NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.



"But, besides the Supreme Being, they



bel



finite number of subaltern spirits, who are
worship. These they divide into good at
good spirits are called by the Hurons, Ok)
gonquins, Mantitous. They suppose them I
dians of men, and that each has his tutelar
fact, every thing in nature has its spirit, thou2
the same rank northe same influence. The
hunt have their spirits. If they do not uT]
thing, they immediately say, it is a spirit.
performs a remarkable exploit,-his tutelary
posed to be of more than ordinary power.
  C 1 It is remarkable, however, that these ft



are not supp
something h
who wishes
blackens- his
days. Durir
reveal himse



0   *
jeve in an'l
the objects
id bad. T
ets, by the.,
:o be the gu
'y Deity.
1* ...



inen
of
'he
Al-
ar-
In



rfl all have not
, animals they
iderstand any
  If any man
  deity is sup-



itelarv deities



                                  a,,
osed to take nien under their protection till
as been done to merit the favor. A parent
to obtain a guardian spirit for his child, first
face, and then causes him to fast for several
ig this time it is expected that the spirit will
If in a dream; and on this account, the child



is anxiously examined every morning with regard to the
visions of the preceding night. Whatever the child hap;
pens to dream of most frequently, even if it happens to be
the head of a bird1 the foot of an animal, or any thing of
the most worthless nature, becomes the symbol or fiaure
under which the Okki reveals himself. With this figure,
in the conceptions of his votary, the spirit becomes identi.-
fied; the image is preserved with the greatest care-is the
constant companion on all great important occasions, and
the constant object of consultation and worship."
   As soon as a child is informed what is the nature or
form of his protecting deity, he. is carefully instructed in
the obligations he is under to do him homage-to' follow
his advice communicated in dreams-to deserve his fa-
vours -to confide implicitly in his care-and to dread the
consequences of his displeasure. For this reason, when



I



4Charlevoix, journal, &c. let. xxiv. p. 345-6.
                  10



105



4