Gassner
(See Hypnotism).
Gastromancy, or Divination from the Belly, is now generally explained by ventriloquism, the voice in both cases sounding low and hollow, as if issuing from the ground. Salverte enforces this opinion, and adds: "The name of Engastrimythes, given by the Greeks to the Pythiæ (priestesses of Apollo) indicates that they made use of this artifice." The explanation is only partial, and the text of Isaiah : Thy voice shall die as one that hath a familiar spirit," is inapplicable in such an argument. Those who are experienced in clairvoyance are aware that the voice is often reduced very low, in consequence of a change in the respiration. This was the case with some of the ancient Pythonesses, though instances may have occurred when ventriloquism was resorted to, as by the wizards of Greenland in our own time. Another method of practising the ancient gastromancy connects it with crystal-seeing, as vessels of glass, round, and full of clear water, were used, which were placed before several lighted candles. In this case, a young boy or girl was generally the seer, and the demon was summoned in a low voice by the magician. Replies were then obtained from the magical appearances seen in the illuminated glass vessels. Gaudillon, Pierre: A sorcerer, who was burned in 1610, for going about at night in the form of a hare.
Gaufridi, Louis: A French ecclesiastic, burned as a sorcerer at Aix, in 1611. He was a curé at Marseilles, where his attractive person and manners gained for him a footing in high society, but for all his priestly garb, he led an evil life. A girl whom he had seduced was sent by her parents to a convent of Ursulines, and here Gaufridi followed her, making the credulous nuns believe that a legion of demons possessed the convent. At the instance of the exorcist, who relieved the "possessed nuns Gaufridi was tried at Aix, and condemned to be burned alive. دو