494 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth.ann.40 



is their power to do evil at a great distance from the object, to pro- 

 duce death or disease, though they do not believe these persons can 

 transform themselves into other shapes; think they can exercise the 

 same power to do good if they choose, and do exercise it in curing 

 the sick. It is in consequence of this belief that the doctor or divin- 

 ing man is punished in case of failure and death, as they think it is 

 his unwillingness, not his inability, to cure which produces the 

 result. They do not burn them, but the writer has seen several shot 

 at different times by the relatives of the deceased, on the supposition 

 they caused their death. This custom is in as great force now as it 

 ever was. 



The divining man has a chance to become rich in horses and other 

 property in a short time, as his fees depend on himself; but these 

 advantages are more than counterbalanced by the risk attending the 

 profession. The doctor, priest, conjuror, wizard, prophet, and divin- 

 ing man are all united in the same person; that is, to a divining man 

 (Wa-con), or divining woman (Wa-can), these powers, or some 

 of them, are ascribed, and they are believed to possess them in pro- 

 portion as their success has been developed. Some are simply doctors 

 of medicine, others in addition are conjurors and do tricks. Some 

 go further, interpret dreams, reveal the future, find lost articles, etc. 

 The whole united forms the entire divining man. The persons who 

 profess and perform some of these things are tolerably numerous; 

 but the effective diviner of established reputation, large prac- 

 tice, and possessing the whole of the foregoing powers are very 

 few, perhaps not more than six or eight in the whole Assiniboin 

 Nation. As has been observed, they form no distinct body and 

 have but little influence in council unless they can add that of warrior 

 to their many distinguished titles and degrees. 



The whole of these Indians most sincerely believe in the theory 

 of ghosts, that departed spirits have the power to make themselves 

 visible and heard, that they can assume any shape they wish, of 

 animals or men, and many will affirm that they have actually seen 

 these apparitions and heard their whistlings and moanings. They 

 are. much afraid of these appearances, and under no consideration 

 will go_ alone near a burial place after dark. They believe these 

 apparitions have the power of striking the beholder with some 

 disease, and many complaints are attributed to this cause. They 

 therefore make feasts and prayers to them to remain quiet. Smaller 

 evils and misfortunes are caused by their power, and a great many 

 stories are nightly recounted in their lodges of the different shapes 

 in which they appear. 



Dreams are revelations of Great Mystery and have consider- 

 able influence over them, either in war expeditions or the chase. 



