i'i-xii! ! 



THE ASSINIBOIN 



441 



lations kept up in the following description is only in large camps : 

 Smaller ones, from 10 to 20 lodges, hunt, every man when he pleases, 

 and, as there are but few persons to feed, they can always have 

 meat in this way; but where the camp is composed of from 50 to 100 

 or 200 lodges this is not the case, as will presently appear. 



Component Parts of a Large Camp 



10. Partisans. 11 



11. Doctors anil conjurors. 



12. Very old men. 



13. Young women. 



14. Old women. 



15. Middle-aged women. 



16. Boys and girls. 



17. Very small children. 



1. The leading chief. 



2. The other chiefs. 



3. Chief of the soldiers. 



4. Cook of the soldiers' lodge. 



5. The soldiers. 



6. The elderly men. ' 



7. The haranguer. 



8. The master of the Park. 



9. Warriors and hunters. 



The ordinary occupations of these several divisions of the camp 

 will now be taken up in order. 



1. The leading Chief, Hoon-gah, being the head, is expected to 

 devote his time to studying the welfare of his people. It is for 

 him to determine where the camp shall be placed and when it should 

 move; if war parties are advisable, and with whom, how many, and 

 at what time ; where soldiers' camps and the soldiers' lodge should be 

 established ; when traders are wanted in camp, or when they shall go 

 to the fort to trade; to call councils on these and all other affairs of 

 general interest. 



2. The other Chiefs, Hoo-gap-pe. These are sometimes counselled 

 privately in their lodges by their leader and their advice followed if 

 correct and according to his views. They sit in council when called, 

 and rank equally with the leader as men, warriors, counsellors, etc., 

 except they do not publicly attempt to lead or act without his knowl- 

 edge and consent. 



3. Chief of the soldiers, Ah-kitche-tah Hoon-gah. This is the 

 head man in the soldiers' lodge; sees to their property therein, 

 whether there is wood, water, tobacco, and meat enough ; opens coun- 

 cils ; sometimes sends invitations for the others to assemble when th^ 

 Chief requests, and on small occasions of his own accord; makes 

 feasts; lights the pipe in large assemblies, and is the nominal head 

 of this active body ; is a highly respected and useful officer in camp. 

 He has much influence with the young warriors and is selected from 

 among the bravest of them. 



4. Cook of the soldiers' lodge. First, Wo-ha-nah: second, Wah- 

 yu-tena. This functionary is also a soldier and a highly respectable 

 officer, ranking next to the Chief of the soldiers. 



u Denig employs the word partisan in the sense of " a leader of a war party." 

 88253°— 30 29 



