Religion in America

THE Configuration of the Continent of North America, at first view, presents several remarkable features. Spreading out like a partially open fan, with its apex towards the south, its coasts, in advancing northward, recede from each other with considerable regularity of proportion and correspondence, until, from being separated by only sixty miles at the Isthmus of Darien, they diverge to the extent of 4500 miles; the east coast pursuing a northeastern, and the west a nothwestern direction. Parallel to these coasts, and at almost equal distances from them, there are two ranges of mountains. The eastern range, called the Alleghany, or Appalachian, runs from southwest to northeast, at an average distance of 150 miles from the Atlantic. Its length is usually estimated at 900 miles. Its greatest width, which is in Virginia and Pennsylvania, is about 120 miles. Rather a system, than a range, of mountains, it is composed of parallel ridges, generally maintaining a northeast and southwest direction. But as it advances towards its northern extremity, and passes through the New-England States, it loses much of its continuity, and gradually runs off into a chain of nearly isolated mountains. The southern extremity gradually sinks down into the hills of Georgia, unless, indeed, we may consider it as disappearing in the low, central line of the peninsula of Florida. The northeastern end terminates in the ridges of Nova Scotia. The whole of this range is within the limits of the United States, excepting that part of it which stretches into the British Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We may remark, in passing, that although this mountain range apparently separates the waters which flow into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence, such is not really the

case. These mountains simply stand, as it were, on the plateau or elevated plain on which those waters have their origin. Rising in the immediate vicinity of each other, and often interlocking, these streams are not in the least affected in their course by the mountains, the gaps and valleys of which seem to have been made to accommodate them, instead of their accommodating themselves to the shape and position of the mountains. In a part of its northern extension, this range of mountains seems to detach itself entirely from the plain where those streams have their source, and lies quite east of it, so that the streams that fall into the Atlantic, in making their way to the southeast, as it were, cut through the mountain range, in its entire width.

When first discovered by Europeans, and for a century and more afterward, the long and comparatively narrow strip of country between the Alleghany range and the Atlantic Ocean was covered with an unbroken forest. The mountains, likewise, up to their very summits, and the valleys that lay between them, were clad with wood. Nothing deserving the name of a field, or a prairie, was anywhere to be seen.

On the western side of the continent, as has been stated, another range of mountains runs parallel to the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This range is a part of the immense system of mountains running from Cape Horn throughout the entire length of the continent, and seems as if intended, like the backbone in large animals, to give it unity and strength. It is by far the longest in the world and bearing different names in different parts of its extent, it is the Andes in South America, the Cordilleras in Guatimala and Mexico, and the Rocky Mountains† in the north.

The long, and, in many parts, wide strip of land between the Oregon Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is claimed, on the

* The entire length of this range is estimated to be 9000 English miles.

+ The proper name of this portion of the range is This is the length of the chain considered as a Oregon, a word of Indian origin, and which, whatevcontinuous range, from the northern parts of Geor-er may be its original signification, is a much better

gia and Alabama to the State of New-York. Taken in the extensive sense in which it is spoken of in the text, the entire range exceeds 1500 English miles.

name than that which it has so long borne, and which has nothing distinctive about it, for all mountains are rocky.

and in the middle, by England and the United States.

north, by Russia; on the south, by Mexico; | many a fold, through more than 4000 miles. But, though exceeded by the Mississippi in length, the St. Lawrence clearly has the advantage in depth and noble expansion towards its mouth, being navigable for the

