The World Bewitched, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. That very near the ſame Opinions and Practices, are to be found in America.
Sect. 1. THE Chriſtians keep under their Dominion the greateſt part of what has been diſcovered of the Weſtern Continent, which is known only, ſince 200 Years, and commonly called America or Weſt-Indies. They keep down the pulick Idolatry and Witchcraft of the Inhabitants, as far as their Authority will extend. But as thoſe Nations are Heathens at the bottom, and live to it, whenever they are at liberty, privatly continuing their Ancient practices. I ſhall therefore ſpeak of them, as they are in themſelves, to ſhow their true ſentiments, and Ancient Cuſtoms: for that end, I ſhall make uſe of the neweſt Authors, who have publiſhed Relations of the Southern parts of that Country, whom Montanus has compiled, and when I come to the Northern parts, I ſhall abound with Inſtructions newer and very much credited.
Sect. 2. In Southern America, which is the neareſt to Africa, Brazile is the firſt County to be met with in the North-Eaſt, and Peru over againſt it to the Weſt. The Cannibals, who are Originally of Southern America, have extended their Idolatry, through all the Iſlands, lying betwixt this and the Northern part. All the other parts of the South, and the middle of the Country, having not yet been diſcov…ed by the Europeans, and being conſequently unknown to us, we can ſay nothing of it, then begin with Brazile.
Sect. 3. Thô that Country be the beſt known of all, yet we can ſay but little upon the matter, For the Braſilians (ſays Daviti, Peviard, Leri, and Abbeville,) have neither God nor Religion. The Toutinambres however believe the Soul to be Immortal, and that thoſe who have performed their Duty, that is, eſpectially, who have often beaten their Enemies, go into the Ouaioupia, a place ſeated behind the Mountains, where they dance in delightful plains; but thoſe that have not done it, go to Jeropari, a malitious God, by whom they are to be tormented; they likewiſe believe, that there are Spirits, and it may be ſaid, that they have ſome knowledge of God, and that they deſign him by the name of Toupan, becauſe they uſe to call the Thunder Toupanremimogan, that is to ſay, the Action of God.
Sect. 4. They have alſo their Caraibes or Diviners, who frequently foretel the fruitfulneſs or barrenneſs of the Year, Rain or Drought, and whatever may benefit Man upon Earth. Theſe Caraibes at the ſame time, are their Surgeons, and boaſt of curing immediatly bodily pains, by ſucking or blowing, which they have perſwaded the Vulgar ſo well, that there is not one even of the eldeſt, but he is ready to obey their Commands.
Sect. 5. The Tapuiens, othewiſe Maraguites, who are divided into 6 or 7 ſorts, lye farther into the Countrey. They acknowledg'd two Gods, a Good and a Bad; they pay no, worſhip to the Good, becauſe, he is good natur'd, and never hurts any perſon, but they pray very ardently to the bad, becauſe he kills thoſe that do not reverence him. They undertake neither Journey nor War before they have conſulted their evil God, which is performed with great Ceremonies, by virtue of which, they aſcribe to themſelves the power of foretelling future things. Thus ſound the words of Arnoldus Montanus, in his deſcription of America, p. 373. As to their Divinations; of which there is a very ſpecial account in this place, we ſhall be more particularly informed of it, when we examine them hereafter.
Sect. 6. Viracocha is the Sovereign God of the Peruvians, whoſe name they explain more at lange, by thoſe of Pachacama and Pachayachakik the Creator of Heaven and Earth: for which reaſon they alſo name him Oſapa, the Wonderful, according to their Opinion. He operates in the Sun, and is there viſible. They venerate the Thunder as the God of the Air. Pathamama is the Goddeſs of the Earth, or the Earth it ſelf conſider'd as ſuch, and Mamacocha is the Sea. They likewiſe pay a Religious Honour to the Rainbow, but eſpecially to Colca. Among the Stars, the Conſtellation Vre… chillai, Lyra, the Harp, is the God of the Shepherds, and the Conſtellation Machacuai, the Serpent, preſerve them, as they ſuppoſe, from Serpents; and Chiuguichiachai has under his power Lions, Tygers and Bears. Moreover, they believe, according to the Relation of the ſame Montanus, That no Creature moves upon Earth, but at the ſame time the Heavens repreſent another like to it; and that Earthly Creatures are in the keeping of the Heavenly, every one under that which is like to it, which provides for its beſt advantages, and preſerves it. Thence, have proceeded the Names of the Stars, Chacana, Toperatcha: Marmana, Mirma, and ſeveral others.
