PREPARATIONS FOR A BISON HUNT. 263 



what must be the direction, the extent and object 

 of their route; whether it would be proper to ascend 

 Running Water Creek, or Spreading Water, or Flat 

 Water, or to hunt the bison between the sources of 

 those streams; or whether they should proceed 

 further towards the Black Hills of the south-west, 

 in pursuit of wild horses ? Having thus disclosed 

 the business of the council, some aged chief calls 

 the attention of the assembly to the subject for 

 which they are convened, advises them to pay atten- 

 tion to the questions thus wisely put, and admonishes 

 them that they have ample cause to return thanks 

 to the Great Wahconda, or Master of Life, for having 

 sent such a man among them. When a proper route 

 is decided on, the criers remove the kettles from the 

 fire, and the food is served round. Each guest returns 

 his acknowledgments to the host with such respect- 

 ful expressions as become his relative position, and 

 Thank you, father, uncle, or younger brother, resounds 

 on all sides. The criers then help themselves out 

 of the kettles, but are careful to leave a portion for 

 those from w r hom they were borrowed. Lastly, 

 when the feast is over, the company quietly with- 

 draw, first the warriors, afterwards the chiefs. The 

 criers next proclaim throughout the village the 

 praises of the host, and communicate to the expect- 

 ing people the resolution of the council. Great 

 preparations are now made, the women are all life 

 and animation; mockasins and garments are seen 

 being mended, household goods packing up, and 

 saddles and dog- sledges getting ready. When the 

 happy day arrives, the horses and dogs are loaded, and 

 after having closed the doors of their several habita- 



