"No," said he, "that won't do. He has got back his soul it is true, and I cannot get it again. Yet I might easily kill him if I chuse, but this won't do. He is somewhat [justified] for I took both his wives from him."
There are many other instances of a like nature, but different in the proceedings, that I do not recollect sufficiently to commit to paper.
[Medicines Used to Harm Others]
Now again for the other way: If an Indian has a spite against another and is induced to it for the preservation of his own life or from motives of revenge, he takes the following plan or method. He takes a piece of leather and cuts it into the shape of his enemy. And if he wants him to die speedily, he places a little powdered medicine opposite the heart, or upon it. This medicine is, I believe, a root and very inflammable. He holds a small spark of fire near it. It immediately explodes, and that part of the leather on which it was becomes burnt and shrivelled. When he performs this, he generally utters words like these, "Let the heart of such a one become like this leather. Let it shrivel and die within him!"
If it is a leg, an arm, the head, or any other particular part, or parts or even the whole body, it is the same, and the words also, unless he doth not wish for the death. Then he will say, "Let such a part, become lame, useless, ulcerous," according to his disposition. And that part, or parts become thus affected according to his wish.
"But how is it possible that such things can be? Do you really think that an insignificant root of no apparant power or virtue whatever can effect such things?" Thus I would frequently question. And their answers with little variations [were] universally the same.
Yes, most certainly it is not [accomplished by] the root alone, but with the assistance of that one of his dreamed that is most powerful and most fond of him. "He! You white people, you know not. You are consummately ignorant of the power of our great medicine men. Many things might I tell you much more surprising. But you do not believe these trifles—how much less then those [things] you do not know?"
What then is to be done! How do with, what say to, a people so blind, so infatuated!
They have some roots that are dreadful in their effects. To being a female, I think I should prefer immediate death! They have some that have the same effects as Lunar Caustic. They use them thus: During the time of their "seperation" (menstruation) they endeavour to give them to smoke, which is never refused. There is some of this root mixed with the tobacco. One smoking is sufficient. A few months after, their complexion begins to change, and at last becomes of a nasty black with abundance of hair growing out of the face. And if these women were to shave, I verily believe their beards would become as bushy and thick as those of any man whatever.
In performing this they must also utter words thus. "Let the one for whom I intend this, and who shall smoke of it, become black and hairy, and become as ugly and rejected as she is now fair and searched for!"