es and spoons were of wood, hollowed and made very smooth. Pails were formed of birch bark, made square, and furnished with a handle. Baskets were made of the same material, or of rushes, bents, husks of the maiz, silk grass, or wild hemp, curiously wrought and ornamented.

146, Dress. The natives of the northern parts of America had no clothing, when the English first came among them, except the skins of wild beasts, and a few mantles made of fethers curiously interwoven. But all the natives of this country were very fond of beads and trinkets, for ornaments; fastening them to their arms, legs, nose and ears.

When the Europeans began to trade with them, they exchanged their skins for blankets, and other cloths, and these are their principal dress to this day: all savage nations are very fond of fethers.

INDIANS IN WINTER DRESS.

147. Money and Arms. The money of the northern Indians consisted in the wampumpeague, usually

called wampum, which was made of small shells curiously joined and wrought into broad strings or belts. This was the medium of commerce, answering the purpose of silver and gold among other nations. The arms of the savages were bows and arrows, clubs, and especially the hatchet, called a tomahawk, which was a sharpened stone, with a handle. After the arrival of Europeans, they laid aside the stone, and procured iron hatchets. They throw these with astonishing dexterity, and are sure of hitting the object intended, at a great distance. They had no defensive armor, except a kind of shield made of bark.

148. Canoes. All uncivilized nations make use of canoes, formed of bark or the trunks of trees made hollow. These are of various sizes, from ten feet in length to a hundred. To save labor, the Indians apply fire to the trunk of a large tree and burn it hol low; then finish the canoe, by scraping and cutting. When bark is used, it is molded into a suitable shape, strengthened with ribs of wood, sewed with strings or threads of strong bark, and the seams smeared over with turpentine. The bark canoes are so light, that they are often carried by the Indians from river to river, or round falls and over necks of land.

149. Virtues and Vices. The good and bad qualities of Indians are few, or confined to a few objects. In general, a savage is governed by his passions, without much restraint from the authority of his chiefs. He is remarkably hospitable to strangers, of fering them the best accommodations he has, and always serving them first. He never forgets a favor or an injury; but will make a grateful return for a favor, and revenge an injury whenever an opportunity offers, as long as he lives; and the remembrance is hereditary; for the child and grandchild have the same passions, and will repay a kindness, or revenge a wrong, done to their ancestor.

150. Government and Religion. The tribes of In

dians were under a government somewhat like a monarchy, with a mixture of aristocracy. Their chiefs, called sagamores, sachems, or cazekes, possessed the powers of government; but they usually consulted the old men of the tribe, on all important questions. Their religion was idolatry, for they worshiped the sun, the moon, the earth, fire, images and the like. They had an idea of the Supreme Being, whom they called the Great Spirit; and they believed in an evil spirit. They had priests, called powows, who pretended to arts of conjuration, and who acted as their physicians.

QUESTIONS.

97. By whom and when was America first peopled? 98,99. Manner of settlement of America?

100. When was Mexico peopled?

101. Condition of the aboriginals?

102. What is the climate of Mexico?

103. When was the city of Mexico founded? What was its site?

104. What were the buildings of the Mexicans? 105. What was the religion of the Mexicans? 106. What were the Mexican modes of worship? 107. What were the Mexican traditions respecting the deluge?

108. Describe the Mexican priests.

109. How did the Mexicans divide the year?

110. What ceremonies were used at the birth of a child?

111. What were the marriage ceremonies? 112. What were the funeral rites?

113. How were the Mexican youth educated? 114. What punishments were inflicted on the vices of youth?

115. What form of government had the Mexicans? 116. What ranks existed among the Mexicans? 117, 118. How were lands divided and held in Mexico? 119. What were the revenues of Mexico? 120. How was justice administered?

121, 122. What were the laws, crimes and punish

ment?

123. What was the opinion of the Mexicans respecting war; and how were warriors rewarded?

124. What was the military dress? 125. What defensive arms were used?

126. What offensive arms were used?

127. What was the manner of making war?

128. What was the state of agriculture and gardening? 129. What money was used in America?

130. What was the language of Mexico? What did the Mexicans use for recording events?

131. What were the materials of cloth and paper? 132. What was the state of sculpture and castings? 133. What was the Mexican stage or theater? 134. What were the manufactures?

135. What was the food of the Mexicans?

136. What were the dress and ornaments of the Mexicans?

137. What was the furniture of the houses?

138. What were the amusements of the Mexicans? 139, 140. Describe the dances of the Mexicans? 141. What were the games and feats of the Mexicans? 142. Describe the flyers.

143. What other games were used?

144. Describe the Indians of North America.

145. What were their habitations?

146. What was the dress of the Indians?

147. What were their money and arins?

148. What sort of canoes did the Indians use? 149. What were the virtues and vices of the Indians? 150. What were the government and religion?

SECTION V.

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

151. Of Columbus. Christopher Columbus, the first European who discovered the Western Continent, was a native of Genoa, and was bred to naviga

tion. By his knowledge of the form of the earth, and of geography and astronomy, and by some pieces of carved wood and a canoe, driven on shore by westerly winds, he was led to believe that there must be a continent on the west of the Atlantic to balance the vast tract of land on the east; and he imagined that by sailing westward, he might find a shorter course to China and the East Indies, than by traveling eastward. He therefore applied to the government of Genca for assistance to enable him to undertake a voyage of discovery. He did not succeed. He then applied to Portugal, but with no better success. He was thought, as men of genius are often thought, a visionary projector.

152. Columbus's application to Spain. Columbus then made application to Ferdinand, king of Spain, for ships and men to proceed on a voyage westward; but for some years, he did not obtain his request. Finally, by the influence of the queen, Isabella, he obtained three ships and ninety men. He also obtained a Commission, dated April 30, 1492, constituting him admiral, viceroy and governor, of all the isles and countries which he should discover and subdue, with full powers civil and criminal. With this authority, he sailed from Palos, in Spain, in August,

1492.

153. First Voyage. Not many days after Columbus left Spain, he was perplexed with the variations of the magnetic needle, which had not before been discovered, and which served to dishearten his mariners. To add to his perplexity, his seamen grew uneasy at venturing so far into an unexplored ocean, and threatened to throw him overboard, if he would not return. To quiet their minds, he promised that if land should not appear within three days, he would return. On the third day, land was discovered, to the inexpressible joy of Columbus and of his seamen, who now humbled themselves for their refractory conduct. The land first seen was one of the Bahama Islands, and on the 12th of October, O. S. 1492.