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.
Near 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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 106 of 649
Words from 28542 to 28820
of 176017
