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Dr. Boudinot from many good authorities says of the Indians; “Their language in
their roots, idiom, and particular construction, appears to have the whole genius of
the Hebrew; and what is very remarkable, it is most of the peculiarities of that
language; especially those in which it differs from most other languages.”
Governor Hutchinson observed, that “many people (at the time of the first
settlement of New England,) pleased themselves with the conjectur e that the Indians
in America are the descendants of the ten tribes of Israel.” Something was discovered
so early, which excited this pleasing sentiment. This has been noted as having been
the sentiment of Rev. Samuel Sewall, of vice president Willard, and others. Governor
Hut chinson expresses his doubt upon the subject, on account of the dissimilarity of
the language of the natives of Massachusetts, to the Hebrew. Any language in a
savage state, must, in the course of 2500 years, have rolled and varied exceedingly.
This is shown to be the case in the different dialects, and man y new words
introduced among those tribes, which are acknowledged to have their language
radically the same. [p.93 - p.94]
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Doct. Boudinot say s of this ark, “It may be called the ark of covenant imitated.”
In time of peace it is the charge of their high priests. In their wars they make great
account of it. The reader, (acting as high priest on that occasion,) and his darling
waiter, carry it in turns. They deposit in the ark some of their most consecrated
articles. The two carriers of this sacred symbol, before setting off with it for the war,
purify themselves longer than do the rest of the warriors.
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The American Indians have practiced circumcision. Doct. Beaty, in his journal of a visit
to the Indians in Ohio, between fifty and six ty y ears ago, say s that “an old Indian (in
answer to his questions relative to their ancient customs, the Indian being one of the
old beloved w ise men,) informed him, that an old uncle of his, who died about the
y ear 1728, related to him several customs of former times among the Indians, and
among the rest, that circumcision was long ago practised [sic] among them, but that
their young men made a mock of it, and it fell into disrepute and was discontinued.”
Du Pr atz was very intimate with the chief of
those Indians called”the Guardians of the Temple,” near the Mississippi. He inquired
of them the nature of their worship.--The chief informed him that they worshipped
[sic] the gr eat and most perfect Spirit; and said, “He is so great and powerful, that in
comparison with him a ll others are nothing. He made all things that we see, and all
things that we cannot see.” The chief went on to speak of God as having made little
spirits, called free servants, who always stand before the Great Spirit ready to do his
will.
Du Pratz was very intimate with the chief of
those Indians called”the Guardians of the Temple,” near the Mississippi. H e inquired
of them the nature of their worship.--The chief informed him that they worshipped
[sic] the gr eat and most perfect Spirit; and said, “He is so great and powerful, that in
comparison with him a ll others are nothing. He made all things that we see, and all
things that we cannot see.” The chief went on to speak of God as having made little
spirits, called free servants, who always stand before the Great Spirit ready to do his
will.
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