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KAN, M.A., P,i.D \5 ?,„>». , ' 'Urf ( 'I'tVsTMATE/). |H< \-\- TORONTO: ' i- L I A \1 B K I <> a s ^ »"• 0O\!h,S, »&)•''. HALIFAX: ,S. V. HUhRTis. IH' % fj'i '"'■4 ^ 1%' ^4 4U CANADIAN SAVAGE FOLK THE NATIVE TRIBES OE CANADA. IIY i JOHN MACLi: AN, M.A., Ph.D., Autliur of "The liuli.iiis of Canada," " 'I'lie Hero of tlie S,-iskati,liewaii," " James Kvatis, Inventor of the Cree Syllaliic System," etc., etc. Memlier of the American Society for the Atlvanccinent of Science, the American Kollc-r.ore Society, anil Correspondinj; Memher of the Canadian Institute and Manitoba Historical Society. ILLUSTRATED. TORONTO: WILLIAIVI BRIGOS, WF.SI.EY BUILDINCS. MONTREAL; C. W. COAXES. HALIFAX: S. K. HUESTLS. 189O. n m\ I rll i I ! \ I r . 4/6 f--- "^^w^^'^^^^l^'^f ■* '/ #5 2f Kntered according lo Ah of ihe I'arli anient of Canada, in the vcar one thousand eijfht hundred and ninety-six, l>,v Wili-iam Hiinicis, at the Uupannieiit of ALTioulture. • ■*: PRKFACH. IIiDDEX ill the menioiit's itf thi* ]teelonging to a peo- ]»le wlio weie the pioneei's of our land, and they open up a new world (if myth, religion and na i"e culture. Close contact with oui' native tribes shows us the mistake we have l>een making in deciding that ignorance, superstition and cruelty l)elong to these i»eo)>le, and that there is no wisdom, trutii or beauty in their l>elief and manner of life. A faithful study of the languages and customs compels us to acknowledge that theie are deepei- tiuths than facts, and under tlie blanket and coat of skin theie beats a human heart, as tliere is lieauty, sweetness and wisdom in their traditions and courage, liberty and devotion in theii' lives. We have l)een l from the standjitiint of life and training in the camp. Put j'ourself in his place and the verdict will be different. Th.s work is an attempt to reach the meaning of the life of oui' savage folk. It was not possible to bring within the compass of a siiigle volume all the native triltes of Canada, or to review all the languages oi' cu.stoms, which would t.ake a series of volumes, and a selection had therefore to l)e miule. Kven the trejitment of the subject is not exhaustive, as I have not written for the specialist, but for the general public, stili, I hope that eacli will find a suitable portion worthy of study. John Maclkan. I 'A A ': m February, 1896. I«^ S6 iA< r5 T €i h4 CONTENTS. i / ClIAHTKI! I. SOME (,tl EKU Ft)LK. PAOR Tlie Siireees — Htoneys — Minunl-Hiiiltlers- Nez Perce.s — Blatkfeet — Crees — Eskimo — Sioux — Micuiacs — KcMitoiiiiys — InKjUois — Ojibways ----'.) ClIAPTEI! Tl. IN THE LODGES. Mothurhddd in the West — Head-Cieiir— Amulets — Dreiiins — Hucchu.s in Camp — OM Times in tlie N()rth-West — Thouijlit.s of Otlier Diiys— Indi.m Pipes - - - - - - - - - IW Chahtki: III. CHURCH AND CAMP. The Bible in tiie Lodges — The Doomed Race— Whiteskins nnd I!ed- skins — The Red Pioneers — Tlie Sj'mbul of the Cross— Indiai Hymns — Ladies in the L(jdges — Indian Names - - . - 280 CHAFTEIt IV. NATIVE HEROES. Crowfoot — Poundmaker — Hiawatha — Shawundais — Mikasto - - S71 ClIAPTKK A'. NATIVE RELIGIONS. S.icred Numbers — Indian Nimes of (iod — Canadian Indian Theology —The Indian Me.ssiah - - 420 '1" 'I' :* ! \y ■^ .♦ 3 VI CONTENTS. ".1 Chai'tki! \n. IIACES AND LANCJTAGES. The Litomturo of Piiisteni and Contrul Ciinada- TIih Si Inmians A Ckkk Indian Amonc! TIIK Eskimos (yiiiN Oknamknt ok imk Hskimos . An Eskimo Doi; .... Eskimo Snow Vii,i..\oi-; EsKi.Mo Slkdoi; - . . . Eskimo Hakt Eskimo Kindlinu 1''iki: - SlTTINi! Br LI Jim (ii.oDK, TIIK MicMAC HiNTi;it A Hi'KoN Indian - - HruoN-lKogrois SKn.', O.iiHWAY Drums .... Hkriialist Pkkparin(! Mkdicini; Kakahikitciwan Falls, AVinnii'k<; Uiv Indian Masks Indians on the Plains A Native Fishinu Camt on Slavk Hiv Bird Amtlkt ok Stonk - II II ..... Kit thpii Native Coim-er Ornament, with N.riivE (.'oitkr Bkai-s A Prairie Scknk Pack Train ok Prosi-ectors En Holtk kor Toad Mointai In Missionary Costume A Cam I- ok Lumiiermkn Falls ok the Old Man's T^ivkr, Southern Alhert.s - Indian Pipes - - 259, 261, 263, 264, 266, 268, 269, 271, 273, Fort Simpson n 22 41 » .■)'» 68 65 7(1 S(i 9(1 92 94 97 98 KM) 106 123 150 l.-)8 174 180 192 195 198 202 205 20{i 207 211 229 235 239 248 254 275, 276, 278 - 284 r : I'.;" ',1 ',• ' 1 .U . : 4lJ '>'' A i .■•5 i''^^ Mil ILLUSTRATKNS. PaI.NTKD CoKKIN i)¥ TIIK Fl.ATIl KADS. IJuri'ISlI CoHMlIlA - - - "J!)? SCKNKKY NkAR R VT 1'(>KT..I!K ol'G Mn(iNl.I(;llT UN WiNMl'KC RiVK.K AT HxV I'dltTACI-; - - - S'lo Makv Mai;c II, A Hkotii Woman 'MH InIiIAN (iliVVK (IN KUKNCII HiVKK - - - - - • - - .'"U 4 C'rkk Svi.labauv '>'i'2 Ja.mks Evans ......------ nA' PraYKKS in TliK TlloMI'SON ToNiirK ....-.- ')'M) P-uiTjsH Coi.rMiiiA Indian Villaok -.-...- r)44 Jesiit Stonk Cross 548 Indian Sr-\i.\ii;K ("ami' on Ladv Kvkian Lakk . . . . . aol Fort (Jiiii'i'KWAVAN ----------- "(oO M.tnt Knoms Mai.dik, nkar Banff ")6(» Wami'T'm MKi.-r r)6.") Kl.ATIIKAD MoDKL CaNOK 57H Carved Chest ok the Ki.atiieads - - -'uH Badi^e of Tin; Mointed Police ..---.-- oH2 Oi.D Fort Walsh '>85 One of the Riders .")91 Okfmer of the Police ^O-t ToTE'Ni OF TrRTLE .-..------- r99 Totem of Beaver or Otter ..------- (Kil Totem of Wolf or Bear '"'"2 Haida Totem Post ----------- (i04 ViLi.AoE ON -Alert Bay, British Coh'mima (iDT iloiNT.viN View, Bella Cdola till «;oIN<; TO THE PoTL.WH H14 Indian Village .Masset, Q.C.I. - - - •'!(> After Klk on the Prairie (il9 Trackino the Wapiti .... t\2:i SHOoTiN(i the Klk <>'27 Chuteway India.n i'ow Wow <>'29 Moose in Mid-Stream ')•<- Snowshoes 63;") 4 I'AOK 297 ,Sn6 SI 5 .SIH ■.',:u .S46 :io2 .SC)!) .S79 :J86 89 1 4(U 4:u 47") 489 497 504 -.3-2 537 -)39 544 548 531 556 560 565 573 578 582 585 591 594 rno (idl (llt-J (104 (107 (ill (;i4 016 (119 (123 027 029 032 035 CANADIAN SAVAGE FOLK. CHAPTEK I. SOME OUF.ER FOLK, T THK 8A11CI':F:8. HE Sarcees jire a branch of tlie Beavei* or CVistor tribe of Indians of the oreat Athapascan stock, wliicli extends over the north of Britisli America in scattered bands, thr(mt;li Orenfon and California into Northern Mexico, and inchides tlie Uinp(|uas, Apaches, and other trilies. At some period l)eyond the recollection of the oldest niemliers of the Sarcee trii»e, it came under the protection of the Blackfoot Confederacy, and was xmited with it. The Beaver Indians still live in the disti-ict of Athabasca, wliere are found the Chippewayan, Slave, Dot;' Ril», and other Indian tribes. Only in tlu' traditions of the ))eople can we learn anythinif of this strange isolation of the Sarcees from their kindred in the far northern country. Tradition says that in the distant past a youn<>' Beaver chief sliot his arrow throug'h a dog' of one of his fellow ])raves, who was deeply ein'aged, and vowed venoeance. His friends rallie-ed, l)ut sixty people who were friends of the cliief wlio ha' the year of the small-pox he ha •rsons owand, iV liuii- I fifty i841.t in tlie \r hail (Irad 3 i ■ '■■: fe s • « 5 'i'/i .