SOURCE OP ST. Peter's RivEn. 41!) 



they are all collected, the two founders state to them that 

 the object of the meeting is to form a company of " the 

 Dauntless," and they advise them to prepare their dresses, 

 which generally requires about a fortnight. In the mean- 

 while, the two founders prepare the lodge of the association, 

 which none but its members are suffered to enter. 



When all the members are collected together, they com- 

 mence their songs and dances, and their fasts which last 

 three days, during which time they reside in the lodge, 

 but occasionally sally out to sing and dance in the camp. 

 This fast is of the most strict nature, as they dare take nei- 

 ther food nor drink during the three days. One of the 

 most striking features of the association is, that it is limit- 

 ed in its duration, and that its activity is suspended by the 

 death of any one of its members. The duty which it en- 

 joins is not destruction to its enemies, but the rushing into 

 danger with songs and dances. It matters not whether 

 they inflict any injury upon the enemy at the time. In- 

 deed, as long as the association is in activity, they cannot 

 kill one, for it is one of their obligations to go out unarm- 

 ed. A society of this kind sometimes continues actively 

 employed for a whole year, during which time its mem- 

 bers cannot provide themselves with food or drink, but 

 they must wait until it is offered to them by their friends. 

 When a person once enters into the Nanpashene, he is 

 bound to it for life ; for although its duration is limited, yet 

 it may be renewed at the call of any of its members, in 

 which case all are bound to join in ; but during the term 

 of its suspension, each may act for himself as he pleases. 

 It is not always that an Indian is willing to enter into this 

 society, for though it is held in high honour, yet it requires 

 a more than usual courage to expose one's self passively to 

 the greatest dangers, under a strict obligation,, which none 



