y4 EXPEDITION TO THE 



Their notions of reliji;ion appear to be of the most sim- 

 ple kind ; they believe in the existence of an only God, 

 whom they term Ka-sh'4-ma-ne-t'6, or Great Spirit. Kasha 

 means great, and Maneto an irresistible almighty being. 

 The epithet of Kasha is never applied to any other word, 

 but as connected with the Supreme Being. It would be 

 highly indecorous to apply it to a house, a horse, or any 

 other visible object. Yet it is, in a few instances, ap- 

 plied to a good man, in order to give more force to the 

 expression, by connecting his good qualities with those 

 which they ascribe to the Great Spirit. They recognise 

 also an Evil Spirit, whom they call Mat-ch^a-ma-ne-f 6, (from 

 matcha, which signifies bad.) This unfavourable epithet 

 is not restricted in its application, but is extended to all un- 

 pleasant or disagreeable objects. They consider them- 

 selves as indebted to the Good Spirit for the warm winds 

 from the south, while the evil one sends the cold winds 

 and storms of the north. The Matchamaneto resides in 

 the cold regions of the north, where the sun never shines. 

 The Kashamaneto, on the contrary, dwells at the " mid- 

 day-sun's place." Their worship appears to be princi- 

 pally addressed to the Evil Spirit, whom they think it ex- 

 pedient to propitiate ; the good one needing no prayers, 

 for his natural goodness Avill always induce him to assist 

 and protect man without being reminded of it by his peti- 

 tions; neither do they believe that their prayers to the Evil 

 Spirit can in any manner displease the Good. In certain 

 cases, however, as when afflicted with disease, or when, 

 impelled to it in a dream, they will offer a sacrifice of liv- 

 ing animals to the Kashamaneto. This is generally done at 

 the suggestion of one of the chiefs or leaders, who calls all 

 the warriors together, explains to them his views, and ap- 

 points one of them to go in search of a buck, to another 



