se many divinations and enchantments, and frequently offer burnt
sacrifice to the evil spirit. The people annually present their first
fruits of every season and kind, namely, of birds, beasts, fish, fruits,
plants, roots, and of all other things, which they esteem either of
profit or pleasure to themselves. They repeat their offerings as
frequently as they have great successes in their wars, or their fishing,
fowling or hunting.

Captain Smith describes the particular manner of a conjuration that was
made about him, while he was a prisoner among the Indians at the Pamunky
town, in the first settlement of the country; and after that I'll tell
you of another of a more modern date, which I had from a very good hand.
Smith's word's are these: vol. 1, p. 160.

"Early in the morning, a great fire was made in a long house, and
a mat spread on the one side and on the other. On the one they
caused him to sit, and all the guard went out of the house, and
presently there came skipping in a great grim fellow, all painted
over with coal mingled with oil, and many snakes and weasel skins
stuffed with moss, and all their tails tied together, so as they
met in the crown of his head, like a tassel, and round about the
tassel was a coronet of feathers, the skins hanging round about
his head, back and shoulders, and in a manner covering his face;
with a hellish voice, and a rattle in his hand, with most strange
gestures and postures, he began his invocation, and environed the
fire with a circle of meal; which done, three much such like
devils came rushing in with the like antic tricks, painted half
black, half red; but all their eyes were painted white, and some
great strokes like mustaches, along their cheeks. Round about him
these fiends danced a pretty while; and then came in three more as
ugly as the rest, with red eyes and white strokes over their black
faces. At last they all sat down right against him, three of them
on one hand of the chief priest and three on the other. Then all
of them with their rattles began a song; which ended, the chief
priest laid down five wheat corns; then straining his arms and
hands with such violence that he sweat, and his veins swelled, he
began a short oration. At the conclusion they gave a short groan,
and then laid down three grains more; after that, began their song
again, and then another oration, ever laying down so many corns as
before, till