i 2 4 ] 
child, the men came to our fire and made us a 
prefent of fome venifon, and invited Mr Weifar , 
Shickcalamy and his fon,to a feaft at their cabin. 
It is incumbent on thofe who partake of a feaft 
of this fort, to eat all that comes to their 
f hare or burn it : now Weifar being a traveller 
was intitled to a double fhare, but he being 
not very well, was forced to take the benefit of a 
liberty indulged him, of eating by proxy, 
and called me, but both being unable to cope 
with it, Lewis came in to our affiftance, not- 
withftanding which we were hard fet to get 
down the neck and throat, for thefe were 
allotted us ; and now we had experienced the 
utmoft bounds of their indulgence, for Lewis 
ignorant of the ceremony of throwing the 
bone to the dog, tho’ hungry dogs are gene- 
rally nimble, the Indian more nimble, laid 
hold of it firft, and committed it to the fire, 
religioufly covering it over with hot afhes. 
This feems to be a kind of offering, perhaps 
firft fruits to the Almighty power to crave 
future fuccefs in the approaching hunting fea- 
fon, and was celebrated with as much decency 
and more filence, than many fuperftitious ce- 
remonies : the bigotry of the popifh miffiona- 
ries tempt them to compafs fea and land to 
teach their weak Prfelites what they call the 
chriftian religion. To this I may add another 
ceremony at bear hunting, as related by a 
celebrated author, this diverfion being in the 
winter, 
