,,la ,,ronge ,,journal1 #ahbc ,george ,nelson ,transcriber's ,note3 7,includes additional materials3 ,list of some other publications of his work2 editing notes2 an example of a music scroll2 details of ,nelson's fur trade career2 table of contents2 page images of handwritten manuscript2 references47 ,,also ,,by ,,george ,,nelson ,peers1 ,laura ,schenck1 ,theresa 7eds474 ,my ,first ,years in the ,fur ,trade3 ,the ,journals of #ahjb-ahjd4 ,st4 ,paul4 ,minnesota ,historical ,society ,press4 #bjjb4 ,the ,la ,ronge journal of #ahbc has also been published in hard copy in an extensively researched work by ,jennifer ,s4 ,brown and ,robert ,brightman in #aihh4 ,this work contains extensive additional analysis of the mythology1 the shaking lodge ceremony1 medicines and religious practices of the ,northern ,algonquin peoples4 ,additional commentaries from aboriginal perspectives on the ,nelson text are given by ,stan ,cuthand and ,emma la,roque4 ,brown1 ,jennifer ,s4 ,h4 ,brightman1 ,robert 7eds474 ,the ,orders of the ,dreamed3 ,george ,nelson on ,cree and ,northern ,ojibwa ,religion and ,myth1 #ahbc4 ,winnipeg4 ,the ,university of ,manitoba ,press4 #aihh ,,editing ,,notes ,nelson's manuscript is a handwritten first draft for a work on ,north ,american aboriginal belief systems completed in ,june1 #ahbc4 ,nelson had intended to edit and publish it at a later date4 ,the first publication did not occur until #aihh in ,the ,orders of the ,dreamed3 ,george ,nelson on ,cree and ,northern ,ojibwa ,religion and ,myth1 #ahbc where it is given a comprehensive1 analytical and contextual treatment by ,jennifer ,brown and ,robert ,brightman with contributions from other authors4 ,the goals for this edition of ,nelson's ,la ,ronge ,journal of #ahbc are to make ,nelson's work accessible to a wider audience and ensure its preservation and availability in digital format4 ,it is presented in three parts4 ,part #a provides a lightly edited version of the manuscript4 ,nelson's text is an excellent example of common ,english usage in early nineteenth century ,north ,america4 ,idiosyncratic misspellings are generally corrected2 archaisms and localizations have been maintained4 ,where the spelling of names is irregular or abbreviated1 a consistent spelling is chosen4 ,punctuation has been somewhat modernized4 ,editorial interjections1 including section and subsection headings not in the original1 are enclosed in brackets4 ,nelson occasionally used brackets in the text for parenthetical remarks2 these have been replaced with braces4 ,part #b is a verbatim and line by line transcription of the original handwritten document4 ,the transcription serves as the starting point for ,part #a4 ,it is included here because of the importance of the journal as an historical document and the desire to preserve and make the manuscript available close to the original form while moving it to a digital version4 ,no attempt has been made to edit or correct the text4 ,part #c 7omitted from the text-only and some portable reader versions7 is a set of digital images of the manuscript made from photocopies provided by the ,toronto ,reference ,library1 the holder of the ,nelson papers4 ,the size of the images is reduced to make them suitable for on-line use2 resolution is kept adequate for direct comparison with the transcription4 ,an added table of contents provides links 7in the hypertext versions7 to sections or pages in each of the three parts4 ,page numbering preserves that of the manuscript for reference purposes4 ,certain sections of the this e-text may display poorly on some e-book readers3 7#a7 ,references to ,world ,wide ,web resources may be longer than can be contained on normally formatted lines4 ,to simplify correct copying of the references1 the lines have not been split4 7#b7 ,in ,part #b1 the line by line transcription of the handwritten manuscript1 ,nelson sometimes made additions or corrections increasing the number of words on a line of text4 ,the length of the transcribed text line was increased to maintain the line correspondence between the manuscript and the e-text4 ,the ,nelson manuscript was made available courtesy of the ,toronto ,public ,library4 ,i would like to thank the staff of the ,baldwin ,room ,manuscripts ,collection at ,toronto ,reference ,library for their assistance in making the material available for digitization4 ,i would also like to express thanks to my wife1 ,susan ,o',donovan1 for the hours spent proofing text and clarifying many fine details of the language4 ,i ,,hear ,,the ,,spirit ,,speaking ,,to ,,us ,transcription of an ,objibwa song scroll ,i hear the spirit speaking to us4 ,i am going into the medicine lodge4 ,i am taking 7gathering7 medicine to make me live4 ,i give you medicine1 and a lodge1 also4 ,i am flying into my lodge4 ,the ,spirit has dropped medicine from the sky where we can get it4 ,i have the medicine in my heart4 ,mid ,song ,scroll4 ,collection and translation by ,w4 ,h4 ,hoffman1 #ahhe-ahhf4 ,the ,midwiwin or ,grand ,medicine ,society of the ,ojibwa ,project ,gutenberg ,e-book #aicfh4 ,,george ,,nelson',s ,,fur ,,trading ,,world ,transcriber's ,note3 ,western ,north ,america ,map3 ,lake ,superior to ,alberta ,george ,nelson's ,postings and ,employing ,companies #ahjb_/ahjc ,yellow ,river 7,fort ,folle ,avoine71 ,wisconsin1 ,,xy ,company 7,,xyc7 #ahjc_/ahjd ,lac du ,flambeau1 ,chippewa ,river1 ,wisconsin1 ,,xyc #ahjd_/ahje ,red ,river area1 ,manitoba1 ,,xyc _/ ,north ,west ,company 7,,nwc7 #ahje_/ahjf ,lac du ,bonnet1 ,manitoba1 ,,nwc #ahjf_/ahaa ,dauphin ,river1 ,manitoba1 ,,nwc #ahaa_/ahab ,tte au ,brochet 7,jack ,head71 ,manitoba1 ,,nwc #ahac_/ahaf ,long ,lake1 ,ontario area1 ,,nwc #ahah_/ahai ,tte au ,brochet1 ,manitoba1 ,,nwc #ahai_/ahba ,moose ,lake1 ,manitoba1 ,,nwc _/ ,hudson's ,bay ,company 7,,hbc7 #ahba_/ahbb ,cumberland ,house1 ,saskatchewan1 ,,hbc #ahbb_/ahbc ,lake la ,ronge1 ,saskatchewan1 ,,hbc ,nelson's experiences and accounts come from his life and work with ,ojibwa _/ ,saulteau cultures around ,lake ,superior and ,lake ,winnipeg and contact in his later career with the ,cree of ,lake ,winnipeg1 the ,saskatchewan ,delta1 ,cumberland ,house and ,lake la ,ronge4 ,he makes reference to the ,beaver ,indians 7,dane-zaa7 who1 until the nineteenth century1 lived as far east as the ,slave and ,clearwater ,rivers bringing them and other ,athabaskan cultures into contact with fur trading at ,ile la ,crosse1 the administrative centre for ,nelson's post at ,lake la ,ronge4 ,his journal of #ahjb_/ahjc was instrumental in leading to the rediscovery of the ,folle ,avoine posts of the ,,xy ,company and ,north ,west ,company in #aifi by ,harris and ,frances ,palmer with assistance of local residents4 ,subsequent archaeological work was undertaken and the forts were reconstructed and have been operated as the ,forts ,folle ,avoine ,historical ,park by the ,burnett ,county ,historical ,society since #aihi4 ,the ,society provides tours1 displays and programs on the fur trade and aboriginal culture of the area4 ,nelson recalled many accounts of ,ojibwa practices in the ,lake ,superior area in his #ahbc ,la ,ronge journal4 ,,george ,,nelson',s ,,fur ,,trading ,,world1 #ahbb-bc ,transcriber's ,note3 ,map of ,lake ,la ,ronge area ,lake la ,ronge was the site of some twenty trading posts dating from #aggi4 ,nelson's ,hudson's ,bay ,company post was a reestablishment in #ahba of an earlier ,north ,west ,company post4 ,according to ,the ,atlas of ,saskatchewan1 it was the only fort on the ,lake over the winter of #ahbb_/ahbc4 ,the location is likely a known archaeological site in the area shown on the map identified in the ,atlas as ,lac la ,ronge ,,ii4 ,in #aidg1 the road network reached ,la ,ronge townsite founded in the early #aijj's1 and ,stanley ,mission1 which dates from #ahea1 in #aigh4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents ,,part #a ,introductory ,remarks 444 444 #a ,conjuring3 ,the ,interpreter's ,account ,initiations and ,conjuring 444 444 #d ,in ,quest of ,dreams ,dialogue with a ,spirit 444 444 #e ,principal ,spirits ,wee-suck--jk _/ ,gey-,shay-mani-to 444 444 #f ,key-jick-oh-kay 7,old ,nick7 ,water ,lynx 444 444 #g ,sun ,a ,dream ,meeting with ,sun ,thunder 444 444 #h ,roots and ,herbs 7,medicines7 ,the ,manner of ,conjuring ,building the ,lodge ,preparing the ,conjurer ,spirits who ,enter the ,lodge and ,interactions with ,them ,meeh-key-nock 7,turtle7 444 444 #i ,thunder ,flying ,squirrel ,wolverine ,loon ,hercules _/ ,strong ,neck3 ,altercation with a ,young ,man ,o-may-me-thay-day-ce-cee-wuck 7,ancients or ,hairy ,breasts7 ,sun 444 444 #aj ,pike ,buffaloe ,omniscience of ,spirits ,showing the ,turtle ,spirit 444 444 #aa ,bear ,keyjickahkaiw ,wee-suck--jk ,practices of ,powerful ,conjurers ,mythology ,north ,wind his ,daughter 7,birth of ,wee-suck--jk ,mishabse7 444 #ac ,death of ,mishabse ,wee-suck--jk and ,kingfisher ,myths of the ,flood ,wee-suck--jk's ,revenge on the ,sea ,lynxes ,wee-suck--jk ,tricks a ,water ,lynx and ,beaver ,recreation of the ,land 444 444 #ad ,wolf ,surveys the ,land 444 444 #ae ,creation of ,humans ,separation of ,land into ,plains and ,woods 444 #af ,wee-suck--jk ,travels the ,earth1 has a ,son1 becomes a ,woman ,language ,use ,conversations 444 444 #ag ,the ,figure in the ,dream is ,sickness ,sickness ,gives ,warnings of ,diseases ,reappearances of ,spirits in ,dreams to ,teach the ,votary 444 444 #ah ,malevolent ,spirits 7,need for ,regular ,sacrifices7 ,accounts of ,pahkack ,attacks at ,home and ,while ,hunting ,making ,offerings at a ,hunting ,camp 444 444 #ai ,description of ,pahkack ,the ,feast to ,pahkack 444 444 #bj ,roots and ,medicines 444 444 #ba ,the ,abode of the ,medicine ,spirit ,teaching the ,medicines to the ,votary ,stones and ,their ,virtues 444 444 #bc ,songs and ,notes ,treatment of the ,sick 444 444 #bd ,ceremonies and ,songs ,related to ,starvation 444 444 #be ,fugitive ,pieces ,the ,soul 444 444 #bg ,an ,attempt to ,capture a ,soul ,representation of the ,soul 444 444 #bh ,imprisonment of a ,soul ,medicines ,used to ,harm ,others 444 444 #bi ,used ,against a ,woman ,wild ,carroway 444 444 #ca ,used in ,hunting ,as ,love ,potions 7,baptiste's ,stories7 444 444 #cb ,effecting and ,avoiding ,spells 444 444 #cc ,dealing with ,spells on ,firearms ,the ,old ,canadian's ,account 444 444 #cd ,the ,iroquois' ,account ,the ,half ,breed's ,account 444 444 #ce ,stories of the ,hairy ,breasts and ,nayhanimis444 444 #cf ,north ,wind's ,challenge ,nayhanimis ,wars with the ,hairy ,breasts 444 444 #cg ,notes ,motives for ,writing the ,journal 444 444 #dj ,comments on ,aboriginal ,beliefs 444 444 #da ,mee-tay-wee ,conjuring ,evidence of ,spirits through ,conjuring ,practice ,conjuring ,ceremony for a ,n4 ,w4 ,co4 ,gentleman 444 444 #db ,stories 444 444 #dc ,the ,hunter and the ,wolf ,spirit ,pursuit by a ,pahkack ,wetiko 444 444 #dd ,trapping a ,wetiko ,habits and ,types of ,wetiko 444 444 #de ,those ,driven to ,cannibalism by ,starvation ,story of a ,wetiko ,woman 444 444 #df ,those who ,dream of ,ice and the ,north 444 444 #dg ,dream ,feasts ,of ,human ,flesh ,behavior of ,infected ,people 444 444 #dh ,an ,account of ,survival ,executing a ,wetiko ,treatments and ,recovery 444 444 #di ,malignant ,spirits444 444 #ej ,north1 ,ice1 ,skeleton and the ,crazy ,woman ,confession 444 444 #ea ,animal ,sacrifice 7,beaver ,indians7 444 444 #ec ,fragments 444 444 #ed ,the ,great ,doctor ,the ,devil and the ,tailor ,caricature ,feasts ,conjuring ,ceremony 7,june #dth41 #ahbc7 444 444 #ef ,,part #b ,typescript of ,manuscript ,references ,,la ,,ronge ,,journal1 #ahbc ,,part #a #a ,introductory ,remarks ,the following few stories or tales will give a better notion or idea of the religion of these people than every other description ,i am able to pen4 ,and as their history is read with interest1 ,i am persuaded these few pages will be found equally deserving attention4 ,i give them the same as ,i received them and leave every one to make his own remarks and to draw his own conclusions4 ,conjuring3 ,the ,interpreter's ,account ,my interpreter1 a young half breed1 passed the winter of #ahai-bj with the ,indians and gives this account4 ,one day shortly before ,christmas1 he was out with an elderly man1 a chief of this place1 a hunting4 ,suddenly he stopped as to listen1 apparently with great eagerness and anxiety1 upon which1 after allowing a sufficient time1 the interpreter asked what was the matter4 ,listen and you'll hear4 ,i have listened1 says the interpreter1 but hear nothing1 and it is surprising that you who are deaf should hear and ,i not4 ,ah6 ,a white man is thy father1 and thou are just as skeptical1 doubting and ridiculing every thing we say or do 'till when it is then too late4 ,then ye lament1 but in vain4 ,after this the ,indian became much downcast and very thoughtful for several days4 ,and as if to increase his anxiety1 or rather to corroborate the husband's assertions1 his wife said that one day she also heard1 though the other women that were with her heard nothing1 and an altercation ensued4 ,his uneasiness increasing too much1 he was forced to have recourse to their only alternative in such cases1 une ,jonglerie as the ,french term it1 that is conjuring4 ,one of their party1 another half-breed abandoned many years since by his father and leading an ,indian life1 was applied to4 ,he is reputed a true man3 he never lies4 ,out of respect to the other1 he was induced to consent1 but much against his will4 ,for ,i am much afraid that one of these times they will carry me off4 ,he was prepared1 and entered with his rattler1 shortly after which the box and the rattle began to move in the usual brisk and violent manner4 ,many spirits entered1 and one asked what was wanted that they had been called upon4 ,the ,indian1 from the outside of the frame 7for only the conjurer alone enters71 inquired if there was not some evil spirit near from whom he had everything to dread4 ,no4 replied the same voice4 ,all is quiet1 you trouble yourself with vain phantoms4 ,what then is the meaning1 asked again the ,indian1 of those sudden flashes of light ,i sometimes see in the night8 ,what8 rejoined another voice from within4 ,hast thou attained unto this age and never yet observed this8 ,and then laughing1 it continued1 ,it is always the case during this moon 7,december74 ,and if you doubt me1 for the future observe attentively and you will find it to be the case4 ,this satisfied him for the time4 ,he became cheerful and assumed his wonted ways1 but not for a long time4 ,he soon relapsed and1 after some days1 applied again to the conjurer4 ,when he had entered his box or frame1 a number again entered and one of them enquired why they were called for4 ,the conjurer said why4 ,what8 says he1 the ,spirit1 ,again6 ,thou art very skeptical4 ,dost thou not believe8 ,now thou art fond of1 thou wantest to be haunted4 ,well thou shalt have thy desire6 #b ,at these dreadful words1 which were uttered in an angry and reproving manner1 every soul was struck with terror4 ,but as if to give some consolation1 the voice assured him that that spirit had but just left his home1 and coming on very slowly1 would not be up with them 'till such a time1 a little prior to which they were ordered to conjure again1 when they would be told what to do4 ,this was no pleasant information to the conjurer who never undertook this job but with the greatest reluctance--nay indeed even sometimes horror4 ,however1 he neither1 poor creature1 had an alternative4 ,at the time appointed he entered again1 everything being prepared4 ,after the preliminary demands or questions1 ,yes1 replies one of the spirits1 that which thou dreadest is near1 and is drawing on apace4 ,how shall we do8 ,what shall we do8 exclaimed the ,indian4 ,at last one of them1 who goes by the name of the ,bull or ,buffaloe1 7through the conjurer1 for he alone could understand him1 his voice being hoarse through1 his uttering thick and inarticulate7 asked the ,indian if he remembered of a dream he made while yet a young man8 ,yes1 replies the ,indian1 ,i remember perfectly4 ,i dreamed ,i saw one just like yourself who told me that1 when advanced in life1 ,i should be much troubled one winter4 ,but by a certain sacrifice and a sweating bout ,i should be relieved4 ,but ,i have not the means here4 ,i have no stones4 ,you are encamped upon them1 rejoined the spirit1 and at the door of your tent are some4 ,yes1 but1 says the ,indian1 the dogs have watered them1 they are otherwise soiled4 ,fool6 ,put them in the fire4 ,will not the fire heat and make them change color and purify them8 ,do this1 fail not and be not uneasy4 ,we shall go1 four of us 7spirits71 and amuse him upon the road and endeavour to drive him back4 ,at this the interpreter burst out laughing1 exclaimed1 ,sacr bande de btes6 ,and do you believe all that d----d nonsense8 ,you doubt too4 says a voice addressing him 7the interpreter7 from the inside4 ,go out of the tent and listen1 you'll see if we lie4 ,he did indeed go out to some distance1 and after a while heard the spirits as a distant hollow noise which increased 'till it became considerably more distinct1 and then vanished as a great gust of wind1 though the night was mild1 calm1 clear and beautifully serene4 ,it even startled the dogs4 ,mahn6 7an ,indian term or exclamation signifying haste7 said the spirits from within4 ,they have turned him off the road as soon as the noise was heard4 ,but he will not turn back or go home4 ,he is sent after you by another ,indian who conjured him up out of the deep 7the bottom of some flood74 ,but be not too uneasy4 ,if these four will not do1 there are yet a vast many of us1 so that between us all1 we shall drive him back4 ,we will perplex and bewilder him1 surround1 torment and tease him on every side4 ,but he is of a monstrous size1 ferocious and withal enraged against you4 ,the task is mighty difficult4 ,observe6 ,see how beautifully serene the night is4 ,if we succeed1 the sky will change all of a sudden1 and there will fall a very smart shower of snow attended with a terrible gust of wind4 #c ,this will happen between daylight and sunrise and is his spirit1 all that will remain in his power4 ,he'll then return to his home4 ,the interpreter1 though he laughed at all this and could not bring himself to credit it1 yet swears that he heard the rumbling noise on their road and seemingly far off4 ,the ,indians gave implicit faith to all4 ,and the conjurer did not know what to believe4 ,there is something1 says he1 for my ,dreamed1 or ,dreamers have assured me of it1 but ,i don't know what to say4 ,however1 most assuredly1 tomorrow morning we shall have the snow4 ,this snow both comforted and depressed the poor ,indian very much seeing the weather was then so beautiful and so destitute of all the usual signs of bad weather4 ,it did snow4 ,it came as foretold1 quite suddenly1 and as suddenly became fine again4 ,in the ensuing morning1 the ,indian begged of the interpreter to chuse one of the longest and straightest pine 7epinette7 trees he could find of the thickness of his thigh1 to peel off all the bark nicely1 leaving but a small tuft of the branches at the tip end4 ,this they painted cross-ways with bars of vermillion and charcoal alternately the whole length1 leaving however some intervals undaubded4 ,and about five or six feet from the ground1 they fastened a pair of artificial horns representing those of a bull1 and decorated it with ribbon4 ,he also 7the ,indian ,i mean7 made the sweating hut1 and in short done sic everything as directed1 after which he 7the ,indian7 became to resume his wonted cheerfulness and contentment4 ,however1 once more he was obliged to have recourse again to the conjurer1 from hearing another rumbling noise4 ,thou ,fool6 answered the spirits4 ,wilt thou never have done tormenting thyself and disquieting us4 ,that rumbling noise proceeds from the ice on a lake a long way off4 ,it is only the ice4 ,be therefore peaceable4 ,i shall advise thee if any ill is to happen thee4 ,the flashes of light1 or those sudden glares that the ,indian inquired of the spirits1 is1 as they told him1 lightening which always happens in the month of ,december4 ,and they laughed at his having lived so long without observing it before4 ,the conjurer had lost his smoking bag one day that he was out a hunting4 ,and as it contained his only steel and not a small part of his winter stock of tobacco1 he was very uneasy and hunted several times for it4 ,they1 having told the ,interpreter often how kind and charitable and indulgent those spirits of the upper regions were1 and he1 desirous of proving them1 told the conjurer to send for his bag4 ,he asked1 ,which of ye will go for my bag that ,i lost8 ,he that brings it me1 ,i shall make him smoke4 ,i will go1 said one4 ,they heard a fluttering noise1 and soon after they heard the same fluttering noise1 and the rattler move1 and down fell the bag by the conjurer1 covered with snow4 ,how stupid thou art6 said the spirit naming the conjurer4 ,thou passedst over it and yet did not see it4 ,it was a long time since the bag was lost1 and the distance was several miles4 ,another one could not kill with his gun owing to its being crooked or some other cause4 #d ,however1 he attached the fault to the gun4 ,this happened the first time1 ,i believe it was1 that this half-breed conjured4 ,the people on the outside1 hearing many voices speak as they entered1 at last they stopped at one whose voice and articulation was different from that of the others4 ,who is that one just now entered8 said those outside4 ,it is the ,sun1 replied the conjurer4 ,ha6 ,well1 ,i am happy of it4 said the the ,indian4 ,is it not he who says himself able to repair firearms 7guns71 and do anything with them he pleases8 ,ask him 7addressing the conjurer7 if he will not have compassion on me and put my gun to rights that ,i also may kill4 ,i am walking every day1 and frequently shoot at moose1 but always miss4 ,hand it me4 said a voice from the top of the conjuring frame4 ,the gun was given to the conjurer4 ,it is loaded4 continued the voice1 ,shall ,i fire it off8 ,you may1 but take care you hurt nobody4 replied the ,indian4 ,the gun was fired1 and shortly after handed back to the owner4 ,here is your gun4 ,you will kill with it now4 said the ,spirit4 ,both this business of the gun and smoking bag took place the first time1 ,i believe1 the man conjured4 ,initiations and ,conjuring ,there are but few individuals 7men7 among the ,sauteux or ,cris or ,crees who have not their medicine bags and are not initiated into some ceremony or other4 ,but it is not all of them who can conjure4 ,among some tribes most of them can1 and among others again there are but very few4 ,nor is it every one of them that tells all truth1 some scarcely nothing but lies1 others again ,not ,one falsehood4 ,and this depends upon their ,dreamed1 sometimes4 ,but ,i think it may be equally imputed to their own selves1 to presumption1 ignorance1 folly1 or any other of our passions or weaknesses4 ,in ,quest of ,dreams ,but to become conjurers1 they have rites and ceremonies to perform and go through1 which1 though apparently simple and absurd1 yet1 ,i have no doubt1 but fully answer their ends4 ,any person among them wishing to dive into futurity must be young and unpolluted1 at any age between #ah and #be1 though as near as ,i can learn between #ag and #bj years old4 ,they must have had no intercourse with the other sex2 they must be chaste and unpolluted4 ,in the spring of the year1 they chuse a proper place at a sufficient distance from the camp not to be discovered nor disturbed4 ,they make themselves a bed of grass1 or hay as we term it1 and have besides enough to make them a covering4 ,when all this is done1 and they do it entirely alone1 they strip stark naked and put all their things a good way off4 ,and then they return1 lie on this bed1 and then cover themselves with the rest of the grass4 ,here they remain and endeavour to sleep1 which from their nature is no very difficult task4 ,but during whatever time they may remain1 they must neither eat nor drink4 ,if they want to dream of the spirits above1 their bed must be made at some distance from the ground--if of the spirits inhabiting our ,earth1 or those residing in the waters1 #e on the ground4 ,here they lie for a longer or shorter time according to their success or the orders of the dreamed4 ,some remain but three or four days1 some ten4 ,and ,i have been told one remained thirty days without eating or drinking4 ,such was the delight he received from his dreams6 ,when ,i laughed at this1 the man was vexed1 the others not a little hurt4 ,the first thing they do after their return to their friends is to take a good drink of water1 smoke the pipe1 and after that eat1 but as composedly as but just risen from a hearty meal4 ,their ,dreamed sometimes order them to make a feast1 and not uncommonly tell them where to go where they will find the animals whose flesh is to be served up 7always boiled74 ,they sometimes lie in one posture and sometimes another--i4e4 their head to some one of the cardinal points4 ,some have the most pleasant dreams imaginable1 others indifferent4 ,when they are to live to a good old age1 they are told1 ,you will see many winters6 ,your head will grow quite white4 or ,though you shall never see your head white1 yet you shall live till you are obliged to make use of a stick and long after4 ,you shall die old1 very old1 respected and regretted4 ,if they are to die young3 ,thou shalt see the years of a young man4--and so on of the other ages1 as well as the manner of life they shall have4 ,the language is not very dissimilar to that of our version of the ,bible4 ,but that stile seems to me to be the language of nature which ,i always find the more charming the more retired the speaker is from the pompous bombastic walks of high life1 which though they furnish us with more ideas1 ,i do not think add much to the beauty of the language4 ,dialogue with a ,spirit ,as ,i have said before1 the purpose of these dreams is to dive into futurity4 ,everything in nature appears unto them1 but in the shape of a human being4 ,they dream they meet a man who asks them 7after some preliminary conversation of course71 ,dost thou know me8 7who or what ,i am874 ,no4 ,follow me then6 replies this stranger4 ,the ,indian follows4 ,the other leads him to his abode and again makes the inquiry4 ,the answer is perhaps as before4 ,then the stranger assumes his proper form1 which is perhaps that of a tree1 a stone1 a fish4 ,and after rechanging several times in this manner1 until such time as the ,indian becomes perfectly to know him1 then this stranger gives him to smoke1 teaches him his song1 thus addressing him1 ,now do you remember my song8 ,whenever you will wish to call upon me1 sing this song1 and ,i shall not be far4 ,i will come and do for you what you require4 ,principal ,spirits ,they know many of these ,spirits as soon as they see them 7in their dreams7 by the description the other ,indians have given of them4 ,some1 however1 they know from their nature4 ,when the ,snow addresses them1 he they know because he is perfectly white--the ,ice also4 ,the ,sun and ,moon they know from their beautiful brilliancy and the elegance of their abode--the houses of the two last being uncommonly neat and handsome such as those of #f the white 7i4e4 civilized74 ,wee-suck--jk _/ ,gey-,shay-mani-to ,one principal amongst all these1 and everything in nature appears at least to some of them1 is the ,supreme ,being1 whom they term ,wee-suck--jk 7the last a's being pronounced as in 'all'1 'hawk' etc42 the first as ale1 bail etc47 i4e4 by his proper name1 his common name1 ,gey-,shay-mani-to 7this is among the ,crees nation71 which signifies the ,greatly charitable ,spirit4 ,he is uncommonly good and kind1 addresses them and talks to them as to children whom he most tenderly loves and is extremely anxious for4 ,thus far everything is very well1 and is perhaps a better idea than many of the vulgar christians can give4 ,but on the other hand again1 their mythology1 or stories relating to him1 are many of them absurd and indecent in the highest degree1 reducing him to the level of his creatures1 and not unfrequently their making him dupe1 but become so by such vile1 such abominable deception as ,i doubt to be equalled by the most absurd and romantic of the ,arabian tales4 ,for there are many of these tales the author durst not publish for the obscenity and indecency4 ,there are some obscene passages also in these tales 7of the ,indians7 but not more than might be expected from a people yet in a perfect state of nature as to their mental powers1 to our eternal shame and scandal4 ,this one they love1 they love him a great deal1 and are by no means afraid of him1 because he always addresses them my little children and all the rest of his character is of a piece with this4 ,key-jick-oh-kay 7,old ,nick7 ,the next one is ,old ,nick4 ,him some term ,key-jick-oh-kay 7,the ',j' being pronounced soft1 as ,git or ,gil1 in ,french1 for ,i know of no ,english word where properly speaking the ,j is of any use and has the sound seemed intended by it7 or ,key-jick-oh-kaiw4 ,i cannot at present give the proper signification of this name for ,i am not sufficiently acquainted with the language1 but it appears to me as to mean he who made the day or skies1 or resides in the sky4 ,this one they represent wicked1 and terrible1 inexorable to the highest degree1 always plotting evil and endeavouring to circumvent the rest of the creation4 ,he is always jawing and bawling4 ,but when the other appears1 he orders him in a peremptory manner4 ,hold thy tongue4 ,get thee hence1 thou deceiver2 thou ill-liver4 ,but these words are uttered in such an authoratative and commanding tone that the ,indians themselves are quite astonished to see one who is so uncommonly kind and indulgent to them in every respect1 so tender and affectionate1 even in the choice of his words1 assume so suddenly and with so much authority1 so much power over one whose name alone they never utter but with the greatest dread and horror4 ,their horror of the ,devil is so great1 that no one ever utters his name but when unavoidable4 ,and if1 through inadvertency or ignorance1 one of their children should mention it1 he is severely reprimanded by all who hear4 ,water ,lynx ,there is also the ,sea ,serpent1 a monstrous animal and has much power4 #g ,the ,mermaid 7or ,sea-,man71 the ,water ,lynx or rather ,tyger--a dreadful character is this last1 who keeps all the inhabitants of the deep in the greatest subjection4 ,there are however one or two who contend with him1 and sometimes he is reduced to the necessity of compounding with them--the ,great ,turtle1 and many others4 ,they have their abodes in the deep1 but perfectly dry and comfortable4 ,each one of these1 and indeed all of them1 have their stories or mythology4 ,some ,i forget entirely and others remember too incorrectly to mention at present4 ,these spirits1 when anyone conjures1 if he is a renowned medicine man1 they all appear and speak to him1 mostly in his own language4 ,some few excepted are the ,pike 7a jack fish7 who speaks ,french1 the ,sun and ,moon both speak ,english1 the ,bull or ,buffaloe in an unknown1 or at least strange1 language4 ,but all are perfectly intelligible to the conjurer4 ,i am quite astray--leaving the proper thread of my story to follow one of its branches4 ,i ought to have said that4 ,sun ,the ,sun1 when he appears to an ,indian1 he is seen in the heavens1 as an ,indian 7i4 e4 a man7 walking on the wind4 ,his dress is of a variety of colors and handsome4 ,a ,dream ,meeting with ,sun ,i had a dream the latter part of which ,i shall relate to you as it is perfectly descriptive of the manner or form in which the ,sun appears4 ,i related it the next day to some of my half-breeds1 when one of them replied1 ,what a pity6 ,had you now forborne for a few days mentioning this1 he would have appeared again to you1 and then you would have had a fine opportunity of learning 7from the fountain-head1 as we might say7 how it is the ,indians come to perform those things the white will never credit4 ,and he continued that it was precisely the form he assumed when he appears to the ,indians4 ,in my dream ,i thought we were travelling a road from which some of our party had the utmost to dread from the ambush of an ,indian who could transport himself to what place he pleased4 ,as we were walking1 ,i happened to look above and was much struck with the appearance of a man walking in the heavens4 ,his dress was that of a neat ,southern ,indian1 composed mostly of red and yellow1 but also of a few other colors4 ,the garters of his leggings were also neat and handsome and had a tuft of swans-down that had been powdered with vermillion attached to the knot on the back part of the leg4 ,to his shoes were attached two long swan quills inclosing the foot thus ,transcriber's ,note3 ,image of the footwear with a tuft of down at each end and in the middle on both sides all powdered with vermillion4 ,with these quills and down1 and the down on his garters1 he was buoyed up in the air4 ,i addressed him in broken ,cree4 ,he answered in the same broken accent4 ,upon my second address1 ,i thought he did not understand more of that language than ,i did myself4 ,the ,sauteux seemed to me his proper tongue1 and ,i was glad of having an opportunity of speaking that language4 ,so ,i the third time addressed him in it1 asked him from whence he came1 whither he was going4 ,he was very #h high1 insomuch that the others thought it preposterous in my addressing him--that he could not hear from that distance4 ,upon this he came down and talked with us1 saying he was an ambassador4 ,such is the habillement1 and manner in which the ,sun shews himself4 ,thunder ,the ,thunder also appears to them1 in the shape and form of a most beautiful bird 7,the ,pea-,cock74 ,roots and ,herbs 7,medicines7 ,roots and herbs also 7this also ought to have come in afterwards71 such as are medicinal1 appear1 and teach their votaries their respective songs1 how they must do1 what ceremonies they must perform in taking them out of the ground1 their different applications4 ,but these roots and herbs 7medicines71 though they appear in their dreams1 they do not shew themselves in the conjuring hut1 box1 or frame1 that ,i learn4 ,they are sent1 as appears1 by ,wee-suck--jk1 to teach ,indians their use and virtue without which they would be very ill off1 whether to heal or cure themselves1 or expell the charms by which other ,indians may have bewitched them4 ,and though they are acquainted with many of these roots1 the use and virtue of some of which ,i can no more doubt than those used by the faculty in the civilized world1 yet they tell me there are several which they use to different1 and some to diametrically opposite1 purposes4 ,the ,manner of ,conjuring ,building the ,lodge ,their manner of conjuring is this3 ,in the first place a number of straight poles of two1 or two and a half inches diameter and about eight or nine feet long are prepared1 cut1 branched and pointed at the lower end4 ,they seldom require so few as four1 commonly six or eight4 ,these are planted in the ground from twelve to twenty or twenty-four inches deep in an hexagon or octagon form1 enclosing a space of three feet diameter1 more or less4 ,these poles are secured by hoops1 three or four in number1 and well tied to each pole1 so that none be able to move without the rest4 ,this hut1 square1 box1 or frame1 whatever it may be termed1 is covered with skins1 an oil cloth1 or some such sort of thing4 ,preparing the ,conjurer ,the conjurer is bound hand and foot1 not as if he were a man going to pry into futurity1 but as a criminal1 a mere1 pure devil1 and one whom they intend never to loosen1 so barricaded and cross-corded is the creature1 sometimes all crumpled into a heap4 ,he is tied only with his cloute on him1 and thus thrust into the hut underneath by raising the lower covering1 his she-she-quay or rattler with him4 ,spirits who ,enter the ,lodge and ,interactions with ,them ,some of them sing on entering1 others make a speech4 ,here they remain1 some several hours1 others not five minutes1 before fluttering is heard4 ,the rattler is shaked at a merry rate1 and all of a sudden1 either from the top1 or below1 away flies the cords by which the ,indian was tied1 into the lap of he who tied him4 ,it is then that the ,devil is at work4 ,every instant some one or other enters1 which is known to those outside by either the fluttering1 the rubbing against the skins of the hut in descending 7inside7 or the shaking of the rattler1 and sometimes all together4 ,when any enter1 the hut moves in a most violent manner4 ,i have frequently thought that it would be knocked down1 or torn out of the ground4 #i ,meeh-key-nock 7,turtle7 ,the first who enters is commonly ,meeh-key-nock 7the ,turtle71 a jolly1 jovial sort of a fellow who1 after disencumbering his votary1 chats and jokes with those outside and asks for a pipe to smoke4 ,there is a good deal of talking inside as may be supposed from the number of folks collected in so small a space4 ,thunder ,to some renowned characters1 all the spirits appear4 ,the ,thunder also frequently comes1 but he is desired to remain outside as he would breake all4 ,it is reported that he once entered and split one of the poles into shivers4 ,flying ,squirrel ,the ,flying ,squirrel also enters4 ,he is no liar1 but you must take every thing he says as we do our dreams1 the opposite4 ,his nature is such that he durst not tell the truth but in this ambiguous manner1 otherwise the conjurer would soon after die4 ,wolverine ,i do not know that the ,skunk ever comes4 ,but the ,wolverine 7,carcajoux7 does and he is known immediately by his stink1 which occasions no small merriment at his expense on the outside4 ,loon ,the ,loon also enters4 ,he is known by his usual cry1 ,nee-wih wee-way repeated commonly three times as he does when in the water4 ,and this too occasions a great laugh1 for these four syllables1 which form the most common cry of that bird in the spring of the year1 as every body may observe1 are also three words in the ,sauteux and ,cree languages1 which signify ,i want to marry2 ,i want to marry6 ,what6 ,and will you never have done marrying8 ,you were marrying all last summer and still want to6 will some outside say4 ,and everyone has his word to put in4 ,hercules _/ ,strong ,neck3 ,altercation with a ,young ,man ,hercules also comes in4 ,he is perhaps as much revered by those people as even he was by the ,spartans or ,athenians4 ,his name is ,strong ,neck 7and everybody knows how strong ,hercules was74 ,he does not seem over fond of jokes1 and when the other spirits announce his coming1 all those on the outside must cover their heads and not look up1 for it appears that he cannot become invisible as the others do1 or will not1 but still does not chuse to be seen4 ,once upon a time his arrival was announced1 and everybody was ordered to cover themselves1 so as not to see4 7,this1 and all such like orders are commands sent to the conjurer1 and which he1 7being inside7 must promulgate to those on the outside74 ,there was one young buck1 however1 who wanted to shew himself superior to these orders and divert his friends4 ,he would not cover himself4 ,hercules entered1 and at that time1 as at all others1 he was not in too good a humor4 ,some altercation ensued and ,i am ,strong ,neck4 said he4 ,pah6 says the young man at last1 ,the neck of my os-,pubis indeed is as strong6 ,this raised a most violent laugh4 ,but the young man was lost4 ,he disappeared from amongst them1 and was never after heard of4 ,since that time they are rather more cautious4 ,o-may-me-thay-day-ce-cee-wuck 7,ancients or ,hairy ,breasts7 ,some of the ,ancients also enter4 ,they are called ,o-may-me-thay-day-ce-cee-wuck1 ,hairy ,breasts #aj such as the ancients are said to be4 ,these are great boasters4 ,they recount the exploits of their younger days apparently with the greatest satisfaction4 ,they say1 ,i used to do so and so on such occasions4 ,i never shot a moose or buffaloe1 but pursued them on my feet1 and ripped them open with my knife4 ,but this is only wind1 for no sooner do other powerful ones enter1 but these chaps search to secret themselves4 ,sun ,the ,sun enters1 speaks very bad ,english at the offset1 but by degrees becomes to speak it very easily and fluently4 ,he is gun smith and watch-maker1 or at least can repair them4 ,when he is entered1 there is commonly a beautiful clear light visible1 through the covering4 ,he too does not admit of too much familiarity1 but is still good natured and condescending4 ,pike ,the ,pike or ,jack fish also enters4 ,as the ,sun1 he also speaks 7,french17 badly enough at the offset4 ,when there are two or three on the outside who can speak ,french and address him together1 merely to perplex and bother him1 he laughs at their folly and says1 ,you may talk twenty or a hundred of you together if you chuse1 yet are you not able to perplex me4 ,come as numerously as you chuse1 yet are there many more of us ,pike than you ,frenchmen4 ,he is very familiar too4 ,buffaloe ,the ,bull1 or ,buffaloe is understood only by the conjurer1 his voice being hoarse1 and rough1 his language quite foreign4 ,the conjurer must interpret when anything is wanted of him4 ,as is his voice1 so are his manners4 ,however1 he will joke a little too4 ,but let them beware not to let drop anything in a sarcastic or contemptuous manner as to his power or knowledge of the future for he takes it up and reproves in a very tart manner4 ,and he does this in a way too that conveys no comfortable ideas to anyone present1 for they all endeavour to excuse it by saying it is only a joke4 ,i know jokes too2 and ,i can laugh and understand the nature of laughing as well as the best amongst you4 ,but such language is unbecoming1 and ,i will have no more of it6 ,omniscience of ,spirits ,a half breed one time1 because his father was a ,frenchman1 thought he might go any lengths he pleased with him 7the ,buffaloe74 ,he replied very warmly thus3 ,how durst thou doubt anything ,i say6 ,knowest thou not how clearly and distinctly objects are discovered and seen in a plain from an eminence8 ,and my abode is in the regions above4 ,i see every object as distinctly as you see at your feet4 ,doubt then no more1 and never hereafter call our power to question4 ,aye6 replied some of the other spirits1 ,we not only see all that you do1 however secret and hid you think yourselves1 but we also hear every word you utter4 ,if that indeed be the case1 tell me where now are and when will be here my father's countrymen8 ,the conjurer had been employed to tell what the people were about1 as it was long since the time they were expected1 and ought to have arrived1 had elapsed4 ,wait6 ,i shall go and see4 ,and shortly after he returned4 ,they are now all asleep at such a place4 ,the weather will be calm tomorrow1 and1 though the #aa distance is great1 yet will you see them tomorrow night1 for they are as anxious as yourselves4 ,another one said1 ,since then ye ,spirits pretend to know everything and are vexed when we call any of your sayings in question1 come tell me how long shall ,i live8 ,shall ,i yet see two more winters8 ,ha6 7laughing replied the same voice7 ,two winters8 ,i see you all yet alive two winters hence4 ,every soul that sits here and considerably more2 and some of you ,i see crawling with old age6 ,showing the ,turtle ,spirit ,with some of the ,spirits1 as ,i've already said1 the bystanders 7or setters1 for they are seated on the ground round about7 are very familiar4 ,the ,turtle is one of them4 ,he is very humorsome1 and their jokes with him were such 7for ,i've heard this myself7 as ,i should have been ashamed to hold even with a bawd4 ,it was pure ribaldry4 ,but they durst not doubt him when he speaks seriously1 for he is very powerful1 and makes himself respected when he thinks it necessary4 ,who is that now speaking8 said one of the ,indians4 7,this ,i was told47 ,it is ,mihkenach1 said the conjurer4 ,if it be him1 prove it4 ,take him in your hand and show him to us4 ,now the conjurer was a very great medicine man4 ,he took the turtle upon his hand1 raised the covering of his box1 and called them to look4 ,every one was astonished at his beauty4 ,he was very small1 scarcely more than two inches long4 ,when all had gazed enough1 the conjurer drew him in4 ,the ,turtle was very quiet while out1 but as soon as he got in exclaimed1 ,oh6 how afraid ,i was when ,i saw the children look so eagerly4 ,i was afraid some of them would have attempted to take me in their hands and let me fall1 perhaps in the fire4 and laughed heartily4 ,bear ,the ,bear is a rough beast and makes a devil of a racket4 ,keyjickahkaiw ,towards the latter end1 ,master ,keyjickahkaiw1 that old serpent ,satan1 enters4 ,his arrival is announced4 ,all hands are grieved for then the conclusion is soon to take place4 ,he makes everything fly again1 kicking up his own 7the ,devil's7 racket1 jawing and blabbing1 scolding and giving the lie to and abusing all hands4 ,the ,indians are hurt and displeased1 but durst not say anything4 ,they must swallow all quietly ,and then it is that the conjurer most dreads for his own bacon4 ,this however does not last very long1 for ,wee-suck--jk 7the ,supreme ,being7 enters last4 ,as soon as his coming is announced1 ,nick begins to sneak1 but still en maitre4 ,wee-suck--jk enters1 ,nick jaws1 silence is imposed1 ,nick is still troublesome4 ,at last the word comes authoratatively and away he flies4 ,wee-suck--jk ,the ,indians are uncommonly fond of ,wee-suck--jk4 ,he commonly speaks to this effect4 ,my ,little 7,grand7 ,children1 ,i am very indulgent and kind4 ,i am very charitable1 and love you much1 a great deal more than you imagine4 ,you must not live ill1 nor make a bad use of your power and knowledge1 for ,i hate that4 ,hence it is ,i command ,nick in that authoratative manner1 #ab because he is wickedly inclined4 ,mischief and destruction are in his nature2 he grieves at any good he sees4 ,take ye heed1 beware of him1 for he is ever on the watch to destroy you4 ,when ,charly enters1 after some abuse1 he calls out1 ,get ye hence1 get ye hence4 ,what are ye doing so long from your home8 ,off with ye immediately64 ,and he rubs up and down the skins that form the covering lest any should be hid4 ,thus he sends off all the spirits1 who1 as they fly off1 as well as when they enter1 give this frame a terrible shaking4 ,it may be supposed what sort of a shaking he gives as he comes and goes1 and how he shakes the rattler2--for they all shake the rattler on entering4 ,when ,wee-suck--jk goes off all is done4 ,practices of ,powerful ,conjurers ,some conjurers are so powerful that the hut they enter1 must be doubled2 that is two rows or sets of poles1 one on the outside of the other1 and each row fastened with good strong hoops well tied1 after which the outer and inner row are also fastened4 ,thus arranged they seem to be beyond the power of any three or four men to move4 ,yet when the spirits enter1 it sets a-going with a motion equal to that of a single pole indifferently stuck in the ground and violently moved by a man4 ,i have never seen any of these double ones1 but twice or thrice saw the others whilst the conjurer was in4 ,some time afterwards1 when they were off1 ,i shook them with both hands and with all my strength1 but the motion was nothing like that of the conjurers4 ,i have been told that those conjurers who enter these double ones are so powerful that almost all the creation comes to see them1 and the poles are shaken with uncommon violence4 ,this motion1 the conjurers say1 is produced by the concussion of the air4 ,the spirits come and enter with such velocity that it is the wind they produce which occasions it4 ,the conjurer is all the while seated peaceably in the bottom1 7on the ground7 of his hut4 ,some of them to shew their power have had small sticks of the hardest wood 7such as produces the wild pear1 and of which the ,indians make their arrows1 and ram-rods for guns7 about the size of a man's finger1 made as sharp-pointed as possible and dried1 when they become in consequence nearly as dangerous as iron or bayonets4 ,some have eighteen1 twenty-four1 more or less1 though seldom less than eighteen planted in the bottom of their hut4 ,they are about twelve or fourteen inches out of the