MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 



471 



day-break, some Indians came to 

 our camp from tlievillage, amongst 

 whom was my friend the young 

 warrior. As 1 happened to be on 

 guard, he came to me, and by 

 signs invited me to go and break- 

 fast with him. Wliilst we were 

 sitting together, he suddenly 

 jumped up, and pointed to the 

 blutfs, at the distance of three or 

 four miles down the river. On 

 looking, 1 observed a numerous 

 crowd of Indians. He gave me 

 to understand that it was a war 

 party on their return, and imme- 

 diately ran to the village. In a 

 few minutes tiie tops of the lodges 

 were crowded with Indians, who 

 appeared nmch agitated. Soon 

 after an Indian galiopped past our 

 camp, who I understand was a 

 chief. In a few minutes after- 

 wards parties began to come out 

 of the vilhige, on their way to 

 meet the wairiors, or rather to 

 join them, as it is the custom fur 

 a war party to wait at a distance 

 from the village when a victory 

 has been gained, that tlieir friends 

 may join in the parade of a tri- 

 umphal entry ; and on sucli occa- 

 sions all their finery and decora- 

 tions are displayed : i;ome time 

 also is recpiisite to enable the war- 

 riors at home and theii' fiiends to 

 paint themselves, so .is to ap])ear 

 wiih proper eclat. During the 

 time that eia[)sed before the ar- 

 rival of the procession, 1 walked 

 into the village, where an uni- 

 versal stilhiess prevailed. No bu- 

 siness seemed to be going on, 

 evceptiiig ll»e j)iepaiing of some- 

 thing for the warriors to eat on 

 tlicir return. Tiie scpiaws were 

 employed in that business in all 

 the lodges into which I entered, 

 and I noticed that r.of one of tlie 



poor sijuaws soemed in the least 

 solicitous about her own person : 

 they are too insignificant to be 

 thought an appendage to a 

 triumph. It was nearly the mid- 

 dle of the day before the proces- 

 sion came in sight, when I went 

 to meet it, in order that my view 

 might be prolonged. A number 

 of the old men and squaws were 

 also moving down from the town, 

 to meet them. At the head of the 

 procession were foiu- standard- 

 bearers, followed by a band of 

 warriors on foot ; after which 

 came a party on horseback : to 

 these succeeded two of the prin- 

 cipal chiefs, betwixt whom was a 

 young warrior, who I undeistood 

 had been severely wounded. Then 

 came two other standard-bearers, 

 who were succeeded by another 

 band of foot and horse, which 

 order was observed until the four 

 bands of which the party consisted 

 had passed. Tiiey weie about 

 300 in number: each man carried 

 a shield ; a few were armed with 

 guns, some with bows, anil others 

 with war clubs. They were painted 

 in a mannei' that seemed as if they 

 had studied to make tliemselves 

 hideous. Many of them liad the 

 mark which indicates that they 

 had drank the blood of an enemy. 

 This mark is made by lubbiiig the 

 hand all over with vei'milion, and 

 by laying it on the mouth, it leaves 

 a comijlete impression on the face, 

 which is designed to resemble and 

 indicate a bloody hand. Witli 

 e\ery band some scalps were car- 

 ried, elevated on long sticks ; but 

 it was easy to perceive, on a close 

 examination, that the scalps had 

 been divided, to increase the aj)- 

 })arent nuiid)er. The ninnber of 

 the enemy that wore killed we 



supposed 



