]
Amongst other superstitious notions, not the least prevalent is that of
the _Manitoo_'s exercise of his power over the dead, whom he orders to
appear to them, and acquaint them with what passes at a distance, in
respect to their most important concerns; to advise them what they had
best do, or not do; to forewarn them of dangers, or to inspire them with
revenge against any nation that may have insulted them, and so forth.
They have no idea of his spirituality, or even of the spirituality of
that principle, which constitutes their own vital principle. They have
even no word in their language that answers to that of soul in ours. The
term approaching nearest thereto that we can find, is _M'cheejacmih_,
which signifies _Shade_, and may be construed something in the nature of
the _Manes_ of the Romans.
The general belief amongst them is, that, after death, they go to a
place of joy and plenty, in which sensuality is no more omitted than in
Mahomet's paradise. There they are to find women in abundance, a country
thick of all manner of game to humor their passion for hunting, and bows
and arrows of the best sort, ready made.
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