armour, which operates upon the fears of his enemies. They are
countenanced, however, in this failing, by the practice of the ancient
Greeks, and perhaps by that of every other nation in its ruder
state. Every Cree fears the medical or conjuring powers of his
neighbour; but at the same time exhalts his own attainments to
the skies. “ I am God-like,” is a common expression amongst them,
and they prove their divinity-ship by eating live coals, and by
various tricks of a similar nature. A medicine bag is an indispensable
part of a hunter’s equipment. It is generally furnished with
a little bit of indigo, blue vitriol, vermilion, or some other showy
article ; and is, when in the hands of a noted conjurer, such an
object of terror to the rest of the tribe, that its possessor is enabled
to fatten at his ease upon the labours of his deluded countrymen.
A fellow of this description came to Cumberland House in the
winter of 1819. Notwithstanding the then miserable state of the
Indians, the rapacity of this wretch had been preying upon their
necessities, and a poor hunter was actually at the moment pining
away under the influence of his threats. The mighty conjurer, immediately
on his arrival at the House, began to trumpet forth his
powers, boasting, among other things, that although his hands and
feet were tied as securely as possible, yet when placed in a conjur-
ing-house, he would speedily disengage himself by the aid of two or
three familar spirits, who were attendant on his call. He was instantly
taken at his word, and that his exertions might not be
without aim, a capot or great coat was promised as the reward of
his success. A conjuring-house having been erected in the usual
form, that is, by sticking four willows in the ground and tying their
tops to a hoop at the height of six or eight feet, he was fettered
completely by winding several fathoms of rope round his body and
extremities, and placed in its narrow apartment, not exceeding two
feet in diameter. A moose-skin being then thrown over the frame,
secluded him from our view. He forthwith began to chaunt a
hymn in a very monotonous tone. The rest of the Indians, who
seemed in some doubt respecting the powers of a devil when put
in competition with those of a white man, ranged themselves
around, and watched the result with anxiety. Nothing remarkable
occurred for a long time. The conjurer continued his song at intervals,
and it was occasionally taken up by those without. In this
manner an hour and a half elapsed; but at length our attention,
which had began to flag, was roused by the violent shaking of
the conjuring-house. It was instantly whispered round the circle,
that at least one devil had crept under the moose-skin. But it
proved to be only the “ God-like man” trembling with cold. He
had entered the lists, stript to the skin, and the thermometer stood
very low that evening. His attempts were continued, however,
with considerable resolution for half an hour longer, when he
reluctantly gave. in. He had found no difficulty in slipping through
the noose when it was formed by his countrymen; but, in the
present instance, the knot was tied by Governor Williams, who is
an expert sailor. After this unsuccessful exhibition his credit sunk
amazingly, and he took the earliest opportunity of sneaking away
from the fort.
About two years ago a conjurer paid more dearly for his temerity.
In a quarrel with an Indian he threw out some obscure threats of
vengeance which passed unnoticed at the time, but were afterwards
remembered. They met in the spring at Carlton House, after
passing the winter in different parts of the country, during which
the Indian s child died. The conjurer had the folly to boast that he
had caused its death, and the enraged father shot him dead on the
spot. It may be remarked, however, that both these Indians were
inhabitants of the plains, and had been taught, by their intercourse
with the turbulent Stone Indians, to set but comparatively little
value on the life of a man.
It might be thought that the Crees have benefited by their long
K