OF THE POLAR SEA. 



71 



had its origin in the cause which they at present assign for it, namely, 

 that a woman's speaking to her son-in-law is a sure indication of her 

 having conceived a criminal affection for him. 



It appears also to have been an ancient practice for an Indian to 

 avoid eating or sitting down in the presence of the father-in-law. 

 We received no account of the origin of this custom, and it is now 

 almost obsolete amongst the Cumberland House Crees, though still 

 partially observed by those who frequent Carlton. 



Tattooing is almost universal with the Crees. The women are in 

 general content with having one or two lines drawn from the corners 

 of the mouth towards the angles of the lower jaw ; but some of the 

 men have their bodies covered with a great variety of lines and 

 figures. It seems to be considered by most rather as a proof of 

 courage than an ornament, the operation being very painful, and, if 

 the figures are numerous and intricate, lasting several days. The 

 fines on the face are formed by dexterously running an awl under the 

 cuticle, and then drawing a cord, dipt in charcoal and water, through 

 the canal thus formed. The punctures on the body are formed by 

 needles of various sizes set in a frame. A number of hawk bells 

 attached to this frame serve by their noise to cover the suppressed 

 groans of the sufferer, and, probably for the same reason, the pro- 

 cess is accompanied with singing. An indelible stain is produced by 

 rubbing a little finely-powdered willow-charcoal into the punctures. 

 A half-breed, whose arm I amputated, declared, that tattooing was 



not only the most painful operation of the two, but rendered 

 infinitely more difficult to bear by its tediousness, having lasted in 

 his case three days. 



A Cree woman, when visited by the periodical disorder incident 

 to the sex, is laid under considerable restraint. They are far, how- 

 ever, from carrying matters to the extremities mentioned by Hearne 

 in his description of the Chepewyans, or Northern Indians. She 

 lives apart from her husband also for two months if she has borne a 





