io8 RED INDIANS 



ponies, and holding them on herd. For better 

 hunting and convenience in herding, they 

 moved about three hundred miles to the south- 

 ward out on the open prairies, but well within 

 sight of the Rocky Mountains, which made a 

 stronghold in the event of disaster, a hunting 

 ground in seasons of scarcity. The}^ took to 

 bison hunting for a livelihood. 



The daily bathing, winter and summer, in a 

 very brisk climate, the sweat baths which 

 preceded all rehgious rites, the freedom from 

 vermin, the chastity of the women, the valour 

 of the men, the purit}^ and spirituahty of their 

 life, their wonderful psychic development, and 

 hypnotic medical practice distinguished the 

 Blackfeet even am^ong the glorious tribes of that 

 region. In grace and endurance as horsemen 

 they have not been equalled in our time. 

 Young warriors were trained in the ordeal of 

 fasting and prayer in soHtude until they had 

 contact with the unseen ; next in the ordeal by 

 torture ; and last in the ordeal of war. A 

 warrior assembled a party of young men, and 

 after they had been purified and blessed, they 

 took the war path, mounted, or more often 

 afoot into the territory of some neighbouring 

 tribe, such as the Gros Ventre, Absaroka, 

 Sioux or Crees. Their mission was to enter 



