and cars with this blood, then went out and washed himself in a certain fountain or running stream, which from all these circumstances put together, was called, "The water of blood."

These Mexican priests observed a very rigorous fast, extending sometimes to seven days together, and this was always previous to their solemn festivals. During these fasts, those who were married abstained from all commerce with their wives, and possibly there might have been some sort of nominal merit in this, had it been built on a rational foundation, but this was laying such a restraint on human nature, as was inconsistent with the order of God. To this may be added, that during these fasts, they were guilty of crimes too odious to be mentioned, so that we shall pass them over in silence.

All these Mexican priests were possessed of great revenues, and by their knavish tricks they made the people believe they were entitled to them. Happy, had this principle never diffused itself among Christians who profess to be the followers of a poor despised carpenter, and whose disciples even procured a subsistence by their labour, but priests and gospel ministers are two different sorts of people, and with respect to the former it may be justly said,

The priests of all religions are,

And will be still the same;

And all, though in a different way,

Are playing the same game.

But besides these priests, the people of Mexico had their vestals or nuns. All these were dressed in white, as an emblem of innocence; but alas! experience has shewn that no robes with which the human body is clothed, can alter the state of corrupt nature, or give innocence to the soul. Here nuns were forloin, they are among the Roman Catholics, admitted into their convents so early in life, that they do not know how far the power of human nature will operate upon them. These were under the direction of a governess or abbess, whose office was to keep the temple clean, and the young nuns dressed the sacred meats that were presented to the idols. They were at midnight to administer to the gods, and to examine certain articles, which the rules of their order obliged them to observe. Above all, they were bound to preserve their chastity unsullied, the violation of which was punished with death.

This contrivance was not, indeed, to be perpetual, since as they were sent to to the convent only to fulfil some vow, which their parents had made to their gods, they were allowed to marry after a cer

tain term of years. It is even probable, that this abbess, or matron, might superintend a kind of nunnery, where young women were brought up in the same manner as they are at our boarding schools; for those young ones were taken from under their care as soon as their parents thought proper.

They had also a seminary for the education of boys, who were admitted into it when they were, about seven or eight years of age. During the time these boys were living in the convents, they were confined down to a certain number of rules, much like the novices in the Popish convents. These youth used to have the tops of their heads shaved, and the rest of the hair cut so short, that it scarce covered their ears, but it fell as low as their shoulders behind, except when they used to tie it up in a kind of tuft behind. They wore a linen vestment, and lived in the most exemplary manner. Under them were several sorts of novices, whose business it was to cleanse all the vessels belonging to the temple; but these, in consequence of their merit, often rose to the highest dignities.

These natives of Mexico had many festivals, but all of them were attended with the most horrid, and bloody sacrifices. Indeed, it seems to have been a maxim among these people, that the god whom they worshipped, or rather the idol, should be just such a one as themselves. Barbarous, cruel, and unfeeling, their own corruptions pointed this out, and so far were they from forming benevolent notions of the Divine Being, that they actually became so corrupt as to imagine that he would take pleasure in human sacrifices.

On all their festival days, the priests, like a parcel of abandoned villains, employed some wretches to submit to be flogged, in order to make the deluded populace believe they were sincere penitents. In this there is nothing at all strange, for the author of this actually saw at Antwerp, in Flanders, June 1756, several wretches, hired by the Roman catholic priests to whip themselves, under the stale pretence that they were real penitents. Thus we find that Popery and roguishness go hand in hand together, and we can plainly see that the former was borrowed from the latter.

There was one god or idol the Mexicans paid much regard to, whose name has not been transmitted to us, Lut he is represented as a great hunter. There is nothing at all surprising in this, because the savages of all nations were hunters; so that they ascribed qualities to those who made the most distinguished figure. Hunting was, indeed, partly a religious exercise in former times, for as the subsistence of individuals depended on the chace, con

sequently

to shew, that where divine revelation is not known, men are the most miserable objects in the world. Left to struggle with the corruption of their own nature, they sink under it, and die martyrs to those passions, which, if properly cultivated, would have promoted their everlasting happiness.

Isthmus of Darian.

IN giving an account of these savages, we are under the necessity of taking notice of one of the most important events that ever happened in Bri- . tain. In 1603, on the death of queen Elizabeth, James VI. king of Scotland ascended the throne of England, so that the two crowns were united ; but to the great misfortune of both countries, a proper union did not take place, for each nation had its separate parliament, and they had opposite views and in

notice of them.

