Chapter VIII: Part 2: Typescript (1)

Page 1st 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 pen, & as their _history_ is read with interest, I am persuaded these few Pages will be found equally deserving attention. I give them the same as I received them & leave every one to make his own remarks & to draw his own conclusions.

My Interpretor, a young half breed, passed the winter of –'19-'20 with the Indians & gives this account. One day shortly before Christmass he was out with an elderly man, a chief of this place, a hunting. Suddenly he stopped as to _listen_, apparent- ly with great eagerness & anxiety, upon which after allowing a sufficient time the Int. asked what was the matter? "Listen & you'll hear" "I have listened, says the Intr. but hear no- "thing & it is surprising that you who are deaf should hear & I not"--"Ah! a white man is thy "father & thou are just as _skeptical_: doubting & ridiculing every thing we say or do 'till "when it is then too late--then ye lament, but in vain ...." After this the Indian became much down-cast & very thoughtful for several days; & as if to increase his anxiety or rather to to corroborate the husbands assertions, his wife said that one day she also _heard_, tho' the other women that were with her heard nothing, & an altercation ensued. His uneasyness increasing too much he was forced to have recourse to _their_ only alternative in such cases, i.e. _une Jonglerie_ as the french term it, that is conjuring. One of their party, another half-breed, abandoned many years since by his Father & leading an indian life, was applied to: he is reputed a _true man_, i.e. never lies. Out of respect to the other he was induced to consent, but much against his will; "for I am "much afraid that some of these times _they will carry me off_." He was prepared, & entered with his _rattler_, shortly after which the box & the _rattler_ began to move in the usual brisk & violent manner. _Many_ entered, & one asked "what was wanted that they had been called "upon." The indian from the outside of the frame (for only the conjuror alone & enters) inquired "if there was not some evil spirit near from whom he had much "every thing to dread?"--"No, replied the same voice, _all is quiet_, you trouble yourself "with vain phantoms" "What then is the meaning, asked again the Indian, of the those sud- "den flashes of light I sometimes see in the night?"--"What! rejoined another voice from within, "hast thou attained unto this age & never yet observed this;" & then laughing, continued, "it is al- "ways the case during this _moon_ (December) & if you doubt me, for the future observe "attentively & you will find it to be the case".--This satisfied him for the time, he became cheerful & assumed his wonted ways. But not for a long time--he soon relapsed, & after some days applied again to the conjurer. When he had entered his box or frame--a number again entered & one of them enquired why they were called for? The conjuror said -. "What? says he,* "again! Thou art very skeptical--dost thou not believe? now thou art fond of, thou wantest to be haunted, well thou shalt have thy desire." At these

* i.e. the Spirit

(2) these dreadful words, which were uttered in an angry & reproving manner, every soul was struck with terror; but as if to give some consolation assured him "that that spirit had but just left his _home_, & coming on very slowly would not be up with them 'till _such a time_, a little prior to which they were ordered to conjure again, when they would be told what to do. This was no pleasant information to the conjuror who never undertook this job but with the greatest reluctance, nay indeed even sometimes horor: However, he neither, poor creature had no alternative. At the time appointed he entered again, every thing being prepared. After the preliminary de- mands or questions &c. "yes replies one of the _spirits_, that which thou dreadest _is_ near, & "is drawing on apace" ... "How shall we do? what shall we do?" exclaimed the indian-- At last one of them, who goes by the name of the Bull or Buffaloe (thru the conjuror, for he alone could understand him his voice being hoarse & rough, his uttering thick & inarticulate) "asked the indian if he remembered of a dream he made whilst yet a young man?." "Yes" "replies the indian--I remember perfectly,--I dreamed I saw one just like yourself, "who told me that when advanced in life I should be much troubled one winter, but "by a certain sacrifice & a sweating _bout_ I should be releived; but I have not the means "here,--I have no stones"--"you are encamped upon them rejoined the _spirit_ & at the "door of your tent are some" "yes, but says the indian the dogs have _watered_ them, "& they are otherwise soiled"--"Fool, put them in the fire, will not the fire heat, "& make them change color, & purify them? Do this, fail not & be not uneasy-- "we shall go four of us (spirits) & amuse him upon the road, & endeavour to "drive him back." At this the Interpretor burst out laughing & exclaimed "sacré bande de Betes & do you beleive all that d__d nonsense?" "You doubt too says a voice addres- "sing him (the In.) from the inside; go out of the tent & listen, you'll see if _we_ "lie"--he did indeed go out to some distance & after awhile heard as a distant hollow noise, which increased 'till it became considerably more distinct & then vanished as a great gust of wind, tho' the night was mild, calm, clear & beauti- fully serene--it even startled the dogs. "_Mahn_! (an indian term or exclamation signifying haste) "said the spirits from within, _they_ have turned him off the road, as soon as the noise was "heard, but he will not turn back, or go home: he is _sent_ after you by another indian 'who conjured him up from out the Deep (i.e the bottom of some flood) but be not "too uneasy, if these four will not do, there are yet a vast many of us, so that between "us all we _shall_ drive him back: we will perplex & bewilder him: surround, tor- "ment & tease him on every side: but he is of a monstrous size, ferocious & withal "enraged against you:--The task is mighty difficult. _Observe_! See how beautifully "serene the night is--if we succeed, the sky will change all of a sudden, & there "will fall a very smart shower of snow attended with a terrible gust of wind. This

