DEN10] THE ASSINIBOIN 495 



A bad dream on the part of the leader of a war party would be 

 sufficient cause for their return, even if they were within a short dis- 

 tance of their enemies. It would also prevent an Indian from his 

 customary hunting and have other effects of the like nature for a 

 short time. Good dreams are therefore always desired and courted, 

 particularly on the eve of war excursions. Faith in amulets and 

 charms is general among the whole of these tribes. The material of 

 these charms is of every possible variety, as also the different de- 

 grees of influence they exercise over different minds. The idea 

 though thoroughly realized by ourselves is difficult to explain, but 

 may be thus stated : Although the Great Spirit is all powerful, yet 

 His will is uncertain; He is invisible and only manifests His power 

 in extraordinary circumstances. The want of a tangible medium 

 is felt, therefore, through which they can offer their prayers to all 

 ghosts, lesser influences of evil, which overrule their ordinary occu- 

 pations. Each Indian selects some object for this purpose and calls 

 it his medicine, which is invested with a sacred character by the care 

 with which it is guarded and the prayers, invocations, etc., made 

 through it as a medium. 



This charm or fetish is chosen in consequence of some dream or 

 incident or idea presented on some important occasion, and consists 

 of the skin of a weasel, otter, or beaver ; heads and bodies of different 

 kinds of birds, stuffed; images of wood, stone, and beads wrought 

 ui^on skin ; drawings of bulls, bears, wolves, owls, serpents, monsters, 

 who have never existed; even a bullet worn round the neck; in fact 

 anything resembling animate, inanimate, or imaginative creation, 

 is selected according to the superstitious fancy of the individual. 

 This charm, whatever it is, is inclosed in several envelopes of skin, 

 and placed in a rawhide sack which is painted and fringed in various 

 ways. This sack is never opened in the presence of anyone unless the 

 Indian falls sick, when he has it taken out and placed at his head. 

 Ordinarily this object is taken out in secret, and prayers and invoca- 

 tions made through it as a medium to the spirits he wishes to propi- 

 tiate. They are aware that the object has no intrinsic power, but its 

 virtue lies in their faith of their ceremonies, as exhibited through 

 this charm as a visible medium to the supernatural. It is in fact the 

 same operation of mind (though differently exhibited) as is displayed 

 in the charms believed in by most of the lower order of whites. 

 Although many ignorant white persons have faith in the charms, 

 spells, etc., of quack doctors and old women, yet this does not de- 

 stroy their belief in the Supreme Being, neither does it, that of the 

 Indian. As long as he has success in his different ordinary under- 

 takings and is not troubled with the evils he fears, he will con- 

 tinue to say his medicine is good, but should he be disappointed 



