CHAPTEE III. 

 PRACTICE OF SOKCEBY. 



The early history of the races of mankind, now civilized, is marked 

 in all its course known to us by a belief in mysterious powers and 

 influences. Sorcerers, men believed to be skilled in occult arts, have 

 been known among them all. An examination into the actual practice of 

 sorcery or magical arts among savage and barbaric tribes is therefore of 

 peculiar interest. 



In none of the myths of the Iroquois which I have reason to believe 

 antedate the appearance of Europeans do I find anything indicating a 

 belief in Heaven or a separate spiritual world, although some of their 

 customs indicate that they may have had such a notion. The only 

 word for Heaven in the different dialects is evidently a literal transla- 

 tion of the Christian idea, and signifies " in the sky." It would seem 

 that after the possession of that idea came the desire for intermediaries 

 between living men and a spiritual world, indicating the first step to- 

 ward a higher philosophy. 



Among the highly civilized Chaldeans, Egyptians, and Greeks, the 

 success of magic depended upon the ignorance of the masses and the 

 comparative learning of the few who jjracticed it. Among the Indians 

 the knowledge of the medicine man and the more expert sorceress is 

 little above that of the body of the tribe. Their success depends en- 

 tirely upon their own belief in being supernaturally gifted, and upon 

 the faith and fear of their followers. 1 do not believe that the Iroquois 

 lives to-day who is not a believer in sorcery or who would not in the 

 night time quail at seeing a bright light the nature of which he did not 

 understand. The most intelligent, the wisest, and the best Christian 

 whom I ever met among them told me of the wonderful marvels he 

 himself had wrought. He had stayed the flames of a burning church 

 by holding forth his right hand. He had lamed for life a man who was 

 stealing cherries by pointing his finger at him. Few bad Indians came 

 into his presence without begging him not to " bewitch " them. This 

 good Tuscarora ranks as one of the leading Christians of his tribe and 

 lives up to all the moral precepts of the Bible, from which he can quote 

 a text considered by himself to be appropriate for each of the supersti- 

 tions in which he so firmly believes. 



A few Tuscarora names with their definitions will serve to illustrate 

 some of the practices and beliefs of the Iroquois. 



Talcu-wi-sdt : A xjerson ijossessing within himself a live crystal which 

 he could call from his mouth or nose. The crystal placed in a gourd of 



water, rendered visible the apparition of a person who had bewitched 



as 



