LOUISIANA. 103 



a chichikois *, which marks the time and the ca- 

 dence. 



The Indians never go to war v/ithout confult- 

 ing their Manitou -)-, to whom they attribute all 

 their good or bad luck. If the Manitou has not 

 been favourajble to them, they quit him without 

 any ceremony, and take another. The chief, 

 before he goes to war, undergoes a very rigid 

 falling, and paints his body black during that 

 time. After the fail, he wafhes himfelf, and 

 paints his body and his face red. He harangues 

 his warriors before the falfe deity, after which 

 every one prepares his baggage. Sometimes 

 they go to war four or five hundred leagues from 

 their own country. 



Their baggage, in time of war, confifls of a 

 bear's fkin, which ferves as a bed ; a wild ox's 

 ilcin, with which they cover themfelves ; a ty- 

 ger-cat's fkin, which ferves as a fack to put the 

 calumet or tobacco-pipe in j a head-breaker or 

 H 4 club ; 



* This is a gourd in which they put a kind of little beads, 

 they likewife fallen fuch beads to their feet. 



f Falfe Indian deity ; fometimes a dried raven or a fnake ; 

 they likewife employ for that purpofe amphibious creature? 

 and (quadrupeds. 



