40 



HUNTER'S TENTS. 



ately fond,, were sick, they were almost con- 

 stantly addressing their manitou drumming, 

 and making a great noise ; and at the same 

 time they sprinkled them with water where 

 they complained of pain. And when the inter- 

 preter was sick, they were perpetually wanting 

 to drum and conjure him well. He spoke to 

 them of that God and Saviour whom white 

 people adore ; but they called him a fool, saying 

 that he never came to their country, or did any 

 thing for them, " So vain were they in their ima- 

 ginations, and their foolish heart was darkened'' 

 Jan. 30. — We left Qu'appelle to return to 

 the colony, and stopped for the night at an 

 encampment of Indians, some of whom were 

 engaged as hunters for the company. They 

 welcomed me with much cordiality to their 

 wigwams. We smoked the calumet as a token 

 of friendship ; and a plentiful supply of buffaloe 

 tongues was prepared for supper. I slept in one 

 of their tents, wrapt in a buffaloe robe, before 

 a small fire in the centre, but the wind drawing 

 under it, I suffered more from cold than when 

 I slept in an open encampment. As we were 

 starting the next morning I observed a fine 

 looking little boy standing by the side of the 

 cariole, and told his father that if he would send 

 him to me at the Settlement by the first oppor- 



