tures of this country by a peculiar magnificence. The mountains of America are much superior in height to those in the other divisions of the globe. The most elevated point of the Andes in South America, according to Don Ulloa, is twenty thousand two hundred and eighty feet above the level of the sea; which is at least two thousand one hundred and two feet above the peak of Teneriffe, which is the highest known mountain in the ancient continent.

From the lofty and extensive mountains of America, descend rivers, with which the streams of Europe, Asia, or Africa, are not to be compared, either for length, or for the vast bodies of water, which they pour into the ocean. The Danube, the Indus, the Ganges, or the Nile, are not of equal magnitude, with the St. Lawrence, the Missouri, or the Mississippi, in North America; or with the Maragnon, the Orinoco, or the La Plata, in South America.

The lakes of the New World are not less conspicuous for grandeur than its mountains and rivers. There is nothing in the other parts of the globe which resemble the prodigious chain of lakes in North America; they might with propriety, be termed inland seas of fresh water; even those of the second or third class, in magnitude, are of larger circuit (the Caspian sea excepted) than the greatest lake of the ancient continent.

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Various causes have been assigned for the remarkable difference between the climate of the New continent and the Old. The opinion of the celebrated Dr. Robertson, on this subject, claims our attention. "Though the utmost extent of America towards "the north, be not yet discovered, we know that it advances nearer the pole than either Europe or Asia. The latter have large seas to the north, which are open during part of the year; and 66 even when covered with ice, the wind that blows over them "is less intensely cold, than that which blows over land in the 66 same latitudes. But in America, the land stretches from the "river St. Lawrence towards the pole, and spreads out immense"ly to the west. A chain of enormous mountains, covered with "snow and ice, runs through all this dreary region. The wind "passing over such an extent of high and frozen land, becomes "so impregnated with cold, that it acquires a piercing keenness, "which it retains in its progress through warmer climates; and "is not entirely mitigated, until it reaches the gulf of Mexico. Over all the continent of North America, a north-westerly wind "and excessive cold, are terms synonimous. Even in the most " sultry weather, the moment that the wind veers to that quarter, "its penetrating influence is felt in a transition from heat to cold "no less violent than sudden. To this powerful cause we may "ascribe the extraordinary dominion of cold, and its violent in"roads into the southern provinces in that part of the globe.”

Of the manners and customs of the North Americans, the following is the most consistent account that can be collected from the best informed, and most impartial writers.

When the Europeans first arrived in America, they found the Indians quite naked, except those parts which the most unculti vated savages usually conceal. Since that time, however, they generally use a coarse blanket, which they obtain of the neighbouring planters, in exchange for furs and other articles. Their huts or cabins are made of stakes of wood driven into the ground, and covered with branches of trees or reeds. They lie on the floor, either on mats, or the skins of wild beasts. Their dishes are of wood, and their spoons of the skulls of wild oxen, and sometimes of laurel, a hardy wood, very suitable for the purpose; their knives and hatchets are made of flint or other stone. A kettle, and a large plate, constitute almost the whole utensils of the fa mily. Their diet consists chiefly on what they procure by hunting; and saganite, or pottage, is likewise one of the most common kinds of food. The most honourable furniture amongst them is a collection of the scalps of their enemies: with these they ornament their huts, which are esteemed in proportion to the number of this horrid sort of spoils.

The character of the Indians, is only to be known by their cir cumstances and way of passing through life. Constantly employed in procuring a precarious subsistence, by hunting wild animals, and often engaged in war, it cannot be expected, that they enjoy much gaiety of temper, or a high flow of spirits. They are therefore generally grave, approaching to sadness: they have none of that giddy vivacity, peculiar to some nations of Europe, but despise it. Their behaviour to those about them is regular, modest, and respectful. They seldom speak but when they have some thing important to observe; and all their actions, words, and eveu looks are attended with some meaning. Their subsistence depends entirely on what they procure with their hands; and their lives, their honour, and every thing dear to them, may be lost by the smallest inattention to the designs of their enemies. As no particular object has power to attach them to one place more than another, they go wherever the necessaries of life can be cured in the greatest abundance. The different tribes, or nations, when compared with civilized societies, are extremely small.. These tribes often live at an immense distance; they are separated by a desert frontier, and hid in the bosom of impenetrable woods, and almost boundless fo forests.

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There is in each society, a certain kind of government, which, with very little deviation, prevails over the whole continent; their manners and way of life, are nearly similar and uniform. An Indian has no method by which he can render himself considerable, among his companions, but by his personal accomplish

ments, either of body or mind; but, as nature has not been very lavish in these distinctions, where all enjoy the same education, all are pretty much upon an equality, and will desire to remain so. Liberty is therefore the prevailing passion of the American Indians; and their government, under the influence of this sentiment, is perhaps better secured, than by the wisest political regulations. They are very far, however, from despising all sort of authority they are attentive to the voice of wisdom, which experience has confirmed on the aged, and they enlist under the banners of the chief, in whose valour and military address, they have learned to repose a just and merited confidence.

Among those tribes which are most engaged in war, the power of the chief is naturally predominant; because the idea of having a military leader was the first source of his superiority; and the continued exigencies of the state requiring such a leader, will enhance it. His power, however, is rather persuasive than coercive, he is reverenced as a father, rather than feared as a monarch. He has no guards, no prisons, no officers of justice: and, one act of ill-judged violence, would pull him from his humble throne.

