method of making peace, and renewing friendjlnp. 169
he is drinking the Cufleena, and dance before him with the eagles tails. When two chieftains are renewing, or perpetuating friendmip with each other, they are treated with the fame ceremonies. And in their circular friendly daaces, when they honour their guefts, and pledge themfelves t keep good faith with them, they fometimes fing their divine notes with. a very awful air, pointing their right hand towards the fky. Some years ago, I faw the Kooafahte Indians (two hundred miles up Mobille river) perform this rite with much folemnity ; as if invoking the deity by their notes and geftures, to enable them to mew good-will to their fellow- creatures, and to bear witnefs of their faithful vows and conducl. This cuftom is plainly not derived from the old Scythians, or any other part of the heathen world. Their forms and ufages when they made peace, or pledged faith, and contracted friendfhip with each other, were widely dif ferent : but to thofe of the Jews it hath the neareft refemblance.
��ARGUMENT XVII.
��The Indian origin and defcent may alfo be in fome rrueafure difcerne& by their tafte for, and kind of ORNAMENTS.
The Ifraelites were fond of wearing beads and other ornaments, everi as early as the patriarchal age, and the tafte increafed to fuch a degree that it became criminal, and was fharply reprehended by the prophets, particularly Ifaiah. The Ifraelitiili women wore rich garters about their legs, and againft the rules of modefty, they fhortened their under garments, in or der to Ihew how their legs and feet were decorated j Ifaiah, chap. iii. i S. " The Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet," which loaded them fo heavy that they could fcarcely walk ; and ver. 19, 20, 21. " The chains and the bracelets The ornaments of the legs and the ear-rings The rings and nofe jewels." In refemblance to thefe cufloms, the Indian females continually wear a beaded firing round their legs, made of buffalo- hair, which is a fpecies of coarfe wool ; and they reckon it a great ornament, as well as a prefervative againft mif- .carriages, hard labour, and other evils. They wear alfo a heap of land
Z tortoife-
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