158 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 43 



RELIGION 



Most of the tribes of the lower Mississippi had buildings set apart 

 for purposes of a religious character which may properly be called 

 " temples," and among these that of the Natchez was the most con- 

 spicuous and the most famous. One rude picture of this occurs in 

 Du Pratz (pi. 4, h), and descriptions of varying degrees of elaborate- 

 ness have been made by Gravier, Penicaut, Charlevoix, the Luxem- 

 bourg Memoir, Dumont, and Du Pratz, and are appended in chro- 

 nological order. 



* * * There are only four cabins in [the village] in which is the temple. 

 It is very spacious and covered with cane mats, which they renew every year 

 with great ceremonies, which it would be prolix to insert here. They begin 

 by a four days' fast with emetics till blood comes. There is no window, no 

 chimney, in this temple, and it is only by the light of the fire that you can see 

 a little, and then the door, which is very low and narrow, must be open. I 

 imagine that the obscurity of the place inspires them with respect. The old 

 man who is the keeper keeps the fire up and takes great cai'e not to let it go 

 out. It is in the center of the temple in front of a sort of mausoleum after the 

 Indian fashion. There are three about 8 or 9 feet long, 6 feet broad, and 9 or 

 10 feet high. They are supported by four large posts covered with cane mats 

 in quite neat columns and surmounted by a platform of plaited canes. This 

 would be rather graceful were it not all blackened with smoke and covered 

 with soot. There is a large mat which serves as a curtain to cover a large 

 table, covered with five or six cane mats on which stands a large basket that 

 it is unlawful to open, as the spirit of each nation of those quarters reposes 

 there, they say, with that of the Natchez. I am provoked at myself for not 

 opening the basket, although I would have offended the old man if I had opened 

 the curtain and touched the basket. There are others in the other two mau- 

 soleums, where the bones of their chiefs are, they say, which they revere as 

 divinities. All that I saw somewhat rare was a piece of rock crystal," which 

 I found in a little basket. I saw a number of little earthen pots, platters, and 

 cups, and little cane baskets, all well made. This is to serve up food to the 

 spirits of the deceased chiefs, and the temple keeper finds his profit in it. 



After examining all that there is in this temple, I saw neither there nor else- 

 where the gold, silver, or precious stones, or riches, or 9 fathoms of fine pearls 

 mentioned by the author of a relation printed in the name of Mr. de Tonti, and 

 which he has disavowed to one [M. d'Iberville], who reproached him with 

 all the falsehoods with which it is stuffed. It is also a fable, what that writer 

 ventures to mention as having been seen by Mr. Tonti in the little closet set 

 in the mud-covered wall, where I neither saw nor tasted the exquisite liquors 

 of which he speaks. These things are all invented by the same writer to set 

 off his account. It is a fact that the chief's wife has some small pearls, which 

 are neither round nor well pierced, but about seven or eight of which are as 

 large as small peas, which were bought for more than their value after a good 

 deal of seeking. There are none of the riches or rarities which they pre- 

 tended were to be found in the temple and village.'' 



" Supernatural properties were often connected with this substance. Du Pratz once 

 discovered some of it and the Natchez Indians who were with him wished to carry it off, 

 but he prevented them. There is nothing to indicate, however, whether they valued it 

 on their own account or wished to talse it away for Du Pratz. 



"Gravier in Shea's Early Voy. Miss., 138-140, and Jes. Rel., lxv, 138-141. 



