IN AMERICA. LETTER XV. Indian incantations and charms—priests— their extraordinary knowledge and giftsinteresting explanation of the cause-very remarkable antiquities—encounter with a rattle-snake, which is killed-deer-wild turkeys-Lanesvelle-further very remote and grand antiquities-golden treasure found-the bubble bursts.. Marietta, June, 1806. I PASSED the night near the mausoleum without any other interruption than what proceeded from the howl of hungry wolves exasperated on seeing a fire keep from them victims they durst: not approach. I also had to renew the fire, and to suffer Cuff to perform certain rites and incantations, in the manner of his country, and which had the faculty of checking the advances of snakes. He expressed these offices by stalking several times round our tent. His gesticulation was strong, and his cries horrible. He also uttered some barbarous words; described a circle on each round with the end of a stick, and, after shedding certain leaves on the circle, he concluded with three more infernal yells; and then, under a decided impression or strong conviction of safety, cast himself near me on his berth. It would seem, that priestcraft, connected as it is in the native ministers. of this country, with an affectation of sorcery and supernatural power, gains. great dominion over every savage mind, and disposes to the belief and practice of every absurdity. There are, therefore, no people more under the subjugation of superstition, or who exercise such a variety of charms and exorcisms, as the Indians; in the uses and particular terms and applications of which they are instructed with the utmost precision, by their priests and physicians those two professions being always united in one character. The priests, savage and untutored as they were, saw, at a very early period, that to establish their fame, and an ample sway over the public mind, it was necessary for them on every essential occasion, to manifest infinite skill; and to prove that they were the favorite children of the Great Spirit, by his having endowed them with a portion of his power, and given them permission to display that power in public exhibitions of extraordinary miracles. Hence from the most early ages, have they been going about healing wounds, cur ing inveterate diseases, and giving oc cular demonstration of their dominion over all descriptions of envenomed and noxious reptiles, by suffering them to twine round their bodies, and passing through their fingers and hair without inflicting on them any manner of injury. So complete is the tyranny they have established over rattle-snakes, and others armed with weapons equally. deadly, that they lure them from their deepest retreats, and make them fly from or follow them by apparent command *. As this preternatural knowledge and powers are exhibited in the face of day before multitudes, the respect shewn to the priest, and the observance paid their instruction and precepts, ceases to * It is remarkable, that in Egypt, the sect of Sadi possess similar power over snakes. EDITOR. |