OF THE POLAR SEA. , 115 
every thing that is valuable to an Indian ; yet they 
treat him with considerable familiarity, inter- 
larding their most solemn speeches with expos- 
tulations and threats of neglect, if he fails in com- 
plying with their requests. As most of their 
petitions are for plenty of food, they do not trust 
entirely to the favour of Kepoochikawn, but en- 
deavour, at the same time, to propitiate the anv- 
mal, an imaginary representative of the whole. 
Trace of larger quadrupeds that are ee of the 
chase. 
in the month of May, whilst I was at Carlton 
House, the Cree hunter, engaged to attend that 
post, resolved upon dedicating several articles 
to Kepoochikawn, and as I had made some in- 
quiries of him respecting their modes of worship, 
he gave me an invitation to be present. The 
ceremony took place in a sweating-house, or as 
it may be designated from its more important 
use, a temple, which was erected for the occasion 
by the worshipper’s two wives. It was framed 
of arched willows, interlaced'so as to form a vault 
capable of containing ten or twelve men, ranged 
closely side by side, and high enough to admit 
of their sitting erect. It was very similar in 
shape to an oven or the kraal of a Hottentot, and 
was closely covered with moose skins, except at 
the east end, which was left open oe a door, 