In the funeral ceremonies, they have nothing at all remarkable, any farther than those in Hispaniola; for indeed there is such a similarity, that one would naturally imagine all these people were of one and the same original. As they believe in the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, so they pay great respect to their deceased relations. The women dress themselves in white, which seems to point out, that the deceased has been purged from all his impurities, and that all his sins have been forgiven. The body is carried out to a piece of ground, sez apart for that purpose, and it is there deposited in the midst of all his friends and relations. Mouraings and lamentations are made for the deceased several days together, but these are rather artificial than real.

The face of the deceased is laid so as to be orposite to the sun, which shews that their notions were the same with those who inhabited Hispaniola. They set up stones at each end of the grave, testifying their respec. for the deceased, and it was common for them to strew the grave frequently with flowers, This ceremony was generally performed once in the month, during one year, but after that time, the mourning ceased. Upon the whole, thus much i certain, that these Mexicans were a barbarous people, who had no human feelings, otherwise they would never have seen their fellow creatures

them. The Scotch, naturally brave, but proud, haughty, and poor, followed their sovereign into England, and as the event of an union had been long wished for, so forged prophecies were mvented, some of which were taken notice of by lord Hales. Among these, the following knavish one may be mentioned.

When Hempe is come, and also gone,
England and Scotland shall both be one.

This Hempe was considered as some great person, whom no one could give any account of, and yet the meaning was neither less nor more than the following:

H. Henry VIII. E. Edward VI. M. Mary I. P. Philip her husband, and E. Elizabeth, so that the whole mystery is developed, and the knavish prophecy nnderstood, as having been written after the events took place.

From that time forward, at different periods many proposals were made for bringing about an union, and although locality pointed out the propriety of such a scheme, yet national pride on both sides prevented its taking place. At last, in the reign of king William, the merchants of Scotland obtained a charter, to establish a settlement on the Isthmus of Darian, and it is amazing to think what hopes the people in that part of the country formed to themselves of the advantages that would arise from this scheme. All ranks of people contributed to

wards.

wards promoting it, and a large fleet was fitted out. Here, however, national jealously took place. The English merchants did not wish to see the commerce of Scotland extended so far, and therefore they used all the means they could think of to obstruct it. It is not our business to enter into national disputes, but thus much is certain, that almost all the Scottish adventurers were ruined, and the factory they had established was reduced to nothing. This created much murmuring in Scotland, and had it not been that we were then engaged in a war with France, which united all parties at home, the effects might have proved fatal. The people of Scotland, in revenge for the injuries they imagined the English had done them, refused to wear English manufactures, and in this unhappy condition both nations continued till the accession of queen Anne, 1702.

Each country had a particular object in view; the English parliament wanted the parliament of Scotland to ratify the act of settlement, which appeared the more necessary, for two reasons, first, because it would prevent disputes for the future between them; and secondly, because it was not probable queen Anne would ever have any more children. On the other hand, the people of Scotland objected, first, that were they to acknowledge the act of settlement, they ought to have proper security for the establishment of their religion; and secondly, that their losses at Darian should be made up to them out of the English treasury.

Here was a large field for the politicians to display their skill, and although ministers of state are not always virtuous men, yet divine goodness can, and often does, bring good out of their contentions. It was after much dispute, agreed upon by concessions on both sides, that an equivalent should be paid by England, to recompence the Scots for their loss at Darian, and to secure their religion, the sovereign was to take an oath the fnoment he succeeded to the crown, and actually before he was proclaimed. Upon these principles, the union of the two nations was brought about, which, if properly improved, must be for the mutual advantage of both. We thought it the more necessary to take notice of these particulars, because many of the people of Scotland, even in this age, think their ancestors at Darian were grossly injured, whereas, when we come to consider the whole, it will be found, that if errors were committed, both parties were guilty. And this will likewise serve to clear up some things we shall have occasion to mention, concerning the church of Scotland. In the mean time to go on with our narrative. No. 24.

These people inhabit a large tract of land, which is situated between North and South America. They are all idolators, but their temples are poor mean huts, and their idols are only coarse stones set up within them. Like many other savages in America, they believe the sun and moon are husband and wife, and they adore them as objects of divine worship. However, they acknowledge a Supreme Being, superior to them. They believe there is an evil principle that torments the children of men, and for that reason they have temples erected for it, where they offer sacrifices of flowers, fruits, perfumes, and all other things that they think will procure its favour. Every extraordinary phænomenon in nature is considered by them as an apparition and the voice of God.

