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An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, Volume 1 by Alexander Hewatt
page 73 of 315 (23%)
the great leader takes the field, any one may refuse to follow him, or
may desert him, without incurring any punishment, but by such ignominious
conduct he loses his reputation, and forfeits the hopes of distinction
and preferment. To honour and glory from warlike exploits the views of
every man are directed, and therefore they are extremely cautious and
watchful against doing any action for which they may incur public censure
and disgrace.

The Indians, like all ignorant and rude nations, are very superstitious.
They believe that superior beings interfere in, and direct, human
affairs, and invoke all spirits, both good and evil, in hazardous
undertakings. Each tribe have their conjurers and magicians, on whose
prophetic declarations they place much confidence, in all matters
relating to health, hunting, and war. They are fond of prying into future
events, and therefore pay particular regard to signs, omens, and dreams.
They look upon fire as sacred, and pay the author of it a kind of
worship. At the time of harvest and at full moon they observe several
feasts and ceremonies, which it would seem were derived from some
religious origin. As their success, both in warlike enterprises and in
procuring subsistence depends greatly on fortune, they have a number of
ceremonious observances before they enter on them. They offer in
sacrifice a part of the first deer or bear they kill, and from this they
flatter themselves with the hopes of future success. When taken sick they
are particularly prone to superstition, and their physicians administer
their simple and secret cures with a variety of strange ceremonies and
magic arts, which fill the patients with courage and confidence, and are
sometimes attended with happy effects.

[Sidenote] A Dutch colony brought to Carolina.

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