THEOLOGICAL NOTIONS. 81 



An Indian will never pronounce the name of the Big Medicine, or Great 

 Spirit, other than in a reverential manner, nor upon trival occasions. 



This being is considered the Great Superintendent of all things, whose 

 power sustains the universe,---causing day and night with the varying 

 seasons, — making the grass to grow, the water to run, and the rains to fall, 

 for the good of man and beast. 



Some imagine He lives in the sun ; others, in the air ; others, in the 

 ground ; and others in the immensity of His works. 



The animal or thing possessed of wonderful or extraordinary powers, 

 such as their ignorance ascribes to be the attributes of the Supreme 

 Being, they look upon as endowed with a greater or less share of His 

 presence, and venerate it accordingly. Thus, the sun, fire, lightning, 

 thunder, fountains of peculiar medicinal qualities, extraordinary locahties, 

 and various other things are alike objects of religious regard. 



Although their theological sentiments are generally the same, the man- 

 ner of showing their respect for this Overruling Providence differs with 

 different tribes, families, and even persons. For instance, — some tribes 

 shave their heads in token of their submission to Him. Others mark 

 themselves for His own by some peculiar manner of cutting their ears 

 for the reception of ornaments ; — while others burn their thighs, tattoo 

 their breasts, scar their arms, or flatten the heads of infants, for a like 

 purpose. 



The instrument, with which such ceremonies are performed, is invariably 

 thrown away. In case of cutting the ears of an infant, the gift bestowed 

 upon the operator is regarded as indicative of its success during life ; — 

 parents have been known to give as high as ten horses on like occasions. 



Some make indelible marks of a blue color upon their chins and fore- 

 heads, — or the figures of lizards, snakes, arrows, or other objects upon 

 their arms. 



Some show their reverence in the peculiar manner of receiving the pipe 

 and passing it to another ; — others by certain ceremonies before smoking, — 

 thus, pointing the pipe- stem to the zenith, then towards the ground, then 

 horizontally upon either side, as if saying, " Oh thou, whose habitation is 

 immensity, accept this as the willing tribute of homage from thy child." 



They will never allow a bone of any kind to be broken within their 

 lodges, and express great consternation and alarm at such an occurrence. 

 Some will not permit a stick of wood to be struck with a knife or other 

 edged tool while burning, and others exhibit their devotion by some pe- 

 culiarity in the structure of their lodges, or the mode of placing their 

 medicine-bags, the length and shape of their arrows, their fasliion of hair- 

 dressing, and various minutiee of like character. 



Others again will never eat unless they bestow the first mouthful as 

 an offering to the prairie, — believing that, as the prairie affords water, 

 grass, and game, for the good of the red man, it is the fullest embodyment 

 of the Essence of Good ; therefore, in the observance of this practice, they 

 not only acknowledge their faith in the existence of the Great Spirit, but 

 set apart the first of their substance as test of their piety. 



Their ideas of the existence of a principle, or being, wno is the author 

 and prompter of evil, are crude and indefinite. 



They are ready to acknowledge its reality, but seem to consider its per- 

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