TE I ee 
ANTI-CHRISTIAN VISION. 241 
measures of these, a noted anti-christian sage 
‘played off,” a few years ago, the following 
‘vision.’ Being very ill (as they relate), this 
sage, to all appearance, died, and became stiff 
and cold, except a spot upon his breast, which 
still retained the heat of life. In this state he 
remained a day or more, when he again 
breathed and returned among the living: and 
calling his friends about him, he related the 
scenes he had witnessed. He had ascended 
to the Indian’s heaven, he said, which he de- 
scribed as usual: a fine country, abounding 
in all sorts of game, and everything an Indian 
could desire. There he met with his grand- 
father, who said to him, “ It is meet, my son, 
that thou return to the earth, and warn thy 
brothers against the dangers that await them. 
Tell them to beware of the religion of the 
white man: that every Indian who embraces 
it is obliged to take the road to the white 
man’s heaven; and yet no red man is per- 
mitted to enter there, but will have to wander 
about for ever without a resting-place.” 
The identity of the notions which the dif- 
ferent tribes have conceived of a future exist- 
ence, and the character of the ‘world of spi- 
rits,, seems still more general. They fancy 
of images, better accords with their pristine idolatry, than a more 
iritual faith. Catholics, indeed, have had the sagacity to permit 
& cou 
ing a singular mélée of Romish and pagan worship, which is espe- 
cially the case in Mexico. Also, the less rigid Catholic creed and 
customs do not debar them from their wonted favorite amusements, 
not to say vices. It is therefore that whole tribes sometimes simul- 
taneously embrace this imposing cree 
VOL. I. 21 
