given more satisfaction to my employers, though I had already a large quantity of goods, and had every reason to be pleased with my success. The Nipegons made up fourteen bales of dried meat, which they took with them; but the furs and skins were hidden in the woods, and never afterwards found that I heard of.
We continued our journey to Lac Eturgeon, where soon after our landing, we killed a great many wild fowl, and caught plenty of fish. Here we met about fifty of the Hawoyzask or Rat Nation Indians,[1] with whom I made a small barter, chiefly with rum, having disposed of all my Indian goods.
[100] Our journey was retarded for some time in order
to gratify my curiosity. A young Indian girl fell sick,
and the chief desired me to stay to see the wonderful
effects of their medicines, as she was very bad, and
without immediate assistance, he said, must soon change
her climate. The physician who attended her said, that
the Matchee Mannitoo, or bad spirit, had put the bear's
claws into her, and his medicines would remove them.
A hut was prepared, and the girl stripped to her matcheecoaty
or under petticoat; she was then painted with vermilion,
and daubed over with soot and bears' grease,
and profusely sweated, which soon relieved her pain.
During the operation, the physician addressed himself to
the Master of Life, begging his assistance, and thanking
him for giving knowledge to restore health: then giving
her a decoction of roots, he made a perfect cure. I could
not help admiring his skill and manner of proceeding,
————
- ↑ The Rat Indians are those of Rat Portage, on the Lake of the Woods, apparently a branch of the Chippewas. Their name is taken from the muskrat (ondatra zibethicus). See Coues, Henry-Thompson Journals (New York, 1897), i, p. 26.—Ed.