^ ir 12 CAXADIAX SAVAGE FOLK. loil^t's," in wliich tlicre was an average of ten Ix^ilics. It is, thercfoiv, e^ ■J SOME QUEER FOLK. 13 I beinjcr ever und heiy. iting jiiiid- Jiiid nil re was lave the ac'k- iav(! the on ) he nearly the same as the Crees, and their (bvHs is the same. Their language bears a great resemblance to that ol' the C'lii])- pewayans ; many words are exactly the same, from wliich their apparent emigration from the nortliward gi\-es every cause to suppose them of tliat nation. They ati'ect to despise the Slave Indians for their brutisl' and dastardly manners, and altliough comparatively few in number, fre((uently set them at defiance. Tluy form ninety tents, containing about one hundred and fifty men bearing arms."* According to Henry's estimate there would be moiv than seven hundred Sarcees in the years 1801-1800. In the yvnv 1S77 these Indians were included in Freaty number seven, which embraced Blackfeet, Bloods, Piegans, Stoneysand Sarcees, wliieh was arranged b}^ Lieutenant-Governor Laird and Lieut.- Col. .). V. Macleod, at the Blackfeet Cros.sing of Bow River. The Blackfeet, Bloods and Sarcees were allowed a Reservation along the north and south sides of the Bow and South Saskatchewan ri\ers, part of which was for ten years only, and the rest in perpetuity. Annuities of money and ammunijiion were agreed upon, clothing for the chiefs once in three years, a certain num- l)er of cattle find farming implements were to be supplied, and teachers sent to teach their children. The head chief of the Sarcees, Bull's Head, on behalf of his tribe, signed the treaty. The Blackfeet settled gradually upon their Reserve, but the Bloods .aid Sarcees became dissatisfied and would not locate at Bli: ' ''')ot Crossing. Finally the Bloods located on a Reservation whicli was allotted them on Belly River, south of ^lacleod. A few month.s after our arrival at Macleod the Sarcees were sent to Blackfoot C'rossing under the cliarge of " Piscan " Munro, l)nt they I'emained dissatisfied, as they alleged that the Black- i'eet were domineering and looked upon them as intruders. They were removed to Fish C^'eek Indian Farm, where they remained for about a year, and at last they were located on their present Reservation, alxnit eight miles south of Calgary. In 1889 the Sarcee population numbered three hundred and * Henry's "Journal," ))y C. N. Bell. Rev. E. F. Wilson, in "British Aasocifition Fourth Report on the North-western Trihes of Caiiivdii." ' , < 1 i 1 !?4 ! ; .< !- M * ' :-, I s^ m'. i s 'Nl> ■ iiL,, 14 CANADIAN SAVAOK Fol.K. thirty-six, and tlio outlook is diii'k iiidt'ed, pointing" to\vai' If* f1 i nf, fr* > << 7^1 ;^ 1 ii !<^ li C'-^ 1 ^•. Vl'" -^ I » ^ I ! - ■ -^- ' 5 i 18 CANADIAN SAVAGE FOLK. early ajje of twelve or thirteen the ^irls are sold in marriage ; sometimes to an oM man, who may have several wives. Poly- fjamy is practised amoii;fst them, although not to so ^reat a degree as in times of war, when the men wei'e slain and the women compelled to marry members of their own tribe. In the long winter evenings they will gather in their lodges, or in their modeini log houses, and, with drum and .song, have a tea ilancc, where tea i.s drunk in profusion and the well-tilled pipe is passed around. Stories of the old buffalo days are t(ild, wherein the narrator has been out; of the principal actors, and as the aged man tells vividly of battles, scalps, hairbreadth escapes, hoi-ses, and women captured, and glorious wounds, the hearts of the young men are thrilled, and they long for the time when they may follow in the fooLsteps of their fore- fathers: but when they step beyond the lodge the^' see the ngent's house, and they are at once confronted with the fact that the pale-face dwells in the land, anri:Ell FOLK. 21 1 Canada. (1 A.ssini- call tlu" Black loot ,iue jfWvn ikl there- ,\ iiieanin<^ t'orring to oats." In ;it a Stone ipwatiwio ion ol:" the he Ali,'on- (1 book ot" ned one of any, called named the ays, Nado- vicinity of Superior, ilacs, and band of as wootl In the ^n is called with the 111 of the oanied all Territory Alberta. 1809 gives transactions igg's "Forty the North," 39, 171, 182, the location of the AsHiniboines as follows: "The A.ssiniboine.s are from the Sion.v. Their lands may be said to commence! at the Hair Hills (Pembina JVIountains) near the Red River, then run- inj; in a western direction along the Assiniboine River, and from that to the junction of the north and south branches of tlio Saskatchewine, and up the former branch as far as Fort Vermilion, then due st)uth to the Battle River, and then south- east until it strikes upon the Missouris, and down that river until near tlie Mandaa villageK, then a north-east course until it reached the Hair Hills. All this .space of open meudovv country may be called the lands of the Assiniboine.s. A few tents of stragglino trees occasionally intermixed among t' i'.ii." The territory of the Assiniboines beca,me circumscribed by the advent of white .settlers, so that no longer di dwelling on the Reserves in Assiniboia, Mountain Stoneys at Morleyville, and Wood Stoneys in Northern Alberta. A considerable number of Assiniboines are resident in the United States. In the beginning of the present century, Henry estimated about two thousand fighting men in all the Assiniboine camps, which would nuike the total population number at least ten !'-! "M> 'il (■nf n 'iifia ^ I ■•■n< y )?; SOME QUEEU FOLK. 23 ((> thousand people. A naturalist, named Cuthbertson, travelling for the Sniithsonian Institution, in 1M50 gives the prohable number of the Assiniboines in the Upper Missouri and its tributaries as four thousand eight hundred. Mr. Harriet, an old trader, who had spent his life among the Blackfeet, stated that there were, in 1842, eighty lodges of Strongwood Assini- boines, ec^ual to six hundred and forty persons, and Mr. Rowand, for the same date, gave for the Plain Assiniboines three luindred lodges, equal to two thousand four liundred, or a total popula- tion of Assiniboines in North-western Canada of three thousand and forty persons. Mr. Lefroy estimated them, at the same time, as three thousand six hundred, and Mr. Shaw, at four thousand persons. These men had travelled in the country and knew a great dt;il about the Indians. The ch.ange in the population is due no doubt to the fact that their estimate had reference to the Saskatchewan coinitry, which is borne out by the fact that Sir George Simpson, in his " Overland Journey," gave for the Assinil)oines in the Saskatchewan district in 1841 four thou.sand and sixty persons. The entire population of Stoney an heiglit, a e average orined, of illy, active I iiiixch to )es of the of prairie comely in vilization ; id twisted viiig been in, beauti- garnients Pressed in liaii", and In former ike all the , ear-rings ipine (juill ents, with ere very mng men. and more are more resH and lat of the imitating removed lose who lary have d activity 'iits made hung the each tent s of