Sect. 7. They alſo believe that Fountains, Rivers Rocks, the tops of Hills, ſome Herbs, eſpecially the root Panpas, that has a ſtrange Figure, are as many Gods; there is almoſt nothing that has an extraordinary ſhape, or a particular virtue; but they place a Deity in it. Comparing all thoſe things together, it appears that that people acknowlege Superior and Inferior Gods; the virtue of the firſt operating by the laſt, and that they hold the Celeſtial Bodies for Gods, becauſe they act upon the ſublunary, which are of a particular and neceſſary uſe to Mankind. Thus the Heathens endeavour, each according to his fancy, to acknowledge a Deity in Heaven, and to adore it upon Earth.
Sect. 8. The immortality of the Soul, the puniſhment of the wick…d, and the rewards of pious Men after this Life, are generally believed in Peru, but not the Reſurrection of the dead, ſays Montanus, pag. 307. However, 'tis ſtrange that a People who have ſuch a groſs Religion, and ſuch material Gods, ſhould nevertheleſs believe that the Soul ſubſiſts tho' they hear nothing of it after the death of the Body, and that they could not imagine that the Body which ſubſiſts ſtill for ſome time, before their Eyes, though without Life, can return to its firſt State, as Trees, Herbs and Plants, which dye and revive.
Sect. 9. The Statues of their Gods, that are of many ſtrange Figures, and ſome very frightful, are uſed to utter Oracles in their Pagodes. Some, ſays Montanus, give their Anſwers, as formerly did the Diabolical Oracles of Delphos and Dodona; he calls them Diabolical, following the common Opinion, that the Oracles of the Heathens were not pronounced by God, but by the Devil. But it may be ſeen in the Book of Anthony Vandale of Oracles, how little ground that Opinion has: and we ſhall alſo treat of it in its proper place.
Sect. 10. As to their practices, no people is ſo much eſteemed in Peru as thoſe we call Exorciſt…, Magicians and Diviners, becauſe they diſcover private Robberies, even ſuch as are committed in very remote Countreys, and foretell good or bad fortune, which happ…s, ſaith Montanus, by their converſe with wicked Spirits in dark places. They declared to the Spaniards the victories their Country-men obtained, or the Battles they loſt in the Low Countries, the very ſame day, that they were fought. There are alſo in Peru, many She Diviners, who ſhut themſelves in their Houſes, where they make themſelves drunk, with Chica, mixed with the Herb Vilca, till they fall down on the place, and when they awake, and come to themſelves again, they anſwer all the Queſtions that are propoſed to them.
Sect. 11. The Cannibals who take the Name of Caraibes, and dwell to the North of Southern America, acknowledge the Sun for their Soveraign God: but in the mean while each B…ie or Prieſt has his own, which he calls out to himſelf in the moſt frightful Nights, by Songs or inchanted Verſes, in the midſt of the ſmoak of Tobacco. The Devil (ſays Montanus, but I would rather ſay the Spirit) utters his Oracles by the means of dead bones, wrap'd up in Cotton. Thoſe Heathens have at all times, but eſpecially, in caſe of death, much to endure from the Piais or Magicians, (but methinks Montanus had expreſs'd himſelf better, had he ſaid Prieſts, rather then Magicians.) One of the greateſt diſturbances they cauſe is, that when they are conſulted, they perſuade People, that ſuch or ſuch has cauſed them to interrogate ſuch a deceaſed; which incites the neareſt Relations of the deceaſed to avenge themſelves of thoſe, that have diſturbed his Reſt by that action.
