us by the antient sages and philosophers, and record ed for our instruction.

I saw a young indian in the nation, who, when present, and beholding the scenes of mad intemperance and folly acted by the white men in the town, clapped his hand to his breast. and with a smile looked aloft. as if struck with astonishment, and wrapt in love and adoration to the Deity; as who should say, "O thou great and good Spirit! we are indeed sensible of thy benignity and favour to us red men in denying us the understanding of white men. We did not know, before they came amongst us, that mankind could become so base, and fall so far below the dignity of their nature. Defend us from their manners, laws, and power."

The Muscogulges, with their confederates, the Chactaws, Chicasaws, and perhaps the Cherokees, eminently deserve the encomium of all nations, for their wis dom and virtue in resisting, and even repelling the greatest, and even the common enemy of mankind, at least of most of the European nations, I mean spirituous liquors.

The first and most cogent article in all their treaties with the white people is, that there shall not be any kind of spirituous liquors sold or brought into their town; and the traders are allowed but two kegs (five gallons each,) which is supposed to be sufficient for a company, to serve them on the road; and if any of this remains on their approaching the towns, they must spill it on the ground, or secrete it on the road, for it must not come into the town.

On my journey from Mobile to the nation, just after we had passed the junction of the Pensacola road with our path, two young traders overtook us on their way to the nation. We inquired what news? They informed us that they were running about forty kegs of Jamaica spirits (which by dashing would have made at least eighty kegs) to the nation; and after having left the town three or four days, they were surprised on the road in the evening, just after they had come

to camp, by a party of Creeks, who discovering their species of merchandize, they forthwith struck their tomahawks into every keg, giving the liquor to the thirsty sand, not tasting a drop of it themselves; and they had enough to do to keep the tomahawks from their own skulls.

How are we to account for their excellent policy in civil government ? it cannot derive its influence from coercive laws, for they have no such artificial system. Divine wisdom dictates, and they obey.

We see and know full well the direful effects of this torrent of evil, which has its source in hell; and we know surely, as well as these savages, how to divert its course and suppress its inundations. Do we want wisdom and virtue ? Let our youth then repair to the venerable councils of the Muscogulges. BARTRAM'S Travels in North America.

SECT. CXXI.

GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY OF THE

ABORIGINES OF NORTH AMERICA.

THE Constitution or system of their police is simply natural, and as little complicated as that which is supposed to direct or rule the approved economy of the ant and the bee; and seems to be nothing more than the simple dictates of natural reason, plain to every one, yet recommended to them by their wise and virtuous elders as divine, because necessary for securing mutual happiness equally binding and effectual, as being proposed and assented to in the general combination; every one's conscience being a sufficient conviction, the golden rule (do as you would be done by,) instantly presents to view, and produces a society of peace and love, which in effect better maintains human happiness, than the most complicated system of modern politics, or sumptuary laws, enforced by coercive means for here the people are all on an equality, as to the possession and enjoyments of the com

mon necessaries and conveniences of life,-for luxuries and superfluities they have none.

This natural constitution is simply subordinate ; and the supreme, sovereign, or executive power resides in a council of elderly chiefs, warriors, and others, respectable for wisdom, valour, and virtue.

At the head of this venerable senate, presides their mico or king, which signifies a magistrate or chief ruler: the governors of Carolina, Georgia, &c. are called micos; and the king of England is called Ant-apalamico-clucco, * that is, the great king, over or beyond! the great water.

The king, though he is acknowledged to be the first and greatest man in the town or tribe, and honoured with every due and rational mark of love and -esteem, and when presiding in council, with a humility and homage as reverent as that paid to the most despotic monarch in Europe or the East; and when absent, his seat is not filled by any other person, yet he is not dreaded; and when out of the council, he associates with the people as a common man, converses with them, and they with him, in perfect ease and familiarity.

The mico or king, though elective, yet his advancement to that supreme dignity must be understood in a very different light from the elective monarchs of the old world, where the progress to magistracy is generally effected by schism, and the influence of friends, gained by craft, bribery, and often by more violent efforts; and, after the throne is obtained, by measures little better than usurpation, he must be protected and supported there, by the same base means that carried him thither.

But here behold the majesty of the Muscogulge mico! he does not either publicly or privately beg of the people to place him in a situation to command and rule them; no, his appearance is altogether mysterious

* Clucco signifies great or excellent.

as a beneficent deity he rises king over them, as the sun rises to bless the earth!

No one will tell you how or when he became their king; but he is universally acknowledged to be the greatest person among them, and he is loved, esteemed, and reverenced, although he associates, eats, drinks, and dances with them in common as another man; his dress is the same, and a stranger could not distinguish the king's habitation from that of any other citizen, by any sort of splendour or magnificence; yet he perceives they act as though their mico beheld them, himself invisible In a word, their mico seems to them the representative of Providence, or the Great Spirit, whom they acknowledge to preside over and influence their councils and public proceedings. He personally presides daily in their councils, either at the rotunda or public square; and even here his voice, in regard to business in hand, is regarded no more than any other chief's or senator's, no farther than his advice, as being the best and wisest man in the tribe, and not by virtue of regal prerogative. But whether their ultimate decisions require unanimity, or only a majority of voices, I am uncertain; but probably where there is a majority, the minority voluntarily

accede.

The most active part the mico takes is in the civil goverment of the town or tribe: here he has the power and prerogative of calling a council, to deliberate on peace and war, or all public concerns, as inquiring into, and deciding upon complaints and differenees; but he has not the least shadow of exclusive executive power. He is complimented with the first visits of strangers, giving audience to ambassadors, with presents; and he has also the disposal of the public granary.

The next man in order of dignity and power is the great war-chief: he represents and exercises the dignity of the mico in his absence, in council; his voice is of the greatest weight in military affairs; his power and authority are entirely independent of the mico,

though, when a mico goes on an expedition, he heads the army, and is there the war-chief. There are

many of these war-chiefs in a town or tribe, who are captains or leaders of military parties; they are elderly men, who in their youthful days have distinguished themselves in war, by valour, subtlety, and intrepidity; and these veteran chiefs, in a great degree, constitute their truly dignified and venerable

senates.

There is in every town or tribe a high priest, usually called by the white people jugglers, or conjurors, besides several juniors, or graduates. But the antient high priest or seer presides in spiritual affairs, and is a person of consequence; he maintains and exercises great influence in the state, particularly in military affairs; the senate never determine on an expedition against their enemy without his counsel and assistance. These people generally believe that their seer has communion with powerful invisible spirits, who they suppose have a share in the rule and government of human affairs, as well as the elements; that he can predict the result of an expedition ; and his influence is so great, that they have been known frequently to stop, and turn back an army, when within a few days journey of their enemy, after a marcli of several hundred miles; and indeed their predictions have surprised many people. They foretell rain or drought, and pretend to bring rain at pleasure, cure diseases, and exercise witchcraft, invoke or expel evil spirits, and even assume the power of directing thunder and lightning.

These Indians are by no means idolaters, unless their puffing the tobacco smoke towards the sun, and rejoicing at the appearance of the new moon,* may be termed so. So far from idolatry are they, that they have no images amongst them, nor any religious rite

* I have observed the young fellows very merry and jocose at the appearance of the new moon, saying how ashamed she looks under the veil: since sleeping with the sun these two or three nights, she is ashamed to shew her face, &c.