The elders, in the other form of government, which may be considered as a mild and nominai aristocracy, have no more power. Age alone is sufficient for acquiring respect, influence, and authority; experience alone, is the only source of knowledge among a savage people.

Among the Indians, business is conducted with the utmost simplicity, and recalls, to those who are acquainted with antiquity, a fively representation of the early ages. The heads of families meet together in a house or cabin, appointed for the purpose: here the business is discussed: and here those of the nation distinguished for their eloquence or wisdom, have an opportunity of displaying their talents. Their orators, like those of Homer, express themselves in a bold, figurative style, more strong than refined, with gestur violent, but natural and expressive. When the business is over, and they happen to be well provided with food, they appoint a feast upon the occasion, of which almost the whole nation partake; the feast is accompanied with a song, in which the exploits of their forefathers are celebrated. They have dances too, but chiefly of the military kind, like the Greeks and Romans, which inspire the younger with a martial spirit.

To assist their memory, they have belts of small shells (wampum) or beads, of different colours, each representing a different object, which is marked by their colour or arrangement. At the conclusion of every subject on which they discourse, when they treat with a foreign state, they deliver one of those belts; for, if this ceremony should be omitted, all that they have said for nothing. These belts are carefully deposited in each town as the public records of the nation; and to them they occasionally have

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recourse, when any public contest happens with a neighbouring tribe. Of late, as the materials of which those belts are made have become scarce, they often give some skin in the place of the wampum; and receive in return, presents of a more valuable kind, from the commissioners appointed to treat with them; for they never consider a treaty of any weight, unless every article in it be ratified by some gratification.

It sometimes happens, that those different tribes or nations, scattered as they are, at an immense distance from one another, meet in their excursions whilst hunting. If there subsist no animosity between them, they behave in the most friendly and courteous manner; but, if they happen to be in a state of war, or, if there has been no previous intercourse between them, all who are not friends are deemed enemies, and they fight with the most savage fury.

War, hunting, and fishing, are the principal employments of the men; almost every other concern is consigned to the

women.

The most prevailing motive with the Indians for entering into a war, if it does not arise from an accidental rencounter, is either to revenge themselves for the death of some lost friends, or to acquire prisoners, who may assist them in their hunting, and whom they adopt into their society. These wars are either undertaken by some private adventurers, or by the whole community. In the latter case, all young men who desire to go out to battle (for no one is compelled contrary to his inclination) give a piece of wood to the chief, as a token of their design to accompany him. The chief who is to conduct the enterprize fasts several days, and carefully observes his dreams during that time: which the presumption natural navages mostly renders as favourable as he could desire. of other superstitious ceremonies are

observed.

The war kettle is set on the fire, as an elem that they are going out to devour their enemies; which, among these nations, it is probable, was formerly the case: since they still continue to express it in clear terms, and use an emblem significant of the ancient usage. Then they despatch a cup or large shell to their allies; inviting them to join in the destruction of their enemies, and drink their blood; for, like the ancient Greeks, they think that those in their alliance, must not only adopt their quarrels, but that they must also have their resentments wound up to the same high pitch with themselves.

There are no people who carry their friendships or resentments 20 far as they do; this naturally results from their peculiar circumstances. The Americans live in small societies, accus tomed to see but few objects and few persons: to be deprived of these objects to which they are so closely attached, renders ther

miserable. Their ideas are too confind to enable them to entertain just sentiments of humanity, or universal benevolence. But this very circumstance, while it makes them cruel and savage to an incredible degree, towards those with whom they are at war, adds a new force to their particular friendships, and to the common tie which unites the members of the same tribe, or those in alliance with them.

Without attending to this reflection, some facts which immediately follow would excite our wonder, without informing our reason; and we would be bewildered in a number of particulars, seemingly opposite to one another, without being sensible of the general cause from which they proceed.

The

Having finished all the ceremonies previous to the war, and the appointed day for setting out on their expedition has arrived, they take leave of their friends, and exchange their clothes, or whatever moveables they have, in token of mutual friendship; after which they proceed from the town, their wives and female relations, walking before, and attending them to some distance. warriors march dressed in all their finery, and most showy apparel without any order. The chief walks slowly before them, singing the war song; while the rest observe the most profound silence. When they come up to their women, they deliver to them all their ornaments, and putting on their worst clothes, proceed on their expedition.

Every nation has its peculiar ensign or standard, which is generally a representation of some beast, bird, or fish. Those among the Five Nations, are the bear, otter, wolf, tortoise, and eagle, and by those names the tribes are usually distinguished. They have the figures of those animals pricked and painted on several parts of their bodies: and when they march through the woods, they commonly, at every encampment, cut the representation of their ensign on trees, especially after a successful cam paign marking at the same time, the number of scalps, and prisoners they have taken.

Their military dress is very singular: they cut off, or pull out, all their bai, except a spot about the breadth of two crownpieces, near the top of their heads, and entirely destroy their eye brows: the lock left upon their heads, they divide into several parcels: each of which is stiffened and adorned with wampum, beads, and feathers of various kinds; the whole twisted into a form resembling the modern pompoon. Their heads are painted red down to the eyes, and sprinkled over with white down. The gristles of their ears are split almost around, and distended with wires or splinters, so as to meet and tie together at the nape of the neck; these are also hung with some ornaments, and generally bear the representation of some bird or beast. Their noses are likewise bored, and hung with trinkets or beads, and their