IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE. 
583 
certain parts of the country, speedily acquire a colossal reputation 
among the neighbouring rustics, which increases in proportion to 
the distance from their domicile. Numerous dupes come from 
far and near to consult them, and to purchase the remedies and 
secrets with which these rogues supply them, for which they pay 
a little, or not a little, dearly, and which, in fact, is the greatest 
merit of which they can boast. 
Sometimes the patient, if he belongs to the human species, 
presents himself at the habitation of le Devin , who, after having 
consulted his book, gives him an antidote applicable to his case, 
and points out to him the manner in which he should use it, 
especially warning him that it must be taken on every third or 
ninth day. If the sick person is unable to go to the sorcerer, he 
sends some one on whom he can place confidence, who, after 
having given him a history of the complaint, receives a secret 
remedy, or, perhaps, the promise of some special prayers that will 
be offered up by the sorcerer, and that will cure him in so many 
days. If the first consultation is not attended with the desired 
good effect, or if he lives at a considerable distance, he is told to 
send again, or to come on the ninth day : if he lives nearer, he 
must come on the third day. The reason of this new consulta- 
tion, and of many others, is easily comprehended ; namely, that 
a piece of three francs should be the constant companion of the 
journey, and should terminate the consultation. 
If the patient belongs to the brute species, the wizard, ordi- 
narily, does not see him at all, or only after an account has been 
given of the malady.. He then orders a remedy, or, perhaps, some 
prayers to be said at a certain hour of the day, promising always 
that the animal shall be cured on a certain day. 
If the conjurer goes to see the patient, he always wants, in 
order to complete the cure, a well-dressed omelette, a large piece 
of bread, and a good bottle of wine, which he must force him 
to swallow. After being carefully shut up, he quietly eats the ome- 
lette, which he has caused to be well basted ; and, the repast be- 
ing ended, he comes out and assures the proprietor, with all the 
effrontery in the world, that the animal will be quite cured, and 
he goes away without accepting even a glass of wine for himself. 
At another time, according to the whim of his stomach, he 
wants the blood, or gizzard, or liver of a black fowl, in order to 
prepare, and he orders the farmer to kill the animal without a 
moment’s delay. He takes what he wants for the composition 
of his charm, which he prepares in his own way in private, and 
forces it on the animal ; but as the fowl is dead, and no great 
time beside that which is consumed by the sorcerer is required 
to dress it, the peasant will not let him go until they have set to 
work and eaten it. 
Sometimes the sorcerer requires remedies which it is impossible 