Their priests are all pretended magicians, and the greatest impostors in the world. They perform all their tricks in secret, and the ignorant people are easily persuaded to believe them. The priests make dreadful cries and howlings, with distortions of their faces, under which some pretended mystery is concealed; for as true religion has its mysteries, so every false one pretends to the same, and so it is in many other things.

Their manner of healing the sick is very extraordinary. They seat the patient on a stone, which being done, the medico-priest takes a little bow and some small arrows, and shoots them as quick as possible at his patient, who is stark naked. They are so dexterous at this exercise, that they never miss their mark, but then there is a stop put to the arrow, which prevents it from going beyond a certain mark or depth. If the arrow happens to open a vein, and the wind gushes out with the blood, the physician and those who are present leap for joy, and discover by their gestures, that they believe the operation to have been successful.

All these hypocritical priests, who are at the same time pretended physicians, make a vow of chastity, and if ever they violate it, they are either stoned or burnt to death. The devotees are obliged, during their fastings, to abstain from all commerce with their wives, but they can find other ways to gratify their passions. Before they go to war, they sacrifice hares and pheasants to the sun, and smear the bodies of their idols all over with the blood. They never go on any enterprize without asking advice from their idol, which is an image of the sun; for which purpose they undergo a penance of two months together, during which time they abstain from salt and commerce with women.

They advise with their priests in all affairs relating 7C

to

to peace or war, and consult their gods in groves and solitudes. They purposely make choice of the night for performing their magical ceremonies, and the darker it is the better. They conjure the devil by their cries, by a great noise, and their magical songs in the presence of several young people. The person whom they order to consult the oracle of the idol is seated, and the rest are standing. The magicians are silent when they expect the approach of the devil, their master, and the moment he appears, the conjuror presents himself before him, and gives the signal for the homage that ought to be paid. The Spanish authors tell us a story diverting enough, concerning these priests and devils.

They say, that one day some friars undertook to exercise the priest who was raising the devil, and that by the power of the signs of the cross and holy water, which was wonderfully assisted by a stole that was put about the neck of the conjuror, he answered very penitently to all the questions the friar put to the devil. Among other things, they asked him where the souls of the Indians would go after their deaths? The answer he made was, to hell. Those whom they design for priests, are brought up in their sacred mysteries from their infancies. Such children are obliged to retire for two years to the most remote parts of the woods, where they are not permitted to feed upon any thing that has blood in it, nor see any woman, but must forget their kindred, and are not allowed to stir out of their caverns. The old priests visit and instruct them in the night, and when the probation time of these young candidates is expired, they receive a certificate, upon which they are looked upon as sacred priests, and doctors in physic and magic.

These savages burn all the prisoners of war, but pull out one of their teeth before they execute them. Something in this may appear extremely barbarous, and certainly it is so, but when we consider the state of Heathen nations, it will not appear strange, especially as we read in many parts of the Old Testainent, that all prisoners of war were put to death under the most excruciating tortures. The Greeks and Romans either butchered their prisoners, or sold them as slaves, and the ancient Heathen Britons used to burn a thousand to death at a time.

They allow polygamy here, but it is under several restrictions, for they are not permitted to part with their wives, unless they have been unfaithful to the conjugal vow. As soon as the young women are considered as fit for marriage, they are locked up from the society of men, and no person is permitted to visit them without the consent of their parents. They do not use much ceremony in their

marriages, for as soon as the parents have settled the previous agreement, every thing is concluded. Every one of the relations brings a present according to the nature of their circumstances, and these presents enable the new married couple to begin housekeeping. The bridegroom's father makes a speech to the people, concerning the duties of the marriage state, and after that he dances like a madman. The dance being over, he kneels down, and presents his son to the bride, whose father being in the same posture, holds also his daughter by the hand; but the bride's father dances likewise in his turn, and makes the same antique gestures before he kneels down.

In their funeral ceremonies, they are like most of the other savages in America. They believe in the immortality of the soul, but they have almost as many carnal notions concerning it, as our British materialists. They believe, that when the soul is dislodged from the body, it enters upon a life of pleasure, and feasts in the most sumptuous manner. For this reason, they bury provisions along with their dead, to be of service to them in the other world.

From what is here related of these people, we are to lament that the settlement attempted by the Scotch did not succeed. The Scottish adventurers took along with them several ministers, among whom was Mr. Spalding, who had been settled at Dundee. Had the factory met with proper encouragement, there is reason to believe, that before this time there would not have been a Heathen in the place. Protestants alone are the men who should be sent to convert Heathens, and, therefore, every encouragement ought to have been given to these enterprizers. However, as we are not to call in question the purposes of Divine Providence, so we shall rest satisfied with this single consideration, that if that salutary end was not completed, yet one equally beneficial took place, namely, the union of the two kingdoms. God's ways are not as men's.

