OF THE POLAR SEA. 113 
endeavour to jostle him and shake it out; but, 
if hard pressed, he discharges it with a jerk, to 
be forwarded by his own party, or bandied back 
by their opponents, until the victory is decided 
by its passing the goal. 
Of the religious opinions of the Crees, it is 
difficult to give a correct account, not only because 
they shew a disinclination to enter upon the sub- 
ject, but because their ancient traditions are 
mingled with the information they have more 
recently obtained, by their intercourse with 
Europeans. 
None of them. ventured to deacwibe the ctiinad 
formation of the world, but they all spoke of an 
universal deluge, caused by an attempt of the 
fish to drown Weesack-ootchacht, a kind of demi- 
god, with whom they had quarrelled. Having 
constructed a raft, he embarked with his family 
and all kinds of birds and beasts. After the 
flood had continued for some time, he ordered 
several water-fowl to dive to the bottom; they 
were all drowned: but a musk-rat having been 
despatched on the same errand, was more suc- 
cessful, and returned with a mouthful of mud, 
out of which Weesack-ootchacht, imitating the 
mode in “which the rats construct their houses, 
formed a new earth. | First, a small conical hill 
of mud appeared above the water ; iii 
Vou. I. 
