124 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



like," is a common expression amongst them, 

 and they prove their divinity-ship by eating 

 live coals, and by various tricks of a similar 

 nature. A medicine bag is an indispensable 

 part of a hunter's equipment. It is gene- 

 rally furnished with a little bit of indigo, 

 blue vitriol, vermilion, or some other showy 

 article ; and is, when in the hands of a noted 

 conjurer, such an object of terror to the rest 

 of the tribe, that its possessor is enabled to 

 fatten at his ease upon the labours of his 

 deluded countrymen. 



A fellow of this description came to Cum- 

 berland House in the winter of 1819. Not- 

 withstanding the then miserable state of the 

 Indians, the rapacity of this wretch had 

 been preying upon their necessities, and a 

 poor hunter was actually at the moment 

 pining away under the influence of his 

 threats. The mighty conjurer, immediately 

 on his arrival at the house, began to trumpet 

 forth his powers, boasting, among other 

 things, that although his hands and feet 

 were tied as securely as possible, yet, when 

 placed in a conjuring-house, he would 