(3) "This will happen between day light & Sun rise, _& is his spirit_, all that will remain in his power--he'll then return to his home."--The Intr, tho he laughed at all this, & could not bring himself to credit it, yet swears that he heard the rumbling noise, _on their road_, & seemingly far off: the indians gave implicit faith to all--& the conjuror did not know what to beleive "there is something says he, for _my Dreamed_, or _Dreamers_ "have assured me of it, but _I_ dont know what to say--however, most assuredly tomor- "row morning we shall have the snow." This _snow_ both comforted & depressed the poor indian very much, seeing the weather was then so beautiful & so destitute of all the usual signs of bad weather. It did snow--it came as foretold, quite sudden- ly, & as suddenly became fine again. In the ensuing morning the Indian begged of the Inter- preter to chuse one of the longest & straightest Pine (Epinette) trees he could find of the thickness of his thigh; to peel off all the bark nicely, leaving but a small tuft of the branches at the tip end--this they painted cross-ways with bars of vermillion & charcoal, alternately the whole length, leaving however some intervals undaubded-- & about 5 or 6 feet from the Ground, fastened a Pair of artificial horns, representing those of a Bull, & decorated with ribbon. He also (the Indian I mean) made the sweat- ing hut, & in short done every thing as directed, after which he (the indian) became to resume his wonted cheerfulness & contentment. However, once more he was obliged to have recourse again to the Conjuror, from hearing another rumbling noise; "Thou "Fool answered the spirits: 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 thee."--The Flashes of light, or those sudden glares that the indian inquired of the spirits, is, as the told him, lightning, which always happens in the month of December & they laughed at his having lived so long without observing it before. 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 &c. he was very uneasy, & hunted several times for it: They having told the Interpretor often how kind & charitable & indulgent those _spirits of the upper regions_ were, & he, desirous of Proving them, told the Conjuror to send for his bag. He asked "which of "ye will go for my bag that I lost? He that brings it me, I shall make him "smoke" "I will go, said one--they heard a fluttering noise, & soon after they heard the same fluttering noise & the rattler move, & down fell the bag by the conjuror, covered with snow-- "How stupid thou art, said the spirit, naming the Conjuror, thou passedst over it & yet "did not see it." It was a long time since the bag was lost & the distance was several miles.-- Another one, could not kill with his Gun, owing to its being crooked, or some other cause--

(4) --however, he attached the fault to the Gun--The first time, I beleive it was, that this half-breed conjured. The People on the outside hearing many voices speak as they entered, at last they stopped at one whose voice & articulation was different from that of the others: "Who "is that one just now entered? said those outside--"It is the _Sun_, replied the Conjuror" "ha! well, I am happy of it, said the the indian, is it not _he_ who says himself able "to repair Fire-arms (Guns), & do anything with them he pleases?--ask him (ad- "dressing the Conjuror) if he will not have compassion on me & put my Gun to rights, that "I also may kill--I am walking every day & frequently shoot at moose, but always miss"-- "Hand it me" said a voice from the top of the conjuring frame. The Gun was given to the Conjuror. "It is loaded, continued the voice, shall I fire it off?"--"You may, but "take care you hurt no body" replied the indian. The Gun was fired, & shortly after handed back to the owner--"Here is your Gun--you will kill with it now" said the Spirit.--Both this business of the Gun & smoking bag took place, the first time, I beleive, the man Conjured.-- There are but few Individuals (i.e. men) among the Sauteux or Cris, or Crees who have not their medicine bags--& initiated into some cere- mony or other, but it is not _all_ of them who can Conjur. Among some tribes, most of them, can; & among others again, there are but very few. Nor is it every one of them that tells _all truth_, some scarcily nothing but lies, others again _not one_ false- hood, & this depends upon their _Dreamed_, sometimes, but I think may be equally imputed to their own selves, i.e. Presumption, ignorance, folly, or any other of our passions or weaknesses. But to become Conjurors, they have rights & ceremonies to Perform & go through, which, tho' apparently simple & absurd, yet I have no doubt but fully answer their ends. Any person among them wishing to dive into futurity, must be Young & unpolluted. At any age between 18 & 25. Tho' as near as I can learn between 17 & 20 years old--they must have had no intercourse with the other Sex--they must be chaste & unpolluted. In the spring of the year they chuse a proper place at a sufficient distance from the camp not be discovered nor disturbed. They make themselves a bed of Grass, or hay as we term it, & have besides enough to make them a covering. When all this is done--& they do it entirely alone, they strip stark naked & put all their things _a good way off_ & then return, ly on this bed & then cover themselves with the rest of the Grass. Here they remain & endeavour to _sleep_, which from their nature is no very difficult task. But, du- ring whatever time they may remain, they must neither eat nor drink. If they want to Dream of the Spirits above, their bed must be made at some distance from the Ground --if of Spirits inhabiting our Earth, or those residing in the waters, on the Ground.

