THE RELIGION OF THE POTUANS.
The system of religion in _Potu_ is very simple.
It is forbidden, under pain of banishment to the firmament, to explain
the holy books; whoever dares to dispute the being and nature of the
Deity, is sent to the mad-house and is bled. It is foolish, they say, to
attempt to describe that to which our senses are as blind as the eyes of
the owl in sunshine. All agree in worshiping a superior being, whose
omnipotence has created and whose providence maintains all things. Each
one is permitted to think and worship as he pleases; they only who
publicly attack the prevailing religion, are punished as
peace-disturbers. The people pray seldom, but with so ardent a devotion,
that a looker-on would think them enraptured during the continuance of
the prayer.
I told them that it was our custom to pray and sing psalms, while at our
domestic duties. This they blamed. "An earthly king," said they, "would
be angry should one who came to petition for something, brush his
clothes and comb his hair in the presence of his sovereign."
They have many curious notions of religion, which they defend very
artfully; for example, when I remarked to some of them whose friendship
I had gained, that they could not expect to be blessed after death,
since they walked in darkness here, they answered: "He, who with
severity condemned others, was himself in danger of being condemned."
I once advised them to pray every day. They did not deny the importance
of prayer, but thought true religion consisted in obeying the will of
God. "Suppose," continued they, "that a king has two kinds of subjects:
some err every day, violating from ignorance or malice the ruler's
commands; they come each day with petitions and deprecations to the
palace, beg pardon for their faults, and depart only to recommit them.
"The others come seldom, and never voluntarily to court, but execute
faithfully and diligently every of the king's commands, and thereby
evince the respect and loyalty due to him.
"Will not the king think these deserving of his love, as good subjects
and faithful; but, on the contrary, those as evil subjects, burthensome
as well for their misdeeds as for their frequent petitions?"
There are five festival days during the year. The first of these, which
takes place at the beginning of the oak month, is solemnized with great
devotion, in dark places, where not a ray of light is suffered to enter,
signifying that the being they worship is inconceivable. The festival is
called the "inconceivable-God's-day." The whole day, from sunrise to
sunset, the people remain immovable, engaged in earnest and heart-felt
prayer. In the four other festivals, thanks to God for his blessings
form the principal ceremonies.
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