[WILSON] THE SACRIFICIAL RITE OF THE BLACKFOOT 13 



fireplace surrounded by a circle of stones. The sleeping places of the 

 inmates are arranged end to end, next to the walls of the structure, 

 leaving a clear passage entirely around the fireplace, for the con- 

 venience of moving about. 



The temporary altar is built on the west side, directly opposite 

 the entrance, and in the passage referred to. Midway between the fire 

 and the bed in the west, a piece of the sod floor about two feet square 

 is cleared, by cutting away the grass level with the ground, over which 

 is then spread to the depth of about half an inch or less, some light 

 coloured clay taken from a neighbouring cliff. In the centre of the 

 square patcli of clay thus formed a conical heap of the same material 

 is piled to the height of six or eight inches. Along the western edge 

 of the square of clay are placed in a row four large discs of dried cow 

 dung, — a substitute for the buffalo " chips " of the good old days, — 

 and on top of the row of " chips " is spread a quantity of Artemisia. 

 So much of the preparation of the altar is done without ceremony and 

 it is now ready for the beginning of proceedings. The host's pipes 

 are produced and laid near the altar together with his tobacco board 

 upon which he has cut up a quantity of tobacco mixed, according to 

 thje custom of these Indians, with the leaves of the bear berry, 

 (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi) artificially dried for that purpose. The 

 following articles are also procured and placed upon the Artemisia for 

 future use, viz :— three little bags containing respectively, red earth, 

 pulverized charcoal, and yellow ochre, a braided and dried bunch of 

 sweet grass or holy grass (Hierochloa borealis), a portion of the root of 

 the " big turnip" (Ferula dissoluta), a small piece of fat meat, a single 

 eagle tail feather, and a forked fire stick cut from the tree of the ser- 

 vice berry (Amelanohier alnifolia) and used in all Blackfoot rites as a 

 substitute for tongs, to convey hot coals from the lodge fire to tlie altar. 



In the above arrangement of the altar the buffalo " chips '^ repre- 

 sent the ancient fuel of the prairie Indians. No satisfactory explana- 

 tion is obtainable regarding the Artemisia, which is extensively used in 

 Blackfoot ceremonial observances. The conical mound of clay is said 

 to represent a light cloud in th|e sky, the sky itself being symbolised in 

 the square patch of ^^hite clay on the ground. The Ferula dissoluta is 

 a favourite root of these people who consider it "good medicine," a 

 drink is sometimes made from it by breaking the root into small pieces 

 which are then boiled in water, and it is also used as incense by placing 

 bits of it on a coal fire, causing a smoke which is inhaled by the Indians 

 with great relish. 



The gmests are now arriving, each man being usually accompanied 

 by his wife, who carries two little pans or plates, formerly wooden 



