OF THE POLAR SEA. 



79 



the men of the party, none of the women being suffered to inter- 

 fere. It faced the setting sun, and great care was taken that every 

 thing about it should be as neat and clean as possible. Three fire- 

 places were raised within it, at equal distances, and little holes were 

 dug in the corners to contain the ashes of their pipes. In a recess, 

 at its upper end, one large image of Kepoochikawn, and many 

 smaller ones, were ranged with their faces towards the door. The 

 food was prepared by the chief's wife, and consisted of marroiv-])em- 

 mican, berries boiled with fat, and various other delicacies that had 

 been preserved for the occasion. 



The preparations being completed, and a slave, whom the chief 

 had taken in war, having warned the guests to the feast by the mys- 

 terious word peenasheway, they came, dressed out in their best gar- 

 ments, and ranged themselves according to their seniority, the elders 

 seating themselves next the chief at the upper end, and the young 

 men near the door. 



The chief commenced by addressing his deities in an appropriate 

 speech, in which he told them, that he had hastened as soon as 

 summer was indicated by the croaking of the frogs, to solicit their 

 favour for himself and his young men, and hoped that they would 

 send him a pleasant and plentiful season. His oration was con- 

 cluded by an invocation to all the animals in the land, and a signal 

 being given to the slave at the door, he invited them severally by 

 their names to come and partake of the feast. 



The Cree chief having by this very general invitation displayed 

 his unbounded hospitality, next ordered one of the young men to 

 distribute a mess to each of the guests. This was done in new dishes 

 of birch bark, and the utmost diligence was displayed in emptying 

 them, it being considered extremely improper in a man to leave 

 any part of that which is placed before him on such occasions. It is 

 not inconsistent with good manners however, but rather considered 

 as a piece of politeness, that a guest who has been too liberally sup- 



