TllK DlVIDlNc; LINE 51 



off in that solitary place, and were informed that the beai-s are so discreet as 

 not to trust their unwieldy bodies on the smaller limbs of the tree, that would 

 not bear their weisiht; but after venturing as far as is safe, which they can 

 judge to an inch, they bite off the end of the branch, which falling down, 

 they are content to finish their repast upon the ground. In the same cautious 

 manner they secure the acorns that grow on the weaker limbs of the oak. 

 And it must be allowed that, in these instances, a bear carries instinct a great 

 way, and acts more reasonably than many of his betters, who indiscreetly 

 venture upon frail projects that will not bear them. 



13th. This being Sunday, we rested from our fatigue, and had leisure to re- 

 flect on the signal mercies of Providence. 



The great plenty of meat wherewith Bearskin furnished us in these lonely 

 woods made us once more shorten the men's allowance of bread, from five to 

 four pounds of biscuit a week. This was the more necessary, because we 

 knew not yet how long our business might require us to be out. 



In the afternoon our hunters went forth, and returned triumphantly with 

 three brace of wild turkeys. They told us they could see the mountains dis- 

 tinctly from every eminence, though the atmosphere was so thick with smoke 

 that they appeared at a greater distance than they really were. 



In the evening we examined our friend Bearskin, concerning the religion of 

 his country, and he explained it to us, without any of that reserve to which 

 his nation is subject. He told us he believed there was one supreme God, 

 who had several subaltern deities under him. And that this master God made 

 the w^orld a long time ago. That he told the sun, the moon, and stars, their 

 business in the beginning, which they, with good looking after, have faithfully 

 performed ever since. That the same Power that made all things at first has 

 taken care to keep them in the same method and motion ever since. He be- 

 lieved that God had formed many worlds before he formed this, but that those 

 worlds either grew old and ruinous, or were destroyed for the dishonesty of 

 the inhabitants. That God is very just and very good — ever well pleased with 

 those men who possess those god-like qualities. That he takes good people 

 into his safe protection, makes them very rich, fills their bellies plentifully, 

 preserves them from sickness, and from being surprised or overcome by their 

 enemies. But all such as tell lies, and cheat those they have dealings with, 

 he never fails to punish with sickness, poverty and hunger, and, after all that, 

 suffers them to be knocked on the head and scalped by those that fight against 

 them. He believed that after death both good and bad people are conducted 

 by a strong guard into a great road, in which departed souls travel together 

 for some time, till at a certain distance this road forks into two paths, the one 

 extremely level, and the other stony and mountainous. Here the good are 

 parted from the bad by a flash of lightning, the first being hurried away to 

 the right, the other to the left. The right hand road leads to a charming 

 warm country, where the spring is everlasting, and every month is May ; and 

 as the year is always in its youth, so are the people, and particularly the wo- 

 men are bright as stars, and never scold. That in this happy climate there 

 are deer, turkeys, elks, and buffaloes innumerable, perpetually fat and gentle, 

 while the trees are loaded v/ith delicious fruit quite throughout the four sea- 

 sons. That the soil brings forth corn spontaneously, without the curse of la- 

 bour, and so very wholesome, that none who have the happiness to eat of it 

 are ever sick, grow old, or die. Near the entrance into this blessed land sits 

 a venerable old man on a mat richly woven, who examines strictly all that 

 are brought before him, and if they have behaved well, the guards are ordei'- 

 ed to open the crystal gate, and let them enter into the land of delight. The 

 left hand path is very rugged and uneven, leading to a dark and barren coun- 

 try, where it is always winter. The ground is the whole year round covered 



