268 Expedition to the 



much difficulty and delay, when obtaining vocabularies of 

 this and some other languages, in ascertaining corresponding 

 words for Uevil and Hell ; the Indians would consult toge- 

 ther, and, in one instance, the interpreter told us they were 

 coining a word. 



They say that after death, those who have conducted 

 themselves properly in this life, are received into the Wa- 

 noch-a te, or town of brave and generous spirits ; but those 

 who have not been useful to the nation, or their own fami- 

 lies, by killing their enemies, stealing horses, or by genero- 

 sity, will have a residence prepared for them in the town of 

 poor and useless spirits ; where, as well as in the good town, 

 their usual avocations are continued. 



Their Wahconda seems to be a Protean God ; he is sup- 

 posed to appear to different persons, under different forms. 

 All those who are favoured with his presence become medi- 

 cine men or magicians, in consequence of thus having seen 

 and conversed with the Wahconda, and of having received 

 from him some particular medicine of wondrous efficacy. 



He appeared to one in the shape of a grizzly bear, to ano- 

 ther in that of a bison, to a third in that of a beaver, or owl, 

 &c, and an individual attributed to an animal, from which 

 he received his medicine, the form and features of the ele- 

 phant. 



All the magi, in the administration of their medicine to 

 the sick or afflicted, mimic the action and voice, variously 

 exaggerated, and modified, of the animal, which, they say, is 

 their respective medicine, or in other words, that in which 

 the Wahconda appeared to them. 



When a magician is called to attend a sick person, he makes 

 preparations for the visit, by washing, and painting with red 

 clay; some of them dress fantastically, but others retain their 

 ordinary apparel, which does not distinguish them from their 

 neighbours; they take with them a dried gourd, or skin, in 



