les of astronomy which they
consulted. When the moon was eclipsed, they believed she was fighting
with a black devil.

The Indians supposed that by means of magic a man could change himself
into the form of a lion or any other animal he chose. We have heard of
one John Gondalez, who changed himself into the shape of a lion, and
in that form was shot by a Spaniard. The day on which Gondalez was
fired at he was reported to be sick. A clergyman was called in to take
his confession. The pious man, in giving an account of what he saw and
heard, said, "I saw Gondalez's face and nose all bruised, and asked
him how he had received the injuries. He told me that he had fallen
from a tree and nearly killed himself. After this he accused the
Spaniard of shooting at him. The affair was inquired into by a Spanish
justice of the peace. My evidence was taken, and I told what Gondalez
had said to me regarding his fall. The Spaniard swore that he had shot
at a lion in a thick wood, where an Indian was not likely to be."

Gondalez was examined as to how he was not seen by the Spaniard when
he went to look for the lion; to which he replied that he ran away
lest the Spaniard should kill him. As Gondalez's dealings with the
devil were well known to all in the neighbourhood, it was held that he
had received his injuries when roaming as a four-footed beast; and
therefore the justice discharged the Spaniard.

CHAPTER VIII.

John Gomez the Wizard and Man-tiger--Lopez the
Man-lion--Vermilion Marks rendered the Devil
powerless--Sacrificing Children--Offerings to the
Ganges--A Rajah offering himself as a
Sacrifice--Preventatives against Disease--Various
Superstitious Ceremonies--Sacrificing to the Gods of
the Four Winds--How the Devil was kept away--King's
Wives and Retainers going with the Dead Monarch into
the other World--An eternal Succession of Worlds--Apes
supposed to have Human Souls--Worshipping
Demons--Drinking Blood--Prognosticating from the Cries
of Beasts--Witchcraft and Magic--Singular Opinions and
Customs--Watching Graves, and providing for the
Dead--Foretelling Future Events at the New
Moon--Method of discovering a False Swearer--Offerings
to the Sea and Winds--Superstition in China--Chinese
Genealogy and Worship--Opinion of their Gods and
Goddesses--Sacrifices--Beggars--Magical Arts--False
Worship--Comfort