188 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



Thus instead of b^ing- barely an amusement and 

 diversion, dancing- among the Indians, is a very 

 in po< tant and sii^nificant ceremony ; desigxiedto 

 represent some important tranKaction, and to 

 insiiire those feelings and passions, Avhich it 

 ?^:^ould naturally produce. Is it not remarkable, 



: ■ among the savages in the first stage of so- 



e ;lancing should be adapted to public and 



.oaal purposes ; that all the steps, figures, 



'notions of it, should be arts of imitation ; 



hat among civilized nations, all the steps 



tions should be without design, insignifi- 



Caivr, ;,nd withoui; any meaning at all ? 



Beard. The customs and methods of dif-^ 

 ferent nations, have been various and different, 

 respecting their beards. Some have carefully 

 preserved them as the tokens of manhood, gravi* 

 ty, and m.jesty. Others have curled, twisted, 

 and braided them, to give the appearance of 

 elegance and beauty : Others have entirely cut 

 them off", as an useless encumbrance ; and to 

 acquire greater softness, mildness, and amiable- 

 ncGs of appearance. These different customs 

 and fashions, do not appeaj- to 'be deiived from 

 any permanent cause, or instinct four.ded in na- 

 ture ; but to be matters of fancy, superstition, 

 convenience, or vanity. In this respect the In- 

 dians had a custom different from those of other 

 nations. It is their universal and constant 

 practice, to pluck them out by the roots ; and 

 to destroy, as far as possible, the appearance of 

 any beard at all. Every man has an instrument 

 miade for this purpose : It consists of a wire< 

 ^ twisted round a stick, in such a manner as to 

 draw the hair out of the fiesh, and extract the 



