74 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



delicacy, it is better to pass them over in silence. Before we quit 

 him, however, we may remark, that he converses with all kinds of 

 birds and beasts in their own languages, constantly addressing them 

 by the title of brother, but through an inherent suspicion of his 

 intentions, they are seldom willing to admit of his claims of rela- 

 tionship. The Indians make no sacrifices to him, not even to avert 

 his wrath. They pay a kind of worship, however, and make offer- 

 ings to a being, whom they term Kepoochikawn. 



This deity is represented sometimes by rude images of the human 

 figure, but more commonly merely by tying the tops of a few willow 

 bushes together ; and the offerings to him consist of every thing 

 that is valuable to an Indian ; yet they treat him with considerable 

 familiarity, interlarding their most solemn speeches with expostula- 

 tions and threats of neglect, if he fails in complying with their re- 

 quests. As most of their petitions are for plenty of food, they do 

 not trust entirely to the favour of Kepoochikawn, but endeavour, at 

 the same time, to propitiate the animal, an imaginary representa- 

 tive of the whole race of larger quadrupeds that are objects of the 

 chase. 



In the month of May, whilst I was at Carlton House, the Cree 

 hunter, engaged to attend that post, resolved upon dedicating several 

 articles to Kepoochikawn, and as I had made some inquiries of 

 him respecting their modes of worship, he gave me an invitation 

 to be present. The ceremony took place in a sweating-house, or as 

 it may be designated from its more important use, a temple, which 

 was erected for the occasion by the worshipper's two wives. It was 

 framed of arched willows, interlaced so as to form a vault capable 

 of containing ten or twelve men, ranged closely side by side, and 

 high enough to admit of their sitting erect. It was very similar in 

 shape to an oven, or the kraal of a Hottentot, and was closely 

 covered with moose skins, except at the east end, which was left 

 open for a door. Near the centre of the building there was a hole 



