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 occular 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 be the object of surprize; and the mind fastens on a true ground for admiration and astonishment, and asks from what authority do the Indian priests derive the power of curing disease and of subjugating the most malignant creatures of the reptile world? The question is very comprehensive, and, no doubt, sufficient to invite the investigation of the learned. For my part, not having taste for elaborate discussion, or talent for metaphisical research, I am reduced to answer the question nearly in a word. "They derive their knowledge and their power from the great book of nature which a beneficent God has laid open. before them." On assuming the united offices of physician and priest, they soon became conscious that any attribute or reverence to be accorded to their character of priest, was to be drawn from the skill and acquirements they could display in their profession of physician. To obtain that skill and those acquirements they have to study nature, and that they do with the most unwearied assiduity and application. Their own particular saying is, "Nature produces nothing for nothing:" implying that whatever is, is for some particular end and purpose. This leads them to investigate the properties of things, the qualities of plants, and the nature of simples, in order to make them subservient to their will, and applicable to their exigencies. They were evidently conducted to these interesting enquiries, and to the useful knowledge resulting from them, by observing, that the animals of the forests and fields, with whom they in a manner associated, on eating any noxious herb, had immediate resource to a salutary one, which counteracted the poison of the other. They also observed, that many plants and herbs were purgative, others astringent. To these and many others, they perceived animals, in a state of sickness drawn by a secret impulse, whilst those in health past them by in disgust. Animals bitten by venomous reptiles, and impregnated by the strongest vines, were seen to seek a peculiar plant to recover their energy and strength; and these reptiles in their turn, have been known to betray violent apprehension at the approach of a hog, and to shew such antipathy to certain herbs, trees, and plants, as to suffer death sooner than avoid it by passing over them. Objects, too, have been discovered to which snakes in particular, have such passion and attachment, that they abandon their security, and face every danger to enjoy them. Armed with all this knowledge, the priests come before the world as persons inspired. Knowing that their science would have little eclat if known to have |