travels in North America. , 55 



It ÎS always a War-Chief who fixes the Time, and has the 

 f^^ j . 7 Care of inviting the Hunters. This Invita- 

 Uf hunting the ^.^^^ which is made with great Ceremony, is 

 followed v/ith a Fall of eight Days ; during 

 which they muft not drink even a Drop of Water. And I will 

 tell you by the Way, Madam, that what the Savages call failing, 

 is to take abfolutely nothing at all. Still more, in Spite of the 

 extreme Weaknefs which fuch an Abftinence one may fuppofe 

 cannot fail to caufe, they never ceafe fmging all the Time it 

 lafts. They obferve this Fall, in order to induce the Genii, or 

 Spirits, to difcover the Places where they may find many Bears. 

 Many even do much more to; deferve this Favour. Several have 

 been feen to cut their Flefh in feveral Places of their Body, to 

 render their Genii, or Spirits, more propitious. But it is proper * 

 to obferve, that they do not afk their Aififtance to conquer thefe 

 furious Animals : It fuffices them to be informed where they 

 are. As Ajax did not afk of Jupiter to give him the Viélory over 

 his Enemies, but only Day enough to make an End of his 

 Conqueft. 



The Savages fupplicate alfo on the fame Account the Manes 

 of the Beafts which they have killed in former Huntings ; and 

 as their Thoughts run wholly on the Matter whilfl t-hey are 

 awake, it is natural that during their Sleep (which can't be very 

 found upon fuch empty Stomachs) they fhould often dream of 

 Bears. But this is not enough to determine them : It is neccf- 

 fary that all, at leaft the greateft Number, fhould in their Sleep . 

 have feen Bears in the fame Place : And how (you will fay) 

 fliould all their Dreams agree in this ? The Cafe feems to be 

 thus : Provided a fkilful Hunter has thought he has dreamt two 

 or three Times together of feeing Bears in a certain Place, ei- 

 ther through Complaifance, or through continual talking of it, 

 their chimerical Brain at laft takes the Impreffion, and every Body 

 prefently dreams the fame, or feign that they have dreamt fo, and 



a Refolution is taken to go to that Place. The Fail being 



over, and the Place of the Hunt fettled, the Chief who is chofea 

 for the Chace gives to all thofe who are to be of the Party a 

 great Feaft ; but no Perfon dares be prefent, without having firfî: 

 bathed ; that is to fay y without having plunged into the River, 

 let the Weather be ever fo fevere, provided the River is not 

 frozen. This Feaft is not like many others, in which they are 

 obliged to eat up all : Though they have fafted fo long before 

 it, (and perhaps it is for this Reafon) they eat moderately. He 

 who gives the Feaft, eats nothing ; and all his Employment, 

 whilft the others are at Table, is to relate his former Acchieve- 

 ments in hunting : Frefh Invocations of the Manes of dead 

 Bears, finilhes the Feaft. Then they begin their Marci, cquipp'd 



