5" ravels in North America. • 321 



Month, abftain from feeing their Wives, and from eating Fleih * 

 They imagine, that if they iliould fail in this, that the Souls of 

 thofe whom they have killed or burnt, would efFed their Death, 

 or that the firfl Wound they Ihould receive would be mortal; 

 or at leaf!:, that they fbould never after gain any Advantage over 

 their Enemies. If the Great Chief, called the Sun, commands 

 his Subjeds in Perfon, they take great Care that he fhould not 

 expofe himfelf too much ; lefs perhaps through Zeal for his Pre- 

 fervation, than becaufe the other War Chiefs, and the Heads of 

 the Party, would be put to Death for their Want of Care in 

 guarding him. 



The Jugglers, or Do6lors of the Natchez, pretty much refem- 

 Of the Ju r^lers thofe of Canada^ and treat their Patients 



/ ^ J^-Sè much after the fame Manner. They are well 

 paid when the Patient recovers ; but if he happens to die, it often 

 cofls them their Lives. There is in this Nation another Set of 

 Jugglers, who run no lefs Rifque than thefe Dodors. They are 

 certain lazy old Fellows, who, to maintain their Families with- 

 out being obliged to work, undertake to procure Rain, or fine 

 Weather, according as they are wanted. About the Spring 

 Time they make a Colle6lion to buy of thefe pretended Magi- 

 cians a favourable Seafon for the Fruits of the Earth. If it is 

 Rain they require, they fill their Mouths with Water, and with 

 a Reed, the End of which is pierced with feveral Holes, like a 

 Funnel, they blow into the Air, towards the Side where they 

 perceive feme Clouds, whilft holding their Chichicoue in one 

 Hand, and their Manitou in the other, they play upon one, 

 and hold the other up in the Air, inviting, by frightful Cries, 

 the Clouds to water the Fields of thofe who have fet them to 

 Work. 



If the Bufinefs is to obtain fine Weather, they mount on the' 

 Roof of their Cabins, make Signs to the Clouds to pafs away ; 

 and if the Clouds pafs away, and are difperfed, they dance and 

 fing round about their Idols ; then they fwallow the Smoke of 

 Tobacco, and prefent their Calumets to the Sky. All the Time 

 thefe Operations lafl, they obferve a ftri6l Faft, and do nothing 

 but dance and fing. If they obtain what they have promifed, 

 they are well rewarded ; if they do not fucceed, they are put to 

 Death without Mercy. But they are not the fame who under- 

 take to procure Rain and fine Weather : The Genius of one Per* 

 fon cannot, as they fay, give both. 

 Mourning among thefe Savages confifts in cutting ofF their 

 f\r j,/f . Hair, and in not painting^ their Faces, and in 



*^ abientmg tnemielves irom public Afiemblies : 

 But I know not how long it lafts. I know not neither, whither 

 they celebrate the grand Feftival of the Dead, which I have tie-- 

 fore defcribed. It appears as if in this Nation, where every 



T t Body 



