138 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



sitting down in the presence of the father- 

 in-law. We received no account of the 

 origin of this custom, and it is now almost 

 obsolete amongst the Cumberland House 

 Crees, though still partially observed by 

 those who frequent Carlton. 



Tattooing is almost universal with the 

 Crees. The women are in general content 

 with having one or two lines drawn from 

 the corners of the mouth towards the angles 

 of the lower jaw ; but some of the men 

 have their bodies covered with a great va- 

 riety of lines and figures. It seems to be 

 considered by most rather as a proof of 

 courage than an ornament, the operation 

 being very painful, and, if the figures are 

 numerous and intricate, lasting several days. 

 The lines on the face are formed by dex- 

 terously running an awl under the cuticle, 

 and then drawing a cord, dipt in charcoal 

 and water, through the canal thus formed. 

 The punctures on the body are formed by 

 needles of various sizes set in a frame. A 

 number of hawk bells attached to this frame 

 serve by their noise to cover the suppressed 



