and wounds is well known; yet they had awful apprehensions of death.

When sick, and all hope of recovery was gone, their bursting sobs and sighs, their wringing hands, their flowing tears, and dismal cries and shrieks, were enough to excite sympathy from the hardest heart. Their af fection was very strong for their children, who by indulgence were saucy and undutiful. A father would sometimes, through grief and rage for the loss of a child, stab himself. Some tribes of Indians would not allow of mentioning the name of a friend after death. When a person died, they generally buried him with his bow and arrows, dogs, and whatever was valuable to him while living, supposing he would want them in another world, as their ideas of the happiness of heaven consisted in finding plenty of game, feasting, &c.

Of their bravery and address in war we have many proofs. The fortitude, calmness, and even exultation which they manifest while under the extremest torture from the hand of their enemies, is in part owing to their savage insensibility, but more to their high notions of military glory, and their rude notions of future happiness, which they shall forfeit by the least manifestation of fear, or uneasiness under their sufferings. They are sincere and faithful in their friendships, remembering the smallest favour done them to the latest period, but bitter and determined in their resentments, and often pursuing their enemies hundreds of miles through the wilderness, encountering every difficulty in order to be revenged. This spirit oftentimes descended from the father to the son, who felt bound to revenge the injuries done his father when living. In their public councils they observe the greatest decorum. In the foremost ranks sit the old men who are the counsellors of the tribe, the warriors, and next the women and children. Their kindness and hospitality is seldom equalled by any civilized society. Their politeness in conversation is even carried to excess, since it does not allow them to contradict any thing that is asserted in their presence."

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The Indians appear to have distinct traditions of the creation and deluge, and some of their words, rites, and ceremonies, bear a strong affinity to those of the ancient Hebrews.

2. Expeditions of Ferdinand de Soto and M. de la Salle.

The Mississippi was first discovered by Ferdinand de Soto in 1541, and Father Hennepin, (a French Catholic Missionary,) and Monsieur de la Salle, were the first Europeans that traversed it. Soto had served under Pizarro in the conquest of Peru, with such reputation, that the King of Spain intrusted him with the government of Cuba, with the rank of General of Florida, and Marquis of the lands he should conquer.

Soto collected a body of 900 foot and 350 horse, for an expedition into Florida, where he landed in May, 1539. From the Gulf of Mexico he penetrated into the country northward, and wandered about in search of gold, exposed to famine, hardships, and the opposition of the natives. He pursued his course north to the country inhabited by the Chickasaws, where he spent a winter. He then crossed the Mississippi, being the first European that had discovered that vast river. After a long march into the country westward, in which Soto died, the remains of his troops returned to the Mississippi. Here they built a number of small vessels, in which they sailed down the stream, and made the best of their way to Panuco, in Mexico, where they arrived in September, 1543. In this extraordinary expedition of more than four years' duration, in search o gold in the wilderness, and among hostile savages, more than half the men perished.*

Father Hennepin, a missionary of the Franciscan order, and M. de la Salle, with a party of men, embarked from Fort Frontenac, in Canada, in Nov. 1678 After having passed through Lakes Ontario, Erie, Hu

Webster's Elements of Useful Knowledge, Vol. I.

ron, and Michigan, and carried their canoes over land to the head of the Illinois river, Hennepin passed down to the mouth of the Mississippi. He set out upon his return to Canada, where he arrived in 1681, after having passed through many hardships and difficulties in this perilous enterprise among the savages, who for some time detained him as a prisoner.

M. de la Salle returned to France; and from the flattering account he gave of the country, and the advantages that would accrue from settling a colony in those parts, Louis XV. was induced to establish a company for that purpose. Salle embarked, with an intention to settle near the mouth of the Mississippi. But through mistake, he sailed 100 leagues to the westward of it. where he attempted to settle a colony; but through the unfavourableness of the climate, most of his men miserably perished, and he himself was villanously mur dered, not long after, by two of his own men.

