XXIII 



SUPERSTITIONS AND TRADITIONS 



EVERYBODY was in good humor that night in the lodge, 

 and I was very much interested in watching the develop- 

 ment, out of a caribou shoulder-blade, of an Indian hunting 

 talisman. The shoulder-blade when finished becomes at 

 once talisman and prophet. It is scraped clean of its flesh, 

 and then with a piece of burned wood the Indian pictures 

 upon it, first, the points of the compass, and then one 

 or more hunters, with caribou in the distance. When his 



drawing is complete the blade 

 is held over the fire, and the 

 dark spots that appear in the 

 bone indicate the direction in 

 which game will be found. 

 Where several hunters are rep- 

 resented in the drawing, that 

 one nearest the spots is hailed 

 the lucky individual. 



The Indians have several su- 

 perstitions pertaining to the 

 disposition of game, but none 



more rigidly adhered to than that relating to the head of 

 moose or caribou. It is considered exceedingly bad luck 

 to the hunter if the jaw or any part of the head is eaten 

 by the dogs, and it is North-country courtesy that the 

 head invariably goes to the successful hunter for such dis- 



CREE-INDIAN ORNAMENTS 



