446 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ANN. 46 



consultations in private lodges previous to meeting in councils, but 

 these do not appear to influence the opinions of any, further than 

 thereby getting a thorough acquaintance of the subject, and prepar- 

 ing their minds for a speech, and not much idea can be formed in 

 this way of the popularity of the question until it meets public dis- 

 cussion in the council. Neither are these private councils held with 

 that view but are merely conversations regarding the importance of 

 the subject and something to talk about, which is always desirable in 

 an Indian camp. They are obstinate in adhering to a formed opin- 

 ion and not easily moved by oratory or extraneous remarks, are 

 shrewd and pursue the subject with intensity and perseverance until 

 decided or abandoned. They are liable also to be carried away by 

 the excitement of debate and lose sight of the subject in personal 

 abuse and recrimination until called to order by some more cool. 

 There is no vote taken, though the prevailing feeling is manifest and 

 those who do not exhibit any of this feeling are quietly asked their 

 opinion, which they as quietly give. All this has met with sufficient 

 explanation. The leading chief does nothing in advance of public 

 opinion. His business is rather to think of their welfare and in- 

 terests, bringing those subjects under discussion which appear to 

 him of sufficient importance and which he sees merit consideration 

 by the excitement they occasion in private lodges, or if smaller mat- 

 ters they are left to the decision of the soldiers. In councils held 

 in the soldiers' lodge for hunting the chief does not always appear. 

 When the camp is placed for the winter he assists in forming the 

 body of soldiers and in giving general instructions which they carry 

 out. Afterwards he seldom goes for these purposes. The business 

 of these soldiers will meet with further notice in these pages and 

 it is worth while considering their powers, as they are the active 

 force of all large camps. 



Councils. — Councils are opened in a very sedate and orderly form. 

 The pipe is the principal of all ceremonies, and its motions vary 

 with the occasions. Councils between two nations for a peace, depu- 

 tations of both being present, are very solemn and take, a long time. 

 It is likely these ceremonies are very ancient, being nearly the same 

 among all the roving tribes. The real calumet used on this occasion 

 with its accompaniments presents the form as sketched and explained 

 in Plate 68. This instrument is always kept packed up in many 

 envelopes of cloth, skin, etc., the whole making a roll as thick as 

 a man's thigh, sometimes as large as a piece of common stovepipe, 5 

 or 6 feet long, is laid in the middle of the soldiers' lodge on a piece 

 of scarlet cloth in that way before the deputation has arrived, or 

 immediately on its arrival, is not opened, however, until a full coun- 

 cil has been assembled. The chief (who owns the pipe) then com- 



