Besides Sundays, They Likewise Observe The Cardinal
Holidays Of The Roman Catholic Church.
Whoever has introduced these simple forms of religions among
these poor savages, has evidently understood their characters and
capacities, and effected a great melioration of their manners.
Of
this we speak not merely from the testimony of Captain
Bonneville, but likewise from that of Mr. Wyeth, who passed some
months in a travelling camp of the Flatheads. "During the time I
have been with them," says he, "I have never known an instance of
theft among them: the least thing, even to a bead or pin, is
brought to you, if found; and often, things that have been thrown
away. Neither have I known any quarrelling, nor lying. This
absence of all quarrelling the more surprised me, when I came to
see the various occasions that would have given rise to it among
the whites: the crowding together of from twelve to eighteen
hundred horses, which have to be driven into camp at night, to be
picketed, to be packed in the morning; the gathering of fuel in
places where it is extremely scanty. All this, however, is done
without confusion or disturbance.
"They have a mild, playful, laughing disposition; and this is
portrayed in their countenances. They are polite, and
unobtrusive. When one speaks, the rest pay strict attention:
when he is done, another assents by 'yes,' or dissents by 'no;'
and then states his reasons, which are listened to with equal
attention. Even the children are more peaceable than any other
children.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 401 of 442
Words from 107427 to 107685
of 118673
