hoffmax] CEREMONIAL SMOKING 251 



When an Indian desires to smoke, a pipeful of the tobacco mixture is 

 placed on the left palm, and worked with the ball of the thumb, or per- 

 haps with the tips of the united fingers and thumb, after which it is 

 put in the bowl and gently packed down by means of a pipe-stick. This 

 implement is made of ash, cedar, or some other choice wood, and is ft'om 8 

 to 10 inches in length, one-third of an inch thick at the top, gracefully 

 narrowing to within an inch from the lower end, where it curves to a 

 blunt tip. The leaves of the uva-ursi also are broken <>r cut, and 

 mixed with either of the above-named varieties of tobacco in the pro- 

 portion of one of the former to three or four of the latter. 



When several Menomini are sitting together for social purposes, 

 smoking is individual, and no offer of a pipe by one to another is made, 

 unless the latter desires a whiff, or may perhaps be without his own 

 pipe. When sitting in council and having in hand the consideration of 

 tribal affairs or deliberations relative to important social secrets, or 

 when participating in ritualistic ceremonials, the smoker who fills the 

 pipe hands it to his right-hand neighbor to light. The latter individual 

 takes a few whiffs at intervals, inhaling each mouthful, after which the 

 pipe is passed back to the owner at the left, who then takes several 

 whiffs, when he passes it to the next person to his left. In this manner 

 the pipe continues on its way around the circle, always to the left, until 

 the bowl of tobacco is exhausted. He who concludes the smoking 

 knocks out the ashes and hands the pipe to its owner. 



During the passage of the pipe silence is maintained, and if any con- 

 versation becomes necessary, it is conducted only in a whisper. 



At various intervals of ceremonial smokes, especially during the 

 smoking preliminary to prayers or chants, puffs of smoke are directed 

 toward the four cardinal points as well as toward the abode of the wind 

 gods, or the zenith — the abode of Kisha' Ma'nido — and toward the earth, 

 the abode of the material parts of their deceased friends and relations. 



The true Indian pipestem usually terminates in a cylindrical mouth- 

 piece an inch or more in length and from one-fourth to one-third of an 

 inch in diameter. When smoking, an Indian does not put this part into 

 his mouth, as we are accustomed to doing, thus moistening it with 

 saliva, but he will press it between the lips, and as the stem enters the 

 mouth the outer and dry portion of the lips follow, so that the stem does 

 not become moist. In sucking the stem and gaining a mouthful of 

 smoke, the lips are slightly parted — at either side or toward the corner 

 of the mouth — and air inhaled so as to mix with and pass down the 

 throat into and filling the lungs. The slight sound of rushing air which 

 is heard forms an essential part of Indian etiquette, for it is indicative 

 of satisfaction and enjoyment. After a moment's suspense the contents 

 of the lungs and air passages are exhaled, the smoke issuing from the 

 mouth as well as in two distinct volumes from the nostrils. 



The question may be asked as to the reason of the inhalation. This 

 may be answered, because, first, the supply of tobacco is usually very 



