Chapter XI: Part 2: Typescript (4)

(47) "kiss as is customary but would have given it a bite had they not taken it from her. They wat- "ched her narrowly. All the men slept in one tent with her: she pretended to be asleep 'till "she imagined the others were, then rose very cautiously & was beginning to prepare herself for _action_ "--One of the men perceived this--rose upon her with an axe; tho' the blow was violent & "upon the head she would have killed him had not the others interfered: her wretched fate "was soon decided." There is such a singular, strange, incomprehensible contradictoriness in almost all these cases, & many I have heard, that I do most verily believe they are _denun_- ciations, witch, or wizardisms: in any other manner they are not rationally to be account- ed for, unless we suppose all those who feed on human flesh to be thus possest,--then it is natural to man in those cases; but why then not the same with us as with these people? --The 3d Kind, or delegated, which by what follows, I believe may be allowed to be the term, are those who dream of the North, or the Ice, or both. Every one knows where the North resides, but only few know the abode of Ice, or the Ice. This they pretend is the Parent of Ice, is in the bowels of the Earth, at a great depth & never thaws--all ice originates from this. These 2 they are much afraid of, because they are both highly malignant spi- rits: there is no joking or jesting with them. Those who at _any_ future period are to become cannibals thus dream of them. After the certain things usual in all dreams "I was "invited by the North to partake of a feast of ducks, the most beautiful I had ever seen "& well cooked--the dish was before me, I set _too_: a stranger by me touched me with his elbow & said, Eat not thou "of that; look into thy dish; behold that which I had taken for the wing of a duck was "the arm of a child! 'he! what a narrow escape'! said I. Then he took me into another "room & gave me most excellent meat, 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 me! He "took me into a 3d room & gave me Tongues: These I also perceived were the Tongues of _in_- "dians. 'Why refusest thou what I offer thee? is it not good?' 'I feel no inclination "'to eat' I replied. Then he took me in a fourth room where fine beautiful "_hearts_ were served up, & I was desired to eat, but I perceived that it was still the same "I therefore refused. Then said he 'it is well done--thou hast done well!' Heh! had I unfor- "tunately eaten of this then had I become a cannibal in addition to all my other misfortunes." Those who eat at these feasts are frequently, but not universally told thus: " 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 with, & eat, ice (or snow) _in_ thy Tent say 'my time is near'; "for then thou shalt soon eat _indian_ (human) flesh." They have such dread & horor of this that it is constantly in their minds. "You white people! who live at your ease, get your "living out of your Nets or from your indians, & besides are not otherwise troubled as we, "make light of these Things:--I do not make much account of them either, but I tell you that he "who thus once dreams of either of those Dogs are for ever after continually troubled with them

(48) "--we do every thing in our Power to drive him away from us, but still he hovers about us & we can- "not avoid him. You are very fortunate--you live as you please, never care for him nor does he molest "you."--Such I am told are the _sentiments_ of these people in General. I look upon this as a sort of mania, a fever, a distemper of the brain. Their eyes (for I have seen thus perplexd) are wild & uncommonly clear--they seem as if they glistened--It seems to me to lodge in the Head. They are generally rational except at short, sudden intervals when the paroxysms cease them: their motions then are various & diametrically contrary at one time to what they are the next moment--Sullen, thoughtful, wild look & perfectly mute:--staring in sudden convulsions, wild incoherent & extravagant language. There was one a few years back infected with this not far from where I was at the time: the accounts given of him, tho' I shall not vouch for their truth are thus. One night towards the latter end of December he began staring at his daugh- ter with an extraordinary intenseness: "My daughter! I am fond of thee! I love "thee extremely"--"I know thou dost" replied the woman abashed, for she was then very young"--Yes! I love thee--I think I could eat a piece of thee, I love thee "so much". The Girl exclaimed at his rashness--there were but 3 of them the father, daughter & her husband. When it was dark he put himself stark-naked & uttering a strong tremulous noise, & his teeth chattering in his head as if thro' cold, 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 door. Here he remained all night in- spite of what they could do. A little before day he returned. Thus did he every night for about a month & every time slept out naked; nor would he eat, excepting at times a little raw flesh. In the day time he was more composed, but his face &c. bore the appearance of one possessed of the Devil. He recovered & became as usual, composed, & good natured--I knew them all well, but had no dealings with them from the year before (1812)--A young indian a few years back had _one_ of the above Dreams. He became very uneasy & thoughtful finding it recur so very frequently: & he would have willing undergone any torments any death rather than become an anthropophagi: he also frequently desired his friends upon any, the least appear- ance of these symptoms in him to kill him. "For if you do not kill me 'till I have eaten of _human_ "flesh, you'll perhaps not be able to do it afterwards; but my Children! Oh! my children! "how grieved am I to leave ye! but it must be so--I have no alternative." "Spare me "not, my friends I conjure you"! He had been a good hunter & a peaceable indian, & of course much loved by his friends: this business depressed them a great deal. At last the time approach- ing fast his brother one day remained behind with him to watch him, whilst the others pitch- ed off: about the time this one thought the others had finished the encampment he proposed their setting off to join them. But before long he left his brother behind & laid an ambush for him not

