itself in order to save them for the emergencies of a dream or of sickness, the Devil having induced them always to keep and reserve for him the best and finest. And it is this that gives reason to call them veritable sacrifices, especially when the dream or the sickness requires the slaughter of a dog, as we said a little while ago,- which happens only too often.

But to return to our Ascwandics or familiar demons; the common answer of those whom we importune upon this subject is, that there is not one who does not have them, and that, if they did not have them, they would be always and everywhere unlucky. It is true that there is more or less difference in these ; some persons have many of them, and some are more positive and efficacious than are others. Some buy them from the neighboring Nations, especially from the Algonquains, who are reputed to have excellent ones, [172] and this is the most costly and precious merchandise of the country; others have inherited them from their relatives. It was in this way that one came into the possession of the above-mentioned Christian of this village, Joseph Chihwatenhwa,— who, as soon as he learned that this was contrary to the commandments of God and displeased him, threw it far away on the first journey he made; and since then, when he passes over that route, he is always afraid that it will return into his pouch,-as has happened to several, who, through vexation at not having obtained what they had asked for, having thrown away their Ascwandic, found it afterwards in their pouch, or in one of their chests.

I will say nothing of the Visitors or Physicians, called in their language " Ocata;" nor of their Apothecaries, or givers of remedies, called "Ontetsans."

qu'ils remuent, dont nous auons parlé cy-deffus, & de chanfon qu'ils chantent, & autres circonstances du tout impertinentes.

[173] Les feconds ne donnent auffi d'ordinaire leurs remedes qu'auec l'appareille de femblables circonstances, & des exhortations à leurs remedes, d'auoir l'effect pretendu. Que fi l'Ocata, ou Visiteur a prononcé que c'eft vn fort; l'Apotiquaire ou l'Aretfan ne manque pas de faire voir quelque chofe dans fa main par foupleffe ou autrement, & quelquefois dans la matiere qu'il a fait vomir, de ce qui dans le fens commun de ceux du païs paffe pour fort.

Les 8enroronons, qui font ces estrangers arriuez de nouueau en ce pays, dont nous auons parlé aux Chapitres precedens, font excellens pour tirer vne fleche du corps & en guerir la playe, mais la recepte n'a point de force qu'en presence d'vne femme groffe: dont le diable a rendu la circonftance grandement confiderable en ces pays, foit à bon-heur, foit à malheur en mille rencontres & occafions, mais il faut brifer icy.

En voila affez pour fair voir vn eschantillon de l'eftat miferable de ces pauures peuples parmy lefquels nous viuons. Ce qui ne peut qui ne donne de la compaffion à tous ceux qui ont vne foy faincte [174] & viue, de ce que les hommes font à Dieu, & Dieu aux hommes, & de ce que nous deuenons apres la mort.

Ie prie tous ceux qui ietteront les yeux fur ce narré de confiderer le befoin que nous auons de leurs fainctes prieres & deuotions? veu les combats & batailles que nous auons à liurer & à fouftenir tous les iours, pour establir en ce pays vn autre Souuerain

I will only mention that the former often employ water or fire to ascertain the condition and disease of the sick person, and to give their orders accordingly,—this being always accompanied by the shaking of the tortoise, which we have already mentioned, and the singing of songs, and by other altogether senseless adjuncts.

[173] The latter class also do not usually give their remedies except with the pomp of similar accompaniments, and with exhortations to their remedies to attain the desired effect. But if the Ocata, or Visitor, has declared that it is a case of a charm, the Apothecary, or the Aretsan, does not fail to show something in his hand, by dexterity or otherwise, and sometimes in the matter that has been vomited up, which, in the general opinion of the natives, passes for a charm.

The Wenroronons,—those strangers who recently arrived in this country, and of whom we have spoken in preceding Chapters,—excel in drawing an arrow from the body and in curing the wound; but the prescription has no efficacy except in the presence of a pregnant woman, whose condition the devil has rendered highly important in these countries, for good as well as bad luck, in a thousand contingencies and occasions. But we must break off here.

This is enough to give a specimen of the wretched condition of these poor peoples among whom we live, which cannot fail to inspire with compassion all those who possess a holy and living faith [174] in what men are to God, and God is to men, and in what becomes of us after death.

I pray all those who shall cast their eyes over this narrative to consider the need we have of their holy

que celuy qui depuis tous les fiecles y a fi tiranniquement vfurpé l'empire de Dieu & de IESVS CHRIST, pour les droicts & la gloire duquel puissions nous tous estre confommez. Ainfi foit-il.

prayers and devotions,-seeing the combats and battles we have to give and sustain every day, in order to establish in this country a Sovereign other than he who, since all ages, has tyranically usurped the empire of God and of JESUS CHRIST, for whose rights and glory may we all entirely devote ourselves. Amen.