128 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



of independence and individual power, and is better ex- 

 pressed in English, as the half-breeds informed me, by the 

 word " gentleman." 



The conjuror occasionally came out of the tent, and 

 whenever the supposed Manitou or Fairy who was the 

 alleged cause of the woman's illness approached, a little 

 bell suspended from the poles supporting the tent tinkled, 

 and gave the alarm ; the conjuror immediately seized his 



Cree Medicine Bag. 



drum,, commenced his song, and by his incantations, 

 succeeded in pacifying the Manitou. These proceedings 

 continued for two nights ; at the close of the second 

 night, after a prolonged ringing of the little bell, violent 

 shaking of the tent-poles, loud beating of the drum, and 

 chanting of the words before quoted, the conjuror an- 

 nounced that he had discovered the reasons of the Mani- 

 tou's anger, and the means to appease it. 



