AMERICA. 229 



:s a kind of hereditary nobility, whose influence being constantly 

 augmented by time, is more considerable. But this source of pow- 

 er, which depends chiefly on the imagination, by which we annex to 

 the merit of our contemporaries that of their forefathers is too re- 

 fined to be very common among the natives of America. In most 

 countries, therefore, age alone is sufficient for acquiring respect, in- 

 fluence, and authority. It is age which teaches experience, and ex- 

 perience is the only source of knowledge among a barbarous people. 

 Among the Indians, business is conducted with the utmost simplicity, 

 and such as may recall to those who are acquainted with antiquity a 

 picture of the most early ages. The heads of families meet together 

 in a house or cabin appointed for the purpose. Here the business is 

 discussed, and here those of the nation distinguished for their elo- 

 quence or wisdom, have an opportunity of displaying those talents. 

 Their orators, like those of Homer, express themselves in a bold 

 figurative style, stronger than refined or rather softened nations can 

 well bear, and with gestures equally violent, but often extremely na- 

 tural and expressive When the business is over, and they happen to 

 be well provided with food, they appoint a feast upon the occasion, 

 of which almost the whole nation partakes. The feast is accompa- 

 nied with a song, in which the real or fabulous exploits of their fore- 

 fathers are celebrated. They have dances too, though like those of 

 the Greeks and Romans, chiefly of the military kind ; and their music 

 and dancing accompany every feast. 



It often happens, that those different tribes or nations, scattered as 

 they are at an immense distance from one another, meet in their ex- 

 cursions after prey. If there subsists no animosity between them, 

 they behave in the most friendly and courteous manner. But if they 

 happen to be in a state of war, or if there has been no previous in- 

 tercourse between them, all who are not friends being deemed ene- 

 mies, they fight with the most savage fury. 



War, if we except hunting, is the only employment of the men ; 

 as to every other concern, and even the little agriculture they use, it 

 is left to the women. Their most common motive for entering into 

 a war, when it does not arise from an accidental rencounter or inter- 

 ference, is either to revenge themselves for the death of some lost 

 friend, or to acquire prisoners, who may assist them in their hunt- 

 ing, and whom they adopt in their society. These wars are either 

 undertaken by some private adventurers, or at the instance of the 

 whole community. In the latter case, all the young men who are 

 disposed to go out to battle, for no one is compelled contrary to his 

 inclination, give a piece of wood to the chief, as a token of their de- 

 sign to accompany him : for every thing among these people is trans- 

 acted with a great deal of ceremony and many forms. The chief 

 who is to conduct them, fasts several days, during which he con- 

 verses with no one, and is particularly careful to observe his dreams, 

 which the presumption natural to savages generally renders as fa- 

 vourable as he could desire. A variety of other superstitious cere- 

 monies are observed. One of the most hideous is sitting the war 

 kettle on the fire, as an emblem that they are going out to devour 

 their enemies ; which among some nations must formerly have been 

 the case ; since they still continue to express it in clear terms, and 

 use an emblem significant of the ancient usage. Then they dispatch 

 a porcelain, or large shell, to their allies, inviting them to come 



