264 An Hljîorkal Journal ôf 



the Birth of thefe Impoftors, if they take a Fancy to give them- 

 felves a fupernatural Birth, they find People, who believe them 

 on their Word, as much as if they had feen them come down 

 from Heaven, and who take it for a Kind of Enchantment and 

 Illulion, that they thought them born at firft like other Men: 

 Their Artifices are neverthelefs, in general, fo grofs, and fo com- 

 mon, that there are none but Fools, and Children, that are im- 

 pofed upon by them; unlefs it h when theyaél asPhyficians: For 

 every one knows, that in what concerns the Recovery of Healths 

 the greateft Credulity is to be found in all Countries, as well 

 among thofe who value themfelves moll on their Wifdom, as 

 among the Y/eaker Sort. 



After all. Madam, I repeat it, it is difficult not to acknovv* 

 ledge that among thefe Infidels there fometimes pafs Things 

 that are very capable of deceiving, at leall the Multitude, not to 

 fay more. I have heard fome Perfons fay, whofe Truth and 

 Judgment I could no Way fufpedl, that v/hen thefe Impoftors 

 fhut themfelves up in their Stoves to fweat, and this is one of 

 their moil common Preparations to perform their Tricks, they 

 differ in nothing from the Fythoniffcesy as the Poets have repre- 

 fen ted them on the Tripod: That they are feen to become con- 

 vulfed, and pofTeffed with Enthufiafm, to acquire Tones of the 

 Voice, and to do Aftions which appear to be beyond the Strength 

 ôf Nature, and which feize the moft unprejudiced Spectators 

 with a Horror, andaDiforder of Spirits, that they cannot over- 

 I come. 



It is alfo afferted, that they fulTer much on thefe Occafions ; - 

 and that there are fome who do not readily engage, even when 

 they are v/ell paid, to give themfelves up in this Manner tp the 

 Spirit that agitates them. But we need not believe that there is 

 any Thing fupernatural in this, that after coming out of thefe 

 violent Sweats they go and throw themfelves into cold Water, 

 and fometimes when it is frozen, without receiving any Damage, 

 This is common to them with the other Savages, and even with 

 other People of the North (a). This is a Matter which Phyfic 

 cannot eafily account for, but in which 'tis certain the Devil 

 has no Share. 



It is alfo true, that the Jugglers are often right in their 

 Prédirions, to make it believed that they always guefs by 

 Chance; and that there pafles on thefe Occafions Things that 

 it is fcarce poffible to attribute to any natural Secret. Some 

 Perfons have feen the Polls which eîiclofed thefe Stoves, bend 

 down quite to the Earth, whilH the Juggler was very tranquil, 



(a) The Poet 'Kegnard z^xixt^ Us, in his Voyage to Lapland, that he faw 

 the fame Thing done in Bothnia, 



9 witlîous 



