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port hunger, and 1 will allow that this motive 

 might be fome part of the reafon of this ufage ;*hut 

 every circumftance with which they are accompa- 

 nied, proves that religion has the greateft fhare in 

 it ; where it only their extreme attention in ob- 

 ferving, as I have already taken notice, what 

 dreams they have during that time, it being cer- 

 tain that fuch dreams are looked upon as true 

 oracles and warnings trom heaven. 



It is flill lefs doubtful, that their vows are pure 

 acts of religion, the ufage being abfolutely the 

 fame in this refped as with us. For example, 

 when they happen to be without provifions, as 

 often falls out in their voyages and huntings, they 

 pfomife their genii to prefent in honour of them, 

 a portion of the firfb beaft they (hall afterwards 

 kill to fome chief, and not to touch a morfel of 

 it till they mall have acquitted themfelves of their 

 promife. Should this happen to be impoflible by 

 reafon of the great diflance of this chief, they 

 burn the part allotted for him, and thus make it 

 a kind of facrifice. 



Formerly the Indians in the neighbourhood of 

 Acadia, had in their country near the fea-fhore, a 

 tree extremely ancient, of which they relate many 

 wonders, and which was always loaden with of- 

 ferings. After the fea had laid open its whole root, 

 it ftill fuppbrted itfelf a long time a] mod in the 

 air, againft the violence of the winds and waves, 

 which confirmed thofe Indians in the notion, that 

 this tree muft be the abode of fome powerful fpi- 

 rit, nor was its fall even capable of undeceiving 

 them, fo that as long as the fmalleft part of its 

 branches appeared above water, they paid it the 

 fame honours as whilft it flood. 



L 3 Moil 



