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the Indian, conceiving that this was only the effect of excessive modesty, became very importunate. Finally, as he would take no denial, the white man undertook to commence the business of an oculist. A time and place were appointed for performing the operation.

When the patient came, according to this appointment, Mr. Adair happened to be in the act of drinking a glass of some sort of ardent spirit. The Indian observed this, and with some sagacity remarked, that perhaps he had better defer that refreshment till after the eye was fixed. 'No,' said Adair, jokingly, 'I drank so on purpose to raise my spirits, and enable me to sing strong, [alluding to the Indian doctors' custom of singing.] And I think,' added he, that you will be the better for taking a little, yourself.'

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This argument was irresistible; and the Indian, altering his opinion very suddenly, took a good draught of the beverage before him, and lay down on the floor, as flat and still as if drunkenness had already overpowered him. After a variety of wild capers and ceremonies, performed with a view of humoring the prejudices of his patient, Mr. Adair began to howl, 'Sheela na guira,'-'Will you drink wine?'—

and then drank to the Indian's health, and induced him also to return the compliment with rather liberal measure, perhaps expecting to benefit him by the efficacy of some herb mingled with the drink.

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All this suited him well; it was the most agreeable medicine in the world; and Mr. Adair was of course thus far, a very clever fellow, and a first rate doctor. But at length the latter came to apply a quill-full of fine burnt alum and roman vitriol, which he blowed lustily into the eye of the Indian. He bore it once, with the composure of a statue, still lying flat on his back, and without winking. But when his doctor undertook to blow it into him a second time, he suddenly gave a violent spring, leaped up, and hopped about the room like a madman. 'Bad physic! Bad song!' cried he, with a voice of thunder. When he had ceased yelling so that another voice might be heard, The English physic, truly, is a little stronger than yours,' says Mr. Adair; and when they fail to make a man jump and howl, it's a sure sign they are good for nothing. I think you are doing very well.' The Indian acquiesced, owing to the soporific effect of what he had drunk; but he ever afterwards used to say that

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he had a remarkably narrow chance of having his only eye burnt out of his head. It was his own fault, he added. It was for drinking Joka Hoome, ('the bitter water,') and for presuming to prefer to the religious doctors of the Natchez, a profane miserable Nothing,' (Mr. Adair) who lied, drank, ate hog's flesh and sung Tarooa Ookproo❜sto or 'the Devil's own tune.'

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It is melancholy to observe the extent to which the ignorance and superstition of the Indians lead them thus to place implicit confidence in a class of men so crafty, and yet so useless, as these 'religious doctors.' The influence of Christianity, alone, could be relied upon as an effectual cure of the evil.

II-11

CHAPTER VII.

Anecdotes of the Indian JUGGLERS-Practises of those who act as doctors-The Jugglers of the Virginian tribes-Of the New England, Canadian, and Delaware Jugglers-Jugglers who do not act as doctors-Weather-wise JugglersConsultation of the GREAT TURTLE-Story of CHENOSOf MUKWAH-Of the honest Quaker.'

There are two classes of Indian jugglers; first, those who confine themselves to the practice of medicine; and secondly, those who undertake the exercise of similar imposition for the pretended accomplishment of some other object.

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An essential part of the Indian Medical 'Art,' not yet noticed, will be found to consist in a variety of fantastic ceremonies and stratagems; intended generally as an ingenious mode of cheating the unlucky patient out of his property

in the way of fees, though no doubt sometimes meant, and even well adapted, to benefit his health by favorably affecting his imagination. The Indians universally believing in witchcraft and other evil influence, the jugglers have only to pretend that the disorder on account of which application is made to them, is one that no common medicine will heal, and to the treatment of which the talents of common physicians are not competent. Supernatural remedies, say they, must be applied, to defeat the designs of the malicious enemy who has taken possession of the body of the sick man.

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Having persuaded his feeble patient of the truth of these preposterous statements, the juggler next convinces him of the necessity of making him very strong,'-that is, giving him a large fee in advance for his great trouble and immense skill. Of course, the juggler very rarely fails, when applied to, in the first instance, to represent the disorder as one of the witchcraft kind. He receives his fee- -a rifle, perhaps, or a good horse--and is then ready to commence operations.

Attired in a frightful dress, he approaches his patient, with a variety of contortions and gestures, and performs by his side and over him

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