ground4 ,on the points of these sticks is the conjurer placed1 sometimes on his bottom1 at others on his knees and elbows4 ,and there he remains as quietly and composedly as if he were on a bed of roses4 ,and when he comes off1 no marks of injury appear1 though he entered naked1 only his cloute about him1 and of course the cords with which he is tied4 ,their familiars 7their dreamed1 or those who appear to them in their dreams and promise them their assistance and protection7 support them so that no injury happens them666 #ac ,mythology ,north ,wind and his ,daughter 7,the ,birth of ,wee-suck--jk and ,mishabse7 ,march #bith4--,i feel but very indifferently disposed to write1 but ,i am on the eve of an accumulation of business and may not after a few days have the necessary time1 so that ,i shall take the risk4 ,a couple of days back1 ,i have been conversing with a ,cree 7,indian7 who piecemeal gives me the following account of their mythology3 ,the ,north 7,wind71 apparently one of oldest of created rational beings1 thus addressed his daughter1 his only child1 ,my daughter6 ,be very careful1 and remember that anything you do1 or wherever you go1 on turning yourself1 turn always in the same direction with the sun1 and never in a contrary direction4 ,now women are a compound of perverseness1 obstinacy and curiosity1 and withall forgetful enough too sometimes4 ,this girl1 one day she was chopping fire-wood4 ,without thinking of her father's admonition1 in going to another tree1 she turned round to the right in a contrary direction to the sun1 and instantly fell to the ground and died4 ,the time she used to take up in this occupation being expired1 her parents became very uneasy1 and after some search1 found her on her back dead1 and her belly swollen to an enormous size4 ,the father and mother1 on each or opposite sides1 contemplated her situation with great grief4 ,at last the father arose1 stood up1 and made a long speech1 praying to ,the ,father of ,life to have mercy and compassion on his child4 ,his speech was not ineffectual4 ,the girl was delivered of a boy1 and shortly after1 of another4 ,the elder was called ,wee-suck--jk2 the younger ,mi 7or ,mee7 shaw-bse4 ,after this the girl recovered and became as aforetime4 ,these two young men immediately attained man's estate1 manhood1 and became hunters4 ,death of ,mishabse ,the younger of the two one day was in pursuit of a grey or rein deer 7carriboeuf71 after which also pursued a wolf4 ,the deer1 having thus no hopes of escape1 fled to a rock on the edge of the waters and plunged in4 ,mishabse and the wolf followed4 ,but they all three became a prey to the ,michi-,pichoux1 or ,great ,lynx1 i4e4 ,water ,lynx1 ,water-,cat1 or ,water ,dog4 ,wee-suck--jk and ,kingfisher ,wee-suck--jk was very uneasy for his brother4 ,he was anxious to revenge his death1 but scarcely knew well how4 ,at last one day1 seeing a ,kingfisher hovering in a certain spot1 ,wee-suck--jk addressed him thus1 ,my younger brother6 ,what art thou there looking at8 ,i am looking at ,mishabse1 your brother1 lying in the bottom of the deep1 drowned4 ,myths of the ,flood ,wee-suck--jk's ,revenge on the ,sea ,lynxes ,after some further conversation1 ,wee-suck--jk discovered the means of avenging himself4 ,he accordingly set to work and made himself a large canoe on board of which he embarked the ,moose1 ,deer1 ,bear1 ,otter1 ,beaver1 ,muskrat1 ,wolf and others and repaired to the place where the ,sea ,lynxes used to resort to sleep4 ,this was a fine1 pleasant place on the land4 ,here he observed several of them and began his work4 ,it is not related how many he did kill1 but the water upon their death came rushing upon him in a violent torrent4 ,as he expected this1 he had brought his canoe near hand4 ,but before he reached it1 after killing his enemies1 he was already knee-deep #ad in the water4 ,however1 he got safely on board1 but in his hurry he forgot to embark a little earth4 ,now the waters swelled immensely1 and in a very short time the highest land was covered1 and ,wee-suck--jk was tossed about by the wind and water4 ,it appears that he had not the foresight either of taking with him sufficiency of provisions1 for he became very hungry1 and thus expressed himself to his crew4 ,wee-suck--jk ,tricks a ,water ,lynx and ,beaver ,after some time he saw something on the water1 very large and moving toward him4 ,he thus addressed it1 ,who or what art thou my younger brother8 7,for he1 being the first born1 always addressed the rest of the creation1 whether animate1 inanimate1 or rational or not1 as his younger brothers47 ,and whither art thou going8 ,why1 my elder 7brother71 ,i am a water lynx1 and am sent by confrers in search of ,wee-suck--jk and to destroy him6 ,aye6 ,is it so indeed8 ,and how or with what instrument do you intend to destroy him8 ,i have a large and very strong iron tail1 with which if ,i smite his canoe he must perish6 ,wee-suck--jk1 seeing his danger1 thought to get off by duplicity and dissimulation1 and thus continued1 ,indeed you must have a very extraordinary tail1 my younger brother 4444 ,come near and let me see it1 how it is made4 ,the ,lynx drew up1 presented his tail4 ,wee-suck--jk took hold as to look on it1 and placed it on the gunnel of his canoe and with a stone cut it off saying1 ,now go to thy friends1 and tell them how ,wee-suck--jk has served thee4 ,he retired double quick1 grieved1 ashamed1 and not with a little pain4 ,ha6 said the ,water ,lynxes on perceiving the situation of their companion1 ,ha6 ,wee-suck--jk is cunning1 and too powerful4 ,we must destroy him for our own safety4 ,come now4 ,who amongst us will volunteer1 and go to destroy that enemy of ours8 ,they at last pitched upon an enormous beaver and thus addressed him at his departure4 ,go thou1 our brother4 ,destroy that mutual enemy of ours4 ,be not afraid of him for he is not worthy of fear4 ,but still be cautious1 for he is very artful4 ,wee-suck--jk descryed him also1 and the same addresses and compliments passed as with the first4 ,and how do you intend to destroy ,wee-suck--jk8 ,with my teeth4 ,well then do come near and let me see them4 ,the beaver drew up1 and shewed his teeth4 ,wee-suck--jk put his hand on his head and while exclaiming ,what terrible teeth6 ,how immensely broad and sharp6 ,they are like large axes6 ,he1 with his other hand1 took up a large stone and with a dreadful blow broke them all in his head4 ,now go thou too to your friends and tell them how ,wee-suck--jk hath served thee4 ,indeed the beaver did go1 sniffling and blowing and yelling4 ,the ,lynxes were astonished and durst no more attempt anything at him4 ,recreation of the ,land ,his situation1 however1 was very disagreable1 very uncomfortable1 and what added to it was his want of food4 ,he thus addressed his companions one day1 ,come now1 we very reprehensibly forgot to bring earth with us1 and who knows how long this will #ae continue8 ,which of you all will endeavour to get a little earth for me out of which ,i shall try to make land for us to live on8 ,whoever will go shall be amply rewarded4 ,they all said it was very deep4 ,there was scarcely an hope4 ,then he said to the ,otter1 ,go thou1 my ,younger 7brother71 and if thou diest in the attempt1 ,i shall restore thee to life1 and make thee immortal4 ,saying this he tied a long leather thong to his tail and sent him down4 ,he found the otter was dead1 hauled him up in to the canoe1 rubbed him dry and blowed in his nostrils1 when he revived4 ,then he sent the ,musk ,rat4 ,come1 my little brother1 go thou1 thou art small and very active1 art fond of the water1 and goeth to great depths4 ,thy reward shall be as that of the ,otter4 ,the rat was secured with a thong also1 and down he went4 ,wee-suck--jk found he was dead1 hauled him up1 and was extremely happy to find he had some earth in his little paws and mouth4 ,he restored him to life as he did the otter1 and sent him down again4 ,when he brought him up1 his mouth was as full as it could hold1 and a good deal was in his hands which he held pressed to his breast4 ,now ,wee-suck--jk took this earth and made a ball of it1 and blew on it a considerable time4 ,and he sent off the ,wolf to make its circuit to see if it was large enough4 ,wolf ,surveys the ,land ,after four nights he returned and thus spake1 ,my ,elder1 the earth is indeed large and beautiful1 but our number now is small4 ,when we will increase1 it will be too small for us4 ,we will be all upon top of each other4 7,we will be in each other's way etc47 ,and if you make man as you contemplate1 it will be much more so4 ,wee-suck--jk then blew it out again and once more sent the wolf4 ,he was eight nights absent1 and reported it still too small4 ,wee-suck--jk then blew it out for a long time and sent the wolf again4 ,but before he went off he said1 ,my ,elder1 the ,earth must now be very large1 and ,i shall possibly be too much wearied to make its circuit4 ,i shall traverse1 and if ,i find anything to assure me of its being large enough1 ,i shall howl1 which will be a sign to you4 ,and whatever place may suit me1 there will ,i make my residence4 ,after several nights absence they heard him howl1 wherefore they all concluded the ,earth was sufficiently large4 ,wee-suck--jk then blessed the others and sent them away telling them to multiply1 and be good1 not vicious or ill inclined1 nor secret or hide yourselves too much from my little brothers1 7the human beings1 which he was about to create7 when they might want to eat4 ,creation of ,humans ,now after this he became very lonesome and bethought himself of making ,indians1 human beings4 ,he1 in consequence1 took up a stone and fashioned it into the form of a man4 ,but whilst at this work1 it struck him that by forming them of so strong and hard a substance that1 in time when they would come to know their nature1 they would grow insolent and rebellious1 and be a great annoyance to each other1 and of course also would never die4 ,this will not do4 #af ,i must make them of a more weake and fragible substance so that they may live a reasonable time and behave as becomes human beings4 ,upon this he took up a handful of common earth and made the form of a man1 and blew into his nostrils the breath of life4 ,the ,moon formed the female as ,wee-suck--jk did the male1 hence the reason of the periodical return of their sickness with that of the ,moon1 as also among the sluts 7bitches74 ,hence also all women are forbidden1 when they go out from the calls of nature1 and that one in particular1 to look at the moon while thus employed4 ,those who are thus forgetful1 ignorant or obstinate immediately find the effect by the return4 ,i should have said that he bruised the stone to pieces1 although a great part of it was already formed4 ,for the white 7,i believe it was the ,moon again71 he made a partner for him of one of his ribs and another piece1 which he wrapped in a handkerchief and laid beside him saying1 ,this1 by the time thou risest1 shall be a full grown woman and shall be thy companion4 ,separation of ,land into ,plains and ,woods ,after all this done1 he made a separation in the ,earth1 one part of which was a beautiful1 plain meadow ground1 and the rest woody4 ,wee-suck--jk ,travels the ,earth1 ,has a ,son1 ,becomes a ,woman ,and then he set off travelling in the ,earth4 ,he took a partner to himself by whom he had a son4 ,this soon got to man's estate1 but had a great aversion to the female sex1 which gave his parents a great deal of anxiety4 ,all their trouble1 all their remonstrances1 were to no effect4 ,at last the father bethought of a plan in which he was sure of success4 ,he transformed himself into a most beautiful woman4 ,and when the son was returned from his hunting1 ,well son6 said the mother1 ,here is a young and handsome woman we have procured merrily for thee4 ,does she please thee8 ,her charms were so great the young man immediately became extremely fond of her4 ,but this1 in the end1 became the source of much trouble to both parents--and of disgrace to the father particularly4 ,the mother became jealous and vexed on her son's account that he should so impose1 and do many shameful things to her husband4 ,here follows a train of stories1 the most indecent and shameful and sometimes obscene that one can well imagine4 ,but these people are yet1 so far as regards their faculties1 in a state of nature4 ,everything appears reasonable and natural and must be very gross and palpable indeed when they do not give credit to it4 ,language ,use ,their language is also that of nature1 and they speak out what they think4 ,they do not use circumlocution to avoid an indecent term1 nor have they flourishes to embellish their discourses4 ,and their speeches1 to my taste at least1 are far more pleasing and natural than those strained and laboured compositions we meet with amongst ourselves4 ,but this is not the place for these discussions4 #ag ,conversations ,april #dth1 #ahbc4 ,there is a sick ,indian with me whom ,i have been obliged to feed with his whole family all winter1 not being able to endure the cold on his lungs1 and in a manner deserted by his friends4 ,to get as near the truth as ,i can possibly do in all things relating to their mythology1 ,i frequently converse with him on these subjects4 ,and when not forbidden by his ,dreamed or familiars1 he is explicit enough4 ,a few nights back he thus informed me upon the several questions ,i proposed4 ,the ,figure in the ,dream is ,sickness ,the one that ,i saw in my dream1 as above related1 is not the ,sun1 as my half-breeds told me4 ,the ,sun is dressed like a gentleman1 in a short coat1 waistcoat1 short breeches1 stockings1 boots1 a hat and a beautiful feather stuck in it4 ,he speaks ,english and the rest as mentioned above4 ,but the one ,i mentioned above1 is ,sickness1 or the ,plague4 ,there are four of them3 two walking in the air as ,i mentioned1 and two in the earth--in the bowels of the earth at a certain moderate distance from the surface1 perhaps in the same proportion as those who are above4 ,sickness ,gives ,warning of ,diseases ,the ,indian thus relates of him3 ,when ,i was a young man1 he appeared to me and told me his name was ,sickness1 and that every time a general sickness was to take place amongst us1 he would come and forewarn me4 ,see1 four winters ago 7in #ahai71 after we had taken debt in the fall and were proceding1 each of us1 to our hunting grounds1 he appeared to me one night and said1 ,i am come to tell you to get out of the way of all large waters 7lakes and rivers7 and pitch off immediately into the woods4 ,be cautious1 also select proper ground for an encamping4 ,never pitch your tents in large high woods particularly of the pine kind1 chuse low woods to encamp in4 ,and never look up to gaze lest ,i see you see and you be smitten4 ,keep off always from large waters1 for ,i am on a circuit round the earth4 ,i shall follow the travelling waters 7the routes or roads usually frequented or navigated71 and smite all those ,i there find with sickness4 ,in the interior or to one side ,i shall not go4 ,tell this to the ,indians that they keep out of the way4 ,it was that year that the measles made such havock in some places4 ,he thus continued3 ,this last fall 7in ,december7 ,i saw him again4 ,he told me he was on another circuit and intended making a large selection1 passing through the plains and coming down again this way4 ,he said he would pass when the leaves would be rather large 7about the #bjth ,june1 in these parts7 and told me as before to admonish everybody to keep out of the way of large waters and trees4 ,it is not my doings1 nor is it my choice that ,i thus prowl through the earth4 said he4 ,but ,i am sent1 and cannot resist4 ,now we will be again this spring visited with some sickness1 but ,i cannot tell which--it is a breaking out in the flesh4 ,and his appearing #ah to you 7me7 is a sign that he will certainly pass4 ,i then asked him if he intended telling the other ,indians of it4 ,i shall tell my ,elder 7brother71 but not the others1 for they won't believe me4 ,he was very diffident4 ,he wanted to communicate to me all he was told4 ,but he said he durst not lest he should injure himself by exasperating the other 7,sickness7 and being enigmatically forbidden6 ,he told me1 continued the ,indian1 as a sign1 that two of our number should die this winter3 one a small one1 7and he is dead1 naming to me a child that had died about that time1 though very distant then from him7 and the other a full grown person4 ,whom he is ,i know not1 but one must die6 ,reappearances of ,spirits in ,dreams ,these chaps spirits seldom appear 7in dreams7 less than four times1 but commonly six times1 and each time in a different form until the last1 when he makes himself known4 ,and ever after the spirit appears 7or rather they appear7 in the same uniform manner4 ,it is then1 after they have made themselves completely known to their votaries1 that they communicate their power and teach their songs which1 though in their dreams1 are so indelibly imprinted in their memories that they are never forgotten4 ,for every one of these spirits1 genii1 demons1 phantasies1 or whatever you may please to term them1 have each their song which they communicate to their votaries1 as well as explain also their power4 ,hence it is1 that when any one amongst them has dreamed of a certain number1 commonly a good many1 twenty1 thirty1 or perhaps a thousand1 that they can conjure when they please4 ,for these1 like the guardian genii in the fables1 keep always near them1 and protect them from too much injury from the evil machinations of some of the mischievous ones4 ,malevolent ,spirits 7,need for ,regular ,sacrifices7 ,indeed1 from what ,i can learn1 there are but few of these familiars but do do evil to their votaries if they1 the votaries1 the ,indians1 neglect performing the regular1 annual1 or perhaps more distant periodical sacrifice4 ,and for these sacrifices1 their familiar tells them what it is he expects4 ,accounts of ,pahkack ,attacks at ,home and ,while ,hunting ,a few days ago in the night between the #cast ,march and #ast ,april1 this ,indian was sleeping in an old house ,i sent him to when1 at a late hour in the night1 he was pulled most violently out of his bed so that his wife1 that was lying beside him1 awoke and with difficulty kept him down1 though he also struggled himself to make his familiar leave his hold4 ,and the house shook violently4 ,the next day he sent me his wife to ask a little grease to make a sacrifice4 7,burnt offering4 99,god forgive me the comparison1 which by the bye1 is not meant to ridicule1 but is really the case47 ,i gave her a little1 and the husband came the same evening to sleep with us4 ,upon enquiry1 he told me thus3 ,it was a ,skeleton4 ,he was displeased with me because ,i did not make him my usual offering4 ,and yet he knows that ,i am pitiful1 that ,i cannot move to hunt myself1 but am beholding to others for every mouthful ,i and my family eat4 ,but they are wicked when they think themselves #ai neglected or abandoned1 and think nothing of carrying off an ,indian and throwing him in some distant place1 dangerous precipice1 or other place where he must perish if not succored by some other more kind one4 ,some years back1 continued he1 ,i went out one night in the fall to hunt moose4 ,i had tied my canoe very securely in the rushes and there was waiting alone to hear the moose either come to the lake1 or cry after the dam1 for it was in the rutting season4 7,and the ,indians commonly go out in this manner at that season1 for the buck has a certain cry which he makes at that time1 either to call the female1 or as with the domestic cattle1 to exult1 as one might think1 from their capers47 ,i all at once heard far ahead of me cries of ,heh6 ,heh6 ,heh6 7or ,hayh61 or ,haih67 sudden1 quick1 coming in the air1 and directly towards me4 ,oh6 ,now1 said ,i1 ,i am gone6 ,indeed he came4 ,i cringed and laid myself as low in my canoe as possible4 ,but he came straight to me1 took me up and threw me in the water1 all the time crying1 ,he6 ,he6 ,i then endeavoured to take out my fire-bag2 but this he would not let me do4 ,having then no alternative1 ,i was obliged to make for the shore as well as ,i could1 he all the time crying in the same manner just above my head1 as if he intended absolutely my death4 ,however1 ,i reached the shore1 though with the greatest difficulty4 ,then ,i took some dry grass which ,i rubbed and bruised 'till it became soft and put it under my arm pits and crumpled myself into a small heap and remained 'till the sun began to warm when ,i swam back to my canoe4 ,he kept hovering over me all night and until the ,sun was pretty high1 always making the same cry4 ,though when he found me so benumbed with cold on my debarkation1 he laughed1 ,ha6 ,ha6 ,ha6 ,today 7,apr4 #dth7 he asked me for a needle and thread to sew the sleeve of his capot which this ghost6 had torn in his endeavours to carry him off the other night4 ,whilst he was sewing1 ,how he has vexed me1 said he1 by tearing my old coat4 ,but ,i am afraid of him4 ,making ,offerings at a ,hunting ,camp ,he related me another story of them as follows4 ,i went out one time a hunting beaver with a friend of mine4 ,it was a long distance from our lodges4 ,we killed six beavers1 and slept out4 ,i awoke in the night and was much astonished to observe a man seated on the opposite side of the fire1 resting his head on both hands1 with his elbows on his knees apparently in a very pensive1 sullen manner4 ,he had but skin and bone--not the least particle of flesh2 and this one had hair on his bony head4 ,i gently pushed my friend and told him to look at that stranger4 ,we were both extremely agitated in consequence of our fear1 and were at a loss what to do4 ,having no alternative ,i arose4 ,conceiving he came to ask for something to eat1 ,i took a beaver1 cut it in two and presented him the half of it4 ,he did not deign to look at it4 ,i was much afraid4 ,i then bethought of cutting it into mouthfuls1 which after presenting him1 ,i threw into the fire4 ,thus ,i did with the whole1 and when done1 he arose and walked off peaceably in the air4 #bj ,description of ,pahkack ,this sort they term ,ph-kck1 ,skeletons1 or such as die of hunger1 or some that die extremely lean1 whether from the consumption or other sickness4 ,these1 many of them1 when they have nothing but just the mere skin and bone remaining1 some of them in this situation1 disappear from the earth and go to reside with all those who have already departed in that distressed state4 ,this band1 or congregation1 has a head or chief4 ,their color is commonly green1 though sometimes black4 ,and it is extremely uncommon when one has even any hair1 being bald--as if a blown bladder4 ,they sometimes are heard in the day2 the noise is sometimes as of a quantity of dried bones rattled or shaken in a forcible manner in a kettle4 ,and sometimes they are heard1 as above related1 making that same monotonous but frightful cry of ,he'h6 ,he'h6 very quick and with an abrupt termination4 ,the ,feast to ,pahkack ,the sacrifice they offer to these is grease1 generally a large bladder full1 and of the best kind4 ,all the natives present are invited4 ,tobacco1 of course1 goes before everything else4 ,he who makes the feast or his assistant most commonly lights1 or fills rather1 the pipes of all who smoke4 ,but when it is lighted1 it is first presented to that quarter where these are supposed to reside 7,i believe in the northwest or west71 then to the cardinal points1 then to the 7bladder of7 grease which is put in a dish fit to contain it and covered with down4 ,some of them have a small board about twenty or twenty-four inches long1 flat1 painted with red earth1 and a head made to it1 of the same piece1 and flat as the rest4 ,at a certain distance below the neck1 as we might suppose the shoulders1 other small pieces made in the same form and about three or four inches long are stuck in each side at short distances1 reaching to the ground--the lower end being small1 and the head end would bear some resemblance to the ribs or arms were there not so many1 by their being somewhat in a hanging form4 ,after smoking and some speeches in which these ghosts are addressed1 he who makes the feast waves it three times crying ,he6 ,he6 very loud for a good many times4 ,and he then presents it to this board which is intended as a representative of the ,pahkack1 desiring him to accept it and be propitious and merciful to them1 neither to injure them nor their little ones4 ,then he dances three times round the tent 7in the inside71 and when he comes to the fourth time1 the one seated next him 7in the direction of the sun7 rises4 ,he makes a feint of offering it twice to the one who rises1 who in his turn does as if he was going to receive it4 ,and the third time it is thrown into his hands4 ,this one makes a double turn upon his heels and dances or trots once round the tent1 and the one next him seated rises to take it in his turn with the same ceremony 'til all have passed4 ,then it comes into the master's hands again who reperforms the same ceremonies once more1 puts down the grease1 cuts it up1 and shares to every male or widow present1 in proportion to their numbers 7the families they may have74 ,shortly after my arrival here this last fall1 they invited me through compliment to two of these feasts4 ,i went both times #ba merely to have a better opportunity of making my observations1 which are as above1 as near as ,i can bring them4 ,but my mind was too much disturbed with reflections which soon became so melancholy that ,i had nothing to bestow on what was going on4 ,poor unfortunate creatures6 ,i often exclaimed to myself4 ,ye are desirous1 nay anxious1 to perform your duties to your maker1 but know not how4 ,if you only knew how he abominates this ceremony which you perform with so much devotion6 ,how soon would you cast off all your superstitions1 and rather live without any religion at all1 and risk all upon chance1 than perform sacrifices1 for aught ,i know1 to demons6 ,i shall not here enter upon these reflections further1 suffice the above for they are too long1 too frequent4 ,and besides1 ,i wish to sacrifice the little paper ,i have remaining to such other things as ,i have1 and which ,i think may not be quite uninteresting to you4 ,had there been but their speeches and the ceremonies1 ,i should not perhaps have thought so deeply4 ,but their cries of ,he6 ,he6 and ,ha6 ,ha6 were so repeated and vociferous1 that ,i was struck with a certain horror and thought that half of the devils in hell had entered the throats of these men to give me an idea of their pandemonium below4 ,good ,god6 ,what a miserable reflection6 ,but how much moreso the occasion leading to it6 ,roots and ,medicines ,notwithstanding1 they sometimes ,dream of roots 7medicines74 ,there is a certain place1 according to their notions1 consecrated to ,esculapius 7and perhaps ,apollo also1 conjointly74 ,it is depicted as a most heavenly abode1 so delightful4 ,the ,abode of the ,medicine ,spirit ,he 7,esculapius7 resides in a mountain1 in the bowels of which is his house4 ,it has six doors1 but so mysteriously constructed that no soul whatever besides himself and his inmates1 of whom there are a great number 7of every nation and language71 can open them4 ,the lock apparently is in the form of a screw1 or spiral1 and is opened on the inside1 but only to such as ,esculapius deems worthy of admission4 ,these doors open to different quarters1 the house being immensely large and1 as above mentioned1 in the bowels of ye mountain4 ,in this residence is of every medicine useful in life such as do not vegetate--minerals and fossils4 ,these are shown to the votary4 ,he is instructed in their use1 the manner of preparing and mixing them1 the ceremonies1 songs and sacrifices to be performed in their application1 taking of them up1 or in instructing others1 because it is not every ,indian that is favored with these dreams4 ,the mountain is of a moderate size1 and there issue from it forty rivers which fall into a lake not far from the base and situated in a beautiful plain4 ,this lake is shallow and has some handsome sandy shoals1 and in the borders of it in the water grow beautiful rushes4 ,the water in every one of these rivers is of a different color1 no two being alike2 one is black1 another white1 red1 green1 blue1 ash-color4 ,in the latter grow herbs and plants of a vast variety1 as also their nature4 ,teaching the ,medicines to the ,votary ,in the sides of the mountain are of every herb and plant that grows in any part of the world whatever4 ,when any one of them #bb 7of the ,indians ,i mean7 is thus favored1 he appears first at these rivers when the head or chief of the mountain comes out4 ,he accosts the ,indian in a friendly manner4 ,and after some conversation1 he is introduced into the interior of the house where he is astonished to find people of every nation and language in the earth4 ,but if ,i can form a right opinion1 there are but few of each language4 ,they are seated in four rows--their seats being something like those of a theatre1 semicircular and rising a little one above the other4 ,these are all doctors1 and it is their business to instruct the votary in the object of his mission4 ,they have a great quantity of medicines already prepared of such as are produced in the bowels of the earth1 such as minerals1 stones1 shells4 ,and most1 or many of these1 are hung up in the house4 ,here he is taught how and in what manner to prepare these1 as also the songs and sacrifices appropriate to each different one or sort4 ,when on the outside1 or out of doors1 he is shown all the roots1 herbs1 plants1 and is taught the respective song 7of each7 or of any particular one1 or number1 or such only as grow in the climate he inhabits4 ,both the songs and the plant1 the herb1 are so indelibly imprinted on his mind 7or memory71 though he had never seen them before1 or should not happen to meet with any of them for years afterwards1 yet on his first view1 he immediately recognises them and every circumstance that had been instructed him1 as if he had passed a regular apprenticeship4 ,this may seem very extraordinary1 if not indeed absurd1 to people unacquainted with them1 but still it is no less a positive fact4 ,these rivers1 waters1 are of different colors4 ,so also is the rapidity of each stream1 some of them moving in a turbulent and awful manner1 as the rapids and eddies at the foot of large falls1 some moving in large majestic waves like the swells of a large deep lake agitated by the wind1 and some in a beautiful smooth current1 down which the canoes are scarcly perceived to move4 ,these are the tokens or signs or emblems of the manner of our lives here below so far as regard to health and sickness4 ,and of course the description requires no further explanation4 ,in some of these rivers grow herbs or plants which themselves1 as well as their roots1 are a rank1 deadly poison1 more or less4 ,and their effects1 when any demon-spirited wretch employs them as instruments of vengeance1 though ,i have known none to carry off the object immediately1 yet have a most melancholy1 baneful effect4 ,some of these plants are exactly similar 7in their effects7 to ,lunar ,caustic1 and oftentimes with an additional humiliating effect 7but more of this hereafter74 ,and some deprive the object of every one of his senses but that of feeling4 ,a melancholy instance of this ,i saw in the ,spring of #ahac and sufficient of itself to emolliate a heart of adamant6 ,sometimes ,esculapius will not instruct his votary in their use1 satisfying himself with telling them they are bad medicines1 or perhaps not mentioning them at all4 ,to others again he will explain every circumstance relating to them1 but with a most strict #bc injunction never to employ them at his ,peril3 444 unless you wish to die4 ,i teach you all these these things because ,i love you1 and know your heart to be compassionate4 ,but mind my words1 if ever you employ them with an ill or evil view1 thou shalt die6 ,other ,indians as well as thyself love life4 ,it is sweet to everybody2 render it therefore not a burthen or disgrace2 and ,i hate those who thus abuse my confident affection6 ,they are also forbidden1 sometimes as strictly1 and for the same reasons1 instructing others in their use4 ,notwithstanding this great love and cautious diffidence of ,esculapius1 there are other malignant powers who teach them and encourage their use4 ,hence those distressing objects ,i cannot here1 for the want of paper1 speak of4 ,stones and ,their ,virtues ,what ,i have mentioned of minerals1 which from their description are indeed really such--minerals1 yet ,i cannot take upon myself from my slender knowledge of their language and technical terms1 to assure you that they are prepared after our manner1 by chemical processes4 ,mercury1 sulphur1 saltpetre or nitre1 ,i do not know that they have4 ,but there being french1 english1 german1 and1 from the description1 greek and hebrew doctors among the number1 ,i should not suppose it preposterous in concluding that they have them all in the same way as ourselves4 ,but from what ,i can learn1 it is stones1 that is some particular kinds of them1 that are most used1 such as talc1 pumice stones and various other kinds4 ,these they are shewn how to reduce to powder1 and with what water1 out of which river 7or colored water if you please71 the water is taken to mix up these powders4 ,with the roots and herbs it is different4 ,they are boiled4 ,these stones 7for they are most commonly thus denominated by them7 are held in very great repute by them1 though many of them that have been shewn me as possessing wonderful virtues1 ,i considered as very common and foolish or at least harmless things4 ,here6 ,i am again digressing1 which is everlastingly the case with me when not in the humor of scribbling4 ,i should have mentioned first 7because as you may see1 ,i have begun this story in the middle instead of at either of the two ends7 that when they want to dream of these things1 as well as of any other particular thing1 they must fast1 and lay down to sleep1 keeping their minds as free as possible from any other thoughts whatever1 and wholly bent and employed on that particular one alone4 ,i also should have observed in the proper place that the door at which the votary is introduced through is exactly in the middle of these rivers1 there being twenty on each side of the door4 ,the use or intent of the other five doors ,i never thought to enquire1 and must leave you to guess as well as myself 'till such times as ,i can get this matter explained4 ,songs and ,notes ,their songs are delivered in notes1 impressed or drawn on bark1 in the form of hierlographics1 and thus taught4 ,and being hierlographics1 7and not very dissimilar to those anciently used by the egyptians1 nay indeed1 ,i have reason to think from what ,i have seen of both1 that any learned man being perfectly acquainted with the one could trace a great deal in the other1 but this opinion ,i hazard from my own ignorance71 no two are alike4 ,it therefore requires #bd him to learn them1 that is every one of them4 ,for those notes are not like ours1 marked with regular bars so that one gamut serves for all4 ,but with them1 each one may be said to be itself a gamut4 ,however1 ,i have reason to think that they are regular and uniform4 ,for many years ago1 when ,i was still scarcely more than a boy1 ,i remember throwing away the contents of one these medicine bags in which there were several strips of bark covered with these notes4 ,an ,indian happened to be by4 ,he took one up and with the point of his knife1 placing it on one of these1 began to sing moving the knife regularly as children do when they begin to learn their a1 b1 c4 ,this surprised me a little at the time1 for the ,indian was a stranger and had but lately arrived from his own lands that were several hundred miles off4 ,after laughing at and ridiculing him1 as is the custom with us1 ,i asked how he could make them out8 ,the same1 said he1 as you do to reckon 7read7 your papers4 ,see this one is 7meant for7 the ,thunder1 that the ,earth4 ,but ,i only know a few of these songs4 ,the possessor of this bag knew a great deal4 ,he was a great medicine man1 a doctor4 ,as far as ,i can learn1 every different root1 herb1 plant1 mineral1 spirit 7or whatever you may please to term this latter7 has each its respective songs4 ,and these they must sing1 were their voices like that of a choked pig1 when they employ them for one of themselves1 or teach them to another4 ,when they sing1 those of their familiars who instructed this song1 whether to the one who sings1 as having learnt it from himself 7the familiar7 or having been handed to him1 the familiar is said to attend1 invisibly of course1 and perform that which he promised this 7medicine1 supposing it is one7 should effect4 ,this is a long and complex job1 and ,i doubt much if ,i can get through with it without more of my blundering4 ,but ,i shall risk blunders1 omissions1 and repetitions4 ,hence it is they always sing when they attend on a desperately sick person amongst themselves1 though very rarely when they administer to the white4 ,treatment of the ,sick ,when any one is very sick1 and that they be called upon1 or perhaps1 though rarely ordered in their dreams by their familiars1 they sing1 blow and suck alternately and with such violence that one would think they wanted to to blow them to the d----l1 or swallow them down their throats4 ,but no1 it is to force in the medicine of which they have generally a mouthful masticated into a pulp1 or something near salve1 sometimes4 ,the suction business is to draw out the ,devil3 the medicine1 bone1 stone1 iron1 brass1 stick1 or whatever they imagine it is1 that occasions the disease4 ,if the complaint lies in any particular part1 to that part it is they apply themselves most and sometimes only--supposing the hip or knee1 for there they imagine it is a worm or maggot gnawing them4 ,but if the complaint is universal1 that is the whole system be sick and debilitated1 it is then the pit of the stomach and the temples1 rubbing sometimes the wrist1 the palms of the hands and opposite the heart4 ,this is very frequently done4 ,and in the intervals the songs and rattler are sung and played together4 #be ,and often a short speech or prayer is made to that one of their ,familiars whom they think will be most propitious on the occasion1 or he from whom they hold such1 or such instruction4 ,these songs are a dull monotony4 ,for though they have a few variations and are high and low1 and the transitions are sometimes so very sudden that it requires a particular command of the throat to sing them1 and to me are so difficult1 ,i should1 ,i believe1 require a seven years apprenticeship even with ,esculapius 7,but ,i believe it is ,pluto or ,pan who teaches the songs47 himself for me to learn them4 ,there is certainly no musick in them1 though some few that ,i've heard many years ago1 passing a winter with them1 ,i found pleasing enough4 ,but perhaps more from the solemnity with which all was going on was ,i struck than anything else4 ,indeed we had great reason to be solemn1 for we were dreadfully pinched by hunger4 ,ceremonies and ,songs ,related to ,starvation ,when oppressed through starvation1 they have a variety of ceremonies which they perform4 ,and though the songs be different1 as also the ceremonies themselves1 still are they intended to answer the same purpose4 ,i shall endeavour to describe a couple to you from which you may form a pretty just idea of the rest4 ,it was the latter end of ,january or beginning of ,february #ahjd4 ,four of us1 only white people mind1 were pitching off1 or rather flying off from our houses we had built in the fall on account of the enemies4 ,we had a small stock of dry provisions and speared a few fish once or twice4 ,but there were so many of us that we were soon brought to short commons1 as the strip of country we were then going through contained no other animals but a few stragling bears4 ,but these animals at this season could not be found notwithstanding all the exertions of our hunters4 ,one evening on my return to our lodges1 one of the women told me that the oldest man of our band1 a great doctor1 or conjurer1 as we frequently denominate them1 said that if ,i were to pay him half a carrot 7one and a half pounds7 tobacco1 he would conjure and be assured of success1 for it required payment4 ,though ,i suspected there was a trick in this1 ,i did not hesitate but gave him his demand4 ,the first night their songs and ceremonies were as usual4 ,tomorrow1 my familiar tells me1 we shall get a bear4 ,all the hunters returned at evening mais tous blanc4 ,the second night1 the rattler1 songs1 speeches1 smoking1 and medicine bags opened4 ,tomorrow we will assuredly get something4 ,but the same as the day before4 ,the third night1 the same1 but everything conducted with a sort of awful silence and solemnity that surprised me a good deal4 ,i was harassed with constant walking1 weake through hunger1 and tired with their btises as the ,french say4 ,but the manner of their conduct kept me that time from growling4 ,oh6 ,now tomorrow indeed1 we shall not fail4 ,we shall certainly eat flesh for the old man is a great conjurer and well liked4 ,he prayed to the ,master or ,giver of ,life1 and his dreamed have promised him success4 ,but we get no more than before4 ,in these conjuring boutes they made no use of drums1 but instead of that had cut a small hollow tree of maple1 about five feet long and scooped it out1 after splitting so that it resembled a semicircle #bf or stove pipe split down4 ,this hollow board had been well dressed--reduced to about half an inch in thickness and well polished4 ,there were1 to the best of my memory1 four men seated tailor fashion and held a small stick about three quarters of an inch diameter and about fifteen inches long in each hand4 ,with these they beat time to the tune and another moved or shaked the rattler in the same manner4 ,all this however was to no purpose4 ,there was another ,indian in company with us1 but tenting by himself 7and his family74 ,this ,indian1 who was very fond of me1 would frequently call me in and give me a share of what he had to eat4 ,well6 said he1 ,what success have your great men8 ,i answered ,i did not expect much4 ,no4 replied he4 ,they did not go the right way to work4 ,had ,i not polluted 7spoiled1 as he said7 my person last fall 7alluding to an ,indian he had then killed7 ,i should try4 ,and ,i believe that my familiars would be charitable to me4 ,however1 ,i shall let them go on until they are done1 after which ,i shall make a trial4 ,perhaps on your accounts they may shew me their wonted attention4 ,i took this as wind1 but as he spoke in so very earnest 7si naivement7 a manner1 ,i concealed my sentiments4 ,the second night after the others had finished1 he began a little after dusk4 ,but what a difference between them6 ,he had an immense large drum1 as large as those among the military1 and stretched hard4 ,upon this he beat time1 but very hard1 to accord with his songs which were as loud as he could bawl4 ,at certain intervals also he used only his rattler1 but with as much violence as he could4 ,thus he continued alternately singing1 praying 7or making speeches7 and smoking1 'till broad daylight4 ,when he began we thought this fellow was mad or only jesting4 ,but the ,indians of our lodge reproved us4 ,at sunrise he came out of his lodge1 and made a long speech in which he told one to go one way1 a second another1 and himself by another route4 ,thou1 addressing the first one1 a young lad1 thou wilt soon find thy 7bear74 ,but thou1 addressing the father3 ,on thy way on thou wilt pass very near1 but will not see him4 ,thou'lt search along and return giving up all hopes4 ,but when come to this1 thou must return again and between this1 thy last track and the first one thou shall make this morning1 thou'lt see him in his nest4 ,as for me1 ,i shall have much trouble to get mine4 ,i heard him speak1 but not understanding sufficiently the language1 the women explained to me4 ,i need not tell you how we laughed at the poor devil1 and so went off hunting ivy which had been our support for a long time4 ,but in the evening we found all that he predicted perfectly verified4 ,this ,i assure you is a fact1 and will maintain it notwithstanding everything skeptics1 7excuse the term7 or those unacquainted1 or but superficially so1 with these people may say4 ,and ,i am also certain that he had no previous knowledge of their being there1 for there was plenty of snow1 and there were no other tracks but those of these two hunters1 and we had pitched up 7the river7 that day4 ,but1 here ,i am digressing--to return therefore4 #bg ,fugitive ,pieces ,i am altogether out of the regular track that ,i had proposed to myself at my first setting off4 ,my time is too short and my memory too bad to read over the whole so as to resume the regular course4 ,the remainder shall be composed of fugitive pieces4 ,indeed the nature of some of them being a compound will not admit of their being treated of but in sections if ,i may use the term4 ,the ,soul ,the first therefore1 lest ,i have not time to enter all1 ,i shall speak of is ,the ,soul6 ,this seems1 to me at least1 a most extraordinary and incomprehensible thing4 ,yet from the different sources which ,i have received it1 and the manner of relation1 serves but more and more to perplex4 ,whether it is really and absolutely the soul1 or some other principle on which the very existence depends1 ,i cannot say4 ,but something it is1 lodged apparently in the heart or breast1 that on these occasions flies off and leaves them1 and at the very instant of its exit it is perceived4 ,and the parting occasions such a derangement of the whole system1 and particularly of the faculties1 as very soon to deprive the object of life1 but primarily causes a total want of sense1 such as we suppose the soul endows us with4 ,an ,attempt to ,capture a ,soul ,i shall here relate you one of the many stories of the kind1 verbatim1 as ,i received it4 ,it was from an ,indian1 of course4 ,he told me that one summer1 being on a visit rather to a distant part of the country 7perhaps two or three hundred miles distant71 he fell in with one of his acquaintances who 7as often happens between strangers1 particularly to such as come from the southward7 asked to purchase medicines of him4 ,i had but a small quantity1 and only of four sorts or kinds4 ,he being very anxious for them1 ,i sold them all to him4 ,he was not satisfied4 ,he must have more1 though ,i positively assured him ,i had given him the last4 ,then he menaced me1 and said ,i should feel the effects of his resentment arising from my avarice and uncharitable spirit4 ,knowing his disposition1 ,i returned to my friends1 intending to be as far out of his way as possible4 ,one night in the winter he conjured4 ,i was fast asleep 7and several hundred miles off7 and never thought more of him4 ,but he called upon his familiars and demanded my soul6 ,it was taken to him4 ,but just as it was on the eve of entering his conjuring hut1 ,i perceived it and sprang from my bed in the most dreadful agonies and convulsions1 insomuch that two men holding and pulling of me with all their might1 and who also had the assistance of the women1 could not keep me quiet4 ,i was constantly springing forward1 rushing hither and thither and absolutely 7totally7 deprived of my faculties1 for ,i have not yet the least knowledge of what ,i was doing1 so great was my horror in observing this conjuring tent4 ,at last a friendly spirit interfered and forbad the conjurer at his peril to do anything to my soul1 but allow it to return immediately4 ,he was afraid for his own life and durst not disobey4 ,he let it go4 ,i cannot tell you how happy ,i felt and so easy4 ,the distance was great indeed1 but ,i soon flew back and reentered my body1 when ,i became entirely composed4 #bh ,but ,i had been so dreadfully agitated that ,i found myself in a profuse sweat1 my whole frame so shaken1 debilitated1 and weake1 that for several days ,i could not move but with pain4 ,heh6 said ,i1 ,what a narrow escape6 ,the other ,indians asked what ailed me8 ,i told them where ,i had been4 ,they would scarcely credit it4 ,but in the ensuing summer1 upon enquiry1 they found it true1 