0. *73 ) 



queft of him, carry him on their moulders to their 

 cabbin, and feat him on a large fkin. One of them 

 places himfeJf behind him, leaning with both his 

 hands on his fhoulders, and gently making him for 

 fome time, whilft the reft feated on the ground in 

 a circular form, fing their great exploits in war, 



Thefe vifits are renewed every morning and e- 

 vening, but at laft the ceremonial is changed. The 

 ambaffadors erect a poft in the middle of their cab- 

 bins, round which they all feat them felves : the war- 

 riors who accompany the grand chief, being drerTed 

 in their richeft habits, dance and ftrike upon the 

 poft by turns, recounting at the fame time their 

 gallant feats in war; after which they make pre- 

 fents to the ambaffadors. On the next day, thefe, 

 for the firft time, have liberty to walk about in the 

 village, and every evening feftivals are prepared for 

 them, confifting only of dances. When they are 

 about to depart, the mafters of the ceremonies 

 furnifh' them with the provifions requifite for their 

 journey, which is always done at the expence of 

 private perfons. 



The greateft part of the nations of Louifiana, 

 had formerly their temples as well as the Natchez, 

 and in all thefe temples a perpetual fire is kept up. 

 It fhould even feem, that the Manbilians enjoyed a 

 fort of primacy in religion, over all the other na- 

 tions in this part of Florida •, for when any of their 

 fires happened to be extinguifhed through chance, 

 or negligence, it was neceffary to kindle them again 

 at theirs. But the temple of the Natchez is the 

 only one fubfifting at prefent, and is held in great 

 veneration by all the favages inhabiting this vaft 

 continent, the decreafe of whofe numbers is as con- 

 fiderabie, and has been ftill more fudden 5 than that 



Vql s 31. T of 



