116 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
Near the centre of the building there was a hole 
in the ground, which contained ten or twelve red- 
hot stones, having a few leaves of the taccohay- 
menan, a species of prunus, strewed around them. 
When the women had completed the prepara- 
tions, the hunter made his appearance, perfectly 
naked, carrying in his hand an image of Kepoo- 
chikawn, rudely carved, and about two feet long. 
"He placed his god at the upper end of the sweat: - 
ing-house, with his face towards the door, and 
proceeded to tie round its neck his offerings, con- ‘ 
sisting of a cotton handkerchief, a looking-glass, ~ 
a tin pan, a piece of riband, and a bit of tobaceo, 
which he had procured the same day, at the ex- 
pense of fifteen or twenty skins. Whilst he was 
thus: occupied, several other Crees, who were en- 
camped in the neighbourhood, having been in- 
formed of what was going on, arrived, and strip- 
ping at the door of the temple, entered, and ranged 
themselves on each side ; the hunter himself 
Squatted down at the right hand of Kepoochi- 
kawn. The atmosphere of the temple having 
become so hot that none but zealous worshippers 
would venture in, the interpreter and myself sat 
down on the threshold, and the two women re- 
mained on the outside as attendants. | 
_ The hunter, who throughout officiated as high 
riest, commenced by making a speech to Ke 
