134 Hijlorical Journal of 



inftantly lay down their Arms : There are Calumets for every 

 Kind of Treaty. In Trade, when they have agreed upon the 

 Exchange, they prefent a Calumet to confirm it, which renders 

 it in fome Manner facred. When it concerns War, not only the 

 Tube, but the Feathers alfo that adorn it, are red : Sometimes 

 they are only fet on one Side ; and they fay that according to 

 the Manner in which the Feathers are difpofed, they immediate- 

 ly know what Nation it is that prefents it, and whom they in- 

 tend to attack. 



There is fcarce any Room to doubt but that the Savages, in 

 making thofe fmoke in the Calumet, with whom they would 

 trade or treat, intend to take the Sun for Witaefs, and in 

 fome Meafure for a Guarantee of their Treaties ; for they never 

 fail to blow the Smoke towards this Planet : But that from this 

 Practice, and the common Ufe of the Calumets, one ihould in- 

 fer as fome have done, that this Pipe might well be in its Ori- 

 gin, the Caduceus of Mercury^ does not appear to me to be 

 probable, becaufe this Caduceus had no Relation to the Sun • and 

 becaufe in the Traditions of the Savages, we have found nothing 

 that gives any Room to judge, that they ever had any Know- 

 ledge of the Greek Mythology. It would be in my Opinion, 

 much more natural to think that thefe People, having found by 

 Experience that the Smoke of their Tobacco dpws Vapours 

 from the Brain, makes the Head clearer, roufes the Spirits, 

 and makes us fitter to treat of Affairs, have for thefe Reafons in- 

 troduced the Ufe of it in their Councils, where in Fad they have 

 always the Pipe in their Mouths; and that after having gravely de- 

 liberated and taken their Refolution, they thought they could ne- 

 ver find a Symbol fitter to put a Seal to their Determinations, 

 nor any Pledge more capable of confirming the Execution of 

 them, than the Inftrument which had fo much Share in their De- 

 liberations. Perhaps it will appear to you more fimple, Ma- 

 dam, to fay that thefe People could not find any Signs more 

 natural to mark a ftriél Union, than to fmoke in the fame Pipe; 

 efpecially if the Smoke they draw from it, is offered to a Deity 

 who puts the Seal of Religion to it. To fmoke in the fame Pipe 

 therefore in Token of Alliance, is the fame Thing as to drink in 

 the fame Cup, as has been pradifed at all Times by many Na- 

 tions- Thefe are Cuilom.s which are too natural, to feek any Myf- 

 tery in them. 



The Largenefs, and the Ornaments of the Calumets, which 

 are prefented to Perfons of Diftindlion, and on important Occa- 

 fions, have nothing neither that fhould make us fearch far for the 

 Motive of it. When Men become ever fo little acquainted, and 

 have a mutual Refped, they accuftom themfelves to a certain Re- 

 gard for one another, chiefly on Occafions of a publick Con- 

 cern i 



