After Prayers And Pious
Ceremonies Are Over, There Is Scarce An Hour In The Day, Says
Captain Bonneville, That You Do Not See Several Horses Racing At
Full Speed; And In Every Corner Of The Camp Are Groups Of
Gamblers, Ready To Stake Everything Upon The All-Absorbing Game
Of Hand.
The Indians, says Wyeth, appear to enjoy their
amusements with more zest than the whites.
They are great
gamblers; and in proportion to their means, play bolder and bet
higher than white men.
The cultivation of the religious feeling, above noted, among the
savages, has been at times a convenient policy with some of the
more knowing traders; who have derived great credit and influence
among them by being considered "medicine men;" that is, men
gifted with mysterious knowledge. This feeling is also at times
played upon by religious charlatans, who are to be found in
savage as well as civilized life. One of these was noted by
Wyeth, during his sojourn among the Flat-heads. A new great man,
says he, is rising in the camp, who aims at power and sway. He
covers his designs under the ample cloak of religion; inculcating
some new doctrines and ceremonials among those who are more
simple than himself. He has already made proselytes of one-fifth
of the camp; beginning by working on the women, the children, and
the weak-minded. His followers are all dancing on the plain, to
their own vocal music. The more knowing ones of the tribe look on
and laugh; thinking it all too foolish to do harm; but they will
soon find that women, children, and fools, form a large majority
of every community, and they will have, eventually, to follow the
new light, or be considered among the profane.
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