( s?a ) 



The jugglers of the Natchez bear a great re- 

 femblance to thofe of Canada, and treat the fick 

 much in the fame manner. They are well reward- 

 ed, if the fick perfon recovers, but if he dies, it 

 often cofts them their lives. There is another 

 fpecies of jugglers among this people, who run no 

 lefs rifles than the phyficians. Thefe are fome 

 worthlefs old fellows, who, in order to procure fub- 

 fiftence for their families, without being obliged to 

 work, undertake to procure rain or fine weather* 

 according as either is wanted. In fpring the people 

 tax themfelves, in order to buy from thefe pretend* 

 ed magicians a favourable feafon for the fruits of 

 the earth. If rain is required, they fill their mouths 

 with water, and then with a pipe, the extremity of 

 which is pierced into feveral holes like a funnel^ 

 they blow into the air on that fide where they per^ 

 ceive a cloud, and all the time playing on a chi- 

 chikoue in one hand, and lifting up their manitou 

 into the air with the other, they invoke the clouds 

 with frightful cries, to water the fields of thofe who 

 have fet them at work. 



If good weather is demanded, they mount upon 

 the roof of their cabbin, making figns to the clouds 

 to pafs by, and if they pafs and diffi pate they dance 

 and fing round their idols, then fwallow the fmoke 

 of tobacco, and offer their calumets towards heaven. 

 All the time thefe operations laft, they obferve a 

 rigorous raft, and do nothing but dance and fing % 

 if they obtain what they have promifed they are 

 well rewarded, but if not they are put to death with- 

 out mercy. But the fame perfons do not undertake 

 to procure rain and fine weather ; their genii, 

 fay they, have it not in their power to give 

 both. 



i Mourning 



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