[...] [(30)] [...]

what say to a people so blind, so infatuated! They have some roots that are dreadful in their
effects—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" (i.e menstruation) they endeavour to give them to smoke, which is never
refused—there is some of this root mixed with the Tobacco. Once smoking is sufficient
—a few months after their complexion begins to change—& at last becomes of a
nasty black with abundance of hair growing out of the face; & if these women
were to shave, I verily believe their beards would become as bushy & thick as those of
any man whatever. In performing this, they must also utter words thus: "Let the
"one for whom I intend this, & who shall smoke of it become black & hairy; & be-
"come as ugly & rejected as she is now fair & searched for"! Sometimes they
mingle it with their food or the liquor they drink: there is more than one kind of this
dreadful root; one of which I was shewn, but have forgotten, there being 2 or 3 others resembling
it.—it is like many others a perennial herb, & hath some resemblance to the long or tall
Thistle. To return. When the subject, or object, discovers that she hath been thus dealt
with, which they sometimes do a few weeks after, they may be restored, for there is an
antidote to it; but I have never known one instance of this, tho' a dozen of the others I
have. Some handsome, fair complexioned young females refusing the importunate solli-
citations of an abandoned, vicious, revengeful wretch, becomes the victim of her
coyness; & 2 or 3 years after, I have positively not known them & could scarcely
beleive my Eyes.— — — — — There is of another kind & which is very common,
whose effects is an extraordinary vacuation of blood, & in a few days would occa-
sion death. A half breed I lately had with me, the Son of a man who many
years ago was a servant of yours, being not of an extraordinary good moral
character finding his sollicitations rejected with scorn became jealous & very
anxious to revenge himself. He applied to an old indian, but in so cautious
a manner that the indian gave him of the root without suspecting & told him
how to use it. He pulverised it, & mingled it with a little vermillion & then
watched his opportunity, which occurred I beleive, the ensuing morning. In our out-
Posts we have no temples dedicated to Cloacinda, & besides, the females here are
ashamed to sacrifice at them: he therefore could not miss his opportunity—he wat-
ched, & after she entered he went & soon found the place by the Smoke: here he
sprinkled some of this Powder which he took in a quill, pronouncing "Let me see
blood issue from the same place this hath done—I want to see blood."—Scarcely
five hours after, the woman who was married & of course so much the less bashful said
"what is the matter with me, I have been just now out & want to go again." You may
suppose her astonishment seeing the time of the natural return was scarcely half elapsed

[...] [(31)] [...]

but how much more so finding it issue far beyond anything she had ever known: This con-
tinued 'til very late in the day & the beast was watching to see if it would answer. He went
in to the house on pretence of a freindly visit, & remarked how Pale she was—The mother
told him "my daughter has been bewitched & could you not do something to ease her?"
He became extremely uneasy in his turn: he went out & passing by the place she
went to he easily discovered notwithstanding her precaution of what dreadful conse-
quences it would be if not timely attended to. He was afraid she would die
before anything could be done. However he went to the old indian & speaking in a
most sympathising strain, asked him if he could not administer something to stop
that extraordinary issue. "Why! replied the old fellow—That root I gave you the other
day is its own antidote—give her the length of her middle finger to eat & it will
stop quick enough." He did not chuse to tell the indian that it was this that
had occasioned it lest he should be punished by him in his turn; but artfully con-
ducting his discourse got more from him, administered it to the woman, mutter-
ing in himself "Let this blood cease, I have seen enough of it"—& she was soon
healed! I done all I could to make him confess it, without coming to the point;
but he never would: he satisfied himself by assuring me with the most solemn
assererations that it was the case; "& if you doubt it, continued he, you may
"make the experiment—you need be under no apprehensions whatever, for in
"giving her of the same root to eat it will stop." This root, when mastigated,
& applied when reduced to pulp, but better when pulverised, stops the blood
immediately on application to any wound—"how profusely soever it may"flow." It is very astringent, & somewhat hot.
Another herb, I beleive it is the (wild) Carroway, i. e. which we commonly denominate
aniseeds—at least the smell & taste much resemble that, & its stalk bears a very great resemblance
to the wild mint, as well as the leaves & flowers. I suppose this is the one meant, because they tell
me the taste & smell are delicious: This root, & all its appurtenances (i.e. stalk, leaves, & flowers)
is of wonderful effects in various things. I shall give you some of the stories relating to it as I
received them. "I was living out with such an indian, & we became reduced to short commons"—One day he (the indian) took a piece of bark & drew upon it 3 moose—& put some of
"this medecine upon the heart & head of each; then he fastened a piece of sinew to it &
"told me to fasten it to a small stick that had been stuck slant-way in the Ground—
""Now said he, let me see if this will do: oh no! I am afraid it wont; but I'll try—if it
""answers, the bark will dance"! I laughed at his idea (a half breed told me this) & so
"did one of his sons: however the son told me that he had seen his father do so before, &
"that he killed every time"—stop! Let us see how he will go on," said the Son. The father
"began to sing (& if I remember right, beat the drum also)—Shortly after the bark began to

