274 



THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



gradually increasing the pitch of voice until his screeching can be 

 heard a gresit distance. The din of the drum adds confusion to the 

 cei-emony. This goes on until the shainan announces the appearance 

 of the spirit with whom he desires to commune. He implores the spirit 

 to grant the request, and in the course of time informs the people out- 

 side that he has succeeded in securing the services of the spirit. All 

 within becomes quiet and only whisperings are heard. 



The spirit promises to fulfill the obligation he has undertaken, and the 

 conjuror throws over the tent and states the result of the interview. 

 This result is always favorable, as his reputation depends upon its hap- 

 pening. Any untoward circumstance, such as a person turning over a 

 stone or breaking a twig from a bush while traveling, is sufiicient cause 

 to break the spell, and the blame can be laid on tlie shoulders of such 



^r^TTTWS^ 





Fig. 85 Indian medicine lodge. 



an offender. If the request be not granted within the stipulated time 

 as announced by the shaman at the end of the ceremony, some one is 

 certain to have been the cause of di.spleasing the spirit, who now with- 

 holds the favor until reparation for the offense is made. The conjurer 

 is not slow to make some one do penance while he himself is gaining 

 time, as he takes good care not to attempt anything out of season. 



When an Indian kills one of the larger and licrcer wild beasts it is 

 customary to reserve a portion of the skin or other part of the body as 

 a memento of the deed. 



These mementos are sacredly kept to show the ^irowess of the 

 hunter and at the same time they serve as a token of the wealth pro- 

 cured by bartering the pelt of the animal to the trader. The wolf, 

 bear, and wolverine are considered worthy of remembrance, and of the 