Sect. 12. Montanus adds to this alſo, The Caraibes follow a moſt ſtrange Opinion concerning the Soul, every one believes to have as many Souls as beatings of the heart. The chief of which is ſtill the Heart it ſelf, which after the death goes to Icheiri, or the God that is particular to him, where he lives in the ſame condition that he has done upon Earth; for which reaſon they kill the Servants upon the Tomb of their Maſters, to go and Miniſter to them in the other World. The other Souls that conſiſt in Beatings of the Heart have two ſorts of abode. The Maboias wander in Deſerts and Woods; and the Ormiceous keep along the Sea, and overturn Veſſels. The Souls of warlike Heroes go into the fortunate Iſlands, where the Arouages are their Slaves. Blo…dy Cruel M…n go out of this life eternally to wander in dry Wilderneſſes behind high Mountains, to carry the Yoak of the Arouages, a People that was expell'd out of its ancient abode, if we believe the account that is given of their Deſtruction. From all this it appears that this Nation acknowledges almoſt no other God, but their own Souls; of which they have very near the ſame Sentiments that the ancient Greeks had of their Demons and Heroes.
Sect. 13. Richard Blome, an Engliſh Author, has publiſhed of late in his America, a large account of the Opinions and Practices of the Carabes, where he ſpeaks of the Iſle of St Vincent. They have, ſays he, ſome Natural Notion of a Deity, or Supream Being, but who is too much pleaſed with the enjoyment of the Soveraign Happineſs, to diſturb himſelf with the Wicked Actions of Men, and whoſe Goodneſs is ſo great that he is averſe from avenging himſelf of his Enemies, when they refuſe to pay the Honour due to him: They likewiſe believe that there are good and bad Spirits, and that the Good are Gods, each of whom has his particular Admiſtration; but that the Ʋniverſe was not created by them, tho' every one of them may be the Creator of the Country where he is venerated, and which he governs.
Sect. 14. They never call upon their Gods, but to let them come to them, which is done by the Miniſtry of the Prieſts, and for the 4 following reaſons. Firſt, to be aveng'd for ſome injury received. Secondly, to be cured of their Diſeaſes. Thirdly, to learn the ſucceſs of the War. Fourthly, to expel the great Devil, or rather the wicked God Mapoia, whom they never adore. Thence may be inferr'd, that they believe good and bad Spirits: beſides, they acknowledge the immortality of the Soul; which Opinion is the Original of Demons and Heroes, ſince as they ſuppoſe, they are the Souls of the Deceaſed, which, they call to their aſſiſtance againſt their Enemies.
Sect. 15. The Deſcription of their Witchcraft, is to be found in the ſame place after this manner. When their Prieſts call upon many of their Gods together, they ſeem to diſpute and quarrel with one another, ſo far as to come to blows; ſomtimes they hide themſelves amongſt Dead bones, which they draw out of Graves, and wrap up in Cotton, whence they utter their Oracles. They uſe that Witchcraft to bewitch their Enemies, for which purpoſe, the Witches muſt have ſomthing that has belong'd to the party to be bewitched: the Spirit ſeizes ſometimes upon the body of thoſe Women, whence they give formal anſwers to whatever is propoſed to them: They ſerve up Meat to thoſe Spirits in places ſeparated from the Commerce that is kept with them. The Boy or Prieſt that has brought it, being gone out, they hear the Diſh move, and the Devil (according to Blome,) or the God (according to that People) moves the Jaws, and makes a great noiſe, as if he chewed the Meat, that has been ſerved to him, thô in the Morning they find that he has not touched it.
Sect. 16. I ſhall yet give a more particular Relation of the Caraibes drawn from the deſcription made by de la Borde, who was ſent by the French King, with the Jeſuit Simon, to convert that People, what he has in his Relation ſubſervient to our deſign, viz. to know their ſentiments concerning the Deity and the Spirits, and to be inform'd of their practices, is as follows. Louquo, who was the Firſt Man, and Caraibe, and conſequently the Common-Father of all the others, was not made by any, but deſcended from Heaven, here below, where he liv'd very long. He had a great Navel, whence he brought out the Firſt Man, as well as out of his Thigh, making there an Inciſion. There happened many ſtories during his Life, that would be ſhameful and infamous to be reported; he made little Fiſhes from ſcraps, and little bits of Manjou, which he threw into the Sea; but the great from great parcels of the ſame Root. He roſe again three days after his Death, and returned to Heaven. Terreſtrial Animals are come ſince, but they know not whence. They believe that the Heavens have been from all Eternity, but not the Earth, nor the Sea; that neither of them was in that fine diſpoſition, in which they now are: their mover and firſt actor Louquo, having firſt made the Earth ſoft, ſmooth, without Mountains, but they know not whence he had the matter of it; the Moon followed immediatly, but everſince ſhe ſaw the Sun, ſhe got away, and hid her ſelf for ſhame, and ever ſince ſhewed her ſelf but at Night; they attribute the Eclipſes to Mapoia the wicked Spirit, who endeavours to kill them. They more eſteem the M…on than the Sun, and for that Reaſon, rule the days by the Moon, and not by the Sun, never ſaying a Month but a Moon, nor how many days ſhall you be on your journey, but how many nights, ſhall you ſleep abroad.
