The conjurer had lost his smoking bag one day that he was out a hunting. And as it contained his only steel and not a small part of his winter stock of tobacco, he was very uneasy and hunted several times for it. They, having told the Interpreter often how kind and charitable and indulgent those _spirits of the upper regions_ were, and he, desirous of proving them, told the conjurer to send for his bag. He asked, "Which of ye will go for my bag that I lost? He that brings it me, I shall make him smoke." "I will go," said one. They heard a fluttering noise, and soon after they heard the same fluttering noise, and the rattler move, and down fell the bag by the conjurer, covered with snow. "How stupid thou art!" said the spirit naming the conjurer. "Thou passedst over it and yet did not see it." It was a long time since the bag was lost, and the distance was several miles. Another one could not kill with his gun owing to its being crooked or some other cause. {4} However, he attached the fault to the gun. [This happened] the first time, I believe it was, that this half-breed conjured. The people on the outside, hearing many voices speak as they entered, at last they stopped at one whose voice and articulation was different from that of the others. "Who is that one just now entered?" said those outside. "It is the _Sun_," replied the conjurer. "Ha! Well, I am happy of it." said the the Indian. "Is it not _he_ who says himself able to repair firearms (guns), and do anything with them he pleases? Ask him (addressing the conjurer) if he will not have compassion on me and put my gun to rights that I also may kill. I am walking every day, and frequently shoot at moose, but always miss." "Hand it me." said a voice from the top of the conjuring frame. The gun was given to the conjurer. "It is loaded." continued the voice, "Shall I fire it off?" "You may, but take care you hurt nobody." replied the Indian. The gun was fired, and shortly after handed back to the owner. "Here is your gun. You will kill with it now." said the Spirit. Both this business of the gun and smoking bag took place the first time, I believe, the man conjured. [Initiations and Conjuring] There are but few individuals (men) among the Sauteux or Cris or Crees who have not their medicine bags and [are not] initiated into some ceremony or other. But it is not _all_ of them who can conjure. Among some tribes most of them can, and among others again there are but very few. Nor is it every one of them that tells _all truth_, some scarcely nothing but lies, others again _Not One_ falsehood. And this depends upon their _Dreamed_, sometimes. But I think [it] may be equally imputed to their own selves, [to] presumption, ignorance, folly, or any other of our passions or weaknesses. [In Quest of Dreams] But to become conjurers, they have rites and ceremonies to perform and go through, which, though apparently simple and absurd, yet, I have no doubt, but fully answer their ends.