262 TRAVELS through 



me, by telling me he was a magician, and would 

 pra^ife fhyftc * again ft me, if I gave him no 

 brandy -, /. e. he would enchant my boat, fo 

 that it could not proceed. I told him I feared 

 him not •, that I was a phyfician myfelf. This 

 word alloniflied my adverfary. 



This pretended magician told me to fhew him 

 the effcds of my art ; I anfwered, that he ought 

 to begin, but he replied that I lliould do it be- 

 ing a flranger •, at lafl, after many debates, I 

 began to make ridiculous geftures, and looked 

 into a book which the juggler underftood no- 

 thing of; I bid him retire, and leave me alone, 

 it being the cuflom of the jugglers, by which 

 means they conceal their impoftures from the 

 other Indians. I had the fkin of a tyger-cat, 

 the flefh and bones of which had been extradled 

 through an incifion in the neck ; I gave this 

 fldn to the Indian quack, telling him to reflore 

 Its fight, and make the creature go about. He 

 anfwered, that he could not do it ; I fee, faid I, 

 thou art a mere novice in this art, I fhall per- 

 form it. 



I muft 



'■^- This is an expreflion which the Indians make ufe of, de^ 

 fioting the application of their flight-of-hand tricks, and 

 grimaces i;itended for to make their countrymen believe that 

 chcy are magicians or conjurors. 



