in the woods, which, as we may reasonably conjecture, was usually assigned for similar purposes; -for the reception of embassadors, a seat of judgment, and a place of fatal sacrifice together.

2. Certainly there could not be a more royal saloon. Great pines sent up their gigantic pillars; wide spreading oaks stretched their gnarled and antling branches overhead; and through the umbrageous masses, the blue canopy of the sky was visible and hanging over all. Conspicuous in this area sat, or rather reclined, the Indiana emperor.

3. His seat of state was a sort of bedstead, raised about a foot above the ground, upon which he might either sit or recline at pleasure. Some ten or a dozen mats formed the covering of this rude seat, immediately in front of which, a great fire was kept blazing. Upon this couch or throne, half lying, in something like oriental state, the form of Powhattan was seen between the persons of two young damsels, neither of whom was more than eighteen years of age.

4. On either hand, and ranging behind this group, were the warriors and women, who formed the suit of the emperor. These were sitting, or standing in alternate rows, and were all appareled in such ornaments as they could respectively command. Some had their heads decorated with the white down, and the plumage of native birds. Some wore strings of white beads upon their necks and bosoms. Others were otherwise adorned; and all of them appeared with cheeks, brows, and shoulders thickly painted with a brilliant red. But the chief, as the central figure of the group, was Powhattan himself; a man who needed not the foreign aid of ornament, to render him conspicuous in any circle.

NOTE. See Indian, p. 131, note b. b The practice of painting the face and shoulders with various colors, is common among the American Indians and most other savages. The South Sea islanders, however, practice tattooing the face, and in some instances the whole body, by pricking in a coloring matter with a sharp instrument, and thus forming various figures.

6. This prince, at the period of which we write, was fully sixty years of age; but time had taken nothing from the intense fire in his eye, and in no respect subdued the erect energies of his ample stature. His aspect was severe and noble; his presence majestic. His bearing was that of one to whom sway was habitual, and the haughtiness of which, seemed not unnatural or improper, to one accustomed to frequent conquest.

7. Although his state was rude, it was by no means inconsistent with its dignity. The rich chains of great pearls, which we are told encircled his neck, and the great robe made of raccoon skins, which covered his person, their tails all properly disposed and pendent, were, no doubt, worn with quite as much grace and majesty, as the costly habiliments of civilized potentates.

8. Indeed, it is not often that the dignitaries of the civilizedworld could compare, in nobleness of bearing, with the lords of the American forest, taught by nature herself, and with limbs rendered free and graceful in spontaneous movement, by the constant exercise of battle and the chase. It is certain that Powhattan needed quite as little of dress and decoration for the purposes of state, as any hereditary prince in Europe.

9. The face, the air, the carriage, of the emperor, seemed fully to justify the unlimited sway which he held over the affections of his people. Whatever may have been the other deficiencies of our forest chieftain, it is very sure that he was not wanting in the qualities of free and natural movements, a calm and grave intelligence of aspect, a lofty demeanor, and a noble bearing.

QUESTIONS. 1. Where did Powhattan and his suit assemble? 3. Describe the seat of state of the Emperor, and his mode of sitting. 3. By whom was the empe ror attended? 4. How were those arranged who formed the suit of the emperor } 4. How were they appareled? 5. How were their faces and shoulders painted? 5. Is this custom common among savages? 5. How do the South Sea islanders ornament their faces, &c.? 6. What was the appearance of Powhattan? 9. What were his intellectual endowments?

5. Sub-lime', a lofty style.

6. Chief'tain-ship, government over a

clan.

7. An-tic'i-pate, to have a previous impression of.

7. Ap'po-site, suitable, fit.

7. Met-a-phoric-al, figurative.

7. Mech'an-iz-ed, subjected to art. [tien

8. Char-ac-ter-is'tics, distinctive quali

ERRORS.-2. Gran'der for grand'eur; 3. shad'ers for shadows; 4. in'jer-ies for in'ju-ries; 5. ann'cient for ancient; 7. furcely for fiercely; 8. char-ac-ter-es'tics for char-ac-ter-is'tics; 8. per-served for pre-serv'ed.

INDIAN ELOQUENCE.

[The learner may point out the substitutes in the first four verses of this piece, and tell what element each represents. See Table of Substitutes, p. 21.] 1. Ar a time when barbarous nations elsewhere had lost their primitive purity, we find the American Indiana the only true child of nature, - the best specimen of man in his native simplicity. We should remember him as a study of human nature, as an instance of a strange mixture of good and evil passions.

