INDIAN WEDDING. 



.389 



feature of their character, and they frequently pay 

 severely for their credulous simplicity. Not many 

 years ago a report was prevalent amongst those of 

 the Slave Lake quarter, that their dead had been 

 restored to life, and had established a fort in the 

 interior, where food and supplies of all kinds were 

 to be obtained in profusion. So strong was the 

 belief, that great numbers made pilgrimages to the 

 spot designated, and many died of famine and 

 privation in consequence. 



We had not actual experience of the tribes in 

 what is called the Southern Department, of which 

 the head-quarters are established at Moose Factory 

 in James's Bay, but I was favoured with one or two 

 interesting anecdotes of that locality by a gentleman 

 who had lately left the district of the south. Here, 

 for instance, is an Indian wedding, as it now exists. 

 The maidens do not marry until they have reached 

 that age which wdth them as with us is called sweet 

 sixteen. The ceremony performed at Moose was 

 thus described :— the couple go into the 'store where 

 goods are dispensed in barter, and each receives a 

 piece of gingerbread, the man a dram of spirits, the 

 woman a printed gown-piece, or some other trifle. 

 The bridegroom then declares in presence of witnesses 

 that he will on no account separate from his wife, 