Between these two ranges of mountains -the Alleghany on the east and the Oregon on the west-lies the immense Cen-largest ships of war as high as Quebec, 340 tral Valley of North America, wider in miles; and for large merchant vessels to the north than towards the south, and Montreal, 180 miles farther; whereas the reaching from the Northern Ocean to the Mississippi does not reach the medium Gulf of Mexico. It is the most extensive width of a mile, nor a depth in the shallow valley in the world, and is composed of two places of the central channel, when the vast sections, separated by a zigzag line stream runs low, of more than fifteen feet; of table-land. This ridge, which is of no so that, excepting when in flood, it is not great elevation, and which commences near navigable by ships of 500 tons for more than the 42° of north latitude on one side, while 300 miles. The St. Lawrence, and all the it terminates near the 49° on the other, other considerable rivers of the northern stretches across from the Alleghany sys- basin, pass through a succession of lakes, tem to the Oregon, and thus separates, some of vast extent, by which the floods also, the waters that flow southward into caused by melting snows and heavy rains, the Gulf of Mexico, from those flowing in which otherwise, by rushing down in the the opposite direction into the northern spring, and accumulating vast masses of seas. Thus the one section of this great ice in the yet unopened channel of its lowvalley inclines to the south, the other gen-er and northern course, would spread devtly, nay, almost imperceptibly, descends towards the north. The former is drained mainly by one great river and its numerous branches, called, in the pompous language of the Aborigines of the country, the Mississippi, or Father of Waters. The latter is drained by the St. Lawrence, falling into the Northern Atlantic; the Albany and other streams falling into Hudson's Bay; and by M'Kenzie's River, which falls into the Arctic Ocean.

astation and ruin over the banks, are collected in huge reservoirs, and permitted to flow off gradually during the summer months. Wonderful display of wisdom and beneficence in the arrangements of Divine creation and providence! But the Mississippi, as it flows into the warmer regions of the south, needs no such provision; and hence, with the exception of a few small lakes connected with the head streams of the Upper Mississippi in the west, and one These great sections of this immense or two connected with the Alleghany, a valley differ much in character. The north-branch of the Ohio, in the east, no lake ern possesses a considerable extent of com- occurs in the whole of the southern basin. paratively elevated and very fertile land in Owing to this difference in these rivers, a its southern part; while towards the north sudden rise of three feet in the waters of it subsides to a low, monotonous, swampy the St. Lawrence would be more surpriplain, little elevated above the level of the sing than a rise of thirty feet in the Missisocean, and, by reason of its marshes, bogs, sippi. But in order that the country which and inhospitable climate, is almost as unin- borders upon the latter may not be too habitable as it is incapable of cultivation. much exposed to great and destructive inThe southern section-more commonly undation, the Creator has, in his wisdom, called the Valley of the Mississippi-termi- given to it a peculiar configuration. The nates on the low, marshy coast of the Gulf inclined plane which slopes down from of Mexico; but, with the exception of the the Oregon Mountains towards the east is part of it which lies on the upper streams much wider than that sloping from the of the Red River and La Platte, it eve-mountains on the opposite side. Hence rywhere abounds in fertile land, covered, for the most part, even yet, with noble forests, or adorned with beautiful prairies. The St. Lawrence is the great river of the northern section or basin, though not without a rival in the M'Kenzie's River; while its southern rival, the Mississippi, flows almost alone in its vast domain. There are, however, the Alabama and a few small rivers on its left, and the Sabine, the Brazos, and some others of lesser note on its right. The St. Lawrence boasts a length of more than 2000 miles. That of the Mississippi exceeds 2500; and if the Missouri be considered the main upper branch, as it ought to be, then it may fairly claim the honour of dragging its vast length, with

the rivers from the western side of the val-
ley have a much greater distance to trav-
erse than those that drain the eastern slope,
and the floods which they roll down in the
spring are, of course, proportionally later
in reaching the Lower Mississippi. În fact,
just as the floods of the Tennessee, the
Cumberland, and the Ohio, have subsided,
those of the Arkansas, the Missouri, and
Upper Mississippi begin to appear.
these all came down at once, the Lower
Mississippi, as the common outlet, by
swelling to such an extent as to overflow
its banks, would spread destruction far and
wide over the whole Delta. Such a calam-
ity, or, rather, something approaching to
it, does occasionally occur; but at long in-

tervals, to teach men their dependance on a few straggling Indians are occasionally Divine Providence, as well as to punish them for their sins.