(5) on the Ground. Here they ly for a longer or shorter time, according to their success, or the orders of the Dreamed. Some remain but 3 or 4 days, some 10, & I have be told one re- mained 30 days without eating or drinking; such was the delight he received from his Dreams!--When I laughed at this, the man was vexed, & the others not a little hurt. --The first thing they do after their return to their freinds is to take a good drink of water, smoke the Pipe: & after that eat, but as composedly as if they had but just risen from a hearty meal. Their _Dreamed_ sometimes order them to make a Feast; & not uncommonly tell them where to go, where they will find the animal whose flesh is to be served up (i.e. always boiled) &c. They sometimes lie in one Posture, & sometimes in another, i.e. their head to some one of the Cardinal Points. Some have the most pleasant dreams imaginable; others indifferent. When they are to live to a good old age(!!!) they are told..."You will see many winters! your head will grow "quite white"; or "tho you shall never see your head white, yet you shall live "till you are obliged to make use of a stick, & long after"--"You shall die old, "very old, respected & regretted."--If they are to die young... "Thou shalt see the years of a "young man"; & so on of the other ages, as well as the manner of life they shall have; & the language is not very dissimilar to that of our version of the Bible. 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 Pompous, bombastic walks of _high_ life, which tho' they furnish us with more ideas, _I_ do not think adds so much to the beauty of the language. As I have said before, the purpose of these Dreams is to dive into futurity. Every thing in nature appears unto them, but in the Shape of a human-being--They dream they meet a man who asks them (after some preliminary conversation of course) "Dost "thou know me? (who or what I am?)"--"No" "Follow me then" replies this strangers, the indian follows--the other leads him to his abode & again makes the inquiry-- the answer is perhaps as before. Then the Stranger assumes his proper form, which is perhaps that of a Tree, a Stone, a fish &c. &c. & after rechanging several times in this manner, 'till such times as the Ind. becomes perfectly to know him, then this stran- ger gives him to smoke, learns him _his_ Song &c. thus addressing him: "Now do "you remember my song? .... Whenever you will wish to call upon me, Sing "this Song, & I shall not be far--I will come, & do for you what you require."-- They know many of _these Spirits_ as soon as they see them (in their dreams) by the des- cription the other indians have given of them--some however they know from their Nature. When The _Snow_ addresses them--he they know, because he is perfectly white. The _Ice_ also. The Sun & Moon from their beautifull brilliancy & the elegance of their abode. The Houses of the two last being uncommonly neat & handsome, such as those of

(6) the white (i e. civilized). One Principal amongst all these, & every thing in Nature appears at least to some, of them, is the Supreme Being, whom they term Wee-suck-ā jāāk (the last a's being pronounced as in, all, hawk, &c.; the first as ale, bail, &c.) i.e. by his Pro- per name, his common name, Gey-Shay-mani-_to_ (this is among the Crees nation), which signifies "the Greatly charitable Spirit." He is uncommonly good & kind, addresses them, & talk to them as to children whom he most tenderly loves & is extremely anxious for. Thus far every thing is very well, & is perhaps a better _idea_ than many of the vulgar Christians can give; but on the other hand again thier Mythology, or Stories relating to him, are many of them ab- surd & indecent in the highest degree: reducing him to the level of his creatures, & not unfrequently their making him dupe; but become so by such vile, such abominable deception as I doubt to be equalled by the most absurd & romantic of the arabian Tales; for there are many of these Tales the author durst not publish for the obscenity & inde- cency. There ares ome obscene passages also in these tales (of the indians) but not more than might be expected from a people yet in a perfect state of nature, as to their mental Powers, to our eternal shame & scandal. This one they love, they love him a great deal, & are by no means are afraid of him, because he always addresses them "my Little Children &c." & all the rest of his character is of a piece with this.--The next one is Old Nick--Him some term "Key- "-jick-oh-kay" (The J being pronounced soft, as Git, or Gil, in french, for I know of no English word where properly speaking the J is of any use & has the sound seemed intended by it) or "Key-jick-oh-ka_iw_". I cannot at present give the proper signification of this name, for I am not sufficiently acquainted with the language, but it appears to me as to mean "he who made the Day or Skies, "or resides in the Sky" &c.--This one they represent wicked, & terrible; inexorable to the highest degree; always plotting evil, & endeavouring to circumvent the rest of the creation; is always jawing & bawling; but when the other appears he or- ders him in a peremptory manner "hold thy Tongue; Get the hence, thou "deceiver; thou ill-liver". But these words are uttered in such an authoratative & commanding tone that the Indians themselves are quite astonished, to see one who is so uncommonly kind & indulgent to them in every respect; so tender & affectionate, even in the choice of his words, assume so suddenly & with so much authority so much Power over one whose name alone they never utter but with the greatest Dread & horor. Their Horor of the Devil is so great, that no one ever utters it but when unavoidable; & if thro' inadvertancy or ignorance one of their children should mention it he is severely reprimanded by all who hear.-- There is also the Sea Serpent, a monstrous animal & has much Power; The Mer-

