120 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



CHAP. XXIX. 



INDIAN CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS. 



Indian Antiquities. — Result of the Fur Trade. — Ojibways Invaders of the 

 Prairies. — Scalp Dance. — Wood Indians. — Occupations of Indians. — Indian 

 Cruelty. — Mis-tick-oos ; Chief of the Crees of the Sandy Hills. — The Fox. 

 — Treatment of Prisoners. — Medicine Ceremonies. — Happy Hunting 

 Grounds. — Indian " Medicine " Men and " Medicines." — Influence of Con- 

 jurors. — Manitou Dwellings. — Manitobah Island. — The Rev. Mr. Cowley. 

 — Sacrifices. — Character of Indians. — Mis-tick-oos' best Wife. — Mis-tick- 

 oos' Son's Wife. — Decorating the Skin. — Indian Pipes. — Ta-wa-pit's Pipe. 

 — Pipes peculiar to Tribes. — Salutations among Indians. — Indians in the 

 Prairie. — Impounding the Buffalo. — In Sickness. — Idea of Lightning. 



Indian antiquities are rarely found in the valley of the 

 Saskatchewan south of the North Branch. The customs 

 of wandering tribes inhabiting a prairie country are 

 generally opposed to the rude arts which exist among 

 barbarous races preserving a fixed abode. Not even at 

 the fishing stations on the lakes and rivers, where different 

 tribes have congregated at certain seasons of the year, 

 probably for centuries, do we find any lasting memorials 

 of individual handicraft or combined labour. 



Antiquities to be ascribed to different races than those 

 which now occupy the country exist here and there. Such 

 are the underground houses on Eainy Eiver, the Mandan 

 houses with their intrenchments on the Little Souris ; but 

 with these exceptions no other ancient monuments were 

 seen during the explorations. 