and were now fully convinced that this power doth lodge with ,indians6 ,representation of the ,soul ,they represent the soul as being small1 not very dissimilar in size and shape from the yolk of a large hen or duck egg4 ,some of them are very hard1 and much of the nature and substance of a stone1 but still not of that substance4 ,and others again are much more soft and tender4 ,some are easily kept and bruised1 but others are with difficulty taken and continually in motion4 ,but all are extremely impatient of restraint and cannot bear it4 ,confinement is death to the body from which it has issued6 ,some conjurers possessing sufficient power and influence take a soul if they want to destroy the body1 7in the conjuring box or tent71 and wrapping it in a piece of leather1 rub and bruise it between both hands 'til they destroy its subtility or subtilty4 ,as soon as it comes within view of the conjuring tent1 its agonies are terrible1 as also those of the body1 however distant that may be4 ,but as soon as its motion is destroyed1 the body dies likewise4 ,imprisonment of a ,soul ,others again take it and put it in a japannd tobacco box and tie the lid or cover securely with a woman's garter from whence1 if not loosened by someone1 it can never escape4 ,any other lashing is not anything near so completely effectual as this4 ,reflect and you will guess immediately the reasons they give4 ,as ,i do not know ,latin and you don't understand ,indian1 ,i must suppress this and many other things4 ,others again take a different method thus4 ,but by-the-bye1 this has but very little relation to the soul4 ,i shall therefore refer it until afterwards and give you another story as received from a ,canadian1 an eye witness4 ,he was passing the winter with the ,indians1 and one night the head man of the tent he lodged in gave a feast4 ,he was in the habit of doing it and was himself apparently a good and peaceable man1 but not to be trifled with by other ,indians4 ,everything being prepared1 the guests were just going to eat when the feast-man's mother dropped suddenly as if dead4 ,everyone was struck with consternation4 ,they had recourse to their medicines1 songs1 rattlers as usual4 ,at last he fell to sucking his mother in one of her temples4 ,suddenly they heard something crack4 ,the ,indian drew back1 his mother arose perfectly recovered and all became well4 ,however1 that which occasioned the crack1 the ,indian took out of his mouth1 wrapped carefully up and gave it to his wife to put in a tobacco box1 which she did4 ,it had all the appearance of a bean 7une fve74 ,the wife wanted to tie the lid1 but the husband said there was no necessity4 ,they resumed their meal4 ,but the old woman was not long in possession of her senses4 ,she very soon relapsed1 and as instantaneously as at the first4 ,ho6 exclaimed the ,indian1 ,the ,dog is off4 ,they looked into the tobacco box but nothing was found4 ,they continued conjuring three nights and the last night especially4 ,the man told me he thought the devil #bi was amongst them from a certain kind of undescribable noise in the air round about their tent and the sudden flashings of light4 ,this was powder 7gun powder74 ,they had carefully thrown out all the fire1 thrown a great quantity of snow and water on the hearth1 and then put fresh earth upon it4 ,it was perfectly dark in the lodge1 there being no other light than what is usually emitted from the heavens4 ,upon this hearth of fresh earth they would throw some powder and then retiring to the bottom of the tent would say1 ,come6 ,let me see if ,i be a manito8 then singing4 ,off the powder would fly6 ,they continued this way three nights1 but all to no purpose4 ,the old woman yet lived two years but never spoke4 ,he said 7the ,indian7 that this bean 444 was the soul or spirit of another ,indian1 then at a vast distance1 which he darted at my mother to render her pitiful and miserable4 ,but ,i shall make the dog suffer4 ,however1 after this1 the ,canadian enquired why he did not revenge himself and kill him4 ,no1 said he1 that won't do4 ,he has got back his soul it is true1 and ,i cannot get it again4 ,yet ,i might easily kill him if ,i chuse1 but this won't do4 ,he is somewhat justified for ,i took both his wives from him4 ,there are many other instances of a like nature1 but different in the proceedings1 that ,i do not recollect sufficiently to commit to paper4 ,medicines ,used to ,harm ,others ,now again for the other way3 ,if an ,indian has a spite against another and is induced to it for the preservation of his own life or from motives of revenge1 he takes the following plan or method4 ,he takes a piece of leather and cuts it into the shape of his enemy4 ,and if he wants him to die speedily1 he places a little powdered medicine opposite the heart1 or upon it4 ,this medicine is1 ,i believe1 a root and very inflammable4 ,he holds a small spark of fire near it4 ,it immediately explodes1 and that part of the leather on which it was becomes burnt and shrivelled4 ,when he performs this1 he generally utters words like these1 ,let the heart of such a one become like this leather4 ,let it shrivel and die within him6 ,if it is a leg1 an arm1 the head1 or any other particular part1 or parts or even the whole body1 it is the same1 and the words also1 unless he doth not wish for the death4 ,then he will say1 ,let such a part1 become lame1 useless1 ulcerous1 according to his disposition4 ,and that part1 or parts become thus affected according to his wish4 ,but how is it possible that such things can be8 ,do you really think that an insignificant root of no apparant power or virtue whatever can effect such things8 ,thus ,i would frequently question4 ,and their answers with little variations were universally the same4 ,yes1 most certainly it is not accomplished by the root alone1 but with the assistance of that one of his dreamed that is most powerful and most fond of him4 ,he6 ,you white people1 you know not4 ,you are consummately ignorant of the power of our great medicine men4 ,many things might ,i tell you much more surprising4 ,but you do not believe these trifles--how much less then those things you do not know8 ,what then is to be done6 ,how do with1 #cj what say to1 a people so blind1 so infatuated6 ,they have some roots that are dreadful in their effects4 ,to being a female1 ,i think ,i should prefer immediate death6 ,they have some that have the same effects as ,lunar ,caustic4 ,they use them thus3 ,during the time of their seperation 7menstruation7 they endeavour to give them to smoke1 which is never refused4 ,there is some of this root mixed with the tobacco4 ,one smoking is sufficient4 ,a few months after1 their complexion begins to change1 and at last becomes of a nasty black with abundance of hair growing out of the face4 ,and if these women were to shave1 ,i verily believe their beards would become as bushy and thick as those of any man whatever4 ,in performing this they must also utter words thus4 ,let the one for whom ,i intend this1 and who shall smoke of it1 become black and hairy1 and become as ugly and rejected as she is now fair and searched for6 ,sometimes they mingle it with their food or the liquor they drink4 ,there is more than one kind of this dreadful root1 one of which ,i was shewn but have forgotten1 there being two or three others resembling it4 ,it is like many others1 a perennial herb1 and hath some resemblance to the long or tall thistle4 ,to return3 ,when the subject or object discovers that she hath been thus dealt with1 which they sometimes do a few weeks after1 they may be restored for there is an antidote to it4 ,but ,i have never known one instance of this1 though a dozen of the others ,i have4 ,some handsome1 fair complexioned1 young females refusing the importunate sollicitations of an abandoned1 vicious1 revengeful wretch become the victim of their coyness4 ,and two or three years after1 ,i have positively not known them and could scarcely believe my eyes4 ,there is of another kind of root and which is very common1 whose effect is an extraordinary vacuation of blood and which in a few days would occasion death4 ,used ,against a ,woman ,a half breed ,i lately had with me1 the son of a man who many years ago was a servant of yours1 being not of an extraordinary good moral character1 finding his solicitations rejected with scorn1 became jealous and very anxious to revenge himself4 ,he applied to an old ,indian1 but in so cautious a manner that the ,indian gave him of the root without suspecting and told him how to use it4 ,he pulverised it1 and mingled it with a little vermillion1 and then watched his opportunity which occurred1 ,i believe1 the ensuing morning4 ,in our outposts we have no temples dedicated to ,cloacinda4 ,and1 besides1 the females here are ashamed to sacrifice at them4 ,he therefore could not miss his opportunity4 ,he watched1 and after she entered1 he went and soon found the place by the smoke4 ,here he sprinkled some of this powder which he took in a quill1 pronouncing1 ,let me see blood issue from the same place this hath done4 ,i want to see blood4 ,scarcely five hours after1 the woman who was married1 and of course so much the less bashful1 said1 ,what is the matter with me1 ,i have been just now out and want to go again4 ,you may suppose her astonishment seeing the time of the natural return was scarcely half elapsed4 #ca ,but how much more so1 finding it issue far beyond anything she had ever known4 ,this continued 'till very late in the day4 ,and the beast was watching to see if it would answer4 ,he went in to the house on pretence of a friendly visit and remarked how pale she was4 ,the mother told him1 ,my daughter has been bewitched1 and could you not do something to ease her8 ,he became extremely uneasy in his turn4 ,he went out1 and passing by the place she went to1 he easily discovered1 notwithstanding her precaution1 of what dreadful consequences it would be if not timely attended to4 ,he was afraid she would die before anything could be done4 ,however1 he went to the old ,indian and speaking in a most sympathising strain asked him if he could not administer something to stop that extraordinary issue4 ,why6 replied the old fellow1 ,that root ,i gave you the other day is its own antidote4 ,give her the length of her middle finger to eat and it will stop quick enough4 ,he did not chuse to tell the ,indian that it was this that had occasioned it1 lest he should be punished by him in his turn4 ,but artfully conducting his discourse1 he got more from him1 administered it to the woman muttering in himself1 ,let this blood cease1 ,i have seen enough of it4 ,and she was soon healed6 ,i done all ,i could to make him confess it1 without coming to the point4 ,but he never would4 ,he satisfied himself by assuring me with the most solemn assertions that it was the case4 ,and if you doubt it1 continued he1 you may make the experiment4 ,you need be under no apprehensions whatever1 for in giving her of the same root to eat1 it will stop4 ,this root1 when mastigated and applied when reduced to pulp1 but better when pulverised1 stops the blood immediately on application to any wound--how profusely soever it may flow4 ,it is very astringent and somewhat hot4 ,wild ,carroway ,another herb1 ,i believe it is the 7wild7 carroway1 which we commonly denominate aniseeds--at least the smell and taste much resemble that4 ,and its stalk bears a very great resemblance to the wild mint1 as well as the leaves and flowers4 ,i suppose this is the one meant1 because they tell me the taste and smell are delicious4 ,this root and all its appurtenances 7stalk1 leaves and flowers7 is of wonderful effects in various things4 ,i shall give you some of the stories relating to it as ,i received them4 ,used in ,hunting ,i was living out with such an ,indian1 and we became reduced to short commons4 ,one day he 7the ,indian7 took a piece of bark and drew upon it three moose1 and put some of this medicine upon the heart and head of each4 ,then he fastened a piece of sinew to it1 and told me to fasten it to a small stick that had been stuck slant-way in the ,ground4 ,now1 said he1 let me see if this will do4 ,oh no6 ,i am afraid it won't4 ,but ,i'll try4 ,if it answers1 the bark will dance6 ,i laughed at his idea 7a half breed told me this7 and so did one of his sons4 ,however1 the son told me that he had seen his father do so before1 and that he killed every time4 ,stop6 ,let us see how he will go on4 said the son4 ,the father began to sing 7and if ,i remember right1 beat the drum also74 ,shortly after the bark began #cb to move1 and as the old fellow raised his voice1 so did its motion increase1 'till at last it began whirling round with great violence1 sometimes one way and then another1 'till it was wound up close to the stick1 when it began changing sides--sometimes upon sometimes below the stick4 ,he ceased1 began to talk with us and saying he was afraid it would not answer4 ,thus he did three times1 and the bark moved every time with the same violence4 ,now he desired1 in the beginning1 that if his familiar would have compassion on him1 he would render these three moose foolish that they might not be possessed of their usual cunning4 ,the next day we went out1 the old man1 his son and myself1 a hunting4 ,we were hungry2 we walked till late in the day1 and finding no tracks1 ,i proposed our return4 ,but he told me we ought to proceed1 for in the low ground beyond a small ridge then near in sight of us we may perhaps find some tracks4 ,i am never deceived when ,i am answered 7my bark dances74 ,we soon reached this low ground and shortly after heard a noise3 jumping1 running1 and breaking of sticks4 ,ah6 ,here they are6 said the old man4 ,see how their head is turned6 ,what a noise they make1 how they play4 ,they are foolish4 ,we killed them all4 ,if you doubt me1 ask any of the ,indians1 and see if they won't all tell you that he does so when he wants to kill4 ,as ,love ,potions 7,baptiste's ,stories7 ,another story3 for love potions or philters are also composed of this4 ,there were several young men 7half-breeds7 of us together1 and also some young women who came with us to await the arrival of their husbands from ,fort ,william at that place4 ,two of our party wanted to pay them a visit in the night4 ,and ,i endeavoured to dissuade them1 but to no purpose4 ,they went1 and met with the reception ,i foretold4 ,they began bawling out1 and on purpose1 to awake every one near and shame us1 for we were lodging by ourselves4 ,and then they took good cudgels and pursued them into our place4 ,we enjoyed this confusion of the others though partly at our own expense4 ,one of them then addressed me4 ,come ,baptiste1 this bitch has vexed me4 ,i know you have good medicine4 ,give me some of it that ,i may laugh at her in my turn4 7,i must tell you that one of them ,i have known many years back was1 and is still1 a bitch--i4e4 according the ,indian acceptation 7as well as our own7 of the term4 ,and the man is the same one ,i mentioned little above1 at the conclusion and beginning of pp4 #cj and #ca47 ,i gave him some with the directions4 ,he returned again very soon after 7in the same night7 and found her asleep4 ,he then rubbed her forehead1 opposite her heart1 the pit of the stomach1 and the palms of both hands4 ,then he awoke her4 ,the next day as my comrades were desirous of revenging themselves1 they broached the conversation publicly and had the laugh in their turn4 ,the women had the best at the offset1 but as they could not deny the other charges1 they became extremely confused and vexed4 ,a quarrel ensued1 but my comrads exultingly told them1 ,we can turn and twist you now about our fingers as we please6 ,and #cc they did too4 ,for the women both giving suck at that time1 thought it was their children that were handling them1 as they used but one finger1 and gently4 ,the other story is thus4 ,a man that ,i have with me at present1 in consequence of some slips of his rib1 had frequent and some severe quarrels with her4 ,she began to hate him and wanted to go with her paramour4 ,the husband though vexed and confused did not want to lose her4 ,he began by soothing1 coaxing1 and caressing her4 ,but she always bawled out as loud as she could that everybody might hear1 though it were at midnight1 ,thou white dog6 ,leave me alone4 ,why art thou fumbling at me8 ,the more she became averse the more he coaxed1 and she bawling out1 ,don't slabber me6 every time he attempted to kiss her4 ,and she was watching a fair opportunity to slip off to her lover 7an ,indian74 ,at last he lodged his complaints to me and asked if ,i could not assist him4 ,i gave him some of this medicine with the usual directions4 ,and ,i told him as soon as he had executed all properly1 to come away and leave her and not return to her for a couple of days so that in her turn she might suffer4 ,he had not long left her 'till she called for him as if wanting something4 ,and like a goose he went immediately1 though ,i done all ,i could to make him pay her in her own coin4 ,since that time they live as you see them4 ,but if you doubt of this also1 you can easily make the experiment4 ,chuse any one you please1 and let her be ever so coy1 and shy1 you will bring her as you want666 ,shortly after this ,i made some general enquiries of the man latterly in question4 ,but he would not avow to it1 though from his confusion and the precipetency with which he answered1 ,i believe there is something in the business4 ,it is with this medicine 7continued the half breed7 that the young men do completely and universally succeed with all the women that please them4 ,effecting and ,avoiding ,spells ,with this also1 principally1 they succeed in bewitching any one they are averse to1 and prevent them from killing such animals as they please4 ,they draw the likeness of the animal or animals they do not chuse the others to kill1 put of this medicine 7though most commonly mixed with some others in this latter case7 upon the hearts1 and desire that they may become shy and fly off upon any the least appearance or approach of them4 ,or they will conjure and desire some of their familiars1 one or several1 to haunt such a one in all his motions and scare and frighten off and render wise any such and such animals--and let the distance be hundreds of miles off4 ,their familiars1 that are spirits residing in the air1 and transport themselves in an instant to any place they please1 and who see all that is going on below1 keep all away accordingly4 ,to evade this is a task that but few can succeed in4 ,they must first conjure to learn who it is that has bewitched them4 ,then they inquire what is to be done4 ,but here lies the difficulty4 ,sometimes they are told they must leave the appointed time run out2 at others perform such and such ceremonies1 which is tantamount to the first answer2 but at others again1 it is easily dispelled4 ,this #cd depends entirely upon the precautions the bewitcher has taken2 the power1 influence1 or number of his dreamed2 as also on the other hand1 the dreamed1 their power2 and on the influence of the bewitched4 ,but sometimes on a very slight or trivial cause depends the whole4 ,dealing with ,spells on ,firearms ,the ,old ,canadian's ,account ,i shall tell you another story4 ,an old ,canadian ,i have now with me has been in the habit of living-free for many years back4 ,in the beginning of a winter he was tenting with some ,indians1 and one of them1 an impertinent1 bombastic sort of character1 was boasting to him of the great power and effect of some medicines and a drum he had lately received from a ,sauteux4 ,for some time ,i did not mind him1 but finding he became at last troublesome1 and insinuating as plainly as he durst that he was now invulnerable1 or rather immortal1 and that we were helpless1 a quarrel ensued 'till at last1 ,i fxxt4 upon your medicines and drum and the one also who gave them to you6 said ,i4 ,we seperated in no good friendship4 ,at night he made a feast and invited me amongst the rest with the design of poisoning me4 ,but his friends remonstrated so effectually that he put this off and intended shooting me going out of the lodge4 ,but this also the others would not allow4 ,he was vexed4 ,i kept my eye upon him1 determined ,i should give the first blow on the least motion he might make4 ,finding himself prevented in these1 he said that ,i indeed should kill two moose1 but that the rest of the year ,i should starve as a dog4 ,i seperated next day with my wife and children4 ,they were under great apprehensions1 but ,i mocked all their conjurings4 ,i very shortly killed two moose1 but these indeed were the last4 ,i walked and hunted every day4 ,and seldom one day passed but ,i fired at the buffaloe1 moose1 or some other animal1 but never got anything1 anything6 ,i and my family were near dying with hunger4 ,i tried everything in my power1 never giving myself the least trouble about the ,indian's menaces4 ,at last the spring arrived4 ,ducks and geese came1 but no better success4 ,at last one day1 prowling in my canoe1 ,i met two other free-men1 one of whom1 after mutual inquiries1 told me the same thing had happened him4 ,and he said that an ,indian told him to file off a small piece of the muzzle of his gun and wash it well with water in which sweet-flag had been boiled4 ,and it killed after that as before4 ,i laughed at the idea4 ,but reflecting that it was an innocent experiment1 and ,i could not offend the ,almighty1 ,i tried4 ,and the first animals ,i saw ,i immediately killed4 ,this sir 7continued he7 ,i assure you is a positive fact666 ,i find that the ,indians have recourse to this method also4 ,but you must observe3 as is the disease1 so is the remedy4 ,the ,iroquois' ,account ,another story just now occurs to me which ,i shall relate1 not so much to multiply these pretended proofs1 as to show that our ,iroquois1 ,algonquins and others are not such complete converts to the ,christian faith as most people may complacently imagine4 ,but rather they have a mongrel religion like those whom the ,king of ,babylon sent to inhabit ,samaria when he carried ,reuben and ,ephraim captives 7in the ,bible74 ,this winter an ,iroquois #ce told me that one winter he was out a beaver hunting with many of his friends4 ,the oldest man of their party proposed one day that a certain number of them should go out a hunting moose or buffaloe1 and the others beaver4 ,this one says3 ,i returned at night after a good success--the old man nothing4 ,he became envious1 a quarrel ensued1 and after this many others4 ,one day ,i fired at a moose as he was running past me4 ,he fell4 ,i went to him1 and just as ,i was for beginning to skin1 he rose up1 but with my axe ,i brought him down4 ,it was very far from home4 ,i merely opened him and returned light1 trusting to the others of our party1 for ,i had no desire of partaking of the dry provisions the old fellow had of his own4 ,immediately on entering the lodge1 we had another severe quarrel1 and he told me ,i should not any more exult in my prowess as he should take care ,i should not kill any more animals for some time4 ,as we were coming to knife work1 ,i ordered my wife to bundle up all our things and my lodge1 and pitch off4 ,it was then late1 and ,i had not yet eaten4 ,as none of my friends knew that ,i had killed1 ,i did not chuse to tell them1 but merely said as ,i was going off4 ,let those who are fond of me1 or who chuse1 follow me4 ,but none came1 and ,i encamped upon my moose4 ,every day ,i went a hunting4 ,scarcely a week passed but ,i fired twenty1 thirty1 and sometimes upward of fifty shots upon buffaloe or moose but could never kill4 ,i would miss1 or the ball twisting in the hair would fall by the animal without doing further injury4 ,i starved for a long time and became so weake that ,i could hardly walk4 ,at last my wife1 a woman of this country1 one day that ,i had been out as usual had prepared some good strong lye1 and on my return1 washed my gun with it1 filled it1 and stopping both the orifices1 put it over the smoke where it remained all night4 ,she also took a number of the balls and boiled them likewise in the lye1 telling me she had seen her uncle do so many years before when he too had been bewitched4 ,i thought1 at all events1 it could do no harm4 ,and besides1 ,i could have done anything ,i was so hungry4 ,the next day ,i went out again and found another flock or herd of near twenty buffaloe4 ,i drew nigh and took all my usual precautions4 ,i fired1 one dropped2 ,i fired again1 another dropped4 ,i killed fourteen out of that herd1 and ever after missed not once6 ,i asked him how the old fellow had done it4 ,he said1 ,i suppose it was as they frequently do3 bury a piece of my meat in the ground and pray the ,devil to prevent my killing4 ,for the ,iroquois1 when they take it in their head1 are very wicked and do not want power6 ,the ,half ,breed's ,account ,a few days ago a half-breed abandoned with the ,indians came in4 ,and amongst his other wantages1 he asked me for a small piece of 7red7 sealing-wax1 444 because my brother cannot draw blood from the animals he fires at4 ,by heating his gun and applying this wax the blood will flow profusely from the wounds4 ,he expressed himself afraid that his brother might have been bewitched1 and by retarding this operation he might enter dans sa mal chance6 #cf ,these few examples will suffice to shew you that they have different methods of bewitching and also different ways of clearing themselves4 ,and the faith and dread they have of this is scarcely credible1 and the consequences are often too uncommonly distressing4 ,stories of the ,hairy ,breasts and ,nayhanimis ,north ,wind's ,challenge ,i shall now give you of the ,story of the ,hairy ,breasts4 ,near the days of ,noah1 nations were few and small4 ,wee-suck--jk 7,noah1 ,i shall call him for abbreviation sake7 had a son1 as ,i told you before1 whose name was ,nay-hn-nee-mis ,nayhanimis4 ,being strait'ned for provisions1 he went out to angle with some of the ,hairy-,breasts4 ,they came to a lake1 pierced several holes1 but the ,north 7or ,north ,wind1 as you chuse7 being envious of ,nayhanimis froze the water down to the very ground so that in the deepest parts they found but earth4 ,and after much digging1 at last they reached the bottom4 ,but behold that also was frozen--and who knows to what depth in the ,earth6 ,finding this to be the case ,nayhanimis1 addressed his friends thus4 ,i see this is the doing of the ,north ,wind4 7,now by rights the ,north ,wind ought to have been his maternal ,grand ,father--but what cannot envy do87 ,he is envious of us and wants to make us die of hunger4 ,but he shall not6 ,i have to propose to you to cut off my head1 rip up my body1 beginning at the throat4 ,you must not hurt nor break any single one of my bones1 but carefully take off all the flesh1 dry it1 and make pounded meat of it4 ,of this you must sprinkle a little in every one of the holes4 ,you must also chop up my heart into very small pieces and throw a few of these pieces also into each hole4 ,then put in your lines1 and you'll take as many fish as you please4 ,but my bones you must put in a heap1 carefully by themselves4 ,mind6 ,upon your faithful observance of all these commands depends our mutual safety4 ,the ,north thinks himself sole master1 and would wish to crush us because we begin to have a little knowledge4 ,but he shall know me6 ,they did accordingly1 and accordingly also they took abundance of fish4 ,north perceived this4 ,he came to see1 and finding himself thus frustrated1 inquired how it came about4 ,they told him4 ,he challenged ,nayhanimis who by this time had revived4 ,and besides1 a beautiful large feather he had sticking in his cap1 or head1 which none durst wear but such as have given incontestible proofs of their manhood and bravery4 ,he likewise had a smoking bag of the skin of a badger4 ,nayhanimis accepted the challenge4 ,it seems1 ,nayhanimis1 you are a great man1 a man of extraordinary power and abilities6 ,let us have a trial1 and see which of us has the most1 for ,i also have some knowledge4 ,nayhanimis answered1 ,no6 ,i have but little power4 ,but that little ,i employ as much as ,i can to the general benefit of my fellows4 ,let us see what you can do1 which if ,i cannot1 then you will certainly be superior to me4 ,here they performed one or two wonderful feats4 ,but in these ,nayhanimis had the advantage most confessedly4 ,the ,north pierced his body through1 and did another extraordinary thing ,i cannot well recollect4 ,but the other did more and recovered not only more suddenly but more perfectly4 ,at last the ,north put a bet and said1 ,let us see for this last act4 ,i will cut off my head1 and if ,i cannot replace and recover #cg perfectly1 the same as ,i am at present1 then my house and all ,i have shall be yours4 ,but if ,i succeed1 and you cannot1 then all your possessions shall be mine4 ,nayhanimis consented for he was secretly desirous of humiliating the self-sufficient spirit of ,north4 ,they tried4 ,north failed1 but ,nayhanimis completely succeeded4 ,he deliberately severed his head from his body1 put it down on the ground beside him very composedly1 and then replaced it1 when it became as though nothing had happened4 ,but this was owing to the power and virtue of his plume which1 however1 the others knew nothing of4 ,it appears that the ,north also recovered but by the assistance of his friends1 of whom he had a numerous train4 ,north was faithful to his promise4 ,he gave him his house which was beautiful and spacious1 but mostly underground1 or at least in the side of a mountain4 ,all ,north's friends turned out1 put in ,nayhanimis and gave him the full possession4 ,but he was no sooner in than they secured all the outlets3 doors and windows4 ,and they set it on fire to destroy one whom they found so much more powerful than themselves6 ,nayhanimis1 finding this to be the case1 was not in the least dismayed1 but took his smoking bag and thus addressed it4 ,now thou1 ,badger1 our mutual safety depends upon thy obedience and expedition4 ,thou art made to pass through the earth as quickly as upon it4 ,these fools think to destroy us1 but thou must show that we are superior to them4 ,during the conflagration they were enjoying the scene and exulting in the idea of having at last succeeded in destroying so formidable an adversary4 ,but what was their consternation when they saw him come to them without even one hair of his head singed6 ,they were appalled with astonishment1 and had not the power of utterance4 ,at last1 recovering a little1 they endeavoured to pass it off as a joke and turn it to his own advantage1 by silencing at one blow the envy and malice of all his enemies1 pretending to be staunch friends of his4 ,but he was not thus to be duped4 ,yet he showed a superiority of sentiment and generosity1 equal to his powers and abilities1 by giving them 7though contemptuous if you please7 pardon4 ,so much for this ,part4 ,nayhanimis ,wars with the ,hairy ,breasts ,thus did matters pass on for yet a few years4 ,the ,indians began to multiply and inhabit the world4 ,but the ,hairy ,breasts1 a jealous1 envious1 and at best foolish people1 could not well behold their prosperity4 ,they made war upon them 7the ,indians7 by stealth and destroyed numbers4 ,their affairs bore a most dismal aspect--,the ,hairy ,breasts wished for no less than the total extinction of the whole race4 ,at last ,nayhanimis pitched off with his wife1 her father1 and another one4 ,there were four of them4 ,he found a ,beaver lodge4 ,here some of the ,hairy-,breasts came up with him3 compliments at first1 afterwards sneers1 taunts and revilings--but so ambiguously given that no hold could be taken4 ,how numerous1 how many are there of ye8 inquired one of the ,hairy ,breasts4 ,we are twenty of us4 replied ,nayhanimis2 ,and so are we4 rejoined the others4 ,now they here entered into an arrangement that whoever found ,beaver for the future1 it should be his own4 ,but to avoid any wrangles1 he who found the ,beaver should plant a stick or branch upon the lodge as a mark4 ,on their return #ch home1 each recounted to his family what he had met with in the course of the day4 ,now1 said ,nayhanimis addressing his family1 we must take twenty beavers1 one for each man of them 7meaning the ,hairy ,breasts7 and make a feast4 ,if it turns out that we be able to eat these twenty beaver1 and they not1 then we shall be superior to them and have the upper hand4 ,the beaver were cooked accordingly4 ,he took his rattler which he shook to the tunes of his songs1 performed the usual ceremonies1 and they ate the whole twenty beavers with ease4 ,then addressing his family thus said1 ,these ,hairy ,breasts are great boasters1 but cowards4 ,they are a people of no account4 ,tomorrow will decide all4 ,the ,hairy ,breasts on their return did the same as ,nayhanimis and cooked also twenty beavers1 thinking that his band did really consist of that number4 ,they ate1 but every one was already full and yet more than three quarters of the feast remained4 ,give me my rattler1 said one of the oldest1 that ,i sing4 ,it may happen that we find grace4 ,he sang and shook his rattler1 but it would not sound4 ,after frequent repeated trials to no effect1 he became vexed and threw it out of doors among the dogs4 ,this dog of a rattler will not sound in spite of all my endeavours4 ,but hold6 ,hear how it rattles now that it is out4 ,go for it one of ye6 ,perhaps it was owing to some fault in me4 ,they brought it to him4 ,but it was still as before2 he threw it out again in a rage4 ,it was no sooner out than it sounded as well as before4 ,it was brought in again1 but as before1 again4 ,then he threw it out for good1 vexed and disappointed to the utmost degree4 ,but his friends were not pleased4 ,they considered this a portentious omen and his behavior foolish1 and by no means calculated to reconcile their ,deities to them4 ,he comforted them by telling them1 ,the numbers of the adverse party must be few4 ,otherwise we had surely been able to eat the whole of this feast4 ,they are few and we shall subdue them4 ,the next day they all pitched off4 ,nayhanimis came first to a beaver lodge and marked it4 ,he came to another and marked that one also4 ,but making a circuit1 in which he hung up his bow and quiver in a tree at his own height1 came round to the same lodges and found that the ,hairy ,breasts had put marks of their own and thrown his one away4 ,exasperated he threw theirs away and replaced his4 ,and he made another circuit1 when he found the ,hairy ,breasts had replaced their own again4 ,he also remarked that the ,hairy ,breasts had hung up their bows in the tops of very high trees1 trusting to their numbers4 ,at last they met1 greeted each other at first1 then sneers1 quarrels1 a challenge and then the battle4 ,they were to fight man to man4 ,nayhanimis killed nineteen right out1 but the twentieth had near killed him4 ,however1 this was but an accident usual in battles4 ,he soon killed him also4 ,the women were coming up when1 raising his voice to a pitch to be distinctly heard by all1 he said3 ,such of ye ,indian women as have been taken from your homes and had your husbands killed1 such of ye ,indian women as are willing to return to your nation1 take all axes and others arms out of the hands of these ,hairy ,breast women4 ,seperate yourselves from them2 attack #ci and destroy them all4 ,leave not one alive to carry the news to the others4 ,they seperated accordingly and killed every soul4 ,then he took them to his tent and found by their answers to his queries that there was still another band1 not far off1 consisting of forty young and two old men of the ,hairy ,breasts4 ,he ordered a quantity of poles or pickets to be cut very long1 and made a kind of fort of them round his own tent4 ,and he gave orders to them to gather a vast quantity of snow round all the sides of it to come over the points1 so that neither the pickets nor tent might be seen1 and that this rising might have the appearance of a natural hill-- something in short in the form of a pit4 ,he immediately made a number of lances1 and spears and walked off in quest of his enemies4 ,he soon reached their camp1 drew near1 and found that there were but two old men4 ,all the others were out a hunting4 ,here he listened to their conversation and was burning with indignation at the stories these two old men told each other of the cruelties they had done to the ,indians4 ,they were chuckling at this when he sprang into the tent1 took each by the head and thrust their faces into the fire and sprang out again to listen4 ,one of them1 returning to his senses1 for they had both fainted during the ceremony1 exclaimed thus1 ,my old friend6 ,what is the matter with me8 ,i lost my senses quite suddenly and now that ,i am come to1 ,i feel my face quite sore and cannot see4 ,it is the same with me4 replied the other one ,then it must be some evil spirit that has pounced upon us4 resumed the first4 ,at last ,nayhanimis addressed them thus3 ,i shall tell ye old men a story too4 ,there were two old men formerly seated in their tents relating to each other the exploits of their younger days and the cruelties they committed upon the ,indians4 ,nayhanimis was near4 ,he pounced upon them and thrust both their heads together into the fire4 ,when your children and young men be returned from their hunting1 tell them this story4 ,in the meantime ,i shall return home and make ready for them4 ,my name is ,nayhanimis and ,i reside at such a place 7i4e4 ,i am called1 or named1 ,nayhanimis 44474 ,the old men1 as may be imagined1 were thunderstruck with this and durst not say a word more4 ,but in the evening the young men came home4 ,they were astonished to see their fathers in such a plight4 ,children6 ,behold your fathers6 said they4 ,had any miscreant durst act in such a manner to our fathers1 their villany should certainly not have passed off thus4 ,but we are now old men and of no more account666 ,this last apostrophe above all the rest roused them to vengeance4 ,they merely scraped the snow off their feet and legs and went immediately in quest of him vowing vengeance all the way of a most cruel and exemplary nature4 ,nayhanimis was on his guard4 ,every soul able to wield a weapon had one in his hand1 besides an infinite number of spears and sharp stakes stuck in the ground4 ,the ,hairy ,breasts came1 but not perceiving the trap on account of the snow that was brought over the ends of the stockades1 they all fell in1 one upon the other1 and impaled themselves in their fall on these sticks4 ,all of them but two or three met with instantaneous death4 ,the few that were not injured were put #dj to an excruciating but immediate death to satisfy the manes of the departed ,indians4 ,and he proceeded immediately to the camp1 killed the remaining two old men1 scoffing and taunting them at the same time4 ,immediately after this he ordered such of the ,indian women as had had their husbands killed1 or were taken by the ,hairy ,breasts1 to seperate from the other women and inflict the same punishment upon them and their children as had been done to their friends4 ,thus were the ,hairy ,breasts entirely extirpated merely by their own folly and wickedness4 ,had they lived peaceably1 and allowed the ,indians to partake of the blessings of this world without envy1 as well as themselves1 and to which they had an undoubted right1 they might still have been in existence4 ,however1 there are still two nations of them1 one of which is on your lands1 the others1 ,i believe beyond the seas4 ,but they are an insignificant and most despicable people4 ,they pretend to antiquity and would fain extort respect from the moderns 7i4e4 themselves1 or the ,indians1 principally74 ,but their very countenance1 appearance1 everything about them denotes folly1 and seems more to demand contempt than to call for respect4 ,i saw one many years back1 who was brought by the traders from somewheres on your lands4 ,his face was venerable1 but still there was a meanness in the whole of him that ,i could not account for4 ,i respected him1 and wanted to treat him accordingly4 ,this is as from the stories ,i had heard related of them4 ,but the traders laughed at us and asked one if ,i was inclined to respect folly1 insignificance1 and nothing666 ,notes ,i have been a long time in writing these pages1 and have been frequently disturbed4 ,i have been often obliged to put by my paper after seating myself five or six times to write only one word4 ,from such long and frequent interruptions much method and correctness cannot be expected4 ,i therefore send them to you in the form of notes4 ,motives for ,writing the ,journal ,my motives for thus employing my time and paper were first to amuse and instruct myself1 but principally for your own amusement and such few friends as you may think worthy of the communication4 ,lend them not out of the house1 nor let too many see them1 for ,i have some notion1 please ,god ,i live1 to digest them into form and regularity1 and have them published--besides a vast many others ,i propose1 with ,god's help1 collecting4 ,but this is merely between ourselves1 and immediately after perusal blot out all this paragraph4 ,journals and voyages of these people have been frequently published4 ,but ,i have met with none that gives so circumstantial a detail of their private life 7if ,i may so say7 as is necessary to give that insight to their ideas and notions 7and this latter term too1 ,i think1 critically speaking1 cannot be applicable to them7 that is required1 and so much wanted1 to form a proper estimate of man in his natural state4 ,we all see them1 hear them and relate of them4 ,but where is there one who can give the whys and wherefores that these people do so and so8 ,i beg you will blot this last paragraph entirely out1 at least the first part4 ,and do not be premature in your condemnation or judgement of me1 for ,i trust my motives are entirely destitute of vanity1 and only the desire of truth urges me1 or at least the desire for true and just information4 ,g ,n4 ,april #afth #ahbc4 #da ,comments on ,aboriginal ,beliefs ,such are the notions and ideas of these people4 ,they acknowledge a superior power1 not ,wee-suck--jk1 as ,i was erroneously informed1 but the same one you adore in the ,christmas holidays4 ,this one they have a great respect and veneration for4 ,but seldom it is1 as far as ,i can learn1 that they sacrifice or pray to him1 make speeches1 which1 though extempore1 ,i consider as much prayers as though they were composed after the most deliberate and mature reflection4 ,and many parts of them are so simple1 plain1 natural1 and withal so sublime1 that ,i frequently felt great pleasure in attending to them4 ,but these sentiments are so few comparitively speaking1 and the absurdities so great and frequent1 that few men can hear them without lamenting their ignorance4 ,they have often seemed to me as desirous in a high degree of becoming acquainted with the true mode of worshipping1 from the frequent changes1 even during my time1 they have made in their worshippings4 ,as a proof of this is the avidity with which they seize any new system introduced from their southern neighbors1 the short time they hold it1 and how completely it is abandoned1 if not entirely forgotten for another equally1 if not more1 absurd than the former4 ,to introduce a new system among them1 it is only necessary to report an extravagant tale of some wonderful character1 the cures by this means that have been performed1 and such like miraculous and fantastic nonsense4 ,but in their fundamental points ,i perceive no visible alteration4 ,mee-tay-wee ,the principal of these is what they call the ,mee-tay-wee1 a ceremony ,i shall compare to freemasonry4 ,but the initiations are public4 ,every one that chuses comes to see them1 and many are invited4 ,here1 in the course of initiation1 are ceremonies or deviltries performed that no man of his own mere dexterity or power can do4 ,conjuring ,the next principal one is conjuring4 ,this is a principle ,i believe as natural to man as the air he breathes 7though not so necessary74 ,everyone wishes to peep into futurity1 and there are few but who would not inquire into causes could they do it1 or were it not forbidden them4 ,these two1 of course1 are consequences or consequents of their mythology4 ,there are many in the civilized or ,christian world who absolutely and positively deny this power of theirs as being absolutely impossible and at best believe them but absurd and idle stories4 ,evidence of ,spirits through ,conjuring ,practice ,many of the things related of these conjurings ,i acknowledge to be so4 ,but at the same time ,i am as positively and as firmly persuaded of the truth of the assertion that they have dealings with some supernatural spirit1 as ,i am convinced that ,i live and breathe in air4 ,that is unless1 indeed1 we chuse to acknowledge and believe a certain sect of philosophers 7of the last century ,i believe7 who wish to tell us that we only imagine ourselves alive4 ,and ,i am by no means inclined to acknowledge myself as superstitious4 ,i am convinced of this from reason1 argument1 comparison--in short1 from analysis4 ,let any one man1 unless he be a headstrong brute who is determined beforehand not to be convinced1 analyse their discourses1 and ,i am confident he will believe as much as many1 or have great doubts at least4 ,to absolutely deny this1 we must first deny that there is a ,devil1 and afterwards deny his pernicious power4 #db ,and if we deny these points1 we must descend to a third1 and one more fit for an atheistical wretch and a beast than a ,christian1 or even rational creature4 ,i have heard some sensible and well informed gentleman deny it on the plea of their ignorance4 ,but this again is a basis and very solid one4 ,these people are still in a complete state of nature4 ,their ideas of the true ,god are far from clear or correct4 ,they acknowledge ,him indeed as the supreme and absolute master of all1 but more1 or rather as1 a passive deity more than as he really is4 ,but their notions of their other deities came far more near the truth4 ,their wants indeed are also few1 but they are arbitrary and cannot be dispensed with1 at least for any time4 ,it is therefore very natural that they should employ their whole thoughts and most of their time in procuring these means to warding off or averting their dangers4 ,and ,i do not know of any method more adapted to this than the one they pursue3 fasting and sleeping to dream4 ,and they do dream too4 ,and many of these dreams are so complicated1 or compounded of so many different things that it is absolutely beyond the power of their invention to fabricate them4 ,surely a man may believe his senses4 ,a man tied1 wound up in a blanket or skin equally soft4 ,here he is held by one1 two1 or three men4 ,he slips out of the blanket and presents himself before you free1 leaving the cords untied in the blanket4 ,you hear him speak1 and perhaps twenty other voices besides1 all at the same4 ,again1 he is bound as a criminal1 rather indeed as a pig1 crumpled into a heap and thrust into his hut4 ,at the very instant of his entrance1 the hut shakes as if ten thousand devils were for pulling it to pieces4 ,you enter this1 find the man absent1 hear a fluttering about your ears or see a vast number of small lights resting on the hoops that hold the poles together4 ,immediately after you are out1 you hear the man speak within again4 ,you look again and feel for him1 but hear him talking at a distance4 ,what can this be but supernatural agency8 ,i have never seen feats of this kind1 but others ,i have1 not so strong1 but equally convincing4 ,conjuring ,ceremony for a ,n4 ,w4 ,co4 ,gentleman ,i have been informed that a young half-breed1 abandoned with the ,indians almost from his childhood1 a few years back entered one of these conjuring huts at the solicitation of one of the ,north ,west gentlemen to see what retarded the people so long4 ,previous to his entering a great deal of conversation on the subject had been taking place4 ,matters were settled between them and the conjurer4 ,some time after his entrance1 he began to cry 7not weep7 as a person uneasy4 ,at first the voice was within1 but it appeared as rising in the air1 and at last was lost4 ,well6 said one of the ,indians1 addressing one of the half-breeds living with the white4 ,well6 ,enter now1 and see