the master of the lodge. They were famous hunters of the butt'alo, and those dwelling near the mountains and in the woods, pursued the deer, goat, sheep, and bear, followeil the moose, or Hshed in the lakes. The babes were snugly shrouded in their moss-bags, and carried on the back of the i.iother, whether walking on the prairie or riding upon a horse. In many of their customs the Stoney Indians were similar to the Crees and Klackfeet. Their food consisted of buffalo meat principally, in the winter, and deer, except those in the North who lived on iish. In the summer they partook of wild roots and berries. They were excellent horsemen, and had the reputation of being- great horse thieves. Their \itensils of the lodge were made principally of wood. The women were very unchaste, induced by their customs of marriage. Polygamy was practised among them, and women were bartered for trifles. The men were inveterate smokers (a habit in which the women also indulged), and they exhibited their skill in the manufacture of beautiful pipes. Of their ability in this direction Sir Daniel Wilson says : " Among the Assiniboine Indians a material is used in pipe manufacture altogether peculiar to them. It is a fine marble, much too hard to admit of minute carving, but taking a high polish. This is cut into pipes of graceful form, and made so extremely thin as to be nearh' transparent, so that when lighted the glowing tobacco shines through, and presents a singular appearance when in use at night or in a dark lodge. Another favorite material employed by the Assiniboine Indians is a coar.se species of jasper, also too hard to admit of elaborate ornamentation. This also is cut into various simple, but tasteful designs, executed chiefly liy the slow and laborioiis process of rubbing it down with other stones. The choice of the material for fashioning the favorite pipe is by no means invariably guided by the facilities which the location of the tribe affords. A suitable stone for such a purpose will be picked uj) and carried hundreds of miles. Ml". Kane informs me that in coming down the Athabasca River, when drawing near its source in the Rocky Mountains, he observed his Assiniboine guides select the favorite blueish S:'' V t ■ i: :'■■ ^ ■ ■ i •( |v1- ::\\V) m 26 CANADIAN SAVAGE FOLK. ''■1 1 UJ..' .*! Jasper from among the water-worn stones in the bed of tlie river to carry home for the purpose of pipe manufacture, although they were then fully live hundred miles from their lodges. Such a traditional adherence to a choice of material peculiar to a remote source may frequently prove of consider- able value as a clue to former migrations of the tribe." Some years ago the writer saw, at Morley, some beautiful specimens of sculptui'e, executed with a pocket-knife by a Stoney boy ; among them a moose, buffalo and dog. They were remarkable exhibitions of native skill, as perfect in detail as any ever seen. The accurate measurements of the horns of the moose, and the attitude of the animal in tlie act of leaping, were astonishing, considering the age of the sculptor, a youth of not more than twelve years, his lack of training, and the tools with which he wrought. His work attracted considerable notice fi-om travellers, and Senator Hardisty offered to educate the youth at his own expense, but the offer was refused by the boy's father, who preferred the money obtained from the sale of the articles to the advancement of his son. In the early days the dead were buried in a sitting posture, with the face toward the East, but now they follow, the custom of their white brethren. The people believed in the trans- migration of souls. Charles N. Bell, in his Notes on Henry's " Journal," states that they believed that sometimes after death the spirit goes to a river, which has to be crossed on the way to the happy hunting grounds, where it is met by a fierce red buffalo bull, who drives it back and compels it to re-enter the body. The Stoneys have several games similar to the Blackfeet, including the hoop and arrow game and the " odd-and-even " game, which is played with small sticks or goose-quills. The tribe has its own system of government, consisting of chiefs and councillora, who compose their council, at which all (juestions affecting the welfare of the people are discussed and settled. They made the laws by which they are governed, and through the wise administration of the chiefs and council peace is maintained in the camp. In common with other Y-m^- SOME QUEER FOLK. 27 ed of tlie lufacture, rom their ■ material consider- beautiful life by a 3c;. They ■j in detail ! horns of if leapintif, r, a youth 1 the tools nsiderable to educate 5ed by the 1 the sale posture, le custom le trans- Henry's tor death 1 the way iorce red enter the Blackfeet, nd-even " s. sisting of it which discussed governed, 1 council ith other Indian tribes, they have a system of telegraphy, consisting of signals by means of fire at night, and in the day certain move- ments of their blankets, different motions of men on horseback, such as riding backward or forward, riding in a circle, or the rider sitting with liis back toward the horse's head. By the use of a looking-glass they are able to connnunicate with each other at a distance of tliree or four miles. The writer was in tlie Stoney camp on a Sunday, conducting service, when an Indian was seen riding at a distance of two or three miles. One of the chiefs stepped aside, drew forth his looking-glass, which is carried by every Indian, and holding it so tliat the sun woidd shine upon it, sent a flash toward the rider. The Indian stopped upon his course, waited a moment or. two, as the chief sent his message to liim, and then rode toward us. This tribe had many famous warriors, and so great was the prowess of the people that, tliough less in number than the Crees or Blackfeet, these tribes were afraid of them. They were brave and skilful in the use of the bow and arrow, and no less expert in later years with the rifle. Famous as scouts, they were employed during tlie Riel Rebellion of 1885 in that capacity, and faithful were they in the performance of their work. Alike were they noted as hunters on the plains in the (lays of the bufliiilo, and in the mountains, spending the greater part of the year in the pursuit of game. The old-time custom of naming their children from some physical characteristic or peculiar circumstance at the time of birth, and changing them at diflerent periods in life, as ex- pressive of some great deed or mean action, has passed away in a great measure, and many of them, through the missionary's influence, have adopted Christian names. Contact with white people and religious influence has caused many of them to reject the old tent-life of tlie camps, and erect good log-liouses, with many of the conveniences of modern civilization. They still retain their love for dogs, although they are not used as beasts of burden to any extent, which was a custom of the old times. The mountain Stoneys have acted as guides to hunting parties, and during the explorations for tlie route of the ! i t ; h:i i !;::i .;-.s. ■i ; ■ ^ !