496 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ann. •».; 



and the case reversed, he will throw the charm away and substitute 

 some other. 



Thus the writing, paintings, and pictures done by whites are con- 

 sidered great charms by some Indians, particularly the Crows, and 

 are eagerly sought after as such. In the same light is regarded the 

 medal of the crucifixion given them by Catholic priests. 



What is the actual character of their worship when closely an- 

 alyzed ? 



It is hoped that the preceding remarks have rendered this character 

 plain. All their prayers, sacrifices, feasts and personal inflictions 

 tend only to advance their temporal welfare and interest. 



Several tunes are sung on some of these occasions when presenting 

 the pipe to the Sun, etc., that are of a sacred character, partaking of 

 the nature of thanksgiving for any signal success in war or otherwise. 

 A few words are used, but the chant is solemnly performed without 

 their usual gesticulations or levity. 



The custom of holding as sacred the cult of the tobacco plant is 

 general. No ceremony of importance takes place among them in 

 which the pipe is not used. There are, however, several solemn 

 occasions in which the manufactured tobacco will not answer, when 

 they use that grown by themselves. These customs occur among the 

 Mandan, Gros Ventres, Arikara, and Crows, the only nations who 

 cultivate the tobacco plant. Sacrifices of small quantities of tobacco 

 are also made on many occasions, and always a small piece is found 

 wrapped with the medicine pipe or inclosed in the medicine sack. 



Why it is considered sacred they can not explain, and the idea 

 appears one of the most ancient and original among them. 



These tribes do not worship fire in any form. The Sun is thought 

 to be a body of fire and is worshipped next to the Great Mystery by 

 all of them, not, however, because it is fire (though being luminous 

 ho doubt originated the idea) but because it is believed by most of 

 them to be the residence, and by some the eye, of the Great Mystery. 

 It is worshipped as the greatest visible symbol of the Great Mystery. 

 No other ceremonies are in existence among them by which we would 

 judge that fire is regarded with more reverence than water. On some 

 occasions councils are opened with fire struck from flint, such as 

 peace-making between two nations, ceremonies in the medicine lodge, 

 and feasts to the dead, but in all ordinary councils among themselves 

 this distinction is not made. In the cases where it is obtained from 

 the flint it seems to be merely an adherence to ancient custom. No 

 extra benefits are expected on that account, neither when questioned 

 do they attach much importance to the fact. Fire would be nothing 

 without the tobacco. In all these ceremonies with which we are well 

 acquainted, we can safely say that the tobacco is the sacred material 