if he be there4 ,thou art always doubting and denying what we say of these things4 ,enter then1 and see if he be there4 ,then indeed are our assertions false4 ,he raised the bottom of the casement and entered4 ,but as he was not below1 he rose on his feet and felt for him1 but the conjurer was not to be found4 ,however he was paid for his curiosity4 ,there was a dreadful fluttering within1 but especially about his head4 ,his hair was flying about in his face as if in a tempest1 and there were frequent appearances of small lights before his eyes whichever way he turned4 ,he bawled out and asked those without what was the matter with him4 ,he became afraid and walked #dc out as quick as he could4 ,very shortly after1 they heard the same cries of pain1 faintly at first1 but the voice soon entered4 ,the conjurer said he was carried to where the people were4 ,they are all asleep1 at such a place and tomorrow will be here4 ,he said there were four 7spirits7 of them1 that carried him off4 ,each held him by the little finger and little toe6 ,stories ,i shall here relate a couple more of these stories4 ,the ,hunter and the ,wolf ,spirit ,an ,indian told me that several years back he left his lodge on the borders of a large lake to go to the house for some necessaries he wanted4 ,he took a traverse for some islands4 ,the weather was dull but mild4 ,a storm very soon set in4 ,but he persevered4 ,thinking the wind had changed1 he also changed his course4 ,he became very much fatigued and laid down on the ice to rest himself and wait for daylight1 for the night had overtaken him4 ,he was not long down before1 reflecting on his situation1 he became extremely uneasy and was afraid of freezing4 ,at last he heard a curious noise near him that he could not account for4 ,at first his fears increased1 greatly dreading it was some malignant spirit4 ,but having no alternative he resigned himself to his fate4 ,and ,i became as composed as though ,i were safe4 ,and ,i was too1 for an animal much resembling a wolf1 and black1 came up and covered me4 ,i was very cold1 shivering in every limb1 but ,i soon became quite warm4 ,he rose from off me and went on as if inviting me to follow4 ,his eyes appeared like two candles4 ,i followed4 ,he led me to an island where ,i made a fire and warmed and dried myself4 ,and as soon as ,i was rigged1 ,i followed him1 for he went off and looked at me so earnestly ,i took it for an order4 ,he led me straight to the water hole4 ,there happened to be people at the time there going for water4 ,they saw these lights and asked me what occasioned them1 or who it was that came with me4 ,i told them it was a compassionate spirit that retrieved me from a dreadful death4 ,pursuit by a ,pahkack ,second ,story6 ,a young man lately told me the following4 ,i was returning home with my uncle when come to that point1 we heard something crying behind us1 ,he6 ,he6 ,ha6 ,ha6 and whistling alternatively4 ,my uncle told me it was a ,pah-kack 7,skeleton71 and it wanted to destroy us4 ,it came up with us very soon and kept constantly buzzing and whistling in our ears so that1 indeed1 we were quite bewildered at last4 ,it was at night and dark1 but we kept straight on as we thought4 ,we were mistaken for1 after walking a long time1 we at last came to the water hole again from where we had set off4 ,we were both of us much afraid1 but finding this path1 we minded it no more though it pursued us making more and more noise the nearer we got home4 ,many of these stories bear a great resemblance to those extravagant tales of la ,bte a la ,grande ,queue1 ,loup ,garoup1 ,chasse ,galerie and many others natural to superstitious people4 ,it requires1 therefore1 a great deal of caution and attention to get at the true ones4 ,i have here inserted more than ,i originally intended1 but they will serve to give you an idea of the notions of these people1 and1 except a few1 ,i have selected those that appeared most rational4 ,however they will all come in time4 #dd ,wetiko ,there is a kind of disease 7or distemper rather1 and of the mind1 ,i am fully persuaded7 peculiar to the ,crees and ,sauteux1 and of which they have the greatest dread and horror4 ,and certainly the fear is not without the very greatest cause--the consequences1 forty-nine times out of fifty1 being death unfortunately to many besides the subjects or objects themselves4 ,they term this ,wen-di-go 7according to the ,french pronunciation1 which is more correct than the ,english1 in this word7--the proper signification of which1 to me at least1 and no one ,i think can doubt it1 is ,giant of the ,anthropophagi ,genus1 sect1 tribe1 or kind4 ,the stories related of these are as extravagant and fantastic as those we read in our old romances in the days of chivalry4 ,they differ in no one circumstance hardly but the means used in their destruction which1 of course1 is often done by the intervention or assistance of their guardian genii4 ,however1 there are some few more rational than those of ours1 and though still beyond all bounds of credibility1 are as devoutly believed by these poor creatures as the ,gospel is by the most orthodox among us4 ,i do not remember any of these sufficiently correctly to give you a few of the stories1 one excepted4 ,suffice it to say that they are of uncommon size4 ,goliath is an unborn infant to them4 ,and to add to their dread1 they are represented as possessing much of the power of magicians4 ,their head reaching to the tops of the highest poplars 7about seventy or eighty feet71 they are of proportionate size4 ,of course they must be very heavy4 ,their gait1 though grand and majestic1 at every step the earth shakes4 ,they frequently pursue their prey 7,indians of course7 invisibly4 ,yet they cannot so completely divest themselves of all the incommodities of nature as to prevent their approach being known4 ,a secret and unaccountable horror pervades the whole system of one1 several1 or the whole band of those of whom he is in pursuit4 ,there are phenomena in the heavens and earth4 ,trapping a ,wetiko ,in the days of ,noah1 7or near them at least7 there were a large party of ,indians collected together for mutual safety4 ,many camps had been already destroyed by him1 and the ,indians were in great danger of being entirely exterminated4 ,at last they bethought themselves of a plan4 ,it is needless to go to war upon him4 ,what can we do to him with our arms6 ,let us make an immense large trap 7of wood7 and draw lots for which of us shall serve as bait4 ,it is a dangerous assay indeed1 but will any generous one amongst us refuse sacrificing his life for the safety of so many8 ,they made this trap on the opposite side of a small opening in the woods1 so that he might see the person seated from afar4 ,it was between large trees which were made to serve as posts4 ,it was finished4 ,an old woman stepped up and said1 ,my ,grandchildren6 ,i am now old and of no more account among ye4 ,we are all in danger of being devoured by this insatiable and terrible beast ,why should ,i then regret sacrificing a life that1 at best ,i can now enjoy but only for a short time1 seeing it will in the end be productive of so much good8 ,i will go and be bait4 ,the others were extremely touched at her generosity but they had no alternative1 and circumstances admitted of no delay4 ,the old lady seated herself very #de composedly in the trap and awaited his arrival4 ,the others fled off of course4 ,it was time too1 for he soon hove into sight1 stalking along in all the stile and terror of imperial grandeur4 ,his head was equal with the tops of the highest trees1 and the ground was shaking at every step1 though frozen1 it being then depth of winter4 ,and his countenance denoted an assemblage of pity1 contempt1 rage and voraciousness4 ,all this did not dismay the old lady2 she remained quiet4 ,he perceived her4 ,what6 ,what1 old woman1 art thou doing there8 ,but changing his tone1 which he did several times1 thus continued1 ,thou art of my natural enemies and ,i shall presently grind thee4 ,ah6 my grandchild6 ,i am an old woman1 abandoned and deserted by those whom ,i have suckled and brought up4 ,they are fled off in dread of thee1 and being old and helpless1 they thrust me in this tuft of trees so as to be the less embarrassed4 ,come now and assist me out1 and in acknowledgement ,i shall inform thee of their precautions4 ,otherwise thou'lt lose thy life by their deceptions4 ,he was in no dread of the ,indians1 so far as regarded their own power1 but he thought a little salutary advice would not be amiss1 intending after this to grind the old thing as he had promised himself4 ,he drew up4 ,what a devil of a place they have put thee indeed4 ,did they think to conceal thee from me8 ,he stooped to enter4 ,when she found he had entered far enough1 she touched a stick4 ,and down came all the weights and cross bar upon his back4 ,though he was uncommonly strong1 the weight and suddenness of the blow was such that he gave way and was jammed between the two beams or bars4 ,here he struggled denouncing and calling for vengeance and eternal destruction to the whole of the human race4 ,the great bellowing he made was a signal to the men who were in ambush not far off4 ,they came running up and soon dispatched him with a multitude of blows from axes and chisels4 ,thus were they1 for one time1 relieved4 ,the women and children returned to the camp and enjoyed themselves as usual without further apprehensions4 ,these giants1 as far as ,i can learn1 reside somewhere about the ,north ,pole4 ,and even at this day1 they frequently pay their unwelcome visits1 but which1 however1 are attended with a complete fright only4 ,it seems also that they delegate their power to the ,indians occasionally4 ,and this occasions that cannibalism which is produced or proceeds rather from a sort of distemper much resembling maniaism4 ,habits and ,types of ,wetiko ,there are three sorts or kinds that ,i know of1 and believe there are no more4 ,the first ,i have already related as above1 and the two ,i am going to give you are sometimes compounded together and sometimes independent4 ,but they are both equally true and melancholy and distressing in whatever light we may view them4 ,however1 ,i shall not pretend by any means to palm all that is said about them upon you as true4 ,of this you'll by and bye be able to judge as well as myself1 and not doubt4 ,those ,driven to ,cannibalism by ,starvation ,the first of these are such as are driven to this dreadful extremity by starvation4 ,in all woody countries where the inhabitants lead a wandering1 roving life and whose subsistence depends upon the game they procure1 they must of necessity be frequently pinched and sometimes brought very low4 ,all people cannot bear this privation alike4 ,and though there is perhaps not #df a people in this world who take this so patiently as these people do1 yet there are not wanting instances where1 even with them1 that nature gives way4 ,they vanish as a dying candle4 ,but others cannot stand it out so long2 they must have something to eat1 be it what it may4 ,sometimes1 though with the most extreme reluctance at first1 they feed upon the flesh of such as have died4 ,any kind of animal substance1 at such times1 must come very grateful to the stomack4 ,and hence it is1 ,i believe1 that those who have once preyed upon their fellows ever after feel a great desire for the same nourishment4 ,and they are not so scrupulous about the means of procuring it4 ,i have seen several that had been reduced to this distressing alternative4 ,and though it be many years after1 there appeared to me a wildness in their eyes1 a confusion in their countenances much resembling that of reprieved murderers4 ,now1 if we consider how very precarious their mode of subsistance is1 how devoted they are to superstition and prejudice1 we--such of us as know more about them--we1 ,i say1 may wonder how they stand out so well4 ,very many instances ,i have known seem to be far beyond the power of human nature to stand4 ,yet1 notwithstanding this dreadful privation lasts not for a few days1 but even to weeks and months1 during all of which time the men are out from star-light to star-light and have never anything more to eat than some bits of leather1 moss1 bark and such like1 it is very rare they will kill a fellow to live upon him4 ,this is not universal4 ,there are unfortunately still too many exceptions1 but these again would seem as denounciations from their gods4 ,they appear so to me--,i can scarcely doubt it6 ,and the ,indians themselves seem to think the same1 though in another way4 ,at this place where ,i am now writing 7,lac ,la ,ronge1 ,english ,river71 but a few years back1 several instances occurred4 ,an old canadian is said to have lost one of his sons thus1 though an excellent hunter4 ,the old man sometimes speaks to me of that son4 ,and the second died on his way to the house1 and not far off4 ,the same year an ,indian killed all his family but two daughters whom he compelled to partake with him1 and for the rest of the route he 44444444444 ,i shall here give you a few stories of the kind4 ,story of a ,wetiko ,woman ,that same year 7,i do not know precisely when1 but only a few years back7 a woman alone arrived at the house4 ,her appearance was haggard1 wild1 and distressed4 ,however1 she was taken into the house4 ,questions were put as usual1 but the answers were vague1 indefinite and contradictory4 ,they handed her something to eat4 ,she acted as if eating it indeed1 but let the whole fall in the inside of her gown4 ,this roused suspicion4 ,but what added to this was the extraordinary stench she emitted from the heat of the chimney4 ,and shortly after her entrance a part of a human shoulder was found4 ,the dogs brought it in from upon her road4 ,she went off1 being directed upon a road leading to a camp not far off4 ,as soon as she made her appearance1 the ,indians immediately conceived what was the matter4 ,but through charity1 as well as for safety and to find the truth1 they gave her to eat principally marrow-fat4 ,now these people pretend that cannibals cannot bear this fat or grease4 ,of course it was a kind of ordeal4 ,everything she did and said1 notwithstanding her great caution1 betrayed her4 ,she took up one of the children of her acquaintances to #dg kiss1 as is customary1 but would have given it a bite had they not taken it from her4 ,they watched her narrowly4 ,all the men slept in one tent with her4 ,she pretended to be asleep 'till she imagined the others were1 then rose very cautiously1 and was beginning to prepare herself for action4 ,one of the men perceived this1 rose upon her with an axe4 ,though the blow was violent1 and upon the head1 she would have killed him had not the others interfered4 ,her wretched fate was soon decided4 ,there is such a singular1 strange1 incomprehensible contradictoriness in almost all these cases4 ,and many ,i have heard1 that ,i do most verily believe they are denunciations1 witch1 or wizardisms4 ,in any other manner they are not rationally to be accounted for1 unless we suppose all those who feed on human flesh to be thus possessed4 ,then it is natural to man in these cases4 ,but why then not the same with us as with these people8 ,those who ,dream of ,ice and the ,north ,the third kind--or delegated which by what follows1 ,i believe may be allowed to be the term--is made up of those who dream of the ,north or the ,ice or both4 ,everyone knows where the ,north resides1 but only few know the abode of ,ice or the ,ice4 ,this they pretend is the parent of ,ice4 ,it is in the bowels of the earth1 at a great depth and never thaws4 ,all ice originates from this4 ,these two they are much afraid of because they are both highly malignant spirits4 ,there is no joking or jesting with them4 ,those who at any future period are to become cannibals thus dream of them4 ,dream ,feasts ,of ,human ,flesh ,after the certain things usual in all dreams3 ,i was invited by the ,north to partake of a feast of ducks the most beautiful ,i had ever seen and well cooked4 ,the dish was before me4 ,i set to4 ,a stranger by me touched me with his elbow and said1 ,eat not thou of that1 look into thy dish6 ,behold that which ,i had taken for the wing of a duck was the arm of a child6 ,he6 ,what a narrow escape6 said ,i4 ,then he took me into another room and gave me most excellent meat1 the most delicious in appearance ,i had ever seen4 ,i would not eat4 ,i discovered it was the flesh of ,indians thus served up to me6 ,he took me into a third room and gave me tongues4 ,these ,i also perceived were the tongues of ,indians4 ,why refusest thou what ,i offer thee8 ,is it not good8 ,i feel no inclination to eat4 ,i replied4 ,then he took me in a fourth room where fine beautiful hearts were served up1 and ,i was desired to eat4 ,but ,i perceived that it was still the same4 ,i therefore refused4 ,then said he1 ,it is well done4 ,thou hast done well6 ,heh6 ,had ,i unfortunately eaten of this1 then had ,i become a cannibal in addition to all my other misfortunes4 ,those who eat at these feasts are frequently1 but not universally told thus3 ,this is a sign to thee that thou shalt one day become a cannibal and feed on the flesh of thy fellows4 ,when thou shalt see children play with and eat ice 7or snow7 in thy tent1 say ,my time is near4 ,for then thou shalt soon eat ,indian 7human7 flesh4 ,they have such dread and horror of this that it is constantly in their minds4 ,you white people6 ,you who live at your ease1 get your living out of your nets or from your ,indians1 and besides are not otherwise troubled as we1 make light of these things4 ,i do not make much account of them either4 ,but ,i tell you that he who thus once dreams of either of those dogs are for ever after continually troubled with them4 #dh ,we do everything in our power to drive him away from us4 ,but still he hovers about us1 and we cannot avoid him4 ,you are very fortunate6 ,you live as you please2 never care for him2 nor does he molest you4 ,such ,i am told are the sentiments of these people in general4 ,behavior of ,infected ,people ,i look upon this as a sort of mania1 a fever1 a distemper of the brain4 ,their eyes 7for ,i have seen them thus perplexed7 are wild and uncommonly clear2 they seem as if they glistened4 ,it seems to me to lodge in the head4 ,they are generally rational except at short1 sudden intervals when the paroxysms seize them4 ,their motions then are various and diametrically contrary at one time to what they are the next moment3 ,sullen1 thoughtful1 wild looking and perfectly mute1 staring in sudden convulsions1 they use wild1 incoherent and extravagant language4 ,an ,account of ,survival ,there was one a few years back infected with this not far from where ,i was at the time4 ,the accounts given of him1 though ,i shall not vouch for their truth1 are thus4 ,one night towards the latter end of ,december he began staring at his daughter with an extraordinary intenseness4 ,my daughter6 ,i am fond of thee6 ,i love thee extremely6 ,i know thou dost4 replied the woman abashed1 for she was then very young4 ,yes6 ,i love thee4 ,i think ,i could eat a piece of thee1 ,i love thee so much4 ,the girl exclaimed at his rashness4 ,there were but three of them3 the father1 daughter and her husband4 ,when it was dark he put himself stark naked4 ,and uttering a strong tremulous noise1 and his teeth chattering in his head as if through cold1 he rose up and walked out of the tent and laid himself1 curled as a dog in a heap1 upon the wood that his daughter had that day brought to the door4 ,here he remained all night in spite of what they could do4 ,a little before day he returned4 ,thus did he every night for about a month1 and every time slept out naked4 ,nor would he eat1 excepting at times a little raw flesh4 ,in the daytime he was more composed1 but his face bore the appearance of one possessed of the ,devil4 ,he recovered and became as usual--composed1 and good natured4 ,i knew them all well1 but had no dealings with them from the year before 7#ahab74 ,executing a ,wetiko ,a young ,indian a few years back had one of the above dreams4 ,he became very uneasy and thoughtful finding it recur so very frequently4 ,and he would have willing undergone any torments1 any death1 rather than become an anthropophagi4 ,he also frequently desired his friends1 upon any the least appearance of these symptoms in him1 to kill him4 ,for if you do not kill me 'till ,i have eaten of human flesh1 you'll perhaps not be able to do it afterwards4 ,but my children6 ,oh6 my children6 ,how grieved am ,i to leave ye6 ,but it must be so2 ,i have no alternative4 ,spare me not my friends1 ,i conjure sic you6 ,he had been a good hunter and a peaceable ,indian and1 of course1 much loved by his friends4 ,this business depressed them a great deal4 ,at last1 the time approaching fast1 his brother one day remained behind with him to watch him whilst the others pitched off4 ,about the time this one thought the others had finished the encampment1 he proposed their setting off to join them4 ,but before long he left his brother behind and laid an ambush for him #di not far from the tent4 ,this was a preconcerted scheme2 the other men1 of course1 were not far off4 ,the sick one drew near in a very slow and thoughtful manner4 ,however1 when he came near to where his brother was hid1 he stopped1 looked up and called out1 ,thou thinkest thyself well hid from me1 my brother1 but ,i see thee4 ,it is well thou undertakest this4 ,it had been better for thee1 however1 hadst thou begun sooner4 ,remember what ,i told you all4 ,it is my heart2 my heart that is terrible1 and however you may injure my body1 if you do not completely annihilate my heart1 nothing is done4 ,the brother was sure that he was not discovered--this knowledge being the information of some of the spirits4 ,he therefore did not answer4 ,some of the other men had gone to meet him and endeavoured to amuse him1 that the brother might give the first blow4 ,accordingly he shot--straight for the heart4 ,he dropped but rose immediately and continued towards the camp that was within sight1 laughing at their undertaking4 ,the ball went through and through1 but not a drop of blood was seen--,his heart was already formed into ,ice4 ,here they seized and bound him1 and with ice chissels and axes set to work to dispatch him4 ,according to his desire they had collected a large pile of dry wood and laid him upon it4 ,the body was soon consumed1 but the heart remained perfect and entire2 it rolled several times off the pile4 ,they replaced it as often4 ,fear seized them4 ,then with their 7ice7 chissels they cut and hacked it into small bits1 but yet with difficulty was it consumed6 ,treatments and ,recovery ,they fancy that blood which circulated through the heart first turns into water1 then coagulates or congeals1 and shortly after becomes into solid imperforable or impenetrable ice4 ,the only antidote or remedy for this is to give them large draughts of high-wines1 double distilled spirits1 or the spirits of wine1 if any can be had the better4 ,this taken in large draughts and frequently and kept beside a large fire flows to the heart and thaws the ice4 ,if a profuse sweat ensues1 it is a happy omen4 ,an ,indian with me this winter gave out his apprehensions that he was thus tormented4 ,i communicated it to two others who happened to come in about that time4 ,why do you not give him large draughts of your strongest spirits to drink and keep him in the room beside a large fire8 ,i replied that ,i was afraid it would burn him4 ,oh no6 ,if he is a real ,windigo1 it will only do him good by driving out the ice4 ,but if he lies to you1 indeed1 then it certainly will injure him4 ,but it will be good for him1 and teach him for the future not to impose upon people to frighten them4 ,however1 they are1 in general1 kind and extremely indulgent to those thus infected4 ,they seem to consider it as an infliction and are desirous of doing all they can to assist4 ,there are1 however1 many exceptions4 ,but these again depend upon the circumstances attending them4 ,one of my best hunters here is thus tormented1 or at least thus torments himself1 and very often desires his friends1 in compassion1 to put a period to his existence the first symptoms he may shew of cannibalism4 ,a young girl1 lately married1 and scarcely worth a filip so small and diminutive1 was this winter seized with this phrensy4 ,the consequence was that the men durst not leave the tent for #ej any length of time1 being obliged to assist the women in holding and preventing her from biting or eating any of the children and perhaps herself4 ,they bethought of a sacrifice3 cropping her hair--and short4 ,she recovered and is now well4 ,she says1 ,i do not recollect any single one circumstance of all that is told me4 ,i thought ,i was always on the tops of the trees4 ,there is another one of my ,indians thus affected too4 ,the ,indians say it is a punishment 7from some of their familiars1 of course7 for so lightly esteeming their ceremonies--nay indeed--and ridiculing them often4 ,this fall1 he began3 ,there were but two men of them together 7with each his family74 ,things bore a most dismal aspect4 ,at last the wife of the other1 who1 by-the-bye1 is said to be a little affected that way too1 told him one day that he sprang forward to seize one of his own children1 ,keep quiet for1 thou dog1 if a gun hath no effect on thee1 my axe shall4 ,i shall chop thee up into slices6 ,thou hast then better be quiet6 ,this kept him indeed quiet for some time4 ,how they are now ,i cannot say1 not having heard of them from the beginning of ,december 7now ,april #bjth74 ,they appear most inclined to prey first upon their own family4 ,and they also think that firearms are absolutely unable to injure them4 ,a ball cannot injure ,ice4 ,to destroy ,ice1 it must be chopped up4 ,and the heart then is all ,ice4 ,they sometimes1 indeed frequently1 recover with the warm weather1 for the sun then animates all nature666 ,there are many other instances of a like kind in their tendency or consequences1 but different in their proceedings1 that ,i cannot bring to mind at present4 ,i mention several of these to shew you the different manner they are infected4 ,in the mean time ,i shall relate you others not less entertaining4 ,malignant ,spirits ,north1 ,ice1 ,skeletons and the ,crazy ,woman ,there are several spirits of whom these people are much afraid1 but four principally1 they being the most malignant and little accepting of excuses1 however great and urgent they may be1 for the non performance of their sacrifices4 ,these are the ,north1 ,ice1 ,skeletons and the ,crazy ,woman1 or foolish1 mad1 jealous woman4 ,not very many years ago an ,indian had entered his conjuring hut4 ,she came among the rest4 ,but being displeased with the conjurer on account of some sacrifice to other spirits1 she seized and carried him off6 ,skeleton perceived it1 and being fond of the conjurer1 pursued ,jealousy4 ,finding herself nearly overtaken1 she prefered her own safety to vengeance and let the ,indian fall in some place at a vast distance from where he had been taken4 ,skeleton took him up and brought him back to the great satisfaction of all parties4 ,she frequently comes with the others when they conjure4 ,but on her appearance she is desired to be quiet1 ,pay-ah-tick3 gently1 quietly1 peaceably4 ,master ,skeleton also is as much dreaded as ,folly1 if not more1 because he shews himself at any time he pleases1 it not being necessary to conjure to call him to4 ,there is an ,indian who1 before he married1 had his dress shoes made by this lady 7,folly1 or ,jealousy74 ,she was1 of course1 extremely fond of him4 ,the shoes were beautifully garnished1 far superior to anything of the kind done by our women6 ,there are not #ea wanting ladies1 living with the white1 who confer full share of their favors on some of the ,indians1 and from one of these ,i fancy it is he got these shoes4 ,but to hide the business1 he imputed them to ,folly1 which served him a double end4 ,if ,i can see that chap ,i shall be very particular in my inquiries of him4 ,i know him well4 ,this brings to my mind the white stag or hind ,sertorius had in his exile and during his wars with his country1 as mentioned by ,plutarch4 ,indeed1 to be candid1 ,i find a very great affinity between the ideas and notions of these people and those of the ,greeks and ,romans4 ,and by these affinities1 much--far much--better than by the incongruous hypothesis of the learned1 might be traced the origin of these people4 ,and ,i am far from taking the task to be difficult4 ,would we only divest ourselves of our own prejudices and take the proper plan1 this great ,enigma1 if ,i may so explain myself1 would be not perfectly cleared ,i allow1 but a rational clew would be afforded to the unravelling of it4 ,i have read many of these hypotheses1 but they are so filled with inconsistencies that ,i could scarcely believe men could employ so much time in them4 44444 ,i could say something else instead of the conclusion of this last sentence4 ,a ,gentleman1 and an ,englishman too1 but ,i forget his name1 would wish to insinuate that these people are from a different origin with ourselves3 from ,adam4 ,and to prove his hypothesis1 he begins by an anatomizing hogs6 7,see the ,encyclopaedia1 not by ,rees1 but ,fitz-,patrick ,i believe47 ,this puts me in mind of some of the ,newtonian ,systems3 ,there is no such thing in nature as cold4 ,we must say an absence of heat6 ,why cannot we as well say there is no such thing as darkness1 but merely an absence of light1 or reverse either1 and either will be as reasonable4 ,most strange reasoning is this indeed6 ,confession ,these people have a notion that confession saves them from many accidents and also preserves the lives of the sick1 or rather restores them to their wonted health4 ,i have not learned the origin of this--when1 why1 or wherefore--but it seems to be very remote1 to have sprung up with their mythology4 ,i shall make it a point to enquire very particularly into this1 and for this1 as well as other things1 at different quarters to find and detect errors4 ,but all1 however1 that ,i have written in these pages1 though there may be some difference in the recital and perhaps a few straggling circumstances1 are1 ,i have great reason to think1 fundamentally the same throughout among these people4 44444 ,when any one of them is particularly affected with diseases out of the common course of nature here1 or though the disease may be precisely the same as all others1 yet1 from certain circumstances individually1 or a combination of them1 they say he is ,oh-gee-nay in ,cree1 or ,on-gee-nay in ,sauteux 7the ,on pronounced as in ,french and not ,english71 by which it would seem as if they meant he was afflicted or chastised for his own sins1 or those of some of his or her near relatives3 father1 mother1 if children2 if grown up and married persons1 for their own4 ,whether they only imagine this1 or are informed of it by conjuring1 private #eb information from their familiars1 or from the symptoms of the sick person1 ,i cannot say1 but the thus afflicted person must confess his sins publicly4 ,now in these confessions1 as in all their other discourses or conversations 7initiating and giving of medicines excepted71 they use no circumlocution1 no secret or enigmatical word or term1 to screen themselves4 ,but all is delivered in plain terms and before everyone that chuses to hear4 ,these confessions are terrible things4 ,and they seem far more sincere and complete than those of many ,catholics4 ,they have wonderful1 retentive memories1 and no scene1 no crime from their earliest years unto that day do they hide4 ,but ,great ,god6 ,what abominations6 ,one would scarcely imagine the human mind capable of inventing such infamously diabolical actions as some do commit3 murder1 incest1 and other things1 if possible an hundredfold more1 debasing the human soul4 ,whether they repent of these things1 neither can ,i say1 but it would appear as if they were the acts of a contrite and most humbly penitant soul4 ,i have never had an opportunity of hearing these from their own mouths1 but other ,indians have told me of them4 ,and though before their families sometimes1 they have never omitted one single circumstance1 from the suggestions of the idea1 down to the very last conclusion4 ,when ,i heard of these things at first1 ,i would not believe them4 ,but hearing them come so circumstantially1 ,i trembled for the ,land ,i sojourned in lest it should vomit me out as the land of ,canaan did its inhabitants1 or be swallowed up in its destruction as ,sodom and ,gomorrah6 ,it is true they are not all so4 ,no1 ,i am told there are but few1 and in charity ,i hope it is so4 ,otherwise what will be my fate seeing ,i am1 in a certain degree1 partaker with them8 ,surely the inhabitants of such a land1 at best1 cannot look for more than mere present enjoyment4 ,when ,i reflect seriously on all these things1 as ,i sometimes do1 revolving them in every different manner in my mind1 it is beyond the power of words to express my feelings4 ,poor unfortunate1 blind creatures6 ,that it is from blindness they commit these things1 ,i am fully persuaded1 because ,i am equally confident that they do not attach that same degree of criminality to them we1 from the revealing of the ,scriptures to us1 do4 ,some they consider in the light of trifles1 some natural1 some weaknesses4 ,but all tend to the gratification of most bestial appetites whatever may have been the original cause1 curiosity or otherwise4 ,however1 ,i received a piece of information in one of these1 and it was circumstantially detailed1 that has cleared a point to me ,i could never solve4 ,and though ,i enquired of both ,wool and ,bob1 they were not wiser than myself4 ,indeed1 without the trial or experiment1 it seems impossible to say certainly where the cause lies4 ,now ,i know it4 ,if ever an opportunity offers1 or that it pleases ,god ,i again revisit my own lands1 ,i shall be able to speak to a certainty4 ,as ,i cannot write ,latin1 ,i shall say no more of it at present4 ,a few years back an ,indian at the next post above this died4 ,he had been a long time sick1 #ec and from this conceived himself ongenay and accordingly prepared for his confession4 ,having received the details at second and third hand1 ,i shall endeavour to give part of them to you as near their stile as ,i can4 ,but really ,i find myself very inadequate to the task4 ,there is a certain poetic sublimity in their language on such like occasions as will not easily meet with credit from those 7the better informed7 of the civilized world unacquainted with these people4 ,even amongst ourselves there are but few1 for few can judge of the beauties of a language1 and most of those few have too high a notion of their own mighty superiority to stoop to regular conversation with them4 ,but to return--,after having revealed all1 or most part1 of his sins to the company in general1 he thus addressed his family in particular3 ,you see1 my children1 my distressed state4 ,i cannot move nor stir without assistance4 ,and ,i feel strengthened in my lungs 7breast1 heart71 merely as it were by permission of my ,dreamed 7some particular one he meant7 to divulge my offenses to the gods 7or ,god7 publicly1 before you all1 to deter you from the same vices 7wickednesses74 ,i was once a young man also1 the same as you are now1 healthy and vigorous4 ,nothing appeared difficult nor dangerous to me4 ,i lived as became a man1 and prospered accordingly4 ,but ,i thought that this proceeded from my own power only4 ,had ,i so continued1 all had been well6 ,but no1 ,i unfortunately heard speak of such ,indians 7meaning this place1 as my informants tell me71 how powerful they were in their medicines1 the extraordinary feats they performed4 ,i envied them1 and thought that ,i required but that knowledge more to render me perfect 7immortal7 and happy4 ,i undertook a voyage to that place4 ,i found that the bare truth had been scarcely told me4 ,i burned with anxiety to become as knowing as themselves1 and ,i was gratified4 ,had ,i rested here1 all had yet been well4 ,but in learning their medicines1 ,i also learned of them those vices1 those sins1 that by their practice have reduced me to this wretched situation4 ,my sons6 ,take example from your father6 ,be good charitable1 and peaceable ,indians as ,i was at the first set off of my life4 ,and employ the same means2 indulge1 use the same anxiety to avoid1 that ,i did to procure that information that hath reduced me so far below the level even of a dog4 ,never forget this4 ,never indulge even the least desire of such acquisitions4 ,for if you once begin1 you will be deluded by their flattery to that destruction ,i have found4 ,but you are young men6 ,and unless you find grace1 you also will be deluded and lost as ,i am6 ,i have heard a good deal said of this ,indian's confession and exhortations to his sons4 ,they were not lost4 ,he himself lived but a short time and seemed much comforted by it4 ,animal ,sacrifice 7,beaver ,indians7 ,there is a tribe of ,athabasca that go by the name of ,beaver ,indians4 ,from the tenets of their religion1 ,i am told that1 when laying under any malediction1 bewichisms1 or conceive themselves so1 they make a vow that the first animal they shall kill they will do so4 ,they do not fail1 but immediately proceed in quest of another which1 by this diabolical action1 they think they will soon find and kill4 ,they do not touch the animal afterwards1 #ed as those beasts among the ,crees and ,sauteux do1 but leave it lay as a sacrifice4 ,they consider it as a duty imposed upon them4 ,but the others do it from mere beastiality4 ,such a one did so--brought home part of the meat1 and we all of us eat it6 ,oh6 the dog6 said an ,indian not long ago to me4 ,fragments ,lest ,i may not soon have another opportunity of writing on these subjects to you1 ,i shall add a few more fragments4 ,the ,great ,doctor ,an ,indian here1 passing for a great doctor1 was applied to 7and is still7 by many to attend upon them4 ,several of these he retrieved from death4 ,one of his dreamed ,i believe the ,north1 was not pleased and told the doctor never to administer his medicines to those he had doomed to death4 ,the doctor replied it was hard and uncharitable seeing he could prolong their days a little4 ,well6 ,for every one that thou dost deprive me of1 ,i shall take one of thy children4 ,and the doctor lost eight or nine 7,i cannot now remember well74 ,but he is now grown more cautious4 ,but this ,doctor is himself a beast4 ,being unable to stand from sickness1 he told two of his wives ,take ye me one under each arm to my sweet-heart4 ,i feel myself dying and don't chuse thus to go4 ,and he actually did4 ,remember ,i am told this1 but ,i have reasons to believe it4 ,he is an incestuous beast4 ,otherwise1 ,i find him a good ,indian and1 what is most strange1 sensible beyond many of his equals4 ,the ,devil and the ,tailor ,caricature ,i have got a caracature here of the ,devil carrying off a tailor4 ,i asked one of my ,indians if any of their familiars resembled him and how they were4 ,the reply was3 ,yes1 he resides in the ,north 7at the ,pole ,i suppose7 and has a vast number of young men4 ,the ,indians report of some finding their tracks that are very numerous and exactly resemble the tracks of the grey deer 7carriboeuf74 ,but neither he nor his young men are very wicked4 ,north1 ,ice1 ,skeleton and ,folly are the most wicked and ill inclined of all those we dream of or enter the conjuring box6 ,feasts ,of their feasts ,i cannot say more than any common observer4 ,i have been invited and partaken of many of them1 but ,i never thought of enquiring into their origin and the causes of them4 ,but from the little ,i could learn1 or rather understand from the speeches made at all of them1 and what ,i have learnt in regard to other things1 ,i think ,i may say1 without dreading contradiction1 that as there are songs and ceremonies appropriate to every one of their gods or familiars or devils1 there are also feasts made for each according to the whim1 dream or some other circumstance of the one who makes them4 ,we denominate these 'feasts'1 and from their own term it would seem they so mean4 ,but ,i consider this again as a premature interpretation which ,i have not leisure to explain4 ,i consider them rather as sacrifices4 ,indeed they may perhaps rather be esteemed as partaking of both4 ,i have somewhere above said that they are obliged to make an annual sacrifice to some of their gods as the non-performance passes not off with impunity4 ,these therefore are obligatory or compulsory sacrifices4 ,but besides these they also have free-will sacrifices4 ,these feasts or sacrifices are not universally #ee of flesh4 ,they have them of flesh1 grease1 dried berries and rum4 ,and few of these feasts are made without the one who makes it offering a certain part 7very small1 only a few mouthsful7 to him whom it is in honor of or intended for4 ,this he most commonly puts into the fire1 in or on the ground4 ,some of them are very grand and ceremonius1 the titbits of the animal only1 as the head1 heart1 and liver1 tongue1 and paws when of a bear4 ,it is only the great men that are allowed to eat of these4 ,others again1 besides the above1 eat the brisket1 rump and ribbs4 ,and very seldom a woman is allowed to partake of them1 particularly if it is un festin tout manger--to eat the whole4 ,though there may be sufficient for two or three times the number of guests1 all must be eaten before day4 ,though1 in certain cases1 the feaster is obliged1 and commonly does1 take part back1 providing a knife1 a bit of tobacco1 or something else attend with the dish4 ,in these great feasts1 the feaster makes one or several speeches before we begin to eat1 and one again after all is done4 ,and he sometimes sings1 beats the drum and makes speeches during the whole time of the feast1 never partaking of a morsel himself4 ,at some of them there is dancing to be performed4 ,i happened to be called to one of these many years ago4 ,it was the principal parts of a bear4 ,and the paunch had been filled with the liver1 heart and fat1 with blood1 minced1 and much resembling that dish the ,scotch term haggish4 ,we were all very hungry1 and though we gormandized 7it cannot be called eating7 there yet remained full two thirds4 ,the ,feaster was uneasy1 and said he would have been proud had we eaten all1 for in that case his dreamed would have been propitious4 ,we were obliged to dance also4 ,but when ,i could stow no more1 ,i gave him my knife and a bit of tobacco and walked off leaving him to settle with his god as well as he could4 ,but indeed ,i was not very scrupulous then1 otherwise ,i had most certainly avoided many of them though it is oftentimes dangerous if there be not method or qualification in the refusal4 ,their feasts of rum are often to some one of the four wicked ones1 praying them to be propitious and not allow themselves to be influenced by the wicked solicitations of envious ,indians4 ,many years ago ,i happened to be out a hunting a few miles from the house and came unexpectedly upon the lodge of a few ,indians ,i had that day given rum to4 ,i heard one of them harangue1 and drew up cautiously to listen4 ,he entreated the rain1 snow and frost to have pity upon their young ones 7that they might kill74 ,i communicated this a few years after to a couple of gentlemen4 ,one of them1 longer in the country than myself1 denied it and enquired of his wife who had lived a long time with the ,indians4 ,she corroborated his denial4 ,i perceived the cause1 and told him that it was because they do not chuse that we become too well informed of all their ceremonies4 ,it was to no effect1 and ,i had almost a mind to credit the woman too myself1 but by insinuation ,i find ,i am perfectly right4 ,thus #ef it happens in almost everything else4 ,a thing that does not meet with our approbation1 or be a little beyond the sphere of our limited information1 we immediately deny or condemn4 ,whereas by taking proper measures to enquire or inform ourselves1 not only those things themselves1 but others far more interesting1 and sometimes too of the greatest moment1 whether to ourselves or others1 are rendered probable1 reasonable1 certain4 ,hence it is also that many1 upon receiving a piece of information1 there rest themselves as upon a rock of certainty4 ,now either of these ,i consider equally blameable as they lead to distrust1 doubt1 and sometimes to a complete refutation or assertion of facts that very oftentimes cast a stain or stigma1 sometimes upon the whole people1 and without any other foundation than1 as might be said1 that all powerful veto4 ,they have feasts for the dead1 most commonly berries1 or in countries where it is made1 sugar4 ,generally yearly a bark box of perhaps #b or #c gallons is placed in the grave1 upon it1 or well hid in some private nook1 if they are afraid1 or do not chuse1 it be taken4 ,i ought rather to have said these are sacrifices4 ,but independent of these1 they have feasts also1 and feasts of baptism--feasts in short for almost every occasion4 ,besides these they have smoking feasts2 these are to deliberate4 ,i shall1 should it please ,god ,i live1 make it a point to enquire particularly into the origin of all these4 ,conjuring ,ceremony 7,june #dth1 #ahbc7 ,june #eth4 ,these last #c days have been busy and turbulent ones for me4 ,it is now considerably past midnight 7and of course the #fth ,june7 but my ,indians are drinking and ,i cannot think of going to bed4 ,till they do ,i shall employ my few remaining leisure moments 7'till next year1 please ,god ,i live so long7 in giving you an account of a conjuring bout ,i1 with some difficulty1 got an ,indian to make last night 7,june #dth74 ,in the evening the hut was prepared at some distance from the houses on account of the stink1 as the spirits cannot or will not endure any pollution4 ,the hut consisted of ten poles about seven feet out of ground1 well stuck in1 and somewhat better than three feet diameter4 ,the ,poles were secured with two hoops4 ,they were covered with two parchment skins 7of moose7 well bound with many rounds of strong leather line4 ,the top was covered with a dressed skin and secured also1 to prevent its being carried off 7by the wind74 ,about #aj ,p4,m4 7still broad daylight with us7 we drew up with the conjurer1 smoked and chatted some time4 ,after this he took his drum1 much resembling a tambourine1 and with a stick gently struck it all the time he made a speech4 ,i was almost touching him 7all seated7 but from the noise of the drum and his low voice1 for the man has a dreadful complaint on his lungs1 ,i could only gather1 ,take pity upon me2 take pity upon me4 ,hear and come4 ,let me not speak in vain1 nor become abashed4 ,show me charity4 444 ,it was a moderate and decent prayer4 ,after this they1 for there were several men1 #eg began to sing using the drum and rattler4 ,they sang1 among others1 the ,moose1 ,horse1 ,bear1 and ,dog songs1 about a dozen in number4 ,then he prepared by taking off his clothes1 all to his cloute1 and asked who should tie him4 ,i replied that ,i would1 but was afraid of hurting him4 ,another conjurer did1 beginning with his fingers between the #b joints nearest the hand1 nearly as ,i can describe it1 thus giving a double turn to the line between each finger4 ,and the line was new mackerel1 small1 which ,i happened to have in my pocket by accident4 ,i drew up to inspect4 ,and observing the fingers to swell upon his complaining of the tightness1 ,i felt a good deal for him4 ,after this his blanket was wrapped round him and tied in such a manner1 lengthways1 crossways and every way4 ,and a good knot ,i tied at each meeting of the cords1 for ,i assisted in this1 that ,i could have laid any wager that it was beyond the power of spirits themselves1 thus tied1 to extricate themselves4 ,and his hands were under his hams4 ,as he could no more move than fly1 of himself1 the other conjurer and ,i put him to the door4 ,but behold it was with difficulty6 ,we could just get his head in1 the entry being too narrow by about ten or twelve inches screwing and jaming considered4 ,it will do1 it will do4 said the conjurer1 ,cover me now4 ,his back was covered with a blanket1 and we all retreated to our seats1 myself about four feet distant4 ,the others took