s hastened or deferred. The "_corn-moon_"
of the Iroquois, on the northern lakes, would hardly be the _corn-moon_
of the Creeks in Georgia. The Northern Indians call March, (the month in
which their year begins,) the _worm-month_, because in this month the
worms quit their retreats in the bark of the trees, where they have
sheltered themselves during the winter.

April is the _moon of plants_.

May the _moon of flowers_.

June _the hot moon_.

July the _buck-moon_.

August is called the _sturgeon-moon,_ because that fish becomes abundant
in this month.

September, the _corn-moon_, because the corn is gathered in that month.

October, the _travelling-moon_; as at this time they leave their
villages, and travel towards the place where they intend to spend the winter.

November, the _beaver-moon_; the month of commencing their hunts for the
beaver.

December, the _hunting-moon_, because they employ this month in pursuit
of game.

January, the _cold moon_, as this month has the most intense cold of any
month.

February, the _snow-moon_, because most snow falls in this month.

The Delawares, while they lived on the Atlantic coast, called March the
_shad-moon_; after they removed to the interior they called it the
_sap-moon_; October was their _corn-moon_, &c.

It may be remarked, that the designations given to the months are
derived from some remarkable trait of character, peculiarity of season,
or extraordinary event. Were they in England, they would suit those
names to the prominent circumstance occurring in the month. The March of
the present year would probably have been the "Month of the Silver
Cross," i.e. "The Catholic Month;" and, were they living at the West
End, and frequenters of the Park, at the season when it is crowded with
beautiful faces, that season would undoubtedly receive the name of the
"Season of Starflowers," or the "Month of the Rainbow birds."

(5) _Master of Life_.--p. 7.

The belief entertained by savage nations respecting the Supreme Being,
and a future state, is always entitled to a most respectful
consideration, because, when it admits the existence of a supreme,
over-ruling, almighty intelligence, it furnishes the believer with an
unanswerable argument for his creed. I have, therefore, devoted a few
pages to the subject, which I presume no one will think misapplied.
Hearne says, "Religion has not as yet begun to dawn among the Northern
Indians--I never found any of them that