JOURNAL* 
2pS 
ed about two-tbirds of the distance,-is followed at half speed, 
and as they perceive it about to fall, they cast their poles under 
it; the pole on which the hoop falls, so as to be nearest to cer- 
tain corresponding marks on the hoop and pole, gains for that 
time. This game excites great interest, and produces a gentle* 
but animated exercise. The other differs from it in this, that 
instead of poles, they have short pieces of wood, with barbs at 
one end, and a cross piece at the other, held in the middle with 
one hand; but instead of the hoop before mentioned, they throw 
a small ring, and endeavor to put the point of the barb through 
it. This is a much more violent exercise than the other. 
With respect to their religion, it is extremely difficult, parti¬ 
cularly from the slight acquaintance I had with them, to form any 
just idea. They have some notion of a Supreme Being, whom 
they call a the Master of Life,” but they offer him no rational 
worship, and have but indistinct ideas of a future state. Their 
devotion manifests itself in a thousand curious tricks, of slight of 
hand, which they call magic, and which the vulgar amongst them 
believe to be something supernatural. They are very superstitious* 
Besides their public resident lodge, in which they have a great 
collection of magic, or sacred things, every one has his private 
magic in his lodge about his person. Any thing curious, is im¬ 
mediately made an amulet, or a talisman; and is considered as 
devoted or consecrated, so as to deprive them of the power of 
disposing of it. The principal war chief lately took advantage 
of this, ingeniously enough. He obtained a very fine horse* 
which he was desirous of keeping, but fearing that some one 
might ask him as a gift, and to refuse would be considered 
as evincing a narrowness of mind unbecoming a great man, 
who ought not to set his heart upon a matter of so little im¬ 
portance, he announced that he had given him to his magic.—* 
Some parts of their religious exercises are the most barbarous 
that can be imagined. I observed a great number whose bodies 
were scarred and cut in the most shocking manner; I was inform¬ 
ed that this was done in their devotion ; that to shew their zeal, 
they sometimes suspend themselves by the arms or legs, or the 
sides, by hooks. I was shewn a boy, who had drawn two buffa- 
Tqh heads by cords drawn through the fleshy part of his sides, 
