7 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



in 1639 gives the general statement that the Indians consulted 

 dreams for all their decisions, generally fasting in advance ; that, 

 in fact, the dream was the master of their lives ; it was the god of 

 the country, and dictated their decisions concerning important 

 matters hunts, fishing, remedies, dances, games, and songs. 



The belief in revelations through dreams was universal, and 

 the power of explaining them was also by revelation. Their le- 

 gends on this subject recall those about Joseph and Daniel. In 

 addition, Job xxxiii, 15, 16, may be quoted : 



" In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep f alleth 

 upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, 



" Then He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruc- 

 tion." 



And in Deuteronomy a prophet is equivalent to a dreamer of 

 dreams. 



There were various oracles among the Indians. Those most 

 interesting to me are connected with pictography. Among many 

 tribes, especially the Mandan, Hidatsa and Minnitari, after cer- 

 tain fasts and exercises, hieroglyphics deciding the questions 

 which had been propounded appeared next morning on rocks. 

 They were deciphered by the shaman who had made them. 



The apparatus by which Jahveh was consulted was the urim 

 and thummim, a form of oracle described as connected with the 

 ark. It ceased to be known in the fifth century before Christ, and 

 is now but vaguely understood. From the description and tradi- 

 tion it could, physically, have been worked by a custodian. 



Severe fasts were probably the most common religious prac- 

 tices of the Indians. These were continued until they saw visions, 

 sometimes sought for personal benefit as deciding upon their 

 names to be adopted from the advent of a guardian spirit, and 

 sometimes for tribal advantage. The doctrine of all of them, as 

 Father Lafiteau quaintly observes, was the same that prevailed 

 among many people of his day, to lead the mind from gross and 

 carnal obstructions of the body. The real effect was to produce 

 mental disorder. This ecstasy obtained by fasting was often ac- 

 celerated by profuse sweating and the use of purgative or emetic 

 drinks. Violent and prolonged exercise by dancing in a circle 

 until the actors dropped in a swoon sometimes concluded the cere- 

 monies. 



The Israelite prophets were excited to inspiration by external 

 means, such as dances and orgiastic proceedings resembling those 

 of the dervishes and those of the Indian mystery-men. Music was 

 a general accompaniment of the ecstasy. When they were about 

 to prophesy, they wrought themselves into a condition of frenzy. 

 When Elisha sent one of the children of the prophets to anoint 

 Jehu, it was said of him, " Wherefore cometh this mad fellow ? " 