■ ■ ■ '. ■' *.,, - :.J i ^■- '• li ■'>!;'•: !?^^*il m 0. m 'fir Hi ^ 28 CANADIAN SAVAOE FOLK. Oanaditiu Pacific railroful, many of them were employed, ren(lerin<^ excellent .service. During the construction of the railroad they j^^ot out of the woods large ((uantities of tie.s. The native religion, with its belief and ceremonies, has dis- appeared. Their traditions consisted of an admixture of the Sioux and Ci'ee traditions, caused by their relation to the former and contact with the latter tribe. They have, in common with the otlier Indian tribes, a sign language. The spoken language is a dialect of the Siouan language, which the following words, collected among the Stoneys, will gi\'e the reader a slight idea of its construction 4ind sifjfniticance : Cold, wiisnitz. Lucifer match, unktu Moose, ta. towanibin. Ciittle, tatunga; I.e., large Good day, amba moose. Horse, suatunga. Fish, pahundo. Good, wastej. That's true, wim jakato. Who, tawe. Water, mini. House, ti. Stove, soda unktu. Fire, unktu. Sun, wahiamba. wastej. I, miye. One, wa/.i. Two, num. Three, yannii. Four, tosa. Five, sapta. Six, shakbi. Seven, shagoi. Eight, shaknoi. Nino, nimtcunk. Ten, wunkjabna. Eleven, aga wazi. Twelve, aga num. Snow, wa. Large, tunga. Bad, iningitc. Lodge, tibi. River, wapta. Door, tiuba. Book, waba. Iron, soda. Day, amba. Night, ahe. He, iye. The literature of the Stonov Indians is very meagre, owinff, 110 doubt, to the fact that they are able to read the books printed in the Syllabic characters of the Cree language. A few vocabularies have been printed in books treating of the Hudson's Bay country and the fur trade, some personal names, tlie numerals, and the Lord's Prayer. The Jesuit missionaries were the first religious teachers who came in contact with these people, and they remained alone in the field, meeting them occasionally as these nomads of the plains visited the missions. In 1840, the Rev. Robert Terrill Rundle, Methodist missionary, went to the North-West iind began operations among the Indian tribes of the Saskat- ,■1 ■9. :'i ■:.a 1 SOME QUEER FOLK. 2d employed, ion of tlie ' ties. is, lias dis- are of the on to thf bes, a sign lie Siouan ,11 long the instruction nkjabiiii. iiga wazi. aga num. a. unga. iigitc. ;ibi. I'apta. iba. ^a. a. ba. le. ^re, owing, the books ige. A ng of the lal names, teachers remained e nomads V. Robert )rth-West i Saskat- chewan. Frecjuently lie conversed with the Stoneys at Fort Edmonton, and accompanied them in their hunting expeditions, teaching and preaching. He enjoyed some measure of success, the people learned to sing hymns in the Cree language, and were instructed in the truths of the Christian religion. After laboring eight years in the Saskatchewan, at Edniimton, Pigeon Lake, and on the plains, he was compelled to return to England, because of injury received through a fall from his hor.se.* His brother-in-law, the Rev. Thomas Woolsey, succeeded him in this work among the Cre- '. Stoneys and Blackfeet, and through the labors of these dt.oted men, a band of faithful local preachers was raised, who preached to the people as they travelled upon the plains or roamed through the mountains in search of food. The hymns taught the people in these early years are still remembered, but the tunes have undergone a change, a peculiar Indian turn having been given to them, so that they have become essentially Indian tunes, founded upon their English predecessors. In 18iS.'), Rev. Thomas Woolsey wrote: 'Many of the Cree and Stone Indians were members of our Church in 18()4." Woolsey was stationed at Edmonton the year previous when Rev. George McDougall any •J '1 tv' "i-^ ft'V 1 M i ; i i ; 1 it ll ill 'l\ '.V2 CAXADIAN' .SAVA(;E FOLK. THE MOUND-BUILDERS. Many centui-ics befoi-e tlie Pilfrriiii FutlitTs InndtMl in Ncw En^lanout four scjuare miles. The great Cahokia mound, seven miles east of St. Louis, com- prises a parallelogram, with sides measuring seven hundred and five hundred feet, respectively, anierce their noses.* The early travellers and traders called them Nez Perces, but the Indians called theinselves Chopunnisli.f Thi-y are not strictly a Ca^^a- dian Indian trilie, as they a- years in |liey were and often ill make i ti'ict of Alljerta, I thought a sliort skt cch of this interesting trilie might be acceptable to my read ns. It was in the summer of 1880 that I met among the foothills of the Rocky Mountains a UmattiHa Indian and some of tlie Ne/ Perces, who had crossed tlie mountains from the Walla Walla countiy, and were liunting and trading horses. From the year 184;^, when we first learn anytliing about tliese people, through tlie official records of the United States Government, and before that period, as sliown liy the writings of travellers, they roamed throughout Idaho, Washington and Oregon, hunt- ing and fishing. Not until after the outbreak under Chief ■^losepli did any of them seek a refuge in Canada. Amongst the numerous tribes of Oregon they were tlie noblest, ricl:est and n\ost gentle ; a typical race, noted for strength of body and mind, native prowess, heroic virtues and gentle manners. Tliey wei*e a powerful tribe, owning many horses, and esteeme "iiii I * !ii I Vit! > 4 y.'l !li Ji ■ i 38 CANADIAN Savage folk. passed from childhood into womauLood witliout the iutervenino- years wliich tlieir pale-face sisters ei.-joy. So yoon as a yoiiii;^' or old man desired a wife, and had settk^l upm the maiden he delighted in, the parties assembled with their friends, and after the bridejiToom and ail the relatives and friends had filled ;i laro-e peace .pipe, and each had smoked it, the bride was addressed as to her duties, the nuptial gifts provided by the bridegroom were delivered to the friends, and the married pair retired to their lodge. Polygamy prevailed among the people, but the first wife had the pre-eminence, and exercised !:< authority in the lodge, much to the confusion and sometimes td the injury of the other members of the family. The Nez Perce cliiefs were a notable class of men, well skilled in all the arts of diplomacy, firm in the exercise of their authority, and generally just in all their dealings, their loyalty to their tribe compelling them to seek the interest of their people in ]:)reference to their own personal concerns. If at an\- time! a stranger of importance was introduced to the chiefs and leading men of the tribe, the head chief, in introducing the members of his tribe, would iliscriminate between them, by for- bidding any who came forward to shake hands with the stranger, simply signifying his disapproval by a motion of the hand, which was instantly obeyed, without any sign of retalia- tion. These were valiant men in times of war, able to cope with the strongest and most daring of their enemies, yet never resorting to anv foul methods wlu'rel)V tliev niio'ht take advantage tif them and gain a \ictory. The usual war customs were followed by them in the early days, when they luiited with the Flatheads and Pend Oreilles against their foes, but after coming in con- tact with the noljler elements of the civilization of the white men, they were not slow to perceive their suj)eriority, and con- sequently adopted them in preference to some of those which belonged to the tri])es. The Nez Perces were the inveterate enemies of the Blackfeet, an^ to ^'ollo .