(49) not far from the Tent. This was a preconcerted scheme, the other men of course were not far off. The sick one drew near, in a very slow & thoughtful manner: however when he came near to where his brother was hid, he stopped, looked up & called out "Thou thinkest thyself well hid from "me my brother, but I see thee: it is well thou undertakest, it had been better for thee however "hadst thou began sooner. Remember what I told you all--it is my _heart_; my _heart_, that is "_terrible_, & however you may injure my body if you do not completely annihilate my _heart_ "nothing is done." The brother was sure that he was not discovered, this _knowledge_ being the information of some of the spirits: he therefore did not answer. Some of the other men had gone to meet him & endeavoured to amuse him that the brother might give the first blow: accordingly he shot, straight for the heart--he dropped, but rose immediately, & continued towards the camp that was within sight laughing at their undertaking. "The "Ball went through & through, but not a drop of blood was seen--_his heart was alrea- "ready formed into Ice_." Here they seized & bound him & with ice chissels & axes set to work to dispatch him. "According to his desire they had collected a large pile "of dry wood & laid him upon it.--The body was soon consumed, but the heart remained perfect "& entire" it rolled several times off the Pile--They replaced it as often: fear ceased them-- "then with their (Ice) chissels they cut & hacked it into small bits, but yet with diffi- "culty was it consumed"!!! They fancy that blood which circulated thro' the heart first turns into water, then coagulates or congeals, & shortly after becomes into solid imperforable or impenetrable ice. The only antidote or remedy for this, is to give them large draughts of high-wines; double distilled spirits, or the spirits of wine, if any can be had the better: this taken in large draughts & frequently, & _kept_ beside a large fire, flows to the heart & thaws the ice: if a profuse sweat ensues it is a happy omen. An indian with me this winter gave out his apprehensions that he was thus tormented--I communicated it to 2 others who happened to come in about that time: "Why do you not give him "large draughts of your strongest spirits to drink & keep him in the room beside a large "fire." I replied that I was afraid it would burn him "Oh! no--if he is a real "Wendigo it will only do him good by driving out the ice; but if he _lies_ to you indeed, "then it certainly will injure him; but it will be good for him, & teach him for the future "not to impose upon people to frighten them." However, they are in general kind & extremely indulgent to those thus infected: they seem to consider it as an infliction & are desirous of doing all they can to assist. There are however many exceptions: but these again depend upon the circumstances &c. attending them. One of my best hunters here is thus tormented, or at least thus torments himself; & very often desires his friends in compassion to put a period to existence the first symptoms he may shew of cannibalism. A young girl lately maried, & scarcely worth a _Filip_, so small & diminutive, was this winter seized with this phrensy--the consequence was that the men durst not leave the tent for any

