[The Old Canadian's Account]
I shall tell you another story. An old Canadian I have now with me has been in the habit of living-free for many years back. In the beginning of a winter he was tenting with some Indians, and one of them, an impertinent, bombastic sort of character, was boasting to him of the great power and effect of some medicines and a drum he had lately received from a Sauteux.
For some time I did not mind him, but finding he became at last troublesome, and insinuating as plainly as he durst that he was now invulnerable, or rather immortal, and that we were helpless, a quarrel ensued 'till at last, "I fxxt. upon your medicines and drum and the one also who gave them to you!" said I.
We seperated in no good friendship. At night he made a feast and invited me amongst the rest with the design of poisoning me. But his friends remonstrated so effectually that he put this off and intended shooting me going out of the lodge. But this also the others would not allow. He was vexed. I kept my eye upon him, determined I should give the first blow on the least motion he might make. Finding himself prevented in these, he said that I indeed should kill two moose, but that the rest of the year I should starve as a dog.
I seperated next day with my wife and children. They were under great apprehensions, but I mocked all their conjurings. I very shortly killed two moose, but these indeed were the last. I walked and hunted every day. And seldom one day passed but I fired at the buffaloe, moose, or some other animal, but never got anything, anything! I and my family were near dying with hunger.
I tried everything in my power, never giving myself the least trouble about the Indian's menaces. At last the spring arrived. Ducks and geese came, but no better success. At last one day, prowling in my canoe, I met two other free-men, [one of whom], after mutual inquiries, told me the same thing had happened him. And [he said] that an Indian told him to file off a small piece of the muzzle of his gun and wash it well with water in which sweet-flag had been boiled. And [it] killed after that as before.
I laughed at the idea. But reflecting that it was an innocent experiment, and I could not offend the Almighty, I tried. And the first animals I saw I immediately killed. This sir (continued he) I assure you is a positive fact!!!
I find that the Indians have recourse to this method also. But you must observe: as is the disease, so is the remedy.
[The Iroquois' Account]
Another story just now occurs to me which I shall relate, not so much to multiply these pretended proofs, as to show that our Iroquois, Algonquins [and others] are not such complete converts to the Christian faith as most people may complacently imagine. But rather [they] have a mongrel religion like those whom the King of Babylon sent to inhabit Samaria when he carried Reuben and Ephraim captives (in the Bible).