(*Footnote. This Is Perhaps True Of The Cumberland House Crees Alone:
Many Of The Other Tribes Of Crees Are Stated By The Traders To Be
Thieves.)
Much of the faulty part of their character no doubt originates in their
mode of life; accustomed as a hunter
To depend greatly on chance for his
subsistence the Cree takes little thought of tomorrow; and the most
offensive part of his behaviour - the habit of boasting - has been probably
assumed as a necessary part of his armour which operates upon the fears
of his enemies. They are countenanced however in this failing by the
practice of the ancient Greeks, and perhaps by that of every other nation
in its ruder state. Every Cree fears the medical or conjuring powers of
his neighbour, but at the same time exalts his own attainments to the
skies. "I am God-like," is a common expression amongst them, and they
prove their divinity-ship by eating live coals and by various tricks of a
similar nature. A medicine bag is an indispensable part of a hunter's
equipment. It is generally furnished with a little bit of indigo, blue
vitriol, vermilion, or some other showy article, and is, when in the
hands of a noted conjurer, such an object of terror to the rest of the
tribe that its possessor is enabled to fatten at his ease upon the
labours of his deluded countrymen.
A fellow of this description came to Cumberland House in the winter of
1819. Notwithstanding the then miserable state of the Indians the
rapacity of this wretch had been preying upon their necessities, and a
poor hunter was actually at the moment pining away under the influence of
his threats. The mighty conjurer, immediately on his arrival at the
House, began to trumpet forth his powers, boasting among other things
that, although his hands and feet were tied as securely as possible yet,
when placed in a conjuring house, he would speedily disengage himself by
the aid of two or three familiar spirits who were attendant on his call.
He was instantly taken at his word and, that his exertions might not be
without an aim, a capot or great coat was promised as the reward of his
success. A conjuring-house having been erected in the usual form, that is
by sticking four willows in the ground and tying their tops to a hoop at
the height of six or eight feet, he was fettered completely by winding
several fathoms of rope round his body and extremities and placed in its
narrow apartment, not exceeding two feet in diameter. A moose-skin being
then thrown over the frame secluded him from our view. He forthwith began
to chant a kind of hymn in a very monotonous tone. The rest of the
Indians, who seemed in some doubt respecting the powers of a devil when
put in competition with those of a white man, ranged themselves around
and watched the result with anxiety. Nothing remarkable occurred for a
long time. The conjurer continued his song at intervals and it was
occasionally taken up by those without. In this manner an hour and a half
elapsed; but at length our attention, which had begun to flag, was roused
by the violent shaking of the conjuring-house. It was instantly whispered
round the circle that at least one devil had crept under the moose-skin.
But it proved to be only the "God-like man" trembling with cold. He had
entered the lists stripped to the skin and the thermometer stood very low
that evening. His attempts were continued however with considerable
resolution for half an hour longer, when he reluctantly gave in. He had
found no difficulty in slipping through the noose when it was formed by
his countrymen; but in the present instance the knot was tied by Governor
Williams who is an expert sailor. After this unsuccessful exhibition his
credit sunk amazingly, and he took the earliest opportunity of sneaking
away from the fort.
About two years ago a conjurer paid more dearly for his temerity. In a
quarrel with an Indian he threw out some obscure threats of vengeance
which passed unnoticed at the time but were afterwards remembered. They
met in the spring at Carlton House after passing the winter in different
parts of the country, during which the Indian's child died. The conjurer
had the folly to boast that he had caused its death and the enraged
father shot him dead on the spot. It may be remarked however that both
these Indians were inhabitants of the plains and had been taught, by
their intercourse with the turbulent Stone Indians, to set but
comparatively little value on the life of a man.
It might be thought that the Crees have benefited by their long
intercourse with civilised nations. That this is not so much the case as
it ought to be is not entirely their own fault. They are capable of being
and, I believe, willing to be, taught; but no pains have hitherto been
taken to inform their minds,* and their white acquaintances seem in
general to find it easier to descend to the Indian customs and modes of
thinking, particularly with respect to women, than to attempt to raise
the Indians to theirs. Indeed such a lamentable want of morality has been
displayed by the white traders in their contests for the interests of
their respective companies that it would require a long series of good
conduct to efface from the minds of the native population the ideas they
have formed of the white character. Notwithstanding the frequent
violations of the rights of property they have witnessed and but too
often experienced in their own persons, these savages, as they are
termed, remain strictly honest. During their visits to a post they are
suffered to enter every apartment in the house without the least
restraint and, although articles of value to them are scattered about,
nothing is ever missed.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 25 of 172
Words from 24565 to 25565
of 176017