the drum and began to sing4 ,i could not help but laughing in myself and pitying the boldness of their vanity4 ,but ,i had soon occasion to think otherwise1 and had ,i not predetermined that reason should conduct me throughout the whole of this1 ,i cannot say how far in the other extreme ,i might have gone4 ,but to return3 ,the conjurer desired the others to sing4 ,they began a short song1 ,i believe it was that of the ,stone1 and the man entered in an instant6 ,i was struck dumb with astonishment1 for he appeared to me to slide in by something that was neither invisible nor descernible4 ,i heard something that1 for the life of me1 ,i cannot account for1 and that's all4 ,from the time we covered him 7twenty-five minutes past #aj ,p4,m47 to the time we had done hunting for the twine that tied his fingers1 not quite five minutes elapsed4 ,and not one and a half minutes passed before his blanket and the cords were thrown out to us6 ,not one of them1 apparently 7one knot7 untied6 ,my astonishment and apprehensions of his being entirely carried off from us were such that ,i was nearly springing up to haul him out for fear of his being forever lost4 ,the others continued singing a few other songs1 and ,i had the utmost anxiety in hearing him repeatedly call out1 as if in the greatest apprehensions himself1 ,enough6 ,enough6 #eh ,enough of ye ,i say61 and frequently for the space of some minutes repeating the same1 and now and then calling out1 ,do not ,thou enter6 ,the ,stone was the first one known to us by his song2 for every one1 almost1 that entered sang his song1 to which those 7the ,indians7 on the outside would keep chorus4 ,a vast number entered4 ,i verily believe upward of an hundred did so1 for upwards of that number of times the frame shook back and forwards1 and very smartly1 as if to fall4 ,and among the first were some truly terrible characters4 ,i have almost entirely converted myself from these foolish ideas of ghosts and hobgoblins1 but ,i assure you in truth that ,i more than once felt very uneasy4 ,the ,ice entered4 ,he made a noise extremely resembling that made by a person shivering with cold1 loud1 and hoarse and liquid4 ,the ,devil himself also entered in propria persona1 in a very authoritative and commanding manner4 ,i assure you there was no laughing nor gigling outside4 ,all the time he sang and spoke4 ,the ,turtle spoke as an old1 jocular man4 ,i hate the ,french1 for in their travels1 when they find me1 they kill me and eat me4 ,i shall answer none of their questions4 ,but this was a joke1 for he laughed4 ,speak out1 ,turtle6 ,speak out louder that we hear thee6 said those without4 ,i would too1 replied he1 but my voice is so strong ,i must contract it thus1 otherwise ye could not endure the sound of it4 ,stop6 continued he1 ,i must imitate the drunk6 which he did to the great diversion of us all4 ,and he concluded with snoring1 the natural end of all drunken feasts1 and then became quiet4 ,on which another voice 7which ,i also perfectly heard and understood as well as the ,turtle herself sic7 cried out1 ,see6 ,see if she does not look like a frog stretched out6 and this raised a proper laugh both in and out4 ,the ,dog entered1 and spoke perfectly plain and distinctly1 and with a more elegant and harmonious voice than ,i ever heard in my life4 ,bears of three or four different sorts1 the ,horse1 ,moose1 ,skeletons1 spirits of departed and still living friends entered4 ,but none but the latter and above mentioned were to be understood by any but the conjurer himself4 ,on the entering of one1 ,that is my 7adopted7 ,son4 said an ,indian seated by me1 and called out his name to which he readily answered besides questions4 ,this young man and a girl1 both living1 spoke very plain 7you must observe that it is not their bodies1 but their souls or spirits that enter74 ,there were children almost at the instant of birth1 dwarfs1 giants4 ,but this latter did make a noise indeed4 ,we all laughed very heartily when the ,horse entered1 for it appears he passed too near the ,turtle who called out as the horse was flying about 7in the inside7 singing and rattling his rattler1 ,i wish you would take care of yourself and not #ei tread on one4 in allusion to his diminutive size in comparison with that of ,horse4 ,it is somewhat surprising that everyone that entered1 whether he spoke plainly1 or was interpreted1 their first words were1 ,your lands are distressed4 ,keep not on the ,grand ,river--sickness1 sickness4 ,but from amongst ye here ,i shall select only a few aged ones4 said one of the latter1 but in a voice no one but the conjurer could understand4 ,as he went out1 however1 the conjurer paid him a most bawdy compliment4 ,we all laughed and asked what was the matter4 ,pah6 ,nothing4 ,i am only afraid of him4 said the conjurer ,one of them that entered1 apparantly the ,devil himself for he spoke and acted en veritable maitre1 startled us all a great deal and enquired authoritatively and angrily1 ,what want ye of me8 ,speak6 ,upon several hurried enquiries put to him1 he said that some things ,i saw and heard in my house this winter were by ,mr4 ,frobisher1 who expired so dreadfully in #ahai4 ,he is a skeleton 7,pah-kack72 and it is he who built this house4 ,he comes to see4 ,though ,i did certainly both hear and see several times this winter1 and once in particular about two ,a4,m41 yet ,i do not feel much inclined to add faith to this assertion of ,davy's4 ,i must have something more substantial4 ,but ,i am much inclined to doubt master ,davy's assertions and consider this and several others of his sayings at former periods in the same light as those he delivered at many of the ,grecian temples1 for ,i have every substantial reason to consider him as the same identical gentleman4 ,however1 a short time hence will decide4 ,the ,turtle said we should have a good deal of rain1 but not a very great deal1 and a very high wind1 and as soon as the ,sun should appear4 ,at its setting1 an ,indian 7naming him by a very extraordinary and bawdy feature in his person7 should arrive and bring us meat2 but this you will eat of course1 and ,i shall go without4 ,beware of yourselves4 ,tomorrow night you shall drink and be drunk4 ,drink and leave the house as soon as you can1 for there are from that wind 7by which he designated the ,south7 who if they drink with ye1 ye shall become pitiful1 alluding to two blackguard half breed brothers who1 proud of the bravery of their deceased father1 are ever and anon insulting and domineering over other ,indians4 ,it is worthy of remark that an aged man in the course of this last winter was advised of the same and repeatedly pressed not to drink at the house on their accord4 ,this is now the #fth 7,june74 ,the ,sun appears1 but the wind is very high1 and we have frequent showers of rain and snow4 ,about midnight the conjurer addressed me and asked if ,i wished to see any of them 7the ,spirits74 ,i accepted the offer and thrust my head underneath4 ,and being upon my back1 ,i looked up and near the top observed a light as of a star in a cloudy night1 about one and a half inches long and one broad--#fj though dim1 yet perfectly distinct4 ,though they all appear as lights1 some larger and others smaller1 this one was denominated the ,fisher ,star1 the name by which they designate the ,plough1 ,i believe we call it1 or ,great ,bear1 from the supposed resemblance it bears to that animal1 the fisher4 ,when ,i was entering1 several of the ,indians on the outside called out to the spirits1 ,gently6 ,gently6 ,it is our ,chief who wishes to see you4 ,do him no evil6 ,i had my apprehensions4 ,a little after one ,p4,m4 one of my men looked in with several ,indians and saw several small lights about as large as the thumbnail4 ,a few minutes before two ,p4,m41 being daylight1 they gave another shaking to the frame and made their exit4 ,the above is an account of only a small part1 for ,i am too much pressed for time4 ,i cannot therefore enter into particulars1 nor a larger detail1 nor give you my opinion further than a few words4 ,i am fully convinced1 as much so as that ,i am in existence1 that spirits of some kind did really and virtually enter1 some truly terrific1 but others1 again1 quite of a different character4 ,i cannot enter into a detail by comparisons from ancient and more modern history1 but ,i found the consonance1 analogy1 resemblance1 affinity1 or whatever it may be termed1 so great1 so conspicuous that ,i verily believe ,i shall never forget the impressions of that evening4 ,but above all things that stick most forcibly in my mind is the unbound gratitude we owe and ought to shew every instant of our existence to that ,almighty ,power that deigned to sacrifice his only ,son for us for our ,salvation6 ,oh my ,god1 let me never forget this6 ,and teach me to thank thee not only with my lips but with every action of my life6 ,here ,i must close and in a few minutes seal up this for your perusal1 sincerely wishing ,i may find an opportunity1 safe1 of conveying it to you4 ,how earnestly ,i wish ,robert had been present and understood the language4 ,this would convince the most skeptic4 ,to ,mr ,wm ,nelson1 ,wm ,henry ,g4 ,nelson ,note3 ,read these pages among yourselves and lend them not out of the house4 ,part #b ,typescript ,page #ast ,the following few ,stories or ,tales will give a better notion or ,idea of the religion of these ,people than every other description ,i am able to pen1 as their history is read with interest1 ,i am persuaded these few ,pages will be found equally deserving attention4 ,i give them the same as ,i received them leave every one to make his own remarks to draw his own conclusions4 ,my ,interpretor1 a young half breed1 passed the winter of -'#ai-'bj with the ,indians gives this account4 ,one day shortly before ,christmass he was out with an elderly man1 a chief of this place1 a hunting4 ,suddenly he stopped as to listen1 apparent- ly with great eagerness anxiety1 upon which after allowing a sufficient time the ,int4 asked what was the matter8 ,listen you'll hear ,i have listened1 says the ,intr4 but hear no- thing it is surprising that you who are deaf should hear ,i not--,ah6 a white man is thy father thou are just as skeptical3 doubting ridiculing every thing we say or do 'till when it is then too late--then ye lament1 but in vain 4444 ,after this the ,indian became much down-cast very thoughtful for several days2 as if to increase his anxiety or rather to to corroborate the husbands assertions1 his wife said that one day she also heard1 tho' the other women that were with her heard nothing1 an altercation ensued4 ,his uneasyness increasing too much he was forced to have recourse to their only alternative in such cases1 i4e4 une ,jonglerie as the french term it1 that is conjuring4 ,one of their party1 another half-breed1 abandoned many years since by his ,father leading an indian life1 was applied to3 he is reputed a true man1 i4e4 never lies4 ,out of respect to the other he was induced to consent1 but much against his will2 for ,i am much afraid that some of these times they will carry me off4 ,he was prepared1 entered with his rattler1 shortly after which the box the rattler began to move in the usual brisk violent manner4 ,many entered1 one asked what was wanted that they had been called upon4 ,the indian from the outside of the frame 7for only the conjuror alone enters7 inquired if there was not some evil spirit near from whom he had much every thing to dread8--,no1 replied the same voice1 all is quiet1 you trouble yourself with vain phantoms ,what then is the meaning1 asked again the ,indian1 of the those sud- den flashes of light ,i sometimes see in the night8--,what6 rejoined another voice from within1 hast thou attained unto this age never yet observed this2 then laughing1 continued1 it is al- ways the case during this moon 7,december7 if you doubt me1 for the future observe attentively you will find it to be the case4--,this satisfied him for the time1 he became cheerful assumed his wonted ways4 ,but not for a long time--he soon relapsed1 after some days applied again to the conjurer4 ,when he had entered his box or frame--a number again entered one of them enquired why they were called for8 ,the conjuror said -4 ,what8 says he199 again6 ,thou art very skeptical--dost thou not believe8 now thou art fond of1 thou wantest to be haunted1 well thou shalt have thy desire4 ,at these 99 i4e4 the ,spirit 7#b7 these dreadful words1 which were uttered in an angry reproving manner1 every soul was struck with terror2 but as if to give some consolation assured him that that spirit had but just left his home1 coming on very slowly would not be up with them 'till such a time1 a little prior to which they were ordered to conjure again1 when they would be told what to do4 ,this was no pleasant information to the conjuror who never undertook this job but with the greatest reluctance1 nay indeed even sometimes horor3 ,however1 he neither1 poor creature had no alternative4 ,at the time appointed he entered again1 every thing being prepared4 ,after the preliminary de- mands or questions c4 yes replies one of the spirits1 that which thou dreadest is near1 is drawing on apace 444 ,how shall we do8 what shall we do8 exclaimed the indian-- ,at last one of them1 who goes by the name of the ,bull or ,buffaloe 7thru the conjuror1 for he alone could understand him his voice being hoarse rough1 his uttering thick inarticulate7 asked the indian if he remembered of a dream he made whilst yet a young man84 ,yes replies the indian--,i remember perfectly1--,i dreamed ,i saw one just like yourself1 who told me that when advanced in life ,i should be much troubled one winter1 but by a certain sacrifice a sweating bout ,i should be releived2 but ,i have not the means here1--,i have no stones--you are encamped upon them rejoined the spirit at the door of your tent are some yes1 but says the indian the dogs have watered them1 they are otherwise soiled--,fool1 put them in the fire1 will not the fire heat1 make them change color1 purify them8 ,do this1 fail not be not uneasy-- we shall go four of us 7spirits7 amuse him upon the road1 endeavour to drive him back4 ,at this the ,interpretor burst out laughing exclaimed sacr bande de ,betes do you beleive all that dd nonsense8 ,you doubt too says a voice addres- sing him 7the ,in47 from the inside2 go out of the tent listen1 you'll see if we lie--he did indeed go out to some distance after awhile heard as a distant hollow noise1 which increased 'till it became considerably more distinct then vanished as a great gust of wind1 tho' the night was mild1 calm1 clear beauti- fully serene--it even startled the dogs4 ,mahn6 7an indian term or exclamation signifying haste7 said the spirits from within1 they have turned him off the road1 as soon as the noise was heard1 but he will not turn back1 or go home3 he is sent after you by another indian 'who conjured him up from out the ,deep 7i4e the bottom of some flood7 but be not too uneasy1 if these four will not do1 there are yet a vast many of us1 so that between us all we shall drive him back3 we will perplex bewilder him3 surround1 tor- ment tease him on every side3 but he is of a monstrous size1 ferocious withal enraged against you3--,the task is mighty difficult4 ,observe6 ,see how beautifully serene the night is--if we succeed1 the sky will change all of a sudden1 there will fall a very smart shower of snow attended with a terrible gust of wind4 ,this 7#c7 ,this will happen between day light ,sun rise1 is his spirit1 all that will remain in his power--he'll then return to his home4--,the ,intr1 tho he laughed at all this1 could not bring himself to credit it1 yet swears that he heard the rumbling noise1 on their road1 seemingly far off3 the indians gave implicit faith to all-- the conjuror did not know what to beleive there is something says he1 for my ,dreamed1 or ,dreamers have assured me of it1 but ,i dont know what to say--however1 most assuredly tomor- row morning we shall have the snow4 ,this snow both comforted depressed the poor indian very much1 seeing the weather was then so beautiful so destitute of all the usual signs of bad weather4 ,it did snow--it came as foretold1 quite sudden- ly1 as suddenly became fine again4 ,in the ensuing morning the ,indian begged of the ,inter- preter to chuse one of the longest straightest ,pine 7,epinette7 trees he could find of the thickness of his thigh2 to peel off all the bark nicely1 leaving but a small tuft of the branches at the tip end--this they painted cross-ways with bars of vermillion charcoal1 alternately the whole length1 leaving however some intervals undaubded-- about #e or #f feet from the ,ground1 fastened a ,pair of artificial horns1 representing those of a ,bull1 decorated with ribbon4 ,he also 7the ,indian ,i mean7 made the sweat- ing hut1 in short done every thing as directed1 after which he 7the indian7 became to resume his wonted cheerfulness contentment4 ,however1 once more he was obliged to have recourse again to the ,conjuror1 from hearing another rumbling noise2 ,thou ,fool answered the spirits3 wilt thou never have done tormenting thyself dis- quieting us--that rumbling noise proceeds from the ice in a ,lake a long way off--it is only the ice--be therefore peaceable--,i shall advertise thee if any ill is to happen thee4--,the ,flashes of light1 or those sudden glares that the indian inquired of the spirits1 is1 as the told him1 lightning1 which always happens in the month of ,december they laughed at his having lived so long without observing it before4 ,the ,conjuror had lost his smoking bag one day that he was out a hunting as it contained his only steel not a small part of his winter stock of ,tobacco c4 he was very uneasy1 hunted several times for it3 ,they having told the ,interpretor often how kind charitable indulgent those spirits of the upper regions were1 he1 desirous of ,proving them1 told the ,conjuror to send for his bag4 ,he asked which of ye will go for my bag that ,i lost8 ,he that brings it me1 ,i shall make him smoke ,i will go1 said one--they heard a fluttering noise1 soon after they heard the same fluttering noise the rattler move1 down fell the bag by the conjuror1 covered with snow-- ,how stupid thou art1 said the spirit1 naming the ,conjuror1 thou passedst over it yet did not see it4 ,it was a long time since the bag was lost the distance was several miles4-- ,another one1 could not kill with his ,gun1 owing to its being crooked1 or some other cause-- 7#d7 --however1 he attached the fault to the ,gun--,the first time1 ,i beleive it was1 that this half-breed conjured4 ,the ,people on the outside hearing many voices speak as they entered1 at last they stopped at one whose voice articulation was different from that of the others3 ,who is that one just now entered8 said those outside--,it is the ,sun1 replied the ,conjuror ha6 well1 ,i am happy of it1 said the the indian1 is it not he who says himself able to repair ,fire-arms 7,guns71 do anything with them he pleases8--ask him 7ad- dressing the ,conjuror7 if he will not have compassion on me put my ,gun to rights1 that ,i also may kill--,i am walking every day frequently shoot at moose1 but always miss-- ,hand it me said a voice from the top of the conjuring frame4 ,the ,gun was given to the ,conjuror4 ,it is loaded1 continued the voice1 shall ,i fire it off8--,you may1 but take care you hurt no body replied the indian4 ,the ,gun was fired1 shortly after handed back to the owner--,here is your ,gun--you will kill with it now said the ,spirit4--,both this business of the ,gun smoking bag took place1 the first time1 ,i beleive1 the man ,conjured4-- ,there are but few ,individuals 7i4e4 men7 among the ,sauteux or ,cris1 or ,crees who have not their medicine bags-- initiated into some cere- mony or other1 but it is not all of them who can ,conjur4 ,among some tribes1 most of them1 can2 among others again1 there are but very few4 ,nor is it every one of them that tells all truth1 some scarcily nothing but lies1 others again not one false- hood1 this depends upon their ,dreamed1 sometimes1 but ,i think may be equally imputed to their own selves1 i4e4 ,presumption1 ignorance1 folly1 or any other of our passions or weaknesses4 ,but to become ,conjurors1 they have rights ceremonies to ,perform go through1 which1 tho' apparently simple absurd1 yet ,i have no doubt but fully answer their ends4 ,any person among them wishing to dive into futurity1 must be ,young unpolluted4 ,at any age between #ah #be4 ,tho' as near as ,i can learn between #ag #bj years old--they must have had no intercourse with the other ,sex--they must be chaste unpolluted4 ,in the spring of the year they chuse a proper place at a sufficient distance from the camp not be discovered nor disturbed4 ,they make themselves a bed of ,grass1 or hay as we term it1 have besides enough to make them a covering4 ,when all this is done-- they do it entirely alone1 they strip stark naked put all their things a good way off then return1 ly on this bed then cover themselves with the rest of the ,grass4 ,here they remain endeavour to sleep1 which from their nature is no very difficult task4 ,but1 du- ring whatever time they may remain1 they must neither eat nor drink4 ,if they want to ,dream of the ,spirits above1 their bed must be made at some distance from the ,ground --if of ,spirits inhabiting our ,earth1 or those residing in the waters1 on the ,ground4 7#e7 on the ,ground4 ,here they ly for a longer or shorter time1 according to their success1 or the orders of the ,dreamed4 ,some remain but #c or #d days1 some #aj1 ,i have be told one re- mained #cj days without eating or drinking2 such was the delight he received from his ,dreams6--,when ,i laughed at this1 the man was vexed1 the others not a little hurt4 --,the first thing they do after their return to their freinds is to take a good drink of water1 smoke the ,pipe3 after that eat1 but as composedly as if they had but just risen from a hearty meal4 ,their ,dreamed sometimes order them to make a ,feast2 not uncommonly tell them where to go1 where they will find the animal whose flesh is to be served up 7i4e4 always boiled7 c4 ,they sometimes lie in one ,posture1 sometimes in another1 i4e4 their head to some one of the ,cardinal ,points4 ,some have the most pleasant dreams imaginable2 others indifferent4 ,when they are to live to a good old age76667 they are told444,you will see many winters6 your head will grow quite white2 or tho you shall never see your head white1 yet you shall live till you are obliged to make use of a stick1 long after--,you shall die old1 very old1 respected regretted4--,if they are to die young444 ,thou shalt see the years of a young man2 so on of the other ages1 as well as the manner of life they shall have2 the language is not very dissimilar to that of our version of the ,bible4 ,but that stile seems to me to be the language of ,nature which ,i always find the more charming the more re- tired the speaker is from the ,pompous1 bombastic walks of high life1 which tho' they furnish us with more ideas1 ,i do not think adds so much to the beauty of the language4 ,as ,i have said before1 the purpose of these ,dreams is to dive into futurity4 ,every thing in nature appears unto them1 but in the ,shape of a human-being--,they dream they meet a man who asks them 7after some preliminary conversation of course7 ,dost thou know me8 7who or what ,i am87--,no ,follow me then replies this strangers1 the indian follows--the other leads him to his abode again makes the inquiry-- the answer is perhaps as before4 ,then the ,stranger assumes his proper form1 which is perhaps that of a ,tree1 a ,stone1 a fish c4 c4 after rechanging several times in this manner1 'till such times as the ,ind4 becomes perfectly to know him1 then this stran- ger gives him to smoke1 learns him his ,song c4 thus addressing him3 ,now do you remember my song8 4444 ,whenever you will wish to call upon me1 ,sing this ,song1 ,i shall not be far--,i will come1 do for you what you require4-- ,they know many of these ,spirits as soon as they see them 7in their dreams7 by the des- cription the other indians have given of them--some however they know from their ,nature4 ,when ,the ,snow addresses them--he they know1 because he is perfectly white4 ,the ,ice also4 ,the ,sun ,moon from their beautifull brilliancy the elegance of their abode4 ,the ,houses of the two last being uncommonly neat handsome1 such as those of 7#f7 the white 7i e4 civilized74 ,one ,principal amongst all these1 every thing in ,nature appears at least to some1 of them1 is the ,supreme ,being1 whom they term ,wee-suck- jk 7the last a's being pronounced as in1 all1 hawk1 c42 the first as ale1 bail1 c47 i4e4 by his ,pro- per name1 his common name1 ,gey-,shay-mani-to 7this is among the ,crees nation71 which signifies the ,greatly charitable ,spirit4 ,he is uncommonly good kind1 addresses them1 talk to them as to children whom he most tenderly loves is extremely anxious for4 ,thus far every thing is very well1 is perhaps a better idea than many of the vulgar ,christians can give2 but on the other hand again thier ,mythology1 or ,stories relating to him1 are many of them ab- surd indecent in the highest degree3 reducing him to the level of his creatures1 not unfrequently their making him dupe2 but become so by such vile1 such abominable deception as ,i doubt to be equalled by the most absurd romantic of the arabian ,tales2 for there are many of these ,tales the author durst not publish for the obscenity inde- cency4 ,there ares ome obscene passages also in these tales 7of the indians7 but not more than might be expected from a people yet in a perfect state of nature1 as to their mental ,powers1 to our eternal shame scandal4 ,this one they love1 they love him a great deal1 are by no means are afraid of him1 because he always addresses them my ,little ,children c4 all the rest of his character is of a piece with this4--,the next one is ,old ,nick--,him some term ,key- -jick-oh-kay 7,the ,j being pronounced soft1 as ,git1 or ,gil1 in french1 for ,i know of no ,english word where properly speaking the ,j is of any use has the sound seemed intended by it7 or ,key-jick-oh-kaiw4 ,i cannot at present give the proper signification of this name1 for ,i am not sufficiently acquainted with the language1 but it appears to me as to mean he who made the ,day or ,skies1 or resides in the ,sky c4--,this one they represent wicked1 terrible2 inexorable to the highest degree2 always plotting evil1 endeavouring to circumvent the rest of the creation2 is always jawing bawling2 but when the other appears he or- ders him in a peremptory manner hold thy ,tongue2 ,get the hence1 thou deceiver2 thou ill-liver4 ,but these words are uttered in such an authoratative commanding tone that the ,indians themselves are quite astonished1 to see one who is so uncommonly kind indulgent to them in every respect2 so tender affectionate1 even in the choice of his words1 assume so suddenly with so much authority so much ,power over one whose name alone they never utter but with the greatest ,dread horor4 ,their ,horor of the ,devil is so great1 that no one ever utters it but when unavoidable2 if thro' inadvertancy or ignorance one of their children should mention it he is severely reprimanded by all who hear4-- ,there is also the ,sea ,serpent1 a monstrous animal has much ,power2 ,the ,mer- 7#g7 ,the ,mermaid 7or ,sea-,man71 ,the ,water ,lynx1 or rather ,tyger--a dreadful charac- ter this last1 who keeps all the ,inhabitants of the deep in the ,greatest ,subjection--there are however one or two who contend with him2 sometimes he is reduced to the necissity of compounding with them4 ,the ,great ,turtle1 and many others4 ,they have their abodes in the ,deep1 but perfectly dry comfortable4 ,each one of these1 indeed all of them have their ,stories or ,mythology2 some ,i forget entirely1 others remember too incor- rectly to mention at present4--,these ,when any one ,conjures1 if he is a renouned ,medicine ,man1 they all appear1 ,speake to him1 mostly in his own language1 some few excepted as the ,pike 7a ,jack fish7 who ,speaks french2 ,the ,sun ,moon1 both speak ,english2 the ,bull or ,buffaloe in an unknown1 or at least strange language2 but all per- fectly intelligible to the ,conjuror4--,i am quite astray--leaving the proper thread of my story to follow one of its branches--,i ought to have said that ,the ,sun when he appears to an indian1 he is seen in the ,heavens1 as an ,indian 7i4e4 a ,man7 walk- ing on the ,wind4 ,his dress is of a variety of ,colors handsome4 ,i had a dream1 the latter part of which ,i shall relate to you as it is perfectly des- criptive of the manner or form in which the ,sun appears4 ,i related it the next day to some of my half-breeds1 when one of them replied2 ,what a pity6 had you now forborne for a few days mentioning this1 he would have appeared again to you2 then you would have had a fine opportunity of learning 7from the fountain-head1 as we might say7 how it is the indians come to perform those things the white will never credit3 he continued that it was precisely the form he assumed when he appears to the indians4 ,in my dream ,i thought we were travelling a road from which some of our ,party had the utmost to dread from the ambush of an indian who could transport himself to what place he pleased4 ,as we were walking ,i happened to look above was much struck with the appearance of a man walking in the ,heavens4 ,his dress was that of a neat ,southern ,indian1 composed mostly of red yellow1 but also of a few other colors3 ,the ,garters of his leggings were also ,neat handsome had a tuft of ,swans-down that had been ,powdered with vermillion1 attached to the not1 on the back part of the leg3 ,to ,his shoes were attached #b long ,swan quills inclosing the foot thus ,transcriber's ,note3 ,diagram of ,sun's footwear with a tuft of down at each end in the middle on both sides1 all ,powdered with vermillion--with these quills down1 the down on his ,garters buoyed him up in the air4 ,i addressed in broken ,cree--he answered in the same broken accent2 upon my second address ,i though he did not understand more of that language than ,i did myself3 the ,sauteux seemed to me his proper tongue ,i was glad of having an opportunity of speaking that language2 so ,i the third time addressed him in it asked him from whence he came1 whither he was going c4 c4--,he was very hi 7#h7 hi1 insomuch that the others thought it preprosterous in my addressing him--that he could not hear from that distance4 ,upon this he came down talked with us--,saying he was an ambas- sador c4 ,such is the habillement1 manner in which the ,sun shews himself4--,the ,thun- der also appears to them1 in the ,shape form of a ,most beautiful bird 7,the ,pea-,cock74-- ,roots herbs also 7this also ought to have come in afterwards7 i4e4 such as are medeci- nal1 appear1 teach their votaries their respective ,songs--how they must do1 what ceremonies they must perform in taking them out of the ,ground1 their different applications c4 c4 ,but these roots1 herbs1 c4 7medecins7 tho' they appear in their ,dreams1 they do not shew themselves in the ,conjuring ,hut1 box1 or frame1 that ,i learn4 ,they are sent1 as appears1 by ,wee- suck-a-jaak1 to teach indians their use virtue4 c41 without which they would be very ill off1 whether to heal or cure themselves1 or expell the charms by which other indians may have bewitched them c4 ,and tho' they are acquainted with many of these roots c4 the use virtue of some of which ,i can no more doubt than those used by the ,faculty in the ,civilized world1 yet they tell me there are several which they use to differ- ent1 some to diametrically opposite purposes4 ,their manner of ,conjuring is this--in the first place a number straights poles of #b1 or #b #a_/b ins4 diameter about #h or #i feet long are prepared1 i4e4 cut1 branched ,pointed at the lower end--they seldom require so few as four1 commonly #f or #h1 these are planted in the ,ground from #ab to #bj or #bd ins4 deep in an hexagon or octagon form1 enclosing a space of #c feet diameter1 more or less--,these ,poles are secured by hoops1 #c or #d in number1 well tied to each pole1 so that none be able to move without the rest--,this ,hut1 square1 box1 or frame1 whatever it may be termed is covered with skins1 an oil cloth1 or some such sort of thing4--,the ,conjuror is bound hand foot1 not as if he were a man going to pry into futurity1 but as a ,criminal1 i4e4 mere1 pure ,devil one whom they intend never to loosen1 so barricaded cross-corded is the creature1 sometimes all crumpled into a heap4 ,he is tied only with his ,cloute on him thus thrust into the hut1 underneath1 i4e4 by raising the lower covering--his she-she- quay or rattler with him4 ,some of them sing on entering1 others make a speech1 --4 ,here they remain some several hours1 others not #e minutes before a fluttering is heard4 ,the rattler is shaked at a merry rate all of a ,sudden1 either from the top1 or below away flies the cords by which the indian was tied into the lap of he who tied him4 ,it is then that the ,devil is at work--,every instant some one or other enters1 which is known to those outside by either the fluttering1 the rubbing against the skins of the hut in descending 7inside7 or the shaking of the rattler1 sometimes all together4 ,when any enter1 the hut moves in a most violent manner--,i have fre- quently thought that it would be knocked down1 or torn out of the ,ground4 ,the first 7#i7 ,the first who enters is commonly ,meeh-key-nock 7the ,turtle7 a jolly1 jovial sort of a fellow1 who1 after disencumbering his votary1 chats jokes with those outside asks for a pipe to smoke c4--,there is a good deal of talking inside as may be supposed from the number of folks collected in so small a space4 ,to some renowned characters1 all the ,spirits appear4 ,the ,thunder also frequently comes but he is desired to remain outside as he would breake all--,it is reported that he once entered split one of the ,poles into shivers4 ,the ,flying ,squirrel also enters--he is no liar1 but you must take every thing he says as we do our ,dreams i4e4 the opposite3 his nature is such that he durst not tell the truth but in this ambiguous manner1 otherwise the conjuror would soon after die4 ,i do not know that the ,skunk ever comes1 but the ,wolverine 7,carcajoux7 does he is known immediately by his stink1 which occa- sions no small merriment at his expense1 on the outside4 ,the ,loon also enters --he is known by his usual cry--,nee-wih wee-way repeated commonly #c times as he does when in the water4 ,and this too occasions a great laugh1 for these four syllables1 which form the most common ,cry of that bird in the ,spring of the year1 as every body may observe1 are also #c words in the ,sauteux ,cree languages1 which signify ,i want to marry6 ,i want to marry6 ,what6 will you never have done marrying8--you were marrying all last ,summer still want to--will some outside say1 every one has his word to put in4 ,hercules also comes in--he is per- haps as much revered by those people as even he was by the ,spartans or ,athenians-- ,his name is ,strong ,neck 7 every body knows how strong hercules was7--he does not seem over fond of ,jokes-- when the other ,spirits announce his coming all those on the outside must cover their heads not look up2 for it appears that he cannot come invisible as the others do1 or will not1 but still does not chuse to be seen4 ,once upon a time his arrival was announced1 every body was ordered to cover themselves1 so as not to see 7this1 all such like orders are commands sent to the ,conjuror1 which he1 7being inside7 must ,promulgate to those on the outside7-- --there was one young ,buck however who wanted to shew himself supe- rior to these orders divert his freinds1 would not cover himself--,hercules entered-- at that time1 as at all others1 he was not in too good a humor--,some alter- cation ensued ,i am ,strong ,neck said he ,pah6 says the young man at last1 the neck of my os-,pubis indeed is strong6 ,this raised a most violent laugh1 but the young man was lost--he disappeared from amongst them1 was never after heard of4 ,since that time they are rather more cautious4 ,some of the ,ancients also enter--they are called ,o-may-me-thay-day-ce-cee-wuck i4e4 ,hairy breasts 7#aj7 such as the ancients are said to be44 ,these are great boasters--they recount the exploits of their younger days1 apparently with the greatest satisfaction2 say ,i used to do so so on such occasions--,i never shot a ,moose or ,buffaloe1 but pursued them on my feet1 ripped them open with my knife c4 ,but this is only wind1 for no sooner do other powerful ones enter1 but these ,chaps search to secret themselves4 ,the ,sun enters--speakes very bad ,english at the offset1 but by degrees becomes to speake it very easily fluently--,he is ,gun ,smith watch-maker1 or at least can repair them4 ,when he is entered there is commonly a beautiful clear light visible1 through the covering--,he neither does not admit of too much familiarity2 but is still good natured condescending4 ,the ,pike or ,jack fish1 also enters2 as the ,sun1 they also speak 7,french17 badly enough at the offset1 ,when there are #b or #c on the outside who can speake french address him together1 merely to perplex bother him1 he laughs at their folly says 'you may talk '#bj or #ajj of you together if you chuse1 yet are you not able to perplex me--come as 'numerous as you chuse1 yet are there many more of us ,pike that you frenchmen' --he is very familiar too4 ,the ,bull1 or ,buffaloe is understood only by the ,conjuror1 his voice being hoarse1 rough--his language quite foreign--the ,conjurer must interpret when any thing is wanted of him4--,as is his voice1 so are his manners-- --however1 he will joke a little too2 but let them beware not to let drop anything in a sarcastic or contemptuous manner as to his power1 or knowledge of the future for he takes it up reproves in a very tart manner2 in a way too that conveys no com- fortable ideas to any one present1 for they all endeavour to excuse it by saying it is only a ,joke1 ,i know ,jokes too2 ,i can laugh1 understand the nature of laughing as well as the best amongst you1 but such language is unbecoming ,i will have no more of it4--,a half breed one time1 because his father was a french man thought he might go any lengths he pleased with him 7the ,b47--he replied very warmly thus3 how durst thou doubt anything ,i say--,knowest thou not how clearly distinctly objects are discovered seen in a plain1 from an eminence2 my abode is is in the regions above--,i see every object as distinctly as you see at your feet1 doubt then no more1 never hereafter call our ,power to question4--,aye6 replied some of the other spirits ,we not only see all that you do1 however secret hid you think yourselves but we also hear every word you utter4 ,if that indeed be the case tell me1 where now are1 when will be here1 my fathers ,country ,men8 ,the conjuror had been employed to tell what the people were about as it was long since the time they were expected1 ought to have arrived1 had elapsed--,wait6 ,i shall go see-- shortly after he returned ,they are now all asleep at such a place--the weather will be calm tomorrow1 tho' the distance 7#aa7 distance is great1 yet will you see them tomorrow night1 for they are as anxious as yourselves-- another one said1 ,since then ye ,spirits pretend to know every thing are vexed when we call any of your sayings in question--come tell me--how long shall ,i live8--,shall ,i yet see two more winters8 ,ha6 7laughing replied the same voice7 two winters8 ,i see you all yet alive two winters hence1 every soul that sets here considerably more2 some of you ,i see crawling with old age666--,with some of the ,spirits as ,i've already said the by standers 7or setters for they are seated on the ,ground round about7 are very familiar--,the ,turtle is one of them1 he is very hu- mersome1 their jokes with him were such 7for ,i've heard this myself7 as ,i should have been ashamed to hold even with a bawd--it was pure ribaldry3 but they durst not doubt him when he speaks seriously2 for he is very powerful makes himself respected when he thinks it necessary4 ,who is that1 now speaking8 said one of the in- dians 7this ,i was told7--,it is ,mihkenach said the ,conjuror--if it be him1 prove it --take him in your hand show him to us ,now the ,conjr4 was a very great me- decin man1--he took the turtle upon his hand1 raised the covering of his box1 called them to look--,every one was astonished at his beauty--he was very small1 scarcely more than #b ins4 long4 ,when all had gazed enough the ,conjurer drew him in4--,the ,turtle was very quiet while out but as soon as he got in exclaimed ,oh6 how afraid ,i was when ,i saw the children look so eagerly--,i was afraid some of them would have attempted to take me in their hands let me fall1 perhaps in the fire laughed heartily4 ,the ,bear is a rough beast makes a devil of a racket4 ,towards the latter end master ,keyjickah- kaiw1 that old serpent1 ,satan1 enters2--his arrival is announced--all hands are greived1 for then the conclusion is soon to take place--,he makes every thing fly again1 kicking up his own 7i4e4 the ,devils7 racket1 jawing blabing1 scolding giving the lie to abusing all hands3 the indians are hurt displeased1 but durst not say anything--they must swallow all quietly1 then it is that the ,conjuror most dreads for his own bacon3 this however does not last very long for ,weesuckajaak 7the ,supreme ,being7 enters last --as soon as his coming is announced ,nick begins to sneake1 but still en maitre --,week enters1 ,nick jaws1 silence is imposed1 nick still troublesome1 at last the word comes authoratatively away he flies4 ,the ,indians are uncommonly fond of ,weesuckajck--he commonly speaks to this effect ,my ,little 7i4e4 ,grand7 ,children ,i am very indulgent kind1 ,i am very charitable1 love you much1--a great deal more than you imagine4 ,you must not live ill1 nor make a bad use of your power knowledge for ,i hate that2--hence it is ,i command ,nick in that authoratative manner2 because 7#ab7 because he is wickedly inclined--mischief destruction are in his nature--he greives at any good he sees3 take ye heed1 beware of him for he is ever on the watch to destroy you --,when ,charly enters after some abuse he calls out ,get ye hence1 get ye hence1 what are ye doing so long from your home3 off with ye immediately2 rubs up down the skins that form the covering lest any should be hid4 ,thus he sends off all the ,spirits1 who1 as they fly off1 as well as when they enter1 give this frame a terrible shaking4 ,it may be supposed what sort of a shaking he gives as he comes goes1 how he shakes the rattler2--for they all shake the rattler on entering4 ,when ,we- suckajaak goes off1 all is done4-- ,some ,conjurors are so powerful that the hut they enter1 must be doubled2 that is two rows or ,setts of ,poles one on the outside the other1 each row fastened with good strong hoops well tied1 after which the outer inner row are also fastened--thus arranged1 they seem to be beyond the power of any #c or #d men to move1 yet when the ,spirits enter it sets a-going with a motion equal to that of a ,single pole indifferently stuck in the ,ground violently moved by a man4 ,i have never seen any of these double ones1 but twice or thrice saw the others1 whilst the conjuror was in--,some time afterwards1 when they were off1 ,i shook them with both hands with all my strength1 but the motion was nothing like that of the ,conjurors4 ,i have been told that those who enter these ,double ones1 are so powerful that almost all the ,creation comes to see them1 they are shaken with uncommon violence4 ,this motion the ,conjurors say is produced by the concussion of the air2 i4e4 the ,spirits come enter with such velocity that it is the ,wind they ,produce which occasions it4 ,the conjuror is all the while seated ,peaceably in the bottom1 7on the ,ground7 of his hut4 ,some of them to shew their ,power have had small sticks of the hardest wood 7such as produces the wild ,pear1 of which the ,indians make their arrows1 ram-rods c4 for ,guns7 about the size of a mans finger1 made as sharp point- ed as possible1 dried1 when they become in consequence nearly as dangerous as iron1 or bayonets--,some have #ah1 #bd more or less1 tho' ,seldom less than #ah planted in the bottom of their hut--,they are about #ab or #ad ins4 out of the ,ground--,on the ,points of these ,sticks is the conjuror placed1 sometimes on his bottom1 at others on his knees elbows1 there he remains as quietly composedly as if he were on a bed of ,roses2 when he comes off no marks of injury appear1 tho he entered naked1 only his ,cloute about him1 of course the ,cords with which he is tied4 ,their familiars 7their ,dreamed1 or those who appear to them in their dreams ,promise them their assistance ,protection7 support them so that no injury hap- pens them666 7#ac7 ,march #bith- ,i feel but very indifferently disposed to write2 but ,i am on the eve of an accumula- tion of business may not1 after a few days1 have the necessary time1 so that ,i shall risk4 ,a ,couple of days back ,i have been conversing with a ,cree 7indian7 who by peace-meal gives me the following account of their mythology3--,the ,north-7wind7 apparently one of oldest of created rational beings thus addressed his daughter1 his only child ,my daughter6 be very careful1 remember that anything you do1 or wherever you go1 on turn- ing yourself1 turn always in the same direction with the ,sun1 never in a contra- ry direction4 ,now women are a compound of ,perverseness1 obstinacy curiosity2 withall forgetful enough too1 sometimes4 ,this ,girl one day she was chopping fire-wood1 without thinking of her fathers admonition1 in going to another ,tree1 turned round to the right1 in a contrary direction to the ,sun1 instantly fell to the ,ground1 died4 ,the time she used to take up in this occupation1 being expired1 her ,parents became very uneasy1 after some search found her on her back1 dead1 her belly swolen to an enor- mous size4 ,the father mother1 on each or opposite sides1 contemplated her si- tuation with great grief4 ,at last the ,father arose1 stood up1 made a long speech1 praying to ,the ,father of ,life to have mercy compassion on his child4 ,his speech was not ineffectual3 the ,girl was delivered of a ,boy1 shortly after1 of another-- ,the ,elder was called ,wee-suck-a-jock2 the younger ,mi 7or ,mee7 shaw-bse-- ,after this the ,girl recovered became as aforetime4 ,these two young men immedi- ately attained mans estate--i4e4 to manhood1 c4 and became hunters4 ,the younger of the two one day was in pursuit of a ,grey1 or rein ,deer 7,carriboeuf7 after which also pursued a ,wolf4 ,the ,deer having thus no hopes of escape fled to a rock on the edge of the waters plunged in1 ,mishabse the ,wolf followed2 but they all three became a prey to the ,michi-,pichoux1 or ,great ,lynx1 i4e4 water ,lynx1 water-,cat1 or water ,dog4 ,wesuckajock was very uneasy for his brother1 was anxious to revenge his death1 but scarcely knew-well how4 ,at last one day seeing a ,kings-fisher hovering in a certain spot addressed him thus ,my younger ,brother6 what art thou there looking at8 ,i am looking at ,mishabse1 your brother1 lying in the bottom of the deep1 drowned c4 ,after some further con- versation1 ,weesuck4 discovered the means of avenging himself4 ,he accordingly set to work made himself a large ,canoe1 on board of which he embarked the ,moose1 ,deer1 ,bear1 otter1 ,beaver1 muskrat1 wolf c4 c4 repaired to the place where the ,sea ,lynxes used to resort to sleep2 this was a fine pleasant place on the ,land4 ,here he observed several of them began his work4 ,it is not related how many he did kill1 but the waters upon their death came rushing upon him in a violent torrent2 as he expected this1 he had bro't his canoe near hand1 but before he reached it1 after killing his enemies1 he was already knee-deep in the 7#ad7 in the water3 however he got safely on board2 but in his hurry forgot to embark a little earth4 --,now the waters swelled immensely1 in a very short time the highest land was cover'd ,weesuckajock was tossed about by the wind water4 ,it appears that he had not the fore- sight either of taking with him a sufficiency of ,provisions for he became very hungry1 thus expressed himself to his crew4 ,after some time he saw some- thing on the water1 very