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PICTOGRAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



This unique diplomatic packet consists of several articles of symbolic import. The 

 first is the official and ceremonial offer of the peace-pipe. This is symbolized by a 

 joint of the maize, five and a half inches long, and half an inch in diameter. The 

 hollow of the tube is rilled by leaves of a plant -which represents tobacco. It is 

 stopped to secure the weed from falling out, by the downy yellow under plumage of 

 some small bird. Externally, around the center of the stalk, is a tie of white cotton 

 twisted string of four strands, (not twisted by the distaff,) holding, at its end, a small 

 tuft of the before-mentioned downy yellow feathers, and a small wiry feather of the 

 same species. The interpreter has written ou this, "The pipe to be smoked by the 

 President." * * The object is represented iu thecut, A, [represented in Fignre6b\] 



Fig. 1)3.— Part of diplomatic packet. 



The second symbol consists of two small columnar round pieces of wood, four and 

 a half inches long, and four-tenths in diameter, terminating in a cone. The cone is 

 one and a half inches long, and is colored black; the rest of the pieces are blue; a 

 peace color among the Indians south, it seems, as well as north. This color has the 



Fig. 64. — Part of diplomatic packet. 



Fig. 65. — Part of diplomatic packet. 



appearance of being produced by the carbonate of copper mixed with aluminous 

 earth ; and reminds one strongly of the blue clays of the Dacotahs. The wood, when 

 cut, is white, compact, and of a peculiar species. A notch is cut at one end of one of 



