554 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



iiei)in's remark that in 1G79 tlie calumet was in universal use among 

 the Indians east of tlie Mississippi. He says: "It is not improbable, 

 however, that at that time the French traders had both greatl}^ extended 

 its use and confirmed its character of conferring' ])ersonal inviolability, 

 as such a practice i'avored their traflic into the interior j)arts of the 

 country.'" 



Membre in 1681, in referring to La Salle's voyage to the mouth of the 

 Mississippi, refers to tlie "Arkansa" and '-Taeusa" as being half civi- 

 lized. The (^uinii>issa, however, when La iSalle sent messengers, let fly 

 arrows at them. These jjeople, he said, had never seen guns. With the 

 Mohegans also the calumet was not received. The Indians on the 

 lower river told them of ])eopleto the west who rode upon animals, and 

 showed them two hoofs, which were those of horses.'^ 



When they upon their return reached the Miami they learned of the 

 Sieur de Tonty, who since leaving them had made several military expe- 

 ditions.'' 



Baron Lahontan refers to the use of the calumet in Canada in a 

 manner very similar to Marquette and La Salle, and gives some data 

 which yet more strongly indicate that the calumet was of the Siouan 

 type. The stem, he says, was 4 or o feet long, and the mouth or head 

 in which the tobacco is held is 3 inches long, its figure approaching that 

 of a hammer, the body being 8 inches long, and that the effect of the 

 pipe Avas similar to that of a flag of truce with the French,* which 

 strengthens the suggestion of McCulloh that this was a belief which 

 the French would do everything to confirm. 



La Salle, in describing the calumet dance of the "Arkansa," gives a 

 very similar account to that given by Marquette as prevailing in the 

 Illinois tribe, which is quite similar to a like custom described in Vir- 

 ginia, and would indicate an ancient practice. He says: "The Indians 

 before dancing put poles around, as when linen is dried, and arrange 

 on them all they are going to give. Then they bring two calumets 

 made of red stones and filled with tobacco, being adorned with feathers 

 of all colors. The chiefs and warriors have gourds full of pebbles, and 

 also two drums. These are pots of earth covered with skin over the 

 ■top. Those who have done great deeds strike a post, which is planted 

 in the middle of the council place, with a club. Having told of their 

 powers, they gave M. de La Salle their presents. If anyone lies the 

 one who knows it wipes the post with a skin to remove the lie. The 

 French, with the exception of M. de La Salle, also struck the post and 

 related their achievements."-' 



The first reference to there being any special difference in the pipes 

 used at a council and those used by the individual is jnxjbably that 



'James H. McCulloh, Researches, p. 146, Baltimore, 1829. 



2 Father Zeuolnus Membre, Narrative of La Salle's Voyage Down the Mississippi, 

 Discovery uud Exi)loration of the Mississippi Valley, p. 174. Redfield, 1852. 



■Tdem, p. 178. 



' Baron Lahontan, Some New Voyages into North America, p. 3(5, Loudon, 1703. 



'Pierre Margry, Docouvertes et Etablissemeuts des Fran^ais, Recit de Nicolas de 

 La Salle, 1(384, p. 553, Paris, 1875. 



