CHAPTER IX.

THE NASCOPIES--THEIR RELIGION--MANNERS AND
CUSTOMS--CLOTHING--MARRIAGE--COMMUNITY OF GOODS.


The Indians inhabiting the interior of Ungava, or, it may be said with
equal propriety, the interior of Labrador, are a tribe of the Cree
nation designated Nascopies, and numbering about one hundred men able
to bear arms. Their language, a dialect of the Cree or Cristeneau,
exhibits a considerable mixture of Sauteux words, with a few peculiar
to themselves. The Nascopies have the same religious belief as their
kindred tribes in every other part of the continent. They believe in
the existence of a Supreme Being, the Ruler of the universe, and the
Author of all good. They believe, also, in the existence of a bad
spirit, the author of all evil. Each is believed to be served by a
number of subordinate spirits. Sacrifices are offered to each; to the
good, by way of supplication and gratitude; to the evil, by way of
conciliation and deprecation. Their local genii are also supposed to
be possessed of the power of doing good, or inflicting evil, and are
likewise propitiated by sacrifices; the "men of medicine" are viewed
in nearly the same light. A few of them who visit the king's posts,
have been baptized, and taught to mutter something they call prayers,
and on this account are esteemed good Christians by their tutors;
while every action of their lives proves them to be as much Pagans as
ever; at least, to those who look for some _fruit_ of faith, and who
may be ignorant of the miraculous efficacy of holy water, and can form