nection with the period of the solstices, or. with
the commencement of the lunar year, is not
known, but is highly probable^ That men living
in the open air, who are regardful of the celestial
phenomena, should not have noted the
equinoxes, is not probable. They must have
necessarily known the solstices by the observation
of capes and mountains; which cast their
shadows from points and describe angles so very
diverse at the periods of. , the sun - sj; greatest
recession, or return. Yet we know not that
the time of such extreme withdrawal and
return marked and completed the circle of, the
year. Their year was, as M- all the AlgeU“
quin tribes, a lunar year. It consisted of twelve
or thirteen moons, each of which is distinctly
named. Thirteen moonsof28 days each,counting
from visible phase to phase-, make a year-of
304 days, or 12 moons of 30 days make up the
old Persian year of 365 days, which is the-greatest
astronomical accuracy reached by the North
American tribes.
That the close of the lunar series-should have
been the period of putting out the fire, and the
beginning of the next, the time of relumination,
from new fire, is so consonant to analogy in the
tropical tribes, as to be probable.
The rite itself offers a striking coincidence,
with that solemn performance at the close of
each year, by the Aztec priests, in the valley of
Mexico, and may not unreasonably be supposed
to denote a common origin for the belief. The
northern tribes had, however, dropped from then-
ritual, if it ever was in that of their remote ancestors,
the horrid rite, so revolting in the Aztec
annals, of human sacrifice. For although prisoners.
were burned at the stake, this was not an
act of the priesthood. It was a purely popular
effervescence of revenge for losses of friends in
war, or some other acts done by the enemy.
Such sacrifices appeased the popular cry—all
Classes, young and old, rejoiced in them. They
were- \ looked on alone as an evidence of their
nations power; and by it the warriors also
showed their regard for the relations of the bereaved.
The widow of the warrior dried her
tears., The children rejoiced—they hardly
knew why t - i t was the triumph of the nation.
And they were thus educated to regard the public
burning of prisoners as a proper and glorious
deed. Women, indeed, rejoiced in it apparently
more than men- It seemed a solace for the loss
of their progeny. And all authors agree in attributing
to the older females the most extravagant
and repulsive acts of participation and rejoicing
in. these warlike rites.
The belief in witchcraft prevailed extensively
. among the North American tribes. It is known
that even in modern times, it was one of the
principal means used by the Shawnee prophet
to rid himself of his opponents, and that the
venerable Shawnee chief, Tarhe, and others,
were sacrificed to this diabolical spirit.