-.vMne th In I 'i '. P' ' SOME ^»UEER FOLK. 39 iitervenino- IS a }'oun;4- maiden lie ;, and aftt'r lad filled ;i ])ride was led by the arried paii' the ])enple, u'cised l'< nietinies U< weW skilled se of theii' leir loyalty st of theif If at any ! chiefs and xlucing till' em, by for- with till' tion of the ol" ivtaliii- le with the r resortinj;' Ivantao'e of i-e followed l^^latheads it!,' in con- the white , and con- lios(> which in\( terate n H;.ditino; niln to do, ■>^io'. >-.onie -^ # of the arts of industry, rather than wholly depend upon tlie precarious livelihood of the chase. On the warpath the a|jed warrior wore his amulet to j^rotect his body from the Ijullets of his foes, and so long as he carried this with him he believed that 111' was invuh erable, and his constant preservation as well as success in v ar gave force to his belief. If the Nez Perce war Marty met a Ijand larger than their OAvn, or were decoyed into the region of an opposing ti'ibe, they wouhl sell their lives dearly, rather than retreat. It has been written of the Nez Perces that they form "an honoral)le exception to the general Indian character — being more noble, industrious, sensible, and 1 tetter disposed toward the whites, and their improvements in the arts and sciences, and though brave as Caesar, the whites have nothing to di-ead at their hands in case of their dealing out to them what they conceive to be right and equitable." Chief Joseph, whom I have already mentioned as one of the bravest and most skilful in statesmanship amongst all the leaders of the Indian tribes, stood forth unrivalleil for his magnanimity, eloquence, military ability and firmness, shown in his famous retreat after the uprising of the nation.* When the pr-Miises made by the Governnicnt commissioners ha y^ ^ C E: _J/ gRto Pl/^teco. distance of a thousand miles, over ru^'ged delile.s and mountain- ous pathways, pursued by the hostile Bannaeks. The military ability of Chief Joseph was displayed in the famous march liomeward. Gathering;" the women and children, the whole iiieiiibers of his tribe, old and youn<;-, protected by mounted warriors, he foixght his way through the ranks of his enemies, defeating them on several occasions, although he was hard pressed and they were fresh and able to obtain help to intercept him in his march. So successfully was the retreat managed that not until they were within one day's march from home were they overpowerer:'in T15I !-i! 42 CANADIAN SAVAGE FOLK. ii!iiii!l-i li 1 'i: iiii antagonistic to tliein, which may arise from their belief that the_^ will repay them for any sli \ M 4^' 'ft K^ K- ' f/- C. ^! ^ ! ^i ^i i The story of this dele(>ation, sent by the Nez Perces upon such a lonj^ journey, produced a deep impression upon tlie rninds of the Indians, and induced the white people to tliink seriously of their duty to care for them. Within two years after the visit of the Nez Perces to St Louis, the American Board and the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society sent missionaries to Oregon to teach the jieople the truth of the Gospel. Some years previous to this visit, some of the Hudson's Bay Company's emploj'ees, residing at Fort Walla-Walla, had intro- duced some of the truths and foi-ms of the Roman Catholic religion amongst these natives, and the influence of thesi- things had exerted a decided chaiiire amoni^st some of the l)an(ls. They gave up in a great measure the practice i)f polygamy, ami .sou<:ht to live moral lives. The Christian ceremonies had become Indianized, yet some of the people strove to practice the precepts they had been taught. Some of the Shoshonecs observed the change which had been aff'ected through follow - ing the white man's religion, and they began to imitate the Nez Perces. They observed Sunday, engaged in devotional •dances and chants, and followed the other ceremonials of the Nez Perces. This imitation sprang from a desire to gain supe- riority over their rival tribes, believing that in this form of religion lay the secret of the white man's power. Some j-ears ago I met an intelligent Nez Perce chief, named Johnson, and made iniiuiries concerning his religious belief, but found that he still retained his native ideas, and followed not the teachings of the Christian reliirion. In their native condition this tril)e was devout, alwa^'s prefacing their hunts with religious rites ami prayers to the great spirit for safety and success.* Indeed, in a starving comlitic^n tliey attended to their sacred days and pious ceremonies before seeking fc^od. Captain Bonneville, having witnesseil their piety on several occasions, said: "Simply to call these people religi(jus would convey but a faint ice of those of the bands. )lyganiy, ami emonie.s liad 3 to practici' e Slioslioni'e's ough follow - I iiiiitate tlif In (k'votiouiil onials of the ) oain s\ip<'- lis form of Some years ohnson, and und that ln' ieachiiiojs of is tribe was us rites and Indeed, in il days and V on several l^'ious wouM md devotion nth America," •220-247. ; which pervades their whole conduct. Their lionesty is imma- :| dilate, and their purity of purpose and their observance of the 1 rites of their reliirion are most uniform and remarkable. Thev I are certainly more like a nation of .saints than a horde of .savaires." Their relij;ion was infu.sed with a spirit of fear, and they felt that they were surrounded by evil .spirits, who souj^ht f to injm'e them. Their medicine men invoked the aid of their '\ iruardian spirits, and they wore on their persons annilets to protect them in time of danfrer. I 'Che Protestant missionaries who went amon<; them labored I hard to teach them the doctrines of the Christian reliifion, and ■ they were encouragi'd in their efforts by the chan<;e in the . lives of the people. A sad fate liefel the Rev. Dr. Whitman, who labored with succe.ss amoncr this trilx*, some of whom were aroused through false reports to rise against the white peo|)le, and this faithful missionary was stricken down liy a tomahawk, . in the hand of an unfriendly Indian, in the year 1849. He had ; labored in the country along with tlie Rev. Mr. Spaulding and G otlier missionaries since 183i), and so great was his zeal on I behalf of the people and the country tliat he .said, when I'emon- ? stratofl with for the inten.sitv of his laljors, '• I am readv, not ^ to l)e ])ound only, but to die at Jerusalem or in the snows of % the Rocky Mountains for the name of the Lord Jesus or my I country." =1 