SW_HJ1830_032

disorders. This they keep burning for a certain time, and then ex-tinguish it, and kindle another fire in it, stead. In times of drought, they frequently go to a tree that has been lately struck with lightning, and kindle a fire at the root, in the smoke whereof ascending, they of-fer up a petition to Eno, praying him to send rain; and circumstances of this ort frequently occur a little previous to rain coming, which greatly tends to keep up this superstitious idea among them. These notions, however, are rather declining among the Senecas. These Indians, in general, (their young people excepted,) were un-happily the victims of great intemperance, when they could obtain strong liquors; and most of the evils that afflict them might be traced to that source. This article of strong drink was sometimes carried among them by white traders, who also furnished them with abundance of silver trinkets, beads, and the like ornaments adapted to their taste. The Indian themselves were also in the practice of trading to the frontier settlements of white people, and exchanging their skins, furs, and other merchandise, for liquor, which they often brought home to their villages, and sold out by retail. This kept many of them conti-nually in a state of intoxication, while they could obtain the liquor, and many scenes of human wretchedness were the fatal consequences thus produced. Their aged women, in particular, were conspicuous sufferers by this evil, and were often seen lying beside the paths, over-come by it.