sw.WToN] IXniAX Tllir.F.S OF TIIK LOWF.i; MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 1,35 



the piisL .iiiil icl.ilc llii'ir hi-.-ivcsl Icils nf :ii-iiis: al'lcr w liitli they ni.-ikc jircsnits 

 to tlic Miiil);iss:ul(iis. 'I'lie next day llu-y ait' |icrinil ted for the lirst tiiiic to 

 walk alxiiil tln' villau'c. and every iiii:lil tli«'y make ontortaiimionts for tlieiii, 

 which consist of iiothiiij; iiu'ie tliaii daiict^s. Wlieii th»'y take tiieir departure 

 tile master of ceremonies sn|i|ilies tliem witli all tlie j^rovisions tliey may want 

 for their journey, and this is always at tlie expense of private persons." 



From Lo Pot i ( : 



Wlien any foreiu'u nalion cnnies to treat of peaic willi llie .Natcliez savaj^es 

 th(\v send tlieir couriers lo u'ive notice of tlie day and liour when they shall 

 make their I'utrance. The j,'reat chief orders the masters of ceremony to 

 pi-epai-e :ill tliiujis for this .u'raud occasion. They Ite^'in l)y namiuix those who 

 during; each day should suitport the stranjiers, for the expense never falls ui)on 

 the chief, hut always on his suhjects. Then thej- clear the road.s, they sweep 

 the cahius. they arraniie the seats in a lartre hall.'' which is on the mound of 

 the Kivat chief by the side of his cabin. His throne, which is on an elevation, 

 is painted and ornamented, and the bottom is furnished with b(>antiful mats. 



On the day that the ambassadors are to make their entrance, all the n.ation 

 assembles. The masters of ceremony ]ilaci> the princes, the chiefs of th«> vil- 

 lages, and the old chiefs of quality neai' th;' great chief on particular seats. 

 When the amb.issadi>rs ari'ive. .and are within .")00 steps of the great chief, 

 they stop and chant the sJong of peace. The ambassage ordinarilj' consists 

 of 30 men and (J women. Six of those who have the best figures and the linest 

 voices m.arcli in front; they are followed by the others who cli.ant in like manner. 

 regulating the cadence with the sicicouct. The six women are the last. 



When the chief has directed them to approach they advance, those who have 

 the calumets chant and dance with much agility, now turning around each 

 other, and now presenting themselves iu front, but always with violent move- 

 ments and extraordinary contortions. When they have entered the circle 

 they dance about the chair on which the chief is seated, they, rub him with 

 their calumets from his feet even to his head, and after tliat go back to tind 

 those wlio belong to their suite. Then they fill one of their calumets with 

 tobacco, and holding the fire in one hand, they advance all together before the 

 chief and smoke it; they direct the first puff of smoke toward the heavens, 

 the second toward the earth, and the others around the horizon, after whicli 

 they without ceremony present the pipe to tlie princes and to the otiier chiefs. 



The ceremony having been finished, the ambassadors, as a token of alliance, 

 rub their hands on the stomach of the chief, and rub themselves over the whole 

 body, they then place their calumets before tlie chief on small forks, while the 

 person among the ambassadors who is particularly charged with the orders 

 of his nation, delivers a harangue which lasts for an entire hour. When he 

 has finished they make a sign to the strangers to be seated on the benches 

 arranged near the great cliief, who responds to them by a discourse of equal 

 length. Then the master of ceremonies lights the great calumet of peace, and 

 makes the strangers smoke, who swallow the tobacco smoke. The great chief 

 inquires of them whether they arrived safely — that is, whether they are well — 

 and those who are around them go one after the other to discharge the sann- 

 office of politeness, after which they conduct them to the cabin which has been 

 prepared for them, and where they are feasted. 



That same evening at sunset the ambassadors, witli the calumet in their 

 hands, go with singing to find tlu^ great chief, and having raised him on their 

 shoulders, they transport him to the quarter in whicli their cabin is situated. 



» Charlevoix in French, Hist. Coll. La., lGt)-170, 1851. * Not mentioned elsewhere. 



