PAWNEES. 11 



their character and haliife. At the main Pawnee villajre 

 there were probably something more than two hundred 

 h)do;es, such as has been described. The larjjest lod<>"es 

 often accommodate as many as tifty, but pro])ably would 

 not average more tlian thirty to a lodge. The lodges 

 are phiced within a few feet of each other, often scarcely 

 leaving room for a path between. In such villages there 

 is of course much tilth, and they become very unhealthy 

 if they remain a great while in them. But in a cer- 

 tain part of the village we may observe a collection of men, 

 and the tops of the lodges in that vicinity seem to be cov- 

 ered, and we wish to know the ol)ject of attraction. It is 

 probal)le there is a grand medicine performance, hy which 

 term is indicated a sacred performance of some kind or 

 other. Their medicine men are jugglers who perform vari- 

 ous tricks, which are mysterious to the multitude. Hence 

 any thing that is marvellous or mysterious is what is styted 

 medicine. This medicine performance is considered with 

 them a religious ceremony, and consists in rattling a sacred 

 rattle, and in certain mysterious movements or dances. The 

 performers are clothed in a sacred dress too pure tc; be 

 polluted with the touch of a woman. A part of the per- 

 formance is to swallow long sticks ; to run large knives 

 down their throats, which are drawn out covered with 

 blood. This is a specimen of a religious performance among 

 the North American Indians. Sometimes they set them- 

 selves up as marks to be shot at with arrows, and with guns 

 loaded with powder and balls. Such things are done in 

 the name of religion. I have seen them practiced till the 

 heart was sick with beholding. As near as could l)c as- 

 certained they hoped hy these rites to appease the anger 

 of the God they thus worshiped ; and often I was told they 

 died in the performance. This is heathenism, a sacrific- 

 ing to Moloch. I need not to stay to point out its absurdity 

 and folly. The heart sickens even at the recital of such 

 abominations, ;ind we will turn away from the scene. As 

 to their knowledge of medicine they really have as little 

 as of religion. We are invited to visit a lodge, where one 