Some years after the missionaries had begun their laboi-s in I Oregon, a traveller gave an account of his experience with a 1 Nez Perce guide, named Creekie, which is of interest : 1 " Creekie was a vi-ry kind man. He turned my worn-out animal loose, and loaded my packs on his own: gave me a si)lendid hoi'.se to ride, and intimated, by signitiamt gestures, that we would go a short rli.stance that afternoon. I gave mv assent, and we were soon on our wav. Having ridden about ten miles we camped for the night. I noticed, during the ride, a degree of forbearance toward each other which I had lU'ver before observed in that race. When he halted for the night the two boys were behind. They had l>een frolicking with theii- horses, and as the darkness came on lost the trail. It 4 :„rr<^ 40 CANADIAN SAVA«iE F01,K. :^ was a lialf-li*»ur lielVjre tlit'V iiiailo their appoami)CO, and duiniiif tliis time the parjiils manifcstcMl tlie most anxious solicitude for tliem. One of tliem was but tlircc veai's old, and was lashed to the hoi-se he rode: the other only seven years of a;,f(' — young pilots in the wilderness at night. " But the elder, true to the sagacity of his race, had taken his courae, and struck the brook on which we were encaniped within three hundred yards of us. The pi'i«le of the parents at this feat, and their ardent attachment to the children, were perceptible in the pleasure with which they received them at their evening tire, and heard their relation of their childisli adventures. The weather was so pleasant that no tent was .spread. The willows were lient, and the buffalo robes spread over them. Underneath were laid other robes, on which my Indian host seated himself, with his wife and children on one side aniiii Genii A ecus First h Secon< h Th of th< nianu tiuns, \erh. Th. suhst; inenti in its and (hiriii;; H solicitinU' il, and was ears of a;^a' , liad taken •e encampt'd (' pai'cnts at ildrcn, were ed tlieni at leir clnldish lO tent was obes spread I which my dren on one \y in front. laA'intr been le)- luisband pnian seated ed his head f^ SOME QUEER FOLK. 47 hal)its of his race, the beautiful influence of the work of grace on tlie lieart." The Nez Perce hinj^uage belon s. :',' .s .Si f. tl "*,'■ \\ o' ■■a C( SOME QIEEH FOLK. 49 /i'|< linve I mot the a^0( f po|nilati(>n ; upon tlu'ir rciiinHtancos, inn, yot tlir es, and they jstry and a -faced trihcs val of incen- n life. Tl- itude of Indian r jvai.ed Chris- lo>vs toward a, recognition 1 the ohlij^a- lere roamed tlie Rocky Bedouins, in Black feet, loe peoples elighting in ess prairies uimber and the Black - lodern days ngton Irving's pages 25-33. ocabularies of i!ive 1 met me a{^e; his .sonjjf of sailncss ; and wlien suddenly I Iiave called up(jn hin> to explain the cause of his grief, he has ceased his monotonous plaint and turned to me, saying, '• ' NiokskatasI ' Where are our nol)le warriors of former days ? Where are the people that assend)led in our camps by thou- sands ? Where are the buffalo that covered our plains ? " Son-owfully was I compelled to .say, " They are gone ! " " See," .said lu', " the fences of the white num .stopping our trails. See the white man's cattle upcm the prairies, and the towns every- where throughout our land. Niokskatas ! Our great men are gone, our people are dying, our lands are no lon^^cr ours, and we, too, shall soon pa.ss away ! " Resuming his song he has continued his journey, a weary and disheartened old man. The Blackfeet tell us in their ti'aditional loi-e that they came in the distant ])ast from the north, from some great lake, .supposed to be Lake Winnipeg. When the Bloods, Piegans and Blackfeet were all one people, living together, and not .separated into tribes, as at the present time, the South Piegans, who now dwell south of the international boundary line, preferred to live close to the mountains, which they called their home, whilf the other members of the confederacy dwelt in the north. Fifty }'ears ago and more the Blackfoot war parties roamed over Oregon, Idaho and Montana ; but within the past twenty years they have been confined to the southern portion of the provisional district of Alberta. The Blackfeet, it is said, lived for a time in that northern portion of the country where the mud was deep and black, and their moccasins l)ecame darkened with the soil, whence thev received the name of Siksikauo, which, beino; translated, means " Blackfoot." Having taken the treaty in 1878 with the Canadian Government, the people were given a Reservation at Blackfoot Crossing, about sixty miles east of Calgary, and another about twelve miles west of Fort Macleod. The Black- feet, Bloods and Sarcees \vere to live on the former, and the Piegans on the latter, but this was finally changed by the Blackfeet remaining at Blackfoot Crossing. The Sarcees being m .TT-T" •"'^ 13, ^J <;! A J SOME QUEER FOLK. 51 a: o z h iLl iLI iL :s^ u cc -J CG o p tU I Q. tt lU ♦/) M sent to anotliLT location, within ten miles south of Crvlgaiy, ami the Bloods l)ein<,f J t jlil! II ■ I 52 CAXADUN SAVAGE FOLK. tf returned to tell the story of his explorations, bearing in his nioutli some nuid, M'hich the Old Man took, and rolling it in the palm of his hand, it grew rapidly and fell into the water. Soon it assumed such dimensions that he stepped \ipon it, and placing there a wolf, this animal ran sAviftly over the plastic matter, and wherever he stepped an inlace of honor, the place opposite tlic entrance. Around the lodge are hung guns, bags, and various ai-ticles ; and behind tlie beds, all of which are on the ground, are bags made of skins of animals, containing berries; in fact, all that is necessary for the maintenance of the family. Vi.siting a lodge one hi.stor/ of a single individual is the naiiu' changed, and in order to learn the name of anyone, a .st'con SOME gUEf:H FOLK. 55 'second pfU'ty must he .isked. Tliis jiri.ses from sliame or modesty. When a man or woman i)LM'foriii.s a noble deed, *^he people ;ether toward the other board, the contestant having the wheel rolls it on the ground, throwing it with such force that it strikes the lioanl. As the two men run they throw their arrows against the board, and as near to the wheel as they can. When tlie wheel falls, they measure the tlistance heiween the point of tlu^ arrows and the bead or special mark on tile wheel, and the arrow which lies nearest to this point has won the throw. They continue this running and throwing until the one who has reached the number agreed upon as the end of the game has won. The number of the points made by the coutestarits are kept by means of small sticks held in the M:1V -I / 56 CANADIAN SAVAGE FOLK. I M hands. Several pairs of contestants sometimes play after each other, and for days they will continue the game, surrounded by a large nuniher of men, old and young, who are eagerly Ijetting upon the result. Tea dances are oftentimes kept up for days, the nights also being tilled with the shouts and singing of the people. The tea is brought in pails, pots and ves.sels of every kind, and is passed around, each of the guests or participants dijiping a cup into the larger vessel and drinking the tea. No food of any kind is eaten, the tea has no sugar, ami very soon tea and the pipe passing frm'ly around produce a state of semi-into.