Tete de Boule Indians. S\ 



and more independent trPx^s of savages : that one shall be 

 mentioned in its proper pKice. 



Their religion is a Paganism, the leading features of 

 which I did not learn ; neither from the ignorance or 

 indifference of our guide on such matters, could I ascertain 

 whetlier they have any idea of a future state. The good 

 and bad spirit, and probably a phirality of each, they 

 acknowledge in common with other Indians, Superstitious, 

 they undoubtedly are, for beside the graves of their dead 

 which are very neatly enclosed by walls and covers of birch 

 bark, we always found, independently of the representation 

 of their weapons fif achicf) sword, spear, bow, arrows, &c. 

 a parcel of firewood lying, ready for the use of the occupant 

 could he require it. Of another kind of superstition, we 

 also witnessed some amusing specimens developed before 

 us by Robert M'Vicar, Esq. a partner of the Hudson's Bay 

 company, at his post of Wemontachinque. This gentleman 

 (the friend of Captain Franklin,) besides a veiy long ex- 

 perience of Indian habits in the N.VV. country possesses the 

 advantage of considerable dexterity in slight of hand per- 

 fonnances; and has established his fame as a great conjurer 

 in the minds of these poor savages, 'i'he manner in which 

 he one evening worked upon the feelings of two women and 

 a boy, by some displays of this kind, and the absolute 

 command he apparently possessed over their faculties from 

 superstitious awe of his power, though it made us smile, 

 yet I believe affrcted every one of us at the same time witli 

 pity approaching to sadness, that the human mind should 

 even any where be found so prostrated as «> b,- duped by 

 «uch fliuiKy deceptions. 



iiut these poor Indians themselves are possessed of no 

 mean talent h^ mnsqueraders, of which 1 will relate uii 



