(25) & often a short speech or prayer to that one of their _Familiars_ whom they think will be most propitious on the occasion, or _he_ from whom they hold such, or such instruction &c. These songs are a dull monotony; for tho' they have a few variations & are hi & low, & the transition sometimes so very sudden that it requires a particular command of the throat to sing them; & to _me_, so difficult that I should I believe require a 7 years apprenticeship even with Esculapius (but I believe it is _Pluto_, or _Pan_ who teaches the songs) himself, for me to learn them, there is certainly no musick in them; tho' some few that I've heard many years ago, passing a winter with them, I found pleasing enough; but perhaps more from the _solemnity_ with which all was going on was I struck, than any thing else: indeed we had had great reason to be solemn, for we were dreadfully pinched by hunger. When oppressed thro' star- vation, they have a variety of ceremonies which they perform; & tho' the songs be different, as also the _ceremonies_ themselves, still are they intended to answer the same purpose.-- I shall endeavour to describe a couple to you from which you may form a pritty just idea of the rest.--It was the latter end of Jany. or beginning of Feby. 1804, four of us only _white_ people, mind were pitching off, or rather flying off from our houses we had built in the fall on ac- count of _the_ enemies. We had a small stock of dry Provisions & speared a few fish once or twice, but there were so many of us that we were soon bro't to short commons as the _strip_ of country we were then going thru contained no other animals but a few strag- ling Bears, but these animals at _this_ season could not be found notwithstanding all the exertions of our hunters. One evening on my return to our lodges one of the women told me that the oldest man of our band, a great Doctor, or conjuror, as we frequently denominate them, said that if I were to pay him half a carrot (1 1/2 lbs) tobacco, he would conjure & be assured of success, for it required payment. Tho' I suspected there was a trick in this, I did not hesitate, but gave him his demand. The first night their songs & ceremonies were as usual.--"Tomorrow, my _familiar_ tells me we shall get a Bear". All the hunters returned at evening, _mais tous a blanc_. The second night, the rattler, songs, speeches, smoking, & medicine bags opened: "Tomorrow, we will assuredly get something." But the same as the day before. The third night, the same, but every thing conducted with a sort of awful silence & solemnity that surprised me a good deal. I was harassed with constant walking, weake thro' hunger, & tired with their _Bêtises_ as the french say; but the manner of their conduct kept me that time from growling. "Oh! Now tomorrow indeed, we shall not fail--we shall certainly eat flesh; for