Adair's History of the American IndiansAdair, James
History
Adair's History of the American Indians
Adair, James
Indians -- Origin; Indians of North America -- Southern States
The method the Chikkasah prophet used in relating the affair, has some
humour in it—for their ignorance of the christian religion, and
institutions, perplexes them when they are on the subject; on which
account I shall literally transcribe it.
He told me, that the Chikkasah warriors during three successive days,
accompanied the French _Loáche_ and _Ishtohoollo_ to the great beloved
house, where a large bell hung a-top, which strange sight exceedingly
surprized {93} them; for, instead of being fit for a horse, it would
require a great many ten horses to carry it. Around the inside of the
beloved house, there was a multitude of he and she beloved people, or
male and female saints or angels, whose living originals, they affirmed
dwelt above the clouds, and helped them to get every good thing from
_Ishtohoollo Aba_, when they earnestly crave their help. The French
beloved men spoke a great deal with much warmth; the rest were likewise
busily employed in imitation of their _Ishtohoollo_ and _Loáche_. At one
time they spoke high, at another low. One chose this, and another chose
that song. Here the men kneeled before the images of their she-beloved
people; there the women did the like before their favourite and beloved
he-pictures, entreating them for some particular favour which they stood
in need of. Some of them, he said, made very wild motions over their
heads and breasts; and others struck their stomachs with a vehemence
like their warriors, when they drink much _Ookka Homma_, “bitter
waters,” or spirituous liquor; while every one of them had a bunch of
mixed beads, to which they frequently spoke, as well as counted over;
that they loved these beads, for our people strictly observed, they did
not give them to their _Loáche_ and _Ishtohoollo_, as the red people
would have done to those of their own country, though it was very plain
they deserved them, for beating themselves so much for the young
people’s roguish actions; and likewise for labouring so strongly in
pulling off their clothes, and putting them on again, to make the
beloved physic work, which they took in small pieces, to help to bring
on the rain. On the third day (added he) they brought it down in great
plenty, which was certainly a very difficult performance; and as
surprizing too, that they who are always, when opportunity answers,
persuading the red people to take up the bloody hatchet against their
old steady friends, should still have the beloved speech, which
_Ishtohoollo Aba Eloa_ formerly spoke to his beloved _Loáche_.——Thus
ended our friendly discourse.
ARGUMENT VIII.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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