Robber Dogs and an Indian Council 61 



drivers securely fastened their dogs with a 

 stick and two thongs in the manner de- 

 scribed elsewhere. The village was so in- 

 fested with hungry looking dogs, that we 

 decided our only safe way was to put our 

 sleds and loads not needed upon an empty 

 fish staging at least eight feet above the 

 ground. Here they were fortunately safe. 



The great council was not held until all 

 had returned to their wigwams and had 

 their evening meal. Then the important 

 gathering took place. These Indians had 

 built a log council house which would hold 

 several hundred people. When I was es- 

 corted into it, the sight was picturesque in 

 the extreme. Near the centre on a raised 

 platform of earth the council fire was burn- 

 ing. Grouped around it were the chiefs and 

 principal men of that band of Indians, as 

 well as some distinguished visitors from 

 other places, who had come for information 

 on this important question, which was agi- 

 tating the minds of many Indians of the dif- 

 ferent tribes. All had brought out their 

 finest Indian costumes and many were gor- 

 geously arrayed. 



The calumet, or pipe of peace, was then 

 lit with a good deal of ceremony. After be- 



