Page:A description of Greenland.djvu/238

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190
The Natural Hiſtory

tient, whether he ſhall recover or not; now, if his Head is heavy in lifting it, it is, with them, a Sign of Death; if light, of Recovery[1]. 'Tis not found, that in this there is any Commerce with the Devil.Notwithſtanding all this, I am loth to believe, that, in theſe Spells and Conjurings, there is any real Commerce with the Devil; for, to me, it clearly appears, that there is nothing in it, but meer Fibs, juggling Tricks and Impoſtures, made uſe of by theſe crafty Fellows, for the ſake of filthy Lucre, for they are well paid for their Pains taking. Nevertheleſs, it can't be denied, but that the evil Spirit has a Hand in all this, and is the chief Actor upon this Stage, to keep thoſe poor Wretches in their Claims, and hinder them from coming to the true Knowledge of God.

The Angekkuts can alſo perſuade whom they pleaſe, that they have no Souls, eſpe-
cially
  1. While Angekkuts are conjuring, no body muſt ſcratch his Head, nor ſleep, nor break wind; for they ſay, that ſuch a Dart can kill the Enchanters, nay, the Devil himſelf. After a Conjuration has been performed, there is a Vacancy from Working for three or four Days.