70 A General History of the Fur Trade. 



large offerings of their property, whatever it may be. The 

 scene of these ceremonies is in an open inclosure on the 

 bank of a river or lake, and in the most conspicuous situa- 

 tion, in order that such as are passing along or travelling, 

 may be induced to make their offerings. There is also a 

 particular custom among them, that, on these occasions, if 

 any of the tribe, or even a stranger, should be passing by, 

 and be in real want of any thing that is displayed as an of- 

 fering, he has a right to take it, so that he replaces it with 

 some article he can spare, though it be of far inferior value : 

 but to take or touch any thing wantonly is considered as a 

 sacrilegious act, and highly insulting to the great Master of 

 Life, to use their own expression, who is the sacred object 

 of their devotion. 



The scene of private sacrifice is the lodge of the person 

 who performs it, which is prepared for that purpose by re- 

 moving every thing out of it, and spreading green branches 

 in every part. The fire and ashes are also taken away. A 

 new hearth is made of fresh earth, and another fire is light- 

 ed. The owner of the dwelling remains alone in it ; and he 

 begins the ceremony by spreading a piece of new cloth, or a 

 well-dressed moose-skin neatly painted, on which he opens 

 his medicine-bag and exposes its contents, consisting of 

 various articles. The principal of them is a kind of house- 

 hold god, which is a small carved image about eight inches 

 long. Its first covering is of down, over which a piece of 

 birch bark is closely tied, and the whole is enveloped in se- 

 veral folds of red and blue cloth. This little figure is an 

 object of the most pious regard. The next article is his 

 war-cap, which is decorated with the feathers and plumes of 

 scarce birds, beavers, and eagle's claws, &c. There is al- 

 so suspended from it a quill or feather for every enemy 

 whom the owner of it has slain in battle. The remaining 

 contents of the bag are, a piece of Brazil tobacco, several 

 roots and simples, which are in great estimation for their 

 medicinal qualities, and a (pipe. These articles being all 

 exposed, and the stem resting upon two forks, as it must 

 not touch the ground, the master of the lodge sends for the 

 person he most esteems, who sits down opposite to him ; 

 the pipe is then filled and fixed to the stem. A pair of 

 wooden pincers is provided to put the fire in the pipe, and 

 a double pointed pin, to empty it of the remnant of to- 

 bacco which is not consumed. This arrangement being 

 made, the men assemble, and sometimes the women are 



