166 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



of merriment, as it was the ancient custom of the Great Com- 

 pany that he should kiss every woman and girl at the New 

 Year's feast. After that historical ceremony was over — in 

 which Free Trader Spear also had to do his duty — and the 

 laughter had subsided, the principal guests were seated at the 

 Factor's table, the company consisting of the three clergymen, 

 the Spears, myself, the two North-West Mounted Policemen — 

 who had just arrived from the south — and a few native head- 

 men, including my friend Oo-koo-hoo. Though the feast was 

 served in relays, some of the guests who were too hungry to 

 await their turn were served as they sat about the floor. The 

 dishes included the choice of moose, caribou, bear, lynx, 

 beaver, or muskrat. 



Then a couple of picturesque, shock-haired French Cana- 

 dians got up on a big box that rested upon a table, and tuning 

 up their fiddles, the dance was soon in full swing. In rapid 

 succession the music changed from the Double Jig to the Reel 

 of Four, the Duck Dance, the Double Reel of Four, the Reel 

 of Eight, and the Red River Jig, till the old log storehouse shook 

 from its foundation right up to its very rafters. The breath- 

 less, perspiring, but happy couples kept at it until exhaustion 

 fairly overtook them, and then dropping out now and then, they 

 sat on the floor around the walls till they had rested; and then, 

 with all their might and main, they went at it again. Among 

 other things I noticed that the natives who were smoking 

 were so considerate of their hosts' feelings that they never 

 for a moment forgot themselves enough to soil the freshly 

 scrubbed floor, but always used their upturned fur caps as 

 cuspidors. 



The children, even the little tots, showed great interest in 

 the dancing of their parents, and so delighted did they become 

 that they would sometimes gather in a group in a corner and 

 try to step in time with the music. 



Everyone that could dance took a turn — even Oo-koo-hoo 



