by the passion for spirituous liquors,' so assiduously fostered among
them. To obtain the noxious beverage, they descend to the most
humiliating entreaties, and assume an abjectness of behaviour which
does not seem natural to them, and of which not a vestige is to be
seen in their intercourse with each other. Their character has sunk
among the neighbouring nations. They are no longer the warriors
who drove before them the inhabitants of the Saskatchawan, and
Missinippi. The Cumberland House Crees, in particular, have been
long disused to war. Betwixt them and their ancient enemies, the
Slave nations, lie the extensive plains of Saskatchawan, inhabited
by the powerful Asseeneepoytuck, or Stone Indians, who having
whilst yet a small tribe entered the country under the patronage of
the Crees, now render back the protection they received.
The manners and customs of the Crees have, probably since their
acquaintance with Europeans, undergone a change, at least, equal to
that which has taken place in their moral character; and, although
we heard of many practices peculiar to them, yet they appeared to
be nearly as much honoured in the breach as the observance. We
shall however briefly notice a few of the most remarkable customs.
When a hunter marries his first wife, he usually takes up his
abode in the tent of his father-in-law, and of course hunts for the
family; but when he becomes a father, the families are at liberty to
separate, or remain together, as their inclinations prompt them. His
second wife is for the most part the sister of the first, but not necessarily
so, for an Indian of another family often presses his daughter
upon a hunter whom he knows to be capable of maintaining her well.
The first wife always remains the mistress of the tent, and assumes
an authority over the others, which is not in every case quietly submitted
to. It may be remarked, that whilst an Indian resides with
his wife’s family, it is extremely improper for his mother-in-law to
speak, or even look at him ; and when she has a communication
to make, it is the etiquette that she should turn her back upon him,
and address him only through the medium of a third person. This singular
custom is not very creditable to thé Indians, if it really had its
origin in the cause which they at present assign for it, namely, that
a woman’s speaking to her son-in-law is a sure indication of her
having conceived a criminal affection for him.
It appears also to have been an ancient practice for an Indian to
avoid eating or sitting down in the presence of the father-in-law.
We received no account of the origin of this custom, and it is now
almost obsolete amongst the Cumberland House Crees, though still
partially observed by those who frequent Carlton.
Tattooing is almost universal with the Crees. The women are in
general content with having one or two fines drawn from the corners
of the mouth towards the angles of the lower jaw ; but some of the
men have their bodies covered with a great variety of fines and
figures. It seems to be considered by most rather as a proof of
courage than an ornament, the operation being very painful, and, if
the figures are numerous and intricate, lasting several days. The
fines on the face are formed by dexterously running an awl under
the cuticle, and then drawing a cord, dipt in charcoal and water,
through the canal thus formed. The punctures of the body are
formed by needles of various sizes set in a frame. A number of hawk
bells attached to this frame serve by their noise to cover the suppressed
groans of the sufferer, and, probably for the same reason,
the process is accompanied with singing. An indelible stain is produced
by rubbing a little finely-powdered willow charcoal into the
punctures. A half-breed, whose arm I amputated, declared, that
tattooing was not only the most painful operation of the two, but
rendered infinitely more difficult to bear by its tediousness, having
lasted in his case three days.
A Cree yoman, at certain periods, is laid under considerable
restraint. They are far, however, from carrying.matters to the extremities
mentioned by Hearne in his description of the Chipewyans,