3. Introduction of the use of Tobacco.

It

This singular native American plant, appears to have been used by the Indians in all parts of America. is said it was first discovered by the Spaniards, in 1520, near the town of Tobasco, in Mexico. The Mexicans used it copiously, not only in smoke in the mouth, but also in snuff at the nose.

"In order to smoke it," says the historian, "they put the leaves, with the gum of liquid amber, and other hot odorous herbs, into a little pipe of reed or wood, or some other more valuable substance. They received the smoke by sucking the pipe, and shutting the nostrils with their fingers, so that it might pass more easily by the breath into the lungs." It was such a luxury that the lords of Mexico were accustomed to compose themselves to sleep with it.

In the account of Cartier's voyage in 1535, we find it used in Canada: it is thus described:-"There grow

eth a certaine kind of herbe, whereof in sommer they make great provision for all the yeer, making great ac count of it, and onely men use of it, and first they cause it to be dried in the sunne, then were it about their necks wrapped in a little beast's skinne, made like a little bagge. with a hollow piece of stone or wood like a pipe: then when they please they make a pouder of it, and then put it in one of the ends of said cornet, or pipe, and laying a cole of fire upon it, at the other ende, sucke so long that they fill their bodies full of smoke, till it cometh out of their mouth and nostrils, even as out of the tonnell of a chimney."

Tobacco was carried into England from Virginia, by Mr. Lane, in 1536. Sir Walter Raleigh, a man of gayety and fashion, adopted the Indian usage of smoking, and by his interest and example, introducing it at court, the pipe soon became fashionable. It was in vain that parliament discouraged the use of this "vile Indian weed." In vain King James assured his subjects, that the custom of smoking it was loathsome to the eyes, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, and dangerous to the lungs. Opposition made proselytes; and th united influence of fashion and habit, extended the prac tice through the kingdom.

Tobacco was first cultivated by the English in Virginia, about the year 1616;-from that time to the present, it has ever been one of the staple productions of that state.

4. Settlement of Jamestown, Va.

"North America was discovered in a period when the Arts and Sciences had made very considerable progress in Europe. Many of the first adventurers were men of genius and learning, and were careful to preserve authentic records of such of their proceedings as would be interesting to posterity. These records afford

Holmes' Annals.

ample documents for American historians. Perhaps no people on the globe, can trace the history of their origin and progress with so much precision, as the inhabitants of North America; particularly that part of them who inhabit the territory of the United States."

The first European who discovered the coast of the United States, was John Cabot, a Venetian, who was employed by Henry VII. of England to make discoveries. What is now called the Island of Newfoundland was firs. seen by him, and sailing thence in a westerly direction, he ranged the coast to Florida. This was in the year 1497-about five years after the first discoveries of Columbus.

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In, 1584, Queen Elizabeth of England, by patent, granted to Sir Walter Raleigh authority to discover, occupy, and govern remote, heathen, and barbarous countries." Under this commission, two ships commanded by Amidas and Barlow, arrived in America in July, 1584. These men landed at Roanoke, and took possession of the country for the crown of England, calling it Virginia, in honour of the virgin Queen. The next year a company of 107 adventurers, under Sir Richard Grenville, came over to Virginia, and fixed their residence on the islands of Roanoke. The settlers were left here under the command of Mr. Lane. It appears that these persons, by rambling into the country without due caution, or provoking the Indians by their lawless conduct, many of them were killed by the natives, while others perished by want. The survivors were taken to England the next year by Sir Francis Drake. In a fortnight, however, after they had departed, Sir Richard Grenville arrived with provisions, and an additional number of colonists. Not finding the former colonists, he left a few of his people, and returned to England. A third expedition, in 1587, went out under Mr. White with 115 persons, who were left at Roanoke. Three years had elapsed before Gov. White arrived with supplies and an additional number of colonists. Upon their arrival, they found no Englishmen, and it was evident they had been slain by the savages, or perished