[...] [(32)] [...]

"to move, & as the old fellow raised his voice so did its motion increase, 'till at last it began
"whirling round with great violence, sometimes one way & then another 'till it was wound
"up close to the stick, when it began changing sides—sometimes upon & sometimes below"the stick. He ceased: began to talk with us & saying he was afraid it would not answer"Thus he did 3 times, & the bark moved every time with the same violence. Now he
"desired in the beginning that "if his familiar would have compassion on him, he would
"render these 3 moose foolish: that they might not be possessed of their usual cunning"—
"&c. The next day we went out—the old man, his son & myself, a hunting—we
were hungry—We walked 'till late in the day & finding no tracks I proposed our
return, but he told me we ought to proceed; 'for in the low ground beyond a
"small ridge then near in sight of us, we may perhaps find some tracks—
"I am never deceived when my I am answered' (i.e. my bark dances)—We soon
"reached this low Ground & shortly after heard a noise: jumping, running & breaking
"of Sticks 'ah! here they are,' said the old man: 'see how their head is turned!
"what a noise they make,—how they play—they are foolish. We killed them all."
"If you doubt me; ask any of the indians, & see if they wont all tell you that he does so
when he wants to kill."—Another story: for love potions, or philters, are also com-
posed of this. "There were several young men (half-breeds) of us together & also some
"young women, who came with us to await the arrival of their husbands from Fort
"William at that place. Two of our party wanted to pay them a visit in the
"night & I endeavoured to dissuade them, but to no purpose:—they went, & met
"with the reception I foretold: they began bawling out and on purpose to awake
"every one near & shame us; for we were lodging by ourselves & then took good
"cudgels & pursued them into our place: we enjoyed this confusion of the others
"tho partly at our own expenses. One of them then addressed me come Bpt. this bitch"'has vexed me,—I know you have good medicine,—give me some of it that I may
"'laugh at her in my turn. (I must tell you that one of them I have known many
years back was, & is still, a bitch i.e. according the indian acceptation (as well as
well as our own,) of the term; & the man is the same one I mentioned little above,
at the conclusion & beginning of p.p. 30 & 31) "I gave him some with the directions -
"—he returned again very soon after (in the same night)—found her asleep—he
"then rubbed her forehead, opposite her heart, the pit of the stomach, & the palms
"of both hands. Then he awoke her. The next day, as my comrades were desi-
"rous of revenging themselves, they broached the conversation publicly & had the laugh in
"their turn: the women had the best at the offset, but as they could not deny the other
"charges they became extremely confused & vexed: a quarrel ensued; but my comrades exult-
"ingly told them 'we can turn & twist you now about our fingers as we please.' And they

[...] [(33)] [...]