In some of these rivers grow herbs or plants which, themselves, as well as their roots, are a rank, deadly poison, more or less; & their effects, when any Demon-Spirited wretch employes them as instruments of vengeance, tho' I have known none to carry off the object _immediately_, yet have a most melancholy baneful effect; some of them exactly similar (in their effects) to _Lunar Caustic_, & oftentimes with an ad- ditional _humiliating_ effect (But more of this hereafter) & some, deprive the ob- ject of every one of his senses but that of feeling--a melancholy instance of this I saw in the Spring of 1813 & sufficient of itself to _emeliate_ an heart of adamant! Some times Esculapius will not instruct his votary in their use, satisfying himself with telling them _they are bad medecines_, or perhaps not mentioning them at all. To others again, he explained every _circumstance_ &c. relating to them; but with a _most strict_ (23) injunction never to employ them at his _Peril_ "unless you wish to die: I teach you all these "these things because I love you, & know your heart to be compassionate: but _mind my "words_, if ever you employ them with an ill or evil _view_, thou shalt die. Other _indians_ "as well as thyself, love life--it is sweet to every body; render it therefore not a bur- "then or a _disgrace_; & I _hate_ those who thus abuse my confident affection" &c. &c. They are also forbidden sometimes as strictly, & for the same reasons, instructing others in their use. Notwithstanding this great love & cautious diffidence of Escu- lapius, there are other malignant Powers who teach them & encourage their use. --Hence those distressing objects I cannot here for the want of Paper, speake of-- What I have mentioned of minerals &c. which from their description are indeed really such, i.e. minerals &c. yet I cannot take upon myself from my slender knowledge of their language & _technical_ terms, to _assure_ you that they are prepared after _our_ manner, i.e. by Chemical processes. Mercury, sulphur, saltpetre or nitre &c. I do not know that they have; but there being french, English, German, & from the description Greek & Hebrew Doctors, among the number, I should not suppose it preposterous in concluding that they have them all in the same way as ourselves. But from what I can learn it is _Stones_, that is, some particular kinds of them that are most used, such as _talk_, pumice stones, & various other kinds. These they are shewn how to reduce to Powder, & with what water, i.e. out of which river (or colord water if you please) the water is taken to mix up these Powders. "With the roots & herbs &c. it is different--_they are boiled_" &c.--These _stones_ (for they are most commonly thus denominated by them) are held in very great repute by them; tho' many of those that have been shewn me as possessing wonderful virtues I considered as very common & fool- ish, or at least harmless things.