Sect. 17. Their Opinion concerning the Demons, Inferior Gods and Heroes, may eaſily be learned. They believe that all the Stars are Caraibes, and that Racunnon was one of the Firſt, whom Louquo made, he was changed into a great Snake, that had a Man's Head, and always ſtood upon a Cabalas, which is a very thick hard, high, and ſtraight Tree, but he was ſince tranſmuted into a Star. Savacon another Caraibe, and ſince a Star is the Captain of the Hurricanes, and of Thunder, and 'tis he that cauſes great Rains. Achinaon, a Caraibe and Star, cauſes little Rains and great Winds: the Star Couromon raiſes a Wind, that makes the Sea ebb and flow. They reckon and mark the Years by the Conſtellation Chirities, which is by them the name of the Pleiades. Cavalnia is the Captain of the Zemeans. Limacani is a Comet ſent by the Captain of the Zemeans to hurt, when he is Angry. Joalouca or the Rainbow is a Zemean too, that makes the Caraibes ſick when he finds no Victuals. If it appear to them at Sea, they take it as a good Omen, and ſay that it comes to accompany them, and procure them a good Voyage; but if it appears at Land, they hide themſelves within their Cottages, fancying that it is a Foreign Zemean, that has no Maſter, that is to ſay, no Piaie; and therefore can do nothing but hurt, by his Evil Influencies, and undoubtedly ſeeks to kill ſome body.
Sect. 18. There are ſeveral other things, of which they make Zemeans, eſpecially ſuch as cauſe ſome terrour or amazement, as Bats, Which they name Boulliri, that flie by Night about the Houſes; they believe that they keep them, and that ſuch as kill thoſe Creatures, become Sick. They have ſo many ſorts of Boule Bonum, that is to ſay, bad Omens, that I cannot reſolve my ſelf, to relate all their Trifles and Dreams.
Sect. 19. Their Religious worſhip chiefly conſiſts in ſuch Divinations and Witchcrafts, as are agreable to their ſtrange notions. Aſſoon as they fall into a Diſeaſe, they fancy themſelves to be bewitch'd, and if they can catch the Woman they ſuſpect, they kill or cauſe her to be killed; for they commonly aſſault Women, not ſo freely daring make bold with Men: But before they kill her, they exerciſe an unheard of Crueltie upon the poor Wretch, their Relations and Friends go to catch her, and cauſe her to rake up the Ground in ſeveral places, untill ſhe has found what they ſuppoſe ſhe has hidden, and often that miſerable Woman confeſſes an untruth to free her ſelf from thoſe Tortures. When they have gotten that proof of her being a Witch, they put her to Death in a moſt Cruel and Barbarous manner, related by the Author, who adds, that the Caraibes fancy to have ſeveral other means to preſerve themſelves from Witchcraft; for Inſtance, They put in a great Gourd, Hairs, or ſome bones of their Deceaſed Relations, which they keep in their Carbet for ſome Witchcraft, and ſay that the Ghoſt of the Deceaſed ſpeaks therein, and advertiſes them of the deſigns of their Enemies.
