"Follow me then!" replies this stranger. The Indian follows. The other leads him to his abode and again makes the inquiry. The answer is perhaps as before. Then the stranger assumes his proper form, which is perhaps that of a tree, a stone, a fish. And after rechanging several times in this manner, until such time as the Indian becomes perfectly to know him, then this stranger gives him to smoke, [teaches] him his song, thus addressing him, "Now do you remember my song? Whenever you will wish to call upon me, sing this song, and I shall not be far. I will come and do for you what you require."
[Principal Spirits]
They know many of these Spirits as soon as they see them (in their dreams) by the description the other Indians have given of them. Some, however, they know from their nature. When the Snow addresses them, he they know because he is perfectly white—the Ice also. The Sun and Moon [they know] from their beautiful brilliancy and the elegance of their abode—the houses of the two last being uncommonly neat and handsome such as those of the white (i.e. civilized).
[Wee-suck-ā-jāāk / Gey-Shay-mani-to]
One principal amongst all these, and everything in nature appears at least to some of them, is the Supreme Being, whom they term Wee-suck-ā-jāāk (the last a's being pronounced as in 'all', 'hawk' etc.; the first as ale, bail etc.) i.e. by his proper name, his common name, Gey-Shay-mani-to (this is among the Crees nation), which signifies "the Greatly charitable Spirit." He is uncommonly good and kind, addresses them and talks to them as to children whom he most tenderly loves and is extremely anxious for.
Thus far everything is very well, and is perhaps a better idea than many of the vulgar christians can give. But on the other hand again, their mythology, or stories relating to him, are many of them absurd and indecent in the highest degree, reducing him to the level of his creatures, and not unfrequently their making him dupe, but become so by such vile, such abominable deception as I doubt to be equalled by the most absurd and romantic of the Arabian tales. For there are many of these tales the author durst not publish for the obscenity and indecency. There are some obscene passages also in these tales (of the Indians) but not more than might be expected from a people yet in a perfect state of nature as to their mental powers, to our eternal shame and scandal. This one they love, they love him a great deal, and are by no means afraid of him, because he always addresses them "my little children" and all the rest of his character is of a piece with this.
[Key-jick-oh-kay (Old Nick)]
The next one is Old Nick. Him some term "Key-jick-oh-kay" (The 'J' being pronounced soft, as Git or Gil, in French, for I know of no English word where properly speaking the J is of any use and has the sound seemed intended by it) or "Key-jick-oh-kaiw". I cannot at present give the proper signification of this name for I am not sufficiently acquainted with the language, but it appears to me as to mean "he who made the day or skies, or resides in the sky". This one they represent wicked, and terrible, inexorable to the highest degree, always plotting evil and endeavouring to circumvent the rest of the creation. [He] is always jawing and bawling. But when the other appears, he orders him in a peremptory manner. "Hold thy tongue. Get thee hence, thou deceiver; thou ill-liver." But these words are uttered in such an authoratative and commanding tone that the Indians themselves are quite astonished to see one who is so uncommonly kind and indulgent to them in every respect, so tender and affectionate, even in the choice of his words, assume so suddenly and with so much authority, so much power over one whose name alone they never utter but with the greatest dread and horror. Their horror of the Devil is so great, that no one ever utters [his name] but when unavoidable. And if, through inadvertency or ignorance, one of their children should mention it, he is severely reprimanded by all who hear.
[Water Lynx]
There is also the Sea Serpent, a monstrous animal and has much power. The Mermaid (or Sea-Man), the Water Lynx or rather Tyger—a dreadful character [is] this last, who keeps all the inhabitants of the deep in the greatest subjection. There are however one or two who contend with him, and sometimes he is reduced to the necessity of compounding with them—the Great Turtle, and many others. They have their abodes in the deep, but perfectly dry and comfortable. Each one of these, and indeed all of them, have their stories or mythology. Some I forget entirely and others remember too incorrectly to mention at present.