98 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
kinder affections, capable of friendship, very hos- 
pitable, tolerably kind to their women, and withal 
inclined to peace. 
Much of the faulty part of their character, no 
doubt, originates in their mode of life; accus- 
tomed as a hunter to depend greatly on chance 
for his subsistence, the Cree takes little thought 
of to-morrow ; and the most offensive part of his 
behaviour—the habit of boasting—has been pro- 
bably assumed as a necessary part of his armour, 
which operates upon the fears of his enemies. 
They are countenanced, however, in this failing, | 
by the practice of the ancient Greeks, and per- 
haps by that of every other nation in its ruder 
state. Every Cree fears the medical or conjuring 
powers of his neighbour ; but at the same time 
exalts his own attainments to the skies, “ I am 
God-like,” is a common expression amongst 
them, and they prove their divinity-ship by eat- 
ing live coals, and by various tricks of a simi- 
lar 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, 
vermilion, or some other showy article ; and is,. 
when in the hands of a noted conjurer, such ab 
object of terror to the rest of the tribe, that its 
many of the other tribes of Crees are stated by the traders to be 
thieves. 
