In some of these rivers grow herbs or plants which themselves, as well as their roots, are a rank, deadly poison, more or less. And their effects, when any demon-spirited wretch employs them as instruments of vengeance, though I have known none to carry off the object _immediately_, yet have a most melancholy, baneful effect. Some of [these plants are] exactly similar (in their effects) to _Lunar Caustic_, and oftentimes with an additional _humiliating_ effect (but more of this hereafter). And some deprive the object of every one of his senses but that of feeling. A melancholy instance of this I saw in the Spring of 1813 and sufficient of itself to _[emolliate]_ a heart of adamant! Sometimes Esculapius will not instruct his votary in their use, satisfying himself with telling them _they are bad medicines_, or perhaps not mentioning them at all. To others again he [will explain] every _circumstance_ 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, and 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 everybody; render it therefore not a burthen or _disgrace_; and I _hate_ those who thus abuse my confident affection! They are also forbidden, sometimes as strictly, and for the same reasons, instructing others in their use. Notwithstanding this great love and cautious diffidence of Esculapius, there are other malignant powers who teach them and encourage their use. Hence those distressing objects I cannot here, for the want of paper, speak of. [Stones and Their Virtues] What I have mentioned of minerals, which from their description are indeed really such--minerals, yet I cannot take upon myself from my slender knowledge of their language and _technical_ terms, to _assure_ you that they are prepared after _our_ manner, by chemical processes. Mercury, sulphur, saltpetre or nitre, I do not know that they have. But there being french, english, german, and, from the description, greek and 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 _talc_, pumice stones and various other kinds. These they are shewn how to reduce to powder, and with what water, out of which river (or colored water if you please), the water is taken to mix up these powders. _With the roots and herbs it is different. _They are boiled_. These _stones_ (for they are most commonly thus denominated by them) are held in very great repute by them, though many of them that have been shewn me as possessing wonderful virtues, I considered as very common and foolish or at least harmless things.