Some of the Indians believe, that the “Evil Spirit” is the maker of
spirituous liquors, from which, notwithstanding, hardly one of them can
refrain. An Indian near the Delaware Water Gap, told Mr. Heckewelder,
a missionary, that he had once, when under the influence of strong
liquor, killed the best Indian friend he had, fancying him to be his
worst avowed enemy. He said that the deception was complete; and that
while intoxicated, the face of his friend presented to _his_ eyes all
the features of the man with whom he was in a state of hostility. It is
impossible to express the horror which struck him, when he awoke from
that delusion. He was so shocked, that from that moment, he resolved
never more to taste of the maddening potion, of which he was convinced
the devil was the inventor; for that it could only be the “Evil Spirit”
who made him see his enemy when his friend was before him, and produced
so strong a delusion on his bewildered senses, that he actually killed
him. From that time until his death, which happened thirty years
afterwards, he never drank a drop of ardent spirits, which he always
called “the devil’s blood;” and was firmly persuaded that the devil, or
some of his infernal spirits, had a hand in preparing it.