(50) any length of time, being obliged to assist the women in holding & preventing her from biting or eating any of the children, & perhaps herself. They bethought of a sacrifice i.e. cropping her hair & short-- --she recovered & is now well. She says "I do not recollect any single one circumstance of all that "is told me.--I thought I was always on the tops of the Trees." There is another one of my in- dians thus affected too. The indians say it is a punishment (from some of their _familiars_ of course) for so lightly esteeming their ceremonies; nay indeed & ridiculing them often. This fall he began: there were but 2 men of them together (with each his family)--Things bore a most dismal aspect;--at last the wife of the other, who by-the-bye is said to a little affected that way too, told him one day that he sprang forward to seize one of _his own_ children, to "keep quiet, for thou dog if a Gun hath no effect on thee, my " axe shall--I shall chop thee up into slices:--thou hast then better be quiet." This kept him indeed quiet for some time: how they are now I cannot say, not hav- ing heard of them from the beginning of Decr (now Apl. 20th). They appear most inclined to prey _first_ upon their own family: & they also think that fire arms are absolutely unable to injure them--"a ball cannot injure _Ice_: to destroy "_Ice_, it must be _chopped up_: & the _heart then is all Ice_." They sometimes, indeed frequently recover with the warm weather "for the sun then _animates_ all nature"!!!--There are many other instances of a like kind in their tendency or consequences, but different in their proceedings that I cannot bring to mind at present: 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 entertaining. There are several Spirits of whom these people are much afraid, but four principally, they being the most malignant & little accepting of _excuses_ however great & urgent they may be for the non performance of _their_ sacrifices. These are the _North, Ice, Skeletons & the Crazy woman_, or foolish, mad, jealous, woman. "Not very many years ago an indian had entered his conjuring _hut_. "She came among the rest; but being displeased with the conjuror on account of some "sacrifice to other spirits, she seized & carried him off! Skeleton perceived it, & "being of the conjuror pursued Jealousy: 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 parties"! "She frequently comes with the _others_ when they conjure, but on her appearance she is desired to be quiet "_Pay-ah-tick_" i.e. gently, quietly, peaceably &c." Master Skeleton also is as much dreaded as Folly, if-not more, because he shews himself at any time he pleases, it not being necessary to conjure to call him to. There _is_ an indian who before he married had his _Dress Shoes_ made by this Lady (Folly, or Jealousy)--She was of course extremely fond of him"--"The shoes "were beautifully garnished, far superior to anything of the kind done by _our_ women"! There are not

(51) wanting Ladies living with the white who confer full share of their _favors_ on some of the in- dians; & from one of these I fancy it is he got these shoes; but to hide the business imput-

ed them to Folly, which served him a double end. If I can see that Chap I shall be very particular in my inquiries of him--I know him well. This brings to my mind the _White Stag_ or Hind, _Sertorius_ had in his exile & during his wars with his country as mentioned by Plutarch. Indeed--to be candid, _I_ find a very great affinity between the ideas & notions of these people & those of the Greeks & Romans &c. &c. And by these, much, far much better, than by the incongruous hypothesis of the learned might be traced the _origin_ of these people; & I am far from taking the task to be difficult: would _we_ only divest ourselves of _our own_ prejudices & take the proper plan this great _Enigma_, if I may so explain myself, would be not perfectly cleared I allow, but a rational clew afforded to the unravelling of it. 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 ..... I could say something else instead of the conclusion of this last sentence. A Gentleman, & an Englishman too, but I forget his name, would wish to _insinuate_ that these people are from a different origin with ourselves i.e. Adam; & to prove his hypothesis he begins by an anatomising hogs! (See the Encyclopae- dia, not by Rees, but _Fitz-Patrick_ I believe) This puts me in mind of some of the _Newtonian Systems_ i.e. there is no such thing in nature a _Cold_--we must say an _absence_ of _Heat_! why cannot we as well say there is no such thing as _dark- ness_, but merely an _absence of light_, or reverse either, & either will be as reasonable --most strange reasoning is this indeed! Confession. These People have a notion that _confession_ saves them from many accidents & also preserves the lives of the Sick, or rather restores them to their wonted health &c. I have not learned the origin of this; when, why, or wherefore, but it seems to be very remote, to have sprang with their mythology. I shall it make a point to enquire very particularly into this; & for this, as well as other things, at different quarters, to find & detect _errors_ &c. but all, however, that I have written in these pages, tho' there may be some difference in the recital & perhaps a _few_ stragling circumstances, are, I have great reason to think fundamentally the same throughout among these people....... When any one of them is particularly affected with diseases out of the common course of nature _here_, or, tho' the disease may be precisely the same as all others, yet from certain circumstan- ces, individually, or a combination of them, they say he is Oh-gee-nay in Cree, or On-gee-nay in Sauteux (the On- pronounced as in french & _not_ English), by which it would seem as if they meant he was afflicted or chastised for his own sins, or those of some of his or her, near relatives, i.e. father, mother &c. if children: if grown up & married persons, for their own. Whether they only imagine this, or are informed of it by conjuring, _private_ infor-

