506 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



8 inches long and 3 inches high, its stem being 4 feet long, with a pretty- 

 band wound around it, with porcupine quills and white corals worked 

 into the band, in which latter work the women endeavor to show 

 their skill.' The people of whom he spoke were the Delawares and 

 Iroquois. 



In the extreme northwest of the continent, Mackenzie, in 1792, gave 

 the natives of the l*eace Kiver a pipe as a token of peace, just as all his 

 predecessors had done throughout the continent for one hundred and 

 fifty or more years.- He also informs us that among the Crees even the . 

 funeral rights begin with smoking, as do all other solemn ceremonies, 

 and conclude with a feast. ' 



Mackenzie says a contract which is solemnized by the ceremony of 

 smoking never fails of being faithfully fulfilled, and if a person previous 

 to going on a journey leaves the sacred stem as a pledge of his return, 

 no consideration whatever will prevent him executing his engagement.^ 



One of the most careful and particular accounts of Indian smok- 

 ing which has come down to us; is that of Mackenzie describing its 

 practice among the Kinsteneaax. He says: ''The owner of the dwell- 

 ing opens his medicine bag, which contains a piece of Brazil tobacco, 

 several roots and simples, which are in great estimation, and a pipe. 

 These articles being exposed and the stem resting upon two forks, as 

 it must not touch the ground, the master of the lodge sends for the 

 person he most esteems, who sits down opjiosite to him. The pipe is 

 then filled and fixed to the stem. A pair of wooden pincers are provided 

 to put the fire in the pipe, and a double-pointed pin to emi^ty it of the 

 remains of tobacco which is not consumed. This arrangement being 

 made, the men assemble and sometimes the women are allowed to be 

 humble spectators, while the most religious awe and solemnity per- 

 vades the whole. The assistant takes up the pipe and presents it to 

 the officiating person, who receives it standing, and holds it between 

 both his hands. He then turns himself to the east and draws a few 

 whiffs, which he blows to that point; the same ceremony he observes 

 to the other three (juarters, with his eyes directed upward through the 

 whole of it; he holds the stem about the middle, between the three 

 first fingers of both hands, and raising them upon a line with his fore- 

 head he swings it three times around with the sun, when, after pointing 

 it and balancing it in various directions, he reposes it on the forks. 

 The assistant then takes up the pipe and holds it to the north of the 

 oflQciating person, who, after smoking three whift's out of it, utters 

 a short iH'ayer, and then goes around with it, taking his course from 

 the east to west, to every person present, who individually says some- 

 thing to him on the occasion, and thus the pipe is generally smoked 

 out. After turning it three or four times around his head he drops it 

 downward and replaces it in its original situation."'' 



' Georg Heiurich Loskiel, Geschiclite der Mission der Evangel isclien Briider, 

 p. 202, Barl.y, 1789. 



"Alexandei" Mackenzie, 'N'^oyage from Montreal through the Continent of North 

 America, p. 124. 



^Ideni. p. xciv. "i Idem, p. xcvili. ''Idem, p. xcvii. 



