152 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



stream of stinking and muddy water. The 

 night owl is regarded by the Crees with the 

 same dread that it has been viewed by 

 other nations. One small species, which is 

 known to them by its melancholy nocturnal 

 hootings, (for, as it never appears in the 

 day, few even of the hunters have ever seen 

 it,) is particularly ominous. They call it 

 the cheepai-peethees, or death bird, and 

 never fail to whistle when they hear its 

 note. If it does not reply to the whistle 

 by its hootings, the speedy death of the in- 

 quirer is augured. 



When a Cree dies, that part of his pro- 

 perty which he has not given away before 

 his death, is burned with him, and his rela- 

 tions take care to place near his grave little 

 heaps of fire-wood, food, pieces of tobacco, 

 and such things as he is likely to need in 

 his journey. Similar offerings are made 

 when they revisit the grave, and as kettles, 

 and other articles of value, are sometimes 

 offered, they are frequently carried off by 

 passengers, yet the relations are not dis- 

 pleased, provided sufficient respect has been 



