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Comparative holiness of persons & things 184
The Indians are better than other people because they are the people of God. he chose them for this. Men are holier than women - Priests are holier than all of them. - Priests wives were holier than other women, and their garments than those of other women. Priests houses houses and door yards were holy. No blood must be shed in them, but theirs were a refuge the same as the towns of refuge themselves. Priests garments were holy as well as their mats and that part of the council house where they stood. No common person could go to them. Their pipes also were holy. The great priests and officers of war were holy and all their dress, armour &c. The U lu sa ta, or Divining Stone was holy. No one but a priest could touch it on pain of death; and though the priests assistant sometimes carried it, yet in that case it was wrapped in seven deer skins before being delivered to him. Their ancient fire which came from above was most holy, and the new fire which they make by rubbing wood
together is holier than other fire and must not be used for cooking only on a hunting or war expedition. And the ark or vessel in which this fire is carried to war &c is most holy. No one must touch it or carry it, but a distinguished priest.
The altar for sacrifice, the ashes &c were holy. None must touch them but the priest. The house for sacred? fire was holy and none must enter it but the priest & his right hand man.
The great council house was holier than common houses. The west end of that was holier than the other part, being for the priests only and the space back of the mm sacred seats, about the seventh part was holier than all, The Towns of refuge were holier than other towns. No blood must be spilt in them.
Mountains were more sacred than low ground, and two mountains (they tell where) are more holy than any others, The ground on the banks of rivers, and on the sea shore is more sacred than that farther from the water, and the ground under rivers &c is holier still. All houses of worship and places for sacrifice & prayer must be near the water.
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Anciently when women cooked breakfast, they put some of whatever they cooked, on fire for sacrifice; but when they were cooking birds, they offered a whole one. They
plucked off the feathers & took out the inwards, and then put it on the