\icatioii. The whole party sings lustily, stories of the happy days of old are told, tln' age*^s made of the skins of the butt'alo and moi sf, many of them w viring a buffalo robe as an outside covering. With the advent of the traders, and the departure of the buffalo, they were compelled to resort to th?^ blanket, of whicli SOME C^UEER FOLK. :)7 they mndi! Icfjfjiiif^H, witli the over presont l)roecli-clotli, a shirt of short (limeiisions of cotton, iiiocca.sins, and a bhuiket worn ovrr the undor-garuients. A pair of tweezerH fastened around the neck was used for pullini;' out the hair from tlie face and otlier parts of tlie body. A lookini;-<,daHS for toilet purposes ami signallin<;, and sometimes a small hag, containing an amulet, wen^ also hung around the neck. Around the waist wiis fastened a bolt tilled with cartridges and a lari>e knife. Vioin two to five rings, with long appendages, liiuig from each car, rings were upon each linger, except the thuml), and orna- ments of various kinds were placed in the hair. The young men have beautiful hair, long and ])lack, and of this they are very proud, sometimes spending more than an hour in arranging it. The hair of the men is more beautiful and lonwr than that of the women, and .so vain are they of this adornment that they liave oftentimes come to the mission-house refjue.sting pei*- mission to measure the length of the hair of the lady of the mi.ssion-hou.se, and after expressing their wonder, have engerly iiKjuiretl the .secret of the long hair worn by the wliite women. I have sometimes shown them the ends of their hair split, and told them to cut the ends, and with delighted hearts they have returned to th«Mr lodges to try the nt;w plan of making the hair ;,'r()W. Sometimes a head-dress was worn. The face was painted, esj)ecially in winter and in times of war, as a protec- tiitn, tlie Indians told me, against frost bites. The people are inveterate gamblers, playing cards night and day, racing horses, and anuising tlu-mselves at various other games. Thev are fair riders, able to ride long distances, yet not to be compared with the cowboys as experts at horseman.shij). One of their methods (if breaking-in young horaes is to lead the animal to a muddy spot in the river bottom, and when the horse .sinks deep in the mire to mount him, or to lead him into the rivei" and ride him when the water reaches the belly. Some of the more adven- turous spirits boldly mount the animal uu tlie {>rairie, while a companion leads him by a rope, thus preventing him, when the rider is tin-own, from running away. The three tribes have each a head chief ; numerous bands. ;( . 11^ I BL/^CKPEET INDIRNS -^ ^i jiivsiilt'il ove whitf man's over the wlu wild lijis com ilistiiict iiiiti Bimoh, Fisli jiccustoiueil H.mI Crow's 1 tlieinselves. (fovcrnincnt < iMinTia},^', ar societies are They have i after tliose the camp is the place of coUecti? arou Cak'iidars names, as tlv Geese Go A' important g notabk' stra chief, or the (if the tribe, ' the camp Cfi assemble, an I mot'ting. A iiwner of tli ili'sitrnated 1 ' Niokskato; mill childrei Some of iinitors. Tl superfluities nature, and laiiojuaj^e of aud it alnioi SOME QIEER FOI.K. 59 nrtsiilol over liy a chief to each hainl, who are callele s|x'aker is rejected, and it almost seems to tho.se couvei'sjint with the language, as • r. 'Mi r opened, some women rushed out screaming, one of whom carried a child. My frieini had liceii }tlacing his revolver in his oelt, and was in the act of txaiiiining it, when it went oti", the hall lodging in the head of tile child in its mother's arms. The man was imprisoned, an investigation held, and the matter settled, by giving to the bereaved parents tw(j or three horses. Com])ensation is thus made between friends when death arises through an acciflent, and sometimes l)etween enemies, when a third party steps in and makes the neces.sary negotiations. Before a war party went on the warpath a feast was held, .sficrifices made of a religious character, and pra^-ers and v(jws that success might l)e given to the expedition. The members of the party painted their Ixxlies in the most hideous fashion, and with a great deal - one of his foes approaching, and was desirous of l)eing friendly, lie took care that his gun was in readiness, and keeping hi-, eye on the t\)e, filled his pipe with tobacco and kinnikinick, and after lighting it held out the long stem that the other might take a smoke. If the .strange Indian smoked the pipe they became friends, the pipe Iieing the lx)nd of union. In the '1! i'lsiiw ii 02 CANADIAN SAVACiK FmLK. \i til sjiino inaniKT, in ♦^iiiics (A' jx-nco oi- (lanj^cr, rnnnevH were sent to the ti'ilit'S with iiicss!ij;t's, always l)fariii;^f IIr' tobacco, wliicli, liL'Hif acccptcil, was an f\i(lfiict' of a^rn'finciit in tlif (|Uesti(iii uikI' '• ' oiisidcratioii. Some oF tlie Iiipice forbids me. I nnist al.so pa,ss by many of the interesting detiii Is connected with tlu' initiation of the medicine men, und stories relating to theii- hvpnotic feats, methods of practice, sweat baths and charms, reserving a fuller account oi' thesi' interesting mattei's till a later time. One of the Blood Indian chiefs went on a visit to Eastern Ontario, aiid upon his retuin the jn-ople were anxious to learn what he liad seen in the land of the wliite man. Camp ci'iei'.s called tl'-e people to one of the lodges, when the traveller gave an acci»unt of his visit. He sairanches, fi til is divisi( katehewan iigo into S thi-ee thou.s Simpson ai population following ei Plain Cr iHJuntry ea.*^ Kiver, inclui ft la Cross( Cumberland hundred an( House, one Hiver, one h Albany Rivt outposts, fiv making a U iippears to tl»e Cree Co of the trilx Even this e i" the earl^ time the Ci the (lovernn The nomai the year a Company, an "ut fre(juent 'IS hunters, provisions in off in scare return in Of, if for a consid( SOME QUEER FOLK. 69 1^ Thr Northern Alliorta and Athabasca; and the S\van?py Crees of Keewatin. There is no definite line of territory for tliese Itranches, a-s they encroach upon the domain of each other, but this division is in tlie main correct. Tlie Crees of tlie Sas- katchewan district were divided by several writers fifty years aifo into Strongwood and Plain Crees, which nundiered Irom three thousand five hundred to four thousand. Rowand, Shaw, Simpson and Lefroy differ in their computation, but place the ])<)pulation in this district at these numbers — Lefroy gives the Following estimate in 18,')2 of the Cree Ccmfederacy : Plain Crees, about three thousand ; Wood Crees, in the country east of the Great Plains and south of the Churchill River, including a few who traded