uture. The
Boias, the native medico-priests, had each his particular genii, whom
he pretended to summon to his assistance by humming certain words and
burning tobacco. These genii were conjured in the night time, at a
place without fire or light. The Boias were reported to have possessed
the power of killing enemies by means of charms. The Caribbees
ascribed diseases to Maboia; and whenever they were desirous of
knowing the result of any illness with which they were afflicted, they
presented an offering to Maboia, and sent for a Boia in the night,
who, on his arrival, ordered the fires to be extinguished. In presence
of the patient, he smoked a quantity of tobacco, rubbed another
portion of the weed into powder, and blew it up in the air. From
certain appearances the priest discovered the cause of the disease,
and ascertained what would be the result thereof. If the patient was
to die, the priest gave his assurance that the spirits would receive
the dying individual into their blessed abode.

The Brazilians had domestic gods, which they consulted; and their
priests were fortune-tellers and interpreters of dreams. After a
friend died, the relations carried provisions to the grave every day
for a short time, under the impression that the nourishment brought
would prevent the deceased's spirit from dying.

The Peruvians had a tradition that a man of extraordinary form and
character, whose name was Choun, came from the north into their
country; that he levelled mountains, filled up valleys, and opened
passages for himself through places inaccessible to ordinary man. It
is related that this being having been offended by the inhabitants of
the plains, changed part of the ground which was fruitful into a sandy
desert, forbade the rain to fall, and dried up the plants.
Subsequently he had compassion on the erring people, and opened the
springs, so that the rivers once more flowed. Choun was worshipped
till the appearance of a more mighty god called Pachacamac, who, on
his coming, metamorphosed into wild beasts the former inhabitants that
had done homage to Choun. The people had superstitious opinions
concerning comets and rainbows. They drew predictions from dreams,
from signs on earth, and from appearances in the heavens.

In olden times there was a system of devil worship among the American
Indians; and almost everywhere, in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, demons made themselves seen and felt in nearly every part