(7) The Mermaid (or Sea-Man), The Water Lynx, or rather Tyger--a dreadful charac- ter this last, who keeps all the Inhabitants of the deep in the Greatest Subjection--there are however one or two who contend with him; & sometimes he is reduced to the necissity of compounding with them. The Great Turtle, and many others. They have their abodes in the Deep, but perfectly dry & comfortable. Each one of these, & indeed all of them have their Stories or Mythology; some I forget entirely, & others remember too incor- rectly to mention at present.--[These When any one Conjures, if he is a renouned _Medicine_ Man, _they_ all appear, & Speake to him, mostly in his own language, some few excepted as the _Pike_ (a Jack fish) who Speaks french; The Sun & Moon, both speak English; the Bull or Buffaloe in an unknown, or at least strange language; but all per- fectly intelligible to the Conjuror.--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 indian, he is seen in the Heavens, as an Indian (i.e. a Man) "walk- ing on the Wind." His dress is of a variety of Colors & handsome. I had a dream, 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 appears. I related it the next day to some of my half-breeds, when one of them replied; "What a pity! had you now forborne for a few days mentioning _this_, he would have appeared again to you; & then you would have had a fine opportunity of learning (from the fountain-head, as we might say) how it is the indians come to perform those things the white will never credit:" & he continued that it was precisely the form he assumed when he appears to the indians. 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 pleased. As we were walking I happened to look above & was much struck with the appearance of a man walking in the Heavens. His dress was that of a neat _Southern_ Indian, composed mostly of red & yellow, but also of a few other colors: The Garters of his leggings were also Neat & handsome & had a tuft of Swans-down that had been Powdered with vermillion, attached to the not, on the back part of the leg: To His shoes were attached 2 long Swan quills inclosing the foot thus [Transcriber's Note: Diagram of Sun's footwear] with a tuft of down at each end & in the middle on both sides, all Powdered with vermillion--with these quills & down, & the down on his Garters buoyed him up in the air. I addressed in broken Cree--he answered in the same broken accent; upon my second address I though he did not understand more of that language than I did myself: the Sauteux seemed to me his proper tongue & I was glad of having an opportunity of speaking that language; so I the third time addressed him in it asked him from whence he came, whither he was going &c. &c.--He was very hi

(8) hi, insomuch that the others thought it preprosterous in my addressing him--that he could not hear from that distance. Upon this he came down & talked with us--Saying he was an _ambas- sador_ &c. Such is the habillement, & manner in which the Sun shews himself.--The Thun- der also appears to them, in the Shape & form of a Most beautiful bird (The Pea-Cock).-- Roots & herbs also (this also ought to have come in afterwards) i.e. such as are medeci- nal, appear, & teach their votaries their respective Songs--how they must do, what ceremonies they must perform in taking them out of the Ground, their different applications &c. &c. But these roots, herbs, &c. (medecins) tho' they appear in their Dreams, they do not shew themselves in the Conjuring Hut, box, or frame, that I learn. They are sent, as appears, by Wee- suck-a-jaak, "to teach indians their use & virtue." &c., without which "they would be very ill off, whether to heal or cure themselves, or expell the charms by which other indians may have bewitched them" &c. And tho' they are acquainted with many of these roots &c. the use & virtue of some of which I can no more doubt than those used by the Faculty in the Civilized world, yet they tell me there are several which they use to differ- ent, & some to diametrically opposite purposes. Their manner of Conjuring is this--in the first place a number straights poles of 2, or 2 1/2 ins. diameter & about 8 or 9 feet long are prepared, i.e. cut, branched & Pointed at the lower end--they seldom require so _few_ as four, commonly 6 or 8, these are planted in the Ground from 12 to 20 or 24 ins. deep in an hexagon or octagon form, enclosing a space of 3 feet diameter, more or less--These Poles are secured by hoops, 3 or 4 in number, & well tied to each pole, so that none be able to move without the rest--This Hut, square, box, or frame, whatever it may be termed is covered with skins, an oil cloth, or some such sort of thing.--The Conjuror is bound hand & foot, not as if he were a man going to _pry_ into futurity, but as a Criminal, i.e. _mere_, pure Devil & one whom they intend never to loosen, so barricaded & cross-corded is the creature, sometimes all crumpled into a heap. He is tied only with his Cloute on him & thus thrust into the hut, underneath, i.e. by raising the lower covering--his "she-she- quay" or rattler with him. Some of them sing on entering, others make a speech, --. Here they remain some several hours, others not 5 minutes before a fluttering is heard. The rattler is shaked at a merry rate & all of a Sudden, either from the top, or below away flies the cords by which the indian was tied _into the lap of he who tied him_. It is then that the Devil is at work--Every instant some one or other enters, which is known to those outside by either the fluttering, the rubbing against the skins of the hut in descending (inside) or the shaking of the rattler, & sometimes all together. When any enter, the hut moves in a most violent manner--I have fre- quently thought that it would be knocked down, or torn out of the Ground. The first