(52) information from their _Familiars_, or from the Symptoms of the Sick person &c. &c. I cannot say, but the thus afflicted person must confess his Sins publickly. Now in these confessions as in all their other discourses or conversations (_initiating_ & _giving of medicines_, excepted) they use no circumlocution, no secret or enigmatical word or term, to screen themselves; but all is de- livered in plain terms & before every one that chuses to hear: These confessions are ter- rible things; & they seem far more sincere & complete than those of many catholics. --They have wonderful retentive memories, & no scene, no crime from their earliest years unto that day do they hide. But Great God! what abominations!--one would scarcely imagine the human mind capable of inventing such infamously dia- bolical actions as _some_ do commit: murder, incest, & other things if possible an hundred fold more debasing the human Soul. Whether they repent of these things neither can I say, but it would appear as if they were the acts of a contrite & most humbly penitant Soul. I have never had an opportunity of hearing these from _their own_ mouths, but _other_ indians have told me of them, & tho' before their families _sometimes_, have never omitted one single circumstance from the suggestions of the idea down to the very last _conclusion_. When I heard of these things at first, I _would not_ beleive them; 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 & Gomorrah"! It is true they are not _all_ so; no, I am told there are but few, & in charity I hope it is; otherwise what will be my fate seeing I am in a certain degree partaker with them! Surely the inha- bitants of such a land, at _best_, cannot look for more than mere _present enjoy- ment_. When I reflect seriously on _all_ these things as I sometimes do, revolv ving them in every different manner in my mind it is beyond the power of words to express my feelings. Poor unfortunate blind Creatures! That it is from _Blindness_ they commit these things. I am fully persuaded, because I am equally confi- dent that they do not attach that same degree of criminality to them we, _from the re- vealing of the Scriptures_ to us, do: some, they consider in the light of trifles; some natural; some weaknesses: but all tend to the gratification of most Bestial appetites, whatever may have been the original cause, _curiosity_, or otherwise. However, I received a piece of infor- mation in one of these, & _it_ was circumstantially detailed, that has cleared a point to me I could never solve: & Tho I enquired of both Wool & Bob, they were not wiser than my- self. Indeed, without the _trial_ or experiment, it seems impossible to say certainly where the cause lies: now I know it, if ever an opportunity offers, or that it pleases God I again revisit my own lands I shall be able to speak to a certainty. As I cannot write Latin, I shall say no more of _it_ at present.-- A few years back an indian at the next Post above _this_ died: he had been a long time sick, &

(53) & from this conceived himself _ongenay_ & accordingly prepared for his Confession. Having received the details at 2 & 3d hand I shall endeavour to give _part_ of them to you as near _their_ Stile as I can; but really I find myself _very inadequate_ to the task: there is a certain _Poetic_ Sublimity in their language on such _like_ occasions as will not easily meet with credit from those (the better informed) of the civilized world unacquainted with these people. Even amongst ourselves there are but few; 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 them: But to return: after having revealed all, 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 state: I cannot move nor stir without assistance, & I feel strengthened "in my lungs (breast, heart) merely as it were by Permission of my _Dreamed_ (some parti- "cular one he meant) "to divulge my offenses to the Gods (or God) publicly, before you "you all, to deter you from the same vices (wickednesses). I was once a young man also, the "same as you are now, healthy & vigorous; nothing appeared difficult nor dangerous to me-- "I lived as became a man, & prospered accordingly; but I thought that this proceeded from my "own Power only: had I so continued, all had been well! but no, I _unfortunately_ heard "speake of Such indians (meaning _this_ place, _as my informants tell me_), how powerful "they were in their medicines, the extraordinary feats they performed. I envied them, & "thought that I required but _that_ knowledge more to render me perfect (immortal) & "happy:--I undertook a voyage to that place: I found that the bare truth had been "scarcely told me--I burned with anxiety to becoming as knowing as themselves & I "was gratified. Had I rested here, all had yet been well; but in learning their me- "decines I also learned of them those vices, those sins, that by _their practice_ have "reduced me to this wretched situation. My Sons! take example from your father! "be good, charitable, & peaceable indians as I was at the first set off of my life, & employ the "same means, indulge use the same anxiety to _avoid_, that I did to _procure_, that information "that hath reduced me so far below the level even of a dog. Never forget this, never in- "dulge even the least desire of such acquisitions; for if you once begin you will be "deluded by their flattery to that destruction I have found. But you are young men! & "unless you find grace you also will be deluded & lost as I am"! I have heard a good deal said of _this_ indian's confession & exhortations to his Sons--they were not lost. He himself lived but a short time & seemed much comforted by it. There is a tribe of _Athabasca_ that go by the name of _Beaver Indians_. From the tenets of their religion I _am told_ that when laying under any malediction, be- wichisms, &c. or conceive themselves so, they make a vow that the first animal the shall kill they will do _So_--they do not fail, but immediately proceed in quest of another which by this diabolical action they think they will soon find & kill. They do not _touch_ the animal afterwards as