at Fort Chippewayan, Isle a la Crosse, and Lesser Slave Lake, about five thousand ; Cumberland House, three hundred; the Pas or Bascpia, one hundred and fifty ; Norway House, three hundred ; Oxford House, one hundred: York Factory, two hundred; Beren's River, one hundred ; Red River I)epen<]encies, two thousand : Albany River, Martin Falls, five hundred; Moose Factory and outposts, five hundred : Lake Tamiscaming, two hundred — making a total of over twelve thousand souls. This estimate appears to be large, still it has l)een .generally bi^ieved tliat the Cree Confederacy comprised the g/eatest number of any of the tribes in the Dominion during the present ct-ntuiy. Evt'u this estimate seems small compared with the Lvxjuois ill the early days of the French regime. At the present time the Cree Indians, who have ente.'ed into treaty with the Government, number over ten thousan:! souls. The nomadic Cree has always been foinid at certain times of the year a regular visitor to the posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, and no history of the country can be written vvith- out freijuent refei'ence to these people. They were employed as hunters, boatmen, and guide.s. Securing an advance of provisions in the beginning of the hunting sea.son, they started off in search of furs, rt'inaining absent for several weeks, returning, if successful, with sufficient to maintJiin the fatnily for a considerable period. Some of the bands of Wood and WM ' \ ■ , • \b' ! 1 M • - 'A 'u' , :■*' . \ ■ ! 1 '!' II-' \l ■:!'!! J ,,M - '9 "-pi'M - yi ''fa; ' III!' " If »Svv<',rnj)y fivi'ns, till who sc'Mc The ma formed jin prcst'iit coi 'illy tluiir f'tnip of tl •ind A.s.sini <'acli conio <'i)ii,si,stinehind him uml cried: i I 1 1 tw \r .i *■> 72 CAXAniAX SAVAr.E FOLK. 4 " 'Lot a <^)V!xt Hrc risu up ami stretch across tlu' eartli ! ' So a j^reat tire rose \i\), the remains of which can he seen in the extensive volcanoes ol" the Sierra and Rocky Mountains. When th(' Hea a beautiful lake with a sandy beach, where they remained ; ami Wisukatcak did all he could to amu.se liis brother. Amon^" other thinjjs ho made him a ball. One day, when i)layin•"- out i„„. «■■■;«'"■'■ ■ '"■""'"■ •• — Lack , J '7" T'- ""•' '""' ^ ' ' "• '-'""w-i iMt., H „.„„■ . , ,:::^" '-^"'"^-l into ,. „.„,f : And !„■ sent forth .. , i "•^^^-^*-^^ . ^n.n,^s wlu-,, „,. ,,„„, ^f|,;,"' ' ■"' ' "" ""■« l«k. l„,t ■„, „„„ '"•^ '■."tlK.,-. .,„,, e„„M H„ 1 . ' ''■•'.'■'■ "*«»n t„ ,eek fo- ■^:-" 1- l.c,u,l „ „.„,f !,„„ ,.:',,;.'"■"":.'""'' "•' "'« «'»,., "'-' "- wolf „,, ,,i, ,,„; ; ';«;";(.' i"." -.«,„ af.cr, „,„.. '-■'■ W,.„,k,u«,k „,„,|,. ,,,;'; «''»""""-tlu.rl„k,.,,,,„| 2r's'SSi5H-"' - •IV «liot „„ ,„,.„«. i„t„ the , " " *■ . ""''"""'I<» '■■■•'tl«T ""■'J"» "kin ,„.„,„ uj, c , V , 'f "" "■''" '"■'■ '" ""■■ water ■"''I-.. ,Se..i,« „ Ki„ ^ , " '""""""• '""<'■ -'-kin,- for ,,i, '-: -^> .■;•,,,.,,,.„,,;;::;- --•;« -•...,, ,-„to .,„. „.,.te:. ' I S i ' ' i ' I ■ I V: Mi ' - 1 \J . ■ 'I. i ! J 74 CANADIAN SAVAfiE FOLK. '• Tlu'ii Wisukiitnik s^iid, ' If you will tell me wlierr they 1^0 nslioiv, I will paint you, and make you a very lumdsonie l)inl. " So the Kin^^fisluT showed him the place, and Wisukateak painted iiim as he had promise\s he must l»e alone when conjuring for the king lion to Ileal him of his wound. So they made a partition ami left Wisukateak alone with the king lion. Then Wi.sukateak liegdil to s lint instejd Then the killing hint and ruslii snatch his life: but ;is again. W (lood of wa climbed the water rose. lie could tint I'V the watei saw that the "After a Looking arou (Irowiie l.t'i^'iiri to slmki- liis nittlc niif leather, made from tli<' skins of the animals which were to he found in their locality. The men wore leather shirts, le;^<;inj;s of the same material reachinjf to the hip, and fa.stened to the hflt which helij the hreech-cloth. Leather caps with the hair dii, which fasteiifd under the chin, moccasins and mitts of leather were use<|. Tin' hreech-cloth was made t)f woollen material : hut when this could not be obtained, leather was substitute* I, and this was about nine inches wide and four feet lon^, the enils th'awn inwartls, antl then alloweil to han<^ ilt)wn before and behind. A idbc was worn as an outer jjarment, in tht; same manner as the nitxlern blanket. They ])ainted theii- boilies, especially tin' face, with vermilion, usiiiff t)ther colors durini: the sacred fe.stivities ami in times of war. Alexantler Henry, ilescribin^ their nioile t)f arrani.|[in}^ tin' hair as he saw them, nearly a century a^o, says: "Their liaii' is generally tiiviileil on the crown, antl fastenetl in large knttts behind each ear, fi-om which is generally suspenon the I denotes ni( "f hair for Miiall tea t upside (Io\ featllei',s, (II "iiil charctM t""rmei- tht'\ ofllt'i-s whit, lis.' of gi-cas Some (»f ( 'Huong th.. p '•'"•th .spiiiik •'Mtrail.s, ^ 'iriou.s mt •^'),''»hIs, tile 'iieiiihei' of ••"Tangt'ij tha A'ive a dift'erei "" horseback, ^''•' xign langi "'■•ly well I,,. (., I'» states o ""'y in rare in •""J rt<'e from t i^'ick mentions ■■"id ate his wif t'"' J>eopJe of '■'■'I'le.stetl to Ira •^'"t'd by his ou CM.nitry, a Cree ».is hang,.,l b^• Although the This tail is increaseil in size .iml length, fretpiently by udtlin^i I '''"'y know tlit'ii SOMF (/IKKU Folk. 77 fiilsf liuir. others u;;iiiii allow it to tlal ai"e also niueli used in their toilets. With the I'lirmi'r they dauh their rolx-s and otliei- ^jirments, some red and others white. The women iieiierallv cond» their hair and make use of grease to besmear it." Some of these modes of arran<^in<;' the hair are still in use aiiioni; the people. I have seen them all Used, except tin* whitt.' earth sprinkled upon the head ami the fastenings of liutfalo entrails. Various methods of eonununication were used, such as tire- si<;nals, the curlini^ smoke conveyiu<; intelli^^ence to .somi' iiiend)er of the trihe at a distance: e\'en the tire was so arranged that the .smoke, ascending in diti'erent forms, mi^ht 1,'ive a different me,ssa<(e. The Iookin;;-^lass methods of riding on hor.sehack, motions with Itlankets, and the ex])ressive use of tlie sii;n lanj^uaire were etiicient means of seiidini; news, and may well be called the t«'le^raphic .system of the .iatives. In .states of <;i'eat divstitution cannibalism has exi.sted, but only in rare instances ; and the natives look with abhorrence and Hee from the j^uilty perpetrator of such a crinH-. Captain Back mentions a ea.se of eaiunbalism, in which an old man killed and ate his wife and children, anil so i^reat was the hatred of the people of his tribe, that he was denounced by them, and rei|Uested to leave their camp, and upon refusine^ to do .so, was killed by liis own people. About the time of our arrival in tiie country, a Cree Indian was found guilty of a similar deed, and \\,is hanfi^ed by the civil authorities at Kdmonton. Althou1,K. i t m the ntficrrs uf tin- Stilt*' to Uit-p li(|Uor out of the country. KsiM-c-ijillv