tions, pretending to be inspired by certain spirits, and in their name denouncing whatever their frenzy or interest suggests. But whilst these frantic creatures are haranguing, the other continue feasting and dancing, till they abandon themselves indiscriminately to the gratification of their passions, alike regardless of modesty and decorum.

At these feasts, the priests do not omit exercising that authority which they owe to the fears or ignorance of the people, celebrating some as brave and generous; upbraiding others with cowardice and wickedness, and even commanding them to expiate their faults by rigid abstinence, or by clearing the ways along the highest mountains, for the more easy descent of the visiting spirit when it comes to see them.

These priests are the only physicians among the Californians; and their medicines are always administered with great ostentation and solemnity. When all their prescriptions prove ineffectual, they assemble all the patient's relations, and if he have a daughter or sister, they cut off the little finger of her right hand, pretending that the consequent effusion of blood will either relieve the pains of the dying man or remove from the family all sorrow for his death. Then are introduced all the inhabitants of the rancheria, who, being acquainted with their neighbour's desperate condition, set up a confused howling, occasionally covering their faces; whilst the women increase the horror of the scene by their passionate cries and exclamations.

The howling being ended, the patient requests his visitors to suck and blow him, in the same manner as the physician had previously done,

This is by filling a stone tube with tobacco, applying one end of it to the part affected, and then, with their mouth at the other end, sometimes sucking up the smoke, at others blowing it through the tube with all their force. This

office is performed by every person present, as this and the strength of their cries are accounted the strongest proofs of affection. The doctors then thrust their hands into the sick man's mouth, pretending to pluck death forcibly out of his body; and the women give him several smart strokes, in order to rouse him; till at length the poor wretch breathes his last, and is taken out to be burnt or buried as is most convenient. The fune ral is performed without any preparation, and with little ceremony, except that of burning or burying with the deceased all his utensils; and so little do they enquire into the reality of a man's death previously to the burning or interment, that the missionaries have sometimes discovered a person on the funeral pile with evident remains of life, and have snatched them from impending destruction.

The government of the Californians cannot be supposed to exceed the narrow limits of their capacity, there being among them neither divisions of lands nor complaints of illegal intrusions. Every nation consists of several ranchieras, more or less in number according to the fertility of the soil, and each ranchiera consists of several families, united by the ties of consanguinity; but when the missionaries first came among them, neither the ranchieras nor the nations appeared to have any regular chief, to whom they paid tribute or obedience. We have already observed that the priests possessed considerable authority, but this was only seen

at their festivals, or during the time of sickness or other incidents, which excited the fear or superstitious veneration of the populace. All the families in a ranchiera seemed to govern themselves according to their own fancy; and even the natural obedience from children to their parents was very little, after the former were able to provide for themselves. In some of the ranchieras, however, the missionaries found one or two persons who gave orders for gathering the products of the earth, directed the fisheries, and headed the mili tary expeditions, in case of a quarrel with any other nation. This dignity was not obtained by descent, seniority, nor election; but the necessity of applying for instruction to one or more, on some common exigency, rendered it natural that he who was the most valiant, expert, or eloquent, should be promoted to the command; yet his authority was limited to certain terms, imposed by the fancy of those who quietly submitted to him. This leader conducted his people to the forests and seacoasts in quest of food; sent and received messages to and from the neighbouring ranchieras; spirited them up to the revenge of injuries, whether real or feigned, received from other nations; and headed them in all their ravages and depredations. But in all other particulars, every man was entire master of his own liberty.

After this ample description of the customs, manners, religion and government of the Indians of North America, it seems proper to take some notice of the civilized inhabitants of the United States, who now bid fair to attain a very considerable rank among the nations of the earth, both with respect to their numbers, opulence, and literary attainments.-The inhabitants of New

England are, for the most part, of English descent; and it is owing to this circumstance and to the general attention paid to education, that the English language has been preserved among them in great purity. Some travellers, indeed, have observed that a New Englander may be easily known by the flat drawling manner in which he pronounces certain words; but this observation seems to apply principally to the peasantry; and, in that sense, the same may be said of a Pennsyl vanian, a Virginian, or a Carolinian, for all have some phrases and modes of pronunciation peculiar to themselves. But, as Dr. Morse justly observes, "Men of eminence in the several learned professions ought to be considered as forming the standard of pronunciation for their respective states; and not that class of people who have imbibed the habit of using a number of ridiculous phrases, and who likewise pronounce badly."

The New Englanders are, in general, tall, stout, and well proportioned. Their education, laws, and situation, serve to inspire them with high notions of liberty; and they glory in professing that spirit of freedom which induced their ancestors to brave, the dangers of the ocean and the hardships of settling a wilderness. A law respecting the descent of estates which are generally held in fee simple, is the chief foundation and protection of their liberty. By this law, the possessions of a father are equally divided among all his children, excepting the eldest son, who has a double portion; and thus a happy mediocrity is preserved among the people, which removes temptations to luxury, and forms them to habits of temperance and sobriety; at the same time that their industry

and economy exempt them from the inconveniences of want.

From the general establishment of schools and the extensive circulation of newspapers in this country, there is scarcely an adult to be found who cannot both read and write; and every township is furnished with men capable of conducting the affairs of their town with judgment and discretion. The people from their childhood form habits of canvassing public affairs, and imbibe a thirst after knowledge which leads them to be very inquisitive. "A very considerable part of the people, says Dr. Morse, have either too much or too little learning to make peaceable subjects. They know enough, however, to think they know a great deal, when in fact they know but little. Each man has his independent system of politics; and each assumes a dictatorial office. Hence originates that restless, litigious, complaining spirit which forms a dark shade in the character of New Englandmen."

Previously to the late war, the sabbath was observed in New England with peculiar strictness; no unnecessary travelling, secular business, visiting, nor diversions being allowed on that sacred day; but the people considered it as consecrated to divine worship, and were generally punctual and serious in their attendance upon it. Since the war, greater freedoms have been allowed; but there is still one distinguishing characteristic in the religious character of the New Englanders which we must not omit; and that is the custom of annually celebrating fasts and thanksgivings. In the spring, the several governors appoint a day to be religiously observed in fasting, prayer, and humiliation, throughout their respective states; and in autumn, after harvest, new proclamations