(54) as those Beasts among the Crees & Sauteux do, but leave it lay as a sacrifice: they consider it as a duty imposed upon them; but the others do it from mere beastiality. "Such a one did so, bro't home "part of the meat, & we all of us eat it--O! the Dog!" said an indian not long ago to me. Lest I may not soon have another opportunity of writing on these Subjects to _you_ I shall add a few more _fragments_. An indian here, passing for a great Doctor was applied to (& is still) by many to attend upon them. "Several of these he retrieved from death: One "of his dreamed, I beleive the North, was not pleased & told the Doctor 'never to administer "'his medecines to those he had doomed to death.' The Dr replied it was hard & unchari- "table seeing he could prolong their days a little. ' Well! for every one that thou dost "'deprive me of, I shall take one of thy children'; & the Dr lost 8 or 9. (I cannot "now remember well); but he is now grown more cautious". But this Dr is himself a beast. "Being unable to stand from sickness he told 2 of his wives 'Take ye me one "'under each arm to my sweat-heart.--I feel myself dying & dont chuse _thus_ to "'go': & he actually did. Remember, _I am told this_; but I have reasons to beleive it. --He is an incestuous beast: otherwise I find him a good indian & what is most strange, sensible beyond many of his equals.-- I have got a caracature here of the Devil carrying off a Taylor. I asked one of my indians if any of their familiars resembled him & how they were,--the reply was "Yes, "he resides in the North (at the Pole I suppose) & has a vast number of young men: The "indians report of some finding their tracks that are very numerous & exactly resemble the "tracks of the Grey Deer (carriboeuf); but neither him nor his young men are very wick- "ed: North, Ice, Skeleton, & Folly are the most wicked & ill inclined of all those we dream of, or enter the conjuring box"!-- Of their Feasts, I cannot say more than any common observer--I have been in- vited, & partaken of many of them, but I never thought of enquiring into their origin, the causes &c. of them. But from the little I could learn or rather understand from the speeches made at _all_ of them, & what I have learnt in regard to other things, I think may say without dreading contradiction, that as there are songs, ceremonies &c. appropriate to every one of their Gods or Familiars or Devils, there also _feasts_ made for each according to the whim, dream, or some other circumstance of the one who makes them. We denominate these Feasts, & from their own Term it would seem they so mean; but I consider this again as a premature interpretation which I have not leisure to explain: I consider them rather as _sacrifices_--indeed they may perhaps rather be esteemed as partaking of both. 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 obligatory, or compulsory sacrifices; but besides these they also have Free-will sacrifices. These Feasts or sacrifices are not _universally_ of

(55) of _Flesh_:--they have them of Flesh, Grease, dried berries, rum, &c. &c. and few of these Feasts are made without _the one who makes it_ offers a certain (very small, only a few mouths- ful) to _him_ whom it is in honor of, or intended for, which he most commonly puts into the fire, _in_ or on, the Ground. Some of them are very grand & ceremonius:--the _tit_ bits of the animal only, as the head, heart, & liver, tongue, & paws when of a Bear: It is only the Great men that are allowed to eat of these: Others again, besides the above, the brisket, rump & ribbs; & very seldom a woman is allowed to partake of them, parti- cularly if it is _un festin à tout manger_, i. e. to eat the whole; tho' there may be sufficient for 2 or 3 times the number of Guests, all must be eaten before day; tho' in certain cases the Feaster is obliged, & commonly does, take part back, providing a knife, a bit of tobacco, or something else attend with the dish. In these great Feasts the feaster makes one or several Speeches before _we_ begin to eat, & one again after all is done, & sometimes sings, beats the drum & speeches during the whole time of the feast, never partaking of a morsel himself. At Some of them there is dancing to be performed: I happened to be called to one of these many years ago --it was the principal parts of a bear; & the Paunch had been filled with the liver, heart & fat with blood, minced, & much resembling that dish the Scotch term _haggish_: we were all very hungry & tho' we gormandized (it cannot be called _eating_) there yet remained full 2/3ds. The Feaster was uneasy & said he would have been proud had we eaten all, for in that case his Dreamed would have been propitious: we were obliged to dance also; 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 could; but indeed I was not very scrupulous then, otherwise I had most certainly avoided many of them, tho' it is oftentimes dangerous if there be not method or qualification in the refusal. Their feasts of rum are often to some one of the 4 wicked ones, praying them to be propitious & not allow themselves to be influenced by the wicked sollicitations of envious indians. 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 to. I heard one of them harangue, & drew up cautiously to listen--He entreated the rain, snow & frost to have pity upon their young ones (that they might kill) &c. 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 cause, & told him that it was because _they_ do not chuse that we become too well informed of all their ceremonies: it was to no effect, & I had almost a mind to credit the woman too myself, but by _insinuation_ I find I am perfectly right. Thus it

