perils of a wilderness, they met at the outset a strange people. No
one knew who they were, nor how many; they themselves did not know.
They had no history. They had become vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened. Ignorant as to the past, their
theory of the future was vague and shadowy. Their spirits would exist
after death. The heroic and brave and worthy would go to the happy
hunting-grounds, where would be pleasant climate and fair weather,
and where abundance would be exhaustless and satisfactions complete.
The unworthy would wander without in a state of misfortune and
restless discontent. For their religious ceremonies, a priesthood
existed, and those who composed this were devoted to it from their
childhood. The howling dervishes of Turkey and the pagan priests of
the South Sea Islands, may be compared with the pow-wows of the North
American Indians.

It is impossible to estimate the number of this aboriginal
population. Doubtless the popular impression is an exaggerated one.
It would be safe to say that, all told, there were never at any one
period, more than half a million of these people, occupying the
present territory of the United States from ocean to ocean. They were
widely scattered, so that there were great stretches of forest and
prairie lying between the different tribes.

There were many groups, distinct in their languages, which yet bore a
general resemblance to each other in construction, so that the
several tribes could at least easily learn to understand each other.
I think that the weight of authority is, that they belong to one
family of nations, and are derived from one stock, while they display
considerable diversities in language and customs.