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themfelves for great huntings by falling, which 

 the Outagamies carry as far [as ten days run- 

 ning ; but alfo whilft the hunters are in the field, 

 they often oblige the children to faft, they ob- 

 ferve the dreams they have during their fafts, 

 and from them they draw good or evil omens, 

 with refpect to the fuccefs of the hunting. The 

 intention of thefe fafts, is to appeafe the tutelary 

 genii of the animals they are going to hunt ; and 

 they pretend that they make known in dreams, 

 whether they are to oppofe or to be propitious to 

 the hunters. 



The nation that has occafioned mo ft difcourfe in 

 thefe weftern parts, for the laft twenty years, is 

 that of the Outagamies. The natural ferocity of 

 thefe Indians foured by the repeated ill treatment 

 they have received and fometimes imprudently 

 enough ; and their alliance with the Iroquois, al- 

 ways difpofed to ftir up new enemies againft us, 

 have rendered them formidable. They have fince 

 become ftill more clofely connected with the Sioux, 

 a numerous nation, and who have infenlibly be- 

 come warlike; which union renders almoft im- 

 practicable at prefent the navigation of the whole 

 upper Miflifippi. There is even very little fecu- 

 rity in failing on the river Illinois, at leaft if 

 you are not provided againft a furprize to the 

 great hurt of the trade between the two co- 

 lonies. 



I met at the Bay fome Sioux, to whom I put 

 many queftions with refpecl to the countries lying 

 to the weft and north- weft of Canada ; and though 

 I well know we are not to take in a literal fenfe all 

 that the Indians tell us, yet by comparing what 



thefe 



