148 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



take in our turn, but requested to keep the 

 head of the calumet within the threshold of 

 the sweating-house. When the tobacco 

 was exhausted by passing several times 

 round, the hunter made another speech, 

 similar to the former ; but was, if possible, 

 still more urgent in his requests. A second 

 hymn followed, and a quantity of water 

 being sprinkled on the hot stones, the at- 

 tendants were ordered to close the temple, 

 which they did, by very carefully covering 

 it up with moose skins. We had no means 

 of ascertaining the temperature of the 

 sweating-house ; but before it was closed, 

 not only those within, but also the specta- 

 tors without, were perspiring freely. They 

 continued in the vapour bath for thirty-five 

 minutes, during which time a third speech 

 was made, and a hymn was sung, and water 

 occasionally sprinkled on the stones, which 

 still retained much heat, as was evident 

 from the hissing noise they made. The 

 coverings were then thrown off, and the 

 poor half-stewed worshippers exposed freely 

 to the air; but they kept their squatting 



