L O U I S I A N A. 277 



with patience, and above all, without complain- 

 ing againfl the Great Spirit^ who is the Lord of 

 the life of every being here on earth \ and in en- 

 during adverfity with courage, and laftly in fa- 

 crificing every thing to the love of their country 

 and of liberty ; it being a thoufand times more 

 glorious to die as a man, than to live as a vile 

 Have. 



The chief having ceafed. fpeaking, the oldeft 

 among the nobles rifes, falutes his fovereign, 

 and harangues with his body naked to his gir- 

 dle ; he is all over in a fwcat, on account of 

 the heat which his adlion and declamation throws 

 him into ; his geftures are natural, and his me- 

 taphors explain his mind : he perfuades his au- 

 dience into a belief of all that he fays, by his 

 eloquence, and the excellence of his difcourfe. 

 Nothing is more edifying than thefe aiiemblies ; 

 you hear no prattling, no indecency, no ill- 

 timed applaufe and no immoderate laughter 

 there. The young men are very refcrved and 

 attentive to hear the words of the old men, be- 

 ing perfuaded that it is for their good. 



T 3 h E T. 



