7. Miscellaneous l'articula•8 respecting tln• tryrd ./Inicrica • The first of these which merits our attention, in a general article of this kind, is the use of tobacco. The practice of smoking is common among all the Indian tribes which Europeans have had an opportunity of ex amining. It forms a part of every entertainment ; and in the intervals of hunting, sleeping, and eating, it occu pies no small portion of their time. In many of theit religious ceremonies, tobacco is used, either as an of fering to their divinity, or in order to produce a tempo rary enthusiasm among the worshippers ; and instances have been mentioned, where it has been taken in such extraordinary that death has been the unavoid able consequence.
The practice of dancing is likewise general through out the American continent. When the native of the western hemisphere has the prospect of engaging in the dance, he shakes off his slumbers and his indolence ; he rises from the shade under which he has reposed, or springs from his mat ; and becoming at once active and frolicsome, he prepares to acquit himself with the ut most exertion of his dexterity. Among the savages of the New World, this amusement is to be considered rather as a business than a pastime. It mingles with all the serious occupations of life. When war is to be pro claimed, it is done by means of a dance, in which they express their resentment, and the plan of operations which they design to follow ; and when an alliance is concluded, or peace is restored, a movement of a simi lar kind, but corresponding to the change of circum stances, takes place. If a child is born or dies, if they bewail the loss of a chief, or lament the death of a friend ; if any thing important and interesting has oc curred, the expression of their feelings is still the same. All the dances of the Indians are of that kind which may be styled descriptive.* They are intended to exhibit some action, or series of actions, generally relating to war ; and the imitation is often so close, and so happily executed, that the most indifferent spectator can disco ver the intention of the performers. The following list of the dances in use among the North Americans has been given by Mr Long. Sec Travels., p. 55.
1. The calumet dance. 7. The prisoner's dance.
2. The war dance. 8. The return dance, S. The chief's dance. 9. The spear dance.
4. The set out dance. 10. The marriage dance.
5. The scalp dance. 1 I. The sacrifice dance.
6. The dead dance.
Of all these, the war dance is the most remarkable, and is frequently composed of several of the other dan ces. It is the exact image of an Indian campaign. It represents the departure of the warriors, their arrival at the confines of the hostile nations, their method of encampment, the attack, the scalping of such as fall into their hands, the return of the victorious tribe, and the tortures and heroism of the prisoners. In performing these parts, the savages exhibit a wonderful dexterity ; and enter into them with such enthusiasm, that Euro pean spectators have forgotten for a moment that it was only a representation, and have shuddered at the imagi nary scene. It does not appear that the dances of the Indians arc accompanied with any other music than an irregular hoop ; though singing is frequent among them, and musical instruments arc not unknown. In most of the exercises specified above, the males are the only per formers ; in sonic of them, however, the females are in troduced, but without altering in any degree the char acter of the movement ; and there are others in which the men take no part. The lascivious dances, so well
known in Persia and Turkey, and so frequently practi sed by the natives of Otahcite, are not generally in use among the savages of the western hemisphere.
All the American tribes are addicted to drunkenness. The most uncivilized inhabitants of the New Vorld have discovered the method of preparing liquors by which the spirits are raised, and the mental functions disturbed. In some provinces, an intoxicating beverage is procured from the juice of the palm-tree ; (Gzuni//a, iii. 196.) but the draught, most common among the Indians, is got by an operation similar to that of brewing from maize, or the root of the manioc, substances which they likewise change into bread. In all transactions between the North Americans, and the French or English, rum is an essential requisite. The passion for strong liquors, which, with a very few exceptions, distinguishes the Indians from one extremity of the continent to the other, must depend upon some cause, equally general in its operation, with the practice to which it has given rise. This cause we may discover in the uniformity of the savage life. For a great part of his time, the Indian is destitute of employment. War, and the chace, indeed, engage his attention at intervals, rouse his faculties to their exercise, and render him bold and persevering ; but unless when he finds himself in interesting situ ations, his life is a course of dulness, stupidity, and si lence. He sits upon his mat with his body inclined, and his head placed upon his knees ; and if he rises at any time, it is only to stare about fur a little, in search of a retreat, where he may dose away his time without the fear of interruption. But strong liquors awaken him from his torpor ;_they give a quicker flow to his spirits, and make his pulse beat with the firmness of active life. The sensation of pleasure throbs through every limb ; he continues to swallow the inebriating draught ; rage and riot succeed ; till at last, his senses are overpower ed, and he falls motionless to the ground. INIany of the Indian festivals are appointed for the express purpose of drinking. On these occasions, which are anticipated with anxiety, and welcomed with joy, the whole tribe as sembles ; a large quantity of chica is prepared, and all, without exception, men, women, and children, warriors of distinguished prowess, and elders who have numbered many years, engage in the debauch, and prolong it for several days. The usual consequences take place ; the noise increases, every one is singing or talking, and every one is in the right ; the tumult thickens, and the festivity is seldom concluded without fighting and blood shed. " The rum," says Mr Long, " being taken from my house, was carried to the wigwam of the savages, and they began to drink. The frolic lasted four days and nights ; and notwithstanding all our precaution, (securing the guns, knives, and tomahawks,) two boys were killed, and six men wounded by the Indian wo men ; one of the chiefs was also murdered."--royages and Travels in .Vorth p. 56. See also Memoircs par Ulloa, tom. ii. p, 17. and Bancroft's .Vat. Mist. of Guiana, p. 275. These consequences arc so generally expected, that in some tribes, they endeavour to prevent than, by observing a considerable degree of method in their &bane:het,. do not all drink at the sann time, but one part of them takes care of the other 'a Lill intoxicated ; and these again watch o<< r tikir brethren, till their reason is restored to its exercise.