(9) The first who enters is commonly Meeh-key-nock (the Turtle) a jolly, jovial sort of a fellow, who, after disencumbering his votary, chats & jokes with those outside & asks for a pipe to smoke &c.--There is a good deal of talking inside as may be supposed from the number of folks collected in so small a space. To some renowned characters, all the Spirits appear. 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 shivers. The Flying Squirrel also enters--he is no liar, but you must take every thing he says as we do our Dreams i.e. the opposite: his nature is such that he durst not tell the truth but in this ambiguous manner, otherwise the conjuror would soon after die. I do not know that the Skunk ever comes, but the Wolverine (Carcajoux) does & he is known immediately by his stink, which occa- sions no small merriment at his expense, on the outside. The _Loon_ also enters --he is known by his usual cry--"Nee-wih wee-way" repeated commonly 3 times as he does when in the water. And this too occasions a great laugh, for these four syllables, which form the most common Cry of that bird in the _Spring_ of the year, as every body may observe, _are_ also 3 words in the Sauteux & Cree languages, which signify "I want to marry"! "I want to marry"! "What! & will you never "have done marrying?--you were marrying all last Summer & still want to"--will some outside say, & every one has his word to put in. _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_ (& every body knows how strong hercules was)--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 up; for it appears that he cannot come _invisible_ as the others do, or will not, but still does not chuse to be seen. "Once upon a time his arrival was announced, & every body was ordered "to cover themselves, so as not to see (this, & all such like orders are commands sent to "the Conjuror, & which he, (being inside) must _Promulgate_ to those on the outside)-- "--there was one young Buck however who wanted to shew himself supe- "rior to these orders & divert his freinds, would not cover himself--Hercules "entered--& at that time, as at all others, he was not in too good a humor--Some alter- "cation ensued & "I am Strong Neck" said he "Pah! says the young man at last, "the neck of my os-Pubis indeed is strong"! This raised a most violent laugh, but "the young man was lost--he disappeared from amongst them, & was never after "heard of. Since _that_ time they are rather more cautious. Some of the _Ancients_ also enter--they are called "O-may-me-thay-day-ce-cee-wuck" i.e. _Hairy breasts_

(10) such as the ancients are said to be.. These are great boasters--they recount the exploits of their younger days, apparently with the greatest satisfaction; say "I used to do so & so "on such occasions--I never shot a Moose or Buffaloe, but pursued them on my feet, "& ripped them open with my knife &c." But this is only _wind_, for no sooner do other powerful ones enter, but these Chaps search to secret themselves. The Sun enters--speakes very bad English at the offset, but by degrees becomes to speake it very easily & fluently--He is Gun Smith & watch-maker, or at least can repair them. When he is entered there is commonly a beautiful clear light visible, through the covering--He neither does not admit of too much familiarity; but is still good natured & condescending. The Pike or Jack fish, also enters; as the Sun, they also speak (French,) badly enough at the offset, "When there are 2 or 3 on the outside who can speake french & address him together, "merely to perplex & bother him, he laughs at their folly & says 'you may talk "'20 or 100 of you together if you chuse, yet are you not able to perplex me--come as "'numerous as you chuse, yet are there many more of us _Pike_ that you frenchmen'" --he is very familiar too. The Bull, or Buffaloe is understood only by the Conjuror, his voice being hoarse, & rough--his language quite foreign--the Conjurer must interpret when any thing is wanted of him.--As is his voice, so are his manners-- --however, he will joke a little too; 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 & reproves in a very tart manner; & in a way too that conveys no com- fortable ideas to any one present, for they all endeavour to excuse it by saying it is only a Joke, "I know Jokes too; & I can laugh, & understand the nature of laughing as "well as the best amongst you, but such language is unbecoming & I will have no "more of it."--"A half breed one time, _because his father was a french man_ "thought he might go any lengths he pleased with him (the B.)--he replied very "warmly thus: "how durst thou doubt anything I say--Knowest thou not how clearly ""& distinctly objects are discovered & seen in a plain, from an eminence; & my abode is ""is in the regions above--I see every object as distinctly as you see at your feet, doubt ""then no more, & never hereafter call our Power to question."--Aye! replied some of the other "spirits "We not only see _all that you do, however secret &hid you think yourselves_ ""but we also hear every word you utter." If that indeed be the case tell me, where now are, & "when will be here, my fathers Country Men? [The conjuror had been employed to tell "what the people were about as it was long since the time they were expected, & ought to have "arrived, had elapsed]--"Wait! I shall go & see"--& shortly after he returned "They are ""now all asleep at such a place--the weather will be calm tomorrow, & tho' the distance

