OP THE ODAHWAH INDIANS. 299 



was spent, but the fast was more severe ; it lasted from two to four 

 and even five days, according to the strength of the individual. On 

 these occasions it was usual for the young men to withdraw from the 

 family residence to a retired spot, under the shade of a tree, where 

 they passed their time in fasting and contemplation. To this spot 

 the mother sometimes repaired with a small bunch of wild, unripe 

 berries, which she suspended from a twig about a foot and a half from 

 the ground, so that the young man might have the poor consolation 

 of fixing his eyes occasionally upon them. The sight of these berries 

 had the effect of watering the mouth in the same way as we feel before 

 tasting any unripe fruit, especially when we have reason to suspect its 

 being sour. The dreams of the last night which terminated their 

 regular fasting days at any time of the year, were considered the mosjfc 

 important, and were carefully studied as revelations from the Great 

 Spirit. In the evening small wigwams were put up at a little distance 

 from the family residence, each just big enough for the accommoda- 

 tion of one person. The youths who were practising the rite of fast- 

 ing had to take up their quarters in these lodges for the night, using, 

 if possible, only new furniture. Next morning it was the duty of the 

 grandmother, or some other elderly female, to visit the young fasters 

 by daylight. The first thing she did was to make a very thin corn 

 soup, or some kind of broth, after which she went to ask them one 

 by one of their dreams. She congratulated those who had favorable 

 dreams upon their good fortune ; but for those who had unlucky 

 dreams she threw a piece of fur of some animal on the fire, in order to 

 avert the consequences of such ill-omened visions. The longest fast 

 practised among the Indians lasted ten days, during which time it was 

 indispensable that the candidates for the special honors which it 

 secured should neither taste anything nor sleep. They were made to 

 dance every night, and sometimes were put in small cribs suspended 

 from the ground, which were moved sideways, like a cradle, for the 

 purpose of inducing sleep. Those who yielded, and fell asleep, were 

 dismissed forthwith as unworthy. Most frequently all the candidates 

 failed ; but on some rare occasions one or two succeeded in completing 

 the time. Even with these, however, this severe undertaking seems 

 to have exceeded the powers of nature, as those who were successful — 

 though regarded ever after with a certain degree of superstitious 

 veneration — never fully recovered from the effects of it. Besides 

 fasting, the young people had to abstain from certain kinds of animal 

 food, and from certain parts of animals, for instance, the head, the 



