136 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 43 



Tliey spread on the j^rouiicl n lar^e skin, on which they cause him to sit. One 

 of them places himself behind him, and, putting his hands on the chiefs 

 shoulders, he agitates all his body, while the others, seated in a circle on the 

 ground, chant the history of their distinguished deeds. After this ceremony, 

 which is repeated night and morning for four days, the great chief returns to 

 his cabin. When he pays his last visit to the ambassadors these place a stake 

 at his feet about which they seat themselves. The warriors of the nation hav 

 ing arranged themselves in all their tinery, dance around, striking the stake, 

 and in turn recounting their great exploits. Then follows the giving of presents 

 to the ambassadors, which consist of kettles, hatchets, guns, powder, balls, etc. 



The day following this last ceremony it is permitted to the ambassadors to 

 walk through the wliole village, which before they were not able to do. Then 

 every evening they give them spectacles — tliat is to say, the men and women in 

 their most beautiful dresses assemble at the public place and dance until the 

 niglit is far advanced. When they are ready to retui'n home the masters of 

 the ceremonies furnish them witli the provisions necessary for the journey." 



Du Pratz's description of the calumet has been given in speaking 

 of war customs,'' Of the peace-making ceremonies themselves he 

 says : 



When the natives are tired of making war, or i-ather when they are unable, on 

 account of their sinall number, to resist tlieir enemies, tliey address themselves 

 to a neutral nation friendly to those with whom they desire to make ])eace. 

 They go with the calumet to tliis nation through countries whicli are not fre- 

 quented. They bring with tliem some slaves which they liave taken during 

 tliis war. Tliey give these slaves to this people with presents in order to i)ur- 

 chase peace by means of these messengers, to whom it is accorded, because 

 ordinarily these mediators take the part of the suppliants, liring them to their 

 own homes and adopt them as I have said before, in order to make only one 

 nation under a single name.'" If, on the contrary, the enemies accept tlie peace 

 which is proposed to them through the neutral nation, the suppliants go to 

 carry the peace calumet and presents [to them]. In this manner peace is 

 concluded.*^ 



From Dumont: 



* * * There are few persons wlio have not heard of the famous calumet of 

 peace. It was formerly the symbol of friendship among the savages, and with 

 this passi)ort one miglit travel in safety among all these barbarous nations. 

 But I would not advise one to trust it now. The sad experience which our 

 French people have had with it, as I will tell presently, proves that the savages 

 often abuse this sign of peace to execute the blackest and most barbarous 

 designs. However, because this calumet is yet very celebrated among them, I 

 am going to give a description of it, as well as of the ceremonies which accom- 

 pany it. 



The calumet is a wooden tube pierced throughout its entire length, which is 

 of about 4 feet, painted ordinarily in diffei'ent colors, and ornamented at inter- 

 vals with porcupine quills usually dyed red or yellow. From tlie middle of 



" Lc Petit In .Tos. Rel., lxviii, 15G-1G:!. 



> See p. 128. 



•■ " When a nation is enfeel)lod by war it retires to another which desires to adopt it. 

 Then if one pursues the nation tliat has i-etired to tlie otlier it is to declare war on that 

 that has adopted the first." — Dn Pratz, Hist, de La Louisiane, iiij 402. 



" Ibid., II, 4;!G-4;i7 ; see also p. 128. 



