ORIGIN



OF THE



  Santini, whom we have so often quoted, describes
very minutely all their dances; but the observations of
Abernethy, will, we hope, suffice to give the reader an
idea of them all. Without alluding particularly to the
Coriaks, Kamschadales, Yakutsi, and the Okotsi, we
shall only say, that dances of a similar nature are com-
mon among them as well as the Toncusi.



-,_ .-



SACRIFICES AMONG THE NORTH
                  INDIANS.



AMERICAN



  The North American Indians make to all their spirits
different sorts of offerings, which may be called sacri-
fices. They throw into the lakes tobacco or birds that
have had their thioats cut, to render the gods of the
waters propitious to them. In honour of the Sun, and
sometimes also of the inferior spirits, they throw into the
fire a part of every thing they use, and which they
acknowledge to hold from them. It is sometimes out
of gratitude, but oftener through interest; their acknow-
ledgement is also interested; for these people have no
sentiments of the heart towards their deities. There
have been observed also on certain occasions some liba-
tions, and all this is accompanied with invocations in
mysterious terms, Which the savages could never explain
to the Europeans, either that in fact they have no mean-
ing, or that the sense of them has not been transmitted
by tradition with the words; perhaps also they keep it
as a secret from us.
  We learn also that collars of porcelain, tobacco, ears
of maize, skins and whole animals, especially dogs, were
found on the sides of difficult and dangerous ways, on
rocks, or by the side of the falls; and- these were so many
offerings made to the spirits which presided in these
places. We have already said that a dog is the common
victim which they offer them; sometimes they hang hini



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