who could distinguish himself by any peculiarity

in his appearance.

Their mode of living was such as is characteristic of a state of savagism. Their food, which was principally the produce of their hunting and fishing, and imperfectly cultivated grounds, experienced little preparation before it was used. They had no fixed time for taking their meals; and, owing to their extreme indolence and improvidence, they were frequently subjected to long fastings. They have been known, indeed, to abstain from food for several days together, and to live for a considerable time on a handful of meal and a spoonful of water. Comfort seems to have been an object which they had not in view, and which, from their ignorance of the most simple mechanical arts, they could not attain, in the construction of their huts or wigwams. These presented a mean appearance, externally and internally, being commonly formed by young trees bent down to the ground and covered with rush mats, and having very few articles of furniture.

We cannot suppose that the family concerns of the Indians could be well regulated, when we consider that polygamy was prevalent among them; but there were other circumstances connected with them, which increased the bad effects

of this unnatural arrangement. The husband, instead of extending protection to his wives, uniformly made them the slaves of his slothfulness and caprice; and instead of employing his superior strength for the support of his family, prostituted it to the vile purpose of maintaining a cruel 、 dominion over those whom he ought to have viewed with sentiments of kindness and endearment. In this state of things, the education of the young was an object which was almost entirely neglected.

All the Indian tribes acknowledged the authority of a chief, whom they called Sachem, or Sagamore, and to whom they were accustomed to render blind obedience. They viewed him as the legal proprietor of the whole territory, over which his authority extended; and, when inclined to raise crops, they solicited his permission of the cultivation of the lands.

The government of the Sachems was cruel in the extreme. They ordered their Paniese, or counsellors, who were generally the wisest, strongest, and most courageous men, who could be found in their dominions, to be early subjected to a severe discipline, and to perform many cruel exercises, with the view of being qualified for their office, and rendered capable of enduring the

greatest hardships. Though they pretended to be guided by the principles of justice, in the distribution of punishment, they made no proper distinctions between the degrees of guilt. From the custom which prevailed, of executing their own sentences, they not unfrequently took delight in the agonies of those whose lives and fortunes they conceived to be entirely at their disposal; and, from the humble submission which was generally rendered to them by the offenders, they found little difficulty in gratifying their evil inclinations, to any extent which they might desire. The only restraint, indeed, which they experienced, arose from the apprehension which they might entertain, lest their people should forsake them, and place themselves under the protection and government of other Sachems. While, however, they entertained all this disregard to humane feeling, they practised the rites of hospitality, and took particular care of the widow, the fatherless, the aged, and those who had no friends who were able to provide for them.

The language of the North American Indians was exceedingly barbarous. Dr Cotton Mather remarks, that "one would think that its words had been growing ever since Babel," and gives the following examples of the length of some of

them: "Nummatchekodtantamooongannunonash, our lusts; Noowomantammoonkanunonnash, our loves; Kummogokdonattoottammooctiteaongannunnonash, our questions. With all its faults, however, it was found to be pretty copious; and an European, when master of it, was able to express the most abstract ideas in it, without much difficulty. This circumstance appears rather remarkable, when we consider that the Indians, previous to their acquaintance with the English, were entirely ignorant of the art of expressing their sentiments by writing.

The religion of these tribes, like that of all others who are sunk in heathenism, formed a dreadful example of the mental degradation and debasement of those who have not retained the knowledge of the true God in their minds; and its principles afford a striking illustration of the perversity of the human heart. While they believed in a plurality of gods, who had made the different nations of the world; and while they made gods of every thing which they believed to be great, powerful, beneficial, or hurtful, they conceived that there was one God, known by the names of Kichtan, and Woonand, who was superior to all the rest,-who dwelt in the south-west regions of the heavens,-who created the original

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parents of mankind,-who, though never seen by the eye of man, was entitled to gratitude and respect, on account of his natural goodness, and the benefits bestowed by him,—and who was altogether unpropitious when offended. The principal object of their veneration, however, was Hobamock, or the evil deity. To him they frequently presented, as offerings and sacrifices, the most valuable articles which they possessed; and his favour they were most desirous of obtaining. Their powahs, or priests, pretended to have familiar intercourse with him; and they affirmed to the people, with the view of maintaining their authority over them, that he often appeared to them in the form of a man, a deer, an eagle, or a snake; and that they understood the method of procuring his kind regards, and averting his judge

ments.

It is worthy of notice, that the Indians were not accustomed to render adoration to idols; but though they said not to a stock, "Thou art our father, and to a stone, thou hast brought us forth," they feared and served their powahs more than the being who created them. These priests were subtle, ambitious, and cruel; and, from the high pretences which they made, they found no difficulty in commanding the veneration of their