OF THE POLAR SEA. 



65 



was occasionally taken up by those without. In this manner an hour 

 and a half elapsed ; but at length our attention, which had begun to 

 flag, was roused by the violent shaking of the conjuring-house. It 

 was instantly whispered round the circle, that at least one devil had 

 crept under the moose-skin. But it proved to be only the " God- 

 like man" trembling with cold. He had entered the lists, stript to 

 the skin, and the thermometer stood very low that evening. His 

 attempts were continued, however, with considerable resolution for half 

 an hour longer, when he reluctantly gave in. He had found no diffi- 

 culty in slipping through the noose when it was formed by his coun- 

 trymen ; but, in the present instance, the knot was tied by Governor 

 Williams, who is an expert sailor. After this unsuccessful exhibition 

 his credit sunk amazingly, and he took the earliest opportunity of 

 sneaking away from the fort. 



About two years ago a conjuror paid more dearly for his temerity. 

 In a quarrel with an Indian he threw out some obscure threats of 

 vengeance, which passed unnoticed at the time, but were afterwards 

 remembered. They met in the spring at Carlton House, after passing 

 the winter in different parts of the country, during which the In- 

 dian's child died. The conjuror had the folly to boast that he had 

 caused its death, and the enraged father shot him dead on the spot. 

 It may be remarked, however, that both these Indians were inha- 

 . bitants of the plains, and had been taught, by their intercourse with 

 the turbulent Stone Indians, to set but comparatively little value on 

 the life of a man. 



It might be thought that the Crees have benefited by their long 

 intercourse witn civilized nations. That this is not so much the case 

 as it ought to be, is not entirely their own fault. They are capable 

 of being, and I believe willing to be, taught ; but no pains have 

 hitherto been taken to inform their minds, and their white acquaint- 

 ances seem in general to find it easier to descend to the Indian cus- 

 toms, and modes of thinking, particularly with respect to women, 



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