240 SHAWNEE LEGEND. 
them both into material beings again, that 
they might revisit their brothers on earth. 
The sage also explained to them the myste- 
ries of heaven and the sacred rites of worship, 
that they might instruct their tribe therein. 
When about to start back, the venerable spi- 
rit told them that the route by which the bro- 
ther had come was very circuitous—there was 
amuch nearer way; and opening a trap-door 
through the sky, they beheld their native town 
just below them. So the good brother and 
sister descended ; and returning home, a great 
feast was celebrated, accompanied by a so- 
lemn dance—in accordance with the grand- 
father’s instructions. Thus originated, as they 
say, the sacred dances and other religious 
ceremonies now in practice. 
As they believe the Indian heaven sepa- 
rate, and essentially different and distinct from 
that of the whites, and as they do not wish 
their people divided, this has often occasioned 
a serious opposition to the labors of the mis- 
sionaries.* For the purpose of thwarting the 
*The Shawnees have four missionary establishments among 
them, viz. a Methodist, Baptist, Moravian, and Quaker. There 
ay of success. 
e frontier, which is among the Potawatomies, about a thousand 
t whom have embraced this faith. The Catholics, however, ap- 
He oe haag 
ar to have s tter than most other denominations, in 
eir missionary efforts. It is so in Mexico, so i a, and ap- 
S so everywhere else that they have undertaken ristian- 
ization of the heathen. I not to attribute this 
to any intrinsic superiority of their religion, hut to the peculiarities 
of its forms and ce The pageantry of their worship, the 
palpable represen’ ies by the introduction 
