SWANTuNl IXIHAN TRT15KS OI' rili: I,f )\Vi:i! MISSISSIIMM XAIJ.KV 1,37 



lliis inht' li.iii;:s M liiiiicli III" wliitc :iii(] red rciillici-s .•irniiii.'t'd in .-i lull, .il llic 

 fiid 111' wliicli jnf faslciicd Ilic Iim'hs (d' -a liorsc Uillcd in \v;ii-. piiiulcd in llic 

 SMiiif way Willi xcniiilinii. (die nf llic ends id' lliis liilic is provided willi a 

 pipe, uiadt' soiiictiiiics in ono fasliioii, soinctiiiics in anollu'i", tirdinarily of a red 

 s(on«> winch looks liUe coral; soniclinics. however, of a hlack slone closely 

 r(>seniltliii>: innrhle." Such is the famous caluniel, and here are Hie ccrcnionies 

 with which It is accompanied when one fiives it. 



Let us suppose thai a party of IT* to 20 savases leaves its village to go to 

 present the calumet to the chief of some other nation, witli the intention of 

 asking from him the continuation of his frieiulshii), or of obtaining assistance 

 against their enemies, or for some other reason, whatever it may he. This 

 parly having ariived near the village where it has planuetl to go. immediately 

 depules a courier to go in ihc chief in order to declare t(» him the intention 

 tliey have of coming to preseiil llic calumet to liim, ami to ask of him permis- 

 sion to enter his village. 'I'lie visit is ordinarily accei)ted. and the ch-puty 

 returns immediately to inform his trooi) of it. which, after his report. ]irepares 

 for the cercniniiy which is to be gone through with next day. Meanwhile all 

 the women of the village ;ire busy ci'iishing maize and making other prei)ara- 

 timis iiecess.iiy lor llie reci'plinii of these strangers. The latter on their side 

 prepare themselves suitably. Some dau)> their faces with red. Others have one 

 side of the face red and the other black. Some are covered only with a shirt 

 open at the neck, without stockings or drawers. M.any are absohitely naked, 

 having for their entire clothing only the breechcloth. All have their heads ornii- 

 niented with feathers of different colors. They even wear them in their ears, 

 which are pierced, with rattles hanging from their belts, sometimes even bell.s, 

 and tails' of horses hanging behind them. They dress themselves magnificently 

 according to themselves, and accoi'ding to us like veritable masqueraders. 



The next day at earliest dawn this entire ti'oop begins to march, having at 

 its head the most skillful among them, who bears the calumet, and as soon as 

 they approach the village all begin to sing and dance. One of them carries 

 in his left hand an earthen pot covered with a dressed deer skin stretched 

 tightly over this iiot, around which it is fastened with a cord; and. with a 

 single drumstick, which he holds in his right hand, he beats time on this pot, 

 which serves him as a drum. All answer him with cries which they utter in 

 cadence. Some bear chichicoiias [rattles] or empty calabashes, in which are 

 some beads or little stones to make a noise, and move them at the same time 

 in cadence. However, the one who bears the calumet makes it si)ring about, 

 sometimes low down, sometimes in' the air, making a thousand different con- 

 tortions with his legs and his entire body, and advancing continually toward 

 the cabin of the chief whom they wish to honor. He is followed by those who 

 bear the presents. Arrived finally at the cabin they f^nd this chief seated with 

 his legs crossed, surrounded iiy all his officers — that is to say, warriors and 

 Honored men. The one who bears the calumet liaving filled the pipe with to- 

 bacco presents the tube end of the pii)e to the mouth of the chief, holding a 

 lighted coal to the tobacco. The chief lights the pipe and draws two or three 

 mouthfuls. after which the calumet passes to all the spectators from hand to 

 hand, or rather from mouth to mouth. During this time the i)resents which 

 it is d<'sired to offer are placed before the chief. These are ordinarily dressed 

 bison and deer skins, bear's oil. simietimes erne or two slaves. Finally the 

 calumet comes back to the one w'ho had presented it, who smokes last, after 

 which there is a great silence. Then the bearer of the calumet harangues the 



" The same author says that the skins of certain small snakes " not larger than a 

 writing-pen." and " spoekled with yellow, whito. and red." were used to cover these 

 calumets. — Dr.MoxT, Mem. Hist, sur La Louisiane, i, 110-111. 