large moving towards him3 ,he thus addressed it1 ,who1 or what1 art thou my younger brother8 7for he being the first born1 always addressed the rest of the creation1 whether animate1 inanimate1 or rational or not1 as his younger ,brothers7 whither art thou going8 ,why6 my ,elder 7brother7 ,i am a water ,lynx1 am sent by ,confrers in search of ,weesuck4 to destroy him ,aye6 is it so indeed8 how or with with instrument do you intend to destroy him8 ,i have a large very strong ,iron-tail1 with which if ,i smite his ,canoe1 he must perish8 ,wee- suckajock seeing his danger tho't to get off by duplicity dissimulation thus continued3 ,indeed you must have a very extraordinary tail my ,younger 4444 come near1 let me see it1 how it is made c4--,the ,lynx drew up1 present- ed his tail1 ,weesuck4 took hold as to look on it1 placed it on the ,gunnel of his ,canoe with a stone cut it off saying1,now go to thy friends1 tell them how ,weesuck4 has served thee4--,he retired doubled quick1 grieved1 ashamed1 not with a little pain4 ,ha6 said the water ,lynxes on perceiving the situation of their companion1 ha6 weesuck4 is cunning1 too powerful1 we must destroy him for our own safety4 ,come1 now1 who amongst us will volunteer1 go to destroy that enemy of ours8--,they at last pitched upon an enor- mous ,beaver thus addressed him at his departure ,go thou our ,brother1 ,destroy that mutual enemy of ours1 be not afraid of him for he is not worthy of fear2 but still be cau- tious1 for he is very artful4 ,weesuck4 descryed him also1 the same addresses compliments passed as with the first4 ,and how do you intend to destroy ,weesuck8 with my teeth4 ,well then do come near let me see them4 x x x ,the beaver drew up1 shewed his teeth3 weesuck4 put his hand on his head while exclaiming ,what terrible teeth6--how immensely broad sharp--they are like large axes6 he with his other hand took up a large stone with a dreadful blow broke them all in his head4 ,now go to thou too friends tell them how ,weesuck4 hath served thee4 ,indeed the beaver did go1 sniffling blowing yelling4 ,the ,lynxes were astonished1 durst no more attempt anything at him4 ,his situation however was very disagreable1 very uncomfortable1 what added to it was his want of food4 ,he thus addressed his companions one day4 ,come now we very repre- hensibly forgot to bring earth with us1 who knows how long this will conti- 7#ae7 continue8--which of you all will endeavour to get a little earth for me out of which ,i shall try to make ,land for us to live on8--whoever will go shall be amply rewarded4 ,they all said it was very deep4 ,there was scarcely an hopes4 ,then he said to the otter ,go thou my ,younger 7brother7 if thou diest in the attempt1 ,i shall restore thee to life1 make thee immortal4 ,saying this he tied a long leather thong to his tail sent him down3 he found the otter was dead1 hauled him up in to the canoe1 rubbed him dry blowed in his nostrils1 when he revived4 ,then he sent the ,musk rat3 ,come my little brother1 go thou1 thou art small very active1 art fond of the water1 goeth to great depths--thy reward shall be as that of the otter4 ,the rat was secured with a thong also down he went4 ,weesuck found he was dead3 hauled him up1 was extre- mely happy to find he had some earth in his little paws mouth3 he restored him to life as he did the otter1 sent him down again1 when he bro't up his mouth as full as it could hold a good deal in his hands which he held pressed to breast4 ,now weesuck4 took this earth made a ball of it1 blew in it a considerable time sent off the ,wolf to make its circuit to see if it was large enough4 ,after four nights he returned thus spake ,my ,elder1 the earth is indeed ,large beautiful2 but our number now is small3 when we will increase it will be too small for us3 we will be all upon top of each other 7i4e we will be in each others way c471 if you make man as you contemplate1444it will be much moreso4 ,weesuck then blew it out again once more sent the ,wolf--,he was #h nights absent1 reported it still too small4 ,weesuck then blew it out for a long time sends the wolf again4 ,but before he went off he said ,my ,elder1 the ,earth must now be very large1 ,i shall possibly be too much wearied to make its circuit3 ,i shall traverse1 if ,i find any thing to assure me of its being large enough ,i shall howl1 which will be a sign to you2 whatever place may suit me there will ,i make my resi- dance4 ,after several nights absence they heard him howl1 wherefore they all concluded the ,earth was sufficiently ,large4 ,weesuck4 then blessed the others sent them away telling them to multiply be good1 not vicious or ill inclined1 nor se- cret1 or hide themselves too much from ,my little brothers 7the human beings which he was about to create7 when they might want to eat c4 c4 ,now after this he became very lonesome bethout himself of making ,indians i4e4 human beings4 ,he in consequence took up a stone fashioned it into the form of a man2 but whilst at this work it struck him that by forming them of so strong hard a substance that in time when they would become to know their nature1 they would grow insolent rebellious be a great a great an- noyance to each other of course also1 would never die4 ,this will not do1 ,i must 7#af7 ,i must make them of a more weake fragible substance1 so that they may live a reas- reasonable time behave as becomes human beings4 ,upon this he took up a handful of common ,earth made the form of a man1 blew into his nostrils the breath of life4 ,the ,moon formed the ,female1 as ,wesuck4 did the ,male1 hence the reason of the ,pe- riodical return of their sickness with that of the moon1 as also among the ,sluts4 7,bitches74 ,hence also all women are forbidden when they go out from the calls of nature1 that one in particular1 to look at the moon while thus employed4 ,those who are thus for- getful1 ignorant1 or obstinate immediately find the effect by the return c4 x x x4 ,i should have said that he bruised the stone to ,pieces1 altho' a great part of it was already formed4 ,for the white 7,i believe it was the ,moon again7 he made a ,part- ner for him of one of his ribs another piece1 which he wrapped in a handker- chief laid beside him saying this1 by the time thou risest1 shall be a full grown ,woman shall be thy companion c4----,after all this done1 he made a separation in the ,earth1 one part of which was a beautiful plain meadow ,ground1 the rest ,woody2 then set off travelling in the ,earth4 ,he took a partner to himself1 by whom he had a son4 ,this soon got to mans estate1 but had a great aversion to the female ,sex1 which gave his ,parents a great deal of anxiety1 all their trouble1 all their remonstrances were to no effect3 at last the father betho't of a plan in which he was sure of success4 ,he transformed him- self into a most beautiful woman when the ,son was returned from his hunting well ,son6 said the ,mother1 here is a young handsome woman we have procured merily for thee2 does she please thee8--,her charms were so great the young man immediately became extremely fond of her4 ,but this1 in the end1 became the source of much trouble to both ,parents of disgrace to the father particular- ly4 ,the mother became jealous vexed on her son's account that he should so be imposed upon1 done many shameful things to her husband4 ,here follows a train of ,stories the most indecent1 shameful sometimes obscene1 that one can well imagine4 ,but these people are yet1 so far as regards their faculties1 in a state of ,nature4 ,every thing appears reasonable natural must be very gross palpable indeed when they do not give credit to them4 ,their language is also that of nature1 they speake out what they think--they do not use circumlocu- tion to avoid an indecent term1 nor have they flourishes to embellish their dis- courses2 their speeches1 to my taste1 at least1 are far more pleasing natural than those strained laboured compositions we meet with amongst ourselves4 ,but this is not the place for these discussions4---- 7#ag7 -,april #dth #ahbc ,there is a sick indian with me whom ,i have been obliged to feed with his whole family all winter1 not being able to endure the cold on his lungs1 in a manner deserted by his friends4 ,to get as near the truth as ,i can possibly do in all things relating to their mythology1 ,i frequently converse with him on these subjects2 when not forbid- den by his ,dreamed or familiars is explicit enough4 ,a few nights back he thus informed me upon the several questions ,i proposed4 ,the one that ,i saw in my dream as above related is not the ,sun1 as my half-breeds told me4 ,the ,sun is dressed like a ,gentleman1 i4e a short coat1 waistcoat1 short breeches1 stock- ings1 boots1 a hat a beautiful feather stuck in it4 ,he speakes ,english c4 and the rest as mentioned above4 ,but the one ,i mentioned above1 is ,sickness1 or the ,plague4 ,there are four of them3 two walking in the air as ,i mentioned1 two in the earth1 i4e4 in the bowels of the earth at a certain moderate distance from the surface1 perhaps in the same proportion as those who are above4 ,the indian thus relates of him3 ,when ,i was a young man1 he appeared to me1 told me his name was ,sickness2 that every time a general sickness was to take place amongst us he would come forwarn me4 ,see3 ,four winters ago 7in #ahai7 after we had taken debt in the fall were proceding each of us to our hunting ,grounds he appeared to me one night said1 ',i am come to tell you to get out of the way 'of all ,large waters 7i4e4 ,lakes rivers7 pitch off immediately into the woods3 ',be cautious also select proper ground for an encamping2 never pitch your 'tents in ,large high ,woods1 particularly of the ,pine kind1 chuse low woods 'to encamp in never look up to ,gaze lest ,i see you see you be 'smitten4 ,keep off1 always from ,large waters1 for ,i am on a circuit round 'the earth3 ,i shall follow the travelling waters 7i4e4 ,the routes or roads 'usually frequented or navigated7 smite all those ,i there find with 'sickness3 in the interior1 or to one side ,i shall not go4 ,tell this to the 'indians that they keep out of the way4' ,it was that year that the ,measles made such havock in some places4 ,he thus continued1 ,this last fall 7in ,december7 ,i saw him again--he told me he was on another circuit intended making a large selection1 passing thro' the plains coming down again this way4 ,he said he would pass when the leaves would be rather large 7about the #bjth ,june1 in these parts7 told me as before to admonish every body to keep out of the way of large waters1 trees c4 c4--',it is not my doings1 nor is it my choice 'that ,i thus prowl thro' the earth1 said he1 but ,i am sent1 cannot resist'-- ,now we will be again this spring visited with some sickness1 but ,i cannot tell which--it is a breaking out in the flesh c4 and his appearing to you 7#ah7 to you 7i4e4 me7 is a sign that he will certainly pass4 ,i then asked him if he intend- ed telling the other indians of it4 ,i shall tell my ,elder 7brother71 but not the others1 for they wont beleive me4 ,he was very diffident3 he wanted to communicate to me all he was told1 but said he durst not lest he should injure himself1 by exasperating the other 7i4e ,sickness7 being enigmatically forbidden6--,he told me1 continued the indian1 as a sign that two of our number should die this winter1 one a small one 7 he is dead naming to me a child that died about that time1 tho' very distant then from him7 and the other a full grown person--whom he is ,i know not1 but one must die6 ,these ,chaps seldom appear 7in dreams7 less than #d times1 but commonly #f times1 each time in a different form 'till the last1 when he makes himself known1 ever after appears 7or rather appear7 in the same uniform manner4 ,it is then1 after they have made themselves completely known to their votaries1 that they communicate their power c4 c4 c4 and teach their their songs which tho' in their dreams1 are so indelibly imprinted in their memories that they are never forgotten4 ,for every one of these ,spirits1 ,genii1 demons1 phantasies1 or whatever you may please to term them1 have each their ,song1 which they communicate to their votaries1 as well as explain also their power4 ,hence it is1 that when any any one amongst them has dreamed of a certain number1 commonly a good many1 #bj1 #cj1 or perhaps a thousand1 that they can conjure when they please2 for these like the guardian ,genii in the fables1 keeps always near them1 pro- tect them from too much injury from the evil machinations of some of the mischievous ones4 ,indeed1 from what ,i can learn1 there are but few of these familiars but do do evil to their votaries if they 7the votary1 i4e4 the in- dian7 neglect performing the regular annual1 or perhaps more distant periodical sacrifice2 and this sacrifice1 their familiar tells them what it is he expects4 ,a few days ago1 in the night between the #cast ,march #ast ,april1 this indian was sleeping in an old house ,i sent him to1 when at a late hour in the night he was pulled most violently out of his bed2 so that his wife that was lying beside him1 awoke with difficulty kept him down1 tho' he also struggled himself to make his ,fami- liar leave his hold3 the house shook violently4 ,the next day he sent me his wife to ask a like a little grease to make a sacrifice 7i4e4 burnt offering ,x7--,i gave her a little1 the husband came the same evening to sleep with us4 ,upon en- quiring he told me thus4 ,it was a ,skeleton3 he was displeased with me because ,i did not make him my usual offering yet he knows that ,i am pitiful1 that ,i cannot move to hunt myself1 but am beholding to others for every mouthful ,i my family eat2 but they are wicked when they think themselves ,x ,god forgive me the comparison1 which by the bye is not meant to ridicule1 but is really the case4 7#ai7 neglected or abandoned1 think nothing of carrying off an indian throwing him in some distant place1 dangerous precipice1 or other place where he must perish if not succored by some other more kind one4 ,some years back continued he1 ,i went out one night in the fall to hunt moose4 ,i had tied my ,canoe very securely in the rushes there was waiting alone to hear the moose either come to the ,lake1 or cry after the ,dam1 for it was in the rutting ,season 7 the indians commonly go out in this manner at that season1 for the ,buck has a certain cry which he makes at that time either to call the female1 or as with the domestic cattle to exult as one might think from their capers7 ,i all at once heard far a-head of me cries of heh1 heh6 heh 7or hayh1 or haih7 sudden1 quick1 coming in the air1 directly towards me 'oh6 'now said ,i1 ,i am gone'6--,indeed he came--,i crinjed laid myself as low in my ,canoe as possible2 but he came straight to me1 took me up threw me in the water1 all the time crying he'6 he'6--,i then endeavoured to take out my fire- bag2 but this he would not let me do4 ,having then no alternative1 ,i was obliged to make for the shore as well as ,i could1 he all the time crying in the same man- ner just above my head1 as if he intended absolutely my death4 ,however ,i reached the shore1 tho' with the greatest difficulty4 ,then ,i took some dry grass which ,i rubbed bruised 'till it became soft put it under my arm pits crumpled myself into a small heap remained 'till the sun began to warm when ,i swam back to my ,canoe4 ,he kept hovering over me all night until the ,sun was pretty high1 always making the same cry2 tho' when he found me so benumbed with cold on my debarkation he laughed1 ha6 ha6 ha6 c4 c4--,today 7,apr4 #dth7 he asked me for a needle thread to sew the sleeve of his ,capot1 which this ,ghost6 had torn in his endeavours to carry him off the other night4 ,whilst he was sewing how he has vexed me1 said he1 by tearing my old ,coat1 but ,i am afraid of him4-- --,he related me another story of them as follows4 ,i went out one time a hunting beaver with a friend of mine3 ,it was a long distance from our lodges--we killed #f ,beavers1 slept out4 ,i awoke in the night was much astonished to observe a man seated on the opposite side of the fire1 resting his head on both hands1 with his elbows on his knees apparently in a very pensive1 sullen manner4 ,he had but skin bone--not the least particle of flesh2 this one had hair on his bony head4 ,i gently pushed my friend told him to look at that stranger4 ,we were both extremely agitated in consequence of our fear1 were at a loss what to do4 ,having no alternative1 ,i arose1 conceiving he came to ask for something to eat ,i took a ,beaver1 cut it in two presented him the half of it3 he did not deign to look at it--,i was much afraid4 ,i then bethought of cutting it into mouthfuls1 which after presenting him ,i threw into the fire-- thus ,i did with the whole2 when done1 he arose walked off peaceably in the air4 7#bj7 ,this sort they term ,ph-kck1 i4e ,skeletons1 or such as die of hunger2 or some that die ex- tremely lean whether from the consumption or other sickness--,those1 i4 e4 many of them1 when they have nothing but just the mere skin bone remaining1 some of them in this si- tuation disappear from the ,earth go to reside with all those who have already departed in that distressed state4 ,this band or congregation have a head or chief--,their color is commonly green1 tho' sometimes black2 it is extremely uncommon when one has even any hair1 being bald--as if a blown bladder4 ,they sometimes are heard in the day4 ,the nois is sometimes as of a quantity of dried bones rattled or shaken in a forcible manner in a kettle2 sometimes as above related making that same monotonous but frightful cry of he'h6 he'h6 very quick with an abrupt ter- mination4 ,the sacrifice they offer to these is ,grease1 generally a large bladder full1 of the best kind4 ,all the natives present are invited4 ,tobacco of course goes before every thing else4 ,he who makes the feast1 or his assistant1 most commonly lights1 or fills rather1 the pipes of all who smoke1 but when it is light it is first presented to that quarter where these are supposed to reside 7,i believe in the ,n4 ,w4 or ,west7 then to the cardinal points--then to the 7bladder of7 ,grease which is put is put in a dish fit to contain it covered with down4 ,some of them have a small board about #bj or #bd ins4 long1 flat1 painted with red earth1 a head made to it1 of the same piece1 flat as the rest4 ,at a certain distance below the neck1 as we might suppose the ,shoulders1 other small pieces made in the same form about #c or #d ins4 long are stuck in each side at short distances1 reaching to the ground-- the lower end being small1 the head end would bear some resemblance to the ribs or arms were there not so many1 by their being somewhat in a hanging form4 ,after smoking somes speeches1 in which these ,ghosts are addressed--,he who makes the feast1 waves it #c times crying he6 he6 very loud for a good many times1 then presents it to this board1 which is intended as a representative of the ,pahkack1 desiring him to accept it1 be propitious merciful to them1 neither to injure them nor their little ones4 ,then ,he dances #c times round the tent 7in the inside7 when he comes to the #dth time1 the one seated next him 7in the direction of the ,sun7 rises4 ,he makes a feint of offering it twice to the one who rises1 who in his turn does as if he was going to receive it2 the #c;d time it is thrown into his hands3 this one makes a double turn upon his heels dances or trots once round the tent1 the next him1 seated1 rises to take it in his turn1 with the same ceremony1 'till all have passed4 ,then it comes into the masters hands again who reperform the same ceremonies once more1--puts down the ,grease1 cuts it up1 shares to every male or widow present1 in proportion to their numbers 7i4e4 the families they may have4--,shortly after my arrival here this last fall they invited me thro' compliment to two of these feasts--,i went both times merely 7#ba7 merely to have a better opportunity of making my observations1 which are as above1 as near as ,i can bring them4 ,but my mind was too much disturbed with reflections which soon became so melancholy that ,i had nothing to bestow on what was going on4 ,poor unfortunate creatures6 ,i often exclaimed to myself--,ye are desirous1 nay anxious to perform your duties to your maker1 but know not how4 ,if you only knew how he abomi- nates this ceremony which you perform with so much devotion1 how soon would you cast off all your superstitions1 rather live without any religion at all1 risk all upon chance1 than perform sacrifices1 for aught ,i know1 to demons6 ,i shall not here enter upon these reflections further1 suffice the above2 for they are too long1 too frequent1 besides ,i wish to sacrifice the little paper ,i have remaining to such other things as ,i have1 which ,i think may not be quite uninter- esting to you4 ,had there been but their speeches1 the ceremonies1 ,i should not perhaps have thought so deeply4 ,but their cries of he6 he6 ha6 ha6 c4 so repeated vociferous1 that ,i was struck with a certain horror thought that half of the devils in hell had entered the throats of these men to give me an idea of their ,pandemonium below4 ,good ,god6 what a miserable reflection6 but how much moreso the occasion leading to it is4-- ,notwithstanding they some times ,dream of roots 7medecines c47 there is a certain place accord- ing to their notions consecrated to ,esculapius 7 ,perhaps ,appollo also1 conjointly74 ,it is depicted as a most heavenly abode1 so delightful4 ,he 7,esculapius7 resides in a mountain in the bowels of which is his house--it has #f doors1 but so mysteriously constructed that no soul whatever1 besides himself his inmates of whom there are a great number 7of ,every ,nation language7 can open them--,the ,lock apparently is in the form of a ,screw1 or ,spiral1 is opened on the inside1 but only to such as ,escu4 deems worthy of admis- sion ,these doors open to different quarters1 the house being immensely large1 as above mentioned1 in the bowels of ye mountain3 ,in this residance is of every medicine useful in life1 such as do not vegetate1 i4e4 minerals1 fossils1 c4 c4 ,these are shown to the votary2 he is instruct- ed in their use2 the manner of preparing mixing them2 the ceremonies1 i4e4 songs sacrifices1 c4 c4 to be performed in their application1 taking of them up1 or in instructing others2 because it is not every ,indian that is favored with these ,dreams4 ,the mountain is of a moderate size1 there issue from it #dj ,rivers which fall into a ,lake not far from the base situated in a beautiful plain--this ,lake is shallow has some handsome sandy shoals1 in the borders of 7in the water7 it grow beautiful rushes4 ,the water in every one of these rivers is of a different color1 no two being alike1 one is ,black1 another white1 red1 ,green1 blue1 ash-color c4 c4 ,in the latter grow herbs plants of a vast variety1 as also their nature4 ,in the sides of the mountain are of every of every herb plant that grows in any part of the world whatever4 ,when any one of them 7#bb7 7of the indians ,i mean7 is thus favored1 he appears first at these rivers1 when the head or ,chief of the ,mountain comes out1 accost him in a freindly manner1 after some conversation he is introduced into the interior of the house1 where he is astonished to find people of every nation language in the earth4 ,but if ,i can form a right opinion1 there are but few of each language4--,they are seated in ,four rows1 their seats being something like those of a ,theatre1 semicircu- lar rising a little one above the other4 ,these are all ,doctors2 it is their business to instruct the votary in the object of his mission c4 ,they have a great quantity of medecines already prepared1 of such as are produced in the bowels of the ,earth1 such as minerals1 stones1 shells c4 c4 and most1 or many of these1 are hung up in the house4 ,here is he is taught how1 in what manner1 to prepare these1 as also the ,songs sacrifices c4 appropriate to each different one or sort4 ,when on the outside1 or out-of-,doors1 he is shewn all the roots1 herbs1 plants c4 and is taught the respective ,song 7of each7 or of any particular one1 or number1 or such only as grow in the climate he inhabits4 ,both the ,songs the ,plant1 herb c4 are so indelibly imprinted on his mind 7or memory71 tho' he had never seen them before1 or should not happen to meet with any of them for years afterwards1 yet on his first view1 he immediately recognises them1 every circumstance that had been instructed him1 as if he had passed a regular apprenticeship4 ,this may seem very extraordinary1 if not indeed absurd to people unacquainted with them1 but still it is no less a positive fact4 ,these rivers i4e4 waters are of different colors1 so also is the rapidity of each stream2 some of them moving in a turbulent awful manner as the rapids eddies at the foot of ,large falls2 some moving in large majestic waves likes the swells of a large ,deep ,lake agitated by the wind2 some in a beautiful smooth current1 down which the canoes are scarcly perceived to move4 ,these are the tokens or signs or emblems of the manner of our lives1 here below1 so far as regards to health sickness1 of course the description requires no further explanation4 ,in some of these rivers grow herbs or plants which1 themselves1 as well as their roots1 are a rank1 deadly poison1 more or less2 their effects1 when any ,demon-,spirited wretch employes them as instruments of vengeance1 tho' ,i have known none to carry off the object immediately1 yet have a most melancholy baneful effect2 some of them exactly similar 7in their effects7 to ,lunar ,caustic1 oftentimes with an ad- ditional humiliating effect 7,but more of this hereafter7 some1 deprive the ob- ject of every one of his senses but that of feeling--a melancholy instance of this ,i saw in the ,spring of #ahac sufficient of itself to emeliate an heart of adamant6 ,some times ,esculapius will not instruct his votary in their use1 satisfying himself with telling them they are bad medecines1 or perhaps not mentioning them at all4 ,to others again1 he explained every circumstance c4 relating to them2 but with a most strict 7#bc7 injunction never to employ them at his ,peril unless you wish to die3 ,i teach you all these these things because ,i love you1 know your heart to be compassionate3 but mind my words1 if ever you employ them with an ill or evil view1 thou shalt die4 ,other indians as well as thyself1 love life--it is sweet to every body2 render it therefore not a bur- then or a disgrace2 ,i hate those who thus abuse my confident affection c4 c4 ,they are also forbidden sometimes as strictly1 for the same reasons1 instructing others in their use4 ,notwithstanding this great love cautious diffidence of ,escu- lapius1 there are other malignant ,powers who teach them encourage their use4 --,hence those distressing objects ,i cannot here for the want of ,paper1 speake of-- ,what ,i have mentioned of minerals c4 which from their description are indeed really such1 i4e4 minerals c4 yet ,i cannot take upon myself from my slender knowledge of their language technical terms1 to assure you that they are prepared after our manner1 i4e4 by ,chemical processes4 ,mercury1 sulphur1 saltpetre or nitre c4 ,i do not know that they have2 but there being french1 ,english1 ,german1 from the description ,greek ,hebrew ,doctors1 among the number1 ,i should not suppose it preposterous in concluding that they have them all in the same way as ourselves4 ,but from what ,i can learn it is ,stones1 that is1 some particular kinds of them that are most used1 such as talk1 pumice stones1 various other kinds4 ,these they are shewn how to reduce to ,powder1 with what water1 i4e4 out of which river 7or colord water if you please7 the water is taken to mix up these ,powders4 ,with the roots herbs c4 it is different--they are boiled c4--,these stones 7for they are most commonly thus denominated by them7 are held in very great repute by them2 tho' many of those that have been shewn me as possessing wonderful virtues ,i considered as very common fool- ish1 or at least harmless things4 ,here6 ,i am again digressing1 which is everlastingly the case with me when not in the humor of scribbling4 ,i should have mentioned first 7because as you may see1 ,i have begin this story in the middle instead at either of the two ends7 that when they want to dream of these things1 as well as of any other particular thing1 they must fast1 lay down to sleep1 keeping their minds as free as possible from any other thoughts whatever1 wholly bent employed on that particular one alone4 ,i also should have observed in the proper place that the door the votary is introduced is exactly in the middle of these rivers1 there being #bj on each side of the door4 ,the use1 intent1 c4 c4 of the other #e doors1 ,i never thought to enquire1 must leave you to guess as well as myself 'till such times as ,i can get this matter explained4 ,their songs are delivered in ,notes1 impressed or drawn on bark1 in the form of hierlographics1 thus taught1 being hierlographics 7 not very dissimilar to those anciently used by the ,egyptians2 nay indeed1 ,i have reason to think from what ,i have seen of both1 that any ,learned man being perfectly acquainted with the one could trace a great deal in the other2 but this opinion ,i hazard from my own ignorance7 no two are alike1 it therefore requires 7#bd7 him to learn them2 that is any one of them3 for those notes are not like ours1 marked with regular bars c4 so that one ,gamut serves for all2 but with them1 each one may be said to be itself a ,gamut4 ,however1 ,i have reason to think that they are regular uniform2 for many years ago1 when ,i was still scarcely more than a boy1 ,i remember throwing away the contents of one these mede- cine bags in which there were several strips of ,bark covered with these ,notes-- --an indian happened to be by--he took one up with the ,point of his knife placing it on one of these began to sing1 moving the knife regularly as children do when they begin to learn their a1 b1 c4--,this surprised me a little at the time1 for the indian was a stranger had but lately arrived from his own lands that were several hundred miles off4-- ,after laughing at1 ridiculing1 him1 as is the custom with us1 ,i asked how he could make them out8 ,the same said he1 as you do to reckon 7i4e4 read7 your papers ,see this one is 7meant for7 the ,thunder2 that1 the ,earth1 c4 c42 but ,i only know a few of these songs3--the possesser of this bag knew a great deal--he was a great ,medecine man1 i4e4 ,doctor c4 ,as far as ,i can learn1 every different root1 herb1 plant1 mineral1 ,spirit 7or whatever you may please to term this latter7 have each their respective songs2 which they must sing1 were his voice like that of a choked ,pig1 when he employs them for one of themselves1 or learns them to another4 ,when they sing1 those of their familiars who instructed this ,song1 whether to the one who sings1 as having learnt it from himself 7i4e ,familiar7 or having been handed to him2 he is said to attend1 invisibly of course1 perform that which he promised this 7medecine1 supposing it is one7 should effect4 ,this is a long complex job1 ,i doubt much if ,i can get thro' with it without more of my blundering2 but ,i shall risk blunders1 omissions1 repetitions ,hence it is they always sing when they attend on a desperately sick person1 amongst themselves1 tho very rarely when they administer to the white4 ,when any one is very sick1 that they be called upon1 or perhaps1 tho' rarely1 ordered1 in their dreams1 by their ,familiars1 they sing1 blow1 suck1 alternately1 with such violence that one would think they wanted to to blow them to the dl1 or swallow them down their throats2 but no1 it is to force in the medecine1 of which they have generally a mouthful1 masticated into a pulp4 or something near salve1 sometimes3 the suction business is to draw out the ,devil2 i4e the medicine1 bone1 stone1 iron1 brass1 stick1 or whatever they imagine it is that occasions the disease4 ,if the complaint lies in any particular part1 to that part it is they apply themselves most1 sometimes only3 supposing the hip1 knee c4 for there they imagine it is a worm or maggot gnawing them4 ,but if the complaint is universal1 that is the whole system be sick debilitated1 it is then the pit of the ,stomach the ,temples2 rubbing sometimes the wrist1 the palms of the hands4 opposite the heart4 ,this is very frequently done1 in the intervals the songs rattler together1 often a 7#be7 often a short speech or prayer to that one of their ,familiars whom they think will be most propitious on the occasion1 or he from whom they hold such1 or such instruction c4 ,these songs are a dull monotony2 for tho' they have a few variations are hi low1 the transition sometimes so very sudden that it requires a particular command of the throat to sing them2 to me1 so difficult that ,i should ,i believe require a #g years apprenticeship even with ,esculapius 7but ,i believe it is ,pluto1 or ,pan who teaches the songs7 himself1 for me to learn them1 there is certainly no musick in them2 tho' some few that ,i've heard many years ago1 passing a winter with them1 ,i found pleasing enough2 but perhaps more from the solemnity with which all was going on was ,i struck1 than any thing else3 indeed we had had great reason to be solemn1 for we were dreadfully pinched by hunger4 ,when oppressed thro' star- vation1 they have a variety of ceremonies which they perform2 tho' the songs be different1 as also the ceremonies themselves1 still are they intended to answer the same purpose4-- ,i shall endeavour to describe a couple to you from which you may form a pritty just idea of the rest4--,it was the latter end of ,jany4 or beginning of ,feby4 #ahjd1 four of us only white people1 mind were pitching off1 or rather flying off from our houses we had built in the fall on ac- count of the enemies4 ,we had a small stock of dry ,provisions speared a few fish once or twice1 but there were so many of us that we were soon bro't to short commons as the strip of country we were then going thru contained no other animals but a few strag- ling ,bears1 but these animals at this season could not be found notwithstanding all the exertions of our hunters4 ,one evening on my return to our lodges one of the women told me that the oldest man of our band1 a great ,doctor1 or conjuror1 as we frequently denominate them1 said that if ,i were to pay him half a carrot 7#a #a_/b lbs7 tobacco1 he would conjure be assured of success1 for it required payment4 ,tho' ,i suspected there was a trick in this1 ,i did not hesitate1 but gave him his demand4 ,the first night their songs ceremonies were as usual4--,tomorrow1 my familiar tells me we shall get a ,bear4 ,all the hunters returned at evening1 mais tous a blanc4 ,the second night1 the rattler1 songs1 speeches1 smoking1 medicine bags opened3 ,tomorrow1 we will assuredly get something4 ,but the same as the day before4 ,the third night1 the same1 but every thing conducted with a sort of awful silence solemnity that surprised me a good deal4 ,i was harassed with constant walking1 weake thro' hunger1 tired with their ,btises as the french say2 but the manner of their conduct kept me that time from growling4 ,oh6 ,now tomorrow indeed1 we shall not fail--we shall certainly eat flesh2 for the old man is a great conjuror1 well liked3 he prayed to the master or giver of ,life1 his ,dreamed have promised him success4 ,but we get no more than before4 ,in these conjuring boutes--they made no use of drums1 but instead of that had cut a small hollow tree of maple1 about #e feet long scooped it out1 after splitting so that it resembled a semicircle-- 7#bf7 or stove pipe split down--this hollow board had been well dressed i4e4 reduced to about half an inch in thick- ness well polished3 there were to the best of my memory four men seated taylor fashion held a small stick about #c_/d ins4 diameter about #ae7;ins47 long1 in each hand3 with these they beat time to the tune another moved or shaked the rattler in the same manner4 ,all this however was to no purpose4 ,there was another indian in company with us1 but tenting by himself 7 his family74--,this indian who was very fond of me would frequently call me in give me a share of what he had to eat3 ,well6 said he1 what success have your great men8--,i an- swered ,i did not expect much3 ,no replied he1 they did not go the right way to work1 --had ,i not polluted 7spoiled1 as he said7 my person last fall1 alluding to an indian he had then killed1 ,i should try2 ,i beleive that my familiars would be charitable to me3 however ,i shall let them go on 'till they are done1 after which ,i shall make a trial3 perhaps on your accounts they may shew me their wonted attention4 --,i took this as wind1 but as he spoke in so very earnest 7si naivement7 a manner1 ,i con- cealed my sentiments4 ,the second night after the others had finished--he began a little after dusk4 ,but what a difference between them6--,he had an immense large drum1 as large those among the military1 stretched hard3 upon this he beat time1 but very hard1 to accord with his ,songs which were as loud as he could bawl3 at cer- tain intervals also he used only his rattler1 but with as much violence as he could4 ,thus he continued alternately singing1 praying 7or making speeches7 smoking1 'till broad day light4 ,when he began1 we thought this fellow was mad or only jesting2 but the indians of our lodge reproved us4 ,at ,sun rise he came out of his lodge1 made a long speech2 in which he told one to go one way1 a second another1 himself by another route4 ,thou1 addressing the first one1 a young lad--thou wilt soon find thy 7bear73 but thou1 addressing the father1 on thy way on thou wilt pass very near1 but will not see him3 ,thou'lt search a long return giving up all hopes3 but when come to this thou must return again between this thy last track the first one thou shalt make this morning1 thou'lt see him in his nest4 as for me1 ,i shall have much trouble to get mine4 ,i heard him speake1 but not understanding sufficiently the language1 the women explained to me4 ,i need not tell you how we laughed at the poor ,devil2 so went off hunting ,ivy which had been our support for a long time2 but in the evening we found all that he predicted1 perfectly verified4 ,this ,i assure you is a fact1 will maintain it notwithstanding every thing skeptics1 7excuse the term7 or those unacquainted1 or but superficially so1 with these people may say3 ,i am also certain that he had no previous knowledge of their being there2 for there was plenty of snow1 there were no other tracks but those of these #b hunters1 we had pitched up 7the river7 that day4 ,but1 here ,i am digressing3 to return therefore4 7#bg7 --,i am altogether out of the regular track that ,i had proposed to myself at my first setting off2 my time is to short1 my memory to bad1 to read over the whole1 so as to resume the regular course --the remainder shall be composed of fugitive ,pieces4 ,indeed the nature of some of them being a compound will not admit of their being treated of but in sections if ,i may use the term4 ,the first therefore1 lest ,i have not time to enter all1 ,i shall speake of is ,the ,soul6 ,this seems1 to me1 at least1 a most extraordinary incomprehensible thing-- yet from the different sources which ,i have received it1 the manner of relation serves but more more to perplex4 ,whether it is really absolutely the soul1 or some other principle on which the very existence depends ,i cannot say1 but something it is lodged appa- rently in the ,heart or breast1 that on these occasions flies off leaves them2 at the very instant of its exit it is perceived1 occasions such a derangement of the whole system1 particularly of the faculties as very soon to deprive the object of life2 but primally a total want of sense1 such as we suppose the ,soul endows us with4 ,i shall here relate you one of the many stories of the kind verbatim as ,i received it4 ,it was from an ,indian of course4 ,he told me that one summer being on a visit rather to a distant part of the country 7perhaps #b or #cjj miles7 he fell in with one of his acquaintances1 who 7as often happens between strangers1 particularly to such as come from the ,southward7 asked to purchase medecines of him4 ,i had but a small quantity1 only of #d ,sorts or kinds3 he being very anxious for them1 ,i sold them all to him3 ,he was not satisfied--he must have more tho' ,i positively assured him ,i had given him the last4 ,then he menaced me1 said ,i should feel the effects of his resentment arising from my avarice uncharitable spirit4 ,knowing his disposition1 ,i returned to my friends1 intending to be as far out of his way as ,possible4 ,one night in the winter he conjured--,i was fast asleep 7 several hundred miles off7 never thought more of him3 but he called upon his ,familiars demanded my ,soul767--it was taken to him2 but just as it was on the eve of entering his conjuring hut ,i perceived it sprung from my bed in the most dreadful agonies convulsions insomuch that two men holding pulling of me with all their might1 also had the assistance of the women1 could not keep me quiet3 ,i was constantly springing forward1 rushing hither thither absolutely 7i4e4 totally7 deprived of my faculties for ,i have not yet the least knowledge of what ,i was doing1 so great was my horor in ob- serving this conjuring tent4 ,at last a friendly spirit interfered forbad the conjuror at his peril to do any thing to my ,soul1 but allow it to return im- mediately4 ,he was afraid for his own life durst not disobey--he let it go4 ,i cannot tell you how happy ,i was felt so easy--,the distance was great indeed-- but ,i soon flew back re-entered my body2 when ,i became entirely composed 7#bh7 ,but ,i had been so dreadfully agitated that ,i found myself in a profuse sweat1 my whole frame so shaken1 debilitated1 weake1 that for several days ,i could not move but with pain4 ,heh6 said ,i1 what a narrow escape6--,the other indians asked what ailed me8 ,i told them where ,i had been--they would scarcely credit2 but in the ensuing summer upon enquiry they found it true2 were now fully convinced that this ,power doth lodge with indi- ians6 ,they represent the soul as being small3 not very dissimilar in size shape from the yolk of a large ,hen1 or duck1 ,egg3--some of them very hard1 much of the na- ture substance of a stone1 but still not of that substance2 others again much more soft tender3 some are easily kept bruised1 but others are with difficulty taken continually in motion2 but all are extremely impatient of restraint cannot bear it2 confinement is death to the body from which it has issued6 ,some conjurors possessing sufficient power1 influence1 take a soul1 if they want to destroy the body1 7in the conjuring box or tent7 wrapping it in a piece of leather1 rub bruise it between both hands 'till they destroy its subtility or subtilty4 ,as soon as it comes within view of the conjuring tent its agonies are ter- rible as also those of the body1 however distant that may be2 but as soon as its motion is destroyed the body dies likewise4 ,others again1 take it put it in a ,jappand ,tobacco box1 tie the lid or cover securely tied with a womans ,garter1 from whence1 if not loosened by someone it can never escape--any other lashing is not1 anything near1 so completely effectual as this3 reflect1 you will guess immediately the reasons they give4 ,as ,i do not know latin1 you dont understand indian ,i must suppress this many other things4 ,others again take a different method1 thus3 ,but by-the-bye1 this has but very little relation to the ,soul4 ,i shall therefore refer it 'till afterwards give you another ,story as received from a ,canadian an eye witness4 ,he was passing the winter with the indians one night the head man of the tent he lodged in gave a feast4 ,he was in the habit of doing it was himself ap- parently a good peaceable man1 but not to be trifled with by other indians4 ,every thing being prepared the guests were just going to eat when the feast-man's mother dropped suddenly as if dead3 every one was struck with consternation3 they had re- course to their medicines1 songs1 rattlers c4 as usual2 at last he fell to sucking his mother in one of her temples1 suddenly they heard something crack3 the indian drew back1 his mother arose perfectly recovered all became well4 ,however that which occasioned the crack1 the indian took out of his mouth1 wrapped carefully up gave it to his wife to put in a tobacco box1 which she did3 it had all the appearances of a ,bean 7un fve7--the wife wanted to tie the lid but the husband said there was no necessity--they resumed their meal4 ,but the old woman was not long in possessi- on of her senses4 ,she very soon relapsed1 as instantaneously as at the first ho6 exclaim- ed the indian1 the ,dog is off--,they looked into the tobacco box but nothing was found--,they continued conjuring #c nights1 the last especially1 the man told me he thought the devil was 7#bi7 was amongst them from a certain kind of undescribable noise in the air1 round about their tent1 the sudden flashings of light4 ,this was ,powder 7,gun ,powder73 they had carefully thrown out all the fire1 thrown a great quantity of snow water on the hearth1 then put fresh ,earth upon it--it was perfectly dark in the lodge1 there being no other light than what is usually emitted from the heavens3 upon this hearth of fresh earth they would throw some ,powder then retiring to the bottom of the tent would say come6 let me see if ,i be a manito--8 then singing c4 off the ,powder would fly6 ,they continued this way #c nights but all to no purpose3 the old woman yet lived #b years but never spoke c4 ,he said 7the indian7 that this bean was the ,soul or ,spirit of another indian1 then at a vast distance1 which he darted at my mother to render her pitiful miserable2 but ,i shall make the ,dog suffer4 ,however 1 after this1 the ,canadian enquired why he did not revenge himself kill him ,no2 said he1 that wont do3 he has got back his soul it is true1 ,i cannot get it again1 yet ,i might easily kill him if ,i chuse1 but this wont do--he is somewhat justifiable1 for ,i took both his wives from him4 ,there are many other instances of a like nature but different in the proceedings1 that ,i do not recollect sufficiently to commit to ,paper4-- ,now again for the other way4 ,if an indian has a spite against another1 is induced to it for the preservation of his own life1 or from motives of revenge1 he takes the following plan or method4 ,he takes a piece of leather cuts it into the shape of his enemy2 if he wants him to die speedily he places a little ,powdered medecine opposite the heart1 or upon it4 ,this medecine is ,i believe a root1 very inflammable1 he holds a small spark of fire near it--it immediately explodes that part of the leather on which it was becomes burnt shrivelled3 when he performs this1 he generally utters words like these ,let the ,heart of such a one become like this ,leather1 let it shrivel die within him6 ,if it is a leg1 an arm1 the head1 or any other particular part1 or parts1 or even the whole body1 it is the same1 the words also2 unless he doth not wish for the death2 then he will say ,let such a part1 become lame1 useless1 ulcerous c4 c4 according to his disposi- tion2 that part1 or parts become thus affected according to his wish1 ,but how is it possible that such things can be8 ,do you really think that an insig- nificant root1 of no apparant power or virtue whatever can effect such things8 ,thus ,i would frequently question1 their answers with little variations uni- versally the same4 ,yes1 most certainly it is not the root alone1 but with the assistance of that one of his ,dreamed that is most powerful most fond of him3 he6 you white people you know not2 you are consummately ignorant of the ,power of our ,great medecine men many things might ,i tell you much more surprising--but you do not believe these trifles1 how much less then those you do not know8--,what then is to be done6 how do with 7#cj7 what say to a people so blind1 so infatuated6 ,they have some roots that are dreadful in their effects--,being a female1 ,i think ,i should prefer immediate death4 ,they have some that have the same effects as ,lunar ,caustic4 ,they use them thus4 ,during the time of their ,seperation 7i4e menstruation7 they endeavour to give them to smoke1 which is never refused--there is some of this root mixed with