Unfortunately the spreading of a severe dysentery amongst them at this time gave occasion for the renewal of their grief.

The medicinal charms of drumming and singing were plentifully applied and once they had recourse to conjuring over a sick person.

I was informed however that the Northern Indians do not make this expedient for the cure of a patient so often as the Crees; but when they do the conjurer is most assiduous and suffers great personal fatigue.
Particular persons only are trained in the mysteries of the art of conjuring to procure the recovery of the sick or to disclose future events.
On extraordinary occasions the man remains in his narrow conjuring tents for days without eating before he can determine the matter to his satisfaction.

When he is consulted about the sick the patient is shut up with him; but on other occasions he is alone and the poor creature often works his mind up to a pitch of illusion that can scarcely be imagined by one who has not witnessed it.

His deluded companions seat themselves round his tent and await his communication with earnest anxiety, yet during the progress of his manoeuvres they often venture to question him as to the disposition of the Great Spirit.
These artful fellows usually gain complete ascendancy over the minds of their companions.