OF THE POLAR SEA. 123 
the chief at the upper end, and the young men 
near the door. 
The chief commenced by addressing his deities 
in an appropriate speech, in which he told them, 
that he had hastened as soon as summer was in- 
dicated by the croaking of the frogs, to solicit their 
fayour for himself and his young men, and hoped 
that they would send him a pleasant and plentiful 
season. His oration was concluded by an invo- 
cation to all the animals in the land, and a signal 
being given to the slave at the door, he invited 
them severally by their names to come ve par- 
take of the feast. 
The Cree chief having by this very general 
invitation displayed his unbounded hospitality, — 
next ordered one of the young men to distribute 
a mess to each of the guests. This was deme in 
new dishes of birch bark, and the utmost diligence ae 
was: displayed i in emptying t} yit : er eee 
dered extremely improper in a man to ae any 
part of that which is placed before him on such 
occasions. It is not inconsistent with good man- 
ners, however, but rather considered as a piece 
of politeness, that a guest who has been too 
liberally supplied, should hand the surplus to his 
neighbour. When the viands had disappeared, 
each filled his calumet and began to smoke with 
