[ 1 "Dans le pays de nos Hurons, il se faict aussi des assemblees de
toutes les filles d'vn bourg aupres d'vne malade, tant a sa priere,
suyuant la resuerie ou le songe qu'elle en aura eue, que par l'ordonnance
de Loki (the doctor), pour sa sante et guerison. Les filles ainsi
assemblees, on leur demande a toutes, les vnes apres les autres, celuy
qu'elles veulent des ieunes hommes du bourg pour dormir auec elles la
nuict prochaine: elles en nomment chacune vn, qui sont aussi-tost
aduertis par les Maistres de la ceremonie, lesquels viennent tous au soir
en la presence de la malade dormir chacun auec celle qui l'a choysi,
d'vn bout a l'autre de la Cabane et passent ainsi toute la nuict, pendant
que deux Capitaines aux deux bouts du logis chantent et sonnent de leur
Tortue du soir au lendemain matin, que la ceremonie cesse. Dieu vueille
abolir vne si damnable et malheureuse ceremonie."--Sagard, Voyage des
Hurons, 158.--This unique mode of cure, which was called Andacwandet,
is also described by Lalemant, who saw it. (Relation des Hurons, 1639,
84.) It was one of the recognized remedies.

For the medical practices of the Hurons, see also Champlain, Brebeuf,
Lafitau, Charlevoix, and other early writers. Those of the Algonquins
were in some points different. The doctor often consulted the spirits,
to learn the cause and cure of the disease, by a method peculiar to that
family of tribes. He shut himself in a small conical lodge, and the
spirits here visited him, manifesting their presence by a violent shaking
of the whole structure. This superstition will be described in another
connection. ]


THE HURON-IROQUOIS FAMILY.

And now, before entering upon the very curious subject of Indian social