Rocky Mountains. 267 



Among their vices may be enumerated sodomy, onanism, 

 and various other unclean and disgusting practices. What 

 is related of the Illinois by Hennepin,* may, with equal truth, 

 be applied to the Omawhaws. But to the honour of huma- 

 nity, it may be remarked that those abominable traits of 

 character are not generally conspicuous among them. 



This people believe firmly in an existence after death; but 

 they do not appear to have any definite notions, as to the 

 state in which they shall then be. And although they say 

 that many reappear after death, to their relatives, yet such 

 visitants communicate no information respecting futurity. 

 They consist of those only who have been killed, either in 

 battle with the enemy, or in quarrels with individuals of 

 their own nation, and their errand is to solicit vengeance on 

 the perpetrators of the deed. 



Futurity has no terrors to the dying Omawhaw, as he has 

 no idea of actual punishment, beyond his present state of 

 existence. He, however, regrets the parting from his fami- 

 ly and friends, and sometimes expresses his fears that the 

 former will be impoverished, when his exertions for their 

 support, shall be withdrawn. 



The Wahconda is believed to be the greatest and best of 

 beings, the creator and preserver of all things, and the foun- 

 tain of mystic medicine. Omniscience, omnipresence, and 

 vast power are attributed to him, and he is supposed to af- 

 flict them with sickness, poverty, or misfortune, for their evil 

 deeds. In conversation he is frequently appealed to as an 

 evidence of the truth of their asseverations, in the words 

 Wahconda-wa-nah-kong, the Wahconda hears what I say, 

 and they sometimes add Mun-ekuh-wa-nah-kong, the earth 

 hears what I say. 



Whatever may be the notions of other Indian nations, we 

 did not learn that the Omawhaws, have any distinct ideas of 

 the existence of the devil; or at least, we always experienced 



* See Hennepin's Travels, p. 133, Lond. 1698. 