the ,tobacco4 ,once smoking is sufficient --a few months after their complexion begins to change-- at last becomes of a nasty black with abundance of hair growing out of the face2 if these women were to shave1 ,i verily believe their beards would become as bushy thick as those of any man whatever4 ,in performing this1 they must also utter words thus3 ,let the one for whom ,i intend this1 who shall smoke of it become black hairy2 be- come as ugly rejected as she is now fair searched for6 ,sometimes they mingle it with their food or the liquor they drink3 there is more than one kind of this dreadful root2 one of which ,i was shewn1 but have forgotten1 there being #b or #c others resembling it4--it is like many others a perennial herb1 hath some resemblance to the long or tall ,thistle4 ,to return4 ,when the subject1 or object1 discovers that she hath been thus dealt with1 which they sometimes do a few weeks after1 they may be restored1 for there is an antidote to it2 but ,i have never known one instance of this1 tho' a dozen of the others ,i have4 ,some handsome1 fair complexioned young females refusing the importunate solli- citations of an abandoned1 vicious1 revengeful wretch1 becomes the victim of her coyness2 #b or #c years after1 ,i have positively not known them could scarcely beleive my ,eyes4----,there is of another kind which is very common1 whose effects is an extraordinary vacuation of blood1 in a few days would occa- sion death4 ,a half breed ,i lately had with me1 the ,son of a man who many years ago was a servant of yours1 being not of an extraordinary good moral character finding his sollicitations rejected with scorn became jealous very anxious to revenge himself4 ,he applied to an old indian1 but in so cautious a manner that the indian gave him of the root without suspecting told him how to use it4 ,he pulverised it1 mingled it with a little vermillion then watched his opportunity1 which occurred ,i beleive1 the ensuing morning4 ,in our out- ,posts we have no temples dedicated to ,cloacinda1 besides1 the females here are ashamed to sacrifice at them3 he therefore could not miss his opportunity--he wat- ched1 after she entered he went soon found the place by the ,smoke3 here he sprinkled some of this ,powder which he took in a quill1 pronouncing ,let me see blood issue from the same place this hath done--,i want to see blood4--,scarcely five hours after1 the woman who was married of course so much the less bashful said what is the matter with me1 ,i have been just now out want to go again4 ,you may suppose her astonishment seeing the time of the natural return was scarcely half elapsed 7#ca7 but how much more so finding it issue far beyond anything she had ever known3 ,this con- tinued 'til very late in the day the beast was watching to see if it would answer4 ,he went in to the house on pretence of a freindly visit1 remarked how ,pale she was--,the mother told him my daughter has been bewitched could you not do something to ease her8 ,he became extremely uneasy in his turn3 he went out passing by the place she went to he easily discovered notwithstanding her precaution of what dreadful conse- quences it would be if not timely attended to4 ,he was afraid she would die before anything could be done4 ,however he went to the old indian speaking in a most sympathising strain1 asked him if he could not administer something to stop that extraordinary issue4 ,why6 replied the old fellow--,that root ,i gave you the other day is its own antidote--give her the length of her middle finger to eat it will stop quick enough4 ,he did not chuse to tell the indian that it was this that had occasioned it lest he should be punished by him in his turn2 but artfully con- ducting his discourse got more from him1 administered it to the woman1 mutter- ing in himself ,let this blood cease1 ,i have seen enough of it-- she was soon healed6 ,i done all ,i could to make him confess it1 without coming to the point2 but he never would3 he satisfied himself by assuring me with the most solemn assererations that it was the case2 if you doubt it1 continued he1 you may make the experiment--you need be under no apprehensions whatever1 for in giving her of the same root to eat it will stop4 ,this root1 when mastigated1 applied when reduced to pulp1 but better when pulverised1 stops the blood immediately on application to any wound--how profusely soever it may flow4 ,it is very astringent1 somewhat hot4 ,another herb1 ,i beleive it is the 7wild7 ,carroway1 i4 e4 which we commonly denominate aniseeds--at least the smell taste much resemble that1 its stalk bears a very great resemblance to the wild mint1 as well as the leaves flowers4 ,i suppose this is the one meant1 because they tell me the taste smell are delicious3 ,this root1 all its appurtenances 7i4e4 stalk1 leaves1 flowers7 is of wonderful effects in various things4 ,i shall give you some of the stories relating to it as ,i received them4 ,i was living out with such an indian1 we became reduced to short commons --,one day he 7the indian7 took a piece of bark drew upon it #c moose-- put some of this medecine upon the heart head of each2 then he fastened a piece of sinew to it told me to fasten it to a small stick that had been stuck slant-way in the ,ground-- ,now said he1 let me see if this will do3 oh no6 ,i am afraid it wont2 but ,i'll try--if it answers1 the bark will dance6 ,i laughed at his idea 7a half breed told me this7 so did one of his sons3 however the son told me that he had seen his father do so before1 that he killed every time--stop6 ,let us see how he will go on1 said the ,son4 ,the father began to sing 7 if ,i remember right1 beat the drum also7--,shortly after the bark began to 7#cb7 to move1 as the old fellow raised his voice so did its motion increase1 'till at last it began whirling round with great violence1 sometimes one way then another 'till it was wound up close to the stick1 when it began changing sides--sometimes upon sometimes below the stick4 ,he ceased3 began to talk with us saying he was afraid it would not answer ,thus he did #c times1 the bark moved every time with the same violence4 ,now he desired in the beginning that if his familiar would have compassion on him1 he would render these #c moose foolish3 that they might not be possessed of their usual cunning-- c4 ,the next day we went out--the old man1 his son myself1 a hunting--we were hungry--,we walked 'till late in the day finding no tracks ,i proposed our return1 but he told me we ought to proceed2 'for in the low ground beyond a small ridge then near in sight of us1 we may perhaps find some tracks-- ,i am never deceived when my ,i am answered' 7i4e4 my bark dances7--,we soon reached this low ,ground shortly after heard a noise3 jumping1 running breaking of ,sticks 'ah6 here they are1' said the old man3 'see how their head is turned6 what a noise they make1--how they play--they are foolish4 ,we killed them all4 ,if you doubt me2 ask any of the indians1 see if they wont all tell you that he does so when he wants to kill4--,another story3 for love potions1 or philters1 are also com- posed of this4 ,there were several young men 7half-breeds7 of us together also some young women1 who came with us to await the arrival of their husbands from ,fort ,william at that place4 ,two of our party wanted to pay them a visit in the night ,i endeavoured to dissuade them1 but to no purpose3--they went1 met with the reception ,i foretold3 they began bawling out and on purpose to awake every one near shame us2 for we were lodging by ourselves then took good cudgels pursued them into our place3 we enjoyed this confusion of the others tho partly at our own expenses4 ,one of them then addressed me come ,bpt4 this bitch 'has vexed me1--,i know you have good medicine1--give me some of it that ,i may 'laugh at her in my turn4 7,i must tell you that one of them ,i have known many years back was1 is still1 a bitch i4e4 according the indian acceptation 7as well as well as our own17 of the term2 the man is the same one ,i mentioned little above1 at the conclusion beginning of p4p4 #cj #ca7 ,i gave him some with the directions - --he returned again very soon after 7in the same night7--found her asleep--he then rubbed her forehead1 opposite her heart1 the pit of the stomach1 the palms of both hands4 ,then he awoke her4 ,the next day1 as my comrades were desi- rous of revenging themselves1 they broached the conversation publicly had the laugh in their turn3 the women had the best at the offset1 but as they could not deny the other charges they became extremely confused vexed3 a quarrel ensued2 but my comrades exult- ingly told them 'we can turn twist you now about our fingers as we please4' ,and they 7#cc7 they did too4 ,for the women both giving suck at that time1 thought it was their children that were handling them1 as they used but one finger1 gently4 ,the other story is thus3 --,a man that ,i have with me at present in consequence of some slips of his ,rib had fre- quent1 some severe quarrels with her--she began to hate him wanted to go with her ,par-amour3 the husband tho' vexed confused did not want to lose her3 he began by soothing1 coaxing1 caressing her1 but she always bawled out as loud as she could that every body might hear1 tho' it were at midnight 'thou white dog1 leave me alone 'why art thou fumbling at me8 ,the more she became averse the more he coaxed she bawling out 'dont slabber me' every time he attempted to kiss her1-- she was watching a fair opportunity to slip off to her lover 7an indian74 ,at last he lodged his complaints to me1 asked if ,i could not assist him4 ,i gave him some of this mede- cine with the usual directions told him as soon as he had executed all properly to come away leave her1 not return to her for a couple of days so that in her turn she might suffer4 ,he had not long left her 'till she called for him as if want- ing something like a ,goose he went immediately1 tho' ,i done all ,i could to make him pay her in her own coin4--,since that time they live as you see them4 ,but if you doubt of this also1 you can easily make the experiment--chuse any one you please1 let her be ever so coy1 shy1 you will bring her as you want666 --,shortly after this ,i made some general enquiries of the man latterly in question1 but he would not avow1 tho' from his confusion precipitancy with which he an- swered1 ,i beleive there is something in the business4 ,it is with this medecine con- tinued the half breed1 that the young men do completely universally succeed with all the women that please them4 ,with this also1 principally1 they succeed in bewitching any one they are averse to1 prevent them from killing such animals as they please4 ,they draw the likeness of the animal or animals1 they do not chuse the others to kill1 put of this medicine 7tho' most commonly mixed with some others in this latter case7 upon the hearts desire that they may become shy fly off upon any the least appearance or approach of them4 ,or1 they will conjure desire some of their familiars1 one1 or several1 to haunt such a one in all his motions scare frighten off1 render wise any such such animals2 let the distance be hundreds of miles off--their familiars that are spirits residing in the air1 transport themselves in an instant to any place they place1 who see all that is going on below1 keep all away accordingly4 ,to evade this is a task that but few can succeed in4 ,they must first ,conjure to learn who it is that has bewitched them1 then they inquire what is to be done3 but here lies the difficulty4--,sometimes they are told they must leave the appointed time run out3 at others1 such such ceremonies1 which is tantamount to the first answer2 but at others again1 it is easily dispelled--,this depends 7#cd7 depends entirely upon the precautions the bewitcher has taken1 the ,power1 influence1 or number of his ,dreamed3 as also on the other hand of the ,dreamed1 their1 power1 influence c4 of the be- witched4 ,but sometimes on a very slight or trivial cause depends the whole4-- ,i shall tell you another story4 ,an old ,canadian ,i have now with me has been in the habit of living-free for many years back4 ,in the beginning of a winter he was tenting with some indians1 one of them an impertinent1 bombastic sort of character was boasting to him of the great power effect of some medicines a drum he had lately received from a ,sauteux c4 c4 for some time ,i did not mind him1 but finding he became at last troublesome1 insinuating as plainly as he durst that he was now invulnerable1 or rather immortal that we were helpless1 a quarrel ensued 'till at last ,i fxxt4 upon your medicines drum the one also who gave them to you said ,i4 ,we seperated in no good freindship4 ,at night he mad a feast invited me amongst the rest with the design of poisoning me2 but his freinds remonstrated so ef- fectually that he put this off intended shooting me going out of the lodge2 but this also the others would not allow3 he was vexed--,i kept my eye upon him1 determined ,i should give the first blow on the least motion he might make4 ,finding himself prevented in these he said that ,i indeed should kill #b moose1 but that the rest of the year ,i should starve as a dog4 ,i seperated next day with my wife children--they were under great apprehensions1 but ,i mocked all their conjurings--,i very shortly killed #b moose2 but these indeed were the last4 ,i walked hunted every day-- seldom one day passed but ,i fired at the ,buffaloe1 moose1 or some other animal1 but never got anything anything--,i my family were near dying with hunger1 ,i tried every thing in my power1 never giving myself the least trouble about the indians menaces4 ,at last the spring arrived--,ducks ,geese came2 but no better suc- ess4 ,at last one day prowling in my ,canoe ,i met #b other free-men1 who1 after mutual inquiries c4 told me the same thing had happened him that an indian told him to file off a small piece of the muzzle of his ,gun wash it well with water in which ,sweet- flag had been boiled1 killed after that as before4 ,i laughed at the idea1 but re- flecting that it was an innocent experiment ,i could not offend the almighty1 ,i tried1 the first animals ,i saw ,i immediately killed4--,this ,sir1 continued he1 ,i assure you is a positive fact666--,i find that the indians have recourse to this method also4 ,but you must observe3 as is the disease33so is the remedy4 ,another story just now occurs to me which ,i shall relate1 not so much to multiply these pretended proofs as to shew that our ,iroquois1 ,algonquins c4 c4 are not such complete converts to the ,christian faith as most people may complacently imagine1 but rather have a mongrel religion like those whom the ,king of ,babylon sent to inhabit ,samaria when he carried ,reuben ,ephraim captives 7,in the ,bible74 ,this winter an ,iroquois 7#ce7 told me that one winter he was out a ,beaver hunting with many of his friends4--,the oldest man of their party proposed one day that a certain number of them should go out a hunting ,moose or ,buffaloe1 the others ,beaver4 ,this one says ,i returned at night after a good success--the old man nothing--he became envious--a quarrel ensued2 after this many others4 ,one day ,i fired at a moose as he was running past me1 he fell--,i went to him2 just as ,i was for beginning to skin he rose up1 but with my axe ,i bro't him down--it was very far from home--,i merely opened him returned light1 trusting to the others of our party2 for ,i had no desire of partaking of the dry provisions the old fellow had1 of his own4 ,imediately on entering the lodge we had a- nother severe quarrel1 he told me ,i should not any more exult in my prowess as he should take care ,i should not kill any more animals for some time4 ,as we were coming to knife work1 ,i ordered my wife to bundle up all our things my lodge1 pitch off--it was then late1 ,i had not yet eaten4 ,as none of my friends knew that ,i had killed1 ,i did not chuse to tell them1 but merely said as ,i was going off ',let those who are fond of me1 or who chuse1 follow me'2 but none came1 ,i encamped upon my moose4 ,every day ,i went a hunting--scarcely a week passed but ,i fired #bj1 #cj1 sometimes upward of #ej ,shot1 upon ,buffaloe or ,moose1 but could never kill--,i would miss1 or the ball twisting in the hair would fall by the animal without doing further injury4 ,i starved for a long time-- became so weake that ,i could hardly walk4 ,at last my wife 7a woman of this country7 one day that ,i had been out as usual had prepared some good strong lye1 on my return washed my ,gun with it2 filled it1 stopping both the orifices put it over the smoke where it remained all night4 ,she also took a number of the balls boiled them likewise in the lye1 telling me she had seen her uncle do so many years before when he too had been bewitched4--,i thought at all events it could do no harm2 besides ,i could have done anything1 ,i was so hungry4-- ,the next day ,i went out again1--found another flock or herd of near #bj ,buffaloe1 ,i drew nigh took all my usual precautions--,i fired1 one dropped2 fired again1 another dropped3--,i killed #ad out of that herd2 ever after missed not once6 ,i asked him how the old fellow had done8--he said ,i suppose it was as they frequently do--i4e4 bury a piece of my meat in the ,ground pray the ,devil to prevent my killing3 for the ,iroquois1 when they take it in their head1 are very wicked1 do not want power6--,a few days ago a half-breed1 abandoned with the indians1 came in2 amongst his other wantages asked me for a small piece of 7red7 sealing- wax because my brother cannot draw blood from the animals he fires at3 by heating his ,gun ap- plying this wax the blood will flow profusely from the wounds4 ,he expressed himself afraid that his brother might have been bewitched by retarding this operation he might enter dans sa mal chance6 7#cf7 ,these few examples will suffice to shew you that they have different methods of bewitching also different ways of clearing themselves4 ,and the faith1 dread1 they have of this1 is scarcely credible2 the consequences are often too uncommonly distressing4--,i shall now give you of the ,story of the ,hairy ,breasts4 ,near the days of ,noah1 nations were few small4 ,weesuckajock 7noah1 ,i shall call him for abbreviation sake7 had a son as ,i told you before whose name was ,nay-hn-nee-mis4 ,being straitned for provisions he went out to angle with some of the ,hairy-,breasts4 ,they came to a ,lake1 pierced several holes1 but the ,north 7or ,north wind1 as you chuse7 being envious of ,nayhanemis1 froze the water down to the very ground2 so that in the deepest parts they found but ,earth after much digging at last reached the bottom2 but behold that also was frozen6 who knows to what depth in the ,earth8 ,finding this to be the case ,nays1 addressed his freinds thus--,i see this is the doings of the ,n4 ,wind 7now by rights the ,n4 ,wind ought to have been his maternal ,gnd ,father--but what cannot envy do87 he is envious of us1 wants to make us die of hunger--but he shall not6--,i have to propose to you to cut off my head--rip up my body1 beginning at the throat--,you must not hurt nor break any single one of my bones2 but carefully take off all the flesh1 dry it1 make ,pounded meat of it4 of this you must sprinkle a little in every one of the holes2 you must also chop up my ,heart into very small pieces throw a few of these pieces also into each hole3 then put in your lines1 you'll take as many fish as you please4 ,but my bones you must put in a heap1 carefully by themselves4 ,mind6 upon your faithful observance of all these commands depends our mutual safety4 ,the ,north thinks himself sole master1 would wish to crush us because we begin to have a little knowledge3 but he shall know me6 ,they done accordingly1 accordingly also they took abundance of fish4 ,north per- ceived this3 he came to see1 finding himself thus frustrated inquired how it came about8--they told3 ,he challenged ,nays4 who by this time had revived2 besides a beautiful large feather he had sticking in his cap or head1 which none durst wear but such as have given incontestible proofs of their ,manhood1 bravery c4 he like- wise had a smoking bag1 of the ,skin of a badger4 ,nayhanimis accepted the challenge4 ,it seems ,nahanimis you are a great man1 a man of extraordinary power abilities6-- --let us have a trial1 see which of us has the most2 for ,i also have some ,knowledge--,nahani- mis answered ,no6 ,i have but little power1 but that little ,i employ as much as ,i can to the ,general benefit of my fellows3 let us see what you can do1 which if ,i cannot1 then you will certainly be superior to me4 ,here they performed one or two wonderful feats but in which ,nayhanimis had the advantage most confessedly4--,the ,north pierced his body through1 done another extraordinary thing ,i cannot well recollect2 but the other done more recovered not only more suddenly but more perfectly4 ,at last the ,north put a bet said ,let us see for this last act3 ,i will cut off my head if ,i cannot replace recover perfectly 7#cg7 perfectly1 the same as ,i am at present1 then my house all ,i have shall be yours2 but if ,i succeed1 you cannot1 then all your possessions shall be mine4 ,nayhanimis consented2 for he was secretly desirous of humiliating the selfsufficient spirit of ,north4 ,they tried--,north failed1 but ,nayhanimis completely succeeded3 ,he deliberately severed his head from his body1 put it down on the ,ground beside him1 very composedly1 then replaced it1 when it be- came as tho' nothing had happened4 ,but this was owing to the ,power virtue of his ,plume2 which1 however1 the others knew nothing off4 ,it appears that the ,north also recovered but by the assistance of his friends1 of whom he had a numerous train4 ,north was faithful to his promise--,gave him his house which was beautiful spacious1 but mostly underground1 or at least in the side of a mountain4 ,all his freinds turned out1 put in ,nayhanimis gave him the full possession4 ,but he was no sooner in than they secured all the outlets2 doors1 windows c4 set it on fire to destroy one whom they found so much more powerful than themselves6 ,nays4 finding this to be the case was not in the least dismayed1 but took his smoking bag thus addressed it ,now thou ,badger1--our mutual safety depends upon thy obedience expedition--,thou art made to pass thro' the ,earth as quick as upon it3 these fools think to destroy us1 but thou must shew that we are superior to them4 ,during the conflagration they were enjoying the scene exulting in the idea of having at last succeeded in destroying so formidable an adversary3 but what was their consternation when they saw him come to them without even one hair of his head singed6--they were appalled with astonishment had not the power of utterance4 ,at last recovering a little they endeavoured to pass it off as a joke turn it to his own advantage1 by silencing at one blow the envy malice of his all enemies1 pretending to be a staunch friend of his4 ,but he was not thus to be duped2 yet he shewed a superiority of sentiment generosity equal to his ,powers abilities by giving them 7tho' contemptuous if you please7 pardon4 ,so much for this ,part4-- ,thus did matters pass on for yet a few years4 ,the indians began to multiply inha- bit the world3 but the ,hairy-breasts1 a jealous1 envious1 and at best foolish people1 could not well behold their prosperity3 they made war upon them 7the indians7 by stealth destroyed numbers3 their affairs bore a most dismal aspect--no less than the total extinction of the whole race4 ,at last ,nayhanimis pitched off with his wife1 her father1 another one--there were four of them4 ,he found found a ,beaver lodge-- here some of the ,hairy-,breasts came up with him4 ,compliments at first1 afterwards ,sneers1 taunts revilings2 but so ambiguously that no hold could be taken4 ,how nume- rous3 how many are there of ye inquired the ,hairy ,b4 ,we are twenty of us replied ,nayhanimis2 so are we rejoined the others4 ,now1 they here entered into an arrangement that whoever found ,beaver for the future it should be his own2 but to avoid any wrangles1 he who found the ,beaver should plant a stick or branch upon the lodge1 as a mark4 ,on their return 7#ch7 home each recounted to his family what he had met with in the course of the day4 ,now said ,nay- hanimis1 addressing his family1 we must take #bj ,beavers1 one for each man of them 7meaning the hairy-breasts7 make a feast4 ,if it turns out that we be able to eat these #bj ,beaver1 they not1 then we shall be superior to them have the upper hand4 ,the ,beaver were cooked accordingly3--he took his rattler which he shook to the tunes of his ,songs1--performed the usual ceremonies1 they eat the whole #bj ,b4 with ease4 ,then addressing his family thus1 said ,these ,hairy-,breasts are great boasters1 but cowards--,they are a people of no account--tomorrow will decide all4 ,the ,hairy ,breasts on their return did the same as ,nayhanimis cooked also #bj ,b4 thinking that his band did really con- sist of that number4 ,they eat3 but every one was already full yet more than #c_/d of the feast remained--,give me my rattler 7said one of the oldest7 that ,i sing c4 it may happen that we find grace4 ,he sang shook his rattler1 but it would not sound-- ,after frequent repeated trials to no effect he became vexed threw it out of doors among the ,dogs ,this dog of a rattler will not sound in spite of all my endeavours3 but hold6 hear how it rattles now that it is out--go for it one of ye1 perhaps it was owing to some fault in me4 ,they bro't it to him3 but still as before3 he threw it out again in a rage2 it was no sooner out than it sounded well as before3 it was bro't in again3 but as before again4 ,then he threw it out for good1 vexed disappointed to the utmost degree4 ,but his freinds were not pleased2 they considered this a portentious omen his behavior foolish2 by no means calculated to reconcile their ,deities to them4 ,he comforted them by telling them the numbers of the adverse party must be few1 otherwise we had surely been able to eat the whole of this feast3 they are few we shall sub- due them4 ,the next day they all pitched off4 ,nayhanimis came first to a ,beaver lodge marked it--came another marked that one also4 ,but making a circuit1 in which he hung up his ,bow1 quiver c4 c4 in a tree1 at his own height1 came round to the same lodges found that the ,hairy-,b had put marks of their own thrown his one away3--exasperated he threw theirs away replaced his1 made another circuit1 when he found the ,h4,b4 had replaced their own again3 ,he also remarked that the ,,hb4 had hung up their ,bows c4 c4 in the tops of very hi trees1 trusting to their numbers4 ,at last they met--greeted each other at first1 then sneers1 quarrels1 a challenge then the battle3 they were to fight man to man--,nayhanimis killed #ai right out1 but the #bjth had near killed him3 however this was but an accident usual in battles--he soon killed him also4 ,the women were coming up when raising his voice to a pitch to be distinctly heard by heard by all said ,such of ye indian women as have been taken from your homes1 had your husbands killed c4 such of ye indian women as are willing to return to your nation1 take all axes others arms out of the hands of these ,h4 ,b4 women1--seperate yourselves from them2 attack 7#ci7 destroy them all3 leave not one alive to carry the news to the others4 ,they seperated accordingly killed every soul4 ,then he took them to his tent finding by their answers to his queries that there were still another band not far off consisting of #dj young #b old men of the ,,hb4 he ordered a quantity of poles or pickets to be cut very long made a kind of ,fort of them round his own tent3--gave orders to them to gather a vast quantity of snow round all the sides of it1 to come over the points1 so that neither the pickets nor tent might be seen1 that this rising might have the appearance of a natural hill1 something in short in the form of a pit4 ,he immediately made a number of lances spears walked off in quest of his enemies4 ,he soon reached their camp--drew near found that there were but #b old men1 all the others were out a hunting4 ,here he listened to their conversation was burning with indignation at the stories these #b old men told each other of the cruelties they had done to the ,indians--,they were chukling at this when he sprung into the tent1 took each by the head thrust their faces in the fire sprang out again to listen4 ,one of them returning to his senses1 for they had both fainted during the ceremony1 exclaimed thus my old freind6 what is the matter with me8 ,i lost my senses quite suddenly now that ,i am come to1 ,i feel my face quite sore cannot see--,it is the same with me replied the other one--,then it must be some evil spirit that has pounced upon us resumed the first4 ,at last ,nayhanimis addressed them thus ,i shall tell ye old men a story too4 ,there were two old men formerly seated in their tents relating to each other the exploits of their younger days the cruelties they committed upon the ,indians--,nayha- nimis was near--he pounced upon them thrust both their heads together into the fire4 ,when your children young men be returned from their hunting tell them this ,story1 in the mean time ,i shall return home make ready for them-- --my name is ,nayhanimis ,i reside at such a place 7i4e4 ,i am called 7or named7 ,nayhanimis c474 ,the old men as may be imagined1 were ,thunder ,struck with this durst not say a word more4 ,but in the ,evening the young men came home--,they were astonished to see their fathers in such a plight4 ,children6 behold your fathers6 said they--,had any miscreant durst act in such a manner to our fathers1 their villanny should certainly not have passed off thus3 but we are now old men of no more account666 ,this last apostrophe above all the rest roused them to vengeance3 they merely scraped the snow off their feet legs went immediately in quest of him1 vowing vengeance all the way of a most cruel ex- emplary nature4 ,nayhanimis was on his guard1 every soul able to weild a weapon had one in his hand1 besides an infinite number of spears sharp stakes stuck in the ,ground1 ,the ,h4 ,b4 came1 but not perceiving the trap on account of the snow that was bro't over ends of the stockades they all fell in one upon the other impaled themselves in their fall on those sticks c4-- ,all of them but #b or #c met with instantaneous death--,the few that were not injured were put to 7#dj7 to an excruciating1 but immediate death to satisfy the manes of the departed indians2 he proceeded im- mediately to the ,camp2 killed the remaining #b old men1 scoffing taunting them at the same time4 ,immediately after this he ordered such of the indian women as had had their hus- bands killed1 or were taken by the ,h4 ,b4 to seperate from the other women inflict the same punishment upon them their children as had been done to their friends4 ,thus were the ,hairy ,breasts entirely exterpated1 merely by their own folly wickedness4 ,had they lived peaceably1 allowed the indians to partake of the blessings of this world without envy1 as well as themselves1 to which they had an undoubted right1 they might still have been in existence4 ,however there are still #b nations of them1 one of which is on ,your ,lands1 the others1 ,i believe beyond the ,seas3 but they are an insignificant most despicable people4 ,they pretend to antiquity would fain extort respect from the moderns 7i4e4 themselves1 or the indians1 principally7 but their very countenance1 appearance1 every thing about them denotes folly seems more to demand contempt than to call for respect4 ,i saw one many years back1 who was bro't by the ,traders from somewheres on your ,lands3 he face was venerable1 but still there was a meanness in the whole of him that ,i could not account for3 ,i respected him1 wanted to treat him according- ly--this is as from the ,stories ,i had heard related of them2 but the ,traders laughed at us asked one if ,i was inclined to respect folly1 insignificance1 nothing666-- ,i have been a long time in writing these ,pages have been frequently disturbed--,i have been often obliged to put by my paper after seating myself #e or #f times to write only one word3 from such long frequent interruptions much method correctness cannot be expected--,i therefore send them to you in the form of ,notes4 ,my motives for thus employing my time paper were first to amuse instruct myself1 but principally for your own amusement such few friends as you may think worthy of the communication4 ,lend them not of the house1 nor let too many see them2 for ,i have some notion please ,god ,i live to digest them into form regularity have them published1 besides a vast many others ,i purpose with ,gods help1 collecting3 but this is merely between ourselves immediately after perusal blot out all this ,paragraph4 ,journals1 voyages c4 c4 of these people have been fre- quently published3 but ,i have met with none that gives so circumstantial a detail of their private life 7if ,i may so say7 as is necessary to give that insight to their ideas notions 7 this latter term too1 ,i think1 critically speaking cannot be appli- cable to them7 that is required so much wanted to form a proper estimate of man in his natural state4 ,we all see them1 hear them relate of them2 but where is there one who can give the why's wherefore's that these people do so1 so8 ,i beg you will blot this last paragraph entirely out1 at least the first part2 do not be premature in your condemnation or judgement of me1 for ,i trust my motives are entirely destitute of vanity only the desire of truth urges me1 or at least true just information c4 c4 ,g ,n4 april #afth #ahbc-- 7#da7 ,such are the notions ideas of these people4 ,they acknowledge a superior ,power1 not ,wee-,suck-a- -jock1 as ,i was erroneously informed but the same one you adore in the ,christmas holidays4 ,this one they have a great respect veneration for but seldom it is as far as ,i can learn7 that they sa- crifice or pray to him i4e4 make speeches1 which tho' extempore1 ,i consider as much prayers as tho' they were composed after the most deliberate mature reflection2 many parts of them so simple1 plain1 natural1 withal so sublime that ,i frequently felt great pleasure in attending to them4 ,but these sentiments are so few comparitively speaking1 the absurdities so great frequent that few men can hear them without lamenting their ignorance4 ,they have often seemed to me as desirous in a hi degree of becoming acquainted with the true mode of worshipping1 from the frequent changes1 even during my time1 they have made in their worshippings4 ,as a proof of this is the avidity with which they seize any new system introduced from their ,southern neigh- bors3 the short time they hold it2 how completely it is abandoned1 if not entirely forgotten for another1 equally if not more absurd than the former4 ,to introduce a new system among them it is only necessary to report an extravagant tale of some wonderful character1 --the cures by this means that have been performed such like miraculous fantastic nonsense4 ,but in their fundamental points ,i perceive no visible alteration4 ,the prin- cipal of these is what they call the ,mee-tay-wee4 ,a ceremony ,i shall compare to ,free-masonry2 but the initiations are public--every one that chuses comes to see them many are invited4 ,here1 in the course of initiation are ceremonies or deviltries performed that no man of his own mere dexterity or ,power can do4 ,the next principal one is conjuring4 ,this is a principle ,i believe as natural to man as the air he breathes 7tho' not so necessary74 ,every one wishes to peep into futurity there are few but who would not inquire into causes could they do it1 or were it not forbidden them4 ,thes two of course are consequences or consequents of their mythology4 ,there are many in the civilized or ,christian world who absolutely positively deny this power of theirs as being absolutely impossible at best but absurd idle stories4 ,many of the things related of these ,conjurings ,i acknowledge to be so2 but at the same time ,i am as positive as firmly persuaded of the truth of the assertion that they have dealings with some supernatural spirit1 as ,i am convinced that ,i live breathe in air2 unless1 indeed1 we chuse to acknow- ledge believe a certain sect of ,philosophers 7of the last century ,i beleive7 who wish to tell us that we onlyimagine ourselves alive4 ,and ,i am by no means inclined to acknowledge myself as superstitious3 ,i am convinced of this from reason1 argument1 comparison2 in- -short from analysis4 ,let any one man1 unless he be a headstrong brute who is de- termined before hand not to be convinced1 analyse their discourses c4 c4 and ,i am confi- dent he will beleive as much as many1 or have great doubts at least4 ,to absolutely deny this1 we must first deny that there is a ,devil1 afterwards deny his pernicious power 7#db7 and if we deny these points1 we must descend to a third1 more fit for an atheistical wretch a beast than a ,christian1 or even rational creature4 ,i have heard some sensible well informed ,gentleman deny it on the plea of their ignorance2 but this again is a basis very solid one4 ,these people are still in a complete state of nature3 their ideas of the true ,god are far from clear or correct3 they acknowledge him indeed as the ,supreme absolute ,master of all1 but more or rather as a passive ,deity than as he really is2 but their notions of their other ,deities come far more near the truth4 ,their wants indeed are also few1 but they are arbitrary cannot be dispensed with1 at least for any time2 it is therefore very natural that they should em- ploy their whole thoughts most of their time in procuring these means to warding off or averting their dangers4 ,and ,i do not know of any method more adapted to this than the one they pursue1 i4 e4 ,fasting ,sleeping to dream2 they do dream too3 many of these dreams are so complicated1 or compounded of so many different things that it is absolutely beyond the power of their in- vention to fabricate them4 ,surely a man man beleive his senses4 ,a man tied1 wound up in a blanket1 or skin equally soft3 here he is held by one1 two1 or #c men--he slips out of the blanket presents himself before you free1 leaving the cords c4 untied in the blanket3 you hear him ,speak1 perhaps #bj other voices besides1 all at the same3 again he is bound as a criminal1 rather indeed as a ,pig1 crumpled into a heap thrust in to his hut--at the very instant of his entrance the hut shakes as if ten thousand devils were for pulling it to pieces3 you enter this1 find the man absent1 hear a fluttering about your ears1 or see a vast number of small lights resting on the hoops that hold the poles together3 immediately after you are out you hear the man speake within again2 you look again feel for him1 but hear him talking at a distance2 ,what can this be but supernatural agency8--,i have never seen feats of this kind1 but others ,i have1 not so strong1 but equally con- vincing4 ,i have been informed that a young half-breed1 abandoned with the indians almost from his childhood1 a few years back entered one of these conjuring huts at the solicitation of one of the ,n4 ,w4 ,gentlemen to see what retarded the people so long4 ,previous to his entering a great deal of conversation on the subject had been3 matters were settled between them the con- juror4 ,some time after his entrance he began to cry 7not weep7 as a person uneasy1 at first the voice was within1 but it appeared as rising in the air1 at last was lost4 ,well6 said one of the indians addressing one of the half-breeds1 living with the white ,well6 enter now1 see if he be there3 thou art always doubting denying what we say of these things3 enter then see if he be there1 then indeed are our assertions false4 ,he raised the bottom of the casement entered1 but as he was not below1 he rose on his feet felt for him1 but not to be found4 ,however he was paid for his curiosity3 there was a dreadful flutter- ing within1 but especially about his head1 his hair flying about in his face as if in a tempest frequent appearances of small lights before his eyes which ever way he turned3 he bawled out asked those without what was the matter with him3 he became afraid walkd 7#dc7 out as quick as he could4 ,very shortly after they heard the same cries of pain1 faintly1 at first1 but the voice soon entered4 ,the ,conjuror said he was carried to where the people were ,they are all aslepp1 at such a place tomorrow will be here c4 ,he said there were #d 7spirits7 of them1 that carried him off3 ,each held him by the little finger little toe6 ,i shall here relate a couple more of these stories4 ,and indian told me that several years back he left his lodge on the borders of a large ,lake to go to the house for some necessaries he wanted4 ,he took a traverse for some islands1--the weather was dull but mild3 a storm very soon set in-- but he persevered3 thinking the wind had changed1 he also changed his course4 ,he became very much fatigued laid down on the ice to rest himself wait for day light1 for the night had overtaken him4 ,he was not long down before reflecting on his situation he became extremely uneasy was afraid of freezing4 ,at last he heard a curious noise near him that he could not account for3 at first his fears increased greatly dreading it was some malignant spirit2 but having no alternative he resigned himself to his fate ,i became as composed as tho' ,i were safe2 ,i was too3 for an animal much resembling a ,wolf black1 came up covered me2 ,i was very cold1 shivering in every limb1 but ,i soon became quite warm3 he rose from off me went on as if inviting me to follow--his eyes appeared like #b candles4--,i followed--he led me to an island where ,i made a fire warmed dried myself2 as soon as ,i was rigged ,i followed him1 for he went off looked at me so earnestly ,i took it for an order3 he led me straight to the water hole3-- there happened to be people at the time there going for water--,they saw these lights asked me what occasioned them1 or who it was that came with me1--,i told them it was a compassionate spirit that retrieved me from a dreadful death4-- --#bnd6 ,a young man lately told me the following ,i was returning home with my uncle when come to that point we heard something crying behind us he6 he6 ha6 ha6 whistling alternatively4 ,my uncle told me it was a ,pah-,kack 7,skeleton7 wanted to destroy us4 ,it came up with us very soon kept constantly buzzing whistling in our ears so that indeed we were quite bewildered at last3 it was at night dark1 but we kept strait on as we thought2 we were mistaken1 for after walking a long time1 we at last came to the water hole again from where we had set off4 ,we were both of much afraid2 but finding this path we minded it no more tho' it pursued us making more more noise the nearer we got home4 ,many of these stories bear a great resemblance to those extravagant tales of la ,bte a la ,grande ,queue1 ,loup ,garoup1 ,chasse ,galerie many others natural to superstitious people1 it requires therefore a great deal of caution attention to get at the true ones4 ,i have here inserted more than ,i originally intended1 but they will serve to give you an idea of the notions of these people2 except a few1 ,i have selected those that appeared most rational3 however they will all come in time4 7#dd7 ,there is a kind of disease7or distemper rather1 of the mind1 ,i am fully persuaded17 peculiar to the ,crees ,sauteux's of which they have the greatest dread horor2 certainly not without the very greast cause1 the consequences #di times out of #ej being death unfortunately to many be- sides the subjects or objects themselves4 ,they term this ,wen-di-go 7according to the french pronunciation1 which is more correct than the ,english1 in this word7--the pro- per signification of which1 to me at least1 no one ,i think can doubt it1 is ,giant of the ,anthropophagi ,genus1 sect1 tribe1 or kind c4 ,the stories related of these are as extravagant fantastatic as those we read in our old romances in the days of ,chivalry2 differing in no one circumstance hardly but the means used in their destruction1 which of course is often done by the intervention or assistance of their ,guardian ,genii4 ,however1 there are some few more ra- tional than those of ours tho' still beyond all bounds of credibility1 are as devoutly be- lieved by these poor creatures as the ,gospel is by the most orthodox among us4 ,i do not remember any of these sufficiently correctly to give you a few of the stories1 one excepted3-- --,suffice it to say that they are of uncommon size--,goliath is an unborn infant to them2 to add to their dread1 they are represented as possessing much of the ,power of ,magicians4 ,their head reaching to the tops of the highest ,poplars 7about #gj1 or #hj1 feet7 they are of proportionate size1 of course they must be very heavy3 their gait tho grand majestic1 at every step the ,earth shakes4 ,they frequently pursue their ,prey 7indians of course7 invisibly1 yet they cannot so completely divest themselves of all the incommodi- ties of nature as to prevent their approach being known4 ,a secret unaccountable horor pervades the whole system of one1 several1 or the whole band1 of those of whom he is in pursuit3 ,phenomena in the heavens1 earth c4 c4--,in the days of ,noah 7or near them at least7 there were a large party of indians collected together for mutual safety3 many camps had been already destroyed by him1 the indians were in great danger being entirely ex- terminated4 ,at last they bethought themselves of a plan4 ,it is needles to go to war upon him- --what can we do to him with our arms6 ,let us make an immense ,large trap 7of wood7 draw lots which of us shall serve as bait3 it is a dangerous assay indeed1 but will any generous one amongst us refuse sacrificing his life for the safety of so many8--,they made this trap on the opposite side of a small opening in the woods1 so that he might see the person seated from afar4 it was between large trees which were made to serve as ,posts4 ,it was finished4 ,an old woman stepped up said ,my ,grandchildren6 ,i am now old of no more account among ye3 we are all in danger of being devoured by this insatiable terrible beast1 why should ,i then regret sacrificing a life that at best ,i can now enjoy but only for a short time1 seeing it will in the end be productive of so much good8 ,i will go be bait4 ,the others were extremely touched at her generosity1 but they had no alternative1 circumstances admitted of no delay4 ,the old lady seated herself very com- 7#de7 composedly in the trap awaited his arrival3 the others fled off of course4 ,it was time too1 for he soon hove in sight6--,stalking along in all the stile terror of ,imperial ,gradeur1 his head equal with the tops of the highest trees1 the ground shaking at every step1 tho' froze1 it being then depth of winter1 his countenance denoting an assemblage of pity1 contempt1 rage voraciousness4 ,all this did not dismay the old ,lady3 she remained quiet3--he perceived her--,what6 ,what old woman1 art thou doing there8 ,but changing his tone1 which he did several times thus continued2 ,thou art of my natural enemies ,i shall presently ,grind thee4 ,ah6 my ,grand ,child6 ,i am an old woman1 abandoned deserted by those whom ,i have suckled bro't up3 they are fled off in dread of thee1 being old helpless they thrust me in this tuft of trees so as to be the less embarrassed3 come now assist me out in acknowledgement ,i shall inform thee of their precautions1 otherwise thou'lt lose thy life by their deceptions4 ,he was in no dread of the indians1 so far as regarded their own ,power1 but he thought a little salutary advice would not be amiss1 intending after this to ,grind the old thing as he had pro- mised himself4 ,he drew up3 what a devil of a place they have put thee indeed--did they think to conceal thee from me8--,he stooped to enter3 when she found he had entered far enough she touched a stick down came all the weights cross bar upon his back4 ,tho' he was uncommonly strong the weight1 suddenness of the blow was such that he gave way was jamed between the two beams or bars--here he struggled denouncing vengeance eternal destruction to the whole of the human race4 ,the great bellowing he made was a signal to the men who were in ambush not far off3 they came running up soon dispatched him with a