XI. 



WITCECBAFT— SUPERSTITION— SICKNESS AND DEATH— MEDICINES- 

 TREATMENT OF THE SICE. 



WITCHCRAFT. 



All severe diseases or illnesses are ascribed to the evil influence of 

 enemies, and, in case of the death of an important personage, a victim 

 is usually found who has presumably charmed away the life of the de- 

 ceased. The Indians are intensely superstitious and have naturally 

 been encouraged in ideas of this kind by both the chiefs and the 

 shamans, whose sway over the tribe depends largely upon the fear and 

 respect excited by belief in their influence and power over good and 

 evil spirits. Largely through the action of the commanding officers 

 of our meu-ofwar stationed in Alaska, this hold of the chiefs and 

 shamans on the people has been broken. By the bombardment and de- 

 struction of several villages the Indians have been compelled to 

 abandon the punishment of victims accused of witchcraft, but the chief 

 stumbling block has been the surprising admission of guilt which nearly 

 all of the accused Indians make when charged with charming away 

 life, and this, too, in the face of the death pen alty. Such is their credu- 

 lity that when accused they believe they must be guilty. Amongst the 

 Haida the guilty Indian, according to Judge Swan, is discovered as 

 follows: 



The mouse is the judge by which the Haida detect the persons who work bad 

 magic and cause sickness and death. When a person is taken sick or dies, three men 

 are selected who prepare themselves by pulverizing a dried frog, mixing it with salt 

 water and drinking it. This decoction produces vomiting and purging, and when 

 their systems are thoroughly cleansed their minds are supposed to be clear and bet- 

 ter able to judge of the merits of the case about to be submitted to their decision. 

 They next catch a wood-mouse and put it in a little cage, whicb is set on a raised 

 platform in front of the judges. The little mouse, sadly frightened, retires to a cor- 

 ner of his cage and eyes the judges. They then commence naming over suspected 

 persons, and presently the little mouse nods its head. The victim has to pay money 

 or blankets to getclear. » * * (West Shore, August, 1884.) 



A narration of the superstitious beliefs of these Indians would in 

 itself exceed the limits of this paper. Charms of all kinds are worn 

 and the most implicit faith is placed in the significance of dreams, signs, 

 and omens. Certain forms are gone through with to propitiate the vari- 

 ous spirits and invoke their aid in all enterprises. A consideration of 

 this subject belongs properly to a study of the religious beliefs and 

 practices of these Indians, which must come later. 



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