158 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ BULL. 77 
After advancing for several days over the prairie, on June 10,“ At 
sunset we arrived at a smal] creek, eleven miles distant from the vil- 
lage of the Grand Pawnees, where we encamped. On the following 
morning, having arranged the party according to rank, and given 
the necessary Behe pet for the preservation of order, we proceeded 
forward and in a short time came in sight of the first of the Pawnee 
villages. The trace on which we had travelled since we left the Mis- 
souri, had the appearance of being more and more frequented as we 
approached the Pawnee towns; and here, instead of a single footway, 
it consisted of more than twenty parallel paths, of similar size and 
appearance . . . After a ride of about three hours, we arrived 
before the village,.and despatched a messenger to inform the chief 
of our approach. Answer was returned that he was engaged with 
his chiefs and warriors at a medicine feast, and could not, therefore, 
come out to meet us . . . The party which accompanied Major 
Long, after groping about some time, and traversing a considerable 
part of the village, arrived at the lodge of the principal chief. Here 
we were again informed that 7'arrarecawaho, with all the principal 
men of the village, were engaged at a medicine feast. 
“ Notwithstanding his absence, some mats were spread for us upon 
the ground, in the back part of the lodge. Upon these we sat down, 
and after waiting some time, were presented with a large wooden 
dish of hominy, or boiled maize, In this was a single spoon of the 
horn of a bison, large enough to hold half a pint, which, being used 
alternately by each of the party, soon emptied the dish of its con- 
tents.” 
An excellent example of an old spoon similar to the one mentioned 
in the preceding paragraph is shown in plate 42, @ (U.S.N.M. 
12259). It is about 10 inches in length and much worn from long 
use. Unfortunately it is not known when or where it was collected, 
but without doubt it came from the Upper Missouri Valley. 
Continuing the narrative: “The interior of this capacious dwelling 
was dimly lighted from a hole at the top, through which the sun’s 
rays, in a defined column, fell upon the earthen floor. Immediately 
under this hole, which is both window and chimney, is a small depres- 
sion in the centre of the floor, where the fire is made; but the upper 
parts of the lodge are constantly filled with smoke; adding much to 
the air of gloominess and obscurity, which prevail within. The fur- 
niture of Long-hair’s lodge consisted of mats, ingeniously woven of 
grass or rushes, bison robes, wooden dishes, and one or two small 
brass kettles. In the part of the lodge immediately opposite the 
entrance, we observed a rude niche in the wall, which was occupied 
by a bison skull. It appeared to have been exposed to the weather, 
until the flesh and periosteum had decayed, and the bones had become 
white... 
