368 OMAHA SOCIOLOGY. 



INTERNATIONAL LAW. 



(See War Customs, Military Law, ami Visiting Customs.) 

 §307. Mode of making peace with another tribe. — When the Omabas 

 wished to make peace, which was termed, "making the laud good," two 

 or more chiefs and some of the young meu took one of the sacred pipes 

 and went unarmed towards the village or camp of the late foe, takiug 

 care to go opeuly and in daylight, when their approach could be seeu. 

 They were met by some of the villagers, who conducted them to a lodge, 

 where food was given them. After the meal, they were asked to tell 

 the object of their visit. The leader of the visitors then said, "I have 

 come because I think that we should fight no longer. I have come that 

 we may eat and smoke together." The principal mau of the village 

 then replied, " It is good ! If you tell the truth, when you come again, 

 we will give a horse to each one of you." At this time, no presents 

 were made by either party. They remained together two, three, or 

 four days, and left for home when their leader decided to depart. The 

 bearer of a peace pipe was generally respected by ihe enemy, just as 

 the bearer of a flag of truce is regarded by the laws of war among the 

 so-called civilized nations. 



When strangers came to visit the Omahas, or when the latter visited 

 another tribe, presents were given by both parties, generally consisting 

 of horses and robes. But there was no commerce, as we understand 

 that term. 



MILITARY LAW. 



(See the preceding paragraphs, and War Customs.) 



RELIGIOUS LAW. 



§ 308. The rules of the buffalo hunt, the consecration of the hearts 

 and tongues, the ceremonies pertaining to the anointing of the sacred 

 pole, etc., and those connected with the planting of the corn, were cus- 

 toms which were regarded as laws received by their ancestors from 

 Wakanda ; hence, they pertained to religion as well as to the govern- 

 ment of the tribe. (See §§ 128-163.) 



§ 309. The following are of a religious character: The worship of the 

 thunder, when first heard in the spring (§ 24), and when the men go to 

 war (§ 190) ; the style of wearing the hair in childhood (§ 30, etc.) ; most 

 of the governmental instrumentalities enumerated in Chapter XI, and 

 uou -intercourse with a woman during her catamenial seclusion (§ 97). 



