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Show TRAVELS THROUGH UPPI•'R CANADA: In the day time they lie flceping in the fun, or fit fm9l·ing tobacc , that is, when they have nothing particular to cng~tgc them . Tho 1oh the mofi: diligent perfcvcring people in the world wh ' 11 roufed into a.:.t:ion, yet when at peace with their neighbour , and having got wherewith to {.ltisfy the calls o.f hunger, they arc the moll flothful and indolent pof1ible. The d:.mccs mentioned arc fuch as the Indian. am lfc themfelvc with in common. On grand occafion they have a vancty of others much more intcrefting to a fpeCl.ator. Tbc dances whi h you fee in common amongfi: the ha wncfe, and certain other tribes, arc alfo, it is f<tid, much more entertaining than thofe I have dcfcribcd. There were fcvcral families of the bawncfe encamped on the i{b.nd of Bois Blanc when we w re there; but as then~ was not a fuHicicnt number to form a dance by themidves, we were never gratified with a fight of th ·ir performances. Of their grand dances the war dane mufi: undoubtedly, from every nccount I have received of it, for I never had any opportunity of Jecing it myfdf, be the one mofi: worthy the attention of a fi:ranger. It i per formed both on fctting out and returning from their war parties, and likewife at other time , but nev r except on fame v ry particular and folcmn occafion. The chiefs and warriors who are al'out to joitl in thi dance drefs and paint thernfelvcs as if actually out on a warlike expedition, and they carry in their hand their warl ike weapons. Being afTembled~ they feat themfelvcs down on their hams, in a circle, round a gtcat fire, 1 ear to which is placed a large poCl:; afer rem<.~ining a fl1ort time in this pofition, one of the principal chiefs rJes, and placing himfelf in the center, begins to rehearft~ , in a fort of recitative, all the gallant actions which he has ever performed; he dwc1ls particularly on the numuer of enemies he has killed, and dcfcribes the m:umcr i"n which he fcalped them, making geCl:ures all the time, and brandi1hing his weapons, as if aCtually engaged in performing the horrid operation. At the end of every remarkable fi:ory he firikes his war club on the poCl: with great fury. Every chief and warrior tells of his deeds in turn. The fong af one warrior often occupies feveral hours, and the dance itfelf § fomctimes I N D I A N F L U T E. fo.m. · ctdi m s hfl: . .fi r three or fcmr entire days :' tnd nig·l1tS . D ltt·l'l lg tIl l.. pet tO. no or:c 1 allo,_v d to f1cep, a 1 crCon who fi:ands at the outride f the Ctrcle bct~g appomted ( whofe bufinefs it is) to roufe any \·varrior tha. t :1pp. cars 111 the leaH: drowfy. A d· eer ' ".... be·, u., Ot . 1r 0mc ot 11 cr large ~nunul JS put to ':oa(l:.at the fire a9 foon as the dance begins, and while 1t lalls each warnor r~fcs at will to help himfdf to a piece of it. After ~a.ch_ pcrfon in the circle ha · in turn told of his exploits, they all rife, and pm m a dance lru.ly terrifyi ng ; they throw thcmfclvcs into a variety of po~nrcs , and leapmg about in the mofi: frantic manner, brandi.(h thci1- kmvcs and other weapons; at the fame tim~ they fLt up the war hoo , and ~ttcr the n1ofi: dreadful yells imaginable. In thi manner the dan~c termmates. The Indian flute or pipe is formed of a thick cane, fimilar to what is fou~1d on the banks of the Miffiffippi, and in the fouthcrn parts 0 [ the ~mtcd States. It is about two fc tor more in length, and has ciPht or lltne hole in it, in one row. Jt is held in the fame manner as the obo~ or .larinet, and the fouud is produced y mean of a mouth pic c not unl1ke that of a common whifi:le. The tones of the inllrum nt arc by no means unharmonious, and they would admit of a plcafin <r modulation, ~)llt I never met with an Indian that was :tblc to play a regular air upon 1t, not even any one of the airs which they commonly fin/)" althouo-h I (; . O' 0 . aw ieveral that were c. trcmely fond of amufing themfclve with the mfl.rument, and that w nld fit for hours tol)"cthcr over the embers of I . b t .lClr c~bin fires,.llaying over a few wild melancholy notes. Every In-dJaJ: that can bnng a found out of the innrumcnt, and fl:op the l1oles, wh1c 1 any one may do, thinks himfelf mailer of it; and the notes vvlti ·I they commonly produce nrc as unconnected and unmeaninl)" as thofe \vhich a. child would bring forth from a halfpenny whifi:lc. 0 In addition to what I have fc'lid on the fubjctt of the Indians, .[ fh ..l l'l only obfcrv , that notwithCl:anding they are fuch a v ry friendly hofpitable people, yet few perfons, who had ever taCl:ed of the plea(urc and comforts of civilized l1fe, would feel any inclination to refidc amongt · them, |
