The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-08-31

0rodt spirit lOf eo0QlDg them StOrmss
or the Kamscada1s cutsihg kutka fof
having created the mountains 20 high
and the streams 90 rapid, expose state
of thought relating to the gods which is
n ost difiicult to reconcile with the saw
age's habitual dread of them, but which
is too we'll authenticated to admit Of
doubt. Franklin saw . Cree hunter tic
Offering "a cotton handkerchief, look
ing-glass, tin pan, some ribbon, and to-
bacco) to the value of twenty skins
round an image Of the god Kepoochi-
kan, at the same time praying to him in
q rapid monotonous tone to be pre-.
pitious, explaining to him the value Of
his presents, and strongly cautioni' e
him against ingratitude. II all the
prayers and presents made to their god
by the Tahitians to save their chiefs
from dying proved in vain, his image
was inexorably banished from the tenn
pie and destroyed. The Ostiaks of 81
IBERIA, if things went badly with them,
would pull down from their place Of
honor in the hut and in every way NAL
treat the idols they generally honored
so much; the idols, whose mouths were
always 50 diligently smeared with fish
fat, and within whose reach q constant
supply Of snuff lay always ready. The
Chinese are said to do the same by their
household gods, if for . long time they
are deaf to their prayers, and so do the
Cinghalese, so that the practice is more
than an impulsive manifestation of
merely local feeling. That such feel
ings occasionally crop out in civilized
Catholic countries Is matter of more
surprise; but it is an authentic histOr-
ical fact that the good people of Cas-
telbranco in Portugal were once
SO angry with St. Anthony for let
ting the Spaniards plumber their town,
contrary to his agreement, that
they broke many of his statues in pieces,
and taking the head of one the specially
revered, substituted for it the head of St.
Francis. Neapolitan fisherman are said
to this day to throw their saints over
board if they do not help them in q
storm; and, if occasion calls for it, the
images of the Virgin or of St. Januarius,
worn in Neapolitan caps, are in danger
of being trodden under foot and destroy
ed. And once during famine the lat
ter saint received very clear intimation
that unless corn came by certain time
he would forfeit his saintship. It is,
perhaps, . refinement Of thought when
q present becomes an advisable accom-
psniment to simple petition; but the
principle Of exchange once entered into,
the relations between man and the SUI
pernatural lead logically from the Offer
ings of fruits and flowers to the sacrifice
Of animals and of men. Some Algonkin
Indians, installing once q missionary
for a god, and petitioning his mercy,
begged him to let the earth yield them
corn, the rivers fish, and to prevent sick
ness from Staying or hunger from tor
them. Their request they back
I'd with the offer of pipe. The whole
Of the savage's philosophy of sacrifice is
in this ridiculous incident.
Prescott coming with some Indians to a
AXE they were to Cruss, saw his COM
panions light their pipes and smoke by
way of invoking the winds to be calm.
And the Hurons offered . similar prayer
With tobacco to local god saying, "Oki,
.hou who Invest on this spot, We offer
;hee tobacco. Help US, save rs from
'hipwreck. Defend rs from our enc
mics. Give rs good trade, and bring rs
Iafe back to our villages" In the ISL
lress;n0 the srsr;ts Of de5srted chiefs
Thought to preside over the growth Of |
rams and fruits), after the first fruits of |
had been deposited on q |
tone, on the branch Of tree, or on .
'ude altar Of sticks, would pray, " Com
passionate father, here is some food;
at it, be kind to Us on account Of it,"
md in Samoa, too, ibation of ava at |
he evening meal was the offering, in
eturn for which the father of q family