The turtle in question is, of course, not the turtle of sea waters, but the Snapping Turtle (_Chelydra serpentina_) found in most Canadian lakes and the big rivers of North America, east of the Rocky Mountains.] For invoking and consulting the Great Turtle, the first thing to be done was to build a large house, within which was placed a kind of tent, for the use of the priest and reception of the spirit.

The tent was formed of moose skins, hung over a framework of wood made out of five pillars of five different species of timber, about ten feet in height and eight inches in diameter, set up in a circle of four feet in diameter, with their bases two feet deep in the soil.

At the top the pillars were bound together by a circular hoop of withies.

Over the whole of this edifice were spread the moose skins, covering it at top and round the sides, and made fast with thongs of the same, except that on one side a part was left unfastened, to admit of the entrance of the priest.
The ceremonies did not commence till the approach of night.

To give light inside the house several fires were kindled round the tent.
Nearly the whole village assembled in the house, Alexander Henry among the rest.