Sect. 20. Divinations are made by the means of Zemeans, that is to ſay, familiar Spirits, Each Picas or Boie having his own, and ruling himſelf by the advices of his deteſtable Oracles. Thus to know the event of their Diſeaſes, they cauſe a Piaice to come at Night, who immediatly orders all the Fire of the Cottage to be put out, and the ſuſpected Perſons to be gone, then he withdraws into a Corner, where he cauſes the Sick to be brought, and having ſmoaked a little Tobacco, he bruiſes it in his Hands, and blows into the Air, ſhaking and ſnaking his Fingers. 'Tis ſaid that the Zemean fails not to come at the ſmell of that precious Incenſe and Perfume, by the Miniſtry of the Boie, who doubtleſs is in a compact with the Devil. There being interrogated, it anſwers with an audible Voice, and as it were at a diſtance, to the Queries put to it. Afterwards he comes near the Sick Perſon, ſtrokes and gently handles ſeveral times the afflicted part, ſtill blowing upon it, and ſometimes drawing, or feigning to draw out of it, Thorns, little parcels of Manioc, Wood, Bones, or little Fiſhbones, which his Devil ſupplyes him with, perſwading the ſick that it was that which cauſed his pain. He often ſucks the Aking part, and immediatly goes out of the Cottage to ſpew up, ſays he, the Venom. Thus the crazy diſtemper'd is cured, rather by Imagination than reallity; 'Tis obſervable, that he cures neither Agues nor Wounds, as thoſe of Arrows or a Knife. Not a word is to be ſaid in that Diabolical Aſſembly nor any noiſe to be made, no not ſo much as to let a Fart otherwiſe the Zemean flies away. The Caraibes believe that all the time the Piaie goes above, and comes back only, when the Zemean is gone. As a Gratuity, they preſent in their Cottages, without other Ceremony, the Zemean, and the Piaie too, for the trouble he has been at in calling out the Spirit, ſome refreſhment, as ſome Ouicou and Caſſavies, upon a Matouton, or little Table, having them there all the Night, if in the Morning they find if untouch'd, they nevertheleſs perſwade themſelves, that the Zemean has fed upon it, but has only Eaten and Drunken the Spiritual part; whereas if all be conſum'd, for which the Prieſt never fails to provide as much as lies in his power; 'tis the Zemean that has Eaten it up. They likewiſe never make a Feaſt, but the Zemean has his portion.
Sect. 21. Going over into the Continent of Northern America, we meet with the Mexicons, the moſt conſiderable People of the Country. Thomas Gage an Engliſhman, who became a White-Fryar in Spain, and is a judicious and credible Author, ſaving in what concerns the ſuperſtitions of Popery, ſays in the 20th Chap. of his Firſt Book, That there are above 2000 Gods in the Town of Mexico, the chief of whom were called Viſilopuchli and Teſcatlipuca, A little after the Author adds, They believed that thoſe two Idols were two Brothers, that Teſcatlipuca was the God of Providence, and Viſilopuchli that of the the War, for which Reaſons, they worſhiped and honoured them both above all the others. He alſo mentions another God, whom they extreamly venerated, he had ſpoken in the foregoing Chapter of Quetavatlei the God of Light. I know not whether this laſt is Quetſaolcoalt, whom Montanus calls the Gods of Merchants.
Sect. 22. Going thence to Guatimale and Amatitlum, under the Dominion of Spain. The ſame Author ſpeaks much of the Magick of the Inhabitants, which they have neither forgotten nor forſaken, thô they make an outward profeſſion of Chriſtianity; to ſhow that they meddle with Divination, he relates that they obſerve, whether they are the Firſt that ſee the Beaſts going before them in their way: That they likewiſe obſerve the flight of Birds, and whether they ſing out of their ſeaſon, about their abode: they alſo believe, that their Life depends on that of ſome Beaſts, which they keep in their Houſes as a Familiar Spirit, ſo far that they are ſeized with terror and ſhake, whence 'tis purſued by Hunters; and fall into a Swoon, when 'tis caught,
Sect. 23. Going over from New-Spain into New-England, we ſhall be ſufficiently inform'd by the Relation of Richard Blome, who ſays, that the Inhabitants of that Country, thô the duleſt and moſt Savage People in the World, have nevertheleſs Gods, Prieſts, and a certain form of worſhip. The Firſt and moſt venerated of their Gods, is that who does them moſt hurt, whom they call Okea; they converſe with him, and he transforms himſelf into their ſhape; they likewiſe adore whatever they think able to cauſe them an unavoidable damage, as Water, Fire, Thunder, Lightning, great and ſmall Guns, Horſes, the Hedghog, at whoſe ſight they were moſt frighted the Firſt time the Engliſh brought one thither. They believe it to be the God of Swines, and that they had undoubtedly incens'd him. When they deſign to make War, they conſult with the Prieſts and Diviners, before they undertake it.
