374 The Natural Historic 



These People are great Inchanters, and use many Charms 

 of Witchcraft, for when they are troubled with the Head- 

 ach, they tye a great Stone with a String to a Stick or Pole, 

 and with certain Prayers, or bewitching expressions, they 

 lift up the Stone from the Ground to the top of the Pole, 

 which sometimes with all a Man's strength they cannot stir 

 from the place ; and at other times they lift as easy as a 

 Feather ; by this 8pell and certain Ceremonious Words, they 

 expect to have immediate ease and help for the Patient. I 

 am thoroughly satisfied that these Conjuroi^s are very great 

 Impostures, yet I have seldom or never known their Judg- 

 ment fail in regard of the Patients living or dying, though 

 I have seen them give their opinion after this manner sev- 

 eral times : Some affirm that there is a smell of Brimstone 

 in the Cabins whilst they are thus Conjuring, which I can- 

 not contradict, nor will I take upon me to argue how it came 

 there, but shall proceed to another relation of one of their 

 Indian Kings being sick, and the method us'd by the Doctor 

 for the recovery of his health, which is something like the 

 former, viz. 



One of their Kings being sick, the Doctor was immedi- 

 ately sent for, and as soon as he arriv'd, he orderd a Bowl 

 of Water to be brought him and placed before the King, on 

 whom he sprinkled some part out of his Mouth, then he took 

 a string of Ronoak about too Feet long (which is like a string 

 of small Beads) this he held at one end between his Fingers, 

 and the other touched the Kings Stomach ; he began to mut- 

 ter many expressions or Words, and to use many grimaces 

 for sometime, at length the string of Beads that himg ihus 

 perpendicular, turn'd up as an Eel woud do, and without 

 any motion of his Hand came all up in a Lump under his 

 Hand, and remained so for a considerable time, he never 



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