Travels in North Ameficd. * 2^7 



felves much to explain the Idea ; and in general they are little 

 concerned about thofe that are purely fpeculative. And have the 

 wifeft Philofophers of Pagan Antiquity, who have taken fuch im- 

 menfe Pains to explain them, have they made a much greater 

 Progrefs than the Savages ? We mull: always lofe ourfeTves in 

 thefe dark Ways, unlefs we are guided by the Light of Faith. 



There is nothing in which the Savages have fliewn more Su- 



The Nature of P^^^^^^^^ Extravagance, than in what 

 Dream a ^^d' regards their Dreams ; but they differ much 

 to the Sa^a^es Manner of explaining their Thoughts 



0 e aruages. ^-^^^ Matter. Sometimes it is the reafon- 



able Soul that wanders out, while the fenfitive Soul continues to 

 animate the Body. Sometinies it is the familiar Genius that 

 gives good Advice about future Events. Sometimes it is a Vifit 

 . they receive from the Soul of the Objed: they dream of. But 

 in whatfoever Manner they conceive of a Dream, it is always 

 regarded as a facred Thing, and as the Means which the Gods 

 moll ufually employ to declare their Will to Men. 



PrepoffefTed with this Idea, they can't conceive that we fhould 

 -take no Notice of them. For the moH Part they look upon them 

 às Defires of the Soul, infpired by fome Spirit, or an Order from 

 it. And in Confequence of this Principle, they make it à Duty 



of Religion to obey thefe Commands. A Savage having 



dreamt that his Finger was cut off, really had it cut off when he 

 awoke, after he had prepared himfelf for this important Âélion 

 by a Feafl. Another dreaming ^hat he was a Prifoner in thé 

 Hands of his Enemies, was greatly embarrafTed. He confulted 

 the Jugglers, and by their Advice he got himfelf tied to a Poll, 

 and burnt in feveral Parts of the Body. 



There are fome Dreams lucky, and fome unfortunate : For 

 Inftance, to dream they fee many Elks, is, they fay, a Sign of 

 Life : To dream of Bears, is a Sign they will die foon. I have oh- 

 ferved before, that we muH except thofe Times when they prepare 

 for hunting thofe Animals. But to let you fee. Madam, to what 

 an Extravagance thefe Savages carry this Matter of Dreams, Ï 

 will relate to you a Faél attefted by two .undeniable Witneifes, 

 who faw the Thing with their own Eyes. 



Two MifHonaries were travelling with fome. Savages ; and 

 A Stor on this Night, when all their Condudors were 



^ L' n faft afleep, one of them flarted up in a Fright 



' quite out of Breath, trembling, itrivin^ to 



cry out, and beating himfelf as if he had been poiTefled wiih a 

 Devil. At the Noife he made, every Body were foon up. . At 

 firH they thought the Man was feized with a Fit of Madnefs : 

 They took hold of him, and did all they could tc quiet him, 

 but to no Purpofe ; His Fury ftill encreafed i and ai îltey could 



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