The sound was no sooner distinguished than all the Indians clapped their hands for joy, exclaiming that this was the Chief Spirit, the Turtle, the Spirit that never lied! Other voices, which they had distinguished from time to time, they had previously hissed, as recognizing them to belong to evil and lying spirits, the deceivers of mankind.
Then came from the tent a succession of songs, in which a diversity of voices met the ear.

From his first entrance, till these songs were finished, we heard nothing in the proper voice of the priest.

But now he addressed the multitude, declaring the presence of the Great Turtle, and the spirit's readiness to answer such questions as should be proposed.

The questions were to come from the chief of the village, who was silent, however, till after he had put a large quantity of tobacco into the tent, introducing it at the aperture.

This was a sacrifice offered to the spirit; for the spirits were supposed by the Indians to be as fond of tobacco as themselves.