CUSTOMS. 



Pictographs in the writer's possession, to be classed under this very 

 general heading, in addition to those that are more intimately con- 

 nected with other headings, and therefore arranged in other parts of 

 this paper, may be divided into those relating to Associations and those 

 exhibiting details of daily life and habits. 



ASSOCIATIONS. 



It is well known that voluntary associations, generally of a religious 

 character, have existed among the Indians, the members of which are 

 designated by special paintings and marks entirely distinct from those 

 relating to their clan-totems and name-totems. This topic requires too 

 minute details to be entered upon in this paper after the space taken 

 by other divisions. That it may become a feature in the interpretation 

 of pictographs is shown by the following account: 



Dr. W. J. Hoffman obtained a copy of drawings on a pipe-stem, 

 which had been made and used by Ottawa Indians. Both of the flat 

 surfaces bore incisions of figures, which are represented in Figure 120. 

 On each side are four spaces, upon each of which are various charac- 

 ters, three spaces on one side being reserved for the delineation of 

 human figures, each having diverging lines from the head upward, 

 denoting their social status as chiefs or warriors and medicine-men. 



Upon the space nearest the mouth is the drawing of a fire, the flames 

 passing upward from the horizontal surface beneath them. The blue 

 cross-bauds are raised portions of the wood (ash) of which the pipe-stem 

 is made; these show peculiarly shaped openings which pass entirely 

 through the stem, though not interfering with the tube necessary for 

 the passage of the smoke. This indicates considerable mechanical skill. 



Upon each sideof the stem are spaces corresponding in length and posi- 

 tion to those upon the opposite side. In the lower space of the stem is 

 a drawing of a bear, indicating that the two persons in the corresponding 

 space on the opposite side belong to the Bear gens. The next upper 

 figure is that of a beaver, showing the three human figures to belong to 

 the Beaver gens, while the next to this, the eagle, indicates the oppo- 

 site persons to be members of the Eagle gens. The upper figure is that 

 of a lodge, the lodge containing a council fire, shown on the opposite 

 side. 



203 



