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you； and I now salute you with unchanged affections and respect。
CONCERNING THE INDIANS
_To John Adams_
_Monticello； June 11； 1812_
DEAR SIR By our post preceding that which brought your
letter of May 21； I had recieved one from Mr。 Malcolm on the same
subject with yours； and by the return of the post had stated to the
President my recollections of him。 But both of your letters were
probably too late； as the appointment had been already made； if we
may credit the newspapers。
You ask if there is any book that pretends to give any account
of the traditions of the Indians； or how one can acquire an idea of
them？ Some scanty accounts of their traditions； but fuller of their
customs and characters are given us by most of the early travellers
among them。 These you know were chiefly French。 Lafitau； among
them； and Adair an Englishman； have written on this subject； the
former two volumes； the latter one； all in 4to ＇quarto＇。 But
unluckily Lafitau had in his head a preconcieved theory on the
mythology； manners； institutions and government of the antient
nations of Europe； Asia； and Africa； and seems to have entered on
those of America only to fit them into the same frame； and to draw
from them a confirmation of his general theory。 He keeps up a
perpetual parallel； in all those articles； between the Indians of
America； and the antients of the other quarters of the globe。 He
selects therefore all the facts； and adopts all the falsehoods which
favor his theory； and very gravely retails such absurdities as zeal
for a theory could alone swallow。 He was a man of much classical and
scriptural reading； and has rendered his book not unentertaining。 He
resided five years among the Northern Indians； as a Missionary； but
collects his matter much more from the writings of others； than from
his own observation。
Adair too had his kink。 He believed all the Indians of
American to be descended from the Jews： the same laws； usages； rites
and ceremonies； the same sacrifices； priests； prophets； fasts and
festivals； almost the same religion； and that they all spoke Hebrew。
For altho he writes particularly of the Southern Indians only； the
Catawbas； Creeks； Cherokees； Chickasaws and Choctaws； with whom alone
he was personally acquainted； yet he generalises whatever he found
among them； and brings himself to believe that the hundred languages
of America； differing fundamentally every one from every other； as
much as Greek from Gothic； have yet all one common prototype。 He was
a trader； a man of learning； a self…taught Hebraist； a strong
religionist； and of as sound a mind as Don Quixot in whatever did not
touch his religious chivalry。 His book contains a great deal of real
instruction on it's subject； only requiring the reader to be
constantly on his guard against the wonderful obliquities of his
theory。
The scope of your enquiry would scarcely； I suppose； take in
the three folio volumes of Latin by De Bry。 In these fact and fable
are mingled together； without regard to any favorite system。 They
are less suspicious therefore in their complexion； more original and
authentic； than those of Lafitau and Adair。 This is a work of great
curiosity； extremely rare； so as never to be bought in Europe； but on
the breaking up； and selling some antient library。 On one of these
occasions a bookseller procured me a copy； which； unless you have
one； is probably the only one in America。
You ask further； if the Indians have any order of priesthood
among them； like the Druids； Bards or Minstrels of the Celtic
nations？ Adair alone； determined to see what he wished to see in
every object； metamorphoses their Conjurers into an order of priests；
and describes their sorceries as if they were the great religious
ceremonies of the nation。 Lafitau calls them by their proper names；
Jongleurs； Devins； Sortileges； De Bry praestigiatores； Adair himself
sometimes Magi； Archimagi； cunning men； Seers； rain makers； and the
modern Indian interpreters； call them Conjurers and Witches。 They
are persons pretending to have communications with the devil and
other evil spirits； to foretel future events； bring down rain； find
stolen goods； raise the dead； destroy some； and heal others by
enchantment； lay spells etc。 And Adair； without departing from his
parallel of the Jews and Indians； might have found their counterpart；
much more aptly； among the Soothsayers； sorcerers and wizards of the
Jews； their Jannes and Jambres； their Simon Magus； witch of Endor；
and the young damsel whose sorceries disturbed Paul so much； instead
of placing them in a line with their High…priest； their Chief
priests； and their magnificent hierarchy generally。 In the solemn
ceremonies of the Indians； the persons who direct or officiate； are
their chiefs； elders and warriors； in civil ceremonies or in those of
war； it is the Head of the Cabin； in their private or particular
feasts or ceremonies； and sometimes the Matrons； as in their Corn
feasts。 And； even here； Adair might have kept up his parallel； with
ennobling his Conjurers。 For the antient Patriarchs； the Noahs； the
Abrahams； Isaacs and Jacobs； and； even after the consecration of
Aaron； the Samuels and Elijahs； and we may say further every one for
himself； offered sacrifices on the altars。 The true line of
distinction seems to be； that solemn ceremonies； whether public or
private； addressed to the Great Spirit； are conducted by the worthies
of the nation； Men； or Matrons； while Conjurers are resorted to only
for the invocation of evil spirits。 The present state of the several
Indian tribes； without any public order of priests； is proof
sufficient that they never had such an order。 Their steady habits
permit no innovations； not even those which the progress of science
offers to increase the comforts； enlarge the understanding； and
improve the morality of mankind。 Indeed so little idea have they of
a regular order of priests； that they mistake ours for their
Conjurers； and call them by that name。
So much in answer to your enquiries concerning Indians； a
people with whom； in the very early part of my life； I was very
familiar； and acquired impressions of attachment and commiseration
for them which have never been obliterated。 Before the revolution
they were in the habit of coming often； and in great numbers to the
seat of our government； where I was very much with them。 I knew much
the great Outassete ＇i。e。； Outacity＇； the warrior and orator of the
Cherokees。 He was always the guest of my father； on his journeys to
and from Williamsburg。 I was in his camp when he made his great
farewell oration to his people； the evening before his departure for
England。 The moon was in full splendor； and to her he seemed to
address himself in his prayers for his own safety on the voyage； and
that of his people during his