364 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
mouth proceed two lines, curved or hooked at the end, as if drawing 
the little figure toward him. It is suggested that the last mentioned 
part of the pictograph is the substance of the communication, i. e., come 
to me,” the larger figures with their name totems being the persons ad- 
dressed and addressing. Between and above the two large figures 
are fifty-three round objects intended for dollars. Both the Indian fig- 
ures have on breecheloths, corresponding with the information given 
concerning them, which is that they are Cheyennes who are not all civ- 
ilized or educated. 
Sagard (a) tells of the Algonkins of the Ottawa river, that when a 
feast was to be given, the host sent to each person whose presence was 
Fig. 472.—Cheyenne letter. 
desired a little stick of wood, peculiar to them (i. e., probably marked 
or colored) of the length and thickness of the little finger, which he 
was obliged to show on entering the lodge, as might be done with a 
eard of invitation and admission. The precaution was seemingly 
necessary both for the host’s larder and the satisfaction of the guests, 
aS on an occasion mentioned by the good brother, each of the guests 
was provided with a big piece of sturgeon and plenty of “ sagamite 
huylée.” There was probably some principle of selection connected 
with totems or religious societies on such occasions, not told by the 
narrator, as the ordinary custom among Indians is to keep open house 
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