536 THE WORLl/S WONDERS. 



In this case the sick man died and was buried in a shallow 

 grave, from which wild beasts soon tore the body and devoured 

 it. The mourning was now begun and lasted six days, at the end 

 of which time a celebrated doctor was sent for in order that he 

 might discover, by a fetich ceremony, who it was that had 

 bewitched the dead man ; for it was not believed that a young 

 man of general good health could die so suddenly by the natural 

 course of nature. 



A canoe was dispatched to bring the doctor, who arrived in 

 due time and at once prepared to exorcise the vexatious spirit. 

 He wore a high head-dress of black feathers ; his eyelids were 

 painted red, and a red stripe, from the nose upward, divided his 

 forehead into two parts. The face was painted white, and on 

 each side of his mouth were two round red spots, while around 

 his neck was a grass cord suspending a box of snake bones and 

 other charms. He sat on a box, or stool, before which stood 

 another box containing charms. On this stood a looking-glass. 

 beside which lay a buffalo-horn containing some black powder, 

 and said, in addition, to be the refuge of many spirits. He had 

 a little basket of snake-bones, which he shook frequently during 

 his incantations, and also several skins, to which little bells were 

 attached. Near by stood another fellow beating a board with 

 two sticks. All the people of the village gathered about thi* 

 couple, who, after continuing their incantations for quite a while, 

 at last came to the climax. Jombuai was told to call over the 

 names of persons in the village, in order that the doctor might 

 ascertain if any one of those named did the sorcery. As each 

 name was called the old cheat looked in the glass to see the 

 result. He was unable to name the witch, but declared that he 1 

 was hidden in the village and would kill every one who remained 

 there. At once there was great excitement, for the people began 

 to shout and tear down their houses, making all the while hideous 

 noises to frighten the witch away while they were preparing for 

 removal. At the end of a few hours the village had entirely 

 disappeared from its old site ard was re-established again i a 

 spot about a mile away. 



