scover whether a patient's sickness was caused by a
good or evil spirit, a bow of the first little stick that could be
found was prepared, and on the bow-string the operator hung a small
chisel, and holding the bow by the two extremities, named all the gods
and devils he thought of. As soon as the name of the good or evil
spirit that caused the disease was pronounced, the bow turned round.
By means of bows the natives of Ceylon were also enabled to foretell
future events.

Among the schismatic Greeks, an infant, previous to its baptism, was
crossed by the priest, who commanded the devil to come out of the
child, for it was believed an unclean spirit resided in it before
baptism. After baptism, the priest hung a cross of gold, silver, or
tin about the child's neck, which, in accordance with usual custom,
was worn till death. If at death one was found without his cross, his
body was cast into the ground without sacred ceremonies.

The negroes had fetishes or genii similar to the Manitous of the North
Americans, and the ancient Fauns or Sylvans of the Romans. To these
fetishes the negroes paid great respect. Particular kinds of birds,
fishes, and trees were looked upon as fetishes; and certain of them
were accounted the guardians of hills, mountains, and streams. Negroes
supposed that if one broke off a branch from a sacred tree, he would
immediately cause the destruction of their crops. They had stones
resembling the Roman terminal-stones. Fetishes were consulted by the
people as oracles; and when they appeared in living form to return
answers, it was generally as black dogs. Large fetishes were kept for
the protection of houses; and the people carried small ones about
them, sometimes suspended from their necks, and sometimes concealed
under their arm-pits, for their protection. Negro women hung charms
round their infants' necks, to protect them from harm. Children four
years of age had sacred rings round their legs and arms, to protect
them from evil spirits. This was not all: mothers went the length of
making their children wear bandages adorned with fetishes, to
strengthen the little ones and keep away demons. Thursday was set
apart for the worship of fetishes. The priests studied magic, and
instructed the people in the art thereof. It was a belief among the
negroes, that at death they were metamorphosed into serpents, and for
that reason they would not kill or injure one of these reptiles.

Because the Gaures thoug