61 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



is a common expression amongst them, and they prove their divinity- 

 ship by eating live coals, and by various tricks of a similar nature. 

 A medicine bag is an indispensable part of a hunter's equipment. 

 It is generally furnished with a little bit of indigo, blue vitriol, ver- 

 milion, or some other showy article ; and is, when in the hands of a 

 noted conjuror, such an object of terror to the rest of the tribe, that 

 its possessor is enabled to fatten at his ease upon the labours of his 

 deluded countrymen. 



A fellow of this description came to Cumberland House in the 

 winter of 1819. Notwithstanding the then miserable state of the 

 Indians, the rapacity of this wretch had been preying upon their 

 necessities, and a poor hunter was actually at the moment pining 

 away under the influence of his threats. The mighty conjuror, im- 

 mediately on his arrival at the house, began to trumpet forth his 

 powers, boasting, among other things, that although his hands and 

 feet were tied as securely as possible, yet, when placed in a con- 

 juring-house, he would speedily disengage himself by the aid of two 

 or three familiar spirits, who were attendant on his call. He was 

 instantly taken at his word, and that his exertions might not be 

 without an aim, a capot or great coat was promised as the reward of 

 his success. A conj uring-house having been erected in the usual 

 form, that is, by sticking four willows in the ground and tying their 

 tops to a hoop at the height of six or eight feet, he was fettered com 

 pletely by winding several fathoms of rope round his body and ex- 

 tremities, and placed in its narrow apartment, not exceeding two feet 

 in diameter. A moose skin being then thrown over the frame, 

 secluded him from our view. He forthwith began to chant a kind 

 of hymn in a very monotonous tone. The rest of the Indians, who 

 seemed in some doubt respecting the powers of a devil when put in 

 competition with those of a white man, ranged themselves around, and 

 watched the result with anxiety. Nothing remarkable occurred for 

 a long time. The conjuror continued his song at intervals, and it 



