THE MONTAGNAIS INDIANS AND THEIE FOLK-LOBE 315 



infrequently occurs in the interior, the Indian woman 

 is always the last to succumb. In times of dire dis- 

 tress they sing and dance till they grow weak, in order 

 that in the dreams that come to them later they may 

 obtain a view of the locality in which they may ob- 

 tain deer. In sickness they sing till they are over- 

 come by sleep, in order to dream of the proper reme- 

 dial herbs and of the party who caused their sickness 

 by casting his malediction upon them. 



On no account will a Montagnais or Nascapee give 

 any of the bones of the animals he kills to his dog. 

 To do so would be to give mortal offence to the spirit 

 of the animal, and any dog that by accident obtains 

 such bones is immediately killed, and his flesh roasted 

 and devoured. The spirits of the animals they hunt 

 must always be propitiated, or the game will certain- 

 ly keep out of their way. The bear is perhaps more 

 highly honored by them than any other animal, and 

 opinions differ as to their real object and intention in 

 placing his head upon a pole with a piece of tobacco 

 in his mouth. While some contend that it is simply 

 to show other Indians that bears have been found 

 there, as suggested by Father Arnaud, or to keep the 

 skull beyond the reach of dogs, others say that it is to 

 honor the animal and propitiate the spirit of its kind. 

 Maybe they intend to accomplish both objects. It is 

 of very little use for a stranger to inquire of an Ind- 

 ian respecting his beliefs and superstitions. The more 

 the latter thinks one determined to find out some- 

 thing in regard to these matters, the more determined 

 he is that the questioner shall not succeed. Ply him 

 with inquiries so shaped that they call for only an 



