442 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [BTH.ANN.« 



Eating being one of the Indian's most important occupations, the 

 care of the meat, choice of the parts, and separation of the whole 

 depending upon him, the station becomes at once of consequence and 

 requires a determined man. On feasting, which in that lodge is going 

 on every night, if not every day, he dishes out the meat into wooden 

 bowls and gives to each the parts he chooses. Of a dog, the head, 

 paws, and grease — bouillon — are the most honorable parts. There 

 is great etiquette shown in this respect, and it is too long a story to 

 record when there is so much yet to be written. 



5. The soldiers, Ah-kitche-tah. These are the bravest and most 

 orderly men of from 25 to 35 years of age. They have been and are 

 still warriors and leaders of parties to war, are chosen expressly to 

 carry out the decrees of the council, even at the risk of their lives, 

 to punish people for raising the buffalo, setting the prairie on fire, 

 govern the camp, protect whites and strangers of other nations in 

 camp, entertain and feast the same, arrange preliminaries of peace, 

 trade, and generally to aid their chief in carrying out his views and 

 decisions of council. 



6. Elderly men, We-chap-pe. These may be called the body of the 

 camp, being men of family, about 40 years old, have been warriors 

 and soldiers when younger, but have abandoned these occupations, 

 devote their time to hunting, are still good hunters, try to amass 

 horses and other property by making robes, endeavor to get their 

 daughters married well, send their sons to hunt or to war. 



They are respectable, quiet, peaceable men, among their own peo- 

 ple, content to follow their leader and obey the council, rank as coun- 

 cillors when they wish, are always invited though but few attend 

 except on interesting occasions. 



7. The Public Crier. First name, Ponkewichakeah : second, Hoon- 

 kee-yah. This is some elderly or middle-aged man who has a strong 

 voice and a talent for haranguing. He answers the purpose of the 

 daily newspaper of the whites. A little before daybreak he walks 

 around and through the camp different times every morning, calling 

 upon the young men to get up and look after their horses and arms, to 

 go on the hills and look for buffaloes, watch if there be any signs of 

 enemies about — to the women to get up to bring wood and water, cook, 

 dress hides, etc. If any news has been received in camp the day before 

 or any councils held, he now states the results. Whenever the camp 

 is to be moved or hunts made, or enemies seen, or councils to be held, 

 this man publishes it in this way. He is in fact their publisher and 

 a useful man, doing more to preserve order and induce unanimity of 

 action than any other, is entitled to eat and smoke in any lodge he 

 happens to enter without invitation, receives many small presents, 

 and is a general favorite for the trouble he gives himself. 



