I happened to be called to one of these many years ago. It was the principal parts of a bear. And the paunch had been filled with the liver, heart and fat, with blood, minced, and much resembling that dish the Scotch term haggish. We were all very hungry, and though we gormandized (it cannot be called eating) there yet remained full two thirds. The Feaster was uneasy, and said he would have been proud had we eaten all, for in that case his dreamed would have been propitious. We were obliged to dance also. But when I could stow no more, I gave him my knife and a bit of tobacco and walked off leaving him to settle with his god as well as he could. But indeed I was not very scrupulous then, otherwise I had most certainly avoided many of them though it is oftentimes dangerous if there be not method or qualification in the refusal.
Their feasts of rum are often to some one of the four wicked ones, praying them to be propitious and not allow themselves to be influenced by the wicked solicitations of envious Indians.
Many years ago I happened to be out a hunting a few miles from the house and came unexpectedly upon the lodge of a few Indians I had that day given rum to. I heard one of them harangue, and drew up cautiously to listen. He entreated the rain, snow and frost to have pity upon their young ones (that they might kill).
I communicated this a few years after to a couple of gentlemen. One of them, longer in the country than myself, denied it and enquired of his wife who had lived a long time with the Indians. She corroborated his denial. I perceived the cause, and told him that it was because they do not chuse that we become too well informed of all their ceremonies. It was to no effect, and I had almost a mind to credit the woman too myself, but by insinuation I find I am perfectly right.
Thus it happens in almost everything else. A thing that does not meet with our approbation, or be a little beyond the sphere of our limited information, we immediately deny or condemn. Whereas by taking proper measures to enquire or inform ourselves, not only those things themselves, but others far more interesting, and sometimes too of the greatest moment, whether to ourselves or others, are rendered probable, reasonable, certain.
Hence it is also that many, upon receiving a piece of information, there rest themselves as upon a rock of certainty. Now either of these I consider equally blameable as they lead to distrust, doubt, and sometimes to a complete refutation or assertion of facts that very oftentimes cast a stain or stigma, sometimes upon the whole people, and without any other foundation than, as might be said, that all powerful veto.
They have feasts for the dead, most commonly berries, or in countries where it is made, sugar. Generally yearly a bark box of perhaps 2 or 3 gallons is placed in the grave, upon it, or well hid in some private nook, if they are afraid, or do not chuse, it be taken.
I ought rather to have said these are sacrifices. But independent of these, they have feasts also, and feasts of baptism—feasts in short for almost every occasion. Besides these they have smoking feasts; these are to deliberate. I shall, should it please God I live, make it a point to enquire particularly into the origin of all these.
[Conjuring Ceremony (June 4th, 1823)]
June 5th. These last 3 days have been busy and turbulent ones for me. It is now considerably past midnight (and of course the 6th June) but my Indians are drinking and I cannot think of going to bed. Till they do I shall employ my few remaining leisure moments ('till next year, please God I live so long) in giving you an account of a conjuring bout I, with some difficulty, got an Indian to make last night (June 4th).