NARKATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 155 



of the garrison and the expedition. The ceremonies were con- 

 ducted under the auspices of the U. S. Indian Agent, Mr. Ta- 

 liaferro. Every attention was given to make these ceremonies 

 impressive, by a compliance with the Aboriginal customs on these 

 occasions, and it is hoped not without leaving permanent eflects 

 on their minds. 



The pipe employed by the native diplomatists, in these negotia- 

 tions, is invested with a symbolic and sacred character, as if the 

 fumes of the weed were offered, in the nature of frankincense, to 

 the Deity. The genuflections with which it is presented, more 

 than the words expressed, countenance this idea. The bowl of 

 the pipe used on this occasion consisted of the well-known red 

 pipe-stone, called opwagonite,* so long known in Indian history as 

 being brought from the Coteau des Prairies. It is furnished with 

 a wooden stem two or three feet long, and two and a half inches 

 broad, shaved down thin so as to resemble a spatula. It is then 

 painted with certain blue or green clays, and ornamented with 

 braids of richly dyed porcupine quills, or the holcus fragrans, and 

 the tuft feathers of the male duck or red-headed woodpecker. 

 These state pipes are usually presented by the speakers as me- 

 morials of the speeches, and laid aside by the officials having 

 charge of Indian affairs. Col. Leavenworth presented us with 

 some of these carefully ornamented diplomatic testimonials. 



I obtained from the Sioux some very carefully moulded pyra- 

 midal-shaped pieces of the blue and green clays from the valley 

 of the St. Peter's, which they employ in painting their pipe-stems 

 and persons. The coloring matter of these appears to be carbon- 

 ate of copper. It is brought from the Blue Earth Eiver. I also 

 obtained from the Indians very small and carefully tied leathern 

 bags of the red oxide of iron, which they obtain in the state of a 

 dry, powdery mass, on the prairies near the Big Stone. The 

 Indians brought me, from the same region, crystals of salt, scraped 

 up from the margin of certain waters on the prairies, of a dark 

 cast, mixed with impurities. The tendency of these crystals to 

 assume a cubic form was quite distinct. The most interesting 

 development, in the mineralogical way, consisted of small lumps 

 of native copper, which I obtained on an eminence on the banks 



* Schoolcraft's View of the Lead Mines of Alissouri. Scenes and Adventures in 

 the Ozark Mountains, the Catlinitc of Dr. Jackson. 



