n Arrow with
it, and dedicates it to the God, by telling him that if he restore the
party to his health, that Cock is given to him; and shall be dressed
and sacrificed to him in his Covel. They then let the Cock go among
the rest of the Poultry, and keep it afterwards, it may be, a year
or two: and then they carry it to the Temple, or the Priest comes
for it. For sometimes he will go round about, and fetch a great many
Cocks together, that have been dedicated, telling the owners that he
must make a sacrifice to the God; though it may be when he hath them,
he will go to some other place and convert them into mony for his
own use, as I my self can witness, We could buy three of them for
four pence half-peny.

When the people are minded to enquire any thing of their Gods, the
Priests take up some of the Arms and Instruments of the Gods, that are
in the Temples, upon his shoulder; and their he either fains himself
to be mad, or really is so: which the people call Pissowetitch; and
then the spirit of the Gods is in him, and whatsoever he pronounceth,
is looked upon as spoken by God himself, and the people will speak
to him, as if it were the very person of God.

CHAP. IV.

Concerning their Worship, and Festivals.

[The chief days of worship.] Wednesdays and Saturdays are the days,
when people, who have any business with the Gods, come and address
themselves; that is either to pray to their God for health, or
for their help in some weighty matters, as in War &c. or to swear
concerning any matter in controversy, which is done before the Idols.

[How they know what God or Devil have made them sick.] But one
of their great and frequent businesses with their Gods is for the
Recovery of health. And that God or Devil that hath made them sick,
in his power only it is to restore them. Therefore when they feel
themselves sick or sore, first, they use means to know which God
or Devil hath been the cause or author thereof. Which to find they
use these means. With any little stick they make a bow, and on the
firing thereof they hang a thing they have to cut Betel-nuts, somewhat
like a pair of Sizzars; then holding the stick or Bow by both ends,
they repeat the names of all both God and Devils: and when they come
to him who hath afflicted them, then the Iron on the bow-string will
swing. They say by that sign they know their ilness proceeds from the
power of that God last named; but I think this happens by the power
of