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Particulars relative to the Nature and Gustoms of the Indians of North America. By Mr RICHARD M'CAUSLAND, Surgeon to the King's or Eighth Regiment of Foot.

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T has been advanced by feveral travellers and hiftorians, that the Indians of America differed from o ther males of the human species in the want of one very characteristic mark of the fex, to wit, that of a beard. From this general obfervation, the Efquimaux have been excepted; and hence it has been fuppofed, that they had an origin different from that of the other natives of America. Inferences have alfo been drawn, not only with refpe&t to the origin, but even relative to the conformation, of Indians, as if this was in its nature more imperfect than that of the reft of man kind.

It appears fomewhat fingular, that authors, in deducing the origin both of the Efquimaux and of the other Indians of America from the old world, fhould never have explained to us how the former came to retain their beards, and the latter to lay them afide. To afcertain the authenticity of this point may perhaps prove of little real utility to mankind: but the fingularity of the fact certainly claims the attention of the curious; and as it is impoffible to fix any limits to the inferences which may at one time or another be drawn from alleged facts, it must always be of confequence to inquire into the authenticity of thofe facts, how little interesting foever they may at prefent appear.

I will not by any means take upon me to say, that there are not nations of America deftitute of beards; but ten years refidence at Niagara, in the midst of the Six-Nations (with frequent opportunities of feeing other nations of Indians) has convinced me, that they do not difkr from the rest of men in this parVOL. IV. N° 19.

ticular, more than one European differs from another and as this imperfection has been attributed to the Indians of North-America é qually with those of the reft of the Continent, I am much inclined to think, that this affertion is as void of foundation in one region as it is in the other.

All the Indians of North Ame rica (except a very fmall number, who, from living among white peo ple, have adopted their customs) pluck out the hairs of the beard; and, as they begin this from its first appearance, it must naturally be fuppofed, that to a fuperficial observer their faces will feem fmooth and beardless. As further proof that they have beards, we may observe, firft, that they all have an instru ment for the purpose of plucking them out. Secondly, that when they neglect this for any time, several hairs fprout up, and are feen upon the chin and face. Thirdly, that many Indians allow tufts of hair to grow upon their chins or upper lips, refembling those we see in different nations of the old world. Fourthly, that feveral of the Mohocks, Delawares, and others, who live amongst white people, fometimes fhave with razors, and fometimes pluck their beards out.

These are facts which are notorious amongst the Army, Indian Traders, &c. and which are never doubted in that part of the world by any perfon in the least converfant with Indians: but as it is difficult to transport a matter of belief from one country to another di. ftant one, and as the authors who have maintained the contrary opinion are too refpectable to be doubt. ed upon light grounds, I by no means intend to reft the proofs upon

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what has been faid, or upon my fingle affertion.

I have provided myfelf with two authorities, which I apprehend may in this cafe be decifive. One is Colonel Butler, Deputy Superintendent of India Affairs, well known in the late American war, whofe great and extenfive influence amongst the Six-Nations could not have been acquired by any thing lefs than his long and intimate kuowledge of them and their language. The other authority is that of Thayendanega, commonly known by the name of Captain Jofeph Brant, a Mohock Indian of great influence, and much fpoken of in the late war. He was in England in 1775, and writes and fpeaks the English language with tolerable accuracy. I fhall therefore only fubjoin their opinions upon this matter, the originals of which I have under their own fignatures.

Colonel BUTLER'S.

THE men of the Six-Nation Indians have all heards naturally, as have all the other nations of NorthAmerica which I have had an opportunity of feeing. Several of the Mohocks fhave with razors, as do likewife many of the Panees, who are kept as flaves by the Europeans. But in general the Indians pluck out the beard by the roots from its earlieft appearance; and as their faces are therefore fmooth, it has been fuppofed that they were deftitute of beards. I am even of opinion, that if the Indians were to practife fhaving from their youth, many of them would have as ftrong beards as Euro peans.

(Signed) JOHN BUTLER. Agent of Indian Affars.

Niagara, April 12. 1784.

Captain BRANT'S.

THE Men of the Six-Nations have all beards by nature; as have likewife cther Indian nations of North

America which I have seen. Some Indians allow a part of the beard upon the chin and upper lip to grow, and a few of the Mohocks fhave with razors in the fame manner as Europeans: but the generality pluck out the hairs of the beard by the roots as foon as they begin to appear; and as they continue this practice all their lives, they appear to have no beard, or at most only a few ftraggling hairs which they have neglected to pluck out. I am, however, of opinion, that if the Indians were to fhave, they would never have beards altogether fo thick as the Europeans; and there are fome to be met with who have actually very little beard. (Signed)

Jos. BRANT THAYENDANEGA. Nigara, April 19. 1783.

