MEDICINE FEASTS OF THE CEEES. 



403 



tonous drum of the conjurors, circle round their idols, 

 and join in chants to the praises of the spirits they re- 

 present. 



The Eev. Henry Budd thus records in his journal the 

 progress and continuances of these annual idolatrous 

 ceremonies : — 



"March 31st. — The Thickwood Crees — so named to 

 distinguish them from the Plain Crees — having formed 

 a considerable party, are preparing to commence their 

 spring feasts, &c. ; they have brought some of the best of 

 their last winter's hunt for the purpose. They will be 

 feasting and dancing for several days and nights together. 



"April 1st. — The Indians are busy this morning putting 

 up a large tent, where they intend to keep their feast and 

 dance. The first feast to be kept up is in honour of the 

 God Pahkuk, for having preserved, as they believe, the 

 Indians the whole of last winter, and given them plenty of 

 animals of all kinds to live upon. I hear there is to be no 

 Mitawin kept up here this spring, for what reason I have 

 not yet learnt. Whether it is because we are here, I do 

 not know, but it is the first spring for a long time that 

 that ceremony is not to be kept up here. * Old Mahnsuk 

 has arrived to-day from his spring hunt : he has been 

 away nearly one month ; but the river is so dangerous 

 to cross now that we shall not be able to go and see him. 

 The drum is going the whole of the evening in prepara- 

 tion for to-morrow. 



"April 2nd. — The feast has commenced betimes this 

 morning, and the drum has had no rest the whole of last 

 night. The dance does not commence until there have 

 been some long speeches put forth, and the feast over. 



66 April 3rd : Lord's-day. — The Indians have been 

 dancing and drumming the whole of yesterday and last 

 night, and this very likely will continue for some time yet. 



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