1764.J INDIAN ORACLE. 167 



expectation ensued ; when, after the lapse of a 

 quarter of an hour, the weak, puppy-like voice of 

 the Great Turtle was again heard addressing the 

 magician in a language unknown to the auditors. 

 When the spirit ceased speaking, the magician 

 interpreted his words. During the short interval 

 of his departure, he had crossed Lake Huron, 

 visited Niagara, and descended the St. Lawrence to 

 Montreal. Few soldiers had as yet reached Niag- 

 ara ; but as he flew down the St. Lawrence, he had 

 seen the water covered w^ith boats, all filled with 

 English warriors, coming to make war on the Indi- 

 ans. Having obtained this answer to his first 

 question, the chief ventured to propose another ; 

 and inquired if he and his people, should they 

 accept the invitation of Sir William Johnson, 

 would be well received at Niagara. The answer 

 was most satisfactory. " Sir William Johnson," 

 said the spirit, " will fill your canoes with presents ; 

 with blankets, kettles, guns, gunpowder and shot ; 

 and large barrels of rum, such as the stoutest 

 of the Indians Avill not be able to lift ; and every 

 man will return in safety to his family." This 

 grateful response produced a general outburst of 

 acclamations ; and, with cries of joy, many voices 

 were heard to exclaim, '" I will go too ! I will go 

 too!"i 



1 Henry, Travels and Adventures, 171. 



The method of invoking the spirits, described above, is a favorite species 

 of imposture among the medicine men of most Algonquin tribes, and had 

 been observed and described a century and a half before the period of this 

 history. Champlain, the founder of Canada, vvitnessed one of these 

 ceremonies ; and the Jesuit Le Jeune gives an account of a sorcerer, who. 



