some who are regularly possessed, and some who can induce possession, which they call, "dancing the god." The author happened once to be present when such a scene was exhibited; the house where it was enacted, was nearly full of spectators; and at the head of the room, near the altar piece, stood a priest performing various incantations, and now and then striking the floor with a rope which he held in his hand. He then approached a bench, on which sat a native in a pensive mood, over whose head he blew a horn and rang a bell, and went through a few more ceremonies; when the man referred to, began to move his fingers, hands, and arms; then his knees and legs, till his whole body became convulsed, and he sprang up, and danced round the room like a madman. Just as he was in the act of falling, he was caught by the bye-standers, who listened attentively to what he might have to say, and stood ready to record every expression. The occasion of the ceremony was the dangerous illness of an inmate, for whom they wished to obtain an infallible prescription. The possessed soon announced the requisite remedy, which was something about three skeins of red thread, and half an ounce of carpenter's chips, to be boiled down in a pint of water, and a teacupfull given occasionally. After the unfolding of this wonderful recipe, the individual sank down into a sort of swoon, and was carried out.
Magic arts are used, or said to be used, by this sect; by means of which they profess to work wonders; some of them go about with swords thrust through their cheeks; and ride in sedan chairs, stuck round with sharp knives, without appearing to sustain any permanent injury. In the year 1819, an open boat,