Of the slope between the Oregon Mountains and the Pacific, the northern part, occupied by Russia, is cold, and little of it fit for cultivation; the middle, claimed by the United States and Great Britain, is said to be a fine country in many parts; while that occupied by Mexico has very great natural advantages. The country bordering on the Gulf of California is surpassed by none in North America for pleasantness of climate and fertility of soil.

seen upon its outskirts. With these exceptions, the whole portion of North America which is now either occupied or claimed by the people of the United States, was, when first visited by Europeans, and for more than a century afterward, one vast wilderness. The luxuriant vegetation with which it had been clothed year after year, for ages, was destined only to decay and enrich the soil. Thus did the work of preparing it to be the abode of millions of civilized men go silently and steadily on; the earth gathering strength, during this long repose, for the sustentation of nations On both sides of the Upper Mississippi, which were to be born in the distant fuas well as on both sides of the Missouri, ture. One vast and almost unbroken forthere are extensive prairies,* as the French, est covered the whole continent, imbowho first explored that country, called soming in its sombre shadows alike the them; that is, in many places there are meandering streamlet and the mighty rivdistricts, some of them very extensive, in- er, the retired bay and the beautiful and cluding hundreds, and even thousands of tranquil lake. A profound and solemn siacres of land; others smaller, and resem-lence reigned everywhere, save when inbling a field or meadow, which are covered terrupted by the songs of the birds which in the summer with tall grass and a great variety of flowers, but on which scarcely anything in the shape of a tree is to be found. Many of these prairies possess a fertile soil; but others produce only a sort of stunted grass and short weeds; and between the upper streams of the Red River and the La Platte, towards the Oregon Mountains, there lies an extensive tract which has been called the Great American Desert. The country there is covered with sand and detached rocks, or boulders, which have evidently come from the Oregon Mountains, and is thinly clothed with a species of vegetation called buffalo grass. The prickly pear may often be seen spreading its huge leaves over the ground. Not a tree, and scarcely a bush, is to be met with in many places for miles. Herds of buffalo sometimes traverse it, and

* Much has been said and written on the origin of the prairies of North America; but, after all, no perfectly satisfactory theory has yet been invented. The Indians know nothing on the subject. As to the barren prairies between the upper streams of the Red River and the Platte, mentioned in the text under the name of the Great American Desert, the same cause produced them which produced the Great Sahara in Africa, the utter sterility of the soil. But as it relates to those fertile prairies which one finds in the States of Illinois and Missouri, and in the Territories of Wisconsin and Iowa, the case is very different. In some respects, the theory that they owe their existence to the annual burning of the dry, decayed grass, and other vegetable matter, in the autumnal months, seems plausible. It accounts well enough for the perpetuation of these prairies, but it fails to account for their origin. How is it that the same cause did not produce prairies in those parts of North America where none have ever existed? which yet have been, as far as we can learn, occupied by the Aborigines as long as those in which the prairies are found. It is very likely that fire was one of the causes of their origin; but there may have

been others not less efficient, as well as various concurring circumstances, with respect to which we are wholly in the dark.

sported amid the trees, the natural cries of the beasts which roamed beneath, the articulate sounds of the savage tribes around their wigwams, or their shouts in the chase or in the battle. The work of God, in all its simplicity, and freshness, and grandeur, was seen everywhere; that of man almost nowhere; universal nature rested, and, as it were, kept Sabbath.

- Two hundred years more pass away, and how widely different is the scene! Along the coasts, far and wide, tall ships pass and repass. The white sails of brig and sloop are seen in every bay, cove, and estuary. The rivers are covered with boats of every size, propelled by sail or oar. And in every water the steamboat, heedless alike of wind and tide, pursues its resistless way, vomiting forth steam and flame. Commerce flourishes along every stream. Cities are rising in all directions. The forests are giving way to cultivated fields or verdant meadows. Savage life, with its wigwams, its blanket-covering, its poverty, and its misery, yields on every side to the arts, the comforts, and even the luxuries of civilization.

CHAPTER II.

THE ABORIGINES OF NORTH AMERICA.

