40S EXPEDITION TO THE 



Hess' presence, as well as in that of many Indians, that 

 he could cause water to flow into an empty keg, though he 

 might, at that time, be upon a dry prairie, and at a dis- 

 tance from any spring or stream. Mr. Hess having told 

 him that he did not believe him, but that, if he succeeded, 

 he would give him a keg of whiskey, the Indian offered to 

 repeat the trick. He exhibited to them his keg, which 

 they examined, and all judged to be empty. The bung was 

 removed, the cask turned over, and no liquid issued from 

 it. The Indian then commenced his incantations, raising 

 his keg towards the heavens, dancing and performing 

 many unmeaning gestures ; after which he presented it to 

 the Indian chief that was present, bidding him to drink of 

 the water which it contained; the latter drank of it, found 

 it very good, and passed it to his neighbour; the cask was 

 circulated, to the great satisfaction of all the Indians who 

 drank of its contents, and even Mr. Hess was convinced 

 that the keg really held pure water. He was, however, un- 

 able to detect the deception, but supposed, that a bladder 

 lilled with water had been fastened within the keg, and 

 that, owing to the agitation communicated to it, the blad- 

 der had been burst by means of spikes di'iven into the 

 ends of the keg, for that purpose ; and that in this manner the 

 water had been diffused throughout the keg. The magi- 

 cian claimed and obtained his reward; but when alone 

 with him, Mr. Hess charged him with being an impostor, 

 and told him the manner in which he suspected that the 

 trick had been performed. The magician confessed the 

 truth of Mr. Hess' statement, but begged that he would not 

 disclose it to the Indians. 



The person who communicated this fact to us, is one of 

 the most respectable traders whom we have seen ; at the 

 time that we met with him he was in great disti'ess, owing 