2. We perceive in him, fine emotions of feeling and delicacy, and unrestrained systematic cruelty; grandeur of spirit, and hypocritical cunning; genuine courage, and fiendish treachery. He was like some beautiful spar, part of which is regular, clear, and sparkling; while a portion, impregnated with clay, is dark and forbidding.

b

3. But while we regard the Indians with admiration, as a wonderful exhibition of the workmanship of the Creator, we should dearly cherish the remains of their oratory, as the only relic of their literature, and the most perfect emblem of their character, their glory, and their intellect. In these, we see developed the motives which animated their actions, and the light and shadows of their very

soul.

NOTES. -a See Indian, p. 131, note b. b The American Indians had no written lit erature, although their spoken language is said to be energetic and expressive.

4. The iron incasement of apparent apathy in which the savage had fortified himself, impenetrable at ordinary moments, is laid aside in the council-room. The genius of eloquence bursts the swathing bands of custom, and the Indian stands forth accessible, natural, and legible. We commune with him, listen to his complaints, understand, appreciate, and even feel his injuries.

5. As Indian eloquence is a key to their character, so is it a noble monument of their literature. Oratory seldom finds a more auspicious field. A wild people and region of thought, forbade feebleness; uncultivated, but intelligent and sensible, a purity of idea, chastity combined with energy of expression, ready fluency and imagery, now exquisitely delicate, now soaring to the sublime, all united to rival the efforts of any ancient or modern orator.

6. What can be imagined more impressive than the warrior, rising in the council-room, to address those who bore the same sacred marks of their title to fame and the chieftainship? The dignified stature, the easy repose of limbs, the graceful gesture, the dark, speaking eye, excite equal admiration and expectation.

7. We would anticipate eloquence from an Indian. He has animating remembrances, a poverty of language which exacts rich and apposite metaphorical allusions, even for ordinary conversation; a mind which, like his body, has never been trammeled and mechanized by the formalities of society, and passions which, from the very outward restraint imposed upon them, burn more fiercely within.

8. They have not many speeches remaining on record, but even in this small number, there is such a rich, yet varied vein of all the characteristics of true eloquence, that we rise from their perusal with regret, that so few have been preserved.

QUESTIONS. 1. What is the best specimen of man in his native simplicity? 2. To what may he be compared? 3. Why should we cherish the remains of Indian oratory? 3. Had the American Indians any written literature? 6. What makes the Indian orator impressive? 7. Why should we anticipate eloquence from an Indian? 8. What is said of the number of Indian speeches on record ?

LESSON LX.

Spell and Define.

1. Brood, the young birds hatched at one] 3. Pro-pi'tious, ready to bestow blessings.

1. Rud'dy, of a red color.

1. Re-flects', throws back,

1. Beam'y, radiant, shining.

3. Charms, enchantments.

3. In-voke', to address in prayer.

[time. 5. Fu-sees', small, neat muskets.

6. Ti'ger, a fierce animal of the cat kind.

6. Cov'et, to desire earnestly.

7. Red'-skin, an Indian.

8. Harm, hurt, injury.

ERRORS.1. Sing'in for sing'ing; 2. sor'rer-liss for sorrow-less; 3. sack red-ly for sa'cred-ly; 4. vis'ige for vis'age; 8. hoss for horse; 8. wite for while.

GEEHALE.a-AN INDIAN LAMENT.

H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT.

1. THE blackbird is singing on Michigan's shore
As sweetly and gayly as ever before;

For he knows, to his mate, he at pleasure can hie,
And the dear little brood she is teaching to fly.
The sun looks as ruddy, and rises as bright,
And reflects o'er the mountain as beamy a light,

As it ever reflected, or ever expressed,

When my skies were the bluest, my dreams were the best.

2. The fox and the panther, both beasts of the night,
Retire to their dens on the gleaming light,

And they spring with a free and a sorrowless track,
For they know that their mates are expecting them back.
Each bird and each beast, it is blessed in degree;
All nature is cheerful, all happy but me.

3. This snake-skin," that once I so sacredly wore,
I will toss, with disdain, to the storm-beaten shore;
Its charms I no longer obey nor invoke,

Its spirit hath left me, its spell is now broke.

NOTE. - Gee-hale'; an Indian chief. b See Manito, p. 277, note a