14 King, Folk-lore of the North American Indians. 



that they did not manage well, and that it would be better to reserve these 

 feasts for future days, and in doing this they would not l)e so pressed with 

 hunger. They laughed at me. " To-morrow " (they said) " we shall make 

 another feast with what we shall capture." \ es, but more often they captured 

 only cold and wind. 



As to their "leave-nothing" feasts, they are very blamable ; and yet 

 this is one of their great devotions, because they make these feasts in order 

 to have a successful chase. They must be very careful that the dogs taste 

 nothing of this or all will be lost, and their hunting will be worthless. 

 And notice that, the more they eat, the more efficacious is this feast. 

 Hence it happens that they will give, to one man, what I would not 

 undertake to eat with three good dinners. They would rather burst, so to 

 speak, than to leave anything. True, they can help each other ; when one 

 can eat no more, he begs his companions to assist him ; or else he may pass 

 the remains of his part along to the others, who each one take some of it, 

 and after all this, if anything remain, it is thrown into the fire. The one 

 who eats the most is the most admired, (vi., 281 ff.) 



Certain practices were observed with reference to the 

 bones of the animals devoured at the feasts. 



The Savages do not throw to the dogs the bones of female Beavers and 

 Porcupines, — at least, certain specified bones ; in short, they are very careful 

 that the dogs do not eat any bones of birds and of other animals which are 

 taken in the net, otherwise they will take no more exct pt with incomparable 

 difficulties. Yet they make a thousand exceptions to this rule, for it does 

 not matter if the verlebrn; or rump of these animals be given to the dogs, but 

 the rest must be thrown into the fire. Yet, as to the Beaver, which has been 

 taken in a trap, it is best to throw its bones into a river. It is remarkable 

 how they gather and collect these bones, and preserve them with so much 

 care, that you would say their game would be lost if they violated their 

 superstitions. As I was laughing at them, and telling them that Beavers do 

 not know what is done with their bones, they answered me, " Thou dost not 

 know how to take Beavers, and th&u wishest to talk about it." Before the 

 Beaver was entirely dead, they told me, its soul conies to make the round of 

 the Cabin of him who has killed it, and looks very carefully to see what is 

 done with its bones ; if they are given to the dogs, the other Beavers would 

 be apprised of it, and, therefore, they would make themselves hard to 

 capture. But they are very glad to have their bones thrown into the fire, 

 or into a river ; especially the trap wh'ch has caught them is very glad of 

 this, (vi., 211.) 



The Hfe of the animal was especially connected with 

 the bones. The bones (it may be) would be broken by 

 the dogs, and the existence of the animal after death 

 impaired.* 



Cf. Frazer, Golden Boiig/i, ii., 416. 