(11) ""distance is great, yet will you see them tomorrow night, for they are as anxious as yourselves"-- "another one said, "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 live?--Shall I yet see ""two more winters? "Ha! (laughing replied the same voice) two winters? I see you ""all yet alive two winters hence, every soul that sets here & considerably more; & some of ""you I see crawling with old age""!!!--With some of the Spirits as I've already said the by standers (or setters for they are seated on the Ground round about) are very familiar--The Turtle is one of them, he is very hu- mersome, & their jokes with him were such (for I've heard this myself) as I should have been ashamed to hold even with a bawd--it was pure _ribaldry_: but they durst not doubt him when he speaks seriously; for he is very powerful & makes himself respected when he thinks it necessary. "Who is that, now speaking?" said one of the in- dians (this I was told)--"It is Mihkenach" said the Conjuror--if it be him, prove it "--take him in your hand & show him to us" Now the Conjr. was a very great me- "decin man,--he took the turtle upon his hand, raised the covering of his _box_, "& called them to look--Every one was astonished at his beauty--he was very "small, scarcely more than 2 ins. long. When all had gazed enough the Conjurer "drew him in.--The Turtle was very quiet while out but as soon as he got in "exclaimed "Oh! 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 fall, perhaps in the fire" & laughed heartily. The Bear is a rough beast & makes a devil of a racket. Towards the latter end master Keyjickah- kaiw, that old serpent, Satan, enters;--his arrival is announced--all hands are greived, for then the conclusion is soon to take place--He makes every thing fly again, kicking up his own (i.e. the Devils) racket, jawing & blabing, scolding & giving the lie to & abusing all hands: the indians are hurt & displeased, but durst not say anything--they must swallow all quietly, & then it is that the Conjuror most dreads for his own _bacon_: this however does not last very long for Weesuckajaak (the Supreme Being) enters last --as soon as his coming is announced Nick begins to sneake, but still _en maitre_ --Wee_k_ enters, Nick _jaws_, silence is imposed, nick still troublesome, at last the word comes authoratatively & away _he_ flies. The Indians are uncommonly fond of Weesuckajâck--he commonly speaks to this effect "My Little (i.e. Grand) Children "I am very indulgent & kind, I am very charitable, & love you much,--a great deal more "than you imagine. You must not live ill, nor make a bad use of your power & knowledge "for I hate that;--hence it is I command Nick in that authoratative manner; because

(12) "because he is wickedly inclined--mischief & destruction are in his nature--he greives at any "good he sees: take ye heed, beware of him for he is ever on the watch to destroy you" --When _Charly_ enters after some abuse he calls out "Get ye hence, get ye hence, what "are ye doing so long from your home: off with ye immediately"; & rubs up & down the skins that form the covering lest any should be hid. Thus he sends off all the Spirits, who, as they _fly_ off, as well as when they enter, give this frame a terrible shaking. It may be supposed what sort of a shaking he gives as he comes & goes, & how he shakes the rattler;--for they all shake the rattler on entering. When We- suckajaak goes off, all is done.-- Some Conjurors are so powerful that the _hut_ they enter, must be doubled; that is two rows or Setts of Poles one on the outside the other, & each row fastened with good strong hoops well tied, after which the outer & inner row are also fastened--thus

arranged, they seem to be beyond the power of any 3 or 4 men to move, 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 man. I have never seen any of these double ones, but twice or thrice saw the others, whilst the conjuror was in--Some time afterwards, when they were off, I shook them with both hands & with all my strength, but the motion was nothing like that of the Conjurors. I have been told that those who enter these Double ones, are so powerful that almost all the Creation comes to see them, & they are shaken with uncommon violence. This motion the Conjurors say is produced by the concussion of the air; i.e. the Spirits come & enter with such velocity that it is the _Wind they Produce_ which occasions it. The conjuror is all the while seated Peaceably in the bottom, (on the Ground) of his hut. Some of them to shew their Power have had small sticks of the hardest wood (such as produces the wild Pear, & of which the Indians make their arrows, & ram-rods &c. for Guns) about the size of a mans finger, made as sharp point- ed as possible, & dried, when they become in consequence nearly as dangerous as iron, or bayonets--Some have 18, 24 more or less, tho' Seldom less than 18 planted in the bottom of their hut--They are about 12 or 14 ins. out of the Ground--On the Points of these Sticks is the conjuror placed, sometimes on his bottom, at others on his knees & elbows, & there he remains as quietly & composedly as if he were on "_a bed of Roses_"; & when he comes off no marks of injury appear, tho he entered naked, only his Cloute about him, & of course the Cords with which he is tied. "Their familiars (their Dreamed, or those who appear to them in their dreams & Promise them their assistance & Protection) support them so that no injury hap- pens them"!!! __________________