(56) it happens in almost every thing else: a thing that does not meet with our approbation, or be a little beyond the Sphere of our limited information, we immediately deny or condemn; whereas by taking _proper_ measures to enquire or inform ourselves not only those things themselves but others far more interesting, & sometimes too of the greatest moment, whether to ourselves or others, are rendered probable, reasonable, certain. Hence it is also that many upon receiving a piece of informa- tion there rest themselves as upon a Rock of certainty. Now either of these I consider equally blameable as they lead to distrust, doubt, & sometimes to a complete refutation or asser- tion of facts that very oftentimes cast a stain or stigma sometimes upon a whole people. & without any other foundation than as might be said that all Powerful _Veto_.-- They have feasts for the dead, most commonly berries,--or in countries where it is made, Sugar: generally yearly a bark box of perhaps 2 or 3 Gallons is placed _in_ the grave, upon it , or well hid in some private nook, if they are afraid, or do not chuse, it be taken --I ought rather to have said these are sacrifices; but independent of these they have Feasts also, & feasts of Baptism. Feasts inshort for almost every occasion. Besides these they have _smoking_ feasts: these are to deliberate.--I shall, should it please God I live, make it a point to enquire particularly into the origin of all these.-- June 5th. These last 3 days have been busy & turbulent ones for me--it is now considerably past midnight (& of course the 6th June) but my indians are drinking & I cannot think of going to bed Till they do I shall employ my few remaining _leisure_ moments ('till next year, please god I live so long) in giving you an account of a conjuring bout I with some difficulty got an indian to make last night (June 4th).--In the evening the hut was prepared at some dis- tance from the houses on account of the stink as _the Spirits_ cannot, or will not endure any pollution--The hut consisted of 10 poles about 7 feet out of Ground, well stuck in, & somewhat better than 3 feet diameter--the Poles were secured with 2 hoops: they were covered with 2 Parchment skins (of Moose) well bound with many rounds of strong leather line: _the top was _covered_ with a dressed skin & secured also, to prevent its being carried off (by the wind)--About 10P.M. (still broad day light with us) we drew up with the conjuror, smoked & chatted some time. after this he took his drum (much resembling a tambourine) & with a stick gently struck it all the time he made a speech: I was almost touching him (all seated) but from the noise of the drum & his low voice, for the man has a dreadful complaint on his lungs, I could only gather "Take pity upon me; take pity upon me; hear & come: let me not speake in vain, nor become abashed--show me charity" &c. &c.--it was a moderate & decent prayer. After this _they_ (for there were several men) began

(57) began to sing, using the drum & rattler--they sang among others the moose, horse, Bear, & Dog Songs; about a dozen in number, when he prepared by taking off his clothes, all to his cloute, & asked who should tie him, I replied that I would, but was afraid of hurting him: another conjuror did beginning with his fingers between the 2 joints nearest the hand nearly as I can describe it--thus giving a double turn to the line between each finger, & the line was new Mackerel, small, which I happened to have in my pocket by accident.--I drew up to _inspect_ & observing the fin- gers to swell upon his complaining of the tightness I felt a good deal for him. After this his blanket was wrapped round him & tied in such a manner, lengthways, crossways & every way, & a good knot _I_ tied at each meeting of the cords; for I assisted in _this_, that I could have laid any wager that it was beyond the Power of Spirits themselves, thus tied, to eradicate themselves; & his hands were _under_ his hams--as he could no more move than fly, _of himself_, the other conjuror & I put him to the door, but behold! it was with difficulty we could just get his head in, the entry being too narrow by about 10, or 12 ins. screwing & jaming considered. "It will do, it will do" said the conjuror--"cover me now"--his back was covered with a blanket & we all retreated to our seats, myself about 4 feet distant--The others took the drum & began to sing. I could not help but laughing in myself & pitying the boldness of their vanity,--but I had soon occasion to think other- wise & had I not predetermined that reason should conduct me throughout the whole of this, I cannot say how far in the _other_ extreme _I_ might have gone. But to return: the conjuror desired the others to sing, they began a short song, I believe it was that of the _Stone_, & the man entered in an instant! I was struck dumb with astonishment; 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 for, & that's all: from the time we covered him (25.' Past 10 P.M) to the time we had done hunting for the twine that tied his fingers, not quite 5 minutes elapsed, & not 1 1/2 minutes before his blanket & the cords were thrown out to us!--Not one of them, apparently (i.e. one knot) _untied_!--My astonishment & apprehen- sions 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 for ever lost. 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 "enough! enough! e-