Sect. 24. The ſame Author relates almoſt the ſame things of New-York, formerly call'd the New-Netherlands; he eſpecially reports the manner of their Inchantments, and diſcovers their Cheat, of which we ſhall ſpeak in the laſt part of this work; but we may put here, what he ſays of the Marylanders. They believe a Soveraign God who has made all things from all Eternity, and even Inferior Gods, of different dignities, to make uſe of their Miniſtry, ſuch are the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars; they believe that all things have been formed of Water, but that Men had their Original from four Children, whom the Firſt Woman in the World conceived from one of theſe Gods.
Sect. 25. As to the Souls, they believe that thoſe of the Virtuous are taken up to the Gods, to enjoy an Eternal happineſs; but that the Souls of thoſe, who have led a wicked Life, go to burn for ever in the Popoguſſo, or that extremity of the World, where the Sun ſets down. Upon this ſubject they recite. That they perceived a Man to move in his Grave, a day after he had been Buryed, whence at laſt he went out, and came to Life again, he declared to them, that he had been almoſt precipitated into the Popoguſſo, but that one of their Gods had preſerved him from it, and given him leave to return to the World, to warn his Friends, they ſhould beware of that frightful place. Another being likewiſe riſen, related, That his Soul had remain'd alive, whilſt his Body was in the Coffin: that ſhe was gone into a ſpacious place, planted on both ſides with fine Trees cover'd, with excellent Fruits, that at laſt, ſhe was come to a place full of Magnificent Buildings, where he had found his Father Deceaſed ſome time before, who had enjoyned him to come back and tell his Friends what happineſs was prepared for them, if they put themſelves in a State of obtaining it, by a Virtuous Life; whereupon he was come back into the World. Thence we may plainly perceive the Opinion of that People, upon the State of the Soul, ſeparated from the Body, and that they are more polite and enlightened, than thoſe mentioned before.
Sect. 26. The Inhabitants of Virginia hold alſo Okea for the ſupream God, thô they confeſs the God of the Chriſtians to be above him; becauſe the Chriſtians can do more Execution with their Guns, than they with their Bows and Arrows; for their Religion, and that of the moſt part of the Neighboring Nations is all turned to the War, and to obtain a happy ſucceſs of it. A Counſellor of one of their Kings being in England in King James the Firſt time, ſays, That Okea often appears in his Pagode, whereupon 4 Prieſts enter into it, uttering ſtrange Words, and making Geſtures and Poſtures no leſs ſurprizing, Theſe call others again, whom they cauſe to come in, after the ſame manner, and the God declares his Will to them, Ʋpon this Declaration, they take their meaſures in all their Affairs, either journey or any thing elſe. If they deſire to go a Hunting, he preciſely teaches them, where the Beaſt will be found; they receive his Advices with great ſatisfaction, and never fail to follow them, which often ſucceeds, He appears to them in the ſhape of a comly Indian, and after he has ſhewed himſelf for ſome time to his 12 Confederates, he goes up into the Air whence he came.
Sect. 27. The ſame Author gives us the ſentiments of the Inhabitants of Carolina, which is part of Florida, bordering upon Virginia, as we have heard him before, relating thoſe of the Inhabitants of the Iſland St. Vincent. They likewiſe hold Okea to be the Supream God. Good and bad Spirits are look'd upon to be inferior Gods, and they offer Sacrifices to the leaſt, as well as to the greateſt Gods. They alſo believe the Tranſmigration of Souls, and when any body dies, they bury with him ſufficient proviſion for his maintenance, and all ſorts of Cloaths for his uſe, when he ſhall be in the Elyſian Fields, which they fancy to be beyond the Indian Sea. The Author gives the name of Elyſian Fields to the places he deſcribes, becauſe of the Relation he has found betwixt them and thoſe the Greeks have call'd by that name.