” 
CHAPTER XIV. 
INDIANS OF THE PRAIRIES. 
System of Chiefs— Mode of Warfare — War-Council—The 
Scalp-dance—The Calumet or Pipe of Peace—Treaties— 
Public News-criers—Arms of the Indians—Bow and Arrows, 
etc.—Hufiting—Dancing—Language of Signs—Telegraphs— 
ian t, F 
nians—Their domestic le the Dog and the Horse— 
Wampum—Their Chronology. 
THosr savage hordes which may be consi- 
dered as the Prairie Indians proper, have made 
little or no perceptible progress in civilization. 
They mostly live by plunder and the chase: 
a few eke out a subsistence by agriculture. 
They consist of various distinct tribes, but 
among whom there is a greater diversity of 
language than of habitudes. I would not 
have it understood, however, that all the cus- 
toms of every band are entirely similar: it is 
this assumption, together with the practice 
of setting down as standing customs what 
they have observed on some particular occa- 
sions, that has frequently created such a dis- 
crepancy between the accounts of transient 
travellers. 
bad 
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