Among the northern Indians, each cast or small tribe is distinguished by the name of some animal; as the tribe of the tyger, the lion, the guanaco, the ostrich, and the like.  They believe that each tribe had its own particular creator, who resided in some huge cavern under a lake or bill, to which all of that tribe will go after death, to enjoy the felicity of eternal inebriation.  These good creative spirits, according to their opinion, having first created the world, made the different races of men and animals, each in their respective cave.  To the Indians, they gave the spear, the bow and arrow, and the lague or ball and thong:  to the Spaniards fire arms.  Animals they allege were likewise created in these subterranean abodes of the spirits, such as were nimblest coming first out.  When bulls and cows were coming out last of all, the Indians were frightened at the sight of their horns, and stopped up the mouth of their cavern; but the Spaniards were wiser and let them out.  Thus they explain the reason why they had no cattle till after the coming of the Spaniards.  In. their opinion, all the animals who have been created in these hidden caverns have not yet emerged.  They attribute all the misfortunes or diseases which happen to men or animals to the agency of the evil spirits, who are continually wandering about the world in search of mischief.  Their priests or jugglers rather, are each supposed to be attended by two familiar evil spirits, to whom the souls of these jugglers are associated after death, and with whom they go about to do mischief.  The jugglers are of both sexes; but it seems as if it were thought an occupation beneath the dignity of a man, as the male wizards are compelled to dress like women and are not permitted to marry.  The female jugglers are under no such restriction.  They are generally chosen while children to be initiated in the mysteries of this profession, from among those who are most effeminate, and such as happen to be subject to epilepsy or St Vitus’ dance are considered as especially marked out for the service of the jugglers.  It is a very dangerous profession, as these jugglers are frequently put to death when any calamity happens to befal either the chiefs or the people.

No ceremonies are performed in honour of the good spirits.  That which is addressed to the evil ones is performed in the following manner.  The assistants assemble in the hut or tent of the wizard, who is concealed in a corner of the tent, where he has a drum, one or two round calabashes with a few small sea shells in them to make a noise, like the maraca or rattle of the Brazilian sorcerers, and some square bags of painted hide in which he keeps his spells.  He begins the ceremony by making a strange noise with his drum and rattle, after which he feigns to fall into a fit, which is supposed to be occasioned by a struggle with the evil spirit who then enters into him.  During this fit, he keeps his eye-lids lifted up, distorts his features, foams