(13) March 29th- I feel but very indifferently disposed to write; but I am on the eve of an accumula- tion of business & may not, after a few days, have the necessary time, so that I shall risk. A Couple of days back I have been conversing with a Cree (indian) who by _peace-meal_ gives me the following account of their mythology:--"The North-(wind) apparently one of oldest of created rational beings thus addressed his daughter, his only child "My "daughter! be very careful, & remember that anything you do, or wherever you go, on turn- ing yourself, turn _always in the same direction with the Sun, & never in a contra- ry direction_." Now women are a compound of Perverseness, obstinacy & curiosity; & withall forgetful enough too, _sometimes_. This Girl one day she was chopping fire-wood, without thinking of her fathers admonition, in going to another Tree, turned round to the right, in a contrary direction to the Sun, & instantly fell to the Ground, & died. The time she used to take up in this occupation, being expired, her Parents became very uneasy, & after some search found her on her _back_, dead, & her belly swolen to an enor- mous size. The father & mother, on each or opposite sides, contemplated her si- tuation with great grief. At last the Father arose, stood up, & made a long speech, praying to "The Father of Life" to have mercy & compassion on his child. His speech was not ineffectual: the Girl was delivered of a Boy, & shortly after, of another-- The Elder was called Wee-suck-a-jock; the younger "Mi (or Mee) shaw-bôse"-- After this the Girl recovered & became as aforetime. These two young men immedi- ately attained "mans estate"--i.e. to manhood, &c. and became hunters. The younger of the two one day was in pursuit of a Grey, or rein Deer (Carriboeuf) after which also pursued a Wolf. The Deer having thus no hopes of escape fled to a rock on the edge of the waters & plunged in, Mishabôse & the Wolf followed; but they all three became a prey to the Michi-Pichoux, or Great Lynx, i.e. water Lynx, water-Cat, or water Dog. Wesuckajock was very uneasy for his brother, was anxious to revenge his death, but scarcely knew-well how. At last one day seeing a Kings-fisher hovering in a certain spot addressed him thus "My younger "Brother! what art thou there looking at?" "I am looking at Mishabôse, your "brother, lying in the bottom of the deep, drowned" &c. After some further con- versation, Weesuck. discovered the means of avenging himself. He accordingly set to work & made himself a _large Canoe_, on board of which he embarked the Moose, Deer, Bear, otter, Beaver, muskrat, wolf &c. &c. & repaired to the place where the Sea Lynxes used to resort to sleep; this was a fine pleasant place on the Land. Here he observed several of them & began his work. It is not related how many he did kill, but the waters upon their death came rushing upon him in a violent torrent; as he expected this, he had bro't his canoe near hand, but before he reached it, after killing his enemies, he was already knee-deep in the

(14) in the water: however he got safely on board; but in his hurry forgot to embark a little earth. --Now the waters swelled immensely, & in a very short time the highest land was cover'd & Weesuckajock was tossed about by the wind & water. It appears that he had not the fore- sight either of taking with him a sufficiency of Provisions for he became very hungry, & thus expressed himself to his crew. After some time he saw some- thing on the water, very large & moving towards him: He thus addressed it, "Who, "or what, art thou my younger brother? (for he being the first born, always addressed the rest of the creation, whether animate, inanimate, or rational or not, as his _younger "Brothers_) & whither art thou going?" "Why! my Elder (brother) I am a _water Lynx_, "& am sent by _Confrers_ in search of Weesuck. & to destroy him" "Aye! is it so indeed? "& how or with with instrument do you intend to destroy him?" "I have a large & "very strong Iron-tail, with which if I smite his Canoe, he must perish?" Wee- suckajock seeing his danger tho't to get off by duplicity & dissimulation & thus continued: "Indeed you must have a very extraordinary _tail_ my _Younger_ .... "come near, & let me see it, how it is made &c."--The Lynx drew up, present- ed his tail, Weesuck. took hold as to look on it, & placed it on the Gunnel of his Canoe & with a stone cut it off saying,"Now go to thy friends, & tell "them how Weesuck. has served thee."--He retired doubled quick, grieved, ashamed, & not with a little pain. "Ha!" said the water Lynxes on perceiving the situation of their companion, "ha! weesuck. is cunning, & too powerful, "we must destroy him for our own safety." "Come, now, who amongst us will "volunteer, & go to destroy that enemy of ours?"--They at last pitched upon an enor- mous Beaver & thus addressed him at his departure "Go thou our Brother, Destroy "that mutual enemy of ours, be not afraid of him for he is not worthy of fear; but still be cau- "tious, for he is very artful." Weesuck. descryed him also, & the same addresses & compliments passed as with the first. And how do you intend to destroy Weesuck?" "with my teeth." Well then do come near & let me see them." x x x The beaver drew up, & shewed his teeth: weesuck. put his hand on his head & while exclaiming "What "terrible teeth!--how immensely broad & sharp--they are like large axes!" he with his other hand took up a large stone & with a dreadful blow broke them all in his head. "Now go to thou too friends & tell them how Weesuck. hath served "thee." Indeed the beaver did go, sniffling & blowing & yelling. The Lynxes were astonished, & durst no more attempt anything at him. His situation however was very disagreable, very uncomfortable, & what added to it was his want of food. He thus addressed his companions one day. "Come now we very repre- "hensibly forgot to bring earth with us, & who knows how long this will conti-

