The Spartans of the West ii 



and many that loved their own people and were in no wise 

 touched by the doctrines of the whites. 



If from these men we gather their beliefs, their teachings, 

 and the common thoughts that guided their lives, we may 

 fairly assume that we have outUned the creed of the best 

 Indians. 



These are the main thoughts in the Redman's creed: 

 (i) While he believed in many gods, he accepted the 

 idea of one Supreme Spirit, who was everywhere all the 

 time; whose help was needed continually, and might be 

 secured by prayer and sacrifice. 



(2) He believed in the immortaUty of the soul, and that 

 its future condition was to be determined by its behavior in 

 this hfe. 



(3) He reverenced his body as the sacred temple of his 

 spirit; and believed it his duty in all ways to perfect his 

 body, that his earthly record might be the better. 



We carmot, short of ancient Greece, find his equal in 

 physical perfection. 



(4) He beheved in the subjection of the body by fasting, 

 whenever it seemed necessary for the absolute domination 

 of the spirit; as when, in some great crisis, that spirit felt 

 the need for better insight. 



(5) He believed in reverence for his parents, and in old 

 age supported them, even as he expected his children to 

 support him. 



(6) He believed in the sacredness of property. Theft 

 among Indians was unknown. 



(7) He believed that the murderer must expiate his 

 crime with his life; that the nearest kin was the proper 

 avenger, but that for accidental manslaughter compen- 

 sation might be made in goods. 



