New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-09

snd white flowers upon their graves From tbs
lo doubt arose or 0wn custom of planting towers
upon the graves Of Cur kindred They believed IN
rood and evil spirits exercising r-teat influence
! epon subordinate man the -o11 not gaze upon
the Heavens with 2. having them recalled 70
memory, for they imagined hat fs Ling stars we're
the frebrsnds 9Th which the good angels dove
away the bad when they approached too near tie
verge OF Heaven
The re N oi the H.nd01s rsc3gn yes one "a
preme Being VINO has delegated his power 70 the
nierior gods Brshms Vishn1. and S.vs. TINS Is
one Of the most vicious ,1persations Of any age
or cline il allows human sacrifices, and mortlhcs-
ton Of the body is their highest idea Of holmes.
| Their god Jugserns1t and the RIVER Gsnges are
the princpa cbj ects Of their blind alteration. The
Hindoos believe that this rver rises imnedistely
rom the feet Of Brshma. and that il possesses
miraculous powers on account offs divine origin
Whoever dies on It's banks and drinks Of its va
ters before bic death j. thought . be exempted
from the Necessity Of returning into This word and
commencing new lie. Hence il IS thatthe dying
person is carried 70 the banks Of the Gauges. and
immersed 10 this sacred river. widows were
formerly obliged 70 immediate themselves upon the
funeral pile o. their deceased husbands, Dat the
Saitee hiss been suppressed by the English su-
ihorities IN India.
The religion Of the Moors was Of mixed char
scter as as that Of nearly all the lesser nations
II the known world belief In the existence Of
good and evi spirits Influencing man mis- actions
10 either virtue or vice. Belief in spirits appears
| ~f
lions who imagine them to be tie ministers of the
will Of Superior Being performing errands o.
mercy and love to those earth, or the ministers
Of his vengeance to the wicked.
Much Of the Neurological lore OF the Northern
Europeans was contained in their Edda, or Sacred
Book. II seems to have been collection OF reii-
nous songs and systems both in prose and verse.
Superstition here had foil sway Their scenery VAS
Wild and chili--they were separated from the rest
of the world by their habits and customs, and this
would necessarily have great influence on their re-
! igiou. Their gods s1cn as o lin and Norlin, in
babited the most dreary and desolate spots they
we're always attended by tribes Of spirits CHASTITY
and fearful. ready 10 bear the honored dead from
the battle held to the victorious halls OF the Va
halia
The inhabitants OF Western Europe seemed to
have worshipped multitude Of gods, each tribe
having It's own peculiar religion. The most im-
| portant was the Druidical this worship of al un-
known and terrible god, in the dark and gloomy
orest. combined with the mysterious rites and
impressive chanting OF the Druid priests, must
have excited fearful emotions upon the minds OF
the multitude. They felt no love toward such
being-their only feelings were those Of slayish
lear and Bringing respect.
The Gland o. cakes, too, had It's superstt.0us
fears their seers their ehasts and their brownies
These good people they imagined, assisted
them ia their domestic affairs, but they mus; a.
ways be treated with unvsrying respect. or they
would avenge themselves upon those whom they
would, otherwise, have benefited The Robin
Goodielow, of the English, was the selisame
sprte that in Scotia perpetrated his tricks upon
maidens neelectiu Of their household duties or,
IN a different spirit performed the allotted tasks
Of the industrious. This ideal mischiel-thls Puck
and bis attendant companons-nave won immor-
| taiity in the imperishsble verse Of the Swan OF
Avon. one Of highlands proudest ornaments
In these too, are 70 De recogniz ed the Baashees
and fairies of "the Emerald Isle" who stesl
earth-born children, and place in their stead the
fairy changelng. Ofal the Nations OF Europe,
the IRISH are perhaps the most superstitious
they like the Indians Of America have their
traditions aud legends, of their mountains and
axes, which may not be as poetictl, but are quite
as wild and strange With the introd lcton Of
Christianity into Ireland, the priest, took ad
vantage Of this fertility Of imagination their
alton of miracles, being eagerly received by the
credulous. they were encouraged 10 continue their
exaggerations, until the people were completely
under the power OF the Church. Thus, by alter
nate threatenngs Of Pargatory, soothing by 10
dulseuces and intermedaton. they became slaves
ia the hands Of the priesthood, aad continue in this
smentsble condition, to great extent. even TO
the present day.
Mt Oh , the whole Of Europe but every p0r
tion Of the globe seemed to be deeply mbusd
with .uperstition nor were these pcturings OF
the imagination sn revolving At the discovery
1T America "a inhabitants had also their religious
.ances some Of them Of the most beautiful snd
Ooeiic character nearly every rock, river, stream
and lake had some peculiar legend Of beauty an'
NE attached to il Aud these leg nds stil Anger
around them, aud entrance al by their bright
maginings ike the superstition Of the Sprits
song they tel their own tsie OF JOY or oi sor-
row. This wild but beautiful idea makes the
spirit-bird Of departed Chief to sing continually
in tree over ms grave no eye Of mortal has
ever seen this bird, Dat the ear Of the passenger
5 often entrsnced and his steps delayed to
listen to the Wild melody Of the invisible songster
which is supposed to tell OF the happiness or
misery OF the dead. Voices from the Spirit
World are borne 10 them on every passing breeze
in the murmur OF the wat rfsll-in the rusting
OF the leAves-in the storm-cioud and thunder
burst-in the mournfu tones Of the whippoorwi.-
or the gushing song 1.-THE nigntinga.e-in the roar
II the cataract and the wild moan OF the forest
winds. Oh an Indians heart IS tall Of poetry
be ives sway from - the noisy hum Of busy feet
be DIVE. In Solitude with his God and his
Sondrous works-ks Je,', that man made the
ety. bat God made the country The death OF 8
5rsve-ihe loves OF q maiden-the trophies Of q
chieitsin, alike sufficient give rise to Indian