WARLIKE CUSTOMS OF THE ODAHWAH INDIANS. 297 



eral other spots observed near the eastern and western limbs of the 

 Sun, and the general characteristic of the Solar Atmosphere, during 

 the month of March, has been one of great disturbance. On one oc- 

 casion I counted no less than fifty spots, with well defined Penumbree. 



The Eclipse of the Sun, on the morning of the 15th March, could 

 not be observed at Toronto, on account of a dense fog which prevailed 

 at the time of the Eclipse. The occultation of these large spots by the 

 Moon's body, it was conceived, might probably offer some valuable 

 facts with regard to their nature, and also the constitution of 

 the Solar Atmosphere, at those localities where the Eclipse could 

 be favorably observed. The condition of the atmosphere, which pre- 

 cluded all. possibility of observing the occulation, was therefore a 

 source of considerable disappointment to me. 



SOCIAL AND WARLIKE CUSTOMS OF THE ODAHWAH 



INDIANS. 



BY F. ASSIKINACK, A WARRIOR OF THE ODAHWAHS. 



Read before the Canadian Institute, January 2^rd, 1858. 



I purpose in this paper to give a brief statement with reference to 

 the habits, social and warlike customs of the Odahwah Indians, which 

 may likewise apply in some respects to other tribes that did not 

 differ widely from them in language and manners. In doing so I 

 shall commence with the young. 



Some time after the birth of a child, the parents, or rather grand- 

 parents, prepared a feast, to which the principal men of the tribe 

 were invited. At the commencement of the banquet one of the old 

 warriors was requested to name the child, upon which he left his 

 seat and began to sing as he danced slowly round the fire-place in 

 front of the guests, and when he arrived at the door he called out the 

 name he intended to give the child. On hearing the name the guests 

 gave a hearty cheer in token of their approbation. During the per- 

 formance of the dance round the hearth some of the party busied 



VOL. III. U 



