238 TECUMSEH—SHAWNEE BELIEFS. 
the occasion of an interview of Tecumseh 
with Gen. Harrison, is as illustrative of the re- 
ligious opinions of the Shawnees, as it is cha- 
eetiotiatia of the hauteur and independent 
spirit of that celebrated Shawnee chief. The 
General, having called Tecumseh for a ‘ talk,’ 
desired him to take a ma saying, “ Come 
here, Tecumseh, and sit by your father.” 
“You my father} ike the chief, with a 
stern air—“ No! yonder sun is my father 
(pointing oan it), and the earth is my 
mother; so I will rest on her bosom”—and 
saeeieaiineals seated himself upon the ground, 
according to Indian custom. 
But though the Shawnees consider the sun 
the type, if not the essence, of the Great Spi- 
rit, many also believe in an evil genius, who 
makes all sorts of bad things, to aseyey 
lance those made by the Good Spirit. For 
instance, when the latter made a sheep, a 
rose, wholesome herbs, ete., the bad spirit 
matched them with a wolf, a thorn, poison- 
ous plants, and the like. They also appear to 
think there is a kind of purgatory in which 
the spirits of the wicked may be cleansed _be- 
fore entering into their elysium. 
e worship of ali the aborigines seems to 
consist chiefly in feasting and dancing. A 
worthy missionary among the Shawnees re- 
lated to me the following legendary tradition, 
as explanatory of their ideas of another world, 
and the institution of their worship, which 
may serve asa fair sample of the traditions 
of many other tribes. 
