THE CEREMONIAL USE OF TOBACCO. 179 



tribe possesses but two sacred pipes, which are in the keeping of a 

 certain gens, though seven gentes are said to have once possessed 

 pipes which were reserved for ceremonial usages. The two now 

 in existence are called sacred pipes, or red pipes, and are made of 

 the famous red pipestone. The filling of the pipes is not done by 

 the keepers, but by a man of another gens ; and, when this official 

 does not go to the council, the pipes can not be smoked, since no 

 one else can fill them. The ancient ritual for this ceremonial fill- 

 ing of the pipes must not be heard, so he sends all the others out 

 of the lodge. He utters some words when he cleans out the bowl, 

 others when he fills it. The pipes are then lighted by the keep- 

 er, and are ready for use. In opening, handling, smoking, and 

 emptying them certain regulations must be carefully observed. 

 Any violation of these laws they believe will be followed by 

 the death of the offender. In smoking they blow the smoke up- 

 ward, saying, " Here, Wakanda, is the smoke." If the presence 

 of enemies renders necessary the sending out of scouts, the pipes 

 are filled and offered to them, and they are solemnly admonished 

 to report on their return only the exact truth, and to be careful 

 to observe well. When the first thunder is heard in the spring 

 the sacred pipes are filled and held toward the sky, while the 

 thunder-god is admonished to depart and cease from frightening 

 his grandchildren. In the time of a fog the men of the Turtle sub- 

 gens draw on the ground the figure of a turtle with its face toward 

 the south. On the head, tail, middle of the back, and on each leg 

 are placed small pieces of breechcloth with some tobacco. This 

 is to make the fog disappear. Should an enemy appear in the 

 lodge and put the pipe in his mouth, he can not be injured by 

 any member of the tribe, as he is bound for the time by the laws 

 of hospitality, and must be protected and sent to his home in 

 safety. These Indians use the pipe when declaring war and when 

 making peace. Among the Poncas at the election of chiefs, the 

 chiefs-elect must put the sacred pipes to their mouths and inhale 

 the smoke. If they should refuse to inhale it they would die, it 

 is thought, before the end of the year. The election of Omaha 

 chiefs is similar. 



Major J. W. Powell states that when the Wyandot tribal coun- 

 cil meets, the chief of a certain gens fills and lights a pipe, sending 

 one puff of smoke to the heavens and another to the earth. The 

 pipe is then handed to the sachem, who fills his mouth with smoke, 

 and, turning from left to right with the sun, slowly puffs it out 

 over the heads of the councilors who are sitting in a circle. He 

 then hands the pipe to the man on his left, and it is smoked in turn 

 by each person until it has passed around the circle, after which 

 the sachem explains the object for which the council was called. 



A possible evidence of the religious veneration with which the 



