190 TRAVEL S THRouGii 



The next day I faw a great croud in the plain : 

 this afiembly was for making a dance in favour 

 of their new Manitou ; the priefts were drelled 

 in a remarkable manner : their bodies were co- 

 vered with a clay in which they had made 

 burlefque drawings, and their faces were painted 

 red, blue, white, yellow, green and black. The 

 high prieft had a bonnet of feathers, like a 

 crown on his head, and a pair of horns of a 

 wild goat, * to fet the feathers off. I own the 

 appearance of this prelate tempted me to laugh ; 

 but as thefe ceremonies are ferious, one muft 

 take care, not to burft out, becaufe it would be 

 reckoned a want of religion, and an indecent 

 adbion amongft them : nor do the Indians ever 

 interrupt the Roman Catholics, in the exercife 

 of religion. But what a fight prefented itfelf 

 to my eyes ; I faw a living monfler confidered 

 as a divinity : 1 was at the door of the temple 

 of this falfe deity ; the mailer of the ceremo- 

 nies begged me to go in •, I was not yet fufEci- 

 ently acquainted with their cufloms, and ihewed 

 fome reludlance, but one of the Indians who ac- 

 companied me, perceiving it, told me, that if I 

 did not go in, the people would take it as an of- 

 fence, 

 i.-^ > , ^ 



^ Thefe animals are found at the Mi/ouris, their horns are 

 of a iine black, and bent backwards. 



