of the American Indians^ 335 



responses and gestures seem consenting to natural liberties, 

 they veil themselves; just discovering a glance of their spark- 

 ling eyes and blushing faces expressive of sensibility*. They 

 are tall, with delicate frames and perfect symmetry. Some of 

 them are nearly as fair as Europeans. The men are the 

 largest race I have seen, their complexions of the olive cast. 

 They are dignified, frank, grave, and honest. (362, 369, 483. 

 Bartram^s Travels.) 



"The Shawnese prophet, the brother of Tecumth^, we think 

 was a fanatic who had seen visions and dreamed dreams.*^ 

 During the time of rigorous * Fasting,' called in Chippewa, 

 Makatea, many rites are practised to excite the feelings to a 

 proper degree of susceptibility. The guardian Manitou finally 

 appears in a dream, assuming the shape of some animal, which 

 is during life the object of adoration, and governs the future 

 life of the dreamer; if it be an eagle, he must be a warrior; 

 if a wolf, a hunter ; if a turkey buzzard, a prophet or physician. 

 The Shawnese, whatever was their origin, were intruders on 

 the north-western Indians. — {Remarks on the Indians of North 

 America, p. 49.) There were Yunkas or Shamans in the fasts 

 and religion of the Incas. — [Conquest of Peru, 185.) In every 

 town of the Creeks they have a juggler or priest, who foretels 

 rain, cures diseases, invokes evil spirits, &c. — {Bartramy 

 495.) t 



Remarks on the Cherokees, Chactaws, Muscogulges or 

 Creeks, Seminoles, and Shawnese, — A Buratsky Shaman, saj's 

 Mr. Bell, who was also a priest, was introduced to us. He 

 gave us a specimen of his art in a tent : we found him sitting 

 with his companion round afire, and smoking tobacco ; he 

 then placed himself cross-legged, took a stick in each hand to 

 beat time to a dismal song, and his followers joined the chorus. 

 He distorted his body, wrought himself into such fury that he 

 foamed at the mouth ; his eyes were red and staring, he started 

 on his legs, and fell a dancing like one distracted till he trod 

 out the fire with his bare feet. One would have imagined him 

 possessed by a demon : the vulgar think them the operations 



• This is a good description of a naulche, such as are seen in the East Indies, 

 t These are complete Siberian customs. 



Z2 



