride brought us to the settlement. We provided ourselves with a supply of ribands and trinkets, as something of the kind was expected by them from visitors. As we rode into the village, we saw the animal, which had been killed, dressed and skinned, hanging from a stick, which was placed upon two standards. It was ornamented with various coloured ribands, and had been hanging for ten days. Two or three aged chiefs sat on the logs which were scattered around. Shortly after our arrival, we perceived groups of Indians collecting about the village, and soon the information was circulated that the sacrifice was about to be burned.

"On reaching the place, we found that the fire was already kindled; during this ceremony, a chief addressed the assembly, but, as there was no in