SwANTON] INDIANS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED SFTATES 745 



hawks was the largest that ever I saw ; there was fasten'd to it a Wild Turky's 

 Beard painted red, and two of the longest Feathers of his Wings hung dangling 

 at it, by a string of about 6 Inches long, ty'd to the end of the Tomahawk. In the 

 third Mat there was something, which we took to be their Idol, tho of an under- 

 ling sort, and wanted putting together. The pieces were these, first a Bonrd threi? 

 foot and a half long, with one indenture at the upper end, like a Fork, to fasten 

 the Head upon, from thence half way down, were Half hoops nail'd to the Edges 

 of the Board, at about four Inches distance, which was bow'd out, to represent the 

 Breast and Belly ; on the lov/er half was another Board of half the length of the 

 other, fasten'd to it by Joynts or pieces of Wood, which being set on each side, 

 stood out about 14 inches from the Body, and half as high ; we suppos'd the use 

 of these to be for the bowing out of the Knees, when the Image was set up. 

 There were packt up with these things, red and blue pieces of Cotton Cloath, and 

 Rolls made up for Arms, Thighs and Legs, bent to at the Knees, as is represented 

 in the Figure of their Idol, which was taken by an exact Drawer in the Country. 

 It wou'd be difficult to see one of these Images at this day, because the Indians 

 are extreme shy of exposing them. We put the Cloaths upon the Hoops for tho 

 Body, and fasten'd on the Arms and Legs, to have a view of the representation : 

 But the Head and rich Bracelets, which it is usually adorn'd with, were not 

 there, or at least we did not find them. . . . This Image when drest up. mi^ht 

 look very venerable in that dark place ; where 'tis not possible to see it, but by 

 the glimmering light, that is let in, by lifting up a piece of the Matting, which 

 we observ'd to be conveniently hung for that purpose; for when the light of the 

 Door and Chimney, glance in several directions, upon the Image thro that little 

 passage, it must needs make a strange representation, which those poor people 

 are taught to worship with a devout Ignorance. There are other things that 

 contribute towards carrying on this Imposture; first the chief Conjurer enters 

 within the Partition in the dark, and may undiscern'd move the Image as he 

 pleases: Secondly, a Priest of Authority stands in the room with the people, to 

 keep them from being too inquisitive, under the penalty of the Deity's displeasure, 

 and his own censure. (Beverley, 1705, bk. 3, pp. 28-30.) 



Beverley's illustration of the idol is a mere adaptation of that of 

 White in Hariot, but the text represents apparently direct observation : 



The Dark edging shews the Sides and Roof (of) the House, which consist of 

 Saplins and Bark. The paler Edging shews the Mats, by which they make a 

 Partition, of about ten foot, at the end of the House, for the Idols abode. The 

 Idol is set upon his Seat of Mats, within his dark recess, above the peoples heads, 

 and the Curtain is drawn up before him. (Beverley, 1705, bk. 3, p. 31.) 



Altars made of un worked stones and out under the open sky were 

 common in the Algonquian territories. Whether this is accidental or 

 not, the fact remains that we find very few notices of them elsewhere. 

 Smith : 



They have also certaine Altar stones they call Pawcorances: but these stand 

 from their Temples, some by their houses, other in the woodes and wildernesses. 

 Upon these, they offer blood, deare suet, and Tobacco. These they doe when they 

 returne from the warres, from hunting, and upon many other occasions. (Smith, 

 John, Tyler ed., 1907, p. Ill ; cf. Strachey, 1849, p. 93.) 



The most lengthy notices of these sacred places are by Beverley : 



There also [i. e., at Uttamussack] was their great Pawcorance, or Altar-Stone, 

 which, the Indians tell us, was a solid Chrystal, of between Three and Four Foot 



