TOL. Xtl.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 329 



of which he sometimes uses the juice, and sometimes reduces them to powder, 

 or perhaps makes a decoction of them. 



3. Though every one, according to his skill, is a sort of doctor, as many 

 women are in England, yet their priest is peculiarly styled their physician, to 

 be consulted on greater emergencies. The rules of the descent of whom, as to 

 families, Mr. C. does not know ; for they are a sullen close people, and will 

 answer very few questions. 



4. They reward their physician with no certain fees, but according as they 

 bargain for Wampampeake skins, or the like. If the patient be an English- 

 man, they will agree for a match-coat, or a gallon or two of rum, or so 

 forth, according to the nature of the cure. Sometimes the priest will sell his 

 remedy. 



5. Their king allows no salary ; but every one that in any nature can serve 

 his prince, is ready to do it, and to do it gratis. 



6. They have no consultations, their practice being merely empirical. They 

 know little of the nature or reason of things. Ask them any question about 

 the operation of a remedy, and, if in good humour, perhaps they will reply, 

 It cures ; otherwise they will shrug their shoulders, and you may ask 40 ques- 

 tions, and not know whether they understand either the thing, or what it is 

 you say to them. 



7 . They pay a certain deference of honour to their priest or wiochist, whose 

 person they hold sacred ; but they have no laws that bind them to it. In gene- 

 ral, the will of their prince stands for reason and law. 



8. The means by which they convey their art to posterity, Mr. C. takes to 

 be this. They lodge in their wiochisan houses, i. e. their temples, certain 

 kinds of reliques, such as men's skulls, some certain grains or pulse, and se- 

 veral herbs, which are dedicated to their gods ; viz. the skulls in memory of 

 their fights and conquests : the pulse by way of thanks-offering for their pro- 

 visions ; and the herbs, on the same account, for some special cure performed 

 by them. For when any one is cured by any herb, he brings part of it, and 

 offers it to his god ; by which the remembrance of this herb and its virtue are 

 not only preserved, but the priest also thus becon)es best instructed, and skilled 

 in the art of medicine. For otherwise, they are very reserved of their know- 

 ledge, even among themselves. Often when they are abroad hunting in the 

 woods, and fall sick, or receive any hurt, they are then forced to make use of 

 any herbs nearest at hand, which they are not timorous in venturing on, though 

 they know not their virtue or qualities. And thus, by making many trials and 

 experiments, they find out the virtues of herbs ; and by using simple remedies* 

 they certainly know what it is that effects the cure. 



VOL. viii. U u 



