36 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



up in a small bundle, and committed to the rapid 

 with a long prayer. He does not trust entirely, 

 however, to the relenting of the spirits for his 

 wife's cure, but comes daily to Dr. Richardson 

 for medicine. 



Upon one occasion he received the medicine 

 from the Doctor with such formality, and wrapped 

 it up in his rein-deer robe with such extraordinary 

 carefulness, that it excited the involuntary laugh- 

 ter of Mr. Hood and myself. The old man smiled 

 in his turn, and as he always seemed proud of the 

 familiar way in which we were accustomed to 

 joke with him, we thought no more upon the sub- 

 ject. But he unfortunately mentioned the cir- 

 cumstance to his wife, who imagined in conse- 

 quence, that the drug was not productive of its 

 usual good effects, and they immediately came to 

 the conclusion that some bad medicine had been 

 intentionally given to them. The distress pro- 

 duced by this idea, was in proportion to their 

 former faith in the potency of the remedy, and the 

 night was spent in singing and groaning. Next 

 mormng the whole family were crying in concert, 

 and it was not until the evening of the second 

 day that we succeeded in pacifying them. The 

 old woman began to feel better, and her faith in 

 the medicine was renewed. 

 While speaking of this family, I may remark 