(58) Enough of ye I say"; & frequently for the space of some minutes repeating the same, & now & then calling out "do not _Thou_ enter." The _Stone_ was the first one known to us, by his song; for every one almost that entered sang _his_ song, to which those (the indians) on the outside would keep chorus. A vast number entered, I verily beleive upward of an hundred; for upwards of that number of times the frame shook back-&-forwards and very smartly as if to fall; & among the first were some truly terrible characters. I have almost entirely converted myself from these foolish ideas of Ghost & hobgoblins, but I assure you in truth that I more than once felt very uneasy. The Ice entered--he made a noise extremely resembling that made by a person shivering with cold, loud, & hoarse & _liquid_. The Devil _himself_ also entered in _propria persona_, in a very authoritative & commanding manner: I assure you there was no laughing nor gigling outside, all the time he sang & spoke. The Turtle spoke as an old Jocular man. "I hate the french; for in their travels "when they find me, they kill me & eat me:--I shall answer none of their questions" but this was a joke; for he laughed. "Speake out Turtle, speake out, louder that "we hear the", said those without "--I would too, replied he, but my voice is "so strong I must contract it thus otherwise ye could not endure the sound "of it." "Hop! continued he, I must imitate the drunk", which he did to the great diversion of us all & concluded with snoring, the natural end of all drunken feasts & then became quiet, on which another voice (which I also perfectly heard & understood as well the Turtle herself) cried out--"see! see! if she does not look like a frog stretched out" & this raised a proper laugh both in & out. The Dog entered, & spoke perfectly plain & distinct, & with a more elegant & harmonious voice I ever heard in my life. Bears of 3 or 4 different sorts, the horse, moose, Skeletons, spirits of departed & _still living friends_ entered; but none but the latter & above mentioned were to be understood by any but the conju- ror himself. On the entering of one "that is my (_adopted_) Son" said an Indian seated by me & called out his name to which he readily answered besides questions: this young man & a girl, both living, spoke very plain (you must observe that it is not their bodies, but their Souls or Spirits that enter)--Children almost at the instant of birth, Dwarfs, Giants; but this latter did make a noise indeed. We all laughed very heartily when the horse entered; for it appears he passed too near the Turtle who called out as the horse was flying about (in the inside) singing & rattling his rattler, "I wish you would take care of yourself & _not tread

(59) "tread_ on one" in allusion to his diminutive size in comparison with that of horse. It is somewhat surprising that every one that entered, whether he spoke plain, or was interpreted--their First words were your lands are distressed--keep not on the Gnd River--sickness, sickness; "but from amongst _ye here_ I shall select only a few aged ones" said one of the latter, but in a _voice_ no one but the conjuror could understand--as he went out however the Conjur<<<<<<or paid him a most bawdy compliment--we all laughed & asked what was the matter "pah! no- thing. I am only afraid of him said the Conj.--One of them that entered apparently the Devil himself for he spoke & acted _en veritable maitre_ startled us all a great deal & enquired authoritatively & angrily, "what "want ye of me?--speake? "--Upon several hurried enquiries put to him he said that some things I saw & heard in my house this win- ter, were by Mr Frobisher, who expired so dreadfully in 1819--"he "is a skeleton (Pah-kack); & it is he who built _this_ house--he comes "to see"--!!! Tho' I did certainly both hear & see, several times this winter, & once in particular, about 2.a.m. yet I do not feel much inclined to add faith to this assertion of Davy's--I must have something more substantial. 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 temples; for I have every substantial reason to consider him as the same identical Gen- tleman: however, a short time hence will decide: The Turtle said we should have a good deal of rain; but not a _very_ great deal & a very hi wind, & as soon as the Sun should appear, "at its setting an indian (naming him by a very extraor- dinary & bawdy features in his _person_) should arrive & bring us meat; _but this you will eat of course, & I shall go without_"--{"Beware of yourselves--Tomorrow night you shall drink & be drunk: drink & leave the house as soon as you "can; _for there are from that wind_ (by which he designated the _South_) "_who if they drink with ye, ye shall become pitiful_" alluding to two blackguard half breed brothers, who proud of the bravery of their deceased father are ever & anon insulting & domineering over the other indians: it is worthy of remark that an aged man in the course of this last winter was advertised of the Same, & repeatedly pressed not to drink at the house on their accord}. This is now the 6th (June) the Sun appears, but the wind is very hi, & we have frequent showers of rain & snow.--About midnight the Conjuror addressed me & asked if I wished to see any of _them_ (the Spirits)--I accepted the offer & thrust my head underneath, & being upon my back I looked up & near the top observed a light as of a Star in a Cloudy night about 1 1/2in. long & 1 broad; tho'