Upon this fubject I fhall only further obferve, that it has been fuppofed by fome, that this appearance of beard on Indians arifes only from a mixture of European blood; and that an Indian of pure race is entirely deftitute of it. But the nations, amongst whom this circumftance can have any influence, bear fo fmall a proportion to the multitude who are unaffected by it, that it cannot by any means be confidered as the caufe; nor is it looked upon as fuch either by Captain Brant or Colonel Butler.

I fhall here fubjoin a few particulars relative to the Indians of the six-Nations, which, as they feem not to be well understood even in America, are probably ftill lefs known in Europe My authorities upon this fubject, as well as upon the former, are the Indian Captain Brant and Colonel Butler.

Each nation is divided into three or more tribes; the principal of which are called the Turtle-Tribe, the WolfTribe, and the Bear-Tribe.

Each tribe has two, three, oʻ more chiefs, called Sachems; and ths

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Cuftoms of the Indians of North America.

distinction is always hereditary in the family, but defcends along the female line; fór inftance, if a chief dies, one of his fifter's fons, or one of his own brothers, will be appointed to fucceed him. Among these, no preference is given to proximity or primogeniture; but the Sachem, during his lifetime, pitches upon one whom he fuppofes to have more abilities than the reft; and in this choice he frequently, though not always, confults the principal men of the tribe. If the fucceffor happens to be a child, the offices of the poft are performed by fome of his friends until he is of fufficient age to act himself.

Each of these pofts of Sachem has a name which is peculiar to it, and which never changes, as it is always adopted by the fucceffor; nor does the order of precedency of each of thefe names or titles ever vary. Nevertheless any Sachem, by abilities and activity, may acquire greater power and influence in the nation than those who rank before him in point of precedency; but this is merely temporary, and dies with him. Each tribe has one or two chief warriors; which dignity is also hereditary, and has a peculiar name attached to it.

Thefe are the only titles of diftinction which are fixed and permanent in the nation; for although any Indian may by fuperior talents, either as a counfellor or as a warrior, acquire influence in the nation, yet it is not in his power to tranfmit this to his family.

The Indians have alfo their great women as well as their great men, to whofe opinions they pay great deference; and this diftinction is alfo hereditary in families. They do not fit in council with the Sachems, but have feparate ones of their own.

When war is declared, the Sa chems and great women generally

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give up the management of public affairs into the hands of the warriors. It may, however, fo happen, that a Sachem may at the fame time be alfo a chief warrior.

Friendships feem to have been inftituted with a view towards ftrengthening the union between the feveral nations of the confederacy; and hence friends are called the finews of the Six-Nations. An Indian has therefore generally one or more friends in each nation. Befides the attachmen which fubfifts during the life-time of the two friends, whenever one of them happens to be killed, it is incumbent on the furvivor to replace him, by prefenting to his family either a fcalp, a prifoner, or a belt confifting of fome thousands of wampum; and this ceremony is performed by every friend of the deceased.

The purpofe and foundation of war-parties therefore, is, in general, to procure a prifoner or fcalp to replace the friend or relation of the Indian who is the head of the party. An Indian who wishes to replace a friend or relation, prefents a belt to his acquaintance, and as many as choose to follow him accept this belt and become his party. After this, it is of no confequence whether he goes on the expedition or remains at home (as it often happens that he is a child), he is still confidered as the head of the party. The belt he prefented to his party is returned fixed to the fcalp or prifoner, and paffes along with them to the friends of the perfon he replaces. Hence it hap pens, that a war party, returning with more fcalps or prifoners than the original intention of the party required, will often give one of these fupernumerary fcalps or prifoners to another war-party whom they meet going out; upon which this party, having fulfilled the purpofe of their expedition, will fometimes return without going to war. Phil. Trans.

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Extract from the Journal of WILLIAM DOWSING of Stratford, Parliamentary Vifitor, appointed under a Warrant from the Earl of Manchester, for Demolishing the fuperftitious Pictures and Ornaments of Churches, &c. within the County of Suffolk, in the Year 1643,-1644.

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TOWARD the latter end of the reign of Henry VIII. and throughout the whole reign of Edward VI. and in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth, certain perfons, of every county, were put in authority to pull down, and caft out of all churches, roods, graven images, fhrines with their relics, to which the ignorant people came flocking in adoration; or any thing elfe, which (punctually) tended to idolatry and fuperftition. Under colour of this their commiffion, and in their too forward zeal, they rooted up and battered down croffes in churches and church-yards as alfo in other public places, they defaced and brake down the images of kings, princes, and noble eftates, erected, fet up, or portraied, for the only memory of them to pofterity, and not for any religious honour: they crackt apieces the glass windows wherein the effigies of our bleffed Saviour hanging on the cross, or any one of his faints, was depictured; or otherwise turned up their heels into the place where their heads used to be fixed; as I have seen in the windows of fome of our country churches. They defpoiled churches of their copes, veftments, amices, rich hangings, and all other ornaments whereupon the ftory or the portraiture of Christ himself, or of any faint or martyr, was delineated, wrought, or embroidered; leaving religion naked, bare, and unclad.

