trying, as I guessed, to make out something inscribed on this curious
substitute for writing-paper. I had now recovered my presence of mind,
and, thinking at once to astonish and propitiate, I drew from my pocket,
wiped, and presented to him my spectacles, indicating, by example, the
manner of their employment. No sooner did he behold these common
articles of every-day use, than the priest's knees began to knock
together, and his old hands trembled so that he could scarcely fix the
spectacles on his nose. When he had managed this it was plain that he
found much less difficulty with his documents. He now turned them
rapidly over, and presently discovered one thin sheet of lead, from which
he began to read, or rather chant, in a slow measured tone, every now and
then pausing and pointing to me, to my hat, and to the spectacles which
he himself wore at the moment. The chief listened to him gravely, and
with an expression of melancholy that grew deeper and sadder till the
end. It was a strange scene.

I afterwards heard the matter of the prophecy, as it proved to be, which
was thus delivered. I have written it down in the language of the
natives, spelling it as best I might, and I give the translation which I
made when I became more or less acquainted with their very difficult
dialect. {23a} It will be seen that the prophecy, whatever its origin,
was strangely fulfilled. Perhaps the gods of this people were not mere
idols, but evil spirits, permitted, for some wise purpose, to delude
their unhappy worshippers. {23b} This, doubtless, they might best do by
occasionally telling the truth, as in my instance. But this
theory--namely, that the gods of the heathen are perhaps evil and
wandering spirits--is, for reasons which will afterwards appear, very
painful to me, personally reminding me that I may have sinned as few have
done since the days of the early Christians. But I trust this will not
be made a reproach to me in our Connection, especially as I have been the