(60) tho' dim, yet perfectly distinct. Tho' _they all_ appear as lights, some larger & others smaller, this one was denominated the Fisher Star; the name by which they designate the Plough, I believe we call it, or Great Bear, from the supposed resemblance it bears to that animal, the fisher. When I was entering, several of the Indians on the outside called out to the Spirits "Gently! Gently! It is our Chief who wishes to see ye:--do "him no evil" &c.--I had my apprehensions. A little after one P.M. one of my men looked in, with several Indians, & saw several small lights about as large as the Thumb nail. A few minutes before 2 P.M. being day light they gave another shaking to the frame & made their exit. The above is an account of only a small part, for I am too much pressed for time--I cannot therefore enter into particulars, nor a larger detail; nor give you my opinion further than a few words. I am fully convinced, as much so as that I am in existance, that Spirits of some kind did really & virtually enter some truly terrific, but others again quite of a different character.-- I cannot enter into a detail by comparisons from ancient & more modern history, but I found the consonance, analogy, resemblance, affinity, or whatever it may be termed so great, so conspicuous that I verily bEleiv I shall never forget the impressions of that evening; but above all things that sticks most forcibly in my mind is the unbound Gratitude we owe, & ought to shew, every instant of our existance to that almighty Power that deigned to sacrifice his only Son for us for our Salvation! Oh my God! let me never for- get this!--& teach me to thank thee not only with my lips but with every action of my life! x x x x x x x x &c. &c.-- Here I must close & in a few minutes Seal up this for your peru- sal, sincerely wishing I may find an opportunity, safe, of conveying it to you--How earnestly I wish Robt had been present & understood the language--This would convince the most skeptic.-- To Mr Wm Nolan, Wm Henry G. Nelson

Note: Read these Pages among yourselves, & lend them not out of the house--

REFERENCES

General References:

_Atlas of Saskatchewan_ (CD ROM Edition). Saskatoon. University of Saskatchewan. 2000.

"Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park", website of the Burnett Historical Society. http://theforts.org

Hoffman, Walter James. _The Midē´wiwin or "Grand Medicine Society" of the Ojibwa_. in _Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-1886_. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1891. Project Gutenberg E-book #19368.

Kirk, Sylvia & Brown, Jennifer. "George Nelson", _Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online_ http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=4104

Nelson, George. _My First Years in the Fur Trade: The Journals of 1802 - 1804_. Peers, Laura & Schenck, Theresa (eds). St. Paul, Minnesota, Minnesota Historical Society Press. 2002.

Language References:

_A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles;..._ (The Oxford English Dictionary). Oxford University Press. 1888 - 1933. http://archive.org/details/ANewEnglishDictionaryOnHistoricalPrinciples.10VolumesWithSupplement

Noah Webster. _American Dictionary of the English Language_. New York. S. Converse. 1828. http://archive.org/details/americandictiona01websrich

Clark, William & Lewis, Meriwether. _History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark, Vol. I. To the Sources of the Missouri, Thence Across the Rocky Mountains and Down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. Performed During the Years 1804-5-6._ New York. 1814. Project Gutenberg E-Book #16565.

Thoreau, Henry. "Ktaadn, and the Maine Woods". _Sartain's Union Magazine_, July, 1848. http://www.walden.org/documents/file/Library/Thoreau/writings/mainewoods/KtaadnSartain's.pdf