he made his young men dance, and sometimes accompanied them
himself. They had four feathers in each hand. One commenced
moving in a circular form, lifting both feet at the same time, similar
to jumping sideways. After a short time a second and a third
joined, and afterwards the whole band was dancing, some in a state
of nudity, others half dressed, singing an unmusical wild air with, (I
suppose,) appropriate words ; the particular sounds of which were,
ha! ha! ha ! uttered vociferously, and with great distortion of countenance,
and peculiar attitude of body, the feathers being always kept
in a tremulous motion. The ensuing day I made the chief acquainted
with the object of our mission, and recommended him to
keep at peace with his neighbouring tribes, and to conduct himself
with attention and friendship towards the whites. I then gave him a
medal, telling him it was the picture of the King,' whom they emphatically
term ‘ their Great Father.’
“November 18.—We observed two mock mbons at equal distances
from the central one; and the whole were encircled by a halo : the
colour of the inner edge of the large circle was a light red, inclining
to a faint purple. _
gNovember 20.—Two parhelia were observable with a halo; the
colours of the inner edge of the circle were a bright carmine and red
lake, intermingled with a rich yellow, forming a purplish orange ; the
outer edge was pale gamboge.
“ December 5.—A man was sent some distance on the lake, to see
if it was sufficiently frozen for us to cross. I need scarcely mention
my satisfaction, when he returned with the pleasing information that
it w“ as. _ . December 7.—I quitted Fort Providence, being accompanied by
Mr. Wentzel, Beauparlant, and two other Canadians, provided with
dogs and sledges. We proceeded along the borders of the lake,
occasionally crossing deep bays ; and at dusk encamped at the Gros
Cap, having proceeded twenty-five miles.