Thus it is the Juggler has the art of imposing on these simple credulous
creatures, and even often succeeds by it in his divinations. Sometimes
he does not need all this ceremonial. He pretends to foretell off-hand,
and actually does so, when he is already prepared by his knowledge,
cunning, or natural penetration. His divinations chiefly turn on the
expedience of peace with one nation, or of war with another; upon
matches between families, upon the long life of some, or the short life
of others; how such and such persons came by their deaths, violently or
naturally; whether the wife of some great _Sagamo_ has been true to his
bed or not; who it could be that killed any particular persons found
dead of their wounds in the woods, or on the coast. Sometimes they
pretend it's the deed of the _Manitoo_, for reasons to them unknown:
this last incident strikes the people with a religious awe. But what the
Jugglers are chiefly consulted upon, and what gives them the greatest
credit, is to know whether the chace of such a particular species of
beasts should be undertaken; at what season, or on which side of the
country; how best may be discovered the designs of any nation with which
they are at war; or at what time such or such persons shall return from
their journey. The Juggler pretends to see all this, and more, in his
bowl of water: divination by coffee-grounds is a trifle to it. He is
also applied to, to know whether a sick person shall recover or die of
his illness. But what I have here told you of the procedure of these
Jugglers, you are to understand only of the times that preceded the
introduction of Christianity amongst these people, or of those parts
where it is not yet received: for these practices are no longer suffered
where we have any influence.

Amongst the old savages lately baptized, I could never, from the
accounts they gave me of the belief of their ancestors, find any true