(15) "continue?--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 on?--whoever will go shall be amply rewarded." They all said it was very deep. There was scarcely an hopes. Then he said to the otter "Go thou my _Younger_ (brother) & if thou diest in the attempt, I shall restore thee to life, "& make thee immortal". Saying this he tied a long leather thong to his tail & sent him down: he found the otter was dead, hauled him up in to the canoe, rubbed him dry & blowed in his nostrils, when he revived. Then he sent the Musk rat: "Come my "little brother, go thou, thou art small & very active, art fond of the water, & goeth to great "depths--thy reward shall be as that of the otter." The rat was secured with a thong also & down he went. Weesuck found he was dead: hauled him up, & was extre- mely happy to find he had some earth in his little paws & mouth: he restored him to life as he did the otter, & sent him down again, when he bro't up his mouth as full as it could hold & a good deal in his _hands_ which he held pressed to breast. Now weesuck. took this earth & made a ball of it, & blew in it a considerable time & sent off the Wolf to make its circuit to see if it was large enough. After four nights he returned & thus spake "My Elder, the earth is indeed Large & beautiful; but our "number now is small: when we will increase it will be too small for us: we "will be all upon top of each other (i.e we will be in each others way &c.), & if you "make man as you contemplate,...it will be much moreso." Weesuck then blew it out again & once more sent the Wolf--He was 8 nights absent, & reported it still too small. Weesuck then blew it out for a long time & sends the wolf again. But before he went off he said "My Elder, the Earth must now be very "large, & I shall possibly be too much wearied to make its circuit: I shall traverse, "& if I find any thing to assure me of its being large enough I shall _howl_, "which will be a sign to you; & whatever place may suit me there will I make my resi- dance." After several nights absence they heard him howl, wherefore they all concluded the Earth was sufficiently Large. Weesuck. then _blessed_ the others & sent them away telling them to multiply "& be good, not vicious or ill inclined, nor se- "cret, or hide themselves too much from _My_ little brothers (the human beings which he was about to create) when they might want to eat" &c. &c. Now after this he became very lonesome & bethout himself of making _Indians_ i.e. human beings. He in consequence took up a stone & fashioned it into the form of a man; 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 nature, they would grow insolent & rebellious & be a great a great an- noyance to each other & of course also, would never die. "This will not do, I must

(16) "I must make them of a more weake & fragible substance, "so that they may live a reas- "reasonable time & behave as becomes human beings." Upon this he took up a handful of common Earth & made the form of a man, & blew into his nostrils _the breath of life_. The Moon formed the Female, as Wesuck. did the Male, hence the reason of the Pe- riodical return of their sickness with that of the moon, "as also among the Sluts." (Bitches). Hence also all women are forbidden when they go out from the calls of nature, & that _one_ in particular, to look at the moon while thus employed. Those who are thus for- getful, ignorant, or obstinate immediately find the effect by the return &c. x x x. I should have said that he bruised the stone to Pieces, altho' a great part of it was already formed. For the white (I believe it was the Moon again) he made a Part- ner for him of one of his ribs & another piece, which he wrapped in a handker- chief & laid beside him saying "this, by the time thou risest, shall be a full "grown Woman & shall be thy companion" &c.----After all this done, he made a separation in the Earth, one part of which was a beautiful plain meadow Ground, & the rest Woody; & then set off travelling in the Earth. He took a partner to himself, by whom he had a son. This soon got to mans estate, but had a great aversion to the female Sex, which gave his Parents a great deal of anxiety, all their trouble, all their remonstrances were to no effect: at last the father betho't of a plan in which he was sure of success. "He transformed him- "self into a most beautiful woman & when the Son was returned from his hunting "well Son! said the Mother, here is a young & handsome woman we have procured "merily for thee; does she please thee?"--Her _charms_ were so great the young man immediately became extremely fond of her. But this, in the end, became the source of much trouble to both Parents & of disgrace to the father particular- ly. The mother became jealous & vexed on her son's account that he should so be imposed upon, & done many shameful things to her husband." Here follows a train of Stories the most indecent, & shameful & sometimes obscene, that one can well imagine. But these people are yet, so far as regards their faculties, in a state of Nature. Every thing appears reasonable & natural & must be very gross & palpable indeed when they do not give credit to them. Their language is also that of nature, & they speake out what they think--they do not use circumlocu- tion to avoid an indecent term, nor have they flourishes to embellish their dis- courses; & their speeches, to my taste, at least, are far more pleasing & natural than those strained & laboured compositions we meet with amongst ourselves. But this is not the place for these discussions.----