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the requeft of fome Tick perfon ; a dream is often 

 fufficient caufe for either; this dream is always un- 

 derftood for a command of fome genius, and then 

 they prepare for the party with prodigious care ; 

 they affemble feveral different nights to make an 

 effay, and to fee who has the happieft hand at a 

 throw ; they confult the'iF genius, they fan:, and 

 married perfons obferve the ftricleft continence 

 and all to obtain a favourable dream *, every morn- 

 ing they relate thofe they have had, and make a 

 collection of all fuch things of which they happen 

 to have dreamed, and which they imagine able to 

 bring good luck to their fide, which they put into 

 little bags and carry about with them. If any 

 one has the reputation of being fortunate,, that is 

 according to the notions of theie people, of ha- 

 ving a more fortunate genius, or one that is more 

 inclined to do good, they never fail to make him 

 approach him who holds the platter; they go 

 fometimes to feek this perfon at a great diftance, 

 and if through old age or fome infirmity he is 

 unable to walk they carry him on their moul- 

 ders. 



They have often prefTed the miffionaries to be 

 prefent at thefe games, from a perfuafion that their 

 tutelar genii are more powerful than ail others. It 

 happened one day in a Huron village that a fkk 

 woman having caufed one of their priefts to be called, 

 who are alfo their phyficians, this quack prefcribed 

 for her the game of the platter, and appointed a vil- 

 lage different from his own to play ; fhe immediately* 

 fent to afk permiflion of the chief of this village; 

 this was granted, the party was played and the 

 game being ended, the patient returned the players 

 a great many thanks for the cure, which as fhe 



faid 