multitude of blows from axes ,chissels c4 c4--,thus were they for one time releived3 the women children returned to the camp enjoyed themselves as usual without further apprehensions4 ,these ,gi- ants as far as ,i can learn reside somewhere about the ,north ,pole2 even at this day frequently pay their unwelcome visits1 but which however1 are attended with a complete fright only4 ,it seems also that they delegate their ,power to the indians occasionly2 this occasions that cannibalism which is ,produced or proceeds rather from a sort of distemper much resembling maniaism4 ,there are #c sorts or kinds that ,i know of1 beleive there are no more4 ,the first ,i have already related as above1 the #b ,i am going to give you are sometimes compounded together sometimes independent2 but they are both equally true melancly distressing in whatever light we may view them3 ,however1 ,i shall not pretend by any means to palm all that is said about them upon you as true--of this you'll by bye be able to judge as well as myself not doubt4 ,the first of these are such as are driven to this dreadful extremity by starvation4 ,in all woody countries where the inhabitants lead a wandering1 roving life1 whose subsistence depend upon the ,game they procure1 they must of necessity be frequently pinched1 some- times bro't very low4 ,all ,people cannot bear this privation alike tho' there is perhaps not a 7#df7 a people in this world who take this so patiently as those people do1 yet there are not wanting in- stances where even with them that nature gives-way4 ,they vanish as a dying ,candle2 but others can- not stand it out so long3 they must have something to eat1 be it what it may3 sometimes1 tho' with the most extreme reluctance at first1 they feed upon the flesh of such as have died4 ,any kind of animal substance at such times1 must come very grateful to the ,stomack2 hence it is ,i be- lieve that those who have once preyed upon their fellows1 ever after feel a great desire for the same nourishment1 are not so scrupulous about the means of procuring it4 ,i have seen several that had been reduced this distressing alternative1 tho' many years after there ap- peared to me a wildness in their eyes1 a confusion in their countenances much resem- bling that of reprieved murderers4444,now if we consider how very precarious their mode of subsistance is1 how devoted they are to superstition prejudice1 we1 i4 e4 such of us as know more about them1 we1 ,i say1 may wonder how they stand out so well3 very many instances ,i have known seem to be far beyond the power of human nature to stand3--,yet notwithstanding this dreadful privation lasts not for a few days1 but even to weeks months1 during all which time the men are out from star-light to star-light have never anything more to eat than some bits of leather1 moss1 bark such like1 it is very rare they will kill a fellow to live upon him4 ,this is not universal1 there are unfortunately still too many exceptions2 but these again would seem as denounciations from their ,gods-- --,they appear so to me--,i can scarcely doubt it6 and the indians themselves seem to think the same tho' in another way4 ,at this place where ,i am now writing 7,lac ,la ,ronge1 ,english ,river7 but a few years back several instances occurred4 ,an old ,canadian is said to have lost one of his ,sons thus1 tho' an excellent hunter3 the old man sometimes speakes to me of that son3 and the second died on his way to the house1 not far off4 ,the same year an indian killed all his family but #b daughters whom he compelled to partake with him1 for the rest of the route he 44444444--,i shall here give you a few stories of the kind4 ,that same year 7,i do not know precisely when but only a few years back7 a woman alone arrived at the house4 ,her appearance was haggard1 wild1 distressed3 ,however she was taken into the house-- questions put as usual1 but the answers1 vague1 indefinite contradictory3 they handed her something to eat--she acted as if eating it indeed1 but let the whole fall in the inside of her gown3 this rose suspicion4 ,but what added to this was the extra- ordinary stench she emitted from the heat of the chimney2 shortly after her entrance1 a part of a human shoulder the ,dogs bro't in from upon her road4 ,she went off--being directed upon a road leading to a camp not far off4 ,as soon as she made her appearance the indians immediately conceived what was to matter2 but thro' charity as well as for safety to find the truth they gave her to eat1 principally marrow-fat4 ,now these people pretend that cannibals cannot bear this fat or grease1 of course it was a kind of ordeal4 ,every thing she did said1 notwithstand- ing her great caution1 betrayed her4 ,she took up some of the children of her acquaintances to kiss 7#dg7 kiss as is customary but would have given it a bite had they not taken it from her4 ,they wat- ched her narrowly4 ,all the men slept in one tent with her3 she pretended to be asleep 'till she imagined the others were1 then rose very cautiously was beginning to prepare herself for action --,one of the men perceived this--rose upon her with an axe2 tho' the blow was violent upon the head she would have killed him had not the others interfered3 her wretched fate was soon decided4 ,there is such a singular1 strange1 incomprehensible contradictoriness in almost all these cases1 many ,i have heard1 that ,i do most verily believe they are denun- ciations1 witch1 or wizardisms3 in any other manner they are not rationally to be account- ed for1 unless we suppose all those who feed on human flesh to be thus possest1--then it is natural to man in those cases2 but why then not the same with us as with these people8 --,the #c;d ,kind1 or delegated1 which by what follows1 ,i believe may be allowed to be the term1 are those who dream of the ,north1 or the ,ice1 or both4 ,every one knows where the ,north resides1 but only few know the abode of ,ice1 or the ,ice4 ,this they pretend is the ,parent of ,ice1 is in the bowels of the ,earth1 at a great depth never thaws--all ice originates from this4 ,these #b they are much afraid of1 because they are both highly malignant spi- rits3 there is no joking or jesting with them4 ,those who at any future period are to become cannibals thus dream of them4 ,after the certain things usual in all dreams ,i was invited by the ,north to partake of a feast of ducks1 the most beautiful ,i had ever seen well cooked--the dish was before me1 ,i set too3 a stranger by me touched me with his elbow said1 ,eat not thou of that2 look into thy dish2 behold that which ,i had taken for the wing of a duck was the arm of a child6 'he6 what a narrow escape'6 said ,i4 ,then he took me into another room gave me most excellent meat1 the most delicious in appearance ,i had ever seen ,i would not eat--,i discovered it was the flesh of indians thus served up to me6 ,he took me into a #c;d room gave me ,tongues3 ,these ,i also perceived were the ,tongues of in- dians4 ',why refusest thou what ,i offer thee8 is it not good8' ',i feel no inclination 'to eat' ,i replied4 ,then he took me in a fourth room where fine beautiful hearts were served up1 ,i was desired to eat1 but ,i perceived that it was still the same ,i therefore refused4 ,then said he 'it is well done--thou hast done well6' ,heh6 had ,i unfor- tunately eaten of this then had ,i become a cannibal in addition to all my other misfortunes4 ,those who eat at these feasts are frequently1 but not universally told thus3 ,this is a sign to thee that thou shalt one day become a cannibal feed on the flesh of thy fellows--,when thou shalt see children play with1 eat1 ice 7or snow7 in thy ,tent say 'my time is near'2 for then thou shalt soon eat indian 7human7 flesh4 ,they have such dread horor of this that it is constantly in their minds4 ,you white people6 who live at your ease1 get your living out of your ,nets or from your indians1 besides are not otherwise troubled as we1 make light of these ,things3--,i do not make much account of them either1 but ,i tell you that he who thus once dreams of either of those ,dogs are for ever after continually troubled with them 7#dh7 --we do every thing in our ,power to drive him away from us1 but still he hovers about us we can- not avoid him4 ,you are very fortunate--you live as you please1 never care for him nor does he molest you4--,such ,i am told are the sentiments of these people in ,general4 ,i look upon this as a sort of mania1 a fever1 a distemper of the brain4 ,their eyes 7for ,i have seen thus perplexd7 are wild uncommonly clear--they seem as if they glistened--,it seems to me to lodge in the ,head4 ,they are generally rational except at short1 sudden intervals when the paroxysms cease them3 their motions then are various diametrically contrary at one time to what they are the next moment--,sullen1 thoughtful1 wild look perfectly mute3--staring in sudden convulsions1 wild incoherent extravagant language4 ,there was one a few years back infected with this not far from where ,i was at the time3 the accounts given of him1 tho' ,i shall not vouch for their truth are thus4 ,one night towards the latter end of ,december he began staring at his daugh- ter with an extraordinary intenseness3 ,my daughter6 ,i am fond of thee6 ,i love thee extremely--,i know thou dost replied the woman abashed1 for she was then very young--,yes6 ,i love thee--,i think ,i could eat a piece of thee1 ,i love thee so much4 ,the ,girl exclaimed at his rashness--there were but #c of them the father1 daughter her husband4 ,when it was dark he put himself stark-naked uttering a strong tremulous noise1 his teeth chattering in his head as if thro' cold1 rose up walked out of the ,tent laid himself curled as a dog in a heap upon the wood that his daughter had that day bro't to the door4 ,here he remained all night in- spite of what they could do4 ,a little before day he returned4 ,thus did he every night for about a month every time slept out naked2 nor would he eat1 excepting at times a little raw flesh4 ,in the day time he was more composed1 but his face c4 bore the appearance of one possessed of the ,devil4 ,he recovered became as usual1 composed1 good natured--,i knew them all well1 but had no dealings with them from the year before 7#ahab7--;,a young indian a few years back had one of the above ,dreams4 ,he became very uneasy thoughtful finding it recur so very frequently3 he would have willing undergone any torments any death rather than become an anthropophagi3 he also frequently desired his friends upon any1 the least appear- ance of these symptoms in him to kill him4 ,for if you do not kill me 'till ,i have eaten of human flesh1 you'll perhaps not be able to do it afterwards2 but my ,children6 ,oh6 my children6 how grieved am ,i to leave ye6 but it must be so--,i have no alternative4 ,spare me not1 my friends ,i conjure you6 ,he had been a good hunter a peaceable indian1 of course much loved by his friends3 this business depressed them a great deal4 ,at last the time approach- ing fast his brother one day remained behind with him to watch him1 whilst the others pitch- ed off3 about the time this one thought the others had finished the encampment he proposed their setting off to join them4 ,but before long he left his brother behind laid an ambush for him not 7#di7 not far from the ,tent4 ,this was a preconcerted scheme1 the other men of course were not far off4 ,the sick one drew near1 in a very slow thoughtful manner3 however when he came near to where his brother was hid1 he stopped1 looked up called out ,thou thinkest thyself well hid from me my brother1 but ,i see thee3 it is well thou undertakest1 it had been better for thee however hadst thou began sooner4 ,remember what ,i told you all--it is my heart2 my heart1 that is terrible1 however you may injure my body if you do not completely annihilate my heart nothing is done4 ,the brother was sure that he was not discovered1 this knowledge being the information of some of the spirits3 he therefore did not answer4 ,some of the other men had gone to meet him endeavoured to amuse him that the brother might give the first blow3 accordingly he shot1 straight for the heart--he dropped1 but rose immediately1 continued towards the camp that was within sight laughing at their undertaking4 ,the ,ball went through through1 but not a drop of blood was seen--his heart was alrea- ready formed into ,ice4 ,here they seized bound him with ice chissels axes set to work to dispatch him4 ,according to his desire they had collected a large pile of dry wood laid him upon it4--,the body was soon consumed1 but the heart remained perfect entire it rolled several times off the ,pile--,they replaced it as often3 fear ceased them-- then with their 7,ice7 chissels they cut hacked it into small bits1 but yet with diffi- culty was it consumed666 ,they fancy that blood which circulated thro' the heart first turns into water1 then coagulates or congeals1 shortly after becomes into solid imperforable or impenetrable ice4 ,the only antidote or remedy for this1 is to give them large draughts of high-wines2 double distilled spirits1 or the spirits of wine1 if any can be had the better3 this taken in large draughts frequently1 kept beside a large fire1 flows to the heart thaws the ice3 if a profuse sweat ensues it is a happy omen4 ,an indian with me this winter gave out his apprehensions that he was thus tormented--,i communicated it to #b others who happened to come in about that time3 ,why do you not give him large draughts of your strongest spirits to drink keep him in the room beside a large fire4 ,i replied that ,i was afraid it would burn him ,oh6 no--if he is a real ,wendigo it will only do him good by driving out the ice2 but if he lies to you indeed1 then it certainly will injure him2 but it will be good for him1 teach him for the future not to impose upon people to frighten them4 ,however1 they are in general kind extremely indulgent to those thus infected3 they seem to consider it as an infliction are desirous of doing all they can to assist4 ,there are however many exceptions3 but these again depend upon the circumstances c4 attending them4 ,one of my best hunters here is thus tormented1 or at least thus torments himself2 very often desires his friends in compassion to put a period to existence the first symptoms he may shew of cannibalism4 ,a young girl lately maried1 scarcely worth a ,filip1 so small diminutive1 was this winter seized with this phrensy--the consequence was that the men durst not leave the tent for any 7#ej7 any length of time1 being obliged to assist the women in holding preventing her from biting or eating any of the children1 perhaps herself4 ,they bethought of a sacrifice i4e4 cropping her hair short-- --she recovered is now well4 ,she says ,i do not recollect any single one circumstance of all that is told me4--,i thought ,i was always on the tops of the ,trees4 ,there is another one of my in- dians thus affected too4 ,the indians say it is a punishment 7from some of their familiars of course7 for so lightly esteeming their ceremonies2 nay indeed ridiculing them often4 ,this fall he began3 there were but #b men of them together 7with each his family7--,things bore a most dismal aspect2--at last the wife of the other1 who by-the-bye is said to a little affected that way too1 told him one day that he sprang forward to seize one of his own children1 to keep quiet1 for thou dog if a ,gun hath no effect on thee1 my axe shall--,i shall chop thee up into slices3--thou hast then better be quiet4 ,this kept him indeed quiet for some time3 how they are now ,i cannot say1 not hav- ing heard of them from the beginning of ,decr 7now ,apl4 #bjth74 ,they appear most inclined to prey first upon their own family3 they also think that fire arms are absolutely unable to injure them--a ball cannot injure ,ice3 to destroy ,ice1 it must be chopped up3 the heart then is all ,ice4 ,they sometimes1 indeed frequently recover with the warm weather for the sun then animates all nature666--,there are many other instances of a like kind in their tendency or consequences1 but different in their proceedings that ,i cannot bring to mind at present3 ,i men- tion several of these to shew you the different manner they are infected--in the mean time ,i shall relate you others not less entertaining4 ,there are several ,spirits of whom these people are much afraid1 but four principally1 they being the most malignant little accepting of excuses however great urgent they may be for the non performance of their sacrifices4 ,these are the ,north1 ,ice1 ,skeletons the ,crazy woman1 or foolish1 mad1 jealous1 woman4 ,not very many years ago an indian had entered his conjuring hut4 ,she came among the rest2 but being displeased with the conjuror on account of some sacrifice to other spirits1 she seized carried him off6 ,skeleton perceived it1 being of the conjuror pursued ,jealousy3 finding herself nearly overtaken she prefered her own safety to vengeance let the indian fall in some place at a vast dis- tance from where he had been taken--,skeleton took him up bro't him back to the great satisfaction of all parties6 ,she frequently comes with the others when they conjure1 but on her appearance she is desired to be quiet ,pay-ah-tick i4e4 gently1 quietly1 peaceably c4 ,master ,skeleton also is as much dreaded as ,folly1 if-not more1 because he shews himself at any time he pleases1 it not being necessary to conjure to call him to4 ,there is an indian who before he married had his ,dress ,shoes made by this ,lady 7,folly1 or ,jealousy7--,she was of course extremely fond of him--,the shoes were beautifully garnished1 far superior to anything of the kind done by our women6 ,there are not 7#ea7 wanting ,ladies living with the white who confer full share of their favors on some of the in- dians2 from one of these ,i fancy it is he got these shoes2 but to hide the business imput- ed them to ,folly1 which served him a double end4 ,if ,i can see that ,chap ,i shall be very particular in my inquiries of him--,i know him well4 ,this brings to my mind the ,white ,stag or ,hind1 ,sertorius had in his exile during his wars with his country as mentioned by ,plutarch4 ,indeed--to be candid1 ,i find a very great affinity between the ideas notions of these people those of the ,greeks ,romans c4 c4 ,and by these1 much1 far much better1 than by the incongruous hypothesis of the learned might be traced the origin of these people2 ,i am far from taking the task to be difficult3 would we only divest ourselves of our own prejudices take the proper plan this great ,enigma1 if ,i may so explain myself1 would be not perfectly cleared ,i allow1 but a rational clew afforded to the unravelling of it4 ,i have read many of these hypo- thesis but they are so filled with inconsistencies that ,i could scarcely believe men could employ so much time in them 44444 ,i could say something else instead of the conclusion of this last sentence4 ,a ,gentleman1 an ,englishman too1 but ,i forget his name1 would wish to insinuate that these people are from a different origin with ourselves i4e4 ,adam2 to prove his hypothesis he begins by an anatomising hogs6 7,see the ,encyclopae- dia1 not by ,rees1 but ,fitz-,patrick ,i believe7 ,this puts me in mind of some of the ,newtonian ,systems i4e4 there is no such thing in nature a ,cold--we must say an absence of ,heat6 why cannot we as well say there is no such thing as dark- ness1 but merely an absence of light1 or reverse either1 either will be as reasonable --most strange reasoning is this indeed6 ,confession4 ,these ,people have a notion that confession saves them from many accidents also preserves the lives of the ,sick1 or rather restores them to their wonted health c4 ,i have not learned the origin of this2 when1 why1 or wherefore1 but it seems to be very remote1 to have sprang with their mythology4 ,i shall it make a point to enquire very particularly into this2 for this1 as well as other things1 at different quarters1 to find detect errors c4 but all1 however1 that ,i have written in these pages1 tho' there may be some difference in the recital perhaps a few stragling circumstances1 are1 ,i have great reason to think fundamentally the same throughout among these people4444444 ,when any one of them is particularly affected with diseases out of the common course of nature here1 or1 tho' the disease may be precisely the same as all others1 yet from certain circumstan- ces1 individually1 or a combination of them1 they say he is ,oh-gee-nay in ,cree1 or ,on-gee-nay in ,sauteux 7the ,on- pronounced as in french not ,english71 by which it would seem as if they meant he was afflicted or chastised for his own sins1 or those of some of his or her1 near relatives1 i4e4 father1 mother c4 if children3 if grown up married persons1 for their own4 ,whether they only imagine this1 or are informed of it by conjuring1 private infor- 7#eb7 information from their ,familiars1 or from the ,symptoms of the ,sick person c4 c4 ,i cannot say1 but the thus afflicted person must confess his ,sins publickly4 ,now in these confessions as in all their other discourses or conversations 7initiating giving of medicines1 excepted7 they use no circumlocution1 no secret or enigmatical word or term1 to screen themselves2 but all is de- livered in plain terms before every one that chuses to hear3 ,these confessions are ter- rible things2 they seem far more sincere complete than those of many catholics4 --,they have wonderful retentive memories1 no scene1 no crime from their earliest years unto that day do they hide4 ,but ,great ,god6 what abominations6--one would scarcely imagine the human mind capable of inventing such infamously dia- bolical actions as some do commit3 murder1 incest1 other things if possible an hundred fold more debasing the human ,soul4 ,whether they repent of these things neither can ,i say1 but it would appear as if they were the acts of a contrite most humbly penitant ,soul4 ,i have never had an opportunity of hearing these from their own mouths1 but other indians have told me of them1 tho' before their families sometimes1 have never omitted one single circumstance from the suggestions of the idea down to the very last conclusion4 ,when ,i heard of these things at first1 ,i would not beleive them2 but hearing them come so circumstantially ,i trembled for the ,land ,i sojourned in lest it should vomit me out as the land of ,canaan did its inhabitants or be swallowed up in its destruction as ,sodom ,gomorrah6 ,it is true they are not all so2 no1 ,i am told there are but few1 in charity ,i hope it is2 otherwise what will be my fate seeing ,i am in a certain degree partaker with them6 ,surely the inha- bitants of such a land1 at best1 cannot look for more than mere present enjoy- ment4 ,when ,i reflect seriously on all these things as ,i sometimes do1 revolv ving them in every different manner in my mind it is beyond the power of words to express my feelings4 ,poor unfortunate blind ,creatures6 ,that it is from ,blindness they commit these things4 ,i am fully persuaded1 because ,i am equally confi- dent that they do not attach that same degree of criminality to them we1 from the re- vealing of the ,scriptures to us1 do3 some1 they consider in the light of trifles2 some natural2 some weaknesses3 but all tend to the gratification of most ,bestial appetites1 whatever may have been the original cause1 curiosity1 or otherwise4 ,however1 ,i received a piece of infor- mation in one of these1 it was circumstantially detailed1 that has cleared a point to me ,i could never solve3 ,tho ,i enquired of both ,wool ,bob1 they were not wiser than my- self4 ,indeed1 without the trial or experiment1 it seems impossible to say certainly where the cause lies3 now ,i know it1 if ever an opportunity offers1 or that it pleases ,god ,i again revisit my own lands ,i shall be able to speak to a certainty4 ,as ,i cannot write ,latin1 ,i shall say no more of it at present4-- ,a few years back an indian at the next ,post above this died3 he had been a long time sick1 7#ec7 from this conceived himself ongenay accordingly prepared for his ,confession4 ,having received the details at #b #c;d hand ,i shall endeavour to give part of them to you as near their ,stile as ,i can2 but really ,i find myself very inadequate to the task3 there is a certain ,poetic ,sublimity in their language on such like occasions as will not easily meet with credit from those 7the better informed7 of the civilized world unacquainted with these people4 ,even amongst ourselves there are but few2 for few can judge of the beauties of a language most of those few have too hi a notion of their own mighty superiority to stoop to regular conver- sation with them3 ,but to return3 after having revealed all1 or most part of his ,sins to the company in general he thus addressed his family in particular--,you see my ,chil- dren my distressed state3 ,i cannot move nor stir without assistance1 ,i feel strengthened in my lungs 7breast1 heart7 merely as it were by ,permission of my ,dreamed 7some parti- cular one he meant7 to divulge my offenses to the ,gods 7or ,god7 publicly1 before you you all1 to deter you from the same vices 7wickednesses74 ,i was once a young man also1 the same as you are now1 healthy vigorous2 nothing appeared difficult nor dangerous to me-- ,i lived as became a man1 prospered accordingly2 but ,i thought that this proceeded from my own ,power only3 had ,i so continued1 all had been well6 but no1 ,i unfortunately heard speake of ,such indians 7meaning this place1 as my informants tell me71 how powerful they were in their medicines1 the extraordinary feats they performed4 ,i envied them1 thought that ,i required but that knowledge more to render me perfect 7immortal7 happy3--,i undertook a voyage to that place3 ,i found that the bare truth had been scarcely told me--,i burned with anxiety to becoming as knowing as themselves ,i was gratified4 ,had ,i rested here1 all had yet been well2 but in learning their me- decines ,i also learned of them those vices1 those sins1 that by their practice have reduced me to this wretched situation4 ,my ,sons6 take example from your father6 be good1 charitable1 peaceable indians as ,i was at the first set off of my life1 employ the same means1 indulge use the same anxiety to avoid1 that ,i did to procure1 that information that hath reduced me so far below the level even of a dog4 ,never forget this1 never in- dulge even the least desire of such acquisitions2 for if you once begin you will be deluded by their flattery to that destruction ,i have found4 ,but you are young men6 unless you find grace you also will be deluded lost as ,i am6 ,i have heard a good deal said of this indian's confession exhortations to his ,sons--they were not lost4 ,he himself lived but a short time seemed much comforted by it4 ,there is a tribe of ,athabasca that go by the name of ,beaver ,indians4 ,from the tenets of their religion ,i am told that when laying under any malediction1 be- wichisms1 c4 or conceive themselves so1 they make a vow that the first animal the shall kill they will do ,so--they do not fail1 but immediately proceed in quest of another which by this diabolical action they think they will soon find kill4 ,they do not touch the animal afterwards as 7#ed7 as those ,beasts among the ,crees ,sauteux do1 but leave it lay as a sacrifice3 they consider it as a duty imposed upon them2 but the others do it from mere beastiality4 ,such a one did so1 bro't home part of the meat1 we all of us eat it--,o6 the ,dog6 said an indian not long ago to me4 ,lest ,i may not soon have another opportunity of writing on these ,subjects to you ,i shall add a few more fragments4 ,an indian here1 passing for a great ,doctor was applied to 7 is still7 by many to attend upon them4 ,several of these he retrieved from death3 ,one of his dreamed1 ,i beleive the ,north1 was not pleased told the ,doctor 'never to administer 'his medecines to those he had doomed to death4' ,the ,dr replied it was hard unchari- table seeing he could prolong their days a little4 ' ,well6 for every one that thou dost 'deprive me of1 ,i shall take one of thy children'2 the ,dr lost #h or #i4 7,i cannot now remember well72 but he is now grown more cautious4 ,but this ,dr is himself a beast4 ,being unable to stand from sickness he told #b of his wives ',take ye me one 'under each arm to my sweat-heart4--,i feel myself dying dont chuse thus to 'go'3 he actually did4 ,remember1 ,i am told this2 but ,i have reasons to beleive it4 --,he is an incestuous beast3 otherwise ,i find him a good indian what is most strange1 sensible beyond many of his equals4-- ,i have got a caracature here of the ,devil carrying off a ,taylor4 ,i asked one of my indians if any of their familiars resembled him how they were1--the reply was ,yes1 he resides in the ,north 7at the ,pole ,i suppose7 has a vast number of young men3 ,the indians report of some finding their tracks that are very numerous exactly resemble the tracks of the ,grey ,deer 7carriboeuf72 but neither him nor his young men are very wick- ed3 ,north1 ,ice1 ,skeleton1 ,folly are the most wicked ill inclined of all those we dream of1 or enter the conjuring box6-- ,of their ,feasts1 ,i cannot say more than any common observer--,i have been in- vited1 partaken of many of them1 but ,i never thought of enquiring into their origin1 the causes c4 of them4 ,but from the little ,i could learn or rather understand from the speeches made at all of them1 what ,i have learnt in regard to other things1 ,i think may say without dreading contradiction1 that as there are songs1 ceremonies c4 appropriate to every one of their ,gods or ,familiars or ,devils1 there also feasts made for each according to the whim1 dream1 or some other circumstance of the one who makes them4 ,we denominate these ,feasts1 from their own ,term it would seem they so mean2 but ,i consider this again as a premature interpretation which ,i have not leisure to explain3 ,i consider them rather as sacrifices--indeed they may perhaps rather be esteemed as partaking of both4 ,i have somewhere above said that they are obliged to make an annual sacrifice to some of their ,gods as the non-performance passes not off with impunity--these therefore are obligatory1 or compulsory sacrifices2 but besides these they also have ,free-will sacrifices4 ,these ,feasts or sacrifices are not universally of 7#ee7 of ,flesh3--they have them of ,flesh1 ,grease1 dried berries1 rum1 c4 c4 and few of these ,feasts are made without the one who makes it offers a certain 7very small1 only a few mouths- ful7 to him whom it is in honor of1 or intended for1 which he most commonly puts into the fire1 in or on1 the ,ground4 ,some of them are very grand ceremonius3--the tit bits of the animal only1 as the head1 heart1 liver1 tongue1 paws when of a ,bear3 ,it is only the ,great men that are allowed to eat of these3 ,others again1 besides the above1 the brisket1 rump ribbs2 very seldom a woman is allowed to partake of them1 parti- cularly if it is un festin tout manger1 i4 e4 to eat the whole2 tho' there may be sufficient for #b or #c times the number of ,guests1 all must be eaten before day2 tho' in certain cases the ,feaster is obliged1 commonly does1 take part back1 providing a knife1 a bit of tobacco1 or something else attend with the dish4 ,in these great ,feasts the feaster makes one or several ,speeches before we begin to eat1 one again after all is done1 sometimes sings1 beats the drum speeches during the whole time of the feast1 never partaking of a morsel himself4 ,at ,some of them there is dancing to be performed3 ,i happened to be called to one of these many years ago --it was the principal parts of a bear2 the ,paunch had been filled with the liver1 heart fat with blood1 minced1 much resembling that dish the ,scotch term haggish3 we were all very hungry tho' we gormandized 7it cannot be called eating7 there yet remained full #b_/c;ds4 ,the ,feaster was uneasy said he would have been proud had we eaten all1 for in that case his ,dreamed would have been propitious3 we were obliged to dance also2 but when ,i could stow no more ,i gave him my knife a bit of ,tobacco walked off leaving him to settle with his ,god as well as he could2 but indeed ,i was not very scrupulous then1 otherwise ,i had most certainly avoided many of them1 tho' it is oftentimes dangerous if there be not method or qualification in the refusal4 ,their feasts of rum are often to some one of the #d wicked ones1 praying them to be propitious not allow themselves to be influenced by the wicked sollicitations of envious indians4 ,many years ago ,i happened to be out a hunting a few miles from the house came unexpectedly upon the lodge of a few indians ,i had that day given rum to4 ,i heard one of them harangue1 drew up cautiously to listen--,he entreated the rain1 snow frost to have pity upon their young ones 7that they might kill7 c4 ,i commu- nicated this a few years after to a couple of ,gentlemen--one of them longer in the country than myself denied it enquired of his wife who had lived a long time with the indians--she corroborated his denial--,i perceived the cause1 told him that it was because they do not chuse that we become too well informed of all their ceremonies3 it was to no effect1 ,i had almost a mind to credit the woman too myself1 but by insinuation ,i find ,i am perfectly right4 ,thus it 7#ef7 it happens in almost every thing else3 a thing that does not meet with our approbation1 or be a little beyond the ,sphere of our limited information1 we immediately deny or condemn2 whereas by taking proper measures to enquire or inform ourselves not only those things themselves but others far more interesting1 sometimes too of the greatest moment1 whether to ourselves or others1 are rendered probable1 reasonable1 certain4 ,hence it is also that many upon receiving a piece of informa- tion there rest themselves as upon a ,rock of certainty4 ,now either of these ,i consider equally blameable as they lead to distrust1 doubt1 sometimes to a complete refutation or asser- tion of facts that very oftentimes cast a stain or stigma sometimes upon a whole people4 without any other foundation than as might be said that all ,powerful ,veto4-- ,they have feasts for the dead1 most commonly berries1--or in countries where it is made1 ,sugar3 generally yearly a bark box of perhaps #b or #c ,gallons is placed in the grave1 upon it 1 or well hid in some private nook1 if they are afraid1 or do not chuse1 it be taken --,i ought rather to have said these are sacrifices2 but independent of these they have ,feasts also1 feasts of ,baptism4 ,feasts inshort for almost every occasion4 ,besides these they have smoking feasts3 these are to deliberate4--,i shall1 should it please ,god ,i live1 make it a point to enquire particularly into the origin of all these4-- ,june #eth4 ,these last #c days have been busy turbulent ones for me--it is now considerably past midnight 7 of course the #fth ,june7 but my indians are drinking ,i cannot think of going to bed ,till they do ,i shall employ my few remaining leisure moments 7'till next year1 please god ,i live so long7 in giving you an account of a conjuring bout ,i with some difficulty got an indian to make last night 7,june #dth74--,in the evening the hut was prepared at some dis- tance from the houses on account of the stink as the ,spirits cannot1 or will not endure any pollution--,the hut consisted of #aj poles about #g feet out of ,ground1 well stuck in1 somewhat better than #c feet diameter--the ,poles were secured with #b hoops3 they were covered with #b ,parchment skins 7of ,moose7 well bound with many rounds of strong leather line3 the top was covered with a dressed skin secured also1 to prevent its being carried off 7by the wind7--,about #aj,p4,m4 7still broad day light with us7 we drew up with the conjuror1 smoked chatted some time4 after this he took his drum 7much resembling a tambourine7 with a stick gently struck it all the time he made a speech3 ,i was almost touching him 7all seated7 but from the noise of the drum his low voice1 for the man has a dreadful complaint on his lungs1 ,i could only gather ,take pity upon me2 take pity upon me2 hear come3 let me not speake in vain1 nor become abashed--show me charity c4 c4--it was a moderate decent prayer4 ,after this they 7for there were several men7 began 7#eg7 began to sing1 using the drum rattler--they sang among others the moose1 horse1 ,bear1 ,dog ,songs2 about a dozen in number1 when he prepared by taking off his clothes1 all to his cloute1 asked who should tie him1 ,i replied that ,i would1 but was afraid of hurting him3 another conjuror did beginning with his fingers between the #b joints nearest the hand nearly as ,i can describe it--thus giving a double turn to the line between each finger1 the line was new ,mackerel1 small1 which ,i happened to have in my pocket by accident4--,i drew up to inspect observing the fin- gers to swell upon his complaining of the tightness ,i felt a good deal for him4 ,after this his blanket was wrapped round him tied in such a manner1 lengthways1 crossways every way1 a good knot ,i tied at each meeting of the cords2 for ,i assisted in this1 that ,i could have laid any wager that it was beyond the ,power of ,spirits themselves1 thus tied1 to eradicate themselves2 his hands were under his hams--as he could no more move than fly1 of himself1 the other conjuror ,i put him to the door1 but behold6 it was with difficulty we could just get his head in1 the entry being too narrow by about #aj1 or #ab ins4 screwing jaming considered4 ,it will do1 it will do said the conjuror--cover me now--his back was covered with a blanket we all retreated to our seats1 myself about #d feet distant--,the others took the drum began to sing4 ,i could not help but laughing in myself pitying the boldness of their vanity1--but ,i had soon occasion to think other- wise had ,i not predetermined that reason should conduct me throughout the whole of this1 ,i cannot say how far in the other extreme ,i might have gone4 ,but to return3 the conjuror desired the others to sing1 they began a short song1 ,i believe it was that of the ,stone1 the man entered in an instant6 ,i was struck dumb with astonishment2 for he appeared to me to slide in by something that was neither invisible nor descernible--,i heard some- thing that for the life of me ,i cannot account for1 that's all3 from the time we covered him 7#be4' ,past #aj ,p4,m7 to the time we had done hunting for the twine that tied his fingers1 not quite #e minutes elapsed1 not #a #a_/b minutes before his blanket the cords were thrown out to us6--,not one of them1 apparently 7i4e4 one knot7 untied6--,my astonishment apprehen- sions of his being entirely carried off from us were such1 that ,i was nearly springing up to haul him out1 for fear of his being for ever lost4 ,the others continued singing a few other songs ,i had the utmost anxiety in hearing repeated- ly call out as if in the greatest apprehensions himself enough6 enough6 e- 7#eh7 ,enough of ye ,i say2 frequently for the space of some minutes repeating the same1 now then calling out do not ,thou enter4 ,the ,stone was the first one known to us1 by his song2 for every one almost that entered sang his song1 to which those 7the indians7 on the outside would keep chorus4 ,a vast number entered1 ,i verily beleive upward of an hundred2 for upwards of that number of times the frame shook back--forwards and very smartly as if to fall2 among the first were some truly terrible characters4 ,i have almost entirely converted myself from these foolish ideas of ,ghost hobgoblins1 but ,i assure you in truth that ,i more than once felt very uneasy4 ,the ,ice entered--he made a noise extremely resembling that made by a person shivering with cold1 loud1 hoarse liquid4 ,the ,devil himself also entered in propria persona1 in a very authoritative commanding manner3 ,i assure you there was no laughing nor gigling outside1 all the time he sang spoke4 ,the ,turtle spoke as an old ,jocular man4 ,i hate the french2 for in their travels when they find me1 they kill me eat me3--,i shall answer none of their questions but this was a joke2 for he laughed4 ,speake out ,turtle1 speake out1 louder that we hear the1 said those without --,i would too1 replied he1 but my voice is so strong ,i must contract it thus otherwise ye could not endure the sound of it4 ,hop6 continued he1 ,i must imitate the drunk1 which he did to the great diversion of us all concluded with snoring1 the natural end of all drunken feasts then became quiet1 on which another voice 7which ,i also perfectly heard understood as well the ,turtle herself7 cried out--see6 see6 if she does not look like a frog stretched out this raised a proper laugh both in out4 ,the ,dog entered1 spoke perfectly plain distinct1 with a more elegant harmonious voice ,i ever heard in my life4 ,bears of #c or #d different sorts1 the horse1 moose1 ,skeletons1 spirits of departed still living friends entered2 but none but the latter above mentioned were to be understood by any but the conju- ror himself4 ,on the entering of one that is my 7adopted7 ,son said an ,indian seated by me called out his name to which he readily answered besides questions3 this young man a girl1 both living1 spoke very plain 7you must observe that it is not their bodies1 but their ,souls or ,spirits that enter7--,children almost at the instant of birth1 ,dwarfs1 ,giants2 but this latter did make a noise indeed4 ,we all laughed very heartily when the horse entered2 for it appears he passed too near the ,turtle who called out as the horse was flying about 7in the inside7 singing rattling his rattler1 ,i wish you would take care of yourself not tread 7#ei7 tread on one in allusion to his diminutive size in comparison with that of horse4 ,it is somewhat surprising that every one that entered1 whether he spoke plain1 or was interpreted--their ,first words were your lands are distressed--keep not on the ,gnd ,river--sickness1 sickness2 but from amongst ye here ,i shall select only a few aged ones said one of the latter1 but in a voice no one but the conjuror could understand--as he went out however the ,conjuror paid him a most bawdy compliment--we all laughed asked what was the matter pah6 no- thing4 ,i am only afraid of him said the ,conj4--,one of them that entered apparently the ,devil himself for he spoke acted en veritable maitre startled us all a great deal enquired authoritatively angrily1 what want ye of me8--speake8 --,upon several hurried enquiries put to him he said that some things ,i saw heard in my house this win- ter1 were by ,mr ,frobisher1 who expired so dreadfully in #ahai--;he is a skeleton 7,pah-kack72 it is he who built this house--he comes to see--666 ,tho' ,i did certainly both hear see1 several times this winter1 once in particular1 about #b4;a4m4 yet ,i do not feel much inclined to add faith to this assertion of ,davy's--,i must have something more substantial4 ,but ,i am much inclined to doubt master ,davy's assertions consider this several others of his sayings at former ,periods in the same light as those he delivered at many of ,grecian temples2 for ,i have every substantial reason to consider him as the same identical ,gen- tleman3 however1 a short time hence will decide3 ,the ,turtle said we should have a good deal of rain2 but not a very great deal a very hi wind1 as soon as the ,sun should appear1 at its setting an indian 7naming him by a very extraor- dinary bawdy features in his person7 should arrive bring us meat2 but this you will eat of course1 ,i shall go without--,beware of yourselves--,tomorrow night you shall drink be drunk3 drink leave the house as soon as you can2 for there are from that wind 7by which he designated the ,south7 who if they drink with ye1 ye shall become pitiful alluding to two blackguard half breed brothers1 who proud of the bravery of their deceased father are ever anon insulting domineering over the other indians3 it is worthy of remark that an aged man in the course of this last winter was advertised of the ,same1 repeatedly pressed not to drink at the house on their accord4 ,this is now the #fth 7,june7 the ,sun appears1 but the wind is very hi1 we have frequent showers of rain snow4--,about midnight the ,conjuror addressed me asked if ,i wished to see any of them 7the ,spirits7--,i accepted the offer thrust my head underneath1 being upon my back ,i looked up near the top observed a light as of a ,star in a ,cloudy night about #a #a_/b;in4 long #a broad2 tho' 7#fj7 tho' dim1 yet perfectly distinct4 ,tho' they all appear as lights1 some larger others smaller1 this one was denominated the ,fisher ,star2 the name by which they designate the ,plough1 ,i believe we call it1 or ,great ,bear1 from the supposed resemblance it bears to that animal1 the fisher4 ,when ,i was entering1 several of the ,indians on the outside called out to the ,spirits ,gently6 ,gently6 ,it is our ,chief who wishes to see ye3--do him no evil c4--,i had my apprehensions4 ,a little after one ,p4,m4 one of my men looked in1 with several ,indians1 saw several small lights about as large as the ,thumb nail4 ,a few minutes before #b ,p4,m4 being day light they gave another shaking to the frame made their exit4 ,the above is an account of only a small part1 for ,i am too much pressed for time--,i cannot therefore enter into particulars1 nor a larger detail2 nor give you my opinion further than a few words4 ,i am fully convinced1 as much so as that ,i am in existance1 that ,spirits of some kind did really virtually enter some truly terrific1 but others again quite of a different character4-- ,i cannot enter into a detail by comparisons from ancient more modern history1 but ,i found the consonance1 analogy1 resemblance1 affinity1 or whatever it may be termed so great1 so conspicuous that ,i verily b,eleiv ,i shall never forget the impressions of that evening2 but above all things that sticks most forcibly in my mind is the unbound ,gratitude we owe1 ought to shew1 every instant of our existance to that almighty ,power that deigned to sacrifice his only ,son for us for our ,salvation6 ,oh my ,god6 let me never for- get this6-- teach me to thank thee not only with my lips but with every action of my life6 x x x x x x x x c4 c4-- ,here ,i must close in a few minutes ,seal up this for your peru- sal1 sincerely wishing ,i may find an opportunity1 safe1 of conveying it to you--,how earnestly ,i wish ,robt had been present understood the language--,this would convince the most skeptic4-- ,to ,mr ,wm ,nolan1 ,wm ,henry ,g4 ,nelson ,note3 ,read these ,pages among yourselves1 lend them not out of the house-- ,,references ,general ,references3 ,atlas of ,saskatchewan 7,,cd ,,rom ,edition74 ,saskatoon4 ,university of ,saskatchewan4 #bjjj4 ,forts ,folle ,avoine ,historical ,park1 website of the ,burnett ,historical ,society4 http3_/_/theforts4org ,hoffman1 ,walter ,james4 ,the ,midwiwin or ,grand ,medicine ,society of the ,ojibwa4 in ,seventh ,annual ,report of the ,bureau of ,ethnology to the ,secretary of the ,smithsonian ,institution1 #ahhe-ahhf4 ,government ,printing ,office1 ,washington1 #ahia4 ,project ,gutenberg ,e-book #aicfh4 ,kirk1 ,sylvia ,brown1 ,jennifer4 ,george ,nelson1 ,dictionary of ,canadian ,biography ,online http3_/_/www4biographi4ca_/#jjijjd-aai4j a-;e4php8idnbr#dajd ,nelson1 ,george4 ,my ,first ,years in the ,fur ,trade3 ,the ,journals of #ahjb - #ahjd4 ,peers1 ,laura ,schenck1 ,theresa 7eds74 ,st4 ,paul1 ,minnesota1 ,minnesota ,historical ,society ,press4 #bjjb4 ,language ,references3 ,a ,new ,english ,dictionary on ,historical ,principles2444 7,the ,oxford ,english ,dictionary74 ,oxford ,university ,press4 #ahhh - #aicc4 http3_/_/archive4org_/details_/,a,new,en glish,dictionary,on,historical,principle s4#aj,volumes,with,supplement ,noah ,webster4 ,american ,dictionary of the ,english ,language4 ,new ,york4 ,s4 ,converse4 #ahbh4 http3_/_/archive4org_/details_/americand ictiona#jawebsrich ,clark1 ,william ,lewis1 ,meriwether4 ,history of the ,expedition under the ,command of ,captains ,lewis and ,clark1 ,vol4 ,i4 ,to the ,sources of the ,missouri1 ,thence ,across the ,rocky ,mountains and ,down the ,river ,columbia to the ,pacific ,ocean4 ,performed ,during the ,years #ahjd-e-f4 ,new ,york4 #ahad4 ,project ,gutenberg ,e-,book #afefe4 ,thoreau1 ,henry4 ,ktaadn1 and the ,maine ,woods4 ,sartain's ,union ,magazine1 ,july1 #ahdh4 http3_/_/www4walden4org_/documents_/file _/,library_/,thoreau_/writings_/mainewoo ds_/,ktaadn,sartain's4pdf