The Religion of the Savages of New Andalusia.

The only particulars we know of the religion of these people are, that they, like most of the other ancient Americans, adore the sun and moon; but above all, an evil spirit, which we may call the devil. Some of them worship the dried skeletons of their ancestors; and they believe that the sun goes round the world, drawn in a chariot by tygers; for which reason, they treat those ferocious animals with great respect, and give them the dead bodies of

their relations to feed on. They have a tradition among them, that their country was once burnt up by the sun, because they did not shew proper respect to his servants the tygers. This fire, they say, was extremely violent, and consumed a vast number of the inhabitants; but really such ridiculous stories scarce deserve our notice.

They observed a certain ceremony which they called, the giving away the spirit of courage. This gift is bestowed by the priests, who open the ceremony with songs and dances, in which every one foams at the mouth like a dog, and tumbles about like a madman. All such as desire to have the spirit communicated to them by the mediation of the priest, join hands and continue dancing incessantly. When three or four priests enter the circle, they rush upon the demons, some with a gourd bottle tied to the end of a stick, and others with a long reed or cane, filled with lighted tobacco, with which they whiff the dancers, crying out, at the same time, "Receive all ye the spirit of strength, by which you will be enabled to overcome your enemies."

From this form of invitation one would imagine there was something very solemn couched under the expression, but there is nothing of that nature in it; for, like most other savages, they acknowledge two beings, one good and the other bad. To the good being they never address themselves, but in the way of praise or thanksgiving; but to the evil one they always pray, in order to avert his displeasure.

When any person among them is taken sick, they plunge him into a river, and afterwards whip him running till he is almost out of breath. This whipping-bout is round a great fire, and when it is over, they put him into his hammock. When they despair of a sick man's life, they take him out in his hammock to a wood, and hang him up in it between two trees, dancing round it for a whole day. As soon as night is come, they give him provisions for four days, and then leave him to his fate. If he happens to recover, so much the better; but in case he dies, there are very few who lament the loss.

It would be needless to repeat that polygamy is as much in vogue among these people, as in any other nations among the Americans, or even in Asia or Africa. The priests set the example; for they have always a great number of wives; nay, such slaves are they to the most sensual of all passions, that when they go on journies, they order women to be ready for them at every stage where they are to put up. All this voluptuousness arises from that indolence to which these people are so much subect; and this, in some measure, is occasioned by

| the climate, which being hot and sultry, throws a langour over their spirits, and renders them in a manner unfit for action.

When a young man fixes his affections on a girl, or, in other words, when he wants a woman under that character, he addresses himself to her relations; for he never sees her till after he is married. When all the terms are settled, the bride's relations meet in company at the house of the bride's father, where a grand entertainment is provided; and the relations of the bridegroom come there at the same time to partake of the feast. After two or three hours spent in the utmost state of merriment, the whole of the relations set out to conduct the bride home to her husband's house. Musicians march before, playing upon their rustic instruments. After them come the priests, repeating aloud a variety of unintelligible jargon of prayers to their idols; then come the relations, who are followed by the bridegroom, whọ walks on foot; and behind him comes the bride in a litter carried by four men, and so closed up that no person can see her. The procession is closed by the servants and attendants; and as soon as they approach the house of the bridegroom, the young women in the village come out to meet them."

As this is at midnight, the young women have lamps in their hands trimmed with oil, and this, from what we are going to relate, may serve to shew, what a vast conformity there was between the ancient Heathen nations, and likewise that some of these customs were retained by the Jews.

The parable of the ten virgins (see Mat. xxv.) is well known, and in the account of these people of whom we are now treating, we have a proof of the origin of idolatry. Nay, it may serve farther to point out, that all that was bad among the Heathens, was reprobated by the Jews, but the innocent ceremonies were retained.

When they arrived at the place where the bridegroom resided, and where the nuptials were to be celebrated, the bride was conducted into an apartment along with the woman, and the night was spent in all manner of diversions, according the custom of the country. In the same manner the bridegroom was led into his apartment, accompanied by the men, and with them he spent his time in the same manner. When the morning approached, the company retired, and the husband was permitted to go to bed to his wife. This is, perhaps, a little different from European practices; but we have had occasion to mention something of a similar nature, in our account of the Turkish religion. Seven days fasting are observed afterwards, and that period of time being expired, the new married couple forsake