NORTH AMERICA, when discovered by Europeans, was in the occupancy of a great number of uncivilized tribes; some large, but most of them small; and, although differing in some respects from one another, yet exhibiting indubitable evidence of a common origin. Under the belief that the country was a part of the East Indies, to reach which, by pursuing a westerly course, had been the object of their

voyage, the companions of Columbus gave only protection to their feet and legs in the name of Indians to those nations of the coldest weather. The head was adornthe Aborigines which they first saw. Sub-ed with feathers and the beaks and claws sequent and more extensive exploration of of birds, the neck with strings of shells, the coasts of America convinced them of and that of the warrior with the scalps of their mistake, but the name thus given to enemies slain in battle or in ambush. the indigenous tribes has adhered to them Nothing like agriculture was known to this day. among them, save the planting of small A striking similarity of organization per-patches of a species of corn which takes vades the tribes of North America.* All its name from them, and which, when have the same dull vermilion, or cinna- parched, or when pounded and made into mon complexion, differing wholly from paste and baked, is both palatable and nuthe white, the olive, and the black vari-tritious. Having no herds, the use of milk eties of the human family; all have the was unknown. They depended mainly on same dark, glossy hair, coarse, but uni- the chase and on fishing for a precarious formly straight. Their beards are gen- subsistence, not having the skill to furerally of feeble growth, and instead of be-nish themselves with suitable instruments ing permitted to become long, are almost for the prosecution of either with much universally eradicated. The eye is elonga-success; and when successful, as they ted, and has an orbit inclined to a quadran- had no salt, they could preserve an abungular shape. The cheek-bones are prom-dant supply of game only by smoking it. inent; the nose broad; the jaws projecting; the lips large and thick, though far less so than those of the Ethiopic race.

Hence the frequent famines among them, during the long, cold months of winter.

Poets have sung of the happiness of the Yet there are not wanting considerable natural, in other words, uncivilized life. varieties in the organization and complex- But all who know anything of the aboriion of the Aborigines of North America.ginal tribes of North America, even in Some nations are fairer skinned, some the present times, when those that border taller and more slender than others; and upon the abodes of civilized men live far even in the same tribe there are often striking contrasts. Their limbs, unrestrained in childhood and youth by the appliances which civilization has invented, are generally better formed than those of the white men. The persons of the males are more erect, but this is not so with the females; these have become bowed down with the heavy burdens which, as slaves, they are habitually compelled to bear.

more comfortably than did their ancestors three hundred years ago, are well aware that their existence is a miserable one. During the excitements of the chase, there is an appearance of enjoyment; but such seasons are not long, and the utter want of occupation, and the consequent tedium of other periods, make the men in many cases wretched. Add to this the want of resources for domestic happiness; the evils resulting from polygamy; the de

of friends and relatives, without the means of alleviation; the gloomy apprehensions of death; and we cannot wonder that the "red man" should be miserable, and seek gratification in games of chance, the revelries of drunkenness, or the excitements of war. I have seen various tribes of Indians; I have travelled among them; I have slept in their poor abodes, and never have I seen them, under any circumstances, without being deeply impressed with the conviction of the misery of those especially

Their manner of life, when first discovered, was in the highest degree barbarous.pression naturally caused by the sickness They had nothing that deserved the name of houses. Rude huts, mostly for temporary use, of various forms, but generally circular, were made by erecting a pole to support others which leaned upon it as a centre, and which were covered with leaves and bark, while the interior was lined with skins of the buffalo, the deer, the bear, &c. A hole at the top permitted the escape of the smoke; a large opening in the side answered the purpose of a door, a window, and sometimes of a chimney. The skins of animals formed almost the whole cov-who are not yet civilized. ering of the body. Moccasins, and sometimes a sort of boot, made of the skins of the animals slain in the chase, were the

They are not without some notions of a Supreme Power which governs the world, and of an Evil Spirit who is the enemy of mankind. But their theogony and their theology are alike crude and incoherent. They have no notion of a future resurrection of the body. Like children, they cannot divest themselves of the idea that the spirit of the deceased still keeps company with the body in the grave, or that it wanders in the immediate vicinity. Some, however, seem to have a confused impression that there is a sort of elysium for the

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Religion in America: Or an Account of the Origin, Relation to the State, and ...