delicacy, it is better to pass them over in silence: Before we quit
him, however, we may remark, that he converses with all kinds of
birds and beasts in their own languages, constantly addressing them
by the title of brother, but through an inherent suspicion of his
intentions, they seldom are willing to admit of his claims of relationship.
The Indians make no sacrifices to him, not even to avert his
wrath. They pay a kind of worship, however, and make offerings to
a being, whom they term Kepoochikawn.
This deity is represented sometimes by rude images of the human
figure, but more commonly merely by tying the tops of a few willow
bushes together ; and the offerings to him consist of every thing
that is valuable to an Indian; yet they treat him with considerable
familiarity, interlarding their most solemn speeches with expostulations
and threats of neglect, if he fails in- complying with their
requests. As most of their petitions are for plenty of food, they do
not trust entirely to the favour of Kepoochikawn, but endeavour, at
the same time, to propitiate the animal, an imaginary representative
of the whole race of larger quadrupeds that are objects of the chase.
In the month of May, whilst I was at Carlton House, the« Grec
hunter engaged to attend that post, resolved upon dedicating several
articles to Kepoochikawn, and as I had made some inquiries of him
respecting their modes of worship, he gave me an invitation to be
present. The ceremony took place in a sweating-house, or as it
may be designated from its more important use, a temple, which was
erected for the occasion by the worshipper’s two wives. It was
framed of arched willows, interlaced so as to form a vault capable of
containing ten or twelve men, ranged closely side by side, and high
enough to admit of their sitting erect. It was very similar in shape
to an oven or the kraal of a Hottentot, and was closely covered with
moose skins, except at the east end, which was left open for a door.
Hear the centre of the building there was a hole in the ground,
which contained ten or twelve red-hot stones, having a few leaves of
the taccohaymenan, a species of prunus, strewed around them. When
the women had completed the preparations, the hunter made his
appearance, perfectly naked, carrying in his hand an image of Kepoochikawn,
rudely carved, and about two feet long. He placed his
god at the upper end of the sweating-house, with his face towards
the door, and proceeded to tie round its neck his offerings, consisting
of a cotton handkerchief, a looking-glass, a tin pan, a piece of riband,
and a bit of tobacco, which he had procured the same day, 'at the expense
of fifteen or twenty skins. Whilst he was thus occupied,
several other Crees, who were encamped in the neighbourhood, having
been informed of what was going on, arrived, and stripping at the
door of the temple, entered, and ranged themselves on each side;
the hunter himself squatted down at the right hand of Kepoochikawn.
The atmosphere of the temple having become so hot that
none but zealous worshippers would venture in, the interpreter and
myself sat down on the threshold, and the two women remained on
the outside as attendants.
The hunter, who throughout officiated as high priest, commenced
by making a speech to Kepoochikawn, in which he requested him to
be propitious, told him of the value of the things now presented, and
cautioned him against ingratitude. This oration was delivered in
a monotonous tone, and with great rapidity of utterance, and the
speaker retained his squatting posture, but turned his face to his
god. At its conclusion, the priest began a hymn, of which the
burthen was, “ I will walk with God, I will go with the animal;”
and, at the end of each stanza, the rest joined in an insignificant
chorus. He next took up a calumet, filled with a mixture of tobacco
and bear-berry leaves, and holding its stem by the middle, in
a horizontal position, over the hot stones, turned it slowly in a circular
manner, following the course of the sun. Its mouth-piece being
then with much formality, held for a few seconds to the face of
Kepoochikawn, it was next presented to the earth, having been pre-
L 2