93 



To these questions the fanatical impostor repHes in 

 such a manner as he believes best calculated to pro- 

 mote the deception, either by naming, as the cause of 

 the malady, some person whom he wishes to revenge 

 himself of, or by expressing himself doubtfully as to 

 the success of his incantations. In this manner these 

 diabolical mountebanks become very frequently 

 the cause of horrible murders, as the relations of 

 the sick, supposing the accusation true, put to 

 death without pity those accused of these practises, 

 and sometimes involve in their revenge the whole 

 family, if they are not strong enough to resist their 

 violence. But these malicious fomenters of dis- 

 cord are careful never to accuse the principal ñimi- 

 lies. The Machis, though not invested with the 

 sacerdotal character, like the physicians of most 

 other savage nations, greatly resemble in their im- 

 postures the Shamanis of Kamschatka, the Mofases 

 of Africa, an d the Piachis of the Oronoque, whose 

 tricks are accurately described by the Abbé Giii, 

 in his history of the Oronokians. 



These physicians, notwithstanding the different 

 systems that they pursue, sometimes meet to sa- 

 tisfy the solicitude or the vanity of the relations of 

 the sick. But their consultations, which are called 

 Thauman^ have generally the same issue as those of 

 the physicians of Europe. They have besides these 

 other kinds of professoi-s of medicine. The first, 

 who may be stiled surgeons, are skilful in replacing 

 dislocations, in repairing fractures, and in curing- 

 wounds and ulcers. They are called Gutarve, pos- 

 sess real merit, and often perform wonderful cures, 



