112 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [i-.ull. 43 



imitate the warriors by tlieir cries of joy. lu a word, tlie general happiness is 

 so lively ami so natural that it offers an interesting spectacle, and I avow 

 sincerely that I have taken as much pleasure in this mimic wavfare as in any 

 comic piece I have ever seen presented at the theater. It is certainly true 

 that a battle of this kind fixes the attention of the spectator extremely, because 

 it is only a pantomime, and, besides the gestures, it is necessary to know how 

 to distinguish the different cries. 



The great Sun, having been led back to his cabin, rests there and recovers 

 fi'om the violent movements he has gone through with, which are such that 

 an actor of 30 would have difficulty in sustaining them for such a long time. 

 Nevertheless, this prince was more than 90 years old. While he rests the war- 

 riors who had represented the enemies reenter among the people by groups, 

 and, pretending to be ignorant whether their sovereign is wounded or not, 

 because they do not see him appear, utter sighs so plaintive that they draw 

 pity from strangers. This entire spectacle is very amusing, .and not being 

 entirely satisfied with what the chief of the guardians of the temple told me 

 about them I wished to see these feasts with my own eyes, and I have seen 

 them more than once. 



Scarcely has the great Sun rested half an hour when he comes out without 

 his crown. Then the cries of joy and respectful salutation are heard from 

 all sides, but they cease as soon as they see him take the road to the temple. 

 He stops in the middle of the open space opposite the temple, before which he 

 makes a kind of obeisance, bending very low, and without bending his knees he 

 .takes up a little earth which he throws on his head, and then turns successively 

 toward the four quarters of the earth, doing the same thing in each direction. 

 Then, without changing his position, he looks fixedly at the temple, which he 

 has to the south of him, he extends his arms horizontally (or in a cross) and 

 remains without more movement than that of a statue. He remains in this 

 attitude about half an hour. Then the grand master of ceremonies comes to 

 relieve him and do the same thing. This one is himself relieved at the end of 

 ;i similar period of time by the great war chief, who remains there equally 

 long. 



During the kind of prayer which the prince makes a profound silence is 

 preserved, and when he has reenterefl his cabin plaintive cries begin again 

 and cease only when the two chiefs have completed their ceremony, because 

 then the great chief comes out of his cabin, dressed with the ornaments which 

 proclaim his dignity, which are the crown or feather diadem which I have 

 described in the article on clothing.'* A necklace of large pearls and feathers 

 hangs from the diadem. They bring his throne, which is a large stool with four 

 feet made from one piece of wood. As soon as the sovereign appears on his 

 throne cries of happiness are heard and last until the end of the feast. This 

 throne is covered with a beautiful skin, well painted and ornamented with 

 different designs. He seats himself on his throne, and the warriors cover his 

 shoulders with a beautiful bison robe and his feet with many peltries. The 

 women make him presents of different kinds, uttering meanwhile loud cries of 

 joy, and the last who brings them terminates the feast. 



All these ceremonies outside being finished, the Suns conduct the sovereign 

 back into his cabin. If there are strangers, he has them invited to e;it. One 

 can rest by taking a walk until evening if he wishes to see the dance, which 

 takes place on every feast day in the cabin of the great Sun.'' 



" See pp. 106-107. *Du Pratz, Hist, de La Louisianc, ii, 355-oGl. 



