DKNIG] TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI 443 



8. Master of the Park, Wo-wee-nah. A park or pen to catch 

 buffalo is not at all times made, though almost every winter there is 

 one or two among the Assiniboin. We will have occasion to refer 

 to this original method of hunting in another place; at present it 

 suffices to say that the person who superintends that employment is 

 some old conjuror or medicine man who is said to make the buffalo 

 appear and to bring them toward the pen. He makes sacrifices to 

 the Wind, the Sun, and to Wakofida, etc., of tobacco, scarlet 

 cloth, and other things; he is a necromancer and is supposed to be 

 possessed of supernatural powers and knowledge; he has from four 

 to six runners under his command whose business it is to discover 

 the buffalo within 20 or 30 miles around, and to report to him. 



9. Young men, Ko-ash-kah-pe. These are a numerous body, some 

 warriors, some hunters, some neither. Those who have killed or 

 struck enemies or stolen many horses from their foes are entitled to 

 sit in the council and are always invited, principally to hear and 

 give their assent or dissent in responses, gestures, etc. They, no 

 doubt, would be allowed to speak but they never do, because those 

 who are older speak, and they are generally the fathers and rela- 

 tions of these young men. In this modesty of deportment they are 

 much to be admired. They always conform to the decisions of the 

 soldiers and the chiefs. The partisans or leaders of war parties are 

 chosen sometimes from these young men, when by their acts they have 

 proved a capacity to lead, though mostly it is one of the soldiers who 

 raises and leads the war expedition. 



The Partisan is in command during the entire expedition, directs 

 their movements, possesses the power of a military captain among 

 the whites, and receives the honors or bears the disgrace of success 

 or failure, his authority in" that capacity ceasing on his return to 

 camp from the war. 



10. Doctors, alias conjurors, alias priests, alias soothsayers, alias 

 prophets. Wah-con-we-chasta. These have been alluded to under the 

 head of " General Practice " in their medical capacity. They are not 

 numerous, form no distinct body, and unite the above talents in the 

 same person. They do many tricks well, also foretell events, in- 

 terpret dreams, utter incantations, medicine speeches and prayers, 

 and cry for the dead, etc. They are believed sincerely by all to 

 possess supernatural powers. The males of this class are sometimes 

 in councils but they have little influence there. Councils are matters 

 of fact and do not admit of their noise and flummery, without which 

 they are ciphers. They are tolerated because somewhat feared, are 

 paid for their services, and by no means rank as very respectable 

 and efficient councillors, warriors, or men. 



11. Very old men. We-chah-chape. These are few. Indians are 

 not long-lived. These are countenanced in private feasts and or- 



