The Crees 'have somewhat similar notions, but as they inhabit a
country widely different from the mountainous lands of the Black-
foot Indians, the difficulty of their journey lies in walking along a
slender and slippery tree, laid as a bridge across a rapid stream of
stinking and muddy water. The night owl is regarded by the Crees
with the same dread that it has been viewed by other nations. One
small species, which is, known to them by its melancholy nocturnal
hootings, (for as it never appears in the day, few even of the hunters
have ever seen it,) is particularly ominous. They call it the cheepai-
peethees, or death bird, and never fail to whistle when they hear its
note. If it does not reply to the whistle by its hootings, the speedy
death of the inquirer is augured.
When a Cree dies, that part of his property which he has not
given away before his death, is burned with him, and his relations
take care to place near the grave little heaps of fire-wood, food, pieces
of tobacco, and such things as he is likely to need in his journey.
Similar offerings are made when they revisit the grave, and as kettles,
and other articles of value, are sometimes offered, they are frequently
carried off by passengers, yet the relations are not displeased, provided
sufficient respect has been shewn to the dead, by putting some
other article, although of inferior value, in -the place of that which
has been taken away.
The Crees are wont to celebrate the returns of the seasons by religious
festivals, but we are unable to describe the ceremonial in use
on these joyous occasions from personal observation. The following
brief notice of a feast, which was given by an old Cree chief, according
to his annual custom, on the first croaking of the frogs, is drawn
up from the information of one of the guests. A large oblong tent,
or lodge, was prepared for the important occasion, by the men of the
party, none of the women being suffered to interfere. It faced the
setting sun, and great care was taken that every thing about it
should be as neat and clean as possible. Three fire-places were
raised within it, at equal distances; and little holes were dug in the
comers to contain the ashes of their pipes. In a recess, at its upper
end, one large image of Kepoochikawn, and many smaller ones, were
ranged with their faces towards the door. The food was prepared
by the chief’s wife, and consisted of marrow pemmican, berries boiled
with fat, and various other delicacies that had been preserved for the
occasion.
The preparations being completed, and a slave; whom the chief
had taken in war, having warned the guests to the feast by the
mysterious word peenasheway, they came, dressed in their best garments,
and ranged themselves according to their seniority, the elders
seating themselves next the chief at the upper end, and the young
men near the door.
The chief commenced by addressing his deities in an appropriate
speech, in which he told them, that he had hastened as soon as
summer was indicated by the croaking of the frogs to solicit their
favour for himself and his young men, and hoped that they would
send him a pleasant and plentiful season. His oration was concluded
by an invocation to all the animals in the land, and a signal
being given to the slave at the door, he invited them severally by
their names to come and partake of the feast.
The Cree chief having by this very general invitation displayed
his unbounded hospitality, next ordered one of the young men to
distribute a mess to each of the guests. This was done in new dishes
of birch bark, and the utmost diligence was displayed in emptying
them, it being considered extremely improper in a man to leave
any part of that which is placed before him on such occasions. It is
not inconsistent with good manners, however, but rather considered
as a piece of politeness, that a guest who has been too liberally supplied,
should hand the surplus to his neighbour. When the viands
had disappeared, each filled his calumet and began to smoke with