82 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



altogether the case. He is trained to know a 

 lot of things, and some are undoubtedly useful 

 to the hunter and fisherman. In a way he is a 

 seer and can tell where and when to hunt. His 

 people state that his directions are generally 

 right, and if followed, conduce to success. He 

 tells them to go at dawn to some particular spot 

 and they will find deer or tapir ; they go and 

 bring back the particular game. He also knows 

 how to treat those diseases from which the Indian 

 has always suffered, but when small-pox and 

 measles that have come in with the white man 

 appear, he is necessarily at a loss, When we 

 look with contempt on his incantations, and say 

 that his ventriloquial feats are useless, we are 

 inclined to forget that faith gives confidence to 

 both doctor and patient, and is often effectual. 

 The negro Obeah man often works in a similar 

 way for another purpose, and sometimes kills 

 those who have faith in his charms. We cannot 

 find that the Peaiman ever tries to injure ; in fact, 

 everything that he does is intended for good. 

 At the same time, although good intentions are 

 not everything, we know he cannot go beyond 

 his supposed knowledge, and therefore need not 

 think him an impostor. 



