The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-09-05
Prayers Of Savages.
IGentleman's Magazine j

The Sioux Indians, abusing their
Great Spirit for sending them storms,
or the Kamscadals cursing Kutka for
having created the mountains so high
and the streams SO rapid, expose a state
of thought relating to the gods which is
most difficult to reconcile with the
savages' habitual dread of them, but
which is too well authenticated to admit
of doubt. Franklin saw Cree hunter
tie an offering "a cotton handkerchief,
looking-glass, tin pan, some ribbon and
tobacco) to the value of twenty skins
round an image of the god Kepoochikan,
at the same time praying to him in a
rapid monotonous tone to be propitious,
explaining to him the value of his
presents, and strongly cautioning him
against ingratiUude. If 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 temple and destroyed.
The Ostiaks of Siberia, if things went
badly with them, would pull down from
their place of honor in the hut and in
every way maltreat the idols they
generally honored so much; the idols,
whose mouths were always so diligently
smeared with fish fat, and within whose
reach constant supply of snuff lay
always ready. The Chinese are said to
do the same by their household gods, if
for a long time they are deaf to their
prayers, and SO do the Cinghalese, SO
that the practice is more than an impul-
sive manifestation of merely local feel
ing. That such feelings occasionally
crop out in civilized Catholic countries
is a matter of more surprise; but it is
an authentic historical fact that the
good people of Castelbranco, in Portu-
gal, were once so angry with st.
Anthony for letting the Spaniards plum
der their town, contrary to his agree
ment, that they broke many of his
statues in pieces, and taking the head
off one the specially revered, substituted
for it the head of st. Francis. Neapoli-
tan fishermen are said to this day to
throw their saints overheard if they do
not help them in a storm; and, il
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 destroyed. And
once during famine the latter saint re
ceived very clear intimation that unles.
corn came by certain time he would
forfeit the saintship. 1t is, perhaps, 8
refinement of thought when a present
becomes an ADVISABLE accompaniment tt
simple petition; but the principle oi
exchange once entered into, the relations
between man and the supernatural
lead logically from the offerings of fruit
and flowers to the sacrifice of animals
and of men. Some Algonkin Indians
mistaking once missionary for got
and petitioning for his mercy begged
him to let the earth yield them corn
the rivers fish, and to prevent sickness
from shaving or hunger from torment
ing them. Their request they backet
with the offer of a pipe. The whole O
the savage's philosophy of sacrifice il
contained in this ridiculous incident
Prescott, coming with some Indians to ,
lake they were to cross, saw his com
panions light their pipes and smoke b.
way of invoking the winds to be calm
And the Hurons offered a similar praye
with tobacco to a local god, saying
"Oki, thou who ivest on this spot, W
offer thee tobacco. Help us, save u
from shipwreck. Defend us from ou
enemies. Give us good trade and brin,
us back safe to our villages" In tn
island of Tanna, the village priest, ad
dressing the spirits of departed chief
(thought to preside over the growth o
yams and fruits), after the first fruits o
vegetation had been deposited on
stone, on the branch of a tree, or on
rude altar of sticks, would pray
Compassionate father, here is som
food eat it; be kind to us on account Q
it," and in Samoa, libation of ava 8
the evening meal was the offering, in ri
turn for which the father of famil
would beg of the gods health and pro
perity, productiveness for his plants
tions, and for his tribe generally
strong and large population for war.
FIJI, again, when the chief priests an
leading men assembled to discuss publ
affairs in the yaquona or kava circl
the chief herald, as the water W,
poured into the kava, after naming Il
gods for whom the ibation was pr
pared, would say, "Be gracious, /!
lords, the gods, that the rain may ceas
and the sun shine FORTH" and agai
when the potion was ready, Let Il
gods be of.a gracious mind, and send
wind from the East"