€ A GENERAL HISTORY

produce them; fuch as a tedious illnefs, long fafting, &c. On thefe
occafions it is ufual for the perfon who means to give the entertainment,
ican hanna We deh an Monta certain doyhink op eniee we seeieme pam
and fmoking out of his facred ftem. This declaration is confidered as a
facred vow that cannot be broken. There are alfo flated periods, Tuch
as the fpring and autumn, when they engage in very long and folemn
ceremonies. On thefe occafions dogs are offered as facrifices, and thofe
which are very fat, and milk-white, are preferred. They alfo make large
offerings of their property, whatever it may be. The fcene of thefe ce-
remonies is in an open inclofure on the bank of a river or lake, and in
the moft confpicuous fituation, in order that fuch as are paffing along or
travelling, may be induced to make their offerings. ‘There is alfo a par-
ticular cuftom among them, that, on thefe occafions, if any of the tribe,
or even a ftranger, fhould be pafling by, and be in real want of any
thing that is difplayed as an offering, he has a night to take it, fo that
he replaces it with fome article he can fpare, though it be of far inferior
value: but to take or touch any thing wantonly is confidered as a facri-
legious a€t, and highly infulting to the great Mafter of Life, to ufe
their own expreffion, who is the facred obje&t of their devotion.

The {cene of private facrifice is the lodge of the perfon who performs
it, which is prepared for that purpofe by removing every thing out of it,
and fpreading green branches in every part. The fire and afhes
are alfo taken away. A new hearth is made of frefh earth, and another
fire is lighted. ‘The owner of the dwelling remains alone in it; and he
begins the ceremony by fpreading a piece of new cloth, or a well-drefled
moofe-{kin neatly painted, on which he opens his medicine-bag and

expofes