But the fouleft and moft inhuman action of thofe times, was the violation of funeral monuments. Marbles which covered the dead were digged up, and put to other uses;

tombs hacked and hewn a-pieces; images or reprefentations of the defunct broken, erazed, cut, or difmembered; infcriptions, or epitaphs, especially if they began with an Orate pro anima, or concluded with Cujus anima propitietur Deus, for greediness of the brafs, or for that they were thought to be antichriftian, pulled out from the fepulchres, and purloined; dead carcafes, for gain of their ftone or leaden coffins, caft out of their graves, notwithstanding this requeft, cut or engraven upon them, Propter mifericordiam Jefu requiefcant in pace

What was thought to be left unfinished by thofe perfons then in power, the fanatical zeal of the fucceeding century pretty fully accomplished. A reference to this Journal alone, is fufficient to fhow, how far the Ignorance and Obftinacy of felfish Men may be perfifted in, and carried on, against the remonftrances of fober and moderate reason.

SUDBURY, Suffolk. Peter's Parifh. Jan. the 9th, 1643. We brake down a picture of God the Father, two crucifix's, and pictures of Christ, about an hundred in all; and gave order to take down a cross off the fteeple; and diverfe angels, twenty at leaft, on the roof of the Church.

Sudbury, Gregory parish. Jan. the 9th. We brake down ten mighty great angels in glafs, in all, eighty.

Allhallows, Jan. the 9th. We brake about twenty fuperftitious pictures; and took up thirty brazen fuperftitious infcriptions, Ora pro nobis, and Pray for the foul, &c.

Suffolk. At Haver!. Jan. the 6th,

Weever's Difcourfe on Funeral Monuments, par. I. li.

1643.

'Journal of William Dowling.

1643. We broke down about an hundred fuperftitious pictures; and feven Fryars hugging a nun.

At Clare, January the 6th. We brake down one thousand pictures fuperftitious; I brake down two hundred; three of God the Father, and three of Chrift and the Holy Lamb, and three of the Holy Ghoft like a dove with wings; and the twelve apostles were carved in wood on the top of the roof, which we gave order to take down; and twenty cherubims to be taken down; and the Sun and Moon in the eaft win dow, by the King's arms, to be taken down.

Barham, Jan. the 22d. We brake down the twelve apoftles in the Chancel, and fix fuperftitious more there; and eight in the church, one a lamb with a cross X on the back; and digged down the fteps; and took up four superstitious infcriptions of brafs, one of them Jefu, Fili Dei, miferere mei, and O mater Dei, memento mei,- mother of God, have mercy on me!

Ufford, Jan. the 27th. We brake down thirty fuperftitious pictures; and gave direction to take down thirty-feven more; and forty cherubims to be taken down of wood; and the chancel levelled. There was a picture of Chrift on the cross, and God the Father above it; and left thirty-feven fuperftitious pictures to be taken down, and took up fix fuperftitious infcriptions in brass..

Copdock, Jan. the 29th. I brake down one hundred and fifty fuperftitious pictures, two of God the Father, and two crucifixes; did deface a cross on the font; and gave order to take down a ftoneing crofs on the chancel, and to level the steps; and took up a brafs infcription, with Ora pro nobis, and Cujus anima prepitietur Deus.

Bramford, Feb. the 1ft. A cross to be taken off the fteeple; we

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brake down eight hundred and fortyone fuperftitious pictures; and gave order to take down the fteps, and gave a fortnight's time; and took up three infcriptions, with Ora pro nobis, and Cujus animæ propitietur Deus.

Feb. the 3d. Wenham Magna. There was nothing to reform.

Feb. the 3d. We were at the Lady Bruce's houfe, and in her Chappel there was a picture of God the Father, of the Trinity, of Chrift, and the Holy Ghoft, the cloven tongues; which we gave order to take down, and the Lady promised to do it.

Wetherden, Feb. the 5th. We brake one hundred fuperftitious pictures in Sir Edward Silliard's Ifle; and gave order to break down fixty more, and to take down fixty eight cherubims, and to level the fteps in the Chancel; there was taken up nineteen fuperftitious infcriptions, that weighed fixty-five pounds.

Feb. the 23d. At Mr Captain Waldgrave's Chappel, in Buers, there was a picture of God the Father, and divers others fuperftitious pictures, twenty at least, which they promised to break, his daughter and fervants; he himself was not at home, neither could they find the key of the Chappel. I had not the 6s. 8d. yet promifed it. And gave order to take down a crofs.

Buers, Feb. the 23d. We brake down above fix hundred fuperftitious pictures, eight Holy Ghofts, three of God the Father, and three of the Son. We took up five infcriptions of Quarum animalis propitietur Deus; one Pray for the foul; and fuperftitions in the windows, and fome divers of the apoftles.

Stradbrook, April the 4th. Eight angels off the roof, and cherubims in wood, to be taken down; and four croffes on the fteeple; and one on the church; and one on the porch; and feventeen pictures in the upper

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