This Singular Custom Is Not Very Creditable To The 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 lines 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 lines 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 lines on the face are formed by dextrously running an awl under the cuticle and then drawing a cord, dipped in charcoal and